Chapter Summaries

Feng Ling dissected a dying Xenomorph and absorbed a strange card that triggered a painful transformation. Players across Earth then received a warning that the Hidden Boss Hive had been born and needed to be eliminated.

• Feng Ling brought a dying Xenomorph home and dissected it, finding a bloody eyeball in its chest.
• Feng Ling pierced the eyeball, killing the creature, and watched a blood-red card emerge from its remains.
• Feng Ling absorbed the card, which identified her as the Source of Life and Mother Nest before issuing errors and warning that she was not a Player.
• Feng Ling endured intense pain as her body changed, then found no visible difference after the pain stopped.
• Players across Earth received a message announcing the birth of the Hidden Boss Hive (Juvenile Form) and urging them to locate and eliminate it.

Feng Ling fought and killed a Xenomorph that attacked her in a subway station, using a kite string to slice it in half by the river. She absorbed the two Silver Cards it dropped and obtained Killer Bee and Mantis.

• Feng Ling read a government notice offering rewards for killing Xenomorphs and regretted flushing one away the night before.
• Feng Ling spotted a suspicious man on the subway, escaped when he transformed into a Xenomorph, and dodged his Bone Blade attack.
• Feng Ling used a fire extinguisher to blind the Xenomorph, but it wounded her and pursued her out of the station.
• Feng Ling fled on a motorcycle to the river, set a kite string between two trees, and lured the charging Xenomorph into it.
• Feng Ling finished off the bisected Xenomorph with an axe and absorbed its Silver Cards, obtaining Killer Bee and Mantis.

After killing a Xenomorph, Feng Ling gained new abilities from the Killer Bee and Mantis Cards and was questioned by Inspector Su Yuqing, who invited her to join the Abomination Safety Supervision Bureau. She refused, and Su Yuqing realized that the woman who had gone to see her could not have been her mother because Feng Ling was an orphan.

• Feng Ling named her new Marking and Bone Blade skills Mother's Longing and Mother's Scourge, then waited for rescuers and her reward.
• At the hospital, Feng Ling told Su Yuqing that she had killed the Xenomorph with Kite string and obtained the Killer Bee and Mantis Cards.
• Su Yuqing offered Feng Ling a place in the Abomination Safety Supervision Bureau, but she refused because she did not want to become a target.
• Feng Ling asked whether Xenomorphs could be distinguished from humans and learned that they could identify people who held Cards.
• After Feng Ling refused recruitment, Su Yuqing saw an unfamiliar woman heading to her ward and discovered from Feng Ling's file that she was an orphan.

Su Yuqing and the guards failed to stop a worm-like Xenomorph from attacking Feng Ling, but she fought back and forced it to flee. After recovering from the attack, Feng Ling discovered that her new skill, “Mother's Longing,” could reveal the marked target’s trail, and she followed it.

• Su Yuqing reached the eleventh floor and found the woman binding Feng Ling with blood-draining tentacles, but the guards’ gunfire could not safely hit her while Feng Ling was used as a shield.
• Feng Ling grew a third arm, formed a Bone Blade, and cut the woman apart, but the woman escaped as worms that merged into the bloody slime.
• The Doctor treated Feng Ling’s wounds and said the Blood Worms had likely exposed her to a neuro-paralytic toxin, though it had caused little damage.
• Su Yuqing warned Feng Ling that Xenomorphs might attack again because news of her two Cards had leaked, then left her to rest under guard.
• Feng Ling realized she had marked the fleeing woman with Killer Bee’s Mark and activated her new skill, Mother’s Longing, which revealed the woman’s path.

Feng Ling used her Marking Ability to track the injured Blood Worm woman, then prepared to confront her at the villa. After discovering three others were there, Feng Ling went to investigate and learned they were interrogating a bruised girl about the Maze entrance.

• Feng Ling followed the Marking mist to the villa and watched the Blood Worm woman repair her wounds.
• Feng Ling wondered whether extreme heat or cold could kill the Blood Worms, then drove to the villa district to seek revenge.
• Feng Ling discovered three additional people inside the villa and chose to investigate rather than leave.
• Feng Ling saw the Blood Worm woman, a fat man, a Tall Thin Man, and a bruised girl wearing a Skull Mask; the men were questioning the girl about the Maze entrance.
• The Blood Worm woman told the Tall Thin Man she had visited the Supervision Bureau to look for leftovers from the Xenomorph killed at Tianshui Park, and the fat man asked whether she had found anything.

Feng Ling attacked the Xenomorphs holding a little girl captive, setting the woman ablaze and fighting the fat man. The fat man transformed into a Big Head Monster and trapped Feng Ling with a long tongue as the chapter ended.

• Tall Thin Man left the villa while the fat man tortured the little girl for information about the Maze.
• Feng Ling discovered that the fat man's palms secreted corrosive acid and prepared an ambush before Tall Thin Man could return.
• Feng Ling drenched the woman in gasoline and set her alight when she opened the villa's window.
• The fat man lunged at Feng Ling, but she dodged and slashed his neck with her Bone Blade.
• The fat man transformed into a Big Head Monster and caught Feng Ling's leg with his tongue; she cut it in half, but he spat out another tongue.

Feng Ling killed the acid-spewing Big Head Monster, then survived a surprise attack by the Tall Thin Man and drove him from the villa. She killed him by forcing him out of a swimming pool, and a Silver Card dropped from his dissolving body.

• Feng Ling severed the Big Head Monster’s tongues and ankles, then stabbed it repeatedly beneath a burning curtain until it stopped moving.
• Feng Ling turned toward the injured little girl Xenomorph, but the girl warned her about an attack from behind.
• The Tall Thin Man’s tentacles pierced Feng Ling, but she seized them and chased him to a nearby villa.
• Feng Ling found the Tall Thin Man hiding underwater in a swimming pool and threw open bags of cement and sand into it.
• The Tall Thin Man crawled from the pool in agony, and Feng Ling cut off his head with her Bone Blade.
• A Silver Card fell from the dissolving Xenomorph’s corpse.

After defeating the three Xenomorphs, Feng Ling obtained the Ghost Jellyfish Card and discovered it had upgraded her Bone Blade skill. She let an injured Xenomorph Player ride with her while she questioned the girl about the Cards and her motives.

• Feng Ling obtained the Ghost Jellyfish Card, and its digestion upgraded Mother's Scourge with Bone Blades, high-speed movement, and transparency.
• The injured little girl offered to help Feng Ling by sharing Player information and providing Recovery Potions in exchange for protection, but Feng Ling refused to protect a Xenomorph.
• Feng Ling asked whether the girl had taken the Cards from the burning villa, and the girl said she had not because incompatible Cards could contaminate her deck.
• Feng Ling told the girl to sit in the truck's passenger seat so she could keep her under observation, then started the engine.

Feng Ling questioned Huangfu Miaomiao about her Demon Card, Mazes, and Corruption Value after rescuing her. She then ordered Huangfu Miaomiao to gather information on Bosses and Card traits while they rested in the truck.

• Feng Ling called the Xenomorph Hotline to report the villa fire, then asked the injured Huangfu Miaomiao about her name and Demon Card.
• Huangfu Miaomiao explained that she had been captured after seeking teammates on the Forum to enter a Maze, where Players could earn Points and lower Corruption Value.
• Huangfu Miaomiao warned Feng Ling that high Corruption Value could cause madness and explained that choosing Auxiliary Cards compatible with a Main Card helped reduce it.
• Feng Ling asked Huangfu Miaomiao to open the Forum and collect information on Bosses and Card traits, and Huangfu Miaomiao agreed despite warning that it would take time.

Su Yuqing learned that four Xenomorphs were gathered in the West Villa District and called Zhou Diao for help, only to discover that Feng Ling had left the hospital and entered the area. A citizen then reported killing three Xenomorphs there, leaving Su Yuqing stunned and trying to identify the citizen.

• Su Yuqing identified Ji Meixin as the Xenomorph who had attacked Feng Ling and discovered three additional suspects while tracing her movements.
• Su Yuqing's superiors refused to send reinforcements, so he called Zhou Diao and told him that four Xenomorphs had been found in the West Villa District.
• Technicians spotted an injured woman resembling Feng Ling leaving the Villa District, and Su Yuqing learned she had been discharged from the hospital.
• Su Yuqing realized Feng Ling might have fought a Xenomorph in the district and wondered how she could have survived.
• A dispatcher reported that a citizen had killed three Xenomorphs in the West Villa District, and Su Yuqing asked for the citizen's name.

Feng Ling and Su Yuqing investigated the burned villa and discussed the Xenomorph Cards and a new contribution-points system. Su Yuqing gave Feng Ling a key to his empty apartment and warned her that a surviving Xenomorph might target her again.

• Su Yuqing rushed to the West Villa District after hearing Feng Ling had killed Xenomorphs and set a villa on fire.
• Feng Ling explained that she had burned the empty house to eliminate Xenomorphs, and Su Yuqing said the Supervision Bureau would cover the damage.
• Su Yuqing examined the corpses with Feng Ling, who asked why one Xenomorph had left no Card; he explained that it had logged out.
• A Special Forces member used Qingjiang City's only Card Storage Device to collect a Card, while Feng Ling revealed she had already collected another one.
• Su Yuqing told Feng Ling about the upcoming Contribution Value system and offered her an apartment key because a logged-out Xenomorph might seek revenge.
• Feng Ling accepted the key and asked whether the apartment had a shower so she could clean her acid-damaged arm.

After Feng Ling left the Villa District, Zhou Diao detected a Xenomorph’s scent in her Truck and suspected she might be harboring one. He rode to the Xiuyuan Road Apartment to confront her, while Su Yuqing worried that he would act recklessly.

• Su Yuqing inspected the Villa District scene, confirmed that three Xenomorphs had been killed, and taught the Special Forces about their vulnerabilities.
• Zhou Diao arrived and challenged the team members who had wondered whether Feng Ling was stronger than him.
• Using his sharp senses, Zhou Diao followed the Truck’s tire tracks and detected Xenomorph recovery potion, leading him to conclude that a Xenomorph was in Feng Ling’s Truck.
• Su Yuqing explained that Feng Ling had driven away in the Truck and might be in danger, but Zhou Diao suggested she could be a Xenomorph herself.
• After learning Feng Ling was staying at the Xiuyuan Road Apartment, Zhou Diao rode off to investigate, ignoring Su Yuqing’s warning not to act recklessly.

Feng Ling fed her overwhelming hunger with eight boxes of Self-heating Rice, then decided to return home and move some things while testing her newfound strength. Meanwhile, a man waiting outside her apartment grew furious when she failed to appear, and Su Yuqing silently hung up on him.

• Feng Ling bought every box of Self-heating Rice in a roadside vending machine and ate eight boxes before her hunger eased.
• Feng Ling described ways Huangfu Miaomiao could use the meal’s heating pack to attack her, but Huangfu Miaomiao refused to try anything and admitted she could not drive.
• Feng Ling wondered whether she could build up energy by eating and told Huangfu Miaomiao they were going back to her place to move things.
• Huangfu Miaomiao guessed that the Player who targeted Feng Ling had hidden information about the Hidden Boss to avoid sharing the Points, and said a Boss-level target was worth at least 3,000 Points.
• A disheveled-haired man waiting outside Xiuyuan Mansion complained to Su Yuqing that Feng Ling had not appeared, and Su Yuqing hung up after watching the road surveillance footage.

Feng Ling moved into Su Yuqing’s apartment, made Huangfu Miaomiao compile information about Cards, and compared it with a post on the Exo-Star Forum. The discovery of a supposed plant-type Card left Huangfu Miaomiao denying its existence as Feng Ling summoned her Bone Blade above her.

• Feng Ling arrived at Su Yuqing’s apartment with food and supplies, opened the windows, and set Huangfu Miaomiao to organizing forum materials through the night.
• Feng Ling reviewed Huangfu Miaomiao’s notes, warned her not to falsify information, and began comparing the notes with the Exo-Star Forum.
• Feng Ling found a post by Super Strong Super seeking Card holders to clear an underground Tunnel of sick and injured Xenomorphs, claiming his Golden Grass Card could heal them.
• Huangfu Miaomiao insisted that plant-type Cards could not exist and explained that plant-human gene fusion caused severe side effects.
• Feng Ling said she had to trust her own kind, then grew a Bone Blade above Huangfu Miaomiao’s head.

Feng Ling pretended to threaten Huangfu Miaomiao, then deduced that Super Strong Super was luring Card-holding humans to feed a monster. She joined his group as Bean Paste while Brother Chao prepared to sacrifice her and the other recruits.

• Feng Ling revealed she had only been teasing Huangfu Miaomiao, then examined a Forum post recruiting humans with Cards for a mission.
• Feng Ling reasoned that Super Strong Super had concealed information or was baiting Card-holders, and Huangfu Miaomiao realized he might be a Player seeking to steal Cards.
• Feng Ling messaged Super Strong Super and claimed her Jellyfish Card could grow transparent tentacles, and he said he would add her to the group.
• In a cave, Brother Chao and his companion heard a monster demand more Cards, and Brother Chao admitted he had recruited Card-holding humans to feed it.
• Brother Chao dismissed his companion's suggestion to call the Supervision Bureau and decided the recruits, including Feng Ling, were expendable; Super Strong Super then added Bean Paste to the group.

Feng Ling prepared to join Super Strong Super’s group in a hunt for the xenomorph, while Huangfu Miaomiao stayed behind and worried about her. After a million yuan appeared in Feng Ling’s bank account, she ordered expensive equipment for the Tunnel expedition.

• Feng Ling told Huangfu Miaomiao to cook instant noodles and left the apartment, saying she would call the police if she encountered Players.
• Huangfu Miaomiao read the Player Forum for reports about the Hidden Boss, then fell asleep on the sofa.
• Feng Ling returned with clothes and supplies for Huangfu Miaomiao, set up a phone, and joined Super Strong Super’s group.
• Feng Ling rejected the group’s suggestion to enter the Tunnel that night and agreed to meet at Jiangkou City Train Station by 7:00 the next morning.
• Feng Ling planned to buy equipment for the Tunnel, received a bank deposit of 1,000,000 yuan, and ordered an axe priced at eighteen hundred yuan.

After Huangfu Miaomiao woke, Feng Ling outfitted her for a trip to Jiangkou City and learned about her Inventory Slots and ability to see the number of Online Players. At the deserted train station, they spotted a suspicious minivan, and Huangfu Miaomiao recognized it with shock.

• Huangfu Miaomiao woke after twelve hours, and Feng Ling gave her new clothes, a phone watch, and a backpack packed for their trip.
• Huangfu Miaomiao revealed that Players had Inventory Slots, explained how she had gained four, and showed Feng Ling she could store and retrieve items.
• Feng Ling and Huangfu Miaomiao ate at a buffet before driving toward Jiangkou City, where Huangfu reported seeing no Xenomorphs and explained the changing Online Player count.
• Feng Ling asked Huangfu to record her explanation of how the system deployed Players across the map.
• At the empty Jiangkou City train station, Feng Ling spotted people inside a minivan, and Huangfu Miaomiao recognized the vehicle in shock.

Feng Ling confronted Supervision Bureau Deputy Captain Zhou Diao after he attacked Huangfu Miaomiao and damaged her rented truck. She explained that Miaomiao was her Card Ability, leaving Su Yuqing to decide how to handle the dispute.

• Feng Ling met Zhou Diao and his team, and Zhou recognized her and accused her of harboring the escaped Xenomorph, Huangfu Miaomiao.
• Zhou attacked Miaomiao, but Feng Ling blocked him; he then damaged her truck, prompting Feng Ling to fight back with her Bone Blade.
• Zhou retreated and called for help, but his team instead handed Feng Ling a video call from Captain Su Yuqing.
• Feng Ling told Su that Zhou had damaged her rental truck and explained that she had raised Miaomiao through her Card Ability.
• Feng Ling had Miaomiao call her Mom and Su Yuqing Uncle, then demonstrated that Miaomiao could distinguish Xenomorphs from humans and Card-users from ordinary people.

Feng Ling joined Zhou Diao’s team to investigate Xenomorphs in Jiangkou City while learning about Contaminants. The investigation had not yet begun when Huangfu Miaomiao detected a Contaminant nearby.

• Huangfu Miaomiao identified Zhou Diao as an Elite Monster, and Feng Ling revealed that she had 3,000 Points.
• Su Yuqing explained that Xenomorph leads had disappeared in Jiangkou City and arranged for Feng Ling to cooperate with Zhou Diao.
• Feng Ling joined the operation’s group chat and studied a shopping mall floor plan where the suspect might be located.
• Several recruits withdrew after hearing about the danger, and Huangfu Miaomiao explained that Contaminants were failed genetic fusions and often bloodthirsty.
• Huangfu Miaomiao received a system notification that a Contaminant was nearby.

Feng Ling and Huangfu Miaomiao learned that an A-Rank Contaminant was likely near the Tunnel, and Feng Ling warned the group while Su Yuqing organized preparations. At the underground parking lot, the team followed Super Strong Super’s location and found two disheveled men trapped in a pit behind a rolling shutter.

• Huangfu Miaomiao received a Zone Quest warning about an A-Rank Contaminant, and Feng Ling suspected it was connected to injured Xenomorphs in the Tunnel.
• Feng Ling shared the exploration range with the group, and Su Yuqing arranged resident evacuations while preparing heavy weapons as a contingency.
• Super Strong Super directed the group to the shopping mall’s second-basement parking lot, then stopped responding when they reached Zone C.
• Zhou Diao heard banging at a rolling shutter and reported it before cautiously opening the door with the team ready to fire.
• Feng Ling and the others found two filthy men at the bottom of a deep pit, and the men urged them to come down.