Mutation

Jiang Ye was struck squarely in the chest by Yang Lie's fist. His breastbone caved in, and he spat out a spray of blood as he flew backward. He was already a powerful Bone Refinement Realm expert at the second level of the Hundred Refinements Realm, yet even so, he could not withstand Yang Lie's terrifying brute strength.

"Die!!"

A ferocious gleam flashed in Yang Lie's eyes as he drove a Flood Dragon Fist into Jiang Ye's head. Terrifying power erupted in an instant, blasting Jiang Ye's head apart.

"They're all dead! No survivors! Forget it. Knowing too much might only cause more trouble!"

Grabbing Jiang Ye's headless corpse, Yang Lie leaped up and darted toward the villa.

After returning to the villa, Yang Lie glanced at Qian Xiner and discovered that she was unconscious on the floor. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

"That guy seemed to be a Hundred Refinements Realm expert, yet he died beneath your fist. It looks like you've already surpassed me in strength! That's unbelievable!"

Fang Lingxiu walked over from the side and carefully examined Yang Lie. Then she suddenly said, "During our sparring sessions lately, you've been holding back against me, haven't you?"

"We sparred to improve our martial skills. I was merely honing my own techniques!"

Yang Lie immediately changed the subject. Looking at the four corpses below, he asked, "By the way, why didn't you leave anyone alive?"

Fang Lingxiu was a genuine cultivation prodigy. She already possessed cultivation at the ninth level of the Essence Solidification Realm and was only one step away from advancing into the Hundred Refinements Realm. Her combat strength was equally formidable; she could defeat four opponents by herself.

Fang Lingxiu said, "They were vampires. Their masters had placed restrictions on them. Once they were defeated, their hearts would rupture and they would die!"

Vampires were servants created by the Blood Clan. No matter how powerful they became, they remained controlled by their masters. Once their masters imposed restrictions on them, disobedience meant certain death.

What many vampires dreamed of was rendering great service, after which their masters would return their freedom and use a special Blood Clan ritual to transform them from vampires into Blood Clan members.

"Vampires? Then were they trying to capture people and turn them into Blood Clan members, or vampires?"

Yang Lie's gaze immediately fell on Zhao Meixian, whose eyes remained tightly shut nearby.

Fang Lingxiu said, "I don't know! But we can take a look inside the villa. If they planned to conduct a Blood Clan transformation ritual, they should have made arrangements inside."

"Wait. Let's loot the bodies first!"

Yang Lie swiftly took the two bracelets from Wei Xinlan, then searched Jiang Ye's corpse and found a golden box.

"Blood Clan Holy Page!!"

The moment Yang Lie opened the golden box, he saw a Blood Clan Holy Page lying within. Strands of familiar, bizarre fluctuations emanated from it. He immediately shut the box, cutting off that strange connection.

There's a Blood Clan Holy Page. That means those Blood Clan members really were planning to carry out a transformation ritual. Too bad I killed them too quickly! Still, I don't need to know that much. I'm merely an Essence Solidification Realm martial artist. Getting dragged into some huge conspiracy would be troublesome!

"What are you two doing? Hands up!!"

A furious shout came from outside. Yang Lie looked in its direction and immediately spotted a tall young man in a Public Security Bureau uniform. He carried a large-caliber rifle on his back, wore a long saber at his waist, and had handsome short hair. He was leading over a dozen fully armed officers toward them.

The ten fully armed officers wore wary expressions as they aimed 12.7-millimeter heavy rifles at Yang Lie and Fang Lingxiu.

How did they get here so quickly?

A trace of suspicion rose in Yang Lie's heart, but he still raised his hands and said, "My name is Yang Lie. I'm the nephew of Qian Ming, the director of the Public Security Bureau. We came to attend a classmate's birthday party, and then these vampires ambushed us. My classmates have all fallen into a deep sleep as well."

Fang Lingxiu obediently raised her hands too.

According to the orders issued by Qian Ming, everyone in the Base City had to obey the reasonable commands of Public Security Bureau Officers. Otherwise, if the officers felt their lives were threatened, they had the authority to shoot the other party dead on the spot.

Yang Lie was covered in blood and looked nothing like a good person, which was why he revealed his identity so early, lest any misunderstanding arise.

"I'm Luo Xiangkong, captain of the Eleventh Great Squad! We'll investigate what happened here thoroughly!"

Luo Xiangkong strode up to Yang Lie. Then his expression suddenly changed drastically. He frantically circulated his true qi and viciously clawed at Yang Lie's left kidney.

Clang!!

Yang Lie was sent flying over ten meters like a rag doll by Luo Xiangkong's blow, crashing heavily into a nearby villa.

Luo Xiangkong roared, "Open fire! Kill those two!! They're both Blood Clan agents!! This is their trap!"

The Public Security Bureau Officers of the Eleventh Great Squad raised their guns and fired at Fang Lingxiu.

The instant Luo Xiangkong attacked, Fang Lingxiu leaped away and darted toward a villa beside her.

The dense barrage of heavy-rifle bullets struck the villa's walls, blasting countless fragments into the air.

"I get it now!! I already revealed my identity, yet you still attacked me. That means you're in league with the Blood Clan inside the villa! Every piece of trash colluding with the Blood Clan deserves to die!!"

Yang Lie sprang up from the ground with a kip-up and activated the Vajra Skill. He stared fixedly at Luo Xiangkong, murder flickering in his eyes. Although Luo Xiangkong had caught him off guard with that claw strike and indeed lightly injured him, even slightly damaging his left kidney, Yang Lie possessed the Blood Clan's extraordinary regenerative ability. Moreover, he had immense ferocious beast vitality within him. That minor wound practically healed in an instant.

"See that? He must be Blood Clan!! He's trying to deceive us!! Everyone, attack together and take him down!"

Luo Xiangkong roared, suddenly waved his hand, and sent a Flashbang flying toward Yang Lie.

"A Flashbang!! Damn it, you shameless bastard!!"

Yang Lie's expression changed sharply, and he immediately shut his eyes.

Bang!

The Flashbang exploded, and blinding light engulfed the area.

With his eyes shut, Luo Xiangkong directly unleashed the Earth Grade Martial Skill, Fierce Tiger Slash. A peerlessly brilliant saber light descended in an instant like an incomparably savage tiger.

With his eyes shut, Yang Lie frantically circulated his true qi. Without dodging or evading, he threw out Flood Dragon выхода в море at Luo Xiangkong.

Clang!!

Luo Xiangkong's saber was far faster than Yang Lie's fist. It instantly slashed into Yang Lie's body, sending sparks flying everywhere.

A shallow wound appeared on Yang Lie's left abdomen. Blood had only just flowed out before the wound began to scab over.

The Blood Clan's powerful regenerative ability was displayed to the fullest on Yang Lie's body. He possessed the strength of several ferocious beasts within him; he was more like a Blood Clan member than ordinary Essence Solidification Realm Blood Clan members.

The next instant, Yang Lie's fist struck Luo Xiangkong as well. Terrifying force erupted in an instant, shattering several of Luo Xiangkong's bones with a single blow. Luo Xiangkong spat out a spray of blood and flew backward.

"Brother Luo!!"

A beautiful female officer screamed and swung her saber, conjuring layers upon layers of saber light as she slashed toward Yang Lie.