Once the mutant beasts entered the battlefield, Shao Qi and his team were clearly overwhelmed. Miao Miu and two others were severely injured. Even with Shao Qi reaching the Martial God realm, he couldn't fend off so many adversaries simultaneously.

This can't go on.

Shao Qi slashed a beastman's back with his blade, saving Qin Li Feng from its jaws. But he couldn't retrieve his weapon and had to protect his subordinates as they retreated.

The reconnaissance drone in the sky had vanished at some point. Probably nobody outside knew of their dire situation.

Perhaps since they knew they were being tracked, they had been plotting for this day. They were too complacent, assuming the drone's support would ensure reinforcements when needed.

"Boss, you should retreat. They're after you; you can't die here," Qin Li Feng hastily bandaged his wound, a high-nutrient fluid tube clenched in his teeth, determination in his eyes.

The other two had no objections. The enemy gave no quarter, pressing on relentlessly, with only Shao Qi standing against them.

But Shao Qi wasn't invincible. He too could be injured, and against numerous foes, he was increasingly overwhelmed.

"How can we retreat? Didn't you notice they destroyed the armored vehicle's tires?" Shao Qi had intended to evacuate earlier, but their escape route was blocked.

"I won't leave. We can't let them leave this place alive," Shao Qi knew their next move. If they died, no one would know what happened here, making preparations impossible.

Besides, once the base's personnel evacuated, Zhou You would surely come looking for him. Unless he brought a full army, victory wasn't guaranteed.

Perhaps it's time for a desperate move.

Shao Qi turned to the three behind him, "Are you afraid of dying?"

"Boss, what kind of question is that? Would anyone afraid of death join the military?" They had been through countless battles; this wasn't their only near-death experience.

Still, deep down, they realized they might not survive this encounter.

"Shall we use 'that'?" Miao Miu whispered.

After a few seconds of silence, they unanimously agreed, "Let's do it. Going out together isn't a bad idea."

"We need to be sure Master Wei is nearby. We can't let him escape."

Shao Qi confidently said, "He won't be far. He's likely watching us closely. Start timing now. In a minute, you three need to be by my side, within half a meter. Remember that!"

The deep understanding they've shared over the years made Miao Miao and his companions realize that this might be their only chance to survive, and they dared not slack off.

"Alright, the timer starts now..."

Chapter 223: Life and Death

In the depths of the night, each minute felt agonizingly long. A mutated tiger and a mutated bear launched a fierce attack on Shao Qi from both sides.

When Shao Qi saw the mutated tiger, he thought of his own little white tiger at home. The mere thought that their pet might one day be turned into such a puppet was unbearable for him.

He shouted out, “Master Wei, why are you hiding?” But before he could finish, a bear claw violently slashed his arm, tearing through his armor and leaving deep gashes that exposed the bone.

He quickly retreated and continued to shout, “I have questions for you, Master Wei. Can you at least let me die with answers?”

Master Wei's silhouette approached rapidly. His light-footedness was remarkable, giving the illusion of him covering vast distances in a blink.

As Shao Qi mentally counted the seconds, he asked, "I know where these half-dead people came from, but what about these advanced mutated beasts? Were they also part of an experiment? Which nation has the capability to capture such high-level creatures?"

Although Master Wei was still at a distance, he seemed confident and nonchalant. He laughed and said, “I’m not sure, as I am not involved in the experiments. But these creatures were captured alive by a royal family member, rumored to possess immense strength, akin to our Martial Commander. Capturing wild beasts is child's play for him.”

For Shao Qi, capturing a high-level mutated beast single-handedly would also be a breeze.

With only ten seconds left, Shao Qi remained calm, discreetly signaling his companion behind his back with his left hand, while pinching a button-sized thin disc with his right.

"It's just a Martial Commander. I assume, Master Wei, your skills are no less than his. What I don't understand is why you betrayed the country?"

“It's the apocalypse. What does nationality matter now? Once everyone becomes my subject, won't the whole world belong to our Huwa nation? ...What are you doing?"

All Master Wei saw was a small aluminum piece flicked out of Shao Qi's hand, seemingly insignificant.

Yet, as soon as it was thrown, the other four immediately closed ranks, not resisting even when faced with the beasts' gaping maws.

Master Wei's gaze followed the tiny object as it landed nearly a hundred meters away. He should have felt safe, but in that moment, he sensed an overwhelming surge of energy.

Then, as he looked across, Shao Qi closed his eyes, and a glowing stone flew out from his chest, its light enveloping them.

A massive explosion of energy radiated outward, obliterating everything in its path. Master Wei watched, horrified, as the people and beasts vanished before his eyes.

A blinding white light illuminated the night sky, marking the last thing Master Wei saw before his demise.

The explosive force triggered massive landslides, decimating everything within ten kilometers and turning the land to scorched earth. At the epicenter, a huge crater had formed.

“Cough, cough...” Rain blurred his vision, but Shao Qi continued digging in the crater, knowing deep down he wouldn't find what he was looking for.

When the blast had reached him, his protective shield of vital energy could hardly withstand it. Aware of the slim chances of survival, he drained all his energy to reinforce the shield and braced himself.