Chapter 167 – The Girl’s Mutation

“The Quarantine Zone’s strategy is starting to adjust.”

Ever since Cheng Xiaomei discovered a gas station with a decent amount of stored fuel, Su Lian’s computer had basically been running twenty-four hours a day. Aside from her usual physical training, meals, and sleep, she was almost always in front of the computer, with a radio on beside her.

After all kinds of media had completely lost their function, the only ways they had to connect with the outside world now were the Quarantine Zone website and the occasional radio signals they received.

As for Ningnan’s urban district, if one climbed high and looked far, it might seem very quiet. But as long as one heard the screams coming from somewhere from time to time, as well as the occasional gunshot, one would know the quiet was only on the surface.

“What strategy?” Su Lifeng had been studying the two “blood clots” since he returned, so he only asked casually.

“They’ve selected some survivors and are preparing to have them follow the so-called ‘search teams’ into the city to look for supplies. There are also teams specifically hunting Xenospecies. Judging by the description, they should all be Mutants,” Su Lian said.

Su Lifeng froze for a moment, then walked to the computer and looked at it twice.

“Isn’t that exactly Yu Zai’s idea… Looks like he isn’t the only one thinking that way,” Su Lifeng murmured to himself.

“What?” Su Lian raised her head curiously and asked.

“Nothing. It may also be to improve the Quarantine Zone’s own combat strength,” Su Lifeng said.

A temporarily built Quarantine Zone could not possibly feed millions of people for nothing. He simply had not expected it to become overburdened so quickly. What Yu Zai had said had become reality. He just did not know how those survivors would react. Some would probably accept reality, while others would cry and shout in opposition.

“Is there any news from other countries?” Su Lifeng asked.

Su Lian shook her head. “Not for now, but in this place, they seem to have photographed a huge explosion.”

She pulled up a photo. From the blurry image, Su Lifeng could only make out that this was some island nation in the ocean, with a mushroom cloud above it. Looking at that mass of smoke, Su Lifeng suddenly felt his heartbeat quicken.

“So there are Spatial Gates even in places like that. These Xenospecies really opened their doors in all the right places,” Su Lifeng said with some emotion as he looked away.

“Then why else would they have sent in so many Xenospecies ahead of time?” Su Lian also breathed out lightly and said, “That’s all for now. Plenty of countries have established Safe Zones like Huaxia, but judging by the situation, they’re all barely holding on. Returning to normal life is basically impossible. Unlike Ningnan, those places all have High-class Xenospecies. One High-class Xenospecies can destroy a small army. Their combat power is just too terrifying.”

Su Lifeng frowned and fell silent. Indeed, those High-class Xenospecies were the Xenospecies’ fiercest combat force. Compared with them, ordinary Xenospecies were practically nothing. Although he had already reached E-class, he was still far from the point where he could stand against those High-class Xenospecies, let alone that bone hand inside the Spatial Gate.

Fortunately, he had not had any more precognitions of disasters related to himself, which at least meant that in the short term, that bone hand would not come out of the Spatial Gate.

At that moment, a muffled bang suddenly came from outside. Almost by instinct, Su Lifeng hugged Su Lian and crouched down. Only after the hanging lamp above them stopped swaying did he walk to the window and look outside.

Something seemed to have exploded in the distance, and a column of black smoke rose into the air. But ordinary Mutants and survivors would not make such a huge commotion unless the military’s search teams had already entered the city.

“I’ll go take a look. I can look for some things along the way,” Su Lifeng said.

He had stored quite a few medicines in advance, but some of them had been almost used up while he was studying the two “blood clots.” In the spirit of being prepared, Su Lifeng had already planned to search the pharmacies in the city. This column of black smoke simply made him decide earlier.

“Let Xiaomei-Jie go with you.” Ever since Jiangnan Group was taken over, Jiang Yushi had spent almost all her time busy inside the group. The few times she returned, it was to secretly bring Su Lifeng samples. The preparations required by the military orders could not be successfully produced in one go, so the experts themselves were constantly researching and improving them. Based on these samples, Su Lifeng had gradually figured out most of the process, and now he was also looking forward to seeing what effect the finished product would have.

As for Cheng Xiaomei, she was mainly responsible for the household logistics. Cooking, bringing back diesel for power generation, even going to the outskirts to look for fresh vegetables, she did all of it. Sometimes Su Lifeng even felt that this girl seemed to be pushing herself a little too hard, especially after Jiang Yushi obtained Jiangnan Group.

According to Su Lifeng’s thinking, he could only guess that Cheng Xiaomei was under too much pressure. So after hearing Su Lian’s casual suggestion, he nodded. “That’s fine. It’s good to have someone to look after each other.”

When he reached the first floor, Su Lifeng saw Cheng Xiaomei sitting in the living room.

Cheng Xiaomei had her back to him and was facing the sealed window. Su Lifeng had been about to call out to her, but then he heard a muffled groan.

Then Cheng Xiaomei’s right arm began to mutate.

The silver arm and spikes reflected a cold gleam beneath the not particularly bright light. As Cheng Xiaomei gave a low “mm,” the spikes on it began to lengthen and deform, blocking in front of her like a shield. Then, with a clang, her five fingers sprang out. Long sharp claws made a piercing whoosh through the air.

“No, it’s still not enough…” Cheng Xiaomei muttered to herself, then swung her arm again.

Judging by her arm alone, she no longer truly looked human. But if one looked only at her body, she was still as slender and fragile as ever.

Su Lifeng watched her silently for a while, then quietly withdrew upstairs. At a time like this, it was better not to affect her.

But after Su Lifeng’s figure disappeared up the stairs, Cheng Xiaomei’s movement suddenly paused. She had already heard him coming down, but…

Whoosh!

Another spike shot out from her shoulder. At the same time, silver scales extended all the way to her neck and covered one of her ears upward. Spikes also grew from that ear, adding a strange beauty to her sweet face.

“I’m about to break through…” Excitement surged through Cheng Xiaomei’s heart. Then she pressed her lips together again.

The process of evolution was very painful. But if she did not evolve, the distance between her and Su Lifeng would only grow wider and wider!

Su Lifeng might not understand that, but she herself knew very well. She absolutely did not want to be left behind…