254: Chapter 254 The Murong Family's Unexpected Changes

The wind howled as it swept across the wilderness.

An unsettling heat permeated the air, like the calm before a storm.

A modified off-road vehicle sped along a gravel-strewn road, the roar of its engine breaking the deathly silence of the wilderness. Murong Xueer gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white from the excessive force. Her gaze was fixed forward, and her foot was pressed all the way down on the accelerator.

“Eldest Miss, slow down... there might be Mutated Beasts ahead!”

Uncle Fu, sitting in the passenger seat, was pale. The wound at his severed arm throbbed with sharp pain due to the bumping, but he was more concerned about Murong Xueer's state of mind.

“There's no time!”

Murong Xueer gritted her teeth, her voice cold.

“I must get back to the villa before dark!”

Her heart was filled with anxiety.

Along the way, she noticed that the surrounding mutated creatures were unusually restless.

Creatures like rats and cockroaches, which usually hid in dark corners, were emerging in swarms during the day, and their direction was surprisingly consistent—they were all fleeing from certain areas.

This was a precursor to a major disaster!

Animals' instincts are sharper than humans'; they were running for their lives!

This confirmed Uncle Fu's words and also proved that the 'Black Tide' Luo Qinghan had mentioned earlier was not just a baseless rumor.

“Father... you must hold on!”

Murong Xueer prayed in her heart.

...

Two hours later, the off-road vehicle finally sped onto a winding mountain road.

From a distance, a cluster of ancient-style buildings sat halfway up the mountain. With its pavilions, terraces, and upturned eaves, it looked exceptionally serene and elegant against the backdrop of the Apocalypse ruins.

That was Tingyu Mountain Villa, the ancestral land of the Murong Family for a thousand years.

The villa was situated on a miniature spiritual vein. Not only was the spiritual energy denser than outside, but it was also protected by the 'Cloud-Hidden Mystery Formation,' inherited from the Pre-Qin period.

Relying on this great array, the Murong Family had managed to withstand several waves of zombie tides in the early days of the Apocalypse.

But at this moment, this once impregnable villa was in a state of total devastation.

The cloud formation that originally shrouded the villa had dissipated, replaced by billowing black smoke.

More than half of the outer walls had collapsed, and severed limbs were scattered everywhere—some from zombies, some from Mutated Beasts, and even more were the corpses of disciples wearing the Murong Family uniform.

“How could this happen...”

Murong Xueer slammed on the brakes. Looking at the tragic scene before her, a wave of murderous intent surged in her eyes.

Where was the home filled with birds and flowers? This was simply a living hell!

She didn't cry, nor did she show even a hint of sadness. Because she knew that in the Apocalypse, tears were the cheapest things.

Only blood could wash away the humiliation!

“Hahaha! Old dog Murong, let's see how much longer you can hold out!”

Just then, an arrogant, wild laugh came from inside the villa.

The voice, amplified by the vibration of a Superpower, echoed throughout the entire valley.

Murong Xueer's expression turned cold as she instantly recognized the owner of the voice.

Su Yan!

“You're looking for death!”

She drew the longsword from her waist and, without a moment's hesitation, moved like lightning, abandoning the car to rush toward the villa's main gate.

...

Tingyu Mountain Villa, Martial Arts Field.

At this moment, this place had turned into an asura field.

Hundreds of Murong Family disciples were standing back-to-back in a circle. Everyone was wounded, their eyes filled with despair and anger.

In the center of the circle, they were protecting a middle-aged man with a pale, sallow face.

Although the man was heavily injured, with a claw mark on his chest deep enough to see the bone, he was still holding on with sheer willpower, exuding the pressure of a powerful expert.

This was the Murong Family Head, Murong Tian. A Half-Step Grandmaster expert!

Outside their circle, enemies were packed densely.

To the left was a group of armed thugs in black combat uniforms carrying heavy firepower, led by a red-haired young man with a face full of malice.

He was playing with a ball of crimson flame in his hand, looking at the trapped crowd with a playful expression.

The Young Master of the Mad Dragon Society, Su Yan! An S-rank Fire Ability User!

To the right was a hunched freak draped in a black robe, surrounded by a floating green poisonous mist. Any plants he approached withered instantly.

The rogue assassin, Ghost Hand King!

Directly in front stood a giant over three meters tall, his muscles bulging like rocks, holding a massive spiked club with several pieces of shredded meat still hanging from it.

The Mutated Strength-type Tyrant, Luo Lie!

These three major villains were all notorious fiends from around Jiang City. To think they had joined forces to besiege a Great Family!

“Murong Tian, stop struggling in vain.”

Su Yan toyed with the flames in his hand, his gaze cold.

“Your family's protective array has been broken, and your Half-Step Grandmaster inner strength is likely almost exhausted, isn't it? If you're smart, hand over Murong Xueer quickly and give me your Murong Family's 'Mystic Maiden War Records.' I might consider leaving you an intact corpse.”

“Pah!”

Murong Tian spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm, his eyes sharp as knives.

“Su family brat, you want to touch my daughter? Only over my dead body!”

“And you, Murong Hai!”

Murong Tian suddenly turned his head.

His gaze was fixed on a middle-aged man standing behind Su Yan, his eyes full of heartache and rage.

“My Murong Family has treated you well, yet you colluded with outsiders to destroy the protective array! How can you face our ancestors?!”

The middle-aged man named Murong Hai shrank his neck.

A flash of guilt crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by greed.

“Big brother, don't blame me. It's the Apocalypse, and I want to survive too! Young Master Su promised me that once this is done, I will be the new Murong Family Head! Every man for himself, or the heavens will destroy him!”

“Bastard!”

Murong Tian was so angry he trembled, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

“Hahaha! Well said!”

Su Yan laughed wildly.

“Old man, since you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for being ruthless! Brothers, attack! Kill the men and leave the women!”

“I'll see who dares!”

Just then, a feminine shout came from the gate.

A white figure streaked across like a startled swan, sword light flashing like snow, instantly killing two Mad Dragon Society thugs who were trying to charge forward.

“Xueer?!”

Seeing the newcomer, Murong Tian was not happy; instead, he turned pale with fright.

“Why did you come back?! Run! It's a trap!”

“I'm not leaving!”

Murong Xueer landed in front of her father, her longsword held across her chest. Although facing three powerful enemies, her back was stubbornly straight, making one's heart ache for her.

“I am a daughter of the Murong Family; if I must die, I will die at home!”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Su Yan clapped his hands, his eyes flashing with greed and lustful light as he shamelessly scanned Murong Xueer's graceful body.

“Good! What a touching scene of father-daughter devotion!”

“Xueer, you're finally back. Do you know how hard I've been waiting for you?”

“As long as you come with me obediently, be my woman, and serve me well, I might consider letting your father live. What do you say?”

“In your dreams!”

Murong Xueer looked at him coldly.

“Su Yan, you are certainly going to die today!”

“Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!”

Su Yan's face instantly darkened, and the flames in his hand flared up violently.

“In that case, don't blame me for being cruel to a beauty! Ghost Hand King, Luo Lie, move! Kill everyone except Murong Xueer!”

“Hehe, you keep that little chick, the other women are mine!”

Luo Lie licked his lips and charged forward like a tank, waving his spiked club.

“Poison mist... spread...”

Ghost Hand King gave a sinister smile as a large cloud of green poison mist enveloped the crowd.

The battle was about to break out!

Looking at the three arrogant men, Murong Xueer's beautiful eyes held no fear; instead, a cold glint flashed within them.

“Su Yan, do you think this is the full extent of my strength?”

She slowly raised the longsword in her hand, and a terrifying aura instantly erupted from within her body.

Boom!

This power was so strong that it far exceeded anyone present!

With her low shout, the surrounding space seemed to warp. Su Yan's violent flames and Ghost Hand King's toxic mist...

Even Luo Lie's heavy, forceful impact...

Strangely stalled when they reached three feet in front of her!

Then, with a swirl of starlight, all the attacks actually reversed direction and bounced back at an even faster speed!

“What?!”

The faces of Su Yan and the other two changed drastically. Filled with disbelief, they retreated in a panicked scramble.

“How is this possible?! Your strength...”

Su Yan looked at the surging aura of Murong Xueer in horror, waves of shock crashing in his heart.

This was no lamb waiting for slaughter; this was clearly an awakened dragon!

Murong Xueer's long hair flew in the wind, looking like a Valkyrie descended. Her longsword pointed directly at Su Yan.

“I said it before: I am a daughter of the Murong Family. Today, anyone who dares to touch my father even slightly shall be killed without mercy!”

Just as both sides were at each other's throats and Su Yan and the others were filled with doubt and fear...

Rumble—!

At the moment they were about to collide, the earth suddenly shook violently.

The ground cracked, and countless scalp-numbing hissing sounds came from underground.

Everyone was stunned.

“What's going on? An earthquake?” Luo Lie stopped and looked at his feet in confusion.

The next second, countless black beetles the size of washbasins and giant ants gushed out from the cracks like a black fountain!

The Black Tide... had erupted!