Super Gene Hunting Ground

"But now we’ve nearly lost half of our core backbone, how are we going to fight the coming battles?"
"Yang Xiao’s Soul Skill is so powerful, none of us are a match; there’s just no way to fight against it."
"And their heavy machine guns, even regular Elite Soldiers can’t withstand those."
"Instead of holding out here, it’s better to retreat back to Shanyun City and accelerate our Genetic Evolution, we’ll seek revenge against Yang Xiao later."
...
Two groups with differing opinions began to argue vehemently.
In the end, everyone waited for Yue Ying to make the decision.
Yue Ying glanced over his brothers seated around him, sighed, and said:
"Gentlemen’s revenge, ten years is not too late. We’ve lost today’s battle. If you guys feel stifled, so do I, but after some thought, it seems that this frustration is without reason. If given another chance, does anyone here have a method to break through it? Is there any certainty of victory?"
The hall was silent; everyone remembered Yang Xiao’s terrifying Sweeping Void, still feeling intimidated. These men, who once rampaged through Shanyun City, were now experiencing a sense of fear for the first time.
Seeing everyone’s silence, Yue Ying continued:
"Better a short pain than a long one. I’ve decided to abandon Star Moon Town. Everyone is to retreat back to Shanyun City, and we’ll close off the Transmission Array between Shanyun City and Star Moon Town. What do you all think?"
"Ah?"
The crowd gasped in surprise, looking at Yue Ying.
"Big brother, we can’t just give up on Star Moon Town like that. Once we abandon it, half of Star Moon Lake will belong to Nanmu City."
Yue Ying said in a deep voice:
"Do you think I want to do this? I don’t want to either, but what choice do we have if we don’t abandon it?
Yang Xiao could bring his 2,000 Elite Soldiers to attack Star Moon Town at any moment. To hold Star Moon Town, we’d need at least 3,000 Elite Soldiers. Are we going to place all our main forces in Star Moon Town? Then should we just give up Shanyun City?
Besides, Star Moon Lake spans eight hundred miles. Even if we share it with Nanmu City, neither of our cities would be able to use up so many resources. Instead of wasting our efforts here, it’s better to cut our losses and protect what’s important. Only by accelerating our Genetic Evolution can we continue to survive."
Yue Ying made this remark clearly after an intense internal struggle. Naturally, he was reluctant to give up Star Moon Town, but if he didn’t, the entire Shanyun City might get dragged into the mire of war.
One of his subordinates stood up and said:
"Big brother, there’s something I don’t understand."
"Speak,"
"Why can Nanmu City’s people fight desperately to take over Star Moon Town, while we cannot? We’re not the type to fear death and grasp at life either. As long as you give the order, big brother, we’ll defend Star Moon Town to the death and never let Nanmu City succeed."
Filled with impassioned speech, everyone immediately showed their fervent support.
Yue Ying went over, patted his shoulder, and said:
"Brother, I’m heartened by your courage, but the situation is beyond us. When it’s time to avoid the sharp edge, we must step back. We can’t solve everything with courage alone. Once we raise our strength to a higher level, we will surely come back and fight. Believe in your big brother!"
Yue Ying retreated back to Shanyun City overnight, along with the original five hundred residents of Star Moon Town. In this post-apocalyptic world, people are a scarce resource.
Out of caution, Yang Xiao did not want to risk a night ambush. It was a critical moment, and any mistake could undo all their previous efforts, so he did not attack Star Moon Town in the second half of the night.
After spending a night in the ruined village, they set off for Star Moon Town early the next morning after breakfast.
Huang Wen led the Flying People Team to scout ahead. By midday, they reached the outskirts of Star Moon Town.
Yang Xiao allowed everyone to rest for an hour, eat some food, and prepare for battle.
The scouting Huang Wen suddenly flew back, landing in front of Yang Xiao, and said excitedly:
"Yang Xiao, Star Moon Town is empty, everyone’s gone, and only a Genetic Store remains there."
"Really? Are you sure? Be careful not to fall into an ambush."
Yang Xiao was somewhat incredulous.
The others around him, Xia Luo, Zhou Qiang, Long Yongjun, and the rest, were excited.
Huang Wen said:
"Rest assured, I’ve already sent the Flying People Team to scout around the town. It’s true that there’s no one left; they’ve all gone. I even entered their stronghold and it was empty of people."
By now, Huang Wen’s Flying People Team had occupied the entire sky above the town.
"Good, let’s enter the town."
Yang Xiao, leading 2,000 people, entered Star Moon Town. They were cautious at first but, finding no sign of ambush, gradually relaxed.
Yang Xiao arrived at the town square’s Genetic Store and, entering it, he clasped hands with a middle-aged man inside saying:
"Nanmu City King Yang Xiao, greets the store owner."
The middle-aged man laughed heartily and said:
"From now on, this stronghold belongs to Nanmu City."
"Thank you, shopkeeper."
Yang Xiao now confirmed that Yue Ying had truly retreated.
"Boss, come quick, Yue Ying even left you a message."
Long Yongjun came running over.
Yang Xiao and Xia Luo rushed over and entered a nearby building, which used to be Tan Zong and his people’s stronghold.
Long Yongjun pointed to the words on a wall and said:
"Boss, take a look."
Yang Xiao saw that on the white wall, written with charcoal in a crooked fashion, were the words:
"We each have half of Star Moon Lake, let’s not infringe on each other’s waters."
The signature was "Yue Ying".
Seeing this, Yang Xiao chuckled and said:
"It seems Yue Ying is quite the clever one!"
"Boss, there’s another line of words beneath."
Long Yongjun pointed to the line below.
Yang Xiao burst out laughing when he saw it.
"A gentleman’s revenge, ten years is not too late - I’m not one to be trifled with, just you wait!"
Pfft!
Yang Xiao laughed instantly,
"This Yue Ying, in his heart, can’t accept defeat, feels humiliated, didn’t want to seem weak to me, so he left one final fierce statement, kinda cute actually!"
Zhou Qiang had his people thoroughly search Star Moon Town and found no ambush. However, they did find dozens of jars of rice wine buried underground, which delighted them immensely.
The reason they could find these jars is that the snow above these burials had long been shoveled away. There were obvious marks of prying, these were traces left by Tan Zong and his people when they got wine on a daily basis. They couldn’t take these in a rush and didn’t even remember them when leaving.
Zhou Qiang took a few sips and, deeming it poison-free, allowed people to bring over a jar of rice wine. By the fire, eating meat and drinking rice wine, everyone considered this a celebration of the capture of Star Moon Town.
Yang Xiao appointed Xia Luo as the head of Star Moon Town stronghold, with Zhou Qiang as his assistant, leaving twenty Primary Stage experts and a thousand Elite Soldiers there.
"Make sure the Transmission Array connections between Star Moon Town and various Nanmu City strongholds are open. Later, let people from all strongholds come to Star Moon Lake to dig for Ice Fish. Xia Luo, let’s develop Star Moon Town’s stronghold properly, the future hope lies with you."
"Yang Xiao, rest easy, I will protect this stronghold with my life. Moreover, with a thousand stationed Elite Soldiers and another one or two thousand people commuting daily from various strongholds to dig for Ice Fish at Star Moon Town, it’ll be tough for Yue Ying on the other side to touch us."
"Mhm, maintain a 24-hour vigil and immediately call for reinforcements through the Transmission Array at the first sign of trouble."
(End of Chapter Five)