Chapter 26: Chapter Twenty-Five: Encounter with a Herd of Feral Beasts

Ding Huan was still planning his cultivation path.

In his previous life, he would leave Earth two years from now aboard a ship from the Gene Alliance; at that time, eleven ships were leaving Earth, and his own was naturally focused on genetic research.

According to the Gene Alliance's plan, this fleet would spend three years traveling through space.

During those three years, they needed to search for life materials in outer space, collect the genes of these life forms, and transmit signals via virtual wave codes to seek out alien civilizations.

Thinking of this, Ding Huan shook his head—these fools were asking for death.

If they truly found an alien civilization like Changyi Continent, Earth would be doomed.

Changyi Continent would surely treat Earth as its backyard, forcing every human on Earth to mine Yuan Ore.

This was only because Changyi Continent's genetic science had advanced somewhat; otherwise, all of humanity on Earth would have been used for large-scale genetic experiments.

The Gene Alliance's fleet encountered disaster one year after leaving Earth, when their ships crashed into a black hole.

Later, Ding Huan learned it was a wormhole—impossible to accurately describe with current scientific terminology.

But passing through a wormhole could transport one from one star system to another.

That meant the straight-line distance between these two star systems might be countless light-years, yet the wormhole could bypass all those light-years and arrive instantly.

It was like an infinitely long wall—you'd have to detour a vast distance to get from one side to the other, but if you punched through the wall, you'd be on the opposite side the next moment.

A wormhole wasn't exactly like that, but it might achieve a similar effect.

Once a ship entered a wormhole, even a Level Three Genetic Cultivator could only wait to die.

And these people from Earth's Gene Alliance? The strongest among them was probably just a Level Three Genetic Cultivator.

Ding Huan sighed—he survived because, after the ship broke apart, he encountered a Starship from Changyi Continent.

The captain of that ship was a Level Nine Genetic Cultivator; he was rescued before the ship fully disintegrated, while every other person aboard perished.

Although Ding Huan never met that captain again, nor had the privilege to learn his name or background, he had always been deeply grateful to the Starship's captain.

When his thoughts returned, Ding Huan realized a problem.

If he were to leave Earth again, would he still have to join that Gene Alliance fleet? And would he still have to board Ship No. 9?

That might not work—last time, he survived only because he was lucky.

If he left Earth again with the Gene Alliance fleet, even aboard Ship No. 9, even if he encountered the wormhole one year later and got pulled in, could he still survive?

Remember, everyone aboard Ship No. 9 died when the ship broke apart—he survived only because he was in the experimental cabin…

Yes, the experimental cabin. If he traveled with the ship again, he must stay inside the ship's genetic experimental cabin.

Ding Huan shook his head—the Gene Alliance's ships would leave Earth in about two years; even if he reached Level Four Genetic Cultivator, passing through the wormhole would still be a death sentence.

But if he didn't join the fleet, how could he reach Changyi Continent?

Staying on Earth forever was impossible—the ambient Yuan Qi here was insufficient for his cultivation.

As Ding Huan was still pondering how to leave Earth, a rapid footsteps passed by his side.

A cultivator—he immediately opened his eyes.

The two men who passed were not Genetic Cultivators, but at least they were Neijin martial artists. No— one of them was at least a Yellow Grade martial artist.

Two men dashed past the business car, sprinting ahead.

Only then did Ding Huan sense something was wrong—normally, after railway damage, repair crews fixed it quickly, within no more than twenty minutes.

This kind of incident was far too common; yet now, nearly an hour had passed.

Could it be Genetic Feral Beasts?

It was normal for Genetic Feral Beasts to form herds and collectively block trains; these beasts possessed intelligence and would devise ways to stop the train before attacking.

Thinking of this, Ding Huan stood up—he couldn't wait any longer.

If it truly was a beast herd, his current strength might not let him break through.

"Sir, please remain seated and do not leave your seat." As Ding Huan rose, a steward approached him.

Ding Huan was about to ignore the steward and leave anyway when he heard a barrage of gunfire, followed by the booming sound of artillery shells.

Hearing this, Ding Huan did not leave—he sat back down.

The sound of guns and artillery meant the military had arrived.

Although nuclear weapons couldn't completely eliminate Genetic Feral Beasts, as long as they hadn't formed a true beast herd, they were still no match for conventional weapons.

The Genetic Feral Beasts blocking this train hadn't formed a true beast herd—if they had, the windows would already be swarming with them.

The reason he judged it wasn't a beast herd was that, with the gunfire erupting, he saw more Genetic Feral Beasts outside the windows—but they were scattering in all directions.

In a true Genetic Feral Beast herd outbreak, those beasts would never flee—they'd charge madly toward their target.

Indeed, just over ten minutes later, the gunfire thinned out and vanished.

Another half hour passed, and the train finally moved again.

Ding Huan sighed—he knew this was only the beginning.

Although villages were being destroyed by Genetic Feral Beasts seemingly all the time, a true beast herd had not yet formed.

The main reason was that the number and level of Genetic Feral Beasts were still within manageable limits; once their population exploded and their levels rose continuously, the beast herd would inevitably follow.

This time, the Genetic Feral Beasts blocking the train had been driven off—and many had been killed. The enmity was now sealed.

Genetically mutated feral beasts' brains gradually grew smarter; blocking railways and halting trains was clearly planned.

After being slaughtered this time, next time even more feral beasts might gather on this route to ambush trains.

Unfortunately, Ding Huan knew his warning would be useless.

Even if he warned others, no one would believe him—even if someone believed him and stopped the train, the Genetic Feral Beasts would simply shift their hatred elsewhere.

Until the leader of this small-scale ambush was killed, the outcome wouldn't change.

"Huh? You? Ding Huan?" A delighted voice made Ding Huan open his eyes in surprise.

Was there someone familiar here? Then he realized—it truly was someone he knew. He smiled and said, "Long time no see, Liu Aimei."

The girl before him was Liu Aimei, whom he had met on Qianluo Mountain—indeed, she was someone he had saved.

"Ding Huan, how are you here? Aren't you in Luohe?" Liu Aimei suddenly lowered her voice.

Ding Huan still held a favorable impression of Liu Aimei.

"I'm just wandering to clear my head, and happened to board this bus. What about you? Did you just leave Luohe City today?"

Liu Aimei crouched down closer to Ding Huan and whispered, "Ding Huan, I was actually looking for you. When I couldn't find you, I planned to go to Puhai."

"Looking for me?" Ding Huan frowned at Liu Aimei. He didn't have much connection with her, did he?

He hadn't even left contact details back then—she should've known he didn't want to associate with them.

Liu Aimei nodded, somewhat ashamed, and said, "After you left, we also left Qianluo Mountain. But Qiao Yi didn't escape."

Ding Huan frowned. "No way. I remember there were two helicopters—weren't they there to rescue Qiao Yi?"

Liu Aimei sighed. "Those helicopters were indeed for Qiao Yi. Alas, when he came out, he didn't see me or Qin Yi. He must've panicked."

At that moment, he heard the roar of the helicopters. Qiao Yi, probably too excited, rushed to the cave entrance and screamed at the helicopters…"

Hearing this, Ding Huan helplessly shook his head.

The Jin Yuan's vengeful nature meant that after securing the medicinal herbs, it would certainly lie in wait for anyone inside the cave.

Sure enough, Liu Aimei continued, "Qiao Yi didn't realize the giant ape was still outside. As soon as he reached the cave mouth, the giant ape grabbed him."

You probably know what happened after that—his fate was the same as Bai Chuanqiang's. Qiao Yi is dead. You must be careful from now on. Don't expose yourself casually."

Ding Huan stared at Liu Aimei in confusion. "What does this have to do with me?"

Liu Aimei whispered even lower, "Qiao Yi wasn't ordinary. Bai Chuanqiang's family had connections too."

"Myself and Qin Yi owe you an apology. After Qiao Yi died, we were called in for detailed questioning."

"What do you mean?" Ding Huan frowned.

Liu Aimei apologized. "The Qiao family repeatedly questioned me and Qin Yi: why didn't Qiao Yi escape with us?"

"I told them I shouted for Qiao Yi, but after he ran into the cave, he never responded. The situation was urgent—I had no choice but to flee with Qin Yi."

Liu Aimei glanced cautiously at Ding Huan. "Those interrogators were powerful… they found out anyway."

Ding Huan sneered. "Did they find out you said you wanted to call for Qiao Yi, but I refused to wait?"

Liu Aimei nodded. This time, she said nothing.

After Qiao Yi was killed by the giant ape, she knew Ding Huan had been right—if they'd gone back to call for him, none of them would've escaped.

"Did you say it, or did Qin Yi say it?" Ding Huan asked calmly.

He was certain that if he'd waited even a moment longer, he'd have died in Qianluo Mountain.

Qiao Yi had rushed over a hundred meters into the cave—he couldn't even hear him. Even twenty minutes wouldn't have been enough to get him out.

"It was Qin Yi. Under those circumstances, she couldn't have stayed silent—she'd have been forced to confess anyway," Liu Aimei whispered, no longer needing to lower her voice.

"You came to Luohe City to warn me?" Ding Huan asked again.

"Yes. You don't know how terrifying the Qiao family is. I heard they hold shares in Yongtang Genetics."

I came to Luohe City hoping to make you leave quickly. I couldn't find you, but I never expected to see you here." Liu Aimei exhaled in relief—she'd finally delivered the message.

"Alright, I understand. Thank you. And one more thing—don't take this bus again." Ding Huan thanked her.

Liu Aimei stood up, gave Ding Huan an apologetic look, then turned and left.

She didn't take his final words to heart—or rather, she didn't care about them at all.

Ding Huan sneered inwardly. He was certain Liu Aimei's movements in Luohe City were being watched—she just didn't know it.

Good thing he hadn't left her any contact details; otherwise, he'd be on the run again.

It's been so long since the Qianluo Mountain incident—the Qiao family and Bai Chuanqiang's backers must've already come to Luohe City searching for him.

But he'd been cultivating at Yujiang University, only leaving once or twice.

The Qiao family didn't know his true identity, and couldn't possibly monitor all of Luohe City—so they'd never found him.

Liu Aimei came to Luohe hoping she could find him, but she failed just like everyone else.

Since Liu Aimei couldn't find him, the Qiao family probably won't follow her now that she's left Luohe City.