Ming Yue was discussing points with Mei Gui when an annoying-looking man appeared, followed by over a dozen ability users. Their conversation was interrupted.
"Scarface, are you playing by the rules? I've already registered this mission. If you want it, forget it! You guys always bully us smaller teams with your numbers, hogging all the missions. Now you're resorting to outright theft. Do you even respect the base's rules?"
Mei Gui clearly knew the man. Hearing his words, she bristled like a small hedgehog and pointed at him, shouting. This Scarface was the captain of the Jackal Squad, the largest ability user team in the base. Normally, with over thirty ability users, the Jackal Squad would dominate the mission hall. They monopolized most of the easy, high-point missions, leaving other smaller, lower-ranked teams with nothing to do. Mei Gui's team had been suffering from this for over ten days, unable to find suitable missions. Living in the base required crystal cores for food, drink, and shelter. If they didn't take missions, they wouldn't have money for rent. That's why Mei Gui, despite her team only having five members, had resolutely accepted this mission today. Now Scarface shamelessly tried to snatch it away. She naturally exploded. Wasn't this forcing them to sleep on the streets?
"Rules? Brothers, this little lady is talking about rules with us! Don't forget, this is the apocalypse. Everything is decided by strength. Let me tell you, this mission to clear mutated plants is ours, the Jackal Squad's. Hand over the mission card, or don't blame us for being heartless. You're called Mei Gui, aren't you? Today, we'll 'crush the rose' and taste what you're like. And you," he leered at Ming Yue, "you're quite good-looking. Why are you following this thorny rose out here to fight and kill? With that face and figure, you could follow us brothers and we'd guarantee you food, drink, and endless pleasure!"
Scarface hadn't been in the mission hall when the mission level was changed. He'd missed it. When he returned and learned the situation – that the Xuan-level had been changed to Earth-level, worth three thousand points – he was filled with regret. Hearing that Mei Gui and an unfamiliar woman had taken the mission, he immediately chased after them to snatch it. He didn't take Mei Gui's team of five women seriously at all and spoke lewdly to Mei Gui. The men behind him also let out lewd laughter. When he saw Ming Yue's full face, he was stunned by her beauty. He couldn't help but verbally harass her, his hands also becoming restless. He reached out to put his arm around Ming Yue's shoulder.
However, as soon as his hand was raised, before it could touch Ming Yue's body, he felt a chill on his shoulder, followed by a 'thud'. Looking down, he saw an arm lying on the ground. It looked familiar, and only then did he realize it was his own.
"You dare to break my arm! Ah, it hurts so much! Brothers, kill her!"
Scarface, having lost an arm, screamed in pain. However, the robust physique of an ability user prevented him from passing out. So, he clutched his profusely bleeding wound and ordered his subordinates to attack Ming Yue. Ming Yue had merely moved her divine sense, unleashing a wind blade that severed Scarface's arm before Mei Gui could even react. Seeing Scarface's subordinates charging forward, Mei Gui didn't have time to ask questions. She immediately activated her ability, standing in front of Ming Yue and entering combat mode. This girl, though appearing delicate, was a metal-element ability user. Her entire body turned metallic, and in her hand, she conjured a greatsword longer than her own height, looking like a violent loli.
However, she didn't get a chance to fight. Before those men could reach them, they all fell to the ground, clutching their heads and writhing in agony. It was Ba Jiu who had launched a psychic attack. How dare they offend his sister! Ba Jiu showed no mercy. The dozen or so men first cried out, holding their heads, then their eyes became vacant, and drool dripped from their mouths. They had clearly been turned into imbeciles. Ba Jiu's psychic power was immense, directly damaging their brains and turning them all into idiots. This was even with Ba Jiu intentionally controlling his power; otherwise, his psychic energy could have made these dozen people explode.
"I'll fight you to the death!"
Seeing his subordinates turned into fools, Scarface ignored his wound. He pointed his remaining hand at Ming Yue, and a bolt of lightning appeared, flying directly towards Ming Yue. It was a rare lightning-element ability, and its level was not low, already reaching level six. Lightning-element abilities were powerful and overbearing, often capable of challenging opponents of higher levels. This was why he could act so arrogantly in the mission hall. But today, he was unlucky. He had encountered Ming Yue. Seeing the lightning bolt, as thick as a child's arm, flying towards her, Ming Yue didn't dodge. She simply reached out and caught it. The lightning bolt, like a snake whose seven inches had been grasped, instantly weakened and then vanished without a trace, turning into a wisp of smoke.
Ming Yue smiled at Scarface, and another wind blade flew out, severing Scarface's only remaining arm, which fell to the ground. The wind blade didn't stop; it successively sliced off his legs until Scarface, with all four limbs severed, was reduced to a human stump before the wind blade dissipated. Then, without any visible action from Ming Yue, a whirlwind appeared out of nowhere. It lifted Scarface's body and carried him towards the outskirts of the city. Outside the base, zombies lurked, and mutated plants and animals roamed. Scarface, having lost his limbs, would have no chance of survival outside the base.
Such a commotion attracted many onlookers. They marveled at Ming Yue's methods, pointing and whispering. After dealing with Scarface and his group and securing the mission, Ming Yue didn't want to stay and be gawked at. She pulled Mei Gui and Ba Jiu away. The surrounding crowd quickly parted to make way for them as Ming Yue approached. However, after a few steps, Ming Yue suddenly turned back and glanced, a look of confusion on her face.
"Sister Ming Yue, what are you looking at?" Mei Gui saw Ming Yue turn back and followed her gaze but saw nothing. She asked curiously.
"Nothing. You still haven't told me what points can be used for. Continue," Ming Yue changed the subject. Mei Gui began to explain the function of points in the base.
In Yuncheng Base, points were practically omnipotent. They could be used for anything. Firstly, points could be used as crystal cores, serving as currency. One point was equivalent to one mid-grade crystal core. It was important to note that in the base, one mid-grade crystal core could buy twenty catties of flour or rice. It could also pay for a month's rent for a single room. Their purchasing power was very high. Furthermore, since those holding points were all ability users, there was an additional privilege when spending points: a discount. If purchasing supplies at the supply station or paying base rent, it could be discounted by thirty percent. Additionally, some items supplied at the supply station were restricted. They could only be purchased with points. Ordinary people, even with crystal cores, had no right to purchase them without points. Otherwise, Scarface wouldn't have caused trouble for Mei Gui over a mission worth three thousand points.
"So, points have so many implications." Listening to Mei Gui's explanation, Ming Yue thought to herself that apart from his poor character, Bu Ying was truly intelligent. He had gone to great lengths to recruit and retain ability users. Where did he come up with these ideas?
"Sister Ming Yue, shall I take you somewhere nice?" Mei Gui said mysteriously.