Chapter Summaries

After being reborn one year before Dark Realm appeared in reality, Zhang Qing discovered that his game helmet had come back with him and successfully logged in early. He entered the game as its identity introduction began, with warnings that death or suspicious behavior could make the game much harder.

• Zhang Qing woke in his home on April 25, 2034, and realized he had been reborn after the apocalypse that followed Dark Realm’s arrival.
• Zhang Qing remembered the disasters and resolved to record future opportunities so he could survive when the game became reality.
• Zhang Qing found a Dark Realm helmet on his coffee table and discovered it could connect him to the game early.
• Zhang Qing ordered food and supplies, then put on the helmet and logged into Dark Realm.
• The game began explaining that Zhang Qing would receive an identity and warned him that death, suicide, or provoking intelligent NPCs could increase the difficulty.

Zhang Qing realized his wife Wang Yue was a Specter and attacked her before she could strike. He then turned on his patrol partner Li Hu, leaving both men in danger as the chapter ended.

• Zhang Qing woke during patrol, recognized the Dark Realm, and saw that his health was only 18/21 while Li Hu had 24/26.
• Zhang Qing learned from Li Hu that the Chuan Family ranked third in Zi City and was preparing an ancestral rite that could claim him as an offering.
• Zhang Qing resolved to buy a Cultivation Technique to improve his standing and remembered that Zi City would be destroyed in six months and produce the Star Steel Secret Treasure.
• Zhang Qing followed Li Hu to his home and saw that his wife, Wang Yue, had a health bar of 1000/1000.
• Zhang Qing suspected Wang Yue was a Specter, chopped off her head, then slashed open half of Li Hu's neck.

Zhang Qing secretly arranged to take the final blow against the Many-Legged Ghoul so he could claim its Attribute Points, while Chuan Fa led the guards in fighting it. As the ghoul neared death and the guards suffered heavy losses, Zhang Qing joined the battle but was pulled back by Chuan Fa.

• Zhang Qing killed Li Hu, gained 26 maximum HP, and retreated while calling for help as the Many-Legged Ghoul emerged and devoured Brother Hu.
• Chuan Fa arrived and organized the guards, while Zhang Qing hid his clear-headedness and planned to claim the ghoul's Attribute Points by landing the final blow.
• The guards fired volleys of arrows at the Many-Legged Ghoul, which charged them and crushed Zhu Qi and Niu San before Chuan Fa struck back.
• Chuan Fa and the surviving guards continued attacking until Chuan Fa had 87 HP and the Many-Legged Ghoul had 103 HP left.
• Zhang Qing picked up his saber and bow, fired an arrow at the ghoul, and was pulled back into formation by Chuan Fa.

Zhang Qing killed the Many-Legged Ghoul with Chuan Fa’s help and earned an Attribute Point, then received ten Silver Coins as a reward. He went with Chuan Fa to the Scripture Pavilion and recognized the Kaiyuan Art as he searched for a cultivation technique.

• Chuan Fa told Zhang Qing to attack from the rear, and Zhang Qing weakened the Many-Legged Ghoul until he could finish it with an arrow.
• Zhang Qing earned one Attribute Point for killing the Many-Legged Ghoul and decided to save it for a Cultivation Technique.
• Zhang Qing hid his involvement in Chuan Fa’s injuries, acted grief-stricken, and received praise for his courage.
• Chuan Fa gave Zhang Qing ten Silver Coins and invited him to the Scripture Pavilion to choose a Cultivation Technique.
• Zhang Qing entered the Low-grade Glimmer section and recognized the Kaiyuan Art among the available techniques.

Zhang Qing chose the incomplete Kaiyuan Art, learned it, and spent his only Attribute Point to raise it to Proficient. Seeking more Attribute Points, he arranged to take a Chuan Family Razor duty slot, unaware that Chuan Fa and Chuan Qi were splitting his replacement fee.

• Zhang Qing selected the incomplete Kaiyuan Art and quickly comprehended it, gaining Constitution and proficiency.
• Zhang Qing spent his Attribute Point to raise Kaiyuan Art to Low-grade Glimmer Proficient, while noting that he still lacked the Constitution needed to qualify as a Glimmer Realm Warrior.
• Zhang Qing decided to join Razor patrols to hunt Specters and gain Attribute Points, then paid Chuan Fa ten Silver Coins to arrange a duty slot.
• Chuan Fa agreed to assign Zhang Qing a Chuan Family Razor slot starting the next day because Zhang Qing claimed to hate Specters.
• Chuan Qi asked Chuan Fa to fill a Razor slot, and the two captains agreed to split the ten Silver Coins Zhang Qing had paid.

Zhang Qing joined a Razor Squad patrol and learned that its dangerous work came with valuable meals. After the squad killed an innocent passerby, they caught another suspect whose health bar marked him as a powerful Specter.

• Chuan Fa brought Zhang Qing to Razor Hall and advised him to follow votes, avoid taking risks, and prioritize survival.
• Guan Yutian introduced Zhang Qing to his mixed-race squad and led them on patrol through Zi City.
• Guan Yutian accused Bie Fu of being a Specter, and the squad voted to have Zhang Qing execute him; Zhang Qing gained 27 Health when Bie Fu proved human.
• Guan Yutian blamed Zhang Qing for the mistaken killing and deducted his field allowance as compensation before the squad continued patrolling.
• Zhang Qing ate a Spirit Medicine-infused lunch at Razor Hall and gained 0.5 Attribute Points.
• The squad caught another passerby, and Zhang Qing saw that Tian Yuan had 1380 Health.

Zhang Qing watched Guan Yutian's squad battle a Long-armed Ghoul, then seized a chance to kill Bao Lie while pretending to evacuate him. Killing Bao Lie increased Zhang Qing's maximum Blood Volume to 218.

• Zhang Qing agreed with the squad's vote, beheaded Tian Yuan, and watched him transform into a Long-armed Ghoul.
• Guan Yutian organized the Razor squad to fight the Specter while Zhang Qing hid nearby.
• The Long-armed Ghoul killed Yun Qing and wounded Heishan, Pusan, and Bao Lie as the squad fought back.
• Guan Yutian took over the frontline, but the Long-armed Ghoul feinted and badly wounded him before attacking Bao Lie.
• Zhang Qing dragged the nearly dead Bao Lie away, causing his death and raising Zhang Qing's maximum Blood Volume by 143.

Zhang Qing tried to rescue Heishan but accidentally caused his death, then helped Guan Yutian and Pusan wear down the Long-armed Ghoul. With the Specter near death, Guan Yutian prepared one final charge while Zhang Qing considered how to claim the kill.

• Zhang Qing pulled the badly wounded Heishan away from the fight, but the Long-armed Ghoul struck them and reduced Heishan to three Blood Volume.
• Zhang Qing tried to rescue Heishan again, but Heishan died during the attempt, increasing Zhang Qing's maximum Life.
• Zhang Qing and Pusan joined Guan Yutian against the Long-armed Ghoul, and Zhang Qing's deliberate miss drew its attention away from Guan Yutian.
• Zhang Qing lured the Long-armed Ghoul around with arrows while Pusan attacked it with his blade, leaving it at 74/1380 Life.
• Guan Yutian urged Zhang Qing to flee and promised to claim merit for him, then swallowed pills and prepared to charge the nearly defeated Specter.

Zhang Qing killed the Long-armed Ghoul and earned the Razor Squad’s promise of a reward and medical treatment. A Sheepfolk healer named Yang Man treated him, triggering a system notification that increased his Constitution through first contact with Ghoulification Power.

• Guan Yutian and Pusan badly wounded the Long-armed Ghoul before it knocked them down.
• Zhang Qing hurled his saber into the Long-armed Ghoul’s head, killing it and earning 1.5 Attribute Points.
• Guan Yutian mistook Zhang Qing for a loyal squad member and invited him back the next day for a reward and treatment.
• A Sheepfolk woman named Yang Man treated Guan Yutian, Pusan, and Zhang Qing after the Razor Squad arrived.
• Yang Man’s treatment triggered a system notification that Zhang Qing’s Constitution increased by five through first contact with Ghoulification Power.

After returning from the hunt, Zhang Qing used his Attribute Points to advance to the first level of the Glimmering Realm and discovered the Kaiyuan Art boosted his endurance. He logged out briefly, confirmed that his strength barely transferred to the real world, and logged back in to rest before the next day’s work.

• Zhang Qing returned to Chuan Prefecture, reported to Chuan Fa, and received a slice of Blood Ginseng before heading to his room.
• Zhang Qing planned to build favor with the Chuan Family, develop his martial talent, and eventually deal with Guan Yutian.
• Zhang Qing spent his two Attribute Points on Constitution, reached 10 Constitution, and advanced to the first level of the Glimmering Realm.
• Zhang Qing discovered that the Kaiyuan Art improved his endurance in the Glimmering Realm and gained one Constitution point from his breakthrough.
• Zhang Qing logged out and found that his increased strength barely transferred to the real world, then logged back in to sleep.

Zhang Qing joined Guan Yutian’s squad and suspected their patrol outside Zi City was part of an operation to expose Specters. When Guan Yutian suddenly ordered the squad to charge, Zhang Qing braced for an ambush.

• Zhang Qing met Chuan Fa, revealed he had become a Glimmer Realm Warrior, and went with him to Razor Hall.
• Guan Yutian introduced Zhang Qing to the squad, including Qian Fa, whose immense Blood Volume led Zhang Qing to suspect he was a Specter.
• Guan Yutian led the squad out of Zi City along a trade route, and Zhang Qing guessed they were closing a net around hidden Specters.
• Guan Yutian ordered the squad to follow him and charge forward, and the other members hurried after him.

Zhang Qing followed Guan Yutian into a wilderness ambush, where the Yu Family exposed and attacked the Specters hiding among the squads. As the battle unfolded, Zhang Qing found a way to land a hit on a weakened Specter and earned Attribute Points for participating in its kill.

• Guan Yutian led the team into a clearing, where the Yu Family surrounded the area and began a net-closing operation.
• Yu An killed Quan Rong, then exposed Yuan Ka as a Toothed Disc Ghoul and attacked it with help from the Yu Family.
• Specters revealed their true forms across the squads, and Zhang Qing joined his team in fighting Qian Fa's Blade Strike Ghoul.
• Yu An struck the Toothed Disc Ghoul and sent it flying toward Zhang Qing, who rolled aside and hit it with an arrow.
• The Yu Family killed the Toothed Disc Ghoul, and Zhang Qing received 0.4 Attribute Points for participating in the kill.

Zhang Qing used Yu An’s tests and the chaos of battle to mooch Attribute Points while maintaining his persona. After the Specters were defeated, he killed the mortally wounded Goushi and resolved that he would show no mercy to anyone threatening Blue Star.

• Yu An deliberately sent a Unicorn Ghoul and then a Falling Sand Ghoul toward Zhang Qing, while telling Yu Tu she wanted to test his potential and might recruit him.
• Zhang Qing acted enraged when attacking the Falling Sand Ghoul, then calmed down after Yu An knocked him back, convincing her he had potential and emotional discipline.
• Yu An continued sending Specters near Zhang Qing, who joined in their kills and gained Attribute Points from several more of them.
• After the clearing’s Specters were slain, Zhang Qing pressed on Goushi’s bleeding wound and killed him, gaining maximum health.
• Yu An warned Zhang Qing that mercy would drag him into the abyss, and he resolved to show no mercy and protect Blue Star.

After surviving the net-closing operation, Zhang Qing received his reward and used the Silver Coins to buy Spirit Medicine meals that increased his Attribute Points. He then persuaded Chuan Fa to take him to the Scripture Pavilion to find Cultivation Techniques.

• Guan Yutian led the four surviving, injured squad members back to Zi City and promised to distribute their rewards.
• Guan Yutian gave Zhang Qing fifty Silver Coins, and Zhang Qing paid ten for meals with extra Spirit Medicine.
• Zhang Qing gained one Attribute Point from the Spirit Medicine meal and left Razor Hall early.
• Zhang Qing offered Chuan Fa ten Silver Coins and asked to visit the Scripture Pavilion to learn Cultivation Techniques.
• Chuan Fa inferred that Zhang Qing had gained influential protection, returned the coins, and agreed to take him to the Scripture Pavilion.

Zhang Qing chose three cultivation techniques at the Scripture Pavilion and used Attribute Points to quickly improve two of them. Elder Chuan Jia noticed his aptitude, ordered an investigation into his background, and arranged medicinal herbs for him.

• Zhang Qing and Chuan Fa visited the Scripture Pavilion, where Zhang Qing selected Sky-Opening Slash, Chuan Shattering Steps, and Ox-Barbarian Strength.
• Zhang Qing comprehended Sky-Opening Slash and Chuan Shattering Steps, then spent Attribute Points to raise both to Proficient.
• Chuan Jia asked Zhang Qing's name, praised his aptitude, and ordered an investigation into his history and possible recruitment into the First-grade Hall.
• Chuan Jia arranged for Zhang Qing to receive beginner-level medicinal herbs for Ox-Barbarian Strength, and the ingredients were delivered to Zhang Qing's room.

Zhang Qing mastered all four of his Cultivation Techniques and learned that First-grade Hall had assigned him to report on Razor. He returned to Razor Hall with a new teammate, where their patrol was interrupted by Qi Ge approaching Guan Yutian.

• Yu An sent Guan Yutian to ask the Chuan Family to recruit Zhang Qing, but they refused to sell him because he had joined First-grade Hall.
• Zhang Qing used five Attribute Points to raise Ox-Barbarian Strength, Kaiyuan Art, Sky-Opening Slash, and Chuan Shattering Steps to mastery.
• Chuan Chao told Zhang Qing that First-grade Hall wanted him to carry out Razor missions and report what he saw and heard, with the possibility of making him a squad leader.
• Chuan Fa shared food and wine with Zhang Qing and gave him twenty Silver Coins in name-substitution money, promising ten Silver Coins each day afterward.
• Zhang Qing joined Guan Yutian, Pusan, Feng Ze, and Yuan Qi for patrol, and Qi Ge approached Guan Yutian after they had gone a few hundred meters.

Zhang Qing and Razor Squad investigated a Dogfolk family suspected of being Specters, and discovered all four family members were Blood Flower Ghouls. As the squad fought them, Zhang Qing aggressively attacked the weakest Ghoul, leaving the battle underway.

• Qi Ge led Guan Yutian and Razor Squad to investigate a Dogfolk family in Backstreet Lane after their behavior changed.
• The family accused a Dogfolk man inside the house of being a Specter, and Guan Yutian kicked open the door to confront him.
• Zhang Qing killed Ka Lian, but no Specter appeared, so Guan Yutian prepared to leave.
• Zhang Qing killed the Dogfolk woman, revealing that she and the other three family members were Blood Flower Ghouls.
• Guan Yutian ordered the squad to fight, and Zhang Qing used Sky-Opening Slash before trading blows with the wounded Ghoul.
• The rest of Razor Squad charged the remaining Ghouls while Zhang Qing continued attacking his target.

Zhang Qing helped Razor Hall defeat four Blood Flower Ghouls and claimed an Attribute Point for each kill. After the team returned to Razor Hall, Guan Yutian distributed the reward, giving Zhang Qing a full gold piece for his contribution.

• Zhang Qing killed the first Blood Flower Ghoul and gained an Attribute Point.
• Zhang Qing joined Guan Yutian, Pusan, and the others in battle, stealing the finishing blows on the remaining three Blood Flower Ghouls.
• Guan Yutian pulled Zhang Qing away from the corpses and reminded him to stay alert after each kill.
• The team dragged the four Specters back to Razor Hall, where Yang Man treated their injuries.
• Guan Yutian collected the reward and gave Zhang Qing one gold piece while the others received half each.

Zhang Qing learned about Razor Hall’s rewards and the conflict between the Tie Family and the Chuan Family, then used his Attribute Points to raise his Constitution. During patrol, he provoked a hidden Specter into revealing itself, leaving Guan Yutian’s team facing an Armored Ghoul.

• Zhang Qing heard that Razor Hall members could trade Military Merit from killing Specters for spiritual pills and weapons, and learned that the Tie Family and the Chuan Family were at odds.
• After eating a Spirit Medicine meal, Zhang Qing spent all five of his Attribute Points on Constitution, raising it to 16 and his health to 780.
• Zhang Qing continued patrolling with Guan Yutian’s team, hoping to find Specters and earn more Attribute Points, but ruled out venturing into the dangerous wilderness.
• Zhang Qing deliberately bumped into Gao Ta, and Guan Yutian kicked him, causing the Specter to feign injury as the team noticed his poor acting.
• Gao Ta tore off his Human Skin and transformed into an Armored Ghoul with 2549/2560 Blood Volume as the pedestrians fled and Guan Yutian’s team prepared to fight.

Zhang Qing’s squad defeated an Armored Ghoul after discovering its tongue was its only dangerous attack, and Zhang Qing secured the killing blow. At Razor Hall, he exchanged Military Merit for two Spirit Pills that gave him six Attribute Points, leaving him poised to reach the second tier of the Glimmering Realm.

• Guan Yutian led the squad in attacking the slow-moving Armored Ghoul with ranged arrows, but its tongue shot out and severely wounded Pusan.
• Guan Yutian warned the squad about the tongue’s speed and range, so the fighters kept their distance and continued firing.
• Zhang Qing calculated the Armored Ghoul’s remaining health and landed the final arrow, earning three Attribute Points.
• Guan Yutian took the squad and the defeated Armored Ghoul to Razor Hall, where Zhang Qing received a token containing Military Merit.
• Zhang Qing exchanged ten Military Merit for a Blood Nourishing Pill and a Body Refining Pill, gaining six Attribute Points by consuming them.
• Guan Yutian told Zhang Qing to cultivate, and Zhang Qing returned home feeling that he was close to breaking through.