Ye Zhongming was also seeing such high-level symbiotic mutated lifeforms for the first time.
Talking Lady and her black cat were the strongest symbiotic lifeforms Ye Zhongming had encounteredâa zombie and a mutated animal, an unusual pair. However, the two had likely shared a connection before death, which allowed them to form such a bond.
So, how did this sand fox and the two buckthorns come together?
The thought flashed through his mind before Ye Zhongming shook his head. Spending too much time with Sister Hong had even influenced his way of thinking.
The Ghost-Eyed Sand Fox and the mutated buckthorns were a formidable combination. Their earlier slaughter of the evolved had been swift and ruthless. However, mutated plants were inherently slow-moving. Even though the two buckthorns had evolved into treants, each step took them nearly three seconds. Though they could cover ten meters in a single stride, it still wasnât enough to shake off the pursuing evolved.
As a Gardener, Ye Zhongming had a deep understanding of mutated plants. His time in the Gene Life Lab had further honed this knowledge.
He recalled the treant in the lab. Though it had been a human transformed into a tree, some of its abilities were common among mutated plants, including a short-term speed boost. He wondered if these two buckthorns possessed a similar skill.
Captain Wang led the seven- and six-star evolved in surrounding the three mutant lifeforms.
Under normal circumstances, with four seven-star evolved and nearly twenty six-stars, they should have been able to take down the Ghost-Eyed Sand Fox and the buckthorns. Yet the battle remained deadlocked.
These people werenât from the same faction, and their selfish cautionâprioritizing their own safetyâmeant progress was slow.
"Veterinarian Meng, have your battle beasts flank them!" Captain Wang suddenly shouted. The others quickly echoed the suggestion.
Veterinarian Mengâs face darkened. He knew what they really meantâsacrifice.
As the only seven-star evolved without a faction backing him, he was the perfect scapegoat.
With a whistle, his three battle beasts launched a fierce assault from the side. The others brightenedâhe was surprisingly cooperative! They watched closely, ready to strike at the first opening.
On a night like this, they all wanted to end this quickly.
But... Veterinarian Mengâs battle beasts only attacked once, using ranged abilities, before retrieving their master and bolting into the woods.
Captain Wang and the others froze before cursing loudly.
Losing a seven-star evolved and three six-star battle beasts drastically increased the pressure on them.
Seizing the opportunity, the Ghost-Eyed Sand Foxâs eight eyes suddenly gleamed. The nearest seven-star evolved let out a cry before going berserk, attacking indiscriminately. Several unprepared six-stars were killed instantly.
The encirclement collapsed under Veterinarian Mengâs desertion and the berserkerâs rampage.
Moving in eerie unison, the mutated buckthorns followed the foxâs lead. Dozens of wooden spikes shot from their branches, raining down on the surrounding evolved.
Those with higher levels or strong defenses barely held on, but the less fortunate were impaled. A few writhed briefly before going still.
Yet humanity wasnât so easily defeated. Captain Wang hurled an object that struck the buckthorns mid-attack. The liquid it released made the two treants shudder violently. Another seven-star evolvedâs weapon transformed into a blade shadow, slashing across the sand foxâs flank, staining its beautiful fur crimson.
The blade shattered after the strike, but the evolved already had a new one readyâclearly a unique ability.
The Ghost-Eyed Sand Fox retaliated fiercely. Its fluffy tail swept out, releasing a deep pink poison gas cloud. The evolved scrambled back, but those caught in the mist collapsed, screaming as their bodies rotted into pus.
With that, the encirclement shattered entirely.
The three mutants didnât press their advantage, instead fleeing deep into the woods. The two treants, enduring their injuries, intertwined their roots into wheel-like structures. The sand fox leaped onto them, and the treants sped away, soon reduced to distant shadows.
"After them! Those buckthorns wonât get far with my Soul-Dispelling Water on them!" Captain Wang roared. Two of his six-star subordinates had diedâa blow to his squadâs strength and his standing in Jinxiu. Only capturing the sand fox could make up for it.
"That fox wonât last long with the wound I gave it," the seven-star blade user added, following Captain Wang in pursuit.
The others hesitated briefly before giving chase.
Ye Zhongming followed the main group, but once in the woods, he quietly veered off. His temporary teammates in the Baowen Team didnât even notice.
After moving through the trees for a while, Ye Zhongming stopped silently behind a trunk, watching a figure twenty meters ahead.
It was the woman who had been with the Baowen Team before Captain Wang took her.
In the chaos of pursuit, heâd forgotten about her, and she had slipped away.
But after running for a while, she now stood lost, looking around helplessly.
"Heh, miss, canât find your way home?"
A voice suddenly spoke beside her, making her jump.
Veterinarian Meng and his three battle beasts emerged from the shadows.
He hadnât fled farâheâd been hiding nearby all along.
"You... you..." The woman was too terrified to speak.
"Heh, those fools think the Ghost-Eyed Sand Fox is the only prize. Little do they know, youâre the real treasure!"
Veterinarian Mengâs gaze roamed over her rain-soaked figure, lingering hungrily.
"Play nice with me, then Iâll trade you for a fortune!"
He patted his mutated wolf, and the group prepared to pounce.
Thud!