《Apocalypse: The Supporting Actress Made a Comeback》 Chapter 1 - 1 001 Return to Before the Apocalypse ?Chapter 1: 001 Return to Before the Apocalypse Chapter 1: 001 Return to Before the Apocalypse Fang Yuxin lay on the ground, struggling to get up, but her limbs were all broken; her struggles only added to her pain. With each struggle, a heart-wrenching pain radiated from her wounds. Fang Mengyao slowly walked up to her, holding a black Miao Saber, the one she had snatched from Yuxin¡¯s hand. The blade was still smeared with her blood! Fang Yuxin tried to retreat, but her broken arms and legs were powerless. She grunted, then bit her lip hard and looked coldly at Fang Mengyao. Mengyao had rubbed perfume on herself, and the combined scent with the rot on the ground created an odd and unpleasant smell. She approached Fang Yuxin, looking down at her as she gasped for air, and said proudly, ¡°Fang Yuxin, today is your day to die!¡± The moment she finished speaking, Fang Mengyao seemingly casually stepped on Yuxin¡¯s injured wrist and ground her heel into it. Fang Yuxin suppressed the urge to scream, her face contorting with intense pain as she gasped, defiantly glaring at Fang Mengyao, ¡°Fang Mengyao? Why are you doing this to me?¡± The question seemed to hit a nerve in Mengyao; she almost roared, ¡°Why? Have you not hurt me enough, Fang Yuxin? You are the darling of the Fang Family, while I can only be the illegitimate daughter hidden away! Why? You don¡¯t even have superpowers, and if you hadn¡¯t always seduced Yiming, how could he have remained so fixated on you? Fang Yuxin! I knew you could never stand to see me happy, always wanting to compete with me for everything!¡± Yuxin looked on incredulously, never imagining Mengyao would think this way! Qiu Yiming had been her fiance?, but since the apocalypse had chosen Mengyao, a superpower user, over her and they had broken up, they were now strangers. When had she seduced Qiu Yiming? So she said coldly, ¡°You¡¯re insane, Fang Mengyao! Yiming and I broke up a long time ago, when have I ever competed with you? Your mother drugged my father and secretly gave birth to you; what does that have to do with me?¡± At this, Mengyao became even more agitated, ¡°Shut up! My mother and your father were truly in love! It was your mother who had no shame, clinging on and refusing to leave, forcing them to split!¡± Only now did Fang Yuxin realize that Fang Mengyao had always been so delusional. She looked at Mengyao mockingly, ¡°Fang Mengyao, you¡¯re nothing but a madwoman!¡± Stung by her words, Mengyao pressed down harder with her foot. She was wearing flat leather boots with hard soles, which caused Yuxin to break out in a cold sweat from the pain. Hearing Yuxin¡¯s stifled groan, Mengyao spoke with satisfaction, ¡°Do you think you¡¯re still the esteemed Miss Fang Family? Look at you now, so pitiful, your limbs all broken, helpless. Feels good, doesn¡¯t it? Remember this bracelet? Daddy picked it out just for you, but you didn¡¯t want it, and it ended up with me. Let me tell you, it¡¯s quite a treasure.¡± Yuxin looked at her in disbelief, ¡°Fang Mengyao!¡± Mengyao¡¯s triumph grew, ¡°Don¡¯t get excited, I haven¡¯t finished yet. Don¡¯t you want to know why you¡¯re not a superpower user, but just an Ordinary Person? Because... I added Suppressant to your food, surprised? Oh, and one more thing. Are you curious how your brother died? Speaking of which, his death was really tragic, devoured alive by zombies. It was nothing short of a slow, painful death. But rest assured, you will soon experience his agony.¡± Yuxin¡¯s face twisted violently, her entire body shaking with rage, ¡°Fang¡ªMengyao! Are you even human? How have my brother and I ever wronged you to make you hate us so much?¡± Mengyao laughed coldly, ¡°Your mere existence causes me the greatest harm! Especially you, Fang Yuxin! If it weren¡¯t for Yiming¡¯s lingering thoughts about you, I wouldn¡¯t want to dirty my hands by killing you so soon. Oh, and I just remembered something about your stuffed cat, Angela; I particularly dislike it! Just an animal strutting around all arrogant!¡± Yuxin¡¯s face grew even uglier, ¡°You killed it?¡± Mengyao said smugly, ¡°It¡¯s just an animal; is it worth getting so worked up? I didn¡¯t kill it. I just clipped its claws and tossed it in the trash. Though, there are quite a few stray dogs around that area.¡± Yuxin began to struggle more violently, ignoring the excruciating pain from her wounds, ¡°Fang¡ªMengyao! Don¡¯t be too proud! Those who do too much evil will destroy themselves, and your end will be no better than mine!¡± Chapter 2 - 2 001 Return to Before the Apocalypse_2 ?Chapter 2: 001 Return to Before the Apocalypse_2 Chapter 2: 001 Return to Before the Apocalypse_2 Fang Mengyao raised an eyebrow, completely unconcerned as she spoke, ¡°Is that so? Too bad you¡¯ll never see it. Let me tell you one last thing, Fang Mengyao has been dead for a while now.¡± ¡°Ah¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡± A painful scream tore through the night sky. Fang Yuxin suddenly opened her eyes, only to find she wasn¡¯t lying on the cold ground emanating a thick stench of decay, but rather in a warm, soft bed. She hastily reached out to turn on the light, but the familiar surroundings made her freeze. This place... could it actually be... could it actually be her home before the apocalypse? Fang Mengyao¡¯s icy, venomous words seemed to still echo in her ears. At this moment, she suddenly wasn¡¯t sure anymore. Could the heart-wrenching pain and the despair of losing her loved ones not be real, just a ludicrous nightmare? ¡°Meow~~~~~¡± A soft cat¡¯s meow sounded. The next moment, Fang Yuxin felt something fuzzy and warm rubbing against her arm. Fang Yuxin lifted the blanket only to see Angela nestled by her side, pressing against her arm. The cat raised its head and yawned, a pair of blue eyes looking confusedly at Fang Yuxin. Seeing its cute appearance, Fang Yuxin¡¯s wildly throbbing heart suddenly calmed down. She reached out to hug Angela, and thoughts of Fang Mengyao¡¯s words, especially regarding Angela, made her heart twist. Angela was a beautiful ragdoll cat, gentle, obedient, and especially clean, loved by everyone in the Fang Family. But Fang Mengyao had treated it so cruelly. How could she be so heartless? As Fang Yuxin was pondering this, a knocking sound suddenly came from the door, followed by Qu Qianhe¡¯s voice, ¡°Xinxin, are you alright? Did you have a nightmare?¡± ¡°I... I¡¯m fine,¡± Fang Yuxin responded while quickly jumping off the bed and dashing over to open the door, ¡°Mom, why are you up? I¡¯m really fine, I just got scared awake by a nightmare. Sorry for waking you up.¡± Qu Qianhe wore a silk robe, its soft material clinging to her lovely figure. She closed the door, cupped Fang Yuxin¡¯s face to look at her. Fang Yuxin was frightened and her complexion hadn¡¯t yet recovered, so Qu Qianhe sat her down and handed her a cup of water before asking with concern, ¡°Xinxin, what dream did you have?¡± Fang Yuxin had always been quite bold, rarely scared. But this time she was visibly terrified, and Qu Qianhe couldn¡¯t help but worry. Fang Yuxin took a sip of water subconsciously; it was warm and soothing. Seeing the worry on Qu Qianhe¡¯s face, she suddenly remembered how in that long dream, Qu Qianhe had been injured by zombies while protecting her and later died by suicide to avoid turning into a zombie. Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart panicked, and putting down the cup, she took Qu Qianhe¡¯s hand. Qu Qianhe¡¯s hand was well-cared for, and her fingers were soft. Feeling the warmth of Qu Qianhe¡¯s palm and the strength of her grip in return, Fang Yuxin gradually calmed down. Right now, she truly didn¡¯t know what to make of the nightmare, and until she figured it out, she couldn¡¯t worry Qu Qianhe with it. So Fang Yuxin shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a scene from some movie that startled me. Mom, don¡¯t worry about it, I¡¯m alright. Look, it¡¯s only a bit after two. You¡¯d better go back to sleep, or Dad won¡¯t be able to sleep either.¡± Seeing that Fang Yuxin refused to talk, Qu Qianhe didn¡¯t press further and just said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk about it, then let it be. After all, it was just a dream and nothing to fuss over. I¡¯m headed back now; your dad is still worried.¡± Fang Yuxin walked Qu Qianhe to the door and watched as she returned to her room, then closed the door and slowly slid down to the floor, leaning against it. The dream had been too real, so real that she couldn¡¯t help but doubt that it was all true. An apocalypse, zombies, superpower users¡ªthe whole world had changed! In a post-apocalyptic world where strength was everything, no matter how high your status was before, if you hadn¡¯t evolved a superpower, if you lacked formidable force, you would be nothing more than an insect, and even prey at the mercy of others! In that dream, of the entire Fang Family, only her brother Fang Yuyang had Awakened a powerful Wind Superpower. Her parents, even she herself, were just Ordinary People. At the start of the apocalypse, her parents were gravely injured by zombies while protecting her, and they had to commit suicide to avoid becoming zombies. She and Fang Yuyang, to avoid the zombies in the city, fled to a newly developed suburban villa area where they bought a villa. At that time, Fang Mengyao had been with them. But before long, other survivors also arrived at that place and even fought viciously over the villa. It was during those times that Fang Mengyao began to show her true, hideous colors, undermining their reputation and eventually even driving her and Fang Yuyang out of the villa! Chapter 3 - 3 001 Return Before the Apocalypse_3 ?Chapter 3: 001 Return Before the Apocalypse_3 Chapter 3: 001 Return Before the Apocalypse_3 Fang¡ªMengyao! When Fang Yuxin thought of Fang Mengyao, resentment swelled within her. She quickly stood up, ready to confront Fang Mengyao, then suddenly remembered that Fang Mengyao didn¡¯t live with them. Her dad had bought Fang Mengyao a high-end apartment, and she was likely staying there at that moment. Fang Yuxin checked the time¡ªit was 2:30 in the morning. It was very late, and it would be unwise to recklessly seek out Fang Mengyao now. She didn¡¯t even understand what that dream was about, and it would be foolish to rush to Mengyao and confront her. So she calmed down and decided to wait until tomorrow. According to the dream, tomorrow her dad would bring home a set of jade jewelry. The bracelet mentioned by Mengyao in the dream was part of that set. She remembered that Mengyao was there back then, and after seeing it, cried and begged her dad for it, speaking outrageously. Not wanting to trouble her dad, she let Mengyao have it. But at the end of the dream, Mengyao said that bracelet was a treasure, which bothered Fang Yuxin deeply. In the dream, Mengyao had been relentless about the set of jade jewelry, with a stubborn determination to obtain it. Initially, Yuxin didn¡¯t pay much attention to this part of the dream, but at the end, when Mengyao said that the bracelet was a treasure, Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but feel that Mengyao had known all along, which is why she insisted on having it. But how could that be possible? And what did she mean by saying that Mengyao had long since died? Fang Yuxin hesitated for a long time, and finally couldn¡¯t resist, picking up her phone and dialing a number. Soon the dial tone sounded, but no one answered until the call automatically disconnected. With a frown, Fang Yuxin dialed again, and on the sixth try, the person finally answered. ¡°Hello?¡± Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt the voice on the other end was very cold, different from Mengyao¡¯s usual tone. Mengyao was her dad¡¯s illegitimate daughter, not from an affair, but because someone had drugged him, and by the time he woke up the next day, that woman had disappeared. Her parents were very angry about it, only to have that woman show up eight months later, visibly pregnant, at her mom¡¯s company and beg on her knees for approval in front of everyone! Her parents always had a strong relationship and naturally wouldn¡¯t agree, but by then the baby was well-developed, and terminating the pregnancy seemed too cruel. After the child was born, her dad gave the woman some money as child support and cut off any further connection. Fifteen years later, however, that woman reappeared with Mengyao, claiming she was dying and wanted to entrust Mengyao to the Fang Family. That¡¯s how Mengyao entered their household, but because she was an illegitimate child, she always felt inferior and had never spoken to Yuxin in such a tone. Probably because Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t speak, the other person spoke again, impatiently, ¡°It¡¯s so late, do you need something?¡± Fang Yuxin actually had many questions for Mengyao, but at that moment, she didn¡¯t know what to say. She couldn¡¯t just ask about the dream, so she hesitantly spoke, ¡°Are you comfortable living alone? Are you okay?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m quite good. Since there¡¯s nothing wrong, I¡¯m going to hang up.¡± With that, she hung up the phone without any courtesy. Fang Yuxin immediately furrowed her brows. She kept feeling as though Mengyao was hinting at something¡ªwas she overthinking? At Xiangxie Garden, Building X, Unit X, No. X, Fang Mengyao threw down her phone, looking at the still bleeding wound on her left side and sharply inhaling through clenched teeth. Recalling the inexplicable call, she coldly laughed, ¡°Fang Yuxin? The debt you owe Mengyao, I¡¯ll collect it for her bit by bit. Just you wait!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The new release just started, needing your love and support. If you like it, please bookmark + recommend + leave comments, ensuring stable updates. Love you all~~~ (¤Ä? ?3 ?)¤Ä?¨q? Just finished the previous works [bookid=3129724,bookname=¡±Guileful Merchant¡±][bookid=2983573,bookname=¡±Cultivation of the Top Demon¡±] Just started a new one [bookid=3474114,bookname=¡±Skillful Woman¡±] It¡¯s an ancient style, deliciously fun text~ Chapter 4 - 4 002 Suspicion ?Chapter 4: 002 Suspicion Chapter 4: 002 Suspicion Because she hadn¡¯t slept well last night, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t get up until almost nine in the morning. After changing her clothes, she saw Qu Qianhe sitting on the living room sofa. Qu Qianhe was holding a magazine and reading it; when she heard footsteps, she looked up, then set the magazine down and tenderly watched Fang Yuxin, ¡°Hungry? Go, sit down, and I¡¯ll ask Aunt Li to get you something to eat.¡± She didn¡¯t wait for Fang Yuxin to reply and called out, ¡°Aunt Li, bring Xinxin some breakfast.¡± Aunt Li, who was busy in the kitchen, answered upon hearing her and soon came out with a tray. Although the breakfast was simple, it was very nutritious. Fang Yuxin was already hungry, and the smell of food made her stomach even more uncomfortable. The savory and soft seafood porridge immediately aroused her sensitive taste buds and her hunger was enticed. Fang Yuxin wolfed down the porridge as if she were a refugee who hadn¡¯t eaten for a long time, frightening both Qu Qianhe and Aunt Li. Aunt Li couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Madam? What¡¯s wrong with Xinxin? Why is she so hungry?¡± Remembering Fang Yuxin¡¯s cries in the middle of the night, Qu Qianhe¡¯s brows slightly furrowed. Something wasn¡¯t quite right with Fang Yuxin. Qu Qianhe had been specifically waiting here because she was worried about Fang Yuxin and had wanted to counsel her after she woke up. But she was shocked by the change in Fang Yuxin¡¯s eating behavior and found herself at a loss for words. Fang Yuxin quickly finished the rest of the breakfast, then holding the empty porridge bowl, she said to Aunt Li, ¡°Aunt Li, is there any more porridge? Could you get me another bowl? I¡¯d like some more.¡± Aunt Li glanced at Qu Qianhe, a bit distressed. She felt that Fang Yuxin had already eaten quite a bit, even more than usual. She was hesitant to give her more as she might overeat. Having studied some nutrition, she valued health and adhered to eating until eight-tenths full. Qu Qianhe shook her head at her, ¡°It¡¯s all been put away.¡± Upon hearing this, Aunt Li swiftly collected the dishes, afraid that Fang Yuxin would continue eating. A flash of bewilderment crossed Fang Yuxin¡¯s face, then she lowered her head and clenched her fists tightly. The dream from last night was too realistic; having struggled to survive in an apocalypse where no day was guaranteed, Fang Yuxin subconsciously felt hungry, as if she could never eat enough. But upon further feeling, she realized she was actually full, even a little bloated. Qu Qianhe pulled her to sit on the sofa and, stroking her head with concern, she asked, ¡°Xinxin, are you alright? Tell Mom, what¡¯s really going on? Is it because of the nightmare last night? What exactly did you dream about?¡± Unable to hold back, Fang Yuxin plunged into Qu Qianhe¡¯s arms and hugged her tightly. Qu Qianhe¡¯s body carried a light and pleasant tea fragrance, soothing and calming to the senses, unlike the strong scent that Fang Mengyao exuded in the dream. Fang Yuxin, feeling Qu Qianhe¡¯s soft embrace, slowly calmed down¡ªQu Qianhe was still alive, so were her dad and brother. It was such a relief! As for Fang Mengyao, she believed she would uncover the truth! Feeling Qu Qianhe¡¯s worried gaze, Fang Yuxin, somewhat ashamed, then said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t talk about it now, but don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine soon!¡± Qu Qianhe had no choice but to drop the subject, ¡°Alright then, if you won¡¯t tell me, come with Mom for some shopping instead.¡± In reality, she wanted to take Fang Yuxin out to distract her. Fang Yuxin did not refuse, but once outside, facing the towering buildings and bustling crowds, she almost desperately wanted to flee and be alone. Qu Qianhe clutched her wrist tightly, and seeing her panicked expression, couldn¡¯t help but frown and ask, ¡°Xinxin, are you really okay? Should Mom take you to the hospital?¡± The hospital? No way! Absolutely not! Just then, a news report played on a display screen in a neighboring store, mentioning a global flu outbreak, urging citizens to be cautious and to seek medical attention in time. Fang Yuxin instantly remembered that in her dream, a global flu outbreak had occurred as well, many people with persistent fevers had been admitted to hospitals, and once the apocalypse began, the hospitals became the most dangerous places. Almost none who were inside managed to escape; they all turned into zombies. So, she instinctively said, ¡°No! We can¡¯t go to the hospital!¡± Because her tone was so severe, people nearby couldn¡¯t help but glance over, surprised at her. Qu Qianhe quickly pulled Fang Yuxin away, no longer mentioning the hospital, but Fang Yuxin was still thinking about the news she had just heard. She silently counted the days, and if that dream was real, the world would end in a month, and she had to do something ahead of time! With this in mind, she took out her cellphone and called her assistant. She had bought a villa in the newly developed western part of the city using her savings, and she left the decoration responsibilities to her assistant. It wasn¡¯t long before the assistant picked up the phone, ¡°Hello? Mr. Fang? What can I do for you?¡± Fang Yuxin immediately asked, ¡°How¡¯s the decoration going for that villa in the west?¡± The assistant replied, ¡°It¡¯s already more than halfway done. Is something the matter, Mr. Fang?¡± After recalling the scale of the villa, she said, ¡°Send the details to my email; you don¡¯t need to handle this matter. I¡¯ll take care of it personally. Also, how¡¯s the supermarket business going?¡± The assistant, though curious, smartly didn¡¯t ask anything and simply said, ¡°All right, I¡¯ll compile the details and send them to you shortly. The supermarket is doing well, but quite a few staff members have called in sick, saying they¡¯re running a fever and have been admitted to the hospital; we¡¯re a little short-staffed. Mr. Fang, do you think we should hire some temporary workers?¡± After thinking it over, Fang Yuxin said directly, ¡°No need; I have other plans for the supermarket. Notify everyone, we will have a meeting at 2:30 this afternoon, I have an announcement to make. That¡¯s all, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Having finished, she hung up the call. Qu Qianhe, who had been silent until then, couldn¡¯t contain herself after the call ended and asked, ¡°Yuxin, what are you planning to do?¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t hide it from her and straightforwardly shared her plan, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m thinking of closing the supermarket for now.¡± Qu Qianhe didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Close it for what? Even if you want to expand the business, you can just rent the space next door. You can renovate while still running the business, right?¡± Fang Yuxin smiled and said, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t ask, I have my plans.¡± Seeing her finally smiling and a sparkle back in her eyes, a much better look compared to her previous startled demeanor, Qu Qianhe was reassured and stopped inquiring about what Fang Yuxin truly wanted to do. There was a smile on Fang Yuxin¡¯s face, her eyelashes casting a perfect shadow that concealed the darkness in her eyes. The Fang Family¡¯s supermarket was a large low-price supermarket, managed by Fang Yuxin herself. The Fang family didn¡¯t open this supermarket to make a profit; the prices were only slightly higher than wholesale, and they conducted strict quality control, all for charity. The elderly, those with low-income benefits, and the disabled could apply for a membership at the supermarket, get discounts while shopping, and even have goods delivered to their homes. Therefore, the supermarket barely made any profits, in fact, losing money every year. Furthermore, the Fang Family had also established a charity fund to help those in need. Yet, after the apocalypse arrived, not only was the supermarket looted empty, but Fang Mengyao also slandered the Fang Family as ¡®hypocritical¡¯, ¡®pretend philanthropists¡¯, and ¡®show-offs¡¯, and many people believed her. No one stood on the Fang Family¡¯s side. Fang Yuxin felt a chill in her heart! However, she had another reason to close the supermarket; she needed to stockpile supplies! Chapter 5 - 5 003 Begin preparations ?Chapter 5: 003 Begin preparations Chapter 5: 003 Begin preparations The assistant was quick, and within twenty minutes, Fang Yuxin¡¯s inbox received the materials she had sent. Fang Yuxin read through them speedily and already had some ideas in mind. Feeling a sense of urgency, she mentioned to Qu Qianhe that something had come up and that she needed to leave first. Qu Qianhe did not hold her back, letting her take the car and calling her driver to pick her up. Fang Yuxin then drove straight to the renovation company listed in the materials. It was a large-scale company in the city, known for producing exceptional work. Upon arrival and revealing her identity, she was respectfully invited into the reception room. The room was elegantly decorated, adorned with lush green plants that were clearly well-maintained. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t sit for long before the project manager arrived. Her house was a villa with high-end decoration choices and she wasn¡¯t afraid to spend money, making it a rather large project for the company, so the manager paid a great deal of attention to it. After some initial pleasantries, Fang Yuxin explained her intention to increase the greenery area of the villa and to transform the roof into an ecological farm. She checked on the progress of the villa¡¯s renovation, which was mainly focused on the interior, as the garden and roof hadn¡¯t been touched yet. The original plan was to create a landscape garden, but the strange dream had made Fang Yuxin change her mind. Anyway, even if the dream was false, she could always change it later if she didn¡¯t like it, which wouldn¡¯t require much effort. The manager, worried that Fang Yuxin was acting on a whim, confirmed with her several times. Seeing her determination, he stopped trying to persuade her otherwise. After all, ecological farms were quite fashionable, and he had no objection as long as the client was happy. His only concern was that Fang Yuxin might be acting impulsively, and would end up dissatisfied with the result. Fang Yuxin already had a concept in mind and quickly finalized the plan. The manager informed her they would soon produce a rendering, and once Fang Yuxin confirmed it, they would begin construction. Concerned about the project¡¯s timeline, Fang Yuxin recalled that in her dream the villa¡¯s renovation hadn¡¯t been completed before the apocalypse broke out. She said, ¡°No need for that, just go ahead with this plan. Can you speed up the construction? Hire more people. Money is not an issue.¡± The manager immediately agreed. Recently, many technical workers had taken sick leaves, causing delays in many projects and subsequent customer complaints. Fang Yuxin¡¯s project was sizable, offering him a substantial commission, so naturally, he couldn¡¯t afford to offend her. Having settled the matter, Fang Yuxin drove off. It was almost noon, and she went home to have lunch with Qu Qianhe. During their lunch break, she searched online for news. That¡¯s when she discovered that influenza had become very serious. Many people were hospitalized and even quarantined. Both hospitals and the government were taking it very seriously, organizing many experts to focus on vaccine development. Shaken by the news, Fang Yuxin, apart from managing the supermarkets, also made other investments, and she held shares in Fang Group. Even if the supermarket operated at a loss, the dividends from these shares kept her well provided for. She had known about the influenza beforehand but hadn¡¯t paid it much mind; after all, influenza happens every year. As for online discussions, she never paid attention to them. She didn¡¯t have the extra time to follow forums and social media, so it wasn¡¯t until she specifically searched that she realized how much the flu had already been debated online. An hour passed quickly. Seeing that the time was almost right, Fang Yuxin shut down her computer and went out for a supermarket meeting. All the senior executives were present. They were surprised to learn that she planned to temporarily close the supermarket. One of them opposed the idea, saying, ¡°Mr. Fang, even if we¡¯re looking to expand, is it really necessary to halt supermarket operations?¡± Fang Yuxin had already thought of an excuse and replied, ¡°The supermarket needs to be redesigned, with a new layout for the shelving and everything. Moreover, with the flu being so serious, closing for a while is like giving the staff a holiday. I certainly don¡¯t want anyone coming to work sick. However, you can rest assured, even though we¡¯re stopping operations, salaries will be paid as usual. Take this opportunity to get some proper rest.¡± Hearing that salaries would still be paid, no one had any objections. In any case, the supermarket wasn¡¯t opened for profit-making, so there was no need to worry about earnings. The Fang Family, wealthy and generous, were willing to indulge, and the employees naturally followed suit. However, deep down, many were green with envy. Fang Yuxin saw all of their reactions and maintained a stoic expression, but she felt the irony internally. She had been far too presumptuous before, believing that people who received help would at least feel gratitude, even if they did not reciprocate. But now she realized how utterly wrong she had been. There were plenty of people in the world who knew how to be grateful, but there were also those who took the generosity of others for granted. Even these employees, taking the Fang Family¡¯s money and enjoying the benefits provided by them, coveted the Fang Family¡¯s fortune in their hearts. But at this point, Fang Yuxin could hardly be stingy with the money. After all, these people had been diligent in their work, and she was always clear about separating gratitude from resentment, refusing to misplace her anger. After the meeting, she made a point to check out the supermarket. It was doing well. At four o¡¯clock, there were many shoppers. To Fang Yuxin¡¯s knowledge, because the goods were inexpensive, even people who lived further away would take the bus to shop here. She was dressed to the nines and beautiful, like a big star on TV, standing out conspicuously in the supermarket. It wasn¡¯t long before she attracted all sorts of stares. As Fang Yuxin walked around, she overheard some comments: ¡°Why are the rich now coming here to compete with us poor folks for bargains?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand, do you? Those rich people are the stingiest. Besides, you see those wearing designer clothes, who knows if they¡¯re fake or not. And even if they are genuine, who knows, maybe they were seduced into getting them. The pretty young girls these days have no scruples, all gold-diggers, unlike us back in the day.¡± The speakers were two middle-aged women who dressed plainly and had makeup on, not heavy but a bit vulgar. They didn¡¯t speak loudly, but their voices weren¡¯t soft either, and many nearby shoppers heard them, with some showing complex expressions and others looking embarrassed. Several supermarket employees nearby also changed their expressions. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t say anything. She just pushed the cart and walked on. But ultimately, she didn¡¯t buy anything and left the supermarket directly. The social gulf between rich and poor was enormous, and many people had their mentality distorted. She wasn¡¯t going to argue or get angry over a few words but just felt pitiful, both for the Fang Family and those with twisted psyches. Back in the car, ready to drive home, Fang Yuxin passed a hair salon and decided to get her hair cut. Her hair was quite long, almost reaching her waist, glossy and black due to regular care. Normally, she wore it up in a bun, adding to her professional appearance. The hairstylist regretted hearing she wanted it short. Fang Yuxin cut her hair into a boyish style and took the chopped hair with her. With all sorts of bizarre ¡°evil magic¡± in her apocalyptic dreams, although uncertain of its truth, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but take precautions. When she got home, she saw Fang Mengyao sitting in the living room, her nerves instantly on edge. Fang Mengyao actually came! Just like in the dream! Fang Yuxin glanced at the time; Fang Jintang would be back soon. She just needed to wait now, to see if the upcoming events would indeed unfold as they had in her dream! Chapter 6 - 6 004 Snatch ?Chapter 6: 004 Snatch Chapter 6: 004 Snatch Fang Yuxin entered the living room, and both Fang Mengyao and Qu Qianhe were surprised to see her. Fang Mengyao¡¯s expression was a bit strange, while Qu Qianhe asked, ¡°Xinxin, why did you cut your hair?¡± Fang Yuxin walked over and sat down beside Qu Qianhe, smiling and saying, ¡°I wanted a change of style, so I cut it. Mom, do you think I look good like this?¡± Qu Qianhe nodded, proudly saying, ¡°My daughter is beautiful; even if she were bald, she would still look good. You do look more spirited like this than before, not bad!¡± Fang Yuxin kept observing Fang Mengyao out of the corner of her eye. Fang Mengyao was sitting opposite them, and at this point, her face changed slightly, and the corners of her mouth curved up, as if she was sneering. Fang Yuxin then asked her, ¡°Yaoyao, how come you have time to visit today?¡± Fang Mengyao¡¯s face stiffened, then she raised her head with a somewhat provocative tone, asking, ¡°What do you mean by that, Sister Xin? Are you saying I shouldn¡¯t come?¡± Her reason for coming this time was to see with her own eyes what sort of people Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin were, and incidentally to ask her nominal father, Fang Jintang, for money. The apocalypse was about to arrive, and she needed to start stocking up on supplies early. Hearing this, Fang Yuxin gazed at her with a smile that was not quite a smile, and said nothing. It was obvious that Fang Mengyao wouldn¡¯t show up without a reason, but she was also correct in saying she shouldn¡¯t come¡ªnobody in the Fang Family welcomed her. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t feel she was being excessive; Fang Mengyao¡¯s origins were too disgraceful, and the Fang Family¡¯s willingness to support her was already the utmost act of benevolence. Thinking of the last words Fang Mengyao had said in the dream, cold chills ran through Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart, and her expression darkened. Seeing this, Fang Mengyao felt suffocated with the need to vent her frustration. She blurted out, ¡°Fang Yuxin! I came to see Dad, not to watch your face!¡± Qu Qianhe¡¯s expression subtly changed upon hearing this. She looked at the unpleasant expressions on both Fang Yuxin¡¯s and Fang Mengyao¡¯s faces, then stood up saying, ¡°Xinxin, come with me.¡± Her tone was very stern, as if reprimanding Fang Yuxin. Obediently, Fang Yuxin followed her up to the second floor, and once they were in the room with the door closed, Qu Qianhe looked at her helplessly, ¡°Why are you angry with her? If she wants to come, let her be; why bother with her?¡± Fang Yuxin found it hard to explain; she couldn¡¯t just say she was unable to control the anger inside because of the nightmare from last night, could she? Thinking about Fang Mengyao¡¯s attitude, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Seeing how she behaves so self-righteously as an illegitimate daughter, I¡¯ve really had an eye-opener.¡± ¡°You really!¡± Qu Qianhe laughed while shaking her head. ¡°Your father will be back soon. Don¡¯t make things difficult for him, understand? I should go downstairs; it¡¯s not polite to leave her alone in the living room. You just stay here in the room until your father comes back, then you can come down.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, but her mind was racing. In that dream, she had tried not to make things difficult for Fang Jintang, so when she saw Fang Mengyao making a scene and looking increasingly distasteful, she had given her the set of jade jewelry. But the end result made her feel that some people should not be given too much face! There were too many people in this world who did not appreciate kindness, and always showing leniency would only make the other party think you were weak and could be bullied! After Qu Qianhe left, Fang Yuxin first took a shower, changed into home clothes, and wore slippers, immediately feeling relaxed all over. Taking the opportunity, she went online to look around, and perhaps because it was on her mind, she now saw that many people despised the wealthy online with completely distorted mentalities. She then searched for things that could be used in the apocalypse, listing them one by one, planning to purchase and store them later. Just as she finished organizing the information, she heard Fang Jintang¡¯s voice downstairs. Remembering that dream, she turned off the computer and hurried down the stairs. As she descended the stairs, Fang Mengyao was coquettishly clinging to Fang Jintang¡¯s arm, with Qu Qianhe standing to one side, her expression indifferent. Fang Jintang, on the other hand, looked rather stiff and uncomfortable with the situation. Fang Yuxin herself was startled¡ªFang Mengyao had never behaved like this before! She hurried over to them. Fang Jintang was feeling awkward, but upon seeing Fang Yuxin his attention shifted to her. Noticing her new haircut, he was equally surprised, ¡°Xinxin, why did you cut your hair?¡± Fang Yuxin repeated the explanation she had given Qu Qianhe earlier and glanced at Fang Mengyao before saying, ¡°Dad, you must be tired after just getting back, right? Go change into something more comfortable first. There¡¯s no need to be so formally dressed now that you¡¯re home.¡± With these words, she offered Fang Jintang a way out of his awkwardness; otherwise, given Fang Mengyao¡¯s stance, she would certainly have kept clinging to his arm. Fang Jintang nodded in response and turned to Fang Mengyao, ¡°Yaoyao, let go. Dad is going to change his clothes.¡± Fang Mengyao had no choice but to release her grip, but her expression was far from pleasant¡ªshe felt extremely embarrassed by the situation! If it weren¡¯t for asking Fang Jintang for money, why would she even come to this hateful place, to humiliate herself? Fang Yuxin was just too much! When Fang Jintang reappeared, he had changed into casual home attire and carried a redwood box in his hand. The flat box was carved with an elegant and luxurious peony design on the lid. Holding the box, he waved Fang Yuxin over, ¡°Xinxin, come here. Dad has acquired a set of jade jewelry. Take a look and see if you like it.¡± Fang Yuxin liked jade, and Fang Jintang knew this, so he always paid attention and would buy nice pieces for her. Fang Yuxin had been waiting for this very scene; in fact, she was already stunned when she saw the redwood box in Fang Jintang¡¯s hand¡ªit was exactly like the scene from her dream! She walked stiffly towards Fang Jintang. At this moment, however, Fang Mengyao had already hurried over, exclaiming, ¡°Dad, what kind of jade is it? Let me see!¡± On hearing this, Fang Yuxin quickly quickened her pace and reached Fang Jintang¡¯s side almost at the same moment as Fang Mengyao. Fang Mengyao was now trying to snatch the box from Fang Jintang¡¯s hands. Fang Yuxin quickly put her palm on the box first, warningly looking at Fang Mengyao, ¡°Xiao Yao, this is something Dad bought for me.¡± Fang Mengyao was not to be outdone, ¡°Is that so? But I really like it. Dad, can you give it to me instead? You¡¯ve given so many pieces of jade to Sister Xin since we were kids, and I¡¯ve never gotten any. You can¡¯t be so biased!¡± Fang Yuxin just laughed upon hearing this. The box hadn¡¯t even been opened yet. What was Fang Mengyao talking about liking? Did she already know what was inside the box? Without betraying any emotion, Fang Yuxin took the box from Fang Jintang¡¯s hands. Not opening it, she just held it in her arms and looked at Fang Mengyao with a smirk, ¡°You like it? You fell in love without even knowing what¡¯s inside? If you really like jade, then let Dad buy some more for you. There¡¯s no need to fight over my things.¡± Yet, Fang Yuxin¡¯s words deeply stung Fang Mengyao, who glared at her fiercely, wishing she could kill her on the spot. The former Fang Yuxin had committed suicide after failing to confess to her fiance? Qiu Yiming. Having acquired her predecessor¡¯s memories, she found the tall and handsome Qiu Yiming very attractive. Fang Yuxin¡¯s words felt like a slap in her face! What¡¯s more, the game system had just alerted her to the presence of a valuable item inside the redwood box. Although she wasn¡¯t sure what it was, she was determined to have it! Clinging to Fang Jintang¡¯s arm, she pleaded, ¡°Dad! Can you give it to me, please? I really love it!¡± She then turned to Fang Yuxin and continued, ¡°Sister Xin, you already have so much jade, can¡¯t you let me have this set? Why do you have to compete with me?¡± Compete with Fang Mengyao? Who was competing with whom? Fang Yuxin looked at Fang Mengyao with an expression that said ¡®you¡¯re being unreasonable¡¯. Now she realized why Fang Mengyao would say such a thing¡ªher thinking was simply not that of a normal person! Fang Yuxin dropped a curt ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered with you¡± and turned to go back to her room, but Fang Mengyao, seeing the redwood box being taken away, felt as if a treasure was slipping out of her reach. With her eyes reddening, she abruptly pushed Fang Jintang aside and rushed toward Fang Yuxin, clamoring, ¡°Fang Yuxin, give it to me!¡± Chapter 7 - 7 005 Destruction ?Chapter 7: 005 Destruction Chapter 7: 005 Destruction Mengyao wore ten-centimeter high heels, making it easy for Yuxin to dodge and quickly run behind Jintang. Mengyao glared at her fiercely, still wanting to chase her, but Jintang suddenly said, ¡°Mengyao, this is what Daddy bought for Sister Xin, her birthday is coming soon. If you want jade, Daddy will buy it for you. Stop making a fuss, what does it look like?¡± Mengyao was very reluctant, her eyes fixed on the redwood box in Yuxin¡¯s arms, she bit her lip and said, ¡°But I like this set!¡± Jintang immediately felt that Mengyao was being utterly unreasonable. As Yuxin had said, she hadn¡¯t even seen what was inside. What was there to like? It was clear she was just throwing a tantrum. He felt very conflicted about Mengyao, his daughter with Zhu Wanxia; he had never been involved with Zhu Wanxia, nor had he ever liked her, yet she drugged him, stole his sperm, and even had a child, shamelessly forcing Qianhe to give up her position! Every time he thought about this, he felt more disgusted than if he had swallowed a fly! Even though he knew Mengyao was innocent, he couldn¡¯t treat her as his own child or give her the same respect and love as he did Yuxin and Yu Yang. Still, when Zhu Wanxia died, he had taken Mengyao in, let her live in their home, and when Mengyao wanted to move out later, he bought her a high-level apartment and kept it in her name. He tried to fulfill her requests as long as they were not excessive. However, this time, Mengyao had made an ugly scene! If she truly wanted the jade, he would buy it for her. Why must she snatch it from Yuxin? Jintang deeply loved Qianhe and valued his children, Yuxin and Yu Yang¡ªthey were both outstanding, which made him very proud and grateful for how well Qianhe had raised them. But for Mengyao... she grew up with Zhu Wanxia and was already fifteen when she came to the Fang Family. Her personality was already formed, and sometimes, even if Jintang wanted to guide her, seeing her looking so aggrieved, he ended up saying nothing. After Mengyao moved out, they saw even less of each other, and Jintang had even less chance to advise her. He regretted it immensely now. Had he known Mengyao would react like this, he certainly wouldn¡¯t have taken the item out in front of her. Seeing that Mengyao hadn¡¯t relented yet, he had no choice but to sternly shout, ¡°Mengyao! Come over and sit down!¡± His cold gaze seemed to pierce through her, revealing her innermost secrets. Although Mengyao was reluctant, thinking of her purpose for coming, she obediently went to sit down. Well, she couldn¡¯t get what she wanted this time, but it wasn¡¯t a big deal¡ªshe could find another way next time! Getting the money was the priority! Perhaps, she could even leverage this situation to get more money from Jintang! Thinking this made Mengyao feel a little better. Yuxin, on the other hand, went upstairs with the redwood box and returned to her room. Normally, she would have opened it downstairs, but now she had to be cautious of Mengyao, so she suppressed her excitement, went back to her room, locked the door, and carefully opened the box. The box contained a set of jade jewelry, including a necklace, earrings, a bracelet, and a brooch. The quality of the jade was excellent, with full luster and vibrant green, making it feel very much alive instead of just cold stone. Yet Yuxin couldn¡¯t discern anything beyond that. Remembering Mengyao¡¯s words earlier, she couldn¡¯t help but want to see if the bracelet was indeed a treasure. But just as she picked up a small knife, she thought of Mengyao downstairs. Mengyao¡¯s suspiciously strong attachment to the jewelry set made Yuxin wary of taking a risk that might give away any clues, so she put down the knife, locked the items up, and then gracefully went downstairs. However, once downstairs, Mengyao was nowhere to be seen. Startled, she couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Dad, Mom, where¡¯s Xiao Yao? Did she go back?¡± Qu Qianhe pointed towards the kitchen and said, ¡°She is in the kitchen. She said she made a mistake and wants to cook a dish herself to apologize to you.¡± Fang Jintang then motioned for Fang Yuxin to sit beside him and asked her, ¡°Xinxin, do you like that set of jewelry?¡± Fang Yuxin smiled and nodded, affectionately hugging Fang Jintang¡¯s arm, ¡°I really like it, thank you, Dad!¡± ¡°As long as you like it,¡± Fang Jintang was pleased to see her happy and thought for a moment before saying, ¡°Mengyao, you know, she was a bit reckless today. Just don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to put Fang Jintang in a difficult position. She wasn¡¯t a child who didn¡¯t know right from wrong; moreover, she wasn¡¯t sure whether that eerie dream was a real experience or a divine warning. In any case, she wouldn¡¯t give Fang Mengyao any chances to exploit, but she felt there was no need to worry Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe unnecessarily. So she said, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry, I understand. I won¡¯t take it to heart.¡± After speaking, she casually picked up an apple and a fruit knife from the fruit plate, quickly peeled and divided it into three portions, sharing them with Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe. Half an hour later, dinner was ready. Aunt Li brought out the dishes. The dinner was quite rich but not greasy, consisting of easily digestible food with moderate servings to avoid waste. Once the dishes were nearly all served, Aunt Li and Fang Mengyao came out together. Aunt Li was holding a large bowl of soup that smelled quite fragrant, the scent wafting into the living room from afar. Fang Mengyao followed her, smiling, ¡°Dad, Aunt Qu, Sister Xin, this is the chicken soup I stewed myself. You must try it.¡± She paused and then said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Sister Xin, I was being unreasonable just now. Won¡¯t you please not hold it against me? I made this soup myself as an apology.¡± Fang Yuxin smiled and nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t mind just for Dad¡¯s sake.¡± After finishing her sentence, she reached out to take the soup bowl, ¡°Let me take it, you¡¯ve worked hard, Aunt Li.¡± Aunt Li smiled and remained silent, prepared to hand over the soup bowl to Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin was used to helping out, so Aunt Li was accustomed to it. However, Fang Mengyao suddenly became alert and quickly intercepted Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, ¡°No need, Sister Xin, let Aunt Li do it.¡± Fang Yuxin was already suspicious, and this action only confirmed her suspicions. She then exerted a bit of force, and the soup bowl fell to the ground. The hot soup splashed out of the bowl, and Fang Yuxin yelped as if scalded, stepping back sharply and bumping into the dining table behind her. She then took the opportunity to sweep her arm across the table, knocking all the dishes to the floor! Fang Mengyao stared at the mess on the floor, her face livid. She had added a suppressant to the soup, a gift from a game package that was one-of-a-kind. Knowing that the apocalypse was approaching, and after being robbed of a treasure by Fang Yuxin, she bore a grudge and pretended to apologize by cooking, infusing the suppressant into the soup. To be on the safe side, she added some to the other dishes as well, using up the entire batch of the suppressant! The suppressant would inhibit the awakening of superpowers. Once ingested, these three would not be able to awaken their superpowers! She thought it was a foolproof plan, but Fang Yuxin utterly destroyed it! She glared at Fang Yuxin, unable to suppress her raging anger any longer, ¡°Fang Yuxin! What do you mean by this? Are you deliberately opposing me?¡± Chapter 8 - 8 006 Spirit Mansion Space ?Chapter 8: 006 Spirit Mansion Space! Chapter 8: 006 Spirit Mansion Space! Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t respond to Fang Mengyao¡¯s accusation but instead said, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault for not being careful enough. I¡¯ll go make something to eat in the kitchen, Aunt Li, please clean up here.¡± Though Aunt Li also felt that Fang Yuxin had been careless, especially since so much food was ruined, it was truly a shame. However, as the Fang Family¡¯s housekeeper, she naturally treated Fang Yuxin with more affection than she did Fang Mengyao. She smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it wasn¡¯t on purpose. I¡¯ll clean up here. Yuxin, you should quickly check and see if you burned yourself.¡± Fang Yuxin smiled slightly and turned towards the kitchen. She wasn¡¯t certain whether Fang Mengyao had added the so-called Suppressant or if something else had been tampered with the dishes, but with even a one in ten thousand chance, she didn¡¯t dare take the risk, which is why she purposely destroyed the food. Fang Mengyao was obviously not willing to let things go so easily. She had only one dose of the Suppressant, and it had been completely ruined by Fang Yuxin, so there was no possibility of using it again! What made her even more discontented was Fang Yuxin¡¯s disregard for her! It was Fang Yuxin who had done something wrong, so why shouldn¡¯t she apologize? Why ignore her? Fang Mengyao then called out, ¡°Fang Yuxin! Stop right there! You owe it to me to speak clearly, did you do that on purpose?¡± Initially reluctant to engage with her, Fang Yuxin turned around when Fang Mengyao persisted and said laughingly, ¡°Why would I do it on purpose? What makes you so sure that I did? What benefit would there be for me to do this?¡± Fang Mengyao found herself speechless in response to these questions. She felt certain that Fang Yuxin had done it intentionally and even suspected that Fang Yuxin might know something. But when questioned like this, how could Fang Mengyao respond? Indeed, what benefit would Fang Yuxin gain from such actions? Was she supposed to admit that she had tampered with the food? After some thought, Fang Mengyao said, ¡°Of course, you did it on purpose! You just wanted to ruin the soup I worked hard to make!¡± Fang Yuxin folded her arms and laughed, ¡°That¡¯s even more ridiculous. If I didn¡¯t like it, I could have just poured it out. Is there a need to destroy an entire table¡¯s worth of food and leave our parents without a meal?¡± Fang Mengyao was too angry to reply. She didn¡¯t know how to counter Fang Yuxin¡¯s arguments and felt unwilling to give up, wanting to say more. However, Qu Qianhe suddenly said, ¡°All right, Yuxin can¡¯t handle it alone. I¡¯ll help you in the kitchen. Jintang, why don¡¯t you have a chat with Xiao Yao?¡± Her tone was not heavy at all but rather very gentle. Yet, when Qu Qianhe¡¯s gaze passed lightly over Fang Mengyao, Fang Mengyao couldn¡¯t bring herself to voice her prepared words. She subconsciously felt that Qu Qianhe was even more difficult to deal with than Fang Yuxin, and if she persisted, Qu Qianhe would surely not let it go. Qu Qianhe stepped past the mess on the ground and walked up to Fang Yuxin, then pulled her into the kitchen. Fang Mengyao watched them enter the kitchen, hesitated for a moment, and then mustered the courage to say, ¡°Dad, I have something I want to talk to you about.¡± Fang Jintang glanced at the mess on the ground and sighed before saying, ¡°Come with me.¡± He, of course, knew that Fang Yuxin had done it on purpose, but he didn¡¯t want to blame her in front of Fang Mengyao and Aunt Li, so he had to pretend to be unaware. Fang Jintang took Fang Mengyao out to the small garden outside. The ground was covered with a lawn, and many flowers were planted around it. There was a leisure table and four chairs placed on the lawn, with a sun umbrella overhead, where the family of four would sometimes sit and talk. ... After Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin went into the kitchen, Qu Qianhe took out some fresh celery to slice and quietly asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°Yuxin, tell your mother the truth, why did you do that just now? I can see you did it on purpose.¡± Fang Yuxin was washing tomatoes when she heard her mother and paused, then she said, ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t trust her. Who knows if she¡¯ll add something weird to the dishes.¡± ¡°You,¡± Qu Qianhe shook her head with a resigned tone, ¡°next time don¡¯t do this, alright? A daughter raised by Qu Qianhe should not be so petty.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded: ¡°Mom, I understand.¡± The two of them quickly made four dishes in a total of twenty minutes. When they carried the dishes out, Fang Mengyao was already gone. Fang Jintang sat on the sofa, the mess on the floor had been cleaned up. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Dad? Where¡¯s Xiao Yao?¡± ¡°She¡¯s already left,¡± Fang Jintang clearly didn¡¯t want to elaborate, ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Fang Yuxin knew that Fang Mengyao never came to the Fang Family without a reason. Thinking about the sentence she had overheard in the kitchen, she guessed Fang Mengyao¡¯s visit was for more than just to tamper with the food. It was very likely about asking for money from Fang Jintang, and it must be a significant amount, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have needed to come in person. Fang Mengyao didn¡¯t continue to make a fuss and instead left straightforwardly; she probably got the money. However, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t ask Fang Jintang exactly how much he had given. She trusted Jintang to know the limit. The meal was eaten in silence. Afterward, Fang Jintang finally asked, ¡°Xinxin, Dad heard you closed down the family business and the supermarket, is that true?¡± Fang Yuxin immediately thought someone at the supermarket must have snitched, but since Fang Jintang was bound to find out sooner or later, she decided not to care who the informant was and simply nodded: ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve had some thoughts recently. Could you not ask for now? I¡¯ll tell you when the time is right.¡± Fang Jintang didn¡¯t seem to reprimand Fang Yuxin; he had asked just because he was aware of the situation. Both his children were excellent and always had a plan in mind, they definitely wouldn¡¯t act recklessly. So, he said, ¡°You are quite the mystery seller, child. Alright, Dad promises not to ask. But you also know the purpose of our family running the supermarket, and Dad hopes you can tell me the answer as soon as possible, okay?¡± That was certainly no problem, so Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad. You will know very soon.¡± After she spoke and saw Aunt Li cleaning up the plates into the kitchen, she followed her to ask for the previously destroyed food remnants. She packed them in a fresh-keeping box and took them back to her room. Upon returning to her room, she locked the door, and Angela, who was eating cat food, looked up and meowed softly, rubbing against her leg. Fang Yuxin had no time to cater to Angela right now. She took out the redwood box, then pulled a clean bowl out and placed the two bracelets inside the bowl. She also grabbed the first aid kit, took out disinfectant and bandages, and then cut her wrist, letting the blood flow into the bowl. When she did this, she wasn¡¯t sure what would happen¡ªonly the words from Fang Mengyao in her dream and her previous obsession with the jewelry had made her ponder deeply, leading her to take this risk. The blood dripped onto the bracelets without initial reaction, but as the blood submerged the bracelets, Fang Yuxin saw the blood being absorbed by them. Suddenly, one bracelet¡¯s green shade grew increasingly vivid, while the other remained unresponsive. Then, she suddenly felt a violent tremor in her mind, and the next moment, she found herself in a completely unfamiliar place. It was as if guided by an inexplicable intuition, Fang Yuxin murmured uncontrollably, ¡°Qingmu Spiritual Mansion.¡± Chapter 9 - 9 007 Cultivation Legacy ?Chapter 9: 007 Cultivation Legacy Chapter 9: 007 Cultivation Legacy Fang Yuxin found herself shrouded in a vast white mist, and as she uttered the words ¡°Qingmu Spiritual Mansion,¡± the fog around her suddenly dispersed, revealing a grand hall with an extremely expansive view. The hall was spacious, over a thousand square meters in area, yet it contained nothing superflous. In the center of the hall, a cyan lotus flower floated in midair. Fang Yuxin instinctively walked towards it. The petals of the lotus were incredibly thin, yet they were not real petals, but seemed like an illusion of something else. She reached out to touch a petal gently with her fingers, feeling a cool sensation that was very comforting. Then, starting at her fingertip, the lotus began to dissolve, transforming into cyan light that entered her body through her finger. Fang Yuxin felt her mind growing heavier, and she closed her eyes in a daze. Gradually, a sense of enlightenment began to blossom in her spirit. It turned out that the lotus was formed from the essence of the ¡°Chaos Green Lotus.¡± Though not the actual Chaos Green Lotus, it was nonetheless extremely precious, enough to entice even immortals. Since she possessed a Single Wood Spiritual Root, she was able to absorb it without any obstacles. Now, her body had been transformed into a Pure Wood Spirit Body, and as long as she practiced the Green Wood Technique sealed within the lotus, she could embark on the path of cultivation. This Qingmu Spiritual Mansion was a Spirit Mansion Space carved out with great power by a cultivator; it could also be understood as an inheritance space. By absorbing the lotus, she had received the previous owner¡¯s inheritance. After digesting the newly acquired knowledge in her mind, Fang Yuxin was stunned. She recalled that dream, where, due to Fang Mengyao¡¯s unsightly behavior, she gave up the Jade to avoid putting Fang Jintang in a difficult position. Coupled with Mengyao¡¯s words at the end of the dream, it was evident that she had obtained this Spirit Mansion Space! However... Fang Yuxin remembered that in her dream, Mengyao had not used any Wood Element Techniques. Was Mengyao concealing her strength, or did she not receive the inheritance at all? Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t find an answer, but since she now had the Spirit Mansion in her possession, there was no need to dwell on this question any longer. Fang Yuxin looked around the hall again and discovered that there were ten doorways on the walls, three on each of three walls and only one on the remaining wall. The floor was inscribed with complex runes and many lotus patterns. The runes on the floor formed a Spirit Gathering Array, and the lotus patterns were places to sit and cultivate. As for the doors on the walls, one led outside the hall, and the remaining nine opened to nine different areas: Alchemy Room, Artifact Room, warehouse, Scripture Pavilion, Treasure Pavilion, and trial land. Apart from the door leading outside and the warehouse, all the other doors were sealed, and could only be entered by breaking their seals. Fang Yuxin first visited the warehouse, which was sadly empty. The goods were all stored in the other spaces, accessible only after breaking the seals on their doors. Fortunately, the warehouse space was not small, so it could hold many items, and it had a preserving effect. After inspecting the warehouse, Fang Yuxin opened the door leading outside the hall to find a corridor. Beneath the corridor were white jade steps, ninety-nine in total. At the bottom was a platform nine meters wide and a hundred meters long, and beneath the platform flowed clear lake water. One could only see nine meters into the water; beyond that point, the view was obscured by hazy mist. This mist appeared ordinary but was actually a seal¡ªif one tried to peer into the mist, they would feel dizzy in less than a minute. Fang Yuxin swiftly surveyed her surroundings and found a Spiritual Spring on the left of the hall. A stream connected the spring and the lake, with the spring water flowing continuously into the lake without any backflow. Next to the spring was a Medicine Field with many Spiritual Medicines planted, none of which Fang Yuxin currently recognized. To the right of the hall was a spirit field, barren and empty, waiting for seeds. But Fang Yuxin could bring seeds in from the outside to plant there. Behind was a lush bamboo forest. Just like the Medicine Field, spirit field, and bamboo forest, the lake was only visible up to nine meters away, with everything beyond enshrouded in fog. Fang Yuxin had a feeling that the space was much larger, but what lay beyond would remain a mystery until the seals were undone. After her exploration, Fang Yuxin exited the Spirit Mansion and returned to her room. The blood in the bowl had completely vanished as if it had never existed. The bracelet that housed the Spirit Mansion Space had also disappeared, not truly gone but entered Fang Yuxin¡¯s Purple Mansion between her eyebrows, safeguarding her Divine Soul. Fang Yuxin attempted to store things in the warehouse. Because she had yet to begin her cultivation and her Spiritual Sense was weak, she could only store objects by physically touching them. However, once she stepped onto the path of cultivation, she would be able to store anything her Spiritual Sense touched within the warehouse. The matters of the Spirit Mansion, she had no intention of telling her family just yet. Instead, she planned to collect as many supplies as possible first. She had initially harbored a sliver of hope, treating it all as an absurd dream, but the increasingly severe influenza and the emergence of the space Spirit Mansion made her dare not hold onto any luck. Thinking of this, Fang Yuxin picked up her phone and made a call, ¡°Hello? Where are you right now? Can you do me a favor? Help me verify two things.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll bring the items to you right now.¡± After hanging up the phone, Fang Yuxin took the fresh-keeping box and left the house. It was only 8 o¡¯clock when she went out; Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang had not yet gone to bed and were watching TV in the living room. Seeing her going out, they couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Xinxin? Where are you going so late?¡± Fang Yuxin casually said, ¡°Going to meet a friend,¡± and ran out, leaving Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe exchanging smiles. When she reached the entrance of her friend¡¯s research institute, her friend was already waiting. Fang Yuxin handed over the pocket she was holding, which contained the fresh-keeping box and two other samples: ¡°Help me check if there¡¯s been anything added to these, and also, see if the owners of these two samples are blood relatives.¡± The other person didn¡¯t say much, took the items, and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do the tests when I get back and give you the results tomorrow.¡± Fang Yuxin thanked her, didn¡¯t stay long, and drove back home. After returning to her room, she recalled the scenes from her dream and began typing everything she remembered into her computer. It was already nine o¡¯clock when she got home, and by the time she finished recording, it was nearly midnight. After reviewing the recorded information, Fang Yuxin identified areas that needed attention and made a new list, then printed all of it and placed it into the space. The next day, Fang Yuxin left the house after breakfast. She first rented several warehouses, then called the suppliers who usually collaborated with the supermarket and ordered a large batch of supplies. She also placed orders for a large quantity of fuel, gas cylinders, and engines, instructing the deliverers to bring everything to the appointed warehouses. Having confirmed the orders, Fang Yuxin went to a store and bought a hoodie, casual pants, canvas shoes, prank glasses, and a mask. She changed into the disguise in her car and headed to an underground internet cafe?. The prank glasses were meant for jokes, resembling thick prescription lenses that even distorted the eyes. Paired with the hoodie and mask, her original appearance was completely concealed. Fang Yuxin chose a computer in a corner and, once it started up, wrote a post about the apocalypse. She then opened several popular forums, registered new accounts, and posted on each one. After quickly posting, she cleared the computer¡¯s history, shut down the machine, and left the internet cafe?. Back in the car and changed into her original clothes, Fang Yuxin checked her phone. Her friend hadn¡¯t sent a message yet. At the same time, in a villa in Beishi City, a young man was idly browsing a familiar forum when he suddenly spotted a post. Startled, he instinctively clicked on it. Then, he immediately shouted, ¡°Boss! Come and look at this!¡± Chapter 10 - 10 008 A task ?Chapter 10: 008 A task Chapter 10: 008 A task The loudspeaker crackled to life with a low male voice, sounding a bit impatient, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± The young man immediately responded, ¡°Boss, I saw an interesting post, I¡¯m sending it to you!¡± As he spoke, he opened the chat window and sent the link over. About a minute later, the male voice from the speaker commanded, ¡°Find out who posted it.¡± The young man was already on it, and in less than a minute, he had traced the IP address of the poster. He said, ¡°The post was made from a dark internet cafe in Market. The person must have been very cautious. But this makes the content of the post all the more intriguing.¡± The voice spoke again, ¡°Hmm, this person definitely knows something. Erase your tracks, don¡¯t let anyone trace it back to us. Also, send me the address of that internet cafe and check the local surveillance, see if we can find this person.¡± It took a bit longer this time, nearly ten minutes, before the young man found a few photos from the surveillance footage. He sent the photos along and said, ¡°Boss, this person is really cautious, dresses up like a man, has disguised their face, and kept their head down the whole time, never letting the cameras catch a full face shot.¡± Seconds later, the voice came with unassailable authority, ¡°She¡¯s a woman, and she definitely knows something. Check the other surveillance cameras in the area, see if you can find her. Also, wipe the surveillance of any traces, I don¡¯t want anyone else seeing this.¡± The young man said with a snicker, ¡°I knew it was a woman! Don¡¯t worry, Boss, I, Hou San, will definitely help you find this little beauty! Heh heh heh~~~~¡± However, as the search continued, the figure vanished from all surveillance, disappearing in a busy area with lots of people and cars. It was as if finding her was as hard as scaling the heavens. Clearly, she had been well-prepared! Hou San had no choice but to erase all traces from the surveillance and then report back the results. The ¡®Boss¡¯ didn¡¯t say much more, and at that moment his phone beeped with a text message. Upon reading the content, his face darkened. Hou San didn¡¯t see it, but he could sense something was off and asked worriedly, ¡°Boss? What¡¯s wrong? Is it because of that text just now?¡± The man, not in the best mood, answered, ¡°Yeah, the main house wants me to come over, there¡¯s a new task.¡± Hou San, hearing this, instantly grew irritable, ¡°Damn it, is it that bastard Bai Yu with his pretty-boy face causing trouble again?¡± Without a reply, the man¡¯s silence served as affirmation. Hou San advised, ¡°Boss, if you ask me, just don¡¯t bother with them anymore. Bunch of bastards, not a single good one among them! Especially that bastard Bai Yu, how much trouble has he caused us already? That guy¡¯s no good at all!¡± But the man said, ¡°I¡¯ll go have a look first. This is the last task of the year, and if it¡¯s not troublesome, I¡¯ll take it. Then I¡¯ll be free for the second half of the year.¡± Hou San wanted to persuade him further but stopped upon hearing this. The tasks they got, weren¡¯t they always troublesome? Even if the tasks themselves weren¡¯t problematic, with that bastard Bai Yu involved, they could become dozens of times more so! Yet, as the man said, this was indeed the last task of the year, and after that, they¡¯d be free for the latter half. So he didn¡¯t try to dissuade him any further. After visiting the main house, it turned out the task wasn¡¯t troublesome at all¡ªjust find someone in Market and escort them back to Beishi City. Of course, this would¡¯ve been truly simplistic if one ignored the fact that Market was a flu hotspot and the stronghold of the Qiu Family. He had originally not planned to accept this mission, knowing Bai Yu must have set a trap for him in Market, but thinking about that mysterious post, he decided to take the risk. If the content of the post was true, then he had to find a way to locate the mysterious poster; if false, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about the dangers in Market anymore. After accepting the mission, he returned home. He would be away for a few days and needed to inform his family. As soon as he opened the door, Bai Qianqian, who had been sitting on the living room sofa, immediately turned her head around. Her eyes lit up upon seeing him, and she jumped off the sofa and ran towards him, ¡°Daddy!¡± The man bent down to pick up his child, noting that she felt heavier than before and frowning at the crumbs around her plump face, he reprimanded, ¡°You¡¯ve gained weight again. Didn¡¯t we agree you wouldn¡¯t eat too many sweets?¡± Bai Qianqian squinted her eyes, then rubbed her chubby face against his chest, leaving his white shirt immediately covered in cookie crumbs. His face darkened, and he put Bai Qianqian down firmly, saying with a stern voice, ¡°Go do your homework,¡± before going to his room to shower and change clothes. Bai Qianqian scoffed and muttered, ¡°I finished my homework ages ago.¡± After he left, she returned to the couch and grabbed a cookie from a small plate and began eating it noisily, ¡°crunch, crunch.¡± Shui Rou, who had been curled up on the sofa, let out a long sigh of relief once he was gone and patted her chest, ¡°That scared me to death; Xiao Ye is getting more and more fierce.¡± She then warned Bai Qianqian, ¡°Qianqian, don¡¯t eat anymore. Look, Xiao Ye is angry now. Be careful, or he might hit you later!¡± Bai Qianqian¡¯s hand, reaching for a cookie, paused mid-air. She turned to look at Shui Rou, blinked, then glanced at the remaining cookies on the plate with a conflicted look. She solemnly spoke, ¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t eat anymore. Little Putao was right, unwanted old men are the worst!¡± ¡°Bai Qianqian! What did you just say? I didn¡¯t hear you!¡± Bai Ye¡¯s voice suddenly came from behind, startling both Shui Rou and Bai Qianqian so much that they nearly jumped out of their skins. They stiffly turned their heads to see Bai Ye standing behind the sofa, holding a travel bag. Shui Rou frowned, ¡°Xiao Ye, are you going out again?¡± Bai Qianqian also didn¡¯t look too happy, pouting and glaring at the man as if about to cry. Seeing their expressions, the hint of anger in Bai Ye dissipated. He reached out to pat Bai Qianqian on the head and spoke to Shui Rou, ¡°I¡¯ve taken a mission and will be gone for a few days. I¡¯ll leave after we eat dinner together.¡± Bai Qianqian looked at the travel bag in his hand and felt immensely upset. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What mission is it? Dad, when are you going to bring Mom back?¡± Bai Ye and Shui Rou¡¯s faces both shifted as they heard this. He struggled to say, ¡°Your mom... she¡¯s in a very far place and can¡¯t come back for now. In the future, I promise to bring her back, okay?¡± Bai Qianqian¡¯s eyes turned red with anger, ¡°You¡¯re lying! That¡¯s exactly what you said last year!¡± She screamed and then burrowed into Shui Rou¡¯s arms, crying loudly, ¡°Grandma! I want Mom! All my classmates have moms; why don¡¯t I? Can you ask Dad to bring Mom back, please?¡± Neither Shui Rou nor Bai Ye could find the words to respond. Bai Qianqian was a child Bai Ye had found within an underground organization. Someone had stolen his Mi Qingzi to create a test-tube baby, and that baby was Bai Qianqian. When Bai Ye discovered this, he tracked down the underground organization and rescued Bai Qianqian. However, all the data had been destroyed, and he had no idea who Bai Qianqian¡¯s mother was. After lunch with his family, Bai Ye rushed off, leaving Bai Qianqian without the answers she wanted. She felt listless, barely touching her lunch. Shui Rou prepared her favorite little cakes, but she refused to eat and instead went back to her room alone. Once in her room, Bai Qianqian logged into QQ and started to vent to her friend Little Putao. While complaining, her phone suddenly rang. Bai Qianqian curiously picked up, facing an unknown number. Her curiosity peaked, she answered, ¡°Hello? Who is this?¡± A woman¡¯s voice came through the phone, ¡°Your mom is at Shangshi Liren Hospital, she¡¯s dying. If you¡¯re late, you won¡¯t be able to see her.¡± Bai Qianqian¡¯s hand trembled, and the phone fell to the ground, the call cutting off immediately. Chapter 11 - 11 009 News ?Chapter 11: 009 News Chapter 11: 009 News Just past noon, Fang Yuxin¡¯s phone rang. She checked it and saw a message from her friend. The message said that a mysterious substance was found in the food residue; what exactly it was, the equipment couldn¡¯t yet determine. However, the DNA test results of the two samples she had sent proved that the individuals were sisters. This result was not what Fang Yuxin wanted. In her dream, Fang Mengyao had said, ¡°The real Fang Mengyao has long been dead,¡± which had deeply troubled her. She had thought this Fang Mengyao was an imposter, but the fact proved that Fang Mengyao was indeed her sister. So, where exactly was the problem? She called the other party, ¡°Li Qingyun, I received the message. Thank you. By the way, when can the results for the mysterious substance be determined?¡± The person replied quickly, ¡°That¡¯s hard to say. The composition of this substance is very special; some components still can¡¯t be identified. I will keep looking and let you know as soon as we have something. From what we¡¯ve detected so far, this substance likely has some inhibitory effects on the cells, but which aspects specifically, I¡¯m not entirely sure.¡± Instantly, Fang Yuxin remembered the ¡®Suppressant¡¯ Fang Mengyao mentioned in her dream. Although Li Qingyun said he hadn¡¯t determined the exact results yet, she believed it must be the ¡®Suppressant¡¯. According to what Fang Mengyao had implied, its function could likely be to suppress the awakening of superpowers! Fang Yuxin tried to keep her tone calm, ¡°If it¡¯s too much trouble, then don¡¯t bother with further testing. Thank you for this, Li Qingyun. I¡¯ll treat you to dinner sometime.¡± Li Qingyun didn¡¯t ask further and politely ended the call. Fang Yuxin checked the time, drove to the supermarket, and had someone move all the shelves and goods to the supermarket¡¯s own warehouse. The warehouse was not small, but it looked packed after storing everything. After sending the workers away, she moved everything in the warehouse into the space¡¯s storage room, including the freezers, leaving nothing behind. Only then did she lock the door and leave the supermarket. Since the supermarket had closed, she had taken back the keys to the warehouse and supermarket from the employees, so she wasn¡¯t worried about someone sneaking in and discovering everything was gone. Emptying the supermarket had taken quite some time. By the time she got home, it was already seven in the evening. When she entered, she saw Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe sitting in the living room, though Fang Jintang¡¯s complexion looked exceedingly grim. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t bother to go to her room to shower and change but went straight to sit down, asking Fang Jintang, ¡°Dad? What¡¯s wrong? Why do you look so upset? Has something happened?¡± Fang Jintang leaned his head back on the sofa, looking exhausted, ¡°Yaoyao has sold the house and vanished. When I called her, she said she was traveling to clear her mind and told me not to look for her. Calls after that just went straight to voicemail. This child... why on earth would she sell a perfectly good house in such a great area?¡± He had told Fang Mengyao when he bought that apartment for her that he wouldn¡¯t buy her another. He wasn¡¯t exactly lying, but he was also worried about Fang Mengyao being deceived at such a young age. Yet, he hadn¡¯t expected that just yesterday he had given Fang Mengyao a million, and she had turned around and sold the house! What on earth did she want so much money for? And after selling the house, where did she plan to live? Fang Yuxin had already found Fang Mengyao suspicious, and upon hearing this, she became even more alert and asked, ¡°Dad! Did she ask you for money yesterday? How much did you give her?¡± She hadn¡¯t planned to ask this question, but now she felt she had to. Fang Jintang said indifferently, ¡°She asked me for ten million yesterday, but I gave her one million, and she turned and left.¡± As he reached the last few words, his tone carried a hint of mockery. Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe were both startled upon hearing this; they hadn¡¯t expected Mengyao to dare ask for such a large sum! Fang Jintang also found it laughable¡ªhis children¡¯s total allowance throughout their lives didn¡¯t even amount to a million! Qu Qianhe was strict with the children; she never gave them extra pocket money. Both Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had to earn their own money. The most expensive gifts he and Qu Qianhe had ever given their children were high-performance cars for each on their eighteenth birthdays, and occasionally, Jade for Fang Yuxin, but that wasn¡¯t often¡ªit really depended on the occasion. Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin had been sensible from a young age, never asking for things directly. If they liked something, they generally saved their own money to buy it. Seeing his distressed look, Qu Qianhe moved to sit closer and patted his hand to comfort him, ¡°Let it be, whatever she wants to do, she¡¯s an adult now. You can¡¯t keep controlling her, can you?¡± Fearing her father would worry, Fang Yuxin thought for a moment then said, ¡°Dad, Mom, you might not know, but the flu going around is quite severe now. Online, they¡¯re even saying it¡¯s the end of the world. Maybe Xiao Yao saw something like that and thus decided to sell the house and gather funds to buy supplies?¡± After she finished speaking, worried they might not believe her, she specifically took out her tablet, pulled up the post she had shared, and showed it to them, ¡°Look, I saw this post online today.¡± Initially, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were skeptical about her mention of the apocalypse, but their expressions changed slightly after reading the content of the post. The post spoke authoritatively, almost convincingly, as if the end of the world was truly imminent. The post that Fang Yuxin shared actually contained reserved information. She only mentioned that the current flu was, in fact, the Zombie Virus; people running a high fever were actually undergoing a transformation, turning into zombies or superpower users. She also roughly described the types and characteristics of zombies and superpower users. In fact, on the day of the apocalypse, a meteorite would hit the Earth. This meteorite had appeared suddenly, going undetected by global monitoring satellites initially. Once it entered the atmosphere, it would split into countless fragments, some of which contained a mysterious Crystal Stone; not all fragments contained these Crystal Stones, thus those that did were called Elemental Stones, and the stones themselves were called Elemental Crystals. Elemental Crystals came in various types; once absorbed by Ordinary People, they could awaken corresponding superpowers. Superpower users could only absorb Elemental Crystals of the same type, although they couldn¡¯t evolve new superpowers, they could enhance their talent. Since individuals varied, the talent of superpower users who awakened superpowers also differed. Those with poor talent would have weak superpowers and couldn¡¯t Cultivate powerful Skills, limiting their potential achievements. However, those with good talent could possess powerful superpowers and even had the chance of understanding powerful Skills, leading to boundless future achievements. In that bizarre dream, only Fang Yuyang had awakened a superpower in the Fang Family because he wasn¡¯t home when Mengyao took the Suppressant; he was on a business trip. His talent was quite good, but unfortunately, it was later ruined by someone! Now, Fang Yuxin knew that the events in the dream might indeed occur; all she could do was prepare early and protect her family well! As for Mengyao, if she ever dared to play tricks and harm her family again, Fang Yuxin would never let her off! Just then, Fang Yuxin¡¯s phone rang. Seeing the name on the caller ID, her emotions instantly became extremely complicated. It was actually... him! Chapter 12 - 12 010 Mama save me ?Chapter 12: 010 Mama save me! Chapter 12: 010 Mama save me! The call was from Qiu Yiming. Fang Yuxin had a decent relationship with him, but both were busy, so they didn¡¯t contact each other that often. However, ever since that peculiar dream, Fang Yuxin¡¯s feelings for Qiu Yiming had become complex, even thoroughly eroded by the lengthy dream. These past couple of days, she had deliberately tried to forget about Qiu Yiming¡¯s existence, yet unexpectedly, he called. Staring at the familiar yet foreign name, Fang Yuxin¡¯s emotions turned exceptionally intricate. In her dream, after the apocalypse had arrived, she and her parents had not managed to awaken superpowers, and the Fang Family hadn¡¯t had the foresight to stockpile supplies. The only one who had awakened a superpower was Fang Yuyang. Originally, they had planned to grab some supplies from a supermarket, but by the time they got there, it had already been looted. The place was a mess, many things scattered on the ground, trampled and broken. They went to the supermarket¡¯s warehouse, but it had already been emptied by others; nothing was left except zombies on the floor. Later on, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe even died trying to protect them, becoming an eternal pain in the siblings¡¯ hearts. And that wasn¡¯t all. Later, the siblings encountered Fang Mengyao. The three of them went to the villa she had purchased, but later Fang Mengyao teamed up with others to slander the Fang Family and even drove the siblings out. Even Qiu Yiming chose to believe Fang Mengyao, eventually ending up together with her. She knew that without having awakened a superpower, she was a burden and not worthy of Qiu Yiming, a superpower user. Qiu Yiming¡¯s choice of Fang Mengyao was the wise one, so she didn¡¯t hate Qiu Yiming, but her past affection had also been completely erased, leaving nothing behind. Now, even though she logically understood it was only a dream and those things hadn¡¯t actually happened, the affection that had been erased couldn¡¯t be reignited. Since she didn¡¯t answer, the phone eventually stopped ringing on its own. Then, Qiu Yiming sent a text message: ¡°Xinxin, are you busy? Why didn¡¯t you answer the call?¡± Fang Yuxin thought for a moment, didn¡¯t reply to his message, and simply put her phone back in her bag. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, although curious about her not answering the phone, didn¡¯t ask further. Both were thinking about the apocalypse. Logically, they decided it was nonsense, utterly ridiculous, but emotionally, they couldn¡¯t help but worry. Perhaps it was a premonition, both felt uneasy, a sense of a storm approaching. Fang Jintang thought for a bit and asked, ¡°Xinxin, since you¡¯ve seen the post, what do you think about this matter?¡± Fang Yuxin had already prepared her answer, so she said, ¡°Dad, Mom, I think it¡¯s better to be safe than sorry. Although I¡¯m not sure if it will really happen, it¡¯s good to be prepared just in case. Even if the apocalypse doesn¡¯t arrive in the end, with our resources, reselling the stockpiled goods won¡¯t be difficult.¡± Fang Jintang thought of home and the supermarket and suddenly asked, ¡°Xinxin, tell Daddy the truth. Did you know about this beforehand? Is that why you decided to close the supermarket?¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t hide it and said, ¡°Dad, Mom, do you remember the nightmare I had the night before last? At that time, I dreamed of the apocalypse and was a bit worried, so I found an excuse to close the supermarket. Initially, I didn¡¯t really believe it, but after seeing this post today and how it resembles what I dreamed, it felt very wrong, so I believed it to be about 70-80% likely.¡± Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe remembered the extremely agonizing scream they had heard in the middle of the night, which had woken them up. Later Qu Qianhe specifically went to Fang Yuxin¡¯s bedroom because she was worried about her. Since Fang Yuxin had consistently refused to reveal the contents of her dream, they didn¡¯t probe further and kept their worries to themselves. When they found out she had dreamed about the apocalypse, connecting it with the contents of the post, both had a guess that the scene Fang Yuxin had dreamed of must have been terrifying, otherwise she couldn¡¯t have screamed like that. Qu Qianhe couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Xinxin, what exactly did you dream of? Did you dream that something happened to your dad, me, and your brother?¡± Apart from that, Qu Qianhe couldn¡¯t think of any other reason. She knew her daughter well; Fang Yuxin was always emotionally strong. She would not be in such pain if it were just about the apocalypse unless something had happened to them. As Fang Yuxin recalled the scene from her dream, her eyes suddenly reddened and even teared up. She threw herself into Qu Qianhe¡¯s arms, sobbing, ¡°Mom! Don¡¯t say it! I won¡¯t let anything happen to you! Those things will never happen!¡± Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang exchanged glances, immediately realizing that Fang Yuxin must have dreamed something happened to them. They both felt heartbroken, but they did not believe that the things in the dream would actually happen. So, Qu Qianhe patted Fang Yuxin on the back and said, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t be scared. We¡¯ll be fine.¡± Fang Yuxin cried for quite a while before stopping. That eerie dream had tensed her nerves for the past two days, making her feel extremely oppressed, yet unable to vent. Now that she had cried, all her repressed emotions were released, and she felt relieved, almost as if she had been transformed. Her crying delayed dinner, and by the time they finished, it was already eight o¡¯clock. Shortly after returning to her room, her phone rang again. It was still Qiu Yiming calling. This time, she hesitated but eventually answered the call. As soon as the call connected, Qiu Yiming¡¯s magnetic voice came through the speaker, ¡°Xinxin? You finally answered my call. What¡¯s wrong? Have you been very busy lately?¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s voice was light, ¡°Nothing much, just busy with the supermarket stuff. Is there something you needed?¡± Qiu Yiming keenly sensed a change in her attitude; it seemed a bit cold. He began to wonder if Fang Yuxin knew about Fang Mengyao confessing to him. But he had rejected Fang Mengyao, she couldn¡¯t be jealous over that, could she? Thinking that Fang Yuxin might be jealous, his mood instantly improved, even his face brightened with a radiant smile, and his voice became more cheerful, ¡°Tomorrow is the weekend. How about lunch at noon, same old place?¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t really want to go, but it seemed inappropriate to just refuse, so after hesitating, she agreed. Afterward, Qiu Yiming spoke a few more words, but Fang Yuxin¡¯s attitude remained indifferent, and they didn¡¯t talk for long before hanging up. The next day, after breakfast, Fang Yuxin went out to the seed and plant market, bought various seeds and seedlings, then drove to the medicinal plant base to pick some medicinal plant seedlings, and later went to the seafood market to buy various types of aquatic products like live fish, shrimp, and crabs. After purchasing them, she found a secluded spot to secretly stow them in her space for storage or cultivation. By the time she finished these tasks, it was already eleven o¡¯clock. Thinking of Qiu Yiming¡¯s invitation, she frowned and drove to meet him. Halfway there, a little child suddenly dashed out onto the road, frightening her into slamming on the brakes immediately. Fortunately, the car performed well, and nobody was hit. Even so, she got out of the car and approached the little boy, asking, ¡°Are you alright? Did I hit you? Do you need to go to the hospital?¡± The boy, about four or five years old, looked up at Fang Yuxin and suddenly hugged her legs, crying out loudly, ¡°Mama, save me! There are bad people chasing me!¡± Chapter 13 - 13 011 Her son ?Chapter 13: 011 Her son Chapter 13: 011 Her son Yuxin originally wanted to see if she had hurt the child, but to her surprise, the child suddenly embraced her. Feeling the unfamiliar body heat emanating from the child, Yuxin froze in shock, her expression remained calm, but her heart couldn¡¯t help suspecting that this was a trap deliberately set up by someone. Therefore, she looked around with wary eyes, trying to spot any suspicious individuals while regretting that she hadn¡¯t taken out her phone; otherwise, she could have called the police. Bai Qianqian lifted her chubby face, equally stunned as she looked at Yuxin. Their eyes were so similar, could it really be her mama? Just then, a man and a woman rushed out from a nearby alley and charged towards Yuxin, intending to grab Bai Qianqian. Bai Qianqian, terrified, ducked behind Yuxin, clinging tightly to her legs and loudly cried out, ¡°Mama, they are human traffickers! They want to sell Qianqian deep into the mountains!¡± There were quite a few people on the street, and since Bai Qianqian was a child, everyone was concerned when they saw him almost get hit by a car; now, hearing his words, the crowd¡¯s views toward the man and the woman turned hostile, with some even suggesting calling the police. Both the man and the woman were well-dressed and appeared to be economically capable. However, Yuxin could tell that these two were trained fighters, definitely not ordinary people! Ever since she experienced that dream, many things had changed for her. Some abilities she never possessed before had now become instinctive. She subconsciously protected Bai Qianqian behind her and watched the two of them vigilantly, ¡°Are you human traffickers?¡± It was the first time the pair had been called human traffickers, and their faces turned extremely ugly. The woman said, ¡°Who are you calling a human trafficker? Don¡¯t go spouting accusations! I am Qianqian¡¯s mom!¡± As soon as her words fell, Bai Qianqian loudly retorted, ¡°You¡¯re lying, you¡¯re exactly a human trafficker, you¡¯re not my mom!¡± The man was quick-witted and, with a turn of his eyes, said, ¡°What are you causing a fuss about, child? Just because we didn¡¯t buy you a toy, you don¡¯t even recognize your own parents? Be a good boy, Qianqian! Come home with daddy and mommy, whatever you want, they¡¯ll buy it for you!¡± As he spoke, he twisted his body, attempting to grab Bai Qianqian from behind Yuxin. Yuxin caught his wrist in an instant, and his expression changed at once, staring viciously at Yuxin as he warned in a low voice, ¡°You meddling bitches! If you want to live, don¡¯t get involved! You think I won¡¯t snatch you up too?¡± Yuxin¡¯s gaze turned icy, she twisted the man¡¯s wrist forcefully while pivoting her body, her left elbow slammed hard into the man¡¯s chest. As he bent over from the pain, she executed a smooth shoulder throw, hurling him forcefully to the ground. Seeing things going south, the woman, no longer pretending, darted forward to grab Bai Qianqian. However, Bai Qianqian cleverly jumped onto Yuxin¡¯s car and locked the door. The woman stretched her arm through the car window, attempting to pull him out, but Bai Qianqian promptly raised the window. Beside the seat in Yuxin¡¯s car, there was homemade pepper spray in a non-transparent cosmetic water bottle filled with pepper water. Bai Qianqian spotted it, grabbed it, and sprayed the woman. Thinking it was just cosmetic water, the woman didn¡¯t take it seriously and got sprayed directly in the face. The pepper water got into her eyes, causing a fiery, stabbing pain, and the woman immediately screamed in agony. By that time, Yuxin had thrown the man out, and turning around, she saw the woman leaning on the car window. Yuxin grabbed her from behind and tossed her out too, landing her right on top of the man who was trying to get up. Bai Qianqian, thinking about the woman¡¯s ordeal, felt as if he had done something wrong. Seeing Yuxin approach, he quickly tossed the pepper spray back into the small box beside the car seat and then willingly opened the car door and got out. Fang Yuxin glanced at the silent pair and went back to her car to get her phone, ready to call the police. However, as soon as the man and woman saw her take out her phone, they ignored their pain and ran away at a startling speed. Fang Yuxin had just dialed the number when Bai Qianqian suddenly hugged her leg and looked up at her with a pitiful expression, ¡°Mama, can you not send me away? I¡¯ll be really good.¡± Fang Yuxin furrowed her brows and had to hang up the phone. Although there weren¡¯t many cars on this road, she had stopped in the middle of it, which was hardly a place to have a conversation. She had no choice but to let Bai Qianqian get into the car first, then she drove to the intersection and stopped before telling him, ¡°I¡¯m not your mom, you¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else. Also, where¡¯s your dad? Do you have your family¡¯s phone number? I can call them for you.¡± She actually quite liked the child, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have intervened in the street. But as much as she liked him, she couldn¡¯t just take him home; it was better to contact the child¡¯s family. Bai Qianqian of course remembered Bai Ye¡¯s and his family¡¯s phone number, but he didn¡¯t want to say it now. He knew that if he told Fang Yuxin, she would definitely send him back, and he didn¡¯t want to leave her. He felt that Fang Yuxin was his mama, seeing as they looked so much alike. In fact, the eyes and mouth of the two indeed resembled each other¡ªthey both had phoenix eyes with upward-tail corners. However, their eyes weren¡¯t narrow; they were both quite large, yet not disproportional. Since Bai Qianqian was still young and had large pupils, his eyes appeared round and especially adorable. Their lips were plump and full, not too thick, with the corners slightly upturned, but the curvature wasn¡¯t so pronounced, so it didn¡¯t seem like they were obviously smiling. Bai Qianqian, holding his fingers, stubbornly said, ¡°You are my mama!¡± Then he quickly lowered his head; he didn¡¯t dare to look at Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression, afraid that she wouldn¡¯t like him. He had heard before that his mama didn¡¯t like him and that¡¯s why she never came to see him, yet he had always been good. Fang Yuxin felt helpless, every time she picked up her phone, Bai Qianqian would look at her with pitiful eyes, and she simply couldn¡¯t bring herself to call the police. What¡¯s more, the child seemed to have decided that she was his mother. After struggling for a bit, Fang Yuxin decided to ask Li Qingyun for help and have another paternity test done. The child seemed intelligent, and with the results, he probably wouldn¡¯t keep insisting, right? She then called Li Qingyun, made an appointment, and took Bai Qianqian there, completely forgetting about her arranged meeting with Qiu Yiming. By the time she arrived at Li Qingyun¡¯s workplace, the research institute, with Bai Qianqian, it was already past 12 o¡¯clock¡ªshe definitely wouldn¡¯t make it on time. Fang Yuxin gave Li Qingyun the samples and called Qiu Yiming, mentioning that something urgent had come up and had to cancel their date. Fortunately, Qiu Yiming said that he had something urgent as well and didn¡¯t blame Fang Yuxin, even adding that they could meet some other time. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t care to find out whether Qiu Yiming¡¯s ¡®urgent matter¡¯ was just an excuse or not, as her entire focus was drawn to Bai Qianqian at that moment. Bai Qianqian was very bright, and he realized what Fang Yuxin was attempting to do when she was taking the samples. He had originally thought that Fang Yuxin was his mama, but as he watched her clearly not recognize him and even bring him for a test, he concluded that he had guessed wrong. After all, he was just a child and couldn¡¯t quite handle such a blow; his plump little face filled with bewilderment and helplessness, looking so pitiable that Fang Yuxin felt her heart tighten. The results came back quickly, and as Fang Yuxin saw Li Qingyun coming out with the document, she had just let out a sigh of relief when she heard him say, ¡°Tell me, when did you ever have a son? How come I didn¡¯t know about it?¡± Fang Yuxin felt like she had been struck by lightning¡ªher son? She had never had any children; what sort of joke was Li Qingyun making? Chapter 14 - 14 012 Appraisal ?Chapter 14: 012 Appraisal Chapter 14: 012 Appraisal Qiu Yiming looked grimly at the man and woman before him, ¡°You mean to say, we were almost about to capture him, but a woman intervened and rescued him halfway? And she even beat you up?¡± Both of them shamefully bowed their heads even lower. They had not expected that despite her young age and frail appearance, the woman was surprisingly swift and ruthless, catching them completely off-guard! The woman was so furious she clenched her teeth; that little brat was too much, actually using pepper spray on her! And that woman, so sinister! Filling a makeup remover bottle with pepper spray! Her eyes still burned painfully! Qiu Yiming snorted coldly and asked, ¡°Do you know who that woman is?¡± Both of them shook their heads, then the man said, ¡°I took down her license plate number, we can find her through that.¡± He then recited the number. Upon hearing this, Qiu Yiming¡¯s expression instantly changed, and he frowned deeply, looking at him coldly, ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t see it wrong? Is it really that number?¡± The man hastily nodded, not understanding why Qiu Yiming reacted with such an expression. Qiu Yiming¡¯s mood worsened, and he cursed at them, then kicked both of them out. Before kicking them out, he warned, ¡°I know who she is, don¡¯t go looking for trouble with her, and don¡¯t show up in front of her again!¡± Although they were curious, they dared not disobey. After they left, Qiu Yiming immediately dialed a number. As soon as it connected, he asked, ¡°Was there a report of a child found at around 11:30 today? A boy, five years old.¡± Hearing the other side say no, he then asked, ¡°What about from 11 o¡¯clock until now? Has there been any report?¡± The answer was still no, and Qiu Yiming¡¯s face grew uglier. Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t called the police, so she likely called either Bai Ye or Bai Ye¡¯s house. In that case, their plan to use Bai Qianqian as leverage against Bai Ye wouldn¡¯t work. Angrily, Qiu Yiming kicked the table several times, picked up his phone intending to call Fang Yuxin to ask her, yet hesitated, unsure of how to bring it up. How would he know that Fang Yuxin had picked up a child? It would be bad if Fang Yuxin misunderstood that he was surveilling her, she was a clever woman! So, after hesitating, he made another call, ¡°Check the call records of this number for today, the number is 189XXXXXXXX, send them to me after you find them.¡± About three minutes later, he received an MMS, showing Fang Yuxin¡¯s mobile phone call records for the day. Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t made many calls that day; one was to him, and another number also looked familiar, it was Li Qingyun¡¯s, the remaining one was an emergency call, though the call duration wasn¡¯t long. The police had said they hadn¡¯t received any reports, meaning Fang Yuxin had hung up before mentioning Bai Qianqian¡¯s situation. Oddly enough, Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t called Bai Ye or Bai Ye¡¯s house either. Could it be that she still had Bai Qianqian with her? Why? But if that was indeed the case, as long as Bai Qianqian hadn¡¯t contacted Bai Ye or his house, he could still use that to his advantage. ... Fang Yuxin felt unwell after hearing Li Qingyun¡¯s words. She glanced at Bai Qianqian¡¯s joyfully smiling face and did not want to upset him, so she pulled Li Qingyun aside and lowered her voice, ¡°Qingyun, don¡¯t talk nonsense! I don¡¯t even know him; he is definitely not my son!¡± Li Qingyun had originally intentioned to tease Fang Yuxin, and upon hearing her, he frowned, ¡°Impossible! I just ran the tests, there can¡¯t be a mistake. Look, here is the report! The similarity is 99.9%; I refuse to believe he¡¯s not your son.¡± Fang Yuxin took the report that Li Qingyun tossed to her and felt even worse after reading it. She thought Li Qingyun was joking with her, but the report indeed showed a 99.9% similarity, confirming a mother-son relationship. How could this be possible? She was certain she had never had a child! Seeing her complexion, Li Qingyun lowered his voice and asked, ¡°Do you really not know?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, her emotions incredibly mixed. This situation was too coincidental to not arouse her suspicion. The child had abruptly run to the front of her car, hugged her legs calling out ¡®Mama,¡¯ and was being chased by a man and a woman, forcing her to intervene. He also refused to let her call the police and wouldn¡¯t say who his parents were. The whole situation seemed like a conspiracy. But DNA doesn¡¯t lie; the child was her son! She had never met him or known of his existence, yet his blood ran through her veins! If this was a plot, what was the purpose? Where did this child come from? He looked to be about four or five years old; could it be that someone had planned everything five or six years ago to use this child against her? Fang Yuxin found it all absurd! If it was for the Fang Family¡¯s wealth, targeting her father and brother would have been much more effective than targeting her! Moreover, even if someone had indeed created this child to scheme against her, why wait until the child was four or five years old to approach her? Or was this all just a coincidence? Or could there be an error with Li Qingyun¡¯s test, or even with Li Qingyun himself? Considering what she knew about Li Qingyun, Fang Yuxin silently shook her head internally; Li Qingyun was not that sort of person. Besides, in that dream, Li Qingyun had awoken his Water Ability superpower, frequently aiding her. Otherwise, she couldn¡¯t have lasted as long. Seeing her continuously changing expressions, Li Qingyun knew something was off. Moreover, he and Fang Yuxin were not only friends but also classmates, and given the child¡¯s age, Fang Yuxin would have been pregnant during their freshman year. But at that time, Fang Yuxin was definitely not pregnant! Uncertain herself, Li Qingyun suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s re-sample and I¡¯ll test again.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, a faint hope visible in her eyes. She truly hoped that Li Qingyun was wrong. Otherwise, she couldn¡¯t explain where this child had come from. Although Bai Qianqian did not hear what Fang Yuxin and Li Qingyun had discussed, he sensed that Fang Yuxin was reluctant to accept him, and he hung his head in despondency. However, he still cooperated when Li Qingyun re-sampled. After Li Qingyun returned to the research institute with the samples, Fang Yuxin, looking at the disheartened Bai Qianqian, suddenly found herself at a loss for words. Although she was the victim, at that moment, she felt guilty and even unsure of what to say. Bai Qianqian seemed to desperately want a mother, and anything she might say seemed likely to hurt him. Fang Yuxin decided to say nothing and simply waited quietly, falling deeper into her thoughts as she recalled her freshman year. She was studying at a prestigious university in Beishi City and had volunteered at a pharmaceutical company for a period, aiding in a research project. Considering the timing, if this child really was her son, then that pharmaceutical company might have been dubious! As she was pondering this, Li Qingyun came out with the report. He approached Fang Yuxin and handed her the report, asserting, ¡°He indeed is your son; there¡¯s no mistake.¡± Chapter 15 - 15 013 Qianqians Mom ?Chapter 15: 013 Qianqian¡¯s Mom Chapter 15: 013 Qianqian¡¯s Mom The young man¡¯s fingers flew over the keyboard, summoning a display ¨C a three-dimensional map of Market, with a small green dot continuously blinking and emitting signals. Breathing a sigh of relief, he said pleasantly, ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve located Qianqian¡¯s position. Should we go rescue him right now?¡± The others crowded around, their expressions changing as they saw the owner¡¯s information and the Fang Family¡¯s relation to the Qiu Family. A voluptuous woman with curly hair and a black tank top asked, ¡°Could this be a trap? The Fang Family might be wealthy, but they¡¯re just ordinary merchants. Why would the Qiu Family hold Qianqian at the Fang Family¡¯s place?¡± Bai Ye spoke with a heavy voice, ¡°Check which places Qianqian has visited and, additionally, look into the Fang Family.¡± The young man, Hou San, acknowledged and began typing rapidly again, first plotting Bai Qianqian¡¯s traveled paths on the map. As the routes appeared, some locations clearly showed broken, indicating the signal had been disrupted and not recorded. Of the places Bai Qianqian had lingered at, once they eliminated airports, restaurants, and intersections, only four suspicious locations remained. Of these four places, signals had been disrupted at two, clearly where Qiu Family¡¯s people had caught Bai Qianqian. The remaining two were a biological research institute and the Fang Family, where Bai Qianqian¡¯s signal transmitter currently was. Digging into the Fang Family was relatively easy; they were in business, and all the deals they made were legitimate, earning so-called ¡®conscience money¡¯. Moreover, they were no strangers to charity, enjoying a good reputation. The only concern was their deep ties to the Qiu Family ¨C Fang Jintang was friends with the head of the Qiu Family, Qiu Hongsheng, and his daughter, Fang Yuxin, was even betrothed to Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s son, Qiu Yiming. Logically, the Fang Family should be oblivious to the dealings of the Qiu Family, to say nothing of involvement. Hence, why Bai Qianqian¡¯s signal transmitter ended up at the Fang Family was baffling, making less sense if it was a deliberate deception by the Qiu Family. The voluptuous woman, noting Bai Ye¡¯s stern demeanor, sat beside him to comfort him, ¡°Qianqian is so smart; he must be fine. Don¡¯t worry...¡± She suddenly stopped and widened her eyes, her voice sharp and filled with hostility, ¡°Who is she?¡± In that moment, the atmosphere among the others shifted subtly, their eyes instinctively drawn to Bai Ye. Hou San pulled up a photo of Fang Yuxin, and her likeness to Bai Qianqian was striking, sharing an uncanny resemblance, especially around the eyes, mouth, and expressions ¨C as if they were cast from the same mold. Bai Ye¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he commanded, ¡°Investigate her past.¡± Initially, when Mi Qingzi¡¯s secrets were stolen, he had tracked them to an underground illegal organization. After destroying the organization, he found that its leadership had eradicated the database and all records. Later, he stumbled upon the two-year-old Bai Qianqian and decided to take him home to raise. At first, his feelings for Bai Qianqian were complex. The child was an accident, not at all what he had been expecting. However, with the child already born, he couldn¡¯t simply snuff out such a young life and was unwilling to trust others to care for him; thus, he decided to bring him home for his ever-idle mother to raise. As time passed, genuine paternal affection blossomed between them, and he could no longer let go of Bai Qianqian, treating him truly as his own son. The only trouble was that Bai Qianqian persistently wished for a mother. Originally, he had no curiosity about Bai Qianqian¡¯s mother and had never intended to seek out this woman. But what he hadn¡¯t expected was that, while being here on a mission in Market, Bai Qianqian would take a flight here by himself, nearly falling into the Qiu Family¡¯s grasp, and now, they were entangled with a Fang Yuxin! Although it was just a picture, Bai Ye instinctively felt that Fang Yuxin was Bai Qianqian¡¯s mother. What he couldn¡¯t figure out was how someone with Fang Yuxin¡¯s status could be related to that underground organization? Hou San clicked and typed on the computer, and soon, Fang Yuxin¡¯s information appeared. In short, Fang Yuxin had been a straight-A student from childhood, not only excelling academically but also possessing impressive artistic talent, and she was also very beautiful. In other words, she belonged to the high-quality genetic stock, just like Bai Ye. That meant it was very likely that she had been chosen by the underground organization because of this. Hou San suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Found it! She volunteered at XX Pharmaceutical Company in her freshman year, participating in a research project.¡± At this point, he turned to look at Bai Ye, ¡°Boss, if we calculate the timing, she could very well be Qianqian¡¯s mother. But she didn¡¯t take any breaks during her freshman year and didn¡¯t gain any unusual weight. It¡¯s more likely that they just took her eggs and she didn¡¯t actually get pregnant. Also, I just checked, and Qianqian got into her car right here.¡± He pointed out the location where the second signal had been interfered with. Seeing that Bai Ye remained silent, Hou San couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Boss, what are you planning to do? This option... isn¡¯t bad, why don¡¯t you give it a try?¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than the voluptuous beauty with big wavy curls gave him a fierce glare and said discontentedly, ¡°Hou San! What nonsense are you spouting? Don¡¯t you know Qianqian¡¯s situation? Even if Fang Yuxin really is Qianqian¡¯s mother, she has no connection with the boss! And don¡¯t forget, she is Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e!¡± After finishing, she took a deep breath and softened her voice as she turned to Bai Ye, ¡°Ah Ye, since Fang Yuxin is Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, it¡¯s better for us not to have any contact with her.¡± She then looked anxiously at Bai Ye¡¯s expression, but unfortunately, nothing could be read from his face. ¡°Enough,¡± his voice was light, but it imposed a sense of pressure on everyone present. Then he added, ¡°Proceed with the original plan, and be careful not to alert the Qiu Family.¡± ... Fang Yuxin looked at Bai Qianqian, staring eagerly at her, and felt a headache coming on. Initially, she had no intention of bringing Bai Qianqian back home, but she was even less inclined to contact Bai Qianqian¡¯s family. And after Bai Qianqian told her that he had run away from home because his family didn¡¯t like him, her feelings became even more complicated. In the end, she reluctantly brought Bai Qianqian back with her. After all, she couldn¡¯t bear to leave such a young child alone in a hotel, nor was it safe. Bai Qianqian wanted to sleep with her, and although Fang Yuxin felt awkward about it, she eventually compromised. As a result, Bai Qianqian was so excited he couldn¡¯t sleep, continuously talking about how miserable his years at home had been. Fang Yuxin looked at his excited little face and somehow found it difficult to believe. Bai Qianqian didn¡¯t look like someone who had been abused as he grew up. He was confident and smart, and he had read quite a lot of books. He spoke logically with Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, and importantly, his chubby and fair face looked pampered. When he wore a tank top and shorts, Fang Yuxin had deliberately checked and found not a single scar on his body; his personality was also very lively, which all suggested that he was raised with affection. Listening to Bai Qianqian¡¯s excited voice, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know when she fell asleep. After an unknown period, she suddenly felt a bit cold and sensed an unfamiliar presence in the room. Her body tensed instantly, and then she abruptly opened her eyes, pulled the knife from under her pillow, holding it in front of her as she flipped over and arose from the bed. The window had been opened without her knowing when, and the night wind blew the curtains. A tall man stood at the window, his back to the light. Chapter 16 - 16 014 Captive breeding ?Chapter 16: 014 Captive breeding Chapter 16: 014 Captive breeding Fang Yuxin eyed the man at the window warily. She didn¡¯t make the first move, as the man seemed powerful, and she was well aware that she was no match for him. Concerned about waking up Bai Qianqian, she deliberately kept her voice low, ¡°Who are you? What are you doing here?¡± Due to the man¡¯s back being to the light, she couldn¡¯t see his face, only the vague outline. Bai Ye glanced at Bai Qianqian, who was sleeping soundly on the bed, and felt relieved that he was all right. However, his face gave nothing away as he scrutinized Fang Yuxin. Seeing her in person, he was more certain that she was Bai Qianqian¡¯s mother. Thinking about the relationship between Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming, he felt somewhat conflicted. It wasn¡¯t anger, nor was it joy, just generally uncomfortable. And upon reflection, if Fang Yuxin were to marry Qiu Yiming, their relationships truly would be complicated. Although he hadn¡¯t known Fang Yuxin before, the undeniable fact that Bai Qianqian shared blood with both of them crossed his mind. At this moment, he had no intention to be open with Fang Yuxin or to foster their relationship; instead, thinking of Bai Qianqian, he couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°Take good care of him, and be careful of the Qiu Family.¡± After speaking, he didn¡¯t wait for Fang Yuxin to respond and pushed off the windowsill, jumping out. Fang Yuxin was utterly befuddled. Although she didn¡¯t sense any ill will from Bai Ye, the sudden appearance of a man in the room was reason enough for her wariness, yet all he left was a cryptic message before running off. She jumped out of bed, rushed to the window, and leaned out to look down, only to find the area silently empty, the man who had jumped as if vanished into thin air. She closed the window, drew the curtains, and returned to bed, carefully hiding the knife back under the pillow. Just as Fang Yuxin settled down, Bai Qianqian unconsciously snuggled into her arms, murmuring, ¡°Mama, don¡¯t go.¡± Her heart softened abruptly, and she hugged Bai Qianqian, but the words of Bai Ye came to her mind. His ¡°Take good care of him¡± obviously referred to Bai Qianqian, implying he might be Bai Qianqian¡¯s father. But if he was the father, why didn¡¯t he take him away? Could he really be sure? They hadn¡¯t even met before! And then there was the ¡°be careful of the Qiu Family.¡± This statement troubled Fang Yuxin even more than the first. She remembered the dream, where, after the apocalypse, the Qiu Family still controlled the military, and because both Qiu Yiming and Qiu Hongsheng had awakened powerful attack superpowers, the influence of the Qiu Family was even greater than before the apocalypse. The Fang Family had a good relationship with the Qiu Family, who took care of her and her siblings until Fang Mengyao spread rumors that completely ruined the Fang Family¡¯s reputation, forcing their care from overt to covert. At that time, many had designs on her, and had it not been for her brother¡¯s strength, her own ability to defend herself, and the Qiu Family¡¯s covert protection, they could very well have been killed. Therefore, when Qiu Yiming chose Fang Mengyao, she bore no resentment, merely feeling it was a pity they were destined but not fated. But now, thinking carefully, if the Qiu Family truly intended to protect her and her brother with their powerful influence, how could they allow those rumors to spread? Her brother and she had lived on edge in that dream, treading on thin ice, and many questions they dared not deeply consider. Now, during the still of the night, as Fang Yuxin replayed the entire dream in her mind, many previously overlooked details began to seem suspicious. The more she thought, the chiller she felt, even feeling a cold all over, but fortunately, with Bai Qianqian, a little furnace in her arms, he was her only warmth at that moment. It was then that Fang Yuxin entertained the thought of keeping Bai Qianqian close and raising him at her side. Though the man seemed strong, if the apocalypse really came, everything would change. Bai Qianqian was still a child, and staying by her side might be much safer. After all, she had the Cultivation Spiritual Mansion. ... After breakfast, Fang Yuxin left Bai Qianqian at home with Qu Qianhe to foster their relationship, then drove out. Bai Qianqian wanted to follow, but Fang Yuxin did not agree. This time, she planned to go to the live poultry market to buy some birds and raise them in the Spirit Mansion. There was a bamboo forest in the Spirit Mansion, and she intended to keep the birds there. After leaving home, she did not go directly to the live poultry market but first found a safe place to park. She locked the car and entered the Spirit Mansion Space directly. With Bai Qianqian at home, it was inconvenient for her to enter the space, but now she went in, took a knife to cut the bamboo, and made several simple fences, enclosing several areas in the bamboo forest, preparing to raise chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, cows, sheep, and the like. That dream was too real; she even often felt it was not a dream but the actual future. In the dream, she and Fang Yuyang, due to insufficient preparation in the early stages, often lacked food and water, sometimes starving so severely that they could even swallow the unpalatable mutated creatures. Thus, with access to the Spirit Mansion Space, she planned to raise live poultry, livestock, and aquatic products there for future food and drink supply. After fencing the areas, Fang Yuxin got out of the car, entered a large mall, changed her outfit in the restroom, and then rented a small truck. She drove it to the live poultry market and bought some chickens, ducks, geese, even pigeons and quails, and loaded them into the truck with their cages full. After driving to a deserted area, she transferred all the cages into the bamboo forest. Then, she continued to drive to several nearby livestock farms and purchased aromatic pigs, cows, sheep, and rabbits, also transporting them into the bamboo forest. On the way back, Fang Yuxin¡¯s phone rang. The call was from Fang Yuyang, who was currently overseas conducting business. The business was settled, and he was preparing to return, so he called to ask if Fang Yuxin wanted anything he could bring back for her. Hearing Fang Yuyang¡¯s voice, Fang Yuxin was so moved she nearly cried. In the dream, she and Fang Yuyang supported each other and relied on each other for survival for two years; Fang Yuyang was her only support and emotional anchor. Thus, Fang Yuyang¡¯s death later had a massive impact on her, so much so that she fell into Fang Mengyao¡¯s death trap less than six months after his death. ¡°Brother!¡± As soon as Fang Yuxin called out, tears uncontrollably fell. She tried to steady her voice, but it still wavered with a sob, ¡°Brother, I don¡¯t want anything; just come back soon, I miss you.¡± The voice from the phone was somewhat distorted, but Fang Yuyang could still hear that something was wrong with Fang Yuxin¡¯s emotions. He instinctively thought that someone might have bullied or saddened her and asked with concern, ¡°Yuxin, are you okay?¡± Fang Yuxin struggled to calm herself, her voice regaining composure, ¡°I¡¯m fine, I just miss you. Please come back soon! The flu is rampant, make sure to take care of yourself. Don¡¯t worry about bringing gifts, just you coming back is enough.¡± After saying this, she made an effort to remember that in her dream, at this time, Fang Yuyang had not caught any virus and had returned safely. However, she still could not feel completely at ease without seeing him in person. Thus, Fang Yuxin repeated her words until Fang Yuyang promised he would take the next flight back; then she stopped nagging and told him to be careful on his journey. After hanging up the phone, Fang Yuxin took a deep breath. She decided that once Fang Yuyang returned, she would discuss the apocalypse and the Spirit Mansion with her family thoroughly. They had to keep it from Bai Qianqian for now, who, despite being just a five-year-old child, appeared so suddenly that Fang Yuxin could not fully trust him yet. Chapter 17 - 17 015 Nightmare ?Chapter 17: 015 Nightmare Chapter 17: 015 Nightmare Yu Yang took the 9 PM flight and reached home the next day by noon. Yuxin decided not to go out that day. Instead, she stayed home accompanying Bai Qianqian, which delighted him immensely. He followed her around wherever she went. Upon Yu Yang¡¯s arrival, he was obviously taken aback when he saw Bai Qianqian standing next to Yuxin. His gaze swept back and forth between their faces before he finally asked Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, who is this child...¡± Before he could finish, Bai Qianqian had already called out, ¡°Uncle! I¡¯m Qianqian!¡± After speaking, he looked up at Yu Yang anxiously, his face filled with expectation. Yuxin was startled by his reaction and her complexion immediately changed. ¡°What... what did you just say?¡± she asked sternly. Looking at Yuxin, she continued, ¡°Xinxin, what on earth is going on?¡± Yuxin had already figured out what was happening. She had investigated the pharmaceutical company only to discover that it had long been shut down due to alleged illegal activities. She knew she had to explain the situation to Yu Yang; however, discussing it in front of Bai Qianqian, who was only five, seemed inappropriate. She suggested, ¡°Brother, let¡¯s talk about this later. You must be tired, do you want to rest for a while?¡± Aunt Li was preparing a meal in the kitchen, and the aroma had already started to waft through the air. Yu Yang cast a deep look at Bai Qianqian and Yuxin, and then told Yuxin, ¡°Come with me.¡± He paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully before turning to Bai Qianqian, ¡°Qianqian, why don¡¯t you watch TV with grandma? Uncle has something to discuss with your mom.¡± Bai Qianqian nodded obediently, his eyes filled with nervousness and worry as he unconsciously clutched at his pants. At that moment, Qu Qianhe approached with a smile, gently took his hand, and led him to the sofa in the living room, softly asking what he wanted to watch. Yu Yang sighed with relief, said to Yuxin, ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± and then dragged his suitcase upstairs. Yuxin followed, wanting to help him with the luggage, but Yu Yang refused, claiming he couldn¡¯t bear to see his sister weary. Once inside the room, he threw his luggage aside, pulled off his tie, loosened two buttons, and feeling much more comfortable, he summoned Yuxin to sit and inquired, ¡°Can you tell me now? What exactly happened?¡± Yuxin briefly explained the circumstances. Yu Yang, hearing that Bai Qianqian had suddenly appeared and was nearly hit by Yuxin, who later discovered their blood relationship, grew suspicious. He looked at Yuxin thoughtfully and asked, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t you think the child appeared too suddenly? It¡¯s as if...¡± ¡°As if he was intentionally placed in front of me to be discovered, right?¡± Yuxin interjected. Then she added, ¡°Brother, I also find this situation very strange. Plus, a man appeared in my room the night before last, entering through the window unnoticed by the bodyguard downstairs. He asked me to take good care of Bai Qianqian and to be cautious of the Qiu Family. I suspect he¡¯s Bai Qianqian¡¯s father. He seemed very dangerous, unfortunately, he left immediately after speaking, and hasn¡¯t shown up since.¡± Yu Yang, already worried, grew more suspicious upon hearing this. He pondered before asking, ¡°That Bai Qianqian... what are your plans?¡± Yuxin sighed, ¡°I had a friend do a DNA test; he is indeed my son. Despite the suspicious circumstances of his appearance, regardless, he¡¯s still just a child. I can¡¯t just kick him out; I¡¯ll have to take it one step at a time.¡± Yu Yang nodded, ¡°Be careful with this matter, I¡¯ll try to find out more. By the way, you sounded upset over the phone yesterday, was it because of him?¡± Yuxin shook her head, ¡°Not entirely. I had a nightmare a few days ago, but I¡¯ll recover soon. Don¡¯t worry about me, brother.¡± Fang Yuyang furrowed his brow and looked disapprovingly at Fang Yuxin. How could he not be worried! He asked, ¡°What exactly was the nightmare?¡± But Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat first. After the meal, once you¡¯ve rested, we can talk.¡± Fang Yuyang shook his head, ¡°No need, I already slept on the plane. You go ahead, I will take a shower and change my clothes, then come down.¡± Fang Yuyang was quick to act. After showering and changing into a casual set of home clothes, he came downstairs. Fang Jintang had also returned knowing that he would be back today, so he specially rushed back to have a meal with the family. After they finished lunch, Fang Yuxin asked Aunt Li to take Bai Qianqian out to play, then turned to her family and said, ¡°Dad, Mom, and brother, I have something to tell you.¡± Seeing her serious expression as if she was about to discuss something important, Fang Jintang suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the study.¡± Before entering, Fang Yuxin specifically retrieved her tablet and opened it to pull up a screenshot. It was a screenshot of the post she had initially made. Fortunately, she captured it quickly. When she checked later, the post had already been deleted. In the study, Fang Yuxin showed the screenshot to the other three members first. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe had already seen this post and recalled its contents with a glance. However, it was the first time Fang Yuyang had seen it, but he read it very quickly, finishing in less than a minute. Then he looked at Fang Yuxin and asked, ¡°Xinxin, is the post what you wanted to talk about?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded and then said, ¡°I¡¯ve already talked to Mom and Dad before. I had a nightmare, and the content of the dream was similar to this post¡ªno, more precise. I dreamt about a lot more.¡± Next, Fang Yuxin revealed the crucial content about the apocalypse but didn¡¯t go into the specific outcomes of the Fang Family. However, although she didn¡¯t mention it, Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Fang Yuyang all sensed something was amiss. Fang Yuyang then asked, ¡°Do you mean that in 25 days, a meteorite will strike Earth, followed by a massive outbreak of zombies, and the mutations of animals, plants, and insects, leading the world into apocalypse?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, her mood growing heavy. As she spoke to her family, the scenes from her dream flashed through her mind¡ªFang Jintang¡¯s death, Qu Qianhe¡¯s death, and... Fang Yuyang¡¯s death. The consecutive deaths of her loved ones were, to her, the true nightmares and apocalypse! The other three sharply picked up on Fang Yuxin¡¯s emotional shift. After hesitating for a moment, Fang Yuyang asked, ¡°Xinxin, did you dream about us? Did something happen to us, right?¡± ¡°No! Nothing will happen!¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head vigorously and tightly grasped Fang Yuyang¡¯s hand, ¡°Brother, and Mom and Dad, I promise you, nothing will happen to any of you. I... I¡¯ll take you to a place, that¡¯s the second thing I wanted to tell you today.¡± Chapter 18 - 18 Guessing ?Chapter 18: Guessing Chapter 18: Guessing Fang Yuxin took her family to visit the entire Spirit Mansion Space and explained its origin. Upon learning that the jade bracelet given to Fang Yuxin initially harbored such a mysterious space, the three members of the Fang Family all showed a change in their expressions. At this time, Fang Yuyang was still unaware of the dispute over the jade between Fang Mengyao and Fang Yuxin, but Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe could not help but wonder. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe both came from prestigious families and were far from naive. Fang Jintang had developed the once shaky family business into its current scale with his exceptional intellect and extraordinary vision. Although Qu Qianhe was now a full-time housewife, she had once been a formidable career woman. Fang Mengyao¡¯s obstinate desire for the jade set was already very suspicious; however, both had thought she was merely being childish, deliberately fighting with Fang Yuxin over it. Now, knowing that one of the jade bracelets was a rare treasure carrying such a mysterious space, they couldn¡¯t help but suspect¡ªdid Fang Mengyao know something? This speculation might be a bit too fantastic, yet with the appearance of a cultivator¡¯s Spirit Mansion Space and Fang Yuxin even mentioning that the apocalypse was 25 days away, it was plausible there could be other secretive things at play. Fang Yuyang, noticing their expressions, realized something was amiss and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did something happen while I was away?¡± Fang Jintang sighed and told him about purchasing the set of jade jewelry and bringing it home for Fang Yuxin. Unfortunately, Fang Mengyao happened to be there and fought with Fang Yuxin for the jade. Fang Yuyang was no fool; upon hearing this, he guessed what Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were thinking and asked, ¡°Mom and Dad, are you suspecting that Mengyao knows something?¡± Fang Yuxin simply shared how Fang Mengyao asked Fang Jintang for money and then sold her house, saying, ¡°I also feel she might have obtained some treasure, sensed this space, and therefore wanted to seize the items then. Moreover, I think she might know about the apocalypse, and her recent disappearance is likely due to her going out to buy supplies.¡± Fang Yuyang quickly arrived at a crucial point and asked, ¡°Her apartment was worth fifteen million, and Dad gave her another million, meaning she really needed money. But to buy so many supplies, where would she store them? If the apocalypse really comes, how could a young girl like her protect all these supplies? Could it be that she has a space too?¡± Fang Yuxin thought about it; in her dream, Fang Mengyao did have a space. However, since Fang Mengyao had stolen the Jade, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t be sure whether Fang Mengyao still had a space or not. But clearly, Fang Yuyang had hit the nail on the head; Fang Mengyao¡¯s confident sale of her house, converting it into a significant amount of money for supplies, suggested she likely indeed had a space! What most concerned Fang Yuxin was Fang Mengyao¡¯s particular interest in that set of jade. Her stubbornness to snatch it, even disregarding her own pride, didn¡¯t seem like a mere act of petulance. So, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Dad, if she calls you, could you refrain from telling her about the space for the time being?¡± Fang Jintang nodded. The matter of the Spirit Mansion Space was of great importance. Such a treasure, if even a hint were disclosed, could mean endless trouble for the Fang Family in the future, and he naturally understood what was at stake. He didn¡¯t believe Fang Mengyao had such a malicious nature; he was just worried she might inadvertently leak the information in an unguarded moment. He said gravely, ¡°I will never tell her a word about this matter, but Xinxin, you must remember not to tell anyone either, not even Qianqian. That child... he appeared too suddenly, and after all, he is still a child. We don¡¯t yet know who is behind him. It¡¯s better to be cautious for now.¡± Fang Yuyang added, ¡°Dad and I will take care of the supplies. Xinxin, you and Mom should also discuss more, and buy whatever you want to stock up. Let¡¯s store as much as we can, so if the apocalypse really happens, we¡¯ll have some security. Even if the apocalypse doesn¡¯t come in the end, we can slowly sell the goods again; there won¡¯t be any loss. So Xinxin, don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself, you have us.¡± With that matter settled, the family didn¡¯t stay long in the Spirit Mansion Space. After they exited, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were the first to leave the room. When Fang Yuxin was about to leave, she was stopped by Fang Yuyang. Fang Yuyang asked, ¡°Xinxin, now that Dad and Mom aren¡¯t here, tell your brother the truth¡ªwhat else do you dream about?¡± ¡°I...¡± Fang Yuxin opened her mouth, hesitating not knowing if she should speak, ¡°Brother, can you not ask, please?¡± ¡°No!¡± Fang Yuyang insisted firmly. He reached out and took hold of Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulders, looking into her eyes, ¡°Xinxin, tell your brother what you dreamed about! Once you say it out loud, you won¡¯t be afraid anymore.¡± His last statement was gentle, persuasive like a siren¡¯s whisper. Fang Yuxin met his gaze, and her psychological defenses completely collapsed; as if possessed, she revealed her entire dream. By the time she finished, half an hour had passed. Fang Yuyang had not interrupted her once until she described how Fang Mengyao had crippled her limbs and attracted zombies that devoured her alive¡ªonly then did Fang Yuyang shout, ¡°Enough!¡± Fang Yuxin was startled back to reality by his shout, and only then did she notice she had been crying uncontrollably without knowing when it had begun. Fang Yuyang drew closer and embraced her, gently patting her back, and said softly, ¡°Enough, Xinxin, no more, it¡¯s over¡ªit was just a dream. What happens in dreams won¡¯t come true, your brother promises to protect you, as well as our parents. No one will be able to hurt you.¡± However, Fang Yuxin suddenly remembered the incident with Fang Mengyao drugging her. She pushed Fang Yuyang away, wiped her tears, and with a stern face said, ¡°Brother, there¡¯s something else I forgot to tell you. Mom and Dad don¡¯t know about this, but that day, Fang Mengyao wanted to snatch the jade jewelry. Because of that dream, I didn¡¯t give it to her and took the jade back to my room. When I went downstairs, Fang Mengyao was helping in the kitchen, saying she wanted to personally make a dish to apologize to me. Remembering my dream, I was worried she might have added ¡®Suppressant,¡¯ so I deliberately ruined all the dishes. Later, I had Qingyun check them, and she said there indeed was a mysterious substance inside. It was impossible to determine all its components, but from the components that were detected, that substance would have a suppressing effect on cells. Brother, I suspect she added ¡®Suppressant,¡¯ but since I ruined it, she hasn¡¯t tried anything else. Maybe she has run out of ¡®Suppressant.''¡± After hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s dream, Fang Yuyang¡¯s hatred for Fang Mengyao had reached the bone. When he learned about the actual ¡®Suppressant,¡¯ he was furious, his face turning an iron blue as he wished he could kill Fang Mengyao with his own hands! Clenching his fists tightly, his knuckles cracked. He then said, ¡°I will tell Mom and Dad about this; we can¡¯t keep it from them! Leave Fang Mengyao¡¯s matter to your brother to investigate. I want to see exactly who she is!¡± Chapter 19 - 19 017 Qi Refining Early Stage ?Chapter 19: 017 Qi Refining Early Stage Chapter 19: 017 Qi Refining Early Stage In the blink of an eye, 20 days had passed, leaving only five days until the apocalypse. During these 20 days, Fang Yuxin rarely went out, only doing so when deliveries arrived at the warehouse. She personally inspected the goods and secretly stored everything in the warehouse, while also paying the final amounts to the suppliers. The rest of the time, she stayed at home. However, ever since the Fang Family learned she needed time and space for cultivation, they rearranged Bai Qianqian¡¯s room and stopped letting him stay with Fang Yuxin. Bai Qianqian was unhappy about this, but what he feared most was Fang Yuxin ignoring him or even kicking him out. So when he found out that he could still stay with Mama during the day, although not at night, Bai Qianqian quieted down. Fang¡¯s Villa had a gym, which was quite spacious and fully equipped with fitness machines, and it even had a swimming pool next to it. The Fang Family used to occasionally work out there. Since finding out about the impending apocalypse, they converted this gym into a practice room to exercise every day. After Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang left each day, Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin would work out there as well, with Bai Qianqian following along to stay close to Fang Yuxin. Although he was fair and delicate, his muscles were firm, and he was very familiar with the fitness equipment, showing he often exercised. However, his workouts were not intensely vigorous, and he didn¡¯t have overly exaggerated muscles, but he was clearly healthier and stronger than other kids his age. The bodyguards hired by the Fang Family were ex-special soldiers with excellent skills. Qu Qianhe picked three of them to be their coaches, responsible for teaching them combat skills. Qu Qianhe herself was quite skilled, and Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had been learning Taekwondo from experts since they were young. Though they weren¡¯t exceptionally formidable, they were more than capable of handling ordinary thugs. Now, with intensified training, the skills of both Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin had improved significantly, especially Fang Yuxin, whose dream had a profound impact on her, particularly her combat awareness. Her combat awareness was excellent, her strikes were quick and accurate, but her physical strength was lacking, and some moves were so fierce they even caused muscle strains. Whenever she felt exhausted from training, Fang Yuxin would sit down and meditate. At first glance, it seemed like she was just sitting quietly, but she was actually absorbing spiritual energy. The ¡°Green Wood Technique¡± was a powerful cultivation technique, and Fang Yuxin¡¯s body had been converted to a ¡°Pure Wood Spirit Body.¡± She had succeeded in ¡°Energy Introduction¡± the night Fang Yuyang returned, officially entering the early stage of Qi Refinement. Fang Yuxin felt the urgency of time. She used the night for cultivation and the day to practice her martial skills. Each time after pushing her body to the limit and then stopping to absorb spiritual energy, the effect was exceptionally good. The energy channels in her body were almost fully opened, and she absorbed much more spiritual energy than usual. However, the others, having no contact with cultivation, couldn¡¯t sense the spiritual energy and consequently did not know Fang Yuxin was cultivating. Interestingly enough, perhaps due to some blood-related reason or otherwise, every time Fang Yuxin meditated, Bai Qianqian would intentionally stop, run over to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, and mimic her, sitting cross-legged in meditation. During these instances, green spiritual energy, invisible and undetectable to ordinary people, would be partially absorbed by Bai Qianqian. Although the amount was small, it was slowly transforming his body, healing the internal injuries from his exercises. The mysterious tall man hadn¡¯t appeared again, and Fang Yuxin naturally pushed him to the back of her mind, even planning to keep Bai Qianqian by her side permanently. The task of collecting supplies was managed by Fang Yuyang and Fang Jintang. With the two of them involved, they weren¡¯t just dealing with minor affairs like Fang Yuxin did, they purchased not only a substantial amount of daily necessities but also gathered many generators and gasoline, even hiring trustworthy people to modify vehicles. Although they were cautious, their actions still drew the attention of some interested parties. So today, just as Fang Yuxin finished her cultivation and was resting, her phone rang. Picking it up, she saw the call was from Qiu Yiming. Remembering the warning from the mysterious man, she instinctively became more alert. She stepped out of the practice room before answering the call. Qiu Yiming¡¯s voice was as enthusiastic as ever, saying it had been a long time since they last met and inviting her out for a meal. Fang Yuxin initially wanted to decline but hesitated and eventually agreed. It was the same old place, a private restaurant renowned for its delicious dishes and well-known throughout the Market. Securing a reservation there was nearly impossible without connections. Qiu Yiming¡¯s appointment was tonight, and Fang Yuxin, seeing that it was about time, hung up the phone and went back to her room to change clothes. Just as she came out, she saw Bai Qianqian standing at the door. Fang Yuxin was quite surprised, ¡°Qianqian, what are you doing here?¡± Bai Qianqian, smart and sensitive, noticed Fang Yuxin in a beautiful outfit and asked, ¡°Mama, are you going out? Can you take Qianqian with you?¡± Fang Yuxin instantly thought of what Bai Qianqian¡¯s father had told her, to protect Bai Qianqian well and be wary of the Qiu Family. Given that, she naturally couldn¡¯t take Bai Qianqian with her. She shook her head, ¡°Mommy has some business to attend to outside, you need to stay at home and be good!¡± Bai Qianqian was unhappy but dared not show his anger in front of Fang Yuxin. He feared Fang Yuxin might dislike him. Once Fang Yuxin left, he went back to his room, took out his mobile phone, and sent a message to Bai Ye: Mama¡¯s going to meet the annoying uncle, she¡¯s going to be deceived by someone, where are you? If you don¡¯t come back, Mama¡¯s gonna marry someone else! Bai Ye, currently hiding in an ordinary apartment building in the Market, saw the message and his face turned black immediately, that foolish son! Hou San, seeing this, couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Boss, what¡¯s wrong? Is it Qianqian? Is he alright?¡± ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong,¡± Bai Ye said with a dark face, swiftly deleted the message, and then asked Hou San, ¡°Have you found Shen Xi?¡± Hou San quickly buried his head to work on the computer, ¡°I¡¯ll find him right away!¡± He sneaked a glance at Bai Ye, scratching his head and guessing what Bai Qianqian could have sent to make Bai Ye so angry. ... By the time Fang Yuxin arrived at the venue, Qiu Yiming had already arrived and chosen a great spot by the window, which offered a view of the busiest street scene in the Market. Although it was only evening, the street lights were already shining, creating a stunning, twinkling effect. Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t dressed up particularly, not even wearing makeup, but her natural beauty, enhanced by Cultivation, made her skin flawless, her eyes clear, and her lips red. Even without makeup, she looked as refined as one would after makeup with added photo enhancements. It had been a while since Qiu Yiming had seen her, and upon seeing her, his eyes lit up and his smile carried a few more degrees of warmth and intoxication. As Fang Yuxin approached, he stood up personally, pulled out a chair for her, and invited her to sit down, his attitude warmer than usual. Smiling politely, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Sorry to have kept you waiting.¡± Qiu Yiming smiled affectionately, his voice low, ¡°It¡¯s alright, as long as it¡¯s you, any wait is worth it.¡± The tenderness and affection in his eyes seemed genuinely sincere, yet Fang Yuxin, seeing this, felt no stirrings as she once might have. Chapter 20 - 20 018 Eyesore ?Chapter 20: 018 Eyesore Chapter 20: 018 Eyesore Fang Yuxin looked across at the man opposite her, barely half of the exquisite dishes on the table had been eaten, yet she had completely lost her appetite. Perhaps because the flutter in her heart was gone, she became much more clearheaded. Details she hadn¡¯t noticed before were now glaringly obvious to her. All of Qiu Yiming¡¯s cautious probing, Fang Yuxin could see quite clearly. After exchanging pleasantries, seeing that Qiu Yiming seemed intent on probing further, Fang Yuxin felt a wave of annoyance within her and completely lost her interest in indulging him. So, she put down her chopsticks, politely and courteously said, ¡°I¡¯m done eating.¡± The words Qiu Yiming was about to speak choked in his throat. He hadn¡¯t actually eaten his fill, but since Fang Yuxin had said so, he couldn¡¯t very well continue and instead said, ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home.¡± Had it been before, he might have invited Fang Yuxin to watch a movie or something, but too many things had happened recently; he really couldn¡¯t spare any more time. If he hadn¡¯t planned to go see Bai Qianqian, he wouldn¡¯t even have offered to take Fang Yuxin home. It wasn¡¯t for lack of care, but genuinely for lack of time. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to let Qiu Yiming go to the Fang Family¡¯s place, and at this point, she already had her guard up against him, saying, ¡°No need, I drove here.¡± But Qiu Yiming insisted. Glancing at the colorful night view outside, his attitude was gentle and domineering, striking just the right balance, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, and the city hasn¡¯t been very safe lately. I wouldn¡¯t feel at ease letting you go home alone.¡± As he spoke, he swiftly signed the bill and then said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you.¡± Fang Yuxin could not refuse again and went down to the garage with Qiu Yiming. He didn¡¯t get into his own car, but sat in Fang Yuxin¡¯s instead. Fang Yuxin maintained a composed expression, merging her car swiftly into the flow of traffic under the night sky. Neither of them spoke much, to avoid an awkward silence, Fang Yuxin played some quiet music. The mournful singing voice slowly streamed from the speakers, a love story about lovers who eventually part ways. Fang Yuxin thought of that dream, and her mood plummeted in an instant, sinking into the inevitable sadness alongside the lyrics. Then she heard Qiu Yiming say, ¡°Nice song, but it doesn¡¯t suit us.¡± Having said that, he switched to another track. The sad tune abruptly ended, changing into upbeat and smooth music, singing about the sweetness of love. Qiu Yiming smiled contentedly and said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°This one¡¯s not bad, you should listen to less of those heart-wrenching songs, they¡¯re not for you. Besides, as long as I¡¯m here, I won¡¯t let you have a chance to be sad.¡± His voice grew deeper, by the end becoming an intimate whisper. As he spoke, his eyes deeply gazed into Fang Yuxin¡¯s, brimming with dense emotions that seemed to threaten to drown her. Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart trembled sharply, and while the sweetness tickled her, it felt as though a thorn was lodged deep inside. She couldn¡¯t forget that in her dream, Qiu Yiming had looked at Fang Mengyao with that same gaze, while his look towards her turned to guilt and hesitation. No matter how deep his affection, it couldn¡¯t triumph over a superpower user¡¯s love. Not to mention, the dream¡¯s Fang Mengyao was not just any ordinary superpower user! She even gained the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion! Fang Yuxin smiled, but didn¡¯t respond. She didn¡¯t want to say anything and didn¡¯t even know what she should say. She didn¡¯t even dare turn her head to look at Qiu Yiming, fearful he might see something. Just then, Qiu Yiming suddenly turned to look out the window. Fang Yuxin curiously followed his gaze, only to see Qiu Yiming staring intently in that direction, a surge of intense hostility emanating from his whole being, as if he had spotted an enemy. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Yiming had already turned and was leaning against the back of the chair, his expression a mix of surprise, uncertainty, and unwillingness. He shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Yuxin, seeing that he didn¡¯t want to talk, didn¡¯t ask further and continued driving with focus. After what had happened, Yiming lost the mood to flirt anymore. His complexion was off, and his mind was occupied by the car that had just passed by. His intuition told him Bai Ye was inside it! After pondering, Yiming took out his phone and sent a text message to a confidant. Since Yuxin was also present, it wasn¡¯t appropriate for him to discuss this matter over the phone in front of her. After giving instructions, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Soon, they arrived at the Fang Family¡¯s residence. The car had hardly pulled into the garage when Qianqian, who heard the noise, rushed out, ¡°Mama, you¡¯re back!¡± Then, he saw the car door open, and Yiming stepped out. Qianqian had never seen Yiming, but Yiming had seen his photo. At that moment, however, Yiming could only pretend not to recognize Qianqian. He turned to Yuxin in surprise, ¡°Xinxin, who is this child?¡± Qianqian didn¡¯t hide his hostility towards Yiming, sensing that the man had a special relationship with Yuxin. He glared fiercely at Yiming, then dashed to Yuxin¡¯s side, hugging her leg and defiantly looking at Yiming, ¡°I¡¯m Mama¡¯s son! Who are you?¡± This time, Yiming was truly shocked. He knew Qianqian¡¯s identity, so finding out that Qianqian was living with the Fang Family made him feel that something was very off. Why hadn¡¯t Yuxin called the police? Why hadn¡¯t she sent him away? He had guessed many possibilities, but he had never imagined that Qianqian would turn out to be Yuxin¡¯s son! He had come to the Fang Family¡¯s house specifically to see with his own eyes if Qianqian was still there and to figure out a way to have Yuxin send him away, but he could never have anticipated that such a secret awaited him! It was impossible! Yuxin had never given birth to a child; he was very clear about that! But seeing Qianqian¡¯s face, so similar to Yuxin¡¯s, Yiming couldn¡¯t convince himself it was fake. His brow furrowed tightly, holding onto his last shred of hope as he looked at Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Ever since that dream, Yuxin had felt that her engagement to Yiming was a problem. Now that Yiming had seen Qianqian, she suddenly saw it as an opportunity. So she said, ¡°He¡¯s not wrong, blood-wise, he is indeed my son. I only found out about this recently myself.¡± Yiming instantly recalled the origins of Qianqian, the news from the Bai Family stating that Bai Ye had a son known as Bai Qianqian, whom Bai Ye had brought home from an underground illegal organization, and furthermore, the child was from in vitro fertilization. At the time, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the news, just thinking Bai Ye was overly kind-hearted to even take in such a child. Thinking back now, he found the circumstances of Qianqian¡¯s birth too conspicuous! He didn¡¯t particularly dislike Bai Ye, nor did he have any fondness for him, opposing Bai Ye merely due to differing stances. But upon knowing Qianqian¡¯s identity, he wished he could personally slaughter the father and son duo! Qianqian should never have been born into this world, Bai Ye all the more deserved death! Chapter 21 - 21 019 Accept ?Chapter 21: 019 Accept? Chapter 21: 019 Accept? After leaving the Fang Family, Qiu Yiming¡¯s face became completely gloomy. He had not stayed at the Fang Family for too long, ever since he saw Bai Qianqian and found out about her relationship with Fang Yuxin, he became so agitated he almost lost control of himself. Fearing that he might do something drastic, he had to hastily take his leave. The cool night breeze that blew against him did nothing to soothe his irritability; instead, it spurred a bloodthirsty impulse within him. A black car slowly drove up and stopped beside Qiu Yiming. He pulled the door open and climbed into the back seat. As soon as he settled in, he irritably tore open his buttons and asked with a sullen face, ¡°What about it? Have you found them?¡± The driver was his confidant. On hearing the question, he shook his head, ¡°They¡¯re very cautious. We checked that road segment and didn¡¯t find them.¡± ¡°A bunch of trash!¡± Qiu Yiming cursed under his breath and roughly twisted open a bottle of mineral water to take a sip before ordering, ¡°Let¡¯s head back for now.¡± The driver responded and, without further conversation, turned and drove out of the villa district seriously. Just as they exited the gates of the villa district, Qiu Yiming suddenly saw someone. With a thought, he told the driver to drive over. Fang Mengyao stood alone by the roadside, without even a car in sight. She was slim and clad in a long white dress, its hem fluttered in the night breeze like a tentative butterfly taking flight, beautiful yet fragile. She was startled to see the black car approaching, but before it got near, she already received a prompt from the gaming system ¡ª¡ª [Ding! Side quest: Meet Major Qiu Yiming, do you accept?] Fang Mengyao watched the approaching black car and silently chose [Yes]. She knew Qiu Yiming was Fang Yuxin¡¯s fiance? and the person the original owner of her body had been secretly in love with. If it had not been for Qiu Yiming rejecting the original owner¡¯s confession, which led her to take her own life in a fit of despair, she would not have transmigrated into this body. Hence, she had long wanted to see for herself what kind of person Qiu Yiming was. With this opportunity presenting itself, naturally, she could not miss it. The black car stopped in front of Fang Mengyao. The car door did not open; instead, the window slowly rolled down. Qiu Yiming turned his face to look at her with a concerned tone, he asked, ¡°Xiao Yao? Why are you here by yourself so late at night?¡± Fang Mengyao looked at him, and her whole being shuddered vehemently. Her heart seemed to tear open, letting an endless tide of bitterness and reluctance pour out. Fang Mengyao¡¯s eyes instantly reddened, and tears brimmed over. Qiu Yiming was taken aback. He too was surprised to see Fang Mengyao and had only come over to see if he could get any information from her, but looking at Fang Mengyao like this... he suddenly remembered the shy and nervous confession she had made some time ago. At the time, Fang Mengyao had sneaked up to him, saying that she liked him and was willing to be his mistresses secretly, but he did not agree and rejected her straight away. Although Fang Mengyao was a beautiful girl, she paled in comparison to Fang Yuxin, and he certainly did not want to upset Fang Yuxin and the Fang Family over a woman. They had not seen each other since then, and now suddenly encountering Fang Mengyao, he noticed something different about her. It wasn¡¯t just her clothes; even her temperament had changed. The previous Fang Mengyao had a bit of a reserved, docile nature, and even during her confession, she had her head down, only daring to steal glances at him. But this time, Fang Mengyao not only appeared much colder, but she also didn¡¯t have the docile air of before and didn¡¯t behave in a timid manner. She even dared to make eye contact with him ¡ª this was something new! Seeing Fang Mengyao¡¯s teary yet stubborn gaze, Qiu Yiming became a bit more interested in her and thus asked another question, ¡°Why are you crying? Are you on your way home? Do you want me to give you a lift?¡± Fang Mengyao¡¯s gaze flickered slightly as she moved around to the other side and pulled open the car door to get in. She was dressed in a sleeveless long dress and hugged her arms after getting in as if she were cold. Qiu Yiming glanced at her and then told the driver to turn up the temperature of the air conditioning before turning the car around to head back to the Fang Family. Fang Mengyao quickly spoke up, ¡°I¡¯m not going back to the Fang Family!¡± After saying this, she seemed to realize she had grown too agitated and turned her head to look at Qiu Yiming. Her tone softened as she said, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, I don¡¯t want to go to that place; it¡¯s not my home. Just drop me off at any hotel.¡± Qiu Yiming pulled out a tissue and handed it to her, asking with concern, ¡°What exactly happened? Why are you going to stay in a hotel? Don¡¯t you have a place to live?¡± Fang Mengyao shook her head with a look of dejection and said, ¡°The house was sold; I have nowhere to go now.¡± At that point, she suddenly turned her head, her eyes locking onto Qiu Yiming firmly, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, could you promise me not to tell the Fang Family about my return? They don¡¯t know yet; I secretly came back without them knowing.¡± Qiu Yiming did not refuse. He had the driver head to the city center and found a five-star hotel for Fang Mengyao to stay in. After escorting Fang Mengyao into her room, he left. Turning around, he curled his lips in a cold smile. He hadn¡¯t expected that the once timid and undistinguished Fang Mengyao would have learned to be so cunning. Unfortunately, her scheming seemed amateurish in front of him. The Fang Family was large and wealthy. Having purchased that apartment for her, how could they possibly take it back? Moreover, if the Fang Family had truly intended to drive her out of the city, they would never have let her stay in the first place. Fang Mengyao simply didn¡¯t understand the Fang Family, nor did she understand him. ... After leaving the Fang Family, Fang Yuxin returned to her room and directly entered the spatial formation. Within the formation, there was a medicine field with many spiritual medicines growing. She hadn¡¯t recognized them before, but after successfully entering the Qi Refining Early Stage, she unlocked the Sealing Array on the Scripture Pavilion. Inside the Scripture Pavilion was a massive bookcase filled with Jade Scrolls, whose contents were extensive and varied. However, with her limited strength, the only thing she could read for now was the ¡°Hundred Herbs Record,¡± a Jade Scroll that recorded basic spiritual medicines. After reading through it, Fang Yuxin recognized one of the plants in the medicine field as the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit. This fruit was the main ingredient in making the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, which even ordinary people could consume to purge impurities from their bodies. Consumed alone, the fruit¡¯s powerful medicinal effect was overwhelming, causing discomfort if not processed. Fortunately, it was not harmful to one¡¯s health; it simply caused pain. Now that the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit was ripe, there were a total of ten berries, each just a bit larger than a thumb and rosy in color. Their fragrance seeped through the thin fruit skin, very enticing. Following the methods recorded in the scroll, Fang Yuxin carefully picked the fruits and placed them in a Jade Box. The Jade Box was found in the warehouse; initially, she thought there was nothing in there, but after entering the Qi Refining Early Stage, she discovered hidden formations inside. Upon unlocking them, what she found was a pile of Jade Boxes and Jade Bottles, all from the Cultivation World, engraved with spatial formations and Sealing Arrays, which preserved freshness exceptionally well, preventing the loss of spiritual energy. She took out a Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, then closed the lid of the box; the seal automatically activated, cutting off the escaping spiritual energy quickly. Coming out of the spatial formation, Fang Yuxin filled the bathtub with lots of hot water, then lay down in it and took the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit into her mouth. Upon entering, the fruit turned into a sweet spiritual liquid, automatically infiltrated her limbs and bones. Soon, an agonizing pain, like that of insects and ants biting, rose from her limbs, and at the beginning, Fang Yuxin could bear it. But as the pain grew more intense, she hurriedly grabbed a clean cloth twisted into a strip beside her and bit down hard with her teeth. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Next chapter, the apocalypse begins. Chapter 22 - 22 020 Arrives as Scheduled ?Chapter 22: 020 Arrives as Scheduled Chapter 22: 020 Arrives as Scheduled The pain lasted for a full hour, after which all the agony faded away like a tide, leaving only a sense of exhaustion and a room filled with foul odor. Fang Yuxin circulated her spiritual energy for a cycle, and the exhaustion disappeared without a trace. She hurriedly drained the water from the bathtub, cleaned herself under the shower, and then changed her clothes to go out. At this time, the others were still awake. When Fang Yuxin went downstairs, Qu Qianhe was watching television with Bai Qianqian, while Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang were discussing matters in the study. The Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit could expel impurities from the body, and naturally, Fang Yuxin wanted her family to use it. The only hesitation was for Bai Qianqian. He was just five years old, how could he endure the pain of marrow washing? When Bai Qianqian saw her, his eyes lit up with excitement, and he even abandoned his favorite television show, happily jumping off the sofa and running to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side. Upon seeing her, he paused and asked, ¡°Mama? Why did you become prettier again?¡± After speaking, he frowned in confusion. What to do, Mama is so outstanding, she probably won¡¯t fancy Dad! Qu Qianhe initially thought he was joking but upon closer inspection, she realized Fang Yuxin had indeed changed somewhat. Not only had her skin become more delicate, but she also seemed a few years younger. At first glance, she didn¡¯t even look like a real person, but rather like a sprite from a painting. Qu Qianhe knew that Fang Yuxin was practicing a powerful cultivation technique, but Bai Qianqian didn¡¯t know. She was worried that Bai Qianqian might notice something, so she said with a smile, ¡°How come you¡¯re so sweet at such a young age, always complimenting your mom, you nearly praise her to the skies.¡± Bai Qianqian happily held Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, insisting, ¡°Mama is beautiful!¡± More beautiful than my classmates¡¯ mamas! Fang Yuxin coaxed Bai Qianqian to go to sleep, but he simply refused. He clung to Fang Yuxin, asking her to tell him stories. Fang Yuxin thought for a moment and said, ¡°You wait here obediently for Mama. Mama will talk with your grandparents and uncle for a while, and then come back to tell you a story, okay?¡± After coaxing Bai Qianqian, Fang Yuxin found Qu Qianhe, ¡°Mom, let¡¯s go to the study. I have something to discuss with you.¡± Qu Qianhe did not refuse, and when the two entered the study, Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang were still discussing matters. She reported the matter of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, brought out three fruits, and instructed, ¡°It¡¯s best to take them while lying in hot water. It will hurt during the process, and you will feel exhausted afterward. I will come and help you adjust your bodies then.¡± The three of them nodded their heads, having learned about the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, they decided without hesitation to use it. Although the process was painful, the ability to expel impurities from their bodies without causing any harm was worth a little pain. Fang Yuxin also discussed her plans to use the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit for Bai Qianqian. The three had no objections, but Fang Yuyang asked, ¡°Xinxin, did Qiu Yiming say anything when he came looking for you today?¡± Fang Yuxin thought of Qiu Yiming¡¯s probing and her expression turned cold. She didn¡¯t hide it and simply told them. As soon as she finished speaking, Fang Yuyang let out a cold laugh, ¡°It seems the Qiu Family has set their sights on us, they¡¯re uneasy.¡± Fang Yuxin did not know about this and was startled, ¡°Brother, what happened?¡± Fang Yuyang said with an unpleasant expression, ¡°Uncle Qiu invited Dad for a meeting, and during the meeting, he probed whether Dad knew anything and why he had been stockpiling large amounts of supplies recently, and what his plans were.¡± Fang Jintang sighed, looking very tired, seemingly disappointed by his old friend¡¯s probing. He said, ¡°I¡¯ve fobbed him off, but he probably doesn¡¯t believe it. Fortunately, we¡¯ve been careful, and it will likely take him a while to find out everything.¡± Most of the supplies purchased by the Fang Family had already been stored by Fang Yuxin in a space within the warehouse, with only a small part kept in the Fang Family¡¯s basement. Some, ostensibly stored in the warehouse, had actually been moved away long ago. Fang Yuyang was so angry because the more the Qiu Family cared about this matter, the more they tested, the more it showed they knew some secret and didn¡¯t intend to share it. Instead, they were worried about whether the Fangs had learned something from another source. Fang Jintang also felt disheartened, but he didn¡¯t want to delve deeper into this matter. Since the Qiu Family was acting this way, they would just keep their distance in the future. There was no need to be upset over such people. His only worry was for Fang Yuxin, who, after all, was still betrothed to Qiu Yiming. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to discuss the engagement and said, ¡°The Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit can¡¯t be stored for long; its spiritual energy will dissipate and the effects will diminish. You all go back to your rooms and use it. I¡¯ll go find Bai Qianqian.¡± Before she entered the room, Bai Qianqian was excitedly texting Bai Ye. Hearing the door open, she immediately turned off her cell phone, tucked it under the covers, and then looked up at Fang Yuxin with a particularly sweet smile, ¡°Mama! What story are you going to tell me tonight?¡± Fang Yuxin asked her, ¡°Qianqian, are you afraid of pain?¡± Bai Qianqian immediately puffed out his chest and said boastfully, ¡°Qianqian is a little man; he¡¯s not afraid of pain.¡± Fang Yuxin then took him to the bathroom, ran water in the bathtub, and asked him to get undressed and get in. Bai Qianqian thought Fang Yuxin was going to bathe him, blushed with embarrassment, then quickly stripped off his clothes and jumped into the bathtub, eyes sparkling as he looked up at Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin gave him the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit to eat. Bai Qianqian, though curious, didn¡¯t hesitate and swallowed it down, ¡°It¡¯s delicious, Mama, what fruit is this?¡± Soon after, he started to feel uncomfortable and frowned in pain. Fang Yuxin felt pained watching him suffer, but once the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit was ingested, one could only endure that one painful hour¡ªthere was no other way. She held Bai Qianqian¡¯s hand and comforted him, ¡°Qianqian, don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯ll be over soon.¡± Then, worried that Bai Qianqian might bite his lip, she found a clean cloth for him to bite on. That one hour felt extremely long for Fang Yuxin. Although Bai Qianqian was the one in pain, she felt even worse, to the extent that she even thought of refining the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit into a pill form. Being young, Bai Qianqian fell asleep after expelling the impurities. Fang Yuxin cleaned him up, used spiritual energy to help tidy his body, dressed him in pajamas, and carefully placed him in bed. Then, she went to look for Fang Yuyang and the others. When she left, Fang Yuyang and the others had already bathed and changed their clothes, looking somewhat haggard. She used spiritual energy to comb through each of them, and they soon looked lively and spirited. Time flew by, and suddenly the day Fang Yuxin foresaw in her dreams, the beginning of the apocalypse, had arrived. At this time, the Fang Family had already moved into the villa Fang Yuxin had bought in the development zone. The villa was fully furnished with eco-friendly materials, and Fang Yuxin had cleaned it with Cleaning Technique beforehand, so it was perfectly safe. That day, the Fang Family didn¡¯t sleep; they were waiting. Sure enough, when the clock struck midnight, a dazzling and splendid light tore through the pitch-black night, resembling countless falling stars from afar. However, soon the stars grew closer, turning into myriad burning meteor fragments that rained down like cannonballs. The sky and the winds changed colors, and many people immersed in their dreams were undergoing unknown transformations. Chapter 23 - 23 021 Energy Riot ?Chapter 23: 021 Energy Riot Chapter 23: 021 Energy Riot The energy upheaval caused by the meteorite¡¯s fall not only destroyed many municipal facilities but also severely affected transportation everywhere. Most critically, the energy tumult brought about virus mutation. Fortunately, there is always a sliver of hope, as the virus mutation resulted not only in zombies but also in the awakening of some individuals. This night of the meteorite fall was a key moment for awakenings. With the energy upheaval, absorbing as much energy as possible upon awakening would provide a significant advantage. Fang Yuxin was well aware of this and naturally did not want to miss the opportunity. In fact, her insistence on hastily having the villa renovated and moving in with her family was precisely because this newly developed area was unaffected by the meteorite impact. That night, no one in the villa slept, it was only the Fang Family there, all the bodyguards and housemaids had left one after another. Due to the increasingly severe flu, their families were ill, more or less, and naturally, they were worried. After learning of this, Fang Yuxin simply gave them leave and money to go home to care for their families. She didn¡¯t know how many of these people would survive after the apocalypse, let alone what would happen to their families, but with many people separated from their loved ones or scattered from their kin after the apocalypse, rather than having these people stay, it was better to let them go home and reunite with their families. Regardless of what the apocalypse would bring, being with their own families was better than being separated and unknowing whether they are dead or alive. That night, the Fang Family did not sleep and waited until midnight. As soon as the meteorite appeared, Fang Yuxin led her entire family, including Bai Qianqian, into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Inside the grand hall, there were many Spirit Gathering Arrays. Since the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion recognized its owner, the Spirit Gathering Arrays automatically activated, absorbing the spiritual energy between heaven and earth. This time, due to the energy turmoil, the spiritual energy absorbed by the Spirit Gathering Arrays was vastly more concentrated than usual¡ªmore than ten or a hundred times! As soon as Fang Yuxin led her family into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, she felt the much denser spiritual energy within. Upon entering the grand hall, the spiritual energy was even denser, almost becoming a mist visible to the naked eye. Fang Yuxin advised her family members to find places to sit and let their bodies experience the wash of spiritual energy. If nothing unexpected occurred, Yu Yang should be able to awaken the Wind Superpower. As for Jintang and Qianhe, and the remaining Bai Qianqian, she dared not hope too much. The chances of becoming an Awakener were not high. In the early days of the apocalypse, almost two-thirds of the world¡¯s population turned into zombies, and among the remaining third of the survivors, only one in ten were Awakeners. It was only with the emergence of Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals that ordinary survivors had the chance to awaken. Aside from Elemental Crystals, ordinary survivors who were scratched by zombies and infected with the Zombie Virus also had a chance to awaken, although the likelihood was very low, and most became zombies. Comparatively, obtaining Elemental Crystals was much safer, providing ordinary people with a chance to awaken superpowers, albeit with lower talent than those who awakened spontaneously, unless they could find an Elemental Crystal to enhance their talent, otherwise their future achievements would be limited. And Elemental Crystals were hidden within Elemental Stones. Elemental Stones were fragments of the fallen meteor, whose outer layers, burned during descent, had smoothed into something resembling pebbles. The surface of an Elemental Stone was extremely hard and varied in size, each containing Elemental Crystals of different properties. However, not all meteor fragments became Elemental Stones. Some fragments contained nothing and were called ¡°empty stones.¡± Initially, no one noticed the significance of Elemental Stones and the Elemental Crystals inside, until news started spreading half a year into the apocalypse. Afterward, all survivors, whether superpower users or ordinary people, coveted Elemental Stones. Ordinary people could potentially awaken superpowers by obtaining Elemental Crystals, and though superpower users couldn¡¯t awaken new superpowers through Elemental Stones, they could use Elemental Crystals of the same type to enhance their superpower talent. In the dream, Fang Yuyang had always wanted to find an Elemental Crystal so Fang Yuxin could awaken her superpower, but unfortunately, once he managed to get one, Fang Yuxin failed to awaken any superpower. Fang Yuyang, refusing to believe it, declared he would gather all types of Elemental Crystals for Fang Yuxin to try one by one. Sadly, before he could find the second crystal, his own superpower was destroyed and he died a tragic death. Thus, Fang Yuxin cared deeply about the Elemental Crystals. She chose not to have the Fang Family leave the Market area for two reasons. One was because the new development area where their villa was located would eventually evolve into a survivor base. The second reason was that she was well aware of the distribution of Elemental Crystals in and around the Market. These were all things she had seen in her dreams. Reality might have been different, but Fang Yuxin was willing to take a gamble. Bai Qianqian felt incredibly uneasy the first time he came to this place. Holding Angela, he looked helplessly at Fang Yuxin and asked, ¡°Mama, where are we?¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know how to explain the apocalypse to him. Looking at Angela in his arms, she walked over and placed Angela on one of the Spirit Gathering Arrays. After the apocalypse, not only humans but also animals and plants had mutated. She didn¡¯t know if Angela could mutate but wanted to give it a try. The living conditions after the apocalypse were harsh; if Angela couldn¡¯t mutate, she would likely have to stay inside the Qingmu Spirit Mansion from then on. Sighing, Fang Yuxin took Bai Qianqian by the hand and had him sit on the Spirit Gathering Array, urging, ¡°Qianqian, you must try to sense it well, okay? Mama will explain everything else to you later.¡± Bai Qianqian obediently nodded his head. Then, he started feeling a very comfortable energy washing over his limbs and body. Fang Yuxin looked at the others and noticed that Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Fang Yuyang had already started to meditate with their eyes closed. Meanwhile, Angela was lying comfortably on the Spirit Gathering Array, meowing softly before closing her eyes and falling asleep. Fang Yuxin smiled and shook her head, then she sat down cross-legged next to her family and closed her eyes to absorb the Spiritual Energy. She could no longer awaken any superpower, but with her Wood Element Technique, masquerading as a Wood Element Superpower User was easy. However, the most important thing at the moment was to cultivate using the Spiritual Energy generated during the energy surge. ... The Fang Family stepped into the Qingmu Spirit Mansion without having to worry about the impact of the apocalypse, but others were not so lucky. Even though many were aware of the virus, the appearance of the meteorite was completely unexpected; it seemingly appeared out of nowhere and then instantly exploded into countless fragments that fell across the world, catching everyone off guard. In the night, a black SUV rushed into the old Fang family home. Immediately after stopping, a slim figure in a bodysuit stepped out of the vehicle. She glanced at the tightly shut gate and smiled coldly, then leapt over the wall with a somersault. Due to a citywide power outage, the villa¡¯s security system was rendered useless. She moved effortlessly to the door, took out a key, and inserted it into the lock. The key looked plain and unlike any ordinary key, almost comically resembling a toy. However, when she inserted the key into the lock and gave it a gentle turn, a soft ¡°click¡± sounded from the lock. Then, she gently pushed the door open and silently made her way upstairs to a door. She used the same key to unlock it, carefully pushed the door open, and then, the smile froze on her face. Chapter 24 - 24 022 Superpower Awakening ?Chapter 24: 022 Superpower Awakening Chapter 24: 022 Superpower Awakening Fang Mengyao looked at the empty room, her expression quickly darkening. She turned on her flashlight, and the room immediately lit up. At first glance, everything in the room seemed intact, not at all like it was uninhabited. However, when she opened the closet, she found it was completely empty. The same was true for everything else. Fang Yuxin had actually moved out! This was beyond Fang Mengyao¡¯s expectations. She had always been envious of the jade jewelry Fang Yuxin had acquired and wanted to get her hands on it, but she never had the chance. She had specifically chosen this time to come, intending to take advantage of the Fang Family¡¯s sleep to take the jewelry. Of course, if she arrived while the Fang Family was mutating, she wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to ¡°help.¡± But Fang Yuxin had moved out! Where did she go? Suddenly, Fang Mengyao¡¯s expression changed, and she quickly left the room and searched the entire villa. To her dismay, she discovered that not a single person was left, the entire Fang Family had moved out! Just then, she suddenly heard a piercing scream in the distance, followed by a system notification¡ª[Ding! The apocalypse instance has opened, main mission: Eliminate zombies, mandatory acceptance.] Fang Mengyao instantly furrowed her brows and looked discontentedly at the system panel. However, when she saw the mission details and the rewards, her displeasure turned into resolute determination. Although the task of eliminating zombies was mandatory, the system didn¡¯t require her to kill each zombie. Moreover, for every Basic-level Zombie she killed, she would earn points, which could not only be exchanged for items in the system store but also for Constitution Points and Skill Points. This game system didn¡¯t use Experience Points, but it did use Physical Value, which would increase with newfound strength, allowing for upgrades once reaching certain parameters. Although she couldn¡¯t awaken a superpower like others, as long as she exchanged for Skill Points, she could have an advantage over other superpower users, and even become a superpower user of all types! Listening to the screams around her, Fang Mengyao smirked with triumph. She couldn¡¯t believe that with such a significant advantage, she would still lose to Fang Mengyao! However, now was the time to ¡°save people.¡± The people living here were all either rich or noble; by saving them, they would owe her favors, making it much easier to accomplish what she wanted to later! With that thought, Fang Mengyao quickly left the villa and sprinted toward the nearest source of the screams. ... Fang Yuxin was so deeply engaged in her cultivation that she entered a state of meditation, waking up only the next day at noon. By then, Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, Fang Yuyang, Bai Qianqian, and even Angela were already awake. The moment Fang Yuxin opened her eyes, she saw them. Seeing the worried looks on her family¡¯s faces, Fang Yuxin smiled slightly, ¡°I¡¯m fine. How are you all?¡± Fang Jintang responded indifferently, ¡°Let¡¯s go outside and talk.¡± Qingmu Space had no day or night cycles; they couldn¡¯t leave with Fang Yuxin unconscious, and they had no idea how long had passed outside. If someone had broken in, they would have found the villa empty. Once outside, they first checked the time and were relieved to see it was just the next afternoon. It was still very quiet outside, with no one around. After settling down, Fang Yuxin asked anxiously, ¡°Brother, have you awakened your superpower?¡± Fang Yuyang lifted his right hand with a smile, and everyone saw a small tornado appear in his palm. Fang Yuxin immediately burst into an uncontrollable smile; being able to do this right after awakening clearly showed Fang Yuyang¡¯s talent was quite exceptional. Fang Yuyang¡¯s simple awakening had already made her very happy, but she had not anticipated that there were more surprises waiting for her! Fang Jintang gently tapped a nearby potted plant, and the soil in the pot began to move on its own, forming sharp Earth Spikes. Qianhe placed her hands together and then separated them, revealing a flaming fireball in her palms. Bai Qianqian¡¯s eyes widened in amazement, ¡°Wow... so impressive!¡± Then his face fell into a frown, ¡°Mama, Qianqian doesn¡¯t know how.¡± Fang Yuxin was about to explain that the chances of awakening were inherently low, and that it didn¡¯t matter if he couldn¡¯t do it, when suddenly Bai Qianqian said, ¡°I only know this.¡± After speaking, he extended a finger and tapped a painting hanging on the wall; the painting slowly began to move as if something were pulling it, floating leisurely toward them. It finally stopped in front of Fang Yuxin, remaining motionless. Fang Yuxin stared at Bai Qianqian in shock, as if looking at a little monster, ¡°Qianqian, you... you¡¯ve awakened too?¡± How strange, they had all awakened; could it be because of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit? Bai Qianqian asked puzzledly, ¡°Mama, what¡¯s awakening? Is it like having superpowers?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, ¡°You could say that, but we can¡¯t talk about this yet!¡± Their entire family awakening might bring trouble if the wrong people found out! Thankfully, unless a superpower was used, Primary superpower users couldn¡¯t sense energy fluctuations, and they could disguise themselves as Ordinary People. Apart from Bai Qianqian, everyone else had also thought about this issue. Fang Jintang said, ¡°Our entire family awakening really is too conspicuous; we must find a way to keep it a secret.¡± Fang Yuxin took the opportunity to explain about Elemental Crystals and the sensing of energy fluctuations. After seeing everyone had understood, she said, ¡°After the apocalypse, being a superpower user is an advantage; it¡¯s also intimidating for ordinary survivors. Eventually, people will surely take stock, and I think, by that time, my brother and I should report our superpowers; Mom and Dad, along with Qianqian, should keep yours hidden. Once Elemental Crystals are discovered, just say you awakened because of them.¡± Fang Yuyang was a bit worried, ¡°I don¡¯t really have a problem, but could this put you in danger, Xinxin? The government might require superpower users to help clear out zombies and rescue trapped survivors. It will be very dangerous!¡± Fang Yuxin had already considered this, which is why she made that suggestion. Both Fang Jintang and Qianhe, despite looking young, especially after using Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit¡ªboth appeared to be just over thirty¡ªbut realistically, their age was undeniable, so how could Fang Yuxin be at ease letting them fight zombies? Having five members in their family, relying solely on Fang Yuyang as the only known superpower user would make life very difficult. In her dreams, Fang Yuyang had struggled to even protect her¡ªan Ordinary Person. Having two known superpower users would at least have an intimidating effect on other survivors. Although both Fang Jintang and Qianhe were equally worried about the safety of Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, after careful consideration, they agreed to Fang Yuxin¡¯s proposal. However, both requested that the siblings must always act together when going out. Seeing that they had finally agreed, Fang Yuxin held Angela in her embrace. She had faintly felt some energy fluctuations from Angela but was not sure at that moment; now, holding it close, those energy fluctuations became distinctly apparent. Chapter 25 - 25 Set off for 2023 ?Chapter 25: Set off for 2023! Chapter 25: Set off for 2023! Fang Yuxin carefully tuned in and finally confirmed that Angela had also awakened, possessing an Ice Ability no less! But Angela looked unchanged, scratching Angela¡¯s chin, her blue eyes gazed at her blankly, innocently ¡°meowing¡± once. Qu Qianhe exclaimed in surprise, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Could it be... it has also mutated?¡± At her words, everyone turned to look at Angela in Fang Yuxin¡¯s arms. They had just awakened their superpowers and couldn¡¯t sense the energy fluctuations emanating from Angela. Fang Yuxin was different; she was on the path of Cultivation, with a Cultivation Technique, naturally different from ordinary superpower users groping for abilities on their own. The Fang Family had already learned from Fang Yuxin that animals and plants might mutate, something mentioned in her initial posts, but seeing it with their own eyes, they were all incredibly astonished. Fang Yuyang¡¯s expression, however, quickly grew somber¡ªwhen Fang Yuxin first mentioned it to him, the apocalypse hadn¡¯t started, and he still harbored some hope. Now that he witnessed it himself, Fang Yuyang realized the situation was far from optimistic. Humanity already had zombies as enemies; if animals and plants mutated, the human predicament would undoubtedly become even more difficult! Thinking this, a burning desire to increase his strength arose in Fang Yuyang. He remembered Fang Yuxin mentioning that zombies had Crystal Cores in their brains that could be absorbed for Cultivation and said gravely, ¡°Xinxin, let¡¯s hurry outside and see what¡¯s going on.¡± He had already tried; not only were water, electricity, and gas cut off, communications were also disrupted, unable to receive any signal. There wasn¡¯t a soul nearby, and to know what was happening outside, they¡¯d have to go see for themselves. Fang Yuxin nodded, and after a hurried lunch, she and Fang Yuyang went to change their clothes. As previously discussed, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang would venture out to scout and kill zombies, searching for Elemental Crystals, while Fang Jintang and his wife Qu Qianhe took Bai Qianqian in the SUV to the suburbs. Because of that dream, Fang Yuxin knew some locations of Elemental Stones, which were later revealed but were certainly not all of them. At this moment, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t be sure if the Elemental Stones were actually in those places; she marked some positions on the map, all in the less-populated suburbs, relatively safer. At this beginning of the apocalypse, many people were surely anxious, and it might take a long time before the effects of the Elemental Stones were discovered, providing them an opportunity. Back in her bedroom, Fang Yuxin took out a two-meter-long black case with a combination lock. Inside were three sets of black bodysuits and two black Miao Sabers. The bodysuits came with matching boots and belts and other tools, including daggers, goggles, and night vision goggles. All these items were prepared by Fang Yuyang, made in haste with new carbon fiber composite materials giving the clothing excellent breathability and toughness. The Miao Sabers could cut through iron as if it were mud. The bodysuits were formfitting, accentuating her curves once worn. Fang Yuxin had been in good shape to start with, and twenty-plus days of Cultivation, coupled with the effects of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, had made her figure near perfect. With a height of 175cm, a delicate face, slim neck, full and perky breasts, flexible and slender waist, and firm, long legs, she was an embodiment of perfection. The belt was specifically designed to carry weapons. After strapping it on, Fang Yuxin attached the dagger. The flat-heeled boots reached just below the knees, perfectly contouring her legs with a soft material that did not hinder leg movement at all. The sides of the boots also had spaces to carry weapons, and Fang Yuxin placed a Military dagger on each side. Putting on the gloves, she picked up the slender black Miao Saber, buckling it at her waist. The gloves were specially made, with a dense array of tiny suction cups on the palm side providing strong adherence, and they fitted her fingers so well that they did not impede their movement. After making preparations, Fang Yuxin opened the door to leave, and Fang Yuyang was already waiting downstairs. He had also changed into a tight outfit, and his weapon was the Miao Saber. The Miao Saber¡¯s killing power was stronger than guns, and without them, it was a suitable choice. Fortunately, both of them had a foundation in martial arts and had specifically practiced for this; otherwise, they would not have been able to use such weapons. Bai Qianqian had been obediently sitting on the sofa, practicing his superpower. His superpower was spiritual power, which was still Basic, only capable of simple Object Control Technique. When Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang came down, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he quickly took out his phone to snap several photos of Fang Yuxin. However, seeing the display on his phone showing zero signal bars, Bai Qianqian became troubled again¡ªwhat to do? He couldn¡¯t contact Dad anymore. Before leaving the house, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but give Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe a word of caution, ¡°Dad, Mom, we¡¯re not sure what the situation is like outside, so please be careful when you go out. It¡¯s best to avoid both survivors and zombies, and don¡¯t act recklessly.¡± Qu Qianhe didn¡¯t want Fang Yuxin to keep worrying about them while he was outside, so she said, ¡°Your father and I understand these things. We¡¯ve lived long enough; what haven¡¯t we seen yet? But you and your brother must be careful. If you encounter survivors, don¡¯t be hasty to rescue them, be more cautious. In these chaotic times, people¡¯s hearts might not be pure.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded solemnly, then instructed Bai Qianqian to be good, and got into the modified SUV with Fang Yuyang and left. As soon as they left, Qu Qianhe said to Fang Jintang, ¡°Let¡¯s also get going, see what the outside world has come to.¡± Fang Jintang nodded, then went to the garage and also drove a modified SUV out. Qu Qianhe locked up, took Bai Qianqian with her, and got inside. They couldn¡¯t always hide at home or inside Fang Yuxin¡¯s Qingmu Spiritual Mansion and become a burden to Fang Yuxin. Now that the apocalypse had just started, if they wanted to gain an advantage, they needed to get as many Elemental Crystals as possible! Going into the city was too dangerous; they wouldn¡¯t cause trouble for their children, but driving around the suburbs was doable! Even if a zombie really did appear, with their skills, they had nothing to worry about. When Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were changing their clothes earlier, they also changed into a new set. As long as they didn¡¯t use their superpowers, no one would be able to tell they were superpower users. On the back seat, Bai Qianqian held his phone with a dejected face¡ªhow annoying! Why is there still no signal? Dad, where could you be? You¡¯re not even coming to find Mama, it¡¯s so irritating! Mama is becoming more and more beautiful; she definitely won¡¯t take a second glance at Dad now! ... This villa area was located in the suburbs currently under development. Besides the villa community, there were large tracts of agricultural bases around, as well as many newly constructed residential complexes. Due to the surrounding economic industries not yet being developed, the number of people living here wasn¡¯t large; one could even see expanses of vacant land. The area was a distance away from the urban districts, but the environment was considered nice. Importantly, there were vast farmlands and ready-made houses, which is why it later became one of the survivor bases and grew into the largest survivor base in the Market. As Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang drove away, they could see zombies wandering around when they passed the residential buildings. Apparently smelling the scent of living humans, the zombies began to swarm towards them. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Have you seen the equipment of our female protagonist¡¯s family? That¡¯s right! Our leading lady is following the high-end goddess route! Chapter 26 - 26 024 Hunt ?Chapter 26: 024 Hunt Chapter 26: 024 Hunt Here is the suburban area, where not many zombies roamed the roads. As she saw zombies beginning to surround them, Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze turned cold, and she gripped the Miao Saber in her hand tightly. She would never forget, in her last dream, how she was incapacitated on the ground, unable to move her limbs, while Fang Mengyao deliberately lured zombies to her and coldly watched from above as she was torn apart by them! Back then, she was powerless, but now things were different. She not only obtained the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion and had practiced the Green Wood Technique, but she had also managed to protect her most important family members! After the initial fear passed, Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart gradually calmed down. ¡°Stop the car!¡± Fang Yuyang looked at her in surprise, then without hesitation, he stepped on the brakes. As soon as the car stopped, the zombies began rushing toward them frantically. Fang Yuxin was already prepared; the moment the car stopped, she unbuckled her seat belt and swiftly opened the car door, got out, closed the door¡ªher movements were fluid and decisive. Fang Yuxin watched the approaching zombies with cold eyes. With a slight push of her left thumb against the guard of the saber, she quickly drew it with her right hand. The black Miao Saber emitted a ¡°zing¡± as it was unsheathed¡ªa sound poignant in its solitude. The specially treated blade did not reflect light, giving it an austere feel. Fang Yuxin gripped the handle with both hands. As four zombies closed in on her, her eyes narrowed slightly, and her lips formed a straight line. Then she forcefully stomped on the ground with her right foot, propelling herself upward. She twisted her wrist, and the saber sliced horizontally, creating a huge semicircle in mid-air¡ªfour zombies were instantly beheaded. She landed gracefully, and due to the distance, not a single drop of tainted blood splashed on her. Fang Yuyang also got out of the car, but unlike Fang Yuxin¡¯s crisp and efficient movements, his were much more violent. Worried about Fang Yuxin, he kept his eyes on her while dealing with zombies. Seeing her skillfully take down four zombies, Fang Yuyang let out a sigh of relief, while a strong sense of pride surged in his heart¡ªshe was his sister! With the leading zombies downed, the ones behind swarmed forward. Seeing that Fang Yuxin could handle them herself, Fang Yuyang stopped worrying and focused on fighting the zombies. Fang Yuxin eyed the five encroaching zombies. They hadn¡¯t gotten close yet, leaving a large gap between them. She didn¡¯t give them a chance to get closer; gripping the saber tightly, she charged directly at the zombies. The Miao Saber¡¯s blade was long and had been specially treated to be exceedingly sharp¡ªsharp enough to cut through iron like it was mud. The apocalypse had only just begun¡ªthese zombies were all Basic-level Zombies, whose bodies were a bit stiffer than those of normal humans. But they were far from having copper skin and iron bones. Their limbs were stiff, and their movements, sluggish; the only thing to worry about was their mutated nails and teeth. Fang Yuxin charged forward, nimbly avoiding the sharp claws, gripped the handle, and with a powerful swing, decapitated a zombie. Then, with a forceful kick, the headless body flew backward, crashing into three other encroaching zombies. At that moment, another zombie was coming at her from behind. She twisted her hand behind her, stabbing the saber back fiercely while stepping to the side. Her right leg kicked the zombie¡¯s abdomen. As the zombie staggered backward from the kick, she twisted her body, spun around twice, and the blade easily slid across the zombie¡¯s neck, chopping off its head as if it were slicing through tofu. Immediately after, she turned her head, looking at the three zombies that had just been knocked down and were trying to get up. She smiled coldly and strode over, stepping on the body of the topmost zombie and beheading all three with swift cuts. Once beheaded, these zombies would die completely, unable to move again. As heads separated from bodies, the three zombies that were still struggling just moments before now lay motionless, turning into decaying corpses. A few more sporadic zombies were nearby, but too far for Fang Yuxin to bother approaching. They would make their way to her, drawn by the scent of living flesh. Watching the zombies steadily approaching, Fang Yuxin once again gripped the handle of her blade and let out an ironic laugh. Basic-level zombies lacked intelligence, driven only by instinct. Their constant craving for fresh flesh ruled them, instinctively seeking food but unable to discern danger. Like now, if these zombies possessed intelligence, they would have steered clear of the two grim reapers, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, long ago. The number of zombies here was not high and they were all basic-level zombies, posing no threat to Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang. The two easily dispatched the encircling zombies and then proceeded to cut open their heads to search for Crystal Cores. At the onset of the apocalypse, not every zombie¡¯s head contained a Crystal Core. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had killed a total of 27 zombies but had found only 15 Basic-level Crystal Cores. These cores were the size of a peanut and not transparent, but rather a grayish-white color, unimpressive in appearance, much like the pebbles in a riverbed. However, any superpower user could feel the energy fluctuations emitting from the Crystal Cores and might even desire to absorb them. Fang Yuxin directly stored the Crystal Cores into her space. These cores contained not only energy but also impurities and viruses; rash absorption would introduce the viruses into the body along with the energy. However, superpower users had a certain immunity to the Zombie Virus, and their bodies would automatically expel impurities and viruses during an upgrade. Thus, every time superpower users upgraded, it was an extremely uncomfortable process, but once successfully completed, they felt utterly transformed. In her dreams, Fang Yuxin had not experienced an Awakening of superpower; had it not been for Fang Yuyang¡¯s Awakening, she would not have known any of this. The Spiritual Spring in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion could purify, so Fang Yuxin intended to use spiritual spring water to purify the Crystal Cores before absorbing them. Moreover, by placing the cores in her space, she could isolate their energy fluctuations, no longer worrying about attracting zombies or other superpower users. Fang Yuyang naturally had no objections to Fang Yuxin¡¯s approach. After collecting the Crystal Cores, the two got back into the car. There were many newly built residential complexes nearby, housing complexes that had been erected in the last year or two and sparsely populated. However, they had no intention of entering the complexes; their main goal was to assess the state of the city. It wasn¡¯t long after hitting the road again that Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang saw buildings by the roadside that had been severely damaged. The meteorites¡¯ descent had not only triggered energy fluctuations and brought mysterious Elemental Crystals, but had also caused severe damage to both buildings and equipment. The once lively commercial plazas had now become ruins strewn with broken walls and shattered remnants. Fang Yuyang glanced at the place, his expression becoming a few shades grimmer, ¡°To think, it¡¯s come to this.¡± He remembered passing by here a few days earlier when they moved, even stopping to shop and purchasing quite a few items. Yet Fang Yuxin laughed, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and have a look; there might be Elemental Crystals there.¡± Elemental Crystals came from meteorites, meaning that places damaged by meteorites could potentially contain them. Though she hadn¡¯t heard of this place in her dreams, Fang Yuxin felt it would be a waste not to explore now that they were here. Moreover, this was a commercial plaza; despite the extensive damage, it might still contain useful resources! At that thought, Fang Yuxin¡¯s eyes brightened. Chapter 27 - 27 025 Elemental Stone discovered ?Chapter 27: 025 Elemental Stone discovered! Chapter 27: 025 Elemental Stone discovered! Fang Yuxin suggested going in to take a look, and Fang Yuyang naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse. In fact, he doted on his sister excessively, never having denied any of Fang Yuxin¡¯s requests since childhood, even more so than Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe did. They parked the car in a secluded but safe corner and got out. This shopping mall had several entrances and exits, some blocked, others still accessible. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang found an entrance, only to encounter zombies just inside. At first glance, there were seven or eight of them, lingering near the entrance. As soon as they entered, the previously aimlessly wandering zombies became excited as if injected with adrenaline, stiffly turning their heads, their gray-white eyes with the pallor of death fixed on them, like a hungry pack of wolves spotting their long-awaited prey. Without prior agreement, both tightened their grip on the handles of their blades; Fang Yuyang, on guard, quietly cautioned Fang Yuxin, ¡°Be careful, don¡¯t try to be a hero!¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, equally soft, ¡°I know, you be careful too.¡± Practically as she finished her sentence, they charged out together, cleanly and briskly dispatching the zombies. The entrance area they came into was an indoor shopping street, thankfully at the entrance where not many zombies were located. It only took them three minutes to deal with the eight zombies at the entrance, even efficiently extracting five crystal cores. After washing them clean with water, Fang Yuxin stored them in her space. Monitors were installed on the walls, but since the electricity was out, they now served as mere decoration. The indoor shopping street laid out before Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang wasn¡¯t short, with more zombies roaming in the distance. After exchanging a glance, Fang Yuxin gestured outside, and they retreated together. After exiting, Fang Yuyang asked, ¡°What¡¯s up? Didn¡¯t you want to go in and look?¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head, ¡°There are quite a few zombies inside; rushing in would be too dangerous. Moreover, if we¡¯re looking for Elemental Crystals, we should start from the outside.¡± She had only realized after entering the entrance, Elemental Crystals came from meteorites, so they should follow the trail of destruction left by the meteorites. Furthermore, she vaguely sensed not just a small number of zombies inside, but even living humans! Those people hadn¡¯t come out, either trapped inside or, like them, entering to search for supplies; either way, it was a hassle for them. If they wanted to find Elemental Crystals, they¡¯d need to avoid these people first. As for rescuing others... Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t opposed, yet had no intention of playing the savior. Fang Yuyang had no objections, basically agreeing to any request from Fang Yuxin, especially since what Fang Yuxin said wasn¡¯t wrong at all. Having decided, they no longer recklessly entered the mall, instead searching around the periphery of the plaza. Many of the buildings on the plaza had suffered damage, and the evidence was clear. For safety, they didn¡¯t split up but chose to move together. Elemental Crystals were enveloped within Elemental Stones, which were extremely hard and able to insulate against energy fluctuations. Unless you cracked open the stone, you wouldn¡¯t know if there was an Elemental Crystal within, even if you were holding it in your hand or using instruments to scan it. The siblings followed the trail searching, finding many scattered fragments, but alas, none were Elemental Stones. Zombies still prowled the area; they were soon noticed by the zombies, but thankfully, not many were attracted, and they were quickly taken care of, netting several more crystal cores. As Fang Yuxin was tracking along the trail for Elemental Stones, Fang Yuyang suddenly tapped her shoulder, excitement poorly concealed, ¡°Xinxin, look there! Is that an Elemental Stone?¡± Fang Yuxin looked in the direction Fang Yuyang pointed and saw a crater about two meters in diameter on a wall; at the center was a very small protrusion, easily overlooked at a glance. If it weren¡¯t for careful examination, it would have been missed entirely. The crater was around three stories up from the ground, while the building was only four stories tall. They walked over and cleared out the nearby zombies. Fang Yuxin measured the distance, took out a length of safety rope with a grappling hook at the end, swung it, and with a strong throw, the hook soared and firmly caught on the building¡¯s edge. After testing its strength, she quickly climbed up. Fang Yuyang watched her from the ground, worried, while also keeping an eye out for approaching zombies. Fang Yuxin climbed quickly and adeptly, as though she had done it many times before. In no time, she reached the crater and approached the small protrusion. She wrapped her left arm around the rope and planted her feet on the wall to stabilize herself. With her right hand, she felt the protrusion, and after wiping away the dust around it, the original appearance of a black stone the size of an adult¡¯s fist was revealed. She pulled out the dagger at her waist and gently tapped the stone, testing its hardness with the blade, and ascertained it to be an Elemental Stone before smiling in relief. However, the Elemental Stone was firmly embedded in the wall, presenting a challenge to be removed. Fang Yuxin needed to stabilize herself and only had her right hand free; gripping the dagger tightly, she began to dig around the Elemental Stone. Thankfully, the impact had already cracked the wall, and without much effort, she managed to extract the entire Elemental Stone. It was very heavy in hand; she promptly stored it in her space. Although she was eager to find out if it contained an Elemental Crystal, it wasn¡¯t convenient outside; she had to wait until they returned. Safely securing the Elemental Stone, Fang Yuxin slid down the rope. Only when she returned unharmed did Fang Yuyang fully relax, taking it upon himself to gather the rope while asking with concern, ¡°Xinxin, are you okay? Let me handle this kind of thing next time. You¡¯re a girl; don¡¯t get hurt.¡± Fang Yuxin smiled, ¡°The apocalypse is full of dangers; only by becoming stronger can you be safer. Brother, I can¡¯t expect you to protect me forever.¡± Fang Yuyang wore an expression of dissent, but he knew Fang Yuxin was right and could only say, ¡°I don¡¯t care, from now on, let me do these dangerous things, I¡¯m your brother, and you have to listen to me!¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t argue. They had just entered the apocalypse, and as they were in the suburbs with not many zombies, they could catch their breath for now. But in the future, when danger lurked everywhere, even if Fang Yuyang wished to protect her, it would be beyond his power, making it impossible for her to avoid all dangers. Like in her dreams, Fang Yuyang had successfully awakened a superpower, but she remained an ordinary person without one. He had always wanted to protect her, even going to dangerous places looking for Elemental Crystals in hopes she would awaken a superpower. She didn¡¯t want to be a burden on Fang Yuyang, always diligently practicing saber technique and fighting zombies. Nonetheless, in the end, their good intentions were powerless, only leading to a tragic end! Chapter 28 - 28 026 Movie Theater Rescue ?Chapter 28: 026 Movie Theater Rescue Chapter 28: 026 Movie Theater Rescue After finding the first Elemental Stone, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang successively found three more Elemental Stones, which varied in size and were all smaller than the first one. Fang Yuxin stored all the Elemental Stones in her space. The trip seemed fruitful, but whether there were Elemental Crystals inside could only be known after opening them; to her knowledge, many Elemental Stones were empty stones and the probability of finding Elemental Crystals was pitifully low. At this early stage of the apocalypse, things were still manageable. However, as days went on and the value of Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals were realized, there would emerge many counterfeit Elemental Stones, indistinguishable from the real ones. Even in the black market, these hard-to-identify Elemental Stones were being sold at exorbitantly high prices. Therefore, Fang Yuxin¡¯s initial plan was to find as many Elemental Stones as possible while it was still early in the apocalypse. Otherwise, once the secrets of the Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals were discovered, finding them later would not only cost a fortune but could also likely result in purchasing inferior imitations! While finding four Elemental Stones, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had almost thoroughly explored the entire shopping plaza outside. The shopping center was more concentrated indoors, and knowing there were still people trapped inside, they could not bear to just leave immediately and planned to go in to see if they could rescue anyone. It was always better to attempt a rescue than to let people die trapped inside. The two examined each entrance and felt that the first one they found was safer, so they circled back and entered the indoor commercial street. The street mainly featured boutique restaurants and shops selling clothing and accessories. The apocalypse erupted at midnight, so most of these small shops were closed, with only a few operating round the clock on higher floors. Due to the meteorite impact, the shopping center was greatly shaken. Upon entering, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were met with a scene of complete disarray, with many shelves and cabinets toppled over and items scattered all around, resembling the aftermath of an earthquake. As they walked, they gathered any unspoiled food into their space, and the trip was quite fruitful in this regard. As for accessories and clothing, they paid them no mind. They had previously collected enough essentials, including copious amounts of clothing, so there was no need to strip a place bare every time they visited. The basement level housed a medium-sized supermarket, which, being underground, was least affected. They went downstairs to take a look. The supermarket doors were locked, and the lighting was dim as the lights were off. They paused to listen; there was no sound inside¡ªit seemed to be empty. Fang Yuyang then asked, ¡°Xinxin, should we go in?¡± It was clear from his tone that he was reluctant to do so. Remembering the dreams she had about looted homes and supermarkets, Fang Yuxin shook her head. There were many residential areas nearby, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before other survivors would come here to gather supplies. If they took everything from this supermarket, those people might have to go hungry. So she said, ¡°Let¡¯s leave the supplies here for other survivors.¡± Fang Yuyang shared the same sentiment and suggested, ¡°Shall we check upstairs then?¡± The two went directly up the escalator to the second floor. Although there was no power, it was still walkable. The second floor primarily sold home de?cor, furniture, lighting fixtures, and bedding. There were also some maternity and baby stores, children¡¯s clothing, and lingerie shops. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were not greedy¡ªthey only took some bedding, children¡¯s clothing, and essential undergarments before proceeding to the third floor. On the third floor was a large cinema, which operated round the clock, and therein trapped was where the people were. Apart from the cinema, the third floor housed various restaurants, all locked, but due to the building¡¯s shaking, some locks had been damaged. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang took a look inside; there were still plenty of ingredients in the restaurant¡¯s refrigerators. Although the power was out, the refrigerators had remained unopened, keeping the contents fresh. These items would only spoil if left behind, so Fang Yuxin took them all. Following that, they headed to the cinema. Upon entering, they again encountered zombies, though not many. After dealing with these zombies, they found the hall, number five, where people were trapped. Due to the building¡¯s vibrations, the hall¡¯s door was deformed and jammed, making it impossible to open. This also meant the people inside couldn¡¯t get out. The hall was crowded with quite a few people, their human scent strong enough to attract more zombies. The door had been severely damaged by the zombies but was still stubbornly stuck in the frame. The zombies blocking the door had already been dealt with by Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang. However, the cinema¡¯s soundproofing was so effective that those inside couldn¡¯t hear any noises outside. Similarly, they couldn¡¯t hear any noises from inside; knowing there were people inside was solely due to the superpower-users¡¯ heightened sensing power. Though the door was firmly jammed, it had been almost destroyed by the zombies, and after a few strong kicks from Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, the door shattered. Upon the door breaking, exclamations could be heard from inside. The two kicked the door open and entered. The hall was dimly lit, the air a mix of rotten and pungent blood smells, and they could vaguely see corpses on the floor. About a dozen people were huddled in a corner of the hall, and upon seeing them enter, they cried out in alarm. Fang Yuxin took out a flashlight hanging from her waist, turned it on, and shone it around. There were seventeen survivors in total. Apart from these seventeen people, there were eight gruesomely mutilated corpses and five zombies on the floor. All the zombies had their heads smashed, dead beyond any doubt. The remaining survivors, both men and women, all looked young. These people were bloodied and injured, appearing weary and far from comfortable. Initially, they were terrified, but upon realizing that it was people and not zombies who had entered, they sighed in relief, some of the more timid ones even broke down crying. As Fang Yuxin was checking the zombies, she extracted the Crystal Cores and stored them in her space. Then, she heard a voice, unfamiliar yet familiar, asking, ¡°Have you come to rescue us? There are nine people here with injuries; can you take them to the hospital first?¡± Fang Yuxin instantly turned her head, staring intensely at the woman who spoke. She was a very beautiful woman, with fair skin, large bright eyes, a straight and delicate nose, and rosy lips slightly curled up at the corners, giving her a naturally cheerful appearance. Her hair was long and straight, only the ends curled into big waves, styled into a ladylike braid. Her voice was clear and pleasing, and together with her attractive appearance, it was easy to feel fond of her. However, upon getting a clear look, Fang Yuxin felt not a trace of fondness but a deep disgust and uncontrollable resentment towards her! Chapter 29 - 29 027 Saint Mary Sue ?Chapter 29: 027 Saint Mary Sue Chapter 29: 027 Saint Mary Sue Fang Yuyang stood next to Fang Yuxin, keenly noticing that her mood was off. He turned his head and saw her face was colder than usual, hostility clearly evident. He glanced subconsciously at the dozen or so people standing together nearby, his gaze quickly locking onto the woman who had just spoken. True, the woman was quite likable in appearance and, in such circumstances, seemed unflustered and rather at ease, which was indeed rare. Under normal circumstances, he would have admired such a woman. However, since Fang Yuxin obviously harbored strong hostility towards this woman, he naturally lost any goodwill towards her as well. Turning his gaze away, Fang Yuyang slightly tilted his head and asked Fang Yuxin in a low voice, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s the matter? Do you know her?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded. Although she had told Fang Yuyang most of what she had dreamed, there was still much she kept hidden, including about this woman. Her name was Lin Feiyin. Although of modest origins, she was generous and extremely compassionate; these were not issues, those traits might even be considered virtues; however, Lin Feiyin¡¯s kindness was always at the expense of others, which made her the type who inadvertently sabotaged her own team! In the dream, both she and Fang Yuyang had been saved by Lin Feiyin, who had also given them shelter and formed a team with them. Initially, they were very grateful to Lin Feiyin, but as they spent more time together, Lin Feiyin¡¯s saintly act had become apparent. The supplies they worked hard to gather, Lin Feiyin could easily give away to others, always taking the lead without considering the consequences. Regrettably, Lin Feiyin had saved their lives, so even when she became a burden, they couldn¡¯t just abandon her. Because of this, they had faced countless dangers, and ultimately, it was also because of her that Fang Yuyang met his miserable death! How could Fang Yuxin still like her? Any initial goodwill had been completely worn away! Now, none of it had happened yet. She wouldn¡¯t seek revenge on Lin Feiyin over the events in her dream, but she also didn¡¯t wish to have any further involvement with her. Thus, Fang Yuxin said sternly, ¡°We were just passing by and noticed there were people here, so we came to check it out. Since you all are fine, we¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± After speaking, she grabbed Fang Yuyang, ready to turn and walk away. But Lin Feiyin interjected, ¡°Wait! We have nine injured here. Since you¡¯ve come, why not help by taking them to the hospital? Also, was there an earthquake outside? And what¡¯s with these zombies, do you know what¡¯s going on?¡± Her attitude was very calm, neither overly humble nor commanding, but it was this attitude of taking things for granted that greatly upset Fang Yuxin. She remembered that in the dream, Lin Feiyin was the same way: acting without considering the consequences or others¡¯ wishes, just doing how she pleased. Remarkably natural in manner, not seeming contrived at all, making those who would refuse appear petty. But the Lin Feiyin in her dream had saved her and Fang Yuyang¡¯s lives; they had no choice but to compromise. This Lin Feiyin had no such ties with them! So Fang Yuxin directly stated, ¡°We have other matters and can¡¯t help. Just a heads-up, there are a lot of zombies outside; you should be cautious. We¡¯ve nearly cleared out the zombies in this commercial center, but still be careful when you go outside. It¡¯d be best to find some weapons for self-defense.¡± After speaking, she pulled Fang Yuyang to leave, but Lin Feiyin spoke again, this time noticeably displeased, ¡°How can you just leave like this! We still have injured people here, you can¡¯t just leave. Don¡¯t you have any compassion?¡± Initially, Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t understand why Fang Yuxin disliked Lin Feiyin, but following Lin Feiyin¡¯s second outburst, he understood. He hadn¡¯t planned to speak, as bullying a woman was really against his principles. But hearing her accusation, he couldn¡¯t help himself; clenching his fist, he turned and coldly glanced at Lin Feiyin and those beside her, chuckling coldly, ¡°If we had no compassion, we wouldn¡¯t have come to rescue you at all! Remember, saving you was out of kindness, not obligation!¡± After he finished speaking, Fang Yuyang grabbed Fang Yuxin and quickly walked out. He was worried that if he stayed any longer, he wouldn¡¯t be able to restrain himself from hitting the woman! Their steps were quick, even if those people intended to follow, they couldn¡¯t catch up. Once they were far away, Fang Yuyang couldn¡¯t help but ask Fang Yuxin in irritation, ¡°Xinxin, next time keep your distance from that inexplicable woman, and don¡¯t bother with her!¡± Fang Yuxin nodded with a smile, quite satisfied with the outcome. In the dream, because Lin Feiyin had saved them, siblings, Fang Yuyang initially had a good impression of Lin Feiyin. However, after Lin Feiyin¡¯s flaws were exposed, Fang Yuyang had suffered greatly. Now, they no longer had to be involved with Lin Feiyin, and even Fang Yuyang had lost his fondness for her, so Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t have to worry that Fang Yuyang would foolishly fall for Lin Feiyin in the future. After the two left, they got into the car and drove away from the shopping center. Not long after driving out, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang saw through the rearview mirror a private car entering the shopping center, probably to look for supplies. They glanced once and paid it no more attention, continuing to drive into the city. ... Lin Feiyin watched the retreating figures of the two with astonishment, frowning and speaking discontentedly, ¡°Those two are too much, refusing even to help!¡± After she spoke, she looked at a few injured people and asked with a worried expression, ¡°Are you all right? Should we go out first? We should be able to find someone to help.¡± The others nodded their heads, and one person asked, ¡°Feiyin, what do you think those two people were doing just now? Their outfits were so cool.¡± At that moment, Lin Feiyin remembered the attire of those two. They were dressed in tight clothes that perfectly outlined their figures, the man handsome and attractive, the woman sexy and charming, especially their outfits, like something out of a movie, but who knew who they really were. She scoffed, ¡°Who knows what they were up to, they might have been playing COSPLAY. Let¡¯s just get out of here, I don¡¯t know what the situation is like outside, and my phone has had no signal, which is really strange.¡± The group walked cautiously, carefully avoiding the corpses on the ground as they moved. In the darkness, the survivors whispered among themselves, their expressions varied. Particularly the nine injured people didn¡¯t speak, their pale faces looking exceedingly frightening. Because it was so dark and everyone else was also in bad shape, no one had yet realized there was something wrong with them. Lin Feiyin checked her phone again, which still showed no signal, and the battery was down to one bar. Thinking about the zombies and those two oddly dressed people, she felt a deep worry inside. Could it be... the end of the world had truly come? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A new character makes an appearance in this text, modeled after the grandiose female leads in certain TV shows and some people encountered in real life, a bit of the author¡¯s wicked fun, welcome to discuss. Chapter 30 - 30 028 Robbery ?Chapter 30: 028 Robbery Chapter 30: 028 Robbery The situation was worse than Fang Yuyang had anticipated, but for Fang Yuxin, even though she had already seen the same scene in her dream, the sight still shocked her heart. At the same time, it further convinced her that everything in her dream was a warning from the heavens! The condition of the roads was not good, in fact very bad. Some sections were damaged, and there were even large cracks. Buildings on both sides of the road had collapsed. Whenever Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin encountered severely damaged areas, they would stop to look for Elemental Stones. However, the chances of finding Elemental Stones were very low, and by the time the two of them entered the urban area, they had only found three stones. From time to time, they encountered zombies on the road. If there were few, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang would get out of the car to deal with them; if there were many, the two of them would avoid them first. Because both of them were vigilant, they did not encounter any danger. Parking the car at the intersection, Fang Yuyang climbed onto the roof and looked around with binoculars, then shook his head at Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, we can¡¯t go any further, with just the two of us, getting trapped would mean we can¡¯t get out.¡± The situation in the city was much worse than in the suburbs. Because of the dense architecture and the high population density, the number of zombies was very large. The road conditions where they were had already been bad, and it would only get worse further on. There were even many abandoned vehicles on the roads; going forward would risk getting trapped and unable to escape. Fang Yuxin nodded her head. Her desire to venture into the city was not to show off, but simply to verify if reality matched the dream. She was a rational person and did not believe everything in an unusually realistic dream was true. In her heart, she had always been reluctant to believe in an apocalyptic world. However, everything they had come across on their journey corroborated that dream. Now, looking at the wandering zombies and the collapsed buildings in the distance, she had to accept, albeit unwillingly, that the apocalypse was indeed real. Seeing the zombies gathering in the distance, Fang Yuxin quickly said, ¡°Brother, let¡¯s head back.¡± They had enough supplies in their hands; there was no need to take risks by going into the city and collecting resources, so it was natural not to risk getting caught. Fang Yuyang nodded, and then they both lightly jumped down from the roof of the car. Just as they opened the car door to get in, three sedans suddenly rushed out from the side, surrounding them. The three sedans blocked the road ahead and behind them, and then the car doors opened, and ten men quickly ran down, all holding weapons. Except for the leader, who was a bald man in his thirties or forties, the others were all young, ranging from their twenties to seventeen or eighteen. Judging by their outfits, they were gangsters¡ªnot the high-tier ones. The bald leader wore a black tank top, his arms tattooed with fierce ghost faces; he looked very fierce. With a cigarette in his mouth and a machete over two feet long in his right hand, he first glanced at Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, then paused at the sight of the SUV between them. He pinched the cigarette in his left hand, blew a smoke ring, and disdainfully said, ¡°If you know what¡¯s good for you, leave the car behind, and follow me obediently. If I¡¯m in a good mood, maybe I¡¯ll even spare your lives.¡± As soon as the words left his mouth, a fat man standing by his side spoke lewdly, ¡°Fourth Master, this chick is pretty hot; why not keep her around... heh heh heh heh~¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but his intention was clear. Bald glanced at Fang Yuxin, and of course he had noticed that she was very attractive. If it had been the past, he would have definitely tried to get his hands on such premium goods. But now, what he desired more was that black SUV! One look and it was clear that the vehicle had been modified; its performance in all aspects must be excellent. If he could get his hold of it, it would certainly be much safer than the clunker he was driving now! He had seen with his own eyes how zombies dragged people out of cars! Every time he thought of that scene, he felt fear in his heart. Therefore, the priority was to get a good car first! However, Fat Old Seven was right; this girl was indeed a beauty, a rarity. It would be a pity to kill her just like that. If she would obediently listen and follow him, that would be great. With that thought, Bald couldn¡¯t help but stick out his tongue and lick his lips, greedily eyeing the black SUV opposite him as well as Fang Yuxin standing beside it. As for Fang Yuyang on the other side, he was ignored. Bald was not the best looking, and he always disliked men who looked better than him, especially those who obviously came from wealth. He signaled his underlings with a glance to surround them, grabbed a cigarette and fiercely took a drag, tossed it to the ground, and crushed it underfoot unceremoniously, saying, ¡°What¡¯s this? You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit? Don¡¯t even ask who Fourth Master is?¡± After saying that, he deliberately gripped the handle of his knife and his arm muscles bulged exaggeratedly. Then he slammed the tip of his knife into the ground with force, easily piercing the hard surface. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang exchanged glances, realizing that Bald was deliberately warning them. However, neither of them was frightened. Fang Yuxin whispered to Fang Yuyang, ¡°It should be a strength enhancement, brother, be careful.¡± Fang Yuyang nodded, not saying a word, and directly drew his Miao Saber. A young man not too far away, holding an iron rod, saw him pull out the knife and subconsciously charged over with the rod. Fang Yuyang delivered a kick to his abdomen, sending the man flying away. The others hadn¡¯t expected him to act so directly; at first they were stunned, then Bald yelled, ¡°Attack together! Finish him!¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°And be careful, all of you. Don¡¯t touch the car!¡± The fat man behind him greedily glanced at Fang Yuxin, hesitation flickering across his greasy face, and then followed up with, ¡°Keep that girl alive! We¡¯ll capture her!¡± Upon hearing that, Fang Yuyang¡¯s already stern visage became instantly shrouded in a layer of frost. He snorted coldly and became even less merciful with his attacks¡ªplaying for keeps. Now that it was the end of the world, he wasn¡¯t afraid of being investigated for killing someone. Bald charged directly at Fang Yuyang, initially planning to take him on personally, but after seeing Fang Yuyang¡¯s fierce moves, he hesitated and slowed down, only instructing his men to go forward. Although he was vicious, he wasn¡¯t stupid. The fat man, however, made a beeline for Fang Yuxin, saying as he moved, ¡°Fourth Master, I¡¯ll go grab that bitch, and she won¡¯t dare to resist.¡± Bald nodded, glanced at the Miao Saber on Fang Yuxin¡¯s waist, and his eyes flickered but he remained silent. Initially, he hadn¡¯t taken Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang seriously, but after Fang Yuyang made his move, he realized he had misjudged. Although Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t acted yet, she was dressed similarly to Fang Yuyang, so he was cautious, intending to have the fat man test her. Fang Yuxin watched the fat man charging at her, a cold smile on her lips, and quickly drew her Miao Saber. Chapter 31 - 31 029 Go for the throat ?Chapter 31: 029 Go for the throat Chapter 31: 029 Go for the throat The chubby man was not tall, even shorter than Fang Yuxin, barely over 1.7 meters, and his corpulent figure made him look even shorter. His speed wasn¡¯t fast either; he obviously belonged to those who were habitually lazy. In his hand was a machete, with dried, dark red bloodstains on it, which looked quite sinister. He hadn¡¯t planned on being ruthless with Fang Yuxin and only wanted to scare her with the knife. But when Fang Yuxin drew out Miao Saber, he realized she was not easy to deal with, so he instinctively gripped his machete tighter, and his gaze towards Fang Yuxin turned fierce. ¡°What are you spacing out for? Attack all together!¡± The chubby man almost roared this out while cleverly slowing his pace, letting others go to their deaths first. Those youths either held iron rods or machetes, all stained with blood, and the stains were noticeably more abundant. Besides blood, there were other traces as well. Fang Yuxin wrinkled her nose, and then her gaze turned cold. Although the weapons smelt of zombies, much of the blood on them was fresh¡ªit was human blood! Originally, she hadn¡¯t intended to exterminate them all, but this discovery thoroughly chilled her heart. Since most people were dealing with Fang Yuyang, only three surrounded her, not counting the chubby man. The expressions on these three were rather ferocious, but they were merely second-rate thugs lacking real skill. Fang Yuxin kicked the shin of the man to her right, who unsuspectingly fell face down. The other two hadn¡¯t expected such a result the moment she made her move, and they paused reflexively. Seizing that moment, Fang Yuxin forcefully slashed with Miao Saber across their abdomens, simultaneously turning her body and stepping back, dodging their machetes and iron rods. Normal people and zombies were different; zombies had only their heads as a vital point, and they could only be killed by decapitating them. Normal people were different; a wound anywhere could cause pain and blood loss. The blade of Miao Saber was long, easily slicing open their abdomens, deep and long wounds that turned from initial coldness to intense pain as hot blood gushed out, unstoppable. The two couldn¡¯t care to go after Fang Yuxin, crying out in pain as they instinctively covered their wounds. But as soon as they pressed their hands to the injuries, they were stained red with blood. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t give them a chance to catch their breath. These were not good people, and letting them go would only lead to endless trouble. Taking advantage of the man still sprawled on the ground not having gotten up, she gripped the knife hilt and stabbed into his back, using the support of the blade to jump up, kicking her legs into the chests of the other two. Heavily injured, they couldn¡¯t resist in time. With Fang Yuxin¡¯s crushing kicks, both were sent stumbling backward and fell down. Seeing the bad situation, the chubby man instinctively ran towards a nearby SUV, pulling open the door, ready to get in. Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze turned icy, and she drew out a dagger from her waist and threw it swiftly. The streamlined dagger whistled through the air, hitting the chubby man¡¯s back. She landed smoothly, quickly walked over, casually finishing off the two lying on the ground, and gave the chubby one another stab to ensure he was truly dead, then tossed his body aside. Just then, the sound of the SUV engine starting up suddenly rang out. Fang Yuxin turned and saw Bald had already started the SUV. However, he was not planning to just run away, but instead drove the vehicle straight at Fang Yuyang! Worst of all, Fang Yuyang was entangled with two thugs at the time! The distance was too short; it was too late to stop Bald, so Fang Yuxin could only shout, ¡°Brother! Quickly get out of the way!¡± At the same time, she sprinted towards the SUV driven by Bald, and two steps away from the vehicle, she took advantage of her momentum, her body soared into the air, and she landed on the hood. Fang Yuyang had also heard the sound of the car starting up and was completely aware of Bald¡¯s intentions. As Fang Yuxin¡¯s voice rang out, he had already kicked the two thugs away and dodged to the side. As he watched Fang Yuxin leap onto the hood, his face changed with nervousness. He didn¡¯t care if he would be hurt and charged toward the opposite car. Fang Yuxin, lying on the hood, was initially not used to it and swayed dangerously. However, she quickly grabbed the windshield wiper to stabilize herself and punched the windshield fiercely! Bald had been mingling in the underworld for quite a while and had developed a tough temperament; he was only momentarily panicked when Fang Yuxin jumped on the hood but soon regained his composure. Holding the steering wheel with both hands, his gaze fiercely fixed on Fang Yuxin. He had already regretted it in his heart; had he known that this oddly dressed brother and sister were so troublesome, he would never have approached them with his men. Ultimately, it was greed that muddled his senses. He should have realized it earlier; a person with a specially modified SUV like this one couldn¡¯t be ordinary. Indeed, he had kicked against the iron plate! However, he was unwilling to admit defeat just like that. Having mingled in the underworld for so many years, living a life on the edge, he had gone through countless life-and-death situations and had always turned danger into safety, all because he was ruthless enough. Both of them looked upright. He couldn¡¯t believe, with the mindset and techniques he had honed in the underworld over the years, that he wouldn¡¯t be able to handle these two! With this thought, he fiercely turned the steering wheel; the car veered to the right instantly, and the huge inertia almost threw Fang Yuxin off. Turning on the wiper, Bald controlled the steering wheel with his left hand, and his right hand grasped the machete. Due to Fang Yuxin¡¯s impact, the windshield had already cracked spider-web-like and he believed it wouldn¡¯t be long before it shattered¡ªthen it would be his chance! With a ¡°crash,¡± the already cracked windshield could no longer withstand Fang Yuxin¡¯s pounding and exploded, sending shards flying into the car propelled by inertia. Bald instinctively raised his left arm to block his face, while his right hand swung the machete forcefully toward Fang Yuxin! But immediately afterward, he felt a chilling sensation on his neck and a burst of pain in his right hand. He frantically moved his arm and looked down with wide eyes to find a black blade stabbed into his neck, the handle held by Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, while his right hand was tightly held by Fang Yuxin¡¯s legs¡ªthe fearsome-looking machete hadn¡¯t even slightly injured Fang Yuxin! The next moment, a dark shadow flashed; Fang Yuyang, too, jumped onto the car, and unceremoniously stepped on his right hand. Intense pain traveled up the arm, Bald¡¯s eyes bulging, he strained to struggle but only saw Fang Yuxin¡¯s mockingly beautiful eyes. Then, he saw Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist holding the knife handle suddenly twist! ¡°Uh! Spare... spare... me... please...¡± Before he could finish, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang exchanged a glance, then both flipped off the hood and swiftly moved away. As Fang Yuxin left, she also pulled out the Miao Saber from Bald¡¯s neck, leaving a huge gash. Then, except for the sound of the wind, Bald couldn¡¯t hear anything else. He opened his mouth but could only make a ¡°ho¡± sound. Chapter 32 - 32 030 Game System ?Chapter 32: 030 Game System Chapter 32: 030 Game System After dealing with the Bald, the siblings didn¡¯t drive straight home but headed to the nearest gas station. They had prepared some gasoline in advance, but not much, only about twenty tons worth, all packed in gas cans, taking up a lot of space. If it weren¡¯t for the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, the Fang Family wouldn¡¯t dare to buy so much gasoline¡ªit¡¯s far too dangerous a thing. Unfortunately, it gets used up quickly, and their family now has three modified SUVs and four modified motorcycles, all of which consume a lot of fuel. Without finding a way to get more gasoline, there was no way they could manage. On the way there, Fang Yuxin was worried, thinking that if the gas station had been hit by a meteorite, they might end up getting nothing. Luckily, their luck wasn¡¯t bad, and when they arrived, the gas station was surprisingly intact. Aside from wandering zombies, there wasn¡¯t a soul nearby¡ªthat presented them with a perfect opportunity! There weren¡¯t many zombies around, so within less than twenty minutes after getting out of the car, the siblings had cleared them all out. The station was located off the beaten path, not in a busy urban area, with sparse population and an extremely open view. The fuel tanks were all underground, which the siblings had no way of removing, and without electricity, the pumps were useless, so knowing there was fuel below was of no help at all. Fortunately, there happened to be a tanker truck at the station, with the door open. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yu Yang checked it and found the truck was broken and couldn¡¯t be driven away. It was probably for this reason that the truck hadn¡¯t been taken by others. The truck¡¯s tank was full of gasoline and hadn¡¯t been discharged yet. The siblings guessed that the truck must have just arrived when the meteorites fell and hadn¡¯t come around to refuel the station¡¯s tanks when the incident happened, leaving them to reap the benefits. Fang Yuxin efficiently stored the tanker truck into space, but its large size caused a disturbance in the Sea of Consciousness as it was suddenly stored. She had encountered such a situation before but was still unaccustomed to it. Seeing her expression change, Fang Yu Yang immediately grew worried, ¡°Xinxin, are you okay?¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head and said through clenched teeth, ¡°I¡¯m fine, bro. Let¡¯s head back first.¡± The tanker truck was a big target, and who knows if it had caught someone¡¯s attention¡ªstaying too long was not wise. Fang Yu Yang, of course, understood this; he responded and drove off from the gas station as soon as he started the car. Along the way, he kept an eye on Fang Yuxin¡¯s complexion and, seeing that she didn¡¯t show any signs of distress, he finally relaxed. He didn¡¯t have the space-storage ability and didn¡¯t know what it felt like for Fang Yuxin whenever she stored something, but he had observed carefully and noticed that whenever she stored large or numerous items, Fang Yuxin¡¯s complexion would slightly change, indicating an evident effect. He didn¡¯t know the specifics of the effect, and Fang Yuxin never spoke about it, so he could only gauge if there was something wrong with her by watching her complexion. According to his current observations, there were indeed effects, but Fang Yuxin¡¯s body shouldn¡¯t have any problems, which could be seen from her appearance. ... Fang Mengyao checked her character attributes on the gaming panel¡ªshe was level 0, with 500 Experience Points shy of leveling up to level 1. Upon leveling up, she would get a chance to draw a lottery where she could randomly obtain a Skill. Earning the remaining 500 Experience Points wasn¡¯t difficult, just a bit troublesome. There was only one way to gain Experience Points, and that was to take on and complete missions. Hunting zombies was a main quest, with each Basic-level Zombie hunted yielding one point and one Experience Point. Besides that, communicating with others could trigger new side quests, which she could choose to accept or ignore at her discretion. Depending on the difficulty, these side quests rewarded varying amounts of points and Experience Points. Points were like currency and had many uses: learning Skills, exchanging for weapons, equipment, medicine, or even increasing Body Attributes. It¡¯s just too bad that this gaming system had no guide, so she had to rely on herself for choices and there was no option to reload a previous save. The system¡¯s store refreshed every hour; what she could buy depended on her luck. The upgrade system also came with a personal bag that currently had thirty slots, with each slot capable of stacking up to 99 of the same item. To unlock more slots, she would have to use points. She had earned 500 points, but most of these had been spent to enhance her Body Attributes. Her current Body Attributes were not strong, lean and weak with little strength. She mainly added points to strength and speed, adjusted her Appearance value and three measurements, and finally purchased a Basic Set. The clothing was designed to be tight-fitting, black, and felt thin, almost giving the illusion of being naked. However, the design of the clothes was good, with a corset that perfectly displayed the body curves, and the clothes featured a subtle pattern that changed under the light, enhancing the shapeliness of the figure, making it extremely sexy when worn. There wasn¡¯t just one Basic Set in the system¡¯s store; different Basic Sets came with different additional effects. This set¡¯s added effect was a 10% boost to beauty, with others offering bonuses to speed, Defense, and more. After comparing, Fang Mengyao chose the set that most appealed to her. After changing to the new set, only 7 points remained, which Fang Mengyao used to increase her character¡¯s attributes. She turned off the gaming panel and stood before a full-length mirror, looking at the curvaceous and sexy lady inside, her lips curling into a satisfied smile. The body she was in not only shared her name but even had a resemblance to her own looks, only far more beautiful than her original appearance. Now that she had increased her Appearance value, her looks were even more exquisite, as if they had been refined by Photoshop, too perfect to seem human. She just couldn¡¯t believe that Qiu Yiming wouldn¡¯t be moved by her current appearance! Thinking back on the confession she was rejected for, which led the original owner of the body to suicide, Fang Mengyao¡¯s gaze gradually grew cold. She didn¡¯t think the original was inferior to Fang Yuxin; it was just the supposed shame of being a bastard child that had made her be looked down upon. Qiu Yiming¡¯s decision to reject the original for Fang Yuxin just because of that made it clear how superficial he was! Thinking of Qiu Yiming, she couldn¡¯t help remembering that night a few nights ago. She had originally hesitated about whether or not to visit the Fang Family to try to get that set of Jade that would react with the gaming system, but unexpectedly, she ran into Qiu Yiming, and he even took the initiative to approach her. That man... was the most outstanding man she had seen in both her lives. Such a man should not perish at the hands of someone like Fang Yuxin¡ªhe didn¡¯t deserve her! Looking at herself in the mirror, Fang Mengyao¡¯s lips parted slightly, murmuring as if in a dream, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely take revenge for you. Whatever the Fang Family owes you, whatever you want, I will take it back for you!¡± Chapter 33 - 33 031 Suspicions ?Chapter 33: 031 Suspicions Chapter 33: 031 Suspicions Fang Mengyao took one last look at the room, opened the door, and quickly walked out. The slender high heels clicked crisply on the wooden floor, and the sunlight cast a seductive, elongated shadow on the ground. As soon as she stepped out, a handsome man came up to her with a concerned look, ¡°Mengyao! Are you alright? Why did you stay in the room for so long...¡± His voice grew softer and softer, his eyes widening in shock as he stared at Fang Mengyao, unable to snap out of it. Fang Mengyao, seeing the undisguised adoration in his eyes, curled her fiery red lips into a satisfied smile and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine, just changed my clothes. Are you all ready?¡± The handsome man¡¯s face suddenly turned red. He glanced at Fang Mengyao¡¯s attire and worriedly said, ¡°Mengyao, aren¡¯t those high heels inconvenient for you?¡± Fang Mengyao was wearing ten-centimeter stilettos which, from the front, perfectly accentuated her leg curves, making her look even more sexy and charming. However, with monsters roaming everywhere outside, such high heels were hardly appropriate. In the past, Fang Mengyao would not have dared to wear ten-centimeter heels in an apocalypse, but now, after increasing her attribute points, her balance had significantly improved. Even in such high heels, they felt like walking on flat ground to her. Moreover, these were no ordinary shoes; the slender heels at the back were actually weapons that could deliver a deadly blow to an enemy at the right moment! Of course, there was another reason she chose these shoes. Her current height was only 1.6 meters, but she remembered Fang Yuxin¡¯s height was over 1.7 meters. She didn¡¯t want to be outdone by Fang Yuxin! So, Fang Mengyao said, ¡°Of course not, these aren¡¯t just ordinary shoes. They¡¯re quite comfortable.¡± After saying that, she intentionally walked several steps in front of the man, looking completely at ease and showing no signs of discomfort. Although the man was still worried, seeing her relaxed face, he did not press further but resolved to keep a close eye on Fang Mengyao to prevent any danger. Fang Mengyao did not care what the man was thinking at the moment. This man, whom she had met in the villa area where the Fang Family resided, was indeed handsome, but he seemed too ordinary compared to Qiu Yiming. Although his adoration pleased her, she did not take him seriously. Together with others who had escaped from that villa area, this room was just a temporary stop for them. Their plan was to seek out government and military personnel as the only way to ensure safety. Fang Mengyao saw this as an opportunity to find Qiu Yiming and decided to join their group, undertaking several escort missions along the way. As long as she could ensure these people safely met up with the military, she would receive a substantial amount of points as a reward. The others were taken aback by Fang Mengyao¡¯s outfit choice; while staring in shock, some of the men looked at her with infatuated gazes. Fang Mengyao¡¯s appearance easily fed into their fantasies. However, having witnessed Fang Mengyao¡¯s capabilities, and with monsters lurking outside, they dared not do more than fantasize. Fang Mengyao failed to notice anything deeper hidden within those infatuated gazes and paid them no mind. However, the young, handsome man couldn¡¯t help frowning at this scene, feeling somewhat worried. Unfortunately, such base matters were not to be openly discussed, so he could only keep his worries to himself, while glaring warningly at those men to prevent them from harboring any intentions towards Fang Mengyao. Fang Mengyao scanned the surroundings and, seeing that everyone was nearly ready, said, ¡°Now that everyone has rested, let us set out. As long as we meet the military, we will be safe.¡± In fact, she was not truly concerned whether the others had rested well; she had rested enough herself, and that was what mattered. Apart from her, almost everyone else felt scared. Unlike Fang Mengyao, they did not have a game upgrade system, nor had they awakened any superpower. Everything happened too quickly, and only the protection of the military could give them peace of mind. So, despite still feeling physically tired, they said nothing. Instead, they all nodded unanimously, eager to encounter the military once they were outside. Thus, the group set out. They were lucky, for Fang Mengyao was still interested in earning points and was extremely cautious. She deliberately chose routes with fewer zombies, leading the group safely, and they finally met the military two hours later. The military unit they encountered was large and seemed to be relocating. Besides the military personnel, there were also numerous private cars following. Fang Mengyao immediately spotted Qiu Yiming in the crowd and took the opportunity to approach him while the group halted, ¡°Brother Yi Ming? Is that really you?¡± Seeing the fleeting astonishment in Qiu Yiming¡¯s eyes, Fang Mengyao smiled contentedly inside, but showed a burst of excitement on her face as she threw herself into Qiu Yiming¡¯s arms, clinging to his clothes, and said tearfully, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, I¡¯m so glad to see you! I¡¯ve been to the Fang Family¡¯s house, but there was no one there. Brother Yi Ming, do you know where they went? Why would they leave without telling me? Have they never considered me as family?¡± As she spoke, she started to cry pitifully. Qiu Yiming, feeling awkward, didn¡¯t know where to place his hands and hesitated for a moment before patting her back softly. But as soon as his hand touched Fang Mengyao¡¯s back, it recoiled as if electrified. Looking at Fang Mengyao¡¯s slender, seemingly insubstantial close-fitting clothes, Qiu Yiming lowered his gaze, his expression unreadable. Of course, he knew where the Fang family was; they were, in fact, heading to a newly developed zone. The place was not only well-equipped but also surrounded by many farms, serving as a temporary safe base. Unfortunately, all communication was disrupted now; he couldn¡¯t contact Fang Yuxin and had no idea how she was doing or if she was safe. Meeting Fang Mengyao was unexpected, what surprised him more was how much refined she appeared in just a few days, as though she had undergone a comprehensive facial adjustment surgery. Although the change was subtle and might be unnoticeable to most, his well-trained eyes could distinguish even the minutest differences, let alone such apparent changes. While he didn¡¯t know exactly what had happened to Fang Mengyao, it was clear that she harbored secrets. It was impossible for Fang Mengyao to have actually undergone adjustment surgery in just a few days; thus, there must be another reason! Regardless of what that reason might be, if Fang Mengyao dared to scheme against him, he would make sure she regretted it! Chapter 34 - 34 032 Not Afraid ?Chapter 34: 032 Not Afraid? Chapter 34: 032 Not Afraid? On the way back, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°The situation in the city looks pretty bad, not only are the buildings and roads severely damaged, but there are also a lot of abandoned vehicles. Next time we want to go into the city, it won¡¯t be convenient to drive.¡± Fang Yuyang had thought of this as well and sighed, ¡°Indeed, luckily we prepared a heavy-duty motorcycle in advance. It will be much more maneuverable.¡± After saying this and seeing that Fang Yuxin¡¯s face hadn¡¯t brightened, he grew concerned and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s wrong?¡± In fact, Fang Yuxin had been thinking that it wouldn¡¯t be long before the villa area where they were staying would be occupied by survivors. By then, it might give rise to trouble. There were only so many villas in the villa area, but among the survivors, some had influence. Precisely speaking, many of the survivors who first arrived at this villa area had considerable status and naturally didn¡¯t want to crowd into a small house with ordinary people. All the villas would be divided up in no time. If it weren¡¯t for the Qiu Family¡¯s protection at that time, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to keep their own house. Even with the Qiu Family¡¯s protection, in the end, their house was still schemed away by Fang Mengyao. Fang Yuxin shook her head, although she kept convincing herself it was just a dream, subconsciously, she felt that everything was not just a dream. Everything, it was all real. She closed her eyes, leaned back wearily on the chair, and recalled everything in the dream, then slowly clenched her fists. Whether it was a dream or not, now that she was alive and had returned, she wouldn¡¯t give anyone the chance to harm her or her family again! Watching Fang Yuxin¡¯s weary face, Fang Yuyang grew even more uneasy. He simply stopped the car by the roadside and turned to ask her, ¡°Xinxin, what exactly are you hiding from me?¡± By now, Fang Yuxin had walked out of the nightmare. Hearing his question, she glanced at Fang Yuyang, meeting his concerned gaze. Fang Yuxin was struck with determination and decided not to hide anything from Fang Yuyang anymore. She told him, ¡°Brother, I¡¯m worried that it won¡¯t be long before the survivors will come to the villa area. Have you researched the location of the villa area? It¡¯s beautifully situated, not only with complete facilities but also surrounded by newly built residential buildings and vast farmlands! It is very suitable to serve as a safety base.¡± As soon as he heard this, Fang Yuyang understood what she meant, ¡°So you mean... you¡¯re worried that someone will snatch our house?¡± He paused before continuing, ¡°Xinxin, you knew this from the beginning, didn¡¯t you? That¡¯s why you purposely had people speed up the renovations, deliberately turning the rooftop into an ecological farm.¡± There was no need to hide such matters, so Fang Yuxin simply admitted it, and then she said, ¡°I knew it as soon as I finished that dream, but at the time, I didn¡¯t know that the Jade dad bought would contain the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, so I asked the renovation company to turn the roof into an ecological farm, thinking that we could grow some vegetables or something. The Qingmu Spiritual Mansion was an unexpected surprise.¡± Having already visited, Fang Yuyang naturally knew the situation inside the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Now, the spirit fields inside had already been cultivated by Fang Yuxin, growing grains, vegetables and fruits, while the medicine field was planted with many medicinal herbs. There were plenty of fish, shrimp, and crabs in the pond, and poultry and livestock in the bamboo grove. It¡¯s safe to say that as long as they had the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, they need not worry about their livelihood in the future. But the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion was too covetable and absolutely could not be exposed. They had to figure out a way to cover it up. So, when they moved to the new villa, they planted vegetables on the rooftop of the ecological farm and in the garden. Anyway, Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Element superpower was bound to be exposed; with her Wood Element superpower¡¯s help, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about over-nurturing the vegetables at home. Both siblings were worried that the arrival of survivors in the villa area would cause chaos, and they did not dare delay, so they hit the road again. They took the same route back and upon passing the dilapidated shopping plaza, they noticed that there were already a dozen private cars parked, with people loading heavy shopping bags into them. The siblings guessed that these were the nearby residents coming to move supplies from the supermarket. Seeing them, those loading the cars became visibly vigilant. After all, there was only so much space in a supermarket, and the more people that came, the less everyone got. Noticing the wariness in those people¡¯s eyes, the siblings didn¡¯t stop and just drove past. Through the rearview mirror, they could still see those people visibly sighing with relief. The two of them didn¡¯t care much about it. They had prepared a large amount of supplies before the apocalypse, so the things in the supermarket really weren¡¯t worth a glance to them. That¡¯s why they didn¡¯t take anything and left it all for these people. They drove back to their new home and checked the time. It was already five in the afternoon. Just as they reached the door, it was opened from the inside. Bai Qianqian stood at the doorway, smiling sweetly at Fang Yuxin, ¡°Mama, Uncle, you¡¯re finally back!¡± Bai Qianqian naturally looked like Fang Yuxin. When he smiled like this, not only did Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart soften, but even Fang Yuyang couldn¡¯t resist feeling moved. The Fang Family had accepted Bai Qianqian so quickly partly because his eyes and mouth looked so much like Fang Yuxin¡¯s. Eyes are said to be the windows to the soul, and when the Fang Family saw Bai Qianqian, they felt as if they were looking at Fang Yuxin as a child. Although there were issues with Bai Qianqian¡¯s birth, after all, he was a soft and adorable child who resembled Fang Yuxin, how could the Fang Family harden their hearts? However, even though they accepted him, they only did so with Bai Qianqian and not his father. During the time Bai Qianqian spent with the Fang Family, they never mentioned his other family members. As Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang entered, Bai Qianqian couldn¡¯t help but glance behind them, looking for Bai Ye. Disappointed not to see him, he dared not show it. Though he was young, he was clever and sensitive, aware that the Fang Family didn¡¯t like his father, so he obediently never brought it up. Bai Qianqian didn¡¯t know the secrets surrounding his birth. His little mind often couldn¡¯t help but wonder, what if Mama doesn¡¯t accept his silly dad? Who would he follow? What if he doesn¡¯t want to let go of either? It troubles him so much! Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang both noticed Bai Qianqian¡¯s small actions and exchanged a glance, but neither said anything. At that moment, Fang Yuxin felt a soft touch on her finger. Looking down, she saw Bai Qianqian carefully grasping her finger. The soft touch on her finger made her heart soften. She bent down to pick up Bai Qianqian and couldn¡¯t resist kissing his cheek as she saw the joyous smile bloom on his little face, laughing as she said, ¡°Did Qianqian notice the changes outside? Tell Mama, are you scared?¡± Bai Qianqian shook his head and puffed out his little chest, saying with great bravado, ¡°Qianqian is not afraid! Mama, you shouldn¡¯t be afraid either, Qianqian will protect you!¡± He wanted to say ¡®Daddy will protect you too¡¯, but thinking of Fang Yuxin¡¯s attitude towards Bai Ye, he didn¡¯t dare to say it. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but smile brightly and tenderly kissed Bai Qianqian¡¯s forehead, saying solemnly yet gently, ¡°Mama will protect you too.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª PS: Here¡¯s wishing all the girls reading this a Happy New Year~~~~ As we start a new year today, I hope that everyone can have a great beginning, with everything going smoothly and being happy every day~~~~~~ Chapter 35 - 35 033 Soul Power ?Chapter 35: 033 Soul Power Chapter 35: 033 Soul Power Fang Yuxin kissed Bai Qianqian, and he froze for a moment. Then his face turned crimson, and with sparkling eyes, he quickly pecked her cheeks on both sides before shyly burying his head and saying, ¡°Qianqian loves Mama the most! Soft and fragrant Mama, way better than the silly Daddy! Humph!¡± Fang Yuxin, holding him, sat down on the sofa. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe had been waiting there already, scrutinizing Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin closely when Bai Qianqian opened the door, fearing something might have happened to the siblings. Fortunately, they were both fine. Once everyone was seated, Fang Jintang asked, ¡°Yu Yang, Xinxin, you¡¯ve been to see it already, tell us quickly, what¡¯s the situation in the city now?¡± Fang Yuyang began to talk about everything they had seen along the way, and concluded, ¡°Dad, Mom, the situation in the city is so bad, Xinxin and I think that in the future, it might be more convenient to ride a motorcycle to get into the city. The meteorites have damaged buildings and roads, and it¡¯s not very convenient to drive an SUV.¡± Fang Jintang nodded, feeling a sense of relief deep inside. Thank goodness they had prepared early, otherwise... When he thought of other people who were completely unprepared, his face darkened. Then he shook his head. There was no use dwelling on regrets and feeling sorrowful; it was better to think of ways to increase their strength quickly and protect their family. With that thought, he opened the box on the coffee table. Inside were eight Elemental Stones of varying sizes. The largest was as big as an adult¡¯s fist, while the smallest was only the size of a longan. The Elemental Stones had obviously been cleaned, appearing very fresh. Despite their irregular shapes, their surfaces were unusually smooth and felt icy to the touch. Fang Jintang said, ¡°These were found by your mother and me; we don¡¯t know if they¡¯re the Elemental Stones you mentioned. The suburbs are in chaos, and many roads are destroyed, completely impassable. We looked around and found these. Take a look.¡± Fang Yuxin took out the seven Elemental Stones she and Fang Yuyang had found and placed them in the box, then said, ¡°These are indeed Elemental Stones, but we won¡¯t know if there are Elemental Crystals inside until we open them. These stones are special and can¡¯t be opened in ordinary ways; only Soul Power can cut through them. Soul Power is also called spiritual power; you can try to feel it.¡± This time she did not avoid Bai Qianqian. Since he had already awakened his superpower, she could no longer treat him as an ordinary person. She had promised to protect the child but wouldn¡¯t just shield him blindly. Only by giving him the ability to protect himself could she better guard him. Moreover, Bai Qianqian¡¯s awakening was of the Spiritual type, his spiritual power more abundant than normal, making these Elemental Stones perfect for his practice. After Fang Yuxin finished speaking, everyone took an Elemental Stone and, closing their eyes, tried to feel the so-called ¡®spiritual power.¡¯ Bai Qianqian, however, did not move but obediently looked to Fang Yuxin, waiting for her instructions. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but stroke his head, then placed an Elemental Stone in his palm and softly said, ¡°Qianqian, close your eyes and use your spiritual power to feel it, then try to cut it open.¡± Bai Qianqian nodded seriously and instinctively gripped the Elemental Stone in his hand. He had been eager to try it already but held back because he noticed Fang Yuxin seemed to value these stones highly and was worried that he might ruin them by accident and upset her. Once he closed his eyes, Fang Yuxin took out a small plastic container and likewise took an Elemental Stone in her hand. In the Cultivation World, Soul Power is also called Spiritual Sense. She wasn¡¯t sure whether her own Spiritual Sense was stronger or weaker than that of a Spiritual Superpower User¡¯s spiritual power but had a vague feeling that her Spiritual Sense was much stronger than the spiritual power of an ordinary superpower user. Soul Power could be cultivated, and using it to cut Elemental Stones was one type of cultivation method. Fang Yuxin¡¯s cultivation of the Green Wood Technique allowed her to cultivate Soul Power while pursuing Cultivation. Unfortunately, the Green Wood Technique was a Cultivation Technique specific to the Wood Element, with extremely stringent requirements, only a Pure Wood Spirit Body could practice it. She wanted to find a suitable Cultivation Method for her family but had to think of other ways. Thinking of Cultivation Methods, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but recall the seal within the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. The grand hall of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion housed the Scripture Pavilion, which contained many Cultivation Techniques. Sadly, the Scripture Pavilion was sealed, and even though she knew there were Cultivation Techniques inside, she could only look on with longing and was unable to enter. Unsealing would have to be a gradual process, and thinking about it any further was of no use. Fang Yuxin cast aside the clutter in her mind, calmed her spirit, and slowly extended her Spiritual Sense, enveloping the Elemental Stone in her palm. Soon, fine, elongated scratches appeared on the smooth surface of the Elemental Stone, next to which black powder could be seen. Fang Yuxin meticulously used her Spiritual Sense to cut the Elemental Stone, and at the same time, she was able to divide her attention to observe others. To her surprise, she found that Bai Qianqian was progressing even faster than her! Perhaps sensing her gaze, Bai Qianqian suddenly opened her eyes, turned her head to look her way, and upon meeting her eyes, she sweetly smiled. Fang Yuxin then passed him another storage box, asking him to collect the Elemental Stone powder inside. This powder was actually a material used in Artifact Refining ¨C a storage box crafted from it could perfectly isolate energy fluctuations, and Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to waste it. Perhaps due to talent, after Bai Qianqian, Fang Yuyang, Fang Jintang, and Qu Qianhe successively managed to leave cuts on the Elemental Stone with spiritual power. Fang Yuxin did not disturb them; she just placed the storage boxes appropriately and continued silently cutting the Elemental Stone. Elemental Stones were extremely hard, and Soul Power was almost their only nemesis. Yet, even with Soul Power, it didn¡¯t mean that cutting them was as easy as slicing through tofu. After all, their Soul Power was not strong yet, so they had to slowly grind away over time. At first, everyone was inexperienced, but gradually, their control over Soul Power became more proficient. It was clearly visible, the cuts they left on the Elemental Stone grew deeper. Twenty minutes later, Fang Yuxin felt a peculiar energy fluctuation and was delighted internally; however, she became even more careful with her cutting. Another ten minutes passed, and she lifted a corner of the Elemental Stone, revealing the true form of the Elemental Crystal inside. It was a golden Elemental Crystal, exceedingly beautiful in color. Unfortunately, no one in their family had awakened a Gold Element superpower, rendering the Elemental Crystal useless to them. Fang Yuxin¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, inevitably feeling a bit disappointed. Despite this, she continued carefully cutting the Elemental Stone until she extracted the Elemental Crystal. Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, she turned and saw Bai Qianqian holding a grey Elemental Crystal. The grey crystal, already completely extracted, was the size of a baby¡¯s fist and looked quite unimpressive, but it was a Spiritual Elemental Crystal! Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but stare at Bai Qianqian in amazement ¨C could her son¡¯s luck be any better? Chapter 36 - 36 034 Breaking the Silence ?Chapter 36: 034 Breaking the Silence Chapter 36: 034 Breaking the Silence Bai Qianqian held the gray Elemental Crystal lovingly, her eyes sparkling with delight. Sensing Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze, he turned to look at her, batting his big eyes, and happily presented the Elemental Crystal in front of Fang Yuxin, ¡°Mama, what is this? It feels so comfortable to touch.¡± Fang Yuxin looked at his face that seemed to be asking for praise, and couldn¡¯t help but pinch it. As soon as she did, Bai Qianqian¡¯s bun-like cheeks instantly flushed with the urge to dodge, yet he couldn¡¯t bear to pull away. Had it been anyone else, he wouldn¡¯t have let them pinch his cheeks, but Fang Yuxin was different; she was the ¡°Mama¡± Bai Qianqian had long been looking forward to. Fang Yuxin was amused by his expression and couldn¡¯t help but let out a ¡°pfft¡± of laughter. Seeing Bai Qianqian promptly pout his bun-like face, she cleared her throat and complimented, ¡°Qianqian, you¡¯re so amazing!¡± Upon hearing her praise, Bai Qianqian¡¯s mouth couldn¡¯t help but curve into a smile. Then, it suddenly occurred to him that Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t yet answered his question! Holding the Elemental Crystal, he felt an inexplicable comfort. He had a faint sense that there was a special energy within it that he very much desired. Bai Qianqian couldn¡¯t resist asking again, ¡°Mama, what exactly is this?¡± There was no need for secrecy anymore, so Fang Yuxin said, ¡°This one is a Spiritual Element Essence Crystal, which matches your superpower. You can absorb it to enhance your superpower talent. Qianqian, do you understand?¡± Bai Qianqian thought for a moment and then nodded before asking, ¡°Mama, can I absorb it now?¡± He had been longing to absorb the Elemental Crystal that had been drawing him in for quite some time. Fang Yuxin was somewhat worried; after all, Bai Qianqian was still a child, and this was his first time absorbing an Elemental Crystal. What if something went wrong? Besides, now wasn¡¯t the right moment. She remembered that absorbing an Elemental Crystal couldn¡¯t be interrupted, so it was best done within the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. She shook her head and cautioned Bai Qianqian, ¡°Qianqian, listen to Mom, it¡¯s not the right time now. We should wait until it¡¯s dark and change locations before absorbing it.¡± Bai Qianqian immediately thought of Fang Yuxin¡¯s Qingmu Spiritual Mansion and obediently agreed. Although he really wanted to absorb the Elemental Crystal in his hands right away, since Fang Yuxin had said so, he would just do as told. At this time, Fang Yuyang, Fang Jintang, and Qu Qianhe had also finished cutting their Elemental Stones. Qu Qianhe was luckier; after cutting it open, she found an Earth Element Essence Crystal, whereas Fang Yuyang and Fang Jintang were less fortunate; the stones they opened contained no crystals and were empty stones. However, Qu Qianhe was a Fire Ability user, and Fang Jintang was of the Earth Element, so the Earth Element Essence Crystal, which Qu Qianhe couldn¡¯t use herself, ended up benefiting Fang Jintang. By then, it was six o¡¯clock in the evening, and Fang Yuxin suggested they have dinner. The natural gas supply had already been cut off, but fortunately, they had prepared plenty of gas cylinders and weren¡¯t worried about being unable to cook. While Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe were preparing dinner, the other three weren¡¯t idle either and were cutting more Elemental Stones. Today was the first day of the apocalypse, and they had prepared ample supplies. Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe decided not to skimp on themselves, making a hearty dinner, though considering it was evening, they made food that was easy to digest. Half an hour later, the aroma of food filled the entire room. Two grown men along with Bai Qianqian all stopped their chopping and, drawn by the scent, quickly made their way to the dining table. Whether it was psychological or physiological reasons, the three of them felt especially hungry and couldn¡¯t control themselves upon smelling the food. Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin had served the meals, and seeing the three approach without washing their hands, they stared at them and said unceremoniously, ¡°Wash your hands first!¡± Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang exchanged glances and obediently went to wash their hands, followed by Bai Qianqian. The basin was already filled with water, and after washing their hands, they once again gathered around the dining table. The family enjoyed this dinner immensely. Although the situation outside was not optimistic, the fact that they were all here and well was the greatest happiness. Still, Fang Jintang couldn¡¯t help but worry about Fang Mengyao. Although he didn¡¯t like this daughter, he had raised her for many years and couldn¡¯t possibly be devoid of any feelings for her. Despite his concerns, he didn¡¯t show it and certainly didn¡¯t mention it in front of the others. They had just finished dinner when Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang were washing dishes in the kitchen; suddenly, a convoy of vehicles entered the villa area, shattering the peace. The villa area was large, with beautiful mountain and water surroundings, resembling a secluded paradise. All the villas had been sold out, mostly already decorated, but the owners had not had the chance to move in yet. Besides Fang Yuxin¡¯s family, only a few other households had settled in. However, since they were far apart, they didn¡¯t pay much attention to the others. But now, quite a few survivors poured into the area. Among these survivors, some were the owners here, and upon arrival, they instinctively sought their houses, preparing to move in. The Qiu Family had a villa here, which was already decorated. Qiu Yiming did not ¡®return¡¯ home with his parents but instead planned to find Fang Yuxin. Knowing that she had moved here a few days ago, yet uncertain of her current situation, he felt uneasy and decided to check on her. Fang Mengyao came with him, and after meeting halfway, she left her previous group and followed Qiu Yiming. Qiu Yiming¡¯s parents looked down on her, knowing she was the Fang Family¡¯s illegitimate daughter, but he wanted to uncover whatever secrets she hid, and since she was Fang Yuxin¡¯s sister after all, he brought her along. Along the way, Fang Mengyao gathered information through hints and probing, learning that the Fang Family had moved to this villa area. When she first heard, she felt a bitter taste in her heart, because the houses here were expensive, and those who could afford a house here were invariably wealthy or noble. She had thought the high-level apartment of her original body was quite good, but compared to the Fang Family¡¯s villa, it felt like a joke! Fang Mengyao¡¯s heart filled with resentment. They were both daughters, yet Fang Yuxin lived in a villa, and she only had an apartment; why? Even though Qiu Yiming said that the house here was bought by Fang Yuxin herself, Fang Mengyao didn¡¯t believe it. Where did Fang Yuxin get the money? Wasn¡¯t it provided by Fang Jintang? Yet when she asked Fang Jintang for money, he only gave her one million! Like throwing coins to a beggar! When Qiu Yiming suggested they visit the Fang Family, Fang Mengyao immediately followed. She wanted to see what sort of place Fang Yuxin lived in! Moreover, if the Fang Family members had all turned into zombies, that would be great¡ªin that case, the villa would be hers! With these thoughts, Fang Mengyao¡¯s gaze grew colder, and she couldn¡¯t help harboring a few hopeful thoughts in her heart. Chapter 37 - 37 035 Up to No Good ?Chapter 37: 035 Up to No Good Chapter 37: 035 Up to No Good When the convoy entered the villa district, the Fang Family heard the commotion. Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang, who were washing dishes in the kitchen, changed their expressions slightly, exchanged a knowing glance and saw the worry in each other¡¯s eyes. From the noise, they knew that a significant number of people had arrived. Yet the number of houses in the villa district was limited; with more people, clashes over resources were inevitable. It was uncertain how chaotic it could become. Fang Jintang silently shook his head, quickening his pace. Living there, they couldn¡¯t tell if troublemakers with poor judgment might come knocking. It was best to finish up and go have a look as soon as possible. Thinking this, he said to Fang Yuyang, ¡°Yu Yang, hurry up, let¡¯s go out and see what¡¯s happening.¡± Fang Yuyang nodded, speeding up his task. At the same time, Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe were on the rooftop. The rooftop had been transformed into an ecological farm, and the decoration company had taken aesthetics into account during the renovation, creating a beautiful space. The farm used nutrient-rich soil, which was fertile and loose. Fang Yuxin planted seasonal vegetables the day she moved in, and now they had sprouted, forming a pleasing patch of tender green growth. The villa had four floors, with three above ground and one below. Fang Yuxin had stored supplies in the basement, almost filling it completely. There was no helping it; the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion had to be kept secret at all costs, and the Space superpower was far too conspicuous. The Fang Family had bought a lot of supplies before the apocalypse and, despite their secretive efforts, they could not possibly conceal everything. If she didn¡¯t keep some supplies outside, her Space would be exposed. Standing on the rooftop, their view was unobstructed. They not only heard the noises but also saw the entire convoy. Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang were indeed a couple; both had the same concern. Seeing the convoy, she said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, let¡¯s go down first. Be careful, in case someone causes trouble.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, and Bai Qianqian came over, extending his little paw to take Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand. Looking up with his earnest, doughy face, he said seriously, ¡°Mama, don¡¯t worry. If someone comes, Qianqian will protect you!¡± His seriousness surprised both Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe. They missed the fleeting cold glint in his eyes, which left them both astonished. Such a small child, yet capable of such a sharp gaze! Qu Qianhe narrowed her eyes, observing him for a while, feeling more satisfied with her unconventional grandson. When Fang Yuxin first brought Bai Qianqian home, claiming he was her son, Qu Qianhe couldn¡¯t believe her ears! Even though the two did look alike, she was unwilling to accept it. Fang Yuxin had never given birth! But when Fang Yuxin presented the DNA test results, she had no choice but to believe. Even then, accepting Bai Qianqian as her unconventional grandson was forced, and a part of her still felt resentful. Not towards Fang Yuxin or Bai Qianqian, but towards the mastermind who had schemed against Fang Yuxin. Bai Qianqian, young as he was, proved to be both intelligent and sensible. Furthermore, his strong resemblance to Fang Yuxin grew on her the more she saw him. Now, witnessing the fleeting coldness in Bai Qianqian¡¯s eyes, she was surprised, yet her fondness for him deepened. She could tell that Bai Qianqian was an exceptionally smart child, a prodigy even by any standard. But what she found most endearing was his caring and protective attitude towards Fang Yuxin! With her years of experience, her discerning eyes could see through to one¡¯s true intentions, distinguishing sincerity from deceitfulness in a glance! It was precisely because of this reason that she could never bring herself to like Fang Mengyao. She believed she had been quite fair to Fang Mengyao, yet Fang Mengyao was never truly sincere towards her or her family. Instead, she was constantly on guard, acting as if she had suffered great injustice or as if she was persecuted, which made her impossible to like. At this thought, Qu Qianhe suddenly furrowed her brows. She remembered that over the past month, Fang Mengyao seemed to have changed a lot! The previous timidity was nowhere to be seen, and she appeared to be on edge all over, as if covered in thorns, and her ambition had been growing by the day! A flash of disgust and coldness swept through Qu Qianhe¡¯s eyes. She didn¡¯t care why Fang Mengyao had changed, but if Fang Mengyao dared to scheme against her family, she would definitely not tolerate it! Speaking of which, it was odd how Fang Mengyao had so desperately tried to snatch away Fang Yuxin¡¯s Jade last time, and to top it off, Fang Yuxin found the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion inside that very piece of Jade! Did Fang Mengyao know something? In the blink of an eye, Qu Qianhe had thought through a lot. She glanced at Fang Yuxin without revealing her thoughts and hesitated, then gave up the idea of asking her. She knew there must be something about that unbelievable dream that Fang Yuxin was hiding, but the dream had been too devastating for Fang Yuxin, and she didn¡¯t want to reopen Fang Yuxin¡¯s wounds. The three of them quickly descended the stairs in silence. By the time they had come down, Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang had already cleaned up the bowls and were waiting in the living room. The three of them sat down, but their eyes were instinctively drawn to the window. Outside in the courtyard, where vegetables had been planted and were sprouting, their gazes were not on the pleasing greenery, but rather on the iron gate. There was a vehicle passing the gate, moving slowly, its occupants likely surveying the area. They probably saw there were people here and, without stopping, drove on. After all, it was only the first day of the apocalypse, and not everyone was ready to make the transition from Ordinary People to bandits, to calmly reach out and violently take what others had. Before long, another vehicle arrived. It was a black SUV. The vehicle looked cool, but it didn¡¯t drive past the gate and instead stopped. As soon as the vehicle halted, the Fang Family¡¯s expressions changed subtly, and their gaze turned vigilant. In the next moment, the car door opened, and the first thing to emerge was a sexy leg. Black skin-tight leather pants and high, slender heels. Seeing such attire, almost all the Fang Family raised their eyebrows, and simultaneously thought: ¡°Must be crazy.¡± Then Fang Yuxin¡¯s complexion turned ugly in an instant. She suddenly remembered, this outfit was all too familiar; in her dream, Fang Mengyao had worn exactly this! At the same time as her face changed dramatically, Fang Mengyao¡¯s visage came into view. She was wearing the same set of sexy clothing that increased charm value. After getting out of the car, she instinctively looked in the direction of the Fang Family, her flame-like lips curling into a meaningful smile, while her gaze was somewhat cold. On her way here, she had hoped that all the Fang Family would have turned into zombies, but unexpectedly, they were all unharmed! However, who was that child? Why was he here? What was his relationship to the Fang Family? Qiu Yiming had already gotten out from the other side of the SUV. When he came over and saw Bai Qianqian through the window, his face instantly darkened. It was him again! This child should never have come into this world! Chapter 38 - 38 036 must die ?Chapter 38: 036 must die! Chapter 38: 036 must die! Qiu Yiming¡¯s lapse lasted only a moment, but Bai Qianqian keenly sensed his malice. Bai Qianqian had always been sensitive, and his perception had enhanced dramatically after his spiritual awakening. Although it was just a moment, Yiming¡¯s undisguised disdain was still captured by him. He also noticed the coldness in Fang Mengyao¡¯s eyes. He frowned, instinctively disliking Qiu Yiming and Fang Mengyao, and grabbed Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°Mama, that annoying uncle is here again! Who are they?¡± His question, instead, left Fang Yuxin at a loss for words. What was she supposed to say? That Qiu Yiming was her fiance?, Fang Mengyao was her half-sister from the same father, an illegitimate daughter? Fang Yuyang got up and walked towards the door. ¡°I¡¯ll go open it.¡± Even as Fang Yuyang led Qiu Yiming and Fang Mengyao in, Fang Yuxin still couldn¡¯t think of a proper explanation. Seeing her reluctance to speak, Bai Qianqian became even more cautious and grew to dislike Qiu Yiming and Fang Mengyao even more. His eyes blinked unblinkingly as he scrutinized the two people walking in, his gaze half curious, half evaluative. Qiu Yiming quickly walked up to Fang Yuxin, looked her over carefully, and upon seeing that she was alright, he sighed in relief and said, ¡°Uncle and aunt, and Xin Xin, I¡¯m so glad you are all safe!¡± He paused, looked at Bai Qianqian, and forced a smile, ¡°Qianqian, do you remember your uncle?¡± Thinking of how Bai Qianqian¡¯s father was Bai Ye, and looking at his resemblance to Fang Yuxin, Yiming felt another violent urge in his heart, wishing that Bai Qianqian would just vanish completely. Fang Mengyao had also noticed their resemblance and quickly spoke, ¡°This child really looks a lot like Sister Xin, could he be your son, Sister Xin? But that¡¯s not right, I¡¯ve never seen him before. Could it be that you picked him up from somewhere, Sister Xin?¡± No sooner had she spoken than Qiu Yiming glared at her fiercely. He had never wanted to accept that Bai Qianqian was Fang Yuxin¡¯s son, and now Mengyao had blurted it out so carelessly! Fang Mengyao, realizing Qiu Yiming cared so much about Fang Yuxin, felt a surge of resentment, and a cold murderous intent unconsciously showed in her eyes. Bai Qianqian, always wary of Mengyao and Yiming, saw this and his expression turned cold, and looking up, he stared at Mengyao and said, ¡°Who are you? Why are you looking at my mama with that murderous look?¡± Despite his young age, his voice, though soft and childlike, carried an intimidating chill. His words changed the expressions of everyone present. Qiu Yiming looked at Bai Qianqian and Fang Yuxin in disbelief, his face a picture of shock. What the Fang Family cared about was Mengyao¡¯s attitude towards Yuxin. The murderous intent she had inadvertently shown was not only noticed by Bai Qianqian, but other members of the Fang Family too, and superpower users had much stronger perception than ordinary people. Yet, no one expected that Bai Qianqian, a child, would also notice it and openly speak about it! For a moment, all eyes of the Fang Family were on Fang Mengyao. Fang Jintang¡¯s brows were tightly knotted; he had speculated before that Mengyao might be aware of something but had not dared to believe it, only keeping his suspicions, yet her demeanor and attitude now, to say there had been no prior preparation, he would not believe it even if you beat him to death. Fang Jintang felt very disappointed. Although he did not like his daughter, ever since her mother died, he believed he had never treated her unfairly, almost always fulfilling her requests. Even though Qu Qianhe and the two children did not like her, they had not been overtly excessive, never bullied her. How could she harbor such strong prejudices against them? Thinking of the several phone calls he had made, Fang Jintang sighed silently in his heart, unwilling to continue the thought. Fang Yuyang¡¯s gaze was deep as he stared at Fang Mengyao, recalling the dream Fang Yuxin had mentioned. His gaze turned icy, murderous intent boiling within him, yet his face showed nothing. He had never liked Fang Mengyao, not since the beginning! He would never forget when Fang Yuxin was just a little over one or two years old, a heavily pregnant Zhu Wanxia suddenly rushed at them, resulting in Fang Yuxin getting frightened. Nightmares would awaken her, causing incessant crying, and it took a while before she calmed down. Because of Zhu Wanxia, Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang¡¯s relationship had almost reached its freezing point at that time, nearly leading to divorce, but they resolved the misunderstandings and reconciled. Zhu Wanxia was foolish and greedy, thinking that giving birth to a son could force Qu Qianhe away, expecting to leverage her son to elevate her status. Unfortunately, she bore a daughter instead. Fang Jintang gave her a million yuan as child support, cutting off all ties with that child thereafter. This matter should have concluded there, yet before Zhu Wanxia¡¯s death, she sought out Fang Jintang, asking him to take Fang Mengyao back to the Fang family when she was already 15 and rebelliously stubborn¡ªa result of Zhu Wanxia¡¯s upbringing. Thus, Qu Qianhe hired a private detective to investigate and found out that after receiving the money, Zhu Wanxia left her daughter with her elderly parents and moved to a big city, still dreaming of marrying into wealth. She met many wealthy people and was seduced multiple times, but tragically, they never intended to let her conceive. Eventually, she schemed and succeeded, but the man¡¯s wife, not being easy to contend with, had her brutally beaten, causing a miscarriage, and Zhu almost lost her life. Zhu Wanxia must have been driven mad, failing to give up even after such an event. With her conditions, finding an ordinary man was not difficult, but she refused, still aiming to marry into a wealthy family. In the end, whether by scheming or sheer coincidence, she encountered a con artist posing as a rich man who not only deceived her emotionally but also wiped her bank account clean, leaving her with HIV. From the original million from the Fangs, she left two hundred thousand for her parents to raise the child, spending the remaining eight hundred thousand plus some later earnings, all of which totaled up to one million three hundred thousand, completely swindled from her. Since then, her health progressively worsened, leading to an untimely death. These things, he and Qu Qianhe knew, but had not told Fang Jintang and Fang Yuxin. So from the start, because of Zhu Wanxia, he despised Fang Mengyao. But Fang Mengyao was just a young girl; even though he disliked her, he wouldn¡¯t actually harm her, at most maintaining a cold demeanor. However, Fang Mengyao was particularly sensitive and desired everything Fang Yuxin had. After realizing the cold attitudes from the Fang Family members, she caused a scene and then demanded to move out, insisting Fang Jintang buy her a house. These events, Fang Yuxin might have forgotten, but he remembered them all. Initially, he had no intention of contending with Fang Mengyao, yet she should not have administered ¡°Suppressant¡± on the Fang family members! And those scenes from Fang Yuxin¡¯s dream, although she always emphasized they were just dreams and would not occur, he did not see it that way; he sensed something ominous about Fang Yuxin¡¯s dreams. Even if it was merely a premonition, he would never allow it! If Fang Yuxin¡¯s dream was just a wake-up call, the murderous intent towards Fang Yuxin inadvertently revealed by Fang Mengyao made him realize¡ªFang Mengyao must die! Chapter 39 - 39 037 Ambition Begins to Show ?Chapter 39: 037 Ambition Begins to Show Chapter 39: 037 Ambition Begins to Show Fang Mengyao sensed the hostility of the Fang Family, and mentally took note of it. However, she didn¡¯t take their hostility to heart. In her view, with the game upgrade system she possessed, the Fang Family wasn¡¯t even qualified to be her opponent. The only thing she cared about was the set of jade that Fang Yuxin held in her hands. When Fang Jintang brought out the Jade, the game system had prompted her¡ª¡ª[A Jade Bracelet with mysterious functions has been detected. It is recommended to acquire it. Accept mission?]She accepted the mission at the time but didn¡¯t expect that Fang Yuxin would refuse to part with it, causing her to miss out on the mission reward. And that Jade Bracelet with mysterious functions had been of particular concern to her. Originally, she had planned to seize the opportunity during the apocalypse to get her hands on the items from the Fang Family. However, the Fang Family had moved ahead of time, making her trip in vain! This time, she had to get ahold of that bracelet no matter what! The only question was, where had Fang Yuxin hidden it, and had she discovered the mysterious function of the bracelet? What exactly was that mysterious function? But that wasn¡¯t urgent. What was most important at the moment was to figure out the identity of this child and make Qiu Yiming give up on her for good! She would never allow a man whom she desired to have another woman in his heart! Therefore, Fang Mengyao deliberately exclaimed, ¡°You... What did you just call Sister Xin? Are you really Sister Xin¡¯s son?¡± At this point, she intentionally looked at Fang Yuxin, ¡°Sister Xin, what on earth is going on? How could you... how could you have such a grown son? And where is the child¡¯s father?¡± At this, she glanced specifically at Qiu Yiming, and saw his expression growing increasingly grim. Qiu Yiming¡¯s reaction confirmed Fang Mengyao¡¯s guess ¡ª the child wasn¡¯t Qiu Yiming¡¯s son! This made Fang Mengyao feel extremely smug. Since Fang Yuxin had such a grown son, it didn¡¯t matter who the child¡¯s father was. As long as it wasn¡¯t Qiu Yiming, there was no future for her and Qiu Yiming! Even if Qiu Yiming still liked her, the Qiu Family would never accept someone like Fang Yuxin with such an indiscreet behavior as their daughter-in-law! Fang Mengyao¡¯s understanding of Fang Yuxin and the Fang Family was too limited; she subconsciously assumed that Bai Qianqian was the child Fang Yuxin had with another man, without ever considering the possibility that Bai Qianqian was conceived through IVF! She surveyed the house and spoke again, meaningfully saying, ¡°Dad, why didn¡¯t you tell me about the move? I went to the old house to find you guys, and there was no one there, I was so worried. If I hadn¡¯t run into Brother Yi Ming on the way, I wouldn¡¯t have known you moved here.¡± Her remarks were intentionally meant for Qiu Yiming to hear, to let him see the true colors of the Fang Family. However, she didn¡¯t know that Qiu Yiming was not like the men she had read about in novels or seen in TV dramas; he wasn¡¯t so simple-minded as to feel pity for her just because of her words. Fang Yuxin looked at Fang Mengyao with a half-smile, no longer willing to give her face, and directly said, ¡°Fang Mengyao, you sold your own house, sneaked off, and even turned off your phone. Dad made dozens of calls to you without any getting through. And now you have the audacity to say such things!¡± Fang Mengyao hadn¡¯t expected Fang Yuxin to bring up the matter of her selling the house, and her heart panicked instantly, subconsciously glancing at Qiu Yiming. She remembered telling Qiu Yiming that her house had been sold and she had nowhere to go! She quietly breathed a sigh of relief when she looked, as Qiu Yiming¡¯s expression had not changed, he must have forgotten what she said offhandedly at the time. In fact, Qiu Yiming had long known that Fang Mengyao sold her house herself. Right after they parted, he had someone check, and quickly found out. He could see that Fang Mengyao was interested in him but had little affection for the Fang Family, and deliberately blackened the Fang Family¡¯s name in front of him. Although he didn¡¯t like the woman named Fang Mengyao, he was still a man; there was no need to get entangled with Fang Mengyao over a trivial matter. Besides, he wanted to unravel the secrets Fang Mengyao was hiding. It was best to pretend he knew nothing for now to avoid raising her suspicions. Yet Fang Mengyao naively thought that Qiu Yiming had not noticed the lies she had told. After thinking it over, she pretended to be oblivious and looked at Fang Jintang with feigned surprise, ¡°Daddy? You... you really called me?¡± Fang Jintang nodded, his face expressionless as he asked her, ¡°Why has your phone been off all this time?¡± Of course, Fang Mengyao wouldn¡¯t tell Fang Jintang she felt guilty for selling the house and had changed her SIM card. She took the money and secretly went out of town to procure supplies. She had long since discarded the old SIM card and couldn¡¯t possibly have received Fang Jintang¡¯s calls. She couldn¡¯t tell the truth, so she said, ¡°Daddy, I really didn¡¯t mean it. I was feeling down recently and went out of town to clear my head. Unexpectedly, someone stole my phone.¡± As soon as she said this, Fang Yuyang scoffed coldly, ¡°Even if your phone was stolen, you could have chosen to keep your old number. Why didn¡¯t you? Also, why did you sell the house? You sold it and vanished without a word. Don¡¯t you think you owe Daddy an explanation?¡± Fang Mengyao, of course, couldn¡¯t respond. She glared at Fang Yuyang, her eyes gradually reddening, tears flickering in them as if she had suffered a great injustice. Her voice carried a sob, ¡°Big brother, I know you¡¯ve never liked me, but I never imagined that after all the trouble I went through to find you, not only would I not feel the warmth of family, but I would also be questioned! What have I done wrong to be treated like this by you all?¡± She broke into tears, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Fang Jintang, ¡°Daddy, do you also not welcome me? If that¡¯s the case, I can leave right now!¡± Fang Jintang didn¡¯t say a word but sighed, his disappointment in Fang Mengyao deepening. He had lived so many years and seen all kinds of people; Fang Mengyao¡¯s little tactics were nothing to him, and he could see right through her guilty conscience. Seeing Qiu Yiming standing to one side and knowing he had witnessed everything only worsened Fang Jintang¡¯s mood. Qiu Yiming felt somewhat embarrassed. After all, he was an outsider and it wasn¡¯t his place to interfere in the Fang family¡¯s affairs. Yet he had witnessed everything, and Fang Mengyao had come with him! After some thought, he decided this couldn¡¯t continue and said, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, Yu Yang, and Xinxin, I actually came here not just to check if you were all okay, but also to tell you something.¡± He paused and then looked at Fang Mengyao, ¡°Xiao Yao, you were wrong in this matter. Please apologize to Uncle.¡± Fang Mengyao was actually panicking inside. She had said what she did, thinking it would make Fang Jintang back down, but he had remained silent, leaving her no way to wrap things up. So when Qiu Yiming spoke, she gratefully glanced at him and followed the out he had given her, obediently saying, ¡°Daddy, I truly realize my mistake.¡± Chapter 40 - 40 038 Jumping Clown ?Chapter 40: 038 Jumping Clown Chapter 40: 038 Jumping Clown Fang Jintang could see that although Fang Mengyao said she ¡°knew she was wrong,¡± she didn¡¯t really think so in her heart. Out of consideration for Qiu Yiming being present, he didn¡¯t want to make the scene ugly and be the butt of jokes, so he simply stated, ¡°Let¡¯s all sit down first, and Yiming, if you have something to say, go ahead.¡± Fang Mengyao breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the matter was over, and stopped speaking, settling on the sofa. Qiu Yiming looked around and, finding no other spots available but next to Fang Mengyao, reluctantly sat down. He deliberately avoided looking at Bai Qianqian, ignoring his presence, then said, ¡°Uncle, Aunt, Yu Yang, and Xinxin, you must be aware of the situation outside, right? I won¡¯t say much more, but after the meteor shower last night, many people¡¯s bodies mutated. Most of them turned into zombies, and a subset awakened superpowers. I came today to ask if any of you have felt any changes in your body?¡± The Fang Family was prepared for this question since they had guessed Qiu Yiming would ask it as soon as he appeared; thus, they were not surprised but rather very composed. Fang Yuyang smiled slightly, stretched out his right hand, and gathered a tiny tornado in his palm, asking, ¡°Is this what you mean by superpower? When I woke up today, I indeed felt something off with my body, and after a few tries, I discovered this.¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s eyes lit up upon seeing this. He hadn¡¯t expected Fang Yuyang to have awakened the Wind Superpower, which was a pleasant surprise. Then, he couldn¡¯t help but look towards Fang Yuxin with some anticipation, asking her, ¡°Xinxin, have you awakened any superpowers?¡± Fang Yuxin was prepared; once Qiu Yiming asked, she picked up a small potted plant beside her and touched the adorable ceramic pot. It was a mimosa, which upon her touch, visibly sprouted tender buds, grew new leaves, and even bloomed small pink flowers. Qiu Yiming became excited upon seeing this, ¡°That¡¯s great! Xinxin, you¡¯ve actually awakened the rare Wood Element Superpower!¡± Although it was only the first day of the apocalypse, he had already encountered various superpower users; to his knowledge, among the awakened, Enhancement System users were the most common, while Nature Element users were rarer, with Wood Element users being even scarcer. Fang Yuxin smiled without saying much; the Wood Element Superpower was indeed rare, but in actuality, there were even rarer Special Element users, such as the Spiritual, Spatial, and Time Systems. Among them, Spatial and Time System users were the most extraordinary, and for this reason, their numbers were incredibly few, almost to the point of being legendary. Fang Mengyao hadn¡¯t expected Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang to be so fortunate as to both awaken superpowers, and to be of Wood and Wind Elements at that! Although the Wood Element¡¯s attack power was mediocre, it possessed healing abilities, while Fang Yuyang¡¯s Wind Element was clearly one of strong attack power. She inwardly lamented that it was a pity they hadn¡¯t managed to get the Fang Family to take the Suppressant earlier, otherwise how could Fang Yuxin have awakened the rare Wood Element Superpower and impressed Qiu Yiming so? Seeing Qiu Yiming gaze at Fang Yuxin tenderly, she grew anxious. She had thought that once Fang Yuxin had a son, Qiu Yiming would give up, but he still seemed fixated on Fang Yuxin. Was the Wood Element Superpower really something to boast about? Her game-leveling system was far more powerful than any superpower! Still, Fang Mengyao wasn¡¯t foolish; she knew that the game system must not be revealed, at least not for now. So, she thought for a moment and then said, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve also awakened a superpower.¡± With that statement, she finally captured Qiu Yiming¡¯s attention. Noticing his curious gaze, she took the mimosa plant, stored it in her game inventory in front of everyone, and then took it out again, stating, ¡°After waking up, I found a personal space of one hundred cubic meters. I can store things in it. I guess this must be a Space Superpower.¡± Originally, she had no intention of revealing that she possessed a Personal Space superpower, but to bring down Qiu Yiming, she had no other choice. She wanted Qiu Yiming to know that although Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Element Superpower was rare, she possessed an even rarer and more formidable Space superpower! She couldn¡¯t believe that Qiu Yiming would remain unmoved! As expected, as soon as she spoke these words, Qiu Yiming¡¯s expression changed, and his gaze toward her became intensely passionate. Fang Mengyao secretly delighted in this, only to realize that not just Qiu Yiming, but the Fang Family members were also looking at her differently. Fang Jintang looked at Fang Mengyao with disappointment, almost wanting to scold her for being ¡°foolish¡±! A Space superpower, was that something to be casually mentioned in front of outsiders? Did she have no heart at all? Had she not considered the consequences of her words? Seeing his displeased expression, Fang Mengyao couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Dad, why are you looking at me like that? Aren¡¯t you happy that I¡¯ve awakened a superpower?¡± Qu Qianhe, having seen her repeatedly provoke Fang Jintang, finally could no longer bear it, and spoke out in displeasure, ¡°Xiao Yao, is this the way you speak to your father?¡± Fang Mengyao grew even more discontented, ¡°It¡¯s clearly Dad who¡¯s biased. Why is it my fault in the end? Because I¡¯m an illegitimate daughter, none of you like me, right? It¡¯s not like I chose to be an illegitimate daughter, but I was born this way. Can you blame me? Ever since I was born, I¡¯ve had to endure disdain and contempt, you¡¯ve never shown me a kind face, and everything I do is wrong. Why should it be this way?¡± The more she spoke, the more heartbroken she became, seizing this chance to vent out all her frustrations. Seeing the unpleasant expressions on Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe¡¯s faces, she felt no fear, but instead a rush of triumph, a sweet satisfaction of revenge. Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin, watching this scene, felt an increased loathing for Fang Mengyao. They were just about to speak when Qu Qianhe spoke up first, saying, ¡°So that¡¯s what you think.¡± Her gaze made Fang Mengyao somewhat uneasy. After a moment, she scoffed, ¡°Am I wrong? Or are you just too cowardly to admit it?¡± Suddenly, Qu Qianhe laughed, looking at Fang Mengyao as if she were watching a pathetic clown. She said, ¡°There¡¯s something your mother might not have told you, originally, I wasn¡¯t planning on letting you know, but since you think this way, why should I keep it a secret any longer?¡± She paused, then said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, you take Qianqian back to the room first, it¡¯s getting late, and he needs to rest.¡± Fang Yuxin, understanding she didn¡¯t want Bai Qianqian to hear what was to follow, nodded and led Bai Qianqian upstairs. Qiu Yiming, watching their departing figures, furrowed his brows more tightly. He guessed that what Qu Qianhe was about to reveal might concern Fang Mengyao¡¯s origins. As an outsider, it was indeed awkward for him to stay, so he simply said, ¡°Uncle, Aunt, I have something to say to Xinxin. I¡¯ll head up first.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª PS: When watching certain TV shows, there¡¯s always a protagonist, or a villain, who when questioned and unable to respond, starts to create chaos and blame others, while the person asking the questions can¡¯t do anything about it, watching helplessly, which is quite frustrating. Hence, you have the storyline above. Chapter 41 - 41 Slander ?Chapter 41: Slander Chapter 41: Slander Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe agreed, as they also didn¡¯t want Qiu Yiming to stay around. It was best if he could leave on his own accord. Seeing Qiu Yiming stand up and walk towards the stairs, Fang Mengyao¡¯s face instantly turned very ugly. She couldn¡¯t help but speak up to retain him, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, can you please not leave?¡± Once she said this, everyone¡¯s expression soured, including Qiu Yiming¡¯s. He wanted to know Fang Mengyao¡¯s secret but didn¡¯t want the Fang Family to misunderstand his closeness to her. He genuinely liked Fang Yuxin, and his approaching her was to avoid suspicion and also to inquire what exactly was going on with Bai Qianqian. Fortunately, he had his back to the others, so Fang Mengyao couldn¡¯t see his expression. Qiu Yiming, holding back his anger, said, ¡°Xiao Yao, I need to talk to your sister. I¡¯m heading up first.¡± Having said that, he quickly ascended the stairs. The Fang Family was rather satisfied with his actions, but Fang Mengyao was so angry that her face turned from pale to flushed. Qu Qianhe pursed her lips, suppressing a smile, and then told Fang Yuyang, ¡°Yu Yang, go get that document. It¡¯s time for Xiao Yao to learn about the things from the past, now that she has grown up.¡± Fang Yuyang answered and looked deeply at Fang Mengyao before standing up to go upstairs. Seeing that things had developed to this point, with no room for maneuver, Fang Mengyao simply sat back down, watching Qu Qianhe with cold eyes. Instead of pretending, she made her disdain for Qu explicit as she sneered, ¡°Go on, then. What do you want me to know?¡± Fang Jintang had initially pitied her, considering she was his flesh and blood and had no one else in the world. But now, seeing her being so impolite to Qu Qianhe, his face darkened, and his gaze towards Fang Mengyao gradually turned cold. It was the first time Fang Mengyao had been looked at by Fang Jintang in such a way; it felt as if a heavy shackle had been put on her, oppressive and unbearable. She fidgeted, seeking a more comfortable sitting position, subconsciously avoiding Fang Jintang¡¯s gaze, not daring to make eye contact. She sat there anxiously frowning, her lips tightly pressed into a straight line. No one spoke, and the sizeable living room was so quiet that the breathing of each person was audible. Having never experienced such a situation, Fang Mengyao¡¯s nerves started to fray, her breathing becoming more rapid, and her chest slightly heaving. Finally, unable to bear the pressure any longer, she glared at Qu Qianhe and said impatiently, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you had something to tell me? Well, say it. Why have you stopped talking?¡± Qu Qianhe, however, smiled slightly. She even leaned back a bit more, adopting a more comfortable position, and then calmly said, ¡°No rush. Yu Yang will be down soon, and you¡¯ll understand everything once you see the document. Otherwise, no matter what I say, you probably won¡¯t believe me.¡± Fang Mengyao¡¯s frown grew deeper. She wanted to scream and cause a scene but Qu Qianhe¡¯s penetrating gaze fixed upon her made her heart inexplicably panic, and she found herself without the courage to voice the words she had intended to say. Luckily, at that moment, footsteps could be heard. Fang Mengyao abruptly lifted her head, only to see Fang Yuyang descending step by step. He was dressed in light-colored casual wear, the soft fabric outlining his nicely sculpted muscles. His tall figure and handsome facial features could easily rival those of top international male models, and he was no less stunning than those actors who profited from their good looks. As he descended the stairs, his movements possessed a casual grace, as well as an innate elegance and nobility etched into his very being. Fang Mengyao was somewhat dazed, at this moment she suddenly realized that Fang Yuyang was such an outstanding man! Her gaze was so focused and intense that Fang Yuyang quickly noticed it. He met Fang Mengyao¡¯s eyes and lifted the corners of his mouth in a mocking smile. Fang Mengyao¡¯s face instantly stiffened, she remembered that Fang Yuyang¡¯s eyes only had Fang Yuxin in them, he never saw her, Fang Mengyao! She felt a great humiliation but couldn¡¯t help feeling jealous inside that Fang Yuxin had been loved and adored since childhood, and even after having a son, Qiu Yiming was still infatuated with her! Fang Yuyang quickly walked over and sat down next to Qu Qianhe and then threw the document bag in front of Fang Mengyao, saying coldly, ¡°Everything is inside, take a look for yourself.¡± Fang Mengyao picked up the document bag and violently tore it open to find a thick stack of photos, and beneath them, several papers. The photos were not very clear, clearly taken covertly. But the woman inside was very familiar¡ªit was her biological mother, Zhu Wanxia. Aside from her, there were other people in the photographs. She looked through the photos one by one, Zhu Wanxia was always in the arms of different men; besides that, there was a photo of her entering and leaving the gynecology department, and one of her being hit. After looking through the photos, the papers beneath them were revealed. It was an investigation document detailing Zhu Wanxia¡¯s movements over the years, focusing mainly on her affairs with different men. Besides this investigation document, there were also two agreements signed by Zhu Wanxia. One was signed at the hospital during IVF, and the other was an agreement with the Fang Family. The second agreement clearly stated that Zhu Wanxia had conducted the IVF without Fang Jintang¡¯s consent, and Fang Mengyao had no relation to the Fang Family. The Fang Family had paid Zhu Wanxia one million as a settlement for raising her. In addition to these two agreements, there were hospital receipts, test results, and information on Zhu Wanxia¡¯s bank account detailing Fang Mengyao¡¯s identity, and how Zhu Wanxia had given only two hundred thousand to her parents and kept eight hundred thousand for herself. Clearly, Fang Mengyao was a test-tube baby done through a hospital by Zhu Wanxia, and she had no relations with the Fang Family as early as twenty-two years ago. Fang Mengyao simply could not accept such a reality. There was no memory in her body about this matter, nor did she want to accept the impropriety of her origins. In her heart, it was clearly Fang Jintang who had deceived Zhu Wanxia¡¯s feelings, messing around and then abandoning her. If not for Qu Qianhe¡¯s interference, hogging the position of legal wife, how could she have become an illegitimate daughter? Everything of the Fang Family should have been hers! Fang Mengyao deliberately ignored the original body¡¯s inferiority complex about her background, feeling that it was all caused by Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, and that Zhu Wanxia and she were just innocent victims! As for the information, she didn¡¯t believe a single word! Qu Qianhe must have prepared this document intentionally, what was the purpose? Wasn¡¯t it just to strike at her? She wouldn¡¯t let Qu Qianhe succeed! Slamming the papers down heavily on the coffee table, Fang Mengyao took a deep breath and said coldly, ¡°You¡¯re right, I don¡¯t believe it! I really didn¡¯t expect you to be such a person, to actually fabricate evidence, to slander someone who¡¯s already dead! You¡¯re so despicable, Qu Qianhe!¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± Chapter 42 - 42 040 Sowing Discord ?Chapter 42: 040 Sowing Discord Chapter 42: 040 Sowing Discord In the living room, as soon as Fang Mengyao¡¯s words slipped out, both Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang shouted angrily at the same time, instantly tightening the atmosphere. Meanwhile, upstairs, the mood between Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming was also less than harmonious. Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian¡¯s bedroom were on the third floor. Bai Qianqian wanted to be close to Fang Yuxin, so their bedrooms were right next to each other. Fang Yuxin took Bai Qianqian back to her room to coax him to sleep when Qiu Yiming knocked on the door and said from outside, ¡°Xinxin, there¡¯s something I want to talk to you about.¡± Fang Yuxin asked Bai Qianqian to stay in the room, then opened the door and went out. She did not take Qiu Yiming to her room, but led him to the rooftop instead. Although the rooftop was full of vegetable plants, there was also a tea table and leisure chairs available, making it an ideal place for conversation. However, as soon as she stepped out, Bai Qianqian¡¯s eyes darted around. He quietly opened the door and followed them. No sooner had they sat down than Qiu Yiming asked eagerly, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s the deal with that child... I don¡¯t remember you having a child.¡± The last sentence was deliberately added to suggest to Fang Yuxin not to lie to him. Fang Yuxin no longer had any feelings for him, but she also didn¡¯t want to lie about such matters. She said, ¡°I only found out recently that I have a son this big. He suddenly appeared in front of me, hugging me and calling me Mom. I thought he recognized the wrong person but after a DNA test, I found out that he actually is my son. It¡¯s really too coincidental, probably the work of fate, I guess.¡± Qiu Yiming keenly sensed a touch of melancholy in her voice and felt uneasy. He could not help but become somewhat irritated as he asked, ¡°Xinxin, what do you mean by that?¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head but did not answer directly. Instead, she said, ¡°When I was in college, I once volunteered at a pharmaceutical company. It must have been around that time that I was covertly inseminated, and my eggs were stolen. I still don¡¯t know who the father of the child is, but I really like this child. With such a big event happening now and the entire world in chaos, it¡¯s still unknown how dangerous it is outside, so I¡¯ve decided to keep this child.¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s face changed instantly, realizing that Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze was one of disapproval. Sensing that his attitude might be incorrect, he tried to soften his expression and advised, ¡°Xinxin, you¡¯ve always been smart. You also mentioned just now that the child¡¯s appearance was too coincidental. Haven¡¯t you ever suspected anything?¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± asked Fang Yuxin, her gaze sharply piercing him, an air of intimidation rarely exhibited by her, ¡°Yiming, are you suggesting that this child intentionally appeared before me?¡± Qiu Yiming knew Fang Yuxin was angry, but thinking of Bai Ye, he nodded. He didn¡¯t want Fang Yuxin to get involved with Bai Ye over some mysterious child and said, ¡°Xinxin, you must have suspected it too, the child¡¯s arrival is too suspicious. How could such a small child suddenly appear before you? Who has been raising him all these years? And who is behind him? Don¡¯t forget that the Fang Family is one of the top names in Market, and there¡¯s no telling how many people want to scheme against the Fang Family every day.¡± Fang Yuxin knew that Qiu Yiming was making sense, and in fact, she had been very wary of Bai Qianqian at the beginning, as well as the man who had appeared in her bedroom, who was clearly no saint himself. But now that the apocalypse had come, the Fang Family was a thing of the past; in an apocalypse, only strength could prove everything. Besides, she could feel Bai Qianqian¡¯s sincerity towards her! So even though she knew Qiu Yiming was right, she didn¡¯t appreciate his words. She laughed self-deprecatingly, ¡°Yiming, don¡¯t forget that the Fang Group no longer exists. Even if there really are people behind him, all their schemes are now useless. If they still intend to target the Fang Family, I¡¯m not someone who can be easily provoked. But Qianqian, he¡¯s still just a child! Moreover, he¡¯s my child!¡± Qiu Yiming saw her resolute attitude and knew he couldn¡¯t persuade her this time; he felt a suffocating irritation in his heart, and his dissatisfaction with Bai Ye reached its peak. Annoyed, he thought about how a perfectly good plan was foiled, allowing Bai Ye to escape disaster. Now that Bai Ye¡¯s whereabouts were unknown and the city was overrun with zombies, with the communication systems completely collapsed, finding Bai Ye was like looking for a needle in a haystack! If only... if only Bai Ye had turned into a zombie. Yet deep down, he had a nagging feeling that Bai Ye wasn¡¯t dead! Qiu Yiming looked at Fang Yuxin, who had changed greatly from before. The sexy waves of her hair were gone, replaced by a chic short cut. Her already beautiful face now bore an additional hint of determination. Her features were more delicate, her skin better, and her beauty contained a wildness that made her even more attractive. Speaking of which, Fang Mengyao was also a rare beauty, and for some reason, her looks and figure had slightly changed recently, a beauty carved with meticulous care. Regardless of her beauty, the ambition and desire in her eyes were unmistakable. Besides, Fang Mengyao could turn her back on the Fang Family who had raised her for years, show such mercilessness and even maliciously reverse the blame. A woman like this was a heartless and unscrupulous viper. Even if he was attracted to her, he wouldn¡¯t stoop low; he certainly didn¡¯t want to one day be bitten back by Fang Mengyao! Watching Fang Yuxin, Qiu Yiming suppressed the surge of anger in his heart. He didn¡¯t want to argue with Fang Yuxin over Bai Qianqian and affect the relationship between them. Their voices were low, but because it was quiet around and since Bai Qianqian was a Spiritual Superpower User with perception far exceeding that of ordinary superpower users, he heard every word of their conversation from behind the door, feeling even more dissatisfied with Qiu Yiming. He was smart enough to know that Qiu Yiming was trying to sow discord. Grinding his teeth in aggravation, he thought to himself that once he found his foolish dad, he would make sure to give this annoying uncle a good thrashing! To think he dared to hit on the Mama he had just barely found while his dad was away, and even wanted to make his Mama abandon him, hmph! Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to continue talking about Bai Qian with Qiu Yiming, so she hinted, ¡°I hadn¡¯t expected you to come here with Fang Mengyao.¡± She no longer called her ¡®Xiao Yao,¡¯ a more affectionate name, but instead used Fang Mengyao¡¯s full name, making clear to Qiu Yiming her stance towards Fang Mengyao. Qiu Yiming immediately understood that Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t like Fang Mengyao. He thought for a moment and then recounted his encounter with Fang Mengyao, also mentioning when they first left the Fang Family and ran into Fang Mengyao at the residential complex entrance. He concluded, ¡°Xinxin, I think... you should be more careful. She seems to have some misunderstandings about you and might do something foolish.¡± Fang Yuxin looked at him and couldn¡¯t help but remember the dream where Qiu Yiming had abandoned her to be with Fang Mengyao. Although she could understand it, she still felt somewhat resentful. Thus, she deliberately said, ¡°She has already done something foolish.¡± Qiu Yiming, feeling that something was off, furrowed his brows and asked with concern, ¡°Yuxin, what happened? Did she do something to you?¡± Chapter 43 - 43 041 Rejected ?Chapter 43: 041 Rejected Chapter 43: 041 Rejected Fang Yuxin watched Qiu Yiming silently, the concern and worry on his face unmistakably genuine, making it hard for her to remain unaffected. She believed that, at this moment, Qiu Yiming truly liked her, but this affection ultimately couldn¡¯t compete with the allure of fame and fortune. Power was still of utmost importance in Qiu Yiming¡¯s heart. She could not awaken her superpower while Fang Mengyao possessed the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, so it was no wonder that Qiu Yiming would abandon her in favor of Fang Mengyao. She understood Qiu Yiming¡¯s choice, but she didn¡¯t want to be discarded by him again. Aside from Qiu Yiming¡¯s feelings for her, she was more curious about the outcome between Qiu Yiming and Fang Mengyao if she were to withdraw voluntarily this time. Thinking of the heartbreaking pain and despair in the dream, Fang Yuxin felt that if she didn¡¯t retaliate in some way, she would not be doing justice to herself! So she said, ¡°Fang Mengyao has a ¡®Suppressant.¡¯ I don¡¯t know where she got it, but it inhibits cellular activity. Moreover, I suspect that this ¡®Suppressant¡¯ can prevent people from awakening their superpowers. When I was living in the old house, she used it, but I noticed and avoided it. The next day she sold the house, and I have no idea where she went.¡± Upon hearing this, Qiu Yiming¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He had not expected Fang Mengyao to do such a thing, and even less that she would have a thing like ¡®Suppressant¡¯! Thinking of Fang Yuxin evading Fang Mengyao¡¯s scheme, he could not help but breathe a sigh of relief, and his curiosity about Fang Mengyao¡¯s secrets grew stronger. If he could have it... Fang Yuxin looked at Qiu Yiming¡¯s contemplative expression, the smile on her lips flashing for a fleeting moment. Then, she used her concern for Bai Qianqian as an excuse to end the conversation with Qiu Yiming. Qiu Yiming knew that bringing up Bai Qianqian¡¯s matter again would definitely irritate Fang Yuxin, and given his extreme curiosity about Fang Mengyao¡¯s secrets, he readily agreed to drop the subject. Bai Qianqian saw them stand up and rushed back to the room, moving with extreme care. His slippers were soft-soled, making no noise as he walked. When Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming came down to the living room, the conversation between the Fang Family members and Fang Mengyao had concluded. Fang Jintang sat with a stern face, Fang Yuyang looked unfathomably cool and distant, Qu Qianhe, however, appeared nonchalant, creating an intriguing contrast with Fang Mengyao¡¯s gloomy expression. Both of them watched this scene and simultaneously began to form their own thoughts. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but think of Fang Mengyao¡¯s haughty demeanor in the dream, while Qiu Yiming couldn¡¯t stop thinking that Fang Mengyao and the Fang Family had obviously had a fallout, presenting him with an opportunity. He could see Fang Mengyao was ambitious and smart but not wise enough, assuming that having an ace up her sleeve would make her invincible without carefully considering her opponent¡¯s strength, indulging in complacency was indeed the height of folly! However, the more foolish she was, the more advantageous it was for him! In the past, even if he noticed the changes in Fang Mengyao, he wouldn¡¯t bother to think too deeply, but ever since the meteorite fell, the whole world had undergone drastic changes, with masses of people turning into zombies and superpower users emerging one after another. These scenarios, once only found in movies and novels, had now become reality, so, what then was impossible? No matter what secrets and cards Fang Mengyao held, since he had encountered them, he must investigate thoroughly! As for Bai Ye, whose whereabouts were unknown, and Bai Qianqian, who should never have been born... it was now the apocalypse, and there were too many ways to make someone disappear without a trace! Fang Mengyao was left speechless by Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuyang¡¯s accusations, and what made her even angrier was that Fang Jintang watched everything happen without lifting a finger, even indifferent to the slander directed at Zhu Wanxia! Fang Mengyao was so furious she wanted to kill, and she almost lost control¡ªfortunately, a sliver of reason remained, and she managed to restrain herself. She hadn¡¯t forgotten that she was now a ¡°Spatial System¡± superpower user. If she used any other skill, her trump card would be exposed! Compared to the detestable Fang Family members, preserving her ace in the hole was clearly more critical. It was at this moment that Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming came downstairs. Hearing the footsteps, she instinctively looked up, and seeing Qiu Yiming¡¯s handsome face and the faint smile on his lips, she suddenly felt a surge of reliance. She loathed this place, she despised these people, but Qiu Yiming was the only person she could rely on now. The moment this sense of dependency emerged, her gaze towards Qiu Yiming became even more eager. However, Qiu Yiming seemed not to notice Fang Mengyao¡¯s displeased expression and earnest gaze. Upon entering the living room with Fang Yuxin, he proposed that, due to the emergence of superpower users, the military intended to organize a superpower user team, and he was currently the captain, hoping Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin would join. However, the siblings did not agree. Fang Yuxin¡¯s secret could not be revealed to others, and the existence of the Elemental Stone could not be exposed. Joining the so-called superpower user team might have some benefits, but the disadvantages were greater. At the moment, the status of the military and government was unclear, and even though the Fang Family and Qiu Family had good relations, they did not wish to get involved in the military¡¯s murky waters. Moreover, once they joined the military¡¯s superpower user team, they would inevitably have to comply with the orders of their superiors, and their actions would surely be restricted. Not to mention the inconvenience, their situation would become very dangerous. Fang Yuyang wasn¡¯t too concerned about himself, but Fang Yuxin¡¯s ¡°Wood Element Superpower¡± had a healing ability. In fighting zombies, there would undoubtedly be numerous injuries later on, and he did not want his sister¡¯s healing abilities to be exploited. Qiu Yiming was quite regretful. He cared a lot about Fang Yuxin¡¯s ¡°Wood Element Superpower.¡± If she joined, she would become a member of his team in the future, and he could use his position to arrange for her to be by his side on missions. As for Fang Yuyang, although he wasn¡¯t too fond of him personally, Fang Yuyang¡¯s awakened Wind Superpower was a powerful Attack Superpower, and his marksmanship was also very good. With Fang Yuyang on his team, their strength could reach a new level, and he would have more say within the military. But what he didn¡¯t expect was that both siblings rejected his proposition. Qiu Yiming wanted to persuade them further, even listing various benefits, but the siblings remained unmoved. The silent Fang Jintang straightforwardly said, ¡°Yiming, your uncle appreciates your kindness. Uncle can see that you mean to take care of our Fang Family. However, as the team captain, you should lead by example. Yu Yang and Xinxin have their own strengths, which I¡¯m well aware of, but if they became your team members, they would only drag you down. Besides, they can¡¯t endure that kind of hardship. Let¡¯s forget about this, you¡¯ve been too considerate.¡± Upon hearing this, Qiu Yiming¡¯s face showed some reluctance. He was well aware of Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin¡¯s abilities; Fang Jintang¡¯s words were too modest. But Fang Jintang was an elder, and since he had spoken thus, what could he do? He had no choice but to accept it. However, Fang Mengyao was unaware that Fang Jintang¡¯s words were intentionally modest, and she looked at Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin with some disdain. Seeing this, Qiu Yiming frowned involuntarily and, not wishing to stay any longer, promptly proposed his leave. As soon as he left, Fang Mengyao quickly followed him out. Chapter 44 - 44 042 Engagement ?Chapter 44: 042 Engagement Chapter 44: 042 Engagement Watching Fang Mengyao leave in Qiu Yiming¡¯s car, both Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang¡¯s expressions turned extremely ugly, even Qu Qianhe, who had always been calm, also darkened her face. Fang Yuxin, on the other hand, didn¡¯t seem to care at all, and as soon as the two left, she released Angela. Angela had been staying inside the Qingmu Spirit Mansion before, coming out meowing cheerfully, lying on Fang Yuxin¡¯s legs, and rubbing her round head against the palm of her hand. With one hand, Fang Yuxin petted her head, while with her other hand, she combed through her long, beautiful, loose fur. Seeing her seemingly indifferent, the other three were a bit worried. Fang Yuyang said in a deep voice, ¡°Dad, Mom, Xin can¡¯t marry that boy, Qiu Yiming. I saw early on that kid was no good, I opposed Xin¡¯s marriage with him, but you just wouldn¡¯t believe it! Now he¡¯s actually involved with that girl, Fang Mengyao, how can Xin marry him now? I absolutely won¡¯t agree to this!¡± Fang Jintang didn¡¯t say anything; he was reminiscing about the past. The Fang Family and the Qiu Family were close, he and Qiu Yiming¡¯s father, Qiu Hongsheng, grew up together, very good friends. When Fang Yuxin was just born, Qiu Hongsheng had joked about setting up a baby betrothal for the two children, but he didn¡¯t agree at the time, thinking the practice was outdated, and wanted to wait for the children to grow up and choose for themselves. Later, as Fang Yuxin grew more and more beautiful, polite and clever, the two families visited each other frequently. Not only Qiu Hongsheng, but even his wife, Zhou Fanghua, couldn¡¯t help bringing it up again. Qiu Yiming was two years older than Fang Yuxin and also very fond of her, often taking care of her and playing with her. Perhaps hearing it so often, and also because the two children had a good relationship from a young age, he slowly began to warm up to the idea. Even so, he never agreed to the so-called ¡®baby betrothal¡¯, only saying to let the children develop naturally. But somehow, Qiu Yiming began to regard Fang Yuxin as his little wife over time, and the two naturally became boyfriend and girlfriend. So after Fang Yuxin graduated from university, the Qiu Family intended for them to marry. At that time, he and Qu Qianhe thought it was too early, thinking that the children were still young, and they should wait until they settled down before getting married. The Qiu Family then took a step back, suggesting they get engaged first. Now, three years had passed, and they should have been getting married during the National Day holiday, but the world suddenly entered the apocalypse. Before the apocalypse, the deception and testing by the Qiu Family made him realize that he had been blind; his so-called good brother had always been on guard against him. And now, Qiu Yiming was involved with Fang Mengyao! Even if Qiu Yiming was polite when he left, saying he would arrange another place for Fang Mengyao to live, it didn¡¯t change the fact that Qiu Yiming and Fang Mengyao were involved! What disappointed him even more was that Qiu Yiming obviously had designs on Fang Mengyao! And this girl¡¯s attitude towards the Fang Family...better not to mention it! He might as well pretend he didn¡¯t have such a daughter! After many years in the business world, how could he not see what Qiu Yiming was up to? It was clear that he was interested in Fang Mengyao¡¯s Space superpower! Yet this girl still wouldn¡¯t listen to his advice, and she dared to talk about such a special superpower in front of others! Seeing him with an overcast expression and not speaking, Fang Yuyang mistakenly thought he disagreed and became a bit anxious, ¡°Dad! You can¡¯t be muddleheaded again! And Mom, you should say something too.¡± Qu Qianhe glared at him, scolding lightly, ¡°Yu Yang! Who taught you to speak to your dad like that?¡± With that said, she changed the topic, and her voice turned cold, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your dad and I are not senile yet, we won¡¯t harm Xin! Qiu Yiming, indeed, is unsuitable.¡± Let¡¯s not even speak of the apocalypse, where survival is of utmost importance; who would have marriage on their minds? Fang Yuxin has Bai Qianqian; even if she didn¡¯t give birth to him, they are mother and son by blood. How could the Qiu Family know about this and remain indifferent, without any reservations toward Fang Yuxin? Besides, even if the Qiu Family truly had no qualms, she would never allow her daughter to marry Qiu Yiming! Fang Jintang could tell Qiu Yiming harbored ulterior motives toward Fang Mengyao, and she saw it too, but so what? Qiu Yiming set his sights on Fang Mengyao, planning to take her away, but has he ever thought about Fang Yuxin¡¯s and their feelings? Her daughter must not marry someone with such malice and unscrupulous methods! When Fang Yuyang heard her say this, he knew Qianhe was angry, and he felt relieved; he even stopped asking Fang Jintang. He remembered that, throughout his life, family matters were always decided by Qianhe! He didn¡¯t ask, but Fang Jintang still opened his mouth. However, he didn¡¯t directly state whether he agreed or disagreed but rather asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, this is, after all, a major event in your life, and Dad wants to hear what you think.¡± Fang Yuxin had not told her family about her attitude toward Qiu Yiming before, fearing they would worry, but now there was an opportunity, so she spoke frankly, ¡°Actually, I felt not long ago that Yiming and I are not suitable. I was young and didn¡¯t understand things before, but now I think that Yiming and I have very different views. Being regular friends is okay, but getting married is not appropriate. Now with the apocalypse, and I¡¯m looking after Qianqian, it¡¯s even less possible between us.¡± Fang Yuyang was glad that Fang Yuxin could see through Qiu Yiming¡¯s character, but as he listened, he vaguely felt something was amiss. Then, he thought of the dream that Fang Yuxin once had, suspecting it was related to her attitude. He suddenly remembered, since he returned home from his business trip, Fang Yuxin never mentioned Qiu Yiming, and they met even less frequently than before, which was very unusual. At the time, his mind was occupied with the apocalypse, so he didn¡¯t pay much attention. Now that he thought about it, Fang Yuxin seemed to have changed her attitude toward Qiu Yiming after having that dream. Then he remembered that when Fang Yuxin described that dream to him, she never mentioned Qiu Yiming! Did she not dream of him, or did she purposefully ignore him? Fang Yuyang felt it was the latter. Thinking of this, he was both angry about Fang Yuxin¡¯s concealment and distressed for the suffering she had endured. But this was not something he could bring up in front of Fang Jintang and Qianhe; they were, after all, elderly, and it would be terrible if they became upset. Fang Jintang sighed and said, ¡°Since you feel this way, let¡¯s call off this marriage. Given the circumstances, I suppose the Qiu Family isn¡¯t keen on having you marry into their family either.¡± Qianhe thought of Fang Mengyao, who left with Qiu Yiming, and couldn¡¯t help sneering, ¡°Even if the Qiu Family wants a wife, they probably won¡¯t fancy Xin anymore. Now that superpower users are emerging one after another, Xin is only a ¡®Wood Element Superpower¡¯ user, but that stepdaughter of yours has the ¡®Space Ability¡¯! Haven¡¯t you noticed? That youngster Qiu Yiming has already taken a fancy to her. If his parents knew, they would likely see Fang Mengyao in a new light.¡± Her tone was harsh, making Fang Jintang¡¯s face turn awkward. That stepdaughter was not one he wanted, but he knew Qianhe was furious because of Fang Mengyao and couldn¡¯t help taking it out on him. Arguing with her would only make her angrier, so he said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about this. Let¡¯s discuss our future plans instead.¡± Chapter 45 - 45 043 Looking for trouble ?Chapter 45: 043 Looking for trouble Chapter 45: 043 Looking for trouble Regarding their plans for the future, the family actually had ideas a long time ago, and Fang Jintang¡¯s statement was merely a diversion. However, Qiu Yiming¡¯s arrival and his mention of a superpower user team served as a wake-up call for the family. It was not suitable for Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin to join the military team, as there were too many restrictions, and they could end up as cannon fodder. Nevertheless, after Qiu Yiming¡¯s suggestion, Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang thought about forming their own team. Currently, the superpowers of Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, Bai Qianqian, and even Angela must remain concealed; such a high probability of superpower users in one family was too shocking and could not be disclosed. The Fang Family members were no fools and naturally wouldn¡¯t do that. As long as they kept their powers hidden from the start, even if their superpowers were discovered later, they could attribute them to the effects of Elemental Crystals. Though keeping the effects of Elemental Crystals a secret might displease some people, it was still better than being coveted by others. As long as they had enough strength, what could anyone else say? The so-called supremacy of the strong, in any era, the world speaks with strength. Once, money and power represented everything, but now, force would determine everything. In the short term, the strength of superpower users would definitely not increase much. The military, with its guns and ammunition, would naturally have the highest status. The system within the Safe Zone would likely still be relatively intact, though certainly not as robust as during peacetime. Moreover, the military wouldn¡¯t be able to guarantee that everyone¡¯s rights are protected and defend every individual. If someone eyeing them didn¡¯t know their place and decided to pick on them, they could completely fight back, as long as they didn¡¯t go too far and didn¡¯t provoke the military, there likely wouldn¡¯t be any major problems. The family sat down and discussed their ideas, which were fairly aligned: use the early period of the apocalypse to search for as many Elemental Crystals and Crystal Cores as possible to boost their strength. As for the Qiu Family, for now, they couldn¡¯t afford to break ties with them outright. After all, the Qiu Family had a military background, Qiu Hongsheng held a significant military rank, and Qiu Yiming was now the captain of a superpower user team. Breaking ties would undoubtedly be disadvantageous for them. While they were discussing, two more cars pulled up outside. They were sedans from well-known international brands, expensive but not impressive in the eyes of the Fang Family. The cars stopped directly at the door, and immediately after, the doors opened, and the occupants hurried out, with someone loudly saying as they disembarked, ¡°Brother Chen, this house is nice; shall we settle in here?¡± The voice was filled with barely concealed excitement. Someone replied, ¡°No shit! This is one of the top luxury housing areas, only the wealthy live here. How could the houses be bad?¡± ¡°Look, there are people inside!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Could it be someone else got here first?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? If we¡¯ve set our sights on this house, no matter who¡¯s inside, just kick them out!¡± ¡°Exactly! Brother Chen is a superpower user! He deserves to live in a place like this!¡± ¡°Damn, the gate is locked!¡± ¡°Smash it!¡± There were a total of eight people who came out of the two cars, six men and four women, all quite young, around their twenties. Two women looked delicate and beautiful, clinging to either side of a grim-looking young man who was dressed decently. The other five men had hairstyles that looked like they came from a salon, at first glance resembling salon boys, but their demeanor was more like that of uneducated hooligans. Many voices spoke, creating a noisy and chaotic atmosphere, crude and impolite in tone, and the implications in their words were quite meaningful and somewhat bitter. When Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin went out, each was holding an ax, and they both chopped toward the door lock. Just as they were about to hit the lock, a small whirlwind suddenly appeared, engulfing the ax and diverting its direction, causing it to strike a young man who was eagerly watching the spectacle by their side. When the siblings first appeared, someone whistled arrogantly, while those two women glared at Fang Yuxin with jealous eyes, filled with hostility. However, with the appearance of the small whirlwind, everyone¡¯s expression changed. ¡°A superpower user!¡± someone exclaimed, followed by a scream. The unfortunate young man who was spectating was struck by the ax in his arm, a deep wound, thankfully without hitting the bone. The faces of the six men were unpleasant, either panicking or warily watching Fang Yuyang, while the two women¡¯s eyes lit up, their gazes toward Fang Yuyang turning heated, clearly ready to abandon the young man beside them and defect to Fang Yuyang¡¯s side. The young man in the middle noticed their gazes and his face suddenly grew dark, with more hostility aimed toward Fang Yuyang. Fortunately, he was still rational, and instead of losing his cool, he suppressed his anger and said to Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin, ¡°Friends, please don¡¯t be mad, we didn¡¯t mean anything by it, we just needed a place to stay. My subordinates were ignorant and have offended you. I¡¯ll have them apologize right now.¡± After he spoke, he pushed aside the woman beside him, walked over, and forcefully kicked the leg of the young man who had held the ax. The man screamed in pain and knelt on the ground, incessantly apologizing to the siblings. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang ignored him, instead warily watching the apparent leader, the so-called ¡®Brother Chen¡¯. When Brother Chen saw that they had no reaction, he said, ¡°It¡¯s said that we don¡¯t get acquainted until a fight, and he has apologized. How about we let bygones be bygones? There are monsters everywhere outside now, and we survivors should help each other, right?¡± Seeing no response from them, he became annoyed, his tone warning, ¡°This brother is a Wind Ability User, right? You¡¯re strong, but after all, it¡¯s hard for one man to stand against many hands. How about we cooperate? The house is big enough, and with us, it should still be spacious. We could join forces to fend off external threats and protect this house.¡± Fang Yuxin responded with a cold laugh, ¡°This is my house, why should I let you stay?¡± Her voice was melodic and beautiful, and even with a chill, it remained captivating. These eight people had noticed her extraordinary beauty early on¡ªthe two women were jealous, while the six men¡¯s hearts warmed at the sight of her. Now that she had spoken, the women¡¯s hostility intensified, with their glares sharp as knives, and the six men¡¯s eyes even hotter, especially Brother Chen, whose eyes openly revealed a predatory intent. Fang Yuyang was already fed up with these people and regretted not acting sooner. Raising his hand, eight Wind Blades appeared out of thin air and shot forth! Apart from Brother Chen, none of the others expected such sudden action and cried out in panic, scrambling to dodge. Brother Chen seemed to have anticipated it and immediately grabbed one of the women hiding behind him to shield himself. The woman clearly had not expected such ruthlessness and screamed in horror, her voice piercingly shrill, ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Chapter 46 - 46 044 Cant kill ?Chapter 46: 044 Can¡¯t kill Chapter 46: 044 Can¡¯t kill Fang Yuyang had not expected Brother Chen to be so ruthless as to use a woman as a human shield. Fortunately, though the move seemed vicious, it actually did not target any vital points. The woman was merely injured and her life was not in danger. Not just her, everyone attacked had been injured, with none able to avoid it. Among these eight people, aside from the leading Brother Chen, the others were all ordinary people. The reason their group managed to safely arrive at this villa area was not because of their own strength, but luck; they had encountered an army relocation team and followed behind them, making it here without too much danger. Their abilities were nothing special and their backgrounds were quite ordinary, even the vehicle they drove was one found abandoned on the road. After entering the villa area, they didn¡¯t dare to act rashly at first, always looking for a place to stay. Some houses were already full of people, whom they didn¡¯t dare provoke, so they chose the Fang Family¡¯s house. When they first saw only Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin come out, they thought they had struck it lucky, until Fang Yuyang suddenly made a move, they then realized they had picked the wrong target. Brother Chen, depending on his status as a superpower user, resorted to a mix of threats and bribes to try to force Fang Yuyang into submission, but unexpectedly, he kicked an iron plate instead. After striking, Brother Chen, worried Fang Yuyang would make another move, quickly said, ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t forget, no one can kill within the Safe Zone!¡± Alarmed by Fang Yuyang¡¯s strength, his voice was very panicked. Fang Yuyang was actually unaware of such a rule. This provision had been set by the military when they first entered the villa community with the survivors. This area, including the surrounding territory, had been designated as a temporary Safe Zone. For the stability of the Safe Zone, some hurriedly made rules were put in place, ¡®no killing within the Safe Zone¡¯ being one of them. Fang Yuxin knew about it, but only from a dream she had; she hadn¡¯t had the chance to tell Fang Yuyang. However, after Brother Chen mentioned it, Fang Yuyang believed it to be true to a certain extent. He suddenly found himself in a difficult position; these eight were all tough characters, and both sides had fallen out. If he spared them, it would mean endless trouble later. But to kill them outright would probably cause issues with the military. Seeing his difficulty, Fang Yuxin suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s capture them first and then see.¡± Fang Yuyang nodded in agreement, ready to take action. Brother Chen, not expecting that they would still not give up after his words, his expression became fierce as he grabbed the woman just as before, using her as a shield, and hurried towards the car door to make his escape. The other injured individuals, startled at first, then clutching their wounds, rushed toward the vehicle. Fang Yuyang unleashed another Wind Blade. Seeing this, the others became even more panicked, hastily dodging. However, this time the Wind Blade was not aimed at them, but at the vehicle¡¯s tires. Four ¡°pfft¡± sounds were heard as the Wind Blade sliced long slits into all four tires facing Fang Yuyang. Air hissed out of the tires, and the car visibly sank. With the tires sabotaged, they naturally couldn¡¯t escape by car. Brother Chen, seeing this, whipped his head around, his twisted face showing a touch of madness as he glared hatefully at Fang Yuyang. The others, realizing they couldn¡¯t flee, also looked towards Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin with hostility in their eyes. However, they were still ultimately intimidated by Fang Yuyang¡¯s power; though angry, they were more panicked. Fang Yuxin gave a cold laugh, twisted her neck, and raised her hands in a defensive posture, her fingers spreading open and then quickly clenching into fists. Brother Chen opened the car door, pulling out an iron rod, and said hatefully, ¡°Grab whatever you can, let¡¯s all attack together!¡± Motivated by his command, the others scrambled to arm themselves. Fang Yuxin glanced down at the ground where an axe lay, its blade stained with blood, the very one that had been used to chop the lock moments before. She stepped on the axe and then kicked it forcefully behind her, sending it through the gap beneath the gate and into the courtyard. By this time, the others had already grabbed weapons from the car. The two delicate and beautiful women were mere vase decorations; they were too scared to come down, huddling inside the car. The other five each armed themselves with weapons, be it iron rods, axes, or machetes. The only unlucky one had his weapon kicked away by Fang Yuxin. Brother Chen gripped his iron rod tightly, not rushing over directly, but shouting loudly instead, ¡°What are you all standing around for? Charge! Kill them, and this house is ours! If they don¡¯t die, we will!¡± At first, those five hesitated, their gazes flickering with fear to rush forward. But Brother Chen¡¯s last sentence struck a chord; none of them wanted to die. Thus, their expressions hardened as they charged toward Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin with their weapons. The one without a weapon clenched his fists as well. Five men¡ªtwo charged at Fang Yuyang, but four rushed at Fang Yuxin, probably thinking she would be easier to bully as they targeted her. Fang Yuxin instantly eyed the iron rod in one man¡¯s grip. The rod was as thick as an adult man¡¯s thumb, and as it swung through the air, it made a ¡°whooshing¡± sound. A man with a machete charged at her first; she sidestepped and kicked him in the belly, sending him staggering back. Then she shifted her body and dodged the oncoming iron rod, seized the man¡¯s wrist with a twist, and snatched the rod from his hands. The iron rod felt cold to touch, the rough texture grazing her palm and causing a slight sting. Fang Yuxin grasped the rod with both hands and swung, striking another man in the chest with a heavy thud. The man had already sustained injuries, and her strike hit his wound precisely. He screamed in agony and stumbled back, clutching his wound and staring at Fang Yuxin in horror, no longer daring to approach. At this point, the remaining three looked at Fang Yuxin with a mix of fear and concern. The man she kicked in the belly, though luckier as the kick hadn¡¯t hit a wound, still felt a persistent, throbbing pain. The force of Fang Yuxin¡¯s kick was fierce; although not on par with an Enhancement Ability User¡¯s strength, it was almost as powerful as a strong man¡¯s blow. Brother Chen was equally shocked. As an Enhancement Ability User himself, he immediately recognized the power behind Fang Yuxin¡¯s strike, and he regretted misjudging her. He had thought Fang Yuxin was just a pretty, ordinary girl, but to his surprise, she turned out to be a trained combatant! The more he watched, the more frightened he became, and he turned to run. But in the next instant, his vision blurred, and he saw Fang Yuyang already blocking his path! Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t rush to attack but squinted his eyes instead, looking toward the car that was approaching from a distance. Hearing the noise, Brother Chen realized someone was coming; a thought flashed through his mind, and he shouted loudly, ¡°Take these two cars as your own. Please, I beg you, spare our lives!¡± Fang Yuyang wasn¡¯t the least bit panicked by his false cries of thief; instead, he let out a cold laugh, his gaze at Brother Chen filled with disdain. He had already recognized the approaching vehicle and naturally knew who was coming. Chapter 47 - 47 Hidden meanings in words ?Chapter 47: Hidden meanings in words Chapter 47: Hidden meanings in words Hearing the sound of the car, it wasn¡¯t just Brother Chen who was excited; everyone else collectively sighed in relief, feeling like they had just survived a disaster. But just at that moment, Brother Chen noticed the cold smile on Yu Yang¡¯s lips, and a strong sense of danger flashed through his mind. He felt something was off, but before he could think further, he heard the ¡°bang¡± of a gunshot! His heart seemed to stop and he whipped his head around, only to see one of his men fall flat on his back. The machete in his hand dropped to the ground with a ¡°clang¡± of finality. Brother Chen saw that his man had been shot in the chest. As he fell, blood gushed from the bullet hole and quickly pooled on the ground. At the same time, the car stopped, and a man stepped out of the open door. Brother Chen recognized him in an instant ¨C it was Captain Qiu Yiming of the Superpower Team. His brow furrowed, and seizing the moment Yu Yang paused, he quickly walked over to Qiu Yiming with a flattering smile and said, ¡°Captain Qiu! Thank goodness you¡¯ve come, otherwise we might have been in real danger.¡± However, what he didn¡¯t expect was for Qiu Yiming to just give him a cold glance before striding over to Fang Yuxin with concern, asking, ¡°Xinxin, what happened?¡± At that, Brother Chen¡¯s smile froze, and he understood that they had truly kicked an iron plate. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that not only were these two strong, but they also had a relationship with Qiu Yiming! And judging from the concerned look on Qiu Yiming¡¯s face, their relationship was anything but ordinary! Thinking this, he couldn¡¯t help but curse the person who had first suggested staying here. If not for that suggestion, he wouldn¡¯t have offended someone he shouldn¡¯t have! Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t expected Qiu Yiming to come, but now that he had, things would be much easier to handle. So, she simply explained, ¡°Not long after you left, these people came to take our house.¡± Brother Chen knew he was in trouble and quickly blurted out, ¡°It¡¯s all a misunderstanding!¡± But Qiu Yiming snorted sarcastically, ¡°A misunderstanding? Do you think I¡¯m blind?¡± He had arrived just in time to see someone wielding a machete at Fang Yuxin and had shot without a second thought. Soon after, another car arrived with two people in military uniforms stepping out. They assessed the situation briefly before approaching Qiu Yiming and asking, ¡°Captain, what shall we do with these people?¡± Qiu Yiming glanced over at Brother Chen and the others, and with a hint of disdain, he ordered indifferently under Brother Chen¡¯s pleading gaze, ¡°These people have violated the Safe Zone¡¯s regulations, breaking into homes with ill intent. Take them all away!¡± By then, all of Brother Chen¡¯s companions had lost their ability to move and lay on the ground, except for Brother Chen and two women hiding in the car. The two military-clad individuals had no choice but to drag each person into the vehicle. The back of the vehicle had a bed where everyone was crammed together, including Brother Chen, the two women, and the unfortunate soul shot by Qiu Yiming. Qiu Yiming directed his subordinates to leave first and then turned to Fang Yuxin and Yu Yang, explaining, ¡°I forgot to tell you earlier that this development area has been chosen as a temporary Safe Zone. Apart from law enforcement officers, no one is allowed to kill within the Safe Zone. Things are somewhat manageable now, but as more survivors arrive, housing will become a serious issue. Besides these people, others will likely covet your home, so from now on, you must be careful and stay safe.¡± He paused, seeing that Fang Yuxin and Yu Yang had taken his words to heart, before continuing, ¡°Actually, if you join my Superpower Team, you could be considered law enforcement and would get to enjoy better treatment, and no one would dare target your house again.¡± His words served as both a reminder and a warning. Even though they had previously refused, he hadn¡¯t given up on recruiting them. The recent events had shown him their strength was even greater than he had anticipated, making him all the more reluctant to let them go. Fang Yuxin responded, ¡°My brother and I aren¡¯t considering this for now, but we¡¯ll think about your offer. I appreciate your concern for us.¡± Had Yu Yang been the one to speak, Qiu Yiming might have found it hard to refrain from arguing, but since it was Fang Yuxin, it wasn¡¯t his place to persuade further. Yet, Yu Yang suddenly asked, ¡°Is Fang Mengyao with you? Did she join your Superpower Team?¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s expression remained unchanged at the question, though his eyes flickered slightly. ¡°Indeed, she has joined my Superpower Team and is now one of my team members. Her Spatial System superpower is of great importance to the team, making it much easier to gather resources when we¡¯re out,¡± he explained with rightness, as if it were purely professional, without a hint of personal agenda. Yu Yang nodded, ¡°Since she¡¯s with you, let it be. After all, she has severed ties with the Fang Family now. Where she goes and what she chooses to do is her freedom.¡± Hearing this, Qiu Yiming¡¯s heart jolted. He was aware that there was a rift between Fang Mengyao and the Fang Family, but he hadn¡¯t expected a complete disconnection. He didn¡¯t doubt Yu Yang, understanding his character and standing in the Fang Family. If Yu Yang said so, it had to be true. With this realization, a wave of unease washed over him. Now that Mengyao had broken with the Fang Family and he had kept her by his side, how would Fang Yuxin react? Would she resent him for it? Qiu Yiming couldn¡¯t help but glance toward Fang Yuxin and anxiously said, ¡°Xinxin, I agreed to Mengyao¡¯s inclusion in the team solely for her Space superpower, nothing else. Please... please don¡¯t be mad at me, okay?¡± His voice became tentative by the end. Yu Yang, however, narrowed his eyes disapprovingly at Qiu Yiming¡¯s words. Fang Yuxin simply smiled slightly, unconcernedly responding, ¡°Of course I know why you value her. It¡¯s just her joining the Superpower Team, why would I be mad? As my brother said, she has nothing to do with the Fang Family anymore, what she does is her freedom, and who you appreciate is your freedom, too. Do you really see me as someone so petty?¡± Qiu Yiming studied her expression carefully, not seeming to lie, and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Because the night was falling and the men he had apprehended needed to be dealt with immediately, as well as the necessity to report to his superiors, he didn¡¯t stay long and quickly departed. On his way back, Qiu Yiming suddenly recalled the look on Fang Yuxin¡¯s face, feeling an inexplicable pang of anxiety. He slammed on the brakes, contemplating her expression. His face gradually darkened and grew more troubled. He suddenly realized that Fang Yuxin was an intelligent woman, and her words had obviously hidden meanings! Chapter 48 - 48 046 Who exactly is it ?Chapter 48: 046 Who exactly is it Chapter 48: 046 Who exactly is it Qiu Yiming had not been gone long when two more people arrived at the Fang Family. However, they were not there to cause trouble, but to register information. Both were dressed in military uniforms and, upon arrival, they introduced themselves before explaining the purpose of their visit. A notebook the size of an A4 paper sheet, with its black cover, was opened, revealing hand-drawn grids meant to record personal information. Due to the suddenness of the disaster and the fact that many devices were destroyed in the energy outburst, compounded by the power outage, all forms had to be drawn manually. They first asked for the names, ages, and occupations of the Fang Family members, then inquired whether anyone had awakened to a superpower. Following the plan that had been initially set, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang disclosed their superpowers, while the others chose to temporarily conceal theirs. Learning that the siblings were both superpower users, the two soldiers showed obvious pleasure and proceeded to introduce the military Superpower Team, hoping they would join. Naturally, both siblings declined, and although the soldiers felt a bit regretful, they did not persist in persuading them further. After all, newly awakened superpower users simply could not control the newfound energy within their bodies, and their abilities were incomparable to those of rigorously trained soldiers. The military was interested in absorbing superpower users mainly because of their potential for the future. Next, they informed the Fang Family about the designation of this area as a temporary Safe Zone, and relayed the newly established regulations, advising them not to take unnecessary risks. Lastly, they mentioned that starting from the next day, the military would begin issuing various missions, the completion of which could earn Contribution Values. These values represented the privileges they could enjoy within the Safe Zone, and they urged the family to pay attention to these opportunities. After they had left, Fang Yuyang suggested, ¡°Dad, Mom, since they said so, let¡¯s go and check out the available missions tomorrow morning, accept some easy ones, and earn some Contribution Points.¡± Fang Jintang nodded and replied, ¡°Good idea. We¡¯ll all go together as a family for support.¡± Qu Qianhe, however, proposed, ¡°I think we might as well form our own Mercenary Team. It would be better with just our family, so no one else comes trying to recruit you.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Bai Qianqian became excited and asked impatiently, ¡°Can I join? Can I join too? Mama, you won¡¯t leave me behind tomorrow, will you?¡± Hmph! He was determined to find his foolish father and make that bad uncle never dare to pester Mama again! The appearance of Qiu Yiming had instilled a sense of crisis in Bai Qianqian¡¯s heart. He had not planned to go find Bai Ye so soon, but because of Qiu Yiming, he decided to prioritize finding Bai Ye first! As everyone was planning to leave, Fang Yuxin naturally could not leave Bai Qianqian alone at home; it would be too unsafe. So when Bai Qianqian spoke up, she nodded and agreed. By now, it was already late, so the Fang Family ended their conversation to get some rest. Fang Yuxin thought of the two Elemental Crystals she had obtained that day and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion first, so Dad and Qianqian can absorb the Elemental Crystals.¡± Absorbing the Elemental Crystals could enhance a superpower user¡¯s talent, and would make future cultivation much more effective; it was naturally better to absorb them sooner rather than later. The family had no objections, so Fang Yuxin led the others into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Although Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuyang had not yet found their corresponding Elemental Crystals, they were worried something might go wrong during Fang Jintang and Bai Qianqian¡¯s absorption process, so they all entered together. Once inside the main hall with her family, Fang Yuxin took out the two Elemental Crystals and handed them to the two respective family members. Elemental Crystals were fatally attractive to superpower users; just holding one in hand was enough for the users to know instinctively how to absorb it without any guidance. Fang Yuxin still reminded them, ¡°Don¡¯t be eager to absorb the energy yet, stabilize your minds first.¡± Fang Jintang nodded gravely, his experience far surpassing that of Fang Yuxin, naturally understanding that her words were correct. Even Bai Qianqian tensely responded with a serious dumpling face. After that, the two of them closed their eyes, beginning to stabilize their minds. Fang Yuxin, Fang Yuyang, and Qu Qianhe then sat down around them, keeping a distance that was not too close nor too far, so as not to disturb Fang Jintang and Bai Qianqian, yet able to take action promptly should an accident occur. All three unconsciously clenched their mouths shut, even deliberately softening their breathing, staring unwaveringly at the Elemental Crystals held in Fang Jintang and Bai Qianqian¡¯s palms, fearing the slightest mishap. Fang Yuxin recalled the scene from her dream, having once witnessed Fang Yuyang absorbing an Elemental Crystal, which was somewhat similar to taking the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit. Because the energy in the Elemental Crystal would change a person¡¯s physique, the entire absorption process would be intensely painful, and the body would constantly undergo changes, gradually expelling the useless impurities from within. She revisited the entire event in her mind, feeling that there was no issue, and let out a slight sigh of relief in her heart. Even so, she didn¡¯t dare to relax completely, fearing the possibility of an accident. Gradually, the Elemental Crystals in Fang Jintang and Bai Qianqian¡¯s palms emitted a faint soft glow. The glow within the Elemental Crystals seemed to circulate, and then their bodies absorbed that luster. As the energy from the Elemental Crystals was incessantly absorbed, their skin began to redden and their expressions turned agonized. Fang Yuyang and Qu Qianhe both tensed up at the sight, and while Fang Yuxin knew this was part of the process, her heart couldn¡¯t help but feel the pain as she watched them suffer. Though they were concerned, Fang Yuyang and Qu Qianhe thought back to the time they took the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit and refrained from interfering. They could only watch helplessly as Fang Jintang and Bai Qianqian¡¯s expressions became increasingly agonized, their fists clenching tighter. Subconsciously, Fang Jintang and Bai Qianqian bit down hard on their teeth, just to keep from crying out in misery, not wanting to worry their loved ones further. None of them¡ªFang Yuyang, Qu Qianhe, or Fang Yuxin¡ªexpected that Bai Qianqian, trembling slightly with extreme pain, could maintain his composure without screaming. Such character and fortitude astonished them all. It was less surprising for Fang Jintang, a grown man, to endure without surprise, but Bai Qianqian was clearly only five years old! How did he manage to bear it? Fang Yuyang and Qu Qianhe couldn¡¯t help exchanging a glance, their eyes conveying the same message¡ªthat this child, with such character and fortitude, was sure to achieve extraordinary things in the future. It just remained a mystery who his father was. Initially, although they had accepted Bai Qianqian, they were quite wary of his father. Even though Bai Qianqian was blood-related to Fang Yuxin as her son, he was not born from her, and his sudden and coincidental appearance made them suspect there might be somebody else behind him, possibly his blood-related father or the person who raised him. They hoped Fang Yuxin would not get entangled with a strange man because of Bai Qianqian. However, as they spent more time with him, Bai Qianqian¡¯s behavior gradually changed their view, forcing them to confront the question they had been deliberately ignoring¡ªwho is Bai Qianqian¡¯s father? And who raised him? Qu Qianhe had no time to contemplate further as the situation began to change again. Chapter 49 - 49 047 Destroy then establish ?Chapter 49: 047 Destroy then establish Chapter 49: 047 Destroy then establish Fang Jintang and Bai Qianqian suddenly emitted a series of ¡°snap snap¡± sounds, as if something had burst open. Simultaneously, their expressions reached the peak of agony. Their tense faces were nearly contorted, the blood vessels beneath their skin bulged violently, and from between clenched teeth came muffled groans, reminiscent of beastly roars. Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuyang stood up anxiously, and Fang Yuxin¡¯s eyes also widened. Seeing that they were about to intervene, she quickly stretched out her hand to firmly grasp their wrists, and shook her head slightly at them. She remembered that in the dream, Fang Yuyang had experienced a similar situation, though not as severe. In her heart, Fang Yuxin also wasn¡¯t sure if the two were truly alright. The torment Fang Jintang and Bai Qianqian endured was obviously much more severe than Fang Yuyang¡¯s experience in the dream, yet she couldn¡¯t shake the faint feeling that they were indeed fine. If she interrupted now, not only would all their efforts be in vain, but it might also cause the two further injury! She clutched at the hands of Fang Yuyang and Qu Qianhe and dared not let go. Meanwhile, her mind raced back to the details of the dream. Then she finally recalled a phrase Fang Yuyang had said in the dream¡ª¡±At first, it was indeed extremely painful, as if the body was being dismantled and reassembled. But afterwards, I felt a very gentle force repairing my body.¡± Combining this with the current situation of Fang Jintang and Bai Qianqian, she surmised that they must be at the most critical moment. If they could withstand it, the remaining energy of the Elemental Crystal would repair the damage to their bodies. If she interrupted now, the injuries they suffered might not be repaired and would certainly leave lingering issues! Even though the Wood Element Spiritual Energy she absorbed had healing properties and could repair damage, Fang Yuxin did not dare guarantee that the damage caused by absorbing the Elemental Crystal could also be completely healed. Fang Jintang and Bai Qianqian were her dearest family members, and she didn¡¯t want to take the risk. The three of them were extremely tense, the silence around them was terrifying, punctuated only by the crisp ¡°snap snap¡± coming from the bodies of Fang Jintang and Bai Qianqian, as well as the sound of their anxious breathing. Due to the tension, they had no concept of how much time had actually passed. In that moment, time seemed extraordinarily drawn out. Perhaps it was a few seconds, or perhaps several hours. Just when the three of them were beginning to lose hope and couldn¡¯t bear to not intervene, Fang Jintang and Bai Qianqian¡¯s bodies underwent another change. Their contorted facial expressions began to calm and even reached a point of contentment. The skin that was nearly bleeding red also faded in color, returning to their normal fairness. All three let out a sigh of relief almost in unison. Then, after a while longer, Fang Jintang and Bai Qianqian subsequently opened their eyes. The moment their eyes opened, a sharp light flashed across, which then settled back to normal, though their eyes appeared a few shades darker and more spirited than before absorbing the Elemental Crystal. The two wore smiles on their faces, filled with excitement. Bai Qianqian couldn¡¯t wait and pounced toward Fang Yuxin, puffing up his round face, his large watery eyes twinkling, and he said cheerfully, ¡°Mama! Mama! I did it! I¡¯m even stronger than before, and now I can protect Mama.¡± Seeing his look of ¡®Mama, you should praise me,¡¯ Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but pick him up from the ground and laugh, giving him a kiss on the face. Bai Qianqian immediately blushed, and then he wrapped his arms around Fang Yuxin, quickly planting a kiss on her face as well. After the kiss, his face turned even redder. Secretly covering his furiously pounding little heart, Bai Qianqian was both nervous and happy; he, he had just kissed Mama! Fang Jintang observed him with satisfaction and grew curious about who his father was. Having felt the absorption process firsthand, he had a deeper understanding than Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuyang. Absorbing the Elemental Crystal could be said to be extremely painful. Not only a child, but even an adult would find it unbearable unless they were firm in heart and strong in will. Yet Bai Qianqian had endured it, not even crying out in pain! This child is truly outstanding! Qu Qianhe was worried about Fang Jintang¡¯s health. Seeing that he remained silent, she took the initiative to ask, ¡°Are you alright? How do you feel now? Is there any discomfort?¡± She asked out loud, obviously in a real hurry. Fang Jintang had to set aside his curiosity for the moment and answered earnestly, ¡°I¡¯m fine now, I¡¯m feeling very good actually. It¡¯s like I¡¯ve gotten younger by a dozen years. My body is full of boundless energy.¡± As he said this, he paused, then his nose wrinkled and his face changed, ¡°This smell... No good! I need to take a shower first!¡± Bai Qianqian was still bubbling with happiness, but at the sound, he suddenly woke and moved his little nose, his bun-like face scrunching up¡ªhe was, he was, he was really stinking! This was bad! He had just kissed Mama, would she dislike him now? Thinking this, Bai Qianqian nervously turned his head to look at Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression. Seeing the cautious look on his face and the panic in his eyes, Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart suddenly ached as if pricked by a needle. She couldn¡¯t help but become curious about Bai Qianqian¡¯s past life. What kind of environment had he lived in to develop such a cautious personality? Whoever raised him must have been irresponsible! With this thought, she suddenly remembered the tall man who had appeared in her room and felt a trace of disgust towards him. Gently patting Bai Qianqian¡¯s back to soothe him, Fang Yuxin comforted him softly, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I am your mom, and I will never despise you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Bai Qianqian¡¯s eyes lit up, then he said, ¡°I knew it, you are the best Mama in the world!¡± After saying that, he twisted his body, signalling Fang Yuxin to put him down. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t let him go, but turned her head to speak to Fang Jintang, ¡°Dad, let¡¯s go out now.¡± Although there was a lake in the space, it was home to fish, shrimp, and crabs, and she couldn¡¯t bear to have Fang Jintang and Bai Qianqian wash directly in it. Fang Jintang naturally had no objections, so Fang Yuxin took the family out of Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. After going out, she sent Fang Jintang back to his room, filled the bathtub with lake water, and intentionally left a large bucket of clean water outside for Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe to use. Then, she went to Fang Yuyang¡¯s room, prepared his bath, and finally returned to Bai Qianqian¡¯s bedroom with him to help him bathe. After tucking Bai Qianqian into bed, she returned to her bedroom to bathe. She also bathed Angela, then lay in bed holding her, checking the time¡ªit was already 1:30 in the morning. Sighing, Fang Yuxin closed her eyes. In a half-dream, she faintly heard a piercing scream. Startled awake, Fang Yuxin listened carefully and surely enough, heard distant screams and the noise of panic. Judging from the sounds, it seemed someone had turned into a zombie. She couldn¡¯t help thinking that, with this incident, there would likely be new regulations in the Safe Zone. Chapter 50 - 50 048 Step aside ?Chapter 50: 048 Step aside Chapter 50: 048 Step aside Fang Yuxin had predicted correctly. The next morning, after the family had a simple breakfast and went out, they noticed that the atmosphere within the community had changed considerably. As they asked around, they found the temporary office of the Safe Zone¡¯s manager and saw several notices posted on the walls. It wasn¡¯t just that. Many residents hadn¡¯t slept all night and had worked tirelessly to repair the generators in the community. By now, the generators were up and running. The manager of the Safe Zone had also worked through the night to create new resident ID cards for identification and for daily purchases and payments. Superpower users could collect these ID cards for free, but ordinary people were required to pay a Basic-level Crystal Core in order to receive one. Those without Crystal Cores could take the card on credit, but the debt would be recorded on the card. If it wasn¡¯t repaid within seven days, the individual would be forcibly placed into the labor team to repay the debt through work. In addition to the ID cards, housing, water, and electricity within the Safe Zone also required payment in Crystal Cores. While the Fang Family lived in their own villa¡ªwhich the Safe Zone¡¯s manager wouldn¡¯t dare forcibly requisition¡ªother homes, if their owners were absent, were treated as Safe Zone properties. To move into those homes, individuals not only had to complete basic occupancy procedures but also pay the corresponding Crystal Cores, whether through purchase or rental agreements. The electricity problem had been temporarily resolved, but the water remains an issue. The water main had been cut off, and the status of the purification plant was unknown. Thus, solving the water problem was the most pressing matter at hand. After the Fang Family paid the Crystal Core to obtain their ID cards, the staff member in charge of distribution noticed their generosity. Suspecting that they had previously hunted zombies, the staff suggested that they take on some missions to earn Contribution Value and credit points. Contribution Value represented the contributions each individual made to the Safe Zone. The higher the value, the better the treatment they would receive in the Safe Zone. Credit points functioned similarly to a currency, usable for paying rent or purchasing supplies. The Fang Family thanked the staff and proceeded to the Task Hall. Inside the hall, numerous missions were posted. At a glance, the missions could be roughly grouped into three categories: rescue missions, cleanup missions, and resource collection missions. The resources to be collected mainly consisted of food and water, though there was also a notice recruiting Water Element Superpower Users. After reviewing the options, the cleanup missions seemed most suitable for them. Cleanup missions were divided into two types: clearing specific areas and eliminating a set number of zombies. Clearing specific areas typically involved working with other teams and was intended to clear obstacles for rescue or resource collection teams, which came with greater restrictions. Eliminating a set number of zombies was further subdivided into levels based on zombie count, with rewards differing accordingly. The more zombies cleared, the greater the reward. These missions were a perfect fit for the Fang Family, so after discussing among themselves, they decided to take on one of these missions. The Task Hall was crowded, with many people checking out the missions. Among them were superpower users, but most were ordinary people. With superpower users being far too scarce, ordinary people had to rely on completing missions to earn rewards to survive in the Safe Zone. Beyond the missions, the hall also featured numerous recruitment notices. The construction of the Safe Zone required a large workforce, and some ordinary people who didn¡¯t dare venture out to hunt zombies chose to take on jobs within the Safe Zone. These were typically physically demanding tasks¡ªsafer compared to outdoor missions but compensated with smaller rewards. As the Fang Family approached the mission counter, a woman suddenly rushed up to them. She wore her hair in a ponytail, giving off a clean and refreshing vibe. This woman was none other than Lin Feiyin, the one whom Fang Yuxin and her brother had saved before, only to leave her behind afterward. Lin Feiyin stood in front of the Fang Family, sized them up, and then spoke openly, ¡°I thought I was mistaken, but it¡¯s really you.¡± She seemed to have more to say, but Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t willing to engage with her. With a cold demeanor, she replied, ¡°We have things to do. Please step aside.¡± Lin Feiyin¡¯s expression twisted slightly upon hearing this, seemingly displeased with Fang Yuxin¡¯s attitude. Before she could respond, another person approached quickly and glared at Fang Yu, saying, ¡°How can you be like this? What kind of attitude is that?¡± The speaker was a young girl with twin braids hanging down her chest. She didn¡¯t look very old¡ªprobably still in high school. Fang Yuxin inwardly rolled her eyes. She had predicted that encountering Lin Feiyin would bring trouble. The girl¡¯s voice was loud enough that everyone in the hall overheard her remark, and their gazes simultaneously turned toward them. Fang Yuxin noticed these stares and felt even more annoyed. However, she didn¡¯t argue with the girl. Instead, she looked at Lin Feiyin and said, ¡°If you¡¯re not here for anything important, please step aside. We have things to take care of.¡± The young girl was about to speak again but was interrupted by Lin Feiyin, who said, ¡°I just wanted to thank you for saving me last time. Although you left immediately afterward, I still remember this favor. You¡¯re here to take on missions, right? Coincidentally, so am I. Which mission are you planning to accept? Why not team up? I¡¯ve got a squad, and working together can provide mutual support.¡± Hearing this, the young girl beside her grew agitated, grabbing Lin Feiyin¡¯s arm and saying, ¡°Sister Feiyin! This won¡¯t do! Everyone in our team is top-notch¡ªbringing along these burdens doesn¡¯t make sense!¡± The mention of the word ¡°burdens¡± darkened the Fang Family¡¯s expressions. Fang Yuyang immediately responded, ¡°We have our own plans, so there¡¯s no need to trouble you. If you really wish to repay us for saving your life, don¡¯t show up in front of us again.¡± His words weren¡¯t polite, and even Lin Feiyin¡ªtypically known for her ¡°gracefulness¡±¡ªwas left furious, her face turning red with shame and anger. The young girl beside her was even more incensed; she clenched her fist and suddenly swung it toward Fang Yuyang¡¯s abdomen. Despite her delicate appearance, the punch was accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, proving its considerable force. The onlookers in the hall were taken aback, their expressions shifting. Some envied the young girl¡¯s superpower user status, others thought she was impulsive, and still, others felt the Fang Family¡¯s attitude was overly rude or took pleasure in their misfortune. But right then, just as her fist seemed about to land, everyone saw a flash of green, followed by a sharp ¡°snap.¡± The young girl was sent flying backward. Upon closer inspection, Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand was now holding a green vine that had appeared at some point. The vine was as thick as an adult¡¯s thumb, vibrant with a fresh, verdant hue. Everyone was momentarily stunned. Then, as realization dawned, they understood¡ªthe vine had deflected the young girl¡¯s punch, and Fang Yuxin was clearly a Wood Element Superpower User! This revelation caused their gazes toward Fang Yuxin to shift. While powerful individuals were not uncommon before the apocalypse, Wood Element Superpower Users were legendary, existing only in mythical tales. This marked the first time they had witnessed such abilities with their own eyes! Chapter 51 - 51 049 Bearing a Grudge ?Chapter 51: 049 Bearing a Grudge Chapter 51: 049 Bearing a Grudge The little girl was sent flying, and Lin Feiyin¡¯s expression changed instantly. She glanced at the young girl lying on the ground, then turned her head fiercely towards Fang Yuxin, accusingly saying, ¡°You can do whatever to me, after all, you have saved my life, but she¡¯s just a 17-year-old girl, how could you hit her so hard?¡± Fang Yuxin looked at Lin Feiyin and the all-too-familiar scene in front of her and couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing. In that dream, Lin Feiyin was always like this¡ªnever distinguishing right from wrong, only ever sympathetic to whom she perceived as the weak, and accusing those who appeared strong with a righteous indignation. In the dream, she and Fang Yuyang had almost had enough of Lin Feiyin¡¯s ¡®kindness¡¯. They wanted to leave countless times, but Lin Feiyin¡¯s life-saving grace had become the shackle that bound their freedom. At the same time, Fang Yuyang was worried that he wouldn¡¯t be able to take care of her properly without her superpowers. Even though she had experienced it many times in her dreams, witnessing it now, Fang Yuxin still couldn¡¯t get used to it¡ªshe couldn¡¯t even suppress the surge of anger welling up inside her! So, she sneered, ¡°What? Just because she¡¯s young, she can attack others recklessly, but they can¡¯t fight back? Is that your logic? You keep saying that you are grateful for my brother¡¯s and my help, yet you persistently bother us time and time again; what exactly are your intentions?¡± Bai Qianqian was originally being led by Fang Yuxin, but when Fang Yuxin suddenly made her move, she let go of him. Because of this, Bai Qianqian, who had angered ¡®Mama¡¯, despised Lin Feiyin, who he was no longer led by, to the extreme. So he walked up to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, looked up at Lin Feiyin with feigned cuteness, and asked, ¡°Auntie, seeing as I¡¯m so young, if I were to hit you, you can¡¯t fight back, right?¡± Lin Feiyin¡¯s eyebrows furrowed deeply, and her face looked very unpleasant. She hadn¡¯t expected Fang Yuxin to be so slick with words! The child by her side too, although very young, always gave her a very dangerous feeling. So she said, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant! Please don¡¯t twist my words! Even if Tian Tian was wrong, you shouldn¡¯t have been so harsh on her, should you?¡± Fang Yuxin saw that she couldn¡¯t provide a reasonable explanation and her disdain for Lin Feiyin grew. She retorted, ¡°She¡¯s a strength-type superpower user! Didn¡¯t you see the force of her punch just now? She attacked her lifesaver with such ferocity, and you don¡¯t think she¡¯s in the wrong, but you blame me instead for hitting too hard in self-defense? Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being ridiculous?¡± When it came to eloquence, Lin Feiyin was no match for Fang Yuxin; she was rendered speechless by the question and even felt that Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t wrong. But as she saw Tian Tian lying on the ground, pale-faced, she couldn¡¯t help but feel pity and tried to reason with Fang Yuxin again, ¡°I...¡± She had just uttered a word when a loud shout came from behind her, ¡°Tian Tian! What happened to you? Who hurt you?¡± Following that, a well-built man rushed to Tian Tian¡¯s side and helped her up. Behind him, seven or eight people followed, both men and women, not varying much in age¡ªall in their teens to early twenties. Fang Yuxin watched this scene, and although the opposite side clearly had more people, she wasn¡¯t afraid at all. Instead, she calmly observed Tian Tian being helped up by the burly man and deliberately said, ¡°You care about her so much, why didn¡¯t you help her up just now? She¡¯s a girl, only 17 years old¡ªlying on the ground like that for so long is not good, is it?¡± Originally, the onlookers around them didn¡¯t see anything wrong with Tian Tian being thrown by Fang Yuxin, since Tian Tian had started the conflict, and it was clear to anyone with eyes that Tian Tian¡¯s punch was powerful; had it hit Fang Yuyang, he would have been seriously injured. Later, when Fang Yuxin struck back, everyone could only conclude that Tian Tian had herself to blame for not being as skilled. But as soon as Lin Feiyin spoke righteously, upon hearing that Tian Tian was only 17 years old, some people¡¯s gaze towards Fang Yuxin changed, just like Lin Feiyin, they felt she had been too harsh. Looking at Tian Tian, who was lying on the ground, pale-faced and pitiful, their dissatisfaction with Fang Yuxin grew, and they began to admire Lin Feiyin for her ¡®advocacy¡¯. However, as Fang Yuxin spoke, some started to sense that something was off. If Lin Feiyin was so concerned about Tian Tian, why didn¡¯t she help her up first? Why allow her to lie on the ground? Could a war of words really be more important than helping someone up? There were those who noticed the issue, and many who simply didn¡¯t understand the implications of Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, still believing she was in the wrong. As they had witnessed Fang Yuxin¡¯s strength, and thought her to be ¡®unreasonable,¡¯ even though they were dissatisfied, they did not dare to openly object. After all, this was reality, not the virtual world of the internet. They did not dare to accuse Fang Yuxin to her face like Lin Feiyin, fearing retaliation. They only dared to whisper among themselves, while eagerly watching the newcomers, waiting to see the ¡®arrogant¡¯ Fang Yuxin be taught a lesson. Tian Tian, supported by a stocky figure, frowned slightly due to discomfort, almost completely leaning on him. Initially, she was grateful for Lin Feiyin¡¯s ¡®advocacy¡¯, but after hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, her look towards Lin Feiyin flickered with doubt. Although she was only 17, she was no fool. She knew Fang Yuxin¡¯s words were not well-intentioned, but had to admit that what Fang Yuxin said was true. If Lin Feiyin cared about her, why would she leave her lying on the ground, only to argue with Fang Yuxin? Did she genuinely care or not at all? Thinking about this, Tian Tian could not help but recall some incidents since she met Lin Feiyin. Initially, she saw Lin Feiyin as a righteous and kind person and genuinely accepted her, often spending time with her. But now, thinking more carefully, she felt something was amiss, yet couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on what exactly was wrong. The stocky figure, however, clearly belonged to the ¡®brawny but simple-minded¡¯ type, with a fiery temper to boot. As soon as Fang Yuxin finished speaking, he exploded like a firecracker, shaking his fists at Fang Yuxin and bellowing, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about sowing discord! Feiyin is a kind-hearted girl, how could she be as you say?¡± Turning to Tian Tian, he asked, ¡°Tian Tian, was it her who hit you?¡± Without hesitation, Tian Tian nodded and said, ¡°This woman is very powerful, Brother Tie, you have to be careful!¡± She might have found Fang Yuxin¡¯s words convincing, but that didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t holding a grudge! Brother Tie heard the concern in Tian Tian¡¯s voice and felt some joy. Tian Tian¡¯s sweet and lovely appearance had caught his eye since their first meeting, and he had privately considered her his little wife. Seeing her bullied, he naturally wanted to seek justice for her. He cracked his knuckles, readying himself to take action, but someone behind him held him back. ¡°Wait a minute! Let¡¯s clear this up first.¡± Chapter 52 - 52 050 Up to here ?Chapter 52: 050 Up to here Chapter 52: 050 Up to here A man walked out from behind the hulking figure. He was shorter and seemed frailer than the hulking man; although he had an ordinary look, his composed demeanor and bright eyes involuntarily generated a certain likability. He firmly grasped the hulking man¡¯s wrist, preventing him from rashly taking action. He politely nodded towards the Fang Family and then asked Lin Feiyin and Tian Tian, ¡°Feiyin, Tian Tian, can you tell us what happened? Why did you suddenly start fighting?¡± Killing and fighting were strictly prohibited in the Safe Zone, a rule many were already aware of. However, there was a severe shortage of manpower currently, and the personnel in charge of the Safe Zone couldn¡¯t possibly deploy a large number of people to maintain public order. Therefore, if someone did start a fight, it would be a while before anyone could intervene. There were supposed to be soldiers standing guard in this Task Hall, but the actions of Tian Tian and Fang Yuxin were too sudden. Additionally, since neither party continued the fight afterward, these personnel did not interfere. The speaker maintained a polite attitude while several people stood behind him, looking towards the Fang Family with traces of hostility in their eyes. However, they were not as impulsive as the hulking man and were waiting for the responses of Lin Feiyin and Tian Tian. Seeing that he was rather reasonable and did not attack indiscriminately, Fang Yuxin spoke before Lin Feiyin and Tian Tian could, ¡°Perhaps I should explain. We were about to approach the task window to accept a task when this woman suddenly blocked our way. I asked her to step aside and she refused. Then, this young lady burst out and accused me of having a bad attitude. I asked her what the matter was, and she said she wanted to thank my brother and me for saving her life last time and asked what task we planned to accept, inviting us to join her. This young lady thought we were a burden, so my brother declined. That¡¯s when she suddenly attacked my brother, and I retaliated. She felt my response was too harsh; that¡¯s essentially what happened. Everyone present saw it; if you don¡¯t believe it, you can ask them if I¡¯m wrong.¡± As soon as she finished talking, Bai Qianqian added, ¡°This aunt was so unreasonable, claiming the older sister was young and that my Mama shouldn¡¯t have retaliated. If she hadn¡¯t run out blocking our way and letting the older sister try to hit my uncle, Mama wouldn¡¯t have fought back.¡± Lin Feiyin, seeing the narrative spiraling, quickly said, ¡°That¡¯s not how it was! I... I merely recognized them as the people who saved me before and wanted to express my gratitude. Moreover, I didn¡¯t anticipate that Tian Tian would impulsively hurt someone.¡± She didn¡¯t think it was her fault. Upon reflection, if Tian Tian hadn¡¯t suddenly attacked, the situation wouldn¡¯t have escalated this way. As soon as she expressed this, Tian Tian¡¯s expression changed instantly, disbelievingly staring at Lin Feiyin. How could she have attacked someone if not to defend Lin Feiyin? Now, Lin Feiyin was shifting all the blame onto her! Recalling the entire incident, Tian Tian began to harbor resentment towards Lin Feiyin. Holding her slightly aching stomach, Tian Tian¡¯s expression shifted several times, and her gaze gradually hardened. Instead of arguing with Lin Feiyin about who was right, she pushed away the man supporting her and said to the young man who had just spoken, ¡°Brother Lu, I¡¯m sorry, I was too impulsive... Ah!¡± She screamed out suddenly at the end, her brows tightly furrowing, clearly in pain. The hulking man immediately became worried and exclaimed, ¡°Tian Tian! What¡¯s wrong with you? I... I¡¯ll take revenge for you!¡± After saying this, he clenched his fists once more, but Lu Yuan shouted, ¡°Stop! Didn¡¯t you hear what was just said? This whole thing was our own fault; what revenge are you talking about?¡± Continuing his thought, he signaled to someone next to him with a glance and whispered, ¡°Keep an eye on him, don¡¯t let him act rashly!¡± Then he approached Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, his tone softening, ¡°My team member was at fault earlier, and I apologize on their behalf. Tian Tian is young and impulsive, and Feiyin meant well. I hope you can do me a favor and forgive them.¡± Fang Yuxin replied, ¡°We never intended to pursue the matter further; it was your people who kept bothering us. Although my brother and I indeed happened to save her before, we had already forgotten about it and didn¡¯t expect anything in return. It was only because she stopped us today and brought it up again that we even remembered. Since you¡¯ve said this, let the matter end here. I hope nobody will bother us about it again in the future. If anyone seeks vengeance, don¡¯t blame me for being unkind.¡± Lu Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed slightly¡ªhe hadn¡¯t expected Fang Yuxin to be so assertive¡ªbut he still said, ¡°Of course, if someone from my team really causes trouble for you and gets hurt by you, it will be their own fault, and you won¡¯t be to blame.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded slightly, acknowledging his statement. Subsequently, both parties parted ways with the Fang Family heading towards the task window to accept their assignment. Those who had initially gathered to watch the commotion felt somewhat disappointed but dared not say much, their eyes shifting between the Fang Family and Lu Yuan¡¯s group. When the Fang Family reached the task queue, there were several people in line ahead of them. When they approached, someone struck up a conversation, ¡°Which task are you planning to take?¡± Preferring to keep a lower profile after being conspicuous earlier, Fang Yuxin replied, ¡°A cleaning task.¡± Her tone was not exactly warm but didn¡¯t seem off-putting either. The man, seemingly surprised by Fang Yuxin¡¯s response, then added, ¡°I am a Power System superpower user and am also planning to take a cleaning task. How about we team up? It would be good to have each other¡¯s support.¡± However, Fang Yuxin declined, ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. You saw that we have a child with us; we really can¡¯t drag you down.¡± This time, her tone was sincerely considerate, almost as if she genuinely cared for the individual. The man furrowed his brows and expressed mild disapproval, ¡°Such a young child... It¡¯s not good to bring them out, is it? You might not know, but the outside is full of monsters; how can you take a child out there?¡± Although he genuinely felt bringing a child would be burdensome, he cared as well. Fang Yuxin responded, ¡°I can¡¯t protect him his whole life; he has to grow up eventually. He¡¯s going to face those monsters outside sooner or later, so it¡¯s better he gets used to it early.¡± The man probably found her reasoning sensible and didn¡¯t urge further, nor did he mention teaming up again. Others who were impressed by Fang Yuxin¡¯s capabilities and interested in forming a team also gave up upon hearing this. A while later, as the people ahead finished accepting tasks and left, it was the Fang Family¡¯s turn. Chapter 53 - 53 051 Yongcheng ?Chapter 53: 051 Yongcheng Chapter 53: 051 Yongcheng Before picking up the mission, Fang Yuxin had registered the mercenary team. The team was named ¡°Yongcheng¡±, meaning ¡°eternal brightness¡±, not domineering, but it expressed the Fang Family¡¯s hope for the future. The team had only five members, among whom two were superpower users, and the remaining three were ¡°Ordinary People¡±. Among the ¡°Ordinary People¡±, there was even a child as young as five years old. The registration officer frowned after reviewing the information but didn¡¯t say much, simply stating, ¡°There are many zombies outside now, it¡¯s best not to take the children out.¡± After this brief advice, she asked Fang Yuxin which mission she planned to accept. Fang Yuxin reported the mission number, and the officer frowned again. However, this time she did not give any more advice but quickly completed the registration, after which those who had taken on the mission would gain 10 Contribution Value points. These 10 Contribution Value points were the reward for all the survivors who accepted the mission. The officer didn¡¯t expect Fang Yuxin to plan to undertake the mission with Bai Qianqian; she confirmed it once more with her, and after receiving a positive response, she looked at Fang Yuxin as if her eyes were thorns, silently accusing Fang Yuxin of being too ruthless. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t explain. After taking the mission, the family left the Task Hall. They drove out in just one SUV, and after boarding, the family took off their coats, revealing their tight protective clothing underneath. After equipping their weapons, the family continued on the road. Their destination this time was not the urban district but a small industrial zone. The area was almost entirely made up of food processing factories. Yesterday, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe had already checked it out, saying that the place was severely damaged, virtually a disaster area hit by meteorite attacks, almost completely turned into ruins. Such a place was of no interest to the military and most survivors. In Fang Yuxin¡¯s dream, this place was initially unheeded until the role of Elemental Crystals was discovered, then both the military and survivors began to pay attention to these ruins. For the Fang Family, this was an excellent opportunity. However, they had to avoid others and sneak into that place. Otherwise, once the role of Elemental Crystals became known later, their unusual movement would surely arouse suspicion. After driving out, the family deliberately took a detour, avoiding everyone and heading towards the food processing zone. Occasionally, zombies appeared on the road, which were easily taken care of by Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang. After killing the zombies, the siblings not only extracted their Crystal Cores but also chopped off the zombies¡¯ hands, storing them in sealed bags to submit later. The small food processing district was also in the suburbs, about a twenty-minute drive from the safe zone. The family took detours and killed zombies along the way, taking almost forty minutes to reach the destination. When Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe came yesterday, they sensed quite a few zombies inside, and since they brought Bai Qianqian, they were somewhat worried. They only looked around the perimeter and didn¡¯t dare to go deeper, but this time both Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were here, so the siblings intended to go in and check. As they had guessed, apart from them, no other survivors had come here. After confirming that no one else was around, Fang Yuxin put away the car, planning to walk in. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang walked in front, Bai Qianqian and Qu Qianhe walked in the middle, and Fang Jintang brought up the rear. Everyone drew their weapons; Fang Yuxin, Fang Yuyang, and Qu Qianhe wielded Miao Sabers, Bai Qianqian held a Military Dagger in each hand, while Fang Jintang used a Horse-Cutting Sword, which looked very domineering. Since the buildings were severely damaged, the family was unsure whether there were still survivors inside, but they could all sense that there were indeed zombies inside, and quite a few of them. Bai Qianqian was a Spiritual Superpower User, his perception the most acute; next was Fang Yuxin, as she no longer possessed merely superpowers but had embarked on the path of Cultivation. Her Soul Power was stronger than that of ordinary superpower users, except for other Spiritual Superpower Users. This industrial zone not only had various food processing plants but also employees¡¯ residential areas, a commercial district, and there were even residential neighborhoods around; it can be said that many people lived here. Only now, this place had almost entirely turned into ruins, with large stretches of buildings collapsed, a scene that was truly shocking to behold. Fang Yuxin had just entered the Qi Refining Early Stage and even if she released her Spiritual Sense, she could only sense up to a distance of five hundred meters around her. Bai Qianqian, after trying to release her spiritual power, could sense a somewhat farther distance of six hundred meters. Fang Yuxin let out Angela, stroked its sleek long fur, and then placed it on the ground. Angela shook the fur on its body and then let out a ¡°meow.¡± The next moment, a strong energy fluctuation suddenly surged on its body, and its soft sleek long fur suddenly turned into stiff steel needles. The paws that were originally hidden in its pads also extended and gradually grew longer until they reached an inch before stopping. Angela was originally very smart. After the mutation, its intelligence had notably improved, capable of understanding simple meanings. After Fang Yuxin used the method of establishing a Spiritual Pet Contract from her inheritance to keep it as a spiritual pet, the communication between master and servant became unobstructed. Originally, she had not planned to let Angela out, worrying that it might be too dangerous and could injure her, but Angela had unexpectedly been calling her continuously through the Spiritual Pet Contract, wanting to come out. After recalling the mutant beasts she had seen in her dreams, she agreed. The present Angela was still very far from those imposing mutant beasts she had in mind, but it needed growth. Since it had mutated already, always keeping it confined in the Qingmu Spirit Mansion would instead spoil it. After releasing Angela, its transformation had finally allowed Fang Yuxin to feel somewhat relieved. However, she still cautioned through the Spiritual Pet Contract, ¡°Angela, you¡¯d better stay in a safe place later and be careful!¡± Angela responded with a soft meow, ¡°Meow~~~ Got it~~~ Master~~~¡± Others who saw her releasing Angela were somewhat worried. Qu Qianhe couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°Xinxin, isn¡¯t it too dangerous to let Angela out?¡± Perhaps not wanting to worry her while also wanting to prove itself, Angela softly meowed, then nimbly climbed up a nearby collapsed dangerous building. Its sharp claws grasped the wall, walking as if it were strolling in a leisurely courtyard, effortlessly making its way up. The Fang Family then breathed a sigh of relief before Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Let¡¯s stop here for now. Qianqian, try to release your spiritual power now and find the Elemental Stones around us.¡± The last time she and Fang Yuyang had gone out, she had not been able to wield her Spiritual Sense freely, yet after that training session cutting Elemental Stones, she had significantly improved her control over her Spiritual Sense, able to release it to sense the surroundings. The aura of living beings was easier to detect, but Elemental Stones had no energy fluctuations, which made pinpointing their exact locations a considerable challenge for them. Bai Qianqian, however, did not refuse but obediently responded, and then clenched her small fists, determined to make Mama proud this time! She tried to release her spiritual power and then slowly extended it outward. Chapter 54 - 54 052 Malicious Thought ?Chapter 54: 052 Malicious Thought! Chapter 54: 052 Malicious Thought! The houses here had collapsed severely, with the Elemental Stones all buried under the dust and debris. To find them one by one was an incredibly laborious task. Not only were Bai Qianqian and Fang Yuxin extending their spiritual power as far as possible, but Qu Qianhe, Fang Jintang, and Fang Yuyang also tried to release their spiritual power. The three were not Spiritual Ability Users, and unlike Fang Yuxin, they didn¡¯t possess Cultivation Techniques; their spiritual power could only extend out for seven or eight meters, with ten meters being the limit. The five people spread out to search for Elemental Stones. In order to guard against zombie attacks, they didn¡¯t dare to disperse too widely. Angela stood on a broken wall, tilting her round head curiously to watch Fang Yuxin. Seeing Fang Yuxin digging a black stone out of a pile of rubble, she called out and began to look around in the style of Fang Yuxin. They were all superpower users, far more attractive to zombies than Ordinary People. It wasn¡¯t long before zombies began to gather in succession, following the scent in the air. At this time, the positioning of the five people was also strategic. Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin kept close to each other, while Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang guarded near Bai Qianqian. So when the zombies arrived, Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang were the first to face them, while Qu Qianhe stayed back to continue protecting Bai Qianqian. Fang Yuxin glanced over. There weren¡¯t many zombies, and they were all Basic-level Zombies. Fang Yuyang and Fang Jintang should be able to handle them. She didn¡¯t plan on taking action, but rather continued searching for Elemental Stones. Bai Qianqian also didn¡¯t take action; at that moment, he was using a military spike to dig out an Elemental Stone. The Elemental Stone was embedded in the ground at a somewhat deep spot, covered with many broken pieces. Bai Qianqian dug for a while before he managed to excavate it. The Elemental Stone was the size of an adult¡¯s fist, quite heavy, and Bai Qianqian had to use both hands to lift it. He took off his backpack, put the Elemental Stone inside, and was about to sling it back on when his spiritual power suddenly sensed living people! His expression changed immediately, then he extended his spiritual power further in the direction he¡¯d just detected. This time, the sensation was more distinct; two vehicles were driving over, and he could even faintly ¡®see¡¯ seven or eight vague figures inside the cars. Bai Qianqian immediately said, ¡°Ma, there are people driving over here!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone was startled. However, listening attentively, they indeed made out the indistinct sound of talking amidst the zombies¡¯ roars. ¡°Did you hear that? It sounds like zombie growls ahead, there are zombies! Let¡¯s not... not go there, okay?¡± ¡°What are we afraid of? Even if there are zombies, so what? Just kill them! Don¡¯t forget, this whole area is full of food processing plants. If we find food, we¡¯ve struck gold!¡± ¡°But this place is all in ruins now, can we still find anything to eat? Even if there¡¯s food inside, it can¡¯t be eaten anymore, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk so negatively. Let¡¯s check it out first! While others haven¡¯t noticed this place yet, let¡¯s take away whatever we can. With so many factories, we¡¯re bound to find something edible!¡± ... While the conversation continued, they were no longer interested in listening. The vehicles apparently had stopped; otherwise, they would have arrived by now. Meanwhile, the number of zombies attracted by Fang Yuxin and the others was increasing. Fang Yuxin made a quick decision, ¡°Let¡¯s hide first!¡± No one objected, and they followed her into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Angela, with an Elemental Stone in her mouth, plunged into Fang Yuxin¡¯s arms and was brought in with her. As they disappeared, the gathering zombies became confused, unable to understand how their prey had vanished just now. At the same time, the people in the distant car heard the zombies¡¯ noises, and one of the young men frowned and cursed under his breath before saying to the driver, ¡°Forget it! Turn around! Let¡¯s enter from another entrance! Damn, why are there so many zombies here!¡± He was the leader of these people. Once he spoke, everyone else breathed a sigh of relief. The driver in charge immediately turned the car around and drove back, heading towards another road. There were eight of them who came this time, including ordinary people and superpower users, all for the food here. But having not even seen the shadow of food, they were not willing to go out and fight desperately with a group of zombies right now. It was better than good if they could avoid them. Some zombies smelled the people and chased after them. However, the zombies had just evolved not long ago and were not very agile yet. With the people driving away in cars, they quickly left the zombies far behind. Only after they were far away did Fang Yuxin and the others come out of Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. The zombies had not left yet, and as soon as they appeared, the zombies immediately roared and surrounded them. Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe stayed behind to protect Bai Qianqian, while Fang Yuyang and Fang Jintang rushed towards the zombies. Their moves were swift and powerful, chopping down two or three zombies in an encounter, and for now, they could cope with no danger. Holding the Miao Saber in her hand, Fang Yuxin said to Bai Qianqian, ¡°Qianqian, now try to use your spiritual power to confuse these zombies and see if you can hold them off. Don¡¯t force it; just consider it practice. Be careful when you extend your spiritual power, and be sure to avoid our own people.¡± Bai Qianqian responded and, with a serious expression on his bun-faced visage, stared intently at the zombies nearby. Invisible strands of spiritual power emerged from his forehead, rapidly extending forward. As they neared the battlefield, they slowed down, trembling several times before finally turning at a certain point, successfully avoiding Fang Yuyang and Fang Jintang, and striking at the zombies! Basic-level Zombies were not merely walking corpses. Although they lacked intelligence and acted purely on an instinctual craving for flesh, they still possessed a form of consciousness. Their consciousness was only a tiny fraction used to direct their movements. Bai Qianqian controlled his spiritual power to pierce the zombies¡¯ foreheads, and then, he saw into the zombies¡¯ Sea of Consciousness. Their Sea of Consciousness was completely different from that of humans, filled with a deadly silence engulfed by a dark and eerie energy. Floating in the center of the Sea was a Crystal Stone, emitting a faint glow, the only ¡®living¡¯ presence in this desolate expanse. Bai Qianqian tentatively brought his slender thread of spiritual power close to the Crystal Stone. However, as soon as he touched the glowing surface of the stone, it felt as if something exploded. Subsequently, Bai Qianqian felt a strong malice and a desperate unwillingness to give up, which latched onto his strand of spiritual power and rapidly invaded toward him! This was Bai Qianqian¡¯s first encounter with such a situation, and he began to panic. As the evil thoughts neared him, he regained some of his wits and severed the spiritual power strand just as the malevolence was about to invade his forehead. Without the attraction of the spiritual power strand, the malice lost its foundation and gradually dissipated. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª PS: The description of the zombies¡¯ Sea of Consciousness here is a foreshadowing, I wonder if anyone can see it. O(¡É_¡É)O Chapter 55 - 55 053 Sound ?Chapter 55: 053 Sound Chapter 55: 053 Sound That evil intention, because it was entangled with Bai Qianqian¡¯s spiritual power, Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe had not noticed it. However, both of them noticed that Bai Qianqian¡¯s complexion was off, and they immediately became worried. Fang Yuxin quickly asked, ¡°Qianqian! What¡¯s wrong with you? Why do you look so bad?¡± Bai Qianqian looked up and, seeing the panicked expression on Fang Yuxin¡¯s face, couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Perhaps under the influence of that evil intention, he felt many negative emotions arising within him. He had known since he could remember that he did not have a mom, only a dad. Back when he was in the Bai Family, there were some people with ulterior motives who would intentionally say malicious things in front of him, such as ¡°Your mom doesn¡¯t want you anymore,¡± or ¡°Your mom was killed by your dad,¡± ¡°Your mom was driven away by your dad.¡± Being smart from a young age, he understood the meanings of those words and each time he heard them, he would be deeply saddened, sobbing heavily. Eventually, people stopped daring to mention those things in front of him, but he had not forgotten any of the words he once heard. As he grew older, he saw other children accompanied by their moms, and he couldn¡¯t help feeling envious; he wanted to find his own mom. But every time he mentioned it to Bai Ye, Bai Ye would fob him off with various excuses, and even his grandparents never told him the truth, only coddling him. When he received that inexplicable phone call, he had his doubts, but his desire for a ¡°Mom¡± was too strong. Thinking that Bai Ye had also arrived at Market, he couldn¡¯t help sneaking along. Little did he expect that upon arriving at Market, he would discover someone trying to capture him. Meeting Fang Yuxin was completely accidental; when the car door opened, he felt a bit scared, worried that the person might be one who was there to capture him. But when he saw Fang Yuxin, he was completely stunned. It was a mysterious feeling that came from their blood connection; he only needed one glance at Fang Yuxin to feel she was the ¡°Mom¡± he had been searching for many years. But Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t acknowledge him, and even after she later admitted it and took him home, she did not fully accept him, instead keeping her guard up all the time. The other members of the Fang Family did the same. At that time, he was not heartless, but he dared not show it. Instead, he tried as much as possible to please everyone in the Fang Family, hoping that Fang Yuxin would accept him sooner and not abandon him again. Eventually, Fang Yuxin completely accepted him, and the other members of the Fang Family came to like him very much, and he forgot about the initial displeasure. He thought it was all behind him, but because of the evil intention just now, he started to recall these unhappy memories. Fortunately, the evil intention had not invaded his Sea of Consciousness, and although it affected him, the impact wasn¡¯t severe. After sensing the worry in Fang Yuxin, all the negative emotions surging in his heart dissipated. After Bai Qianqian laughed, seeing Fang Yuxin furrowing her brow, clearly still worried, he felt a warm feeling in his heart and said, ¡°Mama, I¡¯m really alright now.¡± Fang Yuxin examined him carefully and, seeing the gloom that had been enveloping him disappear, she breathed a sigh of relief and said, ¡°Qianqian, from now on, don¡¯t try to control those zombies using your spiritual power anymore, understand?¡± She guessed that Bai Qianqian must have run into trouble while trying to control zombies with his spiritual power, and she was scared by the thought; she had underestimated the situation. In her dreams, she had not awakened any superpowers and had always been an Ordinary Person. Even though she had learned to use the Miao Saber, having barely enough ability to protect her own life, she had also heard about the capabilities of Spiritual Superpower Users. But she wasn¡¯t a Spiritual Superpower User, nor did she know friends like that, and naturally, she wasn¡¯t aware of the dangers a Spiritual Superpower User might encounter while affecting zombies with spiritual power. She had rashly let Bai Qianqian try to influence zombies using spiritual power, which was too hasty. Thankfully, Bai Qianqian was alright, otherwise, she would surely be extremely regretful! With this, Fang Yuxin no longer dared to let Bai Qianqian take risks; after all, he was only five years old, which was really too young. However, Bai Qianqian was young but had his own opinions. He knew the world had changed, with terrifying creatures like zombies appearing everywhere, so he wanted to enhance his strength to protect the ¡°Mom¡± he had finally found and, moreover, he wanted to find his ¡°stupid dad,¡± Bai Ye. He considered himself a little man and didn¡¯t want to always be protected by Fang Yuxin; that would be too useless. And since Bai Ye¡¯s whereabouts were still unknown, he couldn¡¯t rest easy. However, thinking back on the perilous moments, he couldn¡¯t help feeling terrified. He was young and his thoughts simple, but the maliciousness he had felt was terrifying to an extent he had never experienced before, an evil and despair that seemed to be against the entire world. He wasn¡¯t quite sure what that maliciousness was about, nor did he dare to take such risks anymore; he set his mind on finding a way to enhance his strength. Thus, he no longer tried attacking zombies but instead did his best to locate all the nearby Elemental Stones. After experiencing absorption of an Elemental Crystal once, he, more than anyone, understood the transformation it brought to the body and the change in one¡¯s talent. His spiritual power had become more condensed and immense, his physical abilities also notably improved, though not by much. Thus, he was now more eager than anyone to obtain more Elemental Crystals. Since he couldn¡¯t influence zombies now, he could still use his abilities to find more Elemental Stones! More Elemental Crystals! With the help of spiritual power, Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian almost managed to find all the Elemental Stones around them. Waves of zombies continuously attracted, were slaughtered by Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang, even Qu Qianhe didn¡¯t hesitate to pitch in. After counting their gains, Fang Yuxin gathered all the Elemental Stones and the zombie palms sealed in bags, and the family then moved to another location. With such a carpet-style search, the family found many Elemental Stones and hunted quite a number of zombies. Due to massive collapse of buildings, many zombies were trapped in the ruins, and with the whole industrial area being vast, zombies spread out, the numbers attracted each time weren¡¯t large, providing perfect practice for Fang Yuyang, Fang Jintang, and Qu Qianhe, and they handled them effortlessly. If they encountered a greater number of zombies, Fang Yuxin would join the fight, and occasionally Bai Qianqian and Angela would also lend a hand. Coordinating with each other, they could easily deal with a zombie. At first, they didn¡¯t sense any living people; however, as they kept moving, Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian finally sensed the presence of living people. But the situation was somewhat unusual. They heard a woman¡¯s voice, desperate and humble, pleading, ¡°Please, don¡¯t kill us, I beg of you, let us go.¡± Chapter 56 - 56 054 Mother and Daughter (First Update) ?Chapter 56: 054 Mother and Daughter (First Update) Chapter 56: 054 Mother and Daughter (First Update) The person speaking was clearly crying, their voice sounding very pitiful. Fang Yuxin, upon hearing this voice, recalled some very unpleasant images that she had seen in that dream. When the apocalypse first began, survivors still harbored some hope; human morality had not yet deteriorated too severely, and only a minority had fallen into depravity. However, as the zombies increased in number and strength, people¡¯s hearts gradually changed. Back then, people could see no hope; no one knew if they were going to see the sunrise the next day. As a result, they began to live day by day, allowing the dark side of their hearts to expand without limit, capable of doing anything. As superpower users¡¯ strength continued to grow, the divide between superpower users and ordinary people became increasingly pronounced, forming an insurmountable chasm. The status of superpower users grew ever higher, while that of ordinary people decayed day by day, even to the point where they gradually became slaves to superpower users. The equality and legal systems of the peaceful era had all become fleeting clouds; pressing poverty and uncertainty about the next day were the true portrayal of most ordinary people at that time. Fang Yuxin herself was an ordinary person, and a very beautiful one at that. She had seen the weak mercilessly bullied, and even she herself had not escaped others¡¯ covetous eyes. For this reason, Fang Yuyang had fought countless times, each time risking his life, brushing past death. Now, upon hearing such a voice again, Fang Yuxin immediately understood¡ªsomeone was being bullied again! Although Bai Qianqian didn¡¯t have those memories, he wasn¡¯t stupid and asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°Mama, what should we do?¡± Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Dad, mom, survivors have been spotted nearby, and something seems off. Let¡¯s go and take a look.¡± She didn¡¯t like to meddle in others¡¯ affairs, but since they had encountered this, they couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch someone die. The others had no objections either. Fang Yuyang came over quickly, picked up Bai Qianqian, and then the family hurried toward the location Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian had sensed. However, this movement attracted quite a few zombies again, who began to attack them. There was a considerable number of zombies. Although they intended to help, they could only clear out the zombies to proceed. After all, with the situation ahead unknown and not clearing these zombies, it would be extremely disadvantageous for them if they were cut off from their escape route. However, five hundred meters away, another scene unfolded. Several corpses lay scattered haphazardly on the ground, some of which were zombies, but clearly, some were humans! The woman who was crying had fallen to the ground, struck in the head with an iron rod; she was not yet dead, her body twitching slightly, half-opened eyes filled with blood, tears rolling from her eyes, looking very mournful. She arched her back, her body curled up, still protecting a little girl underneath her. The girl was not old, only about five or six years old, also continuously shedding tears, sobbing softly. A few people looked at this scene, their faces showing pity. One of them mustered up the courage and said, ¡°Cap... Captain, let¡¯s... let it be, they won¡¯t survive here anyway. Just let them go, right?¡± The captain he referred to was a young man holding an iron rod, quite tall at about six feet. He must have exercised regularly, his muscles slightly bulging, looking very strong. He turned his head, staring intently at the person who had just spoken, making him uneasy, but he suddenly laughed, ¡°You¡¯re right, these two are gonna die anyway, no need to waste our energy on them!¡± After speaking, he walked a few steps forward, kicked the already weak woman, and grabbed the little girl she had been protecting, lifting her up. The girl, who had been quietly sobbing, startled by this, was about to cry out loud, but he grabbed her neck and whispered in her ear, ¡°If you dare to cry, I¡¯ll throw you into the zombie group!¡± After saying this, he threw the little girl to a subordinate, ¡°Catch! Follow me!¡± After speaking, he specifically glanced at a few zombies that had already closed in nearby. The others also saw those zombies and grew somewhat fearful. Seeing that he had already got onto the vehicle, they followed suit, quickly driving away. After they left, the nearby zombies immediately rushed over, surrounding the corpses and began to feast. When the Fang Family arrived, what they saw was the zombies feasting on the corpses. The scene was too shocking for normal people; Fang Yuyang instinctively covered Bai Qianqian¡¯s eyes, not letting him look. Chapter 57 - 57 054 Mother and Daughter (Second Update) ?Chapter 57: 054 Mother and Daughter (Second Update) Chapter 57: 054 Mother and Daughter (Second Update) Meanwhile, Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Fang Yuxin all charged forward, slaughtering the zombies cleanly. The corpses on the ground were long since mutilated beyond recognition; however, to their surprise, one of the women was still alive! She was clearly severely injured, and the zombies had bitten her in many places. It was simply unimaginable how she had managed to hold on. The woman, who had initially closed her eyes, suddenly opened them and, with great difficulty, raised her head to look at Fang Yuxin and the others. She spoke in a halting voice, ¡°Save... save... me... daughter...¡± She could only get out these few words before exhausting what little strength she had left. Her head fell back powerlessly, but her eyes stubbornly remained open, staring fixedly at Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin walked over and checked the woman¡¯s pulse, only to find that she had already died. She said, ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡± Although she said this, she knew in her heart that it was likely impossible to save the woman¡¯s daughter. She could guess the intentions of those who had taken the little girl and, because she knew, she was even more aware that the girl didn¡¯t have much longer to live. Seeing Fang Yuxin¡¯s distressed state, Qu Qianhe said, ¡°Get the car out; let¡¯s chase after them and have a look! That bunch doesn¡¯t deserve to live!¡± Fang Yuxin obediently retrieved the car, and then the whole family quickly got in and followed the tracks of the vehicle ahead. On another street in the distance, the little girl in the car suddenly shuddered all over, then began to shiver uncontrollably. Noticing something was wrong, the young man holding her exclaimed, ¡°Captain! Something¡¯s wrong! Why is this little girl shivering like this?¡± The person next to him also panicked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? She¡¯s not turning into a zombie, is she?¡± As soon as these words came out, the young man holding the little girl turned pale, wishing he could throw her out immediately. At that moment, the captain sitting in the passenger seat turned his head to look over. After observing the trembling girl for a moment, he frowned and then said, ¡°Biaozi, keep an eye on her. If something goes wrong, throw her out; don¡¯t drag us down with you!¡± However, his words seemed to trip a switch, and the little girl suddenly stopped trembling and slowly raised her head. Other than Biaozi, who was holding her, everyone else in the car could clearly see her current appearance and were so frightened they couldn¡¯t speak. The girl¡¯s pale skin was covered in bulging blue veins, creating a ghastly sight. Even more eerie were the little girl¡¯s eyes. They were no longer human; the black pupils had turned blood red, and upon closer inspection, they looked like burning flames! The captain immediately shouted loudly, ¡°Quick! Open the car door! Throw her out!¡± Panic-stricken and frantic, he had lost the composure he had when killing earlier. The man holding the girl couldn¡¯t see her face but saw the grotesque transformation of her exposed neck skin, as the veins bulged out. The captain¡¯s panicked cries unsettled him, but what truly terrified him was the sudden surge in temperature from the girl¡¯s body, scorching hot like a fireball. In a panic, he yanked open the car door, about to throw the girl out, but that was when catastrophe struck! The girl let out a piercing scream from her mouth, the sound was sharply unpleasant. The people in the car were momentarily stunned, as if they had suddenly frozen in place. In that moment, the girl suddenly lunged toward the front passenger seat! She kicked against the man behind her, using his body to catapult herself forward. Then, with her slender arms, she tightly wrapped them around the captain¡¯s neck! This sudden turn of events jolted the other passengers in the car back to reality, a flash of anger crossed the face of the captain being embraced, his rage even surpassing his previous panic. However, just as he reached out to grab the little girl¡¯s slender arms, intending to pull her off, fierce flames suddenly burst forth from her arms! The captain was caught off guard, his fingers unable to evade in time, and the fire seared his hand. He inhaled sharply from the pain, followed by a miserable scream, ¡°Ah¡ª¡± At the same time, someone yelled out in horror, ¡°Fire... Fire Element Superpower User!¡± That person didn¡¯t have time to say more, as flames erupted from the little girl¡¯s body. The fire seemed alive, eerily spreading from her being. The captain, whose neck was being squeezed, was instantly enveloped in the flames that had started there, and within moments, his whole body was engulfed. The fire then split into several serpentine streams, shooting toward the others in the car! ¡°Don¡¯t... don¡¯t come any closer! Ah¡ª¡± ¡°Get away! Move away!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kill me! Don¡¯t kill me!¡± Someone tried frantically to open the door and escape, but the spread of the fire serpents was too fast. After the driver was struck, he lost control of the steering, the wheel swung wildly, and the car veered sharply to the left, slamming into a scarred wall. ¡°Bang!¡± First came a huge crash, the car¡¯s front crumpled on impact, then the wall collapsed, and debris rained down on the car with several ¡°bang bang bang¡± sounds. Some doors had been opened but because of the sudden crash, not a single person managed to escape from the car. Instead, they were knocked about, and the flames took the opportunity to swiftly spread over their entire bodies, silently consuming them. There was another car following behind this one, the distance between the two wasn¡¯t far, but the people inside the second car were very alert. As soon as the anomaly occurred, the driver slowed down, deliberately distancing themselves from the car in front. Seeing the first car crash into the wall, those in the following car realized something was wrong. ¡°Quick...quick save them!¡± someone shouted in alarm, yet the driver furrowed his brow tightly and was about to turn the car around. But just at that moment, the wheels happened to sink into a ditch! Panicked, the driver instinctively hit the gas, and with that press, the car suddenly shot forward, heading toward the crashed vehicle! The driver was even more panicked, desperately twisting the steering wheel. Eventually, he managed to turn, narrowly avoiding the car in front. The passengers released a sigh of relief, and then, they heard a loud boom. ¡°Boom!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 58 - 58 055 Perish Together (Second Update) ?Chapter 58: 055 Perish Together (Second Update) Chapter 58: 055 Perish Together (Second Update) The sound of the explosion rang out while the Fang Family were still on the road. The massive blast startled everyone; Bai Qianqian instinctively gripped Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand tighter, and Angela shuddered, plunging into her embrace. Fang Jintang was uneasy, ¡°Why would there be an explosion sound?¡± Fang Yuxin then released his Spiritual Sense to investigate, and similarly, Bai Qianqian also unleashed his spiritual power. Then, the expressions on both their faces changed. And at that moment, another roar came from afar¡ªit was the sound of a second vehicle exploding. The second vehicle had narrowly avoided the first, but due to the driver¡¯s error, the two vehicles were too close together. When the first vehicle exploded, the second was affected. The flames and debris thrown from the explosion landed on the second vehicle, triggering its own explosion. When Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian released their Spiritual Sense and spiritual power, they saw the second vehicle being ignited by the flames, and they also guessed its end. Witnessing such an explosion, even though they knew the people in the cars had already lost their humanity, both were still not feeling well inside. Fang Yuxin, having experienced more, felt only slightly uncomfortable, but Bai Qianqian was just a child, and such a scene was too much for him. He grasped Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, the warm touch as if holding the power to calm the heart, allowing his wildly beating heart to gradually settle. He retracted his spiritual power, closed his eyes, and tried not to think about the scene he had just ¡®seen.¡¯ The others were also astute and seeing their changed complexions, combined with the explosions they had just heard, wisely didn¡¯t ask what they had seen. Qu Qianhe then suggested, ¡°The situation ahead is unclear, it¡¯s better not to rush over. Let¡¯s stop the car here. Xinxin and I will stay with Qianqian nearby, while Jintang and Yu Yang can go ahead and scout.¡± Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang naturally had no objections, both harboring the same thoughts. So, Fang Yuyang stopped the car, took the weapon with Fang Jintang, and went to scout the area. Afterward, the rest of the people also got out of the car, and after Fang Yuxin stored the car in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, he held the Miao Saber in his hand, vigilantly watching the surroundings. The aftermath of the explosion was too gruesome; it was better not to let Bai Qianqian see it. However, the three who remained had to be alert for zombies that might suddenly appear. Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang strode forward quickly. Both were accustomed to regular exercise and had better physical condition than their peers. After consuming the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, the impurities in their bodies were removed, and they underwent a transformation, not only looking much younger but also gaining even more physical strength. Having awakened superpowers later, although not in the direction of strength enhancement, their bodies went through a transformation. Thus, their current endurance was comparable to that of Special Soldiers. Both tall with long legs, they covered the distance quickly. The place where they parked was not far from the explosion site, just separated by a corner that blocked their line of sight. Around the corner, they could see the location of the explosion from afar. Both vehicles had ignited, and through the fierce flames, they could make out vague human figures. At a glance, it seemed like no one had managed to escape, creating a harrowing scene. They made their way over quickly and soon arrived, but just then, they discovered something moving inside one of the vehicles! The flames obscured their vision, making it unclear, but both instinctively went on guard, backing up several steps. They then saw that indeed there was something moving inside the car. No, it was not something; it was clearly a person! This person was quite small, resembling a child, and because they were enshrouded in flames, it was impossible to tell whether they were male or female. However, both father and son instinctively thought of the ¡®daughter¡¯ the woman had mentioned before her death. With this speculation in mind, a trace of pity appeared on their faces. Nonetheless, they did not let their guard down but instead stared fixedly at that person, even more on alert. The person moved, crawling out of the car extremely slowly. Whether it was due to injuries or some other reason, their movements were very sluggish. Since they were covered in flames and the situation was unclear, the father and son did not approach, but instead, retreated further to guard against any sudden aggression. After a good while, the girl finally crawled out of the car. She first fell to the ground and then slowly got up, taking steps forward. With each step, the fire on her body grew smaller, and after five steps, the flames on her body had almost completely disappeared, revealing her true appearance. Chapter 59 - 59 055 Mutual Destruction (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 59: 055 Mutual Destruction (Second Update)_2 Chapter 59: 055 Mutual Destruction (Second Update)_2 The father and son both saw the sight and their expressions changed instantly, retreating in unison once more. The girl before them no longer resembled a normal person. Her clothes had completely burned away. Skin that should have been delicate on a child was withered and tightly stretched over her bones, creating a skeletal figure. Her body was riddled with injuries. After her body withered, her head seemed disproportionally large. Her hair had long been burned away and multiple burn scars marred her dried skin. Suddenly, she lifted her head and looked towards Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang with a ghostly gaze. Once more, flames ignited within her pupils. The father and son both keenly sensed that the strange little girl¡¯s aura was growing stronger, inducing a profound sense of crisis in their hearts! They retreated again, keeping a significant distance from her. The girl¡¯s body swayed as if she could collapse at any moment, but she stubbornly stood tall, step by step approaching the two. Fang Yuyang gave it some thought, then tentatively said, ¡°Your mom asked us to save you. Do you remember her?¡± Because the little girl¡¯s appearance was so eerie and abnormal, Fang Yuyang suspected that she had lost her reason, and thus he tested the waters with his question. It turned out to be the right move. Clearly, the little girl still had some impression of her mother. As soon as Fang Yuyang finished speaking, she stopped in her tracks, the flames in her eyes wavering uncertainly, as if they could be extinguished at any moment. Witnessing this, the father and son tensed up inside. It wasn¡¯t that they were scared, but seeing her in such a state, they felt pity. She had suffered greatly, and they couldn¡¯t bring themselves to hurt her further. However, as reluctant as they were, they remained highly cautious around her. If the little girl truly became aggressive, despite their pity, they would be forced to end her life. The flames in the little girl¡¯s eyes kept flickering¡ªone moment solid, the next elusive¡ªas though she was enduring an internal struggle. Just as the father and son clenched the weapons in their hands, believing they would have no choice but to act, the little girl opened her mouth, a frail call escaping her lips. Her voice was probably damaged, a faint whisper like a cat¡¯s mew, exceedingly hoarse and impossible to discern. Yet, she continued calling out again and again, her voice slowly growing louder until the father and son could finally understand. She was calling for ¡°Mom.¡± She did not head towards the father and son but turned and walked in a different direction. Her movements were slow, each step seemingly requiring immense effort. The father and son frowned. Before leaving, they had set fire to the bodies to prevent zombies from feasting on the corpses; now, even if she searched, she would be unable to find her ¡®Mom.¡¯ Moreover, the little girl¡¯s condition was clearly deteriorating rapidly. Though they didn¡¯t have the Wood Element Superpower and were less sensitive to life force, they could tell that the little girl was at her limit. They had considered the possibility that the little girl might have suffered misfortune when they first arrived, but they hadn¡¯t expected things to turn out like this. The little girl had awakened a Fire Ability! Moreover, it was likely that the awakening had occurred after she had been taken away. The two explosions here could very well have been caused by her. But her condition was evidently abnormal. Qu Qianhe had also awakened a Fire Ability, yet when she released flames, there were no flames in her eyes, nor was she burned so severely! The little girl¡¯s situation seemed more like Deviation. Although the father and son hadn¡¯t witnessed the entire process, they had guessed most of it correctly. This was why they dared not approach her. Her emotions were clearly unstable, and if she truly had succumbed to Deviation, approaching her could provoke an attack. Fang Yuyang watched her struggle to walk and, after a moment of thought, he tried again, ¡°Shall I take you to your mom?¡± The little girl slowly turned her head. However, as Fang Yuyang tentatively took a step forward, firelight flickered in her eyes again. Simultaneously, the father and son sensed a terrible energy gathering within her. They had no choice but to retreat, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous; we are not going to hurt you.¡± This time, the firelight in the girl¡¯s eyes flickered and finally subsided. Tears then welled up in her eyes, dropping from the corners as she fell, still calling for ¡°Mom.¡± The father and son were startled, prepared to rush forward, but the energy in the little girl once again became violent. They stepped back a few paces, then saw flames erupt from her body. The fire spread rapidly, enveloping her entirely, and she burned silently away. The father and son didn¡¯t move. They both felt an inexplicable certainty that she was already dead. In such a case, it seemed better she be reduced to ashes in the flames, scattered by the wind, rather than have her body further desecrated. Sure enough, the next moment the girl¡¯s body turned into sparks that dissipated bit by bit, eventually extinguishing, leaving nothing behind. After her death, the fire engulfing the vehicle eerily extinguished, revealing the charred remnants. None of the people in the car had escaped; they had all turned into twisted, ugly charcoal. The father and son sighed and turned to leave. With the little girl¡¯s talent, if those people had not cruelly killed her mom but instead helped her, she could have become an asset after Awakening. But, devoid of humanity, they not only killed her mom but also captured her to attract zombies, driving her to Deviation and a shared demise. (To be continued. If you like this work, please head to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 60 - 60 056 Earth Sink (The Third Update) ?Chapter 60: 056 Earth Sink! (The Third Update) Chapter 60: 056 Earth Sink! (The Third Update) Fang Yuyang and Fang Jintang witnessed a scene that Fang Yuxin also ¡°saw.¡± She was, after all, still worried about the father and son, so she quietly released her Spiritual Sense to follow behind them, ready to help in case of danger. However, she hadn¡¯t expected to ¡°see¡± such a scene. She was a Pure Wood Spirit Body, practicing a profoundly mysterious Immortal Path Technique, and was particularly sensitive to the presence of life force. Even though she wasn¡¯t physically present, only having released her Spiritual Sense, her perception was far more acute and deep than that of Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang. The little girl must have had the Fire Ability, but clearly, she had awakened it out of desperation, unleashing an incredibly powerful Energy by burning her Life Force as the price for her and her mom¡¯s revenge. When she crawled out of the car, her life force was nearly depleted, and she was on her last legs; she hadn¡¯t died instantly only because of a lingering obsession. The appearance of Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang was also perceived as enemies by her at that moment, propelling her to climb out of the car with the last of her strength, wishing to kill them both. Were it not for Fang Yuyang¡¯s quick thinking, speaking words that brought clarity to the girl¡¯s consciousness, once she attacked, even if they didn¡¯t die, they probably would have been injured. After regaining her consciousness, she naturally thought of her mother who had died tragically, her sorrow turned to tears, and the last of her life force was thus consumed. The final fire was both a backlash from the Fire Ability in her body and possibly her own wish. To turn to ashes was better than being defiled by zombies. She sighed in her heart, yet scenes like this one had appeared in her dreams many times. As time passed, the zombies would become stronger and smarter. The powerful ones would even lead Low-level Zombies to attack survivor bases, and those less powerful superpower users, when surrounded by zombies unwilling to be devoured, would choose to self-destruct and perish along with the zombies. At that time, her own power was insufficient, and she often completely relied on Fang Yuyang for protection. The siblings had been in perilous situations many times, and there were moments when Fang Yuyang was nearly forced to self-destruct. But fortunately, they managed to escape, though severely wounded in the end. Thus, after her sigh, she became even more determined to enhance her strength as quickly as possible, to protect her family. Otherwise, such tragedies as today could very well happen to them one day! Fang Yuyang and Fang Jintang returned quickly, likely influenced by the recent events, Fang Jintang said, ¡°Xinxin, let¡¯s put off the search for Elemental Stones for now. There might still be survivors in these ruins; we should try finding them first, so they don¡¯t just die in vain.¡± He had given the matter careful consideration before speaking. He was aware that the most pressing matter should be the search for Elemental Stones and hunting zombies for Crystal Cores. But if there really were survivors waiting for rescue, could they just stand by and watch them die for nothing? That would be too cold-blooded! Fang Yuxin thought it over and agreed. Her initial plan had been to go with the flow; if they encountered living people, those they could save would be saved, and those they couldn¡¯t wouldn¡¯t be forced, as they couldn¡¯t jeopardize their own safety for the sake of others. But since Fang Jintang has spoke thus, and considering the recent tragedy, she couldn¡¯t harden her heart. In her dreams, when she and Fang Yuyang were in danger, it wasn¡¯t as if they hadn¡¯t been helped by others. Now that they had such ability, it was a time to make good use of it, to not waste the favor from the heavens. So, the family stopped their search for Elemental Stones and instead hastily combed through the entire ruins for survivors. The industrial area, although not large, still took them over three hours to thoroughly search. It was unclear whether the people before had been incredibly lucky or they were just unlucky, but after all the searching, they didn¡¯t find a single living person. Most of the people and mutating zombies were buried under the ground, dead beyond doubting, and any survivors were likely devoured by zombies already. The ones they had encountered earlier could have been the only survivors left in this area. Unfortunately, though they had managed to survive thus far, they ended up dead at the hands of another group of treasure-hunting survivors. Even though they didn¡¯t find any survivors, at least they had put an end to that concern. The family returned to Qingmu Spiritual Mansion for lunch, and with the rest of the day, they dedicated their time to looking for Elemental Stones and hunting zombies. While searching for survivors with Fang Yuxin¡¯s Spiritual Sense avoiding zombies, they didn¡¯t stay long in one place. Even if zombies followed the scent of living humans, their numbers weren¡¯t large. However, searching for Elemental Stones was different; after finding them, it took quite a bit of time to extract them. Chapter 61 - 61 056 Earth Sink (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 61: 056 Earth Sink! (Third Update)_2 Chapter 61: 056 Earth Sink! (Third Update)_2 So, as they were mining for Elemental Stones, zombies were almost coming in waves. Fang Yuyang, Fang Jintang, and Qu Qianhe were staunchly guarding Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian, and even Angela was nearby on watch. Although small, its claws were incredibly sharp, even sharper than those of the zombies, dealing damage with every strike. Coupled with its agile movements, the freshly mutated Basic-level Zombies simply couldn¡¯t catch it. At first, the number of approaching zombies was small, and their pressure wasn¡¯t great. But gradually, as time dragged on at that one spot, more and more zombies started to gather, and the Fang Family was beginning to struggle to hold on. Fang Yuyang cleaved down an attacking zombie and said with a grave expression, ¡°We can¡¯t go on like this! We must find a solution! There are too many zombies, and our strength will eventually run out.¡± Fang Yuxin knew that this couldn¡¯t continue. She recalled a scene from a dream where she had seen superpower users jointly attack a group of zombies and shouted out, ¡°Dad! Try to see if you can make some Earth Spikes or an earth sink to hinder the movement of these zombies.¡± Fang Jintang nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Having awakened his superpower not long ago, he wasn¡¯t yet adept at controlling it, and Earth Element skills required his own insights. Without a clear direction, it would take even more time to conceive a Skill. Fang Yuxin intentionally mentioned ¡®Earth Spikes¡¯ and ¡®earth sink¡¯ to give him a direction. Although Fang Jintang was still slightly confused, being intelligent, he pondered for a while before squatting down and placing his palms on the ground. Earth sink! Fang Jintang silently recited these two words. Then, the Energy within him surged violently, turning into a torrent that rushed towards his hands! It was as if guided by an inexplicable intuition; he subconsciously pressed his palms down, and suddenly a large area of the ground in front of him sunk in, forming a massive pit! As the pit appeared, many zombies fell into it. The Fang Family watched stunned, including Fang Jintang, who had used the Skill, and Fang Yuxin, who had already seen many Skills in her dreams. Fang Jintang had been pondering how to create an earth sink when he had a sudden burst of inspiration, a premonition of how it should be done, and thus he acted on that faint guidance in his mind. He only wanted to give it a try, not expecting it to actually succeed! Fang Yuxin was equally surprised. Although she had witnessed superpower users wield their powers many times in her dreams, as far as she knew, they could not control the Energy in their bodies proficiently at the beginning. Even Fang Yuyang, when he first released Wind Blades, they were few in number, inaccurate, and could not be sustained for long. She did not expect Fang Jintang to be successful on his first attempt, and with such astounding results! Such strength was far superior to many newly awakened superpower users! After witnessing Fang Jintang¡¯s ¡®earth sink¡¯, Fang Yuyang and Qu Qianhe felt eager to try their own superpowers. Even Bai Qianqian secretly released spiritual power, preparing to try and control the zombies again. Fang Yuyang, who had successfully released Wind Blades before, reflected on that sensation, then extended his left hand and quietly thought ¡®Wind Blade.¡¯ Immediately as he spread his fingers, crescent-shaped Wind Blades shot out from his palm, spinning towards the zombies¡¯ necks. This time, he released more Wind Blades than before, a total of twenty-seven, but it was his limit. Since the zombies were crowded together, when these Wind Blades flew out, they hit their targets without fail; some even decapitated the zombies! The rest also inflicted notable damage. Qu Qianhe also made her move, spreading her fingers to let loose a fiery serpent that shot towards the zombies opposite her. Still unskilled, the flame was singular and could not be split, and after utilizing this move, the Energy consumption was significant, with much of it wasted. Fang Yuxin¡¯s mind stirred, and she grabbed a handful of grass seeds. Tiny as they were, this grasp held thousands of them. Casting the seeds toward the zombies, she then channeled the Spiritual Energy within her body, weaving a simple ¡®Nourishing Wood Formulas.¡¯ As the grass seeds landed on the zombies, they instantly sprouted and grew wildly. Thin grass blades cut through the rotten flesh, and as countless leaves linked together, they decapitated the zombies. With that, the once oppressive Zombie Group that had the family struggling to breathe were easily slaughtered by them. However, whether it was Fang Jintang or Fang Yuyang or even Qu Qianhe, after using those Skills, the residual superpower in their bodies was not much, with only Fang Yuxin slightly faring better. Bai Qianqian had secretly tried releasing spiritual power just now, but before he could act, the zombies were wiped out by the others; naturally, he had quite a bit of superpower left. Although this group of zombies had been wiped out, Fang Yuxin worried about their situation upon thinking of Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang employing such large-scale attack Skills for the first time, and seeing Qu Qianhe¡¯s pale face, she asked, ¡°How are you all doing? How much superpower is left inside?¡± As she asked, the three of them started to sense the superpower within them. Upon sensing it, they realized there wasn¡¯t much left. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com), using your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 62 - 62 057 Mission Reward (First Update) ?Chapter 62: 057 Mission Reward (First Update) Chapter 62: 057 Mission Reward (First Update) The three of them didn¡¯t hide anything and honestly told their stories. Fang Yuxin took out some Crystal Cores from the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion and distributed them among the three, instructing them to take turns absorbing them. The spiritual spring water in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion had a purifying effect, and these Crystal Cores had been purified by Fang Yuxin using the spiritual spring water, effectively removing the carried viruses, eliminating concerns about absorbing the virus into the body. In fact, as zombies contained viruses, the Crystal Cores extracted from their brains carried those viruses too. If these viruses weren¡¯t removed, superpower users would absorb the energy from the Crystal Cores and the viruses at the same time. Although superpower users had immunity to the viruses from zombies of the same level, accumulating too much virus in the body was ultimately harmful. And if one accidentally absorbed a higher-level Zombie Crystal Core, the virus contained within could infect the superpower user. After purification with spiritual spring water, the Crystal Cores appeared clear and translucent, no longer containing viruses, and even the impurities were significantly reduced, making absorption faster and safer, reducing the physical burden on superpower users. So, ever since learning about the purifying prowess of the spiritual spring water, Fang Yuxin had informed her family members, who naturally believed her. They entrusted her with any Crystal Cores they acquired for purification and would retrieve the purified cores from her when needed for absorption. Their entire team consisted of only five people. Bai Qianqian was a child, and although a Spiritual Superpower User, his control over his powers was still unrefined, and his combat capability was limited. The other three had to take turns absorbing the Crystal Cores to recover their superpowers. Otherwise, should the zombies attack again, the situation could become extremely dangerous. All three understood the importance and took the Crystal Cores. Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang began absorbing first, with Qu Qianhe acting as their protector. Meanwhile, Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian continued to mine Elemental Stones. Should zombies appear, Fang Yuxin would take action, preventing them from gathering in large numbers and increasing their pressure. They busied themselves until the evening, nearly unearthing all the Elemental Stones they could find. As for any that might have slipped through, they had no way of knowing. Coupled with their initial findings, they discovered a total of 132 Elemental Stones, large and small, a truly delightful haul, but only by cutting them open could they determine if any Elemental Crystals were inside. Besides the Elemental Stones, they also hunted quite a few zombies that day. And through the day¡¯s combat, Fang Jintang, Fang Yuyang, Qu Qianhe, and Fang Yuxin all became more proficient with their current skills. Although these skills seemed rudimentary, with persistent practice and teamwork, they could naturally perfect them. Although Bai Qianqian hadn¡¯t managed to control the zombies yet, he had some ideas and intended to try them slowly in the future, possibly making progress. Compared to the others, Yuxin was in a much better situation; she had received a complete Cultivation Technique inheritance. There was no need for her to spend effort understanding skills on her own; she just needed to learn the various magics from the inheritance. With superpowers to aid them, subsequent battles were relatively easy. Although the population of this industrial area was once significant, after the large-scale collapse, many people and even mutating zombies had been buried underground. The remaining zombies, either lucky enough not to be buried or those who crawled out from below, were not too numerous. Just like when they arrived, they took a detour on the way back. All the way, Fang Yuxin was careful to release her Spiritual Sense, meticulously avoiding other survivors to prevent their movements from being detected. Consequently, by the time they returned to the Safe Zone, it was already 7:30 in the evening. Every entrance to the Safe Zone was barricaded with checkpoints guarded by soldiers. They looked vigilant, armed to the teeth and seemingly exuding a fierce aura, quite awe-inspiring. Every survivor entering the Safe Zone had to confirm their identity, check for any injuries, and inspect their belongings. Survivors with ID Cards were asked to present them; new arrivals seeking refuge had to register. The registration process was simple; a designated person at the entrance had forms to fill out, after which one could enter the Safe Zone, apply for an ID Card, and find a place to settle. Of course, only those without injuries could receive the registration form; those with injuries would be sent to the nearest observation room to stay for 12 hours. Only after showing no further signs of harm could they come out and receive the registration form. Chapter 63 - 63 057 Task Reward (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 63: 057 Task Reward (First Update)_2 Chapter 63: 057 Task Reward (First Update)_2 People like Fang Yuxin who completed tasks had to undergo additional checks for the items they retrieved. The items they brought back were zombie palms, which couldn¡¯t be brought into the Safe Zone. A person in charge issued a certification form, registering the number of items they collected. After the person in charge signed the form, the dangerous items were taken away to be incinerated, and the team could use the form to claim their rewards at the Task Hall. They all had ID Cards, and with no injuries on their bodies, the process went smoothly. However, besides them, there were other survivors nearby who were not allowed to enter the Safe Zone but were temporarily taken into custody. Among these survivors, some were injured while out on tasks, while others came from different places seeking refuge with injuries. To prevent them from turning into zombies after entering the Safe Zone, everyone was registered and then taken to the nearest observation room. Armed soldiers stood guard outside the observation room, ready to eliminate anyone who turned into a zombie during the observation period. As Fang Yuxin and her group received their certification form, they happened to see those temporarily detained survivors being escorted to the observation room. Some of them were clearly dissatisfied, murmuring complaints under their breath and wearing unpleasant expressions. Others seemed afraid of transforming into zombies, presenting gray and despairing faces. They only glanced briefly at the scene before turning away, taking the certification form back to their vehicle, and driving to the Task Hall. Fang Yuxin knew that using spiritual spring water to cleanse wounds could eliminate the Zombie Virus present in the wounds, but this was only effective immediately after getting injured. The people they saw obviously couldn¡¯t have just received their wounds. Superpower users were immune to the virus carried by zombies at their own level, and even though Ordinary People had much lower immunity to the Zombie Virus, there was a chance they could awaken to become a superpower user upon infection, rather than mutating into zombies. Naturally, there was no need for her to use the spiritual spring water to help them. Moreover, the existence of Qingmu Spiritual Mansion must never be exposed! At the moment, her strength was inadequate; revealing the spiritual spring water would only bring trouble to her family! Thus, after leaving, Fang Yuxin put the matter behind her, no longer concerned about the fate of the survivors locked in the observation room. Whether they lived or died, it was up to their own destiny now. Since they returned too late, the Task Hall was empty except for the staff by the time they arrived, making it feel very desolate. To save electricity, only one window in the Task Hall emitted light, casting a dim glow throughout the hall. Walking inside, the group could only hear their own footsteps, which sent chills down their spines and even caused unease. They quickly approached the window and saw that the staff member responsible for distributing rewards was a stern-looking female soldier. One could tell she was quite young, probably around twenty-five or twenty-six. Her stern face gave off a cold impression, deterring others from trifling with her. She lifted her gaze, sweeping it across their faces, then addressed them in a matter-of-fact tone, ¡°Here to claim rewards for task completion? Give me the certification form.¡± Fang Yuxin handed over the form. The woman glanced at it rapidly, then her expression quickly changed, her eyebrows furrowing slightly, and she exclaimed in a low voice, ¡°3,561 zombies?¡± Her tone was very surprised. After meticulously verifying the authenticity of the form, she looked up again. This time her gaze towards the group was different, and her attitude seemed a bit warmer, ¡°Killing a total of 3,561 zombies qualifies you for 3,561 Contribution Values and 3,561 credit points, plus an additional bonus of 300 Contribution Values and 300 credit points. How do you plan to divide it?¡± The so-called additional bonus referred to the rule that for every 1,000 zombies killed, there was an extra reward of 100 Contribution Values and 100 credit points. Having slain 3,561 zombies, they were eligible for the additional bonus of 300 Contribution Values and 300 credit points. Since the number of zombies killed was collectively recorded, it was up to the team to decide how to distribute the Contribution Values and credit points. Other teams would usually divide them according to individuals¡¯ kill counts, but since they were a family, they had fewer reservations. Fang Yuxin passed over five ID Cards and one Mercenary Card, saying, ¡°Assign 900 Contribution Values to the captain, 861 to the deputy captain, and distribute 700 to each of the others. Allocate 700 credit points each, and put the remaining 361 into the Mercenary Team¡¯s common account.¡± The Mercenary Card was similar to a team¡¯s ID Card, which any registered Mercenary Team had to possess and was kept by the captain. Their team was small, with just one captain and one deputy captain. The captain was Fang Yuyang, and the deputy captain was Fang Yuxin. In reality, both would have preferred Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe to be the captain and deputy, but since the siblings were the only superpower users in the team, the roles of captain and deputy naturally fell to them. The Mercenary Card recorded all the Contribution Values of the team, serving both as proof of identity for the Mercenary Team and as a common account for them. Whether to store credit points on it was up to the team to decide. Seeing no objections from the others, the female soldier efficiently distributed the points across the cards. After finishing, she reminded them, ¡°A safe store has now opened within the Safe Zone, run by the military. You can exchange your points for necessary supplies there.¡± Fang Yuxin thanked her with a nod and the family left the Task Hall. Once outside, Fang Yuyang suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s check out the safe store, shall we?¡± The others quickly understood the implication. They had plenty of supplies and didn¡¯t need to purchase anything from the store. But only by visiting could they grasp the current state of the Safe Zone. What products were available in the store? What were the prices like? These details could only be discerned by going there. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to cast your votes of recommendation and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 64 - 64 058 Safe Store (Second Update) ?Chapter 64: 058 Safe Store (Second Update) Chapter 64: 058 Safe Store (Second Update) The safe store was located in a large shopping mall near the villa community. Before the apocalypse, the entire mall had been built, and some businesses had moved in, but the stores were not yet properly furnished, and the mall had not officially opened. After the military leadership designated this area as a Safe Zone, they decided to set up a safe store in the mall to supply survivors with their daily necessities. Therefore, early this morning, the military had sent teams to collect supplies from various places. The supplies brought back were partly stored in the safe warehouse, and the rest were put on sale in the safe store. After all, it was only the first day, and the supplies brought back by the team were not many. The variety of goods in the safe store was pitifully small, not at all comparable to the supermarkets before the apocalypse. Fang Yuxin¡¯s family soon found the safe store. The store was on the first floor. Although it was not small, only two-thirds of the area was neatly filled with shelves and cabinets. The remaining third was deliberately left empty. Such a layout was not due to a lack of cabinets or goods but to prevent survivors from stealing or scrambling for products. The shelves were arranged tightly together, boasting an array of goods, and in front of them, ran a whole row of half-person-high cabinets. These cabinets were inlaid with clear glass, allowing the visibility of the goods inside, while also blocking the footsteps of the survivors. On either side of this row of cabinets stood armed soldiers to prevent any trouble from survivors. When survivors came in to shop, they could only stand in front of the cabinets that held several printed brochures listing the types and prices of goods. If survivors needed anything, they only had to tell the sales guides what they wanted. This primitive shopping method was necessary because the amount of goods was so limited, and they could not meet the demand. Some survivors didn¡¯t have credit points or Crystal Cores, and were liable to cause trouble. This arrangement aimed to ensure the safety of these goods under the current conditions. Aside from this safe store, other shops were still empty, but it was easy to predict that, as the number of survivors in the Safe Zone increased, the number and variety of shops would surely grow. When Fang Yuxin and the others entered, they saw the lights were still on, and five survivors were choosing goods. They quickly walked in and scanned the shelves and cabinets. The shelves, placed vertically, made the goods hard to see. In contrast, clearly visible within the cabinets were convenient boxed meals, instant noodles, instant vermicelli, and other instant foods. Fang Yuxin picked up a brochure and flipped through it with her family. The brochure listed many goods, mostly those that could be preserved. In addition to convenient boxed meals, there were also bottled water, salt, rice, cooking oil, candy, cigarettes, various canned foods, and some vacuum-packed pickled products and ready-to-eat foods. Besides these, there were also common vegetables like potatoes and cabbage. However, many foods that were common and often eaten before the apocalypse were now so expensive that they deterred many survivors. Moreover, the store had a purchase limit on its goods, and even if one had extra credit points, they couldn¡¯t buy more. This measure was to prevent malicious hoarding. Besides food and water, the safe store also supplied weapons. However, no weapons were displayed, only listed in detail in the brochure for survivors to choose to purchase. The listed weapons included various military knives, military daggers, pistols, rifles, and different types of bullets. But the prices of these weapons were also very steep. Although only pistols and rifles were available¡ªmore powerful firearms were not¡ªthe military¡¯s decision to offer them was a concession. It is worth noting that before the apocalypse, ordinary people could not own firearms at all. This decision by the military was the result of careful deliberation. Most survivors were ordinary people, and even though there were superpower users among them, in the early stages of the apocalypse, they had not yet had time to familiarize themselves with the superpowers within them, and their Attack Power was limited. Yet with the vast number of zombies, to kill the zombies and save more survivors, a large number of people were necessary. Soldiers were limited in number, and the remaining survivors naturally needed to become combatants. Using melee weapons against zombies demanded too much of the user. Unless one was skilled, ordinary people might not be able to kill zombies even with weapons. Firearms, on the other hand, were different. With a little training, one could shoot from a distance, which was indeed a powerful tool. Chapter 65 - 65 058 Safe Store (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 65: 058 Safe Store (Second Update)_2 Chapter 65: 058 Safe Store (Second Update)_2 However, the military also worried that survivors who got a hold of firearms might be difficult to control and could even cause greater chaos. As a result, not only were the prices of firearms expensive, but their availability was also limited, with strict control over ammunition. Without bullets, firearms in survivors¡¯ hands would be nothing more than a rather sophisticated toy. After looking through the booklet, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t plan to purchase any items. Their skills were still passable, and they had awakened their superpowers, crafting some skills. Once they became more proficient with these skills, their strength would further improve. The handguns and rifles that relied solely on bullets to be effective would naturally become useless. What they wanted more were submachine guns and machine guns, or even rocket launchers. However, it was obvious that unless the situation became even more critical, the military wouldn¡¯t let these powerful weapons fall into the hands of ordinary survivors. Other than her, everyone else had also looked through the booklet, including Bai Qianqian. However, he was very sensible, and after quickly browsing through it, he didn¡¯t ask to buy any food; instead, he carefully placed the booklet back on the shelf. The uniformed saleswoman patiently waited nearby, making no effort to push sales. Seeing they had no intention of buying anything, she only smiled without speaking. The goods in the safe store were still in a state of short supply. It was obvious that as more survivors emerged, the items would become even scarcer, so there was no need to worry about not selling them. Naturally, she didn¡¯t need to make an effort to sell. On the other hand, the other five survivors looked at the booklet with faces full of sorrow, as if they were struggling with what to buy. Just as Fang Yuxin and the others were about to leave, they heard one of them hesitantly ask, ¡°Why is it so expensive? Can¡¯t it be a little cheaper?¡± Once he spoke, the others agreed, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s too expensive. Make it cheaper.¡± Another person said, ¡°Can¡¯t you give me a discount? I¡¯ll buy more items.¡± The beautiful saleswoman replied politely, ¡°Sorry, the prices are set by higher-ups, and they can¡¯t be discounted.¡± After seeing the survivors¡¯ disgruntled expressions, she explained further, ¡°All the goods here are riskily procured by the military from other places. The price paid is high, so the current pricing is very reasonable. Later on, when there are more survivors, the prices may even go up.¡± Hearing that prices were likely to rise in the future, the five individuals¡¯ expressions turned even uglier. Then, one of them clenched their teeth and declared, ¡°I¡¯ll buy it!¡± After saying that, he took out his ID Card and pointed to the items in the booklet, ¡°I want this, this, and this.¡± After hesitating for a moment, the other four decided to buy as well. Fang Yuxin took particular notice that what these five people bought were mainly guns and food. Given the high cost of firearms, they probably didn¡¯t have many credit points left on them, so they only bought a relatively cheap pistol and some bullets. Fang Yuxin and the others turned and walked towards the exit. Just as they stepped outside, they saw a green military truck drive up, stopping right at the entrance. As the truck came to a halt and the doors opened, soldiers armed to the teeth jumped out and stood guard beside the vehicle with wary faces. One of them, who was facing Fang Yuxin and the others, shot them an especially piercing look. Seeing that Fang Yuxin was holding a child¡¯s hand, these people didn¡¯t make any excessive moves, but their demeanor remained defensive. One of them said, ¡°Unrelated personnel clear out quickly, don¡¯t block the way here!¡± His attitude was fierce, and the Fang Family couldn¡¯t help but felt a little indignant. However, since these individuals were armed with submachine guns, confronting them would be like throwing an egg against a rock, so the Fang Family prepared to leave. But just as they were about to do so, another truck arrived, and a man jumped out and hurried over, ¡°Xinxin!¡± It was Qiu Yiming! His call made the man who had spoken change his expression. He looked at Qiu Yiming nervously and asked with concern, ¡°Boss, do you know them?¡± Qiu Yiming glared at him irritably and pointed at Fang Yuxin as he scolded the man, ¡°Look closely! That¡¯s your sister-in-law! Remember your place in the future, we are soldiers, not bandits!¡± After speaking, Qiu Yiming quickly approached Fang Yuxin and also greeted Fang Yuyang, Fang Jintang, and Qu Qianhe, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, Yuyang, what brings you here? Are you planning to buy something?¡± He seemed puzzled by the last question since he knew that the Fang Family had stocked up on supplies before the apocalypse and shouldn¡¯t need to buy anything from the safe store. Thinking of the Fang Family¡¯s supplies, he frowned slightly. When he first learned that the Fang Family was stockpiling large amounts of materials before the apocalypse, he began investigating and found out that most of these materials were stored in several large warehouses. Unfortunately, those warehouses were occupied by zombies after the apocalypse and therefore were not easily reclaimed. As for the remaining materials... he believed that the Fang Family still had plenty in their hands, probably hidden in the basement of their villa. However, considering his relationship with Fang Yuxin, it naturally wouldn¡¯t be right for him to covet these materials. Speaking of which, his marriage to Fang Yuxin was originally scheduled for the National Day this year, but the apocalypse had forced them to postpone the wedding. Furthermore, there was Bai Qianqian... As Qiu Yiming¡¯s gaze landed on Bai Qianqian, whom Fang Yuxin held by the hand, a dark tide surged within him, his eyes momentarily deepened with complexity. Bai Qianqian, however, instantly sensed Qiu Yiming¡¯s hostility. He glanced at Qiu Yiming before shifting his steps and hiding behind Fang Yuxin, only revealing half of his body, and said with a ¡®wronged¡¯ tone, ¡°Mama, they have guns. I¡¯m scared.¡± At these words, Qiu Yiming¡¯s expression darkened immediately, and the man he had previously scolded also changed his expression, looking at Fang Yuxin with a meaningful gaze¡ªhe had only learned today what his boss¡¯s preference was like! In the midst of this, the truck¡¯s door opened again, and a woman with a seductive figure stepped out. The sharp sound of her high heels echoed as she walked gracefully to Qiu Yiming¡¯s side. She curved her fiery red lips into a playful smile and said, ¡°Captain, perhaps we should handle these supplies before catching up. I am always understanding, and I¡¯m sure she won¡¯t be mad at you.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to vote for it with recommendation and monthly tickets at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 66 - 66 059 Scheming (Third Update) ?Chapter 66: 059 Scheming (Third Update) Chapter 66: 059 Scheming (Third Update) Fang Mengyao brought it up, and Qiu Yiming remembered there was still the matter of supplies. Although he indeed had something to say to Fang Yuxin, what Fang Mengyao said wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªthe supplies were indeed the pressing issue at hand. However, before he could speak up, Fang Yuxin had already taken the initiative, ¡°You go ahead and take care of things. It¡¯s getting late; we should head back.¡± Seeing Fang Yuxin about to leave, he became anxious and grabbed her wrist in a fluster, ¡°Xinxin, could you wait here for a moment? I have something I want to say to you.¡± Fang Yuxin looked down at her hand being held by him and instinctively wanted to pull away, yet felt that to do so would seem too intentional. After all, Qiu Yiming was still her boyfriend, and to fall out with him this early would be very detrimental to the Fang Family. So she hesitated. Bai Qianqian didn¡¯t care about these things. Seeing that Qiu Yiming was holding onto Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist and not letting go, he became furious. He forcefully slapped Qiu Yiming¡¯s hand and yelled, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to grab my mom! You¡¯re not allowed! Let go! Let go!¡± Qiu Yiming was caught off guard by the hit on the back of his hand, which snapped crisply and was quite painful. His face immediately turned ugly, and he glared menacingly at Bai Qianqian, but in front of Fang Yuxin, he couldn¡¯t really do anything. Fang Yuxin, however, worried that Qiu Yiming would hurt Bai Qianqian in his agitation, pretended to be displeased and chided, ¡°Qianqian! Don¡¯t be rude! Apologize to Uncle Qiu right now!¡± But Bai Qianqian didn¡¯t listen and instead stubbornly looked up at Fang Yuxin with his eyes gradually reddening, ¡°Mama, I don¡¯t like him!¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s face turned even uglier. This was outdoors, after all, and with Bai Qianqian making such a scene, how was he supposed to maintain his dignity? Seeing his ugly expression, Fang Yuxin had to take hold of his hand and said, ¡°He¡¯s just a child, don¡¯t be angry with him.¡± Her fingers were slender and soft, her skin fine and warm to the touch. Qiu Yiming felt a bit better with her holding his hand. He glanced at Bai Qianqian, then squeezed Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand and said to her, ¡°I have to attend to something, can you wait for me nearby, please?¡± Though it was phrased as a question, his tone left no room for refusal. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to fall out with him yet, so she reluctantly agreed. Concerned that Bai Qianqian would continue to make a scene, she turned to Fang Jintang and the others, ¡°Dad, Mom, Brother, please take Qianqian back first. I¡¯ll wait for Yiming.¡± The expressions on the three faces of the Fang Family weren¡¯t good, and Fang Yuyang was so angry that he clenched his fists, but seeing those armed soldiers, they had to suppress their anger and get ready to take Bai Qianqian back first. Bai Qianqian didn¡¯t want to leave and clung to Fang Yuxin, not letting go. Fang Yuxin had to say, ¡°Be good and go home with your grandparents first; Mommy will be back soon.¡± Bai Qianqian swiftly glanced at Qiu Yiming, pursed his lips, and finally nodded. Just as Fang Yuxin was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he added, ¡°You must come back in half an hour!¡± Fang Yuxin nodded her agreement, and he finally reluctantly followed Fang Yuyang and the others away. As the car drove off, Qiu Yiming thought for a moment, then said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, why don¡¯t you just stay by my side.¡± Fang Yuxin had no objections; she too wanted to see what these people had managed to round up. Fang Mengyao saw that Qiu Yiming was still hung up on Fang Yuxin and was filled with jealousy. She had followed Qiu Yiming outside on a mission for the entire day, sticking close by him. Along the way, the two of them appeared to be conversing and laughing together in a harmonious atmosphere, and it seemed Qiu Yiming genuinely appreciated her! But the moment Fang Yuxin appeared, Qiu Yiming seemed to have eyes only for her! She couldn¡¯t understand it¡ªwhat was so good about this woman? Acting all high and mighty like a Holy Maiden every day, and yet she ended up with a belly bump, even gave birth to a bastard child, for heaven¡¯s sake! What was so great about such a shameless woman? Why was she worth Qiu Yiming¡¯s constant reminiscing? So she said, ¡°Brother Yiming, isn¡¯t Sister Xin a Wood Element superpower user? Since she is here, why not have her look at the wounded in the team? Superpower healing is much faster than ordinary treatment.¡± As soon as she suggested this, Qiu Yiming frowned and hesitated. After all, Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t his team member, and to have her help treat injuries... The man who spoke earlier then said, ¡°Boss! Turns out our sister-in-law is a superpower user too, and a Wood Element Superpower at that! Why don¡¯t we let our sister-in-law take a look at Xiao Chen and the others? They¡¯ve been injured, and it won¡¯t be easy for them to go on missions tomorrow.¡± As he spoke up, the other soldiers also looked at Qiu Yiming with a hint of pleading in their eyes, while their gazes toward Fang Yuxin were somewhat eager. They were all superpower users, but they still couldn¡¯t control the energy in their bodies very well. Plus, since Fang Yuxin concealed her energy fluctuations, they naturally couldn¡¯t detect it. Chapter 67 - 67 059 Calculation (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 67: 059 Calculation (Third Update)_2 Chapter 67: 059 Calculation (Third Update)_2 If it weren¡¯t for that, the man earlier wouldn¡¯t have treated Fang Yuxin so terribly. Ever since it was discovered that Wood Element Superpower Users had healing abilities, people naturally started treating them differently. A healer who could mend wounds and save lives was, naturally, someone you wouldn¡¯t want to offend if possible. Qiu Yiming¡¯s situation was harder to handle; he was now the captain of the Superpower Team, with many people under his command. To win over his team, he needed not just strength but also to pay attention to his members¡¯ demands. After thinking it over, he said to Fang Yuxin in a low, deep, magnetic and sensuous voice, which was incredibly attractive, ¡°Xinxin, why don¡¯t you give it a try? Think of it as helping me, okay? Don¡¯t turn me down, alright? Do it for me.¡± His voice was so soft that other soldiers didn¡¯t hear it, but Fang Mengyao, who was relatively close by, heard everything clearly. She glared fiercely at Fang Yuxin, like a resentful wife whose husband had been seduced by a vixen¡ªwith Fang Yuxin being that vixen! Yet, she forgot that Fang Yuxin was now Qiu Yiming¡¯s official girlfriend! Even if Fang Yuxin really had a bad attitude toward him, it was perfectly justified and nothing to be ashamed of. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t reject Qiu Yiming¡¯s request¡ªthey were still boyfriend and girlfriend, even discussing marriage¡ªand his request was not excessive. Refusing would seem unkind. However, she wasn¡¯t willing to be manipulated by Fang Mengyao so easily! Thus, she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t see a problem myself, but I¡¯ve healed people before and I don¡¯t know how to proceed. What if something goes wrong?¡± Upon hearing this, Qiu Yiming couldn¡¯t help but think that it seemed Xinxin and her family hadn¡¯t been injured before. He assured her, ¡°No worries, I have a team member who also has the Wood Element Superpower. I¡¯ll call him over to teach you.¡± Fang Yuxin was then puzzled, ¡°Then why are there still people getting injured?¡± Qiu Yiming explained to her, ¡°His superpower has recently awakened too, and he can only heal a limited number of people each time. His power has depleted and he¡¯s currently absorbing a Crystal Core to recover, but he isn¡¯t fully restored yet. If you could heal, please help them, it¡¯s not good to carry injuries indefinitely. We have a mission tomorrow, we need them recovered quickly.¡± Survivors in the Safe Zone were not abundant, and awakened superpower users were even fewer. Although he had recruited some people, many others weren¡¯t willing to join or had joined others. Thus, the number of people he could rely on wasn¡¯t high and many were injured from dealing with an excessive number of zombies today. If they couldn¡¯t be healed by today, tomorrow¡¯s mission would definitely be affected. That was why he had approached Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± As she said this, she couldn¡¯t help but add somewhat casually, ¡°It¡¯s a pity I¡¯ve only awakened the Wood Element Superpower. I¡¯m not sure how useful it will be. Unlike Xiao Yao who even awakened the Spatial System Superpower. She must¡¯ve been a big help to you today, right?¡± This comment caused many others to change their expressions. Qiu Yiming gave Fang Yuxin a stealthy glance, knowing she did it on purpose! The two of them had grown up together after all, and he was familiar with Fang Yuxin¡¯s temperament. Since Fang Mengyao had deliberately schemed against her, she naturally retaliated. But Fang Yuxin¡¯s actions complicated the situation for him. He had kept Fang Mengyao¡¯s Spatial System Superpower a secret from the others and had even used today¡¯s resource collection as an opportunity to let Fang Mengyao stash away quite a bit! Now, it seemed this secret might not stay hidden! He subtly observed his team members¡¯ expressions and indeed saw some faces showing doubt, looking at Fang Mengyao. Fang Mengyao hadn¡¯t expected Fang Yuxin to say such a thing. After a moment of initial panic, she steadied herself and coldly said, ¡°Sister Xin! Brother Yi Ming said that the matter of Spatial Superpower is of great significance and must not be disclosed carelessly. Even if you don¡¯t like me, you shouldn¡¯t divulge such critical information in public!¡± This was essentially accusing Fang Yuxin of being petty and reckless. But Fang Yuxin¡¯s disposition was not something Fang Mengyao could shake. There was not a trace of panic on her face, only guilt as she said to Qiu Yiming, ¡°I thought you would have told the team members about Xiao Yao¡¯s ability. I didn¡¯t expect you to have made such arrangements. I¡¯m sorry.¡± She was naturally strong-willed and rarely softened in front of Qiu Yiming, showing such a tender side to him. Although Qiu Yiming knew she was doing it intentionally, seeing her relent made it hard for him to reprimand her further. He then explained, ¡°I really have many concerns. After all, there are very few Spatial System Superpower Users. If other survivors knew of Xiao Yao¡¯s ability, they might harm her.¡± Although his words served as an explanation to the team members, Qiu Yiming knew he would need to explain again later and provide a better reason. After finishing his explanation, he then had someone summon the team¡¯s Wood Element Superpower User, Josh, to teach Fang Yuxin how to treat the injured, while also instructing others to move the supplies to the warehouse in the safe store. Josh arrived quickly, a young man of decent appearance. He had been in the back of the truck absorbing a Crystal Core to recover, and upon learning that Qiu Yiming had found another Wood Element Superpower User for him to guide, he quickly followed. Upon arrival, he started scrutinizing Fang Yuxin, his gaze critical and discerning. Having treated wounded numerous times, and because of his affinity to the Wood Element, his perception of energy and vitality was particularly sharp. However, upon seeing Fang Yuxin, he found her energy fluctuations to be exceedingly weak, almost nonexistent, and he didn¡¯t hold her in high regard, thinking that even if she had awakened the Wood Element Superpower, she lacked competence. Thus, he simply said coolly, ¡°Follow me.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com), by casting a recommended vote or a monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 68 - 68 060 Healing (First Update) ?Chapter 68: 060 Healing (First Update) Chapter 68: 060 Healing (First Update) Qiu Yiming saw Fang Yuxin following Josh and said, ¡°Wait,¡± then called his deputy to handle the supplies and coordinate with the person in charge of the safe store. His deputy, the young man who had been rude to Fang Yuxin earlier, agreed. Seeing that Qiu Yiming was going to accompany Fang Yuxin, his gaze became playful again, and he even glanced at Fang Mengyao. He had long realized that Fang Mengyao was interested in Qiu Yiming! And he believed that with Qiu Yiming¡¯s intelligence, it was impossible not to notice! However, it seemed his boss was more concerned about the woman named Fang Yuxin. He wondered just how effective her Wood Element Superpower was, and if it were good, she could be a valuable addition to the team. This could not only lighten Josh¡¯s load but also allow their leader to have the best of both worlds, which would definitely be interesting! But... Fang Mengyao was a Space-related superpower user! No wonder... He thought his boss insisted on bringing her along because he was blinded by passion! As Qiu Yiming walked with Fang Yuxin and Josh, Fang Mengyao¡¯s face turned extremely ugly. She felt as if countless eyes were watching and mocking her. Her face changed again, then she gritted her teeth and hurried after Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming in her high heels. Those left behind watched her chase after them, their looks equally teasing. But compared to Fang Mengyao, handling supplies was more important. So they quickly looked away and kept their thoughts to themselves. Once Fang Mengyao¡¯s identity as a Space-related superpower user was revealed, not only was Qiu Yiming¡¯s deputy concerned, but other members of the Superpower Team also took interest. However, it wasn¡¯t the time for discussions, so they just kept their thoughts to themselves. Besides, they were curious about Fang Yuxin¡¯s capability in her Wood Element Superpower. Meanwhile, Fang Yuxin followed Josh to the last truck and immediately smelled the strong scent of blood as they approached. Just from the odor, she knew the people inside were severely injured. It was not surprising; if they hadn¡¯t been badly hurt, Qiu Yiming wouldn¡¯t have gathered them in a separate truck or had a Wood Element Superpower User treat them. Upon entering the truck, Fang Yuxin saw a low-energy light on. To save power, only one bulb was lit, offering a light that wasn¡¯t very bright but enough to prevent dimness. As soon as she boarded, the people inside instinctively turned to look. They had overheard some of the earlier conversation about a new Wood Element Superpower User. So when Fang Yuxin followed Josh in, their gazes locked onto her, filled with curiosity, scrutiny, and mostly, anticipation. At times like this, no amount of scheming could outweigh the importance of one¡¯s life. Thus, these people had little ulterior motives and genuinely hoped Fang Yuxin¡¯s power was formidable enough to heal their injuries quickly. Originally, Josh didn¡¯t think highly of Fang Yuxin. Being a Wood Element Superpower User himself, he naturally felt a rivalry among those with the same power. Additionally, the energy fluctuations from Fang Yuxin were very weak, making him believe her capabilities were lacking, and calling her over was simply redundant, only giving the injured false hope. Yet, Qiu Yiming also came along, and with dissatisfaction in his heart but considering Qiu Yiming¡¯s status, he dared not show his displeasure. Thus, his attitude towards Fang Yuxin improved considerably, even adding a warmth to his voice as he approached an injured soldier and called out to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Miss Fang, please come over here.¡± Once Fang Yuxin did as instructed, he unwrapped the soldier¡¯s bandaged arm. The bandage was soaked with blood, and being close, Fang Yuxin felt a strong smell of blood hit her as the bandage was loosened. Mixed within was the potent scent of medicine, indicating it had been treated. After removing the bandage, a gruesome wound was revealed, jagged and about seven or eight centimeters long, quite deep, and already stitched up albeit hurriedly and crudely, resembling a twisted centipede. Fang Yuxin frowned upon seeing it. The stitching was too rough; if it healed this way, it would surely leave an ugly scar. However, since she was not a member of the Superpower Team, she felt it wasn¡¯t her place to comment. Chapter 69 - 69 060 Treatment of Injury (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 69: 060 Treatment of Injury (First Update)_2 Chapter 69: 060 Treatment of Injury (First Update)_2 Josh said, ¡°Now place your palm on his wound and try to control the Wood Element Superpower in your body, guiding the energy into the wound to promote healing.¡± This method was naturally very crude and simplistic. However, many people had only just awakened their superpowers and were still slowly figuring out how to control and utilize them. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know about Josh¡¯s talent, but the fact that he had thought to treat the wounded in such a way was commendable. However, this didn¡¯t mean she would do it just as he had described. Although she could not expose Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, if she kept hiding her abilities without showing some of them, it would lead people to underestimate her. This would be very disadvantageous for the Fang Family. In her dreams, Fang Mengyao had managed to scheme against them, even making most of the survivors in the safety base hostile towards them, wasn¡¯t it all because of her extraordinary abilities? Now Fang Mengyao was watching her like a tiger eyeing its prey, and Josh clearly looked down on her, she had to do something to prove her strength! Thus, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Take the stitches out first.¡± Although Josh had to be polite to her out of respect for Qiu Yiming, he still didn¡¯t think much of Fang Yuxin. So as soon as she finished speaking, he instinctively retorted, ¡°No! What if you take out the stitches and you can¡¯t heal the wound?¡± Fang Yuxin frowned, Josh might have been deliberately antagonizing her by saying so, but his point wasn¡¯t entirely without merit. If she removed the stitches and failed to heal the wound, the patient would suffer again to have the wound stitched back up. However, she was confident in her abilities. If she didn¡¯t remove the stitches, leaving them in could become troublesome. After thinking for a moment, she asked the wounded, ¡°I can try to treat you, but I must remove the stitches first. Are you willing to take the risk?¡± She then raised her voice and said, ¡°Anyone willing to take the risk can step forward, and I will treat him. If no one is willing to take the risk, then I¡¯m powerless to help.¡± If these people weren¡¯t even willing to take such a risk, she wouldn¡¯t waste her spiritual energy on healing them. The patients looked at each other, and no one spoke up. Josh looked displeased, thinking Fang Yuxin was deliberately creating trouble. Fang Mengyao held her arms and watched the drama unfold with glee but didn¡¯t rashly speak. Qiu Yiming thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Xinxin, how confident are you?¡± Fang Yuxin replied, ¡°This is my first time trying to heal someone, but my intuition tells me to do this, I¡¯m about 70 to 80 percent confident.¡± Upon hearing this, Qiu Yiming no longer hesitated. He knew Fang Yuxin¡¯s straightforward nature; if she said she was 70 to 80 percent confident, she definitely wasn¡¯t bluffing. He directly told Josh, ¡°Take out the stitches.¡± His tone was firm, and even though Josh looked displeased, he dared not say anything further. The wounded then said, ¡°Alright! Just do as the boss says! I trust the boss!¡± Josh took the medical kit, sterilized the tools, and quickly removed the stitches. Since the wound hadn¡¯t healed yet, blood flowed out again as he removed them, and Josh continuously dabbed it with medical cotton, which soon turned red. Then he turned to Fang Yuxin and said, ¡°Now, get to it!¡± His tone was even somewhat fierce. Fang Yuxin showed no sign of nervousness but merely extended a finger and lightly touched the gruesome injury. Then, everyone saw a bit of emerald light appear at her fingertip, which then transformed into a thin thread of light that shot into the wound. The next moment, the vicious, twisted wound visibly healed at a quick pace. About a minute later, the wound was completely healed without even a mark left on the skin, only the bloodstains that had not been wiped away fast enough indicated that there had ever been an injury. Witnessing this scene, everyone¡¯s expressions changed dramatically, their faces displaying disbelief as they looked at Fang Yuxin. Qiu Yiming, ecstatic, immediately wrapped his arms around Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder, pulling her into his embrace, excitedly saying, ¡°Xinxin! I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong about you! I knew you could do it!¡± As he spoke, he specifically looked at Fang Yuxin¡¯s face, and seeing her complexion normal without any signs of weakness, his mood improved even further. He had seen Josh treat a wounded person before, and naturally, he knew that, although Josh also possessed the Wood Element Superpower and could heal, his speed and ease were nowhere near those of Fang Yuxin! If there was a difference, it was probably that Josh¡¯s control over his energy was far less refined than Fang Yuxin¡¯s. Thus, the thought of having Fang Yuxin join the team reemerged in his mind. If Fang Yuxin could be with him on missions, he naturally felt more assured. However, he didn¡¯t bring it up directly but instead asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, how many more people can you save now?¡± Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t used to being held so close by Qiu Yiming. Although they had been close before, and Qiu Yiming used to hug her shoulder intimately, her feelings for Qiu Yiming had been completely eroded by the dream. She now resisted such intimacy. After Qiu Yiming asked, she took the opportunity to stand up and distance herself from him, ¡°I¡¯m not sure how many more people I can save. Different injuries should require different amounts of superpower. I¡¯ll start by checking the other victims, and if I reach my limit, I¡¯ll stop.¡± Feeling suddenly empty, Qiu Yiming felt rather disappointed. However, he was not one to lose himself to lust over serious matters, and the situation called for prioritizing the task at hand, so he said, ¡°Then, I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote, recommend, and give monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 70 - 70 061 Shocking (Second Update) ?Chapter 70: 061 Shocking! (Second Update) Chapter 70: 061 Shocking! (Second Update) Josh looked at Fang Yuxin with a complex gaze, unable to fathom that she had such strength. He couldn¡¯t understand how she could be so powerful when the energy fluctuations emanating from her were so weak, even faint. Then, he suddenly remembered the way Fang Yuxin had healed the injuries earlier, that green thread was unmistakably a manifestation of the Wood Element Superpower! He realized that Fang Yuxin¡¯s control over the Wood Element Superpower was incredibly abnormal. The energy fluctuations on her body weren¡¯t truly weak; she was deliberately controlling them! Josh was both envious of Fang Yuxin¡¯s terrifying control over the Wood Element Superpower and felt that if she hadn¡¯t purposely concealed her energy fluctuations, he wouldn¡¯t have misjudged her strength. With that thought, his dissatisfaction towards Fang Yuxin grew. Although Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t paying attention to Josh, she still sensed his malice. Without showing any reaction, she pretended not to know anything, treated six more severely injured individuals, and then deliberately exhibited signs of weakness due to excessive use of her superpower. Seeing her pale face and sweat on her forehead, Qiu Yiming, worried, walked over and once again stopped Fang Yuxin, letting her lean on him. Although Fang Yuxin resisted internally, her apparent weakness made it difficult for her to outright reject him. Fortunately, although Qiu Yiming held her, he was very polite and didn¡¯t act inappropriately like some men might. After all, the two had grown up together; Qiu Yiming liked her, and he treated her with great respect. He certainly wouldn¡¯t behave indelicately in front of others, deliberately humiliating her. Seeing her pale complexion, Qiu Yiming suggested taking her home. When leaving with Fang Yuxin, he specifically instructed Josh, ¡°Josh, if your superpower recovers, continue treating them; don¡¯t slack.¡± After Josh agreed, Qiu Yiming ordered someone to bring a hundred Zombie Crystal Cores to Fang Yuxin as her compensation for this time. Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t expected Qiu Yiming to compensate her, but she didn¡¯t feign refusal and accepted them directly. Qiu Yiming said, ¡°You¡¯ve exhausted a lot of superpower to heal my people¡¯s injuries this time; these Crystal Cores are well deserved.¡± By saying this in front of everyone, he also provided an explanation to his subordinates. It wasn¡¯t a small amount of Crystal Cores that Qiu Yiming offered. If Fang Yuxin¡¯s abilities had been lacking, his subordinates certainly wouldn¡¯t have accepted it. However, Fang Yuxin proved her strength. She healed only seven injured, but those seven had severe injuries, and they recovered as good as new through her treatment, which was enough to silence everyone. Moreover, they all understood that Qiu Yiming¡¯s generous compensation also meant to win Fang Yuxin over. If she joined the Superpower Team, wouldn¡¯t they not have to worry about injuries in the future? Although Josh was also a Wood Element Superpower User, before witnessing Fang Yuxin¡¯s strength, they had shown him a fair amount of respect and were quite ingratiating. However, after seeing Fang Yuxin¡¯s abilities, Josh¡¯s skills seemed quite ordinary in comparison. That Fang Yuxin could heal injuries completely in such a short period of time was something Josh couldn¡¯t accomplish! Thus, not only did none of them object, but they also warmly greeted Fang Yuxin and bade her farewell. Their attitude was completely opposite to when Fang Yuxin first arrived! Fang Yuxin knew what these people were thinking and understood that Qiu Yiming wanted to draw her into the Superpower Team. However, as long as he didn¡¯t mention it, she pretended not to know and did not express anything. Just as the two were about to leave, Qiu Yiming¡¯s assistant had finished dealing with the supplies and specially came over to see the results of Fang Yuxin¡¯s treatments. Upon arrival, he was taken aback to see Fang Yuxin leaning pale against Qiu Yiming, and asked with concern, ¡°Boss, what happened to sister-in-law?¡± His words had just finished when he noticed the bag in Fang Yuxin¡¯s hands. The bag was slightly bulging, exuding a strong energy, obviously containing Zombie Crystal Cores. His expression shifted slightly, but he cleverly asked no further. Qiu Yiming, however, noticed the change in his expression and knew that he was probably somewhat dissatisfied. He explained, ¡°Xinxin healed seven severely injured individuals, and her superpower was overdrawn; I¡¯m taking her home now.¡± Chapter 71 - 71 061 Shocking (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 71: 061 Shocking! (Second Update)_2 Chapter 71: 061 Shocking! (Second Update)_2 The deputy instantly understood the implication in Qiu Yiming¡¯s words, and his heart felt even more surprised. He had thought Fang Yuxin was being too useless, but was she actually too valuable? However, he didn¡¯t ask further; he simply exchanged a few polite words, and after Qiu Yiming took Fang Yuxin with him into the SUV, the deputy entered the van. Glancing over, he quickly identified the seven people whom Fang Yuxin had treated. As Qiu Yiming¡¯s deputy, he naturally remembered the seven severely injured members. Now, seeing their rosy complexions and no longer the previous frail appearance, it was obvious they had recovered. He then said, ¡°Let me see where you were injured.¡± The seven naturally did not refuse; they lifted their clothes or pants to expose their once-injured areas. By now, the blood at the wound sites had been cleaned, and the skin looked intact, as if they had never been injured. But the deputy remembered where they had been hurt, even the appearance of every wound on their bodies, and now, seeing that their wounds had completely healed and no longer existed, he couldn¡¯t help but ask in surprise, ¡°Is it really completely healed? Does it hurt if pressed?¡± When Josh healed people, he could also make wounds close up, but it was only superficial healing; the insides would still be injured and required slow care. Therefore, he inquired further. The others all shook their heads, and one of them said, ¡°Vice Captain Li, we¡¯ve all tested it, and it¡¯s indeed completely healed.¡± Vice Captain Li immediately laughed and said, ¡°That¡¯s great, with a sister-in-law so capable, the boss will definitely let her join our Superpower Team. In the future, the brothers will be blessed!¡± The others also laughed, looking forward to it. Fang Mengyao, however, let out a cold laugh at that moment. She hadn¡¯t followed Qiu Yiming and Fang Yuxin when they left but stayed behind. Although her face remained calm, jealousy was driving her mad inside! But with Qiu Yiming¡¯s attitude, together with so many eyes watching, if she were to follow them, she would be humiliating herself! Yet, her mood was truly wretched, so upon seeing these people looking forward so much to Fang Yuxin joining the Superpower Team, she couldn¡¯t help herself. At her cold laugh, Vice Captain Li and the others all looked over at her. These people were no fools; they had seen her interest in Qiu Yiming, but obviously, Qiu Yiming¡¯s heart was set on Fang Yuxin. So seeing her looking upset, they could guess why. But knowing was one thing, and Fang Mengyao¡¯s behavior was akin to slapping them in the face. Thus, some people¡¯s expressions turned sour. Vice Captain Li, thinking of her status as a Space-related superpower user that couldn¡¯t be offended, pressed down his anger and asked gently, ¡°Fang... Miss Mengyao, do you have something to say?¡± He had not previously realized the sisterly relationship between Fang Mengyao and Fang Yuxin, but upon addressing her now, he came to his senses! Both their last names were Fang, and Fang Mengyao called Fang Yuxin ¡°sister,¡± clearly indicating that the two really were siblings, rather than, as he had assumed, both being Qiu Yiming¡¯s female acquaintances. At his pause, Fang Mengyao guessed he must have realized her relationship with Fang Yuxin. She pulled at the corner of her mouth, bringing forth a mocking smile, and said coolly, ¡°You can stop dreaming, Fang Yuxin won¡¯t join the Superpower Team. When she first arrived here yesterday, Brother Yi Ming mentioned it to her, more than once, but she declined every time. You probably don¡¯t know her identity; she is the Fang Family¡¯s eldest daughter, raised in luxury and comfort, she couldn¡¯t stand the hardships of undertaking missions.¡± These people naturally knew of the Fang Family, but since the Fangs were always low-key and Fang Yuxin never appeared in the media, they hadn¡¯t connected her to the Fang Family. Now that Fang Mengyao mentioned it, it dawned on them¡ªso she was the Fang Family¡¯s eldest daughter, no wonder the boss liked her so much! Looking at Fang Mengyao again, some people¡¯s gazes became complicated. They all knew the Fang Family, and some were very clear that the Fang Family only had an eldest daughter and no second daughter. So what was Fang Mengyao¡¯s status... Things just got interesting! Vice Captain Li suddenly remembered the matter of the Fang Family¡¯s illegitimate daughter. Being able to be Qiu Yiming¡¯s deputy, his own status wasn¡¯t low; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t dare be so arrogant towards Fang Yuxin. Naturally, he knew quite a few private matters that hadn¡¯t been exposed. Fang Mengyao hadn¡¯t expected that by speaking ill of Fang Yuxin, it would lead people to guess her status as an illegitimate daughter. Sensing some disapproving gazes, her heart tightened, and upon deeper thought, she finally understood! After understanding, Fang Mengyao felt she must do something to maintain her position! But at the moment, the only thing she could rely on was... Thus, Fang Mengyao¡¯s expression turned solemn, and she said in a low voice, ¡°Vice Captain Li, I hope you don¡¯t publicize the fact that I have a Space superpower.¡± Vice Captain Li raised his eyebrows at this, while other team members who were unaware of this looked at Fang Mengyao in astonishment, with some even exclaiming, ¡°Space... Space superpower?¡± ¡°Be discreet!¡± Fang Mengyao warned, seeing the person close their mouth, she then continued, ¡°Correct, I indeed have a Space superpower, but I trust you all understand, this matter is of great significance and absolutely cannot be leaked! Brother Yi Ming conceals this for his own concerns. You all know that the military is not homogenous right now, uncountable eyes are watching over Brother Yi Ming, watching us! Since I am fortunate to have Awakened such a superpower, I will do my best to help him! I hope you will all do the same!¡± Her serious expression and earnest tone, even though spoken quietly, resonated deeply. With the news of her Space superpower, even those who had looked down on her because of her status as an illegitimate daughter were altering their view. Her words had subdued most of them, except for Vice Captain Li, who wore an amused, contemplative smile as he watched Fang Mengyao. In what capacity was she speaking these words? (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommend tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 72 - 72 062 Persecution (Third Update) ?Chapter 72: 062 Persecution (Third Update) Chapter 72: 062 Persecution (Third Update) Qiu Yiming drove Fang Yuxin back himself because her complexion wasn¡¯t good, and he was worried that the Fang Family would be concerned when they saw her, which might lead to misunderstandings about him. Moreover, he had some things he wanted to say to Fang Yuxin, so he deliberately drove very slowly. Fang Yuxin sat in the passenger seat, not looking ahead, nor did she stare at Qiu Yiming like those women who were in love. Instead, she turned and looked out of the window. Although the generator in the Safe Zone was operational, in order to save electricity, there were no streetlights on the road; only some weak or strong lights shone out from the houses on both sides of the road. The brighter lights were probably flashlights or emergency lamps, and the dimmer, most likely candlelight. The safe store also sold candles, charged per piece. A standard candle sold for one credit point and could burn for about a dozen hours, so it had to be used sparingly. Besides candles, there were several types of emergency lamps and flashlights, both battery-operated and rechargeable, and the prices varied. Those who bought emergency lamps and flashlights, once their batteries ran out, could purchase new batteries or recharge them at the safe store, but recharging cost money, at least one credit point. Different survivors had different purchasing abilities, so their choices naturally varied. Seeing Fang Yuxin look out the window, Qiu Yiming felt uneasy. He felt that Fang Yuxin had been growing colder toward him recently. Therefore, he extended his right hand and took hold of Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand. The moment he grasped it, he keenly felt her hand tremble slightly, as if she was resisting. This reaction displeased him, and he subconsciously thought of Bai Qianqian. It seemed that ever since Bai Qianqian appeared, Fang Yuxin¡¯s attitude had changed. Realizing this, his dissatisfaction towards Bai Qianqian grew. He didn¡¯t let go of Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, but instead took a deep breath, pulled the car over to the side of the road, turned his head to look at Fang Yuxin, and asked, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s been bothering you lately? Is it too much pressure?¡± He didn¡¯t ask why she was so cold to him; he always felt that such a question would lead to irreversible consequences. Fang Yuxin turned to look at him, saw his slightly frowned eyebrows and the worried look on his face, and also felt the increased strength in his grasp. She quickly realized¡ªQiu Yiming had noticed her coldness! Qiu Yiming was no fool, and it was not surprising that he noticed this. But what Fang Yuxin understood even more was that he was getting angry. She thought for a moment, then said, ¡°I just don¡¯t know what to do in the future. Did you go into the city today? The situation there... it¡¯s pretty bad, right? Have you ever thought, with so many zombies, how long will it take to clear them all? And, isn¡¯t there any other way?¡± Initially still upset, Qiu Yiming was provoked into consideration when Fang Yuxin brought up the subject. Being in the military, he knew more secrets and thought for a moment before saying, ¡°Currently, the order from above is to rescue as many survivors and resources as possible and eliminate the zombies. As for weapons... they are being developed, but there hasn¡¯t been much progress. The Zombie Virus is very strange and highly mutable. Biological Weapons not only fail to affect zombies but even promote their mutation, and nuclear bombs are the same.¡± He paused here, pinched Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, and said in an especially earnest tone, ¡°Xinxin, I¡¯ll always protect you. Don¡¯t think too much about these things.¡± Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t expected the situation to be so severe. She had once been curious in her dreams why the country didn¡¯t use more powerful weapons against the zombies and had many guesses, but she had never been sure. Now, learning this news from Qiu Yiming, she felt heavy-hearted. But upon further thought, she now had Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, her family was not only still alive, but they had all awakened their superpowers. The situation was much better compared to what she had dreamed, and much better compared to other survivors, so there really was nothing to worry about. Thus, after the tension, she calmed down and said to Qiu Yiming, ¡°I understand. You can keep driving.¡± But Qiu Yiming said, ¡°Xinxin, I still have something to say to you! Your Wood Element Superpower is very important. Will you join my Superpower Team?¡± He had asked, but of course, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t agree¡ªshe had her own mercenary team to take care of! She shook her head and explained the situation with the mercenary team to Qiu Yiming, ¡°My brother and I have set up a small mercenary team, and all its members are my family. I can¡¯t just abandon them.¡± Chapter 73 - 73 062 Pressure (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 73: 062 Pressure (Third Update)_2 Chapter 73: 062 Pressure (Third Update)_2 Qiu Yiming was still unaware of this matter and felt quite displeased upon hearing her words. If Fang Yuxin were willing to help him, his Superpower Team could definitely bring out greater strength! Although he was currently the captain of the Superpower Team, he also faced considerable pressure within the military, and his wasn¡¯t the only Superpower Team in the military¡ªothers had formed their teams as well. If the team under his command was stronger, he would naturally have more say within the military! But Fang Yuxin was unwilling to help him! In his irritation, he lost control of his grip, holding Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand so tightly it almost crushed her bones! She cried out in alarm, then started to struggle forcefully, ¡°Yiming! Let go! You¡¯re hurting me!¡± Qiu Yiming was jolted back to reality by her voice and saw Fang Yuxin frowning deeply, trying continuously to pull her hand back. He refused to let go of her hand but managed to control his strength, switching to holding her wrist instead, then lifted her hand to check for injuries, ¡°Xinxin, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to, I was just too anxious! Let me see if you¡¯re hurt.¡± This time he didn¡¯t dare apply too much force, and Fang Yuxin managed to wriggle her hand free with a clever move, rotating her fingers. Wood Element Spiritual Energy passed over the injured spot, and it healed as good as new. This time, her attitude was particularly cold, ¡°No need, I¡¯m fine now. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to help you, but I can¡¯t abandon my family. Besides, there¡¯s already a Wood Element Superpower User in your team, whereas in my family, besides my brother, I¡¯m the only superpower user.¡± Qiu Yiming breathed a sigh of relief when he saw she was alright. However, Fang Yuxin¡¯s cold attitude and her words infuriated him once more, and he snapped, ¡°Can¡¯t leave your family behind? I think it¡¯s Qianqian that you can¡¯t let go of!¡± Fang Yuxin did not deny it but simply admitted, ¡°Indeed, I can¡¯t let go of him. He¡¯s so small, a slight mishap could be fatal.¡± Qiu Yiming grew angrier, he unbuckled his seatbelt with force, then his body lunged forward, grasping Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulders and pushing her down onto the car seat, ¡°Xinxin! You are my woman! Why are you raising another man¡¯s son? Have you forgotten? We are about to get married!¡± Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t expected Qiu Yiming to be so agitated, she became quite panicked and struggled fiercely, ¡°Let go! Can¡¯t we talk about this calmly?¡± Qiu Yiming became even more incensed by her resistance, he lowered his head to kiss Fang Yuxin¡¯s lips, but she turned her head away in fright, and his kiss landed on her cheek instead. Qiu Yiming squinted his eyes angrily, holding her collarbone with one hand while pinching her jaw with the other, forcefully turning her face toward him, and gazing at her menacingly, ¡°Xinxin, tell me, do you know who that man is? Have you fallen for him? Is that why you don¡¯t want me anymore? Hmm?¡± Fang Yuxin had been in a relationship with Qiu Yiming for many years, but this was the first time he had treated her this way. She kneed upward forcefully, then kicked Qiu Yiming in the abdomen to create distance between them. Then, she took the opportunity to unbuckle her seatbelt and quickly opened the car door to get out. Qiu Yiming let out a muffled grunt and then also opened the door to chase after her. Being a man, he caught up to her quickly, despite how fast Fang Yuxin was going. He reached out to pull on her wrist but Fang Yuxin dodged away. She turned to face Qiu Yiming, her eyes ablaze with anger, ¡°Qiu Yiming, what happened just now has made me very angry! I don¡¯t want to talk to you anymore right now, please go back!¡± The night wind blew, and the coolness helped Qiu Yiming¡¯s heated brain finally calm down, he quickly said, ¡°Xinxin, I was just panicking a moment ago. I¡¯m just worried you have another man on your mind!¡± Fang Yuxin remembered his behavior just now and felt there was something off about his attitude, so she asked, ¡°Who are you talking about? Qianqian¡¯s father? You know him?¡± Qiu Yiming fell silent for a moment, then said, ¡°Yes! I know him! He¡¯s not a good person, you¡¯d better stay away from him!¡± As he spoke, he had already resolved to find Bai Ye¡¯s whereabouts tomorrow when he entered the city and eliminate him! He was well aware of Bai Ye¡¯s abilities and knew that Bai Ye was the kind of man Fang Yuxin would admire. If the two of them met, with Bai Qianqian there, who knew what could happen between them! He wouldn¡¯t allow it! Fang Yuxin was his! Bai Ye shouldn¡¯t even think about it! Fang Yuxin sensed that Qiu Yiming seemed to be particularly wary of Bai Qianqian¡¯s father, becoming emotionally unstable whenever he was mentioned. Concerned that Qiu Yiming might lose his reason, she didn¡¯t bring up Bai Ye again, instead saying, ¡°Stop making wild guesses. Also, I need to go back.¡± Qiu Yiming stepped in front of her to block her path, ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± Fang Yuxin wanted to refuse, but seeing his awful expression, she reluctantly agreed. Qiu Yiming took a deep breath and promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, what happened just now won¡¯t happen again.¡± He suddenly closed the distance to Fang Yuxin, his voice low, ¡°I will make you willingly stay with me, no more forcing you.¡± Fang Yuxin breathed a sigh of relief, with Qiu Yiming speaking like this, he wouldn¡¯t act rashly anymore. She wasn¡¯t completely helpless, but if it came to that, her true strength would be exposed. Now that Qiu Yiming was willing to step back, nothing could be better. Back in the car, Qiu Yiming stayed well-behaved, although he still held Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand firmly. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to provoke him further, so she let it be. The ride was silent, and as they approached the house, she saw from a distance that a crowd was blocking her doorstep! (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 74 - 74 063 Forced Purchase (First Update) ?Chapter 74: 063 Forced Purchase (First Update) Chapter 74: 063 Forced Purchase (First Update) As soon as Fang Yuxin saw a crowd gathered at the entrance of her house, she panicked, realizing something was amiss, and urged Qiu Yiming to drive faster. Although Qiu Yiming was in a bad mood, he knew the priority, and seeing that something seemed wrong at the Fang Family, he quickly drove the car over. As they approached, they heard someone say arrogantly, ¡°Brother Wan is willing to buy your house because he respects you. I advise you not to refuse the kind offer and end up with nothing!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than another person chimed in, ¡°Name your price, how many credit points will it take for you to sell?¡± Then, Fang Yuxin heard Fang Yuyang¡¯s voice, ¡°Please leave, no amount of credit points can buy this house. Save your efforts.¡± His words evidently angered the group as someone shouted, ¡°Acting ungrateful, huh? Brother Wan, I think this kid is quite stubborn, a lesson might be needed to soften him up.¡± After that statement, another person spoke, ¡°Fang Yuyang, Mr. Fang, things are different now. You dragging your family along and living in such a big house, is it necessary? I¡¯m not taking advantage of you, I like this house, three thousand credit points, I¡¯ll buy it, how about it?¡± When Fang Yuxin heard this, she was infuriated. Although she anticipated many would covet their house, she hadn¡¯t expected a new group to show up just a day after dealing with the last one! She turned to Qiu Yiming and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are people really allowed to forcefully buy others¡¯ houses in the Safe Zone? Doesn¡¯t anyone manage these matters?¡± Qiu Yiming sighed, explaining to her, ¡°Indeed, such things happen. Many houses within the Safe Zone have owners, and the remaining houses are hardly sufficient to accommodate all the survivors. It¡¯s difficult for the military to forcibly requisition homes from owners, but if there are private transactions, as long as they¡¯re not too excessive, the military won¡¯t intervene.¡± As he spoke, he stopped the car, and Fang Yuxin quickly unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the door, and got out. The crowd at the Fang Family¡¯s entrance initially thought it was a passerby, and became alert only when the car stopped. As Fang Yuxin stepped out, their gazes instinctively shifted towards her. Noticing her beauty, some even whistled disrespectfully. But soon after, their attention turned to the bag Fang Yuxin held. The crowd included both superpower users and Ordinary People; Ordinary People couldn¡¯t sense the Crystal Core¡¯s energy fluctuations, but the superpower users could! Thus, these superpower users shifted their intense gaze from Fang Yuxin¡¯s appearance to the bag in her hand, eager to snatch it away. They dared to approach the Fang Family about buying the house because they, like the Fang Family, had established their own Mercenary Team and even earned plenty of credit points on missions with the military. However, they didn¡¯t have many Crystal Cores. The bag Fang Yuxin was carrying had a hundred Crystal Cores, explaining their fervent interest. Fang Yuxin glanced around, noting there were 20 individuals¡ª all male. Superpower users made up the majority, with twelve; the remaining eight were Ordinary People. They seemed comparably strong, certainly stronger than the group that caused trouble yesterday, which might explain why Fang Yuyang, though angry, hadn¡¯t fought. Such a large group engaging in a fight would indeed be troublesome! Realizing that all twelve superpower users were intensely fixated on her bag, and the remaining eight Ordinary People looked equally malicious, Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression darkened, and she felt significantly displeased. Just then, Qiu Yiming got out of the car and walked over. Seeing him, the faces of the 20 men changed immediately. Qiu Yiming was clad in a camouflage combat uniform, and they all recognized his face! That day, when they accompanied the military on a task, Qiu Yiming was the leader! Thus, their expressions changed abruptly, and they quickly curbed their earlier brashness, the arrogant air vanishing without a trace, turning suddenly polite and meek. One of them stepped forward briskly and approached Qiu Yiming, smiling and ingratiatingly asking, ¡°Captain Qiu, are you just passing by?¡± Clearly, he still harbored some hope. Qiu Yiming merely coolly glanced at them and then, in front of everyone, put his arm around Fang Yuxin¡¯s waist. Seeing the man wince, he then coolly said, ¡°What are you planning by blocking my fiance?e¡¯s house entrance?¡± Fiance?e? Chapter 75 - 75 063 Forced Purchase (Second Update) ?Chapter 75: 063 Forced Purchase (Second Update) Chapter 75: 063 Forced Purchase (Second Update) Upon hearing this, all 20 people couldn¡¯t help but look toward Fang Yuxin. They saw that she was keeping a straight face, clearly very displeased. They regretted it instantly; if they had known that this house belonged to Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e¡¯s family, they would never have come to buy it! The leader¡¯s expression was especially volatile, and he suddenly remembered that the reason he had brought people to buy this house was because of a single sentence from someone! That person was a beautiful woman who always followed Qiu Yiming closely, with an enchanting figure. Despite wearing a pair of high heels no less than ten centimeters, she walked steadily, even her movements were quite adept ¨C just like a sexy superwoman straight out of a movie! At that time, upon seeing the woman always by Qiu Yiming¡¯s side, seemingly in quite good terms with him, he took her words to heart. After returning to the Safe Zone, he led his men to check out the house she mentioned, and indeed, it was very nice, to his liking. However, he wasn¡¯t a fool; after he took a liking to the property, he didn¡¯t go straight to the owner. Instead, he did some investigation and found out that the owners were the Fang Family people and that there were only four members of the Fang Family, plus a 5-year-old child whose origins were unknown. And among these five, only Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin had awakened their superpower. Once he had this information, his mind was made up to purchase the house. He thought that offering 3000 credit points was a very fair price, considering no one knew how long the Safe Zone would last, and 3000 credit points were nearly his group¡¯s entire earnings for the day. But what he hadn¡¯t expected was for the Fang Family to be so ignorant of the way things worked¡ªfor just a house, they were stubbornly refusing to sell! They were merely five people living in such a large house; it was as if they didn¡¯t find it too spacious! Even more unexpectedly, Qiu Yiming¡¯s and Fang Yuxin¡¯s relationship was like this! Although Qiu Yiming and Fang Yuxin were engaged, only people from their circle knew about it, and it wasn¡¯t reported in the media. Therefore, many were still oblivious to this development. Seeing his face changing like the weather, Qiu Yiming barked, ¡°Your name is Wan Yuan, right? I was talking to you just now; didn¡¯t you hear me?¡± He was already bottling up a lot of anger with no outlet when Wan Yuan bumped into him, so why bother being polite anymore? Although Wan Yuan was also a superpower user, having awakened the powerful Fire Ability, Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t really take him seriously. Wan Yuan used to be just an ordinary person, never having gone through rigorous training. Even after awakening his Fire Ability, his attack power was far from being impressive. Wan Yuan knew he couldn¡¯t afford to provoke Qiu Yiming and immediately said, ¡°Captain Qiu, you¡¯ve misunderstood. I was just too surprised. I never imagined Captain Qiu would have such a beautiful fiance?e; truly enviable.¡± But this statement only made Qiu Yiming even angrier. His face completely darkened, like an infuriated lion, radiating a terrifying energy, ready to burst forth at any moment. At the same time, he warned, ¡°Xinxin is mine; don¡¯t even think about laying a finger on her! Now! Take your men and leave this place immediately; don¡¯t come looking for trouble with the Fang Family again!¡± Wan Yuan had never expected that polite words would stir up a hornet¡¯s nest. The energy emanating from Qiu Yiming made him feel extremely volatile, even causing his Fire Ability to become uncontrollable. Wan Yuan¡¯s face turned pale, and he hastily left the place with his men. They fled rapidly, as if they were being chased. Only after they had traveled a long distance, turned a corner, and could no longer see the Fang Family¡¯s house, did they finally stop. His men were all cautiously observing his expression and saw that he looked dreadful, so they were all uneasy. After a chilling silence, someone finally could not hold back and asked, ¡°Brother Wan, did we offend Captain Qiu?¡± Wan Yuan¡¯s face was extremely ugly; by now, how could he not realize he¡¯d been played by that sexy-looking woman! So he asked, ¡°Did you all get a good look at Captain Qiu¡¯s fiance?e?¡± The others, not understanding why he was asking, still earnestly nodded. He let out a cold laugh and asked again, ¡°So what do you think? How does she look?¡± Still puzzled, the others looked at Wan Yuan, not understanding why he would ask this. After a while, someone with a bit more nerve said, ¡°Heh, do you even have to ask? She¡¯s prettier than those TV actresses!¡± Wan Yuan¡¯s laugh grew colder, his tone dripping with disdain: ¡°Those actresses can¡¯t compare to her. She¡¯s the daughter of the chairman of Fang Group! Or what did you think, that she could become Captain Qiu¡¯s fiance?e just with her looks? Hmph!¡± Hearing this, some uttered soft exclamations, but they were even more confused about why Wan Yuan was saying all this. The more daring one asked again, ¡°Brother Wan, just what are you trying to say?¡± Wan Yuan looked at his underlings as if they were iron that hadn¡¯t turned to steel, thinking how foolish they were, yet at the same time, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of intellectual superiority. He had always believed he was no less capable than others except for his birth; he was not born into a wealthy family. Once, the rich second generations were the ones he looked up to, but the apocalypse changed everything! So what if they were from the rich and influential Market family? Now that he had awakened his Fire Ability, he could stand higher than those privileged sons of heaven! Even if Fang Yuxin was Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, now that the Fang Family no longer had their wealth, he didn¡¯t believe that the Qiu Family wouldn¡¯t change their minds! Even as the once rich young miss, Fang Yuxin could only fall to a position of serving them with her beauty! That was... simply too thrilling! As for that sexy woman following Qiu Yiming... he had noted today¡¯s scheme. Sooner or later, he would repay her in kind! (To be continued. If you like this work, you¡¯re welcome to vote for it on Qidian with recommendation votes or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 76 - 76 064 Formation (Second Update) ?Chapter 76: 064 Formation (Second Update) Chapter 76: 064 Formation (Second Update) Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t stay at the Fang Family¡¯s home for too long, as he, as the team captain, had many matters awaiting his attention. Moreover, he had to arrange everything properly regarding Fang Mengyao¡¯s possession of the Space superpower. At this point, he didn¡¯t know that Fang Mengyao, in order to elevate her status within the team, had already revealed her Space superpower. Not long after Wan Yuan and the others had left, Qiu Yiming bid farewell to Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Fang Yuyang, and then he drove away from the Fang Family¡¯s home. After he left, Fang Yuyang, with an unsightly expression, asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, did that boy bully you?¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head and didn¡¯t plan to tell her family about what had happened with Qiu Yiming on the road, especially Fang Yuyang. He was already rather hot-tempered and had always been on bad terms with Qiu Yiming. If he knew about it, in his rage, he might do something impulsive. Fang Yuyang took another careful look at her, and seeing that she didn¡¯t seem troubled and had not been delayed too long outside, he assumed Qiu Yiming wouldn¡¯t dare truly do anything, and thus he let go of his worry. But Bai Qianqian threw himself onto Fang Yuxin, hugging her waist tightly and said unhappily, ¡°Mama, you clearly promised to be home in half an hour, but you were a whole half-hour late! Mama lied!¡± Of course, what he was even more upset about was Qiu Yiming holding Fang Yuxin¡¯s waist! He felt that Mama belonged to him and his silly dad, so how could that annoying, bad uncle be allowed to hold it? He truly hated it! No! He had to find his silly dad! If things continued like this, Mama would be snatched away by the bad uncle! Fang Yuxin felt a bit uncomfortable being hugged so tightly, so she rubbed his head and coaxed him, ¡°Mama didn¡¯t mean to lie to Qianqian. Mama was helping to heal someone and it took a lot of time, so that¡¯s why I came back late.¡± Bai Qianqian¡¯s eyes darted around, and he craftily said, ¡°Then Mama has to promise that you won¡¯t lie to me anymore.¡± Fang Yuxin pinched his cheek and smiled, saying, ¡°Okay, Mama promises you. Now, can you let go of Mama, please?¡± Bai Qianqian frowned, reluctant to let go of Fang Yuxin, but after some hesitation, he still released his hold and sat down beside her instead. Qu Qianhe timely said, ¡°Alright, look at the time; let¡¯s have dinner.¡± Fang Yuxin then said, ¡°I¡¯ll go and prepare dinner.¡± After she spoke, she led the whole family into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. As the owner of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, she directly sent the others into the main hall to cultivate. She also placed all the Elemental Stones she had gathered that day in the hall for them to use. Then, she opened the simple stove and started making a nutritious dinner. She found that after their superpowers had awakened, their bodies were reformed, and their digestive functions were much better than those of normal people, requiring more nutrition as well. They had been busy all day, and if they ate as light a dinner as usual, their bodies wouldn¡¯t be satisfied and they would easily get hungry. So, Fang Yuxin did not stick to her usual health habits and made a particularly lavish meal this time. Meanwhile, as she was cooking, the others were cultivating in the main hall, and even Angela, despite now being a Mutant Beast, was sent in there by her. Fang Yuxin hoped it could grow quickly, as Angela was still too weak. Except for Angela, everyone else was using Elemental Stones to train their spiritual power. After absorbing a Spiritual Power Elemental Crystal, Bai Qianqian¡¯s spiritual power had strengthened a lot, and with the day¡¯s training, he could now cut open an Elemental Stone quite quickly¡ªsometimes, even in 10 to 20 minutes. The others weren¡¯t Spiritual Superpower Users, so their speed was much slower, but it was better than the day before. When Fang Yuxin had prepared the dinner, Bai Qianqian had already cut open four Elemental Stones: two contained Elemental Crystals, and two were empty stones. The others had each successfully cut open one and were working on the second, having cut into it partially, with one stone even revealing the Elemental Crystal inside. This time, they finally obtained Fire Element and Wind Element Elemental Crystals, but still had no Wood Element or Ice Element ones. Fortunately, Fang Yuxin was now a Pure Wood Spirit Body, so Wood Element Elemental Crystals were no longer of use to her, and she didn¡¯t need to feel disappointed. As for Angela, even if they found an Ice Element Elemental Crystal, Fang Yuxin would worry whether it could endure until the end, successfully absorb it, and improve its talent. Chapter 77 - 77 064 Formation (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 77: 064 Formation (Second Update)_2 Chapter 77: 064 Formation (Second Update)_2 After dinner, Fang Yuyang stated, ¡°Xinxin, I plan to absorb the Wind Element Elemental Crystal tonight and then stay in the great hall to train.¡± This statement was not a question; it was clear that Fang Yuyang had made up his mind and was merely informing Fang Yuxin, not seeking her opinion. Before, the Fang Family didn¡¯t have to fear the Qiu Family too much, after all, there were always others who were more formidable than the Qiu Family. But now, things were different; after the apocalypse, their money had become worthless, and it was the supplies they had on hand that became the coveted prize. If it hadn¡¯t been for the incident where Qiu Yiming forcefully kept Fang Yuxin and Wan Yuan brought people to forcibly buy their house, he might not have been so urgent to cultivate. However, those two events happened one after the other, making him realize once again the weakness of the Fang Family! If he couldn¡¯t become stronger quickly, what would he use to protect his sister, to protect their home? Before, even though Fang Yuxin liked Qiu Yiming, and he didn¡¯t get along with Qiu Yiming, he wouldn¡¯t interfere too much. But now things were different; Fang Yuxin had seen Qiu Yiming¡¯s true colors and had lost all feelings for him. He must protect his sister and not let her be bullied by Qiu Yiming! On the way home after separating from Fang Yuxin, he had already begun to think about this matter. After meeting Wan Yuan and the others, he completely firmed up his determination to use all his night-time for cultivation. Fortunately, after cultivating, people don¡¯t feel tired, and not sleeping isn¡¯t a problem. After he said this, without waiting for Fang Yuxin to object, both Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe also said, ¡°Xinxin, we are also planning to stay in the great hall to train.¡± As a brother, Fang Yuyang wanted to protect his sister Fang Yuxin, and as parents, how could they not want to protect their son and daughter? Once they opened their mouths, Bai Qianqian also joined in the excitement. He was extremely clever and even said, ¡°I want to train too! I want to protect Mama!¡± Fang Yuxin was at her wits¡¯ end with them; after thinking for a while, she said, ¡°Then let¡¯s try it tonight. If the effect is good, we can continue to do this in the future.¡± However, if they all stayed in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, what would they do if someone broke into their house in the middle of the night? Fang Yuxin thought about it and decided to set up a simple protective formation around the house. If someone really trespassed, she would be able to sense it immediately and prevent others from discovering that they weren¡¯t in the house. Among the inheritances she received, there were many derivatives, including many formations. Her current strength was weak, so she could only set up the simplest ones. It was just right; there was a ¡®Five Wood Formation,¡¯ which used five plants as the Array Eyes, serving as a maze. It didn¡¯t have any attack capability, but once set, it had some confusing properties. If someone entered the formation, they would be confused by the formation for a while and would be unable to get inside the house. Plus, she would know immediately. If the five plants she used had attack capabilities, the formation would also have a certain offensive capability, making it a quite practical formation. After reading about it, Fang Yuxin quickly learned the formation and then went out of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion to set it up. When the house was being renovated, she specifically had ivy planted on the roof. The slender vines hung down from the roof, which was very aesthetically pleasing. Now, they could come in handy. She made a hand gesture and then sent out strands of Spiritual Energy onto the ivy. The ivy then spread at a visibly rapid pace, covering the entire house. The doors and windows weren¡¯t completely sealed; instead, the ivy hung down like curtains, completely covering them. After that, she took out more than a dozen dandelion seeds. Upon opening her palm, the dandelion seeds floated up slowly and then came to a standstill. She made a hand gesture again and sent Spiritual Energy into the dandelion seeds. A faint glow flashed on the seeds, after which they flew towards the corners of the garden around the house, took root upon landing, and grew rapidly, blossoming into puffball-like white flowers. Once the flowers bloomed, the seeds detached and scattered throughout the garden, rooting themselves once more. After several iterations, the air around the entire house was filled with dandelion seeds, floating slowly. After that, Fang Yuxin chose three other plants and set them up accordingly. Once the whole formation was complete, she felt a mysterious aura surrounding her, as if the entire space had transformed. Also, through the sensation of the formation, she could ¡®see¡¯ every corner around the house clearly, clearer than just relying on Spiritual Sense. She knew this was the effect of the formation, which gave her more peace of mind. Then, without lingering on the roof, she went straight back into the house and re-entered the Qingmu Spirit Mansion. After entering the Spirit Mansion, she found that she could still ¡®see¡¯ the outside situation, which allowed her to completely relax. While she was setting up the formation, Fang Yuyang and Qu Qianhe were also preparing. They had to adjust their bodies to the best state to absorb the Elemental Crystal, to prevent any accidents halfway through. Fang Jintang was beside them, imparting his experience. He had gone through Elemental Crystal absorption once and shared the details with them, so they could be mentally prepared. Bai Qianqian continued to cut Elemental Stones on the side to refine his spiritual power. Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner. When Fang Yuxin returned, Qu Qianhe asked, ¡°Xinxin, have you set everything up?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, and seeing Bai Qianqian¡¯s eager eyes watching her, she went over, sat down cross-legged next to him, and said, ¡°The Five Wood Formation has been set up. If someone breaks in, I will know immediately. You all don¡¯t need to worry.¡± The others guessed that things must have been successful, but they only truly relaxed after hearing her say it herself. Qu Qianhe then looked at Fang Yuyang, ¡°Yuyang, let¡¯s start.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or a monthly ticket on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 78 - 78 065 Mandatory Task (Third Update) ?Chapter 78: 065 Mandatory Task! (Third Update) Chapter 78: 065 Mandatory Task! (Third Update) After breakfast, the Fang Family went to the Task Hall again, planning to accept a task. However, when they arrived, they found that the situation was quite different! Although they had left home early, it wasn¡¯t until they reached the Task Hall that they realized many people were already there, and everyone¡¯s expression was notably solemn. These people had gathered in clusters, and on closer inspection, it was evident that they had formed several factions with clear boundaries. Initially puzzled by their serious expressions, the Fang Family then noticed a new notice posted on the wall. They didn¡¯t rush to ask anyone about it, but decided to patiently read the new announcement. After reading it, their expressions also changed. It turned out to be a notice of forced conscription! The notice read that to rescue as many survivors as possible, any person within the Safe Zone who had successfully completed a task had to accept a rescue mission. They had to enter the city to save survivors and were not allowed to take on any other tasks. Beneath, there was a detailed list of the mercenary teams and corresponding personnel required to undertake the rescue missions, including the Yongcheng Mercenary Team that the Fang Family had established. No wonder this notice had changed the survivors¡¯ expressions. A mission to save people was naturally much more difficult than merely hunting zombies. One could imagine that many of the rescued individuals were likely in poor condition. Bringing them to the Safe Zone undeniably involved increased dangers. These people were almost living burdens! Yet, now the higher-ups had issued such a mission. If one refused, they would be met with severe punishment. Each refusal would result in the deduction of 100 Contribution Points, and the offender would also be added to the Safe Zone¡¯s blacklist, affecting their shopping privileges at the safe store. While this act by the high-ups might seem harsh to many survivors within the Safe Zone, considering the higher-ups¡¯ intention was to rescue people, their actions were understandable. After all, there were only so many soldiers; how many could they possibly save alone? Moreover, with a large number of zombies in the city, any delay decreased the number of survivors. Furthermore, the requirement that only those who had successfully completed tasks the previous day accept a rescue mission was clearly well thought out. This group, having successfully completed tasks, proved their abilities. Moreover, they would perform the tasks alongside soldiers, and anyone conscripted would receive a handgun and six bullets free of charge. After completing the mission, the handgun would be their personal property, along with substantial rewards, and the better the performance, the more generous the rewards. If someone were injured, they would be sent to the Safe Hospital upon return. If someone were unlucky enough to die, their family would receive a decent pension, and if they had no family, the pension would go to their friends. Clearly, the higher-ups did not intend to send survivors to their deaths, and the compensation offered was quite fair. Although the Yongcheng Mercenary Team of the Fang Family was small, comprising only five members, their performance the previous day had been notable, and thus they were included on the list. Unlike other survivors, after their initial surprise, they quickly calmed down. Although it was forced conscription, considering the higher-ups¡¯ actions were meant to rescue more survivors, they harbored no complaints. Moreover, as Fang Yuyang and Qu Qianhe had successfully absorbed the Elemental Crystal the night before, their bodies underwent further transformations, significantly enhancing their talents. With a night of cultivation, their strength had further developed. Having a semblance of assurance about entering the city, they naturally had even fewer complaints. Accordingly, they didn¡¯t delay and directly went to the task window to accept the rescue mission. Because it was a mandatory task, each person received 100 contribution points upon acceptance. Additionally, since they picked up the mission early, each person was specially rewarded with an extra 10 contribution points. As for the handgun and bullets, they would receive them once they met the captain assigned to lead them at the designated location. After picking up the task, the family didn¡¯t linger in the Task Hall and immediately headed to the gathering spot with their voucher. Conveniently located at the East Gate of the Safe Zone, they reached quickly by car. When they arrived, the captain responsible for leading them and his soldiers were already present. His team comprised 30 soldiers, and four large trucks were prepared to transport the rescued survivors. Chapter 79 - 79 065 Mandatory Task (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 79: 065 Mandatory Task! (Third Update)_2 Chapter 79: 065 Mandatory Task! (Third Update)_2 Aside from these people, there were some driving cars, who were apparently mercenaries forcibly recruited. Fang Yuyang drove the SUV to the side and parked, and then everyone got out. Seeing new arrivals, many turned their gaze toward them. But upon seeing Bai Qianqian, some frowned in displeasure. Someone mocked loudly, ¡°We¡¯re here to rescue people in the city, right? Why did someone bring a kid along? Beautiful lady, we¡¯re not going on a picnic.¡± Bai Qianqian heard the mockery directed at him and glared back. His appearance was delicate and cute, with a pair of watery eyes that would normally make anyone unable to resist liking him, and there was nothing threatening about him. However, those who were stared at by him suddenly felt a palpitation! Fearing that Bai Qianqian might expose himself, Fang Yuxin reached out to pat his head in a calming manner, then she looked back coldly, ¡°Since he¡¯s with us, it¡¯s up to us to protect him. What are you worried about?¡± Hearing this, someone else became dissatisfied, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, we¡¯re going to save people. If you¡¯re busy protecting a little brat, how are we going to rescue anyone?¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at the man and realized he wasn¡¯t a superpower user, but rather an ordinary person. Yet he was tall and muscular, likely with some abilities, and she said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be more useful than you.¡± That man felt that Fang Yuxin was looking down on him, and he was about to retort when someone else said, ¡°Cut it out! She¡¯s a Wood Element Superpower User!¡± Fang Yuxin looked at the person who had just spoken and recalled having some impression of him. She then remembered that during yesterday¡¯s incident when she had punished Tian Tian, this person must have been there and seen everything. Many were initially of the opinion that Fang Yuxin was being too arrogant bringing a child along, but after finding out she was a Wood Element Superpower User, their attitudes changed. They all knew that Wood Element Superpower Users possessed healing abilities. Although they were unclear about the extent of Fang Yuxin¡¯s healing ability, having a Wood Element Superpower User who could heal in the team was undoubtedly better than having none. And since she was the only Wood Element Superpower User, not everyone could be treated during the healing process, decisions would have to be made. Therefore, they all nodded and greeted Fang Yuxin to express their goodwill. Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t ungrateful; when they showed goodwill, she naturally wouldn¡¯t continue being confrontational and irritate others, so she nodded back in acknowledgment. At that moment, a skinny young man in his thirties approached. His skin was bronze from years of training under the sun, and he exuded an aura that made his gaze particularly piercing. Ordinary people would feel intimidated by his presence. However, Fang Yuxin and her companions were no ordinary people. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe had seen all sorts of individuals and wouldn¡¯t be deterred by someone like him. Fang Yuyang, though younger, was quite strong himself and had previously met many retired Special Soldiers, so he wasn¡¯t affected either. Fang Yuxin had encountered countless experts in that bizarre dream, and after her cultivation, her mindset was even more unique. Although this man was competent, he was not significant enough to catch her attention. Even Bai Qianqian, despite being the youngest at only 5 years old, was unshakably calm. His father, Bai Ye, was a freakishly strong man, and Bai Qianqian had been trained by him since a young age. This man¡¯s aura paled in comparison to Bai Ye¡¯s; after a single glance, Bai Qianqian looked away with complete composure! Their reactions astonished everyone else. The adults aside, how old was that child? He looked five or six at most, yet he was unaffected by Captain Zhou¡¯s influence, and even seemed to disregard him entirely! Where did this little freak come from? Even the mercenaries had been subjugated by Captain Zhou¡¯s presence! Thus, those who were initially displeased with Fang Yuxin for bringing Bai Qianqian along now harbored an odd notion¡ªtaking such a unique child on a mission didn¡¯t seem all that bad. Captain Zhou observed everyone¡¯s reactions and was also curious about Bai Qianqian¡¯s composure. These longtime military men, with an air of menace about them, usually frightened ordinary children. Yet this one was so calm, not scared of him in the slightest! He couldn¡¯t help but respect Bai Qianqian a bit more, then walked over to Fang Yuxin and asked, ¡°Are you a Wood Element Superpower User?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded. She took out a seed, preparing to demonstrate her ability, but Captain Zhou said, ¡°Wait! No need to prove it like that.¡± He then rolled up his left sleeve to reveal a bandaged wound on his arm. The white bandages were spotted with blood, and the air carried the scent of medicine. He roughly tore off the bandage and gauze, revealing a three to four centimeter long sutured laceration covered in hemostatic drugs. There was slight bleeding, but his rough movement exacerbated it, causing blood to overflow from the wound almost immediately. Extending his arm, he asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°Can you heal it?¡± For him, the ability to sprout a seed was no real skill; the ability to heal injuries was what mattered most. He was unsure of Fang Yuxin¡¯s capabilities and hesitant to let her treat his soldiers. Since he had a wound, he decided to use himself as a test subject. His actions caused the soldiers following behind to cry out in concern, ¡°Captain Zhou!¡± Their faces showed disapproval. But he just shook his head, indicating for Fang Yuxin to proceed. Fang Yuxin had someone bring her tools, and she skillfully removed the stitches. As she did so, more soldiers showed disapproval, but Captain Zhou stopped them as well. Fang Yuxin gave him a deep look, admiring him slightly, then efficiently treated his wound. Watching the wound heal at a visible rate, the others¡¯ gaze toward Fang Yuxin became eager. Although they did not know the extent of other Wood Element Superpower Users¡¯ healing abilities, in their eyes, Fang Yuxin¡¯s ability was already quite impressive! With such a Wood Element Superpower User joining them on the mission, their chances of survival significantly increased! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you¡¯re welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets or monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 80 - 80 066 Too Brutal (First Update) ?Chapter 80: 066 Too Brutal (First Update) Chapter 80: 066 Too Brutal (First Update) After witnessing Fang Yuxin¡¯s abilities, Captain Zhou suggested that she first heal the wounded on their team. All these people had injuries of varying degrees, none of them serious, but even minor wounds could affect one¡¯s performance. Moreover, the scent of blood could easily attract zombies. If the circumstances had allowed, the higher-ups would not have sent out these wounded individuals for missions. But given the lack of manpower in the Safe Zone, they had no other choice. Those with more severe injuries either stayed in the Safe Hospital or took on simpler tasks within the Safe Zone, making the best use of their capabilities. Now that they had Fang Yuxin, a Wood Element Superpower User who could heal, Captain Zhou hoped she could treat the wounded first. He didn¡¯t demand that Fang Yuxin heal every single one of them, but the fewer injuries they had, the better off they would be and the higher their chances of survival. He didn¡¯t plan on having Fang Yuxin heal people for free, either. He arranged for each wounded person being treated to give her a Crystal Core as payment for her service. Additionally, he noted Fang Yuxin¡¯s contribution, planning to secure her a more substantial reward once the mission was completed. Although one Crystal Core was not a lot, considering the injuries were minor and there was more than one wounded person, Fang Yuxin ended up collecting as many as 23 Crystal Cores. After the wounded were treated, Captain Zhou had the blood-stained bandages and gauze collected for the Fire Element Superpower Users to incinerate, ensuring the smell did not draw in zombies. By the time they hit the road, the team was clean and fresh. The entire convoy consisted of 100 people. In addition to the four large trucks driven by Captain Zhou¡¯s soldiers, the mercenaries also had many smaller vehicles. However, a long convoy was prone to accidents, so Captain Zhou suggested that all mercenaries ride in the trucks instead of driving their own vehicles. With soldiers on guard, there was no concern about car thieves. Thus, the mercenaries locked their cars and boarded the trucks, raising no objections to Captain Zhou¡¯s instructions. All drivers were Captain Zhou¡¯s soldiers. Apart from the eight sitting in the cabs, of the remaining 22 soldiers, 20 were divided into four squads. Armed with submachine guns, they were responsible for vigilance on top of the truck containers. The rest of the people were in the first truck container. Although it was a bit crowded with so many people, it nevertheless provided a sense of security. The Fang Family took up one corner, while Captain Zhou sat close by with the remaining two, looking at Bai Qianqian. He couldn¡¯t help asking Fang Yuxin, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about taking such a small child on a mission?¡± Fang Yuxin smiled with meaning and said, ¡°I would be even more worried leaving him alone in the Safe Zone.¡± Hearing this, Captain Zhou fell silent. The current Safe Zone was indeed rather chaotic. Due to the shortage of manpower, the military couldn¡¯t allocate more personnel to maintain order, which often led to troubles. With the apocalypse just beginning, many survivors were emotionally unstable and prone to acting rashly. Indeed, it was worrisome to leave Bai Qianqian alone in the Safe Zone. After a moment of thought, he said, ¡°I can find someone to look after the child for you.¡± But Fang Yuxin shook her head, ¡°I appreciate your kind offer, but the only way I can be at ease is if I keep an eye on him myself.¡± With that, Captain Zhou didn¡¯t insist further, saying instead, ¡°There are no zombies in sight for now. You should absorb the Crystal Cores. You¡¯ve consumed so much superpower just now, use this time to replenish. Once we¡¯re in the city, injuries may occur at any time, and we will need your help.¡± Fang Yuxin had anticipated this and did not refuse. Nodding, she took out purified Crystal Cores and began to absorb them. The others couldn¡¯t see the Core in her hand, so they didn¡¯t know that the Crystal Cores she held were special. As she began absorbing the Crystal Cores, the Fang Family watched over her with vigilant eyes. Occasionally, zombies appeared on the road, but they were swiftly killed by the soldiers¡¯ gunfire. After the sound of gunshots faded, two of the soldiers by Captain Zhou would swiftly descend from the vehicle to extract Crystal Cores from the zombies before setting the corpses aflame. The closer they got to the city¡¯s outskirts, the more zombies appeared. Initially, the rooftop gunmen could handle the small numbers, but as more and more zombies surfaced, Captain Zhou had the mercenaries in the trucks disembark to clear out the undead. Chapter 81 - 81 066 Too Brutal (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 81: 066 Too Brutal (First Update)_2 Chapter 81: 066 Too Brutal (First Update)_2 He thought Bai Qianqian was just a child, so he suggested she stay in the carriage. Fang Yuxin knew he meant well, but she refused nonetheless. By participating in this mission, they would receive a substantial reward upon their return. It would¡¯ve been fine if it were just the Fang Family; they wouldn¡¯t mind sharing the credit with Bai Qianqian. However, there were many other mercenaries present, and if Bai Qianqian did nothing, they would inevitably harbor thoughts. Even Bai Qianqian herself didn¡¯t want to cause any issues for Fang Yuxin, so after watching the others disembark, she made a point of glancing at Captain Zhou and then followed Fang Yuxin out of the vehicle. To avoid drawing too much attention, not only had Fang Yuxin and her team donned tight-fitting protective suits, but they had also layered loose sportswear over them. They buckled small fanny packs around their waists for various items, and their weapons of choice were carried in hand. When Bai Qianqian got out of the car, she was holding a pair of military daggers. She followed closely behind Fang Yuxin, keeping a safe distance. When Fang Yuxin hunted zombies, she¡¯d deliberately kick them in Bai Qianqian¡¯s direction, controlling her strength so that the zombies fell to the ground. That¡¯s when Bai Qianqian would pounce, stepping on the zombie¡¯s back and plunging her military dagger into the nape of their neck. After a full day of training yesterday, Bai Qianqian had become quite adept at this. The angle of her dagger¡¯s entry would hit the Crystal Core just right; if there was a core, she¡¯d flick her dagger upwards to lift the bone and extract the core. If not, there was no wasted effort. Fang Yuxin and she had a perfectly coordinated routine, and every time she managed to time her actions with precision. Her moves were even more brutal, killing more zombies, with Bai Qianqian effectively picking off the leftovers. Eventually, Fang Yuxin would decapitate the zombies, leaving Bai Qianqian to handle the extraction of the Crystal Cores. The other Fang Family members were spread out around them, slaughtering zombies just as mercilessly, and in many cases, more proficiently than many of the other mercenaries. Others saw only their continuous slaying of zombies, with the ferocious undead appearing like sacrificial lambs before them. Their sharp nails and teeth were utterly ineffective, resulting only in their demise! Because of their ruthlessness, the other mercenaries were also influenced, feeling a surge of boldness, they toughened up in their actions. In half an hour, they had cleared the encountered Zombie Group. While the others would kill the zombies before extracting the Crystal Cores, the Fang Family was different. With Bai Qianqian¡¯s increasing speed at core extraction, by the time they finished cleaning up the zombies, he had almost gathered all the Crystal Cores. These Crystal Cores were to be theirs to keep. After Bai Qianqian collected them, Fang Yuxin took them all and pretended to tuck them into her fanny pack. Back on the vehicle, everyone hit the road again. However, while the Fang Family was unscathed, the others did not share this fortune. Upon reboarding, over a dozen people approached Fang Yuxin with their Crystal Cores, requesting she heal their wounds. Their injuries were minor, but if left unattended, they could impact the mission ahead. They had obtained a fair number of Crystal Cores, so using one or two for healing seemed reasonable. Moreover, they had noticed that Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t used her superpower while hunting zombies, so there was no concern that she wouldn¡¯t have enough power to heal them. She didn¡¯t decline, and after accepting the Crystal Cores, she began to heal them. Though freshly extracted from the zombie brains and cleaned, the cores still had an offensive smell. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t mind, taking the cores and sliding them into her fanny pack. Captain Zhou had informed them that their mission was to rescue people from a prestigious university in the city. The university, being populated, naturally had many zombies. Apart from them, there were many other rescue squads, each with different objectives. The university they were headed to was not in the suburbs but in a bustling city district. Getting in to perform the rescue meant facing higher risks. Moreover, the city¡¯s roads were severely damaged, requiring them to take detours, thereby extending the journey and increasing the danger. After entering the city, zombie sightings became more frequent, each time in significant numbers. Captain Zhou did not always send people out to clear the zombies, as their primary mission was rescue. They only engaged when small groups of zombies blocked their path; otherwise, they would simply try to break through. The soldiers on the roof were responsible for both vigilance and clearing the way or taking out the zombies chasing after them. Their marksmanship was good, and even if they couldn¡¯t achieve headshots with every shot, they weren¡¯t far off. They carried packs with spare magazines, but they never squandered their bullets, instead being very frugal. In the current dire situation, with the Safe Zones freshly established and all munitions factories incapacitated, the bullets they had were virtually the last of their stock. Using one less meant saving one more, so no one wasted any. It took nearly an hour more after entering the city, and after dealing with several Zombie Groups, they finally arrived at the prestigious university, safe but shaken. The area was once a thriving district, but now the surrounding streets were in ruins, displaying a desolate scene. The university, once known for its beautiful scenery, had many areas collapsed from meteor impacts, and numerous zombies roamed inside, evoking a feeling of desolation in anyone who saw it. Once inside the university, Captain Zhou pulled out a map and said, ¡°We¡¯re splitting up now. Each squad is responsible for a different area; try to find as many survivors as possible! If you encounter danger, withdraw immediately and regroup here. Understood?¡± Everyone chorused, ¡°Understood!¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommended votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 82 - 82 067 Who is Peeping (Second Update) ?Chapter 82: 067 Who is Peeping? (Second Update) Chapter 82: 067 Who is Peeping? (Second Update) Captain Zhou, seeing that no one had any objections, continued, ¡°Alright, starting now, everyone will be divided into ten teams! Each team will have ten members! My soldiers can be split into three teams, and among the remaining people here, there are exactly four mercenary teams. The rest of the mercenaries will first form their own teams, and then we¡¯ll allocate the remaining individuals.¡± The four mercenary teams here did not all have ten members each, so it was certain that other people would need to be assigned to join them. For example, Fang Yuxin¡¯s team only had five members and needed five more to form a full team. Having witnessed their abilities, these mercenaries no longer underestimated them. Especially since Fang Yuxin was a Wood Element Superpower User, nobody looked down on them. Even Bai Qianqian had proven his strength with his nimble and precise skills, preventing anyone from seeing him as a burden or being unwilling to have him join the team. On the contrary, because of the strength demonstrated by the Fang Family, and Fang Yuxin¡¯s status as a Wood Element Superpower User, many individual fighters were eager to join their team. Once Captain Zhou allowed them to self-organize, someone stepped forward to ask Fang Yuxin, ¡°Your team is short by five people, right? Can I join you?¡± Fang Yuxin had also released her Spiritual Sense to observe the abilities of others while fighting zombies. The young man who stepped forward was quite capable, not as skilled as the Fang Family members, but not a burden either. However, Fang Yuxin did not immediately agree but said, ¡°If you want to team up with us, speak up now. I want to see who all are interested.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, over a dozen people stepped forward, each expressing their wish to join their team. Among these people, some were quite skilled, while others were simply average but thought it safer to follow the Fang Family due to their impressive abilities. Fang Yuxin, not wanting any dead weight, selected the five with the best skills to form her team. A little while later, everyone else had also formed their teams. Those mercenary squads that lacked numbers recruited more people, and squads with more than ten members split into two teams, incorporating individual fighters. Captain Zhou, seeing that everyone had formed their teams, took ten walkie-talkies from a box in the corner and handed one to the leader of each team. Due to a shortage of supplies, only team leaders could have walkie-talkies, as one for every person was not feasible. No one objected to this, as, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the members of each team would be acting together, making individual walkie-talkies unnecessary. After distributing the walkie-talkies, Captain Zhou brought out a floor plan, ¡°Alright, now onto the task assignment. Our primary destination this time is the dormitory buildings of this university. As you can see, this university is divided into four districts, with a total of twenty dormitory buildings. Each team will be responsible for two buildings. ¡°We have four trucks available, perfect for creating four squads. Each squad will be responsible for one district and use one truck to pick up people from the dorm buildings. If you encounter danger, you¡¯ll call for help via walkie-talkie. If others are available, they will come to assist. If they¡¯re tied up, you¡¯ll have to find a way to hide and wait for rescue. Do you all understand?¡± ¡°Understood!¡± ¡°Good, now let¡¯s divide into squads.¡± Captain Zhou¡¯s soldiers were divided into three teams, and each team combined with other teams to form a squad. Because of their strength, the Fang Family¡¯s Yongcheng Team, together with another team, formed a squad. The dormitory buildings in the university¡¯s four districts were not evenly distributed; some districts had more, and some had fewer. Accordingly, the districts with more buildings were handled by squads consisting of three teams, while those with fewer were handled by squads comprised of two teams. Captain Zhou, having a good understanding of their capabilities, took the strengths of each team into account when forming the squads. The Fang Family¡¯s Yongcheng Team, paired with another team, formed a squad responsible for the South District, which had fewer dorm buildings, and was assigned a truck. Afterward, Captain Zhou shared some words of caution, and the teams dispersed. Fang Yuyang and the other team¡¯s leader sat in the front of the truck while the rest sat in the back. Although no one was on lookout atop the truck this time, Fang Yuxin released her Spiritual Sense and Bai Qianqian used his spiritual power to scan the surroundings. Chapter 83 - 83 067 Who is Peeping (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 83: 067 Who is Peeping? (Second Update)_2 Chapter 83: 067 Who is Peeping? (Second Update)_2 When they checked, both of them had a weird feeling as if they were being watched! They always felt that there were eyes staring at them from the shadows! Fang Yuxin lowered her head and asked softly, ¡°Qianqian, have you noticed anything?¡± Bai Qianqian lifted his head to look at her, lowering his voice carefully, ¡°Mama, did you feel it too? It feels like someone is watching us.¡± He furrowed his little brow, deeply uncomfortable with the sensation of being spied on in the dark! Fang Yuxin nodded, and seeing his complexion wasn¡¯t good, she reached out to rub his head, ¡°Stop imagining things. If this person means harm, we¡¯ll just kill them!¡± Her tone was fierce, her voice carrying a deadly chill, yet Bai Qianqian was not frightened. Instead, he nodded gravely, echoing her, ¡°Mama¡¯s right, kill them!¡± Aside from Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, the others were some distance away and hadn¡¯t heard their whispered conversation. Although Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe did hear, they were wise enough not to ask further questions, due to the presence of others. They hadn¡¯t been driving long before zombies began to surround them from all sides. Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t stop the truck; instead, he directly plowed into the zombies blocking the road. Only when the zombies grew numerous, and the truck could hardly move an inch, did he stop and let the people in the cargo bed out to kill the zombies. Because the way was blocked, after opening the door, he didn¡¯t jump straight out but instead climbed onto the roof, walked over to the rear of the cargo bed and jumped down. Another person did the same, but with less strength and agility, it took him quite some effort to climb onto the roof. During the struggle, he almost got dragged down by the zombies, but was rescued by Fang Yuyang. When he reached the roof, Fang Yuxin had already taken the lead and charged out with her group. Without rifles in hand, their power was certainly weaker compared to other teams. Had it not been for the Fang Family showcasing strength far beyond others, and with Fang Yuxin being a Wood Element Superpower User, Captain Zhou would not have been at ease letting them take the lead. After disembarking, Fang Yuxin saw a large expanse of flowers and plants on both sides of the road. With a thought, her fingers flicked out several streams of Spiritual Energy. The plants visibly grew at an astonishing speed towards the zombies, trapping one-third of them together. Then she immediately called out to Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother! Use Wind Blade! I can¡¯t hold them for long!¡± Fang Yuyang complied, and with a spread of his five fingers, he released countless crescent-shaped Wind Blades. This time, he didn¡¯t behead the zombies; all the Wind Blades aimed for their heads, splitting any zombie¡¯s skull that they touched, ensuring a death without any chance of resurrection. He kept releasing Wind Blades and finally exterminated all these zombies just as they were about to break free. From the moment Fang Yuxin used her Wood Element to trap the zombies to Fang Yuyang slicing their heads with Wind Blades, it all took but two minutes. In such a brief span, the siblings had killed one-third of the zombies! The other people were all intensely excited. After witnessing Fang Yuxin¡¯s Healing Ability, they were already quite satisfied and had not expected anything significant from her Wood Element¡¯s Attack power. Thus, other than the Fang Family members, no one anticipated that when Fang Yuxin¡¯s and Fang Yuyang¡¯s superpowers combined, they could be so devastatingly lethal! Knowing that Fang Yuyang hadn¡¯t reached his limit, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Brother, let¡¯s finish off these zombies quickly and head for the dormitory building!¡± Fang Yuyang naturally agreed, replying with a ¡°Okay¡± and got ready. Simultaneously, Fang Yuxin flicked several more streams of Spiritual Energy, once again trapping a portion of zombies with plants. Just as they were ensnared, Fang Yuyang released another series of Wind Blades, which this time were even more numerous. With just two releases, he eliminated all the trapped zombies. Afterward, the siblings repeated their tactics and exterminated the remaining zombies! Having wiped out all the zombies, no one else objected, as they would doubtless encounter many more zombies ahead; it was natural to conserve strength as much as possible. Bai Qianqian swiftly collected all the Crystal Cores, and once everyone was back in the truck, the Fire Element Superpower User cast out a flame to burn the corpses as they drove past. This short distance took a whole fifteen minutes due to the stop-and-go progress, before they finally arrived in front of the dormitory building. The location featured four separate dorm buildings, not completely adjacent but spaced a hundred meters or so apart. Fang Yuyang parked the truck between two of the dorm buildings, and then everyone got out; the two small teams each chose a dorm to enter. Each dorm building was seven-stories tall with no elevators, all steps. Every floor had 20 rooms, with each room housing 8 students. That was before the apocalypse, but now, how many people remained in the dorms was anybody¡¯s guess. Moreover, there were definitely numerous zombies lurking inside. Although Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had expended quite some energy, they had been absorbing from the Crystal Cores along the way and had mostly recovered by now. There were a few dozen zombies wandering in front of the dorm; without using their superpowers and working with the others, they quickly dispatched the zombies. Fang Yuyang said, ¡°Let¡¯s head to the top floor first and start searching from there!¡± No one disagreed. After all, they had to come back down after going up; if they started from the bottom and found people, could they really carry them back up? Clearly impossible! So, without further hesitation, they headed straight for the staircase to the top. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang led the charge, followed by Bai Qianqian, then Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe. After all, they still didn¡¯t trust the others, so the family kept together. The rest followed behind them; unless zombies chased up from below, they basically didn¡¯t need to lift a finger. After reaching the top, the team moved into the corridor. The hallway was long and, without electricity, seemed very dark. About twenty zombies were inside, some of them battering at the dormitory doors with force. Listening closely amidst the chaotic banging, one could also hear frightened yet desperately restrained crying. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang exchanged a glance; there were still people alive! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 84 - 84 068 Big Boss (Third Update) ?Chapter 84: 068 Big Boss! (Third Update) Chapter 84: 068 Big Boss! (Third Update) The hallway was very narrow, only about one and a half meters wide, which was not conducive to fighting. The only advantage was that they didn¡¯t have to worry about being surrounded by zombies. Initially, the zombies were banging on the doors, but when Fang Yuxin and the others appeared, these zombies turned their heads, abandoned the people inside the rooms, and walked towards them. The zombies emitted a rotten stench and glared with ashen eyes as they quickly charged at them! Yu Yang simply released the Wind Blade, eliminating the zombies in one go. The hallway was too narrow, unsuitable for large, sweeping fights. Miao Saber was too long and using it was actually restrictive due to the space, whereas the Wind Blade was much easier to use. Moreover, because the hallway was so narrow, the zombies rushed at them in a swarm, almost cramming together, so when Yu Yang¡¯s Wind Blade was unleashed, there was no need to worry about missing the target or zombies dodging. After killing these zombies, Yu Yang and Fang Yuxin walked forward briskly. Fang Yuxin had already released her Spiritual Sense and detected that there were five survivors on this floor. This was a women¡¯s dormitory, so naturally, all the survivors were women, who were all in poor condition and seemed very weak. In addition to these survivors, some dorm rooms still harbored zombies, seemingly locked inside by others during the initial escape. Aside from Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian, others were unaware of the situation inside the dormitory and appeared very cautious. Yu Yang then said, ¡°Everyone spread out, search room by room, be careful, there might still be zombies inside!¡± Apart from the Fang Family, the other five individuals were also quite capable, but most importantly, they were very cautious! As Yu Yang finished speaking, they nodded, signaling understanding. Then, Yu Yang and Fang Yuxin strode forward. At first glance, it looked like Fang Yuxin was following Yu Yang, but in reality, Yu Yang was following Fang Yuxin. At the end of the hallway, there were two survivors in a dormitory. Fang Yuxin led Yu Yang there and found the door bolted from the inside, clearly, the people inside were very careful. She knocked on the door and said, ¡°Is anyone there? We are here to rescue. If someone is there, please open the door, or respond.¡± Soon, there was a crisp sound from inside, as if something had fallen to the floor. Then, a nervous female voice asked, ¡°Are you really here to save us?¡± Fang Yuxin smiled, ¡°This is a student dormitory. If we weren¡¯t here to rescue, why would we come here?¡± The person inside seemed to agree with her reasoning and opened the door. When the door opened, Fang Yuxin and Yu Yang saw two female students inside, their long hair sloppily tied and very disheveled, clearly having neglected their appearance during this period. Additionally, their faces were pale and their lips chapped, signs of dehydration. However, they had not brought any food or water with them, and although Fang Yuxin¡¯s Qingmu Spirit Mansion did contain some, she couldn¡¯t take it out. She said, ¡°Hold on for now, it will be alright once we get to the Safe Zone.¡± She was beautiful, and Yu Yang was handsome and stylish, not resembling villains, and the two girls, who were initially hesitant, finally dropped the heavy stone in their hearts and burst into tears of joy. One of the girls said, ¡°We haven¡¯t eaten for two days. There might be food in other dorms, could you help us look?¡± She was very polite and her eyes pleaded earnestly, showing great caution. Fang Yuxin nodded and asked them to follow. Then, she and Yu Yang knocked on the opposite door. Then, the two girls said, ¡°There¡¯s no one left alive in this dorm.¡± Fang Yuxin knew there was no one inside, but she had to make an appearance. Hearing what the girls said, she no longer knocked but kicked the door open, confirming that it was safe before letting the two girls in to look for food. The two girls were far from hesitant, as they were more familiar with the place and could search more efficiently. Since there was no one in this dorm and the initial students had left in a hurry, they hadn¡¯t taken any food, allowing them to eventually find some. In a student dormitory, the easiest stored foods were naturally all kinds of snacks, instant noodles, cookies, etc. Once found, they packed them into a backpack and carried it on their backs. By then, the remaining zombies had been cleared, and the other three survivors were also rescued. After being saved, the first thing they did was to search other dorms for food. Chapter 85 - 85 068 Big Brother (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 85: 068 Big Brother! (Third Update)_2 Chapter 85: 068 Big Brother! (Third Update)_2 Apart from the Fang Family, the remaining five mercenaries also wanted to get their hands on the food, but after hesitating, none of them tried to compete with the five girls. After this floor was cleared, Fang Yuyang proposed to move to the next one. The five survivors were protected between them to prevent any accidents. At another part of the school. A young man swiftly moved through the forest and, seeing the white building ahead, his eyes lit up and he rushed in like a whirlwind. It was the university hospital. After entering, he dashed straight to the second floor and into the third room. This was a ward with four single beds, and a young man with a pale complexion and handsome features was lying on one of the beds. His eyes were tightly shut, and he had fallen into a coma, looking in a severe condition. Besides him, there were six other people in the room, five men and one woman, either seated or standing, all with furrowed brows and solemn expressions. As the young man entered, all six turned to look at him. Seeing the joy on his face, the tall man standing beside the bed asked, ¡°Hou San, what¡¯s going on?¡± The young man, Hou San, immediately said, ¡°Boss, I just saw Qianqian! He¡¯s with his mom!¡± Hearing the word ¡°mom¡±, the tall man¡¯s brow furrowed slightly and a touch of displeasure appeared on his face, ¡°Hou San, don¡¯t spout nonsense, she¡¯s just Qianqian¡¯s mom.¡± He remembered that Fang Yuxin was Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e. Although he didn¡¯t like Qiu Yiming, he wouldn¡¯t go so far as to steal Qiu Yiming¡¯s wife. No sooner had he finished speaking than the only woman in the room spoke up discontentedly, ¡°The boss is right! Fang Yuxin has nothing to do with the boss, she¡¯s Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, Hou San, don¡¯t get it wrong next time!¡± Hou San, having seen Bai Qianqian so excited, had blurted out without thinking and hadn¡¯t expected this backlash. He gave the woman who¡¯d just spoken a glare and then said, ¡°Boss, I saw them heading towards South Garden, should we go find them?¡± Bai Ye quickly grasped the crucial point, asking, ¡°Why would they come here?¡± Qianqian was only five years old, and Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t seem irresponsible enough to bring him to such a dangerous place. Hou San had already thoroughly investigated the matter and explained, ¡°They came here with the military to rescue people, don¡¯t worry boss, I saw Miss Fang protecting Qianqian very well.¡± Privately, he thought highly of Fang Yuxin, not only as Bai Qianqian¡¯s biological mother but also as Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e. He couldn¡¯t help but speak well of Fang Yuxin, hoping Bai Ye could snatch her away and infuriate Qiu Yiming. After he finished speaking, the fiery beauty who disagreed with him snorted, ¡°Qianqian is so young, how could she bring Qianqian to such a dangerous place? Boss, we must bring Qianqian back, leaving him with Fang Yuxin is too dangerous!¡± Bai Ye was also worried about Bai Qianqian. Before the apocalypse, he believed Fang Yuxin could protect Bai Qianqian. But once the apocalypse started, and zombies were everywhere, he lost confidence in Fang Yuxin. Although staying with him was dangerous for Bai Qianqian as well, it seemed better than staying with Fang Yuxin. At that moment, he was unaware of Fang Yuxin¡¯s real capabilities and naturally lacked confidence in her. He then asked Hou San how many people were with Bai Qianqian. After learning there weren¡¯t many, he decided to bring Bai Qianqian back. Glancing at the young man lying unconscious on the bed, he began to arrange, ¡°Li Er, Xu Wu, and Qingluo stay behind to protect Chen Si and Mr. Shen, Hou San and I will go fetch Qianqian.¡± The others had no objections, except Meng Qingluo, the fiery beauty, who asked with concern, ¡°Boss, is it too dangerous for just you and Hou San?¡± She knew Bai Ye was the strongest among them but couldn¡¯t help worrying. Bai Ye¡¯s voice was not loud, but his words were firm, ¡°Hou San and I will be fine, but you must make sure to protect Chen Si and Mr. Shen well.¡± Meng Qingluo reluctantly closed her mouth, watching as Bai Ye and Hou San strode away. After leaving the school hospital, they headed straight for the student dormitories at South Garden. Since Fang Yuxin had come to rescue, she must have gone to the student dormitories! Speaking of Fang Yuxin, she and Fang Yuyang led their group searching for survivors floor by floor. However, just as they reached the third floor, Fang Yuyang¡¯s walkie-talkie crackled to life! A voice of another squad leader, anxious, came through, ¡°Captain Fang! This is Lin Nan, I¡¯ve found an injured girl here, her left leg is broken, can Miss Fang save her?¡± Fang Yuyang looked at Fang Yuxin, querying her decision. A broken leg was indeed a big problem because it would affect walking. If they couldn¡¯t save her now, the girl would become a major problem, unless they abandoned her. Fang Yuxin thought for a moment and decided to rescue her. After asking Lin Nan for his precise location, she quickly headed downstairs. Qu Qianhe and Bai Baiqian worried about her, followed. Fang Jintang also wanted to go, but after thinking it over, he chose to stay with Fang Yuyang. As they headed downstairs, a few scattered zombies had gathered outside, which the trio swiftly dealt with. Then, they moved to the neighboring dormitory building. Lin Nan¡¯s team had also started from the top floor and worked their way down, searching. Their speed was only slightly slower than Fang Yuxin¡¯s team, who had reached the fourth floor. Lin Nan¡¯s mentioned girl was the last survivor on the fourth floor, trapped in a dorm due to a broken left tibia. After Fang Yuxin arrived, she first checked her injuries and found the fracture wasn¡¯t too severe, just some splinters, and the lower leg was swollen. Such injuries wouldn¡¯t consume too much spiritual energy, so she started treating the girl¡¯s leg. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 86 - 86 069 Silly Dad (First Update) ?Chapter 86: 069 Silly Dad (First Update) Chapter 86: 069 Silly Dad (First Update) Healing bone injuries was more troublesome than flesh and skin wounds, but fortunately, it was just a fracture. Fang Yuxin placed her fingers gently on the girl¡¯s swollen leg, channeling Spiritual Energy into thin threads that pierced through the skin and merged into the fracture, stimulating the bone cells to regenerate. The girl was very nervous, her face pale with panic, looking utterly helpless. However, soon, she began feeling an itch at the injured site, which grew increasingly intense. She subconsciously moved her leg, biting down on her lower lip, and let out a pained whimper. Fang Yuxin glanced at her and, just then, the girl felt a refreshing coolness at the itchy spot, which subdued the itchiness. With a thought, she looked gratefully at Fang Yuxin and said weakly, ¡°Thank you.¡± Fang Yuxin carefully sensed the area and, finding that the fracture had healed, stopped her ministrations. Then she channeled Spiritual Energy to her fingertips again, tapping continuously on the acupoints of the girl¡¯s leg. As Spiritual Energy stimulated the points, coursing through her muscles, the girl¡¯s swollen calf visibly slimmed down, returning to normal. Fang Yuxin finally withdrew her hand and said indifferently, ¡°The bone I just healed is quite fragile; it would be best if you¡¯re careful these next few days not to injure it again.¡± The girl tentatively pressed the injured spot and realizing it truly wasn¡¯t hurting anymore, she burst into tears of joy, thanking Fang Yuxin profusely: ¡°Thank you! Thank you so much!¡± Fang Yuxin nodded slightly and then turned to Lin Nan, ¡°Since she¡¯s fine now, let¡¯s hurry down.¡± Lin Nan naturally had no objections, he too thanked Fang Yuxin and then led the people downstairs, the rescued survivors protected in the middle. Fang Yuxin released her Spiritual Sense in secret, intending to check if Fang Yuyang had run into any trouble in the neighboring dormitory building, but unexpectedly, she detected two unwelcome guests! Those two people... Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression changed slightly; she recognized that one of the tall men was Bai Qianqian¡¯s father! Why had he come here? She instinctively looked towards Bai Qianqian, sensing this man had come for him. Upon looking, Fang Yuxin saw that Bai Qianqian¡¯s expression had changed. His tight little face could barely hide his joy, and his big eyes sparkled. However, when he noticed Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze, he became nervous, ¡°Mama... I... I...¡± At this point, he clutched Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand tightly and quickly said, ¡°I saw Daddy! Did you see him?¡± Bai Ye had visited the Fang Family last time after Bai Qianqian had already fallen asleep, so he had no idea that Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had already met. Having just spotted Bai Ye, he couldn¡¯t help but hope¡ªcould Mama and the silly Daddy reconcile if they met? He was still unaware of his origins, simply assuming Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had separated due to a conflict. Fang Yuxin noticed his desire to see Bai Ye and spoke to Lin Nan, ¡°You go on with the rescue. I¡¯ll head back first.¡± Considering they weren¡¯t from the same team, Lin Nan wanted Fang Yuxin to stay but still, he said nothing more. After parting ways, Qu Qianhe asked in a low voice, ¡°Xinxin, has Qianqian¡¯s father really shown up? Are you planning to take Qianqian to meet him?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, ¡°Ma, you go meet up with Dad and the others first. I¡¯ll take Qianqian to see that man; he¡¯s probably here for him.¡± Qu Qianhe was somewhat worried but, with Bai Qianqian present, felt it inappropriate to express her concern further. She opened her mouth to speak but ultimately just warned, ¡°Be careful.¡± Once downstairs, to their surprise, a few scattered zombies had been drawn there. After Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe killed the zombies together, Qu Qianhe returned to the neighboring dormitory building. Fang Yuxin, holding Bai Qianqian¡¯s hand, walked towards Bai Ye and Hou San¡¯s hiding place. As soon as they arrived, the two men emerged from their hiding spots. Hou San was dressed in army green casual wear, while Bai Ye wore a black trench coat paired with matching trousers. Both men had seen Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe kill the zombies earlier, realizing her skills were not too shabby, hence they regarded her more highly. Especially Hou San, whose gaze shifted back and forth between Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, felt the two matched each other even more. Bai Ye, however, didn¡¯t think as much; he looked deeply at Fang Yuxin, feeling a profound and unfathomable aura about her that belied her simple appearance. Bai Qianqian hadn¡¯t seen Bai Ye for nearly a month, especially with zombies everywhere since the apocalypse; he had been worrying sick over not finding Bai Ye. Now seeing him safe, Bai Qianqian instantly breathed a sigh of relief. Chapter 87 - 87 069 Silly Dad (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 87: 069 Silly Dad (First Update)_2 Chapter 87: 069 Silly Dad (First Update)_2 However, he didn¡¯t excitedly throw himself into her arms. Instead, he stood by Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, his little face tensed up as he coldly said, ¡°Who are you? I don¡¯t know you.¡± Fang Yuxin thought about his excitement from before, and then seeing his deliberately cold face now, she found it funny. But with Bai Ye present, she really couldn¡¯t relax. She watched him warily and said, ¡°Qianqian is doing well with me. You don¡¯t have to worry about his safety. I can fully protect him.¡± The implication was clear: don¡¯t even think of taking Qianqian back. Wherever he came from, he should go back to there. Bai Ye and Hou San weren¡¯t fools; they clearly understood her insinuation. Bai Ye had intended to take Bai Qianqian away on this trip, but after sensing the unfathomable nature of Fang Yuxin, he hesitated. But that alone was not enough to change his mind. So, he said, ¡°I remember, you are engaged.¡± Since Bai Qianqian was present, he didn¡¯t spell it out, but Fang Yuxin understood that he was hinting she couldn¡¯t take good care of Bai Qianqian because she was engaged to Qiu Yiming. Fang Yuxin glared at Bai Ye, her eyes fraught with hostility and caution, and then she let out a cold laugh, ¡°You¡¯re in quite a bit of trouble now, aren¡¯t you? Do you really think that after Qianqian leaves with you, you can take good care of him?¡± Bai Qianqian was planning on acting petulantly with Bai Ye to let him know he was upset and that he shouldn¡¯t separate from Mama again. But hearing this, he realized Bai Ye was actually planning to take him away from Mama! How could this be! He had just managed to find Mom, and he didn¡¯t want to be separated from her again! So he immediately hugged Fang Yuxin¡¯s waist, his big eyes glaring at Bai Ye as he fiercely said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be separated from Mama!¡± At this moment, he hadn¡¯t realized that Fang Yuxin was engaged to another man. Hou San originally felt that he shouldn¡¯t get involved in this matter, and that standing aside like part of the background was better. After hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, he instantly became vigilant! Then it dawned on him that Fang Yuxin was Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e; did she learn something from Qiu Yiming? He quietly moved his right hand behind him, reaching for the handgun at his back, while he asked, ¡°What do you know?¡± Fang Yuxin arched an eyebrow, looking at Hou San and the similarly alert Bai Ye with a mocking expression, ¡°What are you worried I might know? You have companions who¡¯ve been injured, haven¡¯t you? And the injuries are serious, aren¡¯t they?¡± She was merely speculating, but seeing the immediate change in expression on Bai Ye and Hou San¡¯s faces, she knew she¡¯d guessed right. Bai Ye and Hou San carried a strong scent of medicine and blood, which wasn¡¯t too obvious mixed with the foul air, and most people wouldn¡¯t notice, but it couldn¡¯t fool Fang Yuxin¡¯s Spiritual Sense. Even so, she wasn¡¯t sure that Bai Ye had a seriously injured companion. She just felt that there should be more companions with Bai Ye than just Hou San, so why had only Hou San come? What had detained the others? Thus, she surmised that Bai Ye had seriously injured companions. Clearly, she had guessed correctly. Bai Ye and Hou San became even more vigilant, and Hou San subconsciously drew his handgun, pointing it at Fang Yuxin, ¡°Speak! How do you know this? What else do you know?¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze turned icy, and she said to Bai Qianqian, ¡°Qianqian, go aside.¡± But Bai Qianqian suddenly stood in front of Fang Yuxin, arms outstretched in a protective stance, ¡°Uncle Hou! Put your gun down, I won¡¯t let you hurt my Mom!¡± A trace of hesitation flickered across Hou San¡¯s face; he suddenly remembered that Fang Yuxin was Bai Qianqian¡¯s biological mother! If he shot Fang Yuxin in front of Bai Qianqian, it would undoubtedly hurt the child¡¯s heart. But considering the safety of his companions, he couldn¡¯t care about that and said, ¡°Qianqian, step aside, Uncle has something to ask your Mom.¡± Of course, Bai Qianqian wouldn¡¯t agree. He knew the gun Hou San held was a specially made handgun, much more powerful than average. If he really fired it, his Mom, whom he had just finally found, would be in danger! He called out anxiously to Bai Ye, ¡°Dad! Make Uncle Hou stop, he¡¯s going to hurt Mom!¡± Before he finished, Bai Ye had already snatched the gun lightning-fast from Hou San¡¯s hand, giving him a cold look, ¡°If you can¡¯t control yourself, you¡¯d better go back.¡± Hou San obviously didn¡¯t want to leave just like that. With Fang Yuxin¡¯s stance unclear, what if something happened to Bai Ye and Bai Qianqian? He didn¡¯t dare to ask Bai Ye to return the gun and only glared fiercely at Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin stared intently at Bai Ye; this man had timed his intervention too perfectly! Just now, he seemed to have snatched the gun from Hou San, protecting her. In reality, he had prevented Fang Yuxin from taking action herself! Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to get further entangled with Bai Ye, so she said, ¡°You can¡¯t protect Qianqian now, only I can do it properly. You should leave.¡± Bai Ye didn¡¯t answer but turned to Bai Qianqian, asking for his opinion, ¡°Qianqian, do you want to go with Dad?¡± Bai Qianqian hugged Fang Yuxin¡¯s waist again, ¡°I... I want to stay with Mama,¡± he said, then seeing a flicker of disappointment in Bai Ye¡¯s eyes, he quickly added, ¡°Dad! You... can you stay too? Don¡¯t leave me and Mom behind!¡± Bai Ye didn¡¯t respond; he silently sighed, then curbed all his emotions, and calmly asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°How can you prove that you can protect Qianqian? If you can¡¯t prove it, I will take Qianqian away. It¡¯s not suitable for him to stay with you any longer.¡± Before the apocalypse, it would have been a different story, but after the apocalypse, the Qiu Family¡¯s position in the Safe Zone was crucial. It was too dangerous for Bai Qianqian to continue staying with Fang Yuxin! He looked at Fang Yuxin, waiting for her response. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket on Qidian [qidian.com]. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 88 - 88 070 All Go Out (Second Update) ?Chapter 88: 070 All Go Out (Second Update) Chapter 88: 070 All Go Out (Second Update) Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t prove her strengths as Bai Ye had hoped, but instead questioned him, ¡°How can you prove that you can protect Qianqian? You let Qianqian stay by my side and never took him back because you were in big trouble, right? And now, with your companion seriously injured, do you really have that much energy to protect Qianqian?¡± Bai Ye didn¡¯t expect Fang Yuxin to turn the tables on him. He extended his hand, and a streak of lightning appeared in his palm first, followed by the lightning disappearing and golden light converging to form a bullet. Then he said, ¡°I should be a superpower user with Gold and Thunder Dual Elements. I believe I can protect Qianqian well.¡± Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t expected Bai Ye to be so lucky, awakening Dual Attribute superpowers in one go, and the powerful Gold Element and Thunder Element at that! Such talent was enviable to an excessive degree! Hou San had always admired Bai Ye and could be described as Bai Ye¡¯s loyal dog and brain-dead fan. Seeing Fang Yuxin at a loss for words, he proudly said, ¡°Now you understand, right? Only the boss can protect Qianqian, and it¡¯s safest for Qianqian to be with the boss! Stop hesitating and give Qianqian back to the boss.¡± Bai Qianqian glared fiercely at him upon hearing this, ¡°Uncle Hou is the most annoying! I don¡¯t want to be apart from Mama!¡± Hou San touched his nose awkwardly. Could he be blamed? It wasn¡¯t intentional on his part. And besides, Fang Yuxin was Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e; if the boss got together with her, wouldn¡¯t he be walking into a trap? Since he couldn¡¯t tell Bai Qianqian the truth about her background, he simply looked down at the ground, pretending he didn¡¯t exist. Fang Yuxin thought for a while and then said, ¡°I can heal your companion¡¯s injuries, but... you have to promise to let Qianqian stay by my side.¡± Neither Bai Ye nor Hou San expected Fang Yuxin to make such a statement! She could actually heal! Hou San instinctively wanted to object; they already had a skilled doctor and didn¡¯t need Fang Yuxin. But Bai Ye felt that Fang Yuxin¡¯s mention of healing wasn¡¯t just about using medicine. She must have other methods, and it was very likely related to her superpower! So, he gave Hou San a warning look to silence him, then asked, ¡°Do you mean to say... you have a healing superpower?¡± Hou San¡¯s eyes widened. Wait! Had he heard that right? A healing superpower? Did such a thing really exist? His mouth hung open, about to ask, then a glare from Bai Ye shut him up again, and he obediently closed his mouth. Fang Yuxin nodded, ¡°I am a Wood Element superpower user; I can heal people. But I don¡¯t know the extent of your companion¡¯s injuries right now, so I can¡¯t guarantee a complete recovery.¡± Bai Ye didn¡¯t find anything wrong with this; if Fang Yuxin boasted she could heal for sure, he would have been suspicious instead. Considering Chen Si¡¯s injuries couldn¡¯t be delayed, he said, ¡°Fine, then follow me now!¡± Fang Yuxin thought of her family, who were still unaware of this matter. Leaving hastily would surely worry them. She contemplated, then plucked a leaf from a tree, tapped it with her finger, releasing a Spiritual Sense that sealed her intended message within, and with a flick of her finger, the leaf flew away. Bai Ye and Hou San watched the scene, believing Fang Yuxin somewhat, and also looking forward with more expectation to her treating Chen Si¡¯s injuries. After sending out the message, Fang Yuxin no longer hesitated and followed Bai Ye and Hou San. Though she didn¡¯t know how many people were on the other side, she wasn¡¯t worried about Bai Ye harming her. Bai Ye, though distant and unapproachable, giving an impression of extreme propriety, didn¡¯t seem like a sneaky person. To hasten the journey, Bai Ye carried Bai Qianqian in his arms. Fang Yuxin was startled at first but then noticed that Bai Ye¡¯s stern face had softened somewhat, looking almost like a tender father. She suddenly felt odd inside; Bai Qianqian was her son by blood, and Bai Ye was Qianqian¡¯s biological father, yet she and Bai Ye were complete strangers to each other. But now together, they looked like a family of three. She frowned slightly, subconsciously creating a distance from Bai Ye. Bai Ye, eager to get back quickly so Fang Yuxin could heal Chen Si, didn¡¯t pay much mind to Fang Yuxin¡¯s subtle move. Instead, it was Bai Qianqian, resting on Bai Ye¡¯s shoulder, who whispered in his ear, ¡°Daddy, what exactly did you do to make Mama angry? Mama is ignoring you.¡± Feeling awkward, Bai Ye replied in a low voice, ¡°Kids shouldn¡¯t worry about adult matters!¡± Chapter 89 - 89 070 All Go Out (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 89: 070 All Go Out (Second Update)_2 Chapter 89: 070 All Go Out (Second Update)_2 Bai Qianqian continued, ¡°There¡¯s an annoying uncle who keeps pestering Mama, and if you don¡¯t apologize to Mama soon, she¡¯s going to be snatched away by him!¡± Bai Ye knew Qianqian was referring to Qiu Yiming, and he frowned slightly. Qiu Yiming was Bai Yu¡¯s cousin, while Bai Yu was the legitimate eldest son of the direct line and had always been at odds with him. Due to Bai Yu, Qiu Yiming had always been hostile towards him. He himself didn¡¯t like Bai Yu or Qiu Yiming either. Unfortunately, Fang Yuxin was Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e. They were destined to be adversaries. Seeing that he had no reaction, Qianqian was very dissatisfied and pinched the flesh on his shoulder, exclaiming, ¡°Daddy! Are you even listening?¡± Bai Ye was muscular, so Qianqian¡¯s pinch hardly even tickled. Bai Ye perfunctorily replied, ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± and then quickly added, ¡°Qianqian, stop talking for now, Daddy knows everything.¡± Bai Qianqian was extremely dissatisfied with Bai Ye¡¯s attitude. She wanted to continue, but they had already arrived at the school¡¯s infirmary. Some zombies had gathered there too, and Hou San said, ¡°Boss, you take Miss Fang upstairs to treat the fourth brother¡¯s injuries. I¡¯ll handle things here.¡± The zombies had gathered after they left, and there weren¡¯t many of them. Bai Ye knew Hou San could handle them, so he nodded and took Fang Yuxin upstairs. Fang Yuxin followed behind him and quickly climbed to the second floor, then saw Bai Ye push open the third door and signal her to come in with a turn of his head, ¡°Miss Fang, please come in quickly.¡± The people waiting inside were first relieved to see Bai Ye return unscathed but were stunned upon hearing his words and then even more so when they saw Fang Yuxin following him in. Their expressions changed as they all looked at her with eyes filled with suspicion, inquiry, and thick wariness and hostility! Fang Yuxin noted that the room was an infirmary. Apart from a handsome, pale-faced man lying unconscious on a bed, there were three men and one woman present, all appearing to be in their twenties and quite attractive. Among the three men, two were injured. The one who looked feeble and weak had no injuries, obviously well protected. The only woman, who had a voluptuous figure and pretty face, was now looking at her with cold eyes, not bothering to hide her hostility and wariness. Contrastingly, the other men, though wary, did not show overt hostility. The frail-looking young man had eyes that sparkled brightly as he looked at her, filled with intense inquiry. His gaze was very strange, as if she was not a living person, but a novel experimental subject. Fang Yuxin instinctively became guarded, feeling that this seemingly weak man was more dangerous than the overtly hostile woman! At that moment, Meng Qingluo spoke, her tone thick with dissatisfaction, ¡°Big brother! Why did you bring her here?¡± She looked at Bai Ye, her eyes projecting a sense of grievance and disappointment, almost accusing him of being bewitched. A young man with an injured arm also asked, ¡°Yeah, boss, why did you bring Miss Fang here?¡± Bai Ye placed Bai Qianqian on a hospital bed to sit and then said, ¡°Miss Fang is a Wood Element Superpower User. I brought her back in hopes that she could heal Chen Si¡¯s injuries.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Yuxin sharply detected the frail young man¡¯s gaze towards her growing even more strange, mixing inquiry with thick excitement, ¡°Wood Element Superpower User?¡± The others were also taken aback, instinctively looking at Fang Yuxin, curiously sizing her up. However, after the initial surprise, Meng Qingluo said, ¡°Big brother, how can you be sure she really can heal fourth brother? What if she¡¯s lying?¡± Fang Yuxin detected a strong and complex scent of medicine on the speaking woman, who did not seem to be injured. It seemed as if the medicinal smells were a result of her prolonged exposure to them. Moreover, this woman had peculiar energy fluctuations about her ¨C she was a superpower user too! Fang Yuxin could see that this woman was very hostile towards her. Not wanting to engage with her, she said to Bai Ye, ¡°I don¡¯t have much time; you¡¯d better make a decision quickly. If you decide to give up, I¡¯ll take Qianqian and leave.¡± Bai Ye had asked her to come along; how could he possibly give up such an opportunity? He cast a warning glance at Meng Qingluo, then led Fang Yuxin to Chen Si¡¯s bed and lifted the thin blanket. Upon uncovering the blanket, a robust scent of blood and medicine instantly pervaded the air. Fang Yuxin also saw the young man on the bed, bare-chested with a thick bandage wrapped around his waist, soaked with dark bloodstains. Combined with his pale complexion and faint vitality, Fang Yuxin was certain the man was gravely injured! She had an inkling that if Bai Ye hadn¡¯t encountered her, this young man might not even survive the day! She reached out to place her hand on the bandage to sense the young man¡¯s injuries when Meng Qingluo couldn¡¯t help but shout shrilly, ¡°What are you doing!¡± Fed up, Fang Yuxin withdrew her hand and frowned unhappily, ¡°I am here to heal his injuries; everyone else out.¡± After speaking, worried that Bai Ye wouldn¡¯t agree, she added, ¡°He¡¯s extremely weak now; he won¡¯t last much longer without treatment. Are you really deciding to keep wasting time?¡± Bai Ye felt innocently accused; he hadn¡¯t intended to waste time, and Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t even paused to give him a chance to respond! Nevertheless, Chen Si¡¯s condition was indeed dire, clearly not the time to argue with Fang Yuxin. He addressed the others, ¡°Everyone out.¡± Meng Qingluo opened her mouth, perhaps wanting to say more, but a cold look from Bai Ye made her hesitate. The other two injured young men exchanged looks and pulled Meng Qingluo towards the door. The frail young man alone spoke up, ¡°May I stay? I promise not to disturb you.¡± Of all the people there, this man made Fang Yuxin the most guarded, and she naturally refused. Moreover, she noticed that Bai Ye seemed to be wary of this man too. Bai Ye signaled the others, and they turned around, pulling the frail young man out. Dissatisfied, Fang Yuxin looked at Bai Ye, who still remained in the room, ¡°Why are you still here?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) and vote with your recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 90 - 90 071 They are all yours (third update) ?Chapter 90: 071 They are all yours (third update) Chapter 90: 071 They are all yours (third update) Bai Ye said as a matter of fact, ¡°He is my brother, I will stay here, so get started quickly.¡± Fang Yuxin actually understood that Bai Ye would definitely not leave. Her question just now was asked casually. Therefore, she didn¡¯t entangle further but asked Bai Ye for the surgical tools and alcohol and began to prepare for unwrapping the gauze after a simple disinfection. However, at that moment, she detected a subtle fluctuation of spiritual power! She was immediately alarmed; there was a Spiritual Ability User here, and they were surveilling her! Her expression turned cold as she cautiously released her Spiritual Sense, and after a careful search, she discovered some subtle Spiritual Tentacles within the room. The next moment, her Spiritual Sense surged like a tide towards those Spiritual Tentacles, completely dispersing them. Then, she continued to extend her Spiritual Sense, following the dissipated Spiritual Tentacles, and finally located the person who was surveilling. It turned out to be that seemingly frail young man! Seeing something was off with her expression, Bai Ye asked, ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Fang Yuxin looked at him coldly and said bluntly, ¡°You are here in person, yet you still have an accomplice surveilling. That¡¯s very cautious of you!¡± However, Bai Ye was even more surprised than she was. His face instantly darkened, ¡°You¡¯re saying there¡¯s someone surveilling us? Who is it?¡± Fang Yuxin raised an eyebrow and looked at Bai Ye with suspicion, ¡°Your accomplice is a Spiritual Ability User, and you didn¡¯t know?¡± When Bai Ye thought of the five people who had left just now, he speculated, ¡°The person you¡¯re talking about... is it that fragile-looking young man?¡± As Bai Ye said this and saw Fang Yuxin nod, he frowned and said, ¡°He¡¯s not my accomplice, just the target of my mission. I can¡¯t tell you the specifics. Whether you believe it or not, I only just found out that he actually has spiritual abilities.¡± Fang Yuxin looked at him without saying anything. Regardless of whether what Bai Ye said was true or false, the frail young man had already been taught a lesson, and she would not give him the chance to surveil again! Thinking of this, she took out a small handful of grass seeds from her pouch, blew on them, and the fine seeds scattered, suspended quietly in the corners of the room. She formed hand seals and cast several flows of Spiritual Energy to set up a simple Defensive Array, assured that the person could no longer surveil, then she unwrapped the gauze with sharp and swift movements. Bai Ye watched the scene without showing his thoughts, but he was quite amazed inside. He realized Fang Yuxin was even more capable than he had anticipated! But being clever, he said nothing and just silently watched. Fang Yuxin paid no attention to Bai Ye and frowned as she examined the young man¡¯s wound. The wound on the young man¡¯s waist was long and particularly deep, and it had reached his internal organs. After wiping the blood around the wound, she carefully put out her Spiritual Sense to investigate the exact extent of the young man¡¯s injuries. She found that the wounded organs had been carefully sutured with a type of biological thread that the body could absorb, so there was no need to remove them. The problem was that there was a dark energy accumulating at the wound, preventing natural healing and causing the young man to remain unconscious. Then, Fang Yuxin probed the young man¡¯s body more carefully and discovered that the young man was actually in the middle of an Awakening! However, due to his serious injuries, he couldn¡¯t awaken properly. She suddenly became uncertain. If she treated the young man now, he might fail to awaken, but if she didn¡¯t treat his injuries now, his current state would not allow him to awaken successfully anyway, and he might even die due to delayed treatment. So, what should she do? After a brief hesitation, Fang Yuxin decided to tell Bai Ye and let him decide. After all, this young man was Bai Ye¡¯s companion, and no matter what choice Bai Ye made, it wouldn¡¯t be her fault in the end. She asked, ¡°He is in the midst of an Awakening. If I treat him now, it may lead to a failed Awakening. But if I don¡¯t treat him, he is likely to die. How do you want me to proceed, make your own choice.¡± After hearing this, Bai Ye did not hesitate at all and firmly said, ¡°Treat him now.¡± Becoming a superpower user is certainly good, but even a slim chance cannot outweigh the importance of life! He was not willing to risk his brother¡¯s life for a mere one percent possibility! Relieved by his words, Fang Yuxin hesitated no longer and directly placed her palms over the wound on the young man¡¯s body, channeling Spiritual Energy into the injury to treat him. Chapter 91 - 91 071 They are all yours (third update)_2 ?Chapter 91: 071 They are all yours (third update)_2 Chapter 91: 071 They are all yours (third update)_2 The Wood Element Spiritual Energy was teeming with life, and Fang Yuxin, with her Pure Wood Spirit Body, refined the Spiritual Energy so that it was even more vibrant than ordinary Wood Element Spiritual Energy. Therefore, when her Spiritual Energy entered the young man¡¯s wounds, it gradually dissolved the dark Energy that was attached to the injuries. Following that, the wounds began healing at a rate visible to the naked eye, under the stimulation and nourishment of the Spiritual Energy. From inside out, because the young man¡¯s injuries were quite severe, and a dark Energy layer was also attached to his wounds, Fang Yuxin took a full half-hour to completely cure his injuries. After that, she noticed that the young man¡¯s Awakening did not stop; on the contrary, as his body regained vitality, the speed of Awakening accelerated. Judging from this, there was a high probability that he would successfully awaken. However, he would have to remain unconscious before the successful Awakening. Fearing that Bai Ye might misunderstand, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°His wounds have healed, but he is still in the process of Awakening. After the Awakening is successful, he will wake up.¡± Bai Ye nodded in acknowledgment, carefully examining Chen Si. Even though Chen Si had not awoken, his originally pale complexion had regained some color and looked much healthier. Bai Ye then said with gratitude, ¡°Thank you for this.¡± However, his emotions were always reserved; even in gratitude, he still seemed very cold and aloof, hard to approach. Fang Yuxin did not mind these reactions. Seeing that Chen Si was no longer in danger, she said, ¡°Since he is no longer in danger, isn¡¯t it time you fulfilled your promise and let me take Qianqian away?¡± Bai Ye did not respond but instinctively looked towards Bai Qianqian. Bai Qianqian was pursing her lips with wide eyes, looking quite hurt. She did not want to leave Fang Yuxin, but also did not want to leave her doltish father whom she had just managed to meet. But now, she had to choose to follow just one, which caused her considerable distress. She could not understand why Mama and Papa could not be together. Seeing his daughter¡¯s distress, Bai Ye stretched out his hand, wanting to pat her head to calm her, but Bai Qianqian dodged away. Bai Qianqian¡¯s large eyes, which distinctly set her black pupils against the whites of her eyes, stubbornly glared at Bai Ye, on the verge of crying. Bai Ye sighed inwardly and said, ¡°Qianqian, Daddy still has some work to finish and has to stay in the mall for a while. Is it okay if you go with Mom for now?¡± Bai Qianqian huffed and turned her head away, refusing to acknowledge him. Bai Ye shook his head, stood up, and had just turned around when Bai Qianqian anxiously said, ¡°Where are you going?¡± It was a moment of panic for her; seeing Bai Ye turn, she thought he was about to abandon her, and she simply freaked out without thinking further. Bai Ye noticed her panic and reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Qianqian. Daddy is just getting something.¡± Bai Qianqian then realized she had misunderstood, and her cheeks immediately flushed red. Seeing that his daughter was calmed, Bai Ye then pulled out a bulging black backpack from under the bed. After opening it, he took out a black stone and asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°Do you know what this is, Miss Fang?¡± Fang Yuxin recognized it at a glance; it was an Elemental Stone. However, before she could speak, Bai Qianqian exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Daddy, is that an Elemental Stone you found?¡± ¡°Elemental Stone?¡± Bai Ye repeated the two words to himself, his gaze towards Fang Yuxin becoming more intense. He did not ask Bai Qianqian but continued speaking to Fang Yuxin, ¡°It seems Miss Fang truly knows what this is. But I wonder, can you tell me what use this kind of Elemental Stone has?¡± Fang Yuxin looked at Bai Qianqian and motioned for her to keep quiet before speaking, ¡°I can, but first you have to tell me how many of these stones you have in your possession.¡± Bai Ye surprisingly did not conceal the information; he took out a smaller bag from the backpack and placed it on the bed. This bag was also bulging and when opened, Fang Yuxin saw it was full of Elemental Stones. With a sweep of her Spiritual Sense, she counted as many as 81 stones! Her look towards Bai Ye changed; this man did not even know the use of Elemental Stones but had collected so many. Should she say he was lucky, or smart? Moreover, Bai Ye chose to inquire with her, and she just happened to know, which made Fang Yuxin believe that Bai Ye was really very fortunate! At this point, Bai Ye added, ¡°As long as you tell me what these stones are for, they are all yours.¡± Fang Yuxin was even more surprised; this man was truly generous! However, Bai Ye had his own plans as well. He had encountered these Elemental Stones by chance, and intuitively felt they would be useful, so he collected them. Although it was not easy to gather so many, having them without knowing their purpose was useless. Conversely, if he could exchange these stones for their information from Fang Yuxin, he could then collect more stones and truly utilize their value! In his view, this trade was not at all a loss. Besides, he could tell that Fang Yuxin was a good person, and he trusted that she would not deceive him. Fang Yuxin only hesitated slightly before agreeing to the deal, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make this trade!¡± After saying this, she picked up an Elemental Stone and continued, ¡°This kind of stone is known as an ¡®Elemental Stone,¡¯ which is a type of meteorite from outer space. What sets them apart is that these stones contain a special substance that can isolate energy fluctuations. And within them, there is a possibility of encapsulating a ¡®Elemental Crystal.''¡± She paused there, directly cutting the stone with her Spiritual Sense while explaining, ¡°One must use spiritual power to cut the Elemental Stone, just like this.¡± Bai Ye saw lines etched onto the Elemental Stone, each about two millimeters deep, with fine black powder visible at the lines of the cuts. Thinking about the ¡®Elemental Crystals¡¯ Fang Yuxin had just mentioned, he could not help feeling excited. Although Fang Yuxin had not specified their use, he felt an instinct that Elemental Crystals were very useful! (. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 92 - 92 072 Embarrassment (First Update) ?Chapter 92: 072 Embarrassment (First Update) Chapter 92: 072 Embarrassment (First Update) Bai Ye watched as Fang Yuxin lifted the bag containing the Elemental Stones, and he couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°I want to know, what exactly is the purpose of Elemental Crystals?¡± His reward was generous, so Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t skimp on this information. She frankly admitted, ¡°You should know, everyone¡¯s talent is different. That¡¯s why some people can successfully Awaken and become superpower users while many others remain ordinary people. But with Elemental Crystals, these ordinary people could have the chance to Awaken, and superpower users who absorb Elemental Crystals of the same element can also enhance their superpower talent. So, keep it up.¡± She smiled meaningfully, then called for Bai Qianqian to prepare to leave. Bai Qianqian was very reluctant to part with Bai Ye and sat on the bed without moving, her face full of indecision. Suddenly, Fang Yuxin realized that she and Bai Ye had decided Bai Qianqian¡¯s current whereabouts without asking Bai Qianqian¡¯s opinion, which was really unfair to him! She looked at Bai Qian with difficulty, suddenly at a loss for words. On the contrary, Bai Ye said, ¡°Qianqian, can you stay with Mom for now?¡± Bai Qianqian glared at him with teary eyes, then suddenly jumped off the single bed and ran to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, grabbing her hand and refusing to let go. Fang Yuxin saw that Bai Ye was still standing there watching Bai Qianqian, so she nodded at him as a farewell. Then, she turned and walked toward the door with Bai Qianqian. Although she had turned her back, she knew that Bai Ye was still watching Bai Qianqian. Just as they reached the door, Bai Qianqian suddenly stopped, turned his head to look at Bai Ye, and after a long while, he suddenly said, ¡°I... I¡¯ll come to find you!¡± Bai Ye had remained in the same posture without moving, watching silently. Upon hearing Bai Qianqian¡¯s words, a rare warmth appeared in his eyes, and a faint smile graced his lips. Then, he suddenly strode over and took out a necklace from his person. It was an ordinary-looking necklace with a black cord and a golden bullet pendant. The bullet was small and exquisitely shaped, giving off a somewhat cute appearance. However, upon a closer look, Fang Yuxin realized that the seemingly ordinary cord was actually made of special material, and she also had an intuitive feeling that the bullet was extraordinary. The bullet had very weak energy fluctuations; if she hadn¡¯t examined it carefully with her Spiritual Sense, she would have likely overlooked the faint energy. Thinking of the bullet Bai Ye had previously formed using his Gold Element Superpower, Fang Yuxin guessed that this golden bullet was created in the same way. Bai Ye had taken out such a necklace to put on Bai Qianqian¡¯s neck, certainly not just as decoration. There must be something hidden inside the bullet! But she said nothing, just silently stood by watching. Bai Qianqian was obviously delighted to receive the gift, his eyes shining brightly. But when he thought of Bai Ye¡¯s refusal to stay with him, he deliberately pouted and made a disdainful face, ¡°What is this? It¡¯s so ugly, I don¡¯t want this, take it off now!¡± Though he said this, he didn¡¯t resist at all, only twisting his body symbolically. After Bai Ye put the necklace on him, he tucked it into his clothing. The bullet was so small that it left no trace from the outside. Having done so, he patted Bai Qianqian on the shoulder, ¡°There is a tracking device inside the bullet, which will keep sending signals to tell Dad where you are. Dad promises to come and see you often. You need to be a good boy with Mom, got it?¡± Bai Qianqian snorted, thinking Bai Ye was stating the obvious; he had always been a well-behaved child, always listening to Mama! However, Bai Ye¡¯s gift and promise satisfied him, so he decided to forgive his silly dad for the sake of the present. He swatted Bai Ye¡¯s hand away, turned his head, and holding Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, walked outside. Fang Yuxin stole a glance and saw his little mouth turning up slightly, clearly very happy. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but laugh seeing his smug little face. But just as she opened the door, she saw four men and one woman outside. The woman clearly harbored hostility toward her, sending unfriendly glares her way. Then, their gazes fell on the black bag in her hand. They all recognized it as the bag Bai Ye used for those black stones. They were unclear about what those black stones were, but collected some simply because Bai Ye thought they would be useful, with Bai Ye himself having collected the most. Chapter 93 - 93 072 Embarrassment (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 93: 072 Embarrassment (First Update)_2 Chapter 93: 072 Embarrassment (First Update)_2 Watching Bai Ye¡¯s collected stones actually held in Fang Yuxin¡¯s hands, their gaze toward Fang Yuxin became even more unkind. Meng Qingluo felt even more that the relationship between Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had gone beyond the ordinary! Bai Ye was perhaps too kind to this woman! Feeling uncomfortable in her heart, even though Fang Yuxin was Bai Qianqian¡¯s biological mother, she ultimately had a deep connection with Qiu Yiming. Bai Ye should have clearly drawn a line with her, so why was he still entangled with her? This was too irrational! Although she knew the package was definitely given by Bai Ye to Fang Yuxin, she couldn¡¯t help but stop in front of Fang Yuxin and asked, ¡°Where did you get the things you are holding?¡± Fang Yuxin looked at her, and once again confirmed, this woman harbored strong hostility toward her. Her eyes shifted, recalling the interplay between this woman and Bai Ye, and she suddenly understood something. Before she could speak, she heard Bai Ye¡¯s voice coming from behind, ¡°Qingluo, the thing in Miss Fang¡¯s hand is given by me; don¡¯t make it difficult for her.¡± She slightly turned her head and saw Bai Ye standing at the doorway. With a thought, Fang Yuxin smiled meaningfully, and pointedly said, ¡°Captain Bai sure has an impressive companion by his side; he¡¯s truly fortunate.¡± Bai Ye frowned, feeling that Fang Yuxin had misunderstood, and subconsciously wanted to clarify, but saw that Fang Yuxin had already walked away with Bai Qianqian. The five men didn¡¯t dare to stop her, but their expressions were ugly. All four men subconsciously looked toward Meng Qingluo, only to see her face fluctuating between pale and flushed, full of embarrassment and annoyance. Over the years, Meng Qingluo had never hidden her feelings for Bai Ye, they were not fools, naturally noticing it all along. Back then, apart from these teammates, there wasn¡¯t a single close woman around Bai Ye, yet he even had a son. As years passed, they couldn¡¯t help but doubt whether Bai Ye had a hidden ailment or perhaps issues with his sexual orientation. Thus, although Bai Ye had always been indifferent to Meng Qingluo, never responding to her pursuit, they all hoped that Meng Qingluo could succeed. After all, Meng Qingluo was well-known to them, with good character and strength, and also an exceptionally beautiful woman with a stunning figure, quite a match for Bai Ye. Who would have expected that, upon coming to Market on a mission, they would discover Bai Qianqian¡¯s biological mother? And this woman¡¯s identity was problematic, being Bai Ye¡¯s rival, Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e; the relationships were a mess! Because of Qiu Yiming, except for Hou San, no one hoped that Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin would develop any special relationship. Although Fang Yuxin was Bai Qianqian¡¯s biological mother, they were very biased against her, wishing Bai Ye would stay as far away from her as possible. It was Hou San; although he indeed thought about letting something happen between Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, his motives were not at all pure¡ªpurely wanting to mock Qiu Yiming, wanting Bai Ye to cuckold Qiu Yiming massively. However, after meeting Fang Yuxin in person, he dropped the idea. This woman seemed too dangerous! He wanted to see Qiu Yiming ridiculed, but not at the expense of getting Bai Ye involved! Thus, hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s pointed remark, the men felt strangely. Although they knew there was no relationship between Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, her holding Bai Qianqian¡¯s hand made her seem just like Bai Ye¡¯s official wife. Her words gave them a weird feeling as if Bai Ye was caught cheating by his wife. Meng Qingluo was even more infuriated, clearly she had been the one constantly by Bai Ye¡¯s side for several years, what right did Fang Yuxin have to insinuate accusations against her? Her eyebrows raised, her gaze coldly shooting over, she was just about to say something, but was sternly glared at by Bai Qianqian at Fang Yuxin¡¯s side. The words that reached Meng Qingluo¡¯s mouth suddenly couldn¡¯t come out; she felt very wronged, but Bai Qianqian was just a child who knew nothing, and one that Bai Ye had always cherished in the palm of his hand. If she dared show even a hint of malice toward him, let alone Bai Ye not letting her off, the other members of the team would definitely not forgive her! She had no choice but to suppress the anger churning in her heart, softened her harsh facial expression, and prepared to say something to appease Bai Qianqian. But before she could speak, the bear child beat her to it, saying, ¡°Aunt Meng, can you please not fight with my mama for daddy?¡± Meng Qingluo, hearing his words, was so angry she almost spit blood. What did he mean by her fighting Fang Yuxin for Bai Ye? Bai Ye and she had absolutely no relationship at all! Seeing her face turning increasingly unpleasant, both shocked and ashamed, Fang Yuxin quickly pulled Bai Qianqian away. She actually felt quite awkward herself; although Bai Ye was Bai Qianqian¡¯s biological father, there was really no relationship between the two of them. How could Bai Qianqian¡¯s words suddenly make it seem like her relationship with Bai Ye was particularly complicated? Worried that Bai Qianqian would continue spouting nonsense, she quickly took the bear child away. Bai Ye saw the two walking far away, worried that zombies might gather below again, glanced at Hou San, and said to him, ¡°You follow them, escort them to meet up with the team. Be careful, don¡¯t be discovered by others.¡± Hou San¡¯s awakened superpower was speed, perfectly suited for tracking and protection. Knowing Bai Ye was concerned about Bai Qianqian¡¯s safety, he solemnly nodded and hurriedly followed. Bai Ye then looked at Meng Qingluo, ¡°Qingluo, Qianqian is still young and doesn¡¯t understand these matters; don¡¯t take his words to heart.¡± Meng Qingluo looked at Bai Ye, although still very aggrieved and a bit resentful toward Bai Qianqian, she dared not show it, obediently nodding her head. Then she asked worriedly, ¡°Brother, how is Fourth Brother?¡± Thinking of Chen Si, Bai Ye¡¯s expression softened, he was just about to speak when he saw Fang Yuxin suddenly stiffen not far away. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 94 - 94 073 Mutant Zombie (Second Update) ?Chapter 94: 073 Mutant Zombie! (Second Update) Chapter 94: 073 Mutant Zombie! (Second Update) Bai Ye¡¯s observations were sharp, and although Fang Yuxin¡¯s stiffness was but a brief moment, he caught it. He felt something was amiss and subconsciously walked toward Fang Yuxin. However, just as he took a step, Fang Yuxin had already crouched down and said to Bai Qianqian, ¡°Qianqian! Stay here, I will come back for you after I finish my errand!¡± After saying this, she turned around, looked at Bai Ye from afar, ¡°Take good care of Qianqian!¡± Leaving those words behind, Fang Yuxin put down the bag in her hand and rushed downstairs quickly. Bai Qianqian panicked instantly, smartly realizing something might have happened. He subconsciously wanted to chase after Fang Yuxin but was tightly hugged by Hou San from behind. Bai Qianqian was initially stunned, then began to struggle forcefully, ¡°Let go! Let me go! I need to find Mama!¡± Hou San, disregarding Bai Qianqian¡¯s struggles, held on and only said, ¡°Qianqian! Your mom will be fine! Didn¡¯t you hear what she just said? She will come back for you after finishing her errand!¡± Bai Qianqian couldn¡¯t listen; recalling Fang Yuxin¡¯s stiff posture, his fear grew. He intuitively felt that Fang Yuyang and the others must have encountered danger, or else Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t have left him here uncared for. Thinking Fang Yuxin might be in danger, and that he might never see ¡°Mama¡± again, he became increasingly panicked, struggling even more intensely. It was just then that a warm palm was placed on his head. He looked up and realized Bai Ye was already standing by his side. He immediately pushed Hou San away and lunged into Bai Ye¡¯s arms, clung to his waist and looked up urgently, ¡°Dad, please save Mama, she must be in danger!¡± With a strong effort, Bai Ye hugged Bai Qianqian close. He glanced at Hou San to take the bag, asked others to stay back and watch Chen Si, and then carried Bai Qianqian downstairs. Meng Qingluo opened her mouth to stop him but was held back by the person beside her who said, ¡°Let it go! The boss has his reasons for doing so. Miss Fang is ultimately Qianqian¡¯s mother; if something happens to her, Qianqian won¡¯t take it well. Let the boss handle it.¡± Just like that, Bai Ye had already descended the stairs with Hou San. Meng Qingluo had no choice but to give up, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll check how Chen Si is doing,¡± and quickly entered the house. The others exchanged glances, sighed quietly, and then followed Meng Qingluo into the house, all very worried about Chen Si¡¯s condition. After the four entered the house, they found that Chen Si¡¯s complexion had improved a lot, no longer pale but rather flushed with color. It was just unknown why he still remained unconscious. Skeptical of Fang Yuxin, Meng Qingluo furrowed her brows tightly, her expression troubling as she said, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Chen Si awakened?¡± At that moment, someone with sharp eyes noticed some blood-stained cotton and unwrapped gauzes in the corner trash can. The person¡¯s expression changed and subconsciously lifted the blanket covering Chen Si. Then, everyone saw that the gauze previously wrapped around Chen Si¡¯s waist had disappeared, and the place of the wound was now smooth, bearing no trace of an injury, as though he had never been hurt! They stood astonished by the sight, but the thin young man¡¯s eyes grew brighter. He squinted slightly, reached out to touch where Chen Si had been injured, his expression as if he were looking at a rare treasure or a stunning beauty. Sensing his abnormal behavior, Meng Qingluo immediately became alert, slapped his hand away, and said displeasedly, ¡°Shen Xi! What are you doing?¡± Shen Xi frowned, squinting unhappily at Meng Qingluo, dissatisfied with her interruption. After thinking, he still explained, ¡°I just wanted to check if his wound has completely healed. Don¡¯t you want to know too? Miss Fang¡¯s healing method is indeed miraculous!¡± He said this with a faint smile, his eyes flashing with intense interest! If the situation had permitted, he would have really liked to keep Fang Yuxin around to study how she treated Chen Si¡¯s injuries! Only... Thinking of the earlier incident, his brows furrowed even tighter. He had been too eager to know how Fang Yuxin treated Chen Si, so he secretly released his spiritual power to peek, but unexpectedly, Fang Yuxin noticed it! Not only was his spiritual form repelled back, but he also got injured as a result! Regardless of how much he tried to peek afterward, all he could see was a green haze, not seeing anything ¨C clearly, Fang Yuxin had interfered! Chapter 95 - 95 073 Mutant Zombie (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 95: 073 Mutant Zombie! (Second Update)_2 Chapter 95: 073 Mutant Zombie! (Second Update)_2 However, more than being angry, he was more eager to know how exactly had Fang Yuxin managed it? As his expression grew more and more peculiar, the others became even more alert. Meng Qingluo even bluntly said, ¡°Mr. Shen, it¡¯s better for you to sit back in your original spot. There¡¯s no need for you to worry about Chen Si.¡± A flicker of displeasure crossed Shen Xi¡¯s face. He looked at the other two, seeing that they were also defensively watching him, making it clear they were not willing to compromise. Considering he still needed these people¡¯s help, Shen Xi had to suppress his curiosity and returned to his original seat to sit down. However, he did not give up and continued to stare persistently at the unconscious Chen Si. Although the other three were displeased, they found it inappropriate to say anything further and just kept a wary eye on him. Elsewhere. Fang Yuxin handed Bai Qianqian over to Bai Ye and then hurried down the stairs. In her haste, she couldn¡¯t hide the Elemental Stone in front of Bai Ye and the others, so she had to leave it behind. Just now, she had suddenly felt a sense of foreboding! The leaf she had used to send messages to Fang Yuyang had been spellcrafted by her, creating a slight connection between them. If the leaf were destroyed, she would know immediately. She had sensed that the leaf had been destroyed just moments before! Which was why she suddenly froze. She understood Fang Yuyang¡¯s character; even if it were just an ordinary leaf, Fang Yuyang would surely keep it and not intentionally destroy it. Therefore, the destruction of the leaf definitely indicated that Fang Yuyang was in danger! She remembered everything in that dream clearly. Having experienced the pain of losing loved ones deeply, she would not allow such a tragedy to happen again! When she left, she wasn¡¯t sure of her chances of success, and naturally, she dared not take Bai Qianqian with her. After rushing out of the building, she found that zombies had once again gathered at the entrance of the medical building. As soon as she burst out of the staircase, the zombies greedily surrounded her! A look of disgust flashed across Fang Yuxin¡¯s face as she unsparingly swung her knife, skillfully charging through the midst of the zombies. Barely avoiding the sharp nails of the zombies, she swung her knife again, severing a zombie¡¯s arm. After breaking out, she did not continue to attack the zombies but instead sprinted away at the speed of a hundred-meter dash. When Bai Ye came out holding Bai Qianqian, he just witnessed zombies stubbornly chasing after Fang Yuxin. Bai Ye¡¯s eyes turned cold. His fingers flicked out repeatedly, and in an instant, fine bolts of lightning appeared, piercing the zombies¡¯ foreheads, utterly destroying what was inside. The next moment, the zombies¡¯ heads burst open, and he raised his hand, catching three Crystal Cores that fell into it. Strangely, these Crystal Cores were spotlessly clean, not a bit of rotten flesh on them. Bai Ye pocketed the Crystal Cores and did not pause, carrying Bai Qianqian as he continued to chase after Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin was very fast, nearly not stopping for a moment. If she encountered zombies on her path, she would dispatch them with a swift strike. Before long, she arrived at the dormitory building of South Garden. As soon as she reached the building, she heard cries of alarm from upstairs! This building was not the same one she had cleared before but the one next door. Evidently, Fang Yuyang and the others had finished clearing the previous building and had begun on the next one. Yet, it was in this building that they encountered danger! Fang Yuxin paused only for a moment before continuing up the stairs. She had quickly identified that the shouts were coming from the fourth floor and headed directly there. The zombies in the stairwell had been cleared by Fang Yuyang and the others, but when Fang Yuxin ascended, zombies had appeared again. These zombies, all coming from the narrow corridor, were initially attracted by the scent of fresh flesh from above and had unthinkingly headed upstairs. Now, they were exactly blocking Fang Yuxin¡¯s path. Fang Yuxin¡¯s frown deepened, the continuous screams and cries of alarm from above made her anxious, leaving her with no extra attention to deal with these zombies. She swiftly swung her knife several times, each slash with a cunning angle and brutal force. Acting in desperation, she not only kept her composure amidst the chaos but even outperformed her usual abilities, swiftly dispatching all the zombies in her way. She had no time to extract the Crystal Cores and, after kicking the zombie corpses aside, she ran quickly upstairs. Finally reaching the fourth floor, she had just rounded the stairwell corner when she saw Qu Qianhe being sent flying by a dark shadow! That shadow, perhaps indiscernible to an ordinary person¡¯s eyes, was clear to her¡ªit was a speed mutant zombie! Fang Yuxin was astonished; she had not expected to encounter a Level 1 Zombie! The apocalypse had begun just three days prior, and most zombies were still Basic-level, yet here was an evolved Level 1 Zombie, and a speed mutant at that! Qu Qianhe was knocked down by the zombie, then the zombie extended claws sharper than those of Basic-level zombies, aiming for Qu Qianhe¡¯s delicate neck! ¡°Qianhe!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang simultaneously cried out in horror. Fang Jintang almost used his superpower! Just then, they heard the sound of a gunshot, ¡°Bang.¡± The bullet hit the zombie¡¯s palm, went through it, and then entered the zombie¡¯s chest. ¡°Thud!¡± The Level 1 Zombie lowered its head to look at its hand pierced by the bullet, then let out an angry howl, tossing Qu Qianhe aside and pouncing towards Fang Yuxin like lightning! It was incredibly fast, and the others could only see a blur. Fang Yuxin, with her Spiritual Sense, easily locked onto its position. She fired several shots in succession, each one hitting the zombie right between the eyes. Although this zombie had only evolved in speed, the physical strength of zombies also increased during their evolution. The handgun Fang Yuxin had was just a regular one; the bullets hit the zombie¡¯s forehead but got stuck in the bone, unable to penetrate. Seeing it already upon her, she fired the last bullet. ¡°Bang!¡± (To be continued... If you like this work, you are welcome to vote it for a monthly ticket at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 96 - 96 074 Infected with a Virus (Third Update) ?Chapter 96: 074 Infected with a Virus (Third Update) Chapter 96: 074 Infected with a Virus (Third Update) Gunshots echoed through the narrow hallway like thunder, striking terror into those present. Some couldn¡¯t help closing their eyes, unable to watch Fang Yuxin get scratched by the mutant zombie. Yet others stared wide-eyed, unblinking at Fang Yuxin and the mutant zombie. Among them, three members of the Fang Family appeared almost on the brink of bursting, wishing they could rush to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side. Then they were surprised to find that the mutant zombie had frozen in place. Its extended claws were just a bit away from touching Fang Yuxin¡¯s delicate face, yet they couldn¡¯t move forward anymore. Fang Yuxin lifted his foot and kicked the zombie in the body, sending the mutant zombie falling backward. It was then that the others saw that its forehead had completely caved in. Fang Yuxin pulled out a knife and drove the tip into the depression in the mutant zombie¡¯s forehead, then forcefully flicked it, ejecting a crystal core larger than a Basic-level Crystal Core. It fell to the ground with a crisp sound. This was a Level 1 Crystal Core that was entirely white; compared to the Basic-level Crystal Core, it was not only larger in size but also purer. Most importantly, the energy fluctuations on it were stronger and more profound than those of the Basic-level Crystal Core. Anyone who saw it would instinctively understand that this was a ¡®Speed System¡¯ Crystal Core. Fang Yuxin quickly collected the crystal core and stuffed it into his pouch. Then, without any pause, he walked straight toward his family. At that moment, Qu Qianhe had already been helped up by Fang Jintang. Her tracksuit had been torn open, revealing the black protective outfit underneath. Fortunately, she had dodged in time, and the protective outfit beneath hadn¡¯t been scratched open. Fang Yuxin first checked his family, only to find that not just Qu Qianhe but Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang¡¯s tracksuits had also been torn open by the zombie¡¯s claws; among them, Fang Yuyang had been injured! His right arm bore five deep and long gashes! What was worse, there was a faint black tint beginning to emerge around his wounds! This was the sign of infection with the zombie virus! Noticing this, not only did the Fang Family all turn pale, but so did everyone else. They all knew too well what it meant to be infected with the zombie virus! Almost instantly, the way these people looked at Fang Yuyang changed slightly. Some had a look of struggle and pity, while others saw hints of vigilance and hostility in their eyes. They were all worried that Fang Yuyang might mutate into a zombie. They even thought about whether, if he did mutate, his superpower as a Wind Ability User would disappear. If not, wouldn¡¯t that make him as difficult to deal with as the zombie they had just encountered? More worrying still was that out of these people, Fang Yuyang was not the only one injured by that mutant zombie! Besides those already dead, five others had also been scratched! And on checking their wounds, they too had noticed the blackening. This could not have been worse! Fang Yuxin watched all this unfold with a cold gaze. Seeing their expressions change, he said, ¡°Being infected with the zombie virus doesn¡¯t necessarily lead to mutation. It¡¯s also possible to awaken a superpower. Superpower users have stronger resistance to the virus, so perhaps they could survive. You¡¯re not dead yet, what¡¯s there to despair about? Those who can stand, get up! Fire Element Superpower Users, dispose of the bodies, then let¡¯s head downstairs to the car and discuss further!¡± Aside from Fang Yuyang, the other five injured were all mercenaries who had joined their team; among these mercenaries were both superpower users and Ordinary People, who now all had injuries. In addition, there were three fresh corpses on the ground, those of survivors who had been killed just moments ago. Already weak, they had barely managed to await rescue when a speed mutant zombie unexpectedly appeared, and they were caught off guard and killed. However, after Fang Yuxin released her Spiritual Sense, she discovered seven more survivors in a nearby dormitory, all of whom were panic-stricken. They must have seen what had just happened, as they had locked the door and were hiding inside, refusing to come out. Fang Yuxin frowned and called out, ¡°It¡¯s safe now; the people inside can come out.¡± But it was no use; the seven people inside just kept to themselves, hugging their heads and refusing to come out. She grew angry, knowing they still had to rush back to the car and then see if they could treat the injured. Were they really going to waste time accompanying these people? Chapter 97 - 97 074 Infected with Virus (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 97: 074 Infected with Virus (Third Update)_2 Chapter 97: 074 Infected with Virus (Third Update)_2 Her frown deepened, and her voice carried a hint of anger, ¡°If you refuse to come out, just wait for the next group of people to rescue you. Let¡¯s go!¡± Upon hearing this, the people hiding inside panicked. One of them complained, ¡°How can you do this? Weren¡¯t you here to rescue us? How can you just leave?¡± Clearly frightened, the person didn¡¯t dare open the door and just hid inside. Not only was Fang Yuxin angry now, the others were fuming too! Especially the five mercenaries. Why had they gotten injured? Wasn¡¯t it because, when the mutant zombie appeared, they were protecting these survivors and buying them time to escape, blocking the zombies? But now, they were infected with the zombie virus, facing the danger of dying at any moment, and these people were frightened and refusing to come out, wasting their precious time! It was utterly detestable! So someone said, ¡°Exactly! Let¡¯s go! Since they won¡¯t come out on their own, let them wait for another rescuer!¡± After saying this, that person strode towards the stairwell. The other four exchanged glances and also left without hesitation. One of the Fire Element superpower users, before leaving, launched three fireballs that hit three bodies, which began to burn silently upon impact. The Fang Family glanced at the tightly closed dormitory door, scoffed disdainfully, and turned to leave. Now, the people inside were utterly panicked. Finally, someone mustered the courage despite their fear, unlocked the door, and cracked it open. Seeing Fang Yuxin and the others already far away, they were terrified beyond reason, hurriedly grabbed their bags, flung the door wide open, and ran outside. The other six followed suit; they weren¡¯t fools, they knew that staying meant certain death. And if they wanted to survive, they had to keep up with the people ahead! With a chance to live, no one wanted to die! However, as they left the room, they also harbored resentment toward those who had abandoned them! Fang Yuxin, who had first suggested leaving, naturally became the primary target of their resentment! As they left, they saw the three bodies burning silently, shivered involuntarily, and hastened their steps. Fang Yuxin and the others heard footsteps behind them, smiled disdainfully, said nothing, and quickened their pace. Just as they reached the stairwell, they encountered zombies coming up from below. Due to the injuries in the area, the smell of blood was strong, drawing zombies from below who all came rushing in. Their injuries naturally impaired their abilities, and, coupled with the mental shadow cast by the earlier mutant zombie, their movements were a bit slower. This delay made the situation quite perilous. Luckily, their desire to survive soon sharpened their focus, and after some effort, they managed to deal with these zombies. However, their injuries had increased. Thankfully, all the zombies were basic-level zombies. Seeing their spirits low, Fang Yuxin knew these people were no longer fit for combat, so she ordered them to fall back while she took the lead. Jintang, worried about her, closely followed right behind her. Behind them were Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuyang. Although Qu Qianhe was lucky enough not to be injured by the zombies, the impact had caused some internal injuries. Although there was no risk of zombie virus infection, it still made her feel terrible. This affected her capabilities, making her also unsuitable for further combat. Fang Yuxin led at the front, and upon reaching the third floor, she decided not to attempt any further rescues and instead led everyone out of the dormitory building. Any encountered zombie was slain by her, and she safely escorted everyone back to the truck. The truck¡¯s doors were tightly shut, but Fang Yuxin knew there were people inside! These were survivors they had rescued from other dorm buildings, a total of 38. Relief washed over the five mercenaries upon seeing the truck, and without needing instructions from Fang Yuxin, they efficiently opened the truck¡¯s cargo area and climbed in. The 38 survivors inside also sighed in relief, then curiously looked towards the seven survivors following behind Fang Yuxin and her group. Initially very nervous, these seven felt emboldened upon seeing other survivors. Seeing that the Fang Family didn¡¯t go up, they boldly moved in front of them and struggled to climb into the cargo area. Seeing their struggle, people inside the truck came over to help pull them up. Although the five mercenaries didn¡¯t stop them from climbing aboard, their expressions were clearly unhappy. Those who were helping them, seeing their perturbed looks, grew suspicious, and their gaze towards the seven shifted slightly. Seeing that Fang Yuxin and her group hadn¡¯t boarded, the mercenaries hesitated for a moment then jumped back down from the truck, worriedly asking, ¡°Captain Fang, why aren¡¯t you coming up?¡± Fang Yuxin pointed towards zombies approaching from a distance and quickly said, ¡°There are more zombies coming, close the cargo door quickly!¡± The mercenaries didn¡¯t dare hesitate, swiftly shut the cargo door, then their faces slightly paled. The number of incoming zombies was not small! Since there was still some distance, Fang Yuxin walked over to Qu Qianhe, placed her palm on the spot where she had been struck, and began healing her with Spiritual Energy. Fang Yuyang¡¯s wounds, infected by the virus, would be troublesome to treat, and with no time currently available, she didn¡¯t waste her efforts but chose to first heal Qu Qianhe¡¯s internal injuries. Qu Qianhe¡¯s injuries were merely some internal damage from the impact, not too severe, and Fang Yuxin quickly healed her. This, in turn, freed up Qu Qianhe¡¯s capabilities, giving them a bit more assurance. Then, seeing the five mercenaries¡¯ faces turning pale, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°When the zombies arrive, you should hide in the back first and take care of yourselves.¡± The mercenaries, knowing she meant well, gratefully glanced at her and then gripped their weapons tighter as they moved to the back. Meanwhile, Jintang and Qu Qianhe also moved back behind Fang Yuyang. Then, the three of them cautiously watched the approaching zombies, gripping their weapons tightly. Here they come! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 98 - 98 075 Zombification (First Update) ?Chapter 98: 075 Zombification! (First Update) Chapter 98: 075 Zombification! (First Update) This time, there were as many as seventy to eighty zombies converging on them, rapidly closing in on Fang Yuxin and the others, aiming for them and the survivors inside the carriage! Fang Yuyang stood behind his family, unwilling to retreat. His brows were furrowed with worry as he reminded them, ¡°Dad, Mom, and Xinxin, be careful. Among these zombies, there could be Mutant Zombies.¡± Before the appearance of Mutant Zombies, they hadn¡¯t taken this matter seriously. However, since witnessing the power of Mutant Zombies, Fang Yuyang had to be more vigilant. The reason why that Mutant Zombie¡¯s sneak attack was successful wasn¡¯t just because of its extraordinary speed; it was also because the others were unguarded. The large-scale appearance of Basic-level Zombies had already caused many survivors to despair, and the existence of Mutant Zombies was something they had never even considered! And yet, they had encountered them. What was even more chilling was that this was only the third day of the apocalypse! The evolution speed of the zombies was far too fast! At this rate, did humanity still have any hope of survival? The five mercenaries standing beside Fang Yuyang couldn¡¯t help but have such thoughts flash through their minds when they heard his words. They had all sustained injuries, been infected with the Zombie Virus, and their fear of Mutant Zombies was even more profound! The three Fang Family members facing the enemy had no time to ponder these issues. Upon hearing Fang Yuyang¡¯s warning, they became even more guarded. Fang Yuxin quickly released her Spiritual Sense, covering all the zombies to scrutinize the energy fluctuations on their bodies. Then, she breathed a sigh of relief. These were all Basic-level Zombies; there were no more powerful Mutant Zombies. The student dormitory here had good greenery. With the large number of zombies, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t hold back. Her nails flicked non-stop, injecting Spiritual Energy condensed into green threads into the surrounding vegetation. In the next moment, the plants grew wildly, with vine-like branches and leaves wrapping around the zombies, quickly intertwining into a massive green cage that trapped all the zombies. To keep the zombies trapped longer, this move alone almost depleted the majority of her Spiritual Energy. She had used two-thirds of her Spiritual Energy to treat Chen Si earlier, leaving only a third remaining. Then, she hurried back to save others without time to absorb a Crystal Core to replenish her Spiritual Energy, leaving her with only a third of her energy. Now, with the majority expended, she was almost out. After Fang Yuxin trapped the zombies, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe instantly charged out without waiting for her command. Previously, in the dangerous situation, Fang Jintang had almost revealed his superpower. Fortunately, Fang Yuxin arrived in time to save Qu Qianhe. Now, both he and Qu Qianhe didn¡¯t plan to reveal their superpowers; they relied solely on their physical force to slay the zombies. Fang Yuxin also rushed out; her body was even more agile. With a push off the ground, she leaped up, landing gracefully on the green cage woven from plants, and used her Miao Saber to continuously slaughter the zombies. Since there were quite a few zombies, it would take them some time to kill them all by hacking away. Fang Yuyang watched, then raised his barely injured hand, mobilizing the space within his body to unleash Wind Blades. The previous Mutant Zombie was a speed mutation; its form was so fast that they barely had time to capture its figure, resulting in many attacks missing. Plus, the Mutant Zombie was sneakier compared to Basic-level Zombies, starting with a sneak attack, which caught him off guard and resulted in serious injuries. Now, with the zombies trapped by Fang Yuxin, using his Wind Blade to attack was more than ideal! Fang Yuxin and the others noticed the Wind Blades released by Fang Yuyang and swiftly dodged, coordinating very tacitly, causing the five watching mercenaries to be filled with envy. At first, after seeing the Fang Family¡¯s fight, they thought they were formidable. But after witnessing the cooperation of Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang¡¯s superpowers, they truly realized what eye-opening meant! One of them couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°These two siblings from the Fang Family are truly exceptional, able to come up with such tactics, cleverly combining their superpowers to unleash terrifying combat power. Unlike us, who are still feeling out our Skills.¡± The others nodded in agreement, such talent and capability were genuinely blessed by the heavens! However, more than Fang Yuyang, what they cared about even more was Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Element Superpower. In this dangerous apocalypse, the ability to kill wasn¡¯t rare, but the capacity to save people was what truly mattered! Chapter 99 - 99 075 Zombification (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 99: 075 Zombification! (First Update)_2 Chapter 99: 075 Zombification! (First Update)_2 Anyone who can survive would never wish to die. Fang Yuyang stood right beside them, naturally hearing the man¡¯s words. However, similar praise had been heard too many times by him before; he no longer felt affected by it. He released some more Wind Blades and finally managed to eradicate those zombies cleanly. Afterwards, the grass and trees automatically retracted, returning to their original state. The only difference was that due to the nourishment from the Wood Energy, they became even more vibrant and lush. Left in their place were the dismembered corpses of countless zombies. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe saw Fang Yuxin¡¯s face turn a slight pale and guessed that she was running low on Spiritual Energy. They asked her to absorb a Crystal Core to recover, while they took on the task of gathering the Crystal Cores. Fang Yuxin nodded. With the zombies dispatched, there was no immediate danger, but what would happen next was uncertain for anyone to guarantee. She had to absorb a Crystal Core to regain her strength as soon as possible. Moreover, she needed to attempt to heal Fang Yuyang. Earlier, when Fang Yuyang had used his superpower, she was worried it might have negatively affected him. The resistance to the Zombie Virus depended entirely on the body¡¯s strength; if the Energy inside the body was depleted, the resistance would undeniably weaken! Pretending to fumble a Crystal Core from her waist pouch, she actually sneakily took out a purified one from the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Fortunately, since she was holding the Crystal Core in her hand, others couldn¡¯t see it, so there was no need to worry about any abnormalities being noticed. She activated the Green Wood Technique within her body and absorbed the Energy from the Crystal Core while walking. It was an impressive Cultivation Technique; as it moved, the Energy from the Crystal Core was absorbed continuously, and even the surrounding Spiritual Energy in the air started gathering towards Fang Yuxin, being absorbed by her body. However, no one else was able to sense this Spiritual Energy. In the past, the planet¡¯s lack of Spiritual Energy meant that even with a Cultivation Technique, it would have been tough for Fang Yuxin to make significant progress in her cultivation. However, that mysterious meteor brought an immense amount of Energy. After the initial outburst, the Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth had become plentiful. Although it still pales in comparison to the Cultivation World, it was already sufficient for a few to engage in cultivation. Even though it was only a few steps¡¯ distance, by the time Fang Yuxin reached Fang Yuyang, her complexion had improved significantly; no longer pale, she regained a healthy rosy color. Conversely, Fang Yuyang¡¯s face, due to the virus infection and the release of his Skill, looked extraordinarily awful. His originally pale, handsome face was now shrouded with a layer of grayish pall of death! Fang Yuxin was shocked and, forgetting that she was still absorbing the Crystal Core, grabbed Fang Yuyang¡¯s arm in a frantic manner, urgently saying, ¡°Brother! Let me see your injuries quickly!¡± The five mercenaries, who had been marveling at how Wood Element Superpower Users were truly favored by the heavens, recovering at an incredible speed, now noticed Fang Yuyang¡¯s sickly appearance. After a brief moment of shock, they all became alarmed and began to check their own injuries. The faces of the two Ordinary People among the five were the worst, each covered with a layer of death¡¯s pall, followed by the Fire Element Superpower User. He had used his superpower to burn the bodies after being injured, so his complexion was somewhat worse than the other two superpower users. However, as he was a superpower user, his consumption of Energy was not as great as Fang Yuyang¡¯s, so his appearance was slightly better compared to the two Ordinary People and Fang Yuyang. Despite that, all five were visibly anxious and instinctively looked towards Fang Yuxin. At this time, Fang Yuxin, possessing the Wood Element Superpower, had undoubtedly become their life-saving straw! Fang Yuxin was examining Fang Yuyang¡¯s wounds. By now, the black color that had merely been attached to the wound had started to spread to the surrounding skin. The blood at the wound turned a corrupted dark red and even emitted a faint stench of decay. It was clear; zombification had begun! Fang Yuxin gripped Fang Yuyang¡¯s hand firmly, while Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe had also left the corpses strewn about to come over, looking at Fang Yuyang with concern. Without any further hesitation, Fang Yuxin gave Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe a nod, ¡°Dad, Mom! It¡¯s best you quickly gather the Crystal Cores, in case zombies come again and steal them. If we face a few more Mutant Zombies, our situation will be dangerous!¡± Though worried about Fang Yuyang, after hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, they no longer hesitated and turned around to continue gathering Crystal Cores. Then, Fang Yuxin addressed the five injured mercenaries, ¡°I¡¯ll first try to find a way to treat my brother. I ask you five to please wait for a while and stay alert.¡± Although each of the five would have preferred Fang Yuxin to attend to them first, they all understood it was impossible. Everyone has their close and distant relations; Fang Yuyang was her own brother, so it was perfectly reasonable for her to heal him first. Though they were anxious, they were also afraid of annoying Fang Yuxin. Provoking her for a moment¡¯s relief only to end up not being treated would be a huge loss. Thus, none of the five raised any objections; instead, they politely offered to keep watch in the meantime. Fang Yuxin noticed their panic and, giving a nod, refrained from further conversation. Just as she was about to begin, Fang Yuyang gestured with his eyes towards the roof of the vehicle, indicating for her to go up. Without hesitation, Fang Yuxin climbed up, followed by Fang Yuyang. Despite his severe injuries, his movements were not slow. The others watched them go up to the roof without suspicion; naturally, being on the roof was safer than staying below. Once on the roof, Fang Yuxin wanted to take out the spiritual spring water from the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion but was stopped by Fang Yuyang. He leaned in close to her ear, his voice very low, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t take out the stuff, be careful not to be seen. Try if you can use your body to move the spiritual spring water, like a Water Element Superpower User draws out water.¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Yuxin thought it over, attempted to connect with the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, and after careful exploration, with a thought, a crystal-clear droplet of water appeared on the pad of her index finger. Her face lit up with joy. She quickly pulled Fang Yuyang over and pressed her finger against him. Chapter 100 - 100 076 What to do (Second Update) ?Chapter 100: 076 What to do? (Second Update) Chapter 100: 076 What to do? (Second Update) Fang Yuxin had just placed her finger on Fang Yuyang¡¯s wound when Fang Yuyang felt a refreshing sensation. Fang Yuxin carefully communicated with Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, and spiritual spring water slowly flowed from her fingertips, gradually moistening Fang Yuyang¡¯s wound. His wound had already darkened, showing signs of slight decay. Once the spiritual spring water enveloped his wound, he felt a dense, prickling pain as if every cell was throbbing. Strangely, despite such intense pain, his wound didn¡¯t become numb; instead, it grew more sensitive. Seeing that the flow of spiritual spring water had slowed, Fang Yuxin stopped and grabbed a Crystal Core, furiously absorbing power. Spiritual spring water had a purification effect, but it didn¡¯t work immediately; it required some time. She could use this time to replenish her Spiritual Energy to heal Fang Yuyang later. Fang Yuyang felt extremely uncomfortable, but he clenched his teeth, refusing to make a sound. Because of his restraint, his handsome face was completely tensed, and large drops of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. After absorbing two Crystal Cores, Fang Yuyang felt some Spiritual Energy return and then grabbed Fang Yuxin¡¯s arm to infuse Spiritual Energy into his wound. The spiritual spring water began to take effect, dark, foul-smelling blood seeped from Fang Yuyang¡¯s wound. But the process was still too slow; Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to wait anymore, so she decided to stimulate his wound with Spiritual Energy to speed up his recovery. Once the Spiritual Energy entered Fang Yuyang¡¯s wound, he again felt a soothing coolness. This coolness alleviated the dense, prickling pain, making it less intense. Fang Yuyang also clenched his teeth, unblinkingly watching his own wound. A Mutant Zombie had left five deep, long lacerations on his arm, which were twisted and had flesh protruding, looking ferocious and horrifying. Now, all these wounds were carefully covered by Fang Yuxin with spiritual spring water. Under its influence, his wounds kept changing. He also noticed that the density of this spiritual spring water was much higher than ordinary water, resembling transparent grease. As soon as it touched the wound, it automatically soaked in and began purifying the Zombie Virus inside. The Zombie Virus mixed with the decaying blood looked filthy and emitted a foul, unbearable stench. After Fang Yuxin applied Wood Energy, the purification speed of the spiritual spring water increased significantly. Fang Yuyang only saw dark blood continuously flowing from the wound, while the previously darkened areas gradually lost their necrotic pallor and revived. Half an hour later, the blackness in Fang Yuyang¡¯s wound had completely disappeared. Fang Yuxin carefully cleaned the blood around the wound and infused Spiritual Energy again. As the Spiritual Energy was infused, Fang Yuyang¡¯s ghastly wounds healed visibly fast, returning to normal. Fang Yuxin watched this scene and finally let out a sigh of relief. However, Fang Yuyang¡¯s expression was very serious. He urged Fang Yuxin to quickly absorb Crystal Cores to restore her Spiritual Energy, then whispered, ¡°Xinxin, have you ever thought that if people knew about this ability, it¡¯d be extremely detrimental to you? I heard that the military has established a special research group dedicated to secretly researching superpowers and viruses. Everyone in there is a research fanatic, capable of doing anything for the sake of their studies! If they find out you can purify viruses, they definitely won¡¯t let you go!¡± Fang Yuxin was alarmed by his words, and her expression also turned unsightly. She knew Fang Yuyang was right. With so many people around, Fang Yuyang contracting the Zombie Virus from his wound was something they all witnessed, something that couldn¡¯t be concealed! Seeing her troubled expression, Fang Yuyang felt pity. He knew very well that Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t have exposed herself if it weren¡¯t to save him. She had taken such a huge risk for him, and he couldn¡¯t let her be targeted because of this! He thought for a moment and then said, ¡°After we go down, let¡¯s say this¡ªI first used my superpower to drive the Zombie Virus to near the wound, then cut off the decayed flesh, and you used your superpower to heal me. Understood? Make sure you remember.¡± Fang Yuyang nodded solemnly, and then the siblings cleaned the blood in the compartment, deftly jumped down. Chapter 101 - 101 076 What to do (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 101: 076 What to do? (Second Update)_2 Chapter 101: 076 What to do? (Second Update)_2 Five injured mercenaries had been panicking, and enduring till now was almost their limit. Upon hearing some noise, they looked towards the siblings. Seeing that Fang Yuyang¡¯s complexion had returned to normal and his arm¡¯s wound had healed, they visibly relaxed, displaying genuine joy. One of the Ordinary People mercenaries excitedly asked, ¡°Can Miss Fang truly heal?¡± Fang Yuyang glanced at Fang Yuxin and then explained according to the pretext they had agreed on beforehand, ¡°Xinxin is also helpless against this virus. I later made a tough decision, cut off the infected part myself, and had her try to heal my wound. Unexpectedly, it really worked. You can now try to use your superpower to push the Zombie Virus towards the wound area. Xinxin just expended too much superpower and she can use this time to recover. However, I can¡¯t guarantee success for everyone, as it likely depends on each person¡¯s resistance to the Zombie Virus.¡± Upon hearing this, the three superpower user mercenaries immediately started using their superpowers to combat the Zombie Virus. The faces of the two Ordinary People turned sour¡ªthey had no superpowers! Both were somewhat panicked, ¡°What about us without superpowers...¡± Fang Yuyang frowned, seemingly in a difficult position. After thinking, he said, ¡°You two discuss it first. Once Xinxin has recovered, one of you can cut off the necrotic flesh and let her try. But I must say upfront, Xinxin isn¡¯t sure about this at all. You must think it through. If it fails, you must not get angry!¡± Both were still waiting for Fang Yuxin to save their lives, so how could they dare to oppose Fang Yuyang¡¯s words? They hurriedly nodded, their attitude extremely agreeable. Seeing that Fang Yuxin had started to absorb a Crystal Core to recover, they stepped aside, discussed briefly, and decided that the one more severely injured would go first. After all, more severe injuries meant a more intense virus infection. They had developed bonds during the mission, so the other one was willing to make such a concession. After all, the longer they delayed, the greater the danger. Fang Yuxin then simply had them wait on top of the vehicle. Cutting off the necrotic flesh would inevitably lead to heavy bleeding, and it would surely attract zombies. It was certainly safer on top of the vehicle. The two did not hesitate, quickly climbing on top. Following them, Fang Yuxin also climbed up. Seeing one person¡¯s complexion growing particularly ghastly, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s start now.¡± That person¡¯s eyes brightened, and his gaze towards Fang Yuxin filled with gratitude. His clothing was already torn to shreds. He simply stripped, baring his upper body, and then Fang Yuxin saw several wounds. Zombie Virus had spread from the wounds, turning the surrounding skin into decaying black, enveloped in a layer of deathly aura. Strangely, amidst this deathly aura, a hint of vitality seemed to be bursting forth. She released her Spiritual Sense to carefully probe and found his heart was still actively beating. With each heartbeat, a weak vitality spread from his heart. This vitality entwined with the surrounding deathly aura. However, his vitality was still too weak. Without external assistance, it wouldn¡¯t be long before this vitality completely dissipated, and he would fully turn into a zombie. Fang Yuxin had hesitated at first, but upon recognizing the faint vitality, she made up her mind. She couldn¡¯t expose the spiritual spring water, but stimulating his body¡¯s vitality using the Wood Element was feasible! Seeing that he was about to use a knife to cut the necrotic flesh around the wound, she immediately said, ¡°Wait!¡± There were many decaying spots on his body. If he really cut all of it off, his faint vitality might get cut off completely! Although puzzled, the man did not doubt Fang Yuxin¡¯s words and stopped as told. Fang Yuxin first flicked a thread of Spiritual Energy into his heart. As a Pure Wood Spirit Body, the Wood Element Spiritual Energy she refined was rich in vitality. This thread of Spiritual Energy acted like a cardiac stimulant, making his heartbeat more vigorous and his vitality more robust. Seeing its effectiveness, Fang Yuxin then flicked several threads of Spiritual Energy into key acupoints throughout his body, stimulating his vitality. Thus, his vitality grew even more vigorous. Afterward, Fang Yuxin tried firing Spiritual Energy into the decaying areas of his body. Initially enshrouded with a thick layer of deathly aura, these areas began to dissipate somewhat when stimulated by the vitality-rich Spiritual Energy. Seeing true effectiveness, she injected more Spiritual Energy, intensifying the stimulation. Gradually, the man¡¯s vitality grew stronger, and the deathly aura lightened, the decaying areas gradually emanating vitality. Then, Fang Yuxin sharply detected an energy fluctuation bursting from deep within his body. This energy fluctuation was very unstable, at times prominent, at other times weak, always on the verge of collapsing. Thinking it over, she again fired Spiritual Energy into his heart and major acupoints. This influx of Spiritual Energy gradually stabilized the energy fluctuation. Seeing that his condition had much improved, Fang Yuxin absorbed the Crystal Core in her palm while asking the other man to strip and sit cross-legged. His condition wasn¡¯t good either, but he appeared to have a slightly better constitution. His body contained more vitality than the previous man, making Fang Yuxin¡¯s rescue efforts somewhat easier. Following her earlier method, she used Spiritual Energy to stimulate his vitality and eliminate the deathly aura. After this busy ordeal, by the time this man¡¯s condition stabilized, time had already quietly slipped away. (. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 102 - 102 077 Hostility (Third Update) ?Chapter 102: 077 Hostility (Third Update) Chapter 102: 077 Hostility (Third Update) As Fang Yuxin treated two people, Lin Nan had already returned once with the survivors, having learned that they had encountered a Mutant Zombie and were seriously injured, he took people again to rescue the survivors on the remaining three floors. After she stopped, she saw that Lin Nan had already brought back the last of the survivors and settled them into the carriages. Lin Nan knew that Fang Yuxin was treating the wounded on the roof of the truck, and although Fang Yuyang had not explicitly said that the wounded had been infected with the Zombie Virus, he guessed as much. Therefore, he was quite concerned about whether Fang Yuxin would be successful! After learning about the appearance of the Mutant Zombie, he was shocked. He admitted that his strength was even less than Fang Yuyang¡¯s, and considering that Fang Yuyang had been badly injured after encountering a Mutant Zombie, wouldn¡¯t he be facing certain death if he encountered one? Even if he didn¡¯t die, being scratched by a Mutant Zombie would also mean infection with the Zombie Virus, which was practically as good as being dead! But if Fang Yuxin could find a way to treat such infections, his chances of survival would increase! It was this concern that led him to take over the task of rescuing the remaining survivors when he found that Fang Yuyang¡¯s team was incapable of doing so, and after rescuing the remaining survivors, he hurried back, with his teammates keeping watch around the truck to guard against any Zombies that might appear. It was exceedingly diligent! As the two were undergoing a superpower Awakening and could not be disturbed, Fang Yuxin simply jumped down from the roof of the truck to save the three superpower user mercenaries. Because the carriage was high, the people below couldn¡¯t see the situation on the roof clearly. Seeing her come down, they eagerly gathered around. Although the Fang Family also wanted to know the condition of the two, what they cared about most was Fang Yuxin¡¯s well-being. Seeing her face slightly pale, clearly exhausted, Fang Yuyang¡¯s face showed displeasure, ¡°Hurry up and absorb the Crystal Core, look how tired you¡¯ve gotten!¡± Fang Yuxin smiled softly and began absorbing the Crystal Core in her hand. The others wanted to ask, but seeing her complexion really wasn¡¯t good, they didn¡¯t have the face to inquire further. Anyway, since there was no change with the two on the roof, it seemed that everything was fine. Fang Yuxin rested for a while, then began to treat the injuries of the three superpower users. Because they were superpower users, their bodies had stronger resistance to the Zombie Virus, so she didn¡¯t exhaust a large amount of Spiritual Energy to stimulate their vitality as before. Instead, she used Fang Yuyang¡¯s method, having them cut away the necrotic flesh, then she treated them. The areas of decay on the three superpower users¡¯ bodies were not large, and they had already achieved some success in resisting the Zombie Virus using their superpowers, so treating them was much easier for Fang Yuxin. After healing the three, Lin Nan and his teammates came over, and just as Lin Nan was about to speak, Fang Yuyang suddenly asked, ¡°Xinxin, where is Qianqian? Why isn¡¯t he by your side?¡± Fang Yuxin glanced over and noticed that although Lin Nan¡¯s group all had injuries, they had only encountered Basic-level Zombies and weren¡¯t infected with the Zombie Virus, so their wounds weren¡¯t too severe and didn¡¯t require immediate treatment. She then thought that it was indeed time to bring Qianqian back, and said, ¡°You go and meet up with Captain Zhou first, I¡¯ll go find Qianqian!¡± Fang Yuyang naturally didn¡¯t want to let her go alone, so he proposed to go with her. Lin Nan and his teammates originally wanted Fang Yuxin¡¯s help with their injuries, but seeing she was going to find her son, how could they object? He thought for a moment and said, ¡°Then you better go quickly and come back quickly. Be very careful on the road!¡± Actually, he wanted to offer help searching for the child, but considering the size of the school, finding a child wouldn¡¯t be easy. Additionally, they still had so many survivors here, and Zombies could be attracted at any time. After hesitating, he eventually swallowed these words. The three superpower users healed by Fang Yuxin looked at each other and then offered to help search together, but Fang Yuxin refused without a second thought, ¡°You stay on the truck and protect the survivors inside with Captain Lin. Qianqian is my personal responsibility, as I said from the beginning, I wouldn¡¯t let him hold you back. Now that he¡¯s missing, it¡¯s naturally up to me to find him, it¡¯s not fair to put you through trouble.¡± The three tried to speak, but were interrupted by Fang Yuyang, who said, ¡°We appreciate your goodwill, but Qianqian is just one person, and if we let the survivors here fall into crisis because of him, Yuxin and I would feel very guilty. Now let¡¯s not talk about it. It¡¯s important to find him, you go meet up with Captain Zhou first, Yuxin and I will be there quickly!¡± Chapter 103 - 103 077 Hostility (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 103: 077 Hostility (Third Update)_2 Chapter 103: 077 Hostility (Third Update)_2 Before he had finished speaking, the siblings had already rushed out. Although the three superpower users didn¡¯t follow, they admired the siblings even more in their hearts. They thought for a bit and made up their minds. Then, Lin Nan let people into the vehicle. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe offered to go to the roof to keep watch, and the three superpower mercenary users did the same. Seeing their insistence, Lin Nan did not refuse but agreed. A group set off in the car, heading to the meeting point designated by Captain Zhou. On the other hand, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang hadn¡¯t gone far after leaving, when they saw Bai Ye holding Bai Qianqian, and Hou San following by Bai Ye¡¯s side. The trio had been watching from a distance, during which Bai Qianqian tried several times to return to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side but was stopped by Bai Ye. The timing wasn¡¯t right. Seeing Fang Yuxin approaching from afar, Bai Ye¡¯s emotions suddenly became complex. He had followed along with Bai Qianqian precisely because he was worried about Fang Yuxin being in danger and wanted to help. But having arrived, he realized that Fang Yuxin was even more capable than he had imagined! Her tactics were incredibly clever¡ªeven the seemingly simple flick of her fingers seemed to contain some profound mystery. He felt it wasn¡¯t his imagination, and upon thinking of the Elemental Crystal that Fang Yuxin mentioned, he suddenly realized that Fang Yuxin seemed to know more than the average person! The disaster had only started three days ago, and he didn¡¯t believe all this was discovered by Fang Yuxin within such a short time. Thus, a ridiculous thought suddenly emerged in his mind¡ªcould the person who posted online initially be Fang Yuxin? At that time, he thought it was someone with precognitive abilities, and he was somewhat concerned about it, but unfortunately, that person was too cautious, cleverly disguising themselves and deliberately avoiding surveillance. He had Hou San look for a long time but couldn¡¯t find the real identity of that person. Now, as he watched the distant figure of Fang Yuxin, his mind suddenly flashed to the person captured in the surveillance footage, feeling that the two figures eerily overlapped. But could it be her? However, upon further thought, he felt it no longer mattered whether Fang Yuxin was the person who initially posted. As long as he knew this woman had secrets and knowledge, that was enough. Originally, since Fang Yuxin was Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, he did not plan to get too involved with her, but now, he suddenly felt that there could be more cooperation between them. The Safe Zone outside the city, now controlled by the military, was probably the safest place in Market, but to him, it was nothing less than a lion¡¯s den. Qiu Yiming was there, and going there would be leaping into the net. However, if he continued to stay in the city, he would face large numbers of zombies. He himself was not afraid but couldn¡¯t guarantee the safety of his people. Unless... he could quickly enhance his strength in a short period of time! To achieve this... probably only Fang Yuxin could help him! But how could he get her to help? He quickly glanced at the package in Hou San¡¯s hands, feeling that Fang Yuxin was quite demanding, and it might not be easy to satisfy her. Besides, he felt, Fang Yuxin really didn¡¯t like him! Thinking of this, Bai Ye slightly furrowed his brows, feeling for the first time that things were a bit tricky. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t pay any attention to what Bai Ye was thinking. Fang Yuyang, the protective brother, felt an instant alarm in his heart! He narrowed his eyes slightly, his cold and sharp gaze stabbing at Bai Ye, not concealing the hostility in his eyes, ¡°Are you Qianqian¡¯s dad? What are you doing here?¡± Out of protection for his sister, Fang Yuyang harbored hostility towards all men who approached his precious sister! Qiu Yiming was the same initially, and now Bai Ye was no different. If compared, he despised Bai Ye even more! Qiu Yiming was only Fang Yuxin¡¯s fiance?, but Bai Ye was different. He originally had nothing to do with Fang Yuxin, yet he coincidentally had a son with her! For Fang Yuyang, such a situation was simply unbearable! After all, Qiu Yiming at least had grown up with Fang Yuxin from childhood, but who was Bai Ye, this wild man who had appeared out of nowhere? When he learned that Bai Qianqian had suddenly appeared, he was filled with hostility towards the people behind Bai Qianqian. Now, seeing that Bai Ye was actually lurking not far away, his hostility intensified several times over. If not for strong self-control, he would have been sorely tempted to punch the man before him brutally! Bai Ye and Hou San had already seen her family¡¯s photos during the investigation of Fang Yuxin, so he recognized Fang Yuyang at a glance. Sensing the strong hostility from Fang Yuyang towards Bai Ye, Hou San became discontented. Why should Fang Yuyang despise the boss? The boss hasn¡¯t done anything wrong! Considering that Bai Ye usually didn¡¯t like to explain, he quickly said, ¡°Miss Fang left in a hurry just now. The boss was worried she might encounter danger, so he followed along with Qianqian intending to help, but then seeing that you could handle it, we didn¡¯t come forward.¡± After speaking, he deliberately moved forward a few steps and placed the package in front of Fang Yuxin, ¡°Miss Fang left behind some of her things, and the boss specifically asked me to deliver them.¡± Fang Yuyang, although curious about what was inside the package, knew this wasn¡¯t the time to ask and didn¡¯t pay attention to it. Instead, he looked at Bai Ye and asked, ¡°Did you come this time to take Qianqian away?¡± Bai Ye shook his head and set Bai Qianqian down on the ground. As soon as Bai Qianqian touched the ground, she ran to Fang Yuxin, looked up at her with a worried expression, and asked, ¡°Mama, are you alright?¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head, and Fang Yuyang said, ¡°In that case, we will take our leave.¡± After saying this, he picked up the package from the ground, grabbed Fang Yuxin, and walked away. After walking out, he suddenly turned back, opened his mouth silently, and said, ¡°My sister has nothing to do with you, don¡¯t come looking for her again!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote at Qidian (qidian.com) with a recommendation or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 104 - 104 078 Request (First Update) ?Chapter 104: 078 Request (First Update) Chapter 104: 078 Request (First Update) After parting with Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin walked a considerable distance and made sure no one was around before she tucked the bag containing the Elemental Stones into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. At the same time, she quietly explained her deal with Bai Ye to Fang Yuyang. Fang Yuyang instinctively disliked Bai Ye, always suspecting that this man harbored ill-intentions toward his sister. He opened his mouth to say something, but then he met Bai Qianqian¡¯s vigilant gaze and decided it was better not to speak his mind. Bai Qianqian tightly gripped Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand. His senses had become incredibly sharp, so he naturally sensed Fang Yuyang¡¯s hostility towards Bai Ye, which made him tense and fearful. He suddenly realized that it probably wasn¡¯t easy for Mama and the silly dad to be together. What worried him more was that Fang Yuyang disliked Bai Ye so much¡ªmight he prevent Mama and the silly dad from being together? The thought of Qiu Yiming, who kept pestering Fang Yuxin, also made him feel agitated. He silently thought that his decision to stay by Fang Yuxin¡¯s side was truly wise! With the silly dad not around, he was determined to protect Mama and definitely not let her be with that annoying uncle! Hmph! Mama belongs to him and the silly dad! Bai Qianqian stealthily clenched his fist, then quickly glanced at Fang Yuyang, deciding to closely follow Mama in the future, not letting Fang Yuyang badmouth the silly dad to her! The three of them moved quickly. On the way, both Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin clutched Crystal Cores in their palms, absorbing them as they walked. They encountered zombies occasionally, all of which they handled with ease. The school was quite large; they walked for about twenty minutes and finally arrived at the rendezvous point Captain Zhou had mentioned. By the time they arrived, everyone else was already there, battling zombies. There were so many of them that they attracted even more zombies; they had also been blocked on the road. Therefore, even though Fang Yuxin and her group had walked, they hadn¡¯t caused Captain Zhou and the others to wait too long. Upon their arrival, they too began fighting the zombies and quickly eliminated them. Captain Zhou then called them to get into the truck. They noticed that all the mercenaries were staying in the same carriage, while the rescued survivors were in another. Seeing them return unharmed¡ªand even Bai Qianqian was alright¡ªmany sighed with relief. Captain Zhou looked directly at Fang Yuxin and asked, ¡°Miss Fang, how much of your superpower is left? Can you heal the injured now? Quite a few of my soldiers have sustained injuries, and they need to stand guard on the truck roof, so I hope you can treat them first.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded in understanding. Just like on their way here, these soldiers needed to stand on the truck roof with assault rifles to keep watch and prevent zombies from approaching the truck. However, they had fewer people when they came, and this time, having rescued many survivors, their return trip was bound to be even more dangerous. Captain Zhou wanted her to heal these soldiers first, clearly not out of selfishness but for everyone¡¯s safety. She then began treating the soldiers. The soldiers, being well-trained and armed, were not severely injured. Since they hadn¡¯t encountered Mutant Zombies, their wounds weren¡¯t infected with the virus, making it easy for Fang Yuxin to heal them. After the soldiers were healed, they each paid with Crystal Cores according to their injuries and then went with their assault rifles to guard the truck roof. Once Fang Yuxin had recovered from absorbing the Crystal Cores, she continued to heal other mercenaries, starting with the severely wounded followed by those with minor injuries. Afterwards, she received quite a few Crystal Cores. At that moment, the five mercenaries she had previously saved approached. Their faces bore an unprecedentedly serious expression, indicating they had made a significant decision. Then, the strongest among the five said, ¡°Captain Fang, we hope to join your Mercenary Team. We guarantee absolute loyalty and hope Captain Fang will give us this opportunity!¡± Another said, ¡°Exactly! Our lives were saved by Miss Fang. Miss Fang has given us a second chance at life. Just let us join your Mercenary Team, and we promise never to betray!¡± They had considered this decision deeply. The appearance of Mutant Zombies made them realize that zombies could evolve and grow stronger. It wasn¡¯t easy for them to survive the apocalypse on their own! To survive, they needed to join a powerful team. But with their current strength among the superpower users being only average, if they were to join a powerful team, they might end up as mere cannon fodder! Chapter 105 - 105 078 Request (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 105: 078 Request (First Update)_2 Chapter 105: 078 Request (First Update)_2 The Yongcheng Team from the Fang Family was different; they could all see that the coordination between Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang was incredibly clever. If they could join the team and cooperate in the same way, they would be able to unleash even greater strength! More importantly, Fang Yuxin was a Wood Element Superpower User with strong healing abilities. Once they joined the team, even if they were seriously injured in the future, survival would hardly be a problem as long as they received timely treatment. Another point was that the Yongcheng Mercenary Team of the Fang Family was small, and the moral integrity of the Fang siblings had convinced them. Joining the mercenary team meant they would naturally obtain more resources and avoid being treated as cannon fodder. Thinking this over, they realized that joining the Yongcheng Mercenary Team was indeed the best thing for them! Perhaps meeting Fang Yuxin was their stroke of luck! Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t immediately agree; he thought for a moment before asking, ¡°Have you really made up your minds?¡± As he asked, his gaze swept over each of the five people¡¯s faces, discerning whether their intentions were sincere. Other members of the Fang Family watched them with equally sharp gazes, putting considerable pressure on the five individuals. They had the strange feeling that everything about them was laid bare before the Fang Family, with nothing concealed. Fang Yuyang had his own considerations. The Qiu Family had significant influence in the Safe Zone, and Qiu Yiming obviously hadn¡¯t given up on Fang Yuxin. He had to protect his sister, and he couldn¡¯t do it alone. Therefore, besides enhancing his own strength, he also had to build his own power base to stand a chance against Qiu Yiming. The five individuals in front of him might have lesser talents, and their decision might have been made out of self-interest, but at least their gazes were fairly upright and their character seemed decent enough to accept them. Even though he had made a decision in his heart, he didn¡¯t want to agree so readily. He had to let these five know that the Yongcheng Mercenary Team, small as it was, wasn¡¯t easy to join. He then said, ¡°First, I hope you remember one thing: Qianqian is also a member of the mercenary team. If they want to join, they must treat him as a comrade and not look down on him. Can you do that?¡± The five unhesitatingly nodded. They had already witnessed Bai Qianqian¡¯s agile movements and knew that despite his young age, he was different from ordinary children and even braver than many adults! What¡¯s more, Bai Qianqian was Fang Yuxin¡¯s son, so they naturally had no objections. Fang Yuyang then continued, ¡°Alright, whether you can join the mercenary team will depend on your subsequent performance. As long as you satisfy me, I will accept you after we return to the Safe Zone.¡± The five shared no objections to this; it was reasonable for Fang Yuyang to do so. Moreover, not only the Yongcheng Mercenary Team but most teams with a bit of strength set such trials; only the inferior mercenary teams didn¡¯t test people when a superpower user wanted to join. This matter came to a close, and the five then took out all their Crystal Cores and gave them to Fang Yuxin as a consultation fee. Among them, the three initial superpower users who were stronger had naturally obtained more Crystal Cores, while the remaining two who had just awakened had only a dozen or so. Fang Yuxin glanced at them but didn¡¯t accept the Crystal Cores. Instead, she said to the two who had just awakened, ¡°You¡¯ve just awakened and probably aren¡¯t familiar with your superpowers yet. Take this time to get accustomed to them. Now is when you need Crystal Cores the most; I won¡¯t take your consultation fee for the time being.¡± Hearing this, the two were extremely grateful and felt fortunate to have encountered such a generous Wood Element Superpower User like Fang Yuxin. Then, she turned to the other three superpower users and continued, ¡°Although you three were previously infected with the virus, it seems to have been a blessing in disguise; you now have stronger control over your superpowers. So, I will also refrain from taking your consultation fees for now. You¡¯d best use this time to meditate on your superpowers and strive to unleash greater strength.¡± The three were also very grateful. They understood why Fang Yuxin temporarily wouldn¡¯t take the two newcomers¡¯ Crystal Cores¡ªafter all, having just awakened their superpowers, they needed to absorb cores. Unfortunately, they had few to their names, and if all were given to Fang Yuxin, even with awakened abilities, they wouldn¡¯t be able to enhance their strength in the short term. However, they hadn¡¯t expected that Fang Yuxin would also forego taking their fees! She even knew they had gained stronger control over their superpowers! Indeed, they had noticed that after their injuries healed, their connection to their superpowers became clearer and their strength had subtly increased. They really were lucky! But they would never forget who brought them this fortune! Although there was self-interest in joining the Yongcheng Mercenary Team, they certainly felt profound gratitude towards Fang Yuxin in their hearts! As they had said, once they joined the mercenary team, they would never be disloyal! What they didn¡¯t know was that Fang Yuxin actually knew even more! These five, having been infected with the Level 1 Zombie Virus, had their physical constitutions enhanced after successfully resisting the virus, resulting in better talent compared to those who had awakened to the Basic-level Zombie Virus. The three superpower users had already awakened earlier, but this infection had also improved their superpower talents. Although such an enhancement was riskier compared to absorbing Elemental Crystals and the effect wasn¡¯t as pronounced, it was certainly a genuine improvement. So when these five proposed joining the mercenary team, Fang Yuxin decided to accept them. The other mercenaries watching this scene developed various thoughts. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 106 - 106 079 Save My Life (Second Update) ?Chapter 106: 079 Save My Life! (Second Update) Chapter 106: 079 Save My Life! (Second Update) They had rescued a total of 157 survivors this time, two-thirds of whom were women. At the same time, Captain Zhou had learned some news from these survivors. When the disaster struck, everyone woke up, and many people had already fled. Those who were slow to react found many zombies appearing around the school when they thought of escaping, so they had to hide in the dormitories. They didn¡¯t know where the others had fled to, and most of these survivors were from out of town, without relatives in Market, which is also why they hadn¡¯t escaped immediately after the disaster. Because they had nowhere to go. The area around the school was surrounded by busy commercial streets, mainly selling clothes and food, with several small motels. Although they were on a rescue mission, since they had come, they naturally wanted to bring back as many supplies as possible. With Fang Yuxin present, there were no casualties in the team, so Captain Zhou decided to circle the school first, both to collect more supplies and to see if there were other survivors nearby. Fortunately, the disaster had occurred at midnight; otherwise, if it had been during the day when the commercial streets were bustling, who knew how many zombies there might have been, and the situation would have definitely been worse. After deciding, Captain Zhou had the soldiers on top of the truck stay alert. Then, the truck entered the commercial streets next to the school. The commercial street was now desolate, some areas had been hit by meteorites leaving only ruins. The ground was covered with dark bloodstains, and zombies wandered nearby, creating a desolate scene. After spotting them, the zombies started to surround them. But before they could get close, the soldiers on the roof shot them dead. Gunshots rang out intermittently, and the air was filled with the acrid smell of gun smoke, making it hard not to tense up. Then they noticed that many shop doors on the commercial street had been smashed open, and from outside, one could see the mess inside, with goods scattered all over the floor. Captain Zhou simply had people get off the truck and split into two teams, searching from store to store along the road, collecting useful supplies. The most sought-after were food, followed by lighting tools and batteries, and then other useful supplies. Given it was already the third day of the apocalypse, the commercial street had long been raided. But those who came must have been in a hurry, turning the shops upside down, with many goods even thrown on the ground. Almost every edible item had already been taken away, and they only found some flashlights and batteries, along with some other useful items; the gains were not considerable. Thinking of Bai Ye and his group, Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t surprised at all; those who stayed in the hospital must have scavenged nearby, leaving nothing edible behind. After searching around the school, and everyone having gathered some findings, Captain Zhou decided it was time to leave. But just then, a car full of dents and scars suddenly drove recklessly out. Everyone was startled, then saw that the car was followed by a horde of zombies, numbering in the hundreds! The people in the car were obviously very panicked, driving erratically. Upon seeing them, the people in the car seemed overjoyed and headed straight towards them. Captain Zhou immediately ordered, ¡°People on the roof, prepare to shoot! Others, get ready to fight!¡± Although he was angry with the reckless driving, with the zombie group so close, of course, it was more important to kill the zombies! The Fang Family had always stayed together, and the five mercenaries who intended to join were also by their side. They had worked hard collecting supplies just now. Now, seeing the approaching zombie group, they each took up positions, ready to show off their skills and satisfy the Fang Family. The car made a harsh screeching noise, and before it even stopped, the man inside pushed the door open and rushed out, gasping for breath, ¡°Save... save me!¡± His car was in a sorry state; not only was the door next to the driver¡¯s seat shaking, but the other doors seemed to have been removed at some point, leaving just a bare frame. The windshield was covered with web-like cracks, and the body had many scratches, making the car riddled with holes. The man who got out of the car was also quite disheveled. He was a young man, still youthful, looking to be just over twenty. His clothes had been torn into ragged strips, and he had multiple injuries all over his body. Chapter 107 - 107 079 Help (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 107: 079 Help! (Second Update)_2 Chapter 107: 079 Help! (Second Update)_2 Seeing him like this, even if people felt annoyed, they had to suppress it and could not lash out at him any longer. After calling for help, he hid beside the truck, seemingly understanding limits. As the zombies drew near, Captain Zhou hurriedly asked Fang Yuyang, ¡°Captain Fang, how many can you take down?¡± Fang Yuyang¡¯s Wind Blade Skill was incredibly useful. They still had a long way to go and needed to preserve their strength. Captain Zhou hoped Fang Yuyang could do more and take out more zombies. This would also help conserve bullets. With no more munitions factories, each bullet used was one less in their supply, so naturally saving ammunition was the best strategy. Although his soldiers had submachine guns with greater lethality than the Wind Blade, once the bullets were gone, that was it. Unlike Fang Yuyang¡¯s Wind Blade, as long as he had his superpower, he could continue to unleash it without end. Fang Yuyang understood his meaning and reported a number¡ªit was about one-third of the zombie horde, the number he could handle at once. Captain Zhou immediately made arrangements. Fang Yuyang was to take on the zombies in the middle, while the other mercenaries would handle the sides. With this division of labor, aside from Fang Yuyang, everyone else had fewer zombies to deal with. The zombies were getting closer, and Fang Yuyang immediately released his Wind Blade. Suddenly, a flurry of crescent-shaped Wind Blades spun out, decapitating the zombies in their path. The other mercenaries also reacted quickly and advanced on the zombies before them. Fang Yuyang saw that the others could handle themselves, so he did not make another move. After all, helping was one thing, but taking other people¡¯s zombies was another. Fang Yuxin and the others also refrained from competing with anyone and skillfully extracted the Crystal Cores. This scene left the young man standing aside in shock. He instinctively looked at Fang Yuyang, his eyes sparkling! This man was too strong! Since the disaster had begun, this was the first time he had seen anyone so powerful. Just by lifting his hand, a group of zombies had fallen! An idea flashing in his mind, he walked towards Fang Yuyang. Captain Zhou did not take action as he was the leader and needed to control the situation. He would not lightly engage unless necessary. So when the young man made a move, Captain Zhou glanced at him, ¡°Is there something you need?¡± With a heavy killing aura and a stern face, the young man felt somewhat intimidated. He shrank back a bit, a moment of hesitation crossing his face, then he steeled himself. Braving the discomfort, he approached Captain Zhou and pointed to Fang Yuyang, who was collecting Crystal Cores, and asked, ¡°Please... What... What¡¯s his name?¡± Captain Zhou looked at him intently and did not answer directly, instead responding, ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± The young man was very nervous, ¡°I just think he¡¯s amazing. I want to meet him, no harm meant!¡± Captain Zhou, noting the blood scent on him, furrowed his brows slightly and asked, ¡°Do you have Crystal Cores on you?¡± The young man instantly became guarded, looking at Captain Zhou as if he were a robber, ¡°What... what do you want?¡± Captain Zhou looked exasperated, glancing at Bai Qianqian who was not far off and extracting Crystal Cores, his voice even colder, ¡°If you have Crystal Cores, I can find someone to treat your wounds.¡± The young man was suspicious but after hesitating, he asked, ¡°How many?¡± Captain Zhou, sensing by his tone that he possessed Crystal Cores, prepared to have Fang Yuxin treat him. It wasn¡¯t that he suddenly felt charitable, but the young man¡¯s wounds smelled too strongly of blood! Fang Yuxin and the others had finished extracting Crystal Cores, so Captain Zhou called her over to treat the young man. Fang Yuxin had already assessed the young man¡¯s injuries with her Spiritual Sense, knowing that although he had many wounds, none were fatal, and they weren¡¯t severe. She agreed, took five Crystal Cores as a consultation fee, and treated the young man. The young man was astounded by her abilities and, upon learning that she and Fang Yuyang were siblings, became even more determined to follow the two. However, as soon as he mentioned this, Fang Yuyang refused. The man was an unknown factor, and key for Fang Yuyang was that his skills were poor and he was faint-hearted. Fang Yuyang simply was not impressed by him. Soon, the other mercenaries had cleaned up the battlefield, and Captain Zhou was ready to return. Suddenly, the young man blurted out, ¡°Right! Saving people! You must go save people!¡± His complexion was panicked as if remembering something terrifying. Captain Zhou immediately asked upon hearing there were others, ¡°What exactly happened? Speak quickly!¡± He was truly angry. The young man had been there for a while, but only now was he telling them about a rescue. Why hadn¡¯t he spoken earlier? Captain Zhou shook his head inwardly; this person was unreliable, no wonder Fang Yuyang refused him. The young man then detailed his situation: He had been staying with other survivors in a nearby residential building, which was fine until today, when it became surrounded by zombies. Lucky to be out scavenging for supplies with friends and not trapped, he fled at the turn of events, only for the zombies to follow him! His friends had all been captured and consumed by the zombies. Hearing this, Captain Zhou¡¯s expression grew even grimmer. He asked darkly, ¡°Do you know how many zombies have surrounded the residential building?¡± ¡°A lot!¡± the young man¡¯s face turned pale as he remembered, ¡°They seemed... as if someone commanded them, there were too many! A massive throng, at least thousands!¡± Thousands! Everyone¡¯s expressions turned grave upon hearing this. With so many zombies, they were not something they could handle! (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) and vote for us with your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 108 - 108 080 Bad Feeling (First Update) ?Chapter 108: 080 Bad Feeling (First Update) Chapter 108: 080 Bad Feeling (First Update) The news that the young man had revealed weighed heavily on everyone¡¯s hearts. Captain Zhou was the first to regain his composure; he understood the gravity of the situation. If it were true, they had to rush back and report to the higher-ups immediately. However, relying solely on the young man¡¯s words was not enough to serve as evidence. The young man seemed unreliable, so Captain Zhou decisively called out the speed superpower users in the team, instructing them to go to the apartment building the young man had mentioned to see if his claims were true. Speed superpower users had the advantage of speed, and even if they encountered a group of zombies, they had a great chance of escaping, making them suitable for scouting. There were eight speed superpower users in the team; they checked their weapons configuration, and once they were sure everything was in order, they quickly ran toward the apartment building mentioned by the young man. The truck was too large a target, and with many survivors also on board, if the young man¡¯s situation was true and the apartment building was surrounded by thousands of zombies, driving there would be too dangerous. After the eight left, Captain Zhou ordered again, ¡°All superpower users, quickly absorb Crystal Cores and replenish your superpowers! Be ready to fight at any moment!¡± After giving the orders, he called the young man over to inquire about the specific situation of the apartment building, such as how many survivors were inside, whether there were any superpower users among them, and why they hadn¡¯t gone to the safe zone outside the city. The young man¡¯s answers were detailed, though he wasn¡¯t very clear about specific details; he only knew that many survivors were living in the apartment building, mostly residents who originally lived there. However, he didn¡¯t know the exact number of people. He had seen superpower users, but again, he didn¡¯t know how many. When asked why they hadn¡¯t gone to the safe zone, he lied. He told Captain Zhou it was because they were too weak to reach the safe zone. However, the actual situation was that they planned to gather as many supplies as possible while still in the city to secure their future. They had not expected that, just three days into the apocalypse, a massive group of zombies would appear! If they hadn¡¯t been out scavenging for supplies, they likely would have been in great danger! Even so, when they returned, they were still chased by zombies, and his companions were caught and dragged away by the zombies during this chase; he was the luckiest, not only escaping but also encountering a military rescue team. Moreover, it was fortunate that there was a Wood Element Superpower User with healing abilities in the team! The strength of Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin unconsciously made the young man consider aligning with them; after Fang Yuyang refused, he remembered there were still many people in the apartment building whose fates were uncertain, so he told Captain Zhou about the situation. Although he was concerned about the other survivors in the apartment building, he also had his own selfish motives. He knew that a large-scale gathering of zombies definitely indicated a problem. By revealing this news, he might be credited with a major achievement, which could assure his security once he reached the Safe Zone. Additionally, he and his companions had collected quite a few supplies during those three days, which were stored in their place of residence. If possible, he planned to go back and take the supplies with him. After asking, Captain Zhou fell silent, his expression growing increasingly grim. Upon questioning, he discovered that the young man knew almost nothing about the condition of the apartment building, which disappointed and also made him worry about the safety of the eight speed superpower users he had sent out. Seeing his grim expression, the young man hesitated slightly before stating his guess, ¡°Captain Zhou, I feel something is terribly wrong with this situation. Although I can¡¯t be sure how many people are in the apartment building, there definitely shouldn¡¯t be many. So why would thousands of zombies be attracted? It¡¯s too strange! More bizarre is that, after my companions and I discovered the zombie group, we quickly turned to flee... There were only eight of us, which realistically shouldn¡¯t have attracted that many zombies, yet hundreds pursued us. It¡¯s not normal!¡± Without needing him to say it, Captain Zhou also found the situation very suspicious. If he hadn¡¯t suspected the reason for the zombies congregating, why would he risk sending eight speed superpower users to scout? He quickly realized that the young man deliberately flaunted this information to gain merit. This did not improve his opinion of the young man. If the young man could have provided some substantial guesses, it might have been forgivable, but he had no substantial predictions, just idle chatter! Chapter 109 - 109 080 Bad Feeling (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 109: 080 Bad Feeling (First Update)_2 Chapter 109: 080 Bad Feeling (First Update)_2 On the other side, Fang Yuxin also had some thoughts on her mind. She remembered that the large-scale gathering of zombies usually signified the emergence of a leader, and there were only two possibilities for a Zombie Leader: either a higher-level zombie had appeared, or there was a Spiritual Zombie. Now, it was only the third day of the apocalypse. Even if there were higher-level zombies, they would be at most Level 1 Zombies, which possessed only rudimentary intelligence, akin to wild beasts. In combat, they might resort to some tactics but were still not capable of gathering thousands of zombies into an army. Thus, only one possibility remained. The leader was a Spiritual Zombie! The intelligence of a Spiritual Zombie was higher than that of regular zombies. A Level 1 Spiritual Zombie was already as cunning as a wolf. Even so, why would it surround an ordinary residential building? Was it possible that the building was not at all ordinary, or was there something in it that it wanted? The moment she considered this possibility, Fang Yuxin could hardly sit still. Fang Yuyang, who was next to her, noticed her distress and quickly asked in a low voice, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Thinking of the dream Fang Yuxin had once mentioned, his expression darkened slightly, and he pressed his voice even lower, ¡°Did you think of something?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded and was about to speak when she heard Captain Zhou asking, ¡°Captain Fang, Miss Fang, do you have any conjectures?¡± Fang Yuyang instantly became vigilant and guardedly looked at Captain Zhou. Captain Zhou immediately guessed that he might have misunderstood something and walked over, explaining, ¡°I saw both of your faces looking troubled, and you were whispering, so I guessed that maybe you knew something. That¡¯s why I am asking.¡± Fang Yuyang realized that he might have been too deliberate just now, and his face turned a shade paler with a bit of embarrassment. Fang Yuxin quickly interjected, ¡°Please don¡¯t take offense, Captain Zhou. My brother is just too cautious. I do have some guesses, but I¡¯m not sure, so I wanted to discuss them with my brother first and hear his thoughts.¡± Captain Zhou was not offended. In fact, he appreciated the vigilance and meticulousness of the Fang siblings. He waved his hand to indicate it was no bother and then urged, ¡°Miss Fang, please tell, what exactly are you thinking?¡± Fang Yuxin went straight to the point, ¡°I just find it too strange that so many zombies are gathering together. So I¡¯m guessing, might there be a leader-like existence among the zombies? We¡¯ve already encountered a speed mutant zombie, so could there be other Mutant Zombies? Ordinary zombies lack intelligence, but Mutant Zombies know how to ambush, clearly showing some smarts. If we compare them to natural predators, like a wolf pack, then might there be a ¡®Head Wolf¡¯ among them? If there is a ¡®Head Wolf¡¯ leading, then it wouldn¡¯t be strange for so many zombies to be gathered.¡± Ever since Captain Zhou learned of the Mutant Zombies¡¯ existence, he had had a bad premonition. However, he did not have the apocalyptic experience like Fang Yuxin and couldn¡¯t think as deeply as she did. Now hearing her theory, he felt it was very likely true! In such a case, it would not be strange for the youth to have mentioned hundreds of zombies coming after them. Not only Captain Zhou heard this conversation, but many of the mercenaries and soldiers around did as well. Like Captain Zhou, they all felt an ominous weight on their hearts! If one speed Mutant Zombie was already troublesome enough, how much more difficult would it be to survive with a Zombie Leader among them? Seeing the grave faces around her, and some already showing signs of despair, Fang Yuxin quietly sighed to herself. What was a Zombie Leader in the grand scheme of things? As zombies evolved, such leaders would only become more numerous! Moreover, animals and plants would mutate into more brutal, bloodthirsty, and aggressive forms. And among the animal-turned zombies, Zombie Rats and Zombie Birds were nearly invincible disasters! Although she knew all this, she dared not speak it aloud. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t all the survivors become even more desperate? After thinking it over, she said, ¡°I think there¡¯s no need for everyone to despair. Don¡¯t forget, when zombies appeared, superpower users emerged as well. Isn¡¯t this the way the world offers hope amidst despair? Since zombies can evolve, then superpower users certainly can too! As long as we find the right way, we can become stronger and stronger! Not to mention, that speed Mutant Zombie was also killed by us, wasn¡¯t it?¡± In truth, she alone had killed that Mutant Zombie. However, Fang Yuxin intentionally used ¡°we¡± in her statement to inspire everyone¡¯s fighting spirit and prevent them from falling into further despair. Although everyone understood this point, her words still had a significant impact. The point that ¡°superpower users can evolve¡± filled everyone with hope! Yes! If zombies could evolve, so could superpower users! What was there to fear? Captain Zhou knew very well the serious impact of low morale. Seeing everyone¡¯s spirits lifted by Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, he struck while the iron was hot, ¡°Miss Fang is right! Everyone, don¡¯t worry, we can definitely evolve! Sooner or later, we¡¯ll eradicate all those disgusting zombies!¡± Fang Yuyang added, ¡°Correct! As long as we become stronger, we can certainly eradicate all zombies!¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know if such a day would truly come, but at that moment, her heart was also filled with hope! Perhaps because most of the surrounding zombies had been drawn away by the Zombie Leader, they encountered only a few isolated zombies after staying there for a while and did not come across any more Zombie Groups. Time ticked away, second by second, and half an hour after the eight speed superpower users had left, they finally reappeared in everyone¡¯s line of sight! However, behind these eight people were now hundreds of zombies! (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for a recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 110 - 110 081 Must Take the Risk (Second Update) ?Chapter 110: 081 Must Take the Risk! (Second Update) Chapter 110: 081 Must Take the Risk! (Second Update) Eight speed superpower users were sprinting desperately, with hundreds of zombies hot on their heels. A glance over the landscape revealed a densely packed horde, sending a bone-chilling dread through anyone who saw it. The morale of all onlookers, which had just been uplifted, plummeted instantly. Seeing the worsening situation, Captain Zhou immediately bellowed, ¡°What are you doing standing around? Everyone on alert! Grab your weapons and prepare for battle!¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at the street trees lining the road and instantly fired her Spiritual Energy into them. In moments, the trees grew visibly, their branches elongating rapidly and hanging down from mid-air, snaking towards the direction of the zombie group like Spiritual Snakes. As the distance between the eight speed superpower users and the zombie group rapidly closed and they were nearly caught, thunderous gunfire erupted, striking the leading zombies. The eight speed superpower users ran even faster, quickly widening the gap from the zombies. Simultaneously, the ¡®snakes¡¯ on the ground sidestepped them and swiftly erected behind them, intertwining into a vast net of trees, blocking the zombie group. Because of the large number of zombies, after a brief hesitation, Fang Yuxin did not form a cage but chose this kind of tree net to halt the zombies. As long as the net was sturdy, zombies couldn¡¯t break through and cause harm. Captain Zhou was impressed by Fang Yuxin¡¯s quick response and saw her in a new light. He then ordered, ¡°Now is the time! While the zombies can¡¯t get through, start fighting!¡± Immediately, gunfire rattled intensely. The soldiers stationed on vehicle roofs were the first to fire, obliterating dozens of zombies with rapid-fire volleys. Subsequently, Fang Yuyang released his Wind Blade, and other superpower users began their Attacks. Those Ordinary People who couldn¡¯t engage in ranged Attacks stood guard, ready to charge and eliminate any zombies that breached the tree net. After reinforcing the tree net once more, Fang Yuxin dashed to the roadside, grabbed a vine, and rapidly climbed to the treetop. Using the vines, she moved swiftly from tree to tree, reaching behind the zombie group and forming another giant net with the vines, effectively sealing their rear. Upon seeing this, Captain Zhou sent a team from the rooftops of nearby shops to flank the zombie group from behind. Fang Yuyang led his family and the five mercenaries who wished to join them, mimicking him by using the vines to reach Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, and fervently slashing at zombies. Seeing them come over, Fang Yuxin promptly cast a small Magic that caused sturdy vines to hang further down from the trees. If anyone felt tired or was overwhelmed, they only needed to pull the vines which would then retract quickly, bringing them to safety atop the trees. The five mercenaries, already keen to show their worth, had followed Fang Yuyang intentionally and learned this method, removing any last hesitations and fighting even more valiantly. While others admired their courage, they did not dare to charge into the zombie group like them, instead engaging the zombies on the periphery. Thus, even without assault rifles, Yongcheng Team managed to kill almost half the zombies and harvested a significant number of Crystal Cores. With their assistance, plus the soldiers wielding submachine guns, the battle did not last long, ending in less than half an hour. Due to the presence of the tree net, no one was fatally wounded, and there were few injuries. However, the five mercenaries who sought to join Yongcheng Team bore the most injuries. Eager to impress, they hadn¡¯t immediately withdrawn or sought treatment from Fang Yuxin after being injured. They recognized that Fang Yuxin still needed to strengthen the tree net and maintain the vines, which consumed a lot of her energy and didn¡¯t want to selfishly drain her superpower. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, despite their injuries, they refused to retreat, leading to numerous wounds inflicted by zombies. Fortunately, all the encountered zombies were Basic-level Zombies, whose zombie Virus had no effect on these superpower users. After the battle, Fang Yuxin treated their injuries. This victory excited everyone, including the newly joined young people. It was his first time witnessing such a method of fighting and the first time realizing that humans could eliminate zombies so effortlessly. This sparked in him an uncontrollable sense of heroism and further solidified his determination to join the Yongcheng Mercenary Team! Chapter 111 - 111 081 Must Take the Risk (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 111: 081 Must Take the Risk! (Second Update)_2 Chapter 111: 081 Must Take the Risk! (Second Update)_2 He had already realized that although these soldiers were formidable, they relied on the power of their assault rifles. Only Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin were truly powerful superpower users! He had a premonition that as long as he joined the Yongcheng Mercenary Team, he could become even stronger! Once everyone extracted the Crystal Cores, Captain Zhou directed the Fire Element Superpower Users to clean up the battlefield. At the same time, he called over the eight speed superpower users responsible for scouting and also summoned the Fang siblings to his side before asking, ¡°After you went to that residential building, did you discover anything?¡± The eight speed superpower users, reminded of a terrifying scene, all turned pale. One of them said, ¡°Captain Zhou, what that person said was right¡ªthousands of zombies had indeed surrounded that residential building! And by the time we got there, the zombies had already taken over. We saw a few survivors still desperately holding on and wanted to save them. Just as we started shooting, hundreds of zombies surrounded us! Seeing the situation turn dire, we had no choice but to retreat, but those zombies relentlessly pursued us as if intending to kill and silence us.¡± The more he talked, the uglier his expression became. Similarly, Captain Zhou¡¯s face turned very somber. After hearing this, he thought of the Zombie Leader mentioned by Fang Yuxin. Clearly, a Zombie Leader had emerged among this group of zombies! He immediately felt heavy-hearted. This news had to be reported to his superiors, and they needed to find and eliminate that leader as soon as possible! Otherwise, the situation would only worsen. The survivors in the city would be in greater danger, and so would they, those who had come into the city! Thinking this, he unconsciously looked at Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang. In this team, the power of these two had truly impressed him! His role as a captain wasn¡¯t just due to his high military rank but also because of his outstanding capabilities! However, he found that the siblings¡¯ abilities even surpassed his! Initially, he was greatly surprised, but after considering their identities, it seemed reasonable. However, thinking of Fang Yuxin¡¯s ability, he immediately dismissed the thought that had surfaced in his mind. Fang Yuxin was a rare Healing Ability superpower user, and he felt that her healing powers were stronger than other Wood Element Superpower Users! Such a person was a precious resource for the entire Safe Zone and must not be put at risk! Therefore, he called his deputy and ordered, ¡°From now on, you will lead the team. Remember, you must bring the team safely back to the Safe Zone! After returning, report the evolution of the zombies and the leader immediately!¡± After he finished speaking, he had a truck prepared and then started to recruit a suicide squad to go with him and kill that Zombie Leader. As soon as he said this, everyone¡¯s expressions changed. Being alive, no one wanted to die. Hearing that it was voluntary, not a single mercenary stepped forward, but instead, half of Captain Zhou¡¯s soldiers, who had been with him since before the apocalypse and shared a deep bond with him, volunteered to go with him! Thus, upon hearing that he was heading towards a likely death, they all stepped forward. Captain Zhou hesitated; he had his selfish reasons. In his view, these soldiers, who had undergone strict training, had greater potential than the mercenaries, and he naturally did not want them to go to their deaths in vain. However, he also understood that taking these soldiers might give him a ten percent chance of killing that Zombie Leader, whereas taking the mercenaries might not even give them that chance. Just as he was still undecided, Fang Yuxin stepped forward, ¡°Captain Zhou, this team was led by you and naturally should be brought back by you. Since it¡¯s voluntary, let our Yongcheng Mercenary Team handle this matter.¡± Captain Zhou immediately furrowed his brows, his face showing disapproval, ¡°No! This is too dangerous! You can¡¯t go! Miss Fang, you are a Wood Element Superpower User, and I hope your healing ability can help more people. Please don¡¯t let your emotions sway you!¡± Others also started to persuade, ¡°Yes, Miss Fang, it¡¯s too dangerous; you absolutely cannot go!¡± Yet, Fang Yuxin continued, ¡°We all know how hazardous a Zombie Leader is, otherwise, Captain Zhou wouldn¡¯t plan to risk his life to eliminate it. If it doesn¡¯t die, everyone could suffer! Since we¡¯ve encountered this, we can¡¯t ignore it and let it continue to grow! This is too dangerous, but someone has to do it. If not me, then someone else will. Captain Zhou, who among us here do you think has a better chance?¡± Captain Zhou was left speechless by her question; he knew Fang Yuxin was right, which is why he initially thought of sending Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang. But thinking of Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Element Superpower, he dismissed the decision. He didn¡¯t expect Fang Yuxin to volunteer proactively! He squinted at Fang Yuxin, trying to understand whether she was making a noble sacrifice or had some other trump card. Then, he looked at Fang Yuyang. He could see that Fang Yuyang cared deeply about his sister Fang Yuxin. Surely, he wouldn¡¯t let Fang Yuxin take risks. Indeed, Fang Yuyang was reluctant to let Fang Yuxin take risks, but he knew his sister well. Unless Fang Yuxin was confident, she would never have said this! Thinking of his family¡¯s capabilities, he felt it was worth taking the risk. Thus, he said, ¡°Captain Zhou, my sister is right, someone has to do this; let us handle it.¡± Captain Zhou was completely stunned; he had not expected Fang Yuyang to agree as well! Did he not understand how dangerous this was, or did they indeed still have a trump card? Thinking this, a hint of suspicion flashed in Captain Zhou¡¯s eyes. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it, send monthly tickets, and support me. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 112 - 112 082 Blood Oath (Third Release) ?Chapter 112: 082 Blood Oath (Third Release) Chapter 112: 082 Blood Oath (Third Release) Because Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were so resolute, Captain Zhou finally agreed to their request to join the battle. Although he doubted they had some unknown trump card, thinking of their willingness to risk their lives to kill the Zombie Leader made him suppress those doubts. Even if they really had some powerful trump card, their willingness to take such risks already made them worthy of everyone¡¯s respect. To further doubt what sort of trump card they might have seemed too petty! He was broad-minded and harbored no greed. Because of this, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang held him in higher regard. They also secretly determined to find a way to eliminate the Zombie Leader, not letting down Captain Zhou¡¯s trust and openness! If the siblings were going, Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Bai Qianqian would naturally follow. Captain Zhou felt that Bai Qianqian was too young and it too dangerous for her to go, but then he thought, after all, they were a family. If something happened to the others and only he survived, it wouldn¡¯t necessarily be a good thing for him. So he gave some advice, and after realizing Bai Qianqian was determined, he didn¡¯t try to dissuade her further. This made the mercenaries and soldiers feel deeply ashamed. Bai Qianqian was only five years old and willing to take risks, yet these adults... Immediately, some spirited individuals volunteered to go too, including those five who wanted to join the Yongcheng Mercenary Team. Their reasons were justifiable: one said, ¡°Anyway, our lives were saved by Miss Fang, we¡¯re willing to die with her!¡± Another said, ¡°Captain Fang has said he wants to see our performance, how could we act cowardly?¡± Still another said, ¡°Even though we haven¡¯t joined Yongcheng yet, we¡¯re part of the team, right? Of course, we should go together!¡± Seeing their determination, Fang Yuyang said, ¡°This mission is likely to be more dangerous than lucky, have you all really considered it thoroughly?¡± The five men nodded without hesitation and said in unison, ¡°We¡¯ve thought it through! If we live, we live together; if we die, we die together!¡± Their words were brimming with bravery, echoing to the skies. Fang Yuyang then smiled and said, ¡°Good! Since you¡¯re willing to go, from now on, you are people of Yongcheng!¡± The five mercenaries also laughed: ¡°Yes, Captain!¡± Although he recruited these five, Fang Yuyang did not agree to let others join the team. He could see that some were just momentarily spirited and might not truly be ready to face death. Why force them? He then said, ¡°Captain Zhou, please leave this matter to the Yongcheng Mercenary Team. Having too many people will only make us a bigger target.¡± After some hesitation, Captain Zhou nodded and agreed. He then said, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll take the liberty of giving you nine submachine guns and a thousand bullets, hoping you can complete the mission and come back alive!¡± After finishing, he patted Fang Yuyang on the shoulder firmly. Fang Yuyang thanked him, took the submachine guns and bullets, and handed them out. Bai Qianqian, due to his young age, didn¡¯t get one, but the others did. And as Fang Yuyang was distributing the guns, Captain Zhou and his soldiers noticed something ¨C the four Fang family members were very familiar with the submachine guns! Their movements were standard and practiced; it clearly wasn¡¯t their first time handling them. Compared to them, the other five mercenaries seemed negligible. They took the guns eagerly, very cautiously, and their clumsy movements made it obvious it was their first time. Thinking about the identities of the Fang family, Captain Zhou no longer found it surprising. A truck had been cleared for use, and he left this vehicle to the Yongcheng Team, giving some encouraging words before leaving with his troops. He had to return to the Safe Zone first to report the mutant zombies and the Zombie Leader, as he really had no time to delay. After they left, Yongcheng Team didn¡¯t rush to go to the residential building. Fang Yuxin gathered the five mercenaries and said, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve chosen to join Yongcheng, I have something to tell you. Whether it¡¯s you or those who join later, everyone must make a Blood Oath, never to betray. If there¡¯s a traitor, they will suffer the oath¡¯s backlash and lose their life. Do you understand?¡± The five were a bit shocked. A Blood Oath? They had only encountered such things in novels and dramas; could it really exist? However, despite their surprise, they didn¡¯t hesitate or regret their decision. Instead, learning that Fang Yuxin knew about Blood Oaths made them even more willing to join Yongcheng! They had long recognized that Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had very powerful methods. Hearing about the Blood Oath, they guessed that the Fang siblings must possess even more powerful things! Chapter 113 - 113 082 Blood Oath (Third Release)_2 ?Chapter 113: 082 Blood Oath (Third Release)_2 Chapter 113: 082 Blood Oath (Third Release)_2 So they all believed that joining the Yongcheng was the right decision for them! Moreover, Fang Yuyang had already said so much; if they regretted their choice, they probably could only be silenced! Fang Yuxin saw that they did not hesitate, so she nodded and then pricked her fingertip, squeezing out a drop of blood while muttering an abstruse oath. As the words left her mouth, the drop of blood gradually began to change shape, forming a Blood Talisman that quietly hovered in midair. Next, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Now, everyone give a drop of blood.¡± Upon hearing this, the five people did not hesitate to prick their fingertips and squeezed out a drop of blood. Once the blood appeared, it automatically rose up, forming a soybean-sized blood sphere. Fang Yuxin then said, ¡°Begin the oath now!¡± She didn¡¯t say how to make the oath but flicked her fingertip, sending five streaks of light into the foreheads of the five people. They all shuddered and then, in unison, said, ¡°I, Chen Qiao/Liu Yu/Wang Qi/Zhou Zheng/Huang Yue, am willing to join Yongcheng. I swear by my blood, never to betray!¡± Following their oaths, the five soybean-sized blood spheres turned into five streaks of blood light that entered the Blood Talisman. At once, the talisman split into five, turning into five streams of blood light that shot towards the five people, entering the Sea of Consciousness between their eyebrows. That marked the completion of the oath. From then on, the five of them were bound by the Blood Oath, and should thoughts of betrayal arise, they would die! The scene just now was quite eerie. To ensure no one saw, Fang Yuxin intentionally conducted it inside the vehicle and had Bai Qianqian send out her spiritual power to sense the surroundings. It was time to hit the road. Fang Yuyang and Fang Jintang sat at the front of the vehicle while Fang Yuxin, Qu Qianhe, and Bai Qianqian stayed with the five mercenaries in the cabin. After the oath was taken, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Now that you have taken the Blood Oath, you are officially members of the Yongcheng Mercenary Team. There are a few things you need to know. Everyone in the Yongcheng Team is a superpower user. My dad has an Earth Element Superpower, my mom has a Fire Ability, and Qianqian has a Spiritual Power. Remember this, but do not tell anyone else.¡± The five were shocked, instinctively turning their gazes towards Qu Qianhe and Bai Qianqian. Fang Jintang was sitting at the front, out of sight, but these two were right in front of them. They hadn¡¯t expected all three of them to be superpower users! And Bai Qianqian, at just five years old, had awakened a Spiritual Power! Upon further thought, they suddenly understood why the Fang family had concealed this fact. A family of five all awakening superpowers was just too fortunate! It would certainly arouse suspicion from others! Even though they were now members of the Yongcheng, knowing this secret made them unavoidably speculative. However, since they had already made the Blood Oath, they didn¡¯t harbor any bad thoughts at the moment; instead, they were even more grateful for their decision. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were already formidable, but how powerful would it be if the other three were also superpower users? What they didn¡¯t know was that after the Blood Oath was taken, as long as they had any negative thoughts, Fang Yuxin would know. Of course, as long as they didn¡¯t have malicious intent, the Blood Oath wouldn¡¯t feedback to Fang Yuxin. Since she hadn¡¯t received any feedback from the Blood Oath, she knew the five had no bad intentions and felt greatly relieved. So, she picked up the submachine gun and said, ¡°There are some other things I¡¯ll tell you about later. There¡¯s no time to train you in coordinated combat now, so I¡¯ll just teach you how to use the submachine gun.¡± After saying this, she began to instruct them seriously. The five were no fools and learned very quickly, soon mastering the use of submachine guns. As for aiming well, that would take time and practice. The truck soon arrived near the residential building and stopped. Then, everyone got out. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t put the truck away in front of the five mercenaries; instead, she just tossed it in a quiet alley. Fang Yuyang locked up the vehicle and, along with Fang Jintang, joined the others. Once everyone was together, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°We¡¯ll go over from the rooftop. Qianqian, try to find that Spiritual Zombie. Our main mission is to take it out. Once it¡¯s dead, the Zombie Group will lose its command and become much easier to handle!¡± The five mercenaries were shocked once more. Did Fang Yuxin intend to wipe out the entire Zombie Group? Their expressions were too surprised, revealing their thoughts on their faces. Fang Yuxin smiled and said, ¡°You guessed right, I intend to take down this Zombie Group. But first, we need to eliminate that Zombie Leader! After that, we can fight a guerrilla war and take down the zombies in a few goes! Don¡¯t you have the confidence?¡± The five were stirred by her words and felt a surge of boldness: ¡°We have confidence!¡± Fang Yuxin then gave the order to begin the operation. She released her Spiritual Sense, and Bai Qianqian also deployed her spiritual power vigilantly. Following that, everyone climbed up to the rooftop, approaching the residential building from above. They were only about 500 meters away from the building now, and the spiritual power of Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian was just enough to probe the interior of the residence. Both detected that there were many zombies wandering around the building, seemingly on alert. If they approached from the ground, they would likely be discovered by these zombies! As they closed in, Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian finally ¡®saw¡¯ the survivors inside the building still struggling desperately! However, just as they were about to ¡®look¡¯ more carefully, they suddenly felt a wave of Spirit Shock! They were discovered! (To be continued. If you like this work, please head to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 114 - 114 083 Spiritual Attack (First Update) ?Chapter 114: 083 Spiritual Attack (First Update) Chapter 114: 083 Spiritual Attack (First Update) Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian both suffered from a Spirit Shock, and at the same time, a sharp and chilly sensation rapidly probed toward them through their Spiritual Tentacles. Both their faces changed at the same moment, and without any hesitation, they severed their Spiritual Tentacles. However, the sharp and chilly sensation did not disappear; on the contrary, it probed even faster towards them! Almost instantly, everyone felt a bone-chilling cold as if they had fallen into an ice cave. This cold sensation, like a maggot at their bones, tightly enveloped them. Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian were the least affected, followed by Fang Yuyang, Fang Jintang, and Qu Qianhe. The five newly joined mercenaries suffered the most significant impact. After all, the Fang Family had honed their Soul Power with Elemental Stones, which was far stronger than that of the five mercenaries. Still, that bone-chilling sensation was incredibly uncomfortable. The cold was very invasive; as soon as it touched the surface of the skin, it penetrated the skin and invaded their insides, even seemingly freezing their bone marrow. Spiritual Attack! Fang Yuxin closed her eyes and then opened them rapidly, emanating her Spiritual Sense. This time, she did not extend her Spiritual Sense outward but wrapped it around a small area nearby, forming a barrier to protect the people around her. At the same time, a refreshing cool sensation emanated from her body, and the rich vitality that followed spread rapidly. It felt like ice and snow melting, and all plants reviving in an instant. Wrapped in such a sensation, the previous chill vanished without a trace, leaving everyone feeling comfortable, almost immersing themselves in it. Just when they subconsciously relaxed their bodies, about to immerse in the comfort of the revival, a jolt suddenly hit their minds as if someone had doused them with cold water, making them completely sober. The five mercenaries instinctively looked towards Fang Yuyang but saw him looking at Fang Yuxin, as if waiting for her explanation. Then, they heard Fang Yuxin say, ¡°Just now, you were hit by the Spiritual Attack of that Spiritual Zombie. The chill was just your illusion. Once immersed in it, your actions would be limited, or you might even freeze to death!¡± Hearing her say this, everyone felt a chill in their hearts. They never imagined that a Spiritual Zombie¡¯s attack could be so terrifying! At the same time, the five mercenaries couldn¡¯t help but be curious about how Fang Yuxin knew all this. Before they could ponder further, Fang Yuxin spoke again, ¡°This won¡¯t do, Qianqian, how long can your Spiritual Barrier hold?¡± Bai Qianqian was indeed smart. Just as Fang Yuxin used her Spiritual Sense to create a shield, Bai Qianqian had built a Spiritual Barrier that could withstand the attack of the Spiritual Zombie. However, once they couldn¡¯t hold on anymore, the others would have to face the Spiritual Zombie¡¯s direct attack, and that would be dangerous! That¡¯s why Fang Yuxin asked this question. Others couldn¡¯t see it, but Bai Qianqian and Fang Yuxin could clearly see the Spiritual Zombie¡¯s attacks, wave after wave, hitting the Spirit Barrier. Each strike caused ripples to spread across the barrier, like water waves, even causing it to shake as if it would break at any moment. He had a feeling in his heart that the Barrier couldn¡¯t last much longer. The Spiritual Zombie was a higher level than he was, with stronger spiritual power. It wouldn¡¯t take long for it to break through his Spirit Barrier. He looked uneasily at Fang Yuxin and said with a stiff upper lip, ¡°Mama, I¡¯ll try my best.¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at the submachine gun in her hand, feeling a hint of regret¡ªhow great it would be if this were a sniper rifle! She whispered, ¡°Brother, Qianqian won¡¯t be able to hold on for long. We need to move quickly!¡± Fang Yuyang nodded to show he understood, then made a gesture, and everyone dashed forward together. The rooftops weren¡¯t as flat as the ground, and the buildings were separated from one another. Fortunately, they were all superpower users with far superior physical strength, and the buildings were close enough that a simple run-up allowed them to jump over easily. Fang Yuxin and the others had already taken off the encumbering tracksuits, leaving only the body-fitting protective suits that made them look so dashing they could have stepped out of a movie as XX heroes. The five new mercenaries watched with envy, really wanting to know if they could also wear such cool clothes in the future. But this thought just flashed through their minds, and they dared not ask it. Now was a critical moment; they could not afford to be careless. Having survived in the apocalypse and successfully awakened superpowers, they all knew what was more important. Chapter 115 - 115 083 Spiritual Attack (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 115: 083 Spiritual Attack (First Update)_2 Chapter 115: 083 Spiritual Attack (First Update)_2 Soon, they arrived at the residential building in front of them. Standing on the rooftop and looking down, the area near the apartment was teeming with zombies, a sight that was truly horrifying. Fang Yuxin warned, ¡°Everybody be careful! Don¡¯t get tricked by that Spiritual Zombie!¡± Luckily, there were flowers, trees, and vegetables planted by the residents nearby. Fang Yuxin thought for a moment, picked ten leaves, cast the Heart Clearing Technique on them, and then distributed them, instructing everyone to keep them close to their bodies. These leaves, imbued with magic, were crude Spirit Talismans. She couldn¡¯t yet craft a true Spirit Talisman, so she had to settle for these makeshift and crude substitutes. Regular leaves were frail and could only carry a simple magic, making the crafted leaf charms very limited in effectiveness. Fortunately, even if the items were rudimentary, they could still serve their purpose to some extent. Against a Level 1 Spiritual Zombie, these leaf charms could reduce the likelihood of being deceived by fifty percent. Right when everyone had stashed their leaf charms, the Barrier that Bai Qianqian and Fang Yuxin had established could no longer withstand the onslaught and shattered under the Spiritual Attack of the Spiritual Zombie. Both of them suffered another Spirit Shock. Bai Qianqian¡¯s body swayed, and she nearly stumbled but was swiftly caught by the alert Qu Qianhe. Fang Yuxin fared slightly better; her head spun for a moment, but then an instant cooling sensation from the leaf charm helped her regain clarity. Even when her mind was clouded for that instant, her feet gripped the ground firmly, and she stood straight as an arrow without even a hint of wavering. ¡°Qianqian! Absorb the Crystal Core quickly!¡± While she spoke, she too took out a Crystal Core and began absorbing it rapidly. At the same time, she released her Spiritual Sense to locate the Spiritual Zombie. The Spiritual Zombie clearly became enraged as the Zombie Group below suddenly mobilized, speedily encircling and climbing the building where Fang Yuxin and the others were situated. The zombies¡¯ claws were sharp, gouging into the wall with ease to secure their hold. And so, they actually managed to climb up! The building was five stories tall, and the zombies were climbing rapidly, having ascended one story in less than a minute. Fang Yuyang immediately ordered, ¡°Fire! Remember not to waste bullets!¡± They had a total of only 1000 bullets, and not one could be wasted! Before he even finished speaking, gunshots rang out. The sudden gunfire startled the five mercenaries, who instinctively turned their heads and saw that the shooter was Qu Qianhe. Her expression was cold, a submachine gun steady in her hands, radiating a stern beauty. Upon seeing this, the mercenaries were taken aback. Fang Jintang noticed their gazes and his expression soured. With a cold glance at them, he saw them jolt into clarity and swiftly regain focus. The five mercenaries gripped their firearms anxiously, aiming carefully and shooting. The others also aimed and shot, and the sound of gunfire quickly filled the air. Fang Yuxin narrowed her eyes slightly, shooting without aiming, each shot a headshot, showcasing enviable marksmanship. The other members of the Fang Family didn¡¯t fall short either. Compared to them, the five new mercenaries were clearly outclassed; looking at their own results and then at the Fang Family¡¯s, they felt ashamed, as though they wanted to crawl into a hole. It was so disheartening! Bai Qianqian didn¡¯t have a submachine gun, so he busied himself absorbing the Crystal Core. At the same time, he tried to release his spiritual power, searching for the location of the Spiritual Zombie. The Spiritual Zombie didn¡¯t keep up the Spiritual Attacks, clearly experiencing significant exhaustion. It simply commanded the regular zombies to attack them. As the regular zombies were being killed off one by one, unable to reach the roof, the Spiritual Zombie became panicked. Although the Spiritual Zombie had gained intelligence, it wasn¡¯t very bright, far less so than a human, and roughly on par with wild beasts. Therefore, as it saw its adversaries continually resisting defeat, it became increasingly irate. After another wave of zombies climbing the walls was taken care of, it couldn¡¯t restrain itself anymore and let out an extremely shrill screech. That was an indescribable, eerily disturbing wail, harsh on the ears. Following this screech, all of the regular zombies became agitated, moving faster and more frantically. Fang Yuxin and the others also heard the screech. Their Seas of Consciousness were tremendously shaken. If it weren¡¯t for the continuous cooling sensation from the leaf charms soothing their Divine Souls, they might have been rendered brain-dead by this Spiritual Attack. After this round of Spiritual Attack, the leaf charms developed cracks and became ineffective. Fang Yuxin reached out, quickly created ten new leaf charms, and sent them out, and gunfire once again resumed. As the zombies¡¯ speed increased, the gunfire grew more intense. More and more zombies fell, gradually building up a small mound of corpses at the base of the wall. But even as zombies continued to collapse, ever more of them desperately climbed up the wall. They wouldn¡¯t stop until death! The fight went on, but their ammunition was running low. Finally, with the sound of the last gunshot, the bullets were completely spent. The zombies were relentless, continuing their climb up the wall. The Spiritual Zombie seemed aware that they were out of bullets and chose this moment to let out an even more piercing and bizarre screech! This time, right after withstanding the Spiritual Attack, the leaf charms immediately shattered, and the remaining force of the attack caused considerable distress to everyone. Their Seas of Consciousness wavered ceaselessly, and their offensive maneuvers halted. Meanwhile, the zombies intensified their frenzy!(To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 116 - 116 084 The Secret of the Residential Building (Second ?Chapter 116: 084 The Secret of the Residential Building (Second Update) Chapter 116: 084 The Secret of the Residential Building (Second Update) Bai Qianqian was the first to snap back to reality, then, with her mouth slightly ajar, she emitted a shriek as well. This shriek, however, was different from the previous one; the earlier scream was eerily unsettling, carrying a nauseating, lingering chill that was repulsive. Her shriek sounded more like a clarion call, invigorating to the spirit. Fang Yuxin was just a bit slower, and she made more leaf charms to distribute. Then she channeled spiritual energy into the flowers and plants on the rooftop, which instantly grew at a visible speed, quickly spreading and twisting toward the residential building opposite. One minute later, a green vine as thick as an adult¡¯s arm had formed between the two buildings, linking them together. ¡°Stay here, I¡¯m going to confront it,¡± she said, without waiting for a response from the others. Pushing off with her arm, she somersaulted from the rooftop and landed steadily on the vine. The others, witnessing this perilous feat, all gasped in alarm; the five mercenaries even doubted their own eyes, wondering if they were watching a female superhero from a movie. Following that, Fang Yuxin dashed rapidly towards the opposite residential building. Her body didn¡¯t even waver; she walked on the vine with the ease of treading on firm ground, making everyone sweat with worry for her. Fang Yuyang¡¯s expression changed, then, leaving behind a similar ¡°Stay here,¡± he mimicked Fang Yuxin¡¯s move, flipping out from the rooftop and landing on the vine. The distance between the two buildings was only about seven or eight meters, and the residential building opposite was one story taller than theirs; the other end of the vine was attached to a windowsill. By the time Fang Yuyang stepped on the vine, Fang Yuxin had already entered the opposite room through the window and quickly disappeared from sight. Fang Yuyang tried not to look down and quickly moved forward. Thanks to her Wood Element Superpower, Fang Yuxin had an advantage on the vine; Fang Yuyang had to harness wind beneath his feet, using it to maintain balance and safely reach the other side. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were worried to no end, and the five mercenaries were envious yet again, almost wanting to rub their eyes to make sure they weren¡¯t hallucinating collectively. Bai Qianqian glanced over, noticing that Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe seemed intent on following, and promptly reminded them, ¡°The zombies are almost up here.¡± Everyone snapped back to reality and subconsciously looked below, to see that the zombies were indeed climbing up, the highest one having reached the fourth floor already! Seeing this, Qu Qianhe¡¯s face changed and with a flick of her finger, she launched a longan-sized fireball from between them, striking a zombie square in the forehead and swiftly setting it ablaze. She had learned this technique from Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin always liked to shoot spiritual energy out by flicking her fingers. After practicing herself, Qu Qianhe had finally succeeded. However, when compared to Fang Yuxin, her control was still lacking, and she could only launch fireballs the size of a longan. Upon seeing this, the mercenaries all prepared to imitate the action. However, Fang Jintang suddenly said, ¡°Don¡¯t waste your superpowers in a hurry; let the zombies come up, and kill them as soon as they emerge, to conserve energy.¡± The body and mind feel particularly exhausted and empty after depleting superpowers, which is very disadvantageous in combat. Thus, Fang Jintang came up with such a plan. The others had no objections, so they quickly rearranged themselves, pulled out their weapons, and decided to wait for the zombies to climb up before taking action. As they were killing non-stop on this side, on the other side, Fang Yuxin, after entering the room through the window, saw zombies tearing at a corpse. The body was fresh; the blood hadn¡¯t even dried yet, obviously just recently deceased. The air was heavy with the stench of blood, the dead eyes of the corpse staring out in despair, regrettably already devoid of life. Upon sensing a living person, the zombies immediately turned their heads, greedily setting their gaze upon her. Fang Yuxin¡¯s brows furrowed, and a dark flash of her blade was all it took to separate the heads from the bodies of the zombies that had been arrogantly feeding just a moment ago. She casually extracted a Crystal Core, sensed the location of the Spiritual Zombie, and prepared to head over. Just then, Fang Yuyang, a step behind, arrived. Fang Yuxin heard the noise behind her and instantly turned around. Seeing him, her face showed disapproval, ¡°Bro, why did you come here?¡± She instinctively looked behind him, worried more people had followed. Fang Yuyang strode over to her, glanced at the corpse on the ground, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, ¡°I¡¯m not at ease with you alone; I¡¯ll accompany you.¡± Fang Yuxin felt relieved that no one else had followed and, although she disapproved of Fang Yuyang¡¯s rash actions, since he had already come, it was unlikely he would go back. She sighed and had Fang Yuyang stay close, staying cautious of a potential sneak attack from the Spiritual Zombie. Chapter 117 - 117 084 The Secret of the Residential Building (Second ?Chapter 117: 084 The Secret of the Residential Building (Second Update)_2 Chapter 117: 084 The Secret of the Residential Building (Second Update)_2 Fang Yuyang said lightly, ¡°I know my limits, you be careful too.¡± As he spoke, he suddenly thought of something, his expression slightly changed, ¡°Xinxin, are you sure there is only one Spiritual Zombie here?¡± Fang Yuxin instantly understood, she had initially assumed there was only one Spiritual Zombie here but had been subjected to a Spiritual Attack later and hadn¡¯t doubted it. However, Fang Yuyang¡¯s words reminded her that there might be other Mutant Zombies here! She didn¡¯t rush to go out but released her Spiritual Sense. Then, she was once again subjected to the Spiritual Attack from the Spiritual Zombie! ¡°Squeak¡ª¡± The sound was almost the same, equally piercing. The moment this sound emerged, Fang Yuyang¡¯s eyebrows furrowed tightly, his complexion turned ugly as if he was severely suppressing something. Fang Yuxin frowned, touched Fang Yuyang, and relieved him of the Spiritual Attack, then she said, ¡°I just checked, there should only be that one Spiritual Zombie here. However, I think I might know why we are surrounded.¡± After Fang Yuyang recovered, he immediately asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? What did you find?¡± Fang Yuxin shared her recent discovery, ¡°Someone in this residential building discovered Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals, I think that Spiritual Zombie must have come for the Elemental Crystals.¡± While she was using her Spiritual Sense to investigate just now, she found Elemental Stones and a half-cut Elemental Crystal. It might have been a coincidence, or those people¡¯s bad luck, but that Elemental Crystal happened to be a Spiritual Element Essence Crystal! No wonder this Spiritual Zombie had gathered a zombie group to surround this place. Although it had only developed limited intelligence, it instinctively knew that Crystal was what it needed, and even knew to keep this matter hidden and not leak any information! It was when she discovered that Elemental Crystal that she angered the Spiritual Zombie, forcing it to launch another Spiritual Attack. Unfortunately, its intelligence was still limited; it had wasted too much spiritual power earlier, and under impulsive circumstances, attacked again. It nearly depleted its spiritual power, and it was almost impossible to launch another Spiritual Attack in the short term. This reduced one threat for the siblings. Unfortunately, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t yet know the state of that spiritual power zombie. After she told Fang Yuyang about her discovery, the siblings hit the road again, heading towards it. They didn¡¯t need to search deliberately; they easily found the position of the Spiritual Zombie. It was very cautious, surrounding itself with many ordinary zombies for protection. After realizing the siblings¡¯ purpose, it panicked even more, immediately sending out zombies to cut off their path. The siblings glanced at each other, gripped the blades in their hands, and unhesitatingly charged out. Fang Yuxin, as she fought, used her Spiritual Sense to monitor the Spiritual Zombie¡¯s movements and saw it pulling a Crystal Core from a survivor and stuffing it directly into its mouth. Immediately, the decaying face of the Spiritual Zombie showed a look of enjoyment, and the energy fluctuations around it grew stronger. Fang Yuxin inwardly cried out, ¡°This is bad,¡± and immediately said to Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother! We need to move faster! It¡¯s replenishing energy by devouring Crystal Cores! We can¡¯t let this continue!¡± She was only relieved that those survivors were not very strong and didn¡¯t have many Crystal Cores; otherwise, if the Spiritual Zombie were allowed to keep devouring, the situation might become much worse! Having spoken, she kicked away the zombie in front of her, directly jumped down from the staircase, squeezed through the narrow gap in the stairwell, and landed on the third floor, where she grabbed the handrail and flipped into the corridor. Fang Yuyang was startled by her actions; after a brief hesitation, he jumped down too. The moment he grabbed the handrail, the huge impact made him groan, his face instantly flushed red. After catching his breath, he flipped into the corridor to chase after Fang Yuxin. She was ahead, and the zombies here were densely packed; with every swing of her blade, zombies fell. Fang Yuyang quickly caught up with her. The doors on the third floor were all open, teeming with zombies. At a glance, there were all zombies, making it impossible to tell which one was the Zombie Leader. Fang Yuyang activated his superpower, preparing to release Wind Blade while asking Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin! Where¡¯s the Spiritual Zombie? Do you see it?¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s face darkened, ¡°It¡¯s sitting on the ground, surrounded by zombies. You can¡¯t see it.¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Yuyang¡¯s expression also turned grim. He had planned to directly attack the Spiritual Zombie with Wind Blade, but he hadn¡¯t expected the enemy to be so cunning! Gritting his teeth, he still decided to release the Wind Blade. However, just as the Wind Blade was formed and about to be released, Fang Yuyang¡¯s Skill was suddenly interrupted by a shrill scream! Fang Yuyang exclaimed, ¡°What happened?¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression was equally grim; after swallowing the Crystal Core, not only had the Spiritual Zombie¡¯s spiritual power recovered, but it had also learned a new Skill! She then clearly felt that after the scream, the Spiritual Zombie had wilted somewhat, evidently expending quite a bit with that move. Unfortunately, since Fang Yuyang¡¯s Wind Blade was interrupted, it wasn¡¯t easy to use it again. Fang Yuxin could only say, ¡°Brother! We must break through!¡± Fang Yuyang nodded. Although there were many zombies here, they had no other choice now. The two immediately sprang into action, and simultaneously, the densely packed zombies, as if receiving some command, furiously pounced on them. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, and your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 118 - 118 085 Decisive Battle (Third Update) ?Chapter 118: 085 Decisive Battle (Third Update) Chapter 118: 085 Decisive Battle (Third Update) On the other side, Fang Jintang and his group planned to wait at their leisure and make their move the moment zombies revealed their heads as they climbed up the building. However, they gradually realized that something was amiss. The zombies below seemed to have received some kind of order and actually retreated! Fang Jintang immediately said, ¡°There must be a situation in the residential building, let¡¯s go over now!¡± Just as he finished speaking, he saw a small shadow flash. Bai Qianqian had jumped onto the vine rope, speeding towards the opposite residential building! ¡°Qianqian, be careful!¡± he shouted subconsciously, then saw his wife Qu Qianhe also jump onto it, heading to the other side. With no other choice, Fang Jintang had to climb onto the vine rope himself, instructing the five mercenaries to also be careful, and then he proceeded step by step towards the other side. The remaining five mercenaries looked at each other, watching as each of them walked as if in a leisurely stroll, feeling that they had encountered a family of freaks, which greatly shocked their fragile hearts. After hesitating for a moment, one of them said, ¡°We don¡¯t know how sturdy this vine rope is, how many people it can hold at once. We better be careful when we go up later, let¡¯s go one by one, not all at once.¡± The others agreed that his words made sense, so they quickly decided the order. By that time, Fang Jintang had already entered the window. Without hesitating, they stepped onto the vine rope one by one. The vine rope looked only as thick as a forearm and seemed unsafe, but once they stepped on it, they discovered it was remarkably stable with no shaking at all, and they would be okay as long as they were careful. The five of them breathed a sigh of relief, deliberately not looking down at their feet, and walked briskly forward, finally reaching the other side without any mishaps. When they arrived, they found that the Fang Family was already rushing ahead. Without the time to think much, they quickly followed. There were many zombies inside the residential building, and the hallways were nearly packed. Qu Qianhe¡¯s superpower played a role at this moment. She flicked her fingers, shooting out several fireballs, which ignited the zombies on contact. On the other side, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were back to back, surrounded by a pile of bodies half their height, while zombies still crazily assaulted them. The Spiritual Zombie, cunning as it was, realized it couldn¡¯t handle the two of them and started to retreat. However, the doorway was blocked by the siblings; if it wanted to escape, it could only do so through the window. Thus, it frantically directed ordinary zombies to obstruct the siblings and quickly headed toward the window, planning to escape. Seeing this, the siblings grew anxious. Unfortunately, the path in front of them was completely blocked by zombies, making it impossible to break through! Fang Yuxin forcefully chopped down the zombies in front of her, risking injury, and released the Spiritual Energy. There was a green radish pot placed just at the window spot; she had seen it earlier but couldn¡¯t reach the roots with the Spiritual Energy due to the overwhelming number of zombies. If it weren¡¯t for the fact they had killed enough zombies to slightly clear a space just then, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to infuse the Spiritual Energy into that green radish! Once the green radish received the Spiritual Energy, it grew wildly, extending its vines continuously. The Spiritual Zombie, just about to escape, got entangled by the green radish. It screeched angrily, frantically scratching at the green radish with its sharp, pointed nails, quickly leaving it full of scars. Soon, the green radish would completely break apart. However, Fang Yuyang went insane when he saw Fang Yuxin was wounded. His eyes instantly darkened, his expression turned increasingly grim, and a furious rage enveloped him, escalating continuously. Suddenly, he let out a clear yell, ¡°Gale Slash!¡± As those three words left his mouth, he powerfully swung the saber. That slash wasn¡¯t complicated or fancy, just a simple movement. However, as the Miao Saber swung down, a magnificent Energy gathered around the blade, and as it swung, a blade-shaped Wind Blade instantly appeared. This Wind Blade was different from his usual ones, matching the blade in shape but significantly larger, its power greater than all his previous Wind Blades combined. The giant Wind Blade formed instantly, sweeping toward the window¡¯s Spiritual Zombie with the force of total annihilation. Wherever it went, zombies were torn apart. The already severely damaged green radish broke apart instantly, and just as it did, the massive Wind Blade sliced the Spiritual Zombie¡¯s body in two without it even having the chance to launch its final attack, splitting it in half. Chapter 119 - 119 085 Decisive Battle (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 119: 085 Decisive Battle (Third Update)_2 Chapter 119: 085 Decisive Battle (Third Update)_2 As soon as the Spiritual Zombie died, the other zombies suddenly seemed lethargic. Fang Yuyang¡¯s condition worsened considerably. The attack he just performed had exhausted all his energy, leaving his face extremely pale. ¡°Brother!¡± Fang Yuxin called out worriedly, and then firmly grasped Fang Yuyang¡¯s hand, insisting that he enter the Qingmu Spirit Mansion to absorb a Crystal Core and recover. Immediately after, she thought of Angela, who was released from the Qingmu Spirit Mansion. Angela had already been restless inside, but to her surprise, she emerged to find zombies everywhere. Frightened, she let out a shriek, then swiftly unleashed sharp claws from her paws and charged out skillfully. Fang Yuxin noticed that Angela¡¯s strength seemed to have increased again. With each swipe of her claws, she effortlessly tore open the zombies¡¯ heads and extracted their Crystal Cores. Feeling relieved, she continued to deal with the zombies. Without the command and control of that Spiritual Zombie, the remaining ones were completely disorganized, making them much easier to handle. About ten minutes later, Fang Yuyang asked to come out. After checking on him through the Qingmu Spirit Mansion and seeing that his complexion had improved, though not fully recuperated, she released him. The siblings worked together to quickly eliminate all the zombies in the house, but they were significantly exhausted. Fang Yuxin swiftly absorbed some Crystal Cores to recover, and while she was recovering, Fang Yuyang excavated all the Zombie Crystal Cores. After nearly recovering, Fang Yuxin began to inventory their spoils of war. She collected all the Crystal Cores and then the Elemental Stones. There weren¡¯t many Elemental Stones in the house, just nine, including one that had been halved. Besides the Elemental Stones, there were several fresh skeletons in the house, which appeared to have been recently devoured by the zombies. She ignored the skeletons, collected the Elemental Stones, and likewise gathered all the supplies in the house. Once she finished, Fang Yuyang had also more or less recovered, and the siblings prepared to leave and regroup with the others. On the way, they naturally encountered more zombies. This time, before Fang Yuxin could act, Fang Yuyang used the skill ¡°Wind Blade¡± decisively. Perhaps influenced by ¡°Gale Slash,¡± his Wind Blades were more numerous and more powerful this time. In one fell swoop, he cleared the zombies blocking their path. The hallway wasn¡¯t wide after all. Not only were they impacted, but the zombies were also constrained. The zombies, crowded together, were like lambs to the slaughter for Fang Yuyang! Meanwhile, after witnessing the superpower attacks of Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang, and even Bai Qianqian¡¯s nimble movements, the five mercenaries gradually coordinated better, enhancing their strength. However, with the overwhelming number of zombies, everyone inevitably suffered injuries, including Bai Qianqian. The battle lasted until two o¡¯clock in the afternoon, with every person battered, bruised, and utterly exhausted. When everyone returned to the truck, they almost collapsed from weariness. The five mercenaries sprawled out in the truck, incredulous about the battle they had just survived. They had actually killed that many zombies! Fang Yuxin treated everyone¡¯s injuries in turn. After a simple lunch, everyone decided to head back to the Safe Zone. They had had an incredibly tense day and desperately needed to rest. Halfway there, they ran into another convoy and their vehicle was stopped. When Fang Yuxin ¡°saw¡± who was coming, she was stunned. She had not expected to encounter Qiu Yiming here. Sitting in the passenger seat of the truck, Qiu Yiming quickly jumped down and strode towards the opposite truck. As he passed the cab, he glanced swiftly inside and then continued, without stopping, towards the truck bed. Fang Yuxin, who was sitting in the truck bed, got out when she ¡°saw¡± Qiu Yiming approaching. By the time Qiu Yiming reached her, she had just arrived at the rear of the truck. He immediately grabbed her and asked urgently, ¡°Xinxin! Are you alright?¡± His voice was laced with panic and his eyes reflected unconcealed concern, as if he had been frightened. Fang Yuxin, staring at him like this, suddenly didn¡¯t know how to respond and stood there in a daze. Qu Qianhe, who had followed her out, curiously glanced at Qiu Yiming and asked, ¡°Yiming, what are you doing here?¡± Upon seeing that Fang Yuxin¡¯s complexion was rosy, indeed appearing unharmed, Qiu Yiming finally let out a sigh of relief. However, he then noticed she was wearing a form-fitting protective suit, which not only outlined her perfect figure but also featured numerous tears, looking exceptionally sexy. His eyes darkened at the sight, and when he saw five unfamiliar men in the truck bed, a sudden displeasure arose within him. Without a word, he took off his combat uniform and placed it over Fang Yuxin, saying, ¡°This uniform might be a bit large, but just wear it for now.¡± Fang Yuxin felt slightly embarrassed. Her combat suit was torn, but not to the extent of indecency. However, seeing Qiu Yiming¡¯s resolute attitude, she hesitated for a moment before obediently putting on the uniform. Qiu Yiming frowned and without asking, began buttoning up the uniform on Fang Yuxin, unwilling to let other men see her body. As he fastened the buttons, he said, ¡°Zhou Yan reported back about the Mutant Zombie and the Zombie Leader, and also that you took the risk of going after the Zombie Leader yourself. Do you know? When I heard about this, I almost wanted to kill him! How could he let you do something so dangerous?¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 120 - 120 086 Something is wrong (First update) ?Chapter 120: 086 Something is wrong! (First update) Chapter 120: 086 Something is wrong! (First update) Fang Yuxin watched the murderous intent swirling in Qiu Yiming¡¯s eyes and knew he spoke the truth. He indeed harbored a deadly grudge against Captain Zhou! Such an attitude from Qiu Yuxin rendered her incapable of a focus, forcing her to remain silent. They had grown up together from childhood, and as they aged, Qiu Yiming had become increasingly steady and mature, rarely losing control of his emotions or flying into a rage. Yet, yesterday and today, Qiu Yixing had lost control twice, all because of her! To say she wasn¡¯t moved would be a lie, but after experiencing that dream, her feelings for Qiu Yiming had long since faded. The Qiu Yiming of today felt distant and foreign, and she couldn¡¯t find that initial thrill of romance again. Everything in the dream was etched clearly in her mind, unforgettable, and she couldn¡¯t face Qiu Yiming calmly. Stubborn by nature, she stuck to her decisions. She and Qiu Yiming were like two intersecting lines; once past the point of crossing, they could only move further apart and never return. Sensitive to the change in Fang Yuxin¡¯s mood, Qiu Yiming¡¯s face stiffened. Recalling her cold demeanor when he saw her off yesterday, rage began to simmer within him. He clenched his fists hard, suppressing his anger, and turned to his subordinate, ¡°It¡¯s all settled, let¡¯s continue on the road.¡± Having said this, he made no move to leave but instead stayed and sat next to Fang Yuxin. Qu Qianhe observed everything silently, sighing inwardly. She had once thought highly of Qiu Yiming, not only because of his good family background but because he was grounded and unlike some impetuous youth of today, lacking responsibility. More importantly, Fang Yuxin liked him. But ever since Qiu Yiming¡¯s ambiguous relationship with Fang Mengyao, her opinion of him had soured. Setting aside the grievances between Fang Mengyao and the Fang Family, as Fang Yuxin¡¯s blood-related sister harboring inappropriate feelings for Qiu Yiming, he, as Fang Yuxin¡¯s fiance?, should have maintained a distance. But he hadn¡¯t. No mother wishes to see her daughter¡¯s love entangled with another woman. To her surprise, Fang Yuxin suddenly became indifferent towards Qiu Yiming, which she attributed to Fang Mengyao, causing her to dislike Qiu Yiming even more. Had the two been married, she might have advised Fang Yuxin to work things out with Qiu Yiming, considering her daughter¡¯s future. But presently unbound by marriage and seeing Fang Yuxin¡¯s growing indifference, she would not force her daughter to compromise. She had hoped that since they were both assigned separate missions and wouldn¡¯t meet often, their feelings would naturally wane, especially given Fang Mengyao¡¯s presence around Qiu Yiming, making a breakup easier. Unforeseen, however, was the sudden appearance of Mutant Zombies and the Zombie Leader, and Fang Yuxin¡¯s plea for action, which drove Qiu Yiming to rush to her rescue out of worry. She watched Qiu Yiming¡¯s uninhibited care for Fang Yuxin and the affection that streamed from his eyes, feeling somewhat emotional. Having watched Qiu Yiming grow up, she would naturally be pleased if the two could come together. However, she could see that although Qiu Yiming still harbored feelings for Fang Yuxin, she no longer reciprocated. As a mother, she couldn¡¯t help but to be selfish. Perhaps it was unfair to Qiu Yiming, but no matter Fang Yuxin¡¯s decision, she would support her daughter. With that thought, she couldn¡¯t help but glance at Bai Qianqian. At that look, she noticed Bai Qianqian staring angrily at Qiu Yiming, her plump, round face almost spewing flames. The truck moved on, its journey made bumpy by the uneven road. Qiu Yiming, sitting next to Fang Yuxin, quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulder to support her when the vehicle swayed, and noticing Fang Yuxin¡¯s stiffness, his eyes darkened, and his anger surged again. Today, he was supposed to lead his team to salvage supplies and had kept a close watch around the city, hoping to find Bai Ye. Unfortunately, Bai Ye was elusive like a rat, and his plans to eliminate Bai Ye had to be postponed. Loaded with supplies and just returned to the Safe Zone, he heard some rumors and discovered that Fang Yuxin had joined Zhou Yan on a rescue mission. Knowing this, jealousy nearly drove him mad. He had repeatedly asked Fang Yuxin to join his Mercenary Team and work together, but she refused each time, choosing to join Zhou Yan instead, which felt like a slap in the face! Chapter 121 - 121 086 Something is wrong (First update)_2 ?Chapter 121: 086 Something is wrong! (First update)_2 Chapter 121: 086 Something is wrong! (First update)_2 He only calmed down when he learned that it was a random arrangement by the higher-ups. However, just then, he heard someone praising Fang Yuxin¡¯s Healing Ability, claiming that she even saved people infected with the Zombie Virus! At that moment, he instinctively felt something was wrong; the person spreading the news clearly had ill intentions! But before he could find out who was spreading the rumors, the higher-ups approached him, and that¡¯s when he discovered Zhou Yan and his team had encountered a Mutant Zombie, and there was speculation a Zombie Leader had emerged. To his astonishment, Fang Yuxin had volunteered to go and kill the Zombie Leader! Where did she get so much courage? Didn¡¯t she know how dangerous it could be? Upon hearing this news, he almost wished he could drag Fang Yuxin in front of him and give her a severe scolding, yet he was more worried about her than angry. Zombies were ferocious, only driven by an instinctive craving for flesh without a shred of mercy for the fairer sex. Surrounded by thousands of zombies, Fang Yuxin was like lambs to the slaughter! He was so anxious he could hardly stand it, so when Zhou Yan asked for reinforcements, he agreed without hesitation, and even volunteered to join the support mission alongside Zhou Yan. Of course, the so-called support was secondary. What was most important was to verify if a Zombie Leader truly existed and to kill it! The decision came from the higher-ups, not because they didn¡¯t want to save the Yongcheng Mercenary Team, but because the Mercenary Team was simply too small and insignificant with only ten members, while their enemy numbered thousands of zombies; no one believed they could survive. In the end, the higher-ups agreed to dispatch 300 soldiers as support, a heavily armed and formidable force. Qiu Yiming was worried sick all the way, pushing the pace, almost wishing he had wings to fly to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, only to encounter her halfway back to the Safe Zone. The moment he saw her standing unharmed before him, he felt an urge to thank heaven, even though he had always been an atheist. He held Fang Yuxin a bit more tightly in his arms, yet not so much to cause her discomfort, and in a lowered voice spoke near her ear, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t reject me, don¡¯t disappoint me, okay?¡± His voice had a hint of subtle plea, which was his limit. Qiu Yiming was proud by nature, never prone to compromise easily, and certainly not one to be cautious and subservient in front of a woman. Yet now, he was willing to put aside some of his pride for Fang Yuxin, hoping she wouldn¡¯t reject his advances. Fang Yuxin closed her eyes and whispered three words: ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Her voice was soft, and as she spoke, she even created a tiny barrier, ensuring that only the pair huddled together could hear, excluding even Bai Qianqian. But Qiu Yiming¡¯s brow furrowed instantly, struggling to hide his displeasure, ¡°Xinxin, I didn¡¯t rush here just to hear these three words. Don¡¯t say ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡¯ to me, I don¡¯t like it, and I won¡¯t accept it.¡± He felt a natural aversion to those three words, as if by saying them, Fang Yuxin was about to do something he felt sorry for. This filled him with unease and agitated anxiety. He wouldn¡¯t accept her apology, nor would he give her the chance to be sorry! He held her tighter, almost wishing he could keep her with him forever and never let go! Qiu Yiming frowned; something in him felt off. In the past, he would never entertain such domineering or even insane thoughts, but since the apocalypse, perhaps due to the Awakening of his superpower, his nature seemed altered. He faintly suspected this change was unusual, but his heart relished the satisfying sense of control. At that moment, reason and emotion battled within him, neither yielding. As reason was about to prevail, Qiu Yiming felt Fang Yuxin struggling again. Because there were others present, her struggle was minimal, gently pushing against him. Yet even this slight resistance infuriated Qiu Yiming. A glint of struggle flashed in his eyes, but it collapsed the next moment, leaving only the drive to destroy everything in madness and bottomless darkness. He turned his head slightly, his dark eyes seemingly harboring terrible danger, his voice, even more distinct from before: ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t push me; I don¡¯t want to hurt you.¡± He finished, and suddenly pulled her close with his arms. Qu Qianhe coughed, noticing something off about Qiu Yiming, but given the presence of others, it wasn¡¯t a good time to cause a scene, as it could ruin Fang Yuxin¡¯s reputation. She could only remind Qiu Yiming to be mindful of the situation and not to take it too far in this way. Her cough brought him back to his senses. He took a deep breath, loosened his grip slightly, and let Fang Yuxin distance herself from him. Confronted with her angry gaze, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh, and as Fang Yuxin was about to get angry, his smile faded and he turned serious again. He preemptively asked, ¡°Xinxin, did you really cure someone infected with the Zombie Virus?¡± Fang Yuxin, upset with Qiu Yiming¡¯s earlier behavior, became instantly wary on hearing his question, ¡°Where did you hear about that?¡± Perhaps influenced by that dream, she sensed an ulterior motive in Qiu Yiming¡¯s question. And Qiu Yiming did indeed have an ulterior motive. In asking, he not only wanted to confirm whether Fang Yuxin truly had such an ability but also to warn her that someone was out to get her. The wariness in Fang Yuxin¡¯s eyes pained him, and in that moment, he became painfully aware that the woman he was willing to abandon all to save, didn¡¯t trust him at all! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommend or a monthly ticket on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 122 - 122 087 Invitation with Ill Intentions (Second Update) ?Chapter 122: 087 Invitation with Ill Intentions (Second Update) Chapter 122: 087 Invitation with Ill Intentions (Second Update) After a brief silence, Qiu Yiming suppressed his anger and continued, ¡°I suspect someone is out to harm you. I had already sent people to investigate, but I had to leave in a hurry and don¡¯t know if they found anything. I wanted to ask if you suspect anyone?¡± Fang Yuxin instinctively thought of Fang Mengyao, but considering Fang Mengyao was currently with Qiu Yiming, it was difficult to say. So, she simply said, ¡°I can¡¯t think of anyone, let¡¯s talk about it when we get back to the Safe Zone. Since you¡¯ve sent people to check, they¡¯ll probably find something.¡± Qiu Yiming nodded, then, remembering that Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t directly answered his question, he asked again, ¡°Xinxin, did you really cure people infected with the virus?¡± Fang Yuxin knew very well that she absolutely could not admit to this! The military had already established a secret research group studying the Zombie Virus, and she didn¡¯t want to become someone¡¯s test subject! She said, ¡°How could that be possible? If I had that kind of ability, would I need to come out here and exhaust myself with tasks?¡± Qiu Yiming felt her answer made sense, and he himself didn¡¯t believe the rumors circulating in the Safe Zone. But he couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Fang Yuxin had already thought of an excuse and said, ¡°I just had them cut away the rotting parts of their wounds and used my superpower to help them heal. It was really themselves fighting off the virus.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Qiu Yiming suddenly realized, then he thought of another rumor circulating in the Safe Zone and asked, ¡°Xinxin, did you also help two people awaken their superpowers?¡± As far as he knew, how to awaken superpowers was also a subject the research group was studying. The appearance of superpowers had caught the attention of many in the upper echelons, and those researchers were thrilled, eager to unlock the secret of awakening superpowers so that Ordinary People could also awaken. For this purpose, the researchers conducted many experiments and finally discovered that Ordinary People infected with the Zombie Virus had a small chance of awakening superpowers¡ªjust one in ten. The other nine out of ten would turn into zombies. With such odds, only a madman would dare to try. Unfortunately, despite many experiments, the researchers were still unable to solve this problem. It was obvious, if they knew that Fang Yuxin had successfully helped people awaken superpowers, those mad researchers would definitely target her! In fact, it wasn¡¯t just these researchers who had their eyes on Fang Yuxin. Qiu Yiming was well aware that because the probability of awakening was so low, few among the upper echelons became superpower users¡ªmost were Ordinary People! These people were more ambitious than the average citizen and were even more eager to become superpower users. The same went for the soldiers in the army; the upper echelons would definitely hope for them to awaken as superpower users. So, once the news spread in the Safe Zone, many eyes turned towards Fang Yuxin. When they learned she had risked her life to kill the Zombie Leader, many high-ranking officers sighed in dismay, at the same time thinking Zhou Yan was foolish for not recognizing Fang Yuxin¡¯s value! At that time, they all believed Fang Yuxin was undoubtedly doomed, even if they knew the news, they could only sigh. But once Fang Yuxin safely returned to the Safe Zone, her movements would be known by the base¡¯s high-ranking officials, and inevitably, some would seek her out! Qiu Yiming intentionally told her about this not only to find out the truth but also to prepare her early. He whispered his suspicions to Fang Yuxin and then asked, ¡°Xinxin, researchers will definitely come looking for you once you¡¯re back in the Safe Zone. Just tell them the truth then, I¡¯ll protect you.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded. She didn¡¯t tell Qiu Yiming that stimulating the infected with Wood Energy could increase their chances of awakening. After all, she was a Cultivator practicing Immortal Technique and had a Pure Wood Spirit Body. The Wood Element Spiritual Energy refined by her was filled with rich vitality, something other Wood Element Superpower Users couldn¡¯t compare to. If she revealed this, and the research group tried and failed, they might force her to ¡°cooperate with their research.¡± She didn¡¯t want to become a tool in their hands! Thus, she deliberately concealed this fact. Whether those researchers could figure it out or not was no longer her concern. She wasn¡¯t Buddha, she didn¡¯t have the lofty enlightenment to sacrifice herself for others. The convoy was not small, and inevitably attracted zombies along the way. However, these zombies were shot and killed by the soldiers on the vehicles before they could get close, and their bodies were handled by specialists who extracted their Crystal Cores. This was done to prevent other zombies from consuming the cores and evolving. Chapter 123 - 123 087 Malicious Invitation (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 123: 087 Malicious Invitation (Second Update)_2 Chapter 123: 087 Malicious Invitation (Second Update)_2 The appearance of Mutant Zombies and a Zombie Leader sounded an alarm bell for all the survivors, forcing them to be on guard! With these armed soldiers, there was no need for Fang Yuxin and the others to act. Any Zombies that got close were shot dead, and soon, they returned to the Safe Zone. Just as Qiu Yiming had feared, the moment they returned to the Safe Zone, the higher-ups, upon learning that Fang Yuxin was still alive, sent someone to invite her over. It was an ordinary-looking man around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, in a crisply ironed uniform, with handsome looks and sharp eyes, exuding an air of an elite. When he saw Fang Yuxin, his gaze immediately heated up, not because of her delicate beauty but because of her ability¡ªthe ability to awaken Ordinary People into superpower users! Even though he was used to grandiose events, the mere thought of the possibility made his heart race uncontrollably. Both Qiu Yiming and Zhou Yan clearly recognized the man, and even though they knew he was only interested in Fang Yuxin¡¯s ability, Qiu Yiming still felt a surge of anger¡ªhe detested other men gazing at his woman with such fervent eyes! It roused in him the anger of having his possessions violated! Qiu Yiming stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Fang Yuxin: ¡°Secretary Wang waiting here couldn¡¯t possibly be just for me, could it?¡± Wang Qiushi smiled gently, his tone warm: ¡°Major Qiu, I am here by Mr. Zheng¡¯s orders to escort Miss Fang Yuxin. Regarding some rumors in the Safe Zone, Mr. Zheng wishes to have a meeting with Miss Fang.¡± The expressions on both Qiu Yiming¡¯s and Zhou Yan¡¯s faces soured. The ¡®Mr. Zheng¡¯ he mentioned was Zheng Tianhe of the military¡¯s Secret Research Group. This man was a difficult opponent, and if Fang Yuxin caught his eye, trouble was bound to follow! The others might not have known who ¡®Mr. Zheng¡¯ was, but seeing the looks on Zhou Yan and Qiu Yiming¡¯s faces, they too realized this man must be trouble. Moreover, Wang Qiushi looked like a bad apple, warranting caution! Wang Qiushi was actually quite handsome, but his long and narrow eyes gave the impression of a fox, and especially when he smiled, it looked anything but well-intentioned. It was difficult for anyone to feel good about him. Fang Yuyang stood by Fang Yuxin¡¯s side and said to Wang Qiushi, ¡°I¡¯ll go with Xinxin.¡± Wang Qiushi¡¯s gaze shifted, scrutinizing him carefully before raising an eyebrow and asking, ¡°I heard you were wounded by a Mutant Zombie and infected with the virus, and were cured by Miss Fang, is that right?¡± Fang Yuyang nodded, full of wariness in his heart, as he didn¡¯t like this Wang Qiushi at all! Wang Qiushi then said, ¡°In that case, Mr. Fang, you are certainly welcome to accompany us. Aside from Mr. Fang, I hope the other five infected individuals who were cured by Miss Fang can also come along.¡± As far as he knew, the researchers in the study group were quite interested in these cured infected individuals! His smile carried a deep meaning, but it made others¡¯ skin crawl with increased vigilance. The five were now members of the Yongcheng Team, having sworn a Blood Oath never to betray, and would naturally not back down at this time. So despite feeling uneasy, they indicated they would go with the Fang siblings. Wang Qiushi nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze to Bai Qianqian, as well as Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe standing by his side. Although he was an ordinary person, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that these three were extraordinary. However, before he could extend an invitation, Fang Yuxin, sensing his intentions, preempted him by saying, ¡°Dad, Mom, why don¡¯t you take Qianqian back to rest? He¡¯s young and must be exhausted. My brother and I will return shortly; we won¡¯t be long.¡± Wang Qiushi couldn¡¯t help but view Fang Yuxin with skeptical eyes. The timing of her words was too coincidental, so much so that he couldn¡¯t help but suspect that she had seen through his intentions. His slender eyes narrowed slightly, and Wang Qiushi felt that he might have underestimated this beautiful woman who appeared to be nothing more than a vase. But Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t give him the chance to ponder further, asking, ¡°Can we go now?¡± Wang Qiushi disliked the feeling of the situation being controlled by someone else but had to nod along. Right now, everything else was unimportant; the priority was to bring Fang Yuxin and the cured infected individuals to the research group and persuade them to ¡°cooperate¡± with the research. Qiu Yiming and Zhou Yan frowned again, both feeling that Wang Qiushi was up to no good! Both were concerned for Fang Yuxin¡ªQiu Yiming out of affection, and Zhou Yan purely out of admiration and gratitude, not wanting her to be ruined by those mad scientists in the research group. So, both declared they would accompany her, each giving a legitimate reason. Qiu Yiming stated, ¡°Xinxin is my fiance?e; her matters are my own, and it is only right that I stay with her.¡± Zhou Yan said, ¡°She is a member of my team today. I am more familiar with the details of the event, and it would be suitable for me to act as a witness.¡± Wang Qiushi could see the intentions of the two men. He snorted in disdain inside his heart but did not refuse their requests. Instead, he ¡®kindly¡¯ said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, gentlemen, please follow me.¡± Because time was of the essence, this Secret Research Institute was converted from a villa, heavily guarded by soldiers wielding live firearms. Only after passing through several layers of checks did he manage to bring the group inside. However, they had only entered the reception room at the outermost part of the institute, not getting anywhere near the actual inner area of the research facility. To save space, the reception room wasn¡¯t very large, about fifteen or sixteen square meters, with walls all painted white. There was a sofa against the wall, and just after everyone sat down, Zheng Tianhe, who had been notified, arrived. The moment she saw him, Fang Yuxin¡¯s face dramatically changed! (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 124 - 124 088 Needle-point confrontation (Third Update) ?Chapter 124: 088 Needle-point confrontation! (Third Update) Chapter 124: 088 Needle-point confrontation! (Third Update) Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know Zheng Tianhe at all. The reason her complexion drastically changed was that the moment this person appeared, he launched a Spiritual Attack against them! This was a Spiritual Superpower User! She suddenly felt extremely grateful that she had let her parents take Bai Qianqian home and hadn¡¯t let them come along. Otherwise, the energy fluctuations from the three of them would have definitely not escaped this person¡¯s spiritual perception, and Bai Qianqian, who had also awakened a Spiritual Power, would likely have been targeted by him! Probably because of her cultivation of the Green Wood Technique, coupled with her Soul Power far exceeding that of an ordinary person, she had a certain immunity to any Spiritual Attack and could also identify the type of Spiritual Attack. The Spiritual Attack emanated by Zheng Tianhe was similar to a ¡°Confusing Heart Technique.¡± Although it was also a form of mental suggestion, it was different from the Spiritual Zombie¡¯s attack. The attack from the Spiritual Zombie would make one feel as if they were plunging into an ice cavern, creating intense fear, despair, and other negative emotions from deep within their soul, eventually leading one to freeze to death by their own volition. Zheng Tianhe¡¯s Spiritual Attack was different; it would make a person subconsciously lower their guard and reveal the secrets hidden deepest in their heart to the attacker. For the other party to use such despicable means right from the start was a display of utter disrespect and impoliteness, which made Fang Yuxin feel incredibly indignant and wary. She had just faced a Spiritual Zombie and was at her most vigilant, so the moment she detected this kind of Spiritual Attack, she had no time to think or disguise her reaction but openly displayed her displeasure! A clear and melodious voice rang out, pulling everyone back from their brief trance, ¡°Mr. Zheng, you began by using a Spiritual Attack on us; do you see us all as enemies?¡± By deliberately disrupting Zheng Tianhe¡¯s arrangement, she was blatantly confronting Zheng Tianhe and, in doing so, also revealed the fact that she was unaffected. Zheng Tianhe narrowed his eyes slightly, his sharp gaze piercing toward Fang Yuxin with deep scrutiny and endless curiosity. His voice was low and hoarse and his eerie tone added a hint of shadow to his demeanor, ¡°You must be Miss Fang Yuxin, right? I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re a Wood Element Superpower User and that you¡¯ve even cured someone infected with the Zombie Virus, is that true?¡± While speaking, his gaze had already shifted towards Fang Yuyang, Chen Qiao, and the other six, clearly aware of their past infection with the Zombie Virus. All six of them were extremely vigilant in their hearts. They had almost fallen for this man¡¯s scheme; if it weren¡¯t for Fang Yuxin suddenly speaking up, they would have already been ensnared. Reflecting on it now, they were scared in hindsight. Among the six, Fang Yuyang was the strongest and the least affected. Even without Fang Yuxin¡¯s warning, he would have been able to snap out of it quickly. The other five were somewhat less so, especially the two who had just awakened, who were the most affected! Set aside them, both Qiu Yiming and Zhou Yan were also somewhat affected, though not to the point of completely opening up to Zheng Tianhe, they did momentarily harbor the illusion that ¡®Zheng Tianhe was to be trusted.¡¯ Qiu Yiming had always been a favored child of heaven, and though Zhou Yan was a bit less so compared to him, he was still impressive. Such proud individuals hated most being manipulated! Especially Qiu Yiming, whose personality had become increasingly domineering since awakening his superpower, found Zheng Tianhe¡¯s actions even more intolerable! The two already disliked Zheng Tianhe, and after breaking free from the mental suggestion, their impression of him worsened. Zhou Yan managed to restrain himself somewhat, but Qiu Yiming made no attempt to hide his disdain for Zheng Tianhe! Especially after Zheng Tianhe looked at Fang Yuxin with the eyes of someone examining a lab specimen, Qiu Yiming¡¯s anger almost peaked. If Zheng Tianhe hadn¡¯t quickly moved his gaze to Fang Yuyang and the others, Qiu Yiming would have undoubtedly burst out uncontrollably! However, Zheng Tianhe¡¯s attention to Fang Yuyang and the others, though it prevented Qiu Yiming¡¯s outburst, enraged Fang Yuxin! Fang Yuyang was extremely caring towards his little sister, never bearing to see her suffer even slightly, and Fang Yuxin felt the same towards her brother Fang Yuyang! Zheng Tianhe¡¯s gaze was too blatant and unmasked, perhaps due to lacking depth or being overly confident and arrogant; his intentions were written all over his face! He was extremely interested in Fang Yuyang and the others, as if eager to dissect them on an operating table immediately! Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze grew colder; she couldn¡¯t tolerate it anymore and said, ¡°I always thought that a distinguished researcher like Mr. Zheng would uphold a serious and meticulous scientific attitude, but it turns out that Mr. Zheng is also one to parrot others¡¯ opinions.¡± With these words, she pulled Zheng Tianhe¡¯s attention back to herself. Chapter 125 - 125 088 Needle Tip to Needle Tip (The Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 125: 088 Needle Tip to Needle Tip! (The Third Update)_2 Chapter 125: 088 Needle Tip to Needle Tip! (The Third Update)_2 Chen Qiao and four others were immediately grateful to her. Zheng Tianhe¡¯s gaze had put enormous pressure on them, like a heavy mountain weighing them down, making even breathing feel difficult. Fang Yuxin¡¯s actions had essentially rescued them. Similarly rescued, Fang Yuyang furrowed his brows, feeling somewhat worried. At the same time, Zhou Yan and Qiu Yiming were also worried that Fang Yuxin had angered Zheng Tianhe. Although they didn¡¯t like Zheng Tianhe, his special position in the military meant that even many high-ranking officials had to give him face. If Fang Yuxin had offended him, it would have been very unwise! Zheng Tianhe looked at Fang Yuxin coldly, his triangular drooping eyes making his gaze seem shadowy and intimidating, full of malice. He wasn¡¯t good-looking, and at 58 years old, he wasn¡¯t young anymore. His face bore the deep marks of time, and years of scientific research had left clear bags under his eyes. His bald head and grizzled temples made him look rather down-and-out, while deep nasolabial folds and downturned corners of his mouth made him appear overly stern and rigid. In short, he had a face that was hard to like. At this moment, his gaze on Fang Yuxin was like his routine surgical scalpel, as if he wanted to slice open her body and reveal her most genuine and enticing inner self. He opened his mouth and still in that odd tone, said, ¡°As a senior scientific researcher, Mr. Zheng certainly won¡¯t blindly follow others. However, this information is too important for the entire Safe Zone, even for all humankind, that it has caused Mr. Zheng to lose his usual composure. I specifically invited Miss Fang here to personally ask for confirmation. I hope, Miss Fang, you can tell Mr. Zheng the truth, how exactly did you cure the survivors of the Zombie Virus?¡± His words seemed polite, but they were actually very assertive, especially the last part, which clearly affirmed that those rumors were true! He was not asking whether Fang Yuxin had actually cured the survivors of the Zombie Virus, but how she treated them! Fang Yuxin certainly wouldn¡¯t let him succeed. She wasn¡¯t some inexperienced girl; in fact, her well-to-do background had given her plenty of eye-opening experiences. That bizarre dream had accustomed her to sights of life and death and formidable beings! Zheng Tianhe, mighty as he seemed, was nothing but an ant compared to those she had seen in her dream. She had cultivated the Green Wood Technique, her state of mind far surpassing that of ordinary people. Zheng Tianhe¡¯s skills might work on others, but they were nothing in front of her! Fang Yuxin laughed out loud, her voice very clear and melodious. That laugh completely broke the oppressive atmosphere that Zheng Tianhe had tried to create. The air, almost solidifying from tension, instantly crumbled, instead giving a refreshing sense of spring returning to the earth, flourishing vibrantly. After laughing, she said, ¡°So, Mr. Zheng, are you convinced that I have cured those infected with the Zombie Virus?¡± Zheng Tianhe¡¯s expression was quite ugly. After hearing the rumors in the Safe Zone, he had specifically ordered people to investigate Fang Yuxin¡¯s background and soon gathered all her information. Knowing she was just a 24-year-old girl, he didn¡¯t take Fang Yuxin seriously at all! In his view, Fang Yuxin, such a young girl, was too easy to manipulate. He just needed to show a bit of his power, and he could easily control her, making her confess everything! After the apocalypse, there were suddenly many more research projects in his hands, and his time became extremely precious. He didn¡¯t have spare time to waste! Even to save time, he spent all day in the lab, unwilling to even leave for meals or sleep. If it weren¡¯t for Fang Yuxin¡¯s valuable abilities, he wouldn¡¯t have taken the time to meet her! Even so, he didn¡¯t plan to waste words on her, so right at the beginning of their meeting, he had launched a Spiritual Attack, hoping to confuse the minds of everyone in the room and make them obediently reveal all they knew. However, unexpectedly, all this was disrupted by Fang Yuxin! And now, Fang Yuxin had once again shattered the tense atmosphere he had carefully crafted, ruining his plans once again! It¡¯s said that even a clay figurine retains a bit of earth¡¯s nature, not to mention he wasn¡¯t a clay figure! He had always had a bad temper. Zheng Tianhe was quite furious. In his view, Fang Yuxin should obediently reveal all her secrets, even willingly ¡°offer herself¡± to contribute to saving all humankind. Yet, she was too selfish! He then said, ¡°Young lady, everyone in the research group is working day and night to crack the Zombie Virus. Remember, this is a critical period, not a time for your pettiness and selfishness!¡± Fang Yuxin raised her eyebrows: ¡°You¡¯re calling me selfish? Yesterday, my family and I hunted 3561 zombies! Today, I followed Captain Zhou to XX University to rescue survivors, killed a Mutant Zombie, and then risked my life to penetrate a group of thousands of zombies, successfully killing a Spiritual Mutant Zombie. And you say, I¡¯m too selfish?¡± She paused there, not giving Zheng Tianhe a chance to speak, then continued, ¡°Mr. Zheng said, everyone in your research group is working tirelessly to crack the Zombie Virus. May I ask Mr. Zheng, what have you figured out so far?¡± Zheng Tianhe¡¯s face grew uglier. Fang Yuxin¡¯s sharp wit was beyond his expectations. He awkwardly fell silent for a moment before saying, ¡°Due to the lack of experimental data, the research has not been able to make breakthrough progress, but I believe that as long as Miss Fang and their six others are willing to cooperate, my research can soon make significant progress!¡± He said this emphatically, but Fang Yuxin scoffed, ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you haven¡¯t figured out anything yet?¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it, monthly ticket, your support, is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 126 - 126 089 Give and Take (First Update) ?Chapter 126: 089 Give and Take (First Update) Chapter 126: 089 Give and Take (First Update) Fang Yuxin looked at Zheng Tianhe with disgust, unable to understand why there always had to be people who liked to stand on the moral high ground and abduct others under the guise of righteousness. Zheng Tianhe kept repeating that it was for the Safe Zone and for all of Humanity, as if her not willingly offering herself meant she was sabotaging the development of all Humanity! In her dreams, Fang Mengyao often coerced them with these righteous reasons; she was selfish and cold-blooded but always pretended to be forced into a corner, as if that was the only way she could survive peacefully. It was truly nauseating! Zheng Tianhe, who was usually held in high esteem, had not been treated so unreasonably in many years. Thus, he intensified his tone, ¡°Miss Fang, Mr. Zheng must remind you that your attitude is somewhat inappropriate!¡± Fang Yuxin saw that he was still maintaining an air of dignity and integrity even now, her disdain intensified as she said, ¡°You just want to know how I healed their injuries, right? I can tell you now, the Wood Element Superpower can promote wound healing. I had them take off their clothes to reveal their wounds, then I used a knife to cut away the decayed skin and muscle around the wounds, and directly used the Wood Element Superpower to help heal the wounds. It¡¯s that simple.¡± Zheng Tianhe was clearly dissatisfied with the answer; he thought Fang Yuxin was lying! He glanced at the two mercenaries who had just awakened and then looked at Fang Yuxin with a smirk, ¡°Miss Fang really knows how to joke, Mr. Zheng also heard that there were two Ordinary People who successfully awakened their superpowers with Miss Fang¡¯s help, it¡¯s these two, isn¡¯t it?¡± At this point, his gaze once again stabbed at the two men, sharp and cold, making them instantly feel like they had become lab rats. Their faces drained of blood, leaving only pale, helpless faces as if they could collapse at any moment. Fang Yuxin coughed lightly, bringing the two men back to reality, and she too looked at Zheng Tianhe with a smirk, ¡°Although I indeed healed their injuries, their superpower Awakening wasn¡¯t because of me. Mr. Zheng, working night and day in the lab, must have conducted several related experiments, and he certainly knows much more about how to awaken superpowers than I do. If you insist that their Awakening was because of me, then I have nothing to say. As the saying goes, ¡®give someone a handle, and they will find a way to blame.¡¯ No matter what I say, Mr. Zheng will have reasons to refute me.¡± Qiu Yiming thought Fang Yuxin spoke very well, but seeing Zheng Tianhe¡¯s face getting uglier, he was worried that Fang Yuxin had offended him too harshly. In a moment of urgency, even he wouldn¡¯t be able to protect Fang Yuxin, so he said, ¡°Mr. Zheng, I think what Xinxin said makes sense. You are an expert in this field, and if you can¡¯t decipher the key to superpower Awakening, Xinxin is even less likely to. As far as I know, anyone infected with the Zombie Virus might awaken as a superpower user. These two awakened because they were infected with the Zombie Virus, it has nothing to do with Xinxin.¡± Zhou Yan also added, ¡°Yes, Mr. Zheng, I¡¯ve already asked the people who were there at the time, Miss Fang did indeed only help them heal their wounds. Their successful Awakening was mainly due to the fact that they were infected with the Zombie Virus, they were even close to turning into zombies.¡± Zheng Tianhe knew what they said made sense; he had indeed conducted many experiments and understood a lot about the Awakening of superpowers and the Zombie Virus. Yet, he still felt that the Awakening of the two had something to do with Fang Yuxin! He wished he could detain Fang Yuxin and the other six people, taking them to the laboratory for testing. But, considering the identities of Qiu Yiming and Zhou Yan, he eventually gave up this tempting idea and turned to a lesser plea, ¡°Mr. Zheng admits his lack of consideration, and hopes that everyone will not take it amiss. Also, Mr. Zheng is very interested in Miss Fang¡¯s superpower; could Miss Fang allow Mr. Zheng to witness it personally?¡± Fang Yuxin was very dissatisfied with his persistent badgering, and just as she was about to ask him how he planned to witness it, Fang Yuyang had already stepped forward. He opened his right hand, palm up, and forcefully slashed across it with a dagger. Blood immediately gushed from the wound, stinging Fang Yuxin¡¯s eyes. ¡°Brother! What are you doing?¡± Fang Yuxin exclaimed, grabbing Fang Yuyang¡¯s hand and forcefully channeling Spiritual Energy into the wound until it healed. Then she turned to Zheng Tianhe, glaring at him, ¡°Mr. Zheng, are you satisfied now?¡± Chapter 127 - 127 089 Give and Take (Second Update) ?Chapter 127: 089 Give and Take (Second Update) Chapter 127: 089 Give and Take (Second Update) Zheng Tianhe was certainly not pleased! He had long known about the Wood Element Superpower Users¡¯ ability to heal wounds, but what he cared more about was Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Element Superpower! He suspected that she was different from other Wood Element Superpower Users, possibly possessing a Mutated Wood Element Superpower. Thus, he particularly hoped that Fang Yuxin would cooperate with his investigation, ideally by voluntarily ¡°sacrificing¡± herself to help him complete various experiments, rather than focusing on her ability to heal wounds! However, he couldn¡¯t say that out loud. Qiu Yiming and Zhou Yan had significant reputations in the military, and even if he wasn¡¯t afraid of these two men, he had to consider the negative implications their discontent could bring. He knew very well that the military needed people right now and offending the superpower users could lead to an unfavorable outcome. Moreover, the cold expression on Fang Yuxin¡¯s face made him very uneasy. He had an instinct that he must not let Fang Yuxin lose her temper, lest the consequences be unimaginable! So he made a final concession, ¡°Everyone, please don¡¯t misunderstand, Mr. Zheng has no other intentions. Mr. Zheng absolutely bears no malice toward anyone, after all, Mr. Zheng, like you, is also striving for the better survival of humanity. Mr. Zheng will have his assistant collect everyone¡¯s blood samples for testing, and I hope no one will refuse.¡± Fang Yuxin wanted to refuse, but Fang Yuyang held her hand and gently shook his head, advising her not to be impulsive. Not long after, Zheng Tianhe¡¯s assistant came with equipment to collect blood samples. His actions were very professional, and he quickly collected and preserved the blood samples, then left the meeting room. As soon as he left, Fang Yuxin could no longer sit still and asked impatiently, ¡°Mr. Zheng is a busy man, may we know if we are free to leave now?¡± Zheng Tianhe knew it wasn¡¯t the right moment yet, and even though he was annoyed, he still managed to squeeze out a rigid smile, and amiably bid everyone farewell. He seemed to be trying hard to show his benevolent side, but habits formed over many years aren¡¯t easily changed. The stiff smile not only did not earn him any favor but made him appear even more sinister and creepy, like a snake waiting for the right moment to strike, which sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. After leaving the temporary research group, Zhou Yan said his goodbyes as he had many other matters to attend to and very little free time. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang planned to go back home, and Qiu Yiming volunteered to take them. Fang Yuxin sensed that Qiu Yiming had something to say, so she agreed. Sure enough, just as they were on their way, Qiu Yiming couldn¡¯t wait to say, ¡°Xinxin, you were too impulsive today. Zheng Tianhe is no easy person to deal with, and his mind is narrower than the eye of a needle. Now that you¡¯ve offended him, he certainly won¡¯t let it go.¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t respond; she knew Qiu Yiming had more to say. Indeed, Qiu Yiming soon spoke again, ¡°That man is a research fanatic, he¡¯d do anything for his research. Don¡¯t take his talk of ¡®greater good¡¯ seriously, to him, superpower users and zombies are nothing more than test subjects!¡± His face showed a hint of mockery, clearly disdainful of Zheng Tianhe¡¯s actions. Fang Yuxin knew his words were true, without any falsehood. She remained silent but suddenly remembered something. In that dream, when she was struggling at the lower levels, she had heard some rumors about the Secret Research Institute. The current research group was likely the precursor to that institute. Back then, rumors secretly spread at the lower levels that the military¡¯s Secret Research Institute had been conducting inhumane experiments on living people. These people included not just Ordinary People but even superpower users! Most of these Ordinary People had been deceived into it, struggling to awaken any superpowers during the apocalypse and gradually running out of options. The Secret Research Institute was always secretly recruiting, and while these Ordinary People did receive substantial compensation when they entered, once they were in the institute, they could no longer leave alive. As the zombies grew stronger, the high command, in a bid to find a safe Awakening method, had become unscrupulous. These deceived individuals were treated like lab rats. Researchers conducted various experiments on them solely to extract better and more precise data. Once the message began to spread, it became harder for the institute to find test subjects. So, they came up with a new idea, claiming to have developed an Awakening Potion, but it had not yet been clinically tested. This Awakening Potion was extremely expensive, beyond the reach of many Ordinary People in their entire lives. At that point, the institute deliberately released news that any volunteers who signed up would have one opportunity to take the Awakening Potion. Once the news broke, it caused all the Ordinary People in the Safe Zone to flock to it, Fang Yuxin included! She did not want to become a burden to Fang Yuyang, and after failing to absorb the Elemental Crystal, she had given up completely. However, the announcement from the institute struck a very vulnerable chord in her. So, even though she knew it might be a trap, she decided to try it without telling Fang Yuyang. Unfortunately, in the end, she was stopped by Fang Yuyang. At that time, Fang Yuyang, who had somehow learned of the news, had told her that it was a trap and had snapped her out of it with a slap. From then on, both siblings had a bad impression of the research institute. Seeing Fang Yuxin distracted and seething with anger, Qiu Yiming couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Xinxin, are you listening to me at all?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation vote or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. For mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 128 - 128 090 Father Qiu Mrs. Qiu (Second Update) ?Chapter 128: 090 Father Qiu Mrs. Qiu (Second Update) Chapter 128: 090 Father Qiu Mrs. Qiu (Second Update) Qiu Yiming felt irritated, and his tone became somewhat heavier as he successfully brought Fang Yuxin back to her senses. She carefully recalled what Qiu Yiming had just said, and spoke coldly, ¡°It¡¯s not that I wanted to offend him, he never planned to let us go! You saw what just happened, if I didn¡¯t show some strength, I¡¯m afraid he would have truly slaughtered us at will! You¡¯re right, he¡¯s not a kind person, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have used a spiritual attack on us right when we met. But I have to let him know that I¡¯m not someone he can bully at will, only then will he think twice before acting recklessly. Otherwise, we probably couldn¡¯t have walked out of that villa!¡± Qiu Yiming wasn¡¯t a fool, he was just overwrought with concern and worried that Fang Yuxin had angered Zheng Tianhe, causing his retaliation, which clouded his judgment on Fang Yuxin¡¯s intentions. Now that Fang Yuxin had spoken, he instantly understood. He too had experienced Zheng Tianhe¡¯s spiritual attack, but his resolve was firm, and the impact on him was minimal, only a moment¡¯s distraction. At that time, he was worried about Fang Yuxin. Although angry, he didn¡¯t have time to think further. Now, hearing the words ¡®spiritual attack¡¯ from Fang Yuxin again, he became furiously angry. As a proud man, what he hated most was being manipulated. Zheng Tianhe¡¯s actions, treating him like a mere puppet, were not only dismissive but downright mocking! How could he tolerate this! Thinking of Zheng Tianhe¡¯s obviously malicious intent towards Fang Yuxin, he grew worried again, ¡°Xinxin, what are you planning to do next? Zheng Tianhe is a madman, and he definitely won¡¯t let things go. I¡¯m worried he might harm you. Your home is no longer safe, why don¡¯t you move to my place? If you stay with me, Zheng surely won¡¯t dare to go too far.¡± Fang Yuxin knew he meant well, but she couldn¡¯t agree. She wasn¡¯t alone, she had her parents, her brother, and Bai Qianqian. Could she really bring her entire family to live with Qiu Yiming? That would be ridiculous! They had their own house, why live under someone else¡¯s roof? Even if she could swallow her pride, how could she ask her family to lose face with her? Not to mention Qiu Yiming¡¯s attitude towards Bai Qianqian, her Qingmu Spiritual Mansion also had to remain a secret from Qiu Yiming. Moreover, her feelings for Qiu Yiming had faded, keeping silent for now was just a temporary measure, but she couldn¡¯t afford to entangle herself with him any further. So, she said, ¡°No need, I¡¯ve already offended Zheng Tianhe, so I can¡¯t drag you and the Qiu Family into this. You don¡¯t need to worry too much, Zheng Tianhe might be a madman, but the upper echelons won¡¯t let him arrest people at will. With everyone on edge right now, if he starts arresting indiscriminately, the Safe Zone is likely to descend into complete chaos.¡± She knew very well that Zheng Tianhe wouldn¡¯t blatantly arrest people. At most, he¡¯d try to secretly capture those who are alone and unsupported. These people, lacking friends or kin, wouldn¡¯t raise concern even if they disappeared. However, her situation was different. The Fang Family now included five people, and the Yongcheng Mercenary Team had ten. Unless Zheng Tianhe could capture all of them, there were bound to be leaks. Moreover, with the Qiu Family¡¯s involvement, Zheng Tianhe would surely think twice. At worst, she could leak news about the Elemental Stone and Elemental Crystal, then Zheng Tianhe¡¯s attention would definitely shift. Even those high-ranking officials eager to awaken their superpowers would not commit fully, putting all their hopes on Zheng Tianhe if they had the prospect of Elemental Crystals to awaken. The reason Zheng Tianhe held a special position within the research group was because the higher-ups hoped he could decrypt the secrets of the Zombie Virus and awakening, develop a zombie vaccine, and find a way for Ordinary People to awaken. The high-ups placing their hopes in him naturally elevated his status, but with the revelation of the Elemental Crystals? Even if he couldn¡¯t pull Zheng Tianhe down from his position, his status would suffer greatly. After Qiu Yiming took her back to the Fang Family home, he didn¡¯t stay long, leaving soon after. His time was truly tight, with many matters requiring his attention. Besides, now that Zheng Tianhe had his sights on Fang Yuxin, he needed to figure out a way to divert Zheng Tianhe¡¯s attention. Probably because he had been rejected too many times before, Fang Yuxin¡¯s recent refusal didn¡¯t anger him too much. It was just a casual suggestion which he regretted right after saying it. Although he would have loved to have Fang Yuxin live with him, he wasn¡¯t as welcoming towards the other members of the Fang Family. Particularly Fang Yuyang and Bai Qianqian ¨C Fang Yuyang had always been displeased with him, and Bai Qianqian was Bai Ye¡¯s son. Just the thought filled him with fury, and he was certainly not willing to have Bai Qianqian under his roof every day. Chapter 129 - 129 090 Father Qiu Mrs. Qiu (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 129: 090 Father Qiu Mrs. Qiu (Second Update)_2 Chapter 129: 090 Father Qiu Mrs. Qiu (Second Update)_2 After he left the Fang Family, he went to see his parents, hoping they could help him come up with a way to protect Fang Yuxin and prevent that madman, Zheng, from harming her. When he arrived, Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua were also discussing rumors that had just emerged in the Safe Zone. The couple had not been as fortunate as Qiu Yiming. At the onset of the apocalypse, Qiu Yiming had successfully awakened a Thunder Element Superpower with great Attack Power, whereas they remained Ordinary People. When superpowers had first appeared, they were at most pleasantly surprised. But as Qiu Yiming¡¯s power grew stronger, they became increasingly envious. Like many ordinary people, Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua desperately longed to become superpower users. They were both intelligent, seeing the ravages of the zombies and realizing that without the option to use nuclear weapons to eradicate them, humanity could only rely on strong powers to survive! The emergence of Mutant Zombies made their desire to become superpower users even more urgent. Previously, like other military high-ranking officials, they had placed their hopes on the secret research group led by Zheng Tianhe, but now the group¡¯s research had not progressed at all. Rumors about Fang Yuxin¡¯s ability to awaken ordinary people into superpower users captured their attention even more. Unfortunately, this Fang Yuxin was also their future daughter-in-law! As the saying goes, ¡®one shouldn¡¯t let the riches flow into outsiders¡¯ fields.¡¯ If Fang Yuxin indeed had such an ability, shouldn¡¯t she first help them awaken? These two weren¡¯t usually foolish; on the contrary, they were very smart. With anything else, they would not have easily believed such rumors. But now, consumed by the urge to awaken as superpower users, this made them lose their usual discernment. They didn¡¯t question the rumors spreading through the Safe Zone and deep down, they truly hoped those rumors were true. Thus, upon seeing Qiu Yiming, Zhou Fanghua couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why are you back by yourself, kid? Isn¡¯t Xinxin with you?¡± Hearing this, Qiu Yiming suddenly felt a tangle of emotions. Zhou Fanghua had never asked such a question before. At the initial arrival in the Safe Zone, he had hurriedly handled his affairs and went straight to Fang Yuxin. At the time, both Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua had disapproved of his actions, thinking he was too swayed by emotions and that a man should prioritize his career. They had just reached the Safe Zone, when it was time for Qiu Yiming to show his worth and accomplish great things; his abrupt departure was unwise. But Qiu Yiming insisted, and they were not in a position to say more. Qiu Yiming was grown up and had his own thoughts, as long as he didn¡¯t do anything excessive, they wouldn¡¯t interfere. Moreover, Fang Yuxin was, after all, Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, and the Fang Family had such a significant amount of supplies; it was only right for Qiu Yiming to check on Fang Yuxin¡¯s well-being. Later, upon Qiu Yiming¡¯s return, they learned of the Fang Family¡¯s situation, that the Fang Family was fine, and both Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin had awakened as superpower users, one a Wind Element, the other a Wood Element. At the time, they didn¡¯t place much importance on superpower users. After all, newly awakened superpowers couldn¡¯t exert great force and seemed more like magic tricks, hardly comparable to the might of firearms. Furthermore, they were unclear about the extent of the Wood Element Superpower¡¯s Healing Ability, and they learned from Qiu Yiming that Fang Mengyao had awakened a Space Superpower, possessing a Personal Space of over a hundred square meters. Compared to Fang Yuxin¡¯s seemingly trivial Wood Element Superpower, Fang Mengyao¡¯s Space Superpower was obviously of more interest to them! It was like having a portable warehouse! Qiu Yiming did not hide anything from them and spoke directly of his suspicions about Fang Mengyao, as well as her interest in him, along with his own plans. Coming from prominent backgrounds and wielding significant power, both Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua looked down on someone like Fang Mengyao, a illegitimate daughter. Additionally, they were aware of the incident involving Zhu Wanxia and held even more disdain for Fang Mengyao¡¯s origins. If a woman like Fang Mengyao was to join the Qiu Family as their daughter-in-law, they would never agree. But Qiu Yiming only wanted to obtain something from her, not marry her, so they didn¡¯t really care. Even if Qiu Yiming did sleep with Fang Mengyao, as long as he didn¡¯t marry her into the family, they would have no objections. Originally, after the apocalypse, the Fang Family¡¯s wealth had turned to worthless paper, leaving only those supplies worth some concern. Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua felt the Fang Family could no longer compare with the Qiu Family, and that Fang Yuxin was not a suitable match for their son Qiu Yiming. Therefore, in their hearts, they intended to call off the engagement and find another match for Qiu Yiming. They could see Qiu Yiming still cared deeply for Fang Yuxin so they kept their thoughts to themselves and didn¡¯t reveal a word to Qiu Yiming. And in front of Qiu Yiming, they deliberately avoided mentioning Fang Yuxin, wanting him to gradually forget about her. Little did they know, that morning they learned of Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Element Superpower and its significant Healing Abilities. Naturally, both parents took an interest in such power, knowing that Qiu Yiming had a Wood Element Superpower User under his command whose potential seemed not as impressive as Fang Yuxin¡¯s. They hoped Fang Yuxin would be at their service. By noon, as Zhou Yan returned with the survivors, rumors suddenly spread throughout the Safe Zone that Fang Yuxin could heal those infected with the Zombie Virus and even awaken Ordinary People into superpower users! This made them extremely concerned! (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian.com to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 130 - 130 091 Shes Lying (Third Update) ?Chapter 130: 091 She¡¯s Lying! (Third Update) Chapter 130: 091 She¡¯s Lying! (Third Update) Upon receiving the news, the two of them could no longer sit still and quickly sent people out to gather information. The news they got almost made them faint. Fang Yuxin had actually gone to kill the Zombie Leader! And there were thousands of ordinary zombies by the leader¡¯s side! She was clearly courting death! Zhou Yan had actually agreed to it! What was going through his mind! If Fang Yuxin really had such ability, then it would be of significant meaning to the entire Safe Zone. How could Zhou Yan let her court death! The two were uncontrollably furious and then learned that Qiu Yiming had volunteered to lead a rescue mission. In the past, they would have never agreed and would have definitely tried to stop Qiu Yiming from doing this, but this time, they all tacitly approved of his actions. Although they all felt certain that Fang Yuxin was bound to die and that even if Qiu Yiming went, whether he could retrieve her body was another matter, they couldn¡¯t help holding on to the last bit of hope as long as they thought of Fang Yuxin¡¯s ability to awaken Ordinary People into superpower users. They hoped that Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t dead, they hoped that Qiu Yiming could bring her back alive. Luckily, their luck wasn¡¯t bad, and Fang Yuxin was actually still alive! It was like Heaven itself was helping them! The two were extremely excited and couldn¡¯t wait to see Fang Yuxin, but unfortunately, they were caught up by their responsibilities and were a step behind, allowing the special research team to take her away first. After hearing this, both felt uneasy. They were well aware of how mad Zheng Tianhe could be. In fact, not only Zheng Tianhe, but many high-ranking officials of the Safe Zone had also gone mad. Everyone wanted to become a superpower user, all hoping that Zheng Tianhe could develop a vaccine against the Zombie Virus. As such, concerning some of Zheng Tianhe¡¯s mad behaviors, they chose to turn a blind eye, as long as he didn¡¯t go too far, and as long as things didn¡¯t get out of hand, they wouldn¡¯t intervene. But Fang Yuxin was different! Both knew Zheng Tianhe well and were sure that he was only after her because of her abilities. Given the extent of his madness, he might even force Fang Yuxin to stay for research! Therefore, they specifically sent someone to watch outside the villa where the special research group was based and only breathed a sigh of relief when they found out that Fang Yuxin had left safely. After that, when Fang Yuxin got into Qiu Yiming¡¯s car, they stopped paying attention. They all assumed that Qiu Yiming would bring Fang Yuxin back, but unexpectedly, Qiu Yiming returned alone, which was very unusual! Zhou Fanghua couldn¡¯t hold back and asked. With her question, Qiu Yiming felt a bit complicated. Even if Zhou Fanghua and Qiu Hongsheng didn¡¯t say it outright, he knew in his heart. Zhou Fanghua had never asked like this before, obviously not very concerned about Fang Yuxin, just minding him she hadn¡¯t spoken out. Now, however, she showed such eagerness, what for? Qiu Yiming knew very well. But after all, Zhou Fanghua and Qiu Hongsheng were his parents. Even if some of their thoughts were different from his, he would not think they were wrong. He knew very clearly that whatever they did, it was for his own good. After Zhou Fanghua asked, she realized she had been too eager and pursed her lips. She offered an explanatory excuse, ¡°Xinxin miraculously survived this major ordeal, I thought you would come back with her, but you¡¯ve come back alone. What happened? She didn¡¯t want to come over? Speaking of which, your dad and I haven¡¯t seen her in a few days. We¡¯ve really missed her.¡± Pretending he didn¡¯t know anything, Qiu Yiming found a place to sit and continued on her topic, ¡°Xinxin must be exhausted this time, barely killing that Zombie Leader, and making it back to the Safe Zone safe and sound, only to be invited by Zheng Tianhe. You both know too well what kind of person Zheng Tianhe is, not a kind one indeed. He almost forced Xinxin to stay against her will, but luckily, Xinxin was cunning and made him back down a step, only letting them take her blood for testing. Seeing her so worn out, I sent her home to rest first.¡± He knew his elders were already somewhat dissatisfied with Fang Yuxin, so over the past three days, he had intentionally concealed the discord between them, not mentioning a word to his elders. This time was no exception; he did not speak of his invitation nor of Fang Yuxin¡¯s refusal. Instead, he deliberately spoke in defense of Fang Yuxin. His sole intention was to keep his parents from being angry with her. He hadn¡¯t stopped praising Fang Yuxin in front of his parents, and Zhou Fanghua and Qiu Hongsheng had long been tired of listening. At this point, hearing him speak this way, they didn¡¯t pay much mind, though they were concerned when they heard that Zheng Tianhe wanted to forcibly keep Fang Yuxin. Chapter 131 - 131 091 She is lying (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 131: 091 She is lying! (Third Update)_2 Chapter 131: 091 She is lying! (Third Update)_2 Qiu Hongsheng couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Zheng Tianhe really is insane! He actually dared to do that! But how did Xinxin make him back down? That crazy old guy is so petty and stubborn; it¡¯s not easy to make him compromise.¡± Qiu Yiming nodded, his face showing anger, ¡°Dad, Mom, you don¡¯t know yet, but this Zheng guy is outrageously arrogant! As soon as he appeared, he launched a Spiritual Attack on all of us. If Xinxin hadn¡¯t been alert and seen through his Spiritual Attack, I¡¯m afraid I would¡¯ve been affected!¡± He was intentionally saying good things about Fang Yuxin, so he deliberately hid the fact that he hadn¡¯t been greatly affected and made it sound more serious. ¡°What!¡± Zhou Fanghua and Qiu Hongsheng were immediately furious, Qiu Hongsheng clenched his fist and smashed it onto the table, ¡°Zheng Tianhe has the guts to use a Spiritual Attack on you! He really is mad! Yiming, tell me, what exactly happened?¡± Although he was angry, he still had some rationality left, so he intentionally asked further, harbouring some doubts about Qiu Yiming¡¯s words. Qiu Yiming immediately recounted the ins and outs of the whole incident, ¡°After we arrived, we were led to a narrow reception room to wait. Before long, Zheng Tianhe arrived. But as soon as the door opened, he launched a Spiritual Attack on all of us. It was some kind of trick that could befuddle the mind. After he used that Attack, I suddenly didn¡¯t find him so repulsive, even felt I could trust him, and I was almost ready to spill my guts to him. Under those circumstances, I would probably have answered whatever he asked without holding back. It was Xinxin who was alert enough to break his Spiritual Attack, that¡¯s what snapped me out of it.¡± Qiu Hongsheng immediately seized on the key point of his words, ¡°So, this Zheng had ill intentions from the start! But how did Xinxin break his Spiritual Attack? I heard Zheng Tianhe is a Spiritual Superpower User, and his Spiritual Attacks are very powerful! It¡¯s surprising enough that Xinxin was unaffected, let alone that she could break his Attack. Yiming, do you remember how she did it?¡± Qiu Yiming also thought it was rather odd since Fang Yuxin was just a Wood Element Superpower User. How exactly was she able to resist Zheng Tianhe¡¯s Spiritual Attack? Or was this a special ability of Wood Element Superpower Users? He recalled the sequence of events carefully, realizing that Fang Yuxin simply spoke a sentence then. After her clear voice echoed, the entire atmosphere in the room seemed to change instantly, giving off a sense of the revival of all plants, as if the whole body and mind were relaxed. Even reminiscing about that feeling, he found it exquisitely delightful! Qiu Yiming suddenly regretted not insisting on taking Fang Yuxin home with him! He had an intuition that being in that state continuously would have been extremely beneficial for his Cultivation! However, he kept such regrets to himself and did not show them. He said, ¡°All Xinxin did was say a sentence, and we all came to our senses. I don¡¯t know if she used other methods. Zheng Tianhe suspected that she is a mutated Wood Element Superpower, hence her Healing Ability is much better than other Wood Element Superpower Users. Perhaps that¡¯s why she could resist Zheng¡¯s Spiritual Attack.¡± Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua did not continue to pursue the matter. Although both were intelligent, they were not Superpower Users themselves, and Superpowers had only just emerged; they knew very little. Zhou Fanghua asked what she was most concerned about, ¡°Yiming, did Xinxin ever say how she made Ordinary People Awaken? Since Zheng Tianhe called her over, he must have asked her about this, right?¡± Qiu Yiming frowned slightly and hesitated. He had heard Fang Yuxin¡¯s answer at that time and knew that Zhou Fanghua and Qiu Hongsheng were both eager to Awaken as Superpower Users, so he was worried that the answer he gave would disappoint them. Seeing his hesitant expression, Zhou Fanghua and Qiu Hongsheng felt a ¡°thump¡± in their hearts, having a bad premonition. Zhou Fanghua suddenly didn¡¯t dare to continue asking. She was afraid to hear Qiu Yiming¡¯s answer. Yet Qiu Hongsheng, being a man, had a much stronger disposition than Zhou Fanghua. Seeing Qiu Yiming¡¯s expression, he had already guessed that the answer wasn¡¯t going to be what he wanted to hear, but he still took a deep breath and said a bit sternly, ¡°Why beat around the bush? Just tell the truth!¡± So Qiu Yiming gave Fang Yuxin¡¯s answer from before, ¡°Xinxin said that she cut the skin around the wound that was infected and then used her superpower to heal the injury. The two Ordinary People were able to Awaken as Superpower Users because of the Zombie Virus, it had nothing to do with her.¡± Right after he finished speaking, Zhou Fanghua reacted passionately, ¡°Nonsense! Ninety percent of those infected with the Zombie Virus turn into zombies, only ten percent Awaken successfully. If it wasn¡¯t for her, those two Ordinary People would have long turned into zombies, how could they Awaken? I think she simply doesn¡¯t want to give us the answer, she just doesn¡¯t want to help us!¡± She grew more agitated as she spoke, her expression turning fierce and crazy, as if she wanted to vent all her dissatisfaction towards Fang Yuxin, her anxiety about the apocalypse, and her fears for the future! Qiu Yiming was so frightened that his complexion changed, and he quickly rushed to Zhou Fanghua¡¯s side, helping her catch her breath with his hands, while saying, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t overthink it. Xinxin isn¡¯t that kind of person. She doesn¡¯t even know that you and dad haven¡¯t Awakened. If she had a way, she would definitely help you!¡± Zhou Fanghua¡¯s expression gradually softened, and she cast a shadowy glance at Qiu Yiming, laughing coldly, ¡°Then you go and call her over. Say that your dad and I want to see her! I want to see if she dares to say the same thing in front of me!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 132 - 132 092 Mysterious Elemental Crystal (First Update) ?Chapter 132: 092 Mysterious Elemental Crystal! (First Update) Chapter 132: 092 Mysterious Elemental Crystal! (First Update) Fang Yuxin returned home to find Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Bai Qianqian anxiously waiting, fearing that something might have happened to her and Fang Yuyang. Seeing them return home safely, the three of them finally heaved a sigh of relief. After Qiu Yiming left, Qu Qianhe eagerly asked for details, ¡°Xinxin, Yuyang, did you meet Mr. Zheng? Did he say anything? Did he make things difficult for you?¡± Fang Yuxin did not want to worry them, so she concealed that Zheng Tianhe had used a Spiritual Attack on them and tried to forcibly keep them to ¡°sacrifice¡± themselves. She said, ¡°Dad, Mom, Mr. Zheng is not an easy person. Although this time he only asked us to leave a blood sample for testing, he definitely won¡¯t let things rest. Although my relationship with Qiu Yiming makes him hesitate, I think we cannot keep being passive, especially since that man is a lunatic. No one knows how long he can remain subdued, so I plan to reveal the situation with the Elemental Crystal.¡± Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were no fools. Although Fang Yuxin did not specify what happened, they could guess some of it. Both looked particularly gloomy, and Bai Qianqian, even more so, sat beside Fang Yuxin, hugged her waist tightly, and said in a muffled voice, ¡°Mama, Qianqian will grow up fast so I can help you fend off the bad guys.¡± Fang Yuxin patted his head to comfort him, then continued, ¡°Dad, Mom, let¡¯s use this opportunity to expose our superpower user identities as well, and publicly say it was an accident from absorbing an Elemental Crystal, which resulted in the Awakening of our superpowers.¡± Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe did not object, they were not fools and instantly understood what Fang Yuxin was planning. Mr. Zheng had been eyeing them closely, and possessing the Elemental Crystal would not only divert his attention but also affect his status in the Safe Zone. Moreover, once they ¡°became¡± superpower users, Mr. Zheng would have to think twice before trying to target them. In fact, it was time for their superpower user identities to be revealed. They had not yet been sensed by other superpower users because their powers had awakened not long ago, they were still not proficient with their superpower control, and they had purposefully concealed their energy fluctuations, which prevented other superpower users from detecting the power user energy fluctuations in them. However, such concealment was not perfect, and as other superpower users became more skilled in controlling their powers, their identities would not stay hidden for long. Better to take the opportunity now to reveal it than to be discovered later and attract unnecessary suspicion. Moreover, a reasonable explanation for the discovery of the Elemental Crystal was needed. They had just finished discussing this when five newly joined mercenaries came to visit. They had places to stay, having first gone to make arrangements after leaving the research group. The five were not property owners in the Safe Zone; they were staying in rented houses. Planning to live together, they had just rented a new house, moved in, and settled their belongings before making an immediate visit to the Fang Family. Seeing the villa where the Fang Family lived, the five mercenaries couldn¡¯t help but feel envious. However, they quickly adjusted their mood, stopped wandering their eyes, and entered the living room without being distracted. They first reported the news of moving in together, then, the strongest among them, Chen Qiao, asked, ¡°Captain Fang, Mr. Zheng will probably not let things rest. What are your plans?¡± Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin exchanged glances. Since the Elemental Crystal matter was to be disclosed, they had to get these five people in the loop first. Inevitably, this would attract inquiries from all sides, and they needed to align their stories to avoid discrepancies. Thus, Fang Yuxin bent down, pretended to open the drawer under the coffee table, but in reality, she took out an Elemental Stone from the space. The Elemental Stone she produced had been cut open, revealing the Spiritual Element Essence Crystal inside, which they had obtained from the hands of a Spiritual Zombie. The five mercenaries were surprised by the Elemental Stone she produced. Because of the energy-insulating properties of the Stone Shell, they could only sense very faint energy fluctuations. However, upon seeing the Spiritual Essence Crystal, all five couldn¡¯t help but involuntarily think it was incredibly beautiful! Fang Yuxin saw their reaction, smiled slightly, and said, ¡°This stone was found by my brother and me after we killed a Spiritual Zombie. Before that, we had accidentally obtained a grey crystal similar to this. At first, we didn¡¯t know what it was. However, when Qianqian accidentally absorbed it, we discovered he was Awakening, and moreover, he awakened a rare Spiritual Power!¡± Chapter 133 - 133 092 Mysterious Elemental Crystal (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 133: 092 Mysterious Elemental Crystal! (First Update)_2 Chapter 133: 092 Mysterious Elemental Crystal! (First Update)_2 She paused there, watching the reactions of the five mercenaries. At this moment, they all had their eyes wide open, staring incredulously at the Elemental Stone and Elemental Crystal in Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, their gazes fervent. Fang Yuxin naturally had lied, but she had to give these five people an explanation. Since she couldn¡¯t tell the truth, she could only resort to this method. She continued, ¡°Since then, we¡¯ve been hoping to encounter such Crystal Stones again, but unfortunately, we haven¡¯t seen them again. It wasn¡¯t until today, after my brother and I killed that Spiritual Zombie, that we accidentally discovered it. Only then did we realize that such mysterious Crystal Stones are wrapped inside these sorts of stones.¡± Liu Yu suddenly said, ¡°I¡¯ve seen this kind of stone before!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he became annoyed. He had once come across such a stone by chance but thought it was useless, so he ignored it. Now, hearing this news, he was filled with immense regret! If time could be reversed, he would definitely go back and pick it up! However, Chen Qiao asked, ¡°Vice Captain Fang, are you telling us this news because you have some plans in mind?¡± He had previously only focused on killing zombies and searching for supplies and had never paid attention to anything else. He couldn¡¯t remember if he had ever seen such stones, so naturally, he didn¡¯t feel the same regret as Liu Yu. Therefore, he quickly discerned the crux of the matter. Why was Fang Yuxin telling them such critical news? Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t beat around the bush and directly stated her purpose, ¡°You all know that Zheng Tianhe is now targeting us, and he will not let things rest. So I plan to reveal the news about these Crystal Stones. Doing so can not only help more Ordinary People awaken to become superpower users but also shift Zheng Tianhe¡¯s attention away from us. However, now that we know about the existence of these Crystal Stones, we can look for them while on missions. Qianqian told me that he seems to be able to absorb such Crystal Stones, so I think, maybe we can do it too.¡± Upon hearing this, the five people¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. If such Crystal Stones could only enable Ordinary People to awaken as superpower users, they wouldn¡¯t care too much, because they had already become superpower users, and no matter how good such Crystal Stones were, they would be useless to them. But if they could also absorb these Crystal Stones, the situation would be different! Bai Qianqian cooperated and said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve indeed discovered that I can absorb it, and my feelings tell me that after absorbing it, I¡¯ll be stronger than I am now. Mama, give it to me, please.¡± Upon hearing this, the mercenaries¡¯ eyes shone even brighter! Superpower users could actually enhance their strength by absorbing these Crystal Stones! What¡¯s the most important thing in the apocalypse? Of course, it¡¯s strength! Once their strength increased, who would dare to look down on them? All five were immediately grateful to Fang Yuxin. Even though she was doing this to divert Zheng Tianhe¡¯s attention, she had after all shared such important information with them, giving them hope to become stronger, and they couldn¡¯t help feeling thankful. They weren¡¯t fools; such news, even if Fang Yuxin disclosed it to the higher-ups, the higher-ups would definitely keep it secret for a while and not let everyone know. Therefore, if Fang Yuxin chose not to tell them, they would probably have to wait a long time before they could learn about it! By then, it would be too late! Such mysterious stones would undoubtedly have been found and taken by others, leaving nothing for them! After they had calmed down from their excitement, Fang Yuxin continued, ¡°Once this information is leaked, you might also be called in for questioning, so we need to get our stories straight first. I hope you remember that both my parents and Qianqian awakened their superpowers after absorbing these mysterious Crystal Stones, and we discovered these mysterious Crystal Stones today after killing that Spiritual Zombie, got it?¡± The five were not dumb; they quickly understood Fang Yuxin¡¯s intention and nodded their heads, solemnly promising, ¡°Vice Captain Fang, rest assured, we¡¯ve got it memorized. No matter who asks in the future, we will answer the same!¡± Fang Yuxin nodded and, after thinking for a moment, still told them, ¡°The Blood Oath you took before will protect your Sea of Consciousness. If someone tries to probe your Sea of Consciousness forcefully to read your memories, they will be subjected to the backlash of the Blood Oath. Zheng is a Spiritual Superpower User and has strong control over his Spiritual Power. I don¡¯t know if there is someone else like him in that research group, but once you encounter him, you must be extremely careful!¡± Upon hearing this, they all thought of Zheng¡¯s formidable presence and couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of fear. The pressure from Zheng Tianhe was too great; if it hadn¡¯t been for Fang Yuxin¡¯s help at that time, they probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to stand their ground! After aligning their stories, Fang Yuxin decided to take them to register their identities. However, just as they stepped out the door, she ran into Qiu Yiming. Qiu Yiming¡¯s complexion wasn¡¯t good, seemingly hiding some worries. Fang Yuxin instinctively knew that Qiu Yiming¡¯s concerns were related to her. So she asked, ¡°Yiming, what¡¯s wrong? Why do you look so bad?¡± Qiu Yiming glanced coldly at the five mercenaries behind her, his eyes somewhat chilling, making their hearts skip a beat. Thankfully, he quickly withdrew his gaze and said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, my parents want to meet you.¡± Upon hearing this, both Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang¡¯s expressions changed. In contrast, the five mercenaries were somewhat clueless about the situation. Fang Yuyang scoffed sarcastically, his tone dripping with mockery and dissatisfaction, ¡°Uncle Qiu and Aunt Qiu are very busy people. They didn¡¯t seem to remember us before, so why suddenly do they want to meet Xinxin now?¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s face turned extremely dark at this comment. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a monthly ticket and recommend it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 134 - 134 093 Dispute (Second Update) ?Chapter 134: 093 Dispute (Second Update) Chapter 134: 093 Dispute (Second Update) Fang Yuyang had always disliked the Qiu Family, probably because he cared too much about his sister, Fang Yuxin. He had observed Qiu Yiming and the Qiu Family with a critical eye for many years and had discovered their true nature hidden beneath a fac?ade of hypocrisy. He was different from Fang Jintang. Though not naive, Fang Jintang, having grown up together with an emphasis on the teachings from their elders, had always considered Qiu Hongsheng a good brother. Blinded by what he assumed was ¡®camaraderie,¡¯ he overlooked subtle details until just before the apocalypse, when Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s probing sent shivers down his spine and chilled his heart. Since then, the small details Fang Jintang had overlooked gradually became clear. Later, when the Qiu Family arrived at the Safe Zone and the two didn¡¯t meet, Fang Jintang felt even more disheartened. Even if we¡¯re busy, couldn¡¯t we make time to meet? Fang Jintang suddenly felt that his years of friendship with Qiu Hongsheng were a joke! Fang Yuyang saw it all. He had always had a negative view of the Qiu Family. Previously, out of respect for Fang Jintang, he had hesitated to speak directly, only hoping to subtly and gradually make Fang Jintang see the Qiu Family¡¯s true colors. He never expected Fang Jintang to realize it so soon. At first, he was greatly relieved, feeling as though a heavy weight had been lifted from his chest. Yet, seeing Fang Jintang heartbroken also made him feel terrible. As a result, his opinion of the Qiu Family worsened. And there was Qiu Yiming, constantly clinging to his sister. It was bad enough, but then he brought that woman, Fang Mengyao, around! He had once thought although Qiu Yiming wasn¡¯t the best person, he was genuinely devoted to his sister, so it seemed alright to let Fang Yuxin be with him. Now, however, Fang Yuyang just felt disgusted! Although they were all men, he couldn¡¯t understand how Qiu Yiming could be so despicable. He kept Fang Mengyao by his side, muddying the waters, and then turned around and clung to his sister. Was this the behavior of a human being? Could he still delude himself into thinking he could have his cake and eat it too? It was absolutely disgusting! So, every time he saw Qiu Yiming, he showed his displeasure, wishing the man would disappear completely. Yet, Qiu Yiming kept bringing up the worst subjects, even suggesting his sister meet the Qiu Family¡¯s two selfish old fools! Fang Yuyang simply couldn¡¯t respect those two! How could he not know what they were thinking? They had heard the rumors and felt his sister might be useful to them, so they remembered her! Otherwise, they had been here for three days and hadn¡¯t thought of Fang Yuxin or the Fang Family at all! It was simply because they saw no use for them and looked down upon them! What didn¡¯t he understand? The issue with Zheng Tianhe had left him simmering with rage. In that cramped reception room, he couldn¡¯t protect his sister well, and had even relied on Fang Yuxin for protection, which made him feel terrible. To deal with the trouble Zheng Tianhe caused, they even had to divulge information about the Elemental Crystal prematurely, likely handing the Qiu Family an advantage, which left him even more upset. Thus, upon hearing what Qiu Yiming said, he couldn¡¯t help but explode. Qiu Yiming was even angrier! It was clear to him that Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t like him, and the feeling was mutual. If it weren¡¯t for the good relations between their families and Fang Yuxin¡¯s presence, he would have loved to give Fang Yuyang a thorough beating. It was fine for Fang Yuyang to dislike him. He could handle that, but he couldn¡¯t disrespect his parents! Even if he was Fang Yuxin¡¯s brother, there was no room for discussion! Qiu Yiming felt a surge of destructive impulse within him, wishing he could obliterate everything! He glared at Fang Yuyang, his fists clenched, and swung directly at his face! His sudden strike shocked everyone. Fang Yuyang seemed prepared, blocking Qiu Yiming¡¯s punch with his left hand the instant it came at him, and then the two started to fight fiercely. They fought viciously, targeting blows directly at each other, making the five mercenaries watching feel apprehensive. They stealthily glanced at Fang Yuyang, who stood nearby with a stern expression. Chen Qiao then stepped forward and whispered, ¡°Vice Captain Fang, please think of a way to stop this. Captain Fang has offended Major Qiu, and if this turns into real conflict, it could lead to serious trouble.¡± Chapter 135 - 135 093 Dispute (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 135: 093 Dispute (Second Update)_2 Chapter 135: 093 Dispute (Second Update)_2 Fang Yuxin, of course, knew they couldn¡¯t keep fighting like this; Zheng Tianhe was already eyeing them. Once the news of their discord with the Qiu Family spread, Zheng Tianhe would definitely not let go of this opportunity! She asked the five people to step back and then strode towards the two who were locked in an intense fight. The eyes of the two men gradually turned red, their movements became more vicious, and even the energy fluctuations in their bodies became ferocious. If this continued, they would really come to blows. Fang Yuxin chose the right moment, rushed between the two, and unlike in TV dramas, she didn¡¯t use her body to block the attacks from both sides. Instead, while blocking Fang Yuyang¡¯s attack with her bare hands, she kicked Qiu Yiming in the abdomen, sending him stumbling back several steps. Qiu Yiming¡¯s mouth was slightly bleeding. He licked his injured lip, staring fiercely at Fang Yuyang. Yet, upon seeing Fang Yuxin, his hard face unexpectedly showed a hint of fragility and hurt. He looked at Fang Yuxin and laughed self-mockingly, ¡°It seems that in your heart, your brother is still more important.¡± Fang Yuxin thought to herself that of course he was. Fang Yuyang was not only her biological brother but also had taken care of her for so many years. If she sided with Qiu Yiming, she would indeed be the ungrateful wolf! Moreover, in that dream, Qiu Yiming¡¯s abandonment had long worn away her feelings. The one who had always been by her side to protect her, to depend on each other for life, was her brother, Fang Yuyang! Of course, her heart would lean towards Fang Yuyang! Yet, seeing Qiu Yiming¡¯s rare vulnerability, her heart suddenly felt a twinge of pity. That kick just now, she had used all of her strength; Qiu Yiming was probably injured. Seeing that Fang Yuxin was speechless, Qiu Yiming felt a wave of disappointment, he sneered and strode away. Fang Yuxin frowned and chased after him, she caught him just as he opened the car door, preparing to get in, and held him back, ¡°I¡¯m sorry about earlier, are your injuries serious?¡± Qiu Yiming turned to look at her, suddenly feeling that the person in front of him had become more and more a stranger unknowingly. He glanced at Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand that was grasping his wrist; her fingers were slender and fair, her skin tender and smooth¡ªits soft flesh pressed against his slightly rough skin was so pleasantly soft that it gave him the illusion of tenderness, quelling the raging anger that rolled within him strangely. Qiu Yiming couldn¡¯t help but curse himself for his lack of self-control, yet he was reluctant to let go of this softness. After a moment, he said, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t you think your brother is too prejudiced against me? My parents do want to see you; they really have been busy, with lots of stuff in the Safe Zone to handle, they had to set an example and neglected you. I¡¯m sorry for that, but could you please not blame them?¡± As he spoke, he inevitably felt a bit guilty. He knew too well what Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua thought. But after all, they were his parents; no matter what they did, it was for his own good. He couldn¡¯t badmouth his own parents in front of Fang Yuxin. Besides, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts have existed since ancient times, and it was by no means unique to them. Compared to some of the worst mothers-in-law in the world, his mother was already too good to Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin had already retracted her hand. She knew well what kind of people Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua were; she wasn¡¯t a fool. Although Zhou Fanghua often said she treated her like her own daughter, there was always a barrier between them. However, she had to admit that Zhou Fanghua wasn¡¯t a terrible mother-in-law; she had indeed been quite decent to her. Therefore, she did not intend to argue with Qiu Yiming over this. She nodded in acquiescence, considering it acceptance of Qiu Yiming¡¯s explanation. Then she said, ¡°My brother was too impulsive just now. Could you please not be angry with him?¡± Qiu Yiming was dissatisfied that Fang Yuxin had retracted her hand, yet didn¡¯t want to embarrass himself by reaching for hers again, which left him feeling irritable. Deep down, he was unwilling to forgive Fang Yuyang. He already disliked this ¡®brother-in-law¡¯, and had they continued to fight, if not for a last trace of reason, he would have wanted to kill Fang Yuyang! Even if he was Fang Yuxin¡¯s brother, by what right did he prevent their relationship? By what right did he disrespect his parents? Just thinking of Fang Yuyang made Qiu Yiming¡¯s anger rise again. He held back, suppressing the strong dislike and murderous intent towards Fang Yuyang inside him, not showing it in front of Fang Yuxin, and said coldly, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t you think your brother is a bit too interfering? He¡¯s just your brother, by what right does he meddle with our affairs?¡± Fang Yuxin was not pleased with Qiu Yiming speaking ill of Fang Yuyang; she had wanted to calm things down but now she also became angry, ¡°Qiu Yiming! I hope you remember, the person you¡¯re talking about is my biological brother! He indeed did wrong just now, and I apologize to you for him, but the words you just said, I don¡¯t want to hear them! ¡®The eldest brother is like a father¡¯; why can¡¯t he interfere in my life decisions?¡± Qiu Yiming irritatedly ran his hand through his hair, glaring at Fang Yuxin, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything harsh. Fang Yuxin, seeing the bruises around his mouth and cheeks, thought for a moment and then said, ¡°Let me heal your injuries first.¡± Having said that, seeing that Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t object, she pressed her fingers to the cut on his mouth, and Wood Element Spiritual Energy entered the wound, the cool sensation soothing the fiery pain of the injury. Quickly, the cut on Qiu Yiming¡¯s mouth was gone, leaving no trace behind. Qiu Yiming closed his eyes in comfort, looking at Fang Yuyang not far behind Fang Yuxin, his eyes gleaming with triumph, mixed with a hint of provocation and undisguised hostility. (To be continued. If you like this work, we invite you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote and give your monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 136 - 136 094 Will You Marry Me (Third Update) ?Chapter 136: 094 Will You Marry Me? (Third Update) Chapter 136: 094 Will You Marry Me? (Third Update) Yu Yang was very dissatisfied with Qiu Yiming¡¯s attitude. He strode over to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, looked at Qiu Yiming, and with a great effort to rein in his anger said, ¡°The words I just said were not wrong. Can you honestly claim that your parents want to see Xinxin for reasons other than those Safe Zone rumors? What¡¯s more, you were the one who struck first. If you¡¯re a real man, don¡¯t make Xinxin suffer over this!¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously, but in his heart, he knew that Yu Yang was right about one thing: he was the first to throw a punch. He quickly glanced at Fang Yuxin and saw her expression was as still as water, completely inscrutable, which suddenly made him panic. Qiu Yiming suddenly realized that he couldn¡¯t continue to argue on this matter. Fang Yuxin¡¯s guilt was because of her final kick, not because of Yu Yang. Given her consideration for her brother Yu Yang, if he persisted, it would only backfire. Fang Yuxin would not only ignore his plea, but she would also get angry because of it! So he changed his mind, no longer speaking ill of Yu Yang, but instead magnanimously said, ¡°You¡¯re right, I was the one who struck first. And there¡¯s no need for you to be tense, just now was merely a sparring match without serious harm. I, Qiu Yiming, might be despicable, but I wouldn¡¯t use this matter to coerce the woman I like. My parents are still waiting to see Xinxin,¡± he said, seeing Yu Yang¡¯s face darken, then added, ¡°No matter how you look at it, Xinxin is still their daughter-in-law to be. They want to see her, and you wouldn¡¯t block that, would you?¡± Fang Yuxin saw the tension escalate into a confrontation between them in an instant and, worried that their disagreement might turn into a fight, quickly said, ¡°Brother, I¡¯ll go see uncle and aunt with Yiming. I¡¯ll be back soon, you take them five to register their identities.¡± Since Qiu Yiming had personally come to invite her, refusing to go any further would seem unreasonable. Regarding Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua, she was not worried; she feared neither Zheng Tianhe nor these two. Besides, she was still Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, which would prevent Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua from treating her too harshly. By going now, she could figure out their true intentions. Yu Yang, though very discontent, also knew it was not good to obstruct this matter. After giving Qiu Yiming a cold glance, he left with a dark face, leading the five mercenaries away. Qiu Yiming smiled, beaming with the pride of victory, then beckoned Fang Yuxin into the car. Knowing the visit was inevitable, she didn¡¯t hesitate and cleanly got in. Once she was seated, Qiu Yiming quickly ran to the other side, opened the car door, and sat down. Just as he was about to fasten the seatbelt, Fang Yuxin reached out to stop him, ¡°Let me treat your injuries first.¡± Yu Yang had not held back earlier; each punch had landed solidly, and Qiu Yiming was certainly injured. They were about to meet Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua, and if they knew that Qiu Yiming was injured, they might harbor even more dissatisfaction towards the Fang Family. Fang Yuxin was not overly afraid of them, it¡¯s just that they were not in a position to make enemies everywhere, and of course, it was better to be cautious. Qiu Yiming saw her concerns in a glance but didn¡¯t refuse her help. Instead, he cooperated by taking off his shirt to let Fang Yuxin treat his injuries. The cool sensation from the Wood Element Spiritual Energy was incredibly soothing, and the touch of Fang Yuxin¡¯s fingertips sparked a heat in his body. An indescribable and secret longing also grew in the depths of his heart. Unfortunately, Fang Yuxin¡¯s hands quickly retreated, and his upbringing did not allow him to take any further liberties at this time. Now was not the right moment. Qiu Yiming sighed inwardly. As Fang Yuxin placed her fingers on his abdomen to heal the bruises on his skin, he couldn¡¯t resist any longer. He swiftly grasped Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, his voice low and husky as he panted, ¡°Xinxin, let¡¯s get married.¡± Fang Yuxin was startled by his sudden move, going completely stiff. ¡°What... What did you say?¡± The words that Qiu Yiming had blurted out in a moment of impulse. Yet after saying them, he felt no regret, but instead, a profound sense of Happiness filled his heart. So he said with even more conviction, ¡°Xinxin, let¡¯s get married! It¡¯s a critical time right now, and I might not be able to give you a grand wedding, but I swear, I will treat you well!¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s face was a blur of confusion, as if she had returned to that strange dream. Yet the Qiu Yiming in the dream was different from the one before her. He too was speaking, but every word he said was like a knife stabbing into her heart! Chapter 137 - 137 094 Will You Marry Me (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 137: 094 Will You Marry Me? (Third Update)_2 Chapter 137: 094 Will You Marry Me? (Third Update)_2 ¡°Xinxin, I¡¯ve realized we¡¯re not suitable.¡± ¡°Xinxin, I¡¯d always mistakenly thought that I liked you and would only ever like you in this lifetime. But after meeting Mengyao, I finally understood what love really is.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve never loved you; the person I love is Fang Mengyao.¡± ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t blame me.¡± Even though it was a distant memory, even though it was just an absurd and desperate dream, those words echoed over and over in her ears at that moment. Especially now, Qiu Yiming was still whispering in her ear, ¡°Xinxin, I love you. Will you marry me?¡± She suddenly felt extremely ironic! If it weren¡¯t for that dream, if she hadn¡¯t guarded against Fang Mengyao, if she hadn¡¯t obtained the power from Qingmu Spirit Mansion and couldn¡¯t awaken her superpower, would Qiu Yiming still propose to her? No! If that were the case, everything in the dream would become reality! Even though Fang Yuxin understood deep down that none of this could be blamed on Qiu Yiming, having experienced such a bizarre and unforgettable dream, when she heard Qiu Yiming¡¯s heartfelt confession, she could only sneer inwardly without feeling the slightest bit moved! So, she gripped Qiu Yiming¡¯s hand tightly, with a lot of force, and said, ¡°Yiming, now¡¯s not the time to talk about marriage and being lovesick. Also, until Bai Qianqian¡¯s issues are resolved, I can¡¯t calmly leave him behind to marry you.¡± ¡°Again him!¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s voice became sharp with anger as he stared discontentedly at Fang Yuxin, thinking about her just now looking absent-minded, her gaze so sad it almost stung his eyes, making him feel miserable along with her. Unable to vent his anger at Fang Yuxin, he could only ask, ¡°What do you plan to do about his issue? You can¡¯t just keep supporting him forever, can you? Doesn¡¯t he have a father? Why is he always hanging around you?¡± Fang Yuxin had already noticed Qiu Yiming¡¯s strong animosity towards Bai Ye, and naturally did not dare tell him that she had already met with Bai Ye. She furrowed her brows, pretending to be in a difficult position, ¡°I¡¯m not very clear about it, but don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll resolve his issue as soon as possible. Now, drop that topic and please start driving, let¡¯s not keep uncle and aunt waiting too long.¡± Qiu Yiming had never cared about how Fang Yuxin addressed the issue before, since the two of them had been engaged but the wedding kept being delayed, and they both referred to each other¡¯s parents as uncle and aunt without changing terms. Yet now, upon hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s references, he suddenly felt it unpleasant. She had just rejected his proposal, and now hearing her call Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua uncle and aunt, he felt like Fang Yuxin was deliberately distancing herself from him. He couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Why still call them uncle and aunt? You¡¯re my fiance?e; you should call them dad and mom.¡± Fang Yuxin gave him a puzzled look, ¡°Haven¡¯t we always called them that?¡± For her, the terms ¡®dad¡¯ and ¡®mom¡¯ for Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua were really hard to utter. She felt somewhat uneasy as she spoke, wondering what she would do if Qiu Yiming refused to compromise. Fortunately, Qiu Yiming did not insist further. He drove silently, his mind already churning with plans to discuss the wedding with Zhou Fanghua and Fang Yuxin once they were home. He had been feeling uneasy recently, always feeling like Fang Yuxin was about to leave him. Only by getting married soon could he feel at ease. Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua¡¯s residence was not too far from the Fang family, located in the same villa area. They arrived soon, and when Qiu Yiming and Fang Yuxin got out of the car, their expressions were perfectly adjusted, not revealing any discord. Upon entering the living room, Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua were already waiting. Upon seeing them, Zhou Fanghua couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why did you take so long?¡± At first glance, this seemed a normal question, with nothing amiss, but Fang Yuxin knew Zhou Fanghua was actually blaming her for taking too long. Zhou Fanghua came from a distinguished background and was very particular in her speech and actions. She liked to hint and insinuate even when she was scolding someone, never speaking outright. It just happened that she was good at maintaining herself, appearing gentle and beautiful with always a slight smile on her face, which made her seem mild-mannered and not overbearing. Once, some not-so-smart people, who were scolded by her in a roundabout way, didn¡¯t catch on and thought she was complimenting them, causing a hilarious misunderstanding. Fortunately, Qu Qianhe was no easy mark, and having been influenced by her since childhood, Fang Yuxin had developed a knack for these interactions. She always understood the underlying sharpness in Zhou Fanghua¡¯s words and saw through the viciousness beneath her gentle fac?ade. Yet Qiu Yiming thought nothing of it, unaware that Zhou Fanghua was expressing her displeasure. In fact, on the way here, he had been worried that Zhou Fanghua might act too impulsively and frighten Fang Yuxin. Seeing her mild attitude, he immediately relaxed and didn¡¯t ponder it further. Nevertheless, he still explained, ¡°We ran into some issues on the road, which delayed us. Dad, mom, this time I¡¯ve brought Xinxin back. Haven¡¯t you been missing her?¡± Zhou Fanghua smiled faintly, giving Fang Yuxin a deep look, and warmly greeted her, ¡°Xinxin, you finally came. Come here to auntie, let auntie have a good look at you. These many days without seeing you really worried aunt to death!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your vote or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 138 - 138 095 Warning (First Update) ?Chapter 138: 095 Warning (First Update) Chapter 138: 095 Warning (First Update) In the shabby laboratory, various precision instruments were in operation. Researchers in white coats were busy with their current tasks. Zheng Tianhe stood beside one of the machines with a grim face, his eyes fixated on the data displayed on the instrument¡¯s screen. Beside him stood a young man, his student and assistant, in his early thirties, with a simple and honest face that contrasted sharply with the cold and sharp light in his eyes. The data on the instrument¡¯s screen kept changing, and after a while, it slowly came to a halt. The young man looked at the final data and sighed in disappointment, ¡°Team leader, the blood data from these individuals doesn¡¯t seem to differ from that of other superpower users. It looks like we were wrong, there¡¯s nothing unusual about them.¡± Zheng Tianhe let out a cold laugh, his gaunt fingers pointing at a set of data, ¡°No! The very fact that there is no difference is the problem! Others might not have any issues, but this Fang Yuyang, she¡¯s definitely different from other Wood Element Superpower Users!¡± The young man looked at him with puzzlement, then his eyes lit up, asked excitedly, ¡°Team leader, have you discovered something?¡± The deep wrinkles on Zheng Tianhe¡¯s face twisted as he smiled, the pale light casting a somewhat sinister shadow, ¡°My Spiritual Attack is useless against her, and moreover, she can break my Spiritual Attack with just her voice! This woman is no simple matter! Her spiritual power is certainly not inferior to mine!¡± The young man exclaimed in shock, ¡°What? Are you saying she not only awakened the Wood Element Superpower but also spiritual power? That¡¯s too... too...¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but his gaze revealed a strong sense of discontent and jealousy! Why could those ordinary people awaken superpowers, yet he, as outstanding as he is, remained an Ordinary Person? He couldn¡¯t accept it! Zheng Tianhe noticed his frustration, extended his hand in a calming manner, and patted his shoulder, whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have a feeling that there¡¯s something peculiar about this Ms. Fang. If we can capture her for study, we will surely uncover the key to superpower Awakening! Then, you will be able to awaken your superpower.¡± The young man¡¯s eyes flashed with interest upon hearing this. A greedy look swept across his face, and he asked eagerly, ¡°So, team leader, why wait? The secret to superpower Awakening could determine the survival of all humans. Even if she¡¯s unwilling to sacrifice herself, surely others won¡¯t ignore it.¡± Zheng Tianhe narrowed his eyes slightly, and after a moment, he said to the young man, ¡°Try again to see if you can analyze something more from their blood. I¡¯m going to see someone.¡± The young man immediately understood that Zheng Tianhe intended to meet a high-ranking decision-maker. He smiled in agreement. Watching Zheng Tianhe¡¯s retreating figure, he then diverted his gaze back to the sealed blood samples with greed. ... Fang Yuxin walked over with a smile but did not sit beside Zhou Fanghua as she was told; instead, she sat down on the neighboring sofa. Zhou Fanghua hadn¡¯t Awakened and her eyesight wasn¡¯t too good; she was slightly shortsighted. For the sake of appearance, she didn¡¯t wear glasses. Zhou Fanghua hadn¡¯t seen Fang Yuxin clearly from afar, but now that she was closer, she noticed that Fang Yuxin¡¯s skin was even more fair and delicate than before, and she seemed prettier and more vibrant. This stirred subtle feelings within Zhou, including a bit of envy and discontent. Women are always more concerned about their appearance, especially those who are older. Zhou Fanghua was no longer young; she was even older than Qu Qianhe. Her husband held a high position and was inevitably surrounded by more temptations, which made her even more concerned about her looks! Even though she knew that Qiu Hongsheng wouldn¡¯t divorce her even if he had other women, there was always a feeling of discomfort in her heart. She loved her husband deeply, as well as their family, but the thought of countless young and beautiful women throwing themselves at Qiu Hongsheng filled her with insane jealousy! What made her even more jealous was that Fang Jintang was clearly a very desirable man. Although he was no longer young, he was meticulous about his maintenance, looking only in his thirties¡ªhis prime. Handsome, mature, steady, wealthy¡ªhe was the dream man for many women! Yet, Fang Jintang had always been faithful and devoted to Qu Qianhe, which made Zhou envious. Why should Qu Qianhe have a better life than hers? If it weren¡¯t for the value of the Fang family¡¯s wealth, she would never have allowed Qiu Yiming to marry Qu Qianhe¡¯s daughter! Chapter 139 - 139 095 Warning (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 139: 095 Warning (First Update)_2 Chapter 139: 095 Warning (First Update)_2 However, none of that mattered now. What was most important was that she needed Fang Yuxin to help her awaken her superpower! Thinking of this, Zhou Fanghua suppressed the burning jealousy in her heart and asked gently, ¡°Xinxin, are you okay? Your uncle and I heard that you volunteered to kill the Zombie Leader. You weren¡¯t hurt, were you?¡± Fang Yuxin smiled ironically. If Zhou Fanghua and Qiu Hongsheng were truly concerned about her parents, they could have easily visited them themselves. This perfunctory show of concern was utterly hypocritical! Nevertheless, she didn¡¯t let her thoughts show and cooperatively replied as if she didn¡¯t notice anything amiss, ¡°Uncle and auntie don¡¯t need to worry. My parents are both fine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good,¡± Zhou Fanghua said with a smile that didn¡¯t show any discomfort. But looking at Fang Yuxin¡¯s smiling face, she felt very displeased. She didn¡¯t want to keep up the pretense any longer and directly stated her purpose, ¡°Xinxin, I heard you helped two Ordinary People awaken their superpowers. Is that true?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Qiu Hongsheng and Qiu Yiming both frowned slightly, disapprovingly looking at Zhou Fanghua. They had not expected her to be so impatient and to blurt it out so soon. But now that she had opened her mouth, if they said anything more, it would seem too deliberate. Zhou Fanghua ignored Qiu Hongsheng and Qiu Yiming and stared straight at Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression had changed, the smile vanished from her face, and her expression darkened. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect my aunt to believe those ridiculous rumors. Those two Ordinary People did indeed awaken their superpowers, but it wasn¡¯t because of me. It happened because they were infected with the Zombie Virus. If someone is lucky enough to survive the infection, they won¡¯t turn into zombies but will awaken as a superpower user instead.¡± Zhou Fanghua¡¯s smile faltered at that moment. She felt like Fang Yuxin¡¯s words were a clear message to her not to be delusional about awakening. If she wanted to become a superpower user, she should get infected with the Zombie Virus herself! Zhou Fanghua was infuriated. She looked coldly at Fang Yuxin and, dropping her facade for the first time in front of her, said in an unfriendly tone, ¡°Xinxin, we¡¯re all family here. There¡¯s no need to spout the nonsense you used on Zheng Tianhe in front of your aunt. You are Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, our Qiu Family¡¯s future daughter-in-law. If you have such an ability, shouldn¡¯t you do something about it?¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s face turned even more unsightly. Narrowing her eyes, she stared coldly back at Zhou Fanghua, her voice growing stern, ¡°You¡¯re wrong, aunt. If I truly had such an ability, how could my parents still be Ordinary People? You shouldn¡¯t be looking to me if you want to awaken as a superpower user, and I don¡¯t possess such an ability!¡± ¡°You¡¯re insolent!¡± ¡°Xinxin!¡± Zhou Fanghua¡¯s rebuke and Qiu Yiming¡¯s exclamation rang out almost simultaneously. Qiu Yiming stood up, strode to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, and angrily looked at her. ¡°Xinxin, how can you talk to my mom like that? What you just said was too much!¡± After speaking, he covertly tugged at Fang Yuxin¡¯s clothing, lowering his voice, ¡°Xinxin, my mom is just upset. She¡¯s been under a lot of stress lately and didn¡¯t mean to trouble you. Don¡¯t be angry with her, apologize quickly.¡± Fang Yuxin remained unmoved and stood up, saying, ¡°I¡¯m a bit worried about my parents. I should take my leave.¡± ¡°Xinxin!¡± Qiu Yiming grabbed her wrist in a flash. He looked at her, his voice lowered, almost pleadingly, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t be like this.¡± However, they were already too close to Zhou Fanghua. All the things Qiu Yiming said in a hushed tone were heard by her. She roared with uncontainable anger, ¡°Yiming! Let her go!¡± Then, she looked at Fang Yuxin with a cold and venomous gaze, ¡°Fang Yuxin, you¡¯d better think about the consequences once you leave this place!¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Fang Yuxin looked incredulously at Zhou Fanghua. She couldn¡¯t believe that Zhou Fanghua would lose her composure to this extent! Zhou Fanghua had always carried herself with dignity, and would never openly do such distasteful things. Even if she were to do such things, they would be done covertly, not openly stated. But now, Zhou Fanghua had lost her composure! Fang Yuxin was stunned; she didn¡¯t expect Zhou Fanghua to be so fixated on awakening! At the time, the power of superpower users was not considered strong. Everyone had just awakened, still figuring out how to use their Skills and control their abilities. The advantage of superpower users was not very apparent, until they advanced in rank, and their strength grew to a point where firearms were ineffective against High-level zombies and the status of superpower users truly rose to a height that made Ordinary People look up to them! Was it right to say Zhou Fanghua was too visionary, or did she simply not understand this woman¡¯s mind? Qiu Hongsheng and Qiu Yiming were equally surprised by Zhou Fanghua¡¯s words. Qiu Hongsheng was an Old Fox, though he had an upstanding appearance and always seemed virtuous. His thoughts were deeper than Zhou Fanghua¡¯s, always preferring to stab people in the back rather than making open threats like Zhou Fanghua! Both he and Qiu Yiming regretted not stopping the meeting between her and Fang Yuxin earlier. What was supposed to be a pleasant encounter was completely ruined by her rash actions! However, things had come to this point, and they couldn¡¯t let Zhou Fanghua continue. Qiu Hongsheng glanced at Zhou Fanghua, stopped her from speaking any further, then put on a kindly face to persuade Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, your aunt has been under a lot of stress recently and misspoke. Don¡¯t take it to heart. As for this matter, we all know you have your difficulties, and while you¡¯re reluctant to share, we understand. But have you considered that the news has spread throughout the Safe Zone, and it¡¯s likely that many will take action? Without the protection of the Qiu Family, you¡¯ll be in grave danger.¡± Fang Yuxin looked at him, her gaze colder still! While his words seemed to express concern for her, they were actually a warning! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 140 - 140 096 Her Choice (Second Update) ?Chapter 140: 096 Her Choice (Second Update) Chapter 140: 096 Her Choice (Second Update) Thinking of the Qiu Family¡¯s position in the military, Fang Yuxin knew she couldn¡¯t go head-to-head with them now; it wouldn¡¯t benefit her in the slightest. So she softened her expression as if she had taken Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s words to heart, and said gently, ¡°Uncle Qiu, Aunt Zhou, I truly don¡¯t see what their Awakening superpowers has to do with me. I understand that you¡¯re anxious, but I really can¡¯t help. Aunt Zhou¡¯s words just now have put me in a very difficult position.¡± Qiu Yiming, seeing her making a concession, breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak when Zhou Fanghua scoffed, ¡°You don¡¯t know? How could you not know what you¡¯ve done? Fang Yuxin, just say it, what do you want from us to lend a hand?¡± ¡°Fanghua!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Qiu Hongsheng and Qiu Yiming simultaneously couldn¡¯t help but cry out, looking disapprovingly at Zhou Fanghua. In their view, Fang Yuxin had clearly compromised, and with just a little more pressure, she would reveal the truth. But Zhou Fanghua¡¯s interjection had only made matters worse! Qiu Hongsheng was silently fuming. During the many years of their marriage, Zhou Fanghua had always known when to advance or retreat; to think that now, as she grew older, she¡¯d become so irrational! Their current priority should have been to secure Fang Yuxin¡¯s cooperation; she was just a young girl and Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, after all. A few kind words, explaining the pros and cons, should have been enough to make her listen obediently! He was irritated, but he couldn¡¯t vent his anger in front of Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming, the younger generation. After all, Zhou Fanghua was his wife, and he had to uphold her dignity; he would never embarrass her in front of their juniors. He could only say to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, your aunt isn¡¯t feeling well today, and didn¡¯t mean to lash out at you; don¡¯t hold it against her. Since you¡¯re worried about your family, let Yiming escort you back. Both of you have been busy and haven¡¯t had much time to spend together¡ªnow that a disaster has struck and both of you have successfully Awakened superpowers, it¡¯s the right time for mutual support. Actually, if it weren¡¯t for this disaster, we should be planning your wedding by now.¡± Zhou Fanghua was still interested in asking about the Awakening of superpowers, but as soon as she heard Qiu Hongsheng mention ¡®wedding,¡¯ her heart leapt, and she immediately said, ¡°We can discuss the wedding later. In these extraordinary times, if we were busy with wedding preparations, what would it look like to others? This is a good opportunity for Yiming and Xinxin to grow closer, so that when they are married, there won¡¯t be any conflicts. You know, things too easily acquired are often unappreciated. Our two families aren¡¯t ordinary, and the wedding can¡¯t be rushed; we can¡¯t become the butt of jokes.¡± Listening to her pointed words, Qiu Hongsheng hesitated for a moment and finally decided not to bring up the subject of marriage again. If the rumors outside were true, he wouldn¡¯t pass up the opportunity to have Fang Yuxin as a daughter-in-law; but the notion was so outlandish, and since Fang Yuxin had personally denied it, he was somewhat uncertain. He didn¡¯t fully trust what Fang Yuxin said, but one thing she said wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªif she really had such a capability, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe would have Awakened as superpower users by now; how could they still be Ordinary People? Moreover, because of his high-ranking position, he knew of some research findings early on. For instance, after the Zombie Virus infects a human, it transforms the body in one of two ways: either Awakening as a superpower user or turning into a zombie. Based on current research, the only known method to Awaken as a superpower user was infection by the Zombie Virus, taking a one in ten chance. Other than that, there was no known alternative! This was precisely why, with such low chances of Awakening and a high death rate, despite many high-ranking officials desiring to become superpower users, none dared to risk attempting it. He felt that those two¡¯s successful Awakening as superpower users was likely due to being infected by the Zombie Virus; but within all this, Fang Yuxin¡¯s machinations could not be ruled out. As to how exactly she managed that, he couldn¡¯t guess at present, but he believed that sooner or later, he would find out! Since he was still uncertain of Fang Yuxin¡¯s abilities, there was no need to rush her marriage to Qiu Yiming. He was somewhat aware of what Zhou Fanghua might be thinking, but after all, Zhou Fanghua was his wife. As long as she didn¡¯t go too far, he wouldn¡¯t interfere. Chapter 141 - 141 096 Her Choice (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 141: 096 Her Choice (Second Update)_2 Chapter 141: 096 Her Choice (Second Update)_2 Fang Yuxin indeed was a good girl, but she wasn¡¯t the only good girl in the world! He didn¡¯t need to cause a rift with Zhou Fanghua over Fang Yuxin unless, Fang Yuxin could show greater value! Qiu Yiming felt somewhat irritated and annoyed, silently cursing himself for being too slow. Just when Qiu Hongsheng had mentioned the marriage earlier, he had been overjoyed and was about to suggest they expedite the wedding plans. However, before he could speak, Zhou Fanghua had cut in, suggesting in no uncertain terms they delay the wedding and even deliberately provoking Fang Yuxin, almost as if looking down on her. Qiu Yiming really liked Fang Yuxin, and he thought Zhou Fanghua¡¯s remarks were a bit too much, but as her son, could he really contradict Zhou Fanghua directly in front of Fang Yuxin? He couldn¡¯t do such a thing! Worried that Fang Yuxin¡¯s continued presence might worsen their relationship, he hurriedly suggested taking Fang Yuxin home. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t have wished for more; she had wanted to leave the place long ago! Once in the car, Qiu Yiming couldn¡¯t wait to say, ¡°Xinxin, my mom was in a bad mood today, don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Fang Yuxin felt only annoyance; she suddenly felt fortunate that she had already lost her feelings for Qiu Yiming. Otherwise, enduring Zhou Fanghua¡¯s public humiliation would have been unbearable! ¡°I don¡¯t blame her, can we please not talk about it? I need some quiet.¡± She spoke indifferently and then turned to look out the window, clearly uninterested in engaging with Qiu Yiming. Qiu Yiming felt even more irritated. He had just proposed to Fang Yuxin and had been rejected, only to come home to Zhou Fanghua¡¯s troubling attitude! He couldn¡¯t understand it; after all, Zhou Fanghua had always liked Fang Yuxin, so why had her attitude changed so abruptly? Seeing that Fang Yuxin clearly had no intention of speaking, he too remained silent and drove straight to the Fang Family home. As they stopped, and Fang Yuxin was about to open the door, he unbuckled his seat belt, grabbed her wrist, and almost pleaded, ¡°Xinxin, about today¡¯s event, please don¡¯t tell your uncle, aunt, and your brother, okay?¡± Fang Yuxin remained silent, and he continued, ¡°You know, your brother has some reservations about my parents, and I¡¯m concerned it might affect both families¡¯ relations if they learn about this. My mom may have spoken some improper words today, but she didn¡¯t mean to, you understand, right? Please don¡¯t tell, okay?¡± Seeing his earnestness, Fang Yuxin knew that if she didn¡¯t agree, he probably wouldn¡¯t let go. She looked at Qiu Yiming and suddenly smiled, ¡°Qiu Yiming, what do you take me for? In your eyes, am I someone who irresponsibly stirs up trouble?¡± Qiu Yiming met her mocking gaze, and a sudden unease surged through him. Embarrassed, he released Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist and coughed awkwardly, ¡°Of course, I trust you.¡± After saying that, he quickly changed the subject, ¡°Zheng Tianhe is not easy to deal with; he has close relationships with many high-ranking officials, so you better be careful. But don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t stand by idly; I will protect you.¡± Fang Yuxin sighed, ¡°I know Zheng Tianhe is tough to deal with, and from what you¡¯ve said, he has considerable support among the higher-ups. You better not get involved, I don¡¯t want to drag the Qiu Family into this.¡± Qiu Yiming hadn¡¯t expected her to respond that way, felt a warmth in his heart, and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°No! You will never be a burden to me, just be careful, I¡¯ll figure something out.¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t say any more. Originally, she indeed had intended to use the Qiu Family¡¯s influence against Zheng Tianhe, but after witnessing Zhou Fanghua¡¯s attitude, she changed her mind. Since she had decided not to continue her relationship with Qiu Yiming, there was no need to keep things tangled. Qiu Yiming had other things on his mind, and since he didn¡¯t want to see Fang Yuyang right then, he didn¡¯t even get out of the car but drove off directly after Fang Yuxin disembarked. Fang Yuxin watched the car fade into the distance, her lips curving into a slight, beautiful arc, yet the smile was somewhat cold. Originally, she hadn¡¯t planned to break ties with the Qiu Family completely. She had intended to reveal the truth about the Elemental Crystal to Qiu Yiming, as a favor to the Qiu Family. However, given Zhou Fanghua¡¯s attitude, she couldn¡¯t proceed with that plan. Once the Qiu Family learned the news about the Elemental Crystal, their influence in the Safe Zone would significantly increase, which would make it even harder for her to break away from the Qiu Family later. Now that the Qiu Family had shown no mercy, she couldn¡¯t be blamed for being ruthless! With this thought, she withdrew her gaze and turned, striding towards her home. From the rearview mirror, Qiu Yiming watched Fang Yuxin growing further away, his unease growing. Why did he feel like he was losing something very important? What was it? What could it possibly be? He suddenly slammed the brakes, the tires screeching against the pavement, and Fang Yuxin was long gone from the rearview mirror. Enraged, he punched the steering wheel, his expression growing uglier. Just then, the two-way radio in the car sprang to life, ¡°Captain, I¡¯ve got some leads on what you asked me to investigate.¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s expression tightened, no longer dwelling on why he felt restless and anxious, and he quickly drove away. ... In a somewhat sparsely furnished office, Zheng Tianhe looked expectantly at the middle-aged man sitting across from him. The man had a square face, exuding authority with his sharp military uniform. He looked at Zheng Tianhe, a hint of dark cunning flickering in his eyes, ¡°You mean to say, you want to research this Fang Yuxin?¡± Zheng nodded, ¡°Exactly, General, I have every reason to suspect that the rumor circulating in the Safe Zone is true, that Fang Yuxin may hold the secret to superpower Awakening, or at the very least, her superpower is quite special and could certainly help with Awakening. If we could fully understand it, we might be able to unravel the secret of superpower Awakening.¡± ¡°Perhaps?¡± The middle-aged man watched him, his eyes unfathomable, ¡°I need to know, how confident are you?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 142 - 142 097 Zhou Yans Request (Third Update) ?Chapter 142: 097 Zhou Yan¡¯s Request (Third Update) Chapter 142: 097 Zhou Yan¡¯s Request (Third Update) Fang Yuxin returned home, Fang Yuyang had already come back, and all the family members were sitting in the living room waiting for her, except for those five mercenaries. Upon seeing her, Bai Qianqian jumped up from the sofa and exclaimed excitedly, ¡°Mama, you finally came back!¡± Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t in a good mood, but his tense look amused her. She couldn¡¯t help but smile and let Qianqian pull her to sit down. The others observed her demeanor and guessed that she was in a bad mood; their expressions immediately changed. Fang Yuyang asked impatiently, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s wrong? Did the Qiu Family mistreat you?¡± At his words, Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression darkened. That was an acknowledgment. Without her needing to say anything, everyone else guessed that something was amiss. Qu Qianhe anxiously asked, ¡°Xinxin, come on, tell us what happened? What exactly did they say?¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to upset her family further, so she simply said, ¡°Uncle Qiu and Aunt Zhou are Ordinary People, and they desperately want to awaken their superpower. After hearing that rumor, they wanted my help. I refused, and Aunt Zhou got quite agitated. I think we need to adjust our plan.¡± Although she didn¡¯t elaborate, who else in her family was a fool? Bai Qianqian hadn¡¯t met Zhou Fanghua and didn¡¯t understand her, so he might not fully grasp it, but Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Fang Yuyang were different! Their faces instantly turned extremely ugly, and Qu Qianhe sneered, ¡°Zhou Fanghua really knows how to act! Does she think our Fang Family has declined and that she can manipulate us at will? Dream on!¡± Fang Yuyang immediately agreed, ¡°Luckily Xinxin didn¡¯t marry into their family, or else who knows how badly she would have been mistreated!¡± Fang Jintang, thinking of the decades of friendship between the Fang and Qiu families, felt even worse, ¡°The Qiu Family is going too far!¡± After saying this, he asked, ¡°Xinxin, you mustn¡¯t tell them about the Elemental Crystal!¡± Qu Qianhe took over the conversation, ¡°Exactly! The Safe Zone isn¡¯t a place where the Qiu Family can cover the sky with one hand! Since they are heartless, we can¡¯t be blamed for being unrighteous. It¡¯s time to choose a new ally!¡± Fang Yuyang had already considered this matter; he was not willing to benefit the Qiu Family and give them such a big advantage by arranging his marriage with Qiu Yiming. After their fight, he began to think about it. Hearing this, he immediately voiced his thoughts, ¡°Xinxin, what do you think about Zhou Yan? I¡¯ve inquired, and he is highly regarded in the military, his superiors also hold significant power, and it seems they aren¡¯t aligned with the Qiu Family. Why don¡¯t we cooperate with him?¡± Fang Yuxin knew he must have planned this already, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have found out such information. Thinking about Zhou Yan¡¯s character, she nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s invite him out first and see how it goes after probing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s no problem, I know where he is!¡± Fang Yuyang said, and seeing Fang Yuxin¡¯s puzzled look, he explained, ¡°It¡¯s like this; when I took Chen Qiao and the others to register their identities, I happened to meet one of his soldiers. That man said Zhou Yan wanted to meet you, it seems someone is injured, hoping you could help with the treatment. You weren¡¯t there at that time, so I didn¡¯t agree, but I also didn¡¯t refuse outright. That man gave me the address, it¡¯s at the Safe Hospital; let¡¯s go now.¡± Fang Yuxin, knowing it was in the Safe Hospital, wasn¡¯t too worried. There were many people at the hospital, and Zhou Yan likely wouldn¡¯t choose such a place to harm them. After dealing with Zheng Tianhe and experiencing Zhou Fanghua¡¯s drastic change of character, she became unsure about many things and acted more cautiously and carefully. Fang Yuyang obviously considered the safety issues too, knowing the place was a hospital before suggesting they go there. Bai Qianqian, worried about her, wanted to follow, but Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t agree and instead asked him to stay home and cultivate, maybe even cut some more Elemental Crystals. Fang Yuxin specifically picked a Water Element Elemental Crystal, planning to give it to Zhou Yan as both a favor and a testament. The Safe Hospital was located in a high-end community next to the villa area, where one of the buildings was directly used as a hospital. Though it was basic, it still resembled a hospital. At least when the siblings entered, they immediately smelled the pungent scent of disinfectant. Due to its simplicity, the hospital was filled with folding beds, incomparable to a regular hospital, but at least it offered a place for people to lie down. Zhou Yan had someone specifically waiting for them at the door; upon seeing the siblings, the man excitedly greeted them, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you both to really come, Miss Fang, Captain Fang, please come with me.¡± Chapter 143 - 143 097 Zhou Yans Request (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 143: 097 Zhou Yan¡¯s Request (Third Update)_2 Chapter 143: 097 Zhou Yan¡¯s Request (Third Update)_2 After he finished speaking, he took Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang upstairs, explaining as they walked that they had a battle buddy who had been seriously injured and was in a bad condition. Given the poor circumstances, any delay would be extremely detrimental to the patient¡¯s condition. Zhou Yan had thought of her healing abilities, which is why he had asked for her help. At the same time, he also mentioned that since the injuries were severe, Zhou Yan had already prepared a Crystal Core and would not shortchange Fang Yuxin¡¯s consultation fee, urging her to do her utmost. The place was on the second floor, just a few steps away. The man, familiar with the area, knocked on one of the doors and led Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang inside. ¡°Captain Zhou! Miss Fang and Captain Fang are here!¡± Despite being in a high-end residential area, the house was unrenovated and still a rough apartment, looking rather messy. The apartment had a layout of four bedrooms and two living rooms, filled with folding beds, the kind supported by iron frames and canvas. As far as Fang Yuxin knew, these were already decent conditions. People here were severely injured to have such accommodations. Upstairs lived those with lighter injuries who didn¡¯t even have these simple beds but just a thin mat spread on the floor, laying directly on it. Since the room had no door, the entire situation inside was visible at a glance. Zhou Yan saw them and hurried out. To save space, the passages between beds were very narrow, about half a meter wide, allowing only single-file passage. Zhou Yan maneuvered around before approaching them and started by saying, ¡°The conditions here aren¡¯t great, I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang certainly wouldn¡¯t mock them; the situation was like this, and having so many simple beds here was already quite commendable. Zhou Yan didn¡¯t beat around the bush; he dispensed with further pleasantries and directly said, ¡°Miss Fang, all here are my battle buddies, they are all stout men, and I hope you¡¯ll try your best to treat them. If... if someone is unfortunate, we will not blame you, please be assured.¡± Fang Yuxin had already seen that there were 30 injured individuals here, all quite seriously wounded, and judging by their physical condition, some injuries were new while others had been wounded for some time. Among them, 10 were unconscious, 15 had weak consciousness, and the remaining 5 were in a slightly better state. Since she intended to form an alliance with Zhou Yan, she naturally could not offend him, and planned to perform well to heal everyone. Without further hesitation, she simply said, ¡°I will do my best. Let¡¯s start now.¡± Being so whole-hearted, Zhou Yan naturally had no objections and quickly led her to one of the seriously injured and comatose patients, hoping Fang Yuxin could start by treating him. After examining this patient, Fang Yuxin was immediately astonished; the man was Awakening! He appeared to be infected with the ordinary Zombie Virus, and although the wound showed signs of decay, the extent of decay was not severe. The most critical issue was his injury. His most severe injury was on his thigh, with a very deep wound that even reached the bone. The wound had been stitched up, but presumably, the person who did the stitching was rushed and did not do it meticulously, resulting in hasty and uneven stitches. Moreover, perhaps thinking he wouldn¡¯t survive, they had used ordinary threads. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but sigh internally; she didn¡¯t know if Zhou Yan was aware of this man¡¯s Awakening. Once she helped this man awaken successfully, it might confirm that she had a way to facilitate Awakening. However, seeing how concerned Zhou Yan was for this man, she knew she had to save him. Thus, she took a deep breath and first sent a stream of Spiritual Energy into his body to protect his heart meridians, then took out a scalpel to remove the stitches, cut off the decayed flesh around the wound, and injected Spiritual Energy to aid in healing. Throughout the process, Zhou Yan and the other conscious individuals in the room watched closely. Previously, at school, Zhou Yan hadn¡¯t witnessed the entire process of Fang Yuxin¡¯s treatment. Now, watching it up close, his heart was in his throat. The man lying on the bed was his good brother, and he didn¡¯t expect this man to be as lucky as those ordinary people who could awaken a superpower. As long as he could come back to life, that would be enough for him. Because the infection was just the Basic-level Zombie Virus, Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Element Spiritual Energy could effectively counter it. After the Spiritual Energy was injected into the wound, the deep, vicious wound visibly started to heal at a rate perceptible to the naked eye. Once this wound was completely healed, she treated his other wounds, then wiped off her sweat and turned to treat other severely injured individuals. Watching his good brother¡¯s ashen face gradually look better and even gain some color, Zhou Yan heaved a great sigh of relief and hurriedly handed over a bag of Crystal Cores he had prepared to Fang Yuxin. This bag contained hundreds of cores, and it was only a deposit. Given that all the injured here were in serious condition, Zhou Yan knew that curing all these people would deplete a lot of Fang Yuxin¡¯s ¡®superpower¡¯, and the hundred Crystal Cores really weren¡¯t much. Fang Yuxin did not refuse. She took the Crystal Cores and continued treating the injured. When the Spiritual Energy in her body was reduced by half, she began meditation to recover, then continued the treatment. Soon, three hours had passed, and Fang Yuxin had managed to treat all the wounds on every individual. Although many were still unconscious, just by looking at their complexions, one could tell they had improved significantly. Zhou Yan felt immensely grateful and gave Fang Yuxin another hundred Crystal Cores as the remaining payment, also suggesting a meal together with Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang. The siblings had matters to discuss with him, so they didn¡¯t refuse and simply agreed. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote at Qidian (qidian.com), cast your monthly ticket, and support with a recommended ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 144 - 144 098 Allies (First Update) ?Chapter 144: 098 Allies (First Update) Chapter 144: 098 Allies (First Update) Zhou Yan invited the siblings to dine at the place where he was currently residing. Given the limited conditions now, there were no restaurants within the Safe Zone. Although Zhou Yan held a moderately high position in the military, he didn¡¯t have a private house and shared a four-bedroom, two-living-room suite with his battle buddies, right next door to the Safe Hospital. Because Zhou Yan had someone prepare food in advance, when he returned home with Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, the meal was ready, and the whole house was filled with an enticing aroma. Compared to other survivors, their food was relatively good, not only including fragrant steamed rice but also delicious canned meat and vacuum-packed smoked meat and sausages. Such a meal would have been utterly ordinary before the apocalypse, even deemed simple by many. However, in these apocalyptic times, it was quite a feast. The effort Zhou Yan had taken to prepare this food clearly showed his sincere hospitality. Besides Zhou Yan and the Fang siblings, seven others joined the meal, all of whom were Zhou Yan¡¯s battle buddies. In total, there were ten people gathered. The dining table consisted of two folding tables pushed together, around which everyone squeezed in and sat cross-legged¡ªthe table not only adorned with dishes of food but also a bottle of baijiu. At the beginning of the apocalypse, alcohol wasn¡¯t too rare, but later it could virtually sell for a sky-high price. Zhou Yan didn¡¯t have much alcohol, and if it weren¡¯t for his desire to express gratitude towards the siblings, he wouldn¡¯t have been willing to bring it out. Seeing the bottle of liquor, the seven soldiers¡¯ eyes began to glow with eagerness; they clamorously urged Zhou Yan to open it quickly. Zhou Yan himself opened the lid and poured a little into everyone¡¯s bowl, and when it came to Fang Yuxin, he specially asked, ¡°Miss Fang, do you drink?¡± Fang Yuxin could drink, but she usually didn¡¯t drink much. Unable to decline Zhou Yan¡¯s hospitality, she nodded, ¡°I can drink a little.¡± Taking into account that she was a woman, Zhou Yan symbolically poured her a small amount. After pouring the drinks, he enthusiastically raised his bowl and exclaimed, ¡°Come on! Cheers, everyone! To Miss Fang! Thanks to her for curing our battle buddy!¡± ¡°To Miss Fang! Thank you, Miss Fang, for healing our battle buddy!¡± The atmosphere became lively in an instant. After downing their bowls, Zhou Yan didn¡¯t let anyone continue to drink. For one thing, there wasn¡¯t much alcohol, and secondly, he was concerned about potential issues arising. ¡°Alright! Now, let¡¯s eat!¡± With Zhou Yan¡¯s words, the others hastily filled their bowls and began to devour their food voraciously. Soldiers tended to eat very quickly. After a whirlwind of activity, most of the food on the plates had disappeared, the small remainder deliberately left for the Fang siblings. Exchanging glances, the siblings sped up to finish the meal. After the meal was over, it was time for serious discussions. Fang Yuyang glanced at Fang Yuxin and said to Zhou Yan, ¡°Captain Zhou, we have something to tell you. Could we have your friends step out for a bit?¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, his gaze flitting between the siblings uncertainly. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, his expression changed rapidly, and he said to the others, ¡°You guys go out and keep watch. Be careful and don¡¯t let anyone get close to this place, nor let them see anything unusual.¡± The seven men clearly took his words to heart, casting puzzled looks at Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin before heading out together. The heavy security door closed behind them with a muffled thud, especially loud in the night. Zhou Yan lowered his voice deliberately, ¡°What would you like to discuss? You can speak now.¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t beat around the bush, directly stating the premeditated explanation, ¡°Captain Zhou, you must remember the residential building that was surrounded by zombies, right? It was quite unusual for that Spiritual Zombie to encircle that place. After we killed it, we found something.¡± Captain Zhou had a hunch that whatever Fang Yuxin had discovered must be out of the ordinary, so he asked somewhat urgently, ¡°What did you find?¡± Fang Yuxin took out the Water Element Elemental Crystal from her waist pack and showed it in the palm of her hand to Zhou Yan, ¡°This.¡± ¡°This? What is this?¡± Zhou Yan looked questioningly at the Water Element Elemental Crystal in Fang Yuxin¡¯s palm. The entire crystal was the size of a longan and emitted an odd energy fluctuation, which wasn¡¯t quite the same as a Crystal Core. Hesitating for a moment, he reached out and picked up the crystal. As soon as the Elemental Crystal touched his hand, he could feel its uniqueness, ¡°Miss Fang, what exactly is this? Is it also meant for absorption?¡± The moment the crystal was in his hand, he sensed it could be absorbed. However, he had already awakened his Fire Ability and couldn¡¯t absorb this Water Element Elemental Crystal, making the sensation not very strong. Chapter 145 - 145 098 Allies (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 145: 098 Allies (First Update)_2 Chapter 145: 098 Allies (First Update)_2 Fang Yuxin said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is either. At the time, my brother and I discovered four of them, three of which were accidentally absorbed by our parents and Qianqian, leaving only this one.¡± Zhou Yan became even more surprised and understood the uniqueness of this Elemental Crystal from her words. As far as he knew, those three people were Ordinary People. If they could absorb such a thing, then... Zhou Yan was not entirely sure of his guess and asked, ¡°Miss Fang, if I remember correctly, your esteemed parents and that little friend Qianqian should all be Ordinary People, right? They were actually able to absorb this Crystal Stone?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, confirming his guess, ¡°They indeed absorbed it, so I suspect that this kind of Crystal Stone should be something Ordinary People can absorb.¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s breathing quickened, a daring hypothesis arising in his mind, ¡°Then, after they absorbed these Crystal Stones, were there any changes?¡± Fang Yuxin, however, appeared very calm, which was completely opposite to his eagerness, ¡°They Awakened superpowers.¡± ¡°What!¡± Zhou Yan exclaimed loudly, completely losing his composure, ¡°Miss Fang, are you serious?¡± Although he had guessed at this possibility, it was so outlandish that he couldn¡¯t bring himself to believe it was true! Seeing Fang Yuxin nod in affirmation, Zhou Yan immediately asked, ¡°Miss Fang, since you¡¯ve told me this news, you must also know how to find these Crystal Stones, right?¡± Having said this, his eyes were firmly fixed on Fang Yuxin. He was actually very nervous inside. This news was incredibly important. If it was true, and if they could find more of these Crystal Stones, then Ordinary People could also safely Awaken into superpower users! But why would Fang Yuxin tell him such important news? What exactly was her purpose? Zhou Yan was no fool. He quickly became suspicious and then thought of Zheng Tianhe. Zheng Tianhe was currently dedicated to researching superpower Awakenings and the Zombie Virus vaccine and now had his sights set on Fang Yuxin, which made Zhou Yan overthink! Upon reflection, Fang Yuxin telling him this news had a hidden agenda! However, regardless of her motives, he was profoundly grateful for her sharing such crucial information with him! But he couldn¡¯t understand why Fang Yuxin, who was Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, would not tell Qiu Yiming such important news and instead tell him? Zhou Yan didn¡¯t believe Fang Yuxin had already told Qiu Yiming. If she had, there would be no need to tell him. The military was also divided into factions, constraining each other, and he and Qiu Yiming were not in the same camp. If Qiu Yiming knew this information, he would definitely not allow Fang Yuxin to tell him! In other words, it was very possible that Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t know at all! He took a deep breath, looked deeply at Fang Yuxin, and quietly awaited her answer. He had a feeling Fang Yuxin knew even more! Fang Yuxin, however, smiled at this moment. Instead of directly answering Zhou Yan¡¯s question, she said, ¡°Captain Zhou should know how important this news is. I told Captain Zhou because I trust in your character and wish to be friends. As you saw today, Mr. Zheng harbors malice toward me, so I hope Captain Zhou can help me with this trouble. Additionally, I don¡¯t want anyone else to know that I told Captain Zhou this news.¡± Without much thought, Zhou Yan agreed right away, though he also played a little trick, ¡°As long as we can find more of these Crystal Stones, dealing with Mr. Zheng won¡¯t be a problem. I guarantee it with my honor!¡± Fang Yuxin appreciated Zhou Yan¡¯s character, so she shared, ¡°Actually, of the four Crystal Stones my brother and I found, one of them was wrapped in a layer of black substance, like stone.¡± ¡°Black... stone...¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s expression changed, he quickly stood up and walked to the inner room. When he came back, he was holding a black stone, ¡°Miss Fang, is this the kind of stone you¡¯re talking about?¡± Both Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were very surprised; they hadn¡¯t expected Zhou Yan to have collected an Elemental Stone. Looking at the fist-sized Elemental Stone in his hand, Fang Yuxin pretended to be uncertain, ¡°It looks like this kind. Where did you find it, Captain Zhou?¡± Zhou Yan, having received such significant information from Fang Yuxin, didn¡¯t hide anything in return, saying generously, ¡°I stumbled upon it while on a mission. I found it extremely hard and odd, so I brought it back.¡± In reality, he had about a dozen such stones, all incredibly hard. He once tried to cut them open but to no avail, not even bullets could penetrate them¡ªit was truly bizarre. One of the stones he even handed up, likely to a secret research group, but for some unknown reason, they also couldn¡¯t figure it out. After the initial shock, he suddenly recalled that three Crystal Stones had already been absorbed, and the remaining one wasn¡¯t wrapped in black stone. His heart skipped a beat, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Miss Fang, have you already figured out how to cut open this black stone?¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t keep it a secret and simply told him, ¡°Qianqian Awakened spiritual power, and we found out that spiritual power can cut through this stone.¡± Spiritual power! Zhou Yan was incredibly surprised. He had tried many methods, even used his Fire Ability to burn it, but never thought the peculiar stone required spiritual power to cut! Without Fang Yuxin telling him, he might not have discovered this for a very long time! (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly vote. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 146 - 146 099 General (Second Update) ?Chapter 146: 099 General (Second Update) Chapter 146: 099 General (Second Update) After the siblings had said what they wanted to say, they bid farewell to Zhou Yan and left. It was already seven in the evening, and the sky had not completely darkened; the Safe Zone was still bustling. After their departure, Zhou Yan hurriedly left with the Water Element Elemental Crystal and an Elemental Stone in his hand, walking to the villa area and entering one of the heavily guarded villas. When he entered, he happened to see a dignified middle-aged man coming out. Watching the other man approach, he immediately halted his steps, stood erect, and saluted, ¡°General Li!¡± The middle-aged man returned the salute and asked, ¡°What brings you to seek General Song so late?¡± Zhou Yan didn¡¯t speak; his face was stern, showing no extra expression, but his tightened fingers betrayed his underlying nervousness. Although the other was an Ordinary Person and had not undergone Awakening as a superpower user, he held a fear for this man. This was a man who had long held a high position, radiating an air of authority. The intangible pressure made breathing seem difficult for him. He said, ¡°I¡¯ve come to report some information to General Song.¡± He did not specify what the information was, and General Li did not ask. He only gave Zhou Yan a deep look and said indifferently, ¡°Go ahead inside.¡± Zhou Yan nodded respectfully and quickly stepped inside. General Li watched his departing figure with a deep frown. He had come to find General Song because of a rumor circulating within the Safe Zone. He did not believe such rumors, even though there were now many unique superpowers emerging. He always felt that the Awakening of superpowers was too miraculous; humans couldn¡¯t possibly possess such determinative power. General Song shared his view; neither believed the rumor. Thinking of the intelligence his subordinates had reported, General Li suddenly felt he should be more vigilant against Zheng Tianhe. There was no doubt that the man was a madman, and madmen had no sense of reason; they were capable of anything! Humanity was facing great calamity, a time when unity was paramount; he did not wish to see the Safe Zone thrown into chaos because of Zheng Tianhe! While walking outside, General Li decided he should send someone to warn Zheng Tianhe again. Although he disagreed with Zheng Tianhe¡¯s radical decision, he had a gut feeling that Zheng Tianhe wouldn¡¯t give up so easily. But as he walked further away, he became puzzled. Zhou Yan had been carrying a small aluminum alloy case, which he ordinarily shouldn¡¯t have cared about, yet for some reason, he couldn¡¯t get it out of his mind. What was going on? Unfortunately, Zhou Yan had already gone inside, and there was no one to resolve his confusion¡ªhe could only keep his suspicions to himself, resolved to inquire about it when the opportunity arose. At this moment, Zhou Yan was standing in front of a spry old man. The old man was neatly dressed in a military uniform, the stars on his epaulets shining brightly ¨C it was General Song. The aluminum alloy case that had intrigued General Li was placed on the solid wood desk between the two of them, its lid already open, revealing a black Elemental Stone and a blue Elemental Crystal inside. Although the Elemental Crystal was only the size of a dragon¡¯s eye, it was larger than any Crystal Core that had appeared so far, glowing brilliantly under the light as if it were a finely crafted top-grade gemstone. General Song, looking at the items in the box, suddenly had a guess. He looked up at Zhou Yan and said, ¡°I remember you gave me one of these stones before, claiming it was so hard that not even a bullet could penetrate it. I¡¯ve already sent the item to the research team, and they¡¯ve yet to report back; now you¡¯ve brought it once more and added a Crystal Stone. If I¡¯m not mistaken, you¡¯re trying to tell me that these Elemental Crystals are found within such black stones, correct?¡± Zhou Yan nodded, speaking solemnly as he succinctly relayed Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, ¡°General, your guess is correct; these Elemental Crystals were indeed discovered within such stones, and they have a very magical function¡ªOrdinary People can absorb them and awaken as superpower users.¡± Even as a worldly and experienced General Song heard his words, his expression changed instantly. He narrowed his eyes, his penetrating gaze fixing on Zhou Yan, and asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°Do you realize what you¡¯re saying?¡± Zhou Yan was aware that such matters were beyond belief, so he quickly said, ¡°General, someone indeed told me this! I think it¡¯s quite easy to verify; we just need to have someone try. That person is currently in trouble; I don¡¯t think she would intentionally offend us.¡± Chapter 147 - 147 099 General (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 147: 099 General (Second Update)_2 Chapter 147: 099 General (Second Update)_2 Zhou Yan¡¯s meaning was very clear, the other party was now in trouble, and revealing this secret was precisely to win them over and gain their protection. There was no need to tell such easily exposed lies. Additionally, this aqua blue Crystal Stone was likely harmless. General Song, having lived for decades and often occupying high positions, naturally had no less experience than Zhou Yan. As soon as he heard it, he understood what Zhou Yan hinted at and then he laughed, ¡°The person who told you this secret has the surname Fang, right?¡± His tone was confident, clearly he had no doubts about his guess. He did not make his words too explicit, but Zhou Yan understood that General Song already knew it was Fang Yuxin who had spoken. He did not hide anything and shared Fang Yuxin¡¯s request, ¡°She hopes that no one else will know that the news came from her. I have promised her, and I have assured her that I will help her get rid of Mr. Zheng¡¯s trouble.¡± Saying this, he gave a wry smile, ¡°General, you will have to help me with this.¡± General Song was not upset; instead, he laughed heartily, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as the news is true, I definitely won¡¯t let Zheng Tianhe trouble her again.¡± Saying this, he paused and shook his head slightly, ¡°I had heard before that he was a bit crazy, but who knew that he has become even more extreme now. Research is important, sure, but there¡¯s no justification for arbitrarily capturing living people for experiments! Moreover, if Miss Fang really has that kind of ability, it would be a good thing for the entire Safe Zone.¡± He left something unsaid: If Fang Yuxin could really help Ordinary People safely awaken as superpower users, then as long as she was willing to lend a hand, they could gain more superpower users in a short amount of time. But if Zheng Tianhe used her for research, who knows how long it would take to produce any results! Besides, if someone really had that ability, wouldn¡¯t it be expected they¡¯d have some trump cards? If they angered Fang Yuxin, they might end up with nothing! Simply foolish! Fortunately, General Li had not been foolish and had rejected Zheng Tianhe¡¯s insane request. The results proved that he was right. Thinking this far, General Song held the aqua blue Elemental Crystal in his hand. Being an Ordinary Person, he could not sense the energy fluctuations emitted by the Elemental Crystal. But just looking at it, he felt that the Elemental Crystal had a mysterious magic. He attempted to absorb it; however, there was no change at all in the Elemental Crystal, which made him raise his eyebrows in surprise and look at Zhou Yan for an explanation. Zhou Yan was also shocked¡ªfor a moment when General Song tried to absorb it, he sensed that the energy fluctuations around the Elemental Crystal suddenly became intense, but it was only for an instant before it calmed down again. He hadn¡¯t expected General Song to try absorbing it and couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°General! Although I believe Miss Fang wouldn¡¯t lie or use something dangerous to scheme against us, given your status, it¡¯s still best to be cautious!¡± Who knew General Song would just wave his hand, casually saying, ¡°The Fang Family wouldn¡¯t do such lowly things, I trust her. However, it seems that this kind of Crystal Stone isn¡¯t something just anyone can absorb.¡± Though his tone expressed regret, his eyes showed no dissatisfactions, but rather complete calmness. His high position over the years had forged a composure not easily shaken. He quickly got over the regret of not being able to absorb the Elemental Crystal and moved on to ask, ¡°By the way, do you know how to cut open this black stone? Miss Fang must have told you, right?¡± A Crystal Stone that could awaken Ordinary People was precious indeed, but just one was not significant. If it were only this, Miss Fang would never have made the request for Zhou Yan to help get rid of Zheng Tianhe¡¯s trouble! ¡°You truly have the foresight of a general!¡± Zhou Yan couldn¡¯t help but compliment before he said, ¡°Miss Fang indeed said that not every Ordinary Person can awaken superpowers, and what kind of superpowers one can awaken to is likely related to their talent. Only by finding the corresponding Crystal Stone can one successfully awaken. Moreover, they can be cut open using spiritual power.¡± ¡°Spiritual power...¡± General Song murmured and then called for his adjutant. His adjutant was a young man around thirty and was also a Spiritual Ability User. After the adjutant came in and straight away, as if he had not seen the aluminum alloy box on the table nor the items inside, he walked up to the table. After saluting respectfully, he asked, ¡°General, what are your orders?¡± General Song pointed to the black Elemental Stone and told him, ¡°Try it, use your spiritual power to cut it open.¡± The adjutant, upon hearing this, showed no surprise and directly picked up the Elemental Stone and wrapped it with his spiritual power. As it was his first attempt, he didn¡¯t do well, and it took about a minute before he grasped the feeling and managed to cut a mark on the surface of the black stone. He placed the Elemental Stone in front of General Song, showing him the mark, and said, ¡°It can indeed be cut with spiritual power, but I am not yet proficient. I¡¯m afraid it will take a considerable amount of time to cut it open completely. Also, I found that using spiritual power to cut this type of stone is beneficial for the Cultivation of spiritual power.¡± Both General Song and Zhou Yan were taken aback when they heard this. General Song looked at Zhou Yan, who shook his head slightly; Fang Yuxin had not told him this news. Whether she was unaware or did not intend to tell him, he did not know. Regardless, Fang Yuxin had given them a tremendous benefit! After a moment¡¯s thought, General Song spoke seriously, ¡°Go and invite General Li. Tell him I need to discuss something with him.¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to support it by voting on Qidian (qidian.com) with monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 148 - 148 099 Old Fox (Third Update) ?Chapter 148: 099 Old Fox (Third Update) Chapter 148: 099 Old Fox (Third Update) The aide returned soon after leaving and continued to cut the Elemental Stone. General Song couldn¡¯t help but ask him, ¡°How many Spiritual Superpower Users do we have among our people?¡± Without a second thought, the aide quickly reported a number, ¡°Only nine, General.¡± General Song fell into thought, ¡°Starting tomorrow, remember to keep an eye out for this kind of stone when you¡¯re out on missions and try to collect as much as possible. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t know how many of these stones there are.¡± At this point, he suddenly asked Zhou Yan, ¡°How did you discover these stones?¡± Zhou Yan understood what he meant and replied, ¡°I suspect these are Outer Space Meteorites. Before the disaster occurred, these stones had never appeared, and the places I found them are mostly near the ruins, which were heavily affected by the meteorite impacts!¡± When General Song heard his speculation, his mood immediately improved. He knew that in Market, there were plenty of these disaster-hit areas. So, there should also be plenty of such stones. Zhou Yan suddenly remembered something and quickly said, ¡°General, these black stones seem to contain a special substance that can block energy fluctuations. Once cut open, the Crystal Stone¡¯s energy fluctuations will escape. The person who told me said they found it in a residential building surrounded by zombies. So she speculated that the Spiritual Zombie went there for these crystals.¡± General Song mused, ¡°Her guess is probably right. Anyway, be careful from now on. By the way, I heard you asked her to help your battle buddy heal their wounds, is that right?¡± Zhou Yan nodded, thinking of his battle buddy who was no longer in life-threatening danger and smiled, ¡°She¡¯s amazing, they have all healed, and with some rest, they should be able to fully recover.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear!¡± General Song was very pleased to hear this news, ¡°It seems that Miss Fang¡¯s Healing Ability is quite remarkable. You should interact with her more in the future. Having a good relationship with someone like her won¡¯t do us any harm.¡± He had just finished speaking when the aide suddenly said, ¡°General, Miss Fang Yuxin is Major Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e. After she left the research group today, Major Qiu took her to visit his family. General Qiu and Ms. Zhou heard about the rumor and wanted her to help them Awaken Superpowers, but Miss Fang did not agree, which displeased them.¡± Zhou Yan was somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected the aide to be so well-informed about these matters. At the same time, he also understood why Fang Yuxin would tell him such important information. General Song smiled like an Old Fox, ¡°It seems that when people get older, they tend to get muddled. I was wondering why, given the Fang Family and Qiu Family¡¯s relationship, such important news would come our way, but now I understand the reason. It seems the Fang Family has seen the true colors of the Qiu Family.¡± Zhou Yan, owing Fang Yuxin a favor, became a bit worried upon hearing this and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°General, if the Qiu Family learns about this news, won¡¯t they harm the Fang Family?¡± General Song waved it off, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, since she has given us such a big favor, I naturally won¡¯t let them get hurt. Besides, the ambitions of the Qiu Family are too great.¡± The last sentence he said with a certain weight, and both the aide and Zhou Yan listened wisely without speaking. Soon, General Li arrived. As soon as he entered and saw Zhou Yan there, his eyes flickered, and then his gaze fixed on the aluminum alloy case on the table, his expression changing. He strode over, his face showing a rare urgency that left others in surprise. General Song couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°General Li, what¡¯s the hurry for?¡± General Li didn¡¯t speak but stared intently at the aqua blue Elemental Crystal in the case. Then, he couldn¡¯t resist reaching out and gripping the beautiful Elemental Crystal tightly! General Song then realized something was wrong, ¡°General Li, what is this...¡± Before he could finish, General Li had already grabbed the Elemental Crystal and began absorbing its energy quickly! His complexion gradually changed, his face tensed, then his veins popped out, sweat beading on his forehead, as if he was enduring great pain. General Song instantly guessed something but wasn¡¯t entirely sure, so he looked towards the aide and Zhou Yan. The two nodded subconsciously, and the aide said, ¡°General Li¡¯s energy fluctuations are very intense, he seems to be absorbing the energy from that crystal.¡± As he spoke, the aide¡¯s eyes were fixed on General Li. He had not known the function of the aqua blue Crystal Stone, and though curious, he hadn¡¯t asked since General Song hadn¡¯t mentioned it. Now it seemed that the aqua blue crystal was clearly no simple matter! Chapter 149 - 149 099 Old Fox (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 149: 099 Old Fox (Third Update)_2 Chapter 149: 099 Old Fox (Third Update)_2 He reflected on General Song¡¯s recent words and easily guessed that the aqua blue Crystal Stone was likely related to Fang Yuxin. The Qiu Family probably didn¡¯t know about this. At that thought, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly. The Qiu Family had really miscalculated this time. Just that they might not be aware of the kind of opportunity they had missed! Thinking gleefully, the Deputy Chen¡¯s eyes remained fixed on General Li. General Li seemed very much in pain, but the deputy believed that the steely general could pull through, so he wasn¡¯t worried. Sure enough, after more than forty minutes, the agony vanished from General Li¡¯s face, and his expression gradually became serene. Twenty more minutes passed, and he opened his eyes. The moment his eyes opened, all three of them saw a flash of aqua blue light disappear from his gaze. And the pronounced energy fluctuations from his body were proof that he had successfully awakened a superpower. General Li exhaled a breath of foul air, not minding his discomfort, and asked General Song excitedly, ¡°General Song! What in the world is going on? That Crystal Stone just now... what is that thing? Why did I feel such an urgent need to absorb it, and even awakened a Water Ability superpower?¡± General Song¡¯s face brimmed with a smile, but his tone was sour, ¡°General Li, you are really lucky, that stone you used just now is one that could awaken superpowers in Ordinary People. I only had one, and you¡¯ve used it up.¡± Initially embarrassed, General Li then snorted, ¡°You called me here for that Crystal Stone, didn¡¯t you? Since I have absorbed it, it means it was my destiny. You can¡¯t envy what¡¯s meant for me.¡± He shook his head in self-satisfaction and then asked seriously, ¡°Tell me, what exactly is going on?¡± General Song then succinctly recounted what Zhou Yan had previously said, though he omitted the part about Fang Yuxin. However, General Li wasn¡¯t a fool and quickly figured it out. After he left, someone had told him about Zhou Yan asking Fang Yuxin to heal his battle buddy, and hardly had the Fang siblings left when he, carrying a suitcase, went to see General Song. It was way too obvious. Thinking of this, he felt extremely fortunate. It was good that he hadn¡¯t agreed to Zheng Tianhe¡¯s request; otherwise, it would have been troublesome. Even though the military was the strongest now, he didn¡¯t want to be seen as ungrateful, cutting off the bridge after crossing! General Song confiding such important news to him was a favor he acknowledged. Considering the relationship between the Qiu and Fang families, he coldly smirked with some schadenfreude. The Qiu Family had really suffered a significant loss this time! General Li quickly said, ¡°Once I¡¯m back, I¡¯ll gather my trusted aides and instruct them to collect more of these stones during their missions. However, it¡¯s best to keep the secret of the Crystal Stones.¡± General Song nodded, their thinking aligned. There were so many people in the Safe Zone, and keeping it a total secret was impossible. Still, even if others learned of these mysterious stones, they couldn¡¯t cut open the stones without the correct method. They could use this time to collect more stones and significantly enhance the strength of their soldiers! With the matter decided, the two looked at each other and smiled. General Song then said, ¡°Alright, now that it¡¯s settled, you¡¯d better go take a good bath, General Li. The smell is quite unbearable.¡± General Li¡¯s face stiffened, but then he laughed with pride, ¡°General Song, be envious all you want. I just don¡¯t know when you¡¯ll find the Crystal Stone that suits you. Also, I¡¯ll need to use your bathroom lest the Qiu Family finds out about my Awakening if I go out like this.¡± General Song clenched his teeth in anger, but what General Li said was true; they had to keep the Elemental Crystal under wraps, especially from the Qiu Family, so they couldn¡¯t let them discover that General Li had Awakened after visiting him. With no choice, he had to send someone to take General Li to the bathroom ¡ª earning Li¡¯s smug smile and leaving Song with a pang in his liver! After General Li left, he couldn¡¯t help but tell his Deputy Chen, ¡°Xiao Chen, you¡¯ve got to work hard. Whether I can Awaken or not is up to you now.¡± Deputy Chen looked at him, playing the Old Fox, and immediately felt under tremendous pressure! While they were in high spirits, the mood in the Qiu Family was not good. Many knew that Fang Yuxin had helped Zhou Yan heal his battle buddy, and the Qiu Family was no exception. Zhou Fanghua was extremely dissatisfied with this! Sitting across from Qiu Yiming with a stern face, she said, ¡°Go tell Fang Yuxin that if she doesn¡¯t want to be the daughter-in-law of the Qiu Family, she¡¯d better speak up now! We have no use for a daughter-in-law who bites the hand that feeds her!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Qiu Yiming called out, holding back his anger as he tried to reason, ¡°Xinxin is a Wood Element Superpower User with Healing Ability. If Zhou Yan asks for her help to save a battle buddy, how can she refuse?¡± Zhou Fanghua wouldn¡¯t listen to him. Seeing Qiu Yiming still defending Fang Yuxin, she grew even more disappointed in him and resentful towards Fang Yuxin! Qiu Yiming was her son who had always been filial and almost always obeyed her, but now, for that woman Fang Yuxin, he wouldn¡¯t even listen to her words! He even talked back to her! That woman was nothing but trouble! She glared furiously at Qiu Yiming, nearly spitting fire, ¡°Yiming! Is that woman Fang Yuxin more important to you than your own mother?¡± Qiu Yiming was in deep trouble. He was indeed unhappy about Fang Yuxin helping Zhou Yan, but right now, Zhou Fanghua was furious, and if he sided with her, she might just call off his engagement to Fang Yuxin right then and there! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 150 - 150 100 Old Fox (Third Update) ?Chapter 150: 100 Old Fox (Third Update) Chapter 150: 100 Old Fox (Third Update) The adjutant left and returned shortly, picking up the Elemental Stone to continue cutting. General Song couldn¡¯t help but ask him, ¡°How many Spiritual Superpower Users do we have among our people?¡± Without needing time to think, the adjutant quickly reported a number, ¡°Only nine, General.¡± General Song pondered and said, ¡°Starting tomorrow, when you go out for missions, remember to look out for these stones and collect as many as possible. The only thing is, I don¡¯t know how many of these stones there are.¡± At this point, he suddenly asked Zhou Yan, ¡°How did you discover these stones?¡± Understanding his intent, Zhou Yan said, ¡°I suspect that these are from an Outer Space Meteorite. Before the disaster, these stones had never appeared, and the places where I found them are mostly near ruins, the heavily afflicted areas where the meteorites landed!¡± Hearing his speculation, General Song felt much better because he knew that in Market, there were many such heavily afflicted areas. Thus, there should also be plenty of such stones. Zhou Yan suddenly remembered something and quickly said, ¡°General, it seems that these black stones contain a special substance that can block energy fluctuations. Once cut open, the Crystal Stones¡¯ energy fluctuations begin to dissipate. The person who told me said she found them in a residential building surrounded by zombies. So, she speculated that the Spiritual Zombie was after these Crystal Stones.¡± General Song mused, ¡°Her speculation is likely correct. In any case, all of you should be cautious. By the way, I heard you asked her to help your battle buddy with his injuries, is that right?¡± Zhou Yan nodded, thinking of his battle buddy who was no longer in mortal danger, his face showed a smile, ¡°She¡¯s amazing, all their injuries have healed, and they should be able to fully recover after some rest.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good!¡± General Song was pleased to hear this news, ¡°It seems Miss Fang¡¯s Healing Ability is quite exceptional. You should interact more with her in the future. Befriending such a person will have no drawbacks for us.¡± Right after he finished speaking, the adjutant suddenly said, ¡°General, that Miss Fang Yuxin is Major Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e. After she left the research team today, Major Qiu Yiming took her to his house. General Qiu and Ms. Zhou heard a rumor and wanted her to help them awaken their superpowers. Miss Fang did not agree, and they were displeased.¡± Zhou Yan was somewhat surprised, as he had not expected the adjutant to be so knowledgeable about these matters. At the same time, he somewhat understood why Fang Yuxin had told him such important news. General Song grinned like an Old Fox, ¡°It seems being old makes one easily confused. I was wondering, with the relationship between the Fang Family and the Qiu Family, how could such important news fall into our hands so easily. It turns out this is the reason. It looks like the Fang Family has seen through the true face of the Qiu Family.¡± Zhou Yan, having received goodwill from Fang Yuxin, became somewhat worried upon hearing this and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°General, if the Qiu Family finds out about this, might they harm the Fang Family?¡± General Song waved his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As she has done us such a huge favor, I naturally won¡¯t let anything happen to them. Moreover, the ambitions of the Qiu Family are a bit too grand.¡± His last sentence was said somewhat heavily, causing the adjutant and Zhou Yan to listen silently without comment. Soon, General Li arrived. As he entered and saw Zhou Yan, his gaze slightly flickered, then his eyes fixed on the aluminum alloy case on the table, and his expression changed. He strode over, his face showing an unusual urgency, surprising the others. General Song couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°General Li, what¡¯s the rush?¡± General Li didn¡¯t speak but stared intently at the Elemental Crystal within the case. Then, he couldn¡¯t resist reaching out and grasping the beautiful Elemental Crystal tightly! General Song then realized something was wrong, ¡°General Li, what are you...¡± Before he could finish, General Li had already grabbed the Elemental Crystal and began rapidly absorbing it! His face slowly turned controlled, his expression tense, then veins on his face bulged and cold sweat appeared, as if he were enduring great pain. General Song instantly guessed something but was not entirely sure, so he looked towards the adjutant and Zhou Yan. Both subconsciously nodded, and the adjutant said, ¡°General Li¡¯s energy fluctuations are very strong. He is likely absorbing the Elemental Crystal.¡± As he spoke, the adjutant¡¯s eyes fixedly watched General Li. He had not known the function of that aqua blue crystal, and although curious, since General Song hadn¡¯t said anything, he hadn¡¯t asked. Now, it seemed that the aqua blue crystal was clearly extraordinary! Chapter 151 - 151 100 Old Fox (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 151: 100 Old Fox (Third Update)_2 Chapter 151: 100 Old Fox (Third Update)_2 He reminisced about General Song¡¯s words a moment ago and easily guessed that the aquamarine crystal stone might be related to Fang Yuxin. And the Qiu Family probably had no idea about this. At this thought, he couldn¡¯t help but inwardly sigh with admiration, the Qiu Family really miscalculated this time. It was just that he wondered if they knew what kind of opportunity they had missed! Deputy Chen thought gleefully, his eyes still fixed intently on General Li. General Li seemed to be in pain, but he believed that this iron-blooded general would definitely pull through, so he was not worried. Sure enough, after more than forty minutes, the pained expression on General Li¡¯s face disappeared without a trace, his features gradually smoothed out. Another twenty minutes passed, and he opened his eyes. The moment he opened his eyes, all three of them saw a flash of aqua-blue light in his eyes. And the clear energy fluctuations on his body also indicated that he had successfully awakened a superpower. General Li exhaled a breath of turbid air and, disregarding his discomfort, stared at General Song excitedly and asked, ¡°General Song! What on earth is going on? That crystal stone just now... What is that crystal stone? Why did I feel a strong urge to absorb it as soon as I saw it, and even awakened the Water Ability?¡± General Song¡¯s face was full of smiles, but his tone was somewhat sour, ¡°General Li, you¡¯re really lucky. That crystal stone just now could awaken superpowers in ordinary people. I only had one, and you ended up using it.¡± General Li first looked embarrassed, then snorted, ¡°You called me over here, wasn¡¯t it for this crystal stone? Since I absorbed it, it means that it was indeed my opportunity, and you cannot envy it.¡± Having said this, he shook his head smugly, then seriously continued, ¡°Tell me, what exactly is going on?¡± General Song immediately briefed him on what Zhou Yan had just told him, however, he concealed the matter regarding Fang Yuxin. But even though he didn¡¯t mention it, General Li was no fool; he quickly guessed the truth after hearing from someone upon his return that Zhou Yan had requested Fang Yuxin¡¯s help in healing a battle buddy, and that the Fang siblings had just left when he was brought in with a suitcase to see General Song. It was all too obvious. Thinking of this, he felt enormously relieved. It was good that he hadn¡¯t agreed to Zheng Tianhe¡¯s request, otherwise, it would have been tricky to handle. Even though the military was currently the strongest, he did not wish to be seen as a treacherous and ungrateful person! That General Song would tell him such important news, he accepted the favor. And thinking about the relationship between the Qiu Family and Fang Family, he sneered, feeling a bit of schadenfreude as well. The Qiu Family really suffered a huge loss this time! General Li quickly said, ¡°After I go back, I¡¯ll gather my confidants and instruct them to collect more of these stones when they¡¯re out on missions. However, it¡¯s better to keep the secret of the crystal stones.¡± General Song nodded, his thoughts aligning perfectly with his own. With so many people in the Safe Zone, complete secrecy was impossible, but even if others knew about the mysterious stones, without the right method, they would never be able to cut the stones open. They could use this time to collect more stones, to greatly enhance the strength of their soldiers! Having settled on their plans, the two men exchanged a smile. General Song then said, ¡°Alright, now that¡¯s sorted, General Li you better hurry back and take a good bath, this smell is really unbearable.¡± General Li¡¯s face stiffened, but then he smirked in triumph, ¡°General Song, be jealous all you want, who knows when you¡¯ll find a crystal stone that¡¯s right for you. Also, I¡¯ll need to borrow your bathroom here because if I go out like this, it won¡¯t take long for the Qiu Family to find out about my awakening.¡± General Song was so furious he gnashed his teeth, but what General Li said was true; they had to keep the news of the Elemental Crystal a secret, naturally meaning they couldn¡¯t let the Qiu Family find out that General Li had awakened after visiting him. Helpless, he could only have someone take General Li to the bathroom, earning a triumphant smile from General Li that infuriated him even further! After General Li left, he couldn¡¯t help but say to his deputy, ¡°Xiao Chen, you really need to work hard. Whether I can awaken or not is up to you.¡± Deputy Chen, seeing his old fox-like expression, immediately felt under tremendous pressure! While they were enjoying their camaraderie, the atmosphere at the Qiu Family was far from pleasant. Quite a few people knew about Fang Yuxin helping Zhou Yan¡¯s battle buddy, and the Qiu Family was no exception. This made Zhou Fanghua extremely dissatisfied! At this moment, sitting across from Qiu Yiming with a stern face, she said to him, ¡°Tell Fang Yuxin if she doesn¡¯t want to be the Qiu Family¡¯s daughter-in-law, she should just say so! My Qiu Family does not covet a daughter-in-law who plays both sides!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Qiu Yiming cried out, suppressing his rage as he tried to persuade her, ¡°Xinxin is a Wood Element Superpower User with Healing Ability. When Zhou Yan asked her to help save his battle buddy, could she have refused?¡± Zhou Fanghua refused to listen to his reasoning. Seeing Qiu Yiming still speaking up for Fang Yuxin, she became disappointed in him and even more upset with Fang Yuxin! Qiu Yiming was her son, obedient from childhood and almost always followed her advice. But now, he was talking back to her for the sake of that woman, Fang Yuxin! That woman was nothing but a curse! She glared at Qiu Yiming with fury, her eyes nearly shooting flames, ¡°Yiming! In your heart, is your mother less important than that woman, Fang Yuxin?¡± Qiu Yiming was in a critical plight. He was also very dissatisfied with Fang Yuxin for helping Zhou Yan, but Zhou Fanghua was obviously enraged. If he went along with what she wanted, she might just call off his engagement with Fang Yuxin on the spot!(To be continued. If you like this novel, you are welcome to vote for it, offer a monthly ticket, and your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 152 - 152 101 Mindset (First Update) ?Chapter 152: 101 Mindset (First Update) Chapter 152: 101 Mindset (First Update) Qiu Yiming had quite a struggle, but after a lot of coaxing, he finally managed to persuade Zhou Fanghua to calm down. He couldn¡¯t quite comprehend what was going on with her lately, why she became so obsessed with the Awakening of her superpower. In his view, with him to protect her and their family¡¯s military status, Zhou Fanghua really didn¡¯t need to behave like this. But she had become possessed by the thought of Awakening, her mind fixated on it day and night. No amount of persuasion could sway her; she even harbored resentment towards Fang Yuxin because of it. This left him feeling helpless and also filled with a sense of unease. He felt very anxious, having an intuition that if things continued like this they would take a turn in a direction he didn¡¯t want them to go. But Zhou Fanghua was his mother, and as her son, all he could do was ease her worries and solve her problems. He couldn¡¯t stop her determined pursuit of Awakening her superpower. What made him even more uneasy was how Zhou Fanghua¡¯s attitude towards Fang Yuxin had changed. He remembered clearly that Zhou Fanghua used to like Fang Yuxin quite a lot. Even if their relationship wasn¡¯t as close as that of a mother and daughter, it was still fairly good. But after the disaster, Zhou Fanghua¡¯s attitude towards Fang Yuxin changed. After Fang Yuxin¡¯s refusal, her hostility towards Fang Yuxin grew even more! Sighing helplessly, Qiu Yiming recalled what Fang Yuyang had said. Suddenly he felt like Fang Yuyang was actually not wrong. He unbuttoned his shirt and leaned back in his chair, exhausted, fretting about how to start a conversation with Fang Yuxin tomorrow. Although he had appeased Zhou Fanghua, she had demanded that no matter what method he used, he had to make Fang Yuxin agree to help her Awaken her superpower by seven o¡¯clock the next evening. Otherwise, Fang Yuxin would no longer be a part of the Qiu Family. He knew about Fang Yuxin¡¯s temperament; once she had refused, she would never change her mind. Moreover, with her stubborn nature, persuading her would not be easy. As he was plagued with worry, suddenly a sickly sweet fragrance wafted through the air. He furrowed his brow, looking up in alert just in time to see Fang Mengyao approach with a graceful sway. The clinking sound of her slender high-heeled shoes on the marble floor echoed as Fang Mengyao held a tray with a delicate porcelain bowl on it, and a fine silver spoon beside it. The scent of food mixed with the sickly sweet perfume from Fang Mengyao created a peculiar odor. Qiu Yiming frowned, not fond of the smell. He was indeed a bit hungry, though. Fang Mengyao came closer, placing the tray on the desk with a perfectly compliant smile on her face ¡ª a kind of smile that would never be seen on Fang Yuxin¡¯s face. Qiu Yiming looked at her, suddenly feeling dazed. He was confused, unsure of whether his determination was right or wrong. Fang Mengyao¡¯s delicate, fair fingers held the porcelain bowl before him, lifted the lid, and put the silver spoon inside it, saying softly, ¡°I was afraid you might be hungry, so I made you something to eat. Want to try it?¡± The lid was removed, and the aroma of food instantly overwhelmed him, an irresistible temptation for his growling stomach. Yet, looking at the porcelain bowl which was smaller than his palm, Qiu Yiming couldn¡¯t help but feel a strange sensation. The food was of good quality but just a little bit ¡ª how could that be enough? Thinking about Fang Mengyao¡¯s recent behavior made Qiu Yiming¡¯s emotions even more complex. Fang Mengyao had a mania for cleanliness and was constantly in pursuit of exquisiteness in both food and belongings. Like this porcelain bowl and silver spoon, with their unique shapes and intricate engravings, one could tell they were expensive ¡ª clearly, Fang Mengyao had prepared them specially. Such refinement, before the apocalypse, was a sign of taste in life. However, in times like these, it seemed a bit too deliberate. He looked up at Fang Mengyao, and when she caught his gaze, she smiled submissively. There was no denying she was a beautiful woman and one who could make many men¡¯s hearts flutter. Yet, when such beauty was purposely molded to change, it became something horrifying. Cosmetic surgery was no longer rare; he had seen many men and women who had gone under the knife. However, even with the best doctors performing the surgery, the faces after cosmetic procedures still gave off an unnatural, distorted feeling once the makeup was removed. Fang Mengyao was a different case altogether; her appearance had subtle changes compared to before ¡ª small at first glance that one might easily overlook if not observant. But he had noticed. Chapter 153 - 153 101 Thoughts (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 153: 101 Thoughts (First Update)_2 Chapter 153: 101 Thoughts (First Update)_2 It was from that time that he discovered Fang Mengyao was hiding a secret. Later, when Fang Mengyao mentioned her Awakening of the Space superpower, it excited him, but he couldn¡¯t help but become suspicious. He didn¡¯t know what other Space superpower users were like, but Fang Mengyao¡¯s Space superpower was just a bit too peculiar. This made him suspect that Fang Mengyao must have stumbled upon something extraordinary! He could faintly sense its mysterious power, giving rise to an intense longing in his heart for the first time. Unfortunately, Fang Mengyao was very careful, and he dared not probe too obviously to alarm her. As a result, he had made no progress so far. Qiu Yiming¡¯s frustration returned as he thought of this. Pinching the slender handle of a silver spoon, he stirred it in the porcelain cup, then simply grabbed the cup and drank it down. Fang Mengyao¡¯s brow furrowed slightly at his almost rude gesture, but she quickly recovered to her usual composure. When Qiu Yiming¡¯s gaze fell on her, she considerately asked him, ¡°How does it taste? Do you like it?¡± This cautious attitude sparked a sense of pride within Qiu Yiming. Yet, thinking of the stubborn Fang Yuxin, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of irritation. If only Fang Yuxin could be as compliant as Fang Mengyao, how wonderful that would be! Therefore, he couldn¡¯t resist praising, ¡°The taste is not bad.¡± Indeed, it was not bad, and his comment was honest. Fang Mengyao obviously felt very happy, her laughter was buoyant, and her tone was light and joyful, ¡°If you like it, I can make it for you often. Alright, it¡¯s getting late. Don¡¯t work too late, Brother Yi Ming. Remember to rest early. We have to get up early tomorrow, and you really must look after your health.¡± After speaking, she playfully blinked, her spirited gaze briefly ensnaring Qiu Yiming¡¯s mind. He couldn¡¯t resist locking his gaze onto Fang Mengyao, sweeping over her inch by inch. The fabric clinging to her body outlined enticing curves that seemed like a silent invitation. Her chest zipper was pulled down slightly lower, revealing the slender line of her neck and her elegant collarbone. At this moment, Fang Mengyao was bending over to tidy up, giving Qiu Yiming a perfect angle to glimpse the limitless view beneath her clothes, a tease of half-concealment. The air grew heavier with a sweet, cloying scent. But it was exactly this scent that was like a bucket of cold water poured over Qiu Yiming, extinguishing the indescribable heat within him. He continued to watch Fang Mengyao without speaking, as the fiery look in his eyes gradually cooled. Fang Mengyao couldn¡¯t understand why he suddenly changed, and almost asked, but she also felt a vague uneasiness. Thus, she shrewdly kept her mouth shut, not dallying any longer, she picked up the tray and turned to leave. As she was about to reach the door, she twisted around, a posture that fully accentuated her advantages, her perfect S-curve, slender waist, and ample bosom a massive temptation to any normal man. She smiled at Qiu Yiming, tenderly wished him ¡°Good night,¡± and then turned back around, opened the door, and left. Qiu Yiming watched the closed door, a cold smile curling the corners of his mouth. Fang Mengyao was indeed beautiful, and he liked her submissive demeanor, but if she thought such simple seduction could hook him, she was gravely underestimating him! However, he also felt some regret. But it was not because he did not keep Fang Mengyao; rather, he regretted that Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t be as submissive as Fang Mengyao. He was a strong and domineering man. Although he liked Fang Yuxin, he was dissatisfied with her assertiveness in front of him. He admired Fang Yuxin¡¯s personality but did not wish her to exhibit such assertiveness towards him. Tapping his fingers lightly on the table, he suddenly felt that he had miscalculated in dealing with Fang Yuxin. This trouble caused by Zheng Tianhe might just be his opportunity. Only with Zhou Fanghua, he feared he might have to think of a new plan. ... Fang Mengyao carried the tray straight back to her own room, which was beautifully decorated and quite spacious. She now lived in the Qiu Family, and this villa had been redecorated. After putting things away, she walked into the bathroom, facing the bright mirror, she unzipped her garment. Her movements were slow, watching herself in the mirror gradually reveal her body, Fang Mengyao smiled with satisfaction. Almost at once, satisfaction turned to annoyance! She threw the clothes she had taken off to one side, fetched clean water to fill the bathtub about eight-tenths full, then scattered in freshly plucked rose petals. The bright red petals floated on the water, emitting an enchanting aroma under the lights. She stepped in barefoot, slowly sitting down, the cool water enveloping her and gradually soothing her inner restlessness. Whispering to herself, she said, ¡°Fang Yuxin, what is so great about you? You even have Qiu Yiming pining for you!¡± She believed she had done very well. Just now, Qiu Yiming was almost carried away with desire, yet he managed to restrain himself and disregard her advances, leaving her feeling defeated and embarrassed! Over these days, she had met many outstanding men, all of whom were enamored with her. Even Qiu Yiming had already taken a liking to her. But with the appearance of Fang Yuxin, everything was ruined! How could she not care? How could she not resent? Without Fang Yuxin, she would have won Qiu Yiming¡¯s heart by now! Thinking about the rumors circulating in the Safe Zone, Fang Mengyao laughed coldly, ¡°Fang Yuxin, let¡¯s see how long you can keep up your arrogance! I hope you can still smile after tomorrow!¡± Considering the argument she heard before, Fang Mengyao¡¯s eyes gradually brightened. Suddenly, she realized that her previous arrangements were not enough; she could do even more! Without the Qiu Family¡¯s protection, Fang Yuxin would be unable to bounce back!(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 154 - 154 102 Promotion and Seal (Second Update) ?Chapter 154: 102 Promotion and Seal (Second Update) Chapter 154: 102 Promotion and Seal (Second Update) Yiming and Mengyao¡¯s plans were unbeknownst to Yuxin. After she bid farewell to Zhou Yan with Yu Yang, she went straight home. On the way back, Yu Yang remembered something and told Yuxin that when he took Chen Qiao and others to register their identities, he also collected their mission rewards. This time, because they had killed the Spiritual Zombie Leader, the rewards were substantial, with tens of thousands in credit points and Contribution Values. Yuxin didn¡¯t care much about these rewards. After hearing about them, she didn¡¯t say anything. Yet Yu Yang seemed to be hiding his thoughts, his gaze occasionally drifting towards Yuxin with a look of concern. But it seemed he also had some reservations and didn¡¯t say anything, his expression one of stopping short of speaking. Yuxin felt uneasy under his gaze and couldn¡¯t help but ask him, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Just say whatever you want to say; you¡¯re my brother, what¡¯s there to hesitate about?¡± Who knew that Yu Yang would reply, ¡°Let¡¯s talk when we get back, walls have ears.¡± Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but laugh, but her smile quickly faded. Since Yu Yang had put it that way, what he intended to discuss must be quite serious. On their way home, the two didn¡¯t encounter any trouble, only occasionally crossing paths with some survivors who looked at them strangely. This made them think of the rumors, but since these people didn¡¯t trouble them, they couldn¡¯t be bothered to care. Once they got home, Yuxin set up the Five Wood Formation again and led her family into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Today, after treating Zhou Yan¡¯s teammates, she had a premonition that she was about to advance in her cultivation. If it weren¡¯t for the need to speak with Zhou Yan, she would not have accepted his invitation and would have rushed home as soon as possible. While they had gone to see Zhou Yan, Bai Qianqian cut open some Elemental Stones, obtaining 10 Elemental Crystals, with those compatible with their attributes ready to be absorbed. So, Yu Yang didn¡¯t bring up his worries anymore and instead focused hard on absorbing the Elemental Crystals. Since he wouldn¡¯t talk, Yuxin decided it wasn¡¯t right to keep asking. Actually, she had guessed what Yu Yang wanted to discuss, most likely his concerns about the Qiu Family. However, in Yuxin¡¯s view, what was done was done, and there was no need to dwell on these concerns. Instead, it was better to quickly enhance her strength to prepare for what was to come. Perhaps Yu Yang thought the same and thus changed his mind. Yuxin didn¡¯t disturb her family but chose a corner of the grand hall to sit down and cultivate. The hall was equipped with an exquisite Formation, and at first glance, it didn¡¯t seem particularly large. However, once one sat down to cultivate, it felt as though you were completely isolated from others, as if divided into two unrelated spaces. Even though several people were cultivating there, they didn¡¯t interfere with each other, which was quite extraordinary. Since her family all had experience absorbing Elemental Crystals, Yuxin wasn¡¯t worried this time. After she sat down cross-legged, she arranged the purified Crystal Cores around her and closed her eyes, calming her mind and circulating the Green Wood Technique. The Green Wood Technique was an extremely powerful Cultivation Technique. As the technique was practiced, a massive amount of Energy dissipated from the Crystal Cores, turning into a mist-like Spiritual Energy, which was then absorbed by Yuxin. The Spiritual Energy entered her body through the pores. Due to the practice of her Cultivation Technique, it circulated continuously within her meridians, being refined and absorbed bit by bit, ultimately converging in her Dantian. Inside the Dantian was a thumb-sized green vortex. As the Spiritual Energy entered the Dantian, it revolved around the vortex, dispersing before being attracted to it again. After an unknown length of time, as if a shattering sound echoed, the invisible barrier in front of her finally broke. In the moment the barrier shattered, a large amount of Spiritual Energy was absorbed and refined by her, and the amount of Spiritual Energy her Dantian could accommodate nearly doubled compared to before! Yuxin¡¯s previously tense mind completely relaxed, she exhaled a cloudy breath, opened her eyes, and a fleeting green light shimmered within, radiating a mysterious feeling of vitality as if bringing spring to myriad woods, involuntarily endearing others to her. Furrowing her brow, Yuxin retracted the energy fluctuations around her, dimming the mysterious feeling until it was imperceptible. This Concealing Breath Technique was now even more skillfully executed than before. Then she suddenly noticed that her family was all looking at her, including the ragdoll cat, Angela. Perhaps because she stopped cultivating, Angela ¡°meowed¡± and leaped into her arms, moving even faster than before. Chapter 155 - 155 102 Promotion and Seal (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 155: 102 Promotion and Seal (Second Update)_2 Chapter 155: 102 Promotion and Seal (Second Update)_2 Fang Yuxin extended her palm and gently rubbed its head, sensing that the energy fluctuations on its body were stronger than before. Bai Qianqian ran up behind it to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, excitedly asking, ¡°Mama, are you more powerful than before?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded her head. After entering the Qi Refining Middle Stage, she could learn and use more magic, so her strength had certainly improved quite a bit. After hearing her confirmation, Bai Qianqian was overjoyed, and then even more delightedly said, ¡°Mama, Qianqian is also more powerful than before now. If any bad guys bully you, Qianqian will help you beat them up.¡± Fang Yuxin knew he had just absorbed an Elemental Crystal, and his talent was better than before, which is why he would say that. Naturally, she was very happy about Bai Qianqian¡¯s strength increase. Their current situation could almost be said to be like walking on thin ice¡ªonly with greater strength could they survive better. Thinking this, she couldn¡¯t help but glance at her parents and elder brother. At this look, she noticed that all three of their strengths had also improved considerably, which was evident from the more intense energy fluctuations around them. She carefully recalled the scenes she had dreamt, realizing that at this rate, they should be able to advance very soon. The cultivation of superpowers is truly magical. After the initial Awakening, the energy in the body operates according to a mysterious rule. And this rule varies from person to person, based on their talent. The better the talent, the closer the rule is to perfection; the worse the talent, the cruder the rule. This leads to those with better talent cultivating at a faster pace, while those with lesser talent cultivate more slowly. In the end, the strong grow stronger, and the weak grow weaker. In the dream, Fang Yuyang¡¯s talent was quite good, but unfortunately, he had been hindered by her, unable to find more Elemental Crystals to absorb. In the end, even those who were less talented than him had surpassed him. At this thought, Fang Yuxin felt a pang of pain in her heart. Then she couldn¡¯t help but smile. Regardless, their destiny had already changed. The events of the dream had long since passed and would never happen again! However, if there was a way to find methods for her family to become stronger, she certainly wouldn¡¯t give up! Perhaps because of her strong intention, suddenly there was something new in Fang Yuxin¡¯s mind. Upon careful inspection, she realized that the heritage she once received also had seals. Originally, there was much knowledge in the heritage. When her cultivation was weak, this knowledge would be sealed to prevent her from being overwhelmed. But as her cultivation improved, the seals within the heritage would gradually unlock. The sections that had just appeared were the result of some seals being lifted. Fang Yuxin quickly reviewed them and noticed that most of the content recorded basic knowledge about Cultivation and an introduction to the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Only then did she discover that the Scripture Pavilion held many Cultivation Techniques¡ªboth primary and supplementary¡ªand exactly what her family needed! To enter the Scripture Pavilion, one must unlock its seal. Her current strength was just sufficient to do this! This was a great help to her! Fang Yuxin was thrilled, although unlocking the seal would require a huge amount of Energy and certainly consume quite a few crystal cores. For her, however, crystal cores could be replenished by hunting zombies. Compared to these crystal cores, the Cultivation Techniques in the Scripture Pavilion were much more important! With this discovery, Fang Yuxin no longer hesitated and directly said to her family, ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯m going to try to unlock the seal on the Scripture Pavilion. Please wait here.¡± She didn¡¯t mention the matter of Cultivation Techniques, in case they would be disappointed if she failed to find suitable ones for them. Fang Jintang and the others obviously had no objections but asked with concern, ¡°Will there be any danger in unlocking the seal?¡± Fang Yuxin felt warmth in her heart and shook her head as she explained, ¡°I am now the master of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, and the seals here won¡¯t attack me, so there¡¯s no danger.¡± This meant that if one was not the master of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, attempting to unlock the seals would incur their attack. Fang Jintang and others nodded, understanding Fang Yuxin¡¯s meaning. She walked to the door representing the Scripture Pavilion. The door was carved with complex runes, and Fang Yuxin knew these were the seal of the door and also its protection. Once unlocked, the runes would not disappear, but no one besides her could open this door. She reached out with her right hand, placing her palm on the center of the rune. Wood Element Spiritual Energy continuously flowed from her palm during the Qi Refining Middle Stage and was absorbed by the rune. The rune thus began to glow at a visible speed, bit by bit, until finally, the entire rune lit up with a green light representative of life. And after the rune lit up, the Array Eye appeared. Fang Yuxin launched the Basic-level Crystal Cores she had prepared into the Array Eye. Since they were Basic-level Crystal Cores, they contained far less energy than the Spirit Stones commonly used in the Cultivation World. After inserting hundreds of crystal cores, the entire rune was finally fully activated. As the rune was activated, a water-like green ripple appeared on the door. The ripple flashed and then quickly retracted, with all the light sinking into the rune. The originally not-so-prominent rune suddenly became clear, and Fang Yuxin could distinctly feel the aura on the door change. Knowing that the seal had been unlocked, she pushed hard, and the door opened silently. Instead of the Scripture Pavilion, the first thing Fang Yuxin saw upon the door opening was a smooth White Jade. The jade measured three meters wide and two meters tall, like a screen, completely blocking her line of sight. However, upon seeing this White Jade, the name of it automatically surfaced in Fang Yuxin¡¯s mind. Spirit Testing Jade. As its name suggests, it could be used to measure one¡¯s Spirit Root. And Spirit Roots are essential for Cultivation!(. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 156 - 156 103 Spirit Root (3rd Update) ?Chapter 156: 103 Spirit Root (3rd Update) Chapter 156: 103 Spirit Root (3rd Update) Upon seeing the Spirit Testing Jade, Fang Yuxin instantly realized that, before she could select cultivation techniques for her family, she first needed to help them measure their Spirit Roots. Only by knowing their Spirit Roots could she choose the most appropriate cultivation techniques for them. So she turned around and said to her family, ¡°Dad, Mom, Brother, and Qianqian, come over here.¡± The four of them had been curious ever since she pushed the door open. At the sound of her voice, they hurried over. Even the Ragdoll cat, Angela, followed behind them, driven by curiosity. Seeing Angela, Fang Yuxin¡¯s thoughts stirred once again. In the Cultivation World, there were Demon Beasts and Demon Cultivators. Many Demon Beasts possessed their own innate legacies and mostly cultivated in accordance with those legacies. Once a Demon Beast assumed human form and shed its animal shackles, it became a Demon Cultivator and was recognized by human cultivators. Angela was a Mutated Cat, which technically made it a Demon Beast, but it lacked an innate legacy, so its cultivation had to follow the rules of superpowers, and that would be a slow process. That speed would definitely be very slow, unless she could find beast-related cultivation techniques suitable for it. But firstly, she was unsure if the Scripture Pavilion contained any beast-related cultivation techniques, and secondly, although Angela had become much smarter since mutating, it had not truly awakened its spiritual wisdom. Even if she found a suitable technique, making it practice according to the technique would be extremely difficult. Thinking all this, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh. By this time, Fang Jintang and the others had already come to her side. Bai Qianqian, being a child, was extremely curious about the White Jade in front of him and couldn¡¯t contain his impatience. His eyes glittering, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Mama, what is this?¡± Seeing his curious face, Fang Yuxin suddenly didn¡¯t know how to answer. As far as she knew, Spirit Roots were divided into the five elements of Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, as well as Mutated Spirit Roots like Wind, Lightning, and Ice. The superpowers awakened by Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Fang Yuyang could correspond to Spirit Roots, but Bai Qianqian had awakened spiritual power, which left her at a loss, unable to think of any Spirit Root that corresponded to spiritual power. Yet Bai Qianqian was so young, and if others could cultivate but he couldn¡¯t, how could she bear it? And how was she supposed to tell him this cruel truth? Bai Qianqian noticed Fang Yuxin¡¯s troubled expression and suddenly became anxious, timidly asking, ¡°Mama? What¡¯s wrong? Can¡¯t you tell Qianqian?¡± Seeing him like this made Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart soften. Just then, Qu Qianhe also asked, ¡°Yuxin, what¡¯s going on? Is there some kind of taboo?¡± Of course, there was no taboo, so Fang Yuxin explained to them, ¡°This piece of White Jade is called Spirit Testing Jade. It is used to measure Spirit Roots. As long as your Spirit Roots are measured, you can select cultivation techniques suitable for you from here and officially embark on the path of cultivation.¡± Superpower users might be formidable, but they cannot compare to orthodox cultivation. Now that there was an opportunity for her family to practice cultivation, Fang Yuxin naturally did not want them to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Aside from Bai Qianqian, the other three knew that Fang Yuxin had a set of cultivation techniques and was following a different path from them. Now hearing they had such an opportunity, they were naturally very excited. Before the apocalypse, they might not have cared so much about cultivation, but with the advent of the apocalypse, the rampant spread of zombies, along with the threats from the Zheng Tianhe and the Qiu Family, they desperately wanted to become stronger! Only by becoming stronger could they protect the most important people and survive! Thus, Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Fang Yuyang¡¯s expressions changed in an instant, filled with excitement. Although Bai Qianqian did not understand the situation very well and had never heard of cultivation, he was smart. Seeing the excitement of the three, he knew it must be something good! However, thinking back to Fang Yuxin¡¯s earlier trouble, he felt a bit uneasy. He couldn¡¯t help thinking if Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want him to participate in cultivation as well. Such a doubt, however, he dared not voice. Fang Yuyang couldn¡¯t wait to ask, ¡°Yuxin, how do we test?¡± As soon as he asked, Fang Yuxin had no time to notice Bai Qianqian¡¯s expression but reflexively said, ¡°The method is very simple. You just place your palm on it, but one at a time.¡± Fang Yuyang immediately volunteered, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go first!¡± It wasn¡¯t that he was overly eager, but as he was unfamiliar with the Spirit Testing Jade and didn¡¯t know if there were any dangers, he didn¡¯t dare let Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe go first and decided to test it himself first. Chapter 157 - 157 103 Spirit Root (3rd Update)_2 ?Chapter 157: 103 Spirit Root (3rd Update)_2 Chapter 157: 103 Spirit Root (3rd Update)_2 Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe both understood his concerns, so neither of them felt angry, but rather worried. Fang Yuxin, although this was also her first time witnessing the Spirit Testing Jade, had received an inheritance after all, so she was aware that testing for Spirit Roots would not be dangerous and therefore did not stop him. Fang Jintang stepped forward and extended his right hand, placing his palm on the Spirit Testing Jade. As soon as he made contact, he felt a chill invading from his palm. At first, he thought it was his imagination, as the White Jade itself was cool to the touch. But then, he realized it wasn¡¯t so. Indeed, there was a cold fluctuation emanating from the White Jade, passing through his palm and into his body along his arm. The discovery made him tense up instantly, yet he dared not reveal any worry on his face to concern his family. Fortunately, the fluctuation bore no malice; it circulated within his body once and then receded back into the White Jade. Simultaneously, the White Jade was dyed a bright and vivid green, spreading quickly. The color, bright and alive, indicated that Fang Yuyang possessed a Wind Spirit Root, and his talent was not bad. Fang Yuyang was not quite clear what this meant and turned to look at Fang Yuxin. At the same time, Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Bai Qianqian also turned their gaze towards her. Fang Yuxin said excitedly, ¡°Brother has a Single Wind Spiritual Root. Wind Spirit Roots belong to the Mutated Spiritual Roots, and a Single Spirit Root in the Cultivation World is considered a Heavenly Spiritual Root. Someone like that, even in the cultivation world, is called a genius!¡± Of course, there were more talented individuals, like her Pure Wood Spirit Body. The Cultivation World was populous, and Heavenly Spiritual Roots could always be found each year, but Pure Wood Spirit Bodies were exceedingly rare. Innate Pure Wood Spirit Bodies were precious, not seen perhaps in centuries. Acquired Pure Wood Spirit Bodies were even rarer, appearing only through an incredible stroke of luck, if ever! Originally, Fang Yuxin was a Single Wood Spiritual Root; if not for absorbing the ¡®Chaos Green Lotus¡¯ condensed from energy, she would never have become a Pure Wood Spirit Body. However, since she herself was a Pure Wood Spirit Body, Fang Yuxin felt there was no need to show off in front of her family members. Knowing Fang Yuyang¡¯s uncommon talent, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were understandably overjoyed. In contrast, Fang Yuyang himself was quite unaccustomed to being praised by Fang Yuxin in this manner. He simply said, ¡°Alright, Dad, Mom, it¡¯s your turn to test.¡± Bai Qianqian obediently stood beside Fang Yuxin, looking at Fang Yuyang with envy. He too wished to become a genius. After Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe had their turn, neither had the good luck of Fang Yuyang; the results showed Dual Spiritual Roots for both. Fang Jintang had a Dual Attribute of Water and Earth Spiritual Roots, Qu Qianhe, Fire and Wood. However, Fang Jintang¡¯s Water Spirit Root was weak while the Earth Spirit Root was strong; Qu Qianhe, on the other hand, had a strong Fire Spirit Root and a weak Wood Element. Therefore, when their superpowers awakened, they had each only awakened one. Dual Spiritual Roots naturally cultivated slower than Single Attribute Roots because, if focusing on one Element, the cultivation process had to avoid absorbing Spiritual Energy of the other, which was far more cumbersome than for Single Spirit Roots. Yet, if cultivating both attributes, without finding a Cultivation Technique that accommodates both, it became even more troubling. Fang Yuxin, however, thought of something. Since absorbing Elemental Crystals helped Ordinary People awaken superpowers and improve talent, then perhaps Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe could try to absorb Water and Wood Elemental Crystals to see if they could strengthen their respective Spirit Roots. If Dual Spiritual Roots could be balanced, the talent significantly surpasses that of one strong and one weak. She shared her speculation, and Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were both willing to give it a try. Acting simply and immediately upon their decision, to avoid disturbing others, they stepped out of the Scripture Pavilion and sat down in the great hall, taking out Water and Wood Elemental Crystals to absorb. Fang Yuxin was a bit worried and planned to watch over them, but at that moment, Bai Qianqian tugged at her hand, ¡°Mama, I also want to test my Spirit Root.¡± Fang Yuxin immediately remembered her prior concerns, but looking at Bai Qianqian¡¯s eager eyes, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to refuse. So, she simply said, ¡°Alright, Qianqian, go ahead and try.¡± Upon hearing her words, Bai Qianqian visibly relaxed and then walked expectantly towards the Spirit Testing Jade, placing her palm against it. Fang Yuxin then said to Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother, why don¡¯t you go look for a suitable Cultivation Technique now? There are many stored here, and you should find one that fits you.¡± Fang Yuyang was actually a bit worried about Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe. Thinking for a moment, he said, ¡°There¡¯s no rush about the Cultivation Technique. I¡¯ll go keep an eye on Mom and Dad to make sure they¡¯re okay.¡± Fang Yuxin thought about it and agreed it made sense, nodding in assent. After Fang Yuyang left with strides, she turned back to watch Bai Qianqian, and that¡¯s when she noticed a change on the White Jade. Gold, green, blue, red, and yellow¡ªthe five colors spread evenly across the jade, their hues bright and vibrant, more dazzling than a rainbow after rain. Since Bai Qianqian had awakened spiritual power, she had always worried he had no Spirit Root, but unexpectedly, he turned out to have Five Spiritual Roots. In the Cultivation World, such Spirit Roots were almost referred to as Wasted Spiritual Roots, because, although they could cultivate, their progress was extremely slow, and they rarely achieved much. The sole exception was if the five Spirit Roots were precisely Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, and all were evenly distributed. Such Five Spiritual Roots were known as Five Elements Spirit Root, and with the right Cultivation Technique, fostering the endless cycle of the five elements, the pace of cultivation could be even faster than that of a Heavenly Spiritual Root! However, a cultivator with Five Elements Spirit Roots has more abilities than one with a Heavenly Spiritual Root, so with the correct Cultivation Technique, the strength of Five Elements Spirit Roots is greater, making it as exceptional an existence as Fang Yuxin¡¯s Pure Wood Spirit Body! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 158 - 158 104 Selecting a Cultivation Technique (First ?Chapter 158: 104 Selecting a Cultivation Technique (First Update) Chapter 158: 104 Selecting a Cultivation Technique (First Update) Bai Qianqian¡¯s possession of the Five Elements Spirit Root was an exception for Fang Yuxin, and even more so, a pleasant surprise. Initially, she was quite worried that Bai Qianqian lacked a Spirit Root; such a blow would be too much for the little child. It¡¯s not about scarcity, but rather inequality: humans inevitably compare themselves to others, and if Bai Qianqian was the only one without a Spirit Root, he wouldn¡¯t be able to find a suitable Cultivation Technique. Such a child wouldn¡¯t necessarily develop any dark thoughts, but sadness would certainly be unavoidable. Moreover, he had always wanted to enhance his power, and without a suitable Cultivation Technique, he would invariably risk developing a Heart Demon. Fang Yuxin had always lived a life of luxury and privilege, ignorant of the hardships of the common people. Before, she couldn¡¯t even imagine how vile human nature could be. However, after experiencing that dream, she came to understand many things, yet her mindset was still not transparent enough. Now that part of the seal in her inheritance had been broken, she realized that once people became obsessed with something, it was easy for them to develop a Heart Demon. Once a Heart Demon emerged, a person could become extreme, impulsive, blinded by the Heart Demon, unable to see the truth of certain matters. Bai Qianqian was still a child, barely understanding the world, naive and innocent. Fang Yuxin hoped that he wouldn¡¯t someday develop a Heart Demon and torment himself. Now that she knew not only did he have a Spirit Root, but also the extremely rare Five Elements Spirit Root, Fang Yuxin felt this was as good as it could get. After confirming Bai Qianqian¡¯s Spirit Root, Fang Yuxin finally breathed a sigh of relief. She didn¡¯t rush to find a Cultivation Technique for Bai Qianqian, but instead took him out to check on Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe. Perhaps her luck was indeed very good; what she had mentioned offhandedly had turned out to work! When they went out, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were absorbing the Elemental Crystal. But probably because of their weak Spirit Roots, their absorption seemed much more difficult than before, and their expressions appeared much more painful. Fang Yuyang stayed by their side, looking on with concern. Seeing Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian come out, he lowered his voice and asked, ¡°How did it go? What type of Spirit Root does Qianqian have?¡± Fang Yuxin briefly mentioned the Five Elements Spirit Root, and Fang Yuyang, upon hearing this, became delighted and couldn¡¯t help but ruffle Bai Qianqian¡¯s hair joyfully. Then he said, ¡°I¡¯ll stay here with mom and dad, you take Qianqian to pick a Cultivation Technique.¡± Seeing that Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian both frowned, obviously uneasy, he laughed again, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with me here, mom and dad will definitely make it through.¡± In fact, he didn¡¯t want Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian to see their parents in pain. He sensed that although Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe could absorb the Elemental Crystal this time, the situation was much more perilous than before. The idea had been Fang Yuxin¡¯s, and he knew it was well-intentioned; he wouldn¡¯t blame her, but worried that seeing her parents struggling would make her blame herself. Rather than that, it was better to let her pick out a Cultivation Technique, out of sight, out of mind. Seeing Fang Yuxin unable to decide, he added, ¡°Xinxin, it¡¯s getting late, the day will break in two hours, you should quickly go and pick a Cultivation Technique. There¡¯s me to watch over mom and dad, nothing will go wrong.¡± Fang Yuxin carefully sensed and felt that although Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe looked very painful, the life force inside them was very vibrant. She breathed a slight sigh of relief internally, then sent two streams of Spiritual Energy into their hearts. As a Pure Wood Spirit Body, her Spiritual Energy was full of life force, which happened to be able to help Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe. This capability was discovered by her after helping Zhou Zheng and Huang Yue awaken their superpower. Therefore, in reality, she had lied to Zheng Tianhe and Zhou Fanghua; although the Zombie Virus was critical in awakening the superpower, without the Spiritual Energy she sent boosting the life force inside them, the two of them wouldn¡¯t have survived under those conditions. With her injected Spiritual Energy, the condition of Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe improved slightly, and only then did Fang Yuxin set her heart at ease and went with Bai Qianqian to look for a Cultivation Technique. Since the Heavenly Spiritual Root was so rare, most of the people with Spirit Roots had Dual Attribute, Three Elements, Four Elements, or even Five Elements Spirit Roots, making cultivation extremely difficult. Consequently, over time, Daneng began to create Cultivation Techniques for multiple Spirit Root attributes. As these techniques were practiced, they gradually evolved into new techniques. Thus one generated two, two generated three, and three generated endless possibilities. Chapter 159 - 159 104 Choosing a Cultivation Technique (First ?Chapter 159: 104 Choosing a Cultivation Technique (First Update)_2 Chapter 159: 104 Choosing a Cultivation Technique (First Update)_2 However, even with tens of thousands of Cultivation Techniques in the world, it was exceedingly difficult for cultivators to find one that suited them. If the technique was not a good fit, even if there was some benefit in the early stages, cultivation would become increasingly arduous later on. Many people lacked a foundation in the beginning and could only cultivate techniques that were not right for them until they found an opportunity to switch to one that was more suitable. However, time was inevitably wasted, and many powerful techniques often had numerous restrictions, like the Green Wood Technique practiced by Fang Yuxin, which required a Pure Wood Spirit Body and was extremely demanding. Therefore, even though many cultivators later came across opportunities to cultivate techniques that suited them, very few ever achieved great success. Fang Yuxin was fortunate enough to have received such a significant opportunity, which allowed her family to start off with techniques suitable for them. But with at least a thousand techniques in the Scripture Pavilion, whether or not the most suitable one could be found remained unknown. Fang Yuxin, taking Bai Qianqian back into the Scripture Pavilion, earnestly reminded her, ¡°Qianqian, you have a Five Elements Spirit Root, so you must choose techniques that cover all five elements: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, and also take a look at techniques related to the Wind Element, Water-Earth Dual Attribute, and Fire-Wood Dual Attribute. Select all the suitable ones, and later let grandpa, grandma, and uncle pick their own.¡± Fang Yuxin felt a bit gloomy while saying this¡ªalthough she had learned some basic knowledge about Spirit Roots, she was utterly clueless about the various Cultivation Techniques in the Cultivation World; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t need to search with Bai Qianqian like finding a needle in the ocean. Bai Qianqian listened to her instructions and nodded seriously, promising, ¡°Mama, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll choose carefully.¡± Although he didn¡¯t fully grasp what cultivation was, he knew that as long as he picked a technique suitable for him, he would become stronger and wouldn¡¯t have to worry about bad people bullying his ¡®mama¡¯ anymore! The Scripture Pavilion was vast, and as they passed the White Jade, they first saw densely packed wooden racks holding Jade Scrolls. However, as soon as Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian took a step forward, the wooden racks in front of them simply disappeared, along with the entire grand hall of the Scripture Pavilion. It was as if they had stepped into boundless void, and in that void, there were dazzling, twinkling stars. Upon closer examination, those stars were actually orbs of spirit light, each embedding a Jade Scroll. Inside the Jade Scrolls were sealed the various Cultivation Techniques. Fang Yuxin, holding Bai Qianqian¡¯s hand, couldn¡¯t help but look back, only to see a hazy, illusory mass of white light in the distance¡ªit was the same White Jade they had used to test their Spirit Roots. Clearly, a Formation had been placed in this Scripture Pavilion; they had merely stepped forward, yet looking back, the White Jade seemed as distant as the horizon, an extraordinary marvel. Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian walked on. Below their feet was the endless void; yet, stepping on it felt solid ground. She had intended to split up with Bai Qianqian to choose different techniques, but after encountering this unexpected situation, she dared not do so. Although the Formation had not shown any killing intent so far, she faintly knew that it was extremely complicated and harbored a Killing Array! Anyone who attacked the Formation would trigger the Killing Array, which would then utterly annihilate them! Bai Qianqian was still a child, and she was worried that an accidental disturbance might trigger the Killing Array, which would be dangerous! Even though she was the master of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, with her current low strength, she couldn¡¯t freely control the Formation. If the Killing Array were to be triggered, even if she wouldn¡¯t be harmed, she couldn¡¯t assure Bai Qianqian¡¯s safety. She led Bai Qianqian towards the nearest orb of light; as her hand touched the orb, ripples like those on water spread across it, and after a slight resistance, she grasped the Jade Scroll and took it out. ¡°Qianqian, remember, project your spiritual power into the Jade Scroll to see its contents,¡± she instructed, while casting her Spiritual Sense into the scroll. But she immediately realized her mistake. In the Cultivation World, Jade Scrolls were read using Spiritual Sense, so she subconsciously thought the same would be true here. However, when she injected her Spiritual Sense, she found that the scroll was sealed and its contents were inaccessible! Her probe with Spiritual Sense had disturbed the seal on the scroll, and a vague intention emerged. She then understood that the scrolls here were only readable by those who were destined for them. The ¡°destined¡± person, the one whose nature aligned with the technique, could see the contents of the scroll. In this way, although there were thousands of Jade Scrolls here, sealed with thousands of techniques, each person could only see the technique that suited them and not glimpse any others. If Fang Jintang and the others were unlucky and didn¡¯t find a technique suited for them, they would end up unable to practice anything! Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help feeling frustrated, but she quickly adjusted her mood, thinking that actually, this was not too bad. People newly embarked on the cultivation path knew nothing and couldn¡¯t discern which technique was most suitable for them. If they saw too many options, it could hinder their progress. This way, they could concentrate without distraction solely on the technique that suited them. Fang Yuxin sighed, handed the Jade Scroll to Bai Qianqian, ¡°Qianqian, try if you can see the contents. Be careful with the seal on the Jade Scroll, just a gentle probe, never overexert yourself.¡± Bai Qianqian carefully accepted the Jade Scroll and explored it with his Spiritual Tentacles, then shook his head at Fang Yuxin, ¡°Mama, I can¡¯t see anything.¡± Fang Yuxin narrowed her eyes, ¡°Keep looking! I don¡¯t believe that with so many techniques, we can¡¯t find the right one for you!¡± After saying this, she casually put the Jade Scroll back. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 160 - 160 105 Each Has Arrangements (Second Update) ?Chapter 160: 105 Each Has Arrangements (Second Update) Chapter 160: 105 Each Has Arrangements (Second Update) Fang Yuxin led Bai Qianqian along, choosing carefully. Each time, it was she who retrieved the Jade Scroll from the spirit light, then handed it to Bai Qianqian to check. After examining a total of 352 scrolls, Bai Qianqian finally found the Cultivation Technique meant for him. This time, the moment he took the Jade Scroll in hand, Bai Qianqian felt something different. Then, with practiced ease, he probed into it with his Spiritual Tentacles, and found that the seal within the scroll wasn¡¯t immobile as before. Instead, it rippled with waves of light and then dissolved like melting snow. Immediately after, he saw the name of the Cultivation Technique¡ªFive Elements Rotation Technique! The essence of the Five Elements Rotation Technique was the eternal cycle of the five elements, perfectly suited for someone with a Five Elements Spirit Root. Even though Bai Qianqian couldn¡¯t understand the subsequent arcane descriptions, he had an inkling that this was indeed suitable for him. He couldn¡¯t help but grip the Jade Scroll tightly in his hand, his face flushed and his expression one of excitement. However, just as he was emotionally stirred, a dazzling golden light suddenly shot out from the scroll and pierced into his Sea of Consciousness! Instinctively, he attempted to block it with his spiritual power to no avail; his spiritual barrier had barely formed when it completely disintegrated in the golden light. At first, he panicked, but then he realized that the golden light was the sealed technique within the scroll. As the golden light entered his Sea of Consciousness, his mind was instantly filled with many obscure characters. However, these characters were fleeting, and he couldn¡¯t remember a single one! As the golden light vanished and the seal within the scroll reemerged, the Jade Scroll returned to its original appearance. At the same time, the first volume of the Five Elements Rotation Technique appeared in Bai Qianqian¡¯s mind. The rest of the content was sealed, unlockable only when his cultivation reached the necessary level. This was actually a form of protection by the mighty being who had imprinted the technique into the scroll for their successors. The full text of the technique was too vast, and Bai Qianqian, still young, could not have sustained it in his Sea of Consciousness, which is why the content after the first volume was sealed. Even though it was only the first volume, Bai Qianqian was thrilled. He reluctantly returned the Jade Scroll to Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, and before he could speak, Fang Yuxin excitedly asked, ¡°Qianqian, did you find it?¡± Bai Qianqian nodded hurriedly, his soft, mushy voice earnestly responding, ¡°Mama, it¡¯s the Five Elements Rotation Technique. The technique has been transferred into my Sea of Consciousness, but I can only see the first volume, the rest is sealed.¡± Fang Yuxin breathed a sigh of relief. She had been leading Bai Qianqian along this entire time without finding a thing and was starting to feel anxious. Hearing the name Five Elements Rotation Technique, she vaguely felt that it must be an excellent technique and couldn¡¯t help but feel overjoyed. Cradling the Jade Scroll, she respectfully placed it back into the orb of light, then, with Bai Qianqian in tow, they bowed toward the light before leaving. Both of them noticed that this was a truly magical place. After turning around, the orbs of light they had previously touched had disappeared without a trace. Oddly enough, they both felt as though the orbs were still there, just invisible to them now. That cluster of white light remained distant, but oddly, it looked no closer than when they had first seen it. It seemed as if they had walked so far, but in reality, they had been merely marking time in place. Fang Yuxin knew this to be the marvel of the Formation and didn¡¯t delve into it further, instead pulling Bai Qianqian toward the White Jade. They had barely taken a step when the scene before them changed abruptly. The endless void around them began to crack and vanished without a trace, revealing the White Jade in front of them, standing solidly there, touchable just by reaching out a hand. Bai Qianqian was still a child, innocent and carefree, and he couldn¡¯t help exclaiming, ¡°Wow! Ma, that was so amazing just now!¡± Fang Yuxin nodded in agreement, finding everything that had just happened incredibly magical. The next moment, both of them couldn¡¯t help but look back. Behind them, the void was nowhere to be seen, only the usual wooden racks and Jade Scrolls remained, indistinguishable from before and as ordinary as ever. Bai Qianqian exclaimed again, ¡°Wow!¡± Fang Yuxin led him away, quickly heading back to Fang Jintang and the others. Their minds were withdrawn from the wondrous Illusion Realm, as they instinctively looked toward Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, relieved to see they were fine. They had spent quite some time choosing the Jade Scroll, and just as they came out, it so happened that Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe had finished absorbing the Elemental Crystal. Fang Yuxin walked over, checked on them, and then couldn¡¯t wait to have them test their Spirit Root again to see if it really had an effect. Chapter 161 - 161 105 Each Has Arrangement (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 161: 105 Each Has Arrangement (Second Update)_2 Chapter 161: 105 Each Has Arrangement (Second Update)_2 The two naturally agreed and, upon testing, found that the once weaker Water Spirit Root and Wood Spirit Root had both become a bit stronger, although they were still not as robust as the Earth Spirit Root and Fire Spirit Root. This result, for them, was already very satisfying. Fang Jintang then said, ¡°It seems that we will need to continue absorbing Water Element Elemental Crystals and Wood Element Elemental Crystals to balance the two types of Spirit Roots.¡± After saying this, he asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, is that right?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, briefly recounted the events at the Scripture Pavilion, and then glanced at the time. It was already five in the morning and daylight was beginning to appear. She said, ¡°Mom and Dad, absorb the Elemental Crystals for the time being and balance your Spirit Roots. Afterward, we can go to the Scripture Pavilion to find suitable Cultivation Techniques. Qianqian, since you¡¯ve obtained a suitable Cultivation Technique, take this opportunity to try to comprehend it. Bro, there¡¯s still some time left¡ªlet me take you in to choose a Cultivation Technique.¡± Although daylight was already breaking, they didn¡¯t need to rush out, and it was the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the remaining time to try their luck and see if they could select a suitable Cultivation Technique for Fang Yuyang. However, at this moment, Qu Qianhe suggested, ¡°Xinxin, do you still have those Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits you gave us last time? Your dad and I want to try again to see if they work. Although we successfully absorbed the Elemental Crystals just now, we both found that this absorption was much more difficult than before. If we continue to absorb Elemental Crystals, it will probably become even more challenging, so we want to try the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits.¡± The Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit had the effect of washing the marrow, which after consumption could expel impurities from the body and improve one¡¯s talent. However, unlike Elemental Crystals, it did not have the effect of tempering the Spirit Root. After discovering the difficulty in absorbing Water Element Elemental Crystals and Wood Element Elemental Crystals, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were not ready to give up and thus wanted to test if the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit might help. Fang Yuxin happened to have some remaining Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits stored in a Jade Box. Upon hearing their request, she took out the fruits and handed one to Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe each. Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits were much safer than Elemental Crystals, and even if they were ineffective, they wouldn¡¯t cause harm. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t pay too much attention to it and simply cautioned their parents to be careful before heading to the Scripture Pavilion. Bai Qianqian found a quiet place, sat down with her legs crossed, closed her eyes, and browsed the Five Elements Rotation Technique in her Sea of Consciousness. Interestingly enough, this Cultivation Technique was originally sealed within a Jade Scroll. When the beam of golden light entered his Sea of Consciousness, it automatically transformed into a golden book that could be perused with a thought. However, the pages beyond the first volume were blank due to the seal, and only those of the first volume had inscriptions. These characters did not appear to be written with a pen, but rather, carved, as if each stroke contained a thought or intuition. Bai Qianqian slowly comprehended and soon became immersed in it. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe also sat down cross-legged. It was not their first time consuming the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, and with the experience from the first time plus their innate superpowers, they didn¡¯t need to soak in hot water. This time, they could use their superpowers to stimulate and guide the medicinal power of the fruit. The two sat facing each other and nodded seriously. Fang Jintang said, ¡°Qianhe, be careful!¡± Qu Qianhe similarly expressed, ¡°Jintang, you be careful as well!¡± After exchanging smiles, all their fondness for each other was conveyed in that glance. Then, without hesitation, they swallowed the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits, closed their eyes, and began to guide the fruit¡¯s power with their superpowers. The intense pain soon began, spreading relentlessly, but the two embraced it like something precious. Although they looked young, they were actually quite aged and had long since lost the ambition of their youth. But for the sake of their children, they were willing to bear it, to strive, just so that their offspring wouldn¡¯t be bullied and could live upright, safe, and sound lives! ... After Fang Yuxin reentered the Scripture Pavilion, she first informed Fang Yuyang about the Illusion Realm to prepare him mentally. Then she took a step forward with him, calmly accepting the spatial changes. The light globes that had been accessed before had vanished when she left with Bai Qianqian, but now, with Fang Yuyang accompanying her, the light globes reappeared exactly as before! Having already experienced it once, Fang Yuxin was very calm. Fang Yuyang, forewarned by her, was not surprised either. She had Fang Yuyang try to retrieve a Jade Scroll from the light globes, but since Fang Yuxin was the true master of this place, Fang Yuyang¡¯s hand passed right through the globes, unable to touch anything. With no other option, Fang Yuxin had to follow the previous method, personally retrieving the Jade Scrolls for Fang Yuyang to examine. Fortunately, this time they were luckier, or perhaps the rarity of the Five Elements Spirit Root worked in their favor¡ªafter only touching 178 Jade Scrolls, they found a suitable Cultivation Technique for Fang Yuyang. The name of the Cultivation Technique was the Chaotic Wind Element Technique¡ªit sounded ancient and domineering, as if it could tear a person to shreds. Fang Yuxin was very happy for Fang Yuyang. Although she had not seen the contents of the Cultivation Technique herself, she could tell it was exceptionally powerful! Fang Yuyang too was clearly delighted. Although he had never been involved in Cultivation, the moment he saw this Cultivation Technique, he felt an inexplicable affinity for it, as if it was calling out to him. It was a peculiar sense of harmony, a feeling that only cultivators who had chosen the right Cultivation Technique could experience. This was a profound opportunity, for with this kind of harmony, Fang Yuyang¡¯s future understanding of the Cultivation Technique would be twice as effective with half the effort. However, at that moment, Fang Yuxin suddenly sensed that someone had triggered the Formation she had set up outside! Who is it! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) and cast your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 162 - 162 106 Intruder Alert (Third Update) ?Chapter 162: 106 Intruder Alert! (Third Update) Chapter 162: 106 Intruder Alert! (Third Update) Fang Yuxin¡¯s countenance changed the moment she realized the Formation had been disturbed. Fang Yuyang was standing by her side and quickly noticed the change in her expression. A thought struck him, and he quickly guessed the reason, ¡°What happened, someone broke in?¡± Fang Yuxin maintained a grave expression and nodded. Seeing this, Fang Yuyang¡¯s face also swiftly darkened, his earlier joy at finding a suitable Cultivation Technique completely gone. He asked in a deep voice, ¡°Do you know who it is?¡± Fang Yuxin, who was at that moment connecting with the exterior Five Wood Formation, replied with a cold laugh when she heard his question, ¡°Brother, you know them too. Turns out it¡¯s someone we¡¯ve saved before!¡± At those words, Fang Yuyang¡¯s expression turned even uglier! He wasn¡¯t a saint, nor did he wish to be the kind farmer who gets bitten by the snake he saved! Worried about the changes outside and a potential intruder in the house, he immediately said, ¡°Let¡¯s go out now!¡± Fang Yuxin nodded and followed him with quick strides out of the Scripture Pavilion, then she channeled a surge of Spiritual Energy towards the door, causing it to slowly close. When the siblings stepped outside, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe had already absorbed the potency of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit and were doing their final Breathing. The ominous aura wrapping around the siblings startled them, and they opened their eyes, slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air. Bai Qianqian was also disturbed and opened her eyes to find Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang looking upset. His brows immediately furrowed as he wondered which bastard had upset his ¡®Mama¡¯ again. Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang exchanged glances and furrowed their brows as well. Qu Qianhe asked, ¡°Xinxin, Yuyang, what¡¯s going on? Why do you look so troubled?¡± As she spoke, a sudden sense of dread gripped her heart, an ominous premonition instantly arising, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me... you couldn¡¯t find a suitable Cultivation Technique?¡± Her voice was very hesitant as she spoke, clearly reluctant to accept such an outcome. Hearing this, Fang Jintang¡¯s brows knitted even tighter. He and Qu Qianhe had understood, after Fang Yuxin¡¯s explanation, that although the Scripture Pavilion housed thousands of Cultivation Techniques, acquiring one depended on fate. Without the right fate, one couldn¡¯t find a technique that suited them; even wanting to forcibly cultivate other techniques was impossible because they wouldn¡¯t be able to comprehend the content within. It¡¯s just that they had been happy when they learned Bai Qianqian had found a technique suitable for himself, and they had subconsciously ignored this possibility. Now that they saw Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang with such dark expressions, they remembered this issue and felt very uneasy. The siblings hadn¡¯t expected them to guess this possibility and were somewhat caught between laughter and tears. Not wanting to worry their parents, Fang Yuyang said, ¡°Dad, Mom, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already found a Cultivation Technique that suits me. It¡¯s just that Xinxin suddenly detected someone disturbing her Formation, so we¡¯re very angry.¡± Upon his explanation, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe first let out sighs of relief but then their faces turned sullen. Someone had disturbed Fang Yuxin¡¯s Formation! What did that mean? It meant someone was attempting to intrude into their home! They truly thought they were easy targets! Fang Jintang then said, ¡°Let¡¯s go out now! I want to see who dares to come to our door!¡± Fang Yuxin, however, said, ¡°Dad! When we go out later, you and Mom should stay in the room with Qianqian. You were ¡®Ordinary People¡¯ before, and if people find out that you have suddenly Awakened superpowers, it would be hard to explain. We¡¯ll handle the outside issue.¡± Though Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were furious inside and wished to confront the intruder alongside their children, they both knew Fang Yuxin was right. If people discovered that they had ¡®suddenly¡¯ Awakened superpowers, the situation would become even more complicated! So, they were not suitable to come forward. Despite the fact that, as new superpower users, their sensitivity to energy fluctuations was not very strong, if it was not for the small Spell Fang Yuxin had transmitted to them to conceal the energy fluctuations of their bodies, they would not have been able to hide for so long. Yet, even with such a spell, it was not a guarantee of absolute safety. For a Spiritual Superpower User like Zheng Tianhe, their perception was extremely keen. If they encountered Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Bai Qianqian, they would definitely detect the subtle energy fluctuations on them! Chapter 163 - 163 106 Intruder Alert (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 163: 106 Intruder Alert! (Third Update)_2 Chapter 163: 106 Intruder Alert! (Third Update)_2 Fang Yuxin had been extremely cautious in her actions since she had that strange dream. This time, they were inevitably going to have a falling out with the Qiu Family, and with Zheng Tianhe lurking covetously nearby, she had to be even more careful and cautious! During their conversation, she had already brought people back home. Although Fang Jintang and the other two were very reluctant, they could only stay inside the house. Compared to supporting Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, they were even less willing to hold them back! Because of the Formation, the entire villa was wrapped in ivy vines, and the yard was planted with many dandelions, the white fluff balls looking very beautiful, a kind of dreamlike beauty. The visitors, looking at all this vibrant life and thinking of their own homes, felt quite bitter. What made them even more jealous was that the yard was also planted with many vegetables and fruits, each one green and sparkling with moisture, fresh and juicy, continually tempting their taste buds. After the apocalypse, most survivors had basically said ¡®goodbye¡¯ to fresh vegetables and fruits, and even if they were lucky enough to find some, they were all wilted and not fresh at all. Many things, when they are abundant, are not highly valued and are not cherished. But once lost, once their numbers sharply decrease, they become extremely precious. Hence, phrases like ¡®scarcity makes something valuable¡¯ and ¡®as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns¡¯ exist. The lower the survivors were, the more miserable their lives after the apocalypse, eating instant noodles, biscuits, or just plain white rice and thin porridge every day, with hardly any side dishes. How could they not be envious and jealous when looking at the Fang Family¡¯s vibrant vegetable garden? Most of those who came to the Fang Family¡¯s place this time were Ordinary People. They came here with just one purpose, to force Fang Yuxin to help them awaken their superpowers! This idea was nothing short of fantastical. If it were just one person, even if they had the intention, they would never have the courage to do so, unless they were someone in a high position like Zhou Fanghua. But once such thoughts were incited and exploited by someone with an agenda, once they united, with their numbers increasing, their courage naturally grew. People have a herd mentality; the more there are, the easier it is to take chances. Just as these people¡¯s eyes heatedly stared at the Fang Family¡¯s vegetable garden, almost rushing over to rob it by force, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang walked out from the house. Fang Yuyang held a handgun, and seeing these people¡¯s eyes turning green like hungry wolves, he fired a shot into the sky. ¡°Bang!¡± The loud gunshot sobered everyone up. Seeing the smoking handgun in Fang Yuyang¡¯s hand, they became frightened. But then, they realized they were ¡®numerous and powerful¡¯ and felt there was no need to fear just Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang. Because of the Formation¡¯s interference, these people had managed to open the front gate¡¯s lock but could not enter the yard and could only crowd at the entrance. The siblings, looking at this packed crowd, instantly saw Lin Feiyin standing at the very front and behind her, seven familiar faces hiding in the crowd. Fang Yuxin raised an eyebrow, scanning everyone once over and suddenly felt that the situation was not too bad. Next to Lin Feiyin stood the tall Tie Qiang, a power-type Awakener, strong but not very bright. Brother Lu and his few people, who she had met before, hadn¡¯t come, and the impulsive young girl Tian Tian hadn¡¯t come either. Besides Lin Feiyin and Tie Qiang, there were seven other superpower users present. However, Fang Yuxin could tell from their energy fluctuations that these seven were not very strong. Besides these nine superpower users, all the others were Ordinary People. What they were here for was all too clear! Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had followed Zhou Yan to the university yesterday and rescued quite a few people. What comforted the siblings was that among those Ordinary People, apart from the seven girls who were almost left behind by them, no one else had come. Whether they were smart or grateful to the siblings, their absence at least spared the siblings some heartache. Instead, those seven girls hid in the crowd, their eyes shimmering with greed, their faces hideously ugly! Lin Feiyin, seeing the siblings, brightened her eyes and called out, ¡°Miss Fang, we have something to discuss with you. Could you let us in?¡± Fang Yuxin, seeing these people eyeing her vegetable garden with greedy gazes, scoffed, ¡°Let you in? To do what? Rob my family¡¯s vegetable garden?¡± Lin Feiyin¡¯s face turned red in an instant, as if greatly humiliated, then she indignantly responded, ¡°Miss Fang, that¡¯s not right to say. We are all compatriots and should help each other. We sincerely came to ask for your help. It was just out of curiosity that we looked more at your vegetable garden. How does that become robbery? You can¡¯t just slander us!¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at the damaged lock and disdainfully said, ¡°You say you came to discuss things? I feel like, you came to question us! Lin Feiyin, I want to ask you, you led people to break into my house by damaging the door¡¯s lock, is that your way of showing courtesy and attitude?¡± ¡°I...¡± Lin Feiyin was stumped, her gaze subconsciously turning to Tie Qiang next to her. It wasn¡¯t her who had broken the lock, it was Tie Qiang. When they arrived and found the door locked, Tie Qiang, impulsive by nature, had broken the lock with his hands before she could stop him! How could she be blamed! Thinking this, Lin Feiyin regained her confidence and found her voice, ¡°It was an emergency. We didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Why fuss over every detail?¡± However, just as she finished speaking, Fang Yuxin waved her hand and slapped Lin Feiyin across the face in mid-air. ¡°Slap!¡± Lin Feiyin screamed, ¡°Ah!¡± Covering her face, she looked at Fang Yuxin in disbelief, ¡°You... how could you...¡± Fang Yuxin smiled, ¡°It was an emergency, right? I didn¡¯t mean to. You¡¯re always so magnanimous, surely you won¡¯t fuss over every detail with me, right?¡±(To be continued. If you like this story, please visit qidian.com to cast your vote for a recommendation or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 164 - 164 107 Fear (First update) ?Chapter 164: 107 Fear! (First update) Chapter 164: 107 Fear! (First update) Fang Yuxin, in front of everyone, slapped Lin Feiyin across the face through the air, making Lin Feiyin lose all face. And her next words set Lin Feiyin ablaze with rage! Lin Feiyin, clutching her face, glared at Fang Yuxin with eyes that almost burst into flames. She was truly enraged and her voice carried a rare sharpness, ¡°Fang Yuxin! I see you did this on purpose! I really didn¡¯t expect you to be this kind of person!¡± She wanted to continue, but Fang Yuxin, impatiently interrupting her, said, ¡°I also didn¡¯t expect that when my brother and I intended to save someone out of goodwill, we would always end up getting bitten in return! Lin Feiyin, why do you choose not to be grateful but instead be a venomous snake biting the hand that fed you?¡± Lin Feiyin trembled with anger, pointing at Fang Yuxin she said, ¡°Venomous snake? You¡¯re calling me a venomous snake? How have I repaid kindness with malice? Fang Yuxin! Don¡¯t think you can slander me!¡± Compared to her agitation, Fang Yuxin was decidedly calmer, smiling slightly as she looked on as if watching a clown, ¡°Whether I¡¯m slandering you, you know very well in your heart. When you and others were trapped in the cinema¡¯s screening room, unable to get out with zombies blocking the outside, my brother and I happened to pass by and killed the zombies to rescue you.¡± She spoke casually up to this point, then her tone suddenly became stern, ¡°But how did you repay us? The day before yesterday in the Task Hall, you came up and blocked the way for me and my family, haranguing us incessantly, letting your companion take a swing at my brother, and getting taught a lesson by me. And after only a day, you dared to lead people directly to my house! Lin Feiyin, is this how you treat your saviors?¡± Lin Feiyin¡¯s face turned various shades of red and green with these words, and the superpower users standing by her side also changed their expressions. Their main reason for coming to the Fang Family was that they were swayed by Lin Feiyin, hoping that Fang Yuxin would help ordinary people awaken their superpowers. They had all heard the rumor and naturally had their own ulterior motives, so when Lin Feiyin proposed it, they agreed. However, they didn¡¯t expect that Fang Yuxin would be so difficult to deal with! They opened the iron gate of the villa but could not step in, clearly because someone had sabotaged it. Realizing this, they became somewhat uneasy, but looking at the lush and tender vegetables and fruits in the yard, they couldn¡¯t bear to leave. Seeing Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang coming out, neither of them showing a very strong aura and with only the two of them, the group felt more confident, thinking that with their superior numbers, Fang Yuxin would have to compromise. But they didn¡¯t expect Fang Yuxin to be so sharp-tongued! She not only arrogantly slapped Lin Feiyin in the face in front of everyone but even left Lin Feiyin speechless in just a few sentences! Originally, they had followed Lin Feiyin thinking highly of her, as she had quite a reputation in their circle, so they wanted to join in for a share and also to give Lin Feiyin face. Little did they know that Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had actually saved Lin Feiyin¡¯s life! Although they all had their own selfish reasons, after hearing what Fang Yuxin had said, they somewhat looked down on Lin Feiyin. This irritated them thoroughly; had they known earlier, they wouldn¡¯t have followed Lin Feiyin in the first place. Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Element Superpower seemed very powerful; having offended her now, it was a complete loss! Lin Feiyin keenly sensed that those around her were looking at her differently. But the hesitation was only momentary, and they quickly firmed up again, with no one willing to back down. So what if Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were Lin Feiyin¡¯s saviors? If she had such an ability, why shouldn¡¯t she help them? Why shouldn¡¯t she? Lin Feiyin spoke right, with disaster at hand, as humans, they should be helping each other! Fang Yuxin should help them! They weren¡¯t wrong! It was Fang Yuxin who was too selfish! Lin Feiyin keenly sensed the changed gazes of those around her, her heart fluttering, but then she quickly composed herself and said aloud, ¡°That¡¯s right! You did save me, and for that I¡¯m grateful. The incident the day before yesterday was a misunderstanding, Tian Tian is young and impulsive, she didn¡¯t mean any harm. The misunderstanding was already cleared up at the time, and I didn¡¯t expect you to be brooding over it. Fang...¡± Fang Yuyang interrupted her, ¡°Enough! We don¡¯t want to hear any more of your nonsense! If you are here because of that message in the Safe Zone, then let me tell you now, my sister doesn¡¯t have that kind of ability! Don¡¯t bother wasting your time! I¡¯ll count to three, and if you¡¯re still not leaving, don¡¯t blame me for being rude! One!¡± Chapter 165 - 165 107 Fear (Second update) ?Chapter 165: 107 Fear! (Second update) Chapter 165: 107 Fear! (Second update) Lin Feiyin was anxious, ¡°Captain Fang! Why do you have to be so selfish?¡± ¡°Two!¡± Tie Qiang, having seen Lin Feiyin slapped, had been holding back his rage. At her words, he furiously retorted, ¡°Stop wasting words! Just fight!¡± With that, he clenched his iron fist and charged toward Fang Yuyang with a roar! Fang Yuyang¡¯s gaze instantly turned icy. With a wave of his right hand, several Wind Blades appeared and flew toward Tie Qiang, slashing his limbs to leave deep, bone-exposing wounds, yet deliberately avoiding the main arteries to prevent him from bleeding to death. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Tie Qiang howled in pain, like a wild beast gone mad. Glaring at Fang Yuyang, he roared, ¡°You dare to ambush me! You despicable rat!¡± Fang Yuxin sneered, ¡°You were the one who wanted to fight my brother on a whim, and when my brother fights back, it¡¯s wrong? If we¡¯re speaking of despicable, are you not despicable? My brother has already shown you mercy. If you have any sense, scram! Don¡¯t push your luck!¡± Tie Qiang roared again and, despite his injuries, clenched his fists and continued to rush forward. This time Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t move. Fang Yuxin directed a stream of Spiritual Energy toward the Array Eye where the dandelions were. Suddenly, those beautiful white fluff balls burst open, and countless dandelion seeds densely spread through the air, shooting rapidly toward Tie Qiang. Though the seeds were small, under the influence of the Formation, they became as sharp as fine needles. With the added velocity, they easily breached Tie Qiang¡¯s Defense and turned him into a porcupine in the blink of an eye. Such attacks weren¡¯t lethal, but the multitude of tiny seeds densely embedded in the skin and deeply into the muscles were incredibly painful. Worse still, once Fang Yuxin activated those seeds, they would germinate and take root ¡ª Tie Qiang was doomed without a doubt! He would become a living fertilizer for the dandelions, tortured to death! At the dawn of the apocalypse, many people still hadn¡¯t realized the terrifying aspects of Wood Element Superpower Users. Even if they couldn¡¯t fathom the consequences of Fang Yuxin activating the seeds, just watching Tie Qiang become a human pincushion sent a chilling fear through them all. With terror in their eyes, they looked at Fang Yuxin. Their greed and desire had vanished without a trace, replaced by boundless fear that spread unchecked in their hearts! Tie Qiang stopped charging. He might have been brave and reckless, lacking wit, but he was also afraid of dying! Others only saw the seeds covering him, but his own sensations were far clearer ¡ª the seeds lodged deeply in his muscles, like spikes in flesh, inflicted unspeakable pain! Even more terrifying was that after being pierced by the seeds, he found his superpower as if constrained, rendering him utterly weak! The day before yesterday, he hadn¡¯t managed to react in time, and Brother Lu intervened. Later, he had complained bitterly to Brother Lu. Now he understood ¡ª Brother Lu wasn¡¯t holding him back out of fear but to save him! Tie Qiang was filled with regret. He should never have made an enemy of the Fang woman; the fear she induced was even more potent than the zombies! Other than when the apocalypse first broke out, this was the first time he felt death¡¯s approach so vividly. Another move, and he would surely die! Realizing this, Tie Qiang stealthily fell back a step. His complexion was poor; the Wind Blade slashes went deep, his blood oozed ceaselessly, making his face even paler. His usually strong and towering body now seemed on the verge of collapse, no longer exuding his previous dominance and arrogance. Seeing his sorry state, the fear in the other superpower users deepened. They all knew of Tie Qiang¡¯s strength and how formidable he was. Yet such a man had been injured so easily by the Fang siblings, without any chance of retaliation! At the start of the apocalypse, superpower users with physical strength had an obvious advantage over those with Nature Element abilities. They possessed immense strength, not needing to ponder over Skills or even weapons ¡ª their fists alone could inflict massive damage. Lin Feiyin was just a Water Element Superpower User with no strong abilities, not even an offensive Skill to her name. The remaining seven superpower users were even weaker than Tie Qiang. They had thought with numbers on their side they could pressure Fang Yuxin into compromise. However, they didn¡¯t expect that the Fang siblings, though only two, were far beyond their league! Such people were sheer aberrations! But jealousy aside, fear had taken root deep in their hearts, making them lose all courage to confront Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang! Lin Feiyin, however, was exceptionally talented; although equally surprised by the strength displayed by Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, she didn¡¯t feel fear. Supporting Tie Qiang, she looked at Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang unflinchingly and said with righteous indignation, ¡°We¡¯re all survivors here. We just came to discuss matters with you. Why escalate things to this extent? In times of great disaster, shouldn¡¯t we help each other and overcome it together?¡± Fang Yuyang had already taken a dislike to Lin Feiyin and, upon hearing her words, couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue and was ready to take action. Fang Yuxin stopped him ¡ª since Lin Feiyin herself wasn¡¯t strong, and she didn¡¯t take the initiative to fight, it wasn¡¯t worth ruining Fang Yuyang¡¯s reputation by making it look like he bullied a woman! Looking at Lin Feiyin, she said, ¡°Lin Feiyin, spare me your righteous talk! If I recall correctly, you¡¯re a Water Element Superpower User, right? Since you¡¯re so insistent that we¡¯re in a disaster, let me ask you this ¡ª what have you contributed to the Safe Zone? I remember they are recruiting Water Element Superpower Users. Have you signed up? How much water resources have you contributed?¡± Lin Feiyin didn¡¯t expect such a question and was somewhat at a loss for words, ¡°I...¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to support it by voting for it on Qidian (qidian.com), with your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 166 - 166 108 Hypocrisy (Second Update) ?Chapter 166: 108 Hypocrisy! (Second Update) Chapter 166: 108 Hypocrisy! (Second Update) Fang Yuxin interrupted her, ¡°Stop with the sweet talk, I just asked you a question. Just answer it honestly. Don¡¯t you have something you want to discuss with me? As soon as you answer my question, I¡¯ll discuss it with you.¡± She looked at Lin Feiyin half-amused. What a joke! She wasn¡¯t even afraid of Zheng Tianhe; how could she possibly be scared of this woman who only preached about morality and ethics? Lin Feiyin¡¯s gaze began to flicker because she knew Fang Yuxin was doing this on purpose! The question seemed simple but was actually tough to answer. Though she truly was a Water Element Superpower User, she lacked the strength and skills in actual combat; even if she used water, she couldn¡¯t possibly kill zombies. She had not enlisted in the Safe Zone which recruited Water Element Superpower Users because the compensation was too low. Hence, she preferred to go hunting zombies with a team where usually others did the fighting, with her teammates¡¯ help, she could also manage to kill some zombies and get a substantial share of the rewards. Unwilling to answer Fang Yuxin¡¯s question, she said, ¡°Miss Fang, do you really have to be like this?¡± Fang Yuxin sneered, ¡°Lin Feiyin, don¡¯t act like I¡¯m bullying you! If you think that by doing this I¡¯ll comply, then you are mistaken! Answer my question; stop beating around the bush!¡± Lin Feiyin looked at her companions with disappointment as none of them were willing to speak up, not even Tie Qiang who kept his mouth shut. She reluctantly said, ¡°I am a Water Element Superpower User, but I didn¡¯t enlist. I believe the biggest enemies of humanity currently are the zombies outside the Safe Zone. Every survivor has a duty to hunt zombies rather than hiding in the Safe Zone relying on others¡¯ protection. So, I choose to go out with my teammates to hunt zombies and practically help alleviate mankind¡¯s burden. Miss Fang, I hope you are satisfied with this answer?¡± Fang Yuxin cared least for the high-sounding reasons Lin Feiyin always parroted. She didn¡¯t plan to continue entangling with her on this matter as it was pointless. She bluntly asked, ¡°Okay, I¡¯m asking you another question. Was it your own idea to bring people to my home today, or did someone tell you to?¡± Hearing this, Lin Feiyin immediately thought of someone. She hesitated whether to disclose it, but then she gave up and just said, ¡°It was my own idea; if you must blame someone, blame me alone. Miss Fang, I heard you can help Ordinary People awaken their superpowers. Many survivors are still Ordinary People, so I hope you will consider since we are all human beings and help them awaken.¡± Fang Yuxin gave her a mocking look, quickly turning her gaze towards the Ordinary People behind her and called out, ¡°You all came here today hoping to awaken into superpower users, didn¡¯t you?¡± After witnessing her capabilities, these people dared not act as arrogantly as before. Fear filled their hearts, but the conversation between Lin Feiyin and Fang Yuxin rekindled their desire. After some thought, feeling that Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t dare to harm them, someone said, ¡°Yes! Since Miss Fang has the capability, please do us this favor! Lady Lin was right, survivors should unite to overcome the disaster. Although we are Ordinary People, we hope to contribute, but unfortunately, we lack the strength; going out would only lead to being killed by zombies, so we hope Miss Fang can help us.¡± ¡°Yeah! Miss Fang, please help us!¡± ¡°Help us!¡± ¡°Help us!¡± It started with just one or two people, but then someone shouted ¡°Help us,¡± and all the Ordinary People started chanting in unison, their voices thunderous. Fang Yuxin looked at their righteous demeanor but thought of that dream. In that dream, she was an Ordinary Person, yet she didn¡¯t hide inside the Safe Zone; instead, she traveled with Yu Yang hunting zombies, searching for supplies, Elemental Crystals, forcing herself to become stronger. Not just her, but many Ordinary People were doing the same, gradually pushing themselves to become stronger. But these people! Many of them were young, able-bodied men who had strength yet insisted they couldn¡¯t hunt zombies because they were Ordinary People. Just because of a rumor, they had the audacity to barge into her home, demanding her compliance¡ªthe nerve they had! Chapter 167 - 167 108 Hypocrisy (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 167: 108 Hypocrisy! (Second Update)_2 Chapter 167: 108 Hypocrisy! (Second Update)_2 Remembering the greedy eyes she¡¯d seen when she first stepped out, if she hadn¡¯t taken precautions so early, her family¡¯s vegetable garden would have probably been utterly ruined! Speaking of the vegetable garden, Fang Yuxin felt helpless. Due to the Formation, a large amount of Spiritual Energy had surged, causing the normally growing vegetables and fruits to go berserk and directly enter maturity! With such a bright and obvious patch laid out there, it¡¯s no wonder the survivors were envious. As they say, a man is not guilty, but owning a jade brings about wrongdoing, this was definitely not a good thing! As she was thinking, Fang Yuyang already sneered, ¡°If you want to awaken a superpower, you must first get infected by the Zombie Virus! My sister doesn¡¯t have such capability! Since you are so keen, why not try getting infected by the Zombie Virus? If you survive, perhaps you¡¯ll successfully awaken as a superpower user.¡± His words were extraordinarily inhospitable, immediately stirring anger among many. However, remembering the previous Wind Blade, although these people felt resentment, they didn¡¯t dare to confront him, only muttering quietly, ¡°Why do you have to be like this!¡± ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s too much!¡± ¡°I think he has dark motives!¡± While they were endlessly bickering here, someone had already noticed the situation and secretly relayed the information to the ears of various leaders. The higher-ups in the Safe Zone almost all knew about this matter. Yesterday, Fang Yuxin had helped Zhou Yan immensely, and upon learning of this situation, he went to consult with General Song. Getting General Song¡¯s approval, he led people to the Fang Family, to mediate this dispute. Likewise, Qiu Yiming also received the news. The moment he learned of it, he was impulsive to help Fang Yuxin resolve this trouble, but just as he was about to step out, he hesitated, recalling his plans from yesterday. Recently, Fang Yuxin had been becoming increasingly assertive in front of him, something he wouldn¡¯t have minded before, but now with comparisons, he couldn¡¯t help but care. Although he didn¡¯t like Fang Mengyao, he had to admit that her submissive nature had moved him. He momentarily thought how wonderful it would be if Fang Yuxin could be as submissive in front of him. Additionally, he had a personal motive. Although Fang Yuxin denied having such a capability, he didn¡¯t completely believe her deep down. Ultimately, he was still influenced by Zhou Fanghua, subconsciously hoping that Fang Yuxin truly possessed such a power. That would be highly beneficial for the future plans of the Qiu Family. However, he didn¡¯t dare to probe Fang Yuxin. Their relationship had already been somewhat stiff, and he didn¡¯t want to make things worse! These troublemakers provided him with an opportunity. He wanted to see through this matter whether Fang Yuxin truly possessed such abilities. If Fang Yuxin compromised and acknowledged her capabilities, he would have reasons to make Fang Yuxin help Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua awaken their superpowers. And this matter could also teach Fang Yuxin a lesson, letting her recognize his importance! However, Qiu Yiming had calculated well but didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yan to intervene! In his view, the top brass of the Safe Zone must be skeptical about Fang Yuxin¡¯s abilities just like him, and they would also adopt a wait-and-see attitude toward this matter. He didn¡¯t know that Fang Yuxin had told Zhou Yan about the Elemental Crystal, and had also leveraged the opportunity to sell a huge favor to both General Song and General Li. Now was the time for General Song to make his stance clear; how could he stand by idly? To General Song, who knew about the Elemental Crystal, whether Fang Yuxin had that miraculous ability was not crucial anymore. He only needed to befriend her and offer suitable support. Fang Yuxin had already proactively extended an olive branch; why should he push it away? He wasn¡¯t like Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua, stupid enough to have a good hand but play it terribly! Besides General Song, Zhou Yan also owed Fang Yuxin a big favor. Yesterday, he had requested Fang Yuxin¡¯s help in treating his teammates, and Fang Yuxin not only saved all of his severely injured teammates but also helped five of them successfully awaken their superpowers! Even if Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t told him about the Elemental Crystal, just for that, he would go through fire and water without hesitation! Thus, while others were still observing, Zhou Yan led twenty soldiers straight to the Fang Family¡¯s doorstep, surrounding the troublemakers. When he arrived, the ordinary people, because of Fang Yuyang¡¯s unkind words, were quietly discussing. Seeing them, not to mention those timid ordinary people, several superpower users also turned pale. They had all been ordinary citizens before and subconsciously feared the soldiers holding guns. The apocalypse had just started not long ago, and the military¡¯s advantage was very clear, as was their strength. Many civilians hadn¡¯t shifted their mentality and didn¡¯t dare to confront them. Moreover, even if superpower users possessed superpowers, how could they compare to the power of bullets? These people were originally scared, and seeing Zhou Yan¡¯s imposing presence, they became even more apprehensive. Zhou Yan looked at them expressionlessly, asking in a deep voice, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are you crowding here? Miss Fang and Captain Fang risked their lives yesterday to kill a Zombie Leader, making a significant contribution to the Safe Zone. You guys aren¡¯t here to cause trouble for them, are you?¡± These people hurriedly shook their heads, retreating and exposing Lin Feiyin and others who were in the front. Originally, they were very grateful for Lin Feiyin¡¯s righteous assistance, but times change. Seeing that Zhou Yan was clearly backing Fang Yuxin, afraid of offending Zhou Yan, they started harboring resentment towards Lin Feiyin. If it weren¡¯t for her, why would they have come to make trouble at the Fang Family! Lin Feiyin looked around blankly, sensing that the situation was greatly unfavorable to her!(To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 168 - 168 109 Punishment (Third Update) ?Chapter 168: 109 Punishment (Third Update) Chapter 168: 109 Punishment (Third Update) Lin Feiyin, seeing the situation was not in her favor, decided to strike first. She said, ¡°Officer, my name is Lin Feiyin. We didn¡¯t come here to cause trouble, we just hoped to discuss matters with Miss Fang. I didn¡¯t expect Miss Fang to react so strongly; I should have thought it through.¡± Fang Yuxin looked at Zhou Yan and subconsciously thought of Qiu Yiming. Qiu Yiming hadn¡¯t come, and although she was disappointed, she also breathed a sigh of relief. She had been unable to find an opportunity to cancel her engagement with Qiu Yiming, and now that Qiu Yiming chose to stay out of it, it gave her the chance she needed. However, the most important thing at the moment was to deal with Lin Feiyin, the annoying woman. So, she sneered, ¡°I overreacted? Lin Feiyin, you have quite the silver tongue! Blaming me with empty words. You and your people broke down a door, your companion attacked my brother, and you expect me to treat you as a guest?¡± Lin Feiyin truly felt that Tie Qiang had gone too far in breaking the door lock, but seeing him injured and Fang Yuxin still so aggressive, never agreeing to help, she thought Tie Qiang wasn¡¯t wrong. She couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Tie Qiang may act on impulse, but if your attitude hadn¡¯t been so nasty, why would he have struck out? Besides, he was only preparing to act; he didn¡¯t actually hurt your brother, yet he was badly injured by you. What more do you want?¡± Fang Yuxin laughed, ¡°So, according to you, if a robber breaks into someone¡¯s house intending to hurt the owner, but the owner, being stronger, injures the robber, it¡¯s the owner¡¯s fault?¡± Lin Feiyin was exasperated, ¡°How can you speak so unpleasantly? How is Tie Qiang a robber?¡± Fang Yuxin stood her ground, ¡°You break into my house, attack my brother, and force me to agree to your requests ¨C if not a robber, then what are you? A bandit? Lin Feiyin! Have you forgotten what my brother and I said the day before yesterday? We¡¯ll act as if we¡¯ve never helped you, we don¡¯t expect your gratitude, let alone want to see you! Are you persisting because you think I dare not retaliate?¡± Lin Feiyin was so choked up, her cheeks still burning! Fang Yuxin still claimed she dared not lay a hand on her? Was the slap on her face just for decoration? Just as she was about to speak, Zhou Yan interjected, ¡°Lady Lin, please apologize to Miss Fang and Captain Fang. No matter what, leading people to break in and attacking Captain Fang, forcing Miss Fang to agree to your demands is wrong. These are extraordinary times. As a superpower user, you should bear the responsibilities of a superpower user, to hunt more zombies, aid the survivors, and not cause trouble with your own kind!¡± Lin Feiyin looked at Zhou Yan in disbelief, not expecting him to say such a thing, practically colluding with Fang Yuxin! Her chest heaved with anger, and it took a while before she found her voice again, ¡°Officer, if you say a superpower user should bear their responsibilities, Fang Yuxin has the ability to awaken Ordinary People, shouldn¡¯t she also take up her responsibilities to help awaken them? How can you cover for her?¡± Her argument was robust, but Zhou Yan and the twenty soldiers he brought with him looked at her as if she was a fool. Zhou Yan already felt that Lin Feiyin causing trouble was completely unreasonable, and after hearing her words, his opinion of Lin Feiyin sank even lower. He frowned and asked, ¡°How do you know Miss Fang can awaken Ordinary People? And how can you be sure that Miss Fang can truly help Ordinary People awaken? Just because of a rumor, you lead people into the Fang Family, and when taught a lesson, you blame the other party for being in the wrong. Lady Lin, is this how you treat your own kind?¡± He believed Fang Yuxin did not have such a miraculous ability; however, if someone was infected with the Zombie Virus, and Fang Yuxin offered help, their chances of a superpower Awakening could increase significantly. But this was not something he was going to tell anyone else. His battle buddy could have an Awakening, which means Fang Yuxin was willing to help; in the future, if any more of his battle buddies got infected with the Zombie Virus, he believed she would also not stand idly by. Given this, why go through the trouble of speaking out, causing Fang Yuxin displeasure, and making others pay more attention to her? He was a soldier, not a fool! Zhou Yan was aggressive, and Lin Feiyin was gritting her teeth with rage. She did not answer Zhou Yan¡¯s question, but instead stared at him and said, ¡°So, Officer, you¡¯re determined to shield Fang Yuxin? I just wonder what benefits Fang Yuxin has given you to go this far?¡± Chapter 169 - 169 109 Punishment (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 169: 109 Punishment (Third Update)_2 Chapter 169: 109 Punishment (Third Update)_2 She had barely finished speaking when one of Zhou Yan¡¯s soldiers roared, ¡°How dare you! Who do you think you are to talk to Captain Zhou like that?¡± Lin Feiyin glared at him, still righteous and confident, ¡°We live in an equal society now, everyone is equal. If Captain Zhou is wrong, why can¡¯t I say it?¡± Zhou Yan squinted at Lin Feiyin, realizing she was a troublemaker! Although he didn¡¯t know where Lin Feiyin got the confidence to talk to him like that, he no longer intended to entangle with her. He waved his hand, ¡°Lin Feiyin is gathering a crowd to make trouble, obstinately unreasonable. Arrest her!¡± Then he looked at the people next to Lin Feiyin, ¡°Are you with her?¡± At his words, the superpower users around Lin Feiyin quickly backed away, distancing themselves from her to show they were not with her. One of them even said, ¡°It was Lin Feiyin who incited us to come. We didn¡¯t mean to cause trouble for Miss Fang.¡± Another said, ¡°The door lock of the Fang Family was broken by Tie Qiang. It has nothing to do with us!¡± Everyone was disassociating themselves from Lin Feiyin like she was a plague! Lin Feiyin was both heartbroken and furious. She glared at Zhou Yan, ¡°Why are you arresting me? I did nothing wrong!¡± However, no one paid her any mind. Two soldiers rushed over, grabbed her arms from both sides and immobilized her. Seeing that the people were seriously apprehending her, the superpower users moved even farther away. Lin Feiyin instinctively looked at Tie Qiang and pleaded, ¡°Brother Tie, save me!¡± Tie Qiang gave a wry smile. He was hit by Fang Yuxin¡¯s dandelion seeds, drained of strength and severely bleeding, where would he find the energy to save Lin Feiyin? Moreover, even if he weren¡¯t injured, he was no match for these soldiers! However, feeling he ought to be responsible, he muttered, ¡°Captain Zhou, Feiyin meant well. She had no ill intentions. Could you please let her go?¡± How could Zhou Yan possibly let her go so easily? Lin Feiyin was gathering a crowd to make trouble; if he didn¡¯t teach her a lesson, how would he maintain stability in the Safe Zone? Moreover, the victim of this affair was Fang Yuxin; he had to consult her. So he turned to Fang Yuxin and asked, ¡°Miss Fang, what do you think?¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Feiyin¡¯s angry gaze shot towards Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin looked back at her coldly, unbothered by her anger, and directly said, ¡°Lin Feiyin was gathering a crowd and forcibly entered my home. According to the regulations of the Safe Zone, such actions should be met with reeducation through labor for three days, a fine of 1000 credit points, and a deduction of 500 contribution points. Captain Zhou, am I right?¡± A fine and deduction of contribution points were understandable; the so-called reeducation through labor was essentially mandatory labor. The Safe Zone was not in execution¡¯s favor as it was understaffed, so offenders were mostly punished with labor, fines, and deductions based on the severity of their actions. Lin Feiyin turned pale when she heard her sentence, and unable to restrain herself exclaimed, ¡°Fang Yuxin! How can you be so vicious? What have I done to you for you to treat me this way?¡± Before Fang Yuxin could retaliate, Fang Yuyang already said, ¡°I too want to know, what exactly did my sister do to offend you that you scheme against her like this?¡± Zhou Yan timely said, ¡°Miss Lin, what Miss Fang just mentioned is indeed the regulation of the Safe Zone. She is not wrong. You did gather a crowd and led them into the Fang Family¡¯s property; according to the Safe Zone¡¯s regulations, you indeed must accept this punishment. It¡¯s not Miss Fang deliberately making things difficult for you. Besides, if you hadn¡¯t gathered a crowd to make trouble, how could you have been penalized?¡± He glanced at Tie Qiang, ¡°By what you just said, you are involved with her? Don¡¯t blame me for not warning you, if you two really are together, you must accept the same punishment as her.¡± Tie Qiang¡¯s complexion, already poor, turned even paler at the words. Yet after hesitating for a moment, he nodded with difficulty. Since he had come with Lin Feiyin, he couldn¡¯t just abandon her. He said in a low voice, ¡°Yes, arrest me too.¡± Zhou Yan sighed and signaled the soldiers to arrest Tie Qiang as well. He did have a degree of respect for Tie Qiang, at least he showed responsibility, unlike Lin Feiyin who insisted on justifying herself even when she was clearly in the wrong. Regardless of anything, Tie Qiang was indeed at fault and deserved the appropriate punishment. The others, hearing about the penalties, also turned pale and their views of Lin Feiyin shifted unfavorably. They hadn¡¯t realized the situation was so severe; if not for Lin Feiyin, they wouldn¡¯t have come at all! Zhou Yan noticed their attitude and felt sheer disdain. Although Lin Feiyin gathered the crowd unreasonably, if these people hadn¡¯t been greedy, how could they have been misled by her? Moreover, she was a superpower user; if Fang Yuxin agreed to help, these people would have received tangible benefits! Now, they turned their resentment towards Lin Feiyin, which was truly despicable! He glanced and saw seven girls hiding among the crowd. He had led the rescue team yesterday and knew about these seven girls, but he hadn¡¯t taken it to heart then. Unexpectedly, these seven were so ungrateful! Had it not been for the Fang siblings, they could have died earlier, yet because of their greed, they followed others to the Fang Family to cause trouble! Even if misled, such actions were unforgivable! Yet, he ultimately did nothing, merely giving them a cold look before withdrawing his gaze. Then he nodded to Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, raising his voice, ¡°Rest assured, these two ringleaders will definitely receive the punishment they deserve.¡± The siblings expressed their thanks, and Fang Yuxin glanced at the vegetable garden, planning to send some produce to Zhou Yan later. After all, she was a Wood Element Superpower User and had plenty of fruits and vegetables! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 170 - 170 110 Blocking the Road (First Update) ?Chapter 170: 110 Blocking the Road (First Update) Chapter 170: 110 Blocking the Road (First Update) Zhou Yan, before taking Lin Feiyin and Tie Qiang away, verbally warned the others with a stern tone. Intimidated by his warning, these people maybe hadn¡¯t entirely given up, but they didn¡¯t dare to lightly trouble the Fang Family anymore. These individuals were originally insignificant, greedy yes, but timid and not particularly intelligent, and with impulsive natures. It was only on Lin Feiyin¡¯s instigation that they had rushed over without thinking. Regrettably, the outcome wasn¡¯t as smooth as they had imagined. The difficulty presented by the Fang siblings was unexpected, and Zhou Yan¡¯s arrival filled them with dread. No ordinary citizen dared to cross paths with the military. This was the case before the apocalypse and even more so afterward. These people lacked the ability to protect themselves and now relied entirely on the military for protection. If they angered the military, even if they didn¡¯t die, their fate would be terribly bleak. For starters, the mere thought of fines and deduction of Contribution Value was enough to terrify them. They had no strength, their ID Cards had few credit points, and they lived hand to mouth, barely able to sustain their daily needs. If their credit points were deducted, they feared they wouldn¡¯t even be able to afford food. Compared to them, Lin Feiyin and Tie Qiang were in a slightly better situation, but their ID Cards didn¡¯t have many credit points either, just marginally more comfortable. Unlike the Fang siblings, who could earn a substantial amount of credit points and Contribution Value simply by completing a mission. Thankfully, these people were unaware of the savings on their ID Cards; otherwise, their jealousy would be even greater. The Fang Family, on the other hand, could be completely self-sufficient. They had no issues with food and warmth, and had a large number of credit points in hand, which were as good as chicken ribs to them. If it hadn¡¯t been for Zhou Yan giving each of them a pistol and a submachine gun, those credit points would have been useless. Yesterday, Fang Yuyang, along with Chen Qiao and others, had gone to register their identities and, in passing, claimed their rewards. Because they had defeated the Spiritual Zombie Leader, they were credited with a major contribution and received a substantial reward. After receiving the awards, Fang Yuyang straightforwardly went to the safe store and bought ammunition. Unfortunately, although the safe store supplied ammunition, it was limited; each person could only buy a maximum of one thousand rounds. Including Bai Qianqian¡¯s quota, they were only able to purchase ten thousand rounds in total. These ten thousand rounds nearly depleted all their credit points¡ªthe price was exorbitantly high. Before Zhou Yan left, he specifically awarded Fang Yuxin with a special medal. The medal represented a status, and with it, she became a military hero. If any troublemakers with no sense show up in the future, she could take action as she saw fit. Of course, the premise was that she couldn¡¯t kill anyone. More than that, she could utilize the medal to claim a large number of credit points and Contribution Value. Later, when shopping at the safe store, not only could her ammo purchase limit be increased, but she also could enjoy discounted prices¡ªan indeed favorable arrangement. The Fang siblings understood that the person behind Zhou Yan gave them this custom-made medal as a show of gratitude for providing the Elemental Crystal information and as a gesture of goodwill. But once they accepted this medal, it meant they were bound with the people behind Zhou Yan, and if Zhou Yan asked her to help cure a battle buddy in the future, it would be difficult for her to refuse. Putting the Fang siblings¡¯ complex thoughts aside, it was not long after Zhou Yan left the Fang Family that he ran into Qiu Yiming, who had rushed over after receiving the message. The two parties¡¯ forces happened to confront each other face to face. Neither side was driving; to conserve resources, they both reduced the number of times they traveled by car. The places where they lived weren¡¯t too far from the Fang Family, so driving would have been rather wasteful. Upon seeing Lin Feiyin and Tie Qiang being escorted, Qiu Yiming knew Zhou Yan had helped Fang Yuxin. When he received the message, he had harbored a bit of wishful thinking, hoping that Zhou Yan had come to trouble Fang Yuxin. In that case, his arrival with reinforcements could have been timely, allowing him to assist Fang Yuxin and make her recognize the importance of her fiance?. However, Zhou Yan had messed everything up! Qiu Yiming walked up to Zhou Yan with a darkened face, so angry he wanted to punch him! But considering the person behind Zhou Yan, he eventually settled for merely clenching his fists tightly, resisting the urge to swing at will. This made him feel stifled and embarrassed, his male pride crumbling in that moment. Unbidden, Zhou Fanghua¡¯s words from yesterday came to his mind. ¡°Fang Yuxin is your fiance?e. Instead of helping you, she¡¯s assisting someone with the surname Zhou, what does that say about her? Does she even have you in her heart?¡± Chapter 171 - 171 110 Blocking the Road (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 171: 110 Blocking the Road (First Update)_2 Chapter 171: 110 Blocking the Road (First Update)_2 ¡°I used to think she was a good kid, but now I see clearly, I was simply blind!¡± ¡°The Qiu Family wouldn¡¯t want a woman who doesn¡¯t uphold virtue!¡± ¡°If she does not repent, she can forget about ever stepping into the Qiu Family¡¯s house!¡± ... Zhou Fanghua said a lot, those harsh words echoing in his ears one after another, as if carrying some sort of magical curse. Qiu Yiming listened to these voices, his eyes gradually turning blood-red, the string in his brain named reason completely snapped, and his clenched fists were thrown forcefully towards Zhou Yan¡¯s face! His movement was too fast and too fierce, the fist tearing through the air with a whistling sound. The moment Zhou Yan stepped back, his arm raised, his palm enveloped Qiu Yiming¡¯s fist, and his other hand clenched into a fist and smashed towards Qiu Yiming¡¯s abdomen. His punch was also blocked by Qiu Yiming. Without using superpowers, their strengths were equivalent. In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged blows several times, the sound of air breaking whistling, but neither could overcome the other. As the fist struck flesh, Zhou Yan grimaced in pain, his expression becoming somewhat ferocious. He knew the place he was hit was definitely bruised, even possibly fractured. Qiu Yiming¡¯s fierceness ignited real anger in him, and he took the opportunity to unceremoniously smash a fist into Qiu Yiming¡¯s cheek. Watching Qiu Yiming¡¯s cheek swell rapidly, turning bluish-purple, Zhou Yan laughed in relief, while angrily shouting, ¡°Major Qiu! What are you doing?¡± This shout successfully snapped the irrational Qiu Yiming back to reality. At this realization, he immediately regretted it. Things had truly turned awful! Qiu Yiming was annoyed inside, yet his face didn¡¯t show it; he continued his attack approaching Zhou Yan, lowering his voice, ¡°I just want to warn you, Fang Yuxin is my woman, you better stay away from her!¡± He deliberately said this, framing the attack as a love dispute, to avoid being manipulated by others and ending up in a conspiracy theory. Though he¡¯d still be punished, the situation would be much better. After saying this, Qiu Yiming voluntarily retreated, creating distance from Zhou Yan, and gestured a truce. Although Zhou Yan felt angry, since Qiu Yiming stopped fighting, he couldn¡¯t keep pursuing him, lest he gave others a pretext to be backbitten by Qiu Yiming. He rubbed the injury on his arm, looking at Qiu Yiming and coldly laughed, ¡°Major Qiu, I don¡¯t understand your intention. I just met Miss Fang yesterday, I am the captain, she is my temporary team member, our relationship is nothing more than ordinary; don¡¯t sling mud! It doesn¡¯t matter if you falsely accuse me, but Miss Fang is still a young lady, don¡¯t tarnish her reputation!¡± Zhou Yan looked at Qiu Yiming with disdain, he wasn¡¯t a fool, why wouldn¡¯t he know that Qiu Yiming was merely using Fang Yuxin as an excuse? Yet, he also knew that Qiu Yiming¡¯s anger must be connected to Fang Yuxin. But what of that? Qiu Yiming was the architect of his own misfortune, why should it concern him? Today, when he went to the Fang Family intending to seize an opportunity to return Fang Yuxin¡¯s favor while also holding a trace of hope, he hadn¡¯t expected Qiu Yiming to stay calm! Even when his fiance?e was bullied, he didn¡¯t intervene! The fault lay with Lin Feiyin, who was disturbing the peace; even if Qiu Yiming had stepped in with accusations of abuse of power, others couldn¡¯t criticize him. However, he did nothing, and Zhou Yan didn¡¯t believe for a second that there wasn¡¯t a scheme involved! Zhou Yan had never liked Qiu Yiming, partly because he felt the Qiu Family was overly ambitious, and partly because he thought Qiu Yiming was too petty, always cunningly scheming. Now, Fang Yuxin had specifically told him about the Elemental Crystal, clearly having a rift with the Qiu Family, obviously upset by something they did. Regardless, Fang Yuxin was still Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e; she was in trouble, yet he didn¡¯t show up, instead just standing by, which made Zhou Yan disdain him even more. It¡¯s not that he thought Qiu Yiming¡¯s intrigue was wrong, but scheming against his own fiance?e was not very manly. Meanwhile, he somewhat guessed the reason for Qiu Yiming¡¯s anger. Qiu Yiming¡¯s choice to stand by was likely so he could wait until the fire was fiercer before acting; unfortunately for him, Zhou Yan had stolen a march on him, which might sadly disappoint the Fang Family. Regardless of what Qiu Yiming had previously schemed, it was ruined by his intervening. No wonder Qiu Yiming was furious. However, Zhou Yan knew what he knew, but he didn¡¯t feel regretful at all. Not only did he not regret it, but he was also actually glad. The Yongcheng Team, including five-year-old Bai Qianqian and five standby mercenaries, totaled up to only ten people, yet these ten eliminated thousands of zombies, including that Spiritual Zombie, making him distrust the real strength of Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang! When his battle buddy was helped by Fang Yuxin and even awakened a superpower, he realized that befriending Fang Yuxin was definitely beneficial for him! It¡¯s a pity the Qiu Family didn¡¯t see Fang Yuxin¡¯s value, and they offended her, allowing him to pick up a great bargain! With this thought, Zhou Yan glanced at Qiu Yiming with a hint of schadenfreude. Qiu Yiming¡¯s gaze darkened; he had been too impulsive just now, having lashed out at Zhou Yan in front of everyone. But this Zhou Yan was just too arrogant! How dare he look at him like that! What¡¯s there for Zhou Yan to be proud of? Fang Yuxin is his, Qiu Yiming¡¯s, woman! For the bigger picture, Qiu Yiming suppressed the raging anger in his heart and didn¡¯t strike again, but he warned again, ¡°It¡¯s best if you have no relationship, but regardless of your intentions towards her, just remember one thing; don¡¯t even think about making a move on her!¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to vote for recommendation tickets or monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 172 - 172 111 Trouble Maker (Second Update) ?Chapter 172: 111 Trouble Maker (Second Update) Chapter 172: 111 Trouble Maker (Second Update) Zhou Yan snorted coldly, taking pleasure in misfortune as he said, ¡°I have official duties to attend to, so I won¡¯t keep you company. But I think, instead of telling me all this, you might want to explain things to Miss Fang. Just don¡¯t know if she wants to hear your explanation right now.¡± His words were clearly not well-intentioned; upon hearing them, Qiu Yiming¡¯s face instantly turned ashen! Unable to hold back, Qiu Yiming retorted, ¡°Major Zhou! Please show some respect! What happens between Xinxin and me is none of your business! If it weren¡¯t for your meddling just now, how could things have gotten so messy?¡± Zhou Yan suddenly felt that Qiu Yiming was quite similar to Lin Feiyin, both fond of making unjustifiable arguments. Clearly, he had been enjoying the spectacle from a distance, and yet he had the nerve to accuse him of meddling! He didn¡¯t want to argue with Qiu Yiming and was about to leave with Lin Feiyin and Tie Qiang when Lin Feiyin, who had been quiet until now, suddenly cried out. She exclaimed loudly, ¡°Major Qiu! Tie Qiang and I are wronged! Please help us!¡± Seeing that Qiu Yiming and Zhou Yan were at odds, she saw it as an opportunity and decided to take a gamble. Unfortunately, her luck was not on her side, and she gambled wrong. Originally, Qiu Yiming had directed his anger at Zhou Yan, but knowing that Zhou Yan was his equal in rank and backed by General Song, he didn¡¯t dare offend him too harshly. Thus, even though his rage continued to churn within him, he could only lash out verbally and didn¡¯t dare to take physical action against Zhou Yan. But when Lin Feiyin spoke up, he was reminded of her, the main culprit! He didn¡¯t dare to severely offend Zhou Yan, but was he supposed to fear a woman with no significant backing? Initially, Lin Feiyin had caused trouble at the Fang Family intending to teach Fang Yuxin a lesson, and he hadn¡¯t intervened timely. However, he hadn¡¯t been inactive either, but had instructed his people to thoroughly investigate the incident and had learned all about Lin Feiyin¡¯s background. He had been confident that even though he arrived late, he could still appease Fang Yuxin, but Zhou Yan¡¯s sudden interference had completely ruined his plans! He was furious with Zhou Yan, and equally furious with Lin Feiyin, the main instigator! Lin Feiyin¡¯s cry had hit right on his raw nerve. Meanwhile, Lin Feiyin was totally out of touch; seeing Qiu Yiming turn his gaze towards her, she thought there was a turning point and continued, ¡°Major Qiu! We are truly wronged! We were just going to discuss matters with Fang Yuxin, not causing trouble at all! It¡¯s one thing if Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to help, but she even severely injured my companion. This officer arrested us without figuring out the truth, it¡¯s clear he¡¯s covering for Fang Yuxin, he must have taken benefits from Fang Yuxin to frame us deliberately!¡± Lin Feiyin always felt she was in the right, so she spoke assertively without considering that these were just her speculations without any evidence to prove her claims. She believed that since Qiu Yiming and Zhou Yan were at odds, if she could pinpoint Zhou Yan¡¯s mistake, he wouldn¡¯t let it slide, and that was her and Tie Qiang¡¯s chance. She even thought that if Qiu Yiming was going to go against Zhou Yan, she and Tie Qiang could serve as witnesses to charge him, possibly even getting on good terms with Qiu Yiming in the process. However, she overlooked the mentions of Fang Yuxin in the conversations between Qiu Yiming and Zhou Yan, clearly suggesting an unusual relationship between Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming! She didn¡¯t notice, but Tie Qiang beside her did. Tie Qiang¡¯s mind was simplistic, straightforward one might say. He thought well of Lin Feiyin, so after being influenced by her, he went along to cause trouble for Fang Yuxin without giving serious thought to whether it was right or wrong. Before this, although he was impulsive in his actions, it hadn¡¯t reached such an extreme. The ¡°Awakening¡± of his superpower made him somewhat conceited; thinking highly of his abilities, he hadn¡¯t put Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang much into consideration, so when he went to the Fang Family, he hadn¡¯t thought about the consequences or imagined that he could lose so miserably. The counterattack from Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang not only left him with serious injuries but served as a harsh wake-up call that immediately sobered him from his self-satisfied mindset, making him realize his own shortcomings. This made him unusually calm, becoming more cautious. He had heard every word between Qiu Yiming and Zhou Yan, and although not very smart, his male intuition had picked up on the special relationship between Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming. Lin Feiyin lived in her world, convinced that she was right. No matter what others said, she only interpreted it in the direction she wanted. Thus, despite being much smarter than Tie Qiang, she was ironically less perceptive than him. Chapter 173 - 173 111 Trouble Maker (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 173: 111 Trouble Maker (Second Update)_2 Chapter 173: 111 Trouble Maker (Second Update)_2 Upon hearing Lin Feiyin¡¯s words, Tie Qiang¡¯s face turned pale. However, his injuries made him extremely weak at the moment, and before he could muster the strength to interject, Lin Feiyin spoke again. As she went on, becoming more and more outrageous, Tie Qiang¡¯s face grew even whiter. He took a breath, forcing himself to interrupt Lin Feiyin, ¡°Feiyin! Today¡¯s incident was indeed our fault, we shouldn¡¯t have troubled Miss Fang, please stop talking. Major Zhou did nothing wrong.¡± He had an intuition that angering Qiu Yiming would be no good for them! But Lin Feiyin couldn¡¯t sense his nervousness and fear. She looked at Tie Qiang with disbelief and disappointment in her eyes, and exclaimed loudly, ¡°Brother Tie, how can you say that? We did nothing wrong, it¡¯s Major Zhou who has wronged us! Have you forgotten who hurt you like this?¡± Tie Qiang felt unbearably stifled inside. He couldn¡¯t understand why Lin Feiyin, who was usually much smarter, couldn¡¯t see the situation clearly now. They were definitely in the wrong in this matter. Continuing to argue would only be detrimental to them! He was about to speak again but Lin Feiyin rushed to say, ¡°Brother Tie, don¡¯t say anything else. I don¡¯t care why you¡¯re saying this, but I won¡¯t seek peace at the expense of my dignity! I did nothing wrong!¡± Tie Qiang cautiously glanced at Qiu Yiming and Zhou Yan¡¯s expressions, and noticed both of them were smirking as if they were watching a joke looking at Lin Feiyin and him! His anxiety was unbearable; how could Lin Feiyin be so clueless! At that moment, he heard Qiu Yiming say, ¡°Major Zhou, why are you still here? Why don¡¯t you take these two away?¡± The words Lin Feiyin wanted to say got stuck in her throat. She looked incredulously at Qiu Yiming, unable to comprehend how things had suddenly turned out this way. Weren¡¯t Qiu Yiming and Zhou Yan at odds? How had they suddenly made up? She frowned, looking at Qiu Yiming disapprovingly and said, ¡°What kind of person are you to act this way? I¡¯ve said we were wronged, why don¡¯t you stop him, but instead, you join forces with him?¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s face immediately darkened and, unable to take it anymore, he said, ¡°Lin Feiyin, right? Do you know what the penalty for falsely accusing a superior officer is?¡± Although he asked this, it was clear he had no intention of continuing the argument with Lin Feiyin. After speaking, he turned to Zhou Yan with an expression of annoyance and said, ¡°Major Zhou, it¡¯s getting late, you better take these people away quickly. This woman is spouting nonsense, gag her mouth. Otherwise, I fear it won¡¯t take long before the whole Safe Zone knows you ¡®bend the law for personal gain¡¯.¡± Zhou Yan chuckled, ¡°The feeling is mutual, Major Qiu, don¡¯t take it to heart. She was saying that you were in cahoots with me.¡± After speaking, he gave a signal, and soldiers knocked Lin Feiyin out with the butt of their hands. Although he didn¡¯t like Qiu Yiming, the latter¡¯s comment was indeed right; this woman was too noisy and too full of herself! Tie Qiang watched Lin Feiyin get knocked out with a wise silence and even felt a sense of relief. He had a premonition that if Lin Feiyin continued to make a fuss, things would only escalate and he would definitely be dragged down by her! Initially, following Lin Feiyin to create trouble was overestimating his capabilities, and at that time, he genuinely thought Lin Feiyin was not bad, despite his heart preferring Tian Tian. Once he came to his senses, he realized how impulsive he had been and started to feel regretful. Despite the ethics of brotherhood compelling him to share the burden with Lin Feiyin, he couldn¡¯t help harboring resentment privately. His credit points and Contribution Value in his account were substantial but wouldn¡¯t withstand such deductions! He needed to provide for Tian Tian, and after paying the fine, he would be plunged into poverty, struggling to even maintain basic living standards, let alone support Tian Tian. Nevertheless, out of a sense of loyalty, he accepted the responsibility, considering it as repaying a past favor. However, he didn¡¯t expect Lin Feiyin to be such a troublemaker! In the blink of an eye, she had offended both Major Zhou and Major Qiu! If she continued to create trouble, it wasn¡¯t just him that would suffer; likely their teammates as well! Thinking of this, his resentment towards Lin Feiyin grew even more. Qiu Yiming and Zhou Yan merely gave him a cursory glance without giving him any attention. Qiu Yiming was busy trying to cheer up Fang Yuxin, disinclined to bicker with Zhou Yan, and he left with his people. Zhou Yan had other important matters to attend to and naturally didn¡¯t want to waste any more time, so he left with his men in a different direction. Zhou Yan brought people back to be interrogated and punished, while Qiu Yiming hurried to the Fang Family. Due to the delay on the road, by the time he arrived, the Fang Family had just finished breakfast and were preparing to leave. Upon seeing Fang Yuxin, Qiu Yiming anxiously asked, ¡°Xinxin, are you all right?¡± His face showed genuine concern, but the swelling and bruises on his cheek marred his overall appearance, making his expression seem somewhat uncoordinated and fierce. Fang Yuxin stood at the doorway, raising her eyebrows when she saw him, and feigning confusion, she asked, ¡°Yiming, why have you come?¡± A wave of unease struck Qiu Yiming¡¯s heart. He suppressed that unease and said, ¡°I heard there was trouble here, so I came with my men. It was only after encountering Zhou Yan on the road that I learned the matter had already been settled.¡± Fang Yuyang couldn¡¯t stand to look at his pretense and, crossing his arms, laughed coldly, ¡°Since you knew the matter was already resolved, what are you doing here?¡± His attitude was sharp, and Qiu Yiming¡¯s face turned a bit ugly. Suppressing his anger, he said, ¡°I was worried there might be issues here, so I came to check. Is that wrong?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 174 - 174 112 Dont Make Me Angry (Third Release) ?Chapter 174: 112 Don¡¯t Make Me Angry (Third Release) Chapter 174: 112 Don¡¯t Make Me Angry (Third Release) Fang Yuxin stopped Fang Yuyang who wanted to continue speaking and said to Qiu Yiming, ¡°Yiming, you¡¯re late. There¡¯s nothing left to handle here. Take your men and go back.¡± Qiu Yiming felt even more panicked and blurted out, ¡°Xinxin, I can explain!¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear your explanations now. You don¡¯t need to say anything. Why you have come only now, we both know very well. It¡¯s pointless to say it out loud.¡± Qiu Yiming felt that Fang Yuxin¡¯s attitude was very wrong. Remembering what Zhou Fanghua had said yesterday, he believed that Fang Yuxin must be upset about that. His emotions instantly became complicated. He knew Zhou Fanghua had gone too far, but if Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t always refused, would his mother have spoken that way? He always knew his parents¡¯ sacrifices for him and was very filial to Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua. Although he liked Fang Yuxin, emotionally, he was more inclined towards his parents. Therefore, even though he understood intellectually that Zhou Fanghua was wrong, emotionally, he felt Fang Yuxin was more at fault. He had intentionally come late today to teach Fang Yuxin a lesson. He felt he wasn¡¯t wrong, but Fang Yuxin¡¯s attitude was unacceptable! It wasn¡¯t that he wasn¡¯t planning to come; he just arrived a bit late. Did Fang Yuxin really need to treat him this way? However, he didn¡¯t directly say what was on his mind and instead dismissed the men he had brought with him. He had only brought them as a formality, and since they were no longer needed, there was no reason to keep them around. Moreover, what he had to say next wasn¡¯t something he wanted others to hear. Once the men had left, he said, ¡°Xinxin, I have something to tell you. This is not the right place to talk, let¡¯s go inside.¡± But Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t agree. Her response was very cold. ¡°No need, whatever you have to say, say it here. We are in a rush.¡± Qiu Yiming frowned deeply, expressing his dissatisfaction. His tone became more intense. ¡°Xinxin, do you really need to be like this?¡± Fang Yuxin slightly squinted her eyes, appearing more sharp, like an unsheathed sword. ¡°Yiming, your mother yesterday implied that I wasn¡¯t worthy to be a daughter-in-law of your family. I think I might really be unworthy, otherwise you wouldn¡¯t have deliberately waited to come until now. I don¡¯t believe you knew nothing about what happened here. Since you didn¡¯t come at the time, why bother coming after everything was resolved?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± Qiu Yiming instinctively explained. ¡°I didn¡¯t intentionally wait for everything to be resolved before coming. I heard something happened here and I brought people over. But something delayed me on the road, that¡¯s why Zhou Yan got here first!¡± Fang Yuxin smiled mockingly, looking at Qiu Yiming. ¡°So, you were delayed by something, huh? I wonder what could have delayed you for so long? Don¡¯t lie. Such easily exposed lies are truly meaningless, don¡¯t make me think less of you.¡± Because of her words, Qiu Yiming¡¯s carefully thought-out speech was completely stuck in his throat. Looking at Fang Yuxin¡¯s resolute attitude, the feeling of unease in his heart grew stronger, accompanied by a bit of regret. He suddenly felt that he had miscalculated. He shouldn¡¯t have thought of such a plan from the start. Having watched Fang Yuxin grow up since childhood, he knew better than anyone how intelligent she was. He should never have used such tactics against her. It wasn¡¯t a lesson; it was simply shooting himself in the foot! However, what was done was done, and regretting it now was useless. Qiu Yiming realized this, so he said, ¡°I didn¡¯t think this through properly, Xinxin. Can you forgive me? Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let the two main culprits get away. I promise you, no one will come to trouble you again!¡± Fang Yuxin found it quite ridiculous. The incident had already happened. What was the point of saying these things now? Yesterday, Qiu Yiming had also assured her that he wouldn¡¯t let anyone hurt her. But what was the result? The ones who hurt her the most were him and his mother! Today, Lin Feiyin brought a significant number of people, not to mention how many were watching quietly from the shadows, ready to pounce. If it hadn¡¯t been for her taking the initiative and intimidating those greedy survivors with force, leaving Lin Feiyin speechless, and then with Zhou Yan¡¯s help, who knows how bad things could have gotten today? What was Qiu Yiming¡¯s so-called protection? Was this his protection? Every time she needed him the most, he chose to protect himself and stand idly by! Chapter 175 - 175 112 Dont Make Me Angry (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 175: 112 Don¡¯t Make Me Angry (Third Update)_2 Chapter 175: 112 Don¡¯t Make Me Angry (Third Update)_2 She understood that Yiming might have had his own plans; perhaps in his view, even if he arrived a little later, he could still ensure her safety. Yet his hesitation and observational stance had already revealed his attitude! Given this, why should they even maintain this nominally existent but virtually deceased engagement? Thinking this, Fang Yuxin pulled out a jewelry box she had prepared earlier from her pocket and tossed it to Yiming. He caught it instinctively and opened it, his expression turning extremely ugly upon seeing its contents. He almost ground his teeth as he said, ¡°Xinxin, can you please not be so willful? Take it back!¡± Although he said this, he didn¡¯t dare to throw the contents back like Fang Yuxin did, but instead walked towards her step by step, reaching out his hand to return the jewelry box to her. Then, in an instant, he changed his mind. He lowered his eyes to look at Fang Yuxin¡¯s slender, fair fingers, which were conspicuously empty¡ªwhat should have been there was seldom present. A rage ignited in his heart, and he decided to personally put the ring back on Fang Yuxin¡¯s finger. However, as he reached out, Fang Yuxin stepped back, clearly not going to give him the opportunity. Fang Yuxin, as if she hadn¡¯t noticed his dark, stormy expression, said, ¡°Although this might no longer be of value to you, I still feel it should be returned to you.¡± At their engagement party, they had exchanged rings. Yiming had given her a ring set with a 10-carat heart-shaped pink diamond, while she had given him a ring with an equally heavy square-cut emerald. Yiming couldn¡¯t believe how resolute Fang Yuxin was; he stared at her incredulously, his eyes seemingly ablaze with anger, and exclaimed loudly, ¡°Xinxin! Please don¡¯t make me angry, alright? Give me your left hand and let me put the ring on you; please stop being stubborn, okay?¡± He struggled to hold back his rage, his handsome face distorting as if about to explode at any moment. Fang Yuxin furrowed her brows, not expecting Yiming to react so violently. In her dreams, Yiming had unhesitatingly abandoned her. She still remembered the disappointment and resolution he had deliberately shown; since he¡¯d given up on her so easily back then, why pretend now? Lost in thought, Fang Yuxin suddenly remembered that none of what she had dreamt had actually happened. However, she couldn¡¯t forget the words Zhou Fanghua had said yesterday. Since leaving the Qiu family¡¯s home, she had been turning over the idea that Zhou Fanghua had held a grudge against her for a long time, for she had ignored Fang Yuxin as soon as the apocalypse started and had gone hysterical when Fang Yuxin refused to assist. She couldn¡¯t understand what kind of persistence could drive Zhou Fanghua to totally abandon the elegance she once held pride in, and instead, like a vulgar woman, engage in insinuations and speak harshly! These accumulations made her feel as though there was no need to maintain their relationship, but clearly, Yiming didn¡¯t think the same way. Seeing Fang Yuxin unwilling to extend her hand, he could no longer contain the rage in his heart and furiously reached for her left hand. However, just then, a flash of black blade light swept by, the headwind narrowly missing his fingers. Had he not dodged quickly, his hand might have been cut down! Yiming withdrew his fingers, tightly clenched his fist, and furiously looked toward Fang Yuyang, who stood by Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, holding a black Miao Saber¡ªit was evident that he was the one who had acted! ¡°Yu¡ªYang!¡± Yiming shouted furiously, ¡°You actually drew a knife against me! Tell me, did you instigate Xinxin to be difficult with me?¡± Fang Yuxin frowned unhappily, unwilling for Yiming to direct his anger at Yu Yang, and said, ¡°Yiming, this has nothing to do with my brother; it was my own decision. Don¡¯t vent your anger on others unfairly!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it!¡± Yiming stubbornly said, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for his instigations, how could you have acted like this? It¡¯s impossible! Xinxin, why are you being so headstrong? I am your husband; why are you listening to your brother? He clearly means no good!¡± Upon hearing this, Yu Yang couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He didn¡¯t care if Yiming was misdirecting his anger at him, but Yiming could not tarnish Fang Yuxin¡¯s reputation! He said furiously, ¡°Yiming, what are you talking about? You and Xinxin aren¡¯t even married; what kind of husband are you? Don¡¯t flatter yourself! You know what your mother said yesterday, and when the woman surnamed Lin came causing trouble, you weren¡¯t even there. Now you have the nerve to blame Xinxin for being willful? Are you even a man?¡± Yiming¡¯s fists clenched tighter, his expression growing even grimmer. He squeezed the high-end jewelry box in his hand until it was deformed, took the ring out, and secured it in his pocket before carelessly discarding the box. Then, with a swift pull with both hands, he suddenly summoned a Thunder Whip as thick as an adult man¡¯s thumb. The whip¡¯s body was purple, its surface shimmering with tear-like glisten, emitting a violent snapping sound. He held one end in his right hand, with the whip¡¯s tail resting on the ground, turning everything around it into scorched earth. Instead of acting immediately, he looked at Fang Yuxin and said, ¡°Xinxin, I just said, don¡¯t be willful, don¡¯t provoke me; why won¡¯t you listen?¡± Turning his perilous gaze toward Yu Yang, he said, ¡°And you, Yu Yang! Why must you always disrupt my relationship with Xinxin? If you are a man, fight me; if you lose, you can¡¯t interfere with me and Xinxin¡¯s affairs in the future!¡± ¡°Yiming!¡± Fang Yuxin, seeing Yiming becoming increasingly uncontrollable, said in exasperation, ¡°That¡¯s enough! I¡¯ve already told you, this was my decision alone; it has nothing to do with my brother. If you want to fight, I¡¯ll fight you; don¡¯t target my brother!¡± (End of current excerpt. If you like this work, we welcome you to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for this story, use your monthly ticket, and support the author with your recommendations. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 176 - 176 113 You wish (First update) ?Chapter 176: 113 You wish! (First update) Chapter 176: 113 You wish! (First update) Qiu Yiming furrowed his brow, looking displeased at Fang Yuxin, he held back and then said, ¡°Xinxin, step aside! I don¡¯t want to hurt you! This is between me and your brother, don¡¯t interfere!¡± Fang Yuxin felt he was being unreasonable. The annulment of the engagement was clearly a matter between her and Qiu Yiming, what did her brother have to do with it? Fang Yuyang was worried that Qiu Yiming would hurt her, he grasped her arm and said, ¡°Xinxin, you step aside first, I¡¯ve been wanting to have a proper fight with him for a long time.¡± To put it precisely, he had long wanted to give Qiu Yiming a good lesson! Fang Yuxin was unwilling to agree, she saw that Qiu Yiming was truly angry this time, and if Fang Yuyang really started fighting with him, he could get seriously injured! She stubbornly stood in front of Fang Yuyang, facing Qiu Yiming she said, ¡°Qiu Yiming, you know very well that this is between you and me, can you please not drag my brother into it? If you¡¯re upset, take it out on me!¡± Qiu Yiming glared at her, his crazed gaze mixed with deep sadness. He said, ¡°Xinxin, are you trying to force me? You clearly know I would never lay a hand on you!¡± Watching him like this, Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart also started to ache. She couldn¡¯t help but think, if it weren¡¯t for that bizarre dream, if it weren¡¯t for the apocalypse, she and Qiu Yiming would not have ended up this way. They might have followed the plan, gotten married, had children, and continued on that way. But, there are no ¡®ifs¡¯ in this world. She no longer had feelings for Qiu Yiming, a rift had formed, and they could never return to the past. She looked down, avoiding Qiu Yiming¡¯s eyes, and said coldly, ¡°If you are unwilling to fight with me, then go back. It¡¯s getting late, you probably have a lot of things to handle anyway?¡± Her words successfully brought back Qiu Yiming¡¯s rationality. As a Major and the captain of Thunder, he indeed had many matters to attend to. Besides, if he caused too much of a scene at the Fang Family, it would greatly impact his reputation once word spread. Thinking of this, the raging fury in his heart gradually extinguished. He gave Fang Yuyang and Bai Qianqian a cold look, then turned his gaze to Fang Yuxin and said, ¡°Xinxin, I¡¯m heading back first. I know you¡¯ve been in a bad mood lately, so I¡¯ll keep the ring for now and put it on you when you feel better.¡± Pausing, his voice carried a hint of danger, ¡°I won¡¯t agree to the annulment. You are my fiance?e now, and you will be my wife in the future, that will never change!¡± Fang Yuyang was very unhappy with Qiu Yiming¡¯s threat, angrily said, ¡°Qiu Yiming! Don¡¯t delude yourself! Xinxin will never marry you!¡± Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t respond to his words, just scoffed coldly, and walked out with large strides. Fang Yuyang clenched the hilt of the knife in his hand, wishing he could rush up and kill him, but Fang Yuxin firmly grasped his wrist, shaking her head disapprovingly. Since she had already raised this issue, there was no possibility of changing it. Whether Qiu Yiming accepted it or not, she had no relationship with him anymore! Although they were now getting along with Zhou Yan and General Song through the news of the Elemental Crystal, such relationships were not unbreakable. If they seriously offended the Qiu Family, General Song certainly would not step out to protect them! They would just take one step at a time. At least Qiu Yiming, although power-driven, was still a gentleman when it came to matters of women and would not force her. Fang Yuyang watched as Qiu Yiming strode away, his eyes darkening, a storm seemingly raging in his dark depths. He lowered his gaze, making up his mind. Bai Qianqian came over and took Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, her eyes also watching the direction Qiu Yiming had left. Being young, even though he had heard the conversation, he didn¡¯t really understand what was going on. He only knew that Qiu Yiming was very disagreeable, even wanting to take advantage of the foolish dad not being there to steal his mom! He clenched his little fist, determined to Cultivate well. That way, when Qiu Yiming came again, he could chase away this annoying uncle! Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe walked over to them, both sighed, clearly aware that Qiu Yiming would not let the matter rest. This matter was not over yet! Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want her family to worry about it, so she said, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s go quickly.¡± Due to yesterday¡¯s experience, they didn¡¯t rush to drive but walked to the Task Hall. Upon arriving, they discovered a new announcement. Chapter 177 - 177 113 You wish (First update)_2 ?Chapter 177: 113 You wish! (First update)_2 Chapter 177: 113 You wish! (First update)_2 Yesterday¡¯s compulsory conscription order was cancelled, mercenaries no longer had to accept missions, and could form their own teams to go downtown to rescue people or hunt zombies, with the number of people saved and the Crystal Cores obtained being the basis for receiving rewards. To encourage more rescues, the reward for saving one person was significantly higher than that for a single Crystal Core. This was a voluntary mission, and in addition, there was an added patrolling mission. After establishing the Safe Zone, as the number of survivors inside increased, the zombies gathering outside also became more numerous. The Zombie Leader made the higher-ups of the Safe Zone vigilant, prompting them to issue this patrolling mission to prevent a large-scale gathering of zombies outside the Safe Zone. The task involved patrolling the periphery of the Safe Zone, with a certain number of mercenaries assigned to each section. Once zombies appeared, they were to kill them to prevent them from forming in large numbers. The rewards for the patrolling missions were different from those of the voluntary missions; there was a fixed salary, and for every zombie killed, there was an additional income. Such tasks were most suitable for mercenaries of lesser strength, because they were not far from the Safe Zone, and the risk was not so high. Accordingly, the pay was not too high either. The Fang Family chose the voluntary mission directly. This new regulation by the military had helped them, as finding Elemental Crystals alongside others would not be easy. After meeting up with Chen Qiao and the other four, they were ready to enter the city together to look for Elemental Crystals and simultaneously kill more zombies. For convenience, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang directly rode motorcycles, while the others split into two SUVs. Once out of the Safe Zone, they sped toward the city¡¯s direction. Thanks to a dream, Fang Yuxin knew very well the severely afflicted areas in the city. This time, she intended to check out one of the nearer locations. It was an old district, once very bustling with tall buildings densely packed. However, as other areas developed sequentially, the situation there declined and it became a gathering place for low-income individuals and migrant workers. Fang Yuxin chose this place because it was relatively remote, thinking the military might not discover it yet, planning to find more Elemental Stones ahead of the military. Chen Qiao and the others almost obeyed everything that Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang suggested, not showing any dissent. As the city drew nearer, more zombies appeared on the road. This time armed with guns, they had an easier time handling them. However, their luck didn¡¯t seem too good, as they encountered three Mutant Zombies! ¡°Be careful!¡± Seeing a clearly larger Mutant Zombie charging towards the SUV where Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but cry out. As her voice rang out, a bullet struck the Mutant Zombie right in the forehead. Regrettably, the bullet didn¡¯t penetrate the bone but was embedded in the skin, sticking there comically. Yet, no one could laugh watching this, as the bullet did not inflict significant damage. The Mutant Zombie continued rushing at Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe¡¯s vehicle, getting dangerously close. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe got out of the vehicle simultaneously. Fang Jintang put his palm on the ground, and Qu Qianhe stood behind him, watching the approaching Mutant Zombie. Thirty steps! Twenty steps! Ten steps! Five steps! Just then, Fang Jintang suddenly said, ¡°Now¡¯s the time! Swamp!¡± As his words fell, a circular swamp suddenly formed under the Mutant Zombie. The swamp was not large, with only a meter in diameter, but Fang Jintang timed it perfectly, and it formed right under the zombie¡¯s feet. The zombie, bulky and muscular, obviously very strong. With such a power-type Mutant Zombie, if they had clashed head-on, neither Fang Jintang nor Qu Qianhe might have been a match. Precisely knowing this, Fang Jintang cleverly chose the swamp. As soon as it appeared, the Mutant Zombie sank into it. It struggled frantically, sinking deeper instead. Taking advantage of this, Qu Qianhe unleashed a fierce fire from her hands towards the Mutant Zombie¡¯s head, completely enveloping it. The flames burned, and the zombie struggled even more violently. It desperately beat its mud-wrapped hands against its head, gradually smothering the flames. Fang Jintang seized the moment to shoot at its head. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± After three shots, the flames had extinguished completely. Just then, a white shadow flashed over the zombie¡¯s head. It moved swiftly, its sharp claws reflecting a cold light in the sunlight. Using the Mutant Zombie¡¯s head to spring off, the white figure traced a beautiful curve in mid-air, finally landing in front of Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, still clutching a white Crystal Core in its claws. ¡°Meow~~¡± Angela narrowed her eyes, making a pleasing sound as if seeking praise. Qu Qianhe rubbed its round head and picked up the Crystal Core, stowing it in her waist pouch. Looking back at the Mutant Zombie, its skull was cracked open and it was dead beyond doubt. She breathed a sigh of relief, glancing subconsciously at Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang. Both were facing Mutant Zombies, Fang Yuxin encountered one with enhanced defense. Its skin, unlike that of other zombies, appeared metallic, and sharp blades could only leave shallow marks, not enough to breach its defenses. Fang Yuyang, on the other hand, faced a Speed Mutant Zombie. To prevent harm to others, he could only entangle it with Wind Blades, finding it difficult to kill. (To be continued. If you like this book, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for a recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 178 - 178 114 Ambush (Second Update) ?Chapter 178: 114 Ambush (Second Update) Chapter 178: 114 Ambush (Second Update) Fang Yuxin faced a Defense Enhancement Zombie this time, and it was evidently quite troublesome. If it had been anyone else, it might have taken some effort to kill it. Sadly for the creature, it had encountered her, Fang Yuxin. Even Fang Yuxin was initially at a loss, but soon, she came up with an idea! The Mutant Zombie was shrouded in a thick aura of death, and the pure vitality in her Wood Element Spiritual Energy was the natural nemesis of such deathly energy! With this realization, Fang Yuxin clenched the handle of her blade, allowing Wood Energy to flow from her palms into the handle and gradually spread towards the blade. In an instant, the entire blade was enveloped. A thin layer of green Wood Energy wrapped around the black blade, giving it a sinister appearance. The moment the Wood Energy appeared, the Mutant Zombie retreated instantly, its dead gray eyes glaring at Fang Yuxin as if it were facing a formidable enemy, clearly wary of her. Fang Yuxin curled her lips into a smile and, as the Mutant Zombie lunged at her again, she swung her blade forcefully, slicing from the bottom up through the zombie¡¯s arm. She simultaneously kicked out, striking the zombie¡¯s lower abdomen hard and sending it staggering backward. This time, her blade easily broke through the defense of the Mutant Zombie, and it howled in agony. If it hadn¡¯t retreated so fast, its hands would have already been severed by Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin clicked her tongue in disappointment. Just as she was about to press her advantage, the Mutant Zombie, after howling, suddenly swelled up, its body inflating grotesquely. Its clothes, already filthy and tattered, were stretched to the limit by the swelling and ripped apart even more than a beggar¡¯s garb, looking like a piece of performance art. Fang Yuxin noticed that its skin had turned into a strange gel-like substance, with wounds sealing tightly as though healing. Her brows furrowed, and she enveloped her blade in an even thicker layer of Wood Energy. The dead gray eyes of the Mutant Zombie flickered, beholding the Wood Energy on the blade and retreating in fear. However, its gaze then locked onto Fang Yuxin, and a glint of greed shone through the lifeless eyes, unwilling to relinquish such a delectable feast. So, it quickly charged at Fang Yuxin again, its claws, sharper than those of regular zombies, reaching for her without restraint. The claws were extremely sharp and shimmered with a dark gleam; Fang Yuxin was certain that a single scratch could easily tear off a chunk of flesh. Thus, before the Mutant Zombie could reach her, she had already swung her blade. This time she used all her strength, and with the Wood Energy countering the zombie¡¯s deathly aura, she easily cut through its outer defenses. However, as the blade penetrated deeper, she felt more resistance. Fang Yuxin clenched her teeth and gripped the handle tightly, swinging the blade down to sever the zombie¡¯s claws. The zombie, gravely wounded, howled even louder, yet it continued to thrust its broken bones at Fang Yuxin. She leaped to the side, sprung off the ground, and without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she brought her blade down with full force toward the zombie¡¯s head. With her previous experience, this time was much smoother. The blade enveloped in Wood Energy dashed through and she twisted her wrist, prying out the Crystal Core. The zombie, devoid of its Crystal Core, was dead beyond doubt, its heavy body crashing to the ground without making much noise. The peculiar gel-like skin was elastic, cushioning the impact of the fall. She pocketed the Crystal Core and instinctively looked toward her family. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe had taken care of another Mutant Zombie and were now hunting the remaining regular zombies, meanwhile, Fang Yuyang had also finished off his opponent. Speed Mutant Zombies might be fast, but their defense was negligible. Once their speed advantage was lost, they were much easier to deal with. Soon, all the zombies were dispatched, but they didn¡¯t relax completely. Gazing at the three Mutant Zombies on the ground, everyone¡¯s expression was solemn. Yesterday, they had encountered just two Mutant Zombies, but today, before they even entered the city, they had already stumbled upon three. Was this a streak of bad luck, or were Mutant Zombies becoming more common? Qu Qianhe silently burnt the zombies¡¯ corpses, and Chen Qiao¡¯s group looked at the Fang Family with a heavy heart. Their strength wasn¡¯t sufficient for now; if they encountered more Mutant Zombies, they probably wouldn¡¯t be able to cope! Chapter 179 - 179 114 Ambush (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 179: 114 Ambush (Second Update)_2 Chapter 179: 114 Ambush (Second Update)_2 Fang Yuxin noticed their unease and made ten Golden Armor Talismans from leaves, launching them out. She had now advanced to the Qi Refining Middle Stage, and the talismans she crafted were more powerful than before, able to withstand five deadly attacks. With the Golden Armor Talismans, the expressions on Chen Qiao and the other four improved considerably, and Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe also breathed a sigh of relief. They did not linger for too long, quickly continuing on their way. Although they encountered several small groups of zombies along the way, they did not run into any Mutant Zombies. This relieved everyone. Mutant Zombies were tough to handle, and if they appeared in large numbers, not only would they be in danger, but even the Safe Zone might not be secure. The old district was severely hit, but not the entire area had turned into ruins; some unlucky places were spared. This place was filled with old houses, looking dilapidated. Combined with the rampant zombies, dried bloodstains and severed limbs were inevitable on the streets, filling the air with the smell of decay and adding an aura of death and desolation. The desolate streets were completely empty of zombies, eerily silent. A building collapsing by the street had cut off the road, making it impossible for vehicles to pass. Fang Yuxin deployed her Spiritual Sense and quickly located the position of an Elemental Stone. After sensing around and confirming that no one was nearby, she signaled to the others. They all got out of the car; while the others kept guard, Fang Yuxin took charge of digging up the Elemental Stone. There was only one Elemental Stone in this location, so Fang Yuxin worked swiftly, finding the stone in less than two minutes. Seeing it, the eyes of Chen Qiao and his four companions heated up noticeably. Without wasting any words, Fang Yuxin collected the Elemental Stone, and they all got back into the car, turned around, and took another route to continue forward. Fang Yuxin followed the remembered location of the ruins. However, they had not gone far when suddenly, from a building nearby, came the crying of a woman. ¡°Please, save me!¡± The driver instinctively hit the brakes, and Fang Yuxin turned her head to see a disheveled woman standing on the balcony of the fifth floor of a building across the street, frantically waving her hands for help. Chen Qiao rolled down the window, stuck his head out toward Fang Yuyang, and asked for his opinion, ¡°Captain, what should we do? Should we save her?¡± He asked, hesitant. Privately, he was rather reluctant to help, knowing that although rescuing people offered high rewards, their primary purpose this time was for finding Elemental Stones. Taking this woman along would not only be trouble but might also expose the news about the Elemental Stone. He knew this thought was selfish, so he was very uncertain, wanting to see what Fang Yuyang would choose. Fang Yuyang glanced at the woman but did not directly answer. Instead, he looked at Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, what do you think?¡± His question seemed to ask for her opinion, but in reality, he was asking if she had discovered anything. Fang Yuyang was very cautious. To him, this woman was highly suspicious. Given her disheveled appearance, she clearly wasn¡¯t doing too well, and her decision to call for help likely meant she was trapped inside. However, though her voice sounded pitiful, it was not weak, indicating that her physical condition was not as bad as it appeared. How could a woman trapped in a room maintain such a condition? Fang Yuxin shook her head and whispered quietly, ¡°Don¡¯t bother with her, it¡¯s a trap.¡± She had already scanned with her Spiritual Sense when they first noticed the woman. The room she was in hid eight people, all poised to strike. Judging from the energy fluctuations coming from them, five were superpower users. Although the other three were Ordinary People, each was armed with a machete and bulging muscles, clearly formidable. Moreover, there were no zombies at all in the outside corridor. It was impossible for her to be trapped there alone! These people had clearly set an ambush, using the woman¡¯s cries to lure them in! When Fang Yuyang heard her response, his face darkened quickly. He coldly glanced at the woman on the fifth-floor balcony, ignored her, and signaled to continue on their way. However, just as they were about to move forward, a van suddenly burst out from an alley ahead, and another van came rushing from behind. The two vehicles blocked the road, trapping them. A window cracked open slightly, and the dark barrel of a gun stretched out, aiming at them. At that moment, a burly middle-aged man walked out to the balcony of the fifth-floor building, a cigar in his mouth and a submachine gun in hand, looking smugly down at them as he chuckled, ¡°Nice vehicle you got there. If you surrender to me obediently, I might let you live, how about it?¡± Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin were ready to ride motorcycles, and did not have the submachine gun in hand. The other two SUVs had specially designed windows that could not be seen from the outside, so these people did not realize that those inside the vehicles were armed. Fang Yuxin chuckled coldly and called out, ¡°Qianqian, take action!¡± As soon as she spoke, the assailants clearly hesitated, not expecting them to fight back so fiercely. But at that moment, their heads buzzed, suddenly growing dazed and dizzy. Bai Qianqian and Fang Yuxin simultaneously attacked, using their Spiritual Sense and spiritual power to shake the assailants¡¯ Sea of Consciousness. Simultaneously, Fang Yuyang released Wind Blades. The crescent-shaped Wind Blades swooshed across the necks of the two men on the balcony, beheading them instantly! Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, Chen Qiao, and the others opened fire simultaneously, and a burst of gunfire filled the air as everyone in the vans was shot dead. The entire fight was over in an instant. These people had no time to react and were swiftly dispatched, dead beyond doubt. The people inside the building also weren¡¯t spared. Nearly all of Bai Qianqian and Fang Yuxin¡¯s attacks targeted them, easily shattering their Sea of Consciousness. The whole battle was finished in less than a minute. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 180 - 180 115 Being Watched (Third Update) ?Chapter 180: 115 Being Watched (Third Update) Chapter 180: 115 Being Watched (Third Update) Though the enemy had all been slaughtered, the expressions on everyone¡¯s faces were far from good. Especially for Chen Qiao¡¯s group of five, they were all acutely aware that they had narrowly escaped a fatal outcome. No one had expected the opposition to have guns! Had it not been for Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian using Spiritual Sense to interfere with the enemy¡¯s Sea of Consciousness, granting them the upper hand, they would have been severely wounded, if not dead! Chen Qiao and his four companions were relatively lucky, having encountered the military not long after the apocalypse began and following them to reach the Safe Zone safely, without experiencing too much hardship or the brutal plundering that occurred between survivors. This trial had left them utterly out of their depth. Now, with zombies rampant and Mutant Zombies continually emerging, the living conditions for humanity had become extremely harsh. They couldn¡¯t understand why some people wouldn¡¯t think to hunt down more zombies but instead set up ambushes to attack their own kind. This realization left them feeling disheartened and simultaneously petrified. Seeing their grim expressions, Fang Yuyang worried that dwelling on the incident would affect the upcoming fights and said, ¡°Alright, Chen Qiao, you and the others go clean up the battlefield. Collect the guns and see if there¡¯s anything else useful.¡± With tasks at hand, the five of them no longer had the leisure to dwell on recent events, focusing instead on claiming their spoils of war. Fang Yuxin nodded at Fang Yuyang and then, using the ground for leverage, leapt up as if she were a martial artist performing acrobatics in a novel. Midway, she rebounded off a wall, gaining further height, grabbed the balcony railing to flip herself over nimbly, and lightly landed on the balcony. On the balcony lay two bodies, one male and one female, both with eyes wide open, a look of unwillingness, surprise, and fear still not entirely faded from their eyes. The man¡¯s right index finger was still on the trigger, no longer having the chance to press it. Fang Yuxin took the gun from his hand into her storage space, searched his body, and found a pistol, a dagger, a Crystal Core, bullets, and other items. There weren¡¯t many Crystal Cores or bullets¡ªwhether it was because the quantities were originally small or they were placed elsewhere was unknown. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t dwell on it, after searching the man, she also searched the woman, finding only cosmetics and candies, nothing of value. There were seven men inside the room, all dead. Fang Yuxin quickly entered, efficiently taking anything useful before returning to the balcony and jumping back down. By the time she arrived, Chen Qiao and the others had already collected what they could use. These people didn¡¯t seem like soldiers, probably from the criminal underworld, no wonder they had guns. It was just unlucky for them that there weren¡¯t many Crystal Cores or bullets. Disinterested in such trifles, Fang Yuyang let them divide the loot amongst themselves. Two vans were moved aside, the gasoline inside them drained by Chen Qiao and his group. The group soon left the place, the incident fading into the back of their minds, with none looking back. They all knew this was just a minor episode, yet such incidents were likely to happen more frequently in the future. With the dire living conditions for humanity and the scarcity of resources, to better ensure survival, some people had resorted to preying on their own kind. Perhaps in their eyes, compared to their fellow humans, the zombies that had transformed into monsters appeared even more terrifying! The event unfolded too quickly, and from the expertise of those they encountered, this was clearly not their first time. It was unknown how many people had died at their hands, a pity that this time they were the unlucky ones, mistaking their prey for an easy target, only to kick an iron plate and not only fail to gain anything but also lose their lives! The car wasn¡¯t moving fast. Along the way, Fang Yuxin and Bai Qian were using their Spiritual Sense to scout the surroundings. This task was undoubtedly exhausting, but the advantages were significant. Once Fang Yuxin extended her Spiritual Sense, everything within a kilometer radius was under her surveillance¡ªwhether there were supplies, Elemental Stones, or survivors was crystal clear, erasing any fears of falling into traps. On the road, they occasionally encountered zombies and Mercenary Teams out to hunt zombies or look for supplies. Many of them looked very ragged compared to Fang Yuxin¡¯s group, who were so clean it was almost anomalous. It didn¡¯t take long before they were targeted again. It was a short man with a sleazy look who eyed Fang Yuxin¡¯s group and their vehicle enviously and greedily. As the vehicle drifted into the distance, he spat on the ground with a ¡°pth,¡± cursing resentfully, ¡°The world¡¯s really damn unfair; it¡¯s the end of the world, and there are still people flaunting their wealth! So high-profile, not afraid of catching Master Meng¡¯s eye...¡± Chapter 181 - 181 115 Being Targeted (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 181: 115 Being Targeted (Third Update)_2 Chapter 181: 115 Being Targeted (Third Update)_2 At this point, his voice paused, and his eyes, as large as green beans, flashed a malicious light, ¡°Those cars are really nice, and that chick on the car looks just like a movie star. If I tell Master Meng about this, hehe~ even if I can¡¯t drink the soup, I should still get a good reward.¡± He finished speaking and rubbed his fingers together, growing more excited as he thought about it, so he noted the direction Fang Yuxin and the others had left, grabbed the iron rod in his hand, and sprinted far away in one direction. Fang Yuxin and her group had already left far behind. He darted through the ancient alleys and soon rushed into a residential complex. The complex¡¯s walls were topped with barbed wire, and there were guards at the entrance. When he entered, a tall and robust man stopped him, his large hand forcefully grabbing his thin arm and pulling him aside, squinting with a very unkind attitude, ¡°I say, Li Shouzi, why are you back so early today? Did you get lucky? Got something good, did you? Hand it over quick!¡± The slender man was obviously very scared, his face changing color the moment his arm was grabbed. Then, gritting his teeth, he dug out a pack of opened cigarettes from his dirty bag, poured one out, and offered it with a smile to the tall man holding him, ¡°Brother Yong, have a smoke! Have a smoke!¡± The tall man¡¯s eyes gleamed briefly, and he snatched the pack of cigarettes from the slender man¡¯s hand. Seeing there were more than half left, he pocketed them with satisfaction. Then he took the cigarette from the slender man¡¯s hand and arrogantly asked, ¡°Got a light?¡± ¡°Got it, got it! Just a moment, Brother Yong, I¡¯ll light it for you!¡± While speaking, he took out a lighter from his pocket but failed to ignite it after several attempts. The tall man, with the cigarette in his mouth, snatched the lighter with impatience and, with a ¡°snap,¡± lit it. After lighting his cigarette, he didn¡¯t return the lighter but casually pocketed it. The slender man¡¯s face contorted with distress, but he didn¡¯t dare resist. Instead, he tried very hard to appease, ¡°Brother Yong, I¡¯m not feeling well today. If I stayed out any longer, I might end up in a zombie¡¯s stomach. Please, let me in.¡± This was a small Safe Zone, entirely occupied by Liu Meng. Survivors residing inside had to pay rent and protection fees daily, or they would be kicked out. To survive, many survivors had to venture out to hunt zombies or scavenge for supplies. Those with less strength didn¡¯t dare venture far and could only search nearby areas, but these places had almost been completely scavenged unless they were very lucky. To hunt or find supplies farther away, one needed a vehicle. But gasoline, controlled by Liu Meng, was priced exorbitantly. Many survivors, therefore, lived in dire straits, unable to meet their daily needs, while some resorted to selling their bodies for survival. The tall man still didn¡¯t let the slender man off. He grabbed the dirty bag from the slender man¡¯s embrace and rummaged through it, finding a pack of bagged instant noodles but nothing else. He glared dissatisfiedly at the slender man, took the noodles, and said, ¡°Alright, seeing as you look so miserable, I¡¯ll be merciful today. This pack of noodles can be your entry fee.¡± The slender man¡¯s liver ached in anger. That pack of noodles was what he had kept to fill his stomach at noon! His face filled with grief as he pleaded, ¡°Brother Yong! Please, be kind, that¡¯s my last pack of noodles. It¡¯s my only food. If I lose it, I¡¯ll have nothing to eat! Before he could finish, the tall man slapped him across the face. The tall man struck hard, and with a ¡°smack,¡± the slender man¡¯s right cheek swelled up immediately, and his mouth started bleeding. The tall man snorted coldly and lowered his voice to warn, ¡°Let me tell you, you better not talk nonsense. What did I take from you? This pack of noodles is the entry fee according to the rules. I didn¡¯t take anything extra from you!¡± After saying that, he disdainfully threw the dirty bag at the slender man. The slender man shuddered in fear and did not dare to persist. Grabbing his bag, he walked away quickly. After leaving, his expression quickly darkened. He stuck out his tongue and licked the blood at the corner of his mouth, the taste of rust spreading in his mouth made his gaze turn venomous and fierce. ¡°Fang Dayong, you just wait!¡± He silently muttered this to himself and hastened towards the central area where Liu Meng lived. Before the apocalypse, Liu Meng was already involved in underworld activities. In his thirties, of average height and slightly overweight, he was not particularly good-looking and had very cruel methods. Previously, he had been just a gang member under someone else, but after the apocalypse, he luckily awakened his Fire Ability. The boss who used to swagger around him had turned into a zombie. Thus, he gathered the gang¡¯s surviving members and took in more underlings, occupying this residential complex, turning it into his stronghold. After seizing the nearby supermarket initially, he spent more time on cultivation, claiming most of the Crystal Cores hunted by his subordinates for himself. After continual cultivation, his Fire Ability had already nearly reached the Basic-level Peak, and a promotion seemed imminent. His harsh methods made his subordinates greatly fear him, which made him extremely satisfied with his current life, almost wishing the apocalypse would continue forever. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t know that zombies also evolved, their strength constantly increasing. Continuing to hunker down in this small Safe Zone, once a Corpse Tide appeared, he would have no way out but dead! (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 182 - 182 116 Ruins (First Update) ?Chapter 182: Chapter 116 Ruins (First Update) Chapter 182: Chapter 116 Ruins (First Update) Liu Meng¡¯s central residential area was guarded; aside from those living inside, no one else could approach. The skinny man hadn¡¯t even gotten close before the dark muzzle of a gun was aimed at him. Someone shouted, ¡°Stop! Who are you? What are you here for?¡± The skinny man looked at the dark gun barrel, his face turning pale with fright and quickly tried to appease with a grin, ¡°Don¡¯t¡ª! Wait! Please, let¡¯s talk, can you put the gun away first?¡± Seeing that the other party didn¡¯t react, he steeled himself and said, ¡°Here¡¯s the thing, my name is Li Fugui, I have extremely important news, I need to see Master Meng, brother, could you please help me out?¡± That person remained unmoved, bluntly asking, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± After finishing, seeing Li Fugui hesitating and unwilling to speak, the guard pushed the gun barrel slightly forward, his index finger on the trigger, he warned displeasedly, ¡°Master Meng has no time to see you, whatever you have to say, you can tell me just the same.¡± Li Fugui purposefully came here, even enduring being pillaged by the security guard at the gate of the residential district, all to personally meet Liu Meng and relay the message to him. But once he got here, he realized that the people here were even less likely to let him meet Liu Meng! Realizing this, he was filled with remorse; had he known, he might as well have passed the message directly to the security guard! Now his possessions were gone, and he stood to lose out on the credit as well! With the dark gun barrel aimed at his chest, he didn¡¯t dare to resist, so he obediently said, ¡°I... I¡¯ll tell you, it¡¯s like this, I just spotted a fat sheep outside! So I hurried here to report it to Master Meng!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The man with the gun¡¯s eyes brightened, clearly interested, ¡°Continue, who came? Can you tell where they are from? Are they from outside, or some other Safe Zone?¡± There was more than one Safe Zone in the old city district, several others though they were all quite small, nothing compared to the one occupied by the military outside the city. They had stayed in the old city for a few days and had some idea about people from other Safe Zones. The man asked in this manner, clearly already contemplating robbery, simply worried it might be people from another Safe Zone and that it could lead to unnecessary trouble. Li Fugui was well aware of some of the unspoken rules around these parts and with a sleazy smile, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I have it all scoped out, they¡¯re definitely from outside. That SUV was so pretty! An absolute fat sheep!¡± The eyes of the man with the gun grew brighter still; he asked impatiently, ¡°How many of them are there? Do you know their strength? Are there any superpower users among them?¡± Li Fugui was an Ordinary Person; he couldn¡¯t sense energy fluctuations, naturally unaware if there were any superpower users among them. He recalled briefly, a malicious thought crossing his mind and said, ¡°Two SUVs and two heavy motorcycles, all top brands, you could tell they run really well just by looking! You can¡¯t see the people in the cars, but I think there aren¡¯t many, and there was a beauty riding a bike, looked just like a movie star!¡± He paused there a moment, rubbing his hands together and let out a few ¡°heh heh¡± laughs, winking at the man with the gun. The man¡¯s gaze grew heated; luxury cars plus a beautiful girl, he liked this combination very much! Li Fugui, watching the ardor in his eyes, felt increasingly pleased with himself and continued, ¡°Whether there are superpower users among them, I don¡¯t know, but even if there are, so what? With Master Meng taking action, isn¡¯t it still an easy catch?¡± The man with the gun nodded, seeming to agree with this sentiment. He asked even more urgently, ¡°What else did you see? Do you know where they¡¯re heading?¡± Li Fugui had been paying attention; he answered without hesitation, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I got it all, considering the direction they were heading, looks like they¡¯re going toward the commercial district ruins.¡± After asking a few more questions and seeing that Li Fugui had nothing more to say, the man said, ¡°Alright, go back and wait. If the news is true, we won¡¯t forget your share!¡± With that, the man turned, walking briskly toward the place where Liu Meng lived. Realizing that the credit was slipping away, Li Fugui felt an uncomfortable sense of frustration and hesitated before deciding to stay and wait. If Master Meng came out, he would boldly volunteer his service. Otherwise, it was as if he had lost both his wife and his soldiers! Soon, an SUV sped out from the inside. Li Fugui didn¡¯t dare to block its path, simply waving his hand and calling out, ¡°Master Meng! Master Meng!¡± The car quickly stopped, the door opened, and someone shouted at him, ¡°Get in the car!¡± Chapter 183 - 183 116 Ruins (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 183: Chapter 116 Ruins (First Update)_2 Chapter 183: Chapter 116 Ruins (First Update)_2 Li Fugui¡¯s heart leaped with joy, and he hurried onto the SUV. Once there, he realized there were no seats left. Liu Meng was spread across the space of two people, showing no intention of offering a seat. With a cigar in his mouth and a pistol in his hand, Liu Meng squinted down at Li Fugui from his lofty position and asked, ¡°Is it you who spotted the fat sheep?¡± Without a seat, Li Fugui could only sit pitifully on a blanket, tilting his sharp, thin head up and smiling obsequiously as he said, ¡°Indeed, it was I who saw them, Master Meng, I can show you the way.¡± Liu Meng looked at him with icy eyes, his piercing gaze cutting into him like a knife. Suddenly, Li Fugui began to regret his actions; he felt that the Liu Meng before him was a ferocious tiger, not someone he could afford to provoke! The regret lingered in his heart for only a moment, soon overtaken by greed and ambition. The potential benefits of following Liu Meng were more compelling to him than the danger Liu Meng represented! He was tired of the daily abuse and the constant fear of death. If he could curry favor with Liu Meng through this incident, even if it meant acting like a dog by his side, he was willing to do so! With a plan in mind, Li Fugui began to diligently navigate. After leaving the residential complex, the car twisted and turned through the alleys, quickly arriving at the location where Li Fugui had first encountered Fang Yuxin and her companions. Pointing excitedly in one direction, Li Fugui said, ¡°Over there! That¡¯s the way they went!¡± Liu Meng glanced in another direction, unable to resist asking, ¡°Did you see which way they came from?¡± Puzzled, Li Fugui obediently pointed in the direction from which Fang Yuxin and her group had arrived. Upon seeing this, the expressions of the others in the SUV changed. Liu Meng asked someone beside him, ¡°Isn¡¯t Lao San handling things over there?¡± The person nodded and said, ¡°Looks like these people have good luck, not running into Third Master. Otherwise, Master Meng, there¡¯d be no need for you to make a move!¡± Liu Meng narrowed his eyes, looking suspiciously in that direction, suddenly feeling uneasy. However, after considering the strength of his subordinates, he dismissed his worries. Although Lao San wasn¡¯t as strong as him, he was no pushover. With a gun in hand and plenty of men, who could challenge them unless they faced military forces? This old district was remote, home to neither celebrities nor nobility¡ªmilitary forces wouldn¡¯t extend their reach this quickly. With this thought, he calmed himself. He had spent most of his time in recent days cultivating, unaware that he had reached a bottleneck. He had a premonition that if he could just break through this barrier, his strength would rise to a new level. But no matter what he did, the breakthrough eluded him, how could he not be anxious? Therefore, upon hearing the news, he planned to take a trip himself. Novels always said it wasn¡¯t enough to just cultivate, right? When the protagonist encountered a bottleneck, wasn¡¯t it always a fight that allowed them to level up? Since the apocalypse began, Liu Meng had been lucky, which subconsciously filled him with a sense of mission and pride. He thought he must be the protagonist from the novels; if the storyline followed that of the books, he would surely dominate the world! Reminded of the hot-blooded novels he once read, Liu Meng¡¯s excitement grew, and any unease was cast aside. His good mood persisted until they neared the ruins. The destruction was severe here, but despite that, people still searched the area for supplies. Initially, no one came, but as resources elsewhere became scarce, survivors had no choice but to turn their attention to these ruins. This was a commercial district, lined with shops and therefore rich in resources. The downside was that everything was buried under bricks and rubble, making it difficult to unearth. After arriving at the ruins, Fang Yuxin and her group couldn¡¯t retrieve their vehicles into the space because of other people¡¯s presence. They couldn¡¯t drive through the rubble, so they split into two groups; Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang zipped in on their motorcycles, while others sought Elemental Stones around the outskirts of the debris. When Liu Meng arrived, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had already sped into the ruins on their motorcycles, leaving the two conspicuous SUVs behind. The driver drove straight toward them, the dark muzzles of guns poking out of open windows, aimed at the SUVs. Liu Meng eyed the two SUVs with greed, warning, ¡°Everyone, be careful! If anyone shoots recklessly and damages these vehicles, I¡¯ll skin him alive!¡± At this, he frowned and cast an unhappy look at Li Fugui, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say there were also two heavy-duty motorcycles? Why don¡¯t I see them?¡± His question turned Li Fugui¡¯s face pale with fear. Frantically looking around, he finally spotted some tracks and quickly pointed to them, saying, ¡°Look, Master Meng, those tire tracks must be from the two heavy-duty motorcycles. They¡¯ve definitely gone inside! As long as we capture the people outside, they¡¯ll have no choice but to surrender!¡± Liu Meng scrutinized the tire tracks and felt Li Fugui was probably right. ¡°It better be that way,¡± he said and waved his hand, signaling for someone to call out. The man understood and yelled loudly at the people inside the SUVs, ¡°Listen up in there! Master Meng fancies your vehicles. If you don¡¯t want to die, get out and surrender peacefully; otherwise, don¡¯t blame the bullets for being blind!¡± He finished with a smug laugh, but just then he heard the sound of engines starting behind him. Confused, he wondered who else was coming. Not just him, everyone else in the SUVs turned their heads alertly to see two more SUVs heading their way. (To be continued... If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please browse at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 184 - 184 117 Fierce Battle (Second Update) ?Chapter 184: 117 Fierce Battle (Second Update) Chapter 184: 117 Fierce Battle (Second Update) The two SUVs approaching from behind made Liu Meng extremely vigilant, so he signaled to his subordinate. Understanding the cue, the man rolled down the window, stuck his head out, and shouted to the people in the cars behind, ¡°Master Meng is handling business here, smart folks better scram! Don¡¯t blame me for not warning you, Master Meng isn¡¯t someone you can afford to mess with!¡± As soon as he said this, the cars behind began to back up, and Liu Meng breathed a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, before he could feel pleased, the cars suddenly sped up and charged forward! This sudden change shocked everyone in the car, but, being seasoned veterans of the streets, they had seen a lot already. After the initial panic, they quickly responded and opened fire. The violent gunfire terrified the survivors scavenging in the ruins, who, seeing the situation worsen, did not dare to stay long. They quickly left the ruins with pale faces, keeping their distance. Those who scavenge in these ruins are not powerful, unable to snatch more resources elsewhere, hoping instead to find uncrushed food in the debris. Their lack of strength meant that as soon as Liu Meng appeared, people chose to leave; those hesitant to go were forced to flee after the gunfire, running for their lives. Meanwhile, having entered the ruins, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang heard the gunfire and their expressions darkened. Realizing something was wrong, they dared not linger and immediately turned their car around to escape! When they came out, they witnessed a bizarre scene. The bullets from Liu Meng and his men stopped mid-air, paused for a moment, and then suddenly sped back towards them! At the same time, another round of gunfire erupted, but it was from the people in the SUV. The sound of gunfire was accompanied by the crisp sound of breaking glass; the car windows were covered with web-like cracks and bullet holes, and upon closer inspection, one could see red and white substances splattered on the windows. Most of the people in the car were either dead or severely injured. Liu Meng had ducked the moment the gunfire started and had even grabbed a subordinate next to him to shield himself from the bullets. Li Fugui, because he was sitting on a blanket, was luckily out of the line of fire, but he was not in good shape; he sat there, pale-faced, shrinking back and trembling uncontrollably. A foul smell emanated from beneath him, spreading quickly inside the car, mixing with the scent of blood to create a bizarre odor. Liu Meng threw away his now dead subordinate, his face splattered with blooding and brain matter, his fierce expression making him look like a demon from hell, or a bloodthirsty beast. His eyes were blood-red, with specks of red light flickering within, making him look even more eerie and terrifying. Li Fugui screamed, kicking his legs and scooting back, but Liu Meng grabbed him by his thin neck, his fingers tightening, oblivious to Li Fugui¡¯s bulging eyes. Liu Meng held him up and threw him towards the back seat window, then grabbed a submachine gun, resting it on his body, and aimed at the SUV behind, pulling the trigger frantically. Bullets flew out continuously amidst the intense gunfire, yet none hit the SUV behind; instead, all were magically redirected back. The bullets shot back hit Li Fugui, making ¡°puff, puff, puff¡± sounds. Liu Meng yelled at his men, ¡°Don¡¯t fucking play dead! If you don¡¯t want to die, shoot, goddamn it!¡± Despite his words, he knew shooting was useless; the enemy clearly had a superpower user with a bizarre ability. Their bullets didn¡¯t just miss; they became the weapon used against them! Since his superpower Awakening, Liu Meng had never felt so frustrated! Had he known it would come to this, he never would have come out. He regretted it! He really regretted it! Liu Meng couldn¡¯t help wishing he could turn back the clock; if he could, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have come out! However, that was impossible; his superpower was the Fire Ability, not the most mysterious Time Ability! Thinking of his own ability, Liu Meng narrowed his eyes and clenched his fist, striking forward fiercely! A blazing fire erupted instantly, forming a huge fiery fist that charged toward the SUV on the opposite side. Just as the massive fire fist was about to hit the SUV, a round metallic barrier suddenly appeared in front of the vehicle, acting like a shield, blocking the attack of the fire fist. Chapter 185 - 185 117 Fierce Battle (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 185: 117 Fierce Battle (Second Update)_2 Chapter 185: 117 Fierce Battle (Second Update)_2 The huge fire fist collided with the metal shield and dissipated within a second, transforming back into searing firepower that disappeared into the void. Liu Meng hadn¡¯t expected his attack to be blocked so easily; his face grew paler, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead. Besides him, two others in the SUV survived, though both were seriously injured. Liu Meng¡¯s words forced them to pick up their guns and fire. This time, their bullets weren¡¯t stopped by that peculiar force, but before they could rejoice, bullets from the vehicle opposite struck their own! Damn it! Where did these freaks come from! Their shooting skills are absurd! The two couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly; to survive, they had no choice but to keep firing. This time, they shot even more frantically, but soon, they discovered something even more terrifying. A soft click, not as loud as the sound of bullets being fired, yet it brought them utter despair! No more bullets! Liu Meng, too, had run out of bullets; he had fired too rapidly and had quickly used them all up. Terrified, Liu Meng yelled, ¡°We surrender! Surrender! Don¡¯t shoot!¡± As soon as he spoke, the gunfire indeed stopped. At that moment, Liu Meng¡¯s SUV was riddled with bullet holes. He looked at his deceased subordinates and the pockmarked vehicle and nearly felt like spitting blood! He signaled the remaining two to quickly change their magazines and then shouted loudly, ¡°The whole incident was a misunderstanding! I am willing to offer a hundred Crystal Cores as an apology, please let bygones be bygones.¡± Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had seen the firefight as they emerged from the ruins; since it didn¡¯t involve them, they didn¡¯t interfere but chose instead to watch from the side. Hearing Liu Meng¡¯s words, the siblings couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Fang Yuxin whispered, ¡°Brother, who is this Liu Meng? Offering only a hundred Crystal Cores, isn¡¯t he being too stingy?¡± Fang Yuyang disdainfully said, ¡°The energy fluctuations from him are quite strong. I didn¡¯t expect him to be so useless!¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head and laughed, ¡°This guy must have been mingling in the underworld. From his energy fluctuations, his superpower has already reached the Basic-level Peak and is about to breakthrough. But you¡¯re right, he¡¯s really useless. He must have been hiding in the Safe Zone cultivating all this time, hardly ever hunting zombies.¡± Fang Yuyang was slightly surprised; he had realized Liu Meng¡¯s energy fluctuations were strong and thought his skills should be good, yet he hadn¡¯t expected that Liu Meng was already at Basic-level Peak. He felt Fang Yuxin was probably right, this man¡¯s actual combat ability was lacking; obviously, he was busy cultivating and hadn¡¯t trained much in superpower combat, otherwise, how could he have ended up in such a predicament? Not many people came to these ruins, and it was suspicious that he was here. He asked, ¡°Xinxin, why do you think he came here?¡± Fang Yuxin narrowed her eyes; she had used her Spiritual Sense to check the inside of the vehicle and spotted someone familiar. Though it was just a brief glance, she remembered him upon seeing him again. She frowned and whispered, ¡°Brother, this guy is probably here for us. There¡¯s someone in the car we¡¯ve encountered before.¡± Fang Yuyang had also guessed Liu Meng was targeting them, but hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s words still shocked him deeply, ¡°Who?¡± he asked, swiftly recalling in his mind. Fang Yuxin figured he probably couldn¡¯t remember because they had only brushed past that person, who hadn¡¯t shown any abnormal behavior, so how could Fang Yuyang guess it was him? She said, ¡°Brother, do you remember? When we came from the front earlier, there was a sly-looking skinny guy standing by the roadside; we passed right by him.¡± Fang Yuyang remembered the man; it was just a fleeting moment, and since the man hadn¡¯t shown any abnormal behavior, he hadn¡¯t paid attention. After hearing from Fang Yuxin, he recalled. ¡°So it¡¯s him!¡± While they were talking, the situation changed again. The people in the SUV also thought a hundred Crystal Cores were too few and demanded a thousand, a number that severely provoked Liu Meng; he simply didn¡¯t have that many! Just as they had replaced their magazines, he opened fire again. Such action was undoubtedly a provocation to the people in the SUV! Bullets fired in rapid succession, but just like before, they stopped mid-air and were swiftly shot back! Screams came from inside the car; though Liu Meng was lucky enough to dodge, his two subordinates both got hit¡ªone¡¯s head exploded, and the other, although not dead, was severely wounded and collapsed, no longer able to fire. Liu Meng had not expected his subordinates to be so useless; he cursed and again yelled at the people opposite, ¡°Wait! Wait! I¡¯ll give you a thousand Crystal Cores! Spare me!¡± This time, the people in the SUV didn¡¯t continue to haggle but stated, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, get out of the car now!¡± Liu Meng hesitated; he could still have cover if he stayed inside the car, but if he got out, wouldn¡¯t he be an easy target? He cautiously asked, ¡°If you promise not to kill me, I¡¯ll get out right now!¡± The people in the car were infuriated by his hesitation, disdainfully saying, ¡°Do you think you have a choice? Either get out now or die inside!¡± Fang Yuyang suddenly frowned, turned to Fang Yuxin, and asked, ¡°Xinxin, doesn¡¯t this voice sound very familiar?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, we invite you to cast your recommendation and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 186 - 186 118 Unlucky Liu Meng (Third Update) ?Chapter 186: 118 Unlucky Liu Meng (Third Update) Chapter 186: 118 Unlucky Liu Meng (Third Update) Fang Yuxin silently glanced at Fang Yuyang and said helplessly, ¡°Brother, you¡¯ve seen him.¡± Fang Yuyang recalled for a moment, and suddenly an image popped into his mind. His heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly got a bad feeling, ¡°Could it be him? That bastard surnamed Bai?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded and reminded Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother, this person is quite powerful.¡± The person who had just intercepted the bullet was clearly Fang Yuyang. Among those people, no one else had the ability. Bai Ye possessed the Gold and Thunder Dual Power, and Fang Yuxin had not expected his strength to be so formidable. He had not only blocked the bullet but was also able to reflect it back. Moreover, observing the energy fluctuations on his body, he appeared to be at the Basic-level Peak, on the verge of breaking through to Superpower Level 1. Fang Yuyang, seeing the look of admiration on her face, instantly became alarmed and hurriedly said, ¡°Xinxin, this Mr. Bai has an unclear background; we better be careful!¡± Fang Yuxin, however, said, ¡°Brother, I think he¡¯s very likely from the Bai Family in Beishi City.¡± She had attended university in Beishi City and the pharmaceutical company where she volunteered was also there. She had once asked Qianqian and knew that he had always lived in Beishi City. With Bai Ye¡¯s impressive strength, clearly not just anyone, she felt that he was very likely a member of the Bai Family. Fang Yuyang then became even more vigilant, ¡°If he is from the Bai Family, we should be even more wary of him! I¡¯ve heard that relationships within the Bai Family are very complicated, and getting involved with them won¡¯t do us any good!¡± He felt that Bai Ye was not a good match for Fang Yuxin, fearing that Fang Yuxin would take a liking to him. After thinking for a while, he added, ¡°Xinxin, do you remember? Qiu Yiming¡¯s great-aunt married into the Bai Family.¡± Since Qiu Yiming and Fang Yuxin had once been betrothed, in his view, if Fang Yuxin got entangled with Bai Ye, things could become very complicated! Fang Yuxin looked at him helplessly, ¡°Brother, what nonsense are you thinking about! I have nothing to do with him.¡± Fang Yuyang wanted to say more, but he opened his mouth and then gave up. He took a close look at Fang Yuxin and, seeing she did not appear to be lying, suddenly felt that it was best not to mention Bai Ye in front of her in the future, lest he inadvertently cause more trouble. Fang Yuxin, in turn, breathed a sigh of relief. Although Bai Ye was Bai Qianqian¡¯s father, she never felt there was anything special between her and Bai Ye. Fang Yuyang¡¯s precautions made her extremely embarrassed. Elsewhere, Liu Meng couldn¡¯t suppress the fear in his heart and, after hesitating, finally stepped out of the vehicle. The other party¡¯s formidable power frightened him, and he deeply regretted impulsively coming to this place, but he was even more afraid of dying! He had hardly had a chance to enjoy life, nor had he established his own empire; how could he die just like that! He was not willing to give up. Absolutely not! As for Li Fugui, who had gotten him into this mess, he wished he could skin the man alive! Unfortunately, Li Fugui was already dead, and even if he wanted revenge, it was no longer possible. The most important thing at hand was to survive this life-or-death crisis! He didn¡¯t want to die! He wanted to live on! He must survive! So, after getting out of the vehicle, he cautiously approached the opposing SUV, trying to get closer. He wouldn¡¯t give up until the very end. He had Fire Ability, and getting closer meant there was hope! However, his plans were abruptly disrupted by the other side. With a ¡°bang,¡± a gunshot rang out, and a bullet hit the ground in front of him. If he hadn¡¯t dodged quickly, that bullet would have struck his foot! In recent days, Liu Meng had lived a life of luxury and was unused to such dangers, turning pale with rage as he glared angrily at the opposite SUV. A dark gun barrel protruded from the window, mercilessly aiming at him. Looking at that gun barrel, the fury in his heart collapsed in an instant, leaving boundless fear. He didn¡¯t want to die! He truly didn¡¯t! Then, the person inside the vehicle spoke with the same voice as before, obviously the same speaker. His voice was very cold, as if laced with bone-chilling sharpness. The man asked, ¡°You just said, you came here on business?¡± Upon hearing this voice, Liu Meng¡¯s heart pounded violently. Not knowing what the other party meant, he replied with utmost caution, ¡°Yes, what would you like to know?¡± As he spoke, he was rapidly guessing in his mind; could these two groups be in cahoots? Due to this speculation, he dared not reveal his true intentions; instead, he planned to adapt to the situation. Unfortunately for him, as cunning as he was, the other party was even more formidable. The person¡¯s voice became chillingly colder, conveying a clear warning, ¡°I want to hear the truth! Otherwise, you know the consequences!¡± Chapter 187 - 187 118 Unlucky Liu Meng (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 187: 118 Unlucky Liu Meng (Third Update)_2 Chapter 187: 118 Unlucky Liu Meng (Third Update)_2 Liu Meng felt even more regretful in his heart, and he was almost certain that these two groups of people were in cahoots. He hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering, and through gritted teeth said, ¡°I was bewitched by others, someone told me there was a robbery going on, and he thought it was true, so he brought people over to investigate and clear things up, there was no ill intent!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Bai Ye let out a cold chuckle, disdainfully saying, ¡°Do you think I look easy to fool?¡± As his words fell, a gunshot rang out, the bullet grazing Liu Meng¡¯s cheek and leaving behind a gruesome bloodstain. In reality, that bullet had been aimed at Liu Meng¡¯s head, and had he not dodged so quickly, it wouldn¡¯t have just been a graze on his cheek ¡ª his head would¡¯ve been blown off. His heart pounded even more with terror, yet he dared not resist using his superpower. The other party¡¯s strength was above his, and if a fight broke out, he was sure to die! He had this premonition, and it was extremely strong. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, he would not make a move. That bullet had nearly scared him out of his wits, and he dared not hide anything anymore, so he confessed the plan truthfully, ¡°I... I heard their car was nice, so I came looking for them, wanting to seize the car.¡± ¡°Just robbing a car? What else?¡± The voice carried a playful and dangerous tone. Liu Meng was even more terrified and said with an almost tearful face, ¡°Also... I heard there¡¯s a chick here... a woman who is very beautiful, I wanted... wanted to capture her and take her back...¡± He subconsciously said ¡°chick,¡± which was a habit of his. Realizing it was inappropriate after speaking, his voice caught as if stuck, and he hurriedly changed his wording. He waited tremblingly for the reaction of the people in the car, but unexpectedly, before anyone in the car could reply, someone nearby angrily said, ¡°You dare to target my sister, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± He quickly turned around and then his eyes widened in shock! He had already seen the people nearby before, but because there was some distance and both Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had restrained their energy fluctuations, they appeared to be ordinary people without superpowers. Liu Meng, arrogant and proud, hadn¡¯t taken them seriously. So when he heard Fang Yuyang¡¯s voice, he was still very disdainful. But as he turned his head on impulse, he realized he was terribly wrong, completely and utterly wrong! A huge crescent-shaped Wind Blade roared towards him, its terrifying momentum instantly locking onto him, giving him a horrifying feeling of being enveloped by death! Almost instinctively, he erupted with energy from inside his body, a ¡°boom¡± sounding as scorching flames erupted from him, enveloping his entire body and forming a giant Fireball, like a cocoon of fire. The huge Wind Blade struck the Fireball, causing it to deform upon impact. The Wind Blade and the flames collided, gradually dissolving each other. This time, due to his rage, Fang Yuyang¡¯s outburst was extremely fierce, and under the threat of death, Liu Meng also erupted with powerful energy! His energy fluctuations grew stronger, and his momentum also rose, showing signs of an imminent breakthrough! Fang Yuyang saw what was happening and his expression turned even uglier. He simply gripped his Blade¡¯s hilt tightly with both hands and yelled loudly, ¡°Gale Slash!¡± This was a Skill he had gained insight into to deal with a Spiritual Zombie. Though he had conceived the Skill, he had not mastered it completely and could not usually use it. This time, in his rage, he once again caught that thread of inspiration, not only fully mastering the subtleties of Gale Slash but also managing to unleash it. One could only say, Liu Meng was just unlucky. He had gone out to vent his frustrations only to meet an immovable barrier. Fortuitously finding an opportunity for a breakthrough, it was unfortunate that this was not a good place for that. When Gale Slash was unleashed, a huge Wind Blade instantly formed, rushing towards Liu Meng with an unstoppable force, and in the blink of an eye, it struck the Fireball. This time, most flames on the Fireball were instantly annihilated, only a few scattered fires remained and were quickly extinguished. The Fireball split apart, the Wind Blade only slightly damaged, and then without pausing, it rushed towards Liu Meng. Liu Meng, in the midst of a breakthrough with his internal energy unstable, was forced to snap out of it by the threat of death, which, instead of allowing him to withstand the oncoming Wind Blade, resulted in a severe backlash. The Wind Blade charged directly into his body, and Liu Meng¡¯s eyes widened, fear etched across his face. The next moment, his entire body exploded, turning into a mist of blood. Almost everyone watching this scene had their eyes wide open. Bai Qianqian¡¯s eyes were timely shielded by Qu Qianhe and did not witness the scene directly. But the spiritual power he released let him ¡®see¡¯ it more clearly! His breathing became increasingly rapid, not from fear, but from excitement. If he were as strong as his uncle, he could have helped Mama kill those bad guys earlier! Yes, and the silly daddy! Thinking of Bai Ye, he wriggled and broke free from Qu Qianhe¡¯s arms, then swiftly opened the car door, jumped out, and ran towards where Bai Ye was. Seeing him, Bai Ye also pushed open the car door and got out, striding over to Bai Qianqian. The dispersed mist of blood, due to the wind¡¯s influence, gathered again and fell to the ground forming a pool of bloodstains. Bai Ye ignored these, directly picked up Bai Qianqian, kissed him hard on the face, and asked with a smile, ¡°Son, did you miss daddy?¡± Being pricked by the stubble on his chin, Bai Qianqian¡¯s radiant smile instantly stiffened. Annoyed, he turned his head away, grabbed Bai Ye¡¯s handsome face with both hands and rubbed it vigorously, letting out a little hum and said softly, ¡°I didn¡¯t miss you, so silly.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 188 - 188 119 We Meet Again (First Update) ?Chapter 188: 119 We Meet Again (First Update) Chapter 188: 119 We Meet Again (First Update) Bai Ye glared at Bai Qianqian discontentedly, lowering his voice and said, ¡°What kind of tone is that? I¡¯m your dad! Don¡¯t believe me? Think I won¡¯t beat you up?¡± After speaking, he even deliberately swung his fist in a threatening manner. Bai Qianqian stared back defiantly, humming softly, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of you. Mama will protect me!¡± Bai Ye was so angry he almost wished he could give him a beating. This kid had always been difficult to handle, but now he had become even more intractable! Thinking of this, his gaze turned deep as he looked towards Fang Yuxin, really wanting to tell her that too much maternal indulgence would spoil the child and if she kept pampering him, the little rascal would become lawless! Fang Yuxin sensed his gaze, frowned and looked at him with dissatisfaction, her eyes full of suspicion, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Seeing the ruins spread before her, Fang Yuxin¡¯s intuition told her Bai Ye had come for the Elemental Stone, and she suddenly regretted having told him about it. Bai Ye smiled, looking at the ruins and said, ¡°This is a good place.¡± The implication couldn¡¯t be clearer. With her suspicions confirmed, Fang Yuxin¡¯s look at Bai Ye became even more dissatisfied. She squinted at Bai Qianqian, feeling that she couldn¡¯t let Bai Qianqian stay by Bai Ye¡¯s side, so she waved her hand, ¡°Qianqian, come here!¡± Bai Qianqian, hugging Bai Ye¡¯s neck, looked at Bai Ye and then at Fang Yuxin. He hesitated for a moment, thinking it was better to stay with Bai Ye. He had so much he wanted to say to Bai Ye! It was not easy to meet, and he couldn¡¯t miss this great opportunity! Thus, he tightened his arms slightly and shook his head at Fang Yuxin, ¡°Ma, I want to stay with Dad for a while.¡± Seeing that Fang Yuxin was clearly unhappy, Bai Ye didn¡¯t know why, but he suddenly found it somewhat amusing. He glanced at Bai Qianqian, who was clearly up to something with his eyes spinning, and said to Fang Yuxin with a smile, ¡°There¡¯s no one else here, let Qianqian stay by my side. I¡¯ll protect him.¡± After speaking, seeing Fang Yuxin still hesitate, he added, ¡°After all, Qianqian is my son. I can at least talk to him, right?¡± With that, Fang Yuxin found herself unable to refuse. She glanced at Bai Qianqian with a touch of dissatisfaction, feeling a bit sour inside. At that moment, car doors opened one after another, with Qu Qianhe, Fang Jintang, and other mercenaries getting out of their vehicles. Similarly, Bai Ye¡¯s men also got out of their cars. Both sides eyed each other warily, ready to brawl at the slightest provocation. However, seeing Bai Qianqian in Bai Ye¡¯s arms made them hesitate. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe scrutinized Bai Ye carefully, their eyes filled with judgment and scrutiny, as if looking at a future son-in-law. Fortunately, they did not speak up, preventing Fang Yuxin from feeling too embarrassed. Similarly, Bai Ye¡¯s men were also sizing up Fang Yuxin. One of them was no other than Chen Si, who she had saved the day before. Chen Si had awakened yesterday evening; upon awakening, he had completed his Awakening, and furthermore, he was fortunate to have acquired a superpower with a strong Attack Power, the Ice Ability. After he woke up, Bai Ye led his men away from the infirmary to this old district. Their goal here was actually different from that of Fang Yuxin. They came here mainly to search for a person, and it was only after arriving that they found the ruins, which were a perfect place to look for Elemental Stones. Since there was no progress in finding the person, they decided to take the opportunity today to search for Elemental Stones, not expecting that Fang Yuxin would also bring Bai Qianqian here. They had been preparing to go to another ruin, but after locating Bai Qianqian¡¯s signal, Bai Ye changed his mind. Who would have known that upon following the signal, they would encounter a robbery? Bai Ye didn¡¯t know if Fang Yuxin was in the car, but the signal clearly showed that Bai Qianqian was there, which made him angry. All that could be said was that Liu Meng was simply unlucky. Encountering a father as protective as Bai Ye was one thing, but he also ran into Fang Yuyang, who was overprotective of his sister. Unfortunately for him, the two men he encountered both had terrifying abilities, far beyond any superpower user he had ever met! Chen Si was looking very closely, not only because Fang Yuxin had saved him but also because she was Bai Qianqian¡¯s mother. Serving a role similar to a strategist under Bai Ye, and being good friends with Bai Ye, Chen Si naturally scrutinized Bai Qianqian¡¯s mother more carefully. Whether as a friend or as a subordinate, he hoped Fang Yuxin was impressive enough to match Bai Ye. Although the two had no relation other than being Bai Qianqian¡¯s parents, Bai Qianqian¡¯s existence itself was a strong bond, and it seemed impossible for something not to happen between the two! Chapter 189 - 189 119 We Meet Again (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 189: 119 We Meet Again (First Update)_2 Chapter 189: 119 We Meet Again (First Update)_2 If Fang Yuxin were too terrible a person, he would definitely think Bai Ye undeserved of her. But for now, it seemed that Fang Yuxin was quite decent. Whether in terms of looks or family background and strength, Fang Yuxin was exceptionally outstanding. The only thing that made him uncomfortable was that Fang Yuxin was Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, and it seemed the two had a pretty good relationship. Thinking about this, he couldn¡¯t help but harbor the same idea as Hou San initially did: why not let the boss snatch her right from Qiu Yiming¡¯s hands? That would definitely infuriate that kid! Chen Si was thinking maliciously, completely unaware that Fang Yuxin had just had a falling out with Qiu Yiming that very morning. Besides him, Shen Xi was also looking at Fang Yuxin. He looked decent enough, albeit slender and delicate, almost as if a breeze could blow him away. However, it was such a seemingly frail and non-threatening man who had awakened the mysterious Spiritual Ability, and his power wasn¡¯t weak! At that moment, he was sizing up Fang Yuxin and had already unleashed his spiritual tentacles without hesitation, rudely probing the energy fluctuations around Fang Yuxin and the people near her. The energy fluctuations on Fang Yuxin were very weak, even weaker than those of Chen Si, who had just awakened his superpower. However, he always had this intuition that Fang Yuxin was not as simple as she appeared on the surface! He quickly glanced at Chen Si, thinking about how this man had been severely injured and comatose before, his life signs growing weaker, seemingly not long for this world. Yet, once Fang Yuxin made her move, not only did she heal his injuries, but she also enabled him to successfully awaken his superpower! Shen Xi had the same thought as Zheng Tianhe did: she had the miraculous ability to awaken superpowers in ordinary people! Ever since Chen Si woke up, his interest in Fang Yuxin had grown. Fang Yuxin felt Chen Si and Shen Xi¡¯s gazes; their inspecting eyes made her uncomfortable. She looked displeasedly at them, immediately recognizing the two. Chen Si met her gaze, nodded as a greeting and said with a slight smile, ¡°I heard it was Miss Fang who saved me, thank you.¡± Fang Yuxin smiled politely, ¡°You¡¯re lucky, not many among the superpower users awaken the Ice Ability.¡± As she said this, she couldn¡¯t help but think of Angela, who had also awakened the Ice Ability, and her smile brightened significantly. Chen Si was somewhat puzzled by her smile, but he could tell that Fang Yuxin meant no harm, so he just quietly marveled in his mind. He had not used his superpower, yet Fang Yuxin recognized at a glance that he had awakened the Ice Ability. This woman was definitely not simple! He couldn¡¯t help but recall in his mind all the women who had been interested in Bai Ye over the years, suddenly feeling that none of them could compare to Fang Yuxin. If there really was a comparison to be made, perhaps there was only that one person. He couldn¡¯t help but look at Bai Ye, suddenly very eager to ask his opinion. However, it was at this moment that Shen Xi said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Beautiful miss, we meet again.¡± He looked frail and his smile was gentle, which made it easy to feel affectionate towards him. Yet, Fang Yuxin was full of alertness towards him. She still remembered that when she was treating Chen Si, it was him using his spiritual power to spy. She smiled perfunctorily, not bothering to speak. Fang Yuyang, on the other hand, stared unapologetically at Shen Xi, equally full of guard. Fang Yuxin whispered to him, ¡°This person is a Spiritual Ability User, be careful, bro.¡± Fang Yuyang had also noticed that this person was not simple, but he had not realized he was a Spiritual Ability User. Now knowing the Spiritual Ability Users he was aware of were Bai Qianqian and Zheng Tianhe, with Bai Qianqian being overlooked, just the thought of the threatening Zheng Tianhe made him feel no fondness for Shen Xi. Although it was a misdirected anger, it was also born out of a beast-like intuition. Fang Yuyang instinctively felt that this weak-looking Shen Xi was very dangerous! From this person, he saw shadows of Zheng Tianhe; both were just as insane! He nodded and watched Shen Xi warily. Shen Xi touched his nose, his expression seemed somewhat innocent, ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve offended this gentleman, have I?¡± Fang Yuyang was not buying it, and warned, ¡°Stop looking at my sister with that kind of eyes!¡± Shen Xi¡¯s face stiffened, his smile faded, and he didn¡¯t continue talking, but looked suspiciously at Fang Yuyang. He couldn¡¯t understand; he had already been very careful, how had Fang Yuyang still noticed? No, had Fang Yuyang really noticed? Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to get entangled with Bai Ye¡¯s people any longer and waved her hand, calling for her people to leave. She had already scanned the entire ruins with her Spiritual Sense, and knew the positions and distribution of the Elemental Stones quite clearly; there was no need to waste more time here. As they left, Bai Ye and his people didn¡¯t stop them but chose a different direction to enter the ruins to search for the Elemental Stones. Bai Ye knew Bai Qianqian had purposely stayed behind as he had something to say; he intentionally took him away from his subordinates, placed him on the ground, crossed his arms, and looked down at him imposingly, asking, ¡°What do you want to say? Hurry up, Daddy¡¯s in a rush.¡± Bai Qianqian also crossed his arms, mimicking Bai Ye¡¯s posture. He looked up with his little head tilted and asked like a little adult, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you with mama?¡± Bai Ye helplessly replied, ¡°You deliberately stayed behind just to ask this?¡± Bai Qianqian discontentedly retorted, ¡°Who told you not to tell me? If you had told me, then of course I wouldn¡¯t be asking you!¡± Watching his righteous indignation, Bai Ye was frustrated; this troublesome kid! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to vote for it by recommending tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 190 - 190 120 Freak Father and Son (Second Update) ?Chapter 190: 120 Freak Father and Son (Second Update) Chapter 190: 120 Freak Father and Son (Second Update) Bai Qianqian¡¯s words left Bai Ye feeling quite helpless. After all, Bai Qianqian had a special background, and he barely had any relationship with Fang Yuxin, having only just met her recently and not even seen her face much. If he had to describe his feelings, he was probably somewhat grateful to Fang Yuxin. If it weren¡¯t for her, Chen Si would probably have never made it, let alone awakened a superpower. When Chen Si was seriously injured and in a coma, Bai Ye had no other thoughts in his mind; he was just grateful for any help that could save him. To his surprise, Fang Yuxin was so capable that not only did she heal Chen Si¡¯s injuries, but she also enabled him to awaken successfully. Chen Si was his good brother, and Fang Yuxin saved him, making her Bai Ye¡¯s benefactor. Although he had paid a considerable amount in compensation, those Elemental Stones simply couldn¡¯t compare with Chen Si¡¯s life. He felt very grateful towards Fang Yuxin in his heart, and with this gratitude came a measure of admiration, as this woman was very strong, had a good character, and was also good-looking, making her a very outstanding woman. But as soon as he thought of Fang Yuxin being Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, he pushed aside all other thoughts. He did not consider himself much of a gentleman, but one thing he definitely couldn¡¯t do was covet another man¡¯s wife, even if she was just a fiance?e. He didn¡¯t like Qiu Yiming and found him quite disagreeable. If Fang Yuxin no longer liked Qiu Yiming and wanted to break things off, Bai Ye would definitely support that. In his eyes, Qiu Yiming was far from a good match or someone worth committing a lifetime to. But as that was Fang Yuxin¡¯s own choice, he absolutely couldn¡¯t bring himself to destroy someone else¡¯s relationship. That would be far too despicable. Now that Bai Qianqian was fixating on this matter, Bai Ye felt extremely embarrassed, and couldn¡¯t help but think of Fang Yuxin. He couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°Son, hey, Daddy wants to ask you something, how are you and your mom doing in the Safe Zone? Is anyone bullying you guys?¡± He asked this partly to shut Bai Qianqian up, so he wouldn¡¯t have to continue the conversation with him and get stuck on how to respond. But as Bai Qianqian heard the question, he craftily smiled and said excitedly, ¡°Dad, are you worried that someone is bullying Mama?¡± As he spoke, he narrowed his eyes, looking at Bai Ye with an expression that said, ¡®Just admit it already, I know that¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking.¡¯ Bai Ye was exasperated. What was this brat always imagining in that head of his? He wasn¡¯t thinking that at all! He was just worried about the kid being bullied, where did he get these wild ideas from? But he knew well that arguing with Bai Qianqian was pointless. Despite his young age, this brat was quite cunning and very stubborn. If Bai Ye didn¡¯t say what the boy wanted to hear, Bai Qianqian could be annoyingly relentless! So he said, ¡°Out with it! Is anyone bullying you or not?¡± Yesterday, with Fang Yuxin around, there were many things Bai Ye couldn¡¯t ask, to avoid any misunderstanding about whether he was concerned she wouldn¡¯t care for the child properly. Now that it was just the two of them, Bai Ye wanted to take this opportunity to ask, and, at the same time, silence Bai Qianqian to prevent him from asking more messy questions. Bai Qianqian glanced at him sideways, his eyes almost gleaming. He grinned smugly, ¡°Dad, stop pretending. I know you¡¯re definitely worried about Mama. I¡¯ll tell you, there are so many annoying people in the Safe Zone, they all bully Mama. It¡¯s just too bad you¡¯re not around, hmph.¡± When Bai Ye heard this, his heart skipped a beat. He was curious; wasn¡¯t Fang Yuxin Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e? Considering the Qiu Family¡¯s status in the military, who would dare to bully her? It didn¡¯t make sense. So, he looked at Bai Qianqian skeptically, thinking the kid must be talking nonsense, ¡°You¡¯re not fooling me, are you? How could anyone bully Fang... your mother?¡± Catching the skepticism in his gaze, Bai Qianqian snorted unhappily from his nose and argued, ¡°There really are! There¡¯s this annoying uncle who keeps pestering Mama, and a bad old man in white who said Mama has some sort of power and wanted her to cooperate with research. There¡¯s also a nasty auntie who charged into our house demanding Mama¡¯s help, so annoying!¡± Upon hearing there were people pestering Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye couldn¡¯t help but feel angry, thinking what kind of man would do such a thing, and whether he had any manhood left at all. Bothering a woman like that was simply disgraceful! But then, as these thoughts struck him, he suddenly felt something was off. Wasn¡¯t Fang Yuxin supposed to be Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e? What man would dare pester her? Chapter 191 - 191 120 Freak Father and Son (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 191: 120 Freak Father and Son (Second Update)_2 Chapter 191: 120 Freak Father and Son (Second Update)_2 But before he could figure it out, he heard Bai Qianqian mention a bad old man in white clothes and an auntie, which made him even angrier. Although Bai Qianqian wasn¡¯t very clear, the implication was obvious: someone wanted to capture Fang Yuxin for experimentation! He couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold laugh; indeed, no matter when, there were always these lunatics who disregarded human life! As for the last woman, he hadn¡¯t been very concerned at first, but he couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Help with what?¡± Bai Ye was also curious when he asked. Bai Qianqian was a sensible child; if it were ordinary help, he wouldn¡¯t have been so angry. Could there be some other hidden reasons? And the fact that someone wanted to catch Fang Yuxin for experimentation also made him particularly worried. Without waiting for Bai Qianqian¡¯s response, he asked again, ¡°Qianqian, you just said, what abilities does your mom have? Why would that bad old man in white want her to cooperate with research? Explain clearly.¡± Out of strong disgust for that person, Bai Ye completely forgot about respecting elders and straightforwardly used Bai Qianqian¡¯s way of addressing him. Bai Qianqian remembered the events of the past two days, and anger boiled inside him; his little chest heaved dramatically, and he clenched his little fists, indignantly saying, ¡°Hmph, you have no idea, they said Mama can let Ordinary People awaken their superpowers, they all want Mom¡¯s help, so annoying!¡± The matter of Zheng Tianhe, he had secretly learned from Chen Qiao and others. The Fang Family hadn¡¯t told him, but since he was smart, he took the opportunity to find out everything from Chen Qiao and others. As soon as Bai Ye heard this, he immediately thought of Chen Si. But how could other people know about this? He quickly pinpointed the problem and asked Bai Qianqian, ¡°Qianqian, tell daddy, did your mom heal someone? And that person awakened a superpower?¡± Bai Qianqian obediently nodded, ¡°Yes! Then lots of people said Mama could let Ordinary People awaken superpowers. Just this morning, someone came to our house wanting Mom¡¯s help. When Mama refused, they even wanted to fight, so ferocious!¡± He said this and sneakily watched Bai Ye¡¯s reaction, seeing him slightly squint his eyes deeply, it was clear he was angry. Bai Qianqian was extremely pleased inside; he knew that daddy really liked Mama! He deliberately didn¡¯t mention that the troublemakers were harshly disciplined by Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, just to make Bai Ye angry. Perhaps encouraged by Bai Ye¡¯s reaction, Bai Qianqian¡¯s little brain spun rapidly, and he soon had another idea. He said even more angrily, ¡°Daddy, you have no idea, this morning there was also an annoying uncle forcing Mama to marry him! Mama refused, and he even wanted to hit people!¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Bai Ye¡¯s face turned extremely ugly, but unfortunately, he didn¡¯t know he was completely furious now. What era was it, and people were still forcing marriages? Absolutely beastly! Thinking about Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming¡¯s relationship, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Qianqian, that bad uncle you mentioned, is his surname Qiu?¡± Bai Qianqian tilted his head, biting his fingers and then said hesitantly, ¡°Seems like it! Mama also called him Qiu Yiming.¡± Bai Ye found the situation bizarre. Weren¡¯t Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming engaged, and their relationship very good? Why would Qiu Yiming force a marriage? His eyes subtly shifted towards Bai Qianqian, feeling certainly influenced by this brat, making him uncomfortable about the relationship between Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming! Right then, Bai Qianqian was also secretly observing Bai Ye¡¯s expression, and his little face showed a scheming triumph. Seeing his expression, Bai Ye¡¯s mood suddenly became complex. He had just heard about Qiu Yiming forcing a marriage on Fang Yuxin, which actually stirred a somewhat improbable suspicion. Because of that suspicion, he was angry, but at the same time, there was a bit of inexplicable joy. But seeing Bai Qianqian like this, he felt he might have been deceived! Meaning, his earlier suspicion was completely wrong! That bit of inexplicable joy disappeared in an instant, and his whole heart became uncomfortable. He couldn¡¯t help but grab Bai Qianqian by the collar of his clothes, lift him up, and glare at him, saying, ¡°You little rascal, be honest! Did you just make up a lie to fool your dad?¡± Bai Qianqian, being held midair, kicked his legs and yelled, ¡°I didn¡¯t! Put me down! What I said is true!¡± In a very rational and bold tone, showing no hint of guilt. Bai Ye looked at him suspiciously; really no lies? Why does he feel a bit happy then? Ah, he was really doing a good job as a father, even worrying that this brat might learn bad habits! There weren¡¯t many parents as conscientious as him in this world. Seeing Bai Qianqian still kicking his legs, his round face swollen red, appearing quite uncomfortable. He hesitated for a moment and then simply embraced Bai Qianqian¡¯s soft body into his arms, asking him, ¡°Then tell daddy, what really happened? Explain in detail!¡± Bai Qianqian wrapped his arms around himself, turned his face away, ignoring him: ¡°I¡¯m really angry right now, I don¡¯t want to talk to you.¡± Bai Ye became anxious, ¡°Come on, tell me! Don¡¯t you want to help your mom take revenge?¡± Bai Qianqian immediately took the bait, turned his face with a pair of bright sparkling eyes excitedly looking at him: ¡°You¡¯re willing to help Mama take revenge?¡± He said and didn¡¯t give Bai Ye a chance to regret, immediately adding, ¡°If you don¡¯t say anything, it¡¯s considered an agreement! No going back!¡± Bai Ye stared at him; did this child give him a chance to speak? But he didn¡¯t object, instead urging, ¡°Stop talking nonsense and get to the main point!¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Bai Qianqian subconsciously responded, then squinting his eyes, he said, ¡°Well, it went like this...¡± (. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 192 - 192 121 Bai Yes Decision (Third Update) ?Chapter 192: 121 Bai Ye¡¯s Decision (Third Update) Chapter 192: 121 Bai Ye¡¯s Decision (Third Update) Bai Qianqian started by talking about Qiu Yiming, then after some thought, he also detailed the issues concerning Lin Feiyin. Despite his young age, his narrative was vivid and extremely detailed. He did not forget to embellish the story, painting Qiu Yiming and Lin Feiyin as utterly vile characters, almost as if they were those evil arch-villains you¡¯d see in TV dramas, who simply deserved to be obliterated! Listening to the tale, Bai Ye¡¯s face grew darker and his aura became increasingly intimidating. He clenched his fists and, unable to contain himself, hurled a punch toward the ruins in front of him. The violent energy surged from his body. What seemed like a simple punch was more terrifying than any attack before! ¡°Boom!¡± After the loud noise, dust billowed, and the piece of rubble simply exploded into debris. Bai Ye instinctively raised an energy shield, protecting Bai Qianqian inside it. The fragments that struck the transparent energy shield were all blocked, leaving father and son unharmed. Bai Qianqian clung tightly to Bai Ye¡¯s neck, his eyes wide with surprise as he shivered slightly. Gosh... It was the first time he had seen his silly dad this angry! Bai Ye realized his fear and subconsciously soothed his back, while his gaze turned complex as he looked toward the spot that his punch had blasted open. Following his gaze, Bai Qianqian saw two Elemental Stones lying there. ¡°Wow! Elemental Stones!¡± Bai Qianqian exclaimed in surprise before looking at Bai Ye and flattering him, ¡°Dad, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Bai Ye¡¯s angry appearance had frightened him, so he instinctively began to butter him up. Seeing Bai Qianqian¡¯s cautious manner, Bai Ye knew he was being flattering. He had heard too many flattering words from a young age, but Bai Qianqian¡¯s were the most gratifying. He looked at Bai Qianqian proudly: ¡°Nonsense! I¡¯m your father!¡± He was pleased, not only because of Bai Qianqian¡¯s flattery but also because he had just discovered that the barrier in front of him had broken and his superpower had reached a new height. Since the apocalypse had just begun and superpowers had only recently emerged, there was no clear classification of superpower levels yet. Therefore, Bai Ye did not know that he had just entered Superpower Level 1. Even if he was not clear about the specific classification of superpower levels, he was aware that his strength had reached a new height, and this made him happy. He had previously refrained from entering the Safe Zone due to concerns about Qiu Yiming¡¯s influence. Bai Qianqian¡¯s words had infuriated him and also kindled the idea of entering the Safe Zone. The increase in strength gave him more confidence and made the decision possible. Bai Qianqian did not know what he was thinking at the moment, but he could tell Bai Ye was happy. He carefully said, ¡°Dad, you mentioned earlier that you would avenge Mama, right? You can¡¯t go back on your word.¡± Bai Ye found it amusing; he rarely saw Bai Qianqian being so cautious. Feeling good at the moment, he didn¡¯t bother with Bai Qianqian¡¯s calculation and declared straightforwardly, ¡°Just be sure, I always keep my word!¡± After all, Fang Yuxin was Bai Qianqian¡¯s mother, and even if there was little between them, he did not wish her harm. Of course, he felt this way entirely because of Bai Qianqian. If Fang Yuxin were to be hurt, his silly son would definitely be heartbroken. So, to keep his silly son happy, Bai Ye thought he should do something, like entering the Safe Zone. He was not very clear about the situation inside the Safe Zone, but from Bai Qianqian¡¯s account, it seemed Qiu Yiming was brazen enough, suggesting the Qiu Family must have considerable strength there. In the past, he might have been wary, opting to avoid Qiu Yiming. But after hearing Bai Qianqian¡¯s story and with his increased power, Bai Ye had changed his initial thoughts and felt more confident about entering the Safe Zone. He still did not realize that, although the Qiu Family indeed held a considerable influence in the military, both General Song and General Li had decided to join forces due to the news about the Elemental Crystals, which meant the Qiu Family¡¯s power would soon be diminished. Bai Qianqian, still not entirely reassured, couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°So, how do you plan on taking revenge?¡± To put his mind at ease, Bai Ye shared his decision, ¡°Today, Dad will go back to the Safe Zone with you. From now on, with Dad here, nobody will dare bully your mom.¡± Chapter 193 - 193 121 Bai Yes Decision (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 193: 121 Bai Ye¡¯s Decision (Third Update)_2 Chapter 193: 121 Bai Ye¡¯s Decision (Third Update)_2 Bai Qianqian¡¯s eyes lit up instantly upon hearing this, and he clutched his little heart feeling so overwhelmed by happiness that he almost couldn¡¯t handle it. He looked at Bai Ye and asked, ¡°Daddy, are you serious? You¡¯re not lying to me, are you?¡± Bai Ye couldn¡¯t help feeling a little annoyed when he saw the skepticism in his son¡¯s eyes. ¡°When have I ever lied to you? If I said we¡¯ll go, we¡¯ll definitely go. Stop worrying about it!¡± That was when Bai Qianqian was finally certain Bai Ye wasn¡¯t lying. He grinned foolishly, his smile almost reaching his ears. Looking at his son¡¯s silly expression, Bai Ye felt he almost couldn¡¯t bear to watch. Such a silly son! Tsk! Then he couldn¡¯t help but think of Fang Yuxin. He thought it was strange. Logically speaking, Fang Yuxin was Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e. Now that things were so dangerous, how could Qiu Yiming be comfortable letting her go out alone? Why didn¡¯t he keep her by his side to protect her? It turned out the two had had a falling out! From what Bai Qianqian had just described, he understood that Fang Yuxin clearly didn¡¯t plan to continue following Qiu Yiming and had even proposed to end their engagement. Although he didn¡¯t know the reason, he subconsciously felt it was definitely Qiu Yiming¡¯s fault! Maybe it was because Fang Yuxin had discovered Qiu Yiming¡¯s true colors and decided to break up with him. Of course, Bai Qianqian might have played a role in this too. When Bai Qianqian was recounting the events, he didn¡¯t spare any effort in bad-mouthing Qiu Yiming, mentioning things like how Qiu Yiming glared at him and how he was so annoying. Bai Ye could understand Qiu Yiming¡¯s feelings. If the woman he liked had a child with another man, he would definitely not be able to stand it either. But as the child¡¯s father, he was strongly dissatisfied with Qiu Yiming. How could you, a grown man, pick on a child? Aren¡¯t you ashamed? Are you even a man? Bai Ye had been displeased with Qiu Yiming for a long time, always finding him to be petty and unscrupulous in achieving his goals! When Qiu Yiming had people capture Bai Qianqian to blackmail him, he had held a grudge against Qiu Yiming. It was one thing for Qiu Yiming to go after him, but Bai Qianqian was only five years old. What could he understand? Qiu Yiming¡¯s methods were too despicable! If Qiu Yiming had known Bai Qianqian was Fang Yuxin¡¯s son at that time, then Bai Ye might have understood. But given the circumstances back then, Qiu Yiming clearly was unaware! How could he so easily harm a five-year-old boy with whom he had no grievances? Wasn¡¯t his conscience pricked? Now that he thought about it, luckily when Qiu Yiming captured Bai Qianqian, he hadn¡¯t known Bai Qianqian was Fang Yuxin¡¯s son and simply wanted to capture someone alive to blackmail him. Otherwise, something might have happened to Bai Qianqian... The mere thought of this possibility caused Bai Ye to fear greatly. Remembering the incident, he suddenly felt that fate had been kind to him. When Bai Qianqian was being chased by Qiu Yiming¡¯s men, he happened to encounter Fang Yuxin. With Fang Yuxin present, Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t dare to harm Bai Qianqian for fear of repercussions. At the same time, Bai Qianqian found the ¡®Mama¡¯ he had longed for. Thinking this way, Bai Ye felt he absolutely had to visit the Safe Zone in the suburbs now. Qiu Yiming clearly wasn¡¯t giving up this time and there was no telling what he might do next. Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian were in too much danger! Thinking so, he felt a strong sense of responsibility well up inside him. As Bai Qianqian¡¯s father, he found it necessary to protect Bai Qianqian¡¯s mother. That was his responsibility as a man! At this moment, he completely forgot that Fang Yuxin actually had nothing to do with him. Having made up his mind, Bai Ye asked Bai Qianqian many more details about the Safe Zone, but unfortunately, Bai Qianqian didn¡¯t know much. The most he spoke about was Qiu Yiming, Lin Feiyin, and Fang Mengyao. Bai Ye had Hou San look into the Fang Family¡¯s situation and knew about Fang Mengyao¡¯s existence as well as her later actions of selling the house and moving away. However, at the time, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to Fang Mengyao. Now, after hearing Bai Qianqian¡¯s words, he realized that this woman was not simple at all. Initially, he found it quite strange that Fang Mengyao had sold the house. It was a nice property in a good neighborhood with great appreciation potential, and there was no urgent need to sell it. Unless Fang Mengyao was in a hurry for money. But why would she need money so urgently? The Fang Family was well-off and wouldn¡¯t skimp on her; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have bought her such a nice house. They could have easily given her some money to send her away. Bai Qianqian told him a lot. When Fang Mengyao came to the Fang house that day, although Bai Qianqian returned to the room, he had the superpower of spiritual power, and with Fang Mengyao speaking quite loudly, he heard everything. When Bai Ye inquired, he told him everything. Bai Ye found it all quite ridiculous. Coming from a noble background himself, he was very aware of the attitude toward illegitimate children in prominent families. The Fang Family had been very decent to Fang Mengyao, yet she was clearly not satisfied, and she even deluded herself into comparing with Fang Yuxin? She was quite greedy! The more he listened, the more Bai Ye felt that he really should enter the Safe Zone to protect Fang Yuxin. There were too many annoying people around her! Elsewhere, Fang Yuxin was searching for Elemental Stones. She was moving very quickly, digging up stones while also wondering what Bai Qianqian would be saying to Bai Ye. She trusted that Bai Qianqian wouldn¡¯t mention the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, but she couldn¡¯t help her curiosity. She felt that the father-son relationship was quite strange. Unbeknownst to her, she had been portrayed as a vulnerable damsel in distress in Bai Qianqian¡¯s narrative ¡ª and Bai Qianqian had spouted a bunch of nonsense that foolish father Bai Ye had believed. Now, he was pondering how to protect her and avenge her! As Fang Yuxin dug for Elemental Stones, she suddenly sneezed several times. She rubbed her nose suspiciously and looked around, wondering if someone was talking behind her back. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 194 - 194 122 Envy kills (first update) ?Chapter 194: 122 Envy kills (first update) Chapter 194: 122 Envy kills (first update) Fang Yuxin suspected someone was bad-mouthing her. After considering it, she wondered if Bai Qianqian had been speaking ill of her to Bai Ye. However, that child had always been sensible and would likely not do such a thing. Then who could it be? Could it be that Chen Si? He looked quite cunning, and she wondered if he had discovered something. And that delicate-looking man, apparently surnamed Shen, who looked at her as if she was a lab specimen, also up to no good. Then there was that voluptuous woman, full of animosity toward her, who might well have been bad-mouthing her behind her back! Upon reflecting, Fang Yuxin felt there were quite a few suspicious people. However, she mused carelessly and didn¡¯t pay it much heed. There were certainly plenty of people who disliked her; fretting over what they said behind her back would be masochistic! If anyone dared to plot against her, she would just deal with it; it really wasn¡¯t something to worry about. Rubbing her itchy nose once more, Fang Yuxin stopped overthinking and concentrated on excavating Elemental Stones. With the military now aware of the Elemental Stones, they would undoubtedly send people secretly to search and excavate. She had to seize the opportunity to dig up more. While searching for Elemental Stones, she also found some salvageable supplies. If she encountered anything useful while digging, she¡¯d take it. But those buried under the rubble weren¡¯t worth the special effort. After all, they already had plenty of materials; there was no need to be ruthless and leave nothing for other survivors. As they gathered here in search of supplies, zombies occasionally followed the scent and found their way to them. Most were Basic-level Zombies, with a Level 1 Zombie appearing now and then. However, they were all ordinary; no Mutant Zombies had shown up again. Level 1 Zombies were trickier to deal with than Basic-level Zombies. Even though they had not mutated, they had become more agile, faster, smarter, and had improved defense and strength after leveling up. They could be problematic for the average superpower user. However, such ordinary Level 1 Zombies were no match for Fang Yuxin. Her blade, imbued with Wood Element Spiritual Energy, easily breached their defenses. Without much effort, Fang Yuxin disposed of the zombies. Engrossed in these tasks, time flew by quickly, and before long, it was noon. Their haul was good, everyone¡¯s face alight with a smile, evidently pleased with their plunder. Despite the inconveniences of being on the road, Fang Yuxin was in high spirits and led her group to a nearby residential house to settle down. She took out a portable gas stove and began to cook meat soup. Her seasonings and ingredients were well-stocked; the soup not only had fresh slices of meat but also fresh vegetables and delicacies. As more materials were added, the delicious aroma of the soup intensified. In an apocalypse where many survivors could only gnaw on instant noodles and biscuits, the smell alone was enough to make one drool. Intending to avoid suspicions, Bai Ye and others had originally chosen a nearby house to stay. Their condition was already pretty good compared to many other survivors, with an ample amount of food: instant noodles, biscuits, vacuum-packed cooked food, canned meats, and bread, and they even brought a simple gas stove and pots to cook. But compared to what Fang Yuxin and her group had, their situation seemed pitiful. Bai Ye¡¯s subordinates were quite familiar with Bai Qian, especially Meng Qingluo, who was interested in Bai Ye and often went out of her way to please Bai Qian. Now that Bai Qian was following Bai Ye without Fang Yuxin being an eyesore, she planned to make the most of the situation, hoping he would continue to stay with them and not return to Fang Yuxin. She was aware that Bai Ye didn¡¯t have much of an association with Fang Yuxin, and they didn¡¯t even know each other before. But if Bai Qian remained by Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, Bai Ye would inevitably see Fang Yuxin in a different light, and perhaps feelings could develop over time. Confident in her cooking skills and having seen the dire conditions many survivors were in, she knew their circumstances to be quite favorable. She assumed Fang Yuxin and her group wouldn¡¯t have it any better, and supposed Bai Qian had not had an easy time following her. She was determined to show off her skills this time. Bai Qian was young, couldn¡¯t withstand hardship, and she was certain she could win his heart. So engrossed was she in courting Bai Qian¡¯s favor that she forgot the Fang Family had secretly amassed a lot of supplies, and Fang Yuxin, being a Wood Element Superpower User, would have no trouble at all obtaining fresh vegetables and fruits! Chapter 195 - 195 122 People Outdo People Frustration Can Be Lethal ?Chapter 195: 122 People Outdo People, Frustration Can Be Lethal (First Update)_2 Chapter 195: 122 People Outdo People, Frustration Can Be Lethal (First Update)_2 She had cooked the canned meat with instant noodles, and although it tasted pretty good, a fragrant and exceptionally savory aroma started drifting in from outside just as the scent began to emerge. After the apocalypse, life had become hard, and fresh vegetables were not easy to come by unless one ventured into the fields, where they might still find crops that had not been spoiled. After the apocalypse, Chen Si had been seriously injured and remained unconscious, so with him in tow, when did they have the opportunity to look for food in those large agricultural bases? Suddenly encountering this long-missed savory fragrance was too much for anyone to resist. And it wasn¡¯t just the others¡ªMeng Qingluo herself began to scorn the instant noodles in the pot. Bai Qianqian wrinkled her little nose, looked disdainfully at the pot nearby, and blinked at Bai Ye, ¡°Dad, I miss Mama.¡± Hesitating for just a second, Bai Ye stood up with Bai Qianqian in his arms, and naturally said to his teammates, ¡°Qianqian misses his mom, I¡¯ll take him over there, you guys eat first.¡± The others exchanged glances, their eyes full of reproach toward Bai Ye¡ªBoss! That¡¯s not cool! How can you abandon your brothers to freeload a meal! Bai Ye was not the least bit ashamed, boldly meeting their gaze¡ªYou¡¯re thinking too much, I¡¯m just taking Qianqian over. The teammates silently retracted their gazes¡ªYeah right! Who would believe that! Watching Bai Ye leave with Bai Qianqian, Meng Qingluo, who was about to turn off the burner, completely lost her appetite. She was a good cook, and during this period, she had always been in charge of the team¡¯s meals. Everyone would compliment her at each meal, a mix of praise and gratitude. Unfortunately, comparisons ruin everything. With the savory smell in the air and the canned meat noodles in front of them, everyone lost their appetite. The teammates looked at each other, and Xu Wu, who was always down-to-earth, said, ¡°Although Qingluo¡¯s cooking is great, don¡¯t you all rush for it¡ªtake it one at a time!¡± With this, everyone else joined in the teasing, and the atmosphere turned lively. Meng Qingluo forced a smile, but her thoughts had already drifted far away with Bai Ye. That tantalizing aroma was inescapable, and suddenly she remembered that the Fang Family had secretly stockpiled many supplies before the apocalypse, and Fang Yuxin was a Wood Element Superpower User. Getting fresh vegetables would undoubtedly be easy for her, and the meals Bai Qianqian had enjoyed these past few days were probably fantastic. Meng Qingluo realized she had been worrying for nothing. ... Following the scent, Bai Ye led Bai Qianqian to the temporary resting place of Fang Yuxin and her group. Approaching them, the fragrance grew even richer. Inside the house, a folding table was set up, and the spread on it was quite extravagant. In addition to a pot of meat soup, there were also cold dishes like poached chicken, marinated duck, beef jerky, and spicy pork slices all kept in preservation boxes, and there was plenty of each. These were all cold dishes that Fang Yuxin had prepared earlier that day, easy to serve without arousing suspicion. The rice had also been prepared in advance, ready to be heated by hot soup. The grains, having absorbed the flavorful soup, became even softer and more deliciously savory. Being a child, Bai Qianqian was already hungry, and his eyes lit up at the sight of the lavish food. Fang Yuxin, seeing his return, was also happy and quickly invited him to sit and eat. Additional folding stools were ready by the table, indicating thorough preparation. Fang Yuxin glanced at Bai Ye and casually invited, ¡°Mr. Bai, if you don¡¯t mind, please join us for the meal.¡± Bai Ye readily took a seat next to Bai Qianqian, skipping the formalities and stated frankly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take up your kind offer.¡± Fang Yuyang ground his teeth. He had always had an issue with Bai Ye, but since guests had arrived, he couldn¡¯t just show a foul face¡ªthat would reflect poorly on the Fang Family. He managed to stretch a smile across his face, offered a brief greeting, and then ignored Bai Ye. Bai Ye didn¡¯t mind and, taking the bowl and chopsticks Bai Qianqian passed him, began to eat swiftly. Because they were outside, there was always the risk of zombies or other survivors showing up, so everyone ate quickly. In less than ten minutes, they finished their lunch. Throughout the meal, Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian used their Spiritual Sense to stay on alert. Perhaps because of Liu Meng, the survivors who had left earlier did not return, but they had attracted quite a few zombies instead. Since the zombies were still a distance away, the pair didn¡¯t give them any attention. By the time the zombies got close, they had already finished their lunch. Everyone¡¯s appetite was big, and they polished off all the food and soup cleanly. The harsh conditions of the apocalypse forced people to grow. Things that once seemed inconsequential now became precious. In the face of hunger and death, no one could afford to be finicky. Hearing the roars of zombies, Bai Ye took the initiative to offer to clear the zombies as a way of saying thanks. Unfortunately, no one appreciated the gesture. As soon as he made the offer, Fang Yuyang spoke up, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± As he spoke, Chen Qiao and others stood up too, all saying in unison, ¡°We¡¯ll come too!¡± As long as they were not encountering Mutant Zombies, these regular zombies were practically delivering Crystal Cores to them; no one wanted to pass up the chance to benefit at the expense of Bai Ye. Bai Ye paused, thinking of those survivors who viewed zombies as catastrophic beasts, and suddenly found these people rather interesting. He raised an eyebrow at Fang Yuyang, with a provocative gleam in his eye, ¡°Why don¡¯t we make it a competition?¡± Upon hearing this, a strong fighting spirit surged in Fang Yuyang¡¯s heart, ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s see who¡¯s better!¡± At that, both men almost instantly headed out, and Chen Qiao and the others looked at each other and quickly followed, wondering if they could still have a chance to collect the scraps with these two fierce fighters around. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t go out with them, but she packed up everything efficiently and stored it in a concealed space. Just as she was about to call the others to head out, she noticed more survivors entering the ruins. It seemed these people were coming straight for them! (To be continued... If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation tickets or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 196 - 196 123 Three Fang Teams (Second Update) ?Chapter 196: 123 Three Fang Teams (Second Update) Chapter 196: 123 Three Fang Teams (Second Update) Fang Yuxin remained vigilant and didn¡¯t stay long in the room; she quickly went out. Qu Qianhe noticed her uneasy expression and immediately realized that something was wrong, so she lowered her voice and asked, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Fang Yuxin replied, ¡°Survivors have entered the ruins; I suspect they¡¯re here for us. Let¡¯s go take a look.¡± Upon hearing this, the expressions of Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang changed slightly, and they subconsciously gripped their weapons tighter. Bai Qianqian pursed his lips, resolute in his mind that if someone came looking for trouble, he would surely teach them a lesson! The four of them quickly left and soon saw Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang among others. All the zombies had already been killed, and the two were swiftly collecting Crystal Cores. Chen Qiao and his group of five stood woodenly to the side, completely awestruck by the methods of Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye, without any opportunity to intervene. Fang Yuxin glanced over and saw some survivors walking from afar. They each carried weapons and watched Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye intently, their eyes filled with terror, clearly frightened by the power of the two. These survivors split into three groups, each with more than twenty people; in total, there were about seventy or eighty individuals. However, these people didn¡¯t seem like they were from the same group ¨C rather, they appeared to come from three different factions. They drew closer bit by bit, and from their expressions, it seemed they were quite wary of Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye. It was unclear what their intentions were in coming here. Fang Yuxin was on guard but not afraid. She was quite confident in her own strength, at least confident enough to handle these people. Chen Qiao and his people were equally cautious, though with Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye¡¯s extraordinary abilities, they were less worried. As the three groups approached, and when they were almost five meters apart, they stopped. The three leaders cupped their hands in greeting, a gesture of ancient etiquette. Though the action was not as formal and strict as in ancient times, it still conveyed a sense of respect. These three were all men, one looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, another around thirty, and the last about thirty-five or thirty-six, not much age difference between them. Their physical conditions indicated they were in their prime. Such people wouldn¡¯t just have abundant physical strength, but also ample life experience; no wonder they were the ones leading the groups. After exchanging greetings, the composed man in his mid-thirties took the initiative to state their purpose, ¡°We can see you two are very capable. We¡¯re here because we¡¯d like to discuss a deal with you both. I wonder if you¡¯re interested?¡± Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye exchanged glances, surprised that these people had come to make a deal. Judging by the situation, they had thought these people were looking for a fight. After some thought, Fang Yuyang asked, ¡°What kind of deal?¡± Seeing his interest, the man quickly explained, ¡°There¡¯s a Food Trading City nearby with a lot of supplies, but somehow it¡¯s now overrun with zombies. We¡¯ve always wanted to break in but haven¡¯t been able to. So we¡¯d like to invite the two of you and your friends to join us. What do you think?¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye were intrigued and considered giving it a try. However, their thoughts diverged. Fang Yuyang thought of the possibility of smuggling the supplies into Qingmu Spiritual Mansion without anyone being the wiser, while Bai Ye was concerned that with only two vehicles, they couldn¡¯t take much with them. To make it worthwhile, they¡¯d need to figure out how to get a large truck, or it would be a big loss. With their minds made up, they almost simultaneously asked, ¡°Alright, how do you propose we split it?¡± The three men looked at one another, and finally, the eldest said, ¡°We each take a quarter, what do you think?¡± Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye smiled coldly; a quarter? That man had some nerve asking for that! Even though these people were numerous, they were no match for them all together. Without Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye, these people wouldn¡¯t be able to get in at all ¨C that¡¯s why they had come to invite them specifically. Yet they were only willing to give up a quarter of the loot. They truly were too greedy! Standing behind them, Fang Yuxin was thinking about another issue. She remembered that in her dream, the Food Trading City in the old quarter had indeed been taken over by zombies, with countless survivors dying there. Later, it was Qiu Yiming and Fang Mengyao who led people to clear out the zombies and seize the supplies inside. Now, it seemed Qiu Yiming and Fang Mengyao might not have that chance. Chapter 197 - 197 123 Three Fang Forces (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 197: 123 Three Fang Forces (Second Update)_2 Chapter 197: 123 Three Fang Forces (Second Update)_2 She stepped forward and walked up to Yu Yang, then raised her voice and said, ¡°Cooperation is fine, but how much supplies we can get still depends on our abilities.¡± Her words infuriated the people there, and a young man in his late twenties shouted, ¡°Who are you? You have no say here!¡± He sensed that the energy fluctuations from Yuxin were weak, and deduced that she was not powerful, so he dismissed her. Instead, it was Yu Yang and Ye who had caught their attention, as they had been seen hunting zombies, and their strength was known to be formidable, which is why they were invited. In truth, they had come here only to try their luck. They had received word that Liu Meng had been killed, which surprised them since they knew of Liu Meng¡¯s strength. Anyone capable of killing him was clearly not weak. At that moment, the idea of collaboration formed in their minds, though it wasn¡¯t yet certain. After lunch, they planned to come here to try their luck, to see if the people they met were strong enough to be worth collaborating with. Having witnessed the strength of Yu Yang and Ye, their thoughts solidified. They had a feeling that with these two, they might actually manage to breach into the Food Trading City. At that time, they were only thinking about fighting their way in, grabbing what they could, and escaping without intending to eliminate all the zombies there. The place was teeming with zombies, easily numbering in the tens of thousands, gathered there under mysterious circumstances. As soon as that person finished speaking, he sensed something was off. The expressions on Yu Yang¡¯s and Ye¡¯s faces turned ugly, and even the air around them seemed to tense up and freeze. A bad premonition flashed through his mind as his gaze shifted among them, trying to guess their relationship. Yu Yang gave a cold laugh, his icy gaze fixed on him like a wolf eying its prey, ready to tear him apart! Grinding his teeth, he said, ¡°Remember, she¡¯s my sister!¡± The young man¡¯s face turned pale and then flushed; he was quite powerful himself and had been a leader since the apocalypse began, commanding a group and enjoying a moment of glory among the survivors. In this old city district, nobody dared to talk to him so rudely anymore. Even the leaders from other safe zones showed him respect. But this group... they were infuriating! Seeing the situation was off, Ye immediately said, ¡°If there are no objections, then it¡¯s settled. We¡¯ll go back and prepare today, meet here at eight tomorrow, and work together, alright?¡± The three men hesitated momentarily, their faces turning pale as they thought of something, then they nodded in agreement. Afterward, they didn¡¯t stay long and quickly left the area. It seemed they too planned to prepare well. Yu Yang, thinking back on their expressions, analyzed, ¡°Their expressions were terrible; that place must be very dangerous, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have agreed so easily.¡± Ye appeared indifferent, ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s an opportunity. When we get there, we¡¯ll play it by ear.¡± Yu Yang nodded in agreement with Ye¡¯s suggestion. Then, his face stiffened suddenly, as if he had just remembered something unpleasant, and he coldly said, ¡°Alright, since they¡¯ve left, let¡¯s mind our own business. I¡¯m not keeping you company anymore.¡± After speaking, he grabbed Yuxin and turned to leave, with Ye watching them protectively, treating himself like a dangerous threat, and shook his head helplessly. Tsk! A brother complex is a sickness that needs curing! Watching Yu Yang and Yuxin leave, Chen Si and the others approached Ye. Qingluo asked worriedly, ¡°Brother, isn¡¯t this too rash? Are you confident? Just like Mr. Fang said, that Food Trading City is definitely dangerous. And those three groups clearly have their own agendas; isn¡¯t collaborating with them too risky?¡± Furthermore, Yuxin was Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e. If she told Qiu Yiming about this, they might not only fail to gain any advantage but could also bring disaster upon themselves! Ye glanced at her, aware of her concerns, but couldn¡¯t tell her that Yuxin had already decided to break off her engagement with Qiu Yiming, so he simply said, ¡°I have my own judgment; it¡¯ll be fine.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, he decided to seize the opportunity and said, ¡°I¡¯m planning to go to a safe zone outside the city today. You guys get ready.¡± ¡°What?¡± Qingluo exclaimed in disbelief, her gaze turning somewhat disappointed and sorrowful as she looked at Ye. ¡°Brother, that¡¯s too risky!¡± Without responding, Ye turned to Chen Si and said, ¡°Chen Si, come with me.¡± Chen Si smiled at Qingluo and followed Ye. Seeing Qingluo¡¯s intention to continue the argument, Xu Wu caught her arm and shook his head, whispering, ¡°Qingluo, the boss knows what he¡¯s doing; it¡¯s best not to get involved in his business.¡± Having said that, he looked at Qingluo¡¯s crestfallen face with some distress. His last remark was meant to dissuade Qingluo from interfering in Ye¡¯s affair with Yuxin. He knew well that Qingluo had feelings for Ye, but love couldn¡¯t be forced. Whatever Ye felt for Yuxin didn¡¯t include Qingluo, and her meddling in his matters, given Ye¡¯s temperament, would do no good. Taking a deep breath, Qingluo¡¯s eyes flickered as she whispered a ¡°thank you¡± to Xu Wu. Yuxin, unaware of the incident, extended her Spiritual Sense, hoping to detect any survivors nearby, but instead, she witnessed a scene that enraged her. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it with a recommendation or monthly ticket. Your support is greatly appreciated. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com. Chapter 198 - 198 124 Runaway (Third Release) ?Chapter 198: 124 Runaway! (Third Release) Chapter 198: 124 Runaway! (Third Release) Shang Jinxiu was riding a motorcycle, weaving through alleys at high speed, while a car chased her from behind. Crescent-shaped Wind Blades continuously shot towards her like the deathly scythe of the Grim Reaper. She awkwardly dodged the Wind Blades, and those she couldn¡¯t dodge, she had to endure with her body. She already had several cuts on her body, but none of the wounds were deep or fatal. However, blood kept flowing from her wounds, emitting a thick scent of blood. Such blood loss not only made her body weaker, but the heavy scent also attracted zombies. What made her more desperate was that the motorcycle was running low on fuel and couldn¡¯t last much longer. She looked at the ruins nearby with a determined glimmer in her eyes and a sense of delight. She had heard from other survivors that a formidable group had come to these ruins and even killed Master Meng! She didn¡¯t know if those people were still there, but this was her last chance! Behind her, the car got increasingly closer, and the people inside let out arrogant laughter, delighting in watching Shang Jinxiu¡¯s plight as if playing with their prey. Someone said, ¡°Shang! Don¡¯t be ungrateful! It¡¯s your luck that Master Wei fancies you. Just obediently submit to Master Wei, serve him well in the future, and you¡¯ll live comfortably. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Shang Jinxiu didn¡¯t answer; she clenched her teeth and fixed her eyes firmly ahead. It¡¯s close! It¡¯s almost there! However, at that moment, zombies darted out from the side, lunging at her with claws bared! The zombies¡¯ black nails seemed to shine and were extremely sharp, easily capable of tearing through human flesh. Her motorcycle collided with a zombie, and due to the momentum, Shang Jinxiu was thrown off, avoiding the charging zombie from the side. She landed heavily on the ground, scraping many parts of her body. More blood flowed from her wounds, making her appear drenched in blood. Despite the intense pain all over her body, she struggled to get up and limped forward. A voice inside her head seemed to scream¡ªRun! Run! There¡¯s salvation ahead! The zombie quickly caught up, about to seize her when suddenly, the pursuing car sped up and violently struck the zombie. Shang Jinxiu, impacted by the force, fell to the ground, rolling several times, narrowly avoiding the car¡¯s collision but also further injuring herself, draining her strength to rise again. Her palms, scraped raw, pressed against the rough ground, sending waves of piercing pain throughout her body, unconsciously bringing tears to her eyes. Her lashes wet with tears, her appearance was pitiful yet oddly alluring, prompting raucous laughter from the people in the car. ¡°Hahaha¡ª Run! Weren¡¯t you good at running? Why aren¡¯t you running now? Keep running! Ungrateful wretch!¡± ¡°Master Wei, why waste words? I¡¯ll grab her for you right now!¡± ¡°Exactly! This girl has spunk. Bring her back for some training; she¡¯ll definitely be spicy!¡± At those words, everyone in the car roared with laughter, exceedingly pleased with themselves. ¡°Hahaha¡ª¡± Only a young man in the car furrowed his brows tightly, disagreeing, ¡°Master Wei, this woman has been bleeding continuously. We should take her away quickly, otherwise, we might attract more zombies. Also, I heard that Master Meng was dealt with just up ahead; those people might still be around. We shouldn¡¯t stay here long.¡± The one called ¡®Master Wei¡¯ was a man in his thirties with a sullen look and a face covered in horizontal scars, clearly not someone to provoke. His gaze was fierce, like a wild beast, shimmering with cruelty. He took a puff from his cigar, his eyes gloomily watching Shang Jinxiu on the ground, who didn¡¯t know how many times she had tried to get up, and he sneered coldly, ¡°Xiao San, Xiao Si, take her and put her in the car. Let¡¯s leave this cursed place immediately!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, two sleazy-looking young men chuckled as they pushed the car door open and walked toward Shang Jinxiu. Shang Jinxiu still tried to get up but failed every time. Her entire body ached as if crushed, utterly void of strength. The soft flesh of her palms became even more severely abraded from the continuous friction, burning painfully. As she watched the two sleazy young men approaching, her heart sank deeper and deeper into despair. However, at that moment, she suddenly heard the roar of an engine. The sound wasn¡¯t loud, but it resonated in her ears like a sledgehammer. Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw a motorcycle approaching from the distance, her beautiful eyes suddenly sparkling brilliantly. Chapter 199 - 199 124 Runaway (Third Release)_2 ?Chapter 199: 124 Runaway! (Third Release)_2 Chapter 199: 124 Runaway! (Third Release)_2 That was a very magnificent and handsome black heavy motorcycle, and the woman on it was incredibly beautiful. Her stylish short hair added a touch of wildness to her beauty, the tight-fitting clothes outlined her perfect curves, and even the posture she maintained riding the motorcycle was exceptionally graceful, brimming with power. Shang Jinxiu suddenly had a feeling¡ªthis was a formidable woman! The two young men were about to approach Shang Jinxiu when they stopped in their tracks at the scene and couldn¡¯t help but whistle openly. ¡°Yo! Here comes another pretty chick!¡± ¡°Master Wei! This chick is hot!¡± Master Wei, who was on the vehicle, pinched his cigar, deadlocked his gaze on Fang Yuxin astride the motorcycle, and exhaled a smoke ring with relish. He then said to his subordinates in the car, ¡°Xiao Wu, Xiao Liu, you two get down as well and grab her!¡± Xiao Liu, the youth who had furrowed his brow earlier, had a gut feeling that the new arrival was no simple individual, so he tried to advice, ¡°Master Wei, let¡¯s just forget it. This woman has come out from the ruins; she could very well be with that group!¡± His words, however, only infuriated Master Wei, who gave him a fierce glare and angrily retorted, ¡°Scared of what? If she still has accomplices, how could she possibly come alone? Get out of the car now!¡± Xiao Liu¡¯s brows instantly furrowed even tighter; he knew this person was capable and had means, acted ruthlessly, but had one flaw: he was easily muddled by women. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have deliberately injured Shang Jinxiu with a Wind Blade just to vent his anger, without considering whether such an act would attract zombies. Although he felt very uneasy, he dared not disobey Master Wei¡¯s orders and could only follow his companion and get out of the car. When getting out, his hand went straight for the pistol in his pocket, determined to act first if anything went wrong! By this time, Fang Yuxin had already arrived in front of them. The heavy motorcycle did a stylish U-turn and pulled over. With a swift swing of her long legs, Fang Yuxin deftly got off the bike and pulled out her Miao Saber from her waist all in one fluid move. The two sleazy young men, whistling brazenly at her stopping, were struck dumb in the next second. They only saw a shadow flash, a dark blade of light slicing through the air like lightning, followed by a sudden chill at their throats as the hot liquid gushed out. They couldn¡¯t react in time; their bodies fell backward to the ground. Instinctively they clutched their necks; the hot liquid quickly soaked their hands, seeping through their fingers. They heard a wailing wind in their ears, like the laments of departed souls. They tried to open their eyes wide, their bodies trembling uncontrollably, but they couldn¡¯t stop the ebbing of their lives. The incident occurred in a blink of an eye; Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu watched in horror as Xiao San and Xiao Si¡¯s throats were slit, their expressions changing instantly. Xiao Wu panicked, and in his confusion, he lost his footing. Xiao Liu reacted much faster; perhaps he had been anticipating it from the start and felt somehow that this was meant to be. He drew the gun he had been holding all along and fired at Fang Yuxin. Then, to his terror, he found that Fang Yuxin was charging at him with incredible speed. Her movements so swift, one could only see lingering afterimages. When he thought his bullets had hit her, he realized that Fang Yuxin was already within arm¡¯s reach. A cold smile played on the corners of her mouth, and then her figure vanished from before his eyes! Xiao Liu felt no relief; alarm bells rang in his mind, a strong sense of crisis accompanied by an encroaching chill of death. The next moment, he felt a chill at his neck. Disbelievingly, he widened his eyes and saw the bullets strike Fang Yuxin¡¯s afterimages, their eerie vanishing act. Then his knees buckled, and his body uncontrollably fell backward. He listened to the strange sound of the wind, knowing it was the sound of blood flowing from his wound. He desperately grabbed his neck, trying to cover the wound, but it was futile; his hands were quickly stained red with blood, gushing from between his fingers. His eyes grew wider, and what he saw were faces of those he had killed and tormented. One by one, the faces drifted before him, each wearing a plea for mercy, begging for their lives. But then their expressions twisted into ferocity as they lunged at him one after the other. They were not human! They were avenging spirits! Xiao Liu¡¯s eyes bulged larger, his body violently shaking; then gradually, the shaking subsided. Xiao Wu likewise dodged the fate of death; he didn¡¯t even have time to reach for his gun when Fang Yuxin slit his throat. Then there was Master Wei in the vehicle. He was in an SUV, seated in the middle; once his men had gone down, he was left alone in the car. The calamity struck too swiftly for him to react. Watching Fang Yuxin quickly slaughter his men one by one, his first thought wasn¡¯t to kill her but to flee! Flee! He must flee! He dared not get out of the car and scrambled to the driver¡¯s seat. But as he grasped the steering wheel, Fang Yuxin reached the side of the vehicle. Sensing it was not good, he picked up a submachine gun and prepared to open fire on Fang Yuxin. His finger had just pressed the trigger when Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand was hastily grabbing the barrel of the gun. Then, with a forceful twist, there was a sharp ¡°snap¡±; Master Wei¡¯s index finger was twisted off. He let out a piercing scream, instinctively wanting to beg for mercy. His mouth opened but before he could utter a word, the cold blade stabbed fiercely, piercing through his neck and pinning him to the seat. His eyes bulged, and after the initial horror, he glared at Fang Yuxin with venomous eyes as the strength in his body surged. He crazily curled his lips into a smile, just to see Fang Yuxin respond with a slight smirk, then forcefully slapped his forehead. ¡°Snap!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to come to Qidian and cast your votes for monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 200 - 200 125 New Team Member (First Update) ?Chapter 200: 125 New Team Member (First Update) Chapter 200: 125 New Team Member (First Update) ¡°You¡¯re alright?¡± Qing Yue¡¯s voice came from above, Shang Jinxiu lifted her head and met Fang Yuxin¡¯s cold yet somewhat concerned gaze and spoke, ¡°Thank... thank you.¡± Her voice was a bit hoarse, and after she finished speaking, she tried to push herself up again. Apparently, with the threat gone, she finally managed to get up. But just as she had gotten up, her body still not fully straightened, she suddenly swayed and was about to fall again. Shang Jinxiu couldn¡¯t help but cry out in alarm, only to feel a pulling force from her arm. With that force, she successfully straightened herself up and thanked Fang Yuxin again, ¡°Thank you for saving me just now.¡± Fang Yuxin, seeing that she was steady, let go of her hand. She didn¡¯t ask who Shang Jinxiu was but simply nodded and then turned around to leave. She came to rescue out of pity, but more so because of anger and impulsiveness. In her dreams, she had never awakened her superpower and had always been an ordinary person. Her beautiful appearance had not brought her luck but only endless trouble. After separating from Qiu Yiming, people had continuously targeted her, experiencing incidents like today¡¯s many times before. Sometimes, she and Fang Yuyang could easily kill their adversaries, but other times, they had to fight with severe injuries to kill their enemies. So, upon discovering the situation here, anger arose strongly within her, and without thinking, she rode her motorcycle over. However, after killing those people, she discovered this poor woman had energy fluctuations! She was a superpower user! Not an ordinary person! This discovery somewhat disappointed Fang Yuxin. She had always felt that survivors should actively find ways to save themselves when in danger, not passively wait for others¡¯ rescue. So even though she hadn¡¯t awakened any superpower initially, she still diligently practiced Saber Technique to improve her strength and didn¡¯t resign herself to becoming a burden to Fang Yuyang. But this person, although she had awakened her superpower, couldn¡¯t even release her superpower when faced with danger, which left Fang Yuxin greatly disappointed. So she didn¡¯t plan to get entangled with this person and didn¡¯t even ask her name, preparing to leave directly. However, just as she turned to get on her bike, Shang Jinxiu spoke up. Her voice was very uneasy, but the words she said greatly surprised Fang Yuxin. ¡°Please... let me follow you, I... I am a Space superpower user.¡± Fang Yuxin turned back sharply, her gaze fixed on Shang Jinxiu. Shang Jinxiu was nervous, but still forced herself to calm down. She opened her palm, and in the blink of an eye, what had been an empty palm now held a can of meat. Fang Yuxin looked at her surprised, and with raised eyebrows, asked, ¡°Why tell me?¡± Space superpower users, because they were so unique, often carefully hid their abilities. She didn¡¯t expect that Shang Jinxiu would openly reveal it. This person trusted her too much. Fang Yuxin instinctively said, ¡°Space superpower is too special, you shouldn¡¯t have told me. If I had malicious intentions, you¡¯d be finished.¡± But Shang Jinxiu replied, ¡°I know that I shouldn¡¯t tell others about such a superpower, but you are different, you just saved me. If it weren¡¯t for you, I dare not think what would have happened. So I think it¡¯s okay to tell you, I trust you are not that kind of person.¡± Fang Yuxin smiled, her gaze towards Shang Jinxiu turning more serious. She had initially thought this person was too naive, only now realizing she had been mistaken. However, it was commendable that she could think this way; it¡¯s quite a virtuous mind. She then asked, ¡°You just said, you want to follow me?¡± Shang Jinxiu hurriedly nodded, ¡°Yes! You are very strong, it will definitely be safer with you. But rest assured, I will try not to be a burden. My Space is about a hundred square meters, I¡¯ve already equipped it with some supplies, if you want, I... I can give them to you.¡± Fang Yuxin could see that she hesitated briefly but the words she spoke were heartfelt. This person had already been quite forthright, and even offered to provide her supplies, something not many people would have the courage to do! Although she might be doing this for self-protection, perhaps it was her sincere gaze that made Fang Yuxin hesitate briefly before saying, ¡°You can follow me, as for your supplies, keep them for yourself, don¡¯t give them to me. I don¡¯t keep useless people around, since you say you will try, I¡¯ll give you this chance. Do you have a weapon?¡± Chapter 201 - 201 125 New Team Members (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 201: 125 New Team Members (First Update)_2 Chapter 201: 125 New Team Members (First Update)_2 Shang Jinxiu was very surprised; her decision to offer her supplies to Fang Yuxin was indeed sincere, but it had been a difficult decision to make. She was injured all over and weak; once separated from Fang Yuxin, she wouldn¡¯t survive long! Unless she found other powerful people to rely on. But in her opinion, instead of looking for someone new, it was better to stick with Fang Yuxin. This person had saved her, indicating that both strength and character were commendable. Moreover, upon learning she was a Space superpower user, aside from surprise, there was no greed or covetous emotion evident, which made her feel an increased fondness for Fang Yuxin from the bottom of her heart. Shang Jinxiu had an intuition that following Fang Yuxin was absolutely the right choice. She also knew that although she had a Space superpower, her strength was really not up to par, and her space was only useful for storing supplies. So, after hesitating, she decided to offer her supplies in exchange for a chance to stay by Fang Yuxin¡¯s side. However, what she didn¡¯t expect was that Fang Yuxin would refuse. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t even ask how much she had before declining without hesitation. After her initial surprise, Shang Jinxiu soon guessed a possibility¡ªFang Yuxin simply didn¡¯t care about the supplies she had! Having struggled and survived in the apocalypse, Shang Jinxiu had seen many things and quickly figured out the truth¡ªFang Yuxin must have more supplies, which is why she wasn¡¯t interested in hers. This guess filled her with excitement; she felt it must be a blessing from her parents¡¯ spirits that she had the fortune to encounter Fang Yuxin. Recalling the earlier question from Fang Yuxin, she quickly produced two daggers. The blades were sharp, and from the marks on them, they had been used to kill zombies. Fang Yuxin nodded and then said, ¡°Anyone who follows me must take a Blood Oath of never betraying. Are you willing?¡± ¡°A Blood Oath?¡± Shang Jinxiu found the idea somewhat fantastical, having only encountered it in novels before, but after hesitating, she firmly nodded, ¡°I am willing!¡± Shang Jinxiu smiled, quickly swore the Blood Oath, and then she took Brother Wei¡¯s submachine gun and tossed it to Shang Jinxiu, saying, ¡°Those two daggers aren¡¯t much use; hold onto this for now, be careful not to misfire. I¡¯ll teach you how to use it in a bit.¡± After pausing, she continued, ¡°I should first help you with your injuries.¡± Shang Jinxiu was startled, and then she saw Fang Yuxin¡¯s fingers flicking out several green lights onto her body. Since the Blood Oath was already sworn, she didn¡¯t feel afraid and certainly didn¡¯t think Fang Yuxin would harm her. Indeed, as soon as the green spirit light entered her body, she felt an extreme, soothing coolness. Immediately, she saw the wounds on her body healing at a visibly fast rate. Soon, all her wounds disappeared, leaving no trace, as if they had never been there. Suddenly, she remembered something she¡¯d heard before; some survivors said that Wood Element Superpower Users had healing abilities. However, such users were rare, and she had never encountered one or witnessed this miraculous ability firsthand. Now, having experienced it personally, she was astounded and admired Fang Yuxin even more. Since she had awakened a Space superpower herself, she hadn¡¯t thought much of Space superpowers, but now, seeing Fang Yuxin¡¯s capabilities, she grew envious, and found her incredibly capable. Shang Jinxiu cautiously asked, ¡°Sister Xin, are you a Wood Element Superpower User?¡± Since they had exchanged names and ages when making the Blood Oath, and Fang Yuxin was two months older than Shang Jinxiu, she addressed her as ¡®Sister Xin¡¯. This form of address was endearing, but more so, it expressed her respect for Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t deny it, simply nodded, then asked, ¡°How much space do you still have?¡± Upon hearing this, Shang Jinxiu immediately felt a sense of purpose, feeling she finally had a place to make a contribution! She excitedly said, ¡°Twenty square meters of it I¡¯ve used for supplies, there¡¯s still eighty square meters left, which can fit a lot of stuff.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, ¡°Okay, collect this car then.¡± Master Wei¡¯s SUV was quite good, and Fang Yuxin thought it would be a shame to waste it. Now that Shang Jinxiu had a Space superpower, she let her collect it. In fact, Fang Yuxin had wanted to take her in the moment she learned that Shang Jinxiu was a Space superpower user, since she herself could not expose her Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Having Shang Jinxiu as a Space superpower user could help her provide cover. But had it not been for Shang Jinxiu¡¯s satisfactory performance, even though such a person with a rare Space-related superpower was hard to find, she still would not have taken her in. Fortunately, everyone was happy. Shang Jinxiu had no objections; she opened the car door, dragged Master Wei out of the vehicle, then stowed the entire car in her space. Fang Yuxin searched the body, taking all the usable items, including four handguns, some Crystal Cores, bullets, chocolate, cigarettes, and other items, all of which Shang Jinxiu stored away. Shang Jinxiu¡¯s motorcycle was no longer rideable. After getting into the car, Fang Yuxin motioned for her to sit in the back as she rode her back to the ruins. On her return, she encountered Fang Yuyang. Fang Yuyang had stayed not far from the scene, obviously worried for her, and had specifically followed. Later, seeing that she was managing comfortably, he did not approach but chose a distance that was neither too close nor too far to wait. Now, seeing Fang Yuxin bring back Shang Jinxiu, he nodded at Shang Jinxiu, politely said ¡°Welcome,¡± his attitude slightly aloof, instantly making Shang Jinxiu tense up.(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 202 - 202 126 Mutated Crystal Orchids (Second Release) ?Chapter 202: 126 Mutated Crystal Orchids! (Second Release) Chapter 202: 126 Mutated Crystal Orchids! (Second Release) Upon returning to the ruins, Fang Yuxin introduced Shang Jinxiu, saying, ¡°This is my brother, also the team leader of Yongcheng. From now on, you can just call him Captain Fang. There are other people that you¡¯ll get to know slowly, in time. Since you¡¯ve joined Yongcheng, we¡¯re all one family. You don¡¯t have to feel restrained; take your time to get used to it.¡± Shang Jinxiu nodded hurriedly and then looked at Fang Yuyang with great respect, saying, ¡°It¡¯s good to meet you, Captain Fang.¡± Her attitude was so respectful that it was like a student greeting a teacher. Fang Yuyang could probably see her sincerity, and the coldness on his face softened considerably. He said, ¡°You heard everything Xinxin just said. I won¡¯t say much else, but I hope you remember one thing¡ªnow that you are a member of Yongcheng, you must never betray Yongcheng or your teammates, understand?¡± At the end, there was a touch of severity in his voice. Shang Jinxiu nodded hurriedly, then met Fang Yuyang¡¯s gaze without flinching, and said with conviction, ¡°Captain Fang, rest assured, I have taken the Blood Oath and will absolutely never betray Yongcheng. Sister Xin is my lifesaver; I would never forget that, not even in death!¡± Fang Yuyang stared at her for a while, saw that she was not evasive and that her gaze was sincere, and finally nodded in approval. He felt that she was different from Lin Feiyin and decided to give her a chance. In a low voice, Fang Yuxin said to Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother, Jinxiu is a Space superpower user. Her space is one hundred square meters in size; some of it is already in use, but there¡¯s still plenty of room. Now that we have her, we¡¯ll be able to save ourselves a lot of trouble in the future.¡± Fang Yuyang immediately understood. Ever since he discovered the existence of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, he¡¯d been worried about it becoming known; that would put Fang Yuxin in danger. Now with Shang Jinxiu, a Space superpower user, they could cover up the existence of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, giving them greater security in their actions. For this reason, he felt a greater fondness for Shang Jinxiu and looked at her even more kindly. He did not delay afterward and, under the direction of Fang Yuxin, began searching for Elemental Stones. Shang Jinxiu was astonished, thinking they were looking for materials below. But soon she realized her mistake. Fang Yuyang was digging out a dusty rock from the rubble. He wiped the rock and stashed it straight into his backpack, then continued searching. Shang Jinxiu instantly realized that the rock must be extraordinary. Otherwise, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang wouldn¡¯t waste their time looking for such stones instead of caring about the resources below. She hesitated, unsure whether to ask, when she heard Fang Yuxin whisper, ¡°That¡¯s an Elemental Stone; it might contain Elemental Crystals. Since you¡¯ve joined us, you might as well help us look for them.¡± Shang Jinxiu nodded. Although she was curious about what Elemental Crystals were and what they did, she was not foolish; she knew what questions to ask and what not to. Other survivors were unaware of Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals; clearly, they were not ordinary things. It was a big secret, and she felt she shouldn¡¯t ask. If Fang Yuxin was willing to tell her, she definitely wouldn¡¯t hide it. Although the siblings were busy digging for Elemental Stones, they also kept an eye on Shang Jinxiu. Seeing that after hearing about the Elemental Crystals her eyes remained clear, with no hint of nefarious intent, they held her in even higher regard. Then, Fang Yuxin explained in a low voice the use of Elemental Crystals. Although Shang Jinxiu had braced herself and guessed that the effects of Elemental Crystals must be extraordinary, she still couldn¡¯t help but let out a small gasp of surprise after hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s words. She hadn¡¯t expected that the effects of the Elemental Crystals would be even more powerful than she had imagined! To think they could give Ordinary People the chance to awaken superpowers and also enhance the talents of superpower users¡ªthat was truly heaven-defying! Shang Jinxiu was utterly astonished and, after her shock subsided, she couldn¡¯t help but say to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Sister Xin... How could you tell me such vital information?¡± Fang Yuxin smiled and said as if it were the most natural thing, ¡°There¡¯s a saying ¡®You throw me a peach, I¡¯ll give you a white jade for friendship.¡¯ Since you openly told me of your status as a Space superpower user, and now you¡¯ve also become part of Yongcheng, it¡¯s only natural for me to share information about the Elemental Crystals with you; there¡¯s nothing inappropriate about it.¡± Shang Jinxiu felt a warmth in her heart. Since the apocalypse, she had seen the coldness of the world and survived by hiding and ekking out a meager existence. Fang Yuxin was the first person to be so kind to her, and it moved her deeply. When she first divulged her status as a Space superpower user, she did not expect anything in return from Fang Yuxin; simply being allowed to follow them and having some measure of security was more than enough to make her deeply grateful. Chapter 203 - 203 126 Mutated Crystal Orchids (Second Release)_2 ?Chapter 203: 126 Mutated Crystal Orchids! (Second Release)_2 Chapter 203: 126 Mutated Crystal Orchids! (Second Release)_2 But Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t lord over her because she was in a vulnerable position, nor did she act superior for having saved her. Instead, she truly treated her as one of her own, even sharing such critical information as the Elemental Crystals. How could she not be moved? Her eyes burned, and she quickly blinked to keep from crying. Then, looking at Fang Yuxin, she swore with solemn sincerity, ¡°Sister Xin, rest assured, I will never betray the trust you¡¯ve placed in me!¡± Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t expected Shang Jinxiu to be so emotional. To her, since Shang Jinxiu had taken the Blood Oath and become part of her family, sharing the information about the Elemental Crystals was only right; there was no need for such excitement. She reached out and patted Shang Jinxiu¡¯s shoulder, saying, ¡°Since you¡¯ve said as much, I hope you¡¯ll remember your words. Now, let¡¯s not waste any more time. I¡¯ll tell you where to dig.¡± The progress thereafter was smooth. Though Shang Jinxiu didn¡¯t have much strength, as soon as Fang Yuxin pointed out a spot, she would clutch the dagger and dig energetically without hesitation. Digging so hard, blisters formed in her palms. Fang Yuxin had the ability to heal, and all Shang Jinxiu had to do was tell her, but she didn¡¯t utter a word and continued digging. Although zombies were intermittently attracted to them, they didn¡¯t cause much trouble. Each appearance of the zombies was effortlessly dealt with. Knowing her own strength was insufficient, Shang Jinxiu took on the task of retrieving Crystal Cores. The cores were found in the zombies¡¯ brains, requiring the brains to be cut open. This job wasn¡¯t exhausting, but it was more disgusting than killing zombies. And getting the Crystal Cores meant getting close to the zombies; the stench of decay hit her like a wave as she opened up their skulls¡ªit was torturous. Yet Shang Jinxiu didn¡¯t complain. She remembered Fang Yuxin saying that the team had no place for the useless, so she had to prove her worth! With her current strength, she wasn¡¯t up to killing zombies; digging for Crystal Cores was the only thing she could do. Everything had been going well, but disaster always struck unexpectedly. Some zombies never came close, killed by the Wind Blades released by Fang Yuxin, keeping a distance from the Fang siblings. While Shang Jinxiu was urgently digging for the Crystal Core, her heart alarmingly cried out! Instinctively gripping the dagger in her hand, she cautiously looked towards the zombie. The ground zombie showed no signs of life, already dead beyond dead. Uncertain and alarmed, Shang Jinxiu suddenly felt a malicious wind bearing a plant¡¯s unique freshness rushing toward her. Her heart nearly stopped. Startled, she dodged backward, but her heel accidentally hit a protruding rock, and she fell backward in a clumsy heap. In the moment of her fall, she saw a white object entwine the zombie¡¯s head. Then came a ¡°snap,¡± the zombie¡¯s head shattered, and the white object coiled around, snatching up the brain and the Crystal Core inside, swiftly retracting, vanished in the blink of an eye. Shang Jinxiu¡¯s eyes stayed fixed in the direction of the disappearance, and she quickly scrambled up from the ground. By then, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, sensing something was amiss, had rushed over. Yu Yang asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Immediately, Shang Jinxiu pointed toward a small hole, recounting what she had just witnessed, ¡°I was just about to dig for the Crystal Core when that thing appeared out of nowhere. As I backed away, I fell, but I saw it, like a snake, wrap around the zombie¡¯s head. The head was crushed under its embrace quickly, and then it snatched the Crystal Core and retracted into that hole. It was so fast I couldn¡¯t make out what it was. It seemed like a snake, but also had the fresh scent of a plant, before it withdrew back into the hole.¡± Yu Yang, after hearing her account, looked uncertainly at Fang Yuxin and said, ¡°Xinxin, could it be a mutant plant?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, she had already guessed as much. Moreover, judging from Shang Jinxiu¡¯s description, she felt it was likely the Mutated Crystal Orchid that had appeared in her dreams. The common Crystal Orchid was a saprophytic plant, entirely white and translucent, lacking chlorophyll. It glowed a seductive white light in the dark, carrying dreamy hues, quite beautiful. As a saprophyte, it was also known as the Death Flower. In her dreams, there had been a Mutated Crystal Orchid, the true Death Flower. She had never seen it herself, but had heard many terrifying legends about it. The Mutated Crystal Orchid back then was already formidable; zombies, humans, or mutated creatures, anyone weaker than it, would become its prey. What was even more terrifying was that this Mutated Crystal Orchid did not stay in one place; it could even migrate elsewhere. No one knew how, but it had been seen in many places, leaving behind numerous gruesome legends of death. Fang Yuxin was unsure if what Shang Jinxiu encountered was that Mutated Crystal Orchid, but judging from her description, it likely was! Her heart pounded, and the intense fear from her dreams enveloped her, preventing further thought. Almost reflexively, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s leave this place first!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 204 - 204 127 Subdue (Third Release) ?Chapter 204: 127 Subdue! (Third Release) Chapter 204: 127 Subdue! (Third Release) Fang Yuxin thought of the terrifying Mutated Crystal Orchid from her dream and didn¡¯t have time to think further as she grabbed Shang Jinxiu and Fang Yuyang to leave. Fang Yuyang initially wanted to search for that thing and eliminate it, but seeing her pale face, he asked worryingly, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s wrong? Is that thing very powerful?¡± Upon hearing his voice, Fang Yuxin instantly snapped back to reality. She sorted through her confused memories and suddenly realized she was no longer in that eerie dream. The apocalypse had just started not long ago; even if it was that thing, its strength couldn¡¯t possibly compare to that in her dreams. What was there to be afraid of? With this thought, her mind grew clearer, and she quickly pieced together more information. Since that creature chose to stealth attack Shang Jinxiu while he was extracting a Crystal Core and even spared him while escaping so swiftly, its current strength definitely wasn¡¯t concerning. Otherwise, why would it hide so cautiously? At this thought, Fang Yuxin inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed about her earlier reaction. Her response had really been excessive. After reflecting internally, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°That should be a type of mutant plant. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s the one I know of, but it¡¯s still best we stay cautious.¡± She paused, then turned to Shang Jinxiu and said, ¡°Jinxiu, your power is the weakest; you need to be especially careful. According to what you just said, that thing can easily crush a zombie¡¯s head, and it¡¯s also extremely fast, which makes it very dangerous. You need to beware of its stealth attacks.¡± Shang Jinxiu nodded; her lips tightly pursed, she looked both tense and scared. However, she didn¡¯t ask for Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang¡¯s protection and instead gripped the dagger in her hand tight, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sister Xin, I¡¯ll be careful.¡± Fang Yuxin felt it was unsafe to leave her alone, so she said to Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother, stay with her. I¡¯ll handle the rest of the zombies.¡± Since it was Fang Yuxin who asked, Fang Yuyang agreed without hesitation, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no problem. You be careful too.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, signaling Fang Yuyang to take Shang Jinxiu farther away, then plunged her blade into a zombie¡¯s head. She didn¡¯t rush to extract the Crystal Core this time but swiftly cut open the other zombies¡¯ heads instead. The pungent stench of decay spread through the air, and Fang Yuxin sealed her sense of smell while releasing her Spiritual Sense, meticulously searching the area. However, strangely, even though her Spiritual Sense could extend a thousand meters, she still couldn¡¯t locate the Mutated Crystal Orchid. It seemed as if it had vanished into thin air, or perhaps it had never existed. Fang Yuxin searched even more meticulously but still found nothing. At that moment, she suddenly detected an unfamiliar energy fluctuation in the air, and soon, a long, thin, white snake-like thing burst from underground and shot toward a zombie. Fang Yuxin channeled Spiritual Energy into her eyes, which turned a beautiful green, allowing her to clearly see the object. It was thin like a snake, entirely white, and as translucent as jade. Its body was covered in leaf-like scales, resembling both spinning blades; its edges were extremely sharp. Its head featured a large bud, stunningly beautiful. The scale-like petals were slightly open, revealing spiraling, inwardly facing teeth, equally sharp. It was, indeed, the Mutated Crystal Orchid Fang Yuxin had guessed! Its body, snake-like, coiled around the zombie¡¯s head; as it tightened its grip, it suddenly ¡°crack¡± fractured the zombie¡¯s skull. The large bud drew closer, and as the teeth spun, they sucked in the entire brain. Eerily, its translucent white body remained spotless, instead emitting a faint white luminescence, and a light fragrance filled the air, making it appear even more beautifully surreal. Even eerier was the fact that, although the Mutated Crystal Orchid now appeared right in front of Fang Yuxin, her Spiritual Sense still couldn¡¯t detect it. Its location seemed completely void, only visible to the naked eye. The entire sequence lasted mere seconds, its speed too swift for Fang Yuxin to react. After successfully swallowing a brain, it raised its head, warily looking at Fang Yuxin. Despite its temption, it still couldn¡¯t resist the beckon of food and shot toward another zombie. Chapter 205 - 205 127 Subdued (Third Release)_2 ?Chapter 205: 127 Subdued! (Third Release)_2 Chapter 205: 127 Subdued! (Third Release)_2 Just as it was about to charge at the zombie, a Wind Blade appeared instantly, hitting it and producing a crisp sound. The sound was like jade striking, very crisp and pleasant to the ears. Fang Yuxin watched the entire process and then, to her surprise, she discovered that the Wind Blade hadn¡¯t harmed it; instead, it was easily blocked by the scale-like leaves on its body. However, although it wasn¡¯t injured, Yu Yang¡¯s attack had angered it. Its body suddenly lifted, resembling a snake, raising its flower bud high with the spiral teeth inside aiming toward Yu Yang. The teeth kept rotating, looking like they were ready to attack at any moment. Fang Yuxin thought for a moment and flicked a soybean-sized glob of Wood Element Spiritual Energy at it. The Mutated Crystal Orchid cautiously turned its bud toward her, but as the glob of Wood Energy approached, it seemed to sense something and didn¡¯t evade; instead, it actively shot out its bud and swallowed the glob of Wood Energy. The action carried a somewhat eager intent. As the Wood Energy was swallowed, the bud was aimed at Fang Yuxin. She then felt a faint and blurry thought: ¡°want... more...¡± Although the Mutated Crystal Orchid was still a parasitic plant, its growth also required Wood Element Spiritual Energy. After swallowing the glob of Wood Energy, it recognized the benefits the Wood Energy brought and greedily wanted more. Fang Yuxin, feeling the weak thought, could finally sense it. She flicked another soybean-sized glob of Wood Energy and sent a thought through her Spiritual Sense to the Mutated Crystal Orchid: ¡°Recognize me as your master, and I¡¯ll give you more Wood Energy.¡± However, although the Mutated Crystal Orchid had fortunately developed a semblance of thought, it was very weak, weaker than a one-year-old infant. It couldn¡¯t understand Fang Yuxin; after a long attempt to communicate and several more globs of Wood Energy, she finally managed to subdue the Mutated Crystal Orchid and sign a contract with it. She pricked her fingertip and squeezed out a drop of blood, then used her thoughts to shape the blood into a Blood Talisman. As the Blood Talisman merged into the body of the Crystal Orchid, the contract was established. Afterward, the body of the Mutated Crystal Orchid rapidly shrank, eventually transforming into a flash of white light that shot toward Fang Yuxin, coiling around her wrist. Once shrunk, due to its translucent body and white color, it resembled a Mutton Fat Jade bracelet. Its scale-like leaves also became fitting, resembling delicate engravings on the bracelet. The bracelet was cool to the touch, emitting bursts of vegetative fragrance, and was unspeakably fitting on Fang Yuxin. Looking at it in this form, no one could guess that it was once a ferocious Mutant Plant. Even Yu Yang and Shang Jinxiu, who had witnessed the entire process, found it utterly unbelievable! They quickly approached Fang Yuxin, with Yu Yang walking ahead. Before he even reached Fang Yuxin, he asked anxiously, ¡°Xinxin, won¡¯t there be any problems wearing it on your body?¡± After witnessing the Mutated Crystal Orchid devouring the brains of zombies, Yu Yang became more wary of it and couldn¡¯t help but worry that it might harm Fang Yuxin. It was unclear whether Yu Yang¡¯s hostility was too apparent or if this Mutated Crystal Orchid was just too sensitive, but it sensed Yu Yang¡¯s displeasure and conveyed a feeling of dissatisfaction and grievance toward Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin was herself quite astonished; she hadn¡¯t expected the Death Flower from her dreams, which made survivors pale at the very mention, to become her Spiritual Pet now. The thought transmitted by the Mutated Crystal Orchid felt surreal to her; this terrifying Death Flower¡¯s thoughts were like those of a child. She thought for a moment and projected a thought to the Mutated Crystal Orchid: ¡°Would it be alright if I call you Lan Re from now on?¡± Influenced by the contract, it quickly understood Fang Yuxin¡¯s meaning this time and sent back a happy thought: ¡°want... to be called... Lan... Lan Re... like...¡± Fang Yuxin lightly touched it with her fingertip, and Wood Energy flowed out from her fingertip, entering Lan Re¡¯s body. This time, Fang Yuxin generously gave it a large amount of Wood Energy, almost to its absorption limit, before stopping the flow. As the Wood Energy entered its body, enormous changes occurred to Lan Re. Its scale-like leaves spread out, the bud lifted, and the petals slightly opened. Simultaneously, its aura also continuously climbed. After a while, the energy fluctuations on Lan Re became stable again, its opened leaves and bud closed back up, and it resumed the form of a bracelet. But this time, it was as if it had been reborn, its body even more white and translucent, the vegetative fragrance especially more intense, vibrant, and refreshing. It conveyed a joyful thought to Fang Yuxin. She touched it again but didn¡¯t continue to provide Wood Energy. The previous Wood Energy hadn¡¯t been completely assimilated yet, and continuing to give it more would be detrimental to Lan Re. Lan Re didn¡¯t ask for more; instead, it indicated to Fang Yuxin that it wanted to confront the zombies. With a thought, Fang Yuxin calmed it with her fingertip and conveyed a thought: ¡°Are those zombies your food?¡± Lan Re¡¯s thought was still intermittent: ¡°eat... can eat... food...¡± Fang Yuxin then said, ¡°You can eat the zombies, but you must leave the Crystal Cores behind, okay?¡± Lan Re obviously was somewhat reluctant: ¡°Lan... Lan Re... want... want them...¡± Fang Yuxin thought for a moment and simply proposed to trade Wood Energy for the Crystal Cores, finally getting Lan Re to agree to the trade. To it, the Wood Energy Fang Yuxin gave was much more valuable than the Crystal Cores! Fang Yuxin sighed with relief, and then it was pure joy. With Lan Re¡¯s help, her strength could increase significantly! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to recommend, give a monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 206 - 206 128 Youre courting death (First Update) ?Chapter 206: 128 You¡¯re courting death! (First Update) Chapter 206: 128 You¡¯re courting death! (First Update) With Lan Re¡¯s help, the search for Elemental Stones became extremely smooth. After Fang Yuxin communicated her intentions to it, she released it. Lan Re could navigate through the ruins with ease, and once Fang Yuxin located an Elemental Stone, she would convey its position through her thoughts, and Lan Re would directly reach the location of the Stone and easily retrieve it with its body. Thus, her efficiency in searching for Elemental Stones greatly improved, and she found most of them. The only problem was that whenever zombies appeared, Lan Re would go on strike and hunt them down instead. After a busy afternoon, by around five o¡¯clock, all the Elemental Stones in the ruins had been found. Along with the Stones, some usable supplies were also discovered. Aside from the occasional zombie, other survivors didn¡¯t seem to cause any trouble, or even appear at all; it was unclear if they were afraid of this place. Regardless, the day¡¯s harvest was quite satisfying. Fang Yuxin had tamed a Mutated Crystal Orchid with incredible combat power as her Spiritual Pet. She also found many Elemental Stones, and the number of zombies she hunted was not small. Although the others didn¡¯t find quite as much as her, their gains were still very decent. The Yongcheng Team even gained a new member who was a Space superpower user, further strengthening their team. After regrouping, Fang Yuxin introduced the new member Shang Jinxiu to the others, then planned to return to the Safe Zone. At this moment, Bai Ye approached, his gaze instinctively drifting to the Lan Re on Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist. The creature looked extraordinary, which made him more wary. Detecting his gaze, Fang Yuxin coldly shot him a look. Bai Ye, sensing her undisguised caution and hostility, suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable. He thought that, after all, Fang Yuxin was Qianqian¡¯s biological mother, and he was Qianqian¡¯s biological father; even if Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to be his friend, there was no need to be so full of hostility, right? He wouldn¡¯t do anything to her! He pondered for a little, feeling that since Fang Yuxin was Qianqian¡¯s mother, he, as a man, should be more magnanimous. So, he stretched his lips into what he thought was a friendly smile. His intention was to express goodwill to Fang Yuxin, but little did he realize that a person who rarely smiles suddenly doing so can be quite alarming. His smile perfectly exemplified the saying ¡°grinning without mirth¡± ¨C due to its stiffness, it was somewhat twisted and ferocious, looking more like a provocation. Fang Yuxin raised an eyebrow and watched him warily, wondering if he was thinking of going back on his word and demanding Bai Qianqian back. As she considered whether to refuse directly or to take Bai Ye somewhere secluded and teach him a lesson, she heard him say, ¡°I¡¯ve decided to go with you to the Safe Zone outside the city.¡± His voice was stiff, as if he was very nervous. Fang Yuxin found it strange; the man seemed powerful, yet he was nervous. What was up with him? But then she thought that Bai Ye seemed to have a grudge with Qiu Yiming and judging by Qiu Yiming¡¯s behavior, he seemed to care a great deal about it. If so, it wasn¡¯t strange for Bai Ye to be nervous. After all, the Qiu Family had considerable influence in the military, and if Qiu Yiming was determined to make things difficult for Bai Ye, he would undoubtedly face endless troubles in the Safe Zone. Upon this reflection, she felt it was not a wise decision for Bai Ye to enter the Safe Zone. Originally, this matter wasn¡¯t of her concern; if Bai Ye wanted to risk his life, that was his own business. However, considering Bai Ye was indeed Qianqian¡¯s biological father and had raised her, the bond between father and son was certainly deep. If anything happened to him, Qianqian would surely be devastated. So after hesitating, she felt she couldn¡¯t just watch Bai Ye take this risk. She advised, ¡°You have a grudge with Qiu Yiming, right? In that case, I suggest you better not go to the Safe Zone; he won¡¯t let you off.¡± Meng Qingluo had always wanted to persuade Bai Ye and quickly agreed, ¡°That¡¯s right, Big Brother, Miss Fang is right. You should reconsider. Confronting Qiu Yiming now is too dangerous!¡± Unfortunately, Bai Ye had already made up his mind and wasn¡¯t someone she could persuade. Bai Ye gave Meng Qingluo a calming glance, then addressed Fang Yuxin, ¡°I have thought this matter through; you don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡± Fang Yuxin was somewhat speechless; she hadn¡¯t expected this seemingly stern man to be so self-absorbed! Clearly, she was worried about Qianqian being sad. Since when was she worried about Bai Ye? Chapter 207 - 207 128 Youre courting death (First update)_2 ?Chapter 207: 128 You¡¯re courting death! (First update)_2 Chapter 207: 128 You¡¯re courting death! (First update)_2 She couldn¡¯t be bothered to persuade any further, knowing that with Bai Ye¡¯s capabilities, he should be able to protect himself once inside the Safe Zone. No matter what grudges Qiu Yiming had with him, the entire Safe Zone wasn¡¯t dominated just by the Qiu Family. Qiu Yiming certainly wouldn¡¯t openly attack Bai Ye in the Safe Zone, so there really wasn¡¯t much to worry about. This matter was thus settled. This area was the old district, rather far from the Safe Zone outside the city. On their way back, they encountered many zombies, most of which were basic-level zombies, with occasional Level 1 Zombies and four Mutant Zombies, all easily dealt with. Aside from zombies, they occasionally ran into survivors out hunting. However, compared to them, the survivors looked more bedraggled, except for those affiliated with the military who seemed slightly better off. Evidently, the enhancement of the zombies¡¯ strength had caused significant trouble for the survivors. The Yongcheng Team members joined Bai Ye¡¯s people to form a convoy, which had a rather impressive presence. Their cars were almost in perfect condition, unlike other vehicles that were covered in dents and scratches. The survivors weren¡¯t fools, although they noticed the superior condition of their vehicles, no one dared to ambush them. Like this, they quickly reached the Safe Zone. Due to the feud between Bai Ye and Qiu Yiming, as they neared the Safe Zone, the Yongcheng Team members deliberately separated from Bai Ye¡¯s group. Fang Yuxin¡¯s group had no injuries and most of them had ID Cards, so they encountered no trouble. Shang Jinxiu registered her identity and then entered the Safe Zone with them. Bai Ye and his people, however, faced more trouble as each person had to register their identity. Shortly after they entered the Safe Zone, Qiu Yiming received news. The unpleasant incident with Fang Yuxin had left him in a foul mood all day, with his face sullen even when he went out on assignments. Upon hearing of Bai Ye¡¯s arrival, his expression instantly twisted into a ferocious grimace, and he took some people to find Bai Ye directly. Qiu Yiming arrived quickly, too quickly in fact. He found Bai Ye in the hall where the ID Cards were being processed, just as Fang Yuxin happened to be there. Fang Yuxin had brought Shang Jinxiu to register for an ID Card. Due to a crowd, they had to wait in line. Bai Ye and his group were not too far behind them, and just as it was about to be Shang Jinxiu¡¯s turn, Qiu Yiming arrived. He immediately spotted Bai Ye standing in the crowd and was about to speak, but then he heard someone next to him say, ¡°Sister Xin, what are you doing here? Did you come with a friend?¡± The speaker was none other than Fang Mengyao, who had come with Qiu Yiming. Her words were not well-intentioned, as during these days following Qiu Yiming around, she had not yet won his heart, but she had learned quite a bit. This included the fact that Bai Qianqian¡¯s father was Qiu Yiming¡¯s sworn enemy. Upon learning this, Fang Mengyao was overjoyed. She had been worrying about how to make Qiu Yiming give up on Fang Yuxin. With this information, she didn¡¯t believe Qiu Yiming could still be sincere toward Fang Yuxin! Fang Mengyao was right there when Qiu Yiming received the news, so without a second thought, she came with him. She was very curious about what kind of man Qiu Yiming¡¯s sworn enemy was. However, after arriving, she realized that Bai Ye was stunningly handsome! This man looked like a god from the myths, his stern face adding a touch of the unearthly to him, yet marked with an air of asceticism. Almost in an instant upon seeing him, her heart uncontrollably fluttered. But after the flutter, she immediately remembered Bai Ye¡¯s identity¡ªBai Qianqian¡¯s father! Fang Yuxin¡¯s lover! This infuriated her. Why should Fang Yuxin have such an outstanding man? At that moment, she saw Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were some distance apart, not seeming to be together. However, in Fang Mengyao¡¯s eyes, it seemed Fang Yuxin was deliberately keeping her distance. She suddenly remembered that Qiu Yiming had been in a bad mood all day, apparently because of Fang Yuxin. So, she deliberately said what she just had. Sure enough, upon hearing her words, Qiu Yiming saw Fang Yuxin, and his expression grew even uglier! Qiu Yiming couldn¡¯t bother with Bai Ye anymore. He angrily glared at Fang Yuxin and strode towards her, demanding, ¡°Xinxin! What are you doing here?¡± He almost roared that question, his anger filled with a sour jealousy, like a furious husband catching his wife cheating. In that moment, he forgot he had come to trouble Bai Ye. All he wanted was to reach Fang Yuxin and ask what exactly was going on. However, he had forgotten about Bai Ye, but Bai Ye hadn¡¯t forgotten him. Bai Ye was quite clear about why he had come to the Safe Zone. He hadn¡¯t expected to have a chance to prove himself so soon after entering. Seeing Qiu Yiming angrily approaching Fang Yuxin, he swiftly moved to block Qiu Yiming. Qiu Yiming, currently having no interest in dealing with him, barked without thinking, ¡°Get lost!¡± Bai Ye ignored his anger and instead provocatively said, ¡°I thought you were here for me.¡± Only then did Qiu Yiming avert his gaze from Fang Yuxin and glowered at Bai Ye, lowered his voice, and said menacingly, ¡°Bai Ye, you¡¯re courting death!¡± Bai Ye merely smiled nonchalantly and asked in a low voice, ¡°I came here unafraid, not fearing you. Qiu Yiming, are you sure you want to start something here?¡± Qiu Yiming instinctively looked around and noticed many survivors surrounding them, all watching them in surprise. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to vote for it as a recommended or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 208 - 208 129 Green Hat (Second Update) ?Chapter 208: 129 Green Hat (Second Update) Chapter 208: 129 Green Hat (Second Update) Yiming realized this was no place to have a conversation. Continuing to make a scene would only turn him into a laughingstock in the eyes of others! Thinking of those in the military who were discontented with him, he managed to suppress the raging anger swirling in his heart, forcing himself to speak to Bai Ye with great patience, ¡°If you weren¡¯t a coward, you¡¯d come with me right now.¡± Bai Ye glanced at him disdainfully and began to laugh mockingly, ¡°Yiming, do you think I look like an idiot to you?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Yiming was choked with anger but couldn¡¯t lose his temper in front of everyone. His chest heaved violently, clearly very angry, ¡°Bai Ye, what exactly do you want? You came here, you¡¯re not just here to deliberately say these things to me...¡± Before he could finish his last word ¡®right¡¯, Yiming¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed, and he instinctively raised his hand, ready to block a punch from Bai Ye that came out of nowhere. Their fists collided with a dull sound, and Yiming felt an extremely fierce force coming from Bai Ye¡¯s fist, causing him to lose his balance! He staggered back several steps before finally steadying himself, but just then, Bai Ye closed the distance again and aimed a fierce punch towards his cheek! At this moment, the ruthless demeanor Bai Ye exhibited was something Yiming had never seen before. Even if Yiming had laid traps to assassinate Bai Ye in the past, their confrontations had almost been exclusively through weapons, and he had always remained behind the scenes, never confronting Bai Ye head-on. Thus, he had no idea that Bai Ye was so formidable! Bai Ye¡¯s face was cold; his stunningly handsome features didn¡¯t appear ferocious, but the murderous intent and ruthlessness shining in his eyes even made Yiming, who was accustomed to killing, feel a chill in his spine! In this moment, he finally understood why his cousin Bai Yi saw Bai Ye as the rival of his life, wishing nothing more than to get rid of him quickly, and why he had cautioned him more than once over the phone to be extremely careful. At that time, he didn¡¯t take it seriously, thinking that Bai Ye was nothing special. Now he realized that it wasn¡¯t that Bai Ye wasn¡¯t strong before, but that he had simply never shown his true self! Because of Fang Mengyao¡¯s insidious words just now, Yiming had preconceived notions and subconsciously thought that Bai Ye would do such things because of Fang Yuxin. This made him incredibly angry, and he couldn¡¯t help but wonder, could it be true that Bai Qianqian wasn¡¯t actually Fang Yuxin¡¯s child? Had these two been together all along? Was he just too foolish to have noticed? This speculation made Yiming¡¯s face increasingly unpleasant. He felt like he was completely green, and these people around him were clearly laughing at him! Suddenly, he remembered many things. Fang Yuxin refused to marry him after graduation, only agreeing to an engagement. After Bai Qianqian appeared, Fang Yuxin became colder towards him and later even rejected his advances! Zhou Fanghua¡¯s requests were cruelly denied. Just this morning she suggested annulling their engagement, and in the afternoon, Bai Ye came to the Safe Zone with her! To say Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t been secretly in league with Bai Ye all along, he would never believe it! The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that he was right, and the angrier he got, the rage he could no longer contain. He glared fiercely at Bai Ye, his murderous intent no longer hidden. Then, he clenched his fists, electricity crackling around them, carrying a terrifying destructive force. This time, without waiting for Bai Ye to throw another punch, he, in his anger, took the initiative and launched an attack. His fist, wrapped in lightning, was more than twice as powerful, and the spectators feeling the terrible pressure and murderous intent coming from him did not dare linger and fled. If they already felt this way, not to mention Bai Ye, who was bearing the brunt of Yiming¡¯s fury, is now experiencing such formidable power! Fang Yuxin saw that things were not looking good, people were fleeing, and she turned to Fang Mengyao, who was smiling triumphantly, and loudly said, ¡°Fang Mengyao! Was it you who incited Lin Feiyin to create trouble at my house?¡± Fang Mengyao didn¡¯t expect to be questioned so abruptly. Although she kept a composed face, a flicker of panic showed in her eyes. Noticing that people were looking at her, she knew Fang Yuxin was up to no good and quickly forced herself to calm down, looking at Fang Yuxin innocently, ¡°Sister Xin, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Whether you believe it or not, I have nothing to do with this matter.¡± Fang Yuxin was actually just speculating and had no confirmation. She had deliberately asked to probe Mengyao, but unexpectedly, Mengyao truly showed her slip. Chapter 209 - 209 129 Green Hat (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 209: 129 Green Hat (Second Update)_2 Chapter 209: 129 Green Hat (Second Update)_2 She felt both disappointed and angry; she had always believed that the Fang Family had treated Fang Mengyao well over the years and had never wronged her. Yet unexpectedly, Fang Mengyao seemed to harbor a deep-seated hatred toward the Fang Family. She didn¡¯t want to suspect Fang Mengyao, it was just that, recalling the end of her dream, Fang Mengyao was still unwilling to let her go, which led her to speculate whether Lin Feiyin¡¯s troublemaking had anything to do with Fang Mengyao. To her surprise, she had actually guessed correctly. Judging by the instantaneous change in Fang Mengyao¡¯s expression, she clearly did something! Qiu Yiming, who was furiously battling Bai Ye, couldn¡¯t help but glance at Fang Mengyao when he heard Fang Yuxin¡¯s words. This look sent Fang Mengyao¡¯s heart into a momentary panic, and she blurted out instinctively, ¡°Brother Yi Ming! You mustn¡¯t listen to her spouting venomous lies! Lin Feiyin¡¯s matter has nothing to do with me, I didn¡¯t do it!¡± Unfortunately, Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t pay her any heed at all. His whole mind was set on killing Bai Ye, with no spare attention to care about whether Fang Mengyao was innocent. On the contrary, it was Fang Yuxin who said, ¡°Fang Mengyao, you know very well what you¡¯ve done, there¡¯s no use denying it.¡± After speaking, she closed her mouth, too lazy to bother with Fang Mengyao anymore. As for the struggle between Qiu Yiming and Bai Ye, she was not worried at all. She had already lost her feelings for Qiu Yiming and had never cared about Bai Ye, so it was natural for her not to worry about whether either of them would get hurt. Besides, although Qiu Yiming was using Thunder Power, Bai Ye seemed to have the upper hand no matter how she looked at it. Furthermore, their fighting here was bound to alarm the military; she was sure someone would come to maintain order soon enough, so she really had nothing to worry about. Just as Fang Yuxin had predicted, someone indeed arrived swiftly. And this person was none other than Zhou Yan, with whom she had some acquaintance. The moment he arrived, he bellowed, ¡°Both of you, stop fighting! This is an office, not a place for showing off your bravery!¡± Bai Ye, hearing this, immediately backed off and put some distance between himself and Qiu Yiming. He had just arrived in the Safe Zone and had no foundation; offending the high-ranking officials of the Safe Zone was definitely not a wise move. However, although he ceased fighting, Qiu Yiming was not willing to let it go just like that. Qiu Yiming was truly furious this time, and with the raging anger in his heart, he would not be content until he had killed Bai Ye and was not willing to simply stop. If he still had any rationale, he would never have acted this way. But when he realized he had been cuckolded, the string of rationality in his mind snapped completely. Zhou Yan might not like Qiu Yiming, but after all, they were all serving the military; Qiu Yiming was still considered one of their own. Hence, Zhou Yan, deep down, actually disliked the stranger Bai Ye even more. But what he didn¡¯t expect was that Bai Ye would cease fighting as soon as he heard him, while Qiu Yiming continued to attack Bai Ye relentlessly, completely disregarding his presence! Zhou Yan was furious and shouted again, ¡°Major Qiu! Did you not hear me? Stop right now!¡± His voice this time was loud, like a heavy drum reverberating in Qiu Yiming¡¯s ears, jolting him back to his senses. Once rational again, Qiu Yiming finally stopped fighting, but his eyes still stared fiercely at Bai Ye, wishing he could personally kill him. Zhou Yan still cared about the military¡¯s face and did not outright scold him, but instead looked at the still-furious Qiu Yiming and inquired, ¡°Major Qiu, what exactly happened here?¡± Qiu Yiming was well aware that the current situation was unfavorable to him, but he knew that Zhou Yan would likely find a way to protect him for the sake of the military¡¯s honor. So, upon hearing Zhou Yan¡¯s question, he pointed at Bai Ye and said, ¡°This man suddenly attacked me; I had to fight back in self-defense. However, it seems he can bewitch people; I really couldn¡¯t control myself just a moment ago. If you hadn¡¯t arrived when you did, things would have gone horribly wrong.¡± Zhou Yan didn¡¯t believe Qiu Yiming¡¯s words. His behavior just before looked like a man who had lost all reason, not like someone under another¡¯s control. That crazed desire to bring death to his opponent, even if someone had controlled him, it wouldn¡¯t have been Bai Ye. Bai Ye wasn¡¯t a fool, why would he control his own opponent to kill him? Unless he was mad. Qiu Yiming also knew his explanation was flimsy, so he added, ¡°This man is very strong; I¡¯m no match for him. His actions just now must have been designed to make me look foolish.¡± Essentially telling Zhou Yan that Bai Ye was confident enough to control him and intended to humiliate him. Zhou Yan was currently observing Bai Ye. He might not easily believe Qiu Yiming, but this investigation revealed that Bai Ye was indeed very powerful. He thought for a moment, then looked at Bai Ye and inquired, ¡°Were you the one who threw the first punch just now?¡± Bai Ye, having heard Qiu Yiming¡¯s slander, calmly nodded his head in response to Zhou Yan¡¯s question. As soon as he nodded, Zhou Yan¡¯s expression turned sour. He disliked Qiu Yiming but noticed that Bai Ye was quite skilled, so he was inclined to recruit him. Thus Bai Ye¡¯s acknowledgment worried him. Initiating an attack on Qiu Yiming was no minor accusation. Just as Zhou Yan was about to continue his questioning, Bai Ye spoke up, ¡°Qiu Yiming once kidnapped my son, and if my son hadn¡¯t been lucky, he would have been killed by him already. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything wrong with beating him up for that.¡± Because of Zhou Yan¡¯s arrival, many survivors who had already left quietly came back to see what was happening. At first, when they saw Bai Ye openly attacking Qiu Yiming, they thought he was a dangerous element who had infiltrated the Safe Zone, making them wary and repulsed by him. Now, after hearing his explanation, their gazes toward Qiu Yiming became complicated. Kidnapping someone else¡¯s child, that really is a sinful deed! No wonder he got beaten up! Of course, Qiu Yiming wouldn¡¯t admit to it and promptly denied, ¡°I didn¡¯t do it, Bai Ye, don¡¯t spit blood in accusation against me!¡± Zhou Yan found the whole matter suspicious and asked Bai Ye, ¡°Where is your son now?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for the recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 210 - 210 130 The information is a bit overwhelming (third ?Chapter 210: 130 The information is a bit overwhelming (third update) Chapter 210: 130 The information is a bit overwhelming (third update) Bai Qianqian, thinking Zhou Yan did not believe Bai Ye, immediately stood up angrily and threw herself into Bai Ye¡¯s arms: ¡°Daddy!¡± Zhou Yan knew him and was aware that he was Fang Yuxin¡¯s son. So, when he saw Bai Qianqian call Bai Ye ¡®Daddy,¡¯ he was stunned and his gaze instinctively shifted to Qiu Yiming, and sure enough, he saw Qiu Yiming¡¯s face turn livid, like a volcano ready to erupt at any moment. It was no wonder he was so shocked, the information was overwhelming! He remembered that Fang Yuxin was clearly Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiancee, yet now she had a son with Bai Ye, and Qiu Yiming had even tried to kidnap Bai Qianqian, and almost killed him¡ªthis... this matter was really... He felt like he was watching a melodramatic prime-time drama! He suddenly felt sympathy for Qiu Yiming. It was obvious that the man had feelings for Fang Yuxin, yet before the wedding could take place, the beauty had already had another man¡¯s child, a situation no man could tolerate! Not knowing the details, his feelings for Fang Yuxin became complex after learning of this matter. Being a man himself, he could very much empathize with Qiu Yiming¡¯s situation. Initially, he had a great admiration for Fang Yuxin, feeling that this woman was commendable both in ability and temperament. However, after learning about this matter, he felt that Fang Yuxin had gone too far. After all, she was Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiancee, what was she doing having another man¡¯s child? He then suddenly felt that something was amiss. Considering Bai Qianqian¡¯s age, he must be at least five years old, indicating that Fang Yuxin must have been pregnant with him six years ago. Back then, she was just in her freshman year of college, wasn¡¯t she? And she wasn¡¯t engaged to Qiu Yiming. Even so, when she later got engaged to Qiu Yiming, she shouldn¡¯t have kept this from him. From Zhou Yan¡¯s perspective as a man, Fang Yuxin¡¯s actions seemed somewhat deceitful. But after all, this was other people¡¯s private business. Even if Fang Yuxin had failed in this aspect, she remained a savior who had once saved his battle buddy. Zhou Yan was very clear about this, so he quickly suppressed the slight dissatisfaction he felt toward Fang Yuxin and said to Bai Ye, ¡°Regardless of whether this matter is true or false, the fact that you attacked Major Qiu in front of everyone just now is true, and you should be punished by the Safe Zone.¡± Bai Ye did not argue but instead asked directly, ¡°What punishment?¡± Zhou Yan said, ¡°Clear ten thousand low-level zombies, one high-level zombie can count as two low-level zombies, and one mutant zombie can count as five low-level zombies. The punishment will end when you complete this task. You cannot earn credit points or Contribution Values until the task is complete.¡± Such a punishment did not concern Bai Ye; clearing ten thousand low-level zombies was merely a matter of time for him. He asked, ¡°How will the number of zombies killed be calculated?¡± Zhou Yan, surprised that he did not object, was even more certain of Bai Ye¡¯s strength and appreciated him a bit more, quickly replying, ¡°Using the Zombie Crystal Cores as the basis for calculation. But rest assured, the Crystal Cores are merely for counting and will not be confiscated.¡± Bai Ye nodded, considering this approach to be fair. Although not every zombie¡¯s brain contained a Crystal Core, and using it as a metric might be at a slight loss, most low-level zombies¡¯ brains now had Crystal Cores. The loss wasn¡¯t significant, and Crystal Cores were easy to transport, far better than having him bring back parts of zombies as proof. Thus, he had no objections and agreed right away, ¡°That¡¯s fine, but I have a question. What if Major Qiu seeks revenge after this?¡± Zhou Yan, liking Bai Ye, did not feel impatient and patiently explained, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Major Qiu will also receive due punishment for today¡¯s event, but since he was on the defensive, the punishment will not be as severe as yours. In the future, if Major Qiu seeks revenge and it¡¯s discovered, the Safe Zone will not cover for him!¡± Bai Ye understood his implication, meaning if Qiu Yiming retaliated against him and it was discovered, he would be punished; however, if it went unnoticed, naturally no one would interfere. As for this so-called ¡®discovery,¡¯ there naturally were ways around it. Just like the incident that had just occurred, because it happened in front of everyone, Zhou Yan couldn¡¯t possibly protect Qiu Yiming, but if Qiu Yiming retaliated privately against him and it was unseen, even if the military¡¯s top brass knew, they would probably pretend to be unaware of anything. Chapter 211 - 211 130 The information is a bit overwhelming (third ?Chapter 211: 130 The information is a bit overwhelming (third update)_2 Chapter 211: 130 The information is a bit overwhelming (third update)_2 ¡°That¡¯s just how things are in this world,¡± Bai Ye understood very well, so although he had grasped the subtext of Zhou Yan¡¯s words, he didn¡¯t feel any resentment. In fact, if Qiu Yiming really wanted to kill him in secret, he would definitely not show Qiu Yiming any mercy. Once Qiu Yiming died, the Qiu Family¡¯s influence would inevitably suffer a huge blow, and he didn¡¯t believe anyone would seek revenge for a dead Qiu Yiming! So you see, things are actually quite fair. His teammates weren¡¯t fools, they understood the ins and outs, so even though they were dissatisfied with Bai Ye¡¯s punishment, they didn¡¯t directly oppose it. With that, the earlier dispute was considered over. Zhou Yan walked over to Qiu Yiming and whispered, ¡°Major Qiu, let¡¯s go.¡± He was worried that Qiu Yiming would not be able to control himself if he stayed, so he intended to take him away. Given Qiu Yiming¡¯s temperament, as long as he had time to cool down, everything would be easier to handle. But Qiu Yiming did not accept his goodwill and instead said coldly, ¡°You go ahead, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t cause any more trouble! Don¡¯t treat me like an idiot!¡± After he said that, he disregarded Zhou Yan¡¯s reaction and strode directly toward Fang Yuxin. Bai Ye, seeing this, subconsciously wanted to intervene, but was caught by Meng Qingluo a step quicker. He frowned slightly, looking at Meng Qingluo with some displeasure and said in a low voice, ¡°Qingluo, let go.¡± Meng Qingluo, however, held onto his arm even more tightly and shook her head, ¡°Big brother, this is something between Qiu Yiming and Fang Yuxin, you shouldn¡¯t get involved anymore! Qiu Yiming is military personnel, even if he causes trouble, the military will try to protect him to save face. Right now, in front of everyone, it¡¯s unwise for you to oppose him!¡± Bai Ye knew she was right; otherwise, Zhou Yan wouldn¡¯t have accepted Qiu Yiming¡¯s explanation without any doubt, even accepting his defamation. But Fang Yuxin was Bai Qianqian¡¯s mother. As a man, could he really stand by and watch her be bullied by Qiu Yiming? So he darkened his expression and said with added emphasis, ¡°Qingluo, let go!¡± Meng Qingluo was very determined, ¡°Unless you kill me, big brother, I won¡¯t let go.¡± Bai Ye narrowed his eyes dangerously, he was truly angry this time. He grew up hating when others interfered with his affairs! Then he released a wisp of lightning, striking Meng Qingluo¡¯s hand. The power of the wisp of lightning was not great; it hurt a bit on impact and caused numbness but did not cause any injury. Meng Qingluo hadn¡¯t expected him to actually strike her; she was directly hit, her hands uncontrollably sprung open, and they trembled non-stop. The skin in her palm was red, but it was clear that it was not injured. Meanwhile, Bai Ye had already gone over. Because of Meng Qingluo¡¯s obstruction, Qiu Yiming had already rushed to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side; his expression was extremely ugly. He reached out to grab Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist, seemingly trying to pull her away. However, just as he reached out, Fang Yuyang pulled Fang Yuxin away, and then stood in front of Qiu Yiming with a dark expression, asking, ¡°Qiu Yiming, what do you want to do to my sister?¡± ¡°You still have the nerve to ask me?¡± Qiu Yiming gritted his teeth and said this in a low voice. Since there were no other survivors nearby, except for Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, nobody else heard. After saying that, he didn¡¯t bother with Fang Yuyang anymore and looked past him at Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t you think you owe me an explanation? You wouldn¡¯t want to talk about those things here, would you? Come with me!¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t agree; with outsiders present, Qiu Yiming had to restrain himself. Who knew what kind of crazy thing he might do if they were alone? So she said, ¡°Qiu Yiming, I don¡¯t have anything to hide. I have already explained the matter about Qianqian to you, and what I said then was the absolute truth, if you don¡¯t want to believe it, I can¡¯t help it. As for Bai Ye, I¡¯ve only known him for a short while, and I probably don¡¯t know him as well as you do, that¡¯s also the truth, believe it or not.¡± Zhou Yan hadn¡¯t left yet and felt extremely awkward hearing all this, yet also very curious; Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t seem to be lying, but in that case, how did Bai Qianqian come to be? Could it have been a one-night stand? An accidental pregnancy? But if that were the case, how did Bai Qianqian suddenly appear in the Fang Family? He had looked into Fang Yuxin and although it was more difficult to investigate after the apocalypse and many things couldn¡¯t be traced, from the information he did find, Bai Qianqian suddenly appeared in the Fang Family; before that, nobody knew of his existence. What was going on? However, despite his burning curiosity, he still felt he didn¡¯t need to know about such matters; staying would be too awkward. So he decisively took his leave with his men, to avoid Qiu Yiming turning his rage on him. For Qiu Yiming, such matters should be considered a shame. In Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes, Qiu Yiming certainly wouldn¡¯t want others to know. He was right in his guess; once Qiu Yiming saw him leading people away, his expression eased a bit. Then he glanced at the survivors who refused to leave and memorized their faces, sneering inside. He also didn¡¯t want to believe that Fang Yuxin had deceived him, or more precisely, he didn¡¯t want to accept the ¡®fact¡¯ that Fang Yuxin had been with Bai Ye, so he would rather believe Fang Yuxin¡¯s words. His gaze stayed fixed on Fang Yuxin, trying to determine if she was lying: ¡°Xinxin, is everything you said true? If you have no connection to him, don¡¯t you find his arrival at the Safe Zone at this time too coincidental?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 212 - 212 131 Encountering a Weirdo (First Update) ?Chapter 212: 131 Encountering a Weirdo (First Update) Chapter 212: 131 Encountering a Weirdo (First Update) Yiming deliberately omitted mentioning Fang Yuxin¡¯s proposal to annul their engagement, as he didn¡¯t want others to know about it. However, Yuxin understood his meaning quite clearly. She also felt that all this was indeed a bit too coincidental. But she truly had nothing to do with Bai Ye. Therefore, Fang Yuxin felt no guilt of deceiving Yiming and met his gaze without flinching, saying confidently, ¡°So what if it¡¯s a coincidence? I said I have nothing to do with him, and that¡¯s that. If you¡¯re unwilling to believe me, there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡± Yiming felt a frustrating irritation building inside him, and Yuxin¡¯s words particularly rankled him. At that moment, he was torn, not knowing whether he should believe Fang Yuxin. His personal inclination was to believe her, as it would ease his mind. But his suspicious nature made him think Fang Yuxin was lying¡ªhow could there be such coincidences in the world? However, because they were in public, he didn¡¯t want to air all their issues in front of everyone, as it would bring him immense shame. He looked at Fang Yuxin and asked sadly, ¡°Xinxin, do you really want to treat me this way? Can¡¯t we go somewhere else to discuss this?¡± Seeing him like this made Fang Yuxin feel uncomfortable too. After all, they had grown up together, and Yiming had always taken very good care of her, often no less than Fang Yuyang had. Even though she couldn¡¯t continue down the same path with Yiming, the kindness he had shown her couldn¡¯t be erased. If possible, she didn¡¯t want to hurt him. Fang Yuyang seemed to sense her hesitation and, worried she might change her mind, couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Xinxin! Don¡¯t be foolish! Have you forgotten what you originally said?¡± He also didn¡¯t make his point too explicitly, but Fang Yuxin understood his meaning and knew he was concerned. So she steeled her heart and shook her head at Yiming, ¡°There¡¯s no need, Yiming. We are in a critical period, and we should focus more on improving our strength instead of dwelling on romantic entanglements. I don¡¯t care what grudge you have with Bai Ye or how you plan to handle it. I only have one requirement, do not harm Qianqian!¡± Her request was actually somewhat excessive¡ª if Yiming killed Bai Ye, Bai Qianqian would inevitably get hurt. That meant if Yiming couldn¡¯t avoid harming Bai Qianqian, he couldn¡¯t kill Bai Ye. She knew her request was excessive, but it was her bottom line. She deliberately didn¡¯t pry into the tangle between Yiming and Bai Ye, but if Yiming planned to kill Bai Ye, she would certainly intervene! Similarly, if Bai Ye planned to kill Yiming, she would also step in. It could be considered as repayment for Yiming¡¯s years of care. There were still quite a few survivors watching nearby, so she didn¡¯t make her words too clear, as the matter involved Yiming¡¯s reputation, and speaking too explicitly would not be proper. Yiming looked at Fang Yuxin and gave a cold smile. Her words hadn¡¯t defended Bai Ye, but they did clarify her stance. So he said, ¡°Xinxin, you¡¯ve really disappointed me! You¡¯d better stay out of this. I know what to do!¡± With that, he leaned in and lowered his voice to continue, ¡°Xinxin, you wouldn¡¯t want to involve the Fang Family because of a Bai Ye, would you?¡± His words were a clear warning. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang¡¯s expressions darkened instantly. Fang Yuyang said, ¡°Yiming, if you dare to move against the Fang Family, I will never let you off!¡± Fang Yuxin also added, ¡°Yiming, did you hear my brother? What he means, I mean the same. I don¡¯t want to be your enemy, but you¡¯d better not force my hand!¡± Yiming didn¡¯t respond this time, instead he just scoffed disdainfully, glancing ominously at Bai Ye before striding away from the place. Shang Jinxiu¡¯s ID card had already been processed, so after Yiming left, the Yongcheng Team collected their reward and left the hall, ignoring Bai Ye as if they were complete strangers to each other. Bai Qianqian hesitated for a moment but decided to follow Fang Yuxin. After all, Bai Ye was already in the Safe Zone. There would be plenty of opportunities to meet. After Fang Yuxin and her group left, Bai Ye handled the ID card arrangements with his people. Meng Qingluo couldn¡¯t help but murmur in complaint, ¡°Big Brother, that woman from the Fangs is too heartless. We risked coming here for her. But look at her¡ªshe didn¡¯t even give us the time of day!¡± Chapter 213 - 213 131 Encounter Oddities (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 213: 131 Encounter Oddities (First Update)_2 Chapter 213: 131 Encounter Oddities (First Update)_2 Bai Ye gave her a warning look and said in a low voice, ¡°Qingluo, I remember telling you not to meddle in my affairs with her. I hope you remember that. She was right just now, there¡¯s really nothing between us, and I didn¡¯t come here entirely because of her, so why should she care about us?¡± As he said this, his face looked somewhat ugly. Although he said this, deep down, he felt uneasy thinking that there really was nothing between him and Fang Yuxin. However, thinking about how Qiu Yiming had been pestering Fang Yuxin earlier, he suddenly felt that his decision was right. Qiu Yiming was clearly no good, and if he hadn¡¯t come, who knows how much bullying Fang Yuxin would have suffered from that bastard! He should be more generous as a man and not be petty with a woman. Thinking this, he suddenly remembered Fang Mengyao, who had come with Qiu Yiming earlier, and her sinister words stuck with him, marking her in his mind with a ¡®to be dealt with¡¯ label. ... After leaving the hall, Fang Yuxin said to the other teammates, ¡°Let¡¯s go to my house first.¡± As the deputy captain and the sister of the team captain, Fang Yuyang, her request was naturally unopposed by others. However, there always seemed to be someone who was oblivious, for they were stopped halfway by someone. It was a young man who suddenly dashed into the middle of the road, shouting ¡°Stop the car,¡± and had the driver not hit the brakes in time, an accident would have occurred. This place was exactly a plaza with a considerable amount of pedestrian traffic. His choice of location to block the car was clearly deliberate! Fang Yuxin looked at him angrily, noticing that he was quite handsome, about twenty-five or twenty-six, and seemed well-educated and well-bred. He wasn¡¯t a man people would normally dislike, but the righteous look on his face, showing no shame but rather righteousness as if everything he did was justified, made her unable to feel any fondness for him! She said displeasedly, ¡°Who are you? Why are you blocking our car?¡± The young man looked at her with great dissatisfaction, but said, ¡°I¡¯m very sorry about what just happened, but I was forced to. I don¡¯t want to trouble you, but because of you, my friend was misunderstood and has faced severe and unfair punishment, so I¡¯m here to ask you to stand up for her innocence and help her avoid the punishment.¡± Hearing this, Fang Yuxin had a hunch. She glanced around and saw many people moved by the young man¡¯s words, looking at them as if they were some kind of evil force. She scoffed derisively and said loudly, ¡°Your friend is called Lin Feiyin, right? She and a bunch of her people came to my house this morning causing trouble, even breaking the lock on my front door, attacking me and my brother, and later, Major Zhou took her away according to the rules of the Safe Zone. What do you mean by saying she was treated unfairly? Are you dissatisfied with the rules of the Safe Zone, or with Major Zhou¡¯s decision? If you are dissatisfied, you can go find Major Zhou; why block our way? Think we¡¯re easy to bully?¡± Because of that dream, she¡¯s never been able to like Lin Feiyin, even despising her greatly. Lin Feiyin¡¯s character is simply unreasonable. Now it seems, not only is Lin Feiyin a peculiar individual, but so are those around her! Perhaps this is what they call ¡®birds of a feather flock together.¡¯ The punishment Lin Feiyin received was clearly a decision by the higher-ups of the Safe Zone. This man, not daring to confront the higher-ups, instead came to block their car, thinking they were easy to bully? Fang Yuxin was fed up with these people¡¯s self-righteous behaviors, and today her mood was already terrible. With Lin Feiyin bringing people to disturb her home and Qiu Yiming brazenly plotting against her, and then being robbed outside and coming back only to encounter such peculiaries in the Safe Zone! She clenched her fingers, deciding not to hold back this time and to give this person a severe lesson! She had to let these people know that even in the apocalypse, the Fang Family was not to be trifled with! As she spoke, the gazes of the surrounding people shifted again. Initially, they had seen Fang Yuxin and the others as bullies or privileged elites, but after hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, they seemed to reconsider the situation. Not to mention, anyone would be angry if someone barged into their home and broke their door lock. The young man noticed the change in the surrounding people¡¯s gazes and instantly realized that all his calculations had been in vain, also understanding why Lin Feiyin had warned that Fang Yuxin was difficult to deal with and to be careful. He was reluctant to admit his failure, and even less so to let Lin Feiyin be disappointed. Thinking of Lin Feiyin suffering, he felt as if his heart was being twisted! And all of this, was caused by Fang Yuxin in front of him! He had only later learned that Lin Feiyin had taken people to the Fang family to seek Fang Yuxin¡¯s help, but instead ended up being implicated and taken away by Zhou Yan. At that time, he regretted it deeply and wished he could take her place. He had found Zhou Yan and some responsible people in the Safe Zone, but unfortunately, they wouldn¡¯t listen to his explanations, leaving him no other choice but to find Fang Yuxin. As the saying goes, the same person who tied the bell should be the one to untie it, perhaps if Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t pursue the matter, Lin Feiyin¡¯s punishment could be lifted, right? (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote on Qidian (qidian.com), recommend it, and donate your monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 214 - 214 132 Turning the Tide (Second Update) ?Chapter 214: 132 Turning the Tide (Second Update) Chapter 214: 132 Turning the Tide (Second Update) Although Lin Feiyin had given him many instructions, the young man was still full of confidence before arriving. He believed that with his intervention, speaking to Fang Yuxin with reason and emotion would surely get her agreement. He never expected Fang Yuxin to have such an attitude! Angry and disappointed, he looked at Fang Yuxin and said in a pained voice, ¡°Miss Fang, I really didn¡¯t expect you to be such a person! Now I finally understand why Feiyin was slandered¡ªit was all because of you! You¡¯ve disappointed me so much!¡± As soon as he said this, everyone from the Yongcheng Team thought they were dealing with a lunatic. Chen Qiao picked his ear and asked Liu Yu who was sitting beside him, ¡°Did I hear that right? Did he just say that Deputy Captain Fang disappointed him?¡± Liu Yu nodded silently in agreement, ¡°I heard it too. What¡¯s the deal with Lin Feiyin? Did someone cause a scene at Captain Fang¡¯s house?¡± They didn¡¯t know about Lin Feiyin causing trouble at the Fang Family¡¯s residence, but from what Fang Yuxin had just said, it seemed like it was all Lin Feiyin¡¯s own doing. What did it have to do with their Deputy Captain Fang? The guy must be sick! Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t bother arguing with him and simply said, ¡°Get lost! Or don¡¯t blame me for being rude!¡± To her surprise, the young man¡¯s expression became even more disappointed, and he actually said, ¡°Miss Fang, I came here to solve the problem, not to fight! I want to tell you that brute force won¡¯t solve anything! I hope you can come forward and prove Feiyin¡¯s innocence instead of persisting in this delusion!¡± After finishing his statement, he suddenly raised his voice to the others and said, ¡°Do you know why Feiyin was arrested? It¡¯s because she heard that Miss Fang had the ability to help Ordinary People awaken into superpower users, so she went to the Fang Family¡¯s place, pleading with Miss Fang to help those Ordinary People who long to awaken. But who would have thought that not only did Miss Fang refuse, she also called over Major Zhou, slandering Feiyin for causing trouble with a crowd, resulting in Major Zhou arresting Feiyin!¡± Upon hearing this, the surrounding people¡¯s gaze towards Fang Yuxin changed once again. Among them were many Ordinary People who had heard the rumor and were half-believing, half-doubtful, not daring to directly cause a disturbance at the Fang Family. Now, after hearing the young man¡¯s words, they harbored resentment against Fang Yuxin. These people felt Fang Yuxin was just too selfish. Since she had this ability, why wouldn¡¯t she help them? People are always selfish; they weren¡¯t concerned with the truth of the matter, they were only focused on the fact that Fang Yuxin had the ability to help Ordinary People awaken into superpower users, and she was not willing to help! This made them furious! But these people weren¡¯t fools; they were angry, yes, but they didn¡¯t dare to make a scene like the young man did. Instead, they stood around, hoping the situation would unfold in a way that benefited them. Because of their self-interest, they all hoped that in this battle, the young man would win, forcing Fang Yuxin to use her ability to help them awaken into superpower users. Fang Yuxin let out a cold laugh. She observed their expressions and understood perfectly well what they were thinking. She then raised her voice and said, ¡°It seems you all have heard that rumor? Then do you know that those two people who awakened had once been infected with the Zombie Virus? It was the Zombie Virus that altered their bodies, and all I did was use my Wood Element Superpower to help heal their wounds. Their awakening was entirely due to their own luck. If you also wish to awaken, you might try getting infected with the Zombie Virus. With good luck, perhaps you could become superpower users too.¡± Upon hearing this, those who were previously tempted instantly changed their expressions. Infected with the Zombie Virus? They were not crazy! Most people infected with the Zombie Virus turned into zombies; only the very few fortunate ones might have a chance of awakening. They didn¡¯t want to take that risk! Seeing their fear, the young man immediately pointed at Fang Yuxin and said, ¡°You¡¯re lying! That can¡¯t be right! You¡¯re deceiving people!¡± Fang Yuxin snorted coldly, placed her hand on the motorcycle, and leaped up, using the momentum to flip in the air and landed in front of the young man. She quickly kicked towards his chest aggressively. The young man obviously hadn¡¯t expected her to make a sudden move, and he didn¡¯t have time to react. He was hit squarely in the chest by Fang Yuxin and was sent flying, crashing to the ground nearby in an embarrassing heap. Fang Yuxin did not pursue further. After all, this was inside the Safe Zone, and the man¡¯s strength was too far below hers. If she¡¯d hit him any harder, it would have been bullying. Chapter 215 - 215 132 Turning the Tide (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 215: 132 Turning the Tide (Second Update)_2 Chapter 215: 132 Turning the Tide (Second Update)_2 The young man spoke grandly of justice, but in reality, he couldn¡¯t withstand a single blow. He fell to the ground and spat out blood, looking at Fang Yuxin as if she were a supervillain. Even the people around them hadn¡¯t expected Fang Yuxin to suddenly make a move, let alone that she would be so formidable! Initially, they did harbor private intentions, but as soon as they heard that awakening required first being infected with the Zombie Virus, they started having second thoughts. Of course, they didn¡¯t fully believe Fang Yuxin¡¯s words. People subconsciously always hold a sliver of hope, and these people were no exception. They were skeptical about Fang Yuxin¡¯s claim that infection with the Zombie Virus was necessary, thinking it was a lie. However, once Fang Yuxin made her move, those who initially wanted to confront her immediately lost their courage. They all realized that Fang Yuxin was formidable and not someone to be trifled with, so nobody dared to come forward. Fang Yuxin was all too aware of the thoughts of these people¡ªgreedy yet bullying the weak and fearing the strong, hoping others would take the lead while they reaped the benefits. However, her aim today was merely to strike the mountain to shock the tiger and to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys; she had no intention of making enemies of all Ordinary People. Once she saw that these people were somewhat wary of her, she spoke up again with a loud voice, ¡°I think you all know by now that I am a Wood Element Superpower User, and Wood Element Superpower Users possess healing abilities. If any of you are injured, you can come to me for treatment. As long as you can afford the consultation fee, I¡¯m easy to talk to.¡± No one wanted to offend a Doctor, especially under the harsh conditions of the apocalypse. Because the Zombie Virus had altered human bodies, many medications had become less effective. At this time, if someone was injured, they either endured it or sought help from a Wood Element Superpower User. Among those who were spectating, some were Ordinary People, and some were superpower users. Although these superpower users had heard that Fang Yuxin could make Ordinary People awaken, they were reluctant to believe it. The fewer superpower users there were, the more advantageous it was for them. If most people became superpower users, their advantage would not be so apparent. So, as soon as they heard Fang Yuxin denying her own ability, they subconsciously believed her. When Fang Yuxin stated that she was willing to heal injuries for a fee, these superpower users instantly decided to get on good terms with her. In such an apocalypse, befriending a Doctor was definitely more beneficial than harmful. Thus, a superpower user loudly said, ¡°Miss Fang, I¡¯ve also heard that rumor, but I knew it was false as soon as I heard it. I can¡¯t believe that so many people believed it, even to the point of causing trouble at the Fang Family. It¡¯s really foolish! Now, who doesn¡¯t know that aside from a few lucky ones who awakened at the very beginning of the disaster, those who awakened later were all those who were lucky enough to survive the Zombie Virus? Even if the two people Miss Fang treated happened to awaken their superpowers, that can¡¯t be attributed to Miss Fang, right? It¡¯s unbelievable that people believe such baseless claims!¡± As soon as he spoke up, someone immediately agreed with him, ¡°Exactly! It¡¯s obvious that someone with ulterior motives is deliberately spreading false rumors, trying to harm Miss Fang. If we believe them, we¡¯ll fall right into the hands of the schemer behind this!¡± They didn¡¯t care whether it was true that someone was trying to frame her; saying this was merely an attempt to please Fang Yuxin. Moreover, Fang Yuxin not having such a unique ability was a good thing for these superpower users! However, the rumor was indeed strange, and some astute people felt that there was something fishy about it, so despite many people desiring to awaken superpowers, no one bothered Fang Yuxin and chose instead to wait and see. It was only Lin Feiyin who, foolishly swayed by Fang Mengyao¡¯s incitement, gathered a group of Ordinary People and went to trouble Fang Yuxin. She didn¡¯t realize that while she was doing so, many eyes were watching the drama unfold and waiting for the outcome! She was like the pioneer stone tossed to test the road, sadly sold out by others, still counting money for those who deceived her, believing her actions were right. Once these superpower users echoed the sentiment, those Ordinary People who were still undecided felt even worse inside. These superpower user¡¯s statements clearly seemed to be calling them foolish, otherwise, why would they believe such a rumor? Although some still felt they were talking nonsense, suspecting Fang Yuxin had that mysterious ability, even more, began to harbor doubts, feeling indeed that something was amiss. People like Lin Feiyin and the young man were rare exceptions; although most people had their selfish motives, they were not foolish. They suddenly realized¨Ceven if Fang Yuxin really had such an ability, if they wanted to awaken a superpower, wouldn¡¯t they still depend on her? If she didn¡¯t have such an ability, pressing her would be useless. With this thought, they suddenly realized that offending Fang Yuxin was really not in their best interest! Thus, whether they were doubtful or firmly believed that Fang Yuxin possessed a special ability, everyone changed their attitude, chiming in with the earlier superpower users to confirm that surely someone was behind a smear campaign, aiming to harm Fang Yuxin. The injured young man, on the other hand, received no sympathy. Most people even looked at him as if he were silly. Disappointed and angry, he watched everything unfold, only to have his blood rush to his head and, unable to hold back, he spat out another mouthful of blood, which made him look truly pitiful. Among the onlookers, it wasn¡¯t that no one sympathized with him, but no one stood up to accuse Fang Yuxin of wrongdoing. Instead, facing the young man¡¯s disappointed and angry gaze, they guiltily shifted their eyes away. Watching this scene, Fang Yuxin slowly smiled. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it, including monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 216 - 216 133 Reviving Intentions (Third Update) ?Chapter 216: 133 Reviving Intentions (Third Update) Chapter 216: 133 Reviving Intentions (Third Update) Fang Yuxin raised her voice and said, ¡°Indeed, there is someone pulling strings behind this affair, and as for who that person is, I already have a good idea. Thank you to all the clear-headed people who have spoken out on my behalf. It¡¯s a fact that Lin Feiyin caused a disturbance by gathering a crowd at my family¡¯s home, and moreover, it wasn¡¯t I who passed judgment on the matter. Her charges were determined by the law enforcers of the Safe Zone and have nothing to do with me.¡± As she spoke, she quietly released a thread of Spiritual Sense, which pierced into the young man¡¯s Sea of Consciousness. Subsequently, the young man¡¯s eyes instantly turned crimson, and he charged at Fang Yuxin, bellowing, ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± While charging, his fists clenched tight, wrapped in a layer of earthy yellow Energy. Everyone then realized that this young man was actually an Earth Element Superpower User. His Earth Element Superpower was considered not bad among common people, but unfortunately, it was nothing in front of Fang Yuxin. Fang Jintang was an Earth Element Superpower User, and his control and understanding of superpowers were much more formidable than this young man¡¯s! With such an unreliable benchmark as Jintang, how could Fang Yuxin give any regard to the young man¡¯s strength? To her, he was utterly incapable of posing a challenge! The people around were unaware of Fang Yuxin¡¯s tampering and tensed up subconsciously as they saw the young man charging, followed by a surge of intense anger! In their eyes, it would have been all too easy for Fang Yuxin to kill the young man, but she didn¡¯t. Instead, she spared him and only gave a slight reprimand. But what did the young man do? He became infuriated with embarrassment and harbored a murderous intent towards Fang Yuxin, which was simply intolerable! Fang Yuyang was about to act himself, but Fang Yuxin was well prepared and said immediately upon seeing the change in his expression, ¡°Brother, don¡¯t act! Leave it to me!¡± She knew Fang Yuyang¡¯s strength and that he was currently enraged. If he were to strike, the young man would certainly end up dead or crippled, making it difficult to explain later. Even though the situation was currently in their favor, causing a fatality within the Safe Zone would undoubtedly make the people present see them as excessively brutal and would give those lurking in the shadows a chance to kick them while they were down. She couldn¡¯t afford to give those people such an opportunity! Fang Yuyang had intended to take action, but Fang Yuxin gave him a stern glance, causing him to reluctantly hold back. Meanwhile, the young man had already charged up to Fang Yuxin. She could tell that the force he was now unleashing was much stronger than before, so instead of meeting him head-on, she dodged his fists and then kicked him again in the chest, sending him stumbling back several steps. This time, the young man smartened up and wrapped his body with his Earth Element Energy, hastily conjuring a rudimentary shield. Therefore, as Fang Yuxin¡¯s kick landed, he was left unharmed. However, his combat experience was far inferior to Fang Yuxin¡¯s, and the makeshift shield he conjured was very crude. Although Fang Yuxin had only used fifty percent of her strength, the crude shield couldn¡¯t hold up and flickered out of existence after a few moments. Influence by Fang Yuxin, the young man had lost all reason, his sole thought being to kill Fang Yuxin. Once the shield disappeared, his body wobbled a few times before he charged at Fang Yuxin again. His combat experience was simply inadequate. Fang Yuxin never directly confronted him but used her agility to skillfully avoid his attacks and took the opportunity to strike him hard. After several exchanges, the young man¡¯s superpower depleted rapidly, and he was close to his limit. Fang Yuxin stopped toying with him and kicked him in the chest, sending him flying once more. The young man landed awkwardly on the ground, spat out a mouthful of blood, and failed to rise after several attempts. Soon, the Law Enforcement Team arrived after receiving the news. The person leading them was neither Zhou Yan nor Qiu Yiming but a young military officer that Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t recognize. Upon arriving, the officer ordered his men to check the young man¡¯s injuries and then asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°Miss Fang, could you explain what exactly happened here?¡± Fang Yuxin raised an eyebrow, and everyone saw the young man punch one of the soldiers checking his injuries, while he continued to shout, ¡°I want to kill her! I want to kill her!¡± Fang Yuxin spread her hands in a helpless gesture, saying, ¡°As you can see, officer, this man wanted to kill me, so I had no choice but to defend myself.¡± The young officer frowned deeply, casting an unhappy glance at the young man lying on the ground, and then dispatched people to inquire about the situation from the surrounding crowd. Before long, he had learned the full account of the events. Chapter 217 - 217 133 Reviving Intentions (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 217: 133 Reviving Intentions (Third Update)_2 Chapter 217: 133 Reviving Intentions (Third Update)_2 So he nodded to Fang Yuxin and said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, this matter indeed isn¡¯t Miss Fang¡¯s fault. I will take this person away.¡± Fang Yuxin politely expressed her thanks, then thanked the people around her before getting back into her vehicle to hit the road once more. This time they didn¡¯t encounter any more trouble and directly returned home. The lock on the front gate had been newly replaced and seemed undisturbed. Satisfied, Fang Yuxin nodded her approval and beckoned everyone inside. The Fang Family¡¯s living room was large, and once everyone was seated, she went to the kitchen, washed a basin of fresh fruit to bring out¡ªstrawberries, apples, grapes, cherries¡ªseveral kinds. The food was extremely fresh, and because it had just been washed, the skins glistened with a layer of crystal-clear water, making them look even more tempting. In the apocalypse, fresh fruits and vegetables were rare delicacies, seldom enjoyed by everyone. Upon seeing the fruit served, everyone uncontrollably swallowed their saliva, and their eyes lit up. Fang Yuxin gave a shout, and without any hesitation, they all grabbed their favorite fruit to eat. While they were enjoying the fruit, Fang Yuxin spoke up, ¡°After you finish the fruit, bring out all the Elemental Stones you¡¯ve found. These need spiritual power to cut open, and the matter of Elemental Crystals must be kept a secret, so it¡¯s best to absorb Elemental Crystals here.¡± No one had objections to this request. They all understood that once the news of Elemental Crystals leaked, they wouldn¡¯t be able to gain an advantage anymore, so secrecy was of utmost importance. The villa had many rooms, and after finishing the fruit, Fang Yuxin asked them to try cutting the Elemental Stones. Cutting Elemental Stones was a very good form of Qi Refinement, so she did not plan to do the work for them. While they were cutting the stones, she went to the kitchen to prepare meals. Not only for dinner but also for tomorrow¡¯s breakfast and lunch, everything had to be ready. By the time she had nearly finished preparing, Chen Qiao and the rest had managed to cut open an Elemental Stone. Some contained Elemental Crystals, while the unlucky ones found nothing inside. Fang Yuxin had already accumulated a fair number of Elemental Crystals and exchanged them for what the others could use. Even for those who were unlucky and came across an empty stone, she advanced them some. It was just too bad that Spatial System Elemental Crystals were extremely rare; she only had one and gave it to Shang Jinxiu. After that, Chen Qiao and the others decided to start absorbing Elemental Crystals. The rooms were already prepared. Fang Yuxin took everyone to their respective rooms, explained the precautions, and then imbued each person with Wood Energy to stimulate their vitality. Afterward, she let them absorb on their own. These people were resolute in will, and with her explanation and the help of the Wood Energy, they felt reassured, making the whole absorption process very smooth. Fang Yuxin specifically left water in their rooms for them to wash up, but she hadn¡¯t been so extravagant as to leave a lot¡ªjust enough for a thorough cleanse. When they emerged, they were refreshed. Having had dinner, Chen Qiao and the others took Shang Jinxiu and left. They would arrange a place for her to stay and be responsible for her safety. After they left, the Fang Family entered Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Fang Yuyang and Bai Qianqian had already obtained cultivation techniques suitable for themselves and were about to begin their cultivation. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, due to their Spirit Roots being still imbalanced, had to keep absorbing Elemental Crystals. Fang Yuyang was already an adult and mature. After studying the Chaotic Wind Element Technique, he quickly grasped the first level of the cultivation technique, successfully refining his superpower and reaching the peak of the Qi Refining Early Stage. He just lacked a bit of maturity to make a breakthrough. However, once the time was right, he could break through to the Qi Refining Middle Stage. Bai Qianqian being young, found understanding the cultivation technique more difficult. Fortunately, he was intelligent and a rare possessor of the Five Elements Spirit Root. Eventually, by dawn, he successfully completed Energy Introduction, reaching the Qi Refining Early Stage. Having awakened spiritual power superpower, his spiritual power didn¡¯t need further refinement or transformation into Five Elements Energy, so unlike Fang Yuyang who directly reached the peak of the Qi Refining Early Stage, he could only start from the bottom and patiently cultivate to accumulate. However, his Soul Power was much stronger than Fang Yuyang¡¯s. As long as his Soul Power was strong, his ability to understand would far exceed that of ordinary people, making his cultivation doubly effective and less likely to encounter bottlenecks¡ªa truly enviable position. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, striving for balanced Spirit Roots, could only painfully absorb Elemental Crystals. Despite the extreme discomfort, they persisted. And with Fang Yuxin¡¯s assistance, they again successfully narrowed the gap between their two types of Spirit Roots overnight. With some more time, they should be able to balance the Spirit Roots. Overall, everything was moving in a positive direction. Compared to their good fortune, Fang Mengyao was not having such a pleasant time. She had always outwardly claimed to be a user of the Space superpower, but in fact, she relied on a game system to mimic the Space superpower. Her game system was incredibly powerful. As long as she continued to level up and earn enough points, she could become comparable to a full spectrum superpower user. Yet, such a powerful game system had a downside that greatly annoyed her! The game system¡¯s package could only hold identical items in each slot, which caused her great trouble. When gathering supplies, she must pack them properly first, or else she couldn¡¯t store them! So, to avoid exposing herself, she had recently used most of her earned points to exchange for package slots. Moreover, she had spent a large number of points recently to upgrade a slot. After the upgrade, the slot could hold supplies without being limited by the type, but one slot had only ninety-nine cubic spaces, far too small! Fang Mengyao was quite frustrated, and then, her thoughts once again turned to the set of jade jewelry that Fang Yuxin wore. What kind of treasures could be hidden inside? As she pondered, she thought of storage spaces in novels. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we invite you to vote by recommending tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 218 - 218 134 Unreasonable Demand (First Update) ?Chapter 218: 134 Unreasonable Demand (First Update) Chapter 218: 134 Unreasonable Demand (First Update) To be fair, Fang Mengyao¡¯s game upgrade system in her hands was an exceptional existence, far more powerful than a real Space superpower user¡¯s capabilities. Unfortunately, human desire is never satisfied, and ever since she initially received a system alert informing her that the jade jewelry Fang Jintang had gifted to Fang Yuxin contained a valuable treasure, she had coveted it endlessly. Unfortunately for her, Fang Yuxin foiled her schemes time after time, leaving her unable to obtain the item and feeling incredibly frustrated. This time, to avoid suspicion, she had used almost all her points to upgrade her system, so much so that she hadn¡¯t even had time to exchange them for skills. Without impressive skills, she couldn¡¯t enhance her strength, and as the zombies grew more threatening, how could she possibly feel at ease? That entire night, Fang Mengyao slept restlessly. Qiu Yiming was still not over Fang Yuxin, and now there was the mysteriously powerful and newly-appeared Bai Ye, who was rumored to have had a son with Fang Yuxin. This made Mengyao feel particularly uncomfortable. She didn¡¯t consider herself inferior to Yuxin in any way, so why did Yuxin get all the things she had dreamt of? And the jade¡ªif it really was a storage space like in the novels¡ªshe absolutely had to get her hands on it! Qiu Yiming also had a sleepless night. He tried hard to convince himself to believe what Yuxin had said, but when he returned home and received Zhou Fanghua¡¯s furious backlash, demanding he break off his engagement with Yuxin and make a clean break, it left him feeling deeply humiliated and resentful. Zhou Fanghua had bluntly spoken the ¡®truth¡¯ he had always been unwilling to face, making him feel as if he was covered in green. He had had enough of this feeling! What distressed him even more was that Bai Ye¡¯s strength had surpassed his! Although neither had fought seriously in their encounter, he could tell that Bai Ye¡¯s current strength was significantly stronger than his. This made him feel inept, and even more urgently wanting to improve his strength. His mood was extremely irritable, feeling that ever since he and Bai Yu had made a pact to set a death trap for Bai Ye, his days had spiraled into misfortune. First, his attempt to capture Bai Qianqian had failed, and instead, she had encountered Fang Yuxin. Not only could he no longer harm Bai Qianqian, but Yuxin now also had a son of dubious origin. Then, when he sent men to kill Bai Ye, without Bai Qianqian as a hostage, he had no leverage over Bai Ye, and despite losing many men, Bai Ye was still alive and well. Moreover, Yuxin was becoming increasingly cold towards him, and now she even wanted to break off their engagement! She must be dreaming! He would never agree to that! Qiu Yiming then thought of Mengyao again. He wasn¡¯t a fool; he instantly recognized the kind of person Mengyao was, and had also uncovered that she possessed undisclosed powerful assets. Initially, he had kept her by his side just to obtain those assets, but things had not gone smoothly. Consequently, Yuxin grew even more distant from him, and Mengyao, sensing something, hid her secrets even more securely. As Qiu Yiming lay in bed, he felt miserable. Zhou Fanghua was his mother, and even if she was in the wrong, as her son, he couldn¡¯t completely disregard her opinions. Now, the matter between Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin had reached Zhou Fanghua¡¯s ears, and her hysterical reaction had made it clear to Qiu Yiming that he had to make a choice. Mengyao was smarter than he had thought; to gain her trust, he could no longer afford to remain distant. And with Zhou Fanghua enraged, to calm her down, he would probably have to distance himself from Yuxin temporarily. If it had been before, Qiu Yiming wouldn¡¯t have felt so distressed. Because both of them were busy, they usually spent little time together, hardly even sharing meals. Thus, a temporary separation wouldn¡¯t be unacceptable to him. However, Bai Ye was now in the Safe Zone! Driven by a man¡¯s intuition, Qiu Yiming felt sure that Bai Ye harbored ill intentions towards Yuxin. How could he possibly rest easy? If Bai Ye took advantage of his separation from Yuxin, he would surely regret it profoundly! Worried about this, he could hardly sleep all night, and simply got up to cultivate. But his mind was a jumbled mess, totally unable to settle down¡ªhow was he supposed to cultivate like this? Chapter 219 - 219 134 Unreasonable Demands (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 219: 134 Unreasonable Demands (First Update)_2 Chapter 219: 134 Unreasonable Demands (First Update)_2 Qiu Yiming felt unbearably distressed and hesitated for quite a while before he ultimately chose the path most advantageous to himself. So that morning, just after the Fang Family had finished breakfast, Qiu Yiming arrived again. Although he had taken special care to groom himself, a close look revealed a faint hint of blue under his eyes and an exhaustion that could not be concealed, clearly the result of a sleepless night. Fang Yuyang was very resistant to his arrival, furrowing his brows the moment he saw him. Qiu Yiming, noticing Fang Yuyang¡¯s hostile attitude, felt a surge of anger too, but remembering the purpose of his visit, he suppressed his rage and said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, I have something I want to tell you.¡± Fang Yuyang thought Qiu Yiming was like an unrelenting specter, speaking haltingly without clarity, seemingly scheming something. He didn¡¯t want Fang Yuxin to continue entangled with Qiu Yiming and intended to stop her from going out with him. He had just lifted his arm and was about to speak when Fang Yuxin saw the wrinkles form on Qiu Yiming¡¯s brow, his bloodshot eyes flickering with irritability. She sighed inwardly, grabbed Fang Yuyang¡¯s hand, gave a gentle shake of her head, and said, ¡°Brother, you go ahead and get ready, I¡¯ll hear what he has to say.¡± Seeing Fang Yuyang was worried, she added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just by the doorstep. I won¡¯t go far.¡± Qiu Yiming looked down on Fang Yuyang¡¯s attitude, thinking he was overstepping his bounds, but in front of Fang Yuxin, he refrained from speaking out, only casting Fang Yuyang a cold look as an expression of his displeasure. Fang Yuyang also didn¡¯t show a friendly face. He knew well that Qiu Yiming was too proud, self-righteous, and controlling. Whatever he said, Qiu Yiming would surely not listen. Tired of dealing with him, Fang Yuyang said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Then stay right at the doorstep. Don¡¯t go too far!¡± His tone really resembled that of an overprotective parent instructing a child who hadn¡¯t yet grown up. Fang Yuxin obediently nodded and walked with Qiu Yiming to the door, taking the initiative to say, ¡°There¡¯s no one else here, so go ahead and speak your mind.¡± Although Qiu Yiming had made up his mind, faced with Fang Yuxin, he suddenly didn¡¯t know how to begin. He faltered, saying, ¡°Xinxin, can we... not cancel our engagement?¡± After saying it, Qiu Yiming was the first to be stunned. His purpose in seeking out Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t been to say this, yet the moment he spoke, his most genuine thoughts had slipped out. Fang Yuxin fell silent for a moment. She had been prepared for the difficulty in dissolving the engagement with Qiu Yiming, but she felt that with Fang Mengyao present, it would inevitably be successful at some point. She had been impetuous in her statements the day before, under the grip of her emotions, but now, with her regained confidence, she didn¡¯t plan to make a scene with Qiu Yiming. After all, the cancellation of the engagement was a matter of when, not if, so there was no point in engaging in a pointless debate with him. So she asked, ¡°You came here just to tell me this?¡± She looked at Qiu Yiming, sensing this wasn¡¯t what he initially wanted to say. She still understood him well enough; Qiu Yiming was a rational man, and he certainly wouldn¡¯t be like those obtuse masters in TV dramas who, for the sake of romance, sacrificed their careers and reduced themselves to such disarray. Qiu Yiming felt uneasy under her gaze but quickly regained composure, voicing the words he had prepared from the start, ¡°Xinxin, I know a lot has happened recently, and I can understand how you feel. I hope we can both calm down and give ourselves a chance. Let¡¯s hold off on discussing the cancellation of the engagement. During this time, I can maintain a distance from you. However, you must promise me one thing: stay away from Bai Ye!¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze gradually grew colder; she probably knew what Qiu Yiming was planning. Maybe it was for Fang Mengyao, or perhaps Zhou Fanghua had put pressure on him, and that¡¯s why he wanted to keep his distance? But what kind of request was that? What right did Qiu Yiming have to make such a demand? She bluntly said, ¡°Qiu Yiming, I don¡¯t understand what you mean. What right do you have to interfere in my affairs?¡± This clearly provoked Qiu Yiming. His eyes flashed with irritability as he replied in dissatisfaction, ¡°What right? The right of being your fiance?! Xinxin, have you forgotten? As long as I don¡¯t agree to cancel our engagement, I will always be your fiance?! I know you¡¯re upset lately, so I agree to keep my distance for now, but you must also promise me to stay away from Bai Ye! If you don¡¯t agree, then we¡¯ll get married right now!¡± Qiu Yiming said this angrily, aiming to force Fang Yuxin into a compromise. However, after uttering the words ¡°get married,¡± a strong impulse suddenly surged in him. He looked at Fang Yuxin and suddenly thought that even if he couldn¡¯t obtain the secret weapon Fang Mengyao held, he would still marry her if she agreed! Of course, Fang Yuxin could not possibly agree to marriage. She looked at Qiu Yiming with anger and disappointment and said through clenched teeth, ¡°Qiu Yiming, you are being utterly unreasonable!¡± After saying that, she paid him no further attention and turned to head back inside. Qiu Yiming clenched his fists and called out from behind her, ¡°Xinxin! You must agree to my terms! If you are with that man named Bai, I really don¡¯t know what I might do.¡± Fang Yuxin stopped but did not turn back, simply stating, ¡°Qiu Yiming, please leave. I don¡¯t want to see you right now.¡± Qiu Yiming felt very unsettled not receiving Fang Yuxin¡¯s answer, but after hesitating, he didn¡¯t continue to speak. He knew Fang Yuxin¡¯s temperament; pressing further would only work against him. He turned and walked back, mulling over the thought as he left, ¡°Bai Ye must be eliminated!¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we invite you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 220 - 220 135 More and More (Second Update) ?Chapter 220: 135 More and More (Second Update) Chapter 220: 135 More and More (Second Update) Qiu Yiming had left, and when Fang Yuxin returned to the room, she happened to see Fang Yuyang furiously smashing his fist onto the coffee table, ¡°This is outrageous! Qiu Yiming is going too far!¡± She was first startled, then suddenly remembered that Qiu Yiming had spoken quite loudly earlier, and Fang Yuyang had probably heard it. She looked towards Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe and noticed that they were also looking displeased. Bai Qianqian pouted angrily and decided that she would tell Bai Ye about this after seeing him. That Uncle Qiu was so annoying! Why couldn¡¯t he allow her mama and stupid papa to be together? Fang Yuxin, seeing her family¡¯s dismay, said, ¡°Forget it, he has always been overbearing, you all know that. Why get angry over him? So many people witnessed yesterday¡¯s event, Uncle Qiu and Aunt Zhou must know about it. With their characters, how could they still want me as their daughter-in-law? Qiu Yiming might say he refuses to annul the engagement, but there¡¯s no longer a possibility between him and me. He is just deceiving himself.¡± Because her family was too angry, she didn¡¯t dare to voice her suspicions; otherwise, given Fang Yuyang¡¯s temperament, he might have recklessly gone to fight Qiu Yiming. The Qiu family had considerable influence in the military, so it really wasn¡¯t worth it to engage in a momentary conflict with them. Fang Yuyang was livid. He clenched and unclenched his fists several times, and then suddenly said, ¡°Is Qiu Yiming sick in the head? You have nothing to do with the guy surnamed Bai. What was his point in saying that?¡± Fang Yuxin was somewhat speechless. She hadn¡¯t expected Fang Yuyang to be so angry and to have such a reason for it! She subconsciously looked at Bai Qianqian and saw him pouting unhappily, his large eyes looking at Fang Yuyang with a sense of grievance, as if accusing him for his recent words. Fang Yuyang, realizing his gaze, immediately felt embarrassed. In his heart, he disliked any man who got close to his sister. Bai Ye being Bai Qianqian¡¯s father made him even more wary, afraid that the scoundrel would trick his sister away. But still, Bai Qianqian was just a child, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say what he really thought in front of him. Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Fang Yuxin quickly added, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go out. Weren¡¯t we planning to visit the Food Trading City today?¡± The family soon left the house, but Bai Qianqian¡¯s mood was still sour. He even intentionally ignored Fang Yuyang to express his displeasure. Fang Yuxin noticed that ever since Bai Ye appeared, Bai Qianqian seemed to have grown more temperamental. He had always been very sensible, but there had been too much caution in his sensibility, which inevitably made others feel sorry for him. But since reuniting with Bai Ye, Bai Qianqian had started to show more of the traits that a child his age should have; his temper had become more pronounced, with a bit of recklessness in his demeanor. However, Bai Qianqian was still essentially a well-behaved and sensible child at heart, so even when he threw a temper tantrum, it was just a silent treatment and not crying out loud or being impolitely rude like other children. Therefore, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were not only not annoyed by his behavior but also joined in by glaring at Fang Yuyang a few times to scold him for his lack of tact. They left quite early, but upon reaching the entrance of the Safe Zone, they realized Bai Ye and Chen Qiao were already waiting for them. Bai Qianqian¡¯s mood visibly improved upon seeing Bai Ye and even suggested riding in Bai Ye¡¯s car. The others naturally couldn¡¯t refuse and allowed the change, then called Shang Jinxiu to join them in their car. Chen Qiao and the others brought only one car, which seemed a bit cramped after adding Shang Jinxiu. After the switch, everyone set on their way. As soon as they departed, the news reached Qiu Yiming, infuriating him. Fang Mengyao was by his side and also felt mixed emotions upon hearing the news. At first, she admired Qiu Yiming and had even taken a fancy to him. But after Bai Ye appeared, she found Bai Ye to be quite an impressive man, holding his own when compared to Qiu Yiming, making her very fond of him. If only Bai Ye were a less impressive man, she would have been delighted to hear that Fang Yuxin was involved with him. Unfortunately, Bai Ye was quite excellent, not the least bit inferior to Qiu Yiming, leaving her without a sense of achievement, but instead with a strong feeling of bitterness! Chapter 221 - 221 135 More and More (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 221: 135 More and More (Second Update)_2 Chapter 221: 135 More and More (Second Update)_2 The only thing that could comfort her was that Qiu Yiming was very angry and seemed to be extremely dissatisfied with Fang Yuxin. She deliberately said, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, don¡¯t be angry, there might just be some misunderstanding here. Sister Xin and Mr. Bai must be old acquaintances by now, it¡¯s only natural for them to work on a mission together.¡± Upon hearing this, Qiu Yiming felt the anger inside him being provoked once more, burning even more fiercely. He glanced at Fang Mengyao, knowing full well she had said it on purpose, but thinking of his own plans, he had to suppress the impulse to lash out at her and tell her to get out, and with a darkened face he continued, ¡°You don¡¯t need to persuade me, I know what¡¯s going on! How dare she deceive me and get entangled with Bai Ye! I won¡¯t let this matter slide just like that!¡± Although he said this for Fang Mengyao to hear, it also reflected his true feelings. He was really angry and felt cheated by Fang Yuxin. It made him feel as if he were covered in green all over again. With a thought, Fang Mengyao couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, what do you plan to do?¡± She was both excited and anxious, both eager to see Qiu Yiming deal with Fang Yuxin and worried about him dealing with Bai Ye. It was truly too contradictory! However, Qiu Yiming did not answer her question and instead said, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, we should set out!¡± At this point, he turned to look at Fang Mengyao, ¡°You remember our mission for today, right? Are you ready?¡± Knowing he was referring to the space ability, Fang Mengyao nodded and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Yi Ming, I¡¯m all set, and I won¡¯t disappoint you.¡± Qiu Yiming soon set off with his team. In recent days, his Thunder Team had gradually expanded. There were over a hundred superpower users alone, not counting the two hundred regular soldiers. When the disaster struck, a large portion of the soldiers had turned into zombies, and their numbers had plummeted. Although he was a Major, he didn¡¯t have many men left under his command. If not for his father, Qiu Hongsheng, who had helped by transferring soldiers under his command, it would have been impossible for him to gather so many people in just a few days. Like Zhou Yan, although he was also a Major, he didn¡¯t have nearly as many people under his command. This time he went out on a mission, not only did he take all his subordinates with him, but he also drove a full ten trucks. It was all for the supplies in that place. This time, he was determined to succeed! ... After Fang Yuxin and the others set off, they gradually realized that the situation was getting worse. Fang Yuxin keenly observed changes in the greenery along the roadside: the trees were either withering and dying or becoming taller and more robust, and the wild grass on the ground had grown half a man¡¯s height. That was not all; the zombies on the road were becoming more numerous. The disaster had struck at midnight when most people were sleeping at home. After the disaster hit, some survivors managed to escape from their houses, while others turned into zombies, trapped and unable to come out at first. Many were buried underground, becoming cold corpses. So, in the early days of the apocalypse, there weren¡¯t too many zombies outside. But as time passed, a large number of zombies emerged from houses, and even those buried underground seemed to have turned into zombies, crawling out of the rubble, which led to an increasing number of zombies outside, escalating the danger to survivors. Market was a city with extremely high population density. Before the apocalypse, Market had severe traffic congestion problems every day, with streets bustling and crowded. But after the apocalypse, a large number of people turned into zombies, bringing even greater disaster to the survivors! Fang Yuxin knew that the real disaster was still to come. Due to the increased number of zombies, they often had to stop to clear them out. By the time they reached the appointed Food Trading City, they were a full one and a half hours later than planned, all due to clearing zombies along the way. When they arrived, the three teams were already there. This time their numbers had increased, with each team having around a hundred people. However, such numbers were still too few compared to the sheer quantity of zombies in the Food Trading City. These people did not dare to get too close, afraid of attracting the attention of the Zombie Group and getting overwhelmed, so they intentionally chose a relatively distant location to wait. On seeing Fang Yuxin and the others, the faces of these people clearly showed impatience. Although they valued the strength of Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin¡¯s group was too small, not even twenty people in total, hardly enough to fill the gaps between the zombies¡¯ teeth. Many among them had not witnessed the capabilities of Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye themselves and seeing how pitifully few their numbers were, their expressions instantly turned very ugly, feeling as if they had been played. But the three leaders had their own difficulties; they had noticed the increasing number of zombies in the city, and if they missed this opportunity, they might not get another chance to lay hands on the supplies inside. They all planned to pull off this heist and then take their people to seek refuge in the Safe Zone outside the city. The overwhelming number of zombies in the city was a major source of unease for them. So the oldest leader said, ¡°Now that everyone is here, let¡¯s discuss and act quickly.¡± After he spoke, the other two leaders had no objections; they were unwilling to wait any longer. He then took out a hand-drawn, simplified map and said, ¡°This is the distribution map of the Food Trading City, drawn from memory by my subordinates. Look, there are four entrances. There are too many zombies inside, and we don¡¯t have enough manpower, so I think it¡¯s best not to split up. Instead, we should choose one entrance and break in together!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 222 - 222 136 Enemies on a Narrow Path (Third Update) ?Chapter 222: 136 Enemies on a Narrow Path (Third Update) Chapter 222: 136 Enemies on a Narrow Path (Third Update) His proposal was actually quite good; they already had few people, and dividing their forces further would be too dangerous. So quite quickly, a plan was formulated. However, with the plan in place, it was not easy to set a definitive action route. Bai Ye then pushed Shen Xi forward, saying, ¡°He¡¯s a Spiritual Superpower User and can scout the distribution of zombies. We can find a route with fewer zombies to attack.¡± Of course, no one had any objections. Apart from Shen Xi the Spiritual Superpower User, the other three teams also had superpower users with enhanced speed, hearing, and spiritual powers who could scout. So quite quickly, a rough plan came together. Essentially, everyone would move together as much as possible, scouting to find a relatively safe route in. Once inside, how much supplies one could grab would be up to them. To avoid being surrounded by zombies, everyone should try not to get separated. The last point was really just lip service. How could they not scatter when faced with a real situation? Besides, these people were divided into four teams, and if further split, there could even be five teams. Nobody trusted anybody else, so how could they work together wholeheartedly? Moreover, with so many people gathered together, how would the supplies be distributed? Since it was said that each would rely on their own ability, there was bound to be dispute when it came time to collect supplies. But right now, the most important thing was to break into the Food Trading City. Considering the distribution of supplies was still premature. Fang Yuxin and her team might have had the fewest people, but they all carried submachine guns. At first, they had not brought out their guns, which led others to underestimate them. However, as soon as they revealed their weapons, many people became envious. They might not have said anything, but their eyes didn¡¯t lie. Fang Yuxin saw this and immediately said to the people around her, ¡°Be careful when we go in, don¡¯t get separated. This place is not safe, and it¡¯ll be dangerous if you¡¯re alone.¡± The others nodded upon hearing this. They had also noticed the covetous glances. Was there anything they didn¡¯t understand? Bai Ye specifically looked at Fang Yuxin, finding himself increasingly appreciative of this woman. With the plan in place, they didn¡¯t delay any further and soon approached the Food Trading City. The city was teeming with zombies, and even more were wandering around outside. As they got closer, the stench of rot in the air became exceedingly intense. Now was the time for everyone to show off their special talents. Spiritual Superpower Users released their spiritual power to sense the surroundings, while superpower users with enhanced hearing and vision also employed their own methods. There weren¡¯t many Spiritual Superpower Users among those present, only two or three at most, and their power was average, far inferior to Bai Qianqian and Shen Xi. Fang Yuxin also released her Spiritual Sense, which allowed her to perceive a wider range. However, her mood grew heavy as soon as she sensed the surroundings. What others had said was correct; there were at least tens of thousands of zombies here. And that wasn¡¯t even the worst of it. There were at least a hundred Level 1 Zombies, and within this group, there were seventeen Mutant Zombies. However, the food supply here was quite abundant. Although some of it had spoiled and some had been destroyed by zombies, a significant portion was still intact and in no small amount. Soon, a route was confirmed. The eldest leader said, ¡°We must move fast! With so many of us here, zombies from other areas will soon be attracted. We must charge in before they arrive! Once we¡¯re inside, we¡¯ll rely on our own abilities!¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at the other three teams. Although these people were numerous, their strength was not strong, and it was uncertain how many would die inside. As they drew closer, the zombies in front began to stir restlessly. These zombies knew nothing of fear. To them, the approaching humans were just a bunch of food. The zombies rushed greedily towards the group, and soon enough, a fight broke out. For the sake of the supplies, everyone fought with all their might, sparing no effort. They quickly tore a hole through the encircling zombies and stormed in. Fang Yuxin released Lan Re as they entered, conveying to it the notion of collecting Crystal Cores. Lan Re, being a plant, had only one main body but could differentiate into clones. Currently, at a Level 1 mutation, it could separate into eight clones. These clones were all as thick as the main body, with nearly the same strength, but their energy consumption was also much greater. After releasing Lan Re, it burrowed underground according to Fang Yuxin¡¯s wishes and, while others were distracted, stealthily excavated the Crystal Cores from the brains of zombies that had been killed but not yet processed. Chapter 223 - 223 136 Enemies on a Narrow Path (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 223: 136 Enemies on a Narrow Path (Third Update)_2 Chapter 223: 136 Enemies on a Narrow Path (Third Update)_2 Because there were too many zombies, although these people had killed quite a few, they didn¡¯t have enough time to extract the Crystal Cores. Instead, they seized the opportunity to rush into the Food Trading City. The Food Trading City covered a large area, so not all zombies were concentrated in one place. They were scattered, which made the numbers in each area not too terrifying. Perhaps the previous victory had boosted their confidence, so the three team leaders, after some hesitation, decided to split up. However, they didn¡¯t dare to separate too much; they agreed to search the areas together, at a short distance from one another. This Food Trading City housed many shops, both wholesale and retail. Although the shops looked disordered, their signs were very clear, so everyone could directly choose the shops they wanted to visit. Even though the plan was for everyone to move together, distancing inevitably increased, sometimes intentionally or unawaredly, due to the desire for supplies. Almost everyone was prepared, and nearly each of the three teams had arrived with large trucks. At the very least, they had vehicles with cabins and truck beds. They couldn¡¯t carry as much as Fang Yuxin and her group who had only brought an SUV. Their large numbers had attracted all the surrounding zombies. However, the ones leading the attack were only Basic-level Zombies. The Level 1 Zombies and Mutant Zombies were hiding behind, clearly much smarter than the Low-level Zombies and knew the basics of strategizing. Fang Yuxin and her group had guns, which soon took down quite a few Low-level Zombies with the sound of intense gunfire. Fang Yuxin did not choose to go with Bai Ye. Although they were in a cooperative relationship, she did not trust Bai Ye, nor was her secret something that Bai Ye and his people could know. The Yongcheng Team made a beeline for the storage areas, not bothering with the vast array of shops. However, halfway there, Fang Yuxin suddenly gestured for the others to stop. This sudden change was unexpected because there weren¡¯t many zombies ahead; there was no need to stop. Fang Yuyang sensed something was wrong and asked with concern, ¡°Xinxin, have you discovered something?¡± Fang Yuxin was in a bad mood. Just now, she had found that the storage area had already been raided by someone she knew ¨C it was Qiu Yiming and Fang Mengyao! Qiu Yiming had a fleet of ten trucks, more people, and they were all armed with guns. They wouldn¡¯t gain any advantage by going there! She said with a gloomy face, ¡°Qiu Yiming is at the storage area, let¡¯s not go there. Let¡¯s check out those shops instead.¡± There were many shops here, and with some searching, they should be able to find a fair amount of supplies. Qiu Yiming was busy with his people emptying the warehouses and would likely not pay attention to these shops for the time being. She led the group back. Bai Ye, who was not too far from them, also chose to turn around. Despite Fang Yuxin¡¯s clear intention to not work with Bai Ye, Bai Ye was worried about their safety due to their small number and continued to follow them at a safe distance. When Bai Ye ordered his people to turn around, he specifically asked Shen Xi, ¡°Mr. Shen, have you noticed anything?¡± Shen Xi¡¯s smile was meaningful, ¡°I¡¯ve noticed Miss Fang has a very keen perception, so much so that I can¡¯t help but suspect that she¡¯s also awakened a Spiritual Power.¡± Hearing this, Bai Ye¡¯s face darkened as he warned, ¡°Mr. Shen, Miss Fang is the mother of my son. You¡¯d better stay away from her and not entertain any designs on her!¡± Shen Xi¡¯s face stiffened, then he smiled again, ¡°Captain Bai, don¡¯t be rash. I meant no harm, just a simple compliment. Miss Fang probably realized Major Qiu was at the warehouse, and that¡¯s why she decided to turn back.¡± ¡°Is it him?¡± Bai Ye exclaimed, his thoughts racing as he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°How many people did he bring?¡± Shen Xi, seeing what he was getting at, smiled dangerously, ¡°I advise you it¡¯s best not to think about clashing with him head-on. Major Qiu brought three hundred people, a hundred superpower users, and two hundred regular soldiers, all armed with guns! As far as I know, Major Qiu seems to have a big grudge against you, Mr. Bai. If you go there, it might be out of the frying pan and into the fire.¡± Bai Ye¡¯s expression turned extremely ugly. He was not afraid of Qiu Yiming, but the fact that Qiu Yiming had brought so many people made the situation difficult. He glanced at Shen Xi but didn¡¯t bring up the idea of heading back to the warehouse. However, while they purposefully avoided Qiu Yiming, Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t intend to avoid them! The other three teams also aimed for the warehouses. Though they had Spiritual Ability Users among them, their strength was not strong. They headed straight to the storage, and when they discovered Qiu Yiming, Qiu Yiming¡¯s people also spotted them. The three leaders hesitated for a moment but still moved toward the warehouse. They had no feud with Qiu Yiming, and upon realizing that the other party was military, they thought Qiu Yiming wouldn¡¯t be too ruthless, so they went straight there. Outside the warehouse, Qiu Yiming received reports from his subordinates. His already stern face grew even darker. He was still upset about Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, and now, coming to the warehouse for supplies, they encountered others wanting a share of the loot! He chuckled coldly, then with a push from the ground, he nimbly jumped onto the truck bed and coldly watched the direction from which those people were coming. Soon enough, the three teams appeared. Qiu Yiming, with hands behind his back and looking down from above, coldly asked, ¡°Are you survivors here for supplies?¡± Before the apocalypse, all these survivors had been ordinary citizens. Seeing the fully armed opposition, many immediately paled. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian.com with your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 224 - 224 137 Concealing Talisman (First Update) ?Chapter 224: 137 Concealing Talisman (First Update) Chapter 224: 137 Concealing Talisman (First Update) Qiu Yiming¡¯s men were clearing out the zombies that had rushed out of the warehouse. He stood atop the cargo truck with his hands behind his back, looking down on the three mercenary teams that had also come here to look for supplies. Seeing their apprehensive expressions, he felt disdain. When no one answered, his voice took on a dangerous tone, ¡°I just asked you all a question, did none of you hear me?¡± His words immediately tensioned the atmosphere. The three leaders exchanged glances. They all knew they couldn¡¯t afford to offend Qiu Yiming, so they acted extra subservient, volunteering their reasons for being there. Qiu Yiming looked at these three groups with a smile on his face, ¡°We¡¯re all survivors. Since you¡¯re also here for supplies, let¡¯s go in together.¡± After he spoke, someone knowingly made way, releasing the zombies. Qiu Yiming¡¯s men were all armed with guns, boasting formidable firepower, incapable of being approached by basic-level zombies. However, the other three teams had only a scattering of a dozen or so guns, and those were luckily obtained at that. The zombies couldn¡¯t do anything against Qiu Yiming¡¯s men, so after emerging, they immediately lunged at the three mercenary teams. Qiu Yiming watched this scene with a satisfied smile. As more and more zombies were drawn to the other three teams, he nimbly jumped down from the top of the cargo truck and walked over to Fang Mengyao, grabbing her arm and heading into the warehouse. Realizing his intentions, the three teams were filled with regret. If they had known Qiu Yiming was this kind of person, they certainly would not have come! As they wallowed in anger and frustration, they suddenly realized that Bai Ye, Fang Yuyang, and the others hadn¡¯t come at all. Puzzled for a moment, they quickly understood that this time, they were likely to lose both their leader and their forces! It was their own fault for being too greedy; they were initially fixated on this warehouse, disdainful of the fewer, more scattered goods in the shops, which were a hassle to scavenge. Otherwise, how could they have ended up trapped here, in a situation both awkward and dangerous? When Qiu Yiming entered the warehouse, he took all his superpower users with him, leaving only a hundred ordinary soldiers armed with guns to keep watch outside. He led Fang Mengyao at a brisk pace. When he saw some decent supplies, like canned meat, he had Fang Mengyao pack them into her space. Aside from Fang Mengyao, the others were also swift and adept at loading supplies, with practiced movements and well-coordinated efforts, evidently accustomed to this kind of situation. Qiu Yiming stood beside Fang Mengyao, responsible for her protection. Every time zombies charged over, they were annihilated by him before they could get close. Fang Mengyao was quick. Anything she touched could be stashed away in her game inventory with just a thought. As this was a task she was adept at, she even managed to spare some attention for Qiu Yiming while gathering supplies. Watching his resolute and cool face and his dashing movements, her heart pounded intensely and eagerly. Her affection for Qiu Yiming grew stronger, her resolve to have him more determined! Thinking of Zhou Fanghua¡¯s attitude toward Fang Yuxin, the corner of her mouth curled slightly, her heart brimming with joy. She had heard with her own ears; Zhou Fanghua was thoroughly disgusted with Fang Yuxin, vowing not to allow Fang Yuxin to marry into the Qiu Family, and Qiu Yiming had personally agreed! She had waited so long, and finally, the day had come! When she had set out this time, she clearly felt that Qiu Yiming¡¯s attitude toward her had warmed, and Fang Mengyao thought he must have begun to notice her virtues, her heart swelling with joy. But this was still not enough! She told herself internally; she wanted not only Qiu Yiming¡¯s heart but also to snatch Bai Ye away, ensuring Fang Yuxin ended up with nothing! With this thought, her movements quickened. Qiu Yiming followed by her side, and as they moved quickly, Fang Mengyao had already packed all the supplies she favored into her inventory. The warehouse stored boxes of canned meat, making them extremely easy to collect. Anywhere she went, the boxes disappeared visibly fast. Soon, the whole warehouse was emptied. After emptying one warehouse, they moved on to the next one. An endless influx of zombies continued to emerge, causing significant interference. ... Fang Yuxin led her people to the commercial street and took out ten leaf charms. These ten charms were ones she had made the previous night, using spiritual plant leaves from the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, resulting in leaf charms of much stronger potency. This time, she had created Concealing Talismans. Worn on the body and activated, they could conceal one¡¯s aura, reducing it to a very faint trace, effectively avoiding the attention of zombies. Chapter 225 - 225 137 Concealing Talisman (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 225: 137 Concealing Talisman (First Update)_2 Chapter 225: 137 Concealing Talisman (First Update)_2 The zombies now mainly relied on scent to sense their prey, the stronger the blood qi and energy fluctuations, the greater the attraction to them. With the Concealing Talisman, the scent was reined in, and the blood qi and energy fluctuations would appear very weak, which significantly reduced their attractiveness to zombies. She distributed the leaf charms, specifically instructing Shang Jinxiu and Chen Qiao among others, ¡°Jinxiu, you are a Space superpower user, try to collect as many usable materials as possible later. Chen Qiao, follow her and be cautious to protect her; don¡¯t let anything happen to her!¡± Shang Jinxiu and Chen Qiao naturally had no objections. Fang Yuxin thought about it, her Qingmu Spiritual Mansion could not be exposed, so she would definitely need to act alone later. However, there were still many zombies inside Food Trading City, and it was certainly not safe. If they encountered ordinary zombies it would be fine, but if they encountered Mutant Zombies, Chen Qiao and the others could barely protect themselves, let alone protect Shang Jinxiu. Thus, after hesitating, she straightforwardly told her family, ¡°Dad, mom, brother, you go with Chen Qiao and the others. I¡¯m going to find Lan Re, it¡¯s time to take it back.¡± The three members of the Fang family understood that she was intentionally finding an excuse to act alone, because the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion could not be exposed; if there were outsiders around, she couldn¡¯t collect materials into the space. Worried about her, Fang Yu Yang said, ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous for you to go alone; I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Fearing Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t agree, he didn¡¯t wait for her to speak and immediately added, ¡°There¡¯s no negotiation on this matter; I must go with you!¡± Seeing his resolute attitude, Fang Yuxin did not persist and merely instructed the others to be careful. Then she and Fang Yu Yang rode a motorcycle in another direction. When she reached an empty commercial street, she began communicating with Lan Re telepathically, ¡°Lan Re, where are you? Can you come back now?¡± After a little while, Lan Re¡¯s thoughts came back, ¡°Eating... eating... coming back...¡± Although Lan Re¡¯s expression was very vague, Fang Yuxin understood. It was currently feeding and preparing to return to her side. She waited a bit, and soon, Lan Re¡¯s original body and clone simultaneously emerged from underground. The closed buds and leaves gradually opened, and the sound of crisp ¡°hurrah¡± rang out as the beautiful Zombie Crystal Cores rained down like a small pile on the ground, shining brightly under the sun. Fang Yuxin stretched out her hand to absorb the Crystal Cores all into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Meanwhile, Lan Re had already retracted its clone, and the original body quickly shrank, transforming into a stream of light that returned to Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist. Fang Yuxin nodded to Fang Yu Yang, tucked the motorcycle into the space, and then they both rushed into a nearby shop together, beginning to rapidly sweep through it. Her speed was even faster than Fang Mengyao¡¯s; she merely waved her hand, and countless well-packaged foods were swept into the space. Fang Yu Yang, holding the Miao Saber, stayed vigilant beside her. But their scent was very weak, and rarely did zombies get attracted to them. They continued to sweep along the way, with some shops heavily damaged, leaving very little food intact. The siblings felt somewhat heavy-hearted looking at the destroyed food. The situation was becoming increasingly dire, and humanity was about to face even more severe survival challenges. At this time, every bit of food was precious. Although they were not lacking food, seeing so much food destroyed still made them feel regretful. However, the siblings did not have extra time for sorrow, so after their moment of reflection, they sped up their actions. Occasionally, zombies would rush out from the shops, but their numbers were limited and Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t need to act, as these zombies were quickly dealt with by Fang Yu Yang. Because they used the Concealing Talisman, more zombies headed towards the warehouse. There were over six hundred people there, with robust blood qi, a temptation that the flesh-craving zombies simply could not resist. As Fang Yuxin collected materials, she didn¡¯t forget to release her Spiritual Sense for vigilance. Discovering that a large number of zombies were moving toward the warehouse, she couldn¡¯t help but smile gleefully. Although she didn¡¯t plan to make things too ugly with Qiu Yiming, Qiu Yiming¡¯s relentless pestering and domineering schemes had thoroughly tired her. Now, without her needing to lift a finger, these zombies would bring considerable trouble to Qiu Yiming. Seeing her snicker, Fang Yu Yang¡¯s mind stirred, and he couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s up? What has made you so happy?¡± Thinking about Fang Yu Yang¡¯s discontent with Qiu Yiming, she smiled and told him, ¡°Almost all the zombies from this Food Trading City have gone towards the warehouse; they¡¯re definitely going to bring Qiu Yiming a lot of trouble.¡± Hearing this, a smile appeared on Fang Yu Yang¡¯s face, and he gleefully asked, ¡°Xinxin, I remember you mentioned that there are quite a few Mutant Zombies here; did those Mutant Zombies go too?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, ¡°This Food Trading City is large, and my Spiritual Sense can¡¯t completely cover it. I can¡¯t confirm whether all the Mutant Zombies went there, but fifteen Mutant Zombies did go.¡± At this, Fang Yu Yang¡¯s eyes lit up, the glee on his face even more evident. A single Mutant Zombie was challenging enough, let alone fifteen! Qiu Yiming would definitely be overwhelmed! Fang Yuxin, thinking about the three teams that were headed toward the warehouse, decided to tell Fang Yu Yang, ¡°Brother, the three teams that approached us for cooperation also went to the warehouse; this time they might be in danger.¡± Fang Yu Yang, recalling those people, silently sighed and said, ¡°Let¡¯s move faster; there are not a few shops here.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 226 - 226 138 Danger (Second Update) ?Chapter 226: 138 Danger! (Second Update) Chapter 226: 138 Danger! (Second Update) Fang Yuxin realized that Fang Yuyang intentionally changed the subject and did not continue to mention those people, instead she gathered supplies even more quickly. Because their speed was so fast, in less than half an hour, they had visited all the shops along the entire street, and all the supplies had been collected into the space. After cleaning up the street, Fang Yuxin said to Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother, we¡¯ve almost gathered everything. Let¡¯s go meet up with mom and dad.¡± There were three commercial streets here. Bai Ye and his group went to one, Shang Jinxiu and his group went to another, and the last one was thoroughly scavenged by Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang. It was impossible for them to compete with Bai Ye for supplies, and there was no need to go to the warehouse area, so naturally, they should meet up with Shang Jinxiu and their group. As Fang Yuxin spoke, she had already retrieved the motorcycles. Each sibling rode one and headed towards where Shang Jinxiu and the others were. Meanwhile, on another commercial street, Bai Ye and his group, each bearing a large backpack, were busy stuffing supplies into them. They had no space, so their pace was much slower compared to Fang Yuxin¡¯s. A whole street full of shops, even if a lot of food had been ruined, the remaining amount was still substantial, but they could only pick up the more practical items to take. They had no Concealing Talisman nor knew the Spell of concealing their aura, and their vibrant qi and blood would occasionally attract zombies. Gathering supplies while having to hunt zombies made them even slower. Bai Qianqian watched Bai Ye skillfully stuffing food into his bag, thought of Fang Yuxin¡¯s Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, and his mouth turned downward, his gaze full of disdain towards Bai Ye, nearly ready to outright declare, ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re useless.¡± Bai Ye felt his mood ignite being watched like that, wishing he could grab the bratty kid and give him a good beating. He glared at Bai Qianqian discontentedly, ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± ¡°Nothing, daddy, keep it up,¡± Bai Qianqian said insincerely. He was very aware that the matters of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion and Cultivation must not be told to others; even Fang Yuxin specifically cautioned him not even to mention it to Bai Ye. Watching Bai Ye struggling to gather food, he felt quite frustrated, thinking it would be great if Fang Yuxin was here, who could have handled it with a wave of her hand. But he couldn¡¯t tell Bai Ye about that, which was extremely frustrating. Bai Ye felt his son was becoming less and less considerate, turned his head away angrily, and continued collecting food. Bai Qianqian thought for a moment and began to pack his own bag. It was a bag he had taken from Bai Ye¡¯s car, very large, and could hold many things. However, he was too short to carry it and could only drag it on the ground. Bai Ye saw Bai Qianqian¡¯s actions, the corners of his mouth slightly rose, and he smiled contentedly. His son was very sensible! His wife sure knew how to teach! With that notion in mind, he began to ponder more broadly, suddenly considering that ¡®children really should not be without a mother¡¯ and ¡®it seems I should discuss with Fang Yuxin about the child¡¯s future upbringing.¡¯ ... Fang Yuxin, unaware that she had crossed Bai Ye¡¯s mind, rode motorcycles with Fang Yuyang and soon found Shang Jinxiu and their group. Along the way, she deliberately sent out her Spiritual Sense to ¡®check¡¯ on Bai Qianqian¡¯s situation and seeing he was not in danger, she was relieved. Shang Jinxiu and their group were making good progress, which was significantly better than Bai Ye and his people. This was the difference between having a Spirit Mansion and not; with a Spirit Mansion, collecting supplies was much more efficient. But without one, one could only stuff a large bag as Bai Ye and his group did laboriously. Although zombies occasionally came, most were Basic-level Zombies, and occasionally there would be ordinary Level 1 Zombies, none of which posed a threat to Shang Jinxiu and their group. Mutant Zombies never appeared; whether they all went to the warehouse area or were hiding in some dark corner unknown. However, the absence of Mutant Zombies was a good thing overall. While Shang Jinxiu and their group were clearing the shops on the left side of the commercial street, she and Fang Yuyang went to the shops on the right side. When they went, they specially took out two particularly large backpacks from the motorcycle and wore them on their backs as a cover. While their side was smoothly collecting supplies, the warehouse area was fraught with dangers. This Food Trading City had many warehouses, all concentrated in one area. Qiu Yiming took Fang Mengyao to clear each warehouse one by one. However, as each warehouse was relatively independent, after leaving one warehouse, they had to walk a distance to enter another. Chapter 227 - 227 138 Danger (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 227: 138 Danger! (Second Update)_2 Chapter 227: 138 Danger! (Second Update)_2 Unfortunately, there were no shortage of zombies in this area, and their numbers only seemed to be increasing, causing endless frustration. Qiu Yiming¡¯s men, although armed with submachine guns, had to conserve ammunition, as it was a consumable resource. Even he had to use it sparingly. That was why he intentionally had those three teams of mercenaries clear out the zombies so his own men could save bullets. At first, the situation was under control, but as soon as the Mutant Zombies appeared, it became chaotic. The Speed Mutant Zombies were the first to emerge. These Speed Mutant Zombies were faster than the speed superpower users, and their nails and teeth were incredibly sharp. They charged into the group of mercenaries and easily ripped through people¡¯s necks. Screams echoed one after another, and the splatter of blood could blind a person! This was a warehouse, and the space inside was limited. Everyone was packed together, so there was even less room to maneuver. This gave the Speed Mutant Zombies the opportunity they needed, they zipped through the crowds, their sharp claws tearing into flesh with every swipe. As the zombies wreaked havoc, a sense of despair began to spread among the crowd. After the Speed Mutant Zombies came the Power Mutated Zombies, Defense Mutant Zombies, and even zombies of the Special Element! More sinister was the fact that these zombies weren¡¯t immediately devouring the flesh and blood of their prey. Instead, they were cunning, navigating through the crowd of humans, constantly causing injuries and deaths. Among those who came here, not all were superpower users. Many were ordinary people, and among the superpower users, there wasn¡¯t even a single Level 1 Superpower User; all were still at the basic level! Even Qiu Yiming was only at the peak of the Primary superpower users and was still lacking the experience needed to advance to the next level. Qiu Yiming might not have leveled up yet, but with his strength, he could handle these Mutant Zombies. His subordinates, however, were not so capable! As he watched more and more people sustain injuries or even get infected with the Zombie Virus, Qiu Yiming¡¯s face grew increasingly hostile. Anger in his eyes, he saw the Mutant Zombies rampaging through the crowd and suddenly thought of Fang Yuxin. He suddenly wished that Fang Yuxin were here. He recalled how she had encountered Mutant Zombies while on a rescue mission with Zhou Yan, and even when some had been infected with the Zombie Virus, she somehow managed to save them all! At this moment, he wasn¡¯t aware that Fang Yuxin was not far from the warehouse, up on Commercial Street, and he quickly suppressed that thought. He shouted aloud, ¡°Listen up, everyone! From now on, form teams of ten people based on your proximity, and fight the zombies together! Spread out to make space to deal with the zombies!¡± Humans and zombies are different. Zombies can only be killed by decapitating them, while humans, a scratch from a zombie¡¯s claw can wound them, make them bleed, and infect them with the Zombie Virus! When compared to zombies, humans had far too many weaknesses! If things continued like this, the situation would only get worse! As soon as Qiu Yiming finished speaking, his people immediately sprang into action. They followed his orders, forming teams of ten. They had been with Qiu Yiming for a while, and most of them were former soldiers, trained strictly, so their coordination was naturally well-tuned. The other three teams, however, were tragic by comparison. Next to Qiu Yiming¡¯s people, they were practically a mob. Without strict training like Qiu Yiming¡¯s men, they were stunned for a good moment after his order before they slowly started to form their teams. During this delay, many more were killed or injured by the zombies. And these three teams suffered the worst casualties. However, the potential of humans is limitless. After the initial chaos, they quickly formed teams and learned from Qiu Yiming¡¯s people to stand back-to-back, facing outward, to guard. The teams spaced themselves out quickly, and at the same time, the previously rampaging Mutant Zombies were now exposed. At this point, Qiu Yiming couldn¡¯t afford to worry about his previous plans. He was faced with only two options: break through and escape or kill all the Mutant Zombies here and continue to retrieve resources from the warehouse. The chaos had caused many of his men to sustain injuries, and some had even died. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to try and eliminate the Mutant Zombies. He ordered again, ¡°Each superpower user team should focus on a Mutant Zombie, try to wear them down and kill them. The rest should clear out the basic zombies.¡± As he spoke, he charged forward. He didn¡¯t use his gun but instead used his proud Thunder Power. With a pull of his hands, he produced a purple whip crackling with electric light. This whip, formed from his Thunder Element, was immensely powerful. A single lash could easily shatter the head of a Basic-level Zombie. But the Mutant Zombies were clearly not so easy to deal with. Qiu Yiming went straight for a Speed Mutant Zombie. He was fast, but much slower compared to the Speed Mutant Zombie. If he had a choice, he never would have faced a Speed Mutant Zombie. But these zombies were incredibly lethal due to their speed advantage, and if he didn¡¯t eliminate the Speed Mutant Zombies, they would cause far greater casualties. ¡°Snap!¡± Qiu Yiming swung his whip at the head of a Speed Mutant Zombie, but unfortunately, it was too fast, the strike missed its target. Qiu Yiming¡¯s face changed color as he sped up, and his whip cracked continuously, producing ¡°snap snap¡± sounds. The purple light of the whip weaved a dazzling display as it fiercely struck the Mutant Zombie. The Thunder Element was devastatingly powerful, and upon being hit, the Speed Mutant Zombie let out an agonizing shriek. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your vote, monthly ticket, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 228 - 228 139 Spiritual Attack (Third Release) ?Chapter 228: 139 Spiritual Attack (Third Release) Chapter 228: 139 Spiritual Attack (Third Release) ¡°The Thunder Whip struck the Speed Mutant Zombie, and the spot it hit immediately displayed very deep wounds. Its right arm even exploded outright, and its chest caved in.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, the whip did not hit its head or legs, and the Speed Mutant Zombie quickly retreated. It had no desire to continue fighting with Qiu Yiming, instead it turned and fled!¡± ¡°Qiu Yiming¡¯s gaze turned icy. He gripped the whip in his right hand tightly and threw it toward the direction in which the Speed Mutant Zombie was escaping.¡± ¡°The thrown whip straightened instantly in mid-air, becoming like a sharp spike, and shot rapidly towards the Speed Mutant Zombie, piercing its back skull in the blink of an eye.¡± ¡°The next moment, the Speed Mutant Zombie¡¯s head burst open instantaneously!¡± ¡°With a wave of his right hand, Qiu Yiming recalled the flying spike back to his grasp. He stroked the spike in his hand, his hands trembling with excitement.¡± ¡°He had recently encountered a bottleneck and had a premonition that if he could just take one step further, he would enter a new realm. But he had been unable to find the way in. However, just now, as he watched that Speed Mutant Zombie turn to flee, a strong rage surged within him. Then, he suddenly discovered that the barrier in front of him had shattered.¡± ¡°He was quite fortunate¡ªthis advancement was almost a given, and he did not waste much time; it happened in the blink of an eye.¡± ¡°In that instant, he could feel the energy around him constantly entering his body, and the aura emanating from him soared rapidly, quickly reaching a new height.¡± ¡°Because of the Thunder Power, his aura had always seemed quite terrifying. It was a destructive force, as if it could annihilate everything.¡± ¡°After the advancement, his aura had become even more fearsome. Those close to him instantly perceived this change, and as their complexions drastically altered, they subconsciously distanced themselves from him.¡± ¡°Qiu Yiming noticed their slight movements and did not get angry. Instead, he laughed proudly. He then gripped the spike tightly, and soon the spike disintegrated, reabsorbed back into him.¡± ¡°As the spike returned, it also brought back a Crystal Core. Qui Yiming looked at the clearly unusual Crystal Core and satisfactorily slipped it into his pocket.¡± ¡°Then his figure flashed, quickly locking onto his next target.¡± ¡°His target this time was likewise a Speed Mutant Zombie.¡± ¡°This Speed Mutant Zombie was trapped by ten superpower users. Although they barely restrained it, their situation was very bad and extremely dangerous!¡± ¡°These superpower users were none other than Qiu Yiming¡¯s men. He would, of course, not stand by and watch them die! In fact, moments after he gave the order, nearly everyone followed his command and trapped those Mutant Zombies. Not only did his men do this, but three other teams did the same.¡± ¡°Qiu Yiming watched all this and quickly made a decision.¡± ¡°Although his men¡¯s situation was a bit better than that of the other three teams, they were still in greater danger. But Qiu Yiming still chose to save his own people first. Those were his soldiers; he would grieve the loss of any of them! As for the other three teams, he could not care less about their fates.¡± ¡°Make way!¡± ¡°Having said that, Qiu Yiming quickly extended his right hand, fingers spread wide, and then a flash of lightning shot from his palm, rapidly entering the brain of that Speed Mutant Zombie.¡± ¡°This battle proved to be much simpler. The Speed Mutant Zombie could not dodge at all and was struck by the lightning, followed by its head bursting open. A white Crystal Core shot out and was caught by Qiu Yiming in his hand.¡± ¡°He pocketed the Crystal Core and quickly glanced at the ten superpower users. All ten had sustained injuries, and while the severity varied, the situation was not optimistic.¡± ¡°Qiu Yiming found that all of them were infected with the Zombie Virus.¡± ¡°He clenched his fists tight, once again thinking of Fang Yuxin. ¡°Because of Zhou Fanghua¡¯s dislike for Fang Yuxin, and his own desire to acquire Fang Mengyao¡¯s secret as soon as possible, he had planned to refrain from seeking out Fang Yuxin for the time being. But now that these men were all infected with the Zombie Virus, he had no choice but to find Fang Yuxin.¡± ¡°Although Josh was also a Wood Element Superpower User, his strength was not as great as Fang Yuxin¡¯s.¡± ¡°Thinking of this, Qiu Yiming¡¯s mood didn¡¯t turn heavy; instead, he felt a faint sense of pleasure. He suddenly thought that perhaps he could use this incident to smooth things over with Fang Yuxin. Moreover, since he was seeking Fang Yuxin for her help in treating his wounded subordinates, even Zhou Fanghua, despite her dislike for Fang Yuxin, would no longer be able to stop him.¡± Chapter 229 - 229 139 Spiritual Attack (Third Release)_2 ?Chapter 229: 139 Spiritual Attack (Third Release)_2 Chapter 229: 139 Spiritual Attack (Third Release)_2 Even so, he could use this incident to change Zhou Fanghua¡¯s attitude towards Fang Yuxin! Once Fang Yuxin cured his people, his mother presumably wouldn¡¯t dislike her anymore, right? Qiu Yiming felt confident in his thinking, his mood suddenly improved, and his face brightened a few degrees more. He even spoke to the ten superpower users in a gentle tone, ¡°Deal with those ordinary zombies, and if you really can¡¯t hold on, take a rest in the vehicle and let Chen Qiao try to treat your wounds.¡± The ten superpower users were flabbergasted, as Qiu Yiming had not been in a good mood lately, and they had been terrified for a long time, fearing that they might annoy him! Now, listening to his gentle tone, they felt an absurd sensation as if they had been struck by lightning! They stole a glance at Qiu Yiming, wondering if his brain had been scrambled by the zombies. Seeing no reaction from them, Qiu Yiming¡¯s face instantly darkened, and he glared at them fiercely, saying sternly, ¡°Get going!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± the ten superpower users cried out in unison, looking at Qiu Yiming¡¯s displeased face. While they were afraid, they also felt a sense of relief. Qiu Yiming ignored them and continued to deal with the other mutant zombies, once again encountering Speed Mutant Zombies. He repeated his previous tactic, raising his hand to release electricity, easily piercing the Speed Mutant Zombie¡¯s head, and again reaping a Mutated Crystal Core. He again instructed the superpower users, then went to kill another mutant zombie. However, just as he was about to release the electricity, a shrill scream suddenly came from nowhere! The sound was piercing and appeared simultaneously with a massive spiritual attack that quickly spread, shaking everyone¡¯s Sea of Consciousness. The attack came so suddenly that everyone was caught off guard, including Qiu Yiming, who felt his Sea of Consciousness shaking, and became groggy. The other people reacted similarly, their gazes became vacant, and their attacks came to a halt. Conversely, the zombies¡¯ attacks became more ferocious! Quite a few people soon died under the zombies¡¯ sharp claws and fangs. With a ¡°crack,¡± a lightning bolt suddenly appeared in Qiu Yiming¡¯s Sea of Consciousness, and he instantly regained consciousness. Just as he awoke, he saw a dark shadow rushing towards him! The rotten stench was overwhelming, he knew what this dark shadow was! Qiu Yiming¡¯s gaze hardened, and instantly, an electric net appeared in front of him. The dark shadow hit the electric net, and with a piercing scream and crackling of lightning, it quickly turned into charred ash. Qiu Yiming collected the crystal core and then saw that the others were still groggy. The superpower users were in a better state; the impact was not as significant for them. Although they were not fully conscious yet, they instinctively dodged the zombies¡¯ attacks. The situation for the ordinary people, however, was terrible; they seemed to have lost their minds, standing with vacant stares like wooden stakes, completely at the mercy of the zombies, not knowing how to resist! This couldn¡¯t go on! Qiu Yiming became resolute, thinking of the previous spiritual attack and realizing that it must have been a Spiritual Zombie, his mood instantly grew heavy. He shouted loudly, ¡°Everyone wake up! If you don¡¯t want to die, wake up!¡± Although his voice was loud, he didn¡¯t use any spiritual power, so the effect wasn¡¯t very pronounced. A few stronger superpower users regained consciousness, but many more remained vacant, still at the mercy of the zombies. Qiu Yiming thought again of Fang Yuxin; he clearly remembered that not long ago, Fang Yuxin had killed a Spiritual Zombie! At that time, he had been terribly worried, and many people had thought her chances of survival were slim, but when he led people to the rescue, they found that Fang Yuxin had come back unscathed! Because he had never witnessed the power of a Spiritual Zombie, he had subconsciously thought Spiritual Zombies were not hard to deal with, but now he suddenly realized he might have been wrong! He couldn¡¯t help but doubt whether it was really her who had killed that Spiritual Zombie? Then, he thought of Bai Ye. If it was Bai Ye, maybe he could indeed kill that Spiritual Zombie! But if that were the case, wouldn¡¯t it mean that Fang Yuxin had been involved with Bai Ye all along? Could it be that she had been lying all this time? Thinking this, Qiu Yiming¡¯s face turned extremely ugly. He couldn¡¯t bear to think further and forced himself to face the immediate crisis and look for a solution. He quickly discovered that several of the awakened superpower users were of the Spiritual type. So he immediately said, ¡°All Spiritual Superpower Users try to use your spiritual power to awaken the others!¡± He spoke and then froze. When facing Zheng Tianhe before, Zheng Tianhe had used a spiritual attack on them, but Fang Yuxin not only recognized it but also effortlessly neutralized his spiritual attack! Could it be... He suddenly thought of a possibility; could it be that Fang Yuxin was not only a Wood Element Superpower User but also a Spiritual Superpower User? If that were true, it would explain how she had been able to kill that Spiritual Zombie. Thinking of this possibility, his mood suddenly improved. Several Spiritual Superpower Users took action together, and quickly, many more people were roused. But it was still far from enough! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 230 - 230 What to do with 140 (First Update) ?Chapter 230: What to do with 140? (First Update) Chapter 230: What to do with 140? (First Update) Qiu Yiming watched helplessly as the casualties mounted, yelling at the few spiritual superpower users, ¡°Wake everyone up now! We can¡¯t go on like this!¡± The faces of those spiritual superpower users were filled with bitterness. They knew all too well that this was not sustainable, but what could they do? The spiritual zombie behind them was evidently more powerful than they were, and despite their best efforts, they were utterly unable to break through the spiritual zombie¡¯s spiritual attack. What could they do? It wasn¡¯t that they refused to do as Qiu Yiming instructed; they simply lacked the capability and felt completely powerless. Qiu Yiming¡¯s expression grew darker and uglier. He thought these people were utterly useless. So many of them together, and yet they could do nothing about that spiritual zombie! At the beginning, weren¡¯t there only a few of them like Fang Yuxin? They had managed to kill that spiritual zombie. Why were these people so utterly useless? But no matter how angry he was, it was useless; he tried screaming loudly and, combined with the efforts of the spiritual superpower users, they successfully woke up a third of the people. Then Qiu Yiming shouted aloud, ¡°Everyone, listen up! I don¡¯t care how you do it, but you must wake up the people around you!¡± The zombies were still attacking fiercely. Those who had awakened knew that the priority was to wake up those around them. It wasn¡¯t that they were selfless; it was just that there were too few of them now. If the others didn¡¯t wake up in time, the casualties would continue to increase, and their situation would become extremely dangerous! So, in an instant, all those who had woken up sprang into action, using every method they could think of, all to wake up those around them. The mutant zombies continued to wreak havoc. To minimize casualties, Qiu Yiming had no spare energy to do anything else but chase down those mutant zombies, killing them one by one. However, these mutant zombies were obviously much harder to deal with than ordinary zombies. They all knew about Qiu Yiming¡¯s capabilities and didn¡¯t confront him directly but instead kept their distance, attacking those who hadn¡¯t yet awoken. Seeing the situation get worse, Qiu Yiming had no choice but to loudly order, ¡°Everybody, get on the bus! Retreat first!¡± The casualties were increasing by the moment. Already a quarter of the people had died at the hands of the zombies, and half had been injured. Qiu Yiming dared not delay any longer. Although he had been thrilled about this sudden breakthrough, even grateful that he hadn¡¯t left, But when that spiritual zombie appeared, a single spiritual attack had crippled almost everyone¡¯s fighting ability. The greatest casualties had been caused since that moment. Qiu Yiming was filled with regret. If he had known that there was such a challenging spiritual zombie here, he would never have chosen to stay. But now, it was all too late! He couldn¡¯t afford to take any chances; all these people were his soldiers; losing one was losing one too many. Moreover, with such heavy casualties, it would be tough to explain once he returned to the Safe Zone. So he shouted again, ¡°Get on the bus! Hurry up! We need to retreat now!¡± By this time, those who had been dazed had all come to their senses. Hearing his command, they quickly grabbed their weapons and rushed towards the direction of the truck. But the zombies clearly didn¡¯t want to let them escape so easily; the horde surged like a tidal wave towards them. The scene became increasingly chaotic, with people being caught and wounded by zombies or outright killed. Screams kept erupting, and the air was thick with the stench of blood and decay, with blood everywhere on the ground. The whole scene was panic-inducing and filled with despair. Seeing the zombies continuously closing in, showing no sign of retreating, Qiu Yiming¡¯s expression darkened. He then pushed his hands forward, and a massive electric net instantly unfolded and kept expanding, forming a giant barrier that blocked the zombies. This was the first time he had released such a big move, which drained nearly half of his energy immediately after its release. Yet he dared not let go, instead continuously releasing superpower to sustain the electric net for a bit longer. Behind the electric net were zombies still charging relentlessly, attacking the electric net crazily, not caring about their bodies being burnt to cinders. Qiu Yiming felt like he was about to vomit blood. He felt the energy continuously draining from his body; the feeling was unbearable, but he had no choice but to keep going! Chapter 231 - 231 140 What to do (First update)_2 ?Chapter 231: 140 What to do? (First update)_2 Chapter 231: 140 What to do? (First update)_2 As soon as he let go, the zombies would rush over, and there was no telling how many casualties there would be! At this point, because the group was scattered, he simply couldn¡¯t discern who was ally and who was not; he could only save everyone he could before sorting things out. Fortunately, the others were smart enough not to be foolhardy and run out screaming in refusal to leave; they all treasured the opportunity to escape that he had fought for and desperately surged onto the truck. While Qiu Yiming could hold off zombies from one direction, he was unable to fend off all the zombies. As the mercenaries scrambled onto the truck, many were grabbed and wounded or killed by zombies coming from other directions. Guns blared incessantly. No one cared about conserving ammunition at this point; everyone fired wildly at the zombies, hoping to kill as many as possible. After a bout of chaos, apart from those who¡¯d died, the remaining people all made it onto the truck. Qiu Yiming heaved a sigh of relief, clenched his hands tightly and released the electric net he had spread out in an instant, ensnaring the zombies within. Crackling sounds filled the air, as numerous zombies were visibly charred at an alarming rate. Yet Qiu Yiming dared not linger a moment longer, let alone take the opportunity to collect Crystal Cores. With a leap, he jumped onto the top of the truck¡¯s cabin and shouted loudly, ¡°Stop dawdling, everyone! Break out now!¡± That Spiritual Zombie was still lurking in the shadows; although it had only made that one Spiritual Attack and had not acted since, Qiu Yiming felt intensely uneasy. His instinct told him that the zombie was still out there, and it was more dangerous to stay. He had to take everyone and leave. These people were too weak; they would only be a burden if they stayed! But even alone, he wasn¡¯t sure he could manage to fight off thousands of zombies. A strategic retreat was the only option. The retreat was met with numerous blockades of zombies. Along the way, with constant gunshots and relying solely on firepower to clear the path, they miraculously managed to escape through numerous perils. They did not dare to linger long in the Food Trading City, driving seven or eight miles away before stopping. At this time, less than a quarter of Qiu Yiming¡¯s superpower remained in his body. He tiredly leaped down from the cabin and saw Fang Mengyao step out from the passenger seat, concern written all over her face as she approached him with a tender and solicitous voice, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, are you alright? You look terrible!¡± Qiu Yiming, thinking of Fang Yuxin, couldn¡¯t help but push away the hand she extended to him. While he had been busy killing zombies, Fang Mengyao was nowhere to be seen, and he had no idea where she had hidden. Now she came out to show concern ¡ª what was the use? If it had been Fang Yuxin... If it had been Fang Yuxin, she would have surely chosen to fight alongside him, and she might even have been able to kill that troublesome Spiritual Zombie! If so, would he have had to flee from the Food Trading City in such an ignominious state? Fang Mengyao¡¯s face turned slightly unpleasant as Qiu Yiming pushed her hand away, but remembering the dangers they had just faced, she suppressed her anger. She felt a bit guilty; while Qiu Yiming was dealing with the zombies, she had hidden away, intending to snatch some supplies from the warehouse. But the zombies were far too formidable, especially that hidden Spiritual Zombie which had almost influenced her! Were it not for the protection of the game system, she might have been beguiled! She hadn¡¯t dared to make it too apparent at the time, fearing that others would notice her using skills from different types, so she had sneaked back to the truck while the others were distracted, waiting for Qiu Yiming to deal with the zombies. She had thought that Qiu Yiming could handle that troublesome Spiritual Zombie, but even he was no match for it. However, remembering the game system¡¯s notification, she found it hard to blame Qiu Yiming for being useless. That Spiritual Zombie was a Level 2 Zombie, and Qiu Yiming had only just reached Level 1. Plus, with the zombie hiding and striking from the shadows without revealing itself, killing it was not going to be easy! She looked at Qiu Yiming¡¯s pale complexion and decided to comfort him anyway, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, don¡¯t be disheartened. That Spiritual Zombie today was too powerful, and it kept hiding and not showing itself. That¡¯s why you couldn¡¯t handle it. It¡¯s not your fault.¡± Qiu Yiming knew it wasn¡¯t his fault; he just couldn¡¯t tolerate his own failure! Today he had been far too disheveled, and to make matters worse, everyone had witnessed it! Thinking about the punishment he would face when he got back, his mood became heavy. This made him think of Fang Yuxin again, and he even regretted his decision. He thought that he should not have chosen to distance himself from Fang Yuxin. Her strength was definitely greater than she let on. If she had been there to support him, would he have ended up in such disarray? Unbeknownst to Fang Mengyao, Qiu Yiming¡¯s thoughts had turned to Fang Yuxin. She had some understanding of this man by now, guessing that it was the failure he couldn¡¯t accept. Yet looking at Qiu Yiming¡¯s discomfited appearance, she couldn¡¯t help feeling disappointed. In her view, a man as outstanding as Qiu Yiming, even when faced with a Level 2 Mental Zombie, shouldn¡¯t he have been able to kill it in spite of the difference in level? Wasn¡¯t that how it always happened in novels and on television? But Qiu Yiming had neither killed that Spiritual Zombie nor made a valiant stand; he had fled ignominiously! Fang Mengyao thought the story was too abnormal! She couldn¡¯t help but think of Bai Ye and wondered what would happen if Bai Ye encountered that Spiritual Zombie. Could he deal with it? As they were each lost in their own thoughts, suddenly Josh burst out from the truck, panic on his face as he approached Qiu Yiming, exclaiming, ¡°Major Qiu, it¡¯s terrible! All those who were wounded have been infected with the Zombie Virus! What do we do?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 232 - 232 141 Go and See (Second Update) ?Chapter 232: 141 Go and See (Second Update) Chapter 232: 141 Go and See (Second Update) Qiu Yiming looked at Josh with cold eyes. Although he had long guessed that anyone scratched by a mutant zombie would be infected with the zombie virus, when it actually happened, he still felt an indescribable suffocation and discomfort. When Josh, with a panicked face, asked him, ¡°What should we do?¡±, Yiming almost wished he could slap him across the face! Josh was a Wood Element Superpower User, a doctor. Now, instead of thinking of a solution when something went wrong, he was running to him for help? He couldn¡¯t help but think of Fang Yuxin again. If Fang Yuxin were here, she would definitely have a solution! Qiu Yiming impatiently raked his fingers through his hair and then asked, ¡°How many people are infected with the zombie virus?¡± Josh was caught off guard. Panic flashed across his face before he explained, ¡°The exact number of infected people hasn¡¯t been tallied yet. I came to notify you as soon as I found out someone was infected.¡± Hearing this made Qiu Yiming even more irate! That¡¯s how people are; when you favor someone, no matter what mistakes they make, you are more forgiving and think nothing of it. But if you dislike someone, then no matter what they do, in your eyes, it¡¯s utterly reprehensible! Of course, Qiu Yiming was a mundane person. He was now filled with regret and his mind was preoccupied with Fang Yuxin. He felt that Josh was no match for Fang Yuxin, and thus, he was extremely displeased with Josh. In this situation, it wasn¡¯t that Josh was at fault; he was just too panicked, and the severity of the situation added to his anxiety, so he frantically went to Qiu Yiming for advice. Was such a significant matter something a mere doctor could decide on? Unfortunately, with Qiu Yiming in a bad mood and viewing Josh so unfavorably, it turned out that Josh could only be wrong in this instance. Qiu Yiming glared fiercely at Josh. Recalling something Fang Yuxin had once suggested, he said to Josh, ¡°First, gather all the infected personnel together. Then take one and try cutting away the necrotic tissue around his wound. After that, use the Wood Element Superpower to heal him and see if it works.¡± That was precisely what Fang Yuxin had done initially. Unable to think of any other method, Qiu Yiming had no choice but to have Josh try Fang Yuxin¡¯s approach. These personnel, although infected, had not fully turned into zombies yet. He couldn¡¯t possibly just kill them. Upon hearing this, both Josh and Fang Mengyao realized this was a method Fang Yuxin had used before, and it left a bitter taste in their mouths. Ever since their last confrontation, Josh had recognized that Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Element Superpower was much more advanced than his, which both made him jealous and scared him. He had finally acquired a respectable and well-regarded profession; he didn¡¯t want to lose it so easily. Since Fang Yuxin was Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiancee, he initially thought Fang Yuxin would join them in their missions, which profoundly frightened him. With Fang Yuxin stronger and being Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, there would be no place for him on the Thunder Team if she came. However, for reasons unknown, Fang Yuxin had ended up not joining their missions, and he remained the team¡¯s doctor, which greatly relieved him. Soon after, word spread that Fang Yuxin had cured people infected with the zombie virus, and two of the ordinary people even awakened their superpowers as a result. As he listened to people¡¯s discussions, his heart once again uncontrollably filled with jealousy and panic. He feared the team would despise him for his incompetence and was even more afraid that Qiu Yiming would replace him with Fang Yuxin. It was later when he discovered that rumors were flying high and many ordinary people began targeting Fang Yuxin, hoping to awaken and become superpower users, that he felt a twisted pleasure. He thought Fang Yuxin deserved it. So upon hearing that Qiu Yiming instructed him to use Fang Yuxin¡¯s proposed method to save people, he instantly felt resistant and even more terrified. He knew his own limitations; if he failed to save people this time, wouldn¡¯t that just tell everyone that he was no match for Fang Yuxin and that he couldn¡¯t do what Fang Yuxin could? Therefore, he couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Major Qiu, isn¡¯t this a bit too risky? What if it doesn¡¯t work...¡± Qiu Yiming was already bottling up a fierce rage, which was nearly consuming his rationality. It took tremendous willpower just to keep himself calm. But upon hearing Josh¡¯s words, the anger in him blazed up like a ¡°bang,¡± continually scorching the last vestiges of his sanity. Chapter 233 - 233 141 go take a look (second update)_2 ?Chapter 233: 141 go take a look (second update)_2 Chapter 233: 141 go take a look (second update)_2 He couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and interrupted Josh with a roar, ¡°What do you mean by that? You¡¯re a doctor, can¡¯t you do it? Xinxin once saved people using this method, she could do it, why can¡¯t you?¡± Josh was at a loss for words. Was he supposed to admit outright that he wasn¡¯t as good as Fang Yuxin? How would that affect his face? How would others look at him? What would his position in the Thunder Team be afterward? He dared not say he couldn¡¯t do it, nor that he wasn¡¯t confident. He could only grit his teeth and say, ¡°I¡¯ll go and try!¡± Qiu Yiming let him off, his face somber as he watched Josh turn and walk away, thinking that he needed to find Fang Yuxin as soon as possible. Fang Mengyao looked at his gloomy expression and felt uneasy, hesitating before asking, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, what do we do now?¡± Qiu Yiming was in a bad mood and didn¡¯t bother to appease her, saying coldly, ¡°Just wait.¡± There were too many injured, and some were even infected with the Zombie Virus. Bringing them back to the Safe Zone like this would surely result in severe punishment. Fang Mengyao pursed her lips, guessed his concerns, and then suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s find a safe place first, this is too dangerous.¡± This proposal was not bad, Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t oppose it, and he even smiled at her, ¡°Hmm, you are right, we should find a safe place.¡± The other three teams had also escaped, but their casualties were severe, half of their forces were dead or injured. They couldn¡¯t just return like that, so they stayed behind, hoping that if Josh could cure them, no matter the cost, they would have him treat their injuries. ... Fang Yuxin and the others quickly swept the entire commercial street clean, then she deliberately released her Spiritual Sense to check on Bai Ye¡¯s situation, only to see them still stuffing supplies into the car. Unfortunately, their car was small, and the supplies it could hold were limited. Fang Yuyang asked, ¡°Xinxin, we¡¯ve got all the stuff, shall we withdraw?¡± Fang Yuxin thought about the situation in the warehouse and felt concerned, saying, ¡°Wait a minute, I¡¯m going to check on the warehouse.¡± Fang Yuyang¡¯s expression changed instantly; thinking about Qiu Yiming in the warehouse, he thought Fang Yuxin was worried about him and feared that she still had feelings for him. He couldn¡¯t help but darken his expression, lowering his voice, ¡°Xinxin, Qiu Yiming isn¡¯t worth it, stop thinking about him.¡± Fang Yuxin silently looked at him, saw his worry, and smiled helplessly, ¡°Brother, what are you thinking? I don¡¯t like him anymore. I won¡¯t go back to him.¡± Fang Yuyang wanted to believe her, but he was still uneasy, and looked at her skeptically, ¡°Are you sure?¡± Fang Yuxin rolled her eyes, ¡°Why would I lie to you? Do you think your sister is so stupid to hang herself on him?¡± Fang Yuyang observed her face carefully, seeing her sincerity finally set his mind at ease, but then asked, ¡°Then why do you still want to check on the warehouse? Since Qiu Yiming is there, he must be prepared, and we don¡¯t lack resources, so don¡¯t compete with him, lest you get entangled with him again.¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head, ¡°Brother, did you hear that noise just now? I suspect there¡¯s a Spiritual Zombie there, I want to see if it¡¯s true.¡± Fang Yuyang¡¯s expression changed, ¡°A Spiritual Zombie again?¡± He and Fang Yuxin had barely managed to kill a Spiritual Zombie last time, and he had somewhat of a psychological shadow about them. Hearing that there might be a Spiritual Zombie near the warehouse, he felt uneasy. But he still said, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about going alone, I¡¯ll come with you.¡± Fang Yuxin hesitated for a moment but didn¡¯t refuse. The Spiritual Attack of a Spiritual Zombie was terrifying, and the others were far less capable, adding only as burdens and increasing the danger. She simply said to Shang Jinxiu, ¡°Jinxiu, can you fit any more items in your space?¡± Shang Jinxiu uncomfortably furrowed his brow, ¡°There¡¯s not much space left, can¡¯t fit much.¡± Fang Yuxin waved her hand, ¡°It¡¯s okay, don¡¯t we have the big bags? Just stuff it in, and we¡¯ll put it on the car later. You guys head to the commercial street on the east side; Bai Ye and his group couldn¡¯t take everything, go and get some there.¡± Shang Jinxiu, recalling what Fang Yuxin had just said, appeared worried, ¡°Sister Xin, isn¡¯t it too dangerous at the warehouse? Do you really have to go?¡± Fang Yuxin saw she was genuinely worried, and Chen Qiao and the others also showed concerned expressions. She felt warmed inside and reassured them, ¡°My brother and I are just going to take a look, we¡¯ll be careful. You guys be careful too, better stick with Bai Ye and his group. Although we aren¡¯t close to them, they seem trustworthy. But there¡¯s a man named Shen among them, looks weak but is a Spiritual Superpower User, you must watch out for him!¡± Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe saw her determination and no longer tried to dissuade her, only cautioning her to be very careful. Watching Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang ride away on a motorcycle, the two¡¯s expressions darkened, resolved to quickly improve their strength so they wouldn¡¯t have to just watch Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang risk their lives while they could do nothing! Then, Fang Jintang looked at the others and said, ¡°Alright, since Xinxin said so, let¡¯s check out the commercial street on the east side.¡± The others naturally had no objections and quickly boarded the car. When they reached the commercial street on the east side, Bai Ye and his group were tying supplies to the car. Huge bundles were secured atop the roof, and the rear seat was packed full, showing they had gathered quite a lot of supplies. But compared to them, they seemed rather lacking. When Bai Ye saw them, he instinctively searched for Fang Yuxin¡¯s figure. However, he quickly realized she wasn¡¯t there. He felt a bit worried, and his brow furrowed slightly as he asked, ¡°Why isn¡¯t Miss Fang here?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you¡¯re welcome to vote on Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 234 - 234 142 Mind your own business (Third update) ?Chapter 234: 142 Mind your own business! (Third update) Chapter 234: 142 Mind your own business! (Third update) Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe had complicated feelings toward Bai Ye because Bai Qianqian appeared so unexpectedly and her background was so bizarre that they initially were very guarded against her father. Later, as their feelings toward Bai Qianqian changed, their feelings toward her father gradually changed too, not to the extent of treating him as a son-in-law, but they did begin to appreciate him more. Because Bai Qianqian was really sensible and clever, they felt that the person who raised her must be a good person. Then later, when Fang Yuxin proposed to end her engagement with Qiu Yiming and Bai Ye appeared, they began to see Bai Ye as a potential son-in-law. This is not to say that they immediately treated Bai Ye as a future son-in-law, but they began to evaluate him with the criteria they would use for a future son-in-law. As a result of this evaluation, they found that Bai Ye was actually quite impressive. He was good-looking, had a good temperament, and upon first impression, his character and abilities seemed quite satisfactory; Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe suddenly felt that he could indeed be their son-in-law. This was their first impression of Bai Ye after meeting him. However, since they had just met him and didn¡¯t know him deeply, they couldn¡¯t immediately be satisfied with him and truly treat him as a son-in-law, but they included him in their scope of consideration. So as soon as Bai Ye started to speak, they could see that Bai Ye was concerned about Fang Yuxin, and with this, they were even more pleased with him; Fang Jintang did not hide Fang Yuxin¡¯s whereabouts and straightforwardly said, ¡°Xinxin and Yu Yang have gone to the warehouse area, saying they are worried about the situation there.¡± Bai Ye immediately misunderstood and connected it straight to Yu Yang! Fang Yuxin had actually gone to the warehouse! Could she still be hung up on Qiu Yiming? That was too dangerous! He didn¡¯t like Qiu Yiming, and after developing some appreciation for Fang Yuxin, he was even less hopeful that she would cling to Qiu Yiming, a tree already rotten at the core. He no longer cared about his wariness of Qiu Yiming and directly said, ¡°Then I will go and check it out too!¡± Meng Qingluo was helping others secure packages on top of a vehicle, and when she heard Bai Ye say this, she was alarmed! Qiu Yiming was just looking for a chance to kill them, what was Bai Ye doing? Was he asking to die by purposely going there? She hurriedly tried to stop him, ¡°Big brother! Don¡¯t forget, Qiu Yiming is currently at the warehouse, it¡¯s too dangerous for you to go there!¡± Bai Ye waved his hand, he didn¡¯t take Qiu Yiming seriously; even if Qiu Yiming dared to make a move on him, he was confident he could escape unscathed. He had previously not gone simply because it was unnecessary and also because he was worried about his teammates potentially being affected. He didn¡¯t give Meng Qingluo a chance to speak further, only saying, ¡°I¡¯ll go check out the warehouse, you guys stay here! Don¡¯t follow!¡± After glaring fiercely at the others to ensure they wouldn¡¯t follow, he didn¡¯t take a car but instead ran swiftly toward the direction of the warehouse. He ran very fast, and in the blink of an eye, he had already covered some distance. Meng Qingluo was extremely worried and said to the others, ¡°No! We can¡¯t just sit here and wait for doom, we must follow! We can¡¯t let the boss suffer because of that Qiu!¡± But just as she finished speaking, Chen Si sternly said, ¡°No one is to go!¡± He purposefully looked at Meng Qingluo, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what the boss just said? He said none of us are to follow! Don¡¯t you understand the good intentions behind the boss¡¯s actions? He¡¯s worried about us encountering danger! You all know the boss¡¯s strength; if we go, what help could we possibly provide? We would just be a burden to the boss!¡± Meng Qingluo was taken aback by his words and realized her decision was rash. Yet her heart was uneasy; if not for Fang Yuxin, why would the boss go to the warehouse? What¡¯s so good about that woman that the boss would repeatedly take risks for her! Thinking this, her face became extremely gloomy. The others, seeing her expression, although silent, felt somewhat disappointed. They all knew Meng Qingluo¡¯s feelings for Bai Ye, aware of her affection for him. Previously, when there were no other women around Bai Ye, they too were wary of women with ulterior motives possibly deceiving Bai Ye, and thus they approved of Meng Qingluo¡¯s feelings. Later, once Bai Ye clearly showed he had no romantic interest in Meng Qingluo, they ceased their attempts to pair the two. Now that Bai Ye was evidently somewhat concerned about Fang Yuxin, and since Fang Yuxin was Bai Qianqian¡¯s biological mother with respectable abilities and character, they naturally had no intention of stopping it. Chapter 235 - 235 142 Its Really None of Your Business (Third ?Chapter 235: 142 It¡¯s Really None of Your Business! (Third Update)_2 Chapter 235: 142 It¡¯s Really None of Your Business! (Third Update)_2 But Meng Qingluo couldn¡¯t see the reality clearly; instead, she kept trying to interfere with Bai Ye¡¯s decisions, which was utterly out of touch with the situation. On what grounds did she have any right to interfere with Bai Ye¡¯s decisions? Let alone the fact that Bai Ye merely had some concern for Fang Yuxin and was not in love with her¡ª even if he truly fell in love with Fang Yuxin and wanted to marry her, what right did they have to intervene? If Fang Yuxin had ulterior motives or was not a good match for Bai Ye, that would be one thing, but as far as anyone could tell, she and Bai Ye were well-suited for each other. What reason was there to prevent them from being together? Chen Si thought about it and decided that he couldn¡¯t let Meng Qingluo continue like this. He said, ¡°Qingluo, just leave the matters between our boss and Miss Fang alone. You know his temper without me having to say; you¡¯re aware of the consequences of angering him, so don¡¯t be foolish!¡± Embarrassed and angered, Meng Qingluo¡¯s face turned red in an instant. But soon, the color drained from her face, leaving her increasingly pale. Although they kept their voices low, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe still heard them. The two exchanged glances and with an almost imperceptible hostility, their looks towards Meng Qingluo changed. If Bai Ye liked this woman, they naturally wouldn¡¯t have any thoughts regarding Bai Ye and Meng Qingluo, but from Bai Ye¡¯s attitude, it was clear he didn¡¯t fancy this woman, it was the woman who was interested in Bai Ye and wasn¡¯t happy about Bai Ye being with their daughter. Naturally, they¡¯d come to see Meng Qingluo as an enemy who could destroy their daughter¡¯s happiness. However, both of them, given their age and experience, kept their hostility hidden, not showing it directly, but instead, they were secretly on guard. They stated their purpose for being there, and Chen Si and the others naturally had no objections. There were many supplies here that they couldn¡¯t take with them; rather than wasting them, they might as well let Fang Jintang and the others take them. What they were more concerned about was Bai Ye¡¯s safety. They didn¡¯t follow Bai Ye because they didn¡¯t want to be a burden to him and increase his danger, but it wasn¡¯t because they weren¡¯t worried about him! ... Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang stopped five hundred meters away from the warehouse. At this point, Fang Yuxin could use her Spiritual Sense to ¡®see¡¯ the entire situation in the warehouse clearly; there was no need to get any closer. But when she ¡®looked,¡¯ she happened to see Qiu Yiming leading his people as they fled in a sorry state from another direction. There were many zombies in the warehouse, but since Qiu Yiming and his group had already killed quite a few, only a few thousand remained. The only real trouble was with the Mutant Zombies and that sneaky Spiritual Zombie lurking in the shadows! This Spiritual Zombie was incredibly cunning and well-hidden. Even Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t find its location; she could only sense the energy fluctuations left near the warehouse to confirm its existence. She shared her discovery with Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother, there¡¯s at least one Spiritual Zombie here. Qiu Yiming and his team have already retreated and in quite a disheveled manner. There are still many supplies in the warehouse they didn¡¯t take.¡± Fang Yuyang frowned upon hearing this. By the end of it, he understood Fang Yuxin¡¯s intention, and his face darkened as he directly refused, ¡°No! I don¡¯t agree with you taking this risk! Xin Xin, we are not short of supplies, there¡¯s no need to risk everything for these supplies!¡± Fang Yuxin, of course, knew they were not short on supplies; all the supplies were stored in her Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. However, because of that dream, she had endured enough of the days when supplies were scarce, and she and Fang Yuyang had to struggle everywhere. So, after seeing the large amount of supplies left in the warehouse, she really couldn¡¯t just walk away. It was too wasteful! She tried to convince Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother, the most troublesome one here is the Spiritual Zombie, but we can try to kill it. Once it¡¯s dead, the rest of the zombies will be easy to deal with!¡± Fang Yuyang was about to refuse, but then he saw Fang Yuxin suddenly turn her head and look in the direction they had come from. He turned his head, on guard, and saw a gray-green figure swiftly approaching. Bai Ye was dressed in camouflage combat uniform, which was gray-green. Normally, this color wasn¡¯t particularly attractive, but whether it was the cut of the clothes or because Bai Ye¡¯s physique was just so perfect, the uniform on him looked striking, making him appear tall and spirited, especially handsome. Fang Yuyang generally disliked any stinking man who approached his sister with the intention of taking her away, and naturally, he did not have a favorable impression of Bai Ye. Watching as Bai Ye¡¯s figure got closer and closer, he sneered to himself, thinking how ugly it was! Soon, Bai Ye arrived in front of them. He glanced towards the direction of the warehouse and then said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°I heard you were planning to go to the warehouse, so I came to check it out. What happened? Did you discover something?¡± Bai Ye was naturally clever, and as a long-time mercenary, his observational skills were exceptionally sharp. Seeing that Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had stopped here and had not moved on, he guessed that they must have discovered something. He wasn¡¯t sure about Fang Yuyang, but he knew Fang Yuxin must have such an ability! Previously, when Shen Xi used spiritual power to probe, she had successfully warded him off! That meant Fang Yuxin also possessed spiritual power, and possibly not weaker than Shen Xi¡¯s! Shen Xi being a Spiritual Superpower User had that kind of spiritual power, so what about her? Could she also be a Spiritual Superpower User? Bai Ye shook his head internally, sensing that Fang Yuxin was hiding something even bigger! However, he was very clear about what could and could not be done. Even if only for the sake of Fang Yuxin being the biological mother of Bai Qianqian, he would not pry into Fang Yuxin¡¯s secrets. Fang Yuxin gave him a look, surprised that Bai Ye would come. She deliberately said, ¡°Don¡¯t you know that Qiu Yiming is over by the warehouse? Aren¡¯t you afraid of running into him?¡± Bai Ye gave her a deep look and said with a smile, ¡°So what if I do? Am I supposed to keep hiding from him forever? Since you don¡¯t like him, I won¡¯t let him bother you again.¡± Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang both frowned, feeling that Bai Ye was really overstepping his bounds! (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 236 - 236 143 Unilateral Slaughter (First Update) ?Chapter 236: 143 Unilateral Slaughter (First Update) Chapter 236: 143 Unilateral Slaughter (First Update) Although Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang thought Bai Ye was being rather meddlesome, they indeed disliked Qiu Yiming¡¯s constant pestering. With Bai Ye¡¯s help, it seemed that there wouldn¡¯t be anything bad about it. The fear was that Bai Ye might overdo his help! Thinking of the animosity between Bai Ye and Qiu Yiming, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Mr. Bai, please don¡¯t get involved in the matter between Qiu Yiming and me, to avoid any trouble for everyone.¡± Qiu Yiming was originally at odds with Bai Ye, and even suspected unclear relations between her and Bai Ye. If Bai Ye were to intervene further, wouldn¡¯t Qiu Yiming become even more troublesome? Fang Yuyang thought of this too, and having his own reservations about Bai Ye, he agreed, ¡°Xinxin is right; you shouldn¡¯t get involved in this.¡± Helplessly, Bai Ye really couldn¡¯t stand Qiu Yiming¡¯s harassment of Fang Yuxin. Any man should pursue earnestly and know when to let go. If the other person doesn¡¯t like you, yet you continue clinging tenaciously, that¡¯s utterly despicable! However, seeing Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin¡¯s firm attitude, he felt it pointless to argue further and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what to do.¡± He secretly thought, he must find an opportunity to get rid of Qiu Yiming! That man was too despicable! After he spoke, remembering that Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t answered his previous question, he asked again, ¡°Oh, Miss Fang, have you all been staying here because you discovered something?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he saw dozens of zombies charging towards them from the direction of the warehouse. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang also noticed, and she, disregarding Bai Ye¡¯s question, released her Spiritual Sense to assess the zombies¡¯ strength levels and said to Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother, they are all basic-level zombies.¡± Fang Yuyang understood; as the zombies got closer, only fifty meters away, he raised his right hand and unleashed a Wind Blade, which whistled out and decapitated the basic-level zombies¡¯ heads and then the Wind Blade returned, bringing back dozens of Crystal Cores. Soon, more zombies approached from the direction of the warehouse. Fang Yuxin noticed this situation and said, ¡°Brother, it must be that Spiritual Zombie commanding them, we better kill it quickly, or others will be in danger.¡± Fang Yuyang nodded, and just as he was about to speak, he heard Bai Ye say, ¡°I¡¯ll come with you!¡± As he spoke, he had already reached Fang Yuxin and smilingly proposed, ¡°Miss Fang, could you give me a ride?¡± Hearing his words, Fang Yuyang almost bulged his eyes; his gaze towards Bai Ye was like looking at a scoundrel who took advantage of his sister! Fang Yuxin had already started the motorcycle, seeing Bai Ye was following and impatiently said, ¡°Hurry up and get on!¡± Fang Yuyang wanted to stop him, but it was too late, Bai Ye quickly got onto Fang Yuxin¡¯s motorcycle, and quite familiarly placed his hands on her waist. Seeing this, Fang Yuyang instantly turned livid. Fang Yuxin was also uncomfortable, but since Bai Ye was quite powerful, she felt having him as backup was useful, which is why she didn¡¯t stop him. Fortunately, Bai Ye behaved properly, although his hands were on her waist, he made no frivolous moves. Fang Yuxin frowned slightly but managed to suppress her discomfort. The motorcycle roared off, and Fang Yuyang couldn¡¯t say anything further. Following Fang Yuxin, he glared daggers at Bai Ye the entire way, wishing his glare could dismember him. Zombies continuously approached from the direction of the warehouse. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang rode their motorcycles, circumnavigating the zombies, and quickly arrived at the warehouse. The area had just witnessed a brutal slaughter, with bloodstains everywhere. On closer inspection, some skeletal corpses could be seen. These bodies were evidently left by previous individuals. After Qiu Yiming and the others left, the bodies had been devoured by zombies, now only leaving behind ghastly skeletons. Scattered bits of flesh and blood filaments hung on the skeletons, emitting a disturbing scent that sent chills up the spine. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang parked the motorcycles a bit farther away, and then the three of them rushed toward the warehouse. Fang Yuxin released Lan Re, and Bai Ye saw a flash of white light on her wrist; then the light shot towards the group of corpses and disappeared. He was wondering what it was, and then from the direction where the white light vanished, came a disturbance from the crowd of corpses. On closer look, there was a white snake-like creature writhing there. Its body was covered with scales or leaves the size of an adult¡¯s palm, those scale-like leaves were extremely sharp, easily decapitating the zombies. Chapter 237 - 237 143 Unilateral Slaughter (Second Update) ?Chapter 237: 143 Unilateral Slaughter (Second Update) Chapter 237: 143 Unilateral Slaughter (Second Update) Bai Ye witnessed the scene, once again revising his understanding of Fang Yuxin. He had noticed that white bracelet on her wrist long ago, but at the time, he had only thought it looked pretty on her wrist and faintly sensed that it was more than an ordinary bracelet. However, he never imagined that this bracelet could be a lethal weapon. Moreover, by its appearance, it looked very much like a kind of plant he had seen before. He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Miss Fang, is that object possibly a mutated Crystal Orchid?¡± Fang Yuxin was surprised that Bai Ye had recognized it and glanced at him in astonishment; then, she nodded. She then said, ¡°There¡¯s a Spiritual Zombie hiding around here. Be careful of its Spiritual Attack!¡± Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye nodded subconsciously, then both prepared their defenses. A small whirlwind appeared in Fang Yuyang¡¯s Sea of Consciousness, while a bolt of lightning appeared in Bai Ye¡¯s. If that Spiritual Zombie launched a Spiritual Attack against them, it would be shredded immediately by the whirlwind and lightning! Just as Fang Yuxin finished speaking, zombies began to surround them relentlessly, and quickly encircled them. Fang Yuxin immediately locked onto those warehouses that hadn¡¯t been opened yet. As the circle of zombies tightened, she stomped hard on the ground with her right foot, and leveraging the rebound, she soared into the air. It was as if she was performing martial arts from TV and movies, stepping on the zombies¡¯ heads as she made her way straight towards the warehouse. Zombies kept reaching out with their sharp claws, attempting to grab her. However, her speed was simply too fast. Those zombies whose heads she stepped on had their skulls shattered, while she continued to leap securely onto the roof of a warehouse using their force. The warehouse roof was constructed with an arched panel material, not very strong. She gripped the Miao Saber with both hands, stabbing it forcefully downwards to easily carve out a circular hole just enough for one person to pass through. Below the hole was a steel shelf, less than a meter below the roof, which she gracefully hopped down onto. The door of this warehouse was closed. After using her Spiritual Sense to check and confirming there were no zombies inside, she unhesitatingly and decisively swept all the goods, along with the shelves, into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Meanwhile, outside the warehouse, Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang were continuously hunting zombies. Bai Ye, being a Gold and Thunder Dual Power user, would summon a bolt of lightning with every raise of his hand, charring the zombies¡¯ heads to a crisp. Wind Blades circled around him like a moving meat grinder, slicing any approaching zombie to pieces. At the same time, he continuously shot out Wind Blades with his hands, severing zombies¡¯ heads and bringing back countless Crystal Cores. Without anyone else present, the two had no burdens, coupled with a faint competitive desire in their hearts, they acted without mercy. The entire fight was a one-sided slaughter. This was unlike Qiu Yiming, who, despite having brought a number of people, found them to be a burden as well, inhibiting his actions. As Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang hunted zombies, they didn¡¯t forget to watch Fang Yuxin¡¯s movements. Seeing her enter the warehouse from the rooftop, Bai Ye¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He realized that Fang Yuxin had far more tricks up her sleeve compared to other superpower users; thinking that she might also have awakened to the Spatial System power, it wouldn¡¯t surprise him at all. As Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang continued to kill an increasing number of zombies, the Spiritual Zombie hiding in the dark began to grow agitated. Then, an extremely piercing scream suddenly erupted! The sound seemed to come from all directions, impossible to pinpoint its exact source. With the emergence of the noise, all zombies grew enraged. The previously hidden Mutant Zombies charged out instantly, lunging at Bai Ye, Fang Yuyang, and Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin, standing on the roof of the third warehouse and ready to enter, was targeted by two Speed Mutant Zombies, both incredibly fast, hurtling at her like lightning. The directions chosen by the two Speed Mutant Zombies were tricky; if it were anyone else, they would be unable to dodge. However, they faced Fang Yuxin. She didn¡¯t even try to dodge but covered the Blade with Wood Energy, then, following the direction of the incoming zombies, she sliced through both Speed Mutant Zombies¡¯ bodies with ease. Nevertheless, without beheading them or destroying their brains, zombies wouldn¡¯t die. Though bisected by Fang Yuxin, the two Speed Mutant Zombies still tried to pounce at her with their remaining halves. She split one¡¯s head with her saber, then quickly turned and hit the other¡¯s head. After retrieving two Mutated Crystal Cores, she kicked the zombie corpses to the ground. Then, rather than hastily entering the warehouse, she checked on Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye. More Mutant Zombies attacked the two of them, each entangled by six. They fought on the ground, making them easier to target than Fang Yuxin who was on the high roof. To attack her, the zombies had to climb up, so only two Speed Mutant Zombies had attacked her. Fang Yuxin took a careful look and realized they were somewhat unable to extricate themselves. If this continued, things would definitely turn out bad! (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 238 - 238 144 You guessed it (second update) ?Chapter 238: 144 You guessed it (second update) Chapter 238: 144 You guessed it (second update) Fang Yuxin hesitated for a moment, then contacted Lan Re with her thoughts, ¡°Lan Re, release a clone and go help my brother and Bai Ye!¡± Although Lan Re was not highly intelligent, as Fang Yuxin¡¯s Spiritual Pet, it easily grasped her intentions. Having remembered the scents of Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye after following Fang Yuxin, it immediately agreed to her command upon receiving it. Its main body first burrowed back underground, then it dug directly to where Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye were located, released a clone, and emerged from the ground, entangling the Mutant Zombies like a snake. Once it entangled them, it trapped eight Mutant Zombies. Mutant Zombies were much more difficult to deal with than regular zombies. Lan Re¡¯s strength was not enough to easily kill them, but it could trap them for a while. Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang were already strong, but they were initially hindered by the Mutant Zombies. With Lan Re¡¯s help, the two immediately took action to deal with the remaining Mutant Zombies, starting with the eight that were trapped. No sooner had they begun than a piercing scream rang out again. This time, the sound seemed to come from all directions. It was extremely unpleasant to hear, and upon its emergence, all the zombies became even more aggressive. Although the eight Mutant Zombies had been trapped by Lan Re, as soon as the sound appeared, Lan Re¡¯s body shrank for a moment and stiffened up. At the same time, the eight Mutant Zombies struggled violently, and soon four of them had broken free. Fortunately, Lan Re quickly recovered, seeing that the remaining four Mutant Zombies were about to break free, it hurriedly tightened its grip on them. Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang were also in discomfort as they too were subject to the Spiritual Zombie¡¯s Spiritual Attack! When the scream first sounded, they too had suffered a Spiritual Attack, but that attack was not severe and was shredded by the wind and lightning in their Sea of Consciousness, so they were not affected. This time, however, was different. The Spiritual Attack pierced into their Sea of Consciousness like a spike. Although the wind and lightning quickly entwined around the spike, trying to grind it down was not something that could be achieved in a moment. They were shocked and experienced waves of intense pain in their heads, as if they might explode at any moment. As a result, their strength was compromised, and their movements slowed down. Fang Yuxin stood on the rooftop, and she too was subjected to a Spiritual Attack. However, her Soul Power was stronger than that of Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye, so the Spiritual Attack had no effect on her and was trapped by her Spiritual Sense. After noticing the condition of Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang, she immediately jumped down from the rooftop and injected the Heart Clearing Technique into their Sea of Consciousness. As soon as the Heart Clearing Technique entered their Sea of Consciousness, the intense pain in their heads lessened. They looked at Fang Yuxin almost in unison and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine, just be careful!¡± Seeing that their condition had greatly improved, Fang Yuxin then said, ¡°I¡¯ll go deal with that Spiritual Zombie, I¡¯ll be right back, be careful!¡± After speaking, she jumped up from the ground again and quickly headed towards the location of the Spiritual Zombie. Although that Spiritual Zombie was very well hidden, once Fang Yuxin was attacked, her Spiritual Sense clung to the Spiritual Zombie¡¯s mental tentacles, leading her to its location! This Spiritual Zombie was the most dangerous; they needed to kill it first, otherwise the remaining zombies would be difficult to handle. If it kept hiding and launching surprise attacks, they would always be in danger! Fang Yuxin was even more worried that if this Spiritual Zombie left the warehouse and took the horde to attack Fang Jintang and the others, then those people would be in danger! She quickly found the hideout of the Spiritual Zombie she had located earlier. It was an already opened warehouse, but the supplies inside had been taken by someone. However, when she arrived at the warehouse, there was nothing left but shelves, and the Spiritual Zombie was no longer there. Fang Yuxin furrowed her brows slightly, she released her Spiritual Sense to search carefully, but no luck! She searched other places as well, still unable to find the Spiritual Zombie! It seemed to have vanished into thin air. Fang Yuxin did not believe this to be possible, she searched again. This time, she finally found some clues. Chapter 239 - 239 144 You guessed it (second update)_2 ?Chapter 239: 144 You guessed it (second update)_2 Chapter 239: 144 You guessed it (second update)_2 She sneered, ¡°Come out!¡± As her voice rang, the Spiritual Sense she released trembled violently. As the Spiritual Sense vibrated, the scene around her melted away like snow, revealing the true appearance of the place! Inside the huge warehouse, it was densely packed with zombies, and Fang Yuxin was completely surrounded by them. Most of these zombies were Basic-level Zombies, mixed with some Level 1 Zombies and Mutant Zombies. Fang Yuxin was sure that the Mental Zombie was among them! She glanced around and then stared intently in one direction! It was a short female zombie. It wasn¡¯t rotten but had skin that was a pale bluish-white color. The eyes contained no pupils or whites, and the entire eyeball was a bizarre blood-red color. Fang Yuxin¡¯s face slightly changed¡ªit was a Level 2 Mental Zombie! Mental Zombies were already smarter than other zombies, let alone a Level 2 Mental Zombie! It wore a clean, black long dress, looking elegant in style but creepy when worn by it. It seemed to know it had been discovered and was now making eye contact with Fang Yuxin, then it cracked a sinister smile. Then, all the zombies moved! Fang Yuxin knew it must have commanded those zombies, but she wasn¡¯t afraid. She grabbed a handful of grass seeds and threw them with a sweep of her hand. The seeds instantly filled the entire warehouse and grew rapidly, weaving together into a cage in the blink of an eye. Seeing the zombies trapped, the Mental Zombie screamed in anger. With its scream, all the zombies became increasingly aggressive, frantically destroying the grass seeds. However, as the grass seeds were destroyed, they continued to grow, producing new seeds. Soon, there were more and more seeds, and the cage became stronger. The seeds even used the zombies¡¯ bodies as nurseries, rooting fiercely and absorbing nutrients before growing even more wildly. This was a kind of necrotrophic grass. Fang Yuxin was inspired by Lan Re and had purposely found seeds of this plant. Indeed, they were perfect for dealing with these zombies. However, it would be even better if she could find more Mutant Plants. Fang Yuxin sighed, not thinking further. She jumped on top of the cage and quickly reached the Mental Zombie. The Mental Zombie continuously had grass seeds rooting on it, which it destroyed with its spiritual power. All its energy was now spent dealing with the grass seeds, leaving no extra energy to control the other zombies. However, Fang Yuxin¡¯s approach obviously made it feel a strong sense of crisis¡ªit even stopped using its spiritual power to destroy the grass seeds and instead launched a frenzied Spiritual Attack at Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin was quickly affected, and her Sea of Consciousness trembled. She knew she couldn¡¯t continue like this, so she tightly gripped the handle of her Blade and forcefully chopped towards the Mental Zombie¡¯s head! The Mental Zombie let out a terrified scream, trying to dodge, but its body was firmly tied by the grass leaves and couldn¡¯t escape! It could only desperately launch Spiritual Attacks. The tremors in Fang Yuxin¡¯s Sea of Consciousness grew more intense, truly beginning to ache. However, just then, the Blade wrapped in Wood Energy cleaved open the head of the Mental Zombie. All the Spiritual Attacks instantly disappeared. Fang Yuxin breathed a sigh of relief, used the tip of the blade to extract the Crystal Core, and tucked it away. Then, she spotted several Mutant Zombies breaking through the cage and attempting to escape. She immediately chased after them and dispatched them with her Blade. Afterward, she launched a burst of Wood Element Spiritual Energy towards the cage made of grass leaves. With this burst of Spiritual Energy nurturing them, the grass grew even more wildly, producing even more seeds. Before long, most of the zombies were nearly sucked dry, leaving only dark bones. She performed a hand gesture, and almost instantly, the grass leaves filling the warehouse withered and vanished, returning to the form of grass seeds. Fang Yuxin harvested quite a few grass seeds, then collected the Crystal Core and decided not to linger anymore; she turned and left the warehouse. Without the control of the Mental Zombie, all the zombies became less aggressive, making them easier to deal with. Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye didn¡¯t have to worry about Spiritual Attacks anymore and transformed into human-shaped killing machines, feverishly harvesting the zombies¡¯ Crystal Cores. Seizing the opportunity, Fang Yuxin headed straight to the other warehouses containing supplies, gathering everything into her space. Just as she finished clearing out all the supplies in the warehouses, Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye were also done with the remaining zombies. Lan Re also dealt with many zombies this time, devouring all the Level 1 Zombies and offering up the Crystal Cores it had obtained like treasures, then returned to Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist, resuming its bracelet form, and began digesting the absorbed Energy. Bai Ye glanced towards the direction of the warehouse, confirming his earlier suspicion¡ªFang Yuxin definitely had a space! However, he was very aware, whether Fang Yuxin had awakened a space or, like the novels describe, acquired a space treasure, it was a secret she strived to hide. The topic was too sensitive, so he smartly pretended he knew nothing and asked nothing. Fang Yuyang watched him warily, then looked at Fang Yuxin, hesitating to speak. He worried Bai Ye knew Fang Yuxin¡¯s secret, but Bai Ye hadn¡¯t threatened them and had just cooperated with them in hunting zombies, leaving him no immediate reason to attack Bai Ye. Fang Yuxin noticed Fang Yuyang¡¯s caution, thought for a moment, and said to Bai Ye, ¡°You guessed it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Bai Ye looked at her, his eyes filled with expectation, ¡°What do you want to say?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) with your recommendation or monthly ticket, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 240 - 240 145 Why Didnt You Say It Earlier (Third Update) ?Chapter 240: 145 Why Didn¡¯t You Say It Earlier! (Third Update) Chapter 240: 145 Why Didn¡¯t You Say It Earlier! (Third Update) Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye both realized what Fang Yuxin was about to say, so each of them became guarded. Fang Yuyang gripped the handle of his knife tightly and discreetly summoned his superpower within his body. Bai Ye did the same, knowing that whatever Fang Yuxin was about to say must be extremely important. If the two sides couldn¡¯t reach a consensus, they¡¯d probably end up in armed conflict! He didn¡¯t want things to escalate to that point, so he was curious and anticipatory, wanting to know how Fang Yuxin would choose. After hesitating for a moment in her heart, Fang Yuxin debated whether to kill Bai Ye or use some other method. Thinking of Bai Qianqian, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to harbor a killing intent toward Bai Ye. Since meeting him, Bai Ye hadn¡¯t done anything to harm her. Like Fang Yuyang, she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to kill Bai Ye outright. But she absolutely couldn¡¯t let anyone know her secret, so she couldn¡¯t do nothing. Thus, after hesitating, she said, ¡°I know that with your intelligence, you must have guessed I have a space. As long as you swear a Blood Oath, promising never to be my enemy in this lifetime, and never to reveal my secrets, I will let you go.¡± Bai Ye silently sighed in his heart. Although this wasn¡¯t the outcome he had hoped for, the situation wasn¡¯t too terrible. At least Fang Yuxin was offering him a choice, rather than trying to kill him outright. But what exactly was the Blood Oath? He intuitively knew that the Blood Oath must be something out of the ordinary and certainly wasn¡¯t something to agree to rashly. So he asked, ¡°What is this Blood Oath? What restrictions will there be after I swear it?¡± Fang Yuxin quietly breathed a sigh of relief, as Bai Ye asking indicated he was already inclined to agree rather than straight-up refusing. She knew that a Blood Oath was not something people took lightly. But her secret was too extraordinary; unless Bai Ye swore the Blood Oath, she couldn¡¯t trust him. She explained, ¡°As long as you don¡¯t become my enemy and don¡¯t tell others my secret, this Blood Oath will have no effect on you. But if you ever break the oath, it will backlash upon you.¡± Bai Ye glanced at Fang Yuyang, who was ready to spring into action, and laughed self-deprecatingly, ¡°So it seems I don¡¯t have any other choice, do I?¡± Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang instantly became vigilant, thinking Bai Ye might refuse. But to their surprise, he said, ¡°I will not be your enemy, nor will I divulge your secret. If a Blood Oath is what you require for trust, then I will swear it.¡± Hearing him say this, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang¡¯s emotions became complex. If it were them in his place, they would surely be deeply unwilling. Bai Ye came across as a proud man, yet he was agreeing... The siblings didn¡¯t know if Bai Ye was sincere or feigning agreement, so they didn¡¯t completely let down their guard. Fang Yuxin was the first to prick her finger, squeezing out a drop of blood, and began to chant a complex vow, crafting a Blood Talisman. Then she had Bai Ye cut his finger and mix a drop of his Essence Blood into the Blood Talisman. Throughout the process, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were on high alert, watching Bai Ye closely, fearing he might suddenly attack. By contrast, Bai Ye appeared quite at ease, apparently unworried. It was only after Bai Ye recited the oath as Fang Yuxin instructed, and the Blood Talisman entered his Sea of Consciousness, completing the Blood Oath, that the siblings finally relaxed completely. Then, Fang Yuxin reassured Bai Ye once more, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as you do not violate the oath, the Blood Oath will have no impact on you, I promise.¡± Bai Ye, noticing her anxiety, shook his head nonchalantly, ¡°You don¡¯t need to explain. Since I¡¯ve sworn the Blood Oath, it shows I¡¯m willing to trust you.¡± Fang Yuxin furrowed her brows, uncomfortable with Bai Ye¡¯s casual demeanor. However, she felt relieved that things had gone smoothly. Seeing Bai Ye not pressing further about her secret, she began to think more highly of him. Fang Yuyang took the opportunity to suggest, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t stay here long. Let¡¯s leave quickly.¡± He was worried Qiu Yiming might return. Neither Fang Yuxin nor Bai Ye objected, and they headed to where the motorcycles were parked. After getting on the bikes, they rode back to the commercial street. By this time, Fang Jintang and the others had almost finished picking through the remaining supplies. Shang Jinxiu¡¯s space was nearly full, leaving no gap, and the roofs and rear seats of their vehicles were also laden with supplies. As for the remaining goods, Fang Yuxin decided not to take them. They didn¡¯t linger, quickly leaving the place and heading to a nearby ruin, planning to seize the opportunity to excavate all the Elemental Stones. Chapter 241 - 241 145 Why Didnt You Say It Earlier (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 241: 145 Why Didn¡¯t You Say It Earlier! (Third Update)_2 Chapter 241: 145 Why Didn¡¯t You Say It Earlier! (Third Update)_2 ... Qiu Yiming stared at Josh with an ugly expression and roared, ¡°You say you can¡¯t do it? Aren¡¯t you a Wood Element Superpower? How could you not manage?¡± Josh¡¯s face was equally unpleasant. He had just tried the method that Fang Yuxin had mentioned before, cutting away the decaying area around the wound and then healing it with the Wood Element Superpower. However, the effect was not good. He had expended a large amount of his superpower to finally clear the Zombie Virus near the wound and heal it. But the efficiency was really too slow! Worried about failing, he had deliberately chosen a particularly small wound, one that was not severely infected. Yet, even such a small wound had consumed nearly a third of his superpower! Each injured person had many wounds, big and small. At this rate, he wouldn¡¯t even be able to heal a single injured person with all his superpower! He feared that before his superpower could recover, all these wounded would have turned into zombies! With no other option, he had to secretly find Qiu Yiming and tell him the news. Seeing Qiu Yiming¡¯s angry face, he licked his lips and said with difficulty, ¡°Major Qiu, I really can¡¯t save them. You¡¯d better make a decision quickly. These people will turn into zombies soon, and they must be executed as soon as possible!¡± How could Qiu Yiming bring himself to do it! It was one thing for outsiders, but of his own people, seventy to eighty were infected with the Zombie Virus. If he executed them all, he would only have about a hundred people left under his command! ¡°Useless! Useless!¡± he cursed loudly. If it weren¡¯t for Josh¡¯s Wood Element Superpower still being useful, he would have been furious enough to kill. Fang Mengyao was right beside him. Hearing this, her expression flickered. Her game system contained a type of Antidote; according to the description, it was effective against the Zombie Virus. However, she dared not bring it out, as she couldn¡¯t explain where it came from. Yet her change in expression was caught by Qiu Yiming. He suddenly recalled what Fang Yuxin had once mentioned. She said Fang Mengyao had something called a ¡®Suppressant¡¯ that could inhibit cell activity. So, did she have other things as well? Desperate for a solution, he sent Josh away and then dragged Fang Mengyao to a secluded corner to ask her, ¡°Xiao Yao, tell me, do you have a way?¡± Fang Mengyao instinctively said, ¡°No, I only have a Space Superpower, not a Wood Element Superpower. How could I have a way?¡± Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t believe her at all; Fang Mengyao¡¯s expression just now had said otherwise! He cradled Fang Mengyao¡¯s face, gazing at her deeply and pleadingly, ¡°Xiao Yao, don¡¯t lie to me, okay? If you have a way, just tell me. I¡¯m begging you.¡± He was usually a very proud person and had always been aloof towards Fang Mengyao. Seeing him lower himself like this profoundly affected her. Internally struggling for a moment, she ultimately couldn¡¯t resist the plea in Qiu Yiming¡¯s eyes and confessed, ¡°I once obtained a type of Antidote, but I don¡¯t know if it will work.¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened, and his voice became cheerful, ¡°No matter! Desperation is the mother of invention!¡± Fang Mengyao nodded, discreetly exchanged for ten doses of Antidote with the Crystal Core, and handed them over to Qiu Yiming with difficulty, ¡°This is all I have. Give it a try.¡± The Antidote was in capsule form; ten doses meant ten capsules. Although he felt it was not enough, he still thanked Fang Mengyao, then selected from the wounded the one with the strongest ability and most potential and gave him a capsule. After the man swallowed the Detoxification Capsule, everyone watched for his reaction. He began to tremble, and then the blackness around his wound gradually disappeared, and the blood oozing out returned to its normal color. Witnessing this scene, everyone¡¯s eyes lit up. It was effective! Qiu Yiming immediately said to Josh, ¡°Go help him stop the bleeding and heal the wound!¡± Josh didn¡¯t dare object and obediently went forward to treat him. Luckily, the man did not have many wounds and was quickly healed. Then, Qiu Yiming selected five more wounded with potential and distributed the capsules to them. He purposely saved the remaining four capsules, planning to take them back to the Safe Zone later for research. The losses this time were too great, but with these four capsules, the higher-ups would definitely not hold him accountable. As for the remaining wounded... Without Fang Yuxin here, he could only give up on those people. Fang Mengyao saw his dilemma but did not exchange for more Detoxification Capsules. She was no fool; scarcity added value. If she brought out too many Detoxification Capsules, not only would she be suspected, but what if others got infected later? She didn¡¯t want to be expected to provide Antidotes all the time! Seeing that the abandoned wounded had the color of defeat on their faces, aware that they had been given up on, she deliberately said, ¡°It¡¯s a pity Sister Xin isn¡¯t here. If she were, maybe these people would have a chance.¡± Hearing this, the faces of many changed. Fang Mengyao saw this and felt smug. She then said, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, didn¡¯t you go to find Sister Xin today? Why wouldn¡¯t she come with you?¡± At these words, resentment showed on many of the wounded¡¯s faces. Indeed, if Fang Yuxin had come along, they might have been saved! But she refused to come! Qiu Yiming¡¯s face was extremely troubled, and he gave Fang Mengyao a deep look, knowing she did it on purpose, but said nothing. He also harbored resentment inside. If Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t refused to help him, to be by his side, his men wouldn¡¯t be doomed! Just then, someone hesitantly spoke up, ¡°Please... may I ask if the person you¡¯re talking about has the surname Fang?¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s face changed instantly, his gaze sharp as a knife stabbing towards the speaker, who turned out to be one of the leaders who had escaped with them, part of the trio of factions. Qiu Yiming asked, ¡°Have you seen her?¡± The man was not sure, but he nodded anyway, ¡°I¡¯ve seen a beautiful woman with the surname Fang. I heard someone call her ¡®Sister Xin¡¯ and others ¡®Xinxin,¡¯ but I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s the person you are talking about.¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s face grew even more unsightly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you mention this earlier! Where did you see her?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian, using recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 242 - 242 146 Surrounded Again (First Update) ?Chapter 242: 146 Surrounded Again (First Update) Chapter 242: 146 Surrounded Again (First Update) Qiu Yiming glared fiercely at the speaker, who was so intimidated by his attitude that he fell silent. Left with no choice, Qiu Yiming repeated his question, ¡°Speak up! Where did you see her?¡± He had been worrying about where to look for Fang Yuxin, and unexpectedly he received such news. But the news came too late! If only that person had spoken up earlier, he might have already found Fang Yuxin by now! The man was so scared that he shrank back, blurting out quickly, ¡°She was with us when we entered the Food Trading City, but then we went to the warehouse, and it seemed like she didn¡¯t go with us, so we separated. I don¡¯t know where she is now. But can she really cure the infected?¡± Hearing this, Qiu Yiming wished he hadn¡¯t heard anything at all. Fang Yuxin was actually in that Food Trading City, and he hadn¡¯t known! Why hadn¡¯t she gone to the warehouse? Thinking about the possibility that Fang Yuxin might have awakened her Spiritual Power, Qiu Yiming¡¯s mood got worse and worse. He realized that her not going to the warehouse must be deliberate avoidance. Otherwise, why wouldn¡¯t she head to the warehouse after all the trouble of getting into the Food Trading City? Qiu Yiming was also confused; although the warehouse was good, with lots of supplies, there were also more people fighting over them. Moreover, if Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t have a space ability, what use was going to the warehouse? She could only take so many supplies, so wouldn¡¯t it be the same wherever she took them from? The warehouse had attracted a large group of zombies, which made the commercial streets seem much safer by comparison. Obsessed with the idea that Fang Yuxin was intentionally avoiding him, his mood deteriorated to the point that he had no extra energy to consider anything else. Fang Mengyao, hearing the man¡¯s words and seeing Qiu Yiming¡¯s expression, guessed what he was currently thinking. After a moment of thought, she said, ¡°Brother Yiming, since Sister Xin is in the Food Trading City, shouldn¡¯t we go back now and look for her? That place is so dangerous, and who knows if she has encountered that Spiritual Zombie.¡± Internally, she was incredibly anxious, especially wanting to go back and check the warehouse. There were still a lot of supplies there, and she was worried whether they were still intact. This time, Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t catch her ulterior motive and instead felt that Fang Mengyao was right. He indeed needed to go back to find Fang Yuxin, not only to save the virus-infected patients but to save her as well! The Spiritual Zombie was too tough to handle; if Fang Yuxin encountered it, she would truly be in danger! So he immediately ordered, ¡°Everyone get ready, we¡¯re heading back to the Food Trading City now!¡± No one objected, especially the virus-infected patients whose conditions were worsening. They had been in despair, but the news about Fang Yuxin gave them a glimmer of hope. Everyone wanted to live; none of them were willing to die, and these people were no exception. They turned their vehicles around and sped off towards the Food Trading City. They drove fast, and in about twenty minutes, they arrived. It should not have taken so long, but from time to time, zombies would appear on the road, which delayed their journey. Upon their return to the Food Trading City, they immediately noticed that the place had changed. The zombie group that had been surrounding the area had almost completely disappeared, leaving only a few scattered zombies wandering nearby. These aimless wandering zombies instantly became agitated upon detecting the approach of the people, and with a roar, they charged. Before they could get close, gunshots sounded. Qiu Yiming led the way into the Food Trading City in his vehicle. The inside was empty, with zombie limbs scattered everywhere, indicating that a brutal battle had just taken place. They entered from a different entrance this time, passing through the commercial street. Qiu Yiming, driving in the lead, passed by the commercial street without a sideways glance, completely disregarding it. Yet the commercial street was devoid of people, with only the remains of zombies on the ground and the doors of the shops wide open, evidence that people had been here. Some people in the back stopped their cars and ran into the shops to check. They found that the supplies in the shops had almost all been taken, leaving only the spoiled items messily scattered on the floor. They immediately reported the situation to Qiu Yiming, ¡°Major Qiu, the supplies in the shops have been taken!¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s face darkened, and he remained silent. Chapter 243 - 243 146 Surrounded Again (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 243: 146 Surrounded Again (First Update)_2 Chapter 243: 146 Surrounded Again (First Update)_2 Fang Mengyao looked at his face and said, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, it seems Sister Xin has indeed been here, and she took all the supplies from this place. I just don¡¯t know how many vehicles Sister Xin used to carry away so much.¡± She spoke with a distaste, becoming more convinced that the jade jewelry set she had missed earlier contained a Space Treasure. The more she thought about the possibility, the more she felt like her heart was bleeding! That item should have been hers, but it was snatched away by that wretched Fang Yuxin! If she had been more assertive earlier, without caring so much, and had just snatched the item, the Space Treasure would have been hers! How could it have benefitted Fang Yuxin! Qiu Yiming ignored her and said in a deep voice, ¡°To the warehouse!¡± Fang Mengyao also had her mind on the remaining supplies in the warehouse. There were thirty warehouses in total, but she had entered only two of them before they were forced to evacuate. Thinking about this, she couldn¡¯t help but feel that Qiu Yiming was useless. The others were somewhat resistant to this order; their losses had been too great at the warehouse, which had left a significant psychological shadow on them. Being asked to go there now gave them a feeling of ¡®going to their doom¡¯! But once Qiu Yiming issued the command, they dared not disobey. Driving the vehicle, they quickly arrived at the warehouse. Then they discovered that the situation here was completely different. The previously rampaging zombie group had all turned into broken corpses, messily scattered around. Fang Mengyao¡¯s face turned extremely ugly; someone had indeed been here! She said gloomily, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, it looks like Sister Xin has indeed been here before.¡± But Qiu Yiming shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily her.¡± He was reluctant to believe that all this was caused by Fang Yuxin, who he previously thought could not handle the zombies, even suffering heavy casualties among his own men. If those troublesome zombies were all killed by Fang Yuxin, where would he put his face? However, Fang Mengyao was sure it was Fang Yuxin¡¯s doing, and Qiu Yiming¡¯s attitude made her very dissatisfied. She coldly glanced at Qiu Yiming and scoffed, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, don¡¯t forget, Sister Xin is not alone, Brother Yang¡¯s strength is not weak, and besides, there¡¯s Bai Ye...¡± Just at the mention of Bai Ye, she felt a sour sensation in her heart, nearly driving her mad with jealousy! She didn¡¯t actually think that the zombies here were killed by Fang Yuxin, but her intuition told her that Fang Yuxin had been here! As soon as he heard the name ¡®Bai Ye¡¯, Qiu Yiming completely lost his temper. He angrily interrupted Fang Mengyao, shouting, ¡°Don¡¯t mention him to me!¡± After finishing, he pushed open the car door, jumped out, and strode towards the warehouse. Except for the warehouse that had been opened from the start, the doors of the other warehouses were all still locked, locked tight. Fang Yuxin had entered through the roof; they, standing on the ground and because of the height, couldn¡¯t see the condition of the roof, naturally unaware that Fang Yuxin had made a large hole in the roof. Seeing the intact locks, the expressions on Qiu Yiming¡¯s and Fang Mengyao¡¯s faces became slightly better. Even though Fang Yuxin had not been found, if they could access the supplies inside, their trip would not be wasted. Fang Mengyao was the happiest of all; she had always been obsessed with the supplies inside. When they had to evacuate earlier, she had been greatly frustrated. On the way here, she was even worried that Fang Yuxin had taken the supplies! Now, seeing the locks still in place, she thought the supplies inside hadn¡¯t been taken, naturally overjoyed. Qiu Yiming glanced at her and ordered someone to break the locks. Just then, a sudden ¡°whoo whoo¡± sound was heard around them. The color drained from everyone¡¯s faces instantly. This sound was different from previous ones, not sharp at all, but as soon as the sound was heard, everyone was subjected to a Spiritual Attack! Spiritual Zombie! Qiu Yiming was the first to recover and then he discovered that they had been surrounded once again! Without knowing when, countless zombies had appeared around them, surrounding them! Fortunately, most of them remained inside the truck and hadn¡¯t come out, so the situation wasn¡¯t as bad as initially. Qiu Yiming couldn¡¯t understand what was happening, nor did he have the extra effort to think about it. The most urgent issue was to wake the others, otherwise, they were indeed in danger! He then swept his gaze and suddenly noticed something wrong with Fang Mengyao! She had already woken up! ¡°You...¡± Qiu Yiming wanted to ask what was going on with her, but Fang Mengyao, sensing she was suspected, intervened before he could continue, anxiously saying, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, now is not the time to talk, we must quickly wake the others!¡± Qiu Yiming knew she was right, so he forcibly suppressed his suspicions and said to Fang Mengyao, ¡°Stay in the car, don¡¯t get out; make sure the windows are shut, I¡¯ll go wake the others!¡± Fang Mengyao nodded palely. She knew what to do without Qiu Yiming telling her; she had already exposed too much and couldn¡¯t afford to expose more. Besides, she was loath to get dirty and smelly helping Qiu Yiming! After speaking, Qiu Yiming quickly opened the door, jumped out of the car, and rushed to the back to wake the others. At the same time, the surrounding zombies had already madly surged towards the direction of the truck! Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t wake the people inside the truck but went straight to wake the driver and front passenger. It was now critical to leave this place as quickly as possible, not daring to waste even a little more time! (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 244 - 244 147 Mutated Water Element (Second Update) ?Chapter 244: 147 Mutated Water Element (Second Update) Chapter 244: 147 Mutated Water Element (Second Update) Fang Yuxin and the others didn¡¯t know that after they left, another Spiritual Zombie had come to the warehouse and made it their stronghold, even summoning a horde of over ten thousand zombies. This Spiritual Zombie had previously failed to win the territory from the female Spiritual Zombie that she had killed, but it was cunning. Knowing that the warehouse was an excellent bait, it had always coveted the place. After Fang Yuxin killed the female Spiritual Zombie and left, the Spiritual Zombie immediately knew and didn¡¯t hesitate to take its zombie underlings and occupy the warehouse. To lure the survivors into a trap, it even deliberately had the Zombie Group spread out on both sides of the road, surrounded them, and then cast an Illusion Realm, hiding these zombies while waiting for survivors to fall for it. As soon as it had set up the trap, Qiu Yiming and his people arrived. It could only be said that Qiu Yiming and his group were terribly unlucky! Fang Yuxin was completely unaware of everything. After leaving the warehouse, she took her people to the nearby ruins to continue searching for Elemental Stones. The situation in the city was getting worse and worse. More and more zombies were seen emerging from buildings, and the numbers of zombies wandering outside were increasing. With the mutations of plants and animals, the city would become increasingly dangerous, and the area where survivors could move was shrinking. They had to take advantage of this time to find as many Elemental Stones as possible! The ruins they reached this time were in a residential area that was already riddled with holes. After releasing her Spiritual Sense, Fang Yuxin found that, apart from skeletons, there were very few bodies in the ruins. The place was a mess, looking as though many things had burrowed out from underground and then left. What those things were, was self-explanatory! During their search for Elemental Stones this time, they were occasionally harassed by Zombie Groups, with very short intervals between each incident. Fortunately, most of the zombies that appeared were Basic-level Zombies; there were very few Level 1 Zombies and Mutant Zombies, which didn¡¯t cause too much trouble. They were more like delivering meals to them. Although they were continuously harassed by zombies, the Elemental Stones in these ruins were relatively easier to excavate. Fang Yuxin and her team spent an afternoon digging up all the Elemental Stones in the ruins. On their way back to the Safe Zone, they encountered several Zombie Groups, with sizes ranging from a hundred to a thousand zombies. The closer to the Safe Zone and the city, the larger the size of the Zombie Groups. This meant that many zombies had already migrated from the city and were getting closer to the Safe Zone. Most of their team was skilled, and they could deal with Zombie Groups numbering in the thousands, but others didn¡¯t have the same strength. Along the way, they often came across survivors or mercenaries surrounded by Zombie Groups. These people were either transferring from the city or returning from a mission. It was obvious that many of them had sustained injuries, and the situation was not optimistic. Sometimes, when they happened to encounter others in danger, they would lend a hand and rescue them. Of course, they would not give up the Zombie Crystal Cores they hunted. After several such incidents, they ended up saving quite a few groups of people. At the entrance to the Safe Zone, those injured people couldn¡¯t get in; after registering, they could only wait in the observation room. Some of them had heard rumors about Fang Yuxin. Seeing that they were about to be taken away, they forcefully pushed away the escorting soldiers, rushed to Fang Yuxin, knelt before her, and pleaded with a mournful face, ¡°You¡¯re Miss Fang, right? Can¡¯t you cure those infected? Please save me!¡± Because of the increase in the number of zombies that day, especially the appearance of Level 1 Zombies and Mutant Zombies, many superpower users had been infected. By the time Fang Yuxin and her people arrived at the entrance to the Safe Zone, quite a few infected people had already gathered there. As a rule, these people were all supposed to be sent to the observation room, but everyone knew that once they went in, few came out alive! No one wanted to die, so some people mustered their courage. As soon as that person spoke up, the other infected also rushed over, knelt in front of Fang Yuxin, and begged her to save their lives. Some even said that if Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t agree, they wouldn¡¯t get up! Fang Yuxin hated being coerced the most. These people were not asking for help; they were clearly forcing her! And yet, she couldn¡¯t refuse! Helping Ordinary People awaken superpowers sounded like nonsense in itself. Even if she steadfastly refused, at most, people would say she was selfish and couldn¡¯t help. Chapter 245 - 245 147 Mutated Water Element (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 245: 147 Mutated Water Element (Second Update)_2 Chapter 245: 147 Mutated Water Element (Second Update)_2 But if these infected weren¡¯t treated, their end was certain death. If she didn¡¯t intervene, once these people died, how could she continue to stay in this Safe Zone? However, just as she was about to agree, someone suddenly said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to beg her any more. She won¡¯t save you!¡± The voice was very familiar and extremely annoying! Fang Yuxin knew immediately who it was upon hearing the voice. She was curious as Lin Feiyin wasn¡¯t supposed to be here distributing water¡ªwhy had she come? She looked in the direction of the sound and saw that something was different about Lin Feiyin. There had been a change in the energy fluctuations around her. What was going on? Could it be that her superpower had mutated? This was something she had never even dreamt of! Fang Yuyang also saw Lin Feiyin and was now thoroughly disgusted by this relentless woman. He even regretted his initial decision to save her! Had he known how annoying this woman would be and how she consistently opposed them, he would never have saved her. He looked at Lin Feiyin angrily and said sternly, ¡°Lin Feiyin, what do you mean by that?¡± Lin Feiyin¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver as she looked directly at him, saying, ¡°Am I wrong? Is Miss Fang willing to save people?¡± Fang Yuyang frowned deeply. It was difficult for him to respond to Lin Feiyin¡¯s question! He certainly didn¡¯t want his beloved sister to exhaust herself saving these unrelated people, yet he knew if he admitted to Lin Feiyin¡¯s assertion, these people would definitely resent them. This damned woman! But then, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Lin Feiyin, if I¡¯m not mistaken, your Water Element Superpower has mutated, hasn¡¯t it? And the mutation points towards purification? Instead of arguing with me, why not help them purify the Zombie Virus?¡± At her words, everyone¡¯s expression changed. Lin Feiyin looked shocked, but seeing her expression, Fang Yuxin knew she had guessed correctly. She had heard in a dream that Water Element Superpower Users, if lucky, could mutate a very powerful ability¡ªpurification. However, in her dream, Lin Feiyin didn¡¯t possess such a power, so her previous words were merely speculative. Lin Feiyin looked too reckless. Fang Yuxin had to consider this woman might have something up her sleeve. Also, given the change in her energy fluctuations, Fang Yuxin bravely guessed that Lin Feiyin¡¯s Water Element Superpower had mutated. And, unexpectedly, she had guessed right. The moment Fang Yuxin said those words, the attention that had been on her shifted entirely to Lin Feiyin. For these infected individuals, time was life. Lin Feiyin had the capability to save them, yet she chose to waste time here; how could they not feel resentful? Of course, even though they felt resentment towards Lin Feiyin for intentionally wasting time, they similarly had no good feelings towards Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin was all too aware of these people¡¯s thoughts, so she said, ¡°It seems I was right then. Congratulations, Miss Lin. With this, these infected might have hope after all. But still, I must say, when I was just thinking about how to save these people, you knew nothing and rushed out claiming I wouldn¡¯t save anyone¡ªwasn¡¯t that a bit hasty?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Lin Feiyin was furious, staring at Fang Yuxin and saying, ¡°Am I wrong then? Will you really save these people?¡± Fang Yuxin had been paying close attention to the expressions of the infected, seeing their look of urgency and impatience, she said, ¡°Miss Lin, saving lives is a priority now. Don¡¯t forget, your purification ability can purify the Zombie Virus, but my Wood Element Superpower can only heal injuries. This isn¡¯t the right place to save people; let¡¯s go directly to the observatory.¡± Having said all the jestful words, Lin Feiyin, unwilling though she was, could only say, ¡°Fine! We¡¯ll go to the observatory to save people now!¡± With that, all the infected collectively sighed in relief. They had previously been dreadfully afraid of the observatory, but now they couldn¡¯t wait to rush inside. Fang Yuyang looked at Fang Yuxin with some concern, but since there were too many people around, it clearly wasn¡¯t the place for a discussion. He simply said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Bai Ye also said, ¡°I¡¯ll go too.¡± He was worried someone might harm Fang Yuxin or force her to save people, so he planned to accompany her to protect her. Fang Yuxin glanced at him and didn¡¯t refuse. Bai Ye¡¯s strength was indeed remarkable. With him around, other people would have to think twice before making any moves. Plus, she had another little idea¡ªhaving Bai Ye present would allow them to push the blame onto him for offending anyone, thus preventing Fang Yuyang from getting involved on her behalf. Others also wanted to follow, but the observatory really wasn¡¯t a pleasant place, so Fang Yuxin asked them to go back, Bai Ye included. Meng Qingluo was somewhat reluctant, but before she could protest, Xu Wu pulled her away. They made their way to the observatory in a formidable procession. The so-called observatory was actually several large shops. Located on the ground floor, the space was vast, with single mattresses laid out where the injured lay. Windows and doors were replaced with iron bars, with soldiers standing guard outside armed with guns. Should anyone turn into a zombie, they would shoot to kill. When they arrived, several observatories were almost filled with the injured. Counting those who had come along with them, there were more than two hundred people. These were only those who had made it back alive; many more people had died on their way and never returned. Fang Yuxin scanned the room and chose a seriously infected patient, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s start with him.¡± His condition was dire, and without immediate treatment, he would completely turn into a zombie, while others might still hold on for a while. Thus, Fang Yuxin picked him. Although the others were anxious, they dared not object. Even Lin Feiyin nodded and said, ¡°Alright, him then.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you¡¯re welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with a recommendation or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 246 - 246 148 Where did you go (Third update) ?Chapter 246: 148 Where did you go! (Third update) Chapter 246: 148 Where did you go! (Third update) This seriously infected person was an ordinary person. He had been injured by a Basic-level Zombie, contracting the Primary virus. Thus, not long after Lin Feiyin enveloped his wound with a flow of water, the blackness at the wound gradually purified. Fang Yuxin watched Lin Feiyin¡¯s actions and raised an eyebrow. She discovered that Lin Feiyin was quite proficient and had more control over her Water Ability. She didn¡¯t know what kind of opportunity Lin Feiyin had encountered to gain such a boon, but she had to admit, Lin Feiyin had turned misfortune into a blessing. She wasn¡¯t jealous. Once Lin Feiyin had completely purified the virus, she infused Wood Energy into the wound to promote healing. By now, she was at the Qi Refining Middle Stage, and being a Pure Wood Spirit Body, the life force in her Wood Energy was exceptionally strong. Thus, although she only infused a little Wood Energy, the person¡¯s ghastly wound visibly healed at a rate visible to the naked eye. Compared with her, Lin Feiyin¡¯s speed was very slow. Fang Yuxin glanced at the other infected people and noticed that they were all eagerly looking on, desperate to receive treatment. She said, ¡°There are too many infected individuals here, Lady Lin might not be able to purify them all in time. I have another method, to cut away the infected area near the wound, then use the Wood Element Superpower to promote healing. If you¡¯re willing, you can give it a try.¡± If no one was willing, they couldn¡¯t blame her for not helping. After all, she could only start the treatment after Lin Feiyin had purified the wounds. At her words, some people hesitated. Lin Feiyin also hesitated for a moment, then said, ¡°She¡¯s right. If you can¡¯t wait, then give it a try.¡± Although her Water Ability had mutated and could purify the Zombie Virus, how could she manage to purify everyone individually? So, despite disliking Fang Yuxin, she chose to support her proposal. Hearing her say that, a big man stepped forward. He was tall and robust, but his wound was not severe, just an arm scratch, which was not difficult to handle. That was why he was the first to step out. He patted his chest and said, ¡°Since both ladies say so, I trust you both! Thank you, Miss Fang!¡± With this, he pulled out a sharp dagger and forcefully plunged it into his wound, cutting away all the decayed flesh. The decayed area could not feel pain, but he cut a bit more around it, leaving just the fresh, unrotted flesh, which caused pain that ordinary people could not endure. Yet, this man toughed it out without a single groan, just slightly pale with cold sweat on his brow. Seeing his toughness, Fang Yuxin immediately flicked her fingers and infused Wood Energy into the wound just after he finished cutting. This individual had been scratched by a Level 1 Zombie. Her higher-grade Wood Energy naturally had a restraining effect on the Zombie Virus. Thus, not long after the Wood Energy was infused, the originally bloody wound visibly healed up. Soon, the wound disappeared. If not for the blood stains still on his hand, one couldn¡¯t even tell he had been injured. He clenched his fist, tested the strength in his arm, and finding it unaffected, he immediately grinned with gratitude, ¡°It really works, thank you Miss Fang for saving my life! Although I don¡¯t have any Crystal Cores on me right now to pay for your services, rest assured, Miss Fang. Once I get back, I will definitely bring you the payment!¡± His words were generous, and Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t refuse but simply nodded and said, ¡°Your wound was minor, and I didn¡¯t use much superpower, just give me five Crystal Cores.¡± At her words, he gratefully smiled again and then went to ask the person in charge if he could leave. That person then loudly announced, ¡°All those who are healed, go have a blood check, and as long as it¡¯s clear, you can leave.¡± Thus, all the other infected individuals heard. The big man went happily to get his blood checked, and soon, someone came to notify that he was clear, and the remaining infected individuals, if willing, could all undergo the same treatment procedure. Many had hesitated at first, but seeing the effectiveness of the method, several began to come forward. They realized that Lin Feiyin indeed could purify the Zombie Virus, it was just too slow. Unwilling and unable to wait any longer, they opted for Fang Yuxin¡¯s treatment plan instead. Though this method was bloody and painful, it meant suffering just once and then being healed completely, without prolonging the agony. Chapter 247 - 247 148 Where did you go (Third update)_2 ?Chapter 247: 148 Where did you go! (Third update)_2 Chapter 247: 148 Where did you go! (Third update)_2 Lin Feiyin watched as more and more people chose Fang Yuxin¡¯s treatment method, and she started to feel anxious. Originally, she came to save people to make a show of her abilities, so when she saw someone pleading with Fang Yuxin, she thought of the time Fang Yuxin had rejected her, and couldn¡¯t help but speak up. Who knew that Fang Yuxin, perhaps having taken the wrong medicine, suddenly changed her previous attitude and agreed to save people! That was one thing, but once Fang Yuxin took action, she completely stole the spotlight from her! Lin Feiyin often did foolish things, but she wasn¡¯t a fool. She had discovered that her Water Ability had mutated to the point where it could purify the Zombie Virus, and she was overjoyed. Now, with zombies rampaging, all the survivors were afraid of being infected by the Zombie Virus and turning into those horrible, disgusting creatures. Her purification ability was enough to make the survivors support her and elevate her to a higher position! However, now that Fang Yuxin was involved, her purification ability had become superfluous, barely needed at all! She furrowed her brows and couldn¡¯t help but raise her voice, ¡°Fang Yuxin¡¯s treatment method is too bloody. If you aren¡¯t in a hurry, just wait for me to purify you.¡± She had previously agreed with Fang Yuxin¡¯s method to avoid overexerting herself, but now, she didn¡¯t want Fang Yuxin to continue this ¡®nonsense¡¯! She had to make these infected people realize her abilities and need her! She thought her words would definitely be agreed upon by many. After all, Fang Yuxin¡¯s treatment method was too bloody and violent, and many of the infected were clearly hesitant. However, she quickly realized she was wrong! She didn¡¯t consider that initially, everyone hesitated simply because they didn¡¯t know if Fang Yuxin¡¯s method would work, so they were worried. If the method were ineffective, wouldn¡¯t they have suffered for nothing? But since people had personally proven that it worked, who would want to keep suffering when there was a quicker method? Lin Feiyin¡¯s purification ability was good, but it was too slow! By the time she purified everyone one by one, the people would have already turned into zombies! Fang Yuxin worked exceptionally fast. She had specifically cleared an area where every time, five people stood in a row, and she cleaned the rotten flesh around their wounds. As soon as the wounds were cleaned, she would quickly infuse Wood Energy without any pause, minimizing the patients¡¯ agony maximally. At the same time, she also took on the patients under Lin Feiyin¡¯s care. Once Lin Feiyin purified the virus from the patient¡¯s body, Fang Yuxin would timely infuse Wood Energy to help them recover. Patients had choices regarding which treatment method to use. Those heavily infected naturally only had the option to purify the virus, otherwise, most of the rotten flesh would need to be cut off, and they might die before treatment could save them. Thus, those who chose to have the rotten flesh cut off typically had smaller wounds or less severe infections. This put a heavier burden on Lin Feiyin. She was responsible for purifying severely infected patients, which meant she spent a lot of time purifying the virus from one patient¡¯s body; by the time she was done, Fang Yuxin had already cured seven to eight or even a dozen people. In such striking contrast, Lin Feiyin¡¯s purification ability naturally seemed superfluous and quite useless. Just as Fang Yuxin and Lin Feiyin were treating the infected, Qiu Yiming received the news and hurried over with a grim look on his face. He had returned early, in a particularly sorry state. After being surrounded, they managed to break out only with great difficulty; in order to escape, he even deliberately left behind people from the other three groups, using them to hold off the zombies. He had intentionally sabotaged those people¡¯s tires, only to realize that they, too, were desperate and, in the end, even threw a hand grenade! They actually had a grenade! Although it was only one, it caused them immense losses! The grenade landed in a vehicle carrying wounded, instantly killing everyone inside! Injured, and encountering waves of Zombie Groups on the road back to the Safe Zone, they suffered further losses. By the time they got back to the Safe Zone, Qiu Yiming¡¯s men had dwindled to fewer than a hundred. He had taken out three hundred men, and he had lost more than two hundred! How could he accept such losses? Upon returning, he faced severe criticism from the upper echelons; even his father had furiously scolded him and even slapped him! So, upon hearing the news about Fang Yuxin, he couldn¡¯t sit still and rushed directly to the observation room. Accompanying him was Fang Mengyao. When Qiu Yiming arrived, Fang Yuxin had just absorbed a Crystal Core and was efficiently treating the wounded. Although there were soldiers guarding the outside of the observation room, those soldiers recognized Qiu Yiming and naturally didn¡¯t dare to stop him. Thus, Qiu Yiming stormed in with great fanfare, his face full of anger. The rage in his heart continually burned his reason, but he didn¡¯t allow himself to lose his sanity entirely, maintaining his final bit of lucidity. However, when he saw Bai Ye, his last bit of reason couldn¡¯t hold on any longer! ¡°How are you here?¡± he roared, giving Bai Ye a fierce glare before quickly turning his gaze away and rushing up to Fang Yuxin, angrily accusing her, ¡°Xinxin, where did you go today? Do you know how many people I¡¯ve lost because you weren¡¯t here?¡± Bai Ye, who had long been displeased with Qiu Yiming, snickered upon hearing this, ¡°Why should Miss Fang report her whereabouts to you? Besides, your loss is your own concern; what does it have to do with her? Qiu Yiming, even if you want to make unreasonable troubles, at least keep it within limits! Don¡¯t embarrass yourself!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 248 - 248 149 Leaks ?Chapter 248: 149 Leaks Chapter 248: 149 Leaks Qiu Yiming initially didn¡¯t want to deal with Bai Ye, but upon hearing his words, he couldn¡¯t help glaring at Bai Ye, looking like he was about to erupt. Fang Mengyao, seeing the tense atmosphere between the two men and worrying that they might start fighting, quickly tugged at Qiu Yiming¡¯s arm and whispered, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, there are too many people here, this isn¡¯t the place to talk.¡± This reminder made Qiu Yiming realize the inappropriateness of the location. He involuntarily pressed his fingers to his temples and pondered deeply with his eyes cast downward. He had already noticed that lately, his temper had grown increasingly volatile and increasingly uncontrollable. If it had been earlier, he would absolutely not have been so impulsive. However, recently, he didn¡¯t know why, but he seemed to lose control over his temper more and more easily, even becoming prone to losing his reason. He clenched his fists, digging his fingernails into his palm. The sharp pain helped clear his mind a bit, and he felt somewhat afraid. If he continued like this, would there come a day when he would completely lose control over his temper? Just as Qiu Yiming was anxiously unsettled, Bai Ye spoke in a deep voice, ¡°Qiu Yiming, what are you really here for? If you¡¯re looking to accuse and blame, you¡¯ve come to the wrong place and to the wrong person!¡± Hearing these words, the anger inside Qiu Yiming flared up once again. He tightly pinched the center of his hand, letting the pain maintain his sanity. He struggled to avoid looking at Bai Ye, fearing that seeing him would make his temper even more uncontrollable, leading to irrevocable actions. He had been strictly warned this time he returned; if he caused any more trouble, both his position and his reputation would suffer tremendously. He glanced at Fang Yuxin, seeing her expression somewhat somber and her face showing neither joy nor anger, which made him feel uncomfortable. At this moment, he already regretted not just his previous decisions, but also regretted coming to find Fang Yuxin with an accusing attitude. Although he had blamed her in his heart, more than that, he worried. When he had led his people back to the warehouse, the losses were severe, and yet he had no idea where Fang Yuxin had been. After being provoked time and again, his feelings toward Fang Yuxin had become exceedingly complicated. Normally, he could clear up his feelings, but this time, he had little time and his temper had become more volatile, leading him to impulsively confront Fang Yuxin. He was aware that his actions were inappropriate, but watching Fang Yuxin¡¯s indifferent demeanor, he could not describe his sadness and pain. When had they started to become like this? He had once looked forward to marrying Fang Yuxin and then raising children together. However, ever since Bai Qianqian appeared, everything had fallen into chaos! Thinking of this, his anger flared uncontrollably again, making him feel waves of discomfort. Fang Yuxin, being looked at with a complex gaze filled with emotions like sadness, disappointment, vexation, and regret, also felt uncomfortable. She said, ¡°Qiu Yiming, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve been through, but you should remember what you said to me this morning, right? Am I to blame for your loss of men? Do you think it¡¯s right to come here to accuse me?¡± After saying this, she saw Qiu Yiming¡¯s face turn increasingly pale, showing a rare vulnerability. She couldn¡¯t help but remember the various ways Qiu Yiming had taken care of her in the past, and her heart gradually softened. She continued, ¡°If you need my help with something, just say it. I will definitely not refuse if I can help. Please... don¡¯t be like this.¡± Seeing her rarely soften her tone, Qiu Yiming, hearing her voice, felt his dim gaze gradually brighten, surprised as he lifted his eyes to look at her. Fang Mengyao quickly noticed how he still harbored unresolved feelings for Fang Yuxin, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious. She had been patiently waiting for Qiu Yiming to become dissatisfied with Fang Yuxin, and she couldn¡¯t let this good situation be ruined by a few words from Fang Yuxin! She then said, ¡°Sister Xin, today Brother Yi Ming thought you were in danger and rushed with us to rescue you. Unexpectedly, we not only failed to find you but were also surrounded by a group of zombies. Many people were injured and infected with the Zombie Virus. They didn¡¯t have to die, but since Brother Yi Ming couldn¡¯t find you, they couldn¡¯t receive effective treatment and ultimately all died. Brother Yi Ming was just too worried about you, so after hearing that you had safely returned, he hurried over.¡± Chapter 249 - 249 149 Leaks_2 ?Chapter 249: 149 Leaks_2 Chapter 249: 149 Leaks_2 Today¡¯s event could be considered a massive scar on Qiu Yiming¡¯s heart. Originally, after Fang Yuxin had spoken, the matter could have been glossed over, and Qiu Yiming could have used this to ease his relationship with Fang Yuxin. However, Fang Mengyao¡¯s comments not only shifted the blame onto Fang Yuxin but also tarnished her reputation in front of everyone, reopening the wound and making Qiu Yiming resent Fang Yuxin once again. While Fang Mengyao spoke, she meticulously observed the reactions of those around her. Seeing some furrowing their brows and looking at Fang Yuxin with displeasure, she couldn¡¯t help but feel secretly pleased. Initially, Qiu Yiming had stormed in, launching accusations, which made everyone here quite dissatisfied with him. However, after hearing Fang Mengyao¡¯s words, some couldn¡¯t help but feel that Fang Yuxin bore significant responsibility. After all, Qiu Yiming was surrounded by a zombie group because he went to ¡°rescue,¡± resulting in substantial casualties. Moreover, had Fang Yuxin been there at that time, those people might not have needed to die. Lin Feiyin, having heard this, believed she understood the true nature of the events and said, looking at Fang Yuxin, ¡°Miss Fang, this matter is indeed your fault. Major Qiu faced heavy losses trying to save you. How could you treat him this way?¡± Fang Yuxin looked at Lin Feiyin as if she were insane and suddenly thought that even if Lin Feiyin had luckily mutated a purification ability, her mind was still as bizarre as in her dreams! Whatever she wanted to believe, she would just believe what others said. But if she didn¡¯t want to believe something, no matter how others explained it, she would utterly refuse to believe it and never use her brain! Both Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye saw that the situation was turning unfavorable for Fang Yuxin. They took a special look at Fang Mengyao and Lin Feiyin and took note of these two women. Just as they were about to speak, Fang Yuxin looked at Fang Mengyao and smiled, ¡°Xiao Yao, do you have any evidence that Qiu Yiming got into trouble while trying to save me? And how did you know I was in the warehouse? Also, don¡¯t you have a lot of antidotes? They seem quite effective against the zombie virus. Why not use them to save people?¡± The moment she said this, the situation changed dramatically. Putting aside how others looked at Fang Mengyao, Fang Mengyao herself stared at Fang Yuxin with a face full of shock and horror, as if she was looking at a ferocious beast! She forcefully swallowed the words ¡°How did you know?¡± Despite her best efforts to restrain herself, her face still showed panic and fear, making it obvious to everyone that something was amiss! Fang Mengyao glared at Fang Yuxin and shouted, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? I don¡¯t have any antidote!¡± Fang Yuxin continued smiling, ¡°I understand, after all, it¡¯s a crime to possess jade. It¡¯s understandable that you won¡¯t hand them over. But Major Qiu has taken such good care of you these days, his men have suffered heavy casualties, you¡¯re right there beside him, and you have the antidote, why wouldn¡¯t you use it to save people? Don¡¯t their lives matter? Moreover, a research team has already been established in the Safe Zone, with experts vigorously researching a vaccine or antidote that could combat the zombie virus. You have the antidote ready, and if you gave it to them, they could develop the vaccine and antidote sooner, and then everyone could be saved.¡± As she spoke, she looked at Fang Mengyao¡¯s increasingly unsightly expression and felt a rush of satisfaction! Back then, in that terrifying yet real dream, Fang Mengyao had used righteousness to blame her and even accused her already deceased parents. Now, she could finally let Fang Mengyao taste the bitterness of being unjustly accused! Lin Feiyin¡¯s expression also changed, looking at Fang Mengyao with an especially complicated gaze, ¡°You have the antidote? Is that true? Why wouldn¡¯t you take it out?¡± ¡°No! I have nothing! Fang Yuxin is talking nonsense!¡± Fang Mengyao screamed hysterically, then quickly calmed down, looking heartbrokenly at Fang Yuxin, and choked, ¡°Sister Xin, ever since I came to the Fang Family, I¡¯ve always known you didn¡¯t like me, but I didn¡¯t expect you to fabricate such lies to get back at me. Do you really hate me that much?¡± She put on such a pitiful act, her beautiful appearance coupled with her tearful demeanor made many people pity her, causing them to doubt Fang Yuxin¡¯s words. Fang Yuyang couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and glared at Fang Mengyao, saying, ¡°Fang Mengyao, stop playing the victim here! Why don¡¯t you mention why Xin doesn¡¯t like you? Why don¡¯t you reveal the shameful acts your mother committed back then? Your mother...¡± Fearful he would reveal Zhu Wanxia¡¯s affair, Fang Mengyao quickly interjected, ¡°Enough! Brother Yang, no matter what, I am still your sister. My mom is already dead, let her rest in peace! She just couldn¡¯t help falling in love with someone she shouldn¡¯t have. What¡¯s so wrong about that?¡± Seeing her still playing the victim and trying to muddle through the situation with vague words, Fang Yuyang would not let her succeed. He sneered, ¡°Your mother fell in love with quite a number of married men. She could fall in love with anyone as long as they were wealthy and powerful!¡± Before, Fang Mengyao¡¯s deliberately ambiguous statements, coupled with her pitiful appearance, indeed easily aroused people¡¯s sympathy, making them feel she hadn¡¯t said anything wrong, but rather Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin were too aggressive and intolerant. However, after hearing Fang Yuyang lz¡¯s words, their gazes towards Fang Mengyao shifted. A woman falling in love with a married man could still be reluctantly explained as youthful ignorance or even somewhat understandable by some. But falling for many married men of power was truly disdainful. Nothing but vanity, liking to latch onto wealthy men, under the guise of true love! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your votes for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 250 - 250 150 is bullying you (second update) ?Chapter 250: 150 is bullying you (second update) Chapter 250: 150 is bullying you (second update) The identity of being an illegitimate daughter, and the past of Zhu Wanxia, had always been the humiliation Fang Mengyao refused to acknowledge. But now, it had been publicly voiced by Fang Yuyang in front of everyone. The various gazes shot her way made her feel like there was no place to hide, alongside a strong sense of shame as if she had been stripped naked in front of a crowd. Tears sparkled in her eyes; her gaze became frantic and helpless. Deep down, however, she utterly despised Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang! These two people were just bullying too much! What right did they have to treat her like this? She realized that the situation had become extremely unfavorable for her, especially the looks from the people around her, which were like thorns in her side! After thinking for a moment, she said, ¡°Is it my fault? Being born is not something I could choose, is it? Did I desire to be an illegitimate daughter?¡± Her cries won back some people¡¯s favor and sympathy. Indeed! She didn¡¯t have a choice in her birth; Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin¡¯s treatment of her seemed a bit too harsh. Fang Yuxin knew that Fang Mengyao wouldn¡¯t give up easily¡ªher ability to sway people¡¯s hearts was no small feat! So she said, ¡°You¡¯re right, birth is indeed not something you can choose. However, my brother and I have never blamed you for your mother¡¯s mistakes! Your mother, in her desire for advancement, meanly stole my father¡¯s sperm, and secretly went through IVF to conceive you...¡± Fang Mengyao yelled, cutting her off, ¡°Stop talking!¡± But Fang Yuyang said, ¡°Your mother purposefully showed up with a big belly in front of my mom, brazenly claiming that my dad loved her and even pressured my mom to step down and yield her position! When her lies were exposed, my mom felt you were innocent and didn¡¯t force her to have an abortion. Instead, she gave her a sum of money for your upbringing, which she shamelessly took most of and abandoned you to be with a wealthy patron, and later when she fell seriously ill, she had the audacity to ask us to take you in.¡± Fang Mengyao¡¯s face grew paler, and her body began to shake: ¡°I didn¡¯t know! I didn¡¯t know anything! My mom is already dead, no matter what you say she can¡¯t refute it now, you¡¯re just fixated on this fact, aren¡¯t you?¡± The audience was thoroughly enjoying the drama, but hearing Fang Mengyao¡¯s words, they started to feel uncertain. Was what the Fang siblings said true or false? Fang Yuyang noticed the look in the eyes of the onlookers and sneered, ¡°I have the evidence in my hands, if you don¡¯t believe it, I can present it all and let everyone judge for themselves!¡± Fang Mengyao had not expected him to be so ruthless. Her gaze flickered, her heart in turmoil. She subconsciously didn¡¯t want to accept it all and thought everything was a lie, but deep down she knew very well that what she had seen back then was not fabricated. So, when she heard Fang Yuyang say he could present evidence for everyone to judge, she panicked completely. No! This absolutely couldn¡¯t happen! Once the evidence came out, she would have no standing in the Safe Zone! Unless... Unless she could produce the Antidote! With the Antidote, it was like holding the lives of the survivors in her hand, she wouldn¡¯t be afraid, and no one would dare to oppose her! At that moment, an impulse surged within her heart, to reveal the matter of the Antidote, and tell these people that only she could produce it! But quickly, the gloating gazes around her made her calm down. She could absolutely not expose the matter of the Antidote; otherwise, the crazies in the research institute would never let her off! She definitely didn¡¯t want to be dissected for research! So after hesitating, with a ghastly pale face and seemingly heartbroken, she said, ¡°Brother Yang, my mom has already passed away, can¡¯t you just let her rest in peace? I¡¯m begging you, please let her go!¡± Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t want to let it go that easily. Fang Mengyao had always been maliciously slandering them, so how could he just let it be? As he was about to speak, Fang Yuxin held him back and looked at Fang Mengyao, saying, ¡°Fang Mengyao, when you speak, have a conscience. When have we ever refused to let your mother go? Over the years you¡¯ve been with the Fang Family, have we ever treated you unfairly? Have we ever publicized your mother¡¯s affair? You keep saying that I hate you, so why don¡¯t you say, when have I ever wronged you? When have I ever bullied you?¡± ¡°I...¡± Fang Mengyao choked up. On reflecting carefully, she indeed found that the Fang Family, aside from being indifferent to her, had not done anything else. But, does that mean emotional neglect isn¡¯t considered harm? So, she said, ¡°After I came to the Fang Family, have you ever treated me kindly? You never really considered me part of the Fang Family, much less treated me like a sister!¡± Chapter 251 - 251 150 is just bullying you (second update)_2 ?Chapter 251: 150 is just bullying you (second update)_2 Chapter 251: 150 is just bullying you (second update)_2 Fang Yuxin laughed, ¡°Fang Mengyao, don¡¯t confuse things. You say we haven¡¯t treated you as part of the Fang Family, but whose money have you been spending these years? Who bought you that four hundred square meter house in the XX Road AA neighborhood? Has Dad ever shorted you on your allowance each month? Or have we ever withheld anything from you?¡± Fang Yuxin deliberately mentioned the name of Fang Mengyao¡¯s neighborhood and the size of the house. It was a very famous upscale neighborhood, and many people were aware of the house prices there. With this remark, the gaze of the people around Fang Mengyao shifted once again. This time, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t give Fang Mengyao a chance to defend herself. She continued, ¡°The Fang Family has never mistreated you, but how have you repaid us? You actually poisoned us! Do you have no conscience?¡± She didn¡¯t mention the Suppressant; the apocalypse hadn¡¯t happened yet, and if she talked about the Suppressant now, it would just lead to unnecessary speculation. The word ¡°poisoned¡± was already enough to spark the imagination. On impulse, Fang Mengyao blurted out, ¡°Fang Yuxin, you really can say anything, can¡¯t you? Just to ruin my reputation, you dare to accuse me of poisoning!¡± Fang Yuxin knew she wouldn¡¯t admit it, so she said, ¡°I have a test report here, would you like to see it?¡± She had received this report from Li Qingyun, who, after detailed testing, had given her a very comprehensive test report which she had kept with her. Upon hearing this, Fang Mengyao¡¯s already unsightly face turned even paler with guilt. She stared fiercely at Fang Yuxin, unable to comprehend how she knew about the Suppressant and the Antidote. Then a thought flashed through her mind, and she considered a possibility. She had read many web novels, ones about traversing to another world, about rebirth. She particularly enjoyed those themes: an ordinary woman commanding the elements in an Otherworld, and a downtrodden woman seeking revenge or wealth after being reborn. Fang Yuxin seemed to know too much; was it possible that she had been reborn? The more Fang Mengyao thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. She remembered how Fang Yuxin had competed with her for that piece of Jade, and later on, she deliberately spilled the food, ruining her plans. Now, it seemed clear that Fang Yuxin must have been reborn from the future with knowledge of everything! That¡¯s why she was continually snatching the things that belonged to her! Her breathing quickened, the crazy speculation terrifying her! She couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°You¡¯re not Sister Xin... you¡¯re not her! Speak! Who are you? What sort of creature are you to possess Sister Xin¡¯s body?¡± While she spoke, she constantly observed everyone else¡¯s reactions, especially Fang Yuyang, Qiu Yiming, and Bai Ye. Unfortunately, not only did those three show no suspicion, but they looked at her as if she were insane. Unable to resist, she grabbed Qiu Yiming¡¯s hand and said urgently, ¡°Brother Yi Ming, she¡¯s really not Sister Xin, please believe me! You might not be aware, but there are indeed souls in this world, and if a soul is strong enough, it can forcibly seize another¡¯s body!¡± Bai Ye, who had not had the chance to speak before, couldn¡¯t help but snort in contempt after listening to her outrageous claims, ¡°Miss Fang Mengyao, do you think you¡¯re writing a novel?¡± Fang Yuxin, however, was jolted by Fang Mengyao¡¯s words, which led her to a possibility! She had always felt that this Fang Mengyao was strange, different from before. The previous Fang Mengyao was both insecure and proud, but not as frantic as she was now! If what she was saying were true, then, had the real Fang Mengyao been body-snatched? Qiu Yiming couldn¡¯t bear to listen any longer and said with impatience, ¡°Enough! Xiao Yao, stop it! Even if you¡¯ve misunderstood Xin Xin, she is still your sister, stop this nonsense.¡± ¡°Brother Yi Ming!¡± Fang Mengyao looked at Qiu Yiming, incredulous. How could this man do this to her? How dare he? Qiu Yiming, on the other hand, let go of her hand and continued, ¡°You¡¯re not thinking straight right now; go back and rest.¡± Fang Mengyao glanced at her own hand, then at the others around her, only to see them all looking at her with eyes full of scorn. Only Lin Feiyin looked at her differently, with sympathy. She sneered inwardly, then gave Qiu Yiming, Bai Ye, Fang Yuyang, and Fang Yuxin a deep look. Without saying a word, she walked out with her face pallid. She felt like a clown no one was on her side; no one understood her! But she didn¡¯t care. One day, she would show these people the consequences of offending her! What she really wanted to know was what exactly had Fang Yuxin learned before she was reborn? What kind of future that was supposed to be hers was it? She was really too curious! As she was walking to the door, she heard Lin Feiyin say, ¡°Miss Fang, Mr. Fang, you were really too harsh just now. No matter what, Fang Mengyao is still your own sister; her blood is the same as yours. You really shouldn¡¯t treat her like this! What¡¯s more, we must respect the deceased. Even if her mother had her faults, they should be laid to rest with her death. How can you speak of her like that?¡± Fang Yuyang had had enough of this oblivious woman. He snapped, ¡°Shut your mouth! This is my family¡¯s business; it¡¯s none of your concern!¡± Yet, Fang Yuxin patted Fang Yuyang¡¯s arm with a smile that was not quite a smile and glanced at Lin Feiyin, ¡°I wonder in what capacity Lady Lin is saying this?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or a monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 252 - 252 151 Poison Plan ?Chapter 252: 151 Poison Plan Chapter 252: 151 Poison Plan Lin Feiyin frowned slightly, looking at Fang Yuxin with displeasure, ¡°I just can¡¯t stand seeing you bully Fang Mengyao like that. I think since we¡¯re all family, we should get along harmoniously. Is there something wrong with that?¡± Fang Yuxin did not pick up on her words, instead, she said, ¡°Lin Feiyin, saving people is the priority right now, and I don¡¯t want to waste time arguing with you. As for what I should do, that¡¯s my own business and has nothing to do with you!¡± After finishing her statement, she no longer paid attention to Lin Feiyin and instead said to the injured, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the spectacle, everyone. Please, continue with your healing.¡± At these words, all of the injured collectively sighed with relief, and couldn¡¯t help but sneak furtive glances at Lin Feiyin. They were all human, not fools; if what Fang Yuxin said was true, then there was nothing wrong with what she had done! Even if Fang Mengyao¡¯s status as a bastard wasn¡¯t virtuous, the fact that she would poison her own family made her contemptible! What was even more contemptible was that after Fang Mengyao was unable to refute the accusations, she actually maligned Fang Yuxin by calling her a monster! What an absurdity! Never mind how ridiculous that statement was, even if it were true, the fact she could heal people made her a good person! Even though Fang Mengyao had left and the matter seemed to be over, allowing their healing to continue, that woman Lin Feiyin just couldn¡¯t let it go, incessantly whining and criticizing the Fang siblings¡¯ actions! This was their family affair, what right did she have to meddle? Besides, how much time had Fang Mengyao and Qiu Yiming already wasted for them? They were still waiting for treatment! With Lin Feiyin opening her mouth, if the argument had continued, would they have had to keep waiting? These people might not have much affection for Fang Yuxin, but everyone has their biases, and they were all waiting for Fang Yuxin¡¯s treatment, naturally inclined to take her side. If Lin Feiyin offended Fang Yuxin and she decided to throw in the towel, what would they do? Just wait here to die? Lin Feiyin¡¯s purification ability was impressive, but it could only purify the virus, and was powerless against wounds and withered muscles! Qiu Yiming did not leave, but waited quietly on the side, looking as if he had something to say to Fang Yuxin. And as Fang Yuxin was treating the remaining infected, the infected being cured one by one and leaving, the events happening in the observation room quickly spread throughout the Safe Zone. The affairs of the Fang Family were the talk of the town, and although the survivors loved gossip, what they cared more about was Fang Yuxin¡¯s mention that Fang Mengyao had an Antidote. The truth of the matter was unclear, but everyone has their desires, and upon hearing this news, many hoped it was true. With an Antidote, survivors wouldn¡¯t have to worry about being scratched by zombies! Unfortunately, the truth was elusive. With Fang Mengyao staying with the Qiu Family, even if the survivors were curious, they dare not run to the Qiu Family to inquire, and could only silently hope in their hearts. Upon hearing this news, Zheng Tianhe suddenly wanted to meet Fang Mengyao. When Qiu Yiming brought people back, in an attempt to redeem himself, he specifically handed over an Antidote. Claiming it was fortuitously obtained, there were only two capsules, one of which was used on an infected person. When he discovered it was effective, he brought the remaining capsule back as spoils of war to submit. The higher-ups were all shaken by this news. Soon, the Antidote capsule was delivered into Zheng Tianhe¡¯s hands. Recently, Zheng had been researching the vaccine for the Zombie Virus, but unfortunately had made no major breakthroughs. Overwhelmed with excitement upon obtaining the Antidote, he quickly gathered his elite researchers to study it. However, there was only one Antidote, and once opened, the drug inside was so meager that definitive study was impossible. Zheng Tianhe, lacking confidence, wished fervently that he could procure more Antidotes. As for Qiu Yiming¡¯s account, he was inherently skeptical, feeling that Qiu Yiming surely had kept some Antidote in reserve, but was frustrated by the lack of evidence and the fact that the Qiu Family was not an entity to be trifled with. Thus, upon hearing that Fang Mengyao might have an Antidote, he wanted to meet this woman. He personally sent someone to invite Fang Mengyao. After receiving the message, she hesitated briefly but agreed to the meeting and followed the person to the research facility. The meeting place was the same cramped reception room as before. Not long after Fang Mengyao sat down, Zheng Tianhe arrived. He was clad in a tidy white lab coat, appearing spotless, and even wore a pair of glasses, a slight smile on his face, looking every bit the distinguished scientist. Chapter 253 - 253 151 Poison Plan_2 ?Chapter 253: 151 Poison Plan_2 Chapter 253: 151 Poison Plan_2 Just as he entered the room, he launched a spiritual attack on Fang Mengyao, aiming to subdue her and extract the information he desired. He had initially underestimated Fang Mengyao, thinking such a young girl would be easy to manipulate. However, he had miscalculated once again. His spiritual attack was directly rebounded by a mysterious and powerful force, and then he heard a disdainful cold laugh. He looked toward Fang Mengyao with displeasure, and his brow furrowed slightly. At that moment, he realized he was dealing with another formidable woman! Fang Mengyao now shed the pitiful facade she had deliberately portrayed in public. Before she came, she had carefully applied makeup to make her features even more delicate, her fiery red lips appeared both sexy and enchanting, and her face displayed disdain yet added a touch of arrogance and wildness, like an untamed and flamboyant queen. She leaned against the back of the sofa, her long legs crossed, and with her arms folded, she disdainfully looked at Zheng Tianhe and said, ¡°Don¡¯t use spiritual attacks on me, your tricks won¡¯t work on me. Better not try to deceive me either, I know what you want. If you do as I say, I¡¯ll give you what you want.¡± Fang Mengyao¡¯s attitude greatly annoyed Zheng Tianhe, who had lived so many years and wouldn¡¯t easily be fooled by her! Maintaining his composure, he asked, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you tell me what I want?¡± Fang Mengyao felt Zheng Tianhe was spouting nonsense, and her expression grew even more displeased. She wasn¡¯t here to waste time chatting with Zheng Tianhe! She impatiently said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you looking for an antidote? I have it! I¡¯m the only one who can get it, and the only one who can give it to you. If you do as I say, not only will you get the antidote, but you¡¯ll also gain much more!¡± Suddenly interested, Zheng Tianhe deeply gazed at Fang Mengyao, wondering what this woman could offer him. He asked with amusement, ¡°What more can you offer? What do you want me to do?¡± Fang Mengyao smiled dangerously, ¡°You¡¯re quite interested in Fang Yuxin, aren¡¯t you? I can tell you, she has the ability to awaken ordinary people into superpower users! And, her Wood Element Superpower might be mutated, just like Lin Feiyin¡¯s Water Ability mutated with purification abilities, so has hers!¡± Although she suspected Fang Yuxin definitely possessed a Space Treasure, she did not plan to reveal this information. A treasure like the Space Treasure was not something she would cheaply give away to others! These words weren¡¯t just made up; she genuinely suspected that Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Element Superpower had mutated. Previously, she had noticed that Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Element Superpower was more formidable than other Wood Element Superpower Users, but she hadn¡¯t thought much about it. It was only when she learned of Lin Feiyin¡¯s familiar ability mutating with purification capabilities that she suddenly realized Fang Yuxin¡¯s might also be mutated! Otherwise, why would she be stronger than other Wood Element Superpower Users and even effortlessly heal others? Thinking that Fang Yuxin was a reborn individual who had snatched what should have belonged to her, Fang Mengyao was filled with hatred! She remembered every humiliation the Fang Family had subjected her to, and since she couldn¡¯t rely on anyone else, she decided to seek justice for herself! Zheng Tianhe was tempted, the bait thrown by Fang Mengyao was too alluring for him to resist. In fact, after learning that Lin Feiyin¡¯s Water Ability had mutated, he had considered capturing Lin Feiyin for research. However, just when he had this idea, the higher-ups warned him not to act rashly, only allowing him to extract a vial of Lin Feiyin¡¯s blood for research. What use is a vial of blood! Those ignorant grandsons who only know how to give orders! Back then, he had also obtained Fang Yuxin¡¯s blood, and he had planned to conduct thorough research, but that woman had tampered with it! Those blood samples had lost their activity in less than a day, rendering them useless for research! Still, with the higher-ups having given a firm order, he had no choice but to comply, even though he yearned to capture Lin Feiyin for research, he could only sit by and do nothing. However, compared to Lin Feiyin, he was even more interested in Fang Yuxin! He had an intuition that this woman was extraordinary, and if he could thoroughly study her Wood Element Superpower, it would undoubtedly be a significant discovery! Unable to help himself, he looked at Fang Mengyao and said, ¡°Even if her ability has mutated, so what? The higher-ups won¡¯t agree to use a living person for research.¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Mengyao knew this man was already tempted. She curled her lips in a seductive and dangerous smile, ¡°What if the higher-ups don¡¯t agree to use a living person for research, but what if she isn¡¯t a living person, but a monster instead?¡± Zheng Tianhe¡¯s heart leaped, and he couldn¡¯t help but lean forward eagerly asking, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Fang Mengyao continued, ¡°She isn¡¯t the real Fang Yuxin; she¡¯s a monster that has possessed a corpse! The soul residing in her body now belongs to someone else! If you capture her for research, you might uncover even more secrets.¡± Zheng Tianhe opened his mouth, looking at Fang Mengyao in shock, yet he almost wanted to curse her out for being a lunatic! Possessing a corpse? Haha! Let alone his disbelief, even if he believed it, how could he persuade the higher-ups with this reason? He didn¡¯t want to be ridiculed as a lunatic! But privately, he indeed hoped to capture Fang Yuxin for research. Thus, he said, ¡°This matter is too incredible, the higher-ups won¡¯t believe it.¡± Yet Fang Mengyao confidently said, ¡°What does it matter if the higher-ups don¡¯t believe? As long as everyone else believes, that¡¯s enough. Just put out the message that she is a monster who consumes people¡¯s souls. Once people become anxious, you suggest capturing her, and the higher-ups will surely agree.¡± Even if they don¡¯t agree, it doesn¡¯t matter. Once the rumor spreads, and more people talk about it, someone will believe it! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) by casting a recommendation or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 254 - 254 152 Chief Physician (First Update) ?Chapter 254: 152 Chief Physician (First Update) Chapter 254: 152 Chief Physician (First Update) After treating the infected, Fang Yuxin followed Fang Yuyang back home. Bai Ye meticulously trailed behind them, claiming he wanted to visit Bai Qianqian. Considering that Bai Ye had helped them earlier and had made a Blood Oath, Fang Yuxin deemed him a relatively reliable partner and thus invited him to dine with them as a gesture of gratitude for his assistance, and to discuss future cooperation. When they returned to the Fang Family residence, they unexpectedly encountered Zhou Yan. At the time, Zhou Yan was sitting in the living room and stood up upon seeing them, greeting them with a smile, ¡°Captain Fang, Miss Fang, and Mr. Bai.¡± He gave a nod and continued, ¡°I came today specifically to thank Miss Fang. Miss Fang¡¯s treatment of the infected has been a tremendous help to the Safe Zone!¡± Fang Yuxin greeted him with a polite smile, invited Bai Ye to sit down, and then found seats for herself and Fang Yuyang. Shang Jinxiu and the others were not in the living room, presumably in the rest area; even Bai Qianqian was absent, which was rare. The living room only housed Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, who were attending to their guests. In front of Zhou Yan was a steaming cup of tea, the vapor swirling and the aroma of tea pervading the air. Before the apocalypse, this was a common offering to guests, but afterwards, it became quite a rarity. Natural water resources had been contaminated, and now the Safe Zone¡¯s drinking water either came from collected bottled and barrelled water or was provided by Water Ability users. With water being scarce and expensive, ordinary survivors dared not waste it; even routine cleaning was done with restraint. For most people, drinking tea had become an extravagant affair. The Fang Family did not lack water, but the fact that Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe had specially prepared such a cup of tea was not only to accommodate Zhou Yan, but also served to showcase their own power. And Zhou Yan¡¯s decision to wait there was probably not solely out of gratitude; he likely had other motives. After exchanging pleasantries, Fang Yuxin simply waited with a smile for Zhou Yan to speak. In reality, Zhou Yan had not been waiting long. Since Fang Yuxin was absent, he had not revealed the real purpose of his visit. Both Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were shrewd individuals; they seemed extremely courteous on the surface, but their conversation was watertight, giving him no opportunity to exploit. He was no fool, but being a forthright military man, he preferred straight talk and disliked beating around the bush, falling short of those who were adept at such cunning talk. He initially wanted to wait for Fang Yuxin to speak first so that he could segue into his point, but unexpectedly, Fang Yuxin merely smiled in silence, not taking the bait. With an inward sigh and a silent chide toward himself, he should have remembered from their several previous encounters that this woman was not easy to deal with. Even Zheng Tianhe hadn¡¯t gained any advantage over her, rendering his own little schemes rather foolish. He then said, ¡°Captain Fang and Miss Fang also entered the city today, I presume. You must have noticed that the situation is worsening. The number of zombies in the city is growing, and their strength is increasing. Not only are there more people getting injured, but the number of infections is rising as well. Even worse, zombie groups keep appearing near the Safe Zone, and they¡¯re getting bigger and bigger. At this rate, we survivors are in danger.¡± Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang kept silent, maintaining an attitude of ¡®please, continue.¡¯ Zhou Yan sighed. Knowing these people were tough to handle, he put aside his inner calculations and continued, ¡°Miss Fang¡¯s Healing Ability is truly formidable. To be honest, within the entire Safe Zone, I have yet to encounter a Wood Element Superpower User with healing capabilities superior to Miss Fang¡¯s. The higher-ups hope that Miss Fang could become a physician in the Safe Zone and be responsible for treating the wounded, especially those infected.¡± After saying this, Zhou Yan discreetly breathed a sigh of relief, but quickly, his heart tensed up again as he calmly, yet anxiously, awaited Fang Yuxin¡¯s response. Fang Yuxin had anticipated this development. In her dreams, almost all Wood Element Superpower Users had become physicians. Initially, these physicians served ordinary people, but as the superpower users grew stronger and their status elevated, the physicians served only the upper echelons and the powerful figures. In the early stages, the military held an advantageous position, possessing the greatest strength among the survivors. However, as the zombies and the superpower users¡¯ strengths increased, the effectiveness of conventional firearms diminished, and the military¡¯s status declined, replaced by powerful superpower users as the Safe Zone¡¯s upper echelons. Chapter 255 - 255 152 Chief Physician (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 255: 152 Chief Physician (First Update)_2 Chapter 255: 152 Chief Physician (First Update)_2 Now, she had revealed the secret of the Elemental Stones to Zhou Yan. The military people would definitely collect the Elemental Stones as quickly as possible and use the Elemental Crystals to awaken superpowers. Once the number of superpower users in the military increased, in the later stages, they would not fear being outcompeted by other superpower users. The soldiers, having undergone strict training, would become more powerful and have more advantages than Ordinary People once they awakened their superpowers, unless their talent was too poor. Moreover, their mental state was generally much better than that of Ordinary People. There might be few bad apples, but in Fang Yuxin¡¯s view, their mental fortitude was certainly much stronger. However, that was all something for the distant future. For now, getting on good terms with the high-ranking military officers was definitely beneficial for her, as the entire Safe Zone was still under the control of the military. Once she became a doctor, though, she would face more restrictions. She had thought a lot, yet her face showed no signs of disturbance, and only a brief moment had passed. She looked at Zhou Yan and asked, ¡°What restrictions are there for a doctor?¡± In such times, concealing or deceiving was unnecessary. For Zhou Yan and the people behind him, Fang Yuxin was a powerful Wood Element Superpower User, capable not only of treating the infected but also of possibly awakening superpowers in those she treated. They wouldn¡¯t want to be on bad terms with her. So, Zhou Yan told her frankly, ¡°A doctor can receive high Contribution Value rewards and enjoy more privileges within the Safe Zone. Miss Fang, given your strong abilities, you could become the Chief Physician if you agree. You would enjoy more benefits than Ordinary Doctors. However, with the increasing number of casualties, you would need to stay continuously at the Safe Hospital.¡± Fang Yuxin refused without a second thought, ¡°No, I have other things to do, and I don¡¯t have spare time to stay at the Safe Hospital. Actually, my treatment method is very simple, and other Wood Element Superpower Users can do it too, with enough practice.¡± Zhou Yan had anticipated Fang Yuxin¡¯s potential refusal before coming, but he wasn¡¯t the sort to back down easily. So, he added, ¡°If Miss Fang finds it difficult, it¡¯s not necessary to stay continuously at the Safe Hospital.¡± After thinking it over, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°I understand the urgency of the situation now, but all the casualties can¡¯t just depend on me for treatment. Instead of treating casualties, I prefer going out to hunt zombies. I can only promise you that after returning to the Safe Zone each day, I can spare two hours to treat casualties. And it¡¯s only for two hours¡ªif there are any disruptions during that time, the duration won¡¯t be extended afterwards.¡± This was a sudden thought she had. Fang Mengyao and Lin Feiyin were two major problems, but now one was a Spatial System User and the other a Mutated Water Element Superpower User, too eye-catching. Additionally, everybody knew they had grievances with her, and if she killed them, it would certainly draw attention. Moreover, it was difficult to act within the Safe Zone, and finding their whereabouts outside the Safe Zone would make it even harder. And rather than killing these two, she preferred to watch them suffer and torment them slowly. Therefore, she suddenly made up her mind¡ªto limit the treatment time to within two hours, and not allow disruptions during that period; she wouldn¡¯t compensate for any wasted time. With such conditions, Zhou Yan and the people behind him would surely help her keep trouble at bay. If it had been earlier, she wouldn¡¯t have dared to make such demands. But now, her strength had increased, and the threat from zombies was escalating. Level 1 Zombies and Mutant Zombies were no longer things ordinary bullets could deal with, which had compromised the military¡¯s advantage. While the military hadn¡¯t yet strengthened, Zhou Yan and his backers definitely wouldn¡¯t want to make her an enemy or pressure her forcefully. Sure enough, she was right! After some hesitation, Zhou Yan agreed to her requests and even presented her with a Chief Physician badge. The badge was white as a base, with a red cross symbol in the middle and five small stars above it, representing her status as Chief Physician. After presenting the badge, he said, ¡°Miss Fang, it would be best to wear this badge within the Safe Zone so everyone is aware of your identity. Also, remember to update your ID Card information and collect your rewards.¡± After finishing, seeing Fang Yuxin accept the badge, he added, ¡°By the way, Miss Fang, there¡¯s another matter I need to tell you. Miss Fang Mengyao was invited by Mr. Zheng today, and although I don¡¯t know what they discussed, General Song asked me to inform Miss Fang he will never let those with ulterior motives harm Miss Fang. However, it is safer to remain cautious, as it is easy to avoid open threats but hard to guard against hidden ones.¡± The others present were unaware of this information and changed their expressions upon hearing it. Fang Jintang was reluctant to believe that Fang Mengyao would scheme against Fang Yuxin, but his expression grew increasingly grim. Qu Qianhe, Fang Yuyang, and Bai Ye looked grim, their eyes hiding the rising murderous intent. Fang Yuxin, on the other hand, was the calmest, showing no sign of anger. She smiled, thanked Zhou Yan, and offered to send him some fresh vegetables and fruits. Hearing her offer, Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes immediately lit up; he rubbed his hands nervously and hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Actually, I came today to ask Miss Fang about another matter, hoping you could agree.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 256 - 256 153 Weapons Trade (Second Update) ?Chapter 256: 153 Weapons Trade (Second Update) Chapter 256: 153 Weapons Trade (Second Update) Major Zhou didn¡¯t play coy and quickly revealed his intentions, ¡°Miss Fang must be aware that fresh vegetables and fruits have become rare commodities. Although an agricultural base has been established in the Safe Zone, the produce grown there simply can¡¯t compare with that of the Fang Family¡¯s. So, my visit today is actually to propose a deal to purchase these fresh vegetables and fruits from your family.¡± He wasn¡¯t lying; one of the reasons the military had chosen this area as the Safe Zone was because of its favorable environment and the vast planting bases that could be used to cultivate vegetables and grains. For this reason, after they arrived, they specifically sought out Earth Element Superpower Users to improve the soil quality and tasked Wood Element Superpower Users with expediting the seed germination, while Water Element Superpower Users took care of watering. Not only that, but they also recruited agricultural experts and some experienced planting workers. Initially, the growth of the vegetables and grains was quite promising. But such a large planting base couldn¡¯t rely solely on Wood Element Superpower Users for growth, could it? Therefore, they allocated a small plot of land to be looked after by Wood Element Superpower Users, with the goal of quickly producing edible fresh vegetables. However, at the beginning, the power of the Wood Element Superpower Users wasn¡¯t high, and the effect wasn¡¯t that great. Later on, although the vegetables matured, the cost was frighteningly high, and ordinary people simply couldn¡¯t afford them. Of course, the quantity was limited, and it wasn¡¯t possible to distribute them to the general public; they were all supplied to the upper echelons of the military. Even so, it was a case of too many monks and not enough porridge¡ªthere simply wasn¡¯t enough to go around, and each person could only get a very small portion. Someone of Major Zhou¡¯s rank didn¡¯t get a share at all. When he arrived yesterday to help Fang Yuxin deal with trouble, he almost turned green with envy at the sight of the Fang Family¡¯s lush vegetable garden. After returning, he racked his brains and figured that such a large garden couldn¡¯t possibly be consumed by the Fang family alone, which led him to consider purchasing from Fang Yuxin. The only issue was that he himself had nothing valuable to trade with Fang Yuxin. He instinctively felt that she wouldn¡¯t care about credit points, and he needed his Crystal Cores for cultivation, which he was reluctant to part with. So, he later specifically discussed it with General Song. General Song was quite the cunning Old Fox; he had recognized Fang Yuxin¡¯s potential early on and decided to cultivate a good relationship with her. Although his rank allowed him a share of fresh vegetables, the amount was minimal. After all, he needed to lead by example and couldn¡¯t hog all the benefits for himself. He had to distribute some to his subordinates and his family at home. When Major Zhou mentioned this to him, he agreed right away and quickly thought of something to exchange. He was crafty, securing the deal first to purchase the fresh vegetables and then using them to do business with other high-ranking officials or even to win people over. Why wouldn¡¯t he? They had secured the major share, and if other people wanted some, they would have to come begging to them. Although Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t guessed all of their scheming, she had surmised part of it. Initially, she hadn¡¯t expected the vegetables and fruits in the garden to grow so well, and she had stored a large amount of fresh produce before the apocalypse. Now they were using those, and the produce in the yard was going to waste. Yesterday, when Lin Feiyin came looking for trouble, Fang Yuxin saw the reactions of those people and thought of selling the goods to Major Zhou or rather, the people behind him. After all, possessing a treasure was a crime in itself. Other survivors couldn¡¯t even lay eyes upon fresh vegetables, so wasn¡¯t the abundance in their family garden bound to provoke envy? But at the time, the timing wasn¡¯t right, so she didn¡¯t bring it up. Now that Major Zhou had specifically come to talk about this matter, she readily agreed in her heart. Despite having made a decision, she deliberately put on a troubled expression on her face, ¡°Major Zhou is being too modest. Our family¡¯s vegetable garden is just casually tended for our own consumption. We don¡¯t have any surplus to supply to you, let alone on a regular basis... Major Zhou, you¡¯re not unaware of the costs involved? These vegetables are all cultivated with Wood Element Superpower.¡± Major Zhou nodded hastily in agreement, ¡°Miss Fang, your household doesn¡¯t have many mouths to feed, and surely there¡¯s too much produce to eat. It can¡¯t all go to waste, right? I¡¯m aware that the costs are very high, so I¡¯m willing to trade bullets or firearms for them. What do you think, Miss Fang?¡± Fang Yuxin purposely made a troubled face, frowning tightly. At this point, Bai Ye, who had been silent all along, raised his eyebrows, clearly wanting to persuade Fang Yuxin to agree. Chapter 257 - 257 153 Weapons Trade (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 257: 153 Weapons Trade (Second Update)_2 Chapter 257: 153 Weapons Trade (Second Update)_2 He had already visited the safe store and knew that the prices for bullets were exorbitantly high, and there was even a rationing order in place. If Fang Yuxin agreed to the trade, he was willing to exchange the bullets for crystal cores. But since Zhou Yan was present, he couldn¡¯t discuss this matter. He didn¡¯t know what Fang Yuxin was planning at the moment, so naturally, he couldn¡¯t say anything that might ruin her plans. Zhou Yan saw Fang Yuxin¡¯s hesitation and tried to persuade her again, ¡°Rest assured, Miss Fang, the price will definitely satisfy you.¡± Having said that, he took out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket, opened it, and placed it in front of Fang Yuxin. It was a price list that included not only bullets but also firearms. Zhou Yan obviously had very serious intentions this time; he even listed grenades and machine guns on it, of course, with outrageously high prices. Machine guns were not sold in the safe store, let alone high-powered weapons like heavy machine guns. Before, when the zombies weren¡¯t very strong, people on military missions would generally carry submachine guns, which were easier to transport. At present, basic-level zombies were still in the majority, and submachine guns were enough to deal with them. However, mutant zombies were much more difficult to tackle, necessitating the need for more powerful weapons. At first glance, it seemed that General Song was indeed very sincere. However... Fang Yuxin started to smile, knowing a heavy machine gun could trade for a lot of vegetables, but even all the vegetables in their garden might not be enough. In the warehouse of Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, they did have a lot of fresh vegetables stored from before the apocalypse, but she had no intention of buying the heavy machine gun right now. To her, it was not necessary at all. After finishing reading what was written on the paper, she raised her eyes and looked at Zhou Yan with an amused look. Zhou Yan felt very uncomfortable under her gaze, his heart pounding erratically, completely flustered, though he still maintained a composed demeanor on the surface. In fact, he also felt guilty since the price list was somewhat ostentatious. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t make it difficult for him. She placed the paper in front of Zhou Yan, her slender finger tapping on the grenades: ¡°I don¡¯t want bullets. Let¡¯s trade with this instead.¡± As for the bullets, she could buy them at the safe store. Those reward credit points should not be wasted by just accumulating them on the card; they needed to be used. Grenades, which were quite powerful and not available in the safe store, were perfect for her. She thought it over, the vegetables in their garden were nourished by Spiritual Energy, which made them far superior to ordinary vegetables. She didn¡¯t want to give Zhou Yan and General Song behind him a good deal for nothing. It would probably be better to take this opportunity to sell those fresh vegetables stored in the warehouse. She took out a pen, rewrote a price behind the price of the grenades, pushed the paper to Zhou Yan, and said, ¡°Trade at this price. If you agree, then go and prepare the goods. Bring them here in half an hour for the exchange.¡± Zhou Yan glanced at the price, which was substantially lower than what they were asking for, barely meeting his tolerance threshold. This made his heart skip a beat, and looking at Fang Yuxin¡¯s half-smiling expression, he suddenly felt she was even more mysterious and unfathomable. He nodded in agreement to the price and then hurriedly left the Fang Family¡¯s residence to prepare the items. Bai Ye had not seen the price list before, and after Zhou Yan left, he couldn¡¯t help but ask Fang Yuxin, ¡°What did you choose?¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at him but didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she said, ¡°If you have something to say, just say it. Don¡¯t beat around the bush. I don¡¯t like it.¡± Bai Ye was taken aback by her comment, his face tightened, and then he said, ¡°I was thinking of exchanging some things, the kind you can¡¯t buy in the safe store. If you¡¯re willing to help, I can trade crystal cores with you.¡± He had an explosives expert in his team, and if he could get the materials to make explosives, their strength would increase significantly. However, those materials were not easy to come by. Before the apocalypse, he had ways to obtain them, but now that the apocalypse had arrived, it was difficult to gather all the necessary materials. Fang Yuxin thought for a moment, handed him a piece of paper and a pen, and said, ¡°Write down what you need first. I¡¯ll see if there¡¯s any way I can help you get it.¡± Bai Ye didn¡¯t decline. Taking the items, he quickly started writing. Because he needed Fang Yuxin¡¯s help, he didn¡¯t conceal anything and wrote down everything he wanted. After finishing, he handed the list to Fang Yuxin, ¡°If you can get these items, I¡¯d appreciate your help.¡± Fang Yuxin took the paper and glanced at it, her expression changing immediately. The items listed were all for making explosives. Moreover, she had plenty of the materials listed on hand. When she was preparing supplies in the past, she had prepared not only living essentials but had also purchased other items through special channels. Fang Yuyang had been the one responsible for this because they were just materials and were not regulated as strictly, making them easy to obtain. At that time, she had prepared for the sake of caution, but neither she nor Fang Yuyang knew how to make explosives. Her initial plan was to look for experts in this area after the apocalypse, but since her family members had their superpowers awakened, she had been busy helping them improve their strength and had pushed this matter to the back of her mind. Now, it turned out to be advantageous for Bai Ye. Bai Ye, on his list, even specified the prices, which seemed quite sincere. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t haggle and said, ¡°I can give you some of these items right now. I won¡¯t take your crystal cores, but I want half of the finished products.¡± Although crystal cores were good, with powerful explosives, couldn¡¯t they get as many crystal cores as they wanted? Bai Ye hadn¡¯t expected Fang Yuxin to have these materials on hand, nor did he anticipate that she would opt for the finished products. He was momentarily at a loss for words. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 258 - 258 154 Mutation (Third Update) ?Chapter 258: 154 Mutation (Third Update) Chapter 258: 154 Mutation (Third Update) Fang Yuxin¡¯s request surprised Bai Ye, but after a brief hesitation, he agreed. Yuxin then left Bai Ye waiting and went down to the basement with Fang Yuyang. From her space, she took out a portion of materials, packed them in a box, and then Yuyang moved the box to the living room. After Bai Ye had checked the contents of the box, he nodded to Yuxin and thought about the upcoming visit from Zhou Yan to complete their trade. He felt it was inappropriate for him to stay any longer, so he made his excuses to leave. Yuxin did not insist he stay and, after he left, she extended her Spiritual Sense to harvest all the mature vegetables and fruits. However, she did not plan to give these to Zhou Yan but instead packed them away in her space and took out fresh vegetables and fruits of the same variety and similar weight from the warehouse. These vegetables and fruits were all directly purchased from a cultivation base before the apocalypse. At the time of purchase, they had just been harvested and looked particularly fresh and succulent. But Yuxin frowned slightly after inspecting them; although they appeared fresh, they didn¡¯t have the same vibrancy as those grown in her home garden and could easily be distinguished at a glance. Fang Jintang noticed this too and suddenly had a brainstorm. With a wave of his right hand, all the vegetables and fruits were enveloped in moisture. Since absorbing the Water Element Elemental Crystal, Fang Jintang had awakened his Water Ability. He had practiced a few times, and with the help of the Water Ability, the swamps he created were larger and deeper. Now, he used a mist to cover all the vegetables and fruits, and with the moisture provided by the mist, they looked vibrant. Yuxin thought for a moment, then injected a weak stream of Wood Energy to stimulate the vitality of these vegetables and fruits, making them seem even more lively. With the stimulation of moisture and Wood Energy, the vegetables and fruits looked as if they had been given a new life, completely changing their appearance and becoming nearly indistinguishable from those harvested from the garden. However, Yuxin knew this was only superficial; the vegetables and fruits from her garden were nourished by her Wood Energy and were much more nutritious than these ordinary produce! Yet, she didn¡¯t believe she was being deceitful; the produce she offered was also very fresh. Moreover, she wasn¡¯t a Wood Element Superpower, but rather a Pure Wood Spirit Body, following the path of Cultivation. The Wood Element Spiritual Energy within her was of a much higher level than that of a Wood Element Superpower. If the produce from her garden was consumed, the difference would be glaringly obvious, and the higher-ups would certainly notice her uniqueness. Shortly after they had finished preparing everything, Zhou Yan arrived in a car. He brought plastic baskets to hold the vegetables, and they didn¡¯t measure the produce, instead relying on the size of these baskets. He wasn¡¯t alone; he was accompanied by four tall, sturdy soldiers. Upon seeing the vibrant and tender vegetables, the soldiers¡¯ eyes nearly popped out in greed! This trade was coming from General Song¡¯s personal name, so all the vegetables and fruits belonged to General Song after the successful transaction, with no need to share with the other high-ranking members. Zhou Yan had brought General Song¡¯s confidants, his elite troops, so they were all able to get some vegetables. Aware of this, their gazes towards the vegetables were especially keen. They were extremely careful and gentle when packing the baskets, as if they were afraid of damaging the produce. Once everything was packed, Zhou Yan handed over a small box to Yuxin, containing a total of one hundred grenades. This number was somewhat more than what had been agreed upon previously. Zhou Yan smiled and said, ¡°The goods are excellent; the extra is a token of appreciation from the General. Also, Miss Fang, how often can you provide vegetables?¡± Yuxin didn¡¯t answer but instead counter-asked, ¡°How often would Major Zhou like to trade?¡± Zhou Yan and General Song had already discussed this matter, so he said decisively, ¡°If possible, both the General and I hope to trade daily, of course, the quantity doesn¡¯t need to be as much as today. However, the General doesn¡¯t have many grenades left. Could we consider trading for something else?¡± After negotiating back and forth, Zhou Yan suggested they could exchange other weapons, but sadly Yuxin had no need for those, and even General Song did not have that many weapons at his disposal. So, in the end, the trading goods were switched to Crystal Cores. Chapter 259 - 259 154 Mutation (3rd update)_2 ?Chapter 259: 154 Mutation (3rd update)_2 Chapter 259: 154 Mutation (3rd update)_2 After negotiating the price and the timing of future transactions, Zhou Yan led his people away from the Fang Family. After they left, Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe prepared dinner while the others emerged from the rest room. They had been cutting Elemental Stones there and were getting increasingly skilled at it. Having finished dinner, Chen Qiao and the others followed their routine: first, they absorbed Elemental Crystals at the Fang Family¡¯s residence, and then they left together. After their departure, the Fang Family members entered the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion to cultivate, and everything seemed no different from usual. However, as soon as they entered the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, a white shadow, quick as lightning, leaped into Fang Yuxin¡¯s arms. Fang Yuxin was stunned; it should be Angela, but its body had somehow shrunk! Angela had always been growing well, previously thirty centimeters long, looking strong and beautiful. Now it was only slightly bigger than a palm, pudgy and round, which made it look especially adorable. The moment it reached Fang Yuxin¡¯s embrace, it rubbed its chubby head against her non-stop, wagging its fluffy tail proudly behind it and meowing in a way that suggested both flattery and pride. Unfortunately, Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t formed a contract with it, so she couldn¡¯t understand the meaning behind its actions. Thinking for a moment, she projected a thought towards Angela in an attempt to communicate, ¡°Angela, would you like to form a contract with me and accept me as your master?¡± Because of that dream, her feelings for Angela were quite special; she regarded it as family. Therefore, she hadn¡¯t initially formed a contract with Angela. But now, she realized that maybe it was time to form a contract with it. That way, she would be able to understand clearly what Angela was trying to express, and Angela could assist her just like Lan Re. She soon sensed a thought from Angela in response: ¡°Master... master... form the contract...¡± Angela, being a very intelligent Ragdoll cat, and having spent more time with Fang Yuxin, possessed a higher level of spiritual wisdom than Lan Re, comparable to that of a three-year-old child. Fang Yuxin did not hesitate further and promptly formed a contract with it. Once the contract was made, a soul connection was instantly established between her and Angela, allowing its thoughts to be clearly conveyed to her. Angela seemed exceptionally lively: ¡°Master, master! I¡¯ve broken through! I¡¯m now stronger than before! I can even grow bigger and smaller!¡± After speaking, it jumped down from Fang Yuxin¡¯s arms and stood in front of her. Its body emitted a faint white glow and began to grow at a visible rate, soon reaching a height similar to Fang Yuxin¡¯s¡ªtall, strong, elegant, and charming. It intentionally circled around Fang Yuxin, prompting her to mount it. With its current size, it could indeed serve as a mount. Fang Yuxin agilely climbed onto it, finding Angela covered in long white fur that was exceptionally fluffy and soft, making the ride even more comfortable than on a horse. The others watched this scene almost dumbfounded. Angela was simply too beautiful and Fang Yuxin looked incredibly cool riding it, which stirred in them the desire to hurry up and contract their own mutated animals! Bai Qianqian¡¯s eyes twinkled, her face full of envy as she bounced excitedly, ¡°Mama, I want to go up too! Can I ride it as well?¡± After asking Angela¡¯s opinion, Fang Yuxin stretched out her hand to pull Bai Qianqian up, seating him in front of herself. Bai Qianqian excitedly caressed Angela¡¯s soft fur, utterly captivated: ¡°Mama, Angela is so beautiful, it¡¯s just too cool! Riding out on it would be absolutely amazing!¡± Indeed, no other mutated animals had appeared in the Safe Zone yet, let alone one as large as Angela. If she rode Angela around the Safe Zone, the scene would be incredibly impressive! However, Fang Yuxin quickly dismissed this crazy idea; bearing treasure brings calamities upon oneself, and she was already attracting enough attention. With Angela now, who knew how many more people would have their eyes on her! Therefore, she patted Bai Qianqian on the head and warned, ¡°Alright, don¡¯t always think about showing off. You must not tell anyone about Angela.¡± Bai Qianqian obediently nodded and then looked expectantly at Fang Yuxin: ¡°Mama, I really want to contract a mutated animal too.¡± Mutated animals were rare now, but Fang Yuxin knew it wouldn¡¯t be long before they started to flourish. Glancing at her family members and seeing a hint of eagerness in their eyes, she said, ¡°In the future, there will be more and more mutated animals. If you find one that¡¯s suitable, you can also contract your own Spiritual Pet.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone couldn¡¯t help but imagine what kind of mutated animal would be good for them to contract. But that was just a fleeting thought. Fang Yuxin took Bai Qianqian off Angela, thought for a moment, and decided to take Angela to look for suitable Cultivation Techniques. And Lan Re too¡ªif she could find appropriate cultivation methods for them, they could improve their strength even faster! Fang Yuxin went immediately into action. After telling her family, she took Lan Re and Angela to try their luck at choosing Cultivation Techniques. Outside Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, the night in the Safe Zone was eerily quiet, and to save resources, only a few places were lit, while most of the area was engulfed in darkness. Outside the Safe Zone, zombies roared, continuing to gather. Suddenly, the entire Safe Zone, and even a large area around it, shook violently. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 260 - 260 155 Earthquake (First Update) ?Chapter 260: 155 Earthquake (First Update) Chapter 260: 155 Earthquake (First Update) The entire shaking lasted for about one minute, and most of the people in the Safe Zone woke up in terror from their sleep, screaming, ¡°It¡¯s an earthquake¡± and frantically rushing outside. Amid these extremely terrified screams, more people awoke from their slumber. However, about a minute later, the entire shaking stopped as if nothing had happened. But the people who were awoken from their sleep couldn¡¯t be at ease; they remained unsettled, looking around and standing on relatively open ground, not daring to go back inside their houses. It took several more minutes before some began hesitantly preparing to return home. The leaders of the Safe Zone were all deeply worried, concerned about a greater disaster occurring. That night, not just in this Safe Zone, many who felt the earthquake couldn¡¯t sleep peacefully. Everyone was scared, scared of the unknown future. Fortunately, despite the intense shaking, there were no building collapses in the Safe Zone¡ªit was clear that the epicenter was still far away. However, hundreds of kilometers away from the Safe Zone in a deep mountain range, the strong earthquake had caused severe landslides, and large cracks appeared on the ground. Within the depths of these cracks, something dangerous was stirring. At the time of the earthquake, Fang Yuxin was in the Scripture Pavilion with Lan Re and Angela, trying her luck. She tirelessly took out Jade Scrolls from orbs and handed them to Lan Re and Angela. At that moment, she suddenly felt a strong palpitation. This uneasiness made her very uncomfortable; she almost immediately left the Qingmu Spirit Mansion, and then felt the entire earth quake. She instantly remembered that after the apocalypse, whether due to environmental damage or other reasons, there had been several natural disasters. It all started with earthquakes, and after the earthquakes, mutant animals and plants began to appear in massive numbers. Hordes of Zombie Rats, Mutated Rats, Zombie Birds, and Mutated Birds, because of their overwhelming numbers, had caused huge disasters to humanity. Especially those Zombie Birds and Mutated Birds flying in the sky, swooping down en masse, it was simply a horrifying disaster! Originally, she and Fang Yuyang had been forcibly taken from their villa by Fang Mengyao, and most people in the Safe Zone were hostile towards them, living in very poor conditions, and several times they almost died at the beaks of those Mutated Birds and Zombie Birds. This was a nightmare she could never escape from in her heart, but this time, because everything was going too smoothly, she had actually forgotten such an important matter! No, she hadn¡¯t forgotten about the disaster itself; she just forgot when the disaster was supposed to happen. She looked up at the sky; the entire sky was dark and ominous, adding an extra sense of foreboding. Then she saw people from surrounding houses running out in panic, all worried about the earthquake. She, however, wasn¡¯t worried at all; instead, she re-entered the Qingmu Spirit Mansion. Since the earthquake, there was still a week until Zombie Birds and Mutated Birds would appear in large numbers. This period was her buffer; she had to take this time to enhance her strength a bit more and learn several powerful Defensive Arrays. By then, setting them up around her house, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about the impact of Zombie Birds and Mutated Birds. Moreover, among the bird species, there were different levels; if she could contract a powerful Mutated Bird, then they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about attacks from other birds. When Fang Yuxin returned to Qingmu Spirit Mansion, she already had a plan. She glanced around, saw that the others were either cultivating or absorbing Elemental Crystals, didn¡¯t want to disturb them, and continued her attempt to find luck in the Scripture Pavilion. Unfortunately, her luck wasn¡¯t very good. She had touched every Jade Scroll and still hadn¡¯t found an appropriate Cultivation Method for Lan Re and Angela. Then she suddenly remembered something. Lan Re and Angela, one a Mutant Plant and the other a Mutant Animal, were cultivating as Demon Cultivators, who were supposed to bask in the essence of the sun and moon. But in this Qingmu Spirit Mansion, they couldn¡¯t do that. Regrettably, there was no moon tonight; even if she wanted to try, she could only figure out another way later. With no other option, she had to prepare some purified Crystal Cores for Lan Re and Angela, letting them cultivate properly. Then she found a spot, sat down cross-legged, placed Crystal Cores around her, and immersed herself in cultivation. At this moment, several figures were standing outside the Fang Family¡¯s door, silently watching the pitch-black villa. Chapter 261 - 261 155 Earthquake (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 261: 155 Earthquake (First Update)_2 Chapter 261: 155 Earthquake (First Update)_2 The earth shook for a while and then stopped, a woman said, ¡°Big brother, the earth shook so violently, why is there no movement here? It¡¯s too strange!¡± The tall man leading them waited a bit longer and, realizing the earth had not shaken again, said, ¡°It seems there¡¯s nothing to worry about here, let¡¯s go back.¡± After he spoke, he reluctantly shifted his gaze and turned to leave. The others followed behind him. The woman, feeling unsatisfied, thought about how they had rushed out when the ground first started shaking only to find Bai Ye, concerned about the Fang Family, had specially come over only to discover everything was normal at the Fang¡¯s place, unclear what the people inside were doing. She felt it was a wasted trip and wanted to comment further, but the person next to her pulled her aside and shook their head disapprovingly. ... After this earthquake, Fang Yuxin realized that time was pressing, and she needed to strengthen her powers quickly. Fortunately, there was still a week¡¯s time before the mass appearance of the mutated birds, so she still had the opportunity. Starting that day, she went out early with her family members to hunt zombies while gathering as many Elemental Stones as possible. Angela transformed into the size of a palm and squatted on her shoulder, looking like an utterly harmless little kitten, adorably deceptive. However, once this seemingly small kitten encountered zombies, long and sharp claws would spring out from its paw pads. With a scratch, a Basic-level Zombie¡¯s head had no defense, easily torn open. Lan Re was a saprophytic plant, to which those disgusting piles of zombies were the best food, especially the Mutant Zombies. Apart from the Crystal Cores in their brains, their bodies also contained energy. While ordinary people couldn¡¯t absorb these energies, Lan Re could devour them. Three days quickly passed. The Yongcheng Team always avoided other people, entered the city to hunt zombies and search for Elemental Stones, with Bai Ye taking his team out almost daily to join them. After getting along, the relationship between the two teams had eased considerably. Mutated plants began to appear successively, growing at a mad rate, in contrast to which, normal plants¡¯ growth seemed suppressed, not only growing extremely slowly but also becoming wilted as if they had lost their vitality. The number of Level 1 Zombies began to gradually increase, zombies mostly appeared in groups. Ordinary mercenaries could no longer enter the city and were forced to hunt near the Safe Zone; even superpower user mercenaries did not dare to be reckless, generally forming large groups of dozens before entering the city together. No one was a fool, everyone realized the situation was getting worse. Those various Safe Zones in the city had become dangerous, and people inside tried everything they could to migrate in groups to the Safe Zones outside the city. Those lucky enough could make it inside alive, but the unlucky ones had already become food for the zombies. Apart from Fang Yuxin and her team, people like General Song, who also knew about the Elemental Stones, constantly secretly sent out people to search for them. Sometimes, when Fang Yuxin went to look for Elemental Stones and sensed those people from afar, she had to avoid them and go elsewhere. In these three days, many new survivors entered the Safe Zone every day, the population inside the Safe Zone increased, and so did conflicts and disputes. The newcomers could not enjoy good treatment. Some powerful ones could still rent nice houses, but those without strength had to reside in the worst conditions in the shantytown. This was the area closest to the Protection Wall. If the wall were to fall, they would have to face the zombies outside directly, hardly any safety to speak of. Fortunately, it hadn¡¯t reached the worst-case scenario yet. Many mercenaries formed teams to hunt zombies near the Safe Zone, keeping the zombies from approaching the Safe Zone. However, everyone knew that the zombies appearing near the Safe Zone were increasing daily, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before the mercenaries might not be able to stop these zombies¡¯ advances, allowing them to reach the Protection Wall. Three days later, the number of Elemental Stones in Fang Yuxin¡¯s hands had become quite significant. The city¡¯s Elemental Stones had largely been collected clean, so she changed her plan. That day, after breakfast, the Yongcheng Team didn¡¯t go out for any missions but stayed in Fang¡¯s Villa. Everyone gathered in a spacious and airy room, designed like a gym, spacious and bright. Some fitness equipment was placed around the room, and a circular sofa stood in the center. At this moment, everyone was sitting on the sofa, with large and small Elemental Stones and storage boxes laid out in front of them. Fang Yuxin said, ¡°You all are already aware of the situation outside; we¡¯ve almost gathered enough Elemental Stones, and there¡¯s no need to risk going into the city anymore, so starting today, we need to quickly enhance our strength!¡± They had enough credit points in their ID Cards, and each person had saved up quite a lot of resources; they didn¡¯t need to worry about food for the time being. The situation outside didn¡¯t need Fang Yuxin to explain; others understood it well. In fact, even if she hadn¡¯t mentioned it, the others would have proposed not to go out for tasks temporarily. They all noticed that the number of Level 1 Zombies and Mutant Zombies were increasing; almost every Zombie Group was led by either a Level 1 Zombie or a Mutant Zombie. Compared to these monsters, their strength seemed insufficient. Although everyone from the Fang Family had successfully advanced, Chen Qiao and others were still hovering at the Basic-level Peak. The barrier, though seemingly weak, always seemed unbreakable, which was quite frustrating for them. So when Fang Yuxin brought it up, everyone visibly relaxed. Every day fighting zombies outside had kept their nerves on edge, life was simply unbearable! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it, buy a monthly ticket, and your support will be my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 262 - 262 156 Buffering Period (Second Update) ?Chapter 262: 156 Buffering Period (Second Update) Chapter 262: 156 Buffering Period (Second Update) Fang Yuxin glanced at Chen Qiao and the others before saying, ¡°Chen Qiao, Liu Yu, Wang Qi, the energy fluctuations in your bodies seem unstable. Are you about to advance?¡± Upon hearing this, the three named individuals were initially stunned, but then they nodded simultaneously, looking expectantly at Fang Yuxin. Zhou Zheng and Huang Yue were ordinary people who had luckily awakened their superpowers later. Because their awakening was late, their strength was relatively weaker, roughly still in the late stages of Superpower Beginner, not yet nearing the brink of advancement. Shang Jinxiu, who joined later, possessed a Space superpower. A basic level Space superpower had no offensive moves, only serving as a mobile storage. Before joining the team, she couldn¡¯t even kill zombies and had no Crystal Cores for cultivation; hence, her superpower also had no improvement. After joining the team, her treatment had improved significantly with access to Crystal Cores for cultivation. Therefore, her superpower was still at the Primary Middle Stage, far from advancing. The three of them were temporarily unable to advance. Hearing that Chen Qiao and the others were about to advance, it was inevitable for them to feel envious and simultaneously ashamed, feeling as though they were dragging the team down. Fang Yuxin saw the expressions on their faces and then took out a small box, placing it in front of the six people. The box contained six Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits, which she had specifically prepared for these six people. Initially, when these people joined the team, she hadn¡¯t brought out the fruits because she hadn¡¯t yet discerned their character. However, after observing them for several days, she had come to understand them better. Seeing that the situation was getting worse and that these people desperately needed to enhance their strength, she brought out the prepared Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits, ready for them to consume and expel impurities from their bodies. The talent of these six individuals was actually not bad, especially after absorbing the Elemental Crystal, their talent was considered high-grade. As long as they could consume the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits, their superpowers would definitely be enhanced. Chen Qiao and the others, who had already neared the threshold of advancement, should be able to successfully advance after consuming the fruits. The Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits emitted strands of Spiritual Energy and looked extremely tempting. Seeing them, the six people¡¯s faces slightly changed, their eyes fixated on the six fruits, their minds seemingly occupied by them. It was apparent that these six had developed a strong desire for the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits, but they soon calmed down, forcing themselves to look away and stop staring at them. Seeing their self-control was quite good, Fang Yuxin smiled slightly and said, ¡°These are Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits, which can expel impurities from your bodies. Take one each and go to the rest room to consume them. Remember to operate your superpower during absorption to speed up the process.¡± Upon hearing this, the six individuals, without hesitation, sincerely thanked her and then took a fruit each, heading to the adjacent rest room. The rest room had clean water prepared, so they could cleanse their bodies after absorbing the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits. After they left, Bai Qianqian blinked her big eyes, looking unhappily at Fang Yuxin, ¡°Mama, why did you give them the fruits but not Daddy?¡± Fang Yuxin was stunned, her relationship with Bai Ye was at most a partnership, why would she give him a Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit? Bai Qianqian sneakily observed her expression, seeing her surprised face which clearly showed she was unaware of her mistake, became even more upset, and said accusingly, ¡°Daddy is so good to you, yet you refuse to give him the fruits.¡± Fang Yuxin felt internally hurt, Bai Ye was good to her? She hadn¡¯t noticed. Seeing her not responding, Bai Qianqian sulkily said, ¡°Mama, next time if you give me the fruits to eat, can you give my share to Daddy? I won¡¯t eat it.¡± Fang Yuxin was at a loss for words. She didn¡¯t have many Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits on hand, but if she really had to share some with Bai Ye, it wasn¡¯t impossible. Additionally, Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits weren¡¯t something that could be consumed continuously¡ªthe effects would diminish over time unless mixed with other Spirit Grass to form Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills. But with her current strength, it was somewhat difficult to refine Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills. Without the pills, her family consuming more Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits wouldn¡¯t be very effective. She still had quite a few Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruits left; if she really needed to share, she could certainly spare some for Bai Ye. But why would she do that? She could tell Bai Ye was a highly loyal person who cared deeply for his subordinates. If she offered him a Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, Bai Ye might not keep it for himself; he would likely share it with his comrades. However, while the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit might not mean much to her, it was definitely a rare item for others. Chapter 263 - 263 156 Buffer Period (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 263: 156 Buffer Period (Second Update)_2 Chapter 263: 156 Buffer Period (Second Update)_2 Although Bai Ye had already guessed her secret about the space, she could easily pretend it was a Space Superpower, but if she took out the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, Bai Ye and the others would definitely be suspicious! Although Bai Ye had made a Blood Oath, she couldn¡¯t fully trust him or Chen Qiao and the others either. Thus, she had never considered revealing the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion to them¡ªit was simply too coveted! Hence, she had never thought of giving the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit to Bai Ye. Bai Qianqian¡¯s request really put her in a difficult position. Noticing her hesitation, Bai Qianqian hesitated, gripped Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, and said, ¡°Ma, I¡¯m sorry, if it¡¯s difficult for you, just forget it.¡± Seeing his obedient look, Fang Yuxin hesitated deeply and said, ¡°Qianqian, let¡¯s do this. Mom can¡¯t agree to your request right now, but I promise you, I will find a chance to give the fruit to your dad in the future. But you also have to promise me, don¡¯t tell Dad about Mom¡¯s secret, okay?¡± His eyes, which had been dim, instantly lit up with hope as he looked at Fang Yuxin. ¡°Ma, are you really telling the truth?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded. Since she had promised Bai Qianqian, she certainly wouldn¡¯t go back on her word. Although it wasn¡¯t feasible now, as mutant plants became more common, she could easily claim the fruit had been found outside. After all, the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit wasn¡¯t all that rare, and it could be given to Bai Ye as a favor later. With her assurance, Bai Qianqian knew she had agreed, and his earlier displeasure was swept away. He tilted his chubby face up and cheerfully said, ¡°Ma, shall I help you cut the stones?¡± His Soul Power was much stronger than that of an average superpower user, nearly on par with Fang Yuxin now, and he had become very adept at cutting Elemental Stones, capable of slicing one open in minutes, extremely fast. While others were absorbing the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, she planned to use this time to cut as many Elemental Stones as possible, so that when Chen Qiao and the others finished, they could absorb the corresponding Elemental Crystals. They had found a considerable number of Elemental Stones, among them many Spiritual Element Essence Crystals, which not only Bai Qianqian had absorbed, but Fang Yuxin and her family had also tried and successfully absorbed. Thus, their Soul Power was now much stronger than at the beginning, which had the benefit of improving their comprehension and making cultivation easier. After continuously absorbing Elemental Crystals, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe had finally balanced the two types of Spirit Roots within their bodies and could now practice Cultivation Techniques. Fang Yuxin took them to the Scripture Pavilion, where both had found suitable Cultivation Methods. Although they had just started on the path of cultivation, their strength had already significantly improved. While others absorbed the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, the family kept cutting Elemental Stones, honing their Soul Power. Meanwhile, Bai Ye and his team were also not idle. They were not currently at the Fang Family¡¯s place but stayed in a rented four-bedroom, two-hall house. These days, Bai Ye had consistently led his team and teamed up with Fang Yuxin and her group, unwaveringly sticking by their side, not only mining numerous Elemental Crystals but also accumulating a lot of resources. After deciding not to continue going out for tasks, Bai Ye also decided to stay in the Safe Zone with his team to improve their strength. So at the moment, these people were doing nothing else but using their spiritual power to cut Elemental Stones. By now, all of them had awakened their superpowers, with Bai Ye having the best talent, not only being a Dual Attribute superpower user but also having reached the Level 1 Peak, almost ready for a breakthrough. Unfortunately, this time, his luck was not as good as before. That bottleneck remained unbroken, causing him great anxiety. Also feeling incredibly anxious was Shen Xi. A big reason for their staying in Market was because Shen Xi needed to find his sister. He was the objective of Bai Ye and his team¡¯s mission to Market. After being found by them, he planned to take his sister to Beishi City, but his sister insisted on celebrating a friend¡¯s birthday, delaying their departure. The day before the disaster, his sister went to celebrate her friend¡¯s birthday and then became unreachable. Worried about his sister¡¯s safety, he was unwilling to leave the Market; Bai Qianqian was also in Market then, and Chen Si was severely injured, so Bai Ye did not forcibly take him away. Now, as the situation worsened, he still had found no trace of his sister, making him extremely restless. With a ¡°slap,¡± he placed the Elemental Stone on the table, stood up, and knocked on Bai Ye¡¯s room door. It took a while before he heard Bai Ye¡¯s indifferent voice from inside. ¡°Come in.¡± He hurriedly pushed the door open, saw Bai Ye next to an Elemental Stone, clearly also cutting it, and got straight to the point, ¡°Captain Bai, you haven¡¯t forgotten the promise you made to me, have you?¡± Bai Ye¡¯s expression remained unchanging, showing neither joy nor anger. His glance shifted lightly toward Shen Xi, making Shen Xi involuntarily tense up. Shen Xi couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°That was what you promised! Surely, Captain Bai isn¡¯t someone who forgets things because he¡¯s too high up?¡± Bai Ye then said, ¡°It¡¯s all zombies out there now, and your sister doesn¡¯t have a tracking device on her. Where do you expect me to find your sister? If you¡¯re so worried about her, you can go out now; I definitely won¡¯t stop you.¡± Shen Xi¡¯s complexion went pale. True, he was a Spiritual Superpower User and confident enough to handle ordinary people, but facing so many zombies... Not only did he not know where to look for his sister, but even if he did find her, bringing her back safely was a different problem! Suppressing the anxiety rising in his heart, he spoke again, ¡°Captain Bai, surely you haven¡¯t forgotten who I am?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket. Your support is the greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 264 - 264 157 What Do You Want to Do (Third Update) ?Chapter 264: 157 What Do You Want to Do? (Third Update) Chapter 264: 157 What Do You Want to Do? (Third Update) Bai Ye gave a cold laugh, ¡°Mr. Shen, although you were indeed the target of my mission, don¡¯t forget that it¡¯s the apocalypse now. Your status as my mission target has lost all significance to me.¡± Shen Xi¡¯s face turned pale as he stared fixedly at Bai Ye, trying to discern whether he was lying or not. But all he saw was Bai Ye looking back at him with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile, those deep eyes revealing nothing but unpredictable danger! The anxiety in Shen Xi¡¯s heart intensified. What he feared most was being abandoned by Bai Ye. Bai Ye was from Beishi City and had come to find him to take him back there. There was his mentor, and as long as his mentor was alright, or even if something happened to them, with his abilities, he could totally enter Beishi¡¯s research institute. In fact, he was very curious about the secret research institute in this Safe Zone. If he wanted, he could fully enter the research institute here in the Safe Zone and have those soldiers help him search for his sister. But he really looked down on this broken place. And Bai Ye would definitely not give him a chance to enter! This meant that if he now wanted to find his sister, he could only rely on Bai Ye! But this bastard absolutely refused to help! Seeing Shen Xi¡¯s face change unpredictably, Bai Ye thought for a moment and then said, ¡°Now, there are constantly survivors entering the Safe Zone. Haven¡¯t you already posted a family search mission at the mission center? If your sister is still alive, or someone has news of her, they will definitely come to find you. Why are you in such a hurry?¡± Shen Xi, seeing his attitude, was furious and couldn¡¯t help but retort, ¡°Of course you¡¯re not in a hurry; she¡¯s not your sister! Fine, since you refuse to help, I¡¯ll go find her myself!¡± Bai Ye gestured towards the doorway, ¡°Please do. No one¡¯s stopping you.¡± With a cold snort, Shen Xi turned and left with a dark face. Not long after he left, Chen Si came in. He sighed at Bai Ye, saying helplessly, ¡°Why provoke him?¡± Bai Ye glanced silently at him and said offhandedly, ¡°Don¡¯t like him.¡± Chen Si was even more helpless, ¡°What has he ever done to offend you?¡± Thinking of how Shen Xi always looked at Fang Yuxin like she was an experimental subject, Bai Ye¡¯s face darkened. But he didn¡¯t intend to elaborate, simply stating, ¡°Just don¡¯t like him.¡± Chen Si, however, hit the nail on the head, ¡°It¡¯s about Miss Fang, isn¡¯t it? Boss, give me a straight answer, what exactly are your thoughts towards Miss Fang?¡± Bai Ye looked at him in puzzlement, ¡°What kind of thoughts can I have? She is the biological mother of my son. What about it?¡± Chen Si looked at him skeptically, clearly disbelieving, ¡°Is that all?¡± Faced with such a doubtful gaze, Bai Ye somehow felt a touch of guilt and glared at Chen Si, saying displeased, ¡°If you have time, you better go slice your rocks, a big man shouldn¡¯t be gossiping like a woman all day. Go on, don¡¯t bother me.¡± Seeing that Bai Ye obviously didn¡¯t want to continue the conversation, Chen Si felt a vein in his forehead throb, stood up, and said resignedly, ¡°Fine, think whatever you want, but as your brother, I will support you whatever decision you make.¡± Hearing this, Bai Ye suddenly felt especially comfortable inside, though he pretended to be impatient, ¡°Alright, alright, get out already. And keep an eye on that Shen guy; don¡¯t let him stir up trouble.¡± Chen Si sighed helplessly, before he left, he couldn¡¯t resist saying, ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve delayed here long enough. We don¡¯t know what the situation is like back in Beishi City, we can¡¯t stay any longer.¡± He didn¡¯t wait for Bai Ye¡¯s response and walked out, shutting the door behind him. Because of his words, Bai Ye¡¯s good mood was completely gone. His smile froze on his face, and then gradually, his mouth turned downward and his eyebrows furrowed. He knew Chen Si was right, they had indeed delayed here too long. It was time to go back and check on Beishi City. Although he had left people in charge there and trusted his parents were safe, he couldn¡¯t help but worry. But now, the outside situation was becoming more and more dangerous. If they wanted to get back to Beishi City, the journey would be fraught with peril. Moreover, Fang Yuxin would definitely not want to leave the Safe Zone. If he were to leave, what would happen to Bai Qianqian? Bai Qianqian was still a child. He didn¡¯t have complete assurance that he could bring Bai Qianqian safely back to Beishi City, but if he left her in Market, he would be even more worried. If only... if only the Fang Family were willing to go to Beishi City with them. The Fang Family was very strong; with their help, he would feel more confident. But how could he, out of his own selfish desires, let the Fang Family take such a risk with him? Chapter 265 - 265 157 What do you want to do (Third update)_2 ?Chapter 265: 157 What do you want to do? (Third update)_2 Chapter 265: 157 What do you want to do? (Third update)_2 At the thought, Bai Ye¡¯s mood turned heavy. He simply didn¡¯t know what to do, and after much deliberation, he sighed deeply and continued to cut the Elemental Stone he held tightly in his hand. Since his strength was insufficient, he would strive to enhance it! ... Chen Qiao and the others had stayed in the rest room for a full two hours before they came out, their energy fluctuations stronger than before, clearly having increased their abilities significantly. By this time, the Fang Family had cut open many Elemental Stones, and the storage box was filled with dense Elemental Crystals, shining like gems, exceptionally beautiful. Seeing them come out, Fang Yuyang stopped his work and said indifferently, ¡°You¡¯ve just advanced, don¡¯t rush to absorb the Elemental Crystals. Go and train first.¡± When superpower users awakened and advanced, their physical qualities would be enhanced in all aspects, but aside from Enhancement Ability Users, the physical enhancement of other superpower users was not very pronounced. The fitness equipment here had been prepared before the apocalypse. Except for strength Enhancement System superpowers users, other superpower users could use the equipment to exercise and train their physical fitness and muscles. Chen Qiao and the rest had just advanced, and the impurities in their bodies had been expelled by the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit. Exercising not only allowed them to become more accustomed to their current physical strength but also provided them with the needed training. As the team leader, Chen Qiao and others naturally did not dare to disobey, and obediently chose fitness equipment suitable for themselves to begin training. When all of them were training until they were soaked with sweat and their bodies exhausted, Fang Yuyang finally let them stop and take Elemental Crystals to the rest room to cultivate. Just then, Fang Yuxin¡¯s walkie-talkie suddenly rang out. ¡°Miss Fang! Are you there? Could you please come to the Safe Hospital immediately? The situation is extremely urgent, please come as quickly as possible!¡± The caller was Zhou Yan, whose voice sounded very anxious, and besides his voice, there were also noisy background sounds. It seemed there were many people on his side, including the cries of a woman, which particularly tugged at the heartstrings. Fang Yuxin sighed helplessly, knowing that it would not do to not go, and told Zhou Yan she would be ¡°right over¡± before getting ready to leave. Fang Yuyang was not at ease allowing her to go alone. Although Fang Yuxin was now quite powerful, Fang Yuyang just couldn¡¯t help worrying. He had not forgotten that those inexplicable people always liked to pick on his precious little sister! When they arrived at the Safe Hospital, they saw Zhou Yan, who was purposely guarding the door, with a worried expression. He clearly relaxed upon seeing them and immediately said, ¡°Miss Fang, you¡¯re finally here. Please follow me inside, people are waiting for treatment.¡± He led Fang Yuxin inside, and they soon reached the place. Before even entering, Fang Yuxin could already hear a woman¡¯s crying coming from the room. ¡°Woo woo woo, please don¡¯t die, it¡¯s all my fault, I realize my mistake, please wake up, will you? I¡¯m begging you, please come to! I really know I was wrong!¡± The voice belonged to a young woman, pleasant to the ears, but listening to this crying, Fang Yuxin frowned in impatience. Because of her strong nature since childhood, she did not like to cry, nor did she like listening to others cry. What use was crying in this situation? With the energy spent crying, it would be better to think of a way to save people! Although she had not yet seen the crying woman, Fang Yuxin had already silently marked her with a cross in her mind. She then looked at Fang Yuyang and Zhou Yan¡¯s faces, noticing that their expressions were not good either, seemingly also annoyed by the crying inside. When they entered, the impatience and disdain on the three people¡¯s faces had vanished, but the woman was still crying, her resilience truly admirable. Then Fang Yuxin saw a man with a pale face lying on a simple single bed, his clothes and trousers cut open, not only torn but stained with large patches of blood. His arms, chest, and legs were covered with fierce wounds. The cuts were long and deep, jagged, with the flesh turned inside out, even showing the white bones inside. The wounds were severely infected with the Zombie Virus, Lin Feiyin was purifying the virus for him, and there was another woman with the Wood Element Superpower by her side, using her powers to heal him. There was also a young woman crouching by his head, crying as if the pear blossoms were bathed in rain. Zhou Yan said in a deep voice, ¡°Enough! Stop crying! If you really realize your mistake, then don¡¯t disturb the treatment here!¡± Upon his words, the young woman lifted her head. As she did, her long straight black hair cascaded down smoothly, revealing her fine and delicate features. Her face still bore tear marks, her delicate brows slightly furrowed as if startled by Zhou Yan¡¯s words, looking at Zhou Yan with a sad and aggrieved gaze. When she saw Fang Yuyang by his side, her pretty eyes brightened slightly, and a swift emotion flickered through the depths. This woman had fair and tender skin, combined with her good looks, and currently with tears making her seem weak and delicate, it was easy for a man to feel protective towards her. However, when Fang Yuxin saw her, her brows furrowed tightly. She didn¡¯t know this woman, yet she instinctively disliked her! This woman even dared to covet her brother! Fang Yuxin looked at her with an icy gaze and asked subconsciously, ¡°Who are you?¡± The woman seemed scared by her, her eyes instantly brimming with tears, looking at Fang Yuyang with a look of injustice, her body slightly shrinking back in fear as she said, ¡°What... what do you want to do?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, we invite you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for your favorite monthly ticket and show your support. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 266 - 266 158 The First Slap in the Face (First Update) ?Chapter 266: 158 The First Slap in the Face (First Update) Chapter 266: 158 The First Slap in the Face (First Update) Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t be bothered with her and simply turned her head to look at Zhou Yan, ¡°Major Zhou, can we have the bystanders step out? Her presence here will only interfere with the treatment and be detrimental to the patient¡¯s injuries.¡± Zhou Yan had long been annoyed by the woman¡¯s crying. As an iron-blooded military officer, he valued bleeding over shedding tears. Although she was a woman and he shouldn¡¯t expect her to behave like a soldier, comparisons were inevitable. What use could this woman be here other than weeping and wailing? Moreover, his brother was severely injured. How should his brother feel hearing her cry like this? However, as soon as Fang Yuxin spoke, her expression instantly became even more aggrieved, as if she had been greatly wronged, ¡°No! I¡¯m not going out! I want to stay here with him! Please, don¡¯t send me away!¡± As she spoke, her pleading eyes were constantly directed towards Fang Yuyang, hoping he would speak up for her. Unfortunately, far from acting as she had expected, Fang Yuyang just frowned in annoyance, ignoring her completely. Just as Zhou Yan was about to speak, Lin Feiyin, who had been purifying the virus from the injured, suddenly said, ¡°Just let her stay. She¡¯s just worried about the injured, and she¡¯s so pitiful, why drive her out? Fang Yuxin, you¡¯re being too cruel! She¡¯s just a pitiful person, why target her?¡± The words Zhou Yan wanted to say got stuck in his throat, and his face turned very unsightly. He didn¡¯t like Lin Feiyin, who although pretty, just lacked clarity! If it weren¡¯t for Lin Feiyin¡¯s ability to purify the virus, why would he ever have involved this woman? He instinctively looked at Fang Yuxin¡¯s reaction, worried she would become furiously embarrassed. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t pay any attention to Lin Feiyin and instead directly asked Zhou Yan, ¡°Major Zhou, what do you think?¡± Of course, Zhou Yan didn¡¯t want to go against Fang Yuxin¡¯s wishes, especially since they were on the same page! He waved his hand and had the weeping woman dragged out. She struggled nonstop, pleading, ¡°No! I don¡¯t want to go out! Let me stay! Please!¡± However, the hand gripping her arm was like a steel hoop, and no matter how much she struggled, she couldn¡¯t escape the grip and was helplessly pulled out. As she passed by Fang Yuyang, she suddenly struggled even harder, extending her arm attempting to grasp Fang Yuyang, ¡°Please help me! I beg you!¡± Fang Yuyang¡¯s brow instantly furrowed, and he quickly stepped back as if evading something filthy, causing her hand to grab at nothing. She was dragged out like that, crying and causing a fuss all the way. Zhou Yan hurriedly closed the security door, fearful the woman would come back. Then he saw Fang Yuxin walking towards the grievously wounded man; his heart worried, he quickly followed. Upon getting closer, Fang Yuxin could see more clearly. The man¡¯s wounds were severely infected, and there were many injuries. Lin Feiyin and the Wood Element Superpower User, although constantly using their superpowers to treat him, the effects were not significant. Fang Yuxin could tell at a glance that the man¡¯s vitality was very weak. If not for the Wood Element Superpower User continuously providing vitality, he would probably have died by now, or completely turned into a zombie. Looking at Lin Feiyin, who was constantly using her Water Ability to purify the virus, the results were not significant, even negligible! Fang Yuxin was shocked; Lin Feiyin was still a Basic-level Water Elemental Superpower and had not yet successfully advanced. Her purification ability clearly had no effect on the Zombie Virus in this wounded man. This meant that the man was likely injured by a Level 1 Zombie or even a Mutant Zombie. She extended her finger, touching the man¡¯s skin, and used her Spiritual Sense to probe the condition inside his body. From the check, she indeed found the situation was dire. This was an Earth Element Level 1 Superpower User. With his strength, he should have been able to resist the Level 1 Zombie Virus, but he hadn¡¯t! This meant that a Level 2 Zombie had likely scratched him! This discovery alarmed Fang Yuxin. They hadn¡¯t encountered any Level 2 Zombies when they entered the city before. But now, a Level 2 Zombie had appeared! This was utterly terrible news! Lin Feiyin¡¯s expression was not good. She had always felt that Fang Yuxin was too much. Although Fang Yuxin had agreed to treat the wounded earlier, which slightly changed her view of Fang Yuxin, she now suddenly felt that Fang Yuxin was still the same as before. Using her strength to disregard others and enjoying bullying people! Chapter 267 - 267 158 The First Slap in the Face (Second Update) ?Chapter 267: 158 The First Slap in the Face (Second Update) Chapter 267: 158 The First Slap in the Face (Second Update) ¡°That woman just now clearly looked so pitiful,¡± she was merely wanting to stay by this person¡¯s side, ¡°why do you have to force her out?¡± Fang Yuxin had really gone too far! What made her even angrier was that Fang Yuxin utterly disregarded her, even pretending not to hear what she said! She glanced quickly at Fang Yuyang, this man was truly outstanding; it was just too bad that he overly indulged his sister, Fang Yuxin, allowing her to bully others, which greatly disappointed her. Seeing that Fang Yuxin had been there so long without taking any action to save the person, Lin Feiyin couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Fang Yuxin, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and save him!¡± Fang Yuxin lifted her head and gave her a cold look, disdainfully saying, ¡°Lin Feiyin, I know what I need to do, I don¡¯t need you to teach me, and you¡¯re not qualified to do so!¡± Lin Feiyin was choked with anger, ¡°You¡ªFang Yuxin! You¡¯ve gone too far! You must apologize to me!¡± As she spoke, she withdrew her hand and turned to Zhou Yan, saying, ¡°Major Zhou, if Fang Yuxin doesn¡¯t apologize to me, then I am powerless to help.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yan first looked troubled, then quickly calmed down. He completely ignored Lin Feiyin¡¯s veiled threat and instead turned to Fang Yuxin to ask, ¡°Miss Fang, do you have a solution?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, ¡°I can try, but I must tell you, he was scratched by a Level 2 Zombie, and his body is infected with the Second-level Zombie Virus. Lin Feiyin is just a Primary Water Element Superpower User; even if she stays, she would be of no help.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lin Feiyin exclaimed in shock; she actually already knew she was powerless against this infection, but she didn¡¯t want to give up, especially not in front of Fang Yuxin. Now, the harsh reality was bluntly stated by Fang Yuxin, making her feel panicked and even more disgusted with Fang Yuxin. Instinctively, she blurted out, ¡°I don¡¯t have a way, but do you?¡± Fang Yuxin smiled at her, not bothering to conceal her triumph: ¡°My superpower has just advanced to second-level, which has a restraining effect on the Second-level Zombie Virus.¡± Since the appearance of higher-level zombies and Mutant Zombies, the Safe Zone had begun to classify the strength of zombies and superpower users. Zhou Yan¡¯s superpower was still at the Level 1 Middle Stage, far from second-level. Hearing that Fang Yuxin had successfully advanced to second-level, he was utterly astonished. He had always known that Fang Yuxin was formidable, and that she was enigmatic, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to be that powerful! However, after his surprise, came a surge of joy. Since Fang Yuxin said she had a way, she must certainly have one! Not just him, but the Wood Element Superpower User who was transferring superpower to the injured person also looked at Fang Yuxin with eyes shining brightly. As a Wood Element Superpower User herself, her ability had just stepped into first level, while Fang Yuxin was already a Second-level Superpower User. How could she not be surprised and envious? And besides surprise and envy, there was also some jealousy in her heart. But being a military person at heart, she was more resolute than most, her jealousy arriving quickly and leaving swiftly as well. She quickly glanced at Lin Feiyin, her eyes flashing with displeasure, then said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Miss Fang, since you have a solution, please hurry and save him. My Wood Element Superpower has just entered the first level, I can only sustain his life, not cure him. It¡¯s all up to you now.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, then looking at Lin Feiyin without courtesy, said, ¡°Please move aside, Lady Lin.¡± Lin Feiyin was very unwilling deep down, yet had no other choice. Zhou Yan¡¯s gaze pierced her like a thorn, and she could only step aside, giving the space to Fang Yuxin. However, she did not leave, instead, she wanted to see what Fang Yuxin could possibly do! The man was severely infected, with large areas of his skin showing signs of decay; if Fang Yuxin was to use her usual method, she would have to cut away most of the flesh on his body! She refused to believe that after Fang Yuxin did that, this person could still survive! Her worry was also Zhou Yan¡¯s. Inside the room, everyone¡¯s eyes were firmly fixed on Fang Yuxin, wanting to see how she planned to save the person. Then, they saw Fang Yuxin flick her fingers towards the injured person on the bed, injecting several green spirit lights. As the lights were injected, the patient¡¯s already sallow face instantly looked a bit healthier. Immediately after, they saw Fang Yuxin reach into her waist bag. Just as they thought she was going to pull out a knife, she instead took out a transparent glass bottle. The glass bottle was only as long as half a palm, looking rather delicate, but that wasn¡¯t the point, the point was, inside was a transparent liquid, looking like water. But everyone watching this scene instinctively felt that the bottle didn¡¯t contain water but something else. Then, they watched as Fang Yuxin opened the lid, tilted the bottle, and aimed the opening at the wound, apparently intending to pour the liquid onto the wound. Watching this scene unfold, everyone involuntarily began to speculate¡ªwhat was in the bottle? Could it be some kind of medicine? To treat wounds? At this moment, Lin Feiyin suddenly spoke out, ¡°Fang Yuxin, stop! What is that you¡¯re holding?¡± As she spoke, she quickly moved towards Fang Yuxin, reaching out to stop her, ¡°If you can¡¯t tell what it is and what it does, you can¡¯t rashly use it on the patient!¡±(To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 268 - 268 159 Continue to Slay (Second Update) ?Chapter 268: 159 Continue to Slay (Second Update) Chapter 268: 159 Continue to Slay (Second Update) According to common sense, Lin Feiyin¡¯s statement was not wrong. After all, doctors must be cautious with medication and must not randomly use something of unknown effects on patients. However, considering the special period they were in, any method that could save people was acceptable. After the apocalypse, various strange things had emerged, some of which might contain the ability to suppress the zombie virus. Were they supposed to research such a thing thoroughly before using it? If that were the case, people would have died! Before the apocalypse, the efficacy of various medications had become minimal due to changes in human bodies. Therefore, after the apocalypse, all researchers devoted themselves to finding new medicaments that could control the zombie virus and save lives. At this critical moment of saving lives, Lin Feiyin suddenly interfered, causing not only Fang Yuxin to feel displeased but also made Major Zhou¡¯s face darken. Even the Wood Element Superpower User¡¯s expression turned ugly, as he looked at Lin Feiyin with disdain. Lin Feiyin tried to intervene, but Fang Yuyang stepped in front of Fang Yuxin before she could. At the same time, Major Zhou signaled the Wood Element Superpower User, who quickly stepped forward, grabbed Lin Feiyin¡¯s hand, and pulled her into a corner. Fang Yuxin glanced at Major Zhou, saw that he wanted to speak but stopped himself, and knew that although he had someone hold Lin Feiyin back, he was certainly curious and worried. She explained, ¡°This is a fluid I accidentally obtained from a mutant plant, which I discovered has a purification effect on the zombie virus, so I took a bit of it. If Major Zhou is worried, I won¡¯t use it. But then, I¡¯m not very confident I can save this person.¡± Major Zhou immediately realized what was happening and said without hesitation, ¡°Then please, Miss Fang, proceed to save the person.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, poured the liquid from the bottle. Others then noticed that, although the liquid looked like water, it was much thicker. When the bottle was tilted, it didn¡¯t flow continuously but miraculously coalesced into a bean-sized water ball, which quickly spread upon contact with the wound and seeped inside. Fang Yuxin poured several more drops until all the wounds were saturated. After a while, everyone saw black viscous material oozing out of the wounds and increasing in quantity. The substance emitted a strong foul smell, causing nausea. The process lasted for about fifteen minutes, during which black material continually leaked from the wounds and even the skin. Meanwhile, Fang Yuxin injected several streams of Wood Energy, stimulating the vitality within the patients. Everyone could see that as the black substance leaked out and with the injection of Wood Energy, the patient¡¯s complexion visibly improved. After fifteen minutes, healthy blood began to seep from his wounds, and his initially pale face regained a healthy flush. This reassured everyone, except Lin Feiyin, who felt conflicted. Fang Yuxin injected a few more streams of Wood Energy, and the patient¡¯s wounds healed at a visible rate until they were completely restored, leaving no trace of injury. Lin Feiyin did not look at the patient; her eyes were fixed on Fang Yuxin and on the pouch she wore. Fang Yuxin had already put the bottle away and returned it to her pouch. Despite others¡¯ curiosity, they could not retrieve the miraculous liquid from her pouch. Lin Feiyin, however, was not satisfied. She licked her unusually dry lips and asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°Fang Yuxin, is the liquid in that bottle really from a mutant plant?¡± This question was also on other people¡¯s minds, but even though they were curious, they did not dare ask due to Fang Yuxin¡¯s strength. So when Lin Feiyin asked this question, they all perked up their ears, eager to hear what Fang Yuxin would say. Fang Yuxin looked at her with a half-smile, ¡°Lin Feiyin, what are you doubting? If it¡¯s not from a mutant plant, do you think I awakened a Water Element Superpower like you?¡± Of course, Lin Feiyin did not think so! Currently, the majority of awakened superpower users were Enhancement Ability Users, followed by the Nature Element, and then those with Special Familiarity. Within the entire Safe Zone, although there were quite a few Water Element Superpower Users, Lin Feiyin was the only one who had mutated a purification ability! Chapter 269 - 269 159 Continue to Slay (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 269: 159 Continue to Slay (Second Update)_2 Chapter 269: 159 Continue to Slay (Second Update)_2 She believed she was truly gifted, and even if there was another lucky person like her, it absolutely couldn¡¯t be Fang Yuxin! Her Wood Element Superpower was rarer than the Water Ability, and she was the strongest among all Wood Element Superpower Users. If she were to awaken to a Mutated Water Element, she would be too favored by the heavens! However, she couldn¡¯t think of what kind of Mutant Plant sap could possess the purification ability! So after Fang Yuxin responded, Lin Feiyin spoke up again, ¡°No, of course, I¡¯m not doubting you. I¡¯m just curious, what does this Mutant Plant you mentioned look like? Since its sap is so miraculous, you wouldn¡¯t mind telling us about it, right?¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yan couldn¡¯t help but look forward to Fang Yuxin¡¯s answer with anticipation. He too was very interested in the question. The bottle Fang Yuxin had brought out was only the size of a palm, and although he didn¡¯t know how much of the sap she had collected, it was evident that the liquid capable of purifying the Second-level Zombie Virus was extremely rare! He didn¡¯t expect Fang Yuxin to give him any, but if she was willing to tell him which plant it was, they could keep an eye out for it during future missions. Fang Yuxin noticed Zhou Yan¡¯s gaze, smiled slightly, and said, ¡°Of course I don¡¯t mind. I don¡¯t know which plant underwent the mutation, but it looks like a cactus on the outside. However, when cut open, it¡¯s hollow inside, almost entirely filled with this mysterious liquid. After collecting the liquid, I conducted several experiments and discovered it could purify the Zombie Virus.¡± Of course, her story was fabricated, but she was not worried about being exposed. Since various Mutant Plants had appeared after the apocalypse, who could guarantee that the Mutant Plant she mentioned didn¡¯t exist? Ever since Mutant Plants started showing up, Fang Yuxin had prepared this explanation. Her previous healing methods were too violent, a necessary evil at the time. Mutant Plants hadn¡¯t appeared yet, and her own power was too weak; if she had revealed a liquid with purification ability, it would¡¯ve been hard to explain its origin and to protect herself. Nowadays, with the outside situation growing more dangerous and survivors too busy to care for themselves, her strength was increasing¡ª who would target her over something so trivial? However, Lin Feiyin clearly wasn¡¯t satisfied with Fang Yuxin¡¯s explanation. Frowning discontentedly, she asked, ¡°Then where did you find this Mutant Plant?¡± This time, Fang Yuxin ignored her entirely and spoke to Zhou Yan instead, ¡°Major Zhou, it¡¯s getting late. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be heading back.¡± Zhou Yan nodded. The patient just now had the most serious injuries. Although plenty of other patients remained, it wouldn¡¯t be right to demand Fang Yuxin heal everyone given her unique status. He took note of the Mutant Plant Fang Yuxin mentioned and took the initiative to escort Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang out. Lin Feiyin attempted to stop them but was held back firmly by a Wood Element Superpower User beside her. Looking dissatisfied at the person holding her, she demanded, ¡°Why are you holding me back?¡± The Wood Element Superpower User wouldn¡¯t release her hand, gripping her wrist tightly and spoke bluntly, ¡°Lady Lin, I don¡¯t understand why you keep troubling Miss Fang. If I were you, I¡¯d be focusing on improving my strength rather than fruitlessly provoking others.¡± Lin Feiyin glared coldly at her, ¡°Of course I¡¯ll enhance my strength, and you don¡¯t need to remind me! If Fang Yuxin does something wrong, why can¡¯t I speak up?¡± The Wood Element Superpower User frowned, her grip tightening as she disdainfully said, ¡°Miss Fang did something wrong? How come I¡¯m not aware? Where did she err? It seems to me like you¡¯re deliberately targeting Miss Fang.¡± Lin Feiyin felt hit where it hurt, her face souring as she struggled fiercely, her eyes filling with malice, ¡°Let go! Don¡¯t forget who I am! Those infected need me to purify them!¡± As the only Mutated Water Element Superpower User and a Doctor in the Safe Zone, she had always treated patients at the Safe Hospital, and most people around gave her face and treated her politely. However, after she made this assertion, the Wood Element Superpower User holding her sneered dismissively, ¡°Yes, you are a treasured Mutated Water Element Superpower User who can purify the Zombie Virus. Unfortunately, you haven¡¯t advanced to Level 1 yet and can only purify the Basic-level Zombie Virus, whereas Miss Fang possesses a mysterious liquid that can restrain the Second-level Zombie Virus. Who knows how much of that liquid Miss Fang has? If she happens to have a lot, do you think you¡¯d still be valuable?¡± This was exactly what Lin Feiyin was worried about; hence, she had been so eager to stop Fang Yuxin earlier, to find out about that mysterious Mutant Plant and how much of the sap she had. But Fang Yuxin had ignored her completely and simply walked away! Fuming, Lin Feiyin glowered at the Wood Element Superpower User before saying angrily, ¡°I know, you¡¯re just jealous of me, aren¡¯t you? Fang Yuxin mentioned that the Mutant Plant resembles a cactus. Do you think there can be that much liquid inside a cactus? What she has is probably all there is!¡± After speaking, she forcefully shook off the grasp and freed herself. She gave the Wood Element Superpower User one last glare and quickly walked towards the exit, determined to confront Fang Yuxin for answers. Just as she reached the door, the annoying voice of the Wood Element Superpower User followed her from behind, ¡°Lin Feiyin, it¡¯s not even noon yet. Are you planning on skipping work?¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to give your recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 270 - 270 160 Green Tea (Third Update) ?Chapter 270: 160 Green Tea (Third Update) Chapter 270: 160 Green Tea (Third Update) Zhou Yan had escorted Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang out of Safe Hospital, but no sooner had they left than a woman with flowing long hair hurried up to them, saying, ¡°Major Zhou, how¡¯s Brother Chen? Is he all right now?¡± Although she addressed Zhou Yan, her gaze remained fixed on Fang Yuyang as she speculated about his identity. Zhou Yan was no fool; he immediately saw through the woman¡¯s absentmindedness and felt annoyed. Before, although the woman had cried annoyingly, it was ultimately for the sake of his good friend, and it seemed like genuine concern. But in such a short time, with his good friend¡¯s life still hanging in the balance, this woman had already set her sights on Fang Yuyang! After all, had it not been for saving this woman, his good friend wouldn¡¯t have sustained such severe injuries! He was disdainful in his heart, and his tone was naturally very curt, ¡°He¡¯s fine now, you don¡¯t need to worry. Go about your business, there¡¯s no need to wait around here.¡± The woman was taken aback at first¡ªshe hadn¡¯t expected that man surnamed Chen could actually survive! The heartbreak she¡¯d cried before was for show. After all, Chen had been hurt trying to save her; if she didn¡¯t put on an act, how could these people let her off so easily? Moreover, the reason she cried so sorrowfully in the first place was because she had seen Zhou Yan¡¯s status and strength and had deliberately shown her vulnerable side to arouse his protective instinct. Men like him, all brawn and no brains, loved to protect weak women, didn¡¯t they? Little did she know, it would be a failure! This man simply wasn¡¯t a man at all! While Zhou Yan was out of the picture, Fang Yuyang, who appeared later, was a shining light to her! She couldn¡¯t discern Fang Yuyang¡¯s strength, but he was so handsome! And in her experience, this man must be pampered and powerful; otherwise, where would his composed demeanor come from? What annoyed her was that this outstanding man already had a woman by his side¡ªa very beautiful and seemingly formidable one at that! Thinking that it was because of this woman she was sent away, she felt even more disgusted with Fang Yuxin. But she wasn¡¯t stupid; from Zhou Yan¡¯s attitude, it was very likely this woman was the one who had cured Chen! She looked pitifully at Fang Yuyang, her eyes brimming with tears, trying to move him with this tactic. But Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t pay her any attention, as if he hadn¡¯t seen her at all. Instead, he spoke tenderly to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, it¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s head back.¡± It was about time to go back for lunch. Fang Yuxin nodded and flashed a cold glare at the woman playing her charade, contemptuously warning her, ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are, don¡¯t even think about hitting on my brother! Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for being rude!¡± Upon hearing those words, a dark glint flickered through the woman¡¯s eyes! They were siblings! That was perfect! However, this woman was too arrogant! She looked at Fang Yuyang¡¯s strikingly handsome face, determined in her heart¡ªthis man, she, Shen Xin, would have him! Once she became this woman¡¯s sister-in-law, she would see who had the nerve to be arrogant! With a cold smile in her heart, Shen Xin¡¯s expression became even more pitiful, her gaze locked on Fang Yuyang, thinking of countless ways to strike up a conversation. Under normal circumstances, with her acting the part of the damsel in distress, men would approach and even protect her without her having to say a word. After imagining countless pickup scenarios and finding none suitable for the situation, she could only hope that Fang Yuyang would speak up and ease her embarrassment. Fang Yuyang was the ultimate sister devotee; throughout his life, besides his parents, he treasured his darling sister, Fang Yuxin, above all else. Now that Fang Yuxin had made her disdain for this woman clear, how could he possibly go against his precious sister¡¯s wishes, even at the risk of making her lose face? Moreover, he wasn¡¯t an idiot! With his status, many women had tried to ensnare him over the years, even men had tried, and he saw right through the intentions of the woman before him! He looked towards Shen Xin with a gaze colder than Fang Yuxin¡¯s and said with disgust, ¡°Scram!¡± Shen Xin never imagined that Fang Yuyang would react like this. In all her years, she had never encountered a man she couldn¡¯t win over, and now she had failed! Chapter 271 - 271 160 Green Tea (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 271: 160 Green Tea (Third Update)_2 Chapter 271: 160 Green Tea (Third Update)_2 What on earth was going on? Had her charm weakened, or had men mutated after the apocalypse? At that thought, she suddenly remembered her superpower. So the next moment, her body emitted a faint, almost imperceptible fragrance. The scent was like that of a high-end perfume, very light, not at all intense, and incredibly enticing. It was a very peculiar temptation, and once the odor spread, it stimulated people¡¯s senses intensely, even prompting the secretion of hormones. In addition to Zhou Yan, Fang Yuyang, and Fang Yuxin, there were other people nearby, perhaps passersby or guards at the door. They began to feel parched and restless upon smelling the fragrance, their gazes towards Shen Xin shifted, showing a strong longing. They looked at her as if seeing the lover of their dreams, and certain parts of their bodies gradually started to become uncontrollable. Meanwhile, Zhou Yan and Fang Yuyang¡¯s brows furrowed deeply, and their faces turned ashen. Their eyes were fixed on Shen Xin, brewing a violent storm within. Although Fang Yuxin had also smelled the fragrance, she quickly calmed down. After realizing what the scent was, her look towards Shen Xin grew colder and colder. Then, she stealthily formed a Heart Clearing Technique behind her back. Once the Heart Clearing Technique was initiated, it expanded rapidly from Fang Yuxin as the center. It was like a refreshing breeze brushing against people¡¯s faces. The coolness penetrated their hearts, instantly awakening them from the carnal state they were in. Shen Xin realized her miscalculation and hastily stopped releasing her superpower; the almost imperceptible aroma around her instantly disappeared. After the others regained their senses, their looks towards Shen Xin changed once freed from the influence of the scent. Because of the Heart Clearing Technique, they developed a psychological shadow towards Shen Xin, and almost subconsciously became guarded against her, no longer showing the admiration, affection, and desire from before. Normally, Shen Xin was especially pure and pretty; at first glance, she appeared as a very well-behaved and beautiful girl, not at all aggressive, and very much in line with general aesthetics, easily inducing fondness in both men and women. Her Awakening granted her a Special Element superpower¡ªher body could emit an exotic fragrance, stirring up the innermost desires of people. Previously, once she used her superpower, it was practically invincible. But this time, she had hit a snag! After Fang Yuxin meddled with her plan, Shen Xin harbored an immense grudge against her. Yet, she dared not show this on her face but instead deliberately put on a pitiful look, batting her large eyes in a ¡®I am innocent, I know nothing¡¯ expression. Zhou Yan and Fang Yuyang were much stronger than her and extremely steadfast in mind, so they were not affected by the strange scent at all. On the contrary, they noticed something wrong and felt an immense disgust towards Shen Xin. Fang Yuyang raised a hand, and a slap flew across the air, landing on Shen Xin¡¯s face. ¡°Slap!¡± The sound was extraordinarily loud¡ªShen Xin was sent flying backward, her face turning pale as she spat out a mouthful of blood, and the right side of her face instantly swelled up. This time, Fang Yuyang was truly enraged, so the slap he had delivered was with full force. He gave Shen Xin a loathsome glance, his eyes as if beholding a vile insect, ¡°This is a lesson for your presumption! If you dare use such despicable and shameless methods to seduce me again, I will definitely kill you!¡± Zhou Yan was also very angry, but being a military man and since Shen Xin was a woman, he found it inappropriate to hit her directly. Seeing Fang Yuyang act, a sense of satisfaction arose within him as he warned Shen Xin, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you again, don¡¯t come bothering Chen Yao anymore.¡± His good friend had been severely injured because of this woman, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel outraged. Nonetheless, even in his anger, he would not personally lay a hand on Shen Xin. But after what had just happened, he began to doubt. His good friend had risked his life to save this woman; could he have been bewitched by that fragrance as well? With this suspicion, he immediately went to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side and said in a low voice, ¡°Miss Fang, could you take another look at my brother? I suspect he¡¯s been bewitched too.¡± Fang Yuxin raised an eyebrow and after a moment¡¯s thought, she replied, ¡°He¡¯s still unconscious right now, so even if he was bewitched, it wouldn¡¯t be apparent. Let¡¯s wait until he wakes up and talk about it then. You observe him more closely, and if he really is acting strangely, then bring him to the Fang Family.¡± Zhou Yan immediately thanked her, and afterward, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang did not linger any longer and left the Safe Hospital directly. Shen Xin lay on the ground in a sorry state, looking utterly pitiable. She watched silently as Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin walked away, her lips pressed tightly together, her whole heart consumed by crazed hatred. She, Shen Xin, had memorized this humiliation! Seeing that no one paid any attention to her, she struggled to get up from the ground and cast a final look at the entrance door of the Safe Hospital. Then, without any reluctance, she turned around and slowly left. Her clothes were smeared with dust, and her cheek was swollen, clear signs of being mistreated. As she walked, people occasionally sized her up, curious about what had happened to her, but no one approached to ask. She walked slowly, feeling the piercing eyes around her which made her feel like there were thorns in her back, her mood becoming even worse. Not knowing how long she had walked, she suddenly heard a familiar voice, ¡°Xinxin!¡± The voice was surprised and delighted, and quite familiar. She instinctively looked up towards the direction of the sound and saw a feeble figure hastily running towards her. The person was none other than her long-searched-for brother! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 272 - 272 161 Startled Little Rabbit (First Update) ?Chapter 272: 161 Startled Little Rabbit (First Update) Chapter 272: 161 Startled Little Rabbit (First Update) Seeing Shen Xi after many days, Shen Xin¡¯s heart instantly filled with grievance, and with a choked voice, she threw herself into Shen Xi¡¯s arms, ¡°Brother¡ªbrother¡ªI finally found you! I finally found you!¡± Her slender fingers clutched tightly at the front of Shen Xi¡¯s clothing, and crystal-clear tears fell on it, leaving mottled damp marks. Shen Xi held Shen Xin tightly in his arms, listening to her sobbing, he felt as though his heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand, extremely uncomfortable. Thinking of the days spent in fear, his eyes gradually moistened too. He blinked back the tears and reached out to pat Shen Xin¡¯s back, soothing her in a soft voice, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t cry. Brother swears, I¡¯ll never let you leave my side again, and I¡¯ll protect you.¡± As he said this, he reached out to cup Shen Xin¡¯s cheeks, intending to wipe away the tears on her face, when he suddenly saw that the right side of her face was badly swollen. She had an oval-shaped face, especially small and delicate, with skin so fair and tender, always looking so endearing. But now, her right cheek was grotesquely swollen, even showing clear fingerprints! Shen Xi was not blind; how could he not see that his treasured younger sister, whom he had finally found, was clearly hit by someone! This was utterly outrageous! Taking things too far! His expression darkened instantly, his handsome face turned ashen, and his eyes flashed with a ferocity that did not match his gentle appearance. Carefully cradling Shen Xin¡¯s face, Shen Xi asked through clenched teeth, ¡°Xinxin, tell your brother, who hurt you? Does it hurt a lot?¡± His fingers lightly touched Shen Xin¡¯s swollen cheek. Shen Xin cried out in pain immediately, ¡°Ah! Brother, don¡¯t touch there, it hurts so much.¡± As she spoke, her eyes quickly filled with tears, and shining tear drops hung from the corners, making her eyes even more beautiful. Shen Xi quickly withdrew his fingers and asked again, ¡°Then tell me, who hurt you?¡± Shen Xin did not know Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang¡¯s names. She thought for a moment and told Shen Xi the whole story, ¡°I was originally staying in a Safe Zone in the city, waiting for you to find me, but the zombies in the city kept getting more and increasing in ferocity. Everyone in the Safe Zone was so scared, saying that they wanted to move to an outer Safe Zone where it was safe, so I followed them here. On the way, we encountered a very fierce zombie, and a soldier saved me. He was sent to Safe Hospital, and I was worried about him, so I stayed there. Two superpower users were treating him, and then a brother and sister with the surname Fang came. That sister was so fierce, she even had me thrown out, and I got this injury on my face from her brother.¡± Hearing her say this, Shen Xi¡¯s expression turned increasingly grave, and he let out a cold laugh, ¡°The Fang surname, is it? Xinxin, rest assured, your brother will definitely seek justice for you.¡± He had guessed who it was. Shen Xin was smart, and from his words, she knew Shen Xi must know that brother and sister; she couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Brother, do you know them? Who are they? Major Zhou was especially polite to them, and I have no idea who they really are.¡± Shen Xi patted her shoulder, not answering, but instead said, ¡°You¡¯ve just arrived at the Safe Zone, right? Come, I¡¯ll take you to register, and then take you to where I¡¯m staying.¡± In his eyes, his younger sister was innocent and kind-hearted; he did not want her to know of those dark and vicious schemings. Shen Xin sensed that Shen Xi did not want to talk about it, but she really wanted to know, so she slightly lowered her gaze, looking up at Shen Xi with a pitiful yet obedient expression; she added with a touch of ¡®understanding¡¯, ¡°Brother, can¡¯t you talk about their identity? If you have concerns, then forget it; I won¡¯t ask you anymore.¡± Shen Xi¡¯s heart instantly softened. He took a clean handkerchief out of his inner pocket and gently wiped the tears from Shen Xin¡¯s face. Fearing he would hurt her, his touch was extremely gentle, and after he finished, he said, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? I¡¯m your brother, you don¡¯t have to worry about anything, nor do you have to be cautious about anything.¡± Hearing this, Shen Xin secretly smiled in triumph, but she still maintained her obedient facade, smiling sweetly at Shen Xi, ¡°Brother~ I just knew it, you are the best to me!¡± She paused here and continued, ¡°Since there is nothing to be cautious about, who exactly are they? That Fang woman was so arrogant, do they hold high status?¡± Shen Xi scoffed with disdain, ¡°High status? She is barely able to protect herself now.¡± Chapter 273 - 273 161 Frightened Little Rabbit (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 273: 161 Frightened Little Rabbit (First Update)_2 Chapter 273: 161 Frightened Little Rabbit (First Update)_2 Shen Xin felt even more smug when she heard this. She simply couldn¡¯t wait to ask Shen Xi exactly what was going on, what kind of fate that annoying woman would meet. However, her gaze flickered, showing no hint of fault on her face, ¡°Brother, what do you mean? What happened to her?¡± Shen Xi didn¡¯t want her to know the shady plots that were going on beneath the surface, and decided against speaking further, only saying, ¡°She brought it upon herself, Xinxin, you better not get involved.¡± To prevent Shen Xin from asking further, he wrapped his arm around Shen Xin¡¯s shoulder, protecting her in his embrace, and while walking, he changed the subject, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about this anymore, Xinxin. Tell me, how have you been spending your days recently? By the way, I noticed some energy fluctuations on you, what superpower have you awakened?¡± The two gradually walked away. First, Shen Xi took Shen Xin to register for an ID Card, and after realizing she had no luggage, he then took her to buy clothes. After that, he brought Shen Xin back to the place where he was staying. When he returned, Meng Qingluo was using a simple stove to prepare food. Seeing Shen Xin behind him, Meng Qingluo startled, ¡°Who is she?¡± As she spoke, Meng Qingluo¡¯s cold gaze meticulously swept over Shen Xin from head to toe. It felt as if there were thorns in her gaze, which made Shen Xin extremely uncomfortable. Shen Xin subconsciously glanced at Meng Qingluo and noticed not only was Meng Qingluo beautiful, but she also had a particularly stunning figure, which made her, as a woman, exceptionally jealous, yet she dared not show it. Unaware of Meng Qingluo¡¯s identity and despite feeling dissatisfaction, her face revealed nothing of it; instead, she gave Meng Qingluo a soft smile, speaking coyly, ¡°My name is Shen Xin, his sister. Who are you, big sister? You are really beautiful.¡± Meng Qingluo did not take her flattery seriously; as a mercenary, she had an aversion to those weak and meek in demeanor. She didn¡¯t like Shen Xi already, and now her feelings of dislike for Shen Xin in front of her intensified. Not only were there reasons of repulsion between the same sex, but also because, had it not been for Shen Xi¡¯s insistence on finding his sister, they would not have been delayed so long in Market, and would¡¯ve already returned to Beishi City! She ignored Shen Xin¡¯s attempt to be amiable, and instead looked at Shen Xi with a mocking smile, asking bluntly, ¡°Is she the sister you¡¯ve been looking for all this time? You¡¯re bringing her back with you, where do you plan for her to stay? Just to be clear, I absolutely will not live with her.¡± The house had four rooms and two halls in total, and there were six of them in total. Bai Ye and she each occupied one room, then Chen Si and Shen Xi shared one, and Hou San and Xu Wu lived in another. Now that Shen Xin was added, naturally the best arrangement would be for Meng Qingluo to share a room with her. But Meng Qingluo really disliked those fragile, clinging kinds and absolutely didn¡¯t want to share a room with her. But if Shen Xin didn¡¯t share a room with Meng Qingluo, was she supposed to squeeze in the same room with Chen Si and Shen Xi? Shen Xi being her brother wasn¡¯t as much of an issue, but Chen Si was a full-grown man! Upon hearing this, Shen Xi knew Meng Qingluo was purposely complicating things for him, his expression darkened, and he directly said, ¡°Xinxin will stay with me.¡± As for Chen Si, he could just move out. However, as soon as he said this, Meng Qingluo retorted, ¡°Fine, but you will only be allowed to sleep in the living room!¡± Shen Xi didn¡¯t expect Meng Qingluo to be so unreasonable, and said, unable to restrain his anger, ¡°Meng Qingluo, don¡¯t push your luck!¡± Meng Qingluo didn¡¯t pay him any heed, instead she continued, ¡°Shen Xi, don¡¯t forget, without us, you wouldn¡¯t survive the journey to Beishi City! Don¡¯t get too arrogant, you¡¯re not worthy! Plus, now that your sister is here, from now on, you two are responsible for your own food!¡± She was willing to cook for her companions, but that didn¡¯t mean she was willing to serve Shen Xi and Shen Xin! Shen Xi hadn¡¯t expected her to do so; because of his mission objective, he only exerted effort when searching for Elemental Stones, otherwise, he was lazy. Although he had awakened Spiritual Power, his body was very weak, weaker than even Meng Qingluo, let alone any other man. Bai Ye and the others knew he was physically weak and never forced him, which resulted in him having only a few credit points on his ID card, and no supplies at all! Previously, Meng Qingluo had never said such a thing. So, he had always taken the care from others for granted. He never expected Meng Qingluo to say such a thing! It was simply outrageous! Before he could speak, Meng Qingluo coldly scoffed, ¡°Or what, you thought I would continue to serve you and your sister? Don¡¯t daydream!¡± Since they were in the Safe Zone, she didn¡¯t make the unpalatable instant noodles this time, but instead cooked fragrant steaming white rice. Besides the rice, she also prepared sausages, cured meat, roast duck, and other meats, all vacuum-packed. The only regret was that they had no fresh vegetables. The Fang Family did have some, but Meng Qingluo had a strong dislike for Fang Yuxin and naturally didn¡¯t want to go to the Fang Family to seek humiliation. At the moment, it was noon, right at mealtime. The aroma from the cooked meats constantly tantalized everyone¡¯s appetite. Smelling this, both Shen Xi and Shen Xin felt hungry. However, the problem was that neither sibling knew how to cook. Seeing that Meng Qingluo had no intention of backing down, the siblings felt somewhat embarrassed. Right then, the sound of the door opening rang out, and people in the house started coming out. Shen Xin saw them, her gaze flickered slightly, and she immediately had an idea. Her gaze swiftly swept over everyone, then she fixed her eyes on Bai Ye. Following that, her eyes misted up§Ó§à§Õ, her pink lips slightly parted, her lower lip lightly bitten by her teeth in a seductive gesture, yet her expression was like a startled little rabbit, ¡°I¡¯m... I¡¯m sorry for the trouble...¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for a monthly ticket, recommend at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 274 - 274 162 Looking for Trouble (Second Update) ?Chapter 274: 162 Looking for Trouble (Second Update) Chapter 274: 162 Looking for Trouble (Second Update) Being stared at relentlessly by a strange woman, Bai Ye¡¯s expression darkened slightly. Ignoring Shen Xin, he instead asked Meng Qingluo, ¡°Qingluo, what is going on?¡± Having been partners with him for many years, Meng Qingluo knew Bai Ye¡¯s temperament well. Seeing Shen Xin relentlessly staring at Bai Ye, she scoffed internally, not worried in the slightest that Bai Ye would be entranced by Shen Xin. She spoke indifferently, ¡°Big Brother, this woman is Mr. Shen¡¯s sister. I think since she¡¯s going to live here now, they should prepare their own food. I¡¯m not a cooking nanny, it can¡¯t be that I have to cook for them forever, right?¡± Upon hearing this, Shen Xin and Shen Xi became anxious. Shen Xi couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Captain Bai, my sister and I can¡¯t cook at all.¡± Shen Xin said with a grievance, ¡°I can¡¯t cook, but... but I can do other things!¡± Bai Ye didn¡¯t even glance at her but nodded at Meng Qingluo instead, ¡°Let¡¯s do as Qingluo said, from now on, Mr. Shen and Miss Shen should handle their own food. Also, Miss Shen, have you thought about where you¡¯d like to stay?¡± Shen Xin continued to stare at Bai Ye, hesitated, and was about to speak when Shen Xi quickly said, ¡°She¡¯ll stay with me!¡± He looked at Chen Si, ¡°But it might trouble Mr. Chen to make some room by staying with Mr. Hou and Mr. Xu.¡± Chen Si didn¡¯t speak, but wore a smile that was not quite a smile as he looked at Shen Xi and his sister. Hou San expressed his impatience, ¡°Damn it! Why should we? Who do you think you are, expecting Chen to make room for you two? Dream on!¡± Meng Qingluo also scoffed disdainfully, repeating her previous suggestion, ¡°Big Brother, I think we should just let the siblings sleep in the living room. We shouldn¡¯t inconvenience Brother Four.¡± Hearing this, Shen Xi immediately looked anxiously at Bai Ye, fearing he would agree. Shen Xi spoke with a fierce yet crumbling voice, ¡°Captain Bai, you can¡¯t treat us like this!¡± Without a second thought, Bai Ye agreed, ¡°Let¡¯s do just that.¡± Then he looked at Meng Qingluo briefly, ¡°Qingluo, give them some food, you won¡¯t need to worry about their meals going forward.¡± Shen Xi hadn¡¯t expected things to turn out this way, and his expression was extremely grim. How could Bai Ye treat them this way? How dare he! Shen Xin also did not expect that Bai Ye would remain entirely unmoved by her beauty, not even sparing her a glance! His eyes were solely on Meng Qingluo, that annoying woman! Hesitating for a moment, she broke free from Shen Xi¡¯s grip, marched up to Bai Ye, and looked up at him with tears shimmering in her eyes. She intentionally took on an ¡®obviously scared yet bravely enduring¡¯ demeanor, and said to Bai Ye, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Captain Bai, I didn¡¯t mean to disturb you, I can leave, but please don¡¯t target my brother, it has nothing to do with him.¡± As she spoke, she quietly released her superpower. The two were very close, nearly just an arm¡¯s length apart. At such close range, she was confident that Bai Ye would surely succumb. An exotic fragrance emanated from her, as she anxiously awaited to see Bai Ye become infatuated with her. However, what she hoped for didn¡¯t happen. Bai Ye¡¯s gaze upon her grew colder and colder, as if he were looking at an inanimate object. A sense of alarm bell rang immediately in Shen Xin¡¯s heart, signaling trouble. Yet before she could dodge, she suddenly felt a massive force crash into her. It felt like all her internal organs were shattered; uncontrollably, she was thrown backward, slamming right into Shen Xi. Shen Xi, though a Spiritual Ability User, had a rather frail body without much strength! Following the initial shock, Shen Xi didn¡¯t even have time to feel angry, only instinctively trying to catch Shen Xin. Then he felt Shen Xin¡¯s body crash heavily against him! The tremendous force from Shen Xin gave him the illusion that his internal organs had been displaced, and uncontrollably, his body flew backward, carrying Shen Xin in his arms. Finally, the two of them crashed hard onto the ground together. Shen Xi ended up cushioning Shen Xin¡¯s fall, his back scraping against the concrete, skinning a large patch painfully. This pain, however, was nothing compared to the excruciating pain of his broken ribs. Shen Xin, lying on top of him, was directly pressing on his fractured ribs, causing Shen Xi tears to stream uncontrollably. This time, due to Shen Xin¡¯s control, aside from Bai Ye, no one else realized anything was amiss. As they saw the sudden event unfold, after their initial surprise, there was intense anger! They might not know exactly what happened, but they all knew Bai Ye well, aware that he was not someone who would casually harm others. Chapter 275 - 275 162 Looking for Trouble (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 275: 162 Looking for Trouble (Second Update)_2 Chapter 275: 162 Looking for Trouble (Second Update)_2 He must have acted because Shen Xin did something! How could they not be furious? This woman had just arrived and dared to plot against Bai Ye right under their noses! Meng Qingluo was the first to ask, ¡°Big brother, what happened? What did this woman do to you?¡± Bai Ye frowned slightly, glanced at Shen Xin with disgust, and said lightly, ¡°She must have awakened a special superpower. Just now, she emitted a very unique scent that can arouse one¡¯s desires.¡± ¡°What?¡± Meng Qingluo exclaimed, then turned her head sharply, glaring fiercely at Shen Xin. ¡°This woman is courting death!¡± She said, and then strode towards Shen Xin. Although Shen Xi was enduring excruciating pain, he remained conscious. Shen Xin, on the other hand, was different. Her injuries were more severe, and she was barely lucid, constantly spitting blood from her mouth. So when he saw Meng Qingluo walking over with an unfriendly expression, Shen Xi¡¯s heart instantly tightened, worried that she would harm Shen Xin. Gritting through the severe pain in his chest, he said sternly, ¡°Meng Qingluo! If you take another step forward, don¡¯t blame me for being rude to you!¡± Meng Qingluo ignored him and continued to walk forward. Shen Xi¡¯s face changed, and no longer caring about anything else, he launched a Spiritual Attack at Meng Qingluo. The dire state of Shen Xin stirred a strong murderous intent in him; he wished he could kill all these people. However, he was still rational, so he suppressed the killing intent at the bottom of his heart and did not unleash a devastating Spiritual Attack on Meng Qingluo, but instead used a ¡°Spirit Shock.¡± Meng Qingluo knew of his superpower, so she was prepared. However, before the ¡°Spirit Shock¡± from Shen Xi could impact her Sea of Consciousness, a bolt of lightning instantly formed. Accompanied by a sharp ¡°crackle,¡± that invisible Spiritual Attack was shattered and completely dissipated. Then, Shen Xi heard Bai Ye¡¯s voice, tinged with coldness, ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time, or I won¡¯t hold back!¡± After he finished speaking, he ignored the injured Shen Xi and Shen Xin and nodded to the others, ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner.¡± The food was very rich this time because it was in the Safe Zone; there was no need to worry like when outside. The meat was not bad, but not a single leafy vegetable was seen, which made Bai Ye subconsciously think of Fang Yuxin, feeling heavy-hearted. After smelling that scent on Shen Xin earlier, even though it was only for a moment, he had still been affected. Then, he had helplessly watched as Shen Xin transformed into the look of Fang Yuxin, seen the tears glimmering in her eyes, her lightly biting her lower lip as she intentionally tempted him. That peculiar scent had made his body uncomfortably hot, but he knew very clearly that the strong-willed Fang Yuxin would never showcase such behavior! This realization was like a bucket of ice water being poured over him, directly quelling the heat on his body. What followed was intense anger! This woman actually dared to plot against him! And with such a despicable method! How could he tolerate this? Therefore, at that time, he struck her hard. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that this woman was Shen Xi¡¯s sister, he probably would have killed her! The food actually tasted quite good, but Bai Ye was too distracted to enjoy it, Fang Yuxin¡¯s image kept appearing in his mind. He ate mechanically, his expression growing uglier by the minute. Shen Xi had injured his ribs and couldn¡¯t move while lying on the ground, and Shen Xin was still lying on top of him. Although she wasn¡¯t heavy, around ninety kilograms or so, she was pressing right on the broken ends of his ribs. Shen Xi felt increasingly uncomfortable and soon struggled to breathe. His complexion gradually turned pale, cold sweat continuously broke out on his face, and he managed to say with difficulty, ¡°Help... help me... cough cough... hurry... save me...¡± But the others seemed not to hear him; they finished their meal and efficiently tidied up. Only then did Meng Qingluo ask Bai Ye, ¡°Big brother, how should we deal with these two?¡± Preoccupied with his own thoughts, Bai Ye couldn¡¯t care less about dealing with Shen Xi and Shen Xin, the siblings. After thinking for a moment, he said, ¡°Just give them a simple treatment for their injuries and find a place for them to lie down.¡± He had initially brought Shen Xi because he was the target of his mission and this man had also awakened Spiritual Power, which was a rare aid in the apocalypse. Among these people, only Shen Xi had awakened Spiritual Power, and since the journey back to Beishi City was long and fraught with danger, Shen Xi¡¯s Spiritual Power would certainly be of great use, so he had intended to take Shen Xi back to Beishi City. But now, he didn¡¯t want this man with him anymore. At that moment, Bai Ye thought of many things. Shen Xi was a doctor, engaged in biological research, and very talented. But the problem was, he was a scientific maniac! Every time Shen Xi looked at Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye disliked it intensely. Before, he hadn¡¯t decided whether to abandon the mission target, but the emergence of Shen Xin made him realize his thoughts toward Fang Yuxin, and now he didn¡¯t intend to keep Shen Xi around. This person could be a disaster. Bai Ye had such an intuition. However, he hadn¡¯t yet thought about how exactly to handle it. Thus, he didn¡¯t ask Meng Qingluo to carefully treat the two¡¯s injuries, nor did he consider asking someone to heal them. He just let Meng Qingluo give them a cursory treatment. There was a bit of an air of letting them fend for themselves. Meng Qingluo had long disliked Shen Xi, and now with Shen Xin¡¯s move against Bai Ye, she had wanted to tear the siblings to shreds! Understanding Bai Ye¡¯s intention, she couldn¡¯t help laughing and said with implied meaning, ¡°Big brother, rest assured, I know what to do.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 276 - 276 163 Moved (Third Update) ?Chapter 276: 163 Moved (Third Update) Chapter 276: 163 Moved (Third Update) Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had no idea that after they left, Shen Xin ran into her brother Shen Xi. Unfortunately, that woman was digging her own grave by repeating her old tricks, trying to use her superpower to control Bai Ye, which not only resulted in Bai Ye seriously injuring her but also implicated Shen Xi, the poor sod. They did not have that woman, Shen Xin, on their minds; after departing from Safe Hospital, they returned home. Qu Qianhe had prepared lunch, and everyone was waiting for them. Unlike Bai Ye¡¯s situation, the Fang Family¡¯s lunch was quite lavish¡ªit didn¡¯t pale in comparison even to the pre-apocalypse meals. After everyone had happily finished lunch, they began their new training session. However, it wasn¡¯t long before the Fang Family welcomed an unexpected visitor. This person was none other than Bai Ye, who had just realized his own feelings. When Bai Qianqian ¡®saw¡¯ Bai Ye arrive, she immediately ran excitedly to the door and, lifting her round face, looked at Bai Ye with delight, ¡°Daddy, why are you here? Did you come to see me?¡± Bai Ye reached out and tousled her hair, instantly messing it up, which drew a disgruntled protest from Bai Qianqian, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Bai Qianqian stepped back, chubby paws covering her head, angrily glaring at Bai Ye. With a ¡°tsk,¡± Bai Ye withdrew his hand, ¡°I have some business with your mom, just stopped by to see you.¡± Hearing Bai Ye say this, Bai Qianqian didn¡¯t feel at all diminished in Bai Ye¡¯s heart; instead, her eyes lit up, and she became instantly excited, completely forgetting the mean thing Bai Ye had done earlier, ¡°You¡¯re really here to see Ma? You¡¯re not lying to me?¡± Bai Ye felt a little guilty under her suspicious gaze and surveyed Bai Qianqian up and down before suddenly exclaiming, ¡°Hey, Bai Qianqian, have you been putting on weight lately? You look rounder all over.¡± While speaking, he grabbed the collar of Bai Qianqian¡¯s shirt and lifted her up, disregarding her angry expression, and continued, ¡°You really have put on weight, haven¡¯t you?¡± After saying that, he subconsciously thought of the times when he shamelessly scrounged meals and then couldn¡¯t help but touch his chin, reckoning that the Fang Family¡¯s current food standard likely couldn¡¯t be matched even by the upper echelons in the Safe Zone. Bai Qianqian was furious; she refused to admit she had gained weight! She kicked her little legs hard, angrily shouting, ¡°Let go! Let go now! You jerk!¡± Seeing her face turning red, Bai Ye worried she might be uncomfortable from the tight collar and quickly put her down. He then guiltily tried to smooth out her crumpled collar, aiming to straighten it out. Bai Qianqian haughtily slapped his hand away, ¡°Didn¡¯t you come to see Ma? Follow me.¡± She turned and, like a little old man, walked away with her hands behind her back. Watching his son, who was getting rounder and rounder like a little meatball, Bai Ye instantly felt a sense of tragic disparity with his son. He closed the door and strode after Bai Qianqian, following her inside. When he entered, he saw fresh, succulent cucumbers growing in the yard with ripe, red tomatoes beside them, looking particularly tempting. He suppressed the urge to pluck one and eat it, forcing himself to look away and entered without a sideways glance. Fang Yuxin was already waiting in the living room; Bai Qianqian, the little troublemaker, was sitting next to her, holding a basin of cleaned strawberries and eating with a smug expression on her face. The strawberries were vibrant, still glistening with dew on their skin, looking incredibly fresh and giving off a rich, sweet scent. Bai Ye didn¡¯t usually care much for strawberries, but after the apocalypse, he couldn¡¯t taste any fresh fruits or vegetables. Now, seeing Bai Qianqian eating them with such relish, he suddenly felt a craving. The situation was indeed a bit odd. After all, he was a mature man and a mercenary with exceptionally steadfast resolve, always knowing how to control his desires. Whatever temptations he faced, he was always able to restrain himself. But this time, he felt his formerly proud self-control crumble, leaving him utterly unable to hold back! His eyes were fixated on Bai Qianqian, who was eating obliviously, filled with a sense of tragic disparity between father and son! Fang Yuxin was sitting right next to Bai Qianqian; the intensity of Bai Ye¡¯s gaze overwhelmed her, and she couldn¡¯t ignore it. She silently glanced at Bai Ye and thought she must be seeing things, his look was so plaintive! What a challenge to one¡¯s worldview! Hesitating for a moment, the corner of her mouth twitched slightly, and she stood up from the sofa to say to Bai Ye, ¡°Take a seat. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± She then hurried to the kitchen, washed a bowl of strawberries, and brought them out, placing them in front of Bai Ye, ¡°Eat if you want to, but don¡¯t keep staring at Qianqian. It¡¯s stressful for him.¡± Chapter 277 - 277 163 Moved (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 277: 163 Moved (Third Update)_2 Chapter 277: 163 Moved (Third Update)_2 Bai Ye instantly felt overwhelmed with embarrassment. He glanced at Bai Qianqian, who was eating like a little pig, before silently averting his gaze. ¡°This brat, feeling pressured? Yeah, right.¡± This was actually his son! Too much maternal love spoils the child! Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t dare to say this to Fang Yuxin; he could only mock in his mind. After hesitating for a moment, Bai Ye picked up a strawberry and popped it into his mouth. With a gentle bite, the sweet taste spread over his tongue, tantalizing his poor taste buds. Bai Ye paused momentarily, then reluctantly swallowed the strawberry, feeling incredibly foolish. He didn¡¯t dare to look at Fang Yuxin, afraid of seeing her look of disdain. Instead, his gaze shifted back to Bai Qianqian, uncertain of how to start the conversation. The reason he had come to find Fang Yuxin was actually for a serious matter. He was not here to mooch off their food! Pressured by his intense gaze, Bai Qianqian had to stop reaching for the strawberries, his evil little claws halted. He asked discontentedly, ¡°Dad, why are you staring at me? Ma prepared it for you. If you want to eat, just eat, why keep looking at me?¡± After speaking, he reluctantly placed the small pot he was holding on the coffee table and pushed it toward Bai Ye, ¡°If you want mine, I¡¯ll let you have it.¡± Yeah, this is his son! Bai Ye watched, eyes wide, as his foolish son completely wrecked his image, making it even harder to look at Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression. But Bai Qianqian had no idea what he had done wrong. Seeing Bai Ye¡¯s expression grow uglier, he shrank back nervously and gathered his courage to say, ¡°Dad, didn¡¯t you say you came to find Ma? Why do you keep staring at me and not daring to look at Ma?¡± Once again, Bai Ye felt like his foolish son had harshly reminded him of his incompetence, wishing he could grab Bai Qianqian and spank him hard. Fang Yuxin saw his angry face, with eyes almost shooting fire, and worried he might actually hit Bai Qianqian, hurriedly said, ¡°Since you¡¯re here to see me, just say what you have to say.¡± Only then did Bai Ye muster the courage to look at Fang Yuxin. He found her expression neutral, showing neither pleasure nor anger ¨C it was impossible to tell if she was disgusted with him. His heart was all over the place. Before, he had not realized his feelings for her, thinking only that Fang Yuxin was a fine woman, and as the biological mother of his foolish son, he, as a man, should protect her. But now, after falling into Shen Xin¡¯s scheme, he suddenly found himself romantically interested in Fang Yuxin. Aside from discussing pretty girls with his buddies during his student days, this was the first time he was actually enamored. This made him nervous and at a loss, with no idea how to face Fang Yuxin. In truth, he understood that his feelings for Fang Yuxin were at best a budding interest and far from a deep, incurable love. But as it was his first time, and Fang Yuxin happened to be the biological mother of his son, it made him feel that Fang Yuxin was different, and he began harboring thoughts of persisting with her. Unfortunately, he utterly lacked experience in pursuing women. Now, as he looked at Fang Yuxin, he felt his entire being was off, incapable of speaking under her clear yet chilly gaze, and even the thoughts in his heart vaguely felt sullied. Fang Yuxin had no inkling of Bai Ye¡¯s thoughts. Seeing him avoiding eye contact and not daring to look at her, she couldn¡¯t help but become curious. Bai Ye had sworn a Blood Oath; although she couldn¡¯t constantly read his thoughts through the oath, if Bai Ye harbored any ill will or wronged her, he would be punished by the Blood Oath, and she would receive immediate feedback. Yet the Blood Oath was quiet without any reaction, meaning Bai Ye hadn¡¯t broken his promise. So why the guilt? As he continued to remain silent, Fang Yuxin grew impatient and her tone became colder, ¡°If you refuse to speak, you can leave now. I have other matters...¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Bai Ye, seeing Fang Yuxin start to push him away, immediately became anxious. He cast aside whatever little guilt he had and hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯m here to ask you something. I¡¯m currently stuck at a bottleneck from Superpower Level 1 to second-level and can¡¯t make a breakthrough; I don¡¯t know what¡¯s the issue. If you know, could you tell me?¡± Fang Yuxin was taken aback; she hadn¡¯t expected that Bai Ye would come to ask about this. After a moment of hesitation, she swallowed the words, ¡®Why should I tell you?¡¯ and said, ¡°Why do you think I would know?¡± When Bai Ye spoke of serious matters, he became a different person. The awkwardness disappeared as he said, ¡°Intuition! I feel like you should know, so I came to ask. I hope you can tell me.¡± Just as Fang Yuxin was about to say something more, her hand was grabbed by Bai Qianqian¡¯s pudgy little hand. His hand was soft and warm, touching Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand and making her heart itch. She turned her head to see Bai Qianqian looking up at her with pleading eyes, ¡°Ma, please help Dad.¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart instantly melted. She said to Bai Ye, ¡°Stretch out your right hand.¡± Bai Ye immediately tossed an appreciative look at Bai Qianqian, then, compliant as can be, extended his right hand, taking care to move the plate of strawberries to the side. Watching his movements, Fang Yuxin said nothing, just leaned forward, resting her fingertips lightly on Bai Ye¡¯s wrist, and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to examine your body, don¡¯t resist.¡± Bai Ye hastily nodded, his eyes fixed on Fang Yuxin¡¯s slender and fair fingertips, the tender touch against his skin making it hard for him not to become restless. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to vote for it with your recommendation and monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 278 - 278 164 Trust (First Update) ?Chapter 278: 164 Trust (First Update) Chapter 278: 164 Trust (First Update) Bai Ye stared intently at Fang Yuxin¡¯s fingers resting on his wrist, feeling completely overwhelmed. His eyes were beyond his control, and his mind could not calm down, but felt an unbearable itch instead. He furrowed his brows fiercely, even more afraid to meet Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze, feeling waves of guilt as if he had wronged her. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t look at him but released her Spiritual Sense to carefully inspect his body. During her inspection, she quickly identified the issue. Bai Ye¡¯s talent was very impressive, and he had awakened two superpowers, and had also absorbed many Elemental Crystals, which made his talent top-notch. Moreover, although he hadn¡¯t awakened spiritual power, his innate spiritual power was not weak. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know if he frequently used Elemental Stones to train his spiritual power, but from what she observed, Bai Ye¡¯s talent was exceptionally excellent. Furthermore, not only was his talent outstanding, but he also had rich combat experience, and his Combat Power was already high. All these factors combined meant that Bai Ye¡¯s current strength among superpower users was already outstanding. It was rare for him to be on the verge of reaching the second-level so quickly. Unfortunately, his body was filled with impurities, and the chronic injuries from years of missions made it difficult for him to advance. After inspecting him, Fang Yuxin quietly withdrew her fingers. She glanced at Bai Qianqian, who was eagerly looking at her, and said softly, ¡°Qianqian, you should go and train now.¡± Upon hearing this, Bai Qianqian realized that Fang Yuxin wanted to speak privately with Bai Ye, deliberately sending him away. He was eager to know what Fang Yuxin would say and worried about Bai Ye¡¯s condition, so he didn¡¯t want to leave at all. Clinging to Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, he coaxed, ¡°Mama, let me stay here, I want to stay with you.¡± Bai Ye also guessed that Fang Yuxin had something to say, considering she purposely sent Bai Qianqian away because her following words might not be suitable for him to hear. Therefore, he said, ¡°Qianqian, be good! Go practice, don¡¯t think about being lazy!¡± Bai Qianqian wrinkled his nose, glared fiercely at him, and huffed, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving!¡± Bai Ye knew he was worried about him and was actually moved, but he didn¡¯t want to make Fang Yuxin uneasy, so he pretended to look stern and said crossly, ¡°Bai Qianqian, are you itching for a spanking? Have you been misbehaving because I haven¡¯t disciplined you for three days?¡± Bai Qianqian thought Bai Ye was really angry and instantly felt aggrieved, his eyes turning red. He was staying just for his silly dad, and yet he was being scolded. Humph, silly dad really was annoying! Fang Yuxin also misunderstood; she thought Bai Ye was intentionally venting his frustration on the child and immediately became furious. ¡°Mr. Bai, this is the Fang Family¡¯s home! Why are you venting your anger on the child? Sorry, I can¡¯t help with your issue, and you are not welcome here. Please leave!¡± She said, angrily pointing towards the door, signaling Bai Ye to scram. Bai Ye felt extremely frustrated inside. He wasn¡¯t really angry! And he wasn¡¯t really scolding the child, either. How unjust! Bai Qianqian sniffled and quietly tugged on Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, whispering, ¡°Mama, don¡¯t be mad at dad, I¡¯ll go and practice obediently. Please help dad.¡± Humph, silly dad was getting more and more useless. If he couldn¡¯t advance, how would he protect Mama in the future? How would he fend off bad uncles and strange aunts? He was doing it for Mama, not because he pitied his silly dad. Humph! Fang Yuxin, seeing him so sensible, felt her heart soften even more. She ruffled Bai Qianqian¡¯s hair and kissed his chubby cheeks twice before gently patting his shoulder to send him to practice. Bai Ye, sitting opposite, watched his smug son¡¯s eyes curl up with delight, feeling like the metaphorical vinegar jar inside him had been overturned. Jeez! How could one be so jealous! Fang Yuxin ignored him, and as she watched Bai Qianqian¡¯s small figure disappear, she turned her cold gaze to Bai Ye, barely concealing her displeasure as she said, ¡°Mr. Bai, why haven¡¯t you left?¡± Bai Ye knew she was angry, his heart skipped a beat, and he cautiously said, ¡°Miss Fang, I truly came here sincerely seeking your help. Just name your terms, whatever you ask.¡± Fang Yuxin smiled. ¡°I indeed have a way to help you, but... are you sure you can afford my fee? My charges are very high.¡± Hearing her say this, Bai Ye couldn¡¯t help but think about that bag of Elemental Stones he had initially. His lips twitched involuntarily. At that time, he hadn¡¯t known the value of the Elemental Stones, collecting them simply based on a weird gut feeling. So, when Fang Yuxin demanded them as payment, his eyes didn¡¯t even blink as he immediately agreed. Chapter 279 - 279 164 Trust (Second Update) ?Chapter 279: 164 Trust (Second Update) Chapter 279: 164 Trust (Second Update) Afterward, he learned from Fang Yuxin about the functions and value of Elemental Stones, and his heart bled for quite a while. Though those stones were precious, they couldn¡¯t compare to a good brother¡¯s life, and the news Fang Yuxin told him was even more priceless. Otherwise, even if he had a lot of Elemental Stones, without knowing their use, they were nothing more than heavy yet useless rocks. However, when Chen Si came to and learned about this, he nearly scolded him to death! This caused him to develop a mental shadow afterward, always unable to help but doubt whether he was truly so wasteful. Hence, the moment he heard Fang Yuxin mention compensation, his heart became anxious, fearing that Fang Yuxin would make an exorbitant demand. He subconsciously straightened his back and said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Miss Fang, what are your demands? Please speak them out.¡± His voice was very calm, his face showed no sign of nervousness, and he appeared confident. But in reality, his heart had already sunk. Actually, Fang Yuxin did not want to inconvenience him. She didn¡¯t want to make Bai Qianqian sad, let alone, she couldn¡¯t even be bothered about the things in Bai Ye¡¯s possession! But thinking of Bai Ye having made Bai Qianqian cry just before, she didn¡¯t want to let him off so easily. She curled her lips, deliberately saying, ¡°Since Mr. Bai has said so, I might as well speak. I don¡¯t want anything else, just the Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals in Mr. Bai¡¯s possession. However many you have, I want them all.¡± As expected! Fang Yuxin was making an exorbitant demand again! Bai Ye slightly furrowed his brows, Fang Yuxin¡¯s request troubled him. After a brief moment of hesitation, he said, ¡°I can give you all the Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals I have, but not those belonging to others.¡± Others still needed to absorb Elemental Crystals to enhance their talent; he could give away his share but couldn¡¯t wrong his own brothers. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t expect Bai Ye to agree so readily. The last time he handed over so many Elemental Stones was because he didn¡¯t know their value; now that he clearly did, he still dared to agree! Fang Yuxin suspected Bai Ye was planning to play games with her, so she purposefully asked, ¡°How many Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals do you have?¡± Bai Ye had no intention to hide, and he straightforwardly said, ¡°Those Elemental Stones I dug up, I divided a part among the other brothers, and cut up part. There are still 78 uncut Elemental Stones. I absorbed some of the Elemental Crystals I got, did some exchanges with the others, and I still have 15 left. I will send them to you later.¡± Fang Yuxin was surprised; the numbers released by Bai Ye were much higher than she expected. She thought that Bai Ye, agreeing so quickly, would lie about the quantity, giving her only a little, yet unexpectedly, Bai Ye was being so forthright. She knew that with Bai Ye¡¯s strength, the Elemental Stones he dug up would surely be more than those of his teammates; the numbers he mentioned couldn¡¯t possibly be all he had, but Fang Yuxin believed him, he wasn¡¯t lying at all. Initially, she wanted to tease Bai Ye further, but now she lost the interest. She lazily said, ¡°Never mind, I changed my mind. I don¡¯t want the Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals in your possession, I¡¯ll request something else.¡± Bai Ye was taken aback. The most precious things he had were probably those Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals. But Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want them, and instead wanted another demand. He couldn¡¯t imagine what else he had that could compare to the Elemental Stones. He became somewhat nervous inside, worried that Fang Yuxin would make an unbearable demand. Nonetheless, his anxiety and concern didn¡¯t show on his face; on the contrary, he asked composedly, ¡°What do you want to request instead?¡± He was so composed that Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t see any nervousness in him at all. Having lost the interest in teasing Bai Ye, she spoke formally, ¡°Aren¡¯t you skilled in assembling explosives? I have some materials here; take them back later, have them assembled into explosives, and bring them to me as your compensation.¡± This request was unexpected for Bai Ye, and frankly, it was too simple, leaving him a bit bewildered. Bai Ye incredulously asked, ¡°Miss Fang, are you sure that is your demand?¡± Fang Yuxin gave him a cold glance, ¡°What, can¡¯t you do it?¡± Bai Ye heard the impatience in her tone and quickly shook his head, ¡°I just think the demand is too simple.¡± Fang Yuxin scoffed, she directly took him to an empty resting room and said, ¡°You can advance to the next level here; I will help you.¡± Bai Ye hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. Logic told him that this was very dangerous, but emotionally, he wanted to believe that Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t hurt him. Fang Yuxin was somewhat surprised to see him sitting down obediently to meditate. After all, advancing to the next level was dangerous, and most people would be cautious, but Bai Ye didn¡¯t show any doubt, which was incredibly daring! The man actually dared to trust her; she couldn¡¯t fathom where his courage came from! She watched Bai Ye, who had closed his eyes and deeply immersed himself in cultivation for advancement, her thoughts becoming complex. Other than her family, Bai Ye was the second person to trust her so much. The first person was Shang Jinxiu. However, Shang Jinxiu trusted her because she had saved Shang Jinxiu¡¯s life, and Shang Jinxiu was a very rare individual with Space superpower, who could only survive with her help. But Bai Ye was different. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 280 - 280 165 Renew Understanding (Second Update) ?Chapter 280: 165 Renew Understanding (Second Update) Chapter 280: 165 Renew Understanding (Second Update) To help Bai Ye level up, giving him a Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit would actually suffice. However, Fang Yuxin did not want to do that, although Bai Ye had rarely trusted her, she could not trust him without any reservations. If she had been alone, she might have tried to trust Bai Ye, but she was not alone! She had family to protect and could not act on a whim, instead she had to be even more cautious. Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, being such a powerful and magical existence, would incite endless struggles even in the Cultivation World, not to mention in this apocalypse where survival itself was difficult! The temptation was too great for one person, could Bai Ye resist it? She did not know, and she dared not gamble on it. Therefore, she chose a more conservative approach that did not address the root of the problem to help Bai Ye level up. By stimulating Bai Ye¡¯s body with Wood Energy, she enhanced his vitality and activity, pushing his power against the bottleneck. Bai Ye first practiced for a while, constantly adjusting his body¡¯s state. As he cultivated, Fang Yuxin could keenly sense the changes in the energy fluctuations in his body. She waited a moment, and seeing the energy fluctuations on Bai Ye¡¯s body intensifying, she went and sat cross-legged behind him, placing her palm on his back and channeling Wood Energy to stimulate his heart. With the addition of Wood Energy, Bai Ye¡¯s vitality grew even stronger, his cell activity continued to improve, and at the same time, the energy fluctuations became more intense. Fang Yuxin momentarily withdrew her hand, then hesitated for a moment and flipped her hand, taking out a transparent glass bottle from the space, opened the lid, then walked to the side of Bai Ye, pinched his jaw, pried his mouth open, and poured the transparent liquid from the bottle into his mouth. This was the spiritual spring water she had taken from the Spiritual Spring, which had purification properties. This purification could not only cleanse the Zombie Virus but also purify impurities in the body, though the effect was not as strong as the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit and was less targeted. Logically speaking, Bai Ye was in the process of leveling up, which should be the time when he was most on guard, so initially, Fang Yuxin did not think she would succeed, it was just a trial. Strangely enough, Bai Ye resisted initially but then did not resist anymore, obediently allowing her to proceed. Fang Yuxin felt odd, so with a thought, she poured the entire bottle of spiritual spring water into his mouth. This indeed benefited Bai Ye, while the effects of the spiritual spring water were not as good as the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, with so much going down, if Bai Ye absorbed it well and was lucky enough, he might be able to expel all the impurities from his body. After finishing, Fang Yuxin stared at the empty glass bottle and began to daydream. How could she use an entire bottle of spiritual spring water on Bai Ye? That was far too wasteful! She had really provided a bargain for this man! Fang Yuxin glared fiercely at Bai Ye, flipped her hand to securely store the empty bottle, then looked at her fingertips and gently twisted them. It felt odd, as if they still retained the warmth of Bai Ye¡¯s jaw. She hesitated for a moment, seeing that Bai Ye was still leveling up, she wiped her hand on his clothes, then quickly withdrew her hand from his now wrinkled clothes, guiltily diverting her eyes. She sat beside him, bored, waiting for a while, seeing that Bai Ye was still leveling up, she input some more Wood Energy. After a while, Bai Ye seemed to have absorbed the spiritual spring water; dark brown impurities began seeping through his pores, emitting an unpleasant odor. Fang Yuxin unconsciously took a few steps back, creating distance from Bai Ye, then just watched his movements. Perhaps due to Bai Ye¡¯s excellent absorption capability, impurities continuously emerged from his pores, initially few, then increasingly more, persisting for about an hour before the impurities gradually began to lessen and finally stopped appearing. At that moment, Bai Ye underwent a significant transformation, his entire body was like covered in dark brown mud, filthy all over, and continuously emitting an unpleasant smell. Fang Yuxin looked at him, her feelings becoming complicated again. She suddenly regretted being too generous this time; she had not given Bai Ye the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit but had only let him drink a bottle of spiritual spring water, yet the effect seemed almost comparable to using the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit. It showed how good this man¡¯s talent and luck truly were! Chapter 281 - 281 165 Refresh Understanding (Second More)_2 ?Chapter 281: 165 Refresh Understanding (Second More)_2 Chapter 281: 165 Refresh Understanding (Second More)_2 She didn¡¯t know if Yiming had used this much spiritual spring water and had her help, whether the effect would have almost been as good. But she didn¡¯t dare to gamble, compared to Ye, she dared not trust Yiming even more! Just as her feelings became increasingly complex, Ye opened his eyes. Then, he twitched his nose and tightly furrowed his brows, ¡°What¡¯s going...on...¡± Even before Ye had opened his eyes, he had smelled a foul stench, different from the odor emitted by zombies,, more like the distinctive smell of excrement, but much fouler. He couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and opened his eyes, instinctively wanting to ask Yuxin what was going on, but before he could finish speaking, he realized that his whole body was filthy,, with something sticky clinging to him, making him feel disgustingly uncomfortable. And that foul stench was emanating from him. Ye cast his eyes downward, silently observing his current appearance, feeling completely ruined. When he had initially advanced from Basic to Level 1, some impurities had also been expelled from his body, but the amount was very small, nothing compared to the current situation! He hadn¡¯t expected that advancing to second-level would release so much impurity! It was too horrifying! Seeing him looking like he was about to collapse, Yuxin secretly guessed he must have a cleanliness obsession,, then pointed to a bucket of water, a basin, and a towel in the corner, beside which sat a stool with a set of clean clothes on it, which she had prepared while Ye was still unconscious. She said indifferently, ¡°You should clean up first. The clothes are new. I didn¡¯t know your size, so you¡¯ll just have to make do. I will step out now.¡± Leaving had somewhat of a feeling of fleeing due to panic. The smell inside the room was truly unbearable! Ye silently watched her figure disappear through the door until it was completely blocked by the door panel. Only then did he turn his attention to the bucket in the corner. Although simplistic, everything was well-prepared. The bucket was filled with clean water, next to it, the basin had also been filled, and atop the basin¡¯s rim hung a pure white towel,, simple in design, like those used in hotels. But it was of good quality, fluffy looking, both thick and soft. He first locked the door and then quickly stripped off his dirty clothes and went to the corner to start cleaning his body. The water was cold, but he didn¡¯t mind. It was still summer, and temperatures were naturally high; a cold bath was absolutely fine. Besides, as a grown man, not to mention taking cold showers in summer, even in winter he had done the same. Now, in an apocalypse, who cared about comforts? The bucket was full, he first used the water in the basin to briefly clean his body, then after pouring away the dirty water, he continued filling the basin with clean water from the bucket, repeating several times until he had used up all the water in the bucket and was completely clean. Then he looked towards the little stool. On top lay a white short-sleeved T-shirt, underneath that, gray linen casual pants, all neatly folded, even the packaging wasn¡¯t removed. On the very bottom, there was a box of men¡¯s underwear, also unopened and appearing quite new. He looked at the model on the box, thinking of Yuxin placing these items here, his nose suddenly felt a bit itchy. He rubbed his nose and casually touched it. No blood, he instantly breathed a sigh of relief. Then, Ye quickly unwrapped the packaging and put on the underwear. The material was good, soft on his skin, just the size was a tad small, feeling a bit tight when worn. But now he couldn¡¯t ask Yuxin to change it for him, so he just made do. After putting on the clothes and pants, Ye also picked up the pair of canvas casual shoes placed beside the stool and put them on. Then he glanced at the dirty clothes and shoes he had taken off, silently sighing. He didn¡¯t have many clothes now, and these dirty clothes and shoes couldn¡¯t be discarded. The set of clothes Yuxin had prepared was nice, but not suitable for going out to hunt zombies, far too thin! Fortunately, not far away was a stack of large bags, looking like those supermarket shopping bags. He used the bags to pack up all the dirty clothes and shoes, sealing them well, satisfied that he couldn¡¯t smell them anymore, then took his things and left. He went straight to the living room, finding Yuxin sitting on the couch, looking like she was waiting for him. He looked at Yuxin¡¯s perfect profile, feeling suddenly warmed inside, that feeling of being moved growing stronger. Sensing his gaze, Yuxin turned her head and smiled at him. Seeing her smile, Ye was completely lost. However, the next moment, he suddenly heard Yuxin say, ¡°Now that you¡¯re alright, let¡¯s talk about compensation.¡± The beautiful moment before shattered instantly, and Ye felt his heart shatter as well. Yet, looking at Yuxin¡¯s unmasked calculating gaze, he didn¡¯t know if he was crazy, but he found even this side of her unusually adorable. He pinched his fingers, pretending to be calm as he sat down opposite Yuxin, then silently placed the bag of dirty clothes at his feet: ¡°Thank you for helping me advance. Whatever your demands are, just say them, and I¡¯ll try to fulfill them.¡± Yuxin stretched out her slender forefinger and gently shook it: ¡°The compensation we discussed earlier was already agreed upon, but there¡¯s been an unpredicted situation, so we need to renegotiate the compensation. In order to help you advance, I used the juice from mutant plants that I encountered unexpectedly. Its juice has purification properties and is very rare. I don¡¯t have much of it, but I¡¯ve used all of it on you now. How do you think you should compensate me? Besides, as you know, water resources are now very scarce and precious, and even the clothes on your body, these must also be accounted for.¡± Ye, looking at the smiling Yuxin, was once again re-evaluating her. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com), including the monthly ticket, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 282 - 282 166 Someones Unlucky (Third Update) ?Chapter 282: 166 Someone¡¯s Unlucky (Third Update) Chapter 282: 166 Someone¡¯s Unlucky (Third Update) In the end, when Bai Ye left, he took a large cardboard box filled with materials and parts for assembling explosives. Additionally, he gave all 15 Level 1 Crystal Cores he had on him to Fang Yuxin as compensation for the spiritual spring water, clean water, and clothes. When he was leaving, Bai Qianqian made a special effort to see him off, clearly reluctant to part ways, wishing Bai Ye could move in to live with them. However, Bai Qianqian knew that Fang Yuxin would not agree, so she didn¡¯t express her true desire. After Bai Ye had gone, Fang Yuxin took the time they had spent together to cut a lot of Elemental Stones. As the time approached, she went to the Safe Hospital to treat those infected. Being the Chief Physician, she treated only those who were most seriously injured yet were strong themselves. This time she didn¡¯t run into Lin Feiyin; someone voluntarily told her that Lin Feiyin had taken a leave, seemingly feeling that her Superpower Level was too low, so she went back to cultivation, hoping to advance to Level 1. Fang Yuxin had no interest in the news of Lin Feiyin. However, without Lin Feiyin there to be an eyesore, her mood had noticeably improved during her two-hour shift at the Safe Hospital. The others noticed and began to develop a disdain for Lin Feiyin, who always butted heads with Fang Yuxin. Whether it was the patients or the staff and leadership of the Safe Hospital, everyone¡¯s attitude toward Fang Yuxin had noticeably shifted. They all knew that Fang Yuxin was now a Second-level Wood Element Superpower user and even had a mysterious Mutant Plant juice that could purify the Second-level Zombie Virus. Their attitude toward her could almost be described as obsequious. Ever since Fang Yuxin became the Chief Physician, she had been spending two hours every day at the Safe Hospital treating the wounded. Over a few days, many people throughout the Safe Zone had begun to recognize her power. Apart from a few exceptions, no one dared to openly challenge or coerce her anymore. The only oddity was probably Lin Feiyin, who was always at odds with Fang Yuxin. In these times, how many people were foolish? Especially those who had survived the apocalypse, they were generally stronger-willed than the average person. Otherwise, they would¡¯ve been driven to despair by the zombies long ago. These people could see which way the wind was blowing and understand the current situation. Even if they were not on Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, they could see that Lin Feiyin was a rarity. Those who had healed and left aside, the doctors and guards of the Safe Hospital could see Lin Feiyin every day, and almost daily, they would witness her picking fights with Fang Yuxin, only to have Fang Yuxin turn the tables on her. Back when Fang Yuxin was still Superpower Level 1, although people admired her power, there was still a sense of resistance. Some of them were also Superpower Level 1, and at first glance, there didn¡¯t seem to be a big difference between them and Fang Yuxin, yet Fang Yuxin was the Chief Physician! What gave her the right? Though they felt some resentment internally, they didn¡¯t show it outwardly, and certainly not like Lin Feiyin who was courting disaster. Instead, they happily watched the drama unfold. But now things were different. Fang Yuxin was now Superpower Level 2! Within the entire Safe Zone, no one else¡¯s advancement to Level 2 had been heard of! The difference in power was now a complete and overwhelming gap! When the difference was small, others might feel jealous, but once the gap widened, all that remained in their hearts was awe. Moreover, with the emergence of Level 2 zombies outside, and both Level 1 and Mutant Zombies appearing more frequently, the existence of Fang Yuxin was practically a lifesaving straw for them! Upon hearing the news, they began thinking of ways to ingratiate themselves with Fang Yuxin. With Lin Feiyin away, people gradually started badmouthing Lin Feiyin to Fang Yuxin, expressing their dissatisfaction with her. Fang Yuxin listened to these gossips with a smile but said nothing. However, one piece of news surprised her. She remembered that Lin Feiyin used to be part of a team, but now, she had been abandoned by her teammates. And the reason was simple: they couldn¡¯t tolerate Lin Feiyin¡¯s ¡®holier-than-thou¡¯ attitude and her constant dragging of feet. Originally, Lin Feiyin had awakened the Water Element Superpower, and now that water sources were contaminated, her Water Ability was quite precious; basically, every team would have a Water Element Superpower User. However, low-level Water Element Superpower Users had limited offensive power and were mostly treated as mobile water reservoirs by the team. Lin Feiyin had the Water Ability and was even fortunate enough to have mutated, gaining the ability to purify the Zombie Virus. Such a person should not have been abandoned by her teammates. Chapter 283 - 283 166 Someones Unlucky (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 283: 166 Someone¡¯s Unlucky (Third Update)_2 Chapter 283: 166 Someone¡¯s Unlucky (Third Update)_2 But the problem was, she was really too troublesome! It was one thing constantly seeking out Fang Yuxin for trouble, as the most that would happen was collateral punishment for Tie Qiang, but as more and more survivors entered the Safe Zone, her saint-like complex began to flare up. First, she took it upon herself to give the team¡¯s food to those pitiful survivors fleeing disaster, then she began to take in people to her home. If she had been living alone and had given away her own food, it would¡¯ve been one thing, but that wasn¡¯t the case! They rented two suites as an entire team, with 18 people squeezing together under one roof. Most of the resources were communal, managed by designated people. Lin Feiyin directly took the team¡¯s communal resources to help others, once or twice might¡¯ve been okay, but as it happened more frequently, the amount of goods she gave away accumulated significantly. Her decision to bring people back home greatly offended the other team members, and eventually, they severed ties with her and drove her out. After she was driven out, Lin Feiyin had no choice but to rent a place. But with the Safe Zone now overcrowded, finding housing was extremely difficult. Luckily, she still had her identity as a Doctor and also possessed the Mutated Water Element that could purify the Zombie Virus, which finally helped her find a place to live. It was a small two-bedroom house, where she wasn¡¯t the only occupant as she allowed the people she had picked up to live there too. When Fang Yuxin heard this news, she was intrigued. After returning home, she had Chen Qiao check what exactly was the situation with Lin Feiyin. After all, she was just an ordinary person, and Lin Feiyin had repeatedly disregarded her, always causing her trouble¡ª even a saint would lose patience! As long as Lin Feiyin was in misfortune, Fang Yuxin was happy! Chen Qiao soon found out, and returned with a face full of glee, gleefully saying, ¡°That woman surnamed Lin is in big trouble now! She picked up a mother and son, but that pair is no easy task! This time they¡¯ll surely drive her crazy, let¡¯s see if she still dares to be arrogant!¡± Fang Yuyang suddenly became interested and asked with a smile, ¡°Do tell, what exactly happened?¡± Chen Qiao vividly shared the information he had gathered about the mother and son. Simply put, they were quite the characters: the mother was originally a university student who became a mistress for a middle-aged businessman while still in school, later having a son and successfully pushing out the businessman¡¯s wife to secure her position. The child was now ten years old, tall and strong, but had not been raised well, a true troublemaker since childhood. After the apocalypse, the businessman died, neither the woman nor her son had Awakened any superpowers. However, she was only thirty, in the prime of her life, and well-maintained; she looked in her early twenties, was beautiful and seductive. She quickly found favor with a capable superpower user, and with her skills in bed and by playing pitiful, she not only survived with her son but also made it to this Safe Zone. Unfortunately, the superpower user she had ingratiated herself with died along the way, and afterward, she had the unfortunate luck to entangle with the generous Lin Feiyin. Chen Qiao heard of this when he went to gather information. It so happened that someone knew this woman before the apocalypse, so he knew a lot about her situation. After giving the man a bag of instant noodles, he went on and on. After listening, Fang Yuyang chuckled, shook his head, and with a soft sneer muttered, ¡°That¡¯s hardly enough!¡± He glanced at Chen Qiao, lowered his voice, and instructed, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she also gave a lot to others? Since that¡¯s the case, figure out a way to tell those people where she lives now, let them go seek her out for shelter. She¡¯s so kind, isn¡¯t she? Help her out!¡± Chen Qiao, on hearing this, chuckled and nodded his head, accepting the task. If Lin Feiyin had initially just given away her own money, they might have disliked her but also admired her courage. But using the team¡¯s communal resources to play the saint? What was that if not generosity at others¡¯ expense! That was truly contemptible! Afterward, everyone tacitly agreed not to bring up Lin Feiyin again to avoid souring their mood, proceeding to joyfully enjoy a lavish meal. Afterward, the others left the Fang Family together. Chen Qiao, recalling Fang Yuyang¡¯s order, didn¡¯t return with the others but instead went to the dilapidated slums, seeking out the ¡®poor souls¡¯ Lin Feiyin had helped. Chen Qiao actually despised these ¡®poor souls.¡¯ It was the apocalypse now; instead of striving to improve their strength, going out to hunt zombies, or searching for resources to survive, they cowardly waited for others¡¯ charity. What good was that? If they had been either too old or too young, it might¡¯ve been another matter, but that wasn¡¯t the case! When he had earlier gone to gather information about Lin Feiyin, he had also found out about those she had helped. Rather than saying these people were pitiable, they were detestable! Everyone wanted to survive; did that mean superpower users should go out to hunt zombies? Wasn¡¯t it dangerous when they went out to execute missions? When they first started doing tasks, which one of them wasn¡¯t nervously beating the drums inside? There were also quite a few Ordinary People among his companions then! This was a disaster for all survivors, zombies were enemies to all survivors! Not just theirs, the superpower users¡¯! Besides, even if they lacked strength, these people could still try to find work to do. If they were truly determined, wouldn¡¯t they find something?(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes, monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 284 - 284 167 Corpse Tide (First Update) ?Chapter 284: 167 Corpse Tide (First Update) Chapter 284: 167 Corpse Tide (First Update) After Chen Qiao and the others left, the Fang Family, as usual, prepared to enter Qingmu Spiritual Mansion for Cultivation. But it was at this moment that Fang Yuxin¡¯s walkie-talkie rang again. ¡°Miss Fang! Miss Fang! This is Zhou Yan, please hurry to the observation room, it¡¯s urgent, please come as soon as possible!¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s voice was urgent, tinged with panic, and the noisy background noises made one feel tense subconsciously. Fang Yuxin realized something was wrong and quickly replied, ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll be right there!¡± After she spoke, she turned off the walkie-talkie and frowned in an effort to remember. This time... this time... could it be... She suddenly thought of something and immediately said to her family, ¡°Dad, Mom, Brother, get changed. Something¡¯s not right; we might have a fight tonight.¡± Fang Yuyang noticed her troubled expression and guessed that something was amiss, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s happening? Is it that dream? Did you dream about today¡¯s events?¡± In fact, Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t dreamt about what specifically happened in the Safe Zone that day. In her dreams, after she and Fang Yuyang were forced out of the villa by Fang Mengyao¡¯s scheming, many people in the Safe Zone shunned them, so they simply entered the city and stealthily hid there. Although it was dangerous, their target was smaller, and at that time, they struggled to survive, scavenging supplies everywhere to stay alive. So she had no idea what specifically would happen in the Safe Zone that day. She just remembered that since the population in the Safe Zone was so large, ever since the formation of the Corpse Tide, it had often been assaulted by the tides. Thinking back to the previous discovery that more and more zombies were approaching the Safe Zone, she speculated whether a Corpse Tide had already formed and was preparing to assault the Safe Base. However, this was just her guess. She wasn¡¯t entirely sure, but having her family prepare was just a precautionary measure, which was better than fighting an uncertain battle. If a Corpse Tide truly formed and attacked the Safe Zone, they, as members of the Safe Zone, would certainly have to contribute. Fang Yuxin briefly shared her suspicions with her family and then said, ¡°I¡¯m going to the observation room to find Zhou Yan now. Brother, contact Chen Qiao and the others to get ready first.¡± The rest of the family was not at all at ease with Fang Yuxin going alone. Fang Yuyang spoke up, ¡°I¡¯d better go with you. We can notify Chen Qiao and the others on the way.¡± Time was pressing, and Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t have time to say more. She nodded, quickly changed into protective gear, and left with Fang Yuyang at a brisk pace. To save time, they rode a motorcycle without hesitation. When they arrived at the observation room, they found it overcrowded. Zhou Yan looked very upset. As soon as he saw Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, he stepped forward quickly and said in a low voice, ¡°There are too many injuries, it¡¯s urgent, we couldn¡¯t send them to the Safe Hospital in time, so they¡¯re temporarily placed here. The zombie group outside has all gathered for some reason. A team that went out on a mission earlier was surrounded, and they were barely rescued back with many injuries, all here now. Those zombies have already closed in on the Safe Zone; it looks like we¡¯re going to have a tough fight tonight.¡± The siblings silently nodded, their faces growing somber. Before, they were merely speculating, but now that speculation had turned into reality, making their hearts heavy. Zhou Yan led Fang Yuxin into the observation room. Upon entering, the strong smell of blood mixed with the stench of decay assaulted their sense of smell, causing a reflexive urge to vomit and casting a sense of oppression over their spirits. Aside from the injured, there were many Doctors rushing to treat the patients. This wasn¡¯t a proper operating room, and they were using normal daylight fluorescent tubes, which provided bright lighting, yet, with people moving around, mottled and twisted shadows were left on the floors and walls. Fang Yuxin noticed that Lin Feiyin wasn¡¯t there. She couldn¡¯t help but look at Zhou Yan, ¡°Why isn¡¯t Lin Feiyin here?¡± Not only was Lin Feiyin a Doctor, but her superpower also included the ability to purify the Zombie Virus. This was an emergency call; she shouldn¡¯t be absent, right? Upon hearing her question, Zhou Yan¡¯s face turned uglier; he seemed to think of something infuriating and said through gritted teeth, ¡°She can¡¯t come, she said she¡¯s in Cultivation retreat.¡± ¡°Retreat?¡± Fang Yuxin was even more astonished. What retreat at such a time? Moreover, Lin Feiyin didn¡¯t have a treasure like Qingmu Spiritual Mansion; even if she was in retreat, she would be within the Safe Zone, wouldn¡¯t it be easy to find her? Chapter 285 - 285 167 Corpse Tide (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 285: 167 Corpse Tide (First Update)_2 Chapter 285: 167 Corpse Tide (First Update)_2 Despite Zhou Yan¡¯s ugly expression, she did not continue to ask. No matter what was going on with Lin Feiyin, it had nothing to do with her. Zhou Yan also stopped mentioning Lin Feiyin and instead asked, ¡°Miss Fang, can you tell me how much of that purifying juice you still have?¡± Fang Yuxin frowned, this was a difficult question for her to answer, so she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhou Yan said anxiously, ¡°Almost all the injured here are infected, and they are all strong fighters. Their loss would be a tremendous blow to the entire Safe Zone. If possible, I hope you can try your best to save them.¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s frown deepened, she looked deeply at Zhou Yan, guessing what kind of mission these people had embarked on. After all, there were so many lives at stake, and now, with zombies attacking the city, they were much needed. It would indeed be a pity to let these people die. She then said, ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡± She paused for thought, and continued, ¡°Is everyone here infected?¡± Hearing the implication in her words, Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Do you have a way?¡± Fang Yuxin disliked making promises lightly, so she said, ¡°I¡¯ll try my best, but I¡¯m not sure if I can save them all, given there are so many here. You first ask the others to leave, then have these wounded get up, and take off their clothes, I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± Without a definite answer from Fang Yuxin, Zhou Yan was terribly unsettled but decided to trust her for once. He rubbed his face hard and sternly told the people in the observation room, ¡°Everyone stop! Don¡¯t rush to treat the wounds, help them remove their clothes, and move quickly!¡± Although the doctors in the room found his order bizarre, after glancing at Fang Yuxin standing behind him, their eyes flickered slightly and they obediently began to undress the wounded. As they bent down, they each breathed a sigh of relief. There were too many wounded this time, and the injuries were severe. Although these doctors had seen their share of life and death, the identities of these people were different. Judging by Zhou Yan¡¯s level of anxiety, they knew if they couldn¡¯t cure the people and these individuals died, even if there were no penalties, life thereafter would certainly not be easy. Now that Fang Yuxin had arrived and was clearly preparing to take over, they were naturally eager to pass this hot potato along. From then on, whether these wounded survived or died would be none of their concern. Meanwhile, they also wanted to see if Fang Yuxin could really cure so many people. This building itself was built to the specifications of a commercial building, it was very spacious, and there were hundreds of severely injured. Fang Yuxin was capable, but she was only one person, could she really save so many? Although they knew Fang Yuxin was already a Wood Element Level 2, while they admired her, they weren¡¯t fully assuaged internally. Plus, dealing with the wounded had left them tense, so at this moment, there was a bit of schadenfreude as they almost looked forward to seeing Fang Yuxin fail. Fang Yuxin had no time to care about their thoughts. After they had helped the wounded to undress and leave, she once again told Zhou Yan, ¡°Have them stand up.¡± Zhou Yan found this difficult, these people were so seriously injured, how could they stand? He hesitated, but seeing Fang Yuxin¡¯s resolute attitude, which didn¡¯t seem like it would change, he reluctantly ordered the wounded to stand. However, some of the wounded were so gravely injured they had fallen into a coma and simply couldn¡¯t stand. Besides these, the other wounded endured their agony and struggled to their feet. Seeing those who had succumbed to unconsciousness, Zhou Yan felt troubled again. Before he could speak, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Find someone to help them up.¡± Her face stern and seeming somewhat cold under the pale light, Zhou Yan watched her, not daring to question her decision, and had people help the unconscious wounded stand. Then, he looked towards Fang Yuxin with anticipation. Fang Yuxin walked over quickly. She didn¡¯t directly channel Wood Energy into these people. There were too many wounded here, and treating them one by one was really troublesome. So, she began to rapidly move her fingers, forming a gesture. Her hand movements were so fast that others could only see the afterimages of her fingers. Those afterimages under the light appeared even more ethereal and elusive, like a blossoming lotus, resembling a kind of hand dance. However, as her finger gestures continued, more and more Wood Energy surged from her fingers, eventually forming a green mist. Following this, the green mist drifted towards the wounded, gently enveloping their wounds and slowly entering their bodies. Those who were still conscious in the room widened their eyes¡ªit didn¡¯t seem like treatment, but more like a magnificent performance! While others watched out of curiosity, the wounded felt it deeply. As the green mist entered their bodies, they immediately felt strength returning. The despair of imminent death that had been looming over them seemed to be gently swept aside, reigniting their hope to live. Seeing that the wounded¡¯s complexions were slightly better, and standing was not so difficult anymore, Fang Yuxin breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she took out a small glass bottle from her waist pouch, opened the lid, and poured half of the spiritual spring water out. After the spiritual spring water poured out, it formed a ball roughly the size of a baby¡¯s fist, quietly floating in front of Fang Yuxin. Then, she closed the lid, put the glass bottle back in her waist pouch, and continued to form gestures with her fingers. Her fingers danced rapidly again, and the ball of water quietly floated at her fingertips. As her fingers moved, it gradually began to change, pulsating like a heart. After pulsating for a while, it suddenly burst! (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for a recommendation ticket, a monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 286 - 286 168 Tense (Second Update) ?Chapter 286: 168 Tense (Second Update) Chapter 286: 168 Tense (Second Update) When the water orb pulsated, it firmly captured everyone¡¯s attention. They all looked at it nervously, expecting what would happen next. No one had anticipated that it would suddenly explode. When the water orb exploded, their hearts seemed to explode with it, their pupils abruptly constricting. Then, instinctively, they looked towards Fang Yuxin. They instinctively thought it was a mistake by Fang Yuxin, but upon looking, they noticed that the expression on Fang Yuxin¡¯s face was very cold, yet extremely calm, which inexplicably reassured them and made them feel that the situation might not be so bad after all. Indeed, after the water orb exploded, it did not disappear or drop to the ground. Instead, it turned into a flowing mist of water. The next moment, the water mist flew towards the injured, just like the green mist before, enveloping their wounds and seeping into them. Gradually, a black substance started oozing from their wounds. Under the ghastly pale light, this scene looked particularly sinister, resembling a segment from a biochemical movie, causing one¡¯s scalp to tingle and one¡¯s heart to tighten. Even though Zhou Yan had witnessed a similar scene that morning, he still felt his scalp tingle and goosebumps form all over his body. The impact of this scene was too strong! Although he had witnessed it once in the morning, there had only been one person then, but this time it was different¡ªhundreds of people, wearing only underwear, stood completely exposed, their bodies covered with gruesome wounds, black substance protruding from these wounds under the ghastly pale light... This scene was too intense; it was unbearable to keep watching! Zhou Yan vigorously rubbed his face; despite feeling the visual impact was horrifying, he still steeled himself to continue watching. He saw the black substance oozing from their wounds increasing, and suddenly, frantic shouts came from outside. A tall soldier rushed in and quickly approached Zhou Yan, saying, ¡°Major Zhou, it¡¯s bad! The zombies have started to hit the Protection Wall! The general wants you there as soon as possible! We must hold the Protection Wall!¡± Ever since the military arrived at this Safe Zone, a Protection Wall had been built outside the Safe Zone that was five meters high and half a meter thick. A lot of effort had gone into its construction originally, and the materials used had been countless. If it weren¡¯t for the superpower users reinforcing it with their abilities, this Protection Wall would never have been built in such a short time; materials alone would have been an issue. Zhou Yan looked at Fang Yuxin worriedly and asked her, ¡°Miss Fang, are these people going to be alright?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded silently, ¡°They won¡¯t have any problems; you should go quickly.¡± Zhou Yan nodded, then his gaze shifted towards Fang Yuyang. He hesitated for a moment and eventually didn¡¯t say the words to ask Fang Yuyang to accompany him. His departure could be said to be fraught with danger; although the Protection Wall was solid, if faced with strong forces, it might collapse after a few hits. If Fang Yuyang went with him, the risks could outweigh the benefits. Fang Yuxin had helped them so much; he really couldn¡¯t ask Fang Yuyang to go and risk his life. Yet, just as he withdrew his gaze and turned around to leave, a shrill alarm suddenly sounded throughout the entire Safe Zone. Then, a broadcast followed. ¡°All survivors pay attention! Large groups of zombies have appeared outside of the Safe Zone, and the entire Safe Zone is now in grave danger! If the zombies break through the Protection Wall, the Safe Zone will turn into a living hell! We must unite and overcome this difficulty together! Now, all superpower users and mercenaries in the Safe Zone assemble at the plaza, all doctors stay on standby in the observation room, everyone must follow orders and collectively fight against the zombies!¡± The broadcast played several times in a loop, and the piercing alarm bell rang incessantly! Everyone in the Safe Zone heard the sound! Soon, chaos erupted in the Safe Zone. Fang Yuyang glanced at Fang Yuxin, then took out his walkie-talkie and began to call the other members of the Yongcheng Team. Right after, Fang Yuxin¡¯s walkie-talkie rang, and it was Bai Ye calling her. ¡°Miss Fang! It¡¯s Bai Ye, where are you now? I¡¯m coming over with some people!¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at the injured and replied, ¡°I am the Chief Physician, currently in the observation room; you don¡¯t need to come, follow the orders instead.¡± Bai Ye¡¯s voice rang out again, ¡°Let Qianqian stay by your side, the two of you stay in the observation room, and don¡¯t take any risks!¡± Chapter 287 - 287 168 Tense (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 287: 168 Tense (Second Update)_2 Chapter 287: 168 Tense (Second Update)_2 Fang Yuxin responded, but in her heart, she was thinking that if the situation really became extremely urgent, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to stay in this observation room all the time. The observation room was very close to the Safe Zone¡¯s main gate, and in reality, it was far from safe. If it weren¡¯t for the emergency, these individuals with special identities would never have been brought here. And once the fighting started, this place would become a temporary hospital, with countless injured being brought over. Fang Yuyang had already contacted his family, so soon, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe brought Bai Qianqian over, letting him stay by Fang Yuxin¡¯s side. Shang Jinxiu also came over; she was a Space-related superpower user, her superpower still couldn¡¯t be used for combat, it was more like being a mobile warehouse. However, she had practiced her skills these days and could now kill solitary Ordinary zombies. Such strength would send her to certain death if she went out. In addition to her rare Space superpower, the members of Yongcheng Team were unwilling to let her go be cannon fodder. One by one, doctors came over; among them, some had Awakened the Wood Element Superpower, while others were just Ordinary People, but they had been doctors or nurses before the apocalypse and could treat wounds. After all, there were too few Wood Element Superpower Users and too many injured; with too few doctors, it would be impossible to cope. There was more than one observation room here, and due to the upcoming battle, the other rooms had also been cleared and arranged to serve as a temporary hospital to accommodate the incoming wounded. The members of Yongcheng Team had already left, only leaving Bai Qianqian and Shang Jinxiu by Fang Yuxin¡¯s side. Bai Qianqian even brought Angela along, only the size of a palm, now lying on Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder, it looked like a harmless and pretty pet. Very few people knew of Angela¡¯s prowess; many others were unaware. Even Bai Qianqian¡¯s and Shang Jinxiu¡¯s identities as superpower users were unknown to many. Seeing a child like Bai Qianqian running to the observation room and even bringing a chubby Little Kitten, the looks from many people gradually turned piercing, as if starving refugees saw a wealthy second-generation frivolously squandering food on pets. Their hatred was almost maxed out! Yet, with Fang Yuxin¡¯s strength on display, these people dared not offend her; they could only watch them through the iron bars with an unfriendly gaze. The gazes were too piercing, Fang Yuxin tried pretending to ignore them but couldn¡¯t do it. She turned her head and looked at those people with an expressionless face, the corner of her lips slightly raised, reaching out to grab Angela in her hands, gently stroking its soft long fur on its back. Angela did not care what others thought; Fang Yuxin¡¯s caress made it extremely content, meowing softly as it continuously rubbed its round head against her palm. Witnessing this tender scene, the others¡¯ gazes turned even more piercing, and their faces became even more unsightly, with a few wishing they could rush in front of Fang Yuxin and reprimand her, telling her that instead of wasting food on useless pets, it would be better to give the surplus to the pitiful survivors. It¡¯s just that such words could only be said in their hearts; after all, Fang Yuxin was the Chief Physician, and a second-level Wood Element Superpower User, these people didn¡¯t dare to offend her. While Fang Yuxin was bonding with Angela, she was also paying attention to the changes in the injured, waiting for the Zombie Virus in their bodies to be completely expelled. The wait was long, and in contrast to the relative calm here, the rest of the Safe Zone had already become chaotic. After much hesitation, even knowing the danger, many resolutely followed the summons to assemble in the square. And many more people simply dared not leave their homes. These were mostly those who had never gone out to hunt zombies or only occasionally did so. They lacked the strength, and even more so, the courage! They simply didn¡¯t have the guts to face the zombies directly; upon hearing the broadcast and alarm bells, they panicked. Fearful to leave, they locked themselves in their homes, their hands trembling with weapons, anxiously waiting for the latest news from outside, hoping others would go out and desperately stop the zombies outside the Protection Wall to secure a chance for them to survive. In some homes, there were even endless quarrels about whether to go out to combat the zombies. As a result, the number of people who initially gathered in the square wasn¡¯t great, and those who did were mostly military personnel, police, and superpower users. All three generals from the Safe Zone were among them, except that besides Qiu Hongsheng, the other two had already become superpower users. Watching his colleagues full of vim and vigor, Qiu Hongsheng couldn¡¯t help but feel envious, while General Song and General Li exchanged glances, secretly taking pleasure in his distress. They could Awaken superpowers; in the end, they owed much to Fang Yuxin, the once prospective daughter-in-law of the Qiu Family! What a pity, the Qiu Family had acted too outrageously, rejecting such a great opportunity outright, and in the end, it had benefited the two of them instead. Now, watching Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s barely concealed envy, they just couldn¡¯t help wanting to see his face when he discovered the truth. However, these unreliable thoughts were just that¡ªthoughts, and should never be spoken aloud. After all, Fang Yuxin had done them a huge favor; if they were to betray her, it would be utterly immoral. Their thoughts were fleeting; at a time of crisis such as this, there was no time to ponder these things. They had discussed ahead of time, so after a brief rallying, the three outlined their plans. Their strategy was straightforward; those who could use guns would take up arms and fire from atop the walls. Earth Element Superpower Users would be responsible for fortifying the walls, while others would stay on alert; should any zombies breach the Protection Wall, they must rush forward and push the zombies back. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 288 - 288 169 Prepare for battle ?Chapter 288: 169 Prepare for battle! Chapter 288: 169 Prepare for battle! Aside from the superpower users, a group of ordinary soldiers was tasked with a vital mission: to transport the injured to the observation room for treatment. Soon, everyone capable of using a gun took their place atop the Protection Wall, forming a human barrier. Although the wall was tall, standing on it made them targets, making it not only unsafe but extremely dangerous. But now, with the zombies already at their doorstep, even though they were afraid, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and fight desperately for their survival. As if sensing their resistance, the zombies outside roared in anger, followed by the outbreak of dense gunfire. To protect the wall, these people had heavy responsibilities ¨C they had to prevent the zombies from getting close at all costs. Unfortunately, zombies aren¡¯t living creatures, and most of them were Basic-level Zombies. They felt no fear, only a relentless desire for flesh and blood. The barrage of bullets couldn¡¯t drive them back as they continued their relentless charge towards the wall. If a zombie in front fell to a shot in the head, those behind would instinctively dig out its Crystal Core and swallow it to strengthen themselves. This sight sent shivers down the soldiers¡¯ spines, as the fallen zombies became a source of power for those that followed, swallowing Crystal Cores to evolve and increase their strength. The more evolved zombies there were, the greater the danger to humanity! While those first on the line were fighting the zombies desperatly, the alarms and broadcast within the Safe Zone continued nonstop, urging the remaining survivors to join the battle. People trickled out one by one, but there were also those who locked themselves in their homes, refusing to come out and willingly face death. The Basic-level Zombies couldn¡¯t break through the concentrated gunfire and kept falling, but most of those that fell were stripped of their Crystal Cores by those behind. Level 1 Zombies and Mutant Zombies, whether in strength, speed, or defense, were much more formidable than the Basic Zombies. As the Basic Zombies continued to fall, the Level 1 Zombies and Mutant Zombies within the Zombie Group surged out. Using their speed advantage, a Speed Mutant Zombie scaled the wall with ease, and with a swipe of its sharp claws, effortlessly pierced the throat of a soldier. It did not stop; after taking a bite from the soldier¡¯s neck, it tossed the body into the horde of zombies below. Screams and the sounds of devouring rose almost simultaneously, then quickly, after a single cry, the soldier went silent forever. And then, the casualties began to increase. The Speed Mutant Zombie continued to wound several more nearby before it leaped off the wall, ready to charge into the Safe Zone. It sensed the abundance of flesh and blood there! That wasn¡¯t the only Speed Mutant Zombie clambering onto the wall; even with the superpower users¡¯ best efforts to help, the Level 1 Superpower Users were limited and couldn¡¯t cover every area. Thus, more casualties occurred. It wasn¡¯t just the Speed Mutant Zombies; Power Mutated Zombies and Defense Enhanced Zombies also surged out, starting to hammer fiercely against the wall, trying to bring it down. ¡°Bang!¡±¡±Bang!¡± The sounds of impact echoed unceasingly, and as the Power Mutated Zombies battered it, the half-meter-thick wall began to shake. Someone called out, ¡°Earth Element, reinforce the Protection Wall quickly!¡± Then, a yellow glow appeared under the dim lights. Earth Element Superpower Users were reinforcing the Protection Wall. Fang Jintang was among them; however, as he felt the continuous shaking of the wall, he clenched his teeth and stopped his superpower transmission. An onlooker thought he had given up and glared at him, veins bulging as he bellowed, ¡°What are you doing? Why did you stop? Do you want those creatures outside to knock down the wall and rush in?¡± Fang didn¡¯t speak but hurriedly climbed onto the Protection Wall. Those above continued firing. Seeing him, they paused but said nothing. No one had the luxury of speaking at that moment. Fang Jintang watched the crowded zombies below, his eyes slightly narrowed, expression cold. Then his hands started forming hand gestures rapidly. Although the others didn¡¯t understand what he was doing, seeing his serious expression, they intuitively didn¡¯t question or interfere. The hand gestures Fang was performing were complex, the most powerful magic he could muster at the moment. As his fingers moved incessantly, his normally ruddy complexion started to turn pale, and then, he suddenly stopped his movements! Chapter 289 - 289 169 Prepare for battle_2 ?Chapter 289: 169 Prepare for battle!_2 Chapter 289: 169 Prepare for battle!_2 At the same time, a blinding spirit light shot out from his hand, aiming at the ground in front of the Protection Wall. At first, those who were watching thought he had lost control and the spirit light had missed its target. But then, they saw the spirit light merge with the ground and quickly spread out all around. Next, a vast expanse of land in front of the Protection Wall turned into a black swamp. The swamp was a hundred meters long and fifty meters wide, just a meter away from the Protection Wall. As the swamp formed, the zombies at the forefront fell into it. Everyone immediately understood Fang Jintang¡¯s intention. This swamp was akin to the ancient moats protecting cities, and it was even more terrifying than a moat. With this swamp, there was no need to worry about the zombies breaching the Protection Wall unless they could fill it in. After creating the swamp, Fang Jintang condensed an Earth Spike and killed the Power Mutated Zombie constantly battering the Protection Wall. Unfortunately, his strength was not up to par at the moment. Creating such a large swamp had nearly depleted all his Spiritual Energy, leaving him unable to fight any longer in the short term. Therefore, he nodded palely to the others before jumping down from the Protection Wall. Qu Qianhe was right beside him, and she quickly walked over to him. Seeing his complexion, she knew he had exhausted too much energy, and her face instantly grew somber, ¡°You must absorb a Crystal Core to recover, I¡¯ll protect you.¡± Fang Jintang nodded, knowing he did need to recover as soon as possible. Qu Qianhe pulled him aside to a relatively open area to sit down cross-legged, then Fang Jintang took out a Crystal Core and began to cultivate with his eyes closed. Some people, standing under the Protection Wall, had not seen the swamp he created. They thought he was either weak or trying to shirk duty, and their looks toward him were unfriendly. However, Qu Qianhe was no pushover. Whenever someone gave them an unfriendly look, she glared back fiercely. ... Inside the observation room, the wounds of the severely injured had healed. Those still conscious knew that the situation outside was dire. They refused to rest, put on their clothes, took their weapons, and left the observation room to shoot at the zombies from above the Protection Wall. Apart from them, five others were so severely injured that even with Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Energy, their bodies still needed proper rest, so they remained unconscious. Soon after, the door to the observation room opened, and new casualties were brought in. All those brought here were severely wounded. However, listening to the sounds of battle outside, Fang Yuxin had no intention of staying to treat these injured. She glanced at the person in charge nearby, walked over, took out a glass bottle filled with spiritual spring water from her waist pouch, and handed it over, saying, ¡°Let the other Doctors handle these casualties. The substance in this bottle can purify the Zombie Virus in their bodies. Use it sparingly. I¡¯m going to hunt zombies.¡± The person in charge, a middle-aged man who was an army medic, looked very stern. As soon as he heard Fang Yuxin was about to leave, he frowned disapprovingly, ¡°Doctor Fang, you should know that this place needs you, and so do these casualties. You can¡¯t leave!¡± Unmoved, Fang Yuxin insisted, ¡°The battlefield outside needs me more than these people. Don¡¯t forget, I have a Second-level Wood Ability. I feel it¡¯s better to go to the battlefield to kill more Mutant Zombies and reduce casualties than to stay here waiting to treat the wounded.¡± Initially reluctant to agree, these words struck a chord with him. He was no fool; in fact, he was quite clever. So, he knew that Fang Yuxin was right. The casualties were all injured by Mutant Zombies. If Fang Yuxin could go out and kill more Mutant Zombies, it would greatly reduce the injuries and infections, indeed making her more valuable than staying here. But he was worried that something might happen to Fang Yuxin... After hesitating for a moment, he finally nodded, ¡°Go, but be careful.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, then she glanced at Bai Qianqian and Shang Jinxiu. Both subconsciously opened their mouths, wanting to ask to accompany her, but Fang Yuxin spoke first, ¡°You two stay here, Jinxiu, watch Qianqian for me, take good care of her.¡± Yet, as she spoke, she soothingly patted Bai Qianqian¡¯s head and transmitted through Spiritual Sense, ¡°Jinxiu, don¡¯t reveal your Space Superpower, it¡¯s safer to stay here. Qianqian, protect Auntie Jinxiu well, don¡¯t let anyone hurt her!¡± Bai Qianqian would have preferred to join Fang Yuxin in killing zombies, but after meeting Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze, he hesitated and eventually nodded, agreeing. Only then did Fang Yuxin breathe a sigh of relief, and she walked out with Angela with firm strides. Many people in the Safe Zone were still unaware of the existence of Mutated Animals as well as how formidable they were. Fang Yuxin thought this was a good opportunity to show them just how powerful Angela was. In three days, the Mutated Birds and Zombie Birds would assemble. Instead of letting everyone be caught off guard then, it was better to use this opportunity to make them aware of the impending crisis! She wasn¡¯t a saint, but her heart was warm. If it was within her capability, she would find a way to help as many people as possible survive! But... if someone courted death, they couldn¡¯t blame her! Thinking this, Fang Yuxin smiled coldly, then touched Lan Re on her wrist and ordered it with her thoughts, ¡°Lan Re, get ready for battle!¡± Lan Re¡¯s thoughts soon came back in reply: ¡°Battle! Battle! Eat! Eat! Eat!¡± Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but smile at the thought. Yes, to humans the zombies were incredibly dangerous, but to Lan Re, they were just food! (To be continued... If you like this work, you¡¯re welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 290 - 290 170 Its Coquettish (First Update) ?Chapter 290: 170 It¡¯s Coquettish (First Update) Chapter 290: 170 It¡¯s Coquettish (First Update) The observation room was not far from the protection wall, and Fang Yuxin arrived at the place quickly. When she got there, she immediately saw Fang Jintang seated in meditation, recovering. She was startled and began to worry. The battle had just begun a short while ago; with Fang Jintang¡¯s strength, there was no way he should have retired this early. What had he done to have exhausted himself like this? Walking briskly to where Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were, Fang Yuxin first looked at Fang Jintang¡¯s complexion. Seeing that he was only slightly pale and not injured, she asked Qu Qianhe in a low voice, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong with Dad? How did he become so drained?¡± Initially, Qu Qianhe also thought that Fang Jintang had been too reckless. Although it was right to contribute as much as he could, there was no need to risk his life. Fang Jintang had exhausted all his spiritual energy on the protection wall, and if he were attacked by mutant zombies, he might not even have the ability to resist! How could he be so reckless! But even though she resented his actions internally, seeing Fang Jintang¡¯s pale face only left her feeling heartbroken. Moreover, since Fang Jintang was busy recovering, she said nothing. Now that she saw Fang Yuxin, she felt as if she had found her pillar of strength and, pulling on Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, she started complaining in a low voice, ¡°Xinxin, your dad was really being reckless just now. He created a huge swamp that separated the protection wall and the zombie group, and all his energy was used up.¡± Given that there were many people around, worried about being overheard, Qu Qianhe didn¡¯t say ¡®spiritual energy¡¯, just ¡®energy¡¯. Hearing this, Fang Yuxin also felt that Fang Jintang had indeed been reckless, but being his daughter, it wasn¡¯t right for her to criticize him. So, she just gently patted Qu Qianhe, as a way of comforting her. That was just Qu Qianhe venting; after speaking out, the little bit of resentment in her heart completely disappeared. Only then did she realize something was off. Wasn¡¯t Fang Yuxin supposed to be in the observation room treating the wounded? Why had she come here? Thinking that something might have gone wrong, Qu Qianhe began to worry about Fang Yuxin again, ¡°Xinxin, why are you here? Did something happen?¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head slightly and said, ¡°Mom, stay here with Dad. I¡¯m going to kill zombies.¡± Hearing her say this, Qu Qianhe¡¯s heart tightened. She wanted to say ¡®don¡¯t go, it¡¯s too dangerous,¡¯ but as her lips moved, she still didn¡¯t say it. Now was not the time to be willful and selfish. More importantly, she trusted her daughter! So, the words that came out were, ¡°Xinxin, take good care of yourself and don¡¯t overdo it. Make sure you come back safely!¡± Fang Yuxin nodded. Seeing Qu Qianhe¡¯s nervousness, she smiled reassuringly, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. Your daughter knows her limits; I¡¯ll be fine.¡± After saying this, she hugged Qu Qianhe and turned, striding toward the protection wall. Due to the swamp outside, the zombies couldn¡¯t come over for the time being. However, the zombies were not foolish; they bypassed the swampy area and turned to attack the places not covered by the swamp. Fang Yuxin had already surveyed the situation outside with her spiritual sense, so she walked directly across the wall corresponding to the swamp to the area where the attack was the fiercest. As soon as she arrived, a lightning-fast shadow suddenly appeared at the top of the wall and with screams, the two people standing there were thrown out. Then, the Speed Mutant Zombie quickly jumped down, starting a new massacre. ¡°Quick, get out of the way!¡± ¡°Ah! Don¡¯t kill me!¡± ¡°Help... Help!¡± Screams continued to rise one after another, the air thick with the strong smell of blood mixed with the rotten stench and the pungent smell of gunpowder. Fang Yuxin quickly drew out her Miao Saber from her waist, her eyes cold as she watched the Speed Mutant Zombie wreaking havoc and strode forward. ¡°Move!¡± Her stern voice rang out, making those who heard it instinctively dodge aside; some, unable to react, froze in place. Fang Yuxin deftly avoided other people and in an instant, reached the Speed Mutant Zombie. The black blade, wrapped in Wood Element Spiritual Energy, shimmered with a faint green luminescence under the glaring lights, appearing eerie. Her blade was quick; as the Speed Mutant Zombie charged at her, with a swift movement, the blade flew downward swiftly across its head, splitting it into two. As the blade slid down, Fang Yuxin quickly retreated, avoiding the sharp claws thrust out by the zombie. Also, the moment she pulled out her blade, she extracted the Crystal Core from the zombie¡¯s brain. ¡°Bang!¡± The body, now devoid of the Crystal Core, fell heavily to the ground, and Fang Yuxin wiped her fingers on Lan Re, which automatically detached from her hand. Lan Re stretched out instantly, wrapping around the Speed Mutant Zombie. As it wrapped around, the sharp blades rotated rapidly and, in an instant, devoured the zombie¡¯s body, leaving only a clean, black skeleton. Chapter 291 - 291 170 Its Acting Coquettishly (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 291: 170 It¡¯s Acting Coquettishly (First Update)_2 Chapter 291: 170 It¡¯s Acting Coquettishly (First Update)_2 Everyone instantly gasped at this brutal scene, their eyes wide with horror. After a long while, someone finally asked with a trembling voice, ¡°What... what is this thing?¡± Then someone said, ¡°Mutant plants!¡± Fang Yuxin saw that they were quite scared, smiled, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Lan Re is a Mutated Crystal Orchid, a saprophytic plant, it¡¯s very well-behaved.¡± Mutated Crystal Orchid! Upon hearing this, everyone took another sharp intake of breath and looked towards Fang Yuxin in terror, as well as toward Lan Re who seemed to be showing off its might by following her. Everyone: ¡°...¡± Fang Yuxin turned her head, glanced at Lan Re silently and said insincerely, ¡°Lan Re is a bit shy, it¡¯s actually being affectionate with you all.¡± Lan Re immediately cooperated by spinning its sharp leaves and then twisting its slender body. Fang Yuxin: ¡°...¡± Everyone instinctively took a step back, distancing themselves from the two ferocious beings: ¡°...¡± They really wanted to ask how blind Fang Yuxin must be to think that this ferocious Mutated Crystal Orchid was being affectionate! Didn¡¯t she see just now? Those leaves were sharp enough to chop up a Mutant Zombie! Seeing their reaction, Fang Yuxin knew they were frightened. However, she had no intention of getting along with these people, so she didn¡¯t care much and walked directly toward the Protection Wall. As she left, the others also quickly started moving, frantically clearing a path for her. Their eyes were full of terror as they looked at her as though she was a devastating flood or beast that could devour them alive at any moment. A ladder was specially built on the Protection Wall for climbing. Finding it cumbersome, Fang Yuxin tapped her toe on the ground and used it to jump onto the wall. No sooner had she steadied herself than she felt a violent shaking beneath her feet. Looking carefully, she saw a Power Mutated Zombie violently slamming into the Protection Wall. ¡°Lan Re! Devour it!¡± She called out, and Lan Re immediately turned into a streak of white light, rushing down the Protection Wall and entwined the Power Mutated Zombie. The zombie, while ramming against the wall, suddenly found itself wrapped by Lan Re, and it struggled violently. Unfortunately for it, Lan Re was quicker and wrapped its body around the zombie, its huge bud aiming for the zombie¡¯s head and biting down! Its petals were very sharp, and there were rotating teeth inside. With one bite, it punched a hole in the zombie¡¯s head. Then, its bud burrowed into the hole, devouring the brain along with the Crystal Core. At the same time, its leaves furiously sliced the zombie¡¯s body. Soon, the Power Mutated Zombie was completely devoured. People on the wall: ¡°...¡± Fuck, what the hell is this? Then, they saw eight radiant spirit lights suddenly shooting out from Lan Re¡¯s body toward the Zombie Group. Immediately after, eight similar Mutated Crystal Orchids emerged among the zombies, majestically twisting their bodies to attack the zombies. Someone couldn¡¯t help but blink, ¡°Am I... am I seeing things?¡± Unfortunately, no one paid any attention to him. After the initial shock, they firmly gripped their guns again and continued firing at the attacking Zombie Group. Under the lights, they could only see the dense swarm of zombies, too numerous to count. After Fang Yuxin released her Spiritual Sense, she discovered there were as many as a hundred thousand zombies outside, yet comparatively, fewer than ten thousand people were engaged in the fight. With too many zombies outside, they simply couldn¡¯t go out to fight. Once surrounded, the chance of breaking through was almost impossible. Most people stood on top of the wall, those with guns firing wildly, while those without guns continuously released their superpowers. Everyone had one goal, to prevent the zombies from breaching the Protection Wall! Basic-level Zombies were manageable, but Level 1 Zombies and Mutant Zombies were generally too much for ordinary people to handle, often allowing them the opportunity to reach the wall and damage it. Fang Yuxin took out the collected seeds and scattered them broadly. These seeds, upon landing on the zombies, would take root and sprout rapidly, growing leaves and seeds while continuously consuming the bodies of the zombies. Accompanied by the dense sound of gunfire and the light emitted by the various Skills from superpower users, more and more zombies fell. But gradually, the sound of bullets became sparse and increasingly less frequent. ¡°I¡¯m out of bullets!¡± ¡°Me too! Do you still have any bullets?¡± ¡°Only this last magazine left!¡± Without bullets, the ordinary soldiers were almost out of options unless they jumped down from the wall to engage the zombies in hand-to-hand combat. As they lost the powerful support of gunfire, more and more zombies reached the Protection Wall, rapidly climbing up. Zombie nails were very sharp, easily piercing into the wall surface, helping them ascend effortlessly. Those without bullets stored their guns in their bags and then drew their knives, stabbing fiercely at any zombie that nearly made it over the wall! Now, what mattered was their ability to react quickly. Should anyone react too slowly, they were grabbed by a zombie, thrown down, and swiftly devoured. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± One unlucky individual was thrown into the Zombie Group and was quickly consumed. Gradually, the casualties increased. Below the Protection Wall, the area had turned into a chaotic scene. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to recommend, vote for monthly tickets at Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com) Chapter 292 - 292 171 Stirring the Waters to Catch Fish (Second ?Chapter 292: 171 Stirring the Waters to Catch Fish (Second Update) Chapter 292: 171 Stirring the Waters to Catch Fish (Second Update) The battle at the Protection Wall was raging fiercely, and inside the Safe Zone, there were already people starting to stir. Those who went out to fight were mostly confident in their own strength. Apart from these individuals, those left behind were either incapable, too afraid to risk their lives, or harboring plans, waiting for the right moment to act. Gradually, some people came out of their houses and began to wander purposefully within the Safe Zone. In order to save power, many streetlights in the Safe Zone weren¡¯t even on; a faint light shone from a lamp only every few dozen meters. If it weren¡¯t for today¡¯s special circumstances, those streetlights wouldn¡¯t be on at all! The gap between the rich and the poor within the Safe Zone was quite apparent, and many struggled even to fill their stomachs. Under prolonged oppression, the mentality of some had begun to twist. And on this day, with zombies besieging the city, after the initial terror, some decided to take a desperate risk! In the dimly lit corridor, a quiet knock suddenly sounded. ¡°Thump thump thump!¡± ¡°Thump thump thump!¡± ¡°Thump thump thump!¡± After the person outside knocked intermittently a few times, they lowered their voice and tentatively asked, ¡°Is there anyone inside? Anyone there?¡± There was no sound from within the room, clearly unoccupied. Then, someone whispered, ¡°I told you it was empty, didn¡¯t I? You didn¡¯t believe me! I saw the person inside leave with my own eyes!¡± The one knocking laughed, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just to be safe?¡± After finishing speaking, they paused, their voice even lower, tinged with nervousness and fear, ¡°Are we really going to do this? If someone finds out...¡± The person who had spoken before sneered with disdain, ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? There¡¯s no one inside; as long as we don¡¯t tell anyone, who will know it was us? Besides, it¡¯s not a certainty that the person from inside will come back. Rather than let others take advantage of the materials inside, we might as well take advantage of the confusion.¡± As they spoke, they carefully took out a piece of metal from their pocket, inserted it into the keyhole, and gently turned a few times. With a sharp ¡°click,¡± the security door opened promptly. They looked at their companion with a smug smile, gently pushed open the door, and went inside. The same scenario unfolded in various parts of the Safe Zone. When people could no longer survive, they had to choose to take desperate risks. And compared to hunting zombies outside, with the constant risk of being killed, sneaking into someone¡¯s house to loot was much safer during such a rare opportunity. In a beautiful villa, a spacious and empty room was filled with over a hundred people. A short, fat middle-aged man stood at the forefront, facing the others. The man¡¯s face was covered with fleshy rolls, his eyes squinted through the flesh. He grinned, his eyes shooting out excited and frenzied light, ¡°I brought you all here today, and I won¡¯t beat around the bush, I¡¯ll just say one thing, our opportunity has come! If we get through tonight, we can secure a place among the high ranks and won¡¯t have to look at the faces of those soldiers anymore!¡± The more he spoke, the more excited he became, his pudgy fists clenched tightly as if he already saw the first light of victory! Hearing his words, everyone¡¯s faces also showed excitement. However, there was one exception, who voiced his concern, ¡°Big Brother, it¡¯s undeniably a rare opportunity, but if those zombies break in, we¡¯ll be in danger!¡± The confident man responded, ¡°Rest assured, that won¡¯t happen. Aren¡¯t there so many people out there holding them back? They won¡¯t let the zombies break through.¡± The worried person persisted, ¡°But what if...¡± ¡°There are no ¡®what ifs¡¯!¡± the fat man said impatiently. He was on a roll, and to prepare for what was to come, he had to boost morale and ensure his brothers would follow him unwaveringly. But the other¡¯s words were like a bucket of cold water thrown on them, completely ruining the atmosphere he¡¯d managed to build up; no wonder he was irritated! He glanced coldly at the speaker, then surveyed the reactions of the others, noting their uncertainty. He spoke again, ¡°I know, there¡¯s always a ¡®what if.¡¯ But even if those people outside prove useless and the Zombie Group kills them all, there surely won¡¯t be many left. We can go out afterward and easily deal with those zombies, what¡¯s there to worry about?¡± He paused for a moment, his eyes lighting up again, ¡°If they are fortunate enough to kill the zombies outside, the outcome will certainly be heavy losses. We can then take the opportunity to negotiate terms with them, fighting for control of the Safe Zone. That is why I said, today is our opportunity! No matter which side wins, it is profitable for us!¡± Chapter 293 - 293 171 Stirring the water to catch fish (Second ?Chapter 293: 171 Stirring the water to catch fish (Second Update)_2 Chapter 293: 171 Stirring the water to catch fish (Second Update)_2 Then he took a deep breath and announced loudly, ¡°So now I ask you, are you willing to follow me?¡± As soon as his words fell, the shill he had arranged shouted, ¡°Willing! Whatever big brother says, we¡¯ll do!¡± Following that, the other shills echoed, ¡°We¡¯ll listen to big brother!¡± ¡°Listen to big brother!¡± ¡°Listen to big brother!¡± Gradually, everyone spoke in unison, even the one who had been advising earlier felt that Fatso was right, and they were worrying unnecessarily. There were not only these few who wanted to take advantage of the situation to fish in troubled waters for their own benefit. Inside the Safe Zone, there were mercenary teams of various sizes, apart from those who went out to combat the zombies, almost everyone who stayed behind had their own schemes. Especially those large mercenary teams, they were strong, but had been severely suppressed by the military and could never find a chance to overturn the situation. This time, when the zombies attacked the city, about half of the military personnel went out to combat the zombies, leaving behind, besides a few capable ones, mostly ordinary civilian staff. How could these ambitious people let go of such a rare opportunity? Many shared the same thoughts as Fatso, believing that the zombies definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to breach the defenses, considering so many had gone out to resist, and their strength was formidable. No matter which side won, the remaining side would definitely suffer heavy losses, which they could easily take advantage of. Who wouldn¡¯t be tempted by such a perfect opportunity? Moreover, these mercenary teams didn¡¯t only aim to seize control of the Safe Zone, but also targeted the resources of others. Among them, some had set their sights on the Fang Family. Many knew of the Fang Family¡¯s status before the apocalypse, and a few among them knew that the Fang Family had acquired a large stock of supplies before the apocalypse. The whereabouts of those supplies were unknown, and naturally, the most likely place was the villa where the Fang Family lived. Therefore, some seized the night cover and stealthily headed to the Fang Family¡¯s residence, prepared to find those supplies during the chaos. There were quite a few eyeing the Fang Family, but the ones who actually acted were only two groups of people, plus Fang Mengyao. These highly informed mercenary teams knew that Fang Yuxin had attained Wood Element Level 2 and truly didn¡¯t want to offend her. The two groups that took action did so only harboring a slim hope of success. Fang Mengyao did not join the others. After Qiu Yiming left with his group, she headed to the Fang Family residence earlier than those two groups. Her visit was not just for the Fang Family¡¯s supplies, but for the potential ¡®Personal Space¡¯ that might exist. Her days had been unsatisfactory; she had met Zheng Tianhe earlier and tried to use him to deal with Fang Yuxin. To persuade him, she even offered a Detoxification Capsule. However, although Zheng Tianhe had initially agreed amiably, he changed his tune and started giving excuses about ¡®the timing not being right¡¯! Humph! She wasn¡¯t a fool who knew nothing! Wasn¡¯t Zheng Tianhe just intimidated by a warning from the military brass? Such a poor excuse for a man¡ªalways more trouble than he¡¯s worth! Frustratingly, Qiu Yiming seemed to sense something and closely monitored her, and with the military brass indirectly protecting Fang Yuxin, she didn¡¯t want to risk inflaming the situation and hadn¡¯t been able to make a move against Fang Yuxin. Fortunately, fate finally intervened, granting her such an opportunity! The streetlights were dim, only lighting up from afar, casting even more shadows. She hurried towards the Fang residence, and quickly, she arrived. The Fang family¡¯s entire villa was covered by climbing ivy, and the courtyard was filled with a variety of vegetables and fruits. There were no streetlights nearby, and the lighting was extremely dim, making it impossible to see the items in the courtyard, only their vague outlines. Those outlines cast sinister shadows, giving off an ominous feeling as if danger lurked in every leaf. Fang Mengyao scoffed at this thought, then she grabbed the lock on the gate. The next moment, lightning appeared in her palm and directly destroyed the lock. Looking at her handiwork, she smirked, tossed the lock aside, and pushed open the gate to walk in. However, as she stepped into the courtyard, the smile on her face froze. She stared in astonishment at what lay before her and said in a low voice, ¡°What is going on? Fang Yuxin, you really know how to play tricks! Don¡¯t think these petty schemes can stop me!¡± After speaking, she lifted her right hand, and suddenly a ball of flame appeared in her palm. The flame quickly expanded into a fire circle with a diameter of about two meters, enveloping her in protection. The flames burned silently, and the surroundings remained eerily quiet without any change. Fang Mengyao¡¯s expression gradually turned sour as she watched the scene. Clenching her teeth, she grabbed the fire circle. In the next moment, the circle contracted instantly, transforming into a flaming Fire Whip in her hand. She gripped the handle of the whip and lashed it forcefully towards the distance. ¡°Snap!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± The spot struck by the Fire Whip immediately erupted in flames. Fang Mengyao smirked proudly, tightened her grip on the whip, and prepared to strike again. However, her smile stiffened on her face. The burning flames grew smaller and eventually extinguished. Fang Mengyao then realized this was not an easy fight and her brows furrowed tightly. Just then, she suddenly heard footsteps coming from afar! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast a recommendation vote, monthly ticket, and your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 294 - 294 172 Trapped (Trapped) ?Chapter 294: 172 Trapped (Trapped) Chapter 294: 172 Trapped (Trapped) Who¡¯s there! Fang Mengyao¡¯s brow furrowed tighter and her face grew increasingly ugly. She hadn¡¯t expected anyone to come here! Could it be that her noise was too loud and had alerted others? Fang Mengyao felt uncertain. She hesitated about whether or not to find a place to hide, then she heard footsteps approaching¡ªand by the sound of it, they were headed in her direction! Without hesitating further, she gritted her teeth and exchanged for an Invisibility Pill that would last for five minutes, then swallowed it. The reason for her visit to the Fang Family this time could not be revealed to a second person! After swallowing the pill, she activated the invisibility effect. However, the invisibility would only last for five minutes; after that, others would be able to see her. Once the invisibility was activated, Fang Mengyao breathed a sigh of relief. Then she suddenly realized she had relaxed too soon! She had now fallen into a strange Formation. Everything around her was void; there was nothing to see, nothing visible. What was she to do? Unfortunately, she had no time to think further as the footsteps grew closer. By the sound of it, there were ten people. Then, she heard someone speak. A man said in panic, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why is the door open? Could someone have beat us to it?¡± Then another, rather collected voice responded, still a man¡¯s, ¡°Don¡¯t rush! Let¡¯s take a closer look first!¡± Another person chimed in, ¡°Boss, look! There¡¯s a lock here; it¡¯s been burned out.¡± The one who spoke now was the calmer man from before, who seemed to be the leader. He said, ¡°These marks... they are clearly caused by electricity!¡± ¡°What? Caused by electricity? Does that mean the person who came has Thunder Power?¡± ¡°Boss, what do we do? It isn¡¯t Qiu Yiming, is it? Isn¡¯t he the one with Thunder Power? I heard he¡¯s also Fang Yuxin¡¯s fiance?. If it¡¯s him, we¡¯re in big trouble!¡± ¡°What are you panicking for? It¡¯s definitely not him. Qiu Yiming is with the military, surely on the outside fighting off zombies right now. He wouldn¡¯t be here!¡± ¡°Then who could it be? Are there others in the Safe Zone with Thunder Power?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that now; there¡¯s no movement inside, let¡¯s go in and see!¡± The men talked over one another, and as Fang Mengyao listened, her expression grew grimmer¡ªthese people were also targeting the Fang Family! Then, she heard the sound of the iron door being pushed open, and the footsteps of the men advancing. Fang Mengyao instinctively held her breath, wanting to see if these men would fall into the Formation like she had. Then she saw ten people suddenly appear in this illusionary space. They were all young, the youngest between seventeen or eighteen, and the oldest around thirty-five or thirty-six. The youngest panicked, crying out, ¡°Ah! What¡¯s going on? What is this place?¡± The others also looked unsettled, clearly surprised by the situation. One of them swallowed hard and looked around cautiously, saying, ¡°Boss, what do we do? This place is too eerie! Have we run into a Qimen Trigram or something?¡± Another piped up, the youngest again, ¡°Could it be like in the novels? A Formation? What the hell! Isn¡¯t the Fang Family supposed to be businessmen? How do they know about this?¡± They all began to discuss. ¡°What do we do now? We won¡¯t be trapped here forever, will we?¡± ¡°No way! We have to think of something quickly! We can¡¯t miss this opportunity!¡± ¡°What if Fang Yuxin comes back while we¡¯re still here? Won¡¯t we be caught red-handed?¡± ¡°Right, Boss, hurry and think of something!¡± Fang Mengyao watched these men with a cold, disdainful smirk. Then, she saw one of the men, looking to be in his late twenties, say with a grim expression, ¡°Shut up! What are you yelling about! Instead of making noise, think about how to get out! Xiao Li is right; we can¡¯t afford to be trapped here, and we definitely can¡¯t let Fang Yuxin find out!¡± Fang Yuxin, such a formidable Doctor in the Safe Zone, was truly unique. Although he and his team had come for an opportunistic raid at the Fang Family, they had not planned to provoke the Fang Family or offend Fang Yuxin! Their plan was simply to grab and go; by the time Fang Yuxin returned, they would have long since escaped. How would Fang Yuxin ever know it was them who took the stuff? Chapter 295 - 295 172 Trapped (Trapped)_2 ?Chapter 295: 172 Trapped (Trapped)_2 Chapter 295: 172 Trapped (Trapped)_2 But he had never imagined that the Fang Family would actually understand the Qimen Trigram and had set up a Formation in the courtyard! Damn! He always thought that what the books said about Qimen Trigram was all deceitful, only to realize it was actually real! And he had just run into it! He immediately became both anxious and regretful. Had he known it would turn out like this, he would never have come to the Fang Family! But since he was already here, regretting now was useless. The young man had survived in the apocalypse and even led a group of people, so naturally, he was no ordinary person. He quickly calmed himself down and thought rapidly for a solution. The others were also extremely anxious. Someone suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we try to Attack? Don¡¯t the novels always mention an Array Eye? As long as we find the Array Eye, we can definitely get out!¡± Once he said this, the others¡¯ eyes lit up, feeling that it was a plan worth trying. But at this moment, the youngest boy spoke up, ¡°But what if this Formation reflects our Attacks back at us?¡± As soon as he said this, those who were eager to try immediately held back, instead looking around in terror, fearing another calamity might occur. The leading young man hesitated for a moment and then said, ¡°Let¡¯s just try it first! We can¡¯t just sit here waiting for death, right? Lu Zi, your strength is the weakest, so even if it does rebound, the damage will definitely also be minimal. You go first!¡± After he finished speaking, the youngest boy responded and then pulled out a dagger, motioned as if to use it, then put it back and clenched his fist instead, smashing it towards the empty space around him. However, there was no reaction. So everyone else breathed a sigh of relief. The leadership youth then said, ¡°It seems like there¡¯s no problem, let¡¯s each Attack in a different direction!¡± Fang Mengyao watched these people preparing to Attack, and gradually she began to panic. Her Invisibility effect had only five minutes! If she couldn¡¯t find a chance to get out soon, they would discover her! She thought for a moment, then started walking towards the door. It was just a probe, but with this move, she noticed that the view in front of her gradually became clear. A door that was both concealed and revealed appeared in her vision, which was the open gate. Looking at the gate, she hesitated for a moment but finally sighed inwardly and, gritting her teeth, she stepped out. The farther she walked, the clearer the exit became. It was only a few steps away, and she was already outside the door. As soon as she stepped out, that mysterious sensation completely disappeared, and she returned to the position by the door. Looking inside, those ten people were standing not far from the gate, Attacking all around. This time, Fang Mengyao had a clear view. She saw countless dandelion seeds fluttering in the courtyard. Because the light there was too dim and the seeds were too small, they were invisible from the door. However, when those people Attacked, the attacked spots would cause the dandelion seeds to emit a faint light and disappear. Fang Mengyao instantly realized that these dandelion seeds could absorb the Attacks. But afterward, they would be spent. Obviously, this was an expendable Formation. As long as the consumption continued, she was confident it would eventually break. With this in mind, she immediately had an idea. Since she was already out, she could simply wait for those people to break the Formation inside. By then, they would surely be almost depleted, and she could enter, kill them, and take the supplies inside. But then, she discovered that when a spot¡¯s dandelion seeds were used up, seeds from other areas would take their place. At the same time, many dandelions were planted in the courtyard, producing new seeds to replenish those that had been used up. Watching this scene unfold before her, she gnashed her teeth in hatred. Fang Yuxin, you¡¯re truly resourceful! A mere villa, yet you had it so securely defended! Just then, her Invisibility wore off, and she heard footsteps nearby. And by the sound of it, those people were also heading in her direction! Hearing the footsteps, her expression turned extremely ugly, and then she suddenly laughed. She quick-stepped towards a landscaping tree and hid behind it. It wasn¡¯t long before another group arrived. They were even more in number, totaling eighteen. And they were also headed for the Fang Family. Fang Mengyao watched them reach the door, and then they discovered the people trapped in the Formation. One of them, most likely impulsive by nature, blurted out, ¡°What¡¯s going on? How did these people get in first?¡± The leader couldn¡¯t stand it and berated, ¡°Shut up!¡± But it was already too late. The people inside the Formation heard the noise and subconsciously turned their bodies towards the source of the sound. Then they realized they were trapped inside the Formation; they could hear but not see with their eyes. In their panic, someone subconsciously walked further inside the courtyard, trying to distance themselves from the people at the door. By doing so, they sank deeper and moved even further from the exit. After that move, the other nine hesitated for a moment and then followed. Fang Mengyao watched this unfold and laughed coldly again. A bunch of fools! The people outside the door were clueless. They had no idea those inside were trapped, and seeing them move inward, fearing the good stuff would be taken by others, they rushed inside without a second thought. And then, they realized their mistake. Unfortunately, it was too late for regrets. Fang Mengyao took in the whole spectacle, her smile growing more triumphant. She had been worried there would be no one to deplete the Formation inside, but with these eighteen newcomers, she didn¡¯t believe the Formation could last until Fang Yuxin returned! But before going back in, she could just take care of some other business. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 296 - 296 173 Showy (First Update) ?Chapter 296: 173 Showy (First Update) Chapter 296: 173 Showy (First Update) Just as Fang Mengyao was trapped within the Formation, Fang Yuxin, who stood atop the wall, suddenly twisted her head around, gazing coldly in the direction of the Fang Family home. Some people were actually taking advantage of the confusion to break into the Fang residence! Fortunately, she had set up a Formation early on, and before Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe had left, they had specifically replenished the Crystal Core to activate the Formation. Otherwise, the Fang home might have already been breached! Not long after, she sensed more people breaking into the Formation and then someone escaping, followed by another group of people. After all, the distance was too great, and Fang Yuxin could only sense people entering and leaving the Formation; she couldn¡¯t identify who they were specifically. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she had personally set up the Five Wood Formation, she wouldn¡¯t have known so clearly. The frequent unwanted visits to the Fang home infuriated Fang Yuxin, but after glancing at the dense crowd of zombies below, she could only sigh helplessly. Those people were now trapped within the Formation, and unless they found the exit, as long as the Formation wasn¡¯t destroyed, they would be kept inside indefinitely. She didn¡¯t need to rush. Even as she reassured herself, Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart was far from content. Where did those people get the guts to break into the Fang home at such a time! If she found out who it was... Fang Yuxin gripped the handle of her knife tightly, her face growing more and more grim. This time, she would not be lenient! With that thought, Fang Yuxin reached out to touch Angela¡¯s round head and said, ¡°Angela! Let¡¯s have a blast killing!¡± Angela had been perched on Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder, eagerly watching Lan Re show off, almost bursting with impatience to take the stage and make a dazzling entrance. Hmph! She was much more powerful than that dumb plant that only knew how to ¡°eat, eat, eat¡±! Why did her master always let that stupid thing take action? She would show her master that she, too, could kill zombies! With that, Angela excitedly let out a long meow, ¡°Meow~~~~~~¡± The next moment, she jumped from Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder, and as she landed, her body swiftly enlarged to almost the same height as Fang Yuxin. The others were busy fighting zombies and couldn¡¯t afford to be distracted. Suddenly seeing Angela transform, they were so surprised that their eyes almost popped out of their sockets. If Lan Re¡¯s appearance had been too ferocious earlier, then Angela¡¯s transformation was simply too stunning. Most people might not recognize Crystal Orchid, let alone Lan Re¡¯s mutated variety, but Angela, a precious Ragdoll cat, was well known to many. After the initial shock, everyone was captivated by Angela¡¯s graceful and beautiful appearance, looking enviously at Fang Yuxin, wishing they could have one too! Some people had especially complex looks in their eyes. They had seen the palm-sized kitten on Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder much earlier. At the time, they didn¡¯t know it was a Mutated Animal, and thought it was just a pet Fang Yuxin had acquired. They couldn¡¯t help feeling unpleased. Now, many people were struggling to survive, and here was Fang Yuxin raising a useless Little Kitten, fat and plump, with glossy, smooth fur, clearly well-fed! It was a case of ¡®the cat living a better life than the human¡¯¡ªcomparing oneself to others will only make one resentful! Now, they realized that it was not just an ordinary Little Kitten but a Mutated Cat! And their hearts felt even more uncomfortable! Fang Yuxin was already so powerful, and to be able to have a fearsome Mutated Cat as well was simply too envy-inducing! Angela, feeling the ¡®admiration¡¯ in the gazes around her, subconsciously lifted her head higher, swelling with pride. She excitedly rubbed against Fang Yuxin with her body, urging with her thoughts, ¡°Master, get on! Let¡¯s go kill zombies! Kill, kill, kill!¡± She was determined to kill even more zombies than Lan Re, that dummy! ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s go kill these zombies now!¡± Fang Yuxin replied to Angela with her thoughts, gently grabbed her soft long fur, and leaped onto her back. Then, Angela let out another cheerful cry and rushed down the Protection Wall, carrying Fang Yuxin with her. Although Angela had not awakened with the Wind Superpower, a cat¡¯s body was naturally agile and light with good leaping ability. After the mutation, Angela¡¯s instincts as a wild beast gradually awakened from slumber, making her body even more flexible and ferociously wild. However, she had been raised by Fang Yuxin since she was little, and their bond was already quite special. Now, having recognized Fang Yuxin as her master, Angela had grown even closer to her and never showed her wild and ferocious side. Chapter 297 - 297 173 Showy (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 297: 173 Showy (First Update)_2 Chapter 297: 173 Showy (First Update)_2 Today, Fang Yuxin had taken it to hunt zombies, and it deliberately showed off its skills, instantly unleashing the ferocity inherent in its beastly nature. As it carried Fang Yuxin down the Protection Wall, sharp, dagger-like claws sprang out from its paw pads, and any zombies they encountered along the way didn¡¯t even require Fang Yuxin to lift a finger¡ªa slight scratch from its claws and those zombies were dead beyond dead. Others watched this scene in horror, never expecting such a beautiful Mutated Cat to possess such sharp claws. Moreover, it was excessively ferocious! Those zombies, which they found troublesome, were no match for it! What kind of terrifying strength was this? If only they could also have such a Mutated Cat... Everyone was no fool, and soon, people began to scheme. Not only did Angela¡¯s arrival break their usual serenity, but the appearance of Lan Re was even more alarming. Crystal Orchid is a very fragile saprophyte that breaks with a simple pinch and has a short lifespan, soon withering away. But this Mutated Crystal Orchid in front of them was terrifyingly capable of swallowing zombies! Crystal Orchids were rare, and the environment in Market was not suitable for their growth. Even if they couldn¡¯t find a similarly powerful Mutated Crystal Orchid, finding other Mutant Plants would do! With this understanding, many started to scheme in their minds. Having witnessed Fang Yuxin¡¯s prowess and seen the ferocity of Lan Re and Angela up close, they wouldn¡¯t foolishly take on Fang Yuxin directly, but they could try finding other mutated creatures! This thought deeply rooted itself in their minds. However, now was clearly not the time to think about this. The zombies below were persistently climbing the Protection Wall, and they couldn¡¯t afford to be negligent! After one person was successfully ambushed by a climbing zombie due to carelessness, the shrill scream he emitted successfully woke everyone else up. After snapping back to reality, they subconsciously glanced in the direction of Fang Yuxin and Angela, who was all white and seemed to emit a luminous glow under the dim lights. They could easily see Angela carrying Fang Yuxin weaving through the Zombie Group, and with the close cooperation between Angela and Fang Yuxin, zombies kept falling one by one. Then, they returned their gazes, gripped their weapons tighter, and watched the zombies that continued to climb the Protection Wall with cold, guarded eyes. Bring it on, damn zombies! In Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand was still the Miao Saber, wrapped in a layer of green Wood Element Spiritual Energy. She rode on Angela¡¯s back, with the Miao Saber horizontally positioned in her hands, the blade facing forward. As Angela charged into the Zombie Group, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t even need to swing the blade¡ªshe just had to hold the handle steady, and the blade could easily slice through the zombies¡¯ necks. This was the combat method of Cavalry, and then Fang Yuxin thought for a moment, pulled out another Miao Saber from her space. She held both saber handles together, blades horizontally aligned in front of her, and then she said to Angela, ¡°Angela, keep charging forward! Don¡¯t stop!¡± These zombies were merely infantry, and the advantage of Cavalry over infantry couldn¡¯t be more obvious. However, the sheer number of these zombies was too much; others didn¡¯t dare charge into the Zombie Group as they would almost certainly be surrounded and face almost certain death. But Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t afraid! Angela wasn¡¯t an ordinary warhorse; it was a Mutated Cat, its long fur itself served as armor, not to mention its skin also had good defensive capabilities¡ªnormal zombies couldn¡¯t even touch Angela¡¯s skin. Fang Yuxin also applied a Vajra Talisman on Angela and herself, a defensive talisman symbolizing ¡®indestructible.¡¯ Although not as exaggerated as it sounds, it was still capable of warding off the zombies¡¯ sharp claws. Angela¡¯s speed was very fast, almost as if it had mutated for speed, unless faced with a Speed Mutant Zombie, other zombies simply couldn¡¯t react in time! Actually, more than this straightforward charge, Angela preferred to show off its capabilities to Fang Yuxin, especially wanting to outperform the dumb Lan Re, but since Fang Yuxin had ordered, it couldn¡¯t resist. It had to charge even faster, and as it did, its long, fluffy tail wouldn¡¯t stay idle, constantly swinging left and right. The tail was covered in white long fur, yet when it swung, the soft hairs instantly stood straight, hard as steel needles. Any area swept by the tail would have large chunks of flesh torn off¡ªtruly terrifying! Unfortunately, due to the distance and dim lighting, many people couldn¡¯t clearly see the changes in Angela¡¯s tail. Fang Yuxin, riding Angela, continuously charged through the Zombie Group, and in no time, what was once a dense group of zombies became scattered. From a distance, on top of the wall, some people watched Fang Yuxin and Angela ferociously hunting zombies, and couldn¡¯t help but smile proudly. Then, unwilling to continue fighting just atop the wall, some of them also charged down. The Protection Wall was a good five meters high; the outside of the wall wasn¡¯t like the inside equipped with a makeshift ladder¡ªit was a completely vertical surface, making descending no easy task. Yet, these people didn¡¯t care¡ªsome jumped straight down, and some ran down the walls, their actions as slick and stylish as wall-running in movies, drawing amazed exclamations from others. Damn! What sort of freaks are these? Are they even human anymore? (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to head to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 298 - 298 174 Regeneration Change (Second Update) ?Chapter 298: 174 Regeneration Change (Second Update) Chapter 298: 174 Regeneration Change (Second Update) Among those who descended from the top of the wall, two were in the lead, charging at the front. Those two were none other than Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang. They had also been fighting zombies on the wall but were somewhat far from Fang Yuxin¡¯s position, separated by many people. With a formidable enemy in front, they couldn¡¯t afford to meet up with Fang Yuxin and could only focus on hunting zombies to give others a chance to breathe and prevent heavy casualties. They had planned to keep going until the energy in their bodies had almost run out or the zombies had dispersed. However, when they saw Fang Yuxin riding Angela into the Zombie Group, they couldn¡¯t sit still. They both knew Fang Yuxin¡¯s capabilities, and compared to Bai Ye, Fang Yuyang knew more and more comprehensively. The two were aware that with Fang Yuxin¡¯s ability, she could return unharmed even if she charged into the Zombie Group. But knowing this, they still couldn¡¯t watch without worrying! In fact, when they saw Fang Yuxin ride Angela into the Zombie Group, their hearts almost stopped. Fang Yuxin was being too reckless! How could she take such risks? What if she encountered danger? As the saying goes, care breeds chaos. They cared too much, fearing that one in a million chance where Fang Yuxin could get hurt or even in danger! Actually, since the apocalypse began, they themselves had been injured, especially Bai Ye, who had been a mercenary before the apocalypse. The Bai Family had assigned him many dangerous tasks and even in life-or-death situations, he had never been afraid. He thought he had forgotten what fear was until Bai Qianqian faced danger and Qiu Yiming deliberately used Bai Qianqian to threaten him. He was quite scared at that moment and only relaxed slightly when it was confirmed that Bai Qianqian stayed with Fang Yuxin and was safe. And now, he experienced that fearful sensation once again! So, he leapt down from the wall without hesitation. Fang Yuyang did similarly as he, too, was concerned about his beloved sister¡¯s safety. He didn¡¯t think much; he just descended from the relatively safe wall. The two men didn¡¯t jump down in the same spot. However, they both headed toward Fang Yuxin, and so they met each other halfway. They glanced at each other, and Fang Yuyang unceremoniously snorted and warned in a low voice, ¡°If you can¡¯t keep up, better go back to the wall early and don¡¯t drag us down!¡± Bai Ye had long noticed Fang Yuyang¡¯s overprotective brother instincts and didn¡¯t take Fang Yuyang¡¯s warning to heart. But as a man, when Fang Yuyang was so unwelcoming, even disregarding his presence, Bai Ye inevitably felt defiant. He had no ill feelings towards Fang Yuyang, but since Fang Yuyang was Fang Yuxin¡¯s brother, Fang Yuyang¡¯s disapproval could definitely affect Fang Yuxin¡¯s attitude towards him, which he couldn¡¯t ignore. He now recognized his feelings, longing for the approval of Fang Yuxin and her family. So he smirked and provocatively said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I certainly won¡¯t become your burden.¡± Fang Yuyang scoffed, not taking his words seriously at all. Usually, besides his parents, Fang Yuxin was his most cherished sibling. Perhaps because he was too concerned, he became overly sensitive towards men who approached Fang Yuxin, almost instantly sensing whether they had intentions toward her. The first time he saw Bai Ye, alarms went off in his mind. He had discerned that Bai Ye already cared about Fang Yuxin. Or rather, Bai Ye had already set his sights on her. Poor Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t know that Bai Ye had once taken advantage of the night to sneak into Fang Yuxin¡¯s room; otherwise, he certainly wouldn¡¯t have allowed Fang Yuxin to interact with Bai Ye and would have found an opportunity to beat Bai Ye up long ago! Later, upon encountering Bai Ye again, his wariness towards him deepened, fearing that this unknown man might whisk away his precious sister. Fortunately, Fang Yuxin always kept her distance from Bai Ye, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief. Who would have thought that from then on, Bai Ye would stick around like glue, impossible to shake off! Yet, this man didn¡¯t harbor any malice, and even though he worried about Bai Ye leading Fang Yuxin astray, he couldn¡¯t really do anything to Bai Ye. In fact, when he saw Bai Ye earlier, he was somewhat pleased. Regardless of Bai Ye¡¯s intentions toward Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye¡¯s personality and capabilities were admired by Fang Yuyang. Just for having the guts to jump off the wall and into the Zombie Group, Fang Yuyang couldn¡¯t muster any malice toward him. Chapter 299 - 299 174 Regeneration Change (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 299: 174 Regeneration Change (Second Update)_2 Chapter 299: 174 Regeneration Change (Second Update)_2 Of course, the precondition was that this person really had impressive strength and would definitely not become a drag on him and Fang Yuxin. After all, having teamed up for several days, Fang Yuyang had gained a fair understanding of Bai Ye¡¯s capabilities and knew the man was formidable. Thus, his unpleasant tone earlier was only due to his dislike of Bai Ye pestering Fang Yuxin, not because he truly looked down on him. Hearing Bai Ye¡¯s response, Fang Yuyang felt his anger boil up as if it had been ignited. He glared fiercely at Bai Ye and left him with a ¡°You¡¯d better keep your word¡± before ceasing to engage with him, turning around to look for Fang Yuxin instead. Bai Ye slightly shook his head. He could see through Fang Yuyang¡¯s thoughts clear as day; however, in his opinion, Fang Yuyang was indeed being overly protective of Fang Yuxin, treating him like a chick in need of safeguarding. Fortunately, Fang Yuyang was rational and not unreasonable. Although he always treated Bai Ye with a cold demeanor, he had never played dirty, which made him a respectable person. Thus, even though Fang Yuyang was always rude to him, Bai Ye never really got angry. He sighed silently and quickly caught up to Fang Yuyang, taking care of any zombies they encountered along the way. His weapon was a saber with a half-meter-long hilt and a one-meter-long blade. As a wielder of the Gold Element Superpower, he had crafted this blade himself. Although the workmanship was simple, the blade was extremely sharp, with excellent hardness and tenacity¡ªit could certainly be considered a fearsome weapon. With a casual swing of his hand, the blade could easily chop down several zombies. However, watching Fang Yuxin continuously charge within the Zombie Group in the distance, Bai Ye couldn¡¯t help but feel an intense yearning. It was not just because of Fang Yuxin¡¯s prowess. What he admired even more was Fang Yuxin¡¯s cavalier-like combat method. If he could also have such a massive Mutant Beast, his own strength would surely rise to a new level! He had already realized before that plants and animals might also mutate. And he had encountered Mutant Beasts too¡ªthe last was an Alaskan Malamute, tall and handsome. Unfortunately, the mutation fully triggered its innate ferocity as a beast, turning it cruel and bloodthirsty with fiery red eyes, completely losing its senses. In the end, he had gone through quite an effort to kill that Mutant Dog. And until now, he had yet to find a suitable Mutant Beast that he could recruit as a combat partner, which was admittedly a pity. However, Bai Ye was not disheartened; he believed that in time, he would definitely encounter one! This thought was but a momentary distraction; he soon set aside the slight regret and longing in his heart and continued slaughtering the zombies surrounding him. Fang Yuyang still wielded the Miao Saber with increasing ease in his control of the Wind Element since his Cultivation. Each slash he made with the blade could create a massive Wind Blade thanks to the sharpness of the saber. Even though there was only a single Wind Blade, its destructive power was terrifying! Wherever the Wind Blade swept through, swathes of zombies were effortlessly cleaved apart. Coupled with Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, these brutal individuals, people atop the Protection Wall could only watch helplessly as groups of zombies fell, gradually falling into a stupor. Because of their interference, the number of zombies that made it to the base of the Protection Wall had dwindled to a minority, freeing those on the wall from the frantic killing and giving them a chance to catch their breath. Suddenly, someone shouted loudly, ¡°Damn it! What are we still doing up here? Catching a breeze? If you¡¯re a man, follow them down and kill these damn zombies!¡± After yelling these words, he took up his weapon and charged down ahead of the rest. Although the Protection Wall was tall, the corpses of zombies had piled up thickly below. He managed to descend without injury despite a bit of clumsiness. He quickly got to his feet, spat disdainfully, then, gripping his weapon tightly, charged towards the nearby zombies. Following his lead, more and more people jumped down from the wall to fight the zombies, no longer letting those below take all the glory. Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye, and Fang Yuyang, along with the others, had encouraged these people to overcome their fear of zombies. They watched as Fang Yuxin and company effortlessly killed group after group of zombies, gradually fostering the strange sensation that ¡®zombies were not to be feared¡¯. Thus, in an instant, the group charged up like they had been injected with adrenaline¡ªseeing the Zombie Group not as terrifying murderous creatures, but as clusters of Crystal Cores! Someone, seeking to embolden themselves, shouted loudly, ¡°Kill! Let¡¯s kill them!¡± Then another joined in the chorus, ¡°Right! Kill these monsters!¡± Qiu Yiming was not at this location; the Safe Zone had three points under attack by Zombie Groups, each facing roughly a hundred thousand or so. Qiu Yiming was defending at another point, while another strong expert was at the remaining one. But even though there were experts holding the fort at the other locations, compared to Fang Yuxin, Fang Yuyang, and Bai Ye here, they seemed somewhat less significant. Additionally, the huge swamp created earlier by Fang Jintang had eased the pressure on everyone else. Without them, the battle would certainly have become much more fierce. However, as the number of zombies dwindled, the commander lurking in the shadows could no longer sit idly by. So suddenly, an ethereal voice traveled from afar. The sound seemed to come from everywhere and yet was as if directly whispering into everyone¡¯s ear. It was not unpleasant to hear; in fact, it was soft and melodious like the music of heaven. As the voice sounded, everyone¡¯s expressions gradually changed. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) with your recommendation and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 300 - 300 175 Sound Counterattack (Third Update) ?Chapter 300: 175 Sound Counterattack (Third Update) Chapter 300: 175 Sound Counterattack (Third Update) This was a voice that could confuse the mind; it not only could arouse the deepest fears in people¡¯s hearts but also the deepest desires! Gradually, some people with weaker spiritual power began to flush with a reddened face, their eyes fiery as if they had seen something they had longed for in their dreams. Then, one by one, these people leaped down the Protection Wall, utterly disregarding the fact that they fell flat on their faces, and after scrambling up, they ran excitedly towards the direction of the Zombie Group. Some of them even threw away their weapons in their hands, completely losing their rationality, with only frenzy and desire remaining in their eyes. Among them was a frail young man, whose strength probably wasn¡¯t up to par, so he didn¡¯t run very fast, his face still showing a sickly pallor. However, his eyes were frighteningly bright, shining like stars. And from his mouth, he muttered incessantly, ¡°Food... Food... So much food... Mine... all mine...¡± At that moment, an ugly zombie suddenly appeared beside him. Yet, he acted as if he saw nothing, continuing to run forward. The zombie bared its mouth, revealing sharp, yellowed teeth. Fresh bits of flesh clung to its teeth, and a drop of murky, yellow saliva dripped from the corner of its mouth, making it appear even more ferocious and terrifying. It swiftly extended its sharp claws, stabbing into the young man¡¯s back, who was completely unaware of the danger from behind. His eyes only held an illusion of food. With a ¡°thud,¡± the claws pierced through his back, and his body jolted sharply; following that, the Illusion Realm in front of him melted away like ice and snow, the ¡®fresh food¡¯ turning completely into an illusory bubble. As he emerged from the Illusion Realm and regained his senses, the first thing he felt was a tearing pain from his chest. The zombie emitted the scent of decay that incessantly stimulated his fragile sense of smell. Realizing what had happened, he widened his eyes in terror and began to tremble uncontrollably. But such trembling was futile; the next moment, the zombie withdrew its claw from his back, taking with it a still-beating heart. Hot blood surged out, and all his strength seemed to drain from the wound along with his blood. His strengthless body heavily collapsed to the ground; his body still reflexively shivered as blood spilled continuously from his mouth, the searing vitality in stark contrast to his deadening eyes. He was not the only one to meet such a harrowing death; many others, controlled just like him, were powerless to resist and were killed by zombies without any fight. The deaths of these people made the air even more saturated with the smell of blood, and the zombies, enticed by the fresh scent, became even crueler and more ruthless. They continuously launched surprise attacks on those under control and were successful time and again. There were also some who were not completely controlled, yet their situation was far from optimistic. They clenched their teeth tightly, desperately resisting this intangible manipulation, trying to break free. Unfortunately, their luck was exceptionally bad this time, facing a Level 3 Spiritual Zombie on the verge of leveling up. Its Spiritual Attack was not something ordinary people could withstand. That ethereal voice continued without cease, and at the same time, some zombies didn¡¯t attack humans but instead took advantage of the chaos to quietly collect Crystal Cores. However, after extracting the Crystal Cores, they did not consume them right away but instead tucked them into pockets on their bodies. Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye were on the verge of being controlled when Fang Yuxin, just in time, cast the Heart Clearing Technique and saved them. However, others were not so fortunate. As more and more people fell to the zombies, the expressions on Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye¡¯s faces grew increasingly grim. They couldn¡¯t go on like this; otherwise, the casualties would be even greater! Fang Yuyang looked at Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, do you have any way out?¡± As soon as he spoke, Bai Ye also looked at Fang Yuxin, his eyes also bearing a questioning look. He had the same question; he was just worried that Yuxin had no solution, which is why he hesitated to ask. He didn¡¯t expect that Yu Yang would ask first. Fang Yuxin looked at those who had fallen into the Illusion Realm, then opened her waist pouch and took out a palm-sized green bamboo flute from ¡°inside.¡± The flute was very delicate, exquisitely verdant. It was not an ordinary flute, but one that Fang Yuxin had obtained from the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Afterward, she had simply refined it into a bamboo flute. Chapter 301 - 301 175 Sound Counterattack (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 301: 175 Sound Counterattack (Third Update)_2 Chapter 301: 175 Sound Counterattack (Third Update)_2 Her current realm was too low; alchemy and artifact refining were still challenging for her, so she could only perform some of the simplest operations. This flute had been specially prepared by her recently. Ever since that encounter with a Spiritual Zombie in the Food Trading City¡¯s warehouse, she had been startled into vigilance. Spiritual Zombies could be said to be one of the most troublesome types of zombies. Once they launched a Spiritual Attack, those with weak spiritual power were easily controlled. Such a situation, once it arose, would be dangerous. Therefore, she later searched in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion and finally chose a bamboo tube to make into a flute. As a child, she had learned several musical instruments out of interest. She couldn¡¯t claim to be an expert, but she knew the basics and could play tunes. When making the bamboo flute, she considered other instruments but eventually rejected them all. After much thought, she still found a bamboo flute to be the most convenient. The bamboo was called Qingyun Bamboo, with the effect of nurturing the divine and clearing the heart. She also inscribed a Heart-Clearing Talisman on the tube, and when used to play the Heart Clarity Spell, its effects would be doubled. This was something she had crafted specifically to counter Spiritual Zombies. As for how effective it would be, now was the time to test the results. She picked up the bamboo flute, placed it to her lips, and slightly parted them to gently play the Heart Clarity Spell. With her playing, the clear sound rang out and traveled far. The purpose of the Heart Clarity Spell was to calm the mind and restore sanity. As the sound of the flute rose, those struggling to resist suddenly utilized the melody¡¯s help to escape the Spiritual Zombie¡¯s mental control and come back to their senses. Although they had been struggling ferociously, their minds hadn¡¯t been lost, so they were well aware of what had transpired. After regaining clarity, they looked at the terrible scene around them and rage surged within! These zombies deserved to die! They were utterly detestable! Thus, these people immediately joined the battle, furiously slaughtering the surrounding zombies. The Spiritual Zombie, hiding in the shadows, also reacted. It had never expected someone to oppose it with music, let alone help the living free themselves from its control. This infuriated it, and after anger came intense fear! No! It couldn¡¯t let these people regain their senses! That person was dangerous! So the next moment, its voice became shrill, no longer the ethereal and gentle tone it had at first. At the same time, Fang Yuxin¡¯s flute sound also became high and intense, staunchly resisting the Spiritual Zombie¡¯s Spiritual Attack. As they clashed, those with weak spiritual power suffered greatly, their Sea of Consciousness shook continuously, and they were constantly at risk of collapse! Fang Yuxin continued to play without being able to speak to warn others. Fortunately, Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye weren¡¯t foolish. After exchanging glances, they made the same decision! Find and kill that Spiritual Zombie hiding in the dark! Before leaving, Fang Yuyang shouted, ¡°Quickly escort those who have lost their combat ability back!¡± With his reminder, others reacted, and those under control, despite the extreme discomfort, also came to their senses. They knew the situation was urgent, and staying put would endanger their lives, so they quickly retreated, preparing to return to the Safe Zone. Meanwhile, the gates of the Safe Zone were opened on one side, and some people rushed out to escort them back to safety. Fang Yuxin kept playing the Heart Clarity Spell, Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang went to find the Spiritual Zombie, and Chen Qiao and others who arrived later surrounded her, protecting her within their circle. The zombies, as if commanded, frantically charged towards Fang Yuxin, in a dead-set manner. This made Chen Qiao and the others very tense. But their fear was overshadowed by the concern for Fang Yuxin¡¯s safety! Fortunately, just then, Lan Re emerged from the ground; her body, with eight clones, twisted frantically, continually devouring the zombies. At that moment, the shrill voice suddenly stopped. As it vanished, Fang Yuxin ceased playing the flute as well. Thinking that the Spiritual Zombie was likely entangled, she stopped playing and released her Spiritual Sense to sense her surroundings. She then said to Chen Qiao and the others, ¡°You stay behind to clear the remaining zombies, and I¡¯ll go kill that Spiritual Zombie!¡± Chen Qiao and the others immediately took orders, with Chen Qiao saying, ¡°Deputy Captain Fang, don¡¯t worry about us, hurry on, leave this place to us!¡± Fang Yuxin nodded to them and then grasped the hilt of her knife again. As she left, she continued to kill more zombies along the way. Soon, more people came from the Safe Zone to clear the remaining zombies. By then, the ground was already littered with a vast number of zombie corpses and countless heads. Many of the heads still contained Crystal Cores. However, no one chose to take advantage of the confusion and go for those cores. Their only thought was to quickly deal with the remaining zombies and end the battle! At this time, Fang Yuxin had found Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye. When she arrived, they were already surrounded by a group of Mutant Zombies. Then, she saw the Spiritual Zombie. It was a male zombie, looking quite young, probably in his early twenties, and also rather handsome. It was a pity that its complexion was a deathly pale, which spoiled that handsomeness. Hidden among the Mutant Zombies, as soon as it saw Fang Yuxin, its complexion changed. Fang Yuxin even spotted a flicker of panic in its blood-red eyes. Then, it began to scream madly. The scream was even sharper than before, and the originally invisible Spiritual Attack even took the shape of a spiked cone, stabbing fiercely at Fang Yuxin!(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 302 - 302 176 Dogshit Luck (First Update) ?Chapter 302: 176 Dogshit Luck (First Update) Chapter 302: 176 Dogshit Luck (First Update) The Spiritual Zombie clearly went all out and succeeded in solidifying its Spiritual Attack. Such an attack was far more terrifying than an invisible Spiritual Attack, and its power was greater. Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang were still some distance from the Spiritual Zombie, yet they were already affected. Neither of them was controlled, only their faces turned pale, veins bulged, and they looked ugly and fierce, involuntarily instilling fear in others. They glared with their eyes, struggling against the psychic energy emanating from the spike, unwilling to let their Divine Souls be controlled by that disgusting Spiritual Zombie. Fang Yuxin stared intently at the incoming spike; her Spiritual Sense instantly burst forth from her Sea of Consciousness, forming a small, palm-sized Round Shield in front of her. No sooner had the Round Shield formed than the spike slammed into it fiercely. The spike was blocked by the Round Shield and could proceed no further, but instead of dissipating, it began to grind stubbornly against the shield. Should the Round Shield fail to withstand the spike¡¯s Attack, Fang Yuxin¡¯s Sea of Consciousness would inevitably suffer a heavy blow! She continuously drew out her Spiritual Sense, replenishing the Round Shield¡¯s expenditure, while at the same time, the Spiritual Zombie was using its spiritual power to reinforce the spike. Not only that, it cunningly ordered the nearby Mutant Zombies to attack Fang Yuxin. If Fang Yuxin fought back, it was confident it could seriously injure her, or even get rid of her! However, those Mutant Zombies were not easy to deal with, and their lethality was significant. If Fang Yuxin did not defend, even if she blocked the spike, she would still not escape the fate of being killed! Although Lan Re and Angela could not yet detect the sinister intentions of the Spiritual Zombie, they knew their master, Fang Yuxin, was being attacked by these disgusting zombies! Angela bared its teeth, its lips parting to reveal four ferocious and sharp fangs. It emitted a warning ¡°woo woo¡± sound from its throat, its ice-blue eyes staring fixedly at the Mutant Zombies drawing nearer. Those eyes were especially beautiful in the darkness, like top-grade sapphires. However, the wildness and cruelty it displayed were incomparable to that of any gemstone. Lan Re, being a plant, could not make sounds like Angela, so it twisted its body incessantly, stretching and spinning, its sharp teeth turning with the motion of its body, much like a meat grinder. The Mutant Zombies now had some intelligence and keenly sensed that Lan Re and Angela were difficult opponents, so they did not rush forward recklessly. Instead, their eyes greedily watched Fang Yuxin¡¯s direction while warily keeping an eye on Lan Re and Angela, contemplating how to steer clear of these troublesome adversaries and devour Fang Yuxin. But even though these Mutant Zombies had gained some intelligence, it wasn¡¯t high. They couldn¡¯t think like normal humans, so after pondering for a while, they still couldn¡¯t come up with an appropriate strategy. At this point, Lan Re could not wait any longer. Its true body and duplicates stood guard around Fang Yuxin, protecting her within. As soon as a zombie approached, its body would automatically entangle and consume the intruder. Angela also wished it could rush out and kill these disgusting creatures, but Fang Yuxin was on its back right now. Although it only had the intellect of a three-year-old child and couldn¡¯t judge or think through many issues, it instinctively worried about any harm befalling its master, Fang Yuxin. Thus, despite the boiling rage within, it remained motionless, only watching the surrounding zombies with those ice-blue eyes. Time seemed to drag on, yet in reality, all this happened in just a split second. Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang quickly got rid of the zombies¡¯ psychic control, and then they saw Fang Yuxin¡¯s complexion turning paler and uglier. They were both shocked, not bothering to think further, instinctively turning their heads towards the Spiritual Zombie under the tight guard of the Mutant Zombies not far away. It was the one causing trouble! The horrendous color on Fang Yuxin¡¯s face triggered a strong anger within them, and without hesitation, they launched their most powerful attacks! Fang Yuyang¡¯s attack was a tornado filled with spinning Wind Blades, terrifying in its force. Such a move was highly exhausting to True Qi, and he couldn¡¯t use it frequently. But now, to protect Fang Yuxin, he went all out! Bai Ye¡¯s Attack was no less formidable. With a strange motion of his hands, the next moment, a fearsome bolt of lightning struck down, landing directly on the head of the Spiritual Zombie! Chapter 303 - 303 176 Dogshit Luck (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 303: 176 Dogshit Luck (Second Update)_2 Chapter 303: 176 Dogshit Luck (Second Update)_2 The threat of death made the Spiritual Zombie even more irritable; it seemed to realize that it couldn¡¯t resist any longer and would soon die. Its ruby-like beautiful eyes even showed a strong unwillingness to die and a longing for life! The next moment, all the unwillingness and longing turned into bubbles, vanishing without a trace, as if they had never appeared. What remained was only a deepening madness! Then, the three people suddenly felt the energy on the Spiritual Zombie¡¯s body start to surge violently, the energy fluctuations becoming more and more eerie, radiating a sense of crazy brutality. The next moment, its head suddenly emitted a dazzling light! Fang Yuxin had just about finished dealing with the spike when she suddenly saw this scene and instantly turned pale. Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang were closer to the Spiritual Zombie, completely within the destructive range of the zombie¡¯s self-destruction! With one misstep, the two of them could die! Intense fear prevented Fang Yuxin from thinking straight; she didn¡¯t even have time to consider the trouble her decision might cause. Her body had already reacted first, as she rushed to the sides of Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye. She forcefully grabbed their hands, preparing to take them into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. But at that moment, a golden light suddenly appeared, striking the Spiritual Zombie and forcibly stopping its self-destruction! The light flashed by and, before the three could react, the Spiritual Zombie exploded with a ¡°bang,¡± disintegrating completely. Although its Crystal Core¡¯s self-destruction had been prevented, the zombie¡¯s body had already become riddled with holes during the build-up, which was why it exploded. The explosion was very small, emitting only a faint rumbling sound. Moreover, as it exploded, Fang Yuxin, Fang Yuyang, and Bai Ye saw that where the zombie¡¯s body had been, a dark longsword was now quietly suspended in mid-air. The longsword emitted a hazy dark glow, silently standing upright in mid-air. Being so close, the three of them felt the intense sharpness emanating from the sword, like a blade carving through their bodies. Merely glancing at it once caused their eyes to sting. Then, a strong scent of blood wafted from its blade. There was something strange about the scent; the three felt a jolt in their consciousness after just a sniff. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang quickly withdrew their Spiritual Sense and sealed off their sense of smell, stepping back hastily. But at that moment, Bai Ye did not retreat, instead moving towards the dark longsword. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were stunned, instinctively wanting to stop him, but it was already too late; Bai Ye reached out towards the dark longsword! Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang both felt the situation was very wrong. Bai Ye didn¡¯t seem like a greedy person, and he was very cautious. With the situation unclear and the dark longsword feeling highly sinister, wasn¡¯t Bai Ye reaching for it seeking death? ¡°Bai Ye, stop right there!¡± Fang Yuxin called out, then quickly walked toward him, trying to stop him. But Bai Ye ignored her warning, instead forcefully grasping the sword hilt! What was strange was, although the dark longsword seemed incredibly savage, surrounded by a sharp Sword Qi for protection, Bai Ye was able to hold it without any harm! What kind of luck had Bai Ye stumbled upon! Fang Yuxin felt uneasy; the events had happened so suddenly that she hadn¡¯t realized at the time, but thinking about it now, she discovered that the longsword had come from inside the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion! That was obviously her possession; how could she let Bai Ye just touch it? That was too unreserved! Fang Yuxin narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze filled with dissatisfaction as she looked at Bai Ye¡¯s back, wishing she could slice him with her eyes! However, thinking about her decision just now, she let out a silent sigh of relief. The situation earlier was too dangerous; if not for the sudden appearance of the dark longsword, she would have already taken Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion to hide! However, the matter was truly mysterious; she had carefully checked the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion before and had not found the existence of the dark longsword, nor did she know where it had been hiding. If it hadn¡¯t suddenly emerged to save its owner, she wouldn¡¯t have known that such an ancient weapon existed inside the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion! Thinking that it had after all saved her life and helped to keep the secret of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, Fang Yuxin thought it over and decided not to be concerned about its lack of modesty. However, just as she reached this conclusion, she saw Bai Ye shudder, his whole body becoming rigid. Fang Yuyang saw this as well, and both exchanged a worried look and walked toward Bai Ye. But they soon realized that they could not approach him; an invisible barrier blocked them about a meter away from Bai Ye, preventing them from advancing any further. Fang Yuyang was worried and frowned, uneasily asking, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s happening? Do you know where that longsword came from?¡± He felt instinctively that the longsword had something to do with the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion; after all, the aura of the sword was very different, resembling an ancient weapon, not likely something of this world. Moreover, he had clearly seen that the golden light that hit the Spiritual Zombie had come from Fang Yuxin. So, he subconsciously thought that the longsword was from the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, or perhaps the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion had acted to protect its owner. But if that were the case, why could Bai Ye grasp the longsword? And why was Fang Yuxin, the owner, blocked outside? He squinted at Bai Ye, feeling the whole scene was very odd, almost like some kind of recognition ceremony. But was that possible? Was Bai Ye just that lucky? (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 304 - 304 177 Dragon Scale Sword (Second Update) ?Chapter 304: 177 Dragon Scale Sword (Second Update) Chapter 304: 177 Dragon Scale Sword (Second Update) Bai Ye felt an instantaneous attraction the moment he laid eyes on the pitch-black longsword. Despite the keen aura that emanated from the sword causing his eyes to sting incessantly, as if his body were being shredded by thousands of Sword Qi, he remained fixedly staring, unable to look away, and subconsciously walked towards it. Bai Ye almost completely lost his senses until he reached out hazily and grabbed the hilt; only then did the bone-chilling cold and tear-like pain snap him back to reality. He subconsciously knew something was wrong but couldn¡¯t let go of the longsword; his skin seemed to be stuck firmly to it, unable to move in the slightest. Panic began to rise in his heart. Just as he wondered how to extricate himself, the scene before his eyes flickered, and he found himself in a dark void. It seemed like an isolated space, boundless and without limits, entirely enveloped in darkness that inevitably bred a sense of despair. An average person, suddenly thrown into such a bizarre location, would certainly be struck with terror. But Bai Ye was different; born into the Bai Family, he had undergone all sorts of harsh training since the age of five. His nerves were tougher than steel, his heart harder than diamond. From his childhood to adulthood, he¡¯d lost count of how many times he had been confined to dark rooms. Though this situation was strange, it was nowhere near enough to scare him. He was simply curious. What place was this? Why had he come here? Was this space real, or was it an Illusion Realm created by the mysterious longsword? He glanced around, but all he saw was pitch darkness; his eyes couldn¡¯t make out anything. He had never encountered such a situation before. From a young age, he had gone through countless darkness training sessions. Even in darkness, he could still see, though not as well as nocturnal creatures. But the darkness here was different from any he had previously encountered. It was dense like a substance; there was not a sliver of light. When he tried to extend his spiritual power, he was shocked to find that it couldn¡¯t penetrate the darkness here. What in the world was this place? Bai Ye¡¯s eyes gradually became more cold and fierce. Then he said, ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are, what thing you are, since you¡¯ve brought me here, show yourself quickly. Otherwise, let me return to the real world!¡± But after waiting for some time, there was still no movement around him. He scoffed coldly and simply sat down cross-legged, took out the Crystal Core he carried with him, closed his eyes, and began to absorb it. Bai Ye was well aware that impatience was useless at times like this. Rather than wasting energy, it was better to recover his strength to its optimal state. That way, even if something unexpected happened, he would have the strength to fight back. Fortunately, although the environment was weird, there was no problem absorbing the Crystal Core. Thus, he kept his eyes closed and continued to absorb the Crystal Core. The silence around him was terrifying; not a sound could be heard. Such an environment could easily trigger the deepest fears in one¡¯s heart, yet he remained completely unaffected. Who knows how long had passed when the darkness around him suddenly began to distort. Then, a pitch-black longsword appeared before Bai Ye¡ªit was the same sword he had previously grasped. Strangely, even though he had clearly grasped the longsword earlier, it was now floating about half a meter in front of him. The moment the longsword appeared, Bai Ye suddenly opened his eyes and intently fixed his gaze on it. What was eerie was that the longsword became somewhat nebulous within his line of sight. It seemed within reach, yet also infinitely distant. Bai Ye didn¡¯t hesitate and reached out directly towards the longsword, gripping the hilt once again. This time, as he grasped the hilt, the blade suddenly emitted a blinding light. Then, his hand grasped at empty air as the pitch-black longsword transformed into a streak of black light and merged into the Sea of Consciousness between his brows! Bai Ye instinctively released his spiritual power to resist, but the black light was incredibly domineering. His spiritual power had just met the oncoming forces and was instantly and completely dissolved! Following that, Bai Ye¡¯s Sea of Consciousness convulsed violently, undergoing earth-shattering transformations. Bai Ye forcefully clutched his head. The veins on his forehead bulged, his face first flushing red, then turning deathly pale in an instant. He collapsed in agony onto the ground, enduring the torture of his Sea of Consciousness being violently cleaved open, emitting pained groans from his throat. The entire process was excruciatingly long, like an endless torment, constantly afflicting him. Bai Ye had no idea how much time had passed. He nearly fainted several times but a voice inside him kept telling him he couldn¡¯t pass out, for if he did, he might never wake up again. Chapter 305 - 305 177 Dragon Scale Sword (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 305: 177 Dragon Scale Sword (Second Update)_2 Chapter 305: 177 Dragon Scale Sword (Second Update)_2 To maintain consciousness, Bai Ye bit through the tip of his tongue several times. Finally, when the tip was riddled with wounds, the pain allowed him to remain lucid. Just as he couldn¡¯t help but feel despair, a refreshing coolness suddenly appeared in his Sea of Consciousness. Something spread throughout it, continually repairing his damaged Sea of Consciousness and gradually easing his pain. The agony in his Sea of Consciousness grew less intense until he felt nothing at all. He was about to breathe a sigh of relief when a mysterious voice echoed, ¡°From now on, you are the master of the Dragon Scale Sword, and you may practice the Supreme Mysterious Golden Thunder Sword Dao.¡± The voice didn¡¯t sound human; it carried an ancient vicissitude that unsettled his mind upon hearing it. After the voice spoke, Bai Ye ¡®saw¡¯ a black longsword within his Sea of Consciousness. This longsword, clearly the Dragon Scale Sword mentioned by the voice, was also the source of his intense suffering. He couldn¡¯t resist examining the sword more closely when it began to disintegrate before his eyes, turning into black characters one by one. Each character was enigmatic and sharp, at first glance resembling miniature longswords. Gradually, the entire sword decomposed into enigmatic black characters that danced in the air before merging into a complete Cultivation Technique. The Cultivation Technique was extensive. He instinctively tried to memorize it in full, but after reading only the first volume, a heaviness overcame his mind, and his eyes became blurry and weary, unable to make out the subsequent text. Then, all the characters converged, reforming into the black longsword. If not for the additional text in his mind, Bai Ye would have doubted whether the whole scene had been a mere hallucination! The name ¡®Supreme Mysterious Golden Thunder Sword Dao¡¯ alone exuded a fearsome aura of slaughter. Bai Ye was no fool; he knew how terrifying a Cultivation Technique it was! What luck had he stumbled upon to receive such a formidable legacy? No, wait! If he hadn¡¯t seen wrong before, the golden light that killed the Spiritual Zombie originated from Fang Yuxin! Did that mean the sword was rightfully hers? With this thought, Bai Ye felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him. The joy from receiving a powerful inheritance vanished, leaving behind guilt towards Fang Yuxin and an inexplicable panic. Had he stolen something meant for Fang Yuxin? With such implications, how would she view him now? Was his lingering affection still possible? Bai Ye was fearless, but even during life-threatening missions, he had never felt such panic. No, he must apologize to Fang Yuxin! To earn her forgiveness, he¡¯d gladly return the legacy, even if it pained him to part with it. Although it was difficult to let go, Bai Ye quickly set his resolve. Then he discovered that his surroundings had changed; he was back in reality! Looking around, he saw Fang Yuxin and Fang Yu Yang standing a meter away, their expressions complex, while the Mutant Zombies earlier had been cleanly eliminated. Seeing the complicated look on Fang Yuxin¡¯s face, he felt a sting in his heart. She still didn¡¯t trust him. Quickly managing his emotions, he prepared to return the Dragon Scale Sword to Fang Yuxin. But as he was about to produce the sword, he froze. Where was the Dragon Scale Sword? He distinctly remembered holding it in his hand! Upon careful consideration, he sensed something and realized that since he wasn¡¯t strong enough to wield the Dragon Scale Sword, it had sealed itself within his body. Unless the seal was lifted, even if he wanted to, he couldn¡¯t return the Dragon Scale Sword to Fang Yuxin. Bai Ye¡¯s complexion turned ugly at this realization, knowing that even if he shared his intentions, she would likely not believe him. Considering this, he became hesitant, unsure how to explain things to her. After much deliberation, he opened his mouth, his voice raspy, ¡°Miss Fang, I don¡¯t know why, but the Dragon Scale Sword seems to have chosen me as its master. And since my strength is too weak, it has sealed itself¡ªI can¡¯t take it out. Rest assured, the moment the seal breaks, I will return it to you.¡± He spoke with conviction as Fang Yuxin and Fang Yu Yang looked at him with complicated gazes. Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t sure if he was sincere, but she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of comfort and asked, ¡°What if I said I have a way to take it out, but it would consume your foundation and Essence Blood?¡± She had no such means; it was merely a probe. As she finished, her eyes fixed intently on Bai Ye to gauge his reaction. Bai Ye¡¯s brows furrowed. In the post-apocalyptic world where strength was paramount, losing Essence Blood was one thing, but damaging his foundation would effectively render him worse off than an Ordinary Person! He still had people to protect¡ªif he did that... After hesitating, he looked at Fang Yuxin and said, ¡°If you insist on this, I agree, but not now. I must first ensure my teammates are safely back in North City. Their families are there; I cannot abandon them.¡± As he made this solemn vow, a tearing pain filled his heart. If it were anyone else, he would never be so selfless, but since the sword belonged to Fang Yuxin, he could not bear to harm her and could only hurt himself instead. Then, he heard Fang Yuxin say, ¡°Since it chose you, you are its master. It¡¯s your opportunity; you don¡¯t need to return it to me.¡± Bai Ye looked at Fang Yuxin in surprise. In that moment, the pain in his heart vanished, replaced by a warm, continuous feeling. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 306 - 306 178 Post-War (Third Update) ?Chapter 306: 178 Post-War (Third Update) Chapter 306: 178 Post-War (Third Update) Fang Yuxin, although she graciously said those words, still felt ill at ease in her heart. She understood that it was Bai Ye¡¯s opportunity and wouldn¡¯t harbor resentment because of it, but the thought of Bai Ye taking such a significant advantage made her feel quite displeased. Bai Ye¡¯s reaction had clearly been that of inheriting some legacy, and even though Yuxin was unhappy, she realized that the item couldn¡¯t be taken back, so she had no intention of quibbling with Bai Ye. However, when Bai Ye said what he did, she couldn¡¯t help but want to test him, to see if his feelings were genuine or pretense. To her surprise, Bai Ye was truly stubborn; she had laid out the drawbacks so seriously, yet he was still willing to use this damaging and foolish method. Listening to Bai Ye¡¯s words, her heart suddenly started to feel aching and sour. If Qiu Yiming had shown such heartfelt sincerity in the dream, what would have been the result? No, that was not a ludicrous dream, it was her past life! She didn¡¯t know why after dying she had returned to the past, but since heaven had given her this chance, she wouldn¡¯t let down the blessing of being reborn! Qiu Yiming¡¯s cold indifference and even his cruelty had chilled her heart, and Fang Mengyao¡¯s madness and shamelessness had made her feel cold to her very bones! She wouldn¡¯t go out of her way to deal with Qiu Yiming, but she would definitely not let that lunatic Fang Mengyao go! Thinking of this, Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze suddenly became sharp, and she said to Bai Ye, ¡°Since you have received the legacy, from now on, we are allies on the same path. I hope you won¡¯t speak of this matter to anyone.¡± Bai Ye nodded; he certainly understood the stakes, not to mention the secret of Fang Yuxin; even the legacy he had received must not be revealed to others! Not even his brothers and subordinates could know! He wasn¡¯t worried that these people would betray him, but he believed more firmly that people¡¯s hearts can change! He didn¡¯t have any other Cultivation Techniques to pass on to them, and once they knew, their state of mind would inevitably be affected. Even if they didn¡¯t care at all, what about others? Would they target them because of this matter? Bai Ye didn¡¯t want to become sworn enemies with his good brothers, so he absolutely couldn¡¯t tell them about this! However, he would help them improve their strengths as much as possible, so that they could survive better in the apocalypse. Fang Yuxin believed Bai Ye wasn¡¯t lying, and considering Bai Ye had previously made a Blood Oath, she didn¡¯t press him to make a Heart Demon Oath. Just then, they heard footsteps approaching from a distance. By the sound of it, someone was heading their way. Fang Yuxin nodded at Bai Ye, then with a sweep of her hand, she collected all the Crystal Cores on the ground into her hands. She tossed a third of the Crystal Cores to Bai Ye, then quickly mounted Angela and took back Lan Re. While Bai Ye was inheriting the legacy, Lan Re had already devoured all the mutant zombies on the ground clean, leaving only dark skeletons behind. The three of them didn¡¯t stay any longer and headed directly towards the Safe Zone. They hadn¡¯t gone far when they met Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, Chen Qiao, and others who had come out looking for them. Yuxin and Fang Yuyang instinctively looked at Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, and seeing that although they were disheveled, they were not injured, they felt relieved. Turning to Chen Qiao and the others, they saw blood and zombie rotten flesh on their bodies, and some even had injuries, looking utterly disheveled. Yuxin immediately flicked her fingers, sending out several Wood Energy beams that not only healed Chen Qiao and the others of the Yongcheng Team but also inadvertently healed the four subordinates who followed Bai Ye. Chen Qiao and the others were accustomed to being healed by Fang Yuxin and all smiled and thanked her casually. Chen Si and the others felt a bit more distant, not expecting Yuxin to help them with their injuries. After their initial surprise, they hurriedly expressed their gratitude. Although Meng Qingluo¡¯s complexion didn¡¯t look good, she also thanked Fang Yuxin without uttering any harsh words. Fang Yuxin looked at her with surprise but said nothing. Then she thought for a moment and decided to get down from Angela, letting Angela shrink to the size of a kitten and return to her shoulder. Angela glared at the others, wanting to keep looking impressive. But Fang Yuxin had given her command, and it didn¡¯t dare to disobey, so it reluctantly let out a meow and sulkily shrank back to the size of a kitten, jumping onto Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder. Chapter 307 - 307 178 Post-War (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 307: 178 Post-War (Third Update)_2 Chapter 307: 178 Post-War (Third Update)_2 Angela was Fang Yuxin¡¯s Spiritual Pet, and after shrinking down to the size of a kitten, its weight also became almost the same as that of a kitten, almost weightless to Fang Yuxin. Its body was small and soft, and because it was unhappy it had deliberately curled up into a ball, looking like a white meatball, indescribably cute. Others couldn¡¯t help but curiously size it up, unable to imagine how it could so flexibly switch between two distinctly different forms. Some people looked at it with eager eyes, wishing they could immediately have one for themselves. But there was no doubt that this battle made everyone here clearly recognize Fang Yuxin¡¯s abilities, and they wouldn¡¯t dare to offend her anymore. Some among them thought back to their previous notions and instantly broke out in a cold sweat, grateful that they had been clear-headed enough not to seek death by provoking Fang Yuxin. Had they actually done so, they wouldn¡¯t have needed Fang Yuxin to act herself; just the Mutated Cat and the Mutated Crystal Orchid would have been enough to take their lives! When Fang Yuxin and the others returned to the Safe Zone, other people were cleaning up the battlefield, collecting Crystal Cores. These were all soldiers dispatched by the military, and none of the Crystal Cores were to be kept privately; they were to be rewarded to everyone who participated in the battle as spoils of war. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t pay much attention to these Crystal Cores; her initial reason for sending Lan Re out wasn¡¯t just to kill zombies, but to collect Crystal Cores! Otherwise, once the zombies snatched and swallowed those Crystal Cores, the zombies would be the ones advancing, and their situation would become even more dangerous! On her way back, she also deliberately collected a large handful of grass seeds. These seeds were ones she had previously thrown out with the goal of decomposing zombies and absorbing the energy from their bodies, to see if they could be prompted into mutating. The investigation yielded that although the seeds had not successfully mutated yet, they were already showing signs of mutation. Once they did mutate, they would be even more useful. Thinking of this, Fang Yuxin satisfactorily put away the seeds. Others watching her deft control couldn¡¯t help feeling envious once again. However, just as Fang Yuxin had entered the gates of the Safe Zone, a soldier suddenly saw her, his eyes lit up, and he strode over, saying, ¡°Doctor Fang! You¡¯re finally back! Hurry and come with me to the observation room; there are too many wounded there, it¡¯s already overcrowded!¡± Fang Yuxin silently sighed. She had just ended a battle and was so tired she only wanted to sleep well. To her surprise, upon her return, there wasn¡¯t even time to rest; she had to treat the injured. But as much as she sighed, she still nodded her head in agreement. The casualties were indeed heavy this time, and there must be a lot of injured people; the doctors alone surely wouldn¡¯t suffice. Since her cultivation, her mentality had gradually changed. Although she hadn¡¯t had an epiphany to become a saint, she would still help save people within her means. Moreover, these people had chosen to stand up at this time, so their character was better than others. Using Wood Energy to save these people was something she was happy to do! She thought about it and telepathically said to Fang Yu Yang, ¡°Brother, I¡¯m going to treat the wounded. You go home with mom and dad. Someone has broken into our home¡¯s Formation; don¡¯t let them escape!¡± Fang Yu Yang was completely unaware of this situation, and when he heard the news, his face turned steely. At times like this, someone dared to take advantage of the confusion, thinking they could bully the Fang Family? He looked at Fang Yuxin worriedly, his gaze shifting between Angela on her shoulder and Lan Re on her wrist, feeling that with them around Fang Yuxin should be safe. He then nodded and said in a deep voice, ¡°Be careful, I¡¯ll go back with mom and dad first.¡± Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were still surprised; they thought Fang Yu Yang would stay. But they had no idea he would go back home with them. They weren¡¯t fools, and they immediately sensed something was wrong. The two exchanged glances, did not voice their questions, but instead told Fang Yuxin to return home quickly after treating the wounded, and then they went back with Fang Yu Yang. Fang Yuxin thought for a moment, then said to Chen Qiao and the others, ¡°You guys go home with Jinxiu. It¡¯s already late, you should hurry back and rest.¡± Chen Qiao and the rest were also not fools. After their surprise, they caught the hint of something more in Fang Yuxin¡¯s words and immediately nodded in agreement. Fang Yuxin thought about it, turned her head to look at Bai Ye and the others, and smiled meaningfully, ¡°It¡¯s getting late. You¡¯d better hurry home and not linger outside.¡± Bai Ye and his group of five had been standing by, having already sensed that something was amiss. Hearing what Fang Yuxin said, they were no longer interested in asking what she knew; they thanked her and left. Before leaving, Bai Ye specially looked at Fang Yuxin and cautioned her to be careful. Fang Yuxin watched their retreating backs, shook her head, and sighed. Then she proceeded to the observation room with Chen Qiao and the others. Before they got close, Bai Qianqian and Shang Jinxiu had already come out. The two had stayed long in the observation room, perhaps even assisting the doctors, and they reeked of a strong scent of blood. Bai Qianqian ran excitedly to Fang Yuxin, looking her over several times from head to toe, front to back, anxiously asking, ¡°Mama, you¡¯re not hurt, are you?¡± He had just helped the doctors by assisting with the wounds, saw too many gruesome injuries, and was scared to death, fearing that someone he cared about might have been injured. Fang Yuxin smiled and ruffled his hair, then she heard Shang Jinxiu say with a laugh, ¡°Sister Xin, I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re alright!¡± Fang Yuxin smiled at her, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s safe now. You go back with Chen Qiao and the others; be careful on the way.¡± Shang Jinxiu nodded, thought about it, and couldn¡¯t help but uneasily caution, ¡°There are many injured, Sister Xin, don¡¯t overwhelm yourself. Do what you can without guilt; that¡¯s good enough.¡± Having spent some time together, Fang Yuxin had grown quite fond of Shang Jinxiu, and these words from her warmed Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart, prompting her to smile at her once again. (To be continued... If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 308 - 308 179 Attitude (First Update) ?Chapter 308: 179 Attitude (First Update) Chapter 308: 179 Attitude (First Update) After the war, the military began to tally the casualty count, and the injured were all sent to the observation room. A pile of corpses accumulated beneath the protection wall, some barely recognizable, others left with nothing but bloodstained skeletons, unidentifiable. Some of the deceased¡¯s relatives happened to be present, their sobbing audible as they viewed the gruesome remains. With so many grieving, a chorus of despair and sorrow filled the air, prompting tears to well up in the eyes of others. The observation room where Fang Yuxin was located housed the seriously wounded. The person in charge handed her a small bag of crystal cores with a solemn expression, ¡°Doctor Fang, please absorb these crystal cores to recover first. These are the heroes of the safe zone, we hope you can do your utmost to save them!¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, took the bag containing the crystal cores, and stuffed it into her waist pouch, replying, ¡°Their injuries can¡¯t wait, I¡¯ll start healing them now.¡± Brightening at her words, the person in charge expressed his heartfelt gratitude, ¡°Then we are grateful for your hard work, Doctor Fang.¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at the seriously wounded, noting they had already used spiritual spring water and some had completely cleared the zombie virus from their systems. She began to perform hand seals, summoning the surrounding wood element spiritual energy. Although she could heal these people with the true qi in her own body, she had expended a significant amount in the recent battle. To use her true qi for healing now would be unduly wasteful. Using the ¡®Summoning Technique,¡¯ she drew upon the ambient wood element spiritual energy to heal them instead, conserving her own true qi to save even more lives. The unrefined wood energy from the environment was not as effective as her own true qi. However, quantity could compensate for quality. The wood energy she summoned was mighty, engulfing all the wounded. Those severely infected began to recover under its nourishment, their bodies gradually improving from their deathly state, showing signs of life. The person in charge stood by, witnessing the scene, unable to articulate his amazement. He watched Fang Yuxin with astonishment, internally rejoicing that he had heeded General Song¡¯s orders to not oppose her. Her healing skills alone were enough to earn her a place of high regard, let alone her destructive capabilities. Additionally, her ¡®Little Kitten¡¯ and the ¡®Jade Bracelet¡¯ on her wrist were not to be trifled with, each more formidable than the other. He¡¯d have to be tired of living to cross her! Upon this realization, the person in charge meticulously reviewed his recent interactions to ensure he hadn¡¯t offended Fang Yuxin. After combing through his memories since the apocalypse, he was certain he hadn¡¯t. That was truly... a relief! He breathed a secret sigh of relief and then couldn¡¯t help but think of Qiu Yiming. Qiu Yiming possessed great talent, being among the first to awaken his superpower, and it was the thunder element at that. Initially, with the apocalypse and superpowers still new, people envied him but thought little else. It wasn¡¯t until Qiu Yiming¡¯s power grew considerably that they realized the stark difference between superpower users and ordinary people. The distinction was as vast as that between heaven and earth! However, what struck him the most was the relationship between Qiu Yiming and Fang Yuxin. Their engagement was initially known to few, but it was no secret now. Even the complaints and dissatisfaction of Zhou Fanghua had leaked out. While her words hadn¡¯t reached every ear in the safe zone, those with some rank in the military were aware. From the gossip, it was evident Zhou Fanghua had reservations about Fang Yuxin, her future daughter-in-law. Yet now, with Qiu Yiming still not a second-level superpower user and Fang Yuxin already a second-level wood element superpower user, he wondered what Ms. Zhou must be thinking. These thoughts brought a schadenfreude smile to the person in charge¡¯s face. The Qiu Family had displayed their ambition even before the apocalypse, acting arrogantly and attempting to hoard all advantages, leaving no opportunities for others. After the apocalypse, Qiu Yiming¡¯s superpower indeed made the Qiu Family proud, while others could only watch with envy. However, Fang Yuxin, the Qiu Family¡¯s prospective daughter-in-law, unexpectedly kept her distance from them. Besides the occasional meetings between Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming, the elders from both sides had not even seen each other¡¯s faces! Chapter 309 - 309 179 Attitude (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 309: 179 Attitude (First Update)_2 Chapter 309: 179 Attitude (First Update)_2 Such a strange situation, how could it not garner attention? In secret, many people had already begun to speculate what the outcome would be between the two. Even some were covertly convinced that the Fang Family and the Qiu Family had fallen out, and the engagement between the two had been annulled. The veracity of such speculations aside, they were indeed what many people were hoping for. After all, given Fang Yuxin¡¯s abilities that she had displayed, who wouldn¡¯t want to curry favor with her? If someone could win her favor and marry her, that would bring endless benefits! Under these circumstances, the engagement between Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming had become an obstacle for some people¡¯s promotion. The person in charge was somewhat a high-level figure, having heard quite a few insider stories. At this moment, as he watched Fang Yuxin saving people, his heart was filled with shock and schadenfreude. He was self-aware enough not to harbor special thoughts towards Fang Yuxin like some people, who were desperate to win her favor. He did not have any particular designs on Fang Yuxin, but in his view, being on good terms with her would definitely bring great benefits to himself! Leaving everything else aside, Fang Yuxin¡¯s healing abilities alone were enough for people to fawn over. Then, recalling Lin Feiyin, who had once appeared in the observation room, he shook his head slightly and sighed. He could not understand why Lin Feiyin, with decent abilities herself, seemed to have water in her brain, insisting on opposing Fang Yuxin and repeatedly provoking her. Originally, he had a good impression of Lin Feiyin. After all, her purification ability was unique throughout the Safe Zone and had indeed saved many lives. But on such a crucial day today, Lin Feiyin was nowhere to be seen! His favorable impression of Lin Feiyin had vanished completely because of this! As he was lost in thought, Fang Yuxin had already healed all the critically injured here. Many of them had fallen into a coma and needed a good rest to fully recover. Everyone had been brought back from the brink, even those who had been struggling on the verge of death now only looked a bit pale, their wounds all healed. The person in charge was endlessly grateful to Fang Yuxin. He approached her earnestly and said with a smile, ¡°Doctor Fang, you must be exhausted. Why don¡¯t you rest for a while?¡± Fang Yuxin hesitated for a moment but shook her head. ¡°Let¡¯s look at the other critically injured first. We can¡¯t delay the healing; we can¡¯t let them suffer.¡± The person in charge was touched. He had been assigned here because he was a doctor by occupation, and years of study and medical experience had made saving lives his instinct. Even though he was accustomed to life and death, his heart still grieved for the passing of lives, hoping to save more people. This time, he was truly grateful to Fang Yuxin. Not only had she provided the precious liquid with purification ability, but she also came to save people right after the battle without a moment¡¯s rest. If not for her, whether the critically wounded here could have survived was a question, and even if they could have barely survived with the help of other Wood Element Superpower users, they would probably have to lie in bed for a long time before recovering. Before the apocalypse, it would have been okay, but now time was pressing, and they couldn¡¯t afford to stay on a sickbed for even a moment more! The zombies outside were getting stronger, and such a large horde had even attacked the Safe Zone. All of this hung over their heads like a sharp dagger, and they simply couldn¡¯t afford to delay! Fang Yuxin did not wish to exhaust herself like this, but these wounded had suffered severe injuries protecting the Safe Zone. They had willingly come out knowing full well that it meant certain death, and even risked their lives on the front lines. That was the mark of heroes worthy of admiration! She simply could not stand idly by and watch these people die when she had the ability to save them. So, she would rather wear herself out a bit more. This time, because there were so many injured, many shops were cleared out to serve as temporary infirmaries. The rest of the critically injured were next door, just a few steps away. When Fang Yuxin followed the person in charge there, the doctors inside were busy at work. A middle-aged female doctor held a glass bottle filled with spiritual spring water and a clean straw, her expression serious as she carefully drew a bit of the spiritual spring water with the straw and then dripped it onto the wounds of the injured. She controlled the amount very well, not wasting a drop, clearly treating the substance as too precious to be squandered. Witnessing this scene stirred a twinge of guilt in Fang Yuxin. There really wasn¡¯t a small amount of spiritual spring water in her space; she had only taken out a little, and these people were treating it with such care, which weighed on her. Yet guilt aside, she wouldn¡¯t let her brain get hot and just pull out a whole bucket¡¯s worth. The saying ¡°gratitude for rising a bushel of rice, and enmity for a peck,¡± was a lesson from her past life that was still fresh in her mind, and she would not make the same mistake again! So, she said nothing and simply pinched her fingers, using the Summoning Technique to draw on the Wood Energy from the world around, nourishing the bodies of the injured. Although the Zombie Virus had not been completely expelled from their bodies, the Wood Energy could still nourish them, stimulate their vitality, and help them expel the Zombie Virus faster, healing their injuries. However, the actions of the female doctor were too slow. Fang Yuxin took back the bottle and turned the spiritual spring water inside into mist. Then, with a wave of her hand, the mist automatically flew towards the remaining injured, seeping into their wounds. After doing all this, Fang Yuxin suddenly sensed a strange fluctuation. She released her Spiritual Sense, and what she saw made her face turn grave. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 310 - 310 180 Deserved It (Second Update) ?Chapter 310: 180 Deserved It (Second Update) Chapter 310: 180 Deserved It (Second Update) At this time, although the battlefield where Fang Yuxin was located had already ended the battle, the remaining two battlefields were still in a stalemate. Those two locations, despite also being supervised by experts, were significantly less powerful than Fang Yuxin and her companions, which resulted in the battles being even more brutal and the casualties greater. After the fight here had ended, a portion of the people had already gone to the remaining two locations to help. Due to the distance, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know the situation on the other two battlefields. Plus, suspecting someone might ¡°take advantage of the confusion,¡± she had the Yongcheng Team and Bai Ye¡¯s men return home. Conveniently, many seriously wounded soldiers were waiting for her treatment, so the military¡¯s higher-ups didn¡¯t inform her of the situation on the other battlefields and asked her to treat the wounded first. After all, though the battles in the other places were at a standstill, there had been no emergence of powerful Spiritual Zombies, so Fang Yuxin was not needed urgently. Yet, certain unscrupulous individuals within the Safe Zone began to panic upon learning of the battles¡¯ status. They truly believed the military wouldn¡¯t be defeated, but they hadn¡¯t anticipated that one of the battlefields would conclude so swiftly, and that a good number of people survived! If these people recovered, the golden opportunity they had barely managed to find would be utterly wasted! Thus, these individuals began to make their move. As the battlefields remained contested, they dared not approach, fearing both becoming Zombie fodder and inciting public rage, which could make things more difficult to manage. So they decided to head to this particular battlefield, hoping ideally to capture military leaders and force them to relinquish some power. These individuals were actually quite well-informed; they knew the top three generals in the military had not undergone an Awakening to superpowers, making them an easy target. This information was initially accurate, but after Fang Yuxin¡¯s involvement, the military obtained Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals capable of Awakenings in Ordinary People and kept the news tightly sealed. By now, two generals had Awakened superpowers, leaving only the unfortunate Qiu Hongsheng who had not yet achieved Awakening. In fact, Qiu Hongsheng was in good health, even better than the other two generals. Had he not been overly cautious, fearing the risk of infection with the Zombie Virus, he might have evolved by now. Moreover, had it not been for the Qiu Family¡¯s stance, which left Fang Yuxin feeling cold, she would not have abandoned the Qiu Family and instead chose to sell such crucial information to General Song. Unfortunately, possessing initially strong cards, Qiu Hongsheng had wasted an excellent opportunity, resulting in a complete loss. Now, the Qiu Family¡¯s position in the military was subtly at a disadvantage. If not for Qiu Yiming¡¯s impressive strength, attracting many superpower users, the Qiu Family¡¯s situation would have been even more dire. However, such sensitive secrets were not for others to know. Fang Yuxin, having just finished a battle, was truly exhausted and didn¡¯t purposely extend her Spiritual Sense to scout, so she initially was unaware of these peoples¡¯ approach. However, when these people targeted who they thought were easy prey and began to make their move, Fang Yuxin was alerted. She sent out her Spiritual Sense to probe and instantly frowned, her face darkening as she let out a cold laugh. What a bunch of idiots! Those three people had experienced all sorts of things to get to where they were now, and had long since become cunning as foxes! How could they possibly be unprepared? These people were far too overconfident in themselves and underestimated the military. Seeing that these individuals were now surrounded, Fang Yuxin prepared to withdraw her Spiritual Sense. These fools, whether dead or alive, had nothing to do with her. But just then, she suddenly ¡®saw¡¯ two people. Both were very young: one looked to be in her early twenties, with a round face, big eyes, and a delicate appearance, dressed in a mishmash of styles; the other was even younger, about fifteen or sixteen, with a small oval face. Fang Yuxin noticed them because these two stood out significantly. The round-faced girl in mixed styles had the superpower of Flying; she stood in mid-air with a pair of huge and gorgeous Energy Wings on her back. From her elevated position, she looked down at the encircled people, holding a submachine gun aimed at those below. She even had a lollipop in her mouth, her face bearing a playful smile. Chapter 311 - 311 180 Deserved (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 311: 180 Deserved (Second Update)_2 Chapter 311: 180 Deserved (Second Update)_2 The remaining girl, young though she was, had an imposing air about her. With a stern face, her icy gaze fixed on those who were already surrounded. Stranger still was her outfit, which was decidedly classical. Her hair was styled into two braids hanging over her chest, and she wore plain short-sleeved attire with wrist guards tied at the cuffs, accompanying her sharp aura that very much resembled a classical female warrior. In her hands, she held no weapon, just tightly clenched fists. However, Fang Yuxin noticed that her fists were wrapped in a layer of fierce True Qi. With the protection of this True Qi layer, her fists would likely have a more smashing effect than an iron hammer. More intriguing to Fang Yuxin than the girl floating in mid-air was this young girl. She actually possessed True Qi! However, based on the concentration of the True Qi in her hands, it was far less refined than the True Qi within Fang Yuxin¡¯s body. Fang Yuxin hesitated and then used her Spiritual Sense to probe the condition inside the girl¡¯s body. However, as soon as her Spiritual Sense pierced into the girl¡¯s skin, it was thoroughly shredded by a surge of violent True Qi. At the same time, the girl abruptly turned her head, casting a sharp glance in Fang Yuxin¡¯s direction. Evidently, her slight movement had alarmed this young girl. Fang Yuxin did not retract her Spiritual Sense but refrained from getting any closer with it, instead keeping her observation from a distance. It might have been because of the girl¡¯s dramatic reaction, but the girl in mid-air took the lollipop out of her mouth with one hand while maneuvering the submachine gun with the other, and smiled at the stern girl, saying, ¡°Hey, Ziyi little sister, what are you looking at? There¡¯s nothing there, what¡¯s so interesting? If you¡¯re really bored, you could look at me. I can even strike a pose for you.¡± The young girl shot her an icy look and spat out two words, ¡°Shut up!¡± But the girl was relentless. ¡°Wah wah wah, little sister Ziyi is ignoring me, it breaks my heart, wah wah wah, you are so mean~¡± As she spoke, she suddenly realized that others were looking at her as if she were insane. Her brows shot up in displeasure, ¡°What are you looking at? Is there something interesting here? Keep staring and see if I don¡¯t gouge out your eyeballs!¡± In an instant, all the gazes were averted. The girl glanced purposefully at the young girl, and seeing that she was still looking coldly at the troublemakers instead of herself, she puffed her cheeks and rolled her eyes, contemplating whether to act even more outrageously. However, just as this thought surfaced, the young girl shot her a fierce glare. Then, a man in a military uniform spoke with resignation, ¡°Da Yuan, this is not the time for fooling around. Be serious and stop teasing Ziyi.¡± The girl quickly put on a serious face, raising her hand holding the lollipop and saluted, albeit improperly, ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Unfortunately, she raised her left hand, still clutching a colorful lollipop, and combined with her mismatched attire, the whole act was quite comical. The girl seemed to realize the inappropriateness and quickly stuffed the lollipop back into her mouth, biting down hard in an attempt to eliminate the evidence. The young girl rolled her eyes at her behavior, hesitated, and then swallowed back the words ¡°idiot.¡± However, the frivolous actions of the girl seemed to have enraged the troublemakers. One chubby man squinted, a hint of madness flickering in his eyes, then loudly proclaimed, ¡°What¡¯s there to fear! If you don¡¯t want to die, fight them!¡± After licking his dry lips, he believed that there was a chance of victory if they fought; if they didn¡¯t, their fate would be grim indeed! He didn¡¯t want to die! Nor did he want to continue being at others¡¯ mercy! Only with power in his hands could he lead a better life¡ªa life filled with beauties, Crystal Cores, and exotic delicacies, all within easy reach! Apparently, many shared his sentiment. While these people had initially hesitated, the words ¡°don¡¯t want to die¡± completely stoked the fears and madness within them. In a flash, they began to furiously attack those surrounding them. The girl with the round face watched the situation unfold below and furrowed her brows slightly, ¡°Sir, do they need to die or stay alive?¡± she hesitated, unsure whether to strike them dead. The cold-faced girl had no such reservations, her expression growing even colder as the madness of these men flared. With no hesitation, she charged into the encirclement, her fists fiercely hammering into the faces before her! Initially, the man didn¡¯t take the slight girl seriously. With her slender body, standing at about 1.6 meters and finely boned, she looked delicate and petite. Her fists, even more so, could not compare to those of an adult man. Under the lights, her skin was nearly translucent, making her fists seem both adorable and miniature. How much damage could such little fists do? Who would care? The man even began to smirk, about to tease her. However, just as he uttered the words ¡°little sister,¡± her fist smashed into his cheek. The man felt an immense force colliding with his face, then was completely dazed, not understanding what had happened. But then, an intense, bone-deep pain erupted from his cheek. ¡°Ow¡ª¡± Due to the injury on his cheek, his screams sounded ridiculous and absurd. Following this, another huge force struck his abdomen. He bent over in pain, curling up like a shrimp, and was sent flying backward, knocking down several people before crashing heavily to the ground. This time, he landed on his buttocks with a ¡°crack,¡± his pelvis fracturing on impact. ¡°Wuu¡ª¡± This time, his tears and snot flowed uncontrollably, and coupled with his swollen cheeks, he appeared quite a pitiful sight. The round-faced girl in mid-air watched this scene and couldn¡¯t help but laugh in triumph, ¡°Hahaha~~~~ serves you right to be smug! How dare you underestimate Ziyi, hahaha~~~~ I¡¯m dying of laughter!¡± To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote and give monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading. Chapter 312 - 312 181 Astonishing Discovery (Third Update) ?Chapter 312: 181 Astonishing Discovery (Third Update) Chapter 312: 181 Astonishing Discovery (Third Update) The round-faced girl was smiling triumphantly when suddenly another Wind Blade shot straight toward her heart! The Wind Blade was fast, but the round-faced girl was faster. With a light flutter of her Energy Wings, she instantly moved elsewhere, dodifying the Wind Blade¡¯s attack. Then, her expression turned cold and she lifted the corner of her mouth, looking disdainfully at the person who had just sneak-attacked her, ¡°What? Think I¡¯m easy to bully?¡± After she finished speaking, her expression turned serious, and she simultaneously pulled the trigger, firing a dense barrage of bullets. Seeing this, the military-clad man immediately shouted at her, ¡°Xia Dayuan, what on earth are you doing? Have you forgotten what I said? Try not to kill anyone! Are you deaf?¡± Xia Dayuan glanced at him, held her gun in one hand, and lifted the muzzle upwards while placing her other hand on her hip. Then she lightly turned her face and blew air out of her mouth, posing in a cool stance often seen in films and TV series. Then she casually said, ¡°I didn¡¯t kill anyone.¡± The military-clad man, looking at her indifferent demeanor, was on the verge of breaking down, but after hearing her say that no one was killed, he subconsciously looked at the people who were shot. He then noticed that each of these people had been shot once in each limb; not a single bullet was wasted, and they were all alive. Upon closer inspection, the bullets hadn¡¯t gone through; they seemed to be perfectly lodged in the bones. He swallowed hard and looked at Xia Dayuan again. Unable to resist his anger, he saw that Xia Dayuan was still maintaining the earlier pose, still striking a posture! The military-clad man sighed helplessly, waved his hand, and said, ¡°The rest is up to you.¡± But Xia Dayuan responded, ¡°No can do, I¡¯m out of bullets.¡± All the bullets had been fired from the gun; where would she get more bullets? The man, sensing her dissatisfaction, tightened his lips and kept silent. Xia Dayuan was originally an ordinary girl, but who knew playing with guns made her a genius! She was initially not awakened with any superpower but was recruited to the military just based on her accurate shooting skills. Later on, she awakened the special superpower of Flying and also acquired a short-distance teleportation skill, advancing her strength further. This girl¡¯s mind, however, was a mystery; her eclectic style was simply maddening. Normally she was notorious for blabbering nonsense and flirting with young girls. At first, he thought she had some issues with her sexual orientation, something felt off, but after observing her closely he realized Xia Dayuan just enjoyed teasing young girls without any other inappropriate behavior and seemed quite normal. She always liked to mimic the exaggerated expressions and dialogs from soap operas to tease people. In reality, she was warm-hearted and full of justice; she was not pretentious at all. The most troubling thing was, she must use up all her bullets; otherwise, she felt uneasy. Thus, before this mission, he gave her only one magazine of bullets, not one extra. So hearing Xia Dayuan¡¯s words made him feel a bit guilty. Luckily, the battle quickly came to an end. The people Xia Dayuan had just injured were the stronger ones, and the remaining ones were not much, especially with Zhong Ziyi, the violent lady, quickly defeating everyone. Seeing everyone lying on the ground wailing, the man couldn¡¯t help but shed a tear of sympathy for them¡ªthey had messed with the wrong duo. With the battle over here finished, Fang Yuxin also retracted her Spiritual Sense. In just a short while, she had enveloped all the wounded who were infected with the mist formed from the spiritual spring water. At that moment, the bottle of spiritual spring water was also used up. Just then, the person in charge of the observation room hurried over. He first glanced at the glass bottle in Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, and seeing that the ¡®liquid¡¯ inside was entirely used up, his face instantly turned pale. Seeing him like this, Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart ¡°thumped,¡± thinking that there must be more severely wounded. Indeed, right after she thought this, the person in charge said, ¡°Doctor Fang, do you have any more of this liquid? The battles in the other two locations have ended, but there are more wounded than here, and many are infected with the Zombie Virus; what should we do?¡± Fang Yuxin thought for a moment, then silently took out two similar glass bottles from her waist pouch, filled with spiritual spring water. She sighed and said regrettably, ¡°These are the last two bottles; I¡¯ll check tomorrow to see if I can find more.¡± Chapter 313 - 313 181 Amazing Discovery (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 313: 181 Amazing Discovery (Third Update)_2 Chapter 313: 181 Amazing Discovery (Third Update)_2 Upon seeing the two filled glass bottles, the person in charge¡¯s eyes lit up instantly, and his complexion improved significantly, ¡°That¡¯s great, that¡¯s great!¡± Then, he looked at Fang Yuxin¡¯s complexion, hesitated for a moment, but eventually gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I know, Doctor Fang, that you¡¯ve been busy until now without any rest, and you must be very tired, but there are still so many critically wounded who really can¡¯t be transported. They¡¯ve all been settled nearby. Although there are medics assigned to those two battlefields, their abilities fall far short compared to yours, Fang Yuxin. Without you, I¡¯m afraid those critically wounded won¡¯t live to see tomorrow.¡± Fang Yuxin was well aware of this. She indeed felt tired, especially after the struggle against that Spiritual Zombie, which left her utterly exhausted. Yet, with so many people in need of treatment, if she completely stepped back and did nothing, who knew how many would harbor resentment because of it? As the saying goes, people don¡¯t resent having little, but resent being unequal. Even if the wounded had no family, they had friends or someone, and these people would watch their loved ones or friends die right before their eyes. If Fang Yuxin could save them but chose to do nothing, how could they not feel any resentment towards her in their hearts? However, her choice to save people wasn¡¯t because she worried about these people resenting her, but because those wounded were heroes! Such people should not just die in vain! If she hadn¡¯t encountered them or lacked the ability, that would be another matter. But since fate had brought her across their path, she naturally had to contribute her effort. Thus, she shook her head wearily and said, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that now; let¡¯s hurry and save people.¡± She didn¡¯t say that it was her duty because once she did, others might truly start to feel that it was her obligation. At that thought, she sighed. She didn¡¯t like to put on such an act, but sadly, oftentimes, she had no choice. After all, people¡¯s hearts are too complex and too quick to change! The motorcycle that Fang Yuxin had ridden here was still there; Fang Yuyang had left it for her, taking only his own. She directly rode the motorcycle to the makeshift hospital mentioned by the person in charge as having the most critically wounded. First, she treated the wounds of the wounded with spiritual spring water, then employed the Energy-Attracting Technique to draw in Wood Energy to nourish their bodies. After that, without waiting for them to fully recover, she got back on her bike and headed for the last makeshift hospital. This place was precisely the battlefield Qiu Yiming was in charge of. When she arrived, Qiu Yiming was waiting at the entrance to the makeshift hospital. She spotted him immediately, and then she noticed that Fang Mengyao was not there. She didn¡¯t say anything; after all, Fang Mengyao had publicly declared herself to have a Space superpower, and it was a fact that such a power couldn¡¯t be used in combat right now. As soon as she stopped the motorcycle, Qiu Yiming strode over. His expression was somewhat excited, and his eyes shone astonishingly, like a wolf in the night. When Fang Yuxin dismounted from the bike, Qiu Yiming had already approached her. He stared intently at Fang Yuxin, gave her a sweeping glance, and then said, ¡°Xinxin, I¡¯ve been worried about you. It¡¯s really great that you¡¯re okay.¡± At the time, he didn¡¯t know that Fang Yuxin had been on the battlefield and had even made a significant impact. He just glanced at Angela perched on Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder, then suddenly raised his eyebrows with a puzzled look and said, ¡°Huh, why did you bring such a small cat? It looks quite similar to Angela. Could it be Angela¡¯s kitten?¡± Angela, who had been quietly sitting on Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder, let out an indignant meow, ¡°Meow¡ª¡± upon hearing Qiu Yiming throw such an accusation. Simultaneously, it stood up straight on Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder, its gaze cold as it faced Qiu Yiming with the posture of someone ready to fight. Fang Yuxin, worried that Angela might act rashly, quickly reached out to caress her in a calming manner. Not particularly wanting to answer Qiu Yiming¡¯s question, she said, ¡°Where are the critically wounded? Take me to them. Aren¡¯t they still waiting to be treated?¡± Her words reminded Qiu Yiming. Although he was very glad to see Fang Yuxin, the wounded were a priority, so he hurriedly said, ¡°Follow me.¡± His demeanor was strictly business. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t feel the slightest bit sad; she was relieved that Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t continue talking about their relationship. The professional manner was indeed what she preferred. Qiu Yiming led the way, and she followed him. They moved quickly and soon arrived at the room where the critically wounded were. At that moment, Qiu Yiming said, ¡°I heard you have some kind of juice that can purify viruses, extracted from mutant plants. I hope you can save them.¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t make any promises, only saying, ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Then, she took out the spiritual spring water and formed hand seals to turn it into a mist. Qiu Yiming stood by silently, watching her. As he watched Fang Yuxin¡¯s movements, his eyes slightly narrowed. Fang Yuxin, however, paid no attention to Qiu Yiming. After she enveloped the wounds of the wounded in mist, she used the Energy-Attracting Technique again, drawing Wood Energy from the surroundings. Qiu Yiming kept watching her. His strength was greater than the others, and his perception was sharper. He sensed the energy fluctuations around and immediately guessed that the emerging green mist was not released by Fang Yuxin but was attracted from the surroundings by some special means. This revelation made his heart leap. He suddenly realized that Fang Yuxin, like Fang Mengyao, might also be keeping a secret from him. And that secret was no ordinary secret. His emotions became extremely complicated in an instant, and as he looked at Fang Yuxin, his gaze gradually underwent a change. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote your recommendation, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 314 - 314 182 Disappearance (First Update) ?Chapter 314: 182 Disappearance (First Update) Chapter 314: 182 Disappearance (First Update) Qiu Yiming¡¯s gaze was very subtle; he knew well how to control his emotions, something ordinary people couldn¡¯t detect. However, Fang Yuxin¡¯s perception had long been extraordinary, so when Qiu Yiming¡¯s gaze changed, she immediately noticed. She didn¡¯t turn her head to look at Qiu Yiming, didn¡¯t show any signs of disturbance, just slightly narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. Qiu Yiming stood by her side, only a step behind, so he didn¡¯t see Fang Yuxin¡¯s change. In fact, at that moment, his heart was creating towering waves! How much had Fang Yuxin kept from him? Why hadn¡¯t she told him something so important? Did she really... really have the ability to help Ordinary People evolve? These were the questions Qiu Yiming wanted to ask, but he dared not voice his doubts. He knew clearly that his relationship with Fang Yuxin had almost hit rock bottom, and if he asked these questions, he wouldn¡¯t just fail to get the real answers¡ªhe might make Fang Yuxin sever ties with him completely! He quietly clenched his fists, the anger churning incessantly in his heart. Fang Yuxin¡¯s concealment angered and disappointed him; he worried that knowing the truth would render him unable to face Fang Yuxin anymore! How obsessed Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua were with the Awakening to become superpower users was all too clear to him, as their son. Yet such a small request, Fang Yuxin refused to fulfill! They were supposed to be the closest of people, so why did she have to be so absolute about it? She would even rather help those unrelated people than lend a hand to his parents! The words Zhou Fanghua had once said still echoed in his ears; at the time, he thought Zhou Fanghua was being too harsh, but now he suddenly felt that she wasn¡¯t wrong! He forced himself to look away, to stop watching Fang Yuxin; otherwise, he simply couldn¡¯t control himself. He walked tiredly to the side, leaned against the deathly white wall, sat down without caring how dirty the floor might be, only lowered his head, pressed his hand against his forehead, and thought about what to do next. Fang Yuxin turned her head and glanced at him, said nothing, and continued to tend to the remaining injured. As she walked, she silently thought to herself that they could never go back to how things were before. She couldn¡¯t forgive Qiu Yiming for the incidents in their previous lives, and from now on, Qiu Yiming would probably hate her. She walked faster and faster, her heavy steps gradually became lighter, filled with an undeniable resolve, she quickly walked towards another room. It wasn¡¯t until she entered that Qiu Yiming, who had been leaning down, raised his head. Where he sat, the light only illuminated half of his face, the other half shrouded in shadow, with eyes emitting a terrifying shine. When a superpower user undergoes an Awakening, their body mutates once, and with each subsequent upgrade, their body mutates again, enhancing their senses, strength, Defense, and agility. Although Qiu Yiming was not a Vision Enhancer, his eyes had mutated, his night vision had improved, and his eyes glowed faintly in the dark. This wasn¡¯t just him, all superpower users were like this. And the light that the eyes emitted in the dark was almost connected to each individual¡¯s superpower. Qiu Yiming had Thunder Power, and the light from his eyes appeared purple, though the color was so faint it was hard to discern by the naked eye. He looked unsettled for a while, then gathered his expression, quickly got up, and walked in the opposite direction. There were many things waiting for him to handle; had he not known Fang Yuxin was coming, he would never have gone to see her deliberately. Just moments ago, he had been full of anticipation; however, after actually meeting her, he realized that not meeting would have been better. Their encounter was not at all as wonderful as he had imagined, instead, it brought an endless bitterness to his heart. ... After quickly tending to the seriously injured, Fang Yuxin left those with less severe injuries for other doctors to deal with, then rode her motorcycle home. Upon arriving home, she immediately noticed that the lock had been changed. Her expression darkened slightly, she pushed open the door and entered, then she smelled a faint scent of burnt protein in the air. The scent was very faint and, because the yard was filled with vegetables, the air seemed very fresh, carrying the distinct fresh scent of plants, which largely masked the burnt protein smell. Had it not been for Fang Yuxin¡¯s keen sense of smell, she would never have noticed. Chapter 315 - 315 182 Disappearance (Second Update) ?Chapter 315: 182 Disappearance (Second Update) Chapter 315: 182 Disappearance (Second Update) She raised her eyebrows slightly and pushed the cart inside. Perhaps hearing the noise, the lights in the house instantly turned on. Not long after, the door opened, and Bai Qianqian came running out in her pajamas and slippers, raising a big smile upon seeing her, ¡°Mama, you¡¯re finally back~¡± When Fang Yuyang had ridden home, he had taken him along. He thought Fang Yuxin would be back soon and obediently followed Fang Yuyang first. Little did he know, he would wait a long time at home before Fang Yuxin returned. Bai Qianqian, seeing the exhaustion on Fang Yuxin¡¯s face, immediately tightened his smile into a serious expression. With his tender lips pouting, he solemnly walked up to Fang Yuxin and looked up at her, asking, ¡°Mama, why did you come back so late? Did someone bully you?¡± Fang Yuxin put away the cart and saw her family members standing at the doorway looking at her with concern, feeling a warmth in her heart. She smiled slightly, took Bai Qianqian¡¯s soft hand, and went inside together. Originally standing at the gate, Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, Fang Yuyang, and others all moved back to the living room. An emergency lamp was lit in the living room, brightly illuminating it, so Fang Yuxin¡¯s exhausted face became even more apparent as soon as she entered. Fang Yuyang and the others initially wanted to tell her about what had happened at home, but seeing her weary face, they all grew worried. At the same time, they also felt a hint of resentment towards the upper echelons of the Safe Zone. Fang Yuxin alone had killed so many zombies and was already tired, yet those people still made her go out to rescue others. With so many people, how could one person possibly save them all? Even though rescuing people is the right thing to do, they shouldn¡¯t exhaust her like this. After exchanging glances, they still refrained from voicing their dissatisfaction and simply urged Fang Yuxin to go to sleep quickly. Qu Qianhe said, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t cultivate tonight, just get a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± Although one doesn¡¯t need to sleep while cultivating, after having just experienced a great battle, and having been cultivating non-stop before that, they were becoming increasingly exhausted without proper rest. Fang Yuxin nodded, didn¡¯t ask about the odor in the yard, took Bai Qianqian upstairs, sent him back to his room, and then returned to her own room. After washing up, she changed into soft pajamas and flopped onto the bed. The season was actually still quite hot, but due to the geographic advantage of the Safe Zone, and the entire villa covered with ivy, with plenty of green plants on the yard and rooftop, the indoor temperature of the Fang Family was very cool and comfortable. She flopped down onto the soft down comforter and immediately felt her body soften into it. So, she couldn¡¯t resist rolling around, stretching luxuriously, and letting out a comfortable moan from her throat before wrapping herself in the blanket and contentedly closing her eyes. At this moment, it was well into the night, around one in the morning. After the recent battle, everyone was physically and psychologically exhausted, and what they needed most was a good night¡¯s sleep. However, many people in the Safe Zone were destined not to sleep that night. Fang Yuxin had made precautions at home, and although thieves had slipped in, they were trapped by the Formation and did not succeed. But other people were not so lucky, with many having their stored supplies and Crystal Cores almost entirely stolen! These people stood up to protect the Safe Zone, fighting against zombies, yet when they returned home, they found their doors open and their hard-earned supplies and Crystal Cores gone. Who could accept such a thing? But the thieves had long since vanished, leaving no trace of who it might be. No matter how angry they felt, were they supposed to search each one by one? The negative emotions caused by facing zombies earlier erupted completely at this moment, and the Safe Zone became noisy once again. When Bai Ye and his people returned home, he sensed something was wrong even before opening the door. There was no one inside the house! Yet when they had left, they had distinctly confined Shen Xi and Shen Xin inside! Those two were seriously injured and had been secretly poisoned by Meng Qingluo, they shouldn¡¯t have been able to escape. However, not only were they gone, they had also taken all the supplies and Crystal Cores Bai Ye and his group had saved up! Hou San, with the most fiery temper, turned ashen-faced and searched through every room. Once certain everything was gone, he angrily punched the wall and let out a low roar of rage: ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Meng Qingluo turned pale and shook her head, ¡°No... it¡¯s not possible... They couldn¡¯t have escaped! I had clearly... I had clearly already...¡± Her Awakening involved a special superpower connected to poison, enabling her to release toxic substances. Under her control, Shen Xi and Shen Xin were temporarily kept alive but in agonizing pain, as if needles pierced their bodies. She had intentionally done this, both to experiment on the two and to torment them. She knew all along that Shen Xi was a madman. When he learned of their superpowers, his gaze towards them was like looking at experimental subjects, which she found intolerable! Thus, she deliberately turned Shen Xi and Shen Xin into experimental lab rats, letting him experience what it felt like to be viewed as nothing more than a specimen! Yet she never imagined that under such circumstances, Shen Xi and Shen Xin would still manage to escape! Did this mean they had hidden tricks up their sleeves? Or had someone rescued them? Meng Qingluo couldn¡¯t figure out the reason, she just stared blankly at the empty house, consumed by regret. If she had known those two would do such things, she would have never allowed them to survive! Then, looking at Bai Ye, she hesitated before saying, ¡°Big brother, it¡¯s my fault. If I had just killed them directly, none of this would have happened.¡± Bai Ye shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault; there¡¯s no need for self-blame.¡± He said this, and his gaze quickly turned cold. ¡°As for this matter, I will find out the truth!¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote for it at Qidian.com with your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 316 - 316 183 Incitement (second update to be added) ?Chapter 316: 183 Incitement (second update to be added) Chapter 316: 183 Incitement (second update to be added) Zhou Yan returned from the battlefield and dealt with many matters, preparing to head home for a good sleep when his walkie-talkie suddenly burst to life. Complaint after complaint poured in, claiming their belongings had been stolen. This wasn¡¯t his responsibility, but as the saying goes, a drowning man will clutch at a straw. The complainants happened to know him and were aware that his status carried some weight, so they approached him directly, hoping he could help solve the problem. Most of the complaints came from superpower users, all of whom had previously gone to battle against zombies. When Zhou Yan heard this, he realized the situation was very serious and he put aside thoughts of heading home to rest. After understanding the whole story, he went to see General Song. Upon his arrival, someone was already reporting to General Song. Zhou Yan overheard them discussing precisely the theft incidents at the superpower users¡¯ homes. After the person finished, General Song nodded his head and turned his gaze to Zhou Yan, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You haven¡¯t received complaints as well, have you?¡± Zhou Yan saw General Song¡¯s upset expression, realizing he was certainly furious, and hurriedly said, ¡°You¡¯re right, General. I have indeed received numerous complaints from superpower users claiming that almost all their supplies and Crystal Cores have been stolen after they returned home.¡± ¡°These people really are...¡± General Song slammed his hand on the table in anger, ¡°Do they have no heart at all? What time do they think this is to commit such acts? Isn¡¯t this disheartening? If those superpower users leave, what do they plan to do? Survive on the stolen goods? Hmph! Fools! Fools!¡± He pounded the desk again, his face a picture of utter distress! He had anticipated some people might cause trouble, so he had specifically arranged for a contingency force, ready to strike with thunderous force in case of any disturbance! But he hadn¡¯t expected someone to take advantage of the superpower users being away fighting zombies to break into their homes and steal their vital supplies! Such behavior was beyond the pale! Zhou Yan and another person remained silent, heads bowed. They too were seething upon hearing about the incidents, but with General Song in a rage, anything they said might only make him more infuriated. Yet, to speak well and appease General Song with platitudes like ¡°These people have their reasons; they were driven by necessity, not malice¡± was simply out of the question for them. How could it not be deliberate? It was sheer selfishness! How had other people¡¯s supplies and Crystal Cores come about? They were obtained by risking their lives, by hunting zombies! If these thieves weren¡¯t unwilling to take risks and endure hardship, how could they have reached such a desperate state? What right did they have to steal others¡¯ supplies? Simply because they were pitiful? This wasn¡¯t some ridiculous TV drama; this was the harsh reality! They were no saints and wouldn¡¯t entertain such foolish thoughts! The two exchanged a worried glance in silence, their mood heavy. The impact of these events was terrible! They had to provide some resolution for the victims, or it would only leave people disheartened! As they contemplated this, they suddenly remembered they hadn¡¯t checked their own homes yet and had no idea of the current state there! General Song seemed to discern their concern, waved his hand, and said with a grim face, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your status is different after all. Those people wouldn¡¯t dare target you!¡± Such cowards would only commit their petty thefts when the houses were unoccupied; how would they have the audacity to cross the military? Then, General Song quickly gave an order, ¡°For now, go and gather all those affected, record the items stolen from them, and lead your teams in a search, house by house, within the Safe Zone! I refuse to believe these people could make the items vanish!¡± ¡°Yes, General!¡± Both knew General Song was furiously serious and promptly acknowledged the command, without speaking out of turn or even considering pleading mercy for the culprits! As the two left, they encountered several more people with troubled expressions entering, all reporting thefts within homes across the Safe Zone, without exception. It wasn¡¯t only General Song¡¯s concern; the other two generals had been made aware of the situation as well. After their initial anger, they made the same decision as General Song: to tally the stolen goods and then proceed with a meticulous search from house to house! Chapter 317 - 317 183 Incitement (second update to be added)_2 ?Chapter 317: 183 Incitement (second update to be added)_2 Chapter 317: 183 Incitement (second update to be added)_2 To prevent further loss, the search operation began quickly. Any household with items that didn¡¯t match the owner¡¯s identity or capability was treated as a suspect and would then undergo a thorough investigation. Currently, there are nearly three hundred thousand people in the Safe Zone, the majority of whom are still Ordinary People, with superpower users making up only one tenth. To inspect so many residents one by one is a massive task. And even after being checked, it¡¯s almost impossible to clarify everything. What they could do was merely try to minimize the losses as much as possible. At the same time, it also showed those who had suffered losses the military¡¯s stance, so they wouldn¡¯t feel disheartened. The number of zombies outside is now countless, and even plants and animals are starting to mutate. Humanity¡¯s enemies are multiplying, and the situation is becoming increasingly grave! All these superpower users are precious warriors. If they lose heart, who would stand up the next time zombies attack the city? Those who committed the thefts were far too greedy and foolish! They were basically digging their own graves! The whole Safe Zone was thrown into chaos by the disturbance. Some people, although they didn¡¯t stand up bravely during the zombie attack, had never stolen anything. Suffering suspicion as potential suspects, how could they not bear resentment? And those with guilty consciences, worried their deeds would come to light, were inclined to cause trouble. So, a shifty-looking short man suddenly said to the other innocent residents, ¡°Did you all hear that? They¡¯re treating us like thieves! Talking about a routine inspection, but it¡¯s probably just an excuse to plunder! With so many people here, who¡¯s to know if things will get damaged or if someone will hide things away? We¡¯ve barely scraped together a little food, why should we be under suspicion? What happens if you damage something during your inspection or stash it away yourselves? You¡¯re clearly trying to push us to death! Even if we are Ordinary People, we too have dignity! Right, everyone?¡± At these words, the expression of the surrounding residents changed, and they looked at the search personnel with an unfriendly sense of shared enmity. The man was right. If the little food they had managed to save got spoiled or was taken, what would they do? No! They couldn¡¯t let these people in! Seeing that his scheme was working, the short man¡¯s eyes darted around, and he immediately spoke up again, ¡°Why should those superpower users be so high above us, while we Ordinary People are under suspicion? Why should Ordinary People be considered a notch below superpower users? We¡¯re people too! We demand fairness!¡± The person leading the team was Zhou Yan himself. Because the situation was serious and prone to trouble, he didn¡¯t trust his subordinates to handle it and decided to lead the team himself. When he saw the short man¡¯s eyes spinning with deceit, he knew this person was definitely problematic. Yet this cunning character managed with just a few words to stir the sensitive nerves of the nearby dwellers, getting them to raise a commotion! He couldn¡¯t let it go on like this! If things escalated, it would be hard to control and might even develop into a class struggle between superpower users and Ordinary People! Right as the short man was about to speak again, Zhou Yan promptly interrupted him, coldly saying, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just ask ¡®why¡¯? Now I¡¯ll tell you why. While those superpower users were outside risking their lives to defend the Safe Zone from zombie attacks, people like you not only cowardly hid inside the Safe Zone but also took the opportunity to steal their supplies!¡± At this, the short man panicked instantly, his eyes like mung beans glaring at Zhou Yan, his face flushing with defensive anger as he retorted, ¡°Don¡¯t you make up lies! When was I ever too cowardly and afraid of death? When did I steal anyone¡¯s supplies? Everything inside is mine!¡± As he spoke, he looked around at the residents with frantic eyes, continuing, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him! He¡¯s just making things up! Because I exposed the truth of the matter, he¡¯s throwing a tantrum!¡± However, the man¡¯s naturally shifty appearance made it hard for people to like him. The surrounding residents had listened to his incitement primarily because his words had touched on their core interests. And with Zhou Yan¡¯s response, it reminded them of something else. During the zombie attack, they indeed hadn¡¯t dared to go outside. They were afraid to die, true, but that didn¡¯t mean they didn¡¯t realize their inaction was wrong or that they didn¡¯t feel ashamed of their behavior! Human nature is a strange and terrifying thing. When a person feels ashamed of their actions and then discovers someone else acting even worse, they tend to think their behavior wasn¡¯t so bad after all. And that other person becomes the target of everyone¡¯s disdain. This phenomenon is called ¡°the pot calling the kettle black.¡± Naturally, this shifty-looking little man became the ¡°pot.¡± He quickly realized that people were beginning to look at him differently. His heart pounding with anxiety and his mind in turmoil, he couldn¡¯t understand why the situation had suddenly turned like this. Then, he heard Zhou Yan¡¯s voice again. Zhou Yan said, ¡°Those superpower users risked their lives to go out and repel the zombies, but instead of appreciating that, you took advantage of their absence to steal their supplies! Imagine if these superpower users, because of this, become disheartened and, when the next Corpse Tide appears, decide not to go out and fight but to abandon the Safe Zone and flee. What do you think would happen to the Safe Zone?¡± At this point, Zhou Yan deliberately looked at the other residents, and seeing their faces marked with fear, he smiled inwardly, raised his voice, and continued, ¡°If that were the case, the entire Safe Zone would fall! The majority of people in the Safe Zone would become zombie fodder! Is this... what you want?¡± Upon hearing this, everyone¡¯s complexion changed. Especially the surrounding residents, their looks towards the short man were filled with hatred as if he were their parents¡¯ murderer! (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 318 - 318 184 Pity (Second Update) ?Chapter 318: 184 Pity (Second Update) Chapter 318: 184 Pity (Second Update) In the apocalypse, survivors dared not ask for too much; they only had one goal¡ª to stay alive! Zhou Yan¡¯s words completely stunned them; previously, they had been too scared and had been hiding in their houses, never considering how their actions were hurting those superpower users who were desperately fighting against the zombies! They hadn¡¯t thought about whether their behavior might dishearten the superpower users, or if it would make them leave the Safe Zone and abandon them completely! However, people have an instinct for self-preservation, so after feeling guilty, they felt even more resentment towards the short man. They thought their own actions were not completely unjustifiable. After all, they were weak and would have only been a hindrance if they went out! By choosing to stay at home, they believed they were actually helping the superpower users by not dividing their attention to protect them! What was wrong with that? The wrongdoer was the short man who took advantage of the night to loot and rob, and what he stole belonged to those protecting the Safe Zone. It was too excessive and unforgivable! Consequently, their gaze towards the short man naturally changed, filled with hate and malice! Suddenly, one person said, ¡°Major Zhou, I saw him, two hours ago, he and some people carried a few big bags back!¡± With the first ¡°accusation,¡± several more ¡°witnesses¡± appeared, all claiming to have seen the event and described it vividly. Some even began to suggest ways to reward the superpower users who protected the Safe Zone to let them know that Ordinary People had not forgotten their efforts. Zhou Yan saw all this unfold, politely nodded a few times, indicating that the leaders would definitely reward those superpower users and not let them feel disheartened; then, he had his men drag the short man and his group away from the door. Upon entering, he indeed found a bulging black bag in the corner. But other than this one bag, there was nothing else. Zhou Yan opened the bag to inspect, and from an inner pocket, he found dozens of Crystal Cores; he grabbed a handful of Crystal Cores and turned to the still-struggling and shouting short man, sneering, ¡°Explain this, what are these?¡± Ordinary People who had never killed zombies would never have Crystal Cores, unless gifted by someone. However, the short man and his group were too weak, hardly skilled, and not even superpower users, how could they possibly have received Crystal Cores from a superpower user? Even if someone had gifted them, it would only be a few at most. Superpower users needed Crystal Cores for their own Cultivation, so they were quite precious to them. Giving dozens of Crystal Cores to a few Ordinary People would be too extravagant; no one would do that! The short man, of course, knew this, so when he saw Zhou Yan find the Crystal Cores, his face instantly paled. They had dared to do this, thinking the other party was not around and even if they found something missing, they wouldn¡¯t know it was them. But now caught red-handed, and these items belonging to superpower users! If those people found out it was them, how could they still be alive? The short man was afraid to die, so he was unwilling to just accept his fate and struggled again, defending himself, ¡°What do you mean by this? These Crystal Cores and supplies are all hard-earned by us, you can¡¯t defame us like this!¡± Zhou Yan couldn¡¯t be bothered with him, he put the Crystal Cores back into the inner pocket, closed the bag, and handed it to a subordinate. Then he turned around, glanced at the short man and his silent accomplices, gave a cold laugh, and pointed at three of them, instructing his subordinates, ¡°Take them back for interrogation. As for these three...¡± he looked at the angry residents, ¡°we are short on manpower right now; these three people, please help watch over them until dawn, and then we can deal with them.¡± The onlooking crowd, eager to prove themselves, nodded without hesitation; one of them even said, ¡°You can rest assured, Major Zhou. We¡¯ll watch them and make sure these three don¡¯t escape!¡± He said this with a cold glance at the three, including the short man. The three people Zhou Yan purposely picked out all seemed more honest or, in other words, timid and less likely to lie. The remaining three, including the short man, wouldn¡¯t be as easy to handle. Chapter 319 - 319 184 Pity (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 319: 184 Pity (Second Update)_2 Chapter 319: 184 Pity (Second Update)_2 The short one clearly had an attitude of refusing to admit guilt; interrogating him was just a waste of time. Rather than that, it was better to leave them to the angry ¡°spectators¡±¡ªsurely, they would give them a proper reception. So, Zhou Yan added, ¡°Right, if you get any information out of them, make a note of it. Someone will come to collect it tomorrow, consider it a favor to those superpower users who¡¯ve been harmed.¡± After exchanging a few courtesies, he led his men to search the homes of those residents. There was nothing out of the ordinary in these people¡¯s homes, so they didn¡¯t linger long and soon left. As soon as Zhou Yan and his men left, the three individuals, including the short one, were violently shoved into the room. Those who were mousey in the face of zombies suddenly found their courage, clenching their fists and greeting them with blows. The room was quickly filled with the thuds of fists hitting flesh, along with the screams of pain. Zhou Yan had only walked a short distance away and could hear everything clearly. Not only him, everyone else could hear it too. He deliberately turned around and saw the three captured individuals trembling all over, looking utterly terrified. He sneered disdainfully, thinking to himself, if you knew it would come to this, why did you do it in the first place? The people striking now are just ¡°spectators¡±; if those harmed superpower users took action, their pain would be a hundred, a thousand times worse! His gaze made the three tremble even more, fearing the beatings. One of them began crying and shouting, ¡°I¡¯ll talk, I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll tell you everything! Just don¡¯t hit me! Don¡¯t hit me!¡± The soldier beside him rolled his eyes silently, for he was just holding the man¡¯s arm, for goodness¡¯ sake. What the hell was there to cry about? Annoyed, he tightened his grip slightly, intending to silence the man, but the person cried out even louder, ¡°Don¡¯t kill me! I don¡¯t want to die! I don¡¯t want to die! I¡¯ll tell you everything!¡± Zhou Yan, frowning in displeasure, asked him a few simple questions. After getting the key information, he waved his hand, signaling for the three to be taken back to the room, to be left in the care of those ¡°spectators.¡± His decision to take away these three was only because he feared the other six would be tormented to death by others, and he wouldn¡¯t get any accurate information. Now that he had what he needed, there was no longer any need to take these three away. Whether they and the three inside would survive was now their own fate. Zhou Yan had not an iota of sympathy or pity for such people in his heart! Not long after the three were taken away, screams erupted from the room. Zhou Yan paid no heed, quickly leading his men towards the remaining residents. He had to find the stolen goods as soon as possible; he dared not delay any longer! ... Lin Feiyin was quietly absorbing energy from the Crystal Core, still remembering how happy she had been when she first discovered her purification ability. She nai?vely thought that from then on, she could use her ability to heal those infected with the Zombie Virus. However, reality slapped her harshly in the face! Her Superpower Level was too low. Although she could purify the Level 1 Zombie Virus, it was a struggle, and the Second-level Zombie Virus was completely beyond her! Originally, she was one of the rare Mutated Water Element Superpower Users in the Safe Zone, capable of purifying the Zombie Virus, and everyone respected her, not daring to offend. It was only Fang Yuxin who never took her seriously! What she didn¡¯t expect was that just as she found herself unable to purify the Level 2 Zombie Virus, Fang Yuxin obtained the juice of a mutated plant! Not only did that juice have the ability to purify the Zombie Virus, but it could also purify the Second-level Zombie Virus! That wasn¡¯t even what bothered her the most; what really got to her was that because of Fang Yuxin, Fang Yuyang, whom she had a soft spot for, had always treated her indifferently, and Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Element Superpower had even advanced to second-level! And she herself, was still stuck at Basic, not even breaking through Level 1! She told herself internally, ¡°The heavens are about to lay a great responsibility on this person, so they must first suffer their will and work their muscles and bones...¡± Yet her heart felt as if it was being scratched by a hundred claws, the discomfort indescribable! Distracted by her thoughts, she found herself unable to continue her Cultivation. The Crystal Core remained motionless in her palm. And just then, a dissatisfied voice rang out, ¡°Lin, you¡¯re not really planning on keeping them, are you? Look at how weak these two are. What if they die here later? That¡¯s too unlucky!¡± Lin Feiyin opened her eyes and looked coldly toward the speaking woman. The woman shrank back and, with a roll of her eyes, mustered the courage to continue, ¡°Lin, don¡¯t think I¡¯m rude, but I¡¯m saying this for your own good. I know you¡¯re kind-hearted, but even kindness has limits. Look at how seriously hurt they are; they must have offended someone. If that person finds out, won¡¯t you be in danger?¡± Lin Feiyin¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. Then, she looked at the two people lying on the bed with concern. Seeing their pale but handsome faces, her heart softened, and she turned to the woman, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry, I won¡¯t let them die. I will find someone to heal them. They obviously don¡¯t look like bad people, and even if they did offend someone, they must have been deliberately bullied. They¡¯re already pitiful enough, how can we abandon them at a time like this?¡± As she spoke, a hint of compassion filled her expression. The woman, listening to her, pulled a face in dissatisfaction and rolled her eyes to the sky. Then, the frail child leaning on her suddenly spoke impatiently, ¡°We hardly have enough food for ourselves; where is there any extra to give to these two fully-grown men?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please head to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for your monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 320 - 320 185 Are you crazy (First update) ?Chapter 320: 185 Are you crazy! (First update) Chapter 320: 185 Are you crazy! (First update) Lin Feiyin had not thought about the food issue until she heard the child¡¯s words, which reminded her of it. However, at that moment her heart was full of pity for the two people on the bed, so she didn¡¯t listen to the mother and child¡¯s advice and subconsciously said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, I will solve the food problem! After all, aren¡¯t you currently eating the food I provided?¡± She couldn¡¯t bear to see others suffer, so whenever she encountered someone in need, she wanted to help. This mother and child were so pitiful that when she heard their pleas, she didn¡¯t hesitate to bring them back to her home. Little did she know that her team leader and teammates would not only fail to understand but also kicked her out! From the start, she had never thought there was anything wrong with rescuing people; she was just deeply disappointed. She never imagined that her team leader and teammates, with whom she worked daily, could be such self-serving and opportunistic people. She had misjudged them! After being kicked out with the mother and child, she found a house to stay in here and purchased some food from the safe store using her credit points. As a doctor, she had quite a lot of credit points and could even enjoy special discounts, so she wasn¡¯t worried at all. But this mother and child could really eat too much! The boy was only ten years old, skinny and small, yet he ate three times as much as her! The woman ate less, but her food intake was still almost twice as much as Lin¡¯s! It was truly terrifying! She calculated her expenses, and at this rate, her credit points would not last long! Gradually, she began to harbor some resentment towards the mother and child. Now, when she wanted to save this pair of poor siblings, she did not expect the mother and child to oppose her and even think of driving the rescuer away! How could they be so cold-hearted and callous? Had they forgotten how pitiful they themselves had been at the beginning? And so, Lin Feiyin¡¯s internal balance gradually tilted toward the siblings, and she grew increasingly disgusted with the mother and child, her tone of voice becoming less pleasant. The child had clearly been spoiled and couldn¡¯t help but retort upon hearing her words, but the woman firmly covered his mouth with her hand. The woman was smart; she noticed the shift in Lin Feiyin and didn¡¯t dare to continue acting recklessly, fearing that Lin Feiyin might suddenly turn her back on them and kick them out! So with delicate brows slightly knitted and eyes brimming with tears, the woman looked at Lin Feiyin pitifully with a plaintive voice, ¡°Lin, you... you¡¯re going to kick us out? Didn¡¯t you say that you would always take care of us and not let others bully us again?¡± Lin Feiyin couldn¡¯t stand to see others looking pitiable; witnessing it always sparked her sense of justice and responsibility. The woman knew this very well, and she easily manipulated Lin Feiyin. When Lin Feiyin had received the notice before, she intended to go out and rescue others, but the woman¡¯s tears succeeded in making Lin remain. She was confident that this tactic was infallible against Lin Feiyin! Sure enough, the moment she adopted such a pitiful stance, Lin Feiyin became flustered, ¡°You... don¡¯t be like that, I didn¡¯t mean it that way...¡± However, the woman wouldn¡¯t let it go so easily, insisting on Lin Feiyin¡¯s reassurance. Her eyes filled with more tears, and as they began to glisten at the corners of her eyes without falling, her voice became even more mournful and helpless, ¡°Really... Is that true? So everything you said before... still counts?¡± Lin Feiyin nodded hastily, promising, ¡°Of course it still counts! I, Lin Feiyin, have always kept my word! I do what I say! Since I promised to always take care of you, I will certainly not go back on my word!¡± As she said this, she glanced at the child in the woman¡¯s arms. The child had already turned away, burying his face in the woman¡¯s embrace, his skinny back looking all the more pitiful. What she didn¡¯t see was that the child was impatiently rolling his eyes at that moment. He was sick to death of his mother¡¯s useless demeanor! What was there to cry about? Lin Feiyin, looking at the ¡®pitiful¡¯ state of the mother and child, suddenly felt she had been too harsh just before. Thus, she purposefully took out a lollipop from her bag and handed it to the child in the woman¡¯s arms, teasing him with a smile, ¡°Little Huixiu, come eat some candy, or I might just eat it myself!¡± Before she finished speaking, the child¡¯s gaunt hand snatched the lollipop from Lin Feiyin¡¯s hand and quickly tore open the wrapper to stuff the candy into his mouth. Without turning around, he continued to lean against the woman, back facing Lin Feiyin, eating the candy by himself. Lin Feiyin couldn¡¯t help but frown, looking down at the back of her hand. The child¡¯s rough movements had just scratched her skin with his nails. Chapter 321 - 321 185 Are you crazy (First update)_2 ?Chapter 321: 185 Are you crazy! (First update)_2 Chapter 321: 185 Are you crazy! (First update)_2 Although the skin was merely scratched and the wound was not deep, she felt a burning pain. Yet, when she thought of the child as merely one with a life full of misfortune, she found herself unable to utter any words of reprimand. After seeing her action, the woman tensed up subconsciously, her body tightening with nervousness. Not until Lin Feiyin relaxed her brows, evidently not planning to hold a grudge, did the woman breathe a sigh of relief. Then, the woman¡¯s gaze shifted, and suddenly, she locked eyes with another pair of eyes! ¡°Ah¡ª¡± She let out a startled cry that sent shivers down Lin Feiyin¡¯s spine and frightened the child in her arms. Seeing the woman¡¯s frightened appearance, Lin Feiyin also grew tense. Yet, her expression remained relatively calm. Then, she abruptly turned her head and locked eyes with another pair of eyes as well. Those eyes were delicate and the owner of the eyes was refined and handsome, possessing the scholarly nobility often seen in scholars. Her cheeks flushed slightly, then, realizing who it was, she asked excitedly, ¡°Mr. Shen, you¡¯re awake? Are you all right?¡± Shen Xi blinked and then instinctively turned his head to look at Shen Xin, who was sleeping beside him. He quietly extended his spiritual power and discovered that although she was temporarily out of life-threatening danger, her body was extremely weak and urgently required treatment. He turned his head back to Lin Feiyin and said, ¡°Thank you for...cough...sheltering us. It¡¯s just that...cough...could you find us a reliable...cough cough...doctor...please...¡± A simple sentence seemed immensely difficult for him to say, coughing several times, with each cough producing blood. His complexion was pale with sickness, and even his lips had lost their color. However, the blood coughed out gave his lips a bright red hue, an eerily beautiful tint. Lin Feiyin was mesmerized in an instant, her gaze fixed intently on Shen Xi, her eyes and heart completely occupied by his face, unaware of anything else. Shen Xi smiled faintly, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He had only probed a little, and to his surprise, he had succeeded immediately. Indeed, this woman was very easy to deal with! As for the mother and child... he sneered inwardly; he had heard everything they said just then! He continued to release his spiritual power, preparing to leave a spiritual imprint in Lin Feiyin¡¯s Sea of Consciousness to take full control of her. However, at that moment, he suddenly heard noises from outside! Panic surged in his heart, and he quickly sent out his spiritual power to investigate. And upon checking, he discovered that a troop of soldiers had arrived outside at some unknown time, and they did not seem to come with good intentions. Yet, due to his earlier panic, his Spiritual Tentacles that had pierced into Lin Feiyin¡¯s Sea of Consciousness were affected, causing a jolt in Lin Feiyin¡¯s consciousness, and her defenses automatically went up! Looking at Lin Feiyin again, she wore a pained expression on her face but her gaze became more guarded. Shen Xi knew the opportunity had been missed, and attempting to control her now would lead Lin Feiyin to suspect him. Besides, Lin Feiyin was useful to him alive; he didn¡¯t want to accidentally kill her. So, he quickly retracted his spiritual power, pretended to be oblivious, and looked at Lin Feiyin with worried eyes, asking concernedly, ¡°Feiyin, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± He then smiled apologetically and carefully asked, ¡°By the way, may I call you Feiyin? I always feel that the address Lady Lin sounds too distant.¡± Lin Feiyin had some doubts at first, but upon seeing Shen Xi¡¯s smile, her heart fluttered and any suspicions she had completely dissipated. A charming blush spread across her cheeks, and she softly answered with her head slightly lowered, ¡°Yes...you may.¡± She continued to lock eyes with Shen Xi, unable to look away. As the atmosphere between the two grew increasingly intimate, a panicky voice tactlessly cut in, ¡°Lin! Listen, someone¡¯s coming! Could they be here to capture them?¡± She looked at Shen Xi and the unconscious Shen Xin with hostility. Shen Xi paid her no mind but coughed a few times, then desperately grabbed Lin Feiyin¡¯s hand, weakly and painfully saying, ¡°I...I do not want...to implicate you... If...if the people outside are here to capture me, please...cough cough...do not resist, let them take me away...cough cough cough...¡± All that was left in the end was his painful coughing. Shen Xi coughed violently, as if he was coughing out his very lungs. Watching him in this state, Lin Feiyin was filled with unbearable sorrow, her hands clasping Shen Xi¡¯s firmly as she declared, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no matter who has come, I will not let them take you away! I, Lin Feiyin, am not someone who fears death!¡± At her words, Shen Xi smiled again, gently and satisfactorily. He looked at Lin Feiyin with concealed mockery. Psychology was indeed accurate¡ªby telling someone ¡°not to do something,¡± it made that person pay more attention to it and subconsciously do that very thing. Moreover, though he did not manage to take full control of Lin Feiyin, he had left some traces in her Sea of Consciousness. As long as these traces remained, Lin Feiyin would be under his influence! And since she was easily influenced by others, not a rational person at all, guiding her to act according to his wishes would be all too easy for Shen Xi! The woman was not influenced by Shen Xi; she was already very hostile towards him. Now that Shen Xi was severely injured, controlling one person was his limit; he simply did not have the strength to control her. As soon as Lin Feiyin finished speaking, the woman cried out in panic, ¡°Lin, have you gone mad? Do you know the consequences of doing this?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to visit Qidian to vote for a recommendation ticket or a monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 322 - 322 186 Hypocrisy (Second Update) ?Chapter 322: 186 Hypocrisy (Second Update) Chapter 322: 186 Hypocrisy (Second Update) Lin Feiyin glared at the woman dissatisfiedly upon hearing her words, ¡°I¡¯m not crazy! I know what I¡¯m doing! Don¡¯t worry, if they come in, I will tell them that this has nothing to do with you, and they won¡¯t trouble you.¡± The woman saw her say this and a twisted smile surfaced on her face, inwardly regretting how she could have ended up meeting such a fool as Lin Feiyin! She had initially taken notice of Lin Feiyin precisely because she was stupid but, strangely enough, was a superpower user with many good things in possession. Just by acting a bit pitiful, Lin Feiyin would get carried away with compassion and give them, mother and son, food. The only thing that annoyed her was that Lin Feiyin didn¡¯t just give food to her and her son, but also to other people. In this way, how much advantage could she and her son gain? So, she deliberately pretended to be pitiful and deceived Lin Feiyin into taking them home with her. She thought that from then on, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about anything ever again, but who knew that people could be so ruthless, completely ignoring Lin Feiyin¡¯s feelings, and kicked them all out! Fortunately, Lin Feiyin was still somewhat useful, holding quite a few credit points that could buy a lot of food. The woman sighed in her heart; she had followed Lin Feiyin because she was easy to deceive, not having planned to stay with her forever. She just thought about taking advantage of her time with Lin Feiyin to properly nourish herself and recover her health. As long as she could regain her past allure, would she be afraid of not finding a powerful superpower user to rely on? Who could have known that before that day arrived, she would be killed by Lin Feiyin¡¯s stupidity! If the people outside really came for that brother-sister pair, how could they possibly let her and her son go just because of a few words from Lin Feiyin? With the siblings wounded so severely, the people they had offended were definitely ruthless characters. Would such people change their minds because of Lin Feiyin¡¯s words? What a joke! She had followed a fairly powerful superpower user before; what hadn¡¯t she seen? To such people, killing a person is no big deal at all! It would be as easy for those ruthless characters to kill her and her son as it would be to crush an ant! She was not going to let Lin Feiyin¡¯s foolishness drag her down, absolutely not! The woman¡¯s gaze gradually became determined, she lowered her eyes, and a flicker of disgust and madness swiftly passed through them! Soon, a knocking sound came from the door, and a voice from outside said, ¡°Open the door, we¡¯re conducting a surprise inspection!¡± Hearing this voice, Lin Feiyin and the mother and son instinctively tensed up. The woman felt her child shudder and tremble in her arms, which only strengthened the decision she had made earlier! The only two who weren¡¯t nervous were Shen Xi, who was aware of the situation outside, and Shen Xin, who remained unconscious. The people outside were unknown to Shen Xi, but for him, as long as it wasn¡¯t Bai Ye and his team, that was enough! Thinking of Bai Ye and his subordinates, Shen Xi sneered coldly in his heart. He would return today¡¯s humiliation sooner or later! Bai Ye hated him for treating Fang Yuxin as an experiment, right? Someday, he would definitely capture those two, and in front of Bai Ye, he would dissect Fang Yuxin! At that time, Bai Ye¡¯s reaction would certainly be very interesting! Afraid that others would detect his thoughts, he lowered his eyes, concealing the madness within them. At that moment, the knocking on the door sounded again, more impatient this time, ¡°Open the door quickly! This is a surprise inspection!¡± Lin Feiyin hurriedly said, ¡°Coming!¡± After she spoke, she gave Shen Xi an ¡°you don¡¯t need to worry¡± look, ignoring the frightened woman and child, and trotted to the door, clicking it open. She didn¡¯t open the door fully, only cracking it slightly, and stood by the door, holding the door handle with one hand and supporting herself against the wall by the door frame with the other, speaking to the people outside in an unkind tone, ¡°What time is it? Why are you doing a surprise inspection at this hour? Aren¡¯t you afraid of disturbing the residents?¡± The person at the door knew she was a Doctor, and a Mutated Water Element Superpower User with the ability to purify the Zombie Virus. Had it been before, this person certainly would not have dared to offend Lin Feiyin, but now Lin Feiyin¡¯s superpower had not progressed, and her purification ability had become useless. Instead, Chief Physician Fang Yuxin had found a juice of Mutant Plants that could purify the Second-level Zombie Virus. Furthermore, when the zombies attacked the city, other Doctors had received the message and went to the designated places to treat the wounded, including Chief Physician Fang Yuxin. Lin Feiyin enjoyed the benefits of being a Doctor but failed to show up when it was crucial, how could that not make them despise and feel cold toward her? Chapter 323 - 323 186 Hypocrisy (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 323: 186 Hypocrisy (Second Update)_2 Chapter 323: 186 Hypocrisy (Second Update)_2 Just who did she think she was, acting so accusatory? A man glared at Lin Feiyin coldly and spoke in a chilling tone, ¡°When the zombies are attacking the city, they won¡¯t consider whether or not they are disturbing the people!¡± After he spoke, he pushed against the door forcefully! Lin Feiyin, being a woman with a Mutated Water Element Awakening and not a strength enhancement, did not have the physical strength to compare with him. Thus, when the man pushed, she staggered backward. Her dissatisfaction grew, and she shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t forget who I am! Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll report you to your superior for offending me?¡± The man was already irritated, a combatant himself who, after fighting off zombies, simply wanted a good sleep. Hurriedly handling his tasks, he then received numerous complaints about stolen goods and Crystal Cores! As a result, he couldn¡¯t sleep and had to lead a team to search house by house, feeling his ire mount! Lin Feiyin chose perhaps the worst moment to flaunt her status as a doctor; how could he possibly hold back? He stooped slightly, looking down at Lin Feiyin, and roared angrily, ¡°You still remember you¡¯re a doctor? Where were you when so many injured people needed you? Huh? Aren¡¯t you a doctor? Why didn¡¯t you go to save people after receiving the notice?¡± ¡°I...¡± Lin Feiyin did not expect his retort, feeling a pang of guilt before swiftly regaining her composure and defending herself stoutly, ¡°I also wanted to go help, but there were people here who needed my protection! How could I abandon them? All lives are equal; the lives of the injured are lives, aren¡¯t the lives here lives too? There are so many doctors in the Safe Zone, wouldn¡¯t it be fine without one more? There are other doctors to tend to the injured, but they only have me! If I left, who would protect them?¡± The man did not expect Lin Feiyin to boldly argue back, especially her statement that ¡°all people are equal,¡± which he found contemptible. So, he scoffed dismissively, ¡°Since you believe all people are equal, why did you just ask if I knew your identity? Humph!¡± With that, he ordered, ¡°Search! See if there¡¯s anything suspicious!¡± His subordinates, also simmering with anger, glared at Lin Feiyin as they purposefully made a great deal of noise during the search, leaving the house in disarray until they finally reported to him, ¡°Captain, there¡¯s nothing suspicious!¡± With a wave of his hand and one last cold glance at Lin Feiyin, he led his men out. Once outside, someone cautiously inquired, ¡°Captain, there are two seriously injured people inside, shouldn¡¯t we help them?¡± He shook his head, a cold smirk tugging at his mouth, ¡°If they¡¯re associated with that Lin woman, why should we care?¡± After saying this, he strode away from the site, with his men exchanging looks before hurrying to follow. Inside, Shen Xi, overhearing this, suddenly had a bad premonition. They had been rescued by that man only to be deliberately handed over to Lin Feiyin, and he had originally thought that with her credentials as a doctor, finding a Wood Element Superpower User to treat their injuries would be simple. However, he did not anticipate that Lin Feiyin would manage to offend the military so thoroughly! This probably meant that those Wood Element Superpower Users would no longer respect her! What were they to do now? He hesitated momentarily and then feigned weakness, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t think it would still affect you like this... cough, cough... if it weren¡¯t for me, you wouldn¡¯t have been blamed... cough, cough, cough...¡± Seeing him in distress, Lin Feiyin immediately went to rub his chest to ease his breathing. However, as soon as she touched him, Shen Xi¡¯s face turned deathly pale, ¡°Don¡¯t... splurt!¡± Shen Xi¡¯s ribs were fractured, but fortunately, none of the broken bones had punctured a lung lobe. However, Lin Feiyin¡¯s action had caused a bone fragment to puncture inwards! Thankfully, Lin Feiyin didn¡¯t use much force, and she quickly realized something was wrong with him and stopped; otherwise, Shen Xi¡¯s life could have been in jeopardy! His previous coughing had been feigned, but now with an injured lung lobe, even shallowly punctured, it was incredibly painful. Each breath he took was agony! He glared furiously at Lin Feiyin, unable to hide the murderous intent in his eyes. Lin Feiyin was taken aback and instinctively took a step back. Seeing her reaction, Shen Xi immediately regretted his impulse. He shouldn¡¯t have been so rash! His injuries still needed Lin Feiyin¡¯s attention, and if she became wary or saw through his thoughts, both he and Shen Xin¡¯s lives would be in danger! However, as he watched Lin Feiyin anxiously, he saw her initial wariness quickly turn back into concern and self-reproach. She looked heartbroken, reproaching herself, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault... Is your condition getting worse?¡± Shen Xi said nothing; he found it difficult to breathe now, and if he tried to speak, he might actually start coughing blood. He silently watched her, his gaze softening, quickly enveloping Lin Feiyin in his presence. Lin Feiyin instantly felt even more guilty, her hands unsure where to rest, wanting to check Shen Xi¡¯s injuries but fearing she might hurt him again. She cried out in panic, ¡°What do I do? How can I save you? Tell me!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 324 - 324 187 Hooked (Third Update) ?Chapter 324: 187 Hooked (Third Update) Chapter 324: 187 Hooked (Third Update) Lin Feiyin panicked for a moment, then her eyes lit up and she said, ¡°I¡¯ll go find Fang Yuxin! She can definitely cure you! I¡¯ll go to her! I¡¯ll even kneel down and beg her if I have to!¡± As she said this, she turned around to leave, frightening Shen Xi so much that he quickly grabbed her hand, not caring if it would aggravate his own injuries. Lin Feiyin was running too fast, and when Shen Xi grabbed her, he was pulled off the bed and fell face down heavily onto the floor. His broken bones had already pierced into his lungs, and this fall made the piercing even deeper. He spat out another mouthful of blood, and his pale face gradually took on an ominous grayish-blue hue. Lin Feiyin was terrified and turned around to lift Shen Xi off the ground. Because of the severe injuries, his body was already very weak. If it weren¡¯t for his ¡°Awakening¡± of a Spiritual Power, he would have long collapsed into unconsciousness. His consciousness was still clear, so he felt the unbearable stabbing pain in his chest even more distinctly. He utterly despised Lin Feiyin¡¯s impulsiveness, and when he saw her coming over, he tried with difficulty to raise his hand to push her away. Instead, his palm swung and struck Lin Feiyin¡¯s cheek, making a crisp ¡°slap¡± sound. Lin Feiyin was initially stunned, then cried, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I know I was wrong. It¡¯s my fault you¡¯ve been hurt so badly, it¡¯s only right that you slap me. Just bear with it a little, I¡¯ll carry you back to the bed to lie down.¡± Shen Xi hadn¡¯t expected her to be so insistent, he quickly spoke, ¡°You... cough... cough, cough... cough, cough, cough, cough...¡± He had intended to say, ¡°Are you trying to kill me¡±, but after only starting with ¡°You¡±, he uncontrollably burst into violent coughing. Seeing him cough painfully, Lin Feiyin¡¯s heart also began to ache. Her face covered in tear stains, yet she smiled reassuringly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m very strong. I¡¯ll carry you back to bed right now. Once you¡¯re lying down, you¡¯ll feel better.¡± After saying this, she hesitated no longer, placed one hand on Shen Xi¡¯s back, grabbing just below his shoulder, and with the other hand she hugged his knees. With one effort, she stood up with Shen Xi from the ground. She was worried about aggravating Shen Xi¡¯s injuries, and carefully controlled the direction of her force to avoid pressing on his wounds. Shen Xi watched her careful movements and realized that it only slightly tugged at his injury and hadn¡¯t made it worse, which let him breathe a sigh of relief. But he quickly found out he had relieved his worries too soon! Just as he sighed in relief, Lin Feiyin encountered a problem. She held Shen Xi, preparing to put him back on the bed, but she misjudged the distance between Shen Xi and the bed. When she tried to lay Shen Xi down, his buttocks hit the edge of the bed. Although the force of the bump was small and didn¡¯t hurt his buttocks, Lin Feiyin lost her balance and fell onto Shen Xi, landing right on his injured chest. ¡°Ugh... Puh!¡± Shen Xi groaned and then spat out another mouthful of blood. He glared at Lin Feiyin, wishing he could flay her alive with his gaze. But in the next moment, he could no longer hold on and completely passed out. The blood spat out by Shen Xi splashed onto Lin Feiyin¡¯s face, its scalding temperature and bloody smell utterly panicked her. She scrambled up from Shen Xi, inadvertently causing his injuries to worsen again. It could be said, if it weren¡¯t for Shen Xi having awakened his superpower, which had already advanced to Level 1, and his body having been strengthened twice during the awakening and advancement, he would have long been tormented to death by Lin Feiyin! Lin Feiyin was extremely panicked. After thinking about it, she decided she still needed to find Fang Yuxin for help! She quickly wiped the blood from her face, turned around and walked out briskly, her expression a mix of reluctant compromise with evil forces, resentment, and determination. However, she had not gone far from the house when she ran into the person who had delivered Shen Xi and Shen Xin to her. The man said, ¡°What are you doing out at this hour? Shouldn¡¯t you be at home?¡± Lin Feiyin immediately felt guilty, hesitated for a moment, but decided to tell the truth. She said, ¡°Mr. Shen is seriously injured, I wanted to ask Fang Yuxin to treat him.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, the person sternly responded, ¡°No! You must not go find Fang Yuxin! You can¡¯t let Fang Yuxin know they are here with you!¡± After pausing, the person continued, ¡°I have a medicine here, just feed it to him and that will do.¡± Lin Feiyin was originally going to ask why she couldn¡¯t let Fang Yuxin know, but hearing the latter part, she was overjoyed and quickly turned to run inside. The person followed behind her, watching her eager behavior and narrowed his eyes slightly. Chapter 325 - 325 187 Hooked (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 325: 187 Hooked (Third Update)_2 Chapter 325: 187 Hooked (Third Update)_2 Lin Feiyin deftly opened the door and entered. Without greeting the newcomer, she quickly walked to the bedside, and fed Shen Xi the pill she held in her hand. She moved so swiftly that only after the pill had been administered did she hear the newcomer¡¯s stern voice, ¡°Wait a minute! How could his broken rib have pierced so deeply into his lung lobe? And why, without even removing the fragment or setting the bone, did you feed him medicine?¡± At this, Lin Feiyin remembered her oversight and became flustered. ¡°What should I do? I... I forgot just now...¡± As she spoke, she didn¡¯t wait for a response and pried open Shen Xi¡¯s mouth, attempting to retrieve the pill, only to find nothing inside. She then heard the newcomer say coldly, ¡°It¡¯s no use. That pill melts upon entering the mouth, it has already dissolved into water and been absorbed by him; you won¡¯t be able to find it.¡± Upon finishing this statement, the person pushed Lin Feiyin aside, turned on an emergency lamp nearby, and shone the light on Shen Xi¡¯s chest. Subsequently, the individual produced a silver-gleaming scalpel from nowhere, slit open Shen Xi¡¯s clothes, and exposed his chest. Shen Xi had three broken ribs, with the jagged edges piercing into his lung lobe. Upon a close examination, the abnormality in his chest was obvious. The person then proceeded to slice Shen Xi¡¯s chest open with the scalpel, extracted the rib fragments from the lung lobe, somewhat aligned the broken ends, and fed Shen Xi a new pill. Following that, Lin Feiyin and the mother and son in the room witnessed Shen Xi¡¯s wounds healing at a visibly rapid pace. Before long, Shen Xi awoke. His chest was still smeared with large patches of blood, and upon awakening, he became aware of it. He quickly looked towards the extra person in the room and managed a weak gratefully intended smile, ¡°It was you who saved me, wasn¡¯t it? Thank you.¡± He paused, then said with a sardonic smile, ¡°However, given the value of the information and the items I previously provided for you, saving me was expected. Additionally, my sister has also been seriously injured, you must heal her.¡± Caught off guard by Shen Xi¡¯s words, Lin Feiyin opened her mouth to speak but met Shen Xi¡¯s cautionary gaze. Hesitating momentarily, she ultimately said nothing. The visitor, however, narrowed their eyes dangerously, studying Shen Xi intently for a while before finally promising ominously, ¡°Fine, I agree.¡± True to their word, they took out a pill and placed it into Shen Xin¡¯s mouth. Shen Xin had four broken ribs, even more severe than Shen Xi¡¯s injuries. Fortunately, the bones had not punctured her lung lobe, making her situation somewhat better and sparing her the need for the visitor¡¯s invasive correcting procedure. When she swallowed the pill, her complexion gradually improved. After Shen Xi extended his spiritual power to check her condition and found her broken ribs healed, he breathed a sigh of relief, turned back to the visitor, and sincerely thanked them. The visitor, however, did not say anything more to him but gestured towards the mother and son with their eyes before saying to Lin Feiyin, ¡°Surely, someone has already searched this place. You must be curious as to why, aren¡¯t you? Do you want to know?¡± Upon hearing those words, Lin Feiyin¡¯s curiosity was immediately piqued, and she instinctively asked, ¡°What happened? Those people looked fierce and malevolent; as soon as they came in, they started searching everywhere, turning the house upside down. It was intolerable!¡± The visitor let out a cold laugh, ¡°What else could it be? Some Ordinary People, in order to survive, stole a superpower user¡¯s supplies. That¡¯s why the higher-ups sent people to search and arrested all those poor souls. Who knows whether they¡¯ll still be alive when dawn breaks.¡± Hearing the person¡¯s mockingly sympathetic tone, Shen Xi lay on the bed, sneering inwardly. Then, instinctively, he looked at Lin Feiyin and, as expected, saw her looking indignant. He silently shook his head in his heart, resolving that he would certainly take his sister and leave this place as soon as Lin Feiyin stirred up trouble. This woman was without a brain, and far too prone to causing trouble! Then, recalling the visitor¡¯s previous look, he glanced at the mother and son. He knew what the other party wanted, but why should he help? If this person wanted them dead, he simply wouldn¡¯t let their wishes come true! All the items, the Crystal Core, Elemental Stone, and Elemental Crystal, in Bai Ye¡¯s room had been taken by this person, not to mention such a colossal secret¡ªhe had to extract some interest, didn¡¯t he? Wary of the other party noticing his thoughts, he cast his eyes down and cleared his mind. Next, he heard Lin Feiyin¡¯s indignant voice, ¡°No, I have to rescue them! They are all pitiful souls. If it weren¡¯t for sheer desperation, why would they take such risks? Those superpower users and the higher-ups are really excessive! It¡¯s only some supplies; do they need to be so petty?¡± Seeing Lin Feiyin take the bait, the visitor smiled meaningfully but deliberately advised, ¡°You¡¯d better not do this. In the eyes of those superpower users, Ordinary People are simply inferior. How could they care about the lives of these individuals? By doing this, be careful that they might target you for vengeance.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Feiyin grew even more enraged. Clenching her fists, she forcefully pounded the bed, gritting her teeth as she said, ¡°I am not afraid! Good will always triumph over evil; I refuse to believe that these people can continue to act without any restraint!¡± After saying this, she turned to the visitor and continued, ¡°Thank you for telling me this; don¡¯t worry about me; I¡¯ll be alright.¡± Except for Lin Feiyin, everyone else sensed the visitor¡¯s ill intentions¡ªeven the ten-year-old child could tell. The woman wanted to warn Lin Feiyin against doing something foolish but met the visitor¡¯s warning glance and suddenly felt a spine-chilling coldness creep up from her feet. Thus, she wisely kept her mouth shut, turned her head in fear, and dared not meet that person¡¯s eyes again. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please browse to m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 326 - 326 188 Stars (First Update) ?Chapter 326: 188 Stars (First Update) Chapter 326: 188 Stars (First Update) Since last night¡¯s zombie siege, coupled with the theft of resources and Crystal Cores by some superpower users, the entire Safe Zone was in a state of panic, and everyone spent the night in fear and unease. However, the Fang Family had a rare good night¡¯s sleep that day, and because they had stayed up too late yesterday, they lazily got up only at ten in the morning. After practicing cultivation, they wouldn¡¯t feel tired even without sleep, but occasionally sleeping like this unexpectedly had excellent effects! All their fatigue was swept away, and everyone looked radiant. Since they didn¡¯t plan to leave the Safe Zone, the family dressed casually. Fang Yuxin wore a long embroidered shirt with exquisite patterns embroidered on the front and hem, giving her a demure temperament. The well-tailored waist of her clothing, along with her tall and slender figure, made it fit perfectly without looking bulky, rather, it was strikingly attractive. By this time, it was already late in the morning. The family simply ate something to fill their stomachs; soon after, they received a notification that the military was gathering people in the Safe Zone at the square. With about three hundred thousand people in the entire Safe Zone, the square definitely couldn¡¯t accommodate everyone. Luckily, many people had already gone out early in the morning to hunt zombies, and a significant number were building defense structures outside the Safe Zone. There weren¡¯t too many people left inside the Safe Zone, so it was just barely enough to squeeze everyone in. Listening to the broadcast, the Fang Family knew it must be about last night¡¯s incident. After they had gone to sleep last night, no one had come to search the Fang Family¡¯s house. But all the nearby residences had been searched, and they had heard the commotion, so they knew what had happened late last night. Qu Qianhe, remembering last night¡¯s events, couldn¡¯t help but sigh, her expression somewhat troubled. ¡°These people, if they want resources, should go out and fight for themselves. Not all zombies are Mutant Zombies, there are many Low-level Zombies. A perfectly capable person should be able to kill a Low-level Zombie that¡¯s inferior to wild beasts, right? How can they steal resources and Crystal Cores that others risked their lives to gather? These people are indeed outrageous!¡± As Qu Qianhe spoke, she became more agitated, her chest heaving intensely. She recalled last night¡¯s events. When they had returned home last night, they had just seen someone trapped in the Formation, and they also heard what those people said. Obviously, those people were there to steal from the Fang Family! If it weren¡¯t for Fang Yuxin setting up the Formation in advance and adding the Crystal Core to activate it when they left, their home might have been broken into by these intruders! At that moment, the family was very angry and didn¡¯t hold back, directly killing those people. Since the zombies were attacking the city last night, the Safe Zone was already in chaos, and nobody would care about another ten or twenty people dying. As long as they cleaned up the traces properly, who could say they killed anyone? Even if those people had accomplices, she didn¡¯t believe those accomplices would dare to admit it! Had it been before the apocalypse, Qu Qianhe would never have committed such a murder, but having experienced the harshness of the apocalypse, she had long developed a resolute and decisive capability in dealing with such issues, without worrying about whether her actions were cruel. Although those people had been dealt with thoroughly, Qu Qianhe was still not pleased. As soon as she heard the broadcast, she was reminded of this event, and her anger flared up immediately, wanting to catch and clean up all those who were behind the scenes! Fang Jintang, worried she might harm her health with anger, quickly patted her back to comfort her and gently said, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry about these ungrateful wretches, it¡¯s not worth it. Let¡¯s go to the square and see. The military must have a reason for gathering everyone there. Let¡¯s just go and see what they plan to do.¡± Qu Qianhe was quickly calmed down by him, and then, the family prepared to leave. Before leaving, Fang Yuyang¡¯s walkie-talkie rang, and it was Chen Qiao calling. Chen Qiao had also heard the broadcast, so he specifically asked whether Fang Yuyang and his family were going to the square. After receiving an affirmative response, Chen Qiao said he would wait for them at the square. Fang Yuyang responded calmly and casually put the walkie-talkie into his pocket. After the apocalypse, many communication devices were destroyed, making it very troublesome to repair communication stations. Therefore, these walkie-talkies, capable of sending and receiving signals, had become the primary tool for everyone to keep in touch. However, they could only facilitate short-distance calls. The walkie-talkie used by Fang Yuyang and his family was the best within the Safe Zone, covering the entire range of the Safe Zone. Chapter 327 - 327 188 Stars (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 327: 188 Stars (First Update)_2 Chapter 327: 188 Stars (First Update)_2 The Fang Family quickly left their home, and along the way, they often saw other people coming out of their houses, and judging by the direction these people were heading, their destination was clearly the same as the Fang Family¡¯s. The looks the other people gave the Fang Family were quite complex, mixing awe with subtle jealousy, and some even quickened their steps, intentionally trying to foster a good relationship with the Fang Family. The members of the Fang Family all maintained stern expressions, even little Bai Qianqian kept a tight face. Those who attempted to strike up a conversation saw their unapproachable expressions and felt anxious, immediately reining in their thoughts, not daring to stick to them like a plaster, and instead cautiously probing. They greeted the Fang Family with smiles, but seeing that the Fang Family only nodded without engaging, most people pulled back, fearing that pushing too far might provoke the Fang Family. However, some people were just thicker-skinned than others. One of them was a strength-enhanced superpower user, but judging from the energy fluctuations emanating from him, his superpower level wasn¡¯t high, still at the Superpower Beginner level, approximately at the mid-stage, with a long way to go before advancing. Since the Fang Family had practice cultivation, their perception was sharper than others, especially sensitive to energy fluctuations. They all noticed that this person hadn¡¯t absorbed many crystal cores; the energy fluctuations were messy and weak, indicating poor talent. But he was young, in his early twenties, with a handsome appearance and somewhat familiar after long observation. His smile was perfect, as if trained professionally in manners, and very personable, especially his eyes, which seemed electrifying. The Fang Family felt he looked familiar but couldn¡¯t quite place who he was. Fortunately, after the initial pleasantries, he introduced himself, ¡°I am Yan Ning. I used to be an actor and singer and have done some commercials. Although I haven¡¯t met everyone here, you might have seen me.¡± There were some others around since they were all heading to the square, so they weren¡¯t far apart. They just didn¡¯t dare to continue coming forward to chat with the Fang Family, not wanting to anger them. Only Yan Ning dared to continue the conversation despite the cold reception. The people around had complex thoughts about his boldness. They despised his shamelessness in continuing to please the Fang Family but also resented their own cowardice for backing down, thus inadvertently allowing him to take advantage and maliciously waited to see his downfall. However, upon hearing his introduction, their expressions changed. For celebrities, ordinary people always harbor some wonderful illusions. Judging by Yan Ning¡¯s look and age, he seemed to be the type to have countless fans, both young girls and middle-aged women probably liked him. However, that was before the apocalypse. After the apocalypse, survival became the foremost issue, and no glamorous appearance could compete with the allure of food. Still, even though people no longer had the pre-apocalypse mindset of chasing celebrities, they couldn¡¯t help but give him a few more glances as if looking at a rare curio when they knew he was once a star. Yan Ning, indeed a former celebrity, had a mental resilience not seen in ordinary people. The gaze shot by those around did not embarrass him; instead, he enjoyed it immensely. However, he didn¡¯t pay attention to those around him; his eyes were solely on one person¡ª Fang Yuxin. His eyes were clear and well-shaped, appearing bright, profound, and captivating. He gazed deeply at Fang Yuxin, his lips curving into a gentle smile. At first glance, his eyes could easily give someone the illusion of deep affection. Being looked at by such eyes, one might feel that he was deeply in love with them. However, illusions are just illusions. Despite his perfect act, acting is just acting. Even the most ¡°affectionate¡± gaze could not hide the greedy schemes lurking beneath! He was not interested in Fang Yuxin as a person, or her beauty, but in Fang Yuxin¡¯s abilities and status! Yan Ning was extremely unlucky. He had only started his career a year before the apocalypse, and had quickly become famous, involving in singing, acting, and various endorsements, with a massive following of fans. Just before the apocalypse happened, he had taken up a role in a big-budget movie. Although not the lead, he had a significant role that was quite likeable. For this, he had used some unscrupulous methods and had trained hard for the role, all to perform well in this film. The movie was scheduled to premiere during the New Year holiday, which was an excellent timing. With the production crew and investors having strong backgrounds, he didn¡¯t have to worry about promotion and box office. He had a strong premonition that once the film was released, his worth and status would greatly improve, and he might even win some awards. This could have been a turning point in his life, an opportunity for him to spread his wings, shed his unglamorous identity as an idol actor, and step into the big screen. However, what he didn¡¯t expect was that even though filming had started and everything was going smoothly, the sky suddenly changed! Zombies, those monsters found only in biochemical movies, games, and novels, suddenly appeared in the real world! At first, he absolutely refused to believe everything was true, but the starkly real surroundings kept telling him over and over again¡ªzombies had truly appeared! Now, it is the apocalypse! (To be continued. If you like this work, you¡¯re welcome to vote for it with a recommendation or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 328 - 328 189 The End of Greed (Second Update) ?Chapter 328: 189 The End of Greed (Second Update) Chapter 328: 189 The End of Greed (Second Update) Yan Ning thought it was absurd that creatures like zombies that ate people could exist in reality. What on Earth had happened to this world? He was about to embrace a brighter future, but the apocalypse destroyed everything! Fortunately, his celebrity status was somewhat useful. If he happened to encounter fans, he could use his face to barter for food, water, or even protection! At first, he hadn¡¯t awakened his superpower. Luckily, he had good fortune and met a fan of his, a girl who idolized him deeply, believing every word he said. Coincidentally, she had just awakened her superpower! Although she was small and thin, her strength after the Awakening was astonishing! She could easily snap an iron bar or use one to crush a zombie¡¯s skull! It was due to this devoted fan that he managed to survive the early days of the apocalypse. He wasn¡¯t ashamed of being protected by a young girl, and if anyone insulted him for it, she would stand up and beat down the meddlers! He could tell that the girl was very fond of him, even to the extent that she was willing to die for him. When she said she would always stay by his side to protect him, he was indeed moved. But he was a man, always proud and ambitious. He wasn¡¯t ashamed of being protected, but he couldn¡¯t tolerate being powerless himself! No matter what, he always wanted to be the best! Initially, when he heard that being infected with the Zombie Virus might lead to Awakening a superpower, he was tempted and nearly resorted to this highly risky method. But when he saw someone else, who harbored the same thought, turn into a zombie instead of Awakening after infection, he dismissed this crazy idea. He didn¡¯t want to die! He had to survive! Then a bold, mad speculation suddenly occurred to him. Zombies had Crystal Cores in their brains, so what might superpower users have in theirs? This speculation tormented him, raising his curiosity further, yet he found no way to verify it. So, he started to coax the young girl and even successfully tricked her into killing a superpower user. That was a Water Element Superpower User, unfortunately with low Attack Power, so it barely took the girl any effort to kill that person. Next, he instructed the girl to crack open the person¡¯s skull to see if there was anything resembling a Crystal Core. However, they found nothing. Unwilling to give up, he tricked the girl into searching the body thoroughly, and eventually, they found a small, blue Crystal Core the size of a soybean in the person¡¯s heart. This Crystal Core was entirely different from those extracted from zombies¡¯ brains; it was more transparent, beautiful, and captivating. The girl liked such beautiful objects, but she still gave it to him. Initially, he planned to keep this unique Crystal Core to study the differences between it and the Zombie Crystal Cores. Unknown to him, after observing it for a while, an idea suddenly emerged¡ªby swallowing it, he could obtain Water Ability! This thought seemed to appear out of nowhere. He couldn¡¯t tell if he was being tempted by the Crystal Core or if it was just a reckless thought. After hesitating, he decided to follow his deepest desires and secretly swallowed the unique Crystal Core. At the moment he swallowed it, he felt immense pain; the Crystal Core seemed alive, moving relentlessly within his body. Initially, he was terrified and regretted his foolishness. However, gradually, he was astonished to find that the Crystal Core had settled in his heart. After that, he indeed gained Water Ability, becoming a Water Element Superpower User. He was worried that the girl might notice, so he deliberately infected himself with the Zombie Virus, pretending the virus led to his Awakening. The girl, who was already utterly trusting of him, did not suspect a thing and even shared most of the Crystal Cores she collected for him to absorb. At that time, he was overjoyed by his discovery and even fantasized about hunting down some powerful superpower users with weak individual strength in the future, consuming their Crystal Cores so he could possess more superpowers and become stronger than anyone else! Chapter 329 - 329 189 The End of Greed (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 329: 189 The End of Greed (Second Update)_2 Chapter 329: 189 The End of Greed (Second Update)_2 But gradually, his joy faded away. Although he was absorbing the Zombie Crystal Cores, he found that the Water Element Crystal Core he had devoured was gradually weakening. Since it wasn¡¯t a Crystal Core that he had awakened on his own, there was no way to strengthen it by absorbing Zombie Crystal Cores. The cores he absorbed could only slightly slow down the decay of the Water Element Crystal Core. Especially considering the Water Ability had little Attack Power, he could only serve as a mobile water reservoir and was completely incapable of hunting zombies. He tricked the young girl into going out to kill more superpower users, but when she agreed and returned, not only did she not bring back any superpower users¡¯ Crystal Cores, she also came back severely injured! When he saw her tiny frame curled up in a filthy blanket, he was initially terrified. But soon after, that terror gradually dissipated, turning into greed. Although the girl was young, her power was decent. If he could devour her Crystal Core, he would possess her formidable power! He hesitated, after all, the young girl was his savior; if not for her, he would have long been devoured by the zombies. But quickly, he convinced himself, arguing that the girl was too badly injured to survive without treatment. Killing her would be an act of mercy, ending her suffering. He would never forget the look of shock and despair on her face when he plunged the dagger into her heart. He quickly extracted the beautiful white Crystal Core from her heart, watching the light fade from her wide eyes, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. ¡°Thank you for your care these past days. I¡¯ll take care of myself from now on. Rest in peace.¡± After swallowing the white Crystal Core, he indeed gained tremendous power. However, the Water Element Crystal Core weakened even faster, and it vanished completely in less than a day. He joined others in reaching the Safe Zone and had thought that with his celebrity status, he could find another foolish fan like that young girl, but soon realized that everyone had become much more pragmatic. They wouldn¡¯t be as nai?ve as that young girl; they wouldn¡¯t obey him just because he was once a star; they wouldn¡¯t share their food and Crystal Cores with him. If he wanted something, he would have to buy it himself or hunt zombies! But the source of his Power Superpower was dubious, and even without using it, his power would wane. If he used his superpower, it would weaken even more quickly! Under such circumstances, how could he dare hunt zombies? So, after arriving in the Safe Zone, he was always on the lookout for new prey. Then he heard about a rumor within the Safe Zone, Fang Yuxin had the ability to awaken Ordinary People into superpower users, but to become a superpower user, one still needed to first get infected with the virus. Many people dared not infect themselves with the Zombie Virus, but he had no such qualms. Although he hadn¡¯t truly awakened a superpower, as long as the white Crystal Core in his heart existed, his body could resist the Basic-level Zombie Virus. Besides, Fang Yuxin also had the juice of Mutant Plants that could purify the Zombie Virus, so even if he couldn¡¯t resist it, he could get Fang Yuxin¡¯s help to purify the virus in his body. However, all this was predicated on him gaining Fang Yuxin¡¯s favor first and making her obedient. He had deliberately collected information on Fang Yuxin, knowing that she wasn¡¯t like the innocent girl who lacked worldliness. It wouldn¡¯t be easy to win her over. Yet, Yan Ning was very confident; he believed in his own charm. Even if he couldn¡¯t make Fang Yuxin completely compliant, winning her affection was possible. He knew the status of a star was an exotic and special allure for many people, enough to attract those with a strong curiosity and innocent nature. As a result, he intentionally mentioned his celebrity identity right after the initial pleasantries. Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t old, was sufficiently beautiful, with powerful abilities ¨C if he could win her heart... Yan Ning¡¯s gaze darkened slightly; he suddenly felt a bit of anticipation. He looked at Fang Yuxin with a ¡®deep affection,¡¯ eager to see her reaction. Then, he saw Fang Yuxin¡¯s beautiful yet sharp phoenix eyes narrow slightly, her gaze turning colder as she looked at him. Yan Ning¡¯s heart immediately sounded alarm bells, and he began to feel uneasy. Instinctively wanting to flee, he was caught by Fang Yuyang¡¯s hold on his wrist. His heart panicked, and he began to struggle violently, ¡°Mr. Fang, what are you doing? Let go of me!¡± But Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t let go, just looked at him and sneered, ¡°You dare plot against my sister?¡± Then, Fang Yuyang turned to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, how should we deal with him?¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze was piercingly cold as she plunged her Spiritual Sense violently into Yan Ning¡¯s Sea of Consciousness, forcibly extracting his memories. After seeing these memories, her expression turned ashen, her gaze filled with loathing and hate towards Yan Ning. Aware that those around were watching, Fang Yuxin deliberately spoke up, ¡°Brother, he is the one who attacked us last time. He probably thought he was well-concealed and that we wouldn¡¯t recognize him, not knowing Angela had already memorized his scent.¡± The now kitten-sized Angela was perched on Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder. Hearing Fang Yuxin mention her name, it cooperated with a soft ¡°meow,¡± sounding very adorable. Thus, the surrounding people instantly had a realization, and even if some had doubts, given the Fang Family¡¯s power, no one dared to say anything. Fang Yuyang surreptitiously exerted force on his hand, sending a Hidden Force into the man¡¯s body, then disgustedly let go, ¡°You should be thankful we can¡¯t kill people in the Safe Zone, otherwise I would never forgive you! Get out!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian with a recommendation ticket or a monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 330 - 330 190 Devouring (Third Update) ?Chapter 330: 190 Devouring (Third Update) Chapter 330: 190 Devouring (Third Update) After Fang Yuyang brushed off Yan Ning¡¯s hand, the Fang Family stopped paying attention to him and just continued walking forward. Yan Ning thought this time he would triumph. Once Fang Yuxin developed feelings for him, his life would definitely be smooth sailing from then on, and he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about the negative effects of consuming the Zombie Crystal Cores. But what he didn¡¯t expect was that before he could utter any of the sweet nothings he had prepared, the Fang Family had seen right through him, eliminating any possibility of him saying those words. And now, he was no longer able to think about these things. Forcing a memory search caused severe brain damage. After what Fang Yuxin did, Yan Ning had become an imbecile, incapable of thought. Furthermore, Fang Yuyang planted a Hidden Force in his body, right in his heart, which continuously weakened the white Crystal Core in his heart and caused significant damage. It wouldn¡¯t be long before he died. No, perhaps he would have no way out even before his heart completely failed. After becoming an imbecile, he wouldn¡¯t know to absorb Zombie Crystal Cores to delay the decay of his white Crystal Core¡ªfood would also become a huge problem for him. Many people in the Safe Zone couldn¡¯t even get enough to eat; where would they find the energy to help an imbecile? Unless they encountered a foolishly sympathetic person like Lin Feiyin. Moreover, Fang Yuxin had damaged that part of his memory, so even if someone else tried to forcefully read it, they would see nothing. After the Fang Family left, Fang Yuyang used his Spiritual Sense to secretly transmit a message to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s with the person just now?¡± His perception was sharp, and he felt that man had ill intentions, aiming at Fang Yuxin. But he couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what was off about the man. The sudden intervention was because he received a message from Fang Yuxin¡¯s Spiritual Sense, instructing him to seize the man. Although he didn¡¯t understand why, he complied. Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression was grim, as the events of her past life surfaced in her mind. When Yan Ning appeared, she felt he looked familiar, and with closer consideration, she recalled exactly who Yan Ning was. This man had been one of Fang Mengyao¡¯s suitors in her past life. She had seen him following Fang Mengyao, and his expression then was not much different from just now. His perfect smile and seemingly passionate gaze involuntarily drew people in. However, Fang Mengyao, while enjoying his attentions, remained unwavering in her relationship with Qiu Yiming. Since Qiu Yiming had forsaken her for Fang Mengyao, she always felt like there was a bone stuck in her throat. After learning of Yan Ning¡¯s existence, she even took particular notice to see how Qiu Yiming would react if he knew about this man. But at that time, she did nothing and lacked the ability to do anything; she could only watch secretly. Later on, Yan Ning suddenly disappeared, and nobody knew how. There were whispered rumors that Qiu Yiming had killed him. Fang Yuxin felt that the likelihood of Qiu Yiming killing Yan Ning was high. He was a man with exceptionally strong possessiveness, who would never tolerate another man touching his woman. Yan Ning¡¯s daring to cling to Fang Mengyao was tantamount to provoking Qiu Yiming¡¯s bottom line! Yet, she had only seen this man from afar a couple of times, and since he disappeared quickly, her impression of him was not deep. That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t recognize him at first glance. Of course, this alone was not enough to make Fang Yuxin act. She asked Fang Yuyang to intervene because she sensed something very wrong with the man¡¯s body. Judging from the energy fluctuations emanating from him, he should be a Primary Power Superpower User. The problem was that his body was far too weak compared to a Power Superpower User and seemed not to have been enhanced at all. This abnormality was obviously not normal, so she quietly extended her Spiritual Sense to investigate. Upon inspection, she discovered the Crystal Core in his heart was rapidly decaying. Moreover, lingering on that Crystal Core was a faint trace of consciousness. When her Spiritual Sense connected with this sliver of consciousness, she ¡®saw¡¯ a thin, small girl covered in wounds, lying in a dirty blanket with a look of utter despair on her face. This was the residual consciousness left by the girl just before death, containing a very simple message¡ªbe careful! Be careful of what? Of course, be careful of this man! Chapter 331 - 331 190 Devouring (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 331: 190 Devouring (Third Update)_2 Chapter 331: 190 Devouring (Third Update)_2 Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart skipped a beat. How could the Crystal Core inside this man¡¯s body retain another person¡¯s consciousness? Unless, the Crystal Core wasn¡¯t his! Thus, she immediately recalled a rumor from her past life. It was said that Ordinary People could awaken the same superpower by devouring the Crystal Core in a superpower user¡¯s heart. Because of this rumor, Fang Yuyang had actually considered killing a superpower user to make her devour that person¡¯s Crystal Core. Fang Yuxin stopped him. She didn¡¯t believe in the rumor, and at the time, she had already tried to absorb Elemental Crystals, but unfortunately, without exception, all attempts had failed. She didn¡¯t think that a superpower user¡¯s Crystal Core would be stronger than an Elemental Crystal. However, although they didn¡¯t want to deal with other superpower users, they couldn¡¯t stop others from targeting them! Fang Yuyang had awakened a Wind Superpower, and he possessed great talent, manifesting very powerful skills. Because of this, many wanted to kill him and devour his Crystal Core. After they jointly eliminated the first wave of attackers, Fang Yuyang extracted the Crystal Core from one of the superpower users¡¯ bodies and forced her to swallow it. Later on, she discovered that devouring a superpower user¡¯s Crystal Core indeed allowed her to use that person¡¯s superpower. However, it wasn¡¯t a true awakening; her body wasn¡¯t strengthened, and the Crystal Core kept weakening until it eventually disappeared entirely. Though absorbing a Zombie Crystal Core could slow down the degradation, even so, it was a huge waste for her. She refused to absorb Zombie Crystal Cores, giving all the Crystal Cores to Fang Yuyang instead. From then on, even though there were still superpower users who attacked them, she no longer devoured any superpower user¡¯s Crystal Core, and Fang Yuyang no longer forced her. Instead, because those superpower user Crystal Cores were pure energy crystallizations and contained fewer impurities than Zombie Crystal Cores, Fang Yuyang absorbed all of them. Thus, Fang Yuxin speculated that this man had devoured that girl¡¯s Crystal Core! Moreover, this man was plotting against her! So, she didn¡¯t hold back at all and directly used Spiritual Sense to let Fang Yuyang capture the man, then forcefully read the man¡¯s memories. She learned that he had exploited his celebrity status to capture that girl¡¯s heart, relying on her protection, and ultimately cruelly killed her and devoured her Crystal Core! If these two didn¡¯t know each other and the girl had attacked first, wanting to kill Yan Ning, and Yan Ning ended up killing her and devouring her Crystal Core, Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t have felt much disgust since it would have been self-defense. But he happened to be the type of person she despised the most, a treacherous, ungrateful scoundrel! How could Fang Yuxin tolerate this! If it hadn¡¯t been inappropriate to kill someone in public, she would have even liked to dig out the Crystal Core from his heart and let him experience the agony of having his heart forcibly cut open to extract the Crystal Core! She used Spiritual Sense to tell Fang Yuyang her findings; after hearing them, his face turned livid with rage. He violently turned to look in Yan Ning¡¯s direction, wishing he could turn back and kill him with his own hands! Fearing his impulsiveness, Fang Yuxin quickly grabbed him and transmitted, ¡°Brother! Don¡¯t be rash! There are too many people around here! We are probably already standing at the very tip of the storm, we need to be even more careful!¡± Although they had made quite the impression the previous night and made many hesitant to cause further trouble, Fang Yuxin believed that surely some people were eyeing them in the dark, wishing to take everything from them! Now, under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, if Fang Yuyang were to publicly kill the man, it would be like handing the leverage to others. Fang Yuyang gradually calmed down, but his anger did not subside; rather, it seemed to grow worse. He transmitted, ¡°Damn it! Just when can we stop fearing anything and do whatever we want freely?¡± Fang Yuxin gently squeezed his hand in comfort and meaningfully said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, that day will definitely come.¡± They were already on the path of Cultivation, and she also had Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. As long as nothing unexpected happened, their powers would only grow stronger¡ªstrong enough that no one would dare offend them! Fang Yuyang was still not content. He silently thought that from now on, he must cultivate diligently. Then he darkly transmitted, ¡°That man dared to target you, I just gave him a small lesson, he got off too easy!¡± Fang Yuxin looked at Fang Yuyang and smiled, ¡°He has already gotten the retribution he deserved.¡± She hadn¡¯t missed Fang Yuyang¡¯s little maneuver; with Fang Yuyang¡¯s approach, that man would also taste the agony of heart extraction. Fang Yuyang, feeling a bit guilty under her gaze, slightly turned his head pretending to look at the roadside scenery. Unfortunately, ever since plants began mutating, those Ordinary Plants had become increasingly listless; only Mutant Plants grew well. These Ordinary Plants simply could not withstand the effects of the Zombie Virus. Although they wouldn¡¯t turn into plant zombies, they had lost their prior vigor. Fang Yuyang quickly noticed this; he was used to seeing vibrant plants at home, and seeing these wilted greens made him feel utterly displeased. He thought for a moment, then transmitted to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, if this vicious method spreads, I¡¯m afraid human days will get even worse.¡± Fang Yuxin silently sighed. Who could say otherwise? Once such a method spread, not to mention Ordinary People becoming greedy, those superpower users would also start targeting other superpower users. Human living conditions were increasingly deteriorating, and over time, everyone would understand more clearly the principle of the survival of the fittest. Everyone would want to gain more powerful strength, and thus, there would be constant looting! Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t like such things, but she understood in her heart; although she had erased Yan Ning¡¯s memory, if Yan Ning could discover this secret, wouldn¡¯t others possibly discover it too? There were so many living people, and it wasn¡¯t just Yan Ning who was smart. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 332 - 332 191 Thoughts (First Update) ?Chapter 332: 191 Thoughts (First Update) Chapter 332: 191 Thoughts (First Update) Fang Yuxin thought of it, and so had Yu Yang. He too sighed, his mood turning somber. Humanity¡¯s enemies were already numerous: zombies, mutated plants and animals. If humans themselves started turning on each other, then the world would truly become despairing. Others, noticing their grim expressions, were tempted to ask what was the matter. But seeing that they had reached the crowded square, amid endless chatter, they suppressed their curiosity and decided to discuss it later. When they arrived, Chen Qiao and others had already secured a good spot. Yu Yang called out to Chen Qiao, and then the family headed to the spot he mentioned. Despite the crowd, many already knew of their strength and respectfully made way for them. The family simply thanked them, their demeanor neither servile nor overbearing, not giving off an air of superiority but rather a subtle aloofness, signaling their inapproachability and sparing them from people coming over to chat or curry favor. Soon, they reached the designated area. Chen Qiao and his group were quite at the forefront. Seeing Fang Yuxin and the rest, their eyes brightened, finding a sense of backbone. The Fang Family began observing the situation up front. The center of the square was encircled by armed soldiers. Through the gaps, one could see hundreds of people standing, all bound with their hands behind their backs, heads bowed, spirits wilted. It was these people that were the subject of relentless discussion around, speculating about their identities. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t even need to listen deliberately; she already knew what was going on. The situation was almost as she had guessed¡ªthese were the people who had taken advantage of the confusion last night to steal and cause trouble. People continued to arrive, and about half an hour later, the loudspeaker blared again, instructing everyone to sit down. Because of the crowd, many had their view obstructed, only by sitting down could they see clearly. Although the ground was dirty, these apocalypse-hardened individuals didn¡¯t mind and obediently sat down upon hearing the broadcast. Fang Yuxin and her family were dressed very cleanly, and sitting down dirtied their clothes. Fortunately, Shang Jinxiu was well prepared; she had brought a small bag containing soft little cushions, perfect to sit on. Distributing the cushions, everyone placed them beneath their bottoms. Stuffed with cotton, the cushions were much more comfortable than the hard marble ground, drawing envious looks from those around them. Then, Fang Yuxin suddenly heard Bai Qianqian ask in a low voice, ¡°Mama, why hasn¡¯t daddy come?¡± His chubby face crumpled up, clearly unhappy with the situation. Fang Yuxin thought for a moment, guessed a possibility, but it wasn¡¯t something she could share with Bai Qianqian, so she made up a reason to brush it off. Bai Qianqian seemed to accept Fang Yuxin¡¯s explanation compliantly, but as he turned his head, his mouth turned down. He didn¡¯t believe that his dad didn¡¯t want to come at all! There must be another reason! But his little clever mind could never guess that Bai Ye had fallen into the trap set by Shen Xi and Shen Xin, and all the supplies, Crystal Cores, and Elemental Stones had been stolen! So, they had gotten up particularly early that day and went outside the Safe Zone to hunt zombies. With so many people inside the Safe Zone, finding Shen Xi and Shen Xin was not an easy task, so they chose to earn Crystal Cores first. Fortunately, they still had their ID Cards, which contained several credit points to buy supplies. Otherwise, they would have been completely out of resources. Bai Qianqian couldn¡¯t guess the truth, but Fang Yuxin had her suspicions. However, she hadn¡¯t realized the problem lay with Shen Xi and Shen Xin, simply assuming Bai Ye¡¯s place had been burglarized. Bai Qianqian sneaked a glance at Fang Yuxin, knowing she wouldn¡¯t tell him even if she knew, so he kept his head down, not asking further, his eyes rolling as he thought about how to find an opportunity to see Bai Ye and ask him what exactly had happened. Once everyone was seated, the view became much clearer. Then, the armed soldiers parted to each side, their gun barrels aimed at the prisoners. Simultaneously, the three generals of the Safe Zone appeared. Among these three, General Song was the oldest, followed by General Li and Qiu Hongsheng. The latter two were close in age, with General Li being just two years younger than Hongsheng. Chapter 333 - 333 191 Thoughts (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 333: 191 Thoughts (First Update)_2 Chapter 333: 191 Thoughts (First Update)_2 However, ever since General Li and General Song had successfully awakened their superpowers through the use of the Elemental Crystals, their bodies, having gone through the strengthening process of awakening and advancement twice, began to look increasingly young. General Song¡¯s originally graying hair gradually turned black, with only a touch of light white at his temples. General Li became even younger; the fine lines around his eyes became less pronounced and evident, and even his nasolabial folds lightened, making him look nearly ten years younger than before! Qiu Hongsheng had always placed great importance on self-care, even more so than General Song and General Li. Therefore, even though General Li was two years younger than him, Qiu Hongsheng appeared younger on the surface. Now, however, the situation had completely reversed. Due to days of hard work, both physically and mentally, on top of his dissatisfaction and desire for awakening, combined with a diet incomparable to that before the apocalypse, he aged quickly. In contrast to General Li, who looked nearly ten years younger, Qiu Hongsheng appeared more than a decade older than him, nearly the same age as General Song. But since General Song had awakened his superpower, he looked spirited and youthful; his demeanor alone was something the red-eyed Qiu Hongsheng couldn¡¯t match. Qiu Hongsheng saw all these changes with his own eyes. How could he possibly not feel anxious or care? In fact, he looked particularly haggard that day, his red eyes as if he hadn¡¯t slept all night. And indeed, he hadn¡¯t. As a senior leader, he couldn¡¯t rest at all during the previous night¡¯s zombie attack on the city, as he was constantly commanding from the rear. After repelling the zombies, many new issues demanded his attention. After dealing with these matters, before he could even step out of his office, he received reports from his subordinates that many superpower users¡¯ homes had been burglarized! If it had been just one or two people affected, it might have been manageable, but there were quite a number of victims, and all of them had been on the battlefield fighting against the zombies. How could he not take it seriously? After hurriedly having someone take care of the matter, he finally returned home, only to face Zhou Fanghua¡¯s hysterical ranting! She had found out from someone that Fang Yuxin had shown off her prowess on the battlefield and even had a mutant plant juice that could purify the Zombie Virus. She went into hysteria, cursing nonstop, believing that Fang Yuxin was unworthy, that she was selfish for keeping good things to herself and unfit to be a daughter-in-law of the Qiu Family. Qiu Hongsheng, annoyed to no end, had originally liked Zhou Fanghua a lot ¨C after all, she was attractive and came from a good background, and she had a sister married into the Bai Family of Beishi City, which had given him considerable help in his career over the years. But there¡¯s a limit to fondness! Since the apocalypse began, both he and Zhou Fanghua had hoped to become superpower users, and Zhou Fanghua, because of this, had become obsessed, her entire demeanor turning erratic and paranoid. In his heart, he also knew that it wasn¡¯t solely her fault that Zhou Fanghua had become like this; the main reason was the great shock she had received, and also out of concern for their family. But knowing this didn¡¯t make it any easier to tolerate her hysteria day after day at home. How could he bear it? He harbored resentment too! Zhou Fanghua lashed out at him, but whom could he vent his anger on? Now that the apocalypse had come, he was aging, his body no longer as robust as before. If Qiu Yiming hadn¡¯t awakened the powerful Thunder Power, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to control the soldiers under him! Even so, he had to be cautious in his daily demeanor, never as careless as he once had been. Just to keep those under him in check and firmly in his grasp, he had exhausted so much effort! So, when he heard Zhou Fanghua¡¯s hysterical shouting, he felt a headache coming on. He bore a grudge against the Fang Family and Fang Yuxin, but he knew now was not the time to act recklessly! Fang Yuxin¡¯s abilities completely exceeded his expectations. Had he known that she could grow so much in such a short period, how could he have allowed Zhou Fanghua to be so frivolous and thoroughly offend Fang Yuxin? If he had known all this, he would have stopped Zhou Fanghua at the beginning of the apocalypse and gone to the Fang Family to settle the marriage of their children once and for all! Once Fang Yuxin married Qiu Yiming, she would become part of the Qiu Family. It was only right for her to work for the Qiu Family! Last night, after hearing about Fang Yuxin¡¯s bravado on the battlefield, he had the idea of marrying Fang Yuxin to Qiu Yiming. He had planned to get a good night¡¯s sleep, then discuss it with Zhou Fanghua and Qiu Yiming to expedite the wedding and make Fang Yuxin a member of the Qiu Family. She was a Chief Physician who had cured countless people. Those people, if they did not owe her any favors, surely felt grateful. If Fang Yuxin became part of the Qiu Family, how many more hearts could they win over? Perhaps, the Qiu Family could even use this momentum to become the biggest power in the Safe Zone, overpowering General Song and General Li! But before he could speak, Zhou Fanghua¡¯s hysterics sprayed all over him. Watching her continue her tirade, even demanding Fang Yuxin come to apologize personally, he finally lost his patience and angrily slapped her. His intention was to wake Zhou Fanghua up, but it only incited more ferocious hysteria from her! So the night passed in chaos, and he hardly slept at all, managing only a brief doze before dawn. And he got up early again! Standing next to the spirited General Song and General Li, Qiu Hongsheng felt increasingly powerless, and at the same time, he was even more determined to have Qiu Yiming and Fang Yuxin hurry up and marry! (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 334 - 334 192 New Regulations (Second Update) ?Chapter 334: 192 New Regulations (Second Update) Chapter 334: 192 New Regulations (Second Update) Qiu Hongsheng thought of this and couldn¡¯t help but turn his eyes directly toward Fang Yuxin in the crowd. It had been some days since he last saw Fang Yuxin, and now that he saw her again, he suddenly realized that she had become even more beautiful than before, with a more outstanding demeanor. Even in the crowd, she could still be instantly recognized, bright and dazzling, beyond description. Thinking about how she had become a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User in such a short time, not only with an outstanding healing ability but also obtaining the juice of mutant plants that could purify the Second-level Zombie Virus, what kind of fate was this? He suddenly regretted how he had been blinded before, listening to Zhou Fanghua¡¯s complaints and disliking Fang Yuxin. He had always considered her a good match for his son and a suitable daughter-in-law for the Qiu Family! There was no one else in Market who was more qualified to be the daughter-in-law of the Qiu Family! But as soon as the apocalypse came, Zhou Fanghua started complaining, and he, listening to those complaints, also felt that Fang Yuxin was not good in this or that aspect. He was really confused! Thinking about this, he started to resent Zhou Fanghua slightly. If it wasn¡¯t for her... If it hadn¡¯t been for her... Fang Yuxin might have already become the daughter-in-law of the Qiu Family, and he, too, might have already awakened as a superpower user. How could he have fallen into this disgraceful situation where he is now thoroughly outdone by people with the surnames Song and Li! All of this was caused by his so-called good wife! How had he been fooled by this foolish woman! He not only ruined himself but also dragged his son down! Thinking about the complete rift between the Fang Family and the Qiu Family, Qiu Yiming¡¯s smiling face disappeared completely, leaving only coldness and gloom. He regretted it deeply! Right! And that little wretch, Fang Mengyao! When the apocalypse just started, although Zhou Fanghua had complained a bit, she hadn¡¯t been this extremely hateful towards the Fang Family and Fang Yuxin. But ever since Fang Mengyao arrived, her attitude had become more severe! It must have been that little wretch, Fang Mengyao, who took advantage of his and Qiu Yiming¡¯s absence to say something to Zhou Fanghua! Fang Mengyao herself was an illegitimate child of the Fang Family. Her birth and her shameless mother were her biggest stains! Yet this woman shamelessly tried to seduce his son to marry into the Qiu Family, purely wishful thinking! The relationship between the Fang Family and Qiu Family was initially good, so when Zhu Wanxia first contacted Qu Qianhe, he had checked on this woman, and later when the Fang Family brought Fang Mengyao back, Qiu Yiming also took it quite seriously and investigated. Thus, they were clearly aware of the disgraceful issues concerning Fang Mengyao and Zhu Wanxia, and they naturally looked down on such a person of Fang Mengyao¡¯s status. Initially, if it hadn¡¯t been for Qiu Yiming suggesting that Fang Mengyao might have hidden treasures, he would never have allowed this little wretch to move in. At that time, he felt a bit uneasy, but thinking that Qiu Yiming was a man, even if something happened with Fang Mengyao, as long as he didn¡¯t marry this woman, what would it matter? Who would have known that this little wretch had such methods! She managed to make Zhou Fanghua utterly detest Fang Yuxin! She also ruined the relationship between Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming! This woman absolutely must not stay! Qiu Hongsheng secretly made up his mind, deciding to get rid of Fang Mengyao after returning home. Even if she really hid any treasures, as long as she was killed, what was there to worry about searching them out? Because he was preoccupied with these thoughts, his gaze lingered on Fang Yuxin for a bit too long. Thus, not only did Fang Yuxin herself notice his stare, but the people around her also noticed. Fang Yuyang¡¯s face was grim, Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang also looked displeased. Bai Qianqian¡¯s eyes were even rounded with fury, glaring fiercely at Qiu Hongsheng like a little beast, her small fists clenched tightly. He had awakened his spiritual power, which was exceptionally sensitive, allowing him to clearly sense the malice emanating from Qiu Hongsheng. Not only he sensed it, but Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang also did. Unfortunately, Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s malice was actually directed at Fang Mengyao. He bore no ill will toward Fang Yuxin; he just hoped she would marry Qiu Yiming as soon as possible. Qiu Hongsheng, however, was unaware that he had been misunderstood, and he also noticed that he had been staring at Fang Yuxin for too long. He quickly withdrew his gaze. Chapter 335 - 335 192 New Regulations (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 335: 192 New Regulations (Second Update)_2 Chapter 335: 192 New Regulations (Second Update)_2 At that moment, General Song took a loudspeaker and began his lamentable speech. He started from the onset of the apocalypse, then gradually moved on to the establishment of the Safe Zone by everyone, hunting zombies, searching for materials, rescuing survivors, as well as the recent mutations of flora and fauna, the ever-growing Zombie Group, and the incidents of zombies attacking cities. His speech was clearly well-prepared; the language used was very evocative, and coupled with his delivery, it was incredibly moving. Many listeners were affected, shedding tears and feeling deep shame. The Fang Family were probably the most clear-headed of all; they realized that the military was preparing for a major action. Previously, a continuous influx of survivors into the Safe Zone led to a mixture of good and bad, with frequent security issues. Most survivors in the Safe Zone were Ordinary People who lacked the courage to confront and kill zombies; even if they could not fill their bellies, they were unwilling to venture out to hunt for zombies. If things continued like this, the Safe Zone was bound to encounter problems¡ªit couldn¡¯t be possible to always rely on superpower users whenever zombies attacked the city, could it? The number of superpower users was limited after all, while the Zombie Group was enormous and likely to grow even further! What would happen if the superpower users could not hold off the zombies? If the zombies from outside breached the Safe Zone, these timid Ordinary People would likely become lambs to the slaughter, meekly eaten without even daring to resist! Therefore, such an outcome must be prevented at all costs! They could not allow these people to continue being so feeble! Nor could they let the superpower users lose heart! The Safe Zone was currently defended by superpower users and the military, and should the superpower users lose heart, relying solely on the military would not be enough to hold the entire Safe Zone! They were all acutely aware of this! General Song¡¯s speech was lengthy. He spoke for a long time, and by the end, most people had lowered their heads in shame. However, a few stubborn individuals still clung to wishful thinking, unwilling to change. Then it was General Li¡¯s turn to speak. His speech differed from General Song¡¯s; he took a more alarming and sensational route. In a stern tone, he exposed all the severe consequences and harsh realities, making it clear to these people that evasion was futile. To survive, they must take up arms and fight! Finally, Qiu Hongsheng addressed the crowd. Unlike the previous two, he did not discuss grand principles; instead, he directly announced the new regulations hastily enacted by the Safe Zone. There were many new rules, but the most crucial was that, starting today, the Safe Zone would implement mandatory military service. Except for the elderly, children, and mercenaries, all physically able adults were required to join the military and undergo militarized training! Once their training was complete, these individuals would take turns performing tasks outside of the Safe Zone, such as hunting zombies or mutated flora and fauna. Other mercenaries and Mercenary Corps were required to complete at least one zombie-hunting task daily. Those who completed more tasks would naturally receive corresponding rewards. Likewise, those unwilling to undertake tasks would be forcefully assigned to temporary squads and sent to carry out missions outside the Safe Zone. The remaining elderly and children would not have to hunt zombies; a school would be established within the Safe Zone to educate the children. As for the elderly, the Safe Zone made no demands, but if they wished to obtain food, they would also need to contribute labor. When the new regulations were read out, there was considerable protest from the crowd. Thus, unsurprisingly, Qiu Hongsheng, who announced the regulations, received a great deal of resentment. He was well aware that announcing such measures was akin to drawing ire upon himself. But he had no choice; the Qiu Family¡¯s influence had weakened within the military, and although Qiu Yiming¡¯s superpower was quite impressive, General Li and General Song also had capable people beneath them. All the favorable tasks were predictably claimed by General Song and General Li, leaving him with the unenviable job of announcing unpopular measures. However, the policies had been jointly established by the three of them. He had woken up early that morning and, after discussing with General Song and General Li for most of the day, finally settled on the content. Although the new regulations seemed harsh, if successfully implemented, they would solidify the military¡¯s position as impregnable, and they would no longer need to worry about the possibility of the previous night¡¯s near debacle of being viciously bitten by certain opportunistic elements! Moreover, by arranging militarized training for these militia members, they aimed to increase their strength, giving them a greater chance of survival, rather than sending them off to certain death. In this regard, their demands could not be considered insensitive. It was just that these people had already grown accustomed to the protected life within the Safe Zone, which was why they found it so difficult to adapt at the start. Qiu Hongsheng noticed the hostile glances around him, scoffed dismissively in his mind, and continued reading until all the regulations were announced. Then another rule struck a nerve among the crowd. The prices at the safe store were going to increase! For many Ordinary People, the items were already expensive enough, and now they were to become even more costly ¨C it was as if they were being driven to their deaths! The military had its reasons for increasing the prices; the Safe Zone had yet to establish production lines, and commodities at the safe store were all gathered from before, so selling them would reduce the stock. Most people were probably aware of this. Thus, despite the rationing orders, there were always people buying resources, hoarding even what they couldn¡¯t eat or use. This resulted in the military¡¯s resources dwindling. During the previous night¡¯s greed-fueled theft, many superpower users¡¯ possessions were stolen. While most of it was recovered, a small portion was nowhere to be found. That small portion had to be compensated for by the military itself, to reimburse the superpower users who suffered losses. After all, they were the heroes, and it wouldn¡¯t be right to let them lose heart. (To be continued... If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote and give monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 336 - 336 193 The Last Chance (Third Update) ?Chapter 336: 193 The Last Chance (Third Update) Chapter 336: 193 The Last Chance (Third Update) 193 The Final Opportunity In addition to supplying the superpower users¡¯ materials, last night many people had made notable contributions in fighting the zombies and must be rewarded. Their final harvest of Crystal Cores wasn¡¯t much, a significant portion of which was devoured by the zombies. The sheer number of these Crystal Cores was clearly insufficient, and the military had to dig into their pockets again, allocating a portion of the materials as rewards for these meritorious individuals. To save on materials, the military was also in a dilemma, so they decided to be stingy this time, providing fewer materials and replacing the remaining rewards with credit points and Contribution Value. These were nothing but virtual data, not too painful to part with. Moreover, they not only increased the prices of goods in the safe store but also adjusted the purchase limit order to reduce the quantity one could buy, preventing people from hoarding supplies. The only constant was the discount for meritorious personnel. By raising the prices, the military also aimed to encourage Ordinary People to participate in militarized training, go out to hunt zombies, and complete tasks. By accomplishing these tasks, they could not only obtain Crystal Cores but also earn rewards in credit points and Contribution Value. And those unwilling, probably wouldn¡¯t survive much longer. Human potential is always limitless; some people, still oblivious to reality, harbored wishful thinking and tended to slack off. But once confronted with the bloody reality, in order to survive, they might unleash unimaginable strength! However, when the new rules were initially announced, most people opposed them. They were accustomed to slacking off, used to being protected, and unwilling to accept the harsh militarized training or even go out to hunt zombies! Those monsters were simply too terrifying! ¡°You cannot treat us like this!¡± ¡°We protest! We do not accept these new regulations!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! We absolutely do not accept them!¡± ... For a time, the sounds of protest rose and fell, creating uninterrupted chaos. The three generals said nothing, waiting for these people to make noise for a while, before Qiu Hongsheng finally pulled out a handgun and fired a shot into the air. ¡°Bang!¡± The gunshot successfully halted the protests; their courage was already small, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have preferred starving over fighting the zombies. Humans have an instinctive fear of weapons like guns. Some people turned pale, and then, after an eerie silence, someone suddenly said, ¡°What are we afraid of! They are soldiers! Their duty is to protect us! They wouldn¡¯t dare to shoot us!¡± This voice instantly broke the eerie silence, followed by even more intense protests, nearly a frenzy of public outrage. The Yongcheng Team watched all this indifferently and said nothing. They did not see any issue with these new rules as they didn¡¯t pose significant harm to their interests. Even if there were no regulations in the Safe Zone, they would still go out to hunt zombies for their cultivation. As for the price increase... they had gotten quite a few good things at that Food Trading City last time! Most of those items were stored in the Fang Family¡¯s basement, and the rest were placed in Shang Jinxiu¡¯s space. They did not need to buy food from the safe store, and even the weapons inside no longer attracted them much. Also, regarding last night¡¯s incident, they felt disheartened. Their place had been entered as well, but they had only kept a small amount of materials inside as a decoy. Those materials were junk food, and although taken, their loss was not significant. Yet even so, they still felt angry! They had risked their lives outside, strenuously fighting off the zombies¡¯ attacks, and yet people in the Safe Zone had set their sights on the materials they had! They could not tolerate this! And although their loss was not significant, what about the other superpower users? They risked their lives to protect the entire Safe Zone, why should they suffer such treatment? How could they be treated like this! Such behavior truly disheartened them! Therefore, Chen Qiao and others had no objection to these new regulations at all. Instead, it was the protests of the people around them that greatly displeased them. These people stayed in the Safe Zone all day under protection, on what grounds? Why should others risk their lives to go out and hunt zombies? Obviously, the more people receive, the less grateful they become. They even start to take it for granted! Chapter 337 - 337 193 The Last Chance (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 337: 193 The Last Chance (Third Update)_2 Chapter 337: 193 The Last Chance (Third Update)_2 Just then, another gunshot rang out, followed by Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s voice, ¡°You¡¯re right, we won¡¯t shoot you. But that¡¯s not because we¡¯re military personnel, but because we won¡¯t waste bullets on you! Our bullets are meant for killing zombies, not for shooting you cowardly lot who are too afraid to die! Now! Anyone who doesn¡¯t want to follow the new regulations, stand up! I want to see how many of you are unwilling!¡± Upon hearing these words, there was a moment of silence, but then people started standing up one after another. Many were still watching and, seeing others stand, more followed suit. The so-called bandwagon effect, nothing more than this. Some had been indecisive, but upon seeing more people stand, they subconsciously followed. It was the psychology of the minority conforming to the majority. In their minds, with so many of them standing, would the military dare to go against their wishes? In the end, it would be the military who would have to compromise! Sadly, they soon realized they were mistaken. Although many had risen, even more remained seated on the ground. Among these sitters were some who had previously been vociferous in their protests. But when actually faced with being singled out as examples, they lacked the courage. Qiu Hongsheng, with a stern expression, shouted, ¡°Any more of you want to stand up? I¡¯m going to count to three, and if you don¡¯t stand up now, you¡¯ll lose your chance!¡± ¡°One!¡± Some people looked around hesitantly and stood up. ¡°Two!¡± More people joined in standing. ¡°Three!¡± This time, even more hesitant people got to their feet, and the number who stood increased. Qiu Hongsheng continued, ¡°No one else standing? Have you all really made up your minds? Now, I¡¯ll give you one last chance. If you regret it, you can sit down now. If there¡¯s anyone else wanting to stand, you may choose to do so. This is the final opportunity; you have one minute, after which there will be no more chances! So, you had better think it through!¡± His words were laced with threat, and soon, some people changed their minds. Some who were standing now sat down hesitantly, while those who were sitting did not continue to rise. Everyone¡¯s heart was pounding, unsure of Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s intentions, and even more worried about what would happen after they stood up. So, one by one, they sat back down. That one minute felt exceptionally long; some even began to sweat, their faces turned pale, their lips dry, and their eyes flickered with panic and unease. However, a minute was ultimately brief, and even as many had not really made up their minds, it passed. Then everyone heard Qiu Hongsheng declare, ¡°Good, the one minute has passed, and you no longer have the chance to regret the decisions you¡¯ve made.¡± For some reason, hearing this, everyone felt a sense of relief as if a weight had been lifted. At last, they didn¡¯t have to make that tough choice anymore. Those seated gradually resigned themselves to their fate, while those standing became increasingly anxious and pale, trembling and ready to sit back down. Seeing their intentions, Qiu Hongsheng scoffed, ¡°I told you already, there¡¯s no room for regret! Even if you sit down now, you¡¯ll still be singled out!¡± At this, the Yongcheng Team all looked in the same direction with knowing smirks. There stood a woman, upright and composed, unlike the unrest seen on the faces of others, she bore the fierce determination of a martyr in a film, her demeanor unyielding and tough. Regrettably, watching her, the Yongcheng Team didn¡¯t feel a shred of respect but instead secretly waited to see her make a fool of herself. For she was none other than Lin Feiyin, who enjoyed all the benefits of being a Doctor yet was conspicuously absent when it mattered most! Shang Jinxiu whispered, ¡°Sister Xin, this woman sure is interesting. Why does she seem to get involved in everything?¡± Fang Yuxin smiled faintly, ¡°Perhaps she thinks she¡¯s the protagonist in some TV drama.¡± Shang Jinxiu immediately caught on, her eyes brightening as she chuckled meaningfully, ¡°Oh,~~~ but this isn¡¯t a TV show. She can¡¯t actually believe she¡¯s some sort of indestructible cockroach, right? Without a scriptwriter¡¯s golden touch, she dares to play the saint like everyone else, truly clueless about how she¡¯ll meet her end!¡± She felt no sympathy for these people. Once upon a time, she was powerless and could only serve as a mobile supply depot. But even then, she strove to improve her strength and went out to hunt zombies. After joining the Yongcheng Team, she took the training from her teammates and even requested more to enhance her abilities quicker. She was determined not to remain a burden, even if she couldn¡¯t match her teammates¡¯ level. And what about them? Previously, they could argue they had no means to improve, but now the military had given them the opportunity to train. What did they have to protest about? This disaster wasn¡¯t exclusive to superpower users; humans were facing it together. What obligation did superpower users have to protect them indefinitely? And as this thought crossed her mind, Qiu Hongsheng spoke again, ¡°Since you¡¯re all unwilling to accept the Safe Zone¡¯s new regulations, you are no longer suitable to stay within the Safe Zone. You will be escorted out, and henceforth, the Safe Zone will not welcome you back!¡±(To be continued. If you like this story, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 338 - 338 194 Deprivation of Identity (First Update) ?Chapter 338: 194 Deprivation of Identity (First Update) Chapter 338: 194 Deprivation of Identity (First Update) A simple sentence, yet spoken with such force that everyone was stunned. Those who were still sitting sighed in relief after a brief surprise, thankful that they had made the right choice and had not acted foolishly. Those still standing were completely bewildered, never expecting Qiu Hongsheng to utter such cruel words! He actually wanted to drive them out of the Safe Zone! How could he! Weren¡¯t these people military personnel? How could they do this? It wasn¡¯t fair! They would never agree to it! ¡°Why should we? We¡¯re not leaving the Safe Zone!¡± ¡°Exactly! We won¡¯t go out!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! What gives you the right to drive us out?¡± ¡°I own property here! I have a house; you can¡¯t force me out! You can¡¯t do this!¡± ... The voices of protest were incessant, and although those standing seemed resolute, each of them looked terrified, their eyes filled with insecurity. They were all afraid, afraid that the military might genuinely drive them out. Some continued to shout, while others quickly sat down, trying to blend in unnoticed. Generals Song and Li didn¡¯t speak and observed passively, leaving the matter entirely to Qiu Hongsheng to handle. Qiu Hongsheng, however, didn¡¯t argue with these people, and with a gesture, summoned a squad of soldiers, saying, ¡°Alright, now, take these people away!¡± All these soldiers were battle-hardened, each one tall and robust, with an aura of menace about them. Upon receiving the order, they rapidly charged into the crowd and arrested everyone who was still shouting. Those who thought they could get by unnoticed were also pulled out one after another. Then, Lin Feiyin suddenly spoke. She had been standing all the while, but so far, no soldier had approached her. This situation gave her some confidence so she said, ¡°Wait! General Qiu, please release them! These people are residents of the Safe Zone, they¡¯ve done nothing wrong. Why treat them this way? With zombies everywhere outside, they aren¡¯t strong enough. If you drive them out, aren¡¯t you just forcing them to die?¡± Qiu Hongsheng recognized her immediately, and with a half-smiling, peculiar tone, as he eyed the Doctor¡¯s Medal on Lin Feiyin¡¯s chest, he said, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Doctor Lin. I just realized how much you care about the residents of the Safe Zone.¡± Hearing his curious tone, Lin Feiyin suddenly felt uneasy, but seeing the utter terror on the faces of the people around her, she felt it was her responsibility to help them. She thought again. She was a doctor in the Safe Zone, and her superpower was extremely special. With the liquid Fang Yuxin had that could purify the virus bound to run out sooner or later, her superpower would become crucial. Thus, she was confident they wouldn¡¯t dare touch her. So, suppressing her unease, she continued, ¡°I am a doctor of the Safe Zone, and they are residents here. It¡¯s natural for a doctor to care about their patients, isn¡¯t it? But General Qiu, as a general, how can you so casually disregard their lives? Are their lives not lives? They¡¯re just dissatisfied with the new rules being too harsh. How can you just drive them out and force them to die because of this?¡± Qiu Hongsheng listened as she spoke and finally, smilingly said, ¡°A doctor¡¯s parental heart, huh? Then I¡¯m curious, Doctor Lin, where were you last night when so many injured were waiting for your treatment during the zombie attack on the city?¡± He purposely elongated the words ¡°Doctor Lin¡± with a hint of sarcasm. And with those words, others couldn¡¯t help but look towards Lin Feiyin. Initially, when she had bravely articulated her arguments against Qiu Hongsheng, people had admired her courage. However, upon hearing Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s words, their gaze towards Lin Feiyin shifted from respect to blatant scorn. Lin Feiyin felt the piercing stares around her and suddenly became very nervous. She instinctively wanted to defend herself, but just as she began to speak, Qiu Hongsheng interrupted, ¡°Lin Feiyin, you enjoy various conveniences thanks to your status as a doctor, and the Safe Zone gives you a considerable daily reward. But where were you last night when so many injured personnel, who were injured protecting the Safe Zone, were on the brink of death? If it hadn¡¯t been for another doctor who happened to have the purifying agent for the virus, do you know how many would have died because you fled from your duty?¡± Chapter 339 - 339 194 Deprivation of Identity (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 339: 194 Deprivation of Identity (First Update)_2 Chapter 339: 194 Deprivation of Identity (First Update)_2 His tone grew increasingly harsh, and Lin Feiyin¡¯s face turned crimson from what he said. She even noticed that after Qiu Hongsheng spoke, the looks people gave her became even more piercing! Lin Feiyin felt incredibly wronged inside; she didn¡¯t want it to be this way! She had her reasons! At that time, she had to protect that mother and son. What would have happened to them if she had left? In fact, she had thought about going on standby at the temporary hospital after receiving the notice, but the mother and son were crying so pitifully that she couldn¡¯t just abandon them. Gradually, murmurs arose around her, and those who remained standing were too busy to care, plus Lin Feiyin was technically on their side, so even if they disdained her inwardly, they wouldn¡¯t say anything to her face. However, those who were sitting had no such scruples. They didn¡¯t face the threat of being expelled from the Safe Zone, and given the recent tension, they needed something to relax. The military was not something they dared to offend, but as for Lin Feiyin, they had no concerns. They just whispered among themselves; Lin Feiyin couldn¡¯t hear them anyway. What did they have to fear? Even if she did hear, could she possibly remember all their faces? The voices of one or two people were indeed not loud, these people still had concerns, worried about offending Lin Feiyin, so they deliberately controlled their volume. But as more people joined in the discussion, all the voices mixed together, washing over Lin Feiyin¡¯s eardrums like a flood. Lin Feiyin listened to these discussions, her expression becoming uglier and uglier. Suddenly, she lifted her head and glared at Qiu Hongsheng with a face full of shame, looking as if Qiu Hongsheng had bullied her severely. If someone not aware of the full story were to see only this scene, they might imagine all sorts of things, thinking that Qiu Hongsheng must have done something terrible to Lin Feiyin. Ironically, the reality was the complete opposite! Lin Feiyin held her chin up slightly, with a defiant look, and loudly said, ¡°Yes, I indeed did not go to the temporary hospital last night, but there was a reason! I sheltered a very pitiful mother and son; since their arrival in the Safe Zone, they were constantly bullied by the people around them, yet no one stood up for them. So, I took them in. Last night, when the zombies attacked, they were very scared, and I stayed to protect them. At that time, I was already aware that Fang Yuxin had a type of Mutant Plant juice that could purify the virus. My presence there wasn¡¯t crucial because I believed other doctors could definitely treat the wounded.¡± Lin Feiyin thought she had made herself clear enough, and the reasons were sufficiently compelling. Qiu Hongsheng should have nothing further to criticize. Yet, Qiu Hongsheng just scoffed coldly, his tone harsh as he said, ¡°What a joke! Last night, the situation in the entire Safe Zone was critical, and you for the sake of protecting a mother and son, abandoned all the wounded? If other doctors thought like you, would anyone need to attend at all?¡± Qiu Hongsheng himself was an Old Fox. Due to being influenced by Zhou Fanghua and also because he wasn¡¯t aware of Fang Yuxin¡¯s true Potential, he had misjudged her, resulting in his current regret. But Lin Feiyin was just a naive young girl with a kind heart but a muddled mind. How could she possibly be a match for Qiu Hongsheng? Qiu Hongsheng spoke compellingly, easily overturning all of Lin Feiyin¡¯s explanations, once again putting her in an awkward and embarrassing situation. Lin Feiyin was so angry she was lost for words, and she also couldn¡¯t think of what to say to salvage her currently unfavorable situation. Before she could figure it out, Qiu Hongsheng gestured and said, ¡°Lin Feiyin, because you disobeyed military orders last night, effective immediately, you are no longer a doctor in the Safe Zone and will no longer enjoy the privileges of being a doctor. However, given your special abilities, I can give you another chance. If you sit down now, you will not be expelled from the Safe Zone. The choice is yours to make!¡± This move by Qiu Hongsheng was particularly ruthless; if Lin Feiyin chose to stand, she would be expelled from the Safe Zone, but if she sat down under these circumstances, she would naturally be regarded as contemptible, disgraced inside and outside. Upon hearing this, Lin Feiyin was first panic-stricken, then she sighed with relief. Since Qiu Hongsheng was willing to give her this chance, it indicated that Qiu Hongsheng or rather the military, still valued her abilities highly. Thus, as long as she performed well in the future, she did not fear not being able to become a doctor again. As for those about to be driven out, she was powerless to help them. She was about to sit down when she suddenly saw a soldier approaching her. Her heart panicked, and she stared at him warily and asked, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± The soldier looked at her disdainfully, then reached up to remove the Doctor¡¯s Medal pinned on her chest. She instinctively tried to step back, but the soldier had already quickly grabbed the medal and skillfully removed it, then snorted disdainfully and said softly, ¡°Someone who flees in the face of battle also qualifies to be a doctor?¡± After he spoke, he left, leaving Lin Feiyin staring shocked at his retreating figure, her heart unable to calm for a long time. How could this person... how could he do this to her? (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommended tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 340 - 340 195 A Chance (Second Release) ?Chapter 340: 195 A Chance (Second Release) Chapter 340: 195 A Chance (Second Release) Lin Feiyin hadn¡¯t come to her senses yet when suddenly she heard Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s malicious voice, ¡°Well? Is Lady Lin preparing to leave the Safe Zone with them?¡± His words shook Feiyin back to reality. She hesitated for a moment, then quickly sat down. Before sitting, she whispered to the person standing next to her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will find a way to keep you safe. I won¡¯t let them kick you out of the Safe Zone.¡± After speaking, she gave that person a Calming look, then settled down with a clear conscience, unaware that the corner of their mouth twitched in a sneer of disdain. Trust her? Did they think him a fool? With disdain, the person thought to themselves, then shouted loudly, ¡°General Qiu! General Song! General Li! I know my mistake! I am willing to accept the new regulations! Please give me another chance! I am willing to undergo military training, please give me a chance! I really realize my mistake!¡± Their voice was a wake-up call to the others standing around. Those people caught on and also started shouting, each admitting their mistakes and hoping the military would give them another chance. Then, all those who were about to be expelled began crying out. Although their voices were chaotic at first, they gradually became uniform. These people vocally acknowledged their errors, their expressions changing from initial panic and reluctance to earnestness. If initially, they claimed wrongdoing simply to survive, speaking out began to change their mentality. Both their expressions and their voices now bore a sincere tenor. They were truly willing to undergo the training, to go out and hunt zombies! Cued by their admissions, even those who were sitting down began to advocate for them. ¡°Yes! Just give them one chance!¡± ¡°Give them one chance!¡± ¡°Give them a chance!¡± ¡°Give them a chance!¡± And then, those standing also obediently added, ¡°Right! We know our mistake! Please give us a chance!¡± Gradually, all their voices merged together, becoming a resonant, skyward-bound roar! These people weren¡¯t very strong, or to put it another way, they were physically fit but fearful in their hearts, which had always prevented them from venturing out. But in this moment, as they spoke their minds, listening to their own voices, a surge of bold passion arose within them. Just killing zombies, right? If others could, why couldn¡¯t they? Everyone is human, after all; what was there to fear? Qiu Hongsheng didn¡¯t speak; instead, General Song and General Li stepped forward together. General Song asked, ¡°Do you all truly wish to accept the Safe Zone¡¯s new regulations? To undergo military training and then go out to hunt zombies?¡± Everyone shouted in unison, ¡°We do! We are willing!¡± General Song then said, ¡°Good! Since you¡¯re willing, we will give you this one chance! I hope you don¡¯t forget the words you just said! Follow the arrangements, undergo training, and hunt zombies!¡± Once again, everyone¡¯s voices roared in unison, ¡°Kill the zombies! Kill the zombies! Kill the zombies!¡± General Li raised both hands, palms facing downward, and gently pressed down, ¡°Silence!¡± Everyone quieted down quickly, then he continued, ¡°I hope you don¡¯t blame General Qiu; when he spoke like that earlier, it was actually a test for you, to see what kind of character you have, and not really to drive you out of the Safe Zone. However, I still must say that the situation is now very grave. The number of zombies roaming outside the Safe Zone is increasing. You should all be aware of last night¡¯s zombie attack on the city. Although we preserved the Safe Zone this time, what about next time? And the time after that? We¡¯re enforcing conscription and military training not for our own sakes, but to give you the power to kill zombies, to maximize your chances of survival! Only if everyone can fight, if everyone can kill zombies, can we safeguard the Safe Zone, possibly eradicate all the zombies outside, and maybe regain the peace and tranquility of our past lives! Now tell me, do you want to go hungry every day, or do you and your family to eat your fill? Do you want to live uncertainly, aimlessly, numbly, or do you want to take control of your fate? Do you want to live in constant fear, or do you want a peaceful life, free from the threat of death? Tell me!¡± Listening to these words, everyone¡¯s faces gradually changed. Although they had just spoken the words of killing zombies, they were only supported by a wave of heroic sentiment, a wave of determination. However, that was clearly not enough; they had to fundamentally alter their mindset, to plant firm beliefs and will in their hearts, to enact a complete transformation, to make them wholeheartedly accept the brutal military training and go out to hunt zombies, to prevent them from fleeing in the face of hardship and danger, or even giving up! Chapter 341 - 341 195 A Chance (Second Release)_2 ?Chapter 341: 195 A Chance (Second Release)_2 Chapter 341: 195 A Chance (Second Release)_2 Now, after listening to General Li¡¯s words, they couldn¡¯t help but reminisce about the peaceful days before the apocalypse. The people here came from all walks of society; some were once affluent while others belonged to the lower rungs, toiling every day for their livelihood. Yet, no matter how difficult life had been, they at least had enough food and clothes and a safe place to stay. They didn¡¯t need to worry about man-eating monsters breaking into their houses at any moment, nor did they have to starve all day long. Back then, they had various complaints about their lives, but only after truly experiencing the cruelty of the apocalypse did they realize how blissful those old days were! Now, the only thought in their minds was¡ªexterminate all the zombies outside and get life back on track! Perhaps their mindset might change again in the future, but at least at this moment, they all had a firm belief and a goal to live for! The three generals were very pleased with this outcome. Thus, Qiu Hongsheng stepped forward and said, ¡°Since you all understand now, I¡¯ll tell you another thing: the military enlistment has already begun. After this meeting, you can go to the Task Hall to sign up and register your ID information. Training will start tomorrow. During the training period, anyone who participates will receive a ration of food, but this food is not given for free¡ªit¡¯s advanced to you! The bill will be recorded on your ID Card, and you will have to pay back the debt gradually when you participate in missions.¡± Everyone quickly accepted this condition. They now understood how precious food was. They were already delighted that the military was willing to advance it to them, let alone offer it for free! They couldn¡¯t get enough to eat every day, so naturally, they were overjoyed at the prospect of food. The three generals had been a bit worried that there would be opposition. They even had plans in place for such a scenario but didn¡¯t expect that the people would accept it outright, without any objections. They secretly breathed a sigh of relief and began discussing another matter¡ªthe chaos that some people had caused last night. This time, it wasn¡¯t Qiu Hongsheng speaking, but General Li. He said, ¡°Alright, everyone now knows that last night some people took advantage of the situation to cause chaos, not only stealing supplies from those who had contributed but also attempting to assault the army! Now, the instigators are all here, and I hope everyone remembers what they¡¯ve done, and remember, not to make the same mistake! Your enemies are the zombies outside, not your own compatriots! Anyone who dares to harm their own will not be let off lightly once discovered!¡± Hearing this, all eyes shifted to the bound prisoners. The criminals here were not all of them but just a part. Last night thousands were caught, some stealing, and others preparing to defy the military to seize control of the Safe Zone. The more significant leaders among them were all present, while the rest had been dispatched outside the Safe Zone to build defensive constructions. There had never been a large-scale zombie siege before; only stray zombies would come near the Safe Zone, which were easy to deal with. Moreover, since everyone was busy scavenging supplies in the city, only the Protection Wall was constructed. At that time, the higher-ups didn¡¯t know the zombies would evolve so quickly and become so formidable; they thought the Protection Wall would be enough. However, last night¡¯s events were a wake-up call for everyone to hurry and build defenses outside the Safe Zone! Otherwise, if a zombie siege happened again, it would be far too dangerous! As a result, the leadership specifically rallied a large number of people to build defensive constructions outside the Safe Zone, first to thicken the Protection Wall, and second, to dig deep pits outside the wall. The soil excavated was utilized by Earth Element Superpower Users to thicken the Protection Wall or to create Earth Spikes and set traps in the pits. At the same time, drawbridges were installed outside the Protection Wall. These drawbridges were usually pulled up against the wall. They would only be lowered in emergency situations when one needed to go out of the Safe Zone, laying across the traps to form a safe passage. Previously, the entire Safe Zone had only one main gate for entry and exit. Now there were four, aside from the main path, the rest were turned into deep pits. The swamp created by Fang Jintang previously hadn¡¯t disappeared; the higher-ups did not order it to be filled but instead deliberately kept it as a ¡°natural¡± trap. Since more and more zombies began appearing outside the Safe Zone, working on defensive structures outside became a dangerous task. Fortunately, it was still on the outskirts of the Safe Zone and protected by designated personnel, so the safety was relatively secure. But such tasks were not something everyone was willing to undertake. Thus, the criminals caught last night were directly taken out to be dispersed outside the Safe Zone, specifically assigned to dig pits. Those digging would stay in the pits, making it very difficult for them to escape in the face of danger, effectively placing them in the most perilous position. Initially, the remaining leaders were also to be taken out to work. But before they were dispatched, the higher-ups intended to let the residents of the Safe Zone see them as a deterrent. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 342 - 342 196 The Holy Mother is sick she must be cured ?Chapter 342: 196 The Holy Mother is sick, she must be cured! (Third update) Chapter 342: 196 The Holy Mother is sick, she must be cured! (Third update) The following matters became much simpler, for the difficult parts had already been resolved. The three generals didn¡¯t speak, simply allowing a soldier beside them to announce the charges of these people, as well as their punishments. Since the Safe Zone was short on manpower, even though their actions were egregious, the higher-ups had no intention of executing them. Instead, they were given long-term labor reform, and all of their possessions were confiscated, including materials, Crystal Cores, housing, and the credit points on their ID Cards. Even their Contribution Value had turned negative. The tasks for the Ordinary People among them were to build Defense structures outside the Safe Zone or to clean up the battlefield, piling up the corpses of zombies and burning them cleanly with fire. It could be said that this was the most exhausting and difficult work, although not the most dangerous. The tasks for the superpower users were different. After the Defense constructions were completed, they would be incorporated into combat teams, going out each day to hunt zombies. The Crystal Cores they obtained on their own could be kept, but beyond that, the military would only provide them with the basic food and water needed to sustain life. They wouldn¡¯t receive any credit points or material rewards, only Contribution Value. Only when their Contribution Value accumulated to a positive number would their labor reform be deemed complete. Based on the difficulty and danger level of the tasks, the Contribution Value awarded and the basic food allocated varied. In essence, to live better and restore one¡¯s freedom sooner, one needed to hunt zombies, and the more killed, the higher the rewards. Such punishment was clearly severe. However, after listening, no one felt sympathy for these criminals, simply feeling secretly relieved that they hadn¡¯t acted impulsively and made foolish mistakes. Lin Feiyin watched the criminals hanging their heads in silence, their complexions ashen after hearing their punishments, and her sense of compassion surged anew. She felt no sympathy for those who attacked the military, but the punishment was too harsh for those who had only committed theft! She thought she must do something! At that moment, General Li said, ¡°Regarding these punishments, are you willing to accept them?¡± The criminals were all ordered to squat on the ground, their hands tied behind their backs. Squatting on the ground, some having been punished the night before, their bodies were bruised and battered. Combined with a lack of sleep, their spirits were naturally very pitiable. After the punishment was read, the criminals¡¯ heads lowered even further. To say they had no thoughts about it was absolutely impossible, but these people were not foolish; they were very clear that opposing the military would only result in their own disadvantage! At least now they didn¡¯t have to die. If they were ungrateful and angered the military, who could drive them out of the Safe Zone without weapons or supplies, they would indeed be left with only the path to death! At least, due to the lack of manpower, the military wouldn¡¯t deliberately send them to their deaths. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t willingly accept such punishment, but it was merely a temporary measure. As for the future, they would take it step by step; an opportunity would always come! So, after General Li asked, they were prepared to shake their heads, indicating they had no objections! But at that moment, they heard a woman say, ¡°They won¡¯t accept this harsh punishment! Nor should they!¡± Upon hearing that voice, the criminals felt as if their inner Divine Beasts began to sprint wildly. Where did this damned woman come from, spouting such nonsense? They accepted! They accepted it very much! All the criminals unanimously lifted their heads and saw Lin Feiyin standing up. Because everyone else was sitting down, her solitary standing figure was very conspicuous. The surrounding crowd silently looked towards her, no one expecting her to throw another spanner in the works. The expressions of the three generals also darkened slightly, as they had already held a grievance against Lin Feiyin for defying military orders! Most of the people who fought against the zombies last night were their elite soldiers! Because Lin Feiyin had not attended, these people nearly died from the virus infection, fortunately, Fang Yuxin had the mutant plant juice that could purify the Zombie Virus, and they were saved. They had not yet dealt with this woman, yet here she was, keen to jump out and make her presence felt! As the saying goes, even a clay figurine has a three-point temper; the three generals had held high positions for many years, and certainly weren¡¯t bodhisattvas! They simply did not want to stoop to argue with a woman like Lin Feiyin, but that did not mean they were magnanimous enough to forgive her repeated offenses! Chapter 343 - 343 196 The Holy Mother is sick and needs to be cured ?Chapter 343: 196 The Holy Mother is sick and needs to be cured! (Third Update)_2 Chapter 343: 196 The Holy Mother is sick and needs to be cured! (Third Update)_2 Before, when they heard that Lin Feiyin was always at odds with Fang Yuxin, at most, they thought Lin Feiyin was out of her mind, but it wouldn¡¯t make them angry. After all, the person she provoked was Fang Yuxin, not them. Now, after Lin Feiyin repeatedly provoked them, they finally understood how nauseating it felt to have a constant irritant bouncing around in front of their eyes! And yet this person always considered herself to be in the right, with an attitude that proclaimed, ¡®I represent justice, I¡¯m right and you¡¯re all wrong,¡¯ completely unreasonable! Lin Feiyin spoke quickly, ¡°They¡¯re just struggling to survive; they¡¯re forced to steal the superpower users¡¯ supplies, it¡¯s not intentional. Can¡¯t they be given a chance to reform? Who hasn¡¯t made mistakes? Why treat them so harshly?¡± The three generals couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with her. General Li directly asked the criminals, ¡°Do you think so too? Do you think you¡¯re not in the wrong?¡± Because he was at the brink of fury, his voice felt particularly dangerous. The criminals, having already been disciplined, were very perceptive, and knowing he was about to explode, they hurriedly shook their heads, ¡°We absolutely don¡¯t think that! We are in the wrong! We are willing to accept punishment!¡± The three generals watched this scene with satisfaction, then General Song said, ¡°Since this is the case, then...¡± But before he could finish, Lin Feiyin interrupted him, ¡°Wait! They¡¯re not doing this voluntarily; you¡¯re forcing them!¡± After saying this, she anxiously turned to the criminals and spoke, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let you suffer! I will fight for your basic rights! I¡¯ll help you avoid this unfair punishment!¡± In the end, feeling desperately alone, Lin Feiyin turned to the people around her and said, ¡°What do you all think? These people are being pushed to their limits; such severe punishment is too unfair for them! We should help them!¡± This time, everyone, whether military, local residents, or the criminals themselves, looked at Lin Feiyin with eyes that said, ¡°You¡¯re such a meddler,¡± wishing that she would just shut up. If Lin Feiyin really had the means to help them avoid punishment, that would be one thing, but unfortunately, she only knew how to make a fuss. If she really got involved, it would only make things worse! They were not fools! One of the plump criminals glared at Lin Feiyin with dangerous eyes and cursed inwardly ¡°fool,¡± while saying, ¡°Lady Lin, please stop causing trouble. Regarding last night¡¯s events, we already know we were wrong. If you¡¯re unsatisfied with the military, that¡¯s your own affair. You can go and talk to them about it. Please just stop using us as an excuse. If you truly pity us, then please don¡¯t drag us into further injustice.¡± The plump man said this intentionally, without any good intentions. He wasn¡¯t a kindly person either. If Lin Feiyin hadn¡¯t previously upset the military or made things worse, maybe he would have appreciated her efforts in his heart. But now that she had completely angered the military, what would they think at this point? Would they vent their anger on them? So even if Lin Feiyin really wanted to help sincerely, he wouldn¡¯t feel a shred of gratitude towards her! With his words, he deliberately misrepresented Lin Feiyin¡¯s good intentions as if she had dark thoughts and dissatisfaction with the military, seeking to stir up trouble! At his words, Lin Feiyin¡¯s face turned pale. She stared with disbelief at the plump man who had spoken, then suddenly noticed that the look of the criminals towards her were filled with loathing, far from the gratitude she had imagined. She was stunned, unable to understand what was happening. She was clearly trying to help these people, how could they treat her like this? Why didn¡¯t they feel any gratitude toward her and instead despised her? What on earth was going on? She was bewildered, helplessly saying, ¡°I... I just wanted to help you...¡± She was quite attractive, and her bewildered appearance was somewhat pitiful, but having witnessed her unreasonable behavior, nobody harbored the slightest sympathy for her anymore. Especially those who had almost been expelled from the Safe Zone, they had already been extremely disdainful of Lin Feiyin to begin with. Now seeing her in such a pitiful state, they didn¡¯t find her pitiful, but rather thought she was deliberately acting pitiable! But Lin Feiyin truly felt clueless and helpless. Then, as if something dawned on her, her eyes gradually became resolute. She said to the criminals, ¡°Even if you don¡¯t understand me, I still want to say that I truly want to help you. You don¡¯t have to feel pressured. I just do what I think is right and don¡¯t expect anything in return from you.¡± However, nobody paid her any attention. General Song directly announced to take the criminals away and then dismissed the meeting. Lin Feiyin¡¯s face panicked, and she tried to follow him. However, the people around her deliberately stood up at that moment. When they saw her try to follow, they intentionally stretched out a foot to trip her. Lin Feiyin was watching the direction General Song was leaving in and wasn¡¯t paying attention to her feet; the trip sent her tumbling down. Afterward, the crowd dispersed, and some even deliberately stepped heavily on her! Lin Feiyin had been caught by several traps, but fortunately, the people were measured and didn¡¯t deliberately target her vitals. In the end, she sustained injuries but no life-threatening harm. Once the crowd had completely dispersed and she looked again, both the criminals and the three generals were nowhere to be seen. Lin Feiyin lay helplessly on the ground, with several footprints on her body, in a state of utter disarray. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 344 - 344 197 Desperate Situation Encounters Life (First ?Chapter 344: 197 Desperate Situation Encounters ¡®Life¡¯ (First Update) Chapter 344: 197 Desperate Situation Encounters ¡®Life¡¯ (First Update) Lin Feiyin left with an extremely ugly expression on her face. Her kindness had been treated like a worn-out shoe, and everyone was disregarding her! She had the superpower to purify the Zombie Virus and had healed so many people. Why were they treating her like this? The more Lin Feiyin thought about it, the angrier she got, and she lost all desire to continue helping those prisoners. She now realized that her words were completely ineffective and that if she angered the military personnel, her life would probably become even more difficult. She prepared to return to her place but suddenly remembered there was no food left at home. So, she took a detour to the safe store. Upon arrival, she suddenly recalled that the prices in the safe store had gone up! Thinking about the new regulations she had heard, she felt anxious. But there was no food at home, and if she didn¡¯t buy some, she would have nothing but the wind to eat. However, as soon as she entered, she discovered that the prices had been updated again. Filled with gloom, she picked a few relatively cheap items that were also more filling and went to check out using her ID Card, only to be told that her account had been frozen and she needed to visit the account center to unfreeze it before it could be used. Lin Feiyin was stunned, ¡°What happened? Why has my account been frozen?¡± she asked, suspiciously eyeing the safe store clerk, doubting if she was being deceived. The smile faded from the clerk¡¯s face as she looked at Lin Feiyin with an unfriendly gaze and declared loudly, ¡°Miss Lin Feiyin, don¡¯t you know? Because you disobeyed military orders last night and caused a huge loss to the military, your credit points and Contribution Value in your account have been wiped clean, and the account has been frozen. Furthermore, from now on, you will not receive any discounts when shopping at the safe store.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lin Feiyin exclaimed, glaring furiously at the other party, ¡°How can you treat me like this?¡± The clerk looked back at her without fear, with a mocking laugh, ¡°Talking to me is useless, this is the decision from above. If you¡¯re unsatisfied, you can surely go argue with the higher-ups. However, if I were you, I wouldn¡¯t do something so foolish. Just for your desertion in the face of the enemy last night, the higher-ups were already very merciful just by deducting the credit points and Contribution Value from your account!¡± Her boyfriend had been injured fighting the zombies last night and had become infected with the Zombie Virus. If it weren¡¯t for Fang Yuxin, he might already have... If Lin Feiyin wasn¡¯t a Doctor, benefiting from the advantages that come with that status, it would be one thing. But she clearly was receiving the treatment due to a Doctor, and yet she had disobeyed military orders at a critical moment, deserting her post and nearly killing her boyfriend. How could she tolerate this? Why did this woman think that everyone should revolve around her, regardless of what wrongs she had done and that others should just forgive and forget? Lin Feiyin¡¯s face grew increasingly ugly as she understood that continuing to argue with the clerk would be pointless. The clerk was just a low-level employee, after all; could she possibly influence the opinions of the higher-ups? So she gave the clerk a cold look, snorted, and turned to leave. There were other people nearby choosing products, who witnessed the scene. However, after learning about Lin Feiyin¡¯s identity, they didn¡¯t have a hint of sympathy for her. Even those who felt sorry for her merely thought about it in their hearts and didn¡¯t dare to actually stand up for her and challenge the general outrage. Before this, Lin Feiyin had never considered actually confronting the higher-ups, but now she felt she had no choice. There were still plenty of credit points in her account, and even more Contribution Value ¨C how could she tolerate it all being wiped clean just like that? Those things were earned through her hard work in saving people; they were what she deserved! What right did these people have to wipe her account clean? In fact, when she initially saved people, she not only earned credit points and Contribution Value but also a good number of crystal cores. Although the military had cleared her account of credit points and Contribution Value, they hadn¡¯t demanded that she hand over all the crystal cores she had once gained. After all, she was a superpower user, and those crystal cores were the fruit of her labor. Yet, Lin Feiyin was still not satisfied, still not feeling she was in the wrong. There were many other Doctors, and Fang Yuxin had the means to purify the Zombie Virus, so what was the big deal if she didn¡¯t go? Even if she hadn¡¯t been there, those people were still saved, weren¡¯t they? She failed to realize that with so many injured and one less Doctor, the burden on the other Doctors increased! All the Doctors were almost exhausted last night, and even Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to move after running to three temporary hospitals. Chapter 345 - 345 197 Desperate Situation Turns Around (First ?Chapter 345: 197 Desperate Situation Turns Around (First Update)_2 Chapter 345: 197 Desperate Situation Turns Around (First Update)_2 But at such a critical moment when everyone was so busy, time was of the essence, and lives hung in the balance, she chose to flee the battlefield. How could people not despise her? Lin Feiyin hesitated for a moment and then decided to seek out General Song. He was known to have the best temperament among the three generals, coming across like a kind and benevolent old man, not as imposing as the other two. However, when she finally found the place, she was stopped by the on-duty soldier at the door: ¡°Sorry, the general won¡¯t see you. Please leave.¡± Lin Feiyin was not willing to give up so easily. Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly pushed the soldier, intending to barge in. But just as she ran no more than three steps, she heard a series of light clicks, the sound of bullets being chambered. There were two armed soldiers guarding the door, and now, both of their guns were aimed at Lin Feiyin. The dark barrels gave her a strong sense of crisis; Lin Feiyin had the intuition that if she made any wrong moves, they would really shoot! She swallowed hard and said somewhat helplessly, ¡°I just want to see General Song. I mean no harm!¡± The soldier was unmoved, his voice stern with a warning tone, ¡°The general won¡¯t see you. Please leave!¡± Lin Feiyin pursed her lips, unwilling to leave just like that. But it was clear that forcing her way through was not an option; these people would really shoot! So she said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll just wait at the door! If the general doesn¡¯t want to see me, I¡¯ll wait here until he¡¯s willing to see me!¡± At her words, the expressions on the soldiers¡¯ faces grew even uglier. Then one of them cracked a ferocious smile, ¡°If you want to wait, go ahead, but only from a distance of a hundred meters! Now, please move back a hundred meters, or don¡¯t blame us for being unpleasant!¡± Lin Feiyin had never been treated so unreasonably since her superpower mutated! She muttered ¡°This is too much,¡± but in the end, she didn¡¯t dare risk her life, and obediently backed off a hundred meters. After she left, the other soldier frowned and said in dissatisfaction, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just send her away? Now we have to put up with her standing around, what a sight!¡± Soldier A glanced at him speechlessly, ¡°Look at her. Would it do any good if I asked her to leave? If she wants to wait, let her wait. After all, the general isn¡¯t going out, what¡¯s there to worry about?¡± Soldier B thought about it and felt he was right, cursed inwardly ¡°real bad luck,¡± and stopped paying attention to Lin Feiyin, who was standing far off, and continued with his guard duty. By this time, it was almost noon. Lin Feiyin had not eaten much in the morning because two more people had suddenly appeared at home, and there wasn¡¯t much food to begin with. After distributing it, what she got was very limited. Therefore, she gradually began to feel uncomfortably hungry. Rubbing her stomach, she looked toward the villa, wishing the people inside would come out soon. After a while, someone finally came out, but it was not the person she was waiting for. Instead, it was two armed soldiers on shift change. It was mealtime now, and they had already eaten, so they came out to stand guard and let the soldiers outside go in to eat. Gradually, the scent of food wafted from the villa, tormenting Lin Feiyin¡¯s keen sense of smell. Soon, her stomach also began to protest. She was incredibly hungry and saw that there was no sign of anyone coming out from inside. She hesitated for a moment and then stepped forward again. She initially wanted to try her luck to see if she could get in and perhaps scrounge a meal. But the two new soldiers were just as hard-nosed, not only blunt with her but also quite rude in their demeanor. Lin Feiyin was already suffering from hunger, and on top of that, to receive such ¡®unfair¡¯ treatment nearly made her explode with anger. She complained with dissatisfaction, ¡°I just want to see General Song. Why are you blocking me? You haven¡¯t even reported my presence; how do you know that General Song doesn¡¯t want to see me?¡± The soldier grinned but his smile did not reach his eyes, ¡°Lady Lin, please go back. The general has already instructed us not to let you see him.¡± Lin Feiyin was so angry she could hardly speak, and the smell of food from the villa continuously tortured her stomach, almost driving her insane. The agony of hunger was already hard to bear, but what was even more unbearable was smelling the food when she was starving yet not being able to eat a single bite! So she was unwilling to keep waiting and decided to try her luck elsewhere. No matter what, her ability was still there. Even if General Song didn¡¯t appreciate her superpower, there would surely be others who would! She hadn¡¯t gone far when she saw a man dressed in a military uniform smiling and approaching her. Clearly, he was coming for her. Lin Feiyin felt joy in her heart, and then a bit of caution. What did this man want with her? Still, despite some worries, she chose to stay and see what he wanted. She had been backed into a corner and couldn¡¯t miss any potential opportunity. At this moment, the man had reached her. He smiled slightly, his smile very warm, giving Lin Feiyin an instant sense of warmth as if she was enveloped by the winter sun. After having faced so much coldness before, she was nearly in despair. The appearance of this man was like a ray of sunshine breaking through the gloom, how could she not be moved? The man smiled and said, ¡°Lady Lin, General Li would like to see you. I will take you to him.¡± His smile still seemed gentle, but his tone carried an undercurrent of authority that did not allow for refusal. Lin Feiyin was still caught up in the trap of his gentleness and did not notice the inappropriateness in his tone. She was overjoyed inside but only nodded demurely on the outside, ¡°Alright, lead the way.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 346 - 346 198 Qiu Familys Calculations (Second Update) ?Chapter 346: 198 Qiu Family¡¯s Calculations (Second Update) Chapter 346: 198 Qiu Family¡¯s Calculations (Second Update) After the meeting, Qiu Hongsheng went straight home. As he arrived, he happened to see Zhou Fanghua sitting on the living room sofa, engrossed in a thick photo album. A vein on his forehead twitched momentarily, and he subconsciously lightened his footsteps, fearing that he might accidentally trigger Zhou Fanghua¡¯s sensitive nerves, causing her to become hysterical once again. However, Zhou Fanghua suddenly looked up, casting a quick glance at the cautiously approaching Qiu Hongsheng. His embarrassment surged, accompanied by an inexplicable feeling of guilt, as if he were a ¡®thief with a guilty conscience.¡¯ The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, and deciding not to hide, he started unbuttoning his shirt while walking towards the sofa to sit down. As he sat, he loosened his crisp military uniform, leaning his entire back against the sofa cushions and sighed comfortably. Zhou Fanghua, gazing at the youthful face in the album, touched her now wrinkled skin and sighed as well, ¡°Hongsheng, my skin has become rough, and I have wrinkles. There¡¯s not a single beauty salon in the Safe Zone, what should I do?¡± Qiu Hongsheng rolled his eyes inwardly, What a time to worry! Last night, zombies nearly broke in, we were almost dead, and she¡¯s thinking about beauty treatments! He didn¡¯t bother to reply, but his gaze involuntarily drifted to Zhou Fanghua¡¯s face. Upon seeing her, he realized she indeed looked significantly aged, having lost her former radiance. The couple had always paid great attention to their maintenance, choosing only the exquisites in food and personal care. They had hired a nutritionist who was responsible for designing healthy meal plans, and their cook was carefully selected for excellent culinary skills. He was a man and fared somewhat better; Zhou Fanghua lived even more exquisitely, with her own makeup artist and beauty consultant, and someone to coordinate her daily outfits. Therefore, Zhou Fanghua¡¯s makeup and attire were always perfect, regardless of the occasion. Despite being over fifty, she looked remarkably youthful, as if she were in her late thirties or not yet forty. Besides her makeup and clothing, her demeanor was also immaculately polished, the kind indicative of a well-educated and cultured lady of high society. Naturally, Qiu Hongsheng was very satisfied with a wife who always made him look good. Even if he occasionally strayed and kept a few mistresses, he would never let them appear before Zhou Fanghua to avoid embarrassing her. But after the apocalypse, Zhou Fanghua gradually became unreasonable. Without her professional makeup artist and stylist, her makeup and outfits seemed less perfect, and her skin aged rapidly, losing its past elegance. Qiu Hongsheng saw Zhou Fanghua every day and was all too aware of the changes in her, but with his focus elsewhere and facing his own aging, he subconsciously avoided this harsh reality. Now that Zhou Fanghua mentioned it, he realized with a start that she had aged so much! Then, he involuntarily thought of himself. Next, he heard Zhou Fanghua say, ¡°Look at you now, you¡¯ve aged too, looking like an old man, utterly hideous.¡± After saying this, she crinkled her brow dismissively, her mind recalling what Qiu Hongsheng had looked like before the apocalypse. Qiu Hongsheng felt a sting in his heart. Whether man or woman, once one gets older, there is always a special concern for one¡¯s physical condition. He had been proficient in self-care, appearing to be just over forty, handsome and dashing, mature and steady, a fatal attraction for women. So, privately, Qiu Hongsheng had always felt he was in his prime years, but now, hearing Zhou Fanghua call him an old man, how could his heart bear it? He darkened his face almost immediately, speaking unhappily, ¡°You should take care of yourself first and see if you can do something about the wrinkles on your face, looking as unsightly as an old hag!¡± After saying this, he stood up, preparing to go upstairs. Zhou Fanghua¡¯s face turned a livid shade of anger. Then, she suddenly said, ¡°Hongsheng, you said Wood Element Superpower Users can make plants grow and heal the wounded, can they make us young again?¡± Qiu Hongsheng stopped his ascent and turned to look at Zhou Fanghua warily, sensing she had some ill-conceived plan! Worried she might do something rash, he warned, ¡°We are not Wood Element Superpower Users, how could we know the extent of their abilities? The current situation is already unfavorable for the Qiu Family, don¡¯t you start causing trouble!¡± Chapter 347 - 347 198 Qiu Familys Calculations (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 347: 198 Qiu Family¡¯s Calculations (Second Update)_2 Chapter 347: 198 Qiu Family¡¯s Calculations (Second Update)_2 His tone was unusually severe. Zhou Fanghua was startled after hearing him out, staring at Qiu Hongsheng in astonishment, unable to understand why he would speak to her in such a manner. She pursed her lips, then suddenly slammed the thick photo album she was holding onto the coffee table. The album was of the hardbound type, with a cover that was thick and tough¡ªespecially heavy. When it hit the coffee table, it made a huge noise. Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s eyebrows knitted tightly together, a vein throbbing incessantly on his forehead. Pointing at Zhou Fanghua, he scolded fiercely, ¡°Are you sick?¡± Just at that moment, Qiu Yiming walked in. His face didn¡¯t look too good. After entering the room, his gaze quickly swept over the photo album on the coffee table, then he glanced at Zhou Fanghua, who was trembling with lips so agitated she couldn¡¯t speak, and finally said to Qiu Hongsheng, ¡°Dad, you know Mom hasn¡¯t been in a good mood recently. Why are you seriously arguing with her? We¡¯re old husband and wife, why make it so ugly? If this gets out, how will others look at the Qiu family, and how will they see you?¡± Qiu Hongsheng sighed. He wasn¡¯t the kind of useless man who took his anger out on his wife; he usually treated Zhou Fanghua with a lot of respect. But recently, Zhou Fanghua really had been going too far, and with his own pressures mounting, he had found it a bit hard to control his temper. Qiu Yiming also didn¡¯t want to keep arguing with Qiu Hongsheng over this matter. As a son, it was fine for him to speak a word or two, but too much would be inappropriate. Seeing that Qiu Hongsheng knew he was at fault, he didn¡¯t persist any further and turned instead to Zhou Fanghua, saying, ¡°Mom, there have been too many things happening in the Safe Zone recently, Dad is under a lot of pressure, it¡¯s not like he meant to get angry with you. Didn¡¯t you often teach me before, saying that it¡¯s not easy for Dad outside?¡± Zhou Fanghua, who was initially full of anger, couldn¡¯t go on making a scene after hearing what Qiu Yiming had said. She gave him a glare and scolded lightly, ¡°You! I was just talking to your father, there¡¯s no trouble at all, why are you making a fuss? I¡¯ve lived for so many years, what don¡¯t I know? Do I need you to lecture me?¡± After saying that, she was the first to laugh. Her laughter was tender, and she seemed more gentle and gracious. Qiu Hongsheng and Qiu Yiming exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat wistful. This side of Zhou Fanghua suddenly made them feel like they had returned to the time before the apocalypse. Back then, their home was just like this, filled with warmth and happiness. Family conversations were always spoken softly and gently, never with arguments. But everything changed with the apocalypse. Gradually, arguments became more common in the household, and the disputes grew more frequent. Zhou Fanghua¡¯s emotions became increasingly unstable, often turning hysterical when provoked. Qiu Hongsheng quickly suppressed the memories, saying to Qiu Yiming, ¡°Come to the study with me, I have something to say to you.¡± Zhou Fanghua watched the father and son go to the study, her heart suddenly skipped a beat. She frowned, unable to resist guessing ¡ª what was Qiu Hongsheng going to say to Qiu Yiming? Could it be something she shouldn¡¯t know? The more she thought about it, the more unsettled she became, so she stood up and quietly made her way upstairs. She was wearing slippers with very soft soles, which made no sound at all on the floor. Even so, she was extremely careful, slowly ascending the stairs step by step, fearing she would make even the slightest noise. In the study, Qiu Hongsheng was sitting in his executive chair; he had already taken off his jacket and was wearing a forest green shirt. Qiu Yiming stood in front of him, a solid wood desk separating them. Qiu Hongsheng had no intention of beating around the bush with his son and immediately asked, ¡°What are your true feelings about Xinxin? I want the truth!¡± Qiu Yiming looked at him puzzled, trying to understand why Qiu Hongsheng would suddenly bring up Fang Yuxin. Then, he suddenly remembered last night¡¯s incident. Last night, during the zombie siege, Fang Yuxin had greatly distinguished herself! Whether it was in combat or healing, her abilities were enough for many to admire. He suddenly understood why Qiu Hongsheng was asking this question; it was nothing but a concern for Fang Yuxin. So he said, ¡°Xinxin is my fiance?e, we were supposed to be married during National Day, and this is something I¡¯ll never forget!¡± Qiu Hongsheng knew that Qiu Yiming had grasped his meaning and laughed contentedly, ¡°Good! Worthy of being my son! However, given the current emergency, waiting until National Day is too late. I plan to personally visit the Fang Family this afternoon to set the date, and it¡¯s best we hurry up with the wedding!¡± As he said this, he paused and then his expression darkened slightly as he continued, ¡°As for Bai Qianqian, even if he really is related to Xinxin by blood, so what? Xinxin isn¡¯t that kind of casual girl; you don¡¯t need to care about Bai Qianqian. His Bai Ye family is in Beishi City; he won¡¯t stay in Market forever, and when he leaves, he¡¯ll definitely take Bai Qianqian with him! By then, there¡¯ll be nothing standing between you and Xinxin.¡± Qiu Yiming did not speak, for he hadn¡¯t told Qiu Hongsheng and Zhou Fanghua about Fang Yuxin¡¯s proposal to call off the engagement and returning the engagement ring to him. He was clear in his heart, as long as Bai Ye and Bai Qianqian were around, Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t willingly marry him! However, this was something that Qiu Hongsheng must not find out. He didn¡¯t want his family to worry, nor did he wish for them to dislike Fang Yuxin because of it. Also, being an adult man, he believed he was fully capable of dealing with affairs of the heart on his own. If he let his family intervene, helping him to deal with Bai Ye, he would lose respect for himself! Worried that Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s visit to the Fang Family would end badly, he hurriedly said, ¡°Dad, let¡¯s delay this matter a bit, Xinxin has some misunderstandings about me, and I want to explain things to her first before discussing marriage. Otherwise, Uncle Fang and Aunt Qu surely won¡¯t agree.¡± Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s expression darkened a bit more, and his voice seemed to be brewing a terrible storm, ¡°Are you talking about Fang Mengyao? Her existence is indeed a problem.¡± (To be continued. If you like this book, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 348 - 348 199 Difficult Choices (Third Update) ?Chapter 348: 199 Difficult Choices (Third Update) Chapter 348: 199 Difficult Choices (Third Update) Qiu Yiming immediately had a bad feeling upon hearing this, and tentatively asked, ¡°Dad, do you mean...¡± Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s face darkened as he said, ¡°Fang Mengyao, this woman cannot be kept around anymore. As for that thing on her... if we catch her, wouldn¡¯t she spit it out then?¡± He looked at Qiu Yiming and shook his head, his tone somewhat disappointed, ¡°Yiming, you are too merciful. When you first discovered this secret, you should have captured her. If it weren¡¯t for this woman, how could Xinxin have grown apart from you?¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s expression changed, and Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s reprimand left him deeply ashamed. However, he also had reservations, always having had a vague feeling that he shouldn¡¯t use force without knowing what Fang Mengyao¡¯s secret was; otherwise, things could get very difficult. Therefore, he had been subtly probing these past days and had not directly used force. Moreover, Qiu Hongsheng was mistaken, Fang Yuxin had indeed been dissatisfied with him because of Fang Mengyao¡¯s issue, but the main culprits for their current situation were Bai Ye and Bai Qianqian! If it wasn¡¯t for those two, how could Fang Yuxin have grown apart from him? Thinking that Fang Yuxin might fall for someone else, like Bai Ye, caused him agony as if his heart was being carved open alive. He clenched his palm tightly, his reason and emotions clashing at this moment. Choosing reason, what he should do now was definitely not to rashly propose marriage to Fang Yuxin, but to first mend their relationship, gain Fang Mengyao¡¯s trust to get what she held, and secretly eliminate Bai Ye. Of course, it would be even better to get rid of Bai Qianqian as well! But emotionally, the word ¡°marriage¡± held a great temptation for him; he wished he could marry Fang Yuxin right now, become her lawful husband, let everyone know that Fang Yuxin was his woman, and then deal blatantly with those coveting Fang Yuxin! This was an excruciating and painful choice; if he chose reason, the marriage would have to be delayed for quite a while. After all, Fang Mengyao wasn¡¯t a fool; gaining her trust and deceiving her into revealing her secret wasn¡¯t an easy task and would require a considerable amount of time to accomplish. Qiu Yiming felt extremely troubled and suddenly resented the change in Fang Mengyao. If she were still the timid and weak girl she used to be, he was confident that even if he married Fang Yuxin, he could easily control her and make her obedient! But, this woman had changed! She had become much more difficult to deal with than before! To gain her trust, Qiu Yiming would need to exercise much more patience! Qiu Hongsheng had been watching Qiu Yiming silently, not speaking until Qiu Yiming suddenly looked up, his eyes showing no trace of struggle, only determination. He then smiled satisfactorily, ¡°I assume, you¡¯ve made your decision?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Qiu Yiming spoke, his response not what Qiu Hongsheng expected, ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve made up my mind, please let me handle this matter entirely. I¡¯ve decided to postpone the wedding date, dealing with Fang Mengyao and obtaining what she has first.¡± Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s expression darkened, and his smile disappeared; he looked at his son in disbelief, ¡°Are you really decided?¡± In his view, the top priority now was to get Fang Yuxin married into the Qiu family! With Fang Yuxin¡¯s capabilities, once she married into the Qiu Family, the benefits would be substantial! He couldn¡¯t understand, his usually clever son, what was he thinking! What happened to him! He looked at Qiu Yiming skeptically, his heart suddenly skipping a beat, and asked nervously, ¡°Yiming, tell me the truth, you haven¡¯t really fallen for that illegitimate girl Fang Mengyao, have you?¡± He deliberately mentioned her ¡°illegitimate¡± background to remind Qiu Yiming that Fang Mengyao¡¯s background didn¡¯t qualify her to marry into their Qiu family and to not do something foolish! Qiu Yiming, realizing Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s suspicion, showed a resigned and displeased face, speaking in a low voice, ¡°Dad, your son doesn¡¯t have such poor taste!¡± Qiu Hongsheng then breathed a sigh of relief, as long as Qiu Yiming hadn¡¯t taken leave of his senses and fallen for Fang Mengyao! Then he was puzzled, since Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t have feelings for Fang Mengyao, why wouldn¡¯t he marry Fang Yuxin? Could it be because of Bai Qianqian? But looking at Bai Qianqian¡¯s age, he definitely wasn¡¯t fathered by Fang Yuxin. No matter what, he had watched Fang Yuxin grow up and understood the Fang family¡¯s upbringing very clearly. He believed in Fang Yuxin¡¯s character, knowing she wasn¡¯t the type to be casual and irresponsible. If she had indeed been intimate with Bai Ye during college and had a child, she would never just abandon the child and keep silent! Chapter 349 - 349 199 Difficult Choices (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 349: 199 Difficult Choices (Third Update)_2 Chapter 349: 199 Difficult Choices (Third Update)_2 Moreover, due to the relationship between the Qiu Family and the Bai Family, he was all too clear about how Bai Ye¡¯s son came into being. Qiu Yiming had always been worried that Fang Yuxin might fall in love with someone else or betray him, but that was just his concern clouding his judgment. So, Qiu Hongsheng glared at Qiu Yiming and said, ¡°You¡¯re not still suspicious of Xinxin, are you? Don¡¯t you know her character by now?¡± Qiu Yiming shook his head. He had indeed been suspicious in the past when his concerns got the better of him, but after careful consideration later on, he knew that Fang Yuxin had not lied. He said, ¡°No, I trust Xinxin. But Dad, Fang Mengyao is not easy to deal with. I have a feeling that using force on her will not be advantageous but will only make things worse. This matter must be approached gradually.¡± Qiu Hongsheng was thoroughly disappointed, disliking Fang Mengyao and thus not believing that she really had anything formidable in her possession. He thought Qiu Yiming was overthinking and said, ¡°Won¡¯t you reconsider? Xinxin made such a splash last night. I heard her Wood Element Superpower has already reached the second level. Do you know how many people are eyeing her? Aren¡¯t you worried that someone might snatch her away if you continue like this?¡± Just the thought of this possibility made Qiu Hongsheng feel utterly terrible, almost as if his heart were bleeding. He wished he could personally take Qiu Yiming to the Fang Family, to Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe to set a wedding date immediately! Ideally, the wedding would be tomorrow! Then the two of them would be married! From then on, Fang Yuxin would marry into the Qiu Family and become one of their own! With this, just Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Element Superpower alone would enable them to create a number of schemes! Yet Qiu Yiming was stubborn, constantly fixated on that little thing in Fang Mengyao¡¯s possession! Utterly pathetic! What good thing could that woman possibly have in her possession that he should be so obsessed with it? Qiu Yiming gave a cold laugh, his fists cracking audibly as he tightened his grip, not bothering to conceal his murderous intent, ¡°I would like to see who dares to target her!¡± If anyone truly dared to make a move on Fang Yuxin, he would definitely kill them! That Bai Ye and his son, he would kill them sooner or later! Seeing that his son¡¯s mind was made up, Qiu Hongsheng could only sigh helplessly, ¡°Have it your way, but I hope you won¡¯t regret it!¡± Qiu Yiming thought about his plan and, feeling it was foolproof, smiled confidently, ¡°Your son will never regret it! Once I deal with Fang Mengyao, I will marry Xinxin.¡± He was indeed planning this, and he felt that he and Fang Yuxin could surely return to the way they were before, of course, provided she never finds out! His plan was to wait until Bai Ye took Bai Qianqian out of the Safe Zone, and then he would take his men and eliminate them both, without anyone the wiser! He actually also wanted to marry Fang Yuxin soon, but since discovering last night that Fang Yuxin had unique methods of saving people, he guessed she might have received some incredible legacy. When he thought about Fang Yuxin already having a Second-level Wood Ability while he was still stuck at the Level 1 Peak and could not break through, he felt especially bitter. He was a man, and he had his pride, so he could never allow himself to be surpassed by Fang Yuxin! Therefore, he absolutely had to obtain whatever Fang Mengyao held first. Then, he would no longer have to worry about being surpassed by Fang Yuxin! Seeing that persuasion was ineffective, Qiu Hongsheng ended the topic and started discussing some matters concerning the Safe Zone. Father and son once again engaged in conversation. Outside the door, Zhou Fanghua had heard everything, her expression constantly changing. Then, she quietly retreated, leaving the doorway to the study and silently returned to the living room. She sat on the soft sofa, her hands nervously intertwined and resting on her lap, her fingers fidgeting. She was lost in thought. Because of Qu Qianhe, she disliked Fang Yuxin. Before the apocalypse, although still somewhat bothered, she acknowledged Fang Yuxin¡¯s upbringing and background, as well as her family wealth, and since Qiu Yiming also liked her, she had not objected to Qiu Yiming wanting to marry Fang Yuxin. After the apocalypse, the pent-up dissatisfaction burst forth. Their family still had the army, and Qiu Yiming had awakened as a superpower user, while the Fang Family¡¯s wealth had turned into useless paper and data. She felt that Fang Yuxin was no longer worthy of being Qiu Yiming¡¯s wife. She did not want her son to be dragged down by this woman, and her aversion to Fang Yuxin grew stronger. Later, she and Qiu Hongsheng had not been able to awaken their superpowers, just when rumors circulated in the Safe Zone that Fang Yuxin could help ordinary people awaken. She had reluctantly sought out Fang Yuxin, hoping she could help her and her husband awaken their superpowers. At that time, Fang Yuxin¡¯s refusal had pushed her dislike and hatred for Fang Yuxin to the extreme. Afterwards, she had not held back in taking out her frustrations on Qiu Yiming, all to keep him from remaining deluded! However, her husband had hoped Qiu Yiming could marry Fang Yuxin! She pulled a small mirror from her dress pocket and looked at her haggard self and aged face in it, feeling the balance in her heart gradually tipping in one direction. Her husband was right, Fang Yuxin now had the Second-level Wood Ability, and marrying her would be enormously beneficial to both the Qiu Family and Qiu Yiming! Once Fang Yuxin became their daughter-in-law, she did not believe Fang Yuxin would dare not listen to her words as the mother-in-law! (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for a recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 350 - 350 200 Seeking Door-to-Door (First Update) ?Chapter 350: 200 Seeking Door-to-Door (First Update) Chapter 350: 200 Seeking Door-to-Door (First Update) Zhou Fanghua made up her mind, and ideas quickly formed in her heart. She wasn¡¯t a fool by nature, previously she had been confused and had trapped herself, but now after listening to Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s words, her thoughts gradually became clearer. If Qiu Hongsheng had directly discussed this matter with her, she might not have been able to think it through, and might even have become paranoid, thinking that Qiu Hongsheng was deliberately going against her and being inconsiderate of her difficulties. But because of her relation to Qiu Yiming, she was able to think clearly for a rare moment prior to this, without being swayed by her former biases. Furthermore, the conversation she had eavesdropped on was precisely about Qiu Yiming, who had not chosen to immediately marry Fang Yuxin. Her biases never had the chance to surface and influence her rationality, which allowed her to understand the current situation and the various benefits that Fang Yuxin¡¯s joining the Qiu Family could bring. Now, the Qiu Family¡¯s military stature was much reduced from what it once was; it was precisely the time when they needed support. And Fang Yuxin was the unique second-level Wood Element superpower user in the whole Safe Zone; once she married into the Qiu Family, all the powers, big and small, within the Safe Zone would naturally give face to the Qiu Family, even generals like General Song and General Li! At this moment, Zhou Fanghua still did not know that, due to her involvement, the Qiu Family had once missed a great opportunity by a hair¡¯s breadth! When Qiu Hongsheng and Qiu Yiming came out of the study, Zhou Fanghua had already regained her composure. Taking advantage of the moment when Qiu Hongsheng wasn¡¯t paying attention, Qiu Yiming gave Zhou Fanghua a deep look. Seeing that she showed no difference in demeanor and didn¡¯t appear angry, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. When Zhou Fanghua was eavesdropping outside earlier, he actually knew about it. Zhou Fanghua¡¯s footsteps, though light, were not truly silent. The so-called silence was only relative to the hearing of ordinary people. After a superpower user¡¯s Awakening, all five senses are enhanced to a certain degree, so when Zhou Fanghua came upstairs, Qiu Yiming noticed the movement. But Qiu Hongsheng didn¡¯t notice, so he pretended he knew nothing about it. Later, when Qiu Hongsheng brought up his marriage to Fang Yuxin, Qiu Yiming worried fiercely for a moment, afraid that Zhou Fanghua might suddenly burst in. Fortunately, Zhou Fanghua did nothing of the sort, staying outside the room until their conversation was over. This unusual behavior faintly raised some expectations in Qiu Yiming¡¯s heart; he always felt that Zhou Fanghua used to like Fang Yuxin a lot, but after the apocalypse, she couldn¡¯t accept it for a while, so she became emotionally unstable and even started to dislike Fang Yuxin. Zhou Fanghua¡¯s current unusual reaction made him unable to restrain his hope that Zhou Fanghua would return to her former self and stop being unreasonable and hysterical. Of course, what he hoped for the most was to restore the relationship between Zhou Fanghua and Fang Yuxin. So after coming downstairs, he made a point of giving Zhou Fanghua a deep look to observe her expression. With this observation, he felt that, no matter what Zhou Fanghua had thought of, her condition was clearly much improved compared to before. This was a good sign! Thus, after lunch, Qiu Yiming expressed that he had something to say to Zhou Fanghua. Naturally, Zhou Fanghua had no objection, and Qiu Hongsheng, sitting on the side, gave a smirk and a wave of his hand indicating he was not interested in their mother-son conversation. Qiu Hongsheng had a lot of matters to deal with, and he left quickly. To have a heart-to-heart with Zhou Fanghua, Qiu Yiming deliberately stayed a bit longer. Zhou Fanghua sat on the sofa, while Qiu Yiming purposely went behind her and attentively massaged her shoulders. He had learned to do so to show filial piety, and his technique was quite professional, controlling the strength well. Soon, Zhou Fanghua was so comfortable that she squinted her eyes. She scolded with a smile, ¡°You only help me massage my shoulders at times like this.¡± Qiu Yiming quickly begged for mercy, and she didn¡¯t take it to heart, instead saying, ¡°Alright, stop trying to be cute. You¡¯re my son, don¡¯t I know you? I¡¯m already content with your filial piety. Didn¡¯t you say you have something to tell me? Out with it! Don¡¯t beat around the bush!¡± Qiu Yiming then massaged with even more effort, and after a while, he said, ¡°Mom, the conversation I had with Dad in the study earlier¡ªyou heard it all, didn¡¯t you? What do you think?¡± He finished speaking and looked at Zhou Fanghua nervously, waiting for her reaction. Zhou Fanghua turned around to look at him and gave him an unhappy glare as she said, ¡°I was wondering why the sun came out from the west today, our Young Master Qiu is actually trying to please this old woman¡ªturns out it¡¯s for this matter, huh¡ª¡± Chapter 351 - 351 200 Seeking at the Door (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 351: 200 Seeking at the Door (First Update)_2 Chapter 351: 200 Seeking at the Door (First Update)_2 She deliberately drew out her voice, looking at Qiu Yiming¡¯s nervous and flustered appearance with a teasing smile. Indeed, Qiu Yiming was somewhat at a loss. Having his ulterior motive exposed, he instantly felt guilty. He had purposefully learned massage techniques, preparing to use them to show filial piety, but because he was too busy, he seldom had the chance to massage Zhou Fanghua¡¯s shoulders. Now, he finally did it for her, but it was for a purposeful favor, not simply out of filial piety. Directly called out by Zhou Fanghua, he felt extremely guilty, thinking he was truly unfilial! Zhou Fanghua laughed and patted his hand, scolding playfully, ¡°Look at you, no longer a child. I say a few words to you, and you get all nervous. It¡¯s not a big deal, what¡¯s there to fuss about? My son is meant for greater things; how can he be expected to spend all day doing such menial tasks!¡± Even though she said this, she sighed in her heart. She could never understand why her son, whom she raised with difficulty and had always been her pride, had fallen for that girl Fang Yuxin! They say every capable man has ambitions everywhere, and why should a great man lack a wife? With Qiu Yiming¡¯s qualifications, what kind of woman could he not find? Why must he think about that Fang girl all the time? What¡¯s so good about that girl? She¡¯s not even sweet and obedient! But thinking back to her own decision, she suppressed the dissatisfaction bubbling in her heart and forced a cheerful smile in front of Qiu Yiming. She didn¡¯t want her precious son to worry any longer! Qiu Yiming scrutinized her expression, seeing that she didn¡¯t seem too angry, he hurriedly said, ¡°You are my mother, it¡¯s only natural for a son to serve you! I didn¡¯t have the chance before, but from now on, I¡¯ll make sure to massage you every day!¡± Zhou Fanghua lightly smacked him, unable to stop smiling. Although she knew Qiu Yiming couldn¡¯t possibly do it, her heart was still overjoyed! Yet, thinking that Qiu Yiming was doing this to curry favor with her because of Fang Yuxin, she felt displeased once again. Afraid Qiu Yiming would notice, she laughed again and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, your mother isn¡¯t an old-fashioned stick-in-the-mud. I don¡¯t care who you choose anymore, as long as you like her and she treats you well, that¡¯s enough. I heard what was said earlier, don¡¯t worry about it. Xinxin is indeed a good child, I had the wrong impression before.¡± Hearing her say this, Qiu Yiming couldn¡¯t stop smiling. Ever since Zhou Fanghua had clearly expressed her dislike for Fang Yuxin, he seldom laughed at home. This was the first time he let out such a sincere smile. Zhou Fanghua watched with mixed feelings. She had originally agreed to this marriage for the benefits that Fang Yuxin brought. However, if marrying Fang Yuxin would keep Qiu Yiming this happy, she was willing to accept this daughter-in-law. Taking a deep breath, Zhou Fanghua was thankful that her choice was correct. Qiu Yiming was just too happy, using the trendy online phrase, happiness came too fast, it felt unbelievable! As such, he overlooked the odd look in Zhou Fanghua¡¯s eyes. He still had many things to do. After massaging Zhou Fanghua a little longer, she sent him away. Once he left, Zhou Fanghua returned to her room, picked out a beautiful and expensive set of clothes, and carefully dressed up. She had specially brought her high-end cosmetics when they were fleeing. However, without a professional makeup artist, her own makeup was not as perfect as before. Plus, she had been aging rapidly lately, and the final effect was frankly mediocre compared to her past self. She sighed in front of the mirror but thought that soon all this would change, and her eyes regained their determination. Then, she picked up a delicate clutch and put on her sandals to head for the Fang Family. Since it wasn¡¯t far, she walked there directly. She maintained an appropriate smile along the way and even thought about what she would say to the Fang Family when she saw them. However, when she arrived at the Fang Family¡¯s doorstep, she stopped dead. Laughter and chatter flowed out of the house, which seemed too noisy and unbecoming for a family of their standing! Moreover, judging by the sound, there seemed to be quite a few people from the Fang Family present, as if they were having a gathering. What was going on? Zhou Fanghua coughed lightly, then frowned in disgust. She had not expected the Fang Family to have fallen into such a state after only a short time apart. However, looking at the Fang Family¡¯s yard full of vegetables and fruits, she couldn¡¯t help but feel envious. Fresh vegetables were ridiculously expensive in the Safe Zone now, yet even then, there was a supply and demand issue! For the Qiu Family, despite their daily rations, the amount of fresh vegetables they could eat was not much. Unlike the Fang Family, whose yard had turned into a vegetable garden. Common as it might be, those hints of greenery were truly pleasing to the eye! Nowadays, plants were either mutants or withering and turning yellow, looking listless. Mutant Plants were not so easy to come by. The Safe Zone did have plenty of non-mutant plants, but they all looked listless as if they were about to die but wouldn¡¯t. Looking at this expanse of greenery, Zhou Fanghua couldn¡¯t help but be mundane for a moment, thinking that if she married Fang Yuxin into their family, they would at least not have to worry about fresh vegetables in the future. With this thought, she suddenly remembered the Fang Family selling fresh vegetables to General Song, and she felt sour again. The two families were to become relatives through their children, how could the Fang Family not think of them first, instead selling to General Song? It was utterly disrespectful! Did the Fang Family not take the Qiu Family seriously at all? So she frowned again, waved her hand towards the window, signaling the person inside to come out and open the door for her. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 352 - 352 201 Disdain (Second Update) ?Chapter 352: 201 Disdain (Second Update) Chapter 352: 201 Disdain (Second Update) Yongcheng Team members were cooking hotpot in the dining hall, and Chen Qiao and the others, who didn¡¯t recognize Zhou Fanghua, were quite curious to see her obviously made-up appearance and couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances. After the apocalypse, everyone¡¯s living standards had plummeted sharply. Most people were doing well if they could keep themselves clean, let alone dress up, given the scarcity of water resources. Unless one was a Water Element Superpower User, everyone else had to conserve water. Washing clothes was both water-consuming and labor-intensive, so many people simply stopped washing their clothes. If they had extra clothes, they would throw the dirty ones away or wear them over the top while working. If they didn¡¯t have many clothes to begin with, they had to make do, and if the clothes got too dirty, they would wash them with accumulated waste water. Fortunately, it hadn¡¯t been long since the apocalypse started, and most households still had clothes, and unlike food, these were not scarce resources. Safe stores even sold them at not very high prices, so apart from a very few people, most people weren¡¯t sloppy in normal times. It¡¯s just that the conditions were really hard, so they had to make do. Some people in better conditions didn¡¯t forget to bring their makeup when they fled and would occasionally dress up. Chen Qiao and his group had seen such people while walking in the Safe Zone. But Zhou Fanghua was different. Whether it was her makeup or her outfit, she appeared extremely meticulous, and the aura of an aristocratic lady that she exuded made people can¡¯t help but speculate. Such meticulously dressed aristocratic ladies, Chen Qiao and his company had not even seen before the apocalypse, let alone after it started. Such people weren¡¯t non-existent; it¡¯s just that Chen Qiao and others hadn¡¯t been to the places where they appeared. Zhou Fanghua seemed to inhabit a different world, one completely at odds with theirs. While Chen Qiao and his five companions were covertly observing her, Fang Yuxin had already gotten up and gone out to open the door. Knowing Zhou Fanghua¡¯s character, Qianhe was worried that Yuxin might be at a disadvantage and followed her out. The two hurried to the door, their faces bearing just the right amount of a courteous smile, which didn¡¯t seem negligent nor overly eager to please, displaying natural grace. Zhou Fanghua¡¯s brows slightly furrowed, quite dissatisfied with the demeanor of Qianhe and Yuxin. Their lack of eagerness to please was already negligence in the eyes of Zhou Fanghua. She had always wanted to outdo Qianhe. In the matter of marriage, she prided herself on having better judgment. Qiu Yiming was a military officer, and though his power wasn¡¯t immense, he held real authority. But what about Fang Jintang? He was merely a businessman, and no matter how much money he could make, he was still at the mercy of others, nowhere near as liberating as holding real power. But what she hadn¡¯t anticipated was that Fang Jintang managed to grow the family business even bigger and became the wealthiest in the Market, and the Fang Family¡¯s wealth was also among the top in the nation! Unfortunately, most of that wealth was in stocks and real estate, which became worthless in the apocalypse. But the Qiu Family was different; they still had military power and had recruited many competent people. That was real power! Despite this, Qianhe and Yuxin were still treating her with the same attitude as before the apocalypse. Didn¡¯t they understand that times had changed and that the status between the Fang and Qiu families was drastically different now? Where did their confidence come from? Zhou Fanghua felt a surge of anger inside her and glanced at Qianhe and Yuxin with a critical eye. As she did, she froze, then a wave of intense jealousy and anger washed over her! What was going on? Qianhe was only two years younger than her, so why did she now look as if she wasn¡¯t even thirty! She wasn¡¯t this young the last time they met! How had Qianhe managed this? Was this the capability of a superpower user? Or was it Yuxin who had done something? Yes, Yuxin was a Wood Element Superpower User; her superpower could heal wounds, so maintaining a youthful appearance probably wasn¡¯t too difficult, right? Zhou Fanghua¡¯s guess wasn¡¯t wrong. Wood Energy was filled with vitality, and if a person¡¯s vitality was high, they would naturally appear younger. People aged because the vitality within their bodies depleted and cells aged, which caused the aging of organs and tissues. If Wood Energy could stimulate the recovery of a person¡¯s vitality, not only would their appearance become younger, but the entire person would be transformed and rejuvenated like a young individual. Chapter 353 - 353 201 Disdain (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 353: 201 Disdain (Second Update)_2 Chapter 353: 201 Disdain (Second Update)_2 But truly, in order to achieve such a feat, one would need a vast amount of Wood Energy. Not to mention Fang Yuxin currently lacked such capability, even if she did possess it, she would never choose to act that way! As the saying goes, ¡°to possess a jade is to incur crime¡±; from ancient times to the present, people have never ceased pursuing longevity and youth. In ancient times, the nobles pursued life extension and youth. They made people perform alchemy, even resorting to drinking human blood or consuming the brain marrow of boys and girls; they could carry out the most heinous acts. Although modern people are not as barbaric as the ancients, regardless of gender, anyone who is aged and able will focus on maintenance, whether by consuming wild game, precious medicines, or even resorting to surgeries to appear younger. Today, her Healing Ability had already caught people¡¯s attention; if she had such capability, she likely feared that some major figures nationally, perhaps even internationally, would target her! Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang appeared young partly because they are inherently focused on health and exercise, maintaining robust health, not just a shiny exterior with inner deficiencies. The Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit she used on them not only purged impurities from their bodies but also enhanced and transformed their bodies. When they awakened their superpower, their bodies were once more enhanced and stimulated their vitality. Following that, after absorbing multiple Elemental Crystals, their bodies continued to strengthen. Fang Yuxin had transferred a good amount of Wood Energy to them, further stimulating their vitality. The practice of superpower itself had transformative effects on the body, and later through Cultivation, their bodies underwent a transformation through nature¡¯s spiritual energy, making their vitality even more vibrant. This accumulation of effects resulted in their bodies appearing much younger than in the past, looking merely in their late twenties, not even thirty. In fact, not just Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang, but other superpower users also experienced body enhancement during superpower awakening, Elemental Crystal absorption, Cultivation, and each promotion. Their vitality and blood became more vigorous, their vitality ever increasing, and their demeanor underwent a tremendous change. For those who were older, their bodies after these enhancements appeared much younger, like General Song and General Li. For those who were younger and already vigorous, their development would accelerate, and their bodies would become more robust. Zhou Fanghua was an older woman who paid special attention to her superpower awakening and her personal appearance. She had always quietly regarded Qu Qianhe as a rival; seeing her suddenly become younger, how could she not be shocked, jealous, and angry? Regardless of other factors, Fang Yuxin was their Qiu Family¡¯s prospective daughter-in-law. She possessed such abilities but was unwilling to help Qiu Hongsheng and her, what intentions could she have? Zhou Fanghua¡¯s meticulously trimmed fingernails dug into the soft flesh of her palm, nearly leading her to confront Fang Yuxin. Only the intense pain in her palm reminded her to remain clear-headed and not forget the purpose of her visit to the Fang Family, lest she lose more than she gained! However, the shock Qu Qianhe gave her was too much. Despite her usual ability to conceal her emotions, this time she inadvertently exposed her inner feelings. And this scene was quietly observed by Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe. Qu Qianhe initially wanted to exchange pleasantries and invite her inside. However, seeing the jealousy and anger in Zhou Fanghua¡¯s eyes, she changed her mind and decided, regardless of whether it might be too impolite, to directly address Zhou Fanghua, ¡°It¡¯s rather messy at home with guests, and you might not be comfortable inside. It¡¯s better out here, the air is fresh, and the view is nice. If you have something to say, let¡¯s talk here.¡± She said this with a smile, her voice soft and her smile gentle; even with such words, she did not come across as cold or inconsiderate, leaving no room for criticism. Zhou Fanghua, however, turned blue with anger, her last thread of reason snapping. Her nail accidentally pierced her palm, causing pain that made her entire brow furrow. Zhou Fanghua quickly lowered her head to inspect her hand, finding a nail-width cut from which bright red blood promptly oozed, creating a grotesque sight. She quickly took out a silk handkerchief to press against the wound; the handkerchief was of real silk, with delicate embroidery, and whether sprayed with perfume or scented, it emitted a faint, elegant fragrance. But in a moment, the water-blue handkerchief was stained with dark red blood, creating a jarring and grotesque contrast, ruining the aesthetic of the handkerchief itself. Seeing this, Zhou Fanghua felt an agonizing pang¡ªthis was her favorite handkerchief, and she didn¡¯t have many like it! The material, dye, and embroidery of the handkerchief were all exquisite, and it wasn¡¯t cheap! Moreover, such items were hard to come by, in high demand but short supply before the apocalypse, and absolutely unobtainable after! Now that the handkerchief was blood-stained and without proper cleaning facilities, it was completely ruined! After mourning her handkerchief for a moment, her gaze towards Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin carried a hint of reproach. Qu Qianhe, disliking Zhou Fanghua¡¯s superior attitude, deliberately sighed, ¡°Such a nice item, what a pity.¡± Though she said this, Zhou Fanghua detected undeniable schadenfreude in her tone! Zhou Fanghua clenched her teeth in hatred. The pain from her wound was already irritating, and with her beloved handkerchief destroyed, her mood soured further. Thus, she dispensed with further civilities with Qu Qianhe and bluntly said, ¡°I have an important matter to discuss with you and Jintang, it¡¯s not suitable here, is it?¡± said she, her brow furrowing in disgust. On hearing this, Qu Qianhe¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she roughly guessed Zhou Fanghua¡¯s purpose. After some thought, she deliberately said, ¡°They are inside cooking hotpot, and it¡¯s really smoky; you definitely wouldn¡¯t bear it.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Fanghua¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, her face full of disdain. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommend tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 354 - 354 202 Talks That Dont Align (Third Update) ?Chapter 354: 202 Talks That Don¡¯t Align (Third Update) Chapter 354: 202 Talks That Don¡¯t Align (Third Update) Zhou Fanghua glanced indifferently out the window, but because of the angle, she could only see a corner of the dining room and not the entire scene. All she could see were seemingly quite a few people sitting around the table, all strangers to her. Just then, someone inside was secretly sizing her up, and as she looked in that direction, she caught their eye. The person immediately turned their head back, guilty. Zhou Fanghua¡¯s face immediately showed a look of disgust, and she withdrew her gaze, not wanting to ¡°dirty her eyes.¡± Then, unable to help herself, she glared at Qu Qianhe and sarcastically remarked, ¡°Sister Qianhe, even though times have changed and the Fang Family isn¡¯t what it used to be, do you really need to associate with such people? And even let them make a ruckus in your home? How can you stand it?¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Yuxin was upset and almost instinctively wanted to retort, but Qu Qianhe quickly tugged at her, smiling as she said, ¡°Sister, you¡¯re wrong there. The guests who came today are all good children. You haven¡¯t even met them yet and to speak so seems rather biased. Besides, the Fang Family, though not what it once was, surely isn¡¯t as ¡®all-inclusive¡¯ as the Qiu Family, right?¡± This was a clear jab at the Qiu Family for having all sorts of people. Zhou Fanghua¡¯s face darkened, and she felt like lashing out with a few more sarcastic comments, but then remembered Qu Qianhe was always sharp-tongued and never on the losing end. If she continued to tangle with Qu Qianhe, she might forget her real purpose for coming! Remembering the real reason she had come, she subdued her rising anger, took a deep breath, and said, ¡°Enough. Hard truths are unpleasant to hear, think what you will. Be friends with whomever you wish, I¡¯m tired of playing the villain.¡± Qu Qianhe hadn¡¯t expected Zhou Fanghua to recover her sense so quickly and not keep arguing with her. Still, Zhou Fanghua didn¡¯t forget to get the last word in, saying ¡®Hard truths are unpleasant to hear,¡¯ as if she were really considering the Fang Family¡¯s welfare, while implying Qu Qianhe was ungrateful and heedless of good advice! Qu Qianhe mentally rolled her eyes. Seeing that Fang Yuxin wanted to say something, she quietly tugged at her again to keep her from speaking. After all, Fang Yuxin was a younger generation; arguing with Zhou Fanghua would make others think she lacked manners. Qu Qianhe certainly didn¡¯t want her beloved daughter criticized for such reasons, and besides, she was there herself. Could she, Qu Qianhe, not handle a mere Zhou Fanghua without needing her daughter to step in? She didn¡¯t argue with Zhou Fanghua about the meaning behind her ¡®hard truths are unpleasant to hear.¡¯ Instead, with a half-smile, she looked at her and asked, ¡°Speaking of which, didn¡¯t you come here because you had something to discuss? Talk now. But hurry up, I don¡¯t have much time; people inside are waiting for us to go back and continue eating. We can¡¯t let the guests wait, can we?¡± Because the pretense was gone, she abandoned the initial feigned politeness, her words laced with barbs. Zhou Fanghua, hearing the rudeness in her tone, looked increasingly displeased. She had initially wanted to sit down with Qu Qianhe and talk nicely. Seeing Qu Qianhe¡¯s lack of courtesy, she couldn¡¯t bother to remain discreet anymore and directly stated her purpose for coming: ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll just speak frankly then. I came here today to discuss the marriage between my son Yiming and your daughter Xinxin. The wedding was initially set for the National Day holidays, but now, with the apocalypse upon us and the situation dire, we can only take one day at a time. So, Qiu Hongsheng and I have discussed accelerating their wedding to spread some joy in the Safe Zone.¡± ¡°Is this what you and Qiu Hongsheng decided?¡± Qu Qianhe asked, her face turning stern as she gave Zhou Fanghua a frosty look, ¡°Is this really something you discussed with Qiu Hongsheng? Or did you take it upon yourself?¡± Qu Qianhe truly had her doubts about Zhou Fanghua. If this had indeed been Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s idea, then the crafty Qiu Hongsheng would definitely have shown up himself instead of letting Zhou Fanghua come alone! Moreover, Qiu Yiming wasn¡¯t even present! Zhou Fanghua was here alone¡ªhow was that a discussion? What did she think the Qiu Family was? What did she see the Fang Family as? It was clear that she wasn¡¯t here to discuss but to dictate, expecting them to obediently send Fang Yuxin to the Qiu Family! To truly discuss a marriage, how could it happen without both parents and the concerned parties present? Zhou Fanghua was belittling the Fang Family! Qu Qianhe was so angry that she decided not to tell Zhou Fanghua about calling off the engagement yet. She actually wanted to see what Zhou Fanghua could possibly say! Chapter 355 - 355 202 Unpleasant Conversation (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 355: 202 Unpleasant Conversation (Third Update)_2 Chapter 355: 202 Unpleasant Conversation (Third Update)_2 She was now filled with such regret that it was killing her. How could she have agreed to this marriage arrangement? She had almost pushed her precious daughter into an abyss! If it weren¡¯t for the apocalypse; if she hadn¡¯t seen the Qiu Family¡¯s true colors and actually let Fang Yuxin marry into the Qiu Family... the outcome... Just thinking about it made Qu Qianhe shiver! Whether it was her son or daughter, they were flesh of her flesh, her treasures, and if anyone dared to harm them in the slightest, she¡¯d fight them to the death! Therefore, when she looked at Zhou Fanghua now, her gaze was like that of staring down an irreconcilable foe! Zhou Fanghua felt a chill in her heart under that gaze, although she always thought she had done nothing wrong. With the military power the Qiu Family held and their status in the Safe Zone, she felt she had the right to look down on others. So even if her demeanor in front of the Fang Family was a bit arrogant, she didn¡¯t think it was a problem. The Fang Family was no longer what it once was! If not for valuing Fang Yuxin¡¯s talents, she would not have condescended to come here and be subjected to indignity, let alone agree to let Fang Yuxin marry into their Qiu Family! But under the hateful gaze of Qu Qianhe, she suddenly felt a trace of guilt, as if she had indeed made a mistake. Zhou Fanghua cursed herself for her lack of resolve, then lifted her eyes to defiantly meet Qu Qianhe¡¯s gaze, and declared, ¡°That¡¯s right! This is indeed Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s and my intention. Since you¡¯re in a hurry, let¡¯s get straight to the point. The children have long been of age to discuss marriage, so why not prepare this afternoon and hold the wedding tomorrow?¡± ¡°Tomorrow?¡± Qu Qianhe shook with anger, suppressing her fury so she wouldn¡¯t slap Zhou Fanghua across the face, and merely asked, ¡°And how do you intend to manage this wedding? Do you think there¡¯s enough time to prepare in just half a day?¡± Zhou Fanghua noticed Qu Qianhe seemed quite irate and, fearing that she might do something impulsively, discreetly took a step back while keeping a close eye on Qu Qianhe¡¯s reactions. Seeing that Qu Qianhe seemed to be forcibly holding back her anger, Zhou Fanghua breathed a sigh of relief, and a disdainful sneer crept into her heart. She was right, the Fang Family had significantly declined! Otherwise, how could Qu Qianhe possibly swallow her words in silence? But that was exactly what she had done! What did this indicate? It clearly showed that Qu Qianhe didn¡¯t dare to offend her! Zhou Fanghua was secretly pleased with herself, but failed to notice that Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze towards her had turned colder and colder. Meanwhile, the Fang Family¡¯s dining room had grown so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with everyone¡¯s complexion ashen and their eyes shooting icy glares in Zhou Fanghua¡¯s direction! Although they were inside the house and couldn¡¯t hear the conversation outside due to the distance, their spiritual power had grown with time and could extend outside, making it easy for them to ¡°hear¡± the exchange. If Fang Jintang hadn¡¯t stopped him, Fang Yuyang would have already burst out in anger! The Qiu Family was really going too far! Fang Jintang¡¯s expression was also very grim, and he too wanted to give Zhou Fanghua a good lesson, but since Zhou Fanghua had come alone, their whole family confronting her would seem like bullying. Fang Yuyang glared at Fang Jintang irritably, his least favorite thing about Fang Jintang was this very trait, sometimes he was so incorruptibly naive! Zhou Fanghua had come to their house to bully them, what was there to worry about? Even if it was bullying by the majority, so what? Could they really let her continue to be arrogant like this, to think that their family was afraid of the Qiu Family? Chen Qiao and others were sitting by the dining table; they too had ¡°heard¡± the conversation outside, and their appetites were ruined, wishing nothing more than to teach Zhou Fanghua a lesson and show her who was boss! At this moment, Zhou Fanghua spoke up, ¡°During this extraordinary time, the wedding can only be a simple affair. Rest assured though, aside from the wedding dress and rings that can¡¯t be prepared, there will certainly be many guests. We will make the wedding as lively as possible, ensuring Xin Xin is married off to the Qiu Family with pomp and splendor!¡± She was bubbling with excitement as she spoke, growing more proud with each word. Then she glanced casually at Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin beside her, and quickly asked, ¡°Since you have no objections, then this matter is settled. I¡¯ll have people prepare as soon as I return!¡± Qu Qianhe¡¯s expression cooled completely, and it was time for her to speak up or it would be too late! With a scornful laugh, she looked straight at Zhou Fanghua with eyes sharp as swords, ¡°Who said we agreed? I certainly did not agree to this marriage! Zhou Fanghua, don¡¯t flatter yourself and become the laughingstock here.¡± Zhou Fanghua became anxious, ¡°What do you mean by that? Yiming and Xin Xin¡¯s marriage was settled long ago; it¡¯s just being held earlier than planned, what¡¯s the big deal?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a big deal!¡± Qu Qianhe looked at her coldly and then began to mock, ¡°Xin Xin has already proposed to your beloved Qiu Yiming to cancel the engagement, didn¡¯t he tell you? Xin Xin even returned the engagement ring to him, and he accepted it.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zhou Fanghua was completely infuriated, glaring at Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin as if she wanted to devour them, ¡°How dare you do this? If you wanted to cancel the engagement... why didn¡¯t you speak to me and Hongsheng directly?¡± Under the immense shock, Zhou Fanghua actually began to think clearly. Her eyes scrutinizing Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin, she desperately wanted to see through their ploy! Human emotions are so complex; she used to look down on Fang Yuxin, thinking she wasn¡¯t good enough for Qiu Yiming, not wishing for her son to marry her. But hearing Fang Yuxin had initiated the break-off, she reacted with dissatisfaction, why should Fang Yuxin look down on her son? (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 356 - 356 203 Two Choices (First Update) ?Chapter 356: 203 Two Choices (First Update) Chapter 356: 203 Two Choices (First Update) Qu Qianhe had no desire to argue any further and said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing about possible or impossible. The fact is as it stands. Such a significant issue should have been discussed calmly by everyone. Xinxin¡¯s approach was indeed too hasty, but now her mind is made up, and your Qiu Family¡¯s Yiming has found new love. Besides...¡± She looked at Zhou Fanghua and laughed mockingly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say it yourself? Our Fang Family is no longer as grand as it once was. A daughter of the Fang Family certainly cannot aspire to marry your Qiu Family¡¯s son!¡± ¡°You¡ª,¡± Zhou Fanghua was truly furious this time. Her gaze suddenly turned fierce as she glared deathly at Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin, and pointing at Qu Qianhe¡¯s nose, she yelled loudly, ¡°Qu Qianhe, don¡¯t push people too far! When did Yiming get a new love?¡± Zhou Fanghua did not believe that Fang Mengyao was Qiu Yiming¡¯s new love. She simply wasn¡¯t worthy! Moreover, didn¡¯t she know her own son? Qiu Yiming was utterly bewitched by Fang Yuxin; where could there be any new love! Thinking this, she glared at Fang Yuxin. This woman must have used some trick to enchant her precious son, and now she even dares to reject him! Zhou Fanghua couldn¡¯t bear to think of how heartbroken Qiu Yiming must have been when Fang Yuxin proposed the annulment! How could she do such a thing? How could she be so cruel! Zhou Fanghua felt like Qu Qianhe¡¯s words were like knives twisting in her heart, slowly shredding it. Her excellent son, from childhood to adulthood, she never bore to see him suffer even the slightest grievance, and now... now he had been so deeply wounded by Fang Yuxin! She regretted it! She shouldn¡¯t have come today! This woman is not worthy of being her daughter-in-law! Her Yiming deserves someone better! So, she straightened her back, haughtily lifted her chin, and looked at Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin with a cold laugh, ¡°No need! Since you want to annul the marriage, let¡¯s annul it then! However, I have one condition. As long as you agree to this condition, the marriage between Yiming and Fang Yuxin will be completely called off!¡± Qu Qianhe¡¯s thoughts were stirred, ¡°What condition?¡± If Zhou Fanghua¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t too demanding, it wouldn¡¯t harm to agree. Making a big fuss about this matter was not beneficial for both families; it would be troublesome if the Qiu Family kept clinging on. Zhou Fanghua smiled cruelly, ¡°I want you all to roll out of the Safe Zone!¡± Qu Qianhe looked at her in shock, then her face darkened as she warned, ¡°Zhou Fanghua, don¡¯t go too far!¡± Zhou Fanghua snorted coldly. Since things had already gotten to this point, why should she care about saving face anymore? If Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t be useful to their Qiu Family, then she couldn¡¯t let her stay in the Safe Zone, lest General Song fully allies with her! If she were to assist that old geezer, with her Healing Ability, wouldn¡¯t the people¡¯s hearts turn to him? On the contrary, it would be the Qiu Family, having completely burned bridges with the Fang Family, who would be at a disadvantage! Therefore, she must drive Fang Yuxin out of the Safe Zone! Without Fang Yuxin¡¯s Healing Ability and the fresh produce she provided, she¡¯d like to see how that old geezer manages to woo the people! If Fang Yuxin and the other members of the Fang Family died outside as a result, that would be all the better! In the future, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Yiming getting heartbroken over Fang Yuxin anymore! Zhou Fanghua was decisive. Seeing that wooing was unsuccessful, she simply tore off the pretense and decided to expel the Fang Family from the Safe Zone! Yet with Fang Yuxin¡¯s current reputation, other methods were obviously unfeasible. It was better to use the annulment as an excuse to force them out! Looking at Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin¡¯s sour expressions, Zhou Fanghua suddenly felt elated! She couldn¡¯t help but laugh proudly, ¡°Either you leave the Safe Zone, and the marriage contract is considered null, or Fang Yuxin obediently marries into the Qiu Family! I give you one night to think it over. The choice is yours!¡± After saying that, she didn¡¯t wait for Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin¡¯s reaction and turned around to stride away. Qu Qianhe was greatly upset by Zhou Fanghua¡¯s words, with murderous intent roiling in her heart. She clenched her fist and squinted her eyes dangerously, preparing to strike Zhou Fanghua. Fang Yuxin quickly grabbed her wrist and shook her head at her, ¡°Mom, let¡¯s go inside and talk.¡± Speaking, she glanced at Zhou Fanghua¡¯s departing back, her gaze as cold as ancient unmelting ice. Although Qu Qianhe was reluctant, seeing Zhou Fanghua walking further and further away and Fang Yuxin gripping her wrist without letting go, she had no choice but to lock the door with a displeased face and walk back with Fang Yuxin. Chapter 357 - 357 203 Two Choices (Second Update) ?Chapter 357: 203 Two Choices (Second Update) Chapter 357: 203 Two Choices (Second Update) They had just turned around when Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang strode out of the house. Qu Qianhe was full of bottled-up frustration at the sight of them, and her face darkened as she scolded, ¡°Are you even men? Coming out at this time? Were you scared of that madwoman Zhou Fanghua?¡± Fang Jintang and his son Fang Yuyang immediately hung their heads in shame, not daring to refute Qu Qianhe¡¯s words. Seeing this, Qu Qianhe¡¯s irritation grew, and she couldn¡¯t help but want to scold further. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t bear to let her continue and quickly pulled her hand, whispering, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s not Dad and Brother¡¯s fault. I signaled them not to come out.¡± Initially, Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang were hesitant because Zhou Fanghua was by herself and as an Ordinary Person without Awakening any superpowers, stepping in might seem like bullying. So, they stayed inside. However, as Zhou Fanghua¡¯s words grew increasingly out of line, they became restless and prepared to intervene. Just then, Fang Yuxin used her Spiritual Sense to send a message, asking them to stay inside and not to get involved. Although anxious, they trusted Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, worrying they might disrupt her plan. Besides, they knew Zhou Fanghua, being an ordinary person, couldn¡¯t possibly harm Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin. So they reluctantly stayed put. As soon as Zhou Fanghua left, they could no longer sit still and hurried out to meet them. Chen Qiao and the others did not continue to stay inside either, following out but walking behind. After Fang Yuxin explained, even if Qu Qianhe felt unsatisfied, she no longer had the heart to lash out at the father and son. Yet, she still huffed coldly to show her displeasure. Fang Jintang quickly went to her side, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and whispered in her ear, ¡°Qianhe, don¡¯t be angry. I know you¡¯ve been wronged. If you feel upset, just pinch me, okay? Hmm, just don¡¯t let the children see.¡± Qu Qianhe gave him a stare, but the anger had faded, replaced by a flirtatious and affectionate look that froze Fang Jintang in place, his eyes darkening with an awakening primal desire. Qu Qianhe, accustomed to her husband¡¯s gaze, blushed and caught sight of Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang nearby. She felt a rush of embarrassment and pinched Fang Jintang¡¯s soft flesh around his waist, warning, ¡°You old coot! The kids are right here! Show some restraint!¡± By then, Fang Jintang also noticed Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, which felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on him, extinguishing the instinctual desire within him. Fang Yuxin had not noticed their subtle exchange, or perhaps she was concerned she might accidentally overhear or witness something inappropriate, so she intentionally blocked her perception of them. Seeing that Chen Qiao and the others had all come out, Bai Qianqian ran over and clung tightly to her hand, and with everyone looking quite distressed, Fang Yuxin quickly suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and talk!¡± They entered the house, where the air was filled with the tempting aroma of hotpot. Despite hearing Zhou Fanghua¡¯s ultimatum, their appetite had vanished. Looking at the leftovers on the table and considering they might have had enough, plus feeling a bit hungry herself, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Continue eating; we¡¯ll talk while we eat.¡± The enhanced bodies of superpower users meant they had far greater digestive abilities than Ordinary People, allowing them to extract more energy from food. This inadvertently led to an increase in their appetites. Other superpower users, restricted by their circumstances, dared not indulge freely. Fang Yuxin and her group, having plenty of supplies, were not plagued by such concerns and ate with gusto. Fresh vegetables and various meats covered the table, and the large pot filled with fragrant hotpot broth was enticing. Such luxurious feasts would certainly attract envy from other survivors if they saw it! They were lucky Zhou Fanghua disdained hotpot as a commoner¡¯s dish, too vulgar, and was also worried about the smell of the smoke clinging to her clothes, so she didn¡¯t enter. Otherwise, she surely wouldn¡¯t let the Fang Family¡¯s supplies slip by! While the rest were not full yet and had lost their appetite because of Zhou Fanghua¡¯s words, at Fang Yuxin¡¯s prompt, the fire was rekindled, and the glistening broth began to boil, releasing an even stronger aroma. Stimulated by the smell and seeing Fang Yuxin enjoying a piece of cooked beef, their appetites suddenly returned, and their stomachs growled with hunger. As they cooked their food, Fang Yuxin asked, ¡°You¡¯ve all heard what Zhou Fanghua said. What are your thoughts?¡± She directed her gaze to Chen Qiao and the six others. Clearly, she was asking them. Chen Qiao and his group had taken a Blood Oath and had now grown strong. It would be ideal if they could stick together, but she wouldn¡¯t force them if they didn¡¯t want to leave the Safe Zone. After all, with the Blood Oath in place, they couldn¡¯t betray her. Initially, she hadn¡¯t planned to leave Market, knowing well what would happen next from her past life where she had stayed until her death. Yet, her marriage issue with Qiu Yiming remained a hassle, and leaving might be a better choice if she wanted to avoid further entanglement. Though they were few in number and leaving posed great dangers, a small group wasn¡¯t necessarily a disadvantage. Larger groups drew more attention and attracted zombies, but a small group, especially when using Concealing Talismans to hide their presence, was much less noticeable! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to vote with your monthly ticket at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 358 - 358 204 Do you want to leave (Second Update) ?Chapter 358: 204 Do you want to leave? (Second Update) Chapter 358: 204 Do you want to leave? (Second Update) Although leaving wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing, without Zhou Fanghua¡¯s outburst, she wouldn¡¯t have been so determined. It was Zhou Fanghua¡¯s troublemaking that made her decide to seize the opportunity to entirely sever ties with Qiu Yiming. Zhou Fanghua likely made such an unreasonable demand because she guessed that after the rupture between the Qiu Family and the Fang Family, there was a concern they would wholly align with General Song. Moreover, it was intended to ensure Qiu Yiming would give up on her completely. And with their limited manpower, survival outside the Safe Zone was bound to be perilously slim. As a mother, Zhou Fanghua¡¯s swift change of mind in devising such a plan was admirable, albeit excessively selfish and cruel! While pondering silently, Fang Yuxin watched Chen Qiao and his five companions, waiting for their answer. She specifically raised this question to see their response and whether they were willing to take the risk and follow her. If these people were willing, then she would naturally treat them more favorably in the future. But if they were not, the only remaining connection between them would be the Blood Oath. The question was clearly not easy to answer; all six were silent, evidently deep in thought. Fang Yuxin was patient. She didn¡¯t hurry them and simply redirected her attention to her meal. She thought she would have to wait a long time but was surprised when someone soon spoke up. The first to respond was Shang Jinxiu, with a very determined expression and not a hint of hesitation or fear, ¡°My life was saved by Sister Xin. Wherever Sister Xin goes, I will go. Whatever Sister Xin asks me to do, I will do.¡± Her answer was too straightforward. The others didn¡¯t have the same courage and couldn¡¯t be as resolute as her. They were weighing the pros and cons. Now outside the Safe Zone, zombies were increasingly numerous, and mutated plants and animals were appearing. Staying inside the Safe Zone was obviously much safer than being outside! However, they also knew that if Fang Yuxin was determined to leave, and they wanted to stay, they would have to part ways with her. They were all too aware of the kind of life they had been leading these days compared to other survivors in the Safe Zone. So they understood that once separated, it was very likely they wouldn¡¯t have such good days again. After hesitating for a moment, Chen Qiao spoke up, ¡°I think the same as Axiao. I¡¯ll go wherever the captain and vice-captain go.¡± He had realized the Fang Family¡¯s strength was evident, especially Fang Yuxin¡¯s resourcefulness. He believed that by following Fang Yuxin, even if it were through extreme dangers, they would be safe. Moreover, it hadn¡¯t been easy for him to gain Fang Yuxin¡¯s trust. He knew how many people envied their place in the Yongcheng Team; how could he give up such an opportunity to stay in this ruined place? Once, Chen Qiao thought he would always stay in this Safe Zone until all the zombies outside were eradicated. So, he had always viewed the Safe Zone as his home, feeling it was perfect. But since he ¡®heard¡¯ Zhou Fanghua¡¯s warning and Fang Yuxin hinted at leaving, he started to find the Safe Zone less and less appealing. Why stay in such a broken place? With this thought, his resolve gradually solidified. With Shang Jinxiu and Chen Qiao leading by example, the other four people stopped hesitating and gradually voiced their thoughts, all willing to follow Fang Yuxin and the others. At the same time, these people, like Chen Qiao, came to find the Safe Zone increasingly unappealing. Fang Yuxin was quite satisfied with their responses. Although these people had made their decision after weighing the pros and cons and might not all be sincere, the choices they made already involved great risks. She smiled and said, ¡°Alright, since you all say so, I won¡¯t keep you in suspense any longer. I am planning to leave the Safe Zone, and it¡¯s set for tomorrow. However, before we leave, we definitely need to make some preparations. Let me ask again, are you truly willing to leave the Safe Zone with us? We don¡¯t know the exact situation outside now, and once we leave the Safe Zone, it could be very dangerous. Have you really thought it through?¡± This time, the six did not hesitate. After all, they were all superpower users and had been through many battles, quite tough mentally. Since they had already made their decision earlier, they wouldn¡¯t easily go back on their word. Chapter 359 - 359 204 Do you want to leave (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 359: 204 Do you want to leave? (Second Update)_2 Chapter 359: 204 Do you want to leave? (Second Update)_2 Six people spoke in unison, ¡°Deputy team leader, rest assured, we¡¯ve all made up our minds. Anyway, there¡¯s nothing great about this Safe Zone, and we¡¯ve been bored of it for a while; leaving is just leaving. Although it¡¯s dangerous outside, there might still be great opportunities waiting, and we can¡¯t let others take advantage of them!¡± The last sentence, although joking, was indeed their true thoughts. Recently, as the number of zombies outside the Safe Zone kept increasing, the mercenaries didn¡¯t dare stray too far when carrying out tasks, always staying near the Safe Zone, hunting the wandering zombies. Therefore, what the farther areas had become was unknown to everyone. After witnessing Angela and Lan Re¡¯s abilities, the six, including Chen Qiao, had long been itching to capture a mutated creature for a contract. The chances of capturing a mutated creature near the Safe Zone were slim¡ªafter all, there were many people with the same idea, and if a mutated creature did appear, it¡¯s unknown how many would rush to seize it. But going to farther places would be different; it would be a whole new and broader world! With their words, not only Fang Yuxin but also the other members of the Fang Family were pleased. Bai Qianqian was the happiest of all; he was smart and always knew that Bai Ye wouldn¡¯t stay in the Safe Zone too long. So, these days he had been afraid, dreading the possibility of being separated from Bai Ye or Fang Yuxin. One was his silly dad, and the other was the mom he had finally found; he didn¡¯t want to lose either of them! Now that Fang Yuxin had decided to leave the Safe Zone, for him, there was no news more marvelous than this! Finally, their family wouldn¡¯t need to split up! Bai Qianqian was joyfully sniggering to himself, without the slightest worry about what to do if Fang Yuxin decided not to go to Beishi City and not to follow the same path as Bai Ye. Although Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Fang Yuyang were all very reluctant to leave this home in the Safe Zone, they supported Fang Yuxin¡¯s decision. If she wanted to leave, they would follow. As long as the family was together, what place couldn¡¯t be home? After getting the answer from Chen Qiao and the others, Fang Yuxin smiled with satisfaction and said, ¡°Alright, after we¡¯ve eaten, you guys go back and prepare. You might want to check out the safe store to see what you can buy; use up all the credit points on your card. But remember, the news must be kept confidential and must not be leaked.¡± Chen Qiao and the others nodded gravely, all indicating they understood. Afterwards, everyone quickly finished their meal, cleaned the pots and dishes, and then Chen Qiao and the others took their leave. After they left, the Fang Family held an internal meeting, right there in the living room. Once seated, Fang Jintang was the first to ask, ¡°Xinxin, have you really decided to leave? Even if we are going to annul the engagement, the Qiu Family has no reason to kick us out. You don¡¯t have to take Zhou Fanghua¡¯s words to heart.¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head slightly; her decision to leave wasn¡¯t just due to Zhou Fanghua or the Qiu Family, but rather because of her own desires. She said, ¡°Dad, you know what happened last night without me having to say it. Do you think incidents like that will decrease in the future? I¡¯m currently the Chief Physician of the Safe Zone, and if I stay, I¡¯ll be busy treating and saving people.¡± Although she initially agreed to become the Chief Physician on her terms, when situations became critical, could she really just stand by and not help? Incidents like the zombie siege last night were unlikely to be rare in the future, and the number of injured would only increase. No matter how skilled she was, she was just one person; if she was the only one people relied on each time, she would be exhausted sooner or later. Furthermore, this would likely cause the other doctors or people in the Safe Zone to become dependent on her. That was not a good thing. Only when they broke the cauldrons and sank the boats, feeling a sufficient sense of crisis, could they continuously stimulate their potential. Although Fang Yuxin had her own selfish reasons, she genuinely wanted the people of the Safe Zone to improve, to enhance their own strengths, instead of pinning their hopes on someone else for survival. There¡¯s an old saying, ¡°Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.¡± Fang Yuxin thought for a while and pulled out a set of strength-building Breathing Technique she had, simply named ¡®Qi Cultivation Technique.¡¯ This Cultivation Technique was a variation derived from the ¡®Longevity Technique,¡¯ a Cultivation Technique from the Cultivation World, which could barely be considered as such and ranked quite low, a Commonplace technique. However, it was highly regarded in the Mortal World as any ordinary person could cultivate it. Although it lacked Attack Power, it had the benefit of fortifying the body and improving health. It was just a Breathing Technique, absorbing the Spiritual Energy of the world into the body, controlling its flow through the meridians, and ultimately gathering it into the Dantian. At the same time, it involved exhaling impurities, expelling the turbid air and purities within. Ordinary people might not sense the real Spiritual Energy, but even so, by practicing this Breathing Technique, they could still absorb trace amounts of Spiritual Energy. If someone had good talent, such as possessing a Spirit Root, they could absorb real Spiritual Energy, and naturally, the final results would be much better compared to others. Though it was Commonplace, unless one had exceptional talent, it was nearly impossible to embark on the path of Cultivation and make any significant achievements with such a Breathing Technique. Fang Yuxin¡¯s decision to leave was driven by her own motives, but she still felt a pang of guilt for abandoning the survivors of the Safe Zone. She carefully reviewed her inheritance and found such a Breathing Technique, planning to let the people from the Safe Zone practice it. Of course, she was merely offering the technique; whether others wanted to learn it was not her concern. After thinking it over and seeing no issue, she prepared to inform her family of this decision and to seek their opinions. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a monthly ticket on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 360 - 360 205 Something to Say (Third Update) ?Chapter 360: 205 Something to Say (Third Update) Chapter 360: 205 Something to Say (Third Update) 205 Something to Say Before Fang Yuxin could speak, Fang Jintang had already said in a deep voice, ¡°According to what you said, it¡¯s indeed not appropriate for us to stay in the Safe Zone for long.¡± As he spoke, his eyebrows were furrowed tightly, his eyes flickering with struggle. Eventually, he lowered his gaze, his expression filled with a touch of guilt. Fang Jintang was a very upright and kind person; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been involved in charity every year, setting up charitable foundations and allocating five percent of the company¡¯s profits directly for charitable donations to help those in need, as well as opening discounted supermarkets to provide concessions. He wasn¡¯t someone who would stand by and watch others die, but he was a father; he didn¡¯t want his daughter to be so busy all the time, constantly using the True Qi she worked hard to cultivate to save people. He had his own selfishness. Yet, he was very clear that once they left, without Fang Yuxin¡¯s powerful Healing Ability, many wounded would undoubtedly die. Thinking of those who would die weighed heavily on his heart. He felt guilty, but he would rather bear this guilt himself than have his daughter suffer. Qu Qianhe, seeing his silent demeanor, also felt very uncomfortable. She took the initiative to hold Fang Jintang¡¯s hand, hesitated for a moment, and then said dryly, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it. Xinxin isn¡¯t a savior; she can¡¯t save everyone, can she?¡± Fang Jintang knew she was comforting him, so he held her hand back and said with a sigh, ¡°I understand what you¡¯re saying, and I don¡¯t want Xinxin to suffer either, it¡¯s just... it just feels too tragic.¡± Fang Yuxin quickly expressed her thoughts, ¡°The higher-ups have already decided to have the residents of the Safe Zone undergo militarized training, right? If their strength improves, their chances of surviving will be even greater. And I think, the Safe Zone should cultivate a group of Doctors. With increasing injuries, relying solely on Wood Element Superpower Users¡¯ Healing Abilities simply won¡¯t be enough. We still need to integrate surgical and pharmacological treatments. I¡¯ve found a Breathing Technique suitable for Ordinary People to cultivate, which can strengthen the body. I plan to share it publicly.¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Jintang was initially delighted, then his eyebrows drew together with worry as he said, ¡°Xinxin, what kind of Breathing Technique is it, and is it safe?¡± Although he hoped the survivors in the Safe Zone could make it through, he was more concerned about Fang Yuxin¡¯s safety. If the Breathing Technique mentioned by Fang Yuxin was significant, he would rather be selfish and not let Fang Yuxin share it! Fang Yuxin knew he was worried about her and felt warmed by his concern. She smiled and explained, ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, this Breathing Technique is called the ¡®Qi Cultivation Technique.¡¯ It¡¯s a ¡®Commonplace¡¯ practice in the Cultivation World, and its only benefit is to strengthen the body without any offensive power. However, combined with combat training, the results will definitely be very good.¡± After speaking, she thought of the girl she had seen sneakily. The girl¡¯s martial arts were exquisite, much like traditional kung fu, and likely a very powerful heritage. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know if the girl had cultivated Inner Strength, but she felt that if everyone could learn that set of martial arts in combination with the practice of the Breathing Technique, they would be able to get twice the results with half the effort. The Qi Cultivation Technique may be considered low-level in the Cultivation World, but in the Mortal World, it was certainly a valuable form of Inner Strength. But that girl¡¯s heritage seemed too powerful and was probably not something that could be casually passed on to others. Fang Yuxin thought about it and then let go of the matter. She discussed it thoroughly with her family once more before going to her room. She wrote down the Qi Cultivation Technique on a piece of paper, and then took another piece of paper, writing down some suggestions for the Safe Zone and subtly hinting to be wary of the birds overhead. She folded the paper neatly into an envelope and wrote ¡°For General Song¡¯s Eyes Only¡± on it. She then took a clean plastic bottle, filled it with spiritual spring water, found a cardboard box, placed the envelope and the spiritual spring water inside, and sealed it with tape. This was something she planned to hand over to Zhou Yan before leaving the Safe Zone tomorrow. After preparing everything, Fang Yuxin breathed a sigh of relief and planned to visit the safe store with her family to spend all the credit points on their card. It had been some time since they last went shopping in the safe store, and the credit points had accumulated into a sizable number. Therefore, Fang Yuxin decided she had to spend them all! It was now the afternoon, and the safe store was not crowded. The shelves were still filled with dazzling arrays of goods, overwhelming to the eyes. Chapter 361 - 361 205 Something to Say (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 361: 205 Something to Say (Third Update)_2 Chapter 361: 205 Something to Say (Third Update)_2 Fang Yuxin flipped through the store¡¯s product catalog, casually selecting a few items and asked the clerk to package them. As a Chief Physician, the rationing system was already very lenient for her. Compared to others, the restrictions she faced were minimal. She was waiting, bored, when she turned her gaze and saw a skinny little child hiding in the distance, unconsciously biting his thumb, his large eyes longingly fixing on the goods on the shelves. Thinking it over, she bought a box of convenience food and some candy, then walked over and put them in the child¡¯s hands, ¡°Take it and eat.¡± The child was filthy and extremely thin. He raised his head and curiously looked at Fang Yuxin, not daring to reach out for the food. Fang Yuxin smiled, ¡°It¡¯s for you, take it and eat.¡± She knew this child must have had a hard life, but they were about to leave. Giving him too much food might actually harm him. The child pursed his lips, his eyes alternating between the food in Fang Yuxin¡¯s hands and her face, as if to make sure she wasn¡¯t deceiving him. Fang Yuxin extended the goods toward him, smiling again, ¡°It¡¯s for you, take it.¡± The child hesitated again but couldn¡¯t resist the temptation and quickly reached out and grabbed the box meal and candy. He was so thin, his hands resembled chicken claws, a bit dirty to look at. At that moment, Bai Qianqian came over. He was holding a bottle of purified water, which he handed to the child, ¡°Here, this is for you too.¡± The child curiously looked at Bai Qianqian. The two children seemed to be about the same height, but Bai Qianqian was better looking and clean, obviously a child from a wealthy family. The child suddenly lowered his head, took the water, and quietly said ¡°thank you¡± before quickly running off. Fang Yuxin watched his small figure and sighed softly. The child was pitiable, clearly one of those living at the bottom. In the entire Safe Zone, there were many people as pitiful as him. She wasn¡¯t a savior and couldn¡¯t save everyone. What she could do was to enable these people to have the ability to survive as much as possible. Afterward, Fang Yuxin bought some more items, but she still couldn¡¯t spend all of her credit points, which frustrated her greatly. Just as she was about to leave, people were heading toward the store. Upon closer examination, it was Bai Ye and his teammates. Bai Ye and his men clearly didn¡¯t expect to run into Fang Yuxin and her group, they paused, then politely greeted them. Bai Ye strode forward, first tousling Bai Qianqian¡¯s hair, then said in a low voice to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Miss Fang, you¡¯ll probably go home later, right? I have something to tell you.¡± Hearing his words, Fang Yuxin suddenly had a hunch, feeling that Bai Ye was also likely to leave the Safe Zone. She nodded her head and then took leave with her family from the safe store. They had not been home long when Bai Ye arrived. Although he said he had something to tell Fang Yuxin, the other members of the Fang Family didn¡¯t excuse themselves, all sitting in the living room. After exchanging pleasantries, Bai Ye got straight to the point, ¡°Miss Fang, I¡¯m planning to leave the Safe Zone soon, and you...¡± He furrowed his brow, wanting to ask ¡®do you want to come with me,¡¯ but felt it too abrupt, so changed his wording, ¡°Do you have any plans? I intend to take Qianqian with me.¡± Fang Yuxin had already discussed leaving the Safe Zone with her family. Hearing Bai Ye say this, she and her family exchanged a look and decided to be honest. She said, ¡°I plan to leave the Safe Zone tomorrow morning.¡± To Bai Ye, this was nothing short of a bombshell! ¡°You¡¯re leaving too?¡± Despite his composed nature, Bai Ye couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in surprise. He looked nervously at Fang Yuxin, really wanting to ask her where she intended to go after leaving the Safe Zone, whether she wanted to join him on the road but upon meeting Fang Yuxin¡¯s clear gaze, he simply asked, ¡°Why?¡± Fang Yuxin did not intend to reveal Zhou Fanghua¡¯s issue, so she simply said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to know that. However... we also plan to make a trip to Beishi City. If you don¡¯t mind, let¡¯s set off together; it¡¯d be good to have each other¡¯s back.¡± She didn¡¯t care about the lives or deaths of Bai Ye¡¯s teammates, but Bai Qianqian was Bai Ye¡¯s son, and Bai Ye had received the Dragon Scale Sword¡¯s legacy. There was a connection between them. Bai Ye didn¡¯t want to separate from Bai Qianqian, so how could she let Bai Qianqian go on the road with Bai Ye? She had the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion card up her sleeve; in the event of danger, she could hide inside. What about Bai Ye? Right then, Bai Ye was unaware that Fang Yuxin was underestimating him. Hearing that Fang Yuxin was also going to Beishi City and would join him on the road, his heart filled with immense joy. Happiness had come too swiftly; he couldn¡¯t believe it! Bai Ye was elated, but his face remained serious and composed. He said calmly, ¡°In that case, we will set off together tomorrow. I will go back and prepare now.¡± Fang Yuxin did not refuse. Since she had chosen to travel with Bai Ye, and Bai Ye was so agreeable, she couldn¡¯t have asked for more. Seeing Bai Ye about to leave, she thought for a moment and stopped him as he was getting up, ¡°Bai Ye, wait a moment, I have a gift for you.¡± Having said that, she took out paper and pen, wrote down the content of the Qi Cultivation Technique, and handed it to Bai Ye. Since she had already planned to share the technique with others, giving Bai Ye a favor was just incidental. Bai Ye froze when he took the paper from her hand. He hadn¡¯t expected Fang Yuxin to give him such a gift. Fang Yuxin explained, ¡°The Qi Cultivation Technique is a Breathing Technique. You can let your team try to practice it. Although it¡¯s not much, it can help strengthen the body and improve health.¡± Bai Ye nodded, gave Fang Yuxin a deep look, and said softly, ¡°Thank you.¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommended votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 362 - 362 206 It turns out to be her (first update) ?Chapter 362: 206 It turns out to be her (first update) Chapter 362: 206 It turns out to be her (first update) After leaving the Fang Family, Bai Ye quickly returned to his residence. He had originally planned to leave in the next few days, because he had been uncertain whether Fang Yuxin would be willing to leave with him, he had not set a specific time. Now that he had suddenly decided to leave tomorrow, there seemed to be not enough time. But he didn¡¯t regret it at all; they were going to leave anyway, so of course, they should leave together. He couldn¡¯t just let Fang Yuxin and the others wait outside, could he? Although he did not know why Fang Yuxin had suddenly decided to leave the Safe Zone, her decision was clearly an opportunity for him. He was just somewhat worried; had Fang Yuxin encountered some sort of problem? This thought led him to the Qiu Family. Fang Yuxin had an engagement with Qiu Yiming, and he had known about it for quite some time. He also knew that Fang Yuxin had proposed to break off the engagement, but it was quite clear that Qiu Yiming did not agree. So, could Fang Yuxin¡¯s sudden decision to leave have something to do with the Qiu Family? Ever since he had arrived in the Safe Zone, he had paid more attention to Fang Yuxin. He was aware that Qiu Yiming had hardly been in contact with Fang Yuxin recently and he did not know what was really going on. But last night¡¯s zombie attack had made Fang Yuxin stand out significantly, and the entire Safe Zone was buzzing with the news. Given the Qiu Family¡¯s character, they might very well harbor some schemes. With this in mind, Bai Ye couldn¡¯t help but worry. It is said that concern leads to chaos; he knew Fang Yuxin was resourceful and intelligent, but whenever it involved her own issues, he couldn¡¯t help but worry about her being taken advantage of or falling for the Qiu Family¡¯s despicable plots! So, after returning to his residence, he sent Hou San out to inquire about any recent movements of the Qiu Family. Hou San left without asking any questions. Once he had gone, Bai Ye spoke gravely to the others, ¡°Prepare yourselves, we¡¯re leaving the Safe Zone first thing tomorrow morning.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone was somewhat surprised. They had been wanting to leave the Safe Zone for a while now, as they were uneasy about the situation back in Beishi City. Their families and friends were all there, and they had no idea what the situation had become. But because of Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye had been dragging his feet, and although they were anxious, they didn¡¯t feel it appropriate to push him too much. Now that Bai Ye had finally agreed to leave the Safe Zone soon and head north to Beishi City, they all breathed a sigh of relief. However, nobody had expected that Bai Ye would decide to leave first thing tomorrow morning¡ªthis was quite hasty! The group exchanged glances before Chen Si stepped forward to ask, ¡°Boss, have you really decided to leave tomorrow?¡± Bai Ye nodded affirmatively, ¡°Yes, first thing tomorrow morning. I¡¯ve already made my decision. You all better start preparing.¡± When he said prepare, there wasn¡¯t actually much that needed to be prepared; they just had to buy some food from the Safe Zone. Chen Si asked again, ¡°What about Qianqian? Since we are leaving tomorrow, why didn¡¯t you bring him back with you? Boss, you¡¯re not thinking of leaving Qianqian behind, are you?¡± Bai Ye watched him silently for a moment before finally saying, ¡°The Fang Family will also be leaving the Safe Zone. We will leave together. This matter is a secret; you must not disclose it to anyone!¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Si and the others became solemn, all somewhat taken aback. They hadn¡¯t anticipated that the Fang Family would leave the Safe Zone. Originally, Bai Ye¡¯s reluctance to leave was due to concerns that the Fang Family might not want to leave. But now the situation had suddenly changed. Chen Si, being clever, caught on to the crux of the issue upon hearing Bai Ye¡¯s words. He asked, ¡°Boss, did something happen to the Fang Family? Is that why they decided to leave the Safe Zone first thing tomorrow morning?¡± Bai Ye had separated from them to go to the Fang Family without having decided on a time to leave. However, upon his return from the Fang Family, he had fixed the time, and so hastily at that¡ªit had to be because of the Fang Family. Bai Ye confirmed with a ¡°hmm¡± and then said, ¡°Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t mention any specific problems, but I suspect it¡¯s because of the Qiu Family.¡± Chen Si thought of Hou San, who had been sent out, and sighed, ¡°No wonder the Boss sent Hou San out. It turns out it¡¯s because of this. However...¡± He hesitated, but still voiced his concerns, ¡°Boss, I feel there¡¯s something more complex going on. You saw Miss Fang¡¯s capabilities last night; she wouldn¡¯t leave the Safe Zone just because of the Qiu Family. I suspect there is another reason.¡± On this point, Bai Ye was actually aware. However, the fact that Fang Yuxin was leaving the Safe Zone¡ªand even more so that she was willing to head north with him¡ªwas exactly what he wanted, so he wasn¡¯t particularly concerned about the reasons behind her decision. It was only because of the Qiu Family that he worried about Fang Yuxin being at a disadvantage, which was why he had sent Hou San to investigate. Chapter 363 - 363 206 It turns out to be her (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 363: 206 It turns out to be her (First Update)_2 Chapter 363: 206 It turns out to be her (First Update)_2 Chen Si looked at his expression and knew that he must understand in his heart, so he did not ask again. Anyway, from his understanding of the Fang Family, even if there were other reasons, the likelihood of Fang Yuxin plotting against Bai Ye or them was slim; there really wasn¡¯t much to worry about. Bai Ye thought of the gift from Fang Yuxin and took out the paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and handed it to Chen Si, ¡°This is what Fang Yuxin gave you, a set of Breathing Technique supposed to strengthen the body. I¡¯ve looked it over, and there¡¯s no problem. You guys should take a look.¡± Chen Si accepted it with surprise, unable to resist asking, ¡°Why would Miss Fang give us such a gift?¡± Bai Ye thought for a moment, the corners of his mouth slightly curling up with a touch of pride, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s because you are my subordinates. What other reason could there be? She must be considering my face to give you this gift.¡± Chen Si looked at his proud appearance, his mouth twitching slightly, feeling that in Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart, Bai Qianqian¡¯s face was certainly worth much more than Bai Ye¡¯s. But Bai Ye was in high spirits, and he dared not say it out loud. After looking at the content on the paper, he silently memorized it, deciding to try it out that night. Although the material came from Fang Yuxin, he should remain vigilant. But since Bai Ye said there was no problem with the material, he naturally trusted Bai Ye¡¯s judgment. After memorizing the content, Chen Si handed the paper to Meng Qingluo. Meng Qingluo took the paper, recorded the contents, and then passed it to Xu Wu. Xu Wu read it once, then carefully folded the paper and tucked it into his pocket, saying, ¡°When Hou San returns, I¡¯ll give it to him.¡± Bai Ye nodded, then inquired, ¡°Is there any news about those two people?¡± By ¡®those two people,¡¯ he naturally meant Shen Xi and his sister Shen Xin, who had escaped. Upon hearing this, Chen Si¡¯s face sank, ¡°Shen Xi has entered the military research facility. It looks like he¡¯s planning to hide inside and not come out, that bastard!¡± If Shen Xi had merely taken Shen Xin away, he wouldn¡¯t have been so angry, but they shouldn¡¯t have stolen all their supplies! The food was one thing, but the Elemental Stones, Elemental Crystals, and Crystal Cores they had obtained were not easy to come by! Bai Ye lightly shook his head, ¡°They were badly injured at the time and couldn¡¯t have escaped on their own, there must have been help. It¡¯s just that we don¡¯t know who that person is.¡± He thought about Shen Xi¡¯s sister and hesitated for a moment but did not ask. Since Shen Xi had hidden in the research facility, he would not leave his sister in an unsafe place. Maybe both of them were hiding in the research facility now! With this, capturing them would not be easy. The research facility was heavily guarded, and breaking in was no simple task. Moreover, they were about to leave the Safe Zone, and if they tried to infiltrate the research facility, it would likely startle the enemy and create unnecessary complications. He was also worried about the situation in Beishi City; it would be too costly if this issue caused any delays. Meng Qingluo felt very unwilling to let it go, ¡°Are we just going to let them off like this?¡± But Bai Ye seemed optimistic, saying, ¡°As long as those two don¡¯t die, we¡¯ll always have a chance to catch them. If they are dead, then what does it matter if we didn¡¯t lift a finger?¡± As long as the enemy was down on their luck, it didn¡¯t matter if it wasn¡¯t by his own hand. Bai Ye never felt that he needed to personally deal with an adversary to feel a sense of accomplishment. Chen Si also said, ¡°The military places great importance on the research facility. If we barge in by force, it will likely backfire.¡± Meng Qingluo did not speak further, as she wasn¡¯t one to be unreasonable. For them, getting back to Beishi City was the most important thing; it wasn¡¯t worth wasting time over Shen Xi and Shen Xin. Yet when she thought about how they were stranded in Market for so long because of these two, even facing the apocalypse, Meng Qingluo felt extremely displeased! Shen Xi was their mission target, and Shen Xin was his sister. If it hadn¡¯t been for the search for Shen Xin, they wouldn¡¯t have been trapped in Market when disaster struck. As a result, they had wasted their time, and the target Shen Xi had escaped. How could she be content with that? Xu Wu saw her stewing alone and gently patted her shoulder, saying, ¡°Alright, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s the apocalypse now; what does it matter if the mission isn¡¯t completed?¡± Bai Ye did not want to dwell on this issue and led his team straight to the safe store again, buying everything that could be bought within the purchasing limits. Their supplies had been stolen, but fortunately they had all carried their weapons with them and were unharmed. Therefore, this time, they mostly bought food and bullets, along with other necessities. This purchase had almost entirely depleted their credit points on the card. When they returned to their lodgings, Hou San had already returned and was drinking water. Hou San was stunned to see the large bags they were carrying, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why did you buy so much?¡± Xu Wu, bringing up the rear, looked around and made sure no one was listening, then cautiously closed the door. Then Bai Ye spoke in a low voice, ¡°We¡¯re leaving the Safe Zone first thing tomorrow morning. How did your investigation go?¡± ¡°What?¡± Hou San was shocked and really wanted to ask why, but he hesitated for a moment and still decided to answer Bai Ye¡¯s question first, ¡°There¡¯s nothing unusual about the Qiu Family, but I found out that Zhou Fanghua went to the Fang Family at noon. She was greeted by Mrs. Fang and Miss Fang, but they did not let her in. As for what they talked about, no one knows. However, someone saw that Zhou Fanghua¡¯s expression was not good.¡± Bai Ye¡¯s gaze grew cold, and he replied sternly, ¡°So it was her.¡± (. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 364 - 364 207 Only this method (second update) ?Chapter 364: 207 Only this method (second update) Chapter 364: 207 Only this method (second update) Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were both busily preparing to leave, while the Qiu Family father and son were still unaware of the significant actions Zhou Fanghua had taken behind their backs! The Qiu family father and son were both busy with official duties and had not specifically assigned anyone to monitor Zhou Fanghua and report her whereabouts at all times. Although her movements weren¡¯t secret, there were no guards accompanying her during her visits to the Fang Family. Naturally, no one knew she had warned the Fang Family, nor did they report it to the Qiu Family father and son in time. The father and son were entirely focused on taking down Fang Mengyao and then marrying Fang Yuxin into their household. Little did they know that due to Zhou Fanghua¡¯s actions, Fang Yuxin had already decided to leave the Safe Zone! Not only were they unaware of this, but General Song and General Li were also in the dark. After all, with the increasing number of zombies outside and the situation becoming increasingly severe, no one would have thought that at this critical juncture, anyone would have the crazy idea of leaving the Safe Zone. Such behavior was seen by most as no different from seeking death! Therefore, despite knowing that Zhou Fanghua had visited the Fang Family and that it had caused quite an uproar, neither General Song nor General Li ever considered that the Fang Family might leave the Safe Zone because of this. That evening, in a room at the research institute, Shen Xi, wearing a neat white lab coat and frameless glasses, smiled as he approached Lin Feiyin, ¡°Lady Lin, we meet again.¡± Lin Feiyin was now being forcibly kept at the research institute to cooperate with experiments. Although she wasn¡¯t reduced to lying on a cold dissecting table, she had to condense a significant amount of water with purification abilities every day and provide blood samples for the researchers to study. However, her treatment was quite good; the room assigned to her was carefully decorated, very warm and comfortable, even more upscale than her home before the apocalypse. In addition, she was provided with abundant meals thrice daily, and the institute also supplied her with a certain amount of Zombie Crystal Cores to absorb every day, to enhance her superpower. Although the amount of water she had to condense daily was somewhat large, Lin Feiyin felt that this life was much more comfortable than struggling to survive outside. However, she was very surprised to see Shen Xi looking completely renewed here. ¡°Mr. Shen, what brings you here?¡± Lin Feiyin looked at Shen Xi¡¯s attire in surprise. The lights were on in the room, and she could see him clearly. Shen Xi wore a neat white lab coat, and his slightly long hair had been trimmed, making him look more energetic. He was already handsome, and with the frameless glasses, the sharpness and craziness in his eyes were concealed, adding a scholarly elegance that was very attractive. Looking at him, Lin Feiyin couldn¡¯t help but blush. She was not very old, having just graduated from college a year ago, and could easily be attracted by a man like Shen Xi. Although Shen Xi wasn¡¯t as handsome as Fang Yuyang, Fang Yuyang¡¯s presence was too strong and he was full of hostility towards her. Compared to him, the gentle and scholarly handsome Shen Xi was far better! She wasn¡¯t foolish. Noticing Shen Xi¡¯s attire, she guessed his current role, ¡°Mr. Shen, are you a researcher here now?¡± Seeing Lin Feiyin¡¯s face turn red, Shen Xi smiled even more gently, ¡°Lady Lin, you are so clever. You guessed it right! I am the new researcher here, responsible for your project. We will surely see each other often from now on.¡± Hearing this, Lin Feiyin turned even redder as if she could bleed, she stammered, ¡°Really... really? That... that¡¯s really... really great.¡± Shen Xi smiled and nodded, his eyes gently curved as he looked at her, ¡°Lin...never mind, I¡¯ll just call you Feiyin. Feiyin, has your superpower leveled up?¡± At his question, Lin Feiyin looked down, feeling ashamed. Her superpower had not leveled up, and she was worried that Shen Xi would look down on her for it. After all, many people had shamed her for this! Shen Xi noticed her embarrassment and didn¡¯t pursue the matter further but understandingly said, ¡°Feiyin, you shouldn¡¯t blame yourself, superpowers are very mysterious, and we still haven¡¯t figured out exactly what they are. Everyone is still exploring, and your superpower has mutated, making it difficult to level up; it¡¯s normal. This isn¡¯t your fault.¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Feiyin¡¯s previously anxious heart instantly calmed down. She subconsciously looked at Shen Xi; her heart ¡®thump thumped¡¯ with a powerful beat, each throb spreading a sweet bliss within her. Chapter 365 - 365 207 Only this method (second update)_2 ?Chapter 365: 207 Only this method (second update)_2 Chapter 365: 207 Only this method (second update)_2 She felt that what Shen Xi said made too much sense, yet she still replied, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault for being so useless, you don¡¯t need to comfort me like this.¡± Shen Xi slightly shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth, and our research has found that the more powerful the superpower, the more difficult it is to upgrade.¡± This statement wasn¡¯t a lie, for indeed, the greater the superpower, the more challenging the upgrade process becomes. However, if one¡¯s talent is good, then the difficulty of upgrading is greatly reduced. Shen Xi intentionally only mentioned one aspect, intending to put Lin Feiyin at ease. In reality, both he and Zheng Tianhe had begun to suspect that Lin Feiyin¡¯s talent was not high. Yet the question was, how could she have developed the purification ability if her talent was not good? Logically, those whose superpowers could mutate were usually people with good talent. And they had already discovered that it was somewhat easier for Water Element Superpower Users to upgrade compared to other systems, but Lin Feiyin had been unable to upgrade, which was hard to justify. Thus, they began to suspect that there was something wrong with Lin Feiyin¡¯s initial mutation. It was very probable that she had discovered something that had led to the mutation of her superpower. Regarding this issue, people had asked her when they first discovered that Lin Feiyin¡¯s superpower had mutated, but she had answered that she did not know herself; it seemed that the superpower had just suddenly mutated. Of course, the researchers didn¡¯t believe her, so they took a sample of Lin Feiyin¡¯s blood for testing. Unfortunately, there had been no progress. Therefore, this time, they deliberately kept Lin Feiyin to cooperate with their research. And Shen Xi¡¯s visit to Lin Feiyin had its purposes, too. It was not simply to chat and nurture rapport. After he spoke again, Lin Feiyin sighed and said, ¡°So that¡¯s how it is; then do you know how I can upgrade?¡± Ever since she had been humiliated, she had been wanting to upgrade. Why were those people afraid to offend Fang Yuxin yet dared to humiliate her? Wasn¡¯t it because Fang Yuxin was a Wood Element Superpower User who had upgraded to the second level, while her superpower was still basic? Once she upgraded, she wanted to see if those people would still dare to offend her! Unfortunately, her superpower had only reached the Primary Middle Stage, and upgrading was not something that could be achieved overnight. Lin Feiyin was unaware of this situation, naively thinking that as long as she worked hard on her cultivation, she could upgrade quickly! The words of Shen Xi, although ostensibly complimentary, also made her worry. If her superpower was truly difficult to upgrade, what should she do to upgrade? She couldn¡¯t be stuck at the basic level forever, could she? In that case, her value would be even lower! Anxiety surged in her heart, and she couldn¡¯t help but look to Shen Xi for help, ¡°Mr. Shen, can you help me?¡± Shen Xi confidently smiled, ¡°I came here today precisely to help you.¡± As he spoke, he took out a syringe from his pocket; the syringe was already drawn with a transparent liquid inside. Lin Feiyin looked at the syringe, and her heart suddenly became wary, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Seeing her frowning, Shen Xi smiled reassuringly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this is Energy Liquid which has been processed from the Crystal Core. Don¡¯t be fooled by its small size; it took quite a few crystal cores to obtain it. Injecting it directly into the bloodstream is much more effective than absorbing the crystal cores directly! If you want to upgrade, this might be the only way.¡± In other words, without using this method, Lin Feiyin probably had no way to upgrade. Lin Feiyin understood his meaning, and her face paled instantly. She instinctively resisted the method Shen Xi mentioned, but his words made her afraid to take a risk. Noticing her hesitation, Shen Xi continued, ¡°Don¡¯t think I am exaggerating the danger; I¡¯m stating the facts. Don¡¯t you want to upgrade? Then this is the only way. Of course, I am just giving you a suggestion; the choice is yours.¡± Lin Feiyin was still very uncertain. She hadn¡¯t heard of such a method before, and injecting directly into the bloodstream seemed very dangerous to her. However, as she hesitated and was about to refuse, she suddenly saw Shen Xi¡¯s expression turn despondent, his eyes filled with hurt, and his voice carried a fragility, ¡°You saved my life; do you think I would harm you? I decided to use this method because I want to help you. Since you refuse to trust me, then...¡± ¡°I trust you!¡± Lin Feiyin quickly interrupted, unable to bear seeing Shen Xi in such a hurt state. Although her reason had not yet accepted his words, her emotions responded first, ¡°Mr. Shen, I¡¯m not doubting you. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve never heard of such a method before and it feels strange.¡± Shen Xi then smiled, ¡°It¡¯s good that you trust me. So, are you willing to try this method?¡± Lin Feiyin wanted to say she was unwilling, but under Shen Xi¡¯s ¡®gentle¡¯ gaze, her words came out as ¡°I¡¯m willing.¡± Upon hearing her response, Shen Xi¡¯s smile grew warmer. He didn¡¯t give Lin Feiyin a chance to regret her decision and immediately said, ¡°Let¡¯s begin now.¡± With that, he took hold of Lin Feiyin¡¯s wrist, rolling up her sleeve. Biting off the cap of the syringe with his mouth, he said gently, ¡°It might hurt a little, just bear with it.¡± Lin Feiyin nodded foolishly. Shen Xi¡¯s hand was gloved in latex, slightly cool to the touch. Gripping her wrist in such a way, Lin Feiyin instinctively tensed up. Shen Xi¡¯s actions were quick. He held the syringe in one hand and accurately found the vein, tilting the needle and puncturing the skin, then pressed down on the plunger with his thumb, slowly injecting the liquid into Lin Feiyin¡¯s bloodstream. As the liquid entered her body, Lin Feiyin initially felt a swelling pain at the injection site, followed by a cold chill. As the chill entered her blood, an increasing sense of unease grew within Lin Feiyin. She instinctively looked up and saw Shen Xi¡¯s expressionless, handsome face. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation votes, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 366 - 366 208 Mysterious Gift (Third Release) ?Chapter 366: 208 Mysterious Gift (Third Release) Chapter 366: 208 Mysterious Gift (Third Release) Inside Lin Feiyin¡¯s room, a scene occurred that only the parties involved and a few insiders knew about. That night was quietly uneventful, with no further zombie assaults on the city, and it soon passed. As soon as daylight broke, the Fang Family emerged from the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Since they were about to leave the Safe Zone, they had been cultivating in the Mansion all night to enhance their strength. Fortunately, they had already slept the previous day, so a night of cultivation did not tire them; instead, the nourishment of Spiritual Energy made them feel refreshed and invigorated. After a quick breakfast, Fang Yuxin began to set up a Formation. This home held a special significance for her. She had purchased it with her own money, and all the decorations were chosen by her and the contracting company. Moreover, she hadn¡¯t been able to protect it in her previous life. Thus, although she had decided to leave, she remained attached to this place and was unwilling to let anyone else encroach upon it. Consequently, she planned to re-establish a complex Defensive Array here to prevent intrusions. Fang Yuxin had put a lot of thought into this Formation. After deciding to leave the Safe Zone, she began researching materials and ultimately found the most powerful Defensive Array she could currently set up. Although setting up this Formation would cost many crystal cores, Fang Yuxin proceeded anyway. This was her home, and she was not willing to let random people or Fang Mengyao lay their hands on it! Once she had finished setting the array, Zhou Yan arrived with some people. He had come to buy fresh vegetables, which Fang Yuxin had already prepared. After Zhou Yan arrived, he noticed some changes in the Fang residence; the plants in the yard seemed more abundant. He felt slightly surprised but cleverly refrained from asking questions. Instead, he approached Fang Yuxin, handed her a small package, and said quietly, ¡°This is a reward for resisting the zombie attack the other night, Miss Fang, please accept it. Also, General Song asked me to tell Miss Fang that if you have any trouble, you may bring it up. He will certainly help wherever possible.¡± Fang Yuxin accepted the item and smiled gratefully, ¡°Please thank General Song for me, tell him I appreciate his gesture.¡± Clearly, General Song had already learned about Zhou Fanghua causing trouble yesterday. Unfortunately, Fang Yuxin did not intend to get General Song involved. Zhou Yan nodded, then signaled his men to move the goods. Fang Yuxin pointed to a corner with a basket of vegetables and said, ¡°This is specifically reserved for Major Zhou, consider it a gift, no need to count the crystal cores.¡± Zhou Yan was momentarily stunned, then instinctively tried to decline, ¡°Miss Fang, you need not do this.¡± Fang Yuxin waved her hand dismissively, ¡°It¡¯s just a small gesture, after all, growing some vegetables isn¡¯t a big deal for me and it doesn¡¯t cost much superpower.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Bai Qianqian came out holding a well-sealed small cardboard box, ¡°Mama, here¡¯s your thing.¡± Zhou Yan was again startled, looking at the box somewhat surprised, unable to understand what Fang Yuxin intended with such a small box. At that moment, Fang Yuxin took the box with one hand and pushed it forward towards Zhou Yan, smiling, ¡°Almost forgot, this too is a small gift for you, take it home to open it, don¡¯t let anyone else see it.¡± She then winked at Zhou Yan, with a mysterious look. Zhou Yan was completely baffled by Fang Yuxin. Usually, when he came to pick up vegetables, Fang Yuxin would also give him some vegetables, but not much. Today, there was both a large basket of vegetables and a cardboard box, which was somewhat peculiar. Nonetheless, since Fang Yuxin meant well, he hesitated briefly but did not refuse and frankly accepted the box. Then, he realized the box was very light, probably not containing much. With that thought, he became relieved. Since there wasn¡¯t much inside, he didn¡¯t have much to worry about. He remembered Fang Yuxin¡¯s advice, and although curious about the contents, he did not open it right away, but carefully placed the box in his vehicle. By then, other people had already loaded the vegetables onto the truck. Then, he took a heavy machine gun and a large box of bullets from the vehicle, approached Fang Yuxin, and handed her the items saying somewhat awkwardly, ¡°The General is short on crystal cores, so he had to use these instead, I am sorry!¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t particularly value the machine gun but understood the military¡¯s difficulties. With more people, naturally more crystal cores were needed. So, she simply accepted the machine gun and bullets without commenting further. Chapter 367 - 367 208 Mysterious Gift (Third Release)_2 ?Chapter 367: 208 Mysterious Gift (Third Release)_2 Chapter 367: 208 Mysterious Gift (Third Release)_2 Zhou Yan saw that she held no blame, he sighed in relief, and then took his leave. He delivered the vegetables to General Song¡¯s residence, hesitated for a moment, and mentioned to General Song about the gift Fang Yuxin had sent him. General Song was an ¡°Old Fox,¡± and he immediately felt something was off. He looked at Zhou Yan and asked, ¡°Are you saying, she asked you to open it only after returning home? And that no one else should see it?¡± Zhou Yan nodded, took out the cardboard box, and placed it in front of General Song, ¡°The box is light, there shouldn¡¯t be much inside.¡± General Song hesitated for a moment then asked Zhou Yan to open it directly. Zhou Yan didn¡¯t refuse, as no one else was in the room besides him and General Song, he trusted General Song¡¯s integrity, and also had his own duties in mind. He swiftly drew his dagger and neatly opened the cardboard box and, upon looking inside, he found only a bottle of pure water and a letter. He instinctively picked up the envelope, and after seeing the words ¡®For General Song¡¯s Eyes Only¡¯ written on it, he froze. General Song was right beside him, and he saw it too. He raised his eyebrows in surprise, and suddenly, a dreadful premonition struck him. ¡°Not good!¡± he exclaimed, snatching the letter from Zhou Yan¡¯s hands, quickly flipping through it, and then a look of despair appeared on his face. Seeing his complexion change, Zhou Yan also became uneasy and asked anxiously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, General? What did Miss Fang write?¡± General Song sighed, ¡°She¡¯s leaving the Safe Zone.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan¡¯s face turned pale and he turned to leave immediately, ¡°I¡¯ll stop her!¡± He was already at the door about to open it when he heard General Song say, ¡°No need, by now they¡¯ve already left.¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s expression changed drastically, and he quickly took out his walkie-talkie to contact the guards at the gate, ¡°Has Fang Yuxin left?¡± The person on the other end was surprised, ¡°Major Zhou? How did you know? Miss Fang just left, said she was on a mission, what happened?¡± Zhou Yan wanted to say ¡®Quick, bring her back,¡¯ but after hesitating, he said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, don¡¯t worry about it, continue with your duties.¡± After speaking, he hung up the communication. Then, he walked up to General Song, frowning, and asked, ¡°General, what exactly is going on? It¡¯s so dangerous outside, how could she suddenly decide to leave the Safe Zone? Could it be... because of the Qiu Family?¡± He recalled yesterday¡¯s incident of Zhou Fanghua visiting the Fang Family. General Song nodded heavily, seemingly aged by a decade, and sighed helplessly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s the reason. I never expected her to be so resolute. If I had known it would come to this...¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence, ending with a helpless and heavy sigh instead. Zhou Yan also sighed, Fang Yuxin¡¯s healing ability was formidable, her departure was indeed a great loss to the Safe Zone! But thinking about the care Fang Yuxin had given and her contributions, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to demand her return. Fang Yuxin had obviously left the Safe Zone because of the Qiu Family, subject to God knows how much humiliation; they couldn¡¯t go after the Qiu Family for this, and bringing her back would only hurt her more. He stole a glance at General Song, thinking about his earlier intervention, feeling that General Song probably had the same thought. This made him secretly relieved, but thinking about the severe consequences that would follow, his mood heavied again. General Song was observing him and said, ¡°You should read these letters too.¡± Zhou Yan had been curious but didn¡¯t dare to look since General Song hadn¡¯t mentioned it. Hearing General Song¡¯s words now, he quickly picked up the letters from the table and rapidly went through them. After finishing, his face changed again, he clenched his fists and slammed them onto the table, grinding his teeth and saying, ¡°The Qiu Family has gone too far!¡± Actually, Fang Yuxin had not written about Zhou Fanghua¡¯s warning in the letter, but after reading her suggestions and the Qi Cultivation Technique¡¯s mental method, Zhou Yan felt Fang Yuxin was too selfless and great, which naturally made the Qiu Family, who had driven her away, utterly detestable! If not for the Qiu Family, how could Fang Yuxin possibly leave the relatively safe Safe Zone? General Song was equally furious, but what he cared more about was the content written on the letters. Whether it was Fang Yuxin¡¯s suggestions or the Qi Cultivation Technique¡¯s mental method, both were of great significance to the entire Safe Zone! Leaving aside the suggestions, her willingness to share such a mental method impressed him immensely! Then, General Song said, ¡°I¡¯ll have Yi look at this mental method, she¡¯s a legitimate heir to an Ancient Martial Family, with high aptitude, she¡¯ll know if something¡¯s good or not at a glance. Later, we¡¯ll share it with everyone, let¡¯s all try to learn it.¡± Zhou Yan had no objections. He only said, ¡°General, Miss Fang leaving the Safe Zone might cause controversy, so I think when we release this mental method, we should let everyone know that it¡¯s provided by Miss Fang, we can¡¯t let those people benefit from her favor and still resent her.¡± General Song smiled upon hearing this, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not the type to return kindness with ingratitude. Your suggestion is excellent, not just this mental method, even those suggestions that Miss Fang proposed should be known by everyone in the Safe Zone. We have benefited from her kindness, we can¡¯t return kindness with ingratitude.¡± Zhou Yan finally breathed easier. He trusted General Song¡¯s character, and since he had stated so, things would likely not go wrong any further. What Zhou Yan didn¡¯t know was that General Song¡¯s actions were not merely out of gratitude, but also to curry favor with Fang Yuxin. He was well aware that Fang Yuxin was not a fool; since she had the courage to leave the Safe Zone, she must be confident in her ability to survive. With her capabilities, her future was undoubtedly limitless. By doing this, when they met again in the future, further collaboration would be possible. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to recommend and vote for it with a monthly ticket on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users can read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 368 - 368 209 Raptors (First Update) ?Chapter 368: 209 Raptors (First Update) Chapter 368: 209 Raptors (First Update) 209 Raptors Zhou Yan had just left the Fang Family¡¯s premises when the family started their car and headed out. Before they left, Fang Yuxin activated the Formation. Once the Formation was activated, subtle changes occurred in the yard; they were hardly noticeable without close inspection. However, once someone entered, they would be trapped within the Illusion Array, and within the Illusion Array, there was a Killing Array and a Trapping Array, followed by a Defense Barrier at the end. The entire Formation had only one Life Gate, which was located at the front gate. When trapped within the Formation, the Life Gate continued to exist¡ªturning back decisively meant no harm would come. On the contrary, if one remained deluded, they would be trapped and die within the Formation. After activating the Formation, Fang Yuxin locked the door, got in the car, and the family took one final look at the home they had lived in for less than a month before driving away without attachment. Before leaving, Fang Yuxin called Shang Jinxiu on the walkie-talkie, reminding them to hit the road. Shang Jinxiu, still living with Chen Qiao and others, was already prepared. After receiving the order, they immediately got in the car and drove toward the Safe Zone¡¯s gate. After calling Shang Jinxiu, Fang Yuxin called Bai Ye. Bai Ye and his subordinates were also ready, having left earlier. When Fang Yuxin called, they had already arrived at the Safe Zone¡¯s gate. Bai Ye straightforwardly reported a place name near the Safe Zone as the rendezvous location. Fang Yuxin was familiar with it and agreed, then disconnected the communication. Soon, they arrived at the Safe Zone¡¯s East Gate. By this time, Chen Qiao and the others had also driven up. After a brief registration at the gate, they quickly drove away. Fang Yuxin had performed excellently in the battle the night before last and was now in the limelight. The guards were naturally unwilling to become her enemy, so the whole process went very smoothly, without any hindrance. However, shortly after they left the Safe Zone¡¯s gate, the guard received a call from Zhou Yan. Unfortunately, they had already left the Safe Zone, and it was one step too late. After the Yongcheng Team members met up, they didn¡¯t stop; they headed directly to the predetermined location. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t ride a motorcycle today and sat in the back seat of the car with Bai Qianqian. Bai Qianqian held the deeply sleeping Angela in her arms, her eyes sparkling with joy at the prospect of returning home to see her family. Fang Yuxin held a tablet computer in her hand, which was already charged. After turning it on, she opened an electronic map and began browsing. The map, downloaded before the apocalypse, was still usable despite the lack of internet. However, due to the satellite signal issues, GPS positioning and navigation functions were lost, requiring visual positioning and navigation. Fortunately, the map was quite detailed; after zooming in, one could see the conditions of each street, making it fairly useful. The only problem was that after the apocalypse, many places had undergone drastic changes, making identification more difficult. Fang Yuxin¡¯s finger lightly tapped on the map, and then she looked out the window. Along the way, they occasionally saw mercenaries on missions and small groups of zombies. Those mercenaries instantly recognized Fang Yuyang on his motorcycle, showing complex expressions. However, they soon averted their gaze and continued hunting the surrounding zombies. Occasionally, zombies attempted to attack them but were slaughtered by nearby mercenaries or Fang Yuyang before they could get close to the car. The car didn¡¯t stop; it kept heading toward the destination, gradually leaving the Safe Zone. As they moved further from the Safe Zone, they encountered fewer mercenaries, but the number of zombies began to increase. Apart from the more intelligent Advanced Zombies, Low-level Zombies couldn¡¯t resist the temptation of fresh flesh inside the Safe Zone and continuously streamed toward it. Meanwhile, these unintelligent Low-level Zombies were controlled by the Advanced Zombies, layering the surroundings of the Safe Zone, waiting for an opportunity to strike. The location Bai Ye selected was about four kilometers from the Safe Zone, and they quickly reached it by car. When Fang Yuxin¡¯s group arrived, Bai Ye and the others had already parked their cars and were hunting the surrounding zombies. Their moves were very swift, even Meng Qingluo, the only woman among them, displayed extraordinary skills. They were dealing with a small Zombie Group of around five hundred, most of which had already been killed. The bodies were scattered messily on the ground, but Bai Ye and the others seemed to handle it with ease. Chapter 369 - 369 209 Raptors (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 369: 209 Raptors (First Update)_2 Chapter 369: 209 Raptors (First Update)_2 Fang Yuxin immediately recognized that the most formidable among this group of zombies was a Level 2 Strength Enhancement Zombie, trailed by the threat of Level 1 Zombies and Basic-level Zombies. Aside from that Level 2 Strength Enhancement Zombie, the rest were hardly a challenge. The killing power of the Level 2 Strength Enhancement Zombie was substantial; for many superpower users, it represented a particularly tough nut to crack¡ªfacing one meant either a fight to the death or a direct flight for survival. Unfortunately for it, its opponent this time was Bai Ye. Bai Ye¡¯s own strength had already advanced to Level 2, and as a wielder of the powerful Gold and Thunder Dual Power, he had more than enough capability to deal with it, especially since he had received the heritage of the Dragon Scale Sword and ascended to a higher level of power. When Fang Yuxin arrived, she saw Bai Ye holding a longsword. However, it wasn¡¯t the Dragon Scale Sword. This longsword was golden and bore a strong resemblance to the Dragon Scale Sword. Fang Yuxin surmised that Bai Ye must have intentionally crafted this substitute for the Dragon Scale Sword using his superpower. After all, the Dragon Scale Sword was no ordinary item; such a treasure usually came with strict restrictions on its wielder. It wasn¡¯t surprising that Bai Ye, having only recently embarked on the path of cultivation, was unable to use the Dragon Scale Sword. What Fang Yuxin admired was that Bai Ye had so quickly created a substitute for the Dragon Scale Sword and started practicing his sword skills. With such awareness, his future accomplishments would undoubtedly be significant! Since the zombies were mostly dealt with, and Bai Ye and the others were handling the situation with ease, it was clear they didn¡¯t need any help. After the Yongcheng Team arrived, they chose not to get involved but to watch the battle from the sidelines instead. While Fang Yuxin was covertly observing Bai Ye, he heard Bai Qianqian¡¯s Spiritual Sense message: ¡°Daddy, keep going! Mama is watching you! Make sure to look good!¡± Bai Ye was startled by this sudden message, then instinctively tensed up. Glancing at the surrounding zombies and recalling a flashy sword technique he had just learned, he flipped his wrist gripping the sword hilt and called out, ¡°Get out of the way!¡± Hearing this, Meng Qingluo, Hou San, Chen Si, and Xu Wu slightly hesitated in their movements but then agilely dodged aside, escaping Bai Ye¡¯s range of attack. As they backed off, the zombies immediately pursued them. But just then, Bai Ye¡¯s figure flickered, and his golden longsword cleaved through the air, slashing out numerous rays of sword light that struck the howling zombies. Time seemed to freeze, and the gruesomely snarling zombies appeared as if they were paused by the press of a button, all of them immobilized. The pause was just a brief moment, and the next instant, the zombies were all decapitated, their heads split in half. Bai Ye reached out and grabbed dozens of Crystal Cores in his hand. All the zombies were dead. Bai Ye sheathed his sword and strode towards Fang Yuxin¡¯s car. As he walked, he covertly sent a Spiritual Sense message to Bai Qianqian with an expressionless face: ¡°Qianqian, was your dad cool just now?¡± Bai Qianqian thought Bai Ye looked incredibly cool just moments ago, but he didn¡¯t want to admit it, so he casually replied, ¡°Eh, not bad, but not as good as Mama.¡± Bai Ye¡¯s expressionless face began to show signs of turning dark upon hearing this. Inside the car, Fang Yuxin quietly watched Bai Qianqian: ¡°Qianqian, who are you whispering to?¡± By that time, Bai Ye had reached the car, and although Fang Yuxin¡¯s voice was soft, he still heard it. His heart immediately tightened, and he subconsciously warned Bai Qianqian through a Spiritual Sense message: ¡°Don¡¯t betray your old man!¡± Bai Qianqian squinted slightly, glancing outside the car window at Bai Ye, and deliberately said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Mama, Daddy was just asking about you.¡± Instantly, Bai Ye became infuriated: ¡°I did not! Stop spouting nonsense!¡± Just as Fang Yuxin rolled down the window, she saw Bai Ye glaring angrily at Bai Qianqian. However, since she was sitting by the window and her body coincidentally blocked Bai Qianqian, it looked as though Bai Ye was glaring at her. Confronted with Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze, Bai Ye didn¡¯t know what to do for a while, then he turned his head and coughed lightly before saying, ¡°Since you all have arrived, let¡¯s get on the road quickly.¡± Fang Yuxin opened the car door and stepped out. By that time, Chen Si and the others were digging out Zombie Crystal Cores, so she asked Bai Ye, ¡°Have you decided which route to take?¡± Bai Ye nodded, extracting a paper map from his pocket and spreading it on the car hood. Pointing to a fine line drawn with a marker pen on the map, he told Fang Yuxin, ¡°My plan is to travel along this highway route. However, we¡¯re still not certain about the situation in other areas, so we¡¯ll have to play it by ear. This is the general route, but how we¡¯ll proceed will have to be adjusted according to the actual conditions.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded in agreement. Aside from flying, taking the highway was naturally the fastest way to travel. Yet, with the route being such an extended stretch that passed through numerous places, any issues with certain segments of the road might force them to adjust their route again. By now, Zombie Birds and Mutated Birds would have appeared, making flying dangerously risky. If the aircraft were attacked midair, they would have no way to protect themselves. It would be much safer traveling by ground instead. While she was pondering this, a long cry suddenly resonated from the sky. The sound was loud, akin to the call of an eagle. Everyone instinctively looked up, only to see a dark shadow flashing by at an unbelievable speed. It had massive wings that were so broad they seemed to blot out the sun, evoking a sense of horror in the onlookers. How many people could withstand an attack from such a colossal raptor? Fortunately, the creature had no intention of attacking them. After quickly sweeping across the sky, it headed towards the distance, its silhouette shrinking and soon disappearing as a tiny dot. As Fang Yuxin watched it depart, she couldn¡¯t help but recall the gruesome scenes from her past life. Birds, with their advantage of flight, proved to be even more troublesome adversaries than land creatures! Even something as minor as a sparrow could transform into a vicious predator to be feared!(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian.com to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 370 - 370 210 Break Out of the Encirclement (Second Update) ?Chapter 370: 210 Break Out of the Encirclement (Second Update) Chapter 370: 210 Break Out of the Encirclement (Second Update) Although the giant bird of prey had already left, the brief glimpse of it had left an indelible, shocking impression on everyone. Such a terrifying creature, when unseen, is beyond imagination in its horror, and just one encounter is enough to instill a deep-seated fear in people¡¯s hearts. Fang Yuxin, with memories of her previous life, understood the terror of birds more clearly than the others. She felt the appearance of the bird of prey was like a signal of impending danger, for since its appearance, she had felt uneasy. This unease came abruptly and powerfully, making it impossible for Fang Yuxin to ignore. Since nobody was nearby, she hesitated for a moment before deciding to stay and rest temporarily, and prepare before continuing on her way. Bai Ye noticed her uneasy expression and couldn¡¯t help but ask worriedly, ¡°Miss Fang, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Yuxin glanced at him and after a moment said, ¡°Please don¡¯t call me Miss Fang anymore. Since we are companions, there¡¯s no need to be so formal.¡± Bai Ye¡¯s heart trembled quickly with anticipation as he asked, ¡°Then what should I call you?¡± He thought ¡°Xinxin¡± was a nice nickname but felt it might be too forward to ask directly, so he chose a more tactful way of asking. Fang Yuxin, preoccupied with thoughts about the bird, didn¡¯t notice the eagerness in Bai Ye¡¯s tone and appeared quite indifferent, ¡°From now on, just call me Yuxin.¡± Calling her by her full name seemed too formal and distant, whereas calling her ¡°Xinxin¡± was too intimate. After some thought, she chose a middle ground. Bai Ye felt disappointed inside but showed little on his face, his mouth corners just slightly turned down, hardly noticeable unless looked at closely. He realized Fang Yuxin was very concerned about the bird of prey and commented, ¡°The one that just flew past must have been a large eagle, but unfortunately, it was too far away to make out its species. However, given its massive size, it must have mutated. Eagles are fierce birds naturally, and if mutated, they¡¯re likely even more dangerous. If it attacks humans, with its speed and flying advantage, ordinary people would stand no chance.¡± Indeed, sighed Fang Yuxin, worried exactly about that. Bai Ye discreetly observed her expression and continued, ¡°It seems we¡¯ll have to be extra cautious. There¡¯s definitely more than one mutant bird, and if we encounter a group of mutant birds or zombie birds, it could be dangerous.¡± After he finished, he realized Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t listening but was instead turning to look at Fang Yuyang. At that moment, Fang Yuyang was still maintaining a posture of looking up, watching in the direction where the bird of prey had disappeared. Bai Ye thought he must be very concerned about the bird of prey, but since it had already left, such staring seemed pointless. He only dared to think this to himself and certainly couldn¡¯t say it aloud. After all, Fang Yuyang was Fang Yuxin¡¯s brother, and he didn¡¯t want to offend Fang Yuxin by speaking thoughtlessly. Fang Yuxin had no such reservations and directly asked, ¡°Brother, what¡¯s wrong? What are you looking at?¡± Fang Yuyang then came back to his senses, looked at Fang Yuxin, and said, ¡°Xinxin, did you feel that the eagle was very formidable?¡± Fang Yuxin immediately understood the implication of Fang Yuyang¡¯s words. Just as Bai Ye said, the bird of prey must have been a mutant eagle, but too far to clearly see its species. Judging by its size and speed, the mutant eagle was indeed a formidable bird of prey and particularly suitable for Fang Yuyang with his Wind Element. If Fang Yuyang could successfully bond with it, it could become a fierce and competent combat companion! Thinking of Fang Yuyang, Fang Yuxin¡¯s tense nerves suddenly relaxed. How could she have forgotten, Fang Yuyang¡¯s Awakening was the Wind Superpower, making him a natural nemesis to those birds that fly with the help of wind! In her previous life, she had been a burden to Fang Yuyang, but this life would be different! With this thought, Fang Yuxin¡¯s previously heavy mood lightened instantly. However, despite Fang Yuyang¡¯s powerful Wind Superpower, some necessary preparations still had to be made. Just then, Chen Si and others were still digging for the Crystal Core, giving her ample time to prepare. Fang Yuxin began channeling her True Qi to her fingertips, starting to inscribe a Defensive Array on the vehicle. Seeing her actions, Bai Ye¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed. After a moment¡¯s thought and feeling he should excuse himself, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll go deal with those zombies.¡± Chapter 371 - 371 210 Break Out of the Encirclement (Second ?Chapter 371: 210 Break Out of the Encirclement (Second Update)_2 Chapter 371: 210 Break Out of the Encirclement (Second Update)_2 As his voice fell, he saw a white light shoot out from Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist. Right after that, the transformed Lan Re began to gorge herself. Lan Re was a mutated Crystal Orchid, a kind of saprophytic plant ¨C zombies were food to it. After extracting the Crystal Core from a zombie¡¯s brain, the body was of little use to humans, and they mostly just burnt it. However, these remains were a great supplement for Lan Re. Zombies¡¯ bodies also contained Energy, but humans simply could not absorb or utilize it. Lan Re could, so in its view, it was better to devour the zombies rather than burn them. Bai Ye¡¯s face stiffened, but he didn¡¯t stop Lan Re from eating. Lan Re was Fang Yuxin¡¯s Spiritual Pet, and of course, he saw it in a different light. Plus, these zombies were useless to him, so there was no harm in letting Lan Re eat them. Since he had no objections, Chen Si and the rest were even less likely to object. They were quickly digging out Crystal Cores while also sneakily watching Fang Yuxin¡¯s movements. Seeing her drawing on the vehicle, they all started to think some thoughts. But they still couldn¡¯t completely trust Fang Yuxin, so even though they knew what she was doing had a purpose, they couldn¡¯t bring themselves to hand over their vehicles for her to handle. On the other hand, Bai Ye, seeing what Fang Yuxin was up to, guessed what she was doing. He hesitated for a moment, then, thinking that Chen Si and the others didn¡¯t need his help, simply went over to the vehicle, put his hands gently on it, and concentrated a layer of metal to further fortify the body. Thanks to Bai Ye¡¯s presence, their vehicle looked very new, unlike others¡¯ which were tattered and covered in scratches from zombie claws. Even the Yongcheng Team¡¯s vehicles had various scratches, but the severity wasn¡¯t great since they were strong. Fang Yuxin quickly finished drawing the Defensive Array. Its main function was to reinforce the vehicle body while reflecting any attacks it received. It was completely different from the Defensive Array at home, much simpler and easier to set up. The Yongcheng Team had three vehicles in total, two of which were black SUVs, and the remaining one was a heavy motorcycle ridden by Fang Yuyang. Ever since that raptor appeared, Fang Yuxin was concerned that more dangerous birds would show up, and riding a motorcycle would no longer be safe for Fang Yuyang. Because others were present, she let Shang Jinxiu store Fang Yuyang¡¯s motorcycle in the space. By then, Bai Ye and the others had finished, the only one still busy was Lan Re, who had released all her clones to eat frantically along with her main body. Fang Yuxin waited for a while, and soon Lan Re had finished eating, leaving only black skeletons on the ground. Qu Qianhe then released a fire that turned the skeletons to ashes. Afterward, everyone set off together, heading toward the expressway. The direction of the expressway was opposite to that of the Safe Zone, which was surrounded by layer upon layer of zombies. They fought their way through, all taking turns, using some effort to break through the heavy encirclement of zombies. Fortunately, they were prepared in advance; the zombies¡¯ claws hadn¡¯t damaged the vehicles, allowing them to collect quite a few Crystal Cores. However, the tense combat had inevitably left them mentally exhausted. After breaking out of the encirclement, the number of zombies began to decrease, with only small groups of zombies, which weren¡¯t difficult to deal with. Seeing that they were gradually getting farther from the zombie encirclement, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But the previous scene, upon reflection, gave them chills. The existence of the Safe Zone protected most of the survivors, providing a place for them to live. However, it was the presence of a large number of survivors that made the Safe Zone a gigantic ¡®cake¡¯ in the eyes of the zombies. It was filled with fresh flesh and blood, an irresistible temptation for the zombies. This led to more and more zombies surrounding the Safe Zone, looking for opportunities to attack. It was easy to imagine that zombies would frequently try to siege in the future, and once the people inside could no longer resist, the outside zombies would invade en masse and hunt down the humans in the Safe Zone. The current relative stability might just be a cunning calculation by the zombies. Zombies are dead, but humans are alive. As long as humans don¡¯t die out, they can continue on. Whenever a new life is born, it¡¯s new food for the zombies. Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t sure if the zombies had become smart enough to figure this out, but as long as the zombies continued to evolve, they would surely come to this conclusion. Moreover, the zombies only surrounded the Safe Zone without swarming it outright, which was suspicious in itself. It was a pity they had already broken out of the encirclement and were beyond the range of their radios, so they couldn¡¯t contact anyone in the Safe Zone anymore. Fang Yuxin thought about it and shook her head, thinking it was enough. Everyone had their destiny; she had written down all she could think of. General Song wasn¡¯t a fool; he could think of everything she could, and probably even more than that. She really had nothing to worry about. Once they got out of the encirclement, there were fewer zombies outside, but relatively speaking, all the survivors now were inside the Safe Zone or within a certain range outside it, and there was nobody in the exterior. Suddenly appearing, Fang Yuxin and her group were like delicious food delivered to the starving zombies ¨C how could they let them go? So, it wasn¡¯t long before the zombies lingering outside the encirclement began to surround them. Their numbers were limited, and before they could form a large Zombie Group, they were decimated by the group. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it, giving monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 372 - 372 211 Crisis on the Highway (Third Update) ?Chapter 372: 211 Crisis on the Highway (Third Update) Chapter 372: 211 Crisis on the Highway (Third Update) Crisis on Highway 211 After eliminating the surrounding zombies and quickly extracting their Crystal Cores, everyone promptly hit the road without lingering. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t let Lan Re eat anymore. After Qu Qianhe set a fire, everyone swiftly continued their journey, fearing that staying any longer would attract more zombies. Before entering the highway, they specifically went to check the nearby gas station. The station¡¯s underground housed a large oil barrel filled with oil. Unfortunately, they had no containers to collect the oil even if they could think of a way to extract it. Next to the gas station was a small supermarket, but it had already been raided, with everything movable taken away, leaving only rotting corpses emitting a strong stench. With a sigh, Qu Qianhe set fire to the corpses before everyone proceeded onto the highway. The toll booth at the entrance of the highway was already dilapidated; its transparent glass windows were shattered, and dark blood stains were still visible. Inside lay skeletons that had been gnawed on, likely of people who had panicked and thought the booth an escape, not realizing it would doom them without even leaving their bodies intact. Fang Yuxin and the others had become numb to such sights of horror and felt nothing upon seeing more. Qu Qianhe casually fired up and incinerated the remains. Once on the highway, the situation was somewhat different. From time to time, they saw abandoned cars, some clearly wrecked from accidents, some torn apart by zombies, and others perfectly intact but inexplicably abandoned on the road. The disaster occurred at midnight with not many vehicles on the road, but there were still some. Most likely, these cars belonged to people who fled later. The first day of the apocalypse saw the most people escaping. Communications were cut off, and no one knew the situation outside, so they naively thought that only Market had suffered disaster. Those with homes or relatives elsewhere hurriedly fled, mostly via the highway. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t know that not only Market faced this catastrophic disaster but the entire world was struck. Even if they escaped to other places, danger was still imminent. Moreover, once there was trouble on any section of the highway, they would be trapped, which posed even greater danger. Seeing those messy or twisted cars allowed everyone to imagine the horrific scenes at the time, and their moods couldn¡¯t help but turn somber. Every now and then, skeletons gnawed to the bone could be seen inside the cars or on the road, which Qu Qianhe had to continuously incinerate. It was easy to deal with the corpses on the road, but it was tricky with the ones in cars as the flames could reach the gas tanks and cause explosions. The highway wasn¡¯t very wide, allowing only two cars to run side by side. The haphazard vehicles became a major obstacle. They hadn¡¯t traveled far before they had to stop, move the cars, and then proceed. At such times, nearby zombies were attracted and attempted to ambush. Xu Wu, Wang Qi, and Huang Yue¡¯s awakenings all enhanced their strength, with Xu Wu being the strongest as he was originally a Special Soldier and later became a mercenary, always following Bai Ye; his capabilities were unmatched by ordinary citizens like Wang Qi and Huang Yue. However, thanks to Fang Yuxin, Wang Qi and Huang Yue had also gained much and could be considered outstanding among other superpower users with strength enhancements. The task of moving the cars was left to these three men. Fang Yuyang had a Wind Superpower, and both Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian¡¯s Spiritual Sense could reach far distances. The two were responsible for lookout, and if any zombies approached, Fang Yuyang would immediately strike with his Wind Blade, annihilating the zombies. The others remained on standby. If there were too many zombies, they would all take action together. Although Bai Ye¡¯s team and Yongcheng Team were currently distinct, their coordination was impeccable, never giving the zombies a chance to breach their defenses. After traveling for a while, they arrived at a scene of a massive pile-up accident, which appeared not to have been disturbed since the incident. It was an incredibly severe accident, involving dozens of vehicles colliding continuously. The aftermath wasn¡¯t just the damage to the roadside barriers but also severe congestion blocking the entire road. Chapter 373 - 373 Crisis on the 211 Highway (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 373: Crisis on the 211 Highway (Third Update)_2 Chapter 373: Crisis on the 211 Highway (Third Update)_2 Many cars had been smashed out of shape, and from the looks of the wreckage, there had also been explosions. Seven of the cars had been directly burned into charred frames, and the people inside had completely turned into char. Besides that, there were plenty of other vehicles that were severely deformed. The bloodstains seeping out of the cars had darkened, and the people inside had turned into rotting corpses. Some of the less damaged cars had their doors opened. Except for the occasional unlucky driver who died in the car, the others had managed to escape. Just what had become of those people was unknown. The road here was severely blocked. It was simply impossible to get through by car; they had to move the vehicles first. So, as soon as the car stopped, Xu Wu, Wang Qi, and Huang Yue rapidly got out of the car to shift the vehicles. Fang Yuxin and Bai Qianqian then released their Spiritual Sense far away to monitor the surroundings. ¡°Not good!¡± Bai Qianqian suddenly opened her eyes and exclaimed, ¡°There¡¯s a Zombie Group of over ten thousand heading our way!¡± Fang Yuyang also noticed and immediately called out loudly, ¡°Everyone, pay attention! A Zombie Group of over ten thousand is coming in our direction, 700 meters away! It¡¯s predicted they¡¯ll reach here in three minutes!¡± After she spoke, the others quickly sprang into action. Everyone got out of the cars and took out their weapons. This was a highway, and using explosives wasn¡¯t a good idea. Blowing up the road surface would only make things more complicated, so they had to rely on conventional weapons. Ever since Bai Ye received the legacy of the Dragon Scale Sword, he had specially prepared a sword as a substitute to practice his sword skills. Naturally, his weapon was the golden longsword in his hand. Meng Qingluo, however, was different. Her marksmanship was already quite good, and after her Awakening, her body had been enhanced, making her practically a godly sniper. But her awakened superpower was a special type of poison series, capable of releasing toxic smoke or fog. However, zombies were already dead and carried the Zombie Virus, which gave them immunity to regular poison. Hence, Meng Qingluo¡¯s superpower wasn¡¯t very effective against zombies, but it was frighteningly effective against humans or other creatures. Fang Jintang thought for a moment and said, ¡°We can¡¯t create a swamp trap here; let¡¯s change locations.¡± Hearing his words, everyone immediately agreed with his suggestion. They had all witnessed the power of Fang Jintang¡¯s swamp traps. The Zombie Group was still some distance away, which gave them just enough time to set up. Therefore, they simply got off the highway and chose a relatively large empty space beside the road for Fang Jintang to set up the traps. Fang Jintang immediately began to make hand gestures, and soon, spirit light shot out from his hands and struck the selected ground. As the spirit light spread, the entire ground began to transform. In less than a minute, it turned into a swamp measuring ten meters on each side. Next, Fang Jintang cast another spirit light into the swamp, and the surface of the swamp changed once again, resembling normal ground. At first glance, no one would notice anything odd. Anyone unaware would not imagine that the layer of ground was only a thin layer with a swamp underneath. Following that, Meng Qingluo, Chen Qiao, and others began to set up machine guns. Once the Zombie Group fell into the swamp, they would finish them off with their guns. Meanwhile, Bai Qianqian kept reporting the location of the Zombie Group. As the distance reported from his mouth grew shorter, everyone began to tense up. However, they all understood that this tension was merely an illusion born from the atmosphere; they had great confidence in their own abilities. A horde of ten thousand zombies wasn¡¯t going to cause them too much trouble. As long as nothing else went wrong, there was really nothing to worry about. The Zombie Group was getting closer. Three hundred meters, two hundred meters, one hundred meters! There were no Safe Zones in the vicinity, so naturally, there weren¡¯t any living people around. These zombies had been roaming nearby for who knows how long, famished. Now that they suddenly caught the scent of living people with rich blood and vitality, how could they resist? As the distance decreased, the zombies sensed the vitality from the superpower users more and more intensely. They accelerated continuously, desperately rushing towards the location of Fang Yuxin and her group. But as the Zombie Group drew increasingly closer, Xu Wu and the other two had already reached the back of the trap and joined up with Fang Yuxin and the others. They stood in a line, holding guns or other weapons, waiting for the zombies to approach. Fang Yuxin reminded in a low voice, ¡°The strongest one inside is a Speed Mutant Zombie nearing Level 3. In addition, there are ten Level 2 Zombies and over a hundred Level 1 Zombies¡ªbe careful!¡± Many here weren¡¯t capable of handling a Speed Mutant Zombie nearing Level 3. As soon as Fang Yuxin¡¯s voice fell, Bai Ye said, ¡°I¡¯ll deal with that Speed Zombie. The rest of you, be careful!¡± The others instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons. Although a trap had been laid, the speed of the Speed Mutant Zombies was too great; they might not be ensnared by the trap. Bai Ye¡¯s caution was to beware of the Speed Zombies inside. The remaining zombies weren¡¯t so fast; if they controlled them well, they could trap them inside the swamp. Once they fell into the swamp, their movements would be greatly restricted. Just as Bai Ye finished speaking, the Speed Mutant Zombie nearing Level 3 turned into a blur and charged forward. It moved so fast that despite stepping on the trap, it left hardly any trace and arrived in front of them in the blink of an eye. Just in time, Fang Yuyang used the wind to hinder its speed, preventing it from successfully launching a sneak attack. Simultaneously, Bai Ye used the momentum of the wind to step in and block it. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to vote for us at Qidian.com. Your monthly ticket is the biggest motivation for us. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 374 - 374 212 Son is too brutal (First update) ?Chapter 374: 212 Son is too brutal! (First update) Chapter 374: 212 Son is too brutal! (First update) The advantage of the Speed Mutant Zombie lies in its extremely fast speed. Coupled with its sharp claws, it only needs to brush lightly over a human to easily slice through skin and bone, making it extremely dangerous. Bai Ye¡¯s opponent was close to a Level 3, more powerful than a Speed Mutant Zombie; it was at the peak of Level 2, just a bit away from advancing to the next level. This was the first time Bai Ye had encountered such a fierce Speed Mutant Zombie, yet he was not nervous at all. The moment the zombie lunged at him, he sidestepped and blocked its path, his longsword horizontally intercepting the attack with a clang, as the zombie¡¯s sharp claws were stopped by the equally sharp blade, unable to advance any further. The others could see that Bai Ye was obviously training himself. He didn¡¯t use his most powerful techniques, and there wasn¡¯t even a hint of Golden Thunder Power on his longsword¡ªhe was relying solely on his swordsmanship to combat his enemy. Soon, the others couldn¡¯t afford to pay attention to him any longer. There were a total of sixteen people here, among them Bai Qianqian was just a five-year-old child with limited combat capability, and Shang Jinxiu was a Space superpower user, currently amounting to a mobile storage, who, despite having trained in martial arts, was even less capable than Bai Qianqian. There were ten remaining Level 2 Zombies. Among them were six Speed Mutant Zombies, with two Power Mutated Zombies, one Defense Enhanced Zombie, and one Special Poison Zombie. The six Speed Mutant Zombies quickly charged at them. The other four zombies, lacking the speed advantage, were significantly slower. Fang Yuyang and Qu Qianhe each faced a Speed Mutant Zombie. Having achieved second-level strength a while ago, they weren¡¯t strained by two Level 2 Speed Mutant Zombies. Chen Qiao, Liu Yu, and Wang Qi had also advanced to Level 2, but they were figuring things out on their own. They were all ordinary citizens before and couldn¡¯t compare to Bai Ye¡¯s people, let alone the Fang Family members who had suitable Cultivation Techniques. The three of them¡ªAwakening abilities in Earth Element, Defense System, and Power System respectively¡ªwere not at an advantage against Speed Mutant Zombies. Nevertheless, working together with Chen Si and Xu Wu, they tied up two Speed Mutant Zombies. Two more Speed Mutant Zombies remained: one was entangled by Fang Yuxin, and the other by Angela. Angela was very fast and extremely agile. Although she wasn¡¯t a Speed Mutant, her velocity was considerable, almost lightning-fast, and not much less than that of the Speed Mutant Zombie. Fang Yuxin still wielded the same special alloy Miao Saber that she had used before. The Speed Mutant Zombie moved so fast that only its afterimage could be seen, but the moment it pounced, her Miao Saber swung out. Unlike Bai Ye, who needed to practice a special saber technique, her moves were simple, all basic actions from the Saber Technique. Thus, she continued as before, enveloping True Qi around the sharp blade to deal with the zombies more effectively. The Speed Zombie was too fast, forcing her to keep striking with her saber. Its claws were not only sharp but also hard as steel. For a moment, the sounds of clashes ¡°ding ding dang dang¡± between weapons filled the air as sparks from the friction between claw and blade glowed hot. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that every attack from the Speed Mutant Zombie had been intercepted by Fang Yuxin. Time and again, narrowly escaping danger, the slightest negligence, and those pitch-black sharp claws would greet Fang Yuxin¡¯s body! However, the Speed Mutant Zombie was also quite cunning and kept using its hardest claws to withstand the True Qi-wrapped sharp blade. Wood Element True Qi, full of vibrant life, was lethal to a zombie¡¯s body. If the blade struck their wounds, it could slice through their bodies as easily as cutting tofu. Yet, the claws and teeth were the hardest parts of their bodies. Fang Yuxin¡¯s attacks were all blocked by its claws, and at the same time, all of its attacks were intercepted by Fang Yuxin. She couldn¡¯t inflict any damage to its body, but as her blade was enveloped with True Qi, it didn¡¯t take long for the zombie¡¯s claws to become pitted and chunked, a ghastly sight. At that moment, Fang Yuxin¡¯s peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the remaining Level 2 Zombies and a dozen Level 1 Speed Zombies rushing towards them. Her expression changed, and she immediately shouted, ¡°Lan Re! Go help!¡± The next moment, a white light shot out from her wrist, transforming into its original body while releasing all its clones, which entangled the incoming zombies just in time. Chapter 375 - 375 212 Son is too brutal (Second update) ?Chapter 375: 212 Son is too brutal! (Second update) Chapter 375: 212 Son is too brutal! (Second update) Immediately after, Fang Jintang saw that the time was almost up, and most of the zombies had already stepped onto the traps. He promptly infused a ray of spirit light, and the next moment, the layer that served as a disguise for the ¡®ground¡¯ instantly reverted to the appearance of a swamp. The zombies standing on it, without exception, all fell in. Most of these zombies were Basic-level Zombies, with a few Level 1 Zombies among them. They had no comparable human intelligence to speak of, driven purely by their instinct to feed. They didn¡¯t think, nor did they realize that after falling into the swamp, they should stay as still as possible to avoid sinking further. In fact, as soon as the zombies fell into the swamp, they struggled fiercely. But the more they struggled, the deeper they sank, until they were hopelessly mired. Regrettably, a small number of zombies did not fall into the traps. They were either a few steps behind or lucky enough to have walked around the side, just avoiding the traps¡¯ locations. After the other zombies fell into the traps, these zombies didn¡¯t pause for a moment, utterly indifferent to the fate of their companions, and continued to rush crazily towards Fang Yuxin and the others¡¯ position, aiming to feed. This group of zombies that had ¡®narrowly escaped disaster¡¯ were all Level 1 Zombies, harder to deal with than the Basic-level Zombies. The remaining people were already ready with their guns; upon seeing the situation, they immediately fired. Fang Yuxin took in the situation of everyone else and saw Bai Qianqian charging towards the zombies with two Triangular Spurs in hand. Her heart skipped a beat, worried about Bai Qianqian facing danger, so she quickly dealt with that unlucky Speed Mutant Zombie. After swiftly extracting the Crystal Core, she strode over to Bai Qianqian¡¯s side. She glanced over intentionally and noticed that Fang Yuyang and Qu Qianhe had also finished off the Second-level Speed Mutant Zombie they were dealing with and went to help Chen Qiao and the others. Meanwhile, Bai Ye was still practicing with a Zombie close to Level 3. He was using sword techniques Fang Yuxin had never seen before, seeming like a new kind of sword technique. At first, his movements were clearly unpracticed, filled with flaws. But gradually, his speed increased, his sword light interweaving into a Sword Net, trapping the Speed Mutant Zombie within a very small space and slowly closing in. Fang Yuxin suddenly felt that if that Speed Mutant Zombie were human, it probably would have been crying from the abuse by Bai Ye. She silently twitched the corner of her mouth, then she saw Bai Qianqian surrounded by six Level 1 Zombies with the Triangular Spurs. He was small in stature, but exceedingly agile. However, being surrounded by the tall and burly Level 1 Zombies made him look pitiful however you looked at it. Fang Yuxin¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly. She clenched the handle of her knife, a cold look in her eyes as she charged forward, splitting one Level 1 Zombie¡¯s body from behind, then kicked away another Zombie that was pouncing towards Bai Qianqian. Leveraging the force of her kick, she leaped up, simultaneously sweeping with the tip of her knife during her turn and cutting off the heads of two Level 1 Zombies. The moment she landed, she saw Bai Qianqian had already dealt with the remaining two Level 1 Zombies. One zombie had its temple pierced by the Triangular Spur, while the skull of the other had been flipped open. Fang Yuxin watched Bai Qianqian skillfully pick out the Crystal Cores and put them into her belt pouch. She subconsciously looked towards Bai Ye¡ªher son¡¯s savagery must be Bai Ye¡¯s influence! With one look, she saw that Bai Ye¡¯s sword light was now infused with the Golden Thunder Power. The golden glows flowed along the Sword Net woven of sword light, also adorned with purple thunder that crackled and popped. The nearly Level 3 Speed Mutant Zombie was trapped within the Sword Net and then, in an instant, the net tightened. The beautiful golden light and purple flashes penetrated the zombie¡¯s body. It emitted a sharp and desperate shriek, grating on the ears, faintly mixed with a hint of Spiritual Attack, but far from matching the Spiritual Attack of a Spiritual Zombie. Suddenly, that piercing cry stopped abruptly. The next moment, the nearly Level 3 Speed Mutant Zombie disintegrated into fragments, scattered across the ground. Bai Ye beckoned with his hand, and a white Crystal Core flew out from among the fragments, landing in his palm and casually put away by him. Sensing Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze, Bai Ye slightly turned his head, staring straight at her. His face was pale and so serene that no excess emotion could be discerned, devoid of any triumph or pride from victory. It seemed as though such matters were commonplace for him and unworthy of special attention. Yet for some reason, feeling his gaze, Fang Yuxin¡¯s heartbeat quickened. She furrowed her brows, quickly averting her eyes, her face showing a trace of displeasure. She didn¡¯t see that, just after she looked away, Bai Ye also furrowed his brows, but he looked rather troubled. Apart from Bai Qianqian, no one noticed this small interaction. Everyone else was busy hunting zombies; who had spare time to care about these things? However, Bai Qianqian, who had always been concerned about the relationship between the two of them, tended to spare some attention for them. At this moment, he rolled his eyes, sometimes looking at Bai Ye, sometimes at Fang Yuxin, and after noticing that something was off with their moods, his eyes curved, and he sneakily chuckled to himself. The dense gunfire erupted, and the zombies stuck in the swamp were hit in the forehead one by one. Those with weaker strength were instantly headshot, while those with slightly better strength couldn¡¯t escape their fate after a few bullets. But at that moment, Fang Yuxin suddenly heard Lan Re¡¯s crying through telepathy. She was startled and quickly looked over at Lan Re to find that Lan Re¡¯s two avatars had been stained black. Upon closer inspection, the two avatars were entwined with a zombie, faint black mist emerging from the zombie, mostly absorbed by Lan Re¡¯s avatars, with the rest slowly dissipating. A sense of alarm instantly arose in Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart¡ªthose black mists were very dangerous! (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 376 - 376 213 Someone ahead (Second update) ?Chapter 376: 213 Someone ahead! (Second update) Chapter 376: 213 Someone ahead! (Second update) The black fog was clearly a type of toxic fog, and it appeared to be pervasive, threatening anyone it touched with danger! As soon as Fang Yuxin realized things were awry, a thought flashed through her mind, and she cast a hand gesture. In the next moment, a transparent water orb appeared out of thin air in the palm of her hand. Then, with the speed of lightning, the orb shot towards the Special Poison Zombie. As Fang Yuxin continuously performed hand gestures, the water orb spread rapidly upon contact with the zombie, enveloping it and the toxic fog it released, resembling a transparent film. The water orb was formed from spiritual spring water drawn from the Spirit Mansion, which held the power of purification. It could cleanse not only the Zombie Virus but also many types of toxins. Fang Yuxin reacted quickly; before the toxic fog could disperse, she fashioned a covering from the spiritual spring water, trapping it. This covering was similar to a rain shield, but she transformed it into a cage that trapped both the Special Poison Zombie and its toxic fog. The water flowed softly, meaning that even if it was cut, it would simply join together again. As Fang Yuxin trapped the zombie, Bai Ye¡¯s golden longsword in his hand unleashed a sword light. The sword light, bearing the Golden Thunder Power, was unstoppable. Fast as lightning, it struck the Special Poison Zombie¡¯s forehead and disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. It was unclear how he managed it, but the sword light infused with the Golden Thunder Power somehow didn¡¯t destroy the protective layer surrounding the zombie. The cloven water stream quickly rejoined, still encapsulating the zombie, continuously purifying the toxins on its body. Special Poison Zombies must be carefully dealt with; without purifying their toxins, incinerating them would still release the toxic essence as a black fog. Although less potent than the fog released by the zombies themselves, inhaling it would still negatively impact humans. Excessive absorption of the toxins could accumulate in the body, potentially causing irreversible damage. In her past life, she had heard of incidents where people encountered Special Poison Zombies. The toxic fog released by these zombies killed many, and when the zombies were finally slain and their corpses burned, those unlucky enough to inhale the toxin-laden smoke either died on the spot or suffered varying degrees of harm. After that incident, Special Poison Zombies became a nightmare for many because the insidious nature of the toxic fog or smoke could affect people as soon as it spread with the wind. Now, whenever a Special Poison Zombie appeared, everyone would exert all their effort to kill it first, preventing the release of the toxic fog. It wasn¡¯t until later that Space superpower users developed the Skill to use Space Confinement, trapping the toxic fog and Special Poison Zombies within a small area, making them have a natural enemy. Fang Yuxin, too, took inspiration from this. While not a Space superpower user and unable to confine space with her current power, she utilized the purifying abilities of her spiritual spring water. Clearly, Bai Ye was aware of the dangers posed by the Special Poison Zombie as well, and he acted swiftly upon Fang Yuxin¡¯s containment of it, eliminating the threat. However, the tacit collaboration between the two garnered attention. Bai Qianqian observed this scene, her pupils spinning before she sneaked in a laugh. Fang Yuxin, oblivious to Bai Qianqian¡¯s thoughts, was briefly surprised by Bai Ye¡¯s control before her attention was drawn to Lan Re. Lan Re continued to project thoughts of crying and repeated ¡°It hurts.¡± Fang Yuxin looked at its tendrils as if they were stained with ink and listened to its cries, feeling compassion. She produced another small orb of water and transformed it into mist, enveloping the poisoned tendrils. Simultaneously, she communicated to Lan Re through thoughts: ¡°Lan Re, absorb the mist.¡± Lan Re quickly complied, using its innate plant abilities to absorb the surrounding water vapor. Soon, black venom seeped out of its body, dripping onto the ground. As time passed, the poison diminished from its tendrils, and its color gradually reverted from inky black to the pristine white of jade. After liberating its tendrils, Lan Re comfortably twisted its body, then with sudden ferocity, devoured clean the zombies it had entwined. The remaining zombies, aside from those stuck in the swamp, were all dealt with. And amongst those trapped in the swamp, many already had their heads blown off, with the rest struggling in their last moments. Chapter 377 - 377 213 Someone ahead (Second update)_2 ?Chapter 377: 213 Someone ahead! (Second update)_2 Chapter 377: 213 Someone ahead! (Second update)_2 Fang Yuyang freed a hand and released a Wind Blade that sliced through the zombie¡¯s skull, then scooped up the Crystal Core inside and delivered it to his own hand. With his move, everyone else was not to be outdone. In order to save bullets, the dense gunfire came to a halt, and everyone used their own abilities to harvest the remaining zombies and extract the Crystal Cores. The zombies trapped in the swamp were all Basic-level Zombies with weak abilities, plus a small number of Level 1 Zombies. Their strength was not high to begin with, and being trapped in the swamp, they had no chance of escape. Moreover, because all the zombies were struggling, they made the swamp even more chaotic, sinking deeper and eliminating any possibility of escape. Once Fang Yuxin and the others took action, it took less than ten minutes to kill off all the remaining zombies in the swamp, and all the Crystal Cores were extracted. Fang Jintang then made a move again, and the swamp began to churn, lifting all the zombies out before reverting back to the appearance of land, leaving the zombies¡¯ corpses piled on the earth. Having finished this, he was covered in a fine layer of sweat and his complexion was slightly pale. Qu Qianhe, looking concerned, took a wet wipe from her waist pouch to wipe the sweat from his face and admonished him in a low voice, ¡°Look how tired you are! You¡¯re not allowed to overexert yourself next time!¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Fang Jintang smiled happily, taking Qu Qianhe¡¯s hand and giving it a gentle squeeze, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were also worried about Fang Jintang overexerting himself and were looking at him with concern. Seeing this scene, they swallowed the words at the tip of their tongues and looked away as if they had seen nothing. The others noticed as well and hastily turned their gazes away, unsure of where to look next in their embarrassment. Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang were definitely not of the same generation as the rest of them, straddling the line between peers and elders, and they had no qualms about showing affection in public, causing embarrassment for the younger crowd! But in truth, although they were a generation apart, they looked very young, only appearing to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. The man was handsome and the woman was beautiful, and they didn¡¯t look much older than the rest. It felt odd to call them elders. Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang were not unfeeling and had particularly keen perceptions, soon noticing the awkwardness of everyone around them. Fang Jintang¡¯s face flushed slightly, feeling embarrassed by these juniors. On the contrary, Qu Qianhe was not bothered at all. Her gaze swept over everyone¡¯s faces one by one, increasing their discomfort. Then, she started to form hand seals, casting a basketball-sized flame onto the zombie corpses. Though the flame was only as big as a basketball, it spread instantly upon contact, creating a sea of fire that engulfed all the zombies. The corpses of other zombies were also thrown in, except for those ten Level 2 Zombies and the nearly Level 3 Speed Zombie, which were all consumed by Lan Re. Everyone watched as the flames grew more intense, and in a blink of an eye, a roaring inferno was formed. With so many bodies, it would definitely take a long time to burn completely. However, after burning for only ten minutes, the fire suddenly extinguished. No trace of the zombie bodies could be seen, only a small pile of ash-gray bones remained on the ground, proof of their existence. A gust of wind blew, scattering the small pile of ashes, gradually erasing any sign they were ever there. The Special Poison Zombie was purified by the spiritual spring water and consumed by Lan Re as well; its remaining bones were thrown into the fire and disappeared along with the others. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Chen Si suddenly said, ¡°That zombie just now was a poison type, right? Thanks to Miss Fang¡¯s quick thinking. If that poison fog had spread, we would have been in danger.¡± As he said this, everyone else instinctively looked towards Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin, however, glanced at Bai Ye, then said, ¡°These poison-type zombies are indeed troublesome. We¡¯ll have to be more cautious in the future. But just now, it wasn¡¯t just my doing. Your Captain Bai was also quick to act.¡± This statement satisfied not only Chen Si but also Hou San, Meng Qingluo, and Xu Wu. They agreed with her words. Meng Qingluo looked at Bai Ye and sincerely praised, ¡°Big brother has always been very capable.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Bai Ye suddenly spoke up, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. Since it¡¯s still early, let¡¯s continue on our way.¡± With that, everyone immediately became serious and strode back onto the highway. The cars on the road had not yet been cleared, so the three Power Superpower Users continued to move the remaining vehicles aside, throwing them to the roadside. After clearing the road, everyone got back into their vehicles and continued traveling. Presumably, the tens of thousands of zombies they had just killed represented all the zombies in the vicinity. After they were eliminated, they didn¡¯t encounter any more zombies for a while. The occasional abandoned vehicles on the road, however, were troublesome and took up a lot of time to clear. Gradually, there were fewer and fewer abandoned vehicles on the road, and ahead, human figures appeared. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are there people ahead?¡± Bai Ye frowned, squinting his eyes and infusing True Qi into them, trying to see clearly what was in front. The others had also noticed the situation. Fang Yuxin and Bai Qian had sent their Spiritual Sense far ahead. Then they ¡°saw¡± a group of twenty people setting up a roadblock ahead. All twenty were armed with weapons, including five with guns and the remaining fifteen with either knives or iron rods¡ªclearly a formidable bunch. The roadblock in the middle of the road was made of chopped-down trees, resembling ancient caltrops, just more menacing. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation vote, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 378 - 378 214 Cant Pass (Third Update) ?Chapter 378: 214 Can¡¯t Pass! (Third Update) Chapter 378: 214 Can¡¯t Pass! (Third Update) Fang Yuxin immediately reported what she had discovered, ¡°There are twenty people blocking the road ahead, among them three are superpower users, two are Superpower Beginners, and one is Superpower Level 1. The remaining seventeen are all ordinary people. These people have a fierce aura and don¡¯t look like good folk, everyone be alert!¡± She said to be alert, not just careful, because these people¡¯s strength was far inferior to theirs; they didn¡¯t need to take them seriously. However, the opponents were not to be underestimated, so vigilance was necessary. It wasn¡¯t just superpower users who could be formidable; without enough caution, superpower users could still die at the hands of ordinary people. In her previous life, she had always been an ordinary person, unable to awaken any superpower, yet a good number of superpower users had died by her hand. Hence, she never assumed that awakening a superpower meant one could rest easy. The others weren¡¯t fools; they all understood her meaning. They had survived until now in the apocalypse by scraping and scrambling, and naturally wouldn¡¯t grow arrogant just because they had awakened superpowers, feeling invincible. As soon as they had sighted people ahead, they had already been on guard. After hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, they grew even more vigilant. The vehicle was moving fast, and the others also gradually got a clear view of the situation ahead. The twenty people looked relatively young, the youngest in their early twenties, the oldest just over thirty. In other words, they were all in the prime of their lives. They looked ordinary, but their eyes were anything but, piercing and fierce like hooks. These folks didn¡¯t seem to have ordinary backgrounds; rather, they looked like they lived life on the edge, dealing with danger. Among them, five were armed with guns, though not uniformly so. There were pistols, rifles, and submachine guns. As the car approached closer, one of them stretched out an arm and waved, yelling, ¡°Stop the car! Stop the car now!¡± The roadblock up ahead was daunting. The wood was sharpened to points and wrapped with metal sheeting, appearing very heavy. There was also a row of three-inch-long steel spikes on the ground. If the car drove over them, the tires would be punctured first, then it would crash into the barricade. Thus, Fang Yuxin and her group stopped the car about a hundred meters away from these people, to prevent being surrounded and becoming more vulnerable. The opposite party clearly didn¡¯t expect them to do this and was momentarily taken aback. Then, one muscular man in his thirties with a submachine gun approached them. Just then, a car window rolled down and the dark muzzle of a gun protruded, firing with a ¡°bang.¡± The bullet struck the ground right in front of the man¡¯s toes, emitting a sharp collision sound. The man immediately stopped, his face darkening as he squinted towards the gun barrel sticking out of the window and said loudly, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand! I mean no harm to you!¡± Everyone scoffed, not believing his empty words. Bai Ye rolled down the window from inside the car and gestured to Fang Yuxin, signalling her to leave it to him for now. Then, he stuck out his head and called to the man, ¡°Stay where you are! Also, I need an explanation, why are you blocking our way? What is your purpose?¡± The muscular man had been sizing them up, but unfortunately, the car¡¯s windows were specially treated so that from outside, one could only see darkness and couldn¡¯t make out the inside of the car. The only things he could figure out were that Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye¡¯s cars were high-end and that they were armed with guns, highly accurate ones at that. Unable to discern their true strength from the unclear view inside the car, he had only two guesses: either the people inside were too weak and afraid to show themselves, or they were so strong that they simply didn¡¯t care to deal with him. The man was no fool. Being able to drive such fine cars with hardly any damage suggested that the people inside were far from ordinary. If they were weak, even if they had lucked into such cars, keeping them would be questionable. Only if they had incredibly good fortune would they be able to keep such cars from being stolen and avoid zombies all the way to this point unscathed. Such a possibility was extremely unlikely, so he chose to believe that this time, they had encountered tough opponents. Thinking of this possibility, he felt relieved that he hadn¡¯t done anything too offensive yet and still had room to salvage the situation. However... if those inside were strong but lacked intelligence, then that would be his lucky break! Chapter 379 - 379 214 Cant Pass (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 379: 214 Can¡¯t Pass! (Third Update)_2 Chapter 379: 214 Can¡¯t Pass! (Third Update)_2 A glint of ferociousness flashed in the man¡¯s eyes, but he put on a facade of being a simple and honest person and said appeasingly, ¡°We really mean no harm. We set up this roadblock just to warn people coming here that the road ahead is completely impassable.¡± Bai Ye didn¡¯t believe his words at all and asked without a change in expression, ¡°The road ahead is impassable? What do you mean by that? Elaborate.¡± The man didn¡¯t hesitate to explain, ¡°There¡¯s a huge earth sink ahead, it¡¯s turned into a deep pit. The road is broken, you can¡¯t get across it! If you don¡¯t believe me, you can go and see for yourself.¡± The last sentence was added because he was afraid Bai Ye wouldn¡¯t believe him. Upon hearing this, Bai Ye said, ¡°Move your roadblock, we¡¯ll go up ahead and see for ourselves.¡± At his words, someone became anxious, ¡°Hey! You¡¯re really going to try and cross? There¡¯s a huge hole there, your vehicle simply won¡¯t be able to get through!¡± With this statement, Bai Ye grew even more suspicious and said sternly, ¡°Move aside if you don¡¯t want to die!¡± His words were quite rude. These people who were blocking the road were no pushovers, used to bullying others. How could they take such an insult? As soon as he spoke, they all gripped their weapons tighter, and the four with guns seemed as if they would rather greet them with bullets! However, it was the burly man who was presumably their leader noticed something was amiss. He quickly turned his head and glared sternly at the people behind him, hissing in a low voice, ¡°What are you doing? Put your weapons down! Do you all have a death wish?¡± He said this, pressing his voice even lower, to an almost inaudible level for anyone else, and continued, ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless. The ones who have come this time are not ordinary people. Offending them will do us no good. Since they want to go, just let them. After all, we haven¡¯t lied; they will see once they get there.¡± The robust man was a Level 1 Superpower User, his superpower belonging to the Power System, and he evidently held great authority in front of his subordinates. As soon as he finished speaking, though some were still dissatisfied, no one dared to argue, and they obediently moved the roadblock aside. Bai Ye gestured to the driver to drive on. As they passed by the burly man, he specifically thanked him, and then the vehicle drove past these people. In the moment of passing by, wary of any deceit or sudden attack from the other side, everyone heightened their vigilance and tensed their minds. They each selected their opponents, ready to kill them instantly should they show the slightest sign of ill intentions. However, these people did not act. Only when they were far away did someone complain reluctantly, ¡°Brother Zhao, are we really just going to let them off like that?¡± The ¡®Brother Zhao¡¯ he referred to was the robust man. Watching the departing vehicle, he only began to coldly laugh after a good while, ¡°What¡¯s there to worry about? Didn¡¯t I just say? As long as we haven¡¯t lied, since these folks want to go take a look, let them. After they see it for themselves, they will naturally understand we didn¡¯t lie, and then they¡¯ll come back to us obediently!¡± Another person asked, ¡°Brother Zhao, why didn¡¯t you let your men take action? How tough can this bunch really be? Maybe they¡¯re just some rich second-generation kids. Who knows how many good things they have in their car? Just letting them go like that seems too easy on them.¡± Hearing this, Brother Zhao looked at the others, seeing that they all shared the same indignant expressions, he inquired, ¡°Is that what you all think?¡± Everyone nodded. Brother Zhao suddenly felt a frustrating sense of their incompetence and coldly sneered, slapping the top of someone¡¯s head beside him, ¡°Idiots! A bunch of fools! Do you even have brains? Or have they all filled with water? Are you blind as well? Huh? Can¡¯t you see?¡± After a barrage of scolding, someone, trying to appease him, said, ¡°Brother Zhao, just tell us what you mean, will you? You know we¡¯re not as smart as you, Brother Zhao.¡± Brother Zhao loved to hear such words. He was able to keep these men under control precisely because they weren¡¯t as clever as him, nor as strong. Otherwise, should any of his subordinates become smarter than him, that¡¯s when he would start losing sleep. So, his anger subsided, and he explained patiently, ¡°You all remember the car from before, right? All off-road, luxury vehicles! Two of them were even specially modified. Does just anybody have cars like that? Plus, they¡¯ve come from somewhere else, and although we don¡¯t know exactly how far they¡¯ve traveled, did you see their vehicles? Barely any scratches on them! What does that tell you? It means either they haven¡¯t encountered zombies, or their strength is sufficient! And the bullet from before, have you forgotten? There¡¯s at least one sharpshooter in their car! And that guy who was talking, he¡¯s no easy target either! We have to be careful with this group!¡± With this explanation, the others suddenly understood, then looked at him with admiration, filling him with a sense of pride. Meanwhile, Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin, and the others continued on their way and soon saw the road ahead had indeed collapsed, with an area as large as a football field having completely sunk, forming a giant pit. On either side of the road were mounds about three to four meters high, not too tall. Once the sinkhole had formed, half of the hillside had collapsed into it, leaving a jagged edge. The mounds were originally covered with vegetation, but now much of it had withered away, adding to the desolation. The mounds weren¡¯t tall, and one could easily walk around them, but doing so with vehicles was impossible. They had a Space Superpower User with them, who could easily store the vehicle in their space, circle around this segment of the road, and then continue on their way. But for others, this wouldn¡¯t be an option, no wonder those people set up the roadblock. However, no one believed they had good intentions! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, come and vote your support at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 380 - 380 215 Thought the Wrong Direction (First Update) ?Chapter 380: 215 Thought the Wrong Direction (First Update) Chapter 380: 215 Thought the Wrong Direction (First Update) At the moment, they had two choices laid out before them. Either to backtrack and find another path or let Shang Jinxiu stow the vehicle, and they would traverse on foot by the side of the deep pit, return to the expressway surface, retrieve the car, and continue on their journey. Shang Jinxiu and Fang Yuxin were in the same car, and she immediately spoke up, ¡°Sister Xin, let me do it.¡± Fang Yuxin raised her hand to stop her from continuing and released her Spiritual Sense to scan the surroundings. She was very cautious, and using her Spiritual Sense had become an instinct for her to assess the situation. Shang Jinxiu¡¯s Space superpower was extremely rare and sufficiently tempting. Although this matter was no secret within the Yongcheng Team and Bai Ye¡¯s team, they were, after all, out in the open and should be wary of being seen. They had just encountered people not long ago¡ªwho knew if anyone around this deep pit was watching? Once Fang Yuxin checked, she discovered something amiss. There were actually people watching nearby! Her expression darkened as she spoke softly about her finding, ¡°There are about ten people around us watching and on guard; it¡¯s best not to expose Axiao¡¯s Space superpower.¡± Those ten people were not gathered together but were scattered, hiding in different places, all armed, with two individuals holding binoculars and watching them. After Fang Yuxin finished speaking, she simply got out of the car, walked over to Bai Ye¡¯s window, and gently tapped with a bent finger. The window quickly rolled down, and Fang Yuxin leaned over slightly, using the car body to block the other party¡¯s line of sight and whispered her recent discovery. She then asked Bai Ye, ¡°What do you plan to do?¡± Fang Yuxin wore a close-fitting protective suit inside and had on a relatively loose shirt and pants on the outside, hiding any signs of a problem. As she bent over, her collar fell slightly, giving Bai Ye the perfect angle to see a delicate stretch of her collarbone and that porcelain-smooth skin. Bai Ye suddenly became tense, his breathing filled with the scorching air and the faint wood fragrance coming from Fang Yuxin¡¯s body. They had turned off the air conditioning to save fuel, and due to caution, after they found the road blocked, they had rolled up the open windows to prevent the others from seeing the specifics inside the vehicle. Luckily, Chen Si was an Ice Ability User and had placed several buckets of ice inside the car; aside from a bit of stuffiness, it wasn¡¯t too hot. The moment the window opened, the scorching air outside rushed in, making one¡¯s head reel with heat and consciousness groggy. But Fang Yuxin was a Wood Element Superpower User with a Spiritual Pet like Lan Re, always emanating a very light fragrance of vegetation that was refreshing and invigorating. However, this time, smelling the vegetative fragrance from Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye felt as if his blood was boiling. A burning heat surged towards his lower abdomen, and a certain part of him seemed to be stirring restlessly. He was frightened, quickly averted his eyes, and hardly dared to look at Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression. Struggling to maintain a poker face to not give himself away, Bai Ye asked calmly, ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡± His mind was muddled at the moment, with no interest in thinking carefully about what to do, so he simply asked for Fang Yuxin¡¯s opinion. He was behaving too normally, and Fang Yuxin did not have the slightest doubt. She coolly shared her thoughts, ¡°These people are hiding quite secretly. Considering the time it took us to come from there to here, they can¡¯t have come after us; they must have been hiding here all along. From where they¡¯re concealed, it doesn¡¯t seem like an ambush but rather like sentinels monitoring for enemy movements.¡± Fang Yuxin finished speaking and subconsciously looked for Bai Ye¡¯s reaction. Bai Ye was after all an expert in this field; she herself was a novice, relying only on some pitiful experience from her previous life. Therefore, privately, Fang Yuxin was very confident in Bai Ye¡¯s observational skills and judgment, and she cared a lot about his opinions. Since discovering these people, she had a thought, but she and Bai Ye were after all partners; how to proceed definitely needed mutual discussion, and she couldn¡¯t just act on her own will, completely disregarding Bai Ye¡¯s thoughts. Bai Ye was desperately suppressing his desires. His usual lifestyle was exceptionally routine, to the point of being rigidly boring. Because of his dual obsession with emotional and physical cleanliness, he had never indulged himself, the only exception being the time he was set up, which resulted in Bai Qianqian, his son. He rarely felt this kind of desire, and if not for the occasional physiological impulse, he¡¯d almost doubt if there was something wrong with him. But he hadn¡¯t expected that just a normal conversation, with Fang Yuxin dressed quite conservatively, revealing only a small section of her collarbone, could render him so helpless. Even the revitalizing fragrance of vegetation from Fang Yuxin¡¯s body had become an ultimate temptation for him. Chapter 381 - 381 215 Thought the Wrong Direction (Second Update) ?Chapter 381: 215 Thought the Wrong Direction (Second Update) Chapter 381: 215 Thought the Wrong Direction (Second Update) Bai Ye tensed up quietly, suddenly realizing that something was very wrong! He stole a glance at Fang Yuxin, who looked perfectly normal. Her natural scent of herbs and grass was also unproblematic, which ruled out the possibility that she was intentionally trying to seduce him. Therefore, the problem must lie with him. Bai Ye was puzzled. What was happening to him? Even if he liked Fang Yuxin, it shouldn¡¯t lead to such impulsive feelings regardless of the setting, right? But if it wasn¡¯t due to emotions, then it must be a problem with his body. At this thought, a chill ran down Bai Ye¡¯s spine as he suddenly remembered an issue he had noticed a long time ago¡ªthe Zombie Crystal Core contained some negative energy and impurities. Long-term absorption of these could negatively impact a superpower user¡¯s body. Could it be, that his current state was influenced by the negative energy in the Crystal Core? Bai Ye felt this was a serious problem. The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. However, what he overlooked was the strong physical yearning that comes alongside a man who has been pent up for too long suddenly feeling his heart race. Having absolutely no experience in this area, Bai Ye had no idea he was thinking in the wrong direction. He only felt that the problem was very serious and vaguely wanted to avoid contact with Fang Yuxin, yet he couldn¡¯t bear to do so, resulting in his complexion growing increasingly awful. Fang Yuxin had been waiting for his response, but instead of answering, his expression just kept getting worse. She thought Bai Ye might have realized something, so she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did you think of something? Why do you look so upset?¡± Bai Ye certainly didn¡¯t dare let her know about the dirty thoughts that were currently occupying his mind. He glanced at Fang Yuxin, then quickly looked away, and said gravely, ¡°Your analysis is correct, there should be a small safety Base nearby. Since they have set their sights on us, let¡¯s go have a look.¡± His thoughts actually coincided perfectly with Fang Yuxin¡¯s. She believed there should be a small safety Base nearby, probably not very large since more people meant a bigger target, and from what she observed, their manpower seemed insufficient, not the appearance of having many people. She wasn¡¯t the kind to poke her nose into others¡¯ business, but since they had come across this situation and the other side obviously had no intention of letting them go, she wanted to see what kind of place it was! The aura of those twenty people she had met earlier was very impure, which gave her a bad feeling. This was probably because her Pure Wood Spirit Body was naturally sensitive, and the malice mixed in those people made her uncomfortable. If there had been no surveillance nearby, it was very likely they would have simply left and not bothered about those people. However, they were being watched. The other party stayed hidden and kept observing them with binoculars, making it impossible for her to let her guard down. Just then, Fang Yuxin sensed that two people were heading their way. They were two very clean-looking young women, attractive and neat, which was extremely rare in such an apocalypse. What was even more unusual was that they were Ordinary People, not superpower users. This made them all the more intriguing. Fang Yuxin shot Bai Ye a look, whispering, ¡°Two girls are heading our way. I reckon they are bait.¡± Bai Ye was taken aback for a moment before he nodded silently. His muscles were so tense with nervousness that he had almost thought Fang Yuxin was giving him a flirtatious look! He was glad he realized in time! His heart growing more and more panicked, not knowing what to say next, he heard Fang Yuxin say, ¡°They are almost here, let¡¯s put on a show. Just follow my lead when the time comes.¡± Being stared at by Fang Yuxin¡¯s beautiful eyes, Bai Ye found himself unable to say anything besides nodding. The two people were getting closer, and since they were Ordinary People, their footsteps were heavier, alerting everyone to their presence. Fang Yuxin deliberately exclaimed loudly, ¡°What¡¯s going on here? How are we supposed to get the car across this huge hole?¡± She was speaking towards the direction of the deep pit, her face full of dissatisfaction as if she was venting in frustration. The two young women emerged from the woods beside the highway, only seven or eight meters away from the road. They saw Fang Yuxin¡¯s reaction, exchanged a look, and their mouths curled slightly, but they quickly returned to normal and hastened towards the road¡¯s edge. Bai Ye got out of the car, approached Fang Yuxin, and tried to console her, ¡°Stop complaining. Who could¡¯ve known it would be like this? We¡¯re just unlucky. Come on, let¡¯s back up and see if we can find another way around.¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s tone was still filled with dissatisfaction: ¡°Do you know how to navigate these roads? We might end up more lost instead of finding a way around.¡± Bai Ye understood Fang Yuxin¡¯s intent¡ªthey were going to pretend to be clueless about the area. That made sense; nowadays, everyone relied on navigation when driving. Unless one was local, who would know their way around? So he cooperated by furrowing his brows: ¡°I¡¯ve never been here before, how would I know which way to go? Should we ask someone nearby for directions?¡± By this time, the two young women had reached the roadside. Hearing this, they were secretly pleased and were about to say something when they heard Fang Yuxin say warily, ¡°With the world in such chaos, and us being strangers in this place, how can we trust the people we find?¡± As she said this, she suddenly turned her head, looking alertly at the two girls and asked coldly, ¡°Who are you?¡± With her words, Bai Ye immediately assumed a vigilant demeanor. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 382 - 382 216 Bait (Second Update) ?Chapter 382: 216 Bait (Second Update) Chapter 382: 216 Bait (Second Update) The two young girls¡¯ eyes flickered when they got a clear look at Fang Yuxin, a mix of jealousy and malicious cruelty flashing briefly. But when Bai Ye turned his head, their faces actually turned slightly red as they looked at the handsome Bai Ye, greedily eyeing him. Fang Yuxin frowned and walked over to Bai Ye, looking dissatisfied at the two girls, ¡°I asked you a question? Why don¡¯t you answer? Who taught you to keep staring at someone like that?¡± Bai Ye heard this and, although he knew Fang Yuxin was just pretending to be confrontational, couldn¡¯t help but feel his heart flutter uncontrollably. Fang Yuxin¡¯s words gave him the sweet illusion that she was jealous, a sweetness suddenly spreading in his heart, yet what followed was the sour taste of reason. However, he had grown used to maintaining a poker face in front of outsiders, especially enemies, so he revealed none of his thoughts and just looked a bit unwell. The two young girls, however, were dissatisfied with Fang Yuxin¡¯s attitude. Fang Yuxin¡¯s beautiful appearance and her clean aura made them very envious, and almost the instant they set eyes on her, they felt hostility and malicious thoughts, wishing she would end up in an even more miserable situation than themselves. Fang Yuxin¡¯s demeanor angered them, and the younger one with a melon-seed-shaped face retorted unhappily, ¡°He was looking at him, not you, don¡¯t flatter yourself!¡± Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t get angry over what she said, but Bai Ye frowned, and his gaze started to grow colder. Seeing that the situation was getting out of hand, Fang Yuxin quickly said to Bai Ye, ¡°Look at these two¡¯s attitude, they¡¯re clearly up to no good. And you still want to ask them for directions.¡± Hearing the hint in Fang Yuxin¡¯s words and knowing she wanted to keep playing the part, Bai Ye had to cooperate, saying, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect things to turn out this way either. Besides, they seem to mean no harm. Are you sure you didn¡¯t misunderstand?¡± As soon as he said this, the younger melon-seed-faced girl immediately said, ¡°Of course, we mean no harm! We live nearby and are very familiar with the area. We saw you were stuck here and thought you might be in trouble, so we came over to help. We didn¡¯t expect to be chastised for trying to be good Samaritans.¡± Bai Ye¡¯s expression turned even uglier¡ªthis woman actually cursed Fang Yuxin by likening her to a dog! He was about to get angry but was held back by Fang Yuxin. He looked at her unhappily, wanting to say they should just drop the act, but he heard Fang Yuxin already speaking, ¡°You¡¯re young, but why do you speak so unkindly? Okay, I misunderstood you; that¡¯s my fault. You really know this area well? Could you tell us how to detour so we can avoid this death trap and get back on the highway?¡± The melon-seed-faced girl was already feeling triumphant over Fang Yuxin¡¯s discomfort, and upon hearing this, she smirked even more, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just think we were up to no good? Why should I give you directions now?¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s face flushed as if she was too angry to retort. It was a while before she could say, ¡°Just tell us what you want in exchange for pointing us in the right direction.¡± The girl smiled smugly, her eyes lingering on Bai Ye, darting about animatedly, but she refused to speak. The atmosphere instantly became tense. Bai Ye glanced at Fang Yuxin and, seeing she had no intention of speaking, said, ¡°If you really know the way, please tell us. We¡¯ll compensate you for it.¡± The girl brightened even more at his words, about to add something when the slightly older girl beside her said, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense. We meant no harm; we just saw you seemed to need help and came over to check. It¡¯s just directions, after all, no big deal, so there¡¯s no need for any compensation.¡± Her voice was very gentle and her words were eloquently spoken, and with her pretty looks and the dimples at the corners of her mouth, it was easy to take an immediate liking to her. However, Fang Yuxin noticed that the girl¡¯s gaze was still mostly fixed on Bai Ye, seemingly very interested in him. She quickly glanced at Bai Ye and smiled meaningfully. Bai Ye felt helpless. Since Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t speak, he had to say, ¡°Thanks a lot then. If possible, could you draw us a simple map of the route?¡± The older girl smiled apologetically right away, saying softly, ¡°It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t want to help you, but we really don¡¯t know how to draw a map. How about this: our place is not far from here, someone there should be able to draw it. It¡¯s almost noon, and you¡¯ve been traveling a long way, so you must be hungry. Why not join us for lunch, rest a bit, and then continue on your journey?¡± Chapter 383 - 383 216 Bait (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 383: 216 Bait (Second Update)_2 Chapter 383: 216 Bait (Second Update)_2 In the apocalypse, resources were scarce, and many people went hungry. Those traveling were especially on edge, as there was no way to rest in the outskirts. The bait the girl tossed out was a temptation too hard to resist for many survivors. She was clearly much smarter than the other girl, with just a few simple words, she made a reasonable argument that was hard to refuse. However, the people from the two squads became even more wary. These individuals had first set up roadblocks and now sent these two young girls to invite them, so they clearly had no good intentions! Bai Ye frowned awkwardly, ¡°You¡¯re really too kind; we don¡¯t deserve such courtesy. Let¡¯s forget about lunch, if you don¡¯t know how to draw a map, just tell us the way, please.¡± From his tone, he seemed unwilling to go, and the younger girl quickly became anxious, unable to believe Bai Ye had actually refused. Just as she was about to say something, the older girl immediately grabbed her wrist to stop her from speaking and said understandingly, ¡°Our village has its own land and we¡¯ve stocked up quite a bit of food. Plus, we don¡¯t have many people, so food isn¡¯t a problem. As for the route, I can tell you now. As you¡¯ve seen, the road here is broken, so you¡¯ll have to turn back...¡± She began to detail the route, speaking accurately yet, accordingly, the directions were complicated with many twists and turns, leaving those listening feeling dizzy. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye displayed looks of difficulty and confusion, acting as if they couldn¡¯t understand. The girl silently took in this scene, then continued, ¡°The road network here is complex, and many newcomers are unfamiliar with it. It¡¯s easy to take the wrong turn, unless you have a map for navigation or frequently ask someone for directions. But as you know, with the increased presence of zombies, it¡¯s too chaotic, so all the living stick together and usually don¡¯t go out. We wouldn¡¯t be here if we weren¡¯t out gathering wild vegetables. Apart from us, you won¡¯t find anyone else around.¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye sneered inwardly. What blatant lies; could they not sense the surveillance around them? Yet, their faces showed difficulty. Hesitating, Bai Ye said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°How about... we go check out the place they live?¡± Fang Yuxin deliberately rubbed her stomach, looking skeptically at the two girls, and said hesitantly, ¡°How do you know they are good people? What if they aren¡¯t?¡± Her voice was just loud enough for the two younger girls to hear. The less mature girl immediately got angry, casting an unhappy glance at Fang Yuxin. The older one looked at Bai Ye with an injured face, conveying her grievances with her eyes. This tactic usually worked well on men, but Bai Ye seemed oblivious and remained silent. Fang Yuxin had no choice but to remind Bai Ye by transmitting a message through ¡°Spiritual Sense,¡±¡±The timing is about right, you should agree now.¡± She had deliberately staged this with Bai Ye to dispel the others¡¯ suspicions and to make them let their guard down. After all, in this apocalypse, everyone was on high alert. If they responded with enthusiasm without any suspicion, the others would be the ones to grow suspicious. Bai Ye didn¡¯t want to agree initially. He was no fool, how could he not see through the girls¡¯ calculations? If he agreed, wouldn¡¯t he be publicly slapping Fang Yuxin¡¯s face, not giving her due respect? He didn¡¯t want to lose face for Fang Yuxin over two mysterious women, not even for a show. But with Fang Yuxin urging him, he said reluctantly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry? We don¡¯t have much food left. Let¡¯s check out their place. If we can exchange some food, we won¡¯t have to worry about it for the rest of our journey.¡± Fang Yuxin looked at Bai Ye humorously; his SUV was actually full of food, convenient for carrying and filling, bought from the safe store. She teased him privately, ¡°What do you plan to do with the food in your car?¡± Bai Ye¡¯s expression stiffened, unsure how to respond to Fang Yuxin¡¯s teasing words. But Fang Yuxin had already started to play along, ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look then,¡± her face full of reluctance. The two girls glanced unconsciously at her stomach due to Fang Yuxin¡¯s earlier gesture, combined with Bai Ye¡¯s words, they subconsciously thought Fang Yuxin was starving. The older girl spoke understandingly, ¡°You must be starving, right? Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s plenty of food where we live, hosting you for a meal is no problem. Shall we head out now? You¡¯ll have to carry us back though.¡± As she said this, her eyes assessed the three SUVs, thinking about which one she would get into. At this moment, Chen Qiao suddenly opened the car door, waving eagerly at them, ¡°Ladies, please, take a seat here, our car conveniently has some space!¡± Chen Qiao was also handsome, but not even close to Bai Ye¡¯s level. After seeing Bai Ye¡¯s looks, how could those girls be interested in him? The older girl hesitated, seemingly unsure of which car to take, while the younger was less concerned, pulling her towards Bai Ye, enthusiastically saying, ¡°We¡¯ll go with you.¡± But Bai Ye flatly rejected, ¡°We don¡¯t have seats left in our car, you can take that one,¡± and pointed towards Chen Qiao¡¯s car. (To be continued. If you like this work, you¡¯re welcome to cast your recommendation and monthly ticket votes on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 384 - 384 217 Delivery to the Door (Third Update) ?Chapter 384: 217 Delivery to the Door (Third Update) Chapter 384: 217 Delivery to the Door (Third Update) Chen Qiao heard Bai Ye¡¯s words and immediately worked harder to invite the two young girls. It wasn¡¯t just him, the other people in the car also got out and enthusiastically invited the two girls at the car door. The older girl seemed troubled, looking unsure of what to do. Bai Ye didn¡¯t care about her, and while both girls were distracted by Chen Qiao and his group, he gave Fang Yuxin a look, then quickly got into the car and closed the door. Because his movements were so sudden, the sound of the door closing was slightly loud, immediately startling the two girls. They first were taken aback, then both showed a saddened expression. Bai Ye simply said, ¡°This car can¡¯t fit everyone.¡± Having heard this, even though the two girls were unwilling, they felt it was inappropriate to insist further. However, the younger girl with the melon-seed face disdainfully glanced at Chen Qiao¡¯s group, pointed towards the Fang Family¡¯s car, and cheerfully said while pulling the other girl, ¡°Let¡¯s ride in this one instead.¡± The girl did not refuse, only giving Chen Qiao and his group an apologetic smile, ¡°Sorry, my sister has been spoiled, don¡¯t be mad at her.¡± That meant they didn¡¯t want to ride with Chen Qiao and his group anymore. The faces of Chen Qiao and his companions changed slightly but then returned to normal. Chen Qiao magnanimously said, ¡°Their car can¡¯t fit everyone, only ours still has room.¡± The younger girl clearly couldn¡¯t hold her patience, frowning unhappily, ¡°What is wrong with you all? We are trying to help you out of kindness, and you give us all these excuses, even being picky about riding in a car, what¡¯s the problem?¡± Fang Yuxin raised her eyebrows, didn¡¯t speak, briefly smiled at the two, then opened the car door, sat down, and unapologetically closed it. The two girls initially thought she would ride in the same car as Bai Ye, but seeing her choose another vehicle, they felt puzzled yet slightly delighted. Initially, they didn¡¯t want to ride with Chen Qiao and his group, preferring the Fang Family¡¯s car. But upon seeing Fang Yuxin getting into that car, they no longer wished to go there and straightforwardly walked towards Chen Qiao¡¯s group. As everyone had got out of their cars, Chen Qiao gave a look to Wang Qi to welcome the people aboard; after the girls settled down, the others returned to the car too. Their car had very few items, just two bags which were used as a cover, stuffed under the seats, not taking up much space, conveniently leaving two spots available. The car, prepared by the Fang Family, was already a good one, and it had been specially modified later; all the seats were made of genuine leather, making it very comfortable to sit in. After the two girls got in the car, they couldn¡¯t help but start looking around. The younger girl was particularly restless, her lively eyes roving everywhere, her gaze quite brazen. But since she was attractive and her eyes were exceptionally expressive, even the brazen gaze couldn¡¯t vex anyone. The older girl was much more composed compared to her; her gaze was subtle and careful, hardly noticeable if one wasn¡¯t paying close attention. After inspecting the surroundings, they began communicating with their gazes. ¡ª These people finally took the bait, it wasn¡¯t easy! ¡ª Be careful, they are very vigilant, don¡¯t blow our cover. Chen Qiao was the driver, his driving skills decent. He first asked the two girls which way to go, learned that they needed to turn back, and skillfully reversed the car to lead the way. The other two cars quickly turned around and followed, driving steadily. Inside the car, after the two girls exchanged looks for a while, they began chatting with the others, cautiously probing for their information. If this had been before the apocalypse, the few people in the car would have been very hospitable towards these two pretty, talkative, and enthusiastic women, probably spilling all details. However, after the harshness of the apocalypse, their temperaments were not the same as before, and being superpower users, how could they be charmed by these young girls, even possibly taken for fools? It was apparent that the two girls harbored ill intentions; the five weren¡¯t fools, all realizing this. Though they couldn¡¯t understand why Fang Yuxin wanted to visit the girls¡¯ residence, handling two young girls was more than manageable. Perhaps the place they lived was isolated or these two hadn¡¯t suffered much post-apocalypse. Although clever, they were no match for Chen Qiao and his group. Chapter 385 - 385 217 Delivery to the Door (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 385: 217 Delivery to the Door (Third Update)_2 Chapter 385: 217 Delivery to the Door (Third Update)_2 After several rounds of conversation, Chen Qiao¡¯s group was tight-lipped, revealing no crucial information except for some seemingly true but misleading statements intended to confuse others. Instead, it was the two naive girls who thought they were dealing with fools; they were the ones who inadvertently spilled quite a bit of information. They just had to compliment at the right moment, and the younger girl was so flattered by their praise that she began chattering incessantly; had the older girl not been vigilant and quickly intervened to stop her unguarded blabbering, Chen Qiao and his group would have learned even more. The three vehicles were quite close, and after Chen Qiao extracted the desired information from the two girls, he immediately used a Spirit Stone to pass the message to Fang Yuxin. Just as Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had guessed, there was a small settlement nearby, actually just a small village. Most of the village¡¯s strong workforce had gone out of the province to work and had made quite a lot of money. On their return, they began building beautiful small villas in their hometown. When the disaster struck, the small village was fortunate enough to escape the meteor showers unscathed. Later, although some people turned into zombies, they were mostly the elderly and the infirm, making them easy to deal with. Afterward, people fleeing to the area saw the favorable conditions and decided to stay, building high walls with bricks to turn it into a miniature Safe Zone. Due to the deep pit on the highway, more people sought refuge in the village, and the population of the Safe Zone gradually increased. The village also boasted a powerful superpower user, a man called ¡®Brother Feng,¡¯ who effectively controlled the entire village. This man was formidable, and no one in the village could match him. All this information was vital, but that was as detailed as it got. The key factor was the older girl¡¯s vigilance; without her, Chen Qiao¡¯s group could have found out much more from the nai?ve younger girl. When Chen Qiao relayed the information to Fang Yuxin, there was a hint of regret in his tone, but Fang Yuxin was Calming, ¡°Since the older girl is so vigilant, don¡¯t probe any further to avoid raising her suspicions. If you must ask, inquire about something trivial.¡± Chen Qiao respectfully agreed, but despite saying so, it was unlikely they would be able to get anything more from the two girls. At this point, they had returned to the location of the roadblock. The people from the opposing side saw them from afar and exchanged a smug look before eagerly removing the barricade. All three vehicles stopped, and the two girls rolled down their windows upon boarding the car. As soon as the cars halted, they leaned out to wave at the people who had stopped them, calling out with enthusiasm, ¡°Brother Zhao! Are you all here?¡± Brother Zhao pretended to be surprised and asked benignly, ¡°How come you¡¯re back in a car?¡± He then feigned realization, furrowing his brow in anger, ¡°Did you go to that deep pit again? Didn¡¯t I tell you that place is dangerous? I told you not to go there, but you just had to, didn¡¯t you?¡± The two girls were good at playing their part. The younger one cheekily stuck out her tongue and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t we just worried about strangers running into danger there? That¡¯s why we went to check. Besides, with Brother Zhao and the others here, what danger could we possibly be in? It¡¯s just a deep pit. As long as we don¡¯t get too close, we¡¯re fine.¡± Brother Zhao looked helplessly at them, first glaring for a while before resignedly shaking his head and saying, ¡°Alright, alright, I can¡¯t do anything about you two! You were lucky this time, meeting good folks. But what if next time you run into bad people?¡± The older girl spoke gently, ¡°Brother Zhao, please stop scolding Du Juan; she knows she was wrong. We actually went to forage for wild vegetables. We gathered quite a lot there last time, and they were delicious. Who knew this time when we got there, the wild vegetables were already gone.¡± She sighed wistfully, her drooping eyes conveying a touch of pitiable charm that elicited greedy stares from Brother Zhao and his men. Brother Zhao quickly coughed to remind his men to hold back and not give themselves away. He then asked, ¡°How did you end up with them?¡± Turning a wary gaze towards Chen Qiao and the others also leaning out with heads turned, he looked like someone concerned about his companions being taken advantage of. However, the moment of greed in their eyes had been clearly seen by the people in the two small teams, and no matter how well they acted, they couldn¡¯t earn their trust. The girl cooperated by saying, ¡°We met them near the deep pit. They didn¡¯t know which road to take, so they asked for directions. Du Juan and I can¡¯t draw a map, so we thought to invite them back to find someone to help draw it out.¡± Brother Zhao nodded to show understanding and then warned, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, feel free to visit. Our dwelling place is nearby, not far away, and there are people patrolling in the vicinity. Follow this road, and in no time, you¡¯ll get there. Regarding these two young ladies, could you please ensure they are safe? As long as you safely deliver them to their dwellings, someone will surely help you!¡± This was a warning for them to behave, especially towards the two girls. Bai Ye rolled down the car window, peeked his head out, and politely said, ¡°Thank you. We¡¯ll certainly make sure they get home safely.¡± Brother Zhao chuckled again with simple charm, uttering a few more courteous words to send them on their way. As soon as the vehicles departed, one of the men licked his lips and said smugly, ¡°Those two girls really know how to act. I¡¯d love to see how wanton they are in bed.¡± At that remark, the others burst into laughter, and even Brother Zhao narrowed his eyes dangerously, deciding to find an opportunity to taste those two girls once he got back.(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 386 - 386 218 Chaotic Settlement (First Update) ?Chapter 386: 218 Chaotic Settlement (First Update) Chapter 386: 218 Chaotic Settlement (First Update) Brother Zhao hadn¡¯t lied; it took less than twenty minutes for Fang Yuxin and the rest to hit the road before they reached the small settlement. At first glance, the place really wasn¡¯t bad. This was the countryside, with plenty of fields available for farming, small white villas scattered across the vast fields, surrounded by a three-meter-high Protection Wall. Although many plants had died, a good number were tenaciously surviving, providing greenery here and there. Indeed, outside the settlement, armed individuals were patrolling, split into groups of ten. These people were not particularly good-looking, and aside from their leader who was a superpower user, the rest were Ordinary People. When they saw the three arriving SUVs, a greedy glint flashed in their eyes, and they quickly surrounded them. The leading superpower user shouted, ¡°Stop the car! Stop the car! Who are you people? What brings you here?¡± As he spoke, everyone gripped their weapons tighter, warily eyeing those inside the vehicles, ready to charge at the slightest provocation. Chen Qiao¡¯s car was still leading, and he obediently stopped the car, poking his head out to say, ¡°We¡¯re just passing through, asking for directions, not bad folks, so don¡¯t be nervous.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the two young girls in the back seat also popped their heads out to greet those outside. Ignoring the other Ordinary People, they smiled sweetly and warmly at the leading superpower user, cheerfully addressing him as ¡°Brother Cui.¡± The older girl said, ¡°Brother Cui, don¡¯t misunderstand; they really aren¡¯t bad people, just asking for directions. I thought since it¡¯s already noon, we could invite them to our village to rest a bit, so there¡¯s no need to be tense.¡± Brother Cui¡¯s gaze roamed freely over the two girls¡¯ faces then greedily appraised the three vehicles, shouting loudly, ¡°So that¡¯s how it is, then get going.¡± He gestured to the people behind him upon finishing, and they all moved to the road¡¯s edge to clear a path. The girl again thanked him sweetly, Chen Qiao graciously did the same, and then they continued driving toward the settlement. Once they had left, one person laughed greedily, ¡°This time the sheep are really fat, those two girls are quite capable, brought the people back so easily.¡± However, the leading superpower user watched the direction the cars were heading with a slight frown. He couldn¡¯t quite explain it but felt a growing unease. Meanwhile, the others had started chatting excitedly about the ¡°fat sheep.¡± One lecherously laughed, ¡°Wonder if there¡¯s any good stuff this time, their cars look really nice. There should be women inside, right?¡± Another glanced at him disdainfully, ¡°Even if there are women, so what? Take a look in the mirror. With the way you are, it¡¯s not like you would get a chance!¡± The lecherous man wasn¡¯t satisfied, retorting, ¡°Who knows! As long as you¡¯re in there with food and a Crystal Core, you can have a blast. Who says there¡¯s no chance?¡± The other looked down upon him, scrutinizing with judgmental eyes and said disdainfully, ¡°You? Have the money to get in there? Unless you starve yourself day and night, maybe then you¡¯d have a chance!¡± Stung by hitting too close to home, the lecherous man glared at him and then, not giving up, glanced again in the direction the cars had left, imagining the possible treasures inside. The leading superpower user, hearing their conversation grow more distasteful, darkened in expression and snapped, ¡°Enough! Quit your yapping and continue the patrol!¡± Being a superpower user, his strength was the strongest among the ten; no one dared to contradict him. Seeing his grim expression, they all zipped their lips, wondering internally if he was having a bad day. As they fell silent, the superpower user didn¡¯t bother with more words. Just before leaving, he looked back once more, his gaze fixed on the direction the cars had gone. While no one was paying attention, he subtly touched his chest, feeling the strong throbbing of his heart. The beats were so distinct, yet his anxiety grew, as if something terrible were about to happen. He hesitated while walking, finally gritted his teeth and decided to stay away for now, planning to come back and check things in the evening. He had never seen such nice cars in his life. But aside from the first car with its windows down, the rest had their windows closed, specially treated so that one couldn¡¯t see inside. Chapter 387 - 387 218 Chaotic Settlement (Second Update) ?Chapter 387: 218 Chaotic Settlement (Second Update) Chapter 387: 218 Chaotic Settlement (Second Update) This was the reason he felt uneasy! He intuitively knew that the people arriving this time were out of the ordinary; ordinary people wouldn¡¯t have such nice cars. This speculation filled him with fear. How could those people be so bold and reckless to target these individuals? If these people were truly as formidable as he speculated, then those people¡¯s behaviors were essentially digging their own graves! Yet on deeper reflection, he thought he was probably overthinking it. Could anyone really be stronger than Brother Feng? When thinking about Brother Feng¡¯s methods and capabilities, a shiver ran down his spine and he felt chilling coldness through his bones. Nonetheless, he decided to temporarily step out and lie low. He did not want to die! Thus, he took his men, on the pretext of patrolling, and moved further and further away from the settlement. Initially, others didn¡¯t think much of it, but gradually they sensed something was off. One person said, ¡°Brother Cui, something¡¯s not right. Aren¡¯t we getting further away? Why are we traveling so far? The higher-ups didn¡¯t say we were to patrol this far away, did they?¡± Brother Cui was unfazed and simply gave that person a cold look, then spoke chillingly, ¡°Am I the captain or are you the captain? This is the order from above, do you dare disobey?¡± Upon finishing his words, his cold and sharp gaze pierced the faces of the others like a knife, causing a piercing pain. Moreover, as a superpower user, once he released his aura, these ragtags Ordinary People were completely unable to withstand it. Soon, the faces of those people paled, and they didn¡¯t dare to defy him anymore. Brother Cui saw everyone¡¯s reactions, not surprised in the least, and noticed the resentful looks in the eyes of some. He committed everything to memory and calmingly said, ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your sake, and as for the reasons, you don¡¯t need to know them now, but you¡¯ll understand later.¡± His words carried a somewhat recalcitrant tone. Although a few individuals dismissed his words, thinking he was irrational, others sensed a profound and bleak sentiment, which subconsciously made them worried. But those few who showed resentful looks, who were already quite displeased with Brother Cui, simply did not take his words to heart. Observing their reactions, a swift flash of murderous intent crossed Brother Cui¡¯s lowered eyes. He was not the type to sit around and wait for death. Those people in the cars earlier truly frightened him from the bottom of his heart, a rather peculiar intuition; yet, it was this very intuition that often saved his life! Brother Cui never doubted his own instincts, so he subconsciously decided to evade. Logically, as a member of the settlement, he ought to consider its well-being and alert his companions of any formidable enemies, not flee by himself. But he was a coward and also harbored no affection toward the other members of the settlement; he felt not the slightest gratitude toward the higher-ups. Although he was not a good man, the actions of the higher-ups were even more disheartening! In fact, it wasn¡¯t just him; many other members of the settlement felt the same. They had established a Safe Zone and appeared unified, but in reality, the place was rife with oppression, enslavement, and darkness! Brother Cui, being a superpower user, was somewhat better off compared to the Ordinary People who, except for a few strong ones, lived lives worse than those of animals! Brother Cui lacked the ability to change everything, but in his heart, he was quite dissatisfied with the actions of the higher-ups. Therefore, this time, with his uneasy feeling, his emotions were quite complex. He desperately hoped that the person they had deceived into coming was as powerful as he had speculated, someone who could eliminate all those boastful higher-ups, yet at the same time, he worried that without these higher-ups, their days would be even worse. After all, the lower-ranked people like himself truly lacked power; although the higher-ups implemented tyrannical policies, their strength was considerable, providing some peace of mind to others. Otherwise, if formidable zombies came, they would have only death awaiting them! With these complex emotions, Brother Cui glanced in the direction of the settlement and unhesitantly led his men further away. Meanwhile, Fang Yuxin and her group had already encountered several patrol squads and eventually arrived at the entrance of the settlement. The settlement was really too small, so it only had one gate for entry and exit. However, the people here were fairly clever; although the Protection Wall was only three meters high with what seemed to be just over twenty centimeters in thickness, appearing rather flimsy, they had dug a deep trench outside the wall, effectively encasing the entire settlement inside. Upon their arrival, a gate made of wooden bars, exuding a somewhat barbaric aura, slowly swung open, and then twenty weapon-wielding individuals emerged from inside. Each person had a stern face, their eyes cautiously yet greedily sizing up the three SUVs. Chen Qiao parked the car at the front; the road here wasn¡¯t wide, and the three vehicles could only be lined up end to end and couldn¡¯t be parked side by side. Two girls quickly opened the car doors, their faces brimming with smiles as they greeted the people coming out from the gate. ¡°Brother Wang, we¡¯re back! These are guests we brought back; they¡¯re just asking for directions.¡± The person at the front nodded, seemingly the one they referred to as Brother Wang. Then, seeing that the people in the cars weren¡¯t getting out, his expression slightly darkened, his tone carrying slight discontent as he said, ¡°Everyone entering the settlement must be inspected, guests included. Everyone in the cars, come out. As long as you pass the inspection and prove to be problem-free, you can enter.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the car doors opened one after another. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote using the monthly ticket and recommended ticket at Qidian [qidian.com]. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 388 - 388 219 Playing Tricks (Second Update) ?Chapter 388: 219 Playing Tricks (Second Update) Chapter 388: 219 Playing Tricks (Second Update) The other party watched as the car door opened, their eyes suddenly shining brighter, fixating on the car door, waiting for someone to get out. But then, they realized the car door had closed again! Brother Wang was very dissatisfied, as it was the first time he¡¯d encountered such a situation, his face instantly turned very ugly, and he demanded, ¡°What the hell do you mean by this?¡± No one got out of the car, only Chen Qiao poked his head out with a smile and said, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, don¡¯t get me wrong, we¡¯re just here to ask for directions. We were planning to come in and rest our feet, but since you have so many rules, let¡¯s forget it. Besides, we came here because we¡¯re looking for someone to draw us a roadmap, and we can offer a reward.¡± Nobody expected them to suddenly change their tune. Now, not only was Brother Wang¡¯s face unsightly, but the faces of the two young girls also turned abnormal. The younger girl, unable to contain her anger, snapped, ¡°Hey! What the hell is going on with you people? Wasn¡¯t it agreed that you¡¯d come in as guests? Isn¡¯t it just a routine check? What¡¯s there to worry about?¡± Chen Qiao, still grinning, wasn¡¯t affected in the least, and instead said very understandingly, ¡°We didn¡¯t want to trouble you, is that so wrong? Originally, we wanted to take advantage and come over for a free meal, but seeing that there are not a few people here, and the crops don¡¯t look so good, the harvest must not be great, right? How could we have the face to stay and freeload a meal.¡± The younger girl wanted to say something more, but the slightly older girl beside her pulled her back forcefully, then tearfully looked at Chen Qiao, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we had wanted to invite you over as guests, I didn¡¯t expect it to turn out like this. I don¡¯t know where you all came from, but I know, you must think our place is too small and backward, looking down on our country place, I have overstepped.¡± The moment she started crying, Chen Qiao¡¯s expression sank. However, he didn¡¯t dare make any rash moves, he was waiting for Fang Yuxin¡¯s instruction. After all, it was Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye who had decided to come here in the first place, and he didn¡¯t dare to mess it up. Fang Yuxin gave him no new instructions, and as Chen Qiao was growing anxious, he saw from the mirror that Bai Ye had rolled down the window and poked his head out. His emergence made the silently crying girl¡¯s eyes brighten, her tears flowing even faster, her dewy eyes watching Bai Ye intently, making it hard for anyone to refuse. Bai Ye was rather annoyed inside, only showing his face because he had received a message from Fang Yuxin. If not for that, he couldn¡¯t care less about the affected woman across from him! But since Fang Yuxin had told him to keep acting, he had no choice but to reluctantly cooperate despite his reluctance. He glanced at the girl indifferently, without any particular emotion, and simply stated, ¡°As long as you give us the roadmap, the reward is yours to name.¡± He had the demeanor of someone unrestrained by money. Seeing his attitude, the other party¡¯s eyes suddenly became greedier. Brother Wang let out a cold laugh and disdainfully said, ¡°We can give you the roadmap, but as for the price... I¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t afford it!¡± They were clearly preparing to make an outrageous demand, and Bai Ye¡¯s expression chilled: ¡°Just say it!¡± Brother Wang then pointed at the SUV Bai Ye was in, smiling proudly, ¡°I quite like your vehicle, I don¡¯t ask for much, just this car. As long as you agree, we can give you the roadmap quickly.¡± That man really had the nerve to ask! It was just a roadmap, not some treasure map, and he outright demanded his customized vehicle! Such a condition was, of course, unacceptable to Bai Ye. But Fang Yuxin wanted him to play the role of the nouveau riche, and despite his unwillingness, he still said, ¡°Just give me an additional hundred liters of gasoline, or a hundred kilograms of food, and the car is yours.¡± As soon as these words came out, Brother Wang and his men all changed their expressions. They hadn¡¯t expected Bai Ye to agree to such an utterly unreasonable request, and even less did they expect Bai Ye to dare to set conditions with them! He even dared to ask them for gasoline and food! Both were currently in short supply! These people¡¯s faces turned very ugly, but Bai Ye looked as if he hadn¡¯t noticed anything, watching them with unflappable calm. This reaction from Bai Ye completely infuriated the other side. In their eyes, Bai Ye and his people were like nai?ve sheep that had been tricked into being slaughtered; they were only supposed to meekly be taken for what they had. But now, they were daring to set their own conditions! Chapter 389 - 389 219 Playfulness (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 389: 219 Playfulness (Second Update)_2 Chapter 389: 219 Playfulness (Second Update)_2 ¡°They didn¡¯t take them seriously at all! Where on earth did that confidence come from? Brother Wang gazed deeply at Bai Ye, but before their arrival, Fang Yuxin had already made Bai Ye suppress his aura. At that moment, Bai Ye looked like a superpower user, but the energy fluctuations from his body were not strong, roughly only at the level of Superpower Level 1. Brother Wang¡¯s superpower was just at Level 1, and after scrutinizing carefully, he felt that Bai Ye¡¯s strength was probably inferior to his own, which instantly bolstered his confidence. He looked at Bai Ye disdainfully, like a hunter considering an overconfident prey. With a cold laugh, he said, ¡°The map, add ten kilograms of food, and you can have your car.¡± Bai Ye hesitated this time. He wavered for a long while, his gaze flickering, and then pretended to be calm as he said, ¡°Ten kilograms of food is too little, it must be a hundred kilograms!¡± However, Brother Wang had already seen his ¡®lack of confidence¡¯ and became even more self-assured, ¡°Only ten kilograms! Don¡¯t push your luck!¡± Bai Ye hesitated again. He seemed to be making a very difficult decision, and after quite some time, finally nodded heavily under the other¡¯s proud gaze, ¡°Fine, I agree.¡± His simple four words sounded as if they drained all his energy. After he spoke them, his face turned dejected. Brother Wang and the others were very self-satisfied. He said, where did this guy get the confidence to fight him? As expected, this is normal! This guy was no match for him at all! Brother Wang said happily, ¡°Good, it¡¯s a deal! Wait here, I¡¯ll have someone draw the map for you and prepare the food. You¡¯ll have it in half an hour.¡± Bai Ye was dissatisfied, ¡°Why half an hour? It¡¯s just a map and ten kilograms of food. It shouldn¡¯t take more than ten minutes, right?¡± Brother Wang had already ¡°seen through¡± Bai Ye¡¯s lack of confidence and did not take him seriously at all at this point, so he just grimaced and said bluntly, ¡°What? You have a problem? Half an hour, if you don¡¯t want to wait, you can leave now! But I can tell you, besides us, no one will draw you a map!¡± His attitude was arrogant, and Bai Ye ended up losing his composure, no longer maintaining his previous calm. He glared at Brother Wang with anger, his mouth trembling, and with the look of someone indignant but afraid to speak, he struggled for quite a while before saying in a defeated tone, ¡°Alright then, half an hour it is. We¡¯ll wait here, and you¡¯d better not go back on your word!¡± At this moment, why would Brother Wang and the others take him seriously? They chuckled arrogantly and turned to enter the door, leaving only ten people to guard them, preventing them from escaping. After they went inside, the door slowly closed with a ¡°creak¡±, cutting off all sight from outside. Inside the door, Brother Wang reached out and pulled two young girls into his arms, one on each side. He puckered his lips and kissed each girl before laughing proudly, ¡°You did a good job on this task, you¡¯ll get a reward when we get back.¡± After he finished speaking, his eyes shamelessly roamed over the girls¡¯ perked breasts, while his hands also moved unreservedly over their bodies. The younger girl named Du Juan quickly flashed a look of annoyance and unwillingness in her eyes, but she smiled coyly and said, ¡°Brother Wang, you don¡¯t know yet, there¡¯s still a fine piece of goods on the car. She¡¯s what you call a National Color Heavenly Fragrance, even prettier than our settlement¡¯s Li Ranqiu.¡± Upon hearing this, Brother Wang¡¯s eyes narrowed as he reached under the girl¡¯s clothes to grope around impudently, while asking, ¡°Is that true? You¡¯re not lying to your Brother Wang, are you? Li Ranqiu is not easy to match.¡± Du Juan moaned as she clung to Brother Wang, her body constantly writhing, and she cast a seductive glance at him while panting, ¡°I... I wouldn¡¯t dare lie to Brother Wang... You... you don¡¯t know... my sister and I both saw... that... that woman is so beautiful... but her temper... temper is a bit bad... like a wild cat...¡± She understood Brother Wang¡¯s character well; this statement scratched his itch perfectly. He always enjoyed strong-willed women, claiming the challenge made it all the more exciting. Sure enough, as she spoke, Brother Wang¡¯s eyes grew brighter, almost wanting to go back immediately and snatch the woman! The Li Ranqiu Du Juan mentioned was the woman of the settlement¡¯s leader, Brother Feng, and was very beautiful¡ªrumored to be a campus belle from a renowned university. Many men in the settlement had designs on her, but sadly for them, Brother Feng valued this woman greatly and wouldn¡¯t let anyone touch her. Brother Wang was one of those many, he had coveted Li Ranqiu for a long time. Li Ranqiu was a kind of cold beauty, like an unattainable flower on a high cliff, and Brother Wang especially wanted to see her cry and beg for mercy beneath him. But he didn¡¯t dare offend Brother Feng. Now that he heard about such a beautiful woman, his mind was set in motion. With Brother Feng in seclusion recently, this was his chance to snatch her for himself. With this thought, he became increasingly smug. However, he still asked the other, slightly older girl, ¡°Tell Brother Wang, is what your sister said true? Hmm?¡± The girl opened her big eyes and looked at him, bashful and timid, lightly biting her lower lip, making her already rosy lips even more vibrant, before she softly said, ¡°What Du Juan said is true. I... I saw her too, she is indeed very beautiful, both in looks and demeanor, surpassing Li Ranqiu.¡± Brother Wang always thought she was very honest. With her confirmation, he had no more doubts. He called someone over, gave swift instructions, ensuring that nothing would go wrong and that the woman would be captured. Afterward, he went into an adjacent room with the two girls, intending to vent his pent-up desires first.(To be continued... If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 390 - 390 220 The Dagger Appears When the Drawing is ?Chapter 390: 220 The Dagger Appears When the Drawing is Finished (Third Update) Chapter 390: 220 The Dagger Appears When the Drawing is Finished (Third Update) Brother Wang, after giving his orders and believing he had made a foolproof plan, hastily pulled the two girls away to vent his desires. Meanwhile, at the entrance to the settlement, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were exchanging thoughts through Spiritual Sense. Bai Ye sounded somewhat dissatisfied, thinking that Fang Yuxin¡¯s approach was too risky, and said, ¡°Xinxin, this man¡¯s intentional request for half an hour obviously means he¡¯s toying with us. Moreover, he definitely plans to arrange some people to capture us all.¡± Fang Yuxin understood this without his reminder. She laughed with profound meaning, ¡°Isn¡¯t this more fun? Since these people dare to plot against us, don¡¯t you dare to accept their challenge?¡± Bai Ye felt stifled; it wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t dare to accept the challenge, he simply didn¡¯t like to use such roundabout tactics. He deeply regretted it now. If he had known it would come to this, he would never have agreed to Fang Yuxin¡¯s decision earlier. After all, it was his impulsive fault at the time! Fang Yuxin laughed and said, ¡°Your acting is pretty good, I was almost fooled by you.¡± Although they were communicating through Spiritual Sense, Bai Ye could detect the teasing tone in her words, causing his heartbeat to skip. He then asked, ¡°What are you planning to do next?¡± This question served as a way to move past the previous topic and also to understand Fang Yuxin¡¯s plan. He was worried Fang Yuxin would continue to act rashly and wanted to understand her plan before proceeding. Fang Yuxin, sensing his embarrassment, didn¡¯t tease him further and seriously said, ¡°This Safe Zone is small, and its defenses are rudimentary. It exists till now probably because there aren¡¯t many zombies nearby. So I guess the superpower users here don¡¯t have many Crystal Cores. Looking at their personnel, there aren¡¯t many superpower users here, and their strength is mostly at the Basic and Level 1 Early Stage, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± Bai Ye was already aware of all this she mentioned; it was the people of this settlement he disliked, hating the thought of continuing to humor them. What he feared most was the occurrence of unpredictable accidents that could endanger those around him. In the past, he wasn¡¯t the type to be overly cautious, and he often took risks, appearing to others as a reckless madman willing to take on dangerous tasks. Even when he first took Bai Qianqian back home, he didn¡¯t have much affection for this son and sometimes forgot he had a blood-related child while on missions. But as he gradually developed feelings and bonds, he became more cautious on missions, no longer as rash as before. And now, because of Fang Yuxin¡¯s presence, he had become overly cautious! This wasn¡¯t like him at all! Despite knowing that his behavior was increasingly odd, Bai Ye had no intention of changing. He liked this new feeling; his once closed-off and desolate heart suddenly welcomed someone into it, a connection unlike any from parents or friends. He didn¡¯t know how to persuade Fang Yuxin, lacking her eloquence, and unwilling to utter even a single harsh word, he could only brood silently. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t send any more messages, which left him feeling downhearted and even more uncomfortable. As he was lost in his thoughts, Fang Yuxin¡¯s voice suddenly rang in his head, ¡°Bai Ye, you should believe in your own strength. You are the chosen one of the Dragon Scale Sword; don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± After saying this, Fang Yuxin herself was stunned. She had just felt that Bai Ye¡¯s attitude was somewhat off, and knowing they would continue their journey together, she realized Bai Ye¡¯s current state wasn¡¯t conducive to their future travels, so she decided to give him a pep talk to bolster his confidence. Somehow, she ended up saying that last sentence. After speaking, she felt it was somewhat ambiguous, as if it held a different meaning. After all, the Dragon Scale Sword had come from the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, and she initially hadn¡¯t even noticed its presence. Yet, the sword outrageously chose Bai Ye as its successor behind her back! But what was done was done, and there was no point in feeling unwilling. Right after urging Bai Ye, when she thought of that bit of unwillingness, she said a few extra words and only realized her slip afterward. Yet those words weren¡¯t a big issue, and if she went out of her way to explain them, she would come off as petty and might make matters worse. Thus, after a moment of hesitation, she ultimately said nothing more. After she spoke, Bai Ye was the one left stunned. He wanted to ask Fang Yuxin what she meant but worried that he might be misunderstanding. So he waited to see if Fang Yuxin had anything more to say, but after she spoke that sentence, she said no more. His heart couldn¡¯t settle, fluttering with unrest. Chapter 391 - 391 220 The Dagger Appears When the Drawing is ?Chapter 391: 220 The Dagger Appears When the Drawing is Finished (Third Update)_2 Chapter 391: 220 The Dagger Appears When the Drawing is Finished (Third Update)_2 Fang Yuxin¡¯s persuasion indeed had an effect, and Bai Ye began to realize that he might have been too cautious. How could he doubt his own strength? Even without the superpower Awakening, he shouldn¡¯t fear this rabble of misfits! And now, not only had he Awakened a Gold and Thunder Dual Power with formidable Attack Power, but he had also inherited the Dragon Scale Sword. What was there to be afraid of? Who in this world could compare to him? Bai Ye suddenly saw the light, and as soon as he did, he felt his Divine Soul sway, and something was changing in his Sea of Consciousness. Alarmed, he promptly checked his Sea of Consciousness, only to discover that the pitch-black Dragon Scale Sword within was emanating an unstoppable sharpness. As the Dragon Scale Sword breathed in and out this sharpness, its aura became even more terrifying. Bai Ye faintly understood something, but given the circumstances, there was no time for proper Cultivation. He could only settle his heart and quietly wait for those thieves¡¯ next move. All these changes took place within his Sea of Consciousness, undetectable by others. Fang Yuxin had some sense of it, though, but as she was conversing with her family, she brushed off the odd sensation after a brief check with her Spiritual Sense, finding nothing amiss. If Bai Ye was worried about her, the Fang Family was even more so. Bai Qianqian didn¡¯t like those two girls and Brother Wang. As they entered, he stealthily extended his Spiritual Sense to probe them. This probe ¡°showed¡± him their actions and ¡°heard¡± their words. Seeing them dare to plot against Fang Yuxin, Bai Qianqian became thoroughly enraged. So when Brother Wang dragged the two girls into the room, Bai Qianqian¡¯s eyes turned cold, and he divided his Spiritual Sense into three strands, thrusting them directly into the Sea of Consciousness of the three people! Perhaps because he had Awakened spiritual power, his control over his Spiritual Sense was almost instinctive. His Spiritual Sense entered the three Seas of Consciousness and violently shook them up, but it was orchestrated in such a way that it wouldn¡¯t kill them. Instead, he implanted a mental suggestion in each of them. Being young, Bai Qianqian didn¡¯t think too far ahead; the mental suggestion he left was more like a practical joke. So when Brother Wang was about to vent his desires on the two girls, he suddenly found the girls in front of him had turned into nauseating zombies! He turned ghastly pale with fear, screamed in panic, and hurriedly withdrew, worried he would turn into one of those disgusting zombies. At the same time, the two girls saw him as an equally nauseating zombie. Both screamed in terror, constantly shouting ¡°zombies¡± and ¡°help.¡± Bai Qianqian had purposely set up a small soundproof Barrier to prevent their screams from spreading and alarming others. After the initial horror and disgust, Brother Wang decided to kill the two zombies before him. But when he tried to use his superpower, he discovered that he couldn¡¯t mobilize it at all! He had become an Ordinary Person! The two girls, also wanting to kill this ¡®zombie,¡¯ each grabbed a weapon. Being Ordinary People and lacking any superpower, they didn¡¯t dare to attack first. But as they hesitated, Brother Wang was intent on killing them! As a Level 1 Power Mutant, it would have been easy for Brother Wang to kill two defenseless women on any normal day, but this was different. He had lost his superpower and could only rely on his physical strength to deal with the two zombies before him. They quickly became embroiled in a chaotic fight. Elsewhere in the settlement, a lieutenant looked at the person before him and said indifferently, ¡°Are you telling the truth? Fat sheep have arrived at the gate?¡± The informant nodded eagerly, smiling ingratiatingly, ¡°Absolutely true! They are right outside the door! They were planning to come in, but it was Wang Dali, that bastard, who said something about routine inspection, and they refused to enter!¡± The lieutenant squinted and said, ¡°But this is Wang Dali¡¯s shift, and such matters are indeed his responsibility. If I interfere, it would break the rules.¡± He sighed, appearing quite helpless. The informant inwardly sneered with contempt, but his face grew more sycophantic: ¡°Brother Gui, these fat sheep have three modified SUVs with incredible performance! They came here for the route maps, and Wang Dali had the gall to demand an SUV in exchange, and they actually agreed! There must be even better stuff they¡¯re holding on to!¡± The lieutenant¡¯s eyes glittered with interest, but he still pretended to be unenthusiastic: ¡°Are you just guessing?¡± Seeing the lieutenant¡¯s unfazed demeanor, the informant became anxious, ¡°Brother Gui, Wang Dali has now led the two girls named Du for some quick fun, and they¡¯ll be making a move in half an hour! If we don¡¯t act before they do, all the good loot will be gone!¡± Only then did the lieutenant show displeasure, ¡°At such a critical time, he dares to shirk his duty. He¡¯s not taking Brother Feng seriously at all! No, I must see this myself and ensure those fat sheep don¡¯t escape.¡± Relieved, the informant smiled smugly. Unappreciated by Wang Dali, he needed to seek a new path for himself. If things went well this time, the benefits he could reap were sure to be plentiful! With this thought, his smugness grew. Having made up his mind, Brother Gui quickly gathered his people and headed towards the settlement¡¯s gate. With a creaking sound, the door opened, and forty people rushed out, quickly spreading out to form a surround, encircling the three SUVs inside. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation vote, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 392 - 392 221 One Minute (First Update) ?Chapter 392: 221 One Minute (First Update) Chapter 392: 221 One Minute (First Update) At the gate, originally ten people remained behind to watch over Fang Yuxin and the others, preventing them from escaping. They were all men of Wang Dali, and when Brother Gui appeared with his group, their expressions changed, panic mixed with intense anger. In their eyes, Fang Yuxin and the others were like fattened sheep ready for slaughter, the ones they had encountered first! But now with Brother Gui¡¯s arrival, it was clear he was there to snatch their credit and rewards! And to make matters worse, their mainstay, Wang Dali, was absent, none of these men had superpowers, they were at a disadvantage in terms of power, and even more so in numbers, a full thirty people fewer than the other side! The disparity between the two sides was too obvious; they stood no chance against Brother Gui. So when faced with the sudden appearance of Brother Gui, most could only seethe in silence. Only one person, fawningly said, ¡°Brother Gui, what brings you here? Isn¡¯t it Brother Wang¡¯s turn to guard the gate today?¡± Brother Gui glanced indifferently at the speaker, and then someone by his side rudely pointed at the speaker and scolded, ¡°Is it your place to care about what Brother Gui wants to do? Who do you think you are? Brother Wang abandoned his post, and Brother Gui is here to take charge, what¡¯s wrong with that? Don¡¯t forget what Brother Feng said, it¡¯s a special time now, we must be careful and cautious!¡± This settlement was no more than a small gathering place with only 2,300 people, most of whom were Ordinary People. There were very few superpower users, the strongest being Brother Feng and the ten experts by his side. Because of their strength and the oppressive policies they implemented in the settlement, the people there almost obeyed their every command¡ªBrother Feng had become almost a godlike figure in the eyes of most. No one dared disobey his words. They had been fortunate here, with few zombies coming their way, most of which had been dealt with by Brother Feng and the ten experts. The zombies that occasionally appeared around the area were few, allowing them a respite to live relatively securely. Every day in the settlement, there were people proclaiming the horrors of the zombies and the harshness of the outside world, so much so that the settlement¡¯s inhabitants dared not venture out, remaining obediently inside, under the domineering rule of Brother Feng and the others. Lately, however, zombies had been appearing more and more often, increasingly frequent, and Brother Feng had issued an order to deploy many patrol teams around the settlement. As soon as zombies were detected, they were to deal with them directly if possible, or send smoke signals to alert the community if not. At the same time, Brother Feng took the defense of the Safe Zone¡¯s gate very seriously, arranging for people to guard it in shifts, and demanding that no one abandon their post without permission. What Wang Dali did was already a violation. Such matters, as long as unreported and not causing trouble, would naturally be overlooked by those in charge. Unfortunately for Wang Dali, he had the bad luck of having a traitor among his men, who informed Brother Gui of his actions. Brother Gui was a minor leader in the settlement, his status slightly higher than that of Wang Dali. He had more power than Wang Dali, and commanded more men. No one had expected him to come and steal credit and benefits at this time, and his men even spoke such words. Upon hearing this, the ten subordinates of Wang Dali became anxious, if this were to reach those above, not only would Wang Dali not end well, but they also would suffer from the fallout! The words spoken were clearly under Brother Gui¡¯s direction, and they were not foolish enough to believe such words were simply out of initiative! The ten men did not dare respond rashly, and after a moment, the one who had spoken earlier said stiffly, ¡°Brother Gui, please don¡¯t misunderstand, Brother Wang hasn¡¯t abandoned his post, it¡¯s just... it¡¯s just a nature¡¯s call, he¡¯ll be back soon!¡± Brother Gui said nothing, while the people by his side looked at the ten subordinates left by Wang Dali with disdain, their eyes as if gazing at idiots. The ten could only look desperately at the gate, wishing Wang Dali would appear quickly and rescue them from dire straits. Sadly, they had no idea that Wang Dali himself was in deep trouble right now, and had no time to help them! Brother Gui ignored them and instead took a few steps forward with a smile, saying to the people in the vehicle, ¡°Listen up in the car, my patience is limited. If you want to survive, come out obediently. I¡¯m only giving you one minute, anyone who doesn¡¯t come out after a minute, don¡¯t blame us for not being polite.¡± As if to prove his point, as soon as his words fell, the people around him immediately revealed their weapons, glaring menacingly at the three vehicles, waiting for the people inside to emerge. Chapter 393 - 393 221 One Minute (Second Update) ?Chapter 393: 221 One Minute (Second Update) Chapter 393: 221 One Minute (Second Update) Fang Yuxin¡¯s voice came from within the vehicle, ¡°Since they have spoken to such extent, let¡¯s all get out of the car nicely.¡± Her voice was melodious and pleasant, with a peculiar rhythm that was quite intoxicating. As the sound arose, everyone outside couldn¡¯t help but look toward the car she was in, curious about the appearance of the speaker. Even Brother Gui couldn¡¯t help but raise his eyebrows, glancing several times in Fang Yuxin¡¯s direction. After Fang Yuxin¡¯s voice came through, the car doors opened one after another, and pairs of feet stretched out from inside. Those responsible for the encirclement smiled smugly at this scene, their eyes narrowing with a cruel glint. But in the next moment, they suddenly realized that the people coming out were actually holding weapons! Where did they get the courage? How dare they do this? However, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t give them time to think nor did she kindly clear up their confusion. In her hand was a shiny black, slender Miao Saber, with both the hilt and the blade unusually long. She held the hilt with one hand, with the tip pointed toward the ground, her body dressed in a loose shirt and pants. Her excellent figure made even the simplest movement look exceptionally suave. After getting a clear view of her appearance, the surrounding people didn¡¯t feel scared. Instead, they laughed smugly, their gazes blatantly sweeping over her inch by inch, as if they couldn¡¯t wait to strip her bare. Bai Ye had been paying close attention to Fang Yuxin ever since he got out of the car. Seeing this scene, his face instantly turned extremely ugly. With a cold snort, a golden staff suddenly appeared in his hand, and he shot out like lightning. He swung the staff, striking forcefully against those encircling them. With a crisp ¡°crack¡± sound, the unfortunate soul who got hit screamed and fell to the ground. The others, witnessing this scene, retreated one after the other, their eyes looking at Bai Ye with terror. Bai Ye¡¯s expression remained stern, and in a blink of an eye, he had knocked down several more people. These people usually strutted around arrogantly when facing the ordinary residents, feeling quite proud of themselves. But now, they didn¡¯t even have a chance to strike, falling to the ground upon the first exchange, not even able to clearly see Bai Ye¡¯s actions! And as Bai Ye made his move, the others also began to take action! Since these were humans after all, they didn¡¯t go for the kill directly, nor did they use their superpowers. Relying solely on their physical strength, they were able to knock people unconscious! Brother Gui had brought only about forty men, thinking it would be more than enough. Who would have known that in just one skirmish, less than a minute in, most of his men had already fallen! Not only were they panicking, but Brother Gui, who had previously been calm and cocky, was also in a frenzy. He had not expected to be greeted with such an outcome! Weren¡¯t they supposed to be easy prey? Wasn¡¯t it said that they were incapable? Weren¡¯t they supposed to be all bark and no bite? What was this scene before his eyes all about! He twisted his head in anger, looking at the informant from earlier. He simply couldn¡¯t believe that he had been set up! He had been tricked! Brother Gui was usually clever, considered a rare intelligent one among the small leaders. Yet sometimes, smart people tend to overthink and walk into a trap. Brother Gui was now in such a situation, delving straight into conspiracy theories upon realizing that something was completely off! In Brother Gui¡¯s view, all of this must have been Wang Dali¡¯s calculated plan, all to target him! Otherwise, why wouldn¡¯t Wang Dali have shown up? If Wang Dali knew of his thoughts at that moment, he would surely be crying and begging to trade places! He didn¡¯t realize that he had accidentally invited a freak! Brother Gui¡¯s reaction was actually quite swift. After the initial flurry, he immediately roared toward the inhabitants of the settlement, ¡°Quick! Light up the distress signal!¡± Near the Protection Wall inside, two iron pots were placed, filled with a special fuel mixture. Once lit, it would produce a thick black smoke. With their lack of advanced equipment, this was the only method they could think of to convey the presence of enemies. After he finished shouting, his face changed and he rushed through the gate to personally light the distress signal. Fang Yuxin and the others didn¡¯t stop him. They purposely stayed at the gate instead of going in to avoid falling completely into the enemy¡¯s encirclement. The small fry here were easy to deal with. Brother Gui lighting the distress signal and attracting the experts from the settlement actually saved them the effort. Brother Gui¡¯s heart was racing. After he lit the distress signal, his instinct was to run and hide in a safe place. After his bout of conspiracy theories, he found that the newcomers were abnormally strong, far beyond his ability to handle! But he didn¡¯t dare leave this place. If the higher-ups conducted a thorough investigation, he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape the blame! At the same time, he noticed another detail¡ªalthough these people struck hard, they hadn¡¯t killed anyone. It was realizing this that gave him the courage to stay. Afterward, he once again mustered up all the courage to come out of the gate. Once out, he found that all the people outside had been knocked down! He took a deep breath; the air was filled with a scorching heat, yet he felt a penetrating cold throughout his body. Where on earth did these people come from? How were they so powerful? But soon, he forced himself to calm down. These people might be formidable, but there were Brother Feng and the ten experts in the settlement, and he didn¡¯t believe this group would be a match for Brother Feng and his ten experts! As he was thinking this, Brother Gui suddenly felt an intense sense of danger as if being watched by a wolf. Subconsciously looking at Fang Yuxin and the others, he saw that they were all looking at him. The intense tension made his mouth feel dry. Opening his mouth, he asked with difficulty, ¡°Who are you? What do you want here?¡±(To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for the monthly ticket, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 394 - 394 222 A bunch of idiots (Second update) ?Chapter 394: 222 A bunch of idiots! (Second update) Chapter 394: 222 A bunch of idiots! (Second update) Brother Gui was actually terrified. He had already realized that he had misunderstood Wang Dali, that dumbass. This was not a conspiracy against him, but against the entire settlement! He wanted to believe that Brother Feng could defeat these people, but at this moment, facing their gazes, he suddenly became uncertain. Even though the opponents did not show any hostility, he still felt oppressed, and even breathing became very difficult. He asked himself over and over again in his mind, why would these people target their settlement? Why had all this happened to him? He regretted it immensely. If he had known that these people were not easy targets but harbingers of doom, he would never have greedily ventured out to meet his demise! Thinking of Wang Dali, who had yet to appear, he suddenly felt like an idiot! He knew Wang Dali had arranged to meet these people in half an hour, so he had rushed over, hoping to deal with them before Wang Dali arrived. Little did he know that his men would be wiped out at the first encounter! He regretted it immensely and glanced at the group with a covert, discontented expression. If these people were so formidable, why would they have succumbed to Wang Dali¡¯s threats? He had been deceived into believing they were easy prey! If he hadn¡¯t been sure that these people were naive targets, he would never have foolishly come to be killed! This thought suddenly made him realize something was wrong. Perhaps Wang Dali had been duped by them, but it seemed these people were brought by the two Du sisters. Could it be that everything was a plot hatched by those two despicable women? Could it be that those two vile women had betrayed them, sought help from these experts, and consequently, these calamities had come looking for trouble? The more Brother Gui thought about it, the more likely it seemed that this hypothesis was the truth! Through clenched teeth, he silently vowed that if he managed to survive this ordeal, he would never let those deceitful women off the hook! Right then, Fang Yuxin approached with a knife in hand and a smile on her face, saying to Brother Gui, ¡°We were invited by two young ladies to come here. They told us there was plenty of food and that you were very hospitable. We were starved after our journey, so we followed them here. But I didn¡¯t expect you to be so welcoming.¡± Brother Gui looked at her and had no idea what to say. Now, he no longer found Fang Yuxin attractive; she was nothing but a deadly femme fatale! Under the intense stress, Brother Gui deeply regretted his foolish decision; he shouldn¡¯t have come! No, he shouldn¡¯t have stayed! At that moment, he suddenly had a strong intuition that neither Brother Feng nor the top ten experts beside him could be a match for these people! He really shouldn¡¯t have stayed! Swiftly glancing at his men, who were now groaning as they lay scattered across the ground, he uncertainly thought¡ªIs it too late to play dead now? While contemplating how he could escape unharmed, he heard the roaring sounds of several motorcycles. The extended noise used to thrill him, but at this moment, listening to them made him feel incredibly conflicted. Unfortunately, there was no time to think. Soon after, the gate was opened, and four people appeared on modified lightweight motorcycles. The loud engines and fast speeds were particularly liked by rebellious youths. These four individuals were among the top ten experts. In the past, Brother Gui would have immediately rushed to ingratiate himself with them; now, only bitterness filled his heart. Just four people had arrived! That was not enough! Those four, oblivious to the bitterness in his heart, got off their bikes and cast a hostile look toward Fang Yuxin and her group, as well as his pitiful men strewn around. The scene was all too clear. Almost immediately, they understood that Fang Yuxin and her group were here to cause trouble! One of the tall, skinny young men with a scar on his face squinted viciously and asked in a unfriendly tone, ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Where did you come from? How dare you stir up trouble here? Are you tired of living?¡± His words not only made Brother Gui¡¯s heart taste bitterer than if he had swallowed bitter herbs, but his fairly delicate face also twisted in agony. How had he never realized that among the top ten experts there was such an idiot? Chapter 395 - 395 222 A bunch of idiots (Second update)_2 ?Chapter 395: 222 A bunch of idiots! (Second update)_2 Chapter 395: 222 A bunch of idiots! (Second update)_2 With so many people lying on the ground, how could it not be clear just how formidable their opponents were? Who did this person think he was facing? The kind who, incapable of rebelling or truly standing up for themselves, were merely dimwits in the settlement? All of them were plagues! To speak with this kind of attitude, wasn¡¯t he afraid of offending someone to death? Worried that Scar-faced would say something even more outrageous, Brother Gui had no choice but to brace himself and walk up to Scar-faced, whispering, ¡°Brother Blade, these folks are really tough; we¡¯d better be careful.¡± Little did he know, as soon as Brother Gui finished speaking, Scar-faced turned his head, gave him a disdainful glare, and scoffed, ¡°What do you know?¡± Scar-faced didn¡¯t take Brother Gui seriously; in his eyes, crushing Brother Gui was as easy as crushing an ant. So, even though Brother Gui warned that the other side was formidable, he completely dismissed the idea. Not just him but the others as well. They were known as the top ten experts because, throughout the entire settlement, their strength was surpassed only by Brother Feng. Being on high horses for so long and flattered from all sides had filled them with self-contentment. They forgot about the saying ¡°there¡¯s always someone better,¡± and felt that aside from Brother Feng, no one deserved their attention! In fact, they harbored such a misunderstanding partly because Fang Yuxin and the others had deliberately concealed their aura and energy fluctuations. They appeared to be either ordinary people or Primary superpower users. The four experts, sensing the energy fluctuations around them, subconsciously thought they weren¡¯t very strong. As for those lying on the ground... they were but weaklings and ordinary people that these four had never cared for. Seeing them down, the four didn¡¯t find Fang Yuxin and the others particularly impressive; they just thought these people were too foolish and useless! Scar-faced was a combat lunatic, who normally loved picking fights, and was the strongest among the four. So after he spoke up, nobody contradicted him, they just looked at Brother Gui dismissively. That one look let Brother Gui deeply realize what he was in these people¡¯s eyes. The way they looked at him was no different from how he viewed the ordinary people in the settlement¡ªlike looking at garbage. So he took a deep breath and quietly stepped back. He glanced at the four ¡°experts¡± one last time, then quickly withdrew his gaze, head drooping, the corners of his mouth curling up sarcastically¡ªa bunch of idiots! The four noticed his retreat but didn¡¯t care, only giving him a cold glance. They decided that once this matter was resolved, they would remove him from his post and send him out on patrol. Then, the four turned their gaze again toward Fang Yuxin and the others, except for Scar-faced who fixed his stare fiercely on Bai Ye, his eyes flashing with a powerful desire to fight. The other three looked at Fang Yuxin, Shang Jinxiu, and Meng Qingluo with unbridled gazes. These three were rare beauties, each with her own charm. They hadn¡¯t seen such beauties before, and now that they had come to their doorstep, how could they not be excited? Just the thought of capturing the three and playing with them at will made the three of them hot all over. As for Scar-faced, the lunatic... they couldn¡¯t care less! Scar-faced tilted his chin up at Bai Ye, licked his slightly dry lips, and said, ¡°Fight me. If you win, I¡¯ll agree to one of your conditions, and if you lose... all of you have to stay!¡± Bai Ye still held the golden staff in his hand, his expression very ugly. His heart was boiling with a strong urge to kill, wishing he could slaughter all those who dared to look lewdly at Fang Yuxin! After Scar-faced finished speaking, Bai Ye let out a cold laugh, ¡°Fine, I accept!¡± But before his words hit the ground, Scar-faced already turned into a dark shadow charging forward! His hands were fitted with sharp rings, capable of inflicting severe tearing injuries if they hit somebody. His face was bloodthirsty and crazed, watching Bai Ye as if looking at a lamb for slaughter. However, just as his fist was about to smash into Bai Ye, there was a flash of golden light, followed by a ¡°clang¡± sound. Scar-faced¡¯s sharp rings hit the golden staff in Bai Ye¡¯s hands, the huge recoil numbing his fingers! Scar-faced twisted his face in pain, his gaze on Bai Ye turning even more manic. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± he howled, fists pounding down on Bai Ye, with each strike bringing a whistling sound through the air, clearly mighty in strength. At the same time, Fang Yuyang took a step forward, blocking in front of Fang Yuxin, and coldly faced the remaining three, provocatively asking, ¡°Who¡¯s next?¡± Fang Yuyang¡¯s attitude clearly enraged them; they were used to swaggering around the settlement, and they couldn¡¯t believe someone dared to speak to them like this! The three sneered coldly, and then one of them, moving like a flash of lightning, charged at Fang Yuyang¡ªit was a speed superpower user! At the same time, another hurled a Fireball towards Fang Yuyang while the third bent over, clenched his fist, and smashed it into the ground! With that strike, the ground immediately began to shake like churning waves. He often used this move, mainly for surprise, to make opponents lose their balance, giving himself the upper hand. Once the opponent was unsteady or fell, he would finish them off with an Earth spike, and this tactic was almost always successful. But this time, they clearly met their match. The Earth had just started to tremble when Fang Jintang lightly hummed, and the shaking ground not only stopped but also beneath the feet of the Fire Element Superpower User and the Earth Element Superpower User, the shaking became even more violent! The two looked at Fang Yuyang in shock, speaking in unison, ¡°You¡¯re an Earth Element Superpower User, too?¡± In this moment, they truly understood Brother Gui¡¯s earlier worries. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to give us your recommendation votes and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 396 - 396 223 Lure the Enemy (Third Update) ?Chapter 396: 223 Lure the Enemy (Third Update) Chapter 396: 223 Lure the Enemy (Third Update) 223 After their exclamations, the two exchanged a glance. They both saw fear and concern in each other¡¯s eyes, then with a faint flash in their gaze, the thought of retreat sprang up in their minds. What frightened them even more was that the fireball emitted by the Fire Element Superpower User extinguished without a trace less than a meter from Fang Yuxin and her group! What did this mean? It meant that the opponent¡¯s strength surpassed their own! These people were not ones they could handle! The two were unwilling but instinctively looked at the speed superpower user, just in time to see him pinned under Fang Yuyang¡¯s foot, with fresh blood at the corner of his mouth. Damn it! When had all this happened? Why hadn¡¯t they seen anything! Just then, they heard a ¡°puh¡± sound. The two instinctively turned their heads, only to see Scar-faced spitting blood and collapsing to the ground, his body trembling continuously. His hands were already a bloody mess, now shaking even more violently. So shocked they couldn¡¯t maintain their balance, the two fell to the ground in a sorry state. They looked toward Fang Yuxin and the others with terrified eyes, as if they were gazing upon the Grim Reaper from hell. Once, they had thought Brother Feng was the toughest. But at this moment, they suddenly realized that there were people even stronger than Brother Feng in this world! And now, these harbingers of doom stood before them! The two were filled with fear and anger. Who the hell had brought these calamities upon them? Then, instinctively, they thought of Brother Gui, but unfortunately, Brother Gui had already vanished without a trace, not knowing where he had hidden. With his running away, the two instinctively believed Brother Gui knew the truth! Soon, the shaking of the ground stopped. The two struggled up from the ground, their gaze wary as they watched Fang Yuxin and her party, thoroughly unconcerned with the fate of the other two hapless individuals. It was the apocalypse now; they were lucky to be alive themselves, let alone have the leisure to worry about the lives of others! They had completely lost their earlier arrogance; getting up, they ignored their disheveled appearance and immediately began pleading through tears, ¡°Don¡¯t kill us! We¡¯ve been misled by traitors, we didn¡¯t mean to oppose you on purpose!¡± Bai Ye simply disregarded their crying, coldly asking, ¡°How many experts are still here? Where are the rest? Where¡¯s Brother Feng?¡± The two hadn¡¯t expected Bai Ye to even know of Brother Feng. They thought Bai Ye knew Brother Feng but couldn¡¯t figure out if he was an enemy or a friend. After some thought, they figured Bai Ye must be an enemy of Brother Feng, and that made them panic even more! They had followed Brother Feng originally because they saw his strength and thought they could survive by his side. Little did they know he had attracted such a formidable enemy, and now that enemy was at their doorstep, isn¡¯t this threatening their lives! The two immediately looked miserable, their eyes fearful and uneasy, afraid that the next moment might take their lives. Although they were superpower users, having realized the gap between themselves and the others, they were afraid to anger the opponents by making a wrong move, daring not to act recklessly. However, the two weren¡¯t fools waiting for death; if Bai Ye and the others had a killing intent and acted on it, they would surely fight for their lives! After exchanging glances, and hesitating for a moment, they decided to betray Brother Feng. After all, these were not people they could afford to offend, and they felt they had no choice. Having convinced themselves, they related everything about Brother Feng without a shred of guilt. The Fire Element Superpower User said respectfully, ¡°Brother Feng has been in seclusion since the day before yesterday, attempting to break through to Superpower Level 2, and he has not emerged yet.¡± The Earth Element Superpower User added, ¡°Besides the four of us, there are six others in the Base, their strength similar to ours. They are probably either cultivating or busy with other matters, so they did not come over. If more smoke signals are lit, they will surely come!¡± As he spoke these words, he wasn¡¯t worried at all that his companions might encounter disaster because of this; instead, there was a twisted sense of schadenfreude. Why should only the four of them be out of luck, while the remaining six idly enjoyed themselves in the Base? They were all brothers, so of course they should face difficulties together! Bai Ye said, ¡°Then light the smoke signals and let them all come out!¡± Upon hearing this, the eyes of the two lit up¡ªthey finally had a chance to escape the grasp of these harbingers of doom! As long as they got back to the Base, they could take the opportunity to hide! They didn¡¯t believe these people could find them! As for the life and death of the others, why should they care? Chapter 397 - 397 223 Lure the Enemy (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 397: 223 Lure the Enemy (Third Update)_2 Chapter 397: 223 Lure the Enemy (Third Update)_2 Both of them had similar thoughts, but just as they turned around, they suddenly felt a chill behind them! They twisted their heads in horror, only to hear Bai Ye say, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, don¡¯t even think about pulling any tricks!¡± The two felt a sharp pain in their bodies, and their faces instantly turned ghastly pale. What kind of strength was this? It was truly terrifying! They knew that Bai Ye had done something to their bodies and didn¡¯t dare try any more tricks. They obediently went to light the signal fire and then came back out, standing neatly to the side. About five minutes later, the rumble of motorcycles came from inside again. And this time, the remaining six had all moved out. Not only did they come, but they were followed by nearly three hundred people. Among them, there were only fifty superpower users; the rest ¡ª more than two hundred ¡ª were ordinary people. These people had no means of transportation and had run all the way here. The superpower users were somewhat better off, but with the ordinary people¡¯s poor physical fitness, they were already gasping for air upon arrival. The six leading figures arrived first, and seeing the situation outside, their faces immediately turned extremely ugly. Then, all six of them turned to look at the Fire Element and Earth Element superpower users standing in a corner, pretending as if they didn¡¯t exist. One of them asked angrily, ¡°Tell us! What exactly is going on here?¡± The two unlucky fellows also had ugly expressions. The Earth Element Superpower User said, ¡°It¡¯s not our fault; these people seem to be here for Brother Feng. We¡¯re not clear on the specifics¡ªLi Yonggui knows the situation, but that bastard has disappeared to who knows where!¡± The Fire Element Superpower User was also quick to say, ¡°Right! We were brought here by Li Yonggui, and it was already like this when we arrived. That bastard Li Yonggui didn¡¯t say anything and just ran off. He¡¯s utterly despicable!¡± The two instinctively shifted the blame onto the missing Li Yonggui, uncaring of what fate might befall him thereafter. With their statements, the faces of the six turned even nastier. But the six who had come this time were not fools; the plight of the four earlier unlucky ones was right before their eyes, and they weren¡¯t blind! After asking, the man turned to Bai Ye and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to address this friend, but could you explain what¡¯s going on here? We¡¯re all survivors, let¡¯s not have any misunderstandings.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, another among the six said, ¡°Exactly, we¡¯re survivors, there¡¯s no need to spoil the mood. As the saying goes, no grudge without a fight, and if it¡¯s a misunderstanding, it can be easily cleared up.¡± Bai Ye glanced at Fang Yuxin, seeing she had no intention of speaking, and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think this is a misunderstanding. First, we encountered your people setting up a roadblock, then we met two girls from your settlement by a deep pit, who lied about inviting us in only to end up trying to rob us!¡± While speaking, he intentionally released some of his aura, looking very angry. The six changed their expressions again upon hearing this; how could they not understand what was happening! It was clear that the people below had set a trap, thinking they had lured in a flock of fat sheep, when in reality, they had brought back a pack of wolves! The six exchanged glances, then looked at the miserable state of the other unlucky fellows, all realizing the situation was tricky to handle. One wrong move, and all of them could be doomed. They instinctively thought of Brother Feng, the strongest person in the settlement and their mainstay. Unfortunately, he was in seclusion and couldn¡¯t help! Although they understood the situation, they absolutely couldn¡¯t admit the truth. The leader immediately said, ¡°This is all a misunderstanding! The people below don¡¯t know how to handle things, and we apologize to you all for this scare. It¡¯s noon now, you all must be tired, so why not come in and have a good meal with us as an apology, how about that?¡± He kept his attitude relatively humble, but being a superpower user, he still had his pride and did not appear overly obsequious. Bai Ye, however, was not willing to give him this face and said coldly, ¡°An apology? You¡¯re not worthy. Bring out your leader; I want him to apologize to us personally.¡± Upon hearing this, the six furrowed their brows. Brother Feng was in the middle of seclusion, striving to reach Superpower Level 2. How could they dare disturb him? If something happened to him, what would they do then? If there were no threat of zombies, these people naturally wouldn¡¯t be so kind-hearted, hoping for Brother Feng¡¯s successful promotion. But precisely because of the existence of zombies, they dared not even contemplate what would happen if Brother Feng failed to reach Level 2. In the end, the leader gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I can¡¯t agree to this friend¡¯s request. Our leader is in seclusion right now and can¡¯t come out to apologize to you.¡± He was so enraged he gritted his teeth; if it weren¡¯t for Brother Feng¡¯s critical moment in seclusion, which prevented him from coming out, how could they possibly be so humble to this plague of people? If Brother Feng succeeded in advancing, what would they have to fear? Thinking this, he immediately signaled to the person beside him with his eyes¡ªthey had to stall these people! The others had their own calculations. They could see that Bai Ye and his partners were not easy to provoke, and their strength might be on par with Brother Feng¡¯s. How could they dare to offend them? But just as much, they didn¡¯t dare to offend Brother Feng and were not willing to let Bai Ye and his group take advantage of them! Usually, it was only they who bullied others! The leader saw the changing expressions of the others and knew he couldn¡¯t rely on them! He cursed inside but could only tough it out and say, ¡°If this friend has any other requests, feel free to make them. As long as they are not too much, we will fulfill them.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 398 - 398 224 Bear the Consequences (First Update) ?Chapter 398: 224 Bear the Consequences (First Update) Chapter 398: 224 Bear the Consequences (First Update) Seeing that Bai Ye and the others were not easy to deal with, the opponents changed their attitude and offered a part of their benefits as a price to exchange for Bai Ye and his party¡¯s forgiveness. However, they had always been accustomed to flaunting their power, and though they seemed to have given in, they were quite bitter about it internally; it was just a way to buy time. If Bai Ye and his party were sensible and just took the benefits and left, then this matter could be considered closed, and they wouldn¡¯t need to worry further. But if Bai Ye and his group became greedy, they would absolutely not let themselves be easily exploited! As long as Brother Feng could successfully advance in rank, why would they fear these troublemakers? These people were playing their cards close to the chest, considering both possible outcomes, while also keeping a wary eye out in case Bai Ye and his party made a sudden move. What was more, no matter what schemes they were harboring, they didn¡¯t let any of it show on their faces; only their slightly flickering eyes betrayed that they were not as honest as they appeared. Though Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were not standing together, they were secretly communicating using their Spiritual Sense. Bai Ye took the initiative to reach out with a telepathic message, ¡°Yuxin, this bunch is dishonest, probably trying to delay the time.¡± Fang Yuxin had the same thought and responded after hearing his message, ¡°It¡¯s been so long, and that Brother Feng hasn¡¯t shown up yet, there must be something wrong. What do you think is holding him back?¡± After saying this, she turned her head to look at Bai Qianqian, who was obediently standing by her side. It wasn¡¯t just the fact that Brother Feng hadn¡¯t appeared that was problematic¡ªBrother Wang, who had left earlier, also hadn¡¯t reappeared, which was very suspicious. She had used her Spiritual Sense to eavesdrop earlier and heard their conversation, but when Brother Wang dragged the two girls into the house to vent his desires, she withdrew her Spiritual Sense, not wanting to see what would follow. But earlier, that man had brought people to surround them and had been crushed by them, stirring up quite a ruckus; how could Brother Wang not have shown up? Could it be that he was scared? With this thought, Fang Yuxin stealthily extended her Spiritual Sense, deftly locating Brother Wang¡¯s last known location in the room. Before probing further, she mentally steeled herself to avoid being startled by any jarring scenes. Yet the moment her Spiritual Sense neared, she detected a slight obstruction. That was... Fang Yuxin frowned slightly, her gaze once again shifting to Bai Qianqian, stunned! It was a small soundproof Barrier! At the same time, because the Barrier had been touched by Fang Yuxin¡¯s Spiritual Sense, Bai Qianqian also sensed it. He instinctively looked up, his big eyes filled with guilt as he stared at Fang Yuxin. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, it was not the time to scold a misbehaving child, so Fang Yuxin had no choice but to pretend she knew nothing and continued to use her Spiritual Sense to inspect the situation in the room. Since Bai Qianqian was still young, the Barrier he had set up was slightly crude. It wouldn¡¯t be difficult for Fang Yuxin to forcefully break through it, but she didn¡¯t want to alert the people outside, so she didn¡¯t directly dismantle the soundproof Barrier. The Barrier blocked out the sound but not the visuals. Fang Yuxin saw clearly that the situation inside was completely different from what she had expected. Although Brother Wang and the two girls were disheveled, they were not engaged in wanton pleasure. Instead, they were engaged in a life-and-death struggle. All three were injured, the two girls were on one side, and Brother Wang on the other, furiously attacking each other. Blood, whose owner was uncertain, stained their faces, and their expressions were fierce and ferocious, like wild beasts that had lost all reason and had their most violent instincts provoked. It appeared they had been fighting for some time, their chests heaving with heavy pants, clearly at the end of their strength. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t be bothered with them anymore and retracting her Spiritual Sense, she then checked on the others. This inspection revealed more issues. There were in fact still many people in the settlement, but the majority were Ordinary People without superpowers. They had been common villagers before the apocalypse and had not received any systematic or professional training afterwards, so they were essentially powerless. Aside from a few with decent abilities, the rest were akin to slaves in the settlement. The commotion at the entrance was not small and had naturally alarmed these people, but they didn¡¯t dare come out to watch. They cowered fearfully in their houses, their eyes showing panic and unease, terrified of becoming unintended victims. Chapter 399 - 399 224 Bear the Consequences (Second Update) ?Chapter 399: 224 Bear the Consequences (Second Update) Chapter 399: 224 Bear the Consequences (Second Update) Besides these people, Fang Yuxin noticed another peculiar place. It was a three-story villa, built by villagers themselves, which had no distinctive style and seemed a bit out of place. Despite the villa¡¯s imposing exterior, the interior decorations were monotonous and crude, failing to match its grand facade. However, these weren¡¯t the things that concerned Fang Yuxin. What caught her attention was that this modest villa was housing over a hundred people, and they were all women ranging from teenagers to those in their thirties. They looked to be in dire straits, wearing thin clothes, with their hair sloppily tied back, their faces pale and slightly jaundiced, surrounded by dark circles under their eyes. A chaotic and oppressive scent permeated the air of the entire villa, obviously not a good place. After retracting her Spiritual Sense, Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression darkened considerably, looking rather unpleasant. Bai Ye was secretly observing her expression and became worried when he saw her displeased look. He telepathically asked, ¡°Yuxin, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Fang Yuxin glanced disdainfully at the people guarding the door opposite her and telepathically replied, ¡°I detest this place, let¡¯s take action.¡± Bai Ye didn¡¯t know why Fang Yuxin felt this way, but he also sensed her strong aversion to the place, and guessed she must have discovered something. Since Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t willing to explain, he didn¡¯t press further. Instead, he signaled to his four subordinates, leading the charge out. He was actually tired of playing games with the opponents; since Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to continue, he saw no need to keep the previous game going. No one expected them to strike suddenly. The leader¡¯s face filled with panic as he exclaimed, ¡°We¡¯re all survivors, let¡¯s talk this over. Why resort to violence over a minor issue?¡± Regrettably, no one paid him any attention. Following Bai Ye¡¯s lead, the Yongcheng Team members all looked to Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang for orders. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t speak up directly, as Fang Yuyang was the captain of their team. She merely telepathically said to Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother, let¡¯s start.¡± Itching for a fight, Fang Yuyang raised his hand and gave the command: ¡°Take action!¡± Together they numbered only sixteen against the opposing three hundred, clearly at a numerical disadvantage. Thus, the best strategy for the battle was to strike with overwhelming force, subduing the leading six and intimidating the rest. While she disliked the actions and attitudes of these people, Fang Yuxin knew that they were among the few skilled members of the settlement. If they were all killed, the remaining people wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against the zombie onslaught; it would be a death sentence! If these people died because of her, she would be held accountable for their deaths, and she wasn¡¯t willing to take on such a heavy burden. Even setting aside this responsibility, she didn¡¯t want to see so many people die for nothing. Since the apocalypse began, a large number of people had turned into zombies, the human population had plummeted, and those who had survived were already few in number. Moreover, with the living conditions deteriorating, the survivors continued to die off. Allowing the survivors to be killed by zombies or mutated creatures not only benefited the enemy but also led to an even fewer number of survivors. In the long run, very few might remain alive, possibly even leading to extinction! Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t arrogant enough to take on the heavy responsibility of securing the continuation of her species, but she was clear on what should and shouldn¡¯t be done. The so-called ten strongest people in this settlement were only at the Level 1 Middle Stage of superpower; they were no match for Fang Yuxin and her team. To minimize casualties, they refrained from using lethal weapons and Skills, relying solely on their fists to completely take their opponents down. The onlookers turned pale as Fang Yuyang¡¯s Wind Blade swept past their scalps, and those unlucky enough to be hit were instantly bald. The bone-chilling pain from the Blade¡¯s touch instilled a deep-seated fear in them! Xu Wu somehow managed to get atop a vehicle with a heavy machine gun, and when the dark muzzle aimed at the people of the settlement, no one dared to make a move. They clutched their weapons tightly, which was the only thing giving them a slight sense of security. Their gaze towards Fang Yuxin and her companions was filled with anger and dread, as if they viewed them as despicable and brutal invaders, executioners out to take their lives! Bai Ye took in their frightened expressions but offered no Calming words. Instead, he said sternly, ¡°Now, put down your weapons.¡± Nobody complied; instead, they instinctively gripped their weapons even tighter. This was their last comfort, their hope for survival! They couldn¡¯t let go, absolutely not! However, not everyone had such courage. When Bai Ye¡¯s icy and sharp gaze swept over their faces one by one, some couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and reluctantly opened their hands. Bai Ye pointed to an open space in front of them and said again, ¡°Those willing to lay down your weapons, throw them here, and then stand to the right. I¡¯m giving you one minute to consider. After a minute, you¡¯re on your own!¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at Bai Ye, not believing he was the type to ruthlessly kill them all. Although the people here were excessive, they weren¡¯t irredeemable scoundrels guilty of heinous crimes. Bai Ye wouldn¡¯t want their lives. Otherwise, he would have been holding the replica Dragon Scale Sword, not a stick. Sadly, the residents of the settlement didn¡¯t understand Bai Ye as she did. The mention of ¡°you¡¯re on your own¡± scared many, who quickly tossed their weapons onto the designated spot Bai Ye had indicated and obediently stood to the right. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your vote of recommendation and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 400 - 400 225 Decision (Second Update) ?Chapter 400: 225 Decision (Second Update) Chapter 400: 225 Decision (Second Update) One minute is not long, and it had soon passed. Not everyone had stepped forward, less than a third chose to set down their weapons and stand to the right, while many more chose to remain resolute. They gripped their weapons tightly, glaring angrily at Bai Ye and his comrades, their eyes burning with rage, the prior panic unconsciously subsided. However, it wasn¡¯t that they were no longer afraid, but rather that intense anger supported them, pushed down the fear deep within their hearts. The threat of death ignited the fighting spirit within them, at this moment, they were unwilling to live on their knees and instead wanted to fight for themselves, for their settlement. Bai Ye, looking at these people¡¯s reactions, didn¡¯t feel angry; instead, he felt somewhat relieved. It seemed that their fighting spirit was still there, and it wasn¡¯t beyond redemption. Had he not wished to test them, he would have never staged this act. Now, it seemed, the outcome was quite satisfactory to him. He and Fang Yuxin thought alike; even if it wasn¡¯t for that heavy cause and effect, he was reluctant to let so many innocents die because of him. Thus, he had planned to test them, to see if these people were still worth saving. Bai Ye¡¯s thoughts were naturally unknown to the others, and after a minute had passed, his sharp gaze swept over those people again as he said solemnly, ¡°Have you all decided? I can give you a chance to reconsider. This time you only have half a minute. If you want to reconsider, this is your last chance!¡± With this statement, many people started to panic; pairs of frantic eyes helplessly looked around, and then, someone walked out from the right, picked up their weapon from the ground, and returned to their original position. Half a minute passed even more quickly; one-fifth of the people on the right chose to take back their weapons, while those who had kept theirs continued to grit their teeth and persist. Even the eight ¡°experts¡± who could have not moved due to serious injuries, also stood up, each holding their weapon and positioned themselves in the center, shielding their subordinates behind them. Their faces were pale, and their expressions even showed struggle. Obviously, they were unwilling to do this, yet for some reason, they still chose to stand up. Bai Ye felt increasingly relieved, yet his expression became even grimmer as he coldly watched this group of defeated soldiers, and scoffed, ¡°It seems you are dead set on seeking death.¡± Upon hearing this, the eight¡¯s expressions turned even uglier. They had been used to flaunting their power, never taking those weaker than themselves seriously and often bullying them. But now, facing a formidable enemy and a life-and-death situation, they couldn¡¯t persuade themselves to drop others and run or even to live in disgrace. One of them stepped forward, pleading, ¡°This time, our people were wrong, inadvertently offending you all, I am willing...willing to die to atone! But everyone else is innocent, can you perhaps show mercy and spare them?¡± He spoke with difficulty, and even when saying the words ¡°willing to die to atone,¡± his face struggled greatly. He didn¡¯t genuinely wish to die but was willing to sacrifice his life to save others. Bai Ye coldly watched him and said nothing. Fang Yuxin approached Bai Ye, holding the Miao Saber, its blade reflecting a faint dark shimmer under the sunlight, giving off a powerful oppressive sensation. The people from the settlement instinctively looked at her, and their bodies subconsciously shrank when their gaze touched the blade in her hand. At that moment, Fang Yuxin suddenly smiled. She looked at the people on the right and said with a smile, ¡°Alright, now you can go back inside.¡± Yet, no one moved; everyone was looking at each other, and after a long while, one person tentatively asked, ¡°The... others? What...what do you plan to do with them?¡± He used the word ¡°deal with,¡± because in his subconscious, those people had become lambs to the slaughter. Though granted a pardon, he felt no joy or superiority; instead, worry and unease flowed through his eyes. He feared that Fang Yuxin and the others might kill everyone else. Realizing this, he suddenly regretted it; his eyes stared fixedly at the weapons thrown on the ground, pondering taking his own weapon back. Chapter 401 - 401 225 Decision (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 401: 225 Decision (Second Update)_2 Chapter 401: 225 Decision (Second Update)_2 Because of limited resources, their weapons were actually quite crude. Some were sharpened wooden sticks, some were kitchen knives, fruit knives, or daggers secured to long wooden sticks with rope and tape, and others were steel and iron rods. Clearly, after the apocalypse, they were arming themselves with whatever meager supplies they had. After he finished speaking, the others didn¡¯t leave but instead looked at Fang Yuxin with pleading eyes, hoping she would show mercy. Fearing they might anger the other party, they didn¡¯t dare speak rashly, showing much more discretion than the people Fang Yuxin had encountered in the safe zones where they had stayed before. Fang Yuxin deliberately said, ¡°You don¡¯t want to go back, do you want to die with them? My patience is limited; I will only count to three. After that, anyone who hasn¡¯t left will lose their chance forever!¡± ¡°One!¡± As the voice fell, not a single person left. ¡°Two!¡± Some people began to stir, looking at each other. Someone hesitated, preparing to leave, but after taking one step, he faced too much embarrassment to take a second. ¡°Three!¡± The word was extremely abrupt, almost as soon as it rose in intensity, it stopped abruptly, echoing like a muted thunder in everyone¡¯s ears, making the people snap out of their hesitation and struggle. After recovering, some showed regret, their expressions becoming ashen. Yet, many others let out a sigh of relief. Compared to death, they feared making tough decisions even more. Now that their final chance was gone and death was imminent, they felt a sense of relief. So the next moment, these people suddenly rushed over to the discarded weapons, grabbed their own, and, with gritted teeth and hostile faces, stared at Fang Yuxin and her companions. ... Inside the basement of a beautiful three-story villa within the settlement, a man was sitting cross-legged, his eyes tightly shut, his muscles tensed, his face flushed, and his expression both agonized and fierce. He was at the critical moment of advancement, exerting all his strength to break through the bottleneck. However, the intense pain was making it unbearable. His bones were making ¡°crackling¡± noises from being tensed too aggressively, as if they would shatter at any moment, but the more this happened, the more he felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness. The thin membrane seemed as if it might break with a gentle poke, yet despite his efforts to channel every ounce of his strength, it only wobbled slightly, showing no sign of breaking. The man kept mobilizing the remaining energy inside his body, thereby intensifying his pain. His muscles conveyed a tearing sensation, and red blood slowly bled from his pores. Soon, he was drenched in blood. His facial muscles became more twisted and tense, and suddenly, with a ¡°puff¡±, he spewed a mouthful of blood mist and weakly drooped his head. After a while, his fingers moved slightly, and his eyelids fluttered open. Looking at the blood on the floor, he gave a wretched smile, and then hastily grabbed the Crystal Core nearby and began absorbing it frenziedly. He knew he had failed to advance, but he couldn¡¯t give up, he must survive! More and more Crystal Cores were absorbed, and when the energy inside his body became abundant again, he stopped absorbing and walked to the corner, wiped off the remaining blood and cold sweat with clean water, put on the clean clothes he had prepared, and then opened the basement door and walked out. Just as he stepped out, he saw a woman looking extremely anxious. His heart skipped a beat, a strong unease surfacing. He walked up to her quickly and asked worriedly, ¡°Ranqiu, is there trouble? Are there zombie groups? What¡¯s the situation outside?¡± Li Ranqiu¡¯s dim eyes suddenly brightened upon seeing him, ¡°Brother Feng, you¡¯re finally out! Did your advancement go smoothly?¡± However, her question turned the man¡¯s expression stern. Failing to advance was a sore point for him; he didn¡¯t want anyone to touch on it, not even if she was the woman he liked the most! Li Ranqiu was very perceptive. Seeing his expression darken, she immediately said, ¡°Brother Feng, there¡¯s trouble! A group of powerful people have come, and even the top ten experts have all gone, yet they couldn¡¯t stand against them. What should we do?¡± At this point, her gaze flickered slightly before she continued, ¡°Brother Feng, our people are still holding them off outside. We should run away quickly!¡± ¡°Run?¡± Brother Feng was preparing weapons, and upon hearing this, his expression turned extremely grim, his gaze towards Li Ranqiu as sharp as a knife, ¡°You want me to abandon my men and flee for my life?¡± A struggle flashed through Li Ranqiu¡¯s eyes, yet she still said, ¡°These people are too strong. If we don¡¯t escape now, it¡¯ll be too late when they break in! Brother Feng, I know you can¡¯t let go of the brothers under you, but as the saying goes, ¡®As long as the green mountains are there, one need not worry about firewood.¡¯ A gentleman can take his revenge even after ten years. Let¡¯s escape first, and after you strengthen your power, it won¡¯t be too late to seek revenge!¡± Upon hearing this, Brother Feng¡¯s heart wavered. Most of the people under him had joined him after the apocalypse; he had not been particularly kind to them, because he was the strongest, he had also gotten the most benefits. In order to control the growth of his followers¡¯ strength to prevent them from becoming stronger than him, he used most of the Crystal Cores obtained from hunting zombies for his own cultivation, and the magical stones were also hoarded by him; the mysterious Crystal Stones were only distributed as rewards to the ten men, turning them into the top ten experts in the settlement second only to him in strength. So, to speak of deep feelings, there were none. But after all, he was a man, cherished by those under his command, and he really couldn¡¯t bring himself to just flee! Seeing his hesitation, Li Ranqiu instantly panicked and said tearfully, ¡°Brother Feng, we don¡¯t have much time left, please make a decision quickly!¡± (To be continued. If you like this book, you are welcome to vote, cast a monthly ticket, or recommend Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile phone users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 402 - 402 226 Brother Fengs Decision (Third Release) ?Chapter 402: 226 Brother Feng¡¯s Decision (Third Release) Chapter 402: 226 Brother Feng¡¯s Decision (Third Release) Brother Feng¡¯s eyes drooped in silence, hesitating. Li Ranqiu walked over and gently grasped his hand. Although it was the apocalypse and conditions were harsh, her palm remained fair and soft. The temperature was still very hot, but her fingertips were slightly cool, lightly pressing against Brother Feng¡¯s burning skin, sending a tingling current through him. She slightly opened her mouth, her snow-white teeth lightly biting her lower lip, her voice melodious and seductive, ¡°Brother Feng, we really don¡¯t have any time left, make a decision quickly! It¡¯s going to be too late!¡± At this, she suddenly tightened her grip on Brother Feng¡¯s hand. Brother Feng looked up deeply into her eyes, then withdrew his hand, and gently patted her shoulder, softly saying, ¡°Hide well, I¡¯m going to check outside.¡± Hearing this, Li Ranqiu panicked, lunging into Brother Feng¡¯s arms, wrapping her arms around his waist tightly, holding him close and looking up at him with tearful eyes, ¡°Brother Feng! Don¡¯t go outside! You¡¯ll die! They¡¯ll kill you!¡± A look of hesitation flashed across Brother Feng¡¯s face, but he still said, ¡°Let go, let me go out and save people!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let go!¡± Li Ranqiu cried out, ¡°Brother Feng! I beg you, please! Don¡¯t go out! You¡¯ll really die! I don¡¯t want you to die!¡± Brother Feng had to push her gently, not daring to use too much force for fear of hurting her, and patiently persuaded, ¡°Ranqiu, let go. I can¡¯t abandon those people outside. Let me go, there might still be a chance¡ªnobody has to die unnecessarily. Don¡¯t get too agitated. Let go, please?¡± Yet, Li Ranqiu just shook her head, tears continuously rolling down, she cried for a while, then grabbed Brother Feng¡¯s hand and placed it on her abdomen, woefully saying, ¡°Brother Feng, even if not for me, at least think about our child! If something happens to you, what am I supposed to do? What about our child?¡± Brother Feng¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He looked at Li Ranqiu¡¯s belly and his fingers uncontrollably moved to feel the little life inside. However, Li Ranqiu¡¯s abdomen was flat, showing no signs of pregnancy, let alone feeling the life inside. Seeing that he was moved, Li Ranqiu pressed on, ¡°Brother Feng, take me with you! Let¡¯s leave this place! Find a safe place to have our child, okay?¡± Brother Feng frowned deeply upon hearing this. It was the apocalypse now, where could they find a safe place? Besides, the outside was full of zombies. Li Ranqiu was not a superpower user, spoiled and delicate, let alone killing zombies, she couldn¡¯t even kill a chicken. Taking her along was simply burdensome! Moreover, she was pregnant now. Any slight carelessness could lead to a miscarriage. It would be even more dangerous outside! So, after thinking, he still said, ¡°You hide here, I¡¯ll go check the situation. Don¡¯t worry, nothing will happen.¡± Li Ranqiu hadn¡¯t expected that, even bringing up their child, Brother Feng still decided to head out on what seemed like a suicide mission! A struggle flashed in her eyes and then settled into calmness; she pushed Brother Feng away, her head slightly bowed as she gently said, ¡°Go then, just be extra careful.¡± Brother Feng nodded, advised her to be careful one more time, and then quickly dashed out. Li Ranqiu went to the window, watching his departing figure, her lips tightly pursed, her eyes growing colder. Once Brother Feng¡¯s figure disappeared, she turned around and walked to her room. Her room was nicely decorated in a girlish pink style. She sat down in front of the vanity, looking at her reflection in the mirror. The mirror clearly reflected her lovely, delicate face, her skin rosy and fair, her lips naturally ruby-red and her eyebrows naturally shaped. She raised her hand to lightly touch her face, feeling quite confident in her looks, then promptly stood up, took some clean water and cleaned her face, followed by applying a facial mask. After a suitable amount of time, she removed the mask, applied some protective lotion, put on light makeup, and finally let down her hair, combing it out. She was already beautiful, and a simple touch of makeup made her appear even more spirited and pretty. Afterward, she moved a chair to sit in front of the window to wait. If Brother Feng succeeded, she could properly reward him. If he failed, then she would have to start considering her own future. At this thought, she touched her belly, her delicate eyebrows slowly furrowing. Chapter 403 - 403 226 Brother Fengs Decision (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 403: 226 Brother Feng¡¯s Decision (Third Update)_2 Chapter 403: 226 Brother Feng¡¯s Decision (Third Update)_2 From the very beginning, she didn¡¯t want children. But now, in the apocalypse, when they were fleeing in such haste, who would remember to bring condoms? She realized she was pregnant only because she found a pack of pregnancy tests at the village¡¯s health station. She came from a well-off family, but sadly, after the apocalypse, she was trapped in this village with no way to return home. To survive, she had no choice but to submit herself to Brother Feng. Fortunately, Brother Feng was mature and steady, handsome, and strong; being with him wasn¡¯t really a loss. If today¡¯s events hadn¡¯t occurred, she would have continued to follow Brother Feng. However, when she heard that strong outsiders were passing through, her thoughts began to stir. If they were so strong, could they take her home? She didn¡¯t want to stay in this small village forever, living each day in fear that it might be her last! She wanted to go home! Thinking this, her hand pressed hard against her lower abdomen, her fingers clawing into it as if she wished she could squeeze the life out of what was inside her. She had seen pregnant women before, lumbering around with large bellies, their complexions poor and their movements clumsy. And after giving birth, their figures distorted, their skin became dull, and they might even develop spots! She refused to end up like that! She was still so young with such a long road ahead; how could she let childbirth turn her into a haggard mess! Thankfully, she had secretly stashed away some abortion pills. Just as soon as she found the chance, she could rid herself of the burden in her belly! Having reviewed all her plans in her mind, Li Ranqiu breathed a sigh of relief and continued to observe the situation outside. ... When Brother Feng reached the entrance, he was shocked to discover his subordinates battered and sprawled on the ground. On closer inspection, he found they were all alive and not seriously injured. After checking on each person who had fallen, he lifted his head and looked at the people opposite him. Then his pupils dilated in surprise! He couldn¡¯t see through half of the people before him! This meant their levels were all above his! How could this be! Brother Feng¡¯s expression grew extremely unpleasant. He thought he had become quite powerful and had mentally prepared for tough opposition. But he hadn¡¯t expected the opponents to be so strong! How could they fight this battle now? But he wasn¡¯t foolish. He quickly noticed one detail¡ªthe fallen weren¡¯t seriously injured! This meant the opponents had shown mercy; they hadn¡¯t intended to kill! Brother Feng quickly realized that this was an opportunity. These people were strong, but since they hadn¡¯t killed, either they were too kind, or they weren¡¯t set on killing. Whichever it was, it worked in his favor! So he said, ¡°I¡¯m Feng Yue, the leader of this settlement. My people have been rude and neglected our guests. On their behalf, I apologize to you. If it¡¯s not too much to ask, may we talk inside?¡± While speaking, he gestured to his subordinates, signaling them to stay calm and not act rashly. Seeing his signal, the men ready to rise and continue fighting obediently grabbed their weapons and stood to the side. Feng Yue¡¯s gaze swept over Fang Yuyang, Bai Ye, and Fang Yuxin, intuitively feeling that these three were the strongest. Seeing Angela on Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder, his heart skipped a beat, and his eyes narrowed. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that the seemingly palm-sized creature would instill in him such a strong sense of crisis! This unsettled him deeply, and the prepared excuses and calculations in his head dissipated. Angela made him acutely aware that these were not people he could afford to offend! Bai Ye gave Fang Yuxin a deliberate glance and, seeing that she didn¡¯t speak, said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to go inside. We came here only seeking a map of the area, not expecting to cause such a commotion. Your way of welcoming guests is truly... impressive.¡± His pointed words made Feng Yue¡¯s face show signs of embarrassment. Of course, he knew how his subordinates behaved and allowed it to happen so they could gain more advantages. But now, trying to rob only to meet strong opposition, he could only blame his own bad luck for not stopping such misconduct. He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil within, and spoke solemnly, ¡°If it pleases you, my friend, I¡¯m willing to offer a thousand Crystal Cores as compensation for your trouble. How does that sound?¡± As he spoke, Feng Yue¡¯s heart bled; a thousand Crystal Cores were not a small number! He only had a little over two thousand left, all painstakingly saved! Bai Ye raised an eyebrow. His strength was not bad, but resources were scarce. Just recently, they¡¯d been robbed, and their supplies stolen¡ªa thousand Crystal Cores was not a small sum. Moreover, this was only a small settlement; Feng Yue likely didn¡¯t have many Crystal Cores to spare, yet he was willing to offer a thousand as compensation, which surely required some bleeding. However, he didn¡¯t agree straight away but instead looked towards Fang Yuxin, mentally asking her opinion, ¡°Yuxin, what do you think?¡± Fang Yuxin had been watching Feng Yue and simultaneously telepathically told Bai Ye, ¡°This man has Elemental Crystals, and judging by the surrounding destruction, he must have saved quite a few. Otherwise, he couldn¡¯t have grown so quickly!¡± ¡°Elemental Crystals?¡± Bai Ye¡¯s interest was piqued upon hearing this. He originally collected a considerable number of Elemental Crystals, but alas, they were all stolen by the Shen siblings! This was a huge loss! However, how did Fang Yuxin figure out that Feng Yue had Elemental Crystals on him? (To be continued. If you like this piece, please go to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 404 - 404 227 Conditions (First Update) ?Chapter 404: 227 Conditions (First Update) Chapter 404: 227 Conditions (First Update) Bai Ye curiously glanced at Fang Yuxin, but there was nothing particularly revealing on her face, so he had to refocus his attention on Feng Yue while releasing his Spiritual Sense to carefully perceive. Upon this perception, he discovered the issue. The energy in Feng Yue¡¯s body was exceptionally pure, a rarity among ordinary superpower users unless they were particularly outstanding. However, it was too farfetched to conclude that Feng Yue had used an Elemental Crystal solely based on this phenomenon. After all, Bai Ye was not a Wood Element Superpower User and his perception of life force was not as acute as Fang Yuxin¡¯s. Fang Yuxin was certain that Feng Yue had used an Elemental Crystal because his life force was much more vigorous than that of other superpower users of the same rank. Moreover, his body¡¯s enhancement was also much stronger. All these indicated that he was no ordinary superpower user! Furthermore, on her way here, she noticed numerous ruins and meteorite craters, which lacked raw stones. Obviously, someone had snatched up the items ahead of time. At that time, she began to doubt, suspecting that someone had discovered the functions of raw stones and Elemental Crystals, but she wasn¡¯t entirely sure. It wasn¡¯t until she saw Feng Yue and felt his abnormally robust life force and physical strength that she confirmed this person had used an Elemental Crystal; the remaining raw stones or Elemental Crystals must be in his possession. However, she had no intention of snatching the raw stones and Elemental Crystals from him. Her stash already contained a fair amount of raw stones and Elemental Crystals; unlike Bai Ye¡¯s misfortune of having his supplies stolen. Thus, the raw stones and Elemental Crystals in Feng Yue¡¯s hands held no allure for her. She didn¡¯t harbor the grand ambition to monopolize all the raw stones and Elemental Crystals, leaving others with none to use! Telling Bai Ye all this was just to see what he would do. She knew that all of Bai Ye¡¯s supplies had been stolen, including the raw stones and Elemental Crystals. Now, with a pile of raw stones and Elemental Crystals in front of him, what would he choose? Suddenly, she was very curious to find out. Bai Ye felt that Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze towards him was somewhat off, which suddenly made him feel uneasy. Looking at Feng Yue, he finally spotted the problem again¡ªFeng Yue¡¯s physical strength was incredibly high! He himself had absorbed many Elemental Crystals, with his body being enhanced step by step. Now, looking at Feng Yue, he had a good idea and understood why Fang Yuxin had said he was in possession of Elemental Crystals. He pondered for a moment before asking deliberately, ¡°You think a thousand Crystal Cores will satisfy us? What if I¡¯m not content? Actually, I¡¯m more interested in a certain type of stone you have.¡± Upon hearing this, Feng Yue¡¯s face instantly turned pale, his eyes glaring fiercely at Bai Ye, filled with a blaze of anger and heavy wariness. The raw stones and Elemental Crystals were his deepest secret. He had considered the possibility of someone close to him discovering the raw stones, but he never expected Bai Ye to be the first to find out! How on earth did he discover it? His mind was in turmoil, entirely unable to fathom where he had slipped up. Staring at Bai Ye in a state of shock and confusion, he suddenly formulated a guess¡ªcould this group be targeting those mysterious stones and Crystal Stones? He had discovered how to use raw stones and Elemental Crystals by chance and had since been deliberately collecting such stones, even forbidding his subordinates to keep any for themselves. With the help of his men, all the nearby Elemental Stones had been found and ended up in his possession. However, cutting the raw stones required spiritual power, and since he was not a Spiritual Ability User and dared not enlist one to cut the stones, he had to slice them bit by bit himself. At first, he only thought they were magical stones that could be used for training spiritual power. It was only after cutting open the stones that he found the mysterious Crystal Stones hidden inside. He had tried to absorb them, but to no avail, so he carefully hoarded the Crystal Stones. Later, using the pretext of awarding his subordinates, he conducted experiments and finally discovered the function of the Crystal Stones¡ªsuperpower users of the same element who absorbed these Crystal Stones would become stronger! Since then, while cultivating his own spiritual power, he also intentionally trained his subordinates, eventually turning them into the top ten experts second only to him in strength. One could say that those mysterious stones and Crystal Stones were his closely guarded trump cards he did not wish others to know about. Yet, the matter had been uncovered by the other party! Could there have been a snitch? No, he was certain that he had kept the secret very tight; apart from himself, no one knew where those mysterious Crystal Stones came from! Chapter 405 - 405 227 Conditions (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 405: Chapter 227 Conditions (First Update)_2 Chapter 405: Chapter 227 Conditions (First Update)_2 But if it weren¡¯t for someone leaking secrets, how would these people know about it? Could it be that they had a special element superpower user among them? Fang Yue became more and more anxious as he thought about it, but his face still tried its best to maintain composure, fearing to give away any clues, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean, my friend.¡± As he spoke, he clenched his teeth, and finally, in a desperate attempt, said, ¡°If my friend thinks that a thousand Crystal Cores are too few, I can add five hundred more!¡± However, as soon as he said this, Fang Yuxin burst into laughter, ¡°Hearing you say this, I¡¯m also interested in that kind of stone. What kind of stone is it exactly that you are willing to trade with five hundred Crystal Cores?¡± Feng Yue¡¯s face changed instantly upon hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, only then did he realize that his action was tantamount to admitting guilt! At this thought, cold sweat began to break out on his forehead; he had been too careless! Yet with the knife hanging over his head and the fish on the cutting board, the situation was already extremely unfavorable for him; even though he knew the other party had ill intentions, he couldn¡¯t think of a solution! In the end, he had to steel himself and said, ¡°You jest, Miss. I don¡¯t have any strange stones on hand. The reason I said that is that the most precious thing I can offer is those Crystal Cores. If my friends want something else, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m powerless to satisfy.¡± Seeing the veins on his forehead bulge and his eyes turn red, Yuxin knew he was not going to compromise when it came to Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals. It was pointless to continue unless she directly knocked him down and took the items by force. But though Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals were precious, they were nothing to her, and she did not want to go to extremes. So, she decided not to pursue the issue of Elemental Stones but instead said, ¡°On our way here, we heard that there was plenty of food in this place. Is that true?¡± Upon hearing this, Feng Yue hadn¡¯t even a chance to breathe a sigh of relief before his nerves tensed again. He cursed the person who had leaked this information in his heart while saying with difficulty, ¡°I will not deceive my friends, there is indeed some food stored in the settlement. However, the settlement has more than two thousand mouths to feed, and the remaining food will not last long. I can decide to give you the Crystal Cores, but as for that food... it¡¯s everyone¡¯s rations, I truly don¡¯t have the authority, I¡¯m sorry!¡± If they gave away the remaining food, the people within the settlement would starve to death! Now, Crystal Cores were as vital as food, and although Feng Yue didn¡¯t regard those people highly, he couldn¡¯t bear to let so many people starve to death. Upon hearing his words, Fang Yuxin actually esteemed him slightly. This man had rushed out after a failed promotion, and now he stood up to protect their food; it seemed that he was at least a man of some valor. However, recalling the scenes she had witnessed and the words she had heard, she still could not bring herself to like Feng Yue. This man was not rotten to the core, but he was certainly no good man. Yet, real good men were unlikely to survive in the apocalypse. If he knew how to read the room, she might even help him. Under her gaze, Feng Yue felt uncomfortable. When he first saw Fang Yuxin, he was momentarily stunned by her beauty. But soon, he discovered he couldn¡¯t see through this woman¡¯s strength! From that moment on, he dared not consider Fang Yuxin just another beautiful woman, and he avoided letting his gaze linger too long to avoid angering her. Now, with Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze upon him, he felt ever more fearful. He took a quick glance at her face and suddenly his mind thought of the nature of his subordinates; a chilling sensation swept over him, and he felt goosebumps all over! If those fools offended her... Feng Yue clenched his fists tightly and suddenly had a strong epiphany¡ªif he could get through this calamity unscathed, he would be sure to give those underlings of his a harsh lesson, to make them behave properly! They must not offend anyone they shouldn¡¯t offend again! With this in mind, he gritted his teeth and decided to test the waters by saying, ¡°What do my friends think of my earlier proposal? I can add another hundred Crystal Cores, and as for the food... I can share a portion of my share with you, but that¡¯s all I can give!¡± This was his bottom line. If the other party was still not satisfied, then he would have no choice but to fight to the death. Feng Yue was very aware that the other party was stronger than himself, so unless it was absolutely necessary, he did not want to engage them in battle. Because once they started fighting, he wasn¡¯t even sure he would survive! Bai Ye glanced at Fang Yuxin, then said, ¡°Add a detailed map of the nearby area as well.¡± Feng Yue instantly breathed a sigh of relief. A mere map was nothing to be concerned about. Looking around, most of the able-bodied ones had already gotten up, and those who had been more seriously injured had been helped up by their companions. Feng Yue looked at them and instantly thought they were just a mob. He had never considered training these people, only treating them as replaceable subordinates. But at this moment, he suddenly wanted to train them to become stronger, to survive together in the apocalypse! He himself was a retired military person, and not long after his discharge, even without the help of superpowers, his abilities were pretty decent. Yet, his subordinates were nothing but a mob due to their lack of systematic and formal training! Feng Yue felt ashamed, but now was not the time to dwell on such things. Getting rid of the plague of people before him was the priority! So he said, ¡°If my friends do not wish to come in and sit down, then please wait here. I will go prepare the items, and I¡¯ll definitely come out.¡± Bai Ye nodded in agreement. Feng Yue was relieved and prepared to go inside. But just then, he suddenly saw several smoke signals rising in the distance, accompanied by sharp whistle sounds. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or a monthly ticket on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 406 - 406 228 Helping Out (Second Update) ?Chapter 406: 228 ¡°Helping Out¡± (Second Update) Chapter 406: 228 ¡°Helping Out¡± (Second Update) ¡°No good! It¡¯s the Zombie Group!¡± Someone screamed in panic, and then Feng Yue and his men¡¯s faces changed drastically, looking fearfully in the direction where the beacon of smoke was rising. Feng Yue quickly regained his composure and said to Bai Ye and the others, ¡°A Zombie Group has been spotted not far away, I have to take my men over for the rescue, so I¡¯ll have to ask you friends to wait a bit longer, sorry!¡± He knew Bai Ye and his companions were formidable, but he dared not ask for their help, worried about angering them. Even with his strength, he still felt afraid when facing a Zombie Group, experiencing the sensation of death drawing near. It was precisely because of this that he was so eager to improve his strength, to no longer fear those Zombie Groups. But, he had failed to level up! Thinking about it made him feel a heavy sense of unease. The smoke signals were numerous, clearly indicating a very urgent situation this time, and he didn¡¯t know if he could return alive if he were to go. Because the settlement¡¯s defenses were so rudimentary, every time a Zombie Group was spotted, he had to lead his men to confront the enemy, to prevent the Zombie Group from breaking through the defense lines and getting close to the settlement. Should that happen, the whole settlement would likely be in danger! Perhaps the meeting with Bai Ye and the others had changed his attitude; he no longer saw his men as meaningless numbers, instead, he seriously valued their lives! Worried about the people outside meeting with misfortune, he didn¡¯t dare delay. After explaining to Bai Ye and the others, he ordered his men, ¡°Now! Everyone who can fight, grab your weapons and follow me, the rest stay at the Base to defend. Remember, we must not let the zombies breach the Base!¡± ¡°Yes! Brother Feng!¡± all his men responded in unison. Almost two-thirds of them stood up, armed, indicating they would join Feng Yue in confronting the enemy. The rest of them filed back into the settlement, ready to defend. Feng Yue glanced at the two superpower users lying on the ground, heavily injured¡ªthat is, the speed superpower user and Scar-faced who had charged out first. They were so badly hurt that they lay on the ground, unable to move. Bai Ye noticed Feng Yue¡¯s pleading gaze and said, ¡°Take those two back.¡± Feng Yue swiftly summoned four of his men to carry the two unlucky ones back. After thanking Bai Ye, he waved his arm and instructed his subordinates, ¡°Everyone follow me now, let¡¯s slay those disgusting creatures!¡± Having said that, he led his men out. Although his troops were a motley crew, perhaps stimulated by the urgency, they maintained a decent formation. They were unified in their enmity, and their morale was not low. Bai Ye thought for a moment and said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Let¡¯s go too, not sure how many zombies there are, think of it as a chance to earn Crystal Cores.¡± Fang Yuxin smiled, nodded at her family, and without getting into the SUV, directly had Angela transform. Then she skillfully jumped onto Angela¡¯s back, gently touched its round, plump head, signaling it to move quickly. Angela, usually appearing lazy, actually liked to show off in front of Fang Yuxin. At her signal, it let out a ¡°meow¡± and immediately charged out with a powerful leap. After transforming, its cries became particularly loud. Feng Yue and others, who had not seen it transform, turned around upon hearing the noise. To their amazement, they saw Fang Yuxin riding on the back of a gigantic ragdoll cat, speeding towards them! Many changed color in fear, then dumbfoundedly watched as Angela sped past them, quickly heading in the direction of the rising smoke. Someone with a trembling voice said, ¡°That...is that a cat?¡± Feng Yue managed to stay calm and explained, ¡°It¡¯s a Mutated ragdoll cat.¡± He took a deep look at the departing Fang Yuxin and Angela, inwardly relieved that he had been wise enough not to offend her. Regardless of her powers, just that Mutated ragdoll cat alone was not something he could handle. And he had an intuition that Fang Yuxin¡¯s abilities were even greater than those of the mutated cat! Such a figure was not someone he could afford to offend! He had just thought this when he heard the sound of car engines behind him. On closer inspection, the three SUVs skillfully reversed and then turned around! Thinking of the direction Fang Yuxin had left in, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief; these people were also probably going to deal with the zombies. He quickly waved his hand, signaling his men to make way. The cars sped up and dashed past them with a whoosh. Feng Yue enviously watched the three clearly modified vehicles drive by, exhaled deeply, and instructed, ¡°Everyone, pick up the pace!¡± Chapter 407 - 407 228 Help (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 407: 228 ¡°Help¡± (Second Update)_2 Chapter 407: 228 ¡°Help¡± (Second Update)_2 ... Fang Yuxin was the first to reach the location of the zombie group. When she arrived, dozens of people were fighting to the death with the horde. The size of the group was not small, perhaps seven or eight thousand strong. Their leader was a second-level Power Zombie, and in addition, there were over a hundred level 1 zombies. Among the level 1 zombies, mutant zombies made up nearly a third. Such a group size would be a breeze for her team, but the majority of these people were Ordinary People, with only the leader being a superpower user, whose strength was at the Basic-level Peak or Level 1 Early Stage, and they lacked powerful weapons. How could they be a match for these zombies? By the time she got there, the lead Power Mutated Zombie had caught a Level 1 Superpower User and was gnawing on him. The man was not yet dead and was screaming miserably, his limbs hanging weakly; a large chunk of his right shoulder had been chewed away, and it was uncertain if he could still be saved. The situation for the others was also very precarious; aside from this unfortunate one, more than a dozen others had perished and were being devoured by the zombies. After Fang Yuxin appeared, the leading second-level Power Zombie sensed the rich vitality emanating from her and immediately abandoned the unlucky soul. However, it didn¡¯t mercifully spare his life but instead clawed out his heart to consume before casually tossing the remaining body into the zombie group. As the body fell into the horde, it was surrounded by several zombies, who began to feed relentlessly. Fang Yuxin furrowed her brows and then saw the Power Zombie approaching her direction. Truly foolhardy! With a purse of her lips, Fang Yuxin watched the overconfident second-level Power Zombie with icy eyes as True Qi surged from her palm, forming two green bands of light that encircled and enveloped the Miao Saber in her hand. Eventually, all the green True Qi wrapped around the blade of the saber, forming a green light streak that converged on the blade. The second-level Power Zombie hadn¡¯t reached Fang Yuxin yet. It suddenly stopped, warily eyeing the Miao Saber in her hand. Its beast-like instincts warned it that the weapon was dangerous! But it could not resist the temptation emanating from Fang Yuxin¡¯s body; the vitality was too vigorous, and it could feel the rich Energy contained within! If only it could devour this person, it could advance to the next level! Desire and a sense of danger tormented it, leaving it uncertain whether to retreat or proceed. It stood there, indecisively hesitating. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t give it a chance to continue hesitating. She called out ¡°Lan Re¡± to let it go hunting in the zombie group, then gently patted the round head of Angela, signaling it to move forward. Lan Re had recently consumed a large number of zombies and originally wasn¡¯t hungry, but it dared not disobey Fang Yuxin¡¯s command. Once ordered, it transformed into a white light and flew into the horde, revealing its true form and split-bodies, beginning to hunt and kill frantically. At the same time, Angela, carrying Fang Yuxin, became a streak of white light, dashing towards the second-level Power Zombie. The distance between them wasn¡¯t far, just tens of meters. With Angela¡¯s charge, they reached the Power Zombie in a blink. Fang Yuxin was already prepared; she held the saber with both hands, the tip facing outward and the blade aimed at the direction of the Power Zombie. The Level 2 Zombie reacted very swiftly, and this Power Zombie was no exception. Fang Yuxin and Angela reached it in the blink of an eye, just about to behead it, when it suddenly leapt up, extending sharp claws towards Angela and its rider, Fang Yuxin! As it leapt up, the blade could no longer reach its neck, but Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t hesitate to twist her wrist and sliced down hard with her sharp blade, chopping off its pair of claws! ¡°Roar¡ª¡± The zombie howled, losing a pair of claws may not cost it its life, but it did deprive it of its weapons to attack! This strike fully unleashed its ferocity. It bared its teeth and the already sharp teeth suddenly grew longer¡ªespecially the two pairs of fangs, which were almost three inches long! It raised its arms, the black broken bones grotesquely exposed, also being used as weapons to attack. Its blood-red eyes stared dead at Fang Yuxin as it charged at Fang Yuxin and Angela once again. As a second-level Power Mutated Zombie, its striking force was already terrifying, and if Fang Yuxin and Angela were hit, even if they didn¡¯t die, they would sustain severe internal injuries! Fortunately, its speed was no match for a Speed Mutant Zombie. Compared to it, Angela was much more agile! Angela cleverly dodged its attack, and at the same time, Fang Yuxin¡¯s blade struck again, successfully slicing off its right shoulder. ¡°Roar¡ª¡± The second-level Power Zombie howled once more. Now it realized that it was no match for Fang Yuxin, but driven by its unleashed ferocity, it had no desire to retreat. With its already low intelligence, it completely lost all reason, leaving only a relentless, bloodthirsty craving for slaughter and feeding boiling inside. So, it lunged at Fang Yuxin and Angela for a third time. This time, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t dodge with Angela. Instead, she stood up from Angela¡¯s back. As the Power Zombie lunged, she lightly touched the tip of her foot on Angela¡¯s back, gracefully flipped into the air, and with both hands gripped the handle of the saber, she slashed down forcefully towards the head of the second-level Power Zombie from above. With a ¡°plop¡±, the threatening second-level Power Zombie was neatly cleaved in two! (. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 408 - 408 229 Defection (Third Update) ?Chapter 408: 229 Defection (Third Update) Chapter 408: 229 Defection (Third Update) This scene was witnessed by some people, and they were completely dumbfounded, almost falling victim to a sneak attack by the zombies. Luckily, they were pulled back by the people beside them at the last moment and thus escaped danger. However, not everyone was as fortunate. Quite a few were injured, and although they were not going to die immediately, their wounds had been infected with the virus. The fiery pain of the wounds turned their complexions instantly ashen, filling them with a sense of despair as though death was at their doorstep. Fang Yuxin saw this scene and froze for a moment before realizing that no one here could perform purification of the Zombie Virus. Once infected, if they failed to awaken, death was the only outcome awaiting them. She frowned slightly but said nothing encouraging. To her surprise, after their initial despair, these people erupted with an even greater strength, clearly intending to take a few zombies down with them. So she smiled faintly, returned to riding on Angela¡¯s back, and drew the second Miao Saber, holding both swords in her hands. Then she patted its head, signaling it to charge forward. Angela was intelligent and rushed into the Zombie Group at high speed upon receiving the signal. Those around them watched with their eyes nearly popping out, their gaze shifting between Fang Yuxin and Angela as if they were looking at two lunatics seeking death. But the very next moment, they found themselves mistaken! The terrifying Zombie Group that seemed like hell itself to them was dispersed by Fang Yuxin and Angela in just a few moments! Whenever they passed, zombie heads would roll on the ground, a sight so swift it was astonishing as if cutting vegetables was just as easy! The onlookers were stunned by this scene; then, a fervent hope suddenly rose within them, and even the disgusting zombies before their eyes seemed not so frightening anymore. Someone loudly proclaimed, ¡°Everyone, fight! Don¡¯t fear those bastards! Kill them!¡± With one person starting, the sentiment quickly spread as others echoed, ¡°Yes! Kill them!¡± ¡°Kill! Slay them all!¡± With the crowd¡¯s emotions inflamed, they forgot their deep-seated fear of zombies, forgot the pain of their wounds, driven by one single thought ¡ª to kill! Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t expected such an effect, but she didn¡¯t pay attention to those excited people, instead just directing Angela to keep charging toward the areas dense with zombies. She had used the Vajra Talisman on both herself and Angela, fearing not the zombies¡¯ claws, and with every charge, countless zombies were killed. At that time, Fang Yuyang and the others arrived as well. They stopped the car at a distance, opened the doors, and dashed out with their weapons. Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye spotted Fang Yuxin and Angela amidst the Zombie Group and rushed toward her, fearing for her safety. The others followed suit, spreading out in small groups, continuously hunting the zombies before them. Fang Jintang, this time, didn¡¯t use his superpower but took out his impressive Saber, joining Qu Qianhe in reaping the zombies before them. Qu Qianhe¡¯s fingers formed a hand gesture, and within her palm appeared a basketball-sized ball of flame, which then suddenly exploded into clusters the size of longans, shooting towards the zombies¡¯ foreheads. Her move was a group attack Skill with a beautiful name, ¡°Starfire,¡± though this was a simplified version and not nearly as powerful as the true ¡°Starfire.¡± The real ¡°Starfire¡± would scatter the flames into thousands of fine, needle-tip-sized flames. When the flames dispersed, it looked like a sky full of sparkling stars, mesmerizing yet deadly. Despite the flames being only the size of needle tips, they were scorchingly hot enough to melt steel, and the resultant force was naturally extremely terrifying. She was only in the Qi Refining Middle Stage and utterly incapable of unleashing the true ¡°Starfire,¡± only managing to exert such a simplified version. Even so, the simplified version still commanded enough power to be awe-inspiring. With this move, she killed hundreds of zombies. But with great power came great consumption. After just one use, she had exhausted one-tenth of her True Qi. Yet, Qu Qianhe did not stop; after her successful strike, she again formed hand gestures, continuing to use the simplified version of ¡°Starfire.¡± This was a Skill she had just learned, and because she was not yet proficient, it took her a longer time and consumed more True Qi. Qu Qianhe persisted in using this move to familiarize herself with the Skill, honing her abilities in the heat of battle. Chapter 409 - 409 229 Defection (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 409: 229 Defection (Third Update)_2 Chapter 409: 229 Defection (Third Update)_2 Fang Jintang knew her plan and did not stop her, simply standing by in silence as her protector in case any zombies or people foolish enough to try a sneak attack were to come near. Bai Qianqian and Shang Jinxiu were protected by Chen Qiao and others, as one was young and the other a Spatial System user with a low combat power. Although they both could kill zombies, there were just too many zombies around, and with other people present, to prevent accidents, Chen Qiao and his team did not leave their side, hunting zombies while keeping an eye on their condition. Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang moved as quickly as they could to join Fang Yuxin, one unleashing a wide sweep of Wind Blades, the other gripping a golden longsword, forming a trio of ¡°human-shaped reapers¡± with Fang Yuxin, constantly harvesting the lives of zombies. Chen Si and Hou San formed a pair, and Xu Wu joined Meng Qingluo. They did not use their guns except for Chen Si, who attacked with Ice Blades, the other three using melee weapons. Hou San had a speed boost, untouchable by any zombie unless it was of the same speed tier, while Xu Wu¡¯s strength was augmented, wielding a two-meter-long Mo Blade with a blade length of 1.2 meters, which when combined with his strength augmentation, became a deadly weapon. Meng Qingluo¡¯s abilities were considerably weaker; she was the team¡¯s doctor with good medical skills and adept at concocting medicine, but her awakened superpower was a special poison element that wasn¡¯t very effective against zombies and was more likely to harm her own people. Since she couldn¡¯t use her superpower, she had to rely on her bodily strength to kill zombies, like Shang Jinxiu. However, she was of mercenary origin, and even as a doctor, her skills were significantly better than those like Shang Jinxiu, who was only half-trained. These people, even the weakest like Shang Jinxiu and Meng Qingluo, were not comparable to the rabble of the settlements. Initially stirred by Fang Yuxin¡¯s provocation, they fought bravely as if injected with chickens¡¯ blood, but once Bai Ye and the others appeared, they were completely demoralized. Compared to Bai Ye and his comrades, they had greater numbers, but they were at a disadvantage from the start upon encountering the Zombie Group. Later, stimulated by Fang Yuxin, they managed to forget their fear of zombies and fought valiantly for a while. However, they hadn¡¯t expected Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t an exception, as a bunch of insane partners emerged! When these maniacs appeared, they found they no longer had a place to exert their strength, as they could only watch as the zombies were cut down in swathes. The scene was so beautiful; they could hardly believe their own eyes! Soon, Feng Yue led the vanguard over. He had already seen from afar the insanity of Bai Ye and his group, shaking him to the core. However, upon getting closer, he realized these people were practically not human! His abilities were the strongest in the settlement, and he had awakened to the Wind Element as well, mastering the Wind Blade skill with significant lethal force. Yet, when he saw Fang Yuyang¡¯s Wind Blades, he instantly felt his own Wind Blades were reduced to dust! He couldn¡¯t compete at all! In the blink of an eye, thousands of zombies had been culled to half their number, and he quickly pushed down the shock and horror in his heart, calling on his stunned subordinates to hunt the zombies. ¡°What are you all spacing out for? Go kill the zombies!¡± It wasn¡¯t that he wanted to enslave these people intentionally, but he understood that Bai Ye and his group would not stay, and if they could help this time, what about after they left? To survive, they could only rely on themselves! Therefore, even with the help of Bai Ye and the others, he still called on his people to act, to prevent them from becoming complacent. Of course, the more critical reason was that if they didn¡¯t start fighting now, those maniacs from Bai Ye¡¯s group would kill all the zombies! And those shining Crystal Cores! With Feng Yue¡¯s call, those following behind also surged forward. Naturally, the superpower users were in the vanguard, followed by many Ordinary People¡ª the line stretched long. It wasn¡¯t that they weren¡¯t willing to fight desperately; it was just that Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye¡¯s group moved too fast! Knowing his subordinates¡¯ abilities, Feng Yue did not press them and took the lead, charging into the Zombie Group. At this point, the originally dense Zombie Group had been scattered by Fang Yuxin and was now much easier to handle, having dispersed into scattered clusters. Feng Yue chose a spot where the zombies were denser and waved his arms, flinging out a wide swath of Wind Blades. Of course, the scale of his attack couldn¡¯t compare to Fang Yuyang¡¯s. Feng Yue knew it was embarrassing, but this was his most powerful group attack skill, and he had no choice but to use it. Meanwhile, Fang Yuxin saw Feng Yue join the battlefield and suddenly scattered a handful of seeds. These seeds had been nourished by zombies before, and although not mutated, were much more powerful than ordinary seeds. This time, she did not scatter the seeds to grow new ones but threw them as if they were projectiles. The seeds were tiny, just a little large than the eye of a needle, making it not easy to throw them as projectiles. However, Fang Yuxin had recently learned a skill called ¡°Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers¡±. Using this skill enveloped the thrown object in True Qi, propelling it at high speed. When Fang Yuxin used the ¡°Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers¡± move, thousands of seeds shot straight at the zombies¡¯ foreheads, burying deeply into them. Everyone watched as the zombies seemed unaffected at first, all stunned for a moment, but then they watched in horror as fresh grass suddenly sprouted from the zombies¡¯ foreheads. The grass grew rapidly, and at the same time, all the zombies struck down fell, deader than dead. The Yongcheng Team and Bai Ye¡¯s people were calm, but Feng Yue and his subordinates were shocked, each subconsciously reaching for their own foreheads, silently grateful that Fang Yuxin had not used that move on them, sparing their lives! (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it with a recommendation or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 410 - 410 230 Reminder (First Update) ?Chapter 410: 230 Reminder (First Update) Chapter 410: 230 Reminder (First Update) ¡°The power of ¡®Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers¡¯ was indeed terrifying, not only did Feng Yue and his men get totally scared, but others also hadn¡¯t anticipated that Fang Yuxin would possess such strength. With a casual wave of her hand, she had killed more than three thousand zombies. Everyone subconsciously looked towards Fang Yuxin¡¯s face and saw that she was pale, which clearly showed that the spell just now had consumed a great deal of her power. ¡°Xinxin!¡± ¡°Yuxin!¡± Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye almost shouted in unison, darting towards Fang Yuxin like lightning. They weren¡¯t far from her to begin with, so they practically reached her side at the same time, worriedly eyeing her pallid complexion. Bai Ye was the first to ask, ¡°Yuxin, how are you feeling now?¡± As he spoke, he suddenly thought of something and quickly pulled out a handful of Crystal Cores, stretching them out, ¡°I have some Crystal Cores here, take them to absorb. Your complexion isn¡¯t good, you need to recover as quickly as possible.¡± The sunlight sprinkled on the sparkling Crystal Cores, shining brilliantly, as if they were precious gems. However, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t accept his Crystal Cores but pushed his hand back and softly said, ¡°Keep them for yourself, I have some.¡± She knew that Bai Ye¡¯s supplies were stolen a while ago. Food, Crystal Cores, Elemental Stones, and Elemental Crystals, all gone, and these Crystal Cores he had were from hunting zombies later. Although Fang Yuxin knew he meant well, she didn¡¯t want to take advantage of him, so naturally, she couldn¡¯t accept the Crystal Cores. Seeing her take a Crystal Core from her waist pouch to absorb, Bai Ye didn¡¯t insist any further and kept the Crystal Cores back. Now Fang Yuyang found the opportunity to speak up, ¡°Xinxin, be careful when using that Skill in the future, it consumes too much.¡± In truth, what Fang Yuxin used was a Spell, but to avoid slipping up and being overheard, they had long since agreed to refer to it as a Skill. Fang Yuxin knew Fang Yuyang was concerned about her, so she smiled at him and quickly winked, whispering through passed sound, ¡°Brother, don¡¯t worry, I have a measure in my heart. The ¡®Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers¡¯ I used just now was indeed consuming, but it hasn¡¯t reached my limit. I deliberately made myself look this way so as to not arouse suspicion.¡± After all, solving more than three thousand zombies in one move was a bit too exaggerated, it was inevitable that others would overthink it. If she had also appeared to be at ease, that would¡¯ve been plainly telling others that she had a problem. Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t that foolish! Upon hearing this, Fang Yuyang blinked in surprise, his expression adorably stunned. However, he quickly composed himself and awkwardly instructed, ¡°Anyway, be careful yourself,¡± and then began to harvest Crystal Cores. Bai Ye didn¡¯t go to gather Crystal Cores but continued to stay by Fang Yuxin¡¯s side. Although he didn¡¯t hear Fang Yuxin¡¯s whisper, he saw her winking at Fang Yuyang and guessed that Fang Yuxin was most likely fine. However, since it was a performance, naturally, he couldn¡¯t abandon it halfway through. And even if Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t reached her limit, the move she just used must have taken a significant toll, so it was better for him to stay and protect her. The others recovered from their shock and, seeing Fang Yuyang harvesting Crystal Cores, they all started to help. Feng Yue specifically instructed his men, ¡°Pass the word, don¡¯t be greedy! Keep what you¡¯ve killed, but don¡¯t touch anything else!¡± Even if he hadn¡¯t said it, nobody dared to be the slightest bit greedy. They had just witnessed the skills of this crazy gang, who would dare offend them? Thinking about what they had done before, they were filled with regret and were even cursing at the sisters who had provoked Fang Yuxin and others like Wang Dali. Out of everyone, they had to provoke this bunch of crazies! Even if they sought death, they shouldn¡¯t have dragged them into it! Harvesting the Crystal Cores took a bit of time, but in the end, the bulk of the Crystal Cores ended up in Fang Yuxin¡¯s waist pouch. After all, everyone had seen how much each person killed, and no one dared to covet her share of Crystal Cores. After the harvest, Fang Yuxin¡¯s complexion had returned to a healthy flush and was no longer as pale as before. Feng Yue and his men looked on at this scene, their hearts even more uneasy, as the strength of Fang Yuxin and the others completely exceeded their expectations! So, after some hesitation, Feng Yue went to Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin again, offering an additional four hundred Crystal Cores on top of the previous amount, making an even number, as a token to apologize for their offense. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye knew he was scared. Bai Ye didn¡¯t speak and instead looked at Fang Yuxin, asking for her opinion. Fang Yuxin spoke indifferently, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it already settled before? There¡¯s no need to add more. If you really want to express your gratitude, you might as well think about how to properly manage this settlement.¡± Chapter 411 - 411 230 Reminder (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 411: 230 Reminder (First Update)_2 Chapter 411: 230 Reminder (First Update)_2 Feng Yue instantly felt alarmed, and he guessed that Fang Yuxin must be very dissatisfied with the management within the settlement, so he tentatively asked, ¡°What do you think would be a better way to manage this, Miss?¡± Fang Yuxin looked at him with a half-smile, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the leader here? It naturally depends on what you think. You must also know that the zombies¡¯ strength has been increasing, high-level zombies can control low-level zombies, forming a zombie group, attacking the survivor base. Do you think you and your people alone can keep this base safe?¡± Feng Yue began to feel tense, Fang Yuxin¡¯s words had hit the nail on the head. At the same time, he also regretted, he shouldn¡¯t have asked such a reckless question. Seeing his expression, Fang Yuxin continued, ¡°You failed your advancement earlier, didn¡¯t you? Want to know why?¡± Feng Yue suddenly looked up, his eyes wide with shock as he said hoarsely, ¡°Please enlighten me!¡± To show his respect for Fang Yuxin, he even used an honorific. Fang Yuxin knew he was desperate to know the answer and didn¡¯t beat around the bush, directly saying, ¡°The Zombie Crystal Core contains many impurities and negative energy. When a superpower user absorbs it, they inevitably also absorb these impurities and negative energies into their body. If accumulated, they naturally form an obstacle. If you want to successfully advance, the most important thing is to keep your original intention, not to be confused by those negative energies. Of course, if you have the ability to remove the impurities in the crystal core, it would be much more effective.¡± Upon hearing this, Feng Yue introspectively reflected on his recent performance, and the more he thought, the colder his heart felt. He had actually done so many things wrong! No wonder his advancement failed! Fang Yuxin observed his reaction and seeing his genuine remorse, she chose not to speak further. What she said was not a lie; keeping one¡¯s original intention was meant to prevent the invasion of the Heart Demon. Although cultivating superpower is not comparable to cultivation, because of absorbing Zombie Crystal Cores, it is very easy to give rise to Heart Demons. These Heart Demons make a person become increasingly fierce, bloodthirsty, and impulsive, and they also make it more difficult for the body to connect with the heavens and the earth. Initially, superpowers are just about absorbing Crystal Cores, refining the energy within them, accumulating it in the body, and then using it through skills. But if the body cannot communicate with the heavens and the earth, then a superpower user¡¯s strength will not be able to improve. Feng Yue¡¯s talent was actually quite good, and he had absorbed many Elemental Crystals, which made him much better than many others. It¡¯s just a pity he encountered a group of eccentrics; after the Fang Family members cultivate, they can learn spells, but other superpower users have to slowly explore and comprehend skills, which is much more difficult. Feng Yue had already achieved quite a lot. Additionally, as the leader of this survivor base and still having a somewhat good heart, he was still redeemable, which was why Fang Yuxin had spoken such words to him as guidance. Feng Yue also picked up on the hints from Fang Yuxin, and after reminiscing, he seriously and sincerely said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Feng Yue is immensely grateful!¡± Fang Yuxin did not speak again, but Bai Ye asked, ¡°Were you once a soldier?¡± Feng Yue¡¯s expression changed, he did not expect Bai Ye to see that! After hesitating a bit, he honestly said, ¡°You have a keen eye, I indeed was a soldier, and I had just retired not long ago. I originally planned to start a business with a friend, but who knew it would turn out like this.¡± With that, he sighed incessantly. Bai Ye then continued, ¡°Since that is the case, why don¡¯t you gather the survivors in the base and properly train them. Additionally... that stone you have, the crystals inside can awaken some people¡¯s superpowers, you should make good use of it, don¡¯t waste it.¡± Upon hearing Bai Ye mention the Elemental Stone, Feng Yue¡¯s heart tensed, and his eyes inadvertently showed a hint of wariness and caution, fearing that Bai Ye was eyeing those stones. However, after hearing Bai Ye¡¯s words, he felt very embarrassed. He had valued the Elemental Stone and Elemental Crystals too highly, so upon hearing about them, he would subconsciously be on guard, not realizing in the end that he was judging others by his own flawed standards! He glanced at Bai Ye guiltily, opened his mouth wanting to say something, but the words of apology just could not come out. So he decisively said, ¡°Rest assured, now that I know their uses, I will definitely not let them continue to gather dust as treasures!¡± He still had quite a few Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals. Since they could awaken superpowers in people, he would naturally make good use of them, selecting some promising individuals from his subordinates for training. Feng Yue had realized that, although it seemed he had quite a number of people under him, due to his indulgence, they were all just a mob, barely capable of dealing with ordinary zombies, but when facing zombie groups or high-level zombies, this mob was simply no match. He didn¡¯t know when he would be able to advance, so he must make the most of the time before the new zombie group attacked to train his people as much as possible. Thinking this, Feng Yue suddenly felt more relaxed, then he invited, ¡°It¡¯s almost past noon, you haven¡¯t had lunch yet, have you? Why don¡¯t you come with me to the village, I will ensure you are well entertained!¡± This time, both Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye did not refuse his invitation. They believed that after Feng Yue had witnessed their strength, he definitely would not dare to pull any tricks! Of course, if he really wanted to court death, they were not afraid either. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) with your recommendation vote and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 412 - 412 231 Tragic White Lotus (Second Update) ?Chapter 412: 231 Tragic White Lotus (Second Update) Chapter 412: 231 Tragic White Lotus (Second Update) At this time, it was nearly one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, and Fang Yuxin and the others had not yet managed to have their lunch; they were indeed hungry. Superpower users naturally had larger appetites than ordinary people, and they had just been through an intense battle, making their hunger even more pronounced. Thus, when Feng Yue extended an invitation, they didn¡¯t refuse any longer and agreed readily. Feng Yue¡¯s subordinates had no objections. After all, Fang Yuxin and his group only numbered sixteen; how much could they possibly eat? Moreover, each member of this group was unnaturally strong¡ªbetter not to offend them if possible, and best to try and win them over. Some of these people might not be very powerful, or might harbour some unsavoury thoughts, but none of them was a true fool. Before leaving, Feng Yue ordered his men to pile all the zombies into a mountain of corpses, which Qu Qianhe then set ablaze, destroying the bodies completely. Among these corpses, many had been eaten to the bone by Lan Re, shocking Feng Yue and his followers immensely. When they saw Lan Re transform into white light and fly back to Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist, reverting to a white ¡°Jade Bracelet,¡± they were all astounded. But then, as if Angela felt the shock wasn¡¯t enough, she shrank to the size of a kitten, jumped onto Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder, and positioned herself cutely, her large blue eyes fiercely glaring at them. Occasionally, she would deliberately lift a paw and, while Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t watching, sneakily flash her sharp claws hidden in soft pads. Provocation! It was clear provocation! Feng Yue almost wished he could pounce up to Angela and beg¡ªSpare me, great Lord Cat¡¯s claws; I won¡¯t dare again! Please stop that glaring! I can¡¯t take it! Of course, these were just his thoughts. After all, Feng Yue was the leader of a Base, albeit a small survivor settlement, and he couldn¡¯t possibly show cowardice in front of his subordinates. It was demeaning and would have negative implications for his authority and future leadership. Fang Yuxin caught Angela¡¯s little antics and initially didn¡¯t stop her. It was just a prank to tease Feng Yue as a lesson for his lack of proper leadership. Once she felt it was enough, she pinched Angela¡¯s soft little paw to remind her not to go overboard. Immediately, Angela meowed softly, her big eyes appearing extra innocent, as if denying her recent mischievousness. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t make it hard for her, gently rubbed her head, and then got into the car. Soon, they arrived once more at the gates of the settlement, and after the vehicle stopped, the people inside didn¡¯t open the gates but looked down guardedly. Feng Yue rode with Chen Qiao and the others, and worried that the people inside would make another foolish mistake, he quickly got off the vehicle and strode to the front, shouting loudly, ¡°Open the gates quickly! Don¡¯t keep our esteemed guests waiting!¡± As the leader here, a simple command from him was more effective than anything else. Quickly, the gates creaked open, and somebody rushed out from inside, looking at Feng Yue in surprise, ¡°Brother Feng, wasn¡¯t there a Zombie Group? Or was the news wrong?¡± His shock was understandable, given that it had been just a little over half an hour since Feng Yue had left; if there really had been a Zombie Group, he couldn¡¯t have returned so quickly. So, he could only guess that the news was wrong¡ªthere was no Zombie Group, or it was so small that Feng Yue had easily dealt with it after getting there. Worried that these people were clueless and might continue to offend Fang Yuxin and his group due to their ignorance, Feng Yue said, ¡°The news is correct, there indeed was a Zombie Group, over eight thousand strong, and it was our guests who helped solve the problem.¡± The man was startled and instantly saw Fang Yuxin and the others in a new light. Although they had witnessed Fang Yuxin¡¯s group¡¯s capabilities before, since they hadn¡¯t gone all out, they only knew they were formidable but not to what extent. But, Feng Yue¡¯s statement was different¡ªover eight thousand zombies dealt with so quickly! How could that be possible! It was simply inconceivable! Although he was astounded, he didn¡¯t doubt Feng Yue¡¯s words because there was simply no reason for Feng Yue to lie to him. He remembered his previous wild thoughts about capturing them, and cold sweat drenched him. Then he began to recall if he had ever offended them. On reflection, his face turned pale. His weapon was a machete, and he hadn¡¯t held back in their past confrontation! Seeing his pale complexion and realizing he was frightened, Feng Yue lowered his voice and said, ¡°All right, it¡¯s all in the past now, don¡¯t think about it any longer. But remember to pass the message on¡ªno one, under any circumstances, is to offend these esteemed guests! Also, hurry up and prepare a sumptuous lunch to welcome our guests!¡± Chapter 413 - 413 231 Tragic White Lotus (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 413: 231 Tragic White Lotus (Second Update)_2 Chapter 413: 231 Tragic White Lotus (Second Update)_2 The man¡¯s expression became stern, and he immediately replied, ¡°Yes¡±, then turned and briskly walked back to convey Feng Yue¡¯s orders. Feng Yue then turned around and cordially invited Fang Yuxin and the others into the Base. Soon, the news spread throughout the small Base. Seeing that the clothes worn by Fang Yuxin and the others were dirty, Feng Yue immediately extended an invitation, ¡°Captain Bai, Captain Fang, I¡¯ve already instructed someone to prepare lunch, but it will take some time. If you don¡¯t mind, why not find a place to rest first?¡± Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin obviously had no objections. Having just killed zombies, their clothes were filthy, and it indeed was indecent to remain so. They certainly needed a place to clean themselves and change. The two nodded, and Feng Yue inwardly heaved a small sigh of relief and led them towards his home. He lived in the most luxurious and exquisite villa in the village, inhabited only by himself and Li Ranqiu, with many rooms to spare. Besides, he couldn¡¯t think of any other place more suitable. No matter where he placed Fang Yuxin and the rest, he felt he wasn¡¯t being hospitable enough. Li Ranqiu had been sitting by the window waiting for news. When she saw from afar Feng Yue leading a group of people, she first widened her eyes, but as she recognized them, her feelings became complicated. She had been following Feng Yue these days and received much care from him. To say she had no feelings for him would be a lie. She wouldn¡¯t have minded continuing like this, but when she realized there were people stronger than Feng Yue, another thought entered her mind. From her vantage point, she could see Feng Yue leading a team of strangers, all young, and among them were several handsome men and beautiful women, an eye-catching group. Feng Yue¡¯s attentive demeanor showed that they must be strong, and since he was alive, it suggested that these people were not of a ferocious nature. Seeing Feng Yue unharmed, Li Ranqiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, yet felt an indistinct sense of loss. She didn¡¯t wish for anything bad to happen to Feng Yue, but with him alive, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to break free from him and leave this place. Struggle flashed in Li Ranqiu¡¯s eyes, but eventually, she steeled her heart. She couldn¡¯t stay here forever. She had to leave! These people were her opportunity! She couldn¡¯t miss it! As she thought to herself, she suddenly saw someone look up, their sharp gaze shooting towards her. Even at that distance, she felt the piercing intensity of the gaze, almost causing her eyes to sting! Shocked, Li Ranqiu quickly averted her own gaze, no longer daring to observe. She then stood up and walked quickly to the full-length mirror. Seeing her face pale, she quickly found some blush and gently brushed her cheeks with it. She then lightly patted her face, happy to see some color return. She then tidied away her things, changed into a pretty dress at lightning speed, tidied her hair, and used a hairpin to loosely put it up in a bun. Wearing a pair of strappy high-heeled sandals, she strode out. The villa¡¯s renovation involved a lot of solid wood panels. As Li Ranqiu descended from upstairs, her high heels tapped on the wooden floor, making a distinct ¡°clack clack clack¡± sound. The timing was perfect; as she reached the downstairs living room, Feng Yue just opened the door, inviting Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin in. They carried the stench of zombie blood and rotten flesh on their clothing. In contrast, the villa was freshened with air freshener, faintly scented with green tea. But as soon as the door opened, the stench of decay rushed into the house. Li Ranqiu stood in the middle of the living room, smiling seductively in her perfect posture, intending to make her move directly on Bai Ye. However, as soon as the door opened, the rancid smell struck her full-on. Having only suffered slightly at the start of the apocalypse, she had been well protected by Feng Yue since coming to the settlement, never having to do housework or deal with the disgusting zombies. Raised in comfort from a young age and now pregnant, the stench triggered contractions in her poor stomach. ¡°Ugh! Ugh!¡± She bent over uncontrollably, pressing one hand to her stomach and covering her mouth with the other. Once she started vomiting, everything from her stomach was expelled, creating a mess and emitting a foul, sour smell. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t even fully entered yet. Seeing the scene, they quickly backed away. Yuxin had blocked her sense of smell, not affected by the foul and sour stench, but the sight of Li Ranqiu vomiting was too repulsive, discomforting even to look at. Feng Yue was actually pleased to see Li Ranqiu, subconsciously thinking she had come to greet him. Before he could speak, Li Ranqiu began to vomit violently in front of everyone! That sight, not to mention unbearable for Fang Yuxin and the others, made even him feel sick. Glancing sideways to see Fang Yuxin and the others retreating, he sighed silently in his heart, filled with regret. After such an event, these people would definitely not stay at his place. But what was done was done, and regret was futile. Thinking of the child Li Ranqiu was carrying in her womb, he became concerned and tried to suppress his nausea, taking a few steps forward, ready to support poor Li Ranqiu. Tears had come to Li Ranqiu¡¯s eyes from all the vomiting, and when she saw him approach, she let out a shrill scream, ¡°Don¡¯t come near me! Ugh!¡± She then, covering her mouth, immediately turned and dashed towards the restroom.(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote and offer monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 414 - 414 232 I Disagree (Third Update) ?Chapter 414: 232 I Disagree (Third Update) Chapter 414: 232 I Disagree (Third Update) Feng Yue stared at the retreating figure of Li Ranqiu, somewhat stunned. He often killed zombies and had grown accustomed to the stench of their rotting flesh to the point of near immunity. It had never crossed his mind why Li Ranqiu would have such a strong reaction. He had completely overlooked how terrifying the stench of zombies could be for a pampered and pregnant woman like Li Ranqiu! However, he quickly realized his oversight. He lifted his arm to smell himself, and his brows furrowed tightly. Afterward, glancing at the mess on the ground, he quickly exited the room, turned, and walked towards Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, apologetically saying, ¡°Sorry for the scare. There was a little accident, and we can¡¯t go into the room right now. Let me take you somewhere else to rest.¡± Although the scene had been disgusting, Fang Yuxin and the others were used to killing zombies and had seen plenty of gruesome sights, so they didn¡¯t mind too much and soon got over it. So the group nodded and followed Feng Yue to a nearby villa. This was the residence of the ten experts, the second-best in the entire settlement. At the moment, there were only four people inside, two of whom were immobilized speed superpower users and Scar-faced, while the other two were young girls taking care of them. Feng Yue first invited them in to rest for a while before going to explain the situation to the two unlucky ones. After returning to the living room, he once again eagerly asked, ¡°Do you need some clean water? If you need it, I can have someone bring it right away.¡± Bai Ye nodded, and although Chen Si was an Ice Ability User, melting ice into water was quite a hassle. Since Feng Yue offered to help, there was no need for politeness. Seeing the nod, Feng Yue breathed a sigh of relief. He had been concerned that the incident would anger these people; seeing that they were not upset and willing to accept his goodwill, he took it as a good sign. He then introduced the remaining empty rooms and the location of the bathrooms to Bai Ye and the others before hurriedly excusing himself to go check on Li Ranqiu. After all, Li Ranqiu was carrying his child, and seeing her in such distress made him incredibly worried. The two villas were not far apart, and he walked quickly, so it didn¡¯t take long to return home. Upon entering, the disgusting vomit on the ground was still emitting a strong acidic odor. Although used to the putrid smell of zombies, he couldn¡¯t help but frown at the sour stench, feeling somewhat nauseous. He then ran out again to get someone to clean up the vomit, and after a hurried shower and a change into clean clothes, he thought about it and sprayed himself with a bottle of perfume to ensure there was no lingering zombie stench. After all this, he sniffed himself to ensure there was no odor before going to find Li Ranqiu. Li Ranqiu was still in the restroom, dry heaving over the toilet when Feng Yue arrived. She had already vomited everything out of her stomach and was now only retching uncontrollably due to the strong reaction. Seeing her like this made Feng Yue feel even more heartbroken. He didn¡¯t dwell on what might have upset Li Ranqiu that day, only feeling sorry that this beautiful woman had suffered so much for him. He quickly stepped behind her and knelt down, intending to embrace her from behind. However, as soon as he touched Li Ranqiu¡¯s shoulder, she violently resisted, ¡°Get away! Don¡¯t touch me! Ugh!¡± Feng Yue hesitated but still held her slender shoulders, gently patting her back and softly saying in a lowered voice, ¡°Ranqiu, don¡¯t be angry. I¡¯ve already cleaned up, there¡¯s no smell on me. You can smell it if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± Li Ranqiu twisted her body, struggling fiercely, which triggered another bout of retching. The pungent scent of perfume coming off Feng Yue made her feel even worse, and her head throbbed. Angered, she turned around, shoved him hard, and said, ¡°I told you not to touch me! Who asked you to come here! Don¡¯t you realize you smell disgusting?¡± Feng Yue, not being used to the luxuries of perfume from a young age, had never used it before and was unaware of how to apply it correctly. In his attempt to mask any potential remaining stench, he had sprayed a particularly large amount, thinking he smelled pleasantly and would no longer irritate Li Ranqiu, not realizing that perfume should not be used carelessly and if not applied properly, it could make things worse. Chapter 415 - 415 232 I Disagree (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 415: 232 I Disagree (Third Update)_2 Chapter 415: 232 I Disagree (Third Update)_2 Li Ranqiu had lived a life of privilege since childhood and was very particular about things. She had been protected by Feng Yue since the apocalypse, and apart from the very beginning, she hadn¡¯t suffered. How could she understand that it was no longer a peaceful era? She couldn¡¯t be as wilful as before, could she? She never wanted to become pregnant, and she always felt Feng Yue was not her equal. Now that she had met the more formidable Bai Ye, she was intent on abandoning Feng Yue to pursue a better prospect. Her disdain for him deepened, especially after receiving such a tremendous shock in front of so many people, making a fool of herself. She was so frustrated. Just when Feng Yue happened to cross her path, how could she hold back her temper? Under normal circumstances, she would be gentle and briefly sweet, every word and expression smoothing its way into Feng Yue¡¯s heart. But now, driven by anger, she couldn¡¯t bother to pretend anymore. The words she spat out were like knives stabbing violently into Feng Yue¡¯s heart, without a care for his feelings. On the contrary, seeing the shock and sadness on Feng Yue¡¯s face gave her a twisted sense of pleasure¡ªSee, even this man can be like this! After being sad for a while, Feng Yue¡¯s anger rose, and he gradually clenched his fists. But when he saw Li Ranqiu¡¯s pale face, tear-rimmed eyes, and tearful expression, he couldn¡¯t unleash his anger at all. Instead, he felt more distressed for her. He forcefully suppressed his anger and patiently consoled her, ¡°This won¡¯t do, I¡¯ll find a doctor to check on you.¡± There were doctors in this settlement, some who had fled here, others from local clinics. Feng Yue had organized them all together, usually in charge of treating injuries. After saying that, Feng Yue rushed out and brought over the only nine doctors available to see Li Ranqiu. Li Ranqiu was experiencing morning sickness and couldn¡¯t just take any medicine. The doctors rinsed her mouth with plain water and massaged her slightly; her symptoms improved, and she was no longer retching continuously. Feng Yue then dismissed everyone and asked her, ¡°Ranqiu, your clothes are dirty, let me help you wipe down and change into clean clothes.¡± Li Ranqiu gave him a resentful look and, after a long while, weakly nodded her head. If it weren¡¯t for the complete lack of energy, she wouldn¡¯t agree to Feng Yue¡¯s suggestion at all. But the retching had drained her of all strength. Without Feng Yue¡¯s help, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to take care of herself. Her beautiful dress had vomit residue, disgustingly sticky against her body, almost driving her insane! Just thinking about this, she felt a wave of discomfort in her stomach, almost causing her to retch again. She quickly soothed her stomach, trying hard to relax and ignore the nauseous feeling. After a while, she managed to suppress the nausea and turned her head to Feng Yue, saying, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to help me clean up? What are you staring at?¡± But Feng Yue looked distressed, ¡°The water is cold, I¡¯ll find someone to heat it up, what if you get sick?¡± Hearing this, Li Ranqiu was momentarily taken aback. Her gaze flickered, and despite the touch of emotion in her heart, she said to Feng Yue, ¡°There¡¯s no need; the weather is so hot, and I¡¯ve always had good health, how could I possibly get sick?¡± She paused, then softened her voice and continued, ¡°Don¡¯t you have important guests? You can¡¯t keep them waiting for too long, right? Help me clean up quickly so we can go greet the guests and avoid offending anyone.¡± Remembering Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin and others, Feng Yue hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°No need, it won¡¯t take long; I¡¯ll find someone to heat the water. Wait a while.¡± He first filled the bathtub with water, then summoned the Fire Element superpower user¡¯s subordinate to heat the water. After that, he cleaned Li Ranqiu¡¯s body and carried her back to their room. After the wash, Li Ranqiu¡¯s makeup had smeared. When she returned to the room, she swiftly reapplied a light makeup and changed into another beautiful outfit, then asked Feng Yue to use his superpower to dry her hair, and urged him to go and meet the guests. Feng Yue did not suspect anything, but seeing Li Ranqiu wanting to wear high heels, he quickly intervened and found her a pair of soft-soled casual shoes. Li Ranqiu, wearing a dress, inherently found casual shoes mismatched. She stubbornly disagreed and wore a pair of sandals that were not too high, following Feng Yue out. When they arrived, Fang Yuxin and the others had already bathed and changed into clean clothes, waiting for a while. As soon as Li Ranqiu entered, her eyes locked onto Bai Ye. She was clever and noted Feng Yue¡¯s courteous attitude toward Bai Ye, guessing Bai Ye¡¯s capabilities were superior to Feng Yue¡¯s. Moreover, Bai Ye¡¯s handsome appearance fit her ideal image of a prince charming, so she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him. Fang Yuxin watched this scene, smiling without speaking. However, Meng Qingluo was displeased. She looked at Li Ranqiu and suddenly said, ¡°You must be newly pregnant, how enviable, congratulations.¡± Meng Qingluo¡¯s remark changed Li Ranqiu¡¯s expression to somewhat unnatural. She was eager to ingratiate herself with Bai Ye, hoping Bai Ye would take her away from this forsaken place and send her home. But the pregnancy news popping out unexpectedly worried her. Worried that Bai Ye might disapprove of her, she subconsciously said, ¡°Miss, you jest. I¡¯ve just had some gastrointestinal discomfort lately; how could it possibly be a pregnancy?¡± However, as soon as she said this, Feng Yue¡¯s expression changed, his gaze turning somewhat cold. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) by casting a recommended vote or a monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 416 - 416 233 Delusional (First Update) ?Chapter 416: 233 Delusional (First Update) Chapter 416: 233 Delusional (First Update) Feng Yue, although he liked Li Ranqiu, was no fool! Li Ranqiu¡¯s eyes were practically glued to Bai Ye, and unless he was blind, he couldn¡¯t miss the obvious signs! That¡¯s how people are, completely oblivious to the problem until they suddenly notice it, and then they become overly sensitive. Feng Yue watched Li Ranqiu intensely and soon realized that she had developed feelings for Bai Ye! This contemptible person! Feng Yue cursed inwardly, annoyed not only by Li Ranqiu¡¯s unfaithfulness but also harboring some resentment towards Bai Ye. However, he was no fool; despite feeling discontent, he didn¡¯t think about venting his anger on Bai Ye. After all, Bai Ye hadn¡¯t shown any interest in Li Ranqiu; it had all been her wishful thinking. When Meng Qingluo spoke up, he actually felt relieved. Since Li Ranqiu was pregnant with his child, he didn¡¯t want to harm her unless absolutely necessary. Meng Qingluo deliberately pointed out her pregnancy, making it impossible for Li Ranqiu to continue harboring feelings for Bai Ye. But he hadn¡¯t expected Li Ranqiu to be so shameless! She actually denied her pregnancy! Feng Yue was both angry and anxious, angry at Li Ranqiu¡¯s shamelessness and worried that she wasn¡¯t actually pregnant, that the pregnancy was a lie. After some thought, he decided that Li Ranqiu could no longer stay and said, ¡°Ranqiu, you are pregnant now, it¡¯s not convenient for your body, you should go home and rest, don¡¯t strain the child in your belly.¡± Upon hearing this, Li Ranqiu¡¯s beautiful face instantly stiffened, even twisting somewhat. Although it was just for a moment, everyone, including Feng Yue, saw it. Feng Yue became even angrier and also deeply disappointed in Li Ranqiu. This was his first child, and even in the apocalypse, he was happy and looking forward to it, thinking about cultivating diligently to provide the best possible conditions for her and their child. But now he discovered that Li Ranqiu didn¡¯t care about the child in her belly at all! This made him furiously angry; he even struggled to believe that this woman, whom he had always cherished, could be so flirtatious and, for the sake of luring a stronger man than him, neglect even the child in her womb! Just then, Meng Qingluo continued, ¡°Pregnancy is a great joy, and since you¡¯ve only been pregnant for a short while, you¡¯re in a critical period, it¡¯s better to be cautious. By the way, you¡¯re wearing light makeup, aren¡¯t you? Cosmetics contain heavy metals, which can be absorbed by the fetus if the mother uses them, negatively affecting the fetus¡¯s development. You should be more careful in the future.¡± At this, Li Ranqiu¡¯s face became instantly embarrassed, wishing she could just disappear. Feng Yue watched her coldly, his expression extremely grim. He was a rough man, never married, naturally unaware of the considerations during pregnancy. Therefore, when he saw Li Ranqiu wearing makeup before, although he found it troublesome, he didn¡¯t get angry. But after hearing Meng Qingluo¡¯s words, he felt again that this woman didn¡¯t care about the child in her belly at all. Otherwise, why would she wear makeup while pregnant? Actually, Feng Yue was wronging Li Ranqiu. She hadn¡¯t even graduated yet; how could she know the taboos of pregnancy? Had Meng Qingluo not deliberately mentioned it, she wouldn¡¯t have known this at all! Meng Qingluo said this deliberately, clearly with ill-intentions. She had always liked Bai Ye, and though she couldn¡¯t win over Fang Yuxin, she couldn¡¯t tolerate this woman daring to fancy her brother. Not teaching her a lesson would be letting herself down! She had been watching Feng Yue¡¯s expression closely, and seeing his iron-blue face and bloodshot eyes, she knew he took her words to heart and deliberately smiled at Li Ranqiu. Li Ranqiu had noticed Feng Yue¡¯s expression long ago but had pretended not to see it. She was well aware that her actions had infuriated Feng Yue, so this was probably her last chance; if she lost it, she wouldn¡¯t be able to leave! Initially, she had planned to capture Bai Ye¡¯s heart with her beauty, since Feng Yue couldn¡¯t afford to offend him. If Bai Ye asked for her, Feng Yue would definitely not dare to refuse. But she hadn¡¯t expected that Bai Ye didn¡¯t even spare her a glance, and his woman was constantly causing trouble for her! Li Ranqiu cursed Meng Qingluo internally for interfering. Feeling Feng Yue¡¯s increasingly cold and sharp gaze, she realized clearly that she had to do something, or she would never have another chance! Chapter 417 - 417 233 Delusional (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 417: 233 Delusional (First Update)_2 Chapter 417: 233 Delusional (First Update)_2 So she bit her lip, forced out tears, and knelt directly in front of Bai Ye, looking up at him with a pitiful expression and said in a grief-stricken voice, ¡°Big brother, please save me! Feng Yue is not human at all, he will kill me!¡± She had already offended Feng Yue, and once these honored guests left, Feng Yue was sure not to let her go! Since that was the case, she might as well fight for herself! However, this time she didn¡¯t put all her hopes on Bai Ye alone, and while she spoke, she glanced around at the others. Then she noticed Fang Yuyang and Fang Jintang, both of them as strikingly handsome as Bai Ye, if not more so. It¡¯s just that they each had a beautiful woman by their side, and she feared they wouldn¡¯t be inclined to help easily. Li Ranqiu quickly sized up everyone, but to her surprise, these people remained indifferent, showing no sympathy or pity for her plight! This was illogical! She was beautiful, the school beauty since childhood, and the boys in class always took good care of her. Often, all it took was a little coquetry or a frown from her, and someone would volunteer to help. Initially, Feng Yue was moved by her pitiable appearance and gentle gestures, always carefully protecting her. But now, this tactic suddenly wasn¡¯t working! Was it her charm that had decreased, or were these people all unromantic? Li Ranqiu couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her charm waning and subconsciously figured that these people must be unromantic! At the same time, she discreetly observed Qu Qianhe, Fang Yuxin, Shang Jinxiu, and Meng Qingluo. These four could all be counted as great beauties, but they were fierce and tough, without any trace of the femininity they should possess. She refused to believe that these men would prefer such tomboys! So she quickly said, ¡°My family is in Beishi City, I lost communication with them after the apocalypse, I don¡¯t know how my parents are doing, please save me, if you can take me back to Beishi City, I will ensure my parents reward you!¡± Such words might have had some effect before the apocalypse, given her family¡¯s wealth, the reward she could offer was definitely substantial. But now it was the apocalypse, and the old money had become worthless, with food and Crystal Cores the most precious commodities. Her parents were certainly not young, and even if they were lucky enough not to be dead, what kind of significant reward could they possibly offer? Thus, to Li Ranqiu¡¯s plea, Bai Ye and the others simply sneered. They weren¡¯t fools; they could see right through Li Ranqiu¡¯s scheming. Even if Li Ranqiu were just a single woman, they wouldn¡¯t want to take on such a burden, let alone the fact that she was clearly Feng Yue¡¯s woman, and now pregnant, they wouldn¡¯t possibly take her with them. Everyone instinctively glanced at Feng Yue¡¯s face, and sure enough, they saw that he had already turned livid with rage. The group silently pitied him, feeling that the man was indeed very unlucky. But after such an incident, it was inappropriate for them to continue to stay. Bai Ye then took the initiative to speak, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, we still have a journey ahead, are the maps ready?¡± Feng Yue actually couldn¡¯t wait for them to leave, to avoid further embarrassment. He grabbed Li Ranqiu before she could speak, struck her with the edge of his hand on her neck, knocking her unconscious. Then Feng Yue said, ¡°Rest assured, everything will be ready soon!¡± Just then, someone came in a hurry, reporting that the meal was ready. Feng Yue simply had the people lead Bai Ye and his group over, carried Li Ranqiu back to his house, had her watched, and then rushed to the dining area, eager to serve Bai Ye and the others. To show his sincerity, he specifically found good wine, and they all drank a little. Not wanting to overindulge, the bottle of wine was quickly empty. The meal prepared by Feng Yue was quite lavish, with meat, talent, and some soaked mountain delicacies. However, apart from the stored potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cabbage, there were no other fresh vegetables to be had, and the taste couldn¡¯t compare to Fang Yuxin¡¯s cooking. Being away from home, Fang Yuxin and the group didn¡¯t complain, quickly filling their stomachs and then proposed to leave. Feng Yue had already prepared all the agreed-upon items, and seeing that Fang Yuxin and his group wanted to leave, he didn¡¯t dare to detain them but personally handed over the items to Bai Ye. Fang Yuxin hesitated for a moment but still told him the mental method of the Qi Cultivation Technique, gave him a warning, bid farewell to Feng Yue, and got back on the road. After they left, Feng Yue immediately dropped the smile from his face, called his trusted aides, and ordered, ¡°Re-register everyone in the base, arrange those with special skills separately, and all the able-bodied, regardless of gender, are to be incorporated into the guard squad. You have half a day to handle this, and tomorrow everyone starts training!¡± Having given his orders, he rubbed his face vigorously. If he wanted to build up the base, he couldn¡¯t just focus on cultivation as before. Besides, Fang Yuxin had bestowed such a generous gift upon him; not making good use of it would be a waste. Although he was greedy, he knew the difficulty of acting alone; outside, there were not only zombies but also mutated creatures. He alone was not enough! He had to train his people into a strong force to survive better! After making arrangements, he strode home. Li Ranqiu had made him lose face, even foolishly dreaming of leaving him for someone better ¨C he couldn¡¯t let this go! This woman had been held high for too long and likely forgotten her place; he needed to help her see reality! To make her understand what she should do and what she absolutely must not do! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast a recommendation vote, a monthly ticket; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 418 - 418 234 Tidying Up (Second Update) ?Chapter 418: 234 Tidying Up (Second Update) Chapter 418: 234 Tidying Up (Second Update) Feng Yue returned to the bedroom, Li Ranqiu had yet to awaken. He sat by the bedside, looking down at her beautiful face, contemplating the actions she had previously taken, his handsome features gradually becoming distorted. He did not wake Li Ranqiu directly but instead reached out and gently placed his hand on her abdomen, striving to feel the life that was being nurtured within. Before Bai Ye and the others left, he had taken the opportunity to discreetly seek confirmation from Meng Qingluo, wanting to know if Li Ranqiu was truly pregnant. He was reluctant to believe that the woman he had always cherished would disregard even his child! Meng Qingluo had assured him that Li Ranqiu was indeed pregnant, but for specifics, a thorough examination would be required. He lightly touched her still-flat abdomen, imagining the son or daughter developing inside, and his expression unconsciously softened. However, suddenly, he remembered something! When he had first been intimate with Li Ranqiu, although she had seemed inexperienced, there had not been the expected sign of virginity, which had mattered a great deal to him. Men prefer their partners to be pure virgins, untouched by anyone else, and he was no exception. Thus, at that time, he had felt quite upset upon discovering this. But Li Ranqiu, with tears in her eyes, had explained to him that intense physical activities could cause the hymen to tear. She had been learning dance since childhood, and falling during practice was common, so that was why there was no blood. They had just been tender with each other, and his feelings for Li Ranqiu were quite strong. Seeing her pitiful state, he had believed her. Later, he had asked others, some did not know, while others said that it was indeed possible. He had subsequently consulted the doctors at the Base, accepting their affirmative response as conclusive. But now, he suddenly felt that Li Ranqiu was lying! Since witnessing Li Ranqiu¡¯s pretense in front of Bai Ye, she was no longer the pure and wonderful woman in his eyes. He felt blinded and found himself uncontrollably doubting every word she had said and every action she had taken! Once this suspicion arose, he could no longer see the child in her womb the same way. Was it truly his child? Or was it someone else¡¯s illegitimate offspring? Feng Yue did not know. He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly stood up from the bedside, called in a subordinate from outside, and commanded, ¡°Go invite Doctor Zhou here, tell him there is a patient.¡± His subordinate dared not speak any further, and did not even dare to glance around. Feng Yue¡¯s temper was not pleasant, and at this moment, he was like a volcano ready to erupt, not to be provoked! Doctor Zhou was the village clinic¡¯s doctor and a retired traditional Chinese medicine practitioner from a major city hospital, skilled in his profession. Had he not chosen to spend his later years in his hometown, many hospitals would have been eager to employ him. Previously when Li Ranqiu had severe morning sickness, it had been him who helped by providing massages to ease her symptoms. Now, without equipment and unreliable Western medicine, Feng Yue could only think of him. He had heard that experienced traditional Chinese practitioners could determine the duration of the pregnancy by feeling the pulse, although he wasn¡¯t sure whether it was true. Feng Yue, being the leader of the Base, was someone none dared to disobey. Soon, Doctor Zhou arrived. Feng Yue did not allow the subordinate to enter but had him wait outside, then personally escorted Doctor Zhou to the bedroom, instructing him to take Li Ranqiu¡¯s pulse: ¡°Check how long she has been pregnant.¡± Doctor Zhou carried a small aluminum medical case. He opened it, took out a cushion, placed it under Li Ranqiu¡¯s wrist, then sat by the bed, pressing his fingers to her pulse, feeling it attentively. Feng Yue stood beside, his expression calm, yet his heart churned, fearing that the child in Li Ranqiu¡¯s womb was not his. A minute passed, yet it felt much longer to him. As Doctor Zhou retracted his fingers, he immediately asked, ¡°Doctor Zhou, how is it? Can you tell?¡± Doctor Zhou pondered for a moment. He had been in the village when the apocalypse occurred and had survived, witnessing everything that unfolded. Knowing Li Ranqiu came with Feng Yue and they were a couple, he said, ¡°She has been pregnant for a month and a half. Times are hard now, you should be cautious...¡± At this point, he suddenly saw Feng Yue¡¯s complexion turn dark, veins popping, and eyes red. His heart skipped, sensing something was amiss. He had always thought Li Ranqiu and Feng Yue were a couple, possibly even married, but Feng Yue¡¯s reaction suggested he might have been mistaken. Chapter 419 - 419 234 Tidy Up (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 419: 234 Tidy Up (Second Update)_2 Chapter 419: 234 Tidy Up (Second Update)_2 Ah, this is really bad! After all, he was a doctor and had encountered all kinds of bizarre patients; what strange things had he not seen? Not to mention his own experiences, in the hospital he could hear various gossips all day, all about bizarre patients. Thus, as soon as he saw Feng Yue¡¯s expression, he guessed that the child in Li Ranqiu¡¯s belly might not be Feng Yue¡¯s. Thinking about Feng Yue¡¯s usual methods, Li Ranqiu and the child in her belly might be in danger! Doctor Zhou knew that this was not something for him to interfere with, he couldn¡¯t manage it, and as a man, he could very well understand Feng Yue¡¯s feelings. But as a doctor at heart, he simply couldn¡¯t stand by and watch a perfectly good person die, especially not by his own fault. So, he thought for a moment and tentatively advised, ¡°Mr. Feng, now that it¡¯s the apocalypse, having a child is not easy. Considering Miss Li¡¯s young age, I¡¯m afraid this is her first time being a mother. Please be a bit more patient.¡± He didn¡¯t dare to speak too plainly, fearing that Feng Yue would become furious with shame and not only fail to save Li Ranqiu and the child, but possibly implicate himself as well. However, as soon as he finished speaking, Feng Yue glared at him menacingly, his eyes revealing unabashed murderous intent, which made Doctor Zhou¡¯s heart alarmingly alert, filled with regret, yet he didn¡¯t know how to plead for himself. Although he had guessed the truth, could such truths be casually spoken? Right now by staying silent, he could pretend he knew nothing. If he spoke up, he might very well end up dead! Feng Yue kept staring at him intently, and after a long while, he finally dispersed the killing intent in his eyes and warned, ¡°Today¡¯s matter must not be told to anyone, otherwise, not only will you be doomed, but your son, daughter-in-law, and precious grandson won¡¯t survive either!¡± Hearing this, Doctor Zhou¡¯s face turned deathly pale, and he broke out in cold sweat. He carefully assured, ¡°Mr. Feng, rest assured, I will absolutely not speak of today¡¯s events!¡± Only then did Feng Yue nod. However, he still said, ¡°As long as you obey, I won¡¯t let you down. But if you have other ideas or think about escaping, I will not show mercy!¡± Upon hearing this, Doctor Zhou¡¯s face turned even grimmer. Just moments ago, he had indeed considered the possibility of escaping with his family! Feng Yue then allowed him to leave. Watching Doctor Zhou hastily rushing away, like fleeing for his life, Feng Yue sneered. He believed that this old fool would never dare to defy him! In fact, if it weren¡¯t for this man¡¯s excellent medical skills and being a good doctor, he wouldn¡¯t have let him live! However, letting him go wasn¡¯t a bad decision either; there were so many people in the Base, and not everyone could be trained as a soldier. Those who lacked strength could be taught some medical skills to be of some use eventually. With that thought, he didn¡¯t dwell on it further. After all, the matter concerning Li Ranqiu was not yet resolved. This woman had dared to deceive him and almost made him raise someone else¡¯s child; just for that, he would never let her go! Thinking of the child in Li Ranqiu¡¯s belly not being his own, any remaining tenderness for her completely vanished. He looked at Li Ranqiu¡¯s peaceful sleeping face and suddenly felt a brutal urge to torment her! He roughly grabbed Li Ranqiu¡¯s wrist, pulled her from the bed, and threw her on the floor, then, he raised his foot and stepped on her abdomen. ¡°Thud!¡± Li Ranqiu¡¯s head hit the floor, and although she wasn¡¯t injured, the pain woke her up. She furrowed her brows in pain, and as soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Feng Yue looking down at her from above, his gaze icy. His eyes lacked the usual adoration and pity, only filled with cruelty and madness. What horrified her even more was that Feng Yue¡¯s foot was actually pressing on her abdomen! Although he hadn¡¯t exerted any force yet, just the sight alone was enough to terrify her! Li Ranqiu panicked and immediately began to beg for mercy, her eyes brimming with tears, her gaze sorrowful, her voice pleading, ¡°Brother Feng! What are you doing?¡± ¡°What am I doing? You actually have the nerve to ask me that?¡± Brother Feng, looking at Li Ranqiu¡¯s pitiful appearance, couldn¡¯t control his emotional surge. Initially, he had been deceived by her pitiable look! Now, this wretch dared to repeat her old tricks, thinking he was still the same fool who let her fool him? With that thought, he began to press down harder on Li Ranqiu¡¯s abdomen. Li Ranqiu had hoped that Feng Yue, seeing her in this state, would feel a shred of pity, but instead, it only infuriated Feng Yue further! Seeing his fierce expression, she immediately struggled, pleading as she did so, ¡°Brother Feng, I know I was wrong! Please spare me this time! Have you forgotten? I¡¯m carrying your child! Don¡¯t do this, you¡¯ll hurt him!¡± She should¡¯ve kept quiet about this, but mentioning it completely enraged Feng Yue. He increased the pressure on her abdomen while his other foot stomped on her chest, feeling the softness beneath him, he maliciously began to grind his shoe. He was wearing a pair of military boots, picked up from an outdoor goods store, with a thick sole and sharp edges, making the sensations of being stepped on particularly unbearable. Li Ranqiu, delicate and tender, soon started crying in earnest, ¡°Brother Feng, spare me! Please, spare me! From now on, I¡¯ll do whatever you say! I¡¯m begging you! Spare me!¡± She was actually terrified inside; she was only twenty years old and hadn¡¯t even graduated yet, always spoiled by her family, she had never been treated like this. She sensed that the child in her belly might not be Feng Yue¡¯s, potentially her deceased boyfriend¡¯s, yet she dared not say it, and could only plead repeatedly, hoping that Feng Yue might pity her as he had before. If Feng Yue was willing to spare her, she would follow him obediently and never hope for anything more! [To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we invite you to recommend and vote on Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile readers please visit m.qidian.com to read.] Chapter 420 - 420 235 Danger in the Deserted Village (Third Update) ?Chapter 420: 235 Danger in the Deserted Village (Third Update) Chapter 420: 235 Danger in the Deserted Village (Third Update) Li Ranqiu looked at Feng Yue with pleading eyes, desperately trying to evoke the affection he once had for her. She even silently prayed in her heart, deciding that if Feng Yue would spare her, she would follow him closely and treat him well. However, she soon realized that this tactic was no longer effective on Feng Yue! Feng Yue, who once loved her dearly, was now equally furious! If she had chosen not to deceive him in the beginning and had honestly admitted to having had a boyfriend and intimate encounters with him, even if Feng Yue felt disgusted, he would not have been so angry. She had painstakingly created an image of a beautiful, pure, untouchable goddess for Feng Yue, and now she had shattered that image with her own hands. She revealed her promiscuity and shamelessness, and he learned of her initial deception, even discovering that the child in her womb was not his own. How could he not be angry? How could he possibly forgive her? Feng Yue continued to increase the pressure on her with his foot, but he did not intend to kill Li Ranqiu or cause her severe injuries. This woman had deceived him for so long and had even made him a laughingstock in front of Bai Ye and his group! Letting her die would have been too easy on her! Thinking this, Feng Yue withdrew his foot, stood beside Li Ranqiu, and as she sighed in relief and looked up hopefully, he crouched down and grabbed her chin, saying, ¡°Did you think I didn¡¯t know? The bastard in your belly is not mine! Didn¡¯t you say I was your first man? Then how is this bastard already a month and a half old?¡± Li Ranqiu¡¯s face turned pale in an instant; she trembled and her now pale lips shook as she shook her head and defended herself, ¡°No! It¡¯s not like that! Brother Feng, listen to me, I really didn¡¯t lie to you, this child is truly yours! It must be the doctor who made a mistake, you are my first man, how could I possibly be pregnant for a month and a half?¡± ¡°Not admitting it, huh? I knew you wouldn¡¯t.¡± Feng Yue scoffed coldly, then released Li Ranqiu¡¯s chin, grabbed her hair, and pulled her up from the ground. Her hair was dyed a beautiful coffee color, styled into large curls at the ends, and because it was well-maintained, not only was it smooth, it also shone brilliantly, complementing her pale skin and delicate oval face beautifully. Feng Yue had once loved touching her hair and used to handle it very gently, afraid of hurting Li Ranqiu. But this time, he no longer had any of his past compassion and appreciation, he grabbed a handful of hair and yanked hard. Li Ranqiu cried in pain, reaching up with both hands to protect her scalp, and stood up from the ground of her own accord. But before she could stabilize herself, Feng Yue roughly dragged her outside. She begged all along the way, but Feng Yue ignored her pleas, dragging her down the stairs and finally into the basement, where he threw her to the ground. Li Ranqiu kept massaging her scalp because of the rough treatment by Feng Yue, which made her scalp hurt terribly. As she massaged, a lot of hair fell off. Some hair broke in the middle, while some was pulled out from the roots. Li Ranqiu had never suffered such torture before. Watching her hair continuously fall, she screamed in fright, curling up on the ground and crying even more sorrowfully. Feng Yue paid no attention to her and instead found a coil of coarse rope. He threaded one end through a hook in the ceiling, then forcefully pulled off her clothes, stripped her completely, and tied her up with the rope. The rope, full of rough bristles, pricked Li Ranqiu¡¯s tender skin, causing her great discomfort. She looked terrified, crying and struggling, continuously begging Feng Yue for mercy. She was just an Ordinary Person without Awakening, her strength nowhere near enough to break free from Feng Yue¡¯s grip. Feng Yue quickly tied her up, then pulled the rope, lifting her until only the tips of her toes could touch the ground, making it impossible for her to stand steadily. After securing the rope at a suitable height, Feng Yue ignored Li Ranqiu¡¯s pleas and violently raped her for the first time. Watching Li Ranqiu faint from being unable to endure his brutal violation, Feng Yue¡¯s gaze grew even colder. He would not kill this woman who dared to deceive him and make him a fool. He would keep her alive to continuously torture her, reminding himself how foolish he had once been! ... Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin and others left the settlement behind after they departed. They did not specifically treat those infected with the Zombie Virus as they left the settlement. Fang Yuxin had done what she could to help; whether these people could survive depended on their own will to live. Chapter 421 - 421 235 Danger in the Deserted Village (Third ?Chapter 421: 235 Danger in the Deserted Village (Third Update)_2 Chapter 421: 235 Danger in the Deserted Village (Third Update)_2 The embarrassing Li Ranqiu was also tossed from her mind, such a person could be found anywhere and was not yet worthy of her attention. After leaving, she opened her tablet, launched the map application, and checked the nearby routes. The map Feng Yue had given her was rather detailed, and it even specially noted the nearby conditions, such as some villages that were now uninhabited and roads that were severed. These details were not visible on the software. Having discussed with the others, Fang Yuxin quickly determined a new route to get back onto the highway. Naturally, the closest way was to detour past that deep pit. But that area was guarded and someone had set up roadblocks. If they went that way, they would definitely alert Feng Yue and their secret would be exposed. Although it was no secret that Shang Jinxiu was a Space superpower user in the team, others did not know. A Space superpower user was a very special existence and prone to being targeted. She certainly did not want to expose Shang Jinxiu in the eyes of others; that would put Jinxiu in great danger. Thus, they had no choice but to take the long way around and chose another route. As they steadily extended their distance from the settlement, an abandoned village came into view in front of them. The village was severely afflicted by disaster, with large areas turned to ruins, and the remaining structures were empty of life. Fang Yuxin released her Spiritual Sense and detected the presence of Elemental Stones within the ruins. There were not many, just over a dozen, but they had yet to be discovered. This was understandable, as this place was relatively far from Feng Yue¡¯s settlement, and Feng Yue might not have been able to find it. As for others, who would bother picking up those inconspicuous stones if they did not know the use of Elemental Stones? Fang Yuxin shared her discovery with Bai Ye, who immediately decided to take a look at the deserted village! Their Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals had all been stolen, so even though there weren¡¯t many to find, having some was better than none. The Yongcheng Team did not compete with Bai Ye¡¯s group for the stones this time. They already had plenty of Elemental Stones and Elemental Crystals, and there was no need to create unpleasantness over such a small amount. Moreover, after so many collaborations, both teams had developed a kind of affection, barely considering each other as friends. It was not necessary for friends in need to send out their own Elemental Crystals, nor was it necessary to compete over such trivial matters. To avoid any suggestion of conflict, after entering the deserted village, the Yongcheng Team did not even bother mining Elemental Stones and left them all for Bai Ye¡¯s group. Bai Ye and his teammates noticed their gesture of goodwill and did not fuss over accepting the help. Since there was no need to mine Elemental Stones, Fang Yuxin suggested, ¡°This is a rural area, let¡¯s look for cellars or granaries or something. If the villagers left in a hurry, they might not have been able to take everything with them.¡± At her suggestion, the others agreed. Although they were not short of food, no one would complain about having too much. Besides, even if they didn¡¯t consume it themselves, they could always sell it to others, give it away to those in need, which would be much better than letting it rot away, right? So, they split up and started searching for cellars and granaries. To avoid any danger, the ten people divided into three groups. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang formed one group, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe another, while the remaining six, led by Chen Qiao, made up the third group. Bai Qianqian followed Bai Ye, using her Spiritual Sense to help them locate Elemental Stones. After dividing into teams, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang chose a direction and began searching house by house. The village¡¯s conditions did not compare to Feng Yue¡¯s settlement, with mostly ordinary residential buildings and no villas. There were even some dilapidated tile houses that clearly indicated poor financial circumstances of the homeowner. They checked each household one by one. With the help of Spiritual Sense, there was no need to enter the houses; they could easily see inside with a mere release of Spiritual Sense. Fang Yuyang, who had reached the Qi Refining Middle Stage, could also release his Spiritual Sense, although it was not as strong as Fang Yuxin¡¯s and had limited range. Of course, it was more than enough to check the conditions inside the houses. During their search, they couldn¡¯t help but sigh at the situation inside the houses. It was evident that the homeowners had left hastily, or perhaps had not survived at all. Three scattered skeletons, two adults and one child, had been picked clean, presenting a pitiful sight. Besides, there were quite a few usable supplies in the house. They opened the door and went in. Fang Yuxin conjured a fireball to cremate the skeletal remains and then collected the usable supplies into a corner of the warehouse. After inspecting this house, they moved on to the next. Different houses had various situations, some still had consumable supplies, while others had none, probably taken by the homeowners. While they were busy, Fang Yuxin suddenly felt tense and quickly turned her head towards a direction. Fang Yuyang, who had been keeping an eye on her, realized something had happened and said, ¡°Is there trouble over there? Let¡¯s hurry!¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, and just as they were about to leave, they heard an angry roar in the distance. ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡± The sound reverberated like thunder, carrying with it a ferocity that traveled from afar. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang both paled. ¡°That sound... is probably some kind of mutant animal! Let¡¯s get there quickly!¡± Fang Yuyang said, pulling Fang Yuxin as they rushed out. Just from the sound alone, they could sense that the creature was no easy adversary. If they arrived too late, the others would be in danger! (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with your recommendation or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 422 - 422 236 What is it (First update) ?Chapter 422: 236 What is it? (First update) Chapter 422: 236 What is it? (First update) Fang Yuxin and Yu Yang rushed toward the direction from which the sound had come, seeing from afar the dazzling red light flashing and even feeling a searing heat hitting their faces. As they got closer, they were surprised to find a massive Red Mastiff, its entire body ablaze with flames. It stood over two meters tall, its robust legs firmly planted on the ground, and its fiery red fluffy fur parted to reveal shiny, black, sharp claws. Although its body was engulfed in flames, a closer look revealed that the flames did not harm it; they were emitted by it! This was a Red Mastiff with an awakened Fire Ability! Fang Yuxin and Yu Yang were shocked and hastened their steps when they saw Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang confronting it. However, at that moment, the Red Mastiff suddenly pounced toward Qu Qianhe! While pulling Qu Qianhe back, Fang Jintang erected several earth walls in front of them to block the Red Mastiff¡¯s attack. The sharp claws of the Red Mastiff easily shattered the earth walls. Fang Jintang¡¯s expression changed, and he stomped on the ground fiercely. The next moment, numerous sharp Earth Spikes protruded from the ground, seeming to skewer the Red Mastiff. However, despite its huge body, the Red Mastiff was not cumbersome. As soon as the Earth Spikes appeared, it leaped aside and continued its charge at Qu Qianhe. Yu Yang immediately released a massive Wind Blade toward the Red Mastiff. The Red Mastiff did not dodge; instead, the flames on its body burned even more fiercely. The massive Wind Blade struck the flames but could not penetrate them and instead got burned away. However, after the Wind Blade vanished, the flames on the Red Mastiff diminished momentarily, whether intentionally retracted or unable to sustain. Fang Yuxin and Yu Yang exchanged a glance, both realizing the difficulty of combating the Red Mastiff. Its flames provided excellent protection, and the mutant animal¡¯s fur was incredibly defensive, impervious to ordinary weapons. Its teeth and claws, however, were alarmingly sharp, easily shattering earth walls with terrifying power. ¡°Meow!¡± Angela, perched on Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder, suddenly cried out, its fur bristling. In the next moment, it leaped from Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder. Mid-air, its body swiftly reverted to its original form, its fur separated into sharp spikes covered quickly in frost, resembling a legendary fierce beast. Angela seemed pleased with its current appearance. It let out a low growl and then swiftly charged at the Red Mastiff! The Red Mastiff had initially aimed an attack at Qu Qianhe but, feeling the icy air encroaching, seemed triggered. Its fur bristled completely, flames surging as it suddenly changed direction toward Angela. They stopped ten meters apart, lowered their bodies, assuming a stance convenient for attacking, staring each other down and emitting warning growls. The situation was at a standstill, seemingly unending. Fang Yuxin and Yu Yang caught up, Fang Yuxin looking at Angela, shouting worriedly, ¡°Angela! Be careful!¡± Meanwhile, she quickly contemplated strategies. She possessed the Wood Element; wood feeds fire, but fire counters wood. Her Wood Energy would not only fail to harm the enemy but also help intensify the flames. Moreover, Yu Yang¡¯s wind would similarly fuel the fire. Unless they had an absolute overpowering force, they stood no chance against the Red Mastiff! Seeing Yu Yang about to move, Fang Yuxin quickly pulled him back, ¡°Brother, wait! Wind fuels fire, let Dad handle it. Water counters fire!¡± As long as the water was sufficient, it could extinguish the flames, and with Angela¡¯s help, who possessed the Ice Element, it would complement Fang Jintang perfectly! Once Yu Yang understood, he reluctantly stayed his hand, listening as Fang Yuxin told Fang Jintang, ¡°Dad! Use water to attack it!¡± Fang Jintang nodded, his fingers rapidly forming seals. Soon, spheres of water as large as basketballs appeared out of thin air in the sky, slowly elongating into water arrows that rapidly shot toward the Red Mastiff. Chapter 423 - 423 236 What is this (First update)_2 ?Chapter 423: 236 What is this? (First update)_2 Chapter 423: 236 What is this? (First update)_2 The Water Arrow elongated amid the howling, its tip becoming increasingly sharp. Even if it couldn¡¯t pierce the Red Mastiff¡¯s fur, it could still hinder its fiery momentum. Dense with arrows, the Red Mastiff couldn¡¯t dodge. It turned its head, glaring fiercely at Fang Jintang, and surprisingly didn¡¯t flinch. Instead, the flames on its body flared up several times larger, burning even more intensely. The Water Arrow hadn¡¯t even approached when the tip vaporized due to the extreme heat, turning into white steam. The remaining halves of the arrows, lacking support, turned into splashes of water that fell to the ground. As more and more Water Arrows were destroyed by the Red Mastiff, a shallow puddle gradually formed on the ground. Fang Jintang wasn¡¯t discouraged and continued to release a barrage of Water Arrows, constantly depleting the flames on the Red Mastiff. After the recent depletion, the Red Mastiff¡¯s flames had already diminished visibly. As long as the assault continued, the flames on it would eventually burn out, unable to coalesce again! Meanwhile, Angela made her move. She didn¡¯t go straight for the Red Mastiff; instead, she walked over leisurely as if strolling in a courtyard. Every time her clawed feet touched the ground, a two-meter wide area around her instantly froze into solid ice. Layer upon layer of solid ice formed and grew into a large patch of hard ice, creeping toward where the Red Mastiff stood. Sensing the cold chill of ice coming toward it, the Red Mastiff issued increasingly dangerous warning growls. It frustratedly pawed the ground with its four claws, the nearby water vaporized by the high temperature. It glanced at Angela and then at Qu Qianhe, hesitating whether to flee. But just as it turned its head, Angela suddenly let out a low roar. Immediately, a fierce energy fluctuation erupted from its body. Sharp ice, fierce as swords, formed before it and spread rapidly toward the Red Mastiff. These ice spikes were sharp and imposing, sending out a chilling cold in the sunlight. Gradually, those spikes suddenly changed direction, twisting into a thick, robust spike that lunged toward the Red Mastiff at breakneck speed. The Red Mastiff sensed the chilling killing intent in the solid ice and roared, a fierce energy fluctuation also bursting forth from its body. Then, it opened its massive jaw and spat out a thick Fire Snake. As the Fire Snake collided with the spike, a sizzling sound erupted. The tip of the spike continuously vaporized and solidified due to the chill that followed. At this time, Fang Jintang was still endlessly releasing dense showers of arrows, draining the Red Mastiff of its fire energy. Caught between two fronts, the Red Mastiff was ultimately overwhelmed. The Fire Snake slowly retreated while the ferocious ice spike steadily advanced. Angela took steps forward, closing the distance between herself and the Red Mastiff. Simultaneously, hearing the commotion, Chen Qiao¡¯s six people and Bai Ye¡¯s five people all rushed over. Chen Si had an Ice Ability, and he walked quickly over without a word, releasing a series of Ice Arrows that shot toward the Red Mastiff. A semi-circular puddle had formed around the Red Mastiff, which stood in the middle. As the Ice Arrows fell into the puddle, the frigid chill froze the water. Countless ice arrows fell, quickly forming a semi-circular cage that blocked the Red Mastiff¡¯s escape route. Watching Angela¡¯s ice spike draw closer to the Red Mastiff, it suddenly roared loudly, baring its sharp fangs and fiercely pounced toward Angela, biting at her neck! However, Angela¡¯s body was covered in sharp ice spikes. She contorted her body to dodge the Red Mastiff¡¯s attack, while giving it a harsh claw. The Red Mastiff¡¯s sharp teeth scraped past Angela¡¯s ice spikes, catching just a mouthful of shattered ice without harming Angela, and almost getting clawed by her in return! Angela froze the surroundings into an icy surface, the bone-chilling atmosphere making the Red Mastiff restless and slowing down its movements. The two giant beasts continuously tore at each other, with Angela shielded by ice spikes, remaining unharmed. In contrast, the Red Mastiff¡¯s flames grew weaker and weaker, scratched several times by Angela. Although not severely wounded, the attacks made it more irate. Bai Ye suddenly approached, holding a golden Longsword, his eyes fixed dead on the Red Mastiff. He could see that although the Red Mastiff was fierce, it hadn¡¯t lost its rationale. To kill it just like that, he couldn¡¯t help but feel reluctant. At the same time, Fang Yuxin had approached Qu Qianhe. She checked on Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang to see if they were unharmed, then asked, ¡°Mom, Dad, what happened just now?¡± Fang Jintang¡¯s face was grim, his eyes fixed on the Red Mastiff as if he wished he could deal with it swiftly and move on. Qu Qianhe glanced at him and explained in a low voice, ¡°Your father and I were looking for usable materials nearby when it suddenly pounced on us, seemingly mistaking me for food.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, mentally planning to sneak into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion to see if there were any fire-resistant materials that could serve as weapons. Otherwise, facing a powerful Fire Element enemy again, she would be at a significant disadvantage! As the Red Mastiff grew increasingly feeble, Fang Jintang advanced with his imposing broadsword. Qu Qianhe quickly followed, anxiously asking, ¡°Jintang, are you going to kill it?¡± Fang Jintang stopped abruptly, looking at Qu Qianhe irritably and said, ¡°It wanted to kill you; it deserves to die!¡± Qu Qianhe looked at the Red Mastiff, sensing it seemed to keep watching her, she couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°I think it might just be hungry. Can we not kill it first?¡± She had once raised a Red Mastiff, but it was killed protecting her. So she couldn¡¯t bear to watch this Red Mastiff die right before her eyes. (To be continued... If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 424 - 424 237 Try It (Second Update) ?Chapter 424: 237 Try It (Second Update) Chapter 424: 237 Try It (Second Update) When Fang Jintang saw the nostalgic expression on her face, he immediately guessed that she was thinking about the past and advised, ¡°Qianhe, the Red Cloud that saved you originally is already dead, it¡¯s not the same one. It just attacked you; it¡¯s very dangerous. You can¡¯t transfer your feelings for Red Cloud onto it!¡± Qu Qianhe hesitated and glanced at Fang Jintang, then suddenly asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, do you think I can turn it into my Spiritual Pet? This way, we wouldn¡¯t have to kill it, right? This Red Mastiff is quite strong and it hasn¡¯t lost its reason. It would be such a pity to just kill it.¡± Fang Yuxin, standing nearby and seeing both Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang staring at her urging her to make a decision, immediately felt enormous pressure. She looked at the Red Mastiff grappling with Angela and after a moment, said, ¡°Dad, why don¡¯t we let Mom try? Mom¡¯s right, this Red Mastiff is strong. If Mom can tame it, wouldn¡¯t we have a powerful fighter in the future?¡± As soon as Fang Jintang thought about how the Red Mastiff had just attacked Qu Qianhe, he was reluctant to agree. But Qu Qianhe kept giving him pleading looks, and he found it hard to refuse. He could only helplessly say, ¡°Then give it a try, but you must not overexert yourself! If it¡¯s not willing, I must kill it!¡± Upon getting his approval, Qu Qianhe beamed with joy and happily hugged him, planting a kiss on his face, ¡°Husband! I knew you were the best!¡± Fang Jintang¡¯s face instantly flushed red as he stammered, ¡°What are you doing! Everyone is... everyone is watching!¡± Even though he complained, he was delighted deep inside, his heart pounding erratically. Qu Qianhe wasn¡¯t usually this cheesy in calling him! Qu Qianhe let go of Fang Jintang and quickly walked towards the surrounded Red Mastiff. By then, the flames on the Red Mastiff had weakened considerably, and many injuries were visible, scratched out by Angela. Although none of the injuries were lethal, it looked quite pathetic. Angela fared somewhat better, but several spots of her fur were gone, and there were black burn marks. If not for the protection of solid ice, Angela would have been injured! Fang Yuxin originally thought it would be a pity to kill the Red Mastiff, but when she saw Angela¡¯s pathetic state and thought about Angela possibly getting injured, she began to harbor killing intentions toward the Red Mastiff! Qu Qianhe saw her expression suddenly change and, worried she might suddenly attack the Red Mastiff, quickly grabbed her and whispered a warning, ¡°Xinxin, you just agreed to let me try to tame it!¡± Fang Yuxin hesitated as she looked at her, and after a pause, suppressed her dissatisfaction and let Qu Qianhe try first. It was rare for Qu Qianhe to be so eager about something, and as her daughter, she had no reason to stop her. By that time, a circular Ice Wall had been erected around the Red Mastiff; the wall was very thick, making it almost impossible for it to break out. The only remaining exit was blocked by ice spikes by Angela. Angela stood behind the ice spikes, baring her sharp teeth and continually emitting warning growls. The Red Mastiff, trapped inside, paced restlessly in its cage, its dark eyes glaring at the people and beasts outside, also continuously issuing warning growls from its throat, but with a desperate tone unlike Angela¡¯s. Bai Ye was standing at the exit too, right behind Angela, ready to prevent the Red Mastiff from making a desperate counterattack that might hurt someone else. Seeing Fang Yuxin walking over with Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, he asked, ¡°What should we do with it?¡± Qu Qianhe stepped forward but was forcefully held back by Fang Jintang. Although Fang Jintang agreed to her taking a risk, he was not keen on her getting too close to the Red Mastiff, worried that it might suddenly attack and Qu Qianhe wouldn¡¯t be able to dodge in time. Qu Qianhe, noticing his concern, didn¡¯t insist further and simply said, ¡°I¡¯m preparing to try taming it. If you have the same intention, you can try as well.¡± As soon as she said this, many were moved by the idea. After witnessing Angela¡¯s strength, they all somewhat fancied the idea of taming a powerful Mutant Beast. The Red Mastiff, with its majestic look and great strength, would be a tremendous asset if they could successfully tame it! However, since Qu Qianhe had already brought it up, and given her status, even if others were inclined, it was not appropriate to show too much ambition. Moreover, the Red Mastiff was trapped by the joint efforts of Fang Jintang, Angela, and Chen Si, with Angela being Fang Yuxin¡¯s pet and thus representing Fang Yuxin, thus the ones most qualified naturally were Fang Jintang, Fang Yuxin, and Chen Si. Chapter 425 - 425 237 Try It (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 425: 237 Try It (Second Update)_2 Chapter 425: 237 Try It (Second Update)_2 Qu Qianhe was Fang Jintang¡¯s wife and also the mother of Fang Yuxin, so naturally, she had this privilege. Everyone else, even if they wanted to, would have to wait for her to try first. Qu Qianhe, however, didn¡¯t take action immediately but instead turned to Chen Si and said frankly, ¡°I really like this Red Mastiff, but since you¡¯ve also made an effort just now, if you like it too, you can try first.¡± Chen Si¡¯s gaze flickered slightly, then he quite straightforwardly shook his head, ¡°Madam is too polite. This Red Mastiff is indeed remarkable, but it is of the Fire Element, while I am of the Ice Element. It¡¯s not suitable to follow me; it¡¯s better for Madam to try.¡± Regardless of whether his intentions were genuine or pretense, since he had said as much, Qu Qianhe didn¡¯t refuse any further. At this moment, Bai Ye had already stepped aside, and Qu Qianhe walked to the center, facing the formidable Red Mastiff through the fierce ice spikes. She released her Spiritual Sense, attempting to connect with it: ¡°Do you wish to follow me and become my companion?¡± Qu Qianhe didn¡¯t say ¡°pet,¡± whether out of affection for the Red Mastiff that had saved her back then or out of respect for this Red Mastiff, she felt that the status of ¡°pet¡± didn¡¯t suit it. It was a mighty Red Mastiff; it should have its own pride. In response to her was a low growl from the Red Mastiff. However, within this low growl were no traces of anger, but a heavy warning. Clearly, the Red Mastiff was not willing to submit easily. Qu Qianhe thought for a moment and then took out a Basic-level Crystal Core and threw it to it. The Red Mastiff immediately stepped back, and the Crystal Core fell to the ground in front of it, sparkling and translucent, incredibly beautiful. At the time, Bai Ye was standing next to Fang Yuxin; his gaze shifted subtly the moment he saw the sparkling and translucent Basic-level Crystal Core. He recognized it at a glance¡ªit was a Basic-level Crystal Core. But it was by no means an ordinary one. Compared to a regular Basic-level Crystal Core, it was much clearer, and its Energy more pure; it was obviously processed. Thus, he suddenly recalled what Fang Yuxin had said to Feng Yue before. She had said that Zombie Crystal Cores contained impurities and negative Energy, and direct absorption would inevitably lead to those impurities and negative Energy being incorporated into the body, affecting it. At the time, she hadn¡¯t mentioned how to resolve this issue, but only told Feng Yue to maintain his true nature. At that moment, Bai Ye grew doubtful, feeling that Fang Yuxin must have a solution. He could tell it was a secret Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to reveal, so he had been holding back from asking. Now, looking at the sparkling Basic-level Crystal Core, Bai Ye confirmed his suspicions and became even more curious about the method. When he advanced in the past, he had encountered a bottleneck, and it was only with the help of Fang Yuxin that he eventually succeeded in advancing. Moreover, after advancing, many impurities were expelled from his body. So, if one continuously absorbed such pure Crystal Cores, would future advancements become much easier? Bai Ye instinctively felt it would be the case but didn¡¯t dare to ask. He was worried that by asking, he might not even manage to maintain a normal friendship with Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin noticed Bai Ye¡¯s conflicted gaze but didn¡¯t pay him any heed, focusing solely on the reaction of the Red Mastiff. The Red Mastiff was very cautious, sensing the pure Energy within the Crystal Core, and knew that the Energy was highly beneficial to it. But it didn¡¯t lower its guard and immediately swallow the Crystal Core. It hadn¡¯t forgotten how it had turned out this way. However, it didn¡¯t resist for long, as it desperately needed the Energy within the Crystal Core. The battle had nearly depleted all its Energy, and without recovery, there was no way it could escape! After hesitating for a while, it lowered its head, sniffed the Crystal Core, and finding no problems, it stuck out its large tongue, rolled up the Crystal Core from the ground, and swallowed it. Mutant animals and superpower users were different; superpower users absorbed Crystal Cores directly by holding them in their hands, whereas mutant animals swallowed the Crystal Cores and extracted the Energy. After swallowing the Crystal Core, it quickly found that this Crystal Core was different from those it had swallowed before. The Energy inside was much purer, almost completely dissolved, leaving not even impurities behind. Not only that, but this pure Energy was also very comfortable to absorb and the absorption rate was even faster! Once the Red Mastiff realized this, its pitch-black eyes suddenly brightened, and the look it gave Qu Qianhe was filled with longing; its voice no longer sounded as warning as before. Having experience in raising a Red Mastiff, Qu Qianhe immediately understood there was hope. However, she did not continue to throw Crystal Cores to it but once again reached out with her Spiritual Sense to contact its consciousness: ¡°As long as you agree to become my companion, I will give you many more of these Crystal Cores.¡± This time, she received a response from the Red Mastiff: ¡°Want... want more... give me... give me more...¡± It probably expressed its intentions for the first time, and the returned thoughts were not very clear, but Qu Qianhe understood what it meant. She threw another Basic-level Crystal Core, then continued with her Spiritual Sense, ¡°Promise me, become my companion.¡± After she finished speaking, she pricked her fingertip, squeezed out a drop of blood, and flicked the Blood Pearl toward the brow of the Red Mastiff, all while using her Spiritual Sense, ¡°As long as you accept it, you will be my companion from now on.¡± The Red Mastiff quickly swallowed the Crystal Core and then stared intently at the Blood Pearl floating in front of it. The standoff continued, with Qu Qianhe tirelessly contacting its consciousness with her Spiritual Sense, constantly persuading, while the Red Mastiff kept demanding more Crystal Cores. Seeing that the stalemate was unbreakable, Fang Yuxin took out a Fire Element Elemental Crystal, conveying her intention: ¡°Accept that Blood Pearl, and this Elemental Crystal will be yours.¡±(To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your vote for recommendation, monthly ticket, and your support, which is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 426 - 426 238 Accept or Not (Third Update) ?Chapter 426: 238 Accept or Not? (Third Update) Chapter 426: 238 Accept or Not? (Third Update) The Red Mastiff¡¯s eyes were locked onto the Fire Element Elemental Crystal in Fang Yuxin¡¯s hands. After the layer covering the energy fluctuations on the surface had been removed, the energy escaping from the Elemental Crystal was fatally attractive to superpower users, mutated creatures, and zombies alike. This Red Mastiff was no exception. Its eyes went wide, and without much hesitation, it accepted the Blood Pearl from Qu Qianhe. As soon as it did, Qu Qianhe performed a complex hand gesture. After completing the gesture, it transformed into a spirit light and entered the Red Mastiff¡¯s forehead. The Red Mastiff didn¡¯t try to dodge and obediently accepted it. ¡°From now on, you will be called Hong Lie.¡± With this, the master-servant bonding ceremony was completed. Qu Qianhe could feel Hong Lie¡¯s growing desire for the Fire Element Elemental Crystal with each passing moment. She took the Elemental Crystal from Fang Yuxin¡¯s hands and threw it directly to him. This time, the Red Mastiff didn¡¯t dodge but instead opened its mouth to swallow the Fire Element Elemental Crystal. Once swallowed, it began to sit and digest the energy inside. Qu Qianhe unleashed a flame that melted the ferocious icicles and the solid ice wall, then she stayed by Hong Lie¡¯s side, waiting for it to absorb the Elemental Crystal and complete its evolution. Not wanting to leave, Fang Jintang also stayed by her side. Thinking about what had happened before, he felt uneasy and transmitted a message to her, ¡°Qianhe, are you sure the bonding has been successful? Could it still harm you?¡± Qu Qianhe thought about the intentions that had passed from Hong Lie during the bonding and shook her head, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it just felt the Fire Element energy from me and was extremely eager, which is why it attacked me. Now that the bonding is successful, it will not attack me anymore.¡± Fang Jintang frowned, still having doubts but not pushing further. Instead, he said, ¡°It must be hungry, once it wakes up, let¡¯s give it something to eat.¡± Qu Qianhe nodded; she was thinking the same. Absorbing the Elemental Crystal and evolving required time. After hesitating for a moment, Fang Yuxin decided to leave Angela behind to guard Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang, in case of any mishap. Meanwhile, she specifically left some Crystal Cores for Angela to swallow and recover its strength. After these arrangements, she and Fang Yuyang left the place to continue collecting usable supplies. Chen Qiao¡¯s group of six and Bai Ye¡¯s group of five did the same. Before leaving, Bai Ye gave Fang Yuxin a lingering look but, hesitating afterward, eventually did not voice his uncertainties. Fang Yuyang noticed this. After they split up, he spoke to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Bai Ye must have noticed that our Crystal Cores are purified. He might come to ask you about it. Xinxin, what are your plans?¡± Fang Yuxin looked at Fang Yuyang in surprise, slightly impressed that he had noticed too. Fang Yuyang felt a bit displeased under her gaze and said, ¡°Xinxin, do you think I¡¯m useless?¡± Fang Yuxin laughed and denied, ¡°Not at all! I¡¯m just surprised that you observe so minutely! Nothing escapes your eyes; it¡¯s really amazing!¡± Fang Yuyang was amused by her praise, but remembering the serious matter, his expression became stern again as he continued, ¡°Xinxin, you haven¡¯t answered me yet. What are you thinking? If Bai Ye asks you, how are you going to reply?¡± Instead of answering directly, Fang Yuxin asked, ¡°Brother, what kind of person do you think Bai Ye is?¡± Xinxin, what does that have to do with anything? Fang Yuyang, feeling protective, stared at her, fearing she might have feelings for Bai Ye. After hesitating, he asked, ¡°Xinxin, you¡¯re not planning to tell him the truth, are you?¡± Realizing Fang Yuyang¡¯s concern, Fang Yuxin smiled helplessly and said, ¡°Brother! What are you thinking!¡± Fang Yuyang¡¯s expression soured, ¡°Then just tell me what you are planning!¡± Fang Yuxin sighed. To keep Fang Yuyang from overthinking, she candidly replied, ¡°He knows I have a juice that can purify the Zombie Virus, right? Just give it to him. Besides, don¡¯t forget, he received the inheritance of the Dragon Scale Sword, which makes him somewhat an ally, and after all the help he has received from me, and considering his relationship with Bai Qianqian, he definitely won¡¯t become my enemy. We are partners now, giving him the spiritual spring water isn¡¯t a big deal. And don¡¯t forget about Chen Qiao and his group; they¡¯ve been with us all along, it wouldn¡¯t be right to withhold the spiritual spring water from them either.¡± Chapter 427 - 427 238 Accept or Not (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 427: 238 Accept or Not? (Third Update)_2 Chapter 427: 238 Accept or Not? (Third Update)_2 Fang Yuyang thought about it and felt that what Fang Yuxin said was right. Not to mention Bai Ye, Chen Qiao and the others could be considered loyal, and they even risked coming out with them this time, so it was indeed appropriate to share some spiritual spring water with them. However, he was worried that Fang Yuxin was too soft-hearted, so he couldn¡¯t help but warn her, ¡°You can give them the spiritual spring water, but you must not mention anything about the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion!¡± To ensure that no one else would overhear, he deliberately transmitted his voice to Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t speak but nodded solemnly, also transmitting her voice, ¡°Brother, don¡¯t worry, I will never reveal anything about the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion!¡± Fang Yuyang saw that she didn¡¯t seem to be lying and finally breathed a sigh of relief. By now, the two had reached a house. Without speaking further, they first scanned the house with their Spiritual Sense, then directly entered, gathering all the edible items inside. In this manner, they went from house to house, and time quickly passed. When they arrived in front of a two-story building, Fang Yuxin suddenly froze. On the fence of the small building, large patches of pink roses were growing. The flowers were blooming beautifully without any signs of wilting and looked very tempting. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang stopped at a distance, watching the rose flowers with wary expressions. The air was filled with the sweet, enticing scent of rose, with pink petals layered upon each other, tempting one to immerse in this dreamy sea of flowers. But the two were not tempted at all; instead, they were very cautious. Fang Yuyang transmitted his voice, ¡°Xinxin, it¡¯s probably a mutant plant. Let me test it!¡± Fang Yuxin immediately advised, ¡°Brother, be careful! If it can grow so lush, it¡¯s probably not simple.¡± Fang Yuyang smiled confidently and waved his hand, releasing several Wind Blades. Since it was just a test, each Wind Blade was only the size of a palm, and not very powerful. The Wind Blades shot towards the beautiful rose flowers. The next moment, the green leaves suddenly enlarged, blocking the Wind Blades. The Wind Blades hit the enlarged leaves and gradually dissipated without breaking through the leaves¡¯ defense. The leaves then quickly shrank back to their original size. Fang Yuyang glanced at Fang Yuxin, frowning as he transmitted his voice, ¡°This rose is at least Level 2, it¡¯s advancing so quickly!¡± But Fang Yuxin asserted, ¡°No, it¡¯s already close to Level 3, and just one step away from advancing.¡± Mutant plants have a benefit: they are closer to nature, can draw energy from the soil, air, or even flesh and blood, and don¡¯t need to worry about hitting a bottleneck during advancement. As long as their stored energy reaches the limit, they can advance. However, plants are still plants; they are not as intelligent as humans and cannot comprehend complex skills. Compared to humans, their means of facing enemies are very straightforward. Fang Yuxin really liked this mutated rose in front of her, not only because of its high level but also because the rose was a climbing plant, covered in sharp thorns. Once tamed, it could become a powerful weapon in her hands! Thinking this, Fang Yuxin said to Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother, continue attacking it with Wind Blades!¡± Mutant plants, although not as intelligent as mutant animals, were not easy to tame. Thus, Fang Yuxin decided to soften it up with force before taming it using Wood Energy as bait. Hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, Fang Yuyang immediately released several Wind Blades half a meter long, striking at the mutated rose. It clearly sensed that this attack was stronger than the previous ones and quickly transformed its body. In the blink of an eye, what seemed to be an ordinary rose grew larger, its branches as thick as an adult¡¯s arm, and even sprouted palm-length sharp spikes. The green leaves became large and tough, with very sharp serrated edges. Simultaneously, the beautiful rose flowers grew as large as wash basins, with yellow pistils that opened small mouths at the top. Though not ferocious-looking, they still gave the siblings the impression that they would be difficult to deal with. Looking at those pistils, they were immediately reminded of a mosquito¡¯s proboscis. They didn¡¯t know if these pistils could suck blood like a mosquito¡¯s, but just the thought of it sent chills down their spines. The transformation of the mutated rose occurred in a short time, nearly in the blink of an eye. When the Wind Blades struck, the large and tough leaves immediately formed a dense shield wall, blocking the Wind Blades. However, these Wind Blades were not the same as the previous ones! The Wind Blades cut through the leaves, quickly slicing them open and leaving deep wounds on their branches! Regrettably, the branches were very resilient and tough, and despite the leaves¡¯ blockage, the Wind Blades couldn¡¯t sever them completely but instead left wounds and dissipated as their energy was exhausted. Green sap flowed from the wounds, emitting a sweeter and richer scent than the flowers, but unlike the floral scent, it had a refreshing fragrance mixed in. Fang Yuyang was about to release more Wind Blades when the rose plant started trembling non-stop and began telepathically begging the siblings for mercy! ¡°Spare... spare me...¡± While begging, it opened its petals, releasing an even sweeter scent. As the fragrance in the air grew stronger, the siblings noticed that their surroundings started to change! The two were immediately alarmed; this mutated rose had the capability to create illusions! Not only that, Fang Yuxin¡¯s Spiritual Sense detected that the plant¡¯s roots were continuously spreading towards their feet, clearly attempting a sneak attack. Such a cunning plant! Fang Yuxin immediately pulled Fang Yuyang back, and just as they retreated, a fierce and sharp wooden thorn drilled out from their original position! (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 428 - 428 239 Trapped (First Update) ?Chapter 428: 239 Trapped (First Update) Chapter 428: 239 Trapped (First Update) Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had no sooner landed on the ground than Fang Yuyang instantly released five huge Wind Blades. These Wind Blades were larger than the ones before, each reaching a meter in length, shaped like crescent moons, or more like enormous scythes. The Wind Blades flew toward the ferocious spike; however, the spike seemed to know how formidable the Wind Blades were and did not attempt to resist. Instead, it quickly retracted back into the ground. Seeing that things were not favorable, Fang Yuxin urgently called out, ¡°Lan Re! Go underground!¡± Although burrowing was a technique available to Cultivators, with their current weak strength, the underground was the home turf of the Mutated Rose, and entering it not only meant no advantages for her and Fang Yuyang, but they were also likely to be trapped by the complex root system. Therefore, Fang Yuxin did not recklessly tunnel into the earth but instead instructed Lan Re to scout first. No matter what, Lan Re was a Mutant Plant and had gained a substantial amount of Wood Energy from her. Even if not a match for the Mutated Rose, it would not be easily ensnared. Upon receiving the command, Lan Re immediately transformed into a streak of white light and shot into the ground, vanishing in the blink of an eye. As it disappeared, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang both felt vibrations emanating from underneath the soil. The two stepped back again, while simultaneously extending their Spiritual Sense to inspect the situation underground. Upon checking, they discovered that the area beneath them had become a chaotic battlefield. The Mutated Rose¡¯s roots were extensive and tangled complexly beneath the soil. Compared to it, Lan Re fell short. Lan Re was a Mutated Crystal Orchid with a different breed, and its roots were nowhere near as developed as those of the Mutated Rose. However, Lan Re was not so easily bullied; while lacking in extensive roots, its body was as hard as jade and covered with sharp, scale-like leaves, allowing it to move through the ground. As the Mutated Rose had dense roots, Lan Re summoned all its clones to join with its main body, twining around the intricate roots just like a Spiritual Snake. The roots were flexible, but Lan Re¡¯s body was no less so, not to mention the sharp Scale Leaves that continuously sliced through the roots. The more tightly they entwined, the less either could gain the upper hand. Although many roots were severed by the relentless cutting of the Scale Leaves, the roots were too complex and vast; the severed ones were insignificant branches, which hardly amounted to any real damage to the Mutated Rose. Nonetheless, the huge Wind Blades released by Fang Yuyang caused it considerable trouble! Countless petals were sliced into a mess by the Wind Blades, and even the beautiful blossoms did not escape, with many petals chopped off. But soon, the Mutated Rose had a response to this. The open petals curled in and closed back into buds, the branches retracted, shrinking the buds to the size of soybeans hidden between the petioles and branches ¡ª not only were they impervious to the Wind Blades, but they also could hardly be detected without close inspection! ¡°Bro, I¡¯m going to have a go at it!¡± The leaves and branches appeared very tough, and Fang Yuxin was eager to test just how durable they really were. Fang Yuyang worriedly responded, ¡°Xinxin, be careful! Don¡¯t forget, this thing was one step away from reaching Level 3! It¡¯s probably planning to use us as fertilizer!¡± Fang Yuxin was well aware that this plant was a mutated variety and was not as harmless as ordinary plants. It could grow this fast because it had absorbed sufficient Energy. Achieving this was not easy unless it was cunning and ferocious. From the start, she had never underestimated it. Her decision to test it out was well thought out. Although she knew Fang Yuyang¡¯s Wind Blades could inflict damage, she couldn¡¯t fully grasp the defensive capabilities of the Mutated Rose unless she tried it herself. They had a long road ahead and were likely to face a multitude of bizarre enemies. She couldn¡¯t possibly keep hiding behind Fang Yuyang, watching him do everything. She wanted to attempt it herself, to see how much damage she could do to this Mutated Rose with her current strength. She had to be clear about her own strength so that when facing an enemy in the future, she would have a plan in mind and not act blindly. So she insisted, ¡°Brother, I must try it myself.¡± Fang Yuyang looked at her and ultimately could not bring himself to say no. He then said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll follow close behind you!¡± Fang Yuxin felt warmth in her heart, gave Fang Yuyang a slight smile, clenched the hilt of her blade tightly, and quickly charged towards the Mutated Rose. Fang Yuyang followed closely behind her, unleashing Wind Blades while running to prevent any sneak attacks from the other side. Chapter 429 - 429 239 Trapped (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 429: 239 Trapped (First Update)_2 Chapter 429: 239 Trapped (First Update)_2 Fang Yuxin walked, deep in thought. She suddenly thought of a method to deal with the mutant plants, as troublesome as they were, nature provided many parasitic plants, such as Cuscuta chinensis. This plant was lush, with tendrils that could sprout parasitic roots and insert them into the host¡¯s body. If she had a mutated Cuscuta chinensis, it might be perfect to combat the Mutated Rose. However, this was just her speculation, and moreover, she had never heard of Cuscuta chinensis parasitizing on a rose. Moreover, she didn¡¯t even have a mutated Cuscuta chinensis, not to mention its seeds; she could only think about it. As she pondered, she was already approaching the Mutated Rose. At the same time, Fang Yuyang was nearby, vigilantly watching the surroundings, ready to help her fend off any sneak attacks. As the two of them approached, the Mutated Rose seemed to become more alert. Its thick branches grew and tangled ceaselessly, and its large, dense leaves overlapped to form an impenetrable shield wall, preparing to defend against their attacks. At the same time, at the base of the petiole, buds the size of soybeans silently stretched out, with delicate flower stems attached below, seemingly easy to snap with a gentle pinch. The small buds gradually grew to the size of a thumb, the top opened a tiny mouth, and a stamen extended from it, opening an even smaller mouth, like a venomous snake, hidden under the leaves, ready to launch a sneak attack at any moment. Fang Yuxin gripped the handle of her blade and swung forcefully, the long, narrow blade slicing quickly through the air, and with a sharp whoosh, it chopped towards the shield wall made of overlapping leaves. ¡°Thud!¡± The sharp blade hit the shield wall, but instead of the expected rustling of leaves, it produced a dull thud like a blade chopping wood. The leaf surface was sliced, and green sap oozed from the wound, but in an instant, the incision healed itself. Fang Yuxin narrowed her eyes, suddenly took a step back to dodge the lashing bud, and simultaneously twisted her wrist, chopping the blade onto the delicate flower stem. The stem looked extremely frail, about two to three millimeters in diameter, and should have been easily severed. Yet, when the blade hit it, it made a sound like metal striking stone! The stem was slightly nicked before swiftly retracting back, disappearing into the stacked leaves. Fang Yuxin used her Spiritual Sense to observe, noticing that the bud had completely retracted to the base of the petiole, again reduced to the size of a soybean, looking like a tiny bud. Fang Yuyang saw that neither of Fang Yuxin¡¯s attacks had been very effective. Worried she might feel disheartened, he reassured her, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t rush. This Mutated Rose is almost Level 3, so it¡¯s understandable that it has high defense.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded slightly, realizing from her last two attempts that this Mutated Rose was indeed extraordinary. Especially those leaves, their defense was incredibly strong, perfect for making Armor. Although the Scale Leaves on Lan Re were also impressive, they were limited in number and not easily obtained. But this Mutated Rose was different; it was flourishing, with plenty of leaves! Picking a few leaves would hardly harm it. Thinking this, Fang Yuxin¡¯s desire to subdue the Mutated Rose intensified. She ceased her attacks and said to Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother, cover me, I¡¯ll subdue it!¡± Fang Yuyang nodded. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t refuse Fang Yuxin¡¯s request. With no worries about being attacked from behind, Fang Yuxin tentatively used her Spiritual Sense to connect with the consciousness of the Mutated Rose. However, the massive plant concealed its consciousness well. Even after searching for a while, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t find it and had to release more Spiritual Sense to conduct a search like a carpet bombing in the vicinity. After a good while, Fang Yuxin finally located its consciousness¡ªa fist-sized orb of light that was pink with some green, quite beautiful indeed. As soon as Fang Yuxin¡¯s Spiritual Sense approached, the light orb detected her presence. It shivered violently, let out a terrified squeal, and attempted to flee. Fang Yuxin knew that if it escaped, it would find another place to hide. So, she immediately surrounded it with her Spiritual Sense forming a cage, trapping the light orb inside. The orb was terrified and kept slamming against her Spiritual Sense; although it didn¡¯t hurt her, the experience was indeed unpleasant. Fang Yuxin frowned slightly, unwilling to draw this out any longer, and quickly transmitted her intention with her Spiritual Sense, ¡°I am a Wood Element Superpower User. If you acknowledge me as your master, I can help you advance.¡± The light orb wouldn¡¯t cooperate at all; it struggled in the cage for a while, then seemed to realize it couldn¡¯t escape temporarily, and stopped struggling, but it also ignored Fang Yuxin, just quietly huddling in the center of the cage, looking for a chance to escape. Fang Yuxin felt challenged. It had been so easy to subdue Lan Re initially, she hadn¡¯t expected this Mutated Rose to be so uncooperative. As she hesitated, unsure of what to do next, she received a message from Lan Re, ¡°Master, let me... let me do it!¡± Fang Yuxin thought about it, realizing Lan Re and this Mutated Rose were somewhat similar. Allowing it to take over might indeed do the trick, so she agreed and guided Lan Re¡¯s consciousness into the cage trapping the Mutated Rose. Although Lan Re was of a lower level than the Mutated Rose, since it had recognized her as its master, it had gained numerous benefits while with Fang Yuxin, resulting in a more solid and substantial consciousness compared to the simple orb of the Mutated Rose; one could barely make out the shape of a Crystal Orchid. As soon as it arrived, the light orb of the Mutated Rose became excited. It seemed very wary, yet curious at the same time, in a pitiful state of wanting to approach but not daring to. Fang Yuxin suddenly became curious. How would Lan Re persuade it? Chapter 430 - 430 240 Alternative Conquest (Second Update) ?Chapter 430: 240 Alternative Conquest (Second Update) Chapter 430: 240 Alternative Conquest (Second Update) Fang Yuxin thought that Crystal Orchid and the Mutated Rose, once put together, would engage in a pleasant conversation amongst their own kind. But she soon realized she was far too naive! As soon as Crystal Orchid entered the cage, it aggressively took over the most central spot, forcing the Mutated Rose into a corner like a meek little wife. Then, Crystal Orchid twisted its body and struck several poses, as if deliberately showing off, causing the Mutated Rose in the corner to tremble even more. Suddenly, it dashed toward the Mutated Rose like a bolt of lightning! What followed was a game of cat and mouse. The Mutated Rose was fast, always fleeing, but couldn¡¯t escape the cage that Fang Yuxin had created. Crystal Orchid was right on its tail, as if it would catch it any moment! After a while, it seemed the Mutated Rose¡¯s anger was provoked, and it stopped running away. Instead, it turned around and charged at Crystal Orchid! Crystal Orchid didn¡¯t flee either and met it head-on. In an instant, Fang Yuxin could only see a pink and green light mass and a white Crystal Orchid-shaped light mass fighting back and forth. After a while, they suddenly came together, whispering as if sharing secrets, closely huddled together. Then, perhaps due to a miscommunication, they started fighting again. Soon after, the two came together once more to ¡°whisper.¡± After several such exchanges, Fang Yuxin finally heard Crystal Orchid¡¯s telepathic message, ¡°Master... Master! It... It has agreed...¡± Fang Yuxin sighed with relief. If the Mutated Rose didn¡¯t agree, she truly worried that it would continue fighting with Crystal Orchid. They were now communicating entirely with their minds, which was like their souls coming forth. If injured, recovery wouldn¡¯t be easy, and it would limit their future development. After all, she had only just encountered the Mutated Rose. Although she wanted to subdue it, Crystal Orchid was more important to her. She didn¡¯t wish for Crystal Orchid to suffer soul damage because of the Mutated Rose. She telepathically asked Crystal Orchid, ¡°Crystal Orchid, are you hurt?¡± It felt her concern and sent back a thought tinged with shyness, ¡°Crys... Crystal Orchid is... is not hurt! Crystal Orchid is very... very strong! Helping... helping Master!¡± Fang Yuxin smiled slightly and told Crystal Orchid to return to its original form. Once Crystal Orchid was back on her wrist, she immediately sent a stream of Wood Energy to it. This was her refined Wood Element True Qi, very pure in energy, and Crystal Orchid sent back a joyful thought in response. The Mutated Rose sensed the pure Wood Energy released by Fang Yuxin and became anxious, initiating communication with her mind, ¡°I... I want it too... Give it to me... Hurry up and give it to me!¡± This voice was much more domineering than Crystal Orchid¡¯s obedient one. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t give it Wood Energy but replied telepathically, ¡°As long as you recognize me as your master, I will naturally give you Wood Energy in the future.¡± The Mutated Rose no longer held its pride and replied quickly, ¡°Recognize master! I recognize you as master! Give it to me! Hurry up and give it to me!¡± Fang Yuxin no longer held back and began the master recognition ceremony. With the cooperation of the Mutated Rose, the ceremony went smoothly and quickly concluded. As soon as it ended, the Mutated Rose again demanded, ¡°Give it to me! Hurry up and give it to me!¡± Fang Yuxin thought for a moment, raised her wrist, revealing Crystal Orchid, and asked the Mutated Rose, ¡°Can you shrink your physical form like Crystal Orchid? Only then can I easily take you with me.¡± The Mutated Rose, apparently very eager, immediately started transforming as soon as Fang Yuxin finished speaking. Its enormous body rapidly shrank until it became a pink-green light that shot towards Fang Yuxin, landing on the Crystal Orchid on her wrist. Upon closer inspection, Fang Yuxin saw that the Mutated Rose had shrunk even smaller than Crystal Orchid¡¯s physical form, a pink rose with two jade-green leaves clinging to the ¡°White Jade Bracelet,¡± with a slender stem that wound around the bracelet twice, with a sharp root at the end, clinging tightly to the inside of the ¡°White Jade Bracelet.¡± After shrinking, the entire body of the Mutated Rose, like Crystal Orchid, became translucent as if carved from jade. The pink rose was the size of a thumb, about ten millimeters in diameter, like a beautifully crafted pink diamond, crystal clear and stunningly gorgeous. The green leaves and stem were as lustrous as jade, fitting perfectly onto the ¡°White Jade Bracelet¡± without seeming out of place. Chapter 431 - 431 240 Alternative Conquest (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 431: 240 Alternative Conquest (Second Update)_2 Chapter 431: 240 Alternative Conquest (Second Update)_2 Upon doing so, the originally plain and unassuming ¡°White Jade Bracelet¡± suddenly became enchanting and dazzlingly beautiful. However, Fang Yuxin thought about it and felt that this was probably the best place for it; otherwise, she felt that such a rose would be inappropriate anywhere else. It seemed that the Mutated Rose thought the same, so it chose to be with Lan Re. Having found a place to settle, the Mutated Rose once again demanded from Fang Yuxin, ¡°Spiritual Energy! I want Spiritual Energy! Give it to me! Quick, give it to me!¡± Its cries were loud, and Fang Yuxin had no choice but to give it a little first, then she transmitted her voice to Lan Re, ¡°Lan Re, will it harm you by clinging to you? Will you feel uncomfortable?¡± Fang Yuxin was worried the Mutated Rose might be like a parasitic plant, living off Lan Re, which was why she asked. Lan Re transmitted back a cheery idea, saying, ¡°Lan Re is fine, it hasn¡¯t hurt Lan Re.¡± Fang Yuxin, receiving the answer, was somewhat relieved. But she still cautioned, ¡°Then be careful, and if you find it bullying you, you must tell me.¡± As she said this, she transmitted a strand of Wood Energy to Lan Re, delighting it to no end. However, the Mutated Rose remained entwined around Lan Re. Although it hadn¡¯t heard the exchange between Fang Yuxin and Lan Re, it sensed the Wood Energy Fang Yuxin sent to Lan Re. It was immediately dissatisfied, ¡°Why does it get more? I... I only got this little? No, that won¡¯t do! You have to give me more!¡± Hearing this, Fang Yuxin suddenly understood why the Mutated Rose had chosen to reside on Lan Re. She felt somewhat sheepish, but still sent a more purified strand of Wood Energy to the Mutated Rose and transmitted to it, ¡°From now on, you will be called Red Powder.¡± To this, the Mutated Rose didn¡¯t object and even seemed to like the name. Fang Yuyang looked at Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist where Lan Re and Red Powder resided with a strange expression, finding it hard to accept that the ferocious Mutated Rose had taken on such a cute appearance. If he hadn¡¯t witnessed everything himself, he wouldn¡¯t be able to link the two together at all! His gaze made Fang Yuxin feel awkward. She glanced at him silently, coughed lightly, and said with composure, ¡°Brother, we don¡¯t have much time. Let¡¯s continue looking for supplies.¡± Fang Yuyang then retracted his gaze, nodded, and stopped his wild imaginings, proceeding with Fang Yuxin into the two-story building. Thanks to Red Powder¡¯s presence, the supplies in the building were well-preserved. The household must have been well-off, as the granary was piled high with grains, and there was even a vegetable cellar inside with sweet potatoes and potatoes that hadn¡¯t spoilt. Fang Yuxin gathered the items and then went inside to take the remaining usable supplies, then left the building with Fang Yuyang. Following that, they encountered no more unexpected events and were very efficient in searching the remaining houses, taking all the usable supplies. Having completed this, the siblings went to meet with their parents. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe had stayed in the spot from before and hadn¡¯t left. It was the Red Mastiff that had awakened from its evolution, silently guarding by Qu Qianhe¡¯s side. The Red Mastiff was a very loyal animal, as well as very valiant. It wouldn¡¯t beg for its master¡¯s favor by wagging its tail like a common dog, but once it recognized its master, it would become the most loyal companion, guarding by their side. Qu Qianhe was worried about its body¡¯s tolerance, so she didn¡¯t feed it Fire Element Elemental Crystals in succession. After it absorbed the Elemental Crystal and evolved, Qu Qianhe gave it some purified Crystal Cores to swallow, letting it recover its strength. When Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang arrived, its strength had already recovered. As they approached, it immediately raised its head, its pitch-black eyes watching them warily. Not until Qu Qianhe transmitted a message, telling it that the two incoming people were young masters, did it lay back down obediently, still keeping its eyes fixed on them. Since the others hadn¡¯t arrived yet, Qu Qianhe said, ¡°Xinxin, it seems to have not eaten for a long time. Give it some raw meat.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, thought for a moment, took out a fresh pork hind leg, and tossed it in front of Hong Lie. Hong Lie was the Red Mastiff¡¯s name, given by Qu Qianhe. Its fur was as red as wildfire, which was very fitting for the name. Smelling the meat, Hong Lie immediately sniffed. It looked at Qu Qianhe, and seeing her nod encouragingly, it moved closer to sniff the meat, found it fresh and without issues, and then unceremoniously began to eat. Its body was already massive and had grown even larger after mutation, reaching over two meters tall, with a bite force of astonishing strength. It finished the meat on the pork hind leg very quickly and then started to ¡°crunch crunch¡± chew and swallow the bones. Within less than three minutes, the pork hind leg was completely devoured. After finishing, it stuck out its tongue and licked its lips, its eyes expectantly on Qu Qianhe, clearly still wanting more. This time, without waiting for Qu Qianhe to speak, Fang Yuxin took out another pork hind leg and tossed it in front of it. Hong Lie appeared to have accepted Fang Yuxin¡¯s status as ¡°young master¡± and without any more hesitation, finished the pork hind leg. Qu Qianhe specially transmitted to ask if it was full, hearing it say ¡°I¡¯m full,¡± she didn¡¯t let Fang Yuxin feed it any further. After some time, Chen Qiao¡¯s group of five and Bai Ye¡¯s group of six gradually appeared. Chen Qiao reported to Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, saying they had found and packed up all the usable items, ready to set off. Bai Ye¡¯s situation was similar; while they were digging for Elemental Stones, they also paid attention to the supplies, clearing out everything usable. After discussing, they decided to continue on their journey. However, this time, just as they had reached halfway, the sky unexpectedly started a pitter-patter of rain. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 432 - 432 241 Disaster (Third Update) ?Chapter 432: 241 Disaster! (Third Update) Chapter 432: 241 Disaster! (Third Update) Fang Yuxin and the others had left the desolate village for less than an hour when it started to drizzle. At first, the rain was light, but gradually, it grew heavier. At this time, they had just returned to the highway not long ago. As the rain intensified, the sky gradually became darker. Looking closely, layers of dark clouds had mysteriously formed, creating a tense and oppressive atmosphere, reminiscent of ¡°dark clouds crushing the city¡¯s will.¡± The completely sealed car windows made breathing seem more difficult. What made it even more uncomfortable was that, as it grew darker and the rain intensified, the road ahead became less clear. When abandoned private cars appeared on the road again, everyone felt extremely frustrated. With no choice, the three superpower mutants had to take turns getting out of the car to act as porters, moving the abandoned cars aside. Fortunately, because of the heavy rain, the zombies, wherever they were hiding, did not emerge, which would have complicated matters further. After driving for a short while longer, the sky darkened even more. Fang Yuxin looked up and saw that the canopy overhead was completely covered with stacked dark clouds, an ominous sign indeed. She furrowed her brow, suddenly feeling uneasy. Just then, Bai Qianqian suddenly hugged her waist, nervously saying, ¡°Mama, is it getting dark? Will there be thunder?¡± Fang Yuxin paused, instinctively hugging him back and gently patting his back, asking softly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Qianqian, are you afraid of thunder?¡± Indeed, many children are afraid of thunder, and even some adults as well. Unexpectedly, Bai Qianqian, frowning slightly, said, ¡°Qianqian isn¡¯t afraid of thunder! Qianqian is a man! Mama, are you scared? Qianqian will protect you!¡± As he spoke, he snuggled closer into Fang Yuxin¡¯s embrace, his round eyes filled with unease. Fang Yuxin smiled softly, not exposing his bluff, just holding him tightly and telling her family, ¡°Dad, Mom, Brother, looking at this sky, this rain might last for a while. We should find a place to take shelter.¡± If indeed something were to happen, their small car on this isolated highway could not protect them and might even become a death trap. Fang Yuxin felt very uneasy, always feeling that something was about to happen and wanted to find a safe place to hide. At least if they were inside a building, resolving any danger would be easier than staying in the car. The others had no objections, so Fang Yuxin transmitted a message to the people in the other two cars, asking them to find a shelter from the rain. Fang Yuxin was uneasy, and so were the others, so when she suggested it, no one objected. Chen Qiao and the others, being members of the Yongcheng Team, naturally had no reason to disagree. Bai Ye and the others, being experienced mercenaries, very well understood that rain could easily lead to complications and did not oppose the idea either. Once the decision was made, they began to look for a place to stay nearby. Fang Yuxin pulled out a tablet computer, activated the map, and although there was no GPS location available, based on their travel, they could always find their position on the map with some effort. Fang Yuxin quickly determined their current coordinates on the map and began looking at the surrounding area. From her search, she discovered that there was a small county town not far ahead. As long as the town had intact houses, they would have a place to stay. After this discovery, Fang Yuxin immediately transmitted a message to the others, updating them on the situation. They were not far from the small county town, so they continued driving for about half an hour and reached the location. After exiting the highway, they quickly found a roadside motel. This motel had been completely preserved, sparing them the need to go deep into the county town. After all, the situation in the county town was unclear, and staying at this roadside motel was safer. Next to the motel was a gas station. They stopped the car, pulled out the fuel nozzle, used their superpower to create a suction force, and drew out the fuel from the underground tank. After filling up their car, they also took out gas cans and filled those as well. It was unfortunate that they had only a few gas cans and couldn¡¯t take more fuel. Within Fang Yuxin¡¯s Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, they had stored forty tons of gasoline, so they did not fret over the fuel. However, Chen Qiao and his team members, unaware of this, looked quite regretful. Bai Ye and the others felt the same. Their supplies had previously been stolen, leaving them completely destitute. Even though they had later hunted quite a few zombies, collected some Crystal Cores, and found over ten Elemental Stones in Huang Village, the supplies they had on hand still fell short compared to what had been stolen. Chapter 433 - 433 241 Catastrophe (Third update)_2 ?Chapter 433: 241 Catastrophe! (Third update)_2 Chapter 433: 241 Catastrophe! (Third update)_2 This made them all the more cautious and calculating, so they felt even more regret about the gasoline that they couldn¡¯t take with them. No matter how much they regretted it, there was no solution¡ªthey had no sealed gasoline barrels to transport it in. Moreover, even if they had gasoline barrels, the space in their vehicles was limited; where would they put them? For those without space, reality was this cruel! Fortunately, their will had become very firm and was not easily shaken. After a moment of regret, everyone quickly controlled their emotions and drove into the motel. The first thing that caught their eyes was a rather large parking lot with dozens of private cars, mostly ordinary. The cars were covered with a thick layer of dust which had become clean due to the rain, evidently all abandoned. Upon closer inspection, one could see that the parking lot had once been the site of a fight. Large patches of blood had turned dark brown and the original color was indistinguishable. Skeletons still lay tragically on the ground, their identities unknown. At that moment, it was raining heavily, and even though they wanted to burn the skeletons, it was unfeasible until the rain stopped. Thus, the group no longer concerned themselves with the skeletons and chose a path that led directly to the front of the motel. Fang Yuxin released his Spiritual Sense and discovered that there were quite a few skeletons inside the motel, but no zombies were found¡ªprobably they had left long ago. The motel had three floors, each with twenty rooms facing each other. They specifically chose the third floor, avoiding the first and second floors. After all, in the post-apocalypse, with mutated creatures emerging, the first floor was too vulnerable to attacks, and the second floor was easy to get trapped in. The third floor wasn¡¯t absolutely safe, but in case of an emergency, they could jump from the upper floors. Superpower users¡¯ physical fitness was far superior to that of Ordinary People; even Ordinary People, if skilled, wouldn¡¯t suffer severe injuries from jumping down three floors, let alone superpower users. Of the twenty rooms, nine contained skeletons, but the remaining eleven rooms were relatively clean. They swiftly chose rooms from these and stayed together in pairs or trios, taking turns to keep watch at night. The rooms included both double and single ones. The doubles each had two large beds which, if not too picky, could sleep at least four people. Soon, the rooms were assigned. Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang took one room, Fang Yuxin and Shang Jinxiu another, Chen Qiao and four others squeezed into another, Chen Si, Hou San, Xu Wu, and Meng Qingluo shared one, leaving Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang with Bai Qianqian in a double room. After assigning rooms, everyone made brief arrangements. Fang Yuxin checked the time and found it was only four in the afternoon. It was only August, with long daylight hours, and it would not be dark until about seven or eight in the evening. However, it was barely four o¡¯clock, and the sky was already almost completely dark, which was really unsettling. But the rain outside continued, now turning into a downpour. The moisture in the air mixed with the smell of earth and decay to form an even more unbearable stench. Additionally, the room had not been lived in for a long time and also had an unpleasant smell. Fang Yuyang thought for a moment, then simply stirred up a breeze to blow all the musty and rotten smells out of the room. Fang Yuxin quietly took a Vanilla herb from the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, pretending she had just cultivated it, to purify the unpleasant odors in the air. With this effort, the air smelt significantly better. Stuck inside due to the heavy rain, Fang Yuxin felt hungry and proposed cooking a hotpot for everyone to enjoy a fulfilling meal. They had left the Safe Zone that morning and had a simple breakfast; lunch was hosted by Feng Yue, and the food was incomparable to what they were used to. Additionally, superpower users had large appetites, and they had just been in a battle, consuming a lot of energy, so not just Fang Yuxin, but everyone else was hungry too. Since there were many people, Fang Yuxin simply cooked three pots. The base was made from stewed old hens, and they did not waste any of the chicken meat. Fang Yuxin provided plenty of fresh vegetables, meats, and various rare mountain delicacies, and everyone was very satisfied with the meal. After finishing the hotpot, it was six o¡¯clock. It was raining outside, naturally, no one went out. Fang Yuxin thought for a moment and then announced in front of everyone, ¡°I have something to tell you all.¡± Upon hearing this, those who were planning to go back to their rooms to cultivate stopped and turned to look at her, waiting for what she would say next. Fang Yuxin straightforwardly took several Crystal Cores from her pouch, placed them on the table, and asked the others, ¡°Can you tell how these Crystal Cores are different from the ones you have?¡± Bai Ye had been wanting to ask this, so as soon as Fang Yuxin finished speaking, he said, ¡°The Crystal Cores you took out seem purer, as if all the impurities and negative Energy have already been removed?¡± He didn¡¯t wait for an answer, immediately picking up a Crystal Core to feel it. The others hadn¡¯t noticed anything unusual about the Crystal Cores before, but now that Fang Yuxin had pointed it out, they all noticed the issue. After Bai Ye¡¯s remark, their expressions changed. Some followed Bai Ye¡¯s example and carefully examined a Crystal Core, while others expectantly looked at Fang Yuxin, waiting for her next words. These were all intelligent people, and they understood that since Fang Yuxin had brought this matter up, she naturally intended to tell them the method to purify Crystal Cores. Fang Yuxin smiled lightly and said to Shang Jinxiu, ¡°Axiao, bring out the items.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 434 - 434 242 Something is About to Happen (First Update) ?Chapter 434: 242 Something is About to Happen (First Update) Chapter 434: 242 Something is About to Happen (First Update) Fang Yuxin had filled several clean plastic bottles with spiritual spring water early in the morning and left them at Shang Jinxiu¡¯s place. So, when she spoke up, Shang Jinxiu quite directly took the bottles out and placed them on the table. Seeing the plastic bottles suddenly appear on the table, everyone¡¯s expression subtly changed, and they all had their guesses. After all, they weren¡¯t fools; back in Market Safe Zone, Fang Yuxin had used some mysterious plant juice, and they were very clear about it. So, upon seeing those plastic bottles, they all guessed whether the contents were the same mysterious liquid Fang Yuxin had once used to purify the Zombie Virus. Bai Ye was the first to speak, ¡°What¡¯s inside these... is it what can purify the Crystal Cores?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, then glanced at the others, took in everyone¡¯s expressions, and then said, ¡°One bottle per person, help yourselves. The method is simple, just soak the Crystal Core in the water, and when the Core becomes clear, it¡¯s ready to use. This water can be reused, and as for how long it can be used, that¡¯s up to you.¡± Chen Qiao and others always followed Fang Yuxin, so after she finished speaking, they didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and each took a bottle. Hou San, Chen Si, Xu Wu, and Meng Qingluo also wanted some, but they didn¡¯t reach out directly. Instead, they looked to Bai Ye, waiting for his command. Bai Ye nodded slightly, ¡°Help yourselves.¡± With his word, Hou San and the others were no longer polite and each took a bottle. Anyway, all the bottles were the same size and contained the same amount of spiritual spring water, so there was no need to choose. After everyone took their bottles, they were busy returning to their rooms to purify the Crystal Cores, with no interest in sitting down for idle chat and wasting time, they all returned to their rooms, taking out the Crystal Cores they carried and put them into the plastic bottles. Fang Yuxin also returned to her room with Shang Jinxiu. After Shang Jinxiu got back to her room, she didn¡¯t disturb Fang Yuxin but instead took out an empty plastic bottle from her own space, filled it with Crystal Cores, and soon had a whole bottle full. Then, she poured in the spiritual spring water, about one-third of it, submerging all the Crystal Cores. So, although there was only one bottle of spiritual spring water, she managed to fill three plastic bottles with Crystal Cores. After she was done, she couldn¡¯t help but look towards Fang Yuxin. She saw Fang Yuxin standing by the bed the whole time, her eyes fixed on the window, her face slightly solemn. She frowned with worry, hesitated for a moment, then moved to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, imitating her and looking out the window. It was just past six in the evening; the sky had completely darkened. Outside was a downpour, with the rain hitting the buildings, emitting a dull sound. Listening to it, one¡¯s mood sank along with it. Shang Jinxiu suddenly felt uneasy and asked with concern, ¡°Sister Xin, why are you staring out the window all the time? Is there something outside?¡± Fang Yuxin turned her head in surprise, looked at the uneasy Shang Jinxiu, and raised an eyebrow, asking, ¡°Why would you think that?¡± Shang Jinxiu looked out the pitch-dark window apprehensively and said cautiously, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I just feel uneasy, like there¡¯s a strange feeling, as if something bad is going to happen.¡± She paused and then continued, looking at Fang Yuxin, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve been feeling uneasy since the rain started. The feeling wasn¡¯t very strong at first, so I didn¡¯t pay much attention. After all, in these times, unless one is in the safety of a Base, there¡¯s always fear and suspicion. But then the rain kept getting heavier, and with you, Sister Xin, always looking out the window, I can¡¯t help thinking that my feeling might be right, and that something might really happen tonight.¡± Fang Yuxin smiled; her feelings were stronger than Shang Jinxiu¡¯s, but not wanting to scare her, she didn¡¯t say it and just asked, ¡°Then, what do you think will happen tonight?¡± Shang Jinxiu frowned in thought, then said with distress, shaking her head, ¡°I can¡¯t figure it out. With such heavy rain outside, the mutant animals and zombies shouldn¡¯t come to attack us, right? And even if they did come, we should be able to deal with them, but I just feel that something isn¡¯t right, it must be something else.¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t speak; she was pondering what exactly could be causing her to feel so uneasy. But after thinking for a long time, she couldn¡¯t come up with a reason. So, after hesitating for a while, she said to Shang Jinxiu, ¡°Never mind, if you can¡¯t figure it out, don¡¯t think about it. After all, when enemies come, we¡¯ll counter them. When floods come, we¡¯ll use earth to stop them. There¡¯s always a way. Go ahead and cultivate, I¡¯ll go out and have a look.¡± Chapter 435 - 435 242 What is About to Happen (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 435: 242 What is About to Happen (First Update)_2 Chapter 435: 242 What is About to Happen (First Update)_2 Shang Jinxiu exclaimed in surprise, ¡°It¡¯s pouring outside, Sister Xin, are you really going out?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll just have a look around nearby, I¡¯ll be back soon, there¡¯s nothing to worry about. If you¡¯re scared, you can go to another room and stay with the others.¡± Shang Jinxiu was very concerned and tried hard to persuade Fang Yuxin to change her mind, ¡°Sister Xin, the rain is too heavy, and it¡¯s so dark outside, you can¡¯t see anything. It¡¯s too dangerous for you to go out alone!¡± Fang Yuxin of course knew that it was best not to go out in this kind of weather, but she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of unease. Without checking it out, she simply couldn¡¯t rest easy. After all, she had the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, so if she encountered any danger, she could always hide inside. There was no need to worry too much about going out alone. Seeing that persuasion was ineffective, Shang Jinxiu bluntly said, ¡°Since you¡¯re set on going out, Sister Xin, I¡¯ll go and squeeze in with Chen Qiao and the others. Also, when you go out, go with Captain Fang, so there are two of you to look out for each other.¡± She knew that Fang Yuxin had a secret and that it was obviously not something she could tell the others, so smartly, she didn¡¯t ask and only mentioned Fang Yuyang without bringing up Chen Qiao and the rest. In her view, even though Chen Qiao and the others were also strong, they were no match for Fang Yuyang or Fang Yuxin, so following them might become a liability instead. Hearing this, Fang Yuxin looked at Shang Jinxiu with even greater appreciation. The two of them left the room together, with Shang Jinxiu heading for Chen Qiao¡¯s room, squeezing in there for the time being. Since it was still early, Chen Qiao and the others wouldn¡¯t go to sleep yet, so it wasn¡¯t a problem for her to stay for a while, and nobody would gossip about it. After seeing her enter the room, Fang Yuxin went straight to find Fang Yuyang. When she entered his room, Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye had not started their cultivation, whereas Bai Qianqian was already sitting quietly in meditation. But as soon as he heard the door open, he opened his eyes. Seeing Fang Yuxin enter the room, Bai Qianqian¡¯s eyes lit up, and with a cunning turn of the eyeballs, he deliberately asked, ¡°Ma, did you come to look for Dad?¡± Fang Yuxin was frustrated, ¡°I came to find your uncle.¡± Bai Qianqian¡¯s bun-like face crumpled into a frown as he didn¡¯t get the answer he wanted, mumbling softly, ¡°Ma is so mean, ignoring Dad.¡± Fang Yuxin, at a loss for words and feeling extremely awkward, pretended not to hear. Fortunately, Fang Yuyang, unable to watch any longer, quickly walked towards her and asked, ¡°Xinxin, what did you need to see me about?¡± Fang Yuxin quickly glanced at a pouty Bai Qianqian and whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside.¡± Fang Yuyang looked a bit surprised but nodded anyway, exiting the room with Fang Yuxin. Once the door was closed, Bai Qianqian unhappily glared at Bai Ye, ¡°You¡¯re so useless, Ma ignores you and you don¡¯t even know how to win her back, so stupid!¡± Bai Ye walked over to ruffle his head, his eyes fixed on the door, casually saying, ¡°Children shouldn¡¯t meddle in adults¡¯ affairs! Stop imagining things all the time, I¡¯ll handle this matter.¡± Bai Ye¡¯s words lacked confidence. He was becoming more and more concerned about Fang Yuxin, but it seemed she had no romantic interest in him. He had often wanted to simply confess his feelings but was worried that after doing so, they couldn¡¯t even remain friends, so he had to continue like this, at least for now. However, Bai Qianqian couldn¡¯t understand his worries. Bai Qianqian, unaware of his own origins, merely thought that Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin used to be together, that Bai Ye had done something bad to drive Fang Yuxin away, and now that everybody had finally reunited, Bai Ye should win Fang Yuxin back! Annoyed, he glared at Bai Ye, who kept watching the door. Swallowing the words he had at the tip of his tongue, he huffed and closed his eyes to continue contemplating the cultivation technique in his mind. Bai Ye, seeing that he wasn¡¯t causing more trouble, quietly breathed a sigh of relief. After watching the door for a while, he turned his head and frowned as he stared out into the pitch darkness outside. Right now, his heartbeat was racing, an intuition that something bad was about to happen. ... After leaving with Fang Yuyang, Fang Yuxin spoke softly, ¡°Brother, I¡¯m planning to go out for a while. I¡¯ve been feeling really uneasy, like something is about to happen. So, I want to go out and check if there¡¯s anything strange around here.¡± As soon as Fang Yuyang heard this, his expression darkened, ¡°Are you planning to go out alone?¡± Knowing that he was upset, Fang Yuxin quickly replied, ¡°Of course not! I was thinking of asking you to join me. But, brother, it¡¯s pitch black outside, visibility is very low, and we might encounter danger...¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid!¡± Fang Yuyang cut her off before she could finish and spoke up quickly. After pausing, he took a deep breath and continued, ¡°Anyway, if you want to go out, you must take me with you. I will never allow you to venture out alone!¡± Fang Yuxin felt helpless, knowing things would turn out this way. However, she was well aware that as much as she worried about Fang Yuyang, he worried about her just as much! Just like she wouldn¡¯t allow Fang Yuyang to go out alone, if she wanted to go out, she had to bring Fang Yuyang along. As for Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, the siblings directly ignored them. It was not that they didn¡¯t trust their abilities, but in their hearts, since their parents were getting on in years, both of them couldn¡¯t bear the thought of their parents accompanying them into danger. However, no sooner had they finished speaking than the door suddenly opened, and Bai Ye stepped out, saying firmly, ¡°I¡¯ll go out with you.¡± With that, he looked resolutely at Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang. Seeing his determination, Fang Yuxin knew persuasion was futile and said, ¡°If you¡¯re going to follow, then follow, but don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you, it could be very dangerous outside.¡± Bai Ye¡¯s gaze spoke volumes even if his words were not completed ¡ª he was ready to face danger, no matter what! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian [qidian.com] to cast your recommendation votes, monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 436 - 436 243 What is that (Second Update) ?Chapter 436: 243 What is that! (Second Update) Chapter 436: 243 What is that! (Second Update) Because of Bai Ye¡¯s insistence, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang could only agree to let him join them. However, they had to inform the others first, as it was pitch-dark outside, and sudden disappearances would definitely cause worry. As expected, when they informed the others, they all clamored to go with them. Chen Qiao and the rest were easy to dissuade, they held great respect for Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin; with just one order from Fang Yuyang, they quieted down and stopped insisting on joining. In their hearts, they understood that their abilities were far inferior to those of Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin; tagging along would only be a hindrance rather than a help. It was just a token gesture of loyalty. With them settled, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were not so easily swayed. As parents, Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin did not want them to be burdened, yet how could they not worry about their own children? However, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were very firm. Fang Yuxin said, ¡°Dad, Mom, you really don¡¯t need to worry, we¡¯re just going to scout the nearby area and won¡¯t go far; nothing will happen.¡± Fang Yuyang followed up, ¡°Yeah, Mom and Dad, we will be back soon, and with such heavy rain outside, why would you want to follow us?¡± After taking turns persuading them, they finally managed to appease the two. On another note, Hou San and the others also had objections, all stating that they wanted to accompany Bai Ye, not feeling at ease with him venturing out alone. Bai Ye, leaning against the wall, simply said, ¡°The situation outside is unclear; too many people going out could actually be unsafe.¡± His words were not very explicit, but Hou San and the others understood that their presence might actually be a burden. Considering their own strengths, their faces turned somewhat ugly, but they no longer insisted on going with Bai Ye. Before leaving, Fang Yuxin specifically instructed, ¡°If everything goes as expected, we will return within an hour. If we haven¡¯t come back after an hour, then something has happened. If something really comes up, use gunshots as a signal.¡± Bai Ye added, ¡°Although this hotel seems safe, anything could happen at this time. Everyone be careful, and if there¡¯s an emergency, similarly use gunshots as a signal.¡± They didn¡¯t have specialized flares at hand, so they could only rely on gunshots for signaling. With everything said, the three of them prepared to leave. Just as they reached the balcony, Fang Jintang suddenly said, ¡°We will be careful ourselves; you must also ensure your safety, and try to... return within an hour!¡± He didn¡¯t wish for any accidents to happen at all! The three nodded, then put on their goggles and jumped directly from the third-floor balcony. The edges of the goggles fit tightly against the skin, effectively preventing rain from getting into the eyes. Since it was raining outside, wearing ordinary clothes was inconvenient, so all three wore close-fitting protective suits. Bai Ye originally didn¡¯t have one, so Fang Yuyang gave his suit to him. After jumping off the balcony, the three deftly flipped mid-air and landed steadily on the ground. The rain was pouring heavily, with large droplets hitting their bodies like bullets, causing a dull pain. It was very dark outside; the sky was filled with thick clouds, completely blocking the light. Though not completely blind, the visibility was scarcely better. Fortunately, the three¡¯s eyesight had improved drastically, allowing them to see in the dark conditions. Speaking was difficult in the heavy rain, so Fang Yuxin directly used Spiritual Sense to communicate, asking the others, ¡°Which way?¡± Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang exchanged a glance, then suddenly raised their hands, each pointing in a direction. Seeing the two completely opposite directions, Fang Yuxin gave them a speechless look, then chose a new direction based on her intuition. Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang dared not object, each nodded and quickly sprinted with Fang Yuxin in the direction she had chosen. They soon left the range of the motel, and upon closer inspection, the direction Fang Yuxin had chosen was actually toward the mountain forest, in the direct opposite of the town. At first, Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang were puzzled, but then they suddenly remembered, Fang Yuxin was Wood Element, and the forest was naturally filled with plants! Fang Yuxin choosing this direction likely meant she sensed something! So without any further hesitation, they followed Fang Yuxin into the mountain forest. This forest was quite large, growing by the roadside, on a hill that was not high, merely a small mound; it was also unclear who had planted the forest. Chapter 437 - 437 243 What is that (Second update)_2 ?Chapter 437: 243 What is that! (Second update)_2 Chapter 437: 243 What is that! (Second update)_2 After they went in, they all felt that something was off with the atmosphere around them, as if they had entered a peculiar energy field. Compared to them, Fang Yuxin¡¯s perception was much clearer! As soon as she entered this forest, she suddenly sensed an incredibly strong thought, as though it was calling out to her. Fang Yuxin hesitated for a moment, then still telepathically communicated to the two, ¡°I¡¯ve sensed a strong thought, almost like it¡¯s calling out to me. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s a trap, but I want to go check it out. What about you?¡± Fang Yuyang was her brother, so naturally, if Fang Yuxin decided to go, he would too. Hence, Fang Yuxin was mainly asking Bai Ye. Due to the strong uneasiness in her heart, she feared it was a trap and didn¡¯t want to drag Bai Ye into it. Bai Ye, however, didn¡¯t hesitate at all and directly replied telepathically, ¡°Whether it¡¯s a trap or not, we¡¯ll know once we go. It¡¯s already the apocalypse, there¡¯s no absolutely safe place anywhere, so don¡¯t feel pressured.¡± With him saying that, Fang Yuxin breathed a sigh of relief. Compared to him, Fang Yuyang¡¯s message was much simpler, only four words: ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Without hesitating any longer, Fang Yuxin raised her hand to point in a direction and led Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang over. They moved through the forest, and because it was just an ordinary grove, coupled with the fact that the plants here were almost all normal and hadn¡¯t mutated, their journey was quite smooth. And as they drew nearer, Fang Yuxin¡¯s perception grew more intense. The emotion conveyed by that thought was one of terror, as well as a strong yearning, continually calling out to her. The further the three of them traveled inside, the more they felt something was amiss. ¡°Crack!¡± Suddenly, a thunderous boom came from the sky, and a huge flash of lightning appeared, instantly illuminating the surroundings as bright as day. The heavy rain kept pouring down, and the three instinctively stopped in their tracks, watching the massive lightning with fear. Bai Ye furrowed his brows tightly and telepathically asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°Yuxin, can you sense it, that thought from earlier, can you still feel it?¡± After carefully sensing for a moment, Fang Yuxin nodded towards Bai Ye, ¡°The thought is still there. It seems to be very scared of the lightning just now.¡± Bai Ye thought for a moment, then said telepathically, ¡°You¡¯ve seen it, the sky is thundering, it will be very dangerous to continue staying in the forest.¡± Fang Yuxin understood what he meant, it was indeed very unsafe to stay in the woods during a thunderstorm. She hesitated for a bit, then nodded and telepathically communicated to both, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry back now! I have a feeling that something is going to happen.¡± Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang both felt unease as well, and Fang Yuxin¡¯s response gave them both a sigh of relief. Had Fang Yuxin insisted on going, they wouldn¡¯t know what to do. Fortunately, Fang Yuxin was very sensible. The three of them quickly made their way back, and along the road, several more tremendous bolts of lightning fell from the sky. The lightning was massive and fierce, as if it could tear the entire sky apart. At this moment, the three of them simultaneously felt a strong sense of crisis and instinctively spread out to avoid any threat. Just as they moved apart, a huge bolt of lightning suddenly struck down, hitting the spot where they had just stood. The trees in that area were all struck by the lightning, which instantly started a fire that blackened the entire tree. The three narrowly escaped the danger just moments ago and didn¡¯t dare to regroup, simply running quickly towards the outside. Fang Yuxin¡¯s brows were knitted tightly; the thought she had sensed earlier was still there. She seemed to hear screams of panic, which made her feel very uncomfortable. But she clenched her teeth and chose not to turn back. This place was too dangerous; nobody knew where the next bolt of lightning would strike. She now regretted it terribly; she had thought there would be some danger nearby, but who knew it would be lightning! If she had known it would be like this, she would have never come out! And she certainly wouldn¡¯t have let Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye risk their lives with her! But why, why did she feel that the real danger hadn¡¯t arrived yet? What on earth was going on! The lightning kept striking down one after another, and upon closer inspection, one would realize that it wasn¡¯t just this forest that was being struck by lightning, but distant places as well. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know what was going on and had no idea how thick the dark cloud that covered the entire sky was. All she knew was that in her previous life in Market, she had never encountered such lightning. But after thinking carefully, she suddenly remembered that some survivors who had traveled from other places had described an apocalyptic thunderstorm. Because those people hadn¡¯t experienced it firsthand nor knew if they had heard it from someone else or seen it from afar, she hadn¡¯t taken their words very seriously. Moreover, after being reborn, when she recalled her memories from her previous life, the most profound memories were of the events that had taken place in Market. When she heard of this terrible lightning in her past life, it was already winter. How could she have made the connection! Fang Yuxin was full of regret and endured the intense screams from the thought, running rapidly towards the direction of the hotel. While running, she searched with her eyes for Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye. Because the lightning was continuous, they had to run separately, and now, looking around, they had already separated by a great distance. This made Fang Yuxin even more uneasy. She bit her lip and decided to head over to Fang Yuyang¡¯s side. But just then, the ground beneath her suddenly shook violently, and she, unprepared, fell hard to the ground. After groaning softly, Fang Yuxin immediately tried to get up, but even before she could stabilize herself, an even more intense shaking came from below. ¡°Xinxin!¡± Fang Yuxin heard Fang Yuyang¡¯s terrified scream and instinctively looked towards him. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 438 - 438 244 Get out (Third Update) ?Chapter 438: 244 Get out! (Third Update) Chapter 438: 244 Get out! (Third Update) Fang Yuxin had a hard time finding Fang Yuyang because he had also fallen. Fang Yuxin quickly got up and simultaneously transmitted the message, ¡°Brother, are you hurt?¡± While speaking, she released her Spiritual Sense to search for Bai Ye¡¯s whereabouts and found that Bai Ye was holding onto a tree and seemed to be in better condition than them. Fang Yuyang, while transmitting that he was fine, got up. In fact, when he had fallen, he had hit a tree and sustained some minor injuries. He was afraid that Fang Yuxin would worry so he didn¡¯t dare to tell her. His posture was too normal, so much so that Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t notice that he was injured. Without suspecting anything, Fang Yuxin transmitted to the two of them, ¡°We can¡¯t keep going like this, we must meet up first!¡± Once they were together, if they encountered any danger, she could take Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye and hide in the Qingmu Spirit Mansion. Although doing so would make Bai Ye aware of the existence of the Qingmu Spirit Mansion, the situation was urgent and Fang Yuxin could not afford to consider much. Upon hearing this, Fang Yuyang understood Fang Yuxin¡¯s intention and couldn¡¯t help but glare fiercely at Bai Ye. While moving closer to Fang Yuxin, he transmitted, ¡°Xinxin, have you really decided? If Bai Ye finds out about the existence of Qingmu Spirit Mansion...¡± He was worried that Bai Ye might harm Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t worried at all. After some interactions, she had a rough understanding of Bai Ye¡¯s character and felt he could be trusted. Moreover, Bai Ye had received the legacy of the Dragon Scale Sword, which more or less tied him to their fate, so she didn¡¯t think Bai Ye would harm her because of the Qingmu Spirit Mansion. Since explaining all of that would be too troublesome, she simply said, ¡°Brother, that¡¯s our last resort for saving our lives. We might not even use it. Besides, don¡¯t forget, Bai Ye has already sworn the Blood Oath.¡± Fang Yuyang also knew the situation was urgent, hiding in the Qingmu Spirit Mansion was their last resort. Moreover, although he was worried that Bai Ye might take Fang Yuxin away, to be fair, Bai Ye was a decent person. At least in his view, Bai Ye was much better than Qiu Yiming! If it really came down to life and death, not just Fang Yuxin, even he himself could not just abandon Bai Ye. He then stopped trying to persuade any further and just vigorously walked towards Fang Yuxin. However, just at that moment, another bolt of lightning struck down! This time the lightning was bigger and the area affected was even larger! The three, who were meeting up, had no choice but to once again move far away quickly. The lightning quickly struck down and hit a large area of trees. Flames soared up, then gradually extinguished in the heavy rain. Before the three could breathe a sigh of relief, the ground began to shake violently again. This shaking was extremely intense; the whole land seemed to lift up like waves, and the three were thrown around, completely unable to maintain their balance and could only cling desperately to the trees next to them to stabilize themselves. In the next moment, all three heard a loud ¡°boom,¡± followed by an earth-shattering rumble. Fang Yuxin felt as if the ground under her was continuously rising. Upon closer inspection, she was terrified to see that several cracks had appeared on the ground and were expanding incessantly! ¡°Brother! Brother, where are you?¡± Fang Yuxin, not minding the rain falling into her mouth, called out loudly. She also exerted herself to release her Spiritual Sense to search for Fang Yuyang¡¯s whereabouts. The ground kept shaking, and at the same time, it seemed the rain was getting heavier, and there was even a howling wind! Fang Yuxin could only manage to secure her position by desperately clinging to the tree trunk next to her, preventing herself from being blown away by the strong wind. At that moment, the sound of the wind howling, the thunder roaring, and the rain hitting like drumbeats filled the area. The surrounding energy field was extremely unstable, even affecting the Spiritual Sense she released! Fang Yuxin knew that once she hid inside the Qingmu Spirit Mansion, all of this would disappear, but she didn¡¯t know where Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye were. How could she selfishly just look out for her own safety? ¡°Brother¡ªBai Ye¡ªwhere are you¡ªanswer me if you hear¡ª¡ª¡± She tried to amplify her voice, but the surrounding noise was too loud, her voice could not carry through. The cold rain hit her face and body, and Fang Yuxin felt herself getting colder and stiffer. She was dying of regret; she shouldn¡¯t have come out! If she hadn¡¯t come out, she wouldn¡¯t have encountered all these problems, and she wouldn¡¯t have involved Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye! Just then, she suddenly saw a huge lightning strike in the distance. The direction of the lightning was clearly towards the direction of the motel! Chapter 439 - 439 244 Get Out (Third update)_2 ?Chapter 439: 244 Get Out! (Third update)_2 Chapter 439: 244 Get Out! (Third update)_2 Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t sure whether the lightning had struck directly above the motel or next to it. Her eyes were fixed on the terrifying lightning, and her heart grew heavier. She felt she had been too naive, thinking that with her own strength, she could safely lead everyone to Beishi City, but reality had slapped her hard in the face! ¡°No¡ª¡± Fang Yuxin shrieked, grabbing a tree trunk to pull herself up, but her feet slipped, and not only did she fall again, she also smashed hard into the tree trunk. Suddenly, amidst the howling wind, she heard Fang Yuyang¡¯s voice, ¡°Xinxin¡ªI¡¯m heading back to the motel¡ªtake care¡ªremember to hide¡ª¡± She didn¡¯t know how much strength Fang Yuyang had used to say this, nor how many times he had said it, but she could only shout back loudly, ¡°Brother¡ªyou must stay alive¡ª¡± She had Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, where she could hide at any time, but others couldn¡¯t, which was why Fang Yuyang dared to go back to the motel confidently. Because of the earth fissure, the road ahead of Fang Yuxin was completely cut off; a huge crack blocked her path, and with the howling wind and torrential rain, crossing safely required taking extreme risks. Fang Yuyang probably didn¡¯t want her to take the risk, but was also worried about the motel, so he decided to go back first. He had a Single Wind Spiritual Root, which allowed him to use the howling wind to make his body more agile, unlike Fang Yuxin who was in a mess. Fang Yuxin also worried about her family, so after Fang Yuyang left, she stared intently at the tree across the fissure, calculating how to cross it. She couldn¡¯t do it alone and had to rely on either Lan Re or Red Powder. She mentally contacted them, ¡°Lan Re! Red Powder! Can you hear me?¡± Lan Re and Red Powder seemed terrified; after Fang Yuxin contacted them, they didn¡¯t speak, but rather sent back two extremely frightened thoughts. Though they were Mutant Plants, they were originally plants from nature, and for them, such terrible weather often meant destruction! Especially the terrifying lightning, which made them fear they would be struck next. Fang Yuxin could only continue to reassure them, all the while watching the crack widening before her eyes. The heavy rain kept washing over the ground, the howling wind whipped the tree branches into a ¡°whooshing¡± sound, even bending the tree trunks. Fang Yuxin tried to stand again, but was horrified to find the ground under her feet becoming softer and softer. On closer inspection, the falling rain had formed several small streams on the ground, and they were flowing rapidly! Looking further, the crack was only about four or five meters away from her position. And the strong wind was blowing towards the direction of the crack; if she lost her footing, she might be blown right into it! Fang Yuxin grew increasingly uneasy, her intense desire to survive pushing her to stand up. The crack before her had expanded to about ten meters in width¡ªif she didn¡¯t cross soon, it would take even longer to reunite with her family! However, Lan Re and Red Powder were still trembling on her wrist; she knew well that under such adverse conditions, even if she forcefully asked for their help, the outcome wouldn¡¯t be what she wanted. Fang Yuxin was uncertain, when suddenly, a cold hand grasped her wrist! Fang Yuxin was startled and instinctively launched an attack, but it was blocked by the owner of the hand. Then, she heard Bai Ye¡¯s voice. He first grunted, then said, ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous here; we can¡¯t stay any longer. Follow me!¡± While speaking, he grabbed a tree trunk with one hand and pulled Fang Yuxin in the opposite direction of the crack. Fang Yuxin knew Bai Ye was right. However, thinking of her family in the motel, she couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°We must hurry back! They still don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on...¡± Bai Ye interrupted her, ¡°They¡¯ll be fine! You have to trust them! Don¡¯t forget, they¡¯re in the motel, even if lightning strikes, they won¡¯t be harmed!¡± Because of the loud wind and rain, Bai Ye had to speak right next to Fang Yuxin¡¯s ear. Fang Yuxin, who had been drenched in rain for too long, was chilled to the bone, making Bai Ye¡¯s breath feel even hotter. Fang Yuxin felt her ears getting warm with such close proximity, a sensation she was not accustomed to. But given the circumstances, she naturally couldn¡¯t be squeamish. Bai Ye¡¯s words gradually brought her panicked mood under control. After hesitating for a moment, she gritted her teeth and nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s go! Find a safe place!¡± Though the safest place would be Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, entering the mansion would not change their location coordinates; wherever they entered from, that¡¯s where they would come out. She was unsure what this place would turn into, and even less certain to what extent the fissure would expand. The location was too close to the crack, making it unsafe. Bai Ye naturally had no objections; he pulled Fang Yuxin, and the pair made their way against the wind, cautiously grasping the tree trunks and slowly shifting their bodies to resist the wind force. Their progress was slow, but they continuously moved farther from the crack. Behind them, the menacing cracks continued to expand as chunks of soil broke off from the edges and fell, while branches snapped off and plunged into the cracks due to the strong wind. However, though they were gradually getting farther from the most dangerous cracks, it was still unbearable. The rain fell like bullets, striking their bodies hard, and the howling wind bent them over; if not for goggles, they couldn¡¯t even open their eyes! Suddenly, Fang Yuxin sensed that strong thought again. She instantly became furious and yelled, ¡°I know you¡¯re there, show yourself!¡±(To be continued. If you like this story, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it, give a monthly ticket, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 440 - 440 245 Spirit Monster (First Update) ?Chapter 440: 245 Spirit Monster (First Update) Chapter 440: 245 Spirit Monster (First Update) Fang Yuxin spoke, while Bai Ye vigilantly surveyed their surroundings. Because the energy field was unstable, he hadn¡¯t sensed anything, but he believed Fang Yuxin. Since she had noticed something, it must be hiding nearby! The storm intensified, the roaring winds nearly thunderous, and the rain grew fiercer. Bai Ye¡¯s face changed, and then his body flashed with a golden light, his skin faintly turning gold. He hesitated, glanced at Fang Yuxin, then with a firm grip, he pulled her into his embrace, tightly holding her with his arms. This was an emergency, and he feared that a slip of his hand might cause Fang Yuxin to be swept away by the strong wind. Only by holding her like this could he find some peace of mind. Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze was locked onto a certain direction, her pale face turning increasingly cold, ¡°I¡¯ll say this one last time, come out now!¡± Bai Ye instinctively looked in that direction, but all he saw were mud and dead leaves. The heavy rain had created countless streams on the ground, and the dead leaves were carried away by the flowing water. Bai Ye trusted Fang Yuxin¡¯s senses; despite not being able to see anything unusual, he fixed his gaze on that spot, tensing up and on guard for any sudden ambush from that thing. Just then, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a red light flashing, shooting toward Fang Yuxin like lightning! ¡°Be careful!¡± he exclaimed, reflexively flicking his fingers, emitting a gold light, which was headed straight for the red light. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± A soft gasp almost completely muffled by the storm could only be heard because Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were so close. Bai Ye watched as the red light twisted strangely, avoiding the golden light he had emitted. He was about to act again when Fang Yuxin stopped him, ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Fang Yuxin paused, then extended her hand toward the red light and said, ¡°Come here yourself!¡± Bai Ye was stunned, then saw the red light flash, landing in the palm of Fang Yuxin¡¯s open hand, turning into a fist-sized little figure. It was quite cute, resembling the chubby babies from New Year¡¯s paintings. It had a tiny topknot on its head, was wrapped in a red bib, curling up, and its delicate arms were tightly clutching Fang Yuxin¡¯s fingers. Bai Ye couldn¡¯t help but be surprised; although the creature looked adorable, it was clearly not human but more like some kind of Spirit Monster. ¡°It¡¯s a Ginseng Spirit,¡± Fang Yuxin said indifferently, confirming Bai Ye¡¯s suspicion. Then, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, she said to Bai Ye, ¡°This isn¡¯t the place to talk, let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡± Hearing this, Bai Ye was startled, then he guessed that Fang Yuxin was likely about to reveal her biggest secret to him, and he was thrilled at the thought. However, he kept his composure as if he knew nothing. Seeing him nod, Fang Yuxin grabbed his hand, gritted her teeth, and brought him into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. If possible, she didn¡¯t want to do this. But there was no choice, the storm was worsening, the dark clouds showed no signs of dissipating and seemed to be brewing a new wave of lightning. Staying outside with Bai Ye would only put them in greater danger! With no other option, she was forced to seek temporary refuge in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion with Bai Ye, planning to look for her family once the rain eased. Fortunately, her senses confirmed that Chen Qiao and others bound by the Blood Oath were safe, and she didn¡¯t sense any mishaps with her family, so they should be safe for the time being. With this discovery, Fang Yuxin finally let out a sigh of relief, no longer as tense as before. Upon entering the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, Fang Yuxin felt the gentle Spiritual Energy around her and couldn¡¯t resist taking a deep breath. Then she pushed Bai Ye away and sat down on the ground without any regard for appearances. She took Bai Ye straight to the main hall and quietly made some arrangements, confining him to this room to prevent him from going out and seeing the spirit field and lake. Fang Yuxin may have brought Bai Ye into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion out of sheer necessity, but since the Mansion was her biggest trump card, she couldn¡¯t afford to let down her guard completely around Bai Ye. It was best to reveal as little as necessary. Many Spirit Gathering Arrays were set up in the main hall, making it a sanctuary for cultivation, but even a place like this paled in comparison to the outside spirit field and Spirit Lake. Chapter 441 - 441 245 Spirit Monster (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 441: 245 Spirit Monster (First Update)_2 Chapter 441: 245 Spirit Monster (First Update)_2 Right now, in the apocalypse, food was the most crucial thing, and with Crystal Cores available to absorb, the advantages of the Spirit Gathering Array were no longer obvious. Bai Ye entering the main hall was one thing, but if he discovered the situation outside, Fang Yuxin dared not even think whether he would be tempted. However, Bai Ye was very self-aware. After entering the main hall, he just glanced around briefly and then stopped looking around. He obediently sat to the side, pulled a Crystal Core out from his pocket, and prepared to absorb it. Because of the rush, these Crystal Cores were unpurified, and the remaining ones he left in the inn, which he couldn¡¯t even think about for the time being. Fang Yuxin cast a quick glance at him, pulled out a small bag, and tossed it to him. Inside the bag were one hundred purified Basic-level Crystal Cores. She also had Level 1 and even second-level Crystal Cores, but they were scarce, and she wanted to save them for her own absorption and couldn¡¯t bear to give them to Bai Ye. Bai Ye took the small bag, opened it, and immediately understood Fang Yuxin¡¯s intention. He didn¡¯t refuse, tucked away his own Crystal Cores, took out a purified one from the bag, and began absorbing it without asking Fang Yuxin how she planned to deal with the Ginseng Spirit. Fang Yuxin could tell he was deliberately avoiding suspicion and also intended to restore his power as soon as possible. She stood up, deliberately carrying the Ginseng Spirit in her palm to a corner to avoid disturbing Bai Ye. Turning her back, she sat down and eased her fingers slightly to look at the Ginseng Spirit. When she had entered the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, she had tightly gripped the Ginseng Spirit in her palm, fearing it might escape as soon as they entered. The Spirit Mansion Space was large, and if the Ginseng Spirit intended to hide, it would not be easy for Fang Yuxin to find it again. As soon as she loosened her grip, the Ginseng Spirit poked out its head, gasping for air with a red face, appearing to have been suffocated and shooting Fang Yuxin an accusing glance with its small eyes, saying, ¡°Why did you grip so tightly? I wouldn¡¯t have run away! Do you have any idea you almost suffocated me?¡± Fang Yuxin narrowed her eyes and coldly watched it, speaking in an unfriendly tone, ¡°If you dare spout more nonsense, I will stew you into soup; do you believe me?¡± The Ginseng Spirit shuddered when it heard this and immediately became docile. Clearly, it understood Fang Yuxin¡¯s meaning. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corners of her mouth and curiously asked, ¡°How old are you?¡± Despite looking quite small, like a miniature baby, becoming a Plant Spirit, let alone a Ginseng Spirit, was not an easy feat. Since ancient times, ginseng has been hailed as Divine Grass, and as a consequence, it had been harvested relentlessly. In many areas, wild ginseng was almost extinct, with only a few remaining in deep mountains. Not only had it survived, it had even transformed into a spirit capable of understanding Fang Yuxin. This was definitely not something that could be achieved in a short period. The Ginseng Spirit didn¡¯t answer directly. It stared at Fang Yuxin for a while and, probably realizing she would not be fooled easily, said honestly, ¡°Uh, I don¡¯t know my exact age, but it has been several hundred years since I became conscious.¡± This number wasn¡¯t a surprise to Fang Yuxin. Before the apocalypse, it wasn¡¯t easy for a plant to gain consciousness. Fang Yuxin nodded and continued, ¡°Why did you summon me? Was that lightning in the sky related to you?¡± The thought that she couldn¡¯t reunite with her family because of this creature inflamed Fang Yuxin¡¯s anger. The Ginseng Spirit, quite wary, sensed Fang Yuxin¡¯s fury and quickly explained, ¡°Those darned lightning bolts have nothing to do with me! I sensed that there was going to be an earthquake here, and I also sensed the pure Wood Energy on you, which is why I summoned you. I was hoping you would take me away, but before you found me, the lightning struck.¡± Its voiced carried a hint of resentment, as it seemed unhappy that Fang Yuxin was late. Fang Yuxin, angered, pinched it and warned, ¡°I¡¯m in a bad mood right now, so you¡¯d better not provoke me! Plus, if you want me to take you away, let¡¯s make a pact. Either you acknowledge me as your master and listen to my orders, or I¡¯ll stew you into soup!¡± The Ginseng Spirit shook with fear and cautiously hugged Fang Yuxin¡¯s finger, asking, ¡°If...if I acknowledge you as my master, will you share some Wood Energy with me?¡± It hadn¡¯t lied earlier. It summoned Fang Yuxin because it had sensed the pure Wood Energy on her, and it knew that a natural disaster was imminent. It needed Fang Yuxin¡¯s help to escape the catastrophe; otherwise, it risked annihilation and death. Now that it had taken shelter in this mysterious space, its little life was temporarily safe. Therefore, it couldn¡¯t resist the idea of partaking in the pure Wood Energy that Fang Yuxin possessed. Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t angry. Ginseng was called Divine Grass for a reason. It was highly spiritual, and now it had become a spirit. If she could make it her servant, it would be perfect to manage the spirit field and Medicine Field, and nurture the Spirit Grass. Plant Spirits had a natural advantage in caring for Spirit Plants. Now that Fang Yuxin had encountered one, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Seeing the cautious look on its face, Fang Yuxin felt that to make this little thing obedient, she needed to offer some incentives. She confirmed with a nod, ¡°As long as you acknowledge me as master, I¡¯ll certainly treat you well.¡± The Ginseng Spirit¡¯s tiny eyes lit up upon hearing this, and it immediately said, ¡°Please accept me as your servant, Master! I¡¯ll be very good and very useful!¡± After speaking, it bashfully winked at Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t sure where it had learned this ingratiating behavior and twitched the corner of her mouth, no longer being polite with it, and swiftly set the pact in place. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a monthly ticket on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 442 - 442 246 People Change Things Are Different (Second ?Chapter 442: 246 People Change, Things Are Different (Second Update) Chapter 442: 246 People Change, Things Are Different (Second Update) Once the contract had been set, the face of the Ginseng Spirit slightly changed. Fang Yuxin no longer held onto it; as she opened her palm, it stood up. It was then that Fang Yuxin noticed its attire: the upper body was wearing a small red bellyband while the lower half donned tiny green shorts. The shorts were very small, barely covering its buttocks, and a large part was obscured by the bellyband, almost impossible to see unless one looked closely. Seeing that it was obedient, Fang Yuxin thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Do you have a name?¡± Upon hearing this, the Ginseng Spirit¡¯s round face suddenly turned red as it shyly responded, ¡°I... I¡¯m called Ah Bao, Sir. How¡¯s that? Isn¡¯t it mighty?¡± Fang Yuxin: ¡°...¡± Haha. She straightforwardly said, ¡°From now on, you¡¯re called Ah Bao. Now, I have a task for you.¡± Upon finishing her words, she extended a finger and tapped Ah Bao¡¯s little head, directly transmitting the task into its mind, then she passed over a stream of pure Wood Energy and with a hand gesture, she directly sent Ah Bao into the spirit field. Once a Ginseng Spirit became sentient, it would instinctively know the Earth Escape Technique, allowing it to flee successfully when facing powerful enemies to avoid losing its life. Ah Bao had been relying on the Earth Escape Technique to hide and escape over the years, narrowly saving its life. After gaining spiritual wisdom, it became smarter and had been secretly observing the actions of humans, learning quite a bit from them. Although it wasn¡¯t as cunning as real humans, it had its fair share of craftiness. If it weren¡¯t for this, it couldn¡¯t have preserved its life throughout these years. Now, even though it had become a servant to Fang Yuxin, it no longer needed to constantly hide and worry about its life being in danger, which, to it, wasn¡¯t such a bad outcome. Ah Bao was clearly aware of this as well, so it didn¡¯t resist becoming a servant at all, especially after Fang Yuxin gave it a stream of pure Wood Energy, it was grinning from ear to ear, nearly willing to dig deep and spout all the flattery it had heard over the years, just so Fang Yuxin would give it a bit more Wood Energy! After sending it away, Fang Yuxin specifically communicated with the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion to check on Ah Bao¡¯s condition. Just as she looked, she saw Ah Bao enter the spirit field and then, looking a bit startled, it happily burrowed into the earth. It roamed around the spirit field for a while, then sneakily took out its true form and found a spot in the spirit field to bury itself. After burying itself, it seemed uncertain and switched places several times before finally settling down. Following Fang Yuxin¡¯s instructions, Ah Bao tended to the plants in the field. The spirit field had crops and vegetables, fruits and melons planted, seeds that Fang Yuxin had purchased from a seed store that inherently did not possess Spiritual Energy, mere ordinary plants. But after being planted in the spirit field and continuously absorbing Spiritual Energy, the harvested fruits ended up containing some measure of Spiritual Energy. These plants, having absorbed the Spiritual Energy, couldn¡¯t fully retain it and would disperse some of it regularly. This filtered Spiritual Energy from the plants was a great tonic for the Ginseng Spirit, so it quickly grew fond of the place. Fang Yuxin observed for a while then withdrew her Spiritual Sense, deciding to wait and see the Ginseng Spirit¡¯s performance. If it tended to the plants in the spirit field well, she would then move it to the Medicine Field. The Medicine Field was where true Spirit Grass grew, more suitable for the Ginseng Spirit. With that thought, she didn¡¯t ponder any longer but turned her head to look at Bai Ye. Bai Ye was sitting in meditation, continually absorbing the Energy from the Crystal Core. Seeing that he was in cultivation, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t disturb him, instead she quietly peered through the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion at the situation outside. Just then, she spotted a massive bolt of lightning strike, her vision filled with blinding white light. However, soon she realized that, although these flashes of electricity were terrifying, they contained rich Thunder Element Spiritual Energy. Bai Ye was a Gold and Thunder Dual Power User, likely with Gold and Thunder Dual Spiritual Roots, making this Thunder Element Spiritual Energy a great tonic for him! Fang Yuxin hesitated only for a moment before she began to manipulate the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, actively absorbing that Thunder Element Spiritual Energy to send it into Bai Ye¡¯s body through the Spirit Gathering Array. As the master of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, it wasn¡¯t difficult for her to do this. The great hall was filled with many Spirit Gathering Arrays, which were separate from one another and wouldn¡¯t interfere with each other. Bai Ye was sitting atop one such array, so when Fang Yuxin used the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion to absorb the external Thunder Element Spiritual Energy, the Spirit Gathering Array under Bai Ye lit up. At that moment, Bai Ye was deep in cultivation, but the change in the Spirit Gathering Array abruptly roused him. However, before he could even open his eyes, he felt a surge of pure Thunder Element Spirit Body being absorbed by his body. Chapter 443 - 443 246 people are not the same (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 443: 246 people are not the same (Second Update)_2 Chapter 443: 246 people are not the same (Second Update)_2 This was the first time he had absorbed such pure Thunder Element Spiritual Energy, feeling as though his whole body was enveloped in it, and he was extremely comfortable. He sighed comfortably, guessed that Fang Yuxin was helping him, and without further ado, immediately activated his mental method and began to crazily absorb these Thunder Element Spiritual Energies. However, he possessed Gold and Thunder Dual Spiritual Roots; if he purely absorbed Thunder Element Spiritual Energy, the Gold Element would inevitably become weaker. Fortunately, the Cultivation Technique he practiced was very powerful, and Fang Yuxin had established a connection between the Spirit Gathering Array beneath him and the outside world. Once he activated the Cultivation Technique, the Gold Element Spiritual Energy from the outside was also absorbed by him, avoiding any imbalance. Fang Yuxin saw that he had entered deep into cultivation. The storm outside was still roaring, with no intention of stopping. She temporarily withdrew her attention, took out a Crystal Core, and began to cultivate. As a result, during this session of cultivation, the two of them successively entered a state of deep meditation. When they woke up from the meditation, seven days had already passed. Nonetheless, their gains were not small; Fang Yuxin¡¯s strength had advanced to the peak of the Late Stage of Qi Refinement, just one step away from ascending to the next level, and Bai Ye had also entered the Late Stage of Energy Refining. Fang Yuxin was worried about her family and wasn¡¯t ready to ascend, and Bai Ye felt they should first meet up with others, so they didn¡¯t continue cultivating. It was just that the two had just woken up from meditation and had no idea how much time had passed. As soon as Fang Yuxin woke up, she first used Qingmu Spiritual Mansion to check on the situation outside. Upon seeing it, her face greatly changed. Bai Ye was watching her all the while and, seeing her expression change dramatically, instantly had a bad feeling, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is there something wrong outside?¡± Fang Yuxin looked distressed. She didn¡¯t answer Bai Ye, simply saying, ¡°We need to get out now!¡± Seeing her upset expression, Bai Ye knew the situation outside must be grim and naturally did not object. After Fang Yuxin spoke, he nodded without hesitation. Fang Yuxin walked up to him, took his wrist, and led him out of Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. As soon as they exited, they couldn¡¯t help but shiver. It was warm like spring inside Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, but it was a bit cold outside. Quite quickly, however, they adapted to the outdoor temperature. The two of them vigilantly surveyed their surroundings, everything appeared too unfamiliar, making them very uneasy. When they had entered Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, due to the severe storm, many trees were bent, and puddles and streams had formed on the ground, with murky water swiftly flowing along the terrain. But now, trees that had been five to six meters tall had suddenly grown to ten or even dozens of meters tall. The ground was covered with thick tree roots and vines, resembling an untouched primeval forest! If Fang Yuxin weren¡¯t sure their coordinates hadn¡¯t changed, she would have even suspected they had crossed into another world, or arrived at some primeval forest! Bai Ye was the first to come back to his senses; after all, he was a man and had been a mercenary for many years, his psychological endurance was somewhat stronger than Fang Yuxin¡¯s. He took Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, and while warily scanning their surroundings, lowered his voice and said, ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here first! Then we can find a way to locate the others. Can you sense them? Although I can¡¯t sense their positions, I feel like they should be alright.¡± After cultivation, one becomes more sensitive. If a close person was in or about to be in danger, cultivators would have a premonition. Bai Ye might not understand many things about the Cultivation World, but he knew this one fact. Fang Yuxin also knew this, and after carefully sensing for a while, she firmly nodded, ¡°They should be fine, let¡¯s hurry out.¡± This place was too eerie; both of them felt they couldn¡¯t stay long. Moreover, they didn¡¯t know the condition of the others. The most urgent task was to find the others and meet up! However, just as Fang Yuxin finished speaking and they were about to leave, the thick tree roots and vines on the ground suddenly began moving quickly! They slithered across the ground like snakes, stretching out their sharp tips and rapidly stabbing towards them! Clearly, these had become Mutant Plants and considered Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye as food, showing no intention of letting them leave! Their expressions changed, Bai Ye raised his hand and released several Electric Lights, which struck the attacking tree roots and vines. Following this, they heard several sharp screeching sounds! Bai Ye grabbed Fang Yuxin and ran, ¡°We need to move fast!¡± Fang Yuxin did not hesitate, merely gripping the handle of her knife tighter, ready to fiercely strike back at anything that attacked! They ran quickly, but the thick roots and vines showed no sign of backing off, relentlessly pursuing them. However, what they didn¡¯t expect was that all the trees in this forest that had survived had mutated! This was not a good sign; these mutated trees had extremely strong Attack Powers. It seemed they were no longer content with simple photosynthesis, had automatically changed their diet to include meat, and greedily fixed their gaze on Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. The two ran haphazardly and were gradually forced toward the original fissure. ¡°Wait!¡± Bai Ye firmly grabbed Fang Yuxin, staring uneasily at a huge fissure not far ahead. The fissure had expanded to hundreds of meters wide and was seemingly bottomless. What frustrated them further was that this fissure was very narrow and winding, and it was unclear where it extended. Just then, the tree roots caught up, increasingly encircling them. The tips of the roots slightly lifted, looking eerily like snakes, the only difference being that their tips were extremely sharp, easily capable of piercing through a person! (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it, including monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 444 - 444 247 Side by Side (Third Update) ?Chapter 444: 247 Side by Side (Third Update) Chapter 444: 247 Side by Side (Third Update) The changes in the fissure weighed heavily on both of their hearts. Now, it would be even more difficult for them to rendezvous with the others. They just didn¡¯t know how much time had passed. The persistent tree roots were like running into a hail of bullets! Fang Yuxin squinted her eyes, and then a heavy machine gun appeared in her hand. With the magazine attached, she aimed the gun and pulled the trigger, bullets bursting out like a downpour. The roots never saw it coming and were blown apart before they could even react. The remainder of their bodies limply collapsed on the ground, motionlessly playing dead. Bai Ye gripped his sword handle tightly, ignoring the tree roots feigning death on the ground. Pulling Fang Yuxin along, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here fast, and leave this place!¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, walking alongside Bai Ye, matching his pace. They followed the edge of the fissure for a while, and then Bai Ye stopped. He looked at the endless fissure ahead and said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°We can¡¯t go on like this, the crack is too big. We don¡¯t know how far we have to walk to reach the end, we must find another way.¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s face was very gloomy. She was aware of the problems Bai Ye raised, but the thought of not being able to quickly reunite with her family made it impossible for her to calm down. ¡°Then what do you suggest?¡± she asked, struggling to suppress her anger, eyes fixed on the fissure ahead, full of regret for not having taken the risk to jump over it earlier. Bai Ye guessed her thoughts and couldn¡¯t help but advise, ¡°It¡¯s already happened, stop thinking about it. It was too dangerous back then. If you really had jumped, you might not have seen your family, and you could have even fallen into the fissure!¡± He hesitated for a moment, then patted Fang Yuxin on the shoulder, ¡°Yuxin, don¡¯t worry. They¡¯ll be okay; you should trust them.¡± Fang Yuxin let out a long breath, taking out her tablet and checking the map. She had cast a small spell on the computer to seal the battery life, ensuring no power would be drained as long as the device was not in use. She remembered the location of the hotel, quickly found the forest on the map, and identified the hotel. Bai Ye thought for a moment, then couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Don¡¯t forget about this fissure; the geography around here must have changed, the map is only for reference.¡± Of course, Fang Yuxin understood this, she nodded and drew an imaginary line on the map with her finger, ¡°The fissure is here; the path is cut off. We can¡¯t go back, we can only go from here.¡± She pointed out a path that would lead them through the forest and to a road on the other side. Once on the road, they could take out their car and drive around to return. Bai Ye glanced at it, agreeing with her decision. Though crossing the forest was dangerous, getting back to the road was an urgent priority¡ªthey couldn¡¯t stay in the woods indefinitely. Thinking of the recent attacks, Bai Ye warned, ¡°Who knows how many Mutant Plants are in the forest; we must be extremely careful on the way forward. Also, with the severe weather before, the wind, the rain, the thunder, who knows what the outside has become now? It¡¯s best for us to take it one step at a time.¡± Fang Yuxin had no objections, she put away her computer, still holding the Miao Saber, but not taking out the heavy machine gun again. They picked a direction and walked side by side. They were attacked several times along the way, but this time they showed no mercy, killing all the Mutant Plants that attacked them, gaining several Crystal Cores. The Crystal Cores of the Mutant Plants were different from those of the zombies; they were of the Wood Element and purer. Bai Ye thought of Fang Yuxin, who was exactly the Wood Element and didn¡¯t really want the cores, so he let her take them all. Fang Yuxin, however, didn¡¯t want to take advantage of Bai Ye¡¯s kindness. After taking the Crystal Cores, she gave him some purified Level 1 and Second-level Crystal Cores. Bai Ye didn¡¯t refuse but felt somewhat dejected after taking the Crystal Cores. He liked Fang Yuxin and had privately come to think of her as his wife. He felt the Crystal Cores were suitable for her use, and it was natural to give them to her. Yet, Fang Yuxin had intentionally split them with him, clearly marking a boundary between them. He felt uncomfortable inside but didn¡¯t dare confront Fang Yuxin. Instead, he vented all his anger on the Mutant Plants, and as a result, Fang Yuxin ended up with even more Crystal Cores. They had left the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion at seven in the morning, and by the time they emerged from the forest, it was almost two in the afternoon. Chapter 445 - 445 247 Side by Side (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 445: 247 Side by Side (Third Update)_2 Chapter 445: 247 Side by Side (Third Update)_2 Both of them were starving, so they found an open space nearby to sit down. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t have the heart to make food and simply took some cooked food out from the space, sharing some with Bai Ye. The two of them resolved their lunch in a very simple manner. The condition of the highway was poor due to the previous earthquake, filled with cracks of all sizes. Fang Yuxin thought for a moment, and decided to take out two motorcycles from the space. She and Bai Ye took one each and followed the highway, planning to make their way back to the motel. The road conditions were extremely bad, but motorcycles were not as picky as cars, and both of them had decent riding skills. Moreover, compared to Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye¡¯s skills were even better. At first, the road surface was relatively smooth, just more cracks, and they didn¡¯t feel much pressure. But gradually, as the condition of the road worsened, Fang Yuxin started to feel overextended. When Bai Ye saw Fang Yuxin almost fall for the third time, he could no longer stand by and shouted at Fang Yuxin, ¡°Yuxin, stop! This is too dangerous to continue!¡± While speaking, Bai Ye rode his motorcycle in front of Fang Yuxin, forcing her to stop. Fang Yuxin was anxious, wishing she could immediately fly to her family¡¯s side, but the terrible road conditions forced her to slow down! Bai Ye jumped off his motorcycle, walked over, and pulled Fang Yuxin down from hers, shouting at her with an ugly expression, ¡°Even if you worry about your family¡¯s safety, you can¡¯t disregard your own!¡± ¡°What should I do?¡± Fang Yuxin snapped back, ¡°We don¡¯t know where they are right now, how they are faring, whether they are injured, and the later we return, the more danger they¡¯ll be in! I wish I could just grow wings and fly back right now!¡± After speaking, Fang Yuxin was about to turn and get back on her motorcycle. Bai Ye, in a panic, pulled her into his embrace and hugged her tightly, patting her back to calm her down, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous! I¡¯ll help you! I¡¯ll be there for you! Trust me, okay?¡± After saying that, he held Fang Yuxin¡¯s face to make her look at him. Fang Yuxin frowned uncomfortably, the intimacy of the proximity unsettling her. They both wore protective suits that clung to their skin, almost as if they weren¡¯t wearing clothes at all. Leaning against Bai Ye, she could even feel his burning body temperature through the thin protective gear, as if even the surrounding air had become searing hot. Fang Yuxin struggled to push Bai Ye away but hesitated upon meeting his gaze. His eyes shone like stars, reflecting her image, giving her the illusion that she was the only one in his sights. Their proximity was so close, they could feel each other¡¯s breath and heartbeat. Fang Yuxin was stunned for a moment but inevitably pushed Bai Ye away. This time, Bai Ye didn¡¯t resist, and she easily did it. Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart raced unnaturally fast. She took a cautious step backwards, trying not to look into Bai Ye¡¯s eyes, her gaze shifting uncertainly, unsure where to rest, ¡°How will you help me?¡± Bai Ye was also very tense at the time, seldom having such close contact with Fang Yuxin, the intimacy stirring a physical urge within him. To avoid a debacle, he didn¡¯t resist Fang Yuxin¡¯s attempt to create distance this time, feeling a mix of relief but also a tinge of loss in his heart. Following Fang Yuxin¡¯s question, she noticed Bai Ye dumbfounded, seemingly lost in thought. A sudden wave of worry overcame her, and she couldn¡¯t help but ask with concern, ¡°Bai Ye, are you okay?¡± This time Bai Ye heard her, shaking his head subconsciously. Recalling Fang Yuxin¡¯s earlier words, he quickly said, ¡°I have good skills, I¡¯ll take you.¡± Right after he spoke, something came to mind, and his face turned red as he nervously looked at Fang Yuxin, afraid she might misunderstand. Fortunately, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t think too much of it, hesitating only a moment before nodding her head decisively. She had noticed earlier that Bai Ye¡¯s riding skills were much better than hers, and with the road in such bad condition, if she insisted on continuing, it would not only be dangerous but also a waste of time! ¡°Then let¡¯s do as you say,¡± she finished, suddenly noticing Bai Ye¡¯s sigh of relief, and couldn¡¯t help but lift an eyebrow in curiosity. What exactly was he so nervous about? She had a hunch it wasn¡¯t something good, so she decided not to inquire further. Instead, she took her own motorcycle and urged Bai Ye to get going. Bai Ye got on the bike first, with Fang Yuxin sitting behind him. However, as soon as they mounted, both started to regret it. The seat wasn¡¯t big, and once they sat down, their bodies were pressed tightly together. Bai Ye suddenly felt as if he was bringing trouble upon himself, unable to bear such a sweet burden! ¡°You...hold on tight to me,¡± Bai Ye managed to say, his entire face blushing to the ears. But given the high speed and lack of anything else to hold onto, if Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t hold on to him tightly, she¡¯d be thrown off as soon as the motorcycle started moving. Fang Yuxin was aware of this as well and thus she wrapped her arms around Bai Ye¡¯s waist. Due to the awkwardness, she held on somewhat reluctantly. But when the motorcycle started moving, she instantly felt a powerful pull dragging her backward. Having no choice, Fang Yuxin wrapped her arms around Bai Ye¡¯s waist, her hands clasping in front of him. This way, her entire body was pressed against him. Bai Ye¡¯s back was broad, and as Fang Yuxin leaned against him, feeling the scorching warmth under the clothes, she suddenly felt a sense of unwarranted tranquility, her nervousness slowly settling. She hesitated for a moment before resting her face on Bai Ye¡¯s back, recalling the days when Jintang and Yuyang used to carry her on their backs, her eyes gradually moistening. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 446 - 446 248 Dark Clouds (First Update) ?Chapter 446: 248 ¡°Dark Clouds¡± (First Update) Chapter 446: 248 ¡°Dark Clouds¡± (First Update) Fang Yuxin blinked her eyes, forcing back the tears. The tears in her eyes flashed and vanished, so fast it seemed like an illusion. The car sped on, everything around them rapidly retreating as Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye distanced themselves from each other, no longer leaning on one another. Then she suddenly lifted her head to look up at the sky. The sky was a clear blue, adorned with clouds of various shapes, serene and beautiful¡ªif one ignored the cracked roads. Fang Yuxin squinted slightly against the light, her vision darkening slightly. If it were not for her enhanced body, ordinary people wouldn¡¯t even be able to open their eyes in such conditions. Bai Ye¡¯s expression subtly changed, Fang Yuxin¡¯s approach and departure felt like a dream to him. When Fang Yuxin leaned on his back, he hardly had time to feel excited before she was gone. It was all too brief. He had just tasted sweetness when it suddenly turned bitter, with a hint of sourness. Before he could feel despondent, however, he sensed something was wrong. It was too quiet. Apart from the sound of the motorcycle, there was no other noise! Bai Ye¡¯s instincts screamed that something was amiss. He subconsciously looked up, only to see nothing beyond the blue sky and white clouds. Just then, he heard Fang Yuxin¡¯s deliberately lowered voice, ¡°Stop the car, they¡¯re here.¡± They? What were they? Bai Ye didn¡¯t have time to ask; he heard the chaotic sound of flapping wings. He suddenly clenched the brakes, the tires screeching painfully against the ground. Neither Bai Ye nor Fang Yuxin cared about the noise from the vehicle; they both jumped off and looked up to the sky. Unbeknownst to them, a dense mass of what seemed like dark clouds had formed above, but upon closer inspection, it wasn¡¯t a cloud¡ªit was a flock of sparrows. They looked like sparrows, but unlike the sparrow¡¯s small body that was less than the size of a fist, these birds were almost the size of a chicken. Their dull gray-brown feathers were unattractive, and their tiny claws and cute beaks had turned into gruesome hooks. At a glance, there were definitely tens of thousands of these sparrows! Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin¡¯s expressions darkened. Although they had considered the presence of mutated birds, they had only encountered one along the way, and it had not attacked. Now, however, tens of thousands of mutated sparrows appeared before them, an alarmingly large number! Bai Ye asked Fang Yuxin in a low voice, ¡°Do you have any ideas?¡± He could unleash Sword Qi and electric nets, his inquiry was more out of concern for Fang Yuxin. They were only two people against a vast number, and Bai Ye worried that he wouldn¡¯t be able to protect Fang Yuxin in combat. Fang Yuxin thought for a moment and replied, ¡°I can use fire.¡± Although she didn¡¯t have a Fire Spirit Root, Wood fuels fire, allowing her to use Fire Magic, just not as conveniently as those with the Fire Spirit Root. Previously, when she encountered Red Powder, she was still in the Qi Refining Middle Stage and couldn¡¯t freely wield Fire Magic, only managing to conjure small fireballs. Now that she had reached the Late Stage of Energy Refining, she could barely attempt it. However... Suddenly, Fang Yuxin remembered Red Powder, recalling that its true form was quite enormous, especially as its floral scent had a bewildering effect. It might be worth a try. With that thought, Fang Yuxin immediately told Bai Ye, ¡°I¡¯ve recently taken a Spiritual Pet, let¡¯s try using it.¡± Her words had barely passed when the sparrows swiftly swooped down. Bai Ye¡¯s expression changed, and in an instant, he cast an electric net overhead to protect them both. The sparrows that hit the front line of the net burst into sparks, one by one turning into charred remains. Meanwhile, Fang Yuxin contacted Red Powder, ¡°Red Powder! Go now!¡± Red Powder, till now residing on the White Jade Bracelet taken the form of Lan Re, shot out immediately upon hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s telepathic call, returning to its true form upon hitting the ground. It had absorbed a great amount of Spiritual Energy recently, further boosted by the pure Wood Energy transmitted by Fang Yuxin. Its actual size had grown a whole size bigger. Thus, when it revealed its true form, Fang Yuxin noted that it had grown even larger than before. Red Powder seemed to drool over the sparrows, controlling its body to continuously rise, aggressively blooming its flowers, revealing its grotesque stamens. Chapter 447 - 447 248 Dark Clouds (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 447: 248 ¡°Dark Clouds¡± (First Update)_2 Chapter 447: 248 ¡°Dark Clouds¡± (First Update)_2 Bai Ye¡¯s Energy web had not yet dissipated, and the Red Powder Plant was clearly very wary of it, rising for a while before stopping and vigilantly ¡°watching¡± the huge Energy web. The Energy web was not a Magic Artifact, being entirely formed of Energy, and couldn¡¯t be retracted. However, Bai Ye, knowing that Fang Yuxin wanted to test the Red Powder Plant¡¯s strength, stopped infusing Spiritual Energy into the Energy web. As more and more sparrows crashed into the Energy web and were electrocuted to a crisp, the Spiritual Energy clinging to the web dwindled until it vanished completely, and the entire Energy web silently dissipated in mid-air. The sparrows were extremely wary of this web, and once it disappeared, the remaining sparrows plummeted from the sky, charging towards Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye like lightning. The two simply watched as a dense mass of black sparrows swooped down as if they would be completely submerged by the sparrows in the next instant. There was not a trace of fear on their faces; in fact, they even put away the swords and knives in their hands, watching with guarded gazes as the sparrows pressed closer. However, just as the sparrows were about to reach them, the Red Powder Plant, which had been lying dormant, suddenly sprung into action! Its branches stretched out incessantly, quickly weaving into a huge web that shielded Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye in its midst. Huge leaves overlapped each other, concealing the flowers, leaving only the flower stamens with open mouths, extending between the gaps of the leaves. The thick branches were covered in sharp spikes which were not exposed but cunningly hidden underneath the leaves, lying in ambush. Countless sparrows swooped down, spreading their claws like hooks, ready to tear the leaves to shreds. However, the moment their claws touched the leaves, spikes fiercely protruded from between the gaps, some piercing right through the sparrows¡¯ claws, some even more fortunate, impaling the sparrows completely. The sparrows cried out in panic, but in the next moment, the flower stamens with open mouths plunged into their bodies, relentlessly drawing out their blood and flesh. Their cries grew even more frantic. Flapping their wings desperately, they tried to break free, but soon, their bodies were pierced through by more spikes. The remaining sparrows, witnessing this scene, were frightened into a halt, hesitating whether to flee. Just then, Bai Ye emerged from behind the Red Powder Plant. With the help of the Red Powder Plant, things had clearly become much easier for him and Fang Yuxin. Although the number of sparrows was great, they were not without natural predators, so the two were not too worried. Bai Ye deliberately stepped out, intending to take the opportunity to practice his sword skills. In the rapidly advancing modern society, swords, as weapons, were no longer used by people, having become more of decorative artifacts or performance props. Although Bai Ye was proficient with a number of cold weapons, compared to the sword, he was more adept with blades. Since he had received the inheritance of the Dragon Scale Sword, he had no choice but to practice sword skills. Fortunately, with his martial arts foundation and the ability to learn by analogy, he had managed to improve his sword skills in a short period of time. Having just advanced a level, he needed to practice new sword techniques, and now was the chance. He did not want to miss it. Fang Yuxin guessed his intentions, so she didn¡¯t stop him. Nonetheless, she immediately saw a group of sparrows suddenly swooping down from mid-air, heading aggressively towards Bai Ye. In the blink of an eye, Bai Ye was enveloped by the flock, the sparrows forming a giant cocoon around him. Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart leaped when she saw this. Then, she saw several streams of Sword Qi emanate from the giant cocoon; the moment the Sword Qi appeared, the whole cocoon was slashed open from the inside. Dozens of sparrows were cleaved in half by the Sword Qi, falling heavily to the ground, their blood splashing spectacularly. But quickly, more sparrows dove down from the sky, filling in the gaps. Fang Yuxin stopped watching at this point, trusting that Bai Ye would be fine. Bai Ye had begun his own battle, and now it was her turn. Thinking this, her fingers continued to form hand gestures. She was not a Fire Spirit Root and didn¡¯t have a Fire Spirit Talisman; to conjure flames, she had to perform certain hand gestures. Her current hand gestures were complex, her fingers dancing continuously, revealing a mysterious rhythm. And with the dance of her fingers, the Fire Attribute Spiritual Energy in the surrounding air gradually gathered towards her fingertips. Finally, a basketball-sized Fireball appeared in front of her. Fang Yuxin took a deep breath and injected a stream of Wood Energy into the Fireball. Wood fuels fire, and with this stream of Wood Energy, the Fireball instantly expanded to twice its original size. Then, Fang Yuxin delivered the final hand gesture. In the instant the hand gesture was made, the Fireball in front of her instantly burst into countless smaller Fireballs, which flew over the Red Powder Plant, hurtling toward the sparrows hovering in mid-air, poised to strike. The magic Fang Yuxin used was none other than the simplified version of ¡°Starfire¡± once wielded by Qu Qianhe. However, Fang Yuxin had a Pure Wood Spirit Body and was not a Fire Spirit Root; it took her more than twice as long to cast the spell compared to Qu Qianhe, and her control over the flames was not as skilled. Qu Qianhe could divide the Fireball into pieces the size of longan fruits, but she could only manage the size of fists. Fortunately, she had stimulated the Fireball with Wood Energy, making the flames more vigorous, which somewhat compensated for the deficiencies. The sparrows in mid-air clustered tightly together, forming a dark ¡°cloud¡±; when the Fireballs were launched, the flock instantly scattered with shrill screams. They were fast, dispersing in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, there were many Fireballs, and most hit their targets, with only a few missing. The sparrows¡¯ feathers were completely dry, and as soon as they encountered the Fireballs, they burst violently into flames. Soon, the air was filled with the strong aroma of roasted meat.(To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 448 - 448 249 Walk Over (Second Update) ?Chapter 448: 249 Walk Over (Second Update) Chapter 448: 249 Walk Over (Second Update) Sparrows burned and fell from the sky, but more followed. They seemed enraged, swarming toward Fang Yuxin. Just then, the branches of Red Powder suddenly stretched out again, rapidly intertwining into a large net, creating a barrier in front of Fang Yuxin. The sparrows crashed into the net, some lucky enough to slip through the gaps that had not yet closed, but most were impaled by the spikes. At that moment, Red Powder vigorously extended its tender shoots, entwining the speared sparrows tightly. The thorns on the shoots, though softer by comparison, still mercilessly pierced the bodies of the sparrows. Immediately after, a bud formed on the branch, blooming rapidly. The pistil shyly emerged from the petals and then, without hesitation, opened its mouth and clamped down on the sparrows, incessantly absorbing their flesh and blood. However, it wasn¡¯t long before more sparrows descended. They didn¡¯t attempt to rescue their comrades but instead opened their sharp beaks and claws, viciously devouring the unlucky ones among them. With Red Powder¡¯s obstruction, Fang Yuxin again performed a hand seal, preparing a new ¡°Starfire.¡± At this moment, Lan Re on her wrist transformed into a beam of white light, releasing both its main body and its clone, serving as Fang Yuxin¡¯s protector. Whenever a sparrow approached, it charged without hesitation! Lan Re¡¯s body was sturdier than Red Powder¡¯s, but unlike Red Powder, it could not continuously produce tender shoots. To Lan Re, the sparrows were always too small; it could only attempt to capture them with its bud tips. After a while, Fang Yuxin completed her magic, and countless fireballs shot out, targeting the flock of sparrows in mid-air. Watching the sparrows hit by fireballs falling like dumplings, she breathed a sigh of relief and then subconsciously glanced toward Bai Ye. Upon looking, she discovered that a thick layer of sparrow corpses had piled up around Bai Ye. Not a single sparrow dared approach him anymore, forcing Bai Ye to use his Sword Qi to attack those in the air. By now, the number of sparrows in the sky had dwindled to less than a third of what it was originally. Some were still greedily pecking at the corpses of their kind, and unfortunately, some became impaled by Red Powder while feeding. Soon, the remaining sparrows in the sky started to fear, no longer attacking proactively. After circling for a while, they turned and flew away. As these took flight, the sparrows that were feasting on the corpses also flapped their wings, preparing to flee. Seeing this, Bai Ye suddenly unleashed a huge electrical net, capturing those that were about to leave. The ¡°crackle¡± of electricity didn¡¯t stop; the sparrows inside were instantly charred. In the end, less than a quarter of the original number of sparrows managed to escape. Once the sparrows were gone, Red Powder¡¯s body moved again. The trapped sparrows each shrunk into palm-sized mummies, and with a spike¡¯s flick, the Crystal Cores fell out, clattering in a pile on the ground. Having absorbed the sparrows, Red Powder and Lan Re promptly shrunk back to their original size, transforming into spirit light that returned to Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist, affectionately seeking her approval through thoughts. Thinking of their vigorous assistance, Fang Yuxin smiled softly and sent a stream of pure Wood Energy to each. Both rejoiced and showed even more affection toward Fang Yuxin. With a wave of her hand, Fang Yuxin collected all the Crystal Cores from the ground. The sparrows¡¯ bodies were too small, and the Crystal Cores they produced were also much smaller than those of zombies. Fang Yuxin did not mind and purified all the Crystal Cores, then said to Bai Ye, ¡°I¡¯ll keep these Crystal Cores and give them to you after I¡¯ve purified them.¡± Bai Ye had no objections, simply stating, ¡°Keep them.¡± Fang Yuxin conjured a ball of fire to burn the remaining sparrow corpses, and the two continued on their journey. They quickly arrived at a junction, which they could cross to return to the highway soon. However, the intersection had been diagonally severed in the middle. The split was not as wide as the one they had encountered before, but it still spanned a width of about two hundred meters. Fang Yuxin frowned at the crack, hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said to Bai Ye, ¡°We¡¯ll find a way to cross here!¡± The road was broken here, and if they had to detour, it would take an even longer route. Doing so would be far too time-consuming. Chapter 449 - 449 249 Walking Past (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 449: 249 Walking Past (Second Update)_2 Chapter 449: 249 Walking Past (Second Update)_2 Bai Ye glanced at the crack on the opposite side and did not object but merely asked, ¡°Do you have any ideas?¡± It would be fine if they could shoot a rope across with a gun or a crossbow arrow, but where could they find such things now? Fang Yuxin thought for a moment and said, ¡°Let me try with Red Powder! See if it can extend to the other side.¡± After speaking, she began communicating with Red Powder. Bai Ye did not stop her but quietly waited. Fang Yuxin quickly communicated with Red Powder and excitedly said to Bai Ye, ¡°Red Powder said it can.¡± Actually, this width was a bit of a stretch for Red Powder, but it did not want to disappoint Fang Yuxin, so it decided to take the risk. Red Powder fell off Lan Re, landed on the ground, and took deep root. Then, it extended a branch that kept stretching towards the opposite side. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye nervously watched the branch; it moved quickly, extending tens of meters in a blink, then hundreds of meters. Then, its pace slowed down, and every ten meters it extended seemed exceedingly difficult. Seeing this, Fang Yuxin simply grasped one of Red Powder¡¯s branches and continuously fed it pure Wood Energy. With this nourishment, the branch¡¯s speed soon increased, and it quickly reached the other side. First, it tested the branch and then extended towards a tree on the other side, winding around the trunk several times. Fang Yuxin sighed in relief upon seeing this and was about to cross immediately in excitement. Bai Ye, seeing the branch no thicker than a thumb, startled and quickly pulled Fang Yuxin back, ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Fang Yuxin looked at him in surprise, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bai Ye pointed at the branch and said gravely, ¡°This branch is too thin; it¡¯s too dangerous to cross like this.¡± Hearing this, Fang Yuxin frowned and continued communicating with Red Powder, asking if it could thicken the branch a bit. Red Powder quickly responded. It extended more branches toward the opposite bank, eventually weaving them into a bridge wide enough for a person to cross. The bridge even had handrails made of branches and leaves on both sides to prevent anyone from falling off. However, to create such a bridge, Fang Yuxin had almost given ninety percent of her Wood Energy to Red Powder, causing her complexion to become nearly translucent. Bai Ye, looking at her pallor, grimly said, ¡°I¡¯ll pull you across.¡± After saying that, he ignored Fang Yuxin¡¯s objections and pulled her onto the bridge. The bridge was narrow, allowing only one person to pass, so they had to walk single file. Bai Ye led the way, pulling Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist firmly but not enough to hurt her. Concerned about potential complications, they moved very quickly. In less than a minute, they had covered two hundred meters. Once reaching the opposite side, both let out a sigh of relief. Then Fang Yuxin petted the bud of Red Powder, signaling it could come over. Upon receiving her signal, Red Powder immediately pulled its roots from the ground and shot towards the other side like a bolt of electricity, eventually becoming a small speck and returning to Fang Yuxin¡¯s body. It conveyed to Fang Yuxin its need to ¡°sleep,¡± then fell into a deep slumber. Fang Yuxin, seeing its dimmed body, knew it had strained itself. Though Red Powder was a mutant plant, it could not stretch its body indefinitely due to its level. However, it had received a large amount of pure Wood Energy this time. It used only a small portion of this energy, sinking the rest into its body, waiting to fully absorb it for a successful promotion. This deep slumber was due to the recent over-extension that had shaken its foundation; it needed to properly repair its body. Secondly, it needed to completely absorb the pure Wood Energy to advance to Level 3. Fang Yuxin thought for a moment, then sent Red Powder into the spirit field in Qingmu Spiritual Mansion to recuperate well. Then, she said to Bai Ye, ¡°Let¡¯s get going quickly!¡± Bai Ye, however, frowned disapprovingly and pulled her back, saying, ¡°You¡¯ve just exhausted too much energy; you must recover first.¡± They still had a considerable distance from the hotel, and anything could happen on the road, just like the recent attack they had encountered from mutant sparrows. It would be too dangerous for Fang Yuxin to start traveling without regaining her strength! Bai Ye insisted firmly. Though Fang Yuxin was extremely anxious, she had no choice but to obediently take Bai Ye back to the grand hall of Qingmu Spiritual Mansion and take out a Crystal Core to absorb energy. Bai Ye, seeing her meditating and recovering, let out a slight sigh of relief and also took out a Crystal Core to absorb energy. Although his exhaustion was not as great as Fang Yuxin¡¯s, there was time at hand and the road ahead was still uncertain; Bai Ye naturally wanted to ensure he was in the best possible condition. This time, they were merely replenishing Spiritual Energy and not meditating deeply, so it did not take too long¡ªabout an hour later, they both had regained full strength and left Qingmu Spiritual Mansion together. Their current location was originally a three-way intersection, but during the land split, most of the road surface had fragmented and fallen into the crevice, leaving only a narrow edge. The area they were standing in was farmland, also full of cracks, making it temporarily impossible for them to bike and forcing them to walk. After walking a while, they finally reached a roadway. However, the road conditions were also poor, with various sizes of cracks appearing at intervals. This time, Fang Yuxin did not act tough but took out a motorcycle, and the two of them hit the road again. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 450 - 450 250 How could this happen (Third Update) ?Chapter 450: 250 How could this happen! (Third Update) Chapter 450: 250 How could this happen! (Third Update) Sitting behind Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin had to admit that Bai Ye¡¯s driving skills were indeed much better than hers. Compared to Ordinary People, her driving might be considered decent, but it paled in comparison to Bai Ye¡¯s. Along the way, they occasionally encountered roads blocked by mounds of earth or completely broken, with height differences at the fracture points. Despite all this, Bai Ye had managed to safely navigate through with her. Eight hours later, they finally arrived at the location of the inn. However, the place had completely changed. Looking at everything in front of her, Fang Yuxin¡¯s face instantly turned pale. The three-story inn was gone, and including the entire parking lot, it was completely buried under the earth. Upon closer inspection, she could see traces of the building peeking out from the mud. Fang Yuxin could barely stand steady, murmuring, ¡°How could... how could this happen? No... It can¡¯t be true! This isn¡¯t real!¡± Bai Ye held her from behind to prevent her from falling. He found it difficult to stay calm when looking at everything before him but, being a man and having worked as a mercenary for many years, he had to be stronger than Fang Yuxin. Suppressing the unease in his heart, he reassured Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t panic! It¡¯s just the inn that¡¯s been buried, they may not be in trouble.¡± He suddenly thought of something and quickly added, ¡°Have you forgotten? We didn¡¯t sense them having any trouble, did we? And... and don¡¯t we have a Blood Oath? Sense it again! They must be alright!¡± Reminded by Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin finally recalled this fact. Holding back the intense panic in her heart, she sensed through the Blood Oath. Upon doing so, she immediately discovered that Chen Qiao and the others, who had sworn the Blood Oath, were still alive. At the same time, she faintly sensed that her family should be safe. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief, but due to the shock, she still felt too weak to muster any strength, leaning limply against Bai Ye. The two stayed close in silence for a while. When Bai Ye saw that Fang Yuxin had regained some composure, he suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s look carefully, since they aren¡¯t buried here, they must have left. There might be some clues.¡± Whether it was the Fang Family or his own subordinates, if they had left, they would definitely have left a mark for him. Bai Ye was very certain of this. Unless it was extremely urgent, they would not have the time to leave a mark! He planned to search with Fang Yuxin, also hoping to gauge the situation of the others through any possible marks that existed. If there were indeed marks, then at least they wouldn¡¯t be in too much danger. Fang Yuxin nodded, took a deep breath, stood up straight, and quickly walked towards the ruins of the inn. Bai Ye followed by her side, keeping a distance that was neither too close to offend nor too far to prevent him from protecting Fang Yuxin should any danger arise. Fang Yuxin had completely calmed down. She and Bai Ye hadn¡¯t walked far before they encountered no more road ahead, just piles of mud. Judging the situation, it appeared to be the result of a mudslide. The rain had been too heavy, and the winds were strong; with a small hill near the inn, a mudslide was not surprising. Thinking of this, her face grew cold. Instead of blindly searching, she extended her Spiritual Sense as far out as possible, looking for any possible traces her family might have left. Now at the Late Stage of Qi Refining, her Spiritual Sense could extend farther. Before long, she sensed a fluctuation of Spiritual Energy. Intently sensing it, she found it to be a plastic bottle buried in the ruins. Wrapped in a layer of Spiritual Energy, it was well preserved. No one but her family could have managed this! Hence, without hesitation, Fang Yuxin said to Bai Ye, ¡°I¡¯ve found a plastic bottle, the item is buried beneath, I¡¯ll get it out.¡± Bai Ye asked her with confusion, ¡°How do you plan to get it out? How deep is it buried?¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s brow furrowed, as the plastic bottle was buried eight meters deep in the earth pile. Digging would be too slow, and it would be better to use the Earth Escape Skill directly. But, the mention of Earth Escape reminded Fang Yuxin of the Ginseng Spirit, Ah Bao. So, she promptly summoned Ah Bao from the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion to help. Ah Bao was playing with the Red Powder branches in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Suddenly pulled out by Fang Yuxin, it paused before reacting and then glared at Fang Yuxin with dissatisfaction, arms crossed, ¡°What do you want me for?¡± Afterwards, its entire bun-like face scrunched up. Within the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, the Spiritual Energy was thick, and the climate was temperate, making it feel very comfortable. The outside world, on the other hand, was different. Although the Spiritual Energy was dense, it was too mixed, and the air contained traces of the Zombie Virus and was filled with the stench of decay, which it greatly disliked. Chapter 451 - 451 250 How could this happen (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 451: 250 How could this happen! (Third Update)_2 Chapter 451: 250 How could this happen! (Third Update)_2 Fang Yuxin, after all, was the master, so she only complained a bit and didn¡¯t really get upset with Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin had no mood to coddle the Ginseng Spirit at the moment and directly ordered, ¡°Eight meters down from here, there is a plastic bottle containing a piece of paper. Bring the plastic bottle up to me.¡± Upon hearing this, Ah Bao immediately transformed into a beam of light and burrowed into the mound of earth. About a minute later, it emerged, clutching a plastic bottle bigger than its own body. Coming out, it tossed the plastic bottle to Fang Yuxin and immediately said with a frown, ¡°There! I¡¯ve given you the item. Quickly send me back!¡± ¡°Just wait a moment!¡± Fang Yuxin urgently said, then released her Spiritual Sense to thoroughly scan the area again to make sure nothing else was left behind. Only after confirming there was nothing did she send Ah Bao back to the spirit field. Then, she quickly unscrewed the lid and took out the paper inside. ¡°What does it say?¡± Bai Ye asked as he leaned in to look. The two of them quickly found that the note contained two sentences, each belonging to different people¡¯s notes. Fang Yuxin instantly recognized the first one as Qu Qianhe¡¯s handwriting, while Bai Ye realized the second sentence was written by Chen Si. The sentences were straightforward: ¡°We are fine. After you see this, go directly to Beishi City to meet up,¡± and ¡°Big Brother, take care. We are fine. See you in Beishi City.¡± The note didn¡¯t specify why they had suddenly left, but Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, looking at the desolation around them, could guess some of it. Obviously, there must have been a sudden mudslide after the heavy rain, and they had no choice but to leave in a hurry. No, there might have been other circumstances¡ªthey simply couldn¡¯t wait and had to head to Beishi City first. No matter the reason, the two of them at least knew that everyone was safe, and that was enough. The paper was imbued with Spiritual Energy that hadn¡¯t dissipated, signifying that the caster was fine. Coupled with the connection of the Blood Oath, Fang Yuxin could faintly sense that her family and people like Chen Qiao were safe. As for Chen Si and the others, as long as they were together and hadn¡¯t split up, they should be safe. Fang Yuxin subconsciously glanced at Bai Ye and, seeing no trace of worry on his face, she secretly guessed that Bai Ye must also have some intuition. Although she didn¡¯t know the strength of Bai Ye¡¯s intuition, he certainly believed that those people were safe. That was enough. At this moment, Fang Yuxin fully relaxed. She thought for a moment, then carefully put away the note. It contained Qu Qianhe¡¯s handwriting; she simply couldn¡¯t bear to throw it away. After Bai Ye waited for her to put away the note, he said, ¡°Since they¡¯ve gone ahead to Beishi City, let¡¯s hurry on our way. If nothing goes wrong, we should get there in a day.¡± Fang Yuxin silently nodded, but did not speak. Bai Ye, observing her complexion, also fell silent. Both of them knew in their hearts that, after the disaster they had just been through, the situation elsewhere was truly unpredictable. If it were before the apocalypse, a day would have been enough to ride or drive to Beishi City. But now, the situation was unclear; if they could reach Beishi City within three days, that would be considered good. However, neither of them spoke of these concerns. After they left the ruins of the hotel, they went back onto the highway. Being too close to the crack, the road was severely damaged, forcing Fang Yuxin to ask Bai Ye to ride a motorcycle with her until the road condition gradually improved as they moved away from the area. Then Fang Yuxin decisively took out an SUV and put the motorcycle away. The fuel in the car was sufficient. Once in the car, Bai Ye assumed the role of the driver and Fang Yuxin took the passenger seat. After getting into the car, she took out a tablet and started examining the map. It took her a while to find their current approximate coordinates on the map. Then, she dragged the map with her finger, gazing at the marked position of Beishi City and couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of anticipation inside. Bai Ye silently drove the car. They were already some distance away from the hotel and the road was unaffected, free of cracks, so intact that it gave him the illusion of being in another world. He kept an eye on Fang Yuxin from the corner of his eye, seeing her big eyes watching the map with expectation, his heart softened suddenly and his lips slightly curved. Just then, the two of them suddenly heard a scream from afar. They were startled and instinctively turned their heads to look in the direction of the scream. What they saw was seven or eight cars driving on the road in the distance, with several thousand zombies chasing after them. A woman was dragged out of her car by the zombies and was being devoured; the scream had come from her. They both found the scene somewhat unreal. They had been cultivating at Qingmu Spiritual Mansion for seven days, and although they didn¡¯t know the exact time, they were aware that several days must have passed. Since they left Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, all they had encountered on their journey were Mutant Plants and mutant sparrows but had yet to encounter zombies. Now, seeing them so suddenly was a bit unsettling. However, they quickly adapted to the sight. Fang Yuxin¡¯s Spiritual Sense could reach far, and she extended it out, finding that the cars not only carried young people but also the elderly and children, seemingly fleeing from somewhere with families in tow. She wasn¡¯t heartless and frowned for a moment before saying to Bai Ye, ¡°Let¡¯s go save them.¡± Bai Ye glanced at those people and, seeing their increasing danger, didn¡¯t say anything. He turned the steering wheel and headed towards them. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 452 - 452 251 Unreliable at First Glance (First Update) ?Chapter 452: 251 Unreliable at First Glance (First Update) Chapter 452: 251 Unreliable at First Glance (First Update) Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were driving over when those cars had already been surrounded by a Zombie Group. The car doors were entirely blocked by zombies, and the people inside simply couldn¡¯t get out, the situation was utterly passive. The zombies¡¯ claws were fierce; they quickly scratched through the tightly shut car windows and then stretched their claws to grab the people inside, intending to pull them out. Through the Spiritual Sense she released, Fang Yuxin ¡°saw¡± that the people inside were already scared and tightly huddled together, desperately squeezing towards the middle of the seats to avoid the zombies¡¯ claws. These people were not very strong; they probably had been hiding in a Safe Zone before. Their emergence must have been due to some incident in their Safe Zone. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye guessed in their minds but before they got closer, Bai Ye parked the car on the roadside, and both of them instantly opened the car doors and dashed out. The Zombie Group wasn¡¯t very large, just a few thousand, and the strongest among them was a Second-level Power Zombie, posing no threat to them. Thus, they didn¡¯t use any powerful moves. Bai Ye wielded a Longsword and Fang Yuxin wielded a Miao Saber, treating it as a practice session. The people inside the car were initially delighted to see a car approaching, thinking help had come. They thought, with so many zombies, the people inside the car daring to come to help must be confident. But when the car stopped, and only a man and a woman jumped out, who, though as good-looking as movie stars, appeared utterly unreliable! My goodness! What are they holding in their hands! What do they think this is? Are they coming out to act cool? Whose reckless children are these! As Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin had speculated, those inside the car weren¡¯t very strong; they had always stayed within a Safe Zone, barely surviving by working in the Safe Zone. After the Safe Zone was destroyed, they reluctantly drove out to seek refuge in another Safe Zone. Their luck was really bad; because they lacked strength, the car was full of the old and weak, the others deemed them a burden and deliberately abandoned them. Had it not been for some gasoline they had secretly saved and not traded for food, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to escape! But once they left the Safe Zone, they realized they had been too optimistic. Outside it was either zombies or Mutant Animals and Mutant Plants, especially those Mutated Birds above, which were terrifying! At first, there were only a few scattered zombies, and some young people among them could still manage. But soon, they encountered a Zombie Group, with thousands of zombies! A glance revealed a dense mass of zombies and the strong stench of decay hit them directly; simply witnessing such a scene scared the wits out of them! When a companion was caught and dragged out, letting out a shrill scream, they felt a desperate sense of impending death! But just then, they saw a car turn around and charge towards them. Little did they know that before they could rejoice for long, they realized that those who came were two young people who looked utterly unreliable! As the two young people got closer, someone couldn¡¯t help but shout loudly, ¡°What are you doing! Get back in the car! It¡¯s dangerous!¡± Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye heard the shouts coming from the car, and raised their eyebrows in surprise. They had not expected that these people, facing imminent death, would still care about them! Were these people too kind-hearted or just lacked a sense of crisis? Both of them had never encountered such a situation before and found it quite unexpected. At the same time, they felt secretly convinced that their decision to come and rescue was correct. Regardless of why these people had said such a thing, the intention was enough! Thus, in the next moment, they charged even faster. They intentionally released strong energy fluctuations. The zombies sensed the vigorous vitality on their bodies and immediately turned around, abandoning those hiding in the car and rushed towards them, surrounding them in the blink of an eye. The people inside the car watching this scene simply wanted to grab the two and give them a good scolding. Not knowing how dangerous it was and still running into danger! An old man sighed, ¡°The young people nowadays, just don¡¯t understand the severity of the situation, holding a knife and thinking they are heroes.¡± As he spoke, he picked up a wooden walking stick beside him and forcefully poked at the zombies near the car window. The head of the walking stick was round, not very lethal to zombies, but it could push the zombies further away, maintaining a safe distance. Chapter 453 - 453 251 Unreliable at First Glance (Second Update) ?Chapter 453: 251 Unreliable at First Glance (Second Update) Chapter 453: 251 Unreliable at First Glance (Second Update) Just then, a young man beside him suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Grandpa, quick, look! Those two are so incredible!¡± Upon hearing this, the old man widened his eyes and looked in the direction the young man was pointing. What he saw were flashes of gold and black sword shades bursting ahead. Following that, the zombies began falling one by one, as if they were struck by a spell. He couldn¡¯t help but rub his eyes and squint hard, murmuring, ¡°Zhuzi, am I seeing things? How come those zombies are dropping like flies?¡± The young man clenched his fists in excitement, his eyes sparkling as he looked ahead, and said, ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re not seeing things! Those zombies are really going down! Damn! We¡¯ve really run into some experts this time! I knew there was a reason they dared to come help just the two of them, they¡¯re so powerful! Aaaoow!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than he received a slap to the head from the old man, making him cry out in pain. The old man glared at him discontentedly, ¡°What¡¯s with learning bad habits? Picking up cursing from others! You deserve it!¡± The young man instantly deflated, whispering in complaint, ¡°Grandpa, at a time like this!¡± As he spoke, he suddenly saw the old man¡¯s anger flare up again and quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m wrong! Isn¡¯t it enough that I admit I¡¯m wrong?¡± Suddenly, the old man¡¯s face changed drastically, and he pushed him down urgently, ¡°Be careful! Are you blind to the zombies? Have you lost your will to live?¡± The cramped space was filled with the putrid smell of zombie decay. The young man turned his head in terror, only to see a zombie claw reaching in, its sharp tips a mere hand¡¯s breadth away from him, about to grab hold! He was so scared that his face turned ashen. The old man was also sweating profusely with fear, muttering incessantly, ¡°Weapons... weapons... find a weapon, quick!¡± The young man snatched up a steel pick beside him. The pick was as long as an arm; one end was sharpened to a point, while the other was wrapped several times with coarse hemp cloth to serve as a handle. As he grasped it, the unique roughness of the hemp rubbed against his palm. Recalling the scene he had just witnessed, a surge of great strength suddenly erupted within him. ¡°To hell with you!¡± he bellowed and fiercely clenched the steel pick, driving the sharp end hard into the zombie! At that moment, the zombie had already ripped the window apart, and its half-decayed face was just entering through the window when it was hit by the steel pick. The pick thrust upwards from below, stabbing into the zombie¡¯s chin and penetrating right through to the back of the head. Instantly, the zombie stopped moving. The young man had not expected things to turn out this way. Staring in astonishment at the motionless zombie with its jaws open revealing sharp fangs and then back at the steel pick in his hand, he was still in shock. After a while, he swallowed hard and muttered to himself as if in a dream, ¡°Did I kill the zombie? I... I killed a zombie! I actually killed a zombie!¡± At this point, he suddenly felt emboldened. Clutching the steel pick, he stirred it around in the zombie¡¯s brain, then yanked it back out. His eyes turned fierce and wary, like a young wolf¡¯s, as he stared out the window at the dense mass of zombies. The old man was too astonished to utter a word, ¡°Zhuzi... you... you...¡± The young man had regained his composure. Glancing once more at Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye not far ahead, a flash of newfound longing and excitement crossed his eyes. He said to the old man, ¡°Grandpa, I will protect you. They are strong. As long as we hold on a little longer, we will be rescued!¡± The old man, perhaps thinking of something, opened his mouth but then closed it again. He clutched his walking stick with his withered hands, pushing the zombies outside the window away to a safe distance, and the standoff continued. Seeing this, the young man leaned forward, thrusting the steel pick sharply into the zombie. He was clever, having tasted success a moment ago. Once again, he drove the steel pick into the zombie¡¯s chin, it reached the back of its skull. However, not everyone was as lucky as they were. Continuously, people were being dragged out from the windows by zombies, and even the doors were being pried open by the zombies, leaving no chance for the people inside to escape. Heart-wrenching screams filled the air as one after another, living humans were dragged into the Zombie Group, to be cruelly torn apart and devoured. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye heard the commotion, their brows furrowed tightly. They exchanged glances and simultaneously rushed into the midst of the Zombie Group. The black blade and the golden sword gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight. With a flurry of blade flashes and sword shadows, more and more zombies fell dead at their hands. Thousands of zombies might have seemed many at first glance, but they stood no chance against the pair¡¯s frenzied slaughter. In just ten short minutes, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had completely eradicated all the zombies in the area. Just then, a hoarse bird cry echoed from the sky. They looked up to see a flock of pitch-black crows circling in the sky. These crows were clearly mutated, each one incredibly large, almost matching an ostrich in size. Their outstretched wings cast massive ominous shadows on the ground, invoking an inexplicable sense of unease. Though few in number, only around twenty, their large size gave the impression of an overwhelming swarm. Bai Ye thought of the mutant sparrows they had encountered earlier. With a flick of his wrist, over twenty Sword Qi shot out in an instant. His speed was so fast, the crows couldn¡¯t even dodge before they were pierced through by the Sword Qi, falling from the sky like dumplings. Fang Yuxin cast a small Barrier with a wave of her hand, shielding them from the blood rain above. She said, ¡°They probably wanted to feed on these zombies.¡± Bai Ye stood calmly within Fang Yuxin¡¯s Barrier and said, ¡°I know.¡± (Want to know more exciting updates about ¡°Apocalypse Resurrection: The Turn of the Secondary Female Character¡±? Now, just open WeChat, click on the ¡°+¡± on the upper right corner, select ¡°Add Friends¡± then search for ¡°Qidianzhongwenwang¡± in the public account, follow it, and you¡¯ll never miss an update!)(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian with recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 454 - 454 252 Greed (Second Update) ?Chapter 454: 252 Greed (Second Update) Chapter 454: 252 Greed (Second Update) When the blood rain had completely fallen, Fang Yuxin waved her hand to dismiss the Barrier to avoid detection by others. At that time, the survivors began to disembark from the vehicle; having just experienced that ordeal, their faces were anything but pleasant. Especially the two injured ones, whose faces displayed a hopeless pallor. Some people walked among the bodies, finding those that had been torn apart and eaten. They covered their mouths and sobbed quietly, while others stood by with faces full of sorrow and confusion. They had been staying at the Base, day-to-day living wasn¡¯t great and they were often mistreated and bullied by superpower users, but at least they were alive. However, soon after venturing out, they encountered the Zombie Group and discovered just how cruel the outside world had become; survival, it seemed, was an incredibly difficult task. They didn¡¯t know how much longer they could live, or what path lay ahead. Could they really survive? Some asked themselves this, their faces growing increasingly bewildered and desperate. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye didn¡¯t approach them; instead, they efficiently removed the Crystal Cores, cleansed them of impurities with Spiritual Energy, and then stashed them in their waist pouches. The others, observing their actions, snapped back to reality with a complicated look at the zombies in front of them. A flash of greed quickly crossed the face of one man before he stealthily glanced at Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. On seeing their exceedingly sharp daggers, these individuals immediately suppressed their greed. Thousands of zombies meant thousands of Crystal Cores. To those who had just survived, these cores were indeed a fortune. With these Crystal Cores, they could significantly improve their chances of obtaining survival supplies at the next Safe Zone. But no one dared to dig out the cores, not only because Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were their saviors and it would be shameless to do so, but also because after witnessing their power, they dared not offend! Yet, there are always exceptions. After a young man had wept beside two mutilated bodies for a while, he suddenly turned, glaring furiously at Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. His eyes red with anger, he turned and accused, ¡°Didn¡¯t you see how many died here? Do the dead mean nothing to you? Are these Crystal Cores more important than human lives?¡± He was in fact displacing his anger; the two bodies were his parents. Earlier, when the car door was ripped open by zombies, his parents had tried to protect him and were brutally torn apart and devoured! So, after witnessing his parents¡¯ mangled bodies and weeping over them, his heart was almost consumed with regret, making it nearly unbearable for him! Thus, when he saw Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye seemingly indifferent to the corpses and busy collecting Crystal Cores, his regret found a vent! It was all their fault! If they were so powerful, why didn¡¯t they save his parents? His parents wouldn¡¯t have died if they had intervened! Overwhelmed by regret, the young man let a demon enter his heart. Unwilling to bear the heavy guilt of causing his parents¡¯ deaths, he subconsciously shifted the blame to Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin! Fang Yuxin was busy extracting Crystal Cores as there were many zombies, and they needed to collect the cores swiftly and then burn the bodies. She had just felt these people had some decency, and now this outlier had appeared! Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but laugh, about to speak, when she saw a middle-aged woman suddenly rush toward the young man and slap him across the face. ¡°Slap!¡± The surroundings were so quiet that the sound was particularly loud. Fang Yuxin raised an eyebrow and couldn¡¯t help but look at the woman who had slapped him. She was curious about the reason behind her action. The young man¡¯s skin was quite fair, indicating he hadn¡¯t suffered much hardship. The slap left five red finger marks on his delicate face, slightly swollen. He looked incredulously at the middle-aged woman, ¡°Aunt, you hit me?¡± The middle-aged woman glared at him with a look of extreme disappointment, ¡°Of course, I hit you! Are you insane? They are our saviors, how could you say such things! Your parents died to protect you, what does it have to do with them? What¡¯s more, look at the situation now. Respect for the dead is fine, but aren¡¯t the living important too? Why can¡¯t you use your brain!¡± Chapter 455 - 455 252 Greed (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 455: 252 Greed (Second Update)_2 Chapter 455: 252 Greed (Second Update)_2 She paused here, unable to help glancing at her injured arm. A glimmer of sadness flashed in her gaze. The blood oozing from the grotesque wound had turned black, indicating that she had been infected by the zombie virus. Unless she awakened as a superpower user, she had only one path left¡ªdeath. How incredibly difficult it was for ordinary people to become superpower users? Even the young might not be able to awaken, let alone someone her age. What chance did she have? She didn¡¯t have much time left, and this young man before her was now her only kin. It was frustrating that this usually sensible man, well-educated as he was, had chosen such a moment to snap and utter such words to their savior! She could understand the young man¡¯s feelings, but if she was of no use, could she really blame others? If it weren¡¯t for those two young people, all of them would have perished! How could he not see that? Besides, the road ahead was uncertain, and they had been lucky so far to encounter two experts. If they could stick with them, their safety was somewhat assured. His words were not only ungrateful but would also likely offend those who could protect them! In the end, if those people left, who would care whether they lived or died? Yet all these thoughts were her private concerns; how could she speak them aloud in front of their saviors? Fortunately, the young man wasn¡¯t entirely foolish. After being scolded, he painfully grasped his hair, crouched down, and wept softly, continuously wiping his tears. The middle-aged woman sighed; after all, this was her nephew. The two who had died were her brother and sister-in-law. Now that they were gone, and died so tragically, how could she not grieve? Yet ultimately, it was their own bad luck and lack of strength for which no one else could be blamed. Others who heard her earlier outburst couldn¡¯t help but bow their heads in shame. They might not have spoken up, but internal grievances had festered. The middle-aged woman¡¯s stern reproach made them realize how close they had been to becoming ungrateful wretches. At that moment, a young man who looked about thirty years old came over. His demeanor was gentle, and he had a ruggedly handsome face combined with a mild temperament that easily engendered goodwill. He was cradling a little girl in his arms. She appeared to be around four or five years old, her fair-faced complexion enhanced by big, bright eyes. Her skin was fair but beneath it ran red veins, and her hands were small and frail. Despite possibly being malnourished, she looked quite pretty, just with dry, yellowing hair intertwined like little chicken claws. The girl was wrapped in a thick canvas coat. The man held her cautiously in his arms as if carrying a precious jewel. He frowned slightly, speaking softly, ¡°Let¡¯s find somewhere to bury the bodies first.¡± After saying this, he lowered his eyes, concealing the sorrow and despair beneath. He had seen everything that had happened and could roughly guess the middle-aged woman¡¯s thoughts. His own thoughts were similar, perhaps even more selfish. Like the middle-aged woman, he too was injured, his back lacerated by zombies. The car window had been smashed by zombies, their sharp claws reaching in. He had pressed his daughter down on the seat, shielding her in his embrace, resulting in injuries to his back. He didn¡¯t know if he could survive; after all, the chances of awakening were terribly slim and his health wasn¡¯t strong to begin with ¡ª hardly the profile of a lucky survivor. But if he died, what would happen to his daughter? She was only six, so young and knowing so little. To others, she would be nothing but a burden. Her mother was already dead; if he died too, who would protect and care for her? He desperately hoped to entrust his daughter to the two young people, but he knew such a request was likely to be refused. Even if these youngsters were strong, what reason did they have to encumber themselves with a burdensome girl? Just the thought of his daughter being abandoned and dying miserably tore his heart apart. His back burned painfully as the zombie virus continued to ravage his body. He felt his strength fading little by little, his daughter growing heavier in his arms until he could barely hold her. At that moment, he heard his daughter¡¯s soft voice, ¡°Daddy, what¡¯s wrong? Your face is all sweaty, are you uncomfortable?¡± The girl spoke, pulling a small handkerchief from her pocket and gently wiping the cold sweat from his face. The man¡¯s face was pale, even ashen¡ªwhich the girl didn¡¯t understand, yet she noticed something terribly wrong with how ¡°Daddy¡± looked. Lifting her head from his chest, her big eyes bewildered, she quietly asked, ¡°Daddy, you look so sick, are you ill?¡± After speaking, she furrowed her brow and started to whimper, ¡°Huanhuan doesn¡¯t want Daddy to be ill. Can you please not be ill, Daddy?¡± Despite her age, she vaguely understood that her always-loved mom had gone to a place from which she would never return. Remembering how her face had looked when she left¡ªthat same terrible look¡ªshe recalled her father mentioning her mother had been ill. Was Daddy now sick with the same illness as Mommy? Would he leave forever just like Mommy? Thinking of this, fear overwhelmed her, and she couldn¡¯t help but hug her father¡¯s neck and cry softly. She dared not cry loudly, as Daddy had told her that loud cries could attract the bad guys. She didn¡¯t want to attract the bad guys; they could harm her Daddy. (Want to know more about ¡°Apocalyptic Rebirth: Secondary Female Character¡¯s Turnaround¡±? Now open WeChat, click the ¡°+¡± sign on the upper right, choose to add friends, search ¡°Qidianzhongwenwang¡±, and follow the public account so you¡¯ll never miss an update!)(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) by giving it a recommendation ticket or a monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 456 - 456 253 Cant Eat (Third Update) ?Chapter 456: 253 Can¡¯t Eat (Third Update) Chapter 456: 253 Can¡¯t Eat (Third Update) The man saw his daughter crying so heartbreakingly and immediately held her even tighter. He was becoming weaker and weaker and could hardly stand. Helpless, he had no choice but to hold his daughter and sit back in the car, frantically wiping the crystal-clear tears from her face and weakly comforting her, ¡°Huanhuan, don¡¯t cry, Daddy¡¯s fine.¡± The girl stared at him with big eyes, and seeing that his lips had already lost their color, she began to cry even harder, ¡°Daddy¡¯s lying! Daddy must be sick, boo hoo hoo, Huanhuan doesn¡¯t want Daddy to be sick! Daddy, can you please not be sick? Let Huanhuan be sick for Daddy!¡± At her words, the man¡¯s heart suddenly ached. He held his daughter tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head, feeling her small, soft body, his eyes gradually becoming wet. Since his wife died, he hadn¡¯t cried, but now he couldn¡¯t hold it back anymore. In such an apocalypse, it was incredibly difficult for Ordinary People to survive! Once infected with the Zombie Virus, it usually meant a slim chance of survival! When he turned to get into the car, the others saw the large and fierce wounds on his back and fell silent. No one caused a fuss anymore, and those who could move began to find tools to dig holes by the roadside and bury the dead. They couldn¡¯t just watch as the bodies of the deceased were left to decay in the wilderness, and there was no alternative but to do this. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had already dug out all the Crystal Cores, and when they saw the others burying the bodies, they walked over with furrowed brows. The others, seeing them, involuntarily halted, their eyes filled with a mix of fear and respect. In the Safe Zone where they lived, superpower users held a high status. These two were extremely powerful, clearly superpower users. Although they had saved people, the others, thinking of the haughty superpower users they had encountered before, worried that Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye might be short-tempered and feared inadvertently offending them. However, it was the middle-aged woman who took the initiative to speak, ¡°If you have anything to say, please just say it.¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at her. This woman was of average height and no longer young, with very rough skin, looking in her fifties, like someone accustomed to hard labor. It was evident that she was actually not bad-looking, only that she had not cared for herself properly, and her face was etched with the marks of hardship. To Fang Yuxin¡¯s surprise, despite being infected with the Zombie Virus, the woman¡¯s gaze was relatively serene, her eyes devoid of obvious resentment, though full of despair and sorrow. This made Fang Yuxin look at her with a degree of respect; most people infected with the Zombie Virus would despair and harbor resentment. The difference lay in the intensity of the hatred; some wished everyone else would die as they were, while some were less intense, resenting the injustice of fate, and were mostly unwilling to die without a fight. Fang Yuxin explained, ¡°These bodies must be burned. Even if buried, they will later attract zombies or mutated creatures.¡± She didn¡¯t say anything more, but everyone present understood her implication. If they didn¡¯t want the bones of their loved ones to be desecrated by zombies or mutated creatures, it was best to burn them. The previously mentioned young man immediately tensed, on the verge of rebutting, but was firmly held back by the middle-aged woman beside him. Then she said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, please help us burn these two bodies.¡± She pointed to the bodies of her brother and sister-in-law, as for the rest, she could not dictate that. The young man beside her wanted to object upon hearing this but was once again suppressed by her, and she leaned toward him, whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish! Do you want your parents¡¯ bodies to be desecrated by those monsters?¡± The young man clenched his fists tight, squeezing out the words through his clenched teeth, ¡°I will kill all those monsters someday!¡± The middle-aged woman sighed and simply said, ¡°I don¡¯t expect you to achieve great things, but remember, you must always be grateful for the life-saving grace and not act recklessly!¡± The young man nodded almost imperceptibly. He understood that now, all he had left was this aunt. Whatever she said, it was all for his benefit. Thinking this, the young man wanted to say something to the middle-aged woman, but as he looked up, he saw a ferocious gash on the woman¡¯s arm, the skin and flesh turned inside out, with blackened, dirty blood oozing out. It was an incredibly disturbing sight. He couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Aunt! Are you hurt? When did this happen?¡± After speaking, his face turned deathly pale. His parents had just perished, and now his only remaining aunt was infected with the Zombie Virus. What could he do? What was he supposed to do? Chapter 457 - 457 253 Cant Eat (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 457: 253 Can¡¯t Eat (Third Update)_2 Chapter 457: 253 Can¡¯t Eat (Third Update)_2 At that time, others had already expressed their wishes for Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye to burn the remains of their loved ones. Fang Yuxin nodded, walked to the edge of the pit, cast a Gathering Fire Technique, and sent a fireball onto the bones. After her cultivation, the flames she produced were entirely generated from Spiritual Energy. Although they looked no different from ordinary flames, they were much more powerful in reality. As soon as the fireball touched the corpses, it instantly spread into a small sea of fire, engulfing all the bones and burning silently. Afterwards, Fang Yuxin prepared to repeat the process to burn the remains of the zombies and mutated crows together. Someone couldn¡¯t help but come over and cautiously asked, ¡°Excuse me, mister, how do you plan to dispose of these mutated crows?¡± ¡°Mister¡± was the term used in their Safe Zone for superpower users, set by a leader among them. It sounded awkward, but the superpower users liked it, and the ordinary people below had no say. The one who spoke was a young woman, apparently in her twenties, with modest looks. She didn¡¯t dare look into Fang Yuxin¡¯s eyes as she spoke, clearly very cautious. However, Fang Yuxin noticed her gaze repeatedly falling on the corpses of the mutated crows, and she occasionally swallowed her saliva, appearing desperately hungry. Fang Yuxin guessed her intention and glanced at the others, realizing they all shared the same thought. She then said, ¡°These mutated crows feed on carrion and carry lots of the Zombie Virus on them; they are absolutely not edible.¡± In fact, all mutated creatures carried some amount of toxins, varying greatly from those whose toxins were minimal and could be metabolized by a superpower user¡¯s enhanced body to be safe to eat, to those whose toxins were abundant and absolutely inedible. However, if ordinary people consumed them, their bodies could suffer varying degrees of infection, not necessarily from the Zombie Virus, but potentially from other mutated toxins. These people were clearly not faring well; they were starving, which was why they even considered the mutated crows¡¯ meat¡ªa well-known fact was that crows fed on carrion. Upon hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, their faces turned to disappointment, and no one dared eat the mutated crows. Fang Yuxin then decisively burned both the zombies and the mutated crows to avoid temptation. She hesitated for a moment, nodded at Bai Ye, returned to their vehicle, and took out some food and clean water from her space, placing it in a large bag to distribute to the survivors. ¡°Here is some food and water, not much, but you folks split it among yourselves.¡± There were fifteen survivors, including two infected with the Zombie Virus. As soon as they heard there was food and water, they rushed over. Racing to Fang Yuxin, they abruptly stopped, looking uneasy in her presence. A man from the vehicle, already very weak, couldn¡¯t mind his discomfort when he heard about the food and came out holding his daughter. He was the last to arrive, and by the time he got there, the others had already begun to share out the food from the bag. Since Fang Yuxin was watching, they didn¡¯t dare take too much. They grabbed some food and retreated to the side to devour it voraciously. When the man approached with his daughter, he found bread, cakes, cookies, instant noodles, and bottled water all perfectly sealed inside the bag. He couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he still grabbed a packet of cookies and a bottle of water, gave his daughter a sip, and then opened the cookies for her. In reality, Fang Yuxin had plenty of rice, but considering these people might not have cooking facilities, she didn¡¯t bring it out, instead opting for ready-to-eat items. Under normal circumstances, the bread and cakes in the bag should have been expired, which is why the man didn¡¯t take any. After all, he had to consider whether his daughter might get sick from eating spoiled food. The rest didn¡¯t have such concerns. The bread and cakes appeared fresh, showing no signs of mold or spoilage, so they grabbed what they could. They were all adults and had survived over a month in the apocalypse¡ªwhat did cautious eating matter to them now? Even if there was mold, they would still have eaten it. Still, when they opened the packages, they instinctively sniffed, and after confirming there was no strange smell, they took a bite. The food, fresher and tastier than what they had been eating in the Safe Zone, seemed unspoiled, just as it was before the apocalypse. They didn¡¯t ponder the how or why, attributing it to special means available to superpower users. After realizing this, they felt even more awe and gratitude toward Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. These two not only provided them with food, but the food was also so fresh¡ªa rarity in the apocalypse! Even if someone had such items, they wouldn¡¯t readily share them with others! A middle-aged woman chewing her bread felt a twinge of guilt. She felt she was on the brink of death and that eating these items was simply a waste of food. However, unwilling to give up, she hesitated before continuing to eat. Seeing the man¡¯s little girl struggling to eat her cookies, she whispered, ¡°I see the bread and cakes look very fresh and unspoiled. You should get one for Huanhuan. Cookies are too dry, and bread or cake would be better for someone her age.¡± The man looked at her in surprise, then hesitated. Seeing his daughter struggle to swallow, he finally picked out a cake. Chapter 458 - 458 254 What Qualifications Do You Have (First Update) ?Chapter 458: 254 What Qualifications Do You Have (First Update) Chapter 458: 254 What Qualifications Do You Have (First Update) The cake was wrapped in transparent plastic and was a pale yellow color, its texture delicate and soft. As soon as it was unwrapped, the unique aroma of the cake wafted out, making the little girl unable to resist swallowing her saliva. The man gently tore off a small piece with his finger and put it in his mouth to taste. Upon tasting, he was stunned. The cake¡¯s texture was fine; it released a faint scent of eggs and milk, slightly sweet without the cloying taste of essence¡ªclearly a quality item, not some cheap knock-off. Moreover, it tasted very fresh, with no sign of spoilage. He couldn¡¯t help but glance at Fang Yuxin, who was not far away, thinking to himself that this person was probably more formidable than he had previously imagined. Fearing Fang Yuxin would notice, he quickly looked away and, without changing his expression, placed the cake next to his daughter¡¯s mouth, gently saying, ¡°Huanhuan, this was your favorite cake before, hurry and eat it.¡± By this time, the others had finished the food they had in their hands. Being adults, a pack of cake or bread couldn¡¯t satisfy their hunger, but they didn¡¯t continue eating. Instead, they divided up the food in their bags and were overjoyed to find a 10-kilogram bag of rice. Compared to the bread, cakes, biscuits, or instant noodles, the rice seemed far less flashy and more substantial for filling their bellies. With rice, as long as there was clean water, a small handful could cook a large pot of porridge! If used frugally, it could last them a long time. Besides, rice didn¡¯t have to worry about going bad, which made it much better than the other foods! The problem was that there was only one bag of rice, which was difficult to divide. Everyone hesitated for a moment, each finding a bag to start dividing the rice. With such a large bag of rice, no one else felt at ease no matter who kept it. After all, they had several cars, and nobody knew what could happen on the road ahead. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were right beside them, so these people didn¡¯t dare to play any tricks or resort to strong-arming tactics. However, they did have some reservations about the middle-aged woman and man infected with the Zombie Virus. While the grandfather-grandson pair was more tolerable, the others felt that it was a waste to distribute the food to the infected woman and man who were practically as good as dead. Yet such sentiments couldn¡¯t be openly expressed¡ªafter all, the two had not yet died, and no one dared to act too egregiously. Provoking them into a ¡°mutual destruction¡± scenario would not be worthwhile! Moreover, having escaped from the previous Safe Zone together and knowing each other from ordinary days, they had ties and didn¡¯t have the heart to be completely ruthless. At most, they just felt displeased inside and wore slightly grim expressions. The middle-aged woman was no pushover, and with a large nephew by her side, they¡¯d become a force to be reckoned with, making the others reluctant to deny her a share. And the man with the little girl, though very weak and usually easygoing, had never offended anyone. Yet, this time he unexpectedly stood his ground firmly, refusing to be a pushover. He knew he was likely on the brink of death, and taking the food would be wasteful, but he had a daughter. Once he died, the food he was allocated could be left for his daughter. So, strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t really wasted¡ªit was simply a bit unfair to the others. Had it not been the apocalypse, he would never haggle so shamelessly with others, but he had a daughter to provide for, and for his daughter¡¯s sake, he had to do this! The middle-aged woman thought similarly. Both had relatives¡ªfor if they died, the food they received could be left for their loved ones, so neither was willing to compromise. Even though the others were uncomfortable, looking at the deathly pale faces of the two, which resembled ghosts, they didn¡¯t dare comment further. They finished dividing the items hastily, and the young man carefully placed his and his daughter¡¯s share into her small backpack. Although the bag of rice seemed a lot, after dividing it into fifteen portions, each was very little, barely more than a pound. They had eaten quite a bit of bread and cake, so each person ended up with just a pack, plus another pack of biscuits and instant noodles. Each person only had a bottle of purified water, with no extras, so they had to use it sparingly, not daring to drink too much. After dividing the goods, they prepared to hit the road. However, after the danger they¡¯d just experienced, they didn¡¯t dare to set out on their own and wanted to stay with Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. Seeing that the two seemed to have no intention of leaving immediately, the rest were eager but didn¡¯t dare to urge them. Chapter 459 - 459 254 What Qualifications Do You Have (Second ?Chapter 459: 254 What Qualifications Do You Have (Second Update) Chapter 459: 254 What Qualifications Do You Have (Second Update) Fang Yuxin was actually hesitating at the moment, she had realized quite early on that those two people were infected with the virus. What she was unsure about was whether or not to save them. Both people gave her a favorable impression, especially the young man who was alone with a little daughter. If he were to die, that little girl would probably not survive for long. Fang Yuxin was not heartless, she couldn¡¯t just watch two such people die before her eyes. Especially when she saw the little girl, she couldn¡¯t help but think of Bai Qianqian. She didn¡¯t know if Bai Qianqian had already reached Beishi City or not. The mere thought of the child not being by her side made her worry incessantly, always concerned that he might not be doing well. This feeling was very novel to her, and even just over two months ago, she didn¡¯t know she had a biological son. The child had appeared so abruptly in her life that she didn¡¯t even know how to accept him at first. However, after more than two months of living together, she suddenly realized that she was unable to let go of him, even though he wasn¡¯t born to her personally. So now, looking at the father and daughter, although she wouldn¡¯t transfer her love for Bai Qianqian onto the little girl, she couldn¡¯t help feeling compassion for her. She was pondering how to quietly save those two people without letting others notice when she saw the man carrying his daughter and walking towards her. Fang Yuxin raised her eyebrows, guessing what the man was going to do but said nothing, just watching him coldly. Her cold demeanor made the man very uneasy. Feeling his life ebbing, he mustered the courage to approach. He had even rehearsed what to say, but when he met Fang Yuxin¡¯s eyes, which seemed to see through everything, he suddenly found himself unable to speak. He had witnessed the power of superpower users countless times, and as such, he once again deeply felt the terror of a superpower user. Suddenly, he thought that the woman in front of him might be even more terrifying than the leader of the Base he used to belong to! It was just a momentary glance, with Fan Yuxin doing nothing but staring steadfastly at him, and he felt an overwhelming pressure, as if the air around him had solidified. He suddenly became unsure whether such a person would agree to his presumptuous request. Would she really treat his daughter well? But aside from the woman before him, he really couldn¡¯t find a better candidate. The scene of dividing the food just now had made it clear to him that other people all had their own selfish desires. They might have been kind once, but now they were struggling to survive. How long could their kindness last? If he entrusted his daughter to those people, he would be grateful if they even gave her a share of rice soup! Not to mention that in the face of danger, they might simply discard this burden! Every time the man thought of that scenario, he felt a chill. He knew he might be harboring ill thoughts, but he couldn¡¯t control himself from overthinking. Only the two people before him were strong enough to ensure his daughter¡¯s safety. And they probably still had more supplies; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have been so generous just now. This meant that his daughter wouldn¡¯t have to worry about going hungry with them. With this in mind, the man suppressed the shame in his heart and mustered the courage to say to Fang Yuxin, ¡°I was just scratched by a zombie. Could you... could you take care of Huanhuan for me? Just... just getting her to a safe place would be enough!¡± He didn¡¯t dare to hope that Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye would adopt his daughter, just that they could take her to a relatively safe Base where she could have a place to live. However, as soon as he spoke, Huanhuan shrank back in fright and choked out, ¡°Daddy, don¡¯t you want Huanhuan anymore? Huanhuan wants to be with Daddy! Huanhuan won¡¯t go anywhere!¡± While speaking, she clung tightly to her father¡¯s neck, fearing being left behind. The man panicked at once; he couldn¡¯t bear to part with his daughter either. But he wouldn¡¯t live much longer, and he had to find someone to take her in! If the other party became displeased because of his daughter¡¯s words and refused to agree, that would be terrible! He looked at Fang Yuxin subconsciously and saw a mocking smile curling at the corner of her mouth, watching him with sarcasm. With just one glance, the man felt as if his heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand, and breathing became difficult. At that moment, he was profoundly aware of how presumptuous his request to Fang Yuxin had been! Suppressing the intense panic in his heart, he said with difficulty, ¡°I was presumptuous earlier, it has nothing to do with Huanhuan, please... please don¡¯t take your anger out on her.¡± Then he saw the smirk on Fang Yuxin¡¯s face grow wider, and her sarcasm became even more evident. He felt a tightening in his chest, and an intense sense of panic enveloped him, shaking his entire soul, yet he didn¡¯t know what to say. Fang Yuxin watched his complexion grow paler, his body shaking as if he could fall at any moment, before she finally asked, ¡°What kind of person do you take me for?¡± ¡°I...¡± The man opened his mouth but couldn¡¯t say anything. At that moment, any explanation seemed futile. Fang Yuxin continued, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die and can¡¯t bear to leave your daughter behind, why not strive to survive? If you give up hope yourself and choose to leave her behind, what right do you have to ask me to take care of her?¡± The man hung his head in shame, feeling a heavy weight in his heart. After a good while, he muttered to himself, ¡°I¡¯m already like this, is there really still any hope for me to live?¡± Fang Yuxin smiled meaningfully, ¡°As long as you don¡¯t give up, there is always hope.¡± (Want to know more about the exciting updates of ¡°Apocalypse Rebirth: Secondary Female Character Turns Over¡±? Now open WeChat, click the ¡°+¡± sign in the upper right corner, select ¡°Add Friends¡± and search for ¡°Qidianzhongwenwang¡± to follow the official account. Never miss an update again! qdzww)(To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 460 - 460 255 People are different from each other ?Chapter 460: 255 People are different from each other Chapter 460: 255 People are different from each other The man, upon hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, abruptly lifted his head, focusing intently on her. He sensed there was a deeper message in her words and tried to discern her true intentions from her expression. Then he realized that Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze contained a faint hint of encouragement, as if urging him not to give up. Staring at her blankly, a strong longing and impulse suddenly surged in his heart. Indeed, why should he give up? Why should he place his daughter¡¯s future in the hands of others? He held his daughter tightly in his arms, feeling her warm body temperature, and subconsciously said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°You¡¯re right, I really shouldn¡¯t abandon hope. I...¡± He wanted to say that if he were to fail, could Fang Yuxin take his daughter to a safe place, entrusting her to good care. But recalling what Fang Yuxin had said earlier, he found he couldn¡¯t bring himself to utter those words. So he closed his mouth, gave Fang Yuxin a deep look, and then turned with his daughter to head back to his car. Just as he turned around, Fang Yuxin flicked her finger, emitting a stream of pure Wood Energy into the center of his back. His health was not good, and after nearly over a month of hardship following the apocalypse, his body had grown extremely weakened. Thus, after contracting the virus, his vitality gradually diminished. However, as the concentrated Wood Energy from Fang Yuxin entered his heart, the weakening organ seemed to awaken with vitality, suddenly thumping vigorously. The man¡¯s body jolted, keenly aware of the change within. His fading strength returned abruptly, and even his burdened heart seemed to be reborn! He whirled around shockingly, staring at Fang Yuxin. Before this moment, he had no inkling that she possessed such terrifying power! At that moment in his eyes, Fang Yuxin was akin to a deity from myths, who with a mere flick, could renew the life force of a dying man¡ªa formidable ability! Yet he quickly composed the shock on his face, thanking Fang Yuxin gratefully, and then turned his head as if nothing had happened, holding his daughter and walking towards his car. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t value Fang Yuxin¡¯s life-saving grace, but he suddenly realized, given the crowd around them, such a heaven-defying ability should not be easily revealed to others. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have helped him surreptitiously. The man etched this debt of gratitude in his heart without any intention of exposing Fang Yuxin¡¯s ability. He thought to himself that if he could survive this ordeal, his life would be owed to Fang Yuxin. He also understood why Fang Yuxin had spoken those words. After returning to the car, he recalled his recent conversation with Fang Yuxin and suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. He guessed that her words were both encouragement and a test for him. Had he not grasped the meaning and fallen into utter despair, Fang Yuxin might not have helped him after all! In reality, he had overestimated Fang Yuxin¡¯s abilities. Ordinary Wood Energy superpower users could also use their Wood Element Superpower to stimulate a person¡¯s vitality, but their superpower was not as pure as Fang Yuxin¡¯s Wood Element True Qi, thus not as effective. But it was no wonder he thought this way; he was an Ordinary Person, not even a superpower user, and knew very little about the methods of those superpower users. Especially the mysterious Wood Element Superpower Users, who had all but become the personal physicians of the power brokers, how could Ordinary People ever hope to understand their capabilities? After his bout of cold sweat, the man decided not to dwell on it any longer and began to soothe his daughter to sleep. The virus made him increasingly uncomfortable, but he was careful not to show it in front of his daughter, not wanting her to worry. Fearing he could not control himself, and worried about what his daughter might see next, he wanted to put her to sleep. Huanhuan was indeed very sleepy; she was young and needed lots of sleep, and the hot weather made her drowsy. However, she was worried about the man, always afraid he would leave her behind. She let the man cajole her for a while, and finally compromised, agreeing to sleep, but insisted on holding the man¡¯s hand. The man had no choice but to agree. He gently placed his daughter on the seat next to him, allowing her to hold his hand, enduring his bodily discomfort and smiling as he lulled her to sleep. Once her breathing became steady, the man could not contain himself any longer, and his handsome face twisted completely. Chapter 461 - 461 255 People differ from each other_2 ?Chapter 461: 255 People differ from each other_2 Chapter 461: 255 People differ from each other_2 But he dared not scream out loud, so he found a relatively clean towel, twisted it into a rope, and bit down on it with his teeth. He held Huanhuan in one arm, and in order not to wake his daughter, he dared not make any significant movements. He could only grasp the seat with his other hand to keep himself fixed in place without moving, enduring the waves of severe pain that coursed through his body. Meanwhile, the middle-aged woman also began to show signs of distress. She did not seek help from Fang Yuxin, but simply curled up in the back seat of the car, biting on a towel. Even in extreme pain, she did not scream but only emitted a subdued whimper. The sound was very soft and could hardly be heard without listening closely. Her nephew, who was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat initially ready to drive, saw her condition and his face immediately turned pale with fear. He hesitated for a moment, but eventually got out of the car, then opened the back door and stood at the doorway, looking at her worriedly. His voice trembled as he said, ¡°Aunt...Aunt, what¡¯s wrong with you? Don¡¯t scare me, please! Don¡¯t scare me, okay! Aunt!¡± As he said this, he started to cry, thinking of his parents who had just died, and seeing his aunt¡¯s face growing paler and paler, scared him senseless, completely unsure of what to do. The middle-aged woman, hearing his voice, opened her eyes and managed a painful smile. However, her eyes were filled with tears of pain and her facial muscles were twisted due to the pain, giving her a fearsome appearance. The young man shivered, but still managed to suppress his fear of zombies. He looked bewildered for a while, then suddenly said, ¡°Aunt! Wait for me! I¡¯ll go find someone to save you!¡± With that, he suddenly pulled on his clothes, wiped his face, and removed the cold sweat on his face, then turned around and quickly walked toward Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. Since no one had witnessed Fang Yuxin saving anyone just now, he was not aware that Fang Yuxin could save his aunt. But he was desperate, and the only people he could ask for help were Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, who had just saved them. These two clearly looked strong, and perhaps...perhaps they really could do something? The young man was not entirely sure, but his steps quickened. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were talking at the moment when he suddenly approached them. He hesitated for a second and then abruptly knelt down, giving both of them quite a shock. They both instinctively dodged. The young man only saw a blur before him, and when he looked again, he found that Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had already moved away from their original positions. A chill went through him as he thought about their undeniable strength, and he felt that they should be able to save his aunt. He did not get up but remained kneeling on the ground, looking up at Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, pleading, ¡°Please, please save my aunt! She¡¯s infected with the Zombie Virus and is almost gone!¡± Due to his actions, others began to look their way. Fang Yuxin noticed this and furrowed her brows tightly, displeased at the young man¡¯s impetuosity. However, she also noticed that this person was quite young, probably in his early twenties and possibly hadn¡¯t even graduated from college yet. He might have been overprotected by his parents and lacked worldly wisdom. But understanding was one thing; she did not want to reveal her ability to treat the infected. Now, with the young man making a scene, everyone was watching them, and if she helped, they would surely become suspicious! That was not what she wanted. However...that woman indeed couldn¡¯t last much longer, and if she didn¡¯t act soon, she might turn into a zombie. With this thought, Fang Yuxin could only say, ¡°I can take a look, but I¡¯m not sure if I can save her.¡± Upon hearing this, the young man immediately stood up with a grateful look and exclaimed, ¡°Yes, yes! Please, check on my aunt! You must have a way!¡± Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but glare at him; what kind of way was this to speak! Bai Ye was also displeased. He knew that by saying this, Fang Yuxin intended to help, but this young man really didn¡¯t know how to express himself properly. What did he mean by ¡®must have a way¡¯? What if it were not Fang Yuxin here but someone else? If Fang Yuxin could not save the person, how embarrassing would that be? Had he not thought of that? Or did he think that Fang Yuxin was obligated to save people? Bai Ye had no liking for this pampered and tactless young man and coldly said, ¡°You¡¯re wrong. Xinxin is not just anyone; how could she be absolutely sure?¡± After saying this, paying no mind to the young man¡¯s pale face, he pulled Fang Yuxin away. Fang Yuxin did not pay him any heed, only glancing at Bai Ye in surprise. Previously, he had always referred to her as ¡°Yuxin,¡± so why had he suddenly changed his address? But she didn¡¯t fuss over this, seeing Bai Ye as calm as if he knew nothing and just turned away, walking toward the infected middle-aged woman. Bai Ye discreetly lagged a step behind,... Chapter 462 - 462 256 Rejection Afterwards (Third Update) ?Chapter 462: 256 Rejection Afterwards (Third Update) Chapter 462: 256 Rejection Afterwards (Third Update) Fang Yuxin stood by the car and could clearly see the situation inside. A middle-aged woman lay crumpled in the back seat, her body pitifully tucked into a ball, her face twisted in agony, with pained, muffled whimpers emanating from her mouth, which bit down on a towel. She looked at this woman, and a sudden surge of admiration filled her heart. In such extreme pain, the woman still managed to contain herself, preventing her screams from disturbing others, and she did not recklessly seek her and Bai Ye¡¯s help for rescue. She couldn¡¯t help but respect this kind of person. Even though the woman was older and her physical talents were not strong, she was still respectable and someone worth Yuxin¡¯s help. Thinking this, Fang Yuxin bent down, leaned into the car, and placed her hand over the woman¡¯s heart, quietly infusing a refined strand of Wood Energy. Upon sensing her heartbeat strengthening and vitality returning, Yuxin discreetly withdrew her hand and telepathically conveyed to the woman, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, hang in there and don¡¯t give up.¡± After speaking, she exited the car and shook her head toward the young man, saying matter-of-factly, ¡°I can¡¯t save her, prepare yourself mentally.¡± She didn¡¯t wait for the young man¡¯s face, which turned instantly pale, nor did she notice the sudden disappointment that flashed across the faces of the other onlookers. She turned and walked away. But the young man couldn¡¯t bear such a blow. He suddenly rushed in front of Fang Yuxin, yelling at her, ¡°You¡¯re so powerful, how can you not save my aunt? Don¡¯t you want to save her? Is that it?¡± Dropping to his knees, he continued, ¡°Please, save my aunt. She¡¯s my only family left! I¡¯m willing to do anything for you, just save her!¡± Fang Yuxin remained unmoved; she had done what she could, and even if the young man remained on his knees, she would bear no guilt. She tried to walk around him, but the young man seemed desperate, trying to grab her. At that moment, Bai Ye rushed over and kicked the young man away, controlling his strength so as not to kill or seriously injure him, but enough to teach him a lesson. The young man was flung to the ground, his back scraping against the pavement. He felt as though he had been struck by a heavy hammer and took a long while to recover. By then, everyone¡¯s eyes were on them. None dared to seek justice for the youth after Bai Ye¡¯s sudden intervention. They were not fools; it was clear the man had brought it upon himself. Bai Ye, feeling their gazes, looked back coldly and then at the young man, asking icily, ¡°You came from another safe base, didn¡¯t you? So, tell me, have you ever seen anyone cure an infected person? If not, what makes you think Xinxin could definitely save your aunt?¡± After a cold snort, disregarding the young man¡¯s forlorn expression, he pulled Fang Yuxin away. As they walked, he murmured, ¡°Since we¡¯ve already saved them, let¡¯s leave now.¡± Fang Yuxin hesitated only a moment before nodding. If these people were smart enough, they would follow them by car. If they lacked even that awareness, there was no point wasting more effort to save them. They had already saved these people¡¯s lives and shared their food and water; they had done their duty and didn¡¯t need to serve as unpaid bodyguards. Seeing them start the car and prepare to leave, the others panicked, quickly got into their cars, and prepared to follow. Even the young man climbed up from the ground and got into the driver¡¯s seat, speeding off in the car. A grandfather and grandson looked at their own battered car, then glanced at the other father and daughter¡¯s vehicle. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, they decisively gathered their belongings and approached the father and daughter¡¯s car. The pair opened the door and saw the man sitting in the seat, agony written across his face, explained their situation, ¡°Our car is too broken, can we squeeze in with you?¡± At that time, the man was enduring bitter pain but he recognized the grandfather and grandson and appreciated their good intentions. He couldn¡¯t drive in his current state, and without help, he and his daughter would be stranded here. Thus, he nodded with difficulty, expressing his gratitude with his eyes. The grandfather and grandson smiled, cheerily placing their belongings in the car, swiftly opened the driver¡¯s door, sat in the front seat, and sped off. Chapter 463 - 463 256 Rejection Afterwards (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 463: 256 Rejection Afterwards (Third Update)_2 Chapter 463: 256 Rejection Afterwards (Third Update)_2 Because they had been delayed for a while, they were now lagging at the back. Fearing being left behind, the young man drove incredibly fast. Luckily, the performance of the vehicle was good, and since Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t been ruthless, keeping their speed moderate, the young man was able to catch up quickly. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, leading the convoy, noticed their approach, exchanged glances, and sped up. Seeing this, everyone else also quickened their pace. In the car, each person¡¯s thoughts were different. Those who were not infected by the Zombie Virus felt a deep sympathy for the two unfortunate infected individuals. Although sharing food hadn¡¯t sat well with them, the thought of two vibrant lives fading away¡ªthose infected being their acquaintances or even companions¡ªcouldn¡¯t help but move them. Being suddenly killed by zombies would have been one thing¡ªjust a momentary event, which, however unacceptable, had already happened, and brooding on it was useless. But infection with the Zombie Virus was different; it was sheer torture! The infected would slowly feel the ebb of life, as would everyone else. Such agony was torture for most people. Even if they didn¡¯t experience it firsthand, just the thought of someone dying was excruciatingly painful. At the same time, there was a pervasive sense of immense relief. They hadn¡¯t been injured by zombies, spared from enduring such pain. That was the case for everyone, not to mention those who had witnessed it all. The young man rejected by Yuxin watched his Aunt convulse painfully on the seat through the rearview mirror, and felt intense sorrow. He bit his lip hard, tears streaming out, yet he dared not cry out loud. By now, he realized his rashness. To survive, he had no choice but to follow the car ahead closely. He was acutely aware that getting left behind could very likely lead to only one path¡ªdeath! In another car, a grandfather and grandson sitting in the front were also anxiously gazing at the rearview mirror. The man appeared to be in extreme pain! Both felt that such pain was beyond human endurance, but the man was enduring it¡ªenduring it to avoid waking his daughter, he even dared not make a move! What a terrifying willpower! They couldn¡¯t help but hold him in high esteem. After hesitating for a while, the elder softly said, ¡°Brother Liu, rest assured... if something happens to you... we¡¯ll definitely take care of your daughter.¡± Upon hearing this, the man¡¯s eyes curved slightly in gratitude, but with a towel in his mouth, he couldn¡¯t speak; he had to let it go. In fact, he had already noticed his body growing stronger bit by bit, and although the process was very painful, he sensed a special and unfamiliar Energy. He didn¡¯t know if this was what they called a superpower, but he was sure this wasn¡¯t an illusion! He might be undergoing an Awakening! Then, he remembered the strange Energy Fang Yuxin had injected into him, and he understood that his ability to hold on, even to awaken, was all thanks to her. However, her demeanor made it clear she didn¡¯t want others to know about her ability. Feeling the strength in his body growing stronger, he made his resolve once again. She had saved him, and once he recovered, he must repay this debt through his own actions! As for the young man who had clearly been spoiled by his parents, he would understand sooner or later. No, even if he didn¡¯t, it didn¡¯t matter; his gratitude was likely something she didn¡¯t even care for! Thinking this, he gritted his teeth and then looked tenderly at his sleeping daughter. At this moment, he was incredibly grateful that he had made the right choice. As for the kindness of the grandfather and grandson... he appreciated it, but it was not needed. He would take care of and protect his own daughter! As time ticked away, the young man endured the initial agony, and the pain gradually eased. His once pale and ashen face also began to regain a healthy rosiness. The grandfather and grandson in the front saw the change through the rearview mirror and immediately widened their eyes in astonishment. The young grandson doubted his eyesight and asked the elder cautiously, ¡°Grandpa, am I seeing things? Is he... it can¡¯t be a rally before the end, can it?¡± His last few words were especially soft, fearing the man in the back might hear. The elder curiously gazed at the reflection in the mirror, then turned around, took out his glasses from his pouch, and carefully put them on, squinting to examine the man¡¯s complexion. Then, he suddenly said, ¡°This man isn¡¯t rallying before the end; he¡¯s struck lucky...¡± The young grandson gaped, still unable to grasp the situation, ¡°Struck lucky? What kind of luck?¡± The elder gave him a harsh glare, a slap on the face, and scolded, ¡°Focus on driving! Don¡¯t ask what doesn¡¯t concern you!¡± He silently recalled the youth¡¯s previously deathly pallor and his subsequent visit to Fang Yuxin for help, slowly piecing things together. Then, he harbored a terrifying suspicion¡ªthat girl might be a master! Then he frowned, shaking his head at the car beside them. That young man had indeed been spoiled by his parents; even in times like these, he didn¡¯t know better. He didn¡¯t know what to say and what not to say! Thinking this, he glanced silently at his grandson and suddenly felt a wave of relief¡ªhis grandson might be a bit dull, but at least he had a sense of proportion in his speech and actions! The suspicious young grandson watched him and asked guardedly, ¡°Grandpa, what are you thinking about now?¡± With that, the elder couldn¡¯t help but give him another smack in frustration! How could he end up with such a block-headed grandson! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a monthly ticket on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 464 - 464 257 Food Issue (First Update) ?Chapter 464: 257 Food Issue (First Update) Chapter 464: 257 Food Issue (First Update) Similarly undergoing Awakening was a middle-aged woman. Despite her age and poor talent, her strong survival instincts and perseverance carried her through. Once Fang Yuxin gave her a pure dose of Wood Energy, she tenaciously clung to the vigorous vitality it provided and successfully became a superpower user. However, the process was excruciating. She felt as if her body was being torn apart bit by bit and then re-forged. Every minute, every second was torture, yet the whole process lasted for two hours before it ended! The Awakening of superpowers varied from person to person, without a fixed duration. The worse the body¡¯s condition, the longer it took since there were more areas to mend. Mostly because most of the energy was used to repair deficiencies in the body, their talent after Awakening wasn¡¯t naturally high, unless they could obtain an Elemental Crystal to enhance their talent. Although Fang Yuxin quite admired these two people, giving them a pure Wood Energy was already out of benevolence and righteousness, it was naturally impossible to give them the precious Elemental Crystals. Unless they could find Elemental Crystals themselves. The woman¡¯s nephew, who was driving, saw her face gradually return from pale to a healthy complexion through the rearview mirror. His grip on the steering wheel faltered, and the vehicle immediately swerved, nearly crashing and hitting the car next to them. Fortunately, he quickly steered the vehicle back, narrowly avoiding a collision. The young man in the neighboring car, frightened out of his wits, couldn¡¯t help but curse at him, ¡°Zhao Liang, how the hell are you driving? If you want to die say it straight! Don¡¯t drag others down!¡± Zhao Liang, the young man called by name, hastily apologized, ¡°Sorry! Sorry! I wasn¡¯t paying attention! It wasn¡¯t on purpose! Brother Qian, please calm down.¡± He knew he had almost caused an accident, so his attitude was rather polite, not directly losing his temper. The young man opposite pulled a face but didn¡¯t continue to make a fuss. After all, they had once lived together as neighbors, now in times of apocalypse, making a scene over such a small matter didn¡¯t seem right, and if the superpower users ahead knew about it, they¡¯d probably abandon them. Thus, the situation quickly calmed down, the old man looked at the neighboring car and through the shattered window, he saw the middle-aged woman sitting up, leaning on her seat, gasping for breath. Although her face was sweaty and her hair damp and clinging to her face, her complexion already looked much better and was no longer that of a ¡°dead person¡¯s face.¡± The old man then said to his grandson, ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough, it seems your Aunt Zhao has pulled through after all. That¡¯s a good thing.¡± The young man, startled, turned his head to look and said, ¡°Really? That¡¯s incredible! She¡¯s so old... and she can still awaken?¡± The old man, annoyed by his words, slapped him on the head and scolded, ¡°Enough, stop talking nonsense! Just know this and don¡¯t run your mouth! Also, remember to show some respect to those two! Don¡¯t be like Zhao Liang messing things up!¡± With that, the old man thought about the earlier scene and shook his head involuntarily, thinking that the youngster was really spoiled; despite his age and having attended college, he was still so thoughtless! The young man chuckled to himself and glanced at the car beside them, his look somewhat dismissive. Although he hadn¡¯t attended college, he wasn¡¯t foolish! Those two weren¡¯t to be offended, Zhao Liang, that fool, could never see what was obvious! Along the way, they hadn¡¯t encountered much trouble; occasionally, zombies or Mutated Birds appeared, but Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye easily dealt with them. There hadn¡¯t been any sightings of Mutant Plants either, which was either because they were naturally scarce or had not dared to emerge. Soon, another hour passed, and it was six-thirty in the afternoon. Although it wasn¡¯t dark yet, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were feeling hungry. Being superpower users, they consumed a lot and also had fast digestion. The two weren¡¯t inclined to hold themselves back, so they stopped their vehicle at the roadside, ready to gather some food. Once they stopped, everyone else naturally followed suit, though they dared not come too close, maintaining a careful distance and watching cautiously. With outsiders present, it wasn¡¯t suitable for Fang Yuxin to directly take fresh ingredients from her space. She said to Bai Ye, ¡°I¡¯ll look nearby for some edible wild vegetables, you...¡± She meant to say ¡°you stay here,¡± but before she could finish, Bai Ye said, ¡°I¡¯ll come with you.¡± He wasn¡¯t trying to pry into Fang Yuxin¡¯s secrets, for he had already been inside Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Although he had only stayed in the main hall, he knew that the place couldn¡¯t possibly consist only of the main hall. Otherwise, how could the whereabouts of the Ginseng Spirit be explained? Chapter 465 - 465 257 Food Issue (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 465: 257 Food Issue (First Update)_2 Chapter 465: 257 Food Issue (First Update)_2 Fang Yuxin, although she hadn¡¯t taken him to any other places, also hadn¡¯t avoided him too much. Bai Ye wasn¡¯t a fool and naturally understood there were other places. He knew that Fang Yuxin¡¯s excuse of looking for wild vegetables was just that¡ªan excuse¡ªto take out fresh ingredients from her space. It was not convenient to do such a thing in front of others. Even if the ingredients were taken out of the car, it would be hard to explain their origin. But if she pretended to go look nearby and then brought them back, others would not suspect anything. Bai Ye admired Fang Yuxin¡¯s cautiousness. However, given that it was now the apocalypse, with not only zombies but also mutant plants and animals, he really was worried about Fang Yuxin going out alone. Fang Yuxin originally didn¡¯t want to agree. After all, even if Bai Ye guessed some things, he had no evidence. But if she were to take out fresh ingredients in front of him, it would be tantamount to revealing her secret without being coerced. Bai Ye saw her hesitation and felt somewhat hurt. He could tell that Fang Yuxin still didn¡¯t trust him enough. Nevertheless, he frankly said, ¡°The situation nearby is unclear. I¡¯m worried about you going out alone. Let me go with you.¡± Fang Yuxin met his sincere gaze, as if she could see the deep affection filled within it, and found it difficult to utter a rejection. After hesitating, she finally nodded her head. Before leaving, Fang Yuxin specifically summoned Lan Re to guard by the side of the vehicle. First, to prevent anyone from causing trouble while they were gone, and second, in case zombies came, Lan Re could at least handle them for a while. Upon Lan Re¡¯s appearance, those onlookers were startled, recognizing it was a mutant plant and fearing being hurt by it. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye did not bother explaining. They had already gone above and beyond in helping others¡ªsmart people would naturally know what to do and what not to do. Except for that little girl, everyone else was an adult. The pair had no intention of acting like free nannies or bodyguards for them. In the apocalypse, if you wanted to survive, you had to rely on yourself. Being weak would only lead to self-destruction. They didn¡¯t mind these people seeking protection by following them; however, they would not engage in superfluous matters. Without creating a clone, Lan Re¡¯s main body coiled loosely into a little hill, draping over the rooftop of the car. Fang Yuxin touched it lightly and, using telepathy, left a few instructions before she got ready to leave with Bai Ye to explore the vicinity. The others had already been frightened by Lan Re, and when they saw the pair preparing to leave, their faces turned pale. A few with more courage took a couple of steps forward and asked, ¡°Where are you two going?¡± Bai Ye¡¯s attitude wasn¡¯t bad, but it was quite indifferent, ¡°We¡¯re going to look around for any wild vegetables. Do as you like.¡± With these words, the others looked even more distressed. All along the way, they had relied on Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin¡¯s protection to avoid further incidents. If zombies or mutated creatures showed up while the two were gone, wouldn¡¯t they be in danger? Immediately someone said, ¡°If you two have nothing to eat, we still have some bread here. Please take it.¡± In truth, they were all hungry. To be precise, ever since the apocalypse began, these people had never been full. The bread and cakes they ate before merely gave them a bit of strength, but were far from filling. They also dared not eat too much. Now, in order to survive, they couldn¡¯t care less about the little food they had in their hands and actively asked Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye to take it back. As long as the two did not leave, they could bear a hungry stomach! Yet Fang Yuxin just laughed, ¡°Since we¡¯ve given it to you, you should keep it. We still have food. We just want to find some fresh wild vegetables. Don¡¯t worry about us.¡± She finished speaking and without giving the others a chance to respond, she quickly left with Bai Ye. Beside the highway was a forest. The two jumped down from the road and quickly disappeared from sight. The others watched and all had uncomfortable expressions, but not a single person dared to follow. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye dared to enter the woods looking for vegetables, but these people certainly did not. Liu Zhenglin, holding his daughter, saw everyone¡¯s reactions and silently shook his head. The little girl was already awake and curiously looked at Lan Re, which coiled like a snake nearby, and whispered to Liu Zhenglin, ¡°Daddy, what¡¯s that? It¡¯s so beautiful!¡± After all, children don¡¯t understand anything. She didn¡¯t know why the adults all had strange expressions. In her eyes, Lan Re was crystal clear, just like the white jade peace pendant she always wore on her neck, especially beautiful. Liu Zhenglin had fully recovered by now. Feeling the strange but real energy surging through his body, he felt like he had endless strength. He smiled and gently patted his daughter¡¯s head, softly whispering, ¡°If Huanhuan likes it, daddy will find one for you later, okay?¡± The little girl¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, but she quickly shook her head and said obediently, ¡°Huanhuan doesn¡¯t want anything. Huanhuan just wants daddy. Daddy, are you better now?¡± Listening to her soft voice, Liu Zhenglin felt his heart nearly melt. He kissed her face and affirmed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Huanhuan. Daddy is better now. Daddy will always be with Huanhuan.¡± The little girl¡¯s eyes shined brighter, and her mouth widened into a bright smile as she said, ¡°Huanhuan will also always be with daddy!¡± At this moment, the others finally realized that Liu Zhenglin and Zhao Yan, both infected with the Zombie Virus, had actually both pulled through! Does this mean the two have awakened as superpower users? Suddenly, the way the others looked at them changed. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast a vote for the recommended ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 466 - 466 258 Capricious (Second Update) ?Chapter 466: 258 Capricious (Second Update) Chapter 466: 258 Capricious (Second Update) Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye didn¡¯t venture too far after their departure, as the mountain forest was vast. Before the apocalypse, it might not have meant much, but post-apocalypse, nobody could be sure what might emerge within it. Although the two were somewhat confident in their own strength, they dared not be reckless, especially since they needed to make haste toward Beishi City and naturally didn¡¯t wish to waste time exploring the mountain forest. They hadn¡¯t walked far when Fang Yuxin, right in front of Bai Ye, took out some fresh ingredients. With the Ginseng Spirit tending to the spirit field, all the mature vegetables and fruits would be carefully picked and stored by it. Fang Yuxin could just take them directly from the warehouse. The warehouse was enhanced with a special Formation, which preserved the freshness of the contents. The vegetables Fang Yuxin brought out still had dewdrops clinging to them, looking crisp and inviting. Each holding some items, they turned back. But upon returning to where they had parked, they discovered something off about the atmosphere. Upon inspection, they identified the problem. The two people who had been infected with the Zombie Virus were both now, with Fang Yuxin¡¯s help, able to survive the virus¡¯s attack on their bodies and successfully Awakened to become superpower users. The others realized that the two who were considered as good as dead were now fortunate to become superpower users, naturally feeling quite complicated inside. Fang Yuxin glanced over just once before withdrawing her gaze. She had already helped as much as she could; how far these two could go was up to them. Next, she and Bai Ye took out cooking tools from the car and began to prepare a meal. Being away from home, they couldn¡¯t make anything too elaborate. Fang Yuxin first cooked a pot of ham with exotic mushrooms soup, and also boiled a few shell-on eggs in the water. After the water boiled, she added a handful of dry noodles and, as they neared readiness, threw in some fresh bok choy, blanching them briefly before turning the heat off. The others made do with bread, cake, instant noodles, or biscuits. Not only were they insufficient to satiate their hunger, but they were also particularly dry. Although Fang Yuxin had purposely set up a small Barrier around the cooking area to contain the aroma, the other people watched as she added the ingredients one by one, and couldn¡¯t help but salivate incessantly. However, not a single person dared to come over and ask for food. Zhao Yan¡¯s nephew, Zhao Liang, watched with envy but was admonished by Zhao Yan and dared not to offend. Even Liu Yihuan, the four-year-old daughter of Liu Zhenglin, just glanced once before drawing her eyes away, obediently leaning against Liu Zhenglin¡¯s chest. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye scooped up the noodles and submerged the eggs in cold water. By the time they finished their noodles, the eggs were cool enough. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye each took their share, and Fang Yuxin deliberately left one egg aside. She secretly took out a carton of pure milk from her space and, along with the egg, brought it over to Liu Yihuan. By then, Liu Zhenglin and his daughter had already managed a simple dinner: Liu Yihuan with a piece of cake and Liu Zhenglin with just a packaged instant noodle, which was barely enough to fill the stomach. Upon seeing Fang Yuxin approach, Liu Zhenglin was somewhat at a loss. He always remembered the kindness Fang Yuxin had shown him and never expected she would actually bring more food for his daughter, his handsome face flushing slightly, appearing quite awkward. Embarrassed, he said, ¡°The food is too precious, you... keep it for yourself. To be honest, what you¡¯ve given already is more than enough, you needn¡¯t... give us more.¡± Fang Yuxin patted Liu Yihuan¡¯s head and saw her staring up with large curious eyes. She smiled at her and then told Liu Zhenglin, ¡°It¡¯s not anything precious. Your daughter is growing, you have to think about her needs.¡± After speaking, she pushed the items in front of Liu Zhenglin. He glanced at his daughter¡¯s dry, yellow hair, and without hesitation this time, he looked at Fang Yuxin and said sincerely, ¡°These items might not mean much to you, but for me and Huanhuan, they are extremely precious. Believe it or not, I, Liu Zhenglin, will never forget this kindness.¡± Then he reached out and accepted the food. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t take his words to heart. After delivering the items, she turned around and walked away. The others witnessed this scene but dared not comment. After all, Liu Yihuan was just a child, and they were adults. It was Fang Yuxin¡¯s good fortune to give her special care, and these adults couldn¡¯t possibly envy a child, nor could they deem Fang Yuxin¡¯s actions as unfair. They didn¡¯t have the shamelessness for that! Chapter 467 - 467 258 Capricious (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 467: 258 Capricious (Second Update)_2 Chapter 467: 258 Capricious (Second Update)_2 After a brief rest, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were ready to continue their journey. They were both anxious to reach Beishi City as soon as possible, unwilling to stop for breaks. Moreover, their physical condition was far beyond that of ordinary people. Even if they went without sleep for several nights, they wouldn¡¯t feel exhausted. For them, resting was merely a waste of time. While they didn¡¯t need rest, others were both tired and hungry, emotionally and physically drained. Ordinary people driving for long hours could become extremely exhausted, not to mention the constant fear and tension they had endured along the way, coupled with not being able to have a full meal. Continuing the journey would be very stressful for them. Seeing that Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were about to continue on the road, someone bravely advised, ¡°Driving at night is really dangerous. Would you two like to find a place to rest for the night and continue in the morning?¡± By this time, Fang Yuxin had taken out her tablet and was estimating their current location. Observing the area marked on the map, Fang Yuxin tapped her fingers gently and frowned. Bai Ye leaned over and took a glance, seeing it displayed Lin City, which didn¡¯t seem too far from their location. He asked, ¡°Are you planning to go there? Are you meeting someone?¡± As their initial plan didn¡¯t include passing by Lin City, Fang Yuxin looking at this place surely had a reason. Bai Ye speculated a few possibilities in his mind, thinking the most likely one being Fang Yuxin might know someone in Lin City, hence her desire to visit. Upon his inquiry, Fang Yuxin nodded, ¡°A friend of mine went back to her hometown here before the apocalypse. I don¡¯t know how she¡¯s doing now; I plan to check on her.¡± After saying this, she looked at Bai Ye, her gaze involuntarily carrying a hint of pleading. After all, their current priority should be getting to Beishi City. Going to Lin City would mean a detour, and even upon arriving, finding someone wouldn¡¯t be easy. Fang Yuxin knew her request was somewhat willful. But Li Qingyun had helped her a lot; if it hadn¡¯t been for him, she wouldn¡¯t have known so quickly that Bai Qianqian was her biological son, nor learned about Fang Mengyao¡¯s poisoning, which was detected by Li Qingyun. Before the apocalypse, she had specifically shown Li Qingyun the post online advising her to be careful and prepare early. Yet knowing this, Li Qingyun had still decided to go back and stay with her family. After the apocalypse, communication was cut off, and she lost contact with Li Qingyun, not knowing whether he was still alive. Now that she was here, not far from Lin City, she felt she would be remiss not to check. Seeing the earnestness in Fang Yuxin¡¯s eyes, Bai Ye was deeply moved. Without even thinking, he immediately said, ¡°Since you want to go, let¡¯s go check it out.¡± Fang Yuxin breathed a sigh of relief, unconsciously smiling at Bai Ye. Her smile was oddly tender and docile, quite unlike her usual demeanor, mesmerizing Bai Ye. Their eyes locked, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense. Fang Yuxin quickly averted her gaze, innocently blinking and suggestively said, ¡°In that case, let¡¯s hit the road.¡± Bai Ye also felt somewhat uncomfortable and instinctively echoed, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s time to go.¡± They exchanged glances again, then quickly looked away. Bai Ye, after a moment¡¯s thought, got out of the car and said to the others, ¡°We¡¯re not far from Lin City, and we plan to go check it out. If you want, you can follow us. If not, we won¡¯t force you. There should be a safe base nearby; you can decide for yourselves.¡± Hearing this, the others started to contemplate. They naturally dared not depart on their own. However, since it was indeed not far from Lin City, there should be a safe base there too. Finding a safe place would mean they no longer had to live in fear. But, unlike them, Liu Zhenglin, Zhao Yan, and the Qian grandfather-grandson duo had different ideas¡ªthey decided to stick with Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. They thought more than the others. What good was finding a safe base? Ordinary people wouldn¡¯t get good treatment in a safe base! Besides, who knew the complexities of a strange place? But following Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye was different; they were both strong and not utterly heartless, making it safer to stay with them. They wouldn¡¯t share these thoughts with others, be it due to their own selfishness or gratitude towards Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. They were indeed happy to see others leave. Thus, on the road that followed, everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts. The distance to Lin City indeed wasn¡¯t far, but the closer they got to the safe zone, the more zombies seemed to gather. Shortly after they exited the highway, they encountered several groups of zombies. Fortunately, their luck seemed good, encountering only small groups of zombies that were easy to deal with. However, the others following them weren¡¯t so fortunate; they were nearly scared to death by the incessant groups of zombies! Later, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had no choice but to lead everyone away from the densely populated zombie areas, narrowly reaching the vicinity of Lin City. After getting through the encirclement of zombies, they gradually encountered people from the safe base of Lin City. By this time, it was already past eight in the evening, and it was quite dark, so there weren¡¯t many people outside the safe base, as most were hurrying back. They encountered a truck with a large trailer¡ªthere were quite a few people inside, probably a mercenary team out on a mission. Seeing strangers, these people were very wary, their gazes filled with scrutiny. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 468 - 468 259 Lin City Base (Third Update) ?Chapter 468: 259 Lin City Base (Third Update) Chapter 468: 259 Lin City Base (Third Update) The driver stuck his head out of the window, his eyes warily watching them, his hand quietly gripping a gun, ready to retaliate if the other party made a sudden move! He asked, ¡°Are you from out of town?¡± Bai Ye had already learned about Li Qingyun from Fang Yuxin, so he stopped the car, leaned out, and said to the other, ¡°We want to go to your Safe Zone to find someone, are there any rules we should know about?¡± The driver exchanged glances with his colleague and then told Bai Ye, ¡°To enter the Base, each person must pay a Basic-level Crystal Core. If someone is a superpower user or has special skills, the Crystal Core fee can be waived. Also, everyone must undergo a blood test. We were just about to head back to the Base ourselves, so if you don¡¯t have any issues, just follow us.¡± Bai Ye, thinking that the others might not have a Crystal Core, helpfully asked, ¡°What if someone can¡¯t pay the Crystal Core, can they run a tab?¡± At this, the driver was momentarily stunned. Logically, anyone who could get through a zombie encirclement had to be capable, and how could such people not have a Crystal Core? He was filled with doubt. However, he didn¡¯t voice this doubt and simply said, ¡°Running a tab is possible, but you must work off the debt.¡± In fact, the management of their Safe Zone was rather iron-fisted or, one might say, extremely stringent. Ordinary People who couldn¡¯t produce a Crystal Core ended up as the lowest labor class, toiling day and night and never getting enough to eat. But for those who were capable, life in the Safe Zone could be quite good. So, he didn¡¯t tell Bai Ye this, having noticed that, aside from the relatively nice car Bai Ye was driving, the other vehicles were battered and clearly belonged to those of lesser ability. He understood Bai Ye¡¯s implication and realized that the people following weren¡¯t on the same level as Bai Ye. The rest of the journey was relatively secure since they were already at the outer reaches of the Safe Zone. Patrols went out daily to hunt zombies, so there weren¡¯t many around. Along the way, they only encountered a few stray zombies, which the people in the truck dealt with before Bai Ye could even act. These zombies were not particularly strong, and for the people in the truck, it was as if they were just delivering Crystal Cores; naturally, they did not want to share the spoils with Bai Ye and his group. Soon, they saw the outline of the Safe Zone. The first thing visible was the Protection Wall, towering ten meters high. This wall wasn¡¯t so high at first, but after the incidents of zombie groups attacking the city, the Base leader had ordered daily reinforcement of the Protection Wall, and it had gradually reached its current impressive size. Outside the Protection Wall, numerous defense works had been constructed to fend off zombie sieges. They reached the gate; the truck went in first, with Bai Ye and the others following. Only after entering did they see a row of buildings on the right side of the road¡ªthe first was for filling out forms, the second for testing, and further on were isolation rooms, mainly for isolating individuals infected with the Zombie Virus. Fang Yuxin released her Spiritual Sense to check inside and saw that there were people detained in the isolation rooms, their limbs secured to the wall, with gags in their mouths to prevent them from biting others if they suddenly turned into zombies. Although these people looked quite pitiful, the authorities had at least given them a chance to Awaken, rather than killing them outright, which could be considered relatively merciful. On the left side of the road was a temporary parking area. After entering, Bai Ye and the others parked their vehicles as directed and then went to fill out forms and undergo blood tests. Fang Yuxin had already peeked and seen that the so-called blood testing involved squeezing out blood onto a special type of paper. If the paper turned black, it indicated an infection with the Zombie Virus; if there was no change, it meant there was no infection yet. Fang Yuxin found this method quite novel and couldn¡¯t help but be curious about who had invented it. For security, the window was fitted with iron bars and tempered glass, similar to those at a bank counter, with a semicircular small window formed under the iron bars and glass for passing documents. The person on the other side took a quick look at them, seeing they were unfamiliar, and said evenly, ¡°New here? First, fill in your identity information.¡± After he spoke, he placed a form through the small window. Bai Ye took out the form and quickly began to fill it out using a pen from nearby. The form required information like name, gender, age, previous residence, whether one was a superpower user, type and level of superpower, and other special skills. Chapter 469 - 469 259 Lin City Base (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 469: 259 Lin City Base (Third Update)_2 Chapter 469: 259 Lin City Base (Third Update)_2 Bai Ye had used an alias, and he also concealed some details about his superpower capabilities¡ªlisting himself as a Level 1 Gold Element user. He had employed a Concealing Technique to contain the energy fluctuations emanating from his body, camouflaging his aura to that of a Level 1 Superpower User, confident that no one would detect his true power. He had specifically taken note that among the forty-five people seated in the truck, apart from one Second-level Superpower User, the rest were Level 1 Superpower Users. These individuals dared to remain outside until so late, indicating a fair amount of confidence in their own abilities. This meant that within this Safe Zone, a Level 1 Superpower User was considered to have respectable strength, while the number of Second-level Superpower Users was likely still a minority. If he had registered as a Second-level Superpower User, it would inevitably draw the attention of various powers within the Base, and trouble would surely follow. He and Fang Yuxin had simply come to find someone; there was no need for them to become deeply entangled with others in the Safe Zone. Fang Yuxin had likewise obscured her true strength, disguising herself as a Level 1 Superpower User. Moreover, she had deliberately listed her superpower as a Fire Ability, rather than the Wood Element she had always claimed publicly. Wood Element Superpower Users were quite special due to their healing and plant-growth abilities, and even Basic or Level 1 users would attract attention from varying factions. Fang Yuxin did not wish to court trouble, so she decided to pretend to be a Fire Element Superpower User instead. After the two of them had finished registering, the others also came forward to fill out their information. Liu Zhenglin and Zhao Yan had only recently awakened and, along with their poor talent, their energy was weak and difficult to detect, so they hesitated briefly before both choosing ¡®no.¡¯ They had no intention of staying in the Safe Zone, preferring instead to follow Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, so naturally, there was no need to reveal their Awakening. As others finished registering their information and saw they had chosen ¡®no,¡¯ suspicion immediately arose in their minds, but they dared not openly challenge this decision, instead weighing their own thoughts silently. Once the forms were completed, they were taken by an official inside. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin guessed correctly; the official, upon reviewing their registered information, seemed to become friendlier, yet did not show extraordinary concern. Clearly, while Level 1 Superpower Users possessed some strength, they were not considered significant enough to draw significant attention. When the official noticed the rest were Ordinary People, his demeanor cooled substantially, in stark contrast to his interaction with Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin. After registration, the next step was to pay with Crystal Cores. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin naturally had no shortage of Basic-level Crystal Cores, but it was a problem for the others. Both Zhao Yan and Liu Zhenglin had already slain zombies on the road and could produce Crystal Cores. Qian Lang and his grandson could also present them, but the remaining individuals were unable to do so. As they saw the official¡¯s expression growing increasingly sour, they could only look to Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin for help with pleading eyes. Yet the two of them were indifferent and showed no intention of lending assistance. Basic-level Crystal Cores were extracted from the brains of Basic-level Zombies, and their power was so weak that even Ordinary People could kill them. For instance, after Qian Lang had figured out how to kill zombies, he would take the chance to strike, and Zhao Liang, Zhao Yan¡¯s spoiled nephew, had overcome his fear and followed after Zhao Yan to help him out, killing some zombies together. The rest were still relatively young, in their twenties or thirties, in the prime of life, yet they dared not act when faced with zombies, choosing instead to hide. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t possibly help such people. It was Liu Zhenglin and Zhao Yan who came forward and managed to gather and submit the Crystal Cores for them. The official initially looked displeased when they failed to produce Crystal Cores, but his expression changed when he saw the actions of Zhao Yan and Liu Zhenglin. He then discerned the faint energy fluctuations from the two men. His face immediately darkened as he questioned, ¡°Liu Zhenglin, Zhao Yan, if you are superpower users, why conceal it?¡± At those words, the complexions of Liu Zhenglin and Zhao Yan changed slightly. Despite their attempts to restrain themselves, the official had seen through them. He wouldn¡¯t have received a receptionist position if he weren¡¯t sharp, and he was also a Level 1 Superpower User. He had overlooked their energy initially due to its weakness. However, when he saw them produce Crystal Cores, something seemed off. After all, he had seen the ordinary people from the Safe Zone who could kill zombies; they appeared robust and carried an air of valiance, whereas those who couldn¡¯t kill zombies were frail and had a different demeanor altogether. Zhao Yan and Liu Zhenglin, one older and the other gentle in nature, didn¡¯t fit the profile of typical ordinary people capable of killing zombies. Upon closer inspection, he discovered energy fluctuations from them. He was naturally angered by their concealment, but then he added, ¡°Filling out the information truthfully is for your own benefit. Whether or not you are superpower users determines the treatment you can expect within the Base. And I won¡¯t hide from you that the treatment of superpower users and Ordinary People here is indeed different.¡± With his words, he made it seem as if Zhao Yan and Liu Zhenglin were being backward. They exchanged glances, and Liu Zhenglin stepped forward to explain, ¡°We have only just awakened and barely have any ability, nor can we kill many zombies. Fearing that superpower users must go out and hunt zombies, we chose...¡± His voice trailed off, his head dipped slightly, acting the part of a weak and powerless superpower user. Zhao Yan also adopted a look of extreme embarrassment, with a trembling voice he added, ¡°Yeah, yeah, we really can¡¯t kill many zombies; we just want to find a Base to live peacefully. Please... let us remain as Ordinary People, we don¡¯t want those benefits,¡± he concluded, waving his hands in denial. Seeing their lack of ambition, the official¡¯s expression turned even uglier. (To be continued. If you enjoy this novel, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please browse to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 470 - 470 260 Scolding (First Update) ?Chapter 470: 260 Scolding (First Update) Chapter 470: 260 Scolding (First Update) The clerk looked at Zhao Yan and Liu Zhenglin, who seemed to be timid and noticed that the energy fluctuations of the two were very weak. He figured they must be those with poor talent, hardly worth cultivating. He disdainfully tugged at the corner of his mouth, not thinking highly of people who were destined to have no future. However, he was very cautious and didn¡¯t immediately agree to their request. Instead, he sternly said, ¡°I don¡¯t care when you awakened, but since you have become superpower users, you must fill out the information truthfully!¡± Zhao Yan and Liu Zhenglin had no choice but to take out the few Crystal Cores they had left, hoping that the clerk would make an exception for them. They were only able to produce about ten Crystal Cores combined, which the clerk didn¡¯t value. But considering the weak energy fluctuations from the two, he nodded, indicating his agreement. After all, these two wouldn¡¯t achieve much and had no value to cultivate. If they themselves didn¡¯t want to enjoy the privileges of superpower users, why should he care? After taking the Crystal Cores, he gave them a stern warning, then finally let them enter the next room to have their blood tested. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin had been silent the whole time, quietly observing the scene. It wasn¡¯t until then that Fang Yuxin spoke up, ¡°We came here looking for a friend. Could you help us find out where she is?¡± The clerk glanced at her quickly and said, without much enthusiasm, ¡°If you want to find someone, go to the Task Hall. There, you can pay a certain number of Crystal Cores to have a clerk look up resident information. If they can¡¯t be found, you can post a task or a missing person notice.¡± In other words, they wouldn¡¯t be able to find what they needed here but would have to go to the so-called Task Hall. Fang Yuxin thanked him and, along with Bai Ye, turned to enter the second room to queue for blood testing. The blood testing was done quickly, just a drop of blood on testing paper would yield the result. When they arrived, there were only about five people ahead of them in line. This time, the two didn¡¯t interfere with the process. There weren¡¯t many people in their group, so the testing was completed swiftly, and none were infected with the Zombie Virus. As they left, two men were standing outside, apparently waiting for them. One of them was the driver who had spoken to Bai Ye before. When he saw Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin emerge, a smile appeared on his face, and in a friendly manner, he said, ¡°I remember you two came here looking for someone. You¡¯re new here, and probably not familiar with this place, so how about I take you to the Task Hall?¡± The man had clearly waited there intentionally, likely with the aim of currying favor. After he offered, Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin found it hard to refuse and accepted. The rest of their group decided not to follow them but planned to find out more about the Base, to find a place to stay. Zhao Yan, Liu Zhenglin, and the Qian family, although wanting to follow Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, realized that the two were on a mission to find someone and felt it wasn¡¯t right to tag along. So they decided to join the others and gather information about the Base first before making any further plans. The two groups parted ways. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin followed the driver and his companion to the Task Hall, which was not far away; a short drive quickly brought them there. The Task Hall was quite large, and it was obvious that it had once been used as a bank. Because it was late, there weren¡¯t many people inside; clerks were still at the counters, using small, energy-saving rechargeable lamps. Such lamps weren¡¯t very bright. Before the apocalypse, only students or street vendors would use them at night, but now they had to make do to save electricity. Each window had a small sign indicating the service it provided. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin scanned them and immediately went to the window labeled ¡°Inquiry Desk.¡± The clerk there was a young woman who looked up and asked, ¡°What would you like to know?¡± her tone somewhat aloof. Bai Ye stayed silent as Fang Yuxin said, ¡°I¡¯m looking for a friend, can you help me look her up?¡± The clerk, obviously used to handling such requests, showed no surprise and efficiently replied, ¡°One Basic-level Crystal Core.¡± Fang Yuxin took out a Basic-level Crystal Core and threw it into the small window on the counter. After the clerk collected it, she asked, ¡°Name, gender, age.¡± Fang Yuxin immediately said, ¡°Li Qingyun, female, 25 years old. Do you have this person?¡± The clerk didn¡¯t answer but started typing rapidly on the computer. Soon after, she looked up and said, ¡°Found her. For ten Basic-level Crystal Cores, I¡¯ll give you her address.¡± Chapter 471 - 471 260 Scolding (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 471: 260 Scolding (First Update)_2 Chapter 471: 260 Scolding (First Update)_2 The price was much higher this time, indeed ten times what it was before, but for Fang Yuxin, it didn¡¯t really matter. Li Qingyun had helped her quite a bit, and as long as she could find her, Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t mind giving up not just ten but even a hundred Basic-level Crystal Cores! So she straightforwardly took out the Crystal Cores, and after the clerk accepted them, he pulled out a neatly cut slip of paper, wrote down an address, and threw it through the small window. Fang Yuxin quickly picked it up and saw that it only had an address. She thanked the clerk, nodded at Bai Ye, and the two of them turned and left. The driver and his companion also came out with them. The driver said with a smile, ¡°Now that we have the address, it¡¯ll be easy to find the person. You two are lucky, finding the person as soon as you got here.¡± Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, unfamiliar with the area, even with an address, didn¡¯t know exactly where it was but had to ask the driver for directions. He was kind enough to take a quick glance at the note and said, ¡°That place isn¡¯t far from here. I¡¯ll take you there right now.¡± They thanked him and didn¡¯t let him guide them but drove a short distance and arrived at the location. It was a small residential complex, and the houses weren¡¯t very nice, as they were resettlement housing built after encroaching on rural land. Around it, several other complexes appeared to be much more upscale. Li Qingyun actually lived in such a place... Suddenly, Fang Yuxin began to worry, afraid that Li Qingyun wasn¡¯t living well. She remembered that she had given Li Qingyun a Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit. Logically, Li Qingyun should have experienced an Awakening by now. As a superpower user, how could she be living in a place like this? Bai Ye noticed Fang Yuxin¡¯s concern. Hesitating for a moment, he quietly took her hand and whispered soothingly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, let¡¯s meet the person first.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, then turned to thank the driver, taking out two cans of meat from her bag as a sign of gratitude for their help. She had many valuable things on her but couldn¡¯t take them out carelessly; that would attract too much attention. Two cans of meat weren¡¯t much, but they weren¡¯t bad either. One must know that in the apocalypse, canned meat was a rare delicacy. The two men saw Fang Yuxin directly taking out two cans of meat as a thank you and their eyes flickered subtly. They accepted the cans, made polite conversation, and then said their goodbyes and left. Once they left, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye entered the complex. Though not perfect, the entrance of the complex still had guards posted. The two of them, being strangers, were stopped by the guards as they approached. One of the guards asked, ¡°Who are you? What are you doing here?¡± Fang Yuxin exchanged a glance with Bai Ye, sighed, and said, ¡°We¡¯re here to see a friend, who lives in Building 7, Unit 3, Apartment 504.¡± The guard sized up Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye and then asked, ¡°Do you have your ID Cards? Please show your ID Cards. If you don¡¯t have them, you need to pay one Basic-level Crystal Core per person to enter.¡± Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were only there to find someone and had no plans to stay, so naturally, they hadn¡¯t bothered with ID Cards. Such ID Cards were only valid within their own Safe Zones anyway and not recognized in others. The two of them had no choice but to hand over two Basic-level Crystal Cores to enter the complex. As they entered, the guard advised, ¡°You¡¯re new here, right? After you meet your friend, it¡¯s best to get your ID Cards sorted. Without them, it¡¯s tough to get around in the Safe Zone!¡± Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye smiled and nodded in thanks, then drove straight to Building 7, Unit 3. The guards at the gate noticed that they chose to drive such a short distance and their expressions shifted slightly as they exchanged a knowing look. After the apocalypse, obtaining gasoline wasn¡¯t easy, so many people in the Safe Zones tried not to drive at all, with only the more powerful superpower users driving around without worrying about the gas. Both Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were cautious in their actions, but their car was obviously a quality item and well-preserved. Anyone clever could see there was something off. Now with the guards seeing them not sparing a thought for the gasoline, they guessed that either the people they were with were powerful or they simply had plenty of gasoline. Whichever it was, it indicated that these two deserved attention. So, the two guards discreetly contacted their superiors and reported the situation. It wasn¡¯t just them. The people who had guided Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye earlier had left and also contacted someone over the walkie-talkie, sharing their guesses about the two¡¯s identities. Thus, unbeknownst to Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, some of the big shots in the Safe Zone had started to take notice of them. By this time, the two had entered the staircase and were making their way upstairs. Most of the residents in this complex were Ordinary People with little to no capability. Fang Yuxin released her Spiritual Sense for a brief scan, and immediately regretted it. The building was filled with three-room apartments, and each home was overcrowded with people. Whether it was the rooms or the living room, they were almost all filled to the brim. Because there were too many people and not enough resources, the conditions inside were very poor, summed up in the phrase ¡°dirty, messy, bad.¡± Fang Yuxin felt disgusted and quickly retracted her Spiritual Sense to avoid accidentally seeing things she shouldn¡¯t. Just as she and Bai Ye reached the third floor, they heard a ¡°bang¡± above them, as if something had been smashed to the ground. Then a woman¡¯s curse followed, ¡°Li Qingyun! Do you even have a conscience? Why did I have to give birth to a money-losing good-for-nothing like you!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian(qidian.com)to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 472 - 472 261 Youre Pretty Daring (Second Update) ?Chapter 472: 261 You¡¯re Pretty Daring (Second Update) Chapter 472: 261 You¡¯re Pretty Daring (Second Update) Fang Yuxin¡¯s face changed instantly upon hearing those words, and she quickly ran upstairs. Bai Ye¡¯s expression also darkened as he furrowed his brows and followed closely by her side. Soon, they reached the fifth floor. Room 504 was tightly closed, making it impossible to see inside. Fang Yuxin decisively extended her Spiritual Sense and saw that the room was crowded with people; precisely, there were 28 individuals, including men, women, the elderly, and children. Although these people didn¡¯t look in great health, they certainly weren¡¯t the worst Fang Yuxin had incidentally seen before. However, what infuriated Fang Yuxin was that among these people, only Li Qingyun was a superpower user. The rest were Ordinary People. Yet at that moment, Li Qingyun was being criticized by a middle-aged woman! The woman, short and plump, stood with her hands on her hips and eyes glaring, the very image of a shrew. Based on the previous conversation, she was likely Li Qingyun¡¯s mother. However, in Fang Yuxin¡¯s view, this woman did not deserve the title ¡°mother¡±! Fang Yuxin had led a very happy life since childhood, dearly loved by her parents and elder brother. Although she knew that some parents in the world treated their children poorly, she had never witnessed such treatment firsthand, so her feelings about it had never been particularly profound. Now, as she ¡°saw¡± the situation inside, immense anger surged in her heart, and she desperately wanted to punish that woman herself! Inside, the woman continued her tirade, spewing words uglier than the next, unbearable to listen to. Unable to tolerate it any longer, Fang Yuxin marched directly over and kicked the security door. ¡°Bang!¡± A loud noise ensued, as the iron security door caved in the middle and was severely deformed. Following this abrupt loud noise, the middle-aged woman inside finally stopped her verbal abuse. Frightened, she let out a scream and then yelled loudly, ¡°You foolish girl, what are you standing there for? Go and check what¡¯s happening! Did you provoke someone outside, and now they¡¯ve come to cause trouble?¡± With her loud shout, the onlookers quickly hid back in their rooms, slamming the doors shut, ¡°bang,¡± fearful of being implicated. Li Qingyun, watching these so-called ¡°relatives,¡± smiled coldly and ignored the woman¡¯s shouting. With eyes lowered, she swiftly walked towards the door. Behind her, the incessantly cursing middle-aged woman had already made her way to the bedroom door, squeezing through the crack to join the others in hiding. Thus, in just a few short seconds, the living room that was crowded just now was left utterly empty. Everyone else had hidden in the bedroom, leaving only Li Qingyun alone to face the ¡°powerful enemy¡± outside. Li Qingyun¡¯s heart was also in a tumult. During the short walk from the living room to the vestibule, her mind raced through all the people she might have offended but, upon reflection, couldn¡¯t think of anyone who would come for her with such fanfare. She cautiously moved her right hand behind her back, drew the dagger she had tucked into her waist, gripped it tightly, and took a deep breath before opening the door. Since the door was severely deformed, it took some effort to unlock it. But upon seeing the person outside, she was completely stunned, ¡°Xin... Xinxin... why... why is it you?¡± In just a brief sentence, Li Qingyun¡¯s eyes were already brimming with tears. When she had first returned home, the apocalypse had not yet begun; she had lied about coming home for a vacation, and her family was convinced and happy for a while, and then they started talking about setting her up with suitors. All these suitors were neighbors from the village, who had dropped out of school early to work, completely different from her world. It wasn¡¯t that she looked down on their education level, but rather their topics of conversation were too vulgar, too juvenile, too silly¡ªthey simply couldn¡¯t relate. Li Qingyun naturally rejected all of them, which led to gossip in the village about her, saying how she had become arrogant since leaving and that she was ungrateful. They also mentioned that she was getting older and should settle down and get married, which made her extremely angry! She was only 25 years old, how was she ¡°old¡±? But it didn¡¯t end with the villagers; her relatives also started advising her not to be ungrateful, and even her parents and siblings would say the same, not even listening to her explanations or considering her opinions, constantly causing her distress. At that time, she had some money in her account, some she had earned from working herself, and some that Fang Yuxin had lent her. Initially, she didn¡¯t want to accept it, but Fang Yuxin insisted, suggesting she keep it for emergencies, just in case what was written online was true! Chapter 473 - 473 261 Youre Pretty Daring (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 473: 261 You¡¯re Pretty Daring (Second Update)_2 Chapter 473: 261 You¡¯re Pretty Daring (Second Update)_2 She knew Fang Yuxin meant well, so she reluctantly accepted. But when her family saw her stockpiling supplies in bulk, they thought she was crazy and started causing trouble with her, demanding she use her card¡¯s balance to buy houses for her brothers and get them wives. Li Qingyun didn¡¯t agree, initially only spending her own savings without touching Fang Yuxin¡¯s money. Later when Fang Yuxin called, saying she had a nightmare, asking how the supply buying was going, she had no choice but to also spend the money Fang Yuxin had given her, buying supplies to prevent her parents from asking for more money. Soon after, the apocalypse arrived, and many people turned into zombies, but she was lucky enough to awaken as a superpower user. Initially, with an abundance of supplies and being a superpower user, she could have managed pretty well even in the apocalypse. However, soon her relatives crowded her home, all flocking to her for refuge. Many of these relatives were the type they hadn¡¯t contacted for years, those who looked down on their poverty. Yet after the apocalypse, they brazenly sought her out. While they were family, Li Qingyun didn¡¯t intend to drive them away; however, she soon discovered her relatives were utterly disgraceful! These people, taking advantage of her inattention, secretly carted away the supplies she had saved up to curry favor with others! Watching the supplies being hauled away massively, these ingrates managed to secure some minor positions, securing jobs in the Safe Zone. Her parents didn¡¯t think these people were excessive but instead turned around to chide her for being foolish and squabbling with her own family! Her superpower was Mutated Wood Element, but it lacked the ordinary Wood Element¡¯s healing and plant-growth abilities; her talent was in extracting plant essences. With this ability, she secured a minor assistant position at a research institute but earned just enough to get by. Due to housing shortages within the Safe Zone, the relatives didn¡¯t move out and continued to live cramped together in one apartment, constantly mooching off her and taking advantage. Her parents were the type who were exceedingly submissive outwardly but only aggressive within their own home. They didn¡¯t dare confront their relatives and took all their frustrations out on her and her sister. She also had a younger brother who had been indolent from a young age, not even securing a stable job in the Safe Zone, and just idled about. Her parents constantly nagged her in front of him, urging her to find him an easy, well-paying job, but how could she possibly find one? She did shamelessly ask around for jobs, but her brother disdained them all, finding them too tedious and too tiring, and felt she was belittling him! Even though it had only been one to two months since she returned home, Li Qingyun felt mentally and physically exhausted, more than she had ever been in her life. What hurt her more was the attitude of her family. If her superpower hadn¡¯t been an auxiliary type and she hadn¡¯t lacked force, she would have left this family long ago! She thought she would be trapped in this household for life, never imagining she would see Fang Yuxin again. Such scenes had only occurred in her dreams. Seeing Fang Yuxin standing at the doorstep now, the long-repressed grievances welled up uncontrollably, her tears flowing like a broken dam. The next moment, Li Qingyun threw herself into Fang Yuxin¡¯s arms, clutching her tightly and crying loudly, her voice choked as she said, ¡°Xinxin! Seeing you again in this lifetime is truly wonderful!¡± Fang Yuxin, however, was a bit stunned. Her memory of Li Qingyun had always been of a cool, older sister-like figure who faced any difficulty unflinchingly and was much stronger than herself. But now, she was crying non-stop in her arms! Fang Yuxin felt both surprised and heartbroken, then intense anger. How much had Li Qingyun suffered these days to have broken down like this? Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t even bear to think about it, just briefly imagining if Qianhe had spoken to her like how Li Qingyun¡¯s mother did... Just the thought left Fang Yuxin feeling an unbearable heartache. The people who can hurt someone the most are always their closest ones! No matter how unpleasant things others might say, Fang Yuxin could ignore them, but if her relatives treated her this way, she couldn¡¯t bear it! Just then, the people inside the house noticed something was amiss outside, not sounding like someone picking a fight, so they opened the door and came out, standing in the living room to watch from a distance. Seeing this, they noticed two strangers at the door, a man and a woman, both as good-looking as movie stars. And Li Qingyun, who had just been scolded, was embracing the strange girl, crying and looking like acquaintances. They hesitated, then a middle-aged man wearing glasses tentatively asked, ¡°Are you friends of Qingyun?¡± At this question, Li Qingyun¡¯s mother suddenly became livid and rushed to the vestibule, pointing at the door seriously damaged by Fang Yuxin and shouting, ¡°Since you are Qingyun¡¯s friends, you must pay for this door you damaged!¡± She routinely scolded Li Qingyun and didn¡¯t really consider her important, so she naturally didn¡¯t care much about Li Qingyun¡¯s friends. In her view, as friends of Li Qingyun, even if she was rude, these two would tolerate it out of respect for Li Qingyun. However, she quickly realized her gross miscalculation. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t humor her but instead looked at her coldly and scoffed, ¡°You¡¯re very bold to speak to me like that.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to send recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 474 - 474 262 Li Qingyuns Decision (Third Update) ?Chapter 474: 262 Li Qingyun¡¯s Decision (Third Update) Chapter 474: 262 Li Qingyun¡¯s Decision (Third Update) Fang Yuxin¡¯s words stunned the middle-aged woman. Normally, she dealt with ordinary people and was extremely cautious around anyone of even minor importance, never daring to speak much. How could she have ever encountered an attitude like Fang Yuxin¡¯s? Fang Yuxin¡¯s icy gaze swept over her, sending a chill throughout her body and a strong sense of impending doom. Then, she suddenly saw Li Qingyun, who had her back to her. Looking at her daughter, she found some courage and whispered to Li Qingyun, ¡°Qingyun! Say something! I am your mother!¡± She wanted to say how could your friend treat me like this, but under Fang Yuxin¡¯s icy stare, she dared not voice it out! However, Li Qingyun ignored her, instead wiping away the tears on her face, blinked to suppress her sadness, then quickly stepped back to increase the distance from Fang Yuxin and apologetically smiled, ¡°Sorry, I lost my composure just now and caused you embarrassment.¡± Fang Yuxin naturally didn¡¯t mind these things. She glanced at the middle-aged woman and other onlookers in the living room, then said to Li Qingyun, ¡°I have some things to ask you. Is there a private place we can talk?¡± Li Qingyun nodded slightly, ignoring the people behind her, and only said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Let¡¯s go outside to talk.¡± As soon as she said this, the middle-aged woman screamed, ¡°Qingyun! What time do you think it is! Where do you want to go?¡± After speaking, she looked warily at Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, fearful that they would take Li Qingyun away. She felt a strong sense of panic inside, telling her not to let Li Qingyun go with these two or she would never come back! This family still relied on her, especially since she had found a good marriage arrangement for Li Qingyun, with a not insignificant bride price offered! Securing this marriage would ensure their carefree life in the Safe Zone thanks to the status of the other party! Therefore, she absolutely couldn¡¯t let Li Qingyun go with these two people! Thinking this, she suddenly found the courage, rushed over, and grabbed Li Qingyun¡¯s arm tightly to pull her inside while shouting at the two outsiders, ¡°Get out! Just leave! Our home doesn¡¯t welcome you!¡± ¡°Whoosh!¡± Before the middle-aged woman could finish her sentence, Fang Yuxin had already drawn the black Miao Saber at her waist, the sharp blade aimed directly at her. Then, Fang Yuxin, ignoring the terrified woman, turned to look at Li Qingyun, ¡°Qingyun, she¡¯s your mother, what do you say we should do? I will follow your lead.¡± Li Qingyun shuddered. She faintly realized that this was a choice given by Fang Yuxin. If she chose her mother, it could hurt Fang Yuxin, who was trying to stand up for her, and Fang Yuxin might just leave and never bother with her again! Thinking this, Li Qingyun forcefully twisted her mother¡¯s hand away and said coldly, ¡°Mom, let go, I¡¯m just going out to talk with a friend.¡± The woman refused to release her and instead screamed, ¡°Li Qingyun! Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you are thinking! What can¡¯t you talk about at home? Huh? I¡¯ve raised you all these years, and now you just want to abandon me and your relatives? Over my dead body! Ah!¡± She saw a flash of black light before her eyes, then felt a sharp pain on her scalp as if it had been sliced. The next moment, her dry hair fell to the ground. The woman widened her eyes, touched her head in confusion, and felt sticky warm blood, which made her scream in terror, ¡°Murder¡ªsomeone come quickly¡ªthere¡¯s a murder¡ª¡± Li Qingyun frowned, then took the opportunity to break free from her grip and walked over to Fang Yuxin. She looked at Fang Yuxin somewhat awkwardly, ¡°Xinxin... you...¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at her indifferently, returned the saber to its sheath nonchalantly, and spoke in an emotionless tone, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she isn¡¯t hurt, it was just the sharp aura of the sword that caused her scalp to bleed.¡± After all, the woman was Li Qingyun¡¯s mother, and no matter how angry Fang Yuxin felt inside, she would not act directly against this troublesome woman without crossing Li Qingyun. It was just a lesson. Upon hearing this, Li Qingyun sighed with relief. Seeing the woman still screaming, she ignored her and simply said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± However, before the three could leave, a man in his fifties rushed out, his face contorted with anger, and scolded Li Qingyun, ¡°Li Qingyun, are you blind? Didn¡¯t you see your mother being injured by this woman? Don¡¯t you care about your mother and still want to go with them? Are you even human?¡± Chapter 475 - 475 262 Li Qingyuns Decision (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 475: 262 Li Qingyun¡¯s Decision (Third Update)_2 Chapter 475: 262 Li Qingyun¡¯s Decision (Third Update)_2 Li Qingyun couldn¡¯t stand it any longer when she heard this. She shouted at the man, ¡°Dad! They are my friends, so you better speak kindly! After all, even if you shamelessly show no respect, I still want to keep my dignity! Also, mom is totally fine. If you really care about her, help her into the house. Don¡¯t let her embarrass herself out here!¡± She had a cold and imposing appearance. Although her features weren¡¯t delicate, there was a compelling aura about her. She had been scolded by her family for so long and had never burst out before. She always appeared as a meek and easily bullied softie, and her family, having seen much of this, naturally didn¡¯t take her seriously. However, as she suddenly became assertive, the aura she exuded was palpably intimidating. The man didn¡¯t even dare to meet her gaze, his eyes wavering, an expression that made him look despicable. Li Qingyun cast a glance at the other people in the living room, sneered coldly, and then turned away. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye led the way down the stairs, with Li Qingyun following them. Once they were downstairs, she took them to a recreational area in the residential complex. The area was fitted with leisure chairs and several pieces of fitness equipment. Before the apocalypse, it was often populated with people working out or playing, but now it was completely deserted and desolate. After the three of them sat down, Li Qingyun apologized, ¡°Xinxin, I¡¯m sorry for the scene you just witnessed.¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to listen to any of that. Knowing Li Qingyun¡¯s pride, she didn¡¯t ask how she had been getting on these days. Instead, she asked, ¡°Would you like to come with us? To leave this Safe Zone?¡± Li Qingyun was momentarily stunned, then fell silent. Fang Yuxin watched her, feeling her heart sink. Although she disliked how the Li Family treated Li Qingyun, if Li Qingyun herself didn¡¯t care, what could she, an outsider, really say? If Li Qingyun didn¡¯t want to leave with her, then, despite her regret, she wouldn¡¯t insist. Bai Ye was sitting beside them, observing everything. Seeing the look of concern in Fang Yuxin¡¯s eyes and feeling a bit of displeasure towards Li Qingyun, Bai Ye, having been a mercenary for many years and seen the darker sides of human nature, knew that some people¡¯s lives were filled with suffering and bullying. He had never harbored sympathy for such individuals. Everyone has their moments of suffering. If you can¡¯t fight for yourself, how can you expect others to help you? Fang Yuxin risked danger to come here for her, yet she didn¡¯t want to leave with them. Bai Ye felt that Li Qingyun really didn¡¯t deserve Fang Yuxin¡¯s efforts! Yet, just when Bai Ye thought so, Li Qingyun suddenly spoke up, ¡°Xinxin, thank you for coming to find me despite the dangers. I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Both Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were taken aback by her words. Fang Yuxin raised her eyebrows in surprise and said, ¡°Are you sure? You should know one thing, I¡¯ll only take you with me. I won¡¯t take any of your family.¡± Li Qingyun suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly, ¡°Family? No, they are not my family anymore.¡± After saying this, she lowered her head and remained silent for a moment. Then she suddenly added, ¡°Xinxin, I¡¯m sorry. You gave me money to buy supplies, but most of them were taken by those people to give away.¡± Fang Yuxin had already guessed as much. She had previously used her Spiritual Sense to scan the house and discovered the supplies were very scarce, which was not normal! Considering Li Qingyun herself had tens of thousands in savings from working and economizing, and that she had given her a million, and persistently urged Li Qingyun to purchase supplies, there was no way there should have been so little left. She had speculated whether it might have been stolen, but she hadn¡¯t expected it to be taken by the people inside the house to give away! They had some nerve! And their shamelessness was simply too much! But... there was no need to say these things to Li Qingyun. It was good if Li Qingyun understood on her own. If she couldn¡¯t see it, what use would there be in saying anything more? Li Qingyun wasn¡¯t a fool. She should have seen clearly what those people were like by now! If she hadn¡¯t, then it meant Fang Yuxin had misjudged her. Remaining silent, Li Qingyun continued, ¡°The superpower I awakened is a Mutated Wood Element, which is unfortunate because it doesn¡¯t have the ability to heal or spur the growth of plants. I can only extract the essence from plants. Given this, I ended up as an assistant in the research institute here. If you want to take me away, it won¡¯t be so easy.¡± She finished with a wry laugh. Fang Yuxin sensed something off in her words and immediately asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Li Qingyun explained, ¡°When you came in, they must have tested your blood, right? I developed those test strips, but the results were claimed by a senior researcher above me. He has been pushing me relentlessly to conduct some research and keeps a very close eye on me. If you want to take me with you, he definitely won¡¯t agree.¡± Hearing this, Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression darkened. She had been curious about who had invented those test strips, not expecting it to have been Li Qingyun. What shocked her even more was that the results of Li Qingyun¡¯s hard work had been stolen! However, she didn¡¯t rashly decide to stand up for Li Qingyun, merely stating, ¡°We¡¯re leaving now. I want to see who dares to stop us!¡± Hearing this, Li Qingyun became anxious, ¡°Leave now? But I¡ª¡± She wanted to say that she needed to pack some things, but upon meeting Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze, she found herself unable to speak. Upon reflection, she suddenly felt that it was for the best. The people in that house were no longer her family, and she saw no need to go back. As for the remaining supplies, she could consider them a final compensation to her family. (To be continued... If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to give your recommendation or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 476 - 476 263 Teasing (First Update) ?Chapter 476: 263 Teasing (First Update) Chapter 476: 263 Teasing (First Update) Li Qingyun had made up his mind, so Fang Yuxin planned to take her and leave immediately. However, their car was parked under Building 7; they had to go back to retrieve it. But just as the three of them returned to the base of Building 7, a group of people was appraising their car with great interest. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye happened to overhear one of them say, ¡°Go ask whose car this is, and tell them Guan Ren is buying it.¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s car had been professionally modified with high-quality materials. She later added a defensive array to the car¡¯s body, which Bai Ye reinforced, making it very different from the usual run-down vehicles. Anyone who wasn¡¯t blind could spot the quality of the car. Logically, anyone who recognized the car¡¯s modifications would guess that its owner was no ordinary person and wouldn¡¯t provoke them lightly. However, the Guan Ren they encountered this time was not an ordinary person. He wasn¡¯t afraid of offending the car¡¯s owner and was straightforward in his intention to buy it. ¡°Buy¡± might have been the word used, but his tone clearly implied he intended to snatch it by force. Seeing Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye frowning, Li Qingyun said in a quiet voice, ¡°Xinxin, although this Guan Ren is only a primary superpower user, he has a brother named Guan Rong who heads a mercenary corps of over ten thousand members. It is said that Guan Rong is a second-level peak superpower user with unfathomable strength. You need to be careful.¡± She also noticed the car was exceptional, so she didn¡¯t suggest that Fang Yuxin should give it up. While they were speaking, the people not far away had already seen them. However, because of the distance and Li Qingyun¡¯s soft voice, they did not hear what she had said clearly. The group consisted of twenty-one people. Aside from the slick-looking Guan Ren, who was just a primary superpower user, the remaining twenty were all level 1 superpower users. Upon closer inspection, those twenty were clearly Guan Ren¡¯s subordinates, treating him with considerable respect, even sycophancy. Fang Yuxin thought back to what Li Qingyun had just said about Guan Ren having a powerful brother, and then their attitudes made sense. But why would Guan Ren suddenly come here? With his status, he surely did not belong in such a run-down place. The area was a resettlement community with average housing and poor landscaping. After two or three years of exposure to the elements, many black marks covered the outer walls of the buildings. Coupled with the mass death of ordinary plants after the apocalypse, the community looked quite rundown, certainly not a good place. It didn¡¯t seem like somewhere for someone like Guan Ren. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye exchanged glances, both seeing uncertainty in the other¡¯s eyes. At that moment, Li Qingyun added, ¡°Xinxin, they might be here for me, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve dragged you into this.¡± ¡°For you?¡± Fang Yuxin looked at Li Qingyun in surprise, then suddenly remembered the previous outbursts she had heard, and her brow tightened in displeasure as she asked, ¡°This Guan Ren... he¡¯s not the person your mother wants you to marry, is he?¡± At that, Li Qingyun laughed disdainfully, ¡°My mother has been bewitched. After a few coaxing words from others, she believes Guan Ren is genuinely interested in me and can¡¯t wait to pack me up and sell me off.¡± She spoke through gritted teeth, and as she did so, a surge of resentment wiped away any guilt she felt inside! Fang Yuxin understood her meaning and, without asking further, glanced at Bai Ye and strode forward. Guan Ren and his followers had long noticed them, eyeing them with interest. Seeing them approach, Guan Ren teased Fang Yuxin, ¡°Whoa! This beauty here seems unfamiliar. Are you new around here? I¡¯m Guan Ren¡ªmy brother is the head of the Honor Mercenary Corps. You can call me ¡®Brother Guan¡¯ or ¡®Lord,¡¯ either is fine. What should I call you, beauty?¡± As he spoke, he moved towards Fang Yuxin, reaching out to lift her chin. Guan Ren had been the son of a wealthy family before the apocalypse, never worrying about food or clothing, which had led to his indulgent character. After the apocalypse, his brother was the first to awaken as a superpower user, leading a group of buddies to form the Honor Mercenary Team, which gradually grew into the mighty Honor Mercenary Corps. Protected by Guan Rong, Guan Ren continued to want for nothing even post-apocalypse. He had no ambitions, spending his days drinking and philandering, whether it was innocent schoolgirls, beautiful stars, or mature women¡ªall were equally desirable to him. He always took what he wanted, preying only on those without power or backing. Even if many of his conquests were willing, those who were not had no place to seek redress after being taken advantage of. Chapter 477 - 477 263 Teasing (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 477: 263 Teasing (First Update)_2 Chapter 477: 263 Teasing (First Update)_2 Guan Rong was powerful, and as long as Guan Ren didn¡¯t go too far, the big shots in the Safe Zone were willing to give Guan Rong face. This led to Guan Ren becoming increasingly arrogant. Not long ago, for some unknown reason, he took a liking to the cool but plain-looking Li Qingyun, and he was obsessed with getting his hands on her. However, this time he wasn¡¯t here for Li Qingyun, but rather he had heard news that two outsiders had arrived, driving a very impressive car, and were particularly generous! As a man, besides loving to drink and play with women, his favorite hobby was cars. Before the apocalypse, although he was a rich second-generation, his family wasn¡¯t exceptionally wealthy, and he couldn¡¯t touch those top-level luxury cars. After the apocalypse, he managed to collect quite a few luxury cars in his underground garage. Upon hearing that not only was there a nice car, but also a great beauty, he was immediately tempted. Guan Ren had managed to rise in this Safe Zone, so he naturally wasn¡¯t a complete fool. Before coming, he had already inquired about Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye¡¯s abilities and learned that they were both only Level 1 superpower users. With no concerns, he didn¡¯t dare bring too many people for fear that Guan Rong would find out about it ¨C he brought only twenty bodyguards. These bodyguards were all Level 1 superpower users, more than enough to handle two people. With such confidence, plus his history of always having things go his way, Guan Ren was utterly unscrupulous. He was well-versed in appreciating beauty and, upon spotting Fang Yuxin, recognized her as an exceptionally beautiful woman. Not only was her appearance flawless, but her delicate skin and delicately proportional figure were irresistible. At a single glance, the lust inside him became uncontrollable, and he made his move. When he reached out his hand, he hadn¡¯t even considered that he had mentioned Guan Rong¡¯s name and that someone would dare to resist. And even strike him! Before his hand could touch Fang Yuxin¡¯s chin, Bai Ye suddenly acted, grabbing his wrist. Then, with a ¡°snap,¡± Bai Ye crushed Guan Ren¡¯s wrist! Blood gushed out in a crimson flood, Guan Ren¡¯s wrist was a grisly sight of flesh and protruding bone fragments. Guan Ren didn¡¯t even have time to scream before Bai Ye kicked him in the lower abdomen, sending him flying back, caught by his own subordinates. ¡°Ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡± Guan Ren had barely recovered his senses when he let out a scream like that of a slaughtered pig. He actually wasn¡¯t bad-looking, with refined features and a small frame, but his demeanor was not proper, with a greasy, frivolous appearance. Plus, his constant indulgence in alcohol and women had taken a toll on even a superpower user¡¯s body, leaving him with puffy eyelids and a slightly bluish tint around his eyes, rendering them dull and lifeless. Unfortunately, Wood Element Superpower Users were extremely rare, and although the Glory Mercenary Corps had several, Guan Rong was unwilling to let Guan Ren waste them. Thus, none of the twenty superpower users he brought were Wood Element Superpower Users. Naturally, there was no one to help him stop the bleeding and heal. Guan Ren was nothing more than a pampered young master, unaccustomed to suffering. His wrist was in excruciating pain, and he couldn¡¯t stop letting out shrill screams, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, wishing he could devour them alive! ¡°Ah! Hurry... help me! Catch... catch them! Don¡¯t let any of them go! I¡¯m going to kill them! Ah! Ah! Ah!¡± He leaned on a superpower user, screaming miserably while spouting vicious words. Hearing this, the twenty superpower users left two behind to take care of him, and the remaining eighteen charged at Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin. ¡°Be careful!¡± Li Qingyun cried out in alarm, worriedly watching Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, you¡¯ve injured Guan Ren, and the Glory Mercenary Corps won¡¯t let you off easily. This is bad!¡± However, as she looked, she saw that Fang Yuxin appeared indifferent, showing not a trace of panic or fear. Surprised, Li Qingyun couldn¡¯t help but start speculating¡ªcould it be that Xinxin had some sort of trump card? But however she looked at it, Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were both just Level 1 superpower users. Li Qingyun herself was a Level 1 superpower user, and being from a scientific background with a keen eye for observing the strength and weakness of the energy fluctuations emitted by superpower users of different levels, she could tell at a glance that Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were Level 1. Yet, smart as Li Qingyun was, she would never have guessed that there are magic techniques that can hide one¡¯s energy fluctuations! With so many opponents and their close proximity, they were bound to be affected. Thinking of Li Qingyun¡¯s status as a supportive superpower user who couldn¡¯t fight, Fang Yuxin pulled her back to a safe distance, choosing not to make a move, and simply stood by, watching Bai Ye handle the men. She trusted Bai Ye¡¯s abilities, knowing he was more than capable of dealing with these eighteen men, so she wasn¡¯t worried at all. As for Guan Rong, a Level 2 Peak superpower user, she wasn¡¯t even concerned! Even if the Glory Mercenary Corps had tens of thousands of members, even if Guan Rong wanted revenge for Guan Ren¡¯s injuries, his subordinates might not be willing to die for Guan Ren! Superpower users aren¡¯t like zombies; zombies only die by beheading or removing their Crystal Cores, feel no pain, and have no other weak points. Humans, however, are different; human bodies have many vulnerabilities, and injuries could lead to severe bleeding! The power dynamics in this Safe Zone were complex, and Guan Rong had become one of the big shots solely through his own strength and his mercenaries. Should he sustain any injuries, the other big shots might not hesitate to kick him while he¡¯s down! Therefore, from any perspective, Fang Yuxin was very confident that she and Bai Ye would be able to resolve this trouble!(To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 478 - 478 264 Trouble Looms (Second Update) ?Chapter 478: 264 Trouble Looms (Second Update) Chapter 478: 264 Trouble Looms (Second Update) Li Qingyun had a guess in her heart and was no longer worried, merely standing by and watching with composure. Seeing Bai Ye easily disposed of eighteen superpower users, Li Qingyun¡¯s expression changed drastically. What astonished her even more was that, when Bai Ye made his move, there were no fluctuations in his energy, and he didn¡¯t even use his superpower! He managed to deal with them using only his exquisite swordsmanship! Li Qingyun couldn¡¯t help but become curious about Bai Ye¡¯s background; the swordsmanship he had just used was incredibly sophisticated, leaving her staring in awe. However, she instinctively glanced at Fang Yuxin and saw that her expression hadn¡¯t changed, so she secretly guessed that Fang Yuxin must have already known about Bai Ye¡¯s strength or, rather, she had grown accustomed to such exquisite swordsmanship. Li Qingyun was brimming with curiosity, but she didn¡¯t presume to ask about it. She wasn¡¯t someone ignorant of social decorum; if Fang Yuxin had no intention of introducing him, probing into Bai Ye¡¯s affairs would seem too impolite. While Bai Ye was dealing with these eighteen people, the last two superpower users realized he was tough to handle and immediately used a walkie-talkie to contact the Glory Mercenary Corps. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin saw this but had no intention of stopping them. They were still in the Safe Zone, and since the Glory Mercenary Corps was formidable, they inevitably controlled a lot of information and probably enjoyed a number of privileges in the Safe Zone. Even if they stopped them now, other people would still communicate the news. They wouldn¡¯t even be able to walk out of the Safe Zone¡¯s main gate without being intercepted. Rather than that, they might as well just wait here. Although Li Qingyun guessed they had a trump card, she still couldn¡¯t help but worry, ¡°Xinxin, let¡¯s leave now while we can. If Guan Rong arrives, it will be too late to escape then.¡± Though she said this, she lived in this Safe Zone and understood the situation better than Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye; she was well aware that, having stirred up such trouble, escaping was impossible! Fang Yuxin shook her head, ¡°If we don¡¯t handle the trouble with the Glory Mercenary Corps, how can we possibly escape? Qingyun, don¡¯t be naive.¡± Li Qingyun could only sigh; looking at Fang Yuxin, she couldn¡¯t understand what had happened to her. How had she changed so much in just over a month since they¡¯d last met? She distinctly remembered that the old Fang Yuxin used to dislike trouble! But since Fang Yuxin had spoken, Li Qingyun, though feeling it unwise, decided not to persuade her further. After all, Fang Yuxin had come to this Safe Zone for her, and had gotten into trouble with Guan Ren as a result. Even if she couldn¡¯t help much, she would definitely not abandon Fang Yuxin, nor would she tread on Fang Yuxin¡¯s sincerity. After a while, Fang Yuxin slightly raised her eyebrows and then said to Li Qingyun, ¡°Qingyun, get in the car first. No matter what happens next, don¡¯t come out.¡± The people coming this time were armed with guns, making it too dangerous for Li Qingyun to stand outside. Fang Yuxin advised her to take shelter inside the vehicle. The car had bulletproof glass and had been reinforced by Bai Ye; bullets could not penetrate it, ensuring Li Qingyun would be safe inside. Li Qingyun didn¡¯t say much and obediently got into the car knowing her own capabilities; staying would only be a burden. Before Fang Yuxin shut the door, Li Qingyun took a deep breath, grabbed Fang Yuxin, and said, ¡°Xinxin! Promise me! No matter what, you must protect yourself!¡± Fang Yuxin smiled and nodded, pushing her into the car and locking the door. Then she stood next to Bai Ye, calmly waiting for the people from the Glory Mercenary Corps to arrive. Soon, two medium-sized trucks drove in. As soon as the vehicles stopped, about a hundred people rushed down from them. Twenty of them were holding submachine guns, while the rest were armed with various weapons, quickly surrounding the two of them. Among them, five people walked straight towards Guan Ren. Fang Yuxin immediately noticed the young man walking in the middle was a Level 1 Wood Element Superpower User. Guan Ren obviously recognized him. As soon as he saw him, he began to scream even more miserably, yelling, ¡°Cui... Cui Ping, come heal me! Quick! I¡¯m in so much pain!¡± Cui Ping glanced at him indifferently and didn¡¯t show him any special regard despite him being Guan Rong¡¯s brother. He walked over to Guan Ren, opened the small suitcase he was carrying, perused through with his slender fingers, and finally pulled out a transparent little glass bottle containing a clear liquid. Chapter 479 - 479 264 Something Terrible Has Happened (Second ?Chapter 479: 264 Something Terrible Has Happened (Second Update)_2 Chapter 479: 264 Something Terrible Has Happened (Second Update)_2 Guan Ren¡¯s face changed the moment he saw the glass bottle, and he shrieked, ¡°Alcohol! Cui Ping, do you want to kill me? You actually want to use alcohol on me!¡± Cui Ping ignored his yelling and gave a look to the two people behind Guan Ren, who quickly pinned Guan Ren down, immobilizing him. Next, a person by Cui Ping¡¯s side stepped forward, grabbed Guan Ren¡¯s injured arm, and Cui Ping unscrewed the bottle cap, sucked up some alcohol with a clean straw, and dripped it directly onto Guan Ren¡¯s wound. It was clear Cui Ping did it on purpose. As soon as the alcohol hit the wound, Guan Ren instantly felt a burning pain as intense as fire and let out a wretched scream that was even more pitiful than when he had initially been hurt. Fang Yuxin stood with arms crossed, watching everything with ease, completely disregarding the people around her. Cui Ping flushed the blood from Guan Ren¡¯s wound with alcohol, then took out a pair of tweezers to remove all the bone fragments in the wound. His movements were practiced, but it was uncertain whether he was professionally trained or self-taught. Noticing Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze, Cui Ping suddenly turned his head. Seeing the others had not yet made a move, he scoffed, ¡°What are you all waiting for? Grab these two audacious people and take them back for Brother Guan to deal with!¡± A total of a hundred people surrounded Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, all Level 1 superpower users. Additionally, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye noticed there was also a second-level superpower user in the car. However, judging by the energy fluctuations on his body, he had only recently advanced to second level and was not the legendary Guan Rong. Indeed, they were merely ¡°Level 1¡± superpower users in Guan Rong¡¯s eyes, probably only minor characters. If Guan Rong had come personally, it would have been beneath him. However, although Guan Rong didn¡¯t come himself, he sent a second-level superpower user to show off, bringing over a hundred Level 1 superpower users, twenty of whom were even armed with submachine guns, clearly showing a significant investment. Guan Rong¡¯s actions were not out of respect for them but rather to make a point to the other people in the Safe Zone, to prevent the Glory Mercenary Corps from being looked down upon. Had Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye truly been just Level 1 superpower users, such a force would have been more than sufficient against them. The mistake Guan Rong made was underestimating Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye¡¯s strengths! Although Cui Ping was a Level 1 superpower user with a Wood Element Superpower and skilled techniques, clearly holding a high position in the Glory Mercenary Corps, as soon as he spoke, the crowd surrounding Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin set into motion. The twenty individuals, though holding submachine guns, did not fire immediately, serving more as a threat. After all, each bullet fired was one less in their supply, and with the apocalypse having just started and resources being scarce, there was no way to open a munitions factory. It was the remaining eighty people who made their move. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had anticipated this and, as Cui Ping began to speak, the two unveiled their weapons. These eighty people were not just for show; they coordinated well. Following Cui Ping¡¯s command, an Earth Element Superpower User and a Water Element Superpower User immediately made their move, turning the ground where Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye stood into a swamp. Yet, their coordination, while smooth and fast, was not faster than Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin. Before the swamp could fully form, Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were already in action. The two transformed into two shadowy figures, moving at a high velocity. The sky had already turned completely dark, and although it wasn¡¯t pitch black, the lighting was very dim. Bai Ye¡¯s Longsword shone with a dazzling golden light in the darkness, and each time the light flashed, someone would emit a dull grunt or scream. Fang Yuxin¡¯s Miao Saber, on the other hand, was black. Because the movements were too rapid and the lighting dim, the others couldn¡¯t even see the shadow of the saber before they felt a chill on their bodies. Using Skills as a superpower user requires a preparation time, and these people, although they didn¡¯t strike immediately, were preparing their Skills in the meantime. But as mere Level 1 superpower users, how could they compare to Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, whose responses were on par with that of a Third-level? In just a short moment, many had their tendons severed and completely lost their ability to fight. Cui Ping, who had been leisurely removing bone fragments from Guan Ren¡¯s wound with tweezers, was startled by the turn of events. He accidentally jabbed the sharp tweezers deep into Guan Ren¡¯s wound, causing Guan Ren to scream wretchedly once more. The second-level superpower user who had decided not to leave the car changed his expression too. He initially thought the two were merely Level 1 superpower users and his team was more than capable of handling them, making it unnecessary for him to take action himself. But he never imagined their speed could be so astonishing! He quickly speculated ¨C could these two be speed superpower users? But no, they were faster than Level 1 speed superpower users! Moreover, their profiles clearly stated they were of the Gold Element and Fire Element! Even if he wasn¡¯t the sharpest tool in the shed, he now understood that the two had concealed their true power! Watching his subordinates fall with cries of pain, cold sweat broke out on his face! It would be one thing if these two were just Level 1 superpower users. After all, there were plenty of Level 1 superpower users in the Safe Zone, and since they were outsiders, it was unlikely anyone would trouble the Glory Mercenary Corps over two Level 1 superpower users. But if they were not Level 1, if they were higher level... With that thought, his eyes fixed on Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye as they moved swiftly. Then, to his horror, he found he couldn¡¯t even see their silhouettes clearly! And when he strained to look at them, he felt an overwhelming fear! What did that imply? It implied that their strength was unquestionably above his own! He didn¡¯t dare to ponder further, hastily reaching for the walkie-talkie to contact Guan Rong, ¡°Brother Guan, we have a serious problem!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 480 - 480 265 Guan Rong Appears (Third Update) ?Chapter 480: 265 Guan Rong Appears! (Third Update) Chapter 480: 265 Guan Rong Appears! (Third Update) Watching this scene, those who felt equally terrified included Li Qingyun in the car, as well as the residents peeking from behind the windows in the surrounding houses! Among them were Li Qingyun¡¯s family members. At first, when they discovered Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were confronting Guan Ren, they maliciously hoped the duo would fall into Guan Ren¡¯s hands and be severely reprimanded. However, they soon realized that it was Guan Ren who was being taught a lesson! That man actually crushed Guan Ren¡¯s wrist directly! What terrifying strength! Who on earth is this man! He even dares to move against Guan Ren! Does he have no regard for his own life! They were, after all, Ordinary People. Seeing that bloody scene, they began to feel overwhelmed. Thinking about Guan Ren¡¯s identity, they were so frightened that their faces turned pale. Li Qingyun was with these two people! If those two were seeking death, why did she go and get involved! Did she not realize she could drag them down with her! She might not care about her life, but they certainly cared about theirs! When those eighteen superpower users charged towards Bai Ye, they all thought Bai Ye would be in trouble this time. Who could have known that he would deal with those eighteen individuals so easily, leaving many completely stunned¡ªafter all, these were superpower users! As two trucks arrived, the onlookers¡¯ hearts were lifted again, watching with great anticipation. They were Ordinary People, and seeing those twenty submachine guns, they all became so scared, their limbs went weak, deeply worried for Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin. Who could have known that right after that, they saw the two turn into indistinct shadows, and those surrounding them ended up falling down bleeding from their hands and feet! My God! Who are these two? Their strength is too terrifying! The people of Li Family, watching this unfold, became incredibly frightened, especially Li Qingyun¡¯s parents, who hadn¡¯t forgotten their previous attitude! They regretted it so much, wishing they had been respectful to the two powerfully skilled superpower users from the beginning! After much thought, they blamed Li Qingyun! If not for her failure to explain properly, how could they have embarrassed themselves like that? Li Qingyun¡¯s mother couldn¡¯t help but wipe the top of her balding head and felt the scalp stinging again. Considering the incredible prowess of the duo, would they kill her? She was terrified. Among them, a middle-aged man with glasses had a slight gleam in his eye, feeling somewhat annoyed. He had previously seen that the two were no ordinary individuals and intended to ingratiate himself, but just after he spoke, that ignorant fool of a woman had ruined the opportunity! If he had known how formidable the duo was, he would have said more pleasant things right then. Fortunately, their relationship with Li Qingyun seemed not bad, so with her presence, the two had to show some respect, right? Thinking this, the middle-aged man began to plan in his mind how he could forge a closer relationship with them and secure some advantages for himself once Li Qingyun brought them upstairs. There were many others stealthily watching the spectacle, their thoughts far less complicated than those of Li Family members. After all, they had no relation to the people below, so naturally, their thoughts were much simpler. No matter who ended up winning, they would have a good show to watch. Of course, there were those who reveled in others¡¯ misfortune, wanting to see Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye get into trouble, or the Glory Mercenary Corps suffer, but there were also quite a few people genuinely worried for Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. Having grown to such a scale, the Glory Mercenary Corps was an almost untouchable force for the Ordinary People within the Safe Zone. Thus, many were concerned that Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, having provoked them, would not end up well. Even Li Qingyun, associated with them, would probably suffer afterward. At the same time, Li Qingyun was also sitting in the car, looking through the window with complex eyes at everything. She had guessed that Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had some cards up their sleeves but never imagined their strength would be so terrifying! Because her awakened superpower was of the supportive type and couldn¡¯t be used in combat, plus being bullied often, she had naturally come to yearn for strength, even dreaming of becoming powerful. However, she didn¡¯t anticipate Fang Yuxin already possessing it! And she had even specifically come here to find her! Li Qingyun clenched her fists tightly. Although she envied Fang Yuxin immensely, she did not harbor any jealous feelings. Being very rational herself, Fang Yuxin had helped her a lot, and now risked danger in coming to see her¡ªif she became jealous just because Fang Yuxin was powerful, that would be truly despicable! Chapter 481 - 481 265 Guan Rong Appears (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 481: 265 Guan Rong Appears! (Third Update)_2 Chapter 481: 265 Guan Rong Appears! (Third Update)_2 She watched, and the weight that was suspended in her heart finally settled. With Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye possessing such abilities, she no longer had to worry about the terrifying retaliation they might face after provoking the Glory Mercenary Corps. Feeling reassured, she began to appreciate the one-sided battle, trying to get a clear view of Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. Unfortunately, since her Awakening was the Mutated Wood Element and her ability was to extract essence from plants, her vision had improved but was far from that of Vision Enhancers or Advanced superpower users. She strained her eyes for a while but was unable to discern the figures of Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. Instead, her overexertion caused a painful sting in her eyes. She quickly closed her eyes, not daring to look any longer. Although Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were engaged in battle, they hadn¡¯t lost their alertness. Fang Yuxin¡¯s Spiritual Sense was surveying everything within a thousand meters radius with precision, not missing even the smallest action of the Second-level Superpower User in the car. However, she didn¡¯t care much; if Guan Rong dared to come, let him! If not, after dealing with this group, there would be no need to wait any longer. Surely, if the Glory Mercenary Corps had retreated, no other forces would have the audacity to block their way! Fang Yuxin glanced at the remaining forty or so people, sneered, and unceremoniously dashed toward them. At the same time, the Second-level Superpower User inside the vehicle finally couldn¡¯t sit still any longer and stormed out with a tense face. He wanted to maintain his demeanor, but the cold sweat on his face and the taut expression betrayed him. He raised his hand and released a volley of Ice Arrows towards Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, while shouting loudly, ¡°I am Chen Hang, vice-captain of the Glory Mercenary Corps¡¯ Cold Ice Team. Could you two stop for a moment and listen to what I have to say?¡± Ha! Who did he think he was? They had already come to blows, and he wanted to stop them? Why should they? Fang Yuxin sneered without paying any heed, while Bai Ye countered the Ice Arrows with a burst of Sword Qi, shattering them instantly. He waved his hand, and dozens of Flying Knives instantly formed in the air, hurtling towards Chen Hang! These Flying Knives were very small, each less than the size of a finger, but their speed was incredibly fast, whistling through the air towards Chen Hang with a piercing sound, their terrifying power evident to everyone around, especially Chen Hang, who was their target! Chen Hang, who had initially only intended to interrupt the fight to prevent further casualties, had inadvertently enraged Bai Ye! He felt as if the air around the Flying Knives was twisting and, in an instant, his face dramatically changed. He conjured a huge Ice Shield, half a meter thick, in front of him, hoping to block the Flying Knives. No sooner had the Ice Shield formed than Chen Hang couldn¡¯t help wiping the cold sweat off his face. Yet just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, his expression changed drastically! Bai Ye hadn¡¯t used his full strength, but even so, it wasn¡¯t something the newly promoted Second-level Superpower User Chen Hang could withstand. As soon as the Flying Knives struck the Ice Wall, the solid ice instantly melted away, and the knives continued their flight towards Chen Hang, only slightly reduced in speed and momentum. In a panic, Chen Hang conjured another Ice Shield, but due to the rush, this shield was only as thick as a palm. The Flying Knives effortlessly pierced through it, and Chen Hang had no more time to create another defense! He instinctively stepped back, eyes widening as dozens of Flying Knives plunged into his body, critically avoiding vital points but some even slicing through the cracks of his bones, severing his joints! The Flying Knives, after passing through his body, continued unabated towards the two medium-sized trucks behind him, and with a loud ¡°bang,¡± the trucks were instantly wrecked! Chen Hang, severely wounded, fell to the ground, losing all support, while the others were completely stunned and filled with horror! They had thought Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye¡¯s display of power was the limit, but Bai Ye¡¯s strike made it crystal clear that his strength was far more terrifying than they had imagined! Chen Hang was a Second-level Superpower User! Yet, he couldn¡¯t even withstand a single move from Bai Ye! After the initial shock, Cui Ping¡¯s complexion drastically changed as he threw Guan Ren aside and rushed towards Chen Hang, carrying a small suitcase. Guan Ren was useless, but Chen Hang was a Second-level Superpower User and could not be allowed to become incapacitated! Soon, all the remaining people also lay on the ground, save for the two superpower users still helping Guan Ren, as well as Cui Ping and the four superpower users guarding him. At that moment, Cui Ping was rapidly healing Chen Hang with his superpower, while his four protectors stood guard in front of them, watching Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye warily, in fear of any sudden move. After witnessing the pair¡¯s dreadful prowess, they didn¡¯t dare entertain the thought of attacking. But with both Chen Hang and Cui Ping being significant figures in the Glory Mercenary Corps... As they contemplated the consequences of their injury, their expressions became solemn. Although the Mercenary Corps had many Level 1 Superpower Users, they couldn¡¯t endure such losses! Thinking of this, the four developed a strong hatred towards Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, the architects of the catastrophe. Yet, their deepest loathing was reserved for Guan Ren, who had been more of a hindrance than a help. He had never caused trouble before, but the moment he did, he had provoked two lethal fighters! In the midst of this tension, a black sedan sped towards them, and before the car had even halted, Guan Rong stepped out. Surveying the scene before him, he felt a surge of blood to his head and almost spat out blood in fury! (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 482 - 482 266 Something is wrong (First update) ?Chapter 482: 266 Something is wrong! (First update) Chapter 482: 266 Something is wrong! (First update) Guan Rong quickly glanced at his subordinates strewn across the ground, noticing that all of them were bleeding from their limbs. It was apparent from their wounds that their tendons were damaged! His pupils dilated suddenly, and then he saw Cui Ping, as well as Chen Hang, whom Cui Ping was desperately trying to treat. Chen Hang was injured all over, lying on the ground, his life hanging by a thread, looking far more critical than the others! Besides, Chen Hang was already a Second-level Superpower User, whose value couldn¡¯t compare to the rest, so Guan Rong rushed over quickly. After a glance at him, he asked Cui Ping anxiously, ¡°How is he? Can you save him?¡± At that moment, Cui Ping was so frantic that his face was covered in sweat, and he had turned deathly pale, no longer possessing the calm and composed demeanor he had before. He was at a critical juncture of saving someone, and if it had been anyone else asking, he wouldn¡¯t have even paid them any mind! But the one asking was Guan Rong, the leader of the Glory Mercenary Corps! Even though he was filled with frustration inside, he still replied, ¡°Brother Guan, Chen Hang¡¯s situation isn¡¯t looking good.¡± He paused here, quickly glancing at Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, who were standing not far away, and continued in a lowered voice, ¡°Brother Guan, these two are very strong. The woman hasn¡¯t used her trump card, and I¡¯m not quite sure how powerful she really is, but that man... Chen Hang was injured by him, and he couldn¡¯t even block a single move! Moreover, he left a destructive force in Chen Hang¡¯s body; unless that force is expelled, the wound simply can¡¯t heal!¡± He had tried already, doing his utmost to help Chen Hang recover from his injuries, but just as Chen Hang¡¯s wounds were about to heal, they suddenly burst open again. After several attempts, he discovered that Chen Hang¡¯s body harbored a destructive power that wasn¡¯t his own, and it was indeed that power preventing the wounds from healing. As long as that power wasn¡¯t expelled, even if Chen Hang¡¯s wounds were to heal, they would just burst open again! It was a complete torture! When Cui Ping thought about this, he couldn¡¯t help but feel afraid. It was a good thing he was just a doctor and didn¡¯t make a move against those two; otherwise, Chen Hang¡¯s fate could have befallen him! And aside from Chen Hang, the condition of the others was also very bad! Cui Ping himself was a top graduate from a medical university, but unfortunately, he had graduated right as the apocalypse occurred. If it wasn¡¯t for Awakening the Wood Element Superpower, he didn¡¯t dare to think about where he would¡¯ve ended up! So he could tell at a glance that the tendons in the hands and feet of the others had been severed, and if they weren¡¯t repaired promptly, these people would be ruined! After all, they were all Level 1 Superpower Users! Even the Glory Mercenary Corps, with its numerous Level 1 Superpower Users, couldn¡¯t sustain such a loss! Once these people became disabled, the strength of Glory would drop significantly, and if other powers decided to kick them while they were down, the status that Glory Mercenary Corps had fought so hard to obtain would no longer be secure! Cui Ping silently watched Guan Rong, his face growing ever paler. Now, the only one who could change all this was Guan Rong! Their Glory Mercenary Corps not only suffered a big loss but also a huge embarrassment. Other people probably didn¡¯t know yet how they were ridiculing them! However, as long as Guan Rong could defeat these two people, everything would change! What he could think of, Guan Rong could naturally think of as well. Before he arrived, although aware that the situation was dire, he didn¡¯t realize how badly things had deteriorated! Not only were two trucks completely destroyed, but more than a hundred subordinates were also crippled! The only thing he was grateful for now was that the opponents had held back, merely crippling his men¡¯s limbs without taking their lives. Otherwise, by the time he arrived, he might have only been able to see their corpses! The tendons of the hands and feet being severed could be healed by a Wood Element Superpower User, and it wasn¡¯t considered a very serious injury, it just temporarily caused loss of mobility. Therefore, Guan Rong actually breathed a sigh of relief; at least everyone was still alive! But then, he thought about it; these two people were extraordinary! Their actions seemed to be just teaching his men a lesson, but on second thought, their approach might well be due to some reservations, not wanting to have a complete fallout with him, let alone make enemies with the entire Safe Zone! After all, the superpower users they had offended from the Mercenary Corps were considered the wealth of the entire Safe Zone. If they had killed these people without any consideration, they wouldn¡¯t just deeply offend the Glory Mercenary Corps, but the other powers would surely not just stand by and watch! Having realized this, Guan Rong shuddered inwardly, becoming more cautious. But at that moment, he heard a pig-slaughter-like howling cry, ¡°Bro! Bro, you¡¯re finally here! I¡¯m dying of pain! Hurry up and let Cui Ping treat my injuries!¡± Chapter 483 - 483 266 Something is wrong (Second update) ?Chapter 483: 266 Something is wrong! (Second update) Chapter 483: 266 Something is wrong! (Second update) Guan Ren screamed in agony and intentionally stretched out his hand for Guan Rong to see. However, his wounds hadn¡¯t healed yet, and the broken bones inside were still not entirely cleared out, and he had long been numbed by the pain. The movement caused the wound to be agitated, suddenly intensifying the pain, and blood that had been temporarily stopped gushed out abruptly. Guan Ren hadn¡¯t expected this, and he was instantly so frightened that he screamed even louder. Unable to bear it any longer, Guan Rong threw a heavy slap across Guan Ren¡¯s face in mid-air. With a loud ¡°snap,¡± Guan Ren, completely unprepared, was thrown backward, and, landing awkwardly, he unfortunately hit his wounded wrist. A ¡°crack¡± sounded as the fragile bones in his arm broke straight away! ¡°Ah!!!!!!!!!!¡± Guan Ren screamed in agony, instinctively rolled on the ground, grabbed his injured arm with his other uninjured hand, and looked up at Guan Rong in terror, unbelievingly exclaiming, ¡°Brother... you... how could you...¡± ¡°You still remember I¡¯m your brother!¡± Guan Rong couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and roared back, eyes fixed dead on Guan Ren, wishing he could tear him apart, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, how could we have gotten into so much trouble!¡± Guan Ren felt Guan Rong¡¯s cold and harsh stare; he wasn¡¯t a fool and could clearly feel Guan Rong¡¯s murderous intent! Guan Rong actually wanted to kill him! Guan Ren was terrified inside, instinctively swallowing the words on the tip of his tongue, not daring to bring it up again. He really wanted to argue¡ªif those people hadn¡¯t been useless, how could they have been annihilated so easily? But he didn¡¯t dare! Guan Rong had never been so unfamiliar; this version of him frightened Guan Ren. He instinctively thought that the more he said, the more mistakes he could make, so he simply chose to say nothing. He knew very well that compared to Guan Rong, he didn¡¯t stand a chance. Guan Rong was smart; he, on the other hand, was very dull, had always struggled in school, and could never grasp those complex human relationships. He couldn¡¯t even speak properly! The moment he opened his mouth, he would offend people! But he wasn¡¯t afraid; before the apocalypse, his family had money, and in his social circle, no one was better than him, so he could behave recklessly without a concern. After the apocalypse, with Guan Rong¡¯s strength, he still lived in his small circle, as long as he didn¡¯t provoke those he shouldn¡¯t, he could still live freely! He knew he was not good with words, and he knew the words he had in mind would anger Guan Rong, so he remained silent. This was the first time he had misjudged, but this one time could ruin him forever! Thinking of the possible consequences, Guan Ren was terrified. He didn¡¯t dare look at Guan Rong again and instinctively glanced over at Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin. This glance made him suddenly realize something. These two had the aura of exceptionally gifted individuals; definitely not someone he should offend. What was he thinking to show them disrespect? No! Something was not right! Guan Ren suddenly remembered that he had come here because someone told him that two strangers had arrived in the Safe Zone, a woman more beautiful than any celebrity he knew, driving a particularly flashy car! His heart raced at the news; he was tired of the people in the Safe Zone, though of course, there were many he couldn¡¯t afford to provoke and could only envy from afar. This time, someone new had come, extremely beautiful and driving the type of car he loved; how could he not be excited! But he wasn¡¯t stupid. Although he was excited at first, he had specifically checked the information about the two newcomers and discovered they were just ordinary Level 1 Superpower Users, which was why he decided to make his move! But after reaching this dilapidated neighborhood, thinking that the two lived here meant they couldn¡¯t be that powerful, and after seeing them in person, he quietly sensed their energy fluctuations using the method Guan Rong had taught him, confirming they were indeed Level 1 Superpower Users, he finally took action! Little did he know that these two were experts in disguise! Moreover, this situation was clearly fishy, no matter how he looked at it, he had been set up! With this thought, Guan Ren didn¡¯t dare dwell on Guan Rong¡¯s murderous intentions toward him, but instead, despite the intense pain in his hand, walked quickly to Guan Rong¡¯s side. As he approached, Guan Rong¡¯s expression grew colder, and his clenched fists trembled as though he might strike at any moment! Guan Ren was terrified, but considering someone might be scheming against the Glory Mercenary Corps, he suppressed his fear, moved closer to Guan Rong, and whispered, ¡°Brother, something¡¯s wrong! I might have been set up! This is a conspiracy against the Glory Mercenary Corps! These two have been concealing their true strength from the start, and... I suspect they were deliberately sent by our rivals to target the Glory Mercenary Corps!¡± He said this partially because he was worried the Glory Mercenary Corps might be being plotted against, but also to lessen his own culpability. If the trouble was his fault, he would be inexcusable! But if this incident was a plot against the Glory Mercenary Corps, then he was merely a pawn, not a heinous criminal. Though not particularly smart, Guan Ren was no fool; in an instant, he came up with this, successfully diverting Guan Rong¡¯s focus from himself. Of course, Guan Rong knew his little tricks, but once Guan Ren mentioned it, he felt there was some sense to his words, so he didn¡¯t dwell on Guan Ren¡¯s motives and instead frowned deeply, pondering who the mastermind behind the scenes might be. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were standing not far away. Initially, they had intended to meet Guan Rong, but after he arrived, he was more concerned with his subordinates and teaching his troublesome little brother a lesson, neglecting them completely! Fang Yuxin glanced at the scattered injured on the ground, not bothering to remind Guan Rong, simply stated, ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything for us, we¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± This statement successfully captured Guan Rong¡¯s attention. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 484 - 484 267 Unfathomable (Second update) ?Chapter 484: 267 Unfathomable! (Second update) Chapter 484: 267 Unfathomable! (Second update) Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye elicited complex emotions in Guan Rong. There was no way he could feel anything but hatred after they had injured so many of his subordinates. Yet, he could see that these two were unlike any adversaries he had encountered before¡ªthey were far more unfathomable! Heh! Unfathomable! Inhaling sharply, Guan Rong never expected he¡¯d face a day like this. If it came down to brute force, he was nearly the strongest in the Safe Zone, confident that he was more powerful than the other big shots there. But these two newcomers were different; he couldn¡¯t see through them at all! Initially preoccupied with the condition of his injured men, he hadn¡¯t scrutinized these two thoroughly. Now that he had, both of them seemed deep and impenetrable! Not just the man who had seriously wounded Chen Hang in one move, but also the beautiful woman beside him¡ªher power seemed to surpass his own! What on earth was happening to this world! A strong sense of surrealism struck Guan Rong, but he was quite certain his perceptions were not mistaken. These two were very strong¡ªso strong that he had to treat them with utmost caution! He had rushed here after receiving Chen Hang¡¯s message. Although he found Chen Hang¡¯s cautious tone rather laughable¡ªat the end of the day, Chen Hang had just advanced to a Second-level Superpower User and was far from matching his power¡ªhe didn¡¯t necessarily share Chen Hang¡¯s opinion about the duo¡¯s prowess. On his way, Guan Rong had imagined how he would swiftly and elegantly defeat them, teach them the consequences of offending the Glory Mercenary Corps, and serve as a warning to others with malicious intentions in the shadows. Who could have guessed that upon his arrival, he would find his own men incapacitated, limbs disabled, sprawled on the ground in disarray, with even the Second-level Superpower User Chen Hang critically injured and covered in blood! This was utterly beyond his expectations! Therefore, his defeat was inevitable from the moment he appeared. Now, due to Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, Guan Rong had to confront them. Upon realizing that their powers were likely superior to his, he changed his initial approach, deciding to extend an olive branch to the pair. Just as Fang Yuxin had surmised, power dynamics within the Safe Zone were complex. Although the Glory Mercenary Corps was formidable, they couldn¡¯t afford significant losses, something Guan Rong couldn¡¯t risk! He didn¡¯t even dare strike back or get injured! If he was critically wounded, he wouldn¡¯t be able to maintain his position at the Glory Mercenary Corps, which would likely be devoured entirely by other forces! Guan Rong was no fool; knowing he was outmatched, how could he make such a foolish move! He stepped forward, cupping one hand in the other before his chest towards Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, and declared with a clear voice, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about what happened on my way over, my brother has offended you both due to his carelessness, and now, he has learned his lesson, and you¡¯ve had your catharsis. Could I ask you both to do Guan a favor and let bygones be bygones? Guan is willing to prepare a banquet to apologize on behalf of my brother!¡± His demeanor was neither servile nor overbearing, containing a hint of sincerity, completely devoid of the sullenness he had shown before when facing Guan Ren. After speaking, Guan Rong watched Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, waiting for their response. He was not too anxious, as the fact that Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye hadn¡¯t killed anyone suggested they didn¡¯t wish to be enemies with the Glory Mercenary Corps. If that was the case, there was still a chance for resolution. Listening to his proposal, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye couldn¡¯t help but admire him somewhat. In the post-apocalyptic world where resources were scarce and Ordinary People could hardly fill their stomachs, only a big shot like Guan Rong could afford such banquets. The Glory Mercenary Corps was large, numbering in the thousands, which meant Guan Rong had considerable resources at his disposal. However, with so many mouths to feed, he likely wouldn¡¯t hold a banquet lightly. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye exchanged a glance, and Bai Ye asked in a low voice, ¡°Xinxin, do you want to go?¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s lips curved into a smile, her eyes alight with mischief, ¡°Go, why not? A free meal shouldn¡¯t be wasted!¡± Bai Ye was amused by her antics and shook his head with a chuckle. They had already eaten, and they weren¡¯t particularly hungry at the moment. However, they had just been through a battle, expending substantial energy, so indulging in a good meal wasn¡¯t a bad idea. After all, the digestive abilities of superpower users were far superior to those of Ordinary People, and their appetites were larger, just like Fang Yuxin said, a free meal shouldn¡¯t be wasted! Bai Ye looked at Fang Yuxin, his gaze filled with an intense affection he didn¡¯t even notice himself. Perhaps it was from spending so much time together that Fang Yuxin had gradually begun to show her softer side around him, no longer keeping a stern face as she used to, which made his heart flutter. Chapter 485 - 485 267 Unfathomable (Second update)_2 ?Chapter 485: 267 Unfathomable! (Second update)_2 Chapter 485: 267 Unfathomable! (Second update)_2 Though the light had already grown dim, Guan Rong, who was almost a level 3 superpower user, could naturally see everything clearly. He noticed that Bai Ye seemed quite interested in Fang Yuxin and thought of why Guan Ren got hurt. He cursed Guan Ren in his mind for what he deserved! Who else was there to provoke, to flirt with a man¡¯s woman right in front of him, if not courting death? If it had been him, he would have been much more ruthless and relentless than Bai Ye! Thinking this way, he suddenly felt that the injuries of his men were acceptable. After all, Bai Ye had already shown much more mercy compared to him. At this moment, four more medium-sized trucks drove in. However, not many people got off the trucks; they first paid their respects to Guan Rong, then cast wary glances at Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, before carrying the injured onto the trucks at Guan Rong¡¯s signal. Guan Rong had a second-level Wood Element superpower user under his command, but he was too precious, and Guan Rong dared not let this person come along, fearing that in the event of a fight, he couldn¡¯t care for him and that individual might get hurt. Thus, the injured could only be taken back to the headquarters of the Glory Mercenary Corps. As he watched the injured being lifted onto the vehicles and the weapons scattered on the ground collected, Guan Rong finally spoke to Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, ¡°I¡¯ve prepared a banquet for you, please get in the vehicle. Let¡¯s go over there.¡± He intended to win the two over and probe their identities to see if they were, as Guan Ren suspected, deliberately setting a trap for the Glory Mercenary Corps in collusion with others. However, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were not appreciative. Without speaking, Bai Ye directly refused, ¡°We will drive our own car there.¡± Guan Rong glanced at a car not far away, finding it indeed a fine vehicle, no wonder that fool Guan Ren was tempted. He sighed inwardly, not insisting, and agreed with a smile. But just as Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye walked to the car, preparing to get in, a middle-aged man wearing glasses suddenly walked out from Building 7, Unit 3, and called from a distance, ¡°It¡¯s great that you two are unharmed! Where¡¯s Qingyun? Let her come out, her parents were worried sick just now but were afraid to come down and bother you.¡± Though his words sounded nice, his eyes kept darting back and forth between Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin, and Guan Rong while he spoke, his gaze flickering with calculation. Fang Yuxin sneered inwardly, the event was over, so why was this person coming out now? Didn¡¯t he just choose this moment to show his presence in front of Guan Rong, seeking to gain some advantage for himself? Did he really think others were fools to let him scheme like this! Fang Yuxin thus bluntly retorted, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Seeing that we didn¡¯t die, you¡¯re in a hurry to come down now that you¡¯ve made peace with squad leader Guan?¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s words were quite impolite. She did it on purpose, to let Guan Rong know they had nothing to do with the Li Family! The middle-aged man was about to greet Guan Rong when Fang Yuxin spoke, and his smile immediately stiffened. He awkwardly tried to smile and responded, ¡°This young lady is quite the joker. I really came out because I¡¯m worried about Qingyun.¡± As he spoke, his eyes continuously peeked in the direction of the car, wishing for Li Qingyun inside to come out and speak for him! Unfortunately, Li Qingyun seemed to have not noticed and just hid inside, not coming out. The glares from Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye, and Guan Rong made him feel on edge, and he couldn¡¯t help calling out, ¡°Qingyun, stop hiding, come out! Your parents are worried about you, at least go and see them.¡± Soon after, the car door opened. The middle-aged man saw Li Qingyun coming out from inside, and his eyes brightened. He immediately said, ¡°Right, Qingyun, these two are your friends, aren¡¯t they? They came especially to find you, and you didn¡¯t introduce us.¡± Just then, Li Qingyun looked up, and she gave the middle-aged man a deep look. Her gaze was as cold as ice and as sharp as a knife, making him at a loss for words! His gaze flickered, and he subconsciously looked away, unable to maintain eye contact with Li Qingyun. Then, he heard Li Qingyun say in an even tone, ¡°Uncle, you don¡¯t have to lie to me. You were terrified just now, weren¡¯t you? My friends managed to provoke the Glory Mercenary Corps, and you were sure it would bring disaster upon you.¡± Li Qingyun was right; she hit the nail on the head regarding the middle-aged man¡¯s real thoughts at the time, putting him in an awkward situation. He instinctively denied, ¡°Qingyun! What are you saying? We¡¯re your closest relatives; how could we think like that?¡± Li Qingyun laughed derisively, ¡°Relatives? Are you sure?¡± She then stopped paying him any attention, sat back in the car, and forcefully closed the door. The middle-aged man had never encountered such an intense rebellion from Li Qingyun before. He was utterly stunned, followed by intense anger! His face turned livid, his facial muscles tensing, and he instinctively wanted to scold her but then he caught sight of Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye, and Guan Rong standing beside him! His face turned pale with fear, the scolding he had prepared stuck in his throat, uncomfortable if not spoken, but possibly lethal if said! At this time, Fang Yuxin spoke up, pleased with Li Qingyun¡¯s attitude and knowing she truly intended to distance herself from these troublesome relatives. She decided to help her by saying, ¡°Squad leader Guan has invited us over as guests, and Qingyun will be joining us. You should head back first.¡± This was dismissive, akin to shooing away a beggar. The middle-aged man¡¯s complexion alternated between red and white, feeling that he had been insulted yet not daring to retort. Then he thought that as long as Li Qingyun could foster ties with squad leader Guan of the Glory Mercenary Corps, they could enjoy the benefits in the future. With squad leader Guan as their connection, who would dare to bully them? Thinking this way, he dared not stop them any longer, even as if he had not heard Li Qingyun¡¯s previous words, and tenderly said a few caring words to her through the car window, then politely waved his hand to Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye, and Guan Rong before turning back. Guan Rong tugged at the corner of his mouth, his smile somewhat cold. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for the recommended tickets and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 486 - 486 268 Peach Blossom Face (3rd Update) ?Chapter 486: 268 Peach Blossom Face (3rd Update) Chapter 486: 268 Peach Blossom Face (3rd Update) Guan Rong was no fool. Occupying his position and managing a mercenary corps of tens of thousands, he had faced countless attempts to strategize against him. How could he not understand the intentions of the middle-aged man from earlier? If that man truly had some relation to Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, he wouldn¡¯t mind showing some favor. However, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye clearly disliked him, and yet he still wanted to plot against Guan Rong¡ªdid the man take him for an idiot? Inside, Guan Rong was already fuming with anger. He understood that he was no match for Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, which was the only reason he had mustered the willpower to suppress his rage and choose to make peace with the two. Now that this person had put himself in the line of fire, how could he indulge him? However, now was certainly not the time to settle accounts. That man called ¡°Qingyun¡± obviously had a good relationship with Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, and the shortsighted man was her uncle. Even if Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye clearly showed their disdain for the man, he couldn¡¯t act against them in front of all three. Once these two troublemakers left, he would have plenty of opportunities! Guan Rong was not in the slightest hurry. After watching Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye get into their car, he also got into his own and led the way. The two cars quickly arrived at the entrance of the residential complex. With Guan Rong, squad leader of the Glory Mercenary Corps present, how could the guards at the door dare to stop them? The cars soon left the complex, driving towards another upscale residential area not far from the next door. The complex had both low-rise villas and high-rise elevator apartments. The main base of the Glory Mercenary Corps was here, occupying four villas and two elevator apartments, with the rest belonging to other forces. The dispute between Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye with the Glory Mercenary Corps had long been heard by all the big shots within the Safe Zone. As they entered the complex, many people were watching keenly. The big shots originally hoped Guan Rong would have a showdown with Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin. No matter who won in the end, both parties were sure to be severely injured, and that would be their chance! But unfortunately for them, while they were shrewd, others were no fools either¡ªnaturally, they wouldn¡¯t just let themselves be manipulated. As Guan Rong made peace with Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, those sly big shots watching in the shadows were deeply disappointed. Soon after, their gears started churning again. Not long after Guan Rong had welcomed Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin into a uniquely designed and lavishly decorated villa, someone came to report that various big shots from the Safe Zone had come to visit, nearly causing Guan Rong to burst a blood vessel in anger! It was one thing for these people to watch the drama from the shadows, but now that he had made peace, they actually wanted to come build relationships. What a savvy calculation! However much Guan Rong disliked the idea, he did not dare offend so many people and had no choice but to invite them in. The living room in the villa was quite spacious, and it didn¡¯t feel crowded even with so many visitors. A total of five people had come, and their presence here indicated that their status was comparable to Guan Rong¡¯s. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, accompanied by Li Qingyun, sat on the side, facing these big shots from the Safe Zone with an air of casual indifference. Seeing this, the big shots were somewhat surprised. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were one matter¡ªtheir strength was apparent. Although their energy fluctuations resembled those of Level 1 Superpower Users, Guan Rong¡¯s polite treatment of them clearly indicated that their strength was on par with his. Their casual attitude wasn¡¯t particularly surprising under the circumstances. But as for Li Qingyun... she was from the Safe Zone! This woman was a real Level 1 Superpower User, not faring well at all, almost bullied to death by a bunch of lowlife parents and relatives at home. Now she was fortunate to sit in front of these big shots from the Safe Zone. What gave her the right to be so casual? If it wasn¡¯t for giving face to Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, what right did she have to sit here? However, although these people were doubtful in their hearts, they would not show it outwardly. Li Qingyun was merely casual in her attitude, not disrespectful to them¡ªhow could they possibly sour their relationship with Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye over such a trifle? Soon enough, they brushed past this matter, shifting their probing to the identities and intentions of Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. If these two, whose strength paralleled Guan Rong¡¯s, chose to stay in the Safe Zone... The skies of the Safe Zone might just change! Whether they formed their own power or joined one of them, it would cause turbulence in the situation of the Safe Zone, and the existing powers would be redistributed! They all hoped to reap major benefits for themselves, but they were even more worried that the two would join others or establish their own force, becoming their adversaries. Chapter 487 - 487 268 Peach Blossom Face (3rd Update)_2 ?Chapter 487: 268 Peach Blossom Face (3rd Update)_2 Chapter 487: 268 Peach Blossom Face (3rd Update)_2 After some probing, these people were all ambiguously unclear in their attitude toward the two. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye could see their concerns and, to avoid more trouble, Bai Ye simply said, ¡°We¡¯ve only come here to look for someone, and now that we¡¯ve found them, we¡¯ll naturally leave.¡± His words seemed to alleviate the big shots¡¯ worries. However, hearing that they would soon leave, the big shots couldn¡¯t help but feel regretful. Besides Guan Rong, although the others were strong, they were not as powerful as Guan Rong. They all admired Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, who seemed capable of challenging Guan Rong, and hoped to recruit them. It was a pity such experts could not be employed by them ¨C an undeniable regret! Nevertheless, the regret was fleeting; for them, the departure of Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Once their concerns were relieved, the conversation became more relaxed. Fang Yuxin, impatient with dealing with these people, left everything to Bai Ye while she aimlessly admired the villa¡¯s decorations. Guan Rong, always the shrewd one, saw her boredom and promptly whispered instructions to a subordinate, nudging him to speed up the banquet preparation. Soon enough, someone came to announce that the banquet was ready. Guan Rong quietly breathed a sigh of relief and invited everyone to the dining hall. By the time they arrived, the dining hall had already been arranged with a large circular table, covered with a golden brocade tablecloth, and full of dishes presented in a refined manner ¨C undoubtedly the work of professional chefs. Fang Yuxin glanced over and noticed that the dishes were lavish, not only featuring poultry and meats but also delicacies such as sea cucumbers, shark fins, and bird¡¯s nests. There were also rare mountain delicacies and vegetables. Even before the apocalypse, these ingredients would have been a rare treat for Ordinary People. Now, in the apocalypse, these items were even more scarce. The drinks on the table were also of excellent quality, belonging to a class that was reserved for special supplies before the apocalypse. Once opened, the aroma was enticing, and the male big shots in the room couldn¡¯t help but reveal a hint of drooling desire. Clearly, even for them, such food was rarely enjoyed. It wasn¡¯t that they lacked such items, but that there was only so much to go around. After all, they couldn¡¯t consume everything themselves; whether for showcasing stature or for forming connections, they had to save some and couldn¡¯t indulge recklessly. Other leaders greedily inhaled the aroma of the alcohol, looking at Guan Rong with meaningful smiles. They all moved in the same circles and knew Guan Rong well enough, not to say they knew all his secrets, but they were sure that Guan Rong had made a significant sacrifice by bringing out so much good stuff this time! Yet upon further thought, they felt a chill and began to speculate about the true strength of Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin. Initially, they thought the two¡¯s skills might be on par with Guan Rong¡¯s, since Guan Rong wouldn¡¯t have settled so easily without a fight otherwise, likely fearing mutual destruction which could benefit the rest of them. But... if Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were merely equivalent in strength to Guan Rong, would he be so generous with them? They often interacted with Guan Rong but had never seen him be so liberal before! This realization sent a shiver down their spines! Recalling their own calculations about the two, they were immensely relieved. Thankfully Guan Rong¡¯s behavior had put them on guard! Thankfully, they hadn¡¯t used any of their schemes yet! Otherwise... Contemplating the potential consequences, they broke out in a cold sweat! Guan Rong, too, was stealthily observing them, noting their flickering eyes and pale faces, with foreheads beading with sweat ¨C he couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly, ¡°A bunch of foxes!¡± He would have loved for these people to really do something to the pair, so he could enjoy watching their downfall. Unfortunately, it was clear they weren¡¯t fools and wouldn¡¯t fall for it! Gazing upon the table laden with delicacies, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly. The big shots¡¯ guesses were correct; pulling out so many valuable items had indeed cost him greatly! Moreover, his attitude had even allowed these bastards to infer the actual strength of the two. But what could he do? Having offended them, and having invited them, he couldn¡¯t lose face by not serving a splendid meal! The two were obviously not Ordinary People and were accustomed to fine things ¨C if he showed a lackluster attitude, wouldn¡¯t that offend them even more? These thoughts remained unexpressed, and he bottled up his frustration while earnestly toasting Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin. Since Fang Yuxin could drink baijiu, she didn¡¯t slight Guan Rong and had a little sip. But alcohol always went straight to her face. After barely drinking a small sip, her complexion turned rosy, and her eyes were veiled with a layer of mist, making her look even more like a peach blossom with autumnal eyes. She was naturally beautiful, and after Cultivation, all impurities had been expelled from her body, leaving her skin as smooth as porcelain, and delicate features highlighted ¨C her beauty enhanced more than before. All the big shots were men of power. Used to being around women of quality, they compared those women to Fang Yuxin and shockingly found none could match her. As the saying goes, heroes falter at the beauty¡¯s barrier; previously, they remembered Fang Yuxin¡¯s notable strength and dared not neglect her, but after a few drinks, they lost some control over themselves and gazed foolishly at Fang Yuxin. Fortunately, they were not Ordinary People; although their gazes were a bit infatuated, they were not offensive, so they didn¡¯t provoke too much disdain. Even so, Bai Ye was close to exploding with anger! With a tighten of his fingers, there was a ¡°crack¡± sound ¨C the exquisite White Jade Wine Glass shattered in his grip! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it by giving monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 488 - 488 269 Call for Help (First Update) ?Chapter 488: 269 Call for Help (First Update) Chapter 488: 269 Call for Help (First Update) The crisp ¡°snap¡± instantly brought those almost unruly big shots back to their senses. They quickly glanced at Bai Ye, whose face was ashen, and the White Jade Wine Glass in his hand, and were frightened by his appearance. They hurriedly averted their gaze, daring not to look again. Cold sweat slid down Guan Rong¡¯s forehead as he hastily said, ¡°Someone! Bring a wine glass over!¡± Yet Bai Ye suddenly stood up. ¡°No need, my companion is drunk. Thank you, Squad Leader Guan, for your hospitality. We shall take our leave.¡± After he spoke, he slightly bent down to grasp Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand and whispered in her ear, ¡°You¡¯re drunk. Let¡¯s leave this place now.¡± Fang Yuxin had obviously not drunk too much; even before the apocalypse, her drinking capacity, though not great, was not to the extent of getting drunk from one glass. Afterward, as she became a Pure Wood Spirit Body and embarked on the path of cultivation, it became even harder for her to get drunk. She glanced at Bai Ye and saw what seemed like a terrifying black storm brewing in his eyes. Although they hadn¡¯t known each other for a long time, she understood at this moment that he was angry, very angry indeed. Fang Yuxin slightly furrowed her brows. She actually felt a bit hungry, and the dishes here were quite good, a pity not to eat them. However, Bai Ye was obviously irritated. She hesitated but decided to go along with Bai Ye¡¯s will and nodded. Li Qingyun hadn¡¯t had time to eat yet, only had a glass of drink. She had been busy all day, only had some food in the morning and at noon to fill her stomach, and now she was terribly hungry, but she said nothing. Seeing that Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were about to leave, she stood up without hesitation. Seeing the situation turning bad, Guan Rong could tell that Bai Ye was clearly jealous. He didn¡¯t dare to keep them any longer and said, ¡°Wait a moment! You haven¡¯t had the chance to eat yet. How about I have someone prepare some food for you to take on the road?¡± This time Bai Ye did not refuse. Guan Rong clearly intended to please him and was testing his reaction. If Bai Ye rejected the offer, it might lead these people to overthink. It was better to simply agree; it wasn¡¯t like he would lose anything. In the apocalypse, unlike during peacetime, food was extremely precious. Not to mention that he wouldn¡¯t be polite to Guan Rong, even the other big shots present would definitely not be shy if they could take something with them! There was absolutely no question of losing face. Playing the fool to give the impression of being well off was idiotic! Seeing Bai Ye nod, Guan Rong immediately felt relieved, as did the other big shots. Guan Rong quickly gave the order, and soon, someone came out carrying a large food box. The food box was quite large with a rather classic design, probably from a specialty restaurant. Bai Ye took it with one hand, nodded to Guan Rong and the other big shots, and then left with Fang Yuxin. Li Qingyun followed them expressionlessly. After they left the villa, she finally let out a long sigh. The three got into the car, left the neighborhood, and found a secluded roadside to stop. They set up the food box on a table and chairs and started to eat with clean chopsticks. All three being superpower users, and since they were still in the Safe Zone, they finished their meal quickly. Before long, they had cleaned out all the dishes in the food box. Fang Yuxin thought the food box was quite pretty and couldn¡¯t bear to throw it away, so she put it in the back seat of the car. She checked the time and saw that it was already past ten at night, which made her frown. Li Qingyun sighed and said, ¡°It¡¯s already so late. Xinxin, the gate to the Safe Zone won¡¯t be open at this hour. Let¡¯s find a place to rest for the night and leave tomorrow morning.¡± This was contrary to Fang Yuxin¡¯s initial expectation. She had thought that if Li Qingyun refused to leave after they found her, she would simply bid farewell with Bai Ye. If Li Qingyun wanted to leave, she would take her away. Unfortunately, she hadn¡¯t expected to encounter that fool Guan Ren and get into a conflict with the Glory Mercenary Corps. Although the matter was later resolved and both sides shook hands in peace, it had wasted their time. Bai Ye gently patted her shoulder to comfort her. ¡°Let¡¯s do that. It¡¯s very late now, and even if we go out, there would be many zombies outside.¡± Zombies were more active at night and would approach the Safe Zone. If they tried to leave now, even if they managed to have the gate opened, they would face a vast group of zombies, which really wouldn¡¯t be worth it. Hearing this, Fang Yuxin also knew that now was not a good time to leave. She sighed resignedly and said to Li Qingyun, ¡°In that case, please take us to a hotel here.¡± Chapter 489 - 489 269 Call for Help (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 489: 269 Call for Help (First Update)_2 Chapter 489: 269 Call for Help (First Update)_2 Li Qingyun thought for a moment and said, ¡°It¡¯s not far from here, there is a Li Yun District, and the housing conditions there are quite good. Many superpower users choose to rent there. All the houses there are daily rentals, and the rent is not too high. Let¡¯s go there.¡± Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, unfamiliar with the area, nodded in agreement after hearing this. They drove quickly to the Li Yun District mentioned by Li Qingyun. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye glanced at it, and from the outside, there seemed to be nothing unusual, leaving them curious about the condition inside. The entrance of this district was also guarded, with three times more personnel than the one where Li Qingyun lived. The entrance fee was even higher ¨C without an ID card, each person had to pay three Basic-level Crystal Cores, making a total of nine. Fang Yuxin paid the Crystal Cores and asked the guard about the rental place, then they went straight in. The rental area was not far from the entrance, located in the first building inside the gate. The sign was hung on the first-floor balcony, probably for visibility to all passersby. When the three of them approached, the balcony emitted a faint orange-yellow light, not like electric lights, more like candles. ¡°Is anyone there? We would like to rent a place,¡± Li Qingyun called out. Before long, they heard someone yawn and then, with a ¡®swoosh,¡¯ curtains were pulled open, and a woman stood inside behind the safety bars. After glancing at them lazily, she asked, ¡°What kind of house do you want to rent?¡± Li Qingyun glanced at Fang Yuxin, who then said, ¡°A three-bedroom, as long as it is clean.¡± The woman yawned again and then said, ¡°I know, it¡¯s in this building, room 702 on the 7th floor. Thirty Basic-level Crystal Cores for one night. If you want it, hand over the Cores, and I will give you the key.¡± Thirty Crystal Cores were not a lot for them, but with such pricing, ordinary superpower users probably couldn¡¯t afford it. Without hesitation, Fang Yuxin counted out thirty Basic-level Crystal Cores, showed them to the woman, and asked, ¡°The key?¡± The woman was surprised at their directness, sizing them up. However, she was efficient, and while sizing them up, she didn¡¯t forget to take out the key. Both sides exchanged the Crystal Cores for the key, and Fang Yuxin nodded to her, then along with Bai Ye and Li Qingyun, they headed toward the staircase. The building was equipped with an elevator, but unfortunately, due to tight electricity supply, the elevator couldn¡¯t be used. They had to climb the stairs, and it was already late. The stairwell was silent, without any noise. They reached the 7th floor and stopped in front of room 702, used the key to open the door, and Fang Yuxin took out a LED flashlight from her bag. She discovered that the room was decorated in a Mediterranean style¡ªboth cozy and romantic. The decorations looked relatively new, probably done within the past year. This place had apparently hardly been lived in after the apocalypse and seemed clean, just a bit musty from being vacant. Fang Yuxin used the Dust Cleaning Technique; Li Qingyun and Bai Ye only noticed a sudden breeze in the room, then the foul smell disappeared and the air became fresh. They didn¡¯t open the windows and cautiously locked the door after entering. Fang Yuxin set up a Formation on the doors and windows, then went into the bathroom, fetched a large bucket of water from the space, quickly took a shower and changed into clean clothes, then fetched two more large buckets of water, and said to Bai Ye and Li Qingyun, ¡°I¡¯ve prepared two buckets of clean water for you in the bathroom. Go take your showers.¡± After speaking, she went directly into the master bedroom. The three-bedroom apartment featured beds in all rooms, varying in design but identical in size. The master bedroom was slightly better furnished than the other bedrooms, but that was the only significant difference. They had previously assigned the rooms, giving the master bedroom to Fang Yuxin, while Bai Ye and Li Qingyun each took one of the other bedrooms. After entering her room, Fang Yuxin remade the bed, placed her own pillow, and upon lying down, couldn¡¯t help but exhale a long breath. Although she no longer needed to sleep, since they couldn¡¯t go out at the moment, instead of uncomfortably squeezing into a car for Cultivation, it was better to find a place for a good sleep. Her Cultivation had reached the Peak of Qi Refining Late Stage, and she wasn¡¯t yet able to begin Foundation Establishment. Hastily cultivating was useless; she might as well lie down calmly and sleep, perhaps she might succeed in Foundation Establishment in a moment of insight. Fang Yuxin laughed at her own naive thought, pulled up the thin quilt, smelling the faint tea aroma on the pillow, sighed contentedly, and closed her eyes. After Li Qingyun finished her shower, Bai Ye went into the bathroom. The amenities were limited, so they washed with cold water, avoiding the use of water-wasteful products like shower gel, thus there were no mist or fragrance in the bathroom. Bai Ye quickly showered and while coming out, couldn¡¯t help but look toward the master bedroom, thinking of Fang Yuxin sleeping inside. He suddenly felt a bit thirsty and hot. The next moment, he was stunned by the images in his mind, blushed, cursed himself, and quickly entered his room, closing the door behind him before collapsing on the bed. The bed was covered with a layer of cool mat, its slight coolness calming his agitated body. Bai Ye angrily ruffled his wet hair, for the first time feeling disgust at himself. The night was cool as water, and the surroundings were very quiet, not even the chirping of insects could be heard, as if the entire district had sunk into sleep. Yet in a corner of the Safe Zone¡¯s shantytown, a person was standing in front of a house, urgently knocking on the door, shouting, ¡°Sister Zhao! Sister Zhao! Please come out! Please save us! Sister Zhao, I beg you!¡± (. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 490 - 490 270 Taken Away (Second Update) ?Chapter 490: 270 Taken Away (Second Update) Chapter 490: 270 Taken Away (Second Update) It wasn¡¯t long before the door was flung open from the inside. The room was unlit, appearing pitch-black at first glance, with only a vague silhouette visible. Without much thought, the person at the door rushed forward and grabbed the other¡¯s hand with a strong grip, causing the latter to frown and say unhappily, ¡°Let go! Why are you grabbing so hard? Are you trying to kill someone?¡± Judging by the voice, the speaker was a young man. The person at the door paused and asked, ¡°You¡¯re not Sister Zhao, are you her nephew?¡± Zhao Liang subconsciously nodded, forcefully pulling his hand away and squinting into the dim light coming from outside the house. He asked in surprise, ¡°Are you... Zhou Zhou? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?¡± His question jogged Zhou Zhou¡¯s mind, and he instinctively reached out for Zhao Liang¡¯s hand again, which Zhao Liang dodged. Zhou Zhou then said anxiously, ¡°Zhao Liang! Is Sister Zhao here? Can you get her? Fang is in trouble! Sister Zhao has to help me!¡± Hearing this, Zhao Liang furrowed his brows again. He remembered that Fang was Zhou Zhou¡¯s girlfriend, tall and slim with a pretty face¡ªa real beauty. How could she be in trouble? A thought flashed across Zhao Liang¡¯s mind, souring his expression. Though spoiled by his parents and naive from his university education, Zhao Liang had a strong sense of justice. Once he had his suspicion, anger ignited within him. Just then, Zhao Yan emerged from inside the house. Upon seeing her, Zhou Zhou immediately pushed past Zhao Liang and ran to her, grabbing her arm and pleading, ¡°Sister Zhao, Fang is in trouble! Please help me!¡± His grip was so tight in his urgency that it hurt Zhao Yan, who said calmingly, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, tell me what happened exactly. Wasn¡¯t Fang with you? How did she get into trouble?¡± This made Zhou Zhou¡¯s chaotic thoughts finally settle, and he blurted out quickly, ¡°Fang was taken by the guards at the shanty area! Sister Zhao, you know how pretty Fang is; she... she must be in trouble now.¡± His voice broke in agony. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault! I¡¯m useless! I couldn¡¯t protect her! Sister Zhao, I¡¯m begging you, please help me save her, I¡¯m kneeling down for you!¡± He was about to kneel, but Zhao Yan caught his arms tightly, preventing him. Zhao Yan said, ¡°A man¡¯s knees are precious; don¡¯t just kneel so casually, I can¡¯t bear that! You know as well as I do, I¡¯m just... What help can I offer? I heard the guards there are at least Level 1 Superpower Users; even if I went, it would be useless.¡± Her brows knitted tightly together. Being a woman and a mother herself, she detested the idea of Fang being forcefully taken, but she knew better than anyone that her own intervention would be futile! She had only just awakened her superpowers and still hadn¡¯t figured out how to use them properly. Currently, she could only produce some small fireballs¡ªno match for those Level 1 superpower users! However, as she was agonizing over this, Zhao Liang suddenly spoke up, ¡°Aunt, why don¡¯t we... ask those two for help? Aren¡¯t they also Level 1 Superpower Users? Surely the guards here have to give them some face, right?¡± With Zhao Liang¡¯s suggestion, hope sparked in Zhou Zhou¡¯s eyes, grasping at it like a lifeline, and he murmured, ¡°Yes... yes, they can definitely help! But¡ªSister Zhao!¡± He called out, looking at Zhao Yan and saying, ¡°Sister Zhao, could you at least go and see, even if you can¡¯t rescue Fang, at least... at least you could deter them from hurting her? I... I¡¯ll go ask those two elders for help.¡± Hearing this, Zhao Yan¡¯s expression suddenly turned cold. She gave her reckless nephew a stern look, then turned to Zhou Zhou and asked, ¡°Do you know where they are staying? How to find them? Besides, why should they help us?¡± Zhou Zhou, sensing the shift in Zhao Yan¡¯s attitude, was unsure why she reacted that way, yet he still stubbornly said, ¡°After all... after all, we came here together, helping each other is only natural, right? Besides, without them, how could we... how could we have possibly come to the Safe Zone, and how could Fang have been captured...¡± Feeling Zhao Yan¡¯s gaze growing colder, his voice gradually lowered. However, Zhao Yan scoffed, looking at Zhou Yan and then glancing at her nephew, she asked him, ¡°Zhao Liang, do you think so too?¡± Chapter 491 - 491 270 Taken Away (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 491: 270 Taken Away (Second Update)_2 Chapter 491: 270 Taken Away (Second Update)_2 Zhao Liang¡¯s instinct was to say ¡°yes,¡± but under the cold gaze of Zhao Yan, he knew something was off, even if he were a fool. He suddenly remembered the instructions Zhao Yan had given him after her Awakening, thinking of how she had said those two were their saviors. He could not be an ingrate¡ªan ungrateful wolf¡ªor cause them any more trouble. A cold sweat broke out on his back! At that moment, he understood that Zhao Yan clearly thought Zhou Zhou¡¯s statement was wrong. Luckily, he hadn¡¯t nodded, or else... Seeing that Zhao Liang remained silent, Zhao Yan pressed, ¡°Xiao Liang, why aren¡¯t you saying anything? What are you really thinking?¡± Zhao Liang guiltily glanced at Zhou Zhou and said to Zhao Yan, ¡°Aunt! Of course, I wouldn¡¯t think that way.¡± As he said this and saw Zhou Zhou¡¯s complexion turning unsightly, he quickly added, ¡°But Aunt, Fang was indeed taken away. She¡¯s a young lady, and if those scoundrels took advantage... we must think of a way to save her! But now, only those two can help us!¡± When Zhou Zhou heard Zhao Liang¡¯s denial, he was initially filled with indignation, but seeing Zhao Liang ultimately speaking in his favor, he seized the opportunity and said, ¡°Yes, Sister Zhao! I really had no other choice! Thinking of Fang... of her being defiled by those beasts, it just tears my heart apart!¡± He knelt down again, grabbed Zhao Yan¡¯s leg, and pleaded, ¡°Sister Zhao! Sister Zhao, please help her!¡± Zhao Yan sighed. She, of course, wanted to save Fang, but she understood all too well that those two were not people to be trifled with. Their generosity had exhausted its limits with these people. If they troubled them further, it would truly be taking an inch and wanting a mile! She pulled Zhou Zhou to his feet and asked, ¡°Where do you plan to find them?¡± Just that one simple question stopped Zhou Zhou dead in his tracks. Indeed, where would he go to find them? He didn¡¯t even know where those two lived! Everyone resided in shantytowns, and though the incident with Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye was widely known, aside from the people in their neighborhood and the big shots of the Safe Zone, not many others were aware of it¡ªthe news was suppressed by the Glory Mercenary Corps. The spread of such information might tarnish the reputation and standing of the Glory Mercenary Corps, so Guan Rong naturally wouldn¡¯t allow it. Thus, Zhao Yan and Zhou Zhou still didn¡¯t know about the trouble Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had caused. If they had known, they wouldn¡¯t need to find them¡ªjust by mentioning their names, people wouldn¡¯t dare to touch them lightly. Not to mention their ignorance of where the two lived even if they did know, they wouldn¡¯t be able to meet them! They hadn¡¯t even gotten their ID Cards processed yet¡ªthey couldn¡¯t even afford the entry fee! Moreover, with the late hour, they couldn¡¯t roam freely in the Safe Zone nor could they leave the shantytown! Zhou Zhou had been too anxious and overlooked this matter. After Zhao Yan pointed it out, his complexion quickly turned pale, and he sat down on the ground in despair, grabbing his hair and crying. Zhao Yan sighed and hesitated before saying, ¡°Let¡¯s do this, I¡¯ll go with you and ask. They can¡¯t just take someone away without an explanation.¡± Zhou Zhou had already lost hope, but hearing Zhao Yan offer help, he gratefully looked at her and together, they went to inquire about the situation. Zhao Liang wanted to follow, but Zhao Yan didn¡¯t trust him to speak properly. She told him not to come along. Dissatisfied, Zhao Liang glared fiercely at Zhao Yan before reluctantly staying at home. They lived in the shantytown, newly constructed by Earth Element Superpower Users. The houses were squat and cramped, arranged in close rows with only a two-meter-wide walkway between them. There was a duty station on the outskirts of the shantytown, a resting place specially prepared for the patrolling guards. According to Zhou Zhou, Fang was taken there. Zhao Yan followed him all the way, the night providing scant illumination. The shantytown houses were pitch-black, lights seeming nonexistent. Yet, ambiguous moans emanated from several houses, making the brows of both Zhao Yan and Zhou Zhou furrow tightly. In the apocalypse, with harsh living conditions, people¡¯s nerves were taut, naturally requiring outlets for venting and relief. Hence, many sought solace in carnal pleasures to dispel the bitterness and overwhelming stress in their hearts. Zhao Yan and Zhou Zhou were aware of this, but with one being older and the other having his girlfriend taken, the possibility of Fang¡¯s experience, combined with the sounds they heard, made it hard for them to bear. Zhou Zhou¡¯s expression grew increasingly grim. His face taut, he quickened his pace, the steps becoming faster and faster. Zhao Yan cast a worried glance at him but was unable to utter a word. Soon, they saw the duty station not far ahead. The window emitted an orange glow, and this place was the only one with lights still on. Zhou Zhou¡¯s eyes brightened and he hastened his stride, but as they were five meters from the duty station, a shadow suddenly burst out, gun pointed at them, and barked, ¡°Who are you? What are you doing out here at this hour? Speak!¡± Zhou Zhou¡¯s expression changed, instinctively wanting to speak, but Zhao Yan stopped him. She said, ¡°My niece was taken into that duty station by your people. I just want to know what¡¯s going on here. You can¡¯t just kidnap someone without cause, can you?¡± The darkness obscured the other¡¯s face, and she couldn¡¯t help feeling worried. However, just when Zhao Yan thought the man wouldn¡¯t respond, he actually scoffed and disdainfully said, ¡°Your niece, that Fang girl? She came here of her own free will. Don¡¯t you know?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°This is impossible!¡± Zhao Yan and Zhou Zhou cried out in shock! (To be continued. If you like this work, please head to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 492 - 492 271 I look down on you (Third update) ?Chapter 492: 271 I look down on you! (Third update) Chapter 492: 271 I look down on you! (Third update) The other party seemed enraged and exclaimed, ¡°I am not lying! If you don¡¯t believe it, go and listen for yourself!¡± Hearing this, Zhao Yan and Zhou Zhou¡¯s expressions turned very ugly, both worried about Fang, fearing she had been coerced. At the same time, Zhao Yan felt a growing unease. She glanced at Zhou Zhou subtly and nodded towards the man: ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll go with you.¡± Regardless, this was an opportunity they couldn¡¯t miss! The man scoffed disdainfully and said offhandedly, ¡°Follow me.¡± After saying that, he pointed his gun at them, signaling them to walk ahead. Zhao Yan and Zhou Zhou saw how cautious he was and dared not make any sudden moves. After all, bullets do not have eyes! As they walked, the man said, ¡°You two must be new here, right? No wonder you don¡¯t get it. This kind of thing happens all the time here. Some people can¡¯t handle the hardships and just think about climbing up the ladder,¡± he snorted. His tone was very dismissive, yet he seemed to regard it as normal. Listening to this, Zhao Yan felt even more uneasy. She subconsciously looked at Zhou Zhou, but the light was too dim to see the expression on his face. She sighed in her heart and subconsciously grabbed Zhou Zhou¡¯s hand to prevent him from doing anything rash later on. The guard led them to the duty room, where two other armed men stood watch outside. Upon seeing them, the guards became alert. One of them asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why are you bringing them here?¡± The man laughed contemptively and explained, ¡°The woman inside is with them. They insisted she was taken by force, but I said she came willingly, and they didn¡¯t believe it, so I let them come to see for themselves. Open the window.¡± Hearing that, the two guards looked at Zhao Yan and Zhou Zhou with a gaze that had a trace of pity, which made Zhao Yan¡¯s unease grow. At that moment, one guard pulled something on the wall, opening a small window, and the voices from the duty room began to filter out. The first sounds were the ambiguous moans of a woman and the heavy breathing of a man, followed by voices speaking. ¡°Brother Zhuang... Brother Zhuang... are... are you... still... satisfied?¡± The woman¡¯s voice was intermittent, mingled with moans and panting. The man¡¯s voice sounded cold and disinterested: ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± The woman then said, ¡°Then... then... do I... do I pass... can I... follow you...¡± Her words dissolved into a series of moans again. The man laughed nastily: ¡°Just doing this is not enough; you¡¯ve still got to work harder.¡± He then laughed smugly. Zhou Zhou¡¯s face turned red with anger, and he moved as if he wanted to burst into the room, but Zhao Yan held him back firmly. Meanwhile, the guard pushed the small window shut. The duty room¡¯s exterior wall was specially made, with excellent sound insulation. Once the window was closed, no sound came out, nor could any sound from outside get in. Zhou Zhou began to shout in rage, ¡°Let me in! Let me in! Fang! Fang! I¡¯ll save you! Fang!¡± He broke down, unable to contain his emotions any longer, and cried out in anguish, ¡°Fang! Wait for me to save you!¡± Unfortunately, his voice could not be heard by those inside. Upon witnessing this, the three guards exchanged glances, and one spoke up, ¡°We¡¯re not letting you in for your own good. The man inside is not someone you can afford to provoke, and let me tell you the truth, that woman voluntarily wants to be with Brother Zhuang. If you¡¯re seeking death, go ahead!¡± Zhou Zhou stopped crying and looked at the three guards suspiciously: ¡°You really would let me go in?¡± The three men nodded, their attitudes quite dismissive, clearly not taking him seriously. They were all Level 1 Superpower Users, and it was easy to see that Zhou Zhou was just an ordinary person, no match for Brother Zhuang, let alone capable of hurting him! Brother Zhuang had a capricious temper. If this guy really barged in, it might even amuse Brother Zhuang. If he wanted to rush in to his death, why should they stop him and play the villain? Zhou Zhou decided to go in but was held back tightly by Zhao Yan, who warned him in a low voice, ¡°Zhou Zhou! Think carefully! What did Fang say just now? She... she probably really wants to be with that man inside. Why degrade yourself by going in!¡± Zhou Zhou, of course, was not receptive to such words. He turned to look at Zhao Yan painfully and pleaded, ¡°Sister Zhao, please let me go in. If I don¡¯t see it for myself, I won¡¯t accept it! Fang... she wasn¡¯t like this before! She had promised to share joys and sorrows with me, how could she... turn out like this...¡± Zhao Yan saw that his mind was made up and simply stopped trying to interfere, sighing as she let go of his hand. The moment her hand relaxed, Zhou Zhou rushed in, pushing open the heavy door and entering. As the door swung open, Zhao Yan heard the ambiguous noises from inside the room once more. She furrowed her brows tightly and then the door was closed from the inside by Zhou Zhou. She couldn¡¯t help thinking that this person probably didn¡¯t want the sounds from inside to be heard by those outside. The noises from within the room were not at all isolated; unless the door or a window was opened, the sounds couldn¡¯t escape at all. Zhao Yan sighed internally but suddenly felt something was off! She remembered that when Zhou Zhou had closed the door, his face was facing hers, and there was something terribly wrong with his complexion! Could it be that he... Zhao Yan¡¯s heart skipped a beat and, reckless of the consequences, she stepped forward and pushed the door open. Just as she did, she heard Zhou Zhou¡¯s angry voice from inside: ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Then followed a ¡°click¡± of a crisp sound and a ¡°thud¡± of a dull impact. She had no time to panic when she saw Zhou Zhou flying backward out of the room, crashing to the ground. Zhao Yan jumped in surprise and rushed over, just in time to see Zhou Zhou¡¯s body twitching nonstop as blood froth gushed continuously from his mouth. Zhao Yan knelt down and heard Zhou Zhou¡¯s faint voice from his lips: ¡°Ah... Fang... Ah... Ah Fang...¡± Unable to help herself, her eyes reddened. Meanwhile, three guards, also alerted by the commotion, rushed in. The person from inside the room didn¡¯t come out but coldly said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, get out!¡± Zhao Yan clenched her fists in rage. She didn¡¯t rush in impulsively because she still had a nephew to look after. Instead, she yelled out loudly, ¡°Fang! Zhou Zhou is dying! He keeps on calling your name. If you still have any heart left, come out and see him for one last time!¡± It was a while before Fang¡¯s indifferent voice came from inside: ¡°Sister Zhao, Zhou Zhou¡¯s death is his own doing, and it has nothing to do with me! You better leave quickly, don¡¯t make Brother Zhuang angry anymore.¡± Zhao Yan hadn¡¯t expected Fang to respond like that. Hesitating for a second, she gritted her teeth and walked toward the room. Reaching the doorway, she could see the room¡¯s disarray. Her gaze turned to Fang and met her eyes directly. Fang clearly hadn¡¯t expected her to dare to enter and her face became flustered for a moment before she turned away, leaning towards the man beside her and cooing, ¡°Be careful, Brother Zhuang! This old woman is a superpower user! She can set things on fire!¡± The man she called ¡°Brother Zhuang¡± was in his thirties with a muscular build and formidable presence. He glanced at Zhao Yan, surprised to find a middle-aged woman coming in, but he didn¡¯t attack her directly. He simply sized up Zhao Yan and, after sensing the energy fluctuations around her, said, ¡°You¡¯ve just awakened, haven¡¯t you? You¡¯re quite lucky but your talent is poor and you¡¯re getting on in years, so your future development will be limited.¡± Zhao Yan couldn¡¯t tell if he was angry by looking at his face, so she decided not to engage with him, just glaring fiercely at Fang snuggled up beside him and said disdainfully, ¡°Fang, I never thought you were this kind of person. I despise you! Ptui!¡± Spitting on the ground, she turned and walked away, not fearing that Brother Zhuang would attack her. Frightened by the hatred in Zhao Yan¡¯s eyes, Fang grew pale and clutched Brother Zhuang¡¯s arm, saying, ¡°Brother Zhuang! You must kill her quickly! Don¡¯t be fooled by this old woman¡¯s recent Awakening; she knows two powerful superpower users. If she goes and complains to them, they... they will definitely come looking for trouble!¡± In fact, she was afraid of Zhao Yan¡¯s revenge after leaving this place. Hearing this, Brother Zhuang¡¯s expression shifted slightly, and he turned his head to stare intently at Fang, ¡°You just said... two powerful superpower users? What kind of people are they?¡± Fang thought of Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, a flash of resentment crossing her eyes swiftly. She would¡¯ve preferred to charm the handsome Bai Ye, but he didn¡¯t give her any attention at all, and Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze was so cold it could freeze someone, causing her great fear! Resigned to her lot, she had decided to cozy up to this Brother Zhuang, who was the most influential person she could flatter at the moment. To miss out on him, she had no idea what sort of hardships she¡¯d endure! Brother Zhuang, seeing her silence, frowned displeasedly, grabbed Fang¡¯s chin and asked again, ¡°Speak up! Who are those two powerful superpower users?¡± He recalled the information he had received before, and suddenly felt irritable. If that unlucky dead guy was really connected to those two, then he might be in trouble... Thinking this, his gaze towards Fang turned icy. He wasn¡¯t really interested in this woman; she was just a cheap commodity throwing herself at him, just a plaything to not be wasted. In truth, he felt some sympathy for that unlucky fellow who had just died, since after all, they were both men. If it hadn¡¯t been for that guy¡¯s attack on him, even trying to kill him, he wouldn¡¯t have taken his life so directly. Intimidated by his gaze, Fang subconsciously said, ¡°It¡¯s a man and a woman, both looking very young, the man incredibly handsome and the woman extremely beautiful. Oh, right! I saw the information they filled out. The man is a Level 1 Gold Element Superpower User, and the woman is a Level 1 Fire Element Superpower User!¡± As she spoke, she suddenly saw Brother Zhuang¡¯s expression growing uglier, and she alarmingly asked, ¡°Broth... Brother Zhuang... what¡¯s wrong?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for the recommendation ticket and monthly ticket, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 493 - 493 272 Regret Not Doing Sooner (First Update) ?Chapter 493: 272 Regret Not Doing Sooner (First Update) Chapter 493: 272 Regret Not Doing Sooner (First Update) PS: Want to hear more of your voices, want to receive more of your suggestions, search for the WeChat public account ¡°qdread¡± right now and follow along, give ¡°Apocalyptic Rebirth: Secondary Female Character Fights Back!¡± more support! 272 Regretting the Past Brother Zhuang¡¯s face looked terrible. He hadn¡¯t expected that toying with a woman who threw herself at him could possibly link him to those two grim reapers! This made him very dissatisfied with Fang, and coupled with Fang¡¯s attitude towards Zhou Zhou, his gaze towards Fang got colder and colder. Fang wasn¡¯t a fool, women are naturally more sensitive than men, and she keenly sensed that Brother Zhuang¡¯s attitude towards her had turned sour, causing her to panic, fearing that he would be angry with her over this. She thought over what she had just said, but no matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn¡¯t find anything wrong, and slowly doubt crept into her heart¡ªcould it be that there was something wrong with those two men? Upon considering this possibility, Fang became even more terrified. She wanted to tell Brother Zhuang that she had no connection with those men but worried that guessing wrong might backfire on her. She hesitated for a moment, then slumped towards Brother Zhuang, pressing her full bosom against him, while letting out ambiguous moans, doing her utmost to seduce him. A flash of disgust crossed Brother Zhuang¡¯s face, and then, he grabbed Fang¡¯s arm and threw her harshly towards the door. Fang screamed as she crashed heavily onto the cold floor. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± The sharp scream was long, full of panic and helplessness. Fang had no clothes on, and in the shock of the fall, she didn¡¯t react at first. After a moment of bewilderment, she suddenly realized she was naked and screamed again in terror. Then, she quickly came to her senses, turned her head towards Brother Zhuang, and pleaded, ¡°Brother... Brother Zhuang... I know I was wrong, please, don¡¯t be angry...¡± Brother Zhuang looked at her as if she was trash, his voice was cold, and his eyes were filled with disgust, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, get lost!¡± Fang hadn¡¯t expected Brother Zhuang to speak to her like that. She stared at him in shock, wanting to ask what had dissatisfied him, but meeting his disgusted eyes, she lost all her courage. She knew very well that if she didn¡¯t leave, Brother Zhuang would truly kill her! No! She didn¡¯t want to die! With this thought, Fang endured the severe pain on her body and scrambled towards her clothes. Her clothes were scattered on the floor. In the heat of the earlier passion with Brother Zhuang, naturally, she hadn¡¯t paid attention, but now she realized all her clothes were torn. To seduce Brother Zhuang, she had been barely dressed, wearing only a short-sleeved cotton T-shirt and a pair of denim shorts. Even though the style was simple, it perfectly highlighted her exquisite figure, her long legs, and her fair and tender skin. The T-shirt had a long tear in it, and the location was right over her chest. She hurriedly put it on, only to realize the tear was so large that half her bosom was exposed! Her lace panties were already torn to shreds, utterly unwearable. Fang picked up the shorts, only to discover they were also ripped. Initially, the shorts just covered her buttocks, but now one side seam was torn halfway open, exposing half her buttocks when she wore them. Fang hesitated for a moment, but decided to plead for herself one more time. She knelt on the ground and crawled towards Brother Zhuang on her knees, her eyes shimmering with tears, her voice pathetic, ¡°Brother Zhuang, give me another chance, I¡¯m willing to do anything!¡± This time, Brother Zhuang didn¡¯t even look at her, just coldly spat out a word, ¡°Scram!¡± The chill in Brother Zhuang¡¯s voice made Fang shiver. She didn¡¯t dare stay any longer, stood up, one hand covering her chest, the other pulling at her pants, and ran out quickly. When she left, Zhou Zhou¡¯s corpse was already gone, and the bloodstains had been cleaned up, leaving just a small, dark, wet spot. As she opened the door, the cold wind rushed in. Once Fang dashed out, she felt the rough pavement under her feet and remembered she had forgotten to put on shoes. But recalling Brother Zhuang¡¯s demeanor just moments before, she didn¡¯t dare go back inside. She hung her head and walked away, deciding to first return to where she lived. She had only taken a few steps when she heard a contemptuous snicker behind her. Startled, she instinctively looked back to see who was mocking her. But as soon as she turned her head, a guard said unkindly, ¡°What are you looking at? Still lingering around here for what? Do you want to continue serving us?¡± Chapter 494 - 494 272 Regret Not Doing It Sooner (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 494: 272 Regret Not Doing It Sooner (First Update)_2 Chapter 494: 272 Regret Not Doing It Sooner (First Update)_2 Fang felt a rush of shame spread across her face. She opened her mouth to retort, but her eyes caught sight of the gun in the other person¡¯s hand! Staring down the dark barrel, she lost her nerve, ignored the person¡¯s mockery, and swiftly turned and ran. The ground was hard, scattered with small pebbles. As Fang headed back, the sharp stones piercing her feet made them burn with pain, but she dared not cry, silently shedding tears instead. From the houses on both sides, ambiguous moaning sounds continuously emanated. Listening to those sounds, and thinking about her deal with Brother Zhuang, her heart filled with even more grievance, and she couldn¡¯t help but curse Zhou Zhou and Zhao Yan silently for their meddling. She made her way back to where she lived, only to find the door locked. That was when she remembered, she had shared this place with Zhou Zhou, and when she left, she hadn¡¯t taken the keys. And now Zhou Zhou was dead. How was she going to get in? Fang frowned in frustration, hesitated for a moment, then decided to look for acquaintances she had come with to find a place to stay for the night. But just then, the door next door silently opened, and a dark figure emerged from the pitch-black door, approached Fang from behind, and suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist! Fang jolted, about to scream, but a large hand emitting a sour stench immediately smothered her mouth tightly. The person held her close, then turned around and swiftly entered the house, forcefully pushing Fang into the darkness. Fang stumbled forward and nearly fell, but instead of hitting the ground, she was caught by someone in the dark. That person let out a gleeful chuckle, and before Fang could resist, he pinned her down on the ground and violently tore off her clothes. As another person closed the door, he quickly joined in with a low chuckle. Fang struggled desperately, trying to cry for help, but a piece of cloth, which felt very much like her T-shirt, was shoved into her mouth. Then, someone forcefully spread her legs and began to brutally violate her. Unable to resist, Fang was forced to endure the rough attack of two men, overwhelmed with tears of injustice. At that moment, she suddenly remembered an incident from the past. Back then, she and Zhou Zhou were living in another Base. She was quite pretty, so people around often leered at her, and Zhou Zhou was almost always by her side to protect her. One day, two men couldn¡¯t hold back and cornered her and Zhou Zhou in a secluded area, intending to harass her. Zhou Zhou fought to protect her, though he was no match for the two men. However, during that incident, he became ferocious like a wolf, even biting off one of the men¡¯s ears alive. The men were frightened off by him, and although people still leered at her, they didn¡¯t dare to provoke them again. At this moment, she desperately wished Zhou Zhou could come to save her, just as he had before. But then she remembered, Zhou Zhou had been killed by Brother Zhuang. With this thought, she could no longer hold back and burst into tears. Not far from the door, in a shaded spot, a guard stood watching the entire scene unfold. Recalling Fang¡¯s earlier demeanor, he sneered coldly, acting as if he had seen nothing, and turned away. In another area, in the duty room, Brother Zhuang, after Fang had left, had contacted some friends via walkie-talkie to inquire about Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. After some digging, he finally learned that although Fang and Zhou Zhou were acquaintances of Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin and had come to the Safe Zone together, Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were not particularly close to them. They hadn¡¯t even paid the entrance fee for them. At this point, Brother Zhuang finally relaxed. He didn¡¯t want to offend those two formidable figures over someone who had thrown herself at him! Aside from that guard and the involved parties, no one was aware of Fang¡¯s ordeal, and the night quickly passed. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye got up early. When the two were dressed and came out, Li Qingyun was already waiting in the living room. She had gotten up even earlier than them. Normally at this time, she would have already had a light breakfast and gone to the research facility at the Base. Since today she was leaving with Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, she naturally did not need to go to the facility anymore. As to what her supervisor might think, she didn¡¯t care anymore. With these thoughts, Li Qingyun let out a cold laugh. Fang Yuxin did not want to stay at this Base any longer, so she brought out some cake, shared it with Bai Ye and Li Qingyun, and the three of them quickly ate their breakfast and hurriedly left. When they went to return their keys, the person inside had changed. Seeing they were no ordinary people, he was very enthusiastic and even told them they could opt for a long-term rental which was cheaper than paying per day. The trio was planning to leave this Safe Zone, naturally, they wouldn¡¯t agree; they just smiled, said nothing, got into their car, and drove straight to the main gate of the Safe Zone, ready to leave. With the backing of higher-ups, their departure was smooth; no one attempted to stop them. Although Li Qingyun¡¯s identity was special and as a researcher, she was supposedly important to the Base and should not be allowed to leave easily, her contributions and results had all been stolen by her supervisor, and the higher-ups were not aware that it was her work. In the eyes of these leaders, she was just a minor assistant, and they would not risk offending Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye by forcibly keeping her. Just as Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were preparing to leave the Safe Zone, they encountered Zhao Yan¡¯s nephew and niece, Liu Zhenglin¡¯s daughter and father, and the Qian Family¡¯s grandfather and grandson by the temporary parking lot near the main gate. Aside from them, everyone else was also there, except for Fang and Zhou Zhou. Fang had been violently assaulted the previous night and had not yet regained consciousness; how could she possibly be there? Even had she been awake, she wouldn¡¯t have come. Zhou Zhou had died the previous night, his body disposed of by the guards, reduced to ashes, and even less likely to be present. Before Fang Yuxin could speak, Zhao Yan took the initiative and said, ¡°Miss Fang, Mr. Bai, we would like to leave with you, is that possible?¡± (The novel ¡°Apocalypse Rebirth: The Rise of the Secondary Female Character¡± will have more fresh content on the official WeChat platform, and there will also be a 100% draw to give everyone a grand prize! Open WeChat now, click the ¡°+¡± icon on the top right, search for the public account ¡°qdread¡± and follow it, hurry up!) (. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 495 - 495 273 Too Much (Second Update) ?Chapter 495: 273 Too Much (Second Update) Chapter 495: 273 Too Much (Second Update) PS: I want to hear more of your voices and receive more of your suggestions, so search for the WeChat public account ¡°qdread¡± now and follow it to give ¡°Apocalyptic Rebirth: The Secondary Female Character¡¯s Comeback¡± more support! 273 Too Much Fang Yuxin raised an eyebrow, her tone indifferent, betraying neither happiness nor anger, ¡°It¡¯s your freedom to choose where you want to stay, there¡¯s no need to ask me. However, I advise you to stay here. The journey ahead is going to be dangerous, and staying in this Safe Zone is more suitable for you. Of course, you can follow us if you want, but you¡¯ll be responsible for your own safety. We won¡¯t help you.¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than Zhao Yan¡¯s nephew couldn¡¯t help but retort, ¡°How can you be like this!¡± Zhao Yan almost died from anger at his outburst. She couldn¡¯t believe that after all they had been through, her nephew still had no brain at all! She couldn¡¯t help but smack Zhao Liang hard, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about! Apologize to Miss Fang right now!¡± Zhao Liang, sensing Zhao Yan¡¯s furious gaze, shrank back, but stubbornly pursed his lips, refusing to apologize. In his heart, he knew he was wrong; Yuxin¡¯s words weren¡¯t wrong either. After all, they were strangers. It was normal for her to not care about their fate. But when he thought of Zhou Zhou¡¯s death, he couldn¡¯t suppress the anger in his heart. He couldn¡¯t help but think, if Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had been there last night, would Zhou Zhou still have had to die? Zhao Yan wanted to hit him again, but Fang Yuxin ignored them and directly entered the vehicle. Bai Ye cast them a cold glance and also got into the car. Li Qingyun then looked at Zhao Liang and said bluntly, ¡°Why can¡¯t Xinxin be like this? She¡¯s not your bodyguard! Kid, don¡¯t get too full of yourself!¡± After she spoke, she got into the car without paying any attention to the furious Zhao Liang. The car quickly drove off, and upon seeing this, Zhao Yan got into the car without hesitation. At the same time, the Qian family grandchildren and Liu Zhenglin and his daughter had already gotten into their car and started to follow. Although other people wanted to follow too, they hesitated after considering Fang Yuxin¡¯s words and didn¡¯t dare catch up. They weren¡¯t like Liu Zhenglin, who was lucky enough to have had an Awakening and gained a superpower to kill zombies. If Fang Yuxin really didn¡¯t care about them, going out meant certain death! Zhao Yan didn¡¯t pay attention to them, just coldly looked at Zhao Liang, who stood his ground and refused to move, ¡°Xiao Liang, get in the car!¡± But Zhao Liang stubbornly stood in place, looking at Zhao Yan and saying, ¡°Aunt, let¡¯s just stay in this Safe Zone. You¡¯ve had an Awakening and gained a superpower right? We can always survive here, why bother following them and enduring their disdain?¡± Zhao Yan looked at him deeply and asked, ¡°Is this really what you think? You really don¡¯t want to get in the car?¡± Zhao Liang hesitated in his heart. He didn¡¯t want to go against Zhao Yan, but he really didn¡¯t like Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, those two people were too cold-blooded to him. So he said again, ¡°Aunt, what¡¯s the good of following them? They won¡¯t care if we live or die. When you were infected with the virus, I begged them and they refused to save you. If you weren¡¯t lucky, you would have... Aunt, let¡¯s not follow them.¡± Zhao Yan, however, looked at him and started to laugh, a smile that made Zhao Liang shiver all over, panic welling up in his heart. He suddenly felt very uneasy and wanted to say more, but then he heard Zhao Yan sigh, ¡°Xiao Liang, you¡¯re grown up now, your aunt can¡¯t control you. From now on, you¡¯ll have to take care of yourself, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhao Liang was completely dumbfounded, ¡°Aunt... Aunt...¡± Zhao Yan started the car, but seeing Zhao Liang¡¯s upset expression, she felt bad. Thinking of her brother and sister-in-law who had died tragically, her heart softened, and she was about to let him into the car. However, she heard Zhao Liang bitterly say, ¡°Fine then! Go! Do you think you¡¯re so great just because you¡¯ve had an Awakening? Don¡¯t you see how old you are, whether you can even get out of the zombies¡¯ encirclement!¡± After he finished speaking, he glared at Zhao Yan with red eyes, lips pressed tightly together in stubborn defiance. Zhao Yan trembled with anger, saying ¡°good¡± three times, no longer soft-hearted toward him, she drove away directly. She had finally seen clearly; her nephew was completely spoiled beyond hope! Just to displease him, he could actually say such things to an elder! She had heard before that the nephew had a bad temper, but she never expected that even after the apocalypse, he was still the same, never growing up! Did he not think about why Liu Zhenglin was taking his six-year-old daughter along? Why was Mr. Qian, at his age, willing to venture into the zombie encirclement? She could see there were problems, could he not see them too? Chapter 496 - 496 273 Too Much (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 496: 273 Too Much (Second Update)_2 Chapter 496: 273 Too Much (Second Update)_2 How on earth did he get through college! Originally, Zhao Yan thought that Zhao Liang was her only relative, and that they should rely on each other for support. But now she suddenly felt exhausted. It was hard enough trying to survive on her own, let alone spare the energy to take care of this nephew who never seemed to grow up! Zhao Liang watched the departing car in disbelief. He had never thought that Zhao Yan would truly abandon him! Wasn¡¯t she his aunt? He was clearly her only relative! When she was infected with the Zombie Virus, he hadn¡¯t abandoned her, how could she do this! Those who hadn¡¯t left looked at him sympathetically. Seeing the ugly look on his face, someone couldn¡¯t help but advise, ¡°Zhao Liang, don¡¯t overthink it. Your aunt, she...¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Zhao Liang shouted angrily, interrupting the person. He glared at him fiercely, ¡°Stay out of my business!¡± After speaking, he took one last look in the direction Zhao Yan had gone. Sadly, her car was already far away. He felt a pain in his heart, clenched his fists, and turned to walk towards the Safe Zone. Zhao Yan had left, and now he had to find a way to survive. With neither Crystal Cores nor food on him, he needed to find a job as soon as possible. Those who saw Zhao Yan leave sighed silently, some regretting that they hadn¡¯t followed her when they had the chance. Someone couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Do you think we made a mistake?¡± The others exchanged looks, and one of them retorted, ¡°What? You want to go out there? Didn¡¯t you hear what that woman said? She doesn¡¯t care about our lives! Going out is courting death, don¡¯t you know!¡± After saying that, they sighed again. Leaving was dangerous, but staying in the Safe Zone wasn¡¯t much better! For them, ordinary people without connections, life here was nothing but hardship! After complaining to each other for a while, they all headed for the mission center, like Zhao Liang, planning to find a job first. Along the way, they couldn¡¯t help discussing again, speculating whether Zhao Yan and the others were regretting their decision or whether they might die. At that moment, they could only convince themselves not to feel regret by indulging in these spiteful speculations. Unfortunately, Zhao Yan¡¯s thoughts were completely different from their conjectures; she had no regrets at all! She didn¡¯t wish for her nephew to come to harm, but she understood even more clearly that her nephew had been spoiled. If she continued to protect him, he would only get worse! It might be better to part ways. If they were lucky, perhaps both of them could survive. If not, there was nothing she could do. She quickly caught up with Liu Zhenglin¡¯s car, following behind theirs. Ahead were Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. Bai Ye was driving when Fang Yuxin suddenly spoke, her tone slightly surprised, ¡°Zhao Yan is following us, and she didn¡¯t bring her nephew.¡± Bai Ye shook his head helplessly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say you wouldn¡¯t bother with them? Why do you care?¡± Fang Yuxin turned her head to glare at him unhappily, ¡°Can¡¯t I be curious?¡± But Bai Ye understood. Even though Fang Yuxin said she wouldn¡¯t bother, if these people truly followed them and encountered danger, she wouldn¡¯t stand by and watch if it was within her power to help. Despite her harsh words, she actually had a soft heart. Unfortunately, those people failed to see this, really believing she wouldn¡¯t bother. However, this was actually better for him. He wasn¡¯t the type to cold-heartedly ignore others in peril, but he disliked being followed by burdens who only wanted to cling to life in fear and refused to fend for themselves. Fang Yuxin¡¯s seemingly heartless words had, fortunately, spared them many problems. With this thought in mind, Bai Ye couldn¡¯t help but turn his head and smile at Fang Yuxin; the smile was unusually brilliant. Fang Yuxin, feeling guilty, was stealing glances at him. Seeing his smile, she was so scared that her complexion changed, ¡°What... what are you laughing at!¡± Heaven knew how terrifying it was for someone who usually had a poker face to suddenly smile! Fang Yuxin felt deeply traumatized in her spirit, and Bai Ye had to take responsibility! But as much as she glared at Bai Ye, she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to say he had to take responsibility. To her surprise, that scoundrel simply looked at her and smiled brilliantly again, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely take responsibility for you.¡± ¡°You... what the hell are you talking about!¡± Fang Yuxin glared at Bai Ye, feeling annoyed and suspicious; how could he possibly know what she was thinking? Could it be that his legacy included the Mind Reading Technique? That¡¯s not scientific! No, wait! Cultivation itself isn¡¯t scientific! It seemed... there truly was a Mind Reading Technique in the Cultivation World... Fang Yuxin was completely startled by the thought¡ªoh my god! Could she have guessed correctly? Could Bai Ye actually have learned the Mind Reading Technique? His luck was just too good! Thinking of how the Dragon Scale Sword, clearly a treasure of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, seemed to have inexplicably become attached to that scoundrel Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin felt particularly upset! It was just too much! Seeing Fang Yuxin¡¯s changing facial expressions, seemingly becoming enraged, Bai Ye worried he couldn¡¯t hold back laughter and quickly focused on driving. Of course, he hadn¡¯t learned any Mind Reading Technique; it was just that Fang Yuxin¡¯s facial expressions were too vivid and easy to read, and he had seen right through them. But he couldn¡¯t let her know this, as she would surely be angry! Fang Yuxin, who never thought her expressions might have given her away, was now frowning in contemplation. After her Foundation Establishment, she would have to search the Scripture Pavilion thoroughly to see if there was a legacy of Mind Reading Technique! With this in mind, she couldn¡¯t help but glare at Bai Ye fiercely¡ªenjoy your triumph for now! (Follow the official WeChat for more fresh content of the novel ¡°The Secondary Female Character¡¯s Post-Apocalypse Rebirth,¡± and there¡¯s also a 100% chance to win a big prize in the draw! Simply open WeChat now, click the ¡°+¡± sign at the top right to add a friend, search for the public account ¡°qdread¡± and follow it, hurry up!)(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your vote of recommendation or monthly ticket at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 497 - 497 274 Hurry off the car (Third update) ?Chapter 497: 274 Hurry off the car! (Third update) Chapter 497: 274 Hurry off the car! (Third update) Li Qingyun sat in the backseat, looking at Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin flirting and teasing each other through the rearview mirror, feeling an immense pressure. She was actually quite curious; she distinctly remembered that Fang Yuxin had a fiance? named Qiu Yiming. She had met him before, quite a handsome man, but his gaze was too deep, always giving off an unfathomable aura that instinctively made her dislike him. This Bai Ye looked even more handsome than Qiu Yiming, a rather silent person, and as for his character, she could not yet see the good or bad, but she didn¡¯t dislike him. After all, she had only just met Bai Ye and knew nothing about him, so she couldn¡¯t compare who was better between him and Qiu Yiming. She could see that Bai Ye seemed to care a lot about Fang Yuxin, and he was also quite jealous; just last night, someone gave Fang Yuxin a few extra glances, and Bai Ye got jealous. However, she remembered that Qiu Yiming also seemed to be quite jealous. Fang Yuxin rarely talked about Qiu Yiming in front of her, only occasionally mentioning him; from those words, she could tell Qiu Yiming also cared deeply for Fang Yuxin. So why would she be with this Bai Ye? What about Qiu Yiming? Had he died... or had something happened between them? Li Qingyun¡¯s mind couldn¡¯t help but be curious, yet she didn¡¯t ask more. Whichever possibility it was, it was likely a wound for Fang Yuxin, so she wisely chose to ask nothing, only planning to silently watch Bai Ye, and if she found anything inappropriate about him, she would definitely tell Fang Yuxin! Bai Ye was driving when he suddenly felt a chill, and he squinted his eyes, meeting Li Qingyun¡¯s gaze reflecting in the rearview mirror. What was she looking at? Bai Ye felt a twinge of suspicion but said nothing, merely noting this in his mind. Li Qingyun was only a Level 1 Superpower User, and he wasn¡¯t worried about her strength, but Fang Yuxin seemed to have a good relationship with her. If she were to suddenly make a move on Fang Yuxin, Fang Yuxin might not be prepared... Thinking this, Bai Ye silently became vigilant, to guard against Li Qingyun suddenly attacking Fang Yuxin. But Li Qingyun never thought that just a look could raise Bai Ye¡¯s guard and even make him wary of her! Fang Yuxin leaned back lazily in her seat, her eyes closed, but she ¡°saw¡± the faces of the two who seemed to wield mutual animosity very clearly. She silently chuckled, yet said nothing. Soon, they encountered a Zombie Group, and nearby there were many superpower users who had teamed up to take on tasks. Fang Yuxin suddenly opened her eyes and said to Li Qingyun, ¡°Qingyun, it¡¯s your turn to drive now!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Li Qingyun responded and exchanged a glance with Bai Ye. Following that, she braced her hand on the back of the seat and with a push, leapt up, jumping into the driver¡¯s seat. At the same time, Bai Ye directly climbed out of the open window, standing on top of the car. The two of them coordinated very tacitly, with not a single touch during the exchange. Li Qingyun had not yet settled down before she steadied the steering wheel with her hands and then adjusted the seat to make herself more comfortable. Fang Yuxin also climbed out through the window, standing beside Bai Ye. The Zombie Group they encountered numbered in ten thousands, although the zombies were quite scattered, at first glance, it looked like a vast expanse of zombies. Apart from Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin who were ¡°not afraid to die,¡± none of the others dared to do this, except those who drove trucks with containers. Those watching them stand directly on the car roof had their eyes wide open in shock! Someone couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Who are these two people? They must have a death wish!¡± Just as he finished speaking, someone nearby scoffed, ¡°You actually don¡¯t know them! Yesterday, someone made trouble at the Base, faced off against the Glory Mercenary Corps, and took down over a hundred Level 1 Superpower Users, even severely injuring a Second-level Superpower User! Guan Rong personally showed up! He even shook hands and made peace with them, respectfully bringing the people back!¡± The details had become somewhat exaggerated as it was told by someone else. The man who had spoken before hadn¡¯t heard about this incident and was even more astonished, ¡°Really? Guan Rong? I heard he¡¯s nearly at the Level 3 from his Level 2 Peak status! How could he be so respectful to them, who¡¯s feeding you nonsense?¡± ¡°Idiot! Believe it or not! Humph!¡± said the other, with a very cold attitude. The man was about to get angry when suddenly someone said, ¡°Stop talking! Look over there!¡± These people instinctively looked in the direction of the pointed hand, and their eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets! Chapter 498 - 498 274 Get off the car quickly (Third update)_2 ?Chapter 498: 274 Get off the car quickly! (Third update)_2 Chapter 498: 274 Get off the car quickly! (Third update)_2 Everyone simultaneously cursed with the same national expletive, ¡°Holy shit! This is inhumane!¡± Bai Ye waved his hand, and countless streaks of golden light appeared, shooting towards the zombies like lightning. Then, as the golden light penetrated the zombies¡¯ skulls, in the next moment, those struck by the golden light had their heads explode in a metallic burst. Bai Ye reached out again, and numerous Crystal Cores flew toward his hand. At the same time, defense wasn¡¯t idle either. Since she had declared herself as having Fire Ability, she cast Fireballs. The spell she used was still a simplified version of ¡°Starfire¡±, but as she continued to cast the spell, she had become much more proficient, significantly reducing the casting time. Following the burst of golden light from Bai Ye, her spell was completed and baby-fist-sized Fireballs shot out, exploding the heads of any zombies they hit. Fang Yuxin¡¯s collection of Crystal Cores was quite similar to Bai Ye¡¯s. What kind of Skill was this? It was terrifying! Seeing this scene, everyone couldn¡¯t help but ponder the question. Those who were discussing earlier now felt sympathy for the Glory Mercenary Corps¡ªof all the people to offend, they had to cross paths with such a killing god! No wonder Guan Rong was so respectful towards them¡ªit was out of sheer necessity! If those golden lights and Fireballs were aimed at them... Just contemplating this possibility made everyone shiver, their backs drenched with cold sweat. They weren¡¯t even confident they could dodge them! As Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin continued to cast their spells, swathes of zombies fell. Li Qingyun drove the car straight through without stopping, followed by Qian Lang and Zhao Yan, who clenched their teeth and kept up. They all understood that there were too many zombies here; if they couldn¡¯t keep up, they risked being surrounded by the Zombie Group¡ªa point of no return! Seeing them follow suit, the others were astonished and couldn¡¯t help but want to join in. However, their mission was to hunt zombies, not to break out of a zombie encirclement. Thus, these people quickly came to their senses, stopped watching Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin¡¯s impressive Big Moves, and each picked a direction to charge towards the Zombie Group. Initially intimidated by the sheer number of zombies, their fears gradually dissipated upon watching Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin effortlessly slay large numbers of zombies, giving rise to a strange sense of ¡°These zombies are nothing to be afraid of after all!¡± The team leaders, knowing this was a rare form of morale, didn¡¯t want to miss such a great opportunity and began shouting encouragements at their people. One of them yelled, ¡°Everyone, watch and learn! Zombies are nothing to be afraid of! Let¡¯s annihilate them!¡± At his words, the others burst into raucous laughter, ¡°Right! Annihilate them!¡± Crude though the words were, they strangely suited the current atmosphere. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had already charged forward; they did not look back. They had already reaped a great reward and saw no need to waste time fighting over Crystal Cores with these people. Because the two of them were so fierce, Qian Lang, Zhao Yan, and the others closely following them managed to pass through the Zombie Group without incident, encountering no attacks. However, they also didn¡¯t get any Crystal Cores. After getting past this group of zombies, they encountered several more groups of zombies. Luckily, the strongest zombies they met were only Level 2, and a Third-level Zombie never appeared. It was unclear whether there were none or if they were hiding somewhere, unwilling to show themselves. The duo didn¡¯t give it much thought. After all, a Level 3 zombie was very cunning, naturally not as foolish as the Low-level Zombies charging forward. It would typically hide in the shadows, controlling the Zombie Group to attack. With the power demonstrated by Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, even if there were Third-level Zombies around, after witnessing their prowess, they would not foolishly emerge to court death but hide even more stealthily! Having battled through several waves of zombies, they finally broke out of the zombie encirclement. By this time, they were almost at the edge of Lin City. Just as they were about to leave, Li Qingyun couldn¡¯t help but look back in the direction of the Safe Zone, but alas, the distance was too great, and she could no longer see the Safe Zone where she had lived. She pondered what her family might be doing at the moment and let out a self-mocking laugh before secretly wiping away the tear stains at the corners of her eyes. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye saw everything but said nothing. Li Qingyun had made her choice, and she had to face the consequences of that decision. Although Bai Ye was very filial to his parents, thinking of Li Qingyun¡¯s family, he didn¡¯t think she was wrong at all. Fang Yuxin was even less likely to say anything; at times like these, speaking was useless. Li Qingyun was an adult, and she believed she could figure things out. True enough, Li Qingyun quickly composed herself, and Bai Ye took over the driving again, with her sitting in the back seat. After leaving Lin City, they soon reached the highway, with Qian Lang and Zhao Yan naturally following closely behind in their cars, fearing they¡¯d be left behind. Occasionally, zombies would run out onto the road, but there weren¡¯t many. More zombies gathered around the outer perimeters of the various safe bases; otherwise, they tended to be relatively scattered unless led by High-level zombies. Driving on the highway, when it was almost noon, the road ahead was blocked by a fallen tree and large boulders. The tree trunk was thick, and the boulders were massive. They lay in the middle of the road, and there was no way for the cars to pass! At first glance, there seemed to be no one around, but as soon as Fang Yuxin released her Spiritual Sense, she detected people hiding nearby! She gave Bai Ye a look and whispered to Li Qingyun, ¡°It¡¯s an ambush, be careful!¡± Li Qingyun nodded in understanding and, after thinking for a moment, said, ¡°I¡¯ll be careful, and you guys should be too. Don¡¯t worry about me!¡± Bai Ye had just stopped the car when the ambushers surged out, one of them shouting viciously, ¡°Everyone in the car, get out now!¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you¡¯re welcome to give your recommendation votes and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 499 - 499 275 What sound (First update) ?Chapter 499: 275 What sound? (First update) Chapter 499: 275 What sound? (First update) There were thirty people charging out, all wielding weapons, whether spears, machetes, or a piece of steel sharpened to a point. Besides them, another twenty individuals stood not far away, holding bows and arrows! At that moment, the arrows were nocked, and the bowstrings were fully drawn, the arrowheads reflecting a chilling cold light in the sunlight, aiming directly at them. These people, both men and women, aged between twenty and forty, were in the prime of their physical abilities. Moreover, they were all superpower users. The leader was a man who appeared to be around thirty, with a shrewd look. From the energy fluctuations emanating from his body, he was a second-level Enhanced Superpower User. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were naturally not afraid of them. However, these people weren¡¯t zombies. They wouldn¡¯t just let themselves be killed foolishly. Additionally, there were two cars following them. Those two cars, having great defensive capabilities unlike her own, carried people who were no match for these assailants. Fang Yuxin had taken a careful look at the weapons in their hands. Whether it was spears, machetes, or arrows, they had all been specially processed by Gold Element Superpower Users, making them sharper and more durable than typical weapons with increased destructive power! This was the first time Fang Yuxin had seen such weapons in others¡¯ hands. She instinctively felt that the person behind these men was no ordinary individual. Besides, bows were rarely used as weapons in modern times, mainly featured in sports or as a hobby. Using a bow as a weapon required high physical strength and good accuracy. The stronger the arms, the stronger the bow, and the more destructive the arrows released. Currently, the biggest enemy of humanity was the zombies, not humans themselves. Although these people had surrounded them, they hadn¡¯t outright attacked them, not appearing to be the type to wreak havoc. Their bows weren¡¯t just for show or merely to intimidate; they were actual weapons of violence! Fang Yuxin quietly released her Spiritual Sense to perceive and discovered that these people wielding bows must all be Enhanced Superpower Users, which explained their ability to use such weapons. In the absence of guns, if used skillfully, bows could be valuable for long-range attack. Moreover, the current situation was one where bullets were increasingly scarce; almost all arms factories had shut down after the apocalypse, making bullet production impossible, depleting the available ammunition. Moreover, ordinary people couldn¡¯t easily access many guns. Even if they got some, the bullets remained a challenge. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know who the man behind these people was, but his idea to use Enhanced Superpower Users as archers and have Gold Element Superpower Users modify weapons was enough to catch her attention. If there were a chance, she would actually like to meet this person. Unfortunately, she was currently en route to Beishi City and didn¡¯t have the luxury of time. Fang Yuxin glanced at Bai Ye, and with just one look, Bai Ye instantly understood her intentions, deliberately exuding his aura. The group encircling them, already somewhat annoyed from their refusal to exit the vehicle, was on the verge of fury but then suddenly sensed a menacing air emanating from inside the car! This aura mixed with endless sharpness gave them the illusion of their bodies being sliced by blades! Everyone¡¯s expression changed in an instant, and the leader¡¯s eyes flickered, his demeanor immediately shifting, ¡°I didn¡¯t know who was inside the vehicle, my apologies for the intrusion, please excuse our actions.¡± He paused, then waited quietly for a response from inside the vehicle. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t speak. Bai Ye deliberately used a cold voice and inquired, ¡°Who are you people? Why are you blocking the way? Surely you aren¡¯t trying to play king of the mountain, are you?¡± The leader instinctively denied it, ¡°Of course not, it¡¯s a misunderstanding! A dangerous person escaped our Safe Zone, and we were chasing them here. We set this trap to catch them, but alas, we ensnared the wrong person.¡± Bai Ye was disdainful of his explanation. He was no fool and could see through their real intentions! Even though there weren¡¯t many of them and they seemed not intent on harming anyone, his contempt for them didn¡¯t reach the point of killing them outright. He let out a disparaging snort, curiously asking, ¡°If you are catching someone, how do you know I¡¯m not the one you¡¯re after?¡± The leader immediately replied, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that person¡¯s voice before, and it¡¯s definitely not yours, my friend. Besides, although he is dangerous and quite strong, he is far lesser compared to you. Regardless, we were indeed at fault here. If you don¡¯t mind, please come back with me to the Base. I will host a banquet to properly make amends.¡± Chapter 500 - 500 275 What sound is that (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 500: 275 What sound is that? (First Update)_2 Chapter 500: 275 What sound is that? (First Update)_2 After he finished speaking, he eagerly awaited Bai Ye¡¯s response. Their Base¡¯s leader was always desperate for talented individuals, and having encountered someone with such strength today, if they could keep him at the Base, the leader would certainly be delighted! As for whether this person¡¯s power might surpass that of the leader... he wasn¡¯t worried at all. Not to mention the leader¡¯s formidable strength, even if he was slightly inferior to this man, the leader¡¯s intellect was unmatched by ordinary people. He wasn¡¯t concerned about Bai Ye refusing. After the apocalypse, food was scarce, and that applied not only to Ordinary People but also to superpower users. The three vehicles had limited space and could only carry so much. He had offered to host a feast as an invitation¡ªthere¡¯s no way this person wouldn¡¯t take the bait! However, Bai Ye merely snorted and said rudely, ¡°No need. If you want to apologize, just have your people put their weapons down and clear the trees and stones from the road! Otherwise...¡± He paused, releasing his aura once again. This time, the aura carried an even sharper, more oppressive edge, and the exposed skin of some individuals began to show faint red marks! The leader hadn¡¯t expected Bai Ye to refuse. However, he didn¡¯t even have time to be surprised when he saw red marks appearing on the faces and hands of his subordinates. Even he himself had the sensation of his skin being sliced open! A chill ran through his heart, realizing he was completely outmatched this time. Without another word, he gestured obediently for his subordinates to put down their weapons. Those who had thought they would score big this time were shocked to hit an iron wall instead! Their elaborate setup had been in vain, and now they had to go through the trouble of clearing the way! They were inwardly fuming, but the burning pain on their skin was a reminder that their opponent wasn¡¯t someone to be provoked! The injuries they now sustained were just a minor lesson compared to what would happen if they continued to meddle¡ªthey risked having their skins truly sliced open! Intimidated by their own speculations, they dared not ponder further. They obediently laid down their weapons and started clearing the large tree trunks and boulders obstructing the road. Seeing that they had backed off obediently, Bai Ye didn¡¯t make things hard for them and simply drove away. Qian Lang, Zhao Yan, and the others realized something was amiss¡ªthese people looked like highway robbers. They dared not linger, and seeing Bai Ye¡¯s vehicle moving ahead, they quickly hit the gas to follow! Bai Ye wasn¡¯t concerned about the recent incident. Though the men were decently strong, they were nowhere near the level of his concern. However, just twenty minutes into the drive, he suddenly heard a ferocious roar coming from the distant woods! The sound was like a muffled thunderstorm, piercing the heavens with tremendous force, causing even the ground to tremble! Bai Ye felt his whole body jolt at the sound and slammed on the brakes! Fang Yuxin was totally unprepared for the sudden stop and lurched forward uncontrollably. Luckily, she was fastened by the seatbelt, which harshly yanked her back into place. The seatbelt painfully constricted Fang Yuxin, who couldn¡¯t help but glare angrily at Bai Ye, ¡°What are you doing? Why did you suddenly brake?¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Bai Ye apologized bluntly, his gaze still fixed in the direction of the noise. Only then did he turn to glance apologetically at Fang Yuxin, ¡°Sorry. I sensed a very familiar energy from over there, as if it was calling me, so I instinctively hit the brakes.¡± Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t too angry, having vented just moments before. She skeptically glanced in the direction of the sound and then at Bai Ye, ¡°The familiar energy you mentioned... is it the Power of thunder and lightning? Considering the sound we just heard, could it be... a Mutant Beast with Thunder Power?¡± Bai Ye nodded. Seeing that Fang Yuxin was unharmed, he felt relieved and his gaze inadvertently shifted back, ¡°I also think it must be a Mutant Beast. Judging by the sound it made just now, it seems very angry, probably under attack.¡± Fang Yuxin could tell that Bai Ye couldn¡¯t let go of the Mutant Beast. It wasn¡¯t surprising¡ªMutant Beasts were rare, and those with Thunder Element superpowers were even more so, practically a rarity among rarities! Now that they had finally encountered one, missing this opportunity would mean they might not come across another for who knows how long. No wonder Bai Ye was so concerned. However, Bai Ye didn¡¯t head over immediately, clearly hesitating. Considering this, Fang Yuxin said to Bai Ye, ¡°Since it may be a Mutant Beast with Thunder Power, you absolutely can¡¯t miss this chance! Let¡¯s go and check it out! Based on the sound it made just now, the Mutant Beast must be very powerful. If you could tame it, it would be a great help to you!¡± Bai Ye had already wanted to go, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to leave Fang Yuxin behind and rush over on his own, which was why he had been curbing his impulse. As he was about to say something, the roar sounded once again, the Mutant Beast seeming angrier than before, though it was unclear what it was encountering. Bai Ye¡¯s brow furrowed instantly upon hearing the noise. Mutant Beasts were scarce, and those with the Thunder Power were even scarcer. This particular one seemed fated to him. He even felt a faint calling, which made him instinctively treat the Mutant Beast as a potential ally. The thought of something attacking it filled him with immense anger. With no further hesitation, he declared, ¡°I¡¯m heading over now!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a monthly ticket at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 501 - 501 276 Mutated White Tiger (3rd Update) ?Chapter 501: 276 Mutated White Tiger (3rd Update) Chapter 501: 276 Mutated White Tiger (3rd Update) Next to the highway was a large mountain forest, with peaks taller than any they had encountered before, the tallest ones reaching hundreds of meters. With no way to drive through, they had to proceed on foot. Bai Ye decided to go, and Fang Yuxin, curious, also chose to follow. However, having Li Qingyun along would be somewhat of a burden due to her lower strength. After some hesitation, Fang Yuxin decided to ask Li Qingyun to stay behind. The car was protected by a defensive array, and as long as Li Qingyun didn¡¯t drive, even if zombies did appear, the array would keep her safe for a considerable time. Nonetheless, to ensure Li Qingyun¡¯s safety, she left Lan Re with her. Previously, Li Qingyun was unaware of Lan Re¡¯s presence because Fang Yuxin had disguised it; Li Qingyun even believed it was just an ordinary White Jade Bracelet. She was quite curious when she saw it, not understanding why Fang Yuxin would wear a jade bracelet on her wrist in such a post-apocalyptic world; it was extravagant and easily damaged. It wasn¡¯t until Lan Re revealed itself that she was amazed to find out that it was actually a mutant plant! She was thrilled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She also was a Wood Element Superpower User, but her awakened ability was quite special, limited to extracting plant essence. Although she was just a minor assistant in her research institute, she had come into contact with quite a few mutant plants. However, those mutant plants either weren¡¯t very powerful or were just severed twigs and withered leaves¡ªshe had never encountered a powerful mutant plant like Lan Re! So upon seeing Lan Re, out of professional habit, she couldn¡¯t help but want to try and extract essence from it. She had a hunch that essence from a high-level mutant plant like Lan Re must have some amazing effects! After having difficulty reverting to its original form, Lan Re started stretching and shaking its body with excitement. Suddenly, it sensed an intention that made it shiver with coldness. It quivered and its flower bud at the top suspiciously rotated, trying to find out who dared to covet it, the great Lan Re! Li Qingyun sat in the car, thinking that Fang Yuxin and Lan Re must have an unusual relationship. Fang Yuxin certainly wouldn¡¯t allow her to extract the purification from Lan Re, which led her to let out a regretful sigh. Her eyes stubbornly fixed on Lan Re, unable to tear them away. She recognized at a glance that this must be a Mutated Crystal Orchid. Crystal Orchids were naturally beautiful, but this mutated one, with a body clear as jade, was dazzlingly gorgeous! However, despite its stunning beauty, its lethality was equally terrifying, and Li Qingyun didn¡¯t overlook the sharp scale leaves covering its body. Eventually, she had to give up on her idea, silently watching Lan Re with craving eyes. Fang Yuxin, unaware of Li Qingyun¡¯s occupational hazard, instructed her to stay in the car and to not open the door under any circumstances. She then instructed Lan Re to protect her and the remaining five people before she and Bai Ye entered the forest. This forest was vast but different from the one where she had gotten separated from her family. The mutant plants here were few, with the majority being ordinary plants. These ordinary plants seemed to have gradually adapted to the post-apocalyptic environment. Though they weren¡¯t thriving, at least they were alive and hadn¡¯t died outright. Despite this, the pair did not dare to be careless, remaining vigilant and on alert the entire way. The Mutant Beast kept sending out angry roars, each sound increasingly urgent and furious. Clearly, its predicament was not good. Bai Ye, listening to the noise, felt extremely uncomfortable and began to quicken his pace, eventually almost dragging Fang Yuxin through the forest. Bai Ye was faster than Fang Yuxin, but since he firmly held her wrist, she had to try her best to keep up. If she wasn¡¯t a Pure Wood Spirit Body whose True Qi had healing properties, she might have wondered if her legs would break from the strain after she infused her legs with True Qi, easing the pressure. Yet, seeing Bai Ye¡¯s anxious and angry expression, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say any words of reproach. She understood Bai Ye¡¯s feelings, after all. If Angela or Lan Re were in trouble, she¡¯d definitely be even more anxious than Bai Ye! So, she said nothing; after quietly alleviating the pressure in her legs with True Qi, she followed closely beside Bai Ye. Chapter 502 - 502 276 Mutated White Tiger (3rd Update)_2 ?Chapter 502: 276 Mutated White Tiger (3rd Update)_2 Chapter 502: 276 Mutated White Tiger (3rd Update)_2 They ran so fast and didn¡¯t encounter any blind attacks along the way, so three minutes later, they could see people in the distance! There were quite a few of them, actually more than a hundred! Many were injured and being supported by their companions on the side, with some treating their injuries. The remaining sixty or so had formed a circle, surrounding a mutant beast inside, which was... Fang Yuxin raised an eyebrow in surprise. She didn¡¯t expect the mutant beast to be a giant white tiger! The tiger was over three meters long, with a white base color speckled with black stripes. Its black claws were shaped like curved sabers, reflecting a cold and dark light, looking extraordinarily handsome. However, it was wounded, with several gashes on its back and sides, bleeding continuously. Especially the wound on its belly, the injury was very serious; the wound was nearly half a meter long and the internal organs were damaged! Nevertheless, the White Tiger was unusually clever; it had turned its fur into sharp spines to seal the wounds. While this could barely keep them closed and didn¡¯t stop the blood flow, it did prevent the wounds from tearing further and the organs from spilling out, leading to more serious injuries! But Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t marvel for long as she realized the situation of the White Tiger was already very bad. Bleeding caused it to lose energy and it seemed it had been under attack for a while; it was now at a disadvantage and likely couldn¡¯t hold on much longer. On the contrary, those surrounding it numbered sixty-three, and although many were wounded, as long as they hadn¡¯t fallen, that meant they could still fight! Especially the leader, who was at the Level 2 Peak! His energy fluctuations were strong, indicating he hadn¡¯t used up much energy. As Fang Yuxin observed, Bai Ye was also taking notice. He had felt that faint calling and had already regarded the surrounded White Tiger as a companion. Seeing it now being attacked and seriously wounded filled him with intense rage! If that Mutated White Tiger had no intelligence, just a beast that knew only to attack, it would have been one thing, but it was clearly intelligent and clever! And this was not near the Safe Zone, but in the wilderness; these people had clearly provoked it! At the same time, Bai Ye also noticed that the person near Level 2 Peak, like him, was a Thunder Element Superpower User! The purpose of him and his people surrounding this Mutated White Tiger was crystal clear! At this moment, the others also noticed them and immediately became alert. One of the women raised her voice and said, ¡°We are hunting this Mutated White Tiger; it¡¯s very important to us, so please leave this place! Otherwise, we will take it as a provocation by the two of you!¡± This woman wasn¡¯t old, looking to be in her late twenties, and quite pretty, but her attitude was somewhat overbearing, which Fang Yuxin found distasteful. Then Fang Yuxin quickly realized that this woman too was a Second-level Superpower User and at a Second-level Middle Stage, having awakened a strong Fire Ability ¨C no wonder she was so arrogant! She indeed had the capital to be arrogant, unfortunately, she had encountered her and Bai Ye! This Mutated White Tiger, they had claimed it! Whether the Mutated White Tiger sensed Bai Ye or not, it suddenly turned its head and roared at Bai Ye. That sound didn¡¯t seem like the previous angry roar; it sounded somewhat odd. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t understand the language of the beasts and didn¡¯t know what it was trying to express, but she saw Bai Ye¡¯s expression change slightly. Feeling intrigued, she telepathically asked, ¡°Bai Ye, what¡¯s going on? Did that Mutated White Tiger say something to you?¡± Bai Ye frowned slightly, his expression uncertain as he telepathically responded, ¡°It seems to be asking me for help.¡± Fang Yuxin heard this and was even more astonished. It was true that animals in danger would alert or ask for help from their kind, but why would the Mutated White Tiger seek help from Bai Ye, who was clearly a human? Nevertheless, no matter the reason, it was clear the Mutated White Tiger favored Bai Ye more, and it had also awakened the Thunder Power. They had no reason to give it up because of this group of people. Seeing they were not leaving, the woman¡¯s face instantly turned very ugly: ¡°It seems you two don¡¯t intend to leave! If so... Guard, step forward! Stop them!¡± Because Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had concealed their energy fluctuations, to the outsiders, they appeared only as Level 1 Superpower Users. Thus, the woman did not take them seriously. As soon as she finished speaking, ten people detached from the group and headed toward them. These people coordinated quite tightly. As soon as the ten separated, others immediately moved to fill the gaps. Fang Yuxin drew her Miao Saber and said to Bai Ye, ¡°You go save that Mutated White Tiger; leave these people to me.¡± Bai Ye glanced at these ten individuals; their power was all at Level 1 Peak, not yet advanced to Level 2. Fang Yuxin should be able to handle it. As for that Mutated White Tiger, it couldn¡¯t hold on for much longer. So he nodded, ¡°Be careful.¡± Fang Yuxin smiled faintly, not taking these people seriously. Their abilities might be decent elsewhere, but she was at the Peak of Qi Refining Late Stage, just a step away from establishing her foundation; these people were no match for her! They spoke out loud this time, not using telepathy, so the others could naturally hear. The woman and the ten Guards didn¡¯t expect two ¡°Level 1¡± Superpower Users to be so bold, and their faces twisted with anger in an instant. However, before they could charge over, Bai Ye dashed forward, becoming a blur and streaking past them into the circle. As he passed by, Bai Ye deliberately left them a parting gift, channeling a burst of his energy into their bodies to lighten Fang Yuxin¡¯s burden. As a result, after he rushed into the circle, the attackers hesitated for a moment, then twisted in pain! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 503 - 503 277 Grabbing You (Third Update) ?Chapter 503: 277 Grabbing You (Third Update) Chapter 503: 277 Grabbing You (Third Update) These people initially mistook Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin for Level 1 Superpower Users. Suddenly seeing Bai Ye¡¯s body turn into a blur as he rushed into the encirclement, these people¡¯s faces turned very ugly after their shock! Especially the leader, he had already sensed that Bai Ye had also awakened the Thunder Power, and obviously, his strength was formidable. This made him very wary! He had only discovered this Mutated White Tiger with Thunder Power by a fortunate coincidence, and it was perfect to become his Contracted Beast. So, after careful preparation, he had specifically brought over a hundred skilled fighters for the sole purpose of capturing it! Unfortunately, this Mutated White Tiger was too wild and would rather die than submit to him! This made him even more determined to obtain the Mutated White Tiger, as he felt annoyed. He was ambitious and disdained ordinary Mutant Beasts. In his eyes, only this Mutated White Tiger was worthy of him! However, just as their prey was heavily injured and about to be captured, two unwelcome guests arrived! And they clearly intended to snatch the Contracted Beast he had his eyes on! Since Feng Yuan had awakened his superpower, he had never felt so frustrated, except in front of Sun Han! Thinking of Sun Han soured his mood further. He had awakened Thunder Power, strong in Attack Power, and his strength was impressive. He thought he could carve out a great career, but he unexpectedly fell into Sun Han¡¯s hands! Sun Han was older, yet he had awakened an even more mysterious Spiritual Power, with dreadfully powerful attacks! What was more terrifying were Sun Han¡¯s methods of controlling people¡¯s hearts! Feng Yuan had no idea how he had managed to gather a large group of capable individuals to work for him, leaving Feng Yuan overshadowed by Sun Han, never able to surpass him. Once he discovered this Mutated White Tiger, he realized it was his chance! If he could successfully contract such a powerful beast, his strength would surely be unmatched, giving him an important leverage against Sun Han! Therefore, no one else could compete with him for it! He would not allow it! With this thought, Feng Yuan¡¯s gaze at Bai Ye suddenly turned sinister, flashing with a maniacal intent to kill. Yet Bai Ye paid him no mind, seeing that Feng Yuan was a Thunder Element Superpower User, and considering there were many people here, and with the Mutated White Tiger already heavily wounded, he immediately revealed his weapon, the golden-hued replica longsword. The Dragon Scale Sword was too powerful, and he couldn¡¯t control it yet¡ªit would have to wait until after his Foundation Establishment. However, to deal with these people, the sword in his hand was more than sufficient! Feng Yuan keenly sensed something was off from Bai Ye, and feeling uneasy, he ordered directly, ¡°What are you dawdling for? Kill him!¡± At the same time as he spoke, he had already thrown a purple Thunder Ball towards Bai Ye! This Thunder Ball was his prized creation. By a stroke of luck, he had developed a Skill that compressed the Power of Thunder and Lightning into a fist-sized ball. When thrown, upon impact, the compressed Power within the Thunder Ball would explode, unleashing a formidable force! Unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t yet found a suitable method to preserve the Thunder Ball long-term; it could only be formed temporarily and not stored. The rest kept attacking Bai Ye non-stop, and because of the Thunder Ball, they dared not get close, only able to release their Skills from a distance. Users of Fire Element, Earth Element, and Ice Element Superpowers coped better, but those of the Power System and Speed System suffered a disadvantage, unable to approach, which meant they couldn¡¯t strike at Bai Ye. Yet, Bai Ye was even faster! In an instant, he lunged in different directions, unleashing seven sword strikes, each infused with the Golden Thunder Power. These attacks collided with the sword light and were directly shattered by it, like bursting bubbles, vanishing in an instant. Bai Ye¡¯s speed was too great; the Earth Spikes created by the Earth Element Superpower Users couldn¡¯t harm him, and even the Mutated White Tiger couldn¡¯t touch him! On the other side, Fang Yuxin had already dealt with those ten guards. Their strength was inferior to hers, and with the traps Bai Ye had laid, they barely had time to react before Fang Yuxin severed their tendons, crippling them and rendering them unable to fight, as they collapsed to the ground in pain. Seeing this, the woman couldn¡¯t help but say in a harsh tone, ¡°You actually severed their tendons, you truly are a vicious woman!¡± Chapter 504 - 504 277 Snatching You (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 504: 277 Snatching You (Third Update)_2 Chapter 504: 277 Snatching You (Third Update)_2 Fang Yuxin was dismissive. What was so cruel about this? With a Wood Element Superpower User around, reconnecting severed tendons and ligaments in hands and feet was incredibly easy. They were simply temporarily incapacitated and reduced to invalids. She certainly hadn¡¯t killed anyone directly! Did this woman really consider the idea of sparing them? To have the audacity to call her malicious! Fang Yuxin paid her no attention and charged straight at her. Though that woman was annoying, she remained composed and was not the useless type, like a mere vase. As the woman saw Fang Yuxin approach, she stretched out her hands in front of her, fingers outstretched, and released two thick fire dragons. To say they were dragons wasn¡¯t quite accurate since they lacked the shape of dragons. However, the two torrents of flame were tremendously forceful, and as they approached Fang Yuxin, one of the fire dragon heads opened like a blooming flower, while the other quickly wrapped around Fang Yuxin¡¯s back, forming a wall of fire with the intention of enclosing her! Fang Yuxin felt the scorching heat around her but was not the least bit hurried. Right as the two walls of fire were about to close in on her, she vanished from the gap between them, and in a flash, she was at the woman¡¯s side! The woman had just released the two fire dragons and wouldn¡¯t be able to use her Skill again so soon. She hadn¡¯t anticipated that Fang Yuxin could escape the fiery encirclement. Originally plotting to trap and burn her to death, she never expected Fang Yuxin to break free! Watching the cold glint of Fang Yuxin¡¯s Blade reflect in her eye, the woman panicked inside, and with a blustering yet fearful warning, she said, ¡°If you dare to hurt a single hair on me, Brother Feng won¡¯t let you off!¡± Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but laugh. The woman did have some capability; even at a time like this, she thought to threaten with words. Unfortunately for her, Fang Yuxin was not intimidated by this woman¡¯s threats! Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze turned icy as she twisted her wrist, slamming the back of her blade harshly into the woman¡¯s torso! She had deliberately chosen this spot, using the back of the blade not to bisect the woman but to cause pain without damaging her bones! The woman, likely unaccustomed to such injuries, let out a pained cry and was sent flying. The others who saw it all gasped in shock. ¡°Sister Chen!¡± Then, a Wood Element Superpower User abruptly rushed over, catching Sister Chen and glaring fiercely at Fang Yuxin, ¡°You dare to injure her, Brother Feng won¡¯t let you off!¡± This was a man, not old, probably around thirty, and quite handsome. Standing beside that woman, they looked oddly well-suited. And seeing his face full of distress, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but let her thoughts wander. She glanced at Feng Yuan, who was already at a disadvantage, and suddenly laughed, ¡°I¡¯d think that the person he¡¯d be least willing to forgive is you, for being so concerned about his woman.¡± At these words, the color drained from both their faces, and their gazes turned frantic! The woman even roared back, ¡°Don¡¯t you slander us!¡± Fang Yuxin had merely made an offhand remark, and yet this pair panicked so readily. She raised an eyebrow, her smile broadening, ¡°It seems you two are already involved. I wonder if Mr. Feng knows.¡± She deliberately spoke loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear. Feng Yuan, right in the middle of focusing on his Skill, overheard this and was startled, causing his Skill to be disrupted. Thunder Energy, more volatile than other types, surged through him as the Skill was interrupted, the amassed energy suddenly becoming uncontrollable, ravaging his meridians in an instant! He spat out blood in agony, but couldn¡¯t help looking at the pair confronting Fang Yuxin. Seeing the handsome man holding his woman, rage boiled within him, his internal energy growing even more uncontrollable! At this moment, he saw nothing but Bai Ye and the Mutated White Tiger, his eyes venomously fixed on the pair as he spat out blood, ¡°You... you unfaithful dogs... you dare to betray me!¡± He was actually quite ordinary-looking, not particularly successful before the apocalypse, yet he harbored a secret crush on the beautiful Sister Chen, pursuing her persistently. After the apocalypse, he had the good fortune of awakening the Thunder Power and obtained immense strength, finally fulfilling his desires. He truly cherished this woman, to the bone; even after the apocalypse brought many attractive women offering themselves to him, she remained his favorite. But he hadn¡¯t expected someone to dare steal his woman! And right in front of so many others, they were touchy with each other, and she did not resist! Those despicable two! He wouldn¡¯t let them off! Absolutely not! With this thought, he angrily turned to Bai Ye, ¡°This Mutated White Tiger is yours, I¡¯ll take the others and leave immediately!¡± Bai Ye nodded, seemingly not intent on wiping them out. Relieved, he didn¡¯t look at Fang Yuxin, instead grabbing Sister Chen and pulling her into his arms. Then he glared at the handsome man once more, sneered, and led the group away. The man was scared by his threatening demeanor, his handsome face turning pale in an instant. But the next moment, he remembered his own superpower. He was a rare and valuable Wood Element Superpower User! Despite Feng Yuan¡¯s anger, he might not truly dare to do anything to him! With this thought, he exhaled in relief, angrily glancing at Fang Yuxin before hastening to catch up with the group. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t bother with these people. They exchanged a look, relieved that neither was hurt. Then, simultaneously, their expressions changed, and they turned to look in one direction. Bai Ye called out loudly, ¡°This friend has been watching for a while now, isn¡¯t it time for you to come out?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for monthly tickets and recommendations. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users can read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 505 - 505 278 Brain Problems (First Update) ?Chapter 505: 278 Brain Problems (First Update) Chapter 505: 278 Brain Problems (First Update) As Bai Ye spoke, Fang Yuxin had already reached the White Tiger¡¯s side, pressing her hand against its wound and quietly treating it. The Mutated White Tiger was sprawled on the ground and emitted a warning growl from its throat as she approached, looking as if it wanted to stand up, but it did not attack directly. When it sensed the pure Wood Energy being released from Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, it promptly lay back down and looked at Fang Yuxin with its large golden eyes, unexpectedly obedient. Fang Yuxin arched an eyebrow; this Mutated White Tiger did not seem like a wild beast but more like one that had been trained by humans, probably having escaped from some zoo. Since the Mutated White Tiger was severely injured, she didn¡¯t think too much and carefully washed its wound with water before using Wood Energy to treat its injuries. It was indeed very intelligent; its fur spikes had originally sealed the wound, but seeing Fang Yuxin about to treat it, it retracted the spikes voluntarily. The fur spikes were originally embedded in the skin of the wound like needles, holding the split skin together. When retracted, the wound reopened, a long slash from which blood seeped out, looking both miserable and pitiful. Fang Yuxin was exceptionally swift in her actions. After the Wood Energy was injected, the wound healed at a visibly rapid pace. After healing, except for the bloodstains and watermarks around the wound, there was no sign that an injury had ever been there. As she began to work, Bai Ye stepped back to stand behind her, blocking the line of sight from someone not far away, preventing him from clearly seeing Fang Yuxin¡¯s movements. The man had been hiding behind a tree trunk, but after Bai Ye spoke, he came out. Bai Ye was slightly surprised to see him; the person had a baby face, with round eyes and fair skin, looking quite thin and unusually young, almost like a teenager. However, there was a persistence and madness in his eyes, clearly not that of a harmless youth. His attire was also somewhat strange; he wore a camouflaged canvas combat uniform, but his wrists were wrapped with cloth bands as wristguards, and a cloth band was wrapped around his waist as a belt, which looked rather incongruous. Bai Ye secretly sensed the energy fluctuations emanating from the man and discovered that he should be a Second-level Enhancement Superpower User. Strangely, it seemed that he had enhanced more than one aspect. This was the first time Bai Ye had encountered such a person, so he inevitably felt vigilant. Seeing the man walking towards them, he asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± Right after speaking, Bai Ye felt a twinge of regret; the young man had been staring at him all along, his eyes shining. He seemed somewhat off. Before he could say anything more, the young man said, ¡°My name is Zhou Han! I saw everything just now; your swordsmanship is really impressive! I¡¯ve loved martial arts since I was a child, but I could never find a master. Can you take me as your apprentice and teach me the sword techniques you just used?¡± As he spoke, he slightly furrowed his brows and then pulled a branch from a nearby tree, snapping it to the length of a sword and started practicing with it in his hand. Bai Ye noticed that the man was demonstrating the swordsmanship he had just used himself; it¡¯s just that since he hadn¡¯t undergone Cultivation, the practiced sword moves lacked power. However, his strength must have been enhanced; he only held an ordinary branch and yet swung it with a force that seemed to tear the air apart. This man... indeed had the makings of a good martial artist. Bai Ye thought to himself but had no intention of taking him as an apprentice. He had inherited the Dragon Scale Sword¡¯s legacy, which he could cultivate himself and not pass on to others. Moreover, with the man¡¯s mysterious background and his reliability not yet clear, he could not possibly accept an apprentice based just on a few words from the other party. Therefore, when the young man finished practicing the few moves of Bai Ye¡¯s swordsmanship, his head drenched with sweat and his eyes gleaming as he looked at Bai Ye, Bai Ye simply shook his head, ¡°You should leave, I won¡¯t take you as an apprentice.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, he added, ¡°I can see that you are strong; there¡¯s no need for you to take me as your master.¡± Yet to Bai Ye¡¯s surprise, the young man furrowed his brows and insisted, ¡°That won¡¯t do! You are the most incredible person I¡¯ve seen, and I must apprentice under you! If you don¡¯t agree, I¡¯ll keep following you until you do!¡± Hearing this, Bai Ye started to get a little angry; he felt once more that the young man¡¯s mind wasn¡¯t quite right, making him even less willing to take him as an apprentice. Chapter 506 - 506 278 Brain Issues (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 506: 278 Brain Issues (First Update)_2 Chapter 506: 278 Brain Issues (First Update)_2 At that moment, Fang Yuxin had already healed the injuries of the Mutated White Tiger. Surprisingly, it didn¡¯t leave and just lay there obediently, allowing Fang Yuxin to pet its head. It even actively rubbed its fluffy head against her palm. Bai Ye looked coldly at the young man and then watched this scene unfold. He couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly. Bending over, he rubbed the Mutated White Tiger¡¯s head and asked it telepathically, ¡°Would you like to acknowledge me as your master and become my battle companion?¡± The White Tiger seemed to understand and actually nodded its head. Seeing this, Bai Ye was somewhat astonished. He had always known that this White Tiger was quite intelligent, but he never expected it to be this clever! It turned out to be quite a find! Without any further hesitation, he quickly used the method he had seen in his heritage to complete the master recognition ceremony with the Mutated White Tiger. Although the young man was rejected, he didn¡¯t leave. However, he didn¡¯t rashly approach either and picked a distance that was neither too far nor too close to watch. Seeing Bai Ye successfully become the master of the Mutated White Tiger, he couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Hey! This big tiger is really nice! It makes me want to get one too.¡± Bai Ye ignored him, but Fang Yuxin glanced at him curiously, thinking about his previous conversation with Bai Ye and couldn¡¯t help but turn to Bai Ye with a meaningful smile. Bai Ye felt embarrassed by her laughter and quickly said, ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s go back!¡± After speaking, he patted the Mutated White Tiger¡¯s head and said to it, ¡°From now on, you¡¯re with me. Your name will be... let¡¯s call you Bai Er. I¡¯m the boss, and you¡¯re the second!¡± The White Tiger shook its head and stood up. It let out a roar from its mouth; it was hard to tell whether it liked the name ¡°Bai Er¡± or not. But Bai Ye had already made a decision, so even if it didn¡¯t like it, there was nothing it could do. After Bai Er roared, it roared again towards Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin. Since Fang Yuxin was not its master and didn¡¯t understand beast language, she had no idea what it was roaring about. But Bai Ye said, ¡°It¡¯s telling us to get on; it wants to carry us out.¡± On hearing this, Fang Yuxin¡¯s beautiful eyes lit up, and she couldn¡¯t help but reach out to touch Bai Er¡¯s smooth fur. Then she agilely leapt onto its back, with Bai Ye following close behind her. Bai Er was huge, about three meters long, and carrying two adults was not strenuous for it at all. Both of them sat on its back without feeling cramped. As soon as they got settled, Bai Er roared at Zhou Han not far away. Then it shook its head proudly and skillfully leaped through the woods carrying Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. Its jumping ability was excellent and in the blink of an eye, it had already put a great distance between them and Zhou Han. Zhou Han¡¯s eyes shone brightly, and he didn¡¯t seem upset at all, shouting, ¡°Wait for me!¡± while he quickly followed them. His speed was indeed very fast, and it didn¡¯t take long before he caught up with the two and the tiger. This made Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin realize that he had enhanced his speed. Bai Er certainly didn¡¯t expect this annoying human to be able to keep up with it, so it let out a roar of displeasure at Zhou Han running alongside it and increased its pace, leaving Zhou Han behind. But soon, Zhou Han caught up again. He didn¡¯t speak, but his actions were quite stubborn. Bai Ye still wouldn¡¯t agree, while Fang Yuxin enjoyed watching the scene unfold, saying nothing. She could tell that this young man wasn¡¯t quite right in the head, a bit like a ¡°Martial Fool¡± from TV dramas. Not stupid, just unusually stubborn about learning martial arts, while not too shrewd about worldly wisdom. Soon, they were back at the location where their car was parked. This time, they found that more than a dozen zombies¡¯ bones had appeared on the ground. Those zombies must have encountered them after they had left, but unfortunately, they hadn¡¯t found an easy target and had all been killed. Seeing this, Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin instinctively looked toward Qian Lang and Zhao Yan. Their car had good defense, and as long as Li Qingyun stayed inside, there would be no issues. As for those five people, including the elderly, women, and children, it was uncertain how they were faring. On closer inspection, they found that these people were quite fortunate and had not been injured. So, the two of them didn¡¯t pay any more attention to them and went straight back to their car. When it was time to get in the car, Bai Er encountered some trouble. Its large size meant that even if it could squeeze in, it would definitely be uncomfortable. Thinking of Angela who could shrink in size, Bai Ye patted Bai Er¡¯s head and asked, ¡°Can you shrink?¡± ¡°Ow¡ª¡± Bai Er¡¯s cry sounded somewhat innocent, and its golden eyes looked blankly at Bai Ye, seemingly not understanding what he meant. Bai Ye was about to frown when Bai Er had already leapt decisively onto the roof of the car, laying down majestically on top of it. Bai Ye¡¯s brows furrowed even deeper, with such a large White Tiger on their car, they won¡¯t be able to keep a low profile on their journey! At that time, other people were curiously looking at the huge White Tiger. Bai Ye called it down, but Bai Er pretended not to hear and lazily lay on the roof, rotating its big head curiously looking around. Bai Ye, feeling helpless, just let it be. Zhou Han had already caught up. He was about to walk towards Bai Ye when Bai Ye glanced coldly at him. Seeing this, Zhou Han¡¯s round eyes blinked, and he immediately turned around, headed toward a few people not far away. He noticed at a glance that Zhao Yan¡¯s car had only her in it, so he walked over, smiled revealing two cute canine teeth, looking especially adorable, ¡°Big sister, can I catch a ride with you? I can pay you with Crystal Cores.¡± Saying this, he opened his palm, which held five shiny Basic-level Crystal Cores. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 507 - 507 279 Zhou Han (Second Update) ?Chapter 507: 279 Zhou Han (Second Update) Chapter 507: 279 Zhou Han (Second Update) Zhao Yan gave him a scrutinizing glance, noticed the strong aura emanating from him, hesitated for a moment, but still said, ¡°Get in the car, no need for the Crystal Core.¡± However, Zhou Han was insistent, shoving the Crystal Core into her hand and then quickly pulled open the car door and got into the back seat. Zhao Yan reached out to adjust the rearview mirror, to better monitor his every move, and at the same time asked, ¡°May I know how to address this brother?¡± Despite being a Martial Fool, Zhou Han was quite polite when facing his elders. Hearing Zhao Yan¡¯s question, he waved his hand casually and said, ¡°My name is Zhou Han, big sister can just call me Xiao Zhou, and may I know how to address big sister?¡± He had a baby face, big eyes, and fair skin. When he smiled, two small fangs appeared, making him look particularly cute. Zhao Yan had initially been somewhat wary of his strength, but finding him so amiable, she first let out a sigh of relief in her heart. She thought, those two people she brought back couldn¡¯t possibly be bad guys. Although it seemed this man was following them and the two weren¡¯t very courteous to him, since they had let him follow, they must be quite reassured about him. Zhao Yan couldn¡¯t explain why she trusted them so much, it seemed that ever since her return from skirting around Ghost Gate, she subconsciously trusted both Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin. No, to be more precise, she trusted Fang Yuxin, who had saved her. Even looking at her, she couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of her own daughter, who had passed away. She knew Fang Yuxin was certainly no ordinary person, so she never thought about voicing her sentiments, only silently caring for her in her heart, feeling content just to see her do well. However, despite Zhou Han appearing easy to get along with and lacking the arrogance typical of high-level superpower users, Zhao Yan never let down her guard. On the way, she took the opportunity while chatting with Zhou Han to subtly probe into his background. Zhou Han looked rather simple-minded and seemed completely oblivious to Zhao Yan¡¯s probing. He answered whatever she asked, and even volunteered information she hadn¡¯t inquired about. Through this line of questioning, Zhao Yan found out that Zhou Han was already twenty years old, came from an ordinary working-class family, and had been crazily passionate about martial arts from a young age, even going so far as to insist on going to Shaolin Temple and Wudang Mountain to train. But his family had traditional views, believing that children should focus on their studies, and they never agreed to his requests. Nevertheless, seeing how much he made a fuss, they had planned to enroll him in an interest class, like Taekwondo, since many kids were learning it. Yet Zhou Han was a peculiar case; he looked down on so-called Taekwondo and was infatuated with martial arts from wuxia novels, dreaming of encountering a hermit expert and mastering supreme skills, nearly driving his parents to their wit¡¯s end. Later, he secretly practiced by himself, combining what he read in wuxia novels with various shows, and astonishingly, without proper guidance, he not only managed to avoid any mishaps but actually developed some combat techniques. After the apocalypse, he experienced an Awakening in the Enhancement System, first with strength, and when he advanced, he pondered enhancing other aspects and truly managed to speed up his body. With the techniques he haphazardly developed, he had also killed quite a few zombies along the way. Originally, some people had wanted to recruit him for his prowess, but he was impatient with teaming up and had always operated solo, with only the occasional person following behind to scavenge. Zhao Yan, initially quite cautious of him, couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of sympathy for him after hearing his story. Then, she thought of her nephew. Her nephew was about the same age as Zhou Han but couldn¡¯t be more different in terms of character! Even though Zhou Han was madly devoted to martial arts, he was a decent person, unlike her nephew, who had been spoiled by his family and remained childish. She wondered if he could fare well, left in the Safe Zone. Zhao Yan sighed silently in her heart, but she had no regrets about her decision, rather feeling increasingly that her heartless choice to leave Zhao Liang behind was the right one! If the child continued following her, who knew how long it would take for him to grow up. It might be better to let him make his way on his own and grow up faster! Their conversation quickly brought them to noon. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin chose a place to stop the car and, just as last time, used the excuse of searching for food in the forest to take a stroll. What was different was that this time they took the newly joined Bai Er with them, and once they were in the woods, Fang Yuxin took out two fresh pig hams from his space and gave them to Bai Er to eat. Chapter 508 - 508 279 Zhou Han (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 508: 279 Zhou Han (Second Update)_2 Chapter 508: 279 Zhou Han (Second Update)_2 Bai Er had hardly eaten properly before he met them. If lucky, he could catch some animals to eat, and if not, he would gnaw on tender branches, suffering indescribably. So, when Fang Yuxin took out those two pork hams, his golden eyes nearly glowed! He didn¡¯t even care that Bai Ye was his master and yowled at Fang Yuxin so ingratiatingly that he almost wished he could change masters! Bai Ye watched with a twitching smile. However, he had already regarded Bai Er as a companion, and since Fang Yuxin was the one he recognised as his other half, he naturally wouldn¡¯t get angry over Bai Er¡¯s ingratiating behavior towards her. Bai Er gobbled down the two pork hams but was still not full. Keep in mind, he had been hungry for three days already! Hence, Fang Yuxin took out four more pork hams and finally satiated him. Bai Ye frowned, surprised that Bai Er had devoured six pork hams in one sitting! The appetite was horrifying! Unlike Fang Yuxin, who had a special space and held a lot of resources, he had nothing other than Crystal Cores. He was flat broke! Unsure of the situation in Beishi City, how was he going to sustain Bai Er if resources were scarce? He couldn¡¯t possibly let Fang Yuxin keep feeding him forever, right? He was a man after all! Fang Yuxin, unaware of Bai Ye¡¯s dilemma, liked this large tiger and was willing to feed him, regardless of Bai Ye! Bai Ye didn¡¯t voice his concerns in the end, only silently thinking to himself that once they returned to Beishi City, he would have to find a way to earn more Crystal Cores. After all, he needed to provide for Bai Er and couldn¡¯t always rely on Fang Yuxin to bear the cost. After feeding Bai Er, Fang Yuxin picked out some fresh vegetables from her space, and together with Bai Ye, they led Bai Er back. By the time they returned, Li Qingyun was already preparing the meal. Fang Yuxin had put a large bag in the car before, stocked with many ingredients. Additionally, they had a stove, a pot, gas, and a bucket of water. So after they left, Li Qingyun started preparing. She first washed the rice and put it in the pot, then soaked black fungus and shiitake mushrooms, sliced the meat, and by the time she was almost ready, the rice was cooked. Then she began to cook. Given the limited conditions, she planned to simply make a vegetable and meat soup. When Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye came back with fresh vegetables, Li Qingyun had already started cooking. They had a fragrant smell on their side, but the situation for the others wasn¡¯t so good. Although Zhou Han was strong, he had little food; his bag only contained a few hard-as-rock dry cakes. Others had initially divided the rice among themselves, but they had used most of it to pay for their overnight stay in the Safe Zone, leaving only a pitiful small handful. Their bread and water were already finished. Without water, even if they had rice, they couldn¡¯t make porridge. So, smelling the scent of the dish, all they could do was salivate. Seeing their plight, Zhou Han kindly divided his cakes among them. But, the cakes were so tough to swallow even for adults, let alone for a six-year-old child like Liu Yihuan. Li Qingyun felt pity for them, but having been bitten once, and considering that the food was originally Fang Yuxin¡¯s, she hesitated to make a decision on her own. When Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye returned, she approached Fang Yuxin and whispered, ¡°Xinxin, those few people seem quite pitiful. We still have some water; can we share some with them?¡± To prevent others from overhearing, she kept her voice very low. However, as a Second-level Superpower User, Zhou Han could hear clearly what Li Qingyun was saying, even if others couldn¡¯t. Hearing this, he couldn¡¯t help but look at Li Qingyun and Fang Yuxin, his eyes filled with hope. He himself wasn¡¯t greedy, having survived like this on other days, but he felt sorry, considering Mr. Qian and Zhao Yan were old, and Liu Yihuan was still so young, the cakes they couldn¡¯t even bite through. Fang Yuxin glanced at them, nodded to Li Qingyun, then said, ¡°After the soup is ready, let¡¯s share some with them.¡± These people probably hadn¡¯t eaten meat in a long time, and she wasn¡¯t short on food. Sharing some with them was acceptable. It was fortunate that those who were timid as mice had stayed in the Safe Zone. She found the few here quite agreeable. Upon hearing this, Li Qingyun¡¯s stern expression softened, and then she called out to the people nearby, ¡°We have some water here; bring your bottles to fill up.¡± After finishing the bottled water, Zhao Yan and the others kept the empty bottles and quickly found them upon hearing the offer, then approached with delight. Seeing Fang Yuxin, these people showed a look of gratitude on their faces, sincerely expressing their thanks before filling their bottles. They knew that food and water were scarce, so they weren¡¯t greedy, each taking a bottle for themselves before heading back. Once the soup was ready, Li Qingyun cleaned the bowls and, with Fang Yuxin¡¯s approval, first scooped some meat and vegetables into the bowls, then ladled the soup into them and placed them on a foldable small table, inviting the few to come eat. Other than Zhou Han, the others had only eaten a little of their cakes, as they were just too hard to bite through. Now, with hot soup available, they could crumble their cakes into it to soak. Without reservation, they respectfully thanked them and took their portions, crumbling their cakes into the soup. After letting them soak properly, they began to eat. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 509 - 509 280 Change of Mind (Third Update) ?Chapter 509: 280 Change of Mind (Third Update) Chapter 509: 280 Change of Mind (Third Update) Liu Yihuan was young, and Fang Yuxin specially served her a small bowl of rice, giving her more meat and vegetables than the others. However, she was very obedient and secretly took the meat from her bowl and put it into Liu Zhenglin¡¯s bowl, saying softly, ¡°Daddy, you eat the meat!¡± Liu Zhenglin looked at his well-behaved daughter, his eyes gradually reddening, he blinked forcefully, pushing back the tears, gently touched Liu Yihuan¡¯s head, and put the slices of meat back into her bowl, saying gently, ¡°Daddy will not eat, Huanhuan eat.¡± She hesitated for a moment, and her delicate eyebrows knitted together in difficulty, ¡°But Daddy, you are older than Huanhuan, and you take care of Huanhuan regularly. You must be tired. Didn¡¯t you say before that eating meat keeps the body healthy? Huanhuan wants Daddy to stay healthy and never get sick again.¡± Because she was young, her voice sounded soft and especially adorable. However, her words were so obedient that they tugged at everyone¡¯s heartstrings, making others almost wish to give her the meat from their bowls. Fang Yuxin, watching this scene, suddenly felt her eyes sting. She thought of Bai Qianqian. That child was also heartbreakingly obedient, especially when he first entered the Fang Family, probably fearing abandonment, behaving extremely well-behaved, not even like a normal child. Liu Yihuan obviously was the same, but her reason for being so well-behaved was different from Bai Qianqian. Bai Qianqian feared being abandoned by her, while Liu Yihuan probably experienced the harsh realities of the apocalypse, with her mother¡¯s death and her father¡¯s ¡°serious illness¡± having dealt her a great blow, making her so heart-wrenchingly obedient. Fang Yuxin had originally planned to bring these people to Beishi City, and afterward, they would part ways, fulfilling her obligation. But now, looking at the extremely obedient Liu Yihuan, she changed her mind and decided to recruit these people into the Yongcheng Team. So, she asked, ¡°What special skills do all of you have?¡± Zhao Yan and the others were initially stunned, but Mr. Qian was the first to respond, quickly saying, ¡°The old man¡¯s surname is Qian, and I¡¯m relatively knowledgeable about various plants. I don¡¯t have other special skills.¡± He guessed that Fang Yuxin probably wanted to accept them into her team. Although he was hopeful, he remained humble in his words and did not exaggerate his abilities just to join the team. Fang Yuxin was about to ask how much he knew about plants when Li Qingyun suddenly changed her expression, looking at Mr. Qian excitedly and asking, ¡°Are you... Are you the famous botanist, Qian Sen, Mr. Qian?¡± She had always felt that Mr. Qian looked somewhat familiar but could not remember where she had seen him. Now that she heard his words, she suddenly remembered seeing his photograph and watching his lecture videos online! Back then, Mr. Qian looked vigorous and quite young, not as down on his luck as now, or even with more wrinkles on his face! Qian Sen was quite surprised. Although the outside world kept saying he was some famous botanist, he did not take it seriously. He loved those adorable plants and enjoyed researching them, looking for components beneficial to humans from them. The praise from the outside world, in his view, was really exaggerated. Therefore, when he introduced himself just now, he didn¡¯t claim to be any famous botanist and didn¡¯t mention his name. He didn¡¯t expect to be recognized! Seeing Li Qingyun looking at him with excitement and even reverence, he repeatedly waved his hands, ¡°What famous botanist, it¡¯s all nonsense those people talk about! This old man just likes to study plants; you shouldn¡¯t think too highly of me.¡± Li Qingyun did not expect Qian Sen to be so down-to-earth. In her heart, she had always regarded him as an idol! She thought for a moment, looked at Fang Yuxin, and leaned closer to whisper in her ear about Qian Sen¡¯s life and achievements, concluding, ¡°Xinxin, this old man is not simple. Once we reach Beishi City, he will definitely be a hot commodity in the research institute! If you want to recruit him to the team, you better hurry!¡± Her words were overheard by Zhou Han, who couldn¡¯t help but ¡°Pfft¡± out a laugh. Li Qingyun frowned, lifted her head to give him a cold glance, guessing he had heard her words, her brows furrowing even more tightly. Fang Yuxin ignored Zhou Han and said directly to Qian Sen, ¡°My family and I have established a small mercenary team, not many members, just over ten now. Would the old gentleman like to join?¡± Qian Sen, upon hearing this, broke into a smile. Before he could even respond, Qian Lang beside him already was laughing, ¡°Miss Fang, don¡¯t worry! My grandpa will definitely agree! But... Miss Fang, what about me? Although I haven¡¯t experienced an Awakening superpower, I can also kill zombies!¡± After speaking, he even purposely rolled up his sleeve, clenched his fist, and showed off his muscles. Chapter 510 - 510 280 Change of Mind (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 510: 280 Change of Mind (Third Update)_2 Chapter 510: 280 Change of Mind (Third Update)_2 Unfortunately, he really didn¡¯t have much muscle, and even when he tensed his arm, only a faint hint was visible. Qian Lang had wanted to show off and catch Fang Yuxin¡¯s eye, hoping she would recruit him into the Mercenary Team, but his physique just wasn¡¯t up to the task! His otherwise delicate face immediately turned beet red, and after a light cough in the doctor¡¯s direction, he hurriedly pulled down his sleeve to cover the embarrassing arm. Qian Sen, upset at his lack of progress, smacked him on the head and gave him a warning glare before saying to Fang Yuxin, ¡°To be frank with Miss Fang, I know that all the major Bases must have research institutes. After I get to Beishi City, I may join a research institute. Humanity is facing a great crisis right now, and we must find ways to overcome this disaster. So, if the research institute needs it, I will do all that I can!¡± ¡°Grandpa!¡± Qian Lang cried out, tugging hard on Qian Sen¡¯s clothes and whispering into his ear, ¡°Grandpa, have you lost your mind? What¡¯s wrong with joining Miss Fang¡¯s team? Do you still want to hang around with others? Ouch! I didn¡¯t say anything wrong, why are you hitting me again!¡± As he spoke, he stole cautious glances at Fang Yuxin, afraid she might get angry. Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t angry, though; she stood up and bowed respectfully to Qian Sen. Qian Sen, taken aback by her gesture, jumped to his feet, waving his hands and saying, ¡°Miss Fang, this is absolutely unnecessary! You... why such a grand gesture for me? If anyone should be bowing, it should be me bowing to you¡ªyou saved my life, after all!¡± Fang Yuxin replied, ¡°No, elder sir, your noble aspirations and concern for the world merit this respect. I hope for your forgiveness if there were any shortcomings in my care previously.¡± Qian Sen looked uncomfortable: ¡°This... what are you talking about? You saved my life, how could I possibly blame you?¡± Bai Ye, watching from the side, said timely, ¡°Elder sir, don¡¯t feel troubled. Xinxin truly admires you, and seeing your concern for the world, it is only right for us to take care of you.¡± After finishing, he personally served a bowl of rice and passed it to Qian Sen, ¡°Please, elder sir, have your meal.¡± Qian Sen felt uneasy, feeling like he was fishing for compliments, having not actually done anything worthwhile, yet receiving such treatment from Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin. He... he truly felt undeserving in his heart! Seeing him frowning with difficulty, Fang Yuxin spoke again, ¡°Elder sir, don¡¯t be troubled, we have plenty of food, please go ahead and eat.¡± Qian Sen wasn¡¯t one to fuss, so upon hearing this, he smiled at Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, then bowed his head to eat. Qian Lang, who had been eager to join Fang Yuxin¡¯s team, was now unsure of what to say. But then, he suddenly heard Fang Yuxin say, ¡°This Qian... brother, if you¡¯re willing, you can join the Yongcheng Team.¡± Although Qian Lang hadn¡¯t awakened his superpower yet, she had Elemental Crystals, which would make his Awakening not too difficult. However, if possible, she would prefer that this person Awaken naturally through infection. Awakeners were divided into three types: voluntary Awakeners, infection-Awakened, and Elemental Crystal Awakened. Voluntary Awakeners had the best talent, infection-Awakened could resist the erosion of the Zombie Virus, and while their talent might not be the best, their willpower was absolutely the strongest. Elemental Crystal Awakeners, who took a shortcut, faced a greatly reduced danger during the Awakening process, but without the trial by Zombie Virus, their willpower was significantly lesser than that of those who Awakened through infection. Qian Lang, who had thought that after Qian Sen¡¯s speech Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t want him, was suddenly presented with a chance! Just as he was about to agree, something occurred to him, and he couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Miss Fang, can I ask a question, and don¡¯t get mad. You... you didn¡¯t decide to take me in just because of my grandpa, did you?¡± But Fang Yuxin, instead of answering, retorted, ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you trust in your own abilities?¡± Qian Lang immediately denied, ¡°Of course I believe in myself!¡± He said, touching his head and laughing, ¡°As long as you¡¯re not just taking me because of my grandpa, I¡¯m in! I¡¯ll join your Mercenary Team!¡± Yet, he might have been too excited, because just as he finished speaking, his stomach growled loudly. Qian Lang¡¯s face turned red again; he instinctively covered his stomach, hesitated for a moment, but still said with some embarrassment, ¡°Ahem! That... Miss Fang, I... I¡¯m now one of your people, right? Could I... erm... that...¡± He said, eyeing the nearby rice pot. ¡°From now on call me Deputy Captain Fang. The Captain is my brother; you¡¯ll meet him when we get to Beishi City.¡± Fang Yuxin smiled, gesturing towards the rice pot, ¡°If you want to eat go serve yourself.¡± After speaking, she turned her attention to Liu Zhenglin and Zhao Yan, ¡°Could you two tell me about your specialties?¡± Zhou Han, unable to hold back, interjected, ¡°How come you¡¯re not asking me?¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at Bai Ye with a meaningful smile, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to become his pupil? He¡¯s not from my Mercenary Team.¡± Zhou Han¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment, his gaze flitting between Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, his voice filled with confusion, ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys a couple? Why do you make such a clear distinction?¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t understand what he meant at first, automatically retorting, ¡°As I just said, we¡¯re not from the same team...¡± Then, furrowing her brows, she suddenly realized that Zhou Han might mean something else. Bai Ye, whose mood had soured since Fang Yuxin disassociated from him, couldn¡¯t help but laugh upon hearing Zhou Han¡¯s words, teasing Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, you misunderstood, what he means is...¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s face flushed red, and she quickly interrupted him, ¡°Shut up! I know what he means!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 511 - 511 281 Prohibition (First Update) ?Chapter 511: 281 Prohibition (First Update) Chapter 511: 281 Prohibition (First Update) Bai Ye saw that Fang Yuxin was obviously enraged with embarrassment, and he dared not provoke her further; he simply bowed his head in silence, saying nothing. When Fang Yuxin saw him like this, she suddenly felt a bit uneasy inside. She glared fiercely at Zhou Han, no longer paying attention to him, and turned to look at Liu Zhenglin and Zhao Yan. Both of them had intended to speak earlier, but they were interrupted by Zhou Han, and it was not their place to interject casually. Now, sensing Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze, the two exchanged a look, and Zhao Yan spoke first, ¡°My name is Zhao Yan, a former steel mill worker, not very capable. Now I¡¯ve awakened the Fire Ability, but I can¡¯t compare to you young folks.¡± Saying this, she frowned with difficulty. Then she looked at Fang Yuxin, speaking firmly, ¡°Although I¡¯m not very skilled and am older, I hope to join your Mercenary Team. Whatever you ask of me, I¡¯ll do it, without any shirking!¡± Liu Zhenglin then said, ¡°My name is Liu Zhenglin, a former landscape designer, and I know a bit about plants. Beyond that, I have no other skills, but now I¡¯ve awakened the Wood Element Superpower. I also hope to join your Mercenary Team. Although I am not very capable, I will work hard to improve!¡± Fang Yuxin looked at the two of them and nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll take you both on, but...¡± Here, Fang Yuxin paused, slightly narrowing her eyes, scrutinizing these people, ¡°there¡¯s something I must tell you; joining my Mercenary Team requires a Blood Oath of eternal loyalty. If you have no objections, you can make the oath now. However, if you are unwilling, I will not force you.¡± On hearing this, the expressions of the several people present changed slightly. After hesitating for a moment, it was Zhao Yan who spoke up first, ¡°I am willing to make the oath, but are there any taboos with this Blood Oath?¡± Fang Yuxin explained simply, ¡°Once you¡¯ve sworn the Blood Oath, I can sense through its bond whether you¡¯re alive or dead. As long as you don¡¯t betray us, the Blood Oath will have no effect on you, but if someone does betray, I will know immediately, and that person will suffer the oath¡¯s backlash!¡± Zhao Yan then nodded, ¡°All right! I¡¯ll swear the Blood Oath! What should I do?¡± Fang Yuxin gave her a calming look and then turned towards Qian Lang and Liu Zhenglin. Liu Zhenglin glanced at his daughter Liu Yihuan and nodded as well, saying succinctly, ¡°I am willing.¡± Qian Lang looked towards Qian Sen, seeking his advice. Unfortunately, Qian Sen did not even glance at him, acting as though he was unaware of his grandson¡¯s turmoil, which frustrated Qian Lang immensely. But after his frustration, he still said, ¡°I have no objections.¡± Having said this, he couldn¡¯t help but glance at Qian Sen. He knew his grandfather quite well; if there was anything wrong with the Blood Oath, Qian Sen would certainly stop him. However, Qian Sen had done nothing, not even spoken a word, evidently leaving the decision to him. This meant, the Blood Oath should be fine; otherwise, Qian Sen wouldn¡¯t have let him decide on his own. With this thought, Qian Lang couldn¡¯t help but look at Qian Sen with a smugness¡ªHmph! Even if you won¡¯t speak, I know how to choose! None of those present were fools; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have chosen to take such great risks to follow Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. They all understood that by asking them to take a Blood Oath, Fang Yuxin was giving them a choice. As long as they took the oath, they would be ¡°one of their own¡± from here on, but if they were unwilling, naturally they would have to part ways amicably. They didn¡¯t know much about Fang Yuxin¡¯s trump cards, but they could tell that she was very strong and likely had plenty of resources, otherwise she would not be so generous. And having followed her and Bai Ye for some time, they¡¯d come to understand their temperaments fairly well, recognizing that although the pair looked cold, they were not the selfish, ruthless kind who were prepared to harm others for their own benefit. Following such people, they naturally felt at ease. All three agreed. Qian Sen didn¡¯t propose to join Fang Yuxin¡¯s Mercenary Team, as he was planning to join an institute after arriving at Beishi City, and thus did not need to take the Blood Oath. Zhou Han was simply curious, but sadly he wanted Bai Ye as a master, and since Fang Yuxin did not welcome him, even if he was curious about what the supposed Blood Oath actually was, he had no qualification to take the oath! On the other hand, Li Qingyun watched from the side and suddenly said, ¡°Xinxin, I also want to take the Blood Oath!¡± Fang Yuxin did not expect her to say this and turned around, looking at her in surprise, ¡°Qingyun, you don¡¯t need to...¡± Li Qingyun interrupted her, ¡°Xinxin! Please let me do this; let me take this Blood Oath! Although I am your friend, since everyone is joining the Mercenary Team, it should be fair for all. It wouldn¡¯t be right to have double standards, so please let me!¡± Chapter 512 - 512 281 Prohibition (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 512: 281 Prohibition (First Update)_2 Chapter 512: 281 Prohibition (First Update)_2 Fang Yuxin hesitated for a moment but still nodded her head. She wasn¡¯t afraid that Li Qingyun would betray her, yet many of her secrets truly could not be revealed to others. Moreover, with the protection of the Blood Oath, if others were to capture them and try to forcefully intrude into their Sea of Consciousness to read their memories, they would suffer the backlash of the Blood Oath! So she said, ¡°After making the Blood Oath, if you encounter a Spiritual Superpower User who uses spiritual power to launch an attack superpower, the Blood Oath will protect your Sea of Consciousness.¡± Everyone was initially a bit tense, but upon hearing this, they couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved. They had all heard about the horror of Spiritual Powers, and if they really encountered it, they probably wouldn¡¯t stand a chance! Especially Li Qingyun, who had previously worked in a research institute. Although her position was that of an insignificant assistant, she had learned quite a bit from being exposed to it and understood the terror of Spiritual Superpower Users all too well! This Blood Oath, which could protect their Sea of Consciousness, was indeed a good thing. The process of making the Blood Oath was not long, and soon it was over. Zhou Han, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn¡¯t help but feel envious. Just then, Bai Ye suddenly glanced at him and said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, let him also make a Blood Oath.¡± Zhou Han had seen everything, and it would be terrible if the news got out! After hearing his words, Fang Yuxin suddenly remembered this matter, so she turned to Zhou Han and said, ¡°Either you make a Blood Oath, or let me alter your memory. It¡¯s your choice.¡± Zhou Han hesitated for a moment but didn¡¯t think of running away. He straightforwardly said, ¡°I¡¯ll make the Blood Oath!¡± As he spoke, he suddenly turned his head towards Bai Ye, grinned, showing two adorable tiger teeth, ¡°If I make the Blood Oath, how about you become my master?¡± ¡°Not likely,¡± Bai Ye rejected without mercy. Seeing Zhou Han¡¯s disappointed baby face, he added, ¡°If you make the Blood Oath obediently, I might consider helping you find a master.¡± Zhou Han¡¯s eyes lit up, then suspiciously looked at him, ¡°Are you serious? You¡¯re not tricking me, are you?¡± This time Bai Ye didn¡¯t speak, with an ¡°up to you to believe it or not¡± demeanor, which left Zhou Han scratching his heart and itching with curiosity, finally relenting, ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll assume you¡¯re telling the truth! But, you must find me a good master! He can¡¯t be worse than you!¡± Bai Ye couldn¡¯t help his mouth twitching, he had thought this guy wasn¡¯t too smart, but it turned out he was quite shrewd! Fang Yuxin quickly helped Zhou Han make the Blood Oath, and then Qian Sen, upon seeing this, also requested to take the oath. Fang Yuxin initially did not want to agree, since he was older and a respectable scientific researcher, she trusted that he wouldn¡¯t betray her. However, Qian Sen was very insistent, saying, ¡°Miss Fang, didn¡¯t you say the Blood Oath can protect the Sea of Consciousness? That¡¯s remarkable! You can¡¯t play favorites!¡± Seeing his determination, Fang Yuxin considered and suggested, ¡°After all, you aren¡¯t part of the Mercenary Team, so it¡¯s not very appropriate for you to take the Blood Oath. How about this, I¡¯ll place a Prohibition in your Sea of Consciousness, preventing you from revealing anything about me and the Mercenary Team, how does that sound?¡± Upon her suggestion, Qian Sen agreed right away. However, Qian Lang was a bit worried, ¡°Deputy Captain Fang, this Prohibition won¡¯t harm my grandfather, right?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t,¡± Fang Yuxin replied succinctly, ¡°With this Prohibition, he just won¡¯t be able to talk about me, and there will be no self- backlash. However, if someone tries to forcefully intrude into his Sea of Consciousness, that person will be attacked by the Prohibition.¡± Only then did Qian Lang breathe a sigh of relief; he wasn¡¯t worried about Fang Yuxin lying, so he believed her immediately. Qian Sen, on the other hand, didn¡¯t mind at all and directly allowed Fang Yuxin to implement the Prohibition. As Fang Yuxin placed the Prohibition in his Sea of Consciousness, Liu Zhenglin spoke up, ¡°Deputy Captain Fang, will this Prohibition have any effect on children? Huanhuan is young, and I¡¯m worried she¡¯ll be swayed by others and speak out of turn. If possible, place a Prohibition on her as well.¡± Initially, Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t considered Liu Yihuan because of her young age. Hearing Liu Zhenglin¡¯s concern, she felt his worries were not without reason. If someone deliberately led Huanhuan to reveal things about her, that would be disastrous! Thus, without further hesitation, Fang Yuxin placed the Prohibition in Liu Yihuan¡¯s Sea of Consciousness. The whole process actually wasn¡¯t long, yet Liu Zhenglin appeared very worried, fearing his daughter might be harmed. His previous words had been carefully considered before he spoke. Originally, he was afraid that Fang Yuxin would force Liu Yihuan to make a Blood Oath since once established, the Blood Oath cannot be betrayed. He wasn¡¯t concerned about Liu Yihuan betraying, but he feared others might use her naive nature to coax her! If that happened, it would be too unjust! Fortunately, the Prohibition proposed by Fang Yuxin was not bad; it could prevent Liu Yihuan from saying things she shouldn¡¯t, hence avoiding the potential of self-inflicted harm. What they did not know, however, was that Prohibitions actually come in many forms. Whether there is backlash, and to what degree, all depends on the caster¡¯s intentions. Given Qian Sen and Liu Yihuan¡¯s special circumstances, Fang Yuxin naturally wouldn¡¯t purposely create backlash to harm them, just ensuring they couldn¡¯t speak about her affairs would suffice. And such Prohibitions placed in the Sea of Consciousness are not indestructible; if someone¡¯s soul power exceeds that of Fang Yuxin, they could naturally break the Prohibition she set. Zhou Han watched this scene dumbstruck, then suddenly felt foolish, ¡°If you could use a Prohibition, why did you make me take the Blood Oath?¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Yuxin narrowed her eyes and glared at Zhou Han, ¡°What? You want to go back on your word?¡± Zhou Han suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and shook his head instinctively. Seeing his reaction, Fang Yuxin smiled with satisfaction. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation vote, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 513 - 513 282 Sudden Confession (Second Update) ?Chapter 513: 282 Sudden Confession! (Second Update) Chapter 513: 282 Sudden Confession! (Second Update) After resolving the issue of the leak, everyone¡¯s attitude became much more relaxed, and they could almost be considered insiders. With the increased number of people, Fang Yuxin had to cook another pot of food for an extra meal. Unfortunately, Qian Lang and Qian Senzhao couldn¡¯t eat much due to their shrunken stomachs from frequent hunger. Liu Zhenglin and Zhao Yan had the same issue, but their bodies had been enhanced during their Awakening, and their atrophied stomachs had become strong again. Although they couldn¡¯t compare with a High-level superpower user like Zhou Han, they were now equivalent to healthy Ordinary People before the apocalypse. At first, the two were somewhat inhibited, afraid that they would eat too much, until Fang Yuxin told them she had enough food and encouraged them to eat as much as they liked. Only then did they gradually begin to let go. Zhou Han, on the other hand, had no such reservations. In his view, even though he hadn¡¯t yet joined Fang Yuxin or Bai Ye¡¯s Mercenary Team, he had already taken a Blood Oath and considered himself one of them, so of course he couldn¡¯t be polite! Before the apocalypse, he had lived an average life. After reaching adulthood, he traveled the world, searching for the mythical hermits and sages! Unfortunately, he found nothing but hard times. After the apocalypse, all his family died, and he wandered alone. He didn¡¯t like teaming up with useless people, and he couldn¡¯t carry much with him. He killed quite a few zombies, but his life was still harsh. Now, finally able to eat his fill and even enjoy delicious meat and fresh vegetables, Zhou Han was sweating profusely with eagerness and could almost swallow his own tongue! Zhou Han initially regretted taking the Blood Oath, but now he didn¡¯t regret it in the slightest. In fact, he was secretly pondering how he could join Fang Yuxin¡¯s Mercenary Team! Wrong! He still wanted to find a mentor! Thinking this, his gaze drifted towards Bai Ye as he asked discontentedly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d find me a master? Where are they?¡± As he spoke, he looked expectantly at Fang Yuxin. He had seen her in action and knew she was capable. But at the time, his mind was focused on Bai Ye, believing that only a strong person like him was worthy to be his master! Originally, he hadn¡¯t even considered Fang Yuxin. But now that Bai Ye wouldn¡¯t accept him and Fang Yuxin had so much delicious food, he figured he might as well settle for second best and ask Fang Yuxin to be his master! After all, Bai Ye and she seemed to be involved, so if he became Fang Yuxin¡¯s disciple, Bai Ye should count as half his master, right? The more Zhou Han thought about it, the more excited he got. His eyes shone brighter as he stared at Fang Yuxin, almost ready to kneel and beg her to be his mentor on the spot! Bai Ye saw him staring straight at Fang Yuxin and immediately felt unhappy. His gaze sharp as a knife, he shot it unapologetically at Zhou Han¡¯s face and coldly said, ¡°I did say I¡¯d help you find a master, but I never said I¡¯d find you one right now. Just wait. Finding a master isn¡¯t something that happens in a moment.¡± His words were decidedly insincere! Zhou Han, who had been thinking of becoming Fang Yuxin¡¯s disciple, was taken aback by Bai Ye¡¯s shamelessness. He foolishly turned to look at Bai Ye, too shocked and sudden to recover. But Bai Ye had already taken Fang Yuxin aside, saying, ¡°Xinxin, come with me, I have something to tell you.¡± After finishing his sentence, he looked steadily at Fang Yuxin. Although he appeared calm on the surface, a closer look revealed an almost imperceptible tension. He was afraid, afraid that Fang Yuxin would refuse. Fang Yuxin was initially curious about what Bai Ye had to say that required pulling her aside. If it were something secret, couldn¡¯t they just communicate telepathically? Noticing the tension in Bai Ye¡¯s eyes, she felt a sudden panic within her. Bai Ye took her hand and walked to the side, and although Fang Yuxin was inwardly frantic, she didn¡¯t refuse and followed him into the dense forest. After walking through the woods for a while, Bai Ye finally stopped and turned to face Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin watched him nervously, guessing what he might want to say. But after waiting for a while, Bai Ye remained silent. Unsure whether she felt relieved or disappointed, she said, ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything to say, let¡¯s go back...¡± Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Bai Ye. She widened her eyes, looking at him, bewildered. Bai Ye was looking down, his lips pressed against Fang Yuxin¡¯s, his gaze deep and affectionate. Fang Yuxin was initially stunned, then forcefully pushed him away while stepping back several paces, her tone frantic as she said, ¡°What... What are you doing! Bai Ye, I thought of you as a friend, how can you tease me like this!¡± After speaking, she felt an itch on her lips, as if Bai Ye¡¯s warmth lingered there. She pursed her lips and, without looking at Bai Ye, turned to head back. Chapter 514 - 514 282 sudden confession (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 514: 282 sudden confession! (Second Update)_2 Chapter 514: 282 sudden confession! (Second Update)_2 Bai Ye suddenly grabbed her hand, forcing her to turn around and face him, and said to her, ¡°Xinxin, I like you, can... can you be my girlfriend?¡± At this moment, he was actually extremely nervous, fearing that Fang Yuxin would come to detest him because of his recent actions. He had intended to ask ¡°Do you like me?¡± but, worried about receiving a negative answer, he changed his question on the spot. After a moment of silence, Fang Yuxin looked at him and said, ¡°Bai Ye, I think you should remember that Qiu Yiming and I...¡± Bai Ye really didn¡¯t want to hear the story between her and Qiu Yiming. Just the thought of Fang Yuxin once being Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, almost marrying him, filled him with such jealousy that he crazily wanted to kill Qiu Yiming! So he cut Fang Yuxin off directly, ¡°I know! And I also know that you don¡¯t like him anymore, and have broken off the engagement. Xinxin, I truly like you. I hope I can be your boyfriend, or even your husband. Can... can you accept me?¡± He hadn¡¯t planned to confess to Fang Yuxin so quickly, but Zhou Han¡¯s penetrating gaze had deeply agitated him just now. He knew Zhou Han didn¡¯t mean anything by it, but he couldn¡¯t help but worry! Suddenly, he thought about their imminent arrival in Beishi City. Fang Yuxin was both beautiful and capable, and he didn¡¯t know how many men would be attracted to her once they reached Beishi City. He would never allow that to happen! Moreover, Fang Yuyang and Bai Yi were in Beishi City. Fang Yuyang would be eager to drive away any man with ill intentions towards Fang Yuxin, while Bai Yi, who always clashed with him and was Qiu Yiming¡¯s cousin, would surely try to interfere. Pursuing Fang Yuxin in Beishi City would certainly be fraught with difficulties! Rather than that, it would be better to confess to Fang Yuxin before they reached Beishi City and secure the position of her boyfriend. That way, if any shortsighted men dared to have designs on Fang Yuxin, he could rightfully drive them away! Thinking this, Bai Ye felt even more nervous. He feared Fang Yuxin would reject him! Fang Yuxin was feeling troubled. She still remembered everything from her past life. Qiu Yiming¡¯s abandonment was etched into her memory, forever unforgettable. In such a short time, accepting the pursuit of another man was something she just couldn¡¯t feel confident about. She really didn¡¯t want to experience betrayal again! Bai Ye saw the hesitation and hurt in her eyes and felt a pang in his heart. Instinctively, he said, ¡°Xinxin, I don¡¯t know what happened between you and Qiu Yiming, and I don¡¯t know why you suddenly don¡¯t like him, but I believe that he must have done something to upset you. I hope you understand, I¡¯m not the same kind of person as he is. Since I say I like you, I will definitely be wholeheartedly devoted to you...¡± Listening to his deep voice, Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart became even more chaotic. She dared not listen any further, afraid that she might not be able to resist agreeing, so she cut Bai Ye off, looking at him and saying, ¡°Bai Ye, have you ever thought about why you like me? Although we¡¯ve known each other for more than two months, we¡¯ve actually spent only a little more than a month together. You probably don¡¯t know me well enough, how can you so easily say you like me? What exactly is it that you like? Is it Qianqian¡¯s ¡®Mom¡¯, or my appearance and abilities?¡± Bai Ye did not expect Fang Yuxin to question him like this. Her doubts hurt him, so he just quietly looked at Fang Yuxin, without immediately answering her question. Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart was already in turmoil, she didn¡¯t mean to doubt Bai Ye intentionally. She used to be full of confidence in herself, but her past life told her that when she lost everything she had, when she was no longer of value, the man who had once sworn eternal love to her could easily cast her aside! Now, she had more than she had before, but she couldn¡¯t completely trust Bai Ye. Her relationship with Qiu Yiming had grown since they were children. Qiu Yiming could be said to have watched her grow up! From a young age, he took special care of her, treating her like his little bride. Yet even so, he had abandoned her later on! What about Bai Ye? How long had they been together? Did he truly like her? Was his liking for her because she was Bai Qianqian¡¯s biological mother, or because of her beauty and Qingmu Spiritual Mansion? Seeing that Bai Ye didn¡¯t answer, she thought her words had hit the mark, and her heart instantly turned cold, her body also feeling waves of chilly shivers. She slightly lifted her head, looking coldly at Bai Ye, her heart screaming with a murderous impulse. Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Bai Ye was originally feeling hurt by Fang Yuxin¡¯s doubts when he suddenly sensed her unstable aura. Forgetting the impropriety, he quickly grabbed her shoulders, worriedly shouting, ¡°Xinxin! What¡¯s wrong with you? Look at me!¡± As he spoke, he held Fang Yuxin¡¯s face, only to see her eyes blank, as if she had fallen into some kind of confusion. Bai Ye panicked. He had not been cultivating for long, and what he had learned was mainly Sword Dao, so he didn¡¯t understand much about the common knowledge of the Cultivation World. At this moment, he had no idea how to save Fang Yuxin and bring her back to her senses! While supporting Fang Yuxin with one hand, he searched through the heritage in his Sea of Consciousness for a solution. Just then, he suddenly felt a chilling murderous intent, which was emanating from Fang Yuxin! Shocked, he instinctively dodged. Although he avoided a vital point, he felt a coldness on his arm! Looking closer, he had been cut by a blade, leaving a deep gash! He looked at Fang Yuxin instinctively, only to see her eyes had turned into a lifeless black, sinking his heart. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 515 - 515 283 Heart Demon Invasion (Third Update) ?Chapter 515: 283 Heart Demon Invasion (Third Update) Chapter 515: 283 Heart Demon Invasion (Third Update) Bai Ye instinctively reached for his waist, only to realize he hadn¡¯t brought his sword with him. He paused for a moment, and at the same time, Fang Yuxin had already attacked him again! Though her strength was decent in itself, she had not trained in the Sword Dao but in Saber Technique, which was very sharp and succinct. Now that she had lost her senses, her power was as strong as ever, and for a while, she overwhelmed Bai Ye, leaving him no chance to counter, only to passively dodge! It wasn¡¯t that Bai Ye was truly without a solution; he had reached the Late Stage of Qi Refinement and could barely use the Dragon Scale Sword. Barely, because his cultivation was still inadequate, and if he were to force its use, he would suffer the backlash of the Dragon Scale Sword. However, even if he didn¡¯t care about the backlash, he couldn¡¯t ignore Fang Yuxin! The Dragon Scale Sword was a Divine Artifact, and even in a sealed state, it was far superior to any common weapon. Moreover, with his insufficient cultivation at the moment, if he forced its use, he might not be able to control the Dragon Scale Sword smoothly and could possibly injure Fang Yuxin! This was something he absolutely wouldn¡¯t allow! He liked Fang Yuxin and would not permit anyone to hurt her, not even himself! Therefore, he had no intention of forcibly using the Dragon Scale Sword, and instead, he directly condensed a Longsword. Due to the urgency of time, this sword was not comparable to the one he had used before, and its blade was not sharpened, the tip was round¡ªit was perfect for use at this moment, without worries of injuring Fang Yuxin. For a while, there was a continuous clashing of weapons. After all, Bai Ye had a background as a mercenary, his own strength was already very formidable, not something Fang Yuxin, who had taken up the practice haphazardly, could match. He later received the legacy of the Dragon Scale Sword and practiced the Supreme Mysterious Golden Thunder Sword Dao. Although the sword techniques he started with were very simple, they were enough to handle Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin¡¯s attacks were fast, but they were all blocked by Bai Ye¡¯s sword. At first, he did not counterattack, only passively parrying the blows until, suddenly, his sword technique changed, tapping the tip of the sword on the pressure point in Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist, taking advantage of the moment she loosened her grip to knock the Miao Saber from her hand. The Miao Saber flew out, slantingly sticking into the ground. Fang Yuxin was stunned at first, then unexpectedly, she didn¡¯t go to retrieve the saber; her fingers bent, flicking sharp claws made of condensed True Qi directly towards Bai Ye! Bai Ye, worried about injuring her hands with his sword, had to throw away the sword in his hand and kept dodging. But then he saw Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand viciously grab towards the trunk of a tree behind him, and with a ¡°snap¡±, she directly scooped out a chunk of wood the size of a fist. What was even more surprising was that her Wood Energy was originally filled with vigorous vitality, which to plants was like a great tonic. Yet, at that moment, Bai Ye saw the place where the tree trunk was scratched rapidly withering, and it continued to spread to the surroundings! This completely astonished Bai Ye. He looked at Fang Yuxin in shock, no longer daring to take her lightly, using his body to intercept her sharp claws! If a tree trunk could wither immediately upon scratch, what would happen if a person were to be grabbed... Bai Ye had an instinctive feeling that the consequences were definitely not something to be trifled with! The pace of Fang Yuxin¡¯s attacks became increasingly swift, and Bai Ye kept dodging with difficulty, nearly getting caught by her claws several times! But gradually, she seemed to grow tired of this ¡°chase and escape¡± tactic and suddenly began forming hand gestures! Bai Ye, watching her mysterious hand gestures, suddenly felt anxious, his instincts telling him to stop her. But he knew that interrupting a spell forcefully could lead to backlash! Worried about Fang Yuxin suffering from the backlash, he dared not stop her and could only try to distance himself as much as possible, watching her guardedly. Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand gestures this time were exceptionally fast; her rapidly moving fingers left only faint afterimages. Soon enough, Bai Ye saw many tiny green light points shoot out from her hands. The light points, no larger than grains of rice, looked somewhat like fireflies when seen in clusters. But Bai Ye knew that these lights were definitely not harmless fireflies! Sure enough, the next moment, those light points hit the surrounding tree trunks, and immediately after, Bai Ye felt the ground tremble! He looked at Fang Yuxin in astonishment¡ªwhat on earth had she done? Then, he saw the ordinary trees suddenly turn into snarling beasts, with branches on the tree trunks rapidly elongating, sweeping towards him like tendrils! What was bizarre was that those branches even had spikes, as if undergoing genetic mutation! Not daring to take the situation lightly, Bai Ye quickly somersaulted to evade the oncoming branches, then picked up the sword he had previously discarded, swiping his finger along the blade, which immediately transformed; the sword tip became sharp, and a keen edge emerged! Chapter 516 - 516 283 Heart Demon Invasion (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 516: 283 Heart Demon Invasion (Third Update)_2 Chapter 516: 283 Heart Demon Invasion (Third Update)_2 Armed with a handy weapon, he breathed a little easier, only to find that the branches shooting around him had almost formed a gigantic cage, its four walls steadily closing in on him! The cage was covered in sharp wooden thorns; once trapped, the outcome would certainly be dire! While continuously hacking away the approaching branches with his sword, Bai Ye worriedly glanced towards Fang Yuxin, transmitting to her with Spiritual Sense, ¡°Xinxin! What¡¯s wrong with you? Wake up, quickly!¡± After he spoke, he suddenly noticed a slight flicker in Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze. The dense, ink-like blackness in the depths of her eyes seemed to tremble momentarily, but then quickly stabilized again. Bai Ye understood that she had heard his words, but just that one sentence wasn¡¯t enough to rouse her from her state. Thus, Bai Ye transmitted to her again, almost without ceasing. ¡°Xinxin, wake up quickly!¡± ¡°Xinxin, have you forgotten about Qianqian? He¡¯s still waiting for you in Beishi City!¡± ¡°Xinxin, wake up, your parents and elder brother are all in Beishi City, they¡¯re very worried about you!¡± Bai Ye knew that Fang Yuxin cared deeply for her family, so he kept mentioning them, hoping this could awaken her. Sure enough, every time he mentioned her family, the dense ink in Fang Yuxin¡¯s eyes would tremble fiercely! Finally, with time unknowingly passing by, Bai Ye suddenly sensed a change in the aura around Fang Yuxin, which began to soar! At first, he was stunned, then he realized that Fang Yuxin was about to advance in her cultivation! But did that mean she had already awakened? While Bai Ye was still thinking this, he saw the dense ink in Fang Yuxin¡¯s eyes completely disperse, she gave him a profound look, and the next moment, she vanished from the spot. ¡°Xinxin!¡± Bai Ye yelled out in fright, then he realized that Fang Yuxin must have entered that mystical space of hers to cultivate. He let out a sigh of relief but then sank into dejection. It was after his confession that Fang Yuxin had suddenly lost consciousness; more precisely, she had been controlled by her Heart Demon. How severe must her inner Heart Demon be! Bai Ye felt both angry and heartbroken. What had Qiu Yiming done to her, to cause her such harm, to the point where she wouldn¡¯t even trust her own feelings! He had never liked Qiu Yiming, and at this moment, he detested him even more, even regretting why he hadn¡¯t killed that bastard back then! With Fang Yuxin having entered that space, he couldn¡¯t follow her in; all he could do was wait here for her to emerge. Then, he suddenly noticed that the trees around him were starting to wither without Fang Yuxin¡¯s control. Thinking it over, he understood the reason behind it. The trees themselves hadn¡¯t mutated, but had been stimulated into mutation by Fang Yuxin¡¯s use of some secret art, even gaining formidable strength. And that strength, it could very well be gained by burning their life energy! Watching the trees wither away to bare branches, Bai Ye felt a surge of fear in his heart, and couldn¡¯t help but worry¡ªhad the secret art Fang Yuxin just used harmed her? Unfortunately, with Fang Yuxin having entered the space and his inability to follow, even if he was worried, he could only wait outside. Bai Ye subconsciously clenched his fists, the desire to become stronger growing ever more intense within him! He waited for a long time, from afternoon straight into evening, and it was only when Zhou Han and others, concerned for their well-being, came looking that he managed to hide his worry, quickly approaching Zhou Han and Qian Lang and saying, ¡°Xinxin has encountered some issues, you guys head back first and wait. If you encounter danger, fire your guns as a signal.¡± After these people joined them, Fang Yuxin distributed some guns and bullets to them, which could serve both for self-defense and signaling. Zhou Han and Qian Lang were extremely curious, with Zhou Han subconsciously wanting to ask what happened, but Qian Lang, being the smarter one, quickly pulled him along to stop his words, saying to Bai Ye, ¡°Alright, we were just worried about you. Since there¡¯s no issue, we¡¯ll head back now.¡± After that, he pulled Zhou Han around and headed back. Zhou Han muttered discontentedly, ¡°I haven¡¯t even said anything yet, why are you pulling me?¡± Qian Lang, who had constantly been scolded and labeled as dumb by Qian Sen, upon encountering Zhou Han who seemed even dumber and more clueless than himself, felt a sudden rush of relief and couldn¡¯t resist mimicking Qian Sen¡¯s usual behavior; he swung his hand towards Zhou Han¡¯s nape. However, his strike hadn¡¯t yet hit Zhou Han when Zhou Han suddenly caught his wrist with a twist, nearly breaking his arm! ¡°Ow ow ow, that hurts!¡± wailed Qian Lang, shouting at Zhou Han in anger, ¡°Are you trying to kill me?¡± Zhou Han touched his nose nervously, a flicker in his eyes as he said, ¡°That¡¯s what you get for laying your hands on me! Serves you right!¡± Having trained in martial arts regularly¡ªalbeit informally¡ªhe had developed reflexive defensive reactions; if someone attacked him suddenly, his body would instinctively retaliate. Had he not seen that Qian Lang meant no harm, he might have broken the man¡¯s neck already. Qian Lang was initially angry, but upon reflection and realizing his own fault, he no longer held a grudge and went back to their temporary base with Zhou Han. Bai Ye watched them leave, heaving a sigh of relief, and then returned to the spot where he was waiting for Fang Yuxin. As the sky grew darker, Fang Yuxin still hadn¡¯t appeared, and Bai Ye became increasingly anxious. Just then, he spotted a gigantic white shadow rushing towards him in the distance¡ªit was Bai Er. Bai Er ran up to him, sniffed around him, then raised its large head and roared at him. It seemed to be expressing its dissatisfaction with Bai Ye for losing Fang Yuxin! Bai Ye couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry at this. He could only explain that Fang Yuxin was temporarily in a very safe place and would come out soon. Bai Er stopped roaring but decided to lie down not far from him, keeping some distance to show its displeasure. Bai Ye sighed helplessly, ignoring Bai Er¡¯s petulance, and simply hoped for Fang Yuxin to return soon. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for your favorite book, to cast your monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 517 - 517 284 Unfinished Words (First Update) ?Chapter 517: Chapter 284 Unfinished Words (First Update) Chapter 517: Chapter 284 Unfinished Words (First Update) Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t come out all night, but thankfully there was food in the car as a decoy, so everyone¡¯s dinner wasn¡¯t a concern. In order to cover up Fang Yuxin¡¯s disappearance and also to wait for her appearance, Bai Ye stayed with Bai Er in the same place, not even eating dinner. The others kept their distance to avoid suspicion and didn¡¯t dare to come over again. Except for Bai Ye and Bai Er, everyone else made do with sleeping in the cars. Zhou Han, being the strongest, took the initiative to take on the night watch. The night had barely fallen when zombies appeared, but luckily, there weren¡¯t many, and with Zhou Han there, they were easily dealt with. Bai Ye and Bai Er guarded the spot with hungry stomachs all night, not daring to close their eyes, both starving. Bai Ye was coping better; after all, he was a mercenary by trade and had undergone special training, making him more resilient to hunger. Bai Er, however, was pitiful. It had grown up in a zoo since a young age where its meals were always provided. But ever since the apocalypse arrived, it had been living a life of occasional feast and frequent famine, pitiful in the extreme. It had finally had a full meal after encountering Fang Yuxin. Just as it hadn¡¯t had the chance to be happy about that, its owner disappeared! Bai Er lay on the ground, a pitiful ¡°whine¡± escaping its throat. When it grew too agitated from waiting, it would stand up irritably, pacing in circles nearby, as if trying to sniff out Fang Yuxin. Until the night passed, the sun rose, and the harsh sunlight streamed down through the leaves¡ªFang Yuxin finally appeared. As soon as she appeared, Bai Er¡¯s eyes lit up, and with a bark, it bolted straight toward Fang Yuxin. It circled her several times to make sure it was really her and then lifted its enormous head, looking pitifully at her. Curious about what was wrong with it, Fang Yuxin heard Bai Ye¡¯s voice, slightly hoarse, say, ¡°It¡¯s hungry.¡± His voice sounded dry, so she instinctively glanced at him and tossed him a bottle of water. Then, without a word, she took out a pig leg for Bai Er, seeming to intentionally avoid Bai Ye. Bai Ye¡¯s heart was already in a panic, worried about Fang Yuxin¡¯s safety and that she might not want anything to do with him anymore. After being on edge all night, he finally saw Fang Yuxin, but noticed that she was deliberately avoiding him! A flash of anger rose inside Bai Ye. He violently twisted off the cap and gulped down several mouthfuls of water. Water droplets, swallowed too hastily, rolled down from his chin, sliding down his neck and into his collar. The sunlight shone on his honey-hued skin, making the trickling water gleam enticingly. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but steal glances at him, and just as she did, she caught sight of this scene, her eyes wide. Bai Ye, already frustrated and unsure how to start talking with Fang Yuxin, felt her gaze and couldn¡¯t help looking back at her, their eyes meeting. Caught off guard by Bai Ye¡¯s sudden look, Fang Yuxin felt somewhat guilty, and her face flushed slightly. Seeing Bai Ye continue to gaze at her silently, Fang Yuxin, recalling the words he had said the day before, grew increasingly uncomfortable. She was the first to look away, clearing her throat before speaking up, ¡°Was I hurt by the Heart Demon yesterday?¡± As she said this, she furrowed her brows. When controlled by the Heart Demon, she was without reason, but the memories remained. Once she came to, she had seen these memories. Seeing Bai Ye¡¯s passive defense and his reluctance to strike, even the sword he used was not bladed, Fang Yuxin¡¯s emotions grew complex. It was impossible not to be touched, but did she really want to accept Bai Ye? She had pondered this question for a long time, with a vague answer gradually forming in her heart, yet she hadn¡¯t dared to make a decision. That is until just now when she appeared and saw the worry and joy in Bai Ye¡¯s eyes, as well as the unabashed weariness on his face, her heart suddenly softened. She still wasn¡¯t sure whether Bai Ye would abandon her like Qiu Yiming had, or how far they could go together, but she was willing to give Bai Ye, and herself, a chance. No matter what the future brought, at least at this moment, his feelings for her were genuine, and she was willing to trust him once! However, although she had made up her mind, upon meeting Bai Ye¡¯s gaze, she didn¡¯t know how to start the conversation. Thus, she hesitated for a moment, deciding to first ask about Bai Ye¡¯s injuries. She remembered that she seemed to have cut Bai Ye¡¯s arm yesterday... Thinking of this, Fang Yuxin¡¯s frown deepened. Not waiting for Bai Ye¡¯s response, she quickly walked over to him and pulled up his arm to examine it. Bai Ye, seeing her changing expressions and unable to grasp what she was really thinking, felt his heart fluctuating wildly¡ªhe wanted to ask but feared provoking her further. Chapter 518 - 518 284 Unfinished Words (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 518: 284 Unfinished Words (First Update)_2 Chapter 518: 284 Unfinished Words (First Update)_2 ¡ª Just as he was tangled up and didn¡¯t know what to do, Fang Yuxin had already walked up to him. The moment she drew near, Bai Ye caught a light fragrance of grass and trees emanating from her. This scent, though not as sweet as flowers or as tempting as perfume, was filled with an abundant vitality that made one feel as if they were in a primeval forest after the rain, where the refreshed vegetation bursting with life exuded a natural freshness. Bai Ye felt that the scent of grass and trees on Fang Yuxin seemed more intense than before, and just by smelling it, all the fatigue in his body seemed to vanish as if he had been injected with new energy. Bai Ye was taken aback, but just the faint Wood Energy diffusing from her had such remarkable effects, Fang Yuxin must have succeeded in her Foundation Establishment! Consequently, he couldn¡¯t help but scrutinize Fang Yuxin and indeed saw that her skin appeared finer than before, and even her facial features seemed more delicate. Especially those eyes, bright as stars, yet veiled with a shimmering moist light, lively and cunning. One glance was enough to draw one in irresistibly. Bai Ye felt Fang Yuxin¡¯s cool fingertips on his arm as she carefully cleaned his wound and treated his injury. He tensed up unconsciously, straining every nerve to restrain the impulses deep within him, fearing that he might repeat yesterday¡¯s discurteous act. The injury Bai Ye sustained wasn¡¯t serious, aside from a cut on his arm at the beginning when he failed to dodge Fang Yuxin, he was hardly wounded after that. Fang Yuxin, noticing Bai Ye¡¯s body gradually heating up, quickened the pace of her treatment and swiftly created distance between them. Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze flickered, not daring to look at Bai Ye, her mouth blurting out, ¡°Since you¡¯re okay now, let¡¯s go back.¡± No sooner had she said this did she regret her words. How could she say that! The most important things hadn¡¯t been clarified yet! With that thought, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but steal a peek at Bai Ye. Bai Ye was already anxious. Unable to hold back, he grasped Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, a struggling look flashed in his eyes. He intended to ask Fang Yuxin what she had been considering, but what came out was, ¡°Xinxin, have you succeeded in Foundation Establishment?¡± When Fang Yuxin heard this, she felt a twinge of disappointment; she had thought Bai Ye would mention yesterday¡¯s event. She nodded and couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything else you want to say to me?¡± Hearing this suggestive remark, Bai Ye was jolted, instinctively looking at Fang Yuxin to confirm if she meant what he thought. However, her expression was so serene that he couldn¡¯t discern anything. Bai Ye had thought he had no chance left; Fang Yuxin¡¯s behavior yesterday truly frightened him. Worried about provoking her again, he dared not bring up the matter. Yet to his surprise, Fang Yuxin was the one who brought it up! But was that really what she was asking? Or was he overthinking it? Caught in his own troubles, Bai Ye finally said, ¡°Xinxin, I like you. Whether you accept it or not, my feelings for you will never change.¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart jolted. She looked at Bai Ye, her mouth agape, instinctively blurting out, ¡°I... I also...¡± Bai Ye was even more surprised, his gaze toward Fang Yuxin unwittingly filling with expectation. However, just then, Bai Er, having finished its meal, suddenly let out an excited roar, interrupting Fang Yuxin¡¯s words and running over, squeezing in between them. Suddenly sobering up, Fang Yuxin clamped her mouth shut, casting an awkward glance at Bai Ye before turning to leave, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s hurry back! If we don¡¯t go now, they¡¯ll start worrying!¡± Watching Bai Er continually nuzzle against Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye¡¯s handsome face darkened. Unable to restrain himself, he stepped forward and grabbed Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand again, asking her, ¡°Xinxin, what were you about to say just now?¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s face reddened slightly, but she refused to say it and pretended not to hear Bai Ye¡¯s words. Bai Ye, growing increasingly distressed, pressed her further, ¡°Xinxin, tell me? What were you trying to say just now?¡± Fang Yuxin, seeing his insistent demeanor as if he wouldn¡¯t give up without an answer, begrudgingly replied, ¡°I was just saying I¡¯m hungry too, what about it?¡± ¡°Not that line!¡± Bai Ye suddenly became stubborn, holding Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand and not letting go, looking intently into her eyes, ¡°Xinxin, I know what you want to say isn¡¯t that.¡± It was the first time Fang Yuxin saw Bai Ye so headstrong, quite different from his usual composed demeanor. Yet, she found his stubbornness oddly endearing. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but laugh, her decision made. Before, she had always been worried that Bai Ye might eventually betray her like Qiu Yiming had. Yet, seeing his cute demeanor now, she felt all her previous worries were unnecessary. This person was clearly not like Qiu Yiming! With that thought, Fang Yuxin deliberately refrained from telling Bai Ye, wanting to see his anxious look. Then she intentionally said, ¡°I forgot.¡± She added an eyewink for effect. Bai Ye was so frustrated he was at a loss for words, realizing Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t going to repeat herself. He changed the subject, ¡°Then... about yesterday¡¯s matter, did you agree?¡± After being teased by Fang Yuxin, he too started to play coy, deliberately not asking what Fang Yuxin had considered. Fang Yuxin glanced at him, saw his hopeful expression, and finally conceded with a nod, ¡°Mm, seeing as you didn¡¯t do too badly, I¡¯ll reluctantly agree. But, if you ever dare to do something that hurts me, I¡¯ll never let you off the hook!¡± No sooner had she finished speaking, Bai Ye excitedly pulled her into his embrace, looked into her eyes, and vowed, ¡°I won¡¯t give you that chance!¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) ¡ª Chapter 519 - 519 285 Arrived at Beishi City (Second update) ?Chapter 519: 285 Arrived at Beishi City! (Second update) Chapter 519: 285 Arrived at Beishi City! (Second update) Bai Ye finished speaking, slowly lowered his head, and kissed Fang Yuxin. This was the first real kiss between the two, completely different from their lips merely touching the day before. Bai Ye held Fang Yuxin tightly in his arms, savoring the sweet breath between her lips, gradually getting lost in it, greedily wanting more. However, just at that moment, a surprised shout came from a distance: ¡°Ah! I didn¡¯t see anything!¡± With that sudden voice, the romantic atmosphere between them was instantly shattered. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but push Bai Ye away, wanting to create some distance between them. The Fang Family¡¯s upbringing was rigorous, and Fang Yuxin had always been reserved, adhering strictly to etiquette. Even though she and Qiu Yiming had been a couple for many years and had even set a wedding date, their relationship had only involved kissing and nothing more. Just before, she had almost gotten absorbed in this kiss, and hadn¡¯t even noticed someone approaching. Now that she knew someone was watching, she couldn¡¯t be close to Bai Ye in front of others. Knowing she was shy, Bai Ye cooperatively stepped back but stubbornly held on to Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist, refusing to let go. Fang Yuxin struggled slightly and, seeing that he had no intention of letting go, she simply stopped struggling. However, looking at Bai Ye¡¯s face returning to its usual emotionlessness, her gaze somewhat dark and seemingly quite annoyed, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh. She just realized that Bai Ye actually had two different demeanors, in private and in public, and the difference was frankly too big! Looking at Zhou Han, who appeared uneasy in the distance, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathy for him. At the same time, she felt somewhat relieved. Thankfully he had come along; otherwise, she didn¡¯t dare think how far things might have progressed with Bai Ye! She hadn¡¯t expected that just a kiss could make her so infatuated! She had never felt like this before! Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but look at Bai Ye suspiciously, wondering if he had used some Mind Control Technique on her without her notice. Thinking back to her previous speculation about the Mind Reading Technique, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but worry¡ªwhat kind of messy abilities had Bai Ye inherited! Bai Ye, with a cold expression, walked up to Zhou Han and asked coldly, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I...I was just worried...¡± Zhou Han¡¯s doughy face completely wrinkled up, he was so nervous he was almost crying. Seeing that Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t returned, he was truly concerned and had sneaked out. Fortunately, with his enhanced speed, it didn¡¯t take long to get there and back. Little did he know that shortly after entering the woods, he would see the couple embracing and kissing, which scared him so much that he blurted out a shout! After shouting, he realized he had done something wrong and, being stared at by Bai Ye¡¯s icy gaze, he felt as if he was being dissected! Seeing no reaction from Bai Ye, he continued with his doughy face, ¡°Brother Bai, I really know I was wrong! I didn¡¯t mean to interrupt your moment!¡± The moment he said this, Bai Ye¡¯s face turned utterly dark, and even Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression fell, her eyes narrowing menacingly at him! Zhou Han¡¯s heart skipped a beat, uncertain¡ªhad he said something wrong again? Bai Ye clenched his fist but restrained himself, instead warning Zhou Han, ¡°Don¡¯t be so reckless next time. Don¡¯t look at what you shouldn¡¯t, don¡¯t say what you shouldn¡¯t!¡± Zhou Han¡¯s face changed, realizing that Bai Ye was warning him not to speak of what he had just seen, and he quickly covered his mouth with his hand. After a moment, he let go and quickly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, both of you, I didn¡¯t see a thing!¡± After speaking, he covered his mouth again. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t bother to argue, and simply took Bai Er back to their temporary residence. Fortunately, Li Qingyun had already prepared breakfast, and the group quickly finished breakfast and hit the road again. Qian Lang and Zhao Yan¡¯s cars originally had very little fuel left, but with Fang Yuxin present, gasoline wasn¡¯t a problem at all, and she directly filled up their tanks. After getting in the car, Fang Yuxin took out a tablet to check their location and found that, barring any surprises, they would arrive in Beishi City in about four hours, just in time for noon. Along the way, they hadn¡¯t encountered much trouble. They were on a highway, and apart from a few zombies still wandering around, more zombies had gathered near the various Safe Zones. They had encountered two Zombie Groups, each not very large, only a few thousand, and before Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin could react, Zhou Han, the Madman Wu, had already charged out. Chapter 520 - 520 285 Arrive at Beishi City (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 520: 285 Arrive at Beishi City! (Second Update)_2 Chapter 520: 285 Arrive at Beishi City! (Second Update)_2 He didn¡¯t know what he was thinking, but he didn¡¯t use a weapon and smashed the zombie¡¯s head directly with his fist, almost one punch per zombie. His fists were fierce, yet his posture was as agile as a monkey¡¯s. Each punch caused a bursting sound in the air, exhibiting great power. Qian Lang, Liu Zhenglin, and Zhao Yan joined in later. Qian Lang hadn¡¯t awakened his superpower yet, but Fang Yuxin had already explained to him the three methods of awakening, allowing him to choose for himself. Although Qian Lang often seemed foolish and was always lectured by Qian Sen, he never let anyone down at critical times. After hesitating, he chose to awaken through the Zombie Virus. This method was very dangerous, but with Fang Yuxin present, even if his willpower was too weak and the awakening failed, Fang Yuxin could help him purify the Zombie Virus. Of course, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t tell him about the purification part; only then would Qian Lang muster the courage of ¡°Desperate,¡± to fully stimulate his potential! Qian Lang held a sharpened steel pick, continuously stabbing at zombies. He didn¡¯t even wear clothes, simply avoiding vital spots without deliberately avoiding being scratched by zombies. Liu Zhenglin and Zhao Yan followed him closely, killing zombies while protecting Qian Lang to prevent him from being surrounded and injured in vital spots. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye intentionally did not help in order to give them a chance to train and earn Crystal Cores. Fang Yuxin had already successfully established her foundation, her strength equivalent to a Level 4 Superpower User. If she were to use ¡°Starfire¡± now, none of the zombies present would survive. Although Bai Ye hadn¡¯t yet established his foundation and his cultivation was lesser than Fang Yuxin¡¯s, the Sword Dao he practiced had very strong attack power, and if he truly went all out, even the current Fang Yuxin might not be his opponent. Both of them had numerous Zombie Crystal Cores, so there was no need to compete for more with their own people. Moreover, Zhao Yan and Liu Zhenglin still needed Elemental Crystals to enhance their talent, and Elemental Crystals were precious, not to be given casually even to one¡¯s own people, as it could lead to indiscipline. Once they gathered enough Crystal Cores or made contributions, she could let them exchange Zombie Crystal Cores for Elemental Crystals or use them as rewards for their contributions. Liu Zhenglin and Zhao Yan were both aware of the Elemental Crystals, and while they were amazed, they also felt hopeful about the future. They had been worried that their own talents were too poor and even if they joined a Mercenary Team, they would still be a burden, but with Elemental Crystals, they had the chance to enhance their talents and become stronger! Therefore, this time, the two of them fought very bravely. Liu Zhenglin usually had a gentle demeanor, but when killing zombies, he was ruthless. Zhao Yan was older, and even though she had awakened her Fire Ability, her strength couldn¡¯t compare to younger people¡¯s. But her Fire Ability had strong attack power. She had worked in a steel factory before and knew very well how terrifying high-temperature flames could be, so she continued to hone her Skill, trying to increase the flame¡¯s temperature, and had already made progress! While they were killing zombies, Li Qingyun was holding Liu Yihuan in the car, not letting her see those fierce scenes, lest she be frightened. By the time all the zombies were killed, Qian Lang¡¯s body had already accrued more than a dozen claw marks! Fortunately, he had dodged in time, and although there were many wounds, they were not deep. Even so, Qian Lang¡¯s face had turned pale, and his whole body was covered in cold sweat. Qian Sen looked at him in his condition with a lot of heartache, muttering: ¡°What¡¯s going on? How could you get so severely injured? You¡¯re absolutely clumsy! Hang in there! Don¡¯t forget, both your Brother Liu and Aunt Zhao made it through, you can¡¯t let me down!¡± Qian Lang¡¯s face muscles tensed in pain, but he managed a difficult smile and reassured: ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t worry, who am I? I¡¯m your grandson! There¡¯s no way I won¡¯t make it! Just watch!¡± Qian Sen huffed, helped him to the back seat, and seeing that his hands were trembling so much that he couldn¡¯t even fasten the seatbelt, he quickly did it for him. Then he walked up to Fang Yuxin, lowered his voice worriedly, and said, ¡°Miss Fang, could you please check on Xiao Lang? I¡¯m worried he might not make it.¡± Although Qian Sen was willing to trust his grandson, it was still a matter of life and death, and no negligence was tolerated. Qian Lang was his only grandson; he couldn¡¯t help but worry more. Fang Yuxin nodded, walked over, and checked Qian Lang¡¯s condition. Seeing that his vitality was much stronger than Liu Zhenglin¡¯s and Zhao Yan¡¯s, she nodded at Qian Sen. Nevertheless, she gave Qian Lang a drop of True Yuan, assisting his body in reaching its optimal state. Before Foundation Establishment, Qi Refinement involved absorbing and refining the Spiritual Energy from heaven and earth, turning it into True Qi residing in the Dantian. After Foundation Establishment, this True Qi becomes liquid True Yuan. Although it might seem like just a tiny drop, it is incomparable to True Qi. Qian Lang was also lucky, happening to meet Fang Yuxin who had already successfully established her foundation, he benefitted much more than Liu Zhenglin and Zhao Yan! Fang Yuxin had a Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit in her hand, originally intended for their use, but thinking that using the fruit would cause many impurities to be expelled from their bodies, making them unclean and inconvenient in the outside world, she hesitated to use it. When the Zombie Group appeared again, Qian Lang had not yet completed his awakening, so he stayed in the car with Zhou Han leading Liu Zhenglin and Zhao Yan to deal with it. However, this time Li Qingyun also joined them. Fang Yuxin intended to train her and did not stop her. As they were about to reach Beishi City, Qian Lang finally completed his awakening. However, because he had received the True Yuan from Fang Yuxin, a lot of impurities were expelled during his awakening, making him appear as though he had rolled in stinky mud, dirty and foul-smelling. They had already reached the outskirts of Beishi City and couldn¡¯t wash up properly; they could only let him wipe down his body briefly with water. Beishi City was a large city; it had a very dense population before the apocalypse, and the number of people who became zombies afterward was exceptionally high. Just as Fang Yuxin had reached the outskirts of Beishi City, she encountered a Zombie Group numbering seventy to eighty thousand.(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 521 - 521 286 Kill (Third Update) ?Chapter 521: 286 Kill! (Third Update) Chapter 521: 286 Kill! (Third Update) 286 Bad Temper They had encountered a zombie group this time, with a scale of over seventy thousand, nearing eighty thousand, which was truly massive. Especially since their strongest members were only Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin, Bai Er, and Zhou Han, with the rest possessing average abilities in combat. Facing such a large-scale zombie horde was too much of a stretch for them. Moreover, the zombie group was dense and happened to block their only way through. There was no way to charge directly past them! They had no choice but to stop their vehicles at a distance. Fang Yuxin quickly opened the car door and stepped out. She turned to the people behind her and instructed, ¡°Everyone except Zhou Han, stay inside the cars, don¡¯t come out!¡± Their strength wasn¡¯t up to par, so coming out would just create more trouble for them. Bai Ye followed suit and got out of the car. Fang Yuxin glanced at Li Qingyun and told her, ¡°Qingyun, you stay in the car too, stay with them!¡± Li Qingyun knew her own strength wasn¡¯t enough, so she gritted her teeth and nodded. Then she looked at Fang Yuxin and cautioned, ¡°Xinxin! You must be careful!¡± Fang Yuxin nodded without saying much. Once Zhou Han was out, she released Red Powder. The Red Powder had previously helped her and Bai Ye get through a crevice at great strain, injuring itself in the process. Similarly, it had also absorbed a large amount of pure Wood Energy. Just this morning, after she successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, it seemed to be drawn by some force and refined all the Wood Energy within its body, advancing to a Third-level Mutated Plant. The bond between it and Fang Yuxin grew even closer, and its spiritual wisdom also seemed to heighten. Now that Fang Yuxin had released it, it followed her instructions and coiled its body around the three vehicles, forming a protective barrier within. Large leaves unfurled, stacking into a firm green wall. Underneath the leaves, sharp wooden thorns slowly protruded, hiding tactfully beneath rather than fully emerging¡ªmaking use of the leaves¡¯ cover to stealthily conceal themselves. Among the wooden thorns, the flower stalks also stretched out quietly; the pink rosebuds at the top parted slightly, the thin pistils extending, opening their tiny mouths, silently waiting for prey. Aside from Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, the others were completely stunned by the scene. Qian Sen, Li Qingyun, and Liu Zhenglin were well-acquainted with plants and recognized at a glance that this was a Mutated Rose. However, they were inside the vehicle and didn¡¯t see the hidden lethality beneath the leaves¡ªwishing they could get closer for a detailed look! Qian Sen was crazy about plants all his life. Now, seeing a high-level Mutated Rose up close, he couldn¡¯t resist; he dashed out of the car and rushed towards the Mutated Rose. But just as he reached out, unable to resist touching the green leaves, sharp spikes suddenly shot out from underneath! Had it not been for Qian Lang, who followed, concerned, and swiftly pulled him back, Qian Sen¡¯s hand might have been pierced through! Both Qian Sen and Qian Lang swallowed hard, and then Qian Lang dragged Qian Sen back into the vehicle, slamming the door shut. Qian Sen glared at him discontentedly, ¡°What are you doing! I didn¡¯t get a good look yet!¡± ¡°You want to see how ¡®detailed¡¯?¡± Qian Lang retorted in dissatisfaction, casting a reproachful look at Qian Sen, pleading with a pained expression, ¡°Old man, I¡¯m begging you, just stay in the car, okay? That thing outside isn¡¯t something to mess with, do you have a death wish going after it!¡± Qian Sen¡¯s face showed dissatisfaction, but he didn¡¯t take any more risks. At that moment, Liu Zhenglin sighed while looking out the window, ¡°I never expected that Deputy Captain Fang not only tamed the Mutated Crystal Orchid but also has such a powerful Mutated Rose. She really is amazing!¡± Li Qingyun and Zhao Yan in the other two cars also curiously watched the scene outside. Although Li Qingyun also wanted a close look at the Mutated Rose, she had more self-control and didn¡¯t rush out like Qian Sen. After seeing those thorns, she was even less likely to get out! Zhao Yan¡¯s thoughts were much simpler, just feeling that Fang Yuxin was incredibly strong. Outside, Fang Yuxin rode Bai Er into the zombie horde. As Bai Er surged through the zombies, Fang Yuxin easily beheaded countless zombies, dispersing what was originally a dense group. She was the first to charge in, leaving Zhou Han with eyes wide open. He had always thought himself to be reckless, but now he realized that the beautiful Fang Yuxin, who looked nothing like a mere mortal, was more reckless than him¡ªshe had actually charged directly into the zombie horde on Bai Er! Chapter 522 - 522 286 Kill (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 522: 286 Kill! (Third Update)_2 Chapter 522: 286 Kill! (Third Update)_2 So many zombies, and she wasn¡¯t the least bit afraid? Zhou Han worried that her delicate skin might get scratched by the zombies! But then, Zhou Han realized there seemed to be something around Fang Yuxin that prevented the zombies from getting close to her body! Moreover, Bai Er was incredibly fast, and all Fang Yuxin needed to do was grip the Miao Saber tightly; she could easily behead zombies with the momentum of Bai Er¡¯s impact! He was stunned for a moment but quickly recovered and, learning from Bai Er, let out a howl to the sky then charged madly into the zombie group. Under the impact of Fang Yuxin, the dense group of zombies had already dispersed; Zhou Han rushed over and almost took down a zombie with each punch, exploding their heads! The more he fought, the more exhilarating he found it. He then saw a white light emitting from Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand and, suddenly, nine Mutated Crystal Orchids appeared among the zombies. Those Mutated Crystal Orchids twisted like snakes, slipping through the zombies, and their scale leaves easily minced zombie heads! Bai Ye chose another direction and charged into a relatively dense group of zombies. After all, there were only three of them, along with Bai Er and Lan Re, against tens of thousands of zombies; they couldn¡¯t possibly stop them all. Some zombies, drawn by the scent of blood, charged directly towards three cars that were surrounded by Red Powder. Quietly, under the giant leaves, a flower bud bloomed, emitting a sweet fragrance that wafted towards those zombies. Zombies, having lost their sense of smell and taste, were only sensitive to fresh flesh and energy, yet the scent released by Red Powder seemed to have some kind of magic. The zombies accelerated immediately upon catching the scent and charged towards the Red Powder! The protection wall formed by the Red Powder was very sturdy. Even when surrounded and assaulted by thousands of zombies, it barely moved. While the zombies attacked the protection wall, wooden thorns under the leaves swiftly elongated, piercing directly into the zombies¡¯ bodies. Then, the open flower buds greedily reached out, their pistils stabbing into the zombies and voraciously feeding. Though roses are not saprophytic by nature, the mutated Red Powder was obviously different; its diet had become varied from its past simplicity. Not just zombies or mutated animals but even humans could become its food! It was indiscriminate! It fed very quickly, and soon the impaled zombies turned into shriveled corpses, followed by the next batch. In just ten minutes, thousands of zombies had all turned into mummies. The body of the Red Powder was quite large, and it had grown even larger after leveling up, and its flower buds increased from a few dozen to a hundred, meaning it could feed on a hundred prey at a time! In ten minutes¡¯ time, even more zombies died at the hands of Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye! The original group of nearly eighty thousand zombies was now reduced to less than half in the blink of an eye! At this point, Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t even used her previously employed technique ¡°Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers¡±! Bai Ye had hardly held back this time; now that Fang Yuxin had accepted his courtship and even successfully accomplished Foundation Establishment, he didn¡¯t want to be outdone by Fang Yuxin! Zhou Han was a natural-born fighter who fought recklessly, so there used to always be people picking up the leftovers behind him. This time, stimulated by Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, he fought more furiously and even unconsciously realized a new Skill, capable of condensing the force he emitted into a spike, killing ten zombies with a single punch. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± The new Skill excited him so much that he couldn¡¯t help shouting aloud, then became even more fierce like a human-shaped killing machine. Some zombies, seeing the odds were against them, actually began to flee, while those that didn¡¯t, were all killed. The dead zombies nearly piled up thickly on the ground. After Fang Yuxin collected the Crystal Cores, she had the corpses completely burned. Red Powder and Lan Re contentedly returned to Fang Yuxin. When people in the cars came out, the fire was still not extinguished. They looked at the dense sea of zombies in the fire, feeling a strong shock. They had known before that Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were strong, but only now did they realize how terrifyingly powerful the two were! Bai Ye practiced Sword Dao, which they didn¡¯t quite understand, so compared to Bai Ye, what shocked them more was Fang Yuxin. Her Lan Re and Red Powder were both high-level mutant plants, truly horrifying! But when they saw the ¡°White Jade Bracelet¡± on Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist and the beautiful patterns engraved on the bracelet, realizing it was those two mutant plants, their eyes nearly popped out! Especially Qian Sen, who was very interested in Red Powder and Lan Re, particularly in Red Powder, almost wishing he could get a closer look. So when he learned about this, he actually walked directly to Fang Yuxin, bent down and looked at the ¡°bracelet¡± on her wrist, making Bai Ye¡¯s expression darken slightly. Seeing this, Qian Lang quickly came over to pull Qian Sen back to prevent him from further disrespect. However, Qian Sen ignored him, only looking at Fang Yuxin and pleading, ¡°Miss Fang, this... this bracelet... is it really those two mutant plants? May this old man take a look? Just one look!¡± Fang Yuxin smiled and was about to agree, raising her wrist when suddenly a flower bud from the Red Powder directly grew out of the ¡°bracelet¡±, threateningly shooting its pistil towards Qian Sen! This time, Qian Lang was prepared and quickly pulled Qian Sen back upon seeing the danger. Fortunately, Red Powder knew its limits and only wanted to scare him, not truly harm him, so it didn¡¯t chase after him, allowing him to escape. Fang Yuxin touched its flower bud, and it reluctantly retracted, transforming back into an engraving decoration on the bracelet. Fang Yuxin awkwardly smiled at Qian Sen, ¡°Red Powder has a bit of a temper, old sir, please excuse it.¡± ¡°No problem, no problem.¡± Qian Sen waved his hands continuously and, while Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t looking, secretly touched his strongly beating heart. He was scared to death! (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it by giving recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 523 - 523 287 Too Outstanding (First Update) ?Chapter 523: 287 Too Outstanding (First Update) Chapter 523: 287 Too Outstanding (First Update) Qian Sen had originally thought that with his master Fang Yuxin present, he could closely observe Red Powder. Of course, it would have been even better if he could have a leaf, a wooden thorn, or a flower bud to study! Little did he know Red Powder was temperamental and wouldn¡¯t let anyone touch it; he had no choice but to suppress his curiosity and reluctantly withdraw his gaze. After all the zombies¡¯ bodies had turned to ash, they hit the road again. They were already within the boundaries of Beishi City, and it shouldn¡¯t be long before they reached the Safe Zone. Following the encounter with that massive Zombie Group, Fang Yuxin became even more cautious. She drove very slowly, continually extending her Spiritual Sense to scout the surroundings. She felt something strange about the situation. There were only a few scattered Zombie Groups nearby, none particularly large. By comparison, the one they had just encountered was the largest. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know if the zombies had hidden themselves or if they had all been killed. She found the latter unlikely¡ªnot that she underestimated the survivors of Beishi City, but because before the apocalypse, Beishi had been a heavily populated city, with a combined permanent and transient population of about thirty million. She didn¡¯t know how many of those people had survived, but the majority had likely turned into zombies. Unless some form of mass-destruction weapon was used, it was impossible to kill such a vast number of zombies! And to her knowledge, nuclear weapons were not an option, to say nothing of the horrific effects of nuclear contamination on the surviving humans. The most terrifying thing was that nuclear radiation would cause the Zombie Virus to mutate, making the mutated virus even more difficult to control! Thus, after the apocalypse, no one dared to use nuclear weapons. The only choice was to organize survivors to fight back, gradually killing off the zombies. But if the zombies hadn¡¯t been killed, then they must have hidden themselves. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know what was going on, so she could only take one step at a time. Because there were so few zombies, they didn¡¯t need to choose their path carefully; any random one would do. The three vehicles moved slowly; occasionally they encountered solitary zombies, which the others could handle without Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye needing to intervene. About twenty minutes later, they finally came across other people. It was a small group of twenty individuals, surrounded by hundreds of zombies, and their situation didn¡¯t look good. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye could tell at a glance that their powers were not strong¡ªalthough all superpower users, their strength was only at Superpower Level 1. Except for the leader, a man at the Level 1 Middle Stage, the others seemed to be at the Level 1 Early Stage. The leader of the Zombie Group besieging them was a Level 2 Strength Zombie. In addition to that, there were over a hundred Level 1 Zombies, while the rest were all Basic-level Zombies. Although these were Basic-level Zombies, they were much more agile than those that had first emerged at the beginning of the apocalypse. With the strength of this group, perhaps facing just the Basic-level Zombies, they could have had a chance of winning. But now, with over a hundred Level 1 Zombies and even a Level 2 Zombie, these people were far from a match. They formed a circle, back to back, facing the surrounding zombies, each with a look of panic and even despair on their faces, clearly at the end of their rope. Seeing a car approaching from afar, the people were so preoccupied that they couldn¡¯t even consider the fact that the car¡¯s direction was suspicious. While defending against zombie attacks, they shouted loudly to Fang Yuxin and the others, ¡°Help! Come save us quickly!¡± Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye might not be saints, but since they had stumbled upon this scene, they couldn¡¯t just watch these people be devoured alive by the zombies. Moreover, since they planned to stay in the Safe Zone of Beishi City, it wouldn¡¯t be right not to help. The two exchanged a look, disguising their energy fluctuations to resemble those of Second-level Superpower Users. After Bai Ye stopped the car, he followed Fang Yuxin out to rescue the people. Qian Lang and Zhao Yan also stopped their vehicles. Except for the older Qian Sen and the younger Liu Yihuan, everyone else, including Li Qingyun, got out. Li Qingyun¡¯s Awakened superpower was rather unique, with no offensive Skills, but ever since she left Lin City Base with Fang Yuxin, she started to train herself. She held a spear specially made for her by Bai Ye; after all, she had never learned martial arts and lacked strength, and weapons such as knives or swords were not suitable for her. Chapter 524 - 524 287 Too Outstanding (Second Update) ?Chapter 524: 287 Too Outstanding (Second Update) Chapter 524: 287 Too Outstanding (Second Update) As for weapons like spears, she was perfectly suited to use them¡ªjust needed to grab firmly with both hands and thrust hard. The nearly two-meter length allowed her to avoid getting scratched by zombies. Qian Lang had an Awakening in the Enhancement System; his strength had been amplified. His weapon had evolved from a steel pick to a two-meter-long Guan Gong¡¯s Saber, also with Bai Ye¡¯s help. The saber was heavy, and when swung, its power was extremely terrifying. As his enemies were zombies, he didn¡¯t even need to learn any complex techniques; a few basic saber moves would suffice. But after all, he had just awakened and could only deal with ordinary zombies. He was no match for the Level 1 Zombies. Liu Zhenglin and Zhao Yan also joined the battlefield, but they only dared to hover around the edges and didn¡¯t venture too deep. Zhou Han, with his superior strength, didn¡¯t have this concern. As soon as he got out of the car, he charged towards the Zombie Group and began pounding them with his fists! Yet Bai Er was motionless, lazing on the roof of the car like a lord, his huge head resting on his forelegs, eyes slightly closed in extreme comfort. The members of the small team were stunned when they saw them. These people were merely calling for help as a last hope without the expectation of being rescued. They didn¡¯t dare to hold on to the thought that the others would really come to their aid. It would have been good enough if they hadn¡¯t turned away! But when they saw that there were only eight people getting off the vehicle, they were dumbfounded¡ªthere were so few of them. Were they courting death by coming over? However, right after that, they realized they were wrong. Although there were not many of them, among them were three Second-level Superpower Users! They were incredibly lucky! The members of the small team were incredibly relieved, knowing they had been rescued. Then, they couldn¡¯t help but stare in amazement. The squad consisted of twenty people, all quite young, mostly in their twenties or early thirties, comprised of twelve men and eight women. Most of the twelve men were fixated on Fang Yuxin, while the women mostly gazed at Bai Ye. In modern society, where communication is advanced, one could easily find retouched photos of handsome men and beautiful women online, with most people fatigued by such aesthetics. Before the apocalypse, when life was worry-free, encountering someone exceptionally beautiful or handsome on the street might lead to people staring in awe. But after the apocalypse, everyone was busy surviving, and few people would swoon over someone¡¯s appearance. Yet Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were different. Both were exceptionally handsome, in no way inferior to celebrities, even surpassing most of them in looks. Moreover, the temperament they exuded left many celebrities behind. Since they began the path of Cultivation, their temperaments had changed once more. Bai Ye cultivated the Sword Dao, becoming like an unsheathed sharp blade, cold and formidable. Fang Yuxin, possessing a Pure Wood Spirit Body, already had an ethereal quality akin to a spirit of the mountains. After reaching Foundation Establishment, her celestial air was more pronounced than ever before, like a fairy descended from the heavens, beyond the scope of ordinary humans. Foundation Establishment was but the first step on the Immortal Path¡ªfar from true ascension. If they were in the Cultivation World, where cultivators were plentiful and many had outstanding looks and temperaments, Fang Yuxin would not stand out too much. But this was merely the ordinary Mortal World, where nature¡¯s spiritual energy was scarce, especially entering the apocalypse. Food and water shortages left most people looking dirty and destitute. Thus, the sudden appearance of Fang Yuxin was impossible to ignore. These people weren¡¯t originally infatuated with beauty, but upon seeing these two, they just couldn¡¯t help but stare, stunned. However, they simply admired them, and their looks were clean, without malevolence. Several hundred zombies were no issue for Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. Alongside Zhou Han, the battle-crazed fighter, it took just over ten minutes to deal with them all. Of course, barring Zhou Han, who didn¡¯t understand concealment at all, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had both controlled their powers to appear as if they were only Superpower Level 2, so their speed was slower. Even so, the others were utterly astounded¡ªwho were they? So powerful! Just ten minutes to eliminate hundreds of zombies! They simply couldn¡¯t be human! Glancing silently at the striking looks and temperaments of Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, they felt they had the full picture! Bai Ye observed their expressions, narrowed his eyes slightly, and walked over to Fang Yuxin, sending her a message through telepathy, ¡°Xinxin, something¡¯s not quite right. Do you... want to disguise a bit?¡± Even though he knew these people had stared blankly at Fang Yuxin without any harm intended, it still made him uncomfortable! He hadn¡¯t paid much attention before. Seeing her every day, he hadn¡¯t felt much, only finding Fang Yuxin quite beautiful and to his liking. It was only upon meeting these people, seeing their dazed¡ªeven somewhat infatuated¡ªgazes, that Bai Ye suddenly realized Fang Yuxin¡¯s appearance and temperament were too outstanding for most people! If things continued this way, there would surely be trouble! Bai Ye mulled it over. When they were at the Market Base, Fang Yuxin¡¯s cultivation wasn¡¯t high, and her identity was extraordinary. Plus, she usually traveled by car, so no one paid much attention to her appearance. After leaving, they hadn¡¯t encountered many people on the road. Although they had interacted with other survivors, either Fang Yuxin demonstrated formidable strength or it was at night, so few cared about her looks. But now that they were in Beishi City, where the survivors were likely numerous and they were new arrivals concealing their real strength, Fang Yuxin¡¯s striking beauty and temperament would surely attract unwanted attention! (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to vote for it at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 525 - 525 288 Hearing the News (Second Update) ?Chapter 525: 288 Hearing the News (Second Update) Chapter 525: 288 Hearing the News (Second Update) Fang Yuxin heard Bai Ye¡¯s voice transmission and was taken aback momentarily before she grasped his intention. She furrowed her brows slightly but couldn¡¯t think of a good solution. A person¡¯s temperament naturally reveals itself; how could she conceal it? Moreover, why should she conceal it? Should she have to skulk and hide just because of some people¡¯s potential malice? Appearance is given by one¡¯s parents, but temperament is cultivated over years by an individual. After contemplating, Fang Yuxin quietly cast a minor spell to reel in the ethereal quality of her character. There wasn¡¯t much change in her facial features, but her skin appeared more ordinary. With that, the previously elusive and fairylike quality about her vanished in an instant, leaving her looking like a beautiful ordinary person. Beautiful, yes, but still a mortal. Bai Ye had already discreetly positioned his body to block others¡¯ view when transmitting his message, so he was the first to notice the change after Fang Yuxin¡¯s spell. The sensation was quite peculiar, as if a fairy had suddenly become a mortal. Bai Ye, looking at Fang Yuxin, still found her overly beautiful, but refrained from insisting she uglify herself further. He could roughly guess Fang Yuxin¡¯s thoughts and didn¡¯t want to impose on her either. Fortunately, even though her appearance had not changed, her temperament had significantly, and she didn¡¯t stand out too much like before; he was somewhat relieved. However, it was at that moment he heard Fang Yuxin¡¯s voice transmission, ¡°Bai Ye, you should also tone down your aura; it¡¯s too easy for others to notice there¡¯s something off.¡± They had concealed their energy fluctuations, but because Bai Ye practiced Sword Dao, the natural aura he exuded came with an imposing sharpness, like an unsheathed sword, not hiding its edge at all. Fang Yuxin¡¯s deliberate reminder, though, was not just out of concern that Bai Ye might be found out. She had seen those women gazing at Bai Ye with fascination! While she wasn¡¯t about to start trouble with those women over it, she couldn¡¯t help feeling annoyed! Bai Ye was her boyfriend now; how could she let these people take advantage of him for free! Bai Ye hadn¡¯t realized that Fang Yuxin was just as jealous as he was. After subconsciously restraining his aura, he suddenly noticed Fang Yuxin pursing her lips and squinting at a few women not too far away, looking quite dissatisfied. He paused for a moment, with a faint guess in his mind, but he wasn¡¯t sure. He deliberately followed Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze, glancing at the women, and transmitted inquiringly, ¡°Xinxin, what are you looking at? Is there an issue with those few?¡± Fang Yuxin, already feeling uncomfortable, saw Bai Ye actually fixing his gaze on those women and instantly felt as if her jar of vinegar had been knocked over. She impulsively tugged at Bai Ye and fiercely transmitted, ¡°Don¡¯t you look at them!¡± Only then did Bai Ye confirm his suspicion, his heart melting sweetly inside him. Although Fang Yuxin had accepted his pursuit and agreed to be his girlfriend, he had always been slightly worried that she might not truly like him. Now, seeing her act jealous on his behalf, his underlying concerns disappeared, and his gaze towards Fang Yuxin grew increasingly tender. Following that, it occurred to him to do something mischievous. He deliberately held Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, then turned his head and gave a warning look to a few men who were staring at her with captivated eyes, as though declaring his ownership. Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t usually fond of public displays of affection with Bai Ye, but looking at his handsome face, thinking he was quite the catch herself, she didn¡¯t refuse Bai Ye. Instead, she purposefully glanced at those women, letting them know Bai Ye was hers, Fang Yuxin¡¯s, and no one was going to steal him from her! Although the small team noticed that both of their temperaments had changed, they harbored no suspicion. Their abilities were limited, and so was their awareness; how could they imagine that the two were intentionally concealing their temperaments to appear average? They simply thought the pair looked different because they were in combat and that their own excessive tension was to blame for any prior misperceptions. Qian Lang and others, though aware that the duo must have done something, weren¡¯t fools. Naturally, they wouldn¡¯t disclose such a critical matter to others but instead kept it quietly in mind, finding Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin profoundly unfathomable! Chapter 526 - 526 288 Hearing the News (Second Release)_2 ?Chapter 526: 288 Hearing the News (Second Release)_2 Chapter 526: 288 Hearing the News (Second Release)_2 The people who dug out the Crystal Cores didn¡¯t dare to keep them. Although they had killed zombies too, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had saved their lives, so these Crystal Cores could be considered repayment. However, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t accept their ¡°repayment¡±, as it was only dozens of Crystal Cores which she didn¡¯t even value. After distributing the deserved Crystal Cores to them, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye began to inquire about the situation in Beishi City from these people. Although Bai Ye was a Beishi person, he hadn¡¯t been back for a long time, and he was completely unaware of the current situation in Beishi. Now that they had encountered people, it was good to gather some information before entering the Safe Zone. These people thought they had just arrived in Beishi; such occurrences weren¡¯t unheard of, but they were rare, and almost all those who made it here belonged to larger groups. Small groups like Bai Ye¡¯s had not been seen before. The man who spoke up was a Level 1 Middle Stage male Fire Element Superpower User named Wan Lin. He briefly explained the situation in Beishi, focusing mainly on the rules within the Beishi Base, so Bai Ye and the others wouldn¡¯t go in blind and accidentally break any taboos. Their small group wasn¡¯t a Mercenary Team, but a Corpse Hunting Team, which took on the righteous task of hunting zombies. Because of the large scale of the Beishi Base, it was different from other bases ¨C with many rules and very good order. Establishing a Mercenary Team was difficult, and such teams often had many restrictive rules that left little freedom. Except for the Advanced superpower users, many people from lower tiers preferred to form independent Corpse Hunting Teams to hunt zombies. This was riskier, but it was better than joining Mercenary Teams where others controlled their lives and they never knew when they might become cannon fodder. However, many of the rules in the Beishi Base were quite similar to other Safe Zones, such as the requirement for Mercenary Teams to accept missions to hunt zombies daily. And as Mercenary Teams rose in rank, they had to complete more tasks, which implied that with greater power came greater responsibility. Despite the heavy burden of these tasks, the rewards were also rich. In the Beishi Base, there was also a system of Contribution Value; the more complex and numerous the missions completed, the greater the Contribution Value earned. This value was used to measure a Mercenary Team¡¯s status in the Safe Zone and the perks they could enjoy, such as discounts when shopping, the distribution of materials, and the shops that Mercenary Teams could own. Beishi was a large city with a large population. The amount of food and water needed by so many people was not insignificant. It wasn¡¯t possible to rely solely on the power of one faction; every available resource had to be utilized. Thus, the Base had established numerous farms, breeding grounds, and factories. Of course, due to tight electricity supplies, these ¡°factories¡± were essentially workshops aimed at producing food that could stave off hunger. Most of the agricultural products and livestock raised on the farms and breeding grounds were sent to factories for further processing, resulting in storable food items. Previously discarded food scraps were now all being utilized. Except for those with decent abilities who could still eat normal meals, most people had to eat a type of compressed biscuit. Due to the lack of seasonings and flavors, one could imagine the taste of the compressed biscuits produced by the factory. Luckily, people had endured hardships and as long as they could fill their stomachs and survive, that was enough. When Wan Lin reached this point, he specifically rummaged through his bag and took out a compressed biscuit to show Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin. This compressed biscuit was dark yellow in color, vacuum-packed, not very large, about four centimeters long, three centimeters wide, and only half a centimeter thick. According to Wan Lin, such a biscuit could barely satisfy an Ordinary Person, while a superpower user would need at least two to stave off hunger. Besides these biscuits, there were also ham sausages made with minced meat, which were pricier than the compressed biscuits. While they didn¡¯t fill you up, their taste and nutritional value were better. However, these ham sausages were more expensive than the compressed biscuits, so they only bought some occasionally to change their diet. This time, they didn¡¯t have any on hand to show Fang Yuxin and others. Additionally, beyond what was manufactured by the factories, some shops sold various preservable food items like vacuum-packed smoked meats and candies, which mainly came from Mercenary Teams finding them in supermarkets or food processing plants, and they were quite pricey. Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t interested in these items. Although she had quite a few supplies, she would never sell them. The warehouse had a preservation function, so there was no need to worry about things spoiling. What caught her attention was that the Beishi Base had already come up with an Energy Detector. This device could detect the energy fluctuations on a person, and although it still couldn¡¯t discern a superpower user¡¯s attribute, it could accurately detect the user¡¯s level. One thing that Wan Lin mentioned made her particularly concerned; he said that the researchers were working on a device that could identify Space superpower users, essentially an upgraded version of the Energy Detector. Once developed, it would be able to determine a superpower user¡¯s attribute. If there were any Space superpower users, they would surely be discovered! Because the Personal Space opened by Space superpower users required superpower energy to maintain, their energy fluctuations were extremely active and couldn¡¯t be concealed. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know if such a detector would reveal her Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Just the thought of that possibility sent chills down her spine! Seeing that her expression hadn¡¯t changed, Bai Ye quickly squeezed her hand and sent a message through his voice transmission, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t panic just yet. Didn¡¯t he say the detector isn¡¯t out yet? Don¡¯t disrupt your own composure!¡± (To be continued... If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 527 - 527 289 New Type Detector (Third Update) ?Chapter 527: 289 New Type Detector! (Third Update) Chapter 527: 289 New Type Detector! (Third Update) Fang Yuxin heard Bai Ye¡¯s words and quickly calmed herself down. Thankfully, her change of expression was fleeting, and people like Wan Lin didn¡¯t notice anything amiss. Afterward, Bai Ye asked, ¡°How far is it to Beishi Base from here? Can you guys show us the way?¡± Wan Lin, seeing that these people were quite capable and seemed to have good temperaments, had long wanted to ingratiate himself with them. Hearing Bai Ye¡¯s request, he readily responded, ¡°It¡¯s already noon, and we¡¯re actually about to head back ourselves. Why don¡¯t we go together?¡± On a normal day, they would not return to save on gasoline, but Wan Lin changed his usual approach to cozy up to Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin. Besides, they were all somewhat exhausted after that terrifying encounter, so going back for some rest was not a bad idea. Thus, after Wan Lin spoke up, nobody objected. Their vehicle was nearby, and being surrounded by zombies was an accident. Once they found the car, Wan Lin and his team led the way as they all set off for Beishi Base. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye noticed that Wan Lin and his group drove a small truck, which had a cargo compartment in the back where quite a few people could sit, but since the compartment was open, it was relatively risky. It seemed that these people were not in a very good situation. Nevertheless, since fate had merely thrown them together, Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were far from saints. Seeing their plight, they simply sighed inwardly, without feeling an obligation to improve their lives. Along the way to Beishi Base, they encountered numerous Corpse Hunting Teams. They were all small groups, and it was unclear where the members of the larger Mercenary Corps had gone. Wan Lin seemed to realize their bewilderment and took the chance when alone to inform them that the zombies nearby were led by Advanced zombie leaders who usually hid themselves. The scattered zombies wandering outside belonged to smaller Zombie Groups. The large Mercenary Corps were engaged in other missions. Once there was a sighting of a large Zombie Group somewhere, those large Mercenary Corps would tackle it, a different business from these smaller teams. Upon hearing this, Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye came to understand. When other people saw them, due to the prominence of the vehicle Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were in, they couldn¡¯t help but take a few extra looks, curious about who might be inside. To save fuel, everyone would either drive small trucks like Wan Lin¡¯s or large trailers, carrying dozens or hundreds of people at a time. Those with vehicles like Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were from the Base who were Advanced superpower users. However, Advanced superpower users would either oversee things from within the Base or lead teams out on missions to hunt zombies. On seeing Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, they didn¡¯t quite fit the profile; after all, there were two regular sedans following them, which didn¡¯t resemble the kind of teams an Advanced superpower user would take on a mission. With varied thoughts, many astute individuals guessed that Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were from outside, inherently curious while speculating whether the individuals in the vehicle were very capable. After all, considering the long journey, outsiders wishing to arrive either had to travel with large groups or possess significant strength. With only three vehicles and the leading one looking most conspicuous, those people couldn¡¯t help but wonder. With this speculation, many harbored intentions of currying favor. Advanced superpower users were hard to come by; these small teams had ordinary abilities, and they couldn¡¯t as much as meet the Advanced superpower users from the Base, let alone see them from afar. Now that new people had arrived, how could they not seize such an opportunity? Even if Advanced superpower users seemed to have little now, once in the Base, they could thrive! By establishing a good relationship now, they might receive care and favors in the future! Such opportunities were rare! However, as Bai Ye and the others continued driving toward the Base without stopping, even those tempted were apprehensive about possibly angering these Advanced superpower users with an impulsive approach. Instead of gaining favor, they might instigate dislike, which would be unfortunate. With such concerns, few dared to step forward. But just then, someone recognized a member of Wan Lin¡¯s team. Their eyes lit up, and from a distance, they waved enthusiastically and called out, ¡°Wang Fei! Why are you heading back so early? Looks like you¡¯ve had a good haul, eh?¡± Chapter 528 - 528 289 New Detection Device (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 528: 289 New Detection Device! (Third Update)_2 Chapter 528: 289 New Detection Device! (Third Update)_2 The person speaking directly ran towards Wan Lin¡¯s small truck, he must have been a speed enhancement superpower user; he actually caught up just like that without seeming tired. Wang Fei was sitting in the vehicle, how could he not read the person¡¯s intentions? However, they did have some relationship in normal times, and it didn¡¯t seem appropriate to ignore the person outright now. So he said, ¡°What¡¯s up? We had some bad luck this time and got surrounded by a zombie group, nearly got wiped out. Thankfully, these few friends here helped us and saved us.¡± Hearing this, the man¡¯s gaze flickered slightly. Wang Fei¡¯s implication was clear: the people in the truck were not to be taken lightly! Know that although Wang Fei¡¯s team only had twenty people, the team leader Wan Lin was quite capable, and the rest of the members were also quite in sync, so if they nearly died, the scale of the zombie group that surrounded them must have been significant, and they were difficult to deal with. With that in mind, the people who saved them must not be underestimated; their strength might far surpass Wan Lin¡¯s! So, were the people in the truck second-level superpower users? Thinking this, he glanced quickly at the vehicle, but unfortunately, he didn¡¯t know when the windows had been closed, and from outside, one couldn¡¯t see inside at all. He wasn¡¯t discouraged, though, and seeing that they had no intention to stop, he exchanged some pleasantries with Wang Fei before breaking away. However, Wang Fei was quite loyal; he secretly gave the man a hand gesture, starting with a two, then followed by a three. The speed superpower user understood the meaning immediately after seeing it, and he took another look at the gradually distancing car, stroking his chin in thought¡ªthere were actually three Second-level Superpower Users. However, they likely weren¡¯t ordinary Second-level Superpower Users, right? The zombie group that nearly killed Wang Fei¡¯s team couldn¡¯t be easily handled by three ordinary Second-level Superpower Users! After the apocalypse, a plethora of superpowers emerged, everyone initially found it quite novel, but gradually, people discovered that skills needed to be realized on one¡¯s own, some people¡¯s realized skills were very powerful, almost crushing superpower users of the same level, while the skills realized by others were barely useful. Therefore, the strength of a superpower user wasn¡¯t just based on the Superpower Level, but also on their actual combat ability. These three Second-level Superpower Users were newcomers, and their abilities to reach Beishi City and save Wang Fei¡¯s team must be quite outstanding, but it was unknown how they compared to those powerful Second-level Superpower Users in the base. Beishi Base already had Third-level Superpower Users, and there were rumors that even Level 4 Superpower Users existed! While Third-level Superpower Users had been seen by people, Level 4 Superpower Users had always been out of sight, so no one knew whether the news was true or false. The most numerous were the Level 1 Superpower Users, and the number of Second-level Superpower Users was also not small, reaching into the hundreds. Therefore, when this man found out they were Second-level Superpower Users, he wasn¡¯t too surprised. After he returned to his team, a crowd gathered around him, inquiring about the people in the truck. He laughed and said they were just three Second-level Superpower Users, but he didn¡¯t share his suspicions. After all, they were just a temporarily formed team, without deep relationships, and he naturally wouldn¡¯t divulge crucial information, allowing others to get a jump on them. Others, hearing they were just three Second-level Superpower Users, immediately lost interest in the people in the truck. Even someone coldly commented, ¡°Just three Second-level Superpower Users daring to drive such a conspicuous car, aren¡¯t they afraid of attracting unwanted attention!¡± The other people, upon hearing this, said nothing, only the speed superpower user sneered in his heart. These people were still just Level 1 Superpower Users, they all had to look up to Second-level Superpower Users, how could they afford to comment? Moreover, those three were definitely not ordinary Second-level Superpower Users! Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, of course, were unaware of this small turbulence here, and even if they knew, they wouldn¡¯t mind. They hadn¡¯t missed Wang Fei¡¯s subtle gesture, but Wang Fei hadn¡¯t revealed anything crucial, and besides, once they reached the base, their Superpower Level would inevitably be known by others, so there was no reason to bother with Wang Fei. But, both of them were still somewhat displeased. They exchanged glances, understanding each other¡¯s thoughts. Once they arrived at the base, they could part ways with this team. Quite a few people took notice of the White Tiger on the roof of the car and thought it looked rather imposing. Thankfully, Bai Ye had deliberately applied a Concealing Technique on Bai Er, maintaining its energy fluctuations at a Level 1 degree, which prevented others from paying too much attention. But as they neared Beishi Base, Fang Yuxin suddenly became a bit worried. She said directly to Bai Ye, ¡°Ask Bai Er if it can shrink down, it¡¯s just too big in its current form.¡± In fact, Fang Yuxin was already regretting not having Bai Er shrink down earlier and stay quietly inside the truck. Its presence on the roof was just too conspicuous! Bai Ye also felt some regret, and though it seemed a bit late now, it would be better than causing people to take notice inside the base. Unfortunately, when he called Bai Er, Bai Er indicated that it didn¡¯t know how to shrink, leaving Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin frustrated. Soon, they arrived at Beishi Base. Beishi Base was more grandiose than any other base they¡¯d seen before, with an outer Protection Wall over ten meters high, and pitfalls hundreds of meters wide outside the wall with wooden thorns set at the bottom. Moreover, according to Wan Lin, there were several lines of such Protection Walls and pitfalls. After entering, there were buffer zones set up inside. Quickly, they reached the entrance of the base. Upon entry, blood tests were first required to ensure no virus infection, followed by identity registration. Fang Yuxin and her group passed the blood test without issue, but when they went to register their identities, they heard Wan Lin exclaim, ¡°Eh? How is this Energy Detector different from the previous ones?¡± The young man in charge took a look at Wan Lin and said with pride, ¡°Of course! This is the latest developed new model of Energy Detector!¡± Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye immediately tensed up! That¡¯s exactly what they were afraid of! (To be continued... If you like this work, you¡¯re welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for a recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 529 - 529 290 Detecting Superpower (First Update) ?Chapter 529: 290 Detecting Superpower (First Update) Chapter 529: 290 Detecting Superpower (First Update) Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye had not expected that the new testing device Wan Lin mentioned was already developed and that they had just managed to catch it! She took a close look at the new testing device and noticed it looked a bit like an ordinary smartphone, about the same size. At the top, there was a small light, which was said to be an energy-detecting device. That little light would emit a kind of ray, which, when it met the energy fluctuations emitted by a superpower user, would change, and the instrument¡¯s screen would display the superpower user¡¯s level and attribute. Wan Lin was surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected this device to be ready so soon and asked a few more questions. The male officer¡¯s attitude was decent enough; he explained briefly and then looked at Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, asking, ¡°Which of you two wants to go first?¡± Concerned, Bai Ye glanced at Fang Yuxin, stepped forward, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± The man had no objections, turned on the device, shone it towards Bai Ye, then looked at the device¡¯s screen and said, ¡°Gold Element, second-level, not bad.¡± Although there were hundreds of second-level superpower users at the Beishi Base, relative to the massive base number, these second-level superpower users were not many. Therefore, the officer was in a good mood upon discovering that the newcomer Bai Ye was a second-level superpower user, even smiling at him. Bai Ye¡¯s expression was calm, but he was somewhat surprised inside; he had thought this new testing device was more impressive. Now, seeing that it was not so exceptional, he was relieved. He had Gold and Thunder Dual Elements, but the device detected only the Gold Element, which eased his worries a bit. Afterward, the man invited Bai Ye to the side to register his ID details and get his ID card processed. Here, ID registration used a computer; just inputting the information directly was enough. Bai Ye sat in the chair, dealing with the officer¡¯s questions while looking at Fang Yuxin. He dared not clearly show his worried emotions, fearful of revealing anything. But as he looked, he noticed Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression was quite calm, seemingly not anxious at all. Seeing her like this, Bai Ye felt slightly reassured and was not as anxious as before. Then, he saw the male officer shine the device towards Fang Yuxin and then exclaimed, ¡°A Second-level Wood Element!¡± Wood Element Superpower Users, possessing healing and planting abilities, were highly desirable in any Safe Zone. Even if freshly Awakened, any Wood Element Superpower User was enough to draw attention, not to mention Fang Yuxin was a ¡°Second-level¡± Wood Element Superpower User! It should be known that even in the entirety of Beishi City, there were only twenty-nine Second-level Wood Element Superpower Users. Now including her, they would have exactly thirty. Regarding Fang Yuxin¡¯s Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, there wasn¡¯t even a slight reaction on the device; it did not detect it at all! Fang Yuxin had only just discovered this; she had been overly apprehensive before, almost disrupting her own composure. After all, the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion was not like common spatial powers. The personal space developed by space-related superpower users required space superpower to maintain, therefore it could be detected by the device, but her Qingmu Spiritual Mansion was different. The Qingmu Spiritual Mansion was an Immortal Artifact crafted by a great power, undetectable even by an Immortal¡¯s Immortal Consciousness, let alone such a crude device! However, although aware of this, Fang Yuxin only completely relaxed when she heard the result. This time she did not hide her identity as a Wood Element Superpower User; after all, she was not a Fire Element. If she continued to conceal it, once exposed in the future, letting others know she, a Wood Element Superpower User, could utilize Fire Element skills would inevitably bring continuous troubles! Therefore, since coming to Beishi City, she had stopped using Fire Element skills and had instructed people like Qian Lang that this matter absolutely could not be disclosed! Since Fang Yuxin was a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, the male officer¡¯s attitude became even more amiable, he even personally escorted Fang Yuxin to the ID registration area, asked her to sit down, then personally poured her a glass of water. The female officer responsible for registering IDs was also very attentive, her voice sounding softer, causing Wan Lin and the others nearby to get goosebumps. They had never enjoyed such treatment! Now that drinking water was scarce, they even had to be sparing with their own consumption, let alone offer water to someone else. Wan Lin and the others had been doing tasks outside for most of the day, their water supplies had long been depleted, and their throats were almost smoking with dryness. So, when they saw the male officer voluntarily pour water for Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, they all looked on enviously. Chapter 530 - 530 290 Detection of Superpowers (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 530: 290 Detection of Superpowers (First Update)_2 Chapter 530: 290 Detection of Superpowers (First Update)_2 Fang Yuxin certainly didn¡¯t approve of this water. With her keen sense of smell, she could detect a faint stench in the water and completely refused to drink it. She glanced covertly at Bai Ye and directly offered her cup of water to Wan Lin, ¡°Captain Wan seems terribly thirsty. Take this water and drink.¡± Wan Lin, feeling unexpectedly honored by the offer, still didn¡¯t dare to drink Fang Yuxin¡¯s water. Even though his throat was parched to the point of smoking, he declined, ¡°No need, we can drink water once we get back home.¡± Fang Yuxin smiled, ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m not thirsty right now, and it would be a waste to not drink this water. Please, do me the favor.¡± She didn¡¯t intend to harm Wan Lin¡ªthe water should have been condensed by a Water Element Superpower User, and while it looked clean, it had a mix of zombie virus in it. Such a quantity of virus wouldn¡¯t affect Superpower Users but would make the water taste unpleasant. Since she had put it so politely, Wan Lin found it hard to refuse again and took the cup to drink. Bai Ye, unlike Fang Yuxin, was not so delicate and directly gulped down the water. He too detected a faint stench in the water. The smell was so subtle that ordinary people or low-level Superpower Users wouldn¡¯t be able to smell it and thus would not be affected. However, Bai Ye, who practiced the Immortal Path, had much more keen senses than Superpower Users, so the water was not as palatable to him. But he didn¡¯t have a choice; if Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t drink and he also declined, it would arouse suspicion. Fang Yuxin quickly finished registering her identity and received her ID Card. At this point, Qian Lang, Zhou Han, and the others had also completed their tests. Qian Lang, Liu Zhenglin, and Zhao Yan were all newly awakened. Except for Liu Zhenglin who awakened the Wood Element, the others had common abilities and therefore the staff was quite indifferent, showing a slightly better attitude only towards Liu Zhenglin. Zhou Han had a second-level Enhancement System, and Li Qingyun a Level 1 Wood Element, so the staff were more courteous toward them. Qian Sen was an ordinary person who looked destitute and the staff, failing to recognize him as the once renowned botanist, treated him quite ordinarily. Last was Bai Ye¡¯s Spiritual Pet, Bai Er. Bai Er had already been seen by many, and Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t hide it in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion; doing so would be like revealing her possession of a Space Treasure. Moreover, Bai Er could not become smaller. While it looked lazy and unharmful lying on the roof of the car, its size of over three meters once off the car made it quite intimidating. Luckily, the Beishi Base already had several Contracted Beasts, so the presence of Bai Er didn¡¯t frighten the staff too much. After examining it, the staff recorded its information in Bai Ye¡¯s identity data. After all, Bai Er was Bai Ye¡¯s ¡°Contracted Beast.¡± After they finished registering their identities, the staff presented Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye, Zhou Han, Li Qingyun, and Liu Zhenglin each with a Communicator. This Communicator resembled a wristwatch with a touchscreen, a sizable screen, and an attractive design. As long as it was within the range of Beishi, it could make calls and send messages, quite convenient. Qian Lang, Zhao Yan, Qian Sen, and Liu Yihuan didn¡¯t get this treatment, but the staff informed them that Communicators were sold in the Base¡¯s stores and suggested they buy one for convenient contact. Each Communicator came with its own contact number; after distributing the Communicators to Fang Yuxin and the others, the staff entered their numbers into their identity records. Then, the staff distributed a printed Base manual to them. Such materials weren¡¯t given to everyone, only to those with strong abilities or special Superpowers; others had to buy it with Crystal Cores. Fang Yuxin flipped through the booklet, quickly scanning its contents, and then asked, ¡°By the way, I have relatives who have come to Beishi. Can you help me check where they are living now?¡± Being a second-level Wood Element Superpower User, she received very attentive service from the staff who, without any hesitation, asked, ¡°What¡¯s the name of your relative?¡± Fang Yuxin immediately replied, ¡°Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, Fang Yuyang, and Bai Qianqian. Can you find them?¡± As soon as she spoke up, not just the two staff members but also the rest, including Wan Lin, changed their expressions. Fang Yuxin felt a shock in her heart, but she kept her composure and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Have you heard of them? Can you tell me about their situation?¡± Upon hearing this, the others couldn¡¯t help but mutter among themselves. They felt the names Fang Yuxin had mentioned sounded very familiar, resembling the name of someone who had recently become quite well-known in the Base. At that moment, they were too focused on Fang Yuxin¡¯s identity as a second-level Wood Element Superpower User and had forgotten to ask. Now, upon listening to Fang Yuxin, they realized that she was actually related to that Fang Yuyang! The female staff member¡¯s face changed, striving to remain calm, then she informed Fang Yuxin, ¡°They are indeed in the Base, living at Tianhua Garden, Building 3, Apartment 303. These are their contact numbers...¡± She went on to report all four numbers. Fang Yuxin quickly noted them down, saving them in the directory. It turned out that the Communicator was very convenient, designed quite like a smartphone, and almost as easy to use. However, to conserve power, the Communicator only had calling and messaging functions and did not contain other software. After saving the contact numbers, Fang Yuxin first breathed a sigh of relief and then, recalling the uneasy expressions on the faces of those present, she worried something might have happened to her family and asked, ¡°Could you tell me if something has happened to my relatives?¡± (To be continued... If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to recommend, cast your monthly votes at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 531 - 531 291 Family Reunion (Second Update) ?Chapter 531: 291 Family Reunion (Second Update) Chapter 531: 291 Family Reunion (Second Update) It seemed they had anticipated her question, so the two staff members weren¡¯t surprised at all. After exchanging glances, the male staff member said, ¡°Let me explain. Miss Fang¡¯s family and the Qu Family don¡¯t really get along, and Mr. Fang seems to have some entanglements with Miss Qin Xiran of the Qin Family, and at the same time, he has some connections with the Bai Family...¡± As he spoke, he suddenly stopped, turned his head, and stared intently at Bai Ye, ¡°Are you a member of the Bai Family, sir?¡± Because Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin had both come from out of town, the staff had assumed they were foreigners. Even when they heard Bai Ye¡¯s name, they hadn¡¯t paid much attention. It was only now that they remembered Bai Ye might be related to the Bai Family of Beishi City! Bai Ye nodded slightly, gazing intently back at the two staff members, and said calmly, ¡°I am indeed from the Bai Family. Could you please help me check the contact number and current address of Mr. Bai Zhengli and Madam Shui Rou?¡± Upon hearing the three words ¡°Bai Zhengli¡±, the staff members realized Bai Ye¡¯s identity and quickly reported, ¡°Both of them live in Tianhua Garden, Block 18, Area A. Their contact number is...¡± Bai Ye took note of the number, glanced at Fang Yuxin to see she had no further questions, thanked the staff, and then left the office with Fang Yuxin. Wan Lin and the others had not expected to encounter members of the Bai Family and the sister of Fang Yuyang! Their gazes were complex as they looked at the two. After a moment of hesitation, they abandoned their original intentions, didn¡¯t say anything else, and bid farewell to them before leaving. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye both wanted to see their family¡¯s current situation, so naturally, they didn¡¯t bother to engage in pleasantries with the others. After the people left, the two got into the car and began making contact. Li Qingyun was about to get into her car when she saw the two trying to get in touch with family members. Hesitating for a moment, she decided to get into Zhao Yan¡¯s car instead, leaving space for Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin so as not to disturb their communication with family. The communicator came with a Bluetooth earpiece, and after Fang Yuxin put on the earpiece, she dialed Fang Yuyang¡¯s contact number. The screen showed the call connecting, and she anxiously awaited the response. Soon, Fang Yuyang¡¯s indifferent voice came through the earpiece, ¡°Who is this? What do you want?¡± Hearing her brother Fang Yuyang¡¯s voice after so long, Fang Yuxin was so moved she nearly cried. But as soon as she opened her mouth, her voice choked up with emotion, ¡°Brother!¡± ¡°Xinxin!¡± Fang Yuyang called out excitedly, ¡°Xinxin? Is that really you?¡± Then, the screen revealed Fang Yuyang¡¯s excited face as he continued, ¡°Xinxin, turn on the video!¡± Fang Yuxin saw a small video button on the screen and quickly pressed it, activating the video call. Seeing her on the screen, Fang Yuyang grew even more excited, ¡°Xinxin! It really is you! Where are you now? I¡¯ll come get you right away!¡± He had just said this when the screen wobbled, seemingly because he was walking quickly. Next, Fang Yuxin heard him speaking to Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, ¡°Dad! Mom! Xinxin has arrived at the Beishi Base!¡± The excited voices of Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe immediately came through the earpiece¡ª Qu Qianhe said, ¡°Xinxin really came? Where is she now?¡±; Fang Jintang followed, ¡°Are you talking to her right now? Quick! Let me and your mother have a look!¡±; Because of the distance, their voices were not very clear, and they were not visible on the video. Despite this, Fang Yuxin still eagerly addressed the screen, ¡°Dad! Mom! Brother! I¡¯ll come to find you right away!¡±; Bai Ye didn¡¯t make a phone call. Instead, he sent text messages to Bai Zhengli, Shui Rou, and Bai Qianqian, and also inquired about the contact numbers of Bai Zhengli¡¯s subordinates. With Li Qingyun not there, he had to drive. Seeing Fang Yuxin¡¯s face wet with tears of excitement, he felt a slight pang in his heart and said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°You¡¯ll see them soon, don¡¯t cry, Xinxin.¡± Fang Yuyang was already excited to see his precious little sister but then suddenly heard Bai Ye¡¯s voice. He froze for a moment, his expression turning perplexing, and he asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, are you with that Bai guy?¡±; Bai Ye didn¡¯t hear this, but he noticed the change in Fang Yuyang¡¯s expression and immediately had a bad feeling, thinking that a tough battle was ahead! Fang Yuxin, however, picked up on the hints of doubt and dissatisfaction in Fang Yuyang¡¯s voice, which was, of course, directed at Bai Ye. In Fang Yuyang¡¯s eyes, no matter what, Fang Yuxin was his treasured little sister, placed at the very top of his heart, and no one was allowed to bully her! Chapter 532 - 532 291 Family Reunion (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 532: 291 Family Reunion (Second Update)_2 Chapter 532: 291 Family Reunion (Second Update)_2 He was unhappy because Bai Ye took advantage of the time to run away with his beloved little sister! When Bai Ye was speaking with Fang Yuxin just now, he noticed the intimacy in his tone! That tone, no matter how he heard it, felt off! Fang Yuxin did not dare to tell Fang Yuyang directly that she had already agreed to Bai Ye¡¯s pursuit. She tactfully said, ¡°I¡¯m with Bai Ye right now, he¡¯s driving, and we will be there very soon. You¡¯re at home, aren¡¯t you, Brother?¡± Fang Yuyang had no choice but to temporarily set aside the matter concerning Bai Ye, nodding to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Mom and Dad are home with me, oh, by the way! Qianqian is now living with his grandparents. They originally wanted us to live with them too, but Mom and Dad didn¡¯t think it was suitable, so we didn¡¯t agree.¡± After listening to this, Fang Yuxin nodded in understanding, then saw Fang Yuyang¡¯s face being squeezed out of the frame, and Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang¡¯s faces appeared on the screen. The two of them saw her through the video call and smiled at her directly, with Qu Qianhe happily asking, ¡°Xinxin, how much longer until you get here? Are you sure we don¡¯t need to come pick you up?¡± Fang Yuxin quickly shook her head, ¡°Really, no need! We¡¯ll be there very soon!¡± After all, even though Beishi Base is quite large, driving doesn¡¯t take long. Since the apocalypse, fuel has been scarce and vehicles on the road have become very rare, making traffic jams non-existent. It¡¯s just past noon, and the roads were almost empty, Bai Ye was driving very fast. In about another ten minutes, they would reach the Tianhua District, so there was no need for Fang Jintang and others to come out to pick them up! Fang Yuxin kept the video call going with her family the entire way, reluctant to end it, so time passed especially quickly, in what seemed like just a few words, they had already arrived at Tianhua District. There were guards at the entrance of the community, and entry required identity verification. Fang Yuxin was a second-level Wood Element Superpower User, her ID Card was even more useful than Bai Ye¡¯s. After handing it out, the guard glanced at it, his expression changed, and his attitude became much more respectful immediately, letting her in. The car drove into the residential area, quickly finding the Fang Family¡¯s apartment. They lived in a high-rise apartment, but they stayed on the third floor, which was not too high, even just right. Although Fang Yuxin kept telling her family there was no need to come out, because they had been on a video call the whole time, Fang Jintang and the others learned she was entering the community gate, so they all came down together, waiting at the unit entrance. After getting out of the car, Bai Ye drove to a nearby ground parking lot to park the car, then hurried back. However, for Qian Lang and others, meeting Fang Yuxin¡¯s family was somewhat awkward¡ªthey certainly couldn¡¯t live with the Fang Family. Despite this, Fang Yuxin still had them get out of the car and meet her family. The Fang Family had met Li Qingyun before and knew she was a good friend of Fang Yuxin. After the apocalypse, when they learned Li Qingyun was at her hometown, they were somewhat worried. Seeing her now, they greeted her warmly. Qian Lang and others didn¡¯t expect Fang Yuxin¡¯s parents to appear so young. They looked younger than even thirty, even younger than Liu Zhenglin, at first glance, they almost looked like siblings! Zhao Yan stood to the side, silently observing Qu Qianhe, suddenly feeling a bit lost. She really liked Fang Yuxin¡¯s personality because her character reminded her of her deceased daughter. So, whenever she looked at Fang Yuxin, she couldn¡¯t help but secretly treat her like her own daughter. Now that she had seen Fang Yuxin¡¯s mother, she felt a sense of inferiority and embarrassed about those private thoughts. How outstanding Fang Yuxin¡¯s mother was! How could she possibly compare to her? Qu Qianhe noticed her gaze and, feeling alarmed, couldn¡¯t help but ask her, ¡°Big Sister, what¡¯s wrong? You seem a bit upset?¡± Zhao Yan smiled and explained, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s just... just reminded of my deceased daughter, got a little emotional.¡± Hearing this, Qu Qianhe sighed. Listening to her tone, Qu Qianhe guessed her daughter must have met with misfortune, so she did not ask further, worried it might bring up painful memories for Zhao Yan. Fang Jintang then warmly invited, ¡°Alright, alright! Let¡¯s all go upstairs! Don¡¯t just stand here.¡± Ever since he and Fang Yuxin had parted ways, he and Qu Qianhe had always been worried about Fang Yuxin¡¯s safety. Now they finally saw their daughter safe and unharmed, the weight on his heart finally eased, and his face was full of smiles that he just couldn¡¯t stop. With his call, everyone went upstairs. The third floor was not high, and they arrived quickly. He hurriedly opened the door, inviting everyone in. As soon as they entered the home, Qu Qianhe asked, ¡°Are you hungry? I¡¯ll go prepare some food.¡± They hadn¡¯t eaten lunch yet and were already hungry. At her question, Fang Yuxin answered, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll come with you.¡± Saying this, she took Qu Qianhe¡¯s arm and walked toward the kitchen. The apartment they lived in was a four-bedroom, two-living-room, nicely decorated, with plenty of space. During the video call on the way, Qu Qianhe had already told Fang Yuxin they had arrived at Beishi Base when housing had become very tight. This house was only obtained with the help of Bai Ye¡¯s family, who found someone to buy it. The kitchen was beautifully decorated, and there was a good supply of spices. As soon as Fang Yuxin took a glance, Qu Qianhe laughed, ¡°All these things were brought out by Axiao, you were not here at the time, most of the supplies were with her. After arriving here, she took a lot out from her space to share with us, as if she was willing to empty out her entire space!¡± (. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 533 - 533 292 Trouble Identity (Third Update) ?Chapter 533: 292 Trouble Identity (Third Update) Chapter 533: 292 Trouble Identity (Third Update) Qu Qianhe¡¯s voice carried a laugh, clearly very happy. Fang Yuxin glanced at the remaining ingredients in the kitchen and crisply pulled out fresh vegetables and meat from storage, swiftly preparing them while speaking, ¡°Axiao has a really good temperament. By the way, Mom, where are Axiao and the others living now?¡± As soon as she mentioned this, Qu Qianhe laughed, ¡°They live right next door to us in apartment 302. The Bai Family helped them buy the place, but they¡¯ve gone out on a mission with the Bai Family and aren¡¯t home right now.¡± Fang Yuxin looked surprised, ¡°Why would they be on a mission with the Bai Family? Mom, is this a common occurrence?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Qu Qianhe looked disapprovingly at Fang Yuxin and explained, ¡°Usually, it¡¯s us who go out on missions with them. This time, it¡¯s because the Bai Family took on a mission, but some of their members got injured and haven¡¯t recovered yet, so they went to help.¡± Here, she paused, looked at Fang Yuxin, and asked in a lowered voice, ¡°Xinxin, tell Mom, are you and Bai Ye... are you two together?¡± She was experienced enough to notice that the atmosphere between Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye wasn¡¯t right, much more intimate than when they were apart! Fang Yuxin hesitated for a moment but nodded, admitting, ¡°Well, he said he likes me, and I think he¡¯s a pretty decent person, so I agreed.¡± Qu Qianhe squinted her eyes, looking skeptical, ¡°Oh? Really? Don¡¯t you like him? Quickly tell Mom, how do you think Bai Ye compares to Qiu Yiming? Hmm? It seems to me that you get along quite well with him, maybe even better than when you were with Qiu Yiming!¡± That was also why she initially didn¡¯t want Fang Yuxin to marry Qiu Yiming, not only because she disliked Zhou Fanghua, but because she felt Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t truly in love with Qiu Yiming. She thought Fang Yuxin was too young and didn¡¯t want her to marry too early, only to regret it later when she met someone she truly liked. Eventually, it wouldn¡¯t be good for either party. But what she didn¡¯t expect was that even though Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t get married, the Fang Family and Qiu Family still ended up bitterly estranged. Unlike Fang Yuyang, she personally quite liked Bai Ye. Bai Qianqian had been raised well by Bai Ye, and because of Bai Qianqian, she felt Bai Ye must be a good person. After meeting him personally, she liked Bai Ye more and more, just worried that Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t realize it. Now that Fang Yuxin had figured it out, she felt relieved. Fang Yuxin, who was rather shy about relationships, became uncomfortable when Qu Qianhe teased her, her cheeks turning a rouge red. She didn¡¯t really want to answer this question, so she simply asked, ¡°Mom, why did you guys leave all of a sudden back then? Did you encounter some danger?¡± This had always been her worry. It had been difficult for her and Bai Ye to get through the dangerous rift. When they returned to the motel, only to find it buried under a mudslide, she felt as if the sky had fallen, terrified that her family might be injured. Even though Bai Ye comforted her later, and she vaguely felt her family was alright, she was still uneasy. Seeing her family with her own eyes had put her mind at ease, but she still cared deeply about this matter, so she took the opportunity to ask. Qu Qianhe still wanted to ask her what she really thought about Bai Ye, but who knew that such a disheartening question would come up! As she asked, it reminded Qu Qianhe of something she didn¡¯t want to face. She put down the vegetable she was handling and sighed heavily. Fang Yuxin just wanted to know what had happened back then and why Qu Qianhe had suddenly left. Seeing her mother¡¯s troubled expression, Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart involuntarily sank, and she asked worriedly, ¡°Mom? What exactly happened? Please tell me!¡± Qu Qianhe looked at her and finally said, ¡°Xinxin, I¡¯ve always told you that your maternal grandparents were dead, but I was lying to you. Your grandmother is indeed no more, but your grandfather is still alive.¡± Fang Yuxin thought of what those two clerks had said, her eyebrows furrowing as she asked, ¡°Mom, the grandfather you¡¯re talking about, he wouldn¡¯t happen to be from the Qu Family, would he?¡± Qu Qianhe¡¯s expression changed, ¡°Xinxin, did you hear something?¡± Fang Yuxin had no choice but to spill what she heard, ¡°I heard that you¡¯re not getting along well with the Qu Family. My brother also seems to have some entanglement with the daughter of the Qin Family. What¡¯s really going on? How did my brother get involved with the Qin Family¡¯s daughter?¡± Chapter 534 - 534 292 Trouble Identity (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 534: 292 Trouble Identity (Third Update)_2 Chapter 534: 292 Trouble Identity (Third Update)_2 Qu Qianhe sighed, ¡°Alas, this is just a bad debt!¡± Having said that, she began to explain to Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin then learned that Qu Qianhe was the eldest daughter of the Qu Family and had been pampered since childhood. However, Mrs. Qu was in poor health and had only given birth to this one daughter and could no longer conceive. Seeing that the vast Qu Family had no heir, Mr. Qu began to think and had a child with another woman, giving birth to a son. Later, he brought this son back to the Qu Family, wanting Mrs. Qu to adopt him and publicly claim him as her own. But Mrs. Qu was steadfast and firmly refused, leading to a huge argument that almost ended in divorce. In the end, Mr. Qu cared too much about his reputation to go through with the divorce, so he raised the child outside the home and had people specifically protect him. Mrs. Qu¡¯s health, already poor, suffered from this ordeal and she passed away soon after. When she died, Qu Qianhe was studying abroad and couldn¡¯t make it back in time to see her mother for the last time! When Qu Qianhe returned home, Mrs. Qu had already been buried. What infuriated her even more was that before her mother¡¯s body had even gone cold, Mr. Qu wanted to marry the woman from outside and bring the outside son into the family lineage. So, she made a scene at Mr. Qu¡¯s wedding and from then on cut ties with him, left Beishi City, and went abroad, where she met Fang Jintang and married him. After that, the couple returned to China, to Fang Jintang¡¯s home in Market, and started a business together. Knowing that she was in Market and doing well, Mr. Qu didn¡¯t contact her but secretly helped Fang Jintang quite a lot, enabling his business to prosper. On the day of the accident, lightning struck the hotel, and soon after a mudslide occurred, threatening to bury the hotel, forcing them to leave temporarily. The hotel was not far from Beishi City. If nothing went wrong on the road, they could definitely get there by driving day and night. At that time, they were also unaware of the conditions in other areas, so they simply left a message for Fang Yuxin to directly go to Beishi City to find them. In fact, after they left the hotel, they hadn¡¯t planned to leave immediately and intended to wait nearby. However, they then encountered a massive group of zombies. As they were no match for them, they could only drive to Beishi City, getting further and further away as they fled. Later, they simply went ahead to Beishi City and anxiously awaited Fang Yuxin¡¯s arrival. The day they reached Beishi City, they encountered Miss Qin Xiran of the Qin Family outside the base. She took a liking to Fang Yuyang, who was handsome and capable. However, she also had another pursuer, who was Qu Qianhe¡¯s younger half-brother, born later, named Qu Qianlin, and he was just one year older than Fang Yuyang. The Qu and Qin families had always had a good relationship, and the elders intended for these two to be together, but Qin Xiran really disliked Qu Qianlin and continuously refused. As soon as Fang Yuyang appeared, she set her sights on him, driving Qu Qianlin to fury! But just as Qu Qianlin was thinking of using the Qu family¡¯s power to deal with Fang Yuyang, this matter was discovered by Qu Qianhe¡¯s father and the head of the Qu Family, Qu Xiuhong! Although Qu Xiuhong was initially very displeased with Qu Qianhe¡¯s actions, feeling that she had embarrassed him, after being apart for a long while, he began to feel guilty towards his daughter and secretly supported the Fang Family. With the apocalypse upon them, he was quite worried about Qu Qianhe¡¯s family falling into trouble. Upon knowing they had come to Beishi City, he naturally didn¡¯t want Qu Qianlin to go against them and even wanted them to move into the Qu Family home. Qu Qianhe obviously disagreed and outright refused, leaving Qu Xiuhong very frustrated. Qu Xiuhong announced that no one from the Qu Family should trouble the Fangs. Qu Qianlin, deeply resenting Fang Yuyang, couldn¡¯t directly harm him but resorted to petty schemes in secret to cause trouble for Fang Yuyang. These troubles were trivial for Fang Yuyang; he barely paid them any mind. From his perspective, Qin Xiran, the proud heiress of the Qin family, was the biggest nuisance! Fang Yuyang had no interest in her, and because of Qu Qianlin¡¯s involvement, he particularly didn¡¯t want to get involved with her. Yet, Qin Xiran, bold in her behavior, declared throughout Beishi Base that she had set her sights on Fang Yuyang and that no one should compete with her! Fang Yuyang was a very eligible bachelor, and naturally, many were interested in him. With Qin Xiran¡¯s declaration, no one dared to pursue Fang Yuyang, which actually helped him avoid a lot of trouble. However, Qin Xiran¡¯s jealousy was intense; she constantly viewed Shang Jinxiu with suspicion, worried that Fang Yuyang might take a liking to her. Shang Jinxiu was undeniably attractive, so Qin Xiran¡¯s concerns were not unwarranted. But the fact was, the two of them had no relationship; Fang Yuyang only saw her as a team member, and he harbored no such thoughts about her, with Shang Jinxiu feeling the same. However, Qin Xiran didn¡¯t believe it and constantly sought to cause trouble for Shang Jinxiu. If it weren¡¯t for Shang Jinxiu living next door to the Fang family, Qin Xiran probably would have bullied her even more! Because of this, not only the Fang Family but the entire Yongcheng Team disliked Qin Xiran, and there was no way Fang Yuyang would develop feelings for her. Yet Qin Xiran kept clinging to Fang Yuyang, and with Qu Qianlin interested in her, his hatred for Fang Yuyang only deepened. It was truly a tangled mess! Upon hearing all of this, Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression turned extremely ugly. Shang Jinxiu was under her protection, and Fang Yuyang was her brother; how could she allow them to be bullied by these people! She narrowed her eyes slightly. Qin Xiran? Qu Qianlin? If these people truly dared to come, she would not let them off! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommended tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 535 - 535 293 Arrogance (First Update) ?Chapter 535: 293 Arrogance (First Update) Chapter 535: 293 Arrogance (First Update) Knowing about the conflicts between the Fang Family and the Qu Family, Fang Yuxin finally had a clear idea in her mind, and she developed hatred toward Qu Qianlin and Qin Xiran. Perhaps influenced by Zhou Fanghua, Fang Yuxin now despised those who thought they were right to cling to others in the name of love! How much trouble had Qin Xiran¡¯s so-called affection brought to Fang Yuyang? What right did she have to claim she liked Fang Yuyang? And she even had the audacity to trouble Shang Jinxiu, why should it involve her! True liking isn¡¯t just about saying so! While they talked, they had finished preparing the meal. Since there were many people, they deliberately made several dishes, each in a generous portion. The rich aroma drifted from the kitchen to the living room, making the already hungry guests even more eager. Most people managed to restrain themselves, but Zhou Han and Qian Lang couldn¡¯t help but continually gaze toward the kitchen, their eyes so intense they almost burned through the kitchen door. Even Bai Er raised its proud head, staring with curious golden eyes at the closed kitchen door. If Bai Ye hadn¡¯t held it back, it would have charged in long ago. For that, Bai Er glared at Bai Ye, the golden eyes full of accusation. Bai Ye felt embarrassed, yet he didn¡¯t want to restrain Bai Er too harshly. Realizing Bai Er hadn¡¯t eaten at noon either, he sighed and turned his head aside. Fang Yuyang had been squinting at Bai Ye, wanting to ask if he took advantage of his absence to elope with his precious sister, but with so many people around, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it out loud. Instead, he kept glaring at Bai Ye, inwardly cursing him. Bai Ye, sensing the hostility in Fang Yuyang¡¯s eyes and knowing it was about him eloping with Fang Yuxin, suddenly felt guilty. Knowing he was at fault, he didn¡¯t provoke Fang Yuyang further, pretending to see nothing which infuriated Fang Yuyang to the point of wanting to punch him! Fang Jintang was having a lively conversation with Qian Sen and others, subtly probing about the events that happened to Fang Yuxin on the road, relieved to learn she hadn¡¯t suffered much. As the atmosphere in the living room grew increasingly strange, the kitchen door finally opened. With the door swung open, a rush of delicious aroma burst forth, making everyone¡¯s hunger intensify. Fang Yuyang and the others had already eaten lunch, but thinking about Fang Yuxin, they had lost their appetites and had only a simple meal. Now, smelling the enticing aroma, they felt hungry again. Bai Er watched as everyone found their seats and became anxious, repeatedly growling softly to remind Fang Yuxin that it was still hungry. Fang Yuxin got it a large piece of beef, which finally pacified it. Previously, while everyone was outdoors with limited conditions, their meals were quite simple. Now, seeing a table full of rich dishes, Zhao Yan and others felt a surreal sense of nostalgia as if transported back before the apocalypse. Such feasts were something they only experienced before the apocalypse; once it came, they lived difficult lives. Having joined the Yongcheng Team, they felt the vegetable and meat broth was already quite good, but now, seeing the plentiful dishes before them, they realized the disparity! Zhou Han and Qian Lang, still young and impulsive with fewer restraints, almost drooled over the dishes on the table, eager to try them right away. However, since others hadn¡¯t started eating yet, they didn¡¯t dare to begin and just raised their heads, glancing at the Fang Family, silently urging them¡ªplease start quickly! Their pitiful looks were caught by Fang Jintang, who cleared his throat and quickly invited everyone to eat. Qu Qianhe had made a special egg custard for Liu Yihuan, and Liu Zhenglin, not sure who had prepared it, gratefully glanced at Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin, keeping their kindness in his heart. However, just as everyone was about to start eating, Fang Yuyang¡¯s communicator suddenly rang. He glanced at the name displayed, his expression instantly turning grim. Fang Yuxin noticed the change in his expression and felt a pang of foreboding. Her face darkened as she asked, ¡°Brother? Who¡¯s calling you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Qu Qianlin,¡± Fang Yuyang replied calmly. Seeing Fang Yuxin frown, he quickly added, ¡°This man never calls unless he wants something. Let¡¯s hear what he has to say.¡± With that, he made a ¡°quiet¡± gesture, then answered the call. Chapter 536 - 536 293 Arrogant (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 536: 293 Arrogant (First Update)_2 Chapter 536: 293 Arrogant (First Update)_2 Qu Qianlin had initiated a video call, so the moment the call connected, Fang Yuyang saw his face twisted with malice. At the same time, Qu Qianlin¡¯s voice carried through the speaker, ¡°Fang Yuyang, I heard your sister has come, and she¡¯s actually not dead, what a pity.¡± The voice was thick with venom, not only did Fang Yuyang¡¯s expression turn extremely ugly, but everyone else present also changed their expressions. Bai Ye even snapped the chopsticks in his hand and turned his head, his gaze icy as he stared at the communicator on Fang Yuyang¡¯s wrist, wishing he could drag out the smugly laughing person inside and tear him to shreds. Fang Yuxin had never even met Qu Qianlin, and yet he harbored such deep malice toward her! Bai Ye thought that Qu Qianlin was simply a madman! Since the Bai Family and the Qu Family were both in Beishi City, he had seen Qu Qianlin a few times before. However, Bai Ye didn¡¯t like this man. Qu Qianlin was a typical rich second-generation, not utterly ignorant and incompetent, but also lacking any real capability, spending his days idly. He hadn¡¯t been back to Beishi City for a while, and now in the apocalypse, what Qu Qianlin had become, he wasn¡¯t quite sure. But just from hearing his voice, Bai Ye intuitively disliked the man, feeling that compared to before, he had not improved at all and had instead become even worse! Fang Yuyang was so angry that he almost threw the communicator on his wrist, staring fiercely at the screen and yelling at the arrogantly laughing Qu Qianlin, ¡°Qu Qianlin, what the hell are you going on about!¡± Qu Qianlin snorted coldly and didn¡¯t answer, only saying, ¡°The old man heard your sister is a second-level Wood Element Superpower User and wants to meet her. I¡¯m just notifying you to send her over quickly, don¡¯t keep the old man waiting for too long.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Fang Yuyang cursed loudly and ended the call. After hanging up, he looked up at Fang Yuxin and said, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t bother with him, he¡¯s just a madman!¡± Fang Yuxin gave a faint smile, a smile that sent chills down one¡¯s spine. She casually said, ¡°Brother, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t pay them any attention.¡± She deliberately said ¡°them¡± instead of ¡°him¡± to make it clear to Fang Yuyang that she wouldn¡¯t pay attention to anyone from the Qu Family. Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang both wore very unsightly expressions. Their children were their lifelines. Qu Qianlin provoking Fang Yuyang was one thing, but Fang Yuxin had just reunited with them, and he dared to plot against her, completely disregarding them both! Qu Qianhe, for her part, didn¡¯t care about Fang Yuxin¡¯s attitude toward the Qu Family. She had long since severed ties with the Qu Family. Just the sight of them disgusted her, so why would she want her daughter fawning over them, wearing herself out for their sake? Daydreaming! Wood Element Superpower users, because they possessed healing and growing abilities, had become crucial resources at the base and were fiercely contested and groomed by the major forces. If Fang Yuxin were just a basic or level 1 superpower user, it might have been another story, but she was a ¡°second-level Superpower User,¡± and this fact made it impossible for others not to be moved! Though the Qu Family was considered a major family in Beishi City, since the apocalypse began, the Qu Family¡¯s situation had not been very favorable, far outstripped by the Bai Family. Later on, several large mercenary groups rose up, carving out many forces in Beishi City. Today¡¯s Beishi Base was mainly controlled by a coalition of six major forces. Among them, the Bai Family, the Qu Family, and the Qin Family had each established their own Mercenary Corps¡ªWhite Wolf Mercenary Corps, Star Mercenary Corps Group, and Flame Mercenary Corps Group respectively. In addition to these three, there were the newly risen Qiankun Mercenary Group, Gale Mercenary Corps Group, and Hope Mercenary Corps Group. Qian Kun, the squad leader of the Qiankun Mercenary Group, was said to be a completely self-made man with formidable power. He was the strongest force aside from the three major families, even showing tendencies of surpassing them, and neither the Gale nor the Hope Mercenary Corps could compare with Qiankun Mercenary Group. Among the three major families, the Bai Family had the strongest force and was the most vigorous, while both the Qu Family and the Qin Family were not its match, hence there was an intentional marital alliance between the two, essentially also a coalition to defend against being overrun by either the Bai Family or the Qiankun Mercenary Group. Before Fang Yuxin¡¯s arrival, there had been twenty-nine second-level Wood Element Superpower users at Beishi Base, all belonging to the six major forces¡ªwith the Bai Family and Qiankun Mercenary Group each having six, Qu Family and Qin Family each had five, and the remaining Gale Mercenary Corps Group and Hope Mercenary Corps Group had four and three, respectively. During mealtime, the Fang Family briefed Fang Yuxin and others about the situation in Beishi City to prepare them mentally. Now that Fang Yuxin had appeared, if she could join the Qu Family, the benefits to the Qu Family would naturally be self-evident. So, upon receiving this news, Qu Xiuhong planned to reconnect with Qu Qianhe about the father-daughter relationship, aiming for them to join the Qu Family together. This was known by Qu Qianlin, who feared that if Fang Yuyang joined the Qu Family and it raised Fang Yuyang¡¯s status, the Qin Family might change its mind, so he decided to act first and disrupt the Fang Family, to prevent them from changing their decision. However, he hadn¡¯t considered how much damage his actions would cause to the Qu Family! After ending the call, he gave a smug laugh, but just as he opened the door, he saw his older brother, Qu Qiancheng, standing there with an ominous look. Qu Qianlin looked at Qu Qiancheng in surprise and asked with concern, ¡°Big brother, what are you doing here? You look really upset, who made you angry?¡± Qu Qiancheng¡¯s face was grim as he asked through gritted teeth, ¡°What were you doing in the room just now?¡± Hearing this, Qu Qianlin laughed proudly, recounted what he had done, and then told Qu Qiancheng, ¡°Big brother, my approach wasn¡¯t bad, right? The old man actually wants to see that wild girl, this time...¡± ¡°Smack!¡± Qu Qiancheng harshly slapped him. Qu Qianlin covered his face, looking at him incredulously, ¡°Big brother? Why did you slap me?¡± The story continues. If you enjoy this work, we invite you to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com. Chapter 537 - 537 294 Idiots (Second update) ?Chapter 537: 294 Idiots! (Second update) Chapter 537: 294 Idiots! (Second update) Qu Qiancheng stared at Qu Qianlin with disdain, unable to comprehend how he could have such a useless brother! Lacking enough experts, the Qu Family had always been suppressed by the Bai Family. If only they could have one more Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, the Qu Family would gain more strength! Now there was Fang Yuxin, as if heaven itself was helping them! But this foolish brother of his had managed to offend her just for his own interests! Didn¡¯t he understand that once the Qu Family fell, he would have nothing left? Thinking this, he almost wanted to strangle this troublesome brother! Qu Qianlin, feeling the intensity of his brother¡¯s gaze and still feeling the sting on his face from the slap he had received, gathered his courage and said, ¡°Brother! Even if you¡¯re upset, you shouldn¡¯t take it out on your own brother, right?¡± ¡°Do you even have the face to say that!¡± Qu Qiancheng couldn¡¯t help it, berated Qu Qianlin, pushed him into the room, locked the door, rushed over, and punched him in the stomach, folding him into a ball. Then he coldly said, ¡°Qu Qianlin! If you want to go crazy, do it by yourself! Don¡¯t drag the Qu Family down with you!¡± Qu Qianlin didn¡¯t have much capability; although he had awakened a superpower, it was merely the Enhancement System, enhancing only his speed. Qu Qiancheng was different; he had always been diligent, setting high standards for himself from a young age, and his skills were impressive. Even without using his superpower, the punch had still crumpled Qu Qianlin. Qu Qianlin had never suffered much before, and now his handsome face was tightly furrowed in pain, tears streaming down. Seeing this, Qu Qiancheng felt even less favor towards him and couldn¡¯t help but think of Yu Yang and Fang Yuxin, who had just arrived at the Beishi Base today. His feelings towards the Fang Family were complicated. When Qu Mu died, he was already five years old, so he remembered many things. He was present at his parents¡¯ wedding and had seen how Qu Qianhe had disrupted the ceremony, scaring him badly. Qu Qianhe was only eighteen years old at the time, a stunningly beautiful young girl. She had shown up at the wedding in a black dress, splashed a bottle of dog blood on his mother¡¯s white gown, knocked over the wedding cake, and, wielding a baseball bat, wreaked havoc at the ceremony. His parents were extremely angry at the time, yet his father had still harshly slapped Qu Qianhe. After that slap, however, Qu Qianhe just coldly smirked and publicly declared she was cutting ties with him, leaving the Qu Family and never returning. Since he was young, he knew his origins were shameful, so he had always striven to prove himself, to let others know that his mother had given birth to a good son for Qu Xiuhong, and Qu Xiuhong¡¯s actions were justified! Originally, he thought he would never see Qu Qianhe again, but unexpectedly, after the apocalypse, he saw her once more! To his surprise, she seemed even more beautiful than before, with time leaving hardly any marks on her face, making her look under thirty, much younger than him! Originally, Qu Xiuhong had wanted Qu Qianhe to return to the Qu Family, and he had agreed to it. Whether it was Qu Qianhe, her husband Fang Jintang, or her son Yu Yang, they were all Second-level Superpower Users and even brought a formidable Red Mastiff. Once they joined the Qu Family, it would undoubtedly boost the family¡¯s strength. But neither he nor Qu Xiuhong had expected that what was supposed to be a well-arranged plan would be ruined by Qu Qianlin, who was good for nothing and spoiled more than he helped! Because of him, Qu Qianhe and her family were unwilling to return to the Qu Family! That aside, although they were Second-level Superpower Users and the Qu Family also had many Second-level Superpower Users, he and Qu Xiuhong would feel regret at most. But Fang Yuxin was different! She was a rare Second-level Wood Element Superpower User! Not only could she heal the injured, but she could also stimulate the growth of food and vegetables! The Qu Family currently had only five Second-level Wood Element Superpower Users, yet he knew that a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User of the Bai Family was about to advance to Level 3. Once this person succeeded, the Bai Family¡¯s strength would surpass theirs even more! At such a critical moment, how could the Qu Family afford to give up on Fang Yuxin, a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User! After being angry for a while, Qu Qiancheng didn¡¯t continue beating Qu Qianlin but stood beside him, looking down at him. ¡°Qu Qianlin, remember this, Fang Yuxin is extremely important to the current Qu Family. Don¡¯t bother the Fang Family anymore! Otherwise, Dad and I will definitely not spare you!¡± Chapter 538 - 538 294 Idiots (Second update)_2 ?Chapter 538: 294 Idiots! (Second update)_2 Chapter 538: 294 Idiots! (Second update)_2 Qu Qianlin massaged his stomach as he stood up. Hearing his brother¡¯s words, a wave of anger surged within him, and he couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°What do you mean by that, Brother? Have you forgotten who Fang Yuxin¡¯s daughter is? Are you only thinking about yourself, disregarding Mom¡¯s feelings? When Dad and Mom got married, Qu Qianhe humiliated Mom like that. How can you let her go back to the Qu Family?¡± Qu Qiancheng thought of that chaotic scene from the past and his face turned ashen as he coldly said, ¡°All of that happened so many years ago. Besides, you weren¡¯t even there at the time. What do you know?¡± Because he could remember back then, he understood that both his and his mother¡¯s existences were shameful, and that Qu Qianhe¡¯s mother could be said to have been literally angered to death. Qu Qianhe¡¯s actions back then were actually quite understandable. Qu Qiancheng had often wondered what he would have done if he were in that situation. Upon reflection, he felt he could understand Qu Qianhe. He actually admired her in some ways; the Qu Family had such a huge business, and she said she¡¯d give it all up without a second thought. She declared she would cut ties and truly never looked back. But he dared not let his mother know those thoughts for fear of seeing her tears. Qu Qianlin was very dissatisfied with Qu Qiancheng¡¯s words. He had always been crystal clear that many people looked down on him, thinking he was less capable than Qu Qiancheng. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that he was the second son of the Qu Family, those people wouldn¡¯t even spare him a glance. But so what? He was the Qu Family¡¯s second son, a fact nobody could change! Even if they didn¡¯t like him in their hearts, they still had to flatter him! In Qu Qianlin¡¯s own heart, he didn¡¯t think he was incompetent. It was just that Qu Qiancheng was too capable, which made him seem mediocre by comparison. So as soon as Qu Qiancheng said those words, Qu Qianlin¡¯s face immediately darkened, and he roared at Qu Qiancheng, ¡°I don¡¯t know anything? You¡¯re the only smart one, you know everything, right? Qu Qiancheng, let me tell you, I¡¯ve been putting up with you for a long time! Don¡¯t think you¡¯re so great; I just didn¡¯t want to compete with you, I¡¯ve been accommodating you!¡± Qu Qiancheng hadn¡¯t intended to hit him, but watching him get more and more unpleasant, Qu Qiancheng couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. He grabbed Qu Qianlin by the collar, hauled him up, punched him in the stomach, and then, like throwing out trash, he tossed him onto the ground, cursing, ¡°Qu Qianlin, you¡¯re insane! How could I have a brother like you!¡± After that, he didn¡¯t bother with Qu Qianlin any longer, removed the Communicator from Qu Qianlin¡¯s wrist and walked out the door. Once outside, he called for two subordinates to stand guard at Qu Qianlin¡¯s door, not allowing him to leave, lest he ruin his plans again. Qu Qiancheng didn¡¯t tell Qu Xiuhong about Qu Qianlin¡¯s actions, fearing that Qu Xiuhong would lose his temper and reprimand Qu Qianlin. Although Qu Xiuhong had cut ties with Qu Qianhe, perhaps due to getting older, he felt increasingly guilty towards Qu Qianhe. The people he had placed around Qu Xiuhong had been regularly reporting that Qu Xiuhong had been talking about wanting Qu Qianhe to return to the Qu Family, and he also wanted to meet Qu Qianhe¡¯s children. The mere existence of Fang Yuyang had been enough to occupy Qu Xiuhong¡¯s thoughts, and now, with Fang Yuxin, a Second-Level Wood Element Superpower User, Qu Xiuhong must be even more concerned. If Qu Xiuhong knew about the foolish things Qu Qianlin had done, he might be so angry that he would whip him! If that startled his mother, who knows what trouble would ensue! Qu Qiancheng sighed, and once back in his room, hesitated before dialing Qu Qianhe¡¯s Communicator. After a while, Qu Qianhe finally answered, but she didn¡¯t turn on the video. Qu Qiancheng was accustomed to video calls, and looking at the pitch-black screen now felt really odd. He was also somewhat nervous. Qu Qianhe¡¯s indifferent voice came through the speaker: ¡°What do you want?¡± Qu Qiancheng immediately responded, ¡°Big sister, I already know about what Qianlin did. He¡¯s always been reckless, don¡¯t stoop to his level.¡± At the Fang Family¡¯s dinner table, Qu Qianhe listened to the voice from the speaker and laughed scornfully: ¡°Qu Qiancheng, I know what you¡¯re trying to do. I advise you to just give up. I have nothing to do with the Qu Family now, and my daughter has even less to do with you!¡± She paused, then continued, ¡°However, your brother really is a bastard. If I were you, I¡¯d teach him a lesson. Don¡¯t let him cause trouble outside all the time. You never know when he¡¯ll mess with the wrong person!¡± After finishing, she brutally disconnected the call and immediately blocked Qu Qiancheng¡¯s number. On the other side, Qu Qiancheng realized the call had been cut off and tried dialing again. Hearing the Communicator¡¯s ¡°Sorry, the user you are trying to reach is not available,¡± he sighed helplessly. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he decided against calling Fang Yuxin¡¯s communicator. Forget it, better to wait for now. They were probably still fuming, and another call would be useless. After hanging up the call, Qu Qianhe didn¡¯t care about what Qu Qiancheng might do next. Once everyone finished lunch on their own at the Fang Family, Bai Ye wanted to take Fang Yuxin to the Bai Family to meet his parents. Fang Yuxin originally didn¡¯t want to agree, but she thought of Bai Qianqian and, more importantly, to deal with the Qu Family trouble, she might need Bai Zhengli¡¯s help. So after some hesitation, she agreed. Because of this, Fang Yuyang glared fiercely at Bai Ye, almost wishing he could beat him up thoroughly¡ªthis guy was just too annoying! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your vote for the monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 539 - 539 295 Is the Daughter-in-Law Obedient (Third Update) ?Chapter 539: 295 Is the Daughter-in-Law Obedient? (Third Update) Chapter 539: 295 Is the Daughter-in-Law Obedient? (Third Update) Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou¡¯s detached villa was quite large, so it not only housed them, but all of Bai Ye¡¯s subordinates who were still alive were now living inside. While others were out on missions, Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou stayed at home with Bai Qianqian. Ever since Bai Qianqian had been separated from his parents and returned to Beishi City, he had been downcast, worrying that something might happen to Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin. So the moment he received a text from Bai Ye saying they had arrived at Beishi Base, he couldn¡¯t wait to see them. But Bai Ye wouldn¡¯t let him go, saying that if he went, Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t come to the Bai Family, and insisted he stay at home and wait. Therefore, Bai Qianqian obediently stayed at home, waiting for Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye to arrive. Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou saw him anxiously staring at the door, feeling so distressed they almost wanted to take him to the Fang Family for a visit! But they had no idea what Bai Ye had told Bai Qianqian; he just refused to go to the Fang Family! As they waited desperately, just as their patience was running out and they were about to call Bai Ye, Bai Qianqian¡¯s communicator suddenly ¡°beeped,¡± receiving a message. Bai Qianqian opened it nervously with his chubby fingers and saw the message saying Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were on their way and would arrive soon! Thinking of his ¡°Mama,¡± whom he hadn¡¯t seen for several days, Bai Qianqian couldn¡¯t contain his smile, even his round eyes crinkled with joy. Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou exchanged a glance, quiet communication passing between their eyes. Shui Rou ¡ª What do you think our daughter-in-law will be like? Will she be well-behaved? Bai Zhengli ¡ª Well... you know your son¡¯s taste... They suddenly became worried; their son¡¯s taste was better left unsaid! Shui Rou poked Bai Zhengli quietly, continuing her silent messaging ¡ª But look how cute Qianqian is; Qu Qianhe is also very beautiful, Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang are both so handsome. Fang Yuxin should be good-looking too, right? Bai Zhengli nodded ¡ª Sure, the looks are definitely there, but that personality... Shui Rou frowned with concern, then shook her head ¡ª No, look at Qianqian, always pining for his mother since he got back. The child¡¯s character must be good! Bai Zhengli saw her glaring at him fiercely, as if she would be upset if he disagreed, and he shrank his neck and thought to himself that as long as the daughter-in-law didn¡¯t have a temper like yours, that would be fine. Otherwise, our damned son would definitely be tightly controlled! Shui Rou noticed he was up to something, her eyes narrowing dangerously as she looked at him suspiciously ¡ª What are you thinking about? Are you badmouthing me? Spill it! Bai Zhengli saw her pressing close to him, her pretty face turning slightly red with anger, and he suddenly felt his heart race. He quickly cleared his throat, trying to signal to Shui Rou with his eyes. Regrettably, what had been smooth suddenly broke down at the critical moment! Shui Rou thought he was acting guilty, oblivious to his actual intentions, and had to lean in closer to see. Just as the two got closer, Bai Qianqian¡¯s soft voice suddenly rang out in the quiet living room, ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, mind the influence. I¡¯m still here. Don¡¯t set a bad example for the kids.¡± Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou coughed violently in shock, guiltily pulling away from each other and sitting on opposite ends of the sofa, they turned their heads and pretended not to look at each other, blatantly obvious in their discomfort. Seeing them like this, Bai Qianqian shook his head like a little adult and heaved a sigh that seemed to carry the weighty concerns of the world, ¡°The morals of the world are sure degrading.¡± Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou both blushed and, wanting to scold him but feeling embarrassed to do so, glanced at each other and quickly turned their heads away, pretending not to look. Just then, the sound of a car approached the door. The three of them forgot the recent incident and stood up tensely, quickly heading toward the door. The door was guarded by Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye¡¯s own men, who didn¡¯t know about Bai Ye¡¯s return to Beishi Base. Seeing him now, their eyes popped and their speech became stuttered, ¡°Cap... Captain... you... you¡¯re back!¡± Fang Yuxin, seeing his protector so imposing normally yet now blushing and excited like a shy young girl, couldn¡¯t help but throw Bai Ye an amused glance and taunted, ¡°Oh, so you have people like this under you, huh.¡± Chapter 540 - 540 295 Is the Daughter-in-Law Obedient (Third ?Chapter 540: 295 Is the Daughter-in-Law Obedient? (Third Update)_2 Chapter 540: 295 Is the Daughter-in-Law Obedient? (Third Update)_2 No sooner had she finished speaking when a cough came from behind her. It was Fang Yuyang, who, distrustful of her, had insisted on following her. Hearing his voice, Fang Yuxin¡¯s body involuntarily tensed up as she prepared to create some distance between herself and Bai Ye without drawing attention. However, Bai Ye chose this moment to suddenly grasp Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, stopping her in her tracks. Fang Yuxin shot Bai Ye a look, signaling him with her eyes to let go quickly. Fang Yuyang was watching from behind! Fang Yuyang¡¯s gaze turned even more intimidating, as cold as a piercing knife, aimed straight at Bai Ye! However, Bai Ye acted as if he hadn¡¯t noticed and adamantly refused to release her hand. He simply said to the bashful big man inside, ¡°I just got back, hurry and open the door.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± The big man subconsciously replied, though his eyes kept drifting to where Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin¡¯s hands were joined, his gaze flickering excitedly, as if he had discovered a new world¡ªGood heavens! His team captain, known for being unromantic, had finally seen the light! And he¡¯d even brought back a super beauty! Wait¡ªwhat¡¯s that? Could it be the captain¡¯s Contracted Beast? A majestic White Tiger no less! Truly fitting for the captain! The big man¡¯s attention was gradually drawn to the White Tiger beside Fang Yuxin. Originally Bai Ye¡¯s Spiritual Pet, the White Tiger had always been fed by Fang Yuxin and it was her who had treated its injuries, so it had grown close to Fang Yuxin and couldn¡¯t be bothered to stay near Bai Ye. Fang Yuxin¡¯s teasing gaze floated back to Bai Ye, who raised his hand to his nose, suddenly feeling somewhat embarrassed. How had he never noticed before that he had such a dimwit among his subordinates? Fang Yuyang had intended to go to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, but with a large White Tiger blocking the way, he could only stand next to Bai Er as a second-best option. He was extremely dissatisfied with Bai Ye grabbing onto Fang Yuxin and taking liberties with her! But right now, they were at the Bai Family¡¯s doorstep, and who knows how many pairs of eyes were watching. He couldn¡¯t just start a fight with Bai Ye right then and there, so for the moment, he had to swallow his anger. Although the big man was quite simple-minded, he was deft in his actions and quickly opened the large door, respectfully inviting Bai Ye in. His gaze remained on Fang Yuxin, filled with a heavy scrutiny, as if evaluating whether Fang Yuxin was fit to be their team captain¡¯s wife or if she was some fox spirit from elsewhere. Fang Yuxin, noticing his evaluative gaze, smiled meaningfully. She had said so. How could the people under Bai Ye truly be dimwitted? Although this man acted simple, on closer inspection, he seemed prudently chosen to guard the door, no wonder he had been assigned this role. She wasn¡¯t bothered by the big man¡¯s scrutiny, but Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang were not pleased and gave him a cold look, full of a warning. The big man didn¡¯t care about Fang Yuyang¡¯s attitude but couldn¡¯t ignore Bai Ye. Seeing him get angry, he quickly withdrew his gaze, while reminding, ¡°Captain, you better go inside quickly, the generals are worried about you!¡± Bai Ye knew he was deliberately trying to divert his attention so as to avoid punishment and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine, tell everyone I¡¯m back and they don¡¯t need to worry.¡± The big man blinked in confusion, and it wasn¡¯t until after Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin, and two others had entered did he suddenly grasp what Bai Ye really meant. Hurrying over to the Communicator, he began calling Chen Si, and once connected, he excitedly shouted, ¡°Chen Si, Chen Si! Quickly tell the brothers, the captain is back! And, he¡¯s brought back a great beauty and a white tiger, so imposing!¡± Chen Si¡¯s cool voice soon came through, ¡°Is the boss really back? What about his communicator contact number?¡± ¡°Uh,¡± the big man paused, ¡°I forgot to ask...¡± ¡°...¡± Chen Si¡¯s forehead vein throbbed, just as the big man hesitated to offer to ¡°go and ask¡±; Chen Si said, ¡°Never mind, we¡¯ll talk about it when we get back,¡± and then hung up. The big man frowned, feeling like Chen Si had hung up too quickly, and he couldn¡¯t help but worry. But he feared that it might be a critical moment over there and dared not disturb them. So he turned to look toward the house, indecisive about whether he should inform Bai Ye of this development. In the living room, Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou were about to reach the door but suddenly stopped. Shui Rou tiptoed to the window, carefully lifted a sliver of the curtain, and sneakily peered outside. Seeing the three people and tiger standing at the doorway, she became excited and kept sizing up Fang Yuxin, who just so happened to be smiling at Bai Ye. There was a mischievous twinkle in that smile, and Shui Rou took to the girl immediately, feeling that she fit her tastes! With a serious expression, Bai Zhengli stood behind Shui Rou, hands clasped behind his back, eyes slightly squinting, peering through the gap outside. He glanced at Fang Yuxin and gave a slight nod, but then his attention was captured by the white tiger beside her! My, that tiger looked impressive! He liked it! Bai Zhengli stroked his chin and thought: he hadn¡¯t got a Contracted Beast himself yet. Shouldn¡¯t his son give him, an old man, a display of filial piety? Hmm, that White Tiger caught his eye; it was just a matter of whether his rascal son would be willing to part with it... Bai Qianqian glanced at the two of them, and just as she wanted to go and open the door, she was suddenly stopped by Bai Zhengli. Now that he and Shui Rou saw Bai Ye and company entering the main door and coming this way, their expressions changed. They grabbed Bai Qianqian and walked back to sit on the sofa, trying their best to look serious. So, when the door was opened by Bai Ye, the three people and one tiger saw Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou sitting solemnly on the couch, appearing to be in a bad mood. Bai Qianqian sat between them with a pout and a sullen look. However, at the sight of Fang Yuxin, her eyes lighted up and she dashed toward her, abandoning the two. ¡°Mama, I missed you so much!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 541 - 541 296 Different Parents (First Update) ?Chapter 541: 296 Different Parents (First Update) Chapter 541: 296 Different Parents (First Update) Bai Qianqian glanced at Bai Ye, and seeing that he was fine, felt entirely justified as she threw herself into Fang Yuxin¡¯s arms, hugging her neck and acting spoiled, ¡°Mama, I¡¯ve missed you to death, why did you only come now?¡± While speaking, she batted her big eyes shamelessly to act cute, fearing that Fang Yuxin had become estranged from her. Having not seen her for many days, Fang Yuxin had also missed him very much. Especially when seeing Liu Yihuan and her father Liu Zhenglin together, she couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of the equally well-behaved Bai Qianqian. Now that she finally saw him, she felt that her whole heart had been melted by the child, wishing she could pile the best things in the world in front of him. Although Bai Qianqian wasn¡¯t born to Fang Yuxin, without the emotional bond of pregnancy or the warmth of daily togetherness, Fang Yuxin did accept his existence when he first appeared before her, but there had always been a distance. This distance was not just because she suddenly had a son but also because of Bai Qianqian¡¯s father, that stranger who exerted a strong oppressive force on her. At that time, she didn¡¯t know the backgrounds of Bai Ye and Bai Qianqian. The betrayal of Qiu Yiming and the hurt from Fang Mengyao were still vivid in her memory, so she couldn¡¯t help being wary, suspecting that Bai Qianqian¡¯s sudden appearance was a conspiracy against the Fang Family. It wasn¡¯t until they spent time together day after day that she saw Bai Qianqian¡¯s good behavior. After getting to know Bai Ye a bit, and understanding some of his character, her defenses softened, and the gap gradually faded, truly treating Bai Qianqian as her own child. However, just when she realized Bai Qianqian had become an indispensable part of her life, they were separated by an accident. While Fang Yuxin was worried, her feelings for him also deepened. Now seeing him again, she felt no amount of affection would be too much. Bai Qianqian quickly sensed that Fang Yuxin¡¯s attitude towards him seemed to have changed, seemingly more intimate than before they had separated. He was overjoyed and was thinking of furthering their closeness when, in the next moment, he felt a tug at his collar and was suddenly picked up. He glared angrily at Bai Ye and whispered fiercely to him, ¡°What are you doing! Let me go! I still have so much to say to Mama!¡± Bai Ye pretended not to hear Bai Qianqian¡¯s whispers and with a cold face, held him in his arms, rubbing his freshly sprouted stubble against Bai Qianqian¡¯s tender face. The slightly rough stubble made Bai Qianqian furrow his brows and he uncooperatively struggled in Bai Ye¡¯s arms. Unfortunately, all his resistance was subtly suppressed by Bai Ye. Bai Qianqian glared furiously at Bai Ye, his round eyes nearly shooting fire. But with Fang Yuxin next to him, he didn¡¯t want her to see his unruly side and could only continue to whisper to Bai Ye, ¡°Let me go already! You¡¯re so annoying! I don¡¯t want your hug, I want Mama!¡± Bai Ye¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Seeing the others looking their way, he said, ¡°Qianqian! Daddy has missed you to death!¡± He then deliberately rubbed his stubble across his face, causing Bai Qianqian to look utterly annoyed, his dumpling face completely wrinkled in displeasure. Bai Zhengli couldn¡¯t stand by any longer, wondering what his good-for-nothing son was doing, actually bullying his dutiful grandson the moment he arrived! He wasn¡¯t even introducing his wife properly! Didn¡¯t he see they were all waiting? He gave a light cough to signify his presence, but unfortunately, nobody heard him. That good-for-nothing son of his was still fussing over his grandson. Fang Yuxin stood to the side, seeming hesitant whether to snatch Bai Qianqian back. As for the accompanying Fang Yuyang... at that moment, he watched his good-for-nothing father with disdain! Only... Bai Er, who was so bored he didn¡¯t know what to do, heard Bai Zhengli¡¯s cough and stared at him with his pair of large golden eyes, filled with curiosity. Bai Zhengli hadn¡¯t had time to feel relieved when he read a hint of disdain in those beautiful golden eyes, as if saying¡ªhumans are truly frail! Bai Zhengli was shocked by his own guess, but the more he looked, the more he felt the White Tiger was looking down on him. Angered, he gave a heavy cough and said coldly to Bai Ye, ¡°You still know to come back?¡± his voice laden with deep annoyance. Bai Ye, who was busy dealing with his foolish son to prevent him from competing with Fang Yuxin, turned his head and secretly rolled his eyes when he heard what Bai Zhengli said¡ªdon¡¯t think he didn¡¯t know that person had just been peeking behind the window! Now acting all serious! However, since Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were there, he couldn¡¯t directly undermine his own father, so he quickly turned back around, carrying Bai Qianqian and strode towards Bai Zhengli. He stuffed Bai Qianqian into Bai Zhengli¡¯s arms before bowing his head and saying, ¡°Dad! Your son has returned. I¡¯ve been unfilial, worrying you this whole time.¡± Chapter 542 - 542 296 Different Parents (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 542: 296 Different Parents (First Update)_2 Chapter 542: 296 Different Parents (First Update)_2 He sounded genuinely concerned, but Bai Ye secretly thought his father¡¯s thick skin meant he surely wouldn¡¯t worry about him. Indeed, when Bai Ye closely saw his father, Bai Zhengli, roll his eyes without saying a word, the message was clear¡ªwhy would I worry about you? The two exchanged glances, each feeling an urge to punch the other. If it weren¡¯t for the inappropriate setting and Bai Zhengli remembering the important matters, they might have actually come to blows. Bai Qianqian felt uncomfortable sitting in Bai Zhengli¡¯s arms and squirmed, wanting to go to Fang Yuxin. Bai Ye noticed and pushed him back into Bai Zhengli¡¯s arms while giving Bai Zhengli a look¡ªwatch this little rascal for me! Bai Zhengli glared back¡ªwhy should I? Bai Ye narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze drifting towards Shui Rou next to Bai Zhengli. Bai Zhengli¡¯s expression changed, and without waiting for Bai Ye to speak, he grabbed Bai Qianqian. While Bai Qianqian was discontented and trying to struggle, Bai Zhengli quietly pinched his chubby hand, signaling him to wait. Bai Qianqian glared at Bai Ye, feeling that his foolish dad was really annoying! Had he known this man would compete with him for ¡°mama,¡± he wouldn¡¯t have helped him! Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang saw their subtle movements, feeling both awkward and surprised. Fang Yuyang had met Bai Zhengli before and thought him to be quite stern and not easily approachable, yet here he was acting differently in private. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of Qiu Yiming¡¯s parents, Qiu Hongsheng, and Zhou Fanghua, comparing them to Bai Ye¡¯s parents; it seemed like a substantial difference. She had been discreetly observing Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou, initially thinking Bai Zhengli looked stern while Shui Rou seemed gentle and warm, unlike Zhou Fanghua, who appeared mild but always carried an air of arrogance and superiority. Shui Rou¡¯s gaze was soft, emanating a warmth that involuntarily made people want to be closer. At the same time, Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou were also discreetly observing her. After all, Fang Yuxin was not only Bai Qianqian¡¯s biological mother but also the woman Bai Ye was committed to, and their future daughter-in-law, so they naturally wanted to take a good look. Before Fang Yuxin entered, they had secretly stood by the window, taking a peek and found her quite agreeable. However, it was too far to see clearly at that time. Now, sharing the same room, both felt that Fang Yuxin might be excessively beautiful. They had seen Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang, astonished by their youthful appearance, but didn¡¯t think much of it. After all, Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin weren¡¯t around, and they didn¡¯t yet know that Bai Ye had feelings for Fang Yuxin; they cared for the Fang Family mostly for Bai Qianqian¡¯s sake. They knew Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang, both looking good, would definitely have good-looking children, but seeing Fang Yuxin now made them realize she was even prettier than expected. Not just pretty, her eyes were cunning yet didn¡¯t appear overly shrewd. Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou, being experienced, were sharp in judging people. Just by looking into Fang Yuxin¡¯s eyes, they felt she was likable and had a good character. Additionally, the unique aura of a Wood Element Superpower User that she emitted made them feel very comfortable. Seeing his parents staring at Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye felt somewhat displeased, coughed lightly, and walked up to introduce them, ¡°Dad, mom, this is my girlfriend Fang Yuxin. She¡¯s great, and you will definitely like her. This is Xinxin¡¯s brother Fang Yuyang. I believe you¡¯ve met him before, so no introductions needed.¡± Bai Ye clearly sensed that Fang Yuyang¡¯s gaze towards him turned colder, but he didn¡¯t mind and continued to introduce to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, they are my parents.¡± Bai Zhengli was actually waiting for a proper introduction from Bai Ye to Fang Yuxin, only to get a ¡°they are my dad and mom!¡± Bai Zhengli couldn¡¯t help but glare at Bai Ye¡ªwho introduces like that! Not even a few extra words! While Bai Zhengli was glaring at Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin had already produced a small box, smiling at Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou, ¡°Uncle and aunt, I¡¯m not sure what you like, so I took the liberty of preparing a small gift, I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Bai Zhengli quickly shifted his gaze and said seriously, ¡°You didn¡¯t have to bring anything, just coming over is fine.¡± Although he said this, he still smiled and took the small box from Fang Yuxin. The box, crafted from purple sandalwood, was just the size of a palm and very exquisitely made. Bai Zhengli felt that Fang Yuxin was probably just being courteous, so he wasn¡¯t in a hurry to open the box, carefully setting it aside. Just then, Bai Ye said, ¡°Dad, why don¡¯t you open it and see if you like it?¡± Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t told Bai Ye about this gift, so he had no idea what was inside the box. He just felt it must be something meaningful, perhaps something nice, and he couldn¡¯t help but urge Bai Zhengli to see what it was. Bai Zhengli glared at Bai Ye, but since Bai Ye had mentioned it, it would be rather awkward not to open it, so he carefully opened the box. As soon as it was opened, a faint fragrance wafted out, refreshing to Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou, who couldn¡¯t help but widen their eyes, curiously looking inside. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 543 - 543 297 The Gift is Too Precious (Second Update) ?Chapter 543: 297 The Gift is Too Precious (Second Update) Chapter 543: 297 The Gift is Too Precious (Second Update) Sitting on Bai Zhengli¡¯s lap, Bai Qianqian twitched her nose and her eyes widened, staring at Fang Yuxin in astonishment, as she hadn¡¯t expected such a precious gift. Bai Ye also became curious, having guessed that whatever Fang Yuxin brought must be good, but now, smelling the scent, he realized it was no ordinary thing! Fang Yuyang, standing next to Fang Yuxin, also smelled the scent wafting from the box and guessed what it was. Instantly, his brows furrowed slightly, and his gaze toward Fang Yuxin carried a hint of disapproval. At this moment, the box had been completely opened, revealing its contents at last. Inside were two red fruits, each about the size of a quail egg, perfectly round, with a thin red skin that was translucent and emitted a faint sweet fragrance, very tempting. Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou were initially startled, then Bai Zhengli said, ¡°Xinxin... I¡¯ll just call you that, this fruit must be extraordinary, isn¡¯t it? Isn¡¯t it too precious to just give away like this?¡± He hadn¡¯t noticed Fang Yuyang¡¯s disapproving look, and the fragrance from the fruit seemed to cleanse and purify him, even affecting his superpower, and he knew this was no ordinary item! Though Bai Zhengli loved the gift, he worried Fang Yuxin, being young, might have given something too precious, and it wouldn¡¯t be good if her family blamed her. After all, he and Shui Rou were quite old, such treasures should better be left for the younger ones. Although Shui Rou hadn¡¯t awakened any superpower, she was clever and, seeing the extraordinary nature of the fruit, cooperated with Bai Zhengli and said, ¡°Xinxin, your uncle is right, this gift is too precious, better take it back, whether it be for your parents or for you youngsters to use.¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head, ¡°Once a gift is given, there is no taking it back. Uncle, aunt, haven¡¯t you forgotten my superpower attribute? This fruit came from a mutant plant I stumbled upon outside. It can clear impurities from the body, so I call it the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit. I¡¯ve heard that you both have helped my family a lot, this is my token of gratitude, please do accept it.¡± With her words to this point, it would be improper for Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou to refuse further. Bai Zhengli looked at the fruit in the box, thinking its thin skin could burst with just a slight touch. He hesitated, wanting to ask Fang Yuxin about the type of mutant plant, but was subtly elbowed by Shui Rou, who then discreetly glared at him, making him swallow his words. But Bai Ye, upon hearing the words ¡°Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit,¡± understood that it must belong to the Cultivation World, no wonder Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t taken it out before. Items from the Cultivation World were too precious and rare for the Mortal World; taking it out could lead people to think too much, hence noticing Fang Yuxin¡¯s anomaly, requiring utmost caution. Thus, Bai Ye decided, he must find an opportunity to talk to Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou, ensuring they keep this matter confidential. Seeing the couple had accepted the gift, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°This fruit needs to be stored in a special way, and once the box is opened, it must be consumed quickly, or its efficacy will be greatly reduced. Uncle, aunt, please take it soon. Also, it¡¯s best consumed in the bathroom, without wearing any clothes. Further, the process might be painful, so it¡¯s likely to be tough.¡± Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou looked at each other, then nodded to Fang Yuxin understandingly. Bai Zhengli waved his hand nonchalantly and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, what¡¯s a little pain?¡± After thinking it over, he decided to leave Bai Ye with the guests and went with Shui Rou to their room with the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, planning to consume it before anyone else returned. It wasn¡¯t that he meant to keep it a secret, unwilling to let his subordinates use it. But since Fang Yuxin gave the fruit and it clearly was not simple, possibly not enough for one per person, he had to consider Fang Yuxin¡¯s situation. Once others returned, with so many people and so many opinions, it was inevitable that news could leak. However, Fang Yuxin¡¯s words made him somewhat hesitant; he didn¡¯t mind the pain, but couldn¡¯t bear to see Shui Rou in pain, so he decided to eat it first, test the effects of the fruit, and then consider whether Shui Rou should have it. Chapter 544 - 544 297 The Gift is Too Precious (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 544: 297 The Gift is Too Precious (Second Update)_2 Chapter 544: 297 The Gift is Too Precious (Second Update)_2 In the living room, right after Bai Zhengli left with Shui Rou, Bai Qianqian quickly ran to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side seeking comfort, infuriating Bai Ye to the point where he almost couldn¡¯t resist hitting him. Fang Yuyang suddenly spoke up. ¡°Xinxin, Bai Ye just got back and probably has a lot of matters to handle, let¡¯s not bother him any more and head home.¡± His words immediately changed Bai Ye¡¯s expression. He wanted to ask Fang Yuxin to stay, but felt it was inappropriate and couldn¡¯t form the words to do so. Although Fang Yuxin had accepted Bai Ye¡¯s pursuit, she was still not at the point where she wanted to be around him all day. Retaining her reserve, she simply nodded and said to Bai Ye, ¡°Then you go ahead with your work, I will head back with my brother.¡± Hearing her say this, Fang Yuyang breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that Fang Yuxin would be so deceived by Bai Ye that she wouldn¡¯t want to return home, but thankfully, even though she had fallen for Bai Ye¡¯s tricks, it wasn¡¯t too deep! Yet, Bai Ye couldn¡¯t suppress his displeasure and gave Fang Yuyang a scornful look, having a terrible impression of him. Fang Yuyang, however, ignored him and directly persuaded Fang Yuxin to leave quickly. Bai Qianqian explicitly expressed his wish to follow ¡°Mama,¡± and since Fang Yuxin had just seen him, she couldn¡¯t bear to part either and happily took him along. Bai Er, who had originally been lazily sprawled on the floor, quickly got up upon seeing that Fang Yuxin was leaving. Its large golden eyes puzzledly moved between Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye¡ªEh? Is my owner parting from my master? Who should I follow in the future? Such a dilemma! After hesitating for three seconds, Bai Er shook its butt, deciding to follow Fang Yuxin. However, just as it stuck its head out the door, its tail was snatched. Bai Er was suddenly caught by the tail, shuddered all over, then angrily turned to glare at the instigator, only to see Bai Ye with a stern face. Bai Ye directly grabbed Bai Er¡¯s tail and dragged it back into the living room, patting its large head as he said, ¡°Alright! From now on, you¡¯ll follow me, I won¡¯t starve you!¡± He certainly had no face to ask Fang Yuxin to take care of his Spiritual Pet; that would be too pathetic! He was not the type to live off others! On the other hand, after leaving Bai Ye¡¯s house, Fang Yuxin went straight home. Meanwhile, her visit to Bai¡¯s house had already become known by quite a few people in Beishi Base. Initially, when her identity as a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User was discovered, it immediately became known to all the major forces in Beishi Base. However, she was not only related to the Qu Family but also to the Bai Family, which made many who wished to win her over hesitant, afraid of offending these two major forces. Just as everyone was watching, Fang Yuxin suddenly visited Bai Ye¡¯s house and left, going directly back to the Fang Family without visiting the Qu Family! This news stirred many thoughts. The previous drama between the Fang Family and the Qu Family, to be precise, the drama involving Fang Yuyang, Qu Qianlin, and Qin Xiran, had almost spread throughout the entire Beishi Base. Yet, aside from a few individuals, others were not clear about the details. Now that Fang Yuxin visited Bai Ye¡¯s house but not the Qu Family, it undeniably signalled a rift with the Qu Family but a deep connection with the Bai Family! This put many in a dilemma. Several members of the Qu Family had designs on this Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, but Fang Yuxin¡¯s actions were like a slap in their faces! She was the granddaughter of the Qu Family Patriarch and should have been closest to the Qu Family yet showed little closeness to her maternal family and instead mixed up with the ambitious Bai Family, causing the Qu Family members distress. The Bai Family¡¯s strength was already formidable, with rumors even suggesting they were about to have a Level 3 Wood Element Superpower User! The Qu Family, however, was weak and desperately needed a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User like Fang Yuxin to bolster their image. If she truly sided with the Bai Family, the Qu Family would not only lose a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, but they would also become a laughingstock across the entire Beishi Base! Upon hearing this news, Qu Xiuhong was completely panicked; after hesitating, he directly dialed Fang Yuxin¡¯s communicator. Fang Yuxin¡¯s communicator was obtained from the detection center, and her number was inputted into the identity data, visible to anyone influential. As the Qu Family Patriarch controlling the vast Star Mercenary Corps Group, one of the Six Major Forces controlling the entire Beishi Base, getting Fang Yuxin¡¯s contact number was incredibly easy! Originally, he had not wanted to contact Fang Yuxin so soon and had not planned to do so directly, but the news he just received left him unable to sit still! Already at a disadvantage, the Qu Family must secure the allegiance of Fang Yuxin as a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User! As the communicator rang, Fang Yuxin had just returned home. Seeing the unfamiliar number displayed on the screen, she raised an eyebrow in surprise, hesitated for a moment, then decided to answer. Soon, a voice of an elderly man came through the speaker, sounding very aged, tinged with uncertainty and hesitation, ¡°Is this... Xinxin? I¡¯m your grandfather. Has your mother mentioned me to you?¡± In the Fang family¡¯s living room, Qu Qianhe, Fang Jintang, Fang Yuxin, and Bai Qianqian were all present while others had already left to gather information. Since Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t worn an earpiece, the voice came right out. Upon hearing Qu Xiuhong¡¯s voice, Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Fang Yuyang¡¯s faces became terribly grim; they couldn¡¯t believe that Qu Xiuhong had the nerve to directly reach out to Fang Yuxin! His audacity was simply too much! Qu Qianhe stood up immediately, walking swiftly towards Fang Yuxin while loudly saying, ¡°Qu Xiuhong! I have long since broken off relations with you! The Fang Family has nothing to do with the Qu Family! And even less so with Xinxin! If you have any conscience, stop harassing us!¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote at Qidian (qidian.com) with your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 545 - 545 298 Handsome Man (Third Update) ?Chapter 545: 298 Handsome Man (Third Update) Chapter 545: 298 Handsome Man (Third Update) As soon as Qu Qianhe spoke up, Qu Xiuhong on the other side fell silent. And while he was silent, Qu Qianhe had already walked up to Fang Yuxin, reaching out to end the call. Fang Yuxin stopped her, and it was during their exchange of glares that Fang Yuxin suddenly spoke up, she said, ¡°So it¡¯s Mr. Qu, you must be Mr. Qu Qianlin¡¯s father, right? It seems he¡¯s quite disappointed that I managed to arrive alive at Beishi Base.¡± As she said this, listening to the heavy breathing coming over the speaker, she swiftly hung up the call. She was already aware of the harm Qu Xiuhong had caused to her grandmother and mother, so as long as Qu Qianhe wouldn¡¯t forgive this father, she definitely wouldn¡¯t either! What¡¯s more, Qu Qianlin had caused Fang Yuyang so much trouble, she refused to believe that Qu Xiuhong wasn¡¯t at least a little aware! Since he had indulged Qu Qianlin, what right did he now have to come to her as a ¡°grandfather¡±? Did he really expect her to help the Qu Family? In his dreams! Qu Qianhe had been worried that Fang Yuxin was too softhearted, that she might be deceived by Qu Xiuhong¡¯s sweet talk. Now she could breathe a sigh of relief, chastising her, ¡°You really are too kind, why waste words on that kind of person? Just ignore him.¡± Fang Yuxin smiled, saying nothing. After leaving Bai Qianqian to play in the living room, she went straight into the bedroom Qu Qianhe had prepared for her, adding Qu Xiuhong¡¯s contact number to the block list, took off her Communicator, threw it in the drawer, and went into the bathroom to shower. These past few days she hadn¡¯t been able to shower, and even with Cleaning Technique, she still felt the unbearable sticky sensation on her body. So as soon as she got home, she thoroughly enjoyed a bath and changed clothes before going out. Bai Qianqian was sitting on the sofa, and seeing her come out, he quickly waved her over. Fang Yuxin thought for a moment, went to the kitchen to wash a plate of fruit and brought it to the living room. Then she sat down on the sofa and let out a comfortable sigh. As soon as Fang Yuxin sat down, Bai Qianqian quietly took hold of her hand. The separation last time had truly frightened him, he spent every day on tenterhooks when Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye hadn¡¯t come back, terrified that they would never return. Now that they had finally reunited, Bai Qianqian wished he could stick to her side forever! Fang Yuxin chatted with her family while eating fruit, and then inquired about the situation of Beishi Base. She suddenly remembered she hadn¡¯t saved Chen Qiao and their contacts yet, and quickly took out her Communicator to store their numbers. Just then, the sound of knocking suddenly rang out. Fang Yuxin released her Spiritual Sense and ¡°saw¡± a red-haired beauty standing by the door, with a red fox beside her, guessing the identity of the visitor, her expression gradually darkening. At that moment, the knocking sound came again. It was very urgent, revealing the impatience of the one knocking. Fang Yuyang couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, and without opening the door, he simply said in the direction of the entrance, ¡°Qin Xiran, I don¡¯t want to see you, just leave.¡± Qin Xiran¡¯s voice promptly responded, her tone actually quite nice, melodious and alluring, ¡°I heard that the sister you¡¯ve been longing for has returned, so I specifically came to see. Fang Yuyang, you wouldn¡¯t treat a guest this way, would you?¡± Fang Yuyang¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, he was usually a stern and unapproachable person, only showing a rarely seen tender side to his family. He despised dealing with clingy women like Qin Xiran. Seeing his displeased face, Fang Yuxin felt her repulsion for Qin Xiran grow stronger and clearly said, ¡°Miss Qin, I appreciate your sentiment, but your status is too noble for the Fang family to aspire to. Please return to where you came from.¡± True to being a high-born lady, Qin Xiran would temper her attitude a bit towards the Fang Yuyang she liked. However, once Fang Yuxin spoke up, she was thoroughly infuriated, scoffing directly at Fang Yuxin, ¡°You must be Fang Yuxin, right? I¡¯ve heard you are a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, quite impressive. Many people must be aiming for you right now.¡± Listening to her, Fang Yuxin suddenly felt that Qin Xiran and Qu Qianlin were indeed a match made in heaven, utterly perfect for each other! She believed she had never offended these two, hadn¡¯t even met them, yet for some reason, they harbored such malice towards her! The malice in Qin Xiran¡¯s voice was apparent to the other Fang family members as well. Fang Yuyang was initially too lazy to bother with such a woman, but hearing her dare to threaten his precious sister, a cold murderous intent shone in his eyes, ¡°Qin Xiran, if you dare to touch Xinxin, I will never let you go!¡± Chapter 546 - 546 298 Handsome Man (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 546: 298 Handsome Man (Third Update)_2 Chapter 546: 298 Handsome Man (Third Update)_2 Upon hearing these words, Qin Xiran felt extremely aggrieved in her heart. She had never even met Fang Yuxin, and her dislike for her was solely because Fang Yuyang thought of this sister all day long, paying no attention to her, a great beauty! She genuinely liked Fang Yuyang, and the moment she had seen him from afar outside the base, casting Wind Blades to slaughter zombies, her affection for him took deep root, and she even brazenly pursued him, disregarding the modesty expected of a daughter. But all Fang Yuyang cared about was his sister, who didn¡¯t know whether she was dead or alive, which left Qin Xiran seething with jealousy. She had come this time to see for herself what kind of person Fang Yuxin was, to be so cherished by Fang Yuyang! However, she hadn¡¯t expected that Fang Yuyang would snub her to this extent, not even allowing her to enter the door! And that Fang Yuxin even dared to mock her, how could she swallow this indignity? She was just speaking the truth in a moment of frustration, she hadn¡¯t done anything to Fang Yuxin, did Fang Yuyang really need to be so furious? Staring at the closely shut security door, Qin Xiran¡¯s gaze flickered with barely concealed jealousy and hatred¡ªwhy couldn¡¯t Fang Yuxin just die out there! What she didn¡¯t know was that the Fang Family weren¡¯t ordinary superpower users; they had begun cultivating and could project their Spiritual Sense. Despite being separated by a door, they had seen the expression on her face all too clearly. The Fang Family didn¡¯t like her to begin with, and now, seeing her wishing death upon Fang Yuxin, their disdain for her heightened. Fang Yuyang clenched his fists; if it weren¡¯t for the fact that Qin Xiran was the daughter of the Qin Family, he would have been tempted to kill her on the spot! Fang Yuxin, the true victim in this scenario, was far calmer than he was. She gently took Fang Yuyang¡¯s hand, shook her head at him, then looked in the direction of the door and started to laugh coldly. Qin Xiran... Qu Qianlin... If these two didn¡¯t do anything, that would be the end of it, but if they dared to harm her or her family and teammates, she would make them regret everything they had done! She had thought that Beishi Base would be in better shape than other places, but little did she know it would be such a chaotic mess! Too bad she had already accepted Bai Ye¡¯s courtship, it wouldn¡¯t be good to just leave now. After stewing outside the door for a while and seeing that no one was going to open it, Qin Xiran hesitated but ultimately gave up on breaking in. She wasn¡¯t a fool; she knew that if she really did that, there would be no chance left between her and Fang Yuyang. Snorting coldly, she left a message, ¡°Fang Yuyang, I, Qin Xiran, will not give up on you,¡± before turning away and leaving. Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t take her words to heart at all. He was good-looking with a fine family background; even before the apocalypse, he had never lacked for admirers. Unfortunately, he had never met someone he liked, so Qin Xiran¡¯s so-called ¡°pursuit¡± not only left him unmoved, but he found it contemptible. Qin Xiran¡¯s love was too selfish; he neither wanted it nor deigned to accept it! Then, Qu Qianhe couldn¡¯t help but let out a scoff, ¡°These people really see our Fang Family as easy targets!¡± Just then, Fang Yuxin¡¯s Communicator rang again. Curiously, she glanced at it and saw another unfamiliar number. She was hesitant to answer, but then thought that since she had already arrived at Beishi, what was meant to come would come; avoiding it wouldn¡¯t solve anything. It might be better to see who was looking for her and whether she could use it to her advantage. With that thought, Fang Yuxin answered the call, only to find that the other party had turned on the video. As soon as she connected, the screen displayed a handsome man. The man was certainly good-looking and young, appearing to be in his twenties, with quite an impressive demeanor. But Fang Yuxin had seen too many handsome men for his looks to be considered anything special to her. The man smiled slightly, ¡°Miss Fang, can you turn on your video? I prefer to talk to someone face-to-face.¡± His demeanor seemed polite, but his tone carried an undercurrent of imperiousness. Fang Yuxin scoffed in her heart; nothing annoyed her more than others forcing her to do something she disliked. So she flatly said, ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t like talking face-to-face, so it seems there¡¯s no need for us to continue this conversation,¡± intending to hang up. The man suddenly spoke, ¡°Wait! Miss Fang, I¡¯m reaching out to you with the utmost sincerity, you don¡¯t have to be so guarded.¡± Fang Yuxin thought the man was rather absurd; did he really think that by saying that, she would foolishly believe him? Still, after a moment of hesitation, she did not end the call. There was a hint of arrogance typical of someone in authority coming from him, indicating he was no simple character. She wanted to see who he was and what noble-sounding rhetoric he would spout. ¡°So, until now, I still don¡¯t know who you are. Is this your idea of great sincerity?¡± she asked. The man was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly laughed, a smugness evident in his smile, ¡°I am Zhao Qiankun, you must have heard of my name. I¡¯m contacting you because I hope you would join my Qiankun Mercenary Group. I know you have some connections with the Bai Family and Qu Family, but both of those families aren¡¯t easy to deal with, and the waters run deep within them, not a suitable place for you.¡± Fang Yuxin laughed, this man really knew how to skirt around the issue! She said, ¡°Just that isn¡¯t enough to persuade me. Do you have anything else to say?¡± Upon hearing this, the man¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, a tinge of annoyance at being refused flashed in his eyes. He took a deep breath and continued, his attitude turning somewhat colder, ¡°Miss Fang, I hope you understand that the Qiankun Mercenary Corps doesn¡¯t lack Second-level Wood Element Superpower Users. I contacted you because I admire you as a person and couldn¡¯t bear to see you get caught up in the struggles between the Bai and Qu Families, which would be too cruel for you.¡± Fang Yuxin detected the displeasure and warning in his tone and outright laughed, ¡°But if I joined the Qiankun Mercenary Corps, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯d get entangled in the struggle between the Bai Family and Qiankun Mercenary Corps, offending the entire Qu Family in the process. Do you think I look very naive and foolish?¡± After saying that, she simply hung up and blocked Zhao Qiankun¡¯s number. On the other side, Zhao Qiankun stared at the disconnected call and violently smashed his Communicator, ¡°Fang Yuxin! You brought this on yourself!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 547 - 547 299 Spilling the Vinegar Jar (First Update) ?Chapter 547: 299 Spilling the Vinegar Jar (First Update) Chapter 547: 299 Spilling the Vinegar Jar (First Update) The Communicator heavily fell to the ground with a crisp ¡°snap,¡± breaking apart instantly into pieces. Zhao Qiankun reached out in midair and grasped a chip the size of a fingertip that flew out of the debris, landing in his hand. Then, he pulled out a new Communicator from the drawer, opened the back cover, replaced the chip, and it was as good as the original. Tossing the fixed Communicator aside, Zhao Qiankun suddenly had a photograph in his hand. It was a graduation photo, where a man and a woman dressed in academic gowns looked towards the camera. The man looked very ordinary, of the same height as the woman beside him, yet his smile was especially bright, and on closer inspection, one could see a hint of shyness and awkwardness. The woman next to him was very beautiful, her face adorned with a light smile, exuding grace and ease. That woman was none other than Fang Yuxin. However, compared to her current appearance, the her in the photo seemed more youthful and tender. Zhao Qiankun gazed at the photo with a deep look, his thumb gently caressing the smile of Fang Yuxin. Then, he looked at the self he once was in the photo, detesting that ugly and inferior self! He had wanted to destroy this photo countless times, but could never bring himself to do it. This photo captured his awkward years and also his unrequited first crush. Even though he had completely changed his appearance by now, having a superior status, controlling the fates of countless people, and having all sorts of women around him, he could never forget the excitement of those times. His family was from a remote mountain village with poor conditions, and he had fought fiercely to get into Beishi University. On his first day in Beishi City, he was almost blinded by the dazzling big city! Seeing the fashionably dressed classmates made him feel even more inferior, wishing he could just dig a hole to crawl into! On the day of registration, due to the crowd, the school was extremely congested. He accidentally bumped into a girl with a ponytail. She was dressed quite stylishly, and even though he was not knowledgable about clothes, he could tell her outfit was expensive. At that moment, he thought she must be a rich second-generation. He felt bitter, thinking that life was so unfair. Some people struggle their whole lives and get nothing, while others are born with everything others could only dream of. But still, he apologized, afraid to provoke someone he shouldn¡¯t. As the girl turned around, he noticed she was especially beautiful, even more so than any celebrity he had seen on TV. Her face was unadorned with makeup, her skin was fair with a rosy tint, her hair shiny and black, and she carried a gentle smile, looking pure and amiable. He was instantly mesmerized and thought to himself¡ªthis girl is really great, not only well-born and beautiful but also pure and good-natured, truly a goddess in a man¡¯s heart. However, by the time he came back to his senses, the girl was already gone. He vaguely remembered she might have said ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± her voice clear and slightly sweet. From that moment on, he kept this girl in his heart. He had regretted not asking her name in time, only later to find out that she was in the same department as him at university, and she was their department¡¯s beauty, named Fang Yuxin. Afterward, it was a long period of unrequited love. Many people liked her then, yet all who confessed were rejected by her. He felt a secret joy deep inside, even dreaming that she might like him. But just as he finally mustered the courage to confess, he heard she already had a boyfriend. Since then, he deliberately avoided Fang Yuxin, not daring to speak to her, his heart growing more bitter each time he saw her smile and talk on the phone from afar, unable to help but speculate if the person on the other end was her boyfriend, and then feeling a wild surge of jealousy. It wasn¡¯t until they were supposed to take graduation photos that he finally gathered the courage to approach her and ask for a photo together. This photo was the result. He originally wanted to take more, but there were too many people asking to take photos with her, so he only managed to get this one. Looking at the photo now, the voice that came from the Communicator earlier seemed especially strange. It sounded cold, with undisguised sarcasm and contempt, nothing like the Fang Yuxin he remembered. In his memory, Fang Yuxin was never like that! With these thoughts, Zhao Qiankun slammed down on the desk, smashing the fine pearwood desk to pieces! He narrowed his eyes, flipped his hand, and a black granule appeared in his palm. It was only the size of a sesame seed, at first glance resembling the seed of some plant. Chapter 548 - 548 299 Spilling the Vinegar Jar (First Update)_2 ?Chapter 548: 299 Spilling the Vinegar Jar (First Update)_2 Chapter 548: 299 Spilling the Vinegar Jar (First Update)_2 But then, it suddenly spread a pair of wings and silently flew out, with astonishing speed! Zhao Qiankun saw it fly away and then smiled smugly. He wanted to see what Fang Yuxin had become after not seeing her for three years! Just thinking about Fang Yuxin¡¯s deep connection with the Bai Family¡¯s Bai Ye, his face turned extremely ugly! However... even if he didn¡¯t make a move, Bai Yi probably wouldn¡¯t let Bai Ye off either! He was just waiting to watch the drama unfold! ... Fang Yuxin had just hung up the phone when Fang Yuyang spoke up, frowning, puzzled, ¡°Xinxin, how could Zhao Qiankun personally contact you? This is too strange.¡± Fang Yuxin also felt it was very odd. Logically, as the squad leader of the Qiankun Mercenary Group, busy with many tasks, and with his status, for him to personally contact Fang Yuxin seemed a bit ¡°degrading.¡± After all, Fang Yuxin was just a ¡°Second-level Wood Element Superpower User,¡± and the Qiankun Mercenary Group already had six such individuals; Fang Yuxin seemed somewhat ¡°insignificant,¡± certainly not to the extent that Zhao Qiankun, the leader of such a large mercenary group, would take notice. The Qiankun Mercenary Group was burgeoning and powerful, not like the Qu Family, which was in an awkward position, desperately needing a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User like Fang Yuxin to boost their power. Zhao Qiankun¡¯s actions seemed too abnormal, indeed suspicious. Fang Yuxin thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Brother, what do you know about this Zhao Qiankun? Why do you think he would contact me personally?¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Yuyang suddenly recalled something, and his expression instantly became extremely grim. Fang Yuxin grew worried, ¡°Bro, what¡¯s wrong? Did you think of something?¡± Indeed, Fang Yuyang had remembered something. Although Zhao Qiankun was very powerful, he was also quite a womanizer, surrounded by women of various figures and features, virtually welcoming any attractive woman. Zhao Qiankun had asked Fang Yuxin to turn on the video, clearly wanting to see what she looked like! The thought of someone like Zhao Qiankun harboring intentions toward his beloved sister made Fang Yuyang feel utterly nauseated; his expression turned even uglier. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, having heard of Zhao Qiankun¡¯s reputation, also thought of this, their expressions equally grim. Bai Qianqian, being just a child, even though he had been back in Beishi City for some time, no one would tell him about such matters. However, that didn¡¯t stop him from realizing Zhao Qiankun¡¯s malicious intentions toward Fang Yuxin. Having heard Zhao Qiankun¡¯s words earlier, he naturally despised the man, and seeing Fang Jintang and others looking upset, his disgust for Zhao Qiankun deepened. So, while Fang Yuxin was asking Fang Yuyang what exactly was the matter, Bai Qianqian excused himself to use the restroom, entered, then activated his communicator, composed a long message, and told Bai Ye about Zhao Qiankun seeking out Fang Yuxin. Meanwhile, Bai Ye was listening to his subordinate report on the detailed situation at the Beishi Base, to prepare for various possible scenarios that might occur. The room was very quiet, only the voice of Bai Ye¡¯s subordinate reporting. So, when the communicator initially sounded, Bai Ye heard it. He rushed to check, somewhat hoping it would be Fang Yuxin, but upon seeing the screen, it displayed Bai Qianqian¡¯s name. His lips pursed immediately, the smile that had not fully formed on his face quickly ¡°aborted,¡± returning to a stoic expression. However, he thought that Bai Qianqian must have something to tell him, so he opened the message. Upon reading the content, his expression darkened completely! What did Zhao Qiankun want with Fang Yuxin? Definitely nothing good! He knew that once Fang Yuxin came to Beishi City, she would surely attract various admirers! But he hadn¡¯t expected that they had only been in the Beishi Base for less than two hours, and Zhao Qiankun had already sought her out! Thinking of Zhao Qiankun¡¯s possible intentions, Bai Ye¡¯s expression grew even more severe, and his gaze gradually turned icy. The tall subordinate standing opposite him suddenly shrank his neck, his eyes filled with fear, completely intimidated by the aura radiating from Bai Ye. The tall man was inwardly distressed; he cautiously recalled his words, feeling he hadn¡¯t said anything wrong, so Bai Ye¡¯s anger must be because¡ª He instinctively looked towards Bai Ye¡¯s wrist where the communicator was, but distance and the specially treated screen of the communicator, which prevented others from peering, meant he could only see a pitch-black surface, unable to see what was displayed on the screen. The tall man stole a glance at Bai Ye and tentatively asked, ¡°Boss, are you... are you okay? Did... something happen?¡± The tall man was worried, given Bai Ye¡¯s grim expression, it suggested the seriousness of the matter! Oh no! Could it be that something had happened to Chen Si and others? Just then, Bai Ye¡¯s icy gaze suddenly turned towards him, and he asked in a chilling tone, ¡°Did you just say, Zhao Qiankun likes beautiful women?¡± The tall man, not understanding why Bai Ye would ask this, still nodded and even added, ¡°Zhao Qiankun is very powerful but too ambitious, and he doesn¡¯t refuse any beautiful woman, keeping many of different figures around him! Boss, why are you suddenly asking about him?¡± He looked questioningly at Bai Ye. On that look, he noticed that Bai Ye¡¯s expression had turned utterly dark, his eyes as if brewing a storm, and his aura seemed capable of destroying everything. The tall man, recalling the news he had heard earlier, combined with Bai Ye¡¯s current state, suddenly had a guess, could it be...(to be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to vote, recommend, or leave a monthly ticket at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 549 - 549 300 Microscopic Flying Insects (Second Update) ?Chapter 549: 300 Microscopic Flying Insects (Second Update) Chapter 549: 300 Microscopic Flying Insects (Second Update) The tall man stealthily glanced at Bai Ye, seeing his terrifyingly gloomy expression, and felt that he probably knew the truth. He had just heard that Bai Ye brought back a beautiful woman this time, even holding her hand without letting go¡ªas if their relationship was anything but simple! When he was reporting the situation just now, Bai Ye¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t too bad, but as soon as the communicator rang, his face turned utterly dark, and he even started asking about Zhao Qiankun. That must mean Zhao Qiankun had crossed Bai Ye! The tall man thought to this point and felt particularly angry. His boss had finally come to his senses, finding a beautiful girlfriend, and yet Zhao Qiankun dared to compete with him for her! With so many women already, what was Zhao Qiankun unsatisfied with to still try and take his boss¡¯s? It was truly unacceptable! As the tall man was indignantly fantasizing, he suddenly heard Bai Ye¡¯s sinister voice, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°I was thinking... how pitiful our boss is...¡± the tall man replied subconsciously, then suddenly realized something was amiss, his voice abruptly trailing off as he stared at Bai Ye with innocent eyes full of reproach¡ªhow could you do this, boss! Bai Ye, upon seeing his expression, suddenly thought of Fang Yuxin¡¯s mocking smile from earlier, as well as the words she said¡ª¡±Oh, you have such people under your command.¡± Her teasing voice seemed to linger in his ears, her words weaving into him, stirring up his already unsettled Divine Soul. Bai Ye¡¯s ears suddenly felt hot, and he couldn¡¯t help but reach up to touch them, indeed finding them scorchingly hot. Following that, he shot the tall man a glare, meeting his surprised gaze. Although the tall man swiftly averted his eyes, Bai Ye was still very annoyed¡ªhis embarrassment had been witnessed by this man! It was absolutely humiliating! The tall man, sensitive to the low-pressure surrounding Bai Ye, took a quiet step back, creating distance between himself and Bai Ye. Seeing his little movement, Bai Ye abruptly tapped his finger on the tabletop with a crisp ¡°thud.¡± The sound made the tall man¡¯s heart jump, immediately scaring him stiff, and he quickly said, ¡°Boss! I didn¡¯t see anything just now!¡± A vein on Bai Ye¡¯s temple throbbed violently, and then he tapped the table again before saying, ¡°Stop daydreaming all the time! Also, I want to see all the information on Zhao Qiankun. Find some way to get it!¡± The tall man made a pained expression upon hearing this, ¡°Boss, this kind of thing is always Brother Hou¡¯s responsibility, not mine.¡± He wasn¡¯t a hacker! Bai Ye ignored his excuses, insisting, ¡°I don¡¯t care how, but I want all the information on Zhao Qiankun, whatever way you can! Now, continue.¡± He, he had just returned and wasn¡¯t very familiar with the situation in Beishi City. Furthermore, the situation within the Bai Family was exceedingly complex. He must understand these circumstances clearly to avoid being outwitted by certain people later on! So, although he was already eager to get rid of Zhao Qiankun, Bai Ye decided to understand the specific situation from his subordinates before taking any action. This matter was of paramount importance; there was no room for delay! The tall man was originally looking troubled, but after hearing this, he quietly sighed with relief. Although he was happy that Bai Ye had finally come to his senses and found a woman he liked, if Bai Ye acted like those idiots in romantic dramas, constantly preoccupied with love and ignoring important matters, he would be particularly disappointed¡ªthat wouldn¡¯t be the boss he admired! Fortunately, Bai Ye still knew what was important and didn¡¯t neglect his duties for personal reasons. The tall man was very pleased with this, and consequently, his impression of Fang Yuxin also improved considerably, thinking she was likely not a useless vase or a troublemaking seductress. But soon, he had no more time to think further, as Bai Ye was staring at him intently! The tall man quickly came to his senses under Bai Ye¡¯s gaze, silently recollected, and continued from where he had left off. Bai Ye listened intently, committing the words to memory while also pondering how to deal with Zhao Qiankun. Even though the tall man hadn¡¯t specifically collected all of Zhao Qiankun¡¯s information yet, based on what he said, Bai Ye understood that Zhao Qiankun was not a common man! Although he was just an Enhancement Ability User, his superpower had already reached the peak of Level 3, and there were even rumors that he was a Level 4 Superpower User who deliberately concealed his true strength. What was even more alarming was Zhao Qiankun¡¯s clever mind. He had many researchers under him, all of whom were genuinely qualified, with some even quite renowned. It was unknown how Zhao Qiankun managed to persuade these people to work for him. Chapter 550 - 550 300 Microscopic Flying Insects (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 550: 300 Microscopic Flying Insects (Second Update)_2 Chapter 550: 300 Microscopic Flying Insects (Second Update)_2 Now, the Communicator used by the Beishi Base was developed by researchers under Zhao Qiankun¡¯s direction, and he was also in charge of its sole production. Anyone else who wanted to use a Communicator had to buy it from him, earning Zhao Qiankun a handsome profit. This was only one of the many research projects underway in his institute, and it had already caused such a sensation in the Beishi Base that everyone couldn¡¯t help but anticipate¡ªonce the other research projects inside the institute succeeded, what kind of colossal impact would they bring to Beishi and even the whole of Hua Country! Under such circumstances, the other powers were at least superficially unwilling to offend Zhao Qiankun and his Qiankun Mercenary Group. By his own strength, Zhao Qiankun had gradually expanded the once obscure Qiankun Mercenary Group to its current scale! Now, although the Beishi Base was said to be under the control of the Six Major Forces, the most vigorous among them were the White Wolf Mercenary Corps of the Bai Family and the Qiankun Mercenary Group controlled by Zhao Qiankun. Even the entire Bai Family did not dare to openly challenge Zhao Qiankun, let alone Bai Ye. Although he was also a member of the Bai Family, he belonged to a collateral line. His branch was always suppressed by the direct lineage, just as it had been in the Military Department, and now the same was true within the White Wolf Mercenary Corps. Even though Bai Zhengli had awakened the powerful Gold Element Superpower, he was still unable to change their branch¡¯s awkward status within the White Wolf Mercenary Corps, and instead, was even more tightly suppressed by the direct lineage! As a result, the direct lineage members and the key personnel of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps all lived in the Imperial Court Community, while Bai Zhengli could only take his people and live in the Tianhua District. The Imperial Court Community was a high-end residential area, containing all detached villas with top-notch facilities. Although the Tianhua District also housed a villa section and high-rise apartments, it was far more ordinary compared to the Imperial Court Community. The rest of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps¡¯ lower ranks all lived there. While Bai Ye was listening to his subordinate¡¯s report, he unconsciously tapped his fingers on the tabletop, his brain rapidly calculating. He had no interest in being the direct lineage¡¯s pawn, toiling and laboring to death for that bunch. The current situation had to be changed! It was just that, although they were a collateral family, it wasn¡¯t easy to break from the direct lineage. After all, belonging to the same family, causing a sudden separation would invite criticism and could even give the direct lineage an excuse to wipe them out! Therefore, this matter couldn¡¯t be rushed; it required long-term planning. And then there was Zhao Qiankun; the man actually dared to covet Fang Yuxin and had to be dealt with! But how? While Bai Ye was still pondering possible paths for the future, elsewhere, the Fang Family welcomed an uninvited guest. Fang Yuxin was in the living room enjoying fruit with her family. She had recently made a breakthrough in Foundation Establishment and wasn¡¯t in a hurry to cultivate, so she was taking advantage of this rare time to have a good chat with her family. After Zhao Qiankun had sought her out, the other powers had remained silent. Which was expected; after all, by blood, Fang Yuxin was the granddaughter of Qu Xiuhong, and she also had an ambiguous relationship with Bai Ye, connected to both the Qu Family and the Bai Family. Other parties, even if they wished to woo her, wouldn¡¯t dare to extend an olive branch in unclear circumstances, fearing that they might accidentally offend both the Qu Family and the Bai Family. At this point, they were unaware that Zhao Qiankun had also approached Fang Yuxin, as he had communicated directly with her, and no forces could spy powerful enough to infiltrate the Fang or Zhao families to learn of this situation. This allowed the Fang Family members a rare moment of undisturbed downtime, where they could fully enjoy the warmth of family time. Fang Yuxin was tactfully discussing light-hearted topics with her family when she suddenly stopped mid-sentence, her expression turning grave. Seeing her change in demeanor, the others were first startled, then instinctively became alert, quietly extending their Spiritual Sense to investigate. At that moment, Fang Yuxin waved her hand towards the void, and the next instant, a fist-sized orb of light flew in from outside the door and landed in her hand. It was a small Barrier sealed by Spiritual Sense, and suspended within was a speck the size of a sesame seed, pitch black in color. At first glance, it resembled a black sesame seed, but upon closer inspection, one could see it had a pair of very small wings. Right now, it was frozen in the position of having its wings spread, completely motionless and sealed by Fang Yuxin. Although the other members of the Fang Family had not yet achieved Foundation Establishment, they had nevertheless stepped onto the Immortal Path, and their senses were more acute than those of superpower users. They had not detected the tiny creature initially because it was simply too small, and their Spiritual Sense was not as developed as that of Fang Yuxin, who had achieved Foundation Establishment. Now that Fang Yuxin had it sealed, it was easy for them to get a clear view of the creature. Upon seeing it, the Fang Family members were all shocked; even Bai Qianqian couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in surprise, ¡°Mama! This thing is so tiny, is it a miniature robot?¡± Though he was young, his mind was sharp, and he had spent much time reading various books. Hence, he knew many countries were developing miniature robots. The one before them was much more delicate than any he had seen before¡ªa miniature robot, or rather, a miniature robotic flying insect. Although the flying insect did not look like a fly, its eye area resembled the compound eyes of a fly, but it was far too small to be seen with the naked eye. The Fang Family, utilizing their Spiritual Sense, saw it clearly. They also discovered that the insect¡¯s eyes were a composite type of camera, capable of seeing from many angles. Moreover, its abdomen contained data storage equipment, and it held a signal transmitter, continuously sending out the images it captured. Such technology was unfathomable for this era! (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 551 - 551 301 Who is he in the end (Third update) ?Chapter 551: 301 Who is he in the end? (Third update) Chapter 551: 301 Who is he in the end? (Third update) Because of the sudden appearance of the micro-robotic insect, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but start to question the true identity of its owner. She wasn¡¯t very clear at what stage the various countries were at in their research on micro-robots. To her, the micro-robotic insect in front of her eyes seemed too intricate, and it didn¡¯t look like something that could be achieved with current technological means, which inevitably made her wonder about its origin. Rather than believing this micro-robotic insect was secretly developed by a state science academy, she was more inclined to believe it came from a higher-level civilization. Given that she had the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion and Fang Mengyao had some kind of special ability, could there be someone else who had also obtained an incredible ace up their sleeve? As for who that person could be¡ªFang Yuxin subconsciously thought of Zhao Qiankun! This person gave her an excessively strange feeling, and the vague sense of superiority he exuded made her feel very familiar. Hadn¡¯t Fang Mengyao always carried herself in that manner in her previous life? Moreover, Zhao Qiankun¡¯s background was mysterious, and although everyone said he came from humble origins, nobody could clearly explain his real background. This person was like someone who had appeared out of nowhere, unavoidably making one suspicious. The others in the Fang family didn¡¯t think as much about it. They also all knew that many countries were working on researching micro-robots, so although they found the craftsmanship of this insect extraordinary, they just assumed that someone had already developed it and were using it to surveil them. But Fang Yuxin was different. Although she was young, she had already experienced the impossible events of rebirth and transmigration and had even obtained the Cultivation Spiritual Mansion. So she knew that it was very likely that there were some unfathomable entities in this world. For example, her Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, Fang Mengyao¡¯s mysterious ace, and the micro-robotic insect before her eyes. With a suspect in mind, investigating became much easier. She had already sealed the insect, so she wasn¡¯t worried about Zhao Qiankun¡ªor rather, its owner behind the scenes¡ªusing it to surveil them anymore. Therefore, Fang Yuxin quickly put it into a small box, and asked Fang Jintang and the others, ¡°Dad, Mom, and brother, what else do you all know about Zhao Qiankun? Can you tell me everything?¡± The three weren¡¯t fools; they understood her implication immediately. Fang Yuyang said directly, ¡°Xinxin, you suspect this micro-robotic insect is related to Zhao Qiankun?¡± He frowned slightly, ¡°His research institute has indeed invented quite a few things. The communicators they are using now are developed by his research institute, as are the blood test strips used at the entrance of the base.¡± As he spoke, he himself felt that something was off. Zhao Qiankun was said to be from a grass-roots background, so how exactly did he charm so many researchers into joining him? Compared with him, the Bai Family, the Qu Family, and the Qin Family were all deeply rooted major clans in Beishi City. Besides these three, there were also many other families, each with backgrounds and resources far more substantial than Zhao Qiankun¡¯s. Why had he been able to poach so many researchers? Fang Yuxin¡¯s frown deepened; she had just realized that the communicator in her hand was actually associated with Zhao Qiankun! That made her extremely uncomfortable. Looking at the communicator, she couldn¡¯t help but recall Zhao Qiankun¡¯s face and that faintly condescending attitude. Therefore, she directly took off the communicator from her wrist, deciding to use it as little as possible in the future¡ªwho knows if Zhao Qiankun had tampered with it? Her action prompted the other members of the Fang family to also quickly remove their communicators and toss them aside, all concerned about potentially falling victim to Zhao Qiankun¡¯s schemes. Bai Qianqian followed suit. He had originally planned to send a message to Bai Ye but hesitated, then decided not to. If the communicator had indeed been tampered with by Zhao Qiankun, wouldn¡¯t that mean he would know if Bai Qianqian messaged Bai Ye? Bai Qianqian huffed softly; he wasn¡¯t foolish! However, at that moment, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but laugh. She clenched her fist and gently tapped her own head, then told the others, ¡°I¡¯m being too sensitive. This device is quite convenient, and there¡¯s no need to stop using it just because of Zhao Qiankun. Moreover, ever since this type of communicator entered the market, people from other powers must have taken it back for analysis. If it had really been tampered with, those people would definitely know. Zhao Qiankun isn¡¯t a fool, he wouldn¡¯t do something that risks drawing such scrutiny.¡± Chapter 552 - 552 301 Who is he in the end (Third update)_2 ?Chapter 552: 301 Who is he in the end? (Third update)_2 Chapter 552: 301 Who is he in the end? (Third update)_2 Even though she said that, Fang Yuxin still used her Spiritual Sense to inspect the Communicator inside and out. After making sure there were no issues, she nodded at her family. Fang Jintang and the others couldn¡¯t help but smile and shake their heads. They had actually already checked the Communicator discreetly with their Spiritual Sense when they first got their hands on it, and found nothing wrong. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have kept wearing it and using it. Just now, because of that miniature robotic bug, they had become suspicious of Zhao Qiankun, and in their haste, they had actually forgotten this fact! It was truly inadvisable. However, the incident with the bug still cast a psychological shadow over them; although they no longer refused to use the Communicator, they also didn¡¯t wear it directly on their person. Fang Yuxin, thinking about her suspicions regarding Zhao Qiankun, felt uneasy at heart and said, ¡°Dad, Mom, Brother, I always feel something isn¡¯t right. This miniature robotic bug doesn¡¯t seem like something that could exist with current technology. I suspect Zhao Qiankun obtained some kind of magical ¡®golden finger,¡¯ which is why he was able to bring out such a wondrous thing.¡± The three members of the Fang Family exchanged glances, their expressions slightly darkening with worry. Fang Yuyang pondered and said, ¡°Xinxin, do you mean that Zhao Qiankun might have something similar to Qingmu Spiritual Mansion? Except instead of a Cultivation Spiritual Mansion, he¡¯s obtained items from the future?¡± ¡°Perhaps from the future, or maybe from some other higher civilization¡ªwho knows?¡± Fang Yuxin sighed heavily, speaking with a grim expression, ¡°But no matter which it is, the feeling Zhao Qiankun gives me is that he must have some sort of powerful trump card. Now that we have offended him, it seems we must be even more careful from now on. If I¡¯d known it¡¯d come to this, I wouldn¡¯t have spoken so harshly.¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Yuyang disagreed, saying, ¡°Zhao Qiankun is a scumbag to begin with. Regardless of whether he has a powerful card up his sleeve or not, he has ill intentions towards you. Just because he¡¯s formidable, should you be meek and suck up to him? That bastard will only become more demanding!¡± Qu Qianhe nodded in agreement, adding, ¡°Xinxin, your brother is right in what he just said, and what you did was correct. It also served to reveal Zhao Qiankun¡¯s true nature, which is not without its benefits. If it weren¡¯t for your attitude irritating him, why would he get so embarrassed and angry that he¡¯d use such a miniature robotic bug to monitor you?¡± Although they had no concrete evidence in their hands, and everything about Zhao Qiankun was pure conjecture, Fang Yuyang and the others all felt that Fang Yuxin¡¯s suspicions about Zhao Qiankun were not unfounded. Not only had Zhao Qiankun produced Communicators and blood-testing strips, but there had always been rumors that many other research projects were ongoing in his institute. At first glance, these would not seem unusual, but their emergence was undeniably premature and ahead of the times. Although these Communicators are based on preexisting smartphones with some modifications, is it that the researchers are too clever, or has someone directly introduced more mature technology? Regardless, based on the current evidence, Zhao Qiankun was the prime suspect, so the Fang Family chose to be particularly vigilant around him. Fang Yuxin felt that the matter was of great importance and had to inform Bai Ye about it. Using the Communicator was not very secure; even if the device itself was not tampered with, the signal could be intercepted. It would be better to meet him in person. She shared her thoughts with her family, and everyone agreed that the matter had to be handled with caution. Fang Yuyang was worried about Fang Yuxin being alone with Bai Ye and feared his precious sister might fall prey to Bai Ye¡¯s rogue charms, so he decided to accompany Fang Yuxin. Left with no choice but to accept his company, Fang Yuxin took him along. Before going to see Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin first called his Communicator number. Bai Ye was in the middle of receiving reports from his subordinates, but upon hearing the Communicator ring, he glanced sideways and saw the words ¡°Xinxin¡± displayed on the screen; his eyes immediately lit up! Without hesitation, he answered the call and, before opening the video, quickly straightened his hair. Ignoring the twitching faces of his subordinates, he beamed at Fang Yuxin through the video, ¡°Xinxin, is there something you need from me? Is it because of Zhao Qiankun?¡± He had previously heard about Zhao Qiankun contacting Fang Yuxin from Bai Qianqian, and had been eagerly hoping Fang Yuxin would tell him about it so he could stand up for her. So, he subconsciously asked. However, in response to his question, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°It¡¯s something else. It¡¯s inconvenient to talk about it in the Communicator. Do you have time now? I¡¯ll come to see you.¡± Bai Ye nodded without hesitation, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Fang Yuxin, ¡°I¡¯m always available. Come over now!¡± Although Fang Yuxin¡¯s reluctance to discuss Zhao Qiankun with him dampened his spirits somewhat, that feeling paled in comparison to the prospect of meeting her imminently. After all, they hadn¡¯t been apart for long, but having previously spent so much time together, this sudden separation made Bai Ye quite uneasy. For a man who had only recently come to his senses and found a girlfriend after so many years, he found the time without Fang Yuxin to be excruciating! He really didn¡¯t know how he had managed to make it through those twenty plus years! Thinking that it would take some time for Fang Yuxin to arrive, Bai Ye gestured for his subordinate to continue speaking. As he listened, his thoughts shifted ¡ª what could Xinxin be coming to him for? Her expression earlier seemed very serious; could there be something else that he was unaware of? At the thought, Bai Ye narrowed his eyes dangerously. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 553 - 553 302 Interrogation (First Update) ?Chapter 553: 302 Interrogation (First Update) Chapter 553: 302 Interrogation (First Update) Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang brought Bai Qianqian to the doorstep of the Bai Family¡¯s house when Bai Ye was already there waiting. With a smile on his face, he personally welcomed the three inside, but his smile slightly faded when facing Fang Yuyang, his gaze carrying a hint of unwelcome, nearly bordering on openly finding him troublesome. Fang Yuyang, on the other hand, gave a smug smile, looking at Bai Ye with equal disdain. The two exchanged a look, then quickly averted their gazes, as if nothing had happened, and hastened into the house. Once inside the living room, Fang Yuxin released her Spiritual Sense to scan the area and, finding nothing out of the ordinary, set up a barrier to seal the entire living room. Bai Ye noticed her actions, and his smile withdrew, his expression turning more serious, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± He did not suspect Fang Yuxin, but seeing her so cautious, he guessed something must have occurred, or perhaps, Fang Yuxin was about to say something she did not want anyone else to hear. Bai Ye was in a foul mood. They had just arrived at Beishi Base not long ago, originally thinking they could rest properly, but events kept occurring one after another, leaving them no time even to rest. He felt an instinctive dislike for the person behind all this! After setting up the barrier, Fang Yuxin took out a small box, opened the lid, and pushed it towards Bai Ye. Bai Ye looked down and saw a sesame-sized black dot in the middle of the palm-sized box; other than that, there was nothing else. That is to say, what Fang Yuxin wanted him to see was precisely this black dot. ¡°What is this?¡± Bai Ye curiously picked up the box, released his Spiritual Sense to check it, and then his expression gradually grew even more serious. Only then did Fang Yuxin speak, ¡°Someone has controlled this to surveil my home. After discovering it, I sealed it. I suppose you¡¯ve noticed as well¡ªthis is a type of miniature mechanical insect, meticulously crafted with an extremely intricate internal structure. I am not very familiar with the cutting-edge technologies of various countries, not clear whether the current level of technology could achieve this. Do you know anything?¡± Bai Ye put down the box, his expression solemn, ¡°As far as I know, current technology can¡¯t achieve this, this type of flying insect is too finely made, not seeming like something attainable with current technology. Regarding the mastermind, have you guessed who it might be?¡± Bai Ye felt sure Fang Yuxin must have guessed something; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have come to him. Sure enough, as soon as he spoke, Fang Yuxin nodded and said, ¡°I suspect, this has something to do with Zhao Qiankun. You must already know, the communicators popular at the Beishi Base are Zhao Qiankun¡¯s research institute¡¯s invention, as well as the blood detecting strips used at the base entrance. Right before this mechanical insect appeared, Zhao Qiankun had contacted me, wanting me to join the Qiankun Mercenary Group; I refused, so I suspect this insect is his.¡± Bai Ye gently tapped his fingers on the tabletop, speaking softly about the information he currently knew, ¡°Zhao Qiankun is a mysterious person; no one can trace his origins, as if he came out of nowhere, so your suspicion is not without reason. But if this mechanical insect really is his, does that mean... he has already mastered advanced technology beyond what is currently available? This is too...¡± He was about to say ¡°inconceivable,¡± but suddenly remembered Fang Yuxin¡¯s space and the legacy of the Dragon Scale Sword he had received. In the past, he might have thought such a thing was inconceivable, but now, he felt that if it was indeed Zhao Qiankun, then this person must have obtained a powerful ¡°golden finger,¡± possibly¡ªsome future technology. Bai Ye looked down at the tiny mechanical insect in the box, which, although meticulously made and suitable for reconnaissance, had no attack power; it could only be considered a support-type gadget. But if Zhao Qiankun possessed it, might he also have more terrifying and powerful weapons at his disposal? If that were the case, this person would definitely be a fearsome adversary! Fang Yuxin also felt a chill, having obtained Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, it was indeed a Cultivation Spiritual Mansion, yet besides the cultivation technique, she didn¡¯t have a proper weapon from the Cultivation World in her possession, unlike Bai Ye, who had received the legacy of the Dragon Scale Sword, a weapon known to be very powerful. She wondered how he had such luck! She looked at Bai Ye, her heart feeling sour. Yet Bai Ye suddenly looked up, meeting Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze. That gaze was filled with sourness and a bit of petty jealousy. Bai Ye paused for a moment, then immediately understood Fang Yuxin¡¯s intention and couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly. He hadn¡¯t expected that, after so long, Fang Yuxin was still jealous over the Dragon Scale Sword having chosen him. Chapter 554 - 554 302 Interrogation (Second Update) ?Chapter 554: 302 Interrogation (Second Update) Chapter 554: 302 Interrogation (Second Update) He smiled at Fang Yuxin, then continued, ¡°Yuxin, you said you suspect Zhao Qiankun, and I just remembered something. It is said that Zhao Qiankun is an Enhancement Ability User, and it seems he¡¯s also an Ancient Martial Inheritor, skilled in some powerful martial arts. Based on the information I¡¯ve got, he should be a Third-level Peak Superpower User, but... it seems that many parts of his body have been enhanced. Whether it¡¯s strength, speed, defense, or senses, they all seem to be enhanced, not quite like what you¡¯d expect from a normal Enhancement Ability User.¡± Fang Yuyang, who had been silent until now, suddenly asked, ¡°What do you mean by that? Have you figured something out?¡± Bai Ye glanced at him and, without holding a grudge, said, ¡°Considering our earlier speculations, if Zhao Qiankun really has obtained some future technologies, then... is it possible that his body has been enhanced by some kind of drug?¡± Before the apocalypse, there were already many drugs on the market that could improve one¡¯s physique, though the effects were not very strong. However, they did have some health improvements. So, could there be an enhanced version of such drugs in the future? The kind that could dramatically improve a person¡¯s physique instantly, just like the enhancement of a superpower. Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang were not fools. Once Bai Ye mentioned this, they both thought of it. They couldn¡¯t say for sure what the future might hold, or what other advanced civilizations might exist; they just felt that Bai Ye¡¯s guess was highly possible! In the end, Fang Yuxin concluded, ¡°No matter what, there¡¯s definitely someone at Beishi Base who possesses more advanced technology. Even if that person isn¡¯t Zhao Qiankun, it must be some other individual. For now, Zhao Qiankun appears to be our prime suspect, and we must be extra cautious in the future! Bai Ye, you too be careful, if this person can use surveillance on my family, they might do the same to others.¡± Bai Ye nodded to show his understanding but felt rather uneasy inside. If the spy drone was indeed deployed by Zhao Qiankun, then his likely target for surveillance could be Fang Yuxin! The thought of that shameless bastard Zhao Qiankun setting his sights on Fang Yuxin made him feel especially uncomfortable, like he wanted to hide her away from everyone else¡¯s view! Fang Yuxin had come specifically to discuss Zhao Qiankun and the drone with Bai Ye, to warn him. Now that they had finished talking, Fang Yuyang said, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve made everything clear to you now. You can carry on with your work; we¡¯re heading back.¡± Bai Ye immediately protested, ¡°Wait! Yuxin, don¡¯t go!¡± Fang Yuxin looked at him in surprise, ¡°Is there something else?¡± Bai Ye felt uneasy but couldn¡¯t come up with a good excuse to keep Fang Yuxin there, so after hesitating for a moment, he said, ¡°Yuxin, have you figured out what to do with Qian Lang and the others? They still don¡¯t have a place to stay, do they?¡± Upon remembering Qian Lang and the others, Fang Yuxin also seemed troubled. But before she could speak, Fang Yuyang interjected, ¡°They can squeeze in with Chen Qiao and the others for now. Housing is scarce, and it¡¯s not easy to get a place to stay at the moment. That¡¯s the only solution.¡± ¡°Let me help you buy a place,¡± Bai Ye said immediately. But Fang Yuyang showed no intention of accepting the offer and rejected it flatly, ¡°No need for a house. We¡¯ve already troubled you and your family too many times. It wouldn¡¯t be right to impose again. Besides, your own people are also squeezed together, aren¡¯t they? If you help us out once more, the Bai Family people would probably not agree.¡± The White Wolf Mercenary Corps from the Bai Family employed over fifty thousand people. While the elite leaders had strong abilities, those at the bottom had average skills and had to live in cramped conditions. Despite Beishi Base being large, the existing housing was far too scarce for the massive population, so many were forced to share tight spaces. Even with the Bai Family¡¯s strong influence, it wasn¡¯t possible to monopolize all the living quarters. Bai Ye¡¯s own household conditions were decent, but further down the ranks, many people were sharing bunk beds in crowded apartments. Bai Zhengli had previously helped the Fang Family purchase two apartments, and this had already led to much idle talk within the White Wolf Mercenary Corps. If Bai Ye were to lend a hand again, their position within the Mercenary Corps would become even more awkward. The Fang Family were somewhat aware of the internal strife between the direct and collateral lines of the Bai Family and naturally did not want to trouble Bai Ye further. Upon hearing Fang Yuyang¡¯s words, Bai Ye¡¯s expression darkened. He knew Fang Yuyang meant well, so he didn¡¯t get angry with him. However, thinking about the internal conflicts within the Bai Family and the direct lineage¡¯s increasing pressure over the years left him feeling stifled! So Bai Ye did not insist on the matter of buying a house but said, ¡°Then let¡¯s do this, Yuxin. If you ever run into any trouble or need my help, just tell me. Don¡¯t be polite with me.¡± Afterward, Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin left, and Bai Ye didn¡¯t try to keep them any longer. Indeed, he had quite a few matters to attend to; he couldn¡¯t neglect important business for matters of the heart. Bai Qianqian, unburdened by these worries, happily accompanied Fang Yuxin back to the Fang Family. Watching his carefree attitude, Bai Ye felt an itch in his fist and wished he could give him a good pounding! No sooner had Fang Yuxin and the others left than Bai Ye¡¯s Communicator began to ring. He picked it up to see an unfamiliar number. Yet, when the call connected, Bai Yi¡¯s detestable face appeared on the screen as he coldly said, ¡°What¡¯s the deal between you and Fang Yuxin? I recall she is Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendations, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 555 - 555 303 Warning (Second Update) ?Chapter 555: 303 Warning (Second Update) Chapter 555: 303 Warning (Second Update) Bai Ye didn¡¯t turn on the video. He looked at Bai Yi¡¯s face on the screen and scoffed coldly, saying rudely, ¡°Bai Yi, you really haven¡¯t changed at all, still so annoying!¡± ¡°Bai Ye!¡± Bai Yi shouted angrily, questioning, ¡°You haven¡¯t answered my question yet! What exactly is going on between you and Fang Yuxin? She is Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, how could you get involved with her? Bai Ye, aren¡¯t you going too far? Even if you hate me, hate Qiu Yiming, how can you steal his fiance?e?¡± The speaker transmitted intense panting sounds, clearly, Bai Yi was very upset. Listening to him, Bai Ye suddenly thought he wasn¡¯t so bad towards his cousin Qiu Yiming. However, Fang Yuxin had already broken up with Qiu Yiming, why couldn¡¯t they be together? Bai Yi was simply meddling too much! Bai Ye, uninterested in answering Bai Yi¡¯s question, said, ¡°This is a matter between Fang Yuxin and me; it has nothing to do with you. You¡¯re a Young Commander of a Mercenary Corps, why don¡¯t you focus on something else rather than whom I like? Bai Yi, aren¡¯t you annoying?¡± Hearing Bai Ye¡¯s nearly arrogant tone, Bai Yi was so angered he almost smashed the communicator in his hand! He roared, ¡°Bai Ye, I don¡¯t care whom you like, but you absolutely cannot be with Fang Yuxin! She is the woman Qiu Yiming loves, you can¡¯t steal her from him!¡± Seeing Bai Yi continue to pester, Bai Ye¡¯s expression darkened and became extremely unpleasant, ¡°Xinxin has nothing to do with the Qius now, what right do you have to stop me from being with her? Bai Yi, don¡¯t tell me you contacted me just for this matter?¡± He said while coldly enjoying the sight of Bai Yi becoming infuriated. Seeing that Bai Ye was unwilling to listen, Bai Yi straight-up said, ¡°I wanted to tell you, even though Fang Yuxin is a second-level Wood Element Superpower User, the White Wolf Mercenary Corps still doesn¡¯t care about her. Neither the White Wolf Mercenary Corps nor the Bai Family welcomes her, do whatever you want!¡± Having said this, Bai Yi didn¡¯t care about Bai Ye¡¯s possible reaction and hung up the call. In the office of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps, Bai Yi tossed the communicator aside, thinking about his conversation with Bai Ye, his expression very ugly. Qiu Yiming was his cousin, and their relationship had always been good, so he very well knew how much Qiu Yiming loved Fang Yuxin. Just before the apocalypse, Qiu Yiming had happily told him that they would be celebrating their wedding during the National Day, reminding him to bring a big gift. But shortly after, the woman Qiu Yiming was to marry got involved with Bai Ye! Bai Yi had never liked Bai Ye and naturally sided with Qiu Yiming, feeling that Bai Ye must have used some underhanded tactics to steal Fang Yuxin, likely even as a form of revenge against him and Qiu Yiming. After all, he had once tricked Bai Ye into going to the Market and had set up a death trap for him with Qiu Yiming. Unexpectedly, they hadn¡¯t managed to kill Bai Ye but instead allowed him to steal Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e, which left Bai Yi feeling somewhat guilty towards Qiu Yiming, thinking he had harmed him. Initially, when he learned that Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were seen together at the Beishi Base, he just regretted that Bai Ye hadn¡¯t died and was curious why Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t stayed in Market but had run off to Beishi City instead, unwilling to believe there was anything romantic between them. However, after Fang Yuxin entered Bai Ye¡¯s house twice, the second time with Bai Ye personally greeting her at the door, their relationship obviously deep! After learning this news, he couldn¡¯t sit still any longer, hence why he hastily contacted Bai Ye to warn him. Regrettably, Bai Ye was still the same as before, refusing to listen obediently. Thinking that Fang Yuxin was a second-level Wood Element Superpower User, he deliberately made that remark. However, the Bai Family potentially not welcoming Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t an impulsive decision on his part; rather, since Fang Yuxin was Qu Xiuhong¡¯s granddaughter, the Bai Family didn¡¯t need to offend the Qu Family for a second-level Wood Element Superpower User, especially as the Bai Family wasn¡¯t lacking such superpower users. Reflecting on Bai Ye¡¯s recent attitude, Bai Yi¡¯s gaze turned colder, then he picked up the communicator beside him and dialed Fang Yuxin¡¯s number. When the communicator rang, Fang Yuxin was in the kitchen washing fruits. Qian Lang and the others had just returned from a stroll in the Beishi Base, hot and thirsty, so she simply went to the kitchen and washed a big bowl of fruits. Hearing the sound, she picked up the communicator with a puzzled look, noticing another unfamiliar number. Fang Yuxin¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, her expression a bit irritated. Still, she chose to answer, curious to see who was trying to reach her. Chapter 556 - 556 303 Warning (Second Update)_2 ?Chapter 556: 303 Warning (Second Update)_2 Chapter 556: 303 Warning (Second Update)_2 As soon as the call connected, Bai Yi¡¯s face appeared on the communicator¡¯s screen. Fang Yuxin had never seen him and indifferently asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± Bai Yi paused slightly, surprised that Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t recognize him. He frowned slightly, then said, ¡°You might not know me, but I know you. Miss Fang, as I understand it, you are Qiu Yiming¡¯s fiance?e. I¡¯d like to ask an impertinent question, why didn¡¯t you stay by Qiu Yiming¡¯s side? Instead, you¡¯re involved in an ambiguous relationship with Bai Ye and even followed him to the Beishi Base. Can you tell me why?¡± Fang Yuxin was momentarily puzzled, but then she guessed the man¡¯s identity. She coldly laughed and bluntly asked, ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± Clearly, Bai Yi hadn¡¯t anticipated Fang Yuxin¡¯s attitude. He was stunned again, and then his expression grew stern, obviously angry: ¡°Miss Fang! I hope you can be more polite! Qiu Yiming is my cousin and also my good friend. Your betrayal of him makes me very angry.¡± Fang Yuxin rolled her eyes, finding the man utterly ridiculous. What did his anger have to do with her? By now, she knew that Bai Yi and Qiu Yiming had conspired together to set a death trap for Bai Ye. This was something Bai Ye had told her after their relationship was confirmed. So, Fang Yuxin already had a very poor impression of both men; seeing Bai Yi now acting so self-righteous only intensified her dislike for him. She then said, ¡°Mr. Bai, I also hope you can speak more politely! Since you care so much about your cousin, why haven¡¯t you gone to Market to see him, given that it¡¯s been so long since the apocalypse? If you can¡¯t even manage this much, what right do you have to act as if you¡¯re so devoted as brothers in front of me? Moreover, even if you are Qiu Yiming¡¯s cousin, you have no right to inquire about what¡¯s between him and me!¡± Having said that, she hung up the call. She feared that if she saw Bai Yi¡¯s annoying face again or heard his presumptuous voice, she would become so angry that she¡¯d smash her communicator. Although it was a gift from someone else, she didn¡¯t want to break it and have to buy a new one. On the other end, Bai Yi stared at the disconnected call, utterly speechless with anger! He had been curious about why Bai Ye was involved with Fang Yuxin, but now he understood; these two were just meant for each other¡ªthey were both so irritating! But then he remembered Fang Yuxin¡¯s earlier questioning, and he felt a twinge of guilt. After the apocalypse, he had indeed been worried about Qiu Yiming, but that concern wasn¡¯t enough to make him risk death by going to Market to see him. He had convinced himself that with Qiu Yiming¡¯s strong abilities and talent, he would surely awaken his superpower; and even without the awakening, with Yiming¡¯s strength, he would surely be alright. There was no need for him to worry. But now, hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s accusations, he realized he had been deceiving himself all along. Nevertheless, what did it matter? Qiu Yiming was only his cousin; was he really expected to risk his own family¡¯s safety and face danger in Market for Qiu Yiming¡¯s sake? Bai Yi¡¯s expression was grim as he narrowed his eyes dangerously. He remembered some earlier intel and let out a cold laugh, ¡°Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin, you¡¯ve brought this upon yourselves; don¡¯t blame me!¡± Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin had managed to return from Market to Beishi City, which meant they were definitely not weak! He could not allow these two to continue to develop their strengths! With this thought, he immediately picked up the communicator and dialed a number, looking at the elder on the screen, he said, ¡°Dr. Sun, I¡¯ve found suitable subjects for your experiments.¡± ¡°Are you serious?¡± The elder with slightly long white hair meticulously combed back, wearing rimless glasses below which eyes were bloodshot and with a cold, insane look, asked eagerly, ¡°Who are these people? Give me their information!¡± Bai Yi¡¯s smile was somewhat cold, ¡°Dr. Sun, there¡¯s no need to hurry. I¡¯ve found two suitable subjects for you, both are Second-level Superpower Users. One has Gold Element Superpower, and the other has the precious Wood Element Superpower. You¡¯ll be very pleased.¡± ¡°Really, a Second-level Wood Element Superpower?¡± The elder¡¯s eyes seemed to shine, likely from the reflection on his glasses, as he looked at Bai Yi with even greater eagerness, ¡°Where are they now? When can you send them to me? I must see them as soon as possible!¡± He paused briefly as if something had just crossed his mind. With a slight frown, he asked, ¡°Right, what about the person I asked you to find before? Have you located him?¡± Bai Yi remembered the report he received from Bai Ye and shook his head regretfully, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dr. Sun, the people I sent reported that Mr. Shen has already died, so they couldn¡¯t bring him back.¡± At this news, the elder¡¯s expression turned exceedingly ugly; his eyes almost seemed to glare viciously at Bai Yi, ¡°Your people are too incompetent! How could you allow him to die! Do you realize how precious he was? He was my most esteemed prote?ge?! With him, my experiments would have been twice as effective! How could you let him die!¡± Bai Yi¡¯s expression darkened slightly. He actually didn¡¯t care whether Shen Xi lived or died. However, the elder¡¯s attitude did not sit well with him! After all, Bai Ye had thoroughly destroyed the man¡¯s underground lab; if it weren¡¯t for his intervention in finding a safe place for this man to hide, he would have been found by Bai Ye long ago! And now, this man dared to overstep. If it wasn¡¯t for the value of the elder¡¯s research, and in order to not let his family, the Bai Family, be outdone by the Qiankun Mercenary Group, why would he let this man live? Thinking of the elder¡¯s research, Bai Yi couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly ¡°crazy old man.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 557 - 557 304 New Plans (Third Update) ?Chapter 557: 304 New Plans (Third Update) Chapter 557: 304 New Plans (Third Update) Fang Yuxin hung up the call and then contacted Bai Ye. She told him about Bai Yi¡¯s divine warning and asked, ¡°Bai Ye, you understand Bai Yi better than I do. What kind of person is he? I¡¯ve just offended him, and I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t let it go easily.¡± As soon as Bai Ye heard this, he felt infuriated. He had never liked Bai Yi. Bai Yi had contacted him earlier, and their conversation did not end well, leaving Bai Ye quite upset. To his dismay, this bastard had actually gone straight to Fang Yuxin! He even had the audacity to warn her! Where did Bai Yi get the nerve? Bai Ye was seething inside. Upon hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s question, he replied, ¡°Bai Yi is a petty person, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have gotten involved with Qiu Yiming.¡± He paused and glanced nervously at Fang Yuxin, worried that she might get angry. After all, the two of them had dated for so many years. To say there were no feelings at all, Bai Ye wouldn¡¯t believe that even if he were beaten to death. He didn¡¯t generally like to speak ill of others behind their backs, but he felt these two people were really vile, and he blurted it out. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t mind. She had already seen Qiu Yiming¡¯s true colors. As Bai Ye suspected, the fact that they had dated for so long and Qiu Yiming had taken care of her since they were childhood sweethearts, meant that even after their breakup, she didn¡¯t want to speak too ill of Qiu Yiming behind his back. She pretended not to have heard anything and said to Bai Ye, ¡°Continue, I just want to know if Bai Yi will retaliate against the Fang Family. Based on his character, what would he do? Tell me everything you know so I can prepare early.¡± Actually, she felt quite deflated. The massive Beishi Base now seemed to be shrouded in dark clouds. Remaining there was pointless. Not only was she restrained at every turn, but she also had to be cautious of revenge, which was truly unpleasant! Leaving would be easy for her, but Bai Ye was a Bai Family member, so escaping might not be so simple for him. She simply chose not to bring up such topics in front of Bai Ye, to save him from any distress. However, Bai Ye had guessed her thoughts and took the initiative to say, ¡°Xinxin, it¡¯s my fault you got dragged into this. Your breakup with Qiu Yiming was a non-issue. If it weren¡¯t for me, Bai Yi wouldn¡¯t have come looking for trouble with you.¡± After all, Bai Yi wasn¡¯t a mad dog that bit everyone he saw. The White Wolf Mercenary Corps had plenty of daily business to attend to. If not for Fang Yuxin being entangled with Bai Ye and their ambiguous relationship, why would Bai Yi go crazy and bother her? What¡¯s more, Bai Ye believed that Fang Yuxin¡¯s arrival in Beishi City had something to do with him. She had only been at Beishi Base for less than half a day and had already encountered so much trouble, which made him feel very guilty. The thought that Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t left because of him made him feel even worse. After some thought, he suddenly said, ¡°Xinxin, let¡¯s find a way to leave Beishi Base. Let¡¯s go somewhere else, develop our own base, how about that?¡± It was a spur-of-the-moment idea, and he hadn¡¯t thought it through, but once he said it, his eyes lit up, and he felt it was an excellent idea! Beishi Base was vast, with a large population. Although it had developed in various aspects, with inventions like the Communicator for short distance communications, and factories and farms established, it was already a mature base. However, precisely because it was so well-established, local powers were deeply intertwined, and they had no entry point! Don¡¯t be fooled by the Six Major Forces governing their own domains, even hinting at opposing each other. But as soon as another power tried to rise and share in their spoils, these people would definitely not agree! Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were strong, but no matter how strong, they were just two people. They couldn¡¯t kill all the members of the other forces, nor could they control everyone and directly make enemies of them. It was unwise. Instead of being restricted in every capacity at Beishi Base, it would be better to leave, choose a suitable, small base, and gradually develop and strengthen. Hua Country was vast, and communication between cities was disconnected, probably with no quick fix. Once they left Beishi Base, the people there would not be able to find them! With his and Fang Yuxin¡¯s abilities, given some time, they could establish their own base. By then, even if Bai Yi learned of their whereabouts, they would have developed to a point where he couldn¡¯t contend with them, and they would be much freer! Chapter 558 - 558 304 New Plans (Third Update)_2 ?Chapter 558: 304 New Plans (Third Update)_2 Chapter 558: 304 New Plans (Third Update)_2 Bai Ye thought more and more that this idea was good. Fang Yuxin had no ambitions, so she never thought about establishing her own base. She just wanted to find a relatively stable place to cultivate and hunt zombies while slowly waiting for the apocalypse to end and return to normal life. When Bai Ye brought up this idea, she was somewhat tempted. Indeed, if they could have their own base, why would they need to endure others¡¯ looks and struggle to survive in the cracks? However, after exchanging glances through the screen, they both didn¡¯t continue the topic. Even though there were no devices in the communicator, signals could ultimately be intercepted easily, and such important matters were inconvenient to discuss through the communicator. They both understood each other¡¯s intentions, so Bai Ye changed the subject to speak some ill of Bai Yi but soon felt it was inappropriate and simply said, ¡°Never mind, it¡¯s inconvenient to talk about these things through the communicator. I¡¯ll come to find you.¡± Fang Yuxin had just left his house, and he couldn¡¯t shamelessly ask her to come back again, so he planned to go to the Fang family and have a deeper conversation with them. However, just as he hung up and was about to leave, Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou appeared. Hearing the noise, Bai Ye instinctively looked back and was stunned at their appearance: ¡°How come you...¡± Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou had both taken the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit. Bai Zhengli took it first, and Shui Rou watched him worriedly by his side. After experiencing some pain, his body indeed expelled many impurities, and at the same time, his superpower became purer. Bai Zhengli was delighted, checked his own body to ensure there were no side effects, and then let Shui Rou take the remaining fruit. Now, both of them had expelled the impurities from their bodies, looking more spirited than before, their skin improved a lot, and they appeared several years younger. Seeing them suddenly become younger, Bai Ye was somewhat shocked. Just two hours not seeing them, and both had changed drastically¡ªthe effectiveness was a bit too immediate! Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou were also somewhat unable to accept it. They had looked in the mirror before and always felt that their current selves looked strange. So, when they saw Bai Ye stunned, they felt somewhat embarrassed. Bai Zhengli fiercely glared at him shouting with a feigned fierceness, ¡°Brat! What¡¯s with that look? What, you dislike your old man now?¡± Bai Ye was speechless. When had he ever said he disliked him? His dad was too sensitive! Tsk! Shui Rou looked at her silent son, quietly pulled Bai Zhengli aside, and looked around curiously, her face suddenly showing disappointment, ¡°Xinxin isn¡¯t here anymore? Has she gone back? Why didn¡¯t you ask her to stay?¡± She still hadn¡¯t seen enough of her daughter-in-law. Speaking of Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye¡¯s expression suddenly changed, he quietly set up a Barrier, and told them about the previous events. Finally, he brought up the matter of establishing a base, ¡°Dad, Mom, I think staying in the Beishi Base is really meaningless. Instead of staying here under others¡¯ control, why don¡¯t we leave and find another base, and live freely?¡± Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou hadn¡¯t thought of this before. They were both native Beishi people, living here all their lives. After the apocalypse, Bai Ye was trapped in Market, and they felt sure he would return, so they stayed here waiting, never thinking of leaving. However, both of them harbored some resentment towards the Bai Family¡¯s Direct Lineage. Bai Zhengli was a military man who had once wholeheartedly wanted Bai Ye to enter the Military Department, believing that Bai Ye¡¯s talents would surely make him successful. But because Bai Ye was too outstanding, he attracted the jealousy of the Direct Lineage, and Bai Yi and those around him always caused trouble for Bai Ye. As an elder, Bai Zhengli felt it wasn¡¯t right to interfere in the youngsters¡¯ quarrels, but he had always harbored a grudge. Later, when Bai Ye gave up on joining the Military Department and instead became a mercenary, Bai Zhengli was so angry he almost clashed with the Direct Lineage! But being a side branch, how could he compete with the people from the Direct Lineage? Later, for the sake of his family¡¯s peaceful life, he could only forcibly suppress his anger. Watching the years pass by calmly. Bai Ye working freely as a mercenary, even raising a son, and unwilling to marry a wife, lessened the concern of the Direct Lineage. Bai Zhengli naively thought that the Direct Lineage was truly reassured and would no longer bother them, but who knew that Bai Yi was so malicious, actually tricking Bai Ye to go to Market and setting up a death trap with Qiu Yiming! Bai Ye had originally not wanted to tell Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou about this, to avoid worrying them. But now that he had decided to leave the Beishi Base with his family, to make Bai Zhengli resolute in breaking ties with the Direct Lineage, he had to administer a strong dose! Learning about this, and knowing that Bai Yi even warned Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin not to be together, how could they bear it? Without waiting for Bai Zhengli to speak, the usually gentle Shui Rou completely changed her expression, directly saying, ¡°Since it¡¯s like this, why should we stay in this broken place? Are we going to let Xiao Ye continue being calculated against by them, literally risking his life for them?¡± After speaking, she glared at Bai Zhengli, clearly meaning, ¡°If you dare not agree, I will never speak to you again.¡± Bai Zhengli felt incredibly wronged, ¡°I never said I disagreed!¡± He complained, then straightened his expression, speaking seriously, ¡°You¡¯re not a child anymore. Since you have decided, just do it! Your mom and I only have you as a son, we will definitely support you!¡± Bai Ye sighed in relief and immediately said, ¡°Then I¡¯m going to tell Xinxin now!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast a recommended vote and monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 559 - 559 305 Chen Si needs help ?Chapter 559: 305 Chen Si needs help! Chapter 559: 305 Chen Si needs help! Bai Ye and his family discussed it, and they all thought that leaving Beishi Base to establish their own was a good idea. Therefore, Bai Ye planned to visit the Fang Family and personally discuss it with Fang Yuxin and the others. Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou didn¡¯t go with him, as that would make the target too big and easily raise suspicions. But Bai Zhengli wasn¡¯t idle either. Now that he had an idea, he began making preparations. He had to carefully determine which of his subordinates could be trusted and could be taken with him. When Bai Ye arrived, the Fang Family¡¯s place was lively. Qian Lang and his group had just toured around Beishi Base and had gathered some information; now, they were sitting in the living room sharing their views with Fang Yuxin and the others. Actually, Qian Lang¡¯s main reason for the outing was for Qian Sen. Qian Sen, a botanist, had a profound understanding of many plants. Even though he was not a superpower user, he was a precious research talent. Previously, they were in a small base without even a research institute, so he wasn¡¯t valued, and his ability to contribute meaningfully was stifled. Having come to Beishi Base this time, Qian Sen was very eager to do something for the survivors. Plants inherently contain many beneficial elements for the human body, and currently, many plants had mutated; the effects of these mutant plants needed to be researched. Qian Sen believed that these mutant plants had the ability to resist the invasion of the Zombie Virus. If researched and analyzed, it might be possible to find components to counteract the Zombie Virus and create an Antidote. Therefore, he declined Fang Yuxin¡¯s invitation and instead planned to join a research institute to bring more value to his work. However, this investigation left him disheartened. Beishi Base was controlled by the Six Major Forces, and each had its own research institutes¡ªacting independently with their own ambitions. He simply wanted to contribute to humanity, not become a pawn in others¡¯ battles for power and profit! So, after returning to the Fang Family, he couldn¡¯t help but shake his head and sigh, his face etched with disappointment. For a while, he didn¡¯t even know what he should do next. The others didn¡¯t have so many concerns and were just thinking about surviving; their view of the relatively well-organized Beishi Base was still rather positive. It was only Qian Lang, who, because of Qian Sen, also felt downhearted. When they had mostly finished speaking, Fang Yuxin asked, ¡°Have you considered leaving Beishi Base to develop in another one?¡± Her question stunned everyone. They had just arrived at Beishi Base; why would they leave again? Qian Sen, the smartest of them all, immediately asked, ¡°Miss Fang, has something happened? Just lay it out straight.¡± He remembered the malicious tone of Qu Qianlin during the meal and worried that after they left, the Qu Family might have done something despicable. He admired Fang Yuxin and always treated her as he would his own granddaughter. Naturally, he had no good feelings toward a person like Qu Qianlin. Because of Qu Qianlin, his favor for the Qu Family had also diminished. At this moment, he was even unaware of the grudge between the Qu Family and Qu Qianhe. While the others were still puzzled about the sudden need to leave, after hearing Qian Sen¡¯s question, they, too, became worried. They were now on the same boat as the Fang Family; if something happened to the Fangs, they would certainly suffer the consequences! With their current strength, following Fang Yuxin, they could live quite well, but if they left to fend for themselves, not to mention whether the Blood Oath would backfire, they couldn¡¯t hope to have good days ahead! Liu Zhenglin, Zhao Yan, and Qian Lang had just awakened their superpowers recently, which were still basic, and they couldn¡¯t kill many zombies. Given the current situation at Beishi Base, they had no way to join any large Mercenary Corps but could only team up with others to form a Corpse Hunting Team for missions. Even so, other Corpse Hunters might not think much of them and agree to team up! So whether it was out of affection for Fang Yuxin or for their own sake, they all became concerned. Zhou Han was more carefree, and since he was strong in his own right, he wasn¡¯t worried about finding a place even if he left Fang Yuxin. He was actually curious about what Fang Yuxin had to say. He didn¡¯t have much of an opinion about a safe base himself, as he used to just get by outside. But since arriving at Beishi Base, he felt the relatively calm atmosphere of life here and suddenly thought that staying in such a safe base wouldn¡¯t be too bad. Chapter 560 - 560 305 Chen Si needs help _2 ?Chapter 560: 305 Chen Si needs help! _2 Chapter 560: 305 Chen Si needs help! _2 Fang Yuxin saw that they all cared a lot, so she briefly mentioned how Qin Xiran had run to warn her, and Zhao Qiankun and Bai Yi had also warned her. However, she didn¡¯t mention her suspicions about Zhao Qiankun, since that involved her own secrets, and she wasn¡¯t able to fully trust these people yet. Besides, Qian Sen was a scientific researcher, and she was counting on him to help establish a new base. What if he became interested in the future technology in Zhao Qiankun¡¯s hands? After she finished, seeing everyone¡¯s faces turn grim, she shared her and Bai Ye¡¯s thoughts: ¡°Beishi Base is now controlled by the Six Major Forces, with each force governing on its own, and they have already developed to a significant scale. It¡¯s not easy for other forces to get ahead. For me, this place has become a land of disputes and it¡¯s not suitable to stay for long, so I plan to leave here and find another place to establish my own safe base. What do you all think?¡± As soon as she asked, everyone fell into deep thought. They had travelled a long way to get to Beishi Base, and this place was relatively more stable and grand compared to other bases they had been to before, with a better system in place. It could be said that, living here, as long as one wasn¡¯t lazy or unfortunate, it was definitely possible to maintain basic living standards without fearing the breach of the base by the zombie group. If they were to leave and go somewhere else, not to mention having to break through another encirclement of zombies after going out, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to find a suitable place to establish a safe base. With just their small group, was it really feasible? While the others were still hesitant, Zhao Yan straightforwardly said, ¡°Deputy Captain Fang, I follow your lead! Wherever you say we go, I¡¯ll go! I also think Beishi Base isn¡¯t a good place. It¡¯s better to find a good location and establish our own safe base, which will definitely provide more freedom than staying here!¡± Thinking that Fang Yuxin was already being targeted by so many, staying in Beishi Base was definitely not safe, so she decided to leave without hesitation. Her daughter had already died, she could not let anything happen to Fang Yuxin again! The others were initially still hesitant. After all, they had only just found a stable place, and leaving would mean living in fear again. They were really not keen on doing so. But Zhao Yan was right, if they could have their own base, it would definitely be far more liberating than staying at Beishi Base! The problem was, the risks were also greater. After a moment of hesitation, the others also started nodding, willing to follow Fang Yuxin wherever she went. Fang Yuxin knew they were all ordinary people and understood their concerns, so she didn¡¯t take their hesitation to heart. Seeing that no one objected, she exchanged a glance with her family, smiled slightly, and that settled the matter. They had just finished speaking when Bai Ye came over. Since Fang Yuxin had already discussed with the others, Bai Ye didn¡¯t say much, merely indicating that his parents would join as well. However, they were ultimately part of the Bai Family¡¯s side branch, belonging to the White Wolf Mercenary Corps, so it wasn¡¯t easy for them to leave; they needed to make some preparations. Qian Lang and others were still somewhat nervous, but knowing that others were joining them eased their minds. They had all seen Bai Ye¡¯s capabilities, and although they hadn¡¯t met his subordinates, they knew they must be no ordinary people and were likely stronger than them. With everyone traveling together, they were bound to be much safer! While they were talking, Bai Ye¡¯s communicator suddenly rang. He picked it up and saw that it was Chen Si contacting him! Bai Ye¡¯s face changed instantly, and he had a bad premonition. Chen Si had gone out on a mission with others today and should not have been back yet. Unless something bad had happened, he wouldn¡¯t be contacting him! He quickly answered, not minding the presence of others, and directly asked, ¡°Chen Si? What¡¯s going on? Did something happen?¡± On the other side, Chen Si started a video, and the scene was wildly shaking. His face wasn¡¯t in the frame, but what the frame captured was a chaotic battle scene. Meanwhile, from the speaker, the angry roars of mutant beasts could be heard. Hearing that sound, every member of the Fang Family¡¯s face turned pale! Those were Angela and Red Mastiff¡¯s voices! Just from the sound, they could feel how furious they were! Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe looked particularly distressed. Angela was Fang Yuxin¡¯s spiritual pet; she had raised it with great care since it was small, and they had already developed deep affection. For her, Angela was like family. In her previous life, Angela had gone missing, and she had been heartbroken for a long time, only to find out later that Angela had been killed by Fang Mengyao. Therefore, in this life, she and Angela were almost inseparable, and she doted on it even more. Although Red Mastiff joined later and hadn¡¯t been with them as long as Angela, Qu Qianhe had once raised a Red Mastiff that later died to save her. So after she subdued Red Mastiff, Qu Qianhe couldn¡¯t help but transfer her affection and grew exceedingly fond of Red Mastiff. Now, as they heard Angela and Red Mastiff¡¯s angry roars, their hearts clenched instantly, almost wishing they could pass through the screen to be by Angela and Red Mastiff¡¯s side. Seeing their troubled expressions, Bai Ye knew they were feeling awful and urged, ¡°Chen Si! Where are you now? I¡¯m coming to find you!¡± This time, Chen Si¡¯s voice finally came through the speaker. He quickly reported a location, then said, ¡°We¡¯ve been ambushed! Someone intentionally set up an attack here, trying to steal Angela and...¡± He had just gotten to that point when the call suddenly cut off, leaving the situation unknown. Everyone¡¯s face looked grim. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian by recommending it or giving a monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 561 - 561 306 Poison Wolf ?Chapter 561: 306 Poison Wolf Chapter 561: 306 Poison Wolf As communication was cut off, everyone couldn¡¯t help but worry about Chen Si and the others. Fang Yuxin bluntly said, ¡°Let¡¯s set off immediately, right now! I want to see who dares to mess with my family¡¯s Angela and Hong Lie!¡± Qu Qianhe was equally unable to contain her anger, ¡°I¡¯m coming with you.¡± But Fang Yuyang suddenly said, ¡°Mom, you can¡¯t go, you and Dad should stay at home. Xinxin, Bai Ye, and I will go over to see what¡¯s actually happening.¡± Qu Qianhe was dissatisfied, ¡°But...¡± Her rage was burning, how could she possibly stay at home! Fang Jintang gently pinched her hand, softly persuading her, ¡°Yuyang is right, you should stay home with me.¡± Seeing Qu Qianhe about to protest, he calmed her by squeezing her hand again, and then continued, ¡°Since we¡¯ve decided to leave, we can¡¯t expose more of our strength and attract the attention of other forces. Yuyang¡¯s power has already been revealed, so it¡¯s no big deal if he goes. But you and I have hardly shown our true abilities. You¡¯re angry now, and if you lose control and reveal your true power, it would be counterproductive in the end.¡± Initially very unhappy, Qu Qianhe gradually calmed down after hearing this. Fang Jintang was right; since they had decided to leave, they shouldn¡¯t alert other forces. Otherwise, leaving Beishi Base might become difficult later. Moreover, it was clear that someone was after Angela and Hong Lie. With her impulsive nature, if she went, she would likely act recklessly and expose her true strength. But thinking of Angela and Hong Lie¡¯s angry roars earlier, her heart felt tight, and she just couldn¡¯t sit still. Fang Jintang continued holding her hand and gave a signal to Fang Yuxin and the others, urging them to leave quickly. When Fang Yuxin and the two others left, Zhou Han volunteered to follow. Not only was he a fight fanatic, but he was also a combat maniac; he couldn¡¯t resist joining the fray when a fight was brewing. Bai Ye, seeing Zhou Han¡¯s strength, decided to bring him along. Once they arrived, he could afford to show a little of his true power. After all, whether or not Zhou Han did anything, Bai Yi wouldn¡¯t trust him and would only be more wary. However, Fang Yuxin was not suitable for action. Her public identity was that of a second-level Wood Element superpower user, and the attack ability of Wood Element superpower users was relatively weak. If she took action, other forces would surely catch wind of it. Fang Yuxin was already attracting quite a bit of attention, particularly from Zhao Qiankun, which made Bai Ye very uneasy. If she showed combat abilities stronger than those of an average second-level Wood Element superpower user, even more people would start to take notice. This was not the outcome Bai Ye wanted! Having Zhou Han with them would be perfect, as they could use him to divert some attention away at that time. Bai Qianqian initially wanted to follow as well, but Bai Ye did not agree. Although the child was young, his strength was not to be underestimated due to his cultivation¡ªeven many adult superpower users might not be a match for him. But his age made him an easy target. Bai Ye already had enough worries, how could he allow Bai Qianqian to get involved unnecessarily? Bai Qianqian wasn¡¯t happy, but with Fang Yuxin there, a glance from Yuxin made him obediently comply. The four of them quickly descended the stairs, got into the car, and sped towards the base gates. Beishi Base had a total of six gates, each controlled by one of the Six Major Forces. The gate Bai Ye and the others had used previously when entering Beishi Base was under the control of the Qiankun Mercenary Group, but this time they took the one controlled by the Bai Family. Nobody stopped them when they left, but the gatekeepers watched them intently. As soon as they were gone, the gatekeepers quickly activated their communicators to report up the chain. Because it involved Bai Ye, the message was passed to Bai Yi in no time. His expression turned grim as soon as he saw the message on the communicator. The people who had ambushed Chen Si and the others had been arranged by Bai Yi himself. Of course, he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to have the White Wolf Mercenary Corps act directly; instead, he assigned it to a secret force under his command. This was the notorious Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps of Beishi Base. The corps was small, but its members were all ruthless. Ostensibly completely independent, it had long been loyal to the Bai Family and was now Bai Yi¡¯s force. Chapter 562 - 562 306 Poison Wolf_2 ?Chapter 562: 306 Poison Wolf_2 Chapter 562: 306 Poison Wolf_2 The Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps had been formed by desperados even before the apocalypse, primarily taking on assassination or kidnapping missions, and they would do anything for money. After the apocalypse, the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps did not disappear; rather, their strength increased due to the awakening of superpowers. Their reputation was so notorious that after they aligned with the Bai Family, the family dared not let others know. Thus, only a few from the direct lineage of the Bai Family and the captain of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps knew about this arrangement. The Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps continued to take on assassination jobs as before. Even in the post-apocalyptic world, many matters within the safe bases needed to be handled inconspicuously to eliminate opposition, necessitating ruthless groups like the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps. All the test subjects in Bai Yi¡¯s special research institute were acquired through the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps. Dr. Sun had previously been researching mutant beasts, but the ones they captured were too weak, much to his dissatisfaction. Somehow, he learned about Angela and Hong Lie and discovered they belonged to the obscure Fang Family, which sparked his interest. Before the apocalypse, although the Fang Family was affluent, now it had dwindled to about a dozen people, all first or second-level superpower users, whom neither Bai Yi nor Dr. Sun took seriously. Therefore, Bai Yi approached the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps to handle the matter. Previously, the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps had been unable to find the right opportunity. After analysis, the captain found that Bai Ye¡¯s subordinates were closely associated with the Fang Family and intentionally allowed some of Bai Family¡¯s members to get injured during missions. Getting the hint, Bai Yi deliberately assigned a challenging mission. Chen Si and his team could not complete it on their own and surely would seek help from the Fang family. As anticipated, not only did Chen Qiao and others assist, but the mutant beasts Angela and Hong Lie also participated! For the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, this was a golden opportunity! They ambush the team nearby and when Chen Si and his group were exhausted after completing the tasks, the mercenaries attacked mercilessly! Initially, the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps thought dealing with just two second-level mutant beasts would be easy. However, they had not expected Angela and Hong Lie to be so formidable, and Chen Si and his team displayed unexpected strength, catching them off guard! Despite the difficulties, the mercenaries, being skilled fighters, weren¡¯t worried. Even when Chen Si called for help, they didn¡¯t intervene, hoping someone else would foolishly enter the fray. After receiving a report from his subordinates, Bai Yi took out another communicator and contacted Poison Wolf, the captain of the mercenary team, asking, ¡°How¡¯s the situation on your end? How much longer will it take to finish?¡± Poison Wolf was surprised; Bai Yi had never contacted him during a mission before. Could something have gone wrong? He wasn¡¯t stupid and quickly figured out what was happening and said, ¡°A kid used his communicator to call for help earlier. I didn¡¯t stop him. Has someone come?¡± Bai Yi nodded and instructed, ¡°Yu Yang has gone there. He¡¯s not easy to handle, and with him are Bai Ye and his sister, Yuxin. Bai Ye is a second-level Gold Element Superpower User, Yuxin is a second-level Wood Element Superpower User, and there¡¯s also a person named Zhou Han, a second-level Enhancement System Superpower User. I¡¯m not sure about the others, but you need to be particularly cautious about Bai Ye.¡± Poison Wolf chuckled sinisterly upon hearing this, ¡°Bai Ye? That kid you always wanted to eliminate? Don¡¯t worry, now that he has come, I¡¯ll definitely solve this problem for you!¡± Seeing his reckless demeanor, Bai Yi couldn¡¯t help but warn, ¡°I said! Be cautious with Bai Ye! He¡¯s not easy to deal with! I won¡¯t care if you shoot yourself in the foot, but if you mess up and implicate me or the Bai Family, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless!¡± Poison Wolf frowned slightly, his gaze turning cold; he grinned and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I always know my limits and what to do.¡± After saying that, he ended the call, his expression gradually turning fierce. His men, worried, observed him and asked, ¡°Boss, are you alright?¡± Poison Wolf waved his hand dismissively and glared fiercely at the chaotic battlefield nearby, signaling his men to be cautious¡ªsomeone was coming. Indeed, soon after, a black SUV approached. Poison Wolf immediately recognized it as the Fang family¡¯s vehicle, smirking smugly. Bai Yi had told him to be careful, and he would be. However, he was indeed eager to meet Bai Ye, a near-mythical figure in the mercenary world. As for the others, he did not take them seriously. Even Yu Yang, who had recently gained fame in the Beishi Base, was disregarded by Poison Wolf. Formerly a businessman, now a ¡°superpower user,¡± Yu Yang still carried an air of refinement, like a young master, wholly unlike those who lived life on the edge like them. Poison Wolf had never considered Yu Yang a threat, nor did he believe Yu Yang could ever be his rival. As for the second-level Wood Element Superpower User, Yuxin, and the second-level Enhancement System Superpower User, Zhou Han, he regarded them even less. It wasn¡¯t that he underestimated women; he had encountered many ruthless women in his line of work. But Yuxin was different; she was Yu Yang¡¯s sister. If the brother was like that, how could the sister be any more formidable? Although Poison Wolf had never met Yuxin, he perceived her as a sheltered young lady who probably had never even killed a zombie¡ªnothing to fear. Regrettably, he would soon regret that assumption. (To be continued. If you enjoy this series, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 563 - 563 307 Seeking your own death ?Chapter 563: 307 Seeking your own death! Chapter 563: 307 Seeking your own death! The other members of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps also saw the SUV approaching from afar, their eyes instantaneously flashing with greed and ferocity, much like their name¡ªPoison Wolf. Chen Si and the others were already at a disadvantage and had been struggling to hold on. Seeing that help had arrived, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Chen Si guiltily glanced at Chen Qiao and the others, knowing that if it weren¡¯t for the task they were helping with, Chen Qiao and the others would never have encountered this situation. Compared to their own team, Chen Qiao and the others were much more disheveled. Although their superpower levels were not weak, they were after all ordinary citizens by origin and did not compare to these specially trained mercenaries. Facing low-intelligence zombies was one thing, but taking on the formidable Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps was another. Chen Qiao and his group were hardly a match. Chen Si could clearly see that the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps was targeting Angela and Hong Lie. Logically, people were definitely more valuable than mutant beasts, and there was no need to get themselves involved for the sake of two mutant beasts. But Angela and Hong Lie belonged to the Fang Family, and Angela was even Fang Yuxin¡¯s Spiritual Pet. Not to mention the relationship between Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, but even on the basis of the many times Fang Yuxin had helped them, they couldn¡¯t just stand by and let the Poison Wolf¡¯s people capture Angela and Hong Lie. Moreover, Fang Yuxin was already at Beishi Base with Bai Ye, who was now her boyfriend. If she found out that because of their involvement, Angela and Hong Lie were captured, it would surely create a rift between her and Bai Ye! Although Chen Si did not dare claim to fully understand Fang Yuxin¡¯s strength, he knew she was absolutely not a person to offend. He simply couldn¡¯t afford the wrath of Fang Yuxin if Angela and Hong Lie were captured! Fortunately, the people from Poison Wolf seemed very confident in their own abilities, and had not stopped him from calling for help. It was as if heaven was helping him! As the SUV drew closer, the members of Poison Wolf didn¡¯t leave, instead revealing even greedier expressions. Chen Si silently cursed in his mind, ¡°Idiots.¡± Poison Wolf did not directly attack the SUV belonging to Fang Yuxin and her group. Bai Ye liked the look of the vehicle and wanted to take it after dealing with the people, so he did not want to damage it. Soon, the vehicle stopped ten meters away from the battlefield. The car doors opened and Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin, Fang Yuyang, and Zhou Han rushed out. The Poison Wolf¡¯s people, seeing them, smiled even more smugly, some of them eyeing Fang Yuxin with extremely brazen looks¡ªas if they wanted to strip her bare right then and there! These people were desperados leading lives on the edge, constantly brushing with death. To relieve their stress, they often indulged violently with women after completing missions, a practice that had become routine. These people lacked any sense of decency; if they fancied someone, they would simply take them, and after having their fun, they¡¯d kill them and dispose of the bodies so cleanly that no one would ever find out. Having done this so often, they showed no restraint whatsoever. They had just been through a fight, and in their highly excited state, upon seeing the exceedingly pretty Fang Yuxin, they made no effort to hide their leering gazes. If it weren¡¯t for remembering they had tasks to handle, they probably would have rushed over and stripped Fang Yuxin naked for summary execution right there! Bai Ye, who not only liked Fang Yuxin but was now officially her boyfriend, and Fang Yuyang, who always cherished her as his dear sister, felt a surge of murderous intent in their hearts upon seeing the lascivious stares from the Poison Wolf¡¯s people, and they couldn¡¯t control it. Although Zhou Han was not close to Fang Yuxin and lacked sophistication in social etiquette, he was straightforward and held a hero¡¯s dream in his heart, so he naturally despised these men from Poison Wolf. Fang Yuxin slightly narrowed her eyes as she looked at the men from Poison Wolf, her smile turning somewhat cold. Just then, a cat¡¯s meow suddenly sounded. Angela, sensing her master¡¯s presence, tried to come to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side, but it was surrounded so tightly by Poison Wolf¡¯s men that it couldn¡¯t break through. Following that meow, an angry roar from Angela echoed. Hearing this sound, Fang Yuxin instinctively looked towards Angela. Seeing it firmly surrounded and injured, her expression immediately turned extremely grim. Her features seemed to be covered with a layer of frost, intense and chilling. Chapter 564 - 564 307 Seeking your own death_2 ?Chapter 564: 307 Seeking your own death!_2 Chapter 564: 307 Seeking your own death!_2 Bai Ye glanced at her, disregarding the previous warnings in the car, and said directly to Fang Yuxin, ¡°I¡¯ve destroyed their communicators. You don¡¯t need to hide your strength! I will not spare anyone here!¡± Fang Yuxin nodded. Bai Ye possessed the Gold and Thunder Dual Elements, making the destruction of communicators all too easy! Indeed, as soon as Bai Ye¡¯s words fell, he suddenly unleashed a powerful aura. Immediately after, the communicators on the wrists of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps began to emit blue smoke and a strong, pungent smell of burning, frying the devices from inside out! Poison Wolf had always been quite interested in Bai Ye, who was previously a mercenary like himself. However, Bai Ye was different in that he chose his missions with principles, only killing those who deserved it and never harming the innocent. In addition, Bai Ye¡¯s formidable strength and his good reputation in the underworld had made Poison Wolf quite concerned, or rather, filled with jealousy and the desire to compete. He was involved in filthy dealings, a stark contrast to Bai Ye. Each time he heard news about Bai Ye, he could not help but want to personally destroy this man and watch him fall. Now that they had finally met, Poison Wolf was eager to compete with Bai Ye and see just how capable he was. However, what he didn¡¯t expect was that, before he could make a move, Bai Ye had already destroyed their communicators! What kind of tactic was this? Poison Wolf was initially taken aback, then widened his eyes and demanded in a deep voice, ¡°You are not just a Gold Element Superpower User! You¡¯ve hidden your strength!¡± He had just sensed the power of the Thunder Element! Could it be that Bai Ye was a Gold and Thunder Dual Elements Superpower User? Poison Wolf instantly became wary, and his gaze towards Bai Ye changed from curiosity and eagerness to intense wariness! Both the Gold and Thunder Elements were known for their strong attack power. If Bai Ye had been merely a Second-level Gold Element Superpower User, Poison Wolf would have been confident in handling him, but if Bai Ye was also a Second-level Thunder Element Superpower User, then, combined, Bai Ye¡¯s strength could contend with a Third-level Superpower User! At this moment, Poison Wolf was at the peak of Level 2 and had also awakened as a Gold Element Superpower User. He had originally thought he could definitely suppress Bai Ye. However, he now realized he had miscalculated! If he had known earlier that Bai Ye possessed the Gold and Thunder Dual Elements, he would not have chosen to confront him here! Unfortunately, there¡¯s no antidote for regret. Poison Wolf felt a chill in his heart and gestured to his subordinates, signaling them to be cautious. His subordinates weren¡¯t fools; their communicators had all been destroyed, meaning they couldn¡¯t call for help. Additionally, seeing Poison Wolf¡¯s somber expression, they realized their adversaries were formidable! They looked towards Bai Ye, then shifted their gaze to Fang Yuxin. She had come with Bai Ye and was merely a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User. If they captured her, they couldn¡¯t believe that Bai Ye wouldn¡¯t surrender! As the saying goes, even heroes could hardly resist a damsel in distress; Bai Ye evidently had an extraordinary relationship with Fang Yuxin! These men were either cunning or despicably shameless; in the blink of an eye, they had formulated a strategy. Seeing Bai Ye blocking Poison Wolf¡¯s tactic, someone immediately took action to surround him, planning to assist Poison Wolf in trapping Bai Ye, allowing the others to tackle Fang Yuxin. Their movements were swift, and almost as soon as they made up their minds, four individuals directly surrounded Fang Yuxin. Additionally, ten others surrounded Fang Yuyang, with six of them, and the remaining four surrounded Zhou Han. Poison Wolf had brought a considerable number of people, all of whom were Second-level Superpower Users, who hadn¡¯t engaged in the fight earlier and were merely observing from the sidelines. Now they faced Bai Ye and his group, the remaining continuing to fend off their own opponents. They were all aware of Bai Ye¡¯s capabilities, so their moves and skills became even more ruthless, intent on swiftly ending the battle. The four individuals attacking Fang Yuxin were all speed superpower users, aiming to use their speed advantage to control Fang Yuxin first and thus encourage the others to submit, reducing their own casualties. As Second-level speed superpower users, their movements were exceedingly fast, and they were almost immediately in front of Fang Yuxin. Yet, just as they reached out to grab her, they suddenly grabbed nothing but air! Fang Yuxin, who had been standing there just a moment before, suddenly burst apart, transforming into numerous green needles flying towards them. These speed superpower users reacted extremely quickly, dodging the moment they realized something was amiss. However, in their rush to capture Fang Yuxin, they had been very close to her. The barrage of exploding needles was dense and numerous, and even though they dodged, how could they completely avoid them? No one had expected that Fang Yuxin, a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, could possess such a tactic! As the green needles entered their bodies, they wreaked havoc in their meridians, even rushing into their heart chambers! Superpower users, unlike cultivators, didn¡¯t store their energy in the Dantian in the lower abdomen but in an energy core within the heart chamber. However, these needles, transformed from the pure Wood Element True Essence, should have been full of rich life-force, a great replenishing force. Yet, under Fang Yuxin¡¯s control, they were filled with attack power, devastating their heart chambers directly. The four speed superpower users immediately felt their superpowers become chaotic and uncontrollable! The faces of the four changed drastically, filled with terror as they looked towards the reappeared Fang Yuxin.(To be continued. If you like this piece, please visit qidian.com to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 565 - 565 308 Fear ?Chapter 565: 308 Fear! Chapter 565: 308 Fear! Fang Yuxin¡¯s speed was too fast, and the four speed superpower users couldn¡¯t see her movements clearly. When she disappeared just now, she left behind an illusion formed by True Yuan, which at first glance looked just like a real person, so the four of them failed to sense any abnormality. When they realized something was wrong, they had already been struck by thin needles. At this moment, Fang Yuxin suddenly reappeared. Having learned from the previous encounter, these men were unable to discern whether she was real or an illusion and were extremely wary of her. Fang Yuxin¡¯s True Yuan rampaged within their bodies, wreaking havoc and causing their meridians to ache, rendering them unable to use their superpowers for a short time and nearly turning them into invalids! They all awakened their superpowers by chance after the apocalypse and had always been quite strong. They had grown accustomed to the existence of their superpowers and enjoyed various benefits they brought. Now, suddenly stripped of their superpowers, it was more painful than death itself! Although the four men were desperados, they were not truly fearless. On the contrary, the reason they could survive such a dangerous life on the edge was due to their own strength and keen sense of danger, which allowed them to narrowly escape death many times. Before, they were oblivious to the situation and had become somewhat arrogant and complacent due to numerous successful missions, which had made them careless. Now, upon realizing that Fang Yuxin was not a delicate flower but rather a man-eating flower, they immediately thought of retreating. Enduring the discomfort in their bodies, they quickly retreated. Unfortunately, since they couldn¡¯t use their superpowers at this moment, their speed naturally slowed down and couldn¡¯t compare to normal times. They had barely run a few steps when Fang Yuxin had already caught up to them with a flash. Having witnessed her true strength, she couldn¡¯t let them live and escape! Since they had the courage to come and rob, they should be prepared to be killed! Fang Yuxin showed no mercy. Holding a knife in her hand, she transformed into a fleeting shadow. After catching up with the four speed superpower users, she swiftly made her move to kill! The sharp blade easily sliced through their vulnerable necks, hot blood splattered out, yet failed to leave even a single mark on Fang Yuxin. Her body agilely dodged the splashes of blood, killing all four men. These four men were originally not weak, and their extreme speed made them very suitable for ambushes and assassination. Because they moved so quickly, their targets often didn¡¯t even realize what was happening before they were killed. Countless people had died at their hands. Unfortunately, this time they encountered Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin was faster than them and was a cultivator. She made the first move, using True Yuan to form thin needles that sealed the men¡¯s superpowers, leaving them no chance to use their remaining techniques before becoming souls under her knife. At the same time, Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang also showed no mercy. Although neither had yet achieved Foundation Establishment, one had Gold and Thunder Dual Elements and the other Single Wind Element, both possessing extremely powerful Spirit Roots. Together with formidable cultivation methods they had acquired, their strength was incomparable to ordinary superpower users. Even Fang Yuxin had to be cautious when facing them! Poison Wolf was a Second-level Peak Gold Element superpower user with vicious and endless tricks. His strength was not to be underestimated. He had mastered a skill called ¡°Thousand Arrows Piercing Heart,¡± which used the Gold Element Superpower to condense gold into a sky-filling arrow rain or countless flying knives to attack opponents. Because there were too many flying knives, most people simply couldn¡¯t dodge them, making his move almost invincible. However, this time he encountered Bai Ye, who was a Gold and Thunder Dual Elements superpower user equivalent to Superpower Level 3, completely countering Poison Wolf and preventing him from even using his skill! Poison Wolf¡¯s other six subordinates were also in a dire situation; they were merely second-level superpower users, no match for Bai Ye. Bai Ye emitted sharp auras that were terrifying. Although they seemed invisible, when one unlucky person didn¡¯t dodge in time and had half of his shoulder sliced off by a sharp aura, nobody else dared to underestimate those seemingly invisible sharp auras. Fang Yuyang unhesitatingly waved his hand, unleashing large swaths of Wind Blades, injuring half of the six people surrounding him with just one encounter! Poison Wolf¡¯s men had never fought with Fang Yuyang before, and Fang Yuyang had never revealed his true strength since entering the Beishi Base. If not for Qin Xiran¡¯s entanglement and Qu Qianlin¡¯s retaliation, he wouldn¡¯t have made his prowess known to everyone. Chapter 566 - 566 308 Fears_2 ?Chapter 566: 308 Fears!_2 Chapter 566: 308 Fears!_2 His aura seemed too clean, so clean that it didn¡¯t at all resemble that of a high-level superpower user who had killed zombies in droves. As a result, both Poison Wolf and his subordinates had been completely taken in by appearances, mistaking Fang Yu Yang for an ordinary second-level Wind Element Superpower User. It wasn¡¯t until the fight began that they realized just how terribly wrong they were! This man was no gentleman; he was a merciless demon who killed without batting an eye! At that moment, Wind Blades circled around Fang Yu Yang. A cold smirk hung on his lips; his formerly clean aura vanished in an instant, replaced by a bloodthirsty intent that made him resemble a devil straight out of hell. Gradually, the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps grew anxious. Poison Wolf was being severely suppressed by Bai Ye, and his subordinates were injured one after another. Seeing that they were no match for their opponents, the idea of retreat sprouted in their minds. They didn¡¯t want to die! Poison Wolf glanced at his pale-faced subordinates, keenly aware of what they were thinking. While struggling to hold his own, he surreptitiously glanced toward the place where they had hidden their vehicles. To avoid alerting Chen Si and the others, they had parked the vehicles far away and walked over. Now, wanting to flee had become a dilemma¡ªhow could he escape to where the vehicles were hidden and get away from here? His gaze quickly shifted to Fang Yuxin, a look of regret mixed with strong wariness in his eyes. He and his underlings had thought much the same, deeming the girl pretty and probably incapable of fighting. Who would have known that before his four skilled men had a chance to act, they had already been killed by her! Poison Wolf looked at the corpses on the ground, his mood growing heavier. This woman, who looked so clean as though she¡¯d never killed a zombie, was too ruthless in her actions! He could hardly believe he had misjudged them so badly! Both Fang Yuxin and Fang Yu Yang were more ferocious than the other; they were no mere miss and young master! Bai Ye saw him distracted and thrust his Longsword viciously towards Poison Wolf. Sharply alert despite being briefly distracted, Poison Wolf had been keeping an eye on Bai Ye. Seeing the Longsword come at him, his heart was filled with alarm. As he retreated, he astonishingly grabbed a person beside him and shoved them toward Bai Ye¡¯s Longsword, using them as a human shield. With a ¡°pu¡± sound, the Longsword pierced through the man¡¯s chest. As he died, his face bore an expression of disbelief and extreme fear. His eyes were wide open, obviously dying without closing them. The others, witnessing this man¡¯s tragic death, looked at Poison Wolf and Bai Ye with even more wariness. At the same time, they instinctively put distance between themselves and Poison Wolf. These men were all unscrupulous desperados with shallow brotherly bonds, and in the moment of truth, using their comrades as cannon fodder was something almost all present had done before! However, pulling someone to cover one¡¯s escape was different from being used for the same purpose. They could ruthlessly harm others without reservation, but they didn¡¯t wish to end up with the same fate one day! They all recognized that Bai Ye was clearly stronger than Poison Wolf, who was no match for him. Staying close to Poison Wolf meant that sooner or later, they¡¯d be used as human shields! Of course, they needed to be cautious not only of Poison Wolf but of their other companions as well. So, in the blink of an eye, they tacitly put distance between themselves and those around them. At the same time, their eyes flickered, evidently scheming something! Bai Ye watched all this and didn¡¯t care in the least. Whatever their plans were, none of them would leave alive today! Meanwhile, after Fang Yuxin had dealt with the four speed superpower users, she went to the aid of Angela and Hong Lie. The people attacking the two Mutant Beasts were numerous, so despite the beasts¡¯ strength, both had suffered injuries. These people had the same thinking as Poison Wolf, treating Fang Yuxin as an easy target. Therefore, when Fang Yuxin and her group were surrounded, these people didn¡¯t bother to help but focused on their own opponents. Later, when Fang Yuxin terrifyingly swiftly defeated the four speed superpower users, it happened so quickly that these people didn¡¯t even have time to react! Just as they realized the situation was dire and they should flee, Fang Yuxin was already upon them. Holding a black Miao Saber in her hand¡ªand although she had just killed four people, the blade was extremely smooth with not a drop of blood¡ªFang Yuxin approached silently, instantly putting these people on high alert. Apart from the person closest to her who was on guard, the remaining eight didn¡¯t hesitate and chose to run! They sprinted towards where the vehicles were hidden! Chen Si, not far off, couldn¡¯t help but shout, ¡°Don¡¯t let them escape!¡± As if Fang Yuxin needed him to say that! She wasn¡¯t a fool! She gave a cold laugh and mentally signaled Lan Re. So the next moment, a pink-green light burst forth from her wrist, chasing down the eight fleeing figures. Some saw the light beam and were instantly amazed, wondering what on earth it was. Then, almost immediately, the light caught up with the eight escapees and materialized, entwining them tightly. The true form of the Red Powder had spikes, which pierced into the bodies of the eight men, and countless buds quietly blossomed, extending pistils that greedily bit into the men, starting to feed on them. No one at Beishi Base, other than Fang Yuxin, had ever subdued Mutant Plants, let alone such a ferocious one! The eight caught by Red Powder, though punctured, were not dead yet; their faces twisted in agony. They wanted to scream, but the flower buds blocked their mouths, preventing them from even letting out a shriek. The scene was extremely disturbing! This scene shocked everyone from the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, and even Chen Si and the others were horrified! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 567 - 567 309 Begging for Mercy ?Chapter 567: 309 Begging for Mercy Chapter 567: 309 Begging for Mercy In fact, the members of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps were not weak. If they had truly faced off against Red Powder, it would not have been so easy for Red Powder to trap them. Unfortunately, they were intimidated by the strength of Fang Yuxin and the others, daring not to stay and resist. All they could think about was escaping. Their panic naturally put them at a disadvantage. Red Powder attacked from behind, not giving them any time to react, and firmly bound them. Its spikes mercilessly pierced their bodies. Red Powder was a Mutated Rose, secreting a type of neurotoxic poison from its spikes, rendering the trapped prey immobile and unable to struggle. This was ineffective against zombies, but had a significant effect against mutant animals or humans. At the same time, the fragrance of the flower also had a confusing effect. As the buds quietly bloomed, a light and sweet aroma was released, enveloping the eight people and making them even more powerless to resist, only passively enduring the agony of being gradually devoured. Seeing this, the remaining members of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps grew even more terrified. They didn¡¯t want to die, especially not in such unbearable pain! So soon, some began to beg for mercy, ¡°Please spare me! I was just following orders, I didn¡¯t mean to harm you!¡± Although he was pleading, he did not put down his weapon, but gripped it even tighter. The others exchanged glances, also starting to hesitate. However, these people were not fools. While pleading, they were secretly sizing up their surroundings, looking for a chance to break out. Just then, someone set their sights on Shang Jinxiu. At this point, Shang Jinxiu had been injured. To be precise, everyone there had been injured, without exception. Because Shang Jinxiu was a Space-related superpower user and the weakest, Chen Qiao and others were intentionally or unintentionally protecting her. As a result, among them all, her injuries were actually the mildest. The people of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps were very cunning, thinking that since the others seemed intent on protecting Shang Jinxiu, her identity might not be ordinary. One of them, who happened to know about Qin Xiran¡¯s suspicion of Shang Jinxiu¡¯s ambiguous relationship with Fang Yuyang, took his chances on targeting Shang Jinxiu! At that moment, Shang Jinxiu was being protected in the middle by Chen Qiao and others, and everyone was at the end of their rope, merely struggling to hold on. The mission they were undertaking was inherently difficult, and after its completion, everyone was somewhat exhausted. They didn¡¯t expect to be attacked by the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps before they could rest or replenish their energy using the Crystal Cores! The members of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps were all ruthless, with fierce moves. Chen Qiao and the others quickly sustained injuries, even struggling to find a chance to call for help, facing imminent total annihilation! Still, it was Chen Si who, despite being injured, managed to reach out to Bai Ye and asked him for help. It was also their good fortune that Poison Wolf was interested in meeting Bai Ye, so he did not stop Chen Si¡¯s plea for help! Although they were all at the end of their rope and couldn¡¯t hold on for long, as soon as they knew that Bai Ye and his team were coming, a hope for survival ignited them, and they erupted with strong morale, tenaciously holding on until the reinforcements arrived. But this desperate hold had worsened their injuries. If it were not for not wanting to be a burden on Bai Ye and his team, they would have collapsed much earlier! After targeting Shang Jinxiu, the man also noticed the weary state of Chen Qiao and the others. Gritting his teeth, he directly charged at Shang Jinxiu! He was just about to grab her when suddenly he felt a strong gust of wind coming from the side! The gust came with a forceful strike that would definitely cause serious injuries if it hit. The man hesitated for a moment, then decided not to dodge but to withstand it with his body while successfully grabbing Shang Jinxiu¡¯s arm and pulling her towards him forcefully! Shang Jinxiu cried out in alarm. Her other hand, wielding a military dagger, stabbed towards the man¡¯s arm! Meanwhile, Zhou Han had already reached his side, his fist initially aimed at the man¡¯s temple suddenly shifted direction and smashed towards his arm! Zhou Han had enhanced his strength and speed, and although he was not as fast as a Second-level speed superpower user, he was not something ordinary superpower users could compare with. His punch was extremely powerful; the muscles in the man¡¯s arm tensed up completely, thicker than Shang Jinxiu¡¯s thigh and as hard as a lump of iron. Chapter 568 - 568 309 Beg for Mercy_2 ?Chapter 568: 309 Beg for Mercy_2 Chapter 568: 309 Beg for Mercy_2 However, when Zhou Han¡¯s fist smashed into the man¡¯s arm, a crisp ¡°crack¡± was heard immediately. Then, a burst of blood exploded from the spot where Zhou Han had struck, and the man¡¯s arm was directly broken by Zhou Han¡¯s punch! He screamed in agony, his eyes widening in extreme fear, and he no longer dared to reach for Shang Jinxiu. Instinctively, he tried to retreat but was chased down by Zhou Han, who punched him again in the chest. Thus, another ¡°crack¡± resounded, and his chest caved in under the impact, sending him tumbling to the ground. His broken ribs pierced his internal organs. He could not die immediately and his body kept convulsing, blood foam continuously spewing from his mouth. Among the members of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, many had designs on Shang Jinxiu, but only one had actually made a move. The others had been waiting, or intending to seize the opportunity to capture someone, but they hadn¡¯t anticipated the sudden appearance of Zhou Han, whose strength was terrifying! During their moment of terror, Poison Wolf suddenly howled skywards¡ªa sound that eerily resembled the howling of a wolf. This howl seemed to be a signal, and upon hearing it, the remaining members of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps quickly gathered around Poison Wolf. The Poison Wolf had brought fifty men, but now only twenty remained¡ªnot even half! Poison Wolf watched his extremely frightened subordinates and the bodies on the ground, feeling as though his heart was bleeding! They were usually ruthless, but that was towards others! Having been in this line of business for many years, this was the first time he had been so embarrassed. He had been too careless! He had thought that this mission would most certainly go off without a hitch and that even if there were some losses, they wouldn¡¯t be significant. However, he hadn¡¯t expected to lose even half of his people! The ones who were left had all been injured and were so terrified of Bai Ye and his companions that they were virtually useless! His eyes flashed slightly, and he said to Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, ¡°Mr. Bai, Miss Fang, this was all a misunderstanding. I can compensate you for your losses and assure you that today¡¯s events will not be disclosed. Could you please show mercy and spare our lives?¡± He knew that his men were no match for Bai Ye and his group; direct confrontation would leave them with no chance of survival. Since that was the case, it wasn¡¯t time for conflict. He was very aware of the Bai Family¡¯s circumstances, having sworn fealty to Bai Yi shortly after the apocalypse. When Bai Yi couldn¡¯t personally handle matters, he would deal with them¡ªthus he knew quite a bit. Moreover, the discord between the Bai Family¡¯s direct and collateral lines was no secret in Beishi Base. Many were aware of it. Sadly, the collateral line was too weak. Even though they were at odds with the direct line, they couldn¡¯t stir much trouble. So, while people knew about it, they could only mock it in their hearts, never expecting it to cause any loss to the Bai Family. Poison Wolf had thought the same as others, but witnessing Bai Ye¡¯s capacity, he realized that this wasn¡¯t the case! With the capabilities Bai Ye had just displayed, should he face Bai Yi directly, the White Wolf Mercenary Corps was likely to experience significant turmoil! After all, in this post-apocalyptic world, everyone wanted to survive better by following a powerful leader. The strength of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps wasn¡¯t just due to their reorganized army, but also because the Bai father and son had awakened to superpowers, both being third-level superpower users! When Poison Wolf pledged loyalty to Bai Yi, even though Bai Yi had not been a third-level yet, his strength had been nothing to scoff at, formidable enough to impress him. Having now personally witnessed Bai Ye¡¯s capabilities, he faintly realized that Bai Yi might not be a match for Bai Ye! At that moment, he truly understood why Bai Yi had always been so wary of Bai Ye, and why Bai Yi had warned him to be cautious around Bai Ye. Regrettably, he had been too arrogant to take Bai Yi¡¯s words to heart, and now he could only swallow the bitter consequences himself! However, if there was even a glimmer of hope, he would fight for it! He didn¡¯t want to die! He wanted to live on! Bai Ye looked at him for a while, not responding to his words, but instead asked, ¡°What makes you think you can negotiate with me?¡± As Poison Wolf was about to speak, he suddenly noticed a terrifying mutated rose extending its thorny branches toward them, gradually forming a surrounding circle. His heart chilled, he urgently said, ¡°Bai Ye! Don¡¯t you want to know who made me do this? I¡¯m not your enemy; I was just following orders! Why must you be so ruthless?¡± But after he spoke those words, the branches did not stop, but instead moved even faster, quickly encircling them completely! Someone couldn¡¯t bear it anymore, directly releasing flames trying to burn away the branches. However, at that moment, the leaves on the branches suddenly enlarged, overlapping each other to form a green shield wall. The flames hit the leaves, leaving only scorched marks and completely failing to burn them away! Seeing this, the members of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps grew even more panicked, all turning to their leader, Poison Wolf, hoping he would come up with a solution. Knowing they couldn¡¯t continue like this, or they would be thoroughly enclosed and escape would become difficult, Poison Wolf waved his hand, and countless flying knives appeared out of thin air, shooting towards the leaves. The knives hitting the leaves produced sounds as if hitting hard wood, not leaves. His strength was formidable, and the knives pierced the leaves, but that was all; they couldn¡¯t inflict significant damage on the Red Powder, nor could they stop the sprawling branches. So, Poison Wolf¡¯s expression changed. He stretched out his right hand and made a grabbing motion in the air. The knives embedded in the leaves suddenly elongated into fine threads, swiftly entwining to eventually form a thumb-thick iron rope. Poison Wolf grabbed one end of the rope, then gave his men a signal, and they all pulled together! (The story continues. If you enjoy this novel, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 569 - 569 310 Read Memory ?Chapter 569: 310 Read Memory Chapter 569: 310 Read Memory The other end of the iron rope was wrapped around the branches of the Red Powder, and when they pulled, many branches were caught and torn apart. The people rejoiced at the sight, intending to continue their efforts, but suddenly, the force from the opposite end disappeared. Caught off guard, everyone except their leader, Poison Wolf, staggered backward. Behind them, the branches of Red Powder had already stealthily reached out. As they retreated, they collided with the branches, and were pierced by the sharp long thorns. The thorns blocked their wounds so tightly that not even blood could escape. Simultaneously, more branches rapidly extended, twining around these people, binding them tighter and tighter. Blossom buds extended into their mouths, silencing their screams. It was the five people at the very back who were caught; Poison Wolf instantly sensed something was wrong. He sharply turned his head only to find that five of his men were missing! At the same time, behind them, the Mutated Rose had silently formed a green wall which now blocked their path. The missing five men were hanging on the wall. Entwined with green vines, they looked like green cocoons, their original forms completely obscured! Poison Wolf¡¯s reaction was extreme; the others sensed something wrong as well and turned around. They too saw the grim scene. Everyone was terrified, regretting why they had ever accepted this mission! Why had they provoked such a formidable enemy! Poison Wolf felt an oppressive suffocation as if he were a trapped beast, hopelessly caught in a trap set by the enemy, desperately wanting to escape but utterly powerless, left only to await his death! He glanced at Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin not far away, clenched his teeth, and shouted loudly, ¡°Bai Ye, as long as you don¡¯t kill me, I can work for you! I can kill for you! I¡¯m willing to do anything, just spare me!¡± Bai Ye didn¡¯t respond, but Fang Yuxin asked, ¡°Tell me, who sent you to capture my Contracted Beast?¡± Poison Wolf looked at her, a flicker in his eyes, and instead of answering, he countered with a condition, ¡°I can tell you, but you must let me go!¡± Fang Yuxin sneered and snapped her fingers. Immediately, the buds on Red Powder blossomed completely, a strong sweet scent instantly permeating the air around Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, and not spreading outward. Previously, Red Powder had not fully blossomed, emitting a lighter fragrance, but now following Fang Yuxin¡¯s command, the blossoms opened completely, and the sweet scent was ten times more intense than before, its effect far more pronounced! The scent contained a poison that induced hallucinations and had a paralyzing effect on nerves. Moreover, it would enter the body with one¡¯s breath. Even if one held their breath, it could still seep through the pores in the skin, impossible to guard against! Poison Wolf sensed something was wrong and quickly held his breath while covering his body with a thin layer of metal. Seeing this, his subordinates followed suit, each with flames, mist, frost, or soil on their bodies. Nature Element users always found a way, while those from the Enhancement System suffered. Their superpower mainly enhanced their bodies, giving them faster speeds, stronger strength, defenses, and improved senses. Those with enhanced defenses weren¡¯t afraid, but the ones with speed and strength were simply out of luck. Poison Wolf looked at Fang Yuxin in the distance, deeply wary of her. This woman looked like a delicate lady who was unaware of worldly sufferings, as beautiful as a fairy, yet her methods were excessively ruthless! Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin clearly had no intention of letting him go. Since that was the case, he could no longer be blamed for being merciless! Bai Ye had been away for a long time; with Bai Yi¡¯s temperament, he was bound to contact him. Once he found he couldn¡¯t reach him, Bai Yi would become suspicious! Eventually, Bai Yi would likely find a way to send rescuers. This meant that he just needed to hold on until the rescuers arrived, and he could survive! Bai Ye had destroyed their Communicators as soon as he arrived, clearly not wishing for their true strength to be known to others at the Beishi Base. If that was the case, he just wouldn¡¯t let them have their way! With that in mind, he began to think about how he could delay time. But just then, he suddenly heard Bai Ye¡¯s icy voice, ¡°Since you¡¯re unwilling to speak, there¡¯s no need for you to keep talking.¡± Chapter 570 - 570 310 Reading Memory_2 ?Chapter 570: 310 Reading Memory_2 Chapter 570: 310 Reading Memory_2 The voice was extremely cold, as if wrapped in endless murderous intent. Poison Wolf felt a chill all over his body, the hairs on his skin trembling! Why was Bai Ye¡¯s voice so close? It was as if... as if Bai Ye was right beside him! Poison Wolf instinctively looked toward the place where Bai Ye was standing, only to find nothing there! Had Bai Ye disappeared? He looked elsewhere but still couldn¡¯t find Bai Ye¡¯s figure; it was as if he had vanished into thin air! Poison Wolf became even more vigilant, his nerves tightly tense. He felt that Bai Ye was nearby! He strained his eyes, scanning every corner around him. Finally, he caught a very faint shadow. That shadow was like smoke, very elusive, almost unseeable, as if it were just his imagination! However, Poison Wolf knew he hadn¡¯t seen wrong, Bai Ye was right there! His mind panicked, and he wrapped himself up in more metal, forming a sturdy and thick armor on the surface of his body. But suddenly, Bai Ye was standing not far in front of him, motionless, watching him coldly. Poison Wolf was extremely surprised, he couldn¡¯t guess why Bai Ye had suddenly appeared. Then, something suddenly occurred to him, and he felt a strong sense of panic! He instinctively looked to his remaining fifteen subordinates, only to find that each of them was warily watching Bai Ye, their nerves tense. However, just as their nerves tensed, Poison Wolf saw a very fine line suddenly appear on their necks. At first, he was startled, then he suddenly realized, those weren¡¯t lines, but wounds! Their necks had been sliced open by Bai Ye, probably just then! These men seemed to feel the pain on their necks, all stunned and confusedly reached for their necks. Then, that hair-thin wound suddenly split open, and scorching blood sprayed out. Poison Wolf was too close to them, getting covered in blood. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to distance himself from them, but Bai Ye was standing in front, and their retreat was blocked by Mutated Roses, he had nowhere to go! In what seemed the blink of an eye, these fifteen men turned from living people into corpses. Bai Ye apparently had no interest in torturing people, directly making the kill without letting them suffer. If it were Poison Wolf, he would definitely not do it this way. His favorite thing was to watch people die slowly, savoring their fear. Unfortunately, Poison Wolf had no mood to appreciate Bai Ye¡¯s ¡°mercy¡± now, he could think of nothing but fear! All his previous scheming now seemed like a joke; realizing his own foolishness, he cast aside any dignity and fell to his knees before Bai Ye, begging for his life. Then, he suddenly heard a disdainful snort, and couldn¡¯t help but raise his head, only to see Fang Yuxin, who had appeared beside Bai Ye at some point, mockingly looking at him. He was extremely wary of Fang Yuxin, Bai Ye¡¯s strength was formidable indeed, but it was all straightforward; Fang Yuxin was different, she could tame such terrifying Mutant Plants, which was too frightening! He was a desperado, to whom killing had long since become routine, but to watch his subordinates being devoured by Mutant Plants was a horrifying sight! If positions were exchanged, and he was the one controlling the Mutant Plants, Poison Wolf¡¯s mindset would naturally be different. Unfortunately, the world simply had no ¡°ifs¡±! He felt that compared to Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin was much more terrifying. Thus, regarding Fang Yuxin, he was even more apprehensive; seeing her approach, his body couldn¡¯t help but tense up even more, his nerves stretched as if they could snap at any moment. His eyes were fixed on Fang Yuxin, fearing she would suddenly make a move, suddenly deploy some terrifying method. Then, he suddenly saw Fang Yuxin smile at him. His heart jumped, puzzled, when suddenly his Sea of Consciousness violently shook, and he completely lost consciousness! Fang Yuxin was very angry this time, not only were Angela and Hong Lie severely injured, but Chen Qiao and the others were also grievously hurt! Moreover, when she had just gotten out of the vehicle, those from the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps each had a covetous and sinister look, which she found utterly disgusting. So, she not only didn¡¯t hold back, she also did not stop Red Powder from consuming people. At that moment, she directly attacked Poison Wolf¡¯s Sea of Consciousness, forcibly reading his memory. Poison Wolf¡¯s Sea of Consciousness was very resistant, but his Soul Power simply couldn¡¯t compare to Fang Yuxin, very quickly collapsing, allowing Fang Yuxin to successfully read his memory. Upon examining it, Fang Yuxin discovered many things. She used a method to extract Poison Wolf¡¯s memory, wrapping it into a sphere of light, and directly threw it to Bai Ye: ¡°Bai Ye, take a look for yourself.¡± Bai Ye saw her distressed expression and knew she must have discovered something extraordinary. He actually knew of Poison Wolf, and was aware of the notorious reputation of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, and had long intended to eliminate them. Unfortunately, Poison Wolf was very cunning and seldom appeared in person, making it difficult to capture him. But unexpectedly, this rescue mission had led them to encounter men from the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps! Bai Ye didn¡¯t hesitate, directly releasing his Spiritual Sense to review Poison Wolf¡¯s memories. With that, his expression also gradually darkened, and he even looked with disgust at the unconscious Poison Wolf. At this point, Poison Wolf was not dead, just that his Sea of Consciousness had been forcibly damaged by Fang Yuxin, turning him into a vegetative state. Bai Ye was about to make his move to kill him when he saw Red Powder extending its tendrils, unceremoniously entwining Poison Wolf. He hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not stop it. Fang Yuxin glanced at him and sneered: ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect that the person behind Poison Wolf was Bai Yi! That bastard actually wanted to capture Angela and Hong Lie for experiments, I will never let him go! Bai Ye, you better not stop me!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 571 - 571 311 Unsure and Suspicious ?Chapter 571: 311 Unsure and Suspicious Chapter 571: 311 Unsure and Suspicious At the time, both Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were unaware that Bai Yi had set his sights on them and was planning to deliver them to Dr. Sun as his experimental subjects. It was Bai Yi¡¯s good luck that although he had this idea, he had not yet had the chance to inform Poison Wolf and have Poison Wolf deal with it. He was still thinking that, with Bai Ye facing off against Poison Wolf, it would be a good opportunity to use Poison Wolf to test Bai Ye¡¯s current true strength. Little did he know, Poison Wolf had encountered problems! Bai Yi had always valued the strength of Poison Wolf. Even before the apocalypse, he had heard of the notorious reputation of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, yet he, proud of his status, was unwilling to get involved with the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps at the time. After the apocalypse, Beishi City was in complete chaos. In order to deal with zombies and to build his power, he needed a large number of capable individuals. When Poison Wolf approached him, Bai Yi agreed without a second thought. Initially, he was disgusted by the criminal methods used by the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps and did not want this fact to become known, but over time, as the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps consistently completed the tasks he assigned capably, Bai Yi gradually began to appreciate Poison Wolf. Thus, even though he warned Poison Wolf to be cautious, he didn¡¯t think Bai Ye could do much to Poison Wolf. At worst, if Poison Wolf were to be defeated, the loss would not be significant. After all, as formidable as Bai Ye was, he was only one person. As for Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin, Bai Yi never took them seriously from the start! However, just as Bai Yi thought it was about time to contact Poison Wolf to inquire about the progress, the communicator emitted a cold electronic tone, ¡°Sorry, the number you have dialed is unable to connect.¡± Bai Yi was first stunned, then suddenly felt a ¡°thud¡± in his heart, realizing that something might have happened to Poison Wolf. This guess caused Bai Yi considerable discomfort. He looked at the communicator in his hand with a complex expression and a somber face. Since birth, he had been regarded as a child of heaven, but then Bai Ye appeared! They trained together since childhood, with Bai Ye two years his junior yet always performing better than he did, how could Bai Yi be content with that? Later, Bai Ye chose not to join the Military Department but to become a mercenary. Bai Yi breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear many people saying Bai Ye was driven away by him! Those people couldn¡¯t see his efforts, much less his success; their eyes were only on Bai Ye! They always felt Bai Ye was more outstanding than him; if Bai Ye were to do the same thing, he would surely do it better! Bai Yi had had his fill of such talk! He later conspired with Qiu Yiming to set a deadly trap for Bai Ye, thinking that this would get rid of Bai Ye, but unexpectedly, the plan failed and Bai Ye had actually returned alive to Beishi Base and even took Qiu Yiming¡¯s woman! But what of it? He was now a Third-level Superpower User, while Bai Ye was merely second-level, leaving Bai Ye far behind! Since learning of Bai Ye¡¯s power level, Bai Yi stopped taking Bai Ye seriously¡ªthis man was no longer worthy to be his rival! But now, Poison Wolf couldn¡¯t be contacted! Could it be that Poison Wolf had truly fallen to Bai Ye¡¯s hand? How is that possible! Even if Bai Ye was powerful, he was just one man. Even if Poison Wolf couldn¡¯t handle him alone, were all his subordinates dead? Bai Yi couldn¡¯t bring himself to believe this outcome, yet a strong unease gnawed at him. He hesitated for a moment but decided to dial Bai Ye¡¯s communicator, intending to test the waters. When the communicator rang, Fang Yuxin was staring at Bai Ye. She had just read through Poison Wolf¡¯s memories and now knew about the sinister deeds Bai Yi had been orchestrating behind the scenes, including his intention to capture Angela and Hong Lie for experimentation. She was seething with anger, simply itching to kill that hypocrite Bai Yi! Yet, when she thought of the relationship between Bai Yi and Bai Ye, her heart couldn¡¯t help but feel unsettled. She did not want Bai Ye to stop her¡ªshould that happen... Fang Yuxin bit her lip; the mere thought of being separated from Bai Ye made her heart ache terribly. The feeling was so sudden and strong, even more so than when she had been abandoned by Qiu Yiming in her previous life! Bai Ye saw her stubborn gaze and the moisture that began to cloud her eyes. Panicking, he firmly grasped Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t let your thoughts run wild. How could I possibly stop you? Bai Yi has gone too far, and even if you don¡¯t deal with him, I will not allow him to continue being so arrogant!¡± Chapter 572 - 572 311 Alarming Uncertainty_2 ?Chapter 572: 311 Alarming Uncertainty_2 Chapter 572: 311 Alarming Uncertainty_2 Bai Ye hadn¡¯t expected that Bai Yi would dare to use innocent survivors as experimental subjects, among whom were even superpower users! What on earth was he trying to do! Just then, Bai Ye¡¯s communicator suddenly rang. He thought it was his family, worried and contacting him, but when he saw the number on the screen, he couldn¡¯t help but sneer. Fang Yuxin was by his side, leaned over, took a look, and her face darkened as she sneered, ¡°Is it Bai Yi? He dares to contact you!¡± Bai Ye glanced at the corpse of Poison Wolf and disdainfully said, ¡°He must have realized that he can¡¯t contact Poison Wolf and got anxious, so he deliberately contacted me to see what exactly happened. He would never have expected that we could forcibly extract Poison Wolf¡¯s memories; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have contacted me.¡± With this explanation, Fang Yuxin understood as well. Bai Yi couldn¡¯t contact Poison Wolf, and thinking Bai Ye didn¡¯t know about his connection with Poison Wolf, he decided to test Bai Ye. Her disdain for this man deepened¡ªBai Yi indeed was a hypocrite! This thought suddenly reminded her of the words Bai Ye had accidentally let slip earlier. That Qiu Yiming could become good brothers with Bai Yi showed they were birds of a feather! But who knew what they might be thinking after leaving the Market Base, and about that Fang Mengyao... Thinking of this person, Fang Yuxin felt somewhat regretful. She had guessed that the current Fang Mengyao was not the original one, maybe reborn, or perhaps someone else had transmigrated; no wonder her personality had drastically changed, acting by any means necessary. She had always wanted to kill her, but Fang Mengyao was very cunning, always hiding in the Qiu Family, and almost never leaving Qiu Yiming¡¯s side, leaving no opportunity for Fang Yuxin to make her move! Bai Ye had already connected the call. As soon as it connected, Bai Yi¡¯s sanctimonious face appeared on the small screen, greatly displeasing Fang Yuxin. She gestured a ¡°quiet¡± sign to others, asking them not to speak, then heard Bai Yi say, ¡°Bai Ye, I just heard you left the base in a hurry. Nothing has happened, right? Can you turn on the video?¡± He wanted to see for himself the situation on Bai Ye¡¯s side. How could Bai Ye let him get his way? He completely ignored Bai Yi¡¯s request, simply asking coldly, ¡°Are you done talking? If you have nothing else to say, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Bai Yi called out, his complexion not looking good. He took a deep breath, speaking earnestly, ¡°Bai Ye, no matter what, you are ultimately a member of the Bai Family. Do you plan to keep talking to me like this? We are brothers, and this behavior only hurts those who care and pleases those who hate! You see, the Bai Family might seem to be doing well now, but many people want to replace it. At this critical moment, can you stop being so impulsive?¡± Fang Yuxin was almost sick listening to him. Bai Yi, after doing so much himself and continuously targeting Bai Ye, now had the audacity to lecture Bai Ye about being impulsive! Where did he get the nerve to say such a thing? She couldn¡¯t help but glance at Bai Ye, secretly asking him, ¡°Is this guy really your brother? Your family¡¯s genes must be really bad!¡± Bai Ye hurriedly denied, ¡°Brother? He¡¯s from the direct lineage and I¡¯m from a collateral line; our blood relation is distant! Don¡¯t even compare me with him; I could never do the things he does!¡± He got so caught up talking to Fang Yuxin that he ignored Bai Yi, leaving him hanging. Over there, Bai Yi was so anxious he was almost burning up, but Bai Ye didn¡¯t say a word; he could only wait patiently, while maintaining a facade of deep brotherly affection, though Bai Yi was almost disgusted with himself. Yet, Bai Ye was eager to prove his innocence to Fang Yuxin, which amused her. She, on purpose, stayed silent, casually watching the screen as Bai Yi struggled to maintain his sanctimonious demeanor. Seeing Fang Yuxin staring at Bai Yi made Bai Ye feel sourness bubbling inside, and his view of Bai Yi worsened. Bai Yi, growing impatient, added, ¡°Bai Ye, are you even listening to me? Is this how you treat your elder brother?¡± Fang Yuxin on the side smirked, her look mocking¡ªsee, you really are brothers. Bai Ye got stimulated by her teasing and bluntly said to Bai Yi, ¡°Bai Yi, why suddenly do you want to play caring brother? Aren¡¯t you tired of it?¡± Bai Yi¡¯s face contorted momentarily before quickly recovering. Fang Yuxin watched interestedly, curious about what he would say, only to hear him eventually say, ¡°Is caring about you wrong now? Are you really alright?¡± Bai Ye knew he was probably frantic by now, so he deliberately said, ¡°I¡¯m fine; you can rest easy now,¡± before abruptly hanging up the phone. On the other side, Bai Yi, listening to the electronic sound from the speaker, was so furious he nearly smashed the communicator. Rest easy? How could he rest easy now! Throwing the communicator aside, Bai Yi began to ponder. Hearing Bai Ye¡¯s voice, full of strength, obviously not injured... But that didn¡¯t make sense! With Poison Wolf¡¯s Level 2 Peak strength, even if he couldn¡¯t kill Bai Ye, Bai Ye shouldn¡¯t be completely unharmed, right? Or did Bai Ye deliberately act strong in front of him? Or had he been Chapter 573 - 573 312 Someone is coming ?Chapter 573: 312 Someone is coming! Chapter 573: 312 Someone is coming! Fang Yuxin teased Bai Ye and then walked towards the others. These people were all seriously injured; it was time to tend to their wounds. Delaying any longer would be detrimental to their recovery. Since they were all friends, Fang Yuxin did not hold back, and directly made a hand gesture, using water to cleanse their wounds, then turned her True Yuan into a green mist, enveloping the wounds. The mist continuously stimulated the wounds, aiding in their gradual healing. Soon, the wounds had all healed. The others thanked Fang Yuxin, then each took out their Crystal Cores to absorb and refine them, in order to recover their strength. Angela and Hong Lie ran over to Fang Yuxin, affectionately rubbing their round heads against her. Being a Pure Wood Spirit Body, Fang Yuxin naturally emitted a pure Wood Energy that made mutated creatures subconsciously want to be close to her, not to mention Angela, who was her Spiritual Pet and Hong Lie whom she had interacted with before, and whose injuries she now healed, made them feel even closer to her. Unhappy with just a rub, Angela curled up into a small ball and with a light jump, leapt into Fang Yuxin¡¯s arms. Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t seen it for a while and had been missing it. Seeing it jump, she quickly reached out to catch it, gently stroking and grooming its fur with her fingers, making Angela comfortably squint its eyes. Upon seeing this, Hong Lie made a ¡°woo-woo¡± sound from its throat and nudged Fang Yuxin with its head, reminding her to pay attention to him too. Bai Ye watched this scene, feeling increasingly jealous, and decided to come over and aggressively pushed Hong Lie aside, directing the others to deal with the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps¡¯ bodies. Just at that moment, the original form of Red Powder suddenly disappeared, turning into a pink-green glow that returned to Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist, transforming back into the ¡°engraving¡± on the ¡°White Jade Bracelet.¡± The others saw that all the members of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps had turned into wrinkled mummies, their clothes also tattered beyond their original appearance. At Bai Ye¡¯s command, the others began to gather these mummified corpses, then a Fire Element Superpower User incinerated them. Meanwhile, Chen Si led the others to clean up the area nearby, ensuring no sign of what had happened could be detected. Besides the bodies of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps members, there were actually a large number of zombie bodies nearby. These zombies were Chen Si and his team¡¯s target, a group numbering around thirty thousand. Chen Si and his team were ordinary superpower users, not miraculous like Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, making such a task somewhat challenging for them. When the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps ambushed them, Chen Si and his team had already extracted the Crystal Cores from the zombies, and were preparing to burn the bodies and leave when the ambush happened, nearly leading to their complete annihilation. Thus, while dealing with the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, they also burned the zombie bodies. Before the flames had died down, a truck approached from a distance, carrying about fifty people who looked like a typical Corpse Hunting Team. However, neither Bai Ye nor Fang Yuxin were fools; both exchanged glances and guessed that Bai Yi was behind it. Fang Yuxin then laughed, ¡°It seems he didn¡¯t get a satisfying answer from you, so he simply sent people to check.¡± Bai Ye coldly glanced at these people and then looked away, ignoring them. The bodies of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps had already been incinerated to ashes, and even their vehicles hidden nearby had been collected by Shang Jinxiu into his space, leaving no trace behind at all, rendering these people¡¯s presence useless. ¡°There¡¯s no need to bother with them,¡± Bai Ye said indifferently. Just then, he saw Chen Si making a hand gesture to him, signaling that everything had been taken care of. He looked around and saw that there were indeed no traces left, except for various chaotic ones that had been added. If Bai Yi really had his people investigate these, they would be utterly confused! Since the zombies¡¯ bodies were almost burned completely, he then said, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Having said that, he took Fang Yuxin by the hand and walked towards their vehicle. Fang Yuyang, next to them, was clearly upset with Bai Ye¡¯s inappropriate public display of affection with Fang Yuxin, but he did nothing. Just now, as Fang Yuxin stubbornly gazed at Bai Ye, Fang Yuyang knew his beloved sister had probably truly fallen for the rascal, Bai Ye. Although disheartened that Bai Ye had whisked his sister away, he cared more about Fang Yuxin¡¯s feelings and would not interfere with her emotional affairs based solely on his own preferences. Chapter 574 - 574 312 Someone is coming_2 ?Chapter 574: 312 Someone is coming!_2 Chapter 574: 312 Someone is coming!_2 Once, Qiu Yiming was like this, and now Bai Ye is the same. The only thing Fang Yuyang felt fortunate about was that Bai Ye always seemed more pleasing to the eye than Qiu Yiming, and his conduct also appeared better than Qiu Yiming¡¯s. Even more joyously, his precious sister wasn¡¯t blind and wasn¡¯t single-mindedly hooked on that crooked tree Qiu Yiming! It seemed that when they were about to leave, the people who had arrived seemed a bit anxious and even hastened their pace towards them, eventually stopping nearby. Curiously, they asked, ¡°Yo! This looks quite intense here, you all okay?¡± Bai Ye pulled Fang Yuxin into the car and, without any courtesy, slammed the car door shut, completely ignoring the man¡¯s question. The man was a Second-level Superpower User and seemed to be the leader of this Corpse Hunting Team. He probably wasn¡¯t used to being ignored like this, and his face immediately darkened, looking very ugly. However, Chen Si had better people skills and skillfully dodged the heavy topics, saying lightly, ¡°Fine, how about you? Are you also here to kill zombies?¡± Someone responded, and the leader¡¯s expression finally improved a bit. However, he didn¡¯t think highly of Chen Si because Chen Si clearly looked like someone else¡¯s underling; the real boss was Bai Ye who had just boarded the vehicle. He felt that being a leader himself and a Second-level Superpower User, only Bai Ye was qualified to talk to him. What did Chen Si count for? Unfortunately for him, Bai Ye really wasn¡¯t giving face. Unwilling to be ignored by Bai Ye again, he compromised and struck up a conversation with Chen Si, ¡°We just came to see if there were any zombies here, planning to kill them if there were any. We didn¡¯t expect you all would beat us to it. By the way, I heard that the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps have been active around here, did you come across them?¡± ¡°Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps?¡± Chen Si went pale with fright, then let out a long sigh before speaking with a relieved expression, ¡°Luckily, we didn¡¯t encounter them. If we had, it would¡¯ve been bad news!¡± The sincerity in his face didn¡¯t seem feigned at all, making the leader feel slightly uneasy. Uncertain whether Chen Si was lying, he pressed further, ¡°You really didn¡¯t encounter them? You guys are quite lucky, aren¡¯t you?¡± Chen Si still wore that relieved look, nodding with a fortunate expression, ¡°Yes, lucky we didn¡¯t. If we had, it would¡¯ve been terrible. We¡¯re only a small group, no match for them!¡± The Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps were infamous, and many people in Beishi Base were extremely wary of them. Unfortunately, everyone only knew them by name and had never seen them in person. Anyone who had seen them was either dead beyond dead, languishing in agony at the Secret Research Institute, or, like Bai Yi, a behind-the-scenes mastermind. No one else had actually seen them! Hence, even though the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps were infamous, no one could catch them. People could only pray not to have the misfortune of encountering them and dying by their hands. After hearing Chen Si¡¯s words, the leader grew even more uncertain. Surveying the scene, he noticed that Chen Si¡¯s group indeed did not have many people¡ªperhaps twenty-odd, and the strongest among them was only Second-level with some being Level 1 Superpower Users. It seemed impossible for them to be a match for the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps. Nonetheless, he was acting on orders and, despite feeling it unlikely, he still planned to detain these people. Unfortunately, just as he was about to ask them to stay, Chen Si already waved goodbye: ¡°We have to head back now, you continue.¡± The leader hurriedly said, ¡°Hey, wait! Don¡¯t leave! Look, it¡¯s still so early and some time before nightfall, why leave so early?¡± Chen Si sighed heavily, with a dejected expression, ¡°We were out on a mission, and just finished it by the skin of our teeth; we¡¯re nearly dead from exhaustion and really don¡¯t want to stay outside any longer. Good luck to you, we¡¯re leaving first.¡± With that, he didn¡¯t give the leader a chance to respond, leaping into the vehicle and shutting the door. However, he wasn¡¯t as extreme as Bai Ye; the car window was still down, and he even waved at the leader. Then, the vehicle swiftly drove off, leaving a trail of exhaust fumes. The leader was so taken aback and slow to react that the group was already far away. The others came over, somewhat anxiously asking, ¡°What do we do? They all left?¡± The leader¡¯s expression changed, glanced at the surrounding destruction, and ordered while waving, ¡°Everyone, get out! Check around for any traces left behind.¡± He said this, and someone couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Leader, you don¡¯t think the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps were really here, do you? If they haven¡¯t left yet, isn¡¯t it very dangerous for us to stay here? What if we encounter them...¡± Speaking of which, Bai Yi, after Bai Ye hung up the call, had instructed his people to intentionally lead a Corpse Hunting Team here, providing them with some information to check if the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps had indeed appeared in this area. Should any clues be found, there would naturally be a substantial reward. The fact that the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps had sided with Bai Yi was very secretive; even within the Bai Family¡¯s Direct Lineage, only a few people, including Bai Yi¡¯s father and the patriarch Bai Zhengyi, were aware. Worried about the safety of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps and fearful of being associated with the infamous corps and suffering a damaged reputation, Bai Yi dared not send his own people to search nor let others know of his relation with the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps. Therefore, the Corpse Hunting Team¡¯s crew was clueless, believing they were just following a directive from above to find clues on the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps and eradicate this menace! Previously, with Bai Ye and others present, they had some courage, but now that Bai Ye and others had left, the mere thought of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps possibly being nearby frightened them, making them wish to quickly leave this cursed place. (To be continued. If you enjoyed this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for a recommendation or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 575 - 575 313 invitations ?Chapter 575: 313 invitations Chapter 575: 313 invitations The team captain was actually quite nervous inside. As a second-level superpower user, most of his subordinates were Level 1 superpower users. If they really ran into the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, defeat was certain! However, he dared not just leave, fearing he might offend the higher-ups. He thought for a moment, then dialed a number on his communicator. The other party didn¡¯t turn on the video, so he could only speak to the shimmering blue screen, ¡°Mr. Chu, we have reached the location you mentioned.¡± His voice was incredibly sycophantic. The voice from the speaker was somewhat cold, ¡°Turn on the video, let me see.¡± The team captain complied immediately, hurriedly turned on the video, smiled at the camera, and then pointed it at the chaotic battlefield. He held the communicator for a while, capturing almost the entire battlefield, then cautiously asked, ¡°Mr. Chu, did you see clearly?¡± The person didn¡¯t answer but suddenly asked, ¡°Where is Bai Ye? Why isn¡¯t he there?¡± The team captain quickly replied, ¡°Oh, they have already left...¡± Before he could finish speaking, Mr. Chu interrupted him dissatisfiedly, ¡°Why did you let them leave? Didn¡¯t I tell you? It¡¯s best to keep them there!¡± The captain felt extremely bitter internally, it wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to keep those people; he simply lacked the strength! Yet Mr. Chu was clearly furious, and he didn¡¯t dare to refute but could only cautiously say, ¡°Mr. Chu, it¡¯s really not that I didn¡¯t want to keep them, it¡¯s just that those people ran too fast! But I asked, and they said they hadn¡¯t encountered anyone from the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, could there be... could there be some mistake, perhaps the informant got it wrong?¡± Mr. Chu had approached him saying that an informant reported the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps had appeared here, and to verify the reliability of this information, they had come to investigate if they could find any clues proving the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps had indeed been here. That was why the team captain said that. However, unbeknownst to him, Mr. Chu was absolutely certain, not merely informed, that the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps had previously arrived at this location and engaged in a fierce battle! Hence, after listening to the team captain¡¯s explanation, Mr. Chu cursed, ¡°Idiot!¡± The team captain, scolded harshly, didn¡¯t dare talk back and only carefully asked, ¡°So... can we...¡± He wanted to ask if they could leave now, but before he could finish speaking, Mr. Chu had already hung up. The team captain stared at the icy electronic tone coming from the speaker, his face suddenly turning very ugly, he couldn¡¯t help but curse, ¡°Bah! What nonsense!¡± Seeing his bad mood, the people nearby quietly distanced themselves from him, afraid of accidentally offending him. Unfortunately, some brainless individual came over and asked, ¡°Captain, shall we still investigate?¡± ¡°Why bother investigating!¡± the captain cursed at first, then suddenly said, ¡°Wait! Let¡¯s search around the area first, see if we can find any traces, the time limit... just half an hour! If we can¡¯t find anything in half an hour, we¡¯ll turn back!¡± He ultimately couldn¡¯t let go of the reward Mr. Chu had promised, so he decided to try his luck. But while they were earnestly searching for clues, another truck drove over. It was carrying fifty people, but this time, each of them was a second-level superpower user, exuding a fierce aura. The light that shot from their eyes was venomous and ruthless, resembling wolves. The other group, seeing them come from afar, didn¡¯t suspect they were from the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, instead thinking they were a new Corpse Hunting Team. However, when these people got off the truck, they realized something was amiss. The difference between the two groups was stark. The newcomers were like bloodthirsty wolves, while the earlier ones were like helpless sheep. Seeing the menacing new arrivals, someone yelled ¡°Run,¡± and everyone rushed towards the truck. But just then, a ¡°bang¡± of a gunshot rang, and a bullet grazed a poor fellow¡¯s leg, hitting the truck¡¯s tire, followed by a ¡°hiss¡± as the tire began to deflate. With the tire burst, the truck became immobile. The man who was nicked in the thigh screamed in pain, clutching his wound, while the others, including the captain, turned pale and watched in horror the big man holding the gun. Just then, someone said, ¡°Idiot! Don¡¯t waste bullets!¡± Before they could breathe a sigh of relief, the same person ordered, ¡°Kill them all, leave none alive!¡± Chapter 576 - 576 313 invitations_2 ?Chapter 576: 313 invitations_2 Chapter 576: 313 invitations_2 A team member couldn¡¯t hold back a scream of agony and said in terror, ¡°No! You can¡¯t do this!¡± As soon as he spoke, those people actually all started laughing in triumph, mocking their stupidity. The squad leader suddenly said, ¡°You are from the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps!¡± At these words, the faces of his subordinates turned even paler instantaneously. Their eyes widened in terrified disbelief. It was then they suddenly heard a familiar voice, slightly cold, ¡°It seems you¡¯re not completely foolish.¡± Upon this person¡¯s speaking, the squad leader exclaimed, ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Chu!¡± After saying that, his eyes fixed intently on one of the individuals from the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, who wore rimless glasses and looked quite refined, with the corner of his mouth slightly upturned in a seemingly harmless smile, like a teacher from a school. The refined young man looked at the squad leader with a smile, ¡°I am Chu Li, known as Li Lang, the deputy squad leader of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps. However, from now on, you can drop the ¡®deputy.¡¯ ¡± With that, he waved his hand, ¡°Go ahead, remember to clean up nicely.¡± Aside from the coldness in his voice, his tone was surprisingly gentle. Of course, these people didn¡¯t want to die. They retreated in horror, frantically looking for escape routes. Unfortunately, the men of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps were all experts, and every possible escape route was sealed off. Not one could get away! There were pleas for mercy, which were met with scornful laughter and cold murderous moves! They had some strength themselves, but it was nothing compared to the men of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, and their fear made them even less courageous to resist, leading to a completely one-sided slaughter! No one knew of the killings here. After leaving, Fang Yuxin and the others had gone straight back to the Beishi Base. On the way, Fang Yuxin said to Bai Ye, ¡°There are still fifty people left in the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps. These people are utterly evil; their deaths are well deserved!¡± Bai Ye nodded, agreeing with Fang Yuxin¡¯s words. He had long wanted to get rid of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, but there had never been an opportunity before. This time, the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps had delivered themselves to his doorstep, and he could no longer allow them to be arrogant! He then said, ¡°Indeed, these people deserve death, but it¡¯s not easy to move against them at the base.¡± Fang Yuxin smiled, ¡°I didn¡¯t say I was going to do it personally. The Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps has harmed so many people; just revealing their crimes and releasing their identities should do. We won¡¯t have to lift a finger; plenty of people will want to kill them!¡± Bai Ye had thought Fang Yuxin wanted to take care of them personally. He hadn¡¯t expected her to think this way. But it was better this way. There were too many people watching them now. It would be best to leave the Beishi Base as soon as possible. There was no need to delay for the sake of dealing with the remaining members of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps. Just as they entered the Tianhua District, both of them received a text message at the same time. Upon opening it, they were both surprised¡ªit was an invitation! Zhao Qiankun was holding a wine party at the Qiankun Hotel tonight and had invited them to attend. Bai Ye¡¯s expression turned sour when he saw it was Zhao Qiankun, ¡°What is he plotting? Definitely nothing good!¡± He had not forgotten that Zhao Qiankun was an unscrupulous rogue, who was now eyeing Fang Yuxin. That tiny mechanical flying insect could very likely be his handiwork! If that was the case, then the purpose of the party he¡¯s holding tonight was worth considering. Bai Ye quickly glanced at Fang Yuxin sitting beside him, feeling unpleasant at the thought¡ªcould that bastard be throwing this party just for Xinxin? Fang Yuxin noticed what he was thinking and immediately said, ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions! If that tiny mechanical flying insect is indeed his handiwork, sealing off that insect will surely alert him. Also, about what Bai Yi has done, do you think Zhao Qiankun knows about it?¡± Bai Ye was still feeling bitter, but reminded by her, he began to ponder, ¡°The tiny mechanical flying insect is very secretive and has excellent hiding capabilities. If it¡¯s really Zhao Qiankun¡¯s handiwork, it wouldn¡¯t make sense for him not to use such mechanical insects to spy on other forces! Bai Yi is the Young Commander of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps. If our speculation is correct, Zhao Qiankun couldn¡¯t possibly be unaware of his actions!¡± Fang Yuxin turned to look at him, smiling somewhat dangerously, ¡°As far as I know, the strongest force in the Beishi Base is currently the Bai Family¡¯s White Wolf Mercenary Corps, followed by Zhao Qiankun¡¯s Qiankun Mercenary Corps. The strength of the other four major forces is all below them. What do you think, if one day Zhao Qiankun reveals evidence of Bai Yi¡¯s secret collaboration with the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps and his secret capture of people for experiments, what would happen to the Bai Family?¡± Bai Ye¡¯s expression became extremely solemn, ¡°If that¡¯s true, the Bai Family would certainly fall into disfavor, and the White Wolf Mercenary Corps would surely fall apart, to be swallowed by the Qiankun Mercenary Corps!¡± As he said this, his mood suddenly became very heavy. Although he didn¡¯t like Bai Yi and loathed the longstanding oppression of the direct lineage, after all, it was the same family, with blood ties. He truly didn¡¯t want the Bai Family to end up like that. Fang Yuxin watched him quietly, not speaking. She was curious about what Bai Ye would do. Bai Ye was silent all the way until he parked the car downstairs of the Fang¡¯s building, then he said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, I¡¯m going home first. I have to talk to my parents about this matter. I¡¯ll contact you later.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded in understanding and asked only, ¡°Will you be going to the wine party tonight?¡± Bai Ye looked at her deeply, ¡°Do you want to go and see for yourself?¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t deny it, admitting outright, ¡°All of our suspicions about Zhao Qiankun are just conjecture. I want to see for myself what kind of person he really is. I always feel like he knows me, but I don¡¯t have any memory of him.¡± Bai Ye¡¯s mood was somewhat heavy because of the Bai Family¡¯s affairs, but when he heard this, he instantly became wary¡ªZhao Qiankun knew Xinxin? Who exactly was this person?(To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for my recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 577 - 577 314 Awkward Bai Ye ?Chapter 577: 314 Awkward Bai Ye Chapter 577: 314 Awkward Bai Ye Bai Ye had just dropped Fang Yuxin off at the base of the Fang Family building and left with his people, while Chen Qiao and the others followed Fang Yuxin up the stairs. Zhou Han hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow Fang Yuxin as well. When they reached the third floor, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were already waiting at the door. Upon seeing Fang Yuxin, they asked, ¡°Are you all right?¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head without saying a word. It was only after everyone had entered that she briefly recounted the events, finally mentioning Zhao Qiankun¡¯s invitation to the wine party. As soon as she mentioned it, Qu Qianhe said, ¡°We also received an invitation. What on earth is he plotting?¡± Logically, the Yongcheng Team of the Fang Family was somewhat obscure, with too few members and no display of remarkable strength to warrant an invitation. Yet Zhao Qiankun had extended one anyway; it was unclear what exactly he had in mind. Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang initially had no interest in attending; they did not know Zhao Qiankun, nor did they wish to meet the people of the Qu Family, and get involved in the power struggle of the Beishi Base. However, both of them understood Fang Yuxin very well; they knew she would never speak without purpose. Qu Qianhe asked, ¡°Xinxin, you¡¯re not thinking of going, are you?¡± She frowned as she spoke, her face full of disapproval. Fang Jintang glanced at her but didn¡¯t reprimand her. Instead, he said, ¡°Xinxin, first tell us what your plan really is.¡± Fang Yuxin naturally did not hide anything, saying, ¡°Dad, Mom, do you remember my suspicions about Zhao Qiankun? I suspect that he knew me before, but I have no memory of him whatsoever, which is really strange. If he¡¯s someone I know, there¡¯s no reason I wouldn¡¯t recognize him. Moreover, all these suspicions are just my conjecture. Whether they are right or wrong, I can only confirm them by meeting him in person. Since he has sent the invitation, I would like to see who he really is.¡± Upon hearing this, the others fell into thought. People who didn¡¯t know Fang Yuxin might not understand, but the Fang Family knew her well. Fang Yuxin was not like other young people; she did not like to take selfies, nor did she like to post her photos on the internet, so it wouldn¡¯t be easy for someone to find her picture online. That is to say, the likelihood of Zhao Qiankun recognizing Fang Yuxin from the internet was not high. So... how exactly had he come to know her? Fang Yuyang thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, ¡°Xinxin, could Zhao Qiankun have been a classmate of yours?¡± Fang Yuyang was also making a wild guess. After all, Zhao Qiankun had appeared in Beishi City, while they had previously lived in Market. Fang Yuxin usually drove when she went out, so it was unlikely that a passerby would recognize her. Therefore, Fang Yuyang felt that it was improbable that Zhao Qiankun had ever seen Fang Yuxin on the street. But if the two had interacted before, Fang Yuxin would certainly remember him. ¡°A classmate?¡± Fang Yuxin questioned, then began to recollect, but after thinking for a while, she still shook her head in frustration, ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. I¡¯ve never seen him. I remember what all my classmates looked like, and none of them look like him.¡± Seeing her frustration, Fang Yuyang said, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t think too hard about it. Aren¡¯t you going tonight? You¡¯ll find out once you meet him.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, agreeing with Fang Yuyang¡¯s words, as that was what she had in mind, too. After all, she had never seen Zhao Qiankun¡¯s face, so continued pondering was futile. It would be better to prepare for the evening¡¯s wine party. Since it was a wine party, and it would be held in a high-end hotel, casual clothes clearly wouldn¡¯t suffice¡ªshe needed to wear evening gowns. Fang Yuxin had quite a collection of gowns, all of which she had stored in the warehouse at Qingmu Spiritual Mansion when she moved; she hadn¡¯t had the heart to throw them away, and now she could pick one out for use. Before that, though, Fang Yuxin introduced the new members to Chen Qiao and the others and then brought up the matter of leaving the Beishi Base. In fact, Chen Qiao and his group had not been at the Beishi Base for much longer than Fang Yuxin, arriving just a week earlier. Although the base was indeed stable and had well-established systems, the Market Base where they had previously stayed was also quite good, so they weren¡¯t as attached to the secure life at the Beishi Base as Qian Lang and the others. On the contrary, since Qu Qianlin was always troubling Fang Yuyang, and Qin Xiran, the young lady, was constantly pestering, their life here was even less comfortable than when they were at the Market Base! So as soon as Fang Yuxin mentioned leaving, they didn¡¯t hesitate at all; they agreed right away. With everyone unopposed to leaving, the matter became much easier to handle. Fang Yuxin discussed it briefly with them, and the decision was set. As for the specific time of departure, she had to discuss it with Bai Ye first, but it would be within the next few days. Chapter 578 - 578 314 Awkward Bai Ye_2 ?Chapter 578: 314 Awkward Bai Ye_2 Chapter 578: 314 Awkward Bai Ye_2 Meanwhile, after Bai Ye returned home, he shared with Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou the matter concerning the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps and Fang Yuxin¡¯s speculations about Zhao Qiankun. Like Bai Ye, although Bai Zhengli was displeased by the suppression by the direct lineage over the years, they were, after all, one family, and none of them wanted the Bai Family to end up in a state of ruin and disgrace. However, as Fang Yuxin had said, their suspicions about Zhao Qiankun were still just conjectures, and the truth could only be confirmed upon meeting him in person. After thinking it over, Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou decided to attend the cocktail party hosted by Zhao Qiankun. Conveniently, they had received invitations as well. After settling this, Bai Ye contacted Fang Yuxin through the communicator, and as they were about to disconnect, Bai Ye suddenly asked, ¡°Xinxin, what are you planning to wear tonight?¡± The thought of Zhao Qiankun¡¯s covetousness towards Fang Yuxin made him suddenly very anxious. Fang Yuxin was already so beautiful, and with an added touch of makeup, wouldn¡¯t it totally captivate Zhao Qiankun¡¯s soul? While they were video chatting, Fang Yuxin, seeing his tense face, teased him on purpose by saying, ¡°I won¡¯t tell you yet, you¡¯ll see when the time comes.¡± Seeing her about to hang up, Bai Ye hurriedly said, ¡°Xinxin, it¡¯s a special time right now, there might be a zombie group attacking the city tonight, we don¡¯t necessarily have to wear formal dresses, right? It would be so inconvenient if a fight breaks out suddenly.¡± Fang Yuxin rolled her eyes at him, ¡°Zhao Qiankun has already made his move, how could I refuse to go? I¡¯m not going to do such a shameless thing.¡± After their conversation, it soon turned six o¡¯clock in the evening. The cocktail party was scheduled for seven in the evening, and quickly dressing himself in a white suit, Bai Ye rushed to the Fang Family to see what Fang Yuxin was planning to wear. If it was inappropriate, he could still ask her to change. Fang Yuyang opened the door and blocked the entrance, not letting Bai Ye in, he asked with a grimace, ¡°What are you here for?¡± Bai Ye felt a bit wronged by his tone, ¡°I¡¯m here to see Xinxin, she...¡± Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t let him finish and interrupted, ¡°I will go with her, isn¡¯t it inappropriate for you to be here?¡± Bai Ye was frustrated. He was now Fang Yuxin¡¯s boyfriend, what was inappropriate about it? However, Fang Yuyang was her older brother, and he dared not offend him, so he could only say, ¡°I can go in with her as well.¡± ¡°No!¡± Fang Yuyang refused bluntly, and seeing Bai Ye¡¯s unhappy look, he explained, ¡°I don¡¯t care what you and Xinxin will end up as, but I don¡¯t want you to be too close to her at the cocktail party. You are from the Bai Family, and there are definitely not a few who are watching you, you wouldn¡¯t want them, because of you, to focus on my sister, right?¡± Bai Ye thought for a moment, then suddenly said, ¡°What about Qianqian... he looks too much like Xinxin, if they stand together, people will definitely notice.¡± Seeing him taking it well, Fang Yuyang¡¯s dissatisfaction lessened a bit, ¡°Don¡¯t take Qianqian over tonight. His identity is still inconvenient to reveal, and the cocktail party might get too chaotic. It¡¯s too dangerous to bring him along.¡± Bai Ye nodded, reluctantly glanced behind him, didn¡¯t see Fang Yuxin, and had to turn around to leave. At this time, Fang Yuxin was changing clothes inside, utterly unaware that Bai Ye had come. She was wearing a low-cut dress with a wide skirt, white as the base color, covered with a layer of lake-green transparent netting. The netting near the bottom of the dress was embroidered with intertwined roses, green vines, pink petals, and small crushed diamonds scattered around, making her look like a fairy who had wandered into the human world from the mountains. Fang Yuxin wore no jewelry except for the White Jade Bracelet transformed by Red Powder and Lan Re on her right wrist. She didn¡¯t even wear makeup, just simply tidied her hair and put on a pair of light green high-heeled shoes with thin straps. When she emerged, Fang Yuyang couldn¡¯t help but proudly smile and teased, ¡°At tonight¡¯s cocktail party, my sister will definitely be the most beautiful one!¡± Fang Yuxin smiled and lightly punched him, curiously looking around and not seeing Bai Ye, suddenly felt a bit disappointed. Fang Yuyang noticed and sighed again in his heart¡ªhis precious sister had indeed been taken away by that scoundrel Bai Ye! But he still explained, ¡°Bai Ye is from the Bai Family, there are definitely quite a few watching him, since we¡¯ve decided to leave, we can¡¯t let too many people notice us.¡± Fang Yuyang thought, if those people knew about Bai Ye¡¯s relationship with Fang Yuxin, they might use it to their advantage. Of course, a more important reason was that he did not want to reveal the relationship between Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin so soon! Bai Qianqian couldn¡¯t go to the cocktail party. Originally, Fang Yuxin also wanted him to stay with Chen Qiao and others to alleviate his boredom. Unfortunately, Bai Qianqian refused; he preferred to stay in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion for cultivation rather than be left alone. The previous separation had truly scared him; he was afraid of another incident causing him and Fang Yuxin to be separated. Fang Yuxin had no choice but to let him into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, sending Angela and Hong Lie in as well. In this way, even if someone had designs on them, they wouldn¡¯t be able to find them. After settling Bai Qianqian, the family drove to the Qiankun Hotel. On the way, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe used a small spell to slightly alter their appearances. This adjustment instantly aged them several years, and although they looked much younger than their peers, it was not enough to draw attention. At the entrance of the Qiankun Hotel, where a brand-new red carpet had been laid, just as they got out of the car, Fang Yuxin heard Qin Xiran¡¯s voice, ¡°Fang Yuyang? Wait for me! I¡¯ll go in with you!¡± Then, turning her head, Fang Yuxin saw Qin Xiran, in a bright red dress, quickly walking towards them.(To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommended tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 579 - 579 315 peeping ?Chapter 579: 315 peeping Chapter 579: 315 peeping Fang Yuxin and her party arrived first, followed closely by Qin Xiran, so they weren¡¯t far apart. Qin Xiran, gripping her dress, strode over to their side and soon reached Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang. It was only then that she suddenly noticed a woman beside Fang Yuyang and immediately glared at Fang Yuxin with dissatisfaction, demanding, ¡°Who are you? Why are you holding onto Yu Yang?¡± Others were around, and her outburst drew all their gazes. Fang Yuyang¡¯s expression darkened, but before he could speak, Fang Yuxin moved closer to him, almost leaning on his body. She met Qin Xiran¡¯s fiery gaze with a smile and said, ¡°I am his closest person. Who are you?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Qin Xiran was fuming, completely enraged by Fang Yuxin¡¯s comment about being the ¡°closest person¡± and even forgetting that Fang Yuyang had a sister, she pointed at Fang Yuxin and cursed, ¡°Slut! What gives you the right to stand by Yu Yang¡¯s side? Get lost!¡± As she spoke, she waved her hand and released a burst of flame towards Fang Yuxin. Was Fang Yuyang going to stand by and let Qin Xiran hurt his precious little sister right in front of him? Of course not! Without moving his body, a gust of wind appeared out of thin air around him and blew the fireball back towards Qin Xiran. At this moment, Qin Xiran looked like a pitiful wife who had just discovered her husband¡¯s affair, her eyes instantly reddened, and she looked at Fang Yuyang with a particularly aggrieved expression, ¡°You actually attacked me for her!¡± Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t be bothered to make a spectacle of herself alongside her, so she said to Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother, let¡¯s go inside.¡± Her voice was not loud but just enough for the nearby people to hear. Because of Qin Xiran¡¯s high-profile behavior, everyone in Beishi Base knew about her clinging to Fang Yuyang. Some who were unaware of the whole story watched the scene unfold and thought Fang Yuxin was intentionally brought by Fang Yuyang just to irritate Qin Xiran. Only upon hearing this did they realize that it was Qin Xiran who had created the commotion all by herself! Everyone found it quite ridiculous; Qin Xiran had been pestering Fang Yuyang incessantly, and Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t even like her. Now, she outright cursed someone¡¯s sister in front of everyone¡ªa behavior no man could tolerate! Actually, Qin Xiran was very attractive, stunningly beautiful, young, well-born, and a second-level Fire Element superpower user with a Fire Fox as her Contracted Beast. Naturally, this rich and beautiful woman had many admirers, both before and after the apocalypse, and there was no shortage of people pursuing her. Unfortunately, Qin Xiran had a terrible temper, and so did her suitor, Qu Qianlin, who was extremely domineering. If anyone dared to express interest in Qin Xiran, he would retaliate. And Qin Xiran didn¡¯t even like him, which resulted in the two of them tangled up for years without any resolution, becoming a longstanding bad debt! Because of Qu Qianlin, few dared to openly pursue Qin Xiran before the apocalypse, with only a few men who fancied themselves exceptional hoping to win her over. After the apocalypse, many pursued her for survival purposes, eyeing the Qin Family¡¯s power. Qin Xiran was not a fool, how could she let these people succeed? Not only did she reject those pursuers, but she also deliberately tormented them. Thus, when her loud pursuit of Fang Yuyang became public knowledge, many in Beishi Base mocked her, thinking she debased herself. Now, many were inwardly laughing at the situation. However, those who received an invitation were not ordinary folks, so naturally, they did not show it on their faces, behaving as if nothing had happened, calm and composed. Qin Xiran knew she had made a fool of herself and blamed Fang Yuxin entirely, unable to help but give her a resentful glare. Thinking back on Fang Yuxin¡¯s appearance and Fang Yuyang¡¯s constant concern for his sister these past days, she found Fang Yuxin even more disagreeable¡ªvixen! Not even sparing her own brother! But she did not continue to humiliate herself publicly, quickly regaining her composure as if nothing had happened and smilingly entered the hotel. The Fang Family was led by the attendant into the banquet hall, which after all was a five-star hotel lobby, extravagantly decorated, with huge crystal chandeliers glittering brilliantly, illuminating the whole hall as bright as day. Along the walls, there were many long tables laid out with a variety of foods, embellished with many blooming fresh flowers. Waiters in suits navigated the hall with trays as guests gathered in small groups chatting away. Chapter 580 - 580 315 peeping_2 ?Chapter 580: 315 peeping_2 Chapter 580: 315 peeping_2 Watching this scene, it was hard to believe that this was the apocalypse, a time lacking food and resources. Zhao Qiankun¡¯s capability to host such an event was clearly evident. After the Fang Family arrived, they did not engage in conversations with others but chose an isolated corner, picked up a large tray, and started selecting food. Since they had already decided to leave Beishi Base, there was no need to network with others. They might as well take this opportunity to have a good meal, making their trip worthwhile. Fang Yuxin picked her favorite foods while searching for Bai Ye¡¯s figure. As soon as she entered the hall, Zhao Qiankun had noticed her. He was not in the hall at that moment¡ªas the guests had not all arrived, and it would seem beneath the dignity of the Qiankun Mercenary Group to appear too early. Although he was not in the hall at the moment, he stayed in his presidential suite, monitoring everything in the hall through screens. The hall had many pinhole cameras that could capture almost every angle. The huge screen was divided into four small squares, each corresponding to a camera, and at that moment, all panels displayed Fang Yuxin. Naturally, there were more than four cameras in the vast hall, and the four Zhao Qiankun watched were the ones capturing Fang Yuxin. He didn¡¯t need to personally monitor the others, as his men could handle them. He sat on a large leather sofa, sipping red wine while watching Fang Yuxin¡¯s delicate face on the screen. As the wine slid down his throat, Zhao Qiankun felt his body heat up, prompting him to tear off his tie and loosen his collar. But that was far from enough! His Adam¡¯s apple kept bobbing up and down, his gaze growing greedier, like a wolf eyeing its prey, with a hint of ferocity. Just then, the door suddenly opened. A mixed-race beauty, wearing a sexy champagne-colored dress and walking on slender heels, stepped in. She slowly walked up behind him, and upon seeing Fang Yuxin on the screen, her face, painted with delicate makeup, briefly contorted before quickly returning to normal. Her arms, like snakes, wrapped around Zhao Qiankun, her fingers reaching inside his collar to caress his broad and firm chest, highly provocative. Zhao Qiankun felt as if his whole body was on fire, and with a vexed need for release, he grabbed her arm, pulling her close and hurriedly tearing through her upscale dress. The woman¡¯s skin was exceptionally delicate; Zhao Qiankun greedily kneaded the skin under his hands, his eyes still transfixed on Fang Yuxin in the screen, wishing he could devour her. But just then, Fang Yuxin in the screen suddenly moved and then disappeared from view, not knowing where she went. Zhao Qiankun was at a peak of excitement and upon seeing this, he panicked, pushing aside the panting beauty and immediately pulled up all surveillance footage to search for Fang Yuxin¡¯s location. But she was nowhere to be found! All screens suddenly flashed, leaving only static noise, and the images were all gone. Zhao Qiankun, anxiously reaching for the communicator, hadn¡¯t touched it when it rang. He pressed to answer and heard his subordinate exclaim, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s bad! Someone has destroyed all the cameras!¡± Zhao Qiankun¡¯s face twisted unpleasantly, furious that someone dared sabotage his plans. His desire vanishing, he snapped into the communicator, ¡°Do you know who did it?¡± Sensing his fury, the voice on the other side grew tentative, ¡°We... we haven¡¯t found out yet, boss, maybe you should¡ª¡± His answer was cut short by Zhao Qiankun¡¯s roar: ¡°Find them! I must know who it was!¡± Meanwhile, in the hall, Bai Ye had already approached Fang Yuxin, holding a large tray himself. Back to the crowd and seemingly choosing food, his expression was grim. He whispered, ¡°Xinxin, there are lots of cameras here.¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at him, ¡°Didn¡¯t you destroy them all? What¡¯s there to worry about?¡± Fuming, Bai Ye retorted, ¡°I¡¯m furious! That bastard must be spying on you covertly; I won¡¯t let him off!¡± Actually, Fang Yuxin felt somewhat pleased seeing him jealous. She had noticed the cameras upon entering the hall, but since she was preoccupied with finding Bai Ye and felt she hadn¡¯t done anything to be ashamed of, she wasn¡¯t concerned about being monitored and didn¡¯t destroy them. But Bai Ye was irate upon arriving, and without hesitation, he had destroyed the cameras. The cameras, being discreetly placed, must have required some effort from Zhao Qiankun. Now, all his efforts were ruined by Bai Ye, who must have been infuriated by now. Considering this, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but quietly ask Bai Ye, ¡°When do you think he will show up?¡± Bai Ye scoffed, ¡°That depends on how well he can keep his cool.¡± He was already displeased with Zhao Qiankun¡¯s covetous looks towards Fang Yuxin, and being unable to come with her had aggravated him. No sooner had he arrived at the hall than he had seen Fang Yuxin, dressed like a fairy in the corner, secretly admired by many. Then he discovered the numerous pinhole cameras installed around! Feeling that Zhao Qiankun would definitely use the cameras to spy on Fang Yuxin, his anger flared instantly, leading him to unapologetically destroy them, preventing Zhao Qiankun from watching covertly. However, Zhao Qiankun managed to keep his composure until most guests had arrived before he finally appeared. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation or a monthly ticket at QiDian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 581 - 581 317 uprising ?Chapter 581: 317 uprising Chapter 581: 317 uprising Zhao Qiankun stepped out to meet the guests, and nearly everyone had arrived except the Bai Family. The Bai Family held the greatest influence at present, so Zhao Qiankun showed them considerable respect by personally greeting them at the entrance and joining them as they entered. The Bai Family¡¯s attendance was significant, with Bai Yi and Bai Zhengyi, accompanied by Mrs. Bai, among the attendees. Bai Zhengyi appeared to be in his forties or fifties, bearing deep nasolabial folds and a rather cold complexion¡ªa stern figure. His wife looked to be in her forties, slightly plump, wearing a string of thumb-sized pearl necklaces around her neck and pearl earrings, exuding an air of affluence. Her face, unlike her husband¡¯s, was adorned with a welcoming smile. Fang Yuxin glanced at every member of the Bai Family; as she did so, Bai Ye quietly provided her with information about them, helping her recognize each person. She took note of their identities while also observing the Qu Family members. The Qu Family, who had arrived earlier, came with the Qin family. Qin Xiran, for reasons of rebellion or other, had arrived earlier than the rest of the Qin family. The Qu Family had also brought many attendees, including Qu Xiuhong and his second wife, Lu Weiwei, Qu Qiancheng with his wife, Qu Qianlin, and other relatives. Fang Yuxin especially observed two individuals: Qu Xiuhong and Lu Weiwei. Qu Xiuhong was Qu Qianhe¡¯s father and her biological grandfather. Unfortunately, Qu Qianhe had already severed ties with the Qu Family, and Fang Yuxin had no interest in recognizing her relatives. She was simply curious about what kind of man he was. Qu Xiuhong¡¯s age was evident¡ªwhether it was from the burdens he bore or other reasons, he looked rather old. His hair, though black, seemed unnaturally so, clearly dyed. Deep furrows lined his forehead, and his brow was eternally furrowed, with bags hanging under his tired eyes¡ªhe resembled an old man near the end of his days. But then again, what more could be expected from a seventy-year-old? He looked younger than others his age, possibly due to diligent self-care. Lu Weiwei, on his arm, had her hair styled in an updo. She had obviously dressed up for the occasion, probably maintaining her appearance meticulously, which made her look much younger than Qu Xiuhong. In fact, she was also in her fifties but resembled someone in her forties. Her figure was not overweight, just slightly full, dressed in a deep sapphire blue gown with a plunging neckline revealing a generous view of her ample bosom, her skin pale as snow, complemented by a set of glistening jade jewelry. With an appropriate smile plastered on her face, she greeted the other wealthy ladies around her. Suddenly, her countenance tensed for a moment. Following her gaze, Fang Yuxin saw Lu Weiwei looking at Qu Qianhe and immediately tensed, fearful that Lu Weiwei might do something to Qu Qianhe. Meanwhile, both Qu Qiancheng and Qu Xiuhong were assessing the Fang Family. Qu Qiancheng had met Qu Qianhe before, and upon seeing her now, seemingly aged a few years, he couldn¡¯t help but speculate¡ªhad something happened? His feelings towards Qu Qianhe were complex, a mix of a younger brother¡¯s adulation, a sense of inferiority as an illegitimate child, and admiration for her boldness. However, he was Lu Weiwei¡¯s son and a beneficiary of her marriage to Qu Xiuhong. He didn¡¯t blame his mother, attributing the turn of events to fate. After observing Qu Qianhe, he discreetly scrutinized Fang Yuxin. He had met Fang Yuyang before, but it was his first time seeing Fang Yuxin, and he couldn¡¯t resist checking out his niece. To his surprise, she was strikingly beautiful! As a superpower user with enhanced vision, he could see that Fang Yuxin wore no makeup, her beauty natural. Qu Qianhe was the same. The hall was filled with many beautiful women, some of whom were former celebrities with impressive looks. But he was convinced¡ªaside from Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin, none of the other women would step out barefaced! Upon closer inspection, both were beautiful enough to do so. Although Qu Qianhe appeared older than before, she still looked youthful, and her flawless skin meant she had no need for makeup. Chapter 582 - 582 317 Rebellion_2 ?Chapter 582: 317 Rebellion_2 Chapter 582: 317 Rebellion_2 Fang Yuxin was naturally young, with a face delicately shaped and perfectly proportioned without a hint of discord. Her skin was so tender it seemed one could pinch water out of it. Her eyes, large and bright, with curly dense lashes and lips, healthy and rosy, needed no makeup at all. Seeing this, he couldn¡¯t help but glance at his wife next to him. His wife was also considered a beauty, but unfortunately, she had not awakened her superpower after the apocalypse, and now in her thirties, she simply couldn¡¯t compare to the youthful girls in terms of skin quality. Her makeup was exquisite, but no matter how delicate it looked, up close, it felt terrifying! Moreover, being a superpower user, his vision was enhanced, allowing him to clearly see the tiny powder granules on her face and the unnatural false eyelashes on her eyes. Qu Qiancheng felt somewhat nauseous. He typically respected his wife, but he just didn¡¯t like her overly done-up face. Yet, despite his objections, she refused to leave the house without makeup. Qu Qianlin didn¡¯t pay any attention to the Fang Family. He was born later, long after Qu Qianhe had severed relations with the Qu Family. Therefore, he felt no affection towards this sister of his. Rather, due to Qin Xiran¡¯s entanglement with Fang Yuxin, he despised the Fang Family, and by extension, grew to loathe Qu Qianhe¡ªthinking, why come back at all if you already left, just to make people uncomfortable? After he arrived in the hall, he had been looking for Qin Xiran. When he saw her standing next to Fang Yuxin with a tray, his anger flared up and he stormed over toward them. Qu Xiuhong was originally hesitant about whether to go over to say hello, but seeing Qu Qianlin storm off furiously, he panicked and hurriedly followed. Lu Weiwei saw the anxiety on his face from the side, sneered inwardly, and pretended to support Qu Xiuhong, following him as well. Qu Xiuhong wanted to call out to Qu Qianlin but feared alerting everyone with his shout, so he could only quicken his pace. Both he and Lu Weiwei were older, and with Lu Weiwei wearing high heels, it was impossible for them to move fast. Before they even reached halfway, Qu Qianlin had already charged up to Fang Yuyang. Ignoring that this was a party hosted by Zhao Qiankun and the presence of many guests, he threw a punch at Fang Yuyang¡¯s face, shouting, ¡°Fang Yuyang, stay the fuck away from Qin Xiran! She¡¯s my woman!¡± He was aware that it was Qin Xiran clinging to Fang Yuyang deliberately, but what of it? Qin Xiran was the esteemed daughter of the Qin Family, and a woman¡ªhe couldn¡¯t very well hit her in front of everyone, so he took his anger out on Fang Yuyang instead. His punch, enhanced by strength, whistled through the air, obviously with full force. Had it hit Fang Yuyang¡¯s face, it would have likely shattered his facial bones! But Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t even care, using his Wind Element advantage to quickly dodge. Qu Qianlin, failing to hold his momentum, hit the table behind Fang Yuyang instead. The crisp sound ¡°crash¡± echoed as the table broke, and the food balanced on it fell to the ground. Zhao Qiankun had been about to walk up to the microphone to say a few encouraging words, and many other guests were engaging in quiet conversations. At this sound, the entire hall seemed to hit the pause button, everyone stopped and turned toward the noise in astonishment, silencing the hall except for the sound of dishes breaking. All the waiters in the hall were from the Qiankun Mercenary Corps, and their faces changed upon witnessing this scene! To host the guests and demonstrate the mercenary corps¡¯ strength, many food items were placed around the hall. As a result of Qu Qianlin¡¯s punch, half the wall¡¯s food was destroyed! In the apocalypse, what mattered most? Food! Zhao Qiankun had reluctantly displayed so much food to appear generous, but not everyone in the Qiankun Mercenary Corps was so free-handed. For instance, those waiters¡ªall smiles outwardly¡ªwere probably already cursing inwardly, wishing the guests wouldn¡¯t eat anything and leave it all for them! With that punch, Qu Qianlin had successfully drawn everyone¡¯s wrath! Naturally, Fang Yuyang, dodging the hit, was resented by these people as well. Zhao Qiankun, too, was displeased inside. It pained him to part with so much food, only for it to be destroyed! Such a Qu Qianlin, such a Qu Family! Yet as the host of the party and the squad leader of the Qiankun Mercenary Corps, he couldn¡¯t just scowl over this minor incident. Despite his desire to tear Qu Qianlin to pieces, he still had to maintain a magnanimous facade. Catching a glimpse of Fang Yuxin in the distance, Zhao Qiankun suddenly sensed an opportunity in this incident and couldn¡¯t bother speaking anymore; he walked briskly towards the site of the disturbance. The Qu Family also changed complexion; anyone living in the apocalypse couldn¡¯t stand to see food wasted! Moreover, with Qu Qianlin¡¯s actions effectively drawing everyone¡¯s enmity, it seemed Zhao Qiankun might come to despise the Qu Family! Given the Qu Family¡¯s already dire circumstances, having just offended the Qiankun Mercenary Corps, what would become of them? Both Qu Xiuhong and Qu Qiancheng had this realization. Qu Qiancheng, a step late, allowed Qu Qianlin to commit such a blunder. Now at Qu Qianlin¡¯s side, seeing that Qu Qianlin was about to strike again, he quickly grabbed him to stop him. But while he stopped Qu Qianlin physically, he couldn¡¯t shut him up. Realizing he had caused trouble, Qu Qianlin loudly accused Fang Yuyang, ¡°Fang Yuyang, how despicable of you, ambushing me!¡± He quickly signaled with his eyes for Qu Qiancheng to support his claim. However, Qu Qiancheng, seeing Qu Qianhe not far away, simply couldn¡¯t utter words against his conscience. Yet at that moment, a gentle female voice suddenly rang out, ¡°You¡¯re Yu Yang, right? Even if you¡¯re upset with your uncle, you shouldn¡¯t take it out on these precious foods.¡± Her words pinned the crime on Fang Yuyang. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) with your recommendation or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 583 - 583 318 Make it clear ?Chapter 583: 318 Make it clear! Chapter 583: 318 Make it clear! Fang Yuxin looked toward the direction from where the voice came and saw it was Lu Weiwei speaking. She was about to reply when she heard Qu Qianhe say, ¡°Oh, I was wondering who it was! It turns out to be Mrs. Qu. It¡¯s been so long, I thought you were only good at seducing men, but it seems your skill in lying through your teeth is unmatched. Truly admirable.¡± As soon as Qu Qianhe spoke, Lu Weiwei¡¯s face contorted with anger. She opened her mouth to retort but suddenly realized it wasn¡¯t appropriate for the occasion. Her eyes flashed, and tears clouded her vision as she began to cry pitifully, ¡°Qianhe, I know you resent me, but no matter what, I am still your elder. How can you speak to me like this?¡± Qu Qianhe had a fiery temper, and it might have been fine if Lu Weiwei had only targeted her, but now Lu Weiwei even dared to wrongly accuse her son! Seeing Lu Weiwei¡¯s pretentious behavior, Qu Qianhe¡¯s temper flared. Hadn¡¯t Lu Weiwei deceived her father with the same trick? And now she dared to use it again, assuming they were easy to bully! Qu Qianhe sneered coldly and disdainfully said, ¡°I have long severed ties with the Qu Family, what right do you have to consider yourself my elder? Mrs. Qu, you¡¯re quite old, and the Qu Family is not lacking in fortune. Shouldn¡¯t you correct this habit of meddling in other people¡¯s relationships?¡± Qu Xiuhong, who was walking slower than Lu Weiwei, now reached Qu Qianhe. As soon as Lu Weiwei saw him, she threw herself into his arms and started crying pitifully again. After a while, she looked up at him with tears in her eyes and sobbed, ¡°Xiuhong, Qianhe is still angry with me. Listen to what she said! I¡¯m so embarrassed!¡± Though Qu Xiuhong and Lu Weiwei had been married for many years and he felt guilty toward Qu Qianhe, he had wanted to acknowledge her. However, in his heart, Qu Qianhe was still a junior, and the way she spoke to Lu Weiwei was far too excessive! Before he could speak, Qu Qianlin suddenly said, ¡°Mom! Don¡¯t be sad, we don¡¯t need these kinds of relatives! Let me teach her a lesson!¡± After he spoke, he immediately started shouting at Qu Qianhe, ¡°Hey! Apologize to my mom right now! Or don¡¯t blame me for being rude!¡± While he spoke, he demonstratively waved his fist around. Qu Qianhe, Fang Jintang, and Fang Yuyang all furrowed their brows. Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang stood by Qu Qianhe¡¯s side, coldly watching Qu Qianlin, ready to defend against any sudden aggression. As tension escalated between the parties, Fang Yuxin suddenly laughed, ¡°Mr. Qu, such grandeur! If not known, one might think this Qian Kun Hotel belongs to the Qu Family. No matter how discontent you are with our family, this place is ultimately Mr. Zhao¡¯s venue for the banquet. First, Mr. Qu assaulted Mr. Zhao¡¯s guests, then destroyed the carefully prepared food intended for the guests, and now you¡¯re throwing around your weight, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re disrespecting Mr. Zhao too much? Zhao Qian Kun was nearby, but having seen the two women arguing, he, a man, felt it awkward to interrupt. He had been silently observing everything, preparing to help the Fang Family out of this trouble if necessary, hoping to curry favor with Fang Yuxin and have her owe him a favor. But before he could speak, Fang Yuxin took the initiative. Seeing his opportunity to have Fang Yuxin owe him, he stepped forward. He looked gravely at the Qu Family and then said with a smile, ¡°If there¡¯s a misunderstanding between you two, could you, for my sake, shake hands and make up?¡± After speaking, he suavely snapped his fingers and summoned a waiter, commanding, ¡°Clean this up and bring some fresh food out, don¡¯t neglect the guests.¡± Despite the waiter internally resenting both the Qu and Fang Family, he had to put on a properly polite smile, calling others to clean up the mess on the floor. Zhao Qian Kun then made a ¡®please¡¯ gesture, continuing with a smile, ¡°This place isn¡¯t convenient. Let¡¯s move somewhere else and let the waiter handle this.¡± Although he was smiling, his tone was firm. The Qu Family, intimidated by his influence, naturally had to give him face and followed him with smiles. Qu Qianlin¡¯s face looked unpleasant; his eyes shifted between Zhao Qian Kun and Fang Yuxin, and suddenly a sly smile appeared on his face as he muttered under his breath, ¡°Fawning for glory!¡± Chapter 584 - 584 318 Speak Clearly_2 ?Chapter 584: 318 Speak Clearly!_2 Chapter 584: 318 Speak Clearly!_2 He wasn¡¯t really a fool; he knew that Zhao Qiankun couldn¡¯t be offended, so he spoke in a very low voice, audible only to Qu Qiancheng, Qu Xiuhong, and Lu Weiwei beside him. Qu Qiancheng and Qu Xiuhong, thinking of Zhao Qiankun¡¯s personality, unconsciously furrowed their brows and worried about Fang Yuxin. Lu Weiwei quickly glanced at Fang Yuxin, who stood by Qu Qianhe looking charming and alluring, and frowned unhappily¡ªQu Qianhe really was lucky! Having such a beautiful daughter, if they could cozy up to Zhao Qiankun, wouldn¡¯t Qu Qianhe be able to turn her fate around? Lu Weiwei couldn¡¯t help but start to worry; she had always been at odds with Qu Qianhe. If Qu truly got on Zhao Qiankun¡¯s good side, she might well seek revenge! She must stop this from happening! So, Lu Weiwei carefully recollected the situation of the Fang Family. As she thought about it, something occurred to her! When Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming were engaged, although not many knew and it wasn¡¯t reported in the media, Qu Xiuhong, being an extraordinary person, still found out. He even went around and sent a large gift to the Fang Family and had a private discussion with her, thinking that this son-in-law was a decent man and Fang Yuxin was fortunate. She was quite dissatisfied at the time, so this event was especially memorable to her. Now, it came to her mind. With a turn of her eyes, she deliberately smiled, ¡°This child is Xinxin, right? She¡¯s grown so much? She¡¯s really pretty. Eh? I thought you were already married, isn¡¯t your husband here with you?¡± As she spoke, she sneakily watched Zhao Qiankun¡¯s expression and indeed saw his face turn ugly, feeling a surge of triumph inside! However, Fang Yuxin looked at her with a half-smile, ¡°I wonder where Mrs. Qu heard that I was married? Such an important event, and I, the person concerned, don¡¯t know about it?¡± Lu Weiwei wasn¡¯t flustered, being older and not a nai?ve girl who hadn¡¯t experienced life, it wasn¡¯t so easy to catch her off guard. She deliberately put on a surprised face, ¡°Not married? Oh, that must be a mistake. It should be the engagement! I remember the young man¡¯s family name was Qiu, right? You¡¯ve been engaged for quite a while¡ªI thought you had already married. Haven¡¯t you?¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t answer her question. Instead, she smiled, ¡°So Mrs. Qu takes such an interest in my life decisions, I am truly flattered. However...¡± her tone changed mid-sentence, ¡°even if your charm rivals your younger days, Mr. Zhao is also a handsome young man; you shouldn¡¯t keep staring at him. Mr. Qu is right next to you, madam. It¡¯s better to restrain yourself a little to avoid any misunderstandings.¡± Lu Weiwei was smiling until this comment, and then her smile froze. She had been cautious, but how could she outwit Fang Yuxin¡¯s Spiritual Sense? Others were already sneakily watching this side, and at this remark, they instinctively looked at Lu Weiwei to see if she had indeed been gazing at Zhao Qiankun all along. Speaking of which, Lu Weiwei¡¯s outfit was really somewhat unbecoming of her status. Among the hostesses present, none dressed like her, at her mature age still styled like a seductive demon, and even showing off half her chest¡ªtruly unseemly! Carefully observing, the attires of the women at the cocktail party were quite interesting. Those dressed decently were someone¡¯s daughter or a wife; those who dressed more provocatively were clearly of a type that served through allure. Lu Weiwei, the wife of the Qu Family Patriarch, yet dressed like this, was simply a joke in everyone¡¯s eyes! Now with Fang Yuxin¡¯s remark, many quietly laughed. The Qu Family¡¯s faces turned unsightly. Qu Qianlin, ever impulsive, started cursing at Fang Yuxin, ¡°You filthy woman, how dare you speak like that? Want me to shut you up?¡± He had just finished when he felt a chill throughout his body, and then found himself facing Zhao Qiankun¡¯s icy gaze. Remembering Zhao Qiankun¡¯s status, he didn¡¯t dare to be reckless anymore and sneaked a disdainful glance at Fang Yuxin. Not far away, Bai Ye watched Qu Qianlin with equally cold eyes, nearly losing control of his urge to kill. Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Fang Yuyang all had completely darkened faces. It wasn¡¯t important that Qu Qianlin cursed them, but he daring to curse at Fang Yuxin? However, before they could utter a word, Fang Yuxin spoke out uncompromisingly, ¡°I don¡¯t believe it, just a rich kid sheltered by his family, and there he goes spouting nonsense. Qu Qianlin, if it wasn¡¯t for respect toward Mr. Zhao, I would have dealt with you long ago. You really think I¡¯m afraid of you?¡± ¡°Heh!¡± Qu Qianlin scoffed disdainfully at Fang Yuxin, ¡°You really dare say it! Thinking that Zhao Qiankun supports you and I wouldn¡¯t touch you?¡± Qu Qiancheng couldn¡¯t stand watching anymore, he tightly grabbed Qu Qianlin¡¯s arm, and whispered a warning in his ear, ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t embarrass us further! Eh?¡± Qu Qianlin was dissatisfied, feeling he was right; it was obviously the Fang Family stirring trouble! And Fang Yuxin was too arrogant! He glared at Qu Qiancheng, ¡°Bro! Whose side are you on? Didn¡¯t you see how arrogant that damned girl is? Let me teach her a lesson! She really doesn¡¯t know her place!¡± Qu Qiancheng wanted to say more, but Fang Yuxin spoke again, her voice cold, ¡°Mr. Qu! Make your words clear! How did Mr. Zhao support me?¡± At this, Qu Qianlin sneered, ¡°Look at how you¡¯re dressed like a demon, isn¡¯t it just to seduce Zhao Qiankun? As if everyone else is blind!¡± (To be continued. If you like this novel, you are welcome to recommend, vote for monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 585 - 585 Wholeheartedly devoted ?Chapter 585: Wholeheartedly devoted Chapter 585: Wholeheartedly devoted Qu Qianlin¡¯s voice was loud. Although he had been quite scared of Zhao Qiankun, the provocation from Fang Yuxin and Qu Qiancheng had stoked a fire in his heart, and now he spoke deliberately loudly, wishing everyone in the entire hall could hear him. The hall had been quiet, especially since Qu Qianlin started causing trouble, it had grown even quieter, with almost everyone secretly paying attention to the situation. Many were trying to be discreet, appearing to still be conversing. As soon as Qu Qianlin raised his voice, these people couldn¡¯t help but look over again, sizing up Fang Yuxin. Then, the looks on their faces grew complex. Fang Yuxin was indeed beautifully dressed today, which hadn¡¯t been as apparent outside, but once inside the hall, under the lights, the sparkling gems adorning her dress began to shimmer, and combined with the ethereal quality of the dress itself, she looked stunning. Moreover, her tall and slender figure, delicate features, fair skin, and exquisite face truly made her a rare beauty. But for Qu Qianlin to say she dressed like a ¡°demon¡± was simply too much. Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t styled her hair at all, her face was free from makeup, and the only piece of jewelry she wore was the White Jade Bracelet on her wrist. If anything, her attire was limited to a beautiful dress. The effect was mainly because she was naturally beautiful. Was it that she must dress down to avoid being accused of seducing others? Qu Qianlin was really being shameless! Moreover, those who knew about Fang Yuxin¡¯s relationship with the Qu Family looked down on Qu Qianlin even more. After all, Fang Yuxin was Qu Qianlin¡¯s own niece by marriage, and for him to speak of her this way was simply inhuman. On top of that, every woman in the hall had dressed up carefully for the event. Were they all trying to seduce Zhao Qiankun? Qu Qianlin¡¯s insult was directed not only at Fang Yuxin but also offended all the other women present. Fang Yuxin saw everyone¡¯s reaction in the hall and gave Qu Qianlin a deep look, cursing him as an idiot in her mind. Then she said to Zhao Qiankun, ¡°Mr. Zhao, I¡¯m very sorry. It seems Mr. Qu has a lot of issues with me, so I¡¯ll take my leave now; otherwise, I fear this banquet cannot continue.¡± With that, the Fang Family also stood up and apologized before preparing to leave. No one expected things to escalate to this point, not even Zhao Qiankun. Just moments ago, Fang Yuxin was full of arrogance, and Zhao thought she had something up her sleeve. Little did he expect her to fold her banners and even leave the banquet. This would surely show everyone that she was afraid of Qu Qianlin. Zhao Qiankun faintly felt that this was not Fang Yuxin¡¯s style. Moreover, he didn¡¯t want Fang Yuxin to leave just like that. They had barely met, and they hadn¡¯t even danced yet; how could he let her leave now? So he said, ¡°You are all my guests. If you cannot enjoy yourselves, then I, as the host, have truly failed in my duty.¡± At this point, he looked toward Qu Qianlin, his words now carrying a strong warning, ¡°Mr. Qu, I don¡¯t care what misunderstanding you have with the Fang Family, this is my banquet, and I hope no one ruins it. I hope you can grant me this favor!¡± Qu Qianlin glared fiercely at Fang Yuxin, thinking that she was indeed cozying up to Zhao Qiankun. This time, however, he didn¡¯t dare continue his bravado. Zhao Qiankun¡¯s words were clear¡ªif he caused more trouble, it would be a direct insult to Zhao Qiankun! Fang Yuxin felt somewhat disappointed; she was indeed planning to leave, having already met Zhao Qiankun¡¯s people and accomplished her objective. There was no need to stay and be gawked at like a monkey. But with Zhao Qiankun speaking this way, leaving would be disrespectful to him, and leaving Beishi Base in the future might also become troublesome, so she decided to stay. She sighed internally, unable to help cursing Qu Qianlin as useless¡ªwhy couldn¡¯t he continue causing a commotion now? Zhao Qiankun, pleased with the outcome, smiled at her contentedly, then walked toward the central podium where a microphone and a tower of wine glasses had already been prepared. He spoke some words to liven up the mood and personally poured the wine, loudly saying, ¡°I toast everyone here; I hope everyone enjoys themselves tonight!¡± After finishing his drink, he clapped his hands, and a hanging curtain slowly rose, revealing the band that had been prepared behind it. Chapter 586 - 586 Wholeheartedly devoted ?Chapter 586: Wholeheartedly devoted Chapter 586: Wholeheartedly devoted Upon closer inspection, one would realize that this band was quite famous before the apocalypse, with a lead singer who was a celebrated music diva, alluring in appearance, ethereal in voice, and highly valuable. Her singing was incredibly infectious; originally, everyone was chatting in groups or eating, but as her voice filled the air, they subconsciously stopped their actions and gazed at her, enchanted. Zhao Qiankun watched everyone¡¯s reactions, his smile carrying profound implications. Then, he suddenly looked at Fang Yuxin, seeing her expression cold and unaffected by the enchantment, he was initially shocked, and then couldn¡¯t help but laugh¡ªindeed, she was worthy of his attention! Then, he walked over to Fang Yuxin, extended his hand, bowed slightly, and said with a smile, ¡°Miss Fang Yuxin, may I have this dance?¡± Fang Yuyang was right beside her. Seeing Zhao Qiankun approaching, his face darkened slightly. He was about to help Fang Yuxin decline when she had already spoken with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I cannot accept your invitation.¡± Zhao Qiankun, who hadn¡¯t been rejected by a woman since the apocalypse, his face darkened, about to get angry, heard Fang Yuxin continue, ¡°This first dance, I think Miss Han Lingxi is more suited for you than I am. After all, she has been watching you the whole time, you wouldn¡¯t disappoint such a beautiful lady, right?¡± Zhao Qiankun was stunned and subconsciously looked at Han Lingxi, who was singing, catching her affectionate gaze. Her eyes brimmed with deep affection that flowed out slowly along with the heartfelt song enveloping him, making his heart soften instantly. He couldn¡¯t bear to let down such a passionate woman. Hesitating for a moment, he apologized to Fang Yuxin and then turned and walked towards Han Lingxi. Meanwhile, a satisfied smile suddenly appeared on Han Lingxi¡¯s sorrowful face as she slowly descended the steps towards him. As she walked, she sang, and by the time she reached him, the lyrics had reached their climax. Her voice suddenly soared, swirling around Zhao Qiankun¡¯s body. She wore a bright red dress with a high slit that had many layers of fabric. As she spun, the complex layers of her dress slowly opened to reveal her pale, slender legs, causing Zhao Qiankun¡¯s blood to rush. By this point, Zhao Qiankun¡¯s eyes saw only her, even forgetting Fang Yuxin. He couldn¡¯t resist wrapping his arms around her slim waist and pulling her close while Han Lingxi, cooperating, pressed her ample chest against his, bending her knees, leaning back, and stretching her slender neck to look up at him passionately as she sang the alluring lyrics. Zhao Qiankun looked down slightly, from a higher angle, watching her as he listened to the affectionate lyrics, almost hearing Han Lingxi¡¯s deep yearning for his affection and pampering. He loved this feeling of control so much it nearly stunned him. Han Lingxi sang, slowly straightening her body, her pale arms encircled Zhao Qiankun like a snake, gradually moving up to encircle his neck, and as the final lyrics ended, she suddenly brought her face closer and passionately kissed him. Fang Yuxin watched from a short distance away, and seeing this, she started to clap her hands. At her clap, other people joined in, clapping as if offering genuine blessings to Zhao Qiankun and Han Lingxi, a perfectly matched couple. Fang Yuyang stood next to her, watching this scene and couldn¡¯t help but secretly give Fang Yuxin a thumbs up. Just moments ago, when Zhao Qiankun came to invite Fang Yuxin, he had tensed up, really not wanting such a jerk to touch his precious sister. He hadn¡¯t expected Fang Yuxin to cleverly dodge. Especially her clapping just now, which publicly acknowledged Zhao Qiankun and Han Lingxi¡¯s relationship. This way, Zhao Qiankun surely couldn¡¯t pester her in front of everyone anymore, right? Even if he dared to do so, Fang Yuxin now had a perfect excuse to refuse. Nearby, Bai Ye breathed a sigh of relief; he had seen Zhao Qiankun pestering Fang Yuxin and almost couldn¡¯t stop himself from lashing out at Zhao Qiankun! Meanwhile, Zhao Qiankun, listening to the thunderous applause, snapped out of his infatuation. He quickly glanced over at Fang Yuxin, just in time to see her smiling at Fang Yuyang, her smile radiant and beautiful, exactly what he had always longed for! He subconsciously wanted to push Han Lingxi away, but was tightly embraced by her. Irritation welled up in his heart, and his gaze towards Han Lingxi cooled. However, just then, he suddenly saw Han Lingxi¡¯s pleading look. Her beautiful eyes filled with tears, a sorrowful and fragile look that made him unable to refuse. Fortunately, Han Lingxi soon let go of him, Zhao Qiankun internally praised her for knowing the situation, and his fondness for her grew. Unexpectedly, at that moment, Han Lingxi suddenly raised her voice, saying, ¡°Thank you! Thank you, everyone!¡± Their recent kiss had led the people to applaud and send their blessings; now, Han Lingxi¡¯s simple words accepted everyone¡¯s blessings, also acknowledging their relationship, raising her from one of Zhao Qiankun¡¯s numerous lovers to his girlfriend. Zhao Qiankun faintly felt something was amiss, but seeing Han Lingxi¡¯s joyful expression, he couldn¡¯t bear to upset her. Well then, he decided not to say anything, only thinking to himself that he must invite Fang Yuxin for a dance later. If she could stay for the night, that would be even better. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it, monthly ticket, your support is my greatest encouragement. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 587 - 587 320 Pretentious bitch ?Chapter 587: 320 Pretentious bitch! Chapter 587: 320 Pretentious bitch! Han Lingxi stood next to Zhao Qiankun, watching his expression closely, feeling displeased but showing no trace of it on her face. Instead, she approached Zhao Qiankun and extended her hand, inviting him, ¡°Mr. Zhao, may I have the pleasure of dancing the first dance with you?¡± As she was a woman taking the initiative to invite him, Zhao Qiankun naturally couldn¡¯t refuse. Moreover, they had just kissed in front of everyone; it wouldn¡¯t be proper to ignore Han Lingxi right afterwards. Thus, Zhao Qiankun politely bowed and, with a smile, said, ¡°Of course.¡± He then took Han Lingxi¡¯s hand and began to dance. Seeing this, others cleared a space for them on the dance floor. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t bear to watch any longer and simply walked with Fang Yuyang to the food stationed along the wall, continuing to enjoy the feast. Indeed, although it was the apocalypse, Zhao Qiankun¡¯s standard was nothing ordinary. The food must¡¯ve been from a master chef. It tasted no different from the pre-apocalyptic cuisine she had once enjoyed. It was rare and too good to miss! Bai Ye came quietly to her side, holding a tray next to Fang Yuxin. Seeing no one else around, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Xinxin, did you notice? That female singer?¡± Fang Yuxin gave him a look, ¡°I¡¯m not blind, how could I not notice? She is a Spiritual Superpower User with Level 3 strength. It¡¯s impressive that she can control people with her voice!¡± Bai Ye glanced over to where Zhao Qiankun and Han Lingxi were dancing, and then turned back to Fang Yuxin to gossip, ¡°Xinxin, do you think that Zhao guy knows how formidable that woman is?¡± Fang Yuxin quietly enjoyed her food, squinting at Bai Ye. He usually seemed aloof, especially toward strangers. She initially thought he was a ruthless person and was wary of him. Who knew, once they became acquainted, it turned out he was just a socially awkward type with a cute personality. However, Bai Ye rarely gossiped about others, so as Fang Yuxin saw him acting this way, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Just say what you want to say directly, no need to beat around the bush!¡± Bai Ye touched his nose, feeling a bit uncomfortable, and said, ¡°I¡¯m just thinking this woman seems very ambitious and does not appear to be a sincere person. How sincere could she be towards Mr. Zhao? He definitely doesn¡¯t know her true colours!¡± ¡°You worry too much,¡± Fang Yuxin chided him softly, ¡°It¡¯s none of our business anyway. We¡¯re just here to watch the show.¡± They were communicating with Spiritual Sense, so they didn¡¯t worry about being overheard; they even avoided eye contact, appearing like two people just standing together eating. However, while they were engrossed in their discussion, Zhao Qiankun was watching them. Though he was dancing with Han Lingxi, he hadn¡¯t forgotten about Fang Yuxin. All the while, he was searching for a glimpse of Fang Yuxin. When he saw her, he noticed that she was standing with two men, one being Fang Yuyang, her older brother, which he reluctantly ignored, but the other was Bai Ye! With his current power, he could easily find out that Fang Yuxin had come to Beishi Base with Bai Ye, and their relationship seemed ambiguous, which greatly displeased him. He had harbored a secret love for Fang Yuxin since long ago and had always wanted to win her over, but never had the chance until they graduated. Now that they had finally met again, the presence of another man by her side was intolerable to him. Zhao Qiankun felt a surge of anger and immediately thought of the rivalry between Bai Yi and Bai Ye. He sneered inwardly, deciding to turn the tables and use Bai Yi to remove Bai Ye. Moreover... if he could use the foolish Qu Qian Lin to eliminate the other members of the Fang family, then Fang Yuxin would only have him to rely on! Zhao Qiankun¡¯s thoughts raced, quickly forming a plan. Han Lingxi, facing him, noticed his expressions changing rapidly and began to speculate silently¡ªwhat was Zhao Qiankun scheming? Could it be... about Fang Yuxin? Following Zhao Qiankun¡¯s gaze, she saw the backs of the trio, Fang Yuxin and her company, and guessed that Zhao Qiankun was probably plotting against Fang Yuxin, feeling a sense of schadenfreude. However... since Zhao Qiankun cared so much about her, she would not let Fang Yuxin off the hook! This thought brought the faces of the Qu family to Han Lingxi¡¯s mind. Like Zhao Qiankun, she too considered the foolish Qu Qian Lin. But her thoughts went further ¡ª also to Qin Xiran, the arrogant young missy! She was well aware of Qin Xiran¡¯s recent deeds, and especially since Qin Xiran had a conflict with Fang Yuxin not long ago ¡ª leaving Fang Yuxin in their hands would definitely not raise suspicions for Zhao Qiankun! Chapter 588 - 588 320 Pretentious Bitch_2 ?Chapter 588: 320 Pretentious Bitch!_2 Chapter 588: 320 Pretentious Bitch!_2 The dance ended quickly, followed by others¡¯ turn to dance. Zhao Qiankun was about to invite Fang Yuxin to dance, but another beauty blocked him and took the initiative to ask him. She was also one of his coveted ladies; naturally, he couldn¡¯t refuse and simply agreed. On the other side, Qin Xiran strode toward Fang Yuyang, wishing to ask him to dance. However, before she reached Fang Yuyang, Qu Qianlin suddenly appeared in front of her, took her hand, and forcefully invited, ¡°Let¡¯s dance.¡± Seeing his annoying face, Qin Xiran felt angry and instinctively wanted to struggle. But Qu Qianlin held on tightly, and she couldn¡¯t break free! Qin Xiran frowned, her beautiful eyes glaring fiercely at Qu Qianlin, yet she dared not yell but whispered a warning, ¡°Qu Qianlin! Let go of me! I don¡¯t want to dance with you!¡± Upon hearing this, Qu Qianlin¡¯s handsome face instantly twisted. He tightened his grip and pulled Qin Xiran into his arms, looking into her angry eyes and sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t want to dance with me? Then who do you want to dance with, huh? Let me guess. Is it that pretty boy Fang Yuyang? Qin Xiran, stop dreaming! You think your dad would offend the entire Qu Family for you?¡± Qin Xiran struggled, her face turning particularly ugly, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know, Fang Yuyang¡¯s mother is the Miss of the Qu Family, and he is also a member of the Qu Family. He is much better than you, why wouldn¡¯t my dad agree?¡± Qu Qianlin couldn¡¯t stand being deemed useless, especially these words coming from Qin Xiran, even before his face, saying he was inferior to another man! He couldn¡¯t restrain himself and grabbed Qin Xiran, attempting to force a kiss. Qin Xiran, terrified by his sudden action, turned pale and suddenly released a fireball, hitting Qu Qianlin¡¯s hand. Excited, Qu Qianlin didn¡¯t dodge in time and got hit by the fireball Qin Xiran cast. He screamed in pain, and at the same time, the flames set his suit on fire. Taking advantage of the moment he released his grip, Qin Xiran slapped him across the face. So excited, she hit him hard and cursed, ¡°Qu Qianlin, you bastard!¡± The whole hall was filled with soothing light music, many people were dancing, and their commotion had everyone looking their way. Qu Qianlin¡¯s clothes caught fire; he frantically tore at his clothes, scattering burning fragments and sparks all around, nearly hitting nearby people. Lu Weiwei, seeing her young son nearly turning into a fire man from afar, screamed and rushed over, loudly shouting, ¡°Qian Lin! Qian Lin, are you alright? Don¡¯t scare mom! Someone! Help! Who will save my son?¡± A water ability superpower user nearby saw this and immediately threw a water ball at Qu Qianlin, extinguishing the flames on him. But although the fire was put out, Qu Qianlin was left in a wretched state. Not only had his high-end suit turned into shabby rags, covered in black marks, but he was also soaking wet, utterly disheveled. Lu Weiwei, seeing the fire on him extinguished, hurried over to check on him, ¡°My God! My God! He¡¯s burned! How could this happen?¡± She cried, then turned angrily toward Qin Xiran, dissatisfied, ¡°Miss Qin, why did you set my son on fire, please give me an explanation! If your explanation isn¡¯t satisfactory, the Qu Family will not let this go!¡± Qin Xiran blatantly scorned her almost threatening words, coldly laughed, and responded, ¡°Explanation? What kind of explanation do you want? Your son harassed me publicly, I taught him a lesson, what about it?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Lu Weiwei glared at her angrily, but thinking of Qin Xiran¡¯s status and what Qu Qianlin did, she felt less confident and could only say, ¡°Qian Lin has been close to you since childhood, and you two are even engaged. He just wanted to get closer to you, how did that become harassment?¡± Qin Xiran couldn¡¯t help but mock, ¡°Get closer? Does that mean, apart from Mr. Qu, other men can also ¡®get closer¡¯ to you like this?¡± Lu Weiwei¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment, Qin Xiran¡¯s words were too harsh! Seeing Qin Xiran¡¯s arrogant nature, knowing she was powerless, she could only cry pitifully. After all, she was the elder, and her crying made quite a few people feel Qin Xiran¡¯s attitude was too much. But Qin Xiran didn¡¯t care at all, even disregarding others¡¯ opinions, and coldly said, ¡°Hypocrites deserve contempt! Your son is still injured, instead of crying, you better find a Wood Element Superpower user to heal him.¡± Saying this, she deliberately looked over at Fang Yuxin in the corner. Reminded by this, Lu Weiwei also remembered¡ªto treat Qu Qianlin¡¯s injuries first! The Qu Family had five second-level Wood Element Superpower Users, in addition to several Level 1 users, but none of them were present! Second-level superpower users belonged to various factions, asking for their help would inevitably owe a favor, but Fang Yuxin was different! She was Qu Qianlin¡¯s niece, it was only right for her to help, right? Thus, Lu Weiwei called out to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin! Come and check on your uncle!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 589 - 589 Looks good but not practical ?Chapter 589: Looks good but not practical Chapter 589: Looks good but not practical Lu Weiwei¡¯s outcry made everyone turn their attention toward Fang Yuxin. Naturally, those invited to the party were well-informed individuals¡ªthey had already heard about the new Second-level Wood Element Superpower User at the Beishi Base, and many were interested. Sadly, this individual had connections with the Qu Family and the Bai Family, so no one dared to extend an olive branch to Fang Yuxin until those families had made their move. At this moment, since Lu Weiwei had shouted, everyone was curious to see just what kind of strength this Second-level Wood Element Superpower User possessed. Even among users of the same level, abilities varied¡ªsome were powerful, while others were merely duds augmented by Crystal Cores. Fang Yuxin, looking like a delicate miss, did not seem all that formidable, which was disconcerting. However, many also felt disdainful. Just a short while ago, Lu Weiwei and Qu Qianlin had been unashamedly arrogant and rude, and now they were asking for help because of injuries¡ªthey really had thick skins! Before Fang Yuxin could speak, Qu Qianhe scoffed and said, ¡°Mrs. Qu seems to have a poor memory¡ªI just said that we have no relation with the Qu Family, so don¡¯t falsely claim connections! How is he my Xinxin¡¯s uncle? If you¡¯re really worried about your son, you¡¯d better take him home and find someone to treat his injuries. I can¡¯t believe that the gigantic Star Mercenary Corps doesn¡¯t have a single Wood Element Superpower User! Don¡¯t embarrass yourself here!¡± Lu Weiwei was upset. Seeing how much pain Qu Qianlin was in, how could she delay? Since Fang Yuxin was a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, a mere flick of her fingers should save a person, so why wouldn¡¯t she agree? Feeling wronged, Lu Weiwei¡¯s tears began to fall again, looking quite pitiful. Those unaware of the truth might think Fang Yuxin and the others were bullying her! Qu Qianhe really couldn¡¯t stand Lu Weiwei¡¯s antics and remained unmoved; others, happy to watch the drama unfold, didn¡¯t step in to help either. Qu Xiuhong and Qu Qiancheng were so embarrassed they wished the ground would swallow them, feeling like the face of the Qu Family had been completely lost by Lu Weiwei and Qu Qianlin! Zhao Qiankun was also watching the drama with his arms crossed. He had planned to send someone to treat Qu Qianlin¡¯s injuries later, but just then, he heard a familiar voice say, ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Looking toward the voice, he furrowed his brows. The person who stepped forward was one of his close female friends, Cheng Lin, a Level 2 Peak Wood Element Superpower User. Cheng Lin was beautiful and pure, with a gentle and kind personality, much to Zhao Qiankun¡¯s liking. She owned a mutated rabbit as her Contracted Beast¡ªit was a little pet rabbit, only about the size of a palm, pure white and extremely cute. Cheng Lin often held it in her arms, making Zhao think of her as Chang¡¯e from the moon. So, when Cheng Lin stepped forward, Zhao Qiankun felt somewhat displeased. However, his dissatisfaction wasn¡¯t directed at Cheng Lin but at Qu Qianlin. Cheng Lin was his woman; how could she treat another man? Moreover, this man was the fool, Qu Qianlin! His expression darkened slightly as he walked toward Cheng Lin. Han Lingxi, noticing this, shifted her gaze and slightly curved her lips, her smile carrying a profound meaning. By now, Cheng Lin had approached Qu Qianlin. She glanced at the injuries on his body, her brow furrowing slightly, and said to a waiter, ¡°Bring some clean water.¡± Her voice was very sweet. During the wait, she looked up and glanced at Fang Yuxin and the others not far away and said, ¡°I¡¯m not clear about the disputes among you, but since you are a Wood Element Superpower User, you should maintain the basic integrity of a doctor. This gentleman is injured, and his mother is pleading beside him¡ªhow can you, out of selfishness, refuse to help?¡± Qu Qianhe couldn¡¯t tolerate others talking about her daughter like that. Her face changed, and just as she was about to speak, Fang Yuxin stopped her. Fang Yuxin could tell that Cheng Lin was targeting her deliberately! She wasn¡¯t a child, would she run to her mother whenever she was bullied? She didn¡¯t answer Cheng Lin directly, just smiled and said, ¡°May I know how to address this miss?¡± Cheng Lin¡¯s frown deepened, but she still said, ¡°I am Cheng Lin.¡± Fang Yuxin then replied, ¡°So it¡¯s Miss Cheng. Your breadth of heart truly shames me. However... Miss Cheng, you are also a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, aren¡¯t you? Can¡¯t you see that Mr. Qu has only sustained superficial injuries? By not treating him, I¡¯m hardly neglecting a critical condition. Moreover, with such a generous spirit as yours, Miss Cheng, I wonder how many people you save daily? Beishi Base is massive, with tens of thousands of people hunting zombies outside every day, countless individuals get injured¡ªI wonder how many Miss Cheng has saved?¡± Chapter 590 - 590 321 looks good but is not useful_2 ?Chapter 590: 321 looks good but is not useful_2 Chapter 590: 321 looks good but is not useful_2 Cheng Lin¡¯s face turned red instantly. She arrived late and had not witnessed the scene where Fang Yuxin outwitted Qu Qianlin, so she was unaware of how sharp-tongued Fang Yuxin really was! Initially, she only noticed Zhao Qiankun¡¯s interest in Fang Yuxin, who was quite attractive, and felt a sense of crisis. That¡¯s why she deliberately stepped forward to accuse Fang Yuxin, hoping to show Zhao Qiankun Fang Yuxin¡¯s true selfish and cold-blooded nature, but she ended up trapping herself! Cheng Lin had a pure and beautiful appearance, which made her seem rather aloof. So when she spoke up just now, coupled with the disheveled Qu Qianlin and the tearfully sad Lu Weiwei, the scales in everyone¡¯s hearts involuntarily tipped towards her, thinking that Fang Yuxin was too cold-hearted. However, with Fang Yuxin¡¯s retort, those present snapped out of it. They all had status and were naturally no fools; their earlier reactions were mainly driven by sympathy for the weaker party, but now everyone had sobered up. Especially since many people knew about Cheng Lin¡¯s relationship with Zhao Qiankun. This woman was one of Zhao Qiankun¡¯s lovers. Though she was a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, she rarely healed others besides Zhao Qiankun! And now she suddenly came forward, putting on a facade of a compassionate healer, which really raised suspicions! As everyone¡¯s gaze shifted between Cheng Lin and Fang Yuxin, they also sneakily glanced at Zhao Qiankun beside them, and everything became clear¡ªthis woman was simply jealous! Cheng Lin, choked by Fang Yuxin¡¯s words and unable to retort, felt even more determined to best her and said, ¡°Miss Fang is right, there are indeed many injured people in Beishi Base, many of whom can¡¯t get treatment. Why don¡¯t you and I have a competition to see who can save more people within a set time; what do you think?¡± Fang Yuxin was amused by her proposal. This woman seemed shrewd, so why didn¡¯t she think before she spoke? Could she really come up with such a foolish idea? Or did she think Fang Yuxin was some brainless idiot? Seeing her smile without responding, Cheng Lin grew even more discontented and urged, ¡°Fang Yuxin, you haven¡¯t answered my proposal yet.¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at Zhao Qiankun, who looked rather upset next to Cheng Lin, and smiled, ¡°I don¡¯t think much of it. You¡¯re about to advance to Level 3, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯ve only just advanced to Level 2 not long ago; can¡¯t you tell? Do you think such a proposal is fair? Also, the waiter has already brought the clean water. Weren¡¯t you going to heal Mr. Qu? Please, start.¡± The more casual Fang Yuxin¡¯s attitude was, the more frustrated Cheng Lin felt inside. She wanted to say more, but Zhao Qiankun held her hand. Cheng Lin couldn¡¯t help but turn her head and look at Zhao Qiankun with a pleading expression, hoping he would help her teach Fang Yuxin a lesson. However, not to mention that Zhao Qiankun had already developed feelings for Fang Yuxin, this situation was clearly provoked by Cheng Lin, which was obvious to any discerning eye. Yet, she was too foolish, not only failing to set Fang Yuxin up but also trapping herself instead. Zhao Qiankun was not foolish. How could he openly help her bully someone? However, Cheng Lin was still one of his favorite women, and naturally, he wouldn¡¯t let her continue to embarrass herself. Zhao Qiankun summoned a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User to heal Qu Qianlin and said to Cheng Lin, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just get injured not long ago? You absolutely can¡¯t use your superpower so soon after. Why are you overexerting yourself?¡± These words were deliberately giving Cheng Lin a way out, allowing the incident to pass as long as Cheng Lin stopped causing a scene. Zhao Qiankun knew Fang Yuxin¡¯s character well enough to be sure she wouldn¡¯t fuss further, so he wasn¡¯t worried about Fang Yuxin at all. Unexpectedly, Cheng Lin lost it. She quite liked Zhao Qiankun and was already very jealous. Hearing Zhao Qiankun¡¯s words made her feel publicly humiliated, as if he was criticizing her incompetence. She retorted, ¡°I¡¯m not injured! Just you wait; I¡¯ll definitely advance to Level 3 in a couple of days!¡± After saying that, she purposefully glanced at Fang Yuxin. What did being pretty matter? Even though Fang Yuxin was also a Wood Element Superpower User, she couldn¡¯t compare to herself! Her real intention was to outdo Fang Yuxin to keep Zhao Qiankun from thinking about her, but she had not considered that her words were effectively undermining Zhao Qiankun in public! Zhao Qiankun had just made an excuse to prevent her from taking action and had also offered her a way out to avoid putting herself in a tight spot. Her outburst had now turned the situation into a complete farce! The Second-level Wood Element Superpower User Zhao Qiankun had summoned was currently healing Qu Qianlin! Cheng Lin had stepped forward earlier with an air of a compassionate healer and criticized Fang Yuxin. Yet, as a Level 2 Peak Wood Element Superpower User who could save people with just a flick of her fingers, she did nothing! Watching the entire show unfold, many people were initially envious of Zhao Qiankun for having such a beautiful and high-level Red Powder confidante, but now they couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathy for Zhao Qiankun for having chosen such a beauty who was pretty but brainless! With Cheng Lin¡¯s delicate appearance, no one believed she had advanced her superpower level through her own efforts; it must have been Zhao Qiankun who piled up Crystal Cores to boost her, only to produce a brainless beauty who sabotaged herself at critical moments! Fang Yuxin observed everyone¡¯s expressions, standing aside like nothing was amiss, smiling gracefully. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 591 - 591 322 Schadenfreude ?Chapter 591: 322 Schadenfreude Chapter 591: 322 Schadenfreude Cheng Lin didn¡¯t think before she undermined Zhao Qiankun, but while she didn¡¯t give face to Zhao Qiankun, others dared not do the same. So, everyone pretended they heard nothing, or just smiled and turned away, continuing their conversations with others, or delivered a few compliments to save Zhao Qiankun¡¯s face. Cheng Lin was keenly aware of everyone¡¯s attitude, and she wanted to say more, but Zhao Qiankun gripped her hand tightly. He glared at her as a warning, and seeing the tears in her eyes and her aggrieved expression, he worried she would cause more trouble, so he quickly pulled her out of the hall. Fang Yuxin saw this, exchanged glances with her family, and prepared to take this opportunity to leave. However, at that moment, Fang Yuxin felt two malicious stares. She turned to look and found, to her surprise, that it was Lu Weiwei and Qu Qianlin. It seemed they resented her for not helping just now and had taken it out on her! Lu Weiwei suddenly spoke up, ¡°The Qu Family and the Fang Family indeed have no relation. I hope you remember what you said today. You should know, there¡¯s no medicine for regret in this world!¡± Qu Qianhe couldn¡¯t hold back her anger and was about to speak when Fang Jintang suddenly said, ¡°Mr. Qu has always indulged his respected wife¡¯s rudeness towards my wife and children. Is it because he thinks the Fang Family has no one to stand up for them?¡± Qu Xiuhong found himself bearing the brunt of the words but certainly couldn¡¯t scold his wife in front of everyone, which would be too embarrassing! Hesitating, he turned to Qu Qianhe and said, ¡°Qianhe, she is after all your¡ª¡± Qu Qianhe didn¡¯t let him finish and retorted, ¡°Mr. Qu must be getting old, his ears not working well. Didn¡¯t you hear your wife? We don¡¯t have anything to do with the Qu Family!¡± She sneered coldly, disdainfully glanced at Lu Weiwei, and continued, ¡°Lu, you can rest assured, we¡¯re not the least bit interested in what the Qu Family has!¡± After speaking, she took Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, preparing to leave. No one stopped them, as this was Zhao Qiankun¡¯s place. Aside from Zhao Qiankun¡¯s own people, no one else dared to make a fuss. Ironically, Zhao Qiankun was not there, so naturally, no one would stop the Fang Family from leaving. Before leaving, Fang Yuxin made sure to glance at Bai Ye, who nodded at her, signaling her to go on ahead. He had matters to deal with and couldn¡¯t leave for the time being. Given that Zhao Qiankun had already set his sights on Fang Yuxin, leaving her there was the last thing Bai Ye wanted. Once the Fang Family left, the hall buzzed again with excitement. Many gathered in small groups, whispering about everything that had just transpired. Despite not knowing the extent of Fang Yuxin¡¯s superpowers, they all comprehended that this woman was not to be trifled with. She had easily taken all the abuse, from Qu Qianlin¡¯s insults to Cheng Lin¡¯s provocations, and turned it around with just a few words to slap their faces¡ªher tactics were formidable! Looking at Qu Xiuhong and Qu Qiancheng with frowns and burdens on their minds, many couldn¡¯t help feeling schadenfreude, and some even started to sympathize with them. Although the Qu Family had established the Star Mercenary Corps Group, their family was not flourishing, and they lacked strong members, which meant they barely had control over the entire Mercenary Corps. In fact, there was already trouble within the Corps, with some plotting to seize power from the Qu Family! With both internal and external troubles, Qu Xiuhong and Qu Qiancheng placed great importance on the Fang Family. Although the members of the Fang Family were all Second-level Superpower Users without a Level 3 among them, and with only four people in total, additional manpower could always provide additional strength. Moreover, Fang Yuxin was a rare Second-level Wood Element Superpower User. Should she join the Qu Family, her involvement would certainly tip the scales even more in their favor. If she could advance to Level 3 soon, her significance would only increase! Unfortunately, before Qu Xiuhong and Qu Qiancheng could take action, the situation was thrown into chaos by the second-generation rich Qu Qianlin, who not only offended the Fangs but also repeatedly did so. It was one thing to do small moves in private, but now he had caused a scene at Zhao Qiankun¡¯s gathering, which was utterly disgraceful! And then there was Lu Weiwei! How infuriating Qu Xiuhong felt inside! He¡¯d always considered Lu Weiwei to be understanding, with her only flaw being her tendency to cry, which was somewhat vexing. But now, not only did Qu Qianlin act ignorantly, Lu Weiwei had also meddled nonsensically! This incident meant that the Fang Family and the Qu Family had become complete enemies, eliminating any remaining chance for the Qu Family to reconcile with them. Chapter 592 - 592 322 Taking pleasure in others misfortune_2 ?Chapter 592: 322 Taking pleasure in other¡¯s misfortune_2 Chapter 592: 322 Taking pleasure in other¡¯s misfortune_2 The situation inside the Star Mercenary Corps might not be very clear to outsiders, but within Beishi Base, people always heard some news. Originally, when Fang Yuxin appeared, some thought that the Qu Family had struck good fortune, having a precious Second-level Wood Element Superpower User literally delivered to their doorstep. Now it seems Qu Xiuhong was incredibly unlucky to have married Lu Weiwei, a woman who couldn¡¯t bear scrutiny, and to have fathered Qu Qianlin, a son who was more trouble than he was worth! Especially those aware of the Qu Family¡¯s past grievances couldn¡¯t help but secretly mock them, believing that Qu Xiuhong definitely recieved his karma, hence encountering so many troubles! However, no matter what these people thought, what had happened had happened, and no matter how much Qu Xiuhong and Qu Qiancheng regretted it afterward, they couldn¡¯t simply swallow their pride and go apologize to Fang Yuxin and others. Qu Xiuhong was older now and although he felt that Lu Weiwei and Qu Qianlin had caused him great embarrassment, he didn¡¯t think their mistakes were too severe; he always felt that Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin were too disrespectful! After much consideration, Qu Xiuhong finally decided that after a few days, when the anger in Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin¡¯s hearts had subsided a bit, he would go and find them. Qu Qiancheng thought similarly. So, they stopped dwelling on the Fang Family¡¯s affairs and swiftly put on smiles, taking wine to chat with familiar faces. The Qu Family was in a tough spot; they had to endure and not be stripped of their power; they needed to bond more with other influential figures and be prepared to concede some benefits if necessary. Bai Ye was always worried that the Qu Family would cause trouble for the Fang Family. Seeing that these people seemed to have calmed down, he no longer just watched from a distance and walked towards his parents in the distance. Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou had come early and had been discreetly keeping an eye on the situation with the Fang Family. When Qu Qianlin started causing trouble at first, they really couldn¡¯t stand it and wanted to help. However, before they could speak up, Fang Yuxin and the others had already resolved the problem. To avoid making matters worse, they refrained from interfering further. It was only after the Fang Family members had left that they quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Although Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou were significantly older than Qu Xiuhong, they held deep disdain for Qu Xiuhong and even the entire Qu Family¡¯s actions. Having just witnessed the shamelessness of Qu Qianlin and Lu Weiwei firsthand, their view of the Qu Family worsened, and even started disliking Qin Xiran. Qin Xiran was originally the young lady of the Qin Family, who had once intended to match her with Bai Ye; unfortunately, whether Bai Ye was too indifferent or not, Qin Xiran didn¡¯t like him. Later, when Bai Ye gave up entering the Military Department to become a mercenary, ruining his future prospects, the Qin Family no longer brought up the marriage or bothered him again. Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou were actually relieved about this. Because Bai Ye was previously too cold to Qin Xiran, while they didn¡¯t think much of the Qin Family, they still liked this beautiful girl. Who knew that as Qin Xiran grew older, she would become increasingly unreasonable! She was clinging to Fang Yuyang relentlessly, causing him a lot of trouble; and that would have been fine, but she even started targeting Fang Yuxin, which was absolutely unreasonable jealousy! However, they weren¡¯t close to Qin Xiran now, so it wasn¡¯t their place to reprimand her, and they just felt annoyed internally for a while. What they were more concerned about were Bai Ye and the Bai Family¡¯s issues. Bai Ye¡¯s previous suspicion had greatly alarmed Bai Zhengli; thus, after arriving at the party, he was very vigilant. Just then, Bai Ye, that rascal, actually told him that many pinhole cameras had been installed in the hall! They could monitor every angle! Bai Zhengli wasn¡¯t entirely sure about Zhao Qiankun¡¯s surveillance of the Bai Family, but after hearing that, he felt it was highly likely. Fortunately, Bai Ye quickly destroyed those cameras, otherwise staying here for even a second more was unbearable for him! When Bai Ye came over, Bai Zhengli gave him a dissatisfied glare¡ªoh, you still remember your old man? Bai Ye was helpless; his parents were, after all, from the Bai Family¡ªeven if they were collateral relatives, they weren¡¯t people outsiders could bully. They wouldn¡¯t be in trouble at the party, so why should he stick around them relentlessly? If he really did that, Bai Zhengli would definitely find him annoying and tell him to get lost! Bai Zhengli wasn¡¯t truly angry with him and stopped paying him any attention after the glare. After all, this place belonged to Zhao Qiankun, and it really wasn¡¯t the place to speak. Meanwhile, Bai Ye was staring at Bai Yi, thinking of the memories Fang Yuxin had extracted from Poison Wolf¡¯s mind, wishing he could fiercely beat him up! His gaze was too piercing, and Bai Yi quickly noticed. Turing his head, he met Bai Ye¡¯s cold gaze, pulled the corner of his mouth up into a cold sneer, showing disdain. Bai Ye really didn¡¯t want to bother with this fool; what time was it now, and he was still thinking about pulling strings and scheming¡ªZhao Qiankun might just take advantage of him one day! Yet, despite Bai Ye ignoring him, Bai Yi refused to let him go. Holding a glass of wine, he quickly walked up to Bai Ye, lowered his voice into a cold laugh, ¡°Your heart is really big, the girl from the Fang surname is being targeted by Zhao Qiankun, yet you still have the mood to drink here. Aren¡¯t you afraid of being cuckolded one day?¡± Bai Ye glanced at him disdainfully, ¡°Don¡¯t you want me not to be with Xinxin? If she¡¯s really taken by Zhao Qiankun, wouldn¡¯t that suit your wishes?¡± Bai Yi snorted coldly, slightly bowed his head and said gleefully, ¡°Bai Ye, Zhao Qiankun is a ruthless man. If he finds out the woman he fancies has a thing with you, he definitely won¡¯t let you off. I¡¯m looking forward to seeing that.¡± Bai Ye looked at him mockingly and retorted, ¡°Maybe you should worry about yourself.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote your recommendation and monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users can visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 593 - 593 asking for a beating ?Chapter 593: asking for a beating Chapter 593: asking for a beating Bai Yi listened to Bai Ye¡¯s words, first with anger, then a thought struck him, and suddenly he felt that there was a hidden meaning behind Bai Ye¡¯s words. He wasn¡¯t a complete fool, so he asked in a low voice, ¡°What exactly do you mean by that? Speak clearly!¡± Bai Ye didn¡¯t bother with him. Bai Yi was a good-for-nothing in his eyes, and he couldn¡¯t care less to warn this person to be wary of Zhao Qiankun. He just looked at Bai Yi with a mockingly playful gaze, then continued drinking his wine. After downing his drink in one gulp, he casually placed the wine glass on a passing waiter¡¯s tray and moved on to pick out more food. Ever since he heard what Bai Ye had just said, Bai Yi¡¯s heart had been in turmoil, and now he followed him, staring persistently and asking, ¡°Bai Ye, tell me clearly, what exactly did you mean by what you just said? Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re also part of the Bai Family! It won¡¯t do you any good if something happens to me!¡± Bai Ye found it ludicrous that Bai Yi had the nerve to say such a thing, and looking at him, he asked, ¡°What if something happens to me, surely you would benefit quite a bit.¡± Hearing this, Bai Yi instantly felt somewhat guilty. He had always been jealous of Bai Ye since he was young, always worried that Bai Ye would steal what belonged to him. Therefore, the two of them never got along, and Bai Yi constantly had his entourage bully Bai Ye. As they grew older and he saw Bai Ye become more and more outstanding, he developed a strong sense of crisis. It was then that he started plotting to get rid of Bai Ye. But the only real attempt was the demise trap planned with Qiu Yiming. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t succeed, and Bai Ye had escaped! Thinking about this, Bai Yi suddenly felt dissatisfaction toward Qiu Yiming far away in Market. They had planned everything so well; how could it fail? Surely Qiu Yiming was too incompetent! For a moment, Bai Yi couldn¡¯t figure out whether Bai Ye¡¯s words referred to this incident or something to do with the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps. Encountering Bai Ye¡¯s piercing gaze, his heart panicked even more. However, his face remained calm, and he even said, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what nonsense you¡¯re talking about!¡± After speaking, he walked away quickly, not daring to stay any longer. Bai Ye watched his somewhat stiff back, a very faint curve forming on his lips, seemingly amused. Zhao Qiankun, after leaving with Cheng Lin, had been out of sight until he reappeared more than half an hour later, even wearing a different set of clothes; Cheng Lin, on the other hand, had not reappeared. Everyone glanced at Zhao Qiankun¡¯s clearly different clothes and exchanged knowing looks with the person next to them. What Zhao Qiankun did just now was self-explanatory, and unless someone was a fool, it was evident to all present. Many recalled Cheng Lin¡¯s good looks and graceful figure, and couldn¡¯t help but feel envious of Zhao Qiankun¡¯s good fortune. If one overlooked Cheng Lin¡¯s mind, she sure was a catch. But then again, although Cheng Lin was fine, she really couldn¡¯t compare to a true beauty like Han Lingxi. When Zhao Qiankun left before, Han Lingxi did not leave but stood in the circle of elite ladies, chatting with them as naturally as if she were the hostess here. Compared to her, Cheng Lin was not only less intelligent but also seemed far too petty. As soon as Zhao Qiankun returned, Han Lingxi went up to him without showing a hint of jealousy, acting as though she was clueless about what he had done with Cheng Lin after leaving. She stood beside him, arm in arm, smiling brightly, looking even more like the hostess. Zhao Qiankun always appreciated Han Lingxi¡¯s sense of the bigger picture. Seeing her cleverly hooking onto his arm, he couldn¡¯t help the rush of desire. He gazed at Han Lingxi¡¯s fair arm, recalling its incredibly smooth touch, and his body, having been relieved, began to heat up once more. Had it not been for the awareness that the setting was inappropriate, he would have been tempted to take care of Han Lingxi, the demoness seducing him, right then and there! Zhao Qiankun forcefully suppressed his body¡¯s reaction, cleared his throat, and began to mingle in the hall with Han Lingxi, greeting people from various influential groups. Han Lingxi observed Zhao Qiankun¡¯s reaction, her eyes shifting as the corners of her mouth slowly lifted into a seductive and sexy smile. She was no fool; she knew well what had happened between Zhao Qiankun and Cheng Lin after he left. However, she didn¡¯t even consider the foolish Cheng Lin a threat. That woman was simply too naive to qualify as her rival. It was better to keep her around to watch her struggle with other women, which was far more interesting! Chapter 594 - 594 323 Asking for a beating_2 ?Chapter 594: 323 Asking for a beating_2 Chapter 594: 323 Asking for a beating_2 Fang Yuxin seemed rather difficult to handle. However, that woman looked quite smart, and since she had no interest in Zhao Qiankun, there was no need to make an enemy of her... Han Lingxi silently observed everyone¡¯s reactions in the hall and quietly selected her suitable pawns. The moment she saw Bai Ye, her eyes lit up¡ªthis man was just too handsome! And from any angle, he strangely appealed to her tastes! Han Lingxi stuck out her tongue and licked her fiery red lips, her gaze at Bai Ye revealing an imperceptible greed! Bai Ye was very perceptive. He noticed Han Lingxi¡¯s gaze and subconsciously looked over, seeing her walking with Zhao Qiankun, and could not help but frown. Although Han Lingxi quickly withdrew her gaze and no longer looked at him, Bai Ye was certain that it was Han Lingxi who had been watching him. What does this woman want? To look at him with such a disgusting gaze! Bai Ye initially felt that if there was food available he might as well eat, but now Han Lingxi had completely spoiled his appetite, causing him to throw his plate aside and move to another spot to continue drinking. Han Lingxi stopped watching Bai Ye, especially with Zhao Qiankun by her side. Although he wasn¡¯t clever enough, he was no fool. If she made it too obvious, he would definitely notice! She still felt a bit of regret, but unexpectedly, Zhao Qiankun dismissed a few subservient people and then suddenly led her toward Bai Ye. Han Lingxi was somewhat shocked. She glanced at Zhao Qiankun and saw him staring at Bai Ye with almost blatant malice, which startled her and even made her worry about Bai Ye. Zhao Qiankun was not someone to mess with; anyone he targeted was bound for a bad end! Han Lingxi wondered, how had Bai Ye offended Zhao Qiankun? However, seeing Bai Yi not far away, she instantly understood. Zhao Qiankun wasn¡¯t specifically targeting Bai Ye but rather taking the opportunity to strike at the Bai Family! She felt a pity inside. Bai Ye looked so appealing to her, but now Zhao Qiankun was using him to target the Bai Family, and the handsome man¡¯s fate was all too clear. Compared to Han Lingxi¡¯s regret, Bai Ye was much more composed. He held a glass of wine, drinking slowly. Watching Zhao Qiankun approach him, he was calm, acting as if he saw nothing. Others watching this scene all felt anxious, sneakily watching, curious about what Zhao Qiankun intended to do. Then, they saw Zhao Qiankun walk up to Bai Ye, surprisingly raising his glass to him and loudly laughing, ¡°Bai Ye, right? I¡¯ve heard you took down the notorious Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps today. You are a hero! I toast to you!¡± Bai Ye slightly raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t cooperate by drinking. Instead, he said, ¡°There was no one else present at the time, Mr. Zhao, how did you know?¡± Zhao Qiankun was immediately displeased. His status as the second most powerful force in Beishi Base and squad leader of the Qiankun Mercenary Corps meant his offer to drink was a favor to Bai Ye. Bai Ye not only didn¡¯t drink but even questioned him! He was about to lose his temper when he suddenly heard Han Lingxi laughingly say, ¡°True heroes are indeed different from ordinary people, even their focus is different. Mr. Bai, Brother Kun rarely takes the initiative to toast someone; you can¡¯t disrespect Brother Kun like this.¡± Her voice, carrying a laugh, sounded neither aggressive nor easy to refuse. Han Lingxi was inherently captivating, and after Awakening her Spiritual Power, her allure was greater than ever. Any other man, hearing her soft and ethereal voice, would likely be dazed and obediently drink. Bai Ye, however, was unaffected. He even put down his glass and raised his voice, ¡°No, until things are clear, I can¡¯t drink this. Mr. Zhao, how exactly did you come to know I killed the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps?¡± His tone was somewhat aggressive, making him seem a bit ungracious, but the astute ones noticed the crux of the matter. The Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps was notorious, yet adept at disguise, appearing and disappearing without trace, and those who knew their identities had almost all died. How did Bai Ye manage to kill these people? And how did Zhao Qiankun come to know about it? Could it be that Zhao Qiankun had special ways to monitor people? Everyone thought of this and couldn¡¯t help but recall the communicators on their wrists. They wouldn¡¯t forget that these communicators came from Zhao Qiankun¡¯s laboratory. Could it be that he had tampered with them without their knowledge? However, these communicators had been inspected by someone they brought back! No one liked being monitored, ordinary people let alone, and especially not when everyone here was an influential figure from various forces within Beishi Base. How could they tolerate being spied on? Thus, Bai Ye¡¯s counter-question stirred anxiety among many, leading them to look suspiciously at Zhao Qiankun. Zhao Qiankun, having been through many tribulations, naturally wouldn¡¯t panic because of a few words; he calmly spoke, ¡°At the time, someone happened to pass by, saw from a distance, and then told me. Are you satisfied with this answer?¡± Bai Ye looked deeply at him, didn¡¯t explicitly say he was dissatisfied, but with a mocking smile said, ¡°I see, I just wonder who could be so capable, seeing from a distance, to know it was the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps.¡± After speaking, he picked up his glass, gestured to Zhao Qiankun, then in front of Zhao Qiankun¡¯s stiff expression, downed it in one go. Finishing, he even praised, ¡°Mr. Zhao really is wealthy, I haven¡¯t had such good wine in a long time.¡± His insolent manner almost drove Zhao Qiankun mad enough to flay him alive! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 595 - 595 324 Secret Laboratory ?Chapter 595: 324 Secret Laboratory Chapter 595: 324 Secret Laboratory Even though Zhao Qiankun¡¯s hatred for Bai Ye made his teeth itch, Bai Ye had, after all, taken a drink, and if Zhao Qiankun continued to press the issue, it would only draw more attention to the matter. So he had no choice but to forcibly suppress the anger in his heart, managing a forced smile towards Bai Ye, and drank the wine in his cup. Because he was the squad leader of the Qiankun Mercenary Group, and the Mercenary Group was the second largest power in Beishi Base, he had chosen to serve only fine wines for the sake of keeping up appearances. However, whether he was too angry or Bai Ye had upset him, the usually sweet wine tasted exceptionally bitter in his mouth. Zhao Qiankun struggled to gulp down a large mouthful of wine, and because he drank it so hurriedly, the bitter taste almost made him spit it out! Yet, he couldn¡¯t afford to make a fool of himself and had to reluctantly swallow it, which deeply annoyed Zhao Qiankun. This time he had intentionally brought up the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps to let everyone present know that Bai Ye was a force to be reckoned with! At the same time, it was a warning to Bai Yi, urging him to eliminate the threat that was Bai Ye! Unexpectedly, Bai Ye¡¯s retorts had spoiled his plan, not only failing to achieve his goal but also arousing suspicion among the others present. To avoid revealing more and eliciting further doubts, Zhao Qiankun didn¡¯t pursue the matter further. After drinking with Bai Ye, he feigned magnanimity with a few forced laughs and then turned to leave with Han Lingxi. However, even though Bai Ye didn¡¯t continue the confrontation, it set everyone else¡¯s minds racing. They all noticed that Zhao Qiankun¡¯s expression was off¡ªnot quite a complete loss of composure, but obviously unnatural. Could it be... Zhao Qiankun was really monitoring them? If it were someone else, people might not be so suspicious. But everyone at Beishi Base knew that Zhao Qiankun had a formidable research institute under him, populated with many talented researchers. Communicators, blood testing strips, and energy meters that appeared in Beishi Base were all achievements of this institute! So, no one doubted that such a secretive research institute could produce tools for surveillance! However, if it were the Qu Family accused of this, perhaps less than half would believe it! When Zhao Qiankun first introduced these devices, he never imagined they would one day backfire on him! As he left Bai Ye with Han Lingxi, his mind raced with strategies to deal with Bai Ye. Meanwhile, his eyes searched the entire hall¡ªwhere had Fang Yuxin gone? Because Fang Yuxin always kept to the corners, and since he was busy dealing with some faction leaders earlier, he hadn¡¯t had the chance to look for Fang Yuxin. But now that he thought to look for her, he realized she was nowhere to be found! Zhao Qiankun¡¯s face turned sour. Had Fang Yuxin already left? Why didn¡¯t anyone stop her? Why didn¡¯t anyone inform him? Yet, he could only sigh regretfully as he looked at the bustling hall¡ªnow was not the time to be concerned with such matters! Han Lingxi was very clever. Seeing Zhao Qiankun searching with his gaze, she knew he was looking for Fang Yuxin. However, she pretended to be unaware and asked with concern, ¡°Brother Kun, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhao Qiankun, seeing the full concern for him in her eyes, couldn¡¯t admit he was looking for Fang Yuxin. He just slightly shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, don¡¯t worry.¡± Han Lingxi didn¡¯t speak further, only giving him a seductive smile, quite pleased with Zhao Qiankun¡¯s ability to read the room. Indeed, she knew he was a man with a soft heart for the women he liked. It was just a pity that he liked far too many! Han Lingxi¡¯s eyes slightly drooped, hiding the coldness within as she sneered inwardly. But Zhao Qiankun loved her demure appearance. He even recalled a famous line of poetry¡ªthe gentle bow of the head is most tender, like a lotus flower too delicate for the cool breeze¡¯s tease. With this thought, he lost all interest in the tiresome banquet. His initial objective of hosting the banquet was to flaunt his power to the various powers of Beishi Base and to use the incident with the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps to inform everyone of Bai Ye¡¯s capabilities, inciting rivalry between Bai Ye and Bai Yi, thus weakening the Bai Family¡¯s strength. If it led to the Bai Family¡¯s split, all the better! The final goal was to see Fang Yuxin¡¯s current state and then decide how to deal with her. Now that the first and third goals had been met, there had just been some issues with dealing with Bai Ye, which almost led to a complete failure. Now that everyone was on guard, any further schemes might fall through, making it no longer necessary to do anything more for the time being. Chapter 596 - 596 324 Secret Laboratory_2 ?Chapter 596: 324 Secret Laboratory_2 Chapter 596: 324 Secret Laboratory_2 Zhao Qiankun decided to end the party and do something more meaningful with Han Lingxi. Before that, in the secret research institute belonging to Bai Yi, a silent slaughter was underway. The Fang Family left the party and went straight home. After quickly changing into protective suits, they cast an invisibility spell and quietly slipped out the door. There were always people monitoring the outside of the Fang home, but no one noticed them leaving at this time; everyone assumed they were still inside. It was eight thirty in the evening, and the sky had completely darkened. Although there were streetlights throughout the base, many were turned off to save electricity, making it look pitch black. After stepping out, the Fang Family sneakily headed towards Bai Yi¡¯s secret research institute. This place was known to Fang Yuxin from the memories of Poison Wolf. To procure test subjects, Bai Yi always relied on Poison Wolf. For secrecy, every time Poison Wolf captured a suitable test subject, he would personally deliver them to this secret institute, Bai Yi never showed his face. So, after forcefully reading Poison Wolf¡¯s memory, Fang Yuxin knew about this place. The director of the secret research institute was known as Dr. Sun; his specific name was unclear to Poison Wolf, who knew only that this was what everyone called him. This person was persistent with human experiments, and Poison Wolf had captured a considerable number of test subjects for his use, including zombies, mutated creatures, but more often, living people! Ordinary People or superpower users. Fang Yuxin learned from Poison Wolf¡¯s memory that the institute constantly conducted inhumane research and was determined to destroy the place. Conveniently, Zhao Qiankun issued an invitation, hosting numerous guests. Although they had left early, who would think that they were behind this? Compared to them, Zhao Qiankun was far more suspect! The other members of the Fang Family had viewed this segment of Poison Wolf¡¯s memory, so they did not oppose Fang Yuxin¡¯s decision and even followed her. On their way there, they were mentally prepared, knowing the institute¡¯s interior would be a horrific sight. However, upon entering, they truly understood what real hell on earth was! Apart from the zombies and mutated creatures, there were human test subjects of all age groups: children, teenagers, youths, middle-aged, and the elderly, both male and female! Now, during the chaotic apocalypse, making someone disappear was all too easy. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know how long it took them to collect so many test subjects; she just felt that these researchers were inhuman! Bai Yi and Dr. Sun were actually very cautious; this small secret research institute even had two Level 3 Superpower Users! It¡¯s worth noting that at present, in Beishi Base, Level 3 Superpower Users were quite rare, with just thirty-five in total¡ªand the Bai Family had ten of them. However, she didn¡¯t dwell on it. After entering the secret institute, she quietly cast a barrier that enveloped the place. Those two Level 3 Superpower Users probably didn¡¯t dare to use their Big Moves out of fear of attracting attention; this worked to the advantage of Fang Yuxin and her group. Fang Yuxin¡¯s power was equivalent to a Level 4 Superpower User. Fang Yuyang, Fang Jintang, and Qu Qianhe were equivalent to Level 3 Superpower Users, but even stronger! Hence, it didn¡¯t take much effort for them to kill those two Level 3 Superpower Users. The others, obviously, were even easier to deal with! When the researchers and guards realized the situation had turned dire, they tried to call for backup using their Communicators. Unfortunately, Fang Yuxin¡¯s barrier not only blocked out sound but also signals. No matter how they dialed, the speakers emitted only that cold, electronic voice¡ª¡±Sorry, the number you¡¯ve dialed cannot be reached.¡± It only took the Fang Family ten minutes to gain control over everyone there, except for the crazed Dr. Sun. He was busy conducting an experiment in a lab. To avoid any disturbances, he had locked the lab door, which blocked out sound, so he heard nothing of the events occurring outside! After restraining the researchers and guards, Fang Yuxin did not kill them. Instead, she found and injected them with their own drugs. Then, she headed towards the lab where Dr. Sun was located. Dr. Sun was excitedly observing the test subject on the experimental table¡ªa girl with no clothes on, tightly secured by straps, with eyes wide with fear and her body shaking violently. Dr. Sun was holding a new energy measuring device in his hand, testing for energy fluctuations emanating from the girl. The device¡¯s screen showed rising data, climbing from Wood-element Level 1 to Wood Element Level 2 and continuing upward. Gradually, the numbers approached Wood Element Level 3, but that point just wouldn¡¯t break. Out of impatience, Dr. Sun¡¯s eyes were fixated on the energy measuring device. As the numbers stopped changing and remained around the Peak of Wood Element Level 2, his expression suddenly darkened. He grabbed a syringe from beside him and plunged the needle deep into the girl¡¯s heart, injecting the contents into her. As the injection was administered, the energy measuring device¡¯s screen began to change again. The numbers jumped a few times and then suddenly soared upward! Dr. Sun watched the display in delight, laughing triumphantly. Suddenly, his laughter stopped¡ªhis eyes widened in disbelief! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 597 - 597 How could 325 be possible ?Chapter 597: How could 325 be possible! Chapter 597: How could 325 be possible! Dr. Sun stared intently at the young girl on the experimental table, only to see that her delicate skin was covered with cracks and fresh blood was continuously flowing from her wounds. Not only that, her eyes were incredibly wide, her sclera filled with blood vessels, pupils dilated, and her breath had become very faint. ¡°No! This can¡¯t be possible! My experiment can¡¯t fail!¡± Dr. Sun yelled, suddenly taking another syringe from a box beside him and injecting it into the girl¡¯s heart. The reagent in it was synthesized from components extracted from mutant plants and functioned similarly to a cardiac stimulant, intended to enhance cardiac activity. The reagent had just been developed not long ago, still in clinical research, and its performance was unstable, far from ready for widespread use. He had also spent a lot of effort to acquire just this small syringe. At this moment, willing to do anything for a successful experiment, he couldn¡¯t care less. With this injection, the girl¡¯s pupils dilated even more severely, but her heartbeat grew stronger. Dr. Sun placed his palm on her chest, feeling the increasingly strong heartbeat, just about to breathe a sigh of relief, when his expression changed dramatically again! The girl¡¯s heartbeat became faster and faster, far exceeding the normal range, and continued to intensify! Dr. Sun¡¯s face turned extremely grim; at this rate, her heart surely couldn¡¯t handle it! As if to prove his guess, he suddenly heard a ¡°bang¡±, followed by the abrupt cessation of the frantic heartbeat. At the moment of cardiac rupture, Dr. Sun¡¯s palm on the girl¡¯s chest was even thrown back. He watched in disbelief, his face filled with agony: ¡°No! No! My experiment! How could my experiment fail! Why!¡± Just then, the door behind him was silently pushed open from the outside, and a slender figure walked in. Dr. Sun was grieving, yet suddenly sensed something. He quickly turned around and saw Fang Yuxin standing at the doorway, looking at him with a cold gaze. Seeing Fang Yuxin, he couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± Then, he became alert and warily looked at the Miao Saber in Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, ¡°How did you get in here? What about the people outside?¡± Fang Yuxin ignored him. She glanced at the girl on the experimental table; although dead, the energy fluctuations on her body had not completely subsided. Fang Yuxin recognized at an instant that this was a Wood Element Superpower User. She frowned, her gaze shifted and looked at Dr. Sun with disgust, coldly saying, ¡°You are really scum!¡± Dr. Sun was very displeased with Fang Yuxin¡¯s remark, shouting loudly, ¡°I am a great scientist! My research is significant for all of humanity! You can¡¯t slander me!¡± ¡°Me? Really?¡± Fang Yuxin sneered, pointing a finger at Dr. Sun, and with a flash of green light, Red Powder transformed into a vine that firmly pinned Dr. Sun against the wall. Its spikes pierced into Dr. Sun¡¯s body, and because of Fang Yuxin¡¯s command, it did not inject neurotoxin to paralyze him, just causing pain, rendering him unable to move. Then, Fang Yuxin put on a pair of latex gloves, took a syringe from the box, and walked toward Dr. Sun. Dr. Sun clearly understood the effects of his own syringes; the one in Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand contained the Zombie Virus, used to test the experimental subject¡¯s tolerance to the virus! Seeing this, Dr. Sun¡¯s eyes instantly filled with extreme horror. He had always considered himself great, obsessed with human body research, but he preferred to use others as subjects, not himself! As a high-intelligence top talent, a valuable asset to the nation and the world, how could he become a lowly subject! ¡°I am a great scientist, my research has great significance for all of humanity, you can¡¯t do this to me!¡± he said loudly while struggling violently. Compared to the physical pain, becoming a subject was an unbearable humiliation he could not endure! Fang Yuxin laughed, Red Powder tightening around Dr. Sun even further, completely immobilizing him, even extending vines to bind his neck to prevent him from yelling. Fang Yuxin walked up to him, unapologetically injecting the syringe into his body. Then, under Dr. Sun¡¯s horrified and pained gaze, she continued to take out new syringes. Chapter 598 - 598 325 How is that possible_2 ?Chapter 598: 325 How is that possible!_2 Chapter 598: 325 How is that possible!_2 She had just injected Dr. Sun with a Zombie Virus extracted from zombies. Because it was very pure, once it entered Dr. Sun¡¯s body, his body slowly began to mutate. The mutating process was extremely painful, a result of the Zombie Virus remodifying his body. During this process, with some luck, one could awaken and become a superpower user; less fortunate ones would turn into senseless zombies. Unfortunately, the process was too long, and Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t possibly stay there for such duration. Thus, she quickly took out the syringes and kept injecting Dr. Sun continuously. She wasn¡¯t aware of the specific purposes of these messy injections and had administered them haphazardly, causing a variety of changes in Dr. Sun¡¯s body. Just as she injected the last syringe into Dr. Sun, the door was pushed open once again, and Fang Yuyang strode inside. He first glanced over the scene in the laboratory, and after seeing the tragically deceased girl on the experimental platform, he couldn¡¯t help but frown, then looked in disgust at Dr. Sun, who was in agonizing convulsions not far away. Then, he said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, everything has been handled outside, hurry up and don¡¯t delay for too long.¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, and without bothering with Dr. Sun any longer, she released her Spiritual Sense to check the entire Secret Research Institute. She discovered that the hidden surveillance cameras were all destroyed, the institute¡¯s safes had been emptied, and the tormented test subjects had been released from suffering, turning to ashes. Only the researchers and guards were still left writhing painfully on the ground. Seeing that nothing was overlooked, Fang Yuxin nodded, then flicked a flame from her fingertips onto the girl¡¯s corpse, incinerating it, then proceeded to destroy all the laboratory equipment under Dr. Sun¡¯s frightened and furious gaze! Although these devices were not to blame, the people using them were. Looking at them, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but recall the tormented test subjects. Such devices, she would rather destroy entirely instead of collecting them for further use! Similarly, all other laboratory devices in the institute were also completely destroyed by Fang Yuyang and others. Fang Yuxin glanced at Dr. Sun, knowing he had no strength left to move, retrieved the Red Powder, and shot a ball of flame at him. The flame entered Dr. Sun¡¯s body and started burning from the inside out! The scorching flames made Dr. Sun suffer immensely, yet he didn¡¯t even have the strength to scream or struggle. He stared with wide eyes, fixating on Fang Yuxin, and in that instant, he suddenly saw many test subjects he had once tortured to death. Those vengeful spirits crawled out from hell, entwined with each other, and turned into one person ¨C the very Fang Yuxin standing before him! This vision terrified him immensely, and he opened his mouth wide but couldn¡¯t make a sound. Soon after, everything went dark before his eyes, and he couldn¡¯t feel anything anymore. Fang Yuyang, looking at the ashes on the ground, couldn¡¯t help but ask Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, what do you think he saw just now?¡± Fang Yuxin sneered dismissively, ¡°Whatever he saw, it was something that utterly terrified him. That man has done plenty of evil; it turns out he also had fears.¡± As she spoke, she walked out of the laboratory with Fang Yuyang. Upon leaving, they joined Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe to dispose of the remaining people in the same manner. After carefully erasing all traces, they left the place quietly and returned to the Fang Family home. By then, it wasn¡¯t even nine o¡¯clock yet. They had spent less than half an hour¡ªfrom leaving their home to reaching the Secret Research Institute, handling everything, and returning home. And this period was exactly when Zhao Qiankun had disappeared! Fang Yuxin deliberately chose this time to act, precisely because Zhao Qiankun was absent. Missing such a golden opportunity would have felt like a disservice to herself! Initially, she hadn¡¯t anticipated that Zhao Qiankun¡¯s leaving would genuinely lead to him messing around with Cheng Lin, but after returning home, she sent a coded message to Bai Ye, asking whether Zhao Qiankun had returned. Bai Ye, resenting Zhao Qiankun for pestering Fang Yuxin and holding a grudge about Zhao Qiankun possibly having known Fang Yuxin before, spilled his suspicions upon her inquiry, staining Zhao Qiankun¡¯s image in Fang Yuxin¡¯s heart. With his message, Fang Yuxin decided immediately to take action at that time. After arriving home, she showered, changed clothes, and sent another message to Bai Ye, hinting that the matter had been handled and she had returned home. Bai Ye couldn¡¯t help but laugh, gleefully informing Fang Yuxin that Zhao Qiankun had just returned to the lobby and had changed his clothes. Subsequently, when Zhao Qiankun intentionally plotted against Bai Ye, Bai Ye cunningly used his words to guide everyone¡¯s suspicion towards Zhao Qiankun! He believed that as long as there weren¡¯t fools present, their minds would inevitably harbor doubts about Zhao Qiankun. Once the seed of suspicion was planted, when Bai Yi learned about the incident at the Secret Research Institute, his suspicions would instinctively fall on Zhao Qiankun! As for the members of the Fang Family who had left earlier, even if Bai Yi had his suspicions, he would never believe that the incident was their doing. Including just a few people of the Fang Family and others from the Yongcheng Team, they were all merely Second-level Superpower Users; how could they have silently eliminated everyone in that Secret Research Institute? Only someone with terrifying power from other major forces in Beishi Base, naturally, Zhao Qiankun¡ªwho had disappeared for half an hour¡ªwould be the most suspected! After the party ended, Bai Ye deliberately shared with Fang Yuxin how he had countered Zhao Qiankun. Fang Yuxin, reading the content on the Communicator, slowly smiled. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 599: 326 Spirit Mansion Transformation Chapter 599: 326 Spirit Mansion Transformation The sky was growing late, and the two of them did not stay in contact for too long. After telling Bai Ye to ¡°be careful,¡± Fang Yuxin put away the communicator and entered the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion with her family. Since her Foundation Establishment, she had not had the chance to thoroughly inspect the state of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Now that she was at home, it was an excellent opportunity to take a look. Bai Ye also had important matters to attend to. It wouldn¡¯t be long before Bai Yi learned that Fang Yuxin had destroyed his Secret Research Institute. When that happened, once the Bai Family conducted their investigation, there was no telling what kind of trouble might arise. Although Bai Ye had intentionally set things up so that Bai Yi would likely suspect Zhao Qiankun, the Fang Family was not a significant point of suspicion. Before the outcome was determined, anything was possible, and he needed to pay close attention. Upon returning home, Bai Ye informed Bai Zhengli and Shui Rou about the incident. Bai Zhengli, being a man of integrity who detested the idea of experimenting on one¡¯s own kind, was naturally furious upon hearing about the Secret Research Institute set up by Bai Yi. Rather than being angry about its destruction by Fang Yuxin, he actually applauded and felt that Fang Yuxin had done right. However, like Bai Ye, he too was worried that Bai Yi and Bai Zhengyi might trace the matter back to the Fang Family. Therefore, he did not rush to sleep upon returning home but carefully followed the developments of the situation. Meanwhile, after entering the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, Fang Yuxin and her family saw Bai Qianqian sitting in meditation for cultivation. They did not disturb him and instead took out the materials they had found from the Secret Research Institute to carefully examine them. Fang Yuxin left her family to review the materials while she checked out the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion herself. Upon inspection, she noticed that the boundaries of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion seemed to have expanded. Rather, it wasn¡¯t an expansion, but rather that parts of the original seals of the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion were now undone. Around the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, there were lakes, Medicine Fields, spirit fields, and bamboo forests, but due to the seals, only a nine-meter-wide area was exposed. Beyond the nine meters, thick white mist shrouded everything, impenetrable even by Spiritual Sense. Now, the lakes, Medicine Fields, spirit fields, and bamboo forests revealed a hundred-meter-wide expanse. However, beyond that hundred meters, the areas were still veiled in white mist, ethereal and indistinct. What excited Fang Yuxin was that the newly exposed Medicine Fields, now free from the seals, were growing various kinds of Spiritual Medicine, which had matured after years of growth. The bamboo forest itself wasn¡¯t expansive because there was a lush and green hill behind it. Originally, many domestic animals were raised in the bamboo forest, and due to the limited space, it seemed rather crowded. Now that the hill behind had been revealed, some of the poultry had already run into the mountain. The other livestock, confined within fences, became agitated upon seeing her and began to call out eagerly. Fang Yuxin could see they were uncomfortably crowded, so she simply removed the fences and allowed them to roam freely in the bamboo forest. Previously, with her low cultivation and limited knowledge, she had not realized that what seemed to be empty space at the edges of these bamboo forests, lakes, Medicine Fields, and spirit fields was actually surrounded by Barriers. By keeping the livestock and poultry in the bamboo forest, they wouldn¡¯t be able to escape even without fences. After removing the fences, Fang Yuxin went to the warehouse to find many empty Jade Boxes and harvested all the herbs from the Medicine Field, carefully storing them. Then, she returned to the main hall and decided to try to undo the seals of the Alchemy Room. However, this time was much easier than before. As she placed her palm on the door of the Alchemy Room and lit up the runes one by one with her True Yuan, Fang Yuxin saw a flash of white light in front of her. After a momentary sensation of the world spinning, when she looked again, she had arrived at another place. It was an enclosed stone room of about two hundred square meters, quite spacious. On three of the walls of the stone room stood enormous shelves, brimming with a dazzling array of items. On the remaining wall, there was a huge landscape painting scroll. The scene in the painting was shrouded in mist, resembling a mystical landscape. However, upon closer inspection, Fang Yuxin felt that the scenery depicted was somewhat familiar. At the bottom of the painting was a vast lake, with fish seemingly frolicking in the water, very reminiscent of the lake in front of the main hall. And in the lower right corner of the painting, one could vaguely make out a corner of a spirit field. Looking up from the lake, the left corner was a Medicine Field, and higher up, there was a vast bamboo forest along with a dense and verdant woodland. At the very top was a vast expanse of mist, within which one seemed to see towering mountain peaks, but the view was obscured by the mist, and nothing could be seen clearly. Chapter 600: 326 Spirit Mansion Transformation_2 Chapter 600: 326 Spirit Mansion Transformation_2 Fang Yuxin touched the scroll in amazement, but as soon as she placed her hand on it, she sensed something. With a gentle swipe of her fingers, the painting began to move. Fang Yuxin was even more astonished; she discovered that the huge scroll was just like a giant touch screen¡ªshe could operate it with light touches. Zoom in, zoom out, or drag... it was truly magical! Not only that, when she zoomed in on the spirit field and tapped on the mature crops within, a beam of spirit light suddenly shot from her fingertips into the painting. Immediately after, she saw the crops being harvested and automatically entering the warehouse, while the remaining stalks turned to ash and sank into the soil of the spirit field. Fang Yuxin was completely dumbfounded¡ªthis... this was too convenient, wasn¡¯t it? Equally dumbfounded was the Ginseng Spirit Ah Bao. It was bored in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion; ever since it had buried its body in the medicine field, it would idly wander around. It happened to be in the spirit field at the moment, sneakily picking ripe fruits to eat when, not far away, a swath of crops just vanished without a trace, scaring it so much that its face turned white. Thinking it was discovered by Fang Yuxin, it dove into the ground and escaped! Fang Yuxin saw Ah Bao but didn¡¯t bother with it. What she cared about more was the Alchemy Room in front of her. She figured out how to use the giant painting on the wall and ignored it, turning her attention to the other three walls. The other three walls held huge wooden racks, and the scene looked magnificent. One wall held numerous, different-sized jade bottles, another was filled with densely packed jade scrolls, and the final wall displayed many jade boxes. Below each jade bottle, jade scroll, and jade box hung a small wooden plaque, labeling what each thing was. Fang Yuxin examined them and found that most of the jade bottles and boxes were nearly empty, but the jade scrolls contained various alchemy techniques and insights. She thought for a bit, placed the spiritual medicine she had previously picked in their corresponding spots, and then started to examine the jade scrolls. Upon inspection, she found prohibitions were set on the scrolls¡ªto such an extent that those with insufficient cultivation couldn¡¯t lift them at all. The scrolls she could handle were only those usable by someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage and the Qi Refinement Realm. It was impossible to do without elixirs for cultivation¡ªsome replenished True Qi and True Yuan, some were for healing, some aided in promotion, and others were for battling others. There were many kinds, a great variety. However, not just anyone could practice alchemy. Besides the essential Fire Seed, Pill Furnace, Elixir Recipe, and Spiritual Medicine, it also depended on the person. Some had an innate talent, picking up on alchemy easily, while others possessed certain special body constitutions, which granted them a natural advantage in controlling medical properties and flames. Fang Yuxin, with her Pure Wood Spirit Body, belonged to those who had a special body constitution suitable for alchemy. She had a unique affinity with plants and controlled spiritual medicine with ease. After reading through the jade scrolls, Fang Yuxin decided to try her hand at alchemy. The world she was in suffered from a scarcity of spiritual energy, ill-suited for cultivation. If it wasn¡¯t for her acquiring the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion and the energy surge caused by the Outer Space Meteorite, which resulted in a mass emergence of spiritual energy on the planet, it would have been impossible for Fang Yuxin to achieve Foundation Establishment so rapidly, merely over the course of two short months. Yet even so, if they wanted to continue cultivating, elixirs were necessary! It so happened that the spiritual medicine she gathered this time was mostly for concocting elixirs used during the Foundation Establishment Stage, which showed that the master of Qingmu Spiritual Mansion had planned it all in advance. Fang Yuxin pondered a bit¡ªbeing a Pure Wood Spirit Body, she had an advantage in alchemy, and even though her mother, Qu Qianhe, wasn¡¯t of a special body constitution, she had Fire Wood Dual Spiritual Roots, which was also quite suitable for alchemy, so it was worth a try. There was no rush to refine elixirs; having made up her mind, Fang Yuxin prepared to first leave the Alchemy Room to see if she could open other rooms. She had a feeling that now she had successfully established her foundation, she should also be able to open the other rooms. All four walls of the stone room were occupied, with no gaps, but the floor of the Alchemy Room was a different matter. The floor was like that of the main hall they had previously entered, arranged with complex formations. With Fang Yuxin¡¯s current understanding, she could roughly make out both a Spirit Gathering Array and a Fire-gathering Array. She guessed that beneath the floor of the Alchemy Room must be a sealed Fire Seed; placing the Pill Furnace on the Fire-gathering Array and injecting True Yuan should make the flames appear. Pill Masters consume a lot during alchemy, which is why they need to sit cross-legged on the Spirit Gathering Array, continuously absorbing spiritual energy to compensate for the depletion. Otherwise, once the True Essence Power runs out and the elixir is not yet successfully refined, then that batch of elixirs would be wasted. Fang Yuxin searched carefully and indeed found a rune among the complex runes. This rune was very similar to the one on the door of the Alchemy Room, with only minor differences. Fang Yuxin guessed this must lead to the exit. When her True Yuan was injected, as expected, the rune lit up and white light appeared in front of her. In the blink of an eye, as the world spun around her, she was back on the ground in front of the Alchemy Room¡¯s entrance. The rest of the Fang Family had been browsing through materials taken from the Secret Research Institute; harmful stuff was naturally destroyed immediately, but some research papers were meaningful and kept. While they were busy, Fang Yuxin suddenly disappeared from the entrance to the Alchemy Room, giving them quite a scare! Thankfully, the three of them had now embarked on the Immortal Path and could guess that Fang Yuxin had probably entered the Alchemy Room, albeit in an unusual way, so they waited patiently. Sure enough, an hour later, Fang Yuxin appeared again. The three heaved a sigh of relief but still asked, ¡°Xinxin, are you okay in there?¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head and briefly explained the situation in the Alchemy Room to her family before voicing her speculation, ¡°Dad, Mom, Brother, I think the other rooms should also be openable now. I¡¯ll try the Artifact Room first; since, aside from Bai Ye, none of us have suitable weapons. If we can find weapons to use in the Artifact Room, we will be more confident when we leave the Beishi Base.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote and recommend tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 601: 327 Wind Shocking Treasure Fan Chapter 601: 327 Wind Shocking Treasure Fan Fang Yuxin wanted to choose a suitable weapon, so she decided to first visit the Artifact Room. Ever since Bai Ye obtained the Dragon Scale Sword, she had felt a bit unhappy. Although her relationship with Bai Ye had improved and she felt slightly better, she still hoped to own a weapon that suited her. Now that Fang Yuyang and the others had also finished their tasks, she decided to take her family along to the Artifact Room. If they were lucky, they might actually find weapons suitable for their use. Before entering, Fang Yuxin glanced at Bai Qianqian and noticed he was still cultivating, so she didn¡¯t disturb him. Instead, she walked to the entrance of the Artifact Room and channeled her True Yuan into the rune on the door. Fang Yuyang and the two others stood behind her, and as soon as the rune lit up, the four of them were sucked into the Artifact Room. The Artifact Room was about the same size as the Alchemy Room and, like the Alchemy Room, it had three huge wooden shelves against the walls¡ªone filled with densely packed Jade Scrolls, another with various sizes of Jade Boxes, and yet another with densely packed Magical Treasures. The remaining wall was bare, which looked somewhat odd. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t bother to check the Jade Scrolls and Jade Boxes but quickly walked to the shelf full of Magical Treasures to inspect it closely. Fang Yuyang and the others felt the same, as they also longed for a suitable weapon. Therefore, as soon as they entered, they immediately focused on those Magical Treasures. The four of them noticed that each Magical Treasure was enveloped by a transparent barrier. Clearly, the barrier was a form of Prohibition. To remove the Magical Treasures, they needed to break this layer of Prohibition first. The shelf was very tall, and as it stored many Magical Treasures, the higher up it went, the higher the level¡ªstarting with Magic Artifacts followed by Spiritual Artifacts. Whether there were even higher grades above them was unknown to Fang Yuxin and the others. Unfortunately, due to the Prohibition, one needed a certain cultivation level to break it. Among the people present, other than Fang Yuxin, the others were still in the Late Stage of Qi Refinement and hadn¡¯t reached the level for Foundation Establishment yet, so they could only choose from the Magic Artifacts. These artifacts were primarily weapons like swords and knives. Although they were only Magic Artifacts, they were far superior to any weapon from the Mortal World, extremely sharp and capable of slicing through metal like mud. Such items were much better than the knives they were currently using! However, that was where the advantages ended, as they couldn¡¯t be compared to the Dragon Scale Sword Bai Ye had obtained. Even though Bai Ye couldn¡¯t use the Dragon Scale Sword yet, Fang Yuxin still felt somewhat disappointed as she hoped her family could get the best weapons. Just as she was feeling regretful, she suddenly heard Fang Yuyang utter an ¡°Oh,¡± and he walked towards a corner of the shelf. Curious, Fang Yuxin followed him, and upon seeing what had caught his attention, she was taken aback. The shelf was so large that they couldn¡¯t inspect everything on it at once, and since the item was in the corner, Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t noticed it initially. Had it not been for Fang Yuyang¡¯s exclamation and her curiosity leading her to follow him, she wouldn¡¯t have thought that such ¡°junk¡± could have existed on the shelf! It was placed in the corner on the lowest level of the shelf, barely visible if not carefully looked at. That Fang Yuyang could see it, was definitely fate. At first glance, the object looked shabby, somewhat resembling a spike, but upon closer inspection, it was clearly a folded fan. The fan ribs exhibited a dull silvery color like some kind of metal, decorated with intricate patterns. The patterns were so faint, as if they had been polished away, making it impossible to discern what exactly was engraved on them. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but be even more surprised; her inheritance included much common knowledge of the Cultivation World, but despite her current knowledge, she couldn¡¯t recognize the patterns on the fan, spiking her curiosity about the folded fan. Fang Yuyang seemed very curious, and seeing her looking as well, he asked her, ¡°Xinxin, do you recognize what this is?¡± Fang Yuxin shook her head. Seeing him continually gazing at the folded fan, seemingly fond of it, she simply suggested, ¡°Brother, if you like it, just take it out and have a look, with your current cultivation, you should be able to break this Prohibition.¡± Besides, she felt that it must be fate that Fang Yuyang had discovered the folded fan hidden in the corner; it would be unreasonable if they couldn¡¯t take it out. Fang Yuyang was indeed very tempted, so upon hearing her words, he tentatively extended his hand. He wrapped his hand with True Qi and as soon as he touched the transparent barrier, it trembled slightly and then instantly extinguished without even the slightest resistance! Chapter 602: 327 Wind Shocking Treasure Fan_2 Chapter 602: 327 Wind Shocking Treasure Fan_2 The siblings were both astonished at the sight. Fang Yuxin was even more convinced that this damaged fan must be fated for Fang Yuyang. Indeed, as soon as Fang Yuyang¡¯s palm touched the fan, his expression subtly changed, and then he said, ¡°This fan is entwined with wind.¡± Speaking, he couldn¡¯t help but pick up the fan. Upon doing so, he uttered a surprised ¡°Eh,¡± making Fang Yuxin, who was watching anxiously by the side, unable to hold back her curiosity, ¡°Brother, what did you find?¡± She was incredibly curious. The ends of the fan were a bit pointed and when closed, at first glance, it looked like a spiked object. However, upon closer inspection, the outermost ribs of the fan looked somewhat like unfurled feathers and the pointed tips somewhat resembled arrowheads. ¡°Xinxin, this fan is so light! It¡¯s as if it has no weight!¡± Fang Yuyang marveled as he gently unfolded the fan. As he opened it, he couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows in a look of deep regret. Fang Yuxin looked at the opened fan and couldn¡¯t help but sigh as well. The fan appeared to be made of something like silk, with a blue base, and there seemed to be some patterns on it, but they were no longer clear. The patterns were blurred, like watermarks, creating irregular stains that looked rather unsightly. And there were many silver lines on the fan surface, now broken and intermittent, unclear whether they were originally patterns or runes. The thing that disappointed them the most were the three cracks on the fan surface. Two of the cracks ran downwards from the edge, while the final one slashed across the center. Fang Yuyang frowned deeply, touching the tears on the fan surface with his finger, seemingly dissatisfied. A broken fan like this was totally unusable, so Fang Yuxin suggested, ¡°Brother, shall we look at something else? This fan is so damaged, it¡¯s unusable.¡± Fang Yuyang suddenly declared, ¡°Xinxin, I really like this fan.¡± As he spoke, he seemed to have made a decision and even showed a relieved smile, telling Fang Yuxin, ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± ¡°But...¡± Fang Yuxin wanted to persuade him further, but Fang Yuyang had already pricked his finger and let the blood drip onto the fan surface. Fang Yuxin was even more astonished. Magic artifacts didn¡¯t need blood to acknowledge a master; only a Spiritual Artifact would require it! Thrown in the lowest corner, this damaged fan should only be a low-grade magic artifact, which should not necessitate someone like Fang Yuyang to recognize it by blood. However, when Fang Yuyang¡¯s blood touched the fan, it was absorbed little by little by the fan surface. Immediately after, Fang Yuxin felt that the fan seemed to have undergone some kind of change, but with her current level of vision and knowledge, she couldn¡¯t discern what it was. She couldn¡¯t help but look nervously toward Fang Yuyang and anxiously asked, ¡°Brother, do you notice anything amiss?¡± Seeing her anxious expression, Fang Yuyang felt warmth in his heart and couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°It¡¯s okay. This object is called the Wind Shocking Treasure Fan, originally an exceptional Spiritual Artifact. Due to the special materials used in its creation, it even had the potential to become an Immortal Artifact. Unfortunately, it was damaged in a great battle and now can only exert the power of a common magic artifact.¡± Fang Yuxin was not foolish and understood immediately, ¡°You¡¯re saying that this is a growing-type Spiritual Artifact? And that, because it¡¯s in a damaged state, it can only exhibit the power of a common magic artifact, but once it is fixed and restored, it could potentially revert to its nature as an exceptional Spiritual Artifact?¡± Fang Yuyang nodded, but his expression was somber. Although that was the case, their family had only luckily obtained the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion and had just begun their Cultivation journey. Unable to even perform the most basic Artifact Refining, fixing the Wind Shocking Treasure Fan was not going to be easy. Not to mention that repairing such an exceptional Spiritual Artifact would require precious materials, but even with the materials, without a top-tier Artifact Refining Master, it would be futile. But Fang Yuyang really took quite a liking to the Wind Shocking Treasure Fan; asking him to give it up was out of the question. He was even prepared, if there was a way to fix it, to make it his own Life-bound Spiritual Artifact. Unlike ordinary Spiritual Artifacts, a Life-bound Spiritual Artifact needs to be placed in the Dantian and constantly nurtured with True Yuan by its master. And if the Life-bound Spiritual Artifact was damaged, the master would also sustain serious injuries. Therefore, Cultivators choose their Life-bound Spiritual Artifacts with great caution and do not lightly make a certain Spiritual Artifact their Life-bound one. Yet the advantages of a Life-bound Spiritual Artifact are significant. Because it is constantly nurtured by the owner, it can coordinate seamlessly, ensuring smooth operation, greater ease of use, and potent force execution. Many Life-bound Spiritual Artifacts even assist their owners in Cultivation and if an Artifact Spirit is born, that would be even more incredible! Although the Wind Shocking Treasure Fan was damaged and difficult to repair, it was in itself an exceptional Spiritual Artifact that only decreased in grade due to damage and had the capability to grow continuously. Most crucially, it was well suited for Fang Yuyang¡¯s attributes! For Fang Yuyang at that moment, the Wind Shocking Treasure Fan was simply the best choice! So, after a brief hesitation, Fang Yuyang decided to place the Wind Shocking Treasure Fan into his Dantian to be nurtured with True Qi. But who could have anticipated that as soon as the fan entered his Dantian, it started to greedily devour his True Qi! In just a short while, it had already consumed half of the True Qi in his Dantian! Fang Yuyang¡¯s complexion changed dramatically. At this rate, he feared that the Wind Shocking Treasure Fan would drain him completely! Thinking of this, Fang Yuyang couldn¡¯t help but give a bitter smile; bargains truly were hard to come by. He had taken a fancy to the potential of the Wind Shocking Treasure Fan, but hadn¡¯t considered whether he currently had the ability to control this treasure! Fang Yuxin had been closely watching Fang Yuyang, worrying as she noticed him incorporating the Wind Shocking Treasure Fan into his Dantian, but before she could decide whether to advise Fang Yuyang against it, she saw his face change dramatically, clearly indicating that something was wrong! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it using recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 603: 328 Discovery Chapter 603: 328 Discovery As soon as Yu Yang encountered a problem, Yuxin panicked and quickly asked, ¡°Brother, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, who had been choosing their own Magic Artifacts, heard her obviously panicked voice and hurriedly put down the artifacts they were holding to rush over. By this time, Yu Yang¡¯s complexion had already started to turn pale. Both of them, upon seeing this, were deeply worried and asked Yuxin repeatedly, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s wrong with your brother?¡± Yuxin quickly explained what had just happened, and finally, she said, ¡°It seems that there¡¯s a problem with the Wind Shocking Treasure Fan. Brother, how are you feeling now?¡± Yu Yang¡¯s face was pale and he looked very weak. He struggled to say, ¡°Quick! Help me to the Spirit Gathering Array! It¡¯s devouring my True Qi!¡± He had tried to remove the Wind Shocking Treasure Fan earlier, but unfortunately, the broken fan seemed to have rooted itself in his Dantian, refusing to come out. With no other choice, Yu Yang had to desperately absorb the surrounding Spiritual Energy. However, he was not sitting on the Spirit Gathering Array at that moment and he didn¡¯t have a Crystal Core on him, so the bit of Spiritual Energy he could absorb was nothing compared to the True Qi that was being devoured by the Wind Shocking Treasure Fan; it was akin to trying to extinguish a cartload of burning firewood with a cup of water. When Yuxin heard what he said, she quickly scanned the stone room, found the Spirit Gathering Array in the center, and helped Yu Yang over to it. As Yu Yang sat down cross-legged, Yuxin took out a large number of Crystal Cores and piled them next to him for him to absorb. Fearing that it might not be enough, she almost took out all the purified Crystal Cores she had. Yu Yang nodded to his family, gave them a ¡°don¡¯t worry¡± look, then closed his eyes and began to meditate, circulating his Cultivation Technique and frantically absorbing energy from the Crystal Cores through the Spirit Gathering Array. Seeing that Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe were still worried, Yuxin tried to reassure them, ¡°Dad, Mom, don¡¯t worry. Although Brother was rash this time, it might actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise. I have seen that Wind Shocking Treasure Fan before; though it looks old and tattered, its aura is extraordinary. Initially, Brother and I were worried about how to repair the fan, but now it seems that it¡¯s crazily devouring the True Qi in Brother¡¯s Dantian to heal itself, and it will likely stop once it has absorbed enough. After all, it waited so many years to find an owner like Brother. If something were to happen to him, it would have to continue languishing in a corner as a broken fan.¡± Although Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe felt what she said made sense, they still couldn¡¯t set their minds at ease. Seeing this, Yuxin decided not to pick a suitable Spiritual Artifacts anymore and instead suggested to Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, ¡°Why don¡¯t we see what¡¯s inside those Jade Boxes? If there are suitable materials inside, we might be able to fix some of the deficiencies of the fan.¡± Encouraged by her suggestion, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe¡¯s eyes lit up and they instinctively looked towards the wooden rack where the Jade Boxes were placed. In their urgency, they hadn¡¯t even considered that they didn¡¯t have an Artifact Refiner; even if they found the right materials, they might not have a way to use them! The three of them walked to the wooden rack and started going through it, and to their surprise, they actually found quite a few ores inside the Jade Boxes. Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, unlike Yuxin who had received a complete inheritance, had more limited knowledge and couldn¡¯t recognize the ores. However, Yuxin recognized that these ores were precisely the materials needed for Artifact Refining, many of which were quite rare! Seeing the various ores, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe breathed a sigh of relief, then instinctively looked towards Yu Yang. They saw that his complexion had improved significantly and was no longer as pale as before. Seeing this, they truly felt relieved. After Yuxin breathed a sigh of relief, she continued to choose a suitable Spiritual Artifact for herself. Unfortunately, after selecting for a while, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit disappointed. There were many Spiritual Artifacts on the wooden rack, mostly weapons such as swords, but there were also various strange Spiritual Artifacts like the Jade Ruyi, shields, and bells. Although these types of Spiritual Artifacts were useful, they were too unconventional. Once taken out, they would inevitably arouse suspicion, which would be inappropriate. Comparatively, swords were much more common. In the apocalypse, there were many types of weapons, many of which were swords, so taking them out would not arouse suspicion; at most, people would just think their swords were more useful and forged with superior techniques. Yuxin selected a few Jade Pendants shaped like Defense Spiritual Artifacts, handed them to Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, and asked them to drop blood to claim ownership and keep them close to their bodies. These types of Defense Spiritual Artifacts were extremely compact and could be hidden close to the body, invisible to others. Even if seen, Jade Pendants as ornaments were not considered unusual. Chapter 604: Discovered_2 Chapter 604: Discovered_2 Although they were both spiritual artifacts, defensive spiritual artifacts and attack type spiritual tools were not the same, and even among defensive spiritual artifacts, there were different classifications. The defensive jade pendant chosen by Yuxin only needed to recognize its owner and be carried, then it would automatically activate its defense when danger approached, continuing until the spiritual energy within the jade pendant ran out, or it suffered an attack too strong for the pendant to withstand and broke. The pendant was a low-grade spiritual artifact, several of which were placed on the wooden rack; Yuxin took them all. She gave two to Jintang and Qianhe, kept one for herself, and put away the rest, planning to give them to Yuyang, Bai Qianqian, and Bai Ye¡¯s family members. After stowing the jade pendants away, Yuxin also picked out a bladelike weapon for herself which resembled a ¡°mo dao.¡± The whole weapon was two meters in length, with the blade and the handle each taking up half of that length. The blade was double-edged without a spine, and its edge curved, featuring fine blood grooves on both sides, making it quite ferocious-looking. After recognizing the blade through a drop of her blood, Yuxin found that it was called ¡°Blood Blade.¡± It had been made by incorporating a segment of a blood-sucking vine¡¯s stem during its forging process, allowing the blade to possess the vine¡¯s characteristic bloodsucking ability. As a Pure Wood Spirit Body, Yuxin wielded it with even greater proficiency, significantly enhancing the blade¡¯s viciousness! However, the ¡°Blood Blade¡± was merely a low-grade spiritual artifact, and Yuxin didn¡¯t particularly favor it; choosing it was merely because it was convenient to use and wouldn¡¯t stand out. Jintang chose a rather imposing broadsword, with a blade one and a half meters long and a handle half a meter in length. It was also of the Earth Element, which suited him well. Qianhe, on the other hand, did not select a weapon but rather a pair of assistive bracelets. The bracelets were of the Fire Attribute; wearing them would amplify the power of her fire magic, fitting Qianhe¡¯s needs nicely. Once they finished their selections, Yuyang was still meditating. Not wanting to leave him alone, Jintang and Qianhe decided to stay in the Artifact Room with him. Fortunately, there was more than one Spirit Gathering Array in the room, so they were able to sit and cultivate nearby. Yuxin also wanted to stay, but Qianhe said, ¡°Xinxin, you should check the other rooms. It¡¯s enough that your dad and I are here watching over things.¡± After thinking it over, Yuxin nodded. The situation with Yuyang seemed stable, and there shouldn¡¯t be any problems with Jintang and Qianhe present. The urgent matter at hand was for her to quickly understand the status of the remaining rooms, so she could better utilize Qingmu Spiritual Mansion as a trump card to increase her power! Thus, after telling Jintang and Qianhe how to leave the room, Yuxin left the Artifact Room to check out the other rooms. Besides the Alchemy Room and the Artifact Room, the entire Qingmu Spiritual Mansion also included a warehouse, Scripture Pavilion, Treasure Pavilion, and trial land. The warehouse could be opened right away, but it was empty. She had already visited the Scripture Pavilion, where she had chosen her cultivation technique. So, after leaving the Artifact Room, Yuxin headed to the Treasure Pavilion. However, she failed this time; with her current cultivation, she couldn¡¯t even open the doors of the Treasure Pavilion! Yuxin felt disappointed but not discouraged. After all, they had already obtained suitable weapons and defensive spiritual artifacts from the Artifact Room; they should have more than enough to handle the current situation, so it wasn¡¯t necessary to obsess over the Treasure Pavilion. And since she wasn¡¯t strong enough to get in at present, that suggested that the items inside must be quite exceptional. Even if she could obtain them now, she likely couldn¡¯t use them. Therefore, Yuxin attempted to open the trial land. This time, she managed to do so quite effortlessly. And the moment the door opened, a stream of information flowed into her mind. The trial land was meant for combat practice. Mere meditation only accumulated True Yuan, but the trial land was designed for honing fighting skills. It was partitioned into different rooms, and upon entry, each person would be assigned to a room appropriate to their level of strength, and then they would face corresponding challenges. After reading through the information carefully, Yuxin felt that such a place was perfect for them. She had been stuck at the Peak of Qi Refining Late Stage and couldn¡¯t break through until an invasion by a Heart Demon and a fierce fight with Bai Ye presented her with a chance to advance. Now that they had access to this trial land, her family and Bai Ye could enter it to seek the opportunity for advancement. True, there was the Foundation Establishment Pill, which significantly increased the likelihood of a successful Foundation Establishment, but elixirs were external aids after all. Elixirs for healing injuries and replenishing True Yuan were indispensable, but relying on them for advancement¡ªthough it might lead to success¡ªwould severely limit bodily potential and ultimately cap future achievements. If there were no trial land, it would be another matter, but now that they had one, it made no sense not to make full use of it! Having pondered this, Yuxin was not in a rush to enter the trial land, but instead, turned around and went back to the Alchemy Room. Having harvested the Medicine Fields earlier, many spots were now empty and required new spiritual medicine seeds. Yuxin had no seeds on her, so the only place she could think to look was the Alchemy Room. Earlier, she had only glanced at some jade scrolls and hadn¡¯t inspected very closely. Returning now, Yuxin took a careful look at the jade boxes on the wooden shelves. This check paid off as she indeed found many jade boxes contained various spiritual medicine seeds. Selecting seeds suitable for the elixirs she planned to concoct, she then approached the large mural, found the Medicine Fields, zoomed in, and, giving it a try, scattered the spiritual medicine seeds onto the vacant plots. Upon scattering, the seeds entered the mural and landed on the corresponding plots. Yuxin breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that with this mural, planting and harvesting would now be much more convenient. Amused by the thought, her eyes scanned around and suddenly landed on a unique box on the shelf. Intrigued, she couldn¡¯t help but walk over to it. (To be continued. If you like this work, I welcome you to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 605: 329 Youre not too dumb. Chapter 605: 329 You¡¯re not too dumb. Bai Ye had been paying close attention to Bai Yi¡¯s movements, and, sure enough, it wasn¡¯t long before there was some commotion from Bai Yi¡¯s side. Whether out of sheer anger or overconfidence, Bai Yi had directly taken people to that Secret Research Institute. It was a standalone villa, with four floors above ground and a basement below. From the memories of Poison Wolf, Bai Ye knew that Bai Yi had put a lot of thought into establishing this Secret Research Institute. The various instruments and equipment inside were obtained by Poison Wolf only after receiving orders from Bai Yi. To power the institute¡¯s daily electricity needs, a diesel generator had been installed in the basement. The machine was quite large and had also been acquired by the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps. Besides this Secret Research Institute, the Bai Family also had a public one, where the research was much more normal. After all, with so many people in the White Wolf Mercenary Corps who were not the Bai Family¡¯s family servants, the Bai Family had to consider the thoughts of others. Moreover, the Bai Family needed to maintain a good reputation. So, all the research that couldn¡¯t be made public was carried out by this Secret Research Institute. Dr. Sun was just perfect for the job, being a research fanatic and particularly fixated on using people as experimental subjects! However, it was only recently that Dr. Sun had informed Bai Yi that he had made a new breakthrough with one of his projects and that it was about to succeed! The project he spoke of involved a special reagent created by mixing a substance extracted from zombies with some from Mutant Plants. Once injected into the heart of a superpower user, this serum could effectively enhance the user¡¯s superpower level, promoting their advancement. If this research succeeded, the Bai Family would acquire a large number of high-level superpower users! This research was of considerable significance to the Bai Family, and Bai Yi could not overstate its importance. But soon after Dr. Sun delivered the news, Bai Yi had only gone to a wine reception, and upon returning, he heard his subordinates reporting that the Secret Research Institute had been destroyed! Bai Yi nearly thought he had misheard the news when he first got it! After he snapped out of his daze, what followed was intense anger, and at the same time, he rapidly speculated¡ªwho could have done it? Just as Bai Ye had predicted, Bai Yi almost instinctively suspected Zhao Qiankun. After all, the timing was just too coincidental! The Bai Family¡¯s White Wolf Mercenary Corps and Zhao Qiankun¡¯s Qiankun Mercenary Group had always been engaging in a quiet power struggle, and given Zhao Qiankun¡¯s massive ambition, the Bai Family had to guard against him with extra caution! It could be said that Zhao Qiankun would suffer the most from the success of Dr. Sun¡¯s research. His current strength was already formidable; with the consecutive introductions of the Energy Detector, blood test paper, and Communicator, not only had Zhao Qiankun amassed a large number of Crystal Cores, but his prestige at Beishi Base was also soaring. Although Beishi Base was controlled by six major forces, Qu Family¡¯s Star Mercenary Corps Group and Qin Family¡¯s Flame Mercenary Corps Group were slightly weaker and had even joined forces to resist being annexed by the White Wolf Mercenary Corps and the Qiankun Mercenary Group, supporting each other in defense. The remaining two Mercenary Corps did the same. Given the strength displayed by Zhao Qiankun, if the Bai Family made no progress, it wouldn¡¯t be long before they were replaced by Zhao Qiankun! Conversely, if this research succeeded, the Bai Family could possess a large number of advanced superpower users in a very short time. At that point, Zhao Qiankun¡¯s Qiankun Mercenary Group would pose no threat to the Bai Family! Therefore, after much consideration, Bai Yi felt that Zhao Qiankun was the prime suspect! This suspicion led him to more doubts. Because the research in the Secret Research Institute was so important, he had specially assigned two Third-level Superpower Users and over a hundred Second-level Superpower Users to protect it, both to prevent prying eyes and to safeguard against malice. With such strength, it would be difficult for an ordinary person to leave alive once they entered! Yet, so many people were wiped out silently in just over half an hour, with not even a single body left behind! How could an ordinary person possess such terrifying capabilities? The more he thought about it, the more his teeth itched with hatred. Those were two Third-level Superpower Users and a hundred Second-level Superpower Users, all his trusted elite! And now, they had been completely eradicated! He did not even dare alert Bai Zhengyi to this matter, as Bai Zhengyi had always viewed such sinister and crooked Secret Research Institutes unfavorably. Now, with the loss of two Third-level Superpower Users and a hundred Second-level Superpower Users due to this institute, if Bai Zhengyi found out, Bai Yi¡¯s life would not be easy! Chapter 606: 329 Youre not too dumb_2 Chapter 606: 329 You¡¯re not too dumb_2 So anxious was he to hear the news that he rushed to the destroyed Secret Research Institute with his confidants without worrying about exposure. Before entering, he still harbored a faint hope, wishing it was just a joke played by his subordinates, hoping the situation inside wasn¡¯t as dire. However, as soon as he entered, Bai Yi¡¯s face instantly turned deathly pale! Everyone in the institute was dead! Whether they were guards or researchers and subjects, none had survived! Not even a body was left behind! Moreover, all the equipment in the entire institute was destroyed. Not a single precious medicine or piece of research material was left! Bai Yi urgently said, ¡°Quick! Check if the items in the safe are still there!¡± As he spoke, he rushed toward the room where Dr. Sun¡¯s secret safe was. It was an extremely precise safe, which stored many important research materials, all of which were the fruits of Dr. Sun¡¯s long labor! If he could find those research documents and bring in new researchers, he could continue Dr. Sun¡¯s work! However, when Bai Yi finally managed to open the safe, he found it completely empty, with nothing left inside! His complexion grew even uglier, and he became so furiously agitated that his superpower started to act up. ¡°Phew!¡± Bai Yi couldn¡¯t hold back and vomited a mouthful of blood, but after vomiting, he felt a lot better. He pushed away his subordinates who tried to help him and fiercely said, ¡°Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! This must be the work of that bastard Zhao Qiankun, I want you to find evidence of his meddling!¡± Bai Yi was decisive. Now that the incident had happened, regretting it was useless; instead, he could use the evidence to retaliate against Zhao Qiankun! However, he was so enraged that he forget that the research topic of this secret institute could not be disclosed! Even if he truly found evidence, he couldn¡¯t use it to threaten Zhao Qiankun! Because if Zhao Qiankun really was behind this, he definitely had more evidence that could harm the Bai Family. This would be like digging their own grave if the Bai Family came forward and got involved with the secret institute! After giving the order, Bai Yi gradually calmed down and realized he had acted impulsively by coming here¡ªit would be too easy for others to catch him at fault! Therefore, he dared not linger any longer and quickly led his people away, leaving only a few trusted individuals to look for clues. The moment he returned home, he saw Bai Zhengyi with a thunderous look, sitting on the living room sofa. His heart skipped a beat, and sensing trouble, he hesitated. During this, he heard Bai Zhengyi coldly say, ¡°Useless fool, get in here!¡± Bai Yi hurried into the room and closed the door behind him, walking nervously to face Bai Zhengyi. Just as he walked forward, Bai Zhengyi suddenly stood up and fiercely slapped him. ¡°Slap!¡± In the silent living room, the sound was abrupt and loud. Bai Yi¡¯s head was turned away by the force, leaving him dazed. Bai Zhengyi, frustrated as though hating iron for not becoming steel, glared at him. He didn¡¯t continue to hit him but sat down again and coldly asked, ¡°Do you know why I hit you?¡± Bai Yi cupped his face, head bowed low as he answered ¡°I was wrong, father.¡± ¡°Ha,¡± Bai Zhengyi scoffed coldly, ¡°Wrong? Where exactly did you go wrong?¡± Bai Yi continued, ¡°I should not have impulsively gone to that secret institute. Since it had already been destroyed, there was no use in going. I was rash.¡± Bai Zhengyi looked at him, clearly displeased, ¡°The worst thing was you getting involved with that madman, Dr. Sun, in those messy researches, and even getting discovered! Bai Yi, have you forgotten how I initially taught you?¡± Bai Yi felt the scorching shame on his face under Bai Zhengyi¡¯s disappointed gaze. Reflecting on Bai Zhengyi¡¯s past words, he quietly said, ¡°Those messy affairs, if you¡¯re not competent, don¡¯t touch them. If you do, make sure it¡¯s foolproof and never leave any trace!¡± ¡°You remember clearly!¡± Bai Zhengyi sneered, shaking his head in disappointment, ¡°Pity you¡¯re so foolish!¡± Bai Yi dared not speak, remaining silent with his head lowered. Fortunately, Bai Zhengyi hadn¡¯t come here just to scold him. Lighting a cigarette, he leaned back on the sofa, looked up at Bai Yi and asked, ¡°Tell me, what do you think about this situation? Do you have any suspects in mind?¡± Bai Yi sighed in relief and hurriedly shared his suspicion, ¡°Dad, I am certain Zhao Qiankun is behind this! Remember what Bai Ye said at the party? Zhao Qiankun went to toast him, deliberately bringing up the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps. Bai Ye asked him how he knew about it, which Zhao Qiankun evaded. I suspected then that Zhao Qiankun might have some special means of surveillance!¡± Bai Zhengyi¡¯s face remained expressionless, showing no reaction, only asking, ¡°And then? What else did you find?¡± Bai Yi continued, ¡°Zhao Qiankun deliberately toasting Bai Ye and mentioning the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps was clearly meant to trouble us and set us against Bai Ye! Absolute wolfish ambition! And later, I paid special attention and indeed found there were many hidden cameras installed around the hall! Those cameras were very well concealed, and you wouldn¡¯t notice them unless you specifically looked for them. Damn that Zhao Qiankun!¡± Hearing this, Bai Zhengyi finally spoke, ¡°It seems you¡¯re not completely foolish.¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to support it by voting for it at Qidian (qidian.com), and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 607: 330 Did you level up? Chapter 607: 330 Did you level up? Bai Yi listened to Bai Zhengyi¡¯s words, his heart filled with bitterness, and he couldn¡¯t help but think of Bai Ye. From a young age, Bai Ye had always outperformed him, which often led Bai Zhengyi to belittle him as useless compared to Bai Ye¡¯s capabilities. As more and more people said the same, he grew to loathe Bai Ye deeply, wishing he could swiftly get rid of him. Yet, although he could get angry when others said such things, he dared not show his discontent when Bai Zhengyi spoke in this manner. He could only bow his head, silently bearing Bai Zhengyi¡¯s dissatisfaction. At that moment, Bai Zhengyi was sitting in a well-lit room, providing enough light for him to clearly see the reluctance that quickly flashed across Bai Yi¡¯s face. He snorted coldly and said, ¡°What? You disagree?¡± Bai Yi, of course, felt indignant but dared not admit it. Instead, he said to Bai Zhengyi, ¡°Dad, didn¡¯t Zhao Qiankun disappear for half an hour during the event? I suspect it was then that he took action, the timing fits perfectly.¡± Bai Zhengyi nodded noncommittally and asked, ¡°Apart from Zhao Qiankun, was there anyone else suspicious?¡± Bai Yi¡¯s face changed instantly upon hearing this. He sneakily glanced at Bai Zhengyi¡¯s face and indeed saw his grim expression, clearly indicating that he already knew everything! Panic surged in Bai Yi¡¯s heart, but he could only suppress his unease and regretfully said, ¡°Dad! I was too careless with this matter! I really didn¡¯t expect the opponent to be so formidable! I had specifically arranged two Third-Level Superpower Users and a hundred Second-Level Superpower Users for security, thinking it would be foolproof, but who knew...¡± Before he could finish, Bai Zhengyi interrupted with a cold laugh, ¡°Who knew that the opponent would be so powerful, capable of silently taking down everyone involved!¡± His gaze then sharpened as he looked at Bai Yi, ¡°The White Wolf Mercenary Corps currently has only ten Third-Level Superpower Users; each one is extremely important to both the White Wolf and the Bai Family. Yet because of you, we¡¯ve lost two! And those Second-Level Superpower Users, all loyal elites of the Bai Family! Bai Yi, you really have some nerve!¡± Bai Yi was well aware that this incident had been a massive loss for the Bai Family. His face full of regret, he said, ¡°Dad, I truly realize my mistake! I really didn¡¯t expect things to turn out this way! Just before the banquet, Dr. Sun happily told me that there had been progress in his research, and he had created a new Promotion Potion. With successful experimentation, the White Wolf Mercenary Corps could have a large number of High-Level Superpower Users in no time! Then, who in Beishi Base could stand against us? Dr. Sun also said he decided to conduct the experiment tonight and test the effects of the potion, who would have known... who would have known it would turn out like this! Dad! It must have been that bastard Zhao Qiankun who tampered with the communicator! Only Dr. Sun and I knew about this, no one else had a clue! It must have been Zhao Qiankun who eavesdropped on our communicator and found out!¡± Bai Zhengyi gave him a disappointed look and suddenly asked, ¡°Are you sure Dr. Sun is really dead?¡± ¡°I...¡± Bai Yi started to speak then suddenly paused. Yes, no bodies were left in the research facility, and the safe was hidden extremely well. Logically, it shouldn¡¯t have been found! He then realized, the safe¡¯s lock had not been violently broken, meaning the perpetrator not only had the key but also knew the password! Bai Zhengyi continued, ¡°That madman Sun would disregard anything as long as he could continue his research. If Zhao Qiankun contacted him, do you think he would still follow you? Besides, even someone as formidable as Zhao Qiankun couldn¡¯t silently kill two Third-Level Superpower Users and a hundred Second-Level Superpower Users without alerting others nearby. But if those people were ambushed beforehand, that would be a different matter.¡± Hearing this, Bai Yi¡¯s face grew increasingly troubled. He had previously wondered how so many had died so silently, what method Zhao Qiankun could have used to handle these people without alerting others. He had never considered Dr. Sun¡¯s betrayal, so he hadn¡¯t thought of this possibility. Now reminded by Bai Zhengyi, he realized something was amiss. Yes, if it were an external infiltration, some noise would have been inevitable. But if the sabotage came from within, if they had been ambushed first, then everything would have been much easier! Chapter 608: 330 Did you get promoted?_2 Chapter 608: 330 Did you get promoted?_2 Dr. Sun was a researcher who had all sorts of strange potions at his disposal. How could the guards stand a chance if he decided to use them against them? Bai Yi thought more and more, regret welling up inside him. Was he to blame for all of this? If he hadn¡¯t trusted Dr. Sun so easily, would any of this have happened? Just then, Bai Zhengyi continued speaking, ¡°Regardless of whether Dr. Sun has defected to Zhao Qiankun, if indeed it was Zhao Qiankun who made the move, he must be holding evidence against you. Once it goes public, do you understand the consequences? The Bai Family will face an unprecedented blow, and the name will be utterly discredited! The White Wolf Mercenary Corps will also crumble apart! After all, it was one thing for Dr. Sun to use Ordinary People for his experiments, but he also captured many superpower users! Most of the members of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps are superpower users. What do you think will go through their minds when they find out about this? If Dr. Sun had come up with some results that benefited the superpower users of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps, then it would have been a different story. People say, ¡®He who receives a gift, sells his liberty.¡¯ Since they would have gained from it, they wouldn¡¯t have much to say. Yet, Dr. Sun, up until now, has carried out many perverted experiments and hasn¡¯t produced any results! Now, his life or death is uncertain, and all his precious research material has disappeared without a trace. Bai Yi has made so much effort, exhausted how many resources and manpower, and now not only has he gained nothing, but he has also attracted trouble, and it could even lead to the ruin of both his name and the Bai Family! After realizing this, Bai Yi¡¯s face turned extremely ugly. No longer caring if he¡¯d be reproached by Bai Zhengyi for incompetence, he anxiously asked, ¡°Dad! What do we do now? We can¡¯t let Zhao Qiankun¡¯s sinister plans succeed!¡± Bai Zhengyi ignored him, but at that moment, Bai Yi heard footsteps approaching from outside. His face shifted subtly, and he couldn¡¯t help but speculate, who would come at this time? Quickly, the door was knocked on. Without waiting for the person outside to speak, Bai Zhengyi stood up and said, ¡°Come in.¡± Bai Yi grew more suspicious, who exactly was the visitor? The door soon opened from the outside, and two men walked in. Seeing them, Bai Yi¡¯s expression changed again¡ªthe visitors were unexpectedly Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye! Seeing Bai Zhengyi¡¯s attitude, it was clear that he had called for these two, so despite feeling unpleasant, Bai Yi dared not make a scene. Bai Zhengli asked, ¡°Why have you called us over so late? What¡¯s the matter?¡± Bai Zhengyi glanced quickly at the silent Bai Ye and pointed towards the direction of the upstairs study, ¡°This isn¡¯t the place to talk, let¡¯s go to the study room first.¡± It was one thing for him to scold his son, but in the living room, it seemed rather informal. However, the matter he had to discuss with Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye was of the utmost importance and warranted a more formal setting. Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye didn¡¯t say much and followed him upstairs to the study room. Bai Zhengyi gave Bai Yi a look, signaling him to follow. Bai Yi actually didn¡¯t want to go; he could guess that Bai Zhengyi had summoned Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye to discuss the very incident that was a stain on his life, and he really didn¡¯t want Bai Ye to know about it! Unfortunately, Bai Zhengyi had given the order, and Bai Yi, having just caused such a disaster and resulting in the Bai Family¡¯s loss of two Level 3 superpower users and a hundred competent second-level superpower users, didn¡¯t dare resist Bai Zhengyi now. Soon the four men were in the study room, both Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye understanding that Bai Zhengyi must want to discuss the Secret Research Institute. The situation was indeed troublesome for the entire Bai Family, not to mention with Zhao Qiankun lurking, waiting for the chance for the Bai Family to slip. However, although they were aware of the gravity, they didn¡¯t show it on their faces. Compared to the anxious Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi, they were much more composed. Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi were worried because they thought Zhao Qiankun was the one who acted, and that he had damning evidence against the Bai Family that could lead to their ruin if revealed, thus demanding caution. But Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye knew it was the Fang Family that acted. Even if Zhao Qiankun truly had evidence, with the Secret Research Institute destroyed, any evidence he brought forward would be without witnesses; they could staunchly deny everything. But the truth of the matter must not be revealed to Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi, or the Fang Family would be in danger. Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye had their own dissatisfaction with the Secret Research Institute Bai Yi had caused, and they were pleased to watch the father and son worry. The study room¡¯s door, windows, and even the walls were soundproofed. Once closed, no conversation inside could be heard from outside. Given the circumstances, Bai Zhengyi, despite looking serious, addressed the others quite politely, and upon entering the room, he gestured Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye to sit. Bai Yi also took a seat. Although unhappy with his son, he couldn¡¯t very well embarrass his own son in front of others. As soon as they were seated, Bai Zhengyi got straight to the point and asked, ¡°Xiao Ye, how strong are you now? Can you tell me?¡± As he spoke, his gaze flickered between Bai Ye and Bai Zhengli, and upon a closer look, he noticed something amiss¡ª Bai Zhengli seemed to have become younger all of a sudden. Could he have advanced in rank? Seeing Bai Zhengyi noticing Bai Zhengli¡¯s appearance, Bai Ye deliberately spoke up to draw attention to himself. His attitude was quite aloof, ¡°I am merely a Gold Element second-level superpower user. My uncle surely knows this, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Though they were a collateral line, not closely related to Bai Zhengyi¡¯s branch, Bai Ye still addressed him respectfully as ¡®uncle¡¯, given Bai Zhengyi¡¯s seniority. Bai Zhengyi had originally wanted to inquire about Bai Ye¡¯s true strength, but now he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off Bai Zhengli, urgently asking, ¡°Zhengli, did your superpower advance?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 609: 331 Hypocrite Chapter 609: 331 Hypocrite Although Bai Zhengli had attended the social gathering before, few people noticed that he had become younger. After all, in the apocalypse, everyone was busy dealing with zombies outside and solving problems concerning civilian life inside the base. Unless they were from the same faction, it was normal not to see each other for several days. Unless the change was very blatant, it simply went unnoticed. Superpower users naturally looked healthier and younger than ordinary people. Everyone at the social gathering had cleaned up nicely, which wasn¡¯t the usual look, so Bai Zhengli¡¯s change wasn¡¯t very obvious. Besides, Bai Ye had taught him to control the energy fluctuations in his body, allowing him to continue masquerading as a second-level superpower user; naturally, no one else discovered his change. However, at this moment, there were only four people in the room, and Bai Zhengyi, who often saw Bai Zhengli and was very familiar with his situation, paid close attention and naturally realized something was amiss. Bai Zhengyi was shocked, and Bai Yi, sitting opposite Bai Ye, was equally so. He looked at Bai Zhengli incredulously. Upon looking, he also noticed that Bai Zhengli looked younger than he did yesterday! So, like Bai Zhengyi, Bai Yi also guessed whether Bai Zhengli had advanced in rank. This speculation shocked them both. The two of them were third-level superpower users, but that was because they controlled a large amount of resources and had plenty of Crystal Cores for cultivation. But Bai Zhengli was different¡ªhis Crystal Cores were all earned through missions, how many could he have? Nonetheless, Bai Zhengli had still cultivated to the peak of level 2, just stalled at breaking through to the next level. This made Bai Zhengyi unable to help but feel jealous. He often criticized Bai Yi for not being as good as Bai Ye, but wasn¡¯t it because he himself was also outperformed by Bai Zhengli? If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he had his own methods and Bai Zhengli wasn¡¯t too keen on power, it¡¯s hard to say what state the Bai Family would be in at this moment! Yet he never expected, despite his own lesser ability, to see his decent son getting outclassed by Bai Zhengli¡¯s son! How could his heart be willing to accept that? After the apocalypse, Bai Ye had not returned for a long time. Although he verbally reassured Bai Zhengli by saying it must be all right, deep down, he had thought viciously¡ªit would be good if Bai Ye just died out there. But he wasn¡¯t as foolish as Bai Yi; even though he had such thoughts, he also knew that with Bai Ye¡¯s abilities, the chances of dying out there were frankly slim. Sure enough, after only two months, Bai Ye returned to Beishi Base. Upon Bai Ye¡¯s return, he felt uneasy. In Bai Ye¡¯s absence, he and Bai Yi had already become third-level superpower users, successfully outshining Bai Zhengli and also firmly suppressing him, preventing him from having any power to challenge him. When Bai Ye had just returned, his superpower level was tested at the entrance. Not long after the results came out, he learned of it. At that time, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Although he knew that Bai Yi couldn¡¯t compare to Bai Ye, how could he, a father, feel at ease? Now, at last, Bai Yi had progressed farther than Bai Ye, which made him inwardly rejoice. However, what Bai Zhengyi hadn¡¯t expected was that right after that, news came that Bai Ye had wiped out half of the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, even killing the leader, Poison Wolf! That was when Bai Zhengyi felt that something was wrong. Who would have thought that Bai Zhengli, who had always been unable to advance to Level 3, suddenly did so, looking years younger! He had outdone him again! Bai Zhengyi felt bitter inside. How exactly did Bai Zhengli suddenly advance in rank? Could it be because Bai Ye had returned, happy? What concerned him more was, now that Bai Zhengli had become a third-level superpower user, what change would this bring to the Bai Family? If Bai Zhengli had no ambition, then his advancement would naturally be a good thing for the Bai Family. But if he suddenly became ambitious, it would be unfavorable for him and Bai Yi. Bai Zhengyi thought a lot in his mind, but his face did not show a trace of it; he just stared intently at Bai Zhengli, waiting for his answer. Bai Zhengli indeed had advanced. He had been at the peak of Level 2 and didn¡¯t understand why, but he was unable to advance. However, after taking the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, his body expelled a large amount of impurities. The bottleneck that had always been blocking his progress quietly disappeared, allowing him to easily advance to Superpower Level 3. Normally, this would be a good thing, but they had already decided to leave, so revealing his true strength was unwise. Moreover, Fang Yuxin had just inspected him a moment ago; in the eyes of the vigilant, it was very likely that suspicion would fall on Fang Yuxin. Chapter 610: 331 Hypocrite_2 Chapter 610: 331 Hypocrite_2 So, Bai Ye taught him a method, allowing him to disguise his energy fluctuations to appear as those of a second-level superpower at its peak. The method was indeed effective, as no one at the party had noticed it previously. Little did they know that when they arrived here, Bai Zhengyi would see through it! He suddenly became younger and needed a reason, Bai Zhengli thought it over and felt that advancing in level was the most reliable explanation, so he simply admitted it. It wasn¡¯t that he was honest, but rather he couldn¡¯t let Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi suspect Fang Yuxin. If they knew Fang Yuxin had the mysterious Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, their greed would surely be piqued, and then the Fang Family would be in danger! To prevent Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi from suspecting, Bai Zhengli nodded and admitted, then said, ¡°After seeing Xiao Ye alive, the superpower inside me started to become unstable, and I suddenly advanced.¡± Upon hearing this, Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly, ¡°Such good luck,¡± followed by Bai Zhengyi managing a smile and congratulating Bai Zhengli, saying, ¡°With this, our Bai Family has gained another third-level superpower user!¡± Hearing this, Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye exchanged a look, unable to suppress a snort in their hearts¡ªBai Zhengyi¡¯s words were a clear reminder of their identity as Bai Family members! He meant for them not to have any other ulterior motives. Bai Zhengli immediately felt disheartened. He had come here at this time because he was aware of the Secret Research Institute¡¯s situation, thinking that as a member of the Bai Family, it was his duty to contribute and not let the Bai Family be destroyed at the hands of the scoundrel Zhao Qiankun. But now, looking at the righteous appearances of Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi, he couldn¡¯t help but start to wonder if everything he had done for the Bai Family was worth it? Noticing Bai Zhengli¡¯s mood, Bai Ye, unwilling to continue playing along with Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi, said, ¡°Uncle, what is the matter that you called us over so late?¡± Upon hearing this, Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi were displeased. Just as Bai Yi was about to get angry, Bai Zhengyi glared at him and then took a deep look at Bai Ye before speaking, ¡°Here¡¯s the situation. I just received reliable information that Zhao Qiankun is devising a conspiracy against our Bai Family! He has forged some evidence, trying to slander our family for experimenting on live subjects, aiming to ruin our reputation and split the White Wolf Mercenary Corps, his intentions are extremely malicious! I¡¯ve called you here to discuss how we should handle this.¡± Upon hearing this, Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye couldn¡¯t help but find it laughable. Bai Zhengyi really had the gall to say it! It was clearly their own doing¡ªrunning a Secret Research Institute and using live subjects for experiments¡ªand with just a meeting of lips, it turned into Zhao Qiankun¡¯s slander! Despite this dishonesty, he still had the audacity to act morally. If the two of them didn¡¯t know the truth, they might have really been fooled by him! Moreover, their branch of the family was always oppressed and had little standing within the White Wolf Mercenary Corps, always marginalized. Bai Zhengyi never involved them in discussions unless he intended to use them! Thinking of this, Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye felt even colder. Over the years, they had done countless things for the Bai Family, yet Bai Zhengyi was unjust, always suppressing them, fearing they would grow too strong. Whenever there was danger or a troublesome task, he would think of throwing it to them to solve. How could there be such a cheap deal! If it were before, Bai Zhengli might have given Bai Zhengyi some face. But Bai Zhengyi had gone too far! First, it was the notorious Poison Wolf Mercenary Group, then the Secret Research Institute using live humans for experiments¡ªare they still human? Do they have any conscience at all? If the Bai Family were really slandered by Zhao Qiankun, he naturally wouldn¡¯t mind helping. But now, with Bai Yi causing all these troubles and trying to get them to solve it without telling them the truth, treating them like fools! Bai Zhengli immediately felt disheartened, feigning difficulty, he said, ¡°This matter... is not easy to handle.¡± After saying this, he furrowed his eyebrows and kept silent as if he was thinking about solutions. Bai Zhengyi had no choice but to turn to Bai Ye, asking him, ¡°Xiao Ye, do you have any ideas?¡± Bai Ye gave him a frosty look and deliberately said, ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re not unaware that I¡¯m not fond of thinking, these complex issues, you¡¯d better ask Bai Yi, he¡¯s always been more thoughtful than I am.¡± Bai Zhengyi was choked by his words, feeling really uncomfortable. Clearly, he was suggesting Bai Yi was cunning! Bai Yi also heard it and was about to retaliate but was glared at again by Bai Zhengyi. Bai Zhengyi looked at Bai Ye, always feeling that the man in front of him was inscrutable. The sudden advancement of Bai Zhengli seemed suspicious, and Bai Ye¡¯s second-level superpower strength also made him uneasy¡ªhow could Bai Ye¡¯s strength be just a second-level superpower? But this topic was too sensitive. He had already tried probing earlier, and both Bai Ye and Bai Zhengli clearly refused to reveal anything. He could put aside Bai Zhengli¡¯s advancement for now. The most pressing issue was to deal with Zhao Qiankun! Just thinking about Zhao holding evidence of their Bai Family using live subjects for experiments made Bai Zhengyi anxious, fearing that by dawn, the whole Beishi Base would know about it! Seeing that Bai Ye and Bai Zhengli refused to speak up, he had to say again, ¡°This matter is crucial, related to the life and death of the Bai Family, it must be resolved quickly! If you have any ideas, feel free to speak up.¡± Bai Zhengli continued to frown and remained silent, while Bai Ye glanced at an unhappy Bai Yi and calmly said, ¡°Since Uncle has asked me to speak, then I¡¯ll speak. Isn¡¯t the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps under uncle¡¯s command? How about asking them to look for evidence of Zhao Qiankun¡¯s wrongdoing?¡± At these words, Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi¡¯s faces changed instantly, shocked as they looked at Bai Ye. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) by giving recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 611: 332 is not the right time Chapter 611: 332 is not the right time With one sentence, Bai Ye successfully stunned the hypocritical duo, Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi. They were aware that Poison Wolf had fallen into Bai Ye¡¯s hands, but they had no clue that Fang Yuxin had forcefully extracted Poison Wolf¡¯s memories, leaving Bai Ye and Bai Zhengli fully informed about the dirty tricks they had secretly performed! Following the initial shock, Bai Yi immediately retorted, ¡°Bai Ye! You¡¯re spouting nonsense and falsely accusing people!¡± This time, Bai Zhengyi didn¡¯t glare at him but looked at Bai Ye with a slightly furrowed brow and said earnestly, ¡°Xiao Ye, where did you get this information? In these turbulent times, who knows how many people want to scheme against the Bai Family. Don¡¯t be deceived by someone with ulterior motives!¡± Bai Ye had long seen through them and couldn¡¯t help but sneer internally at these words. Seeing that Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi were unwilling to admit to their deeds, he didn¡¯t bring up the fact that Bai Yi and Qiu Yiming had once conspired to set a deadly trap to kill him, nor did he bother to argue with the pretentious father and son pair. His expression changed slightly, as if he had taken the words to heart, and after a long silence, he finally spoke, ¡°I will get to the bottom of this matter. It¡¯s getting late; my father and I will head back now.¡± After finishing his words, he stood up with Bai Zhengli, both with somber expressions, looking heavily burdened. Although Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi were reluctant, they weren¡¯t in a position to say more and could only see them off. Once they had left, Bai Zhengyi tapped on the table and asked Bai Yi, ¡°How on earth did Bai Ye find out? Could it be that Poison Wolf told him everything?¡± Bai Yi was also panicked, and he couldn¡¯t pinpoint the reason why. When Bai Ye left, he had given Bai Yi a deep look that seemed to mock and say ¡°No need to pretend, I know everything,¡± which instilled a sense of unease in him. Bai Yi felt useless; it was just a glance from Bai Ye, yet it was enough to shake him! Feeling an increased dissatisfaction towards Bai Ye, he grew worried upon hearing Bai Zhengyi¡¯s words, ¡°Logically, Poison Wolf shouldn¡¯t have told him, but perhaps Bai Ye used some method to force the truth out of Poison Wolf. If that¡¯s the case... Dad, what should we do?¡± He already had murderous intentions in his heart, but given the big trouble he had recently caused, he dared not speak out rashly. Bai Zhengyi looked disdainfully at him and suddenly said, ¡°The last time you conspired with Qiu Yiming to set that death trap for him, he¡¯s come back alive. What do you think he will make of that?¡± His sharp gaze then turned towards Bai Yi. Bai Yi panicked and evaded the look, unable to meet Bai Zhengyi¡¯s eyes. Seeing his cowardly state, Bai Zhengyi grew even more disappointed in him. Although Bai Yi had never told him about the plot, as the head of the Bai Family, how could he not know about Bai Yi¡¯s actions? He had simply turned a blind eye to it. Given that Bai Ye was quite talented and had voluntarily exited the power struggle within the Bai Family¡ªnot joining the Military Department but instead becoming a mercenary, seemingly ruining his own future¡ªthey had no need to make another move against him. Yet Bai Ye was too rebellious; he never heeded advice and his rebelliousness only increased after becoming a mercenary, even hinting at wanting to break away from the Bai Family! So when Bai Yi eventually conspired with Qiu Yiming to eliminate Bai Ye, Bai Zhengyi, though aware, did nothing to stop it. The Bai Family didn¡¯t need such rebellious and talented descendants! Who would have thought that Bai Yi and Qiu Yiming would be so incompetent? Together, they failed to deal with Bai Ye, allowing him to return to Beishi City alive! Thinking of this, Bai Zhengyi couldn¡¯t help shaking his head, feeling that the heavens were truly unjust. Then his thoughts shifted to Bai Zhengli¡¯s recent advancement. He had been suppressing Bai Zhengli all along; after all, he was the squad leader of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps, which was not entirely under Bai Family control. Apart from soldiers who had once followed them, many of the members who joined later were superpower users. They couldn¡¯t all be expected to be loyal to Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi, and should Bai Zhengli rise to power, some would inevitably side with him! In order to prevent such a situation, he continuously suppressed Bai Zhengli, marginalizing him. Though belonging to the White Wolf Mercenary Corps, Bai Zhengli held little real power and had few subordinates. Everything had been going smoothly until Bai Zhengli suddenly advanced to become a Third-level Superpower User! Bai Zhengyi was hesitant; the Bai Family had lost two Level 3 Superpower Users and a hundred outstanding Second-level Superpower Users, a terrible blow. Once the news spread, who knew what those below would think. If other forces found out, countless would target the vulnerable Bai Family! Chapter 612: 332 is not the right time_2 Chapter 612: 332 is not the right time_2 Bai Zhengli¡¯s promotion this time was really fortuitous. If this news were made public, it would mean the Bai Family had only lost a Level 3 superpower user, making it much easier for everyone to accept. However, the problem was that he had gone to great lengths to marginalize Bai Zhengli. Once the news of his promotion to Level 3 spread, who knew how many eyes would be watching Bai Zhengli! Wouldn¡¯t Bai Zhengli become the talk of the town? Bai Zhengyi was very dissatisfied inside but couldn¡¯t think of a better method, so he just frowned, deep in thought. Bai Yi had been carefully watching his father¡¯s expression the whole time. Seeing him silent, Bai Yi grew even more anxious. Naturally, he was worried about Bai Ye seeking revenge, so he had planned to capture Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin and deliver them to Dr. Sun as test subjects. Who knew that before the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps could take action, Poison Wolf ran into trouble, with the mercenary group losing nearly half of their manpower. Following that, an incident occurred with Dr. Sun. Bai Yi felt overwhelmed. He remembered the look in Bai Ye¡¯s eyes before he left and wished he could have someone eliminate Bai Ye immediately! He had just been scolded, otherwise he would have acted recklessly, so he asked Bai Zhengyi, hoping to see if he had any solutions. Unfortunately, Bai Zhengyi said nothing, his face grim, and it was unclear exactly what he was thinking. Bai Yi waited a moment, and seeing that his father was still unwilling to speak, he finally lost his patience and asked anxiously, ¡°Dad, what do we do now? The research institute was destroyed by Zhao Qiankun, and he surely has plenty of evidence about us. Once he releases it, the Bai Family is finished! And then there¡¯s Bai Ye and Bai Zhengli, since they already know so much, I fear they will turn away from us. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just cut our losses!¡± Bai Zhengyi couldn¡¯t listen any longer. He didn¡¯t mind eliminating Bai Ye and Bai Zhengli, but how? They had just lost two Level 3 superpower users, and the remaining members couldn¡¯t afford the slightest loss! If Bai Zhengli were still a Second-level Superpower User, he would have dispatched a Level 3 to surely eliminate him, but Bai Zhengli was now a Level 3 Superpower User! In that case, how would an average Level 3 Superpower User kill him even if they could fight him to a standstill? The situation was truly difficult to deal with and wasn¡¯t the most urgent matter at hand, yet Bai Yi couldn¡¯t see it and was only focused on getting rid of Bai Ye! He was truly an infuriating fool! Bai Zhengyi suddenly thought of Qu Qianlin of the Qu Family. He had enjoyed watching the spectacle at the banquet before and laughed at Qu Xiuhong¡¯s incompetence in raising his children, causing a public scene and losing face! But now, he suddenly felt even worse than Qu Xiuhong! Qu Qianlin might have been a fool, reckless and impulsive, but at most he had made the Qu Family lose face, nothing more. But Bai Yi was different. The things he had done, whether setting death traps for Bai Ye, joining forces with the notorious Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, or colluding with Dr. Sun to experiment on living people¡ªif any of that came to light, the Bai Family would be utterly ruined! The more Bai Zhengyi thought about it, the more discontent he felt, but it was at this moment that Bai Yi spoke up again, suggesting, ¡°Dad, why not negotiate with Zhao Qiankun? We can¡¯t just do nothing, right?¡± This time, Bai Zhengyi nodded. He sighed, with a lack of enthusiasm, and said, ¡°That¡¯s the only choice, I will contact Zhao Qiankun.¡± Saying this, he dialed Zhao Qiankun¡¯s communicator number. When the communicator rang, Zhao Qiankun was in bed enjoying the passionate company of Han Lingxi and Cheng Lin. The communicator had been tossed on the nightstand, and he was so excited, plus Han Lingxi and Cheng Lin were continuously moaning, that he didn¡¯t even hear the ringing of the communicator until Han Lingxi reminded him, ¡°Brother Kun... the communicator... it¡¯s ringing...¡± Zhao Qiankun then heard the ringing of the communicator, feeling very annoyed. He was initially unwilling to pay attention, but Han Lingxi had already stretched her arm from the nightstand to grab it. She glanced at the screen, saw the name displayed, her face changed, and said to Zhao Qiankun, ¡°Brother Kun, it¡¯s Bai Zhengyi.¡± ¡°Him?¡± Zhao Qiankun frowned in confusion and impatience, ¡°At this hour, what does he want from me?¡± Although he said this, he still took the communicator and chose to answer. Both sides tacitly chose not to turn on the video, so the screen remained dark. Han Lingxi and Cheng Lin silently refrained from speaking. Zhao Qiankun asked lazily, ¡°Family Head Bai, why are you looking for me at this hour?¡± His voice carried notes of complaint and impatience. Bai Zhengyi was not using a Bluetooth headset, so Zhao Qiankun¡¯s voice came out from the speaker, causing both he and Bai Yi to frown in displeasure. The Bai Family had been powerful even before the apocalypse, but Zhao Qiankun was a grassroots upstart with unknown origins, so Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi felt a sense of innate superiority over Zhao Qiankun and looked down on him. But now, Zhao Qiankun dared to speak to them in such a manner¡ªit was outrageous! Though they were angry, they didn¡¯t forget the matter at hand. They exchanged a glance, their suspicion of Zhao Qiankun growing. Zhao Qiankun¡¯s attitude was too arrogant; therefore, Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi couldn¡¯t help but wonder, why was he so brazen? Did he have a trump card up his sleeve to use against them? Feeling sure of his victory, was that why he didn¡¯t take them seriously? The father and son guessed correctly¡ªZhao Qiankun indeed didn¡¯t take them seriously. Although he came from humble beginnings, the trump card in his hand was enough to make him look down on everyone! Under normal circumstances, even if he thought little of Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi, he wouldn¡¯t show it so openly¡ªit was just that Bai Zhengyi¡¯s call couldn¡¯t have come at a worse time! (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile phone users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 613: 336 People in Memory Chapter 613: 336 People in Memory Bai Ye was about to leave when Fang Yuxin¡¯s communicator suddenly rang. Seeing that the caller was Zhao Qiankun, he decided not to leave and turned around to sit next to Fang Yuxin, watching her answer the call, and with a lift of his eyebrow, he too wanted to hear what Zhao Qiankun was planning to say. As soon as the call connected, Zhao Qiankun¡¯s annoying face appeared on the small screen. It seemed like he had dressed up on purpose, but Bai Ye couldn¡¯t tell if it was to impress Fang Yuxin or if he always looked like this. Bai Ye looked at Zhao Qiankun, who seemed eager to have ¡°I¡¯m very handsome¡± written across his forehead. His eyes narrowed slightly, feeling that Zhao was even more punchable than he had been the day before. In truth, Zhao Qiankun was quite handsome, especially when he smiled. His phoenix eyes would narrow softly, and his eyes were deep and bright which made him look quite charming. However, his charm¡¯s effect varied from person to person. For some inexperienced girls, a single glance from him could send them head over heels. But for those who were used to seeing high-quality handsome men and beautiful women, Zhao Qiankun was just average. Especially upon closer inspection, although Zhao Qiankun looked handsome and charming, his demeanor was somewhat frivolous, lacking the composed presence of someone seasoned. To draw a comparison, he was like a nouveau riche who had struck it rich overnight. Despite how dazzlingly he dressed, he couldn¡¯t compare to someone born into a true prestigious family¡ªthe gap in their demeanors was just too wide. Like Bai Yi, although his abilities fell short of Bai Ye¡¯s, if you compared him to Zhao Qiankun based solely on demeanor and charm, Zhao couldn¡¯t hold a candle to him. However, Zhao Qiankun had a strong backing, which often made him appear confident, something Bai Yi couldn¡¯t match. Now, in the apocalypse, with zombies and mutated creatures everywhere, humanity was forced to shrink into small safe bases. No one knew what tomorrow might bring, and everyone was uneasy. In such circumstances, Zhao Qiankun always appeared full of confidence and assurance, naturally attracting both men and women to follow and support him. This significantly boosted Zhao Qiankun¡¯s charm value, making his pursuits of women usually successful. Often, women would even throw themselves at him, just to live securely under his protection. Unfortunately, Zhao Qiankun failed to grasp the key point, thinking these women were attracted by his personal charm, and that they were interested in him as a person. Thus, seeing Fang Yuxin again, he was quite confident he could win her over and fulfill his longstanding desire. Sadly for him, Fang Yuxin, who came from a distinguished background, and was educated by Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang, had Yiming Qiu as an excellent childhood friend from an early age, and later met an even more outstanding Bai Ye. How could she be interested in Zhao Qiankun? Even without Bai Ye, having Qingmu Spirit Mansion and relying on her own capabilities, she could live well in the apocalypse, and had no reason to seek Zhao Qiankun¡¯s protection like other women. So, when she saw Zhao Qiankun sporting what he thought was a very charming smile, she only raised an eyebrow, her expression clear and unmoved. Bai Ye, who had been sneakily watching Fang Yuxin¡¯s reaction, saw that she showed no response to Zhao Qiankun¡¯s punchable face and couldn¡¯t help but glance proudly at Zhao on the screen. Unfortunately for Fang Yuxin, the video wasn¡¯t on her end. She and Bai Ye could clearly see Zhao Qiankun, but Zhao couldn¡¯t see them. Zhao Qiankun¡¯s voice came through the speaker, ¡°Xinxin, can you turn on the video? I want to see you.¡± As soon as Bai Ye heard this, his brows furrowed, and his expression darkened¡ªwhat the hell was this Zhao trying to pull, acting so familiar? Thinking he could video chat with Xinxin like he was someone special? Thinking this, he immediately turned his head, watching Fang Yuxin nervously, fearing she might agree. Fang Yuxin, amused by his visibly anxious expression, smiled at him. Then, in a cool tone, she said to Zhao Qiankun, ¡°Mr. Zhao, I don¡¯t think we¡¯re that close. You should call me ¡®Miss Fang.¡¯ I¡¯m not comfortable with you being so familiar.¡± Zhao Qiankun frowned unhappily on the other end, his voice carrying a hint of dissatisfaction, ¡°Really? I thought we were quite familiar.¡± Fang Yuxin rolled her eyes. Did Zhao think she was some naive young girl, or did he see himself as the overbearing CEO from a drama? His tone was really annoying, really! Chapter 614: 336 People in Memory_2 Chapter 614: 336 People in Memory_2 Bai Ye was even more annoyed. Listening to Zhao Qiankun¡¯s words, he felt Zhao was shamelessly flirting with his Xinxin! He really wanted to smash that irritating face with a slap! Fang Yuxin¡¯s tone became colder, ¡°Mr. Zhao, if I remember correctly, you already have a girlfriend, don¡¯t you? That kiss at the party yesterday was really romantic. Your girlfriend is so beautiful, I wouldn¡¯t want her to misunderstand. If you have nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Just as Fang Yuxin was about to hang up, Zhao Qiankun suddenly called out, his gaze seemed deep, and although separated by the screen, Fang Yuxin still got the illusion that he was looking at her. Then, she heard Zhao Qiankun say, ¡°You really resemble my first love, she was a classmate, and her name was also ¡®Xinxin¡¯. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s fate?¡± Bai Ye felt his anger rising, cursing inwardly that he and Zhao Qiankun were anything but fated. Even if there was indeed some fate, it could only be a calamitous one! He looked at Fang Yuxin discontentedly, signaling with his eyes ¨C why bother with him? Just hang up! But this time, Fang Yuxin ignored him. She stared fixedly at Zhao Qiankun¡¯s face on the screen, then she said, ¡°Squad leader Zhao, that pickup line is outdated. Besides, I have no interest in being someone¡¯s mistress. If that¡¯s your aim, then please don¡¯t contact me again.¡± After saying this, she hung up the call. Bai Ye was sulking on the side, ¡°What were you staring at him for? What¡¯s so good about that guy? He¡¯s not even as good-looking as I am!¡± He had always been praised for his looks since he was a child, although he himself didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. But this time, he was provoked by Fang Yuxin¡¯s fixed gaze on Zhao Qiankun and blurted out those words. Fang Yuxin was amused by him. Seeing him still fuming there, she leaned over, reached out with her slender finger to lift his chin, and teasingly said, ¡°Handsome, smile for me?¡± Bai Ye was stunned, staring at her with his peach blossom eyes, looking exceptionally cute. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but reach out with both hands to squeeze his face, mushing that good-looking face around. Bai Ye¡¯s astonished expression was just like that of a virtuous woman being harassed by a bully. Bai Ye, initially feeling rather sour, was cheered up by Fang Yuxin¡¯s teasing, and his rationality gradually returned. He grabbed Fang Yuxin¡¯s mischievous hand and held it in his palm as he leaned back on the sofa and asked her, ¡°Did you just discover something? Why were you staring at his face the whole time? You think his face was the result of plastic surgery?¡± Although Bai Ye was just making a wild guess, by the end, he started recalling deliberately, maliciously seeking any trace or clue on Zhao Qiankun¡¯s face. Fang Yuxin gave him a speechless look, ¡°Stop thinking about it, his face definitely hasn¡¯t been under the knife.¡± After seeing Bai Ye seemed a bit deflated, she continued, ¡°I just feel like he might actually be a classmate from my past, it¡¯s just that his appearance has changed, so I didn¡¯t recognize him.¡± Bai Ye was still pondering about the plastic surgery matter but was startled when he heard her words, looking at Fang Yuxin incredulously, ¡°What did you say? He¡¯s your classmate?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded. She had previously speculated with her family about Zhao Qiankun¡¯s identity, once considering the possibility that he might be a classmate, but she had dismissed it, thinking it unlikely. However, when she heard Zhao Qiankun mention that his first love was a classmate named ¡°Xinxin,¡± she looked into Zhao Qiankun¡¯s eyes and felt that he didn¡¯t seem to be lying. Then, she couldn¡¯t help but reminisce about her school days. As she did, she suddenly remembered a person. That person was a classmate of hers, who always dressed modestly, or even shabbily, rumored to come from the mountainous countryside with poor family conditions. That person seemed out of place in a big city like Beishi City, and somewhat isolated from other classmates. Nevertheless, many times, he was caught stealing glances at her. After Fang Yuxin noticed, she didn¡¯t expose him to avoid the awkwardness. Then, when the graduation photo was taken, he took the initiative to approach her and suggested taking a picture together. Fang Yuxin was neither fond of nor disliked him, and considering that it was after all graduation, and his requests weren¡¯t too overbearing, she agreed. After graduation, she returned to Market City and never attended class reunions, so she never saw him again, nor knew what happened to him afterward. During the call, when Zhao Qiankun turned on the video, she looked at his face and compared it with her memories of that classmate, finding their features actually quite similar. She couldn¡¯t help but suspect that Zhao Qiankun might be that classmate from before. She remembered that person¡¯s name was Zhao Dawei, a very common and even rustic name. Some people even gave him the nickname ¡°Brother Wei¡± in jest. Bai Ye, watching her reminisce, felt a tinge of jealousy again ¨C was it necessary to think so seriously about another man? Seeing Fang Yuxin frowning, as though puzzled, he asked her, ¡°If you think of something, just say it, and we can figure it out together.¡± Hearing this, Fang Yuxin simply took out a blank Jade Scroll and imprinted with her Spiritual Sense the image of that classmate and Zhao Qiankun onto the Jade Scroll, then handed it to Bai Ye, ¡°Take a look, do you think he looks a lot like Zhao Qiankun?¡± Bai Ye took it, pressed the Jade Scroll to his forehead, and looked with his Spiritual Sense. After observing for a while, his expression subtly changed. Putting down the Jade Scroll, he said, ¡°The features of this person are indeed somewhat similar to Zhao Qiankun, especially the eyes are the most alike. If one doesn¡¯t compare carefully, they would seem like two unrelated people, but once you look closely, you can see they¡¯re actually the same person!¡± He was somewhat speechless at this realization. He was merely talking nonsense before, who would have expected Zhao Qiankun really did undergo plastic surgery? Yet, his face didn¡¯t look like it had been operated on, and he¡¯d grown taller too, what was going on? (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 615: 333 Soft and hard tactics Chapter 615: 333 Soft and hard tactics Bai Zhengyi contacted Zhao Qiankun at an inappropriate time, just when it happened to be a taboo for Zhao, causing Zhao not to show any face and his dissatisfaction to be thoroughly exposed in his tone. Although Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi appeared respectable and hypocritical, they were actually quite restrained with women, never behaving inappropriately. At the moment, the two of them were preoccupied with the affairs of the research institute and hadn¡¯t considered what Zhao might be doing at this hour. They regarded Zhao as a suspect, and hearing his impatient voice, they subconsciously believed that Zhao must have had an ace up his sleeve, which is why he dared to be so arrogant in their presence, not even bothering to put on a facade. As for Zhao¡¯s ace, it was naturally the evidence gathered from the research institute and Dr. Sun about the Bai Family¡¯s experiments using living subjects! Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi felt guilty, so when they heard the impatience in Zhao¡¯s voice, their initial suspicions turned into certainty, and they became even more convinced that Zhao indeed had incriminating evidence against them. Despite their anger, they did not dare to lash out at Zhao. Bai Zhengyi¡¯s face twisted into a somewhat ferocious expression, but the words he spoke were still fairly calm, ¡°Mr. Zhao, there shouldn¡¯t be any unrelated people by your side right now?¡± He was very cautious and didn¡¯t address the main issue directly, choosing to ask a question instead. Zhao wasn¡¯t a fool; as soon as he heard these words, he knew Bai Zhengyi must have something to say. He hesitated for a moment, but then asked Han Lingxi and Cheng Lin to leave. Han Lingxi¡¯s eyes rippled with emotion, and she planted a kiss on his cheek, giving him a ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you¡± look, before obediently wrapping the towel around herself and getting out of bed to leave. Cheng Lin didn¡¯t want to move, but after Zhao gave her a glance, she clenched her teeth and reluctantly rose from the bed, wrapping herself in a towel and leaving as well. The door closed gently with a ¡°click,¡± and Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi on the other end could hear it, causing their expressions to change once again¡ªthere was someone in Zhao¡¯s room! At this point, they didn¡¯t bother to consider the identity or gender of the person in Zhao¡¯s room at this hour, all they felt was humiliation and anger! Zhao was actually so rude to them in front of someone else! He was acting far too arrogantly. Did he really think that just because he had that information, the Bai Family would truly be afraid of him? Bai Yi was about to speak but was silenced by a glare from Bai Zhengyi, gesturing for him to keep quiet. Bai Yi was somewhat unwilling but then saw Bai Zhengyi pointing at the communicator in his hand, and he realized that Bai Zhengyi was afraid that Zhao might hear any of their words through the communicator on the other end! So, he didn¡¯t say anything else, instead pressing his lips together and listening to what Bai Zhengyi was preparing to say to Zhao. Once Han Lingxi and Cheng Lin left, Zhao felt uneasy, lying alone on the spacious bed, steeped in loneliness. He felt even more displeased with Bai Zhengyi; what could be so urgent at this time of the night? So, his tone was even more impatient, ¡°Family Head Bai, there is no one else here now. If you have something to say, just say it.¡± Bai Zhengyi was very unsatisfied with Zhao¡¯s attitude, but since the leverage was in Zhao¡¯s hands, even if he was angry, he had to swallow his teeth and stomach the rage. He spoke, ¡°Mr. Zhao, let¡¯s not beat around the bush. The matter at the research institute, it¡¯s your doing, isn¡¯t it?¡± The research institute? What research institute? Stunned by Bai Zhengyi¡¯s question, Zhao quickly pieced things together. It was nearly ten o¡¯clock, and for Bai Zhengyi to initiate contact meant he must be panicking. Could it be the secret research institute orchestrated by Bai Yi that was in trouble? And Bai Zhengyi suspected him of being responsible? Just as Zhao was about to deny it, he suddenly realized that if it had merely been about him destroying the secret research institute, Bai Zhengyi would be completely furious, possibly even seeking revenge. So why this panic? That¡¯s right, the items from the research institute were not meant to see the light of day! Could it be that Bai Zhengyi thought he had obtained some evidence from inside that could harm the Bai Family? Zhao smiled at the thought; indeed, he did have evidence against the Bai Family, but the mishap at the secret research institute had nothing to do with him. He had initially planned to let Bai Ye and Bai Yi fight amongst themselves, depleting the strength of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps, and after some time, use the evidence he had to disgrace the Bai Family completely. However, since Bai Zhengyi had come to him willingly, he would be remiss not to take advantage of the situation! Chapter 616: 333 Soft and hard tactics_2 Chapter 616: 333 Soft and hard tactics_2 Zhao Qiankun deliberately said, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what Family Head Bai means by his words. Why not speak more clearly? I¡¯m really at a loss when you beat around the bush like this.¡± Bai Zhengyi wasn¡¯t foolish; how could he possibly clarify such a matter? Once he explicitly acknowledged it, wouldn¡¯t that be equivalent to admitting guilt himself? If Zhao Qiankun recorded the call, that would serve as ironclad evidence to bring down the Bai Family! Thus, he chuckled coldly and said, ¡°Mr. Zhao, this matter is known between you and me. It¡¯s not good to speak too plainly. Although the Qiankun Mercenary Corps is formidable, the Bai Family¡¯s White Wolf Mercenary Corps isn¡¯t something anyone can trifle with. Instead of both of us suffering, letting others benefit from our fight, wouldn¡¯t it be better to join forces? I¡¯ve always held great admiration for a young talent like Mr. Zhao; it¡¯s just that the actions of the young can sometimes be too hasty. It¡¯s better to think thrice before acting, don¡¯t you think?¡± His words were a mix of both carrot and stick, expressing admiration for Zhao Qiankun and a willingness to cooperate, while also warning him not to overstep, otherwise the White Wolf Mercenary Corps would fight back desperately. Should they wound each other in the conflict, it would only benefit others. Zhao Qiankun comprehended Bai Zhengyi¡¯s implication immediately. He sneered inwardly at Bai Zhengyi¡¯s sanctimonious facade, which he despised. However, stroking his chin, he still responded, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I will be waiting for Family Head Bai at the Qiankun Hotel tomorrow morning at nine.¡± This meant he was open to cooperation, but Bai Zhengyi had to come to the Qiankun Hotel in person tomorrow to meet him. Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi both grasped his intention, their faces turning utterly black with rage, becoming all the more twisted. Nevertheless, with their compromising information in Zhao Qiankun¡¯s hands, they had to go even if it meant lowering their stance to him. Should the Secret Research Institute¡¯s affairs be exposed, the Bai Family, even in their madness for revenge against Zhao Qiankun, could not alter the outcome of total ruin. That was the worst-case scenario, so as long as they could keep Zhao Qiankun quiet, even giving up a portion of benefits temporarily was of no consequence! With teeth gritted, Bai Zhengyi spat out, ¡°Fine, I will definitely come tomorrow.¡± After finishing his statement, he nearly smashed the communicator in his hand as he listened to the light laughter coming through the speaker. As soon as he hung up the call, Bai Yi, unable to hold back, exclaimed, ¡°Dad! Zhao Qiankun is pushing us too far!¡± Bai Zhengyi glared at him sternly, his tone icy as he retorted, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t need to be put through his crap! You still have the face to say that! Get out! Go think about what to do next!¡± Bai Yi didn¡¯t dare make a sound this time. He bit down on his lip so hard he could taste iron. He was quite aware that Bai Zhengyi was right; if not for his folly in setting up that Secret Research Institute, Bai Zhengyi wouldn¡¯t be receiving Zhao Qiankun¡¯s cold shoulder. Bitting his teeth, he looked down and promised, ¡°Dad, rest assured, I won¡¯t make the same mistake twice!¡± On the other end, after Zhao Qiankun ended the call, he dialed a number and as soon as the call connected, a slightly cold and unique voice came through the speaker, ¡°Mr. Zhao.¡± Zhao Qiankun asked directly, ¡°Was there a problem with Bai Yi¡¯s Secret Research Institute?¡± Quickly, the other party replied, ¡°You have sharp ears indeed, Mr. Zhao. The place has been wiped clean; Bai Yi had arranged for two Third-level Superpower Users and a hundred Second-level Superpower Users there, in addition to fifteen researchers and thirty-two test subjects. None survived; there¡¯s not even a corpse left. The equipment inside was destroyed, and the precious research materials in the safe are gone too. At the moment, we don¡¯t know who was behind it, but they were strong. Also, Bai Yi suspects it was your doing.¡± Zhao Qiankun couldn¡¯t help but smile smugly, ¡°It seems that Bai Yi and Bai Zhengyi really hold me in high esteem. But... how could there be such a powerful force at the Beishi Base? There was no sign of trouble at the time of the incident?¡± The other party responded, ¡°Right, that¡¯s the peculiar thing. Given the presence of two Third-level Superpower Users and over a hundred Second-level Superpower Users, all of whom are Bai Yi¡¯s trusted hands, it¡¯s unreasonable for there to have been no disturbance, no matter how formidable the enemy was.¡± He paused, then suddenly added, ¡°Mr. Zhao, you didn¡¯t really have a hand in this, did you? The timing of the incident is just when you left the hall, it¡¯s just too coincidental not to raise suspicion.¡± Zhao Qiankun didn¡¯t laugh this time; he merely said, ¡°Alright, I got it, continue monitoring.¡± After that, he ended the call. Then, Zhao Qiankun rubbed his chin thoughtfully. The incident truly wasn¡¯t his doing, but as the other person had just said, it was all too strange. Who could have done it? He had no idea there was such a character in the Beishi Base. Zhao Qiankun became inwardly vigilant, and then suddenly, he recalled the Fang Yuxin¡¯s family who had left earlier. However, he didn¡¯t suspect the incident was their doing; the members of the Fang Family were all Second-level Superpower Users, and the power they exhibited was quite average, not likely enough to pull off such an act. Instead, Bai Ye seemed far more suspect! His thoughts drifted to the Fang Family, mainly because Fang Yuxin and her family had also left at that time. Upon his return, he had intended to find a way to make Fang Yuxin stay and become his woman, only to find upon returning to the hall, Fang Yuxin had already disappeared! Fortunately, Bai Ye, who was ambiguously linked to Fang Yuxin, had stayed behind; otherwise, he could hardly imagine what he might have done. As his thoughts turned to Bai Ye, his expression soured. It was one thing for the man to dare compete with him for a woman, but to embarrass him publicly was another matter altogether! Zhao Qiankun¡¯s face fell into a cold smile, as he pondered how to deal with Bai Zhengyi tomorrow. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation vote, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 617: 334 Mysterious Seed Chapter 617: 334 Mysterious Seed The Jade Box that Fang Yuxin saw was quite peculiar, smaller than the others, roughly the size of a ring box, half the size of a palm, and decorated differently. It was placed in a corner, nearly out of sight, virtually hidden from view unless one looked closely. Before, when she was searching for the seed, she hadn¡¯t noticed this small Jade Box. Now that she had stumbled upon it, her curiosity was piqued; she wanted to know what was inside. Logically, a box this small seemed unlikely to contain Spiritual Medicine¡ªcould it be a seed? But even for a seed, wasn¡¯t it too small? Driven by curiosity, Fang Yuxin walked over and reached out to touch the Jade Box, only to feel a resisting force. Her curiosity deepened¡ªsuch a tiny box was protected by a Prohibition! That Prohibition seemed very strong. Although she had just achieved Foundation Establishment and might be considered an expert compared to other superpower users, she was barely scraping by in the Cultivation World. Fang Yuxin, curious as ever, chose not to forcibly break the Prohibition, fearing she couldn¡¯t withstand its backlash. However, just as she was about to withdraw her hand, the Prohibition disappeared on its own! Fang Yuxin was taken aback. How had the Prohibition vanished suddenly? Could it be that she had somehow met the conditions to lift it? Regardless of the reason, now that the Prohibition had been lifted and she was quite curious about the contents, there was no reason not to open it. So, Fang Yuxin simply took the Jade Box in her hands and carefully opened it. Upon opening it, she was stunned¡ªthe box contained a shriveled seed. The seed was about the size of a soybean, deeply wrinkled and flat with a dark red color reminiscent of blood, and incredibly eerie. Fang Yuxin eyed the shriveled seed warily. Sending out her Spiritual Sense to investigate, she detected that its vitality was faint, nearly dead. She sighed in regret, about to retract her Spiritual Sense, but then realized her Spiritual Sense was being absorbed! Fang Yuxin¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she stared at the seed, pondering. This dying seed could absorb her Spiritual Sense, so what kind of immense power might a healthy seed possess? With this thought, she became intrigued. Hesitating briefly, she pricked her fingertip, squeezing out a round Blood Pearl that she dropped onto the seed. As soon as it touched the seed, the pearl was greedily absorbed, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Fang Yuxin then cast a Spiritual Formula and commenced the mastering ceremony. She couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback again when the seed resisted the mastery. Suddenly, a very faint will rushed towards her Sea of Consciousness, rampaging through it, attempting to devour her Divine Soul! Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression darkened, and she immediately built layers of barriers within her Sea of Consciousness, transformed her Spiritual Sense into a sharp spike, and combated this strange will. This will was very weak but extremely fierce, seemingly unafraid of the sharp spike formed by her Spiritual Sense, and kept trying to absorb it. While opposing it, Fang Yuxin conveyed a thought: ¡°Submit to me if you don¡¯t want to die!¡± She was indeed seizing the opportunity provided by its vulnerability. This stubbornly vicious seed was no ordinary object. While struggling against its will, Fang Yuxin was secretly relieved that it was nearly dead¡ªif it had been at full strength, she would have been playing with fire, unable to master it and possibly even devoured by it! The standoff lasted nearly half an hour before the seed¡¯s will finally showed signs of fatigue and agreed to be mastered, allowing Fang Yuxin to complete the mastering ceremony. Just as the ceremony was completed and she was about to examine what kind of seed it was, it suddenly transformed into a streak of red light and entered her Dantian! Fang Yuxin instinctively recalled Fang Yuyang¡¯s broken fan and panicked¡ªcould this seed also intend to devour her True Yuan? As she thought this, she felt the True Yuan in her Dantian being wildly consumed by the seed! The small, shriveled seed that seemed no larger than a soybean now acted like a black hole, ceaselessly absorbing the True Yuan in Fang Yuxin¡¯s Dantian. Fang Yuxin, not daring to be careless, quickly sat cross-legged in the Spirit Gathering Array and started the Cultivation Technique to absorb Spiritual Energy. All her purified Crystal Cores were with Fang Yuyang, and the remaining ones were still soaking in spiritual spring water for purification¡ªtotally unusable! Left with no choice, Fang Yuxin began to frantically absorb the surrounding Spiritual Energy. Chapter 618: 334 Mysterious Seed_2 Chapter 618: 334 Mysterious Seed_2 Fortunately, she had already succeeded in foundation establishment, and her Dantian was full of liquid True Yuan, not as miserable as Fang Yuyang. After the initial frenzy, the seed¡¯s speed of consuming True Yuan gradually slowed down, as if it knew that draining Fang Yuxin completely would not end well for it either. Fang Yuxin was extremely frustrated. She had almost fallen victim to this seemingly ordinary seed out of mere curiosity! While she circulated her cultivation technique to absorb Spiritual Energy, she also examined her inheritance, hoping to find information about the seed. Unfortunately, despite her efforts, she couldn¡¯t find any records about it and still didn¡¯t know what it was. The night passed quickly. Throughout the night, Fang Yuxin was in the Alchemy Room absorbing Spiritual Energy while Fang Yuyang stayed similarly occupied in the Artifact Room. However, Fang Yuyang¡¯s situation was much better than Fang Yuxin¡¯s; surrounded by a plethora of Crystal Cores, he had no worries at all. Meanwhile, Fang Yuxin was forced by the seed to cultivate all night. The True Yuan she absorbed and refined was completely devoured by the greedy seed until it finally quieted down as dawn approached, and its consuming speed significantly decreased. However, the situation wasn¡¯t entirely bad. Once it stabilized, Fang Yuxin noticed a funnel-shaped vortex forming around the seed, constantly spinning. With its rotation, even without intentional cultivation, her body continuously absorbed the surrounding Spiritual Energy. After these energies were refined, half was absorbed by the seed, and the other half replenished her Dantian. Over time, her cultivation efficiency was bound to significantly improve! Fang Yuxin finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although she had been reckless before, the outcome wasn¡¯t too bad after all. When she left the Alchemy Room and returned to the main hall, she found her family already waiting there. She first glanced at Fang Yuyang and, seeing his good complexion and the faint smile on his face, guessed that he must have also benefited and felt completely reassured. Bai Qianqian, having left her cultivation at some point, ran up to Fang Yuxin as soon as she saw her, taking her hand and asking, ¡°Mama, where did you go? I¡¯ve been waiting for you for so long.¡± Fang Yuxin looked down at him. His face, chubby with baby fat, appeared round and extra tender-skinned. Especially those round, sparkling eyes gazing at her, melted her heart, prompting her to pinch his cheek and ask, ¡°Qianqian, are you hungry? Mama will make you something delicious!¡± At this, she remembered the Fire-gathering Array and Pill Furnace in the Alchemy Room and the fish, shrimp, and crabs in the lake! After the apocalypse, it had been a long time since she had fresh fish and shrimp! Unfortunately, constantly being on the road, it was not possible to simply take them out, and she had to endure. Now that they were in Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, it was a perfect opportunity to cook something in the Alchemy Room! Upon hearing this, Bai Qianqian¡¯s round eyes shone even brighter¡ªoh, he hadn¡¯t eaten all night and was almost starving! Moved by the idea, Fang Yuxin immediately took her family to the Alchemy Room. Upon reaching a huge scroll, she began to catch the fish, shrimp, and crabs from the lake. She had bought many live fish and crabs, which not only grew fatter but also multiplied numerous times in the lake. Fang Yuxin caught a plump catfish, then scooped up a basin full of crayfish and about twenty large crabs. After cleaning them thoroughly, she prepared the necessary seasonings, picked a Low Grade Magical Artifact Pill Furnace, placed it on the Fire-gathering Array, lit it, and started cooking. The catfish was made into boiled fish slices, the crayfish were stir-fried, and the crabs were steamed. After the cooking, the family gathered around a table in the Alchemy Room and started eating. It was not clear whether the fish and shrimp had become more tender due to the nourishment from the Spirit Mansion, or whether the food cooked in the Pill Furnace was inherently different, but despite being Fang Yuxin¡¯s first attempt, the flavor was exceptionally delicious, even better than any they had eaten in five-star hotels! The catfish alone weighed over eight pounds, and there was a large basin of crayfish, plus the crabs. Not only did the five of them finish everything, but they also felt somewhat unsatisfied. As they were leaving, Fang Yuxin specifically picked some fruits and fresh vegetables, then used her Communicator to send a message to Shang Jinxiu, asking her to come and collect them. Soon, there was a knock at the door. Fang Yuxin, seeing that it was Shang Jinxiu outside, quickly opened the door and let her in, pointing to the things on the coffee table, ¡°The items are all here, help yourself.¡± Shang Jinxiu looked at her, smiling shyly, ¡°Sister Xin.¡± Knowing Fang Yuxin¡¯s temperament, she didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries and took the items, preparing to leave. Fang Yuxin specifically instructed her, ¡°Tell the others not to go out recently. If someone invites you out, don¡¯t agree immediately, let me know first.¡± The previous night, she had severely offended the Qu Family, and Qin Xiran also seemed to despise her; these people were all unprincipled scoundrels, and heaven knows what they might do. If Qu Qianlin and Qin Xiran targeted her, she wasn¡¯t worried, but she feared they might harm Shang Jinxiu and the others. She didn¡¯t plan to go out recently; if something happened to Shang Jinxiu and the others outside, she could do nothing from a distance, likely unable to rescue them even if she wanted to. Shang Jinxiu nodded solemnly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sister Xin. We won¡¯t go out.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 619: 335 Bai Yes Concern Chapter 619: 335 Bai Ye¡¯s Concern Because there was no need to go out, after Shang Jinxiu left, Fang Yuxin simply contacted Bai Ye. Bai Ye had already finished breakfast, and when his Communicator rang and he saw it was Fang Yuxin, he decided to simply come directly to the Fang Family. The things they needed to discuss were inconvenient to talk about over the Communicator, as no one knew if the signal could be intercepted, and even though they could use code, it was still too much trouble. Of course, what was more important was that he wanted to see Fang Yuxin. Luckily, the distance between their two homes was short, so Bai Ye didn¡¯t drive, but walked over. His pace was quick, and in just a few minutes, he arrived at the Fang Family¡¯s house. After entering, Fang Yuxin set up a Barrier, and Bai Ye said, ¡°Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi discovered last night that the research facility was destroyed. They probably suspect Zhao Qiankun, but they shouldn¡¯t have any suspicions about you.¡± After he finished, he briefly recounted the events of the previous night. The Fang Family listened to him speak about how Bai Zhengyi could be deceitful to such an extent, and they all felt some disdain. It was one thing for Bai Zhengyi to behave like that towards others, but Bai Ye and his side of the family, though a collateral branch, were still part of the Bai Family. Bai Zhengyi still showing such a facade was utterly contemptible. However, since this was an issue within the Bai Family, and they were outsiders, it wasn¡¯t quite appropriate for them to judge, so they remained silent without speaking. Bai Ye understood this point; he told them, not to hear their disdainful comments about Bai Zhengyi, but to make them aware of the current situation. So after pausing for a while, he continued, ¡°Last night my conversation with my dad didn¡¯t go smoothly, and the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps was also brought up. Bai Zhengyi and his son will likely take the initiative to contact Zhao Qiankun and negotiate terms with him, just unsure how Zhao Qiankun will react.¡± He sounded somewhat worried, not for himself, but primarily for the Fang Family. After all, the incident was not Zhao Qiankun¡¯s doing. Once Bai Zhengyi reaches out to Zhao Qiankun, Zhao Qiankun would realize that someone else was behind it. If he denies it and even provides an alibi, even if Bai Zhengyi and his son don¡¯t entirely believe him, they might start to doubt. At that point, they might become suspicious of the Fang Family, who had left the party early. Although Bai Ye had people watching Bai Zhengyi and his son, their men were far more numerous, and his people dared not follow too closely for fear of being discovered. Thus, he might not receive accurate news. Compared with him, Fang Yuxin appeared unworried. She narrowed her eyes, analyzing, ¡°Since Bai Zhengyi and his son suspect Zhao Qiankun, and he has evidence of them using living subjects in experiments, as long as Zhao Qiankun isn¡¯t a fool, he would definitely leverage this to extort a hefty sum from them! So, the likelihood of him denying it is slim.¡± Bai Ye thought about it and felt she made sense, but he was still concerned, ¡°But even so, Zhao Qiankun will know it wasn¡¯t him who did it, and he will undoubtedly suspect others! You left the party early, and the incident just so happened to occur at that time; it¡¯s likely he will suspect you.¡± Fang Yuxin remained silent, pondering the likelihood, when suddenly Fang Yuyang spoke up, ¡°Xinxin, Bai Ye is right, Zhao Qiankun might indeed become suspicious of us.¡± He didn¡¯t complete his thought, worried that if Zhao Qiankun did suspect them, he might use this incident to blackmail Fang Yuxin! Bai Ye also realized this and exchanged a glance with Fang Yuyang before suggesting, ¡°Why don¡¯t you leave the Safe Zone now? If you take on a mission and leave, no one at the gate will stop you.¡± ¡°And what about you?¡± Fang Yuxin asked. ¡°What are you planning to do? Since Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi are nothing but hypocrites, and now that you know about their connection to the Poison Wolf Mercenary Corps, they will definitely not let you off!¡± Bai Ye saw that Fang Yuxin was worried about him, and he felt a sweet sensation inside. He confidently said, ¡°You leave first; I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t believe it at all, ¡°Even if you won¡¯t have a problem, what about the others? I remember that your mother is not a superpower user, and what about your subordinates? Can you protect every single one of them?¡± Bai Ye was about to respond when Fang Yuxin glared at him fiercely and said decisively, ¡°Okay, no need to discuss it anymore; I know when to leave!¡± With that, Fang Yuyang gave Bai Ye a cold look, clearly unhappy with the significant influence he had over Fang Yuxin, who even seemed willing to risk staying behind for him! However, he didn¡¯t try to persuade Fang Yuxin to leave; after all, Bai Ye and Bai Zhengli had helped them a lot. Now that Bai Ye and his family were facing difficulties, if they just left, it would be exceedingly low of them. Chapter 620: 335 Bai Yes Concern_2 Chapter 620: 335 Bai Ye¡¯s Concern_2 This matter had been temporarily settled, and Bai Ye had many things to deal with, so he left in a hurry after a short stay. After he left, the Fang Family, having nothing else to do, simply entered Qingmu Spiritual Mansion to cultivate until noon. The family repeated their old habit, having a lavish lunch directly in the Alchemy Room. Fang Yuyang, having gained a blessing in disguise after last night, had reached the peak of the Late Stage of Energy Refining and was on the verge of Foundation Establishment. After thinking it over, Fang Yuxin simply allowed him to enter the trial land to cultivate. With luck, he might succeed in establishing his foundation. Originally intending to continue meditating, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe, upon learning of trial land¡¯s existence, also decided to give it a try, and Bai Qianqian did the same. After pondering, Fang Yuxin deemed it probably safe and consented. Once they all entered the trial land, she left Qingmu Spiritual Mansion again and contacted Bai Ye, ¡°How are you doing?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m coming to your place soon and we¡¯ll talk then.¡± Bai Ye briefly replied then headed over to the Fang Family. Fang Yuxin felt that something unusual was happening, so after setting up a soundproof barrier, she asked him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is there a new development in the situation?¡± Bai Ye nodded with a rather solemn expression, ¡°This morning, Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi went to Qiankun Hotel, probably to meet with Zhao Qiankun. I don¡¯t know exactly what they discussed, but it seems they have reached a temporary agreement for now.¡± He paused, hesitated, and then advised Fang Yuxin again, ¡°Xinxin, now that Bai Zhengyi and Zhao Qiankun are in cahoots, it¡¯s too dangerous for you to stay. You should leave.¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at him, ¡°What danger could I possibly be in?¡± Bai Ye¡¯s tone was sour, ¡°Zhao Qiankun clearly has ill intentions towards you, if he really suspects you, he will definitely threaten you!¡± As he spoke, suddenly remembering that other members of the Fang Family were not around, probably in that mysterious space, he simply sat next to Fang Yuxin, grabbed her hand dominantly, and declared, ¡°You are mine! I simply cannot tolerate Zhao Qiankun looking at you with those dirty eyes!¡± Fang Yuxin found Bai Ye¡¯s jealousy quite adorable, chuckled, and kissed his cheek, which instantly turned him red-faced, and she couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. Seeing her so happy, Bai Ye pinched her hand and warned, ¡°Xinxin, I am a normal man, do not provoke me.¡± Dumbfounded, Fang Yuxin¡¯s face rapidly turned red, and she quickly pulled her hand away to distance herself, blinking innocently at him, ¡°Is this better?¡± Bai Ye silently moved closer to her and grabbed her hand again, gently pinching it, immediately feeling his heart swell with satisfaction. It dawned on him why there were people who ¡°would prefer a beauty over kingdoms,¡± because with her, nothing else mattered. Turning his head, he saw Fang Yuxin looking at him with a face full of love and trust, he couldn¡¯t resist but say, ¡°Xinxin, rest assured, I will definitely take you all safely away from Beishi Base.¡± Listening to this, Fang Yuxin felt a ticklish sensation in her heart, and even the beating of her heart seemed to speed up. Yet, she deliberately snorted, arrogantly saying, ¡°Do I need you to take me? Even without you, I can leave Beishi Base safely.¡± Seeing Bai Ye seemed a bit disheartened, she added, ¡°Considering your sincerity, I will allow you to follow.¡± Bai Ye pretended to be disheartened as well, to tease her. Looking at Fang Yuxin¡¯s radiant expression, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh. It was the first time Fang Yuxin saw him laugh so joyfully, his voice deep and melodious, like an entwining symphony, merely laughing but causing her ears to turn red. Especially those eyes, shimmering like stars yet focused intently on her, filled with earnestness and deep affection. Smiling, Fang Yuxin met his gaze, their faces drawing closer, seemingly about to touch when suddenly Bai Ye¡¯s communicator rang. Both of their expressions changed, Fang Yuxin swiftly retreated backward, leaning against the sofa and pretending to admire the vase on the coffee table. With a heavy heart, Bai Ye sighed inwardly, looked painfully at the communicator screen, and saw Bai Zhengli calling, worried something might have happened, and hurriedly answered. Immediately after, Bai Zhengli¡¯s roar came through the speaker, ¡°You little rascal, where are you now? Hurry back here! I¡¯m almost dead from busyness!¡± Bai Ye, feeling embarrassed, quickly said, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back,¡± and hung up the call, then anxiously turned to see Fang Yuxin¡¯s reaction. She was still seriously admiring the vase on the coffee table as if she hadn¡¯t heard anything. Knowing she didn¡¯t want to embarrass him, Bai Ye coughed lightly and bid her farewell, ¡°I have to go now, I¡¯ll let you know if there¡¯s any news.¡± Fang Yuxin then looked up, about to say ¡°Go ahead,¡± when her communicator also began to ring. Unsure whether he was being too sensitive, Bai Ye quickly glanced at the screen, then his face turned utterly dark¡ªit was Zhao Qiankun again! What did he want exactly? Fang Yuxin was somewhat annoyed; she remembered clearly blacklisting Zhao Qiankun, how could she still receive his call? Yet, with the recent issue from the research institute, unsure whether Zhao Qiankun might have suspected her, even if repulsed, she had to feign politeness temporarily. Therefore, Fang Yuxin chose to answer, wanting to hear what Zhao Qiankun had to say. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote with your recommendation tickets, monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 621: 336 The person in memory Chapter 621: 336 The person in memory 336 The Person in Memory Bai Ye was about to leave, when Fang Yuxin¡¯s communicator suddenly rang. Seeing it was Zhao Qiankun, he immediately decided against leaving. He turned back and sat down beside Fang Yuxin, watched her choose to answer the call, raised an eyebrow, and was also curious to hear what Zhao Qiankun was planning to say. The moment the call connected, Zhao Qiankun¡¯s punchable face appeared on the tiny screen. It seemed he¡¯d even made a special effort to dress up. Bai Ye wasn¡¯t sure if it was to show off in front of Fang Yuxin or if it was just his usual demeanor. Bai Ye, with a slight narrowing of his eyes, felt that Zhao Qiankun looked even more deserving of a beating than he had yesterday. Truth be told, Zhao Qiankun was pretty handsome, especially when he smiled, his phoenix eyes slightly squinting, deep and bright, which was quite charming. But the extent of his charm¡¯s impact on others varied from person to person. For some naive young girls, a single glance from him could send their hearts racing. However, for those who were accustomed to seeing all manner of attractive men and women, Zhao Qiankun appeared to be just ordinarily handsome. Especially upon closer examination, one would notice that although Zhao Qiankun looked handsome and charming, his demeanor was somewhat frivolous, lacking the kind of steadiness that comes with being accustomed to the scene. It was like comparing him to a nouveau riche who had suddenly come into wealth: no matter how dazzlingly they dressed, they couldn¡¯t match the inherent quality of someone from a true aristocratic family ¨C the gap in temperament was too wide. Say, Bai Yi. Although his abilities fell short of Bai Ye¡¯s, if he were compared with Zhao Qiankun solely on the basis of temperament and charm, Zhao Qiankun couldn¡¯t hold a candle to him. However, Zhao Qiankun had a strong backing, which is why he generally seemed very confident. In that respect, Bai Yi couldn¡¯t match him. Now, in the apocalypse, where zombies and mutated creatures were everywhere, humanity was forced to shrink within the confines of small safe bases, with no one knowing what tomorrow might bring. Everyone lived in a state of constant anxiety. In this situation, Zhao Qiankun always exuded confidence and assurance, naturally attracting all sorts of men and women to follow and flatter him. This greatly contributed to Zhao Qiankun¡¯s charm value, ensuring his success with women every time he pursued them. Often, it was the other women who took the initiative to throw themselves into his arms, seeking his protection to survive securely in the dangerous world. Unfortunately, Zhao Qiankun failed to grasp the key point. He mistook it, thinking that all those women were attracted by his personal charm, seeing him as the individual, and was quite confident that he could win over Fang Yuxin and fulfill his longstanding desire. What a pity, Fang Yuxin, who came from a notable background, raised by Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang, and had an outstanding childhood friend like Qiu Yiming, then later met an even more exceptional Bai Ye. How could she possibly take a second glance at Zhao Qiankun? Even without Bai Ye, with Qingmu Spiritual Mansion at her back, she completely relied on her abilities to thrive in the apocalypse and would never seek Zhao Qiankun¡¯s protection like the other women did. So, when she saw Zhao Qiankun¡¯s smile, which he thought was full of charm, she only raised an eyebrow, her gaze clear, showing no sign of being moved. Bai Ye, stealthily observing Fang Yuxin¡¯s reaction from the side, couldn¡¯t help but feel triumphant when he saw that she had no reaction to Zhao Qiankun¡¯s punchable face. Unfortunately, Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t activated her video feed. She and Bai Ye could clearly see Zhao Qiankun, but he was unable to see them. Zhao Qiankun¡¯s voice came through the speaker: ¡°Xinxin, can you turn on the video? I want to see you.¡± As soon as Bai Ye heard these words, his brows furrowed tightly, and his expression darkened ¨C who the hell did this Zhao character think he was, addressing her so intimately? And wanting a video call with Xinxin, who did he think he was? With these thoughts, Bai Ye turned his head anxiously to look at Fang Yuxin, fearing she would agree. Fang Yuxin, amused by his nervous demeanor, smiled at him, then spoke to Zhao Qiankun with a cold tone: ¡°Mr. Zhao, we¡¯re not familiar with each other. It would be better if you called me ¡®Miss Fang.¡¯ I¡¯m not comfortable with how you¡¯re addressing me.¡± Zhao Qiankun frowned in dissatisfaction from the other end and his voice carried a whiny tone of discontent, ¡°Is that so? I thought we were already quite familiar.¡± Fang Yuxin rolled her eyes. Did Zhao Qiankun take her for an ignorant little girl, or did he see himself as the domineering CEO from a TV drama? That tone ¨C it really was annoying, tsk! Chapter 622: 336 The person in memory_2 Chapter 622: 336 The person in memory_2 Bai Ye grew even more displeased; listening to Zhao Qiankun¡¯s words, he felt that he was shamelessly flirting with his Xinxin! He almost wished he could smash that irritating face with a slap! Fang Yuxin¡¯s tone became even colder, ¡°Mr. Zhao, if I remember correctly, you already have a girlfriend, don¡¯t you? That kiss at the party yesterday was really quite the romantic spectacle. Your girlfriend is so beautiful; I wouldn¡¯t want her to misunderstand. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m going to hang up.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Just as Fang Yuxin was about to hang up, Zhao Qiankun suddenly called out. His gaze held depth, and even through the screen, Yuxin could not shake the feeling that he was looking at her. Then, she heard him say, ¡°You really remind me of my first love. She was a classmate and her name was Xinxin, too. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a fateful coincidence?¡± Bai Ye was livid, mentally cursing that he had no fate with that guy; even if there was, it would have been a calamitous one! He looked discontentedly at Fang Yuxin and gestured with his eyes¡ªwhy bother with him? Just hang up already! But this time, Fang Yuxin ignored him, fixating her gaze on Zhao Qiankun¡¯s face on the screen. Then she said, ¡°Mr. Zhao, that pickup line is outdated. Besides, I have no interest in being someone¡¯s mistress. If that¡¯s your intention, then don¡¯t contact me again.¡± With that said, she hung up the call. On the side, Bai Ye was sulking: ¡°What were you staring at him for? What¡¯s so good about that guy? He¡¯s not even as good-looking as I am!¡± He had always been praised for his good looks from a young age, something he rarely cared about, yet this time, he couldn¡¯t help but blurt those words out, stimulated by the way Fang Yuxin had been staring at Zhao Qiankun. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but laugh at him, seeing him sulking there. She leaned closer, extended her slender finger to lift his chin, and teased, ¡°Handsome, how about a smile for me?¡± Bai Ye was taken aback and gawked at her with his peach-blossom eyes, looking exceptionally adorable. Yuxin couldn¡¯t resist cupping his face with her hands, kneading his handsome visage back and forth, making Bai Ye look utterly stunned, like a virtuous woman being bullied by a ruffian. At first, Bai Ye felt sulky, but Fang Yuxin¡¯s teasing quickly brought him back to his senses, and his rationality gradually returned. He clasped Fang Yuxin¡¯s mischievous hand in his palm, leaned back on the sofa, and asked her, ¡°Did you just discover something? Why were you staring at his face? Do you think he¡¯s had plastic surgery?¡± Bai Ye¡¯s guess was wild, yet as he spoke, he rubbed his chin and somewhat maliciously sought to find traces of surgery on Zhao Qiankun¡¯s face. Fang Yuxin looked at him expressionlessly, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it; his face definitely hasn¡¯t gone under the knife.¡± Seeing Bai Ye seemed somewhat deflated, she continued, ¡°I just thought that he might really be a classmate I had before. He¡¯s changed his appearance, so I didn¡¯t recognize him.¡± Still thinking about plastic surgery, Bai Ye was startled when he heard her and looked at Fang Yuxin in astonishment, ¡°What? He¡¯s your classmate?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded. She had previously speculated with her family about Zhao Qiankun¡¯s identity, even considering the possibility that he was a former classmate, but had dismissed it as unlikely. But this time, hearing Zhao Qiankun talk about a classmate and first love named ¡®Xinxin,¡¯ she looked into his eyes, feeling that he wasn¡¯t lying. Then, she couldn¡¯t help but think back to her school days. Upon reflection, she suddenly remembered someone. That person was a classmate, always dressed plainly, even somewhat shabbily¡ªrumored to be from the mountains and not well off. He seemed uneasy in the big city of Beishi and didn¡¯t fit in well with classmates. Yet often, she caught him stealing glances at her. Detecting this, she didn¡¯t expose him to avoid embarrassment. When it came time to take the graduation photo, he boldly approached her, asking to take a picture with her. She neither liked nor disliked him and, reasoning that after graduation she wouldn¡¯t see him again, agreed to his modest request. After graduation, she returned to Market and hadn¡¯t attended any reunions, so she never saw him again and didn¡¯t know what became of him. During the call, Zhao Qiankun enabled the video and, comparing his face with that of her former classmate, she found their features quite similar, making her suspect that Zhao Qiankun could very well be that same classmate. She remembered his name seemed to be Zhao Dawei¡ªa very common and even rustic name, prompting some to teasingly nickname him ¡°Mighty Brother.¡± Watching her reminisce made Bai Ye jealous¡ªwas she seriously thinking about another man? Seeing Fang Yuxin with a puzzled frown, he asked her, ¡°If you¡¯ve thought of something, feel free to speak up. I can help think it through with you.¡± Fang Yuxin took his suggestion and brought out a blank Jade Scroll, impressing her recollection of that classmate and Zhao Qiankun¡¯s image onto the Jade Scroll using her Spiritual Sense. She handed it to Bai Ye, ¡°Take a look, doesn¡¯t he resemble Zhao Qiankun?¡± Bai Ye held the Jade Scroll, pressed it to his forehead, and probed with his Spiritual Sense. After a moment of examining, his expression shifted slightly. Setting down the Jade Scroll, he said, ¡°The facial features of this person do bear some resemblance to Zhao Qiankun, especially the eyes. Without careful comparison, they seem to be unrelated, but once you do, it¡¯s clear they¡¯re the same person!¡± At that point, even he was at a loss for words, having merely guessed before, only to discover that Zhao Qiankun had indeed changed his appearance! But his face didn¡¯t look surgically altered, and he had grown taller too¡ªwhat was going on? (. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 623: 337 Extremely Cunning and Sly Chapter 623: 337 Extremely Cunning and Sly Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye both found it quite magical that Zhao Dawei not only became more attractive, but he had also grown a bit taller. They wondered what kind of incredible thing he had gotten his hands on. Bai Ye was puzzled for a moment, then suddenly laughed and said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Didn¡¯t we suspect that he had acquired future technology before? At that time, it was just a guess but now it seems to be almost certain. He must have used some special agent to change his appearance like this, right?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, she thought the same. Their initial suspicions about Zhao Qiankun were all conjecture, but now, after discovering his identity and the huge changes in him, those speculations became certain. Zhao Qiankun must have gotten some opportunity to come into contact with some future technologies. It was just uncertain how many things he had on hand. Just then, Bai Ye¡¯s Communicator rang again. As soon as he saw it was Bai Zhengli, he abruptly remembered that Bai Zhengli had urged him to go back earlier and quickly said goodbye to Fang Yuxin. But before leaving, he didn¡¯t forget to instruct Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, this Zhao Qiankun definitely has ill intentions... if he looks for you again, remember to tell me!¡± Fang Yuxin knew he was worried about Zhao Qiankun pestering her and didn¡¯t feel angry, but instead, she smiled and nodded at him, signaling her understanding. On the other side, Zhao Qiankun, looking at the message from his subordinate about Bai Ye coming out of the Fang Family¡¯s house, had his expression instantly contort with rage. He waved his hand and swept everything off the table onto the floor, and at the same time cursed, ¡°Bai Ye! You dare to meddle with my woman!¡± After ranting in fury, he grabbed the Communicator tossed aside and dialed a number. The person on the other end quickly chose to answer, and Zhao Qiankun, with a cold face watching the person in the video, sinisterly asked, ¡°When are you planning to take action?¡± The person on the other end was Bai Zhengyi. He was genuinely a bit surprised; hadn¡¯t they just agreed in the morning? Why was Zhao Qiankun so anxious? Though Bai Family had some dirt that Zhao Qiankun was holding over them, and he also wished to get rid of Bai Ye, he said, ¡°I have promised you, and I won¡¯t go back on my word. You don¡¯t need to be so anxious.¡± Zhao Qiankun let out a cold laugh. Not anxious? He was nearly dying of impatience! Bai Ye had to die! He had harbored a secret crush on Fang Yuxin for so many years, and now that he had the ability, and fate had enabled their meeting once again, it was destiny that he will never let go of! Bai Ye daring to compete with him was simply courting death! He impatiently declared, ¡°I don¡¯t care what method you use, but you must make him accept that mission! Otherwise, get ready for those things to be exposed.¡± After speaking, he watched as Bai Zhengyi¡¯s face suddenly darkened, let out a cold laugh, and abruptly hung up the call. Bai Zhengyi, staring at the darkened screen, gradually regained his composure from his unsightly expression, then his lips curled into a scornful, mocking smile. He didn¡¯t know why Zhao Qiankun harbored such hatred towards Bai Ye, even to the point of wanting to get rid of him sooner rather than later, but he did see that Zhao Qiankun, despite his strength, was too impulsive and impatient, not at all like someone capable of great achievements! He had once been quite wary of Zhao Qiankun, but now it seemed he was nothing to fret over! Zhao Qiankun¡¯s weaknesses were too obvious; such a man at best could be a hegemon like Xiang Yu, but could never become a ruler like Liu Bang! Bai Ye was indeed good, but unfortunately... not only could he not be convinced to join him, he was also rebellious and had to be removed! Bai Zhengyi reminisced about the conversation with Zhao Qiankun that morning, smiling rather smugly. He had initially thought that Zhao Qiankun would leverage that evidence to heavily extort the Bai Family, yet unexpectedly, Zhao Qiankun¡¯s demand turned out to be the elimination of Bai Ye! This was just... as if the heavens were helping him! He had also wanted to get rid of Bai Ye, only he hadn¡¯t figured out how to minimize the loss and avoid scrutiny. Who would have thought, at this critical juncture, Zhao Qiankun would offer to help, akin to someone bringing a pillow to him when he was dozing off! Bai Zhengyi thought for a moment, then summoned Bai Yi and asked him, ¡°How are the preparations going?¡± Bai Yi smirked triumphantly, ¡°Dad, rest assured, as long as Bai Ye accepts that mission, his death is certain this time!¡± Bai Zhengyi nodded slightly and spoke in a hushed tone, ¡°Instruct them to be cautious, and in critical moments, don¡¯t just charge forward. It¡¯s best to give the opportunity to Zhao Qiankun¡¯s men, let them make the move!¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Bai Yi grasped the essence of it and asked, ¡°Dad, are you worried that Zhao Qiankun might use this incident against us later?¡± Chapter 624: 337 Cunning Old Fox_2 Chapter 624: 337 Cunning Old Fox_2 Bai Zhengyi watched with relief as Yiming finally didn¡¯t act foolishly and nodded, ¡°Regardless of whether he might take advantage of this situation to create trouble, it¡¯s always wise to be cautious. Bai Ye is, after all, a member of the Bai Family, and if we take action ourselves and word gets out, it will be extremely detrimental to the reputation of the Bai Family!¡± Bai Yi naturally understood his meaning, but he was a bit worried, ¡°But since Zhao Qiankun has intentionally made us act, will his people really take the bait if we do? The fear is that Zhao Qiankun¡¯s men won¡¯t take the bait, and we would lose such a great opportunity and inadvertently benefit Bai Ye!¡± Upon hearing this, Bai Zhengyi smiled meaningfully, ¡°Rest assured, Zhao Qiankun¡¯s men will definitely act! He just recently contacted me to ask when we¡¯ll make our move, obviously eager to kill Bai Ye.¡± Hearing this, Bai Yi was surprised, ¡°How could that be? That doesn¡¯t sound like something a clever person would do. Didn¡¯t he seem very astute during our negotiations this morning? How could it change just after midday?¡± Bai Yi thought it was strange and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t tell me Zhao Qiankun is pretending to be foolish to trick us?¡± Bai Zhengyi narrowed his eyes and pondered for a while, then finally shook his head, ¡°No, though Zhao Qiankun is capable, unfortunately, he¡¯s always been prone to making mistakes concerning women! This man is not to be feared!¡± ¡°Women?¡± Bai Yi was puzzled, desperately trying to think of any connection between Bai Ye and women; then he suddenly remembered, astonished, ¡°Dad, you don¡¯t mean Fang Yuxin, do you? I think Zhao Qiankun seems to have taken a liking to her, but she might already be with Bai Ye.¡± He said this while recalling the events of last night. Due to his relationship with Qiu Yiming, Bai Yi couldn¡¯t bring himself to like Fang Yuxin. In his opinion, since Qiu Yiming so cherished Fang Yuxin, how could she abandon Qiu Yiming and throw herself into someone else¡¯s arms? Moreover, that person was Bai Ye! He felt even more uncomfortable, always feeling that Fang Yuxin was nothing but a fickle and disreputable woman. However, recalling the banquet last night, he gained a new understanding of Fang Yuxin; this woman was exceptionally beautiful, seemingly shrewd, and particularly sharp-witted, making it difficult for anyone to overcome her in discourse! Those who tried to provoke her last night, whether it was Qin Xiran, Qu Qianlin, or later Cheng Lin, without exception, all failed to gain the upper hand and were fiercely rebutted by her! Although Bai Yi still harbored significant prejudice against Fang Yuxin, he had to admit, though just a second-level Wood Element Superpower User, she was much stronger than the almost third-level Cheng Lin! Whether in terms of intelligence or beauty, Cheng Lin was far inferior to Fang Yuxin, no wonder Zhao Qiankun was attracted. Thinking this, he couldn¡¯t help laughing and said to Bai Zhengyi, ¡°Dad, that Fang Yuxin seems to be a formidable person. If Bai Ye really gets killed by Zhao Qiankun¡¯s men, and she becomes Zhao Qiankun¡¯s woman, perhaps we can use her to deal with Zhao Qiankun in the future.¡± Bai Zhengyi nodded in agreement, suddenly feeling that Bai Yi had matured! Thus, he felt increasingly reassured. He thought to himself, Bai Yi had always been outshone by Bai Ye over the years, suppressing him so much that he seemed somewhat depressed. If Bai Ye were to die, perhaps it could eliminate the Heart Demon in Bai Yi¡¯s heart, free him from that invisible shackling, and allow him to be reborn. The mere thought of this possibility filled his heart with anticipation. However, Bai Yi was thinking of something else; he had originally planned to send Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye to Dr. Sun as subjects for experimentation, but unfortunately, the research institute had been destroyed by Zhao Qiankun, and Dr. Sun¡¯s whereabouts were unknown. Nevertheless, if Fang Yuxin were to indeed confront Zhao Qiankun, there might be a great show to watch! As the father and son pondered how to kill Bai Ye and then let Fang Yuxin deal with Zhao Qiankun to avenge Bai Ye, two of the people they were thinking about, Bai Ye, was currently in the study discussing matters with Bai Zhengli, whereas Fang Yuxin had returned to the Qingmu Spirit Mansion to cultivate, completely unaware of their schemes. When Fang Yuxin re-entered the Qingmu Spirit Mansion, instead of meditating, she went directly into the trial land. As the True Yuan was channeled into the gate of the trial land, the runes on the door lit up, and a flash of white light crossed Fang Yuxin¡¯s vision, transporting her into the trial land. She found herself teleported directly into one of the rooms. To her surprise, apart from a half-meter-wide area around her where she could see clearly, the rest was filled with thick fog, obscuring her vision completely. She released her Spiritual Sense to explore, but even the Spiritual Sense couldn¡¯t penetrate the dense fog, leaving the contents unknown. Fang Yuxin immediately became alert. Unable to see her surroundings and the dense fog obscuring her vision, she felt extremely uneasy. Her instincts on high alert, she drew out the Blood Blade, holding it firmly, her eyes scanning around while her ears perked up, vigilantly guarding against anything that might happen around her. Just then, she suddenly heard a whizzing sound from behind her to the right, moving at a tremendous speed! Swiftly, she swung the Blood Blade, hearing a ¡°snap¡± as something struck the blade. The fierce force transmitted through the handle numbed her hand! Fang Yuxin frowned; what on earth was that? Even with her current vision, she couldn¡¯t see clearly! Soon, the whizzing sound came again, also from behind, seemingly determined to attack from the back. Fang Yuxin reacted swiftly, turning around and swinging her Blood Blade once more. This time, there was another ¡°snap,¡± but with a difference¡ªwhen she withdrew the Blood Blade, she noticed that some blood-like sticky substance clung to the blade edge, looking quite disgusting. Disgusted, Fang Yuxin frowned, then suddenly noticed that the sticky substance on the blade was moving!(To be continued. If you enjoy this story, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please access m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 625: 338 First Trial Chapter 625: 338 First Trial Fang Yuxin saw that thing still moving and immediately felt even more disgusted. She raised her hand and shot out a flame towards the sticky substance on the blade. The flame instantly enveloped it, followed by an extremely piercing shriek coming from within the fire. She was astonished, how could something no bigger than a thumb make such a loud noise? Just then, she suddenly heard the sound of something cutting through the air again! Unlike before, there were two sounds this time! The two sounds overlapped perfectly; if one¡¯s ears were not sensitive enough, one wouldn¡¯t be able to discern the subtle differences and would think there was only one sound! Fang Yuxin listened to the direction from which the two sounds came and frowned. The two sounds were coming from two different directions, which meant the attacks were coming from two different directions! Furthermore, the directions were opposite each other with a distance between them, so even if she dodged, they wouldn¡¯t collide! Fang Yuxin moved even faster, her hands gripping the hilt of the sword and slashing fiercely into the mist before quickly turning around to slice again into the mist! Due to her incredible speed, ¡°snap, snap¡± two sounds echoed. At the same time, the force transmitted through the hilt grew stronger and hit her palms, causing them to sting intensely. However, she had just realized that she seemed to have chopped something down. Looking around at the thick mist, Fang Yuxin¡¯s brow furrowed tighter¡ªit couldn¡¯t go on like this! She couldn¡¯t see anything; it was too disadvantageous! So the next moment, she immediately called out, ¡°Red Powder,¡± to reveal its true form. Upon her command, Red Powder immediately revealed its true form and formed a protective wall around her. Just then, Fang Yuxin received a thought from Red Powder: ¡°Master, I¡¯ve caught something!¡± Fang Yuxin was startled at first but then remembered that what Red Powder had caught must be what she had just chopped off! Indeed, she hadn¡¯t guessed wrong; once the thing was cut, it moved freely. She couldn¡¯t help but be afraid; had she not called out Red Powder in time, she might have been ambushed! Then she looked at the Blood Blade in her hands, or more precisely, at the red sticky substance on the blade. She had burned it with flame earlier, but it seemed to be resistant to fire burning unusually slowly. Though it was only the size of a thumb, it had been burning for a while, yet it hadn¡¯t seemed to shrink at all, which was really strange. At that time, another whooshing sound hit Red Powder¡¯s protective wall, creating a ¡°snap¡± noise. Following that, Fang Yuxin heard Red Powder wail, saying it was hurt. Red Powder had been with her for a while, and Fang Yuxin had come to consider it as family; now, hearing its pain, she felt distressed. So, she simply asked Red Powder to lift her with its branches. Red Powder was very obedient and quickly did as instructed, even interweaving its branches to form a cylindrical platform on which Fang Yuxin stood. It seemed that the things in the fog were targeting her, as soon as she appeared, the whooshing sound was heard again. This time, there were three sounds, coming from three directions! Fang Yuxin used the Blood Blade to slash again, taking down something from the three directions, and instructed Red Powder to grab them with its vines. This time, she finally saw a rough outline. What was attacking her was a red, elongated object. The object was fired at an extremely high speed, and due to the fog, the sound it made was very faint; if Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, with her exceptional hearing, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to hear it. The red object was very sticky, looked disgusting, had no smell, and was fire-resistant, which was very strange. It first shot out one, then two, then three, increasing in number each time. Fang Yuxin could handle up to nine, but once there were ten, she couldn¡¯t slash the last one in time. So, the attacks still came in tens, as if she were stuck at this stage in a game. The red object hit her repeatedly, and it felt like being lashed with a thick, long whip¡ªextremely uncomfortable. The attack was very powerful, and each time Fang Yuxin was whipped away, luckily, it was just a trial, so a new round of attacks started only when she stood up. Had it been someone else, they would have been seriously injured, but Fang Yuxin had a Pure Wood Spirit Body, and her True Yuan could heal injuries. As soon as she was attacked, she would channel her True Yuan to the area to heal it. However, this meant that her True Yuan was constantly being depleted. Chapter 626: 338 First Trial_2 Chapter 626: 338 First Trial_2 She continually adjusted herself through repeated attacks, seeking a better way to retaliate, until she finally severed the tenth stalk on her fifty-first try! At that moment, the dense fog around her suddenly dissipated, retreating to about a meter away from her. Fang Yuxin looked down and saw the red viscous substances hanging on the green wall formed by Red Powder. The sticky substances were only small segments, exactly what she had chopped off from those red elongated bodies, which were still writhing in struggle despite being bound by Red Powder. The sharp spikes of Red Powder fiercely pierced into the sticky substances, but the neurotoxin released from the spikes did nothing to them; they kept writhing relentlessly. To Fang Yuxin¡¯s surprise, Red Powder actually bloomed, extending its pistils to bite and absorb the red sticky bodies. She hesitated for a moment, then struck one of the sticky portions with True Yuan, which was brimming with vitality. As soon as it hit the sticky body, it suddenly dissolved into red mist and was absorbed by Red Powder. Fang Yuxin was somewhat worried and couldn¡¯t help but ask Red Powder, ¡°Red Powder, how are you? Are you alright?¡± Unexpectedly, Red Powder responded, ¡°Not, liking it, really liking it.¡± Fang Yuxin was astonished. What exactly were these weird red sticky substances that were impervious to fire yet could be dissolved by her True Yuan and even absorbed by Red Powder? Moreover, from what Red Powder implied, these substances seemed beneficial to it. Fang Yuxin suddenly thought that since Red Powder was a mutant plant, belonged to the wood element, and feared fire, these red sticky substances that were not afraid of flames might grant Red Powder the quality of fire resistance if absorbed. If so, absorbing these red sticky substances would indeed be greatly beneficial to Red Powder! However, without giving it much more thought, a new attack began¡ªthis time, eleven stalks! But this time, Fang Yuxin was prepared. At the sound of the whooshing, she dispersed True Yuan as Spirit Fog around her body. Although light and seemingly unable to serve as defense, the speed of the red elongated bodies slowed down when they came close to the Spirit Fog. This was exactly what Fang Yuxin needed! Although there were as many as eleven stalks, their reduced speed made them much easier to deal with! Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t expend much effort and easily took care of them. The severed parts fell and were tightly entangled by Red Powder¡¯s vines, constantly absorbing them. Then, the new attacks began! Twelve stalks, thirteen, fourteen...a hundred! By the time the number of attacking stalks reached one hundred, the True Yuan in Fang Yuxin¡¯s Dantian was nearly depleted, unable to sustain any longer. Initially, she only needed to set up a small amount of Spirit Fog to effectively slow the stalks, but gradually, as their numbers increased, she had to use more True Yuan to cut them down! If not for the peculiar seed residing in her Dantian, forming a cyclone continuously absorbing surrounding Spiritual Energy, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to hold out till now! With her Dantian about to be exhausted, a flash of white light suddenly crossed her vision, and the next moment, she was back in the main hall. Then she discovered that, along with herself, everyone else had also emerged from the hall and was sitting on the Spirit Gathering Array, absorbing Crystal Cores to recover. She glanced around, relieved to see her family was alright, then took out the Crystal Cores. The ones she had given to Fang Yuyang earlier were not entirely used up; the leftover Crystal Cores Fang Yuyang had returned to her, which were now perfectly handy. Fang Yuxin closed her eyes and meditated. Gradually, she noticed that the peculiar seed in her Dantian seemed to be stirring. Perhaps triggered by the imminent depletion of her Dantian, the seed started to rotate within it, and as it spun, the cyclone around it grew bit by bit. Simultaneously, Fang Yuxin found her speed of absorbing Crystal Cores increased! The cyclone swelled to twice its original size before stopping. At that point, the peculiar seed also ceased to rotate, remaining still, continually absorbing the True Yuan she was refining. When Fang Yuxin emerged from cultivating, it was already 8 PM. She instinctively turned to check on the others and saw that Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Bai Qianqian were all present, but Fang Yuyang was no longer in the hall. Upon asking, she learned that after recovering, he had re-entered the trial land. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t feel worried. The trial land was evidently exquisitely designed, automatically transferring them out once they could no longer endure, so Fang Yuyang would definitely be fine there. His active return to cultivation likely stemmed from his desire to achieve Foundation Establishment and advance his strength as quickly as possible. At that moment, feeling hungry, she simply went to the Alchemy Room to cook. After stewing a pot of cordyceps chicken soup, roasting a whole lamb, preparing some light dishes, and steaming rice, she finished cooking just as Fang Yuyang emerged from the trial land. After meditating, he joined her for dinner, rested briefly, then re-entered the trial land. Fang Yuxin did not wish for Fang Yuyang to overexert himself so. In her previous life, Fang Yuyang had protected her tirelessly, constantly alternating between cultivating and seeking various resources, hardly ever resting. Now that she had finally succeeded in altering their fate, she had hoped her family could lead a peaceful and happy life, yet unexpectedly, Fang Yuyang still turned into a cultivation fanatic. What Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know was that Fang Yuyang was thinking¡ªif he successfully established his foundation and his cultivation surpassed Bai Ye¡¯s, he was determined to teach that bastard a harsh lesson!(To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 627: 339 Death Trap Chapter 627: 339 Death Trap ¡°Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want her family to get too exhausted, but Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and even Bai Qianqian all decided to continue entering the trial land to cultivate. They were all Ordinary People before; though they had practiced some martial arts for self-defense, they never really had the opportunity to use them. Their combat experience was too limited, and their adaptability couldn¡¯t compare to those of strictly trained soldiers. Previously, the enemies they faced were manageable, so dealing with them was relatively easy without much pressure. However, whether it was the accident that separated them from Fang Yuxin earlier, or the constant grievances at Beishi Base, they all developed a strong desire to become stronger! Especially at last night¡¯s banquet, Qin Xiran persistently bothering Fang Yuyang was one thing, but openly insulting Fang Yuxin and plotting at every turn was another! There was also Qu Qianlin and Lu Weiwei, who treated them as easy targets, not to mention Zhao Qiankun who had his eyes on Fang Yuxin! Under such circumstances, how could Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Fang Yuyang consider resting? The three of them wished they could spend every moment in the trial land cultivating, hoping to enhance their abilities as quickly as possible. Although they might not be able to achieve Foundation Establishment just yet, training in the trial land could significantly improve their combat skills and overall strength! Once they were strong, who would they need to fear, be it the Qu Family, the Qin Family, or even Zhao Qiankun? As for Bai Qianqian, though he wasn¡¯t sure what exactly had occurred at the banquet, he always felt that he was unable to help during dangers, especially that time when they were separated from Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, which cast a shadow in his heart. So he too was eager to become stronger as soon as possible. Fang Yuxin noticed something was off with his mindset and worried he might Deviate, so she tried to advise him a few times. However, Bai Qianqian still wanted to become stronger, so she thought it over and didn¡¯t stop him from entering the trial land. The trial land was judged based on individual strength; the stronger one was, the stronger the Attack they faced. It was good for Bai Qianqian, still a child, to practice some combat skills and adaptability, so he wouldn¡¯t be helpless in future dangers. After Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Bai Qianqian had entered the trial land, Fang Yuxin also went in. She intended to test her limits! While they were busy cultivating, elsewhere, Bai Ye was also occupied. After Zhao Qiankun threatened Bai Zhengyi, Bai Zhengyi simply convened a small internal meeting of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps, which Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye were called to attend. At the meeting, Bai Zhengyi introduced a mission. It was a large-scale mission aiming to eradicate all zombies and mutated creatures in a county near Beishi Base to expand the base¡¯s territory. This county was not far outside Beishi Base; though not vast, it had plenty of farmland! Beishi Base now housed several million people, and sustaining such a population was not easy, thus housing and farmland became pressing issues. Existing housing in Beishi Base was already very tight; Ordinary People with little strength could only cram dozens into one house and often went hungry. Although those higher up lived somewhat decently, the base was only so large, and the available farmland was far too little to provide the needed food supplies. Currently, most food came from various grain reserves. The Six Major Forces of Beishi Base had long considered this issue and wanted to take over the neighboring Luyun County, but it was filled with a large number of zombies and even many vicious Mutant Plants. Taking over such a place would inevitably cost a great deal! For the leaders of the major forces, resources were crucial, but so were the manpower and weapons at their disposal¡ªwithout soldiers and weapons, how could they remain in charge? Everyone understood that losing a large number of people would significantly weaken their strength, which could risk being overtaken by other forces! Thus, despite knowing the severe circumstances, they had hesitated to make a firm decision. This time, if Bai Ye hadn¡¯t returned, and Zhao Qiankun and Bai Zhengyi hadn¡¯t been keen on eliminating him, setting up this mission deliberately as a trap to kill Bai Ye, they wouldn¡¯t genuinely aim to conquer Luyun County. The entire mission was a massive trap, so they planned not to deploy their elite but rather to conscript those Corpse Hunters from within Beishi Base.¡± Chapter 628: 339 Death Trap_2 Chapter 628: 339 Death Trap_2 As a result, their losses became even smaller. The small meeting convened by Bai Zhengyi was attended by all the people he had marked for elimination, including those who usually didn¡¯t quite submit to his authority, among whom were Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye. Thus, he planned to use this opportunity to purge his dissenters! After attending the small meeting, Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye returned home and got busy. Neither of them were fools; they had both seen through Bai Zhengyi¡¯s malicious intentions! However, dangerous as the mission was, it also represented an opportunity to leave Beishi Base and completely sever ties with the Direct Lineage! Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye¡¯s men had several injured among them. To ensure they¡¯d all march to their deaths, Bai Zhengyi specially dispatched a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User to heal all the injured, and other selected individuals received the same treatment. Besides Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye, there were three others who didn¡¯t quite submit to Bai Zhengyi, all peak Level 2 Superpower Users, each commanding four to five hundred people. They were no fools either and had seen Bai Zhengyi¡¯s ill-intentions. So, after the meeting, they went home and secretly contacted Bai Zhengli through their Communicators to ask what he planned to do. Although Bai Zhengli had always been marginalized by Bai Zhengyi, he was, after all, a member of the Bai Family and had served many years in the military. Hence, there were actually quite a few people within the White Wolf Mercenary Corps who respected him, his former subordinates. To suppress him, Bai Zhengyi had distributed these men under others¡¯ command to prevent Bai Zhengli from building his own forces. This time, Bai Zhengyi wanted him to face certain death, and Bai Zhengli had no reason to be polite anymore. He directly demanded to have all his thousand men returned to him. Bai Zhengyi didn¡¯t want to agree at first, as those thousand were well-trained elite soldiers, and it pained him to lose them just like that! But Bai Zhengli¡¯s stance was firm this time. If Bai Zhengyi didn¡¯t agree, he would refuse the mission. After some hesitation, Bai Zhengyi eventually agreed. Those thousand men were loyal to Bai Zhengli, as they had been resentful and even dissatisfied when initially moved away from him. If Bai Zhengli died, it was inevitable they would harbor thoughts of unrest, which might lead to greater losses if they caused trouble! Having reclaimed the thousand men, Bai Zhengli felt a newfound confidence. So, when the three men approached him, he probed and then decided to take them along when the time came. If they were to establish their own base, they definitely needed manpower. Moreover, as survivors, they should naturally unite and overcome the current difficulties together. These were living people, not psychopaths like Bai Zhengyi and Zhao Qiankun, who could just cold-heartedly send them to their demise! Bai Zhengyi and Zhao Qiankun had given them only one day to prepare. The following early morning, Beishi Base¡¯s mission center announced jointly by Bai Family¡¯s White Wolf Mercenary Corps and Qiankun Mercenary Group a mission to attack Luyun County, calling on Corpse Hunters to join with generous rewards. Fang Yuxin¡¯s family learned of this after leaving the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Almost every Corpse Hunter in Beishi Base had a Communicator. It allowed them not only to contact others but also to receive various missions from the mission center, which was extremely convenient. As soon as a new mission was posted at the mission center, its details were sent to every Communicator via text message. Corpse Hunters who were interested could reply directly with the provided code to claim the mission. If successful, they would receive a follow-up message with the gathering instructions; if not, they would be notified by text to enable them to claim another task. It was quite convenient. Thus, as soon as the mission became available, the Fang Family¡¯s Communicators buzzed with the notification, as did those of other members of the Yongcheng Team. Upon seeing this message, Fang Yuxin felt uneasy. She hurriedly contacted Bai Ye, and as soon as the call connected, she urgently asked, ¡°Bai Ye, what¡¯s this mission to attack Luyun County about?¡± Luyun County was teeming with zombies, and just one day to prepare was highly abnormal! This wasn¡¯t a mission; it was practically sending people to their deaths! Bai Ye and the others had one day to prepare before setting off early the next morning. He was about to train the soldiers when Fang Yuxin called, anxious. He explained Bai Zhengyi¡¯s plans succinctly: ¡°Bai Zhengyi is probably looking to take this opportunity to eliminate his rivals. As for Zhao Qiankun, since he posted the mission, he is likely to send some troublemakers as well.¡± ¡°Those bastards!¡± Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help cursing, then scoffed, ¡°Well then, let¡¯s take this chance to leave Beishi Base!¡± That was precisely what Bai Ye intended. Seeing Fang Yuxin so upset, he couldn¡¯t help but share a laugh with her: ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t be angry. Although Bai Zhengyi is a scoundrel, my father took the opportunity to make a request, demanding back all his former subordinates, adding up to a thousand people, all capable soldiers! I¡¯m just about to train them. With a full day at our disposal, there¡¯s no reason not to make use of it.¡± Hearing this, Fang Yuxin understood his plan, and her mood instantly improved. She chuckled, ¡°Bai Zhengyi will surely regret this later! Go ahead with your work; I¡¯ll take on the mission, and we¡¯ll leave together.¡± Bai Ye nodded, as he had other matters to attend to, he didn¡¯t linger on the call. After the conversation ended, Fang Yuxin promptly opened the text message and replied with the code to claim the mission. Soon after sending the code, she received a response. But as she read the content, her expression suddenly changed. (To be continued. If you like this work, we invite you to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 629: Someone is playing tricks. Chapter 629: Someone is playing tricks. By now, the task announcement had just been sent out, and logically, there shouldn¡¯t have been many people signed up, considering the zombies were numerous and extremely dangerous in Luyun County. Going there with too few people was tantamount to courting death, and Corpse Hunters were no fools. Even if they planned to sign up, they would certainly wait and see for a while. So when Fang Yuxin went to accept the task, there shouldn¡¯t have been any problems. But to her surprise, her attempt to accept the task failed! The text message reply stated that the task could not be accepted, and Fang Yuxin instinctively felt something was amiss! Fang Yuyang and the others were all sitting in the living room, and seeing her change of expression, they all became worried. Fang Yuyang was the first to ask, ¡°Xinxin, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Fang Yuxin explained the situation, and Fang Yuyang and the others also sensed something was off. Fang Yuyang directly took out a Communicator, responded with the code on it, and took on the task. It wasn¡¯t long before he received a reply, indicating that the task had been successfully accepted and instructing him to be ready to wait for the assembly notice tomorrow morning. Fang Yuxin raised her eyebrows in surprise, feeling increasingly that something was very wrong! Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe also tried, and even Bai Qianqian attempted to accept the task. However, they all succeeded, while Fang Yuxin, no matter how many times she tried, failed! Seeing this, Fang Yuxin¡¯s expression gradually turned ugly. If she couldn¡¯t figure out by now that Zhao Qiankun had sabotaged her, then she would be a fool! However, Zhao Qiankun sure had some nerve! He didn¡¯t want her to go but was willing to let her family take on the task. What was going on in his mind! Fang Yuyang and the others weren¡¯t very angry, instead consoling her, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t be angry. That Zhao guy has always been a lowlife, and you know it. Why bother getting upset over such a petty person?¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Yuxin suddenly remembered that they were unaware of Zhao Qiankun¡¯s identity. She briefly explained and also showed the Jade Scroll to her family members. After seeing it, Fang Yuyang and the others also believed Zhao Qiankun and Zhao Dawei were one and the same! This explained the odd behavior of Zhao Qiankun towards Fang Yuxin. However, none of them had the slightest bit of affection for Zhao Qiankun. It was one thing for him to fancy Fang Yuxin¡ªwho was indeed beautiful and had a good personality, with countless people admiring her from childhood, and one more admirer like Zhao Qiankun didn¡¯t make much of a difference. On one hand, he coveted Fang Yuxin, unwilling to let her embark on that dangerous task, yet he allowed them to successfully accept this task. If put nicely, it meant he only cared about Fang Yuxin alone; if put bluntly, this man¡¯s intentions were too sinister! If someone truly cared about a person, how could they just watch her family members go to their deaths? Zhao Qiankun was truly despicable! To think that he dared to claim that he had been nursing a secret crush on Fang Yuxin! Fang Yuyang sneered, ¡°I knew it, that Zhao fellow is nothing but scum!¡± He then asked Fang Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, what do you plan to do now?¡± Fang Yuxin, who had calmed down after his commotion, replied. Fang Yuyang was right; Zhao Qiankun was scum. She really didn¡¯t need to waste her energy getting angry over someone like him. It would be better to think of something else. After some thought, she asked Fang Yuyang, ¡°Even if I haven¡¯t accepted the task, I can still follow, right?¡± She couldn¡¯t care less about confronting Zhao Qiankun over this. Was it merely about being unable to accept the task? She would just follow along when the time came. What was there to be afraid of? Fang Yuyang paused before smiling, ¡°There¡¯s indeed no rule against it, but... ordinarily, if people don¡¯t get the task, they wouldn¡¯t follow along. After all, if they go without having accepted the task, they won¡¯t get any reward in the end, so nobody does that. Xinxin, are you planning to just go directly?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, with a somewhat mischievous smile, ¡°I¡¯ll go there directly tomorrow. I don¡¯t believe Zhao Qiankun would dare to stop me in front of so many people. If he really dares to do so, unless the Corpse Hunters are fools, they will definitely sense something is amiss! Zhao Qiankun is despicable. For the sake of eliminating dissent, he treats so many lives as a joke. It wouldn¡¯t be bad to cause him some trouble.¡± The others remained silent as they had decided to take this opportunity to leave, and naturally, they wouldn¡¯t let Fang Yuxin stay behind alone. But both Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe also felt that Zhao Qiankun was really worthless! Fang Yuyang sent a message to Chen Qiao, calling everyone over, while Fang Yuxin contacted Bai Ye, telling him about her inability to accept the task. Bai Ye, ever so astute, immediately guessed it was Zhao Qiankun¡¯s doing. After all, although Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi also had the power to do such a thing, they had no reason to do so, unlike Zhao Qiankun, who was always fixated on Fang Yuxin! Chapter 630: Someone is playing tricks. Chapter 630: Someone is playing tricks. He was so angry that his face darkened, almost wishing he could rush to Qiankun Hotel and take care of Zhao Qiankun himself! Fang Yuxin comforted him for a good while before he calmed down. Fang Yuxin wanted to go with him directly, and Bai Ye had no objections¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t leave Fang Yuxin in this broken base just because Zhao Qiankun had played a dirty trick! After the communication was cut, Bai Ye wiped his face fiercely, and trained those over a thousand people hard, striving to bring out greater combat effectiveness in them! Tomorrow they were to head to Luyun County, and with Zhao Qiankun¡¯s and Bai Zhengyi¡¯s despicable shamelessness, they definitely wouldn¡¯t let them leave Beishi Base easily. By then, he didn¡¯t know what would happen, so he took this day of preparation time to properly train these people, getting them accustomed to coordinated combat to ensure casualties were minimized. The other three teams hadn¡¯t openly contacted them. After all, Bai Zhengyi was still watching. If he found out that these people had already teamed up, with Bai Zhengyi¡¯s cunning and deceit, he might stir up some trouble, unexpectedly overwhelming them. Bai Ye was in a bad mood, and the soldiers under him suffered terribly, each being trained to the point of extreme hardship. However, they didn¡¯t harbor any complaints internally; they all recognized that Bai Ye was training them hard to enhance their capabilities, not to torment them intentionally, so they were all very grateful. On the other side, Zhao Qiankun listened to his subordinates¡¯ reports and learned that Fang Yuxin had attempted to undertake several missions. He felt uneasy, and was also somewhat angry¡ªwhat was she doing meddling in such dangerous missions as a woman? Was it for Bai Ye? What was so good about that man anyway? This guess worsened his mood, and he secretly rejoiced that he had forewarned the mission center to block Fang Yuxin¡¯s communicator ID, preventing her from successfully obtaining any missions! Then, he dialed another number and asked the person on the other end, ¡°What is Bai Ye doing now?¡± The person immediately responded, ¡°He¡¯s been training those more than a thousand people this entire time, it seems he wants to strengthen their abilities using this one day.¡± Zhao Qiankun snorted coldly. What good would a day¡¯s time do? He had checked; there were millions of zombies in Luyun County! The strongest had already reached Level 4. These people were doomed if they went! Thinking this over, he no longer bothered with Bai Ye, only waiting for the outcome tomorrow. ... Upon receiving the notice from Fang Yuyang, Chen Qiao immediately brought his group over. Though their communicators also received the mission alert, they didn¡¯t know it was a death trap set by Zhao Qiankun and Bai Zhengyi aimed at Bai Ye. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin and others planned to take this opportunity to leave Beishi Base with everyone, so none of them accepted the mission. After all, the mission sounded very dangerous; unless there was a large number of people going with well-equipped gear, it was tantamount to suicide. They lived next door, so they came quickly. Once everyone was seated, Fang Yuxin quietly set up a soundproof barrier, then said to everyone, ¡°You¡¯ve all received the mission message to attack Luyun County, right? We plan to participate in this mission and take the chance to leave Beishi Base. If you wish to come with us, accept this mission. However, I must warn you, this mission is a death trap, and it will be very dangerous!¡± Chen Qiao and the others exchanged glances, and then accepted the mission without hesitation. At that time, not many people were accepting the mission, so they easily managed to obtain it. Clearly, Fang Yuxin was the only one targeted, and Zhao Qiankun set this death trap not intending for her to simply walk to her doom. Seeing they had accepted the mission, Fang Yuyang said, ¡°We leave first thing in the morning, pretending to attack Luyun County. However, there might be other unexpected events along the way, so it could be very dangerous. Remember to stay close to us and protect yourselves.¡± Chen Qiao and the others nodded, indicating no problem. Besides the newcomers, Chen Qiao and the old-timers were all Second-level Superpower Users. Even though Shang Jinxiu was only a Space Superpower User, she could now use her Space superpower for attacks, and her strength had considerably increased, reassuring others. Fang Yuyang said this mainly to keep an eye on Qian Lang and other newcomers. Among these newcomers, Zhou Han¡¯s strength was still decent; Qian Lang had only recently awakened his superpower and was just a Basic Superpower User, only slightly stronger than ordinary people. Zhao Yan and Liu Zhenglin had also recently awakened, both Basic Superpower Users. Additionally, one was older and the other had poor health, both had low talents. Liu Zhenglin was also bringing along his six-year-old daughter, effectively dragging along a burden, and their combat ability was utterly insufficient. Just ensuring they could protect themselves and not trouble others would be good enough. Similarly, Qian Lang had to look after his elderly grandfather Qian Sen. Though still fairly hearty at sixty years old, he wasn¡¯t comparable to younger people. He could neither kill zombies nor avoid being a burden. Li Qingyun was a Level 1 Mutated Wood Element Superpower User, and while her extraction ability was strong, she was useless against zombies, having to fight them like an ordinary person using guns or melee weapons. These people didn¡¯t have sufficient strength, yet since they chose to trust Fang Yuxin, Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t abandon them now, leaving them to fend for themselves in this perilous Beishi Base. The simplest and safest method was to bring them into Qingmu Spiritual Mansion and then whisk them away. However, doing so would expose Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. So unless absolutely necessary, Fang Yuxin would not do this! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote for it with your recommendation and monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 631: 341 Ready Chapter 631: 341 Ready Qian Lang and the others also knew that they were purely a burden, following was not only dangerous but could also cause trouble for others. However, they understood even more that if they did not keep up, they would probably be left at the Beishi Base forever! Lacking the abilities of Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye to break out of the zombie encirclement, they could only take risks by following! Qian Sen was the first to speak, ¡°We understand this principle. If we actually face danger, do not worry about this old man! Life and death are predestined, and if you risk your lives to save me, even if I survive, I would have a guilty conscience!¡± After he finished speaking, the others also chimed in. Fang Yuxin slightly smiled. She was pleased with these people¡¯s awareness of the circumstances. Thus, she said, ¡°These are just the worst-case scenarios. You don¡¯t need to worry too much. Since you¡¯ve followed me, I won¡¯t ignore your life and death. Go back and prepare now. Buy whatever you can from the base store; we¡¯ll set off tomorrow!¡± Chen Qiao and the others had come to the Beishi Base earlier and completed several missions, accumulating a good amount of credit points. If they didn¡¯t use them now, it would be a waste. Luckily, there was a major task tomorrow, so today the base store should be bustling, giving Chen Qiao and the others a chance to clear out their accounts. Fang Yuyang, Fang Jintang, and Qu Qianhe also had credit points in their accounts. So, Fang Yuyang nodded and said, ¡°Let¡¯s start now, we¡¯ll go together.¡± After all, having offended Qu Qianlin and Qin Xiran, neither of whom was to be trifled with, he felt uneasy about letting Chen Qiao and the others go out alone. Fang Yuxin hesitated for a moment, not following them. She planned to use this time to create some defense talismans in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. The capabilities of Qian Lang and others were too weak. If a dangerous situation arose amid chaos, she might not be able to take care of these people. It would be better to make some defense talismans and distribute them for their personal protection. There was no separate talisman room in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, but in the Scripture Pavilion, Fang Yuxin discovered a Jade Scroll about talismans. She had been in the Scripture Pavilion before; it was like a void inside, various Cultivation Techniques Jade Scrolls enveloped in a light shield requiring each scroll to be chosen individually. Only those whose attributes matched her own could be read. This time, however, when Fang Yuxin entered, the void didn¡¯t reappear, and the room had changed. Previously, she had pushed open a stone door to enter, but this time, she was directly teleported in. The entire stone room was about two hundred square meters, similar to the Alchemy Room and Artifact Room, and three walls were covered with huge wooden shelves filled densely with Jade Scrolls. The remaining wall now had a huge piece of White Jade. The last time she saw this piece of White Jade, it was one meter high and two meters long, but now it had become extremely large, covering the entire wall! Fang Yuxin was surprised initially and then tried to browse through the Jade Scrolls. She found that she could now successfully read the contents without the previous restrictions. That was when she discovered the talisman-related Jade Scroll, picked it out separately, and prepared to learn. When the others had left, Fang Yuxin entered the Artifact Room in Qingmu Spiritual Mansion and took out a piece of golden wood from a Jade Box. This was a branch of Vajra Wood, extremely hard, suitable for making Wood Talismans. Talisman crafting covered many aspects; the carrier of runes could be made from Demon Beast Skin, tree trunks, or bark, as well as refined talisman paper or pure Jade or other minerals. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t find the special talisman paper and was worried about not being able to control other materials, so she simply chose a Wood Element material. Vajra Wood was very hard and extremely suitable for making Vajra Talismans. Fang Yuxin had previously made simple leaf charms using tree leaves, her technique crude and the effect limited. This time, it was her first formal contact with talisman crafting. After browsing the Jade Scroll, the knowledge from the scroll was completely engraved in her mind. Although it was unlikely she could digest so much knowledge in a short time, she was confident in making Vajra Talismans. After all, when she was still blindly ignorant, she could make crude leaf charms from ordinary tree leaves. Now with suitable materials and a deep understanding of talismans, there was no reason she would fail. The Jade Box was laid with a spatial formation, so although it didn¡¯t look large, the stuff taken out from it was not small. The section of Vajra Wood branch taken by Fang Yuxin was as thick as a bowl and as long as an adult¡¯s palm. After taking it out, she first used True Yuan to cut it into uniform thin slices the size of cookies and then used her finger as a pen, channeled True Yuan to her fingertip, and engraved runes on the wood slices. Chapter 632: 341 Ready_2 Chapter 632: 341 Ready_2 Crafting talismans required not just talisman paper but also specialized talismanic ink and a talisman pen, yet Fang Yuxin had none of these. The talismanic ink needed to be refined from special materials, while the talisman pen was a type of Magical Treasure that required special crafting; she simply could not produce them now, so she could only use her True Yuan to draw. Fortunately, as a Pure Wood Spirit Body, she had a high affinity with Vajra Wood, so even though it was her first time using it for crafting, she did not fail and succeeded immediately. Had it been any other material, directly using True Yuan to inscribe runes might have led to uncontrollably strong force, and consequently, the destruction of the material. Having gained experience from crafting the first one, the process became much simpler. Fang Yuxin created a hundred Vajra Talismans and still had some wood pieces left, but she stopped and did not continue. With her current capability, she could only create Second-level Lower Grade Vajra Talismans, which could roughly withstand a full-strength strike from an Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, unless that cultivator¡¯s strength exceeded hers. The Vajra Talismans she had drawn with her True Yuan were filled with an abundance of Spiritual Energy; once the energy within was depleted, the talisman would become void. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t have many materials suitable for talisman crafting, and to use them all at once would be wasteful. That is why, after producing a hundred, she decided to stop and continue later. After crafting the Vajra Talismans, she chose another material and crafted a hundred Featherweight Talismans. This was also a type of auxiliary talisman that, when used, would make one¡¯s body as light as a swallow, facilitating escape. She planned to distribute these talismans when the time came. By the time she finished crafting these two types of talismans and left the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, it was already noon, and Fang Yuyang and the others had long returned. The Fang Family knew she was in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, so once they came back, they did not let Chen Qiao and the others visit to avoid discovery. After having lunch with her family, Fang Yuxin took out some Vajra Talismans and Featherweight Talismans to distribute to Chen Qiao and the others. She had punched a small hole in each talisman and threaded them with thin strings so they could be worn around the neck like necklaces and hidden under clothes without anyone noticing. When not activated, the Spiritual Energy of these talismans was very faint and could easily be overshadowed by the energy fluctuations emitted by superpower users, so even superpower users would not detect them. After handing over the items to Chen Qiao and the others, Fang Yuxin also explained how to use them. Activation was simple ¨C a light tap with the hand would suffice. When not activated, the loss of Spiritual Energy from the talismans was very slow, but once activated, the energy would flow continuously to maintain the effects, meaning the actual usage time was not very long. This was far from comparable to the protective Jade Pendants she wore. Unfortunately, there were not enough Jade Pendants to go around, all she could do for these people was to create Vajra Talismans and Featherweight Talismans for their protection. In the afternoon, they did not go out again; they had already bought everything they needed and there was no point in wasting time going out. So, after Fang Yuxin distributed the talismans, she returned home and joined her family members in entering the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion to devote themselves to cultivation. Fang Yuyang seemed to be on the verge of Foundation Establishment. After coming in, he went straight to the trial land. Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Bai Qianqian had gained a lot in the trial land yesterday, so this time they did not enter but chose to meditate and cultivate instead. Fang Yuxin also entered the trial land to continue honing her combat skills. They stayed in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion all night. At six in the evening, Fang Yuxin emerged from the trial land, meditated to recover for a while, and then started preparing dinner. However, while everyone else came out in turn, there was no sign of Fang Yuyang. This situation was truly strange; Fang Yuyang had been inside for an unnaturally long time, which made Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe grow worried. Yet, after carefully sensing, since they did not feel any mishaps had befallen Fang Yuyang, they had no choice but to wait silently for him to come out. Right when Fang Yuxin had finished cooking dinner, Fang Yuyang was expelled from the trial land. His appearance looked as though he had gone through a fierce battle, his body was a mess, and even the clothes he wore were ripped into strips. Yet, his face was radiantly joyful. He barely had time to tell his family ¡°I¡¯m safe¡± before he eagerly sat down to meditate, his aura growing stronger by the moment. Only then did Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe realize that Fang Yuyang was about to breakthrough to Foundation Establishment! Fang Yuxin hurried out of the Alchemy Room just in time to see Fang Yuyang meditating with his eyes closed, working on his Foundation Establishment. He seemed very calm without a trace of strain, which should indicate a smooth process. She felt relieved knowing that Foundation Establishment would take a while, so she motioned Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe, and Bai Qianqian to finish their dinner. Sure enough, Fang Yuyang was still in the midst of his cultivation even after they had their meal. They continued to keep watch until five o¡¯clock the next morning, when Fang Yuyang successfully established his Foundation and stabilized his cultivation at the Early-stage Foundation Establishment. Seeing that it was getting late, the family quickly left the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, took baths, changed into clean clothes, and awaited the notice refreshed and clear-headed. Soon, they received a summons on their Communicators to gather at six o¡¯clock in the morning; they still had half an hour to prepare. The family was not in a hurry as they ate breakfast and packed everything that needed to be taken care of at home, before stepping out the door. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 633: 342 You cant go! Chapter 633: 342 You can¡¯t go! When the Fang Family members headed out, Chen Qiao and the others were ready too, and they left together. They drove the Fang Family¡¯s SUVs, three in total, which were sufficient to carry everyone. Zhao Yan and Liu Zhenglin¡¯s previous cars were too dilapidated and underperforming, so they were directly abandoned. The three vehicles, having undergone numerous modifications, had considerably impressive defense capabilities. The Yongcheng Team drove them towards the rendezvous point. It was a square near the west gate, where everyone usually gathered for missions. Beishi Base had six gates, each controlled by one of the Six Major Forces. Near each gate, there was a square for the Corpse Hunters to assemble. The west gate was the closest to Luyun County, hence the choice of this location for the gathering. When the Fang Family arrived, Bai Ye and the others were already there. Unlike them, who drove large trucks, Fang Yuxin and her group in their three SUVs seemed somewhat out of place. In addition to the thousand or so people brought by Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye, as well as the three unlucky souls from the White Wolf Mercenary Corps, each bringing four to five hundred more, there were also about two thousand from the Qiankun Mercenary Group. The rest were various sizes of Corpse Hunting Teams. Because the reward was quite generous, despite everyone knowing the dangers involved, many still took on the mission. Fang Yuxin glanced around and noticed that, aside from the White Wolf Mercenary Corps and Qiankun Mercenary Group, the various Corpse Hunting Teams added up to about two thousand individuals as well. Altogether, there were more than six thousand people. This number was indeed not small, but it was far from enough to take down Luyun County. However, the Corpse Hunting Teams also drove trucks, with only the Yongcheng Team¡¯s Fang Family driving the three SUVs, which were noticeably high-quality vehicles. Other people couldn¡¯t help but stare, guessing who exactly had arrived. When they disembarked, the onlookers were even more baffled as not only were there Second-level Superpower Users from the Fang Family, but also Basic Superpower Users and Ordinary People. Did these people think they were going on a picnic? Fortunately, Bai Qianqian and Liu Yihuan, the two children, hadn¡¯t left the vehicle or the onlookers might have had even more opinions. When Bai Ye saw her arrive, he quickly approached her, asking in a low voice, ¡°How are the preparations?¡± Fang Yuxin handed him a small black bag and said, ¡°Not bad, this is for you,¡± while simultaneously transmitting with Spiritual Sense, ¡°There are three Jade Pendants in the bag, one for you and each of your uncle and aunt. Activate them by dripping blood and keep them close. There are also eighty-seven Vajra Talismans and eighty-seven Featherweight Talismans. Distribute them to the right people. They should wear them around their necks and just gently tap them to activate. Be careful not to let others know.¡± Bai Ye nodded, accepted the bag, and thanked her, ¡°Thanks.¡± He also communicated with Spiritual Sense, ¡°I have checked, these people from the Qiankun Mercenary Group usually aren¡¯t very loyal to Zhao Qiankun, probably tricked by him into a death mission. Once we¡¯re out, if they are willing, we¡¯ll take them with us. If they want to go back to Beishi Base, we¡¯ll part ways. As for the various Corpse Hunting Teams, it¡¯s troublesome, they were all lured here by the offer of a reward, and they might have families back home, so they probably won¡¯t leave with us.¡± Fang Yuxin feigned a few polite phrases with Bai Ye while transmitting with her Spiritual Sense, ¡°Leave it to fate, we¡¯re not saviors, no need to weigh ourselves down with too much.¡± As they were speaking, they suddenly heard the people around them start to stir. They looked up and saw two SUVs approaching in the distance, adorned with the insignia of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps and Qiankun Mercenary Group. Curious, Fang Yuxin heard Bai Ye whisper, ¡°It must be Bai Zhengyi and Zhao Qiankun arriving. Given the scale of this task, no matter what they¡¯re scheming, they have to make a good public display. They are probably here to boost morale. Tsk, always putting on a show!¡± Fang Yuxin understood Bai Ye¡¯s implication right away. She nodded at him to remind him, ¡°You better go back, and remember to distribute the items.¡± Knowing the importance of the task, Bai Ye turned reluctantly and headed back. He had just reached his group when Zhao Qiankun and Bai Zhengyi¡¯s vehicles drew near. While still in his car, Zhao Qiankun immediately spotted Fang Yuxin and was instantly enraged¡ªFang Yuxin shouldn¡¯t have been able to take the mission, so what was she doing here? Could it be that she wanted to accompany Bai Ye in death? No! That¡¯s not right! She couldn¡¯t have known this mission was a death trap. Then... could it be that Bai Ye tricked her into coming? Chapter 634: 342 You cant go! _2 Chapter 634: 342 You can¡¯t go! _2 Zhao Qiankun felt a bitter taste in his heart, and he almost wished he could pull Fang Yuxin beside him and not let her go anywhere. Once the car stopped, he hurriedly got out and was about to head towards Fang Yuxin when his assistant reminded him, ¡°Squad leader, it¡¯s time for your speech.¡± Zhao Qiankun immediately halted, hesitated for a moment, then walked toward the other platform. He stood beside Bai Zhengyi and began using the megaphone to deliver some morale-boosting words. During the speech, his gaze swept across everyone¡¯s faces, giving the impression that he was looking directly at them, except for a few who knew the inside story. The other Corpse Hunters were affected by his gaze and became very excited. However, as soon as he finished speaking, his gaze fixed intensely on Fang Yuxin in the crowd. When Bai Zhengyi had finished speaking, he again took the opportunity to say, ¡°This mission is very important for every survivor at Beishi Base, but it is also highly dangerous. Therefore, I must remind you all to take care of yourselves! Your safety is the utmost importance! Furthermore, those who haven¡¯t received the mission should not participate because this mission is no child¡¯s play! You are responsible not only for yourselves but for others involved in the mission as well!¡± Bai Zhengyi stood beside him, looking at Zhao Qiankun with surprise, somewhat puzzled as to why he would say such a thing. Encouragements were fine, but why specifically mention that those who hadn¡¯t received the mission couldn¡¯t participate? Generally speaking, such a situation was unlikely, and even if it did occur, if someone voluntarily wanted to go, why would they need to interfere? However, when he followed Zhao Qiankun¡¯s gaze to Fang Yuxin standing in the crowd, he understood Zhao Qiankun¡¯s intentions. Bai Zhengyi couldn¡¯t help but sneer inwardly¡ªhe was right; Zhao Qiankun was indeed a fool for love! Unlikely to achieve great things! The other Corpse Hunters were also curious, not understanding why Zhao Qiankun would specifically mention this. However, they had to admit that what he said made sense. Some clever ones, following Zhao Qiankun¡¯s gaze, also saw Fang Yuxin and began to speculate. Initially thinking Fang Yuxin was incompetent, they assumed Zhao Qiankun¡¯s specific mention was to prevent her from being a burden. However, when they sensed the energy fluctuations from her, they discovered she was actually a Second-level Superpower User! With such abilities, how could she be a burden? Even if she hadn¡¯t received the mission, what harm would there be in her wanting to go? Some began to doubt, feeling that something was off about Zhao Qiankun. At this moment, Zhao Qiankun was watching Fang Yuxin, waiting for her to voluntarily drop out. However, to his anger, Fang Yuxin showed no reaction, as if unaware he was referring to her. His face darkened, and he directly addressed Fang Yuxin, ¡°Miss Fang, as far as I know, you didn¡¯t receive the mission. It¡¯s probably not appropriate for you to stay here, is it?¡± As soon as he spoke, Bai Zhengyi frowned, feeling the situation was spiraling out of control! However, before he could speak, Fang Yuxin loudly said, ¡°I thought esteemed leaders like Mr. Zhao were overwhelmed with countless duties. Yet, I¡¯m surprised Mr. Zhao even notices that I didn¡¯t get the mission. However, it¡¯s not my fault; I replied several times to the code in the text message, but all attempts to receive the mission failed. I wonder if Mr. Zhao knows the reason?¡± Hearing her response, Zhao Qiankun also realized he had made a tactical error. He hadn¡¯t forgotten that Fang Yuxin was sharp-tongued! He wasn¡¯t foolish enough to admit he had sabotaged the mission allocation but instead spoke solemnly, ¡°If that¡¯s truly the case, it must be an issue with the mission center. Nevertheless, whether you attempted to receive the mission or not, since you didn¡¯t successfully obtain it, you cannot partake in this mission! Miss Fang, please return!¡± Bai Zhengyi, frowning deeply, was tempted to persuade Zhao Qiankun to stop, yet feared provoking him further. Zhao Qiankun was someone who could act recklessly when dealing with issues involving women, and heaven knows what irrational actions he might take if angered! But Bai Zhengyi was also worried that if he did nothing, the situation would only worsen! As he hesitated, Fang Yuxin spoke again, ¡°Mr. Zhao must have forgotten, right? I am a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User. You just mentioned that this mission is very important for the entire Beishi Base and as a member, I want to participate and contribute my strength. I see nothing wrong in this. Precisely because the mission is so dangerous and might result in numerous casualties, my participation is all the more crucial! Even if I end up not receiving any compensation for the mission, I don¡¯t mind!¡± Earlier, when others discovered she was a Second-level Superpower User, they felt that she shouldn¡¯t be a burden, and found Zhao Qiankun¡¯s refusal for her participation quite suspicious. Now, hearing that she was a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User raised even more doubts! Indeed, they were such a small group, and Luyun County was teeming with zombies. Going there was tantamount to a suicide mission¡ªforget about conquering Luyun County, surviving and returning was uncertain! If they had a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User to assist, even if they couldn¡¯t turn the tide, it would reduce casualties! If Zhao Qiankun knew she had such capabilities, why wouldn¡¯t he let her participate? Could it be that he too thought the mission was too perilous and didn¡¯t want to lose a valuable Second-level Wood Element Superpower User? If so, what did that make them? Everyone started to harbor doubts. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at qidian.com with your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 635: 343 Sneaky Schemes Chapter 635: 343 Sneaky Schemes Because of what Fang Yuxin said, the already uneasy crowd grew even more suspicious and anxious. Especially the various Corpse Hunting Teams, who were unaware when they accepted the mission that it was in fact a death trap set by Bai Zhengyi and Zhao Qiankun to eliminate dissenters. Seeing the mission being jointly issued by the White Wolf Mercenary Corps and Qiankun Mercenary Group, they had thought it was a combined effort of two major Mercenary Corps concentrating their main forces in an assault. If that were the case, then both the success rate and safety would be high. Coupled with the hefty rewards, they had picked up the mission. Who could have foreseen that upon arriving this morning, they would find that the White Wolf Mercenary Corps and Qiankun Mercenary Group had only sent about two thousand people each, and together with their assorted Corpse Hunting Teams, totaled barely over six thousand in number¡ªhow were they supposed to take Luyun County? There were millions of zombies there! It was practically suicide for these people to go! What on earth were the White Wolf Mercenary Corps and Qiankun Mercenary Group thinking? Even if it was just a tentative attack, the number of troops sent was also far too few, right? Corpse Hunters who could survive in the apocalypse were no fools. Once these people thought about it, they could tell that something was fishy! So, many immediately decided to give up on the mission. Indeed, Beishi Base did allow for the opportunity to give up on a mission after it was taken, after all, accidents happen all the time, and sometimes people who take on a mission might encounter an accident preventing them from participating. So, in order to show the more human side of the Base, and also to ensure the number of people needed for missions, one could withdraw after accepting a mission. However, if one were to withdraw from a mission, there would be quite severe penalties, so unless there really was an accident, people generally wouldn¡¯t choose to withdraw after accepting a mission. At this moment, some quietly picked up their Communicators, opened the messaging page, and sent the code to withdraw from the mission. Many others were still watching and waiting. The cost of withdrawing from a mission was just too high, and unless they were sure that they couldn¡¯t go on the mission, they wouldn¡¯t do so. At the same time, Zhao Qiankun was staring daggers at Fang Yuxin, extremely aggravated by her obliviousness to the situation. He believed he was acting in good faith by stopping Fang Yuxin from participating in the mission, only to find that Fang Yuxin was completely ungrateful and stubbornly intent on marching towards death! He felt a bitter taste in his heart, furious and worried but unable to find a suitable reason to keep Fang Yuxin behind. Standing beside him, Bai Zhengyi was scared witless, fearing that Zhao Qiankun would slip up again in his speech and give Fang Yuxin leverage. Reluctantly, he stepped forward with a smile and said, ¡°Actually, everyone doesn¡¯t have to worry. This is just a probing attack, and we will have people protecting from behind, so it¡¯s not very dangerous. Miss Fang, as a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, why not follow the rear team and depart with them? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to heal the wounded at the back?¡± His words seemed to be without fault, even making people feel like the arrangements were quite thoughtful. Thus, those who had been still hesitating began to feel assured once again. But just then, someone suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Why can¡¯t the mission be canceled? I just sent the code to cancel the mission, and it failed, but why?¡± At that, the crowd became restless. Up to now, the only Beishi Base missions that could not be canceled were: one for building defensive fortifications, and one for protecting the Base during a zombie siege. But now, if this was just a probing attack mission, why couldn¡¯t it be canceled? What was the hidden catch here? Bai Zhengyi and Zhao Qiankun had never considered that anyone would cancel the mission. To prevent insubordination from those below, they had deliberately tampered with the mission, making it impossible to cancel once accepted. Now that someone had brought up this issue, the two quickly responded. After all, Bai Zhengyi was an Old Fox, much more cunning than Zhao Qiankun. No sooner had the question been raised than he changed his expression to one of seriousness and said, ¡°It seems that there is indeed a problem with the mission center. Rest assured, since this mission is just a probing attack, it naturally can be canceled. Now, if there are any Corpse Hunters who want to cancel the mission, please stand over this way.¡± As he spoke, he pointed in a direction, and added with a joking tone, ¡°Members of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps can¡¯t cancel the mission though, don¡¯t forget, you guys have a duty to fulfill.¡± Zhao Qiankun also stated, ¡°It goes the same for the Qiankun Mercenary Group, do your best on this mission. I am waiting for your victorious return!¡± Chapter 636: 343 Sinister Scheme_2 Chapter 636: 343 Sinister Scheme_2 The two of them sang in unison and effectively dispelled many doubts in people¡¯s hearts. However, Corpse Hunters cherished their lives. Although they believed the mission should be safe, they were not keen on taking the lead, so eventually, aside from the members of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps and the Qiankun Mercenary Corps, more than half of the remaining scattered hunters chose to cancel the mission. Those who did not cancel, for the most part, were confident in their own abilities to survive and did not have family burdens. Previously, Bai Zhengyi had provided Zhao Qiankun with an excuse. So, seeing that Fang Yuxin still did not want to give up, he said, ¡°Miss Fang, what do you think about Commander Bai¡¯s suggestion just now? It¡¯s better for a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User like you to not take the lead and instead follow the troops behind.¡± He had secretly loved Fang Yuxin for too long, and now that he finally had a chance to be with her, he couldn¡¯t bear to watch her march to her death! However, Fang Yuxin showed no appreciation for his consideration. With a faint smile, she said, ¡°There¡¯s no need. I¡¯m quite confident in my abilities. Moreover, since Wood Element Superpower Users enjoy better benefits, it¡¯s only natural that we make more contributions.¡± Zhao Qiankun, annoyed that Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know how to seize a good opportunity, gave her a cold look and stopped trying to persuade her. Bai Zhengyi, seeing that he had finally given up, quickly suggested they depart to avoid dragging things out too long and complicating matters further. With his urging, Fang Yuxin and others easily left the Beishi Base, following the large troop heading towards Luyun County. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, of course, did not really intend to attack Luyun County for Zhao Qiankun and Bai Zhengyi, and soon after leaving the base gate, Bai Zhengli found an excuse to stop everyone under the guise of ¡°discussing tactics,¡± which was actually to plan their escape. The place they stopped was located between Beishi Base and Luyun County, less than two thousand meters from Luyun County, which was relatively close. However, how to leave was another matter that required careful thought. Previously, the words of Zhao Qiankun and Bai Zhengyi were clearly warning them; someone was watching behind them, and they couldn¡¯t try any tricks! But anyone who could live would not choose to die, and what Zhao Qiankun and Bai Zhengyi did this time was really too much! After stopping, they arranged for some to stand guard, and Bai Zhengli gathered the leaders of the other small teams for a meeting. Since the matter hadn¡¯t blown up yet, it was unclear what the other leaders thought. Bai Zhengli did not dare to speak openly but instead seriously asked for everyone¡¯s opinions. During the meeting, Fang Yuxin was not present but covertly released her Spiritual Sense to guard against any surrounding movement. Just then, members of the Qiankun Mercenary Team suddenly took out several sprayers and began spraying the crowd. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°What is this stuff?¡± ¡°What are you spraying?¡± The others were puzzled and began to discuss it amongst themselves. Someone from the Qiankun Mercenary Corps explained, ¡°This is a new spray developed by our Qiankun Research Institute. It not only masks the scent of living beings but also slows the zombies¡¯ reactions. Everyone, quickly gather together. Once we¡¯re sprayed, we can head to Luyun County to kill zombies!¡± His voice was quite loud, so Fang Yuxin heard it. Upon hearing this, a suspicion arose in her heart. This mission was clearly a death trap set by Bai Zhengyi and Zhao Qiankun to eliminate rivals. How could Zhao Qiankun possibly be so kind? The others, however, did not think this way. Upon hearing about the effects of the spray, they got off the vehicles one after another, gathering around those from the Qiankun Mercenary Team to have the spray applied to them. Seeing this, Fang Yuxin quickly called out, ¡°Wait! Everyone, don¡¯t rush. Let¡¯s verify the effectiveness of the spray first.¡± Upon her speaking out, some began to hesitate. But those from the Qiankun Mercenary Team were displeased. They had joined the Qiankun Mercenary Team and naturally had some respect for Zhao Qiankun. However, since their leaders were not genuinely loyal to Zhao Qiankun, it was their bad luck to have been chosen for this deadly mission. Zhao Qiankun¡¯s previous attempts to persuade Fang Yuxin not to come¡ªand her stubborn refusals¡ªhad already made these men resent her. Now, Fang Yuxin¡¯s words heightened their dislike for her. Immediately, someone said, ¡°Miss Fang, what do you mean by that? These sprays were meticulously developed by the researchers at our Qiankun Mercenary Corps for this mission. They worked overnight to produce so much spray to make the mission smoother. What¡¯s there to check? Aren¡¯t you being too cautious?¡± Fang Yuxin glanced at him, silently cursed ¡°fool¡± in her heart, and then asked, ¡°Tell me, the people you brought, are they the elite of the Qiankun Mercenary Group? Are your leaders the close confidants of Commander Zhao?¡± The man looked uncertain, unable to understand why Fang Yuxin would ask this. However, someone by his side, who was not stupid, caught on and looked at Fang Yuxin, asking, ¡°Miss Fang, what do you mean by that? Don¡¯t you trust Commander Zhao?¡± Fang Yuxin glanced over and, seeing that others were all looking at her in surprise, continued, ¡°You all heard it too. Both Commander Zhao and Commander Bai said that this mission is just a tentative attack. So, I want to ask you, if it¡¯s just for testing, why not send a well-armed elite team to greatly reduce the casualties? Instead, why send you out? You must have received this kind of spray long ago, right? Then why not spray it on yourself before departure, but instead use it halfway through? Don¡¯t you have any doubts?¡± Immediately, some were swayed, especially those who had the spray applied to them. They unconsciously lifted their arms and suspiciously sniffed the scent. Just then, a sharp howl suddenly came from a distance, and immediately, someone shrieked, ¡°It¡¯s a Zombie Group! The zombies are coming!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com), recommend tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 637: 344 Mysterious Potion Chapter 637: 344 Mysterious Potion Bai Zhengli and the others were originally having a meeting inside the carriage, but ran out upon hearing the noise outside. Among them, the most agitated were the four captains from the Qiankun Mercenary Group. They first glanced at the spray bottle held in the hands of their subordinates, then suddenly turned their heads to look at Fang Yuxin. One of them seemed the most impulsive, and with a tense face, he asked first, ¡°Miss Fang, you weren¡¯t just spouting nonsense earlier, were you?¡± Fang Yuxin had good intentions, but seeing his stubbornness, she sneered, ¡°The words I said earlier were indeed just my speculation. If you don¡¯t believe it, by all means, continue spraying that mist on yourself, can I even stop you? The zombie group is about to come, instead of questioning me, you might want to think about how to deal with the zombie group!¡± Fang Yuxin¡¯s attitude displeased him, and just as he was about to say something else with a frown, the person beside him quickly pulled him, whispering in his ear, ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive! Her words make sense. Moreover, she is a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, who knows what she might notice? If that spray really was something beneficial, why on earth would she not use it herself?¡± At this point, Bai Zhengli appropriately interjected, frowning, ¡°How much of this spray did you bring out?¡± The person who had been calming the situation, named Cao Kun, and was about thirty years old, prudent and intelligent. Hearing Bai Zhengli¡¯s words, he understood Bai Zhengli¡¯s intentions and directly said, ¡°We have twenty bottles of the spray, quite large ones. I¡¯ll have someone pour some out and test its effects.¡± Given the limited resources, all the spray that the Qiankun Mercenary Group carried this time was contained in the type of spray bottles used for watering plants, each bottle holding ten liters of the potion inside. With a press of the handle, the potion could be sprayed out, and by unscrewing the cap, the potion could be easily poured out. After Cao Kun finished speaking, he had someone bring over a bottle of the spray, then with a flick of his fingers, a hemispherical ice bowl appeared in his hand. He poured some of the potion from the bottle into the ice bowl and continued to use his superpower to seal the bowl, turning it into a hollow ice ball holding the light red potion. At this moment, the zombie group was getting closer to them. Cao Kun patted the shoulder of a bulky man beside him, instructing him, ¡°Throw this ice ball into the zombie group. Be careful, don¡¯t throw it too far and don¡¯t shatter it.¡± The bulky man, although somewhat impulsive, was precise in his actions and seemed to listen well to Cao Kun. Upon hearing Cao Kun¡¯s words, he carefully took the ice ball, weighed it in his hand, then coldly stared in the direction of the zombie group. By then, everyone else had already spread out in a fan shape, gripping their weapons in a state of readiness. The approaching zombie group was now less than three hundred meters away. The bulky man¡¯s arm swung in a circle, forcefully hurling the ice ball! As the zombies swiftly ran towards them, the ice ball exploded over the heads of a dozen zombies at the forefront, instantly shattering and splattering the potion on those zombies. Then, a bizarre scene unfolded. Some of the faster zombies, initially charging like lightning towards the Corpse Hunting Team, suddenly changed direction. They rushed towards those dozen strength zombies and began attacking them, tearing off their rotten flesh and stuffing it into their own mouths! Seeing this, anyone with a brain knew there was something wrong with the potion in the spray bottles. Those who had sprayed themselves turned pale and began frantically tearing off their clothes in horror. Those who had not yet managed to spray themselves felt a chill and looked gratefully at Fang Yuxin. Had it not been for her timely warning, they would have been subjected to that strange potion! The impulsive big fellow named Ma Tao, seeing this, was furiously outraged and shouted, ¡°What in the hell is this harmful crap? I¡¯ll destroy it!¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Cao Kun, Bai Zhengli, Bai Ye, and Fang Yuxin all spoke out to stop him, Cao Kun firmly grabbing Ma Tao, then said, ¡°You can¡¯t do that.¡± Ma Tao glared at him discontentedly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you see? This stuff is harmful, why keep it?¡± Cao Kun, frustrated to the point of almost wanting to pry open his skull to see if it was stuffed with cotton, forcefully turned Ma Tao¡¯s head to the zombies attacking each other, and scolded exasperatedly, ¡°Are you an idiot or blind? Don¡¯t you see? This potion is deadly when sprayed on us, but if it¡¯s used on the zombies, they¡¯ll kill each other!¡± Chapter 638: 344 Mysterious Potion_2 Chapter 638: 344 Mysterious Potion_2 Upon hearing this, Ma Tao¡¯s eyes lit up instantly, ¡°Are you saying we can use this potion to deal with the zombies?¡± He was a bit puzzled and continued, ¡°Then why did the squad leader tell us to spray it on ourselves instead of directly on the zombies? Those researchers are really incredible to have developed such a thing. If we all use it against the zombies, wouldn¡¯t it make things much easier?¡± Cao Kun looked at him, already too lazy to explain. This guy was hopelessly stupid! Fang Yuxin watched all this and couldn¡¯t help shaking her head. There¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch in the world. The Zombie Group always had Advanced Zombie Leaders in charge. The potion could only cause minor disturbances among the zombies, but once things got serious, the leaders would never ignore it and let the zombies keep killing each other. Sure enough, at that moment, a piercing roar suddenly came from within the Zombie Group. Immediately after, the zombies that had been fighting each other abruptly stopped. Following another sharp roar, they all charged towards the Corpse Hunting Team! The size of this Zombie Group was around sixty to seventy thousand, nearly ten times the number of the Corpse Hunting Team. Fortunately, everyone was prepared and, since most of them were experienced veterans with decent strength, they didn¡¯t appear panicked. Bai Zhengli loudly ordered, ¡°All Earth Element Superpower Users prepare for an earth sink! Other superpower users attack the zombies¡¯ heads!¡± Following his command, the whole team moved instantaneously. The Earth Element Superpower Users gathered together, palms pressed to the ground, continuously releasing their superpower. Someone shouted ¡°Earth Sink¡±, and with a loud ¡°boom,¡± the ground where the zombies were collapsed, swallowing them into the pit. Simultaneously, the Fire Element, Ice Element, and Wind Element Superpower Users made their moves. In an instant, Fireballs, Ice Knives, and Wind Blades flew in unison, densely targeting the zombies¡¯ heads. Fang Yuxin stood behind and watched this magnificent scene, feeling that a battle with many versus few was truly different. Especially since the coordination between the team members was decent and their combat strength was strong¡ªa real shame if they were doomed to be betrayed and killed! Thinking of this, she felt even more disdainful and furious towards Bai Zhengyi and Zhao Qiankun. For their selfish interests, they would sacrifice so many survivors, a crime deserving of the harshest punishment! At that moment, suddenly hundreds of dark shadows rushed toward the direction of the Corpse Hunting Team. These were all Level 2 Speed Zombies, moving incredibly fast; the earth sink couldn¡¯t trap them, and they even avoided the Fireballs, Ice Knives, and Wind Blades. As the Speed Zombies were about to close in, Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye waved their hands, and hundreds of Flying Knives appeared out of thin air, shooting rapidly towards the oncoming zombies! Bai Zhengli was no longer hiding his Third-level Superpower User strength, and Bai Ye did the same. With this action, they instantly wiped out the hundred Level 2 Zombies. To become the leaders of the whole team, they had to demonstrate overwhelming power! Only this would ensure these Corpse Hunters were fortunate enough not to cause any trouble on the way. Even though the Zombie Group was ten times the size of the Corpse Hunters, zombies lacked human intelligence. Even with Advanced Leaders in control, they couldn¡¯t coordinate as perfectly as humans. After Bai Ye sent out those Flying Knives, he rode on Bai Er into the midst of the Zombie Group, with Fang Yuxin similarly riding on Angela, following behind him. Although Qu Qianhe had Hong Lie, as a Fire Ability User, she didn¡¯t engage in close combat with the Zombie Group like Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. Instead, she rode on Hong Lie around the perimeter of the Zombie Group, continuously firing flames from her hands. Because Wood Element Superpower Users were special and precious, they usually didn¡¯t need to fight and were kept protected at the Base, acting as Doctors to heal others. Therefore, for the delicate Fang Yuxin, everyone assumed that even if she had come along, she would stay protected in the rear, ready to heal the wounded when necessary. So when Fang Yuxin made the palm-sized Angela transform back to its original form, rode on its back, and, brandishing a long Blade, followed Bai Ye into the Zombie Group, everyone was so shocked their eyeballs nearly popped out. They truly thought Fang Yuxin had gone mad! But then, they saw Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye dart into the Zombie Group, swinging their blades non-stop, and in a blink of an eye, they had knocked down a large number, cutting the Zombie Group to pieces. Some thought they were seeing things and couldn¡¯t help rubbing their eyes, even pinching themselves hard enough to wince in pain. Finally, they understood why Fang Yuxin insisted on going on the mission¡ªshe was not a delicate Wood Element Superpower User but a human-shaped killing machine! Still, some were suspicious. Fang Yuxin was clearly a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, so how could she be so powerful? Could it be that she hadn¡¯t just Awakened the Wood Ability, but also a Power Superpower? However, these were after all well-trained individuals. Surprised as they might be, their attacks didn¡¯t cease for a moment. Through their combined efforts, it didn¡¯t take long to wipe out the entire Zombie Group. About a thousand meters behind them, Zhao Qiankun sat on the roof of a truck, observing the battle ahead through his binoculars, his complexion dark and heavy. Fang Yuxin suddenly turned around, looking in the direction of Zhao Qiankun. Though separated by a thousand meters, with no obstructions in between, she could clearly see the convoy behind and Zhao Qiankun¡¯s grim face on the roof of the truck! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter __auto__ 639 - __auto__ 639: 345 reasons Chapter 639: 345 reasons Through the lens of his telescope, Zhao Qiankun watched Fang Yuxin, who was riding on Angela¡¯s back from afar. In her right hand, she held a long sword with a blade that was very long, showing a deep blood-red color. The blade was double-edged with long blood grooves running along it. With just one glance, Zhao knew that this sword was anything but ordinary and that it was definitely an instrument of great evil! Zhao Qiankun couldn¡¯t help but wonder, how did Fang Yuxin come to possess such a thing? Could it be an ancient sword? Indeed, there was a sense of antiquity to it as if it were a relic. He watched Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye as they fought together among the zombies. They seemed fearless in the face of death, and those horrifying zombies were powerless against her, cut down as easily as if she were slicing vegetables. Zhao Qiankun felt bitter inside. He was quite chauvinistic and had always preferred gentle and kind women. The reason he fell for Fang Yuxin in the first place, and couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her, was because he thought she was both gentle and kind. Plus, she was exceptionally beautiful, fulfilling all his fantasies about women. So when Fang Yuxin insisted on joining this deadly mission, he thought she was being ridiculously reckless, not taking her own life seriously. What made him even angrier was that she did it all for Bai Ye! He had loved her for so many years, longing for her constantly, yet she was willing to die for Bai Ye! How could he not be furious? But what he had never anticipated was seeing such a scene when he caught up from behind! The delicate Fang Yuxin he knew possessed such capability! Wasn¡¯t she a Wood Element Level 2 Superpower User? Could it be that she also awakened a Power Superpower? Zhao Qiankun was filled with doubt, and alongside the doubt, a sense of betrayal and anger! Especially when he saw Fang Yuxin riding side by side with Bai Ye, the rage in his heart almost burned away all his reason! He glared ahead with a dark expression, looking at Bai Ye perched atop Bai Er, wishing he could slay him with his own hands! Fang Yuxin was stunningly beautiful, and Bai Ye was equally striking. Angela was noble and beautiful, and Bai Er was mighty and imposing. When Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye rode side by side on their Mutant Beasts, they looked so harmonious that they seemed a match made in heaven. This image pierced deeply into Zhao Qiankun¡¯s eyes. His gaze was so intense; the murderous intent in his eyes was almost palpable, impossible to ignore even for the most obtuse, let alone the keenly perceptive Bai Ye. He, too, watched Zhao Qiankun from afar with an expressionless face, betraying neither joy nor anger. Still, Fang Yuxin just knew that Bai Ye was furious, probably to the point of being incandescent, hence the lack of any visible signs. Fang Yuxin cast a worried glance at him and whispered a caution, ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive.¡± They had their suspicions about Zhao Qiankun, but they couldn¡¯t be sure what ace he held up his sleeve. Judging by the aura Zhao displayed, his strength seemed on par with a Level 4 Superpower User. Add to that his mysterious trump card, and they were uncertain whether they could kill him together. The death of Zhao Qiankun wouldn¡¯t mean much, but he was in control of the entire Qiankun Mercenary Group, and many followed his commands without question. Even if Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye could indeed kill him, acting rashly would only provoke resentment among these individuals! With the Six Major Forces each governing themselves within Beishi Base, and countless smaller factions with big ambitions underneath, not to mention Bai Zhengyi lurking with intent, killing Zhao Qiankun could throw the entire Beishi Base into chaos, leading to untold casualties! Besides, they weren¡¯t even sure they could kill Zhao Qiankun. Acting now, if they failed to kill him, they would not only raise the alarm unnecessarily but also end up at a disadvantage while drawing the ire of the Qiankun Mercenary Corps and giving Bai Zhengyi, the hypocrite, an opportunity to benefit. Thus, Fang Yuxin urged Bai Ye to stay calm, fearing he would suddenly start a fight with Zhao Qiankun. Bai Ye was angry, both because Zhao Qiankun and Bai Zhengyi were willing to sacrifice so many lives for their own selfish reasons, and because Zhao Qiankun deliberately used such drugs to frame them while harboring improper thoughts towards Fang Yuxin¡ªa scumbag through and through! However, Bai Ye was not one to act rashly. With just a reminder from Fang Yuxin, he quickly regained his composure and then, pretending nothing had happened, called out to Zhao Qiankun across the distance, ¡°Mr. Zhao! Since you¡¯re here, why not join us!¡± It was clear he was trying to drag Zhao Qiankun into the fray. Chapter __auto__ 640: 345 reasons_2__auto__ Chapter 640: 345 reasons_2 Zhao Qiankun, however, wasn¡¯t fooled at all; because of the distance, he could not confirm whether Bai Ye and his group had used all the antidotes. He just raised his voice and said, ¡°You go ahead to Luyun County and make a probing attack. We will support you from behind.¡± He didn¡¯t use a megaphone, but as an Advanced superpower user, his voice carried far and was very clear, as if he were right next to them. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin exchanged a glance, their expressions shifting slightly. Zhao Qiankun¡¯s deliberate move was clearly a display of strength¡ªwarning them not to try any tricks! And upon closer inspection, one could see that the troops Zhao Qiankun had brought with him were blocking their retreat. Those men also held submachine guns¡ªshould they refuse to attack Luyun County, those gun barrels would likely turn towards them! After an exchange of looks among several leaders, Bai Zhengli finally said, ¡°Let¡¯s move forward first and look for an opportunity to leave.¡± Ma Tao glared in the direction Zhao Qiankun had taken, his eyes almost spitting fire. He was impulsive but not a fool. There was something wrong with the antidote¡ªZhao Qiankun made them spray it on themselves, saying it would mask the scent of living humans and slow down the zombies¡¯ movements. It was clearly an attempt to send them to their deaths! Ma Tao¡¯s impulsive nature was on full display as he glared at Zhao Qiankun, wishing he could rush over and beat him up, demanding to know why he would do such a thing. Were the lives of the people here worthless? Were they meant to be sent to die for nothing? Cao Kun forcibly grabbed his arm, glanced at the distant team, and pulled Ma Tao to where Bai Zhengli was, and outright asked, ¡°Captain Bai, you called us for a meeting earlier. You must have known all about this, right? Since things have come to this point, if Captain Bai knows anything, or has any ideas, just say it. We have almost five thousand people here; we have to find a way to survive.¡± He was astute and put two and two together: the circumstances of the Bai Family, how Fang Yuxin had refused Zhao Qiankun¡¯s attempts to retain her multiple times, and then how Fang Yuxin was the first to detect something amiss, warning them to be careful. He guessed that Bai Zhengli and Fang Yuxin must know something, and very likely, they never planned to return this time! If that was the case, they must have a way to leave. The question was, how much gasoline did they have on hand? With so many people here, they couldn¡¯t think of leaving the Beishi Base without enough fuel! The reason the Six Major Forces within the Beishi Base had grown to their current extent was because at the very beginning of the apocalypse, they had gone to great lengths to control vast amounts of gasoline and other essential supplies. Nowadays, Beishi Base instituted a rationing system for gasoline, and the price was extremely high, so many Corpse Hunters had to give up more comfortable sedans in favor of cramming together into trucks of various sizes to save as much fuel as possible. Since Luyun County was close by, they hadn¡¯t loaded much gasoline for this task. The Base enforced a strict rationing policy on gasoline and diesel¡ªthose who went out on missions received only what was deemed necessary for the trip, with no excess fuel given. Cao Kun had never thought much of this before; after all, resources such as gasoline and diesel were crucially important; and, since they were constantly dwindling, it made sense to use them sparingly. However, now that he thought about it, he realized that the Base¡¯s actions were probably also a preventative measure against people leaving. Beishi Base had a large population, but the number of elite combatants was limited; most of the others were Ordinary People, or either low-strength or non-combat superpower users. Outside the Base, countless zombies lay in wait. To protect the security of the entire Base and eliminate the zombies outside, maintaining the number of combatants inside the Base was essential. If non-combatants left, it would be one thing, but the departure of a large number of fighters would be a colossal loss or even a disaster for the entire Beishi Base! The other leaders weren¡¯t fools either, and upon Cao Kun¡¯s questioning, they too started to think of some issues. Now, Zhao Qiankun was obviously forcing them into a death trap. Even if they miraculously survived the zombies, those behind them would never allow them to return alive to the Base! It was better to think of a way to leave Beishi Base than to be sent to death. However, they had stayed in Beishi Base for a long time, getting used to the relatively safe and ordered life here. They had contributed to the Base¡¯s development to its current size, personally witnessing its transformation¡ªemotional attachments had formed, and they considered it their home. Leaving would be a tough decision, and some harbored a faint hope, hesitantly asking, ¡°Could it be a misunderstanding? Maybe there was a mistake with those antidotes? We have almost five thousand people here, and a good portion belongs to the Qiankun Mercenary Corps; he can¡¯t really be wanting to kill his own people, right?¡± The speaker was the leader of a large Corpse Hunting Team. He wasn¡¯t a fool who couldn¡¯t see the situation for what it was, but he had hope in his heart and didn¡¯t want to leave Beishi Base. Being an outsider, he wasn¡¯t aware of the internal situation within the Qiankun Mercenary Group, but Cao Kun was well aware. With little speculation, he figured out the reason Zhao Qiankun wanted them to die: they weren¡¯t loyal or respectful enough for Zhao Qiankun. Thinking of this sent a chill through his heart. While he himself was more rational and wouldn¡¯t blindly follow anyone, Zhao Qiankun¡¯s dissatisfaction with him, even to the point of plotting his death, left him speechless. Most of his subordinates admired Zhao Qiankun! Even Ma Tao was thoroughly convinced by Zhao Qiankun and had only spoken out of turn because he didn¡¯t think things through¡ª and yet Zhao Qiankun wanted them all dead! Seeing that they hadn¡¯t set out yet, Zhao Qiankun urged them again, ¡°It¡¯s getting late; move out!¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) and vote for it with your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 640: 345 reasons_2 Chapter 640: 345 reasons_2 Zhao Qiankun, however, wasn¡¯t fooled at all; because of the distance, he could not confirm whether Bai Ye and his group had used all the antidotes. He just raised his voice and said, ¡°You go ahead to Luyun County and make a probing attack. We will support you from behind.¡± He didn¡¯t use a megaphone, but as an Advanced superpower user, his voice carried far and was very clear, as if he were right next to them. Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin exchanged a glance, their expressions shifting slightly. Zhao Qiankun¡¯s deliberate move was clearly a display of strength¡ªwarning them not to try any tricks! And upon closer inspection, one could see that the troops Zhao Qiankun had brought with him were blocking their retreat. Those men also held submachine guns¡ªshould they refuse to attack Luyun County, those gun barrels would likely turn towards them! After an exchange of looks among several leaders, Bai Zhengli finally said, ¡°Let¡¯s move forward first and look for an opportunity to leave.¡± Ma Tao glared in the direction Zhao Qiankun had taken, his eyes almost spitting fire. He was impulsive but not a fool. There was something wrong with the antidote¡ªZhao Qiankun made them spray it on themselves, saying it would mask the scent of living humans and slow down the zombies¡¯ movements. It was clearly an attempt to send them to their deaths! Ma Tao¡¯s impulsive nature was on full display as he glared at Zhao Qiankun, wishing he could rush over and beat him up, demanding to know why he would do such a thing. Were the lives of the people here worthless? Were they meant to be sent to die for nothing? Cao Kun forcibly grabbed his arm, glanced at the distant team, and pulled Ma Tao to where Bai Zhengli was, and outright asked, ¡°Captain Bai, you called us for a meeting earlier. You must have known all about this, right? Since things have come to this point, if Captain Bai knows anything, or has any ideas, just say it. We have almost five thousand people here; we have to find a way to survive.¡± He was astute and put two and two together: the circumstances of the Bai Family, how Fang Yuxin had refused Zhao Qiankun¡¯s attempts to retain her multiple times, and then how Fang Yuxin was the first to detect something amiss, warning them to be careful. He guessed that Bai Zhengli and Fang Yuxin must know something, and very likely, they never planned to return this time! If that was the case, they must have a way to leave. The question was, how much gasoline did they have on hand? With so many people here, they couldn¡¯t think of leaving the Beishi Base without enough fuel! The reason the Six Major Forces within the Beishi Base had grown to their current extent was because at the very beginning of the apocalypse, they had gone to great lengths to control vast amounts of gasoline and other essential supplies. Nowadays, Beishi Base instituted a rationing system for gasoline, and the price was extremely high, so many Corpse Hunters had to give up more comfortable sedans in favor of cramming together into trucks of various sizes to save as much fuel as possible. Since Luyun County was close by, they hadn¡¯t loaded much gasoline for this task. The Base enforced a strict rationing policy on gasoline and diesel¡ªthose who went out on missions received only what was deemed necessary for the trip, with no excess fuel given. Cao Kun had never thought much of this before; after all, resources such as gasoline and diesel were crucially important; and, since they were constantly dwindling, it made sense to use them sparingly. However, now that he thought about it, he realized that the Base¡¯s actions were probably also a preventative measure against people leaving. Beishi Base had a large population, but the number of elite combatants was limited; most of the others were Ordinary People, or either low-strength or non-combat superpower users. Outside the Base, countless zombies lay in wait. To protect the security of the entire Base and eliminate the zombies outside, maintaining the number of combatants inside the Base was essential. If non-combatants left, it would be one thing, but the departure of a large number of fighters would be a colossal loss or even a disaster for the entire Beishi Base! The other leaders weren¡¯t fools either, and upon Cao Kun¡¯s questioning, they too started to think of some issues. Now, Zhao Qiankun was obviously forcing them into a death trap. Even if they miraculously survived the zombies, those behind them would never allow them to return alive to the Base! It was better to think of a way to leave Beishi Base than to be sent to death. However, they had stayed in Beishi Base for a long time, getting used to the relatively safe and ordered life here. They had contributed to the Base¡¯s development to its current size, personally witnessing its transformation¡ªemotional attachments had formed, and they considered it their home. Leaving would be a tough decision, and some harbored a faint hope, hesitantly asking, ¡°Could it be a misunderstanding? Maybe there was a mistake with those antidotes? We have almost five thousand people here, and a good portion belongs to the Qiankun Mercenary Corps; he can¡¯t really be wanting to kill his own people, right?¡± The speaker was the leader of a large Corpse Hunting Team. He wasn¡¯t a fool who couldn¡¯t see the situation for what it was, but he had hope in his heart and didn¡¯t want to leave Beishi Base. Being an outsider, he wasn¡¯t aware of the internal situation within the Qiankun Mercenary Group, but Cao Kun was well aware. With little speculation, he figured out the reason Zhao Qiankun wanted them to die: they weren¡¯t loyal or respectful enough for Zhao Qiankun. Thinking of this sent a chill through his heart. While he himself was more rational and wouldn¡¯t blindly follow anyone, Zhao Qiankun¡¯s dissatisfaction with him, even to the point of plotting his death, left him speechless. Most of his subordinates admired Zhao Qiankun! Even Ma Tao was thoroughly convinced by Zhao Qiankun and had only spoken out of turn because he didn¡¯t think things through¡ª and yet Zhao Qiankun wanted them all dead! Seeing that they hadn¡¯t set out yet, Zhao Qiankun urged them again, ¡°It¡¯s getting late; move out!¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) and vote for it with your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 641: 346 Adapt to the situation Chapter 641: 346 Adapt to the situation Beishi Base was close to Luyun County. Therefore, the road from the base to Luyun County, aside from the lane that only allowed two trucks to pass side by side, had various pits dug alongside it, with landmines buried within. Neither humans nor zombies could pass through them; they could only use the road surface. Now, their only escape route was blocked by Zhao Qiankun and Bai Yi, who had brought a convoy. They also brought the elite of both the Qiankun Mercenary Corps and the White Wolf Mercenary Corps, who were well-equipped. Once a fight broke out, Bai Ye and his group would definitely be at a disadvantage. Thus, Bai Ye and Bai Zhengli decided to take a risk and keep moving forward in search of a way out. They had previously studied the route from the base to Luyun County and discovered that only half of the route had pits dug; the other half was left intact due to its proximity to Luyun County, where too many zombies roamed, making it too dangerous to approach. They could leave from a side road. Of course, this path was fraught with danger, and they were likely to encounter a large zombie group. With a prompt from Zhao Qiankun, his subordinates suddenly raised their submachine guns, pointing the dark muzzles at Bai Ye and the others, the warning clear. At this moment, no one dared to hold on to the slightest hope of luck, and everyone turned pale. Cao Kun whispered to Bai Zhengli, ¡°Captain Bai, given the dire situation, I wonder how much gasoline you have prepared. Will it be enough?¡± Bai Zhengli glanced at Zhao Qiankun in the distance, nodded slightly toward him, and also lowered his voice, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we have enough fuel. Get on the bus first, and we¡¯ll talk on the bus.¡± Cao Kun understood his meaning; if they did not get moving, they might agitate Zhao Qiankun. If that man ordered to fire, not only would they be caught off guard, but the situation would also spiral out of control. By then, it would be hard to know how many would perish. Although Cao Kun was dissatisfied with Zhao Qiankun¡¯s actions, he did not want to involve other innocent people either. Thus, he nodded, leading his people onto the bus. At the same time, the other leaders exchanged glances, clearly understanding that Zhao Qiankun was forcing them into a deadly trap. If they wanted to survive, they might have to rely on Bai Zhengli, a third-level superpower user. The zombies they had hunted earlier had already been extracted of their crystal cores, and the bodies had been disposed of cleanly. Once they boarded the bus, they drove forward. As there was only a two-kilometer distance left to Luyun County, everyone dared not drive too fast, fearing they might get caught in a zombie group there and be unable to escape. All along the way, the leaders communicated via communicators. Since the distance from Beishi Base was not very far, the signals could fully cover, making communication not a problem. Zhao Qiankun followed from a distance. When he saw Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye both sit in the car, he no longer stayed on the roof of his vehicle but agilely flipped back into the front passenger seat. The person driving next to him was his confidant, named Yang Bo, who had seen everything play out. While Zhao Qiankun stood on the rooftop holding binoculars, he sat inside, also using the binoculars to watch ahead. The real strength of Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye also greatly surprised him, and he couldn¡¯t help feeling regretful. Fang Yuxin, a second-level Wood Element Superpower User with high combat power, was truly talented, much better than Cheng Lin, who always pretended to be superior. It was indeed a pity not to have him on his side. At the same time, he was also suspicious. These people did not seem very honest, and he did not believe they would obediently go to Luyun County to die! Thus, he turned his head toward Zhao Qiankun and asked with concern, ¡°Big brother, something doesn¡¯t quite add up. It seems Bai Zhengli and the others had already made plans. Moreover, Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, these two, have actually concealed their strength. Our plan might not go smoothly.¡± Actually, he did not agree with Zhao Qiankun¡¯s approach. To eliminate a few people, sending so many to their death seemed excessive; Zhao Qiankun was perhaps too narrow-minded! But he was just an assistant, and with Zhao Qiankun¡¯s mind made up, he dared not meddle too much. Otherwise, given Zhao Qiankun¡¯s suspicious nature, he might well be the next to die! Zhao Qiankun¡¯s face darkened, his eyes fixed straight ahead, his thoughts unknown. After a moment of silence following Yang Bo¡¯s words, Zhao Qiankun scoffed, ¡°These people have no gasoline; their vehicles won¡¯t get far, absolutely nowhere to fly! I really want to see how they manage to escape!¡± Chapter 642: 346 Act in accordance with the scheme_2 Chapter 642: 346 Act in accordance with the scheme_2 Yang Bo felt Zhao Qiankun was too confident, but he was smart enough not to say anything and just focused on driving. To avoid attracting the attention of a zombie horde, they didn¡¯t drive too close but followed from a distance. While they were talking, another group of zombies appeared ahead, numbering around fifty to sixty thousand. In comparison to the entire horde in Luyun County, this was considered a small group. Everyone cooperated tacitly and it took them less than twenty minutes to deal with all of them, digging out each crystal core and even burning the zombie corpses until nothing was left. Once back on the road, after Fang Yuxin returned to the car, Bai Ye¡¯s voice came through the communicator, ¡°There¡¯s a fork in the road about a hundred meters ahead, we¡¯ll take that route. Inform everyone to get ready.¡± Fang Yuxin responded and then hung up the call, turning to Fang Yuyang to say, ¡°Brother, contact Chen Qiao and the others, I¡¯ll check out the situation ahead.¡± It was clear that Zhao Qiankun wouldn¡¯t just let them take a detour without preparation, unless they could find a way to delay Zhao Qiankun¡¯s pursuit! After finishing her statement, Fang Yuxin took out a spray bottle filled with chemicals from under the seat. She had got the bottle from someone in the Qiankun Mercenary Group during the chaos. They seemed hesitant at first but perhaps out of respect for her status as a second-level Wood Element Superpower User, they gave it to her after a moment¡¯s hesitation. She opened the lid and sent her Spiritual Sense into the bottle to wrap around a rice grain-sized amount of the chemical, then extended her Spiritual Sense as low as possible to check the situation ahead. Since they were now quite close to Luyun County, Fang Yuxin saw many zombie groups wandering around. She deliberately used her Spiritual Sense to carry the droplet of chemical into the midst of the zombies, drawing them towards it. Meanwhile, other leaders who got the message ordered their people to speed up and drive their vehicles to the fork in the road as soon as possible to avoid getting blocked by the zombie horde. Just as they were about to reach the fork, a horde of zombies insanely charged towards them from a distance! Bai Zhengli quickly commanded, ¡°Turn onto the fork road!¡± As he spoke, the driver swiftly turned the vehicle towards the fork. Zhao Qiankun, watching from behind, was furious, ¡°They¡¯re actually trying to escape! Chase after them!¡± At the same time, Bai Zhengli was also giving orders, instructing his people to throw the problematic spray bottles onto the road behind them and smash them, using the chemicals inside to attract the zombie horde¡¯s attention. Everyone else immediately followed suit! It had to be said, the effect of the chemicals was remarkably good! The zombies that were chasing them stopped in their tracks, greedily licking the chemicals spilled on the ground, and even started to fight over it! The road was already narrow, and now it was blocked by a zombie horde, leaving Zhao Qiankun no way to chase after them! To make matters worse, the other forks in the road were destroyed, so Zhao Qiankun¡¯s only choice to chase Bai Zhengli and the others was through this route! Fang Yuxin had anticipated this, so she deliberately attracted hundreds of thousands of zombies this time to block Zhao Qiankun! This move was quite risky, as it was impossible to tell how long the zombies would remain frenzied. If the zombies caught up, they would be in danger. Moreover, the fork in the road was very close to Luyun County, and it was highly likely that there were zombie groups wandering on that road too. If they didn¡¯t deal with them promptly and were cornered, they could be chased down by either the zombies or Zhao Qiankun! Sure enough, it wasn¡¯t long before they encountered another zombie group, numbering seventy to eighty thousand. This time, Bai Ye and the Fang Family did not hold back. Qu Qianhe used ¡°Starfire¡± and killed several thousand zombies in one go, shocking everyone else! Fang Yuyang¡¯s Wind Blade was even more formidable. He had achieved Foundation Establishment and his power was on par with a Level 4 Superpower User. With a single wave of his arm, he released a flurry of wind blades, wiping out tens of thousands of zombies in an instant. Added to that were Fang Yuxin¡¯s ¡°Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers¡± and Fang Jintang¡¯s ¡°Earth-shattering.¡± By the time the others snapped out of their shock, they found that all the zombies in front of them had been wiped clean! The entire process took less than three minutes! It was an utterly terrifying display of power. Many there knew of the troubles between the Qu Family and the Fang Family, and even due to the commotion caused by Qu Qianlin and Lu Weiwei, they also knew about Qu Qianhe being Qu Xiuhong¡¯s eldest daughter who refused to return to the Qu Family. They instantly felt sympathy for the Qu Family¡ªhow blind could they be to mistake such a tiger for a mere kitten! Once the crystal cores were collected, Qu Qianhe casually set fire to the zombie corpses. Burning the corpses took time, and while waiting, Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye personally distributed the barrels of gasoline and diesel, urging everyone to refuel quickly. They had to get back on the road urgently! Those people weren¡¯t fools; they clearly understood that any further delay meant either the zombie horde or Zhao Qiankun would catch up. So, they acted swiftly. The gasoline and diesel had all been hidden in Bai Ye¡¯s vehicle by Fang Yuxin amidst the chaos. As her moves were too fast, no one else realized it, assuming it was something Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye had prepared in advance. As for how they managed to avoid the Base¡¯s inspection and hid this batch of fuel, people were curious but not foolish enough to ask. With space superpower users now emerging, though they were shrouded in secrecy, almost like a name without a face, everyone speculated that Bai Ye and Bai Zhengli must have a highly concealed space superpower user working for them. But after witnessing Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye¡¯s power, no one dared guess who that person might be. Fang Yuxin had only brought out a limited amount of gasoline and diesel. After all, it was a scarce resource and she wasn¡¯t sure if anyone would desert with it, potentially wasting her fuel. Seeing that everyone was ready, Fang Jintang used ¡°Earth-shattering¡± once more, shaking the still-burning zombies off the roadway. Then, everyone continued on their journey! (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 643: 347 new goals Chapter 643: 347 new goals Fang Yuxin and her group were fortunate; after they had eliminated the zombie group, their delay due to refueling meant that neither Zhao Qiankun¡¯s men nor the zombie horde numbering in the tens of thousands had managed to catch up. Or rather, it wasn¡¯t so much about luck as it was about Fang Yuxin and the others¡¯ overwhelming strength, which allowed them to annihilate the zombies blocking their path in an extremely short period of time. At the same time, both Zhao Qiankun and Bai Yi were too full of themselves. This time, it wasn¡¯t only Zhao Qiankun¡¯s elite forces and Bai Yi with his men who had blocked Fang Yuxin¡¯s way; both Zhao Qiankun and Bai Zhengyi were unwilling to suffer losses, so this time both sides had dispatched manpower. However, Bai Zhengyi had not come; it was Bai Yi who was there. Bai Yi wasn¡¯t as high-profile as Zhao Qiankun and also feared being ambushed, so he stayed inside a vehicle, coldly observing everything. Later, when Zhao Qiankun was provoked by Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye and shouted a warning for them to continue on their way, Bai Yi cunningly kept silent. After all, their actions were far too despicable; if word got out, they were bound to be criticized. Since Zhao Qiankun was willing to take the lead in this thankless task, why should he compete with Zhao Qiankun? However, when Bai Zhengli suddenly turned around and took a detour, and they were blocked by zombies as planned, Bai Yi¡¯s face turned extremely ugly! He witnessed Bai Zhengli¡¯s convoy throwing out some spray bottles, then saw the bottles sliced open by a Wind Blade, spilling out a pale pink liquid, and immediately afterward, the zombies started going crazy. Rather than chasing humans, they frenziedly fought over the pale pink liquid on the ground! Bai Yi was no fool; it was only because of his relation to Bai Ye that he had lost his sense and became prone to impulsiveness. After being admonished by Bai Zhengyi, he had improved a lot. Watching the liquid that could send zombies into a frenzy from a distance, a strong sense of fear dawned on him! How could Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye possess such a horrifying thing? No! That¡¯s not right! Those spray bottles were clearly thrown from the Qiankun Mercenary Group¡¯s trucks! That meant the pale pink Mysterious Liquid must have been developed by the researchers under Zhao Qiankun! He was filled with apprehension, so much so that he didn¡¯t even bother to chase after the fleeing Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye; his mind was preoccupied with a single thought¡ªif such liquid were to be spilled among his troops, wouldn¡¯t the zombies crazily attack them? How much more of this liquid did Zhao Qiankun have? If he hadn¡¯t discovered it this time, was Zhao Qiankun planning to keep it secret all along, using it as a secret weapon? Bai Yi didn¡¯t know that what he was guessing was precisely what Zhao Qiankun was thinking! Zhao Qiankun had originally planned that once those bottles were emptied onto the escaping humans, it would inevitably attract a frenzied attack from the zombie group. If he could destroy the spray bottles and bodies while the chaos ensued, he would be able to erase all traces completely. Even if Bai Yi followed, he wouldn¡¯t find out anything! But what he hadn¡¯t anticipated was that Fang Yuxin would destroy his perfect plan, with Bai Zhengli even coming up with the idea to use the liquid he had provided to attract the zombies¡¯ attention, block their path, and escape in the confusion! Zhao Qiankun, looking at the chaotic mass of zombies ahead, was on the verge of exploding in anger! Because there were so many zombies, the entire road was blocked, and to get through, the zombies had to be eliminated! He was furiously relentless, for he had thought that, even if Bai Ye and the others, with only four or five thousand people, managed to escape, they would still be blocked by the zombie group on the road. As long as he dealt with the zombies here quickly, he was sure to catch up to Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin! Bai Yi had a similar thought, yet when the two of them cleared the zombie group blocking the road and pursued with their men, they found that Bai Ye and the others were nowhere to be seen! With Beishi City¡¯s complex road network, it was impossible to chase someone without knowing which road they had taken! Neither Zhao Qiankun nor Bai Yi had considered that Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye would lead their people straight out of Beishi City. Their only worry was that Bai Ye and the others would return to the Base and make this matter public. By then, the reputation of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps and the Qiankun Mercenary Group would be ruined, which would surely affect the standing of both Mercenary Corps at the Beishi Base! So, they didn¡¯t chase out of Beishi City, but instead turned toward the direction of the Base. At the same time, they contacted more trusted associates via their Communicators, demanding that they block all the entrances to Beishi Base ahead and must not allow Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye to return to the Base! Chapter 644: 347 new goals_2 Chapter 644: 347 new goals_2 Throughout the journey, they hadn¡¯t spotted any trace of Bai Zhengli and his group, but they did encounter other Corpse Hunting Teams hunting nearby. Initially, Zhao Qiankun and Bai Yi thought that Bai Ye and his team had dispersed and blended into these Corpse Hunting Teams, so they kept a vigilant watch on them and even made up excuses to send people to inquire. Those inquiries left the Corpse Hunting Teams all the more jittery, but Zhao Qiankun and Bai Yi still couldn¡¯t find Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye, as if they had vanished into thin air¡ªit was truly bizarre! In the blink of an eye, two hours had passed. During this time, the two continuously used communicators to contact their trusted men stationed at various checkpoints, but alas, there was still no sign of Bai Ye and the others. Finally, Yang Bo speculated, ¡°Brother, do you think... Bai Zhengli and Cao Kun might have left Beishi City?¡± ¡°Left?¡± Zhao Qiankun¡¯s face changed as he turned to look at Yang Bo. ¡°Why would you think that?¡± Yang Bo noticed Zhao Qiankun seemed to care a lot about this matter. He guessed Zhao Qiankun might still have feelings for Fang Yuxin but dared not voice out his guess and merely said, ¡°With the powerful presence of the White Wolf Mercenary Corps and Qiankun Mercenary Group at Beishi Base, even if Bai Zhengli and his men managed to evade the blockade and return alive to Beishi Base, revealing the truth would hardly impact our forces. We could simply accuse them of defamation! With their numbers, they can¡¯t shake the two major Mercenary Corps, White Wolf and Qian Kun. Instead, it would ruin their reputation and might even bring disaster upon them. Instead of that, it¡¯s better to leave Beishi City and go to another base. With their numbers and strength, if they go to a small or medium base, they could quickly establish a foothold, which would be more comfortable than staying at Beishi Base. Bai Zhengli is no fool; he wouldn¡¯t walk into a trap with his eyes open.¡± After Yang Bo finished speaking, he looked at Zhao Qiankun and saw his sullen expression, not speaking a word, and his face looked terrifyingly somber, especially those eyes which seemed ready to devour someone! Just when Yang Bo was feeling uneasy, he suddenly heard Zhao Qiankun whisper in a low voice, ¡°So you mean... she planned it all along? No wonder she wouldn¡¯t give up on this mission!¡± He then scoffed coldly, but his expression grew even darker. Yang Bo looked at him and suddenly felt that Zhao Qiankun seemed very heartbroken. Not knowing Zhao Qiankun¡¯s past, he couldn¡¯t understand why he cared so much for a woman he had only met twice. Seeing Zhao Qiankun¡¯s expression and thinking about how he pampered the women around him, Yang Bo found it extremely ironic! Zhao Qiankun, unaware of Yang Bo¡¯s thoughts, felt betrayed! He adored Fang Yuxin so much, yet she treated his affections like trash, steadfastly following Bai Ye, even deliberately hiding her true abilities! What did she really think of him? Driven by emotion, Zhao Qiankun ordered Yang Bo, ¡°Turn around, we must chase them down! We can¡¯t let them just escape!¡± Upon hearing this, Yang Bo almost choked! Chase? At this point, how could they pursue? If Bai Zhengli had truly taken his men and left Beishi City, they might already be beyond the city limits by now. How could they possibly catch up? Growing more dissatisfied with Zhao Qiankun but not daring to show it, Yang Bo reminded him, ¡°Brother, they¡¯re probably already out of Beishi City by now. We¡¯ve delayed too much and can¡¯t catch up anymore.¡± Saying this and seeing that Zhao Qiankun still seemed reluctant to give up, Yang Bo continued, ¡°Brother, the bigger picture is more important! Back then, Bai Zhengli and his people used the A-1 agent to attract the Zombie Group, and Bai Yi and his men must have seen it. Bai Yi isn¡¯t a fool, he might guess something, and with Bai Zhengyi being always cunning, we¡¯d better return to the base as soon as possible, lest Bai Zhengyi catches us off-guard!¡± ¡°He dares!¡± Zhao Qiankun shouted angrily, his chest heaving violently, clearly very upset. However, although his face was tight, he no longer insisted, hesitated for a long while, and finally clenched his teeth and nodded, ¡°Fine! Let¡¯s do as you say!¡± After saying this, he turned his head to look out the window, and for an instant, his expression was incredibly lonely. Yang Bo, relieved that he had finally come to his senses, said nothing, just silently drove back to Beishi Base. Meanwhile, Bai Zhengli and his group were almost at the edge of Beishi City. They planned to head toward the Northeast, where the land was vast and sparsely populated with plenty of arable land¡ªafter arriving there, they wouldn¡¯t need to worry about zombies or food! The group had been worried about being caught by Zhao Qiankun and Bai Yi¡¯s men, but as it turned out, while they encountered several Zombie Groups later on, there were no pursuers, which was quite surprising! Later, Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye guessed that Zhao Qiankun and Bai Yi might be worried they would return to Beishi Base and reveal the true situation, so they had headed to the exits around the base instead, which is why they hadn¡¯t caught up. This guess made Fang Yuxin utterly frustrated. What was this? Judging others by one¡¯s own measure? If Zhao Qiankun and Bai Yi really thought that way, it was a severe underestimate of them! Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye were no fools. Even if they returned to Beishi Base and revealed the truth, who would believe them? Once chaos ensued, who knew how many would die! Besides, Beishi Base wasn¡¯t necessarily a safe place, especially in these apocalyptic times¡ª surviving was the most crucial thing! Rather than staying at the small Beishi Base, it was better to venture to broader horizons! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it by giving a monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 645: 348 Hope Battle Group! Chapter 645: 348 Hope Battle Group! Bai Zhengli planned to go directly to Northeast Dragon Province, but Beishi City was not close to Long Province, and on the way, they had to pass through quite a few cities. Unfortunately, anything could happen during the journey. Even more crucial was that no one knew what the others intended to do. Without clarifying this issue, their team could easily fall apart! Thus, after leaving Beishi City, Bai Zhengli found a deserted stretch of road for everyone to park and planned to discuss things properly with the other leaders. If others had different ideas, it would be best for everyone to go their separate ways. Originally, Bai Zhengli had expected many would leave, but to his surprise, they all expressed their intentions to accompany him to Long Province. Initially, he was puzzled, but upon reflection, he understood their plans. The Northeast was sparsely populated, and Long Province was an agricultural heavyweight; as long as they migrated there, their situation was bound to be much better! Certainly better than staying in smaller cities with high populations and little farming land. Everyone was not a fool¡ªthey naturally gravitated toward where survival was possible and where life could be better. In the past, they were helpless; even if they had the will, without gasoline or diesel, it was all in vain, and road safety was also an issue. But now, with a team of four to five thousand people, as long as they could ensure a supply of gasoline, what else was there to worry about? As for food and water, that wasn¡¯t a problem either. Driving to Long Province, barring any accidents, they could arrive in a day; even if there were delays, they should be able to get there in two or three days at most, so food wasn¡¯t a concern. Drinking water could be solved by Water Element Superpower Users. Furthermore, the spaces of Fang Yuxin and Shang Jinxiu were stocked with a large amount of food! When Bai Zhengli called a meeting, he specifically invited Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang due to their impressive performance. They were the main and deputy leaders of the Yongcheng Team. Although the Yongcheng Team was small, with only eighteen people and nearly a third with little combat power, anyone who had witnessed the prowess of the Fang Family would not dare to underestimate this small squad! Fang Yuxin had remained silent until the leaders of the other teams had expressed their willingness to head to Long Province. She suddenly spoke up, ¡°Since we¡¯re going together, why not form a mercenary corps? That way, we¡¯ll all be one family.¡± As she said this, her gaze swept across the faces of the other leaders, observing their reactions. Fang Yuxin, although having a lot of food, didn¡¯t intend to support others for free! Especially since they were still unclear about the current situation in Long Province. It was better to unite people¡¯s hearts during this time than to fatten them up for independence. Only if everyone stood united could they avoid various frictions along the way. Her proposal made many hesitate. Back at Beishi Base, they were under several layers of pressure, and even if they had ambitions, they couldn¡¯t realize them and could only work for others. But now the situation was different; they had left Beishi Base and the mountains weighing down on them were gone. With such a vast area in the Northeast, they could just as well establish their own Safe Zone; was there any need to remain subordinate to others? Of course, there was! That was the thought shared by everyone. Those who were sent out on these suicidal tasks were at most Second-level Superpower Users, with the majority being Level 1. However, the Bai Family and the four members of the Fang Family were at least Level 3 Superpower Users! The Northeast might be vast and sparsely populated, but without the protection of the powerful, these Level 1 and Second-level Superpower Users could not even be sure of arriving safely, let alone deal with the local powers! After all, the Northeast had a population of more than thirty million. Even though the apocalypse had taken many lives, the survivors were still not a small number. There would definitely be established Safe Zones, and unless these outsiders had substantial strength, they wouldn¡¯t have an advantage there! Moreover, they didn¡¯t have gasoline or diesel! Everyone understood the logic of cuddling up to the big tree for shade, so after a brief hesitation, the leaders agreed to the idea. This outcome was within Bai Zhengli¡¯s expectations. He wore a faint smile, seemingly quite content with the result, and even suggested, ¡°Since we¡¯re establishing a Mercenary Corps, does anyone have any ideas about a name for the Battle Group?¡± Chapter 646: 348 Hope Battle Group!_2 Chapter 646: 348 Hope Battle Group!_2 He asked, and the leaders exchanged glances, hesitating, not knowing how to begin. It was Bai Ye who took the initiative, ¡°Now is the apocalypse, I believe everyone must hold onto hope, the hope to end the apocalypse, to return to peace. So I suggest, why not call it Hope Team, we¡¯re all fighting for the hope in our hearts!¡± His words were impactful, and the proposed name pleased everyone; thus, no one objected, not even Fang Yuxin or Fang Yuyang. Originally, when they chose the name ¡°Yongcheng,¡± their intention was to hope for eternal brightness, but since getting to know the Qu Family, especially Qu Qiancheng, the siblings could hardly face the character for ¡°Cheng¡± anymore. Bai Ye¡¯s suggested name, on the other hand, was quite good: simple and easy to understand. Consequently, the name of the Mercenary Corps was settled as ¡°Hope Battle Group.¡± Afterwards, Bai Ye continued without any courtesy, ¡°Now that the Mercenary Corps has a name, let¡¯s select the squad leaders and the deputies next, and at the same time, establish the rules of the Mercenary Corps. I propose that my father, Bai Zhengli, take the position of squad leader. What do you think?¡± His tone was blunt, yet the others were in no position to reject his proposal. Their agreement to form a Mercenary Corps was based on the formidable strength of the Bai Family and the Fang Family; thus, they had no objections to Bai Ye¡¯s suggestion. Here, the strongest forces apart from the Bai father and son were the four members of the Fang Family. The Bai father and son commanded over a thousand people; it was clear that none of those present could vie for the squad leader position! Cao Kun was the first to speak, ¡°I have no objections. With Mr. Bai¡¯s strength and track record, he is indeed qualified to be the squad leader.¡± As he said this, he paused for a moment, quickly glanced at Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, and continued, ¡°Additionally, I have a deputy squad leader candidate in mind. I think Mr. Fang Jintang would be very suitable for the position.¡± He did not suggest Fang Yuyang or Fang Yuxin, especially with Fang Jintang present, who was also the head of the Fang Group, making him exceedingly suitable for the role of deputy. On this trip to Long Province, if they were to establish a Base, they would definitely need sharp business acumen for its management! Furthermore, Fang Jintang was not just a talent in business; he was also a Third-level Superpower User! While the others were somewhat surprised, they all echoed the proposals of Bai Ye and Cao Kun. Although Fang Yuyang was also commendable, he was, after all, the biological son of Fang Jintang, and there was no real difference between the two of them as deputy. As for Fang Yuxin, although she was also very capable, none of the leaders sitting there felt she was suitable for the role of deputy. Bai Zhengli accepted the role of squad leader without demur and agreed to everyone¡¯s proposal to appoint Fang Jintang as deputy. To this, both Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had no objections. Once the squad leader positions were confirmed, the few leaders present couldn¡¯t help but grow tense, wondering what Bai Zhengli would do next. Bai Zhengli saw their concerned looks and spoke with a grave tone, ¡°Now that we have a Mercenary Corps, we need to form Mercenary Teams. We currently have a total of 4781 people; let¡¯s divide the stronger ones into four battle teams and the less powerful ones into a logistics team...¡± Bai Zhengli had much to say next, essentially arranging for his thousand former subordinates to make up the First Battle Team, with Bai Ye as the team leader. The two thousand people from the Qiankun Mercenary Group were divided into the Second and Third Battle Teams, led by Cao Kun and Guan Yue. The other three teams from the White Wolf Mercenary Corps, together with various scattered Corpse Hunting Teams, formed the Fourth Battle Team, with Zhao Biao as the team leader. Guan Yue, like Cao Kun from the Qiankun Mercenary Group, led a team and was nearly on par with Cao Kun, both at the Second-level Middle Stage, and was also rather astute. Zhao Biao, from the White Wolf Mercenary Corps, also led a team. Compared to the other team leaders from the White Wolf Mercenary Corps and those from the scattered Corpse Hunting Teams, his strength was clearly superior, thus rightly earning the position of leader of the Fourth Battle Team. Each battle team was further divided into ten squads, each squad consisting of around one hundred people. Below the squads were teams, each comprising about ten individuals. Those included in the battle teams were naturally skilled, and each leader was fairly familiar with their own teams. They directly picked the slightly weaker ones to join the logistics team, and the team divisions were almost complete. As for the more detailed structure, it was left to the battle team leaders and their squad leaders to figure out. The Fang Family¡¯s Yongcheng Team was all allocated to the logistics team. Although it seemed a waste to have the highly capable Fang Family in the logistics team, they had no interest in the battle teams. Moreover, the logistics team was also critical. As soon as Fang Yuxin made the suggestion, Bai Zhengli immediately agreed and appointed Qu Qianhe as the team leader. Unlike the battle teams, which were divided into several squads, the logistics team was divided into combat, medical, scientific research, food, manufacturing, and cleaning groups. The combat group was responsible for fighting, led by Fang Yuyang, with the Martial Fool, Zhou Han, as the deputy. The medical group, as the name implies, was responsible for medical care, led by Fang Yuxin. The scientific research group¡¯s leader was the renowned botanist Qian Sen, with Li Qingyun also among its ranks. The food group was in charge of providing water and food, led by Shang Jinxiu. The manufacturing group was responsible for producing various items, currently only having a general classification and no suitable members. The cleaning group was tasked with battlefield sanitation, including the cleaning of clothing and food supplies, still only broadly categorized. After all, those here were superpower users, and using them for cleaning seemed like an underuse of their abilities. It would be more sensible to allocate suitable Ordinary People to the cleaning group in the future. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian.com with your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 647: 349 Zombie Bird Group! Chapter 647: 349 Zombie Bird Group! After the battle group was established and the teams were divided, Bai Zhengli summoned the captains of each team. Following a meticulous discussion, a fairly complete set of regulations was drafted. However, since they were on the road, aside from Fang Yuxin and Shang Jinxiu, no one had brought supplies, and under such rudimentary conditions, all of the regulations had to be handwritten. Once every team captain had copied a set, the meeting was considered concluded. Next, everyone reorganized their teams in the shortest time possible. Bai Ye picked out a few Gold Element Superpower Users to modify the trucks. The vehicles they drove over were all heavy and medium-sized trucks with enclosed cargo areas. Originally, the cargo doors were at the back, and could only be opened from the rear, which meant that the ventilation inside the cargo area was quite poor. Bai Ye had been considering this issue for a while and had made plans in his mind. As soon as the teams were divided, he led a group of Gold Element Superpower Users in retrofitting the whole vehicle. They split the middle of the cargo area¡¯s side and added hinges on top, allowing for the side of the cargo hold to be pushed open from the inside to create windows for better ventilation. At the same time, they also installed skylights on both the top of the cargo area and the top of the driver¡¯s cab, allowing for people inside to go out through the skylights for combat. After making these changes, Bai Ye and his team strengthened the entire vehicle body to defend against the violent impacts of the zombies. With these modifications, the windows on both sides could be opened for ventilation while on the road, and also facilitated the observation of the surroundings. At the same time, it prevented the dangerous situation where if the zombies blocked the rear, the people inside the cargo area would not be able to get out. After Bai Ye finished modifying the vehicles, Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin took the lead in distributing gasoline and diesel, ensuring that everyone topped off their tanks. Then, the convoy set off grandly, heading towards Long Province. When they had stopped earlier, the large number of people had attracted several Zombie Groups. Luckily, the road section selected by Bai Zhengli was far from the cities, so the nearby wandering Zombie Groups were not large and did not cause them trouble, as they were easily dealt with. However, not long after they resumed their journey, a sharp cry suddenly came from the sky. Everyone became instantaneously alert and looked up instinctively. That day, they discovered a black dot on the horizon. The black dot grew larger and larger, clearly flying towards them! Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang raised their heads and were surprised to find that the ever-nearing black dot was actually a huge bird! And it looked very familiar, very much like the giant bird that had swooped over their heads when they first left Market Base! If it were just a giant bird, everyone would not have worried too much, for even if the rest were not powerful enough, there were still the Bai Family and Fang Family. Yet, trailing behind that giant bird was a mass of oppressive black clouds! That black cloud was clinging tightly behind the giant bird, issuing sharp cries that were much more grating to the ears! At the same time, a strong stench wafted through the air from afar. Everyone understood instantly that what was following the giant bird was a flock of Zombie Birds! Ever since the last time he saw it, Fang Yuyang had been thinking about getting a Mutated Bird for a pet but had never encountered the right one. So, seeing it now being chased by what was behind it, he couldn¡¯t help but frown, his face even showing a hint of worry. It was at this moment that Bai Zhengli suddenly shouted, ¡°Everyone, close your windows! Stay alert and be ready for combat at any moment!¡± Zombie Birds were different from Mutated Birds; while Mutated Birds usually grew larger, Zombie Birds did not. However, Zombie Birds were more pervasive than Mutated Birds! The ¡°black cloud¡± was massive, with probably no less than a hundred thousand Zombie Birds inside! Their number was frightening! Bird zombies differed from human zombies; although they were small, they had the advantage of flight and were very fast as well! Moreover, their sharp talons and beaks were weapons, and being surrounded by them would lead to a very severe situation! Upon Bai Zhengli¡¯s command, everyone else reacted promptly, shutting their windows tight, and the drivers floored the accelerator, speeding ahead, hoping to shake off the swarm of Zombie Birds. Just then, the giant bird flying at the front seemed to be injured or exhausted and suddenly started to plummet at an angle. At the same time, the Zombie Birds behind it also gave chase. Seeing this, Fang Yuyang suddenly opened the door, climbed onto the roof of the vehicle, and with a stretch of his hand towards the falling giant bird, he muttered ¡°Wind Entanglement¡±. Almost instantly as he spoke, a gust of wind materialized out of nowhere, wrapping itself around the falling giant bird. Chapter 648: 349 Zombie Bird Group!_2 Chapter 648: 349 Zombie Bird Group!_2 Then, Yu Yang reached back and pulled, and the giant bird swiftly flew towards him! Behind it was the relentless pursuit of the Zombie Bird Group! Upon seeing this, Yuxin threw a handful of grass seeds toward the Zombie Bird Group. With over ten thousand seeds, as soon as she tossed them, everyone could see Zombie Birds continually falling from the sky to the ground. They suddenly realized that although Zombie Birds were difficult to handle due to their small size and fast speed, for superpower users like Yuxin and Qianhe who had AOE (Area of Effect) skills, eliminating them was a piece of cake! After Yuxin scattered the seeds, Qianhe¡¯s ¡°Starfire¡± was also ready. Due to the thin skulls of the Zombie Birds, as soon as her ¡°Starfire¡± activated, tens of thousands of Zombie Birds fell down. Seeing this, Yu Yang also waved his hand to release Wind Blades. Therefore, Bai Zhengli did not lead the people to flee anymore but instead decisively ordered the bus to stop. Following that, he shouted, ¡°All Wind Element and Fire Element superpower users prepare! Wind Element users, try to destroy the Zombie Birds¡¯ ability to fly, Fire Element superpower users...¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence when Yu Yang had already raised his hand and thrown a small whirlwind. When thrown, it was no bigger than a palm and looked rather miniature. However, once it was released, the whirlwind rapidly expanded at a visible rate, turning into a massive tornado! The tornado charged directly into the group of Zombie Birds, and with its continuous spinning, the entire ¡°dark cloud¡± was instantly disrupted, and all the Zombie Birds were sucked into the tornado. This tornado was not merely made of wind but was formed by numerous Wind Blades. As it spun, it acted like a giant meat grinder, turning all the Zombie Birds into debris in an instant! Watching this thrilling scene, aside from Ye and the Fang Family, no one else could remain calm, especially the Wind superpower users. Their eyes widened in shock as they looked at Yu Yang as if they were seeing a monster¡ªDamn! Comparison is truly the thief of joy! How are people supposed to live like this! Among them, Guan Yue was the most agitated. He was also a Wind superpower user, and being at the mid-stage of the second-level, he had developed some powerful skills and always thought highly of himself. It wasn¡¯t until he witnessed Yu Yang¡¯s whirlwind that he suddenly realized how vast the gap between himself and Yu Yang was! Guan Yue¡¯s heart was tremendously shaken, and even for a moment, the seed named ¡°jealousy¡± suddenly sprouted in his heart, rapidly growing stronger and increasingly uncontrollable. His eyes were firmly fixed on Yu Yang¡¯s back, unable to divert his gaze. His hostility was almost undisguised, making it impossible for Yu Yang to ignore! He suddenly turned, his gaze coldly fixed on Guan Yue. Guan Yue felt a chill run through his body under that icy stare, but then gradually, he came back to his senses. Realizing Yu Yang¡¯s gaze, he nodded as a form of greeting and then soberly furrowed his brow, bowing his head in contemplation about the previous events. Yu Yang, observing this, no longer kept his gaze on him. He lightly jumped off from under the bus, and then slightly looked up at the giant bird that covered the entire rooftop of the bus. Yu Yang recognized it¡ªit was a very beautiful golden eagle, with black feathers all over, except the edges of its wings and a ring around its neck were golden, splendid and gorgeous. It was very large, with a vast and sharp beak and claws, possessing incredible power. However, at this moment, it had suffered injuries in many places, its feathers were disheveled and even shedding, making it look ragged and pitiful. It crouched on the rooftop, with its massive wings slightly tucked in, twisted its head, and made eye contact with Yu Yang. Yu Yang noticed that around its black pupils, there was a ring of gold, making it look incredibly beautiful. Its gaze showed no hint of wildness; rather, it resembled a proud monarch, seeming utterly unconcerned about how it might be treated, showing no pleading either. Yu Yang silently made eye contact with it for a while, not bringing up the matter of recognizing a master. Just then, Yuxin came out from the bus, approached him, and observed the golden eagle. Then suddenly, Yu Yang noticed that the originally calm gaze of the golden eagle became alert when Yuxin appeared. Yet, soon after, as it sensed the Wood Element aura on Yuxin, it gradually calmed down again. Immediately, Yu Yang told Yuxin, ¡°Xinxin, you must save it!¡± His voice wasn¡¯t very loud but loud enough that everyone around heard it. They all knew Yuxin was a Wood Element Level 2 superpower user and also possibly had a Power Superpower, but although they had seen Yuxin¡¯s combat, they had never actually seen her heal! Thus, some couldn¡¯t help but speculate whether Yuxin¡¯s Awakening was the Mutated Wood Element, lacking Healing Ability. As soon as they heard Yu Yang¡¯s words, they couldn¡¯t help but widen their eyes, wanting to witness Yuxin¡¯s Healing Ability. Yuxin noticed these peoples¡¯ gazes, a slight smile curling at the corner of her lips, and then her fair palm gradually emitted a faint green light. This layer of light was Yuxin intentionally converting her True Yuan into Wood Element Spiritual Energy. Although it was eye-catching, it actually lacked even a drop of True Yuan. Intentionally demonstrating her strength to these people, she made quite a showy display. As that green light shone, she slowly reached her hand towards the golden eagle perched on the rooftop, and softly said, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯ll save you.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it by giving recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 649: 350 leave a way out Chapter 649: 350 leave a way out The golden eagle, upon seeing Fang Yuxin reaching out her hand, raised its head warily, fluttered its wings, and struggled to fly away. But when it heard Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, it stopped its struggle, remained motionless on the roof of the car, and stared intently at Fang Yuxin with an unblinking gaze, still with a hint of caution in its eyes. Fang Yuxin extended both of her hands toward it, one wrapped in green Spiritual Energy, while the other concealed a ball of spiritual spring water with purification capabilities. As her hands drew closer, the ball of spiritual spring water in her palm gradually turned into mist, mingling with the green Spiritual Energy, and under the cover of Spiritual Energy, encased the golden eagle. It then proceeded to meticulously clean the wounds and filth off the eagle¡¯s body. Because of the Spiritual Energy¡¯s cover, the others could only see the golden eagle enveloped in a layer of green energy; the watering mist was completely invisible to them. The green Spiritual Energy appeared like a giant green cocoon, which gradually began to shrink, as if being absorbed into the golden eagle¡¯s body, until it completely vanished at last. By this time, the originally disheveled and wretched golden eagle had undergone a complete transformation. Nourished by the Spiritual Energy, its feathers renewed, the black hue was deeper, and the golden glimmer was even more dazzling. The sharp and massive beak and claws seemed to be enveloped in a lethal black sheen. Following that, it suddenly stood up, its vast wings unfolding in an instant. With a light flap, it rose into the air! Unconsciously, everyone looked up, only to see that the wings, once outspread, were at least six meters long. Being so close, their massive span almost gave the impression of blotted out the sun! As it soared higher, its massive body turned into a tiny black dot in the sky. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but turn her head to look at Fang Yuyang, saying with a tinge of regret, ¡°Brother, it flew away. Such a pity. Had I known, I would have let you form a contract with it first.¡± Fang Yuyang had been staring at the golden eagle, now just a distant speck. Hearing Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, he shook his head and sighed with disappointment, ¡°Never mind, that would have been too unfair to it.¡± Fang Yuxin frowned, thinking to herself that if the golden eagle could recognize her brother as its master, it would have been the one to strike it lucky! But she said nothing, simply shook her head, and was about to return to the car. At that moment, however, a long, powerful call came from the sky, sounding both resonant and subtly joyous. This voice was very familiar, clearly that of the golden eagle. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but look up once more, and to her surprise, she discovered that after its call, the golden eagle had plunged down swiftly, circling to a stop about five or six meters above the car roof. It then gracefully landed on the car roof, affectionately nuzzling Fang Yuyang¡¯s forehead with its head in a very endearing gesture. Fang Yuxin¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment, and she saw that Fang Yuyang also looked somewhat dazed, apparently not expecting this turn of events. She quickly urged in a low voice, ¡°Brother, it came back for you. Take the opportunity to establish a contract with it. Don¡¯t let down its affection for you!¡± Fang Yuyang gave her a somewhat speechless glance¡ªwhat nonsense are you talking about? Girls shouldn¡¯t spout nonsense! However, he didn¡¯t refuse to bond with the golden eagle. He had liked the golden eagle from the beginning, and he could tell that the golden eagle seemed to like him too, willing to acknowledge him as its master. Indeed, when Fang Yuyang went to bond with it, it showed no hesitation and agreed right away. Fang Yuxin watched the successful acknowledgment, and a radiant smile spread across her face. She urged Fang Yuyang, ¡°Brother, quickly give it a name. What do you think is a good name?¡± Fang Yuyang ran his hand over the golden eagle¡¯s head without even thinking and said, ¡°Let¡¯s call it Wujin then.¡± ¡°Uh,¡± Fang Yuxin was stunned for a moment, and her gaze reflexively turned to the golden eagle. Seeing it had no reaction, she couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°How about we choose another one?¡± Fang Yuyang wasn¡¯t particular about names; he had specifically asked the golden eagle, which seemed to not mind, so he gestured to Fang Yuxin, ¡°No need, it likes this one. Let¡¯s go with that.¡± Fang Yuxin, hearing his response, couldn¡¯t help but look at the golden eagle with sympathy, thinking to herself¡ªhow gorgeous, resplendent, and majestic a golden eagle it was, and yet it ended up with such a tacky name as Wujin! However, thinking of Bai Ye¡¯s pet named Bai Er, Fang Yuxin suddenly felt that the name ¡°Wujin¡± wasn¡¯t so difficult to accept after all. Chapter 650: 350 Leave a Way to Survive_2 Chapter 650: 350 Leave a Way to Survive_2 At that time, Qu Qianhe had already taken the lead in picking up all the Crystal Cores that were scattered around. Because the Zombie Birds were so small, their Crystal Cores were also particularly tiny, only slightly bigger than soybeans. Fortunately, the sheer quantity was enormous; over a hundred thousand pieces added up to a considerable amount. This time, since the Zombie Bird Group was entirely eliminated by the Fang Family, all the Crystal Cores ultimately belonged to them. Qu Qianhe, holding several bags stuffed full in a plastic sealed bag, handed all the Crystal Cores over to Fang Yuxin after getting back into the vehicle, for her to purify in the Qingmu Spirit Mansion. Everyone continued on their journey, and after witnessing the scene just now, their feelings were very complicated. Especially the leaders, each one felt extremely relieved about their decision. Fang Yuyang¡¯s departure had exceeded their expectations, and they did not dare to imagine what would have happened if Fang Yuyang used that wind vortex against them; they couldn¡¯t fathom what their fate would have been! Later, the move that Fang Yuxin used to heal the golden eagle somewhat eased their minds. They already knew that Fang Yuxin was a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, and they thought her Healing Ability should be quite good. But when Fang Yuxin took up arms and rushed into the Zombie Group to fight, they started to feel uncertain, even worried that Fang Yuxin was a Mutated Wood Element, and her ability was combat, not healing. The apocalypse was fraught with danger, not just from human zombies, but also animal zombies, and even Mutant Plants and animals, any of which could cause them harm. Without a Wood Element Superpower User capable of healing, their situation would be much tougher! Once someone got injured, the situation could become very bad! Fang Yuxin saw their concern and deliberately demonstrated her Healing Ability publicly. Sure enough, her display completely reassured these people, who were no longer worried about being unable to receive treatment if they were injured. They continued their journey, but when they encountered another Zombie Group, Bai Zhengli did not let the Fang Family take part in the fight. Even Bai Ye stood aside supporting the ranks without engaging personally, instead, allowing the four combat teams to take turns. This not only cultivated each combat team¡¯s cooperative fighting abilities, but it also allowed them to earn Crystal Cores. Bai Zhengli sat in the vehicle sighing to Shui Rou, lamenting about his own son. He was worried when his son wasn¡¯t outstanding, but now that his son was too outstanding, it still troubled him! ¡°What are others supposed to do when you¡¯ve killed all the zombies? How will they earn Crystal Cores? Isn¡¯t this just discouraging and cutting off people¡¯s livelihood?¡± Elsewhere, Fang Yuxin, standing beside Bai Ye, touched her nose as they stared at each other. She had wanted to join the fight just now, but as soon as she got out of the car, Bai Zhengli called her back and then looked at her helplessly, whispering very softly, ¡°Xinxin, leave a way for others to live.¡± Bai Ye silently turned his head, having also heard those words. Just then, Bai Er, who was lying on the roof of the car, suddenly jumped down, shaking his butt as he ran up to Fang Yuxin, rubbing his head against her leg, then tilting his neck and issuing a ¡°woo woo woo¡± from his throat, indicating¡ªhe was hungry and asking to be fed. Fang Yuxin checked the time and realized it was already noon, so she prepared to arrange for someone to cook. However, after looking around, it was obvious this place was not suitable for preparing food. The fourth station team was still clearing the Zombie Group that was attacking, and without the Bai Family and Fang Family participating, the cleaning was significantly slower. Although this time the Zombie Group was only about twenty thousand in size, and the leader¡¯s strength was only Level 2 Peak, it wasn¡¯t difficult to handle, so the others were just on standby and did not interfere. Due to the presence of the Zombie Group, the surrounding air was filled with a strong stench that considerably affected one¡¯s appetite. It really wasn¡¯t a suitable spot for a communal meal. So, after the fourth station team had finished clearing the Zombie Group and the logistics team had cleaned the battlefield, everyone hit the road again. This time, they didn¡¯t go too far and stopped at a relatively open space nearby to prepare for cooking. With so many people, ordinary small pots definitely wouldn¡¯t work, so Bai Ye and a few Gold Element Superpower Users created several dozen large iron pots. Earth Element Superpower Users were responsible for constructing stoves, while others chopped trees nearby for firewood. Shang Jinxiu took out the rice and led the food service group to cook. There weren¡¯t many people in the food service group, all of whom had average abilities but could cook, including both men and women. There were a total of thirty-eight people including Shang Jinxiu, which was enough to cook meals for several thousand people. While preparing the food, Shang Jinxiu also took some fresh vegetables and fruits from her space. As Space Superpower Users¡¯ spaces had preservative properties, and because Fang Yuxin, a Wood Element Superpower User, was there as well, everyone did not doubt but instead watched the fresh vegetables and fruits with eyes green with envy, silently rejoicing, feeling that they had indeed followed the right person! During their time at the Beishi Base, although life was relatively stable, the daily expenses were too high. To make ends meet, or even occasionally improve their meals, they had to go out and undertake tasks, hunting zombies every day. But the closer to the Base, the fewer zombies, and with more Corpse Hunting Teams around; if they ventured too far from the Base, while there would be more zombies, the danger also increased, and there might be no returning. So even though they were all superpower users with respectable strength, their daily lives were quite ordinary. Fresh vegetables were rare to consume, and fruits were even rarer! Apart from a few leaders, most of them had only seen such food, never tasted it! Shang Jinxiu brought out watermelons, each one very large, weighing more than twenty pounds. She took out ten and cut them into thin slices so that everyone could have a taste. With so many people around, even though the spaces of Fang Yuxin and Shang Jinxiu were loaded with supplies, they could not sustain such consumption. After distributing the watermelon, Fang Yuxin rested her chin on her hand and began to think deeply. (To be continued... If you like this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for the recommended tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 651: 351 Weird person Chapter 651: 351 Weird person Shang Jinxiu had finished slicing the watermelon and continued to process the ingredients. She brought out quite a number of items, not only vacuum-packed cured meats and sausages but also an array of fresh chicken, duck, pork, beef, dried wood ear mushrooms, and some other types of mushrooms, plus several kinds of fresh green vegetables like lettuce, celery, and asparagus. Most of these ingredients were stored in advance by Fang Yuxin in her space. Although Shang Jinxiu was a space-related superpower user, she had met Fang Yuxin sometime after the apocalypse had begun. Back then, the weather was hot, and there was no electricity, so many food items had spoiled. Even though her space could preserve freshness, there was no way to store fresh ingredients. Because her family sold dried specialty goods and had just restocked, the majority of items in her space were those goods, such as red dates, wood ear mushrooms, and other mushrooms. It was not until she later encountered Fang Yuxin and they went to the Food Trading City together that she managed to store a variety of foods. However, the food she stored was mostly snacks or vacuum-packed cured meats and sausages, with no fresh meat or vegetables. After the establishment of the Hope Battle Group, she was assigned to the logistics team¡¯s food service group, and Fang Yuxin took her on a vehicle and brought out a lot of fresh ingredients for her to store in her space for future use. Only the two of them knew about this, and Shang Jinxiu was aware that Fang Yuxin must have her own space. Since she was not a space superpower user, Fang Yuxin¡¯s space was likely a spatial treasure, as described in novels! Shang Jinxiu was no fool; she knew such a thing could not be exposed, so she smartly never asked any questions and just dutifully packed everything away, never mentioning a word of it to anyone else. Now, taking out so many ingredients, she did so only with the hint from Shang Jinxiu to be so generous. When the superpower users saw the abundance and variety of ingredients, especially the fresh chicken, duck, pork, and beef, their eyes turned greedier, and they salivated at the sight! Vacuum-packed cured meats and sausages, which were easily preserved and common in the post-apocalypse, had been eaten by them to the point of weariness, but fresh meat had not been tasted for a long time! So now, they all stared intently at the ingredients piled on the folding table, almost wishing they could rush forward and take a bite. Shang Jinxiu led others to process the ingredients quickly, as they were all superpower users. Tender pork tenderloin was minced and cooked with chopped preserved eggs in congee, creating a savory lean pork and century egg porridge. Fresh beef was cut into small pieces and stewed with potatoes, lettuce was sliced and stir-fried with soaked wood ear mushrooms and sliced meat, adding some pickled chili for a distinct flavor. The cured meat was boiled then sliced; the sausage was placed into new bamboo tubes then roasted and sliced, the meaty aroma infused with a hint of fresh bamboo scent, utterly tempting. There were several chickens and ducks, so they ended up being cooked in various ways: stewed, roasted, braised, chilled and mixed, everything you could wish for. Large chunks of pork belly were transformed into red braised pork, and the ribs were prepared sweet and sour with a sprinkling of white sesame seeds on top, the mere sight of which was appetizing. Whether it was the habitual hunger hitting hard and now finally getting access to rich ingredients, or the newly established Battle Group members showing off their skills to impress, everyone threw themselves into cooking with full effort. The dishes they prepared were complete in color, fragrance, taste, and presentation, their skills no less than those of hotel chefs. It was tough for the surrounding superpower users, who were already close to turning into starved wolves at the sight of the unprocessed ingredients. Watching the food service group¡¯s progress, they disregarded any outdated notions that men shouldn¡¯t cook, eagerly offering to help. However, after a cold glance from Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe, they promptly behaved themselves, neither daring to get too close for fear of losing control and snatching food, nor willing to stay too far, forming a circle around the spot and staring intently at the pots and ingredients, drooling continuously. The four squad leaders and forty platoon leaders stood there gazing at the food service group preparing the meals, feeling embarrassed by their subordinates¡¯ behavior. Yet, after a silent exchange of looks, they turned their intense gazes back to the ingredients. Due to the abundance of seasonings and the enthusiasm of the food service group, the delicious aromas of the various dishes mingled into an enticing fragrance long before the food was ready to eat, prompting a chorus of swallowing sounds all around. Chapter 652: 351 Weird person_2 Chapter 652: 351 Weird person_2 Fang Yuxin sniffed the air and suddenly furrowed her brow. She gave Fang Yuyang a meaningful look and whispered, ¡°Brother, think of something. Don¡¯t let the fragrance drift away.¡± Although such a smell wouldn¡¯t attract zombies, there were still many mutated creatures besides zombies! If they drew those creatures here, the situation could get ugly! Fang Yuyang was initially startled but then understood Fang Yuxin¡¯s meaning. With a nod, his fingers began to move silently, beginning to make hand signs. Then, many people suddenly realized that a breeze had sprung up out of nowhere. This wind posed no threat but weirdly circled the entire area, constantly swirling. As it did, the delicious scent of the food was confined within this small space by the wind, unable to disperse. Since there were many people and pots, the food was quickly ready. Although it was just porridge, no one dared to complain ¡ª not to mention the current scarcity of supplies, many people were far from even having rice soup! The porridge was thick and had lean meat and century eggs added to it, tastier than any they had before in restaurants! Who would dare to find fault with that? After staring and drooling for nearly half an hour, everyone finally got their meals ready and sat politely around the foldable table, bowls in hand, prepared to eat. But just then, Wujin, who had been circling overhead on the lookout, suddenly let out a sharp and piercing cry. At its call, everyone instinctively became alert. The cry was too sharp, like a warning signal! Then, Fang Yuxin suddenly pointed in a direction and exclaimed, ¡°Look over there! Someone¡¯s coming!¡± Hearing her, everyone instinctively looked in that direction, and indeed they saw a shadow moving rapidly towards them! The shadow seemed to be running, but its speed was so fast that many couldn¡¯t make out what it was. Since Fang Yuxin had said it was a ¡°person,¡± they all instinctively assumed it was a human being. Only a few smarter ones, like Cao Kun, frowned slightly, giving Fang Yuxin a surprised glance ¡ª how did she know it was a person? Could she see clearly? As the shadow drew closer, everyone finally saw its true form. To their discovery, it was indeed people, and not just one, but two! The reason they saw only one shadow was that one person was being carried as the other ran. However, upon seeing more clearly, everyone became more baffled. The attire of these two people was rather unusual. In the apocalypse, it was not unusual to encounter people with eccentric clothing or oddly shaped weapons, which many had grown used to and weren¡¯t too surprised by. But these newcomers were distinctly different. The one being carried was a girl, or rather, a young girl, who looked to be about twelve or thirteen years old, with a small melon-seeded face and large eyes, like a delicate doll. Her hair was jet black, piled simply at the back of her head near her nape, adorned with pearls the size of peanuts. A pair of locks draped over her chest, and she wore tassel earrings. Her light green garb with deep meanings and a dark green skirt underneath. She even wore a pair of white satin embroidered shoes on her feet. Strangely enough, she also held a white silk umbrella in her hand, as if she were an ancient maid who had stepped out of a painting. The young man carrying her had a handsome face and long hair, which was held in place at the top of his head with a silver hair ring like a ponytail. He wore a simple sky-blue straight robe with a pair of black cloth boots on his feet. At his waist hung a longsword. The pair, resembling heroes of a costume drama, suddenly appeared before everyone, leaving them feeling as if they had been transported through time. However, after the initial shock, they quickly became wary again. Never mind the mystery and odd dress of these two, the fact that they had finally sat down to a plentiful meal meant they would not tolerate any disturbance! Someone couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Who are you? What are you doing here?¡± The two didn¡¯t even glance at the questioner but instead looked at the food guarded behind everyone. The girl¡¯s eyes widened slightly as she stared drooling at the steaming food on the table, looking pitiful as if she was extremely hungry, which softened the hearts of many. Yet this was the apocalypse, and the two were unknown and oddly dressed. Even with softened hearts, the group remained vigilant. They wouldn¡¯t let the appearance of the girl lead to complacency. However, they were more wary of the young man than of the girl. Only the Fang Family and Bai Ye were keeping a watchful eye on the girl in the young man¡¯s arms. Bai Ye quietly walked over to Fang Yuxin and surreptitiously asked her through a transmitted voice, ¡°Xinxin, have you noticed anything?¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t reply aloud but similarly transmitted her voice to Bai Ye, ¡°The aura of these two is off, especially the girl. She must practice Ancient Martial Arts, and her strength is substantial! And the young man, he¡¯s actually a Third-level Wood Element Superpower User! We must not let our guard down!¡± Bai Ye was particularly concerned about the longsword at the young man¡¯s waist. The sword appeared plain, yet it was decidedly antique. It was probably because of his own practice of Sword Dao, but he recognized at a glance that the sword was no ordinary weapon! That the young man could wield it likely meant he was no ordinary individual! Just then, the young man spoke up, his tone quite rude, ¡°I want your food.¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 653: 352 two against one Chapter 653: 352 two against one The young man¡¯s attitude was incredibly rude, so as soon as he spoke, he almost offended everyone from the Hope Battle Group, even Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye frowned, feeling like this person was deliberately causing trouble. Unfortunately, the young man didn¡¯t think he was being excessive, and seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he spoke again, ¡°I want your food.¡± Someone couldn¡¯t help but angrily ask, ¡°Why should we give you our food?¡± The young man glanced at him coldly and with a ¡°swish¡± pulled out the sword from his waist, saying coldly, ¡°Because of the sword in my hand!¡± Everyone then noticed that his sword actually looked very ordinary, but for some reason, it gave off a rather extraordinary feeling. The person at the front even gasped as the chill from the sword gripped him the moment it was drawn! Everyone¡¯s expression changed immediately, and they looked at the young man and his longsword warily, wondering¡ªWhat kind of sword is this? Why is it so cold? Could he be an Ice Element user? But just then, the young man spoke again, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, get lost!¡± His tone was extremely arrogant! This arrogance suddenly infuriated everyone, and they clenched their fists, preparing to teach him a lesson thoroughly. But just as they were about to make a move, Bai Ye suddenly said, ¡°Stand back!¡± Everyone subconsciously made a path. Then, Bai Ye came forward, took a look at the young man, and said directly, ¡°If you want food, you¡¯ll have to beat me first.¡± The young man was also sizing up Bai Ye, and gradually, his face tightened, suddenly he looked down at the young girl in his arms. The girl, who had been obediently nestled in his embrace, suddenly held her face and cried out in a lovesick manner, ¡°Wow! Xiao Tingzi, this guy is so handsome, even more handsome than you!¡± Hearing this, the young man¡¯s face darkened instantly, and he glared at Bai Ye with a hostile, icy gaze. Bai Ye was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly said, ¡°I already have someone I like, plus I¡¯m not interested in ¡®children.''¡± This time, it was the young man¡¯s turn to be stunned. He paused, then once more looked down at the young girl in his arms. This time, the young girl had a gloomy face and coldly stared at Bai Ye, ¡°Vulgar!¡± Then she turned her head, looking pitifully at the young man embracing her, ¡°Xiao Tingzi, I¡¯m hungry, teach him a lesson!¡± The young man seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then without thinking said, ¡°Okay, just wait a bit, you¡¯ll have food soon.¡± After saying that, he gently placed the young girl to the side, then raised his sword toward Bai Ye, ¡°I¡¯ll fight you, if you lose, give me the food.¡± Bai Ye scoffed, ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can win first!¡± After saying this, he drew his longsword, tossed away the scabbard, and started fighting the young man. The two moved too quickly, causing the others to see only blurred figures constantly crossing each other, while the sound of clashing swords continually echoed, with sparks flying intermittently, making the fight intensely fierce. The young girl stood to the side holding a white silk umbrella, not caring about the fight between the young man and Bai Ye, but surveying the people of the Hope Battle Group. Then, her gaze rested on Fang Yuxin. She looked at Fang Yuxin, blinked, and suddenly asked, ¡°Hey, short-haired one, is the handsome guy¡¯s crush you by any chance?¡± There were quite a few women with short hair in the Hope Battle Group. To be precise, nearly all the women here had short hair, except for the young girl Liu Yihuan. Because they had to fight, long hair was inconvenient, so despite everyone wanting to look beautiful, they still cut their hair. Only those women who stayed inside the base all day and didn¡¯t go out kept their long hair. So when the young girl spoke, many people instinctively looked at her. Then they realized that the girl was actually looking at Fang Yuxin, and understanding her implication, they grasped the situation. Some worried, while others somewhat rejoiced in the mishap¡ªWow, this little girl is extraordinary, daring to provoke Fang Yuxin! Anyone who had seen her fight would never underestimate her, and even their gazes towards her were always respectful. This suddenly appeared classical young girl, not only openly enthralled by Bai Ye but also daring to speak to Fang Yuxin like this, made everyone somewhat rejoice in her misfortune, feeling she picked the wrong person this time. However, the young girl was really too beautiful, and seemed quite young, so although the young man¡¯s attitude was very offensive, everyone was wary of this young girl but harbored no ill intentions. Fang Yuxin stroked her chin, carefully taking another look at her, then unexpectedly laughed, pointing at Bai Ye and the young man who were fighting and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t go help soon, that guy is going to lose.¡± Chapter 654: 352 two against one_2 Chapter 654: 352 two against one_2 ¡°When she said that, the others were immediately astonished¡ªhelp? Help with what? What help could this little girl possibly offer? Meanwhile, they subconsciously turned their heads to look at Bai Ye and the young man. But with the two moving so fast, they couldn¡¯t tell at all that the young man was losing, which made them curious once more¡ªwas Fang Yuxin telling the truth, or was she deliberately deceiving that little girl? Then, they saw the girl suddenly disappear. At first, everyone was startled; next, they saw her appear between Bai Ye and the young man, her hands holding a White Umbrella that had at some point been opened, perfectly blocking Bai Ye¡¯s Longsword! The surface of the umbrella looked like a layer of thin white silk, as if it could be easily pierced with just a flick of a finger, yet at that moment, it successfully blocked Bai Ye¡¯s Longsword! The sharp tip of the sword didn¡¯t pierce through it; instead, it didn¡¯t even leave a mark! With that, everyone was thoroughly shocked¡ªwhat kind of umbrella was that? Bai Ye was also surprised. He glanced at the girl who had appeared suddenly, and saw her lightly tap the young man¡¯s Longsword with the tip of her foot, then lightly landed on the young man¡¯s shoulder, still holding the silk umbrella. But now, the look she gave Bai Ye had completely changed; gone was the deliberate infatuation from before, leaving only cold hostility. Standing on the young man¡¯s shoulder, she looked at Bai Ye coldly, her lips curving slightly as she said, ¡°There are not many in this world who can force me to make a move. Since Xiao Tingzi is not your match, I¡¯ll personally see what you¡¯re made of!¡± After she spoke, her right hand suddenly grabbed the umbrella handle and pulled down, drawing out an extremely thin Longsword. This sword was both thin and flexible, with a cylindrical hilt and no guard. At first glance, the blade looked like the foil used in fencing. However, when she flicked her wrist, the slender blade suddenly changed. The blade seemed to unfold instantly, not only growing longer but also widening to about the breadth of a finger, and it was thin as the wings of a cicada. Fang Yuxin smiled slightly at the sight. No wonder this woman spoke so boldly. Because the blade was so thin, with a slight shake from the girl, it seemed to disappear, becoming invisible to the naked eye of ordinary people! Too bad, Bai Ye was not an ordinary person! Not to mention that his strength was now on par with a Third-level Peak superpower user, his enhanced vision was not something an ordinary person could match, and he had Spiritual Sense! It was impossible for him to be affected! However, just then, Bai Ye suddenly narrowed his eyes, his brows furrowed slightly, as if puzzled why the blade suddenly disappeared, and at the same time, his gaze towards the girl was very wary. Seeing this, Fang Yuxin was first shocked, then her smile grew even wider¡ªBai Ye was actually deceiving his opponent! Others were fooled by Bai Ye, one after another showing worried expressions unconsciously. Though they couldn¡¯t discern the girl¡¯s true strength, they could see that she was not as simple as she appeared on the surface, likely difficult to deal with! Now that Bai Ye couldn¡¯t see the sword in her hand, wouldn¡¯t he be in a terrible predicament? Just then, the two people already moved! No! To be precise, three people! The young man and girl unexpectedly joined forces to attack, two against one Bai Ye! The two worked together so seamlessly; their combined strength was definitely not as simple as one plus one equaling two! The two moved so quickly that all Bai Ye could do was to increase the speed of his swordplay. Soon, everyone could only see afterimages and had to rely on the colors of their clothes to distinguish who was who. Gradually, Fang Yuxin furrowed her brows. The Longsword in Bai Ye¡¯s hand was just an ordinary one, formed from the Gold Element here, not much different from a regular blade. However, the girl¡¯s weapons were another story, whether it was the White Umbrella or the Soft Sword, as thin as cicada wings, they were both equivalent to a Low Grade Magical Artifact, by no means comparable to ordinary weaponry. Bai Ye¡¯s Longsword would not last very long! Thinking of this, she couldn¡¯t help but feel some regret. If she had known, she would have helped Bai Ye choose a weapon. At the time, she only thought that Bai Ye already had the Dragon Scale Sword, so she didn¡¯t pick one for him while selecting weapons, and now she regretted it as she watched Bai Ye being ganged up on by the two adversaries. Others were also worried, but their worries differed from those of Fang Yuxin. They were both anxious and angry, feeling that it was despicable for the two to gang up on one. As for the difference in weaponry, they simply couldn¡¯t tell with their eyesight! As if to confirm Fang Yuxin¡¯s prediction, a ¡°clang¡± sounded, and the Longsword in Bai Ye¡¯s hand suddenly broke into two pieces! Simultaneously, the girl¡¯s Soft Sword and the young man¡¯s Longsword were both aimed squarely at the vital points of Bai Ye¡¯s chest and abdomen! Some people couldn¡¯t help but cry out in shock, ¡°Ah!¡± Then they closed their eyes unconsciously, afraid to watch anymore. Many others were worriedly looking at Bai Zhengyi and Fang Yuxin, puzzled¡ªBai Ye was about to die, why weren¡¯t they doing anything to save him? But just as some people couldn¡¯t resist the urge to rush up and help, Fang Yuxin suddenly spoke, ¡°Nobody move! He can handle it!¡± At the same time, everyone saw the Soft Sword and Longsword aimed at Bai Ye¡¯s vitals suddenly bend, as if they had been struck by something. But Bai Ye clearly had no weapon in his hand! After the Longsword broke, he had thrown it away! Then, what weapon was he using? (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.com.)¡± Chapter 655: 353 reborn Chapter 655: 353 reborn The others were surprised, but Fang Yuxin was even more astonished. She keenly sensed that something about Bai Ye had changed, like he had suddenly broken free of some kind of shackles, giving the impression of a complete transformation. First, she was taken aback, then she quickly realized that Bai Ye was probably about to undergo Foundation Establishment. Originally, Yuxin had planned to let Ye try his luck in the trial land for the opportunity of Foundation Establishment once they reached their destination. Little did she know that these two would suddenly appear, with such an arrogant demeanor. What¡¯s more critical is that the two were very strong. When Ye clashed with them, he unexpectedly touched upon the door to Foundation Establishment, which could be considered a blessing in disguise. The two were equally shocked. They were sparring with Ye and felt the change more clearly and directly than the others. Initially, when Ye¡¯s weapon was damaged, they felt a sense of joy, but to their surprise, even without his weapon, Ye managed to block their swords! The two couldn¡¯t help but harbor the same doubt as everyone else¡ªwhat kind of weapon was Bai Ye using? Then, the girl suddenly exclaimed, ¡°You can actually form Sword Qi? Who are you?¡± While she spoke, the young man quickly retreated, and with an agile backflip, the girl lightly landed on his shoulder. Although both were warily watching Bai Ye, they didn¡¯t seem to want to continue the fight. Seizing the opportunity, Bai Ye formed a new Longsword in his hand and asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you keep fighting?¡± The young man frowned without speaking, while the girl replied, ¡°We¡¯re no match for you, what¡¯s the point of continuing?¡± She sounded somewhat dissatisfied, even tinged with subtle defiance and jealousy. Ancient Martial arts had declined greatly by her generation, and although she had considerable talent, years of Cultivation had only allowed her to produce Sword Qi with the aid of her sword, and she couldn¡¯t release Sword Qi with just a flick of her fingers like Bai Ye could. Yet it was obvious that Ye was different from her; his sword had broken, yet he could still release Sword Qi, easily blocking her and Su Ting¡¯s deadly moves, his strength clearly surpassing both of theirs! She couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªYe¡¯s legacy seemed more powerful than hers, but how could someone with such an impressive legacy not have even one decent weapon? Moreover, his swordsmanship was very unfamiliar, unlike any style she knew. Seeing that the two had stopped, Ye decided not to continue the fight either and simply gestured with an inviting ¡°please¡± and said, ¡°Since you¡¯ve lost, please leave.¡± The young man¡¯s face instantly tensed as he looked up at the girl worriedly. She then tucked the Soft Sword and White Umbrella back into her embrace, and as her body fell, the young man caught her securely. She looked at Bai Ye, her eyes reflecting a hint of calculation: ¡°You¡¯re about to advance, right? Seeing as we¡¯ve helped, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to give us some food, would it?¡± As soon as she said this, those who were already displeased couldn¡¯t hold back their retorts: ¡°Ha! You nearly killed Captain Bai just now and have the audacity to say you helped, would you like me to ¡®help¡¯ you too?¡± Before he could finish, the young man suddenly turned his cold gaze toward him, challenging, ¡°You come!¡± Provoked, the man instinctively wanted to agree, but was gently held back by the shoulder by someone beside him. He turned with confusion, then his mouth fell open in surprise¡ªthe person beside him was Bai Zhengli! Zhengli shook his head at him and whispered, ¡°That man is a Third-level Superpower User; you¡¯re no match for him. Don¡¯t fall for his provocation.¡± The man¡¯s heart shuddered, and his look towards the young man filled with caution and hostility. It was clear¡ªthe young man had no good intentions! If he actually fought with the young man, he might well lose his life! Bai Ye¡¯s expression darkened at the girl and young man¡¯s audacity: ¡°If you want to continue, I¡¯m with you to the end! What valor is there in bullying my subordinates?¡± The girl¡¯s expression changed, and she said to the young man, ¡°Xiao Tingzi, let¡¯s go.¡± But the young man frowned in disagreement: ¡°But you¡¯re hungry, and we¡¯re out of food.¡± The girl stood firm, ¡°I said, let¡¯s go!¡± Seeing her apparently upset, the young man hesitated, glancing at the steaming food not far off before finally nodding. Holding her, they left. As they departed, the girl suddenly looked at Bai Ye and said, ¡°Believe it or not, we didn¡¯t intend to kill you just now.¡± She really had no malice towards Bai Ye; the young man, as stoic as he was, even less so. They both could tell that Ye was very strong, so they didn¡¯t hold back during the fight, not expecting Ye¡¯s sword to suddenly break. However, they should have stopped when the sword broke, but she wanted to test Ye¡¯s true strength, so she didn¡¯t stop. Su Ting always listened to her commands, so naturally, he didn¡¯t stop either. Chapter 656: 353 Reborn_2 Chapter 656: 353 Reborn_2 So although they held no ill will toward Bai Ye, they indeed almost killed him at the time. Consequently, as the conversation reached this point, the young girl was too embarrassed to stay and continue to ask for food. Su Ting held the girl and dashed toward the distance, and after a moment¡¯s hesitation, she suddenly called out to Bai Ye, who was far away, ¡°My name is Miao Yin, and we will meet again!¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Su Ting, who held her, immediately frowned in alertness and subconsciously gripped her tighter, and his fleeing speed increased. On the other side, Fang Yuxin walked over to Bai Ye with a frown and asked sourly, ¡°What does she mean by that?¡± When Bai Ye saw Fang Yuxin getting jealous, he felt secretly pleased, but maintained a serious expression and said, ¡°She seems very interested in my swordsmanship, probably wanting to continue to ask for advice.¡± Fang Yuxin scoffed, ¡°If she comes back, you¡¯re not allowed to make a move. I¡¯ll deal with her myself!¡± After that, she glared at Bai Ye¡ªalways stirring up trouble with the ladies! Bai Ye looked aggrieved¡ªI didn¡¯t! Just then, a soft cough suddenly came from the side. Both turned reflexively and saw Bai Zhengli looking at them as if saying¡ªmind your image, stop flirting with each other! Both Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye subconsciously glanced at each other, then Bai Ye coughed lightly and said solemnly, ¡°Since everything¡¯s fine, let¡¯s start eating.¡± The others silently bowed their heads and sat back around the folding table, picked up their bowls, and began to eat as if they hadn¡¯t seen anything. Fang Yuxin quickly returned to her seat, and Bai Ye shamelessly followed, sitting next to her and using his chopsticks to put food in her bowl. Fang Yuxin glared at him and warned in a low voice, ¡°Stop that. Eat your own.¡± Bai Ye replied quietly and bowed his head to eat heartily. While eating, Fang Yuxin sent a message with her mind, asking, ¡°Are you close to Foundation Establishment?¡± Bai Ye stealthily glanced at Fang Yuxin, who was eating seriously, and suddenly felt a tingling in his heart. Then he secretly communicated back, ¡°After that fight just now, indeed, I am close to Foundation Establishment.¡± Fang Yuxin thought for a moment and decided to send a message, ¡°When we continue our journey later, you¡¯ll ride in my vehicle. I¡¯ll take you to a place where it would be beneficial for Foundation Establishment.¡± Upon hearing this, Bai Ye knew Fang Yuxin must be taking him to that mysterious space. His heart leaped with joy, and he immediately agreed. However, his excitement was not about entering the mysterious place again but rather about Fang Yuxin¡¯s trust in him! Such an important place, yet Fang Yuxin was willing to let him in, which showed immense trust! Everyone was a superpower user, of course, but more crucially, these people were like a pack of starving wolves! So, the meal was consumed with remarkable speed, finishing everything in just over ten minutes. Not only was the food devoured completely, but even the sauce in the plates was licked clean. Now in the apocalypse, food was scarce, and no one thought it shameful to do so. In contrast, deliberately leaving sauces or leftovers was the real display of vanity¡ªinviting lightning strikes! Once the food was finished and everything packed away, everyone hit the road again. Before setting out, Bai Ye specifically walked over to Bai Zhengli to inform him, then boarded Fang Yuxin¡¯s vehicle. Witnessing this scene, everyone couldn¡¯t help but exchange knowing glances, filled with innuendo! Bai Ye only told Bai Zhengli that he was accompanying Fang Yuxin and did not mention the mysterious space to him. After all, the space was too magical. Even though Bai Zhengli was his father, and he trusted that Bai Zhengli would not harbor ill intentions, since Fang Yuxin had trusted him, he would not betray her trust. After getting into the vehicle, Fang Yuxin led him into Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. The vehicle was full of Fang Family members, so there was no need to be discreet. Bai Qianqian saw the two of them entering and immediately declared that he wanted to join. Fang Yuxin, having no choice, brought him along as well. Hong Lie and Angela were playing inside Qingmu Spiritual Mansion; they liked it very much since it was spacious. In contrast, the carriage was a bit too cramped for them. Angela was fine since she could shrink her body, but not Hong Lie, whose large body was too uncomfortable even if he could squeeze in. After entering the main hall with Bai Ye and Bai Qianqian, Bai Qianqian went out to play, leaving the space for Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye. Bai Ye curiously surveyed the place, still feeling awestruck¡ªindeed, the place was mysterious, and despite having seen it before, he was still profoundly moved! However, he didn¡¯t know the layout within Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, nor did he understand what purpose the doors on the walls served. Assuming Fang Yuxin wanted him to meditate and cultivate in the main hall, he found a Spirit Gathering Array and was about to sit cross-legged. Fang Yuxin walked over speechlessly and pulled him up from the ground, ¡°Not here. Follow me.¡± Bai Ye was momentarily taken aback but did not struggle, following her unwittingly. Then, he saw Fang Yuxin leading him to a door inlaid in the wall, adorned with complex runes. Seeing that he seemed to be looking at the runes on the door, Fang Yuxin lightly tapped him, reminding him, ¡°This is the trial land. If you channel your True Qi into the runes, you¡¯ll be transported inside.¡±(To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 657: 354 Midnight Screams Chapter 657: 354 Midnight Screams Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t say exactly what was inside, Bai Ye was puzzled for a moment, but didn¡¯t ask. He trusted that Fang Yuxin wouldn¡¯t harm him, and since it was Trial Land, it was naturally a place for trials. Thus, without hesitation, he channeled his True Qi towards the rune on the door, and as the rune lit up, he saw a flash of white light before his vision spun wildly. The next moment, the white light vanished and Bai Ye found himself in a room filled with fog. The fog was thick and white, obscuring sight so completely that even Spiritual Sense could be blocked! He instinctively became alert and then suddenly sensed a murderous intent! ... Fang Yuxin watched Bai Ye enter the Trial Land, then went to find Bai Qianqian herself and asked, ¡°Qianqian, I¡¯m going out, do you want to stay here, or come with me?¡± Bai Qianqian looked behind her puzzledly, ¡°Eh? Where¡¯s Daddy? Mama, where did Daddy go?¡± Fang Yuxin reached out and touched his head, ¡°He went into a trial. Let¡¯s go out together.¡± Bai Qianqian hesitated for a moment before nodding. Although he liked Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, he preferred staying by ¡°Mama¡¯s¡± side even more! As for Bai Ye? That silly daddy wouldn¡¯t be in any danger, so he wasn¡¯t worried at all! The two of them left the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion and returned to the car. Bai Qianqian sat next to Fang Yuxin, wrapping her arm in his embrace and leaning against her with a content yawn, and then he began to doze off. Seeing him suddenly fall asleep, Fang Yuxin was startled and carefully checked him over before realizing he had simply fallen asleep, not that there was anything wrong with him. She then breathed a sigh of relief. Qu Qianhe, sitting in the front passenger seat, couldn¡¯t help but laugh as she watched this scene, ¡°You really are, Qianqian is a child big enough to be lazy, wanting to sleep more is normal, what¡¯s there to worry about.¡± Fang Yuxin pursed her lips, somewhat embarrassed¡ªshe had never raised a child before, how could she know this? Even though she thought this, she still carefully cradled Bai Qianqian entirely in her arms to allow him to sleep more comfortably. Bai Qianqian was initially a bit restless, but after wriggling around a bit to find a comfortable position, he settled down and continued to sleep, hugging Fang Yuxin. The journey onwards was relatively smooth, but because there were many of them, they always managed to attract zombies or some mutant animals. However, not all mutant animals retained their sanity, and they encountered several wild dogs and cats lacking reason. These irrational mutant animals would attack people madly like zombies, and they had to be killed. With four squads and the combat team led by Fang Yuyang, these zombies and senseless mutant animals posed no threat to them. When the combatants acted, others would stand by to support, and if there was any danger, they would step up to fill in, ensuring by evening that no one in the group had died, although injuries were inevitable. With Fang Yuxin, the powerful Doctor, on their side, injuries were just minor issues and could be easily dealt with, so even though there were continuous troubles, the atmosphere of the group remained relatively relaxed. However, many were puzzled¡ªwhy hadn¡¯t Bai Ye appeared all this time? Even though they had questions, no one suspected the Fang Family would harm Bai Ye. Not to mention Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye were clearly a couple, but even just considering the Fang Family¡¯s formidable strength, if they wished to harm Bai Ye, they wouldn¡¯t need to be sneaky about it. Thus, everyone was more concerned whether Bai Ye might have sustained some injury after clashing with those two individuals? Yet, daunted by the Fang Family¡¯s fearsome power, no one dared to ask. Not until the evening arrived, when Bai Zhengli chose an open area to gather everyone to rest and prepare for dinner. It was then that Bai Zhengli¡¯s confidant quietly asked him, ¡°Squad leader, why hasn¡¯t the Young Commander appeared all this time? Could something have happened?¡± Bai Zhengli glanced at him, gave a gentle shake of his head, and said in a low voice, ¡°He won¡¯t be in any trouble, don¡¯t worry about it.¡± The man had no bad intentions, and seeing that Bai Zhengli wasn¡¯t worried at all, he felt reassured, settled down to the side, and waited for the meal to begin. Dinner was just as rich as before, only that the watermelon slices were replaced with chunks of oranges, apples, and pears. As they started to eat, Bai Ye finally appeared. He had already succeeded in his Foundation Establishment, but the impurities expelled from his body during the process had contaminated his clothes. Thus, everyone saw that when he emerged from the car, he was wearing a fresh set of clothes. Chapter 658: 354 Midnight Scream_2 Chapter 658: 354 Midnight Scream_2 Everyone¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, then they subconsciously turned to look at Fang Yuxin, wondering if something outrageous had happened between the two! But... if they remembered correctly, there were other members of the Fang Family and Bai Qianqian in the vehicle, too. Was it really appropriate for something, you know, to happen in front of so many people? Wasn¡¯t that a bit too perverse? Everyone was frightened by their own speculation, their faces turning red in an instant, and their eyes started to flicker. Facing these people¡¯s meaningful stares, Bai Ye immediately felt an enormous pressure and felt incredibly wronged¡ªhe hadn¡¯t done anything, okay! Fang Yuxin and the other members of the Fang Family were even more depressed¡ªwhat did Bai Ye changing his clothes have to do with them! So, when it came time to eat and Bai Ye once again sat next to Fang Yuxin, Fang Yuxin directly gave him a cold look, patted the seat next to him, and let Bai Qianqian sit. Bai Ye subconsciously looked to the other side and met Fang Yuyang¡¯s very unhappy gaze. His mouth twitched slightly, and then he looked at Bai Qianqian, patted his shoulder, and signaled him¡ªlet your dad sit! Bai Qianqian glared back defiantly¡ªI won¡¯t! I want to sit next to Mama! You go away! Bai Ye was almost angered to death, but unfortunately Fang Yuxin, the future brother-in-law, future father-in-law and mother-in-law along with his own parents were all glaring at him with a look that clearly said if he dared to bully Bai Qianqian, he would suffer the consequences. Bai Ye could only swallow his anger and warily pull up a stool to sit next to Bai Qianqian. When he sat down, he still looked at Bai Qianqian with dissatisfaction¡ªwhat an unruly son! Then, when he saw Fang Yuxin continuously serving Bai Qianqian food and ignoring him, his heart grew even more bitter! It was as if an entire row of vinegar jars had been knocked over¡ªso sour! Next to him, Bai Zhengli looked at his foolish son with an ¡°aggrieved wife¡¯s face¡± and thought to himself why are you getting jealous over your own son, you¡¯re embarrassing me! But just then, Shui Rou suddenly picked up a piece of food that Bai Ye liked with her chopsticks and put it into his bowl, smiling and telling him to eat quickly. Bai Zhengli was startled at first, but then he was completely overwhelmed, feeling an unpleasant sourness in his heart as he glared at Shui Rou beside him¡ªyour son is already so big, why do you care if he eats or not? He¡¯s not going to starve! Usually gentle-looking as if she had no temper at all, Shui Rou nevertheless glared back at him¡ªeat your own food! Bai Zhengli silently bowed his head and ate, feeling as if the cook had added too much vinegar to the dishes today. Across from him, Fang Jintang and Qu Qianhe secretly exchanged a look, realizing where Bai Ye¡¯s personality came from. However, they found this personality unexpectedly endearing. The other people quietly watching all instinctively lowered their heads even more, forming a new understanding of Bai Ye and Bai Zhengli! After eating, the group did not stop to rest, but continued on their way. There were many of them, and almost all were superpower users, with just a few Ordinary People who could rest in the car. There was no need to stop specially. Not to mention wasting time, the key issue was that their whole group was too large, stopping to rest could easily attract zombies. However, after walking for just over an hour, when it wasn¡¯t even dark yet, rain suddenly started to fall from the sky. After experiencing the last disaster, Bai Ye and others had developed a psychological shadow against rain. So, upon seeing the rain, Bai Ye suggested finding a place to shelter from it. The rain grew heavier, and it was night with no streetlights, making the visibility very low. Instead of braving the rain and continuing on, it was safer to find a place to take shelter. But this time, Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin were even more cautious. They chose a small village near the roadside, a village that was already empty, not knowing whether everyone had died or left. The whole village had been scavenged, with all usable things taken away. They did not mind; as long as there was a place to shelter from the rain, it was fine. The terrain near the village was flat without hills, so even in the event of heavy rain, there was no worry of mudslides. After entering the village, the team spread out a bit, but for safety, they did not scatter too far. They chose several nearby houses; some kept watch at night while some rested inside. Initially, everything was calm, and nothing happened. But close to midnight, a woman¡¯s shrill scream suddenly sounded: ¡°Ah¡ªrats! Zombie Rats!¡± ¡°So many Zombie Rats! Wake up! Wake up!¡± The sound of the rain was loud, but the superpower users had sensitive hearing, so even though the scream was somewhat muffled by the rain, everyone still heard it. So, everyone instantly ¡°woke up¡± and began to search around for signs of the Zombie Rats. What they saw gave them quite a shock! In the darkness, there were countless red dots crowded together, which at first glance appeared extremely eerie. Because of the heavy rain and the lack of light, the surroundings were particularly dark, with the Zombie Rats blending almost completely with the darkness, only their glowing red eyes standing out distinctly! Fortunately, superpower users had good vision, so everyone took a careful look and realized that they were surrounded by dense swarms of Zombie Rats. What¡¯s worse, these Zombie Rats were crawling rapidly along the ground with incredible speed! Rats¡¯ teeth are already formidable, but as zombies, their fangs seemed even sharper, protruding from their mouths, looking fierce and terrifying. Someone quickly came to their senses and shouted, ¡°Everyone on alert! Ice Ability Users, hurry up and erect Ice Walls! We must not let them get close! Otherwise, they will destroy the trucks!¡± The rest were not fools; Ice Ability Users immediately stepped forward, using their abilities to construct Ice Walls. Because it was still raining and there was a lot of water around, the Ice Walls quickly rose, forming a circle of Defense around the houses. But just as everyone was about to breathe a sigh of relief, they noticed that the Zombie Rats were swiftly climbing up the Ice Walls! With the speed of those Zombie Rats, it would take less than a minute for them to get over the Ice Wall! Thinking of this possibility, everyone¡¯s faces turned pale! (To be continued... If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 659: 355 Horrible Zombie Rat! Chapter 659: 355 Horrible Zombie Rat! The Zombie Group¡¯s size was quite large, a dense mass spreading far. Due to the pouring rain and low visibility, covered in mud, they were even harder to see in the dark, the only exception being their eyes, which glinted with a red glow, distinctly visible in the darkness! The team resided in the four nearby small buildings, now entirely surrounded by Zombie Rats. Ice Ability Users continually erected Ice Walls, and others formed Ice Arrows or Ice Cones, Ice Blade-type weapons, to attack these Zombie Rats. However, the rain was too heavy, providing perfect cover for the Zombie Rats. Whether it was Ice Arrows, Ice Cones, or Ice Blades, the impact of the rain could alter their trajectory, or they might lack power to continue. Similarly, attacks from wind and fire were also significantly ineffective. With the downpour, the air filled with a great amount of moisture, extremely suppressing the Fire Element Superpower Users, and although the Wind Blade could slice through the rain, it quickly lost strength, failing to pose much threat to the vast swaths of Zombie Rats. Seeing that the Zombie Rats were getting closer and might soon break through the Ice Wall, Fang Yuxin hesitated no longer and threw out Lan Re and Red Powder. Upon touching the ground, they transformed into their massive true forms. Lan Re summoned all its clones, then coiled low to the ground, slithering continuously through the Zombie Rat crowd. As it moved, its body also spun continuously. Its blades were already as sharp as knife blades, and now spinning, their power was terrific. Wherever Lan Re passed, a vacuum momentarily appeared, only to be quickly filled by nearby Zombie Rats. Red Powder, on the other hand, extended as many branches as possible, continuously reaching out. These branches were all tipped with sharp spikes, piercing through the Zombie Rats with precision. Although the Zombie Rats¡¯ teeth were formidable, capable of biting through solid ice and steel plates, since Red Powder had devoured those bizarre red viscous substances in the Trial Land with Fang Yuxin, its body had become incredibly hard. No matter how the Zombie Rats bit, they could not break its branches! The others were astounded at this scene, but right then, Fang Jintang and Fang Yuyang sprang into action! Fang Jintang, being a Dual Spiritual Roots of water and earth, was not affected by the weather. His Skill was simple; he clenched his fist and smashed it heavily into the ground, and a large swamp formed not far away! A large group of Zombie Rats fell right in! Fang Yuyang spread his palms, and the tornado he had used earlier reappeared, dropping directly into the Zombie Rat crowd. As the tornado spun continuously, more and more Zombie Rats were drawn into it, directly shredded into pieces! Yet, this was still far from enough! The surrounding Zombie Rats were simply too many, small in size, and extremely agile, making them hard to capture or kill. If someone got too close, it wasn¡¯t clear who might end up dead! Reliant only on the Fang Family, wiping out these Zombie Rats in a short time was impossible! Unless they employed their full strength without reservation! Bai Ye didn¡¯t want the secret that Fang Yuxin had been carefully concealing to be discovered, so, without waiting for the Fang Family to become desperate, he stood out and shouted, ¡°Everyone, retreat!¡± After shouting, he whispered to Fang Yuxin, ¡°Call them back! I¡¯m worried they¡¯ll get hurt later!¡± Fang Yuxin was puzzled first, then suddenly guessed Bai Ye¡¯s intention, and frowned immediately, ¡°Are you planning to reveal your identity as a Dual Attribute superpower user?¡± She felt that revealing this now wasn¡¯t wise, since their adversaries were unknown, and there could be spies like Bai Zhengyi or Zhao Qiankun mixed in. So, although they appeared to be a family, Fang Yuxin remained highly cautious towards others. These days, although she acted decisively, she never revealed her true strength, just to avoid outsiders. There were many who bore grudges against Bai Ye, whether it was Bai Zhengyi and his son Bai Yi, or Zhao Qiankun, that scoundrel, all would rather see him dead. If they knew that Bai Ye had also awakened a powerful Thunder Power, they would find it even harder to tolerate him! Yet, Bai Ye didn¡¯t care at all, instead, he waved his hand at Fang Yuxin quite relaxedly, chuckling softly, ¡°What are you nervous about? Long Province is far from Beishi City, even if Bai Zhengyi or Zhao Qiankun want to kill me, they likely couldn¡¯t send anyone here. And besides, among all those in the Beishi Base, except for Zhao Qiankun whose strength we¡¯re unsure of, do you think anyone else could stand against me? Even if Zhao Qiankun showed up himself, I wouldn¡¯t fear him!¡± Chapter 660: 355 Terrifying Zombie Rat!_2 Chapter 660: 355 Terrifying Zombie Rat!_2 Fang Yuxin realized that Bai Ye was right, it was indeed the case. Even if there were spies planted by Bai Zhengyi and Zhao Qiankun, they might not be able to get the message out, and even if they did, what could Bai Zhengyi and Zhao Qiankun do? They surely couldn¡¯t just bomb the entire Long Province, could they? Thus, she stopped worrying and instead urged Bai Ye, ¡°Then hurry up, there are too many zombie rats, the others won¡¯t be able to hold on much longer.¡± Bai Ye nodded, and suddenly charged into the pouring rain. Meanwhile, Fang Yuxin called Lan Re and Red Powder back. Fang Yuyang was originally in the rain curtain, but after Bai Ye went out, he specifically told him and then returned to Fang Yuxin¡¯s side. Immediately afterwards, everyone saw Bai Ye suddenly holding a pitch-black longsword in his hand. He gripped the hilt tightly and swung it upward into the sky and, following a loud ¡°boom,¡± a huge lightning bolt suddenly appeared in the sky. The lightning bolt rapidly fell from the sky, and just before hitting the ground, it suddenly stretched out and formed a giant electric net, covering the crowd of zombie rats. These zombie rats, originally madly pushing forward, breaking through ice walls to attack the team members, were now scorched into charcoal by the immense electric net following a series of crackling sounds. The remaining zombie rats, seeing this, also shrieked in terror and surged forward even more frantically, trying to escape the terrifying electric net. As Fang Yuxin watched the erected ice walls fall under the attack of zombie rats and saw the frenzied rats about to break through, she hurriedly returned to the vehicle and called Angela out. Once Angela came out, she immediately returned to her true form and then suddenly jumped onto the roof of a truck, issuing a sharp cat-like shriek at the advancing zombie rats. The shriek, filled with a warning, made the zombie rats, who were madly pushing forward, suddenly halt, seemingly hesitant. Bai Zhengli suddenly ordered, ¡°All Ice Ability Users, freeze the zombie rats!¡± Previously, the sheer number of zombie rats kept the Ice Ability Users busy constructing defensive ice walls; they hadn¡¯t had the time to deal with the zombie rats. But now, most of the zombie rats had died under Bai Ye¡¯s electric net, and with Angela¡¯s warning making them hesitant to advance, it significantly eased the burden on the Ice Ability Users. Not only that, after Fang Jintang had taken action earlier, he also inspired other Earth Element Superpower Users to start working, using their abilities to make the soil soft. Combined with the soaking rain, they created one swamp pit after another. After Bai Zhengli¡¯s order, those Ice Ability Users who could still use their skills quickly set to work, freezing the zombie rats. Initially, the zombie rats moved quickly and were not easy to freeze, but now, warned by Angela and hindered by the spreading electric net, they had nowhere to go. As soon as the Ice Ability Users made their move, they easily froze a large number of zombie rats. It wasn¡¯t long before, aside from those turned into charred remains by Bai Ye¡¯s electric net, the remaining ones were either trapped in swamps or frozen into huge ice blocks, or were churned into pieces by Fang Yuyang¡¯s tornado. The heavy rain continued, but the crisis posed by the zombie rats was already resolved. Seeing the zombie rats still struggling in the swamps, Bai Zhengli quickly had the Ice Ability Users freeze the swamps as well, and eventually, all the Ice Ability Users were exhausted, including Chen Si. Despite this, everyone heaved a sigh of relief. Bai Zhengli, who had been worried throughout, finally relaxed, then he once again gave an order for the Power Superpower Users to shatter all the ice blocks! Although the remaining zombie rats had all been frozen, they were still zombies, not living creatures. Even if frozen, they might not truly be dead. To be safe, they had to be completely destroyed! The ice blocks, quite solidly frozen, were shattered into pieces by all the Power Superpower Users working together. Once the ice shattered, the zombie rats frozen inside naturally could not escape. After all the zombie rats were eliminated, the Water Element Superpower Users, who had not previously had the chance to act, took responsibility for cleaning up the battlefield. The rain continued, and with water everywhere, it greatly facilitated the Water Ability Users in utilizing their skills. After the battlefield was cleaned up, all the Crystal Cores were collected and then distributed to everyone by Bai Zhengli¡¯s order. This time, many had taken part in the battle, especially the Ice Ability Users and later the Power Superpower Users, who were extremely exhausted. Many had completely depleted their superpower, necessitating quick absorption of the Crystal Cores to recover. Otherwise, should a new danger arise, their plight would be very disadvantageous! Once Bai Ye returned, Fang Yuxin watched him with concern and whispered, ¡°Are you okay?¡± The recent electric net was so massive that Fang Yuxin felt Bai Ye must have expended a lot of energy, so she couldn¡¯t help but be worried. Bai Ye waved his hand at her, reassuring, ¡°I¡¯m fine, I just need some rest.¡± Although the skill did consume a lot, since it was just zombie rats which were not comparable to human zombies, and being scorchable by a bit of lightning, the consumption wasn¡¯t actually that great. Fang Yuxin scrutinized his complexion, felt reassured that he probably wasn¡¯t lying, then took his arm, boarded the vehicle, and took out a purified Crystal Core for him to absorb. The others saw this scene, exchanged meaningful glances, and laughed quite heartily. Bai Zhengli saw all of this, coughed abruptly, and reminded everyone to mind their image! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to QiDian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 661: 356 New to Long Province Chapter 661: 356 New to Long Province After eliminating the Zombie Rats, there were no further incidents in the latter half of the night, just the occasional few zombies or Mutant Beasts being attracted by the noise. As their numbers were not large, they didn¡¯t cause any trouble, and the people on night watch easily dealt with them. Bai Ye had started absorbing the Crystal Core in the vehicle, and later, when everyone else went to rest, Fang Yuxin led him and his family into the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. He also created an illusion in the vehicle, so if anyone suddenly opened the car door, they would only believe they were cultivating or resting inside. Within Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, the Spiritual Energy was rich and with the Spirit Gathering Array, cultivation was doubly effective. Aside from Qu Qianhe and Fang Yuxin, who barely lifted a finger, everyone else was quite exhausted. So as soon as they entered the Mansion, they began to meditate and cultivate. The night quickly passed, but the heavy rain kept pouring down without any sign of stopping. Fortunately, it was already daylight, and the rain was no longer a concern. Shang Jinxiu took out some compressed biscuits and milk from her space, and after a simple breakfast, they continued on their journey. The road ahead was relatively calm, although they occasionally encountered Zombie Groups, sometimes human zombies, sometimes animal zombies. But the previous performances of the Fang Family and the Bai Family had instilled confidence in everyone, so they were no longer nervous. Under Bai Zhengli¡¯s command, they cleared the zombies in an orderly manner. Sometimes they would see other survivors from a distance, but they were far away, and seeing that their group was quite large, the others were probably wary and did not approach or initiate conversation. Bai Zhengli and his group aimed for Long Province, so even though they guessed there must be survivor bases nearby, they didn¡¯t go there. Until at last, they reached Long Province. Long Province was vast, with many cities, counties, and villages. Because the place was so large, the population density was very low, and all one could see were vast fields or forests. Sadly, since the apocalypse, zombies and mutated creatures had ravaged the land, turning farms and forests into either scarred wastelands or primitive jungles. The population here was over thirty million, but most had gone to Market, Beishi City, and other first-tier cities, leaving not many people behind. This made the population density even sparser, and the threat of zombies was not as great. However, Long Province had vast mountain ranges, home to many wild animals. After the apocalypse, these animals either turned into zombies or mutated into Mutant Beasts, with the remaining unmutated ones almost becoming food. These wild animals were agile and powerful, making them more formidable than ordinary people turned zombies or superpower users, posing a significant problem for the local survivors. No sooner had Fang Yuxin¡¯s group entered Long Province than Shang Jinxiu and the cooking team began preparing food, but before the meal was ready, a strong stench wafted over from a distance. The Scouts responsible for sentry duty ran back quickly, blowing their whistles while running to signal danger. Using whistles as an alarm was Bai Ye¡¯s idea. After the Zombie Rat incident, he realized they could not continue like that. So, he had people make whistles from thin bamboo, one for each person. The shrill sound of a whistle could travel far and be blown instantly, far simpler than shouting! Bai Ye had specifically selected speed superpower users from four battle teams to form a Reconnaissance Team. These people were tasked with scouting for enemy intelligence and providing outer perimeter warnings. When the team stopped for a rest, these individuals would spread out around the camp in the further areas, and should an enemy appear, they would blow their whistles. The louder and more urgent the whistle¡¯s sound, the more severe the situation. This time, when the whistle sounded, its tone was incredibly urgent¡ªa clear sign of a serious situation! Upon hearing the sound, the people in the camp instantly tensed up, stood from their positions, and looked in the direction of the noise. Then, they saw what seemed to be a large mass of shadows in the distance. The people sent out as Scouts were all second-level or Level 1 Peak and nearing second-level speed superpower users, quite fast indeed. As they got closer, they took the whistles from their mouths and shouted, ¡°Everyone, be alert! A group of Zombie Beasts is approaching from afar! There are over ten thousand of them, the kind of fierce animals only found in the forest!¡± Chapter 662: 356 New to Long Province_2 Chapter 662: 356 New to Long Province_2 As soon as these words were spoken, everyone became even more cautious. Seeing this, Bai Zhengli shouted, ¡°Members of the battle team, take note! Earth Element Superpower Users should work with Water Element Superpower Users to create a swamp nearby, while Gold Element Superpower Users and Ice Element Superpower Users should build a Protection Wall together! Everyone else, stay alert and be ready to fight at any moment! We need to be quick!¡± Since they had cooperated many times before, everyone had already developed a tacit understanding. As Bai Zhengli gave the order, the Earth Element and Water Element Superpower Users were already closely cooperating to create a swamp nearby. Meanwhile, others quickly gathered, and the Gold Element and Ice Element Superpower Users started constructing the Protection Wall. The Ice Ability User froze the entire wall, while the Gold Element user created sharp spikes on the wall to prevent the Zombie Beasts from climbing. Some weaker superpower users directly took up submachine guns or hand grenades and packs of explosives, standing on the tops of trucks. Their main task was to deal with some of the more troublesome Zombie Beasts, such as black bears or brown bears, which were large and strong¡ªexactly the kind of creatures that the Protection Wall most feared! At the same time, Fang Yuxin released Lan Re and Red Powder, letting them act freely. After some time being nurtured, Red Powder and Lan Re had gained a certain level of intelligence and had become quite agile in combat, no longer needing Fang Yuxin¡¯s directions. Despite having seen them several times, the others couldn¡¯t help but turn pale when they appeared. They had seen rose-type plants before, finding them quite beautiful. Although thorny, they never thought they posed a threat to humans. But once mutated, they became incredibly fierce, enough to terrify anyone! Especially those huge flowers with straws that emitted a hallucinogenic fragrance, making people feel uneasy just by looking at them. As for the Crystal Orchid, since it usually grew on high-altitude mountains and had a short lifespan, it was not commonly seen, and thus unfamiliar to many. Nevertheless, its transformed body was still astonishingly fearsome, almost like Fang Yuyang¡¯s tornado, effectively a giant meat grinder! Yet, these two ferocious mutant plants, when shrunk, looked just like cute decorations and were worn by Fang Yuxin on her wrist as bracelets. Under such a stark contrast, these people started to feel uneasy about Fang Yuxin from the bottom of their hearts. They used to think of Fang Yuxin as a beautiful, delicate flower and also a Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, which was quite rare. No wonder Zhao Qiankun couldn¡¯t forget her. It was not until they personally witnessed Fang Yuxin¡¯s strength and methods that they realized she was not any delicate flower, but a man-eating tyrannical flower! Though beautiful indeed, unfortunately, she was not for the average person to enjoy! Probably only someone as fierce as Bai Ye could handle her. Because of Lan Re and Red Powder, those who were secretly jealous of Bai Ye and thought he was exceptionally lucky with women completely backed off, not even daring to look at Fang Yuxin any longer! And some women who had shown interest in Bai Ye completely lowered their flags, not daring to compete with a man-eating flower like Fang Yuxin for men, let alone even think about it, fearing they might inadvertently be devoured by Red Powder and Lan Re! They could all see that although Fang Yuxin had a face that seemed easy to bully, she was truly not a pushover; when she took action, she was merciless! Everyone¡¯s cooperation was excellently tacit; as the Scouts hurried back, the swamp was forming, leaving only a few narrow paths for them to tread. Fang Yuyang led a group of Wind Superpower Users on top of the trucks, using Wind Blades to halt the steps of the Zombie Beasts from afar, buying time for the others. Bai Zhengli and others like Bai Ye also stood on top of the trucks to observe the enemy situation. They noticed that the Zombie Beasts were mainly comprised of wolves, leopards, lynxes, dhole dogs, bears, and gorillas, with some other Zombie Beasts mixed in. The number of these beasts was large, a quick glance estimating them to be around ten to nearly twenty thousand. Such a scale, though small compared to the human zombie groups, was much more challenging due to their animal instincts! If these were merely twenty thousand human zombies, no one would feel nervous unless they all had Level 2 Peak or Level 3 strength. But since they were all Zombie Beasts, everyone had to be extraordinarily vigilant! As they drew closer, Bai Zhengli immediately ordered, ¡°Take down the bears and gorillas first! Everyone, pay attention, we must prevent them from reaching the Protection Wall!¡± With his command, Wind Blades and bullets swiftly flew towards the bears and gorillas within the Zombie Beast Group. Fang Yuyang refrained from using his powerful tornado, as the situation wasn¡¯t desperate enough yet; using it so early would be wasteful, and although he was formidable, he had to allow others a chance to act. Otherwise, if they were left to solve all dangers and difficulties, what were the others to do? The purpose of Bai Zhengli establishing the battle group was to unite everyone to eliminate zombies, not to render them useless! Others also didn¡¯t feel that Fang Yuyang or Bai Ye should immediately use their most powerful skills against these Zombie Beasts. According to the battle group¡¯s rules, the amount of Crystal Cores each person could obtain was based on individual contribution, whether in combat or support. If there were no zombies or Mutant Beasts to kill, what were these people supposed to do? Wait to starve? Moreover, they were all adults; were they really inferior to others? Did they need others to protect them and lose all their dignity? ¡°Roar¡ª¡± Accompanied by the bear¡¯s anguished howl, all the Zombie Beasts seemed to be stimulated and sped up even more! The members of the Hope Battle Group watched this scene, becoming even more vigilant. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 663 - 662: 356 New to Long Province_2 Chapter 662: 356 New to Long Province_2 ±R ????? ???????? ??????? ?? ??? ?? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ????? ???? ?????????? ???? ????? ????? ?????????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ÀÏ ÌJ ???????? ?? ????? ????????? ??????? ??????? ???? ? ??? ±R ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ????¡±?? ?????? ????? ? ??????? ?? ????????? ????? ??? ???? ??????????  t · ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ???? 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?????? ??????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ??????????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ?????????? ????? ???? ? ????? ????????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ??? ???? ? ???????????? ???? ??????? ?????????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????¡¯? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ?????????????? ?? ????????? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??? ?????? ?????????? ??? ?????¡¯? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?????????? ?????????? ?? ??? ???? ???????? ? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??? ???????? ?? ??????? ????????? ??????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ???????? ??????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ????????????? ????? ???? ????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ??? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ?? ?????????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ? ?????????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ????????????? ?? ???????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ???? ? ???????? ????? ???? ???? ????????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?????????? ????? ??? ????????¡¯? ??????????? ??? ??????????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ???????? ??????? ???? ? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ? ????? ?? ???? ?????????? ????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????? ?? ??????? ????????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ????????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ? ????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ????????? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ?????????? ???? ????? ?????? ??????????? ?????? ? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ? ???? ?? ????? ? ????????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ???????? ??? ?? ?? ??????????????? ????????? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ??????????? ???????? ¡°???? ???? ??? ????? ??? ???????? ?????? ????????? ??? ?????????? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ???? ???????? ??? ?????????? ?????¡± ???????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ????? ????????? ???? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ????????? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ???? ????????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ???????? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ????¡¯? ?? ??? ??? ????? ???????? ??????????? ???????? ???? ??? ????????????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ???????????? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ????????? ???????? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ????¡¯? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ??????????? ??? ????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????¡¯? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ?????????? ????????????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ???????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???? ????????? ¡°????¡ª¡± ??????????? ?? ??? ????¡¯? ????????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?? ?????????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ????????? ??? ?? ?????????? ?? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ???????????? ?? ???? ??? ?????????????? ??? ??????? ???????? ???? ??????? ?? ?? ???????? ??????????? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ???????????? ?? ??????? Chapter 664: 357 Cunning!_2 Chapter 664: 357 Cunning!_2 Fang Yuxin stood by Bai Ye¡¯s side, but she hadn¡¯t made a move. Instead, her eyes were tightly focused on the distance, searching for the Zombie Wolf Leader. Bai Ye, on the other hand, was staring intently at the battlefield below, his brows deeply furrowed. He felt that something was amiss! As he watched all the Speed Zombie Beasts being intercepted, Bai Ye suddenly called out, ¡°Everyone be careful! Something isn¡¯t right! All Ice Ability Users, hurry up and freeze the ground!¡± Bai Zhengli also felt some unease, so as soon as Bai Ye spoke up, he promptly commanded, ¡°Everyone follow his orders! All Ice Ability Users, freeze the ground!¡± Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t know much about warfare, but she also felt that the Zombie Wolf was a bit too cunning and was likely a Level 4 Zombie! If the enemy was this cunning, they wouldn¡¯t just wait outside without making other preparations! Although she felt something was wrong, she couldn¡¯t guess what the enemy would do. Bai Ye was much better at this than she was. Once he saw that the situation was off, he guessed that the enemy might be ¡°deceiving the enemy¡± and immediately ordered Ice Ability Users to freeze the ground. Even if this wouldn¡¯t completely stop the enemy, at the very least it would create some trouble for them! Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t foolish. Even though she hadn¡¯t thought of this earlier, as soon as Bai Ye mentioned it, she understood. She immediately released her Spiritual Sense to probe underground. Looking down, she indeed found something! That something was likely a burrowing-specialist Pangolin Zombie. Although they had become zombies, it was clear their burrowing skills were intact. Presumably, it was the Zombie Wolf Leader¡¯s command that had them dig tunnels from below. Once the tunnels were ready, these zombies could come through from underground and catch them completely off guard! Unfortunately, after Red Powder took root, it spread a large number of roots through the soil, so most of the Pangolin Zombies were stopped by Red Powder¡¯s roots and were pierced through. Lan Re¡¯s roots were not as pervasive as Red Powder¡¯s, allowing about a dozen Pangolin Zombies to successfully cross, and they had already passed through the Protection Wall and were directly beneath them. Fortunately, Bai Ye promptly identified the problem and had the Ice Ability Users freeze the ground, at least causing some trouble for them. However, this alone was far from enough! The Pangolin Zombie¡¯s claws were incredibly sharp, perfectly designed for burrowing, not to mention frozen ground¡ªthey could even dig through solid rock! The freezing of the ground only slowed them down, and with a bit more time, they could completely dig through. Fang Yuxin immediately reported the situation to Bai Ye using telepathy, ¡°Not good, there are Pangolin Zombies below, the ground freezing doesn¡¯t affect them much, it only slows them down a bit.¡± Upon hearing this, Bai Ye used telepathy to ask her, ¡°Have you seen where those Pangolin Zombies are?¡± While speaking, he also silently released his Spiritual Sense to probe beneath the ground. At first, his Spiritual Sense was not as good as Fang Yuxin¡¯s, but after he inherited the Dragon Scale Sword, possibly influenced by the inheritance, his Soul Power gradually became more formidable, and correspondingly, his Spiritual Sense also grew stronger. Especially after his Foundation Establishment, his Spiritual Sense could extend quite far. Even though Bai Ye wasn¡¯t as adept at controlling his Spiritual Sense as Fang Yuxin, nor as nimble, it didn¡¯t stop him from surveying the situation underground. Especially with Fang Yuxin¡¯s tip, he easily located the Pangolin Zombies. The ones controlled by Red Powder¡¯s pervasive roots were not his concern; the remaining dozen or so required caution! After Bai Ye located the Pangolin Zombies, he quickly simulated their routes forward in his mind and finally determined the range from which they would emerge. Then he walked over to Bai Zhengli and quietly informed him of the situation. Bai Zhengli was quick-witted. Upon hearing him, his face changed and he immediately ordered the people at the suspected exit to retreat. Although he was older than Bai Ye, already fifty years old, his mind was quite agile. After ordering people to retreat, he issued another command for the Fire Element Superpower Users to get ready, and as soon as the Pangolin Zombies opened the tunnel, to prepare to attack! Bai Ye, however, had a different opinion. He said, ¡°These Pangolin Zombies are most likely obeying the Zombie Wolf Leader¡¯s commands. Once they open the tunnel, they will definitely try to send a signal, and they¡¯ll likely use howling to do so. That way, when the Zombie Wolf Leader outside hears their sound, it will command the other Zombie Beasts to attack from the tunnel. We should attack then! Otherwise, if these Pangolin Zombies don¡¯t successfully signal, the cunning Zombie Wolf might lead this horde of Zombie Beasts away, and we would have lost our opportunity!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone agreed with Bai Ye¡¯s opinion. Everyone had a similar thought: since they were already prepared for battle and had created traps and a Protection Wall, using many superpowers. It would be a great loss if the Zombie Beast horde left! So the plan changed, some people evacuated from their previous positions and moved to other safe areas, then some continued to keep watch on the Zombie Beast horde outside to prevent further attack. The rest stared intently at the ground, waiting for the Pangolin Zombies to break through the tunnel. At this time, the Zombie Wolf Leader gave another order, so another hundred Zombie Beasts came out and launched another assault. However, by now, everyone understood that these attacking Zombie Beasts were just pawns sent by the Zombie Wolf Leader to confuse them, while it was still waiting for the Pangolin Zombies to break through the tunnel! Many were shocked to their core. This was clearly a ploy of ¡°deceiving the enemy,¡± and that Zombie Wolf Leader was just too cunning! (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 665: 358 Tangled to the End Chapter 665: 358 Tangled to the End After seeing through the enemy¡¯s trick, although everyone became more vigilant, they couldn¡¯t help but be shocked. They had only encountered a team of Zombie Beasts this time, and the leader was a wolf, not a human zombie, yet it was already cunning to such an extent that it was horrifying! If all the zombies became this cunning, would they, the survivors, still have a path to life? Many people¡¯s faces gradually turned pale. Bai Zhengli saw this and knew that things couldn¡¯t continue like this, so he raised his voice and said, ¡°What is there to be afraid of? They are just a bunch of animals. That Zombie Wolf Leader is fierce, but aren¡¯t we just as formidable? It tried to deceive us by secretly treading a path while pretending to work on another, but didn¡¯t we see through it? Let¡¯s not forget, humans are the most intelligent of all animals! We didn¡¯t survive the apocalypse just to be scared by a beast zombie!¡± With that, everyone else was first jolted, then gradually recovered their wits, feeling that their earlier worries were indeed unwarranted. Yes, what did they have to be afraid of? If the enemy was formidable, they were not weak either! Seeing them regain their fighting spirit, and even become more encouraged, Bai Zhengli secretly sighed in relief. Then, he continued to watch the Zombie Beast horde in the distance with vigilance. Fang Yuxin stood beside Bai Ye. After hearing Bai Zhengli¡¯s words, she couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow at Bai Ye and telepathically said, ¡°Your dad is really amazing! With just a few simple words, he made everyone pick themselves up again!¡± While speaking, she also secretly gave Bai Ye a thumbs-up to show her admiration. Bai Ye had a look of pride on his face, but inside, he felt a bit of dissatisfaction, and he corrected Fang Yuxin through telepathic communication, ¡°Xinxin, you got it wrong, it¡¯s our dad!¡± Fang Yuxin was stunned for a moment, then she understood what he meant, her face instantly turned red, and then she said through telepathy with feigned fierceness, ¡°Dream on!¡± Bai Ye always liked it when she blushed like peach blossoms, but right now he had no time to appreciate it. He became nervous because of Fang Yuxin¡¯s words, ¡°Xinxin! What did you mean just now? We are so close already, you¡¯re not planning to lead me on and then ditch me, are you? I tell you, I won¡¯t agree to that! And... the son... won¡¯t agree either!¡± Fang Yuxin was immediately speechless. She really couldn¡¯t understand why Bai Ye, who was usually very serious, always acted foolishly from time to time. Could it be that he was being led astray by Bai Er? With this thought, she looked suspiciously at Bai Er, who was standing aside. Bai Er was extremely perceptive. She just gave it a glance, and Bai Er immediately sensed it. It didn¡¯t know whether it sensed Fang Yuxin¡¯s suspicion or was just simply acting cute. In any case, upon sensing Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze, it let out an especially innocent ¡°woo woo¡± sound and looked at Fang Yuxin with an innocent face. Fang Yuxin immediately felt a faint sense of guilt, so she looked suspiciously at Bai Ye again. She suddenly thought that Bai Er seemed quite innocent and probably hadn¡¯t been a bad influence on Bai Ye. Despite Bai Ye¡¯s serious facade, he was actually quite cunning! Bai Ye noticed she seemed to be suspecting him and quickly communicated telepathically, ¡°This has nothing to do with me! It¡¯s all Bai Er¡¯s fault! There must be something wrong with its breed. Ever since it recognized me as its master, I¡¯ve always been influenced by it! Xinxin, what do you think I should do?¡± Seeing him shamelessly try to shift the blame, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, ¡°Then give it to me.¡± Bai Ye quickly shook his head, ¡°No way!¡± Then, worried Fang Yuxin might misunderstand, he continued, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, Xinxin, it¡¯s not that I can¡¯t part with Bai Er. It¡¯s just, you don¡¯t know, this Mutated White Tiger might look impressive, but it¡¯s actually quite foolish, often disobedient, always causing trouble! It¡¯s nothing but trouble! I¡¯m worried it will bother you!¡± Seeing him explain anxiously, Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°I¡¯m just teasing you, what are you so nervous about? Besides, since Bai Er has recognized you as its master, how could I possibly compete with you for it?¡± Bai Ye freely translated this sentence in his mind as ¡ª How could I vie with you for your only Spiritual Pet, when I care about you so much? With that, his heart immediately felt sweet. However, recalling Fang Yuxin¡¯s earlier words, he became tense again. He stealthily moved a step closer, almost shoulder to shoulder with Fang Yuxin, arms touching. Then, he tentatively reached out and secretly took Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, and upon discovering she didn¡¯t resist, he quickly held on tightly. Chapter 666: 358 Entanglement to the End_2 Chapter 666: 358 Entanglement to the End_2 Fang Yuxin stood beside him, somewhat speechless. She thought that Bai Ye had become increasingly childish, even capable of making such a juvenile gesture! What left her even more speechless was the fact that when Bai Ye made this gesture, his face was tight with seriousness, as if he was earnestly observing the enemy¡¯s movement! However, she didn¡¯t pull her hand away from his; she just glared at him fiercely, her eyes warning him¡ªhave you had enough? Don¡¯t get too carried away, okay? Worried others might see! Bai Ye was unapologetically brazen. He thought to himself that holding his girlfriend¡¯s hand was perfectly justified; what was there to be afraid of? Besides, it wasn¡¯t like he was only flirting with Fang Yuxin; he was still seriously observing the enemy¡¯s movement! He continued to tease Fang Yuxin with his telepathic messages, ¡°Xinxin, what exactly did you mean just now? Let me tell you, I will never let go! Don¡¯t think you can get rid of me! I¡¯ll always stick by you!¡± Fang Yuxin silently gave him a look just as Bai Ye turned his head to look at her. His gaze was incredibly serious, as if to tell Fang Yuxin that he truly meant what he said. However, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t see any hint of madness or darkness in his eyes; she knew that even though Bai Ye spoke like this, if one day she genuinely asked for a breakup, he would definitely not cling onto her desperately, nor would he do anything to hurt her. Unreasonably, she was just that certain! With Bai Ye treating her this way, how could she not like him? How could she give up on such a wonderful man? ¡°You wish!¡± Fang Yuxin huffed discontentedly but quietly clasped Bai Ye¡¯s hand back, conveying her sentiment. Bai Ye immediately understood; he instinctively tightened his grip on Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand. At the same time, the deliberately stern poker face he had adopted could no longer be maintained, blossoming into an especially brilliant smile. Bai Zhengli was standing not far away. He was observing the enemy¡¯s movement, but for some reason, he suddenly turned his head. Then, he just happened to see his son smiling like an idiot, immediately feeling extremely embarrassed and could not help but want to scold him. However, very soon, he saw the hand that his son was holding with Fang Yuxin. Bai Zhengli blinked and then smiled meaningfully, giving Bai Ye a look of approval, his anger completely dissipated like smoke into the clouds. Pretending he had seen nothing, he turned his head back to continue observing the enemy¡¯s movement. However, he couldn¡¯t help but lift the corners of his mouth, apparently unable to control his delight. Bai Zhengli¡¯s heart swelled with pride¡ªtruly worthy of being his son, even managing to win over a tough girl like Fang Yuxin! He was really satisfied with his daughter-in-law. Back then, Bai Ye¡¯s reluctance to find a partner had driven both him and Shui Rou mad; they even thought that Qin Xiran was not bad. At that time, they were being heavily oppressed by Bai Zhengyi and his son Bai Yi, and Bai Zhengli wanted to get Bai Ye together with Qin Xiran to counter their suppression. Coincidentally, the Qin Family also intended to form an alliance through marriage, and since Qin Xiran also looked decent¡ªbeautiful, from a good family background, skilled in martial arts, and not as fragile as typical girls¡ªthey were quite satisfied with her, thinking she would be suitable for Bai Ye. Little did they know that Bai Ye felt nothing for Qin Xiran, and whether by coincidence or for some other reason, Qin Xiran had severely beaten a poor suitor, resulting in serious injuries. The Qin Family narrowly managed to hush up the incident. When he and Shui Rou learned about this, they completely changed their opinion about Qin Xiran, feeling that Bai Ye was right not to choose her. Although the girl was good in many aspects, her character was simply not endearing. Later on, they turned their attention to Meng Qingluo. This young woman, though from an ordinary family, was pretty, capable, and had a good disposition, plus she deeply adored Bai Ye. Seeing them together all the time, both he and Shui Rou assumed that Bai Ye and she might end up together. So, they purposely inquired about Bai Ye¡¯s intentions, only for him to suddenly return from a mission with a child, claiming it to be their grandson, and telling them to stop worrying about his marriage because he had it figured out. With Bai Qianqian in the picture, he and Shui Rou shifted all their focus to the child, and though still concerned about Bai Ye¡¯s future marriage, they no longer pressed the matter. They watched Bai Ye gradually mature and became confident that he could handle this. However, as Bai Ye¡¯s age crept up without the presence of a beloved woman by his side, they couldn¡¯t help but worry: Could there be something wrong with their son? Or did he prefer men? When they called Bai Ye back home and subtly broached the subject, he was so shocked that he became speechless, insisting that he was completely normal and that his relationships with those around him were purely brotherly. They were half-doubtful until Chen Si brought the Fang Family to Beishi Base, and from Bai Qianqian they learned that he had found ¡°Mama,¡± and Bai Ye really liked her! At first, they weren¡¯t entirely convinced, so they asked Chen Si, and from him, they learned the truth, finally confident that their son had indeed seen the light! When Bai Ye brought Fang Yuxin back to Beishi Base, they were even more relieved; their son had undoubtedly fallen deeply this time! The only thing that made him and Shui Rou uneasy was that their foolish son was clearly smitten with Fang Yuxin, yet the girl didn¡¯t seem to have deep feelings for Bai Ye. What to do about this dilemma! It wasn¡¯t until today, witnessing the scene just now, that Bai Zhengli finally felt assured. So delighted was he that he suddenly felt that the encroaching horde of Zombie Beasts were not much of a concern! Just at that moment, the Pangolin Zombies finally dug through the entrance and began to emerge from the hole. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 667: 359 Trap! Chapter 667: 359 Trap! Many people were on guard, so when the Pangolin Zombies appeared, everyone became alert. However, they didn¡¯t move, just staring intently at the Pangolin Zombies. Bai Ye was worried that Bai Er might encounter problems, so he specifically used telepathy to remind it not to move. Although Bai Er usually appeared somewhat foolish, it was extremely obedient in critical moments. Upon receiving Bai Ye¡¯s order, it stood still, making no sound from its throat, just silently watching the Pangolin Zombies. The Pangolin Zombies came out of the cave entrance a bit and then made a strange calling sound from their mouths. Although the sound was weird, it could travel a long distance. Upon hearing it, the Zombie Wolf Leader immediately ordered the Zombie Beasts to enter the cave. Many superpower users had very good eyesight and could see far, so they saw that after the Zombie Wolf Leader gave the order, the horde of Zombie Beasts started moving. Probably to prevent discovery, they didn¡¯t all swarm into the cave at once but disguised the appearance of some Zombie Beasts disappearing by the movements of all the Zombie Beasts. They were incredibly careful; if one hadn¡¯t previously noticed that the opponent intended to carry out a ¡°deceiving the enemy¡± strategy and hadn¡¯t paid special attention, one wouldn¡¯t notice at first glance that some Zombie Beasts were missing from the group. Everyone was once again shocked by the cunning of the Zombie Wolf Leader. Then, Bai Zhengli gave the order for all Fire Element Superpower Users to be on guard and to set fire if any zombies entered the cave. Bai Zhengli thought for a moment and then without hesitation put Qu Qianhe in charge of the Fire Superpower User squad, instructing everyone to follow her commands. Everyone had already seen Qu Qianhe¡¯s abilities and tactics, so naturally, there was no dissent or dissatisfaction. Especially those Fire Element Superpower Users, who had been extremely impressed by her ¡°Starfire,¡± were not only devoid of any objections or dissatisfaction to Bai Zhengli¡¯s order but were even more exhilarated as if injected with an intense booster. Qu Qianhe quietly released her Spiritual Sense to check the situation inside the cave. Soon, she found that quite a number of Zombie Beasts were coming from inside the cave. She immediately went on alert, then said to the others, ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t act yet; wait for my signal before making a move! Got it?¡± The other Fire Element Superpower Users nodded in agreement. They felt that Qu Qianhe must have a reason for such instructions, so they didn¡¯t harbor any doubts. Seeing this, Qu Qianhe quietly heaved a sigh of relief. She wasn¡¯t afraid of leading the team; what she was really afraid of was having incompetent team members under her who not only lacked skills but also refused to follow orders¡ªsuch people would only sabotage their efforts! As she saw more and more Zombie Beasts filling up the cave and getting closer to the exit, Qu Qianhe was about to give another order when Fang Yuxin suddenly entered a vehicle and took out a spray bottle. This very spray bottle was the one Zhao Qiankun had used to set them up initially; all others had been used up, but this one was preserved by Fang Yuxin. The effect of the Mysterious Liquid inside was actually quite impressive; just switching its application could achieve wonderful results! Just now, as the enemy was playing the ¡°deceiving the enemy¡± trick, they could counteract by setting a deadly trap for the enemy! But since it¡¯s a trap, they must be careful of the enemy not falling for it! Now, with this Mysterious Liquid, they didn¡¯t have to worry. Only fourteen Pangolin Zombies successfully burrowed through the cave, and after making their call, they couldn¡¯t suppress their innate zombie impulses and charged out of the cave, attacking nearby people¡ªall of which were dealt with by Fang Yuyang using his Wind Blade. These Pangolin Zombies couldn¡¯t go back, nor could they dig more tunnels, meaning that they just needed to drip some of the Mysterious Liquid at these fourteen cave openings, and have the Wind Element Superpower Users send the scent of the liquid into the cave with their wind. The Mutant Beasts inside should then go berserk and attack relentlessly, without any worry of them retreating. In this way, not much of the Mysterious Liquid would be needed, and they could clear out these Zombie Beasts more conveniently! After Fang Yuxin brought out the spray bottle, many clever ones saw through her intention and felt that this strategy was too brilliant! Ever since they successfully used the Mysterious Liquid in the spray bottle last time to provoke zombies to block Zhao Qiankun and Bai Yi¡¯s teams, others had stopped resisting this Mysterious Liquid from the spray bottle, instead considering it as an extremely effective aid! Chapter 668: 359 Trap!_2 Chapter 668: 359 Trap!_2 At the time, they all thought that the substance had already been used up, and they were still regretting it in their hearts. Now, seeing that there was still a jug in Fang Yuxin¡¯s hands, everyone¡¯s spirits were lifted. Especially for researchers like Qian Sen and Li Qingyun, ever since they had seen the power of the mysterious liquid, they had been hoping to get a chance to study it. They had thought it was all used up, so while they felt regretful, they didn¡¯t dare to hope for more. Now that they saw there was still a whole jug left, their eyes instantly brightened, and they began to scheme in their hearts, resolving that after the zombie beasts were dealt with, they would definitely ask Fang Yuxin for some to study. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t pay attention to other people¡¯s gazes, instead directly instructing Fang Yuyang to act, to sprinkle the mysterious liquid from the sprayer around the cave entrance, and use the wind to send the scent into the cave. Fang Yuyang naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse; he called over Wujin, which was circling above, and then coolly stepped onto its back, taking the sprayer from Fang Yuxin¡¯s hands. He deftly stood on Wujin and circled above all the cave entrances, taking the chance to sprinkle the potion down. It was his first time standing on Wujin. Seeing this, everyone¡¯s eyes widened with envy; Fang Yuyang¡¯s mode of transportation was just too cool, and they all wanted one too! Even Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye couldn¡¯t help but look at Fang Yuyang and Wujin with a hint of envy in their eyes. Even the typically stern Bai Zhengli couldn¡¯t resist stroking his chin, contemplating whether or not he should try to contract a large mutated bird himself, as using one for transportation really did seem quite cool! As the potion was sprayed out, Fang Yuyang raised a hand, and instantly, a dozen gentle breezes appeared. These winds weren¡¯t strong, just like soft zephyrs, and they directly carried the scent of the potion into the cave. Seeing this, Qu Qianhe immediately went on alert and issued an order to the others, ¡°All Fire Element Superpower Users, be careful! The zombie beasts in the cave are about to come out!¡± Sure enough, as soon as her words fell, a series of frantic roars came from the cave, clearly stimulated by the scent of the potion. Then, the zombie beasts inside started rushing out like mad. The first zombie beast had barely shown its head when someone prepared to strike, but Qu Qianhe stopped them. After it jumped out of the cave, Qu Qianhe immediately launched a fireball, hitting the zombie beast right in the head and killing it. Meanwhile, Qu Qianhe explained, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, wait for the zombie beasts to jump out of the cave before attacking. This way, their bodies will stay outside and won¡¯t block the entrance, and the other zombie beasts won¡¯t notice what¡¯s happening outside.¡± The other Fire Element Superpower Users weren¡¯t fools, and after seeing Qu Qianhe¡¯s actions, they had already caught on to her intention. Hearing her explanation only made them understand more clearly and confirmed their guesses! Soon, zombie beasts from other caves also rushed out. These Fire Element Superpower Users were already prepared; as soon as any zombie beasts charged out, they would immediately attack with fireballs. The speed of the zombie beasts was incredibly fast, and with the stimulation of the mysterious potion, they burst from the caves so quickly they didn¡¯t even have the chance to look at the situation outside before leaping out. By the time they realized something was wrong, the fireballs had already hit them right between the eyes! While Qu Qianhe led the Fire Element Superpower Users in attacking the zombie beasts running out of the cave, the other zombie beasts were not idle. Under the command of the Zombie Wolf Leader, they began rushing into the marsh. Although the area of the marsh was quite vast, due to time constraints, it wasn¡¯t very deep, and the zombie beasts soon made a safe passage by filling it in. The Zombie Wolf Leader immediately issued an order, and then, more zombie beasts surged out. They stepped on the makeshift pathway their companions had formed and quickly crossed the marsh safely, rushing into the territories of Red Powder and Lan Re. Although Red Powder and Lan Re were formidable, they couldn¡¯t possibly trap all the zombie beasts. Red Powder was almost completely covered by zombie beasts, preventing it from dealing with the others. Consequently, the remaining zombie beasts surged towards the Protection Wall. The wall had spikes, but zombie beasts had no sense of pain, so it hardly affected them; instead, they climbed the wall recklessly, not caring as the flesh on their paws completely rotted away. Seeing the situation take a turn for the worse, Bai Zhengli quickly issued an order for the others to take action and clear the zombie beasts hanging on the Protection Wall. Both he and Bai Ye were Gold Element Superpower Users, so they simply led the other Gold Element Superpower Users to retract all the spikes from the Ice Wall. Some zombie beasts had been using those spikes as support to climb, and once the spikes vanished, they lost control and started sliding down. Seeing this, Bai Zhengli immediately gave another order, ¡°Ice Ability Users, raise the Protection Wall, others, attack their foreheads!¡± Whether human or beast, while climbing, the forehead was inevitably exposed. And by coincidence, this was the zombie¡¯s weakness! Bai Zhengli¡¯s command prompted all others, aside from the Fire Element Superpower Users, to spring into action, shooting with guns, slicing with Ice Blades, throwing Flying Knives, and even using Wind Blades and Earth Spikes, all targeting the foreheads of the zombie beasts! When the zombie beasts died, their bodies would slide down the smooth Ice Wall, landing on the ones below and dragging them down. In the distance, the entire horde of zombie beasts had dwindled to just a few thousand, with a conspicuous white wolf particularly visible. Suddenly, it howled long and loud into the sky, and chaos ensued once more. The zombie beasts, previously on the offensive, received the command and started retreating. This was a retreat command! Everyone was startled at first, and then Fang Yuyang once again dispersed the potion. This time, he sprinkled the potion directly onto the Ice Wall, and used the wind to spread the scent. Soon after, the retreating zombie beasts were once again attracted and rushed crazily towards the Ice Wall!(To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for your favorite recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 669: The new crisis of 360 Chapter 669: The new crisis of 360 Under the temptation of the mysterious potion, the Zombie Beasts that were planning to retreat directly defied the orders of the Zombie Wolf Leader, turned around, and crazily charged at the Ice Wall. They licked the wall with their tongues and relentlessly tore at it with their claws, treating the Ice Wall as if it were their prey. Fang Yuyang¡¯s tactic was indeed very clever. With this, the Zombie Beasts no longer madly climbed the Ice Wall, which made them safer and provided more opportunities to deal with these Zombie Beasts. Otherwise, not to mention that the Zombie Beasts were already prepared to leave, even if they did not, they would only climb the Ice Wall, treating it as their prey. However, the defiance of the Zombie Beasts greatly displeased the Zombie Wolf Leader! As Fang Yuyang watched it raise its head, clearly intending to issue another order, he immediately commanded Wujin to fly over. Then, in midair, Wujin launched a massive Wind Blade at the Zombie Wolf Leader, entangling it and preventing it from having the chance to issue orders! At the same time, the remaining Zombie Beasts also smelt the scent coming from the Ice Wall and, one after another, stepped on the corpses of their companions in the swamp and charged towards the Ice Wall. The White Wolf was the leader of these Zombie Beasts, and could have kept them under control, but at this moment, it was entangled by Fang Yuyang and had no chance to order them. Without its deterrence, the other Zombie Beasts were driven by instinct to rush toward the Ice Wall without heed. Just as a large number of Zombie Beasts poured into the swamp, Fang Jintang suddenly made a move, casting a stream of spirit light that struck the swamp below. Soon after, the entire swamp began to churn. With this single roll, the safe passage that the Zombie Beasts had managed to create collapsed in an instant, and those Zombie Beasts still on it also fell into the depths of the swamp. Watching this scene, other Earth Element Superpower Users were inspired and started copying the technique. Unfortunately, their strength was far inferior to Fang Jintang¡¯s. Most crucially, they were superpower users whose skills depended entirely on their own exploration, without a complete method of cultivation ¨C how could they compare to Fang Jintang, a cultivator who had cheated the system? After trying, everyone found that only Fang Jintang could perform the skill they had just seen, and they simply could not! However, they did not doubt Fang Jintang, but rather thought it was because their own levels were insufficient, which prevented them from comprehending or even using Fang Jintang¡¯s skill. After all, skills were comprehended entirely on one¡¯s own; if one witnessed someone else using a skill, it might provide inspiration, and they might be able to comprehend it for themselves, but this wasn¡¯t always the case. Hence, even among superpower users of the same level, the skills they comprehended could vary greatly, resulting in even greater disparities in strength. Everyone had already become accustomed to this; at most, they envied in their hearts and never thought that Fang Jintang was on the path of cultivation, or that everyone in the Fang family had cheated! Fang Yuxin had been quietly observing the expressions of these people. Seeing that they were regretful but showed no unusual reaction, she quietly let go of her worries. Bai Ye noticed her tension and, feeling pity for her, transmitted a comforting message: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there are many strange skills nowadays, no one will think too much about it.¡± Fang Yuxin understood his logic, but knowing was one thing, she still couldn¡¯t help but worry. The despair and regret of her previous life ¨C she would not allow it to spread to this life! However, she didn¡¯t want Bai Ye to worry about her, so she nodded and transmitted back: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine.¡± Bai Ye knew this was her way and that she wouldn¡¯t change overnight. Besides, he also felt that with such a big secret hidden within Fang Yuxin, it was impossible for her not to be anxious! So he didn¡¯t continue to persuade her, only silently resolved to always keep a close watch on Fang Yuxin and even to watch over others for her, to never give anyone the chance to hurt her and her family! Just as he was thinking about this, he couldn¡¯t help but think of Qiu Yiming. His heart would always be unsettled about Fang Yuxin¡¯s feelings towards him because he always felt that Fang Yuxin¡¯s sudden breakup with Qiu Yiming was too abrupt and illogical. He believed that something unknown to him must have happened between Fang Yuxin and Qiu Yiming, which led her to become so resolute. After all, Qiu Yiming grew up with Fang Yuxin since they were children, just like family, and their affection could not be shallow. Why would Fang Yuxin suddenly become so decisive? Not even giving Qiu Yiming a chance to correct his mistakes? Chapter 670: 360 New Crisis_2 Chapter 670: 360 New Crisis_2 Bai Ye felt that there must be more than just Father Qiu and Mother Qiu¡¯s reasons. There had to be other factors. Having been with Fang Yuxin for so long, he never saw her as an unfeeling person, nor as a fickle woman who changes her affection easily. If it weren¡¯t for something deeply hurtful that Qiu Yiming had done, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have been like this! But what exactly had Qiu Yiming done? Why couldn¡¯t he figure it out? Before the apocalypse, because of Bai Qianqian, he had been keeping an eye on the Fang Family¡¯s situation, and he even investigated Fang Mengyao. How could there be any oversights? To say it was because Qiu Yiming had taken in Fang Mengyao seemed far-fetched! However, as much as he was concerned, he didn¡¯t dare to ask Fang Yuxin directly. He felt the matter must have been a great hurt to Fang Yuxin and didn¡¯t want to inflict a second wound, so he preferred to investigate it slowly. With no chance now, he would look into it later; he was determined to get to the bottom of this! No matter what Qiu Yiming had done to hurt Fang Yuxin, he would never let that man off easily! And Fang Mengyao! Clearly the half-sister of Fang Yuxin, with such a background, the Fang Family still accepted her; what right did she have to be discontented? Even to hate Fang Yuxin? It was simply unreasonable! Unfortunately, they had left in a hurry and, with that woman cunningly hiding in the Qiu Family¡¯s territory, he hadn¡¯t found the opportunity to get rid of her. Bai Ye felt quite regretful in his heart, but he also thought that opportunities could always be found, so there was no need to rush. Consequently, he quickly collected his thoughts and continued focusing on the battle at hand. He was very good at concealing his feelings; Fang Yuxin had been observing him all along and couldn¡¯t see anything amiss on his face. She had no idea that Bai Ye had been caring about the reason behind her breakup with Qiu Yiming. Just as Bai Ye didn¡¯t know that the reason Fang Yuxin broke up so decisively with Qiu Yiming was really because of his ruthlessness in his past life, his calculated coldness in this life, and Father Qiu and Mother Qiu¡¯s despicableness! Afar, the Zombie Wolf Leader¡¯s orders were hindered by Fang Yuyang, preventing it from commanding; as a result, the Zombie Beasts by its side either crazily plunged into the swamp or rushed into the caves, planning to attack from underground. And without exception, all the Zombie Beasts were killed by the battle group. In the end, only the Zombie Wolf Leader remained. As Fang Yuxin had speculated, the Zombie Wolf Leader was a Fourth-level Mutated Zombie, not only very fast but also had an Ice Ability. Highly cunning, although entangled by Fang Yuyang and unable to command, Fang Yuyang also couldn¡¯t inflict any serious damage on it. It was like Angela in the past, directly covering its body with a layer of solid ice. Annoyingly, that layer of solid ice didn¡¯t affect its speed at all, making it very difficult to deal with! Fang Yuyang¡¯s Wind Blades couldn¡¯t cause much damage to it, and because of its high speed, even a tornado might not be able to trap it. Fang Yuyang even believed that in the time it took to prepare a tornado, this cunning Zombie Wolf would definitely escape! He could already see the intent to retreat in its eyes! Watching both sides in a stalemate, unable to take down each other, Wujin suddenly let out a piercing scream under Fang Yuyang¡¯s feet, and its body soared upward, swiftly reversing direction and heading towards the clouds at high speed. Fang Yuyang was shocked and while ordering Wujin to return, he turned to look at the Zombie Wolf, and sure enough, it had cunningly turned and fled rapidly! Fang Yuyang¡¯s face changed at once; its speed was simply too fast. If he didn¡¯t pursue it now, it would escape! But no matter how he commanded Wujin, Wujin refused to listen, instead darting in the opposite direction like lightning. Just as Fang Yuyang was wondering if Wujin had been bewitched by that Zombie Wolf, he suddenly saw a large flock of Zombie Birds appearing ahead! The Zombie Bird Group was too large, even bigger than the one they had encountered before. All the Zombie Birds were packed tightly together, looking from a distance like a massive octopus! At that moment, Wujin let out another sharp scream, then quickly turned again, rushing back towards the camp with Fang Yuyang. Fang Yuyang then realized that Wujin must have detected the Zombie Bird Group, which was why it suddenly turned around to show him. He quickly thanked Wujin, and when he returned to the camp, others were still puzzled. Bai Zhengli felt that the situation had been strange, and as soon as he saw him return, he asked, ¡°Yu Yang, what happened? Did you discover a new situation?¡± He had noticed that Fang Yuyang leaving wasn¡¯t intentional, that he looked surprised as if Wujin had acted on its own initiative. He thought Wujin wouldn¡¯t act senselessly unless there was a reason, so he deliberately asked in such a way. This was also to give Fang Yuyang a way to explain the situation discreetly, to prevent others from having unnecessary thoughts, thinking he had failed at a critical moment. Fang Yuyang naturally saw Bai Zhengli¡¯s consideration and thought to himself that Bai Ye¡¯s father was indeed a decent man, much better than Qiu Hongsheng. At the same time, he nodded his head and explained what he had found out: ¡°Just now, Wujin suddenly turned around with me, and I thought it was acting up. But later, I found that there was an enormous Zombie Bird Group approaching. Wujin had detected them, which is why it intentionally took me to see. The size of that Zombie Bird Group is enormous. Although I was far away and couldn¡¯t see it clearly, I am sure that the scale is even larger than the last one we encountered. All the Zombie Birds were tightly packed, looking from afar like a massive octopus. We must stay alert and be cautious!¡± Many were curious why he had turned back so suddenly, so when Bai Zhengli asked, they all quietly pricked their ears, and at that moment, upon hearing Fang Yuyang¡¯s words, their expressions changed instantly ¨C another Zombie Bird Group? When would this ever end! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 671: 361 is a bit off Chapter 671: 361 is a bit off Fang Yuyang had just announced that another Zombie Bird Group was coming and that it was quite massive, leaving everyone present thoroughly depressed. They had barely managed to eliminate the Zombie Beast Group, and now here was a Zombie Bird Group? Would there ever be an end to this? Even though they were complaining in their hearts, not a single person backed down. Instead, they all silently adjusted their states, preparing to face the approaching Zombie Bird Group. Zombie Birds could fly and were extremely fast. To deal with them, Wind Ability Users were the best since a change in the wind could affect the Zombie Birds¡¯ flying capabilities. With the experience from last time, everyone was much calmer now. Even though the Zombie Bird Group they encountered this time was much bigger, ever since they had seen the power of Fang Yuyang¡¯s Tornado Skill, they were not worried about being at a disadvantage against this Zombie Bird Group! Moreover, Fang Yuyang was not the only Wind Ability User present. Even if he couldn¡¯t kill all the Zombie Birds, the remaining Wind Ability Users could handle quite a few. Besides, there were still all of them! Bai Zhengli glanced around and, satisfied with everyone¡¯s attitude, gave the direct order, ¡°Everyone, prepare for battle!¡± As soon as the words were out, everyone instinctively gripped their weapons tighter and looked up in the direction Fang Yuyang had indicated. Soon, they spotted the massive ¡°octopus.¡± Just as Fang Yuyang described, the ¡°octopus¡± was incredibly ferocious and ugly, especially with its enormous size, far surpassing any deep-sea giant octopuses from sci-fi movies. As it drew closer, Bai Zhengli commanded that the other Wind Ability Users follow Fang Yuyang¡¯s arrangements. Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t decline, and as soon as Bai Zhengli gave the order, he began to organize. First, he had all the Wind Ability Users line up, then divided the team into eight groups, each targeting different positions. Just as he had finished organizing, the massive Zombie Bird Group had already arrived overhead. They had used some chemicals earlier to set traps for the Zombie Beasts. Now, as the smell of the chemicals dispersed, it attracted the Zombie Birds, which immediately changed direction and swooped down toward them! ¡°Attack!¡± Fang Yuyang shouted, and all the Wind Ability Users acted in unison. Because they had made preparations from the start, their actions were orderly. Countless Wind Blades flew towards the Zombie Bird Group, and in an instant, many Zombie Birds rained down from the sky. Fang Yuyang released the Tornado Skill directly, creating a super miniature tornado at first. But in the blink of an eye, it rapidly grew larger and rose higher, plunging into the midst of the Zombie Bird Group and sweeping countless Zombie Birds into the massive tornado. Although everyone had seen this scene before, witnessing it again was still shocking. As more and more Zombie Birds were caught in the tornado, the remaining ones didn¡¯t leave but, lured by the chemicals, shrieked and charged frantically downwards. There were simply too many Zombie Birds. Even with Fang Yuyang unleashing the formidable Tornado Skill, he couldn¡¯t get all the Zombie Birds sucked into it, leaving the majority of them! Despite the other Wind Ability Users¡¯ efforts to eliminate these remaining Zombie Birds with Wind Blades, there were just too many of them, and the Wind Ability Users alone couldn¡¯t possibly eradicate them entirely! As a large number of Zombie Birds rushed down, Bai Zhengli hurriedly ordered, ¡°Prepare for battle!¡± Just then, Qu Qianhe produced a large Fireball from her hands. She didn¡¯t use the ¡°Starfire¡± Skill this time; the Fireball expanded rapidly after being launched, swiftly enveloping the Zombie Birds in mid-air. The Zombie Birds¡¯ feathers were very dry, and as soon as the flames touched their feathers, they burst into intense flames. Seeing this, Fang Yuyang ordered once more, ¡°Use the wind to change the direction of the flames!¡± Simultaneously, Qu Qianhe commanded the Fire Element Superpower Users, ¡°Those who can still use their superpowers, follow me, use fire against these Zombie Birds, they¡¯re afraid of fire!¡± Hearing this, the Fire Element Superpower Users angrily hurled Fireballs towards the Zombie Birds above. At Fang Yuyang¡¯s command, the Wind Ability Users tried to control the direction of the fire with wind. At first, they were not very skilled, but soon, they gradually became more adept and coordinated seamlessly. Chapter 672: 361 Somethings Not Quite Right_2 Chapter 672: 361 Something¡¯s Not Quite Right_2 The wind aided the blaze, and as the flames spread across the sky, more zombie birds were engulfed, burning into charred husks. Meanwhile, the tornado controlled by Fang Yuyang continuously sucked in the nearby zombie birds. With a Wind Ability User in control, there was no concern that the burning flames might suddenly plummet from the sky. With their close cooperation, this terrifyingly large group of zombie birds was completely eradicated by Fang Yuyang and his team. One of the zombie bird leaders tried to escape amid the chaos but was mercilessly pursued and torn apart by Wujin. After everyone cleaned up the battlefield, they realized it was only one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, less than an hour had passed since they had discovered the zombie beast group! Having eliminated the zombie bird group, everyone was thoroughly exhausted, especially the Wind, Fire, and Ice Ability Users, all too weary even to lift a finger. Once the crisis was resolved, they took out their Crystal Cores and began absorbing them. Shang Jinxiu originally planned to cook for the group but had to stop due to the arrival of the zombie beasts. Now, seeing everyone exhausted, she decided to continue cooking, preparing a sumptuous feast to reward everyone. Lunch was quickly prepared, but after the recent tough battle, everyone was drained of energy, and the meal was eaten hastily. After finishing their lunch, they did not dare to linger and hurriedly set off on the road. They had only just arrived in Long Province and were unfamiliar with the situation there; finding a suitable place to settle down remained a question. To quickly understand the situation in Long Province, finding local survivors was the best option. However, Long Province was simply too vast, and blindly searching was not feasible, so Bai Zhengli proposed that Fang Yuyang help scout ahead. Fang Yuyang had already achieved Foundation Establishment, roughly equivalent to a Level 4 Superpower User. Moreover, since he followed the path of cultivation, he was far more powerful than an ordinary Level 4 Superpower User. Bai Zhengli felt more at ease asking him to scout ahead, and among all present, no one was more suitable than Fang Yuyang. Besides, Fang Yuyang had contracted with a Mutant Golden Eagle and could fly directly in the sky; the zombies and mutant beasts on the ground could not harm him. The only concern might come from the zombie birds and Mutated Birds in the sky. Fang Yuyang had no objections and, with a nod, mounted Wujin and flew out to reconnoiter the nearby area. Fang Yuxin watched him leave and couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit gloomy. She actually had Flying Spirit Artifacts in her space, but those were too high-profile and obviously not things of this world, utterly impossible to use openly. Bai Ye was paying close attention to her and, seeing her gaze fixed on Fang Yuyang¡¯s departing figure, thought she was worried and approached to console her, ¡°Xinxin, don¡¯t worry, your brother is strong; nothing will happen to him.¡± Of course, Fang Yuxin knew Fang Yuyang would be fine, but staring at his receding figure, she could not help but be reminded of her past life. The last time Fang Yuyang had left had been like this; as the levels of zombies and mutated creatures continued to rise, she, an Ordinary Person, simply could not adapt. That time, Fang Yuyang had gone to undertake a highly-rewarded task, and she couldn¡¯t accompany him. She could only watch him depart and anxiously wait for his return in their narrow home. However, what she ultimately received was the news of Fang Yuyang¡¯s death, and she didn¡¯t even get to see his body! The apocalypse was cruel like that; if someone died during a mission, others would not bring the body back to the family, but rather burn it on the spot to prevent zombification. So, even though she knew with certainty that Fang Yuyang would be alright now, she still disliked this kind of farewell, which always reminded her of that sad and hopeless past life. Such thoughts were something Bai Ye could never understand. Seeing Fang Yuxin still seemed worried, he hesitated a moment, then stretched out his hand to lightly pat her shoulder in comfort. Bai Ye wasn¡¯t sure in his heart, but he thought that if Fang Yuxin continued to worry, then he... he would just hug her to offer comfort. Unfortunately, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t give him the chance; she quickly pushed those images from her past life out of her mind and began earnestly surveying their surroundings. The convoy traveled along the main road, not moving fast as they were waiting for Fang Yuyang. About half an hour later, he returned. Fang Yuxin caught sight of him and subconsciously scanned him up and down, confirming he was unharmed and her heart instantly relaxed. Bai Zhengli was eager to ask, ¡°How did the recon go? What¡¯s the situation in the vicinity?¡± Fang Yuxin handed over a bottle of water, and after Fang Yuyang took a sip, he reported, ¡°I checked around nearby, the villages have all been ravaged, looks like the work of mutant beasts or zombie beasts. I found two small bases that have been destroyed, with no survivors inside. There are many mountains around here, so there should be plenty of wildlife as well, wreaking havoc.¡± Bai Zhengli nodded in understanding, not suggesting that they inspect the two destroyed bases. Since the places were already ravaged, any survivors there would have either left or been killed; there was no third possibility. In such a case, visiting those two bases would be fruitless and would only add to their sorrow. As a result, the convoy continued on, with Fang Yuyang scouting ahead at each place they arrived to assess the situation before deciding whether to stay. On the second day of entering Long Province, not long after Fang Yuyang had left, a Mutated Falcon suddenly flew overhead. The Mutated Falcon circled above them once before abruptly flying away. Fang Yuyang watched the falcon¡¯s receding figure intently, feeling that something was not quite right. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please support the author with your recommendations, monthly tickets, or by visiting Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please access m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 673: 362 Probing Chapter 673: 362 Probing Not only had Fang Yuxin noticed the issue with the Mutated Falcon, but Bai Zhengli and many others had as well. Everyone felt that the Mutated Falcon did not seem wild but rather like it was raised by someone. Or to put it another way, it might be someone¡¯s Contracted Beast. Realizing this, Bai Zhengli felt both anticipation and nervousness. The Mutated Falcon seemed to have come specifically to scout the situation, and though it had left, the news of their appearance had likely been relayed back to its master. So, what would the other party do? Bai Zhengli hoped to encounter a rational person, with whom he could inquire about the situation in Long Province. However, if the other party had malicious intentions, a fierce battle would be inevitable soon! He did not fear fighting zombies and mutated creatures, but the idea of fighting other survivors worried him the most¡ªnot because he feared defeat but because he felt it was unnecessary. At this critical juncture of the apocalypse, the remaining human population was already small. If they failed to unite and only focused on scheming against each other, there would be no need for zombies and mutated creatures to intervene; humanity would destroy itself. He was unwilling to engage in fratricide, otherwise, he would not have left the relatively safe Beishi Base and traveled all the way to Long Province seeking opportunities. Since sensing something was amiss, Bai Zhengli had been waiting for the other party to appear. Unfortunately, after a long wait, they still hadn¡¯t shown up, perhaps deterred by the size of his team. As time passed second by second, just when Bai Zhengli was about to give up hope, an SUV suddenly approached from a distance. Oddly, the vehicle was followed by a group of Mutant Beasts, including ferocious types like wolves, lions, tigers, leopards, and even an elephant! Above the vehicle, there was a flock of birds, led by the same falcon, followed by a colorful assortment of parrots. It was indeed bizarre. As the vehicle drew nearer, Bai Zhengli ordered a halt and used the walkie-talkie to alert others to be on guard. Despite the small size of the opposing team, which hardly posed a threat to them, Bai Zhengli remained extremely cautious. The SUV came closer, but probably because the other party was also cautious, it stopped about two hundred meters from Bai Zhengli¡¯s convoy. Then, a car window suddenly opened, and a megaphone stretched out. A man¡¯s voice asked, ¡°Who are you, and what is your purpose here?¡± Bai Zhengli hesitated for a moment before responding through his megaphone, ¡°We are survivors from afar, seeking a safe base to settle down. We mean no harm.¡± He was now a Third-level Superpower User and could have used his superpower to project his voice over. But since their convoy was already large and numerous, displaying the capabilities of a Third-level Superpower User might make the other side even more cautious. Soon, the other party¡¯s voice sounded again, ¡°Where are you from, and how many are you?¡± Clearly, the person was very wary. Although Bai Zhengli had no intention to conceal, he also did not want to be too forthcoming. He said, ¡°There are over four thousand of us, from Beishi Base. The base there is too small and there are too many survivors. There isn¡¯t enough food. So we came to Long Province hoping to find a way to survive.¡± Inside the SUV, a young man turned to look at a woman beside him. She was quite attractive, with delicate features that were not particularly exquisite but coalesced into a pleasant appearance, especially her fair and tender skin, complemented by tidy short hair, making her quite stylish. She seemed to be around twenty-five or twenty-six, dressed in a digital camouflage canvas jacket which made her look quite dashing. The young man looked at her, a fleeting obsession flashing in his eyes, then he asked worriedly, ¡°Ah Ke, what should we do? They have a significant number of people, and since they¡¯ve traveled all the way from Beishi City to Long Province, they must be formidable. I¡¯m afraid they might be out of our control.¡± The woman, named Wu Ke, was a veterinarian before the apocalypse. Perhaps it was her exposure to animals, but after the apocalypse, she had Awakened to become a ¡°Special Familiarity¡± superpower user. She could communicate with mutated animals and had a strong affinity, allowing her to successfully contract many mutated creatures. Chapter 674: 362 Probing_2 Chapter 674: 362 Probing_2 It was precisely because of these Contracted Beasts that she was able to stand firm in the apocalypse and even led others to establish a small-scale safe base, where she became the leader. Beishi City had plenty of arable land, and the population density was relatively small, so when they built the base, they didn¡¯t have to worry about the location like other cities¡¯ survivors did. They randomly chose an area with a large amount of arable land and constructed the safe haven. As time went by, their safe haven gradually grew in scale and prospered. They even planted crops and vegetables in the fields. For now, although the growth was not as good as before due to the Zombie Virus, as long as the crops matured, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about food! However, not long ago, their small base caught the eye of someone else! It was a leader of a medium-sized base who sent people over, arrogantly stating that he was interested in their small base and even wanted to take over management. Whether it was her or the people under her command, all had to obey, or else the rival group would send people to suppress them forcibly! Wu Ke was very frustrated by this. The apocalypse had just begun not long ago, and every survivor was racking their brains to stay alive. Instead of thinking about clearing out the zombies, those people were scheming against their own kind for profit! For this, Wu Ke felt out of her depth, almost turning her hair white with worry. They were just a small base, with a comprehensive strength that was not very strong. Had it not been for her Contracted Beasts and the united front presented by the base¡¯s inhabitants with their tacit cooperation, they probably would have perished like many other small bases. If the other party had actually sent an expert to protect them, she wouldn¡¯t have minded stepping down as the leader. But soon, she realized that their real purpose was not to protect the survivors of the small base but to turn them into obedient slaves! What they valued most, in fact, was her special superpower, as they wanted to exploit her superpower to capture Mutant Beasts! After some investigation through various channels, Wu Ke found out that many of the nearby small bases that had survived had already been poisoned by these people and had been reduced to a slave-like existence. Anyone who was dissatisfied would be driven out of the base. The purpose of the base was to protect the survivors from zombies and mutated creatures. Once expelled, unless one was particularly strong, for most, it was a death sentence! Wu Ke did not want her abilities to become a tool for others to use, nor did she want the people in the base to end up in a miserable enslaved state! These days, fearing a surprise attack at any moment, she kept sending out her Contracted Mutated Birds to scout. This time, however, she discovered an unfamiliar convoy! Her superpower was unique; what her Contracted Beasts saw, she could see too. So at a glance, she realized that this convoy was from outside! There was a sizeable number of people in the convoy, and the fact that they made it here safely indicated that they were not weak! Consequently, Wu Ke instantly came up with an idea¡ªcollaborate with the people of the convoy to resist the oppressive force of Chengtian Base! The idea was indeed crazy, but other than this, she could think of no alternative. However, Wu Ke quickly calmed down; they still didn¡¯t know who exactly had arrived. Collaborating impulsively was far too risky and could potentially worsen the base¡¯s situation! But she was unwilling to just wait, fearing that missing this opportunity might mean never getting such a chance again. Thus, she was almost impatient as she started the car to head out, taking only six people and a few Contracted Beasts with her. At this moment, listening to the young man¡¯s words, her gaze flashed subtly as she whispered, ¡°Keep probing. Don¡¯t forget, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!¡± The young man naturally understood her meaning. After the apocalypse, with zombies and mutated creatures everywhere, traveling was incredibly hazardous. Except for the initial chaos of the apocalypse, most survivors chose to stay in the nearest safe haven. At times like these, few survivors would opt to travel long and dangerous distances. If they missed this opportunity now, it was uncertain how long it would be before they could encounter new outsiders again. And to make matters worse, they were running out of time! If they didn¡¯t come up with a solution soon, they could lose the base, and everyone would be living in dire straits! Thus, the young man asked again, ¡°From Beishi City to Long Province, you must have passed through several places, right? There should be safe bases in those places. Why did you not stay there but instead come to Long Province? The situation here isn¡¯t as simple as you may imagine. It¡¯s even more dangerous!¡± Long Province had a vast territory with a sparse population and, as many people went out to work, the number of human zombies and survivors was relatively small. However, conversely, there were many mountains and a vast expanse of forests inhabited by a considerable number of wild animals and even strange plants. After the apocalypse, these wild animals either turned into Zombie Beasts and Zombie Birds or mutated into Mutant Beasts and Mutated Birds. The remaining unmutated creatures couldn¡¯t survive and were almost entirely consumed. Yet, this wasn¡¯t even the scariest part. The most terrifying were the plants in the forests! Initially, survivors didn¡¯t take the threat of Mutant Plants seriously, naively thinking that as long as they didn¡¯t enter those forests, they would be safe. That was until recently when Mutant Plants appeared outside the forests, even attacking Corpse Hunters out in the wild, that everyone realized the horror of these Mutant Plants! The young man purposefully asked in this way, both to understand Bai Zhengli and his group¡¯s intentions and also to subtly warn them¡ªLong Province was not safe! (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 675: 363 situation Chapter 675: 363 situation Bai Zhengli discerned the youth¡¯s implication and chuckled, ¡°Now that it¡¯s the apocalypse, where can you find a place that isn¡¯t dangerous? Long Province is so vast, there must be somewhere we can settle down, right? Our demands aren¡¯t high; we just want to find a place to establish our own base. It¡¯s just that we¡¯ve only just arrived and are unclear about the situation here. I wonder if this friend could give us a detailed explanation?¡± The youth subconsciously glanced at the entire convoy again, calculating the true strength of the convoy in his mind while saying, ¡°As you just said, Long Province is such a large place. How could we possibly know the entire state of Long Province? But if you¡¯re looking to establish a safe base, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t work around here. There¡¯s a Chengtian Base nearby and the folks there are quite domineering. This whole area is their territory, and since you¡¯re from outside, if you want to set up a base here, the people from Chengtian Base will definitely not agree.¡± At these words, Bai Zhengli¡¯s brow furrowed; the situation he feared most had arisen! What he least wanted to face was the scheming and jockeying between people. Now, in the midst of the apocalypse, shouldn¡¯t everyone unite to eliminate the zombies? And yet they still aggressively claimed territories, does it mean they also wanted to divide up the land and rule as kings? However, after giving it some thought, he suddenly felt that there was something off about the youth¡¯s words, as if there were meanings hidden between the lines. He pondered for a moment and then asked tentatively, ¡°Are you saying... that we can only try our luck elsewhere? With Long Province being so vast, surely not all places are already occupied?¡± The youth¡¯s original intent was to probe. Hearing Bai Zhengli¡¯s words about planning to leave made him anxious. They had finally come upon such an opportunity; if they let it slip away, how would they confront the people from Chengtian Base? Without much thought, he blurted out, ¡°Even if you go somewhere else, you might not be able to find a suitable place to establish a safe base. Moreover, the journey there is quite dangerous. You might encounter Zombie Men, Zombie Beasts, and Zombie Birds¡¯ attacks, and even the sneak attacks of Mutant Beasts, Mutated Birds, and even Mutant Plants! Besides, in the current apocalypse, resources are scarce everywhere. Suddenly arriving here with so many people, it¡¯s clear you¡¯re competing with the survivors of Long Province for resources. The people from other bases might not be as easy to talk to as we are.¡± While this sounded like a warning, upon a closer listen, it seemed to carry an additional implication, a hint of an olive branch. Although Bai Zhengli detested intrigue, he was, after all, from the Bai Family and, because he was from a collateral branch, had suffered exclusion by the Direct Lineage from childhood and even more so at the Military Department! Many eyed his position, waiting to catch hold of his mistakes and pull him down, usurp his place! While Bai Zhengli wasn¡¯t as cunning and deceitful as Bai Zhengyi, he was still a sly fox. He gave it careful thought and recalled the youth¡¯s previous words, suddenly speculating that the youth¡¯s base might be facing trouble. The disdain and dissatisfaction were tangible in the youth¡¯s tone when he mentioned Chengtian Base, and Bai Zhengli, ever insightful, could not be clearer on this. He thought further that these people had made a point of coming out to meet them and had said just the right things; they most likely had some designs on them. Animosity was probably not the word, but calculation was definitely there. Otherwise, the youth wouldn¡¯t have deliberately said such things, nor would he have been so eager to keep him from leaving upon his intentional mention of doing so. With his suspicion, Bai Zhengli decided to probe further. He asked deliberately, ¡°Are you implying that we cannot stay in Long Province? That we must leave? Is this how the survivors of Long Province treat those arriving from abroad?¡± He didn¡¯t even believe these words himself; the apocalypse was a rather simple society where might is right¡ªif one had the strength, they could undoubtedly stay. Even if they didn¡¯t set up a safe base, there would probably be no shortage of people wanting to win them over! Just like this group right in front of him, having said so much¡ªwasn¡¯t it just to rope them in? Indeed, as soon as Bai Zhengli spoke, the youth became anxious again, ¡°Of course we are not that kind of people! However, I must also tell you, there certainly are many who are. After all, as you know, resources are incredibly scarce now!¡± Chapter 676: 363 has a situation_2 Chapter 676: 363 has a situation_2 Bai Zhengli chuckled. Long Province was a major food-producing province. There might be a shortage of other resources, but there would definitely be no shortage of food! The food stored in the warehouses here alone could feed all the survivors in Long Province for years. How could there be any concern about outsiders trying to snatch resources! In the apocalypse, as long as the food issue was resolved, the lack of other living supplies wouldn¡¯t drive people insane. Once the food was secured, drinking water could be completely managed by Water Element Superpower Users, and if not, there were always Ice Ability Users. What was there to worry about? The young man was clearly lying! However, Bai Zhengli did believe him when he said that some survivors wouldn¡¯t welcome outsiders. After all, the more people there were, the more complicated their thoughts became. Especially during chaotic times, it was too easy for people¡¯s psychology to become twisted! He didn¡¯t expose the young man¡¯s lies, but just smiled and said, ¡°Then what do you think we should do?¡± This time, the young man hesitated. He didn¡¯t know how to answer Bai Zhengli¡¯s question. He vaguely sensed that the person he was facing was too tough to handle, probably beyond his capabilities! Wu Ke had instructed him to try and get information from the other party, but he had spoken so much, and the other party had only given vague information, quickly seizing the initiative and reversing the question onto him! How was he supposed to answer? He couldn¡¯t just tell them directly that they needed help, could he? That would make their position even more passive! More importantly, he still hadn¡¯t extracted any useful information from the other party. He didn¡¯t know what sort of person Bai Zhengli was; if these people were actually wolves in disguise, wouldn¡¯t letting them into their base and collaborating with them be like inviting wolves into the house? He unconsciously turned to look at Wu Ke, his eyes filled with guilt: ¡°Ah Ke, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t handle this well.¡± Wu Ke didn¡¯t blame him. She had heard the entire conversation earlier and realized that the person they encountered was tough to deal with, so it was normal for the young man to be no match. She sighed, hesitating whether to propose a collaboration directly, when suddenly, the falcon on top of the vehicle started screeching sharply, emitting a series of piercing cries! Wu Ke and her teammates were already familiar with the habits of the Mutated Falcon; as soon as they heard that noise, they understood that an enemy had appeared¡ªit was sending a warning! They instinctively thought zombies had appeared, but when they looked, they didn¡¯t see the anticipated zombies. Instead, a huge black dot was flying towards them from a distance! Upon closer inspection, they realized that it was not a dot but a man standing on a Mutant Golden Eagle! From afar, they couldn¡¯t see his face clearly, but just the way he stood atop the Mutant Golden Eagle, he seemed to exude an aura of authority that astonished Wu Ke and her teammates! Wu Ke noticed that the Mutant Golden Eagle was much larger than her Mutated Falcon, likely also higher in level! Thus, she almost instinctively began staring at Fang Yuyang on the back of the golden eagle. The young man beside her looked at this scene, and his face suddenly turned somewhat gloomy. Then, they realized that the man had landed in the middle of the convoy, clearly with the convoy¡¯s people! Seeing this, they grew even more alarmed¡ªwhat kind of people were in this convoy? The man seemed very strong; was he the leader of the convoy? If he wasn¡¯t, how terrifyingly powerful would the actual leader be? As they speculated, Fang Yuyang had already reported what he had seen to Bai Zhengli. Like before, the golden eagle had carried him around the area, and he even saw several small bases. To avoid being seen as an enemy, he didn¡¯t observe directly above those small bases but just took a brief look from a distance. However, even from that brief glance, he noticed several issues¡ªthe small bases seemed off! Just like other places, these small bases also had Corpse Hunters coming out to hunt zombies. But differently, Fang Yuyang felt that the Corpse Hunters he saw all seemed somewhat listless; he didn¡¯t know why. However, they fought desperately when hunting zombies, but once someone got injured, that person would look desperate, and the others would show a look of sympathy as if that person was doomed. Fang Yuyang found it strange because the injuries of those people weren¡¯t very severe. As long as there was a Wood Element Superpower User, they could easily be healed; he really couldn¡¯t understand why they would feel so desperate? From that moment, he realized that something seemed not quite right here. Then after making a full round in the nearby area and seeing that many people were in similar conditions, he realized that things might be serious. After returning, he reported what he had seen. Bai Zhengli listened to his report and thought back to the young man¡¯s words, his mind gradually forming an answer. Fang Yuyang saw he seemed deep in thought and didn¡¯t disturb him. He returned to the vehicle and mentioned what he had seen to his family. Then he asked, ¡°What¡¯s the deal with that vehicle not far away? Are they local survivors? Why are there so many mutated animals? Could they all be Contracted Beasts?¡± Fang Yuxin nodded, then told Fang Yuyang about Bai Zhengli¡¯s conversation with the other party. Fang Yuyang stroked his chin, pondering for a moment, then suddenly said, ¡°In that case... there really might be a problem with this place.¡± Fang Yuxin also said, ¡°I think so too. The problem should be with Chengtian Base. These people coming to us probably have some scheme in mind, but if Chengtian Base is really this overbearing, we might as well just take them down! Just don¡¯t know... how strong this base actually is...¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote, recommend, and give monthly tickets at Qidian(qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 677: Base 364 is under attack, return immediately! Chapter 677: Base 364 is under attack, return immediately! Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang had guessed most of the truth and both felt that this was an opportunity. If the leader of the Chengtian Base was indeed so excessive, they could take the opportunity to seize control of the base. Since the other party was unpopular, it was unlikely that anyone would oppose them doing so. The problem was, they currently knew nothing about the strength of Chengtian Base, and if they wanted to take it down, they needed to plan carefully over time. Not just the two of them were thinking this way, Bai Zhengli was also discussing with Bai Ye at the moment. Bai Zhengli purposefully asked Bai Ye, ¡°You heard the conversation just now. Tell me, what are you thinking?¡± With a quick glance toward the direction of Wu Ke and the others, Bai Ye voiced his speculation, ¡°They must have run into some big trouble that they can¡¯t resolve, which is why they¡¯ve specifically approached us. I worry they have some ulterior motives. And that Chengtian Base, it seems very problematic.¡± Upon hearing this, Bai Zhengli was quite satisfied, yet he still maintained a serious expression. He didn¡¯t comment on whether Bai Ye was right or wrong, but instead asked again, ¡°So, what are you planning to do?¡± Bai Ye knew that his father was being his usual self, trying to probe his thoughts, so he didn¡¯t hold back and straightforwardly said, ¡°These people coming to us presents an opportunity, both for them and us. We¡¯re newcomers and unfamiliar with the local situation, which we must learn from the locals. These people have average strength, and perhaps we could just help them resolve their current troubles. So I think, since the opportunity is right in front of us, we might as well make good use of it.¡± Upon hearing this, Bai Zhengli became immensely satisfied, feeling that his son, although he hadn¡¯t made it into the Military Department, had still cultivated the manner of a great general, much better than Bai Ye, who was only good at scheming! Bai Ye didn¡¯t care what Bai Zhengli was thinking at the moment; his thoughts were entirely on Fang Yuxin, curious about what she was up to. He had initially planned to share a vehicle with Fang Yuxin again, but Bai Zhengli wouldn¡¯t allow it, fearing he would neglect public duties for personal reasons, and insisted he ride together with him, which frustrated Bai Ye quite a bit! Meanwhile, as Bai Zhengli was contemplating, he suddenly saw Bai Ye glancing over at Fang Yuxin¡¯s side and immediately got annoyed! Bai Ye had always refused to get a girlfriend, which upset him, but now Bai Ye seemed to want nothing more than to stick with Fang Yuxin all day, which was even more vexing! Bai Zhengli shot Bai Ye a fierce glare as a warning to pay attention, and then he picked up the megaphone, ready to tease out more information from the others. Coincidentally, Wu Ke and his group were also anxious and even prepared to reveal the truth. Bai Zhengli spoke first, asking, ¡°You just mentioned Chengtian Base, could you elaborate on that?¡± The young man was hesitating to speak when he heard this question, and his expression changed slightly. Although he wasn¡¯t as cunning as the Old Fox, Bai Zhengli, he wasn¡¯t stupid either. Hearing Bai Zhengli asking about Chengtian Base, his mind quickly formed a plan! All the speech he had prepared was thrown out of the window. Pretending to be unaware of Bai Zhengli¡¯s intentions, he deliberately said, ¡°Chengtian Base is located in Fuhua City, the largest survivor base nearby with more than four hundred thousand survivors. The leader is Ji Chengtian, reportedly a Third-level Peak Wind Superpower user, arrogant and dominating. Many of the smaller bases nearby have been controlled by his people and are under his servitude.¡± Although the young man didn¡¯t say their base had also been threatened, his extreme disdain for Ji Chengtian was evident. The moment he mentioned Ji Chengtian, his emotions became very agitated, further confirming the suspicions of Bai Zhengli and others¡ªthat these people were indeed in trouble. The young man didn¡¯t realize he had already given himself away and continued, ¡°Ji Chengtian is very powerful, but he is petty-hearted, even smaller than the tip of a needle. With so many of you appearing suddenly in Ping¡¯an City, if Ji Chengtian finds out, he surely won¡¯t let you go. You¡¯d better plan ahead.¡± On the other side, Bai Zhengli smiled silently towards Bai Ye, signalling with his eyes¡ªthat guy is quite sharp, actually knowing how to use others as a pawn! Bai Ye rolled his eyes, whispering, ¡°Isn¡¯t this just playing into your hands? Speak up if you¡¯ve got something to say, and don¡¯t waste time. If we delay too long, we¡¯ll definitely attract zombies.¡± Bai Zhengli gave him a displeased side glance¡ªsuch a disobedient son! Then he continued to feign ignorance, ¡°This... Can¡¯t be true, can it? In these apocalyptic times, everyone should be helping each other, how can it be like this?¡± Chapter 678: Base 364 is under attack, return immediately!_2 Chapter 678: Base 364 is under attack, return immediately!_2 Bai Ye¡¯s voice was so quiet earlier that it hadn¡¯t come through the loudspeaker, so the young man didn¡¯t hear him at all. He nodded in agreement with Bai Zhengli¡¯s words, about to say something more, when suddenly, he heard a sharp distress call. Startled, he became puzzled¡ªwhy was there an alarm again? Could it be that zombies had appeared? Not only was he puzzled, but so were the others in the vehicle, except for Wu Ke, who turned pale and hastily rolled down the window to look up at the sky. Indeed, as soon as she looked up, she saw a hawk flying toward them from afar. It was emitting a sharp warning call as it flew. Seeing it appear, Wu Ke¡¯s face instantly turned even paler! She had deliberately left this hawk at the Base to send messages. Its sudden appearance, issuing such a warning call, definitely meant something had gone wrong at the Base! She puckered her lips and imitated a bird call. Quickly, the hawk landed on the roof of the car and then lifted its right claw in front of Wu Ke. She then saw that its claw was tied with a strip of cloth! The cloth had something red on it. At first glance, it looked like blood, which made Wu Ke¡¯s heart sink even further. She hurriedly untied the cloth strip and unfolded it to read the six red characters written with a marker¡ª¡±Base under attack, return immediately!!!!!¡± The writing was messy, obviously scrawled in haste, which showed just how urgent the situation was! Especially the red characters on the cloth strip, they painfully stung Wu Ke¡¯s eyes! By this time, the others had also gotten out of the car and worriedly gathered around to see. At a glance, they hadn¡¯t even managed to read what was written on the cloth strip; the mere sight of the red ink made their hearts race! The Base had a protocol for sending messages: use a black marker for normal situations and red for emergencies, making it clear at a glance. And this time, not only was a red marker used on the cloth strip, but there were also several exclamation marks added at the end, indicating an incredibly grave situation that caused them to worry. Someone quickly glanced at Bai Zhengli¡¯s group and couldn¡¯t help but suggest, ¡°Ah Ke, should we call them over? These people seem strong, they might be able to help?¡± Others were concerned, ¡°But we still don¡¯t know much about these people. What if we¡¯re inviting wolves into our midst?¡± Pressed for time, they didn¡¯t have the luxury to debate, so they all looked to Wu Ke, waiting for her to make a decision. Wu Ke hesitated, then, suddenly turning her head to look at the Mutant Golden Eagle circling in the sky, she gritted her teeth and resolved, ¡°Call them!¡± The young man subconsciously picked up the loudspeaker, about to speak, but Wu Ke snatched it from him. Gripping the handle tightly, she called out in Bai Zhengli¡¯s direction, ¡°Our Base is under attack, the situation is urgent, can you friends please help us?¡± Bai Zhengli and the others had watched the hawk arrive and Wu Ke rush out of the car anxiously, so they had guessed that something was wrong. Hence, hearing her plea, they made no excuses. Bai Zhengli said outright, ¡°Lead the way, we¡¯ll follow behind.¡± Wu Ke thanked them briefly and then hurriedly led her people back to the vehicles, starting the journey. Sitting in the car, she subconsciously checked the rearview mirror and saw that Bai Zhengli¡¯s group was indeed following; this finally allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief. While driving, the young man asked worriedly, ¡°Ah Ke, are you sure it¡¯s okay to bring them along?¡± Leaning back in her seat, Wu Ke¡¯s tense expression made her seem somewhat cold. She glanced at the young man and laughed self-mockingly, ¡°In this world, what¡¯s absolutely certain? Bringing them back to the Base is indeed a risk, but without them, how can we protect the Base? Even if these people aren¡¯t good, could the situation really be worse than if Ji Chengtian¡¯s people took control of the Base?¡± Hearing this, the young man felt there was some truth to her words, and he subconsciously looked at the convoy following behind through the rearview mirror, sighing, ¡°Let¡¯s just hope our choice this time is right.¡± As he spoke, the young man suddenly stepped on the gas, accelerating forward. Seeing them suddenly speed up, Bai Zhengli and the others guessed the situation must be extremely urgent and said nothing, simply increasing their speed to follow. Luckily, Wu Ke¡¯s Base wasn¡¯t far, and after driving for over ten minutes, they arrived. Perhaps they were lucky, as they didn¡¯t encounter any Zombie Groups along the way¡ªonly a few scattered zombies, which were easily dealt with by Wu Ke¡¯s Contracted Beast. Upon reaching the Base, from a distance, they saw ten large trucks parked in front of them; on their roofs, people wielding rocket launchers were attacking the Protection Wall. Additionally, many superpower users were launching Wind Blades, Fireballs, Ice Arrows, and other attacks toward the Base. Seeing this, Wu Ke and the others¡¯ faces instantly darkened, and their brows furrowed deeply. Some, anxious by nature, even wanted to get out of the car and fight immediately. Wu Ke quickly halted her teammates and said in a deep voice, ¡°Don¡¯t act rashly! Turn around and go to the south gate first!¡± The opponents were too numerous; if they approached rashly, they stood no chance and might even be captured as hostages! The most urgent matter was to enter the Base first, not the time for hot-headedness! However, the sound of the car engines had already alerted the attackers. They recognized Wu Ke¡¯s Contracted Beast at once, and someone grabbed a loudspeaker to shout, ¡°Wu Ke! Persuade the people in the Base to stop resisting and surrender now!¡± Their voice carried laughter, sounding rather arrogant! But the next moment, they saw the convoy following Wu Ke and were taken aback, loudly questioning, ¡°Wu Ke! Who are those people behind you?¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to give your support by voting for it using monthly tickets or recommendations at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 679: 365 If you dont want to die, scram! Chapter 679: 365 If you don¡¯t want to die, scram! When they had come previously, they had found Wu Ke was not at the base, but at the time, they had not cared¡ªRather, they felt it was better without Wu Ke. Regarding Wu Ke¡¯s whereabouts, they somewhat speculated that he had either gone out to hunt zombies or gone nearby to seek help. The former was not worth worrying about, and the latter was even less of a concern. The nearby areas were filled with small bases, all of which they controlled without exception. Even if Wu Ke had gone, he would not find any reinforcements, merely wasting his time. Therefore, they had no interest in waiting for Wu Ke to return. They launched an attack, aiming to blow up the gates or the protection wall, then charge in. Peace Base was just a small base, barely possessing any substantial weaponry. Were it not for the unity of the people there and Wu Ke¡¯s contracted beasts, Peace Base would have ceased to exist. Survivors were not like zombies, who only died when their heads were chopped off. Survivors felt pain and had multiple vulnerabilities. If they could breach the base, a burst from submachine guns or machine guns would ensure the remaining people complied obediently! However, to their surprise, these people turned out to be unusually stubborn. They not only refused to surrender but would rather risk serious injuries or even death to continually fortify the protection wall, showing a resolve to defend the town to the death. What was even more unexpected was that after Wu Ke left, he actually returned with a convoy! Who were these people? Where had she found them? The person leading the troops to attack Peace Base was named Deng Hong, one of Ji Chengtian¡¯s confidants and a third-level ice ability user. Not particularly smart but also not stupid, his strength was quite formidable. As soon as he saw Wu Ke returning with a strange convoy, he became cautious. Wu Ke did not respond, which made him somewhat irritated. He questioned Wu Ke again, ¡°Wu Ke! Who exactly have you brought back?¡± After saying this, he thought for a moment, then decided not to bother with Wu Ke anymore and instead addressed the convoy behind him, ¡°Friends in the back! I don¡¯t care who you are. This is Chengtian Base personnel executing official duties, please leave promptly to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings!¡± He thought that people nearby must have heard of Chengtian Base¡¯s renown and certainly wouldn¡¯t dare oppose them over a minor place like Peace Base. Having said so much, the other party should leave obediently once they heard. However, he soon realized he was wrong. Bai Zhengli did not leave with his people; instead, he picked up a megaphone and shouted, ¡°We are from Hope Battle Group, if you don¡¯t want to die, scram! You people are well-equipped, yet instead of killing zombies, you assault your own kin. You are nothing but cowards!¡± Bai Zhengli was indeed furious. When he had heard Wu Ke calling for help, he had guessed that it was likely Chengtian Base causing trouble, but he had still harbored some hope, thinking Chengtian Base wouldn¡¯t go that far and it might be the work of zombie groups. Upon arrival, his anger instantly flared¡ªIt was indeed those bastards from Chengtian Base! Not handling their proper duties, just bullying their own people! What sort of behavior was that? So, upon hearing Deng Hong¡¯s arrogant warning, he didn¡¯t hesitate to curse him out. His words made Deng Hong quite furious! Deng Hong was a confidant of Ji Chengtian and an elder of Chengtian Base. Moreover, his strength was originally formidable; since the apocalypse, no one but Ji Chengtian had dared speak to him like that! His teeth itched with hatred¡ªWho the hell was this guy? His words were utterly provocative! Then, Deng Hong said, ¡°Don¡¯t want to leave, is it? If you don¡¯t leave now, you¡¯ll wish you had!¡± Having said this, he jumped onto the roof of a truck, snatched a rocket launcher from someone¡¯s shoulder, and fired at Bai Zhengli and his group! Wu Ke and the others¡¯ vehicles were at the front. Seeing the massive bullet fired from the rocket launcher heading straight towards them, they turned pale with fear. Wu Ke instinctively shouted, ¡°Duck!¡± At the same time, the young driver twisted the steering wheel sharply, and the vehicle swerved to the side and dashed away. After driving out, they didn¡¯t leave but instinctively looked to see how Bai Zhengli and the others were doing. Then, they saw a horizontal tornado suddenly appearing in front of the convoy. The bullet entered the eye of the tornado and did not hit the vehicles behind. Immediately afterward, the bullet, propelled by the wind, was reflected right back! Chapter 680: 365 If you dont want to die, get lost!_2 Chapter 680: 365 If you don¡¯t want to die, get lost!_2 Deng Hong, who was opposite, was originally smug, thinking that Bai Zhengli and his companions were doomed this time, but he didn¡¯t expect the bullet to actually reflect back! His expression changed, and he hurriedly fired another one, hitting the reflected bullet exactly. The two bullets collided mid-way, and with a ¡°bang,¡± a huge flame erupted! At the same time, Deng Hong squinted his eyes, warily looking towards the direction of the convoy, realizing from just that move alone that the people who had come this time were not easy to deal with! He couldn¡¯t help but regret internally, wishing he hadn¡¯t snatched this mission; it would have been much better to let someone else take it! Initially, he thought that Peace Base was just a small base, whose leader, besides being able to communicate with animals and having contracted quite a few Mutant Beasts and Mutated Birds, had no other great abilities. Taking down Peace Base seemed too easy, which was why he had snatched the mission deliberately. Where would he have thought that a group of Chen Yaojin would suddenly appear on the way! Who in the world were these people? They really minded others¡¯ business too much! He felt immensely frustrated, his face gloomy. Just as he was about to fire another bullet, someone next to him suddenly said, ¡°Captain Deng, please think thrice! Before we left, the leader specifically instructed that ammunition is limited and absolutely must not be wasted!¡± After saying that, he even intentionally glanced at the rocket launcher Deng Hong was carrying on his shoulder, the meaning quite clear. Deng Hong¡¯s face flushed red with what he said, and he also felt somewhat disgruntled. It was just a few rocket shells, after all. Ji Chengtian was being too stingy! After all the diligent work he had done for Ji Chengtian these days, could it not even account for a few rocket shells? Moreover, it wasn¡¯t like he was wasting them on purpose. Was there a need to embarrass him publicly like this? Thinking of this, he darkly glanced at the person who had just spoken, and realized it was his deputy, who was also a Third-level Superpower User. Deng Hong had previously thought highly of this person, who seemed capable of handling anything well. But now, he gradually sensed that something was off. Why did this person dare to speak to him like that just now? Could it be that this person no longer regarded him highly? Suddenly, an unprecedented sense of crisis surged in Deng Hong¡¯s heart. He gradually realized that besides having decent abilities, he had many shortcomings, unlike this person before him, who was not only intelligent and handsome, but also managed everything in perfect order, completely qualified to replace him outright! The more Deng Hong thought about it, the more upset he felt. His gaze at the other person involuntarily conveyed a bit of murderous intent. The deputy saw it, his gaze flicking slightly, but his face maintained a perfectly appropriate smile as he continued to say to Deng Hong, ¡°This time, the people might be formidable. It¡¯s better to outsmart them. We only have slightly over a thousand people here; once a fight breaks out, it will be very disadvantageous.¡± If it were before, Deng Hong would certainly have listened to his advice. But now, having realized that this person was likely to replace him, his mind was filled with intense crisis, leaving no room to genuinely consider this person¡¯s suggestions. Even the perfectly placed smile on the person¡¯s face felt unbearably irritating to Deng Hong, as if plotting against him! So, he directly said discontentedly, ¡°What do you know? Even if we only have around a thousand people, so what? Could the other side possibly be a match for us? If you don¡¯t know, don¡¯t bother directing blindly; I know what to do!¡± Having said this, not giving the other person a chance to retort, he pushed him aside, reloaded and fired again towards Bai Zhengli¡¯s direction! As expected, this rocket was again stopped by the other side. The person next to Deng Hong cursed silently, calling him a fool, but since Deng Hong was the team leader, if he were to argue with Deng Hong now, it would only provide an opportunity for these people, which vexed him greatly! As he saw the rocket fired again coming back towards them, Deng Hong, who was already prepared, fired another shot, hitting it, feeling even worse inside, and his murderous gaze towards his deputy grew even stronger! Although Deng Hong¡¯s ability was not bad, he was not a killer, nor would he harm his own brothers. But this time, the sense of crisis in his heart was just too strong! He always felt that his deputy was going to replace him, which harbored a bias in his mind. Just now, his deputy had tried to stop him and he hadn¡¯t listened, resulting in two rocket shells wasted. Deng Hong knew well that this couldn¡¯t be concealed. Once they returned to Chengtian Base, Ji Chengtian would definitely settle accounts with him! Not only that, his own prestige might also be affected because of this! As he thought about it, he subconsciously turned his head to look at the others¡¯ expressions, and sure enough, he saw many people watching him and his deputy with ambiguous and suspicious eyes. Deng Hong panicked inside and quickly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will handle this!¡± This time, the deputy said nothing, just quickly glanced at him and then lowered his eyes. Deng Hong picked up the megaphone and threatened, ¡°Do you all know the consequences of provoking Chengtian Base? I advise you, if you don¡¯t want to die, you better...¡± But before he could finish, Bai Zhengli¡¯s voice had already sounded, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, get lost! Don¡¯t make me say it a third time!¡± Deng Hong¡¯s mood was already very bad, and hearing this, he became even more infuriated, repeatedly saying, ¡°You won¡¯t leave, huh? Since you don¡¯t want to leave, then just stay here!¡± With that, he suddenly ordered, ¡°Rocket team, take aim, and fire!¡± However, the people did not obey his command, instead looking at him hesitantly. One of them, more daring, said, ¡°Captain, we don¡¯t have enough rocket shells. The leader said we must conserve them.¡± This was almost the same as what the deputy had said earlier. Hearing this, Deng Hong felt that these people had all been bought over by the deputy, and he immediately got so angry that his face twisted: ¡°You... you...¡± (. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 681: 366 Psychological Warfare Chapter 681: 366 Psychological Warfare Actually, Deng Hong wasn¡¯t stupid; it was just that jealousy and a sense of crisis had clouded his vision, leading him to misjudge the situation. His irrational outburst due to envy towards his deputy was a big taboo on the battlefield! Yet while he was blind to this fact, others were not fools. The opponents were clearly formidable, and even if they used up all their rockets, it probably wouldn¡¯t make a difference, and they would have simply wasted ammunition. Moreover, because of Deng Hong, this group had completely offended the other party, and it wouldn¡¯t be easy to negotiate. They had only one option: to attack tentatively. If the opponents were weaker than they had anticipated, they would take them down along with capturing Peace Base. If the opponents¡¯ strength was too great, they would have to temporarily retreat and report back to their leader to see what he wanted to do. As for retreating without a fight, they couldn¡¯t do that¡ªnot just because of pride but also because they would not be content with themselves, not to mention they wouldn¡¯t know how to explain it to Ji Chengtian when they returned! The others instinctively looked at the deputy, urging him with their eyes to speak up and stop wasting time. When Deng Hong caught this exchange, his expression twisted even more, and he glared viciously at them before issuing another order, ¡°Drive the vehicle over there!¡± After some thought, the others didn¡¯t resist the order. If they wanted to make a probing attack, being too far away wouldn¡¯t work. Since Deng Hong had said as much, regardless of his reasons, it played right into their hands. Deng Hong, however, didn¡¯t realize this. Seeing that his subordinates were finally following orders, he let out a sigh of relief while casting a dark look at his deputy, pondering how to remove this threat. As the distance between the two parties closed, he said to his deputy, ¡°Meng Ping, you¡¯re a Fire Ability user. Wait until we¡¯re closer then attack their tires with fire and disable their vehicle!¡± Although Meng Ping knew Deng Hong didn¡¯t have good intentions, he thought this was a good command. If they could destroy the enemy¡¯s tires, the vehicle would be useless. Moreover, they could take advantage of the opponent¡¯s confusion to catch them off guard! So, without hesitation, he unleashed countless flames, hurling them towards the enemy vehicle¡¯s tires! Just as the fireballs were about to hit their target, suddenly, a strange wind appeared! Almost immediately, the wind swept up the fireballs and blew them back in their direction! Meng Ping clenched his teeth in frustration, annoyed at himself for forgetting that the opponents had a powerful Wind Ability user¡ªand judging by this, that Wind Ability user might be stronger than him! This was a serious problem! As the strange wind drew closer, Deng Hong quickly created a thick Ice Wall in front of the vehicle to block the wind. However, before they could breathe a sigh of relief, the wind suddenly changed direction, bypassing the Ice Wall and transforming into several Wind Blades, targeting their tires! The distance was too close, and the Wind Blades were incredibly fast; they didn¡¯t even have time to react before hearing several ¡°thwacking¡± sounds followed by the hissing of deflating tires. Simultaneously, the vehicle suddenly sank! Deng Hong and Meng Ping were initially shocked, then realized that the tires had been punctured and all the air had leaked out, causing the vehicle to sink so abruptly. Fortunately, they weren¡¯t driving fast, and the nine vehicles following behind managed to avoid misfortune. Just as Deng Hong and Meng Ping came to this realization, a long cry startled them. Instinctively, they looked up and saw a gigantic Mutant Golden Eagle in the sky, with an exceptionally handsome man standing on its back! Despite some resentment between them, they glanced at each other subconsciously, both taken aback¡ªthe Mutant Golden Eagle was unimaginably huge! Moreover, the man on its back radiated an aura even stronger than Ji Chengtian¡¯s! Could it be... this man was already a Level 4 Superpower User? They couldn¡¯t help but feel alarmed. When they first spotted this strange convoy, they were cautious but not too worried since they didn¡¯t know the full strength of the group, hoping Ji Chengtian could handle it if they couldn¡¯t. After Deng Hong made his move and the powerful Wind Ability user showed up, especially the person who had spoken to Deng Hong with such arrogance, they guessed that this Wind Ability user must be Superpower Level 3. Chapter 682: 366 Psychological Warfare_2 Chapter 682: 366 Psychological Warfare_2 Even so, they still had a fighting chance, and Ji Chengtian was a Third-level Peak superpower user who had already started to break through to Level 4! However, when Fang Yuyang, riding on Wujin, appeared and deliberately unleashed his formidable aura, it was only then that Deng Hong and Meng Ping realized their previous guess was terribly wrong! They had underestimated the enemy! The adversary might very well be a Level 4 Superpower User! How could that be possible! Deng Hong and Meng Ping thought the same thing. In their entire Chengtian Base, there were nearly a hundred thousand superpower users, yet fewer than a hundred were at Level 3, and among those, only Ji Chengtian had reached the Third-level Peak! Who exactly was this person? With such terrifying strength, he could become a dominant ruler anywhere, so why had he suddenly appeared in Ping¡¯an City? What were his intentions? Unable to come up with an answer, Deng Hong and Meng Ping could only watch Fang Yuyang warily. Wujin was flying very high, making Fang Yuyang on his back seem even more lofty and imposing, instilling in Deng Hong and Meng Ping a sudden sense of dread¡ªthey were in the presence of someone they could only look up to! They didn¡¯t order their subordinates to attack. Deng Hong felt his throat was a bit dry; he swallowed and nervously asked, ¡°This friend looks unfamiliar. Could it be that you¡¯ve come from the outside?¡± Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t reply. Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back, looking down on them from a superior position, exuding an emotionally cool demeanor that created immense psychological pressure on them. It was at this moment that a deafening tiger¡¯s roar came from the direction of the convoy! Deng Hong and Meng Ping instinctively turned their heads to look and saw a majestic tiger strut out from the vehicles, with an exceptionally handsome man seated on its back. This man¡¯s face was expressionless, but his facial features were impeccably handsome, many times more so than any star they had ever seen online or in movies! Deng Hong and Meng Ping involuntarily exchanged glances, both feeling a tad bittersweet¡ªwhy were handsome men showing up all at once in these times? Who exactly were these people? Were they some bizarre group of good-looking men and beautiful women? Both had always felt they were quite good-looking, but upon this comparison, they instantly felt as though their own appearances were downright crap! Then they were shocked again¡ªdamn, another Level 4 Superpower User showed up! Who exactly were these people? Level 4 Superpower Users one after another? Could it be that the situation outside was different from here? Were Level 4 Superpower Users already numerous? What were they supposed to do now! Bai Ye coldly glanced at the two men and said in a deep voice, ¡°Those who surrender now will not be killed.¡± At first, Bai Zhengli thought it would be better to simply dismiss these people since they were all survivors and there were more than a thousand of them here¡ªit wasn¡¯t worth killing them all. But Bai Ye thought it was better to capture them directly rather than ¡°releasing a tiger back to the mountain.¡± It was impossible to kill everyone, but they could take them as prisoners to avoid them returning to Chengtian Base. Otherwise, they would inevitably have to fight when they later went to Chengtian Base. So he purposefully contacted Fang Yuyang and asked him to make an appearance first, deliberately projecting his imposing aura to intimidate these people into submission without a fight. Then he would appear himself; two Level 4 Superpower Users should be enough to make these people know what was good for them, right? As expected, as soon as Bai Ye spoke, many faces changed color, especially Deng Hong and Meng Ping, the two leaders. Both were Ji Chengtian¡¯s trusted subordinates, always following Ji Chengtian¡¯s orders. This was not only because Ji Chengtian was powerful, but also because he was ambitious and smart! Both felt that following Ji Chengtian had a promising future. However, after encountering Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye, they began to waver. Birds choose trees to nest in just as people seek higher ground; unlike the ancient times where one did not serve two masters, now people were more practical¡ªso long as they could survive or even thrive, they would follow along, like changing jobs for a company that offers better terms. Moreover, they had all seen Ji Chengtian¡¯s ambition and ruthlessness, yet his pettiness was also clear. In order to control his subordinates, he imposed severe restrictions on them. Most of the Crystal Cores obtained from hunting were pocketed by him, and often during hunts for advanced zombies, he would sacrifice lives, staying back until it was time to deliver the final blow. After seeing much of this, people naturally felt chilled to the heart, but Ji Chengtian was stronger than any of them. If they didn¡¯t comply, they would lose their status and might even lose their lives! Before, they wouldn¡¯t dare to think of rebelling, not even daring to murmur complaints, but now after witnessing Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye, they suddenly thought that following these two might be better than following Ji Chengtian! At least, these two didn¡¯t seem to be the cruel and ruthless type! So, with determination, Deng Hong boldly asked, ¡°If we surrender, you won¡¯t kill us, will you?¡± Bai Ye looked at him with a half-smiling, half-serious gaze that seemed to see right through Deng Hong. He didn¡¯t answer directly but countered by saying, ¡°I said, surrender now, and you will not be killed.¡± Deng Hong clenched his fists tightly, struggling internally; Bai Ye¡¯s noncommittal response was unsettling. Just as he hesitated, Meng Ping beside him had already spoken up, ¡°I surrender.¡± Deng Hong was taken aback and fiercely turned his head, glaring at Meng Ping¡ªyou want to compete with me for this, too? (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 683: 367 Instigation Chapter 683: 367 Instigation Meng Ping didn¡¯t care about what Deng Hong was thinking inside. He said to himself ¡°You are trying to kill me; why should I uphold any moral righteousness with you?¡± Meanwhile, he shouted loudly, ¡°I am willing to surrender, and I hope you won¡¯t harm my men below. They are innocent, merely following orders.¡± He deliberately raised his voice when he spoke, so that not only Bai Zhengli and the others heard him clearly, but even the men under his command. Consequently, in the blink of an eye, the gazes those men directed at Meng Ping and Deng Hong gradually changed. Deng Hong realized something was amiss, but it was already too late. In the brief moment of his hesitation, Meng Ping had directly surrendered, and while Deng Hong was being upset with Meng Ping, Meng Ping had successfully gained the favor of the others. After several comparisons, Deng Hong fell far short; he not only seemed too indecisive but also too petty, not to mention he failed to see the bigger picture. He really wasn¡¯t cut out to be a qualified team leader. Of course, Deng Hong knew he had lost to Meng Ping and couldn¡¯t help but glare at him again. Although he was seething inside, he still managed to forcefully suppress his rage and refrained from getting physical with Meng Ping in public. Then, he too, spoke out loudly, ¡°That¡¯s right, we surrender, but please spare the others.¡± Although belated, saying it was nonetheless better than remaining silent. But Deng Hong¡¯s face turned red with anger, and even though the others heard his words, they didn¡¯t believe they came from the heart, not in the way they appreciated Meng Ping. Deng Hong and Meng Ping were the two strongest in the team. Once they surrendered, the rest naturally couldn¡¯t hold out any longer. Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang radiated a presence that was so intimidating that just one glance filled the others with a profound sense of dread. Furthermore, with both Deng Hong and Meng Ping having surrendered, they dared not oppose them! With their surrender, the stalemate that had persisted before was completely broken. Wu Ke and others, who were planning to leave, also didn¡¯t go, stopping their vehicles nearby. Those inside the vehicle witnessed the whole process, watching in awe as Deng Hong and Meng Ping surrendered without even fighting, and couldn¡¯t help but feel even more wary and on guard against this mysterious group! Their expressions grew complicated. Initially, seeking Bai Zhengli and the others for help was just a temporary measure¡ªthey really weren¡¯t sure about it. Unexpectedly, the situation was resolved so effortlessly, all because there were two Level 4 Superpower Users in this convoy! Their Peace Base was quite small, housing only seventy to eighty thousand survivors; Third-level Superpower Users were already rare, let alone Level 4 Superpower Users which they hadn¡¯t even heard of! Yet here they encountered a convoy with two Level 4 Superpower Users inside! These people¡¯s thoughts were not much different from Deng Hong¡¯s¡ªcould it be that many Level 4 Superpower Users had already emerged outside? Originally, they thought that even if they managed to bring people back, a battle would lead to casualties. With more people on their side, they did not perceive this convoy as a significant threat. Who knew they would be so wrong from the start! This convoy had two Level 4 Superpower Users! Their appearance alone brought the battle to a sudden halt, with Deng Hong and Meng Ping surrendering outright! These people were too frightening! Wasn¡¯t their earlier plea for help just inviting the wolves into the house? The young driver couldn¡¯t help but ask Wu Ke in a low voice, ¡°Ah Ke, what do we do now? Deng Hong and Meng Ping have surrendered. If these people come down hard, I¡¯m afraid our base simply won¡¯t hold!¡± Wu Ke¡¯s face wasn¡¯t looking too good either, but suddenly, she thought of a question, and her expression began to improve. The others, who had been nervously fixing their gaze on her, saw her expression growing better and subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, urging her, ¡°Ah Ke? Do you have a strategy?¡± Unexpectedly, Wu Ke shook her head. Noticing the disappointment on the others¡¯ faces, she said, ¡°Although I don¡¯t have a way to deal with these people, have you ever thought that since they could leave so easily, perhaps Ji Chengtian simply isn¡¯t a match for them! Otherwise, Deng Hong and Meng Ping wouldn¡¯t have surrendered. With such formidable strength, how could they possibly be interested in our little Peace Base?¡± Upon hearing her words, the others were first stunned, then came to understand Wu Ke¡¯s point. This group didn¡¯t seem simple at all; they probably wouldn¡¯t covet a small Peace Base. The only place nearby that might interest them would probably be Ji Chengtian¡¯s Chengtian Base. Chapter 684: 367 incite_2 Chapter 684: 367 incite_2 But even so, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for them to take down Chengtian Base, would it? Although Ji Chengtian was a tyrannical person, he had the Protection Wall of the entire Chengtian Base fortified unbreakably. It wouldn¡¯t be easy to break through! No...that¡¯s not right! That Level 4 Superpower User has a Mutant Golden Eagle too. He could completely fly into the Base from the sky! As long as he took down Ji Chengtian and his trusted aides, the others probably wouldn¡¯t resist. As they continued to speculate on this side, on the other, Bai Zhengli had already gotten down from the truck and was sizing up Deng Hong and Meng Ping. Under his scrutinizing gaze, Deng Hong and Meng Ping felt extremely uncomfortable. They found it weird; Bai Zhengli was clearly just a Third-level Superpower User, so his strength should have been similar to theirs, but his gaze was like a knife, so cold and sharp, as if it could see right into people¡¯s hearts and see through them! This illusion made Deng Hong and Meng Ping feel terrified inside, fearing that all their secrets were being seen by Bai Zhengli. However, they didn¡¯t dare express any complaints, especially since two Level 4 Superpower Users were right next to them, watching! The two hesitated for a while, unable to bear Bai Zhengli¡¯s gaze any longer. Meng Ping simply asked, ¡°May I know how to address this friend? If I may be so bold, you seem to be from out of town, correct? May I ask what your plans are now?¡± Deng Hong still harboured resentment against Meng Ping. Hearing this, he pricked up his ears. Then, with a thought, he suddenly understood why Meng Ping had asked this. Now that they had surrendered, returning to Chengtian Base, Ji Chengtian would likely not let them off easily. Moreover, Ji Chengtian was still just a Third-level Peak Superpower User, who knows when he would successfully advance to the next level, while here there were already two Level 4 Superpower Users! Rather than returning to be punished by Ji Chengtian, it would be better to encourage these people to go back and take down Chengtian Base! Chengtian Base was, after all, built by their hard work; there was no need to give up on it so easily, nor was there a need to continue to cower under Ji Chengtian¡¯s thumb, always living in fear! Thus, Deng Hong subconsciously looked towards Fang Yuyang, Bai Ye, and Bai Zhengli, anxiously awaiting their reply. Bai Zhengli, however, was no fool. As soon as Meng Ping spoke up, he guessed what Meng Ping was implying. He just smiled without replying to Meng Ping¡¯s question but instead purposefully counterasked, ¡°Do you have any good suggestions?¡± Hearing this, Meng Ping¡¯s eyes flickered slightly, understanding that despite appearing to be a Superpower Level 3, this man¡¯s scheming was not something ordinary people could match! It would be naive of him to try to outwit this individual, so he might as well straightforwardly present a proposal. However, as he was considering how to reply, Deng Hong had already jumped in front of him, saying, ¡°There¡¯s a Chengtian Base nearby, which is only considered a medium-sized base in terms of scale, but it has very complete facilities, and it¡¯s also the largest base around here. I won¡¯t lie to you; we are from Chengtian Base, sent on a mission to take down Peace Base, but we didn¡¯t expect to encounter you. I don¡¯t know exactly who you are, but you can¡¯t keep wandering forever, right? You need to find a place to settle down. I think you should consider Chengtian Base. Everything there is good; the only issue is the leader, Ji Chengtian, who is extremely overbearing, and dissatisfaction is boiling over among the people there.¡± As he said this, something seemed to cross his mind, and he scoffed with a hint of mockery. Bai Zhengli didn¡¯t say much, just gave him a deep look and then turned to Meng Ping, ¡°What do you think?¡± Meng Ping also glanced at Deng Hong, who immediately tensed up and glared at him urgently, signaling with his eyes¡ªAt a time like this, you better not mess this up! Meng Ping looked at him scornfully, inwardly thinking who would pick a fight at such a critical moment, you think everyone¡¯s like you huh? Then he steadied himself and said candidly, ¡°You might think of us as villains for betraying our former leader so soon after surrendering. But I must say, Deng Hong is right. Ji Chengtian¡¯s management is too tyrannical; he cannot tolerate the slightest disobedience, and he is the strongest in the entire base. Yet, when it comes to eliminating Advanced Zombies, he refuses to take action and hides in the back, letting his subordinates wear down the Advanced Zombies with their lives before he steps in. This approach is truly disheartening! Before, our power was inferior to his, and even if we were dissatisfied with his methods, we dared not defy him. But now, we¡¯ve met you, and I feel this is an opportunity to overthrow Ji Chengtian! Your strength is sufficient to replace Ji Chengtian as the leader of Chengtian Base, which has developed quite impressively since the apocalypse. If Ji Chengtian continues in control, this base will be ruined sooner or later! You¡¯ll need a base anyway, why not consider Chengtian Base? This deal would be absolutely advantageous for you!¡± Bai Zhengli waved his hand, ¡°This matter requires careful deliberation, I need to know more about Chengtian Base.¡± Deng Hong and Meng Ping exchanged glances, understanding that Bai Zhengli must be tempted. However, just as the two were about to continue, Wu Ke, who had been standing not far away, suddenly spoke up loudly, ¡°If you friends don¡¯t mind, why not come and sit down in the base? This isn¡¯t a good place to talk; staying too long here might attract zombies.¡± Wu Ke had given this suggestion deep thought. She had always felt that Bai Zhengli and the others would not be interested in their small Peace Base. Hearing Meng Ping and Deng Hong¡¯s urge to attack Chengtian Base, she had become even more certain of her guess. Hence, she simply made a courtesy offer, inviting them into the base. However, just at that moment, a Zombie Group suddenly rushed over from the distance! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with your recommendation, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 685: 368 Strong to the point of being sick Chapter 685: 368 Strong to the point of being sick Originally, Wu Ke had invited everyone in, partly as a favor and partly to avoid attracting a zombie group, but it was already too late! They hadn¡¯t even had the chance to get inside before the zombie group arrived. From a distance, the mass of zombies looked densely packed. Wu Ke, Deng Hong, and Meng Ping, relying on their experience, estimated that this group was at least fifty to sixty thousand strong, which immediately drained the color from their faces! Such a large-scale zombie group would surely give them a tough time! Not to mention whether they could successfully take it down, even if they managed to do so, they would suffer significant casualties! Wu Ke quickly shouted, ¡°Everyone, follow me! We must enter the base quickly!¡± As she spoke, she subconsciously looked at Bai Zhengli and his group and suddenly realized that there was no panic on their faces. Instead, they were rubbing their hands together eagerly, as if they couldn¡¯t wait to join the fray! Wu Ke was momentarily stunned, even doubting what she was seeing. Then, she suddenly heard a cat¡¯s meow. Following that, she saw a person and a cat charging out of the convoy! Having been a veterinarian, she was familiar with many small animals, so she instantly recognized it as a white ragdoll cat, and it was very beautiful. However, this ragdoll cat was quite large, obviously a mutant beast! Riding on the cat¡¯s back was a short-haired woman. Wu Ke could only see her from the back, but from that view alone, it was clear that she had perfect body proportions, making one instinctively want to see her face. Strangely, she was holding a very long blade, somewhat resembling a Mo Blade but not exactly. The weirdest part was the blade itself, which was eerily blood-red, giving the impression that it was smeared with blood. The air seemed to be filled with a strong smell of blood. While Wu Ke was still in shock, she saw the woman, still atop the cat, charge directly toward the zombie group! Wu Ke was instantly alarmed¡ªWho was she? Was she not afraid of dying? With so many zombies, once she was surrounded, she would be utterly isolated! However, just as Wu Ke couldn¡¯t help but want to call this reckless woman back, she suddenly heard a deafening tiger roar! She instinctively turned her head and saw that beneath Bai Ye, the huge White Tiger had raised its head. Then, with a push of its limbs against the ground, it carried Bai Ye in pursuit! Wu Ke unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. This man was a Level 4 Superpower User; perhaps the woman would be safe? Was he going to pull her back? Immediately following, Wujin also let out a long cry, carrying Fang Yuyang as it burst forth. Wujin¡¯s speed was incredibly fast. Although it was the last to move, it quickly overtook Bai Er and caught up with Fang Yuxin, who was running at the forefront. Bai Er saw this from below and immediately let out a dissatisfied roar, then broke into a sprint. Wujin didn¡¯t stop; Fang Yuyang glanced downward at Fang Yuxin before continuing toward the densest part of the zombie group. He swung his right hand, and a large swath of Wind Blades spun into the zombies. The massive Wind Blades split the zombies in two from above, and then Fang Yuyang reached out, and countless Crystal Cores fell into his hand. At the same time, Fang Yuxin wielding a Blood Blade, charged into the zombie group. All the others could see were heads flying from the zombie mass, tracing parabolas through the air and gradually piling up on the ground. At that moment, Bai Ye also arrived. He slapped Bai Er¡¯s head, and Bai Er carried him into the zombie group. Because of the distance and the zombies obstructing the view, the people could not see clearly after Bai Ye entered the zombie group. Suddenly, he had a pitch-black Longsword in his hand. Gripping the hilt tightly, he infused True Yuan into the sword, and the next moment, a layer of Sword Qi, invisible to the naked eye, surrounded the blade. Fang Yuxin saw him take out the Dragon Scale Sword, her lips twitching slightly as she quickly rode Angela away. Then, Bai Ye swung the Longsword in his hand, and a massive wave of Sword Qi instantly spread out, its power surpassing even that of Fang Yuxin, with dozens of zombie heads falling almost simultaneously. Fang Yuxin saw this, her lips curling slightly and her expression somewhat displeased¡ªShe just knew this would happen! Then, she suddenly took out a handful of grass seeds, employing a new Magic called ¡°Sky-Filling Arrow Rain.¡± Of course, to others, this was Fang Yuxin¡¯s Skill. ¡°Sky-Filling Arrow Rain¡± turned the scattered grass seeds into numerous sharp wooden swords, piercing straight through the opponents. This Skill decimated tens of thousands of zombies, with their heads being skewered. Fang Yuxin also reached out, and then tens of thousands of Crystal Cores flew into her hand, collected into her space. Chapter 686: 368 Strong to the point of abnormality_2 Chapter 686: 368 Strong to the point of abnormality_2 With this move, Fang Yuxin¡¯s prominence had greatly surged, even surpassing Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye. The prowess of Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye lay in their status as ¡°Level 4 Superpower Users,¡± which was already known to everyone, so though their abilities stunned onlookers, it seemed only natural. But it was different for Fang Yuxin! She hadn¡¯t deliberately exhibited the aura typical of a ¡°Level 4 Superpower User,¡± so apart from the members of the Hope Battle Group, others¡ªwhether from the Peace Base or the Chengtian Base¡ªmerely regarded her as a skilled expert, never suspecting that she was also a ¡°Level 4 Superpower User.¡± And so, when her move ¡°Heavenly Sword Rain¡± emerged, people from Peace Base and Chengtian Base were completely astounded. They had originally thought that having two Level 4 Superpower Users in the Hope Battle Group was quite remarkable, and had no idea that there was yet another! Merely witnessing Fang Yuxin¡¯s recent ¡°Heavenly Sword Rain,¡± they were convinced that she must definitely be a Level 4 Superpower User and did not consider her to be a Third-level Superpower User at all. They themselves were Third-level Superpower Users, yet they didn¡¯t possess such terrifying strength! Moreover, some had started sensing that something was amiss. Meng Ping was the first to ask, ¡°Could that young lady be a Wood Element Superpower User?¡± When Fang Yuxin had scattered seeds, a green glow emanated first from them, and then they lengthened slowly into green arrows, obviously not the abilities of other types of superpower users. But how could they not know that Wood Element Superpower Users could possess such fearsome combat ability? In their understanding, the abilities of Wood Element Superpower Users were healing and encouraging plant growth¡ªnot fighting! Could it be that she possessed a Mutated Wood Element? Not just Meng Ping, but people from both Chengtian Base and Peace Base thought the same. Bai Zhengli glanced at them, and seeing they all held this belief, he said with a smirk, ¡°A superpower user¡¯s Skills come from personal revelation. Why would you think that Wood Element Superpower Users are only capable of healing and growing plants, but not fighting?¡± Upon hearing this, they were enlightened in an instant! That¡¯s right, superpower users¡¯ Skills indeed relied on personal exploration and enlightenment. It was just that Wood Element Superpower Users had initially shown aptitude for healing and plant growth, which led to a preconception. Hence, as Wood Element Superpower Users were always busy with healing or growing plants, they naturally would not realize combat capabilities. Certainly, there were exceptions like Li Qingyun, a Mutant Wood Element, who, no matter how she meditated and explored, could not comprehend combat abilities. Moreover, Fang Yuxin practiced the Immortal Path, not only becoming a Pure Wood Spirit Body, but she also inherited a complete Cultivation legacy. She merely needed to Cultivate the Magic within, a feat ordinary Wood Element Superpower Users couldn¡¯t possibly compare with. For them to realize combat-oriented Skills was extraordinarily difficult. If they wished to fight, the simplest method was to control Mutant Plants, similar to how Wu Ke commanded Mutant Beasts and Mutated Birds. Bai Zhengli was not aware of Fang Yuxin¡¯s true background; Bai Ye had not informed him, but he was quite certain that Fang Yuxin or the entire Fang Family was anything but ordinary! They were surely concealing some significant secret! The two fruits given to him and Shui Rou by Fang Yuxin back then were precious objects, and since she was also the future partner chosen by Bai Ye, not to mention that he wasn¡¯t avaricious, even if he were, he wouldn¡¯t covet his daughter-in-law¡¯s possessions! He might not know Fang Yuxin¡¯s real situation, but he had his suspicions. Nevertheless, these were matters that absolutely could not be disclosed to others, so he didn¡¯t utter a word. He simply used a rhetorical question, which was enough to dismiss these people. Meng Ping and the others did not suspect, after all, the realization of Skills was indeed dependent on each individual. Many people had comprehended a wide variety of peculiar Skills. Some could realize very impressive Skills, like Ji Chengtian, but there were also many whose Skills had quite weak effects. Even as Third-level Superpower Users, they couldn¡¯t bring out better strength and might even be inferior to certain Second-level Superpower Users who had comprehended strong Skills. Time flew swiftly, and in almost the blink of an eye, Fang Yuxin, Fang Yuyang, and Bai Ye had eliminated the entire Zombie Group! Someone had specifically checked the time and discovered that it had taken only ten minutes from the appearance of the zombies until the three had killed them all! What kind of terrifying strength was this? However, what they did not know was that Fang Yuxin and her companions had not used their real strength. Fang Yuxin had only used ¡°Heavenly Sword Rain¡± once and did not resort to it again thereafter. It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t use it, but rather there was no necessity. The three of them had intervened only to intimidate the people from Chengtian Base with a demonstration of strength. Though they had surrendered, it wasn¡¯t guaranteed that they harbored no ulterior motives. Reliance solely on the aura of ¡°Level 4 Superpower Users¡± could indeed subdue them, but to make these people truly respect and obey, even to the extent of not harboring thoughts of rebellion, it was necessary to display genuinely formidable strength! Thus, the scene of the three of them taking action played out. Fang Yuyang had previously demonstrated his abilities, so he didn¡¯t specifically use the ¡°tornado¡± Skill, but Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin put on a good show. As expected, once they took action, not only were the people from Chengtian Base awestruck, but even those from Peace Base were left utterly shocked, unable to muster the notion of opposing them. These people were simply too strong to the point of being abnormal! And besides, their necks weren¡¯t as tough as those of the zombies! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 687: Each harboring their own thoughts Chapter 687: Each harboring their own thoughts As Fang Yuxin, Fang Yuyang, and Bai Ye took action, the people from Chengtian Base were completely convinced and had no further thoughts of rebellion; instead, they all became filled with anticipation. In their eyes, Fang Yuxin and the other two were nothing like Ji Chengtian! If they faced today¡¯s Zombie Group with Ji Chengtian, not only would he not charge into the group of zombies alone, but it would also be impossible for him to take the lead. He would only hide in the back and command, waiting for them to whittle down the zombies before finally stepping in to take action. He was nothing but a coward! But these three were clearly different. Not to mention their terrifying strength, just the courage to lead the charge was enough to garner deep admiration from the bottom of their hearts! Bai Zhengli saw what they were thinking and decided to say, ¡°Actually, they rarely take action themselves, usually just supporting from the sidelines, unless they meet a particularly tough enemy. Then they would step in. ¡± Although letting these people continue to misunderstand would make them admire the trio even more, Bai Zhengli felt that it was better to clarify some things. Indeed, the three were very strong, but they were not always the ones to solve every Zombie Group they encountered. If these people continued to misunderstand, they might hold a grudge upon discovering that the ¡°truth¡± was not as they thought. However, after he spoke, Deng Hong suddenly said, ¡°So what? The rest of us aren¡¯t useless, are we supposed to let them handle every danger?¡± He and Meng Ping understood upon hearing Bai Zhengli¡¯s words that the three of them had deliberately taken action this time as a show for them. However, they harbored no other thoughts. Instead, they felt that the situation described by Bai Zhengli was only right. With so many people in a team, if everyone else were just Ordinary People, that would be one thing, but since they were all superpower users, it was unreasonable to always hide behind and let the three of them take care of everything. What would they become then? Useless? Moreover, superpower users needed Crystal Cores for Cultivation. If they never took action, where would they get Crystal Cores for Cultivation? They couldn¡¯t possibly compete with those three Level 4 Superpower Users, could they? That would be a death wish. Bai Zhengli¡¯s words instead were a relief to them. With the three being so fierce, others might not even get Crystal Cores if they were the ones in action. How would they Cultivate then? Thankfully, they did not always take action, or else the others might not even have a chance to hunt for Crystal Cores! They had already considered simply joining these people, and now, after witnessing the strength of the trio, they were even more determined! With such unreasonably powerful superpower users, if they still dared to have thoughts of rebellion, they would have to be out of their minds! At the same time, the people from Peace Base, like Wu Ke, felt relieved. They were extremely glad that they had offered to help outright instead of being conniving. With the abilities of these people, could they not annihilate their small Peace Base in minutes? After Fang Yuxin finished collecting the Crystal Cores, Qu Qianhe appeared riding Hong Lie. She raised her hand and released a burst of flames, burning all the zombie remnants. Seizing the chance, Wu Ke invited everyone into Peace Base. Initially, there were those who had doubts about her decision, thinking inviting them in was akin to inviting wolves into the house. However, after witnessing the strength of Fang Yuxin and the others, they dispelled such thoughts and were eager to curry favor with the three powerful Level 4 Superpower Users. Wu Ke sensed the thoughts of the others and couldn¡¯t help but sigh helplessly. She wasn¡¯t angry, just resigned. She knew Peace Base was too small, with far too few capable superpower users. If it weren¡¯t for her contracted Mutant Beasts being fairly strong, managing to just barely hold out each time zombies attacked the city, Peace Base would have ceased to exist long ago. Even so, her stress was mounting, up until they encountered the trouble with Chengtian Base. Wu Ke was well aware that if she hadn¡¯t used her contracted Mutated Birds to scout out the situations of other nearby small bases, making the people realize that being under Chengtian Base¡¯s control was no good, they would have probably longed for Chengtian Base¡¯s takeover. Unity was one thing, but when compared to survival, many other things became insignificant. Wu Ke was originally very concerned, but this time she had clearly not encountered ordinary people. If this Hope Battle Group was aiming for Chengtian Base, then... if they really took down Chengtian Base, Peace Base could consider cooperating with them. She believed these people would not be as tyrannical and overbearing as Ji Chengtian, treating others as their slaves! Chapter 688: Each harboring their own thoughts_2 Chapter 688: Each harboring their own thoughts_2 Her thoughts were not much different from many at Peace Base, so when Fang Yuxin and his group entered the base, they received an unprecedentedly warm welcome. Wu Ke even proposed, to prepare a lavish dinner to welcome and dust them off. This was absolutely a grand gesture! Their Hope Battle Group had almost five thousand people, plus about a thousand from Chengtian Base, totaling nearly six thousand people. Feeding so many was no small feat; Wu Ke was indeed willing to splurge! Upon hearing Wu Ke¡¯s words, Deng Hong couldn¡¯t help but sneer, sending a mocking glance to Meng Ping¡ªWu Ke really knew how to suck up to people! Previously when they arrived, he had put on an ¡°invincible¡± air, but now he was shamelessly currying favor. Meng Ping disdainfully glanced at him¡ªYou don¡¯t see who he¡¯s trying to please! Do you think the Hope Battle Group isn¡¯t worth pleasing? Deng Hong instantly calmed down; how could it not be worth it? It was entirely worthwhile! They simply didn¡¯t have valuable goods, or they too would have offered gifts. However... what good things could Peace Base possibly have? Regardless of Deng Hong¡¯s disdain, Wu Ke genuinely took this matter to heart. She found a place for the members of the Hope Battle Group to rest temporarily, then arranged for rooms so that they could have a place to stay. Many at Peace Base had seen Fang Yuxin and his team in action and harbored intentions of ingratiating themselves, so there were no objections to Wu Ke¡¯s orders; rather, preparations began eagerly. Meanwhile, Wu Ke gathered some influential people in the base and held a meeting, discussing how to proceed. Her plan was naturally to align with the Hope Battle Group, but the prerequisite was to find a way to keep the Hope Battle Group from leaving and to take Ji Chengtian¡¯s place at Chengtian Base. Chengtian Base was not far from Peace Base, allowing mutual aid and support. In the face of an overwhelming crisis, they could send Mutated Birds for help. But once the Hope Battle Group left, they feared Chengtian Base would instantly overpower them and reduce them to Ji Chengtian¡¯s slaves! While they were holding this meeting, Bai Zhengli too was leading a meeting elsewhere. Bai Zhengli and Fang Jintang, the squad leaders, along with the captains of four battle groups, logistics team lead Qu Qianhe, Fang Yuyang, and Fang Yuxin were all present. Though Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin were just sub-leaders in the logistics team, their abilities were widely acknowledged as core members of the Hope Battle Group, so naturally, they should be there. No one objected. Bai Zhengli lightly tapped the table, asking, ¡°What do you all think about Chengtian Base?¡± He had plans in his mind, which was to take over Chengtian Base as a base for further development. However, he still wanted to hear others¡¯ opinions. As the deputy leader, Fang Jintang spoke first, ¡°We¡¯ve just arrived at Long Province, which is complicated. If we remain outside, not only will we frequently encounter Zombie Groups and Mutant Beast attacks, but other bases will also become wary! However, Chengtian Base presents an opportunity for us. You¡¯ve heard it yourselves, the leader of Chengtian Base, Ji Chengtian is unpopular, and many small bases nearby are enslaved by him; complaints abound. So if we take down Ji Chengtian, it¡¯ll be easy to replace him and control Chengtian Base, even dominating small bases in this area!¡± Then Qu Qianhe spoke, concisely striking at the very lifeline of the Hope Battle Group. She said, ¡°Our supplies are running low, especially food. So I think it¡¯s better to settle down at Chengtian Base and develop slowly. The outside is fraught with dangers, so as long as we control this area, at least for the short term, no one should challenge us. With this time, we can develop the base and build our strength.¡± Since both Qu Qianhe and Fang Jintang had spoken thus, Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang naturally had no objections. The two nodded, simply saying, ¡°I agree,¡± then Bai Zhengli turned to the four battle group captains. Bai Ye, captain of the first battle group and Fang Yuxin¡¯s boyfriend, naturally would not contradict her deliberately. Besides, Qu Qianhe was the logistics team leader; if she said they were running out of supplies, they surely were. What else could they do? Bai Ye nodded and said, ¡°I also agree to take down Chengtian Base.¡± The remaining three battle group captains had no objections either and nodded in agreement; thus, the matter was settled. Satisfied, Bai Zhengli nodded his head and continued, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s discuss how to take down Chengtian Base.¡± The meeting continued while on another front, Deng Hong was speaking with Meng Ping. Although Deng Hong usually disliked Meng Ping, at this moment he had to admit that Meng was smarter. So he simply asked, ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll take down Chengtian Base?¡± Meng Ping was staring out the window at that time. He pretended not to hear Deng Hong¡¯s words and didn¡¯t answer. After waiting a while and seeing that he still refused to answer, Deng Hong grew angry, ¡°Meng Ping, I¡¯m talking to you!¡± Finally, Meng Ping turned to give him a look, mysteriously saying, ¡°The problem now isn¡¯t whether they¡¯re willing to take down Chengtian Base, but how they plan to do it. You know the Protection Wall of Chengtian Base is virtually impregnable!¡± (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to vote for us by recommending and giving monthly tickets at Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 689: 370 Suspicious Chapter 689: 370 Suspicious Deng Hong felt very nervous, worried that Bai Zhengli and the others wouldn¡¯t appreciate Chengtian Base. If that were the case, all their calculations would have been in vain, and once back in the Base, Ji Chengtian would certainly not spare them! So, in his haste, he no longer cared about the minor discord with Meng Ping, anxiously asking for his opinion. Little did he know, once Meng Ping opened his mouth, he gave an answer that surprised him considerably. Deng Hong squinted eyes suspiciously at Meng Ping, ¡°Are you so sure? You¡¯re not deceiving me, are you?¡± Meng Ping couldn¡¯t be bothered to entertain him. Seeing his disbelief, he replied irritably, ¡°Believe it or not!¡± After that, he continued to look out of the window. Curiosity got the better of Deng Hong, and he couldn¡¯t help but walk over to the window to take a look outside. What he saw¡ªor rather, didn¡¯t see¡ªleft him stunned¡ªthere was nothing outside. What was Meng Ping looking at? He hesitated for a moment but ultimately couldn¡¯t help himself and asked Meng Ping, ¡°What are you looking at, really? At a time like this, too? What¡¯s gotten your attention?¡± Instead of answering, Meng Ping questioned him, ¡°What did you see?¡± Deng Hong¡¯s anger flared, and he bellowed at Meng Ping, ¡°Are you playing with me? There¡¯s nothing out there, what else could there be?¡± ¡°Idiot!¡± Meng Ping muttered under his breath. Although the voice was very soft, Deng Hong still heard it, and he was instantly furious, his face turning red, ¡°What did you just say? Say it again if you dare!¡± he declared, clenching his fists and waving them threateningly. Meng Ping wasn¡¯t scared of him at all; he pushed Deng Hong aside and said, ¡°I said you are stupid!¡± Seeing that Deng Hong seemed enraged, he continued, ¡°Don¡¯t you find it suspicious that there¡¯s nothing outside? Chengtian Base isn¡¯t like this. There¡¯s always so much activity in the Base!¡± Deng Hong then understood the point Meng Ping was making. He scoffed, thinking Meng Ping was making a big deal out of nothing, ¡°So you think Peace Base can compare to Chengtian Base? How many people are even here? It¡¯s natural for it not to be bustling.¡± Meng Ping shook his head, ¡°I think there¡¯s another reason.¡± But he did not specify what that reason was and simply sat to one side, continuing to space out. Deng Hong did not inquire further, convinced that Meng Ping was overthinking things. He had no interest in that issue. What he was most eager to find out was whether Bai Zhengli and his party intended to stay. He stole a glance at Meng Ping, recalling what he had said earlier, and his brow slightly furrowed¡ªMeng Ping seemed very confident, could it really be as he had guessed? Could that group really be planning to stay? While he was filled with doubts, the meeting with Bai Zhengli and the others had nearly concluded. Everyone felt that attacking Chengtian Base rashly was too risky. First of all, there were too many people in the Base, and the Protection Wall was considerably strong. If they were to engage in actual combat, taking down Chengtian Base would inevitably lead to casualties. They only wanted to deal with Ji Chengtian and his close followers, not the rest of the people in Chengtian Base. However, according to Deng Hong and Meng Ping¡¯s description, if a real battle were to break out, Ji Chengtian would certainly not engage personally, and instead, many innocent people would be hurt¡ªa loss far outweighing any gains. So, they had to come up with a different strategy! According to Bai Ye, since a direct assault was not an option, they should lure the enemy out. It just so happened that they had successfully captured Deng Hong, Meng Ping, and approximately a thousand of their men. With so many people not returning, neither Ji Chengtian nor others in the Base could afford to ignore the situation. Eventually, even if Ji Chengtian did not personally come forth, he would surely send people out. Then, they could use the same tactic again and capture them. For the time being, they were staying at Peace Base, and judging by Wu Ke¡¯s attitude, they were presumably welcome to extend their stay for a few more days. If necessary, they could offer some Crystal Cores as compensation. After all, they lacked for nothing except Crystal Cores. The others also thought that Bai Ye¡¯s plan was good, so that settled the matter. As evening approached, Wu Ke indeed came out with some quite lavish food, really splurging. She was exceedingly welcoming, and Bai Zhengli and his company naturally responded in kind, making the dinner a pleasant affair. After the meal, Bai Zhengli mentioned to Wu Ke their intention to stay at Peace Base for a few days, at the same time hinting at their plan to take down Chengtian Base. With this, the people of Peace Base were completely reassured. Like Deng Hong and Meng Ping, they all hoped they would stay, replacing Ji Chengtian as the new leader of Chengtian Base. But Meng Ping was smarter; he had directly guessed the intentions of these people. The others did not have his insight and were anxious until Bai Zhengli made his stance clear, allowing their hearts to finally settle. Chapter 690: 370 Suspicious_2 Chapter 690: 370 Suspicious_2 Wu Ke, of course, had no objections. As soon as Bai Zhengli made his stance clear, she directly said, ¡°The Base belongs to everyone, stay as long as you want.¡± However, even though she said this, Bai Zhengli did not take it seriously. After all, as the proverb goes, one mountain cannot contain two tigers. Wu Ke was the leader of Peace Base, yet her strength was mediocre. If they really stayed here for a long time, her position would undoubtedly be threatened. Afterwards, Bai Zhengli began discussing business with Wu Ke straightforwardly, ¡°We have quite a few people here, and we need to know how much rent you require. Just tell us, and don¡¯t be concerned about it. Also, we¡¯re running low on food. If you have any surplus, could you sell us some?¡± Wu Ke hesitated for a moment but still decided to symbolically charge some rent and sold some food to Bai Zhengli and his group. After all, the people in their Base needed to live, and Crystal Cores were always scarce commodities. Even if she was resolved to forge good relations with these people, she couldn¡¯t afford to be too generous. Fortunately, she had already arranged for a place for them to stay. Although the conditions were not great, that was the way of the apocalypse. The members of the Hope Battle Group were not fussy. Still, Deng Hong and Meng Ping found their accommodations quite uncomfortable. Being Third-level Superpower Users, they held some status in the Chengtian Base and were used to somewhat luxurious and comfortable living spaces. Here, due to limited conditions, they had no choice but to squeeze into communal bunks. The people of the Hope Battle Group didn¡¯t mind at all. They had been constantly on the move and never had the chance to properly rest on the road, where they even had to stand while in vehicles. It was extremely uncomfortable. If they hadn¡¯t been superpower users, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to endure it at all! Now, even though their living conditions were poor, they could finally lie down and sleep, and nothing could be better than that! Aware that everyone had been exhausted from the journey, Bai Zhengli instructed them to rest well because he estimated that the next day, there was likely a tough fight ahead. His estimation wasn¡¯t wrong. Just as they prepared to rest, dark clouds gathered inside the City Lord Mansion of Chengtian Base. Ji Chengtian sat on the sofa, his expression grim as he looked at the man standing before him, ¡°You¡¯re saying Deng Hong and the others still haven¡¯t returned?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The man nodded, hesitated for a moment, but still conveyed his thoughts, ¡°City Lord, they still haven¡¯t returned. I fear something may have happened.¡± Upon hearing this, Ji Chengtian¡¯s expression turned even uglier, ¡°It¡¯s just the insignificant Peace Base, and yet they couldn¡¯t suppress it? They took elite forces with them, and you¡¯re telling me the e?lite forces couldn¡¯t handle it? Are you suggesting they¡¯re not a match for Wu Ke and even got taken down by her? Do you really think that woman is capable of that much?¡± Ji Chengtian¡¯s tone was filled with impatience. The man in front of him was also genuinely puzzled and shook his head decisively, ¡°If it was just Wu Ke, she definitely wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against them. But for them not to have returned by now, something¡¯s definitely off. Apart from trouble, I can¡¯t think of any other reason.¡± Ji Chengtian squinted and pondered, speaking uncertainly to himself, ¡°Could something have really happened?¡± The man waited for a while, and seeing that Ji Chengtian remained silent, he asked hesitantly, ¡°City Lord, what should we do now? Should we send someone to check?¡± Ji Chengtian¡¯s instinctive reaction was to glance at the dark sky outside the window, then without hesitation, he shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s getting dark, going out now is too dangerous. Let¡¯s look into it tomorrow. This matter is too suspicious!¡± The man wanted to say more but was given a cold glance by Ji Chengtian and had to swallow his words. Then, Ji Chengtian waved his hand, signaling him to leave. Seeing the impatience in Ji Chengtian¡¯s demeanor, the man left the room. As he opened the door, a wave of hot air rushed in, adding to his irritation. Compared to the scorching heat outside, the room was quite cool, thanks to the air conditioning. As he was leaving, he glanced at the running air conditioner in the corner, his gaze slightly darkened, and he sighed helplessly, closing the door gently behind him. While the Ordinary People in the Base were too poor to afford even a meal and couldn¡¯t use electricity, Ji Chengtian, the City Lord, had the luxury of enjoying appliances like air conditioning and refrigerators. It was truly maddening to compare one¡¯s lot with others! What made it even more disheartening was his apathetic attitude towards Deng Hong and the others. Over a thousand lives were at stake, and they were not far from Peace Base. Even if it was getting dark, a round trip by car wouldn¡¯t take much time. Yet, he was not willing to make even that effort! Clearly, those thousand-plus lives were insignificant to him! After hesitating for a moment, he decided to take some people to Peace Base to see what had happened, as over a thousand lives should not vanish without a trace! Therefore, leaving the City Lord Mansion, he quickly gathered some of his trusted men and set out from the Base by car. Given the uncertainty of the situation, he dared not bring too many people, just over fifty of his loyal subordinates. They encountered a few waves of zombies on the road, but the numbers were few, and they managed to reach Peace Base with minor scares along the way. It was now past eight at night, and many people had already gone to bed, but people in Peace Base were always on watch at night. So, when they arrived, there were still guards on the walls. Originally, they had intended to keep an eye out for any abnormalities along the way, but they didn¡¯t notice anything until they reached Peace Base. It was night, and visibility was somewhat low, even though they were superpower users. But from a cursory glance, they felt that there had been no fierce battles here. So where on earth had Deng Hong and his group gone? (To be continued... If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it with your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 691: 371 Heart Cold Chapter 691: 371 Heart Cold Among these people, the leader named Wan Hao was a man in his early thirties, quite loyal, which was why he had taken the risk to come over after sensing something was amiss. He led his men all the way to the outskirts of Peace Base and, after some observation, found that there were no traces of a fierce battle having taken place; doubt began to form in his heart. The traces were either wiped clean or had never existed in the first place; Wan Hao wasn¡¯t quite sure which it was. However, what he could be certain of was that under normal circumstances, the people of Peace Base could not possibly have captured Deng Hong and his men entirely. That meant there must be something wrong here! Realizing that something was off, he hesitated over whether to leave or to directly inquire about the whereabouts of Deng Hong and the others. Just then, a hurricane lamp suddenly lit up on the wall, and someone shouted, ¡°Who¡¯s there? What do you want?¡± There were always guards on the watchtower; although it was dark at night and difficult to see clearly, the guards could see better from their elevated position. Moreover, the sound of the car¡¯s engine wasn¡¯t quiet, so they had noticed it as soon as it arrived. Initially, they said nothing, silently observing for a while. The more they looked at this group, the more suspicious they seemed. Upon further thought, they guessed these people must be from Chengtian Base! At this time, they couldn¡¯t think of anyone else besides Chengtian Base¡¯s people who would dare to come over¡ªafter all, it was much more dangerous at night than during the day! This group arrived in a single car, clearly not numerous enough to appear as if they were launching a sneak attack, so the Peace Base people observed for a while and were slightly relieved. At the same time, they were puzzled about what these people were doing here. Such a small number couldn¡¯t possibly take over Peace Base. Could it be they were worried about Deng Hong and his men and came to check? If that were the case, it was quite admirable. So after observing for a while, someone finally spoke up. Of course, the tone of the question was quite rude; after all, Chengtian Base was so domineering that they all had a bone to pick. Everyone understood that the only reason they had escaped disaster today was because of Bai Zhengli and his group. If not for them, their base might have fallen to Deng Hong and his group, and who knew how many would have died! Thinking of this, everyone was extremely grateful, not just because Bai Zhengli had captured Deng Hong and Meng Ping, helping them through the crisis, but also due to the presence of Fang Yuxin, a Level 4 Wood Element Superpower User! Originally, many of them had been injured, some directly hit by shrapnel with serious injuries, and it was uncertain if they would survive. Even if they did, there was no telling how long they would need to recover. But once Fang Yuxin acted, they all started to heal. Not to say they were bouncing around immediately, but their wounds had all healed, and the rest only required slow body recuperation. In the end, not a single person died! Everyone was filled with immense gratitude, and even though they all knew food was precious in the apocalypse, they had agreed to Wu Ke¡¯s decision to sell grain to the Hope Battle Group. After all, they had stored plenty of food, and there was more growing in the fields; they were not short on provisions. The person who spoke earlier had used a sour tone because he was upset, but when Wan Hao and his group heard this, it made them even more skeptical. They had thought that this mission should have been without issues, with Deng Hong and Meng Ping leading more than a thousand well-equipped men, which should have been enough to take Peace Base. Yet not a single one of them had returned! At that moment, they began to suspect that someone inside Peace Base had either advanced to a higher level or there had been some other accident. Hearing the dissatisfaction mixed with arrogance in the voice from earlier, Wan Hao and the others exchanged looks, feeling that there must indeed be an expert inside Peace Base. Otherwise, those people wouldn¡¯t be so bold. With this speculation, their unease grew. But since they had been discovered and had come to find out what happened to Deng Hong and the others, it was better to just ask directly. So Wan Hao plainly said, ¡°I am Wan Hao from Chengtian Base. We¡¯ve come at this hour to inquire about the whereabouts of Deng Hong and Meng Ping¡¯s men. Surely you haven¡¯t killed them all?¡± Worried that the other party would refuse to answer, he deliberately provoked them with his words. Chapter 692: 371 Heart Cold_2 Chapter 692: 371 Heart Cold_2 Sure enough, the man was tricked quickly and began cursing directly, ¡°You¡¯re full of shit! Do you think we at Peace Base are all like you folks at Chengtian Base, worthless one and all?¡± Wan Hao couldn¡¯t help but touch his nose, he just wanted to make sure those people were okay, and he hadn¡¯t expected the other party to start cursing directly¡ªand fiercely at that. It left a bad taste in his mouth, but at least he could be fairly sure that Deng Hong and the others hadn¡¯t died, so the scolding wasn¡¯t for nothing. His subordinates, however, were not pleased and complained to him, ¡°Captain, these people are too much! Why are they so arrogant?¡± Wan Hao gave him a look and sighed helplessly, ¡°We indeed didn¡¯t handle this nobly. Think about it, if we were in Peace Base¡¯s shoes and someone attacked us, wouldn¡¯t you be angry?¡± The man thought about it and his expression immediately turned ugly, murmuring in a low voice, ¡°Then I¡¯d definitely fight them to the death!¡± He also understood that Chengtian Base had indeed gone too far. It would have been okay if they had just stationed experts in these bases; that could be seen as a good thing. But Ji Chengtian¡¯s intent to swallow up all these small bases and turn their people into his slaves was way over the line! He hadn¡¯t agreed with this initially, but sadly his influence was too minor, and he didn¡¯t even have the chance to suggest otherwise to Ji Chengtian! Not just him, even Wan Hao didn¡¯t dare to offer suggestions to Ji Chengtian, a man of great ambition but very narrow-minded, ruthless and brutal, which made him hard to oppose. Wan Hao called out, ¡°Are they still alive? Can I see them?¡± He wanted to see Deng Hong and Meng Ping, not only to ensure they were really okay, but also to find out from them what exactly had happened and who had taken them down. The person on the wall thought it over and considering that Deng Hong and Meng Ping had already surrendered, and that there weren¡¯t many of them, allowing them into the base seemed harmless. Moreover, he thought, their base housed three Level 4 Superpower Users, each more formidable than the last; even if Ji Chengtian himself came, there was no need to be afraid, let alone worry about these folks. Still, he cautiously contacted Wu Ke via walkie-talkie first and, upon receiving her consent, finally opened the gate to let them in. When Wan Hao and his team entered the base, the people there were on high alert; though unconcerned about the potential trouble they could stir up, they remained very vigilant. Wan Hao and his group had no intentions of starting a fight, but seeing the people of Peace Base so thoroughly prepared, as if they had set a trap for them to fall into, made them nervous too. All of them tensed up, also worried that the people of Peace Base might suddenly attack. Shortly after, they were led directly to where Deng Hong and Meng Ping were staying and allowed to talk amongst themselves. Initially, Wan Hao and the others were confused, not understanding who the People of Peace Base intended them to meet in what looked like an ordinary civilian residence with no guards around, hardly a place for detaining people. But before they had even approached, an already forewarned Deng Hong and Meng Ping came out to greet them at the door, beckoning him inside. Wan Hao instinctively glanced at the two of them, noting that they didn¡¯t appear injured; he unconsciously assumed they might be impostors or somehow under someone¡¯s control! He was filled with doubts and extremely cautious, feeling as if the opened door was like a bottomless pit¡ªif he went in, he wouldn¡¯t come back out! Hesitating, his steps unconsciously slowed. Seeing him dawdle at the door, Deng Hong couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Hey, what¡¯s taking you so long? You¡¯re almost stepping on all the ants on the ground!¡± Listening to him, Wan Hao couldn¡¯t help but curse internally¡ªOf course I¡¯m walking slowly, it¡¯s obviously a trap! Should I just jump right in? But then he thought something didn¡¯t add up! The Deng Hong before him didn¡¯t seem like an imposter or someone being controlled! The way he spoke still sounded as obnoxious as ever! Could it be that there really was a Spiritual Power expert in Peace Base capable of such sophisticated control? Meng Ping, noticing his confusion, explained, ¡°We¡¯re fine, come inside and you¡¯ll understand. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not a trap.¡± Although Wan Hao was still somewhat skeptical, he took a deep look at Meng Ping and Deng Hong, feeling they weren¡¯t lying. He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and decided to trust them this time! Once he cautiously entered the room and saw it really didn¡¯t seem like a trap, he slightly relaxed but kept his guard up and asked, ¡°What¡¯s really going on with you two? Why aren¡¯t you back at the base? What are you doing staying here? It¡¯s not right. How could the people of Peace Base let you in? Did you take down the people at Peace Base?¡± Before Deng Hong had been very anxious about whether or not to remain with Hope Battle Group, until Bai Zhengli hinted that they would take down Chengtian Base, only then did he thoroughly relax. Now, seeing Wan Hao being so cautious tickled his mischievous side and he decided to tease him. Feigning a serious demeanor, he mysteriously said, ¡°It¡¯s a long story...¡± Wan Hao couldn¡¯t help but twitch his mouth and blurted out, ¡°Then make the long story short!¡± Though he said so, his eyes were on Meng Ping, signaling him to hurry up and explain. Meng Ping glanced sideway at Deng Hong, sighed, and explained, ¡°Here¡¯s what happened: we were initially leading people to attack Peace Base, but Wu Ke had left the base earlier. We didn¡¯t think much of it until she returned with a truck convoy!¡± Hearing this, Wan Hao¡¯s expression gradually turned solemn, realizing the problem must have been with this convoy! (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 693: 372 Doubtful Chapter 693: 372 Doubtful Meng Ping noticed Wan Hao had grasped the critical issue and continued to explain, ¡°You are right, the problem indeed lies with this convoy. You may not believe it, but this convoy has less than five thousand people, yet among them are three Level 4 superpower users! In addition, there are two more whose strength is at least at the third-level peak!¡± ¡°What!¡± Wan Hao exclaimed in surprise, ¡°How is that possible? Are you sure? Didn¡¯t you see it wrong?¡± Deng Hong initially wanted to tease Wan Hao a bit by playing coy, but hearing this, he interjected, ¡°See it wrong? Do you think Meng Ping and I would both make the same mistake? Those three are terrifyingly powerful! They are not only Level 4 superpower users but also among the toughest of that level! I think even if Ji Chengtian successfully advances, he wouldn¡¯t be a match for any of them!¡± Wan Hao felt some doubts. He thought Deng Hong¡¯s statement was too exaggerated. Although Ji Chengtian was unscrupulous in his actions and arrogant and domineering in his behavior, his strength was indeed quite formidable. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have dared to defy him. Wan Hao couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Deng Hong and Meng Ping had been defeated by this convoy and were making this up to shift the blame. Seeing his doubt, both Deng Hong and Meng Ping could tell. With a sigh, Meng Ping said, ¡°You might not believe it, but it¡¯s true. At first, when we saw them, we didn¡¯t quite believe it either. Having two Level 4 superpower users simultaneously seemed too exaggerated. But then suddenly, a zombie group of fifty to sixty thousand appeared, and we all thought it would be a tough fight. We hadn¡¯t even started when a woman riding a mutated ragdoll cat charged into the zombies. She was wielding a long sword, and with each swing, zombie heads flew.¡± He paused as he spoke, seeing the shocked expression on Wan Hao¡¯s face, then continued, ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m exaggerating¡ªthis wasn¡¯t even the most impressive part. She is a Level 4 Wood Element Superpower User. Later, she threw out a handful of seeds or something, scattering them densely, and then those things turned into wooden arrows in midair, shooting densely towards the surrounding zombies. With just that Skill, she killed at least ten thousand zombies!¡± ¡°Damn!¡± Wan Hao couldn¡¯t help but curse, his eyes widening as he swallowed, incredulously asking, ¡°Really¡ªtrue or false? Are Level 4 superpower users really that powerful? No way! You said she¡¯s a Level 4 Wood Element Superpower User? Since when do Wood Element Superpower Users have such terrifying lethality? Aren¡¯t they all about healing and planting?¡± Meng Ping sighed, giving Wan Hao a ¡®you finally realized¡¯ look that made Wan Hao quite uncomfortable. In his mind, he subconsciously imagined the scene Meng Ping described, the more he thought about it, the more he felt horrified¡ªcould a single Skill really kill tens of thousands of zombies? Was Meng Ping not dreaming? After a moment of hesitation, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°That... you weren¡¯t affected by a Spiritual Superpower User¡¯s illusion, were you?¡± Meng Ping shook his head firmly and said, ¡°Definitely not an illusion! I¡¯m sure of it! Besides her, there were two other Level 4 superpower users, one Wind Element and one that seems to be Gold Element, also very powerful. Plus, I always feel they haven¡¯t even shown their real power!¡± As soon as he said this, not only was Wan Hao horrified, but Deng Hong beside him was also shocked, exclaiming, ¡°No way? Meng Ping, are you for real? They¡¯re already so formidable, and you¡¯re saying that¡¯s not even their full strength? How terrifying must their real power be?¡± Wan Hao nodded vigorously, feeling that Deng Hong was right! It was already beyond belief to be that strong; if they were really as Meng Ping described, then were those three even human? Seeing their disbelief, Meng Ping felt somewhat helpless and emphasized, ¡°They give me a feeling of being profoundly inscrutable!¡± After saying this, he looked at Wan Hao, ¡°You¡¯ll understand once you see them.¡± Wan Hao did believe Meng Ping about Fang Yuxin¡¯s feat of killing tens of thousands of zombies with one move, but he was skeptical about what Meng Ping said afterward. He privately thought that Meng Ping, having witnessed that astonishing scene, must have been scared, leading to such thoughts. However, he didn¡¯t dwell on this issue, instead asking, ¡°Then what? How did you get into Peace Base? Did they make it difficult for you?¡± Pausing, he hesitantly asked, ¡°What about the others? Is everyone okay?¡± Chapter 694: 372 Doubtful Chapter 694: 372 Doubtful Deng Hong was the first to speak, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, not a single one is in trouble. We had barely started fighting when these people showed up. They didn¡¯t give us a hard time; they just let us surrender. At that time, two Level 4 Superpower Users appeared, and Meng Ping and I felt that we were no match for them. If it had come to a real fight, who knows how many of our men would¡¯ve died, so we surrendered.¡± Wan Hao wasn¡¯t a fool. He thought about it and then understood the crux of the matter, ¡°So you¡¯re staying here... are you planning to join them? Do you have other plans? If these people are really as formidable as you say, I doubt they¡¯d be content to stay in this small base,¡± he mused as he spoke, thinking things over. He could guess somewhat at Deng Hong and Meng Ping¡¯s intentions. Just by putting himself in their shoes, he knew what he would have done. What he wasn¡¯t so sure about was how these people compared to Ji Chengtian. If they were even more excessive than Ji Chengtian, wouldn¡¯t their situation be even worse? Meng Ping read his thoughts and smiled, ¡°Look at us. What do you think of our current state?¡± Wan Hao was initially puzzled, but after observing him for a moment, he caught on. Deng Hong and Meng Ping had surrendered, and it seemed that there was not a single thing amiss with them both, implying that those people were probably not the sort to take a heavy hand. Of course, this was just his speculation; whether the other side had any ulterior motives, he couldn¡¯t tell. Meng Ping continued, ¡°Tonight, Wu Ke prepared a lavish dinner for them. Although our portion was somewhat worse, it did not leave us hungering. Afterwards, they bought some food from Wu Ke using Crystal Cores. Wu Ke even invited the Level 4 Wood Element Superpower User to help treat the injured in the base, and she agreed. Originally, many in Peace Base were injured during our siege, but once she took action, all of those people survived, not one died!¡± Listening silently, Wan Hao suddenly felt that Meng Ping¡¯s words had some persuasive power. First off, these people were so powerful and had entered the base; taking down the small Peace Base would have been a matter of minutes, but they didn¡¯t do that. Instead, they used precious Crystal Cores to exchange for food with Wu Ke, which made him feel favorably towards them. Long Province was a major grain-producing area, so many bases there were not short on food at the moment. Although Peace Base was small, it likely didn¡¯t lack grain either. Comparatively, Crystal Cores were much more precious. You could only find them inside zombies¡¯ brains, and the small scale of Peace Base meant there weren¡¯t many capable individuals; obtaining Crystal Cores was not easy for them, so exchanging food for them was indeed advantageous. Moreover, higher-level Superpower Users tended to have higher statuses and could be rather proud and dismissive of others. Ji Chengtian was exactly like that. Particularly, Wood Element Superpower Users, because of their healing abilities and the ability to encourage plant growth, enjoyed a unique advantage and were treated better than other types of Superpower Users, with high-level ones being regarded even more highly. In Chengtian Base, where he was from, there were quite a few Wood Element Superpower Users, even Level 3 Wood Element Superpower Users. But almost all of these Wood Element Superpower Users were controlled by Ji Chengtian and other power brokers, serving exclusively them, making it difficult for others to get treatment when injured. With his and Deng Hong and Meng Ping¡¯s status, they needn¡¯t worry about not getting treatment if they were injured, but the cost of treatment was exorbitant nonetheless, practically akin to providing for someone. The Superpower Users below, those with better abilities, could also find Wood Element Superpower Users for treatment, but the worse ones were doomed. Like other small nearby bases, the situation was even worse. Once controlled, most of their Wood Element Superpower Users were taken to Chengtian Base, leaving very few behind, all controlled. If others were injured and sought treatment, the costs were frighteningly high, possibly exceeding their day¡¯s earnings! So for the weaker ones, an injury could be utterly despairing, simply because they couldn¡¯t afford the treatment costs! Wan Hao actually found this matter quite distasteful, but Ji Chengtian was very insistent, and the other big shots left in Chengtian Base were in cahoots with him. He had brought it up discreetly before but Ji Chengtian got so angry that he didn¡¯t dare to mention it again. Thus, after hearing Meng Ping¡¯s words, Wan Hao felt that these newcomers, even if not entirely benevolent, might be better than Ji Chengtian. Besides, with their considerable strength, if they took control of Chengtian Base, might the situation improve? Meng Ping went on, ¡°I inquired, and although they don¡¯t often take action when they encounter Zombie Groups, mostly leaving it to others to resolve, they step forward themselves when the situation turns dangerous; they don¡¯t let their people throw their lives away. I may not have seen this with my own eyes, but I believe it¡¯s true. They have no reason to put on an act for us, right? Even if it was an act, they wouldn¡¯t rush into a Zombie Group solo. It was only the three of them who took action, no one else even moved! I sneaked a peek at the crowd, and they seemed to take it all as normal.¡± Wan Hao¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Are you serious? Are they really that good?¡± Meng Ping thought for a moment and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how good they truly are, but I think they¡¯re better than Ji Chengtian and worth trusting.¡± Wan Hao¡¯s gaze flickered and he pondered a moment, then abruptly slammed a fist on the table and directly asked, ¡°So what are your plans now?¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it with your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 695: 373 Two Requirements Chapter 695: 373 Two Requirements Meng Ping and Deng Hong exchanged a glance, knowing Wan Hao had likely already made up his mind. Without hiding anything, Meng Ping said, ¡°This mysterious group is called the Hope Battle Group. The squad leader is Bai Zhengli, and the deputy is Fang Jintang. One of them is a Third-level Superpower User and the other is likely a Third-level Peak Superpower User. As for the three Level 4 Superpower Users I mentioned before, one is named Bai Ye, and the other two are a pair of siblings named Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin. According to what Bai Zhengli revealed, they plan to stay temporarily in the Peace Base to try to lure out Ji Chengtian, to avoid causing too many casualties with a forceful attack.¡± Wan Hao pondered for a moment, then slightly shook his head, ¡°With Ji Chengtian¡¯s character, it won¡¯t be easy to draw him out! Didn¡¯t you tell him?¡± Meng Ping replied, ¡°I think they must have other plans. Besides, even if Ji Chengtian hides and doesn¡¯t come out, he can¡¯t ignore the disappearance of so many people, right? He¡¯ll definitely send someone to investigate. As long as we capture those people, his usable forces will gradually decrease!¡± Upon hearing this, Wan Hao understood; he thought carefully and felt that the idea was quite good. After all, there were so many people in the safety base, and casualties would be inevitable if a battle broke out. But by slowly dealing with the people Ji Chengtian sent out, and doing this repeatedly, the base would inevitably become restless. Eventually, Ji Chengtian would have no choice but to personally come out to calm everyone¡¯s fears, and that would be their opportunity! As long as they took down Ji Chengtian and his subordinates during this time, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to take over Chengtian Base. Ji Chengtian was too domineering and unpopular; if it weren¡¯t for his strength, someone would have turned against him already. Thus, for the Hope Battle Group to replace Ji Chengtian and become the ruler of Chengtian Base was actually not difficult. Thinking of this, Wan Hao felt relieved and began to look forward to it. Then he suddenly thought of a question and quickly asked, ¡°Since you already have plans, what about the others? What are they thinking, have you asked?¡± Meng Ping nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve already discussed this with Deng Hong and the people below, and they all are looking forward to the Hope Battle Group taking over from Ji Chengtian.¡± Hearing this, Wan Hao couldn¡¯t help but sigh. After all, Chengtian Base was built by Ji Chengtian at the beginning of the apocalypse, and he had put a lot of effort into it. Ji Chengtian initially wasn¡¯t like this; he was passionate and righteous, which is why everyone was willing to follow him and obey his orders. However, somehow Ji Chengtian changed gradually, becoming increasingly suspicious and luxurious. His personality also turned quite domineering, unable to tolerate any opposition; anyone who slightly defied him would not be easily forgiven! It was as if he had completely changed, even the smile on his face became scarce, always appearing deep and unpredictable, making everyone quite uneasy! Now that they planned to help the Hope Battle Group take down Chengtian Base and dethrone Ji Chengtian, Wan Hao felt it was somewhat unfair to Ji Chengtian. But then he thought again, if Ji Chengtian continued to create chaos, the entire base might fall into disarray! He hesitated for a moment, then asked uneasily, ¡°So, what about after taking down Ji Chengtian? Surely they¡¯re not planning to... kill him, are they?¡± Deng Hong and Meng Ping, who had been rather optimistic, suddenly changed their expressions. Deng Hong, uncertain, said, ¡°No... surely not? They don¡¯t seem like they¡¯re ruthlessly cruel...¡± Although he said this, his voice grew lower and lower as he was not sure at all. Seeing that Meng Ping did not speak, Wan Hao asked him, ¡°Meng Ping, what do you think? Will they kill Ji Chengtian?¡± Meng Ping frowned, thought for a moment, then shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Deng Hong¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t go that far, right? It¡¯s not ancient times where the throne is seized with assassination, right? There¡¯s no need for murder!¡± Although he held some grudges against Ji Chengtian, having been through so much together since the apocalypse began, he hoped Ji Chengtian would be replaced but never thought of taking his life! If the people from the Hope Battle Group really intended to kill Ji Chengtian, what should they do? Deng Hong rubbed his head, struggling to come up with a good idea, and looked at Meng Ping for help, ¡°You¡¯re usually pretty smart, what do you think we should do if they really go that far...¡± Chapter 696: 373 Two Requirements_2 Chapter 696: 373 Two Requirements_2 Before he could finish speaking, Meng Ping interrupted him, ¡°You¡¯d better pray they don¡¯t do that! Overthinking this won¡¯t help. Let¡¯s just see what happens when the time comes.¡± His words were directed both at Deng Hong and at Wan Hao. Wan Hao was aware of this and simply nodded his head, deciding to sleep on it and see what the next day would bring. The three of them made do with their sleeping arrangements and the night passed quickly. When they opened their eyes again, the sky had already brightened. The Hope Battle Group had prepared breakfast early, and although Deng Hong and his companions were ¡°captives¡±, the group hadn¡¯t mistreated them and had included them in the breakfast preparations, including Wan Hao who had just arrived last night. Taking advantage of breakfast, the people from Chengtian Base covertly observed the members of the Hope Battle Group, secretly assessing their strength. After hurriedly finishing their breakfast, Wan Hao took the initiative to find Bai Zhengli and told him, ¡°I already know about your plans. I¡¯m willing to support you, but I have two requests that I hope you can agree to.¡± Deng Hong and Meng Ping were startled by these words. They instinctively thought back to the conversation from the night before. What kind of demands would Wan Hao make? Could it be that he would plead on behalf of Ji Chengtian, asking Bai Zhengli to promise not to kill Ji Chengtian? But that was only one request. What about the other? Deng Hong and Meng Ping felt both tense and worried. They wanted to know whether Bai Zhengli would agree, yet they feared that Wan Hao¡¯s demands might annoy him, making life difficult for them in the future. While the two were fraught with worry, Bai Zhengli had already spoken, ¡°Just say what your conditions are. How can I agree to something you haven¡¯t even mentioned?¡± Wan Hao nodded. Bai Zhengli¡¯s request was reasonable, so he said, ¡°For the first request, I hope that after you take control of Chengtian Base, you can release the captured Wood Element Superpower Users and open a hospital within the base to ensure that the injured can receive treatment. My second request is that you don¡¯t kill Ji Chengtian. Although he has made mistakes, his crimes aren¡¯t worthy of death. Give him a chance to reform.¡± He appeared calm, but his heart was in turmoil, fearing that Bai Zhengli might disagree or become angry. After finishing his speech, his eyes were fixed on Bai Zhengli, waiting for his reaction, as were Deng Hong and Meng Ping, who shared Wan Hao¡¯s concerns. Bai Zhengli took in their expressions, then suddenly smiled and said, ¡°Regarding your first request, opening a hospital is definitely doable. However, I can¡¯t promise that every injured person will receive treatment. I can only say that we will try our best to arrange for more doctors to help with the injuries. As for those captured Wood Element Superpower Users, naturally, we will release them. As for your second request, I can only say that as long as he doesn¡¯t seek his own death, my men will absolutely not kill him.¡± Wan Hao thought for a moment, then nodded. ¡°That works! Since you¡¯ve put it that way, I¡¯ll also lay it on the line. I, Wan Hao, will definitely help you take down Chengtian Base.¡± Hearing this, Deng Hong and Meng Ping unconsciously sighed with relief, then said together, ¡°We will help, too.¡± Bai Zhengli smiled again and suddenly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t disappoint you.¡± After he spoke, he instinctively looked in the direction of Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin, seeing not only the two of them together but Bai Qianqian as well, and he smiled contentedly. He believed that everything would turn out well. ... Inside the Chengtian Base, Ji Chengtian was asking one of his subordinates, ¡°Are you saying that last night Wan Hao left the base with fifty men and then never returned?¡± Feeling the powerful aura emanating from Ji Chengtian, the man dared not lift his head and could only continue, ¡°Yes, Wan Hao probably wanted to take men out to find Deng Hong and Meng Ping, but he hasn¡¯t come back. I¡¯m afraid something has happened. City Lord, should we send someone to Peace Base to check it out? This is too bizarre!¡± Ji Chengtian¡¯s complexion changed, and he immediately ordered, ¡°Then you take some men to Peace Base and see what¡¯s really going on!¡± The man then asked, ¡°So... how many men do you think should I take?¡± Ji Chengtian thought for a moment and named a number, ¡°Take a hundred men with you. Remember, you¡¯re just going to gather information. Don¡¯t get too close. If you find out anything, don¡¯t act rashly; come straight back and report.¡± The man¡¯s face turned extremely grim. However, since he was still bowing his head, Ji Chengtian didn¡¯t see his expression. He just clenched his jaw tightly, and after a while, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll handle it right away!¡±ËµÍê,Ëû¾ÍתÉí thereupon, he turned and quickly left the hall. Ji Chengtian watched his retreating figure and gradually frowned. He knew the man was unhappy with his order, but with the situation unclear, he couldn¡¯t risk sending too many men, could he? If they all died out there, how would the remaining people protect such a large safe base? After a while, someone hurried into the hall and said, ¡°City Lord, something terrible has happened! Wan Hao¡¯s deputy, Liu Yue, suddenly left the base with his men, saying he was going out to rescue Wan Hao!¡± Upon hearing this, Ji Chengtian¡¯s expression turned exceedingly grim. ¡°What did you say? That Liu Yue has a lot of nerve to leave with so many men without my approval! Does he not take me into consideration at all? And you! Why didn¡¯t you stop him!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) by leaving a recommendation, monthly ticket, and your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 697: 374 Unease Chapter 697: 374 Unease Ji Chengtian was furious. Before, he had only allowed Gu Yong to take a hundred men to do some reconnaissance because he didn¡¯t want to suffer too many casualties without clear information. After all, the whereabouts of Deng Hong and Meng Ping, who led around a thousand men, were still unknown, as were the fates of Wan Hao and the fifty men he took with him! These men were the cream of the crop, and now all of them had run into trouble; how could he not be worried? But who could have known that Liu Yue would act so impulsively, taking out his entire troop of around a thousand men! Had he ever considered the consequences of such actions? The person delivering the report was scolded by Ji Chengtian, feeling rather bitter, then asked, ¡°So what do we do now? Should we go after them?¡± Ji Chengtian hesitated briefly before saying, ¡°We¡¯ll follow them from a distance, to see what¡¯s really going on. With the situation unclear, let¡¯s not get too close.¡± The reporter then said, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange it right away! How many men do you think we should take?¡± This time Ji Chengtian did not hesitate, answering straight away, ¡°Take three thousand elite forces with us when we set out! If we really encounter any trouble, we¡¯ll be able to provide support in a timely manner.¡± Upon hearing this, the reporter thought of what Gu Yong had said about Ji Chengtian only allowing a hundred men to scout and couldn¡¯t help but snicker to himself¡ªJi Chengtian truly only looked out for himself! However, he didn¡¯t say anything. He nodded his head after receiving the orders and turned to make the arrangements. Three thousand men was not a small number; He would need to arrange for vehicles for the journey, plus refueling, and so on. Ten minutes later, everything was ready. Ji Chengtian got into his special vehicle, prepared to set off. It was a customized SUV, with windows made of the latest model of high-strength bulletproof glass, and tires that were bulletproof as well. The body of the vehicle had been reinforced by a Gold Element Superpower User, giving it exceptional performance. In addition to that, there were twenty large trucks. Ji Chengtian¡¯s SUV in the middle, with the twenty trucks crowding around him, securely ensured his protection, which could be said to be quite safe. Ahead of them were Liu Yue and Gu Yong with their troops. What Ji Chengtian didn¡¯t know was that Liu Yue¡¯s impulsive action to go and save Wan Hao was entirely due to Gu Yong¡¯s instigation! Gu Yong was dissatisfied with Ji Chengtian for only allowing him to take a hundred men for reconnaissance, thinking it too dangerous, and he didn¡¯t dare openly defy Ji Chengtian¡¯s order. Otherwise, even if he returned alive, Ji Chengtian would definitely not spare him! So, he deliberately encouraged Liu Yue, who was known for his impetuous nature and was extremely loyal to Wan Hao. With this provocation, Liu Yue really fell for it and led all his men in a rush to Peace Base to rescue Wan Hao! Wan Hao was responsible for around a thousand men. When he left, due to the darkness and unclear situation, he didn¡¯t dare to take too many people, only taking fifty competent men with him from the base. This time, however, Liu Yue took all the remaining men, leaving none behind except those who were injured and immobile. As soon as Liu Yue and his men departed, Gu Yong followed right behind them. With Liu Yue leading, Gu Yong felt somewhat reassured. He had the same idea as Ji Chengtian¡ªlet Liu Yue lead the way, while he followed far behind, so as to clearly see the situation ahead and be ready to flee promptly if any trouble arose. Thus, these three groups of forces, one after the other, advanced towards Peace Base with formidable momentum. ... Inside Peace Base, Bai Zhengli specifically inquired Deng Hong, Meng Ping, and Wan Hao, as they were more familiar with the situation in Chengtian Base and could provide plenty of advice. Bai Zhengli asked them, ¡°You haven¡¯t returned, so people at Chengtian Base will definitely be concerned, speculating that something has happened at Peace Base. How many people do you think will come to Peace Base to investigate?¡± The three exchanged glances, and finally, Meng Ping spoke up: ¡°Such a big event, they will definitely inform Ji Chengtian and seek his opinion. Given Ji Chengtian¡¯s character, he would likely only send a small number of people to do the reconnaissance.¡± Bai Zhengli looked at Deng Hong and Wan Hao, who both nodded, then said, ¡°So, we can expect that not many will come this time?¡± ¡°That should be the case,¡± Meng Ping nodded affirmatively, then continued, ¡°However, I suggest we prepare for both eventualities, to avoid being caught off guard.¡± Hearing this, Bai Zhengli smiled faintly and looked at Meng Ping appreciatively, ¡°That¡¯s also what I was thinking.¡± Chapter 698: 374 Unsettled_2 Chapter 698: 374 Unsettled_2 So, Bai Zhengli had his people prepare. Their plan remained the same as before, to deter by force only, there was no need to actually come to blows, which would only result in heavy casualties. Thus, this important task was given to Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin, and Fang Yuyang. Because the visitors were from Chengtian Base, Deng Hong, Meng Ping, Wan Hao, and others needed to lend a hand as well, primarily responsible for negotiations. Everyone stood atop the Protection Wall, which had been remodeled several times and resembled the ancient Great Wall in appearance, with its incredibly thick structure and walkways along the top for people to walk and stand on. The only difference was that this Protection Wall lacked the complexity of the ancient structure, having a flat surface with no battlements. No sooner had they finished preparing when Liu Yue arrived with his men. Initially, everyone assumed that not many people would come, but to their surprise, they saw a long line of vehicles approaching. At first, everyone was startled, but quickly regained their composure, watching the approaching caravan with heightened vigilance. The speed of the caravan was fast, whether because the driver was in a hurry or simply used to driving fast. Then, everyone saw the vehicles come to a stop just outside the trap zone. Suddenly, the window of the lead vehicle rolled down and a loudspeaker extended out. A voice said, ¡°Listen up, people of Peace Base! It¡¯s best you hand over our people from Chengtian Base. If you can¡¯t do that, don¡¯t blame us for not being polite!¡± On the wall, Meng Ping and Deng Hong instinctively turned to look at Wan Hao because they recognized the speaker as Liu Yue, Wan Hao¡¯s deputy. His voice had changed through the loudspeaker, but they were familiar enough with Liu Yue to recognize his voice. If the two of them recognized it, there was no reason Wan Hao wouldn¡¯t. Wan Hao was shocked. Never had he expected Liu Yue to be part of the arrival. The windows of these trucks were specially treated, allowing those inside to see out without difficulty, while outsiders had trouble seeing in. Initially, the three of them hadn¡¯t known who was coming until Liu Yue started making demands. At the same time, Liu Yue was also surprised. He had seen many people standing on the wall, but he had been too busy issuing warnings to take a closer look. As soon as he finished speaking, he spotted three familiar figures. Seeing that the three men seemed fine, he wasn¡¯t sure if it was really them. As he was uncertain, he heard the driver say, ¡°Vice Captain, look! Captain Wan, Captain Deng, and Vice Captain Meng are all there! They¡¯re all right!¡± Although Liu Yue tended to be impulsive, he wasn¡¯t foolish. He turned to the driver and asked, ¡°So, if they¡¯re all fine, why wouldn¡¯t they send someone back to report? Why stay in that dump?¡± His question made the driver also confused and realize that something was amiss. Up on the wall, Deng Hong was speaking to Wan Hao, ¡°Since they are your people, you might as well do the talking. Liu Yue is even more impetuous than I am, so make sure he doesn¡¯t do anything rash!¡± Wan Hao nodded, gesturing for the gate to be opened, and then called down to Liu Yue, ¡°Come on in, there¡¯s no problem inside, it¡¯s safe!¡± Liu Yue was skeptical, but after staring at Wan Hao for a good while and seeing that he didn¡¯t appear to be under duress, he asked the driver beside him, ¡°Does the captain look like he¡¯s being controlled?¡± The driver was observing as well and shook his head upon hearing the question, ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like it! All three of them look normal. But why are there so many people on the wall? That¡¯s a bit suspicious.¡± Liu Yue pondered for a moment and agreed, but after a brief hesitation, he decided, ¡°Let¡¯s go in. The captain wouldn¡¯t harm us.¡± Just then, the gates of Peace Base were already opening, and at the same time, Wan Hao went out to welcome them at the entrance. Liu Yue then ordered, ¡°Everyone listen! Enter the Base!¡± As they entered, someone on the wall noticed something strange. Fang Yuxin was the first to sense that something wasn¡¯t right. She noticed there was still a truck following behind, cleverly hidden in the woods beside the road, well-concealed by the trees making it difficult to spot. So, she pointed and said, ¡°There¡¯s a truck hiding over there; it must be with the people who just arrived. They¡¯ve already noticed what¡¯s happening here.¡± Her voice was soft, but everyone could hear it clearly, as if she was speaking right in their ears. Many had already revered her after discovering that she was a Wood Element Level 4 Superpower User. Now, hearing her words, they were even more awed by Fang Yuxin¡¯s unfathomable depth. Meng Ping picked up a pair of binoculars and looked in the direction she indicated and, with her guidance, he easily found the truck Fang Yuxin had mentioned. Unfortunately, the treated windows prevented him from seeing who was inside. Meanwhile, Deng Hong suggested, ¡°No need to look. Just go and ask Liu Yue directly. He should know.¡± Meng Ping thought it over and felt Deng Hong was right, but he was more curious about what the people in the truck would do next. They must have seen the situation from their location, so would they come straight here or turn back? At that moment, Gu Yong was grappling with the same question. He had indeed seen the situation ahead through his binoculars but couldn¡¯t make out details because of the tree cover. He watched as Liu Yue¡¯s caravan seemed to enter Peace Base, but he was clueless as to why. He felt uneasy and curious, wondering why Liu Yue would obediently enter Peace Base. What was really inside that Base? (To be continued. If you like this work, you¡¯re welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 699: 375 The situation is bizarre Chapter 699: 375 The situation is bizarre Gu Yong was hesitating whether to go and have a look at what was up ahead, but just then, he suddenly felt someone watching him from Peace Base¡ªhis heart instantly went cold¡ªwho was watching him? He felt very uneasy, sensing that the other party was not someone he could deal with. After hesitating, he simply ordered, ¡°Turn around and go back! There¡¯s something very wrong with this Peace Base!¡± The driver was worried, ¡°But Liu Yue has already led people inside. A thousand people have just vanished before our eyes. How are we going to explain ourselves if we just go back?¡± Gu Yong, however, was quite insistent, ¡°Explain what? Just tell the truth. It¡¯s obvious that their strength is far superior to ours. What can we do? Those people inside are not ones we can deal with. Going in would only mean more bad luck than good!¡± Seeing his distressed expression, the driver didn¡¯t dare to persuade him further and obediently reversed course to return. However, they hadn¡¯t gone far when they ran into the group led by Ji Chengtian. These people, upon discovering them, immediately questioned, ¡°Gu Yong, what¡¯s going on? Why are you coming back suddenly? What¡¯s the situation? Do you know what¡¯s happening with Peace Base?¡± Gu Yong was already feeling uneasy, and upon hearing these words, his face changed instantly. He hurriedly rolled down the window, stuck his head out, and said loudly, ¡°The situation at Peace Base is very strange. A mysterious expert has appeared inside. That person is incredibly powerful, probably a high-level mental superpower user, and can even control people¡¯s minds! Liu Yue had just arrived at the outskirts of the base when he drove straight in. It¡¯s too strange! I felt the situation was serious and didn¡¯t dare to delay, so I rushed back to report! Where¡¯s the City Lord? I need to see the City Lord. This matter must be made known to him as soon as possible so he can decide!¡± His voice was quite loud, so pretty much everyone in the convoy heard him. When they heard this news, they also grew uneasy. The fear of the unknown is the most terrifying, and at this moment, it was exactly that. Gu Yong only mentioned that a mysterious spiritual expert had appeared in Peace Base, capable of controlling people, but as for the specific details, even he wasn¡¯t clear. After hearing this, everyone became fretful. At the same time, many people were filled with doubt¡ªPeace Base was just an ordinary, small base. Where could such a powerful expert come from? The most extraordinary person there was probably Wu Ke, who could communicate with animals and had contracted a large number of Mutant Beasts and Mutated Birds; no spiritual expert had ever been mentioned. Could this person have been hiding all this time? Many people were confused; after all, Liu Yue, despite being impulsive, was a Third-level Superpower User. To control him so easily, the spiritual superpower user must be at least at the Third-level Peak, right? If such an expert really existed, why hadn¡¯t they revealed themselves when they were threatening Peace Base earlier? Ji Chengtian was furious. He thought Gu Yong was completely useless. He had sent him to scout out the situation, yet all Gu Yong did was see something vague and got scared, turning back and shouting about it, causing everyone to panic! The people by his side cautiously observed his mood, hesitating to ask, ¡°City Lord, what should we do now? Should we try to rescue our people?¡± Upon hearing this, Ji Chengtian hesitated. If what Gu Yong said was true, the one who controlled Liu Yue and his men had to be at least a Third-level Peak spiritual superpower user. Such superpower users were quite troublesome, especially those who could control people; Ji Chengtian had no confidence at all! It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to rescue them; in fact, he was anxious as well. But if the opponent was that powerful, and he lost, what then? With so many people here, all looking up to him as if he were a deity because of his strength, if he lost, their reverence for him would undoubtedly diminish, and that would affect his rule over Chengtian Base! But, after all, there were more than a thousand people. If he just gave up on them, what would his subordinates think? Liu Yue had only just gone in; if he went to rescue them now, he should still be in time. But if he went too late, then it could be more bad luck than good for those people! Ji Chengtian was indecisive, feeling that neither going nor staying was a good idea. But now, at this critical juncture, he didn¡¯t have time to think it over, which made him even more conflicted. Those by his side saw all this silently, feeling disheartened. The incident with more than a thousand people led by Deng Hong and Meng Ping was one thing¡ªthey hadn¡¯t known about it, so naturally, they couldn¡¯t help. But now, Liu Yue had only just had trouble, and although Ji Chengtian was clearly the most powerful, his refusal to make a move to save them chilled their hearts. Chapter 700: 375 The situation is bizarre_2 Chapter 700: 375 The situation is bizarre_2 They even thought that if something happened to them in the future, where could they expect Ji Chengtian to rescue them? At this moment, they all had a sense of lips perishing and teeth feeling cold. So someone couldn¡¯t help but urge, ¡°City Lord, Liu Yue and the others just went in not long ago, they should still be alive, let¡¯s hurry to rescue them! The longer we delay, the more dangerous it gets!¡± Ji Chengtian gave him a deep look, then suddenly said, ¡°Well then, you lead a thousand men as the vanguard now, and I¡¯ll watch from behind.¡± Upon hearing this, that person¡¯s heart completely cooled. His gaze flickered, but in the end, he did not refuse, instead he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll take people to the rescue right away!¡± After speaking, he got off the car. The others watched his retreating figure, and the thought suddenly came to mind¡ªthe wind is cold by the river of Yi, a brave man departs, never to return. They all understood that when that person nodded in agreement just now, he actually knew the odds were against him on this venture. Thus, some hesitated for a moment, and then two people suggested going to help, worried that the person wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it alone. After mulling it over, Ji Chengtian nodded and didn¡¯t refuse their request. As soon as he gave the green light, the two got off the car, climbed onto the lead truck, and prepared to head out for the rescue. Then, Ji Chengtian ordered, ¡°Follow behind them.¡± Gu Yong watched the others run to rescue people and felt his face burning, as if he had been slapped several times. He felt very remorseful; he didn¡¯t want to ignore the rescue, it was just that he was genuinely afraid, and that couldn¡¯t be blamed on him. That glance just now gave him a very strong sense of crisis; he intuitively knew the other party was extremely dangerous, and an encounter meant certain death! As he saw those people departing, he quickly reminded, ¡°There is a very dangerous person in Peace Base, be extremely cautious when you go!¡± Those leaving didn¡¯t speak but only extended their hands to gently wave, a silent farewell and also a signal that they heard. The distance to Peace Base wasn¡¯t far, so their vehicles didn¡¯t take long to reach what seemed like a dragon¡¯s lair and tiger¡¯s den¡ªPeace Base. Then, the people inside the cars saw Liu Yue, who had the ¡°incident¡± not long ago, and Deng Hong, Meng Ping, and Wan Hao who had ¡°incidents¡± yesterday, standing on the Protection Wall, looking unharmed and not like they were under anyone¡¯s control. These people immediately became suspicious, realizing something was amiss. According to Gu Yong, these people were supposed to have been in trouble; even if they weren¡¯t dead, they should at least be under someone¡¯s control, right? So what about their current situation... Could they really be under control, and they just couldn¡¯t see it? All were uncertain until Deng Hong on the wall spoke, ¡°We are fine. It¡¯s very safe inside Peace Base, come on in, nothing will happen.¡± However, the people who came this time were not like the trusting Liu Yue towards Wan Hao, so they had no doubts about entering the Base. These people were on rescue, and they already knew there was an expert who could control others inside the Base, naturally, they were very vigilant. So as soon as Deng Hong spoke, they instinctually felt¡ªit¡¯s a trap! Deng Hong really has been controlled! Gu Yong was right! Deng Hong didn¡¯t expect that his words would have no effect at all, and he felt somewhat frustrated, thinking to himself who exactly had come this time, not giving him any face? It wasn¡¯t like he was lying, so why didn¡¯t anyone believe him? Meng Ping was looking through binoculars and noticed Ji Chengtian¡¯s special car in the following convoy. He guessed that Ji Chengtian had arrived and then said, ¡°Do we look like we¡¯ve been controlled?¡± At that question, the people below shook their heads inwardly, feeling that it indeed did not look like they were controlled. The people inside the carriages couldn¡¯t see, but they could hear the voices outside, and Meng Ping¡¯s tone didn¡¯t sound like someone under control. Were they deceived, or was there really such a cunning Spiritual Superpower User? At that moment, Meng Ping said, ¡°I know you¡¯re worried, but I didn¡¯t expect you to be so frightened, yet still dare to come and rescue. For this reason alone, I, Meng Ping, would never harm you. Ji Chengtian is following behind, right? Ha, he¡¯s still the same old him, not taking charge and just liking to hide his head!¡± Those inside the car were shocked by these words¡ªit was too improper! How could Meng Ping be so bold? Although they were also dissatisfied internally, out of fear for Ji Chengtian¡¯s strength, those were words nobody dared to say openly, and Meng Ping wouldn¡¯t have said them before. Who knew that after just one day, his courage had grown this much! Could it be...he really was under someone¡¯s control? Or, did he have some kind of backup that allowed him to disregard Ji Chengtian? Some suspected the former, but others thought of the latter possibility. Especially the three team leaders¡ªthey were not fools. As soon as they heard Meng Ping¡¯s words, more ideas came to their minds¡ªcould it be that there really was some formidable person in Peace Base? Did Meng Ping encounter something extraordinary? At that moment, they suddenly took notice of Bai Ye, Fang Yuyang, and Fang Yuxin standing on the city wall. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly ticket; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 701: 376 Abandon Chapter 701: 376 Abandon They were there to rescue, after all, so from the start, they focused their attention on Liu Yue, Deng Hong, and the others, neglecting to notice anyone else. But when they did take a look, the three leaders discovered they couldn¡¯t see through Bai Ye and his group¡¯s levels! Even just by glancing at them once, they got the feeling that the others were unfathomable. The three of them felt a chill in their hearts and were quite uneasy. They carefully sized up the trio again, speculating in their minds, which one of them was the Third-level Peak Spiritual Superpower User? However, thinking of Meng Ping¡¯s words, they couldn¡¯t help but entertain other thoughts. If Ji Chengtian, who was unscrupulous in his actions, could really be replaced... Seeing that the people below kept dawdling, seemingly unable to make up their minds, the rather impatient Deng Hong and Liu Yue were growing frustrated. Liu Yue was the first to speak out, ¡°Hey, what are you all dithering for? I¡¯ve already come in, and nothing has happened; what are you afraid of?¡± After a quiet discussion among themselves, the three eventually decided¡ªto take a risk! When they had set out, they had already prepared to lay down their lives; now it was just a matter of entering the Base, what was there to fear? At worst, it would mean death, but before they died, they were certain they could take someone down with them! With that, the three leaders gave the order for everyone to drive into the Base. Ji Chengtian and his men followed them at a distance, keeping a gap large enough to avoid provoking that ¡°mysterious expert¡± inside Peace Base. They didn¡¯t dare to approach and were merely observing from a distance, not hearing what the people here were actually saying. Ji Chengtian thought to himself that since he was witnessing everything, he didn¡¯t believe the other party would dare to try anything sneaky right under his nose! Little did he know, in no time, the people in front had all voluntarily entered Peace Base, and they seemed to be doing it willingly! Ji Chengtian was instantly furious¡ªwho exactly was that mysterious expert? To dare to meddle with his people under his watch was to seriously underestimate him! At the same time, he also resented the people up front for their uselessness, unable to hold out for even ten minutes before they were fooled and willingly walked into the trap! As he was seething with anger, someone suddenly asked, ¡°City Lord, what do we do now? They¡¯ve all gone in!¡± Ji Chengtian squinted his eyes but did not answer. He knew that if he did not go to the rescue now, the people inside would probably face a grim fate, but he also had concerns. There were still around two thousand people left with him, while the other party had a formidable Spiritual Superpower User, which made him quite wary. Spiritual superpower users were inherently mysterious, their abilities bizarre and unpredictable. Currently stuck at the Third-level Peak with no way to advance, he had no sure chance of victory and naturally did not dare to act recklessly. After hesitating, he gave the order, ¡°Something isn¡¯t right! There must be some situation inside Peace Base; it¡¯s too dangerous there. We¡¯re not sufficiently prepared and must not rashly go in. Retreat for today, and come back tomorrow once we¡¯re ready!¡± After he said this, the expressions on the faces of others turned somewhat ugly¡ªweren¡¯t they just going to abandon the others? If the situation inside was really as dangerous as Ji Chengtian had said, by the time they arrived tomorrow, would those people even still be alive? Seeing the dissatisfaction among the people, Ji Chengtian¡¯s expression darkened, and he raised his voice, ¡°Didn¡¯t you see just now? That Spiritual Superpower User¡¯s abilities are too bizarre! If you go now, not to mention failing to save anyone, you might end up getting trapped yourselves! As for the safety of those people, you don¡¯t have to worry, they probably won¡¯t be in any mortal danger.¡± Although the others were still uneasy, Ji Chengtian¡¯s words made some sense, so they decided to follow his orders, withdraw for now, and come back fully prepared the next day¡ªto sweep them all up in one fell swoop! Seeing that they nodded in agreement to retreat, Ji Chengtian¡¯s sullen face eased slightly. The others, seeing this, silently breathed a sigh of relief. They were not afraid of zombies, but they were most afraid of Ji Chengtian! What they didn¡¯t know was that at this very moment, Ji Chengtian had also quietly breathed a sigh of relief. If these people had insisted on going to the rescue, he wasn¡¯t sure what to do. Fortunately, they were still sensible. With differing thoughts, they tacitly retreated together, deciding to return to the Base and then make ample preparations. Standing on the Protection Wall, Deng Hong, Meng Ping, and others watched this scene and shook their heads in disappointment. They had suspected Ji Chengtian wouldn¡¯t easily come to the rescue, but they never expected him to so readily abandon them all! Chapter 702: 376 Abandon_2 Chapter 702: 376 Abandon_2 Meng Ping chuckled self-deprecatingly, then he heard Deng Hong say next to him, ¡°Looks like my choice was indeed correct. I should never have had any illusions about Ji Chengtian! Let¡¯s go, no one else is likely to come today. Let¡¯s catch up with some old friends.¡± Meng Ping looked at him speechlessly ¨C it had only been a day apart, what was there to catch up on? But they really should head down; the people who had just arrived were still clueless and needed to be told the truth. Ji Chengtian¡¯s departure had, at least, saved them a lot of trouble. Surely, those below had seen the truth now and no longer needed their persuasion. Things turned out just as Meng Ping had guessed. After both sides met and exchanged news, as soon as Hope Battle Group was mentioned, those people were intrigued. After all, Ji Chengtian was unreliable and not fit to be a leader. Letting him continue would only lead the base to ruin eventually! What would they do then? Bai Ye and his companions¡¯ strength shocked the newcomers. Although they had sensed Bai Ye and his group¡¯s unfathomable power, they had not dared to think they were Level 4 Superpower Users, assuming them to be Third-level Peak Superpower Users instead. But to their surprise, they had already advanced to Level 4, and all three of them were! Previously, they all hesitated because of Ji Chengtian¡¯s rank as a Third-level Peak Superpower User. Now, knowing that there were Level 4 Superpower Users present, they began to look down on Ji Chengtian¡¯s Third-level Peak status. However, they had to admit, Ji Chengtian¡¯s strength was indeed much higher than theirs. Unfortunately, despite his power, Ji Chengtian refused to shoulder the responsibilities he should have, focused instead on maliciously suppressing his subordinates for fear of being surpassed. He also continually exploited the survivors to support his lavish lifestyle. They couldn¡¯t claim to be saints themselves, but Ji Chengtian¡¯s actions were truly over the line. Because they were abandoned by Ji Chengtian and learned that Hope Battle Group had three Level 4 Superpower Users, these people only hesitated briefly before deciding to collaborate with Hope Battle Group. Before Ji Chengtian could send someone to strike, Bai Zhengli deliberately met with these people, held a small meeting, and discussed issues related to base construction. There were many problems with the current Chengtian Base. Once Hope Battle Group took down Ji Chengtian and they took control of Chengtian Base together, major reforms were definitely needed. To avoid being overwhelmed later, Bai Zhengli took this time to discuss with the people of Chengtian Base. Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t present at the meeting as she was refining elixirs in Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. That said, she wasn¡¯t entirely inactive. She carefully recalled her past life experiences, wrote down some issues or suggestions she thought of on paper, and handed them to Fang Jintang. As the deputy squad leader, Fang Jintang naturally attended the meeting. Fang Yuxin¡¯s decision to refine elixirs wasn¡¯t a sudden whim; she had discovered that many superpower users had accumulated a massive amount of toxins and impurities in their bodies due to absorbing Zombie Crystal Cores, which resulted in slow progression. If these toxins and impurities weren¡¯t removed, not only would advancement be extremely difficult, but they would also be easily influenced by the Heart Demon. Bai Zhengli had specifically inquired about Ji Chengtian from Meng Ping, and Fang Yuxin had heard some as well. After hearing everything, she felt that Ji Chengtian¡¯s personality changes were not only due to power breeding desire but also because of the Heart Demon! The Heart Demon magnifies a person¡¯s negative emotions, whether fear or desire. Hence, as the apocalypse progressed and superpower users¡¯ strengths increased, their emotions became increasingly unstable. Despite zombies and fierce mutated creatures being the enemies of the survivors, there were also many fights over interests among survivors. Fang Yuxin wasn¡¯t a saint set out to save the world, but since she had the ability, she naturally wanted to look after her own people. Thus, she planned to try and refine the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill. Fortunately, she had harvested quite a lot of Spiritual Medicine recently, enough to gather the ingredients for the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill. She first reviewed the method of refining the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, memorized the whole process, and then mentally simulated it with her eyes closed. Feeling confident, she then lit the Fire-gathering Array and began practicing control over the flames. Luckily, she had previously used a simplified version of the ¡°Starfire¡± spell, so she was already quite proficient in simple flame control. After a few trials, she started the alchemy process. The alchemy process was divided into three steps: first was to extract the essence-laden medicinal fluid from various Spiritual Medecines, which was the essence of the Spiritual Medicine. Extracting this medicinal fluid was a delicate task that required proficient flame control; otherwise, either the precious Spiritual Medicine would turn to charcoal, or the medicinal fluid would contain too many impurities, affecting the quality of the pill. Since this was Fang Yuxin¡¯s first attempt, she didn¡¯t have many Spiritual Medicines on hand, so she handled them very carefully to avoid waste. After the extraction of medicinal fluid was completed, the fluids needed to be merged. Different medicinal fluids might have different properties, so merging them had to follow a specific sequence and also required corresponding elixir formulas. Fang Yuyang had made all the necessary preparations beforehand, having memorized the entire refining process. Thus, she wasn¡¯t panicked at all as she followed the sequence required by the elixir recipe, carefully blending the medicinal fluids while continuously executing the corresponding elixir formulas with her hands. As time ticked by, when the merging was complete, the originally color-mixed medicinal fluid suddenly transformed, turning into a cinnabar-red liquid. Fang Yuxin¡¯s face was dripping with sweat, but she dared not be distracted to wipe it away because, with the merging complete, she had to proceed to the final process¡ªSolidifying the Pill. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommended tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 703: 377 tense Chapter 703: 377 tense The merged potion was a cohesive whole, and in order to form elixir pills, it needed to be divided into smaller portions first. Fang Yuxin executed an elixir formula, and immediately, the original whole potion split into ten equal spherical portions because ideally, one batch of materials should produce ten elixir pills and no more; otherwise, the final pill solidification would fail. After splitting it, Fang Yuxin continued to input the corresponding elixir formulas. With each formula cast, the originally longan-sized ¡°spheres¡± began to change, progressively shrinking while impurities inside turned into light smoke and were continuously expelled. Fang Yuxin watched the pill furnace¡¯s quietly floating potion with unwavering eyes, barely blinking, her hands rapidly performing hand gestures. Due to the speed, only the afterimage of her fingers could be seen. She didn¡¯t know how much time had passed, as each second seemed unusually extended to her. Finally, as more elixir formulas were inputted, the ¡°spheres¡± inside the pill furnace gradually took the shape of elixir pills. Fang Yuxin breathed a slight sigh of relief, knowing that so far all was going well, yet she dared not relax, aware that any failure in the following steps would render all her previous efforts pointless! Eventually, the elixir pills in the pill furnace gradually took form, finally becoming soybean-sized, vermillion-colored elixir pills. The pills were smooth and glossy, looking quite adorable, akin to meticulously carved jade beads. Seeing the successful concoction, Fang Yuxin finally breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the prepared Jade Bottle to collect all ten Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills. Then, she hesitated for a moment, took one pill out, and also drew some spiritual spring water, placing the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill into a jade bowl and gradually adding spiritual spring water. The spiritual spring water itself had a purification effect and could be suitably added during the concoction of elixir pills. Since it was Fang Yuxin¡¯s first time concocting, she was worried about making a mistake, so she did not add any spiritual spring water and instead followed the procedures written in the elixir recipe orthodoxy. However, producing only up to ten Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills at a time wasn¡¯t enough to distribute, and to benefit more people, other methods needed to be considered. Spiritual spring water on its own could purify and had a marrow-cleansing effect when consumed by ordinary people, but to be used by superpower users, a larger amount was necessary. Thus, Fang Yuxin thought it over and decided to mix Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills with spiritual spring water to see if their effects could enhance each other. The jade bowl she took out wasn¡¯t ordinary; it contained a spatial formation with about ten cubic feet of space. The jade bowl had a unique advantage; when only a small amount was added, it would appear as a normal bowl would, but when more was continuously added, surpassing halfway, the bowl¡¯s contents would no longer seem to increase no matter how much was added, always appearing to be the same quantity until filled. However, combining spiritual spring water and Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills in the jade bowl presented a somewhat different situation. Although the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill dissolved immediately upon the addition of the spiritual spring water, exhibiting a vermillion color, the color began to gradually lighten as more spiritual spring water was added. Consequently, the scene became somewhat eerie. As more spiritual spring water was added, the ¡°water¡± in the bowl didn¡¯t seem to increase, yet the color grew progressively paler. She used her Spiritual Sense to sense the Spiritual Energy in the potion, continuously adding more spiritual spring water until the potion¡¯s effect was about the same as that of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit. The Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit itself had a marrow-cleansing effect and could be consumed directly, but doing so was very wasteful as the fruit¡¯s medicinal properties couldn¡¯t be fully utilized. After being concocted into the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, the fruit¡¯s medicinal properties were completely activated due to the effects of various auxiliary medicines, rendering it much more potent than the bone marrow cleansing fruit itself! Such strong medicine was not suitable for Ordinary People to consume. Even superpower users would find it quite uncomfortable. However, after Fang Yuxin¡¯s adjustments, the resulting potion¡¯s medicinal strength was similar to that of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, making it usable by both Ordinary People and superpower users. After she had properly mixed the potion, she stored it in another Jade Bottle, which also contained a spatial formation, and then, she left Qingmu Spiritual Mansion. Only upon exiting did Fang Yuxin realize that it was already evening! She distinctly remembered entering at just past eight in the morning, not knowing that merely concocting one batch of elixirs would cause so much time to pass! Chapter 704: 377 tense Chapter 704: 377 tense Bai Ye and the Fang Family were somewhat worried when they hadn¡¯t seen Qu Qianhe at noon, but now, upon seeing her, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. Initially, Qu Qianhe had also wanted to attempt Alchemy when she found out Fang Yuxin intended to try it. After all, with her possession of Fire Wood Dual Spiritual Roots, she was extremely well-suited for Alchemy. However, as the captain of the Hope Battle Group¡¯s logistics team, Bai Zhengli had called her over for a meeting earlier, so she couldn¡¯t accompany Fang Yuxin to practice Alchemy. Bai Qianqian stayed with Shui Rou, while Fang Yuyang and Bai Ye were responsible for protecting the safety of the Base, leaving them no time. Shui Rou originally hadn¡¯t awakened as a superpower user, but later, Fang Yuxin gave her a Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, which helped her expel the impurities and toxins from her body. Not wanting to be protected all the time, she privately approached Bai Zhengli and expressed her desire to try Awakening. Worried about her using the most dangerous method, Bai Zhengli planned to let her absorb an Elemental Crystal. Previously on the road, they hadn¡¯t had the opportunity, since absorbing an Elemental Crystal would cause the body to expel impurities, which was quite inconvenient. After temporarily residing at Peace Base, Shui Rou decided to take the opportunity to absorb an Elemental Crystal and awaken her superpower. Last night, after trying several types of Elemental Crystals, she finally awakened the Water Ability. However, although she had awakened the Water Ability, her talent was quite poor. To enhance her talent, she needed to continue absorbing Elemental Crystals. Today, as Bai Zhengli was busy, he asked Bai Qianqian to accompany her and also arranged for a number of trusted individuals for protection. Only after absorbing several Water Element Elemental Crystals did Shui Rou¡¯s talent become comparable to that of an ordinary superpower user. And by that time, she couldn¡¯t absorb any more Elemental Crystals. However, Shui Rou was not regretful; after all, she had wanted to awaken her superpower simply to not become a burden to Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye. Of course, seeing Bai Zhengli¡¯s face rejuvenated by becoming a Third-level Superpower User, she couldn¡¯t help but worry that he might change his heart. Now that she had successfully awakened her Water Ability, she could not only help Bai Zhengli and Bai Ye, but her body had also rejuvenated quite a bit, which greatly delighted her and completely dispelled the faint unease in her heart. Fang Yuxin was initially unaware of this matter until she saw Shui Rou at dinner and discovered that Shui Rou not only looked younger but had also awakened the Water Ability! Fang Yuxin saw her joyous face and was happy for her as well, and Qu Qianhe directly pulled Shui Rou to sit next to herself, congratulating her. Bai Zhengli was also in high spirits. Of course, it wasn¡¯t that he despised the earlier ordinary Shui Rou; it was just that the body of a superpower user would become enhanced in all aspects, and with Shui Rou awakening the Water Ability, it was simply too suitable for her. While they were enjoying their happy moments, the atmosphere at Chengtian Base was significantly heavy. The fact that Ji Chengtian had abandoned his subordinates and left could not be concealed. Not long after they returned to the Base, the news had spread. Concerning this, Ji Chengtian suspected there was a traitor among his subordinates, but it was impossible to investigate when over two thousand people knew about the incident. He had failed several attempts to level up recently and was already quite irritable, but to think that a problem would arise with the seemingly trivial matter of dealing with Peace Base! Unremarkably, Peace Base had somehow, in the blink of an eye, gained a mysterious Spiritual expert, costing him a great loss of manpower! As various rumors within the Base grew more unpleasant, Ji Chengtian found it increasingly difficult to sit still. He threw a massive tantrum in the City Lord Mansion and, unable to hold back, summoned all the big shots of the Base to the City Lord Mansion, planning to discuss how to deal with Peace Base. Although Chengtian Base was dominated solely by Ji Chengtian, there were quite a few Mercenary Corps and Corpse Hunting Teams, all subordinates to him due to their weaker power. Ji Chengtian was already unpopular; not all the big shots were submissive to him. That the rumors within the Base were growing increasingly unflattering was due to these people¡¯s machinations. Ji Chengtian was well aware of this, but whether it was he or the Base, they needed these powerful big shots. He couldn¡¯t just kill them all. Moreover, he might not be able to kill them all. If he really did that, those people would certainly band together. By then, the one who might end up dead was uncertain. It was for this reason that although Ji Chengtian always suppressed others, he almost never fought to the death. Even when going out to hunt zombies, he would let his subordinates lead while he ¡°supported¡± from behind, which earned him no small amount of condemnation. With rumors becoming more disagreeable, Ji Chengtian realized he could no longer continue this way and must seize Peace Base to maintain his prestige! But he wasn¡¯t confident enough on his own, so he planned to bring the other big shots together, believing that several of them against one would surely take it down! However, he wasn¡¯t the only one making smart calculations in his mind! As he sent out messages to summon the big shots of the Base, these people were also plotting. Once they received Ji Chengtian¡¯s orders, they guessed his intentions, and a resolve gradually solidified in their hearts. Perhaps seeing that Ji Chengtian¡¯s days were numbered, these people began to take him less seriously. After receiving his orders, they deliberately dallied before slowly making their way to the City Lord Mansion. Upon entering the council hall, everyone saw Ji Chengtian¡¯s face had completely darkened. The individuals exchanged a meaningful glance and then silently took their seats, looking blankly at Ji Chengtian as if they didn¡¯t understand why he had summoned them. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian.com with your recommendation and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 705: 378 Heaven Helps Chapter 705: 378 Heaven Helps Ji Chengtian had been in a foul mood recently, and seeing these people disregarding him one by one, the string of reason in his mind completely snapped, and even his face contorted in anger. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m useless, that you can ignore me like this?¡± he said dangerously, as his fists slammed onto the conference table! It was a solid wooden table, quite large. Although Ji Chengtian wasn¡¯t a Power System superpower user, as superpower users advance in level, their bodies also become strengthened. So, when he smashed the table, a spider web of cracks appeared instantaneously on the smooth surface, extending outwards, the lines growing deeper and deeper. Originally, everyone had assumed that Ji Chengtian was finished this time and planned to use that mysterious Spiritual Power expert from Peace Base to have him killed, so they could take over control of Chengtian Base. They¡¯d harbored resentment towards Ji Chengtian a while ago, and couldn¡¯t help but feel a little smug, inadvertently treating him with less respect. Seeing Ji Chengtian¡¯s face turn dark with anger, they were quite pleased with themselves, thinking, ¡°Ji Chengtian has finally met his downfall today.¡± They hadn¡¯t expected Ji Chengtian to actually become so enraged that he would take physical action! As everyone saw his glowering face, with such an ominous look in his eyes, they hurriedly apologized, fearing that Ji Chengtian would lose his reason and go berserk. If that were indeed to happen, it would be dangerous for all of them! Ji Chengtian watched them coldly, not believing a single word they said! He had realized that everyone was just waiting for him to die so they could snatch his position. Such wishful thinking! Thinking this, his gaze toward these people turned even colder. Then, suddenly, he spoke, ¡°Don¡¯t think for a second that I don¡¯t know what¡¯s on your minds! A mysterious spiritual superpower expert has appeared at Peace Base. Tomorrow, you¡¯d better come with me to eliminate this person. No tricks, otherwise, this table will be your fate!¡± As his words fell, a massive Wind Blade appeared instantly, shredding the entire conference table into pieces! As the Wind Blade passed by them, they all felt a sharp, knife-like murderous intent, and became instantly apprehensive, not daring to meet Ji Chengtian¡¯s eyes. Satisfied with the terrified expressions on their faces, Ji Chengtian¡¯s mood improved slightly. Then losing interest in wasting words with these people, he said directly, ¡°Each of you bring a thousand men, gather at the East Gate of the Base at seven o¡¯clock tomorrow morning. Remember, don¡¯t be late!¡± Apart from Ji Chengtian, there were a total of seven leaders here. At this moment, their faces turned pale, devoid of the earlier arrogance and triumph. They looked at each other, dare not disobey, and agreed to his demands. Ji Chengtian waved his hand, signaling for them to get lost. Naturally, the seven did not dare to linger and quickly left as if someone were chasing them. As soon as they left, Ji Chengtian sneered coldly, waved his hand, and released a series of Wind Blades, destroying all the chairs they had just been sitting in. ¡°Daring to covet my position, not even seeing if you have the life for it!¡± After leaving the City Lord Mansion, the seven hurried back home, and as soon as they entered their doorways, their expressions changed instantly, their faces twisted up in fury, ¡°This is unbearable!¡± The next morning, Ji Chengtian arrived on time at the East Gate and saw that the seven men had already arrived. Each had brought exactly one thousand men. Ji Chengtian smiled contentedly, then his gaze swept profoundly over each of the seven leaders¡¯ faces, deliberately saying, ¡°It seems you finally didn¡¯t arrive late today, it looks like yesterday was really an accident.¡± The seven¡¯s faces shifted, their lips twitched, but none of them said a word. Ji Chengtian was clearly not in his normal state of mind, and they didn¡¯t want to provoke him any further, fearing that if Ji Chengtian were to fly into a rage, it would spell disaster for them all. Ji Chengtian himself had brought two thousand men, the very ones from yesterday, and then, the convoy set off. Ji Chengtian directly ordered the seven leaders to lead the way with their men in front, while he followed with his own forces behind. This request instantly changed the seven men¡¯s expressions, unable to hide their emotions! Ji Chengtian¡¯s intention was to make them fight against Peace Base, in what is essentially a ¡°war of attrition.¡± By doing this, he not only aimed to weaken Peace Base¡¯s strength but also to wear down these leaders¡¯ forces! He had noticed the treacherousness in these people and was naturally very wary, and he didn¡¯t trust them at all. Only by depleting their strength could he not worry about them joining forces to attack him! Chapter 706: 378 Heaven Helps_2 Chapter 706: 378 Heaven Helps_2 At the same time, if a real battle were to break out, casualties were inevitable. They had all brought their elite forces, since they needed to be wary of Ji Chengtian as well as others; they could hardly bring useless troops. Once these elites were lost, the strength of their Mercenary Corps as a whole would be compromised. Ji Chengtian¡¯s strategy was truly venomous! As they fought each other to mutual destruction, Ji Chengtian could simply step in to clean up afterward. Wouldn¡¯t their lives then entirely depend on his whims? The seven of them exchanged glances, pondering whether they should just eliminate Ji Chengtian on the road. This was also their concern: the mysterious expert from Peace Base was eyeing them, and Ji Chengtian¡¯s strength was formidable. If a fight broke out, even if they really could kill Ji Chengtian, they would likely suffer severe injuries themselves! Out in the open, unlike within the confines of the Base, there was always the danger of encountering zombies and ferocious mutated creatures. If they were seriously injured and then encountered these threats, wouldn¡¯t that be courting death? With this concern in mind, they became even more wary and dared not act rashly. Ji Chengtian saw through their thoughts and let out a cold laugh, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you thinking of defying orders?¡± The seven hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to take it one step at a time, hoping to somehow get Ji Chengtian to clash with that mysterious expert from Peace Base. Peace Base was not too far from Chengtian Base. However, their large group attracted several waves of zombies and mutated creatures along the way, proving to be a tiresome nuisance. By the time they finally arrived at Peace Base, the people inside had already made their preparations. Fang Yuxin stood atop the wall and from a distance saw the lengthy convoy approaching. She was slightly surprised, thinking that Ji Chengtian really made quite a show of force. Especially noticeable were the different symbols sprayed on the trucks, eight distinct markers, immediately reminding her of the power structure within Chengtian Base that Meng Ping had once mentioned. In Chengtian Base, Ji Chengtian was disproportionately powerful, with the strongest influence. Aside from him, there were seven other significant powers within the Base. These powers had deliberately designed logos for their teams and had them sprayed on their trucks to make their affiliations obvious at a glance. This time, it was clear that people from all eight powers had come, indicating that Chengtian Base was indeed under Ji Chengtian¡¯s absolute command. The past situation at Beishi Base came to mind, where Zhao Qiankun and Bai Zhengyi, despite their arrogance, could not manage to make other powers completely obedient. Of course, it was not that Zhao Qiankun and Bai Zhengyi were inferior to Ji Chengtian; it¡¯s just that he was only influential within Chengtian Base. Had he been at Beishi Base, he certainly wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against either Bai Zhengyi or Zhao Qiankun. At this moment, the others on the wall noticed the convoy as well. Meng Ping and the rest stood on the wall, and through binoculars, when they spotted the distant convoy, Deng Hong¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°So many have come! It must be Ji Chengtian¡¯s doing!¡± Everyone nodded in agreement, having noted that Ji Chengtian¡¯s group was at the very end, with the other seven powers in the lead. Meng Ping and the others knew well that these bosses, though not as powerful as Ji Chengtian, were not to be underestimated either. They wouldn¡¯t simply obediently act as scouts for Ji Chengtian; he must have done something! However, they didn¡¯t have a favorable opinion of those seven leaders, and now seeing them in a predicament, everyone was quite pleased. But the thought of a possible upcoming fight made them somewhat anxious. Wan Hao looked worriedly at Bai Zhengli and hesitantly asked, ¡°What do we do if a fight really breaks out later?¡± Bai Zhengli didn¡¯t seem worried at all. He stroked his chin, and instead of answering, he asked, ¡°What kind of characters are those seven?¡± With his questioning, Wan Hao and the others caught on. Those people were sly as foxes; how could they possibly heed Ji Chengtian¡¯s orders and fight? They were more likely to resort to tricks! Meng Ping suddenly suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s hide first, don¡¯t let them see us.¡± Since the opponents were cunning, they had to be just as devious and not expose their position. So Meng Ping proposed they hide immediately. It was easy to conceal themselves; they simply sat down and became unseen to those below. After they sat down, the convoy below drew closer. Because of the number of people, the line stretched out long. When the frontmost vehicle had already reached the outskirts of Peace Base, the last was still two kilometers away. Perhaps fortune was in their favor, for just as these people reached the outskirts of Peace Base and those in the vehicles were about to test the waters with a few words, a Zombie Group some seventy to eighty thousand strong suddenly appeared in the distance. The zombies moved swiftly and soon swarmed around the trucks. Unfortunately, although the trucks had been reinforced, they were not sealed for ventilation purposes. The zombies surged forward, aiming straight for the truck compartments. The people inside did not dare to dally; those on the outside immediately flipped onto the roofs, while the others quickly disembarked. Once they got out, they were almost instantly surrounded by the Zombie Group. But there was no choice; the truck compartments were too cramped. If they were trapped inside, not only could they not fully utilize their strengths, but the escape space was also pitifully small! Luckily, they were experienced. Mainly, those with Ice Element, Wind Element, and Fire Element superpowers, adept at ranged and area attacks, stood on the roofs, while mostly those with strength, speed, and Earth Element superpowers, suitable for close combat, charged down. Watching this scene unfold, the people on the wall were dumbfounded¡ªare they supposed to help or not? (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 707: 379 Terrifying! Chapter 707: 379 Terrifying! Chengtian Base¡¯s seven bosses, under the coercion of Ji Chengtian, each led a thousand troops to Peace Base, and the long convoy nearly blocked the entire road. Originally, these people had no real intention of starting a fight with the people of Peace Base, lest they weaken each other and end up letting Ji Chengtian reap the benefits. These people also had their own plans in mind, hoping to pit Peace Base against Ji Chengtian¡¯s men so they could reap the benefits like opportunistic fishermen. However, before they could put their schemes into action, a massive Zombie Group charged from a distance, catching them off guard. Actually, it was their own bad luck. With so many superpower users, how could they not attract zombies? On their way here, they had already encountered several Zombie Groups, just not on this scale. Originally, the Zombie Group was heading for Peace Base; everyone from the Hope Battle Group to the skilled fighters of the base were all standing on the wall, which naturally attracted the zombies. With the addition of the men from Chengtian Base, even more zombies were drawn, ultimately forming a rather large group. Moreover, there were still more zombies rushing over from the distance. The people from Chengtian Base were all elite fighters, and they reacted extremely quickly. Seeing that they were being surrounded by the Zombie Group and that the zombies were rushing into the vehicles, they were the first to come out of the carriages and had their teams organized as they did so. Those suited for long-range attacks went atop the cars, while those suited for close combat got out of the vehicles. Thus, in the blink of an eye, the group that was originally supposed to attack Peace Base was now caught up in a fierce battle with the zombies. Ji Chengtian, watching from afar through binoculars, couldn¡¯t help but look troubled. While the onslaught of the Zombie Group could weaken these men, by the time they had dealt with the Zombie Group, how would they have the energy left to face the people of Peace Base? Wouldn¡¯t his own men have to step in by then? Unfortunately, this battle simply couldn¡¯t be stopped. Zombies were devoid of reason; unless killed, once they marked someone as prey, they would not stop. Although Ji Chengtian was worried that the strength of these men would be diminished by the Zombie Group, making them incapable of confronting Peace Base, he had even less inclination to help, choosing instead to watch coldly from the sidelines. At the same time, those seven bosses were all nearly bursting with frustration! This battle was completely unexpected; along the way here, their biggest concern had been how to provoke a fight between Peace Base and Ji Chengtian¡¯s forces for them to gain the upper hand. They had finally found a way, but before they could act, the Zombie Group arrived, taking them by complete surprise! Had it not been for the fact that they had brought their elite forces and remained on alert, casualties would probably have occurred at the first appearance of the Zombie Group! Looking at the people of Peace Base, they were all just watching from the wall! There was no intention of offering help at all! Of course, Bai Zhengli wouldn¡¯t stand by and watch them die. Soon, all four squads of the Hope Battle Group were dispatched by him. However, to say that these people were there to help would be inaccurate; rather, they were actually out to snatch Crystal Cores! All four squads went down, but the Fang Family¡¯s logistical team, including siblings Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin, did not move out. With their abilities, they could have quickly killed the zombies below if they had joined in, but with all four squads already deployed, those who remained naturally had to be vigilant against any unforeseen events. Besides, with the people down there entangled in combat with the zombies, both of their Skills could not be safely deployed without the risk of inadvertently harming others. The leader of this Zombie Group was a Level 4 Power Zombie. It had been attacking one of the big bosses when Bai Ye went down; seeing the man in danger, Bai Ye directly intervened and blocked the Level 4 Zombie. The boss he rescued stepped aside, hesitating whether to help, just as he had decided to join in, he saw Bai Ye decisively beheaded the Level 4 Zombie and unceremoniously took the Crystal Core. His heart skipped a beat¡ªhow fearsome was this man¡¯s strength! Who was he? Feeling uneasy, he opened his mouth, intending to inquire about Bai Ye¡¯s identity, but before he could speak, Bai Ye¡¯s figure flashed away, chasing after other Level 3 zombies, not even giving him a chance to speak. The man stood there, stunned for a moment, then broke into a cold sweat, feeling extremely relieved¡ªhad the zombies not arrived so abruptly, leaving them no time to execute their plans against Peace Base, they might very well have shot themselves in the foot with Bai Ye¡¯s formidable power! Chapter 708: 379 Terrifying!_2 Chapter 708: 379 Terrifying!_2 The other six bosses also felt lucky. When that man was attacked by a fourth-level Power Zombie earlier, they had all seen it, but none of them had gone to help. While they were all from Chengtian Base, their affiliations were different, and they were competitors. The opponent was a fourth-level Power Zombie with formidable strength; how could they possibly rush in to court death themselves? They ran faster than anyone else! Even though they had fled from afar, their eyes were constantly watching the situation there, fearful that the fourth-level Zombie would come after them next. Little did they know, the situation they anticipated never happened. Suddenly, someone casually dealt with that fourth-level Zombie! Clearly, this was a Level 4 Superpower User! They had previously speculated about a mysterious Spiritual Superpower User appearing at Peace Base and even guessed that the person¡¯s strength was at the third-level peak. However, now they witnessed a Level 4 Superpower User, and it was apparent that this person was not a Spiritual Superpower User! In other words, not only did Peace Base have a mysterious Spiritual Superpower User, but they also had a Level 4 Gold Element Superpower User! And it was very likely that the Spiritual Superpower User was also Level 4. They had guessed third-level peak previously because they subconsciously dismissed the possibility of Level 4. After all, the strongest in Chengtian Base was Ji Chengtian, who only had third-level peak strength. He was still some way off from Level 4, and they couldn¡¯t imagine someone stronger than Ji Chengtian! But now, having seen Bai Ye effortlessly kill that fourth-level Power Zombie, they could no longer deceive themselves as before. The situation was urgent at this moment, and they couldn¡¯t afford to think too much. The six of them were shocked for a moment but then forced themselves not to think and began to fight earnestly. With the most formidable fourth-level Power Zombie in the Zombie Group taken care of by Bai Ye, it resulted in the entire team being leaderless, with no leader to command them. Apart from that fourth-level Zombie, there were Level 3, 2, and 1 Zombies. The higher the level of the Zombie, the fewer the number, and vice versa. Unusually, the lower the level of the Zombie, the lower its intelligence, driven entirely by the instinct to feed, with no thought of escape. The people from the four teams of the Hope Battle Group, along with the seven thousand or so from Chengtian Base, fought for over twenty minutes and finally took care of all the Zombies. The Zombies on the ground had been taken care of, but then a group of Zombie Birds appeared in the sky. Thankfully, the number of these Zombie Birds was not too high, only about ten thousand in total, and with everyone working together, they too were dealt with. The Zombie Birds could fly fast, and their small size made them particularly difficult to kill. Many were scratched by the Zombie Birds. Some Zombie Birds even prepared to attack people on the wall, or even those inside the Base, but as they swooped down, they hadn¡¯t even managed to act before they were taken care of by Fang Yuyang. After dealing with the Zombie Birds, the people from Chengtian Base looked quite ragged. They had just been through a fierce battle, which not only depleted their resources but also showed that the four teams of the Hope Team were not to be underestimated. If they really fought, the casualties would be extremely heavy! Anyone who wasn¡¯t a fool could see this, so the people from Chengtian Base had no intention of crossing paths with the Hope Team. The seven bosses hesitated for a moment then all sought out Bai Ye. They had seen that Bai Ye was the strongest among them and approaching him was undoubtedly the right decision! These people had no intention of clashing with the Hope Team and told Bai Ye that they were all forced by Ji Chengtian. At the same time, they came here wanting to know if Liu Yue and the others who entered the Base earlier were safe, painting themselves as pure and kind as white lotuses. Bai Ye didn¡¯t believe a word they said, but he didn¡¯t make things difficult for them, nor did he invite them into the Base. He merely nodded coldly toward them and led his men back into the Base. As soon as they entered, the gates of the Base immediately closed. The people from Chengtian Base felt even more uneasy seeing this. They were all more or less injured, which could easily attract Zombies or vicious mutated creatures! It was clear that the people from Peace Base had no intention of inviting them in, so they had to hurry back to Chengtian Base as soon as possible! But Ji Chengtian was still blocking the road they had to take back! Thinking of Ji Chengtian, who was clearly harboring bad intentions, these people felt nervous, fearing that their prospects were more misfortune than fortune. They even couldn¡¯t help suspecting that Bai Ye did this to make them fiercely contest with Ji Chengtian! With faces full of misery, they hesitated briefly before quickly getting into their vehicles and turning around to head back. Far off, Ji Chengtian, who was observing everything with a telescope, had originally hoped that these people would clash with those from Peace Base. Yet, the people from Peace Base didn¡¯t pay them any attention and went straight back to their Base. What displeased Ji Chengtian even more, these people actually turned around directly! Did they even remember why they came here in the first place? Ji Chengtian felt dissatisfied and immediately ordered the convoy to block the road.(. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 709: 380 has been discovered! Chapter 709: 380 has been discovered! The seven bosses, escorting their teams back, had been extremely anxious, and their premonitions soon came true. On their way back, they encountered the Zombie Bird Group again! Although the number wasn¡¯t large, they still gave them quite a hard time! The Zombie Birds either kept slamming their bodies against the glass, or attacking the carriage with their claws, or diving right into the carriage. The vehicle was in motion; the driver, fearing they might attract more zombies or mutated creatures, dared not stop. Moreover, he was driving quite fast. The people inside the carriage had no way to go out and fight; they could only kill them when the Zombie Birds flew in. Although they cooperated very well, they couldn¡¯t prevent themselves from getting hurt, and it was truly a miserable experience. Soon, they made contact with Ji Chengtian¡¯s people. Upon seeing the other side¡¯s stance, not only the seven big bosses but all their subordinates were taken aback! Ji Chengtian was too despicable! He really blocked their way! What was he planning to do? Did he really want to kill them all? If that was the case, chaos would surely erupt within Chengtian Base! Was he not considering the consequences? No matter how angry these seven were inside, Ji Chengtian still arrogantly had his people block their way and said coldly, ¡°We came here today to eliminate the trouble from Peace Base and to rescue the people trapped inside. You all didn¡¯t do anything, so why are you back?¡± His actions were too outrageous, and the seven could no longer contain their anger. One of them shouted, ¡°Ji Chengtian! Didn¡¯t you see we¡¯re all injured? Staying outside longer will draw more zombies and mutated creatures through the smell of blood. You know that, don¡¯t you?¡± Ji Chengtian¡¯s face darkened, and he didn¡¯t respond to this person. Instead, he directly ordered, ¡°Go back now! Rescue the people inside!¡± While speaking, he pointed in the direction of Peace Base and added insincerely, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep an eye on you from here. If you run into danger, I won¡¯t ignore you.¡± Hearing this, the seven bosses were so furious they wanted to fight Ji Chengtian on the spot, but eventually, they were persuaded by their subordinates. Finally, the seven gave Ji Chengtian, who was smug and triumphant, a cold look, ordered a U-turn, and headed back toward Peace Base once again. Meanwhile, the people at Peace Base had been monitoring the situation. As soon as they returned, those at the Base knew Ji Chengtian must be up to something again. On their way back, someone couldn¡¯t help but ask one of the big bosses, ¡°Boss, are we really going to fight the people from Peace Base? They seem very formidable?¡± As he spoke, he recalled the way Bai Ye fought and felt a sense of longing. That person was really powerful; could he be that powerful one day? The person beside him sneered coldly and said darkly, ¡°He can keep dreaming!¡± They soon returned to the outskirts of Peace Base. With the previous experience, they were somewhat worried as they approached, subconsciously glancing into the distance, fearing a sudden zombie appearance. At the same time, someone started to shout, ¡°To the people above, we mean no harm. We just want to meet your leader and discuss something.¡± The other bosses exchanged looks and remained silent. This person had expressed exactly what they wanted to say; there was no need for them to add anything more. Bai Zhengli and the others watched all of this with cold eyes; Bai Ye suddenly said, ¡°The timing is almost right.¡± Bai Zhengli nodded, signaling the people below to open the Base gate, and then called out to those below, ¡°Come in.¡± Upon hearing this, the people below were somewhat worried, fearing a trap. However, after hesitating for a moment, they decided to go in and see for themselves. Now they were all injured and it was too dangerous to stay outside. Moreover, Ji Chengtian was blocking their way out, and it would be a significant disadvantage to run into Ji Chengtian¡¯s troops again. They might as well see what sort of game the people of Peace Base were playing! So, as the Base gate opened, the people outside drove their vehicles in. From a distance, Ji Chengtian¡¯s face turned ugly as he watched the scene unfold, ¡°They dare defy me! A bunch of bastards!¡± he cursed in frustration, and then something felt off¡ªwhy did they suddenly go in? Could it be that mysterious Spiritual Superpower User had made a move again? Chapter 710: 380 was discovered!_2 Chapter 710: 380 was discovered!_2 Ji Chengtian felt a sudden discomfort in his heart and broke out in a cold sweat on his back as soon as he thought of it! He had only gathered these people for additional support, but what would he do if they were all ensnared? No, this couldn¡¯t be the case! If it were so, the ¡®Mysterious Spiritual Superpower User¡¯s ability would be outrageously terrifying! But without the so-called ¡°Mysterious Spiritual Power¡± user, how could their behavior be explained? Could it be that they were willing participants? Willing... Ji Chengtian suddenly thought of something, his eyes widening in disbelief as he stared in the direction of Peace Base. He had felt something was amiss earlier, but Gu Yong had been so certain, claiming there was a mysterious Spiritual Superpower User in the base who had taken control of Liu Yue and his men, and they had entered of their own volition. Having heard Gu Yong¡¯s words, he didn¡¯t dwell on it any further. Fearing the strength of the adversary, he dared not confront them directly, so he gave up on Liu Yue and his company of over a thousand men, and headed back to his base. Then he summoned the other seven chiefs from the base and forced them to act with him. Because of this, the rumors within the base grew increasingly outrageous. Not only did they cause panic, but he had no idea how many people were cursing him behind his back! However, if these people had acted of their own free will, then everything made sense. The mere thought of this possibility caused Ji Chengtian¡¯s heart to ache; he had nearly destroyed his reputation over these people, and now they seemed to be conspiring against him! Then his thoughts turned to Gu Yong again, and his heart filled with even more furor. If it wasn¡¯t for that man¡¯s nonsense, how would he have been made a fool? Now, with those seven chiefs and their men having entered Peace Base, nothing good was likely to follow. This was not a place to linger! These people working in collusion undoubtedly meant trouble, and he had to get back to his own base quickly to prepare! As soon as this crossed Ji Chengtian¡¯s mind, he immediately ordered a tactical retreat back to the base. Throughout the journey, his mind was spinning with plans for what to do next. Although the power held by each of those seven chiefs was not as great as his, they were still not to be underestimated. He had forced them to bring out a thousand men, leaving many behind at the base. Returning this time without a doubt wouldn¡¯t appease the group; he had to think of a solution that would serve both purposes and prevent those people from targeting him! As clever as he was, though, the others were not fools. Fang Yuxin, Bai Zhengli, and the others stood atop the wall, and sensed something odd when they saw him suddenly turn back. Someone couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why has Ji Chengtian suddenly taken his men and left? Has he been frightened again? That¡¯s really pathetic. How did he even become the leader of Chengtian Base?¡± Originally, Bai Zhengli and Fang Yuxin were uncertain about the thoughts in their heads, but upon hearing this, it clicked. Whatever may be said of Ji Chengtian, he was, after all, the leader of Chengtian Base, and not a fool for having retained control for so long. His sudden departure was probably not as simple as fear; he may have discovered something. At that moment, Meng Ping suddenly exclaimed, ¡°No, we need to hurry back to Chengtian Base! If Ji Chengtian realizes our betrayal, he will definitely target our families and friends back at the base. He is ruthless and will stop at nothing!¡± With this statement, worry spread among the others, especially those from Chengtian Base who had family and friends there. If anything happened to those people... they would never forgive themselves! We must go back! Immediately! As they realized this, Meng Ping, Deng Hong, Wan Hao, and Liu Yue all instinctively looked to Bai Zhengli for his opinion. Bai Zhengli, of course, couldn¡¯t possibly stop them from returning. His expression grave, he nodded and said, ¡°Let¡¯s all go together.¡± Hearing this, Meng Ping and the others breathed a sigh of relief. They knew their own return would be uncertain, but with the support of the Hope Battle Group, and the addition of the seven chiefs who had just arrived, they believed this return would surely curtail Ji Chengtian! Following this, they quickly descended from the wall, some so impatient that they simply jumped down. Below, the seven chiefs and their men had just entered Peace Base and were still unaware of Ji Chengtian¡¯s reversal. They were contemplating how to speak to the leader of Peace Base upon meeting him. Suddenly, they saw figures falling from above and were startled. Looking up, they realized it was the people from the wall coming down. They couldn¡¯t help but feel surprised, unable to understand why the people above were descending so abruptly. Was it to confront them? But as they were thinking this, they saw those who had just dropped down and recognized the familiar face of Deng Hong, who was presumed to be in trouble! The seven chiefs exchanged glances, and one of them asked, ¡°Deng Hong? Why are you here? Aren¡¯t you dead?¡± He couldn¡¯t help but scrutinize Deng Hong¡¯s expression as he asked. They had thought Deng Hong was being controlled, but upon closer inspection, he looked normal, showing no signs of being under any influence. Doubt immediately arose in their hearts, accompanied by a vague guess. If Deng Hong was unharmed, why hadn¡¯t he returned to Chengtian Base? If he hadn¡¯t been controlled, then it must¡¯ve been voluntary! The chiefs reveled in this realization. Deng Hong was Ji Chengtian¡¯s trusted aide, yet even he had betrayed Chengtian. This was indicative of how much of a failure Chengtian was at relationships! (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com) by giving it a recommendation or a monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.) Chapter 711: 381 Must hurry up! Chapter 711: 381 Must hurry up! Seven people were gloating over the misfortune when they suddenly heard Deng Hong roar, ¡°This is bad, Ji Chengtian has discovered our betrayal. He has already turned back to Chengtian Base. I¡¯m afraid he is going to take his anger out on the people inside the base!¡± As he spoke, he specifically glanced at the seven bosses before continuing, ¡°This time you only brought a thousand people over, you must have left a lot of your subordinates at Chengtian Base, right? Now that Ji Chengtian is returning, he¡¯s definitely going to play dirty. You¡¯d better get ready and come back with us!¡± The seven were feeling quite pleased with themselves, but their expressions changed upon hearing this. They each had around twenty thousand subordinates, apart from the thousand they brought with them, the rest were all left at the base. Ji Chengtian was heading back alone, and they had not returned, which would certainly lead to speculation. Ji Chengtian could not possibly fail to consider this, so to quell the anger of these people, he was bound to do something! Instantly, the seven felt urgent inside. They didn¡¯t want the troops they had painstakingly brought out to become Ji Chengtian¡¯s weapon! With somber faces, they nodded at Deng Hong and then quickly instructed their subordinates to get into the vehicles, ready to hurry back to Chengtian Base. At this moment, one of them suddenly lowered his voice and asked Deng Hong, ¡°Deng Hong, tell me the truth. Is there a Level 4 Superpower User in Peace Base? Are you planning to ally with the people here?¡± After thinking it over, Deng Hong felt that there was no need to hide the truth any longer. The situation had gotten to this point, and besides, they were going to have to work together in the future. So, he simply nodded his head and said, ¡°A Hope Battle Group has recently come to Peace Base. We are cooperating with them, planning to change the situation at Chengtian Base. Let me also reveal to you that in this Hope Battle Group, there are three Level 4 Superpower Users and two at the Third-level Peak. These people are all very powerful!¡± The other six bosses didn¡¯t ask questions, but they were listening nearby. Hearing Deng Hong¡¯s words, all seven of them changed color! They had already deduced that Bai Ye must be a Level 4 Superpower User because he had very easily killed that Level 4 Zombie. At the same time, they also suspected that the mysterious Spiritual Superpower User must also be at Level 4. Just this speculation was enough to terrify them. Until they noticed that Deng Hong was not being controlled, they suddenly doubted whether the mysterious Spiritual Superpower User really existed. Privately, they hoped that person didn¡¯t exist. After all, one Level 4 user was terrifying enough, and the presence of two was doubly frightening. But according to Deng Hong, there were three Level 4 Superpower Users here, and also two at the Third-level Peak! What did Third-level Peak mean? It meant that they might soon advance to Level 4! If that was really the case, then the Hope Battle Group would have a total of five Level 4 Superpower Users. That line-up was indeed frightening! These people¡¯s strengths were all around the middle to later stages of Superpower Level 3, weaker than Ji Chengtian. Yet with their strength, they had become the leaders of a small force of over twenty thousand people. However, the Hope Battle Group already had three Level 4 Superpower Users and two at the Third-level Peak, a force that left them far behind! Originally, they had all intended to overthrow Ji Chengtian and become the new City Lord. It could be said that each of the seven harbored this ambition. But after hearing Deng Hong¡¯s words, the ambitions in their hearts were utterly crushed! What could they use to compete with others? Seeing the unsightly expressions on their faces, Deng Hong guessed their thoughts and smiled in schadenfreude. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly saw someone coming from a distance and hurriedly said, ¡°See that? The handsome middle-aged man in the combat uniform is the squad leader of the Hope Battle Group. Although he is just Superpower Level 3, I bet you¡¯re no match for him if it really comes to a fight!¡± The seven reflexively felt somewhat defiant, and all of them turned to look at Bai Zhengli. When Bai Zhengli sensed their gazes, he looked back at them. As their eyes met, a tremor went through the hearts of the seven bosses. They found that Deng Hong was totally right! The aura of this man differed significantly from the average person. Even his gaze was sharper than others¡¯, clearly that of someone with a military background, and a high-ranking one at that. Chapter 712: 381 Must hurry!_2 Chapter 712: 381 Must hurry!_2 Although they didn¡¯t know why such a person would come to Peace Base, there was no doubt that this person¡¯s strength truly surpassed theirs! The Hope Battle Group had three Level 4 Superpower Users plus two Third-level Peak Superpower Users, yet this squad leader was clearly not any one of them. And yet, he had become the squad leader of the Hope Battle Group. The seven big shots didn¡¯t believe he had become squad leader just through favors or anything like that; his strength was not to be underestimated! Next, they saw Bai Ye, Fang Yuxin, Fang Yuyang, Qu Qianhe, and Fang Jintang. Each of these individuals was exceptional, not just in looks, which ordinary people couldn¡¯t compare with, but also their presence, striking the beholders instantaneously with the sense that they were no ordinary individuals. The seven bigwigs of Chengtian Base were immediately overawed by them. They thought about themselves, people of high rank as they were, yet compared to those before them, they didn¡¯t even measure up in the slightest, the gap was just too vast! Initially, they were already shattered by Deng Hong¡¯s words, even their long-held ambitions were crushed. Now, looking at these people, they lost all thoughts of vying for power¡ªthose before them were not someone they could match, much less scheme against! Rather than courting trouble and giving the other side an excuse to deal with them, it was better to humbly safeguard the bit of power they had. Bai Zhengli walked over with others, mutual greetings were exchanged, and then Bai Zhengli said, ¡°Ji Chengtian must have realized something was wrong; he has already turned around and is rushing back to Chengtian Base. He definitely won¡¯t just let this go; we must hurry back to Chengtian Base as soon as possible.¡± The seven big shots obediently nodded, as well-behaved as could be. Satisfied, Bai Zhengli nodded and with a wave of his hand, ordered the departure. Everyone else was ready, and once the people from Chengtian Base drove the cars out, freeing up space, they drove their vehicles over and let Bai Zhengli and the others board. The Fang Family didn¡¯t take out their SUV, they all rode in trucks. On the way to Chengtian Base, since the seven big shots and their men were mostly injured, Fang Yuyang let the Wind Ability User control the wind¡¯s direction, locking the scent of blood inside the truck to prevent it from spreading out and attracting zombies and mutated creatures. At first, no one had thought of using the Wind Ability like this. After being reminded by him and giving it a try, it was soon successful. Thus, on the way there, they encountered very few zombies. Chengtian Base wasn¡¯t far from Peace Base, so they quickly arrived. Upon arrival, they found, as expected, that Chengtian Base was under martial law, the Corpse Hunters that had been roaming around the base were nowhere to be seen, and at the same time, the base¡¯s gates were shut tight, with many people lurking atop the wall, ready to strike at any moment. Seeing this situation, the people from Chengtian Base grew anxious¡ªJi Chengtian had indeed made a move! They were very uneasy, not being a match for Ji Chengtian, they subconsciously looked towards the people from Hope Battle Group, hoping they had a solution. At that moment, someone from the base used a loudspeaker to shout, ¡°Attention, all traitors outside, if you don¡¯t want your family and friends to get hurt, then pick up your weapons and turn them against the enemy beside you! This is the City Lord¡¯s final opportunity for you!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone¡¯s faces turned exceedingly ugly¡ªJi Chengtian¡¯s approach was truly despicable! If he had the guts, he should just come out and fight fair and square, what skill was there in threatening with friends and family? Meng Ping hesitated, then asked Bai Zhengli, ¡°Commander Bai, what do we do now?¡± Bai Zhengli didn¡¯t answer but instead turned to look at Fang Yuyang, ¡°What do you think? Are you confident?¡± Fang Yuyang nodded, ¡°I can enter the base from above.¡± As soon as his words fell, Fang Yuxin said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Seeing Fang Yuyang looking over with a hint of disapproval in his eyes, she continued, ¡°You need to deal with Ji Chengtian, and with me there, I can help rescue people.¡± After a moment of thought, Bai Zhengli agreed, then asked Fang Yuyang, ¡°Can Wujin carry two people?¡± Fang Yuyang considered it and replied, ¡°With Xinxin, it should be possible.¡± He actually meant that Fang Yuxin could use skills like Light Body Skill or Wind Control Skill to lighten her weight, so as not to overburden Wujin. But he couldn¡¯t explain that clearly, so he put it in more veiled terms. However, the others heard it as if he was reluctant to carry others and didn¡¯t think much else of it. Bai Ye was a bit worried, but just as he looked towards Fang Yuxin, she gave him a warning glance, its meaning clear¡ªif he dared to stop her, it was over for him! So, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, Bai Ye ended up saying, ¡°Then be careful, and don¡¯t get hurt!¡± Satisfied, Fang Yuxin smiled confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, those people can¡¯t hurt me.¡± Hearing this, many who had seen her capabilities internally scoffed at these two for their blatant public displays of affection¡ªyeah right, with your strength, how could those people possibly hurt you? The ones to worry about are clearly those inside; what in the world is Bai Ye pointlessly worrying about! Bai Zhengli quickly added, ¡°Then the two of you will be taken by Wujin, entering the base from above, with Fang Yuyang dealing with Ji Chengtian, and Fang Yuxin in charge of rescuing people. The rest of us will follow me; capturing their hearts is the top priority. If fighting really becomes inevitable, try not to kill anyone if it¡¯s possible¡ªwe¡¯re all survivors, there¡¯s no need to come to blows.¡± Time was of the essence to prevent anything from happening to those inside, or for Ji Chengtian to create more chaos, Bai Zhengli let Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin enter the base first. Fang Yuyang nodded, then with a whistle, the circling Wujin descended. Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin jumped onto Wujin¡¯s back, and with a powerful flap of Wujin¡¯s immense wings, it soared into the air, carrying Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin towards Chengtian Base. As Bai Ye watched their receding figures, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit sour¡ªif only he and Xinxin were the ones going up there! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to give your recommendation votes and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 713: 382 Catch that woman Chapter 713: 382 Catch that woman Ji Chengtian had just returned to Chengtian Base when he issued a flurry of orders, not only summoning all the corpse-hunting teams back but also insisting that everyone defend the walls. To deal with those seven factions, he accused Meng Ping and the others of treason and colluding with Peace Base, seizing control over the seven leaders. Simultaneously, he declared to everyone that Peace Base would attack Chengtian Base! Each of the seven leaders had left their trusted people behind in the base. Although these people didn¡¯t entirely believe Ji Chengtian¡¯s words, they nevertheless harbored resentment towards Meng Ping and the others, with some even suggesting that their families and friends be captured. Ji Chengtian was so eager to do just that, and as soon as the suggestion was made, he agreed and had them all apprehended. By the time Bai Zhengli and the others arrived, Ji Chengtian had nearly completed his preparations. The wall was packed with densely gathered people, all poised and ready to act. Initially, they didn¡¯t fully believe that Peace Base would actually attack, as it was too small and insignificant in their eyes. But it wasn¡¯t long after they took their places on the wall that, sure enough, a convoy from a distance approached! As they watched the vehicles draw closer, the thought that these were attackers aiming at their base made their hearts tighten, and they subconsciously clenched their fists or the weapons in their hands. However, as they were fully prepared for an assault, they noticed that these people weren¡¯t attacking at all. Then, suddenly, two figures stood atop a huge Mutated Bird, ascending into the sky! This was the first time they had witnessed such a scene, and unable to help themselves, they looked up, following the siblings Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin as they rose higher and higher. Then they realized that the siblings were actually trying to enter Chengtian Base from above! The team leader immediately cried out, ¡°Stop them! Don¡¯t let them get in!¡± This leader, an Ice Ability User, gestured with both his hands as he spoke, and a huge arrow as thick as an arm began to form, shooting toward the giant bird in the sky. The Ice Arrow was huge and incredibly fast and would have gravely wounded Wujin and likely doomed Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin on its back if it had hit. However, just as the Ice Arrow was about to strike Wujin, a whirlwind suddenly appeared around it, and the arrow shattered into fragments of ice! Wujin dipped his head, rushing into Chengtian Base like an arrow released from a bow. Seeing the situation turning grim, the people on the wall unleashed their skills in an attempt to stop him. In an instant, Fireballs, Ice Arrows, Wind Blades, and Flying Knives were all hurled towards Wujin and the siblings on its back. But Fang Yuyang merely lifted his hand slightly, and six massive Wind Blades formed instantly, spinning around them and mercilessly smashing all incoming attacks. Wujin¡¯s speed was too great; those on the walls only had a split-second chance to attack, and once that moment passed, the siblings had already been carried inside Chengtian Base, too fast for anyone to pursue! Apart from those on the walls, many others stood below. The siblings landed in a square, which was also densely packed with people. Ji Chengtian stood on a slightly elevated platform, clearly purpose-built like a podium, and was at that moment rallying the morale of his troops. Upon seeing Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang descend from the sky, Ji Chengtian¡¯s expression turned instantly, mixing shock with a trace of fear; he never anticipated someone would come down from the sky. He had assumed that the people on the walls would hold off the attackers for a while, allowing him time to bolster morale enough to keep the outsiders at bay. Yet, he had underestimated the capabilities of his opponents! Being a Wind Ability User himself, as soon as he saw the Wind Blades spinning around Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin, he sensed the bad news. This person was also a Wind Ability User, and even more powerful than him! Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin noticed that there were many people tied up! The majority were Ordinary People with a few superpower users. The Ordinary People were in a better state, merely having their hands bound behind their backs, their faces ashen with fear. The superpower users, on the other hand, seemed to have resisted fiercely when captured; they had sustained severe injuries, and their hands were also bound behind them. Unaware of what they had endured, these people saw the siblings suddenly appear. After a brief moment of surprise, their eyes brightened, clearly seeing them as rescuers. Chapter 714: 382 Catch that woman_2 Chapter 714: 382 Catch that woman_2 The others were also somewhat dazed, while remaining very cautious. It wasn¡¯t just Ji Chengtian who had a keen eye; the others had also noticed that Fang Yuyang was very strong! As for Fang Yuxin, because she was of the Wood Element and had deliberately reined in her aura, the others couldn¡¯t make out her strength at all. Realizing that the newcomers had ill-intentions, except for those who were tied up, everyone else became alert and subconsciously backed away, trying to put a safe distance between themselves and the siblings. Just a moment ago, Ji Chengtian had been talking for a while, having just boosted everyone¡¯s morale. However, the moment Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin appeared, all of Ji Chengtian¡¯s efforts were in vain, as the morale he had worked so hard to build dropped sharply. After all, no one wanted to die, so when these people realized that Fang Yuyang was very strong, they were absolutely unwilling to confront him head-on. Seeing that the situation was turning increasingly unfavorable for him, Ji Chengtian hurriedly shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, everyone! They are only two people. If we all attack together, they will definitely not be our match!¡± However, before he could finish speaking, a Wind Blade streaked towards him. Ji Chengtian dodged in a hurry, not expecting that the Wind Blade would suddenly split into two, catching him completely off-guard! Though he managed to avoid it in the end, he was in quite a disheveled state. Initially, his words had tempted quite a few people who thought he was right. Considering that there were only two of them, they believed there was nothing to worry about if they all attacked en masse. But seeing Ji Chengtian¡¯s clumsy dodging, they were startled and immediately changed their minds¡ªJi Chengtian wasn¡¯t a match for this person! Who exactly was he? Fang Yuyang wasn¡¯t a fool to allow Ji Chengtian to continue spouting nonsense. With at least twenty thousand people here, if Ji Chengtian¡¯s wild talk managed to incite them all to action, it would surely lead to chaos! So he raised his voice and said, ¡°We are here today only to deal with Ji Chengtian; we do not wish to harm anyone else here. Everyone, please leave.¡± Many had been worried, fearing that Fang Yuyang would suddenly go on a killing spree. If that happened, they would have to fight for their survival despite their fear. Thus, upon hearing Fang Yuyang¡¯s words, many people started to falter and wanted to leave. Seeing that things were turning sour, Ji Chengtian knew that if these people all left, what would he have left to use against the two superpower users? So he hurriedly said, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to his nonsense! He wants to divide and conquer us!¡± Just then, Fang Yuxin suddenly spoke up, ¡°Luo Ding and the others are just outside; if you don¡¯t believe us, you are free to ask them.¡± Luo Ding was the name of one of the bosses, whose men were also present. On hearing this, someone in the crowd couldn¡¯t help but look at Fang Yuxin and ask, ¡°What have you done to our boss?¡± This person was blending into the crowd and hadn¡¯t stepped forward, clearly being very cautious. For an ordinary person, it might have been difficult to find someone in a crowd, but this was no challenge for Fang Yuxin. With a slight tilt of her head, her gaze found him. Then she said, ¡°I¡¯m sure you know that early this morning, Ji Chengtian took Luo Ding and others to the Peace Base. But there¡¯s something Ji Chengtian definitely didn¡¯t tell you¡ªhe has been...¡± She had just begun speaking when Ji Chengtian¡¯s face changed dramatically, and he released a Wind Blade toward Fang Yuxin, shouting, ¡°Evil Woman! You will not slander me!¡± As the Wind Blade emerged, Fang Yuyang, standing beside Fang Yuxin, instantly turned stern, his gaze coldly shooting toward Ji Chengtian. At the same time, a massive Wind Blade appeared in an instant, not only shattering Ji Chengtian¡¯s attack but also hurtling toward Ji Chengtian with overwhelming force! Seeing that things were going badly, Ji Chengtian didn¡¯t dare to meet the attack head-on and quickly dodged, his expression turning ugly as he looked toward Fang Yuyang and Fang Yuxin. Fang Yuxin glanced at him disdainfully and continued, ¡°Ji Chengtian was always at the rear with his own troops while making Luo Ding and his men take the lead, hoping to ¡®watch the fire from across the river.¡¯ Unfortunately for them, as soon as they reached the outskirts of the Peace Base, they were rushed by a Zombie Group that numbered at eighty thousand, forcing Luo Ding and his men into battle. Tragically, Ji Chengtian stood by and watched, unwilling to lend a hand, whereas our people stepped forward and wiped out the zombies completely.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Ji Chengtian knew he couldn¡¯t let Fang Yuxin continue and, in a burst of rage, couldn¡¯t help but attack her again. He released a swath of Wind Blades, intending to slaughter Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang together, while everyone else, worrying about getting caught in the crossfire, stayed well away. Fang Yuyang said coldly, ¡°Seeking death,¡± and after shattering those Wind Blades, he moved directly in front of Ji Chengtian and said to him, ¡°Your opponent is me!¡± Ji Chengtian, seeing him approach, felt a surge of fear again¡ªthis man was so fast! At the same time, he retreated swiftly, desperately trying to put distance between himself and Fang Yuyang. Fang Yuyang watched him coldly, knowing that with his current strength, killing Ji Chengtian would be a piece of cake, but he didn¡¯t want to do so. With so many onlookers, he did not want to leave behind an impression of being cruel and bloodthirsty. Moreover, for a villain like Ji Chengtian, it would be too easy just to kill him! So, with a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, Fang Yuyang clenched his fists and charged toward Ji Chengtian. Ji Chengtian certainly didn¡¯t expect Fang Yuyang to forego using his Skill and instead fight like a superpower user from the Power System. A sneer formed in his mind¡ªhe was underestimating him; he would regret it! Meanwhile, Ji Chengtian made a gesture to one of his trusted aides on the other side¡ªcapture that woman! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 715: 383 Malicious Intent Chapter 715: 383 Malicious Intent Fang Yuxin¡¯s demeanor was too weak, and since she had never made a move, all the previous attacks had been intercepted by Fang Yuyang, easily giving the impression that she was frail. Moreover, since Fang Yuyang had consistently shown his concern for Fang Yuxin, Ji Chengtian planned to have someone capture her. He was very aware that he was no match for Fang Yuyang; if he didn¡¯t come up with some other method, not to mention losing to Fang Yuyang under the public eye, he might even lose his life! He certainly didn¡¯t want to die! To survive, he wouldn¡¯t mind resorting to some dirty tricks! His confidants, though loyal to him, were not loyal to the point of dying for him. Initially, they recognized Fang Yuyang¡¯s strength and knew they were no match for him. Plus, Yuyang had declared he wouldn¡¯t harm others, so these individuals had previously refrained from acting, opting to hide at a distance instead. But now, at Ji Chengtian¡¯s command, they started to contemplate their options. After all, they were Chengtian¡¯s trusted aides who had been with him for a significant duration, sharing a tacit understanding. What Chengtian could think of, they could approximate as well. They hesitated when it came to executing Chengtian¡¯s orders. Although Fang Yuxin appeared weak and an easy capture, the formidable Wind Ability User was evidently deeply connected to her. If they were to lay hands on this woman, it would undoubtedly infuriate the Wind Ability User. They would be in great danger then! But if they didn¡¯t capture her, given his strength, they feared that Chengtian might not be a match and, should he kill Chengtian and still seek revenge, what was stopping him from turning on them next? While they hesitated, Fang Yuxin continued, ¡°Luo Ding and the others have sustained injuries, they are just outside right now. The longer they stay out there, the likelier the consequences you know better than I, right?¡± The people present clearly understood! The scent of blood would attract zombies and vicious mutated creatures. If they allowed them to remain outside too long, it would be dangerous! They had to bring them in quickly! Luo Ding¡¯s aide hesitated, ¡°How do I know if what you¡¯re saying is true?¡± Fang Yuxin gave him a disdainful look, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, just go to the Protection Wall and see for yourself. Who could possibly stop you?¡± Shamed by Fang Yuxin¡¯s scolding, he felt somewhat embarrassed, but after careful thought, he realized she was right. Moreover, if Luo Ding and the others were indeed injured, leaving them outside was indeed very dangerous. He nodded at Fang Yuxin and then, taking his men with him, left. Seeing this, the underlings of the other six bosses also nodded at Fang Yuxin before taking their subordinates and departing. They all realized that a violent storm of bloodshed was inevitable here. Staying would bring them no benefit; they might even get dragged into the mess. It was better to seize the opportunity to leave. With their departure, less than half the number of people remained. Among those left, half were Chengtian¡¯s men, and the other half was comprised of unaffiliated Corpse Hunters. Chengtian found himself relentlessly pursued by Fang Yuyang, occasionally getting punched all over. Yuyang controlled his strength so as to cause excruciating pain without inflicting serious injuries. Beyond the torment, the humiliation alone made Chengtian seethe with hatred. Seeing his aides still hesitant to act, he bellowed, ¡°What are you all waiting for? Capture her! Do you really believe he will spare you? Quit daydreaming!¡± As he spoke, he suddenly rushed toward those who were bound, hoping to make Fang Yuyang hesitate. His roar threw the still-undecided aides into a panic. They glanced at the cold-faced and deadly Fang Yuyang, gritted their teeth, and decided that capturing Fang Yuxin was the safer bet. So they all rushed towards her. Unfortunately, in their moment of panic, they failed to realize Ji Chengtian¡¯s malicious intent. His loud shouting wasn¡¯t just out of sheer frustration¡ªit was intended to divert the crisis onto others! He figured that with his shout, Fang Yuyang would inevitably turn to protect Fang Yuxin, and he would seize the chance to escape! However, what he hadn¡¯t anticipated was that when his subordinates finally obeyed, Fang Yuyang didn¡¯t leave him to protect Fang Yuxin. Instead, Yuyang¡¯s gaze grew colder, and he began to laugh disdainfully, ¡°Do you really think my sister is so fragile?¡± Chapter 716: 383 Malicious Intent_2 Chapter 716: 383 Malicious Intent_2 Ji Chengtian heard the comment and felt a ¡°thump¡± in his heart, internally noting that this was bad news. At the same time, he unconsciously looked over at Fang Yuxin. To his horror, he saw that as his subordinates charged towards her, a flash of white light appeared, and suddenly nine enormous mutated creatures emerged by her side. Because they were so swift, he didn¡¯t even have time to discern what they were, only feeling as if they looked like giant pythons, and his subordinates who had charged at Fang Yuxin were directly flung away! With cries of agony and the sound of breaking bones, these men crashed heavily to the ground, unable to get up for quite a while! Those who had not made a move turned pale, watching Fang Yuxin with eyes filled with terror. They had now recognized that those creatures guarding Fang Yuxin were some type of mutant plants. They all knew that certain mutant plants were extremely ferocious, but they had never imagined that these mutant plants could be controlled by someone! At this moment, their view of Fang Yuxin transformed significantly; they no longer dared to underestimate her as an ordinary person without combat ability. Then someone with a sharp eye noticed an odd bracelet wrapped around Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist, resembling a flower stalk. After Lan Re left, Red Powder elongated its body, wrapping around Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand in a circle, becoming quite noticeable and impossible to miss. After witnessing the power of Lan Re, the people around no longer dared to consider the odd thing on Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist as just a bracelet, and they all speculated¡ªcould it be a type of mutated creature as well? At this point, Fang Yuxin spoke, ¡°We are all survivors. My intention of coming here was not to slaughter recklessly. However, if someone insists on seeking death, then don¡¯t blame my pets for being heavy-handed.¡± Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone changed, especially those who had just attacked Fang Yuxin. One by one, their faces turned ashen, cursing Ji Chengtian in their hearts as too deceitful. Previously, they had been intimidated by Ji Chengtian¡¯s aura and had failed to recognize his malevolent intentions. But now, as they were injured, their minds had cleared, and they realized¡ªJi Chengtian clearly wanted them dead! As Fang Yuxin¡¯s gaze swept over them, they were filled with even greater fear, and unconsciously, they looked over at Fang Yuxin again. But what they saw made their hearts grow cold¡ªwhat on earth were those things! What they saw were Lan Re. The main body of Lan Re was extremely large, and each leaf it bore was exceedingly sharp, resembling scales that could act as weapons to shred enemies. Moreover, the flowers at the top of their heads were like giant mouths, with a spiraling arrangement of sharp teeth inside, truly a biological weapon! Although these people had seen ferocious mutant plants, they had never encountered such a challenging scenario at such proximity; they were dripping with cold sweat, fearing they might be devoured by Lan Re. Fang Yuxin knew these people must be closely associated with Ji Chengtian, likely his confidants. These people must have done their share of evil while with Ji Chengtian, but there were too many people; they couldn¡¯t all be killed. So Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t order Lan Re to attack them again and instead withdrew Lan Re. The people present then saw the ferocious Lan Re become docile with Fang Yuxin¡¯s touch, even twisting its gigantic body as if shyly. Then it transformed into a beam of white light, returning to Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist, turning into¡ªan inconspicuous White Jade Bracelet. At first glance, the bracelet seemed very plain, so although it had been seen before, no one had taken it seriously, thinking it was just a piece of jewelry that Fang Yuxin was wearing. After all, even after the apocalypse, women who loved beauty were still abundant, and people who were worn out from struggling for a living naturally could not afford to wear cumbersome jewelry. However, those not worried about making a living, or those serving others with their beauty, always sought to adorn themselves. So when they saw the bracelet on Fang Yuxin¡¯s wrist, no one was surprised, subconsciously categorizing her as one of those privileged or beauty-serving individuals, inevitably looking down on her a bit. Yet now, having witnessed the transformation of Lan Re with their own eyes, they naturally no longer dared to underestimate Fang Yuxin. Instead, they were all extremely wary of her. On another note, with a ¡°bang,¡± Fang Yuyang fiercely slammed Ji Chengtian to the ground. His fingers trembled continuously, no longer able to wield his superpower! Startled by the noise, Fang Yuxin and the others instinctively looked over and saw Ji Chengtian with a face bruised blue and purple, his head swollen like a pig¡¯s, and an extremely ugly expression on his face. Most of the people present had disliked Ji Chengtian but dared not defy him. Now seeing Ji Chengtian beaten to such a pitiful state, they couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit of schadenfreude, thinking he got what he deserved. Ji Chengtian¡¯s scheming had not gone unnoticed by many, and they thought him utterly despicable. His current plight seemed to be self-inflicted. Fang Yuxin walked over to Fang Yuyang, not glancing at Ji Chengtian, but first checking Fang Yuyang¡¯s hands to see that he wasn¡¯t injured. Then she said, ¡°Brother, why did you beat him up? Isn¡¯t it tiring? What if you hurt your hands?¡± Fang Yuyang gave her a somewhat speechless look. He was a man, not some delicate pillow. It was just beating someone up; how could it possibly hurt his own hands? Turning to see Ji Chengtian, who was already internally injured, Fang Yuxin¡¯s outburst made him spit out blood. Seeing this, Fang Yuxin quickly pulled Fang Yuyang away to avoid getting splattered. This action further agitated Ji Chengtian, as if he was some kind of filthy object. He clenched his fists tightly, eyes locked on Fang Yuxin, wishing he could use Wind Blade to tear her to pieces! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, and your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 717: 384 Check in! Chapter 717: 384 Check in! Ji Chengtian was so enraged by Fang Yuxin that he coughed up blood. Those around him couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathy when they saw his wretched appearance, and a saying flashed through their minds¡ª¡±Better to offend a gentleman than a woman.¡± Having witnessed the strength of Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, who would dare to oppose the duo? But with Ji Chengtian taken down, they all felt endangered, fearing they might be next, so they regarded Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang with much caution. Neither sibling had any intention of fighting these people. Fang Yuyang glanced at them and simply said, ¡°Release those people.¡± Upon hearing this, no one dared to refuse; they hurried over and freed the captives. These people were also in distress, as they were implicated for no reason and resented Ji Chengtian. At the same time, they worried about the safety of Meng Ping and the others. Fang Yuxin, reading their thoughts, said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Meng Ping and the others are fine and should be here soon.¡± Not long after she finished speaking, trucks drove in from afar. The trucks stopped in the nearby parking lot, and then the doors opened. People poured out en masse and rushed toward them. Deng Hong was at the forefront, shouting ¡°Mom¡± at the top of his lungs as he ran to an older woman¡¯s side, grasping her hands, ¡°Mom, are you alright?¡± Meanwhile, other people also rushed to their relatives or friends, checking to see if they had been hurt. Apart from the superpower users, the ordinary people were not seriously injured. At most, their arms were bruised from being captured without proper restraint, which wasn¡¯t a big deal. It was just that they had unexpectedly suffered misfortune and had been humiliated publicly by Ji Chengtian, so they all looked listless and pale. However, the superpower users were more seriously injured and had been terribly uncomfortable while tied up. When Deng Hong and others noticed this, their resentment towards Ji Chengtian and his henchmen deepened. Some couldn¡¯t contain their fury and even began kicking and punching Ji Chengtian. Ji Chengtian had never endured such humiliation, and his face was ghastly. He tried to protect his head with his hands and curled up his body like a shrimp, with legs coiled to shield his midsection, to avoid damage to his organs. At the same time, he pleaded, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who captured your relatives; it was Luo Ding¡¯s subordinates who did it!¡± His voice was raised, so as not to be unheard, and just then, Luo Ding and his group came in and heard his claim. They turned to their confidants and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Even though they asked, they already understood¡ªit had to be another one of Ji Chengtian¡¯s tricks, deliberately ordering their underlings to act! Luo Ding and his group had already been tricked by Ji Chengtian once, and they often faced displeasure from their peers. Hearing his accusations now, they couldn¡¯t help feeling disgruntled and detested Ji Chengtian even more. However, they were not like the people below; they were more restrained, so Luo Ding instructed, ¡°Quick! Saving people is the priority! Fetch the Wood Element Superpower Users!¡± Everyone knew Fang Yuxin was a Wood Element Superpower User, but considering her status as a Level 4 Superpower User, they dared not ask her to take action. So, they called for other Wood Element Superpower Users from the base. Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t volunteer to help the injured. After all, their injuries were not critical, and they weren¡¯t dying. She didn¡¯t want to flaunt her Level 4 Superpower User status, lest she would be pestered with future troubles for treatment. Fortunately, the base¡¯s Wood Element Superpower Users responded quickly. The most powerful among them was Level 3, the weakest was Level 1, and with over three hundred people in total, they were able to make quick work of the healing. Members of the Hope Battle Group also entered. To replace Ji Chengtian as the leader of the base, there was a lot of work to be done, and much of it was quite onerous. The largest force in the base was Ji Chengtian¡¯s Chengtian Mercenary Corps, with over thirty thousand members. Yet, not many were truly loyal to him. Most followed him only because of his strength which made for a promising future, hence their choice to join the Chengtian Mercenary Corps. With Ji Chengtian defeated, the rest were terrified but didn¡¯t dare to cause trouble. Each of them was trembling, afraid of being the collateral damage in the turmoil. Apart from Ji Chengtian, there were seven other big shots, including Luo Ding, who controlled seven mercenary corps. Each of these corps had around twenty thousand members, with not much difference in their strengths. Moreover, their power ranked just below Ji Chengtian¡¯s. Chapter 718: 384 Check in!_2 Chapter 718: 384 Check in!_2 Originally, if Ji Chengtian had fallen, these people were the most likely to become the leaders of the base, but with the arrival of the Hope Battle Group, the situation had changed. Luo Ding and the others were already aware of the strength of the Hope Battle Group, so even though the group was only a quarter of their size, they dared not contend with the Hope Battle Group for control of the base. Fortunately, they all saw that Bai Zhengli was more honorable, not the cunning and petty character like Ji Chengtian, so following him was not bad. As long as they did no evil, they didn¡¯t have to worry about being purged, making everyone relatively relaxed, unlike Ji Chengtian¡¯s subordinates who were always trembling with fear. With these people not competing, the remaining smaller forces were even less likely to oppose the Hope Battle Group. Thus, the Hope Battle Group easily took over control of the Chengtian Base. However, though the matter was settled, controlling such a large base required the placement of many people and the replacement of some existing ones. At the same time, some of the base¡¯s unsatisfactory rules had to be changed, new rules established. So there was a lot to be done. Not to mention, the Hope Battle Group had nearly five thousand people, and accommodations had to be found for them. Luo Ding and the others saw that the Hope Battle Group would be very busy with upcoming tasks, so they hesitated briefly before willingly vacating some places to facilitate the Hope Battle Group in settling down. Furthermore, the City Lord Mansion where Ji Chengtian lived was lavishly decorated, being a large villa. This place was originally a luxury mansion prepared by a real estate tycoon for himself, so it was particularly large and even came with a sizable garden. Initially, the garden was full of plants, but unfortunately, many plants didn¡¯t survive the apocalypse, either dying or barely clinging to life. Now, the garden was newly planted by Wood Element superpower users. Ji Chengtian, loving luxury, had directly arranged for a Wood Element superpower user to work as a gardener, so the garden still looked beautiful, vibrant with flowers and thriving plants. Bai Zhengli was the squad leader of the Hope Battle Group, and naturally, he became the leader of the base after taking control. Thus, he was entitled to move in. He hesitated at first, disdainful of the fact that Ji Chengtian had lived there, but still decided to move in. Not for any other reason but because the place was large enough to accommodate himself and the Fang Family. The villa consisted of three separate buildings, arranged in a T-shape. The Bai Family and Fang Family could occupy one each, with the remaining one serving as a place for regular meetings and office work, which was quite suitable. However, the interior decoration was too luxurious, not to his taste. Bai Zhengli mentioned to Fang Jintang about moving in, and being the deputy squad leader, and with both he and Qu Qianhe¡¯s strength equivalent to that of Third-level Peak, and parents of Fang Yuxin and Fang Yuyang, there was naturally no issue in staying in what was so-called the City Lord Mansion. Others could find no fault in this. However, the Fang Family also found the interior decoration distasteful. Shui Rou, also disliking the de?cor, suggested to redecorate with Qu Qianhe. Meanwhile, Bai Zhengli and Fang Jintang, the squad leader and deputy, naturally had to busy themselves with base matters. Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang were also conscripted to help. Since Fang Yuxin was a girl, others didn¡¯t want to tire her out excessively, so they left her behind to manage the redecoration along with Qu Qianhe and Shui Rou. The Chengtian Base was quite large, making it not difficult to find interior decoration materials as everyone had hoarded usable supplies when gathering resources in the past. As they were planning to look for materials, Meng Ping sent someone with a complete set, even including some flower seeds for decorating the garden. Before they arrived, the other residents of the place had heard about the change of power and moved out hurriedly. These people were wise, realizing that once Ji Chengtian fell, the City Lord Mansion would definitely change masters. Hearing that the newcomers were tough to deal with and had quite a bad relationship with Ji Chengtian, they feared being implicated and dared not stay any longer, hurrying away without even daring to take much with them. This included the Wood Element superpower user who took care of the garden for Ji Chengtian. With the materials on hand, Qu Qianhe and Shui Rou decided to refurbish the house, and many from the logistics team came to help. Both quickly designed a new style, and with this help, it took only an afternoon to renovate the entire villa. Of course, this so-called redecoration was merely a simple replacement of some unsuitable furniture, as well as wallpapers and paint. Afterwards, Fang Yuxin brought out some furniture and small ornaments previously used in their home from storage, and the home was transformed anew, even giving them a feeling as if they had returned home. Shui Rou also replaced the home¡¯s decorations with her preferred style, though the furniture from their actual home hadn¡¯t been brought along, using similar styles instead, always felt slightly off. The Bai Family and Fang Family planned to occupy the two buildings next to the main building, where Ji Chengtian had lived. However, as Ji Chengtian was not overly indulgent in female company, having very few women around him, he lived together with them in the main building. Thus, both families did not consider moving into the main building, instead changing it to a clean and solemn decor to be used as an office space. At the same time, Fang Yuxin replaced all the flowers and plants in the garden, planting some vegetables and fruits as a guise, and also installing a Defensive Array throughout the garden. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.) Chapter 719: 385 Hope Base Chapter 719: 385 Hope Base Fang Yuxin and her group were busy renovating the house when Bai Zhengli and others were also tirelessly occupied. Chengtian Base was not small, with a total population of about five hundred thousand. Ji Chengtian¡¯s Chengtian Mercenary Corps had over thirty thousand superpower users, many of whom held positions within the base¡¯s management. To replace everyone and have new people take charge, as well as to complete the handover of work, was a considerably troublesome task. It was simply not possible to take over completely in such a short period. The entire base had been busy for several days and was gradually stabilizing, returning to the right track. During these days, there were always Zombie Groups attacking, but they were all completely annihilated by Bai Ye and Fang Yuyang leading their people. Although the other forces in Chengtian Base had recognized the situation and knew they had no further opportunities, they couldn¡¯t help feeling resentful and were waiting to see a debacle. Unexpectedly, within a mere five days, Bai Zhengli took full control of the base and even uncovered some of the base¡¯s previous issues, establishing new rules. At the same time, the base hospital that Bai Zhengli had promised Deng Hong and others was set up, especially releasing the Wood Element Superpower Users who had been captured from the nearby small bases. Near Chengtian Base, apart from Peace Base, there were five other small bases, all controlled by Ji Chengtian or other forces, enslaving the base inhabitants, causing them unspeakable suffering. Bai Zhengli specifically summoned the leaders of some more established forces within Chengtian Base and held a meeting to discuss the new rules and how to deal with the nearby small bases. He managed to coax these leaders, who each had their own agendas, to accept the new rules by a combination of threats and incentives. He also recalled all the people who had been dispatched for garrison duty. Actually, these small bases didn¡¯t have many powerful superpower users, which was why they had been controlled by Chengtian Base in the first place. Originally, it was a good thing for Chengtian Base to dispatch people to garrison these small bases to ensure their safety. However, Ji Chengtian¡¯s excessive exploitation led to widespread resentment, causing the people of these small bases to harbor great prejudice against Chengtian Base. Under such prejudice, even if Bai Zhengli replaced the garrison troops and no longer enslaved them, winning the goodwill of these people wouldn¡¯t be easy. After sending people to inquire, these small bases also expressed their refusal to accept protection from Chengtian Base. Therefore, Bai Zhengli, adopting a strategy of advancing by retreating, simply called everyone back to focus on consolidating Chengtian Base. However, Peace Base was different. Wu Ke had fortunately gotten acquainted with Bai Zhengli and others from the start. Plus, the Hope Battle Group had been staying in Peace Base before coming to Chengtian Base, so the relationship between the two had always been good. Wu Ke trusted Bai Zhengli¡¯s character and straightforwardly, on behalf of Peace Base, requested protection from Chengtian Base. After the initial days of chaos, the entire base was completely transformed and even the name of the base was changed to ¡°Hope Base,¡± signifying a place full of hope, encouraging everyone not to give up hope easily. At the same time, Bai Zhengli carried out extensive reforms. In the original Chengtian Base, Ordinary People made up a large number but were much lower in status than superpower users, living quite a miserable life. Unlike the smaller Peace Base, where the people were relatively more united and basically everyone could eat their fill. When Bai Zhengli took over Chengtian Base, the situation in the base was quite bad. The gap between Ordinary People and superpower users was growing larger, with obvious polarization. High-level superpower users could indulgently enjoy delicacies, while the Ordinary People at the bottom could not even afford rice, forced to consume thin porridge. After taking over the base, Bai Zhengli implemented reforms to improve the living conditions of Ordinary People. He also expanded farms and factories, hiring a large number of Ordinary People as workers. Given the limited conditions, especially regarding energy for cooking, many people found it extremely difficult, so it was best to produce ready-to-eat, filling, and nutritious food to reduce everyone¡¯s burden. Fang Yuxin was part of the logistics team. She and Qu Qianhe checked the base¡¯s warehouse and Ji Chengtian¡¯s private storeroom, finding a large number of materials. However, to expand the factories, the current equipment was not enough, and they needed to find other solutions. Chapter 720: 385 Hope Base_2 Chapter 720: 385 Hope Base_2 They were worrying about the equipment issue when Qian Sen approached, shaking his head and sighing, ¡°This Base¡¯s research institute is really too rudimentary. So many pieces of equipment are missing; no wonder the people inside haven¡¯t researched anything. Xinxin, do you think you can figure something out? We need to acquire some research equipment quickly. If this continues, we won¡¯t be able to do anything.¡± Li Qingyun followed behind him, shaking his head as well. Indeed, Chengtian Base had established a research institute, but as Qian Sen said, the number of researchers was pitifully small, and the equipment was too basic. Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe saw both of them frowning as if they were in great difficulty and said, ¡°We¡¯ll think of a solution as soon as possible and get the research equipment that you need.¡± Qian Sen nodded his head, hesitated for a moment, and then added, ¡°Right, there¡¯s one more thing. The researchers in this Base¡¯s institute... they really aren¡¯t reliable. I talked to them, and these people lack real knowledge and skills; they¡¯re just muddling along. We need to find some people who can truly be of help.¡± Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe were unaware of this situation since they hadn¡¯t paid attention to the research institute and had handed over this matter to Qian Sen and Li Qingyun, as they were more professional in this area and it seemed right to them. Little did they know that the so-called research institute was in such a state! Fang Yuxin and Qu Qianhe were somewhat annoyed, but since this was a legacy issue, there was no point in getting angrier. It was better to find the equipment and talent Qian Sen needed as soon as possible and get the research institute truly up and running. Thus, Qu Qianhe said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this, I¡¯ll have someone post a recruitment announcement in a little while. As for the requirements, Mr. Qian, you¡¯ll be in charge. You¡¯ll also conduct the interviews personally. With the Base so large, we won¡¯t have trouble finding suitable talent.¡± Qian Sen thought about it, felt she was right, and nodded in agreement. After discussing the matter with Fang Jintang, Qu Qianhe realized that it was not only scientific researchers that needed to be recruited; other roles throughout the Base also urgently needed talent. During Ji Chengtian¡¯s time as the leader, control of the Base had been entirely in the hands of superpower users, and many positions were also held by them. Although these people possessed superpowers and were not lacking in strength, they were not necessarily suited for their positions. Meanwhile, those who were genuinely talented and capable couldn¡¯t make full use of their abilities and suffered because they weren¡¯t superpower users. After Bai Zhengli and Fang Jintang took control of the Base, they naturally couldn¡¯t allow this to continue, so they were actively recruiting personnel. Besides the necessary hospital, factory, and research institute, Bai Zhengli and Fang Jintang were planning to establish cultural and martial arts schools. The Base housed many children who couldn¡¯t just be left to fend for themselves; they needed school, or else their education would fall by the wayside over time. As for the so-called martial arts school, it was designed for adults over 18. There were too many Ordinary People within the Base, and among them, barring the elderly, ill, and disabled, there remained a considerable number of able-bodied young men and women. This demographic was substantial, and if they could be trained, so they could defend themselves, the overall strength of the Base could be greatly enhanced. If adversity struck again in the future, they would have a better chance of survival. The martial arts school was established for these individuals to learn combat and enemy-destruction techniques. What Bai Zhengli and Fang Jintang hadn¡¯t expected was many superpower users were making inquiries to the Hope Battle Group, hoping to learn if they were still recruiting, as many desired to join. These individuals included lone Corpse Hunters and former members of the Chengtian Mercenary Corps. With Ji Chengtian¡¯s fall, the Chengtian Mercenary Corps had disintegrated, and while many had joined other forces, a significant number had their eyes on the Hope Battle Group and were keen to become a part of it. However, while various recruitment announcements had been issued throughout the Base, there wasn¡¯t one from the Hope Battle Group, which puzzled many. Bai Zhengli originally felt that quality trumped quantity when it came to manpower and saw no need to recruit too many people. However, Fang Jintang had a different opinion. Although the Hope Battle Group was currently powerful, it had a critical weakness: it was numerically outnumbered. Other forces within the Base had more people than they did, and without expanding their ranks, it was likely that discordant thoughts might arise among the others. Rather than face potential issues later, it was better to start recruiting some people now and further bolster the overall strength. Only by doing so could the Hope Battle Group remain invincible. After some thought, Bai Zhengli suddenly remembered his days at Beishi Base. He had been suppressed by Bai Zhengyi back then because he had too few people under his command and his own strength was inadequate. Now that they had just entered Long Province and taken over a Base, they would inevitably deal with other Bases in the future. If the manpower was inadequate, issues were bound to arise. Moreover, with Luo Ding and his faction around, it was inevitable they might harbor other intentions over time. So Bai Zhengli nodded, agreeing with Fang Jintang¡¯s suggestion to begin recruitment. No sooner had the news gone out than Deng Hong, Meng Ping, Wan Hao, and Liu Yue hurried to join. They had previously been under Ji Chengtian but had been captured by the Hope Battle Group and formed some relationships with them. With Ji Chengtian gone, these individuals had about a thousand men under their command, but it was insubstantial on its own and easily swallowed by other forces. Therefore, they had set their sights on the Hope Battle Group, hoping to join. By giving the nod, Bai Zhengli played right into their hands, and they rushed over to join as soon as they received the news. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 721: Lets go together at 386 Chapter 721: Let¡¯s go together at 386 Not only did Deng Hong and his cohort seize the opportunity early, many others who had been watching from the sidelines also rushed over after hearing the news, eager to join the Hope Battle Group. The people coming to seek refuge were a mixed bag of skills, but Bai Zhengli and Fang Jintang didn¡¯t mind. They first registered these newcomers and then gradually integrated them based on their abilities. Deng Hong and Wan Hao had both been captains under Ji Chengtian, each commanding a thousand men. Therefore, Bai Zhengli simply made them captains of the fifth and sixth combat teams. Deng Hong was, in comparison to Meng Ping, rather impulsive, so Meng Ping was made the captain and Deng Hong his deputy. Deng Hong felt unwilling to accept this, but he had changed a lot these past days. Although he was still unhappy with Meng Ping, his previous jealousy and murderous intent had diminished, and he had become much calmer. He dared not complain about Bai Zhengli¡¯s decision, so he privately challenged Meng Ping to a fight. It was a fierce battle, but after getting knocked down by Meng Ping due to his impulsiveness, he finally fully acknowledged Meng Ping¡¯s leadership. Wan Hao and Liu Yue¡¯s positions remained unchanged. Wan Hao had always been more composed than Liu Yue, who was more impulsive. Fortunately, Liu Yue respected Wan Hao. Seeing that Bai Zhengli hadn¡¯t disbanded their teams and had instead made them the sixth combat team, Liu Yue and Wan Hao held a high level of respect for Bai Zhengli. They believed that he was not only powerful but also had a magnanimity that was uncommon, far superior to Ji Chengtian. Besides them, other superpower users who came seeking refuge were also integrated gradually. Eventually, the Hope Battle Group gained the seventh to tenth combat teams, with capable leaders appointed as captains. As the integration of the combat teams was nearing its end, new factories, schools, hospitals, and research institutes were also established. Previously, it would have been impossible to accomplish all this in a short time, but now with the assistance of superpower users, these facilities were built within just a few days. Originally, under Ji Chengtian¡¯s management, Chengtian Base had become increasingly polarized between ordinary people and superpower users, casting a gloomy pall overall. Both ordinary people and superpower users were losing hope. One lived in fear, the other aimlessly, taking life one day at a time. When the Hope Battle Group first took over the Base, ordinary people, apart from cursing Ji Chengtian for getting what he deserved, had little good will toward the new leadership, their expectations long since worn away. But as new base rules were posted, recruitment notices were published, and facilities like factories, hospitals, and schools were established, hope started to blossom in their hearts, reanimating what was nearly numb. The entire Base seemed to gradually regain its vitality, becoming thriving and prosperous. However, the equipment needed for the factories, research institutes, and hospitals was still lacking and had to be obtained as soon as possible. Bai Zhengli and Fang Jintang placed great emphasis on this matter. Fortunately, there were hospitals and research institutes in the city. If they could get inside, they would surely be able to acquire the necessary equipment. As for the factories, there was an industrial zone near the city, which housed various factories; they could likely find the processing equipment there. After discussing with others, Bai Zhengli initially planned to assign this task to Bai Ye and the others. However, the newly joined captains of the six combat teams all showed interest, even proactively volunteering to Bai Zhengli to take on these missions. Bai Zhengli was hesitant at first, but after a glance from Bai Ye, he suddenly heard a voice in his mind, ¡°Let them do it. These people have just joined and are probably eager to prove themselves. Let them try and demonstrate their strength.¡± Bai Zhengli thought it made sense and agreed. He dispatched the six combat teams; four teams were responsible for entering the city to search for the equipment they needed, while the other two headed to the industrial zone near the city. However, to avoid danger on their way, he specifically assigned Fang Yuyang to lead a combat support group. Fang Yuyang, capable of flying with Wujin, was not much of a worry for Fang Yuxin. What concerned her more was a mountain range not far from the Base. This mountain range was covered by dense forests, with the possibility of harboring various mutant plants, which greatly interested her. Although her powers were already strong, if she could tame those mutant plants, it would not only enhance her abilities but many of these plants could have a range of extraordinary uses! Qian Sen and the others needed a variety of mutant plants for their research. Chapter 722: 386 go together_2 Chapter 722: 386 go together_2 Ever since she had arrived at the Base, she had taken a fancy to that mountain range and had been wanting to go in for a look. Unfortunately, she had been too busy the past few days, but now that she finally had some time, she wanted to seize the opportunity to enter. The mountain range was fraught with danger, and Fang Yuxin had no plans to bring others with her; she intended to go alone. However, just as she was about to set out with Angela, she encountered Bai Ye at the door. It seemed as though Bai Ye was waiting for her. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t help but feel surprised. Nonetheless, seeing Bai Ye improved her mood, and a faint smile spread across her face. They had both been too busy recently. Even though they lived across from one another, they barely had time to meet and spend time together; the only time they had together was probably during meals each day. This wasn¡¯t mealtime, however, and those who went out on missions had just left. Fang Yuxin thought Bai Ye would be busy too, but here he was, waiting for her at the door. Touched by this unexpected surprise, she quickly walked up to Bai Ye and blurted out, ¡°You¡¯re waiting for me? There¡¯s no issue, I hope?¡± ¡°Roar¡ª¡± Before Bai Ye could speak, Bai Er, lying at his feet, stood up and pounced towards Fang Yuxin. She swiftly dodged, leaving Bai Er to stumble into empty air. Lifting its huge head, Bai Er whimpered pitifully at Fang Yuxin. Bai Ye had assumed an especially cool pose, waiting for Fang Yuxin to approach. Seeing Bai Er misbehaving, he glared at it fiercely and warned, ¡°Bai Er, come back!¡± Bai Er glanced at him but pretended to see nothing and continued to whine affectionately at Fang Yuxin. This act of seeking attention provoked Angela, perched on Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder, to bristle with anger. Lowering her body, she issued a warning ¡°meow¡± at Bai Er. Bai Er was already familiar with Angela, but their encounters had been limited due to Angela¡¯s frequent stays inside the Qingmu Spirit Mansion. Hearing Angela¡¯s sound, Bai Er¡¯s golden eyes shone even brighter. It lifted its head, staring unblinkingly, and roared at her, seemingly trying to communicate. Angela turned her head away haughtily, ignoring Bai Er completely. Anxious, Bai Er suddenly stood upright on its hind legs, pushing its massive head towards Angela. At that moment, Angela had not transformed back into her original form; she was just the size of a palm, standing on Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder like a little kitten. Seeing Bai Er approaching, she stretched out her tiny paws, tiredly pushing at Bai Er¡¯s face. Yet her paws were so small compared to Bai Er¡¯s vast countenance that she couldn¡¯t budge him in the slightest. Watching Bai Er¡¯s large face approaching her own, Fang Yuxin felt unsettled but not frightened. She lifted a hand and patted its head, pushing it away. Bai Er didn¡¯t dare to roughhouse with Fang Yuxin. It obediently fell back to the ground and then whimpered pitifully at her. Unable to tolerate Bai Er any further, Bai Ye strode up to Fang Yuxin, shoving the clingy Bai Er away, while also glancing at Angela on her shoulder. He tentatively suggested, ¡°Bai Er seems to like her a lot. Why not let Angela play with it for a while?¡± He spoke, his eyes dangerously fixed on Angela, ready to lift her off Fang Yuxin¡¯s shoulder. Fang Yuxin glanced at him speechlessly, but after a moment¡¯s consideration, she asked Angela, ¡°Do you want to play with Bai Er?¡± Angela disdainfully eyed Bai Er, her blue eyes rotating contemplatively. Suddenly, she fixated on Bai Er¡¯s fluffy and round head without moving. Seeing Angela seemed interested, Fang Yuxin gently patted her head, encouragingly saying, ¡°Go on.¡± No sooner had she spoken than Angela leaped down, landing stably on Bai Er¡¯s round and fluffy head. She raised her little paws and gently stepped a few times on Bai Er¡¯s head before settling down comfortably. Bai Ye watched this scene with satisfaction. Then he suddenly remembered his purpose and said to Fang Yuxin, ¡°You were planning on going out, right?¡± Fang Yuxin, surprised, looked at him skeptically, ¡°How did you know?¡± Bai Ye pointed towards the distant mountain range, ¡°I noticed you¡¯ve been looking in that direction these past few days. I figured you might be interested in it, so I decided to take a chance.¡± Here he curled up the corners of his mouth, ¡°Looks like I¡¯m pretty lucky.¡± Fang Yuxin, seeing Bai Ye¡¯s beaming smile, so different from his usual impassive face, and thinking about how stern and cold he was with others, couldn¡¯t help but laugh. She knowingly asked, ¡°So? Is it that you plan on accompanying me in there?¡± ¡°Smart!¡± Bai Ye grabbed Fang Yuxin¡¯s hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go now! No one else, just the two of us. How does that sound?¡± Although entering the mountains was risky, Bai Ye was confident in his own abilities and had no worries about getting trapped and not being able to get out. Fang Yuxin looked at Bai Er and Angela for a moment and reminded him, ¡°We may not bring other people, but we have to bring them along.¡± Bai Ye looked at Bai Er with distaste but thought that if he and Fang Yuxin were venturing into the mountain, it would be impractical not to have a means of transportation. Only then, with some reluctance, did he nod, acknowledging the presence of Bai Er and Angela. As they left, Bai Ye felt a hint of excitement, but since there were others around, he maintained a solemn facade. Many people already knew of their Level 4 Superpower User status and held them in considerable awe. Seeing them leave the Base with serious expressions, they couldn¡¯t help but speculate¡ªwere these two about to undertake some mission? (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to give us your recommendation and monthly votes at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is the greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 723: Drool Chapter 723: Drool Bai Ye and Fang Yuxin hadn¡¯t brought anyone else with them on their mountain expedition, after all, the situation in the mountains was unclear and too dangerous. With the strength of just the two of them, they still had some confidence in venturing in, but if they brought others, they might become a burden. The forest was extremely dense, probably because the life force of wild plants was more tenacious. Only a small portion of the plants died from the Zombie Virus, with many plants surviving strongly, among which were many that had successfully mutated and grown abnormally tall. Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye¡¯s trip to the mountains this time mainly aimed to find and collect various mutant plants. When the two arrived at the foot of the mountain, Fang Yuxin had Angela revert to her original form and then rode on it, leaping into the dense and mysterious forest reminiscent of primeval woods. Bai Ye rode on Bai Er, following closely beside Fang Yuxin. Once they entered the forest, he held the Dragon Scale Sword in his hand, cautiously alert to the surroundings, fearing any sudden danger. The two swiftly weaved through the forest and indeed, Fang Yuxin discovered many mutant plants. These mutant plants all grew vigorously and were clearly different from the other plants around them. Moreover, many mutant plants did not possess attack power. Fang Yuxin couldn¡¯t tell which aspect the mutant plants had changed in, so she marked out a space in the Qingmu Spiritual Mansion, in an appropriate area, and transplanted some mutant plants for future observation. Whenever she collected plants, Bai Ye guarded her. Suddenly, Fang Yuxin discovered a huge mutant plant. It had enormous leaves on a single stem, with an umbrella-like cluster of red fruits at the top. The fruits were bright red and luscious, as big as longans, packed closely together, forming a ¡°large umbrella.¡± Fang Yuxin squinted her eyes¡ªthis thing looked very familiar! Then she turned her head to look at Bai Ye and exchanged a glance with him. Bai Ye nodded, ¡°It should be a Mutated Wild Ginseng, looking at the leaves, it¡¯s definitely not small!¡± Fang Yuxin also thought it must be the case. She stared straight at the Mutated Wild Ginseng for a while and then planned to approach. Bai Ye quickly grabbed her and frowned disapprovingly, ¡°Be careful! Why are you so reckless? Watch out for dangers around!¡± Fang Yuxin thought he was right; such a huge Mutated Wild Ginseng most likely had something guarding nearby. She must be careful! Otherwise, a careless move could mean disaster! Thus, she released her Spiritual Sense to survey the surroundings and also to check just how large the Mutated Wild Ginseng was. Upon checking, she couldn¡¯t help but gasp¡ªit was just too big! Ordinary ginseng was quite small, maybe not even as thick as a finger, but this Mutated Wild Ginseng had grown very large, almost the size of a person. Moreover, it had already developed a rather complete human-like form. Fang Yuxin was somewhat astonished. Could this Mutated Wild Ginseng have already awakened its spiritual wisdom? She was first surprised, then delighted. Qian Sen had mentioned to her previously that he wanted to research those mutated medicinal plants to see if they were more effective. It was a pity, however, that he was just an Ordinary Person, not to mention his inability to access mutated medicinal plants, even if he did manage to find them, he might not live to harvest them. Ever since hearing this, Fang Yuxin had kept it in mind, so before entering the mountains this time, she made a special effort to do some homework and found a book detailing various herbs. The book was color-printed, with clear photos of each herb, and Fang Yuxin memorized all of it in her head, paying close attention ever since she entered the mountain. After the apocalypse, although the majority of humanity did not manage to Awaken as superpower users, their bodies were still affected by the Zombie Virus, resulting in most medicines losing their effectiveness. Those medicines were completely ineffective for superpower users, and while they still had some effect on Ordinary People, it was weak unless one took a large dosage to see results. After discovering this, Qian Sen had always wanted to research mutant plants and develop new medicines with medical experts. Unfortunately, he never had the chance. Initially, he stayed in a small base, but regrettably, the leader of the small base was narrow-minded and shortsighted, and there were no research institutes within the base either. Later, he finally made it to the Beishi Base, originally hoping to showcase his talents, only to find that the Beishi Base was controlled by the Six Major Forces. The competition among these forces was quite fierce. Moreover, whether it was the Bai Family, the Qu Family, or Zhao Qiankun, they all held malice towards them, even plotting to kill them! Chapter 639 - 345 reasons Chapter 639: 345 reasons Through the lens of his telescope, Zhao Qiankun watched Fang Yuxin, who was riding on Angela¡¯s back from afar. In her right hand, she held a long sword with a blade that was very long, showing a deep blood-red color. The blade was double-edged with long blood grooves running along it. With just one glance, Zhao knew that this sword was anything but ordinary and that it was definitely an instrument of great evil! Zhao Qiankun couldn¡¯t help but wonder, how did Fang Yuxin come to possess such a thing? Could it be an ancient sword? Indeed, there was a sense of antiquity to it as if it were a relic. He watched Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye as they fought together among the zombies. They seemed fearless in the face of death, and those horrifying zombies were powerless against her, cut down as easily as if she were slicing vegetables. Zhao Qiankun felt bitter inside. He was quite chauvinistic and had always preferred gentle and kind women. The reason he fell for Fang Yuxin in the first place, and couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her, was because he thought she was both gentle and kind. Plus, she was exceptionally beautiful, fulfilling all his fantasies about women. So when Fang Yuxin insisted on joining this deadly mission, he thought she was being ridiculously reckless, not taking her own life seriously. What made him even angrier was that she did it all for Bai Ye! He had loved her for so many years, longing for her constantly, yet she was willing to die for Bai Ye! How could he not be furious? But what he had never anticipated was seeing such a scene when he caught up from behind! The delicate Fang Yuxin he knew possessed such capability! Wasn¡¯t she a Wood Element Level 2 Superpower User? Could it be that she also awakened a Power Superpower? Zhao Qiankun was filled with doubt, and alongside the doubt, a sense of betrayal and anger! Especially when he saw Fang Yuxin riding side by side with Bai Ye, the rage in his heart almost burned away all his reason! He glared ahead with a dark expression, looking at Bai Ye perched atop Bai Er, wishing he could slay him with his own hands! Fang Yuxin was stunningly beautiful, and Bai Ye was equally striking. Angela was noble and beautiful, and Bai Er was mighty and imposing. When Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye rode side by side on their Mutant Beasts, they looked so harmonious that they seemed a match made in heaven. This image pierced deeply into Zhao Qiankun¡¯s eyes. His gaze was so intense; the murderous intent in his eyes was almost palpable, impossible to ignore even for the most obtuse, let alone the keenly perceptive Bai Ye. He, too, watched Zhao Qiankun from afar with an expressionless face, betraying neither joy nor anger. Still, Fang Yuxin just knew that Bai Ye was furious, probably to the point of being incandescent, hence the lack of any visible signs. Fang Yuxin cast a worried glance at him and whispered a caution, "Don¡¯t be impulsive." They had their suspicions about Zhao Qiankun, but they couldn¡¯t be sure what ace he held up his sleeve. Judging by the aura Zhao displayed, his strength seemed on par with a Level 4 Superpower User. Add to that his mysterious trump card, and they were uncertain whether they could kill him together. The death of Zhao Qiankun wouldn¡¯t mean much, but he was in control of the entire Qiankun Mercenary Group, and many followed his commands without question. Even if Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye could indeed kill him, acting rashly would only provoke resentment among these individuals! With the Six Major Forces each governing themselves within Beishi Base, and countless smaller factions with big ambitions underneath, not to mention Bai Zhengyi lurking with intent, killing Zhao Qiankun could throw the entire Beishi Base into chaos, leading to untold casualties! Besides, they weren¡¯t even sure they could kill Zhao Qiankun. Acting now, if they failed to kill him, they would not only raise the alarm unnecessarily but also end up at a disadvantage while drawing the ire of the Qiankun Mercenary Corps and giving Bai Zhengyi, the hypocrite, an opportunity to benefit. Thus, Fang Yuxin urged Bai Ye to stay calm, fearing he would suddenly start a fight with Zhao Qiankun. Bai Ye was angry, both because Zhao Qiankun and Bai Zhengyi were willing to sacrifice so many lives for their own selfish reasons, and because Zhao Qiankun deliberately used such drugs to frame them while harboring improper thoughts towards Fang Yuxin¡ªa scumbag through and through! However, Bai Ye was not one to act rashly. With just a reminder from Fang Yuxin, he quickly regained his composure and then, pretending nothing had happened, called out to Zhao Qiankun across the distance, "Mr. Zhao! Since you¡¯re here, why not join us!" It was clear he was trying to drag Zhao Qiankun into the fray. Chapter 726: HARVEST 388 Chapter 726: HARVEST 388 Bai Ye¡¯s sword strike had been fierce, and he had not anticipated that he would sever the mutated viper into two sections. The snake¡¯s head, as large as an adult man¡¯s fist, fell to the ground, its mouth wide open, though it was no longer capable of spewing venom. As for the remaining venomous fog, the two were not concerned. Fang Yuxin used a cleaning technique, and a breeze dispersed the dispersing toxic mist. After deliberation, Fang Yuxin gathered the snake¡¯s body and head in a jade box, planning to have it studied after returning to the base. Then, she and Fang Yuyang continued to search the forest for their prey. Besides mutant plants, the forest was teeming with mutant beasts and mutated birds, and occasionally, zombies appeared. The forest was vast and complex in terrain. Although they occasionally encountered zombies and mutant beasts, they were not intimidated and easily dealt with them. Fang Yuxin preserved all the mutant beasts¡¯ bodies, while Lan Re and Red Powder ended up with the zombies¡¯ bodies. The pair advanced deeper, encountering exciting yet unhazardous situations, reaping a significant bounty. They didn¡¯t only harvest various mutant medicinal plants, but also numerous bodies of mutant beasts, which could potentially yield useful findings at the research institute. The deeper they went, the quirkier or more valuable the mutant plants they discovered became. Fang Yuxin¡¯s bounty grew significantly, and time flew by swiftly until it was evening. Bai Ye noticed that it was getting late, and tapped Fang Yuxin on the shoulder, reminding her, "Xinxin, it¡¯s getting late, we should head back." Just as Fang Yuxin prepared to leave with Bai Ye, she discovered a grove of mutated pine trees. These pines were extraordinarily tall due to mutation, reaching hundreds of meters. Their trunks were straight, thick, and tough, and the needle-like leaves even bore many pine cones, which made Fang Yuxin quite envious. She hesitated for a moment, then threw a stone at one of the mutated pine trees. As the stone flew halfway, the needle-like leaves rapidly shot out, transforming into hard spikes, turning her thrown stone into a hedgehog. Seeing this, Fang Yuxin grew even more covetous. The attack power of these mutated pine trees seemed quite impressive; planting them around the base would negate any worry about zombies or mutated creatures! The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea; the challenge was convincing these mutated pine trees. She decided to communicate directly with them using her thoughts. Luckily, as a Pure Wood Spirit Body with Wood Element True Essence, she managed to negotiate terms with the mutated pine trees. The pine trees possessed some spiritual wisdom, though not high. Their demands were simple, needing Wood Energy and the bodies of zombies as nourishment. In exchange, they agreed to obey Fang Yuxin¡¯s commands and protect the base. Once the terms were settled, all the giant mutated pine trees transformed into mini versions, which Fang Yuxin collected. After securing the pine trees, she no longer lingered and honestly followed Bai Ye out of the woods. They ran swiftly, with Fang Yuxin using her spiritual sense to avoid trouble along the way; thus, their return took little time. Still, by the time they returned to the base, it was already around 7 p.m. On their return, Fang Yuxin did not specifically minimize Angela but rode it back to the base, while Bai Ye similarly rode on Bai Er, drawing many glances. People observing their imposing manner atop the mutant beasts couldn¡¯t help but also desire to possess a mutant beast. When the duo arrived home, dinner was just about ready, and everyone was waiting for them, which made them feel somewhat embarrassed. Because the two families were close, despite living opposite each other, they usually dined together to foster closeness. Entering the dining hall, Fang Yuxin instinctively glanced at Fang Yuyang first and saw his normal complexion, indicating he wasn¡¯t injured, which relieved her¡ªindeed, she knew Fang Yuyang¡¯s capabilities would prevent any mishaps. However, despite her assurance, she still asked, "Brother, did the mission go smoothly? No issues?" Fang Yuyang nodded, "Don¡¯t worry, the mission went very smoothly, no problems at all. But what about you, Xinxin? Why weren¡¯t you at the base today?" With no outsiders present, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t hide the truth and responded, "Oh, I had some free time, so I went with Bai Ye to the nearby forest for a stroll and found quite a few good things. I¡¯ll show them to you after dinner." Seeing her smile so happily, the others knew their excursion had been fruitful, which lifted their spirits. Bai Zhengli and Fang Jintang had been busy with the base these past few days, but now they relaxed considerably. Bai Zhengli even joked with Fang Yuxin, "Oh? Is that so? Then I must take a good look later." As they talked, Shui Rou and Qu Qianhe carried the dishes out from the kitchen, prompting Fang Yuxin to hurriedly assist. Soon, the dining table was filled, and with Fang Yuxin present, they had plenty of food and fuel, allowing them to dine lavishly. While eating, Fang Yuxin suddenly remembered the small river she encountered in the forest and pondered if she should take the opportunity to bring out some fish, shrimp, and crab later, claiming they were caught from the river. Thinking this, she purposely turned to glance at Bai Ye, trusting he wouldn¡¯t betray her! Bai Ye, who was eating heartily, suddenly caught Fang Yuxin¡¯s intense gaze and was momentarily taken aback, feeling a bit nervous¡ªwhy was Xinxin staring at him like that? (To be continued. If you enjoy this series, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 727: 389 neither loss nor gain in trading Chapter 727: 389 neither loss nor gain in trading After dinner, Fang Yuxin went into detail about everything she had obtained that day. Moreover, she deliberately brought out a lot of fish, shrimp, and crabs, claiming she had caught them together with Bai Ye in the forest. While speaking, she deliberately glared at Bai Ye with a warning look to make sure he wouldn¡¯t deny it. Bai Ye, of course, understood clearly that although they had encountered a small river in the forest that indeed contained fish, neither of them had actually caught any. The fish, shrimp, and crabs that Fang Yuxin had brought out most certainly hadn¡¯t been scooped up from that little box but were likely from her mysterious space. He glanced at them, noting that the fish, shrimp, and crabs were all very fresh, and were even jumping around lively when taken out. He began to speculate that inside Fang Yuxin¡¯s mysterious space, there might be something like a fishpond. However, since Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t want to reveal it, he naturally wouldn¡¯t blurt it out, not even to his own parents. After all, this was Fang Yuxin¡¯s secret. Fang Yuxin had brought out these fish, shrimp, and crabs primarily to offer a change of taste for her family while also sharing some with others. However, upon seeing them, Shui Rou suddenly said, ¡°Wow! You¡¯ve caught so many? How can we eat them all? Why not set up a fishpond to raise them?¡± On hearing this, everyone else suddenly thought it was a good idea. With so many fish, shrimp, and crabs, even if they were distributed, they would be gone after one meal. But if they were cultivated, maybe more people could enjoy them! Upon hearing this, Fang Yuxin started pondering that if she could get the aquaculture business going, perhaps she could raise more creatures in the future. After all, her space contained quite a few animals; if she could find a way to bring these animals out, they could be gradually raised at the base. However, though they had ideas, actually carrying them out wasn¡¯t something that could be done in a day or two; given that they had only a few animals on hand, developing to scale would take time! Bai Zhengli and Fang Jintang were both men of action, and the very next morning, they started a fish farm in the name of the Hope Battle Group. With superpower users involved, whether it was fishponds or standardized livestock farms, everything was completed within a day; the only thing left was to find creatures to raise. This was the tricky part, as starting with a large number of animals would definitely arouse suspicion, so it had to be done gradually. Fortunately, the fish, shrimp, and crab situation was relatively smooth, as they could claim they were fished up from the river. After all, the fish farm was operated by their own people, and outsiders couldn¡¯t see exactly what was going on. Luckily, the factory, hospital, school, and research institute were all progressing smoothly; the equipment had arrived yesterday and, once installed, had already started working. The only problem was that the electricity consumption was quite high, and if this continued, alternative ways to generate electricity would have to be considered. In summary, although they now had a base, there was still a lot to do to develop it. After planting those mutated pine trees around the Protection Wall, Fang Yuxin had essentially added an extra layer of protection to the base. At first, everyone was apprehensive about the towering mutant pine trees, which reached a hundred meters in height, worrying about being attacked, until they later discovered that the mutant pine trees wouldn¡¯t attack them, which allowed them to breathe easier. The Wood Element Superpower Users in the base looked at these mutated pine trees with envy. They had already become accustomed to the role of Healers, so the Skills they had manifested were mostly related to healing and growth promotion. Everyone had subconsciously assumed that the abilities of the Wood Element revolved solely around healing and stimulating plant growth, until Fang Yuxin appeared and completely shattered this fixed mindset. Upon witnessing or hearing about Fang Yuxin¡¯s methods, everyone naturally envied her and hoped to have a mutant plant of their own. However, having become accustomed to lacking combat abilities, the idea of them going out to look for Mutant Plants was tantamount to courting death, so even though they were extremely envious, they dared not leave the base. That was until they saw those mutated pine trees suddenly appear outside the Protection Wall, and a strong desire instantly surged within them! The outside of the base was too far, and they dared not venture out to search for Mutant Plants, but these mutated pine trees were right under their noses! How could they settle for not trying? However, they were somewhat wary of Fang Yuxin¡¯s abilities and status and refrained from using sneaky methods. They had wanted to approach Fang Yuxin directly but were worried about angering her. So after much deliberation, they turned to Liu Zhenglin, hoping he could help inquire. Chapter 728: 389 neither loss nor gain in trading_2 Chapter 728: 389 neither loss nor gain in trading_2 Liu Zhenglin had just become a Wood-element Level 1 superpower user. Although his power was minimal, he had awakened too late compared to those who had awakened at the start of the apocalypse, and was lagging far behind them. If it weren¡¯t for Fang Yuxin giving him some Wood Element Crystal Cores in recognition of his contributions, Liu Zhenglin¡¯s talent wouldn¡¯t have improved so quickly, and it would have taken him a long time to advance to Level 1 superpower user. He was grateful to Fang Yuxin and also stayed in the logistics team¡¯s medical group, which was directly under Fang Yuxin¡¯s command. For this reason, other people came to him, asking him to help mediate. Liu Zhenglin was truly grateful to Fang Yuxin, so naturally, he didn¡¯t want others plotting against her. After these people approached him, he directly informed Fang Yuxin. He briefly mentioned their requests, and without waiting for Fang Yuxin to speak, he hurriedly said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, I¡¯ll go reject them right now.¡± He thought about how Fang Yuxin had risked dangers to enter the forest and how much effort she had spent to subdue those mutated pine trees; how could she easily let them go? Those people were really taking too much advantage! However, to his surprise, Fang Yuxin didn¡¯t mind. She waved her hand and said, ¡°No need. Go tell them that those mutated pine trees are not contracted. If they want to contract them, they should figure it out themselves. However, those mutated pine trees are quite temperamental; tell them to be careful. It¡¯s best to have a combat superpower user accompany them to avoid getting hurt.¡± ¡°Also, to subdue those mutated pine trees, there¡¯s no special method needed; just input Wood Element superpower. If the mutated pine trees are willing to contract, they can just do so. If the contract is successful, they just have to hand over the corresponding Crystal Cores to take them away. If you want, you can try it too.¡± Fang Yuxin said this and then simply took out a sheet of paper and wrote down a price list. She handed it to Liu Zhenglin, leaving him to handle this matter entirely. Liu Zhenglin looked at the prices, found them to be quite high, but realized that any somewhat capable Wood Element superpower user would definitely be able to afford them. After considering it carefully, buying a mutated pine tree with strong attack power was definitely a good deal for these people! So, he carefully stored the paper, nodded at Fang Yuxin to assure her he would handle this issue well, and then left. After he left, Fang Yuxin smiled meaningfully. The Wood Element superpower users in the base lacked strength; it¡¯s no wonder they couldn¡¯t enter the forest given its hazard level. Besides, you couldn¡¯t expect those Wood Element users who lacked combat abilities to go on a suicide mission, and she wasn¡¯t about to force them. However, she never made a losing deal. If these people wanted the mutated pine trees she¡¯d sourced, how could they do so without paying a price? Fang Yuxin thought and smiled, feeling not at all at a loss with this deal! Originally, the contract she made with those mutated pine trees was to supply them with Wood Energy, but she was just one person and couldn¡¯t possibly supply it all on her own. Initially, she thought about how to propose to the other Wood Element superpower users to periodically provide some Wood Energy to the mutated pine trees, worrying that they might disagree. Who knew that at this critical moment, these people would start having those thoughts and even approached Liu Zhenglin. It was like someone bringing a pillow to her while she was dozing off! When Bai Ye arrived, he saw Fang Yuxin sitting on the couch, smiling with her eyes slightly squinted into beautiful crescents, and suddenly felt his heart skip a beat. He quickly walked over to Fang Yuxin, checked that there was no one around, quickly bent down, and kissed her squinted eyes, then blushed and sat stiffly beside her, asking somewhat guiltily, ¡°Xinxin, what are you smiling about? What¡¯s making you so happy?¡± Fang Yuxin squinted her eyes dangerously at him, feeling suddenly that Bai Ye had become even more handsome. Of course, his features hadn¡¯t changed; they were the same as before. It was just that his aura had changed, probably because of his cultivation. Seeing him, Fang Yuxin also felt a bit itchy. Thinking about this outstanding man beside her, who liked her and completely belonged to her, her heart grew more excited. Thinking of Bai Ye¡¯s recent kiss, she couldn¡¯t help but lean over, wrap her arms around his neck, quickly kissed him on the mouth, and then dominantly declared, ¡°Remember, you¡¯re mine! Don¡¯t go flirting outside, hear me!¡± Bai Ye, taken by surprise by her sudden move, widened his eyes in disbelief, not sure if he was more shocked by her action or her words just now. Seeing that he hadn¡¯t responded, Fang Yuxin squinted dangerously, grabbed his collar with her hand, and demanded, ¡°What? Do you have an objection?¡± Bai Ye quickly shook his head; although he didn¡¯t understand why Fang Yuxin suddenly spoke this way, his heart felt very sweet. However, secretly recalling the various attentions Fang Yuxin had garnered along their journey, he couldn¡¯t help but say sourly, ¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t flirt outside either!¡± Fang Yuxin frowned, ¡°When have I ever flirted?¡± Bai Ye immediately complained, ¡°You don¡¯t know how many people sneak looks at you every time you¡¯re outside! I really want to beat them all up!¡± Saying this, Bai Ye looked at his fists, appearing very serious as if he indeed planned to do just that. Fang Yuxin was stunned for a moment and said discontentedly, ¡°Clearly, more people are looking at you!¡± (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support would be my greatest motivation. Mobile users should read on m.qidian.com.) Chapter 729 - 390 Grain Crisis Chapter 729: 390 Grain Crisis Ever since those mutated pine trees had appeared outside the base, the overall security of the base instantly increased several levels. Those mutated pine trees were simply too tall; the protection wall of the base was only ten meters high, yet these mutated pines stood a full ninety meters taller than the wall! If there was ever a zombie group or a mutant beast attack, before the superpower users within the base had a chance to act, as long as the zombies entered the warning range of the mutated pine trees, the trees would shoot out pine needles with a "whoosh whoosh whoosh" as if they were injected with chicken blood, turning the zombies and mutant beasts into porcupines. Not only the land-based zombies and mutant beasts were dealt with in this manner, but the skyborne zombie birds and mutated birds were treated with the same disregard. Once they approached within the warning range of the mutated pine trees, they would end up being skewered into porcupines as well. Since receiving Fang Yuxin¡¯s reply, some Wood Element superpower users began attempting to contract with these mutated pine trees. Unfortunately, these mutated pines had originally received Wood Element True Essence from Fang Yuxin and looked down upon the Wood Element Superpower input by the superpower users, becoming quite picky. At first, they accepted the overtures of the Wood Element superpower users, but flatly refused to enter into contracts, proving to be quite temperamental. Because of this, some people began to have second thoughts, but still, many continued with determination. Gradually, these Wood Element superpower users became smarter, realizing that timely assistance amid crisis was more appreciated by the trees than adding luxuries during peace. So, whenever there was a zombie group or mutant beast attack, they would specifically wait for the mutated pine trees to be weakened from unleashing their big move before giving them the Wood Element Superpower. Over time, these mutated pine trees gradually understood that Fang Yuxin would no longer provide them with Wood Element True Essence, so the more amiable ones agreed to contracts with the superpower users they favored. However, there were still many stubborn or more cunning mutated pine trees that adamantly refused to relent. But, as these mutated pines contributed significantly, they ultimately were allotted a share of the few crystal cores obtained from hunting. These crystal cores, however, weren¡¯t given directly to the mutated pines but to the Wood Element superpower users responsible for supplying them with their superpower. It could be said that, although not every mutated pine tree had a contract with a corresponding superpower user, there was still a continuous flow of Wood Element Superpower being fed to them. The initial proposal had come from Fang Yuxin; after all, the mutated pine trees had played an indisputable role in protecting the base, and it was only right to not withhold their share of the crystal cores. Moreover, though they could rapidly regrow new needles after shooting them, the expenditure was significant, and they needed compensation. As a Level 4 Wood Element Superpower User herself, and her point being reasonable, no one objected. Hence, a virtuous cycle gradually formed. As time went by, more and more mutated pine trees agreed to contracts. But rather than keeping them with themselves, the base¡¯s Wood Element superpower users chose to let them stay outside the protection wall, continuing their duty to guard the base¡¯s security. Meanwhile, these masters also earned quite a stockpile of crystal cores thanks to the frequent merits of the mutated pine trees. Although the initial price quoted by Fang Yuxin was quite high, as Liu Zhenglin had speculated, any Wood Element superpower user with a bit of strength could afford it. The first successful contracts were with Third-level Wood Element Superpower Users, after all higher-level superpower users had more refined superpowers within their bodies, which were more likely to appeal to the mutated pine trees. At the same time, these high-level superpower users were not short of crystal cores, so after a successful contract, they handed over the crystal cores to Fang Yuxin. Those lower-ranked and less affluent Wood Element superpower users had almost given up, but after Fang Yuxin made that compensation proposal, they gradually saw the benefits and persisted, eventually entering into successful contracts and delivering the crystal cores to Fang Yuxin. As a result, Fang Yuxin made quite a fortune from these mutated pine trees. With the days passing, she and Bai Ye made several excursions, managing to find many animals to raise in the farms without arousing suspicion, thereby developing the Hope Battle Group¡¯s fisheries and livestock industries. Moreover, once food processing plants within the base started operating, various types of ready-to-eat convenience foods began appearing one after another, significantly easing everyone¡¯s burdens. Chapter 730: 390 Food Crisis_2 Chapter 730: 390 Food Crisis_2 After all, there was a limited amount of fuel, and many households simply couldn¡¯t start a fire, making food a problem. With Bai Zhengli¡¯s reform, the situation in the base gradually improved. Not only factories, schools, hospitals, research institutes, and breeding farms entered the right track, but agriculture also gradually developed and yielded a large amount of food. As late autumn approached and the weather grew colder, the number of zombies and mutant beasts outside began to decrease, and no one knew where they had hidden. Without their threats, the people in the base no longer had to go out daily for tasks and could finally take a break. Long Province was colder than other places; as soon as late autumn arrived, it began to snow. Large greenhouses were built on the farms, and with the enhancement of Wood Element Superpower Users, the crops inside didn¡¯t have to worry too much, and the animals in the breeding farms were mostly doing well. After fall, Hope Team along with other powers within the base cleaned up the nearby urban areas of the base, thus expanding its territory. Not only could everyone live more comfortably, but they also found a large amount of thick cotton quilts and cotton-padded jackets to distribute. The base seemed to be getting better and better, almost becoming a utopia in the apocalypse. However, not all bases were as lucky as Hope Base. There were six small bases near Hope Base; except for Peace Base, which had sworn allegiance early and mixed with Hope Base, the remaining five bases, harboring doubts, always refused to bow to Hope Base. Although Bai Zhengli knew that these small bases were not in ideal situations, he had no intention of pleading to help them and thus kept his forces inactive. Even with the support of Hope Base, Peace Base had gradually developed, yet they remained stubborn and refused to yield. Fortunately, after fall the temperature began to drop, and the activities of zombies and mutant beasts weren¡¯t as frequent, allowing these small bases to barely survive without being breached by zombies or mutant beasts. These bases didn¡¯t have to worry about food, and though their situation was quite worse compared to Hope Base and Peace Base, it was still slightly better than many other bases. Some bases were even about to run out of food, and under the threat of food shortages, many people had no choice but to leave their bases and migrate elsewhere. The Market Base where Fang Yuxin and her group had stayed was also in an unfavorable situation. Market City was an economically developed city with a high population density. Thus, after the apocalypse, there were many zombies and survivors, but few places to live. When Fang Yuxin and her group left, the situation in Market Base wasn¡¯t at its worst. At that time, there were still quite a few reserves of food and other living supplies, and there was no need to worry about drinking water, which was entirely provided by Water Ability Superpower Users. However, as days passed, even with the large amount of food for several hundred thousand people in Market Base, it wasn¡¯t enough. In a decent conference room, three generals of the base, along with other influential and powerful leaders of various factions, were all present. However, everyone¡¯s face looked grim. Generals Li and Song, who were originally spirited, now looked worn and aged. Even Qiu Hongsheng, who had awakened a superpower due to the Elemental Crystal, bore a very heavy expression, as did others present; the situation was not good. They were facing a very severe problem¡ªthe food was not enough! Before the apocalypse, Market City was quite developed, but not an agricultural city. After the apocalypse, although people gathered quite a few resources, now, they were starting to run out. If not for the farm managed in the base and the enhancement of Wood Element Superpower Users, they might have already run out of food. Since General Song was the oldest and most senior, he asked, ¡°What are your thoughts? Let¡¯s discuss. The situation in the base is not optimistic. We must figure out a solution; we can¡¯t just sit here and wait for death.¡± As soon as he spoke, someone suggested, ¡°Why not buy food from other bases?¡± As soon as this was mentioned, someone bluntly said, ¡°Which base should we go to buy food from? Which base has enough food now? Even if they have enough, why would they sell to us?¡± Then another person dissatisfiedly retorted, ¡°If the food in the base isn¡¯t enough and we don¡¯t seek a solution from other bases, what else can we do? Surely we can¡¯t just conjure up food, can we?¡± Following that, various arguments ensued. Qiu Yiming sat next to Qiu Hongsheng, wearing a sullen expression, silently observing everything without saying a word. Ever since Fang Yuxin left Market Base, his expression had never been good, always gloomy, and even his gaze when looking at others was chilling, resembling a lonely yet ferocious wolf. Qiu Hongsheng secretly glanced at his expression and couldn¡¯t stop sighing inwardly. If he had known things would develop to this stage, he would never have let Zhou Fanghua act recklessly! Qiu Hongsheng couldn¡¯t understand how things had reached this point. The Fang Family was perhaps too impulsive! In the apocalypse, apart from the safe base, everywhere else was full of zombies. How dangerous would it be for them to go out? But he mostly just thought about it and dared not mention anything related to the Fang Family, especially Fang Yuxin, in front of Qiu Yiming! Because of this issue, the normally filial Qiu Yiming even had a big argument with Zhou Fanghua, and their mother-son relationship had not eased since then, so he definitely didn¡¯t want to take that risk! Listening to the noise of others arguing, his annoyance grew. Such meetings had been held more than once, but unfortunately, no good solutions had been put forth, and each session was accompanied by various arguments, making it extremely tiresome. He had initially thought to just muddle through, but suddenly, the ever-silent Qiu Yiming spoke up, saying, ¡°I plan to go to Beishi Base. The situation there should be much better than here.¡± Qiu Hongsheng was startled by his words! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.) Chapter 731: 391 The man of Qi fears the sky falling Chapter 731: 391 The man of Qi fears the sky falling Walking out of the conference room, Qiu Hongsheng kept looking at his son with concern. After hesitating for a moment, he still couldn¡¯t help himself and leaned in to ask worriedly, ¡°Yiming... this place is too far from Beishi City, and who knows how many dangers there might be on the road. Do you really plan on going?¡± After speaking, he carefully watched Qiu Yiming. Seeing that his son was unwilling to utter a word, his worry deepened. In truth, to resolve the food crisis, it wasn¡¯t necessary to go all the way to Beishi City. Just not far from Market, there were vast fields. Of course, he knew that except for the safely guarded fields within the Base, other lands were most likely already abandoned and their conditions, corrupted by the zombies, were unknown. In Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s view, going to the Beishi Base was not a good idea at all. Even if it was better developed there, after their arrival, they would be subject to others¡¯ control. Better to stay in the Market Base where they had more freedom. However, currently faced with a food crisis, they must find a way to secure food! Qiu Yiming had been silent until he returned to his own place. Then he suddenly said, ¡°The Market Base is no longer a place to stay; it¡¯s not a place for us to linger.¡± Upon hearing this, Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s face changed drastically. He looked at Qiu Yiming, puzzled, ¡°What do you mean by that? Why can¡¯t we stay for long? Don¡¯t just leave me hanging... Yiming, tell me the truth, have you discovered something?¡± As Qiu Hongsheng spoke, he kept looking at Qiu Yiming, only to see Qiu Yiming staring out of the window. He felt puzzled and followed Qiu Yiming¡¯s gaze outside, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary. The same old houses and streets; nothing was amiss. He looked again at Qiu Yiming, and suddenly realized the depth in Qiu Yiming¡¯s gaze. He wasn¡¯t just looking at the houses and streets outside the window, but... at something far beyond. Qiu Hongsheng couldn¡¯t understand what his son was looking at and thought he was thinking about Fang Yuxin again; this wasn¡¯t a pleasant thought for him. Recalling what Qiu Yiming had said during the meeting, his resentment towards the departed Fang Yuxin grew even heavier, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Yiming, what did you mean just now? Make yourself clear!¡± Only then did Qiu Yiming withdraw his gaze to look at Qiu Hongsheng, saying, ¡°Dad, have you never considered that nowadays the animals on land and birds in the sky are mutating. So... what about those fish in the water?¡± Qiu Hongsheng shuddered momentarily, but after giving it some thought, he frowned and said, ¡°I understand your implication, but... aren¡¯t we worrying without cause? What does it matter if creatures in the water can mutate? They can¡¯t come on land. How could they pose a threat?¡± Qiu Yiming¡¯s lips slowly curled into a cold smile, ¡°What if the sea level rises? Market is right by the sea, and it¡¯s very likely that the fish there have already mutated. Once the sea level rises and submerges Market, the Market Base will have no chance of surviving!¡± Qiu Hongsheng still found it hard to believe. If that were true, then the situation would be terrifying! Could such a horrifying disaster truly happen? Qiu Yiming saw the hesitation in him and added more fuel to the fire, ¡°Dad, haven¡¯t you noticed? There have been a particularly large number of natural disasters this year, especially after the apocalypse; several disasters have occurred already. Although Market has not been affected yet, once the sea level rises, Market could very well be submerged. By then, no one here will be spared!¡± Listening to his words, Qiu Hongsheng¡¯s expression became increasingly grim. Finally, he sighed and said, ¡°You¡¯ve wanted to go to Beishi for a while now, haven¡¯t you? You didn¡¯t dare before because you weren¡¯t confident in your power, but now that you are a Third-level Peak superpower user, you want to go to Beishi City, right?¡± Qiu Yiming, without speaking, made his meaning quite evident; he indeed wanted to go to Beishi City. Fang Yuxin had originally left with Bai Ye, so she must have gone to Beishi City with him. This meant that as long as he went there, he would surely find Fang Yuxin! Now, his feelings for Fang Yuxin had become extremely complex; intense love and hatred intertwined, making him want to find Fang Yuxin and keep her by his side, yet at the same time, wishing he could destroy her himself! So, he was eager to leave the Market Base for the Beishi Base. However, the words he had just spoken to Qiu Hongsheng were not concocted merely for the sake of going to Beishi Base; he truly was worried! Market was close to the sea; if the sea level rose and submerged the Market Base, there would be no hope for the people inside to survive. Chapter 732 - 391 The man of Qi fears the sky falling_2 Chapter 732: 391 The man of Qi fears the sky falling_2 But Beishi City was different, the situation was much better compared to Market. Moreover, there was the Bai Family. He believed that with the strength of the Bai Family, they probably had already taken control of the entire Beishi Base, and with this support, he didn¡¯t need to worry anymore! Although the Bai Ye he had always wanted to kill was a member of the Bai Family, Bai Ye was born into a collateral branch and was never liked by the main lineage¡¯s Bai Zhengyi and Bai Yi, while his relationship with Bai Yi was much better. So, he was absolutely sure that once he arrived at Beishi Base, Bai Yi would definitely not stop him from killing Bai Ye! Regrettably, after the apocalypse, all bases had never managed to restore communication, so information was incredibly blocked. Qiu Yiming was completely unaware of the situation at Beishi Base, nor could he imagine that someone like Zhao Qiankun would emerge out of nowhere, or even leverage his cards to grow increasingly powerful, becoming a force even the Bai Family could not rival! What Qiu Yiming could never have anticipated was that Fang Yuxin had indeed followed Bai Ye to Beishi Base initially, but she didn¡¯t stay at Beishi Base long before she left for the farther Long Province and even established her own base there, transforming it into a haven amidst the apocalypse. He had naively thought that Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye would always stay at Beishi Base, so now that he had gained strength, he could no longer sit still and planned to personally go to Beishi Base to find Fang Yuxin and his nemesis Bai Ye. Qiu Hongsheng knew exactly what he was really obsessed about, unlike Qiu Yiming, who did not hold much fondness for the Bai Family. Though the Bai Family had helped him a lot during his years in the military, the more they helped, the more he felt looked down upon, as if everything was given by the Bai Family and he had no ability of his own. This matter had always been a thorn in his throat, but now with Qiu Yiming insisting, he found himself unable to say much to dissuade him. No matter how much he was dissatisfied with the Fang Family or even Fang Yuxin, it was Zhou Fanghua who played a big part in their decision to leave the Market Base. The actions of Zhou Fanghua were not so secretive; hence, when the base¡¯s people realized that the Fang Family had all left, the incident was investigated. Because of this, the entire Qiu Family became the laughingstock of the base, and many were dissatisfied in private that they had driven away the only Second-level Wood Element Superpower User, Fang Yuxin, at the time. If it weren¡¯t for Qiu Yiming¡¯s sudden breakthrough to second-level and their discovery of the Elemental Crystal secret, which enhanced their power, their position might have been at risk! Over time, as Fang Yuxin¡¯s departure grew longer and more Second-level Wood Element Superpower Users appeared in the base, coupled with Qiu Yiming¡¯s continually increasing strength, people gradually forgot about the incident, and the Qiu Family¡¯s power gradually developed, becoming one of the three major forces in Market Base and even overpowering the other two major forces. All these were credits to Qiu Yiming! So, although Qiu Hongsheng was displeased with his excessive obsession with Fang Yuxin, when facing his son, he still couldn¡¯t bring himself to rebuke him. Now that Qiu Yiming had proposed to leave Market for Beishi Base, Qiu Hongsheng felt uneasy thinking about the potential dangers on the road, forever unable to make up his mind. Qiu Yiming didn¡¯t pressure him, simply saying, "No matter what, the food issue must be resolved first. Since there¡¯s no surplus food in Market, let¡¯s look in other nearby cities, we¡¯re bound to find food." Previously, the density of zombies was too high, and people in the base dared not venture too far from the base, nor could they break through the zombies¡¯ blockade to reach other cities. But with the continuous hunting over these days, the local zombies had significantly decreased, combined with the cold weather reducing the activities of zombies and mutated creatures, they could finally venture out confidently in search of food. However, if they needed food, other bases surely needed it too. Even if they truly found other bases, those bases might not be willing to sell them food, and conflicts might arise from such encounters. Lately, Qiu Hongsheng had been worrying over this, feeling a chill down his spine whenever he thought about it. Although Qiu Yiming was eager to head for Beishi Base to search for Fang Yuxin and Bai Ye, seeing Qiu Hongsheng become distressed to the point his hair was turning white, he also felt uneasy and said, "Let nature take its course; there will always be a way." Qiu Hongsheng sighed helplessly, saying no more. Qiu Yiming then remembered someone, furrowing his brows and said to Qiu Hongsheng, "Dad, I¡¯ll be going out." Qiu Hongsheng suddenly thought of something, hesitated but then said, "You¡¯re going to look for Fang Mengyao, aren¡¯t you? That woman is not righteous. You¡¯d better stay away from her, don¡¯t get too close." He regretted thinking about Fang Mengyao; initially, he thought that which successful man doesn¡¯t have a few women by his side? Fang Mengyao appeared innocent and came from a tainted background, so Qiu Yiming playing around was harmless, as long as he didn¡¯t marry her, so he never stopped him. But who knew that because of this, Fang Yuxin had decisively broken up with Qiu Yiming and later had abruptly left! And he also gradually discovered the mean, selfish, vicious, and greedy nature hidden under Fang Mengyao¡¯s "obedient" facade, regretting it immensely while also not wanting Qiu Yiming to have any more contact with her. Qiu Yiming nodded, but said nothing more, turning around and walking out. Fang Mengyao no longer lived at the Qiu Family¡¯s place but in a detached villa right next to the Fang Family¡¯s home. Oddly enough, although the Fang Family had left, the house was surrounded by some strange Formation, preventing anyone from entering, no matter who it was! Initially, Fang Mengyao really wanted to break in, but she had never been successful. After his interference, she had to settle for living in the villa next to the Fang Family. As Qiu Yiming walked out, he reminisced about the past, feeling a deep disgust. (End of this part. 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