Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Plan That Turns from Overt to Covert

“Plant mutant?”

Hearing this, Qiao was slightly surprised.

Ye Hai nodded and began, “I remember years ago, several of us discussed whether the zombie virus’s activity could infect plants.”

“You and Zero had a fierce argument. You insisted the zombie virus couldn’t infect plants.”

“But Zero maintained that, in essence, plants are also living beings and could be infected in an environment saturated with the zombie virus over time!”

“And once the viral content in the plant reaches a certain threshold, mutation can occur!”

“What’s more, once a plant mutant gets infected, its evolution is even faster than that of animal mutants—because plants’ photosynthesis grants them a steady energy source.”

Qiao seemed to recall the incident, gritting her teeth as she spoke:

“That damned madwoman—she’s right again!”

Ye Hai smiled slightly and replied, “Actually, as far as I remember, ever since you met Zero, you’ve never won against her!”

“And Zero always had a certain interest in you!”

“You just refused to accept it.”

Qiao responded irritably, “Oh, give it a break! I can’t stand that lunatic!”

“Besides, both of us are full of viruses now, our genetic fragments have been modified several times… If we really ended up together, our children would be terrifying monsters!”

Ye Hai, accustomed to Qiao’s stubbornness, didn’t bother to expose her further.

Both clearly liked each other, but every time they were together, they quarreled.

It was simply because both wanted to be dominant.

But every time, Qiao ended up losing.

Seeing the tendrils drawing closer, Ye Hai shouted to Zela, “You all, fall back first!”

“Qiao and I need to test the strength of these tendrils.”

“It’s our first encounter with a plant mutant—we can’t be sure of its capabilities.”

“We might not be able to watch out for you!”

Upon hearing this, Zela didn’t look back, retreating to leave the battlefield to Qiao and Ye Hai.

Zela knew very well that something even orbital weapons couldn’t kill was beyond his ability to handle—staying here would only be a burden.

Liana followed Zela, retreating as well.

“How could a seventh-stage creature appear at the edge of the sixth-stage zone?” Qiao couldn’t help but ask curiously.

Ye Hai pondered for a moment and then said, “First possibility: its main body is inside the seventh-stage territory, and its roots have stretched dozens of kilometers to attack us.”

“But that seems unlikely. First, we haven’t used any high-energy weapons to attract it. Second, I’ve never seen an animal mutant with a body spanning dozens of kilometers.”

“That’s just a hypothesis based on my lack of understanding of plant mutants.”

Qiao’s eye twitched slightly. If Ye Hai’s speculation was true, such a seventh-stage mutant would be even more terrifying than those of the eighth stage.

“Well, you mentioned the first possibility—what’s the second?”

As the tendrils attacked, Ye Hai’s arms instantly turned zombie-like; sharp claws swept away a swath of tendrils, and he spoke calmly:

“The other possibility is that this plant mutant still retains its plant nature… It can’t move at all!”

“And we now stand within its territory!”

Qiao instantly brandished her dagger, her body flickering like a shadow as she slashed through masses of roots.

She murmured, “I think that guess is more plausible…”

“I suppose we ought to find the creature that grows all these thick, long tendrils!”

“Let it have a good chat with Zela—after all, both survive on their tendrils… They should have plenty in common!”

“You know, in this short time, I’ve already discovered the biggest similarity between this plant mutant and Zela!”

Ye Hai, busy cutting through tendrils, had no intention of responding to Qiao.

He knew well that once Qiao turned unserious, no one could handle her.

And Qiao didn’t wait for Ye Hai’s retort, grinning mischievously as she said, “Don’t you think their greatest trait is their talent for finding water sources?”

Ye Hai’s movement paused sharply, almost getting struck by several tendrils.

Seeing Ye Hai in such a predicament, Qiao burst out laughing.

Her body instantly became a streak of rainbow light, darting up and down among the tendrils.

In the midst of battling countless tendrils, Ye Hai noticed that while they were dense,

Their defense and attack power were nowhere near those of seventh-stage animal mutants.

It seemed that, aside from sheer numbers, this plant mutant had little else remarkable.

After ten minutes of intense fighting alongside Ye Hai, Qiao was already breathing heavily.

“Boss, this isn’t working—the thing doesn’t seem to have any stamina issues…”

“If this keeps up, it’ll wear us out. If Zela had such endurance, there’d be a few more flagships above our heads…”

“We have to find its main body, or we’ll end up dead here!”

Ye Hai nodded, seeing that the plant roots now enveloped him and Qiao completely.

He instantly transformed fully into a zombie, his voice hoarse:

“Follow me—charge toward the densest part. We must find its main body!”

Qiao pursed her lips helplessly, saying, “You’re so cautious!”

“You won’t reveal your true form until these tendrils completely cover you, will you?”

“We have to cross the seventh-stage territory eventually—there are eyes in the sky watching us at all times!”

“How can you hide?”

Ye Hai grinned, “What if I die today?”

“A seventh-stage mutant appearing in the seventh-stage zone of the Radiation Lands… It’s perfectly normal, isn’t it?”

Qiao was stunned, surprised, “You planned a fake death escape all along?”

Ye Hai, advancing under the cover of roots, replied, “When Zela told me about flagship support from space earlier today, I started thinking about it!”

“And after witnessing the power of orbital strikes, I’m convinced the First Defense Army of Giant Tree Star can’t all be dead!”

“Guess… If the legion led by Harvey hasn’t been wiped out—”

“Where do you think they are now?”

Qiao blurted out, “You had Zela call for orbital strikes just to assess their power?”

“You mean Harvey’s Second Legion? They’re trailing right behind us?”

Ye Hai nodded, “Highly likely!”

“Once we find this plant mutant’s main body, I’ll revert from zombie form…”

“And then let these ‘terrifying’ tendrils pierce my skull and kill me!”

Qiao was completely stunned, exclaiming, “Boss, what madness is this?”

“Piercing the brain? Even the T-virus can’t keep you alive…”

Ye Hai cut Qiao off, speaking calmly, “I’ve invented something new—even if my brain and heart are destroyed, I can come back…”

“But can you handle a seventh-stage mutant on your own?”

Qiao eyed Ye Hai with complex emotion, replying helplessly, “After injecting the T-virus, even if I unleash all the cute little guys in my blood, I shouldn’t die!”

“Facing a seventh-stage mutant, I should be able to put up a fight!”

“You’re really sure you won’t die even with your head blown off?”

Ye Hai nodded, chuckling, “I’m certain!”

“Isn’t it exciting? I could upgrade you next time!”

“Not even a headshot would kill you!”

“Aren’t you tempted?”

Qiao shuddered violently, shaking her head frantically.

“Not tempted! Everything you invent is disgusting!”