Chapter Summaries

Lu Heng was overwhelmed by a coordinated herd of aberrant Horned Sheep until he activated the Geothermal Talisman and killed them with its extreme heat. Their new beast entry revealed a thin Tu Lou bloodline, leaving him to realize the snowy mountain forest held dangers and secrets he had never understood.

• The Horned Sheep charged Lu Heng together, forcing him to abandon his crossbow and defend himself at close range.
• The herd exploited Lu Heng's injured leg, surrounding him and steadily wearing down his defenses.
• Lu Heng activated the Geothermal Talisman, whose heat engulfed and killed the attacking sheep without setting the forest on fire.
• Lu Heng examined the cooked carcasses and found their meat intact beneath the charred outer skin.
• Lu Heng's survival Wristband identified the Horned Sheep as Black Iron Tier beasts with a thin Tu Lou bloodline.

Lu Heng tracked the Horned Sheep from the battlefield to a rocky slope where they regularly gathered to lick natural salt. His search uncovered Rock Fennel and Salt Onion as well as salt crystals, and he left with all three resources stored safely.

• Lu Heng collected the Horned Sheep and jackal carcasses after the battle, then followed the sheep’s tracks to learn where the flock ranged.
• Lu Heng traced the hoofprints to a rocky slope marked by frequent sheep activity and identified salt crystals in the cliff face with his Wristband.
• Lu Heng climbed carefully and appraised Rock Fennel growing near the salt-bearing cracks, then harvested the plants within safe reach and chipped off some salt.
• Lu Heng spotted Salt Onion at the foot of the cliff, appraised its seasoning and medicinal uses, and harvested the entire patch.

Lu Heng explored the rocky slope, found a Cliffside Tea Tree, and carefully transplanted it into his Storage Space. He decided to finish scouting the terrace before heading back to the Shelter.

• Lu Heng gathered Rock Scallion and salt crystals, then walked along the cliff to scout for resources and hazards.
• Lu Heng climbed onto a raised terrace and discovered a Cliffside Tea Tree that could make fatigue-relieving tea.
• Lu Heng carefully dug up the tea tree with its roots intact and stored it separately in the Storage Space.
• Lu Heng reviewed his finds, including Rock Fennel and Salt Onion, and decided to explore the rest of the terrace.

Lu Heng found a Black Iron Chest on the cliff’s edge and spotted a beehive lodged halfway down the sheer rock face, but he could not reach it. After a Beehawk raided the hive, the enraged bees mistook Lu Heng for an accomplice and chased him toward the rocky slope.

• Lu Heng carefully retrieved a Black Iron Chest wedged over the precipice.
• Lu Heng noticed a large beehive in a cave halfway down the cliff and threw a stone against the nearby rock.
• The startled bees searched the area, found no threat, and returned to the hive.
• A Beehawk swooped into the cave, tore off part of the hive, and flew away as the bees swarmed in fury.
• The bees followed the lingering trace of a living creature and charged at Lu Heng, who sprinted toward the slope to escape.

Lu Heng fled a pursuing swarm of Black Tiger Poison Bees and plunged into a river to escape them. Still stung and struggling to breathe, he moved underwater with the current while a few bees continued to patrol above.

• Lu Heng used Appraisal to identify the pursuing bees as highly venomous Black Tiger Poison Bees capable of killing him in a swarm.
• Lu Heng fled down the steep slope, drank a Concentrated Stamina Replenishment, and continued toward a river as the bees closed in.
• Several bees stung Lu Heng before he leaped into the river, narrowly avoiding a sharp rock on the riverbed.
• Lu Heng surfaced for air, but the remaining bees attacked again, forcing him to submerge.
• Lu Heng saw that a few dozen bees still patrolled above the river and moved underwater with the current to get away.

After escaping the Black Tiger Poison Bees, Lu Heng recovered beside a tributary and discovered that its riverbed contained rare Large Bluestone useful for upgrading his Shelter. He began searching the shallows for the scarce building material.

• Lu Heng escaped the pursuing Black Tiger Poison Bees by moving underwater downstream and reached the riverbank.
• He checked the surroundings, rested, and endured the lingering pain and numbness from the stings.
• Lu Heng determined that the tributary differed from the river he had followed earlier but belonged to the same river system.
• He searched the unusual rocks in the shallows and used his Wristband to identify a boulder as Black Iron Tier Large Bluestone.
• After finding that Large Bluestone was scattered sparsely among ordinary stones, Lu Heng decided to search along the river and collect it for his Shelter.

Lu Heng gathered thirty-five large bluestones from a river tributary and returned to his Shelter before nightfall, exhausted and with his neck wound still hurting. He ate a rare hot meal and rested, aware that the wilderness would soon threaten his brief comfort again.

• Lu Heng searched the cold riverbed for usable stones and collected thirty-five large bluestones in his Wristband storage.
• As daylight faded, Lu Heng left the river and hurried back along the mountain path to his Shelter.
• Lu Heng sealed the cave entrance and collapsed inside, worn out from the day's search, escape from the swarm, and stone gathering.
• Lu Heng heated and ate his remaining instant potato and beef rice, finding comfort in the warm meal despite thoughts of the swarm and the dangers ahead.

After recovering from the day’s exertions, Lu Heng sorted his hunting spoils, secured useful items from a chest, and discovered that the Purifying Water Lotus had advanced to Black Iron Tier. He planted chili seeds and began practicing a painful body-training art to prepare for survival in the wilderness.

• Lu Heng treated his bee stings, dismantled the Horned Sheep and Red Cliff Jackal carcasses, and stored their usable materials and Energy Cores.
• Lu Heng opened a Black Iron Chest, discarded its strongly scented toiletries, kept the Muscle and Bone Relaxation Art and storage chest, and saved the quick-maturing chili seeds.
• Lu Heng found that the Purifying Water Lotus had advanced to Black Iron Tier and gained the ability to suppress supernatural auras within the Shelter.
• Lu Heng planted the chili seeds and checked on his earlier crops, which were growing well and nearing ripeness.
• Lu Heng practiced the Muscle and Bone Relaxation Art, enduring the painful stretches in the cave.

Lu Heng searched a deeper tributary for bluestone but was ambushed by a Water Monkey whose strength in the water nearly overwhelmed him. After wounding it and watching it escape, he abandoned the dangerous river and decided to gather stones in the safer upstream shallows.

• Lu Heng traveled downstream to a deeper tributary, where he gathered bluestone more than twice as quickly as upstream.
• A Black Iron Tier Water Monkey ambushed Lu Heng and knocked him off balance with its unexpected strength.
• Lu Heng blocked the Water Monkey’s bite with his bracer and wounded it with the Bronze Hunting Blade.
• The Water Monkey escaped into deeper water before Lu Heng could aim and fire his Giant-Feather Crossbow.
• Lu Heng left the tributary and decided to return to the safer upstream shallows to gather stones.

Lu Heng encountered a group of Water Monkeys while gathering bluestone and fought them from cover with his Giant-Feather Crossbow. After watching the creatures devour their dead, he recognized the river’s danger and abandoned his plan to gather more stone there.

• Lu Heng found only five suitable pieces of bluestone in the upstream shallows before spotting a Water Monkey in the river.
• Lu Heng retreated to the trees and readied his Giant-Feather Crossbow as three or four Water Monkeys surfaced and hurled stones at the bank.
• Lu Heng shot and killed one Water Monkey, but the others submerged and continued bombarding the trees with rocks.
• Lu Heng moved to a safer vantage point and saw the wounded Water Monkey he had encountered earlier join the group in devouring their dead companion.
• Lu Heng watched the Water Monkeys disappear into the river, then decided the stretch was too dangerous and abandoned his stone-gathering plan.

After water monkeys made the river too dangerous for quarrying, Lu Heng crossed to the opposite bank and searched for bluestone before venturing into the forest. As he explored, an unseen creature began silently following him through its territory.

• Lu Heng abandoned his upstream quarrying plan after witnessing the water monkeys hunting and decided to cross the river to search elsewhere.
• Lu Heng carefully crossed the river and gathered the scattered bluestone he found along the opposite bank.
• After exhausting the riverbank’s resources, Lu Heng equipped himself and entered the dense forest to find more supplies.
• An unseen creature watched Lu Heng enter its territory, then began silently tracking him as he ventured deeper into the forest.

Lu Heng entered the woods to search for resources and was ambushed by a Rockhowl Monkey, which called its group to surround him. After identifying only four of the monkeys as Black Iron Tier, he prepared to fight them head-on.

• Lu Heng found a slope covered in wild fruit trees and ate one while exploring the woods.
• A Rockhowl Monkey ambushed Lu Heng, but he blocked its bite with his bracer and forced it back.
• The Rockhowl Monkey shrieked to summon its companions, and monkeys converged on Lu Heng from the surrounding woods.
• Lu Heng used his Wristband to assess the group and learned that only four monkeys were Black Iron Tier Rockhowl Monkeys.
• As the four Rockhowl Monkeys spread out to attack, Lu Heng planted his feet, gripped his hunting blade, and prepared to fight.

Lu Heng fought off a swarm of Rockhowl Monkeys and activated his Geothermal Talisman to kill them all, but the battle left him exhausted. After collecting the monkeys’ materials and Energy Cores, he recovered enough to continue deeper into the forest.

• The Rockhowl Monkeys attacked Lu Heng in a coordinated swarm while four Black Iron Tier monkeys held back and watched.
• Lu Heng cut down waves of ordinary monkeys, but the prolonged fight drained his stamina and the Black Iron Tier monkeys joined the assault.
• Lu Heng activated his Geothermal Talisman, engulfing the battlefield in heat and killing every monkey around him.
• Lu Heng rested, dismantled the corpses, and collected their materials and Energy Cores for cross-region trading.
• Lu Heng recovered, tightened his grip on his hunting blade, and continued into the deeper forest.

Lu Heng searched the Rockhowl Monkeys’ former territory, collecting Five-Leaf Vine, Monkey Wine, and a hidden treasure chest after killing a clingy infant monkey. He then ventured deeper into the forest and discovered valuable Black Iron Tier Spruce Trees.

• Lu Heng realized the Rockhowl Monkeys had lived in the area and gathered patches of Five-Leaf Vine for his Storage Space.
• A baby monkey clung to Lu Heng’s trouser leg, and he killed it after its cries and grip overwhelmed his restraint.
• Lu Heng found naturally fermented Monkey Wine in a hollow tree, appraised it, and filled several containers with it.
• Lu Heng discovered a hidden Black Iron-Level Treasure Chest lodged among vines in a high tree branch and stored it away.
• Lu Heng passed beyond the monkey den and found scattered Black Iron Tier Spruce Trees, whose fragrant, durable wood could improve his Shelter.

Lu Heng harvested 215 units of Chinese Gordonia Wood before a Dark-Spotted Leopard ambushed him at dusk. He killed the predator, treated his shallow wound, and headed back to the Stone Cave Shelter with enough timber to upgrade its defenses.

• Lu Heng cut Chinese Gordonia Trees until he had collected 215 units of wood, then stopped as dusk fell and his stamina ran low.
• A Dark-Spotted Leopard ambushed Lu Heng and left a shallow wound in his side.
• Lu Heng overcame his exhaustion, countered the leopard's attacks, and killed it with his Hunting Blade.
• Lu Heng stored the leopard's materials, washed his wound at a river, and applied Trauma Healing Ointment.
• Lu Heng continued toward the Stone Cave Shelter, planning to rest before upgrading its defenses.

Lu Heng upgraded the Cliffside Shelter with spirit-suppressing rock and other materials, strengthening its structure and protecting it from supernatural forces. After opening a Black Iron-Level Treasure Chest, he gained useful equipment and considered trading its air conditioner for high-tier materials.

• Lu Heng used spirit-suppressing rock, frost-patterned iron ore, spruce wood, and large bluestone to upgrade the Cliffside Shelter, reinforcing its foundation, floors, door, pillars, and perimeter fence while warding off supernatural presences.
• Lu Heng checked the requirements for upgrading to a bronze-tier shelter and decided he would continue working alone rather than cooperate with other survivors.
• Lu Heng opened a Black Iron-Level Treasure Chest and received a cookbook, a weapon rack, wooden table and chairs, five Spy Bugs, and an air conditioner.
• Lu Heng placed the cookbook on a bookshelf and arranged the furniture, then welcomed the weapon rack’s ability to maintain his weapons and planned to deploy the Spy Bugs around the mountain.
• Lu Heng considered the air conditioner unnecessary for his own shelter but decided to offer it in the final day of the supply trading round in exchange for high-tier materials.

After upgrading his Black Iron Fortress, Lu Heng drank Monkey Wine and publicly denounced a group of Old Federation holdovers seeking to establish a Survivors' Alliance for elderly survivors. His words sparked a wave of accusations in public chat, turning the channel against the holdovers while he slept, unaware that a major upheaval was beginning.

• Lu Heng finished upgrading the Black Iron Fortress, cooked mutant beast meat with peppers, and drank chilled Monkey Wine.
• After reading the holdovers' appeal for a Survivors' Alliance, Lu Heng posted a series of blunt criticisms of their past privileges and demands for support during the apocalypse.
• Lu Heng fell asleep at the table, and survivors in public chat began sharing suppressed scandals and grievances from the old era, including the Fishhook Incident and the Nanhe Red Cross Society controversy.
• The revelations turned public opinion against the Federation holdovers, and Lu Heng's username drew attention across the network.
• As conflicts and accusations continued to spread, Lu Heng slept through the upheaval taking shape in the survivor community.

After waking from his drunken outburst in the survivor channel, Lu Heng read the threats and support flooding in and accepted that he had become a target. He stood by what he had said and decided to survive alone, wary of the attention his words had drawn.

• Lu Heng woke without a hangover and remembered that he had attacked the Old Federation faction in the public channel.
• Lu Heng read the flood of messages, including support from ordinary survivors and threats demanding that he apologize and delete his posts.
• Lu Heng memorized the IDs of those threatening and smearing him, then decided he would no longer speak in the public channel.
• Lu Heng reflected on how years of swallowed mistreatment had fueled his outburst and concluded that he did not regret it.
• Lu Heng resolved to form no alliances, take no sides, and shoulder whatever came next by himself.

Lu Heng harvested ripe tomatoes and pumpkins, replanted their seeds, and decided to stay inside the Fortress as storm clouds gathered. While browsing the Rainforest Region’s trade listings, he found a Bloodthirsty Vine and considered offering his black iron air conditioner for it.

• Lu Heng harvested the ripe tomatoes and pumpkins, stored them in the cellar, and sowed seeds for another crop.
• Seeing storm clouds gather, Lu Heng decided to keep the doors shut and stay inside the Fortress.
• Lu Heng browsed the Desert Region’s listings but found no valuable supplies to trade for.
• Lu Heng found a Rainforest Region listing for a Bronze Tier Bloodthirsty Vine that attacked living beings approaching within one meter.
• Lu Heng decided his black iron air conditioner matched the seller’s desire for items that improved living comfort, then waited before contacting the seller.

Lu Heng traded a Black Iron-Tier Air Conditioner and a ripe pumpkin for a Bloodthirsty Vine seed, then planted it around his Shelter to create an outer defense. As storm clouds gathered, he hoped the seeds would take root and decided to stay inside for the day.

• Lu Heng offered the seller a Black Iron-Tier Air Conditioner for the Bloodthirsty Vine seed, but the seller demanded more.
• Lu Heng added a ripe pumpkin and explained that it could provide seven days of ready-to-eat food while its seeds could be saved, and the seller accepted the trade.
• Lu Heng examined the Bloodthirsty Vine seed and learned that it grew into an aggressive Bronze Tier plant that needed flesh and blood to thrive.
• Lu Heng dug holes along the fence, placed Red Cliff Jackal flesh and the seed in each one, and covered them with soil.
• Lu Heng watched the soil stir as the seeds began to absorb nutrients, then decided to remain inside as rain approached.