168: Chapter 168 Mutant Thunder Eagle

But strangely, the eyes of these Thunder Eagles were not the normal gold, but instead displayed a murky blood-red color!

Large patches of feathers had fallen off their bodies, and the exposed skin was covered in purple-black veins, as if they could burst open at any moment.

"Something is wrong!"

Ye Fei's expression changed. As a Beast Tamer, she was the most sensitive to the emotions of beasts:

"They... are in pain! This isn't a natural mutation! They have been artificially injected with some kind of drug, forcibly overdrawing their life force!"

"Artificially?"

Chen Xi's eyes turned cold.

It was artificial again!

First it was the space-time rift, and now it's drug catalysis.

Just how many shady dealings are hidden Outside the Border?

"It seems we've found the right place."

Chen Xi gripped three cards in his hand, his voice cold:

"Since someone is playing tricks, we are definitely taking these 300 points of extra reward!"

"Prepare for battle! Don't hold back; send them to their release!"

"Understood!"

Su Xiaoxiao pointed her magic staff, and lightning exploded.

"Since you are in pain, let me end it for you!"

...

Deep within Storm Canyon, the sounds of thunder and beast roars wove together into a symphony of death.

The Nirvana Battle Team pushed forward all the way, leaving the shattered corpses of Thunder Eagles along the path.

The deeper they went, the more intense the heart-palpitating sense of oppression became.

The air not only smelled of burnt lightning, but was also mixed with a strong scent of chemical agents.

"Shh—"

Chen Xi suddenly raised his hand, signaling everyone to be silent and hide.

The four of them quickly hid behind a massive black rock.

Through a gap in the rock, they saw a scene that made their scalps tingle.

In the center of the basin ahead, a flat area had been artificially cleared.

On the flat ground stood a strange machine that was two stories tall.

The machine was pitch black and had a ferocious design, resembling a giant metal spider, with countless transparent pipes connected to its core.

And at the other end of the pipes...

were countless Thunder Eagles and other lightning-type fierce beasts, bound by special chains!

"Zzz— zzz—"

The machine operated, emitting a low hum.

The fierce beasts let out extremely miserable screams. One could see their vital blood, bone marrow, and even some kind of glowing thunder source being forcibly extracted by the machine, refined, and turned into drops of golden liquid that flowed into a huge container in the center.

Around the machine stood an entire team of people dressed in black combat uniforms.

They wore masks, and on their chests was tattooed that strange purple vortex symbol that Chen Xi knew all too well.

"It's them again!"

Li Murou covered her mouth and whispered in shock: "That group of Men in Black!"

Chen Xi's eyes were cold, and his fists clenched instantly.

Enemies often cross paths!

And this time, those they encountered were clearly not the type that only knew how to run away, nor were they the petty thieves who only knew how to steal things from before.

【Card Affinity Reflection】 activated quietly.

【Name: Codename · Thunder Ghost (Elite Captain)】

【Level: Lv.48】

【Profession: Mad Thunder Warrior】

【Name: Codename · Shadow】

【Level: Lv.45】

【Profession: Shadow Assassin】

...

A full twelve people, all Lv.40 or above! Even the captain was nearly Level 50!

This was a fully armed elite squad! Their configuration was two whole major tiers higher than the Nirvana Battle Team!

"Is this the difficulty of a B-rank mission..."

Su Xiaoxiao gasped, her palms sweating as she gripped her magic staff.

"Hurry up!"

The captain named "Thunder Ghost" shouted coldly, his voice sounding exceptionally hoarse after being processed by the mask:

"This batch of 'Thunder Essence' must be extracted within half an hour! The higher-ups have gone crazy for that 'Resurrection Plan'!"

"If you delay the progress, none of you will live!"

"Resurrection Plan?"

Chen Xi's heart shook.

Could this be the plan that Black-Robed Shen Ye spoke of... to resurrect Ye Fei?

These people were actually extracting life energy on a massive scale here through such cruel methods!

"Who's there?!"

Just then, the captain named Thunder Ghost turned his head abruptly. The eyes hidden behind his mask shot out two rays of cold light, locking directly onto the rock where Chen Xi and the others were hiding.

As a Lv.48 elite warrior, his perception of auras was terrifyingly sharp.

"We've been exposed!"

Chen Xi did not hesitate at all and shouted:

"Attack!!"

Since they had been discovered, the only option was to fight! When enemies meet on a narrow path, the brave one wins!

"Boom!"

Chen Xi kicked the ground until it shattered, rushing out like a cannonball.

He threw three 【Explosive Cards】 in a triangular formation toward the operating machine, attempting to interrupt their process.

"You're courting death! A bunch of brats dare to ruin our affairs?!"

Thunder Ghost sneered, and a giant axe wrapped in purple lightning appeared in his hand. Before anyone could see how he moved, his figure instantly vanished from where he stood.

The next second, a terrifying flash of lightning exploded above Chen Xi's head.

"Get lost!"

Clang!!

Chen Xi reacted extremely quickly, instantly casting a layer of 【Rock Armor】 on himself and blocking with his arms crossed.

But the gap in level was simply too great!

An overwhelming force struck him, sending Chen Xi flying back more than ten meters, his feet carving two deep grooves into the ground before he barely managed to stop.

"Pfft..."

Chen Xi's chest surged with turbulent blood.

So strong! Is this the power of someone approaching Level 50?

"Captain Chen!"

Seeing this, Su Xiaoxiao's eyes turned red. She directly activated 【Thunder Shadow Thousand Flashes】 and charged forward, turning into a bolt of lightning.

"Don't you dare hurt my captain!"

"Heh, a lightning-type mage? Playing with lightning in front of me?"

Thunder Ghost laughed disdainfully. With a wave of his hand, he actually caught the lightning arrow Su Xiaoxiao shot with his bare hands and crushed it fiercely!

"Is this the level of a First-Year University Student? Too weak!"

Meanwhile, the other Men in Black also surrounded them with sinister smiles.

"Catch that redhead alive! The higher-ups specifically asked for her!"

"Kill all the others!"

The situation instantly fell into a desperate state!

This group of Men in Black not only had high levels, but their coordination was terrifyingly seamless; they were war machines completely born for slaughter.

Li Murou's zither melody was interrupted as soon as it began, and Ye Fei's Little Si was firmly suppressed by two heavy-armored warriors.

If they didn't break the deadlock soon, the Nirvana Battle Team would really be finished here today!

"Damn it... this machine..."

Chen Xi while awkwardly dodging Thunder Ghost's giant axe, stared fixedly at the operating extraction machine.

He discovered that although the positions of the Men in Black seemed scattered, they were actually intentionally or unintentionally protecting the machine.

Moreover, every time the machine vibrated, a portion of the blood-colored energy extracted from those fierce beasts would be separated and, through an underground formation, feed back into these Men in Black!