The setting also included crystalline cores within zombie heads, which served as their energy source. These cores could also aid ability users in their cultivation, and once bases were established, zombie cores even became a form of general equivalent—currency.
Zhu Yan wasn't particularly interested in such things and hadn't even thought about them. She’d forgotten all about it until Jiang Xiaoshu reminded her.
Jiang Xiaoshu was also hesitant to mention it. The crystalline cores of ordinary zombies were already quite potent, and the core of this large zombie could almost help an ability user advance once. She had originally intended to sneak back and retrieve it herself.
However, she thought there might be many more zombies in the factory, and she might die if she went back alone. So, she gritted her teeth and revealed it.
This world had already deviated significantly from the books she had read.
Especially these two individuals: one possessed a spatial ability that seemed to have no limit, and the other had explosive combat power. The large zombie before them was a common form of zombie in the later stages of the book, but very rare in the early stages. Zhu Yujue had encountered one, which was precisely the culprit that led him from a happy family to being left with only himself and his sister.
In that battle described in the book, the people he had painstakingly gathered were scattered, resulting in the deaths of four powerful ability users and over 20 ordinary people, including his grandparents, parents, and younger brother. Zhu Xuewei would have also died if not for the protagonist's selfless rescue.
Yet, this monstrous creature, which the author had described in tens of thousands of words, was utterly defenseless against this woman. She sliced it into three pieces as easily as slicing tofu, leaving it thoroughly dead.
And the snakes from before, similarly described as difficult to deal with in the book, were also easily slain by him.
With such an unexpected turn of events, her once-confident precognitive abilities became worthless.
The source of all fear was insufficient firepower.
When things described as incredibly powerful were insignificant in the face of others, her own thoughts underwent a drastic shift.
"So annoying," Chong Yan grumbled as he returned, carrying his sword. He rummaged through the monster's head, and something suddenly rolled out. Covered in black pus, it was impossible to tell what it was.
Jiang Xiaoshu pointed at it and shouted, "This might be it!"
Chong Yan nudged it with his sword and glanced at her. "If it is, pick it up. Why are you just standing there?"
Jiang Xiaoshu had wanted to pick it up for a while but was too afraid of him, hence her inaction.
Now, disregarding its messy state, she immediately bent down and picked it up. She asked a nearby water ability user to help wash it, and a red crystalline stone was revealed, emitting a faint glow, resembling a ruby.
"It's quite pretty."
As he stared at it, Jiang Xiaoshu immediately offered it with both hands.
Just as Chong Yan was about to reach for it, Zhu Yan slapped his hand. "Don't touch it. It's dirty."
The thing did possess some energy, but what good could come from something extracted from such a monster's head?
Zhu Yan could already sense the resentment and negative energy emanating from it.
Chong Yan, feeling somewhat wronged, withdrew his hand.
"Don't mess around. We'll let the researchers take a look when we get back."
Jiang Xiaoshu, who had been contemplating keeping it for herself, immediately abandoned the idea. She looked at Zhu Yan with a hint of appeasement and smiled, nodding. "Okay."
What good impression could Zhu Yan have of someone who was technically an enemy? She expressionlessly pulled Chong Yan back and led the group outside.
The sky outside had long since darkened.
The factory had no electricity, but there were solar lamps. As they hadn't suffered much damage, they were still functional.
However, the moment they left the factory, they were plunged into pitch-black darkness. Many people had already fled this city, and this was the outskirts. The surroundings were as quiet as outer space.
A girl trembled. "Turn on the lights. It's so dark."
Someone switched on a flashlight, illuminating the surroundings. A bodyguard at the front took a couple of steps forward when a dark shadow suddenly pounced on him. The crowd heard a scream, and blood splattered onto the girl who had just spoken.
"Ah!"
The terrified cries instantly sobered everyone. They swung their flashlights around but saw nothing, only the corpse on the ground twitching twice before becoming still.
"Don't move erratically. Be quiet!"
A soldier yelled, and the agitated crowd instantly fell silent, huddling closer for protection.
Zhu Yan shone her flashlight in one direction. On their vehicle parked outside, a large rat, or perhaps a hamster, with two irregularly shaped heads was staring fixedly at them.
Zhu Yan found the creature somewhat familiar.
Soon, she remembered seeing this little monster before.
In the world where she had first truly confronted an alien, a small monster that crawled out of a well had a head severed by a soldier's dagger. It then ran off, holding its own head.
It had come here.
It seemed Luan Yu hadn't managed to resolve the issue yet.
She handed the flashlight to Chong Yan. "Hold this."
Chong Yan also saw the little monster and said uncertainly, "How about I go?"
At least it wasn't as disgusting as those zombies, much better.
"Okay."
Zhu Yan immediately handed him the sword.
Chong Yan had intended to say he was just suggesting it, but thinking Zhu Yan was also tired, he took the long sword and walked toward the little monster.
"Protect me."
A stream of light flowed from the long sword, signifying its agreement.
He instantly felt more at ease. Before he could reach it, the long sword suddenly lifted him into the air. The little monster sprang forward like a bullet. This maneuver allowed him to dodge the creature. Still shaken, the long sword pulled him around again, and with a single slash, a small head fell to the ground.
"Squeak!"
The little monster let out an enraged roar, its claws flailing wildly as it lunged at Chong Yan again.
This time, the long sword remained motionless.
Zhu Yan swept a blast of karmic fire through the air. The crowd only saw a point of blue light appear, and the little monster, which had almost grabbed Chong Yan, suddenly fell to the ground. Its body shriveled by a fifth, appearing as if it had been instantly dehydrated.
Chong Yan, only then realizing what had happened, forcefully threw the long sword to the ground and complained to Zhu Yan, "He's bullying me!"
"Then throw him away."
He thought the same thing and walked away, only to feel it was a waste. He returned to pick up the long sword and brought it back to Zhu Yan, handing it to her.
"He doesn't listen to me."
"Then why are you still keeping him?"
"He listens to you." He said dejectedly, "Do you understand 'love me, love my dog'? You bad thing."
The long sword showed no reaction.
The corpse was temporarily stored in Jiang Xiaoshu's space, as Chong Yan was unwilling to keep it.
The group got into their vehicles. Having witnessed the abilities of the two, many wanted to ride with them. However, their miraculous vehicle could only fit ten people at most. It was finally decided that Zhu Yan and Chong Yan would lead the way, while the rest of the Zhu family would be in the car. The two Zhu brothers would drive. Zhu Xuewei, terrified of Zhu Yan and even more so of the monsters or zombies outside, sat with them, head bowed. Behind them were the four elderly members of the Zhu family.