Chapter 21: A Chance Encounter

Lin Ran handed the ten crystal sources to Jiang Yu and asked one last time if she would like to leave with them. Once it was confirmed that Jiang Yu intended to stay, he led his team in retreat.

After the personnel from the Xiangyang Base had all departed, Jiang Yu was left alone.

The xenomorphs, having lost their previous targets, began to attack Jiang Yu, blindly hurling their assaults at her. Jiang Yu, however, moved methodically among the creatures, cutting them down one by one.

Meanwhile, Wang Yang and his group encountered a swarm of xenomorphs while on their way back.

"How unlucky can we be, running into these things?"

Seeing the creatures closing in, they drove toward the direction of the Xiangyang Base, as it was the only path available. The estimated number of xenomorphs ahead was significant; had they confronted them head-on, they would have stood no chance. A chilling suspicion began to dawn on them: the creatures seemed to be herding them toward the battlefield near the Xiangyang Base.

"Wang Yang, if we keep going, we'll be right back where we started."

They were growing anxious. They were well aware of the situation at the Xiangyang Base. Whether they advanced or retreated, they were destined to clash with the xenomorphs.

"What if we abandon the vehicles?"

The creatures behind them had not yet caught up, so they still had the option to flee on foot.

"Then abandon the vehicles and run."

The occupants of both cars decided to ditch them. As they scrambled in a different direction, the xenomorphs surged forward, trampling over the abandoned vehicles without sparing a glance at the fleeing survivors.

"They aren't following us."

One of them looked back and breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the creatures move past them. Hoping to wait for the swarm to disperse before returning the way they came, they hid in the vicinity.

"Wang Yue, did you hear something?"

Not long after, one of them sensed a disturbance. They scanned the surroundings, but everything appeared normal.

"It seems like... something is heading our way."

Wang Yue’s awakened talent was "clairaudience," allowing him to clearly hear movements from all directions. The reason he hadn't detected it sooner was that he had been preoccupied with thoughts of escape rather than monitoring the environment.

As he spoke, everyone’s expression shifted.

"Are more xenomorphs coming our way?"

They were having an incredibly unlucky day. If they had known, they never would have taken that mission. Having risked their lives for ten crystal sources, they now weren't even sure if they could make it back to the base.

"Can you tell which direction they're coming from?"

"They're coming from every direction. We’re... surrounded."

There was no safe haven left; they were certain to clash with the creatures.

"Then get ready, everyone, and keep your spirits up! They're just xenomorphs. I refuse to believe that so many of us can't break through to safety."

The group entered combat mode, observing their surroundings with vigilance, prepared to fight at any moment.

"The xenomorphs are almost here. Everyone, be careful."

Hardly had the words left his mouth when the creatures appeared in their line of sight. At first glance, they thought the number was manageable, but in the next second, wave after wave of xenomorphs poured in.

Their faces turned deathly pale.

"Damn it, how are there so many?"

The sheer volume of the creatures exceeded their wildest fears. Their immediate reaction was the realization that they were doomed. However, they had no intention of waiting for death. Even though they knew they couldn't win, they resolved to take down as many as possible—at least they would go down fighting.

They charged forward with their weapons, locked in a desperate struggle for survival. The xenomorphs, seeing them as nothing more than mobile sustenance, lunged forward with excitement. Soon, the area became a chaotic battlefield.

As time passed, their stamina began to wane. Unable to sustain the intense combat, some were soon overwhelmed and struck by the creatures. Their companions tried to assist, but were themselves pinned down and unable to escape.

"Wang Yang?"

They were supposed to have left; why were they still here?

After finishing off the xenomorphs near the Xiangyang Base, Jiang Yu had intended to leave, but she heard the commotion and came to investigate. She arrived to find Wang Yang’s group besieged. She had previously thought she had cleared the area, but it turned out the creatures had simply found new prey.

Seeing that the group was struggling to hold their ground, Jiang Yu immediately stepped in to help.

When Wang Yang and the others saw Jiang Yu, they were puzzled by her presence, but her intervention made the fight significantly easier. As more xenomorphs swarmed in, the pile of carcasses grew steadily.

They had always known Jiang Yu was capable, but they never imagined she was *this* powerful. Watching her effortlessly slaughter the creatures, they began to wonder: were these monsters actually this easy to kill? It seemed as if the creatures she faced were somehow different from the ones they were fighting.

Three hours later, the number of xenomorphs had visibly thinned, and no new ones were arriving.

When the final creature fell, everyone collapsed to the ground, exhausted. They were completely spent; if another creature had appeared, they wouldn't have had the strength to stand. Toward the end, they had been relying purely on adrenaline to keep going. Had they paused for even a second, they wouldn't have survived.

Glancing over, they saw Jiang Yu standing there as if she hadn't broken a sweat.

Finally, to their astonishment, she still had the energy to go around and extract the crystal sources.

It was almost impossible to accept. Was she even human? How could anyone have such boundless stamina?

Jiang Yu quickly harvested the crystals from the creatures' heads, pocketed her share, and handed the rest to Wang Yang and his team.

"Here, these are yours."

"No need, you keep them."

If Jiang Yu hadn't arrived in time, they would likely be dead. What were crystals compared to their lives?

"Exactly, Jiang Yu, you should take them."

Most of them agreed to give the crystals to Jiang Yu, and even those who might have preferred otherwise kept their silence.

"Alright then."

Jiang Yu did not decline. She was, after all, in great need of crystal sources.