Chapter Summaries

Wang Tao and his companions killed the Mother Night Demon and cleared the underground hall, collecting many parasite eggs and loot. They began hatching the eggs with Incubation Flesh, successfully producing a Fifth Order Lord Night Demon, and Wang Tao realized each Fifth Order hatch consumed nearly all the flesh beneath it.

• Wang Tao burned and killed six Night Demon Parasites, collecting four Fifth Order and two Sixth Order insect eggs, then killed the Mother Night Demon with He Jijun and Jiang Shixue's help.
• Wang Tao and his companions used Ultraviolet Flares to defeat the remaining Night Demons, retrieved Night Demon II Type, and collected a large haul of parasite eggs and other loot.
• Wang Tao found a Fifth Order Inheritance crystal core, another Night Demon Heart, and a Night Demon Dagger blueprint, then crafted two Night Demon Blades and gave them to Jiang Shixue.
• Wang Tao's group caught zombies and used a zombie head and Fifth Order insect egg to hatch a Fifth Order Lord Night Demon from Incubation Flesh, then quickly killed it.
• Wang Tao discovered the hatch had left only one thousand health in the Incubation Flesh and concluded that hatching each Fifth Order Night Demon consumed nearly all of it.

After incubating and killing numerous Night Demons, Wang Tao returned to the temporary camp and learned that a massive zombie tide led by a Fifth Order Lord had swept through the area. The camp was crowded with survivors, and Fu Yu clung to Wang Tao’s arm as hostile newcomers watched.

• Wang Tao used the available Incubation Flesh to produce Night Demons, killing three Fifth Order Lord Night Demons and thirty Fourth Order Lords before thoroughly looting the nest.
• Wang Tao’s group left the nest and returned to the temporary camp, where Wen Guocheng welcomed them and explained that survivors had gathered there to escape a zombie tide of over ten thousand powerful zombies.
• Wang Tao learned that the zombie tide was led by a Fifth Order Lord but decided not to confront it while it still had so many underlings.
• Wang Tao saw that unfamiliar survivors had crowded the camp and noticed several hostile looks directed at him and interested glances at Lan Yulian and Jiang Shixue.
• Fu Yu grabbed Wang Tao’s arm and tearfully called him Big Brother while several survivors glared at him, and Wen Guocheng denied that she was acting on his instructions.

Wang Tao discovered that Fu Yu had a Strange Snake Fruit that could strengthen Little Black, and learned there were many more at a nearby location. After spending the night at the temporary camp, Wang Tao and his group set out to collect the fruits while Fu Yu and Wen Guocheng stayed behind.

• Little Black crawled into Fu Yu's clothes and retrieved a Strange Snake Fruit that Wang Tao identified as beneficial to snakes.
• Fu Yu offered the fruit and told Wang Tao where she had found it, explaining that many more were growing near zombies.
• Zhuo Yang confronted Wang Tao, but Little Black revealed its Fourth Order aura and made Zhuo Yang back down.
• Wen Guocheng explained that tensions at the camp had centered on Fu Yu and the Ultraviolet Lamps Wang Tao had left behind.
• Wang Tao and his group rested at the camp, then left the next morning to collect the Strange Snake Fruits.

Wang Tao gathered a huge supply of Strange Snake Fruits and reviewed the gains from his expedition while heading back to Long River Base. On the way, two enormous zombie hordes blocked his route, and his group escaped using the Crystal Energy Car’s berserk mode.

• Wang Tao found a grove packed with Strange Snake Fruits, cleared the ordinary zombies there, and picked more than a thousand ripe fruits.
• Wang Tao fed Little Black one hundred fruits and found that they increased its health but caused no awakening.
• Wang Tao counted his expedition gains, including Advanced Special Energy, Awakening Keys, Physical Awakening Keys, and Night Demon Hearts, as the group drove toward Long River Base.
• Lightning alerted Wang Tao to a vast horde containing many fifth-order zombies, and another horde appeared ahead as the two groups converged.
• He Jijun activated the Crystal Energy Car’s berserk mode, and the vehicle sped through the zombies until its energy ran out.
• He Jijun replaced the spent core, and the group continued toward Long River Base.

Wang Tao returned to Long River Base after surviving the zombie horde, reunited with Ding Yuqin and the others, and prepared to attempt his Second Awakening. At Hope Research Institute, Qu Shilin showed him Xiang Hongbin, whose body had been transformed with mechanical parts and a crystal core.

• Wang Tao sensed Ding Yuqin through the Ring of Resonance and learned from a Scavenger that a huge zombie horde had driven many people to hide or flee back to Long River Base.
• Wang Tao returned to the base, discovered he was listed as a specially invited New Year guest, and reunited with Ding Yuqin and the others at his villa.
• Wang Tao shared his accounts of the Night Demon Nest and zombie horde, gave the snakes Strange Snake Fruits, and distributed Night Demon equipment and Fourth Order Advancement Crystal Cores.
• Wang Tao told everyone he planned to visit Qu Shilin and Cheng Yiyi before attempting his Second Awakening, and the next morning he drove to Hope Research Institute.
• Qu Shilin showed Wang Tao Xiang Hongbin, whose body had been rebuilt with mechanical limbs and metal components, as a researcher fitted a Fourth Order Epic Crystal Core into his chest.

Wang Tao reunited with Xiang Hongbin after Hope Research Institute transformed him with advanced mechanical prosthetics, restoring his ability to fight. The tests showed Xiang Hongbin could rival an Awakened, though his new body had flaws and required crystal cores.

• Wang Tao saw Xiang Hongbin's heavily modified body and congratulated him on his transformation.
• Xiang Hongbin hugged Wang Tao too forcefully, and Qu Shilin warned him to get used to his new strength.
• Qu Shilin took Wang Tao and Xiang Hongbin to the testing grounds and explained how the institute combined mechanical, biological, and crystal energy technologies to create his prosthetics.
• Qu Shilin explained that the fusion process required exceptional physical fitness and willpower, and that the Iron Beetle had helped the researchers advance their work.
• The researchers tested Xiang Hongbin, and Qu Shilin said his physical abilities could match an Awakened but that he needed to consume crystal cores.

Wang Tao watched Xiang Hongbin adjust to his powerful prosthetic body and learned that Qu Shilin could help transplant his Snake Fruit. After discovering his Night Demon Hearts had earned him millions, Wang Tao returned to the villa with Xiang Hongbin, then prepared to pursue a second Awakening.

• Xiang Hongbin completed his tests, celebrated his restored strength, and discussed his prosthetic body's abilities with Wang Tao and Qu Shilin.
• Qu Shilin agreed to help Wang Tao transplant a Snake Fruit, then gave him 10.2 million Crystal Coins from the sale of twelve Night Demon Hearts.
• Wang Tao revealed that he had seventy more Night Demon I Types, and Qu Shilin agreed to find a faction capable of buying them as a bundle.
• Wang Tao brought Xiang Hongbin back to the villa, where Wei Zhenguo and the others welcomed him, while Cheng Yiyi's message said the underground cave exploration was postponed until after the New Year.
• The group celebrated Xiang Hongbin's return with dinner, while Wang Tao prepared for his second Awakening.

Wang Tao completed his Second Awakening after raising its success rate to 90%, then began testing his new Mental Development awakening. He discovered that it enhanced his mental control and allowed him to communicate telepathically, though he had only begun to understand its abilities.

• Wang Tao stripped away Fireball and used two Advanced Awakening Keys and Advanced Special Energy to raise his awakening success rate to 90%.
• Wang Tao successfully underwent his Second Awakening, lost 100,000 health, and fell asleep for twenty-four hours as the others waited beside him.
• Wang Tao woke safely and found that Night Vision and Yin-Yang Harmonization had fused into his new awakening, Mental Development.
• Wang Tao tested his enhanced mental control, discovering that he could perceive his surroundings more clearly within a shorter range and retain Night Vision without glowing eyes.
• Wang Tao communicated with Ding Yuqin through his mind, and she heard his voice but could not reply or sense him.

Wang Tao tested his Mental Development Awakening, discovering that it enabled short-range mental communication, mana restoration through mutual mental connection, and mental attacks. He then combined it with Prairie Fire and instantly burned a Night Demon I Type to ashes, revealing the power of using both Awakenings together.

• Wang Tao tested Mental Communication and found that it reached only within his Divine Sense range, allowed one-way speech, and met resistance from people with stronger mental strength.
• Wang Tao used mental contact with Li Qiu Yu, restoring his mana to full and increasing his maximum mana by 10,000; he explained that the ability required mutual agreement and left them feeling deeply connected.
• Wang Tao practiced disrupting and attacking enemies' mental strength within his Divine Sense range, though he recognized that the ability still needed development.
• Jiang Shixue asked whether Wang Tao could use both Awakenings at once, and Wang Tao decided to test combining Mental Development with Prairie Fire.
• Wang Tao activated Prairie Fire against a Night Demon I Type, and the monster burst into flames from within and burned to ashes while Lan Yulian watched.

Wang Tao demonstrated Hellfire, a devastating combination of his Prairie Fire and Mental Development Awakenings, then helped his companions gain Hidden Attributes and attempt their own Awakenings. The chapter ended with several of them collapsing asleep after apparently succeeding, while others were still waiting to see whether their attempts had worked.

• Wang Tao explained that Hellfire had burned the Night Demon I Type's body and mind to ash, though the attack consumed 1,000 Awakening Energy and left him exhausted.
• Wang Tao returned to the villa with his group and prepared Ding Yuqin, Lu Yingfeng, Xu Xiaojun, Xiang Hongbin, and Lu Gang to attempt Awakening.
• Wang Tao assessed the risks of the Real Illusion Orb and Strange Poison Sacs, and Yang Changhong chose to fuse with the orb while Nie Siyan, Chen Zhuang, and Gao Hua took poison sacs.
• Yang Changhong, Nie Siyan, and Gao Hua gained Hidden Attributes, while Chen Zhuang was Poisoned and Lan Yulian stabilized him.
• Wang Tao's group began their Awakening attempts, and several people lost an ability, collapsed onto the table, and fell asleep.

After six of the eight candidates awakened, Wang Tao comforted Ding Yuqin and Yang Changhong, then used his new Mental Communication ability with them. The next day he tested equipment sockets and watched his companions train, before Qu Shilin messaged him about selling the Night Demon Hearts.

• Wang Tao learned that Lu Yingfeng, Xu Xiaojun, Xiang Hongbin, Lu Gang, Nie Siyan, and Gao Hua had succeeded in awakening, while Ding Yuqin and Yang Changhong had failed, and he comforted them.
• Wang Tao took Ding Yuqin and Yang Changhong to experience Mental Communication, which increased his maximum energy by 20,000 by morning.
• Wang Tao fused the Blast Flame ability and tested which crystal cores could be socketed into equipment, fitting Charger, Jump, and Heavy Weapon cores into his gear.
• Wang Tao praised Ding Yuqin's whip practice and saw that Han Rui, Yang Changhong, Li Qiu Yu, and the others had also been training hard.
• Qu Shilin messaged Wang Tao about helping sell the Night Demon Hearts.

Qu Shilin told Wang Tao about the Exchange Meeting, where factions would sell shares in an underground cave expedition, and suggested selling his Night Demon Hearts there. Wang Tao agreed, exchanged most of the proceeds for Crystal Cores to strengthen his creatures, and left Qu Shilin stunned when she learned his Night Demon Hearts came from a Fifth Order Night Demon.

• Qu Shilin explained that factions were inviting others to invest in the underground cave exploration through shares at a three-day Exchange Meeting.
• Qu Shilin proposed taking Wang Tao's seventy Night Demon Hearts to the Exchange Meeting to find better buyers, and Wang Tao left the decision to her.
• Qu Shilin invited Wang Tao to inspect strange, egg-like objects at her home, and Wang Tao agreed to visit and bring her some equipment.
• Wang Tao arranged to test Xiang Hongbin's strength with Qu Shilin after Xiang Hongbin finished awakening.
• Wang Tao exchanged ten million Crystal Coins for ten thousand fourth-order White Crystal Cores and used most of them to strengthen five Night Demon Hearts and two Iron Beetles.
• Qu Shilin noticed the Night Demon Hearts in Wang Tao's car seemed different, and Wang Tao told her they were fifth-order.

Wang Tao discovered that two colorful stones in Qu Shilin’s collection were Epic Mysterious Eggs, and the two agreed to hatch one each. Their fifteen-day hatching countdowns only progressed while the eggs stayed close to their bodies, and Qu Shilin invited Wang Tao to visit a nearby Exchange Meeting.

• Qu Shilin was stunned when Wang Tao showed her five Fifth Order Lord Night Demon Hearts, and he explained that ultraviolet equipment had helped him kill the Night Demons.
• Wang Tao gave Qu Shilin a large supply of ultraviolet equipment and weapons to study.
• Wang Tao recognized two colorful stones in Qu Shilin’s bedroom as Epic Mysterious Eggs, and Qu Shilin gave him one to share them.
• Wang Tao and Qu Shilin each activated an egg and learned that it required fifteen days of hatching while kept close to the body.
• Qu Shilin invited Wang Tao to a nearby Exchange Meeting, and he agreed to go.

Wang Tao attended the Exchange Meeting with Qu Shilin, learned that the Municipal Government would supervise investments in underground cave exploration, and chose an Attack Type Power Armor from the Hope Research Institute. He then discovered that the Sixth Army Corps had set up an Exhibition Hall under the Prairie Fire Society’s name without his knowledge.

• Wang Tao skipped the crowded first-floor trading hall and went upstairs with Qu Shilin to the investment Exhibition Halls.
• Qu Shilin explained that the Municipal Government would supervise the major factions’ underground cave exploration and ensure they reported their gains truthfully.
• At the Hope Research Institute’s Exhibition Hall, Qu Shilin offered Wang Tao a Power Armor, and Jiang Wenyu introduced the available types.
• Wang Tao chose an Attack Type Power Armor and received its key from Jiang Wenyu.
• Jiang Wenyu pointed out the Prairie Fire Society’s Exhibition Hall, and Wang Tao went to investigate the unfamiliar display beside the Sixth Army Corps’ hall.

Wang Tao learned that the Sixth Army Corps was short on funds and that Cheng Yiyi and two deputy commanders were trapped outside the city. After selling Renewed Vitality Potions to Zhou Long, he came up with a way to help the corps attract investment and set up an offer beneath the Prairie Fire Society sign.

• Xiao Ling and Xiao Liu explained that the Sixth Army Corps had suffered losses, lacked funds, and was without its commander and two deputy commanders, though Cheng Yiyi had reported that they were safe for now.
• Wang Tao learned that Cheng Yiyi had reserved three catacomb exploration slots for the Prairie Fire Society, and he resolved to help the Sixth Army Corps.
• Zhou Long met Wang Tao and bought Renewed Vitality Potions as emergency supplies for the Zhongyi Gang's catacomb expedition.
• Wang Tao gave Qu Shilin several potions and came up with a plan to attract investment for the Sixth Army Corps.
• Wang Tao set out Renewed Vitality Potions beneath the Prairie Fire Society sign and put up a notice reading "Investment Rebate Potions..."

Wang Tao promoted Renewed Vitality Potions as a benefit for investors in the Sixth Army Corps, using live demonstrations and powerful creatures from the Prairie Fire Society to convince people the weakened corps was worth backing. After leaving Xiao Ling and Xiao Liu to handle the investments, he departed as Lu Yingfeng and the others neared the end of their Awakening process.

• Wang Tao set rules for selling Renewed Vitality Potions through the Prairie Fire Society to people who invested in the Sixth Army Corps, with investment tiers determining how many bottles they could buy.
• Wang Tao crafted more potions, then joined Xiao Ling, Xiao Liu, and Qu Shilin at a crowded promotion and explained the potions' effects and side effects.
• Wang Tao gave five volunteers potions, and their rapid recovery convinced the crowd of the potions' effectiveness; Zhou Long also vouched for them.
• Wang Tao displayed two Night Demon I Type hearts and an Iron Beetle, persuading more people that the Prairie Fire Society and Sixth Army Corps were strong enough to invest in.
• Wang Tao left Xiao Ling and Xiao Liu to manage the investors, asked Qu Shilin to watch the displayed creatures, and headed out as Lu Yingfeng and the others' Awakening process neared completion.

Wang Tao told the others about the Exchange Meeting and the Prairie Fire Society's chance to explore the underground cave, then learned that his Night Demon Hearts were attracting buyers. He gave Li Qiu Yu a Tree Essence crystal core to fuse with, but she ran off before he could check its effect; Lan Yulian then called him because Lu Yingfeng had awakened.

• Wang Tao reassured Lan Yulian that Cheng Yiyi and two other Deputy Corps Commanders were trapped together but could likely protect themselves.
• Wang Tao described the Exchange Meeting and said he and Lan Yulian would take two of the Prairie Fire Society's three slots to scout the underground cave.
• Qu Shilin told Wang Tao that factions were buying his Night Demon Hearts, which were expected to bring in fifty to sixty million crystal coins.
• Wang Tao gave Li Qiu Yu stripping and Tree Essence crystal cores, and she fused with them.
• Li Qiu Yu noticed her chest seemed larger and ran away before Wang Tao could check the ability's effect.
• Lan Yulian called Wang Tao inside because Lu Yingfeng had awakened.

Wang Tao examined Lu Yingfeng’s new Unsheathed Edge awakening and helped her increase her awakening energy limit. She discovered she could launch detached edges, though doing so consumed far more energy, and the chapter ended with Wang Tao realizing the cost began at 100 awakening energy.

• Wang Tao learned that Lu Yingfeng had awakened Unsheathed Edge after fusing High-Frequency Vibration into it.
• Lu Yingfeng tested the awakening with her hand and Wang Tao’s Sharp Long Blade, producing a dangerous golden edge.
• Wang Tao and the others found that Lu Yingfeng could vary the edge’s size and create it with different objects or her bare hand.
• Wang Tao gave Lu Yingfeng Awakening Crystal Cores to raise her awakening energy limit to 1,000.
• Lu Yingfeng discovered she could launch detached edges, but each use consumed at least 100 awakening energy.

Lu Yingfeng tested her newly awakened Unsheathed Edge and received Wang Tao’s Night Demon Short Sword, while Xiang Hongbin and Xu Xiaojun awakened with Tenacity and Unyielding as a Mountain. The chapter ended with Wang Tao suspecting Xu Xiaojun’s awakening made him highly resistant to mental attacks.

• Lu Yingfeng tested Unsheathed Edge, and Wang Tao learned its range, charging potential, and dependence on a powerful blade.
• Wang Tao gave Lu Yingfeng the Night Demon Short Sword, and she accepted it for training.
• Xiang Hongbin woke up and revealed his Tenacity awakening, which greatly enhanced his strength and defense.
• Wang Tao agreed to spar with Xiang Hongbin the next day after testing his formidable physical abilities.
• Xu Xiaojun woke up with Unyielding as a Mountain, and Wang Tao’s mental attack failed to provoke any reaction from him.

Wang Tao tested Xu Xiaojun’s powerful Mental Defense and discovered Lu Gang’s awakening, Potential Burst, could greatly boost his attributes for a brief period. He then turned to inspect the poison-type awakenings of Nie Siyan and Gao Hua.

• Wang Tao tested his mental attacks on Xu Xiaojun and found that Xu Xiaojun barely felt them, so he decided not to push the dangerous test further.
• Wang Tao concluded that Xu Xiaojun could be valuable against psychic enemies and considered finding him high-defense equipment with fewer drawbacks.
• Wang Tao tested Lu Gang’s Potential Burst and saw him overpower Xiang Hongbin with brute strength for ten seconds before the awakening ended and went on cooldown.
• Wang Tao learned that Nie Siyan and Gao Hua had both gained poison-type awakenings through their poison-related Hidden Attributes.