Arc 6The Archbishops’ Hunt

Xu Zhi consumed the moon fragment, transformed Little Aberration into the Cup’s Archbishop of Wrath, and gained [Authority] as the Cup turned its attention toward her. She lured three Archbishops into Cloud City, defeated Ye Yan and Sloth, and left Lust at large while the Narrator investigated the strange nature of their foundations.

  • Xu Zhi swallowed the moon fragment, sacrificed [Cup], and had Little Aberration eat the crimson scrap before it sealed the rift and grew into a great tree.
  • Xu Zhi woke with a stronger body and learned that Little Aberration had become the Cup Attribute’s Archbishop of Wrath, making them targets of the Cup and the beings in Midnight.
  • Xu Zhi unlocked [Authority], moved the survivor base to Cloud City’s center, and arranged a deal that would lure the Archbishops there in exchange for Federation resources.
  • The Federation sent a ten-person team into Cloud City, where Xu Zhi followed them and revealed herself as three Cup Archbishops and their followers attacked.
  • Xu Zhi fought Ye Yan and the Archbishops, then used [Moth] and [Lamp] energy to corrupt Ye Yan’s blood-red staircase and kill him.
  • Xu Zhi killed Sloth by severing her head and limbs and crushing her heart, but Lust escaped.
  • Xu Zhi sent Lin Zizhen and the surviving Federation members out of Cloud City, kept Sloth’s remains, and planned to collect the Federation’s remaining payment in a week.
  • The Narrator warned Xu Zhi that the Archbishops’ foundations seemed unreal and that the Cup’s supreme being might be behind a fog of deception, while Xu Zhi refused to take on the role of a world-saving hero.
Chapters 126–150 Vol. 2 Read

Ch. 126Spatial Rift

Xu Zhi witnessed a rift open in the City Center, revealing a full moon surrounded by Midnight’s malicious presence. As Aberrations died trying to reach it, the strongest ones began fighting over it, and Xu Zhi watched for a chance to take the moon herself.

  • Xu Zhi infiltrated the Aberration horde and felt Midnight’s presence pass through the square without fully descending.
  • A rift opened above the square, revealing a full moon as malicious presences seeped through the gap.
  • Aberrations charged toward the rift and were sliced apart, while Xu Zhi escaped the surging crowd by climbing onto a wall.
  • After the Aberration corpses piled up, the slaughter stopped just as one creature nearly reached the moon.
  • The strongest Aberrations attacked the creature and began competing for the moon, while Xu Zhi considered how to approach without being noticed.

Ch. 127Infiltrating the Moon

Xu Zhi used Little One and Little Aberration to distract the powerful aberrations and reach the moon at the crack. When the aberrations attacked her, she plunged into the moon’s light, hoping to escape and find whatever treasure it held.

  • Xu Zhi watched the aberrations fight and waited for their battle to weaken before sending in her Familiars.
  • Xu Zhi released Little One to draw the aberrations’ attention, then approached the crack under cover of its body.
  • Xu Zhi sent Little Aberration to attack the aberrations that spotted her, allowing her to reach the crack’s opening.
  • Xu Zhi heard the beings inside react with panic and anger when they sensed her, strengthening her resolve to take the moon.
  • Xu Zhi stepped into the moon’s radiance after the aberrations noticed her and lunged to attack.

Ch. 128Bold Idea

Xu Zhi resisted the light’s alluring influence and found the fragment drawing aberrations to the moon. Unable to take it or find a way out, she swallowed the fragment, leaving its consequences unknown.

  • Xu Zhi nearly merged with the light but broke free when strange static and an electric buzz jolted her back to awareness.
  • Xu Zhi followed the light’s pull to the center of the space and found a tiny fragment that seemed to be the source of the strange energy.
  • Xu Zhi touched and held the fragment, but it had no tangible substance and slipped through her fingers.
  • Xu Zhi realized she could not take the fragment away or find an exit, and her moths had no effect on it.
  • Xu Zhi pinched the fragment, tossed it into her mouth, and swallowed it.

Ch. 129Sacrifice of the [Cup]

Xu Zhi sacrificed her [Cup] attribute to the moon fragment, turning it into a tiny red fragment that drew the Aberrations into a frenzy. She seized it and ordered Little Aberration to eat it.

  • Xu Zhi consumed the moon fragment, causing the white space to collapse as the Aberrations attacked her and the voices beyond the rift grew agitated.
  • The [Cup] attribute inside Xu Zhi clashed with her [Moth] attribute, and the Game Console emerged from her pocket before its screen went black.
  • A familiar voice urged Xu Zhi to sacrifice [Cup], and she let the blazing presence consume the attribute and pull a crimson fragment from her mind.
  • The crimson fragment drew the Aberrations into a desperate scramble while voices from beyond the rift complained that Xu Zhi had disrupted their plans.
  • Xu Zhi grabbed the fragment, called Little Aberration over, and ordered it to eat.

Ch. 130Transformation.

Xu Zhi fed Little Aberration a scrap of the red fragment while the fragment inside her body settled after joining with a faint glow. Little Aberration sealed the rift and grew into a towering tree as Xu Zhi fell unconscious, later waking trapped inside a cocoon.

  • Xu Zhi let Little Aberration swallow the scrap from the red fragment, then struggled as the fragment inside her body burned and moved restlessly.
  • A familiar voice told Xu Zhi not to rush, and a faint glow touched the fragment, calming it as it merged with her body.
  • Little Aberration transformed into a black-and-gold tree and drove its roots into the rift at Xu Zhi's command, sealing it as the voices inside argued in panic.
  • Little Aberration absorbed the surrounding Black Fog and grew to a hundred meters tall while the city's Aberrations bowed toward it and Xu Zhi floated in pale gray light.
  • Xu Zhi woke after an unknown span of time, found herself bound inside a warm cocoon, and tried unsuccessfully to tear her way out.

Ch. 131131 Supernatural

Xu Zhi awakened after absorbing the light cocoons and discovered she could stand in midair, had become far stronger, and had gained vast new knowledge. She found Little Aberration transformed into a gigantic tree suppressing the rift, and the Narrator identified it as an Archbishop of Wrath.

  • Xu Zhi absorbed the light cocoons, regained her memories, and emerged to find herself standing in the air above the City Center.
  • Xu Zhi recognized the enormous black tree as Little Aberration, and a black snake brought her a fruit from its branches.
  • Xu Zhi discovered her body had become healthier, stronger, and far more durable, while the Aberrations nearby lay subdued.
  • Little Aberration took credit for suppressing the Aberrations, and Xu Zhi realized it could no longer move.
  • Xu Zhi asked the Narrator about Little Aberration and learned it was now the Cup Attribute's Archbishop of Wrath.

Ch. 132Evolution Level Lv8!

After Xu Zhi gave the Road of Wrath to the Little Aberration, the Narrator warned that the Cup and the things in Midnight would now target them. Xu Zhi learned she had reached Evolution Level Lv8 and that she and the Little Aberration had entered a new stage of power, though she still had much to understand.

  • The Narrator told Xu Zhi that the Little Aberration’s transformation had cost the Cup a fixed road, making Xu Zhi and the Little Aberration targets of Cup believers.
  • The Narrator warned Xu Zhi that the Cup had noticed her and that the things in Midnight had also set their sights on her.
  • Xu Zhi asked about the Rift, Midnight, and the Fragment, but the Narrator explained only that the Rift connected the present world to Midnight and that the Fragment had raised her Evolution Level to Lv8.
  • Xu Zhi inspected the Little Aberration’s data and saw that it had become a level 40 Cup Archbishop with a Body score of 40,000 and abilities including Sealing.
  • The Narrator explained that Xu Zhi had entered the second major stage of Transcendental evolution, where she could eventually affect a small portion of the rules.

Ch. 133A Community of Shared Fate

Xu Zhi learned that the Narrator had helped her absorb a Fragment because they shared a fate, and that the Fragment had raised her Life Level with pure power. She was left with knowledge of her new abilities to understand, though the Narrator did not know how it had appeared in her mind.

  • Xu Zhi learned that Little Aberration had Sealed the Rift by following the Rules, while the things in Midnight were trying to break them.
  • The Narrator admitted it had helped Xu Zhi absorb the Fragment because it was bound to her and would be finished if she died, and Xu Zhi chose to trust it.
  • Xu Zhi learned the Fragment was torn from an untouchable thing and was warned not to dwell on consuming that source herself.
  • The Narrator explained that the Fragment gave Xu Zhi pure power without side effects, but she lacked the knowledge to use her abilities properly.
  • Xu Zhi discovered that knowledge of her powers was already in her mind, and the Narrator could not explain where it came from.

Ch. 134Unlocking

Xu Zhi examined how her abilities had changed after the Fragment acknowledged her and waited for a newly gained Supernatural Ability to unlock. After half a month of studying the knowledge in her mind, she saw moths turn away from the distant candle and fly toward her.

  • Xu Zhi learned that Little Aberration's Black Fruits carried their auras but could not extract Aberration traits.
  • Xu Zhi tested her new ability to walk on air and found that her [Eye of Secrets], [Moth], and physical and mental traits had grown stronger.
  • Xu Zhi realized she had gained an unknown Supernatural Ability that would take about half a month to unlock, so she stayed with Little Aberration instead of returning to the Residential Area.
  • Xu Zhi used Little Aberration to disperse the Aberrations from the City Center, allowing them to roam Cloud City so long as they stayed away from the Residential Area.
  • After half a month of studying the supernatural knowledge in her mind, Xu Zhi saw hundreds or thousands of moths turn from the distant candle and fly toward her.

Ch. 135Federation Upheaval

After Xu Zhi gained enough understanding to begin standing out among powerful beings, the Narrator warned that her true competitors posed a danger and then abruptly lost contact. At the same moment, darkness covered the Federation, the Seer died, and a blood moon appeared, empowering hidden believers and other people.

  • Xu Zhi learned that her faint glow marked her as a competitor who could now attract danger from powerful beings beyond human Transcendents.
  • The Narrator cried out, and the Game Console screen went black as the entire Federation's sky suddenly darkened.
  • The Seer in Kyoto tried to foresee what was happening, bled from his eyes, and died.
  • The darkness receded after about ten minutes, revealing a blood moon that poured bloody filth over the Federation.
  • Believers emerged openly to worship the blood moon, while a chained boy gained power and a woman performing a sacrificial rite rose into the air amid red mist.

Ch. 136New Ability

After the blood moon passed, the Narrator warned Xu Zhi that Cup had noticed her and that Archbishops would hunt her if she left Cloud City. Xu Zhi unlocked [Authority], gaining control over the Black Fog and the ability to open a small door into Cloud City, and began planning to lure the Archbishops there.

  • The Narrator told Xu Zhi that Cup had discovered her after she took Wrath and sealed the rift, and that two Archbishops had appeared in the Federation to hunt her.
  • The Narrator warned that Xu Zhi and her Spirit Vessel would be detected if they left Cloud City, and urged her to gather extraordinary energy resources and find a way to kill the Archbishops.
  • Xu Zhi unlocked [Authority], allowing her to control the Black Fog, sense events in Cloud City, and open a small door that let a few living beings enter.
  • The Narrator advised Xu Zhi to use Yu Shenwei and the appeal of an unfinished path to lure the Archbishops into Cloud City, where she had the advantage.
  • Xu Zhi said she had a plan, though it depended partly on luck, and agreed to begin as soon as possible.

Ch. 137Tidying Up

Xu Zhi forged a blood-drinking Tang saber from Little Aberration and arranged to move the residential area into the city center, where the creature would protect it. She used [Moth] to alter Zhong Lingfan and Yu Shenwei’s perceptions, then warned Yu Shenwei not to level up too quickly.

  • Xu Zhi forged a Tang saber from Little Aberration’s limbs and claw, creating a blade that absorbed opponents’ blood and inflicted severe wounds and pain.
  • Little Aberration clung to Xu Zhi before she left it in the city center, then tied a thin twig around a lock of her hair.
  • Xu Zhi filled the residential area with [Moths] and told Zhong Lingfan that the towering tree was her pet; Zhong Lingfan agreed to move the base to the city center.
  • Xu Zhi planned to wait until the Archbishop caused a crisis for the Federation, then demand a reward and formal recognition of Cloud City’s ownership for solving it.
  • Xu Zhi found Yu Shenwei confused and conflicted, used [Moth] to clear her struggle, and learned that Yu Shenwei’s eyes and most of her organs had recovered as she grew stronger.
  • Xu Zhi advised Yu Shenwei to slow her leveling, while privately worrying that Yu Shenwei might become an uncontrollable Archbishop.

Ch. 138Bait and Plan

After relocating her survivor base to Cloud City, Xu Zhi devised a plan to lure the Federation's Archbishops inside by offering to help defeat them in exchange for Attribute Cores. She sent Xiao Zhen with the bait letter and prepared to face the Archbishops herself, hoping to gain combat experience.

  • Xu Zhi finished moving the survivor base into Cloud City's city center and decided the Federation was desperate enough to approach.
  • Xu Zhi planned to use Xiao Zhen to deliver a letter promising to handle the Archbishop problem for Attribute Cores, while hinting that she was close to reaching a higher level.
  • Xu Zhi intended to expose her and Yu Shenwei's auras during Xiao Zhen's delivery to tempt the Archbishops into entering Cloud City disguised as Federation supernaturals.
  • Xu Zhi sent Xiao Zhen out with the letter after the Narrator predicted the Archbishops would take the bait.
  • Xu Zhi dismissed the Narrator's warnings and resolved to fight the Archbishops herself, relying on Cloud City's terrain and her Familiars if needed.

Ch. 139Xiao Zhen's Mission

Xu Zhi sent Xiao Zhen to the Federation with a letter proposing a deal in exchange for access to Cloud City and a way to handle the Archbishops. Lin Zizhen received the offer, which could cost the Federation more than half its Attribute Core reserves.

  • Xiao Zhen reached level 30, gained the Divine Wind ability, and raised Instant Death to level 5.
  • Xu Zhi had Xiao Zhen fly out of Cloud City in plain sight, then directed it to the Special Investigations Office in Brocade City.
  • Xiao Zhen reached Lin Zizhen's office and delivered Xu Zhi's letter while Xu Zhi watched through its perspective.
  • Lin Zizhen returned to the office with Wan Luo and read Xu Zhi's proposed deal, which offered a way into Cloud City and a solution to the Archbishops.

Ch. 140Thorn in the Eye, Splinter in the Flesh

The Federation accepted Xu Zhi’s offer to send supernaturals into Cloud City, hoping the deal would help them survive the Archbishops’ attacks. The [Cup] followers planned to exploit the transaction by sending three Archbishops after Xu Zhi, while she scheduled the entrance to open the next evening.

  • Federation officials debated Xu Zhi’s proposal and agreed to form a ten-person team after learning another Archbishop had appeared.
  • Lin Zizhen copied the Federation’s acceptance letter by hand and gave it to Xiao Zhen to deliver.
  • The two [Cup] Archbishops forced another follower to advance and decided that all three Archbishops would enter Cloud City to kill Xu Zhi.
  • Xu Zhi learned that the incoming Archbishops had concealed their abilities, then set the entrance to open the next evening and sent the time to the Federation.
  • The Federation began choosing its candidates, with Lin Zizhen selected first because he was familiar with Xu Zhi.

Ch. 141Farce

The Federation assembled a team to enter Cloud City and struggled to choose a leader. Ye Yan provoked the candidates into fighting, then returned to his companions, convinced that the humans would die once they entered the city.

  • The Federation selected four extraordinary individuals from the capital and Lin Zizhen from Brocade City to enter Cloud City.
  • The team introduced themselves, then argued over whether the capital's Lamp-attribute extraordinary individual should lead them.
  • Ye Yan suggested they settle the leadership question by fighting, and his words stirred several candidates into battle.
  • Ye Yan retreated to his companions, and a woman who had been dozing asked whether he had used his ability on the humans.
  • Ye Yan denied using his ability, while his companions urged him to end the farce because the humans would die in Cloud City.

Ch. 142Entering Cloud City

The Federation team entered Cloud City through a misty gate and began investigating its darkness and powerful supernatural energy. Xu Zhi followed them under her cloak, studying the three Archbishops as Aberrations gathered ahead.

  • The Federation superhumans ended their meeting after a brawl and prepared to enter Cloud City in combat uniforms.
  • A mist gate appeared, and the ten-person team crossed into Cloud City, where darkness and dense supernatural energy greeted them.
  • The team walked deeper into the city after leaving a device behind to alert them if Xu Zhi arrived.
  • Xu Zhi secretly followed the group from a rooftop and used the Eye of Secrets to analyze the three Archbishops.
  • The [Lamp] attribute superhuman warned the team that at least five Aberrations were ahead, and scarlet eyes appeared in the fog.

Ch. 143Good Evening

Xu Zhi studied the three Archbishops’ [Cup] abilities as Federation fighters struggled against Cloud City’s Aberrations. Ye Yan saved a [Lamp] attribute fighter only to menace him, until Xu Zhi arrived with a Silver Wolf and greeted the group.

  • Xu Zhi examined the red threads of [Cup] energy in the three Archbishops and began deciphering how their abilities worked.
  • Federation extraordinary individuals were pushed back by Aberrations, while three newcomers refused to help and two fighters were killed.
  • Ye Yan decided to provoke the [Lamp] attribute fighter by exposing him to [Cup] energy, then killed an Aberration that was about to attack him.
  • The Federation fighters realized Ye Yan could easily kill them too, and he approached the [Lamp] attribute fighter as the others watched tensely.
  • Xu Zhi arrived through the mist with an enormous Silver Wolf and asked whether the group had run into trouble.

Ch. 144Battle

Xu Zhi fought Ye Yan while the other two Archbishops supported him with mental attacks. She used moths and her hidden allies to create an opening and target Ye Yan, wary of his ability to slow everyone within his magnetic field.

  • The three Cup-attribute Archbishops attacked Xu Zhi with simultaneous mental abilities, briefly slowing her and disrupting her thoughts.
  • Xu Zhi drew her Tang sword and blocked Ye Yan’s strange, hard-to-read attacks while mocking his reliance on his companions.
  • Ye Yan activated a magnetic field that slowed Doggie and weakened the movements, reactions, thoughts, and supernatural abilities of those nearby.
  • Xu Zhi released dozens of moths, drawing the Archbishops’ attention and giving Little One and Xiao Zhen a chance to attack Ye Yan.

Ch. 145Kneel!

Xu Zhi fought Ye Yan while the Familiars distracted him, using his arrogance to land a blade wound that healed unusually slowly. As Ye Yan pressed his attacks, Xu Zhi revealed that the time was right and ordered him to kneel, forcing him to his knees.

  • Xiao Zhen and the other Familiars attacked Ye Yan, while his magnetic field weakened their speed and power.
  • Ye Yan's accomplice trapped Xu Zhi with a mental attack and [Cup] energy, but Xu Zhi pretended to be immobilized and stabbed him when he rushed in.
  • Xu Zhi's blade inflicted a wound that healed slowly and caused Ye Yan intense pain, while the Federation superhumans fled the battlefield.
  • Ye Yan attacked Xu Zhi frenziedly as his pride and self-control deteriorated, and Xu Zhi retreated when she decided the moment had come.
  • Xu Zhi told Ye Yan to kneel, and he dropped to his knees as his pride and arrogance shattered.

Ch. 146This Is Supposed to Be the Protagonist's Privilege!

Ye Yan transformed after reflecting on his defeat, awakening a vast array that let him attack Xu Zhi from anywhere within its range. As Ye Yan and the other Archbishops pressured her, Xu Zhi rushed directly at him, preparing to try an untested move.

  • Xu Zhi sensed something unsettling in Ye Yan's chaotic Cup energy and retreated instead of attacking him.
  • Ye Yan reconsidered his shallow understanding of Pride, and his energy boiled as he underwent a painful transformation.
  • A red pillar and a kilometer-wide array appeared around Ye Yan, who rose with a steadier aura and thanked Xu Zhi.
  • Ye Yan used the array to launch attacks from any direction while the other Archbishops slowed and confused Xu Zhi.
  • Xu Zhi struggled against the combined attacks, then rushed toward Ye Yan with a calm expression and an untested plan.

Ch. 147Death!

Xu Zhi defeated Ye Yan by triggering a conflict between his [Cup] power and her [Moth] power, then used [Lamp] cores to expose and destroy the blood-red staircase sustaining him. Ye Yan died as gray moths poured from his body.

  • Xu Zhi let Ye Yan's attack tear into her left shoulder so she could close in and seize his head.
  • Xu Zhi planted [Moth] energy inside Ye Yan and guided it into conflict with the [Cup] power circulating through his body.
  • Ye Yan lost consciousness, and the formation he maintained collapsed, but a miniature blood-red staircase appeared in his mind and began stabilizing him.
  • Xu Zhi forced [Lamp] and [Moth] cores into Ye Yan, using the [Lamp] energy to open a path for [Moth] to corrupt the blood-red staircase.
  • The staircase turned gray and shattered, and Ye Yan fell to his knees, stopped breathing, and released countless gray moths from his body.

Ch. 148Absolute Kill

Xu Zhi outmaneuvered and severely injured [Sloth] despite her exhaustion, then discovered that [Lust] had fled. With her supernatural energy running low, the fight was not yet over.

  • A hidden attacker stabbed at Xu Zhi while [Sloth]'s inertia ability hindered her, but Xu Zhi blocked the dagger and resisted [Lust]'s shadow ability.
  • Xu Zhi decided to disable the Archbishops by severing their heads and limbs and destroying their hearts while conserving energy to destroy their Foundations later.
  • With help from the black cat and [Moth], Xu Zhi tricked [Sloth] into teleporting into the path of her blade.
  • Xu Zhi cut off [Sloth]'s head, crushed her heart, and severed her limbs, leaving [Lust] as her only remaining opponent.
  • Xu Zhi turned to confront [Lust] and discovered that he had run away.

Ch. 149Resolution

After defeating the Federation’s Archbishops, Xu Zhi recovered in Cloud City, arranged for the surviving Federation agents to leave, and planned to collect the rest of her payment in a week. She returned home with Sloth’s remains and prepared to choose a new Familiar while recovering, leaving Lust at large but confident she could find him.

  • Xu Zhi rested, replenished her extraordinary energy, and found she could not store Sloth’s body because he was not completely dead.
  • Lin Zizhen approached Xu Zhi and returned the suitcase of cores; Xu Zhi told him and the other survivors to leave Cloud City and said she would visit the Federation in a week to collect the remaining payment and discuss something with its decision-makers.
  • Lin Zizhen and the two other survivors left Cloud City and were met by Federation agents, who questioned them about the battle and the team’s losses.
  • Xu Zhi rested, decided not to pursue Lust until she had recovered, and relied on her Authority to track him throughout Cloud City.
  • Xu Zhi had her Familiar carry Sloth’s remains home and planned to choose a new Familiar while she recuperated.

Ch. 150Everything Had Not Gotten Better

Xu Zhi questioned why the Archbishops had been so weak, and Narrator concluded that their insubstantial foundations were part of a wider anomaly affecting the world. Narrator warned that time might be running short and urged Xu Zhi to grow stronger, leaving her reluctantly facing the possibility that she would have to find a way forward herself.

  • Xu Zhi asked Narrator why the Archbishops seemed weaker than expected, and Narrator told her to keep Ye Yan’s corpse and capture Lust without killing him.
  • Narrator listed strange deviations, including the mist and Midnight rift in Cloud City, Xu Zhi gaining and removing an Archbishop’s foundation, and the Archbishops’ foundations seeming unreal.
  • Narrator suspected that the world was obscured by a fog of deception and said that the supreme being of the Cup attribute might be planning something.
  • Xu Zhi rejected Narrator’s pessimism and insisted that she was not going to become a world-saving hero.
  • Narrator said Xu Zhi was currently the strongest supernatural being and urged her to level up, then told her to rely on her own special ideas while it investigated.
Arc 6 of 18