Apocalyptic Flood: Sexy Beauty Neighbor's Midnight Plea for Food Chapter 1282 - 616: Armored Convoy

Across the vast, snow-covered plains, a colossal convoy of hover-tracked armored vehicles made its slow, deliberate advance.

Each mechanical behemoth measured a staggering fifty meters in length and thirty meters in height, their exteriors a blend of metallic framework and numerous bone rune embellishments, projecting an aura of advanced technology intertwined with a primitive, untamed aesthetic.

"Hu——"

Suddenly, a jagged bolt of lightning tore through the overcast sky. Momentarily illuminated within the electrical surge, a massive, mutated flying beast descended with ferocious speed.

It sliced through the clouds, emitting a piercing howl as it plummeted, its target the advancing armored convoy.

"Woooo——!"

Inside the lead armored vehicle, a shrill alarm blared to life. In the ensuing seconds, a palpable vibration resonated as all the armored vehicles rumbled to life with a deep, guttural sound.

A voice crackled from the armored vehicle's external speaker: "Activate the defense shields!"

"Activate the anti-air missile systems!"

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Instantly, a cascade of earth-yellow auras flared around all the armored vehicles, forming a robust barrier of light that enveloped the machines.

Following this, cannons mounted on the front of the convoy smoothly ascended, swiftly acquiring their target – the colossal mutant beast dominating the sky.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A barrage of explosions erupted, unleashing potent beams of light that streaked skyward, forming dazzling, incandescent lines against the dark expanse.

However, the mutated flying beast proved remarkably agile, deftly evading the barrage. It weaved through the crisscrossing beams of light and, in a blink, executed a dive straight down, launching a ferocious assault on the foremost armored vehicle.

Bang!

The mutated beast's razor-sharp talons breached the earth-yellow aura. With thunderous wing beats, it propelled itself upward, instantly yanking the immense armored vehicle from the ground and soaring into the high heavens.

A relentless cacophony of cannon fire and furious shouts filled the air. The occupants of the convoy roared in outrage but could only watch in helpless frustration as the colossal avian predator vanished into the dark clouds.

"It’s a Raiju!"

Within the armored vehicle, a man’s face contorted with grim realization as he uttered the name. He quickly grasped the radio, aiming to relay the dire situation to the central command vehicle.

"Manager Wu, Titan 23 has been seized. Biological analysis confirms it is a Raiju."

A deep, resonant voice responded through the radio: "Ascertain the cause. What provoked the Raiju?"

"The intelligent system is processing the data. Preliminary findings suggest an energy leak from the Titan attracted it."

"Dispatch someone to inspect the energy device."

"The self-diagnostic program is already in operation."

"Hmm, where are you currently? How much longer until you reach Ji’an City?"

"We have entered Mo City territory. Once we clear Mo City, Ji’an City will be within reach."

Ji’an City and Mo City, adjacent to each other, both fall under the jurisdiction of Jiangnan Province, alongside Linjiang City. Geographically, Mo City sits upstream relative to Ji’an City.

This convoy had journeyed southwards from the outskirts of Mo City to arrive at their present location.

Manager Wu's authoritative voice commanded through the radio: "Relay the order: increase speed. We must reach Ji’an City as swiftly as possible."

"Understood."

The middle-aged man lowered the radio and turned to the young man beside him, conveying the urgent directive: "Increase speed, reach Ji’an City with utmost haste."

"Captain Hu, why the urgency to reach Ji’an City? With this heavy snowfall blocking the roads, even our tracked armored vehicles can't pick up the pace."

Hu Peigang shook his head, a perplexed expression on his face. "I’m not certain. Perhaps it's an important assignment from above. I overheard Manager Wu mention he previously fled Jiangbei Province to Ji’an City; perhaps his family resides there?"

"Family, perhaps? That would explain it," the young man mused, sighing softly before casting a glance at the bleak, snow-laden sky.

"Jiangnan Province is considered a sanctuary. Our detectors indicate a scarcity of floating islands in the skies above this region, resulting in fewer attacks from airborne mutated beasts."

"On our journey thus far, our imposing convoy has been targeted by aerial beasts on multiple occasions."

Hu Peigang countered, "This is hardly a blessed land. The low-lying terrain makes it vulnerable. Come summer thaw, this place is destined for inundation sooner or later. Without floating islands, we must head northwest."

"Xiaojing, while Jiangnan Province may seem peaceful now, clinging to comfort and refusing to relocate will inevitably lead to ruin."

"Do you comprehend why there are so few floating islands above this area?"

"It's because the original floating islands have already succumbed to the floodwaters, transforming into submerged landmasses, hence the scarcity of airborne islands."

"But do you think this is a good thing? When floating islands fall and become abysses, the mutant monsters that once parasitized them quickly evolve into terrifying sea beasts."

"This place will eventually become a true water world; living here is a sure path to death."

The team member named Xiaojing nodded in agreement: "I understand, Captain. So, has the upper management already abandoned this area of Jiangnan?"

"It’s not just Jiangnan Province; even the capital city, along with the East and West Yue regions, the original South Sea Island, and parts of the northern Qilu Province have no hope."

Xiaojing expressed surprise: "Even the region of Qilu Province has no hope?"

Everyone knows that Qilu land is home to many famous mountains, and even that has no hope?

Hu Peigang shook his head: "The estuary delta area of Qilu Province’s mother river is not at a high altitude. That region is an estuarial alluvial plain of the mother river, so of course, the altitude is low."

"Basically, the entire coastal area holds little hope."

As they chatted, the convoy pressed onward.

Meanwhile, at the very center of the convoy, inside a gigantic armored vehicle, a middle-aged man in a suit clutched a glass of red wine. He stood before a table, gazing down at a display screen.

He frowned slightly: "In a place like Ji’an City, which was among the first to be flooded, how could such a master appear to kill my clone!"

"If I had known this would happen, I should have come earlier to oversee this spatial floating island personally."

He muttered to himself, then his heart sank as he considered the mysterious boss of Mengya Company, shaking his head slightly.

"That’s still not an option. If I truly occupied this space, it would be impossible to conceal it from him."

If Liang Yuan were present, he would undoubtedly recognize the individual before him as Wu Yaobang, the very person he had killed multiple times!

The doppelganger superpower user who single-handedly established Eden on Little Straw Mountain!

Just as Liang Yuan had predicted, all the clones within the Mirage Snake Space were merely decoys.

This person’s true body was not within the Mirage Snake Space at all.

Even the person currently present couldn’t definitively say whether he was the true body or a clone.

Wu Yaobang observed the map on the table, a cold smile briefly crossing his eyes.

"Liang Yuan... you killed my clones, I want to see what capabilities this ant, nestled in a comfortable zone doomed to be flooded, truly possesses!"

——

Yangshan, on the second floor of the Spirit Gathering Tower.

Ding Yan opened her eyes, a hint of fatigue momentarily showing.

She had spent the entire morning cultivating within the Spirit Gathering Tower.

Despite her extraordinary intellect and unwavering perseverance, she felt weary.

This was because she had been relentlessly training for over ten days since the Spirit Gathering Tower was constructed.

She activated the Spiritual Ability Detection Compass and swiftly checked her physical condition.

Buzz!

Numbers rapidly scrolled and jumped on the compass.

Before long, the number ’87’ appeared!

Ding Yan’s face immediately lit up with delight, as all her fatigue seemed to vanish instantly.

"In just sixteen days, my main attribute has increased by nearly fifteen points, almost one point per day!"

"The effect of the Spirit Gathering Tower is truly remarkable."

"If only I could cultivate here every day."

Ding Yan felt excited internally, but she knew this was not very realistic.

After persistently training for sixteen days, she was already mentally and physically drained.

She already felt her body beginning to show signs of strain.

"Take a break, digest this energy first."

Ding Yan rose and exited the Spirit Gathering Tower.

Compared to over ten days ago when it was deserted, the Spirit Gathering Tower was now genuinely crowded.

Especially in the one-time Spirit Gathering Room on the first floor, where one needed to queue and make a reservation to gain entry.

Only during the hours around midnight was the crowd relatively less, and waiting was unnecessary.

Of course, the second floor, offering a ten-time spirit gathering effect, had fewer occupants. However, the consumption of Points was ten times that of the first floor, a cost many individuals couldn't afford, thus resulting in fewer people on the second floor.

As she walked out, Ding Yan’s nostrils flared slightly, catching a faint whiff of a woman’s perfume.

She raised an eyebrow and instinctively turned her head.

She saw that the door of Room 203 nearby had also opened, and Zhuang Shuyuan, clad in a cheongsam, emerged.

Stretching languidly, her face was flushed, her aura surged, and her superpower appeared to have improved significantly.

Suddenly sensing she was being observed, Zhuang Shuyuan paused her movements and turned her head.

Upon seeing it was Ding Yan, she also raised her eyebrows slightly.

"Oh, it’s Captain Ding. It’s been a while."

Ding Yan departed with a blank expression, her desire to converse with this woman completely absent. This aversion stemmed from two primary reasons. Firstly, she was acutely aware of the complicated connection between Zhuang Shuyuan and Liang Yuan, which naturally made her dislike this particular woman. Secondly, Zhuang Shuyuan possessed a unique superpower: the ability to intercept others' thoughts. Consequently, Ding Yan had no inclination to engage with her.

Witnessing Ding Yan’s departure, Zhuang Shuyuan did not exhibit any anger. Instead, a faint, self-satisfied smirk played on her lips. Just moments prior, she had already gleaned insights into Ding Yan’s innermost thoughts.

"Haha, you’re afraid of me, aren’t you?"

A smug inner monologue accompanied Zhuang Shuyuan’s observation of Ding Yan’s long, powerful legs. The tight fit of her jeans did little to conceal the remarkably alluring curve of her backside, her hips dramatically wider than her shoulders, which in turn emphasized Ding Yan’s slender waist. Her thoughts drifted to certain peculiar habits of Liang Yuan’s, and her lips curved into a slight smile.

His dead, always liked these things."

She glanced down at her own ample hips before letting out another laugh. Fortunately, hers were also sufficiently full.

Zhuang Shuyuan then produced a Spiritual Ability Detection Compass and subjected herself to a test. The numbers on the compass spun wildly before finally settling on 77. This outcome left her feeling rather unsatisfied.

"Only 77 points."

As the leader of the Inspection Department, possessing a strength that fell short of 80 points was hardly reassuring. Even with her intimate relationship with Liang Yuan, she sensed a lack of true security. Within the power hierarchy of Yangshan, individuals at the apex of the structure maintained a strength level no lower than 80 points.

She was not a woman adverse to hardship. In fact, prior to the great flood, her successful recruitment into the arts troupe was attributed not solely to her beauty, but also to her sharp intellect and a well-honed foundation in dance. Now, to solidify her position, she was willing to endure some difficulty to enhance her core attributes.

Emerging from the Spirit Gathering Tower, a subordinate from the Inspection Department was already waiting nearby. The individual hurried forward, their expression tinged with a degree of anxiety. Noticing this, Zhuang Shuyuan’s demeanor shifted subtly, and she quickly approached, inquiring, "Zhou Mei, what is happening?"

"Minister, there is crucial information from Baoshan City!"