The end of cultivation was becoming an excavator

"Wait, that's not right either. What if the national rescue team comes? Should I go home then... would they confiscate the crabs here?"

"If someone comes to rescue me, I'll go home. Otherwise, I'll just keep eating crab."

Zhang Ming's mind was full of wild thoughts, fretting over what he might gain or lose.

His thoughts even kept spiraling outward, soaring beyond the sky: "protests from animal protection groups," "prison time for eating endangered animals," "five hundred yuan for a commemorative banner," "humanity's first Superpower, dissected as a monster." Then he gave a violent shudder.

"Dear listeners, that concludes today's domestic and international news."

The radio moved on to another topic, and Li Xianfeng's tone grew solemn. "We now bring you an important announcement. At 17:22:45, UTC+9, Mount Fuji in Fusang erupted on a massive scale, causing tens of trillions of dollars in losses and casualties numbering in the tens of millions."

"Fusang has suffered devastating damage from the eruption of Mount Fuji. Geological experts believe the volcano may continue emitting toxic sulfurous gases for decades, rendering the region unfit for human habitation. Fusang's prime minister broke down in tears at a press conference while appealing for outside assistance."

"Some scholars also believe this massive volcanic eruption may be connected to the deaths of people trapped in the Mysterious Zone."

"This explanation has been classified as the theory of national fortune."

"In other words, the deaths of those trapped in the Mysterious Zone may damage their nations' fortunes."

"What?!"

Hearing this news, Zhang Ming swallowed in bewilderment. Japan, where those bastards had been living so comfortably, had suddenly bitten the dust?

The deaths of trapped people could damage their nations' fortunes?

What about all those gorgeous ladies? Surely... surely they hadn't turned into skeletons beneath their pretty flesh...

Were his favorite hidden gems, Teacher Shui, Teacher Sakura, and whatever the others were called, still alive?

"We implore survivors trapped in the Mysterious Zone to carefully consider their circumstances before taking any action. Avoid excessive risks and maintain a positive outlook. Your fate is tied to the 1.4 billion people behind you."

"Isn't that just stating the obvious?" Zhang Ming muttered, feeling the pressure mount. "Who wants to die for no reason?"

"Even if I sit here without moving or doing anything, if a monster suddenly shows up, I'll still die if it kills me! Is that something I can control?"

I can't!

The broadcast continued, "If you encounter any difficulties, you may use large green leaves to write out a message in an open area. Through 'certain special means,' we can see these messages and help you work out a solution."

Zhang Ming sat on a rock, eating crab meat.

The difficulty he faced right now was figuring out how to get home.

Take me home, and the problem's solved.

When someone wasn't sure he would live to see tomorrow's sunrise, all he could think about was how to save his own miserable hide.

Everything else had to take a back seat.

Even if Ultraman and Alien Baltan appeared on Earth, he would merely say, "Oh," then go right back to thinking about how to stay alive.

After finishing the important news, the radio switched to another topic. "Next, we bring you some new wilderness survival knowledge: how to make use of coconuts. Coconuts are a common fruit in tropical regions..."

Zhang Ming listened to the broadcast with keen interest.

This information was actually quite useful.

The water inside green coconuts was reasonably safe to drink, with relatively little risk, while the water inside mature coconuts tended to be cloudy and could easily cause diarrhea.

Although Zhang Ming had some medicines on hand, including antibiotics, he had no desire to take unnecessary risks by eating things indiscriminately.

"Mature coconuts that have just fallen and are still fresh can be used to extract coconut oil."

The whole process was fairly simple. All he had to do was crush the coconut flesh and boil it in water. The oil would separate and float to the surface, where he could skim it off to obtain relatively pure coconut oil.

"With oil, I can fry crab!"

"Eating boiled crab every day gets old, too."

"Shame I'm short on seasonings."

Coconut flesh was also rich in vitamins C and E, which could effectively make up for the nutrients crab meat lacked and prevent diseases such as scurvy.

Eating nothing but meat and no vegetables could kill a person.

"Dear listeners, only when we remain optimistic can dawn break through. There are many days ahead of us. We'll see you tomorrow, and we wish you all a good night."

As soothing music played, the satellite overhead moved away, and the broadcast ended.

Zhang Ming was left alone, staring blankly at the moon hanging high in the sky.

How many people on Earth were trapped in the Mysterious Zone like him?

Ten, a hundred, or a thousand? Ten thousand?

How were they getting along? Well or badly? Were they cold and hungry? Had they encountered monsters?

There probably weren't many trapped alone on deserted islands like him, right?

"Having a team has to be much easier than surviving alone."

"Still, a team that can't stick together isn't necessarily a good thing. Take this crab leg. It can feed one person for two days, but split it among ten people, and everyone goes hungry."

"I'm stuffed." Zhang Ming burped.

The warm current flowing through his body once again gathered into the white light in his mind.

His physique increased by another point, bringing his total attributes to 151.

One dinner had given him two attribute points. He patted his belly in satisfaction.

"That'll do for today. I can't get fat in a single bite."

The remaining half of the crab leg would feed him for another day tomorrow and give him another two attribute points.

A pitch-black night, distant waves, the soft chirping of insects, a lonely island. Zhang Ming put out the fire and crawled into his tent, idly studying his cheat ability.

With 151 total attribute points, no amount of shuffling them around would produce anything particularly impressive.

Balanced attributes made him strongest.

If he assigned 100 points to physique and 10 to perception, he risked losing coordination, with his muscles failing to obey him.

"But even if I boost my physique to 1,000, I still can't beat an excavator... a heavy excavator can scoop up fifty tons of coal in one go!"

"How many lifetimes would it take before I could throw a punch with fifty tons of force?"

Realizing that even a lifetime of cultivation might not let him beat an excavator left him dumbfounded.

So the end of cultivation was becoming an excavator!

"...right be can't That"

Suddenly, something stirred in Zhang Ming's mind. He discovered a mysterious new symbol on his attribute panel, an icon resembling a crab's claw

, so lifelike it carried a faint sense of vibrant, profound mystery.

"What's this? Was this thing here before?" Zhang Ming grew suspicious. "I don't think... it was."

He hurriedly closed his eyes and focused on sensing it.

An elusive profundity welled up in his mind.

[Superpower: Strength Burst (inactive; requires 10 attribute points to activate)]

[Effect: Instantly unleash 50%-5,000% strength.]

The explanation was simple, yet it left Zhang Ming frozen in place, sweat pouring from his head.

"?!what's... this this"