Chapter 121: Trouble Arrives

Zhan Yu and Ai Zhe discussed the next steps, with Zhan Yu asking Ai Zhe to keep an eye on the ten students in his group. Ai Zhe glanced at Xuan Xuan and, largely out of consideration for her, gave a reluctant nod of agreement.

As they had anticipated, that very evening, Xuan Xuan detected a Zerg gathering point within the range of her psionic perception. However, Xuan Guo and his group did not enter; they stopped a short distance away, feigning ignorance of the site. Xuan Xuan reckoned that Xuan Guo knew no one would willingly let themselves be parasitized by the Zerg, so he kept it a secret, waiting for the students to unknowingly wander into the Zerg’s trap.

"You can let your people in now," Xuan Xuan said to Zhan Yu.

Zhan Yu raised an eyebrow. "They arrived so quickly?"

Xuan Xuan nodded, sharing the coordinates she had scouted with Zhan Yu and Kuang Shao. "I suspect they will make their move tonight."

"Understood. I'll get them in. Even if they don't move, we will." Having located the gathering point, they now held the initiative, and it was better to strike first. However, they lacked geographical advantages and a clear understanding of the Zerg's specific situation.

"Can you determine their exact numbers? And if possible, could you map out the gathering point?" Zhan Yu asked. Knowing these details would grant them a significant advantage. He was worried that if they acted blindly, many Zerg would slip through the net; once they understood the terrain, it would be much harder for the Zerg to escape.

Xuan Xuan shook her head. "No, the distance is too great." Psionic control had its limits; the Zerg gathering point was deep underground, and the dense obstructions hindered her reach.

"Too far?" Zhan Yu's eyes lit up. "What if we get closer?"

"That would work," Xuan Xuan replied.

"The three of us make a small target. Is there a way to enter the Zerg lair without being detected?" Zhan Yu asked.

Xuan Xuan nodded. That was easy. Whether it was "concealment potions," "invisibility potions," or the recently crafted "shape-shifting potions" made from "illusion grass," they could easily bypass the Zerg's senses. A smirk played on her lips. "Then let's go in and investigate."

Entering the heart of the Zerg lair was risky, but even if they couldn't wipe them out alone, gathering intelligence would be invaluable for the main force.

"Directly into the Zerg lair? Isn't that too risky?" Kuang Shao asked, a hint of madness in his eyes, as if he found the prospect exciting.

Zhan Yu curled his lip in disdain. He knew Kuang Shao better than anyone; the man was likely dying to go. "You can stay here if you like."

"Uh, I was just saying," Kuang Shao quickly backtracked.

Xuan Xuan tossed two vials to them. "Drink these when I give the signal. It will mask your presence from the Zerg." She then cast a "Lightness Spell" on both of them. "Let's go."

The two men tested the spell, secretly marveling at how flexible her Wind-attribute ability was. As they followed her, they both grumbled inwardly: why hadn't she used such convenient methods before? It would have made traversing the rainforest much easier.

Xuan Xuan, unaware of their silent complaints, contacted Ai Zhe through her thoughts, telling him they had arrived and that Xuan Guo might strike that night. She instructed him to be vigilant and informed him that they were heading into the Zerg nest, telling him to contact Kuang Chi if any emergencies arose. She feared that if they weren't careful, the students might be consumed by the Zerg before they could even get back to them.

Once she sensed nearby Zerg activity, Xuan Xuan stopped and signaled for Zhan Yu and Kuang Shao to drink their potions. "Stay hidden," she instructed.

Zhan Yu twitched his lip—how had Wanqi Xuan Xuan become the commander? It felt strange, but after feeling the data she shared through their psionic connection, he stayed silent. Kuang Shao felt the same; he was losing his standing, and he couldn't even protest.

The Zerg gathering point was like a small underground city—a vast, cavernous network with hidden entrances. After a careful psionic sweep, Xuan Xuan selected an entrance. Before entering, she wisely cast a barrier on herself, having learned her lesson from a previous mishap on the Star Network. As for Zhan Yu and Kuang Shao, she didn't bother.

The entrance was unremarkable, like any damp, ordinary cave. Suddenly, she stopped, picked up a pinch of soil, and frowned. "Someone got here ahead of us."

"Who? Xuan Guo?" Zhan Yu looked grave.

Xuan Xuan gave a wry smile. "It’s Wanqi Weihao and the other five."

"What?" Kuang Shao asked. "How did those six find this place?"

"It’s Lou Yitong," Xuan Xuan said. Only Lou Yitong’s psionic sensitivity could have detected this. If she had relied on her senses and they had stumbled upon some tracks, finding the place wasn't impossible. Still, she had underestimated the power of a Soul Singer. "But they are far too reckless to just march into the Zerg’s territory like this."

"Who gave them the nerve?" Zhan Yu frowned. This was a classic case of newborn calves not fearing the tiger. He had only tasked them with reporting the location and signs of the Zerg, not charging inside.

"How do you know it's them?" Kuang Shao asked, curious. He hadn't noticed anything.

Xuan Xuan brushed the soil from her hands. "It’s the potion I gave them—the same one you’re using. Otherwise, they never would have made it this far."

Kuang Shao nodded in realization. "They must have just entered. If we hurry, we might catch up to them." Xuan Xuan expanded her psionic reach, but while she couldn't see the six of them, the lingering scent of the potion meant they weren't far.

Zhan Yu felt a headache coming on. This was a massive complication. Not only did they have to survey the area, but they also had to rescue those six. If the main force arrived and began the siege, the danger for those students would multiply. Since they were still teenagers who had just started university, the chances of them surviving were slim. Among them were the grandsons of the Wanqi family, along with Xiao Daopeng, Zuo Chen, Lou Yitong, and Zheng Chao—none of them were simple, but if anything happened to them, it would be a disaster.

Seeing Zhan Yu’s pained expression, Xuan Xuan curled her lips—she loved seeing him in a bind. Kuang Shao chuckled with schadenfreude as well.

Xuan Xuan wasn't overly worried, however. They all had their own tricks, especially with Lou Yitong’s sensitivity and the potions she had provided; they could avoid all the Zerg, provided the potion's effect lasted. Shrugging, she followed Zhan Yu as he picked up the pace.

After bypassing two groups of Zerg, Xuan Xuan had mapped out most of the gathering point, yet they still hadn't found Wanqi Weihao’s group. Pushing deeper, Xuan Xuan had to cast barriers on the two men, as they were likely approaching the Zerg breeding grounds.

"We're nearing the center," Zhan Yu remarked. The environment here was perfectly suited for a Queen Zerg to breed. His headache worsened; the guards here would be at their most lethal. "We haven't encountered any of those new, mutated Zerg yet, have we?" he suddenly asked.

Xuan Xuan shook her head. Kuang Shao, disappointed that he hadn't seen any thrills, didn't care about the mutations.

Zhan Yu pursed his lips, a grim premonition forming. "What if this is the breeding ground for those very creatures?" If so, it meant the mutated Zerg had reached a significant scale, and he feared they weren't just here. If they had spread elsewhere, it would be a disaster, as only Xuan Xuan and Lou Yitong could currently track them. He feared some might have already infiltrated the Imperial Capital.

Xuan Xuan didn't know what Zhan Yu was worrying about, but she suddenly spotted the group. "Found them."

"Where?" Zhan Yu asked.

Xuan Xuan pointed to a side tunnel. "Wanqi Weihao and the others are heading straight for the center. We have to hurry, or they’re going to be discovered."

There was likely a Zerg with strong psionic abilities inside—stronger than Lou Yitong. Their potions were running out, and if they were discovered, they wouldn't stand a chance. Xuan Xuan shared the latest intel with the two men. Zhan Yu’s face hardened as he quickened his pace, Kuang Shao following closely behind.