As Yun Manman focused intently on providing guidance to Yan Ye, Yan Shuang stood outside the hospital room, looking at the groaning patients around her, feeling a bit dazed.
It had been a long time since she'd seen such a tragic scene.
She asked the Goat Doctor, "Do you know the situation on the frontlines? How are things going now?"
The Goat Doctor stroked his beard, "I don't know much either. Currently, Major General Yan Xi is leading the soldiers in fighting against the Abominations and Blood Clan outside Lingli Town."
Lingli Town was located on the outermost edge of Kafier City, the first small town to bear the brunt of the attack.
Other towns had also been attacked by Abominations, but in smaller numbers, and the town guards were able to handle them.
"Thank the soldiers and warriors. If it weren't for them, Lingli Town would have been trampled by the Abominations long ago."
The Goat Doctor clasped his hands together, "Thanks be to the Beast God's protection."
Just as Yan Shuang was about to say something, she heard a commotion in the corner.
She looked over and saw that a wounded beastman in the corner was showing signs of turning dark. He was howling, his eyes murky and unclear, drool dripping from the corners of his mouth.
The surrounding beastmen were frightened, screaming and scrambling away.
At this moment, a soldier who had been standing guard nearby accurately injected a sedative into the body of the beastman who was about to turn dark. The beastman's body froze for a few seconds, then collapsed with a thud.
His body was still changing towards darkness, but he was indeed unable to move or harm others now.
Several well-trained soldiers came up to drag away the darkened beastman.
Yan Shuang's eyes trembled, "... Does this happen often?"
The Goat Doctor checked on the condition of the patients around him while saying, "It used to. But now that we know there's a problem with the vegetables and soil, we've taken precautions, and things have improved a lot."
"Plus, we keep those of us with low spiritual power purity under close watch, so sudden dark turnings have become rare. It's just that occasionally there will still be one or two, which is really unavoidable."
The situation in the rear of the battlefield was already this serious; Yan Shuang couldn't imagine what it was like for the soldiers on the front lines who faced the Abominations for long periods.
The Goat Doctor even comforted Yan Shuang, "Don't worry too much, Colonel. We still have sufficient food and medicine now, and the situation is improving."
Yan Shuang smiled bitterly, "Thank you all for your hard work."
At this moment, the door of the ward opened, and Yun Manman came out after finishing her guidance, excitedly holding up a communication device: "Auntie! Alice says they're preparing to come and support us!"
Yan Shuang was overjoyed: "The Lanqi Country is actually coming to support us! That's wonderful!"
The elf guides from Lanqi Country were all excellent, far superior to their beastman guides by many levels.
If the elves were willing to come and support, it would be like sending charcoal in snowy weather for Kashida, which was currently in extreme shortage of guides.
Yun Manman nodded affirmatively: "Yes, Alice said that the King of Lanqi Country has already issued a notice to recruit volunteers, and they should be able to enter the country in a couple of days."
The Goat Doctor said emotionally: "Thanks to the Beast God, thanks to His Majesty, thanks to the elves..."
The ward door hadn't been closed, and the voices of the few people talking transmitted into the ward, making the frowning patients smile: "That's great..."
Yan Ye was still lying quietly on the bed, his face pale.
No one noticed that his ears, with their messy fur, twitched slightly.
At the foot of the Yali'ou Mountain Range.
The Singing Snake flapped its wings, knocking away an Abomination that pounced over, then strangled another Abomination beneath it, complaining irritably: "I've had enough, why do you Blood Clan always make these annoying things..."
The only thing the Blood Clan could be said to be notable for was their jewelry and scientific research, and they didn't even use it for proper purposes!
Several years ago, they combined curses and scientific research on rats, sneaking into Kashida to steal things, nearly causing a great disaster.
Now they weren't even sparing their own people. Look at these flying Abominations, many of them were darkened Blood Clan members!
Ah Qiang, hiding in a distant tree, trembled with fear: "I don't know what our king is thinking either... Ah!! Help!"
An Abomination discovered his hiding place and flew towards him with a roar.
Ah Qiang's hands and feet went weak, his wings too soft to fly. Just when he thought he was going to die, a snake tail appeared in his vision, fiercely knocking the Abomination to the ground, saving his life.
Lu Qi's voice was cold: "Get far away."
Ah Qiang rolled and crawled to fly to a more hidden place.
After a fierce battle, they finally killed all the Abominations guarding the mine.
At this time, a beastman soldier wiped the blood from his face and came up to report: "General, we have subdued the Blood Clan members inside the mine."
"Good." Lu Qi transformed back into human form and put on his clothes, staring at the soldier.
He stared until the soldier felt uncomfortable, then he started walking towards the mine. As he passed by, he said: "Wear your uniform properly, and keep your spiritual power covering your body at all times."
Now on the battlefield, they weren't afraid of their own blood, but rather the enemy's blood. The bodily fluids of the Abominations had a corrosive effect, unpleasant if it fell on the skin.
Although the uniforms made by the research department had anti-corrosion effects, there would always be some exposed parts.
The beastman soldier chuckled.
The general wasn't as cold as the legends said.
Inside the mine, it was damp and cool, much lower in temperature than outside, which suited the vampire bats' preferences well.
The mine tunnel extended towards the underside of the Yali'ou Mountain Range, with mining tools and machinery scattered around the outer areas.
As they went deeper, colorless transparent stones that emitted a faint glow began to appear on the walls.
Ah Qiang fearfully followed behind Lu Qi: "These are magic crystals. They have the effect of lowering the spiritual power purity of ordinary people."
"Many workers turned dark during the mining process."
"I've only been to this mine once. The deeper you go, the more uncomfortable it feels."
Lu Qi asked in a deep voice: "Do you know how they use these magic crystals to control the Abominations?"
Ah Qiang shook his head: "I don't know. I heard they used curses, but that's something only the royal family knows."
Even with spiritual power coverage, the interference from the large number of magic crystals still made the beastman soldiers feel oppressed and uncomfortable.
Lu Qi reached out to break off a piece of magic crystal and examined it, thinking for a moment before telling them: "You all go out first and guard the entrance. I'll go in and take a look."
"Yes, sir!"
These magic crystals indeed had the effect of inducing beastmen to turn dark.
Lu Qi could already feel his calm spiritual sea gradually becoming turbulent.
However, he had to go in and see the situation inside, and if possible, destroy this place.
Staying in this place for even a second would affect the spiritual power purity of beastmen, it really couldn't be left as it was.
Lu Qi thickened the spiritual power covering his body and quickened his pace.
After walking for an unknown length of time, the space suddenly became much larger, and a bottomless hole appeared on the ground, with crystal-clear crystals growing around its edge.
Looking down, one could only see magic crystals emitting a faint glow piled up on the cave walls and endless darkness.
It was like a bottomless abyss, making one feel beyond redemption.
Lu Qi pursed his lips, transformed back into his beast form, and leaped down into this hole.
He wanted to see what devilish thing was inside.