36: Section 36

Mark relied on this method to slow down the Phage Beast's speed.

Unfortunately, the Phage Beast's recovery was extremely strong, and it would soon recover.

Just at this moment, a missile flew out from the Wasteland Hunters team.

The Phage Beast could sense the missile and flipped over to dodge.

The missile sliced through the sky, making a sharp turn without any additional power, and slammed heavily into the Phage Beast.

A massive shockwave exploded from the Phage Beast's head; although it didn't kill it, it knocked the Phage Beast unconscious.

At this moment, yellow sand filled the sky, and visibility was extremely low.

Jing Yuan, piloting a gravity body and wielding a Greatsword, delivered a heavy slash to the Phage Beast's abdomen.

The Phage Beast's belly was sliced open like a piece of ragged cloth.

Jing Yuan looked inside the Phage Beast's belly, where a hollow sphere was flickering with a strange light.

Jing Yuan raised the Greatsword again and struck the spirit seed.

Instantly, a surge of majestic life source essence aura poured into Jing Yuan's body.

Jing Yuan could clearly feel that this was the most significant improvement since he started absorbing Phage Beast life source essence.

He could feel both his Mental Force and physical strength clearly increasing.

Jing Yuan continued forward to catch up with the team.

Mark saw that the Phage Beast didn't get back up after falling and asked Jing Yuan in surprise, "Is it dead?"

"Dead!"

With no time for shock, Mark rushed to the team to drive away the Phage Beasts.

Those lizard-type Phage Beasts sensed their Leader had been killed and gave up the pursuit one by one.

Only the Snake Dogs that had followed Jing Yuan were still tirelessly chasing the Wasteland Hunters' vehicles.

Mark piloted his gravity body and charged over; for Mark, hacking through Snake Dogs was as easy as slicing melons and vegetables.

Jing Yuan also caught up with the team, slaying the Snake Dogs chasing the convoy.

After his Mental Force was enhanced again, the speed at which Jing Yuan absorbed life source essence also improved.

The moment a Snake Dog was killed, its life source essence was absorbed by Jing Yuan, without delaying him from killing other Phage Beasts at all.

Gradually, the Snake Dogs in the distance saw no opportunity and stopped chasing.

The Snake Dogs nearby were all slain, and the Wasteland Hunters team finally escaped the danger.

Just then, the gravity body's energy was exhausted.

If those Phage Beasts had persisted a little longer, they wouldn't have been able to resist.

The Wasteland Hunters convoy sped along until they saw the Lighthouse, and the weight in their hearts finally lifted.

On the elevator platform, Instructor Elon came down to meet them.

Mark looked dejected.

Seeing this expression, Elon said nothing and simply patted Mark's shoulder to comfort him.

Wasteland Hunters missions are always a matter of life and death; there was no need for too much self-blame.

Back on the Lighthouse, the citizens welcomed the Wasteland Hunters team as usual.

However, the materials collected this time were only two crates of energy and the equipment found by Jing Yuan's squad; there was nothing else.

For the Wasteland Hunters, it was indeed a bit meager.

In the Armament Preparation Depot, the final casualty statistics came out.

They had actually lost over a dozen Wasteland Hunters Team Members, including five new Team Members.

Most of these sacrificed Team Members died during the final pursuit of the convoy by the Phage Beasts.

There were too many Phage Beasts, and even top combatants like Mark and Jing Yuan couldn't protect everyone.

Although elite Team Members also had the ability to temporarily kill Phage Beasts, the risk of death was still too high for average Team Members when encountering them.

Mark looked at the casualty figures, his mood low, and no one else dared to step forward to comfort him.

Although Jing Yuan had absorbed a lot of Phage Beast life source essence and his Mental Force and physical fitness were enhanced once again, he still couldn't feel happy.

After the collected materials were put into storage, Jing Yuan took a box and left quietly.

He didn't return to his residence but went to the workshop.

Unsurprisingly, 4277 was still in the workshop manufacturing flying daggers.

Hearing someone open the door, 4277 looked toward the entrance in surprise.

As soon as Jing Yuan entered, 4277 ran over happily and asked with a smile, "You're back!"

"Yeah."

4277 could clearly sense Jing Yuan's low mood. "What's wrong?"

Jing Yuan shook his head and said, "Nothing, it's just that the casualties from this trip to The Surface were quite heavy."

4277 felt a pang in her heart upon hearing this; although she had never been to The Surface, she knew how terrifying Phage Beasts were.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" Jing Yuan said as he took out a suitcase. "This is a set of repair tools. I thought you might find them useful, so I secretly brought them for you."

4277 didn't rush to take the box but comforted him instead, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself; you've already done very well."

Jing Yuan nodded. "I know! I just wanted to come here and sit for a while; watching you forge flying daggers is quite stress-relieving."

4277 smiled and said no more, returning to the workbench to start working.

Watching 4277 work, Jing Yuan actually felt his stress being relieved.

Jing Yuan stayed in the workshop until night before returning to his residence.

At his doorstep, Jing Yuan saw a Law Enforcer guarding the place.

"Jing Yuan, the Leader wants to see you!"

Jing Yuan asked in confusion, "The Leader wants to see me? Now?"

"Yes."

"Please tell the Leader, tomorrow! I'm too tired today and need to rest."

"The Leader wants to see you; is it up to you to pick the time?" the Law Enforcer retorted.

"Then how about asking the Leader to come here instead?" Jing Yuan was about to enter the house, but the Law Enforcer blocked the door.

Jing Yuan ignored him and shoved the Law Enforcer aside.

The Law Enforcer stumbled and fell to the ground, cursing, "You... you dare to disobey the Leader's command! You... just you wait!"

Jing Yuan closed the door with an indifferent expression and went to sleep.

Just wait.

He waited until early the next morning when there was another knock at the door.

Jing Yuan went to open the door impatiently, and there was the same Law Enforcer from yesterday.

"Lord Jing Yuan, the Leader invites you."

"Oh! You've changed your tune!"

Jing Yuan found it quite novel; this guy's reaction was completely different from yesterday.

Since the other party was so polite, it was impossible for Jing Yuan to close the door, so he asked, "Why the sudden change?"

"Lord Jing Yuan, it was my fault! Yesterday, I didn't clearly convey the Leader's meaning. The Leader said that once you've rested, then go see him! See, are you well-rested now?"

Jing Yuan nodded and said, "I am. But wait for me a moment."

Jing Yuan went back into the room, freshened up, and then followed the Law Enforcer out.

Inside the innermost layer of the Light and Shadow Society Cathedral.

Charles saw Jing Yuan walk in and said with a smile, "Good work. You did very well this time! I am very satisfied!"

Chapter 37: Suspicion

Jing Yuan looked at Charles in confusion and asked, "What did I do to make you so satisfied?"

Facing Jing Yuan's attitude, Charles wasn't angry because he was simply too happy.

"I heard that during this mission to The Surface, the Wasteland Hunters encountered a massive swarm of Phage Beasts. Not many resources were obtained, but quite a few people died," Charles said with a smile. "At this very moment, our great Captain Mark is still alone in his room, processing all of this!"

"And what does that have to do with me?"

Charles looked straight at Jing Yuan and said, "I heard that at the final moment, you drew in a large swarm of Phage Beasts, giving the entire team a heavy blow."

Jing Yuan also stared straight at Charles, not knowing what to say.

Conditions on The Surface change in an instant; it's not like things go exactly how you want them to.