That morning, the atmosphere of the city changed drastically.
Warning sirens blared from the central tower, their long echoes reaching every corner of the streets. Not long after, public crystal screens lit up one by one, displaying the stern face of the City Leader delivering an emergency announcement.
The mutants had breached the border.
A mobilization order was immediately issued — all adult men were required to join the combat forces to hold back the waves of attacks, while women were permitted to enlist as paramedics and support volunteers.
The morning air, usually calm and peaceful, was now filled with anxiety.
Residents rushed out of their homes; some carried weapons, while others prepared supplies. A tense aura blanketed the entire city.
—
Inside the house, Xue Yunxue's five husbands were already preparing.
Light armor was secured onto their bodies, weapons carefully inspected, and their cultivation auras felt far sharper than usual. Even without many words, the pressure they radiated was enough to show that this battle would not be simple.
Xue Yunxue stood near the door, arms crossed as she watched them.
"I'm going too," she said suddenly.
All five men stopped at the same time.
Their gazes immediately turned toward her.
"What?" Xiang Shuai frowned.
"I'll join the paramedic volunteers," Xue Yunxue continued calmly, as if she had already thought the decision through. "I want to test the healing potion I've created."
Expressions of disapproval instantly appeared on their faces.
"There's no need," Luo Shixin said shortly.
But Xue Yunxue raised an eyebrow, clearly having no intention of backing down.
Yun Wu let out a long sigh before finally speaking. "Then you must stay with the women's group."
"And don't leave your group no matter what happens," Lu Xiao added seriously, his sharp gaze filled with warning.
Xue Yunxue merely rolled her eyes slightly.
With the intense training her five husbands had given her almost every day — training even more brutal than military drills — her body had already become far different from that of an ordinary human. On top of that, consuming soul cores from high-level beasts had greatly accelerated her cultivation.
Her physical level was now nearly reaching Level Forty.
At the very least… she could already lift a cow without difficulty.
"Alright, I won't cause you any trouble," she said lightly with a small smile.
Then she looked at them one by one, her expression softening.
"You all have to stay safe on the front lines too."
For a moment, no one responded.
Did this woman truly underestimate their strength?
Among the city's cultivators, the names of these five men were not to be taken lightly. Yun Wu and Luo Shixin had already reached Level Seventy, power sufficient to command an entire battalion alone. Lu Xiao had even reached Level Eighty-Five, his combat aura known to be cold and lethal. Lin Yuan — who appeared the laziest among them — was actually the strongest, standing at Level Ninety, only one step away from the legendary realm.
Only Xiang Shuai remained at Level Sixty-Five, yet even that strength far surpassed most elite soldiers.
Facing a hundred ordinary mutants?
That wouldn't even be enough to make them break a sweat.
The City Stadium was filled with a sea of people.
The grand arena, usually used for festivals, had now transformed into a wartime mobilization point. City banners fluttered atop towering spires, while defensive rune formations shimmered faintly across the sky, forming a thin dome of light that provided only an illusion of safety.
Thousands stood in orderly lines.
Almost all of them were men — soldiers, hunters, and civilian cultivators summoned to battle. On the opposite side of the arena stood barely fifty women dressed in pale medical robes, carrying medicine boxes and healing equipment.
Xue Yunxue stood among them.
Yet it was difficult to say she truly belonged to that group.
Five men naturally stood around her, unconsciously forming a protective circle. Their powerful auras caused others to instinctively keep several steps away.
Many covert gazes turned toward them.
The beastmen could not hide their admiration as they looked at Xue Yunxue. Until now, they had only heard rumors — that the woman belonging to Yun Wu possessed beauty like a goddess descended into the mortal world. But seeing her in person today, whispers of amazement quickly spread through the crowd.
Her fair skin seemed to reflect the morning light, her long black hair cascading softly down her back, and her calm demeanor only made her stand out even more among thousands of people. Some men even clicked their tongues unconsciously, realizing that the rumors had actually understated reality.
On the other hand, the women looked at her with far more complicated emotions.
Jealousy.
Not only because of her beauty, but because of the five extraordinary men surrounding her. Each of them was handsome, powerful, and radiated a dominant aura that made others hesitate to approach. The combination of a gentle, beautiful girl protected by such formidable men created a scene far too striking — enough to provoke envy in anyone who saw it.
Soft whispers spread among several women, their eyes fixed on that small circle.
—
On the other side of the stadium, Bai Ling was also present.
As the City Leader's daughter, her attendance was not merely ceremonial. Bai Zhou had deliberately sent his daughter along with all her husbands to demonstrate that the ruling family stood alongside the people — not avoiding the dangers of war.
But when her gaze fell upon Xue Yunxue—
Bai Ling's expression instantly hardened.
She saw the woman standing at the center of five extraordinary men, as though the world itself revolved around her. Though they appeared relaxed, their posture clearly revealed vigilance. Without realizing it, they had formed an invisible boundary, as if anyone wishing to approach would first have to pass through them.
That protectiveness felt natural… unmistakable.
And that was precisely what made Bai Ling's chest burn.
Her jaw tightened.
Her teeth nearly ground together as she struggled to suppress the fury surging wildly within her heart. Her gaze sharpened, filled with hatred that was slowly slipping beyond control.
Why was that woman always the center of attention?
Why did men of such strength treat her like their most precious treasure?
Amid the noisy stadium, Bai Ling stood silently, yet the cold aura around her gradually turned into an unpleasant pressure — a sign of anger on the verge of eruption.
The army was soon divided into five large divisions, each consisting of two thousand beastmen. Every group was accompanied by ten medical personnel responsible for treating the wounded at the rear lines.
This time, Xue Yunxue was assigned to the same group as Xiang Shuai — and also Bai Ling.
Unbeknownst to her, a pair of eyes filled with hatred continued watching from afar. Bai Ling's gaze was sharp like a hidden blade, cold and filled with malicious intent.
The troops advanced toward the outermost border of the Yanhuo Kingdom, while the medical teams prepared themselves behind the formation.
The wind in that region felt different — dry, heavy, and carrying a foul stench that stabbed at the nose. The ground had turned black, as though life energy had long been drained away. An aura of death hung in the air, causing even experienced soldiers to tense unconsciously.
In the distance, hoarse roars began to echo.
When the front lines opened a path, Xue Yunxue finally saw them for the first time.
Mutant humans.
Their bodies still resembled humans, yet their flesh had severely decayed. Skin hung loosely like torn cloth, revealing blackened muscles and nearly exposed bones. Some walked with broken limbs, yet continued moving as if incapable of feeling pain.
Their eyes were empty — cloudy gray, devoid of consciousness.
Their mouths hung open, releasing low growls that made one's scalp tingle.
At a glance… they resembled the zombies Xue Yunxue had once seen in films from her previous life.
But reality was far more horrifying.
The rotten aura emanating from their bodies carried tangible corruption energy. Wherever they stepped, the earth darkened, and the surrounding air felt polluted.
They were not merely undead.
They were beings completely corrupted by the power of darkness.
And until now—
No serum had ever succeeded in stopping the infection carried by those mutants.
Tens of thousands of mutants filled the plains before the border like an endless black tide. Though most were low-class mutants easily cut down, their overwhelming numbers gradually exhausted the kingdom's forces.
This battle was not merely about strength — but endurance.
Xue Yunxue unconsciously tightened her grip on the medical bag in her hands. Her fingers trembled slightly — not from fear, but from a tension she had never experienced before.
This was the first time in her life she had witnessed a real war.
And even more terrifying… it was a war between beastmen and mutants.
Roars shook the battlefield.
At the front line, Xiang Shuai stepped forward, his body instantly enveloped in spiritual light. In a flash, his human form vanished, replaced by a gigantic white serpent radiating terrifying pressure. Its scales gleamed like cold jade beneath the gray sky.
His golden eyes narrowed.
Purple spiritual energy gathered around his massive body before transforming into thousands of sharp blades that shot outward in every direction.
Instantly, mutant bodies were torn apart.
The energy blades moved like a raging storm, slicing through rotten flesh and fragile bones without resistance. Heads and limbs flew through the air, yet even when destroyed, some mutants still crawled forward a few steps before finally collapsing.
Across the battlefield, other beastmen had also transformed.
Giant tigers, black wolves, steel-winged eagles, and countless other spiritual beasts charged forward with full force. Beastly roars mixed with explosions of spiritual energy, shaking the ground with every unleashed attack.
The armor worn by the soldiers shimmered faintly. These combat artifacts were specially designed by the kingdom — capable of adapting to their bodies during transformation, allowing them to change forms without hindering movement or power.
The battle raged brutally without pause.
But the number of mutants was simply too great.
Not long after, wounded soldiers began to be pulled back from the front lines. Some were supported by their comrades, while others were carried on emergency stretchers. Claw marks and bite wounds looked horrifying, many already turning black from corruptive energy.
The medical teams immediately sprang into action.
Volunteers rushed forward, opening medicine kits and activating simple healing formations.
Xue Yunxue did not remain idle.
She knelt beside a soldier whose chest had been torn open, her hands moving quickly and steadily. Without hesitation, she took out several bottles of medicine from her bag — a crimson liquid to stop bleeding, a pale green potion for internal injuries, and a clear solution that accelerated tissue regeneration.
"Drink this," she said gently yet firmly.
The medicinal energy immediately took effect.
The gaping wound gradually stopped bleeding. The blackened discoloration around it faded slightly, causing nearby medics to turn toward her in shock.
Those medicines… were far more effective than standard military supplies.
After stabilizing the bleeding, Xue Yunxue carefully examined the injury again. Wherever tissue had not fully fused, she stitched the wounds herself using precise medical techniques.
She moved from one soldier to another without pause. Her hands became stained with blood, her breathing grew slightly uneven, yet her movements remained calm and composed.
Fortunately, she had prepared large quantities of medicine over the past few days.
Without realizing it, Xue Yunxue became the center of attention among the medical team.
Her movements were swift yet steady, her hands almost never stopping. Every potion she used produced immediate results — bleeding halted faster, internal injuries stabilized within minutes, and soldiers who had grown pale from blood loss gradually regained color in their faces.
Whispers began spreading among the wounded soldiers.
"Yun Wu's partner is truly incredible…"
"Her medicine works amazingly — I recovered so quickly."
"No wonder all of Princess Hu Shui's former husbands were drawn to her. She's truly noble."
"Is it true all of them became her husbands? She must be extraordinary… such talent in medicine."
"Do you think she'd accept a sixth husband? I'd gladly volunteer."
Admiration, gratitude, and sincere respect slowly gathered around her.
And all of it—
Fell directly before Bai Ling's eyes.
The young woman stood not far away, her combat attire still spotless, untouched by blood. Her fists clenched tightly, nails nearly digging into her own palms.
Her gaze turned cold.
Every time a soldier looked at Xue Yunxue with respect, the anger in her chest grew stronger.
Every word of gratitude sounded like a slap across her face.
Why was it always that woman?
Why did attention follow Xue Yunxue wherever she went?
If things continued like this… she would have to act soon.
—
The battle raged on without pause until the sun sank behind the border mountains. As darkness fell, the order to retreat was finally given.
The troops withdrew to a designated safe zone.
An electric formation barrier was erected around the encampment, blue sparks occasionally leaping through the air, repelling mutants that attempted to approach. Rows of temporary tents stood under dim spirit lamps while exhausted soldiers finally allowed themselves a moment to breathe.
The night filled with soft groans of the wounded, the clinking of medical tools, and quiet conversations.
Xue Yunxue had just finished treating the last soldier when she noticed something.
Xiang Shuai was nowhere to be seen.
Normally, he would have appeared first — either complaining about hunger or commenting on the smell of blood. But this time… there was no sign of the white serpent at all.
She began searching around the tents.
"Have you seen Xiang Shuai?" she asked several beastmen nearby.
One of them nodded.
"The Serpent Prince went to the river. Said he wanted to clean himself."
Xue Yunxue let out a small sigh.
That was very much like Xiang Shuai.
Even in the middle of war, he could not tolerate filth or the smell of blood.
Without thinking much further, she walked toward the river about a kilometer away from the camp. Moonlight reflected across the water's surface, casting a pale, quiet glow.
The farther she walked, the sounds of the camp gradually disappeared.
Only the gentle flow of water and the whisper of the night wind remained.
Yet Xiang Shuai was still nowhere to be seen.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
She closed her eyes for a moment, sharpening her hearing — her enhanced physique had greatly heightened her senses compared to before.
Then—
She heard it.
A suppressed groan.
Very faint… yet clearly coming from a rocky cliff near the river.
Xue Yunxue immediately opened her eyes.
Following the sound, she discovered a natural cave hidden behind shrubs and large stones.
As she drew closer—
A very familiar scent filled her nose.
Xiang Shuai.
But the scent was not alone.
There was also a sharp metallic smell… the scent of blood.
Bang!
A heavy impact echoed from inside the cave, as if something had slammed violently against stone walls. It was followed by a deeper groan, filled with pain desperately being restrained.
Xue Yunxue's heart pounded violently.
Was he seriously injured?
Without realizing it, her steps quickened. Xiang Shuai's aura felt chaotic, his spiritual energy pulsing unstably, as if something was being forcibly suppressed.
The air near the cave entrance felt hot and heavy.
The closer she moved, the stronger the scent of blood mixed with a wild, uncontrollable serpent aura.
Xue Yunxue tightened her grip on her medical bag.