“Specifics?!” Gao Zhan’s voice was cold as iron.
“The attack happened last night! There were an enormous number of Mutants, and… their attack pattern was incredibly frenzied and efficient!” The intelligence officer’s voice held a trace of disbelief, “They seemed to completely disregard casualties, employing a… a wave of flesh-and-blood assault! They used the corpses of lower-tier Mutants to literally fill the trenches and overwhelm the outer defenses! Zhuang Han personally intervened; his strength seems to have increased again, and with a few equally powerful Mutant leaders, he forcibly tore through the inner shield! The remaining personnel… were completely wiped out…”
“According to the last images desperately sent back by a very small number of perimeter scouts…” The intelligence officer’s voice trembled slightly, “They saw… after breaking through the outpost, those Mutants… they… they were devouring the bodies of the defenders! Especially Zhuang Han and his subordinates… they… they were recovering from injuries, and even… seemed to be growing stronger by devouring!”
A deathly silence fell within the carriage!
Devouring bodies?! Recovering from injuries?! Even growing stronger?!
This news was even more horrifying than the outpost being breached itself!
Ling Chen’s pupils contracted slightly. That mad dog, Zhuang Han… had indeed lived up to his “expectations.” The Path of Flesh Ascension was inherently the most primitive and savage path of devouring evolution! Compensating and strengthening oneself by devouring the essence of powerful beings’ flesh and blood was its core characteristic! He just hadn't expected Zhuang Han to grasp and begin to practice it on such a large scale so quickly! And he had even captured an important outpost!
Now, the trouble was truly immense!
“Headquarters command!” The intelligence officer continued, “Orders your unit to cease its exploration mission and return at full speed immediately! The situation in the Jiu'an City direction has severely deteriorated, and The Boulder needs all high-end combat power! At the same time, Headquarters requires you to ensure the absolute safety of the Academy of Sciences personnel and all their discoveries, and immediately escort them back to Shengjing! Top priority!”
“Understood!” Gao Zhan responded in a deep voice, ending the communication.
The atmosphere inside the vehicle dropped to freezing point.
Leimeng’s curses came through the communicator, filled with rage: “Damn that Zhuang Han! I’ll skin that monster alive sooner or later!”
Gao Zhan did not respond to Leimeng’s roar, but instead, through the communicator, spoke in a deep voice to everyone: “Situation has changed, mission terminated. Proceed at full speed, return to Shengjing!” His tone was unchallengeable, filled with a strong sense of murderous intent.
The convoy’s speed suddenly increased, the engines roaring furiously as they sped towards Shengjing.
The Knights Templar’s convoy also visibly accelerated, still following closely.
Ling Chen could feel that Priest Barder’s aura had also fluctuated slightly, clearly having received similar intelligence. The abnormal activity and “devouring” behavior of the Mutants in Jiu'an City undoubtedly touched upon the Temple Knights’ core doctrine of “purifying evil.” They probably wouldn’t stand idly by either.
The return journey was destined to be anything but peaceful.
Ling Chen closed his eyes, and the will of the Soul Jade Physique once again linked to that distant and faint imprint.
The black rectangular prism… Zhuang Han’s madness… the Temple Knights’ intervention… The Boulder’s crisis… all clues seemed to be intertwining in a dangerous way.
He needed to return to Shengjing as soon as possible, to leverage this chaotic situation to his maximum advantage.
Perhaps… Zhuang Han’s “great victory” this time, and that unsettling “devouring” behavior, could become a perfect opportunity for him to… get in contact with that heavily guarded “trophy”?
Ling Chen’s fingertips unconsciously tapped lightly on the seat… Jiu'an City region, Linghui Academy Ruins.
This place had completely transformed into a noisy and terrifying nest. The dense smell of blood and the violent psionic aura were almost tangible, making one nauseous.
In the central plaza of the Academy, mountains of human soldier corpses, not yet fully “processed,” were piled up like some evil sacrificial offerings. Lower-tier ghouls and Mutant beasts circled like hyenas, greedily gnawing on flesh and bones, emitting a grating crunching sound.
Zhuang Han stood atop the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, his dark golden bone armor stained with coagulated blood and minced meat, his crimson pupils burning with unprecedented excitement and savagery! His aura was larger and more chaotic than before; clearly, devouring the essence of the entire outpost garrison’s flesh and blood had brought him immense “benefits”!
“Roar—!!!” He let out a deafening roar to the sky, his voice filled with the pleasure of power and conquest!
“The power… bestowed by the Master… Devouring… evolution… is the true path!” He growled, brandishing his massive blade-arm, “More flesh and blood! Stronger power! Panshi Fortress… will be our hunting ground sooner or later!”
Several of his Bone Eater Realm Mutant leaders were also scattered around; their auras had also grown, and their eyes gleamed with a more cunning and cruel light. Devouring the flesh and blood of intelligent beings, especially those with abilities, benefited their evolution far more than devouring Mutant beasts!
“Leader!” A Mutant leader skilled in stealth reconnaissance slid like a shadow before Zhuang Han, hissing, “To the east… a small human transport convoy has been discovered… escorting forces are not strong… the flesh and blood… are very fresh…”
Zhuang Han’s crimson pupils lit up sharply!
“Excellent! It’s time to hunt! My little ones! Follow me!”
He let out an excited roar, his massive body leaping down, leading a new wave of bloodthirsty frenzy, and once again rushed towards the wasteland!
The bloody feast was far from over.
And the source of all this madness and chaos pointed directly to Ling Chen, who was on his way back from the exploration.
The stone he had cast had already stirred up a monstrous wave of blood.