Chapter 341
The defensive line at the Imperial Border was deliberately sabotaged, creating an opening through which the pollutants sneaked into the territory.
If it was just such a breach, the pollutants would not be able to enter the border en masse in a short period of time.
Xue Yinzhou secretly discovered a lure device for the pollutants.
This device, within just a few days, had attracted numerous pollutant mutant species to invade the border, becoming the main culprit behind the turmoil among the populace.
Xue Yinzhou held the rhombus-shaped device in his hand and squinted his snake eyes, the silver-purple vertical pupils radiating a chilling aura.
Who did this?
A hostile neighboring country, the rebel army, or domestic traitors could all be the masterminds behind this incident.
But this device is peculiar, never heard of it, even unavailable in the black market; it’s unlikely something an ordinary person could produce.
There is still a small portion of the surveillance on the border defenses that hasn’t been completely destroyed.
After restoring the circuits, Xue Yinzhou investigated the surveillance content and discovered traces of spatial energy fluctuations.
It was Zaxxis’s doing.
Though the surveillance only flashed a few frames, having multiple life-and-death encounters with each other, Xue Yinzhou instantly recognized the shadow’s identity, his expression dangerous, emanating a chilling intent to kill!
In just a few minutes, hundreds of pollutants gathered outside the house, utterly blocking the way, frantically scratching at the windows and iron door, producing a nerve-grating sound.
“Bang p>
Xue Yinzhou clenched his palm vigorously, crushing the lure device, then stepped outside to take care of this group of pollutant mutant species.
In the following month or so, Xue Yinzhou repaired the border defenses and eradicated the pollution mutant species that crossed into the Imperial Border.
Under the tempering of relentless day-and-night battles, his strength surged, breaking through to the Tenth Rank!
Tenth Rank Beastman, mighty and invincible!
This marks the first Tenth Rank in several hundred years since the founding of the Night Glow Empire.
His silver snake form became more elongated and stout, the white scales shimmering with purplish-golden light under the moonlight, with a gold snake-pattern print appearing on his forehead, resembling a snake head ready to bite its tail and intertwining, forming an ouroboros-like mark, with a round object seemingly hidden in the snake’s mouth, emitting a chilling aura under the cold moonlight.
Xue Yinzhou’s aura underwent a monumental change, inducing a cold fear in anyone who beheld him; pollutants with lower intelligence dared not approach recklessly upon sight, shrieking as they fled outward.
It’s a creature’s absolute fear of death!
Xue Yinzhou returned to human form, with a tall and slender physique under the moonlight, like a meticulously carved jade sculpture, the entire person exuding a mysterious and powerful aura, akin to a blood-soaked phantom emerging.
Once the situation at the border was confirmed to be resolved, he initially planned to return to the Imperial City to report to Shen Tang, but for reasons unbeknownst even to himself, he altered his route, heading in another direction.
Throughout world history, only a few Tenth Rank Beastmen have ever appeared, considered to be invincible; Xue Yinzhou’s prowess surpassed Zaxxis’s, recalling past grievances, and it was time for revenge.
As for the traitor Shen Qingli, although Xue Yinzhou had previously wanted to act against her several times, due to Shen Tang’s orders, he had no choice but to let her off.
But facts proved that, as long as this female lived, there would be no peace.
Indeed, Xue Yinzhou even suspected Shen Qingli’s involvement in this incident, the lure device likely given to Zaxxis by her; otherwise, the rebel army, having such powerful equipment, would not have waited until now to use it.
Last time, Shen Tang and Xiao Jin compiled a map after infiltrating the rebel army’s stronghold, sharing it with all Beast Husbands.
Xue Yinzhou followed the path indicated on the map, headed for the rebel army’s stronghold.
A bloody purge was destined!
Meanwhile, on the border, the situation in various cities began to stabilize, with no reports of new disappearances for three days.
After arranging everything there, Shen Tang intended to return to the Imperial City.
Upon learning of this, Song Fang decided to bring the Beast Husband along to accompany her back.
Shen Tang traveled back to the Imperial City with Song Fang and others, assigning Lu Xiao with the task of settling this family.
The dog system kept urging her to perform tasks.
Shen Tang had no choice but to find time and continue live streaming her cooking business.
Fortunately, Song Fang showed great interest in cooking, with a lively personality that easily stirred the atmosphere, not to mention her being female, naturally attracting attention and heat, so Shen Tang had her help out in her live streaming.
Compared to Shen Tang hosting the cooking live stream with high-status Beast Husbands, which might seem a bit like hype, adding Song Fang’s commoner family made it more down-to-earth, sparking a larger discussion.
Over a month later, Shen Tang’s task progress increased significantly, exceeding 20 p>
Yet unfortunately.
Still far from meeting the system’s standard!
Shen Tang was utterly troubled, wishing all citizens were just like Song Fang’s family, with such a high acceptance level toward food.
Speaking of which, Shen Tang recalled when she met Song Fang and her family; they were immediately interested in food and culinary arts, never seeing Song Fang consuming nutrient liquids.
Curiously, Shen Tang asked, “Fangfang, which brand of nutrient liquid have you and the Beast Husband been drinking all this time p>
Song Fang scoffed, “Our family doesn’t drink nutrient liquids, even if we starve to death, I would never touch that disgusting stuff p>
“Why?” Shen Tang hadn’t expected such a response.
Beastmen generally love nutrient liquids; why does Song Fang seem utterly averse?
Song Fang’s emotions grew agitated; her Beast Husband, Lang Xiao, came forward to explain, with a complex expression, “Your Majesty, are you aware of the crime we and Fangfang initially committed, which led to us being thrown into the polluted area p>
“Fangfang’s father was falsely accused, leading your family to be implicated, resulting in exile to the polluted area.” Shen Tang recalled Song Fang mentioning this unfortunate event, remembering it clearly.
However, she didn’t know more of the inside details.
Shen Tang isn’t fond of probing into others’ affairs; this topic, relatively speaking, carries a heavy weight too.
Song Fang’s family, only she remains now, her relatives likely long gone in the polluted area p>
Lang Xiao sighed lightly, just about to continue explaining, when Song Fang interrupted, “Never mind, I’ll explain to Tangtang myself p>
Song Fang always seemed carefree, but now her eyes were red, shimmering with tears, her voice choked.
For the first time, Shen Tang saw her in this state, curious about what had happened to her.
Song Fang lowered her head, sobbing, “My father beast was a reporter, named Tan Ye p>
“You can still find reports about him on the Star Network; he was quite famous at the time, an extremely responsible journalist, unafraid of power and capital, exposing many societal evils p>
“Sadly, father beast’s overly righteous demeanor led him to expose those violating criminal visions and helped the populace in many ways, which brought our family catastrophic misfortune p>
“Most Beastmen in the Empire drink nutrient liquids; many large companies also produce nutrient liquids. Father beast inadvertently discovered that several major manufacturers of nutrient liquids on the market, to gain profits, resorted to opportunism, adding cheap chemical materials into the nutrient liquids, substituting the raw materials p>
“Though these substances also provide Beastmen with satiety and energy, excessive consumption damages Beastmen’s health, making it hard to diagnose the cause during subsequent treatments p>
“Father beast was enraged and swore to expose the shady production of nutrient liquids, but he was naïve; we were merely commoners, how could we confront those people?” Song Fang struggled to speak, sobbing, “Later… I don’t know the specifics, but father beast was convicted of ’spreading rumors, endangering social security,’ sentenced heavily and imprisoned, and mysteriously died within three months p>
“Our family was thrown into the polluted area, mother and brother died, leaving only me; if not for Lang Xiao and them protecting me, I probably would have Song Fang stated, covering her face in tears, unable to speak further.