Chapter 349: Fang Zhiyan: I

Yue Chengzhang silently summoned a light sword, and although he didn't know why the Co-Absorption lunatics were targeting two Mitra Academy students, at least he couldn't just stand by and watch the two kids being taken away.

He still had a deep impression of those Mitra Academy students, after all they were the ones who escaped the collapsed mine together with Min Tianyou and were being watched by Min Tianyou.

Min Tianyou rarely dealt with peers, and back then he began to pay extra attention to these outstanding juniors, especially Ying Duo.

He bore that glowing green look, and the deeds he had done truly made it hard for him to even try to forget.

The moment the Gloomy Fluorescent Stone was mentioned, a head of green hair, worthy of being called mental pollution, instantly popped into his mind.

So thinking that way, there was a reason for the Co-Absorption to take those two students: one bore multiple Mutation Features, the other could even carry a Mutation Source and run across the world.

Ying Duo's mental state was already worrisome; if those two students were taken by them......

Yue Chengzhang couldn't imagine what would happen to them, yet he didn't dare claim he could rescue the two from those three.

Dark Raven and that ram‑horn monster were fine; the problem lay in......

Yue Chengzhang's gaze locked onto Fang Zhiyan, and as he looked at the flamboyant tentacles behind him, his brows tightened.

Dark Raven and the "Shepherd" both stood on either side of that tentacled monster; Fang Zhiyan appeared to be the leader, and as far as he knew, none of the known Co-Absorption members bore that identity.

The most important point: Yue Chengzhang hadn't felt a sense of danger from others in a long time.

But when facing Fang Zhiyan, he did feel it.

Fang Zhiyan also noticed the suddenly appearing blocker; he halted, his dark‑red eyes sweeping over Yue Chengzhang, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"What a coincidence, Captain Yue," his voice was gentle, though they had never met; now it sounded as if greeting an old friend, "I've long admired your name."

"That's not a coincidence."

Yue Chengzhang stared at him, his hand slowly rubbing the hilt; under normal circumstances he might have been excited by the enemy's strength, but they were currently in Tianmian City.

He had to put civilian safety first.

Fortunately, since the three had no intention of standing down, they sounded the Aberrant Species alarm early, and the nearby civilians, upon seeing them for the first time, fled farther and farther away.

All they could do was hope the Church headquarters had some countermeasure......

While Yue Chengzhang faced Fang Zhiyan and his group seriously, Ying Duo merely glanced up when he suddenly stopped, recognized a familiar face, raised his hand in a greeting, then decisively returned to his work.

The thing in his hand had already taken shape, and looking at the components, he could roughly guess that Ying Duo intended to make some kind of firearm.

However, at their level, ordinary firearms' damage was truly limited, so it was no wonder those people completely ignored Ying Duo.

Yue Chengzhang wielded his sword single‑handed, already prepared for a bloody duel with the three, but—

The three‑person encirclement he had expected never materialized.

Lu Mu glanced at the sword‑drawing Yue Chengzhang, then at the motionless Fang Zhiyan, and decisively stepped back three paces.

Bai Mu Yun was even more decisive, turning and retreating behind the base of a wall, even finding a cover to lean against.

Yue Chengzhang: "......"

What does this mean?

He hadn't even reacted when he saw Fang Zhiyan's smile suddenly turn much more sinister.

Lu Mu: I just brought you two up here, my legs are still weak, Minister, keep it up.

Bai Mu Yun: I'm an intelligence officer of the non‑combat unit, you know.

Fang Zhiyan:......

Fang Zhiyan: I'm just a researcher.

Yue Chengzhang couldn't see the system pop‑ups from the Team Channel, but Lu Mu and Bai Mu Yun's "we're not joining" stance was plainly on display.

His brows furrowed even tighter.

What on earth are these people up to?

But Fang Zhiyan gave him no more time to think; the next second, the tentacles behind him tensed, first flinging Luo Jinyou to Lu Mu, then placing Ying Duo beside Bai Mu Yun.

"Watch them." Fang Zhiyan's voice gave no hint of joy or anger, but he also knew that Bai Mu Yun and Lu Mu teaming up were unlikely to be a match for Yue Chengzhang.

Then, Fang Zhiyan's silver‑white tentacles surged like living snakes, lunging straight at Yue Chengzhang's face; the speed was astonishing, leaving several after‑images in the air.

Yue Chengzhang's gaze hardened, his golden light sword slashing horizontally; the blade met the tentacle with a harsh metallic clang!

"Clang—!"

The tentacle was knocked aside, yet unscathed.

Yue Chengzhang's wrist twitched, a hidden alarm ringing in his mind; the tentacle's strength far exceeded his estimate, and its surface was cloaked in a strange energy, making the light sword feel as if it were cutting rubber, the force largely dissipated upon contact.

The second tentacle attacked from the side; Yue Chengzhang sidestepped, and his light sword naturally swung toward the third.

"Clang clang clang—"

Three consecutive strikes forced Yue Chengzhang back half a step.

Fang Zhiyan remained stationary, not moving a single step, while his eight tentacles danced in the air, perfectly coordinated in offense and defense.

"Captain Yue, impressive skill," Fang Zhiyan said sincerely.

Yue Chengzhang gave no reply, his eyes flicking rapidly across the battlefield.

Fang Zhiyan was stronger than any opponent Yue Chengzhang had ever faced, and after that brief clash, he recognized this with crystal clarity.

But he is Yue Chengzhang.

In Tianmian City, they were the civilians' final line of defense.

He pivoted his sword, using the rebound force; his whole body spun like a top, the blade light turning into golden vortices that slashed at Fang Zhiyan from all directions.

Fang Zhiyan showed no fear, his tentacles meeting the blade one after another, each collision producing earth‑shaking booms.

The golden light intertwined with the silver‑white glow, illuminating the whole street as if it were broad daylight.

Lu Mu crowded next to Bai Mu Yun, one hand gripping Luo Jinyou's collar, his eyes widening.

He muttered softly, "Is Yue Chengzhang really that fierce?"

Calling Yue Chengzhang the strongest of the Church's new generation isn't an overstatement, yet he's still younger than Fang Zhiyan; given enough time, reaching Fang Zhiyan's level would be merely a matter of time.

However, this era isn't lacking in gifted individuals; those who can survive to the pinnacle are few and far between.

Bai Mu Yun didn't pay him any attention; after all, when they merely collided, the energy would explode, and there was an even more dazzling light source beside him.

Yue Chengzhang couldn't help but settle his mind to devise a countermeasure, while Bai Mu Yun stood beside Ying Duo, ignoring what Ying Duo was doing.

And Ying Duo had no intention of looking for a chance to flee; he kept his head down, fiddling with something, a mass of Ying Guang Lu energy flowing in his palm, and the faint outline of metal components could be seen rapidly forming.