Chapter 406: Chapter 406

As thick smoke billowed up.

Before anyone present could react, a thin energy shield had already rapidly risen around An Ning's body. She didn't forget to toss one each to her parents beside her and the team members behind her.

Unfortunately... it was already too late. Apart from Lu Ting and Shen Qing, who reacted relatively quickly and received An Ning's help earlier, before long, the group of team members behind them were seen swaying unsteadily, even struggling to maintain their supernatural abilities.

Drugs? Drugs specifically targeting supernatural ability users?

Not bad! To actually reach this level, it seems the most likely possibility is currently some kind of extract from mutated plants.

An Ning couldn't help but feel a bit of admiration, although it was still somewhat inferior to what she had secretly researched before.

As if not expecting An Ning's reaction to be so swift, the person across from them also panicked. A figure in the jungle instantly vanished from its spot.

A pity. Other places might be fine, but this is a forest! In a sense, it's her territory.

Confirming that the few were only temporarily drained of strength, An Ning slightly raised her hand.

Before long, a short young man, roughly in his thirties, was fished out from underground. When he emerged, he was still wearing a finely crafted breathing mask on his head.

The moment he saw An Ning, the man seemed to want to repeat his old trick. Unfortunately, before his hand holding the drugs could even lift, both his hands had already completely turned to ash under a flash of lightning.

Accompanied by a piercing, miserable scream, within the dense forest, sleeping mutated beasts were continuously startled awake and rapidly charged towards the group's location.

Yet without exception, in the blink of an eye, they were killed with a single strike by the vines An Ning controlled.

As crisp and decisive as always.

Her own father, Lu Ting, could only watch from the side, ensuring his daughter's safety.

This... this is the power of a fifth-stage supernatural ability user?

Witnessing this scene, the man who had lost both hands and was now struggling to move couldn't help but show despair in his eyes. However, deep within his gaze, a hint of greed unconsciously surfaced.

At the same time, deep within the dense forest, three more people had their hands and feet bound by vines that came from nowhere. They were swiftly carried towards the direction of An Ning and the others.

Along the way, various parts of the several people's bodies were inevitably scratched by all sorts of sharp branches and leaves until they were covered in wounds. Yet even so, within the jungle, the seemingly gentle teenage girl didn't even frown for a moment.

This continued until the several people, battered and bruised, were dragged before her.

Looking at the clearly unfamiliar faces before him, Lu Ting couldn't help but narrow his eyes. Knowing nothing could be asked for the time being, and hindered by the injured teammates from earlier, he knocked the captives unconscious, threw them in the back of the vehicle, helped the injured teammates onto the vehicle, and the group quickly departed.

"Let's go, back to the base first!"

Vigilantly surveying their surroundings, Lu Ting quickly spoke up. An Ning naturally followed.

However, the moment the vehicle exited the forest, An Ning, who had seemed nonchalant, swiftly raised her hand. Instantly, countless vines in the air, infused with pure wood-type energy, shot with incredible speed towards one particular spot.

Under the massive energy field, countless dust and debris flew up for a moment. Vaguely, a slender and agile figure could be seen rapidly ascending skyward at a speed difficult for the naked eye to follow.

Lu Ting, who had reacted, immediately shielded Shen Qing and the group of injured team members behind him.

Behind them, countless vines surged forth once more. Accompanied by tremendous explosive sounds, occasional flashes of light shimmered in the quiet sky above.

This is a battle between high-stage supernatural ability users?

Forget fighting; if not for An Ning's vines blocking the way, they couldn't even catch a glimpse of the enemy's figure.

At this moment, everyone including Lu Ting once again deeply experienced the gap between stages. They understood even more clearly that, especially the higher one goes, this gap only becomes more pronounced.

Firmly protecting the group of team members behind him, Lu Ting couldn't help but clench his fist tightly.

As everyone marveled.

In the blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged countless blows. The "fireworks" exploding in the sky grew increasingly intense. The zombie was extremely fast, but clearly, the vines in An Ning's hands were superior.

And as for this leader, whether it was the domineering lightning ability in his hands or the energy waves emanating from him as a zombie, neither could temporarily break through An Ning's defense.

The outcome seemed almost predictable.

However, the instant An Ning's vines were about to surround him, all around An Ning, especially in the rear where Lu Ting and the others were, countless fourth-stage zombies suddenly surged forward like a tidal wave.

Simultaneously, a bolt of lightning from the sky above swiftly shot towards the group behind her.

Fifth-stage versus fourth-stage, an almost crushing situation. Yet An Ning didn't dare to be the slightest bit careless. Subconsciously, she moved to block it.

However, this momentary gap was enough for the opponent to break through the restraints and rapidly flee...

After dealing with the horde of zombies.

On the journey back, silence quickly spread throughout the vehicle compartment. Apart from An Ning, who was quietly recovering, even though they felt their bodily functions gradually restoring, the team members led by Captain Liao couldn't help but have gloomy expressions.

Whether it was the drugs today that clearly targeted supernatural ability users like them, or that dazzling, chaotic battle just now, it undoubtedly proved that apart from the environment, dangers lurked everywhere. There was even already a possibility of threats that could endanger them.

Especially that zombie leader across from them.

Apart from his crushing power over people like them, his cautious, careful nature, his intellect that always left himself a way out in any situation, was currently the most startling and even alarming.

Thinking of this, the joy from their teammates' earlier victory instantly vanished without a trace.

Of course, the most important thing right now was:

"Today's incident... it can't just be a coincidence, can it?"

Leaning against the car seat, Captain Liao couldn't help but furrow his brows, his gaze subconsciously turning towards Lu Ting beside him.

Whether it was colluding with humans or seizing every opportunity to probe, it undoubtedly proved one point: the other side had already set their sights on their base.

It could be said that if Miss Lu had lost even a single move today, what awaited them would have been endless slaughter.

But a group of grown men with hands, feet, and supernatural abilities couldn't truly place the entire burden of survival on the shoulders of a young girl not yet fifteen, could they?

Forget the risks; that would simply be too shameless!

Glancing at his daughter resting with closed eyes beside him, Lu Ting once again clenched his fist tightly.

At the same time, as if sensing something, An Ning quickly opened her eyes.

Everything that followed seemed to be on fast-forward.

Two hours later, on an empty patch of land, countless massive vines shot out from underground, along with a shattered, fragmented underground base and a group of researchers.

"Spare me, have mercy! I was forced! They forced me!"

On the ground, countless cries and pleas continuously rose.

This was a base of obviously not insignificant scale, with dozens of research personnel alone.

Amidst the miserable wails of countless people, the vines extending everywhere mercilessly snapped the necks of these individuals.

Regardless of gender or age, there were no exceptions.

Over the years, this wasn't the first time the group led by Captain Liao had seen the young girl before them take action.

They naturally knew that although the girl before them appeared soft and cute on the outside, her methods were first-rate in their sharpness and decisiveness.

Yet never before had it been as intimidating as it was now.

Under the bright sun, the young girl wore a white shirt. Her gaze, clear as glass, remained as lucid as ever, as if at this moment, these so-called fellow humans before her were no different from the zombies from before.

Without hesitation or burden, like crushing an ant.

She seemed like a completely different person from the young girl who had sweetly called them uncles and aunties before.

Instantly, everyone's expressions couldn't help but freeze.