Chapter 310- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (15)
The drivers, momentarily frozen in shock by the sudden attack, snapped back to reality at Jian Mingyuan’s shout and attempted to retreat. However, their speed couldn’t possibly match that of this mutated plant, which now regarded them as its prey.
Realizing the plant wasn’t about to let them go, Jian Mingyuan gritted his teeth and directed most of the powered individuals to leave the cars and confront the enemy, leaving a few behind to protect the civilians.
Everyone launched their powers at the plant, hoping to delay it and buy time for others to escape.
Mu Jin’s vehicle also stopped. The level-one powered fighters couldn’t do much more than inflict minor wounds on the massive plant. Jian Mingyuan’s thunder-based attacks saved many, but even those strikes weren’t enough to deal a critical blow.
Seeing the group’s chaotic attempts, Mu Jin signaled Lou Bin and Shi Haoyu to go forward and use the mutated plant as practice.
Lou Bin’s eyes lit up at Mu Jin’s suggestion. He immediately went forward, eager to try out his newly advanced level-three wind abilities.
Casting wind blades, he managed to slice through several thinner vines, boosting his confidence. Jian Mingyuan noticed this and gave him an approving look, joining Lou Bin in coordinated attacks. Their combination of wind and thunder abilities threw the mutated plant off balance for a moment.
However, the plant quickly recovered from the disruption, growing even angrier. It retaliated with countless vines, lashing out at the powered fighters. The massive flower buds, lined with razor-sharp teeth, snapped open and shut, seemingly desperate to tear flesh from those nearby.
The mutated plant’s assault was relentless. Though the team had a fair number of powered fighters, they struggled to contain it, especially as low-level zombies occasionally wandered in to add to the chaos.
Fortunately, the civilians remained in the cars, safe for the time being. If the team had to divert more energy to protect them, the situation would have been even more challenging.
Mu Jin and Jian Minghui stood not far off, Mu Jin’s gaze following Lou Bin and Shi Haoyu, observing their movements closely. This rare formidable opponent was the perfect opportunity to let their people gain some practical experience.
Shi Haoyu occasionally stepped forward to throw a few fireballs, and from his technique, Mu Jin could see he had a solid grasp of his ability. However, without any rare resources to aid him, his progress lagged behind Lou Bin’s.
Back before Mu Jin arrived, the strongest member of the team, aside from Tian Dao’s protagonist Jian Mingyuan, had been Shi Haoyu. But unlike Jian Mingyuan, Shi Haoyu was even more reserved, giving off an aura that kept others at a distance. His quiet demeanor discouraged the other team members from approaching him.
Mu Jin hadn’t intervened directly, and while Lou Bin and the others occasionally faced real danger, they were repeatedly saved at critical moments—all thanks to Jian Minghui.
Understanding Mu Jin’s intentions, Jian Minghui used his powers subtly, without anyone, including Lou Bin and Shi Haoyu, realizing it. He didn’t need to rush to the front lines or unleash flashy, destructive abilities. Instead, his mental energy could subtly interfere with the intelligent mutated plant, causing its flower buds to tremble or its movements to slow down just enough to give the others a chance.
Mu Jin kept a close eye on the ongoing battle, gauging everyone’s progress. Finally, when Jian Minghui, Lou Bin, and the others were nearly out of energy and at the brink of exhaustion, Mu Jin pulled out the scythe from his backpack and charged toward the mutated plant.
Swiftly slicing through several obstructing vines, he moved straight toward the plant’s hidden root stem, concealed behind layers of tangled vines. The plant clearly knew its vulnerability, but while it could fool others, it couldn’t hide from Mu Jin. Effortlessly and with remarkable speed, he severed each root deeply embedded in the soil.
As the plant’s main stem crashed to the ground, Mu Jin extended his spiritual sense, scanning the center of the mutated plant for anything of value.
It had to be said that this mutated plant had somehow taken on certain animal characteristics; otherwise, it couldn’t have attacked with such force, trapping everyone in such a desperate situation. Once he located its core, Mu Jin nimbly leaped up, moving with agile precision.
Using a quick roll, he plunged his scythe into a seemingly inconspicuous flower bud. As the bud was severed, thick green sap splattered out. Fortunately, Mu Jin dodged quickly; otherwise, he would have been drenched head to toe. The critical blow caused the mutated plant to finally settle down completely. Both its roots and vines lay flat against the ground, no longer able to pose a threat.
At last, everyone in the team let out a sigh of relief, astonished by Mu Jin’s sudden and impressive display of skill. Though most members of the previous supply team had witnessed Mu Jin’s strength, their stories hadn’t been entirely believed by the rest of the group.
Now, having seen it firsthand, the group had a new perspective. Mu Jin had been with them for quite a while, encountering the occasional low-level zombie along the way, but he had rarely taken action. The zombies they encountered were easily handled by the regular ability users, so Mu Jin hadn’t had any reason to show off his skills.
In addition, Mu Jin never submitted particularly large amounts of supplies during collections, as he always kept half for himself. This had caused some members of the group to harbor a bit of resentment, dismissing the previous accounts of Mu Jin’s abilities as exaggerations—until now.
They hadn’t expected Mu Jin to be every bit as strong as reported, if not stronger. After all, this was a formidable plant that even over twenty ability users couldn’t defeat, yet the seemingly small, unassuming young man took it down with surprising ease.
Thanks to Mu Jin’s timely intervention, everyone’s lives were spared. Though they looked a bit battered, no one was seriously hurt—just a few minor injuries that could be easily treated.
Qian Zhenzhen, who had been hiding in the back corner of the commuter van, couldn’t take her eyes off Mu Jin after seeing his impressive display of strength. Her gaze was sharp and intense, filled with newfound admiration. She hadn’t expected Mu Jin to be this powerful.
Before today, Qian Zhenzhen had harbored some resentment toward Mu Jin. From the start, his presence in the group had caused her to feel overlooked. She had wanted to find ways to make things difficult for him, but even the senior earth ability user who had been pursuing her insisted on Mu Jin’s strength, leaving her with nothing but the option to badmouth Mu Jin behind his back.
Over the past few days, Mu Jin hadn’t shown anything remarkable and was clearly well looked after by Jian Minghui and others. Coupled with Lou Bin’s occasional sarcastic remarks toward her, Qian Zhenzhen’s frustration had only grown.
However, seeing Mu Jin’s skills firsthand today had completely shifted her perspective. She now realized that no one in the group, not even all the ability users combined, could likely match Mu Jin’s strength. If she could somehow gain favor with someone as strong as him, her future in this apocalyptic world would be secure.
Her confidence wasn’t unfounded—she was one of the more attractive people in the group, even in the harsh conditions of this world. While resources were scarce and luxuries of the past were mostly forgotten, those who held power still commanded privilege. Qian Zhenzhen was certain that someone like Mu Jin would enjoy the best treatment once they reached the base.
Previously, she had set her sights on Jian Mingyuan, the leader of their group, especially since she had heard that their destination, Pingcheng Base, had been founded by Jian Mingyuan’s father, Jian Zhengqing. However, Jian Mingyuan had been indifferent to her advances, showing a surprisingly warm attitude only toward Wei Xuezhen, a woman with a rather masculine demeanor.
Given this, it was now clear that Mu Jin was her best option.
What Qian Zhenzhen didn’t know was that Mu Jin’s recent display had caught her attention in a way he hadn’t intended. However, Mu Jin wouldn’t be bothered by such trivial advances. If anything, he’d be able to swat away such distractions with ease and likely wouldn’t give them a second thought.
In this world, both mutated plants and animals held heightened nutritional value—unless they were toxic. A plant like this one might seem questionable to others, but Mu Jin could tell at a glance that it was safe to consume.
Although it might not taste great, it was certainly nutritious. After some thought, he targeted the center area he had just sliced open. Carefully, he extracted a plump core, held it in his hand, and returned to the vehicle.