Black Tech Monopoly Corporation #1-50
Author: 东海猪妖
Date: 2026-01-01T08:22:12+00:00

Chapter 1: The Mysterious Cube

Zhang Heng stared blankly at the irregular, multi-faced cube hovering in midair. His first instinct was to glance around the room, then he slowly approached and poked it cautiously.

The cube didn’t react.

Only then did he take it in his hands, following the patterns on its surface as he twisted it in opposite directions with both hands. Immediately, the cube emitted a clicking sound of interlocking gears.

It wasn’t metal, nor plastic—it was a sound Zhang Heng had never heard before. Not clear, not crisp, not dull, not thick, yet it seemed to seep into his soul in a strange way.

“What the hell is this thing?” Zhang Heng muttered, puzzled. The irregular cube had no color differentiation—it was entirely metallic silver, with countless cracks crisscrossing each face, dividing it into various irregular blocks.

Yet, despite their irregularity, these shapes seemed to follow some golden ratio principle, appearing perfectly harmonious without any awkwardness.

If that wasn’t strange enough, the most astonishing thing was that it could float in midair.

The moment Zhang Heng saw the cube, he looked around, but he was in his rented room—just a few square meters with a bed, a desk, and a cloth wardrobe. There was no place to set up a prank.

So, he ruled out human interference.

But if it wasn’t a prank, where did this cube come from? Did it just appear out of thin air?

Zhang Heng grew even more confused, but his hands didn’t stay idle. He experimented with twisting the cube until it let out a faint click!

His eyes narrowed.

He realized that his random twisting had caused the cube to take on a peculiar shape, one that exposed a finger-sized gap in its otherwise seamless exterior.

This cube was flawed!

Zhang Heng’s brow twitched. He had played with Rubik’s cubes before—the most common being the standard three-by-three cube with six faces, each divided into nine smaller squares.

But the cube in his hands was far more complex than any he had seen. Logically, such an irregular shape shouldn’t even form a cube, since the essence of a cube was its structure. If the cube itself had no structure, how could anyone solve it?

Even the designer couldn’t have done it.

Sure enough, after a few random twists, Zhang Heng had already created a gap.

No, this wasn’t a gap…

His eyes narrowed to slits. He suddenly noticed that the edges of the hole were perfectly smooth, as if this irregular cube was meant to have this form.

If that wasn’t enough, the inside of the hole was pitch black—even in sunlight, he couldn’t see what lay within. That was what truly shocked him.

Instinctively, he raised the cube to his eye, closing his left eye as he peered into the hole with his right.

“What the hell is this…” he muttered again. Inside the hole, he seemed to see an endless expanse of…

An endless expanse of what?

Zhang Heng froze. He felt certain he had never seen anything like it before, yet it gave him an indescribable sense of familiarity. It was an infinite bubble—no, not just one, but countless bubbles forming an endless, boundless world!

That was the only way he could describe it. Each bubble was an infinite existence, yet how could one infinite bubble overlap with another?

It defied logic.

But what truly struck him was the familiarity of these bubbles, as if they were always around humanity…

These bubbles—each one was a universe!

The thought flashed through his mind. In the next instant, an unparalleled burst of light seared his right optic nerve, as if the Big Bang itself had just occurred.

At the same time, an indescribable pain shot through his brain, as if a comet had struck the ocean, instantly engulfing his entire mind.

Zhang Heng barely had time to let out a scream before he lost consciousness.

…

A cold electronic beep filled the room.

The air was thick with the smell of formaldehyde.

The moment Zhang Heng opened his eyes, his mind replayed every memory before his collapse, and in an instant, he understood his current situation.

He was lying in a hospital bed, surrounded by monitors, an ECG machine, and a pacemaker. The beeping came from the ECG.

To the north, a frosted glass double door spanned the wall. Through the glass, he could see the “ICU” sticker on the outside.

Clearly, he was in an intensive care unit.

Something felt off.

Zhang Heng blinked, an inexplicable discomfort brewing in his mind. He instinctively clenched his fist. He didn’t know how long he had been unconscious, but his arms were weak. Still, he managed to pull the needle from his arm, tossing the bloodied tip aside. He sat up hastily, then yanked out the remaining needles from his temples.

Only then did he freeze.

For some reason, his vision seemed different. In the few seconds it took to sit up, he noticed something was wrong—his right eye was blind.

Instinctively, he reached up to touch his right eye.

The eyeball was unharmed. Even when his fingers pressed against it, he felt the familiar sting. The lens projected the room’s image, refracting through the vitreous humor and into the optic nerve, but the signal was cut off before reaching the calcarine fissure.

Something was wrong deep in his brain.

At that moment, the ECG lost its connection to its host, mistaking the lack of signal for cardiac arrest. The monitor blared a shrill alarm. Before Zhang Heng could react, two doctors and several nurses rushed in.

…

A day later, Zhang Heng walked out of the hospital under the cold stares of the medical staff, with no one waiting for him outside.

As a fourth-year biology student, he was in the middle of his internship, so he didn’t live on campus. Instead, he worked at a pharmaceutical company in the city.

The day he collapsed, his landlord had heard his scream and called an ambulance. Otherwise, he might not have survived.

He bought some fruit on the way back to his rented room—a three-story building in a notorious “nail house” village, where the environment was far from pleasant.

But for Zhang Heng, just starting out in the world, the conditions were tolerable. His monthly salary at the pharmaceutical company was only three thousand yuan. After rent and living expenses, he had little left. With this hospital bill, his hard-earned savings were gone.

After thanking his landlord, Zhang Heng reluctantly agreed to move out by the end of the month. No one wanted a tenant with an unknown illness who could drop dead at any moment.

The landlord had only sent him to the hospital out of fear of legal trouble if something happened. That was just how society worked.

Back in his room, Zhang Heng collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. Then, as if remembering something, he picked up his phone from the desk. Dozens of missed calls appeared—three from his boss, the rest from his family.

Seeing his family’s calls, Zhang Heng suddenly realized he had indeed brushed death’s door. But as the one who had experienced it, he felt strangely indifferent.

Perhaps he had been numbed by his mundane, death-like life.

Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought and called his family back.

“Hey, Dad… I’m fine, really. My phone was lost these past few days, so I just got a new SIM card today. Yeah… Don’t worry, no need to send money. My salary this month is enough… Okay, I’ll let you know if anything happens…”

He exhaled in relief, having escaped his parents’ interrogation. Then he dialed his boss.

“Hello, Manager… Oh, I see… Alright, I understand.”

His expression darkened. As an intern, missing three days of work without notice meant he had been fired.

Looks like he had to find another job.

His face twisted in frustration, but even this blow couldn’t compare to losing his right eye. At least no one else would know unless he told them.

Then, a thought struck him. He sat up and searched the room—under the desk, beneath the bed—turning the entire twenty-square-meter room upside down. But the mysterious cube that had appeared out of nowhere was gone.

He was certain that cube was no ordinary object. The medical report claimed his blindness was due to a stroke and brain hemorrhage, but Zhang Heng didn’t believe that.

He was sure his condition was linked to that strange cube!

But now, the damned thing was missing!

His first thought was that the landlord had taken it. His second was to call the police.

That cube was extraordinary—it could defy gravity and harm people. Anyone who saw it would know it wasn’t an ordinary toy. So, he was sure the landlord wouldn’t return it. That left only one option: the police.

But then he hesitated. What would he tell them? That he lost a toy that defied the laws of physics?

Just as he wrestled with the thought, the empty room suddenly echoed with the sound of interlocking gears—click, click…

Zhang Heng’s face went rigid.

Chapter 2: NO.002 Dimensional Star

Click, click, click…

A sound only Zhang Heng could hear echoed in his ears—neither crisp nor deep, unlike any instrument, yet it resonated with his soul, strange and mesmerizing.

This sound didn’t come from outside but from deep within his brain—vibrating through his cortex, directly stirring his eardrums. No one else could hear it.

“Host locked.”

“Adjusting neurons… Neurons connected.”

“Scanning cerebral environment… Environment normal.”

“Activating intelligent assistant program.”

“Intelligent assistant program initializing… Please wait.”

A sudden stream of information flashed through Zhang Heng’s mind!

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t in the form of text or speech but a signal of consciousness—yet he understood it effortlessly, translating it into the words above.

But that wasn’t the point. Why was his brain suddenly flooded with such bizarre messages?

Zhang Heng’s facial muscles twitched involuntarily—a reflex from his nerve endings reacting to shock. His body stiffened, the air around him freezing in place.

In this deathly silence, he felt the world crumbling. He didn’t know what was happening, only that a storm was brewing in his mind.

But as the messages faded, his mind fell silent again, as if it had all been a fleeting illusion.

An illusion? Or am I losing my mind?

Zhang Heng forced himself upright, moving his legs to confirm he was fine before exhaling heavily.

Just as he thought it was all in his head, the clicking returned.

“Intelligent assistant program activated. Virtual personality setting in progress… Please select a personality—options: Lawful Good, Neutral Good, Chaotic Good, Lawful Neutral, True Neutral, Chaotic Neutral, Lawful Evil, Neutral Evil, Chaotic Evil.”

“What the hell?!” Zhang Heng jolted as if electrocuted, tumbling onto his bed, which groaned under the impact.

“Host’s mental state unstable. System auto-selecting… Selecting…”

“Selection complete. Personality set to Chaotic Evil.”

“Please choose a virtual personality appearance.”

“Generating based on host’s preferences…”

“Generation complete.”

“Welcome to ‘Dimensional Star.’ May the last of humanity find luck.”

Zhang Heng was drenched in cold sweat, his heart racing, breath ragged. Normally, he shouldn’t have been able to process anything in this state, yet the messages burned into his mind, not a single word missed.

“Calm down… calm down!”

He took deep breaths, forcing himself to steady. His hands trembled as he fished out a cigarette, lit it with shaky fingers, and inhaled the harsh smoke. The nicotine and carbon monoxide seeped into his lungs, finally soothing his frayed nerves.

“Phew…” Exhaling, he fell into a heavy silence, still unsure if this was reality or a hallucination.

But the messages in his mind were undeniable.

Just as he thought he could rationalize it, a new voice—clear and childlike—echoed in his head:

“Uncle, did you set up a magic contract to summon Yulian to this world?”

Zhang Heng’s eyes widened. This wasn’t the same as the earlier signals—it was a real voice, yet no one was around.

Only then did he accept that something was inside his brain.

Could it be that missing cube?

The thought steadied him. He took a deep breath and replied, “Are… are you talking to me?”

“Of course! I’m Yulian, the beloved AI assistant of Dimensional Star!”

With that, a chibi-style loli suddenly appeared in his vision—dressed in a classic loli outfit, with two small horns on her head and a tail as thick as a finger. A little demon!

And as she appeared, a dramatic anime-style soundtrack blared in his ears, clashing with his stunned expression.

Zhang Heng was numb. He rubbed his eyes, but even when closed, the loli remained in his mind’s eye.

Because she wasn’t in front of him—she was projected onto his retina, specifically his right retina.

**“First, turn off the BGM…”* The music was giving him a headache. He massaged his temples, resigned.

“You’re a system? And what’s your connection to that cube?”

“Since you asked so sincerely, Yulian will graciously explain!”* The chibi loli struck a haughty pose, her tone eerily familiar. ”That ‘cube’ you mentioned is actually Dimensional Star, and I’m its AI assistant’s virtual personality!“**

“Wait, Dimensional Star? What is that, and why is it in my head?”

“Hah! Straight to the point!”* Yulian spun, producing a microphone. ”For details, watch the VCR!“**

Suddenly, Zhang Heng’s right eye displayed a bizarre scene:

A middle-aged man in glasses and a goatee sat before a camera, elbows on a desk, fingers steepled—a cold, sickly aura. Behind him was a high-tech lab.

“To whoever is watching this, greetings. I am Gendo Ikari, Commander of NERV.”

“Pfft!” Zhang Heng lost it at the first line. “Wait, who did you say you are?”

Gendo Ikari—the father of Shinji from EVA, that cold, manipulative bastard!

“By the time you see this, I’m likely dead.” The recording continued, unaware of Zhang Heng’s outburst. “As the X897th host of Dimensional Star, the only thing I can leave you after my failure is this message.”

“I don’t know which plane of existence created Dimensional Star, but its power surpasses our own. Even ‘gods’ are insignificant before it. When I became its host, I learned from my predecessor’s recording that every human plane is under attack by an evil force…”

“No, calling it ‘evil’ is too vague. Every human plane is being erased by natural or unnatural forces, as if the universe itself is cursing humanity…”

**“Seriously? Could you be more cryptic?”* Zhang Heng, now calmer, grabbed a half-eaten bag of popcorn and munched as he mocked.

“To fight this curse, I initiated that…”

**“Oh shit, don’t tell me that is the infamous ‘Human Instrumentality Project’?”* Zhang Heng bolted upright, eyes wide.

“I thought I could change humanity’s fate, but in the end, I realized how powerless I was against it… Even that wasn’t enough…”

**“All that talk, and you still got wrecked!”* Zhang Heng slumped back, flipping the bird.

“From what I know, my plane is one of the few remaining among countless trillions. And as you watch this, trillions more are being destroyed every second…”

“Trillions?!” Zhang Heng’s hand shook, spilling popcorn.

“Don’t think you’re lucky. The more you unlock Dimensional Star’s power, the more you’ll realize how strong its creators’ plane was—and yet, even they were erased.”

“Also, as your predecessor, I must warn you: sometimes, Dimensional Star’s assistant isn’t trustworthy…”

“To all surviving humans… good luck.”

The recording vanished. Zhang Heng blinked. “That’s it?”

“Yep! That’s all from the last host.” Yulian reappeared. “Now you understand, right?”

“Then why me?” Zhang Heng scoffed. “I’m just a college student. Why burden me with this?”

“Because you’re still an intern for Dimensional Star. Becoming its true host isn’t easy!” The demon loli pulled out a flashlight, shining it under her face in a creepy grin. “To earn Yulian’s approval, you must complete a trial. Ready, uncle?”

Chapter 3: Trial Begins

“Trial? What trial?” Zhang Heng’s eye twitched.

“Before Host Uncle accepts the trial, Yulian cannot disclose the mission details.” Yulian winked, making a ‘ding’ sound, as if flirting.

Zhang Heng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, looked around, and picked up a bucket of instant noodles and a bottle of mineral water, then rummaged through the drawer to pull out a pitch-black dagger.

After all, as a boy, it was reasonable for Zhang Heng to buy such a knife online, though it was more decorative than practical.

Zhang Heng nervously said, “Actually, there’s not much to prepare. Even if I wanted to prepare other things, I don’t have the money. You can release the mission now.”

“OK!” Yulian made another OK gesture, and a mechanical female voice followed, “Trial mission officially begins. Mission objective: Obtain valuable technological data from nearby dimensions. Beginning search for nearby dimensions…”

“What? Obtain technological data from nearby dimensions?” Zhang Heng’s expression changed. “Isn’t that too much? The trial requires going to other dimensions?”

“Search complete.” Unfortunately, since Zhang Heng had accepted the system’s mission, the system did not stop due to his doubts. “There are four valuable exploration dimensions near the host’s dimension.”

“Dimension A: Biohazard Dimension. Based on the intern host’s combat power, danger level: ★★”

“Dimension B: Dead Space Dimension. Danger level: ★★★”

“Dimension C: Alien Dimension. Danger level: ★★★★”

“Dimension D: Prototype Torture Dimension. Danger level: ★★★★★” (★ is read as one star, ☆ as half a star)

Zhang Heng swayed, almost fainting. “Does that mean I have to go to these movie and game worlds to find their technology?”

“That’s right!” The self-proclaimed two-dimensional loli, Yulian, spun around, her casual clothes instantly transforming into a university professor’s outfit, complete with black-rimmed glasses, making her look quite serious. “Since you’re ready to take on the mission, Yulian will explain the rules!”

A lively BGM echoed in Zhang Heng’s mind as Yulian explained in time with the music, “The Dimensional Star, as a four-dimensional creation, grants its host the ability to traverse space. What is four-dimensional? Actually, it’s quite simple to understand.”

“Everyone knows that zero-dimensional is a point, one-dimensional is an infinite number of points arranged in a straight line, two-dimensional is an infinite number of lines arranged in a plane, and three-dimensional is an infinite number of planes stacked to form a solid space. As for four-dimensional, it is composed of an infinite number of spaces!”

“Simply put, if it’s a three-dimensional object, then three mutually perpendicular lines—length, width, and height—can describe it. Or, using coordinates as an analogy, any position on Earth can be expressed with three data points: longitude, latitude, and altitude. This shows that we humans live in a three-dimensional world.”

“And four-dimensional? Actually, four-dimensional does exist; humans just can’t perceive it. In a four-dimensional world, an object, besides length, width, and height, can have another line perpendicular to all three, and the coordinates of a four-dimensional world require four data points to express!”

Zhang Heng nodded. “I understand all that, but what does this have to do with the Dimensional Star?”

“Yulian already explained it. The Dimensional Star is a four-dimensional object.” Yulian adjusted her black-rimmed glasses, speaking methodically.

“But I can see the Dimensional Star. If I can see it, how can it be a four-dimensional object?” Zhang Heng frowned, countering.

“Are you sure you’ve seen the Dimensional Star in its entirety?” Yulian revealed a mysterious expression.

“You mean…”

“That’s right! Suppose there are two-dimensional creatures that can only live on paper. One day, you place an eraser on the paper. What do those two-dimensional creatures see?”

Zhang Heng was taken aback. “For them, the eraser is also flat. Actually, they can only see the bottom of the eraser but not its entire form?”

“Bingo! Correct!” Yulian excitedly said, “Understand now? What they see is just a projection of the eraser’s true form. Similarly, the mysterious cube you see is merely the Dimensional Star’s projection in the three-dimensional world!”

“Even the fact that you think the Dimensional Star is in your brain is an illusion. It’s like drawing a circle on paper and placing an object inside it. Two-dimensional creatures would only see the circle but not the object inside. Maybe after developing technology, they could detect the object inside the circle, but they couldn’t retrieve it without destroying the circle.”

“But humans are different. We don’t need to destroy the circle to take out the object from above. For two-dimensional creatures, the object inside a completely sealed circle disappearing is a miracle, a supernatural phenomenon!”

Zhang Heng shuddered.

“Does Host Uncle understand now?” Yulian smiled. “The Dimensional Star isn’t actually in your brain. For you, who can only live in a three-dimensional world, it’s unimaginable, but for four-dimensional life, your countless dimensions are like sheets of paper spread out, with no secrets!”

“And your blindness is because you saw the four-dimensional world through the Dimensional Star. What you saw in that instant far exceeded the limit of what your brain could process, causing a brain hemorrhage and right-eye blindness!”

Zhang Heng nodded thoughtfully. “I understand. Then, explain the trial rules.”

Yulian nodded. “Actually, the Dimensional Star system is quite generous to its host. It provides several dimensions for the host to choose from, not making things too difficult. Also, based on your permissions, the system’s traversal cooldown is forty-eight hours! That means after the host is transported to another dimension, they must stay for at least forty-eight hours before returning! However, as permissions increase, the cooldown will gradually decrease.”

“Of course, the time spent in other dimensions is limited, but there’s no limit to the number of dimension traversals. After completing a mission, the system will issue the next mission within a certain timeframe, sometimes even emergency missions!”

Zhang Heng narrowed his eyes, his brain working rapidly. Don’t be fooled by how easily this system called Yulian speaks. Zhang Heng knew that executing these missions would be a matter of life and death, and not executing them would be certain death! If he continued to be as careless as before, he wouldn’t even know how he died…

“But,” Zhang Heng looked at the meager supplies in his hand, “can you give me some time to prepare properly?”

“No, accepting the mission requires an immediate decision.” Yulian shook her head without hesitation.

Zhang Heng’s expression was very unpleasant, but since things had come to this, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and decide, “In that case… I choose the Biohazard Dimension!”

The Resident Evil series and the Alien series, as Hollywood movies, were probably known to almost everyone. Zhang Heng wasn’t an otaku; at most, he had a bit of a loli complex. He had heard of all four dimensions, but he had only seen the Resident Evil movies. In reality, Resident Evil also had animations and games, which he knew nothing about.

As for Alien, he had only seen a few movies and had a superficial understanding of that world. The last two dimensions, Dead Space and Prototype Torture, were computer game territories, and unfortunately, he knew nothing about games.

Moreover, among the four dimensions’ difficulties, only the Biohazard Dimension had the lowest difficulty, with just two stars. So choosing the Biohazard Dimension was understandable.

“Oh, the brave uncle has chosen the first mission. Then, Yulian declares: The dimensional trial mission has officially begun!” As her tone grew more impassioned, a fiery anime BGM played again. The stage-like lights flashed behind her as Yulian raised her hand, pointing diagonally at the sky, reciting dramatically.

“From now on, the line between life and death will no longer be clear. Will you fall into hell or become a hero? There are no miracles in this world. To survive, you must charge forward, no matter what!”

“Charge forward at the cost of your life!”

Chapter 4: NO.004 Biohazard

“Spacetime conversion complete. Entering the Biohazard dimension. Beginning mission scan.”

“Warning: Biohazard dimension mission activated. Primary objective: Obtain complete data on the Tyrant virus and one sample.”

“Optional objective: Obtain complete data on the God virus and one sample.”

“Emergency objective: Unknown.”

“Mission duration: Seventy-two hours. Failure penalty: Revocation of Dimensional Star host status and destruction of host.”

“Note: Dimensional transmission mechanism cooldown time is forty-eight hours.”

Amid the mechanical female voice’s announcement, Zhang Heng slowly opened his eyes.

Before him lay nothing but wasteland.

He sighed softly. Everything that had happened to him was real—he had truly arrived in another world, one where human civilization had utterly collapsed.

At this moment, Zhang Heng stood before a crumbling skyscraper. Towering yet broken buildings surrounded him. From the rusted billboards along the road, the English letters suggested he was in some city in the United States or Britain.

The tallest building bore a massive red-and-white umbrella logo with the word “Umbrella” beneath it. This, then, was a branch of the corporate giant, the Umbrella Corporation.

As a super-enterprise empire, Umbrella had branches in major cities worldwide, so Zhang Heng couldn’t be sure which city this one belonged to.

His calculations were correct. In the Biohazard universe, most technology matched his own world’s level. The only truly valuable advancements were the so-called T-virus and G-virus.

Zhang Heng estimated that this dimension’s biotechnology was roughly a century ahead of reality, which was how they had created such monstrous viruses as the T and G strains.

Some might wonder—what scientific value could there be in something that only creates zombies?

In truth, the T-virus’s full name was Tyrant, meaning “tyrant.” Its true purpose wasn’t to create zombies or destroy civilization but to develop biological weapons. It encompassed virology, genetics, biology, and dozens of other cutting-edge fields—enough to lead human technological progress. Unfortunately, an accidental leak had led to the catastrophe that wiped out humanity.

In other words, obtaining data on the T-virus—or the even more powerful G-virus—would allow Zhang Heng to stand at the forefront of biotechnology in his own world!

“So this is Umbrella Corporation,” Zhang Heng thought, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and tension. This was his first encounter with power beyond nature, and beyond shock, he felt a surge of restless excitement.

Yes, excitement!

After more than twenty years in a world without miracles, without opportunities, where every aspect of life was governed by visible and invisible rules, his spirit had grown weary. He craved power—power that transcended the ordinary, power that could shatter those so-called rules, those so-called chains, those so-called shackles!

A glint flashed in Zhang Heng’s eyes—a light suppressed by the mundane, the light of a young man’s defiance and ambition, a light brimming with ambition!

He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He knew that changing the world, rising above others, was never simple. There was no reward without sacrifice, and the price he might pay was the risk of eternal ruin with a single misstep!

Zhang Heng scanned his surroundings, confirming there was no immediate danger before slowly stepping into the building. As he walked, he mentally reached out to Yulian.

“Can you confirm that this place has Umbrella’s data on the T and G viruses? Normally, if the building was evacuated, such highly classified information would be transferred. If it couldn’t be moved, it would be destroyed.”

“Hehe, don’t worry. The personnel here were all killed by Lickers before they could evacuate,” the demonic loli grinned, mimicking the gesture of a Licker.

Zhang Heng’s pupils contracted, and he froze mid-step. “You mean there are Lickers in this building?”

“Yulian can’t say,” Yulian spread her tiny hands, feigning innocence.

“Is it because of system restrictions?” Zhang Heng narrowed his eyes.

“Yulian still can’t say.”

A cold smile curled at the corner of Zhang Heng’s mouth. “I see. The Dimensional Star system isn’t just looking for someone to collect dimensional technology like a scavenger. You’re selecting someone who can guide humanity’s technological development—a leader. If you only wanted a middleman, you could do it yourself.”

“Oh no, you’ve seen through me!” Yulian suddenly covered her cheeks with her slender fingers, her face marked with several slashes like a blushing anime girl. If an otaku saw such a kawaii 2D loli, they might lose their soul, but Zhang Heng felt no joy at the compliment—only icy coldness.

Could he really survive the system’s trials and guide his world?

For a moment, Zhang Heng felt a heavy weight pressing down on his heart, as if a mountain had settled upon it.

“Given your excellent performance, Yulian can give you another piece of information,” the system suddenly spoke again. “You’re currently in the world twelve years after the Raccoon City virus outbreak. The global population is now less than one million, scattered across the world, barely surviving. Human civilization is effectively extinct.”

“What does this have to do with me?” Zhang Heng was taken aback, but then realization dawned. “You mean I could save other dimensions?”

“That’s not what I said—it’s your own guess,” Yulian winked, pressing a finger to her lips in a “shh” gesture.

Zhang Heng could only smile bitterly. “Forget it. Even if I wanted to save them, I’d have to wait until my own world is strong enough. By then, the humans in the Biohazard dimension might already be extinct.” Still, he filed the thought away. Perhaps when the curse appeared in the future, he could use the power of other dimensions to fight back…

All of this was Zhang Heng’s silent mental conversation with the system. He stepped into the building, where the first-floor lobby was shrouded in darkness.

It was dusk, and a few beams of orange-red light filtered through the broken windows, offering no warmth—only making the environment seem more desolate. The dust on the floor was half an inch thick, showing no signs of life for years. Zhang Heng wondered how the zombies had survived. Without food for twelve years, wouldn’t they have starved to death?

In the center of the lobby stood an old display stand with a building layout map. Fortunately, Zhang Heng had passed the CET-6 English exam; otherwise, he would have been helpless.

At least China’s education system isn’t entirely useless…

He blew away the dust, revealing the faded text. The company’s laboratory was on the 54th floor, while the archives were on the 53rd.

Zhang Heng cursed under his breath. He turned to look at the setting sun outside, unsure whether to retrieve the data now or wait until morning. In this building of unknown dangers, daylight was safer than night.

But with his current strength, whether day or night, encountering a Licker would be a death sentence.

The system’s return window was forty-eight hours. Logically, finding a safe place to hide until then and only executing the mission afterward would be much safer. But the system had also given a seventy-two-hour deadline. If something went wrong in the final twenty-four hours and he couldn’t find the virus, he would face the system’s punishment.

In other words, these forty-eight hours were a double-edged sword. If he encountered unavoidable danger within that time, even completing the mission wouldn’t guarantee escape. But if he didn’t use those forty-eight hours and waited until after, he might not have enough time.

Zhang Heng found himself in a dilemma.

“Forget it. Fortune favors the bold. If I keep hesitating, I’ll lose the courage to face challenges.” He exhaled, a flicker of determination in his eyes. “No need to wait out the forty-eight hours. Tomorrow morning, I’ll head to the top floor to find the data.”

He looked at the instant noodles and bottled water in his hands and couldn’t help but smile bitterly. If he had known the situation, he wouldn’t have brought so little. As for finding food here? The world had been in ruins for twelve years. Even if there was anything edible, it would have spoiled long ago. And even if some special provisions remained unspoiled, he would need to survive long enough to find them.

Shaking his head, Zhang Heng walked toward the security room. Located on the left side of the lobby, it was where guards monitored the building’s entrances and exits. The windows were made of reinforced glass, sturdy and offering a wide view of the lobby.

The security room door was open, so there was no musty smell from years of disuse. Inside were four pieces of furniture: a desk over two meters long, a dust-covered Apple computer, a wooden bed with its mattress removed, and a tall metal cabinet.

After entering, Zhang Heng locked the door and pulled down all the blinds, plunging the room into darkness. In the dim light, he gently opened the desk drawers, revealing stacks of files.

He blew the dust off the wooden bed and sat down, flipping through the documents one by one, searching for any clues that might help him. But before long, the room was completely dark.

The night of the biohazard had arrived…

Chapter 5: Night of Terror

Though he found himself in a world plagued by a biohazard crisis, Zhang Heng had yet to feel overwhelming fear. Since arriving in this realm, he hadn’t seen a single zombie—let alone a mutilated corpse. He maintained a relatively calm state of mind, though he couldn’t help but wonder what tomorrow would bring.

He wasn’t naive enough to believe that a building this large would be completely devoid of zombies. The lobby might be clear, but that was likely because the creatures had been drawn outside by the noise. The upper floors, however, were another story.

The thought of the dangers awaiting him tomorrow sent a chill down Zhang Heng’s spine. Zombies were one thing—slow, lumbering creatures that could be outrun with ease. But the real terror lay in the Lickers, those monstrous abominations from the movies that could scale walls, tear through steel with their claws, and move with the speed of the wind. If he encountered one of those, death would be inevitable.

The thought left him restless. He rummaged through his bag, pulling out half a pack of cigarettes. He lit one, the metallic click of his “Hong Kong genuine Zorro kerosene lighter” echoing sharply in the silent night. For a man like Zhang Heng, food could be skipped, but cigarettes were non-negotiable. His mindset was much like the internet meme: “Girlfriends can be optional, but League of Legends must be played.” Even his lighter, bought for a little over thirty yuan on Taobao, exuded a certain rugged charm with its ice-blue metallic finish.

Click… click…

The faint sound of the lighter, usually negligible, now seemed deafening in the dead of night.

Zhang Heng frowned, quickly lighting his cigarette before carefully closing the lid. He took a deep drag, the sharp, acrid smoke filling his lungs and banishing the last traces of fatigue.

But just as he exhaled, enjoying the quiet, a faint noise came from the cabinet beside him.

Zhang Heng froze. He spun around, staring at the metal cabinet in shock.

Clang…

He hadn’t imagined it.

He shot to his feet, his right hand slipping into his waistband to draw the American military boot knife. Though its name sounded impressive, he knew it was just a cheap knockoff bought on Taobao—complete with a free bottle of blade oil. Its true quality was anyone’s guess.

Heart pounding, Zhang Heng fixed his gaze on the cabinet, forgetting the cigarette still dangling from his lips. Only when the burning ember reached the filter did he finally open his mouth, letting the butt drop to the floor.

From the sounds, whatever was inside wasn’t a rat or some wild animal—it was a zombie. Not just the thuds against the metal, but the faint, guttural moans—sounds only a human could make.

Whoever had locked a zombie in there during the outbreak had nearly gotten him killed. The creature must have heard the lighter and stirred. If he stayed silent, maybe it would settle down…

Zhang Heng tried to reassure himself, but his heart raced, his palm slick with sweat around the knife’s handle.

Seconds ticked by. The noises from the cabinet grew fainter. Just as Zhang Heng thought he might get away with it—

A deep, resonant howl erupted from inside the cabinet!

Zhang Heng’s face paled.

Then came the frantic pounding—like a demon from hell, clawing at the gates of the underworld, desperate to break free and feast on flesh.

If the security room isn’t soundproof—

“Damn it!” Zhang Heng’s face drained of color. He looked down at the still-smoldering cigarette butt, realizing the truth—the zombie must have smelled the unnatural scent and known someone was outside!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The hollow echoes rattled the cabinet—and Zhang Heng’s nerves. Each strike made his heart lurch, as if the zombie would burst through at any second.

I can’t let it keep making noise!

That single thought consumed him. Adrenaline surged through his veins, fueling a burst of courage. He lunged forward, twisting the cabinet door open in a flash.

A withered, rotting face lunged at him—like a demon straight from hell. Zhang Heng’s mind went blank. Instinct took over. His black military knife flashed, plunging deep into the zombie’s eye socket just as it lunged forward.

The creature’s growl cut off abruptly. It collapsed, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

“Hah… hah!” Zhang Heng slumped to the ground, gasping for air. He hadn’t exerted himself physically, but the adrenaline rush left him panting, his heart hammering against his ribs as if it might burst free.

He had just killed his first zombie—and in one clean strike, no less.

But before he could even process it, a low groan echoed from outside the door. Then came the shuffle of multiple footsteps, all gathering just beyond the security room.

Zhang Heng’s ragged breathing stopped. His eyes widened, his body rigid. Time seemed to freeze.

Zombies did have hearing. The noise must have carried far—how else could it have drawn so many so quickly? But the real question was: were any Lickers still lurking in the building?

He didn’t know how long he sat there—minutes? An eternity? The oppressive silence stretched on as the footsteps outside grew from sparse to dense, then faded away once more.

Only when the last echoes died did Zhang Heng exhale shakily. He pulled the knife free from the zombie’s eye socket, then crept to the window. With a finger, he pried open a sliver of the blinds, peering out cautiously.

Through the narrow gap, moonlight revealed seven or eight dark figures milling about the dimly lit lobby, as if searching for the source of the noise. Thankfully, zombies lacked intelligence—otherwise, the lowered blinds would have given him away instantly.

The creatures must have come from the upper floors or the corridors. Frustrated by their inability to locate the sound, they eventually dispersed.

Zhang Heng had lost all interest in smoking. Instead, he crawled into the very cabinet that had once held the zombie, curling up inside. Only in this enclosed space did he find a sliver of safety.

Chapter 6: NO.006 People Are Forced to Adapt

The soft morning light filtered through the cracks of the cabinet door, illuminating Zhang Heng’s eyelids.

Zhang Heng slowly opened his eyes. Through the cabinet door, he confirmed that the scene outside was the same as yesterday, with no signs of danger, before finally opening the door and climbing out.

Stretching his cramped body from a night of hiding, Zhang Heng looked down at the dead zombie still lying in a pool of thick blood.

After a moment of hesitation, he searched the corpse but found nothing of value—only a rotting wallet and a rubber baton with no killing power.

Peering through a small gap in the window again, Zhang Heng saw that the number of zombies in the lobby had increased. After a night of fruitless searching, the zombies had chosen to conserve energy by sleeping, like computers in standby mode.

These zombies lay motionless on the ground, resembling long-dead corpses. If Zhang Heng hadn’t seen them moving yesterday, he would never have guessed that these mummy-like bodies were actually flesh-eating undead.

“Damn it,” Zhang Heng cursed under his breath. He didn’t know what other senses these zombies used to detect humans besides sound and smell. But one thing was clear—if he wanted to cross the lobby, he would have to pass by these sleeping zombies. If he accidentally woke one, the entire building’s horde might come after him.

Zhang Heng was troubled. He was just an ordinary man living in the twenty-first century—average in strength, wealth, and power. The only thing that set him apart was his knowledge. And yet, this cursed Dimensional Star was forcing him to fight creatures capable of wiping out humanity.

“Hiding won’t save me. I might as well take a risk!” With death looming either way, Zhang Heng gritted his teeth and smeared the congealed blood from the zombie’s corpse onto himself. The T-virus did spread through blood and bodily fluids, but as long as he didn’t apply it to an open wound, there was no risk of infection.

Stripping off his clothes, he coated himself in the dried blood, quickly transforming into a foul-smelling, blood-covered figure.

In Zhang Heng’s analysis, zombies relied on three senses to distinguish humans: sight, smell, and hearing. There was no way they could develop a sixth sense—otherwise, humanity would have been wiped out long ago, not twelve years later. But sight was tricky. Since zombies didn’t eat their own kind, how did they visually distinguish between humans and fellow zombies?

Zhang Heng theorized that when humans turned into zombies, they emitted a unique pheromone. This pheromone allowed zombies to differentiate between their own kind and prey.

That was why he was covering himself in zombie blood—to mask his human scent.

Of course, Zhang Heng never expected this method to completely fool the zombies. He only needed to deceive their sense of smell.

If this were the early days of the outbreak, he wouldn’t have considered this approach. But now, with humanity nearly extinct, the zombies had no food left. They could only conserve energy by sleeping. And in their slumber, the only way they could detect humans was through sound and, less likely, smell.

Zhang Heng could control his movements to avoid making noise, but his scent would give him away. The security room had been sealed enough to hide his presence yesterday, but out in the open, the zombies’ heightened sense of smell—though not as sharp as a dog’s—might still pick up on him.

By masking his scent with zombie blood, the only sense the sleeping zombies could rely on was hearing. If he moved carefully, there was a chance he could succeed.

People were forced to adapt. Faced with life and death, even an ordinary man who had never killed a chicken could be pushed to challenge zombies and accomplish the impossible. Human potential was limitless.

Once everything was ready, Zhang Heng gently opened the security room door. The old iron door creaked slightly.

The last barrier between him and the zombies was gone. His heart pounded with every step, pausing to ensure the zombies remained asleep. After four or five minutes of careful movement, he finally reached the first zombie.

Staring at the sleeping creature, Zhang Heng took a deep breath, gripping his military knife tightly before striking down.

Thud!

A muffled sound echoed as the blade pierced through the zombie’s eye socket, destroying its brain.

This was Zhang Heng’s entire plan—to silently eliminate every zombie in his path.

Most people, upon realizing that zombie blood could mask their scent, would have chosen to sneak upstairs. But Zhang Heng was no ordinary man. The Dimensional Star had forced him to confront death head-on, and he was beginning to adapt to this role. His mental resilience was exceptional—few would have his courage.

In his mind, sneaking upstairs was a death wish. If he accidentally woke a zombie, the entire horde would awaken, leaving him trapped between two waves of attackers with no hope of survival.

So, he chose the harder path—clearing his way up. It was exhausting and dangerous, but it gave him a better chance of survival.

With this method, Zhang Heng finally saw a glimmer of hope in completing his mission…

Chapter 7: NO.007 Licker!

Sunlight filtered through the sea-blue glass windows of the building, casting a dim blue glow in the corridor. Flocks of crows infected by the T-virus circled in the sky, cawing as they searched for anything to fill their bellies.

The entire city lay in deathly silence. Long ago, when humanity had nearly vanished, the zombies had fallen into a deep slumber, waiting for the day some unlucky human would stumble into their forbidden zone.

Zhang Heng’s eyes were heavy with exhaustion. Eight hours had passed—eight hours of constant tension, moving with extreme caution to avoid making any sound. The strain had left him physically and mentally drained.

He had climbed to the thirtieth floor, less than halfway to the data room on the fifty-third floor. Behind him lay the corpses of zombies he had slain in their sleep, each one killed with a single strike.

He had lost count of how many he had killed. At first, he had kept track, but once the number surpassed a hundred, he could no longer keep up.

And this was just the count from the corridors. If he had to clear every office on each floor, it would take him a week.

“Let’s call it a day.”

Zhang Heng shook his dizzy head, smeared more zombie blood on himself, and began his descent, reeking of decay. So far, he hadn’t encountered any Lickers. Perhaps those monstrous creatures had already left. After all, their mobility far exceeded that of zombies—they could hunt freely without being confined to the building.

He made it back to the security room safely. Crawling into the iron cabinet, he devoured the last of his instant noodles and mineral water, eating the dry noodle cakes with gulps of water. In no time, the food was gone. Staring at the half-empty water bottle and the empty noodle box, he vowed to bring more supplies next time before collapsing into an exhausted sleep.

One night passed without dreams.

The next morning, Zhang Heng woke at eight, though hunger had roused him earlier. His stomach growled incessantly. With no choice, he lit a cigarette. He had always claimed, “I can skip meals, but I can’t go without cigarettes.” Yet now, he realized that even cigarettes couldn’t stave off hunger.

After finishing the cigarette, he crushed the butt and resumed clearing the Umbrella Corporation building.

Fortunately, the higher the floor, the fewer zombies there were. By afternoon, he had reached the fifty-third floor, where the data room was located.

As a massive commercial empire, Zhang Heng expected the data room to be substantial, but he hadn’t anticipated it would occupy the entire floor. The door to the fifty-third floor was secured with a triple-lock system—digital, fingerprint, and iris recognition. Above the door, in English, it read: “Restricted Area. No Unauthorized Entry.”

“What the hell am I supposed to do now?”

Zhang Heng was stunned. He had planned for everything except the data room being locked. Judging by the bank-vault-like metal door, he knew brute force wouldn’t work.

“Yulian, get out here!” he urgently called the Dimensional Star’s assistant system.

“Ugh, how rude! Yulian was taking a nap!” A sleepy-eyed, pajama-clad loli appeared in his vision.

“Cut the crap! Explain this to me!” Zhang Heng snapped. If he couldn’t get in, how was he supposed to retrieve the T-virus data?

Yulian gave him a look of disdain. “Did Yulian ever say the mission target was inside the data room?”

“…Damn it!” Zhang Heng nearly fainted. Had he wasted two days for nothing?

Calm down. He took a deep breath, suppressing his frustration. It wasn’t entirely useless. If he needed a T-virus sample, he’d have to get it from the fifty-fourth-floor lab. So clearing the building was still necessary. But… if the data room was locked, where else could he find the T-virus information?

Wait!

A thought struck him. If the virus had suddenly erupted in the city, what would the researchers have done first?

They wouldn’t have fled immediately. For Umbrella’s executives, abandoning the company was like a general deserting his post—it would only invite their superiors’ wrath. So in a crisis, their first instinct would have been to escape with the most valuable data!

Thus, the data might not even be in the data room!

With this realization, Zhang Heng made up his mind. He looked up at the ceiling and headed straight for the fifty-fourth floor.

The higher the floor, the fewer zombies there were. After the outbreak, most people would have tried to flee downward, so the upper floors were naturally less infested. Indeed, the last few floors were completely devoid of zombies.

Logically, the path from the fifty-third to the fifty-fourth floor should have been clear.

But as Zhang Heng rounded the corner, his heart lurched. In the center of the staircase lay a mangled pile of flesh and bone, dried and indistinguishable.

The flesh had long since desiccated, the meat and bone fragments fused into a dark brown slab of jerky. Yet the sight filled Zhang Heng with dread.

Ordinary zombies could strip a body to the bone, but they lacked the strength to pulverize a human into paste—not even a horde of them could do that!

The culprit was obvious.

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Heng slowed his steps, proceeding with extreme caution toward the top floor.

The staircase was a spiral design—once he reached the halfway point, he could see the next level. When he spotted the open lab door, his tense heart relaxed slightly.

Thankfully, the fifty-fourth-floor lab wasn’t locked. Otherwise, he wouldn’t know how to complete the mission.

But as he took a few more steps, his breath caught. A nightmarish figure lay sprawled near the lab entrance, blocking his path!

Through the half-open door, Zhang Heng saw the creature—about three meters long, with claws extending a foot from its forelegs. Its entire body was a grotesque red, as if skinned alive, with no trace of skin—only exposed, rippling muscles.

Its head lacked eyes or a nose—just a massive, gaping maw, a monstrous visage straight from a nightmare.

A Licker!

Zhang Heng’s heart pounded uncontrollably. Sure enough, the building harbored the one creature he least wanted to encounter.

If zombies were mindless beasts, then Lickers were the kings of beasts! Though both were once human, their power was worlds apart. Zombies were failed byproducts of the virus, reanimated after death, while Lickers were living humans injected with pure T-virus and cultivated in incubation chambers—biological weapons!

Compared to the disgusting yet weak zombies, Lickers were hundreds of times more dangerous!

The Licker lay with its head resting near the chaotic lab entrance, asleep. With no humans to feed on, it, like the zombies, had entered a state of hibernation to conserve energy. Behind it stood an incubator-like device and a shattered window—the incubator where it had been born, and the hole it used to hunt.

Damn Umbrella Corporation, daring to cultivate Lickers in the heart of the city. No wonder humanity had been wiped out.

Zhang Heng stood frozen at the lab entrance, staring at the Licker ten meters away, unsure of what to do. He glanced at his cheap dagger, then back at the nightmare creature. He didn’t believe for a second that this flimsy blade could take it down.

Then, an idea struck him. He couldn’t kill the Licker, but he didn’t need to fight it—he just had to lure it away!

With a plan in mind, Zhang Heng retreated to the fifty-second floor. This time, he didn’t linger in the lobby but carefully entered a random office.

The office was in disarray, with piles of documents on the desks but no zombies. He eyed the four desktop computers neatly arranged on the tables.

Perfect.

Narrowing his eyes, he formulated his plan, then swiftly opened the window and hurled all four computers out.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Four sharp crashes echoed through the dead city. Zhang Heng quickly shut the window and hid behind the wall, peering cautiously outside.

Within half a minute, four or five zombies emerged from the shadows, limping toward the shattered computers. More zombies approached from farther away, but there was still no sign of the Licker.

Just as Zhang Heng thought the Licker hadn’t heard, a dark shadow streaked past the window—so fast it was almost a blur!

Zhang Heng nearly cried out. The Licker had just sprinted past his window! Fortunately, he had remembered that Lickers could climb walls, so he had closed the window immediately after making the noise. Otherwise, he might have been spotted in that instant!

With the Licker gone, Zhang Heng didn’t hesitate. He rushed toward the top floor. Sure enough, the lab was empty. Without a word, he began searching the three-to-four-hundred-square-meter lab…

Chapter 8: You’re Late!

Zhang Heng stared at the blue spiral-shaped vial of medicine in his hand, lost in thought.

Though he had expected it, the moment this virus truly appeared before his eyes, the shock in his heart still exceeded his expectations!

This was the T-virus! Just this small vial of liquid had utterly destroyed an entire civilization! Even the infamous nuclear bomb paled in comparison to its power—like a child’s game!

Earlier, Zhang Heng had lured the Licker away from the laboratory, then rushed at top speed to find his target. But when he saw three full rows of identical T-virus vials on the lab bench, his heart still surged with emotion. Beside them, he even found a bound volume of test data, labeled with the words: Tyrant Data.

Talk about finding something when you least expect it!

“Roar!”

Just as Zhang Heng’s trembling hand gripped the T-virus vial, a furious roar suddenly erupted from below. Simultaneously, the sound of shattering glass and crumbling concrete echoed through the air, growing closer. Zhang Heng snapped out of his reverie—it seemed the Licker had realized it had been tricked!

Without hesitation, Zhang Heng snatched three vials of the T-virus and the data, then dashed down the stairs to the fiftieth floor, hiding in an office deep within the corridor.

“Yulian, how much time is left on the transmission cooldown?” Zhang Heng asked urgently.

“Four minutes and thirteen seconds until the forty-eight-hour cooldown ends. Come on, come on! Just hold out for four more minutes, and you’ll complete the trial!” Yulian’s voice, as always, was carefree, as if she didn’t care whether her host lived or died.

Four minutes!

Zhang Heng began taking deep breaths. He remembered the Licker’s data—from movies and other sources, it had lost its vision, but its hearing and sense of smell were greatly enhanced. Its sense of smell was likely only slightly weaker than a bloodhound’s, while its hearing far surpassed one!

The zombie blood on Zhang Heng’s body hadn’t dried yet, which could still mask his scent. But his heartbeat? There was no way to hide that from the Licker’s ears!

The only way to reduce his heartbeat was to take deep breaths, forcibly suppressing its intensity and speed to conceal his position!

In the face of life-and-death terror, Zhang Heng’s will to survive transformed into latent potential. As he took deep, rapid breaths, his heartbeat slowed at a speed most people couldn’t match. His heavy breathing gradually faded until it was nearly imperceptible!

At this moment, if an ordinary person were beside him, they would be astonished to find that Zhang Heng’s presence had miraculously diminished. Unless they paid close attention, they might not even notice him standing right in front of them!

“Roar!”

But just as Zhang Heng’s heartbeat slowed below normal, the Licker’s furious roar echoed from the top floor. He knew—it had climbed back up! He checked his watch—three minutes left!

Hurry!

Zhang Heng felt his entire body sticky with sweat. The excessive adrenaline had made him break out in a cold sweat, re-wetting the nearly dried zombie blood, which now emitted a foul stench.

But he no longer cared. His eyes were fixed on his watch, dreading how long it would take for the Licker to find him.

Boom!

A room on the fifty-second floor was blasted open by the Licker. From the sound, it was the same office where Zhang Heng had thrown the computer to lure it. It seemed that even with zombie blood smeared on him, it wasn’t enough to fool the Licker’s nose, which was even sharper than a dog’s…

The fifty-second floor erupted in violent noises as the Licker, unable to find Zhang Heng, seemed to vent its rage on the furniture. But soon, the sounds completely vanished…

Had it given up?

Zhang Heng switched to breathing through his mouth, ensuring he made no sound. Each breath filled his lungs completely, holding it briefly before exhaling.

Boom!

Before he could even exhale, a door on the fifty-first floor shattered. It seemed the Licker had finished searching the fifty-second floor. Was it going to search the entire building?

At this thought, Zhang Heng’s heart raced again. He quickly adjusted his breathing. Only two minutes left! Just two minutes! Please, just two minutes!

He kept glancing at his watch, cursing how slowly time passed. It felt like an eternity, yet the watch had barely moved!

Gradually, the fifty-first floor fell silent…

Boom!

This silence lasted much longer than before, but the sound of another door breaking made Zhang Heng’s body tremble. Because that sound—it came from the room right next to his!

He took a deep breath, no longer suppressing his heartbeat. Instead, he suddenly stood up and rushed to the window, flinging open the floor-to-ceiling glass!

Twenty seconds left!

The moment Zhang Heng opened the window, a gust of wind rushed in. The higher the altitude, the stronger the wind—a simple fact. But in this wind, there seemed to be something else.

A… desire to live?

Zhang Heng had always had a slight fear of heights, but as he looked down from nearly two hundred meters up, he felt no fear. Instead, he kept turning back, staring at the flimsy wooden door!

Twenty seconds… ten, nine, eight!

At the eight-second mark, the door burst open with a thunderous crash! Debris flew into Zhang Heng’s face and body, but he didn’t even blink. Instead, he let out a slight sigh of relief and flipped the middle finger at the grotesque head poking through the doorway.

“You’re late!”

With that, he watched the monster charge toward him without hesitation, then lightly leaped out the window like a bird!

Six seconds!

As Zhang Heng jumped, he glanced at his watch—six seconds left!

For an ordinary person, six seconds was nothing—a brief lapse in attention, a momentary daze, and those six seconds would slip away like water.

But sometimes, six seconds could be… the decisive moment between life and death!

It was enough!

Zhang Heng plummeted toward the ground at free-fall speed. From nearly two hundred meters up, anyone would think he was doomed. But this common assumption didn’t apply to Zhang Heng at this moment!

At the very last instant, just a hair’s breadth from the ground, his rapidly falling figure suddenly vanished without a trace!

Chapter 9: NO.009 - Triumphant Return

“Temporal-spatial conversion complete. Beginning mission scan.”

“Biohazard dimension mission complete. Primary objective: Obtain complete data on the Tyrant virus and one sample—primary objective achieved. Optional objective: Obtain complete data on the God virus and one sample—optional objective not achieved. Emergency objective: Unknown—no emergency objectives present.”

“Final assessment: Trial mission complete. Probationary host privileges upgraded to full host status. Current clearance: E.”

Zhang Heng slowly opened his eyes, finding himself back in his rented apartment. He looked at the three uniquely shaped vials of T-virus concentrate in one hand and the thick bound dossier in the other, wondering for a moment if he was still dreaming.

But the emotionless synthetic voice in his mind continued.

“Privilege upgrade: Dimensional Star teleportation cooldown reduced to thirty-six hours.”

“Privilege upgrade: Research system unlocked. In accordance with Dimensional Star protocols, host granted research and development privileges to assist in technological advancement.”

“Privilege upgrade: Authorization system unlocked. Current E-level clearance allows transport of objects up to ten cubic meters in volume during temporal-spatial conversion, with no weight limit. Allows transport of zero living organisms during temporal-spatial conversion, with no weight limit.”

Zhang Heng paused, then suddenly understood. Personal strength was always limited. The unlocking of the research and authorization systems filled the gaps in his own time and manpower.

Indeed, the Dimensional Star system would not leave him to fight alone forever!

The thought made Zhang Heng burst into laughter, the joy of survival and victory intertwining. Even someone as usually composed as him couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with emotion.

After laughing, he looked at the priceless T-virus in his hands, his eyes shining. With this, how could he not grow stronger? How could he not rise above this world?

“Privilege upgrade: Tactical system unlocking. Please wait.”

The Dimensional Star system continued its announcements. Zhang Heng was taken aback. The research and authorization systems made sense, but what was this “tactical system”?

Before he could react, he suddenly felt a strange sensation in his right eye. The next second, his right eye’s vision went from complete darkness to brightness—but unlike normal vision, the world his right eye saw was in black and white.

“This is…” Zhang Heng looked around in surprise. Though monochrome, his right eye’s vision was several times clearer than his left. When he focused on the table behind him, it seemed to enlarge, the grain and seams of the material clearly visible!

“Tactical system activated. Under the tactical system, host gains infrared vision, enhanced static vision, and enhanced dynamic vision.”

This was an unexpected boon. Not only had his right eye regained sight, but it had been enhanced!

Infrared vision meant the ability to see in darkness. Ordinary people could only rely on faint moonlight and starlight at night, meaning human eyes could only perceive visible light, not infrared or ultraviolet. With infrared vision, Zhang Heng could now see clearly even in pitch darkness!

Static vision was even more valuable. Eagles could spot rabbits from ten kilometers away, something impossible for humans. Just as human eyes could see a fly or ant a few meters away but not at ten meters, enhanced static vision acted like a telescope or magnifying glass, allowing clear viewing of distant objects and tiny details invisible to the naked eye.

As for dynamic vision, its uses were even greater. Dynamic vision referred to the eye’s ability to capture, process, and perceive moving targets. Fast-moving objects often left afterimages because images lingered on the human retina for only 0.1 seconds—meaning human vision processed at 0.1 seconds per frame. Of course, this was an average; some trained individuals could achieve 0.08 or even 0.05 seconds, while others in stable environments might drop below 0.15 seconds.

The unlocking of the tactical system was the most valuable upgrade for Zhang Heng, even more so than the previous two systems, because enhanced vision directly improved his survival capabilities!

After the excitement faded, Zhang Heng shook his head wearily. The tension of completing the mission had suddenly relaxed, making him drowsy, but the hunger in his stomach kept stimulating his nerves. Without further thought, he hid the dossier and T-virus vials under his bed, then went to the bathroom to freshen up, changed clothes, and headed out.

It was time to relax.

On the bustling streets, surrounded by traffic and crowds, Zhang Heng felt a pang of emotion. The world he had just experienced in the biohazard dimension had once been like this, but a single virus—or perhaps a curse upon humanity—had reduced that glorious civilization to ruins.

Did any of these hurried pedestrians ever consider that one day, their world might face an epic catastrophe? And that day… was not far off.

Zhang Heng sighed inwardly. He had considered warning the government, but he knew no one would believe him. If he revealed everything now, he’d likely be committed to a mental institution.

Moreover, the Dimensional Star system in his mind must remain a secret! “An innocent man may be guilty if he possesses a treasure.” If this secret were ever exposed, death would be a luxury. The more likely fate would be having his brain sliced piece by piece for research, a life worse than death.

Beyond that, he had a small selfish motive. Possessing a system that could change the world meant having a lifeline. When humanity faced disaster in the future, he could use the system’s power to protect those around him.

Zhang Heng knew he wasn’t a savior. Though he would fulfill a savior’s duties, he understood the importance of knowing his limits.

“If I lack the power to save humanity, I will preserve a spark of hope, ensuring those close to me live in peace,” Zhang Heng murmured to himself.

He approached an ATM and withdrew five hundred yuan—his scholarship money. It was a necessary measure; he was penniless, exhausted, and if he didn’t eat soon, he’d starve before saving the world.

With the money, he didn’t indulge in fine dining. Instead, he bought a box of instant noodles and a case of mineral water, hauling them back to his rental. After eating his fill, he slept soundly.

When he awoke, it was nearly evening. He retrieved the T-virus dossier from under his bed. Leaving such dangerous materials out in the open was risky; if discovered, he’d have no way to explain. He decided to transcribe the data, typing at fifty words per minute. It took Zhang Heng three full days to input everything.

After finishing, Zhang Heng moved out of his old rental and began preparing to research the T-virus samples.

Of course, Zhang Heng didn’t have enough funds to purchase lab equipment and instruments, but that didn’t stop him. Grudgingly, he withdrew another ten thousand yuan from his scholarship funds and approached his biology professor. The professor, ever dedicated, immediately granted him three months’ use of a lab upon receiving the money. Only then were all preparations complete.

The biology department at Haizhou University of Science and Technology was one of the school’s crown jewels. Many renowned biologists had graduated from here before making their mark, so the department’s facilities were top-notch.

Building 12 was the school’s biological experimentation building, housing dozens of first-class labs. Even at midnight, the building remained brightly lit.

No one could have imagined that early in the new year, in one of those labs, a student was conducting virus research that could change the world.

Chapter 10: NO.010 T-virus Modified

In the blink of an eye, two months had slipped by unnoticed. The entire nation of Hua Xia had already plunged into the festive frenzy of the New Year. Yet, no one knew that on this snowy New Year’s night, adorned with lanterns and decorations, a disheveled young man with sunken eyes was still engrossed in his relentless research.

At this moment, the young man was intently observing through a microscope. Beneath the lens, a lifeform with several tentacles, resembling an octopus, was slowly moving. It was approaching a much larger lifeform—a semi-transparent, irregularly shaped cell. The core of the cell could be clearly seen wriggling inside its transparent body.

Clearly, the larger lifeform was a cell, and a very healthy one at that. The octopus-like creature slowly approached the unsuspecting cell, its tentacles extending and retracting menacingly.

This octopus-like lifeform was the new type of T-virus that had been developed after two months of experimentation.

The T-virus was an RNA virus, a type of temperate virus, containing only a single double-stranded ribonucleic acid chain, encased in a protein envelope. The eight tentacles were its spikes.

Zhang Heng’s gaze was fixed on the octopus-like T-virus, his fists tightly clenched, seemingly very nervous. Yet, the T-virus continued to advance at a leisurely pace.

Finally, the T-virus reached the vicinity of the cell. As if it had discovered its prey, it began to accelerate. When it reached the cell, its eight tentacles firmly attached themselves to the cell membrane.

“Parasitize, parasitize, hurry up and parasitize!” Zhang Heng was like a gambler on the verge of losing everything, panting heavily, his eyes wide and unblinking. The knuckles supporting him on the experiment table were turning white from the force, his gaze unwavering as he watched the T-virus’s next move.

The T-virus slowly penetrated the cell membrane, first with its spikes, then with its body. After about five or six minutes, the T-virus had completely invaded the interior of the cell.

Then, like a malicious thief, the T-virus carefully dismantled the chromosomes inside the cell, combining them into a ribonucleic acid chain structure identical to its own. It then stealthily removed protein molecules from the cell membrane, covering the surface of the processed ribonucleic acid. Soon, four or five T-viruses with the same structure were assembled, usurping the cell.

At this point, the T-virus had completely taken over, changing from its previous cautious state to one of rampant destruction within the cell. In just over ten minutes, the unfortunate cell was torn apart, completely disintegrating and dying!

“Damn it!”

Zhang Heng slammed the table hard, unable to deny that he had failed again. This was the thirteenth failure in two months. The previous attempts had been better—the T-virus had only replaced the central part of the cell’s ribonucleic acid, then controlled the cell to continuously assemble viruses identical to itself. Although the cell eventually died, it had at least survived for several hours.

But this time, the original temperate virus traits had directly transformed into traits unique to virulent viruses. The T-virus had gone from attaching to the cell to lysing it in just ten minutes!

“Yulian, you damn research assistant system! I followed your suggestions to fuse the T-virus with the H7N9 avian flu virus, and look what happened! Explain yourself!” Zhang Heng cursed loudly.

“It shouldn’t be like this…” Yulian looked innocently confused, biting her finger in grievance. “Yulian completely followed your instructions to provide the solution—neutralizing the virus’s infectious ability, reducing its replication ability, allowing the human immune system to resist. It shouldn’t be like this…”

“You said fusing the T-virus with the avian flu virus would neutralize its infectious ability. I already thought that was unreliable. The avian flu is a highly infectious virus. How could fusing it with the T-virus turn it into a non-infectious beneficial virus?”

Zhang Heng said bitterly, “And no matter how I calculate with formulas, I can’t figure out why fusing these two viruses would reduce the virus’s replication ability. Now look, the temperate virus has turned into a virulent one. The infectiousness has indeed decreased, but that’s because you die within an hour of infection. Of course, the infectiousness decreases!”

Listening to Zhang Heng’s reprimand, Yulian’s eyes became watery, as if she was about to cry. “Dimensional Star’s computing power is absolutely correct. As for why it turned out like this… Oh, why do you insist on using mouse cells? They’re too fragile. Just use human cells.”

“Human cells?” Zhang Heng was taken aback and quickly shook his head. “You’re kidding. Mouse cells can’t even handle it. How can we dare to experiment on humans? Besides, who would dare to do human experiments these days? You or me?”

Yulian pouted. “Who said you have to experiment on yourself? You can use your own cells for the experiment…”

Zhang Heng pondered for a moment before finally nodding again. “Alright, I’ll trust you one more time.”

Zhang Heng knew that his knowledge reserve was far from sufficient to research the T-virus. Even if he spent thirty or forty years, he might not be able to figure it out, let alone improve the virus. The biological knowledge contained in the T-virus far exceeded modern science. The only thing he could rely on was the research assistant system provided by Dimensional Star.

Since the system suggested using human cells for the experiment, Zhang Heng could only follow the system’s idea. After all, it was a product of a civilization that even Gendo Ikari considered unfathomable, far surpassing his own amateur biological research skills.

Zhang Heng pricked his finger, used a blood collection card to extract a drop of his fresh blood, and placed it in a petri dish. He then drew a small amount of blood onto a slide for observation. Soon, the demonic modified T-virus once again visited Zhang Heng’s red blood cells.

As before, the octopus-like virus quickly breached the cell membrane. But this time, instead of wreaking havoc inside the cell, it dismantled the cell’s DNA and replaced it with its own body, completely parasitizing the cell!

Zhang Heng held his breath, observing motionlessly. Soon, the cell with the modified DNA began to shake rapidly, as if it had taken a stimulant. A large amount of nutrients were absorbed into the cell, and in no time, it split into two identical cells. The DNA of the new cell was also modified by the T-virus!

The parasitism was successful!

Zhang Heng was delighted. He then drew several other viruses and bacteria from other petri dishes and poured them into the dish with the modified cells. Originally, Zhang Heng thought that faced with such a large army of bacteria and viruses, the modified cell wouldn’t last long. But these parasitized cells displayed unparalleled combat power, and the viruses and bacteria couldn’t breach the cell’s outer membrane!

What powerful super cells!

Zhang Heng was overjoyed. The viruses and bacteria he had introduced were no small players—they included the avian flu virus, SARS virus, tuberculosis virus, rabies virus, and even HIV! The bacteria included tetanus bacillus, Gram-positive cocci, pneumococcus, and gonococcus—all formidable bacteria in the bacterial world.

In other words, if all the cells in his body became these T-virus-modified cells, he would be completely immune to all diseases caused by the above viruses and bacteria!

Of course, Zhang Heng wasn’t foolish enough to inject the modified T-virus into himself based on just this small experiment. Any experimental process required extreme caution. Without hundreds of experiments, he wouldn’t dare to claim success. At this moment, he turned his attention to white blood cells…

Chapter 11: NO.011 Tyra

White blood cells are immune cells related to human immunity, including lymphocytes, dendritic cells, monocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, mast cells, and more.

Immune cells, the common name for white blood cells, come in various types, each playing a crucial role in the human body. At this moment, Zhang Heng was experimenting with his own monocytes.

However, even against the modified T-virus, the monocytes continued to retreat, eventually being parasitized and having their DNA altered, transforming into a new type of monocyte.

This immune cell was extraordinarily fierce. Not only could it easily devour various viruses and bacteria, but it could also identify many mutated cells that ordinary white blood cells could not, such as… cancer cells!

Moreover, after devouring them, it maintained strong vitality without dying until the white blood cell reached its natural lifespan limit!

Seeing these results, Zhang Heng trembled with excitement. The more he experimented, the more astonished he became. His current achievements were something countless scientists could only dream of researching!

Clearly, the modified T-virus had lost its harmful effects on the human body and had transformed into a “genetic drug” capable of optimizing human DNA and making humans immune to all diseases!

Ordinary people might not understand how precious this new T-virus was, so let’s put it this way—if Zhang Heng were to release this virus now, it would cause a massive uproar in the entire scientific community! The emergence of this virus meant that many diseases would no longer afflict humans, such as various bacterial and fungal skin diseases, the SARS outbreak from over a decade ago, the avian flu from a few years back, and even… incurable diseases like AIDS and cancer!

Incurable diseases—these were terms that cast a shadow over all of human civilization. But with the birth of the new T-virus, they would all completely disappear from humanity, destined to fade into the annals of history!

Zhang Heng also discovered that cells modified by the new T-virus had a division and proliferation rate three to four times faster than normal, with a lifespan over five times longer! This meant that humans might gain five times their current lifespan and four times their metabolic rate because of this virus!

“Let’s call this improved T-virus the ‘T-0 Biological Agent,’” Zhang Heng recorded all the data on his computer. Only then did he shake his dizzy head and check the time—another eighteen hours had passed.

Research truly made time fly. He had been so excited that he completely lost track of time.

Over the past two months, Zhang Heng had been sleeping only four or five hours a day. The prolonged fatigue had significantly weakened his physical condition, but it was all worth it. The research on the T-virus was nearing its end; all that remained was the clinical trial.

However, this final step troubled Zhang Heng. Clinical trials sounded nice, but they were essentially human experiments. If the tests on lab mice had gone smoothly, Zhang Heng would have had the confidence to find someone for human trials. But now, the mice’s physical condition couldn’t withstand the modified T-virus—how could he recklessly proceed with human trials?

Moreover, although this new T-virus had lost the side effects of the original, it still surpassed current human technology. If exposed, Zhang Heng would find himself in endless trouble.

Zhang Heng had considered using himself for the experiment, but the risk was too high—this thing could turn humans into zombies. Who knew if it had side effects? If it succeeded, fine, but if it failed, he might become the first zombie in this world!

“Don’t worry, the Dimensional Star system won’t be wrong!” Just as Zhang Heng was agonizing over this, Yulian appeared again, accompanied by a surge of heroic background music. “There’s only one month left before your second mission, big brother! Host of Yulian, are you ready?”

“What!” Zhang Heng shuddered, nearly dropping the test tube in his hand. “How is it so soon?”

“That’s right! The maximum interval between a host’s missions is three months. If you don’t hurry, Yulian will have to forcibly transport you!” Yulian said cheerfully.

“Damn it!” Zhang Heng’s face paled. “There’s no time left. Since you believe this virus won’t harm the human body, I’ll trust you this once…”

With that, he hesitated no longer. He used tweezers to pick up a syringe from the boiling sterilizer, skillfully drew in the modified T-0 Biological Agent, and injected it directly into the vein of his arm!

“Haha, he did it! He really did it!” Yulian, still as carefree as ever, transformed into a host in a tuxedo holding a microphone. “Will our host, big brother, pass the test of the new T-virus? Let’s all wait and see!”

After injecting the virus into his body, Zhang Heng sat on the ground, anxious and deep in thought.

“Now I can only leave it to fate. I hope you don’t mess this up, or else I’ll haunt you even as a ghost!” Zhang Heng said through gritted teeth.

“Don’t worry. To the people who created Yulian, the technology behind the T-virus is as simple as a lighter is to humans. To a primitive person, a lighter might seem like a divine creation, but what do you think of the technology behind a lighter?” Yulian asked with a smile.

“In modern scientific society, a lighter isn’t advanced technology,” Zhang Heng replied.

“That’s right!” Yulian snapped her fingers. “To the creators of Yulian, the technology behind the T-virus is as simple as the lighter in your hand.”

Only then did Zhang Heng feel somewhat reassured. He stretched lazily and lay on the laboratory floor, exhausted.

“Do you know? I’ve always dreamed of starting my own company and being the boss. My father was just an employee at a company. He worked hard for over a decade, but in the end, he was fired because of a single word from his manager, and our family fell into financial hardship…”

“From that day on, I swore to myself: in the future, I would take control of my own destiny!”

“I don’t have any friends. Since I was young, I’ve been very introverted. Apart from teachers who thought I was a good student, I had no one to talk to. Because of our poor financial situation, I often had to work late into the night while in school. My classmates probably just saw me as a quiet, introverted student.”

Zhang Heng slowly confided, knowing that Yulian wouldn’t tell anyone else. In truth, when he spoke about anything unrelated to the system or missions, Yulian wouldn’t respond, but he continued speaking anyway.

He didn’t know if Yulian was listening. When he started talking about his family, Yulian disappeared again. By the time he finished, she still hadn’t said another word.

After pouring out his heart, Zhang Heng couldn’t help but give a bitter smile and slowly closed his eyes. Beneath his cold exterior, Zhang Heng had a heart that refused to accept loneliness.

Just as he was about to rest, Yulian’s voice suddenly rang out, “OK, fusion complete!”

“So fast?” Zhang Heng jumped in surprise. Checking the time, only about forty minutes had passed. He immediately stood up and carefully sensed his body, but nothing felt different.

Since his body showed no reaction, Zhang Heng decided to take a blood sample again. He pricked his finger with a lancet, squeezed out a drop of blood onto a slide, and placed it under the electron microscope for careful examination…

Chapter 12: Physical Enhancement!

Knock knock knock~ Can Yulian come in?

In his mind, Yulian’s figure reappeared, playfully mimicking the motion of knocking on a door, as if she had completely forgotten about ignoring Zhang Heng earlier.

Zhang Heng paid no mind to the mischievous loli’s antics, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the microscope. “Come in,” he said indifferently.

Yulian entered with her hands behind her back, her large, watery eyes—taking up half her face—twinkling with mystery. “Guess what I’m holding, Uncle?”

“Oh?” Zhang Heng responded absently.

“Hah! Congratulations, Host Uncle!” Yulian suddenly thrust out her hand, revealing a trumpet. She blew into it, and colorful streamers burst forth behind her. “Congratulations, Host Uncle, for obtaining the T-virus antibody! From now on, you’re immune to all diseases!”

“Did it really work?” Zhang Heng’s eyes lit up, though his gaze remained fixed on the microscope.

“Of course! I know your body better than you do, Uncle. No need to keep researching,” Yulian said, dissatisfied.

“I still prefer to verify it myself,” Zhang Heng shook his head. It was in his nature to confirm everything personally.

Yulian didn’t mind—strictly speaking, she was just a program and didn’t have feelings about such things. She continued encouragingly, “Next, Uncle, you can inject the full version of the T-virus serum!”

Zhang Heng froze, finally looking up in surprise. “You mean…”

“Ordinary people turn into zombies because their bodies can’t withstand the T-virus transformation. But you, Uncle, are different after injecting the T-0 Biological Agent,” Yulian conjured a pointer and gestured at a human anatomy chart behind her, though she seemed to be pointing randomly. Excitedly, she explained, “While the T-0 Biological Agent can treat diseases like AIDS and cancer, those are just side effects. Its true purpose is to make the human body produce T-virus antibodies!”

Zhang Heng narrowed his eyes and quickly placed a drop of the T-virus serum on a slide containing his own blood. Sure enough, he saw his cells completely resisting the T-virus assault, with his DNA evolving rapidly under its influence…

“Phew!” Zhang Heng suppressed his shock, but his heart still raced. This revelation was even more staggering than when he had developed the T-0 Biological Agent!

“But…” A thought struck him, and Zhang Heng frowned again. “Does that mean you didn’t follow my instructions for the transformation method earlier?”

“Sorry about that,” Yulian stuck out her tongue, like a mischievous little girl. “Just this once, okay? It won’t happen again.”

“Forget it,” Zhang Heng sighed. Truthfully, facing this loli cartoon character, he couldn’t bring himself to get angry. Besides, she lived in his brain—what could he do? He couldn’t exactly dig out his own brain and stomp on it.

With that thought, Zhang Heng stopped observing the results. He grabbed the T-virus serum, drew it into a syringe, and injected it into his vein for the second time that day.

An ordinary person witnessing this scene might not know what to think. If he died, the newspapers would probably report something like, “University student, blind in one eye, dies from drug overdose.”

Zhang Heng shook his head, dismissing these chaotic thoughts. But before he could sense the changes in his body, an intense, searing pain surged through him!

“Damn it!” Zhang Heng barely had time to curse before the unbearable agony overwhelmed his consciousness…

…

When Zhang Heng regained consciousness, it was already noon the next day. His entire body was drenched in sweat—a clear sign of the torment he had endured while unconscious.

His vision seemed much sharper. With just a glance, he could see the tiny cracks in the distant wall.

His mind was clear, with none of the grogginess that usually followed unconsciousness. The memories of what had happened before he passed out replayed like a movie in his head.

Slowly standing up, Zhang Heng suddenly threw a punch. A gust of wind rushed forward, and his fist appeared half a meter in front of him in the blink of an eye!

“Speed and power have increased so much!” Zhang Heng thought excitedly. Though he could clearly feel the increased speed of his punch, his eyes could still track its movement as if time had slowed down.

“This is the effect of having a higher reaction speed,” Yulian popped out of his mind, beaming as if she were the one who had grown stronger. “Originally, the combined force and agility of your punch was ninety-nine kilograms. Now, after enhancement with the T-0 Biological Agent, it’s four hundred and two kilograms! With training, it could increase two or three times more!”

“What? Over four times stronger?” Zhang Heng asked in shock.

“Don’t think it’s a huge increase,” Yulian wagged her finger, sighing. “The force of a punch is the product of strength and speed. If we only consider strength and agility, your strength has only tripled, and your speed has only doubled. Right now, you’re roughly on par with a professional boxer’s physical condition.”

“That’s already impressive,” Zhang Heng smiled. “Even if my strength and agility aren’t outstanding, my neural reaction speed and muscle tissue strength should far exceed that of an ordinary person, right?”

“You got it,” Yulian continued. “Due to the limitations of the human body, when training comprehensively, strength has the highest plasticity, followed by agility, then reaction speed, and finally physical durability. That means no matter how strong someone’s strength and agility are, their reaction speed and physical durability are hard to surpass that of an ordinary person. Your neural reaction speed is 0.032 seconds—four times faster than an average person—and your muscle tissue strength is three times that of an ordinary person. You’ve already far exceeded human limits!”

Zhang Heng was stunned. He had read reports before: a young person’s reaction time was usually between 0.15 to 0.3 seconds, while world-class athletes could reach 0.05 seconds. Scientists had calculated that, theoretically, the human nervous system could achieve a reaction time of 0.03 seconds, but that was just a theoretical value. In reality, anything below 0.1 seconds was already considered exceptional.

Zhang Heng’s reaction speed of 0.032 seconds was already approaching the human limit—faster than a fly! Though he was still far from being able to catch bullets with his bare hands, he could at least catch a flying dart!

Excited, Zhang Heng clenched his fist tightly. The sudden movement created a sharp whoosh as the air rushed around his hand, a testament to the immense power he now possessed!

Chapter 13: NO.013 - Schemes and Ambition

The spacious laboratory was in disarray, with vials of the demonic T-virus liquid scattered carelessly. Piles of research materials on the T-virus were strewn about, making the place look more like a dog’s den than a proper lab.

At the center of the room, a young man with sunken eyes sat on the floor, exhausted. A cigarette dangled from his lips as he muttered to himself incessantly.

No one knew that inside his mind, he was engaged in a lively conversation with a two-dimensional loli.

“Hmm… So you mean to sell the T-0 Biological Agent as a commercial product instead of handing it over to the government?” Yulian asked, bewildered.

“Exactly,” Zhang Heng replied coolly. “The previous host chose to cooperate with the government as an individual, playing only a supporting role while letting the government tower over him. That was the main reason for his failure.”

The Dimensional Star system selected those who could bring advanced technology to humanity, empowering them to protect themselves—not lone heroes who relied on personal heroism. Zhang Heng had never considered fighting the curse alone. Thus, there were only two options for the T-virus: either hand it over to the government to advance human civilization or use his own forces to push humanity forward.

Clearly, Zhang Heng chose the latter.

“Dividing power only weakens it,” he continued. “Human nature is far more terrifying than any virus. Facing impending disaster, internal divisions prevent unity, making it impossible to stand against the calamity. That was his downfall. So why should I follow the same path?”

His eyes burned with determination, as if flames danced within them. “I don’t want to be some nurturing figure, feeding nations so they can take the lead in fighting the disaster. That’s not what I want. Let them drink the soup behind me—when necessary, I’ll allow them to contribute. But…”

“I will never surrender the power to decide my fate to anyone else!”

For the first time, Zhang Heng shed his usual calm demeanor, revealing the ambition beneath.

Having witnessed his father’s struggles, he had long understood the importance of self-reliance. The Dimensional Star system had already shown him the experimental results, yet he still verified them himself—a testament to his fierce independence. He refused to be swayed by public opinion or authority, firmly believing in the principle that “relying on others is never as good as relying on oneself.”

However, societal pressures had long suppressed his ambitions, leaving him without a stage to showcase his potential. But now, with the Dimensional Star system at his disposal, his true ambitions were beginning to surface.

“The host’s methods have no bearing on the Dimensional Star system,” Yulian said, waving her hand and squinting. “After all, Yulian is just an auxiliary system. But, big brother, you have no power or influence—how can you ensure your hard-earned results won’t be stolen by others?”

“Stolen?” Zhang Heng frowned, then realized. “I know that once the T-0 Biological Agent is revealed, it will shake society to its core. The Food and Drug Administration alone will be a major hurdle. Without connections, the government might forcibly acquire it… I’m still working on a solution, but in the end, establishing a legitimate power base seems to be the best strategy.”

“Establish a power base? Are you planning to found a country, big brother?” Yulian asked in surprise.

“Who says only founding a country can protect me?” Zhang Heng shook his head. “I now possess groundbreaking technology—funding won’t be an issue in the future. Besides, founding a country isn’t that simple. My goal is merely to establish a company.”

As Zhang Heng spoke confidently, his phone suddenly rang. He picked it up, surprised—apart from his parents, few ever called him. It wasn’t yet the end of the month, so his parents wouldn’t be checking in.

The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number. He answered, “Hello?”

“Zhang Heng, it’s your class monitor, Li Yiru,” a crisp female voice came through.

“Hey, beautiful monitor,” Zhang Heng replied lazily. “What brings you to call little old me?”

“…” The other end ignored his remark. “Zhang Heng, we only have one semester left in university. After the New Year, Liang Chao and I discussed hosting a class reunion this Saturday at eight in the evening at the Coastal International Hotel. It’s a chance to catch up and share where everyone’s working—makes it easier to stay in touch later.”

“A class reunion?” Zhang Heng frowned. He was barely holding onto his own life—why would he attend some reunion? He was about to refuse outright when a sudden thought struck him. “Sure, I’ll be there. Oh, by the way, how’s your grandfather’s condition?”

“My grandfather’s condition is stable…” The voice on the other end seemed pained but quickly composed herself.

“That’s good. Give him my regards,” Zhang Heng said with a faint smile.

“Thank you, I will,” Li Yiru replied softly before hanging up.

Zhang Heng let out a cold chuckle. He had always been sharp, and since merging with the T-virus, his mental faculties had only grown keener. With mere deduction, he pieced together the entire situation.

This matter traced back to Liang Chao and Li Yiru.

Li Yiru was the sole heiress of the Li Pharmaceutical Group, a conglomerate worth billions, specializing in anti-tumor and neurological medications. Whoever married her would effectively gain half of the Li family’s fortune.

Liang Chao, on the other hand, was the son of Deputy Mayor Liang Bufan. While a mere deputy mayor might not impress the Li family, in Haizhou—one of the most economically developed regions in the country—his position carried significant weight.

Though arranged marriages were no longer common, the Li family, being a profit-driven enterprise, still held traditional values. To solidify their standing in Haizhou, and with Liang Chao coveting both the Li family’s wealth and Li Yiru’s beauty, the two families had subtly encouraged their union.

However, despite being raised in luxury, Li Yiru despised the idea of an arranged marriage. Coupled with Liang Chao’s reckless behavior, she had always looked down on him.

Throughout their four years at university, Liang Chao had relentlessly pursued her, clinging like a fly. Even during their internships, he hadn’t given up.

This reunion was clearly just another excuse for Liang Chao to get closer to Li Yiru.

Normally, someone of Zhang Heng’s status wouldn’t have been invited, but Li Yiru, being a responsible former class monitor, had notified everyone out of principle.

Zhang Heng felt neither fondness nor dislike for Li Yiru and Liang Chao—they lived in entirely different worlds. He wasn’t some dashing protagonist who made women swoon at first sight, so they had barely interacted over the past four years.

“Huh? You want to go to the reunion?” Yulian tilted her head, confused. According to her records, Zhang Heng wasn’t the type to seek out social gatherings, especially with the second mission approaching in a month.

“Because Li Yiru’s grandfather—the true power behind the Li Pharmaceutical Group—was diagnosed with late-stage cancer last year,” Zhang Heng said, a smirk playing on his lips. “Ironically, the founder of a company specializing in anti-tumor drugs has cancer himself. With the Li family’s support, I should be able to develop quickly, don’t you think?”

The T-0 was a weakened version of the T-virus, lacking the power to enhance humans, but at its core, it still promoted human evolution by boosting immunity. Even so, its release would revolutionize medicine and biology. Zhang Heng’s first goal was to unveil this groundbreaking drug!

If he was weak, then he would temporarily cede some benefits.

Clearly, Zhang Heng had already decided to use the Li Pharmaceutical Group as the launching pad for the T-0.

Of course, the T-0’s effects were still too astonishing—it represented a leap of four to five decades beyond modern medicine. For both public and private reasons, he couldn’t fully disclose its power.

Though the T-0 was already a neutered version of the T-virus, it needed further weakening before release.

Under the guidance of the Dimensional Star’s research assistant system, Zhang Heng spent another three days modifying the T-0 virus, creating a new agent called T-1. This version could only treat cancer, required higher doses, and had production costs several hundred percent higher.

Yet even in this form, it would still leave countless white-haired biologists in awe.

Chapter 14: NO.014 Class Reunion

Saturday night, Haizhou.

Haizhou, the economic center of China, an international metropolis with a population of over twenty million.

Every day, tens of thousands of people, driven by dreams and interests, flock to this city full of endless opportunities, striving to fight for a better tomorrow.

At night, it is like heaven and hell—while the rich indulge in nightly revelry, the working class gathers in their tiny apartments, hoping for the dawn of a new life.

This is a city where opportunity and crisis coexist, like a treacherous river hiding treasures. Everyone navigates their own fragile boat, dreaming of claiming the buried riches, but one wrong step could mean utter ruin…

The Coastal International Hotel, one of Haizhou’s most famous five-star hotels, is synonymous with extravagance. Its patrons are either wealthy or powerful. At this moment, a yellow taxi pulled up in front of the hotel. Zhang Heng lazily opened the door, waved his hand, and handed the driver a twenty-yuan bill. “Keep the change.”

“This passenger, the fare is twenty-five yuan.”

Zhang Heng reluctantly pulled out another five yuan before heading toward the hotel entrance.

As he reached the door, two hostesses blocked his path. “Sir, our venue has been reserved by Young Master Liang Chao. We cannot allow entry to those who are not properly dressed.”

Zhang Heng paused, looking at his casual attire and then at his classmates in suits. He suddenly understood.

Zhang Heng had always been low-key in school, coming from an ordinary family. When had he ever attended such a high-end gathering? Plus, he had been so absorbed in researching the T-virus that he hadn’t even considered this. Now, he felt a little embarrassed.

“Zhang Heng, what are you doing here?” Just as Zhang Heng was troubled, a familiar voice came from behind. He turned to see a young woman with long hair and a beautiful face looking at him in surprise—it was Li Yiru, the one who had called him earlier.

“Beautiful class president?” Zhang Heng sighed. “President, this hotel won’t let me in. Looks like I can’t attend the class reunion.”

Li Yiru took one look at Zhang Heng’s outfit and understood the situation. She turned to the hostess. “Miss, consider this a favor to your manager. Could you make an exception…”

Before she could finish, the hostess quickly replied, “Ah, Miss Li! Since he’s your classmate, we’ll definitely make an exception. Please, come in…”

Finally, Zhang Heng managed to enter the Coastal International Hotel. Only then did he realize that the entire lobby seemed to have been reserved by Liang Chao, filled with their classmates.

“Yiru!” A man in a black suit, somewhat handsome, called out to Li Yiru. He walked over with a glass of champagne, followed by a lackey.

This pretty boy was Liang Chao, who had been pursuing Li Yiru without success. If one only looked at his appearance and family influence, he might seem like a prince charming to some girls. But Zhang Heng, who had been his classmate for four years, knew better—he was a typical spoiled rich kid.

Though he appeared dignified on the surface, he was rotten inside, having harmed countless girls over the years.

The lackey beside him, Pan Bo, was Liang Chao’s sycophant. As the son of the deputy mayor, Liang Chao naturally had people currying favor with him, and this lackey was the most skilled at flattery.

“Young Master Liang, just call me by my name.” Li Yiru subtly avoided his intimate address, a flicker of disgust in her eyes.

“Class president, you and our Young Master Liang have been classmates for years. Calling him by his name is too distant, don’t you think?” Before Liang Chao could speak, the lackey Pan Bo sneered.

Liang Chao gave a faint smile. After years of unsuccessful pursuit, though he hadn’t given up, he had grown accustomed to her coldness. But when he saw Zhang Heng entering with Li Yiru, he frowned slightly. “Yiru, did you come with Zhang Heng?”

“No, we met at the entrance.” Li Yiru shook her head. After all, he was the deputy mayor’s son. Though she didn’t like him, she couldn’t afford to offend him, so she answered instinctively.

“Oh, I see.” Liang Chao nodded, then turned to Zhang Heng. “Zhang, I heard you’ve been working at a pretty famous pharmaceutical company. How’s it going?”

“Yeah, it’s alright.” Zhang Heng smiled faintly, but inwardly, he cursed. ‘Zhang’? Who do you think you are to call me that?

“Impressive. If you ever need help, feel free to come to me!” Liang Chao waved his hand magnanimously, his words dripping with insincerity.

“Hmph.” As the saying goes, rumors end with the wise, and conversations end with a scoff. Zhang Heng’s indifferent response left Liang Chao speechless.

“Zhang Heng, I should thank you.” Li Yiru had no intention of engaging with Liang Chao and turned to Zhang Heng instead.

“Thank me?” Zhang Heng was taken aback, wondering if she was trying to shift trouble onto him.

“So many classmates, and you’re the only one who asked about my grandfather.”

Zhang Heng had misjudged her. Though they hadn’t interacted much before, Li Yiru’s parents, who ran the Li Corporation, were always busy and rarely had time for her. Instead, it was her grandfather, who had long since retired from the company, who often played with her. The two had developed a deep bond.

This time, her grandfather’s illness had been a huge blow to her. Among all her classmates, Zhang Heng was the only one who had asked about her grandfather’s health, which Li Yiru had quietly noted.

Hearing this, Zhang Heng knew he was in trouble. He glanced at Liang Chao and saw his face darken. A spoiled rich kid like him wouldn’t tolerate anyone getting close to the woman he desired.

And it wasn’t just about getting close—even a single word could make him jealous. Over the past four years, Zhang Heng had seen through Liang Chao’s hypocritical nature.

As a lackey, Pan Bo naturally understood his master’s thoughts. He spoke in a sarcastic tone, “Oh, so Zhang has been so concerned about Miss Li’s grandfather? Could there be some other motive?”

“What are you talking about?” Li Yiru frowned, silently regretting her words. She shouldn’t have said that in front of Liang Chao. Now, Zhang Heng was going to suffer. A pang of guilt welled up inside her.

Zhang Heng rolled his eyes. Here it comes. If this were the old him, the best response might have been silence.

This wasn’t about cowardice. After all, he had no power or influence. A single word from someone like Liang Chao could ruin his future. Even for the sake of his parents, who had worked tirelessly for him, Zhang Heng would have had to compromise.

But now, things were different. Someone like Liang Chao was nothing but a small fry in his eyes. In fact, in his plan, offending Liang Chao to gain Li Yiru’s sympathy was a crucial step. He didn’t just want to offend this spoiled brat—he wanted to provoke him completely, luring him into the trap he had set.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Li Yiru seemed to see Zhang Heng’s lips curl into a sinister smile before quickly returning to normal…

Chapter 15: Conflict

Zhang Heng, though only one meter seventy-five tall and not particularly muscular, was in far better shape than Liang Chao and Pan Bo, who had been hollowed out by wine and women. And now, with the T-virus fused into his body, even a special forces soldier would have to fight him to find out who was stronger.

But what truly set Zhang Heng apart wasn’t his strength—it was his perspective and mindset.

When Pan Bo and Liang Chao provoked him, it was like street thugs trying to intimidate a national leader with empty threats. Would a leader with real power even care about such petty insults?

Not caring was one thing, but whether he would retaliate was another.

“Pan Bo, I hear Liang Chao got his dad to arrange an internship for you in the Organization Department,” Zhang Heng said with a grin, slinging an arm around Pan Bo’s shoulders in a mock-friendly gesture. “So now you’ve evolved from a monkey into a public servant monkey?” He emphasized the word “monkey” with deliberate mockery, making it clear he was insulting Pan Bo’s appearance.

“F*ck!” Pan Bo’s face burned with rage. Now that he had the mayor’s son backing him, he was at least a cadre—who among their classmates would dare mock his looks? He shook off Zhang Heng’s arm, ready to curse him out.

Liang Chao, seething with jealousy over Li Yiru’s favor toward Zhang Heng, forced himself to stay calm in front of his goddess. He grabbed Pan Bo before he could explode, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Zhang Heng, feeling pretty full of yourself lately? I remember you used to be so low-key.”

“Not full of myself, just annoyed by people who are an eyesore and won’t take a hint,” Zhang Heng shot back.

Liang Chao’s face darkened. He couldn’t take the insult anymore.

The commotion drew the attention of many in the hall—Zhang Heng’s substitute teachers and classmates. A man in his thirties, hearing Zhang Heng’s words, frowned and put on a stern, teacherly expression. “Zhang Heng, you need to learn how to conduct yourself in society. I know your nature isn’t bad, but manners are the most important thing. You can’t get by just on good grades.”

This was Zhou Lin, the class counselor—a role similar to a high school homeroom teacher. Though he was a teacher, he had curried favor with Liang Chao during their time at school, often redirecting scholarships meant for others to Liang Chao.

“Hmph.” Zhang Heng let out a cold laugh but didn’t respond.

“Zhang Heng, apologize to Liang Chao,” some of Zhang Heng’s acquaintances urged.

Li Yiru found Zhang Heng’s mockery of Liang Chao satisfying, but seeing everyone rally around Liang Chao and isolate Zhang Heng made her feel guilty. For the first time, she realized how despicable these people she had known for four years truly were. Worried Zhang Heng would be hurt, she quickly changed the subject:

“Zhang Heng, I’m not feeling well. Let’s go sit over there.”

“Sure, the beautiful class president invites me—I’d be honored.” Zhang Heng smiled, gesturing for her to lead the way, completely ignoring the crowd’s scolding and Liang Chao’s murderous glare.

Once they reached a quiet corner, Li Yiru’s expression turned worried. “Zhang Heng, thank you for standing up for me, but you shouldn’t have provoked Liang Chao so badly. His family has some influence.”

“It’s nothing. If he hadn’t come at me first, I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to offend him.” Zhang Heng waved it off, then, sensing the moment was right, got straight to the point.

“Class president, I recently joined a private research team. We’ve developed a new drug that shows promise against cancer. If you don’t mind, would you let your grandfather try it?”

Zhang Heng didn’t make any absolute promises—after all, cancer was still considered incurable, and even advanced science could only delay it.

“Your team? A new drug?” Li Yiru blinked, then frowned slightly, disappointment creeping in.

She understood now. Zhang Heng’s sudden friendliness and concern for her grandfather were probably just a ploy to use the Li family’s influence to promote his so-called team and new drug. As for the claim that it “shows promise against cancer,” she dismissed it entirely.

“Oh, so all this was just to suck up to the Li family?” Just as Li Yiru was thinking of how to reject Zhang Heng, Pan Bo, acting on Liang Chao’s signal, approached again. He had overheard Zhang Heng’s words and sneered. “Pathetic.”

“Like a fly that won’t buzz off.” Zhang Heng shook his head, ignoring Li Yiru’s misunderstanding. He emphasized, “Class president, don’t assume I’m trying to ride your family’s coattails. My team’s new drug has a real chance of treating cancer—I’m not just talking. If you can’t bring yourself to believe me no matter what, then I’ll leave right now.”

Li Yiru looked at Zhang Heng in surprise. His confidence was unshakable, as if he were stating a fact. That made her hesitate. “Then… has your team’s drug been approved by the medical authorities? Have there been clinical trials?”

“No, we only developed it a few days ago.” Zhang Heng shook his head.

“HAHAHAHA!” Pan Bo burst into laughter, drawing everyone’s attention again. Seizing the opportunity, Liang Chao joined them. “Pan Bo, what’s so funny?”

“Young Master Liang, this guy Zhang Heng claims he’s developed a drug that can cure cancer!” Pan Bo shouted, making sure the whole hall heard.

“Oh?” Liang Chao’s eyes gleamed with mockery. “So Zhang Heng is that impressive? Did you develop this drug yourself?”

The hall erupted in laughter. They were all top students in biomedical sciences—no one was ignorant of the enormous cost and effort required to develop a new drug. Sure, the Chinese market was full of people hyping up “new drugs,” but they were all just old wine in new bottles.

Developing a truly effective drug required billions in capital—no one would dare attempt it without that kind of backing.

Zhang Heng remained calm, watching as his classmates laughed at him. Once the laughter died down, he said evenly, “Cancer is hard to cure, but science is always advancing. Who says it’s impossible to develop a drug that can cure it?”

“There are only a few ways to treat cancer. Explain to us—how does your drug work?” someone in the crowd challenged with a smirk.

“Simple. It treats cancer at the genetic level—the only way to truly cure it, right?”

“HAHAHA…” The crowd laughed again.

“Zhang Heng, have you been drinking?” Liang Chao raised his glass, laughing so hard tears nearly came to his eyes. “If you really had developed something like that, you’d be international news! You wouldn’t be here at a class reunion—you’d be off accepting a Nobel Prize in Medicine!”

Zhang Heng’s lips curled into a smile. He didn’t respond to Liang Chao. Instead, he turned to Li Yiru, who had fallen silent, and said earnestly, “Class president, if you truly care about your grandfather’s health, why not give it a try? Even if there’s only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, isn’t it worth taking?”

Chapter 16: The Bet

“You’re telling the heiress of a company that specializes in cancer research that your drug can cure cancer? Are you showing off in front of an expert or just asking for humiliation?” someone in the crowd sneered.

“Yiru, don’t pay attention to this daydreaming idiot,” Liang Chao reached out to grab Li Yiru’s arm, sneering, “This guy must be out of his mind. Grandpa’s health will improve slowly.”

Li Yiru bit her lip, as if deciding something, then suddenly pushed Liang Chao away. “Zhang Heng, are you really confident?”

“I can’t say one hundred percent, but I’m at least fifty percent sure I can cure Grandpa’s illness.” Zhang Heng didn’t want to make absolute promises. Although he knew T-1 had a one hundred percent cure rate for cancer, in the current situation, claiming absolute certainty would just sound like boasting.

“Li Yiru! Do you believe this fraud?” Liang Chao was furious after being pushed away, but he couldn’t take it out on Li Yiru. He could only glare at Zhang Heng. “Zhang Heng! You keep saying your so-called drug can cure cancer. What if it doesn’t work? It hasn’t even been approved by the drug administration. If Grandpa takes your drug and something happens, can you afford the consequences?”

“Then let’s make a bet.” Zhang Heng’s face turned completely cold. He looked around at the crowd of so-called classmates, sneered, then stared straight at Li Yiru again. “Class monitor, I think with your company’s resources, if you don’t want to risk Grandpa, finding an authoritative institution to verify it shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“That’s no problem.” Li Yiru, seeing Zhang Heng’s serious gaze, also became serious.

“Good!” Zhang Heng snapped his fingers and said to all the classmates around him, “Today, I, a commoner, dare to gamble with Young Master Liang. Young Master Liang, do you dare to accept?”

“What do I have to be afraid of?” Liang Chao’s head heated up, and he pointed at Zhang Heng very rudely. “Zhang Heng, I accept the bet. If your drug is ineffective or even harmful to the human body, I want you to crawl under me and then call me grandpa!”

“Fine!” Zhang Heng sneered and asked in return, “Then what if my drug is real?”

“If your drug is real, then I’ll do the same. Are you satisfied?” Liang Chao snorted coldly. Actually, he had thought about it. Even if he lost, what could happen? He was from a political family. Even if the other party had ten times the courage, they wouldn’t dare to do anything to him.

Zhang Heng secretly sneered, but thinking of the snail-like verification efficiency of the drug administration, he suddenly spoke again, “Forget about authoritative institutions. Grandpa’s condition is very serious and can’t be delayed. Why not do a clinical trial directly? I think with your influence, Young Master Liang, finding a few clinical trial patients shouldn’t be difficult. If there’s any problem with the clinical trial patients, I, Zhang Heng, will take full responsibility!”

Zhang Heng only felt a surge of heroism in his heart. This kind of confidence was something he wouldn’t have dared to imagine before. But now it was different. With the Dimensional Star system, as long as he didn’t die, he would eventually become someone extraordinary. Facing ordinary people with the mentality of a superior, not to mention the ridicule of a few classmates, even if he was criticized by thousands, it wouldn’t shake him in the slightest!

Li Yiru stared blankly at Zhang Heng. Not only her, but many classmates who knew Zhang Heng could feel that Zhang Heng had changed. The Zhang Heng of the past was very low-key. Although he was somewhat stubborn and biased, he was still within the scope of ordinary people.

But now, Zhang Heng exuded an aura of madness. That’s right, madness! And not just any kind of madness. This madness wasn’t showy, wasn’t frivolous, and wasn’t arrogance. It was a kind of self-confidence, a confidence that despised all rules!

After that, the class reunion ended unhappily, but it left a lot of gossip for everyone. The first thing Li Yiru did when she got home was to tell her father, the current head of Li Corporation, Li Jianguo, about what had happened.

“What? Your classmate has developed a new drug that can cure cancer?” Li Jianguo stood up abruptly. “Yiru, are you sure? Has he done clinical trials? What are the side effects?”

Li Yiru shook her head, somewhat lacking in confidence. “His drug hasn’t been certified yet. I don’t know about clinical trials and side effects, but he keeps saying he has a fifty percent chance of curing cancer.”

“Nonsense!” Li Jianguo was immediately disappointed. “No clinical trials or certification, and you dare to use it on your grandfather? And a fifty percent cure rate? Do you believe such nonsense?”

“But… but…” Li Yiru hurriedly defended, “Zhang Heng said we could find volunteers for clinical trials. Besides, he’s my classmate. He’s definitely not the kind of person who brags.”

“Do people who don’t seem like liars always tell the truth?” Li Jianguo’s tone was stern. “All fraud groups don’t seem like braggarts. Does that mean what they say is true?”

“I know my classmate’s character!” Li Yiru was quite indignant. Although she didn’t know why she got so angry when her father questioned Zhang Heng, she still tried to defend him. “Trying won’t delay anything. Dad, you know Grandpa’s condition. Instead of watching Grandpa suffer through chemotherapy, why not hold on to a one-in-a-million hope and try? If it really works, Grandpa can be saved!”

Li Jianguo paused, thinking of his father’s weak figure lying in the hospital bed, and sighed. “Alright, since you believe in him so much, let’s give it a try.”

“Mhm!” Li Yiru nodded hard, then returned to her room with a happy face. When she came to her senses, she suddenly paused, muttering to herself strangely, “Zhang Heng shouldn’t be lying to me, right? Why do I believe him so much?”

At this moment, Li Jianguo was sitting in the living room with a headache. As a strict father, his daughter had always been somewhat afraid of him, but now she was actually arguing with him for a classmate. There must be a problem! Thinking of his daughter’s reaction, Li Jianguo immediately picked up the phone and dialed a number. Soon, a kind-looking man in his fifties walked in slowly.

“Young Master, you called for me?”

“Uncle Wu, no matter what the conditions are, find a few terminal cancer patients to sign contracts. We need to conduct a private clinical trial. Also, help me investigate a man named Zhang Heng. He’s Yiru’s classmate. I want to know everything about him.”

“Understood, Young Master. I’ll get on it right away.” The man called Uncle Wu immediately left.

“You’d better not be part of a fraud group.” Li Jianguo’s eyes flashed with ruthlessness. As the head of a multinational corporation, Li Jianguo was by no means a merciful person. The power in his hands could even influence the political world. The aura of a superior he had cultivated over the years was no less than that of leaders like mayors. Once angered, he was like an awakened lion, and the entire Haizhou City would tremble under his roar…

Chapter 17: Why Not Give It a Try?

Three days later, Zhang Heng received a call from Li Yiru and brought the newly developed T-1 biological agent to the Haizhou headquarters of Li Corporation’s pharmaceutical division.

When Zhang Heng arrived, the lobby of the headquarters was already crowded with people. Some were company shareholders who had heard the news, others were classmates who had come to witness the spectacle, and a few were researchers there to analyze the drug. Standing at the front was none other than the current head of the pharmaceutical group—Li Yiru’s father, Li Jianguo—with Li Yiru and Liang Chao standing behind him.

“Zhang Heng, over here!” Li Yiru waved, and Zhang Heng walked over with a relaxed expression. Li Jianguo observed him carefully. The young man before him had an ordinary appearance, nothing remarkable, yet he showed no signs of nervousness in such a setting, as if everything was under control.

Li Jianguo nodded inwardly. At least the man had courage. He heard Li Yiru introduce, “Let me introduce you—this is my father, Li Jianguo. Dad, this is my classmate, Zhang Heng.”

To everyone’s surprise, Li Jianguo was the first to extend his hand, smiling warmly. “They say heroes come from the young. At such a young age, you’ve already achieved so much. Surpassing me is only a matter of time.”

“You flatter me,” Zhang Heng shook his head. “In front of you, President, I’m just a novice.”

“Don’t call me President,” Li Jianguo continued. “You’re Yiru’s classmate—just call me Uncle Li.”

“Understood, Uncle Li. You can call me Xiao Zhang.”

After the pleasantries, Li Jianguo invited everyone into the reception room and got straight to the point. “I hear you’ve developed a new anti-cancer drug, Xiao Zhang. Did you bring it today?”

“It’s right here.” Zhang Heng took a test tube from his bag and handed it over.

Li Jianguo examined the deep blue liquid carefully, his expression turning serious. He then passed it to the researchers behind him. “I hear your drug hasn’t undergone clinical trials yet. We happen to have a few patients here—would you allow us to test it?”

Zhang Heng sighed inwardly at Li Jianguo’s cautious wording, mentally labeling him as a sly old fox. But he maintained his composure, nodding with a smile. “Go ahead.”

With Zhang Heng’s consent, Li Jianguo signaled the researchers, who immediately poured the drug from the test tube.

Zhang Heng wasn’t worried about his formula being stolen. The T-virus only replicated and fused with a host once inside a living organism. Once fusion was complete, no trace of the virus remained in the host’s body—which was why the female protagonist in the movies, despite carrying the virus, couldn’t infect others.

As for zombies infecting humans, that was due to failed fusion.

Earlier, with Yulian’s research assistance, Zhang Heng had improved the T-1 biological agent’s replication conditions. It now required a special culture medium to propagate. Only with the formula for this medium could the T-1 agent be mass-produced.

“This… is a virus?” Suddenly, one of the researchers examining the T-1 under an electron microscope exclaimed in shock. All eyes turned to Zhang Heng.

“That’s correct,” Zhang Heng nodded. “As I said, my drug is a gene therapy. It works by enhancing the human immune system at the genetic level, allowing the body to kill cancer cells on its own.”

“Ridiculous,” Liang Chao finally found an opportunity to mock Zhang Heng. “If the immune system can kill cancer cells, then this drug would be a cure-all. Leukemia and even AIDS could be treated with it!”

“Not yet,” Zhang Heng replied coldly. “But our team is working on those functions.”

The room erupted in laughter.

Absurd!

Li Jianguo’s expression darkened. He had already looked into Zhang Heng’s background—nothing out of the ordinary, no criminal record, no motive for fraud. He had even allowed himself a sliver of hope that this drug might cure his father’s cancer. But now, hearing Zhang Heng’s theory, he felt like he was being taken for a fool.

A virus? Gene therapy? Boosting human immunity?

This was nothing short of a joke!

Even in today’s advanced scientific world, gene-based drugs were still purely experimental, confined to laboratories. If a renowned expert in the U.S. medical field announced such a breakthrough, Li Jianguo would be skeptical. But this? A twenty-something with no remarkable background?

Li Jianguo himself was a biopharmaceutical researcher and knew enough about biological agents. With current medical technology, developing a drug that enhanced immunity at the genetic level was decades away—if not impossible.

Not just Li Jianguo, but everyone present—except Li Yiru—looked at Zhang Heng as if he were a fraud. Some of the older researchers even set down the drug and left the hall, unwilling to participate in this farce.

Zhang Heng remained seated, his smile unchanged. “Do you all think this is absurd?”

“Not absurd—preposterous,” someone sneered.

“Then let’s test it.”

Zhang Heng turned to the three emaciated, pale-faced clinical patients before him—clearly late-stage cancer patients weakened by chemotherapy. In a seductive tone, he asked, “Why not give it a try?”

“Are you joking?” One middle-aged man turned and stormed out. “Li Corporation invited me here to test a new drug, not to kill me! I’ll sue you!”

The second, a middle-aged woman, frowned but didn’t shout. Disappointed, she left, muttering at the door, “I’m not here to be a lab rat.”

Two had left, but one remained—a man who looked to be in his thirties, though his skeletal face made him appear terrifying. His eyes, however, revealed he was only in his early twenties.

He gave a bitter smile. “Why not… I don’t have much time left anyway. Instead of draining my parents’ savings, I might as well take the risk.” With that, he lay down on the prepared hospital bed.

“You’ll be glad you made this choice,” Zhang Heng breathed a sigh of relief, discreetly wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. If no one had agreed to the trial, everything would have been over.

There was a saying: “Good wine needs no bush.” But if the wine never got the chance to be tasted, even the finest vintage would go unsold.

“Wait—I think we should stop this trial!” Suddenly, a balding executive standing behind Li Jianguo intervened. “If your drug has side effects, Li Corporation can’t afford the responsibility.”

“Don’t worry,” Zhang Heng said, taking a syringe and drawing twenty milliliters of the T-1 agent. Before everyone’s eyes, he injected it into himself.

The room fell silent.

“Zhang Heng, you—” Li Yiru tried to stop him, but before she could finish, Zhang Heng had already injected the entire contents.

“Can we proceed with the trial now?” Removing the needle, Zhang Heng looked at Li Jianguo with a cold, expressionless face.

Li Jianguo’s expression was grim, but seeing Zhang Heng still alive and well, he hesitated before finally nodding.

Chapter 18: NO.018 I’m Hungry

“What’s your name, brother?” Zhang Heng finally took a new syringe from the researcher, drawing the T-1 solution into it as he asked.

“Don’t call me brother, I’m only twenty-three,” the young man said with a bitter smile, eyeing the needle in Zhang Heng’s hand with fear. “My name is Fang Hao. Can you be gentle when you give me the shot? I’m afraid of pain.”

Zhang Heng smiled, then looked at him carefully. Fang Hao wasn’t ugly—if not for the toll chemotherapy and illness had taken, making him look older, he probably would have been the type girls liked.

“Fang Hao, get ready, I’m starting,” Zhang Heng said, holding the syringe upward and pushing out the air.

“Even if you say that, your words sound so awkward…” Fang Hao muttered, but before he could finish, Zhang Heng had already stabbed the needle into his arm with lightning speed.

“Damn!” Fang Hao stared in horror as the blue liquid was pushed into his veins, nearly jumping up to fight Zhang Heng. What kind of weird technique was this—throwing darts or giving injections?

Zhang Heng inserted the needle quickly and removed it just as fast. In the blink of an eye, the entire syringe of liquid had entered Fang Hao’s bloodstream.

“How many treatment cycles does this drug require?” Li Jianguo, standing behind Zhang Heng, asked with a hint of disdain, his earlier enthusiasm gone.

“Not sure yet,” Zhang Heng turned around, unfazed by Li Jianguo’s change in attitude, still polite. “But the effects should be visible within an hour.”

Li Jianguo’s body trembled slightly. He barely restrained the urge to jump up and curse Zhang Heng out. How could he inject a patient without even knowing the treatment’s efficacy?

Fortunately, he had deep self-control and managed to hold back.

“Alright, since Zhang Heng has already…” Li Jianguo’s face twitched involuntarily, then after a long pause, he continued, “…finished the treatment, let’s all go to the banquet hall to wait for the results. I’ve arranged a banquet—everyone who came to visit the Li family can attend.” With that, he waved his hand and was the first to leave the room.

“Hey, buddy, does your medicine actually work?” Everyone else left the reception room as if they had just watched a farce, ignoring Zhang Heng. Only Fang Hao, still lying on the bed, asked pitifully.

Zhang Heng didn’t mind. He sat down beside Fang Hao’s bed and joked, “Don’t worry, brother. With ‘Zhang the Needle’ here, one shot and no matter what cancer or rare disease you have, it’s gone! Guaranteed to cure all ailments!”

“Holy shit, I’ve heard of Zhang the Needle! The kind of ads you see on utility poles, right next to the fake ID ads… It’s not you, is it?” Fang Hao felt like dying.

Everyone gathered in the banquet hall, ignoring Zhang Heng in the reception room. Zhang Heng was happy to have the peace. He wasn’t the type to join in the fun anyway—he just chatted with Fang Hao, who was the same age as him.

From their conversation, Zhang Heng learned that Fang Hao’s parents were government employees. Though they had some connections, they were ordinary people, far from the upper-class circles.

Fang Hao had been diagnosed with stomach cancer at twenty-one. He had a bad habit—he loved pickled vegetables, which contain large amounts of nitrites. When they react with stomach acid, they form nitrosamines, which easily induce cancer. Because of this, Fang Hao’s once comfortable family had gone bankrupt treating his illness.

For two years, Fang Hao had lived a life worse than death, and his family had exhausted all their resources for his treatment. As he spoke, tears filled his eyes. He said he had even thought of suicide to stop burdening his parents, but his family had talked him out of it.

Inheriting his father’s personality, Fang Hao was naturally cheerful. But two years of illness had worn down his optimism. Still, a trace of unyielding strength remained in his eyes.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve talked to someone like this,” Fang Hao said gratefully to Zhang Heng. “Even if your medicine doesn’t work, I still want to thank you. Making a friend like you before I die—I can die without regrets.”

“What are you talking about, dying?” Zhang Heng patted Fang Hao’s shoulder, then lit a cigarette for himself. “Don’t worry, my medicine is absolutely effective. From now on, even if you want to die, it’ll be hard.”

Fang Hao smiled but didn’t take it seriously. Then, looking around to make sure no one was nearby, he whispered, “Zhang Heng, can I have one too?”

Zhang Heng rolled his eyes. “You’re in this condition and still smoking?”

“Sigh, before I got sick, I was at least a first-tier smoker—one pack a day, sometimes more. Who knew I wouldn’t get lung cancer but stomach cancer instead?”

Seeing Fang Hao’s forced nonchalance, Zhang Heng felt a pang in his heart. After hesitating, he handed over a cigarette.

“Hehe, you’re a good brother.” Fang Hao quickly took it, then inhaled deeply from Zhang Heng’s “Hong Kong genuine Zorro coal oil lighter,” sighing in satisfaction.

“Delicious!”

But then, he suddenly frowned. “I feel… like something’s happening.”

“A reaction?” Zhang Heng was taken aback.

“Ugh!” Suddenly, Fang Hao’s face changed. He opened his mouth wide and vomited black blood, while a foul smell came from below. Then he clutched his stomach and rolled on the bed in pain!

“It hurts! I can’t take it, I’m dying!”

“What’s going on? Why is this happening?” Zhang Heng pressed down on Fang Hao and urgently asked the Dimensional Star system.

“It’s fine, don’t worry. This is just his cells fully fusing with the T-1 virus, and his immune system is instinctively rejecting the cancer cells!” Yulian’s figure appeared, looking calm.

“Why didn’t this happen when I was injected with T-0?” Zhang Heng was still worried, afraid something had gone wrong.

“You’re a normal person, no illnesses, so of course you wouldn’t have such a strong reaction.” Yulian put her hands on her hips, dissatisfied.

Zhang Heng finally realized—seeing Fang Hao in pain had made him panic. He wasn’t calm enough.

Just then, several medical staff waiting outside heard the noise and finally rushed in. A young nurse pointed at Zhang Heng and scolded, “Look at what you’ve done! The patient is like this, and you’re still giving him random medicine!” Then she saw the cigarette butts in their hands and became even angrier. “You even let the patient smoke! Are you trying to kill him?”

Zhang Heng knew he was in the wrong, so he didn’t say anything. He just raised his hands in surrender.

The nurse glared at Zhang Heng fiercely, though her delicate features and clear, lark-like voice held no intimidation. Then she directed the others, “Prepare for emergency treatment! Xiao Li, go get the adrenaline!”

As the medical staff busily prepared to wheel Fang Hao to the emergency room, Fang Hao suddenly recovered. “Wait!”

Everyone paused. Then Fang Hao jumped off the stretcher, rubbed his stomach where the pain had faded, and looked dazed.

“What’s wrong? How do you feel?” the nurse asked quickly.

“I feel so light,” Fang Hao said blankly. “I… I think I’m cured!”

“What?” Everyone was shocked. Could this be a final surge of energy before death?

But Fang Hao ignored the medical staff. He jumped up and down, then ran around the reception room, his face full of joy. “I really feel fine! My stomach doesn’t hurt anymore!”

The nurse seemed to realize something. She checked her watch—there were still about ten minutes left before an hour had passed—and looked incredulous. “This is too immediate!”

“What’s going on?” Just then, the crowd in the banquet hall received the news and rushed in. Li Jianguo pushed through the crowd. When he saw Zhang Hao covered in blood, his face turned ashen.

He was about to explode, but after one of the medical staff whispered in his ear, Li Jianguo’s expression changed, and he looked at Fang Hao with surprise.

“President Li, everyone,” Fang Hao waved at them energetically, “I’m hungry!”

Chapter 19: Can You Afford It?

Afterward, Li Jianguo immediately ordered someone to prepare light food for Fang Hao. After all, he was a patient who had just recovered from a serious illness. His stomach function had deteriorated too much and needed to be slowly nourished back to health.

In reality, Fang Hao had not eaten anything for a long time due to his stomach cancer. He had been surviving on IV drips and could barely walk. Yet now, he claimed to be hungry, which truly shocked everyone.

During the preparation of the food, Fang Hao underwent a thorough examination using X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, MRIs, and blood tests. Soon, a researcher exclaimed in shock, “The tumor in the patient’s stomach has disappeared! Only a small amount of decomposed tumor fragments were found in his esophagus and intestines!”

“The tumor markers are gone too!” Another researcher widened his eyes in disbelief, looking as if he had seen a ghost. “The carcinoembryonic antigen levels in the blood have dropped and turned negative!”

Whoosh!

Upon hearing this news, the crowd erupted in excitement.

“I must be dreaming!” one researcher muttered in disbelief.

“My God, cancer has actually been cured?” Another researcher picked up the drug, placing it under the microscope as if it were a precious treasure.

“Honey, come quick and see God!” This was one of Zhang Heng’s classmates.

“Impossible!” At that moment, Liang Chao suddenly stepped forward, grabbing Fang Hao by the collar. “How could cancer be cured so easily? Tell me, are you a plant Zhang Heng hired?”

“A plant?” Fang Hao rolled his eyes. “You’re the plant, your whole family are plants!”

“Damn it!” Liang Chao’s anger flared, and he swung a fist toward Fang Hao’s face.

But before his fist could land, he suddenly felt his wrist gripped tightly by a powerful hand. He struggled, but the hand was like an iron clamp, tightening the more he tried to break free, until he could only groan in pain.

“Mr. Liang, what a show of authority.” Zhang Heng held Liang Chao’s arm, speaking calmly.

“Let go of me!” Liang Chao’s face twisted in fury. “How dare you lay a hand on me? Are you tired of living?”

Zhang Heng smiled without responding, turning to look at the shocked Li Jianguo.

Li Jianguo’s expression was grim, but he still managed to remind Liang Chao, “Nephew Liang, this patient was personally found by our company.”

Only then did Liang Chao come to his senses. In his moment of excitement, he had completely forgotten that Fang Hao was not someone Zhang Heng had brought in. Calling him a plant was equivalent to slapping the face of the Li Corporation, no wonder Li Jianguo looked so displeased.

“Uncle Li, I… I didn’t mean that…” Liang Chao’s face burned with embarrassment as he quickly apologized.

Li Jianguo shook his head, ignoring Liang Chao, and turned to Zhang Heng. “Little Zhang, does this biological drug have a name?”

As Li Jianguo spoke, everyone gradually quieted down, their expressions turning serious as they looked at Zhang Heng, no longer showing the previous disdain.

Although Zhang Heng no longer cared about others’ opinions of him, no one liked being looked down upon. Only now, after the drug had been proven effective, did he finally feel vindicated.

He smiled at everyone. “Uncle Li, this drug of mine is called… Tyrant-1.”

Those with poor English immediately began whispering among themselves, not understanding the meaning of the name.

“Tyrant in English means ruler, so in Chinese, it would be… Tyrant!” Fang Hao reminded everyone, half-amused and half-exasperated.

“Wait…” Fang Hao suddenly paused, turning to Zhang Heng. “Tyrant? T-virus?”

“That’s right, I said my drug is a virus.” Zhang Heng innocently spread his hands.

“The name T-virus sounds so familiar…” The crowd began whispering again.

“Alright, no matter what it’s called, everyone just needs to know that this drug can cure cancer.” Li Jianguo suppressed the murmurs and gestured for Zhang Heng to follow him. “Little Zhang, let’s go to the conference room and talk.”

Zhang Heng, of course, knew what Li Jianguo wanted to discuss in the conference room. He smiled and said, “Alright, Uncle Li, after you.”

As he passed through the crowd, Zhang Heng stopped in front of Liang Chao, a mocking expression on his face. “Don’t forget, you still owe me a bet.”

Liang Chao’s pupils contracted, and he said somewhat dejectedly, “What do you want…”

“The bet stands as is, no problem, right?” Zhang Heng sneered. “I’ll be waiting for you.” With that, the two brushed past each other.

Watching Zhang Heng walk away, the crowd erupted in noise for the third time.

“Does this mean cancer is no longer a terminal illness?” This was from someone who was slow to catch on.

“Didn’t you hear what Zhang Heng said earlier? This biological drug works by boosting the body’s immune system. Not just cancer, if fully developed, it could cure other terminal illnesses too!”

“Pfft, listen to how familiar you sound. Weren’t you the one who said Zhang Heng was just seeking attention and planning to hype things up?”

No one paid any more attention to the ashen-faced Liang Chao. They knew that a vice mayor was nothing compared to this. If this drug were made public, Zhang Heng would be able to claim a seat on the Forbes billionaire list!

“Zhang Heng…” Li Yiru also looked at the not-so-tall figure in shock, not knowing what to feel.

But at this moment, Zhang Heng could no longer hear the crowd’s discussions.

In the conference room, Li Jianguo rubbed his hands together, at a loss for words for a while. Even as a business magnate, facing a drug that could change human history, he felt uneasy.

Zhang Heng, on the other hand, was unfazed. He calmly sipped his Golden Eyebrow tea, waiting for the other to speak.

After about ten minutes, Li Jianguo finally gathered his thoughts and said with a smile, “Little Zhang, it’s truly an honor for the medical world that someone as young as you has such depth and ability.”

Zhang Heng waved his hand. “Uncle Li, I’m a straightforward person. I don’t like beating around the bush or being polite. Just say what you want to say.”

“Alright!” Li Jianguo nodded, becoming serious. “Have you ever thought about working for our Li Corporation? We also develop various drugs. If you come, I’m willing to give you thirty percent of the company’s shares!”

Zhang Heng smirked, thinking to himself that you really dare to say that. “Sorry, Uncle Li, you should know I have my own team. Joining your company is out of the question.”

“Well, young people should indeed forge their own path.” Seemingly having anticipated that Zhang Heng would not be willing to work under someone else, Li Jianguo immediately presented his second plan. “Then what about the patent for this Tyrant-1 biological drug? Our company is willing to buy it from you. Name your price.” Li Jianguo thought for a moment and added, “Of course, the founder’s name will still be yours.”

“Uncle Li, it’s not that I don’t understand manners.” Zhang Heng shook his head. “But do you think your company can really afford the value of this drug?”

Li Jianguo was taken aback and could only smile bitterly. Although the Li Corporation was an internationally renowned enterprise, its real estate assets were only worth a few billion dollars. Once this drug was made public, the profits would not be in the hundreds of billions.

But Li Jianguo was not about to give up. “We can take care of the costs, manufacturing, promotion, and sales! How about a fifty-fifty split of the profits? You know, your team is currently lacking startup funds. It will take time to develop step by step, but our company has mature manufacturing workshops and sales channels. We can minimize the time it takes to promote your drug worldwide.”

Zhang Heng secretly sneered. Although the conditions sounded tempting, in reality, he would still be at a disadvantage. So he continued, “Uncle Li, I have a few conditions for you to consider.”

“Go on.” Li Jianguo sat up straight, not afraid of the other party’s conditions, only afraid that there would be nothing to discuss. No matter what conditions Zhang Heng proposed, he was determined to secure the sales rights to this drug!

Chapter 20: Conditions

“First, your company will receive the exclusive manufacturing and sales rights to T-1.” Zhang Heng’s first words were like a reassuring pill for Li Jianguo. “My request isn’t complicated. I hope Uncle Li can use his connections to urge the National Medical Products Administration to expedite T-1’s approval and get it to market as soon as possible.”

“I can make that happen,” Li Jianguo nodded decisively. “The Li Corporation still has some influence in those circles.”

“Second, I hope Uncle Li can use his connections to establish an offshore company in the British Bermuda Islands on my behalf. Of course, I only need you to handle the paperwork. I want a company that belongs entirely to me, inside and out.”

“Why not register it domestically?”

“I have my reasons. Uncle Li, just tell me if it’s possible or not.” Zhang Heng looked at him.

“Done.” Seeing Zhang Heng’s firm stance, Li Jianguo didn’t press further. These two matters were no trouble for him at all.

“Third, the launch of this new drug will certainly attract the government’s attention. So I hope you and your company can act as the spokespeople for the new drug. I won’t interfere with the negotiations with the government. I can authorize you sixty percent of the shares. As for how much the government wants to invest, that’s up to your company to negotiate.”

“Only sixty percent of the sales shares for me?” Li Jianguo looked conflicted. He knew that the government would definitely want a stake in this drug, and once they did, it wouldn’t be a simple twenty or thirty percent. By convention, the government would take at least fifty percent or more.

Of course, the government wouldn’t let itself lose out. There would surely be policy favors and other benefits later. But if Zhang Heng only gave him sixty percent, then after the government took fifty percent, he would only end up with ten percent.

Why would the government get involved? Because both Li Jianguo and Zhang Heng understood that the government would never allow such a groundbreaking drug to remain in private hands. They would definitely intervene.

Naturally, the government wouldn’t just give Zhang Heng a sum of money and take away all rights to the drug. Otherwise, what scientist would dare stay in Hua Xia? At most, they might preserve Zhang Heng’s production and sales rights but take the formula and buy out a portion of the shares, turning the private company into a state-controlled enterprise. This way, they could ensure the T-1 technology wouldn’t leak to countries outside Hua Xia.

In other words, Zhang Heng would have to hand over the T-1 cultivation formula to the Hua Xia government.

Zhang Heng had already prepared for this. It didn’t mean he had changed his mind and was willing to hand over everything to the government, content to be a caretaker. Rather, he had to swallow a small loss for now.

Currently lacking power, Zhang Heng had no choice but to find a backer. As mentioned before, the government wouldn’t allow T-1 to remain in private hands. And if Zhang Heng wanted to profit from T-1 and ensure he wasn’t swallowed whole by others, he had no choice but to rely on the government as his backer.

But this would be the only time. Once he secured the initial startup capital, the sky would be the limit.

This was also why Zhang Heng was unwilling to register the company in Hua Xia. The Hua Xia government, due to its system, was too overbearing. Only capitalism was the breeding ground for monopolistic enterprises. Only by establishing an offshore company could he truly allow his company to grow into a behemoth in the future!

Moreover, the reason he went through the trouble of showing the Li Corporation the effects of T-1 was because he feared some greedy high-ranking officials might secretly seize the T-1 virus and silence him. If that happened, he would be helpless. But with the Li Corporation as witnesses, those officials wouldn’t dare silence the entire Li Corporation, would they?

In reality, the chance of being silenced was still small. After all, someone who could develop T-1 was a national treasure. But Zhang Heng had to be cautious, which was why he allowed the Li Corporation to have a share.

“Fine, sixty percent it is!” Li Jianguo gritted his teeth. Even if he only ended up with ten percent, that amount would still be no less than his current total assets. “But, Xiao Zhang, what about the sales rights? Are we giving them to the government or not?”

“The sales rights to T-1 definitely can’t go to the government. At most, internal sales. For public sales, I’ll leave it entirely to you.” Zhang Heng spread his hands. “In short, you’ll be responsible for the production, sales, and everything else for this drug. I just need to collect the money.”

Seeing that they had finally reached a consensus, Li Jianguo’s heart settled. He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Xiao Zhang, you’re planning to be an absentee landlord. But with you and your team inventing this drug, I’m afraid you won’t be able to stay idle in the future.”

Zhang Heng shook his head with a wry smile. “Speaking of which, I just thought of another condition. Please protect my privacy as much as possible. When negotiating with the government, include this condition: no intentional or unintentional leaks about me or my team’s identities. In the future, whether it’s the World Health Organization, the Nobel Foundation, or anyone else trying to contact me, or if you want to hold a press conference, don’t bother me. Uncle Li, just handle it yourselves.”

“You…” Li Jianguo widened his eyes. “You want to keep even this a secret? Then why did you develop this drug in the first place?”

“Money.”

…

Afterward, the two discussed various project details. Whenever Zhang Heng didn’t understand something, Li Jianguo patiently explained. Zhang Heng wasn’t afraid of being taken advantage of; what he lacked was a starting point.

Once he had the initial capital, he could use Dimensional Star to obtain endless technology. Revealing even a little of this technology would be enough to cause a global sensation. The profits from T-1 were just the appetizer of the feast.

His goal was to establish a monopolistic enterprise that could control global funds! Only then could he use the technology from various dimensions to lead humanity through the great calamity of the future!

After signing the contract, Zhang Heng handed over the T-1 virus data to the Li Corporation. Tasks like applying for patents and notifying the government were left to Li Jianguo, who was more than happy to oblige. He quickly labeled the data as S-level confidential and personally took a private jet to Jingzhou.

However, no one could have guessed that T-1 was just a byproduct of the T-virus. The real T-virus was something Zhang Heng would never let anyone else possess. Keeping power in his own hands was the most reassuring.

Meanwhile, Zhang Heng had other matters to attend to—playing games!

That’s right, playing games! According to the Dimensional Star system’s Yulian, his next mandatory mission would be in three months, and he only had a little over twenty days left. Since he had already obtained the T-virus data, the next mission would surely involve acquiring high-tech technology from another dimension. Based on his first experience, the next mission would likely be a choice among the remaining three dimensions.

The remaining dimensions were the Dead Space dimension, the Alien dimension, and the Prototype dimension. Among these, the Dead Space dimension had the lowest difficulty rating, so Zhang Heng immediately went to the ‘Wanderer Starry Sky’ website to download the entire Dead Space series—Dead Space 1, 2, and 3.

Dead Space was a famous interactive entertainment software released by the globally renowned company ‘Electronic Arts’ in the United States. It even had spin-offs in animation, comics, and novels. This was tough on Zhang Heng. He played the games while searching for background information on Dead Space online and reading the novels and comics.

To ensure he didn’t miss any clues, he even printed out all the information he could find. When his hands cramped from playing, he would pick up the materials and silently memorize them.

Never mind the future calamity humanity would face. First, to survive, he had to take all of this seriously.

Chapter 21: NO.021 Dead Space

The primary setting of Dead Space is the late 21st century, where human society is in turmoil, with escalating conflicts between nations. A war between the United States and Russia has plunged the world into fear. At the same time, global warming has worsened, pushing the environment to an irreversible state of decay.

Under this dual pressure, humanity is forced to unite and reorganize, forming the “Human Government,” a global political entity. They establish the “Earth Defense Force,” dividing the planet into eight major regions for governance.

With Earth in ruins, human society shifts its focus to space exploration. Backed by the government, a massive corporation called the “Harmony Mining Company” (C.E.C.) is founded. Permanent colonies and mining bases are established across the solar system, and humanity’s reach extends deeper into the cosmos.

“Corporation?”

At the sight of the word, Zhang Heng’s eyes lit up. Though the name wasn’t as flashy as the Umbrella Corporation, its influence and technological prowess far surpassed that of the biotech giant from Resident Evil. After all, this was a global commercial titan from a future era of advanced space technology!

By now, Zhang Heng had moved into a massive warehouse serving as his temporary residence. Located in the outskirts of Haizhou, the land had originally been purchased by Li Jianguo, who had planned to build a villa there. But upon hearing Zhang Heng wanted a large warehouse to serve as a team’s experimental base, Li Jianguo had generously given it to him for free.

Of course, Li Jianguo had no idea that Zhang Heng’s so-called “team” consisted of just one person—himself.

Zhang Heng continued reading. With Earth unified, human life had grown more comfortable. As the saying goes, “When the belly is full, the mind turns to desire.” The Human Government grew increasingly reckless until the year 2208, when an official expedition team was sent to explore the Chicxulub crater in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

“Capable of interstellar travel, yet they go exploring in their own backyard?” Zhang Heng shook his head, muttering, “Talk about boredom. Look, something bad must have happened, right?”

During the expedition, the explorers discovered a black, tower-like artificial structure, which they named the “Black Marker.” A man named Michael Altman speculated that it was of extraterrestrial origin, as it contained human DNA sequences. Moreover, the Black Marker could establish a mental connection with humans. Altman also believed it was linked to human evolution…

“Michael Altman, aren’t you an alien yourself? From the M78 Nebula?” Zhang Heng mused, shaking his head. “And your guesses are way too accurate. That’s practically cheating!”

Later, after the explorers established a mental link with the Black Marker, they all went mad—except for Altman, who remained unaffected. He then made a bold claim, stating that the hallucinations and madness came from the human brain itself, not the Black Marker. He believed it was a defense mechanism triggered by the brain to resist the Marker’s influence, causing people to lose their sanity.

Zhang Heng was speechless. This guy was definitely a time traveler. Protagonists in sci-fi novels often had the “I woke up the day before the apocalypse” trope, and it seemed Altman was no different. Otherwise, how could he know so much?

In the end, the maddened individuals worshipped the Black Marker as a divine gift, while those who remained sane were slaughtered. However, the Black Marker could recompose the cells of the dead, turning them into monstrous creatures called “Necromorphs.”

Ultimately, Altman sank the Black Marker—the root of all evil—to the bottom of the sea, where it vanished without a trace. Yet, records of the Black Marker remained.

By 2314, human technology had advanced further. The government secretly used reverse engineering to replicate a Marker based on the Black Marker’s data. This new Marker was red, so it was named the “Red Marker.” However, the government also recognized its danger and sent it to a distant asteroid. Yet, a series of accidents still occurred…

Though the game and comics never explicitly stated that human civilization was destroyed by these “Markers,” Zhang Heng knew that since the Dead Space plane had become one of his mission targets, it meant its civilization had perished. The Dead Space series was released in installments, and the part where humanity was wiped out simply hadn’t been released yet.

…

“Main mission officially activated. Mission objective: Acquire valuable technological data from nearby planes. Beginning search of nearby planes…”

“Search complete. Four valuable exploration planes detected nearby.”

“Plane A: Resident Evil plane (unavailable this time).”

“Plane B: Dead Space plane. Danger level: ★★☆.”

“Plane C: Alien plane. Danger level: ★★★☆.”

“Plane D: Prototype plane. Danger level: ★★★★★.”

“What?!”

Zhang Heng stared wide-eyed, muttering, “My physical condition is already pretty good, but according to the system, the difficulty ratings for the Dead Space and Alien planes have only dropped by half a star. The Prototype plane’s difficulty hasn’t budged at all, and the Resident Evil plane is still considered valuable?!”

“That’s correct! Host, please make your choice immediately!” Yulian waved her little hands, urging him.

“But if the Resident Evil plane is still valuable, why can’t I choose it this time? Could it be…” Zhang Heng narrowed his eyes, his mind racing.

He recalled something Yulian had said before and suddenly looked up. “Yulian, didn’t you once say, ‘The time to complete missions is limited, but the number of plane crossings is unlimited’?”

“Yeah, so?” Yulian blinked, confused.

“I see…” A smirk tugged at Zhang Heng’s lips. “The two main missions have a three-month time limit. I’ve been suspicious for a while, but now I’m sure. That means within those three months, I can still visit other planes and act freely?”

“Bingo! Correct answer!” Ribbons burst behind Yulian as she struck a celebratory pose. “I thought you’d take much longer to figure it out!”

“What happens after all four planes are completed?” Zhang Heng asked curiously.

“Then your clearance will increase, and new planes will open up.”

“And will the old planes be closed off?” Zhang Heng asked the critical question.

“Nope! As long as it’s not during a main mission, you can enter and exit any explored plane at any time.”

“That’s a relief.” Zhang Heng exhaled. “Then I choose the Dead Space plane!”

The moment Zhang Heng made his choice, Yulian transformed into a host, her voice brimming with excitement. “Hah! The moment of truth has arrived! The host has made another crucial decision!”

At the same time, a thunderous BGM blared. Lights flashed behind Yulian, forming a stage-like backdrop as she stood center stage, pointing to the sky and belting out:

“The flower of life has been trampled and crushed. Praying blindly will change nothing. The peace of livestock comes from kneeling in fear. A starving wolf would rather die than lose its freedom!”

“Go forth, arrows ablaze with crimson lotus!”

Chapter 22: Mission Commences

“Temporal-spatial conversion complete. Entered the Dead Space dimension. Initiating mission scan.”

“Warning: Dead Space dimension mission activated. Primary objective: Acquire the ‘Marker’ DNA evolution code and maintain sanity under the Marker’s psychic influence until mission completion.”

“Optional objectives: Acquire one Marker, obtain any advanced technology data unavailable on Earth, such as ‘Stasis’ and ‘Kinesis’ technology data, ‘Powered Armor technology data,’ ‘Pulse Rifle technology data,’ ‘Outer Space Navigation technology data,’ ‘Mature Reverse Engineering technology data,’ and more.”

“Emergency objective: Unknown.”

“Mission duration: Seventy-two hours. Note: Dimensional transporter cooldown time is thirty-six hours. Failure penalty: Host clearance level reduced by one.”

The moment Zhang Heng opened his eyes, he heard the Dimensional Star system’s notification.

“Damn it!” Zhang Heng felt an urge to curse. “They want me to operate within the Marker’s range of influence?”

The Marker—there were twelve in the game, divided into black and red. Chinese pirated versions translated it as ‘Moonlight,’ but whether called Moonlight or Marker, it referred to the same thing.

He had long known from Dead Space lore that ordinary people entering the Marker’s influence range were mostly infected. This infection was more terrifying than the T-virus’s biological infection because the Marker infected humans psychically. Once infected, the frontal lobe mutated, leading to mental derangement. After death, the body would transform into those grotesque Necromorphs—or mutated corpses, as some called them.

The name didn’t matter. What did was that these creatures were far more troublesome than zombies, and their numbers were no less than the undead horde!

Zombies were merely brain-dead humans, their bodies still moving on instinct. But Necromorphs were different—they were true genetic mutations of humanity! They came in various forms, with ranged and melee attackers, offensive and support types. Some of the more powerful ones could even outmatch famous creatures like the Licker or Tyrant from Resident Evil.

Just encountering these monsters was a nine-out-of-ten chance of death. Now, he had to operate under the Marker’s psychic influence? This was pushing him to the brink of death!

But there was no choice. The system’s missions were non-negotiable.

However, the system’s notifications weren’t finished. It continued, “Warning! Warning! Mission support system restricted by unknown radiation. Unable to function normally. Host, be advised.”

Zhang Heng froze. Mission support system—could that be Yulian? Unknown radiation—could it be the Marker?

His heart tightened. He tried calling out to Yulian, but there was no response.

Helpless, Zhang Heng began surveying his surroundings. He found himself in a metal room filled with advanced technology he couldn’t even begin to understand. There was even a computer integrated into a metal desk.

But when he saw a cabinet glowing with a cyan-green light, his eyes lit up.

This was the supply station from the game, the so-called ‘Shop,’ which provided players with various items for leveling up. The civilization here was indeed advanced—even after its collapse, the power supply remained uninterrupted.

Of course, in reality, there was no such absurd setting where killing monsters dropped ammunition. This was purely a supply station. Zhang Heng approached and pressed a button. A 3D holographic interface appeared.

One of the options displayed a human figure labeled ‘RIG.’ Zhang Heng set down his backpack and pressed one of the buttons. The cabinet opened, revealing a platform just large enough for one person to stand on.

Excited but nervous, Zhang Heng stepped inside. The door closed, and countless mechanical arms extended, adjusting his body.

After about a minute, Zhang Heng stepped out. His entire body was now covered in a thin layer of black metallic material, with a cyan-green energy bar on his back. This was the same suit the protagonist wore in the game—the powerful EarthGov Special Forces armor.

Zhang Heng tested his movements. There was no discomfort. He knew this armor was incredibly durable, fully sealed, and packed with auxiliary devices. It was essentially an exoskeleton, containing technology far beyond even the legendary mechs.

From what Zhang Heng understood, this suit included:

- Pressure balancing technology (allowing movement in a vacuum)

- Quantum stasis technology (the game’s ‘Stasis’ ability, altering the flow of time around living and non-living things)

- Telekinesis control technology (the game’s ‘Kinesis’ ability, amplifying mental power to move objects)

- Exoskeleton technology (enhancing strength and agility beyond normal humans)

- Built-in gravity technology and self-repair technology

These technologies were light-years ahead of his world. Bringing back any one of them would drive the entire world mad!

But having just the suit wasn’t enough. The technological gap meant humanity couldn’t absorb these advancements. Zhang Heng needed to find the corresponding technical data to replicate them.

Having already crammed his head with knowledge of this world, Zhang Heng was familiar with the suit’s functions. He looked at a cup on the table in front of him and focused his mind. With a hum, the cup flew toward him at a speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye, then hovered in midair.

This was the game’s ‘Kinesis’!

Seeing this ability, Zhang Heng was delighted. Then, he examined another built-in ability of the suit—‘Stasis.’

This ability slowed down the speed of a living or non-living thing, making it move as if in slow motion. The game didn’t explain the working principle, but Zhang Heng believed it was an application of quantum technology.

Zhang Heng approached the workstation and fumbled with the computer’s controls. Fortunately, advanced technology meant simpler operation. Within minutes, he confirmed his location: a military base in the Americas on Earth.

This computer wasn’t a core system and couldn’t connect to the external network, but it did display the date and time. The current date was… May 2512.

Zhang Heng recalled that this date was roughly half a year to a year after the events of Dead Space 3. A bad feeling crept over him. He instinctively asked Yulian, “Am I currently within the Marker’s range of influence?”

But Yulian didn’t appear. There wasn’t even a hint of a response.

Zhang Heng froze, then remembered that Yulian couldn’t manifest here. The difficulty of this mission had indeed increased significantly.

Last time, in the Resident Evil dimension, the system had directly transported him inside the Umbrella Corporation, where the T-virus was within reach. Even then, he had barely survived two life-or-death crises. This time, the difficulty had multiplied several times over.

Zhang Heng took a deep breath, his expression bitter. “This mission is going to be tough…”

Chapter 23: NO.023 Necromorph!

Zhang Heng silently memorized the map of the military base from the computer before leaving the room.

His current goal wasn’t to find the Marker, but to head to the armory and the archives first.

The armory could provide him with weapons for survival, while the archives were one of the objectives of this trip. Although it was an optional mission, Zhang Heng hadn’t obtained any data on the G-virus during the last biocrisis. This time, he didn’t want to miss the optional mission.

However, just like in the last biocrisis dimension, the archives and the armory were the most valuable locations in the base. Therefore, in this base, both were located on the lowest level.

Looking at the number of levels in the base, Zhang Heng’s mouth twitched. This base was an underground structure, and the deepest level was two hundred floors underground! His current position was near the entrance of the military base, at ground level.

The place where Zhang Heng was now was actually a guard room, no wonder there was a special duty protective suit provided.

Thinking of this, Zhang Heng felt a wave of relief. A good start was half the battle. With the protective suit, he had an extra fifty percent chance of survival. The only regret was that he hadn’t found any usable weapons.

But when Zhang Heng walked out of the room, he could no longer feel relieved…

As he stepped out of the guard room, a chilling aura slowly enveloped him. Outside was an endless corridor, with rows of doors extending to the end of his vision on both sides.

Every four or five meters above, there was a dim light providing illumination, but seemingly due to low voltage, the light was very dim, barely allowing him to see about fifty meters ahead.

At this moment, Zhang Heng was walking in the silent metal corridor. With each step, an empty echo resounded, making the corridor seem even more desolate and strange. Dark brown bloodstains were everywhere, a typical horror movie scene.

The most eerie thing was that although there were bloodstains everywhere, there were no corpses to be seen, as if someone had specifically removed all the bodies.

Zhang Heng walked about a hundred meters when a double-leaf metal door appeared before him, with frosted glass on the door. Through the glass, he could see the light inside, which was much brighter than the corridor.

Zhang Heng instinctively walked to the door and only then realized that the glass was frosted. From the outside, he could only see the light but not any content. However, he could still see the dark brown stains on the other side of the glass, as if someone had splashed a large amount of dirty water on the glass.

But the most striking thing was the palm-shaped stain on the glass. Only the finger part was visible, while the palm part was stretched very long, as if someone had pressed their palm against it and then slowly pulled it down…

Zhang Heng, of course, knew what these stains represented. He took a deep breath and walked two more steps towards the door, then slowly pushed it open.

Inside, the furnishings were in disarray, with scattered papers all over the floor, some of which were also covered in dark brown bloodstains. At the front was a large electronic platform embedded in the wall.

From the setup here, it seemed to be a command room-like place. Zhang Heng picked up these documents and glanced through them. They were all records of the ‘Church of Unity’s’ activities.

The Church of Unity was a group attracted by the spiritual power of the Marker, aiming to dismantle the Earth’s government and spread the power of the Marker across the world. They worshipped the Marker as a holy object, believing that the holy object could find the truth of life and the universe and bring them immortality.

From the game’s background, the Church of Unity had long possessed the power to rival the Earth’s government. Many high-ranking officials of the Earth’s government were believers of the Church of Unity. They would never have imagined that the very holy object they worshipped had instead led humanity to the brink of destruction…

Zhang Heng sighed. It wasn’t just the Church of Unity; human nature was like this. Wherever there were humans, there would be conflict, greed, and ambition… Even Zhang Heng himself was no exception.

As the most widely circulated prophecy in martial arts novels goes: Where there are people, there is the martial world.

However, this thought didn’t last long. After realizing that there was nothing he wanted here, Zhang Heng was about to get up and leave.

But just as he stood up, suddenly, the lights above his head made a short-circuiting ‘zzz’ sound, and the lights began to flicker violently!

What’s going on?

Zhang Heng was startled. The lights flickered continuously, making a sizzling sound. In the flickering light, a chilling aura seemed to linger. With a ‘click’, the lights went out completely, and the entire room was plunged into darkness!

Zhang Heng was in the darkness, but fortunately, his right eye had been modified by Dimensional Star, giving him night vision. Otherwise, he would have been completely blind.

If he had been fighting Necromorphs from the start, Zhang Heng might not have been so panicked. But from the beginning until now, not to mention Necromorphs, he hadn’t seen a single corpse, let alone a living person. Even Yulian couldn’t communicate with him.

The eerie lights, the silent darkness, the empty rooms—all were classic horror movie elements. These eerie factors pressed in on Zhang Heng like a nightmare. If it weren’t for the experience of the biocrisis world that had made him much bolder, Zhang Heng might not have been able to continue moving forward!

Just as Zhang Heng was sweating profusely, Yulian’s figure suddenly appeared in his mind.

“Yulian, why are you here?” Zhang Heng was somewhat surprised. “Didn’t you say you were interfered with by the Marker and couldn’t contact me?”

“Leave… leave immediately…” Yulian’s image showed no expression or movement, just standing there quietly. Moreover, the image seemed to be affected by some kind of radiation interference, sometimes blurry, sometimes clear. Amid the intermittent signals, Zhang Heng heard this warning.

“Leave? Is it because there’s danger here?” Zhang Heng asked in astonishment.

“Leave… leave immediately…” Yulian repeated the same sentence, her voice like a tape recorder with low battery, the tone becoming eerily strange.

Zhang Heng took a sharp breath, a chill slowly rising up his spine, his hair standing on end, his whole body numb. Although the high-tech protective suit could maintain normal body temperature, beads of cold sweat still trickled down.

He didn’t know if it was an illusion, but Zhang Heng felt an inexplicable crisis approaching him…

At this moment, a rustling sound came from outside the door, as if something was crawling on the ground. Zhang Heng suddenly looked up, staring fixedly at the doorway, not daring to blink.

“Could it be a Necromorph?”

A flash of panic crossed Zhang Heng’s mind. He slowly stepped back until he was against the wall before feeling a little safer. But at this moment, the rustling sound also reached the doorway and then seemed to have discovered something, stopping abruptly.

Zhang Heng swallowed hard, tightly clenching his fists, waiting for the sound to enter. After all, now the enemy was in the light and he was in the dark. If he took the initiative to attack, he would be in the light and the enemy in the dark.

This was a test of patience. Soon, the sound at the doorway couldn’t hold back. With a ‘creak’, the door was slowly pushed open, and a monster with a human-like upper body and only a tail for a lower body slowly crawled in.

This monster looked like the Snake Demon from ‘Huluwa’, but the tail was much shorter because it was formed from the evolution of the human spine after death. At the end of the tail, a weapon like a scorpion’s stinger had grown.

“So it is a Necromorph!” Zhang Heng actually felt relieved. Fear came from the unknown. When he knew what he was facing, he wasn’t as afraid. Now that he was in the dark, ordinary people wouldn’t be able to find him. However, he didn’t know how Necromorphs distinguished humans from their own kind, so he needed to test it.

However, it seemed that Necromorphs didn’t rely on vision to observe Zhang Heng. Hiding in the dark didn’t affect their ability to find him. The Necromorph let out a shriek and quickly crawled towards Zhang Heng!

From its movements, Zhang Heng didn’t see any signs that could threaten him. But just as it got close to him, the monster suddenly accelerated like a vicious dog pouncing on its prey!

“Hmm?” Without thinking, Zhang Heng pushed off with his feet, leaping up just before the monster reached him, and stomped down hard with both feet.

“Gravity Amplification!” While in mid-air, Zhang Heng controlled the gravity boots to increase the gravity. This was also a capability of the protective suit. With this ability, the protagonist’s stomp in the game was also a major killer move!

Thud!

Zhang Heng only felt an immense force under his feet, and the monster’s spine was easily crushed like rotten mud. But the monster seemed to have no sense of pain. The tail evolved from the lower spine trembled slightly, leaving a residual image in the air as it fiercely stabbed towards Zhang Heng!

Chapter 24: Crisis Rising and Falling

Snap!

Zhang Heng let out a cold laugh. With his neural reaction speed of 0.032 seconds, he could catch a flying dart—let alone this tail spike. He gripped the creature’s tail and twisted it violently. The tailbone shattered with a sickening crack, and the monster let out a pained shriek.

This wasn’t a game, after all. In games, attacking monsters only had three modes: shooting, stomping, or punching. But Zhang Heng had countless ways to kill his enemies. And with the exoskeleton-like armor enhancing his strength four or five times over, he was practically unstoppable.

A thick, yellowish mucus oozed onto his armored gloves. The creature let out one final wail before dying. Disgusted, Zhang Heng wiped his hand against the wall and quickly left the dimly lit room.

Only when he stepped back into the corridor did he exhale slowly. Was it just his imagination, or was this place far more oppressive than the Resident Evil dimension? He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching him.

This is the Dead Space dimension, not the Ju-On dimension, he thought, baffled. Why does it feel so terrifying? He turned back—but to his shock, the lights in the command room he had just left flickered back on.

What the hell?

Cursing under his breath, Zhang Heng didn’t dare return to the data room. Instead, he broke into a sprint, determined to find what he needed and get out of this cursed place as soon as possible.

As he ran, he glanced warily down a branching corridor. In the dim light, a shadow flickered past. He didn’t stop to investigate—it was either a human or a Necromorph, and the latter was far more likely.

But the shadow didn’t seem inclined to let him go. Soon, Zhang Heng heard a loud, grating noise above him.

What now?

He skidded to a halt. He had studied the military base’s layout earlier. The facility extended nine hundred meters underground, built in a ring shape with a massive central chamber designed for zero-gravity combat simulations.

He was currently at the topmost level. So what could possibly be above him?

Zhang Heng narrowed his eyes, staring at the ceiling. Then he saw it—a metal ventilation duct. His blood ran cold.

Ventilation shaft?

Before he could finish the thought, a deafening metallic screech tore through the air. A half-meter-wide, tentacle-like creature burst through the duct, lunging straight for him!

So fast!

Zhang Heng didn’t hesitate—he dove forward, barely dodging the strike. But the metal floor behind him was torn apart, revealing the empty space below.

Incredible strength!

He gasped, turning to flee. There was no way he could fight something with that kind of power!

“It can move at the speed of a flicking finger… and tear through steel in an instant! How can Dead Space have monsters this strong?” he thought as he ran. But before he could put any distance between himself and the tentacle, another violent scraping sound came from the ventilation shaft ahead.

Another one?

Zhang Heng’s soul nearly left his body. The ducts twisted and warped as if something massive was writhing inside, struggling to break free.

He sprinted onward, barely dodging the tentacles that erupted from the vents. His superhuman reflexes saved him, but his mental map of the base was now completely scrambled. He had no idea where he was.

Gradually, his breathing grew ragged. Though his T-virus-enhanced physique and the powered armor gave him extraordinary endurance, even he couldn’t keep up this marathon pace forever. After half an hour of relentless fleeing, he was panting heavily.

“After this mission, I really need to train my stamina and agility more,” he thought.

No matter how exhausted he was, Zhang Heng never let go of his travel bag. The last mission had taught him the hard way—supplies were everything.

A loud metallic groan echoed behind him. His heart lurched, and he took another sharp turn—only to freeze in his tracks.

A massive tentacle had burst from the ventilation shaft ahead, writhing like an octopus. The sheer force of it warped the walls, completely blocking the corridor.

Is this the end?

A flicker of unwillingness flashed in Zhang Heng’s eyes. He turned—another tentacle had emerged behind him. He was trapped.

Wait! He smacked his forehead. Idiot! My armor has the Stasis quantum tech! He raised his hand, activating the energy emitter. A deep blue beam shot out, striking the tentacle ahead.

Whoosh!

The tentacle instantly turned a dark blue, as if mired in quicksand. Its movements slowed to a crawl, losing all their previous agility.

Amazing! Zhang Heng’s heart leapt—but then he checked his energy gauge. It had dropped by nearly a quarter.

Only three more uses left!

His face paled. Reality wasn’t like a game. In games, you could kill minor enemies and they’d drop ammo or energy packs. But here? No such luck. He didn’t even have a proper weapon.

Suppressing his fear, Zhang Heng slipped through the gap between the tentacles. They were too slow to react, and by the time the Stasis effect wore off, he was already dozens of meters away.

The tentacles seemed to realize something was wrong. One by one, they retracted into the vents. Zhang Heng didn’t stop running until he had put over a kilometer between himself and the creatures. Bent over, hands on his knees, he gasped for air.

At that moment, he was grateful for his mental fortitude. Even now, he hadn’t lost his composure. He was jumpy, sure, but compared to his pre-Dimensional Star days, his willpower was far stronger.

“Without realizing it… I’m not an ordinary person anymore,” he murmured. He retracted his helmet, revealing his face, then pulled out a fresh pack of Furong Wang cigarettes with trembling hands. He lit one, and only then did his racing heart finally calm.

Zhang Heng was a heavy smoker, especially in moments of stress. A cigarette was the best way to steady his nerves.

“Uh… excuse me, which department are you from?” Just as he was catching his breath, a soft voice suddenly came from behind him.

“Who’s there?!” Zhang Heng spun around in alarm. The door to a nearby room had somehow opened, and a Western woman’s face peered out from within.

Chapter 25: Unease in the Shadows

“Don’t be nervous. We’re from the Earth Defense Force’s military intelligence division. My designation is 45462.” The woman behind the door stepped out slowly. She wore the same Earth Defense Force special operations protective suit as Zhang Heng, and behind her followed four Western men in identical gear.

Zhang Heng raised an eyebrow, puzzled. “You’re from this military base?”

“That’s right. Who are you?” The woman showed no surprise at Zhang Heng’s Asian features.

“I’m just a civilian.” Zhang Heng shook his head, appearing to relax, though in truth he remained highly alert. “Can someone tell me what’s going on? What about the others in the base?”

“It’s the power of the Marker.” The woman’s voice carried a note of despair. “The Marker’s corruption has infected the entire base. Countless people turned on each other, and after death, they became those terrifying Necromorphs, slaughtering almost everyone. Now, only those of us immune to the mental infection remain.”

“Why not call for outside help?” Zhang Heng asked, then immediately regretted it. Dimensional Star only transported him to civilizations on the brink of collapse. Clearly, this “Death Space” dimension had already fallen.

“Outside help?” The woman gave Zhang Heng a strange look. “The Earth government was destroyed by the ‘Blood Moon’ over a year ago. Now, the entire world is reduced to scattered survivors hiding from infection. Where would help come from?”

“I see.” Zhang Heng nodded. Clearly, they had mistaken him for another survivor.

Finding others was undoubtedly a psychological comfort, but Zhang Heng felt an unsettling unease, though he couldn’t pinpoint why.

After a brief conversation, Zhang Heng learned that the “Blood Moon” was the colossal organism from the third game, composed of countless Necromorphs. The Marker had infected humanity worldwide, turning them into Necromorphs, which the Blood Moon then absorbed, leading to civilization’s collapse.

With the Blood Moon hovering in Earth’s orbit, its immense tidal forces had triggered catastrophic changes. The outside world had become an ice age, and only military bases with nuclear generators could sustain life.

The woman and her four companions were in the base’s grain storage, where the food supply could last them decades.

“The outside isn’t safe. Only the isolation walls of the grain storage can withstand Necromorph attacks.” The woman continued, “Since you’ve found your way here, why not join us? Nowhere else in the world is as safe as this place.”

Zhang Heng hesitated for a moment. Dimensional Star’s teleportation cooldown was thirty-six hours, meaning he had to stay in this hellish place for a day and twelve hours, whether he completed the mission or not. Truthfully, he wasn’t confident he could survive even a full day.

But remembering the seventy-two-hour mission deadline, he knew he couldn’t avoid danger. If Dimensional Star set the limit at seventy-two hours, it meant the mission couldn’t be completed in twenty-four. During his first adventure in the Resident Evil world, it had taken him a full forty-eight hours to finish. The system allowed some leeway but wasn’t overly lenient. He could afford to waste a little time, but not two full days.

With that thought, Zhang Heng suppressed his desire to escape and firmly declined. “Sorry, I have my own matters to attend to.”

After a moment’s thought, he asked again, “Since you’re from the base, you should know about the Marker’s data, like the DNA evolution code. Where is that stored?”

“You’re going to the Marker?” The woman looked at Zhang Heng in astonishment. “The base does have a Marker, but it’s top secret. Only General Floran knew its exact location, and he took that secret to the grave.”

Zhang Heng shook his head in disappointment and turned to leave.

“Where are you going?” The woman took a few steps forward. “Even though ninety-nine percent of the Necromorphs were absorbed by the Blood Moon, there are still stragglers roaming around. This base alone has hundreds!”

“I have something I must do.” Zhang Heng didn’t look back, continuing into the darkness ahead.

“We’re coming with you!” Footsteps echoed behind him. The woman had quickened her pace to catch up, and to Zhang Heng’s surprise, the other four men followed as well.

“What do you mean by following me?” Zhang Heng narrowed his eyes, the unease growing stronger, though he still couldn’t identify its source.

“Rather than clinging to life in fear, we’d rather follow you to the Marker. I assume you’re going to destroy it? Only by destroying all the Markers in the world can we be saved.” The woman’s expression was resolute as she extended her hand. “I’m Angelina. What’s your name?”

“Zhang Heng.” He didn’t reveal his true purpose, merely shaking her hand before walking ahead in silence.

The corridor’s dim, eerie lighting cast long shadows, and the dark, gaping doorways resembled the maws of demons, ready to devour anyone who passed. Logically, having companions should have made Zhang Heng feel more at ease.

But instead, his unease only deepened. An inexplicable dread coiled in his chest, as if he had overlooked something critical—something that could mean life or death.

Angelina was encased in an exoskeleton suit, yet her voluptuous figure was still evident. Combined with her striking Western features, she was undeniably a classic beauty.

Zhang Heng observed her discreetly, confirming nothing seemed amiss. This only puzzled him further—what had he missed?

“Up ahead is the emergency elevator. It can take us to the depths of the base as quickly as possible. In my opinion, something as secretive as the Marker must be at the very bottom.” After about half an hour of walking, Angelina pointed to a large door ahead.

Zhang Heng nodded. His mission wasn’t much different from the Resident Evil world—he needed to find relevant data in the archives. In military bases, both the archives and armories were located at the lowest levels, so searching for the Marker didn’t conflict with his objectives.

But as they approached the emergency elevator, Zhang Heng suddenly hesitated, his steps faltering.

Chapter 26: Break!

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing Zhang Heng stop in his tracks, standing dazed at the entrance of the emergency elevator, Angelina couldn’t help but ask.

“We can’t take the elevator!” Zhang Heng furrowed his brows deeply.

“Why? If we don’t take the elevator, are you planning to go down the stairs?” Angelina countered.

“The stairs aren’t safe either.” Zhang Heng shook his head. “Both places leave too little room to maneuver. If we encounter one of those octopus-like Necromorphs, we’re done for.”

“But if we don’t go down from here, how do we reach the bottom of the base?”

“I remember the map of the military base. If I’m not mistaken, at the very center of the base, there should be a massive cavity with a diameter of one kilometer, right?”

“That’s correct. That’s the simulated space combat training ground. The entire base is ring-shaped, built to encase this training area.”

“Then, how about we go straight through the training ground to the deepest part of the base?” Zhang Heng suggested.

In the end, Angelina couldn’t persuade Zhang Heng otherwise and had no choice but to lead him toward the training ground. She had to admit, this military base was simply too vast, like a small city, with an extremely complex structure. Walking through it, all one could see were endless steel doors flashing by, each scene eerily similar, as if trapped in a deep, labyrinthine maze.

Moreover, the corridors were often streaked with dried, dark red bloodstains. Combined with the dim lighting, it was the perfect setting for a horror film.

Along the way, Zhang Heng remained cautious, afraid that a Necromorph might suddenly leap out from somewhere. Not only that, he had to divide his attention to guard against Angelina beside him, his vigilance unwavering.

After roughly three or four hours, Angelina’s breathing grew heavy. It wasn’t just her; Zhang Heng was also exhausted. This wasn’t like ordinary walking. In this perilous environment, Zhang Heng had to tense every muscle in his body while keeping his guard at its peak. If he didn’t, the next second might bring a Necromorph bursting from some corner to snap their necks.

But something seemed odd. In all these hours, Zhang Heng hadn’t spotted a single trace of a Necromorph, as if they had all vanished without a trace.

“Shouldn’t we take a break?” Just then, Angelina suddenly sighed and said, “Staying alert is the first rule of survival. If we keep going like this, we’ll collapse before we even reach the space training ground. I don’t think you’d want to face Necromorphs while exhausted, would you?”

“I agree.” Zhang Heng nodded. Without another word, he pulled open the door to a nearby room. The door was labeled “Dormitory” in English, and inside was pitch black.

Zhang Heng had already subtly activated his night vision. The moment he opened the door, he confirmed the room was safe. There were no Necromorphs inside, only several patches of dried, blackened blood on the floor.

This was a soldiers’ dormitory.

Presumably, after the Marker’s infection, no humans had entered here. The beds in the dormitory emitted a faint, damp, musty odor. Some beds weren’t even made, their sheets in disarray, silently recounting the sudden catastrophe from a year ago.

After entering, Zhang Heng inspected the room thoroughly—from under the beds to the drawers—but found no danger, nor any clues.

By now, Zhang Heng was utterly exhausted, not just physically but mentally. Prolonged mental strain was the quickest way to wear someone out. Though his body had been enhanced by the T-virus, he was still just an ordinary man.

“Zhang Heng, you’re really too tired. Let us take over the watch. You should get some proper sleep.” Angelina and the others followed him inside. Seeing Zhang Heng resting on one of the beds, she couldn’t help but smile.

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you.” Zhang Heng’s guard flickered as he walked to the bed closest to the center of the room and lay down flat, closing his eyes.

Zhang Heng had no intention of falling asleep immediately. Though Angelina was human, who could guarantee she wouldn’t slit his throat while he slept? She had no reason to attack him, but Zhang Heng wasn’t naive enough to believe she had no ulterior motives. The fact that she followed him without any demands was reason enough to be wary.

The moment Zhang Heng closed his eyes, he expanded all his senses. If anyone approached him now, even with his eyes shut, he would detect them instantly.

This ability was something he had gained after injecting the T-virus. The T-virus was designed to create the perfect organism, so enhancing human perception and intuition was essential.

But… why did he have this lingering sense of unease? What had he overlooked?

Zhang Heng closed his eyes and pondered, replaying everything that had happened since he arrived in this deathly spatial dimension. But no matter how hard he searched, he couldn’t pinpoint what crucial detail he had missed!

He didn’t know how much time had passed. In his drowsy state, Zhang Heng suddenly felt someone approaching. He snapped his eyes open to see Angelina sitting quietly by his bed, her eyes misty.

“Zhang Heng, do you think I’m beautiful?” Unexpectedly, Angelina said this.

Zhang Heng narrowed his eyes, not answering, his guard only growing stronger.

“Don’t bury your desires deep inside. Human civilization has collapsed; there are no more ethics or morals. If you want me, I can—”

As she spoke, Angelina pressed some hidden button, and her form-fitting protective suit swiftly fell away, revealing her flawless body!

Zhang Heng gasped, a certain fire within him surging. He instinctively glanced around but saw no one else.

“There’s no need to look. The other four have already left this place to us.” Angelina giggled, slowly leaning down, her golden hair cascading over Zhang Heng’s face, tickling him.

Perhaps… indulging once wouldn’t hurt…

Zhang Heng’s resolve wavered. He slowly raised his hand toward her most prominent feature, but then, as if struck by a sudden realization, his expression changed. He abruptly pushed her to the ground!

“Zhang Heng, what’s wrong?” Angelina’s flushed cheeks paled instantly, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Zhang Heng was also taken aback. He looked down at his hands, confusion in his eyes. Just now, he had suddenly felt an intense pang of dread, as if surrendering to desire would lead to something terrible. He shook his head instinctively, offering no explanation.

Strangely, Angelina didn’t press the matter. She silently stood up and left the room, as if everything that had just happened was nothing more than a figment of his imagination.

…

The night passed uneventfully. Zhang Heng rested for about ten hours before setting off again. By now, roughly a day had passed since he arrived in this deathly spatial dimension.

After several more hours of travel, finally, a massive window made of reinforced glass replaced the wall ahead. Through the glass, all that could be seen was an abyss of darkness.

“This is the simulated space combat training ground. A one-kilometer-wide cavity, completely sealed, maintaining a vacuum state just like the zero-gravity environment of space.” Angelina explained.

Zhang Heng stepped forward, gazing at the bottomless blackness outside the window, not responding.

For some reason, ever since arriving in this dimension, he had felt as if he were in a dream. He always felt like he was missing something, but whenever he tried to think it through, it slipped away like sand through his fingers.

Wait… darkness?

A sudden flash of insight struck Zhang Heng. A thought blazed through his mind. He abruptly stopped, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

“What’s wrong now?” Angelina asked with concern.

Zhang Heng didn’t answer. Instead, he slowly turned his head. The four Western men who had been following them this entire time had vanished without a sound!

Zhang Heng’s pupils constricted. A bolt of lightning seemed to flash through his mind, and in an instant, he was struck with a sudden, profound realization!

He turned again—only to find that Angelina, who had been standing beside him moments ago, had also disappeared without a trace!

So that’s it!

Chapter 27: Blood Moon Descends!

Zhang Heng’s eyes flickered with sudden realization. From the moment they had met, he had felt a sense of unease, but due to the influence of the Marker, certain details in his thoughts had been sealed away. Thus, he had only instinctively sensed that something was wrong, but when he tried to think carefully, he couldn’t pinpoint what exactly was off.

The oddity was that… Angelina had spoken in Chinese!

This was the inconsistency Zhang Heng had instinctively noticed. Clearly a Westerner, she had spoken fluent Mandarin as if she were a China expert. Moreover, even if she was proficient in Chinese, that didn’t mean the four people behind her would be as well.

Yet, throughout their interactions, Angelina had been the only one communicating with Zhang Heng, while the four behind her had remained silent like puppets on strings. How was that possible?

Thus, this was the Marker’s greatest flaw!

Later, this flaw became even more apparent. The four people behind Angelina had left no impression in Zhang Heng’s mind at all, as if they were background characters with no presence. The key point was that Zhang Heng hadn’t noticed the abnormality of the four either, as if he had known all along that they didn’t exist. It wasn’t until he remembered that there were four teammates and turned to look that he saw them standing quietly behind him.

However, although these flaws were easy to spot, due to the Marker’s influence, Zhang Heng only instinctively felt that something was wrong, as if in a dream, unable to think logically and discover the truth.

Just like how, in a dream, it’s hard to realize you’re dreaming.

What truly awakened Zhang Heng was the Marker’s biggest flaw—his right eye, modified by Dimensional Star, had long possessed the ability to see in the dark. Yet when he looked through the glass at the space training ground, he saw only pitch black. It was this that made him realize—

From the moment he entered this dimension, he had been trapped in the Marker’s illusion!

Thinking of this, Zhang Heng felt a wave of weakness. The Marker had set two traps for him. The first was when they had just met; Angelina had mentioned having a shelter where people could survive. An ordinary person would likely have agreed, as in a world overrun by Necromorphs, a safe place with endless food was like heaven.

Unfortunately, the Marker didn’t know that Zhang Heng wasn’t a human from this dimension, so this trap had failed.

Then came the second trap—seduction. Fortunately, Zhang Heng had resisted the temptation the night before and had remained wary of Angelina from start to finish. Otherwise, he would have fallen deeper into the Marker’s illusion, eventually leading to a mental breakdown, insanity, and suicide!

With this in mind, the question of why he had encountered so many Necromorphs when he first entered the dimension, only for them to disappear after meeting Angelina, was also resolved!

Because, from beginning to end, Zhang Heng had only been dreaming. Neither the Necromorphs nor the octopus that could crawl through vents had ever existed!

Those Necromorphs had long been absorbed and integrated by the Blood Moon. The entire Earth had already become a lifeless, silent planet!

Fortunately, although the Marker could create illusions that could even drive people to suicide, its intelligence was far inferior to that of humans. It could set illusory traps for humans but couldn’t make those illusions flawless!

This was evident from the character of Angelina. While Angelina was designed to be very realistic, after creating her, the Marker couldn’t deepen its influence on Zhang Heng to make the remaining four people equally lifelike. Thus, the four Western men had been like puppets, devoid of any presence.

After sorting out all the clues, Zhang Heng looked again at the space combat training ground. Through the large observation window, it wasn’t pitch black but as bright as day!

Beyond the window, a massive spherical plaza was visible, but the top of the training ground had been torn open by an unknown force, completely losing its zero-gravity state.

Sunlight streamed through the opening, illuminating the deepest part of the training ground, where ruins were overgrown with weeds. Amidst them stood a towering artificial structure, about twenty meters tall and five meters in diameter!

The structure was eerily designed, composed of two intertwining black strips covered in strange symbols Zhang Heng had never seen before—certainly not any Earthly script.

Upon seeing this bizarre structure, Zhang Heng couldn’t help but laugh. This was the source of everything in the Dead Space storyline—the Black Marker!

No wonder, when under the illusion, Zhang Heng had seen only darkness beyond the space combat training ground. It turned out the Marker itself was here. To protect itself, it naturally couldn’t allow Zhang Heng to discover its existence. But the Marker could never have imagined that this very action would lead Zhang Heng to see through its illusion and break free from its mental control!

After figuring everything out, Zhang Heng felt a sense of relief. Although the Marker possessed thinking capabilities, it hadn’t reached the level of an intelligent life form. Compared to complex humans, it was still too naive. The illusions it created relied on suppressing thinking abilities to achieve their purpose. Such illogical illusions might drive ordinary people to madness or suicide, but those with stronger willpower could resist them!

This was why, in animations and games, the protagonist could maintain their sanity and single-handedly destroy the Marker!

However, the plan to reach the bottom of the military base via the space combat training ground was undoubtedly ruined. The training ground had been torn open, and even though the base’s energy system was still running, it could no longer maintain zero gravity. Thus, Zhang Heng had no choice but to take the elevator or stairs to the bottom of the base.

With no other option, Zhang Heng returned to the elevator. But when he found the elevator leading to the lower levels, he suddenly frowned—the elevator he found didn’t have clearance to go below the 100th floor.

Helpless, Zhang Heng pressed the button for the -100th floor. Beyond that, special clearance was required to go further down.

The elevator doors slowly closed, accompanied by an English voice announcement reminding passengers to hold on. Then came a sudden sensation of weightlessness as the elevator descended rapidly at four to five meters per second.

Each floor of the military base was over four to five meters high, so one hundred floors equated to five hundred meters. The elevator would take about two minutes to reach the -100th floor.

Taking this opportunity, Zhang Heng carefully reconsidered his mission. It was still somewhat strange. Although it had been dangerous, this mission had been somewhat simple. Could it be that the tasks given by the Dimensional Star system only had illusions as their danger?

Soon, Zhang Heng realized he was wrong—dead wrong!

The moment Zhang Heng stepped out of the elevator, the ground beneath him began to rumble like distant thunder. Simultaneously, a long, ear-piercing sound approached from afar, emitting an unusual hum.

The hum grew closer, and the vibrations intensified. Zhang Heng couldn’t help but rub his ears, feeling as if they were blocked by some invisible substance, making him uncomfortable.

“Is the atmospheric pressure rising?” Zhang Heng narrowed his eyes, pondering for a few seconds before suddenly looking up!

Above him was only a metal ceiling, so he couldn’t see anything. But Zhang Heng’s expression darkened. He cursed under his breath and, abandoning his usual caution, sprinted toward the stairwell safety exit!

Wearing his protective suit, Zhang Heng’s mobility far exceeded his usual agility. He leaped over a dozen steps at a time, and with the suit’s cushioning, he descended nearly ten floors in a second, reaching the next floor in two seconds!

But before Zhang Heng could descend several hundred floors, a deafening roar erupted! Immediately, the entire military base began to tremble violently, as if a magnitude ten earthquake had struck!

The Blood Moon—it must be the Blood Moon descending!

The so-called Blood Moon was a massive entity formed by the convergence of countless humans and creatures on Earth through the Marker. Its diameter could reach hundreds of kilometers, like a small asteroid. Its sheer mass was enough to trigger Earth’s tidal forces, causing a mass extinction of life on the planet!

Of course, a Blood Moon as large as the moon wouldn’t descend directly. At most, it would hover in low Earth orbit like a satellite. Its method of attack, as seen in Dead Space 3, involved extending tentacles from space, flattening everything on the surface like moving mountains!

Even before its descent, the atmospheric pressure it generated was enough to tear apart the atmosphere and even cause continental shelf tremors!

Clearly, Zhang Heng’s approach to the Black Marker via the elevator had triggered its counterattack. To protect itself, the Marker had even controlled the Blood Moon, attempting to annihilate the intruder in a mutual destruction!

Chapter 28: Return

How much destructive power did a single tentacle of the Blood Moon possess?

Even Zhang Heng himself wasn’t sure, but judging by the Blood Moon’s size, each tentacle had to be at least ten kilometers in diameter! A single tap on the ground would flatten the entire military base like a crushed soda can, turning it into a massive sheet of metal!

The violent tremors shook the heavens and earth. Zhang Heng could barely stand steady. The thick, bulletproof glass of the observation window in the massive space combat training arena shattered instantly.

At the same time, the top of the military base began emitting ear-splitting metallic groans. Zhang Heng didn’t need to think to know that the Blood Moon’s tentacle was already dangerously close!

With this thought, Zhang Heng made a sudden decision. Instead of heading for the safety of the stairwell, he dashed toward the shattered observation window.

As he reached the window, Zhang Heng leaped with all his might, shooting out like an arrow released from its bow, straight into the space combat training arena.

He was only on the negative one hundred and ninetieth floor, still fifty meters above the bottom of the training arena!

For an ordinary person, a fifty-meter fall would almost certainly be fatal. But Zhang Heng had injected himself with the pure T-virus, and he was wearing an exoskeleton armor. Could he survive the impact of a fifty-meter free fall?

Suspended in midair, Zhang Heng surprisingly calmed down. He even glanced upward, seeing a massive crimson tentacle, its tip adorned with a single eye, blotting out the sun and moon as it surged toward the military base like a pillar holding up the sky! Countless alloys and steels were torn apart under its crushing force the moment it made contact.

First floor! Second floor! Third floor!

One floor after another was crushed into rubble by the enormous tentacle. Countless chunks of concrete and steel sprayed out from the observation window like squeezed sardines, raining down on Zhang Heng’s head in a chaotic yet strangely magnificent spectacle!

The next second, Zhang Heng’s legs landed heavily on the ground. The hydraulic joints of his exoskeleton let out agonized metallic creaks. Then, his hands braced against the floor. Zhang Heng felt his entire body shudder as if it were about to fall apart. Simultaneously, the floor beneath his feet cracked, revealing a long, deep fissure.

Gritting his teeth against the searing pain in his hands and feet, Zhang Heng abruptly stood up. Without even glancing at the Blood Moon’s tentacle looming just above him, he accelerated toward the Marker.

“Right, time!” The moment Zhang Heng reached the Black Marker, a crucial thought struck him—how much time had passed since he entered the Dead Space dimension? According to Dimensional Star’s rules, when he first entered the Resident Evil dimension, the transmission cooldown was forty-eight hours. Back then, he only had intern clearance. After completing the mission, his clearance was upgraded to E-level, reducing the cooldown to thirty-six hours.

So, how much time had actually passed?

Zhang Heng’s face paled. He couldn’t bear to imagine what would happen if the cooldown hadn’t ended—he wouldn’t be able to escape this world at all!

Also, although he hadn’t found any documents on the DNA Evolution Code, he had seen the symbols on the Black Marker. Did that count as obtaining the DNA Evolution Code?

Finally, how was he supposed to bring such a massive Marker back to reality? Would simply touching it with his hand be enough?

These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Zhang Heng looked up again, seeing the Blood Moon’s colossal tentacle, which had already obliterated over a hundred floors. Countless chunks of concrete and steel were falling through the massive hole above him. In a matter of seconds, he would be buried deep underground!

With this realization, Zhang Heng gritted his teeth, his face contorted with unwillingness. He gripped a corner of the Black Marker tightly with one hand and shouted at the top of his lungs:

“Dimensional Star, return me!”

Zhang Heng’s eyes were bloodshot. The next second, a massive chunk of concrete collapsed, slamming into his position with a deafening roar!

…

“Temporal-spatial conversion complete. Beginning mission scan.”

“Dead Space dimension mission completed. Primary mission: Obtain the ‘Marker’ DNA Evolution Code and maintain sanity under the Marker’s psychic influence until the end—primary mission completed.”

“Optional mission: Obtain a ‘Marker’—optional mission completed.”

“Emergency mission: None—no emergency mission detected.”

“Final assessment: Dead Space mission completed. Host clearance progress: one-third of E-level. Current clearance: E.”

Zhang Heng slowly opened his eyes.

One moment, he was on the verge of being crushed into a meat pancake; the next, he was back in the peaceful reality. The extreme contrast left Zhang Heng’s mind in a daze.

In truth, the moment he heard Dimensional Star’s voice, he knew he had survived and hadn’t died in that cursed dimension.

He turned his head in a slight daze, finding himself sitting at the computer desk in the warehouse—the same position he had been in before the transmission.

This place was the massive warehouse Li Jianguo had given him. Apart from his jacket being replaced with an Earth Government Special Operations protective suit, everything else was unchanged, as if he had never moved an inch.

But what was this wall next to him?

Zhang Heng couldn’t help but look up, seeing a pitch-black wall towering twenty meters high, nearly piercing through the warehouse’s ceiling. The wall was covered in countless arcane and mysterious symbols. A second later, Zhang Heng came to his senses, his expression changing abruptly.

“Damn it!”

This wasn’t a wall at all—it was the Black Marker he had brought back from the Dead Space dimension!

Fortunately, he had transmitted from inside the warehouse. If he had been in his rented apartment, the entire building would have collapsed under the Black Marker’s weight!

But that was secondary. What truly terrified Zhang Heng was that this thing was a superweapon capable of destroying the world. If there was a corpse nearby in the warehouse, the Necromorphs from Dead Space would likely appear in reality!

Zhang Heng broke out in a cold sweat. But the next second, Yulian’s delicate childlike voice echoed in his mind again. “Ding ding ding ding! Yulian is back! I really didn’t expect Host Uncle to actually complete this mission. I thought you would be demoted or even die!”

As her voice appeared, the image of the two-dimensional demon loli also materialized on Zhang Heng’s right retinal display. Yulian seemed extremely excited, spinning in circles and scattering flower petals overhead, looking utterly delighted.

“You?” Zhang Heng furrowed his brow. “What happened earlier? Why did you disappear after entering the Dead Space dimension?”

“It was the Marker’s magnetic field interference.” Yulian waved her hand. “The Marker’s magnetic field conflicts with Dimensional Star. Although it can’t harm Dimensional Star, the combination of the two would cause irreversible damage to your brain, Host Uncle. So, according to the rules, Dimensional Star shut Yulian down. That’s why Yulian could only meet you again after the mission was completed!”

Zhang Heng nodded. This explanation aligned with his own suspicions. However, he still had doubts. “What about now? The Marker is right next to me. Won’t it affect me?”

“The Marker has been deactivated by Dimensional Star.” Yulian chuckled. “A dormant Marker is just a statue. Unless it’s reactivated, it won’t produce the magnetic field that affects human minds!”

Indeed, Zhang Heng couldn’t help but marvel at Dimensional Star’s power. The history of Dead Space was set in the twenty-sixth century, with technology decades ahead of Earth’s current level, yet it was still destroyed by the Marker. But Dimensional Star could easily deactivate the Marker—this was on a whole other level.

Chapter 29: Meme Technology

Zhang Heng shook his head, not bothering to argue with Yulian any further.

Only now did he have the time to properly examine the Marker. He placed his hand on the massive statue, feeling its icy chill. The Marker’s material resembled metal, with two long, spiraling bands twisted around each other at two hundred seventy degrees, forming a mountain-like sculpture. The surface was covered in dense symbols—a mix of cuneiform and hieroglyphics—giving it the appearance of a grand work of art, awe-inspiring to behold.

The Marker was a high-level civilization’s wireless transmitter, capable of influencing the minds and DNA of living beings. Its creators had placed it on planets where civilization might emerge. If a civilization did arise, they would eventually discover the Marker.

The Marker was also designed to be easily replicated. Every fragment contained complete information, and the illusion of it receiving energy would lead the planet’s species to believe it had infinite power, prompting them to attempt replication. This was why humans had replicated thirteen of them.

The Marker could influence the minds of living beings. In humans, this interference manifested as depression and other mental illnesses, ultimately leading to self-destruction. After death, the Marker would further alter their cells, transforming them into creatures known as Necromorphs. Finally, at the appropriate time, the Marker would begin to converge and assimilate, forming the Blood Moon, awaiting the Creator’s resource recovery.

This was the ultimate secret behind the entire Dead Space series and the true purpose of the Marker.

Zhang Heng carefully recalled this information, then asked curiously, “The Marker is impressive, but what’s the point of the mission Dimensional Star assigned? Does the Marker have another use?”

“The Marker is actually a quantum computer. Creating illusions is just its basic function. Its greatest capability is creating virtual space technology. Additionally, through its runes, it possesses a small amount of meme technology, which can defy logic to disrupt the DNA of corpses, reviving the dead and causing genetic mutations.”

Behind Yulian, a large poster of the Marker suddenly appeared. She had transformed into a researcher wearing a white lab coat and black-rimmed glasses, pointing at the poster with a teaching rod as she explained seriously.

“Quantum computer?” Zhang Heng’s eyes lit up. “So the Marker can be used by me?”

“Bingo! Correct!” Yulian grinned. “The Marker has an AI with an intelligence roughly equivalent to a human between ten and fifteen years old. Its computing power is several trillion times greater than the most advanced computer in this world, surpassing this world’s technology by hundreds of years.”

“I see. But I still don’t understand one thing.” Zhang Heng nodded. “Why is the mission to obtain the DNA evolution code from the Marker? Are these symbols on the Marker more important than the Marker itself?”

“Yulian already explained it! The Marker also contains some basic meme technology, which can defy logic to disrupt the DNA of corpses. This is the Marker’s strongest function. Compared to this, its computing and illusion-creating abilities are trivial.”

“Meme technology? Isn’t a meme just the pattern of information transmission? How does that become technology?” Zhang Heng was taken aback. He had been overjoyed upon hearing the Marker’s functions earlier and hadn’t paid close attention to Yulian’s explanation. Now, he realized that this so-called meme technology was actually the Marker’s most valuable asset.

“Meme technology is like biotechnology, electronic technology, mechanical technology—it’s a branch of science. But what makes meme technology unique is its anti-logical nature.”

“Anti-logical?”

“You see, any technology has logic behind it. For example, biotechnology can create a clone, resulting in two identical people. Is that illogical? No, because science can achieve it, so it’s logical.”

“Meme technology, on the other hand, has no logic. You don’t know why this string of characters can alter the DNA of a corpse, but you know it can. That’s meme technology.”

“But how did ancient humans know biotechnology could create clones? If we follow this reasoning, wouldn’t biotechnology have been meme technology to them?” Zhang Heng countered.

“How could that be?” Yulian waved her tiny hand, took a deep breath, and said, “Let me put it another way. Do you know what genes are?” Without waiting for Zhang Heng to nod, she continued, “Memes are similar to genes—they spread through replication and imitation. Memes are like information that can spread through various mediums, something other technologies can’t do.”

Seeing Zhang Heng still looked confused, Yulian’s round little face sighed helplessly. “Then let Yulian give you an example.”

“Once, in a human plane that was destroyed, archaeologists unearthed a sculpture before its destruction. It was an abstract sculpture—no one could tell what era it was from, when it was built, what its purpose was, or who made it.”

“At first, no one paid much attention to it. But after the archaeological team kept the sculpture to themselves, they began discussing it unconsciously—its purpose, its artistic beauty.”

“But as time passed, their minds seemed to be bewitched by the sculpture. Everyone went mad, trying to describe its appearance to others. And whoever heard the description—even just its size or other data—would also be affected, compelled to describe it to others. In the end, the entire plane was destroyed this way.”

Zhang Heng listened in stunned silence. “Is that even possible? Isn’t that like a mental virus? Like a computer virus that keeps infecting other computers until everything crashes?”

“If there were a transmission medium, it could be called a mental virus. Viruses need a source and mediums like air or blood to spread. But that sculpture? Nothing. No source, no medium—completely illogical.” Yulian smirked. “Do you get it now, big guy?”

Zhang Heng couldn’t help but fall into deep thought. So this was meme technology? It wasn’t that he didn’t believe it—it was just that the explanation defied scientific principles, reaching a metaphysical level.

“Of course, not all memes can alter human DNA or destroy worlds.” Yulian continued, “Just like weapons themselves aren’t good or evil—it depends on the user. Your world has already started developing the concept of ‘memes,’ but it’s still in its earliest stages. It hasn’t truly grasped the power of memes. To reach the level of applying memes, it would take at least five hundred more years.”

“Then, is there a way to counter meme attacks?” Zhang Heng’s expression turned solemn. If such an attack method truly existed, then biological viruses, even nuclear weapons, would pale in comparison to meme weapons.

No bloodshed, no killing—just a piece of information could destroy human civilization. This was… the hand of God!

“Of course there’s a solution to memes.” Yulian answered confidently. “You just need a counter-meme. For example, in the case of that sculpture, if someone in that plane had developed another meme that made everyone forget the sculpture’s data, wouldn’t the problem be solved?”

“So only memes can counter memes?” Zhang Heng sighed bitterly. That’s basically saying nothing at all.

“No, memes aren’t invincible. No matter how powerful they are, they’re still a form of science. And above science, there’s philosophy. For example, in philosophy’s causal studies, using causal weapons can even ‘rollback,’ ‘modify,’ or ‘delete’—directly ‘deleting’ the existence of that meme. Compared to that, memes are as laughable as children playing house.”

“Memes also have classifications. Functionally, they’re divided into ‘solvable memes’ and ‘unsolvable memes.’ Some memes become ineffective after one use, some have limited effects, and some can’t even affect humans. These are solvable memes. Memes are also categorized by their spread—‘single memes,’ ‘multiple memes,’ and ‘phenomenon-level memes.’ Single memes don’t spread and only affect one substance, while phenomenon-level memes are powerful—theoretically, their spread is limitless.”

A flood of unfamiliar knowledge poured from Yulian’s mouth, leaving Zhang Heng completely bewildered. Finally, he waved his hands repeatedly. “Alright, alright, we can talk about this later. Right now, I just want to know—can I modify the Marker’s programming? At least make it usable for me.”

“Of course! The Dimensional Star research system is designed to assist the host in scientific research missions. Modifying a technological artifact like the Marker is no problem.”

“Then what should I do?” Hearing Yulian’s confirmation, Zhang Heng’s heart leapt with joy.

“With the current technological level of your plane, you’ll need custom-made special instruments. The required tools are…” As she spoke, a large amount of technical data was directly input into Zhang Heng’s brain through Dimensional Star. In an instant, he understood.

So many materials were needed, and even a supercomputer was required as an information converter for the Marker?

Zhang Heng was stunned.

Just then, the phone on the computer desk suddenly rang. Zhang Heng had to pause his conversation with Yulian. When he checked, it was Li Jianguo calling—and not for the first time. There were over a dozen missed calls from him.

So many missed calls—it was like a death knell. He had no idea what it could be about.

Helpless, Zhang Heng answered the call.

Chapter 30: NO.030 Establishing a Company

“Zhang Heng, you finally answered the phone.” The moment the call connected, Li Jianguo’s slightly anxious voice came through the line.

“Sorry, I had a few drinks yesterday and went straight to bed when I got home. I just woke up.” Zhang Heng cleared his throat, offering a quick excuse.

“Ah, young people, I understand.” Li Jianguo didn’t press further, though he sounded a bit awkward. “Er… I’m calling to tell you that the National Medical Products Administration and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have officially contacted me. They’re very interested in your T-1 and want to meet you and your team.”

“Uncle Li, do you remember what we agreed on before?” Zhang Heng frowned immediately. “I don’t want to meet anyone, not even government officials. You mustn’t betray me.”

“Alright, alright, no meetings then.” Li Jianguo chuckled awkwardly. He had expected this response and didn’t push the matter. “But the government has offered to buy fifty percent of T-1’s shares for five billion yuan. I know it’s not much compared to T-1’s actual value, but we’d still retain production and sales rights. Aside from the conditions that domestic supply must come first and the formula can’t be leaked, they’re willing to compensate with policy support and a seventy percent tax exemption.”

“That should do.” Zhang Heng nodded. “Uncle Li, go ahead with that.”

“Alright, I’ll arrange for the five billion to be transferred to your account shortly.”

“No, Uncle Li, according to our contract, I own forty percent, and you own ten. So forty billion for me will be enough.” Zhang Heng wasn’t insatiably greedy. He knew that even if he took all fifty billion, Li Jianguo wouldn’t say anything. But he had seen how much effort Li Corporation had put in, and giving up ten billion to maintain goodwill was no issue. After all, this was just the first income. If T-1 were to be sold globally in the future, the profits would be in the hundreds of billions.

“Alright, then I won’t refuse.” Li Jianguo laughed heartily. “Oh, by the way, the paperwork for the company you asked me to register in the British Bermuda Islands is almost done. All that’s left is your signature and the company name.”

“Got it. I’ll go buy a ticket to Bermuda tomorrow.” Zhang Heng nodded in satisfaction, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then hung up.

After ending the call, the warehouse felt especially quiet. Zhang Heng replayed the conversation in his mind, slowly narrowing his eyes as he took a deep breath.

Though he had known his life would change when he obtained the Dimensional Star, it wasn’t until this first massive sum of money was securely in his pocket that Zhang Heng truly felt like the clouds had parted.

From this moment on, his life would be completely different!

A smile slowly curled at the corner of his mouth.

Then, as if unable to stop himself, the smile spread across his face until Zhang Heng couldn’t help but clench his fists and laugh maniacally!

Had he finally taken the first step toward his dream?

How long had it been?

Since he had lost hope in this world, how much time had passed?

Just as he thought he was about to step into society, to accept those invisible shackles and unspoken rules, just as he thought he would live an ordinary life, heaven had given him such an enormous opportunity!

Zhang Heng knew he was walking a path no one had ever walked before—a path that defied the ordinary, that broke free from the masses. From now on, he would experience the unknown with the bearing of someone above the rest!

This path might be filled with thorns, where one step could mean life and the next an endless abyss, but the scenery along the way… was infinitely beautiful!

Zhang Heng laughed wildly, doubling over, laughing until tears streamed down his face!

The world never lacked opportunities—only people who could seize them. Zhang Heng refused to be just another face in the crowd. He wanted to take his fate into his own hands. Even in death, he wanted to choose his own way!

Money and power were never Zhang Heng’s goals, but they were the most important means to achieve them!

From this day forward, Zhang Heng would no longer be ordinary, no longer remain silent. He had found the meaning of his life, and that meaning was not to be some savior or to rescue humanity!

His meaning was simply to break free from the so-called rules, to grasp his own destiny!

And with the Dimensional Star, he had an infinite future, infinite challenges!

…

Three days later, a company named “Hengxin Biotechnology Co., Ltd.” was quietly established in the British Bermuda Islands. As an offshore company, it could bypass many restrictions—such as government constraints, the ability for one person to hold the roles of shareholder, legal representative, and director, maximizing power. No matter where the company operated, it would be considered a foreign enterprise, and the absolute confidentiality of shareholders was guaranteed.

The name “Hengxin” was derived from the character “Heng” in Zhang Heng’s name. His parents had named him Zhang Heng hoping he would have perseverance, that he would persist in whatever he did.

Understanding his parents’ expectations, Zhang Heng had simply used the transliteration “Hengxin” to name his company.

Moreover, “Hengxin” also represented the sun, symbolizing light and hope. The name might even carry the implication of leading humanity through trials and breaking through some future catastrophe.

After registering the company, Zhang Heng returned to Haizhou. As an international metropolis, Haizhou was the starting line for the company’s development in Zhang Heng’s mind.

However, the formula for T-1 had already been handed over to the government, and production and sales rights had been given to Li Pharmaceutical Group. So what the new company would actually do, Zhang Heng hadn’t yet decided. If he became stronger in the future, he planned to return to the Resident Evil dimension and bring back the supercomputer data from that world.

The technology in the Resident Evil dimension, aside from biotechnology, also included advanced electronics far beyond Earth’s current level. A prime example was the “Red Queen” from the first Resident Evil game—a supercomputer that could project a holographic image of a little girl. Though still rigid, it was far closer to true artificial intelligence than modern computers.

And while the Red Queen’s technology was advanced, it was only about ten years ahead of current standards. If Zhang Heng could obtain it, his company would instantly become a leader in global electronics.

As for even more advanced technology, that was no longer modern—it was more like black technology.

For instance, the Black Marker. Zhang Heng didn’t dare expose this at all. His warehouse still held the special operations suit from the Dead Space dimension, which contained abilities like “Kinesis” and “Stasis” that involved mature quantum science applications, surpassing the real world by hundreds of years.

However, Yulian had provided Zhang Heng with a development direction: modifying the Black Marker’s programming to make it usable for himself. At the time, Yulian had input a long list of materials into Zhang Heng’s brain. Since many of the technologies were beyond current reality, she had only provided the raw materials and design blueprints. Zhang Heng’s task was to gather the materials and manufacture the necessary equipment to support the Marker.

But this was far beyond what Zhang Heng could handle alone. So he contacted Li Jianguo again, using Li Jianguo’s connections to reach out to over a dozen machinery and electronics manufacturers. He spent over two billion yuan to set everything in motion.

“What exactly are you planning, kid? Your team is supposed to be in biomedical research, so why are you getting involved in electronics?” Li Jianguo sounded bewildered over the phone—no, not just bewildered, but shocked!

This was a massive investment! Willing to spend three hundred million dollars on a custom supercomputer from IBM, and that was just the beginning. There were also various high-precision semiconductor components, high-accuracy laser transmission devices, high-precision electronic parts, and more.

Even Li Jianguo, the president of Li Corporation, was stunned by the scale of this order. And there were all kinds of machine parts he had never even heard of. If he hadn’t used his overseas connections, some of the materials might not have been obtainable at all!

“This is a trade secret.” Zhang Heng just laughed it off, quickly changing the subject. “Uncle Li, you’ll have to keep an eye on this shipment for me. Tell them to hurry—it has to be ready within a month.”

“So soon?” Li Jianguo was taken aback.

“The sooner, the better.” Zhang Heng nodded. “Oh, by the way, Uncle Li, do you have any connections in the development zone? I want to build a building there.”

“Build a building? There are so many office buildings in the South Third Ring High-Tech Development Zone—why build one?” Li Jianguo was at a loss.

“I’m not building some small company. I’ll need at least a few hundred employees, and ordinary office buildings won’t cut it.”

“If that’s the case, you’ll probably need to talk to the Municipal Commerce Bureau and the Land Bureau.” Li Jianguo considered for a moment. “If you’re investing as a foreign company in the Haizhou Development Zone, it shouldn’t be too difficult. But listen, Zhang Heng, you really should start building your own team. Outsiders can’t handle these things—you need your own people.”

Only then did Zhang Heng realize why he had been feeling so overwhelmed lately—it was because he didn’t have enough manpower.

Chapter 31: Bought a Car!

After discussing with Li Jianguo on the phone for a while, Zhang Heng hung up.

Seeing so many missed calls, for some reason, Zhang Heng suddenly thought of his parents again.

Was he homesick?

Zhang Heng shook his head in disbelief. He realized he hadn’t been home in half a year.

Ever since he started his internship in his senior year, he had been busy nonstop. First, he found a job as an intern at a pharmaceutical factory, but less than three months in, the Dimensional Star incident happened. By the time he gradually adapted to his current life, he realized it had been a long time since he last went home.

The aging faces of his parents flashed in his mind. His parents were honest people. His father used to work at a company but was fired later, so he had to start his own small business, enduring wind and sun to support the family.

His mother, to take care of him and his sister as much as possible, never worked. The two elders had worked hard all their lives to send him to college, just so he could make something of himself and bring glory to his ancestors.

Zhang Heng suddenly took a deep breath, feeling an impulse to share his joy with his family. Without hesitation, he bought a plane ticket to Chongzhou, then spent a little time posting the company’s recruitment information online. By the time he returned from home in a week, he should have a few applicants lined up.

Since it was just after the New Year, plane tickets weren’t hard to come by. The next day, Zhang Heng boarded a flight back to Chongzhou. After several hours of flying, he finally breathed in the familiar yet strange air of his hometown.

A smile unconsciously curled at the corner of Zhang Heng’s mouth. Ever since he started college, every time school was on break and he bought a ticket home, he felt a faint excitement and urgency, wanting to return to that warm home that had long melted into his blood and bones.

This time, after experiencing several ups and downs and life-and-death situations, he suddenly realized his longing for home was even stronger!

But… could he really go back empty-handed?

Zhang Heng remembered that although his family wasn’t wealthy, they were considered well-off. But after his father was fired, life suddenly became difficult. His father had to sell his beloved car to make ends meet.

Since then, Zhang Heng’s family had been hovering around the poverty line.

Thinking of his father, who now had to ride a motorcycle through the streets, tanned and roughened by the sun, Zhang Heng’s eyes softened. He made up his mind to buy his father a car.

With that in mind, Zhang Heng didn’t go home immediately. Instead, he took a taxi to the largest car market in the city.

Zhang Heng wasn’t a car enthusiast. In fact, aside from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, he couldn’t recognize any other car brands. He didn’t plan to choose based on brand, performance, or price. What was most important was that the car would make his parents proud in front of relatives and neighbors without being too flashy.

With that in mind, Zhang Heng cleared his throat and walked into the bustling car market.

As soon as he entered, a saleswoman who had just seen off a customer came up to him with a friendly smile. “Hello, sir. Are you here to look at cars?”

“That’s right. I want to see if there’s a suitable car. Do you have any good recommendations?” Zhang Heng nodded, scanning the cars on display under the bright lights.

The saleswoman frowned slightly. The customer had said he was just looking, which, based on her experience, meant the chance of him buying a car was very slim, almost negligible.

But following professional etiquette, the saleswoman still softly said, “What price range are you looking at? We have ordinary, mid-range, and luxury cars here.”

Zhang Heng was taken aback. He hadn’t considered the price range. Given his current assets, he could buy ten Bugatti Veyrons without blinking, but that was completely unnecessary.

Chinese people generally don’t like to show off. With the Bugatti Veyron’s exaggerated design, even if he bought one, Zhang Heng wouldn’t feel comfortable driving it, let alone his parents.

So, Zhang Heng, who didn’t know much about cars, hesitated for a moment before saying, “Er, not too expensive. A mid-range car should be fine.”

“Alright, please follow me.”

The saleswoman smiled lightly and led Zhang Heng to the middle section of the exhibition area, pointing to dozens of cars. “What type of car are you looking for? Business, private, or SUV? Two rows or three?”

Zhang Heng raised an eyebrow. Maybe it was the lighting, but all the cars looked dazzling, making it hard to tell which was good. So he said, “A private car is enough. A famous brand would be even better.”

The saleswoman couldn’t help but smile bitterly, pointing to one of the cars. “Sir, please take a look. This is a BMW 3 Series 320 model. It has a four-cylinder engine, and in terms of performance and design, it’s a classic among sedans. The overall lines are smooth, and in terms of performance, it’s a very good choice among mid-range sedans.”

Zhang Heng’s eyes lit up. He tilted his head and walked around the car, nodding. BMW was the brand he had heard the most about. He remembered a female guest on a show once bluntly saying, “I’d rather cry in a BMW than laugh on a bicycle,” which made him remember what BMW represented.

Buying a BMW for his father should be good, so Zhang Heng was tempted. “How much does this car cost?”

“As a mid-range car, this one is very cheap. The car itself is 280,000 yuan, and with all the fees, it won’t exceed 300,000 yuan.” Seeing Zhang Heng’s expression, the saleswoman’s heart leaped. Was he going to buy it?

Although she had initially thought there was little hope, after all, it was just a possibility. Anyone who came in had some intention to buy, and every person was a potential customer. She couldn’t afford not to take it seriously.

“Only 300,000? That’s too cheap.” But Zhang Heng was taken aback and shook his head.

His idea of a mid-range car was at least a few million.

“What price range are you looking at?” The saleswoman looked at Zhang Heng in surprise, unsure if he was here to mess with her or really wanted to buy a car.

Although there were many wealthy people who were low-key and hard to tell from their appearance, Zhang Heng, dressed in street clothes and looking about twenty years old, didn’t seem like a rich person.

“Over a million?” Zhang Heng looked at her. As the saying goes, confidence comes from having the means, and this old saying didn’t deceive him. If he were still his old self, he probably wouldn’t even have entered this car market. But now, with a net worth of several billion, and having escaped death a couple of times, Zhang Heng had gradually developed a mysterious and noble aura. A single sentence from him could make people believe.

“Then, those are luxury cars. Are you sure you want that kind?” The saleswoman’s eyes flickered with panic. Zhang Heng’s eyes were pure black, like a deep night, drawing people in. Looking into his eyes, she felt as if she were facing a leader, which made her, who had seen countless people, a little unsure.

“Whether I buy or not, take me to see them first.” Zhang Heng saw the saleswoman’s reaction and knew she was underestimating him, but he didn’t mind. Confident people usually don’t care about others’ opinions.

The saleswoman frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, then stomped her foot and followed closely behind Zhang Heng. After all, whether he bought or not, she couldn’t afford to conflict with him. A decent job wasn’t easy to come by these days.

The deeper they went into the car market, the more expensive the cars on display became. Gradually, various colored sports cars appeared on the stands. Even Zhang Heng, who wasn’t particularly interested in cars, couldn’t help but admire these world-famous cars under the lights.

Finally, Zhang Heng stopped in front of a pure black sedan. This car was in the luxury car exhibition area, with the most common shape, but the silver-trimmed design exuded an elegant feel, looking steady and unassuming, barely meeting Zhang Heng’s requirements.

“What’s this car called?” Zhang Heng looked at the four rings on the hood and asked with interest.

“Er…” The saleswoman’s eye twitched. He didn’t even recognize this brand? She smiled bitterly but still professionally said, “Audi A8L, this is the top configuration, with a 6.3L 368KW engine, 8-speed automatic, priced at 2.75 million yuan, and with all the fees, it’s about 3 million yuan. If you think it’s expensive, we have standard configurations…”

“No need, this one will do.” Zhang Heng snapped his fingers and suddenly asked, “If I pay now, can I drive it away immediately?”

“Ah?” The saleswoman was stunned for a moment before reacting, shaking her head repeatedly. “That’s impossible. The paperwork takes several hours, and there are insurance and license plate issues…”

Zhang Heng frowned. He didn’t understand these procedures and didn’t need to. So he simply said, “Half an hour, 100,000.”

“What?” The saleswoman looked at Zhang Heng in confusion.

“Whether you find your manager to figure it out or do something else, solve all the problems within half an hour, and this 100,000 is yours.” Zhang Heng narrowed his eyes.

“But…” The saleswoman was already dumbfounded, muttering subconsciously.

“200,000.”

“I…”

“300,000.” Zhang Heng interrupted her calmly, looking at his watch, leaving no room for argument. “300,000 is the highest price I’m willing to pay. Half an hour to solve it. I won’t say it a second time.”

The saleswoman took a deep breath, suppressing the joy in her brows, and nodded decisively. “Deal!”

Chapter 32: Mom and Dad

Half an hour later, Zhang Heng drove the black Audi with temporary plates out of the car market. Although he had spent an extra three hundred thousand, Zhang Heng didn’t care at all. With his current assets, three hundred thousand was no different from thirty yuan.

As he drove the car away, Zhang Heng found himself in a dilemma. In his entire life, he had never even touched a motorcycle, let alone a car. He didn’t even know which pedal was the accelerator and which was the brake. So, he asked the dealership staff to drive the car home for him—a service the dealership provided.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Zhang Heng kept glancing at the driver’s movements out of the corner of his eye. Thanks to the T-virus’s enhancement of his body, it didn’t take long for him to grasp the basics of driving.

Zhang Heng’s home was in an old residential complex. As far back as he could remember, he had lived there.

The buildings from that era were mostly five or six stories high, with no elevators or electronic security doors. Compared to modern high-rise apartments, they were as shabby as slums.

Stepping out of the car, Zhang Heng took back the keys and gave the driver a tip before excitedly heading home. He couldn’t wait to see the surprised expressions on his parents’ faces.

Most of the people in the neighborhood were elderly. As soon as Zhang Heng entered the building, he spotted a familiar figure—Old Man Liu, his neighbor of over a decade.

“Old Man Liu, going out to play mahjong again?” Zhang Heng greeted him.

“Huh? Little Heng?” The old man blinked in surprise before smiling. “You’re supposed to be in Haizhou for university. What are you doing back so soon?”

“I missed home, so of course I came back,” Zhang Heng replied briefly. “How’s your health been lately?”

“Good, good. Just always short a player. You’ve changed a lot since I last saw you.” Old Man Liu gave Zhang Heng a once-over, slightly surprised, but then remembered he was waiting for his mahjong partners. He waved at Zhang Heng before hurrying out of the building.

Zhang Heng didn’t mind. In a few quick strides, he reached the third floor and stood before his familiar front door. He took a deep breath, then knocked loudly. “Mom, I’m back! Open the door!”

The sound of slippers shuffling against the floor came from inside. A few seconds later, Zhang Heng’s father appeared at the door, but unlike his son’s excitement, his father looked bewildered.

“Little Heng, why are you back?”

“Dad, I haven’t been home in half a year. It’s right after New Year—can’t I come back to visit?” Zhang Heng grinned sheepishly. He had grown up under his father’s strict discipline, and though his father hadn’t “educated” him in years, the old tiger’s lingering intimidation still made him nervous.

“Don’t tell me you got fired?” As the saying goes, no one knows a son better than his father. Zhang Heng’s father eyed him suspiciously, unable to resist lecturing, “Young people need to endure hardship. Without hardship, how can you achieve great things?”

At that moment, Zhang Heng’s mother, wearing an apron, appeared at the kitchen door. Overjoyed to see her son, she was about to greet him when she heard her husband’s words. She immediately scolded, “You old fool! It’s not easy for our son to come home. No matter why he’s back, you shouldn’t say things like that!”

“Mom, it’s fine.” Zhang Heng quickly dodged his father’s nagging and made his way to the kitchen.

When he saw the familiar dishes on the table, his smile grew even wider. “Mom, looks like I came back at the perfect time.”

“One look at you and I can tell you haven’t eaten. You really should’ve called ahead so I could make more dishes.” His mother sighed.

While Zhang Heng was excited, his parents’ reactions were much more subdued. After all, they had no idea about the life-and-death struggles their son faced outside—those weren’t just figures of speech; they were real battles for survival.

Every three months, a mission meant another trial of life and death. Perhaps the next time he went on a mission, Zhang Heng would die there. In such an uncertain life, how could he not cherish the time he had with his parents?

Soon, the family finished their reunion meal in a warm atmosphere.

After lunch, Zhang Heng sat on the sofa with his father, “reporting” everything about his life in Haizhou—though, of course, it was all fabricated to put his parents at ease.

“You’re saying you casually invented a drug that even caught the nation’s attention, and they rewarded you with hundreds of millions?” His father wasn’t shocked by the story. He took a deep drag of his cigarette and looked at Zhang Heng skeptically.

“Yeah, it was all luck. If I hadn’t stumbled upon it by chance, I probably couldn’t have developed it.” Zhang Heng spread his hands, feeling a little guilty.

“Are you pulling your old man’s leg?” His father glared.

“Dad, whether I’m pulling your leg or not, you’ll know once we go downstairs.” Zhang Heng grinned, then dragged his father out the door without another word.

“What’s going on? Do you have some secret you can’t tell me?”

Zhang Heng sighed inwardly. No matter how successful he was outside, at home, he was still the same Zhang Heng—the one who flinched at his father’s sternness.

Downstairs, his father looked around before turning to Zhang Heng. “What do you want me to see?”

Zhang Heng didn’t say a word. He just took the car keys from his pocket and slapped them into his father’s palm. “Dad, this car is for you!”

“A car? You’ve got a good heart.” His father softened, not looking closely. He pressed the unlock button, and the headlights of a sleek black sedan with silver trim flashed twice.

“Huh?”

Only then did his father realize the car was right in front of him. He looked at the four rings on the hood, then at the leather seats inside, and took a deep breath, incredulous. “This car… must’ve cost a fortune. Were you telling the truth earlier?”

“So you never believed me…” Zhang Heng was speechless.

After some coaxing, his father finally tried driving the car. Though it had been a long time since he’d driven, he was still an old hand—far more skilled than Zhang Heng.

Only when his mother called, impatient, did his father reluctantly return upstairs. As soon as he got home, he told his wife about their son buying a car.

“Is your father telling the truth?” His mother couldn’t believe it.

Zhang Heng nodded. “Mom, you get a gift too.”

“Me too?” His mother shook her head. “No need to buy me a car. I don’t know how to drive, and besides, you work hard for your money. Don’t waste it—you’ll need it to get married someday.”

Zhang Heng sighed. The older generation was famously frugal, so he wasn’t surprised by his mother’s response. He immediately said, “I have to spend it all eventually, Mom. Don’t worry so much. I’m planning to start a company, so money will keep coming in. I’ve already put fifty million in your account. When you and Dad have time, go buy a little villa in the suburbs. Grow some flowers, plant some grass. Don’t hesitate to buy whatever you want.”

“Dad, stop running your stall. When you’re free, take Mom out for a drive, or travel around the country together. And make sure you both get a full medical checkup every six months. Some diseases can’t be cured no matter how much money you have.”

Zhang Heng said everything he had wanted to say for a long time. After getting it all out, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

If there were people in this world Zhang Heng couldn’t bear to leave behind, it was his parents and his sister. The reason he had taken on the burden of Dimensional Star wasn’t just to save the world—it was also to give his family a chance to survive.

If he weren’t the host of Dimensional Star, when the apocalypse came, his ordinary parents would have no chance of survival.

Saying these things carried the weight of final words, but Zhang Heng had faced death twice. His mental resilience had grown far beyond that of an ordinary person. He spoke calmly, without a hint of unease.

His parents fell silent for a long time. Finally, his father sighed and smiled with relief. “Little Heng has really grown up. An Audi A8, a villa in the suburbs—your old man couldn’t earn this much in a lifetime. It’s rare to have such a successful son. Your old man can hold his head high now.”

His mother was even more dramatic. Her eyes reddened as she glared at her husband. “You think our son is like you? Busy all your life and still nothing to show for it. Fifty million! Even if we sold you, we couldn’t make that much. Our son is the best…”

“Woman, what do you know? If it weren’t for me setting an example, do you think this kid would’ve turned out so well?”

“All you ever did was hit him with a stick. Don’t think I don’t know…”

Zhang Heng smiled as he watched his parents bicker, his heart filled with bittersweet warmth. At the same time, he silently encouraged himself.

Even if it weren’t for the world, just for his parents to live in peace, Zhang Heng had to give his all and try to save this world.

Zhang Heng silently vowed that for his family, he could not die easily!

In the end, Zhang Heng still couldn’t convince his parents to buy a villa in the suburbs. To them, their current life was already satisfying. Though they weren’t rich, their life was peaceful and happy. Plus, their son had made a name for himself—what better way to show off to neighbors and relatives? Moving would mean losing that opportunity.

Zhang Heng ultimately couldn’t change his parents’ habits.

But since he was back, he decided to rest at home for a few days.

Ever since his senior year internship, he hadn’t had a break. At first, it was three months of nervousness as he entered society. During those three months, Zhang Heng was swamped at the pharmaceutical factory, not even taking a single day off!

Then came Dimensional Star, followed by his first mission—a brush with death. After that, Zhang Heng spent two whole months developing T-0 and T-1, then immediately went on his second mission…

This relentless pace would have driven an ordinary person to collapse. Zhang Heng’s heart had long been burdened with exhaustion. Only now could he finally rest properly…

After lunch, Zhang Heng returned to his room and fell into a deep sleep. He slept like the dead, and when he woke up, it was already evening.

Chapter 33: Call from the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Zhang Heng was awakened by his mother’s knock on the door.

Groggily, he stumbled into the bathroom and splashed water on his face. Instantly, his mind cleared, and he felt refreshed. When he stepped out, his parents had already set the table for dinner in the living room.

After dinner, Zhang Heng had planned to continue his grand sleep schedule, but his father suddenly tapped his head with a chopstick.

“What’s up?” Zhang Heng jumped, thinking he must have done something wrong again to upset his father.

“Have you told Xiaoxin about your success?” his father asked, glaring at him.

“Not yet.” Zhang Heng shook his head in confusion. The “Xiaoxin” his father mentioned was his younger sister. She was four years younger than him and currently in her final year of high school, boarding at the main campus of Bashu High School. She only came home once a month.

Speaking of Bashu High School, the first thing that came to Chongzhou residents’ minds was its iconic slogan: “Today, I am proud to be part of Bashu; tomorrow, Bashu will be proud of me.”

Beyond that, it was known as the “Spendthrift School.”

Bashu High School was a genuine elite school, with wealthy students as numerous as fish crossing a river. However, its academic atmosphere was strong, ranking in the top five for college admission rates in Chongzhou. Thus, many ordinary people were willing to spend large sums of money to send their children there.

Zhang Heng’s sister was one such case.

Three years ago, during her middle school entrance exams, Zhang Xin had been nervous and underperformed, scoring just enough to get into a third-tier high school. Without hesitation, their father decided to tighten the family’s budget and spend the money to send Zhang Xin to the elite Bashu High School.

Because of this, Zhang Heng’s college tuition that semester had almost not been covered.

“Boys should be raised poor, girls should be raised rich”—this was a principle their father had always upheld. Unfortunately, this meant Zhang Heng had been forced to develop a habit of enduring hardship and independence from a young age.

However, Zhang Heng didn’t feel it was unfair. If he hadn’t developed a strong personality from a young age, he wouldn’t have survived the biochemical crisis. Faced with the issue of insufficient tuition, Zhang Heng simply took on an extra job and gritted his teeth to get through it.

Because of this, their father often felt guilty toward Zhang Heng.

In truth, the family’s financial strain wasn’t unrelated to Zhang Xin’s enrollment at Bashu. Setting aside tuition, the sponsorship fee of over thirty thousand yuan alone was enough to make an ordinary family sweat.

“Go, drive to pick up your sister and bring her home. Tomorrow, we’ll go out to celebrate together,” their father said, puffing on a post-dinner cigarette, seemingly on a whim.

“Now?” Zhang Heng was taken aback and instinctively checked the time.

“It’s Friday; school’s out,” his father waved impatiently. “Hurry up and go.”

“Fine.” Zhang Heng was speechless. His father’s favoritism wasn’t new, and he was long used to it. He grabbed the car keys and left the house.

After leaving, Zhang Heng didn’t head straight to Bashu High School. Checking the time, he saw that his sister’s evening self-study session wouldn’t end for another three hours. If he went now, he wouldn’t even be allowed through the school gates. So, he drove to the commercial district in the city center and spent half an hour giving himself a makeover.

When he emerged from the shopping mall, his old street clothes had been completely transformed. He wore a light blue Woodpecker casual suit over a white dress shirt, Versace jeans, and Iron Lion Tony casual combat boots. Admiring his cool, stylish reflection in the rearview mirror, Zhang Heng nodded in satisfaction. Finally, he put on a pair of Armani polarized sunglasses before driving toward Bashu High School again, dialing his sister’s number as he went.

“Hello?” A soft, gentle voice came through the phone.

“Hello? I’m your brother.”

“Bro, why are you calling me out of the blue?” The voice on the other end seemed nervous.

Zhang Heng sensed something was off. Listening carefully, he could faintly hear the loud noise of heavy metal music in the background. He raised an eyebrow. “Xiaoxin, where are you?”

“I… I’m in the study room,” the voice on the phone sounded flustered. “Oh no, the teacher’s coming. I have to hang up.” The line went dead with a beep.

Zhang Heng scoffed. He didn’t believe this poor excuse for a second. He dialed again, but before it could connect, he heard the automated message: “The number you have dialed is unavailable.”

Zhang Heng instantly felt a headache coming on. His sister was perfect in every way—beautiful, tall, and slender—but under their father’s indulgence, she had developed a spoiled and playful personality.

Her good looks combined with her playful nature meant she was bound to face more value conflicts than the average high schooler.

Zhang Heng had gone through that chaotic high school phase himself, so he understood all too well. High school was a liminal space between childhood and adulthood, where many people made their first mistakes—first cigarette, first drink, first fight, first skipped class, first love… even first forbidden fruit.

Because he knew how chaotic high school could be, Zhang Heng had personally warned his sister: “If I find out you’re not studying at Bashu and instead secretly dating, I’ll break both your legs and your partner’s!”

Of course, breaking legs was just hyperbole. Zhang Heng simply couldn’t bear the thought of his parents working from dawn till dusk, running a stall late into the night, earning money through hard labor, only for his sister to waste it all.

Thinking of this, Zhang Heng’s expression grew colder. If he hadn’t misheard, he had detected the heavy metal music that only played in bars coming from his sister’s phone.

With this in mind, Zhang Heng called his sister’s best friend, Yang Yang. Like his family, she lived in the same old apartment complex. Because they lived close, the two had become inseparable friends.

Unexpectedly, when Zhang Heng called, Yang Yang’s phone, like his sister’s, rang only briefly before going to a busy signal, as if she had seen the caller ID and hung up immediately.

Zhang Heng’s expression turned even more serious. He was now certain his sister was hiding something from him. In the next moment, he sent Yang Yang a message:

“I know you’re at a bar. You and Xiaoxin, remember to protect yourselves. If someone invites you somewhere, don’t agree no matter what! Even if it’s someone you know from school. Understand? I’m coming to pick up Xiaoxin now. Tell me the bar’s address, okay? Zhang Heng will be very grateful!”

After sending the message, Zhang Heng took a deep breath. For some reason, he felt an inexplicable restlessness, as if something bad was about to happen.

Just then, his phone rang. Zhang Heng answered without looking. “Hello, is that Xiaoxin? You—”

“Hello, Mr. Zhang Heng. I am Director Li Lian from the Chongzhou branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.” A middle-aged man’s deep voice came through the phone.

Zhang Heng was taken aback, swallowing the words he had been about to say. “Hello, what can I do for you?”

“I reviewed your records from the provincial human resources department and found your work in viral bioengineering quite impressive. I was wondering if you’d be interested in working at our Chongzhou branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences?” The voice was accustomed to giving orders, and even when offering praise, it was stiff and direct, with no beating around the bush.

“Sorry, no.” Since the other party was so straightforward, Zhang Heng saw no need for pleasantries and hung up immediately.

They must have found out he was the creator of T-1, which was why they had contacted him. Although Zhang Heng had told Li Jianguo not to reveal his identity, that could only fool ordinary people. Facing the state, Zhang Heng had no intention of hiding his identity—it was impossible anyway.

But no sooner had he hung up than his phone rang again. Glancing at it, he saw it was the same landline number as before.

“Hello, I have something important to do right now. If possible, please don’t bother me!” Zhang Heng answered irritably, cutting the other party off before they could speak. He was worried about his sister’s safety and had no time to waste on negotiations.

“Mr. Zhang Heng, if you’re not interested in joining us, we certainly won’t force you. However, I was wondering if you could provide us with the data for T-1? Our Chongzhou branch is willing to offer compensation in exchange.” The voice continued calmly.

Zhang Heng was stunned, then immediately became wary. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. What T-1? You must have the wrong number.”

“Mr. Zhang Heng, please don’t misunderstand. We are indeed from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. However, due to certain internal reasons, we must wait another month before we can obtain clearance to access T-1. So…” The voice on the phone sounded somewhat embarrassed.

Zhang Heng shook his head in annoyance. “Sorry, I really don’t have time right now. Let’s talk when I’m free, okay?” With that, he hung up again.

Meanwhile, not far from the outskirts of Chongzhou, inside a state-run military base, a middle-aged man in a dark green military uniform, with the insignia of a major general on his shoulders, slammed the phone down, his face dark with anger.

Around him, a group of white-haired researchers in lab coats covered their mouths, snickering, seemingly delighted to see the middle-aged man frustrated.

“Heh heh, Little Li, even with your major general rank as the branch director, they still don’t pay you any mind. Looks like your title isn’t worth much,” an elderly man with completely white hair mocked without restraint.

“Hmph! If he were my soldier, I would have tied him up and brought him here long ago!” The middle-aged general, called “Little Li,” snorted coldly. Reluctantly, he ordered two young researchers beside him, “Call him every day from now on. If he changes his mind, notify me immediately!”

“Understood!” The two saluted smartly.

Chapter 34: Delivered Right to the Door!

Just as Zhang Heng hung up the phone without hesitation, he received a text message the very next second.

Zhang Heng hurriedly opened it, and upon reading, his face lit up with joy—it was indeed a reply from Yang Yang!

But when he saw the content of the message, his expression changed completely!

“Drunken Haze Bar, Xin is in danger, come quickly!!!”

Those three exclamation marks were like a death knell, sending a chill down Zhang Heng’s spine. Without a second thought, he slammed the accelerator, turned the car around, and sped toward the Drunken Haze Bar!

Fortunately, Zhang Heng had taken note of the Drunken Haze Bar before. It was located not far from Bashu High School, just half a street away from the campus. He had once marveled at how someone could have the audacity to open a bar so close to a school—it was sheer boldness.

Since he had been driving while on the phone earlier, he had already covered most of the distance. After receiving the message, in less than ten minutes, Zhang Heng arrived at the entrance of the Drunken Haze Bar.

Screech!

The brand-new Audi A8 came to an abrupt halt in front of the bar, the tires screeching loudly against the pavement. Pedestrians on the street all turned in shock.

Zhang Heng had no time to worry about them. He shoved the car door open, yanked out the keys, and sprinted toward the bar entrance while redialing Yang Yang’s number.

“We’re sorry, the subscriber you have dialed is unavailable. Please try again later…”

Zhang Heng’s heart sank. Not only was his sister unreachable, but even Yang Yang was now out of contact. This could only mean one thing—the situation had spiraled beyond what the two girls could handle!

They needed help—urgently!

But as he reached the bar’s entrance, two burly security guards in suits immediately blocked his path. “Excuse me, sir, do you have a reservation?”

The two bodyguards had been watching Zhang Heng since he stepped out of the car. His frantic behavior made it clear he wasn’t here for a casual drink—experience had taught them that much.

Still, seeing the Audi A8 he drove and his designer clothes, they maintained a polite demeanor instead of outright hostility.

But Zhang Heng had no time to waste on them. His face darkened as he demanded, “Where are Zhang Xin and Yang Yang?”

The two guards exchanged a glance, a flicker of tension in their eyes. One of them quickly forced a polite smile. “I’m sorry, sir—”

Bang!

The moment Zhang Heng saw the panic in their eyes, his expression turned icy. Without warning, he lashed out with a vicious kick!

The next second, the guard—still wearing a faint smile—was sent flying like a ragdoll, crashing violently into the bar’s revolving door behind him!

A heavy thud echoed as the reinforced soundproof door shattered like a thousand falling stars, reduced to splinters by the impact!

Instantly, the bar’s heavy metal music and the screams of patrons and bystanders filled the air!

“I’ll ask one last time—where are Zhang Xin and Yang Yang?”

After kicking a six-foot-tall man across the room, Zhang Heng’s expression remained unshaken. He turned to the other guard, his eyes filled with cold fury.

“I—I…” The guard was stunned. This wasn’t some action movie—how could a human kick someone with such force? It was absurd!

“It was the boss! The boss told us earlier that if anyone came causing trouble, we were to get rid of them! That’s all I know!” The guard hastily backed away, his voice trembling. Zhang Heng’s gaze had terrified him beyond reason!

Even Zhang Heng himself hadn’t realized how much he had changed. After enduring countless trials in the Resident Evil dimension and gaining confidence from the Dimensional Star, his entire demeanor had subtly transformed.

He was no longer the same Zhang Heng from before.

“Where is your boss now?” Hearing the guard’s excuse, Zhang Heng’s expression grew even colder. He grabbed the man’s collar and lifted him effortlessly with one hand, as if he were nothing more than a chick!

By now, a crowd had gathered outside the bar. Seeing Zhang Heng’s actions, they gasped in shock.

“He doesn’t look that strong, but he just lifted a man bigger than himself with one hand! That’s terrifying!”

“This bar is run by Old Yang, right? This guy actually dares to cause trouble here. Sigh, young people are too impulsive!”

“You’re wrong about that. Didn’t you see the car he drove? That’s a top-tier Audi A8—worth three million! Someone who can afford that isn’t ordinary. Do you think he’d be afraid of Old Yang?”

“Three million?!” The crowd collectively sucked in a breath, their excitement growing.

Watching chaos unfold was a time-honored tradition in Chinese culture. But Zhang Heng had no interest in the spectators. He dragged the guard forward, striding into the bar.

“Show me the way. Take me to your boss!”

At that moment, Zhang Heng’s heart was pounding with urgency. Every second he delayed, the greater the danger his sister faced. He had even kicked a guard through a door to create a distraction—anything to buy more time!

From the moment he stepped out of the car to kicking the guard and demanding answers, barely half a minute had passed. The bar’s staff hadn’t even reacted yet! Before they could stop him, Zhang Heng had already bypassed the front desk and was charging toward the VIP section, following the guard’s directions.

“Stop him!”

Only then did the four black-suited guards inside the bar react, rushing toward Zhang Heng in an attempt to surround him!

But Zhang Heng was in no mood to deal with them. He broke through their formation in a single stride, his left leg shooting out like a cannon!

The next second, the guard blocking his path let out a bloodcurdling scream!

The crowd watched as the guard, just as he was about to lunge at Zhang Heng, was suddenly sent flying backward as if struck by an invisible force. The sickening sound of cracking bones filled the air—his chest had caved in from Zhang Heng’s kick!

“Damn!”

The crowd gasped again. With injuries like that, even if the guard survived, he was ruined for life!

The remaining three guards felt a chill run down their spines. The lanky young man before them was like a human weapon—touch him, and you die! They instinctively hesitated, no longer daring to block his path!

Zhang Heng dragged the guard forward, stepping into the VIP area. But just then, the door to one of the private rooms was kicked open, and two men stormed out, their faces flushed with anger.

One of them, a pale-faced young man with a dazed expression, had barely stepped out when he began shouting, “What’s all the noise out here? Old Song, where the hell are you guys?!”

Zhang Heng froze. The guard he was holding had instinctively pointed at this sickly-looking young man—clearly drained by a life of excess!

At the same time, the three remaining guards in the hall stiffened, their expressions turning strange…

Chapter 35: NO.035 Sever the Line!

Zhang Heng narrowed his eyes, his heart stirring as his gaze shifted past the young man to the open door of the private room. When he saw the scene inside, his heart first sank, then relaxed.

His sister lay sprawled on the sofa inside the room, fast asleep, but thankfully, her clothes were intact, showing no signs of harm. Beside her, Yang Yang, who had texted him earlier, was also sound asleep.

Seeing this, Zhang Heng understood everything. The two must have been drugged with something like sleeping pills! And the culprits were none other than the two young men before him!

One of them was the sallow-faced youth, while the other was a handsome boy in a Bashu High School uniform, no older than seventeen or eighteen. But his arrogant demeanor detracted from his looks, clearly the spoiled heir of a wealthy family.

Only after the sallow-faced youth finished shouting did he notice Zhang Heng beside him. He froze, then, instead of fear, his expression turned cold as he barked, “Who the hell are you?”

“I’m your bastard father!”

Bang!

Now that he had found his sister, Zhang Heng cast aside all restraints. He kicked out with a force even greater than when he had sent the security guard flying, striking the young man squarely in the groin!

The next moment, the sallow-faced youth didn’t even have time to groan before he crashed violently into the wall behind him. The sound of bones shattering echoed as his pelvis and internal organs were utterly crushed under Zhang Heng’s kick!

Instantly, the heated atmosphere of the entire bar shifted. As if their throats had been seized, everyone’s breath caught, and their expressions toward Zhang Heng filled with horror.

This was going to be a murder!

Zhang Heng was also taken aback after the kick, thinking this is bad, but when he recalled what his sister had nearly suffered, rage surged through him again. He turned to the other young man, his expression icy.

“No, no, it’s not my fault! It was all his idea! Don’t kill me!” The seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy first stood dumbfounded, then, seeing the murderous intent in Zhang Heng’s eyes, he came to his senses and hastily waved his hands, his face twisted in indescribable terror.

“I’ll give you ten seconds to explain what’s going on.” Zhang Heng dropped the security guard and calmly appraised the handsome young man before him. But beneath the calm surface, a storm of killing intent raged.

There was no denying that compared to the sallow-faced youth, this boy was strikingly good-looking—well-defined features, fair skin, and a taller build than Zhang Heng. If not for his current terrified expression, he could probably make countless girls swoon.

But now, upon hearing Zhang Heng’s words, the boy burst into tears and thud—knelt at Zhang Heng’s feet.

“I’ll talk, I’ll talk! It was all Yang Feng’s idea! Yang Feng said he got some kind of drug that would make people fall asleep instantly, and no matter what you did to them, they wouldn’t wake up…” The boy pointed at the motionless youth beside him, sobbing as he defended himself. “I only lured Zhang Xin and Yang Yang here! I didn’t do anything else, and Yang Feng didn’t either, I swear!”

Hearing the boy’s incoherent defense, the onlookers suddenly understood. One by one, their expressions toward the boy filled with disgust and contempt. Some even recorded the scene.

“Absolute scum! Worse than pigs and dogs!”

“Sigh, how do parents these days raise their kids?”

“But this kid looks familiar… Oh! I remember now—he’s the son of the deputy police chief!”

“Oh no, with that kind of background, this young man is in trouble!”

“Young man, stop! Don’t do anything stupid!”

At that moment, a kind-looking elder stepped forward from the crowd, earnestly advising Zhang Heng, “What you did earlier could still be considered self-defense to save someone, but it’s already bordering on excessive force. Now that the person is saved, don’t keep attacking!”

“Right! My dad is the deputy police chief! I’m the chief’s son! You can’t kill me, you can’t!” Seizing this lifeline, the boy shouted, then scrambled to escape.

After confirming the boy’s identity, the crowd’s expressions changed. Their gazes toward Zhang Heng filled with sympathy. Perhaps Zhang Heng had some background, but now that he had provoked the police, even if he hadn’t done anything wrong, it would be hard to resolve this peacefully.

“So it’s really the deputy police chief’s son. Who’s that sallow-faced young man?”

“That’s Old Yang’s son. He’s in the underworld, lazy and good-for-nothing. I never thought he’d be involved in something like this behind the scenes! Deserves to die!”

“Old Yang is one thing, but the police chief’s son is another—you can’t lay a hand on him, or it’s practically declaring war on the government!”

The crowd watched as the boy tried to flee, assuming Zhang Heng wouldn’t strike again. After all, no one thought he would be bold enough to defy the government.

But at that moment, Zhang Heng’s lips curled into a cold smile, and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes.

Simultaneously, everyone saw Zhang Heng’s right leg suddenly step forward, stomping down with brutal force between the boy’s legs before he could escape.

“Aaaah!” A bloodcurdling scream erupted, as if enduring the most excruciating pain in the world. The boy’s entire body trembled violently, nearly passing out from the agony.

Everyone froze, then let out gasps of shock. They stared in horror at the scene before them, almost unable to believe their eyes.

This unremarkable young man had actually… actually struck again!

“I don’t care who you are—whether you’re Old Yang’s son or the chief’s heir…” Zhang Heng looked down at the writhing boy, speaking calmly, but his tone sent chills down everyone’s spines, as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

“Whoever dares to harm my family, I will make sure they—”

“Never… have… descendants!”

Zhang Heng let out a cold laugh, then stomped down again with even greater force. Instantly, the boy’s eyes bulged, his mouth gaping silently as if suffocating. Only a guttural “gak-gak-gak” sound escaped his throat.

As if enduring unimaginable torment, countless blood vessels burst in the boy’s eyes, swelling and turning crimson, nearly weeping blood.

Under Zhang Heng’s foot, a streak of blood seeped through the boy’s school uniform pants, mixed with the pungent stench of urine—the result of a ruptured bladder, unable to hold back the urine, now flowing out with the blood.

For a moment, everyone’s hearts turned cold. This ordinary-looking young man had actually dared to strike even after learning the boy’s identity!

And his methods were so ruthless—he had just destroyed the boy’s future, ensuring he would…

Never have descendants!

After doing all this, the rage in Zhang Heng’s heart finally dissipated. He paid no more attention to the two motionless figures and quickly entered the private room. Only after confirming that his sister and Yang Yang were unharmed, merely unconscious from the drugs, did he relax.

But just then, the sound of police sirens grew louder from outside, drawing nearer…

Chapter 36: Whose Crisis?

In a residence within the Police Bureau’s housing complex, a middle-aged man with a distinguished appearance and an air of authority silently answered the phone.

At first, the man showed no expression, but then he suddenly gasped, his face turning pale, his expression growing increasingly grim.

“You said what? My son, he…”

“Which hospital is he in now? How is he?”

“Bastard! Detain him immediately. No one is allowed to visit or contact him. I’ll interrogate him myself!”

After hanging up, the man’s face twisted into a snarl. His hands trembled slightly as he hesitated to call his wife, fearing her fragile heart might not withstand the news.

Finally, he took a deep breath and resolutely turned toward the door.

Yet, his back seemed to have aged even more…

…

Zhang Heng sat alone in the dark, cramped interrogation room, his hands cuffed, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, resting.

This time, he had indeed acted impulsively, but he didn’t regret it. Everyone must take responsibility for their actions. Since the other party dared to target his sister, the moment they harbored ill intentions and began to act, they must have been prepared for retaliation.

This assault case could be seen as minor or severe. If Zhang Heng insisted he acted in self-defense to save someone, it would be hard to convict him. However, if someone in power interfered, the situation could become far more complicated.

Outside the door, the sound of his parents arguing reached his ears. Zhang Heng quickly opened his eyes and pressed his ear against the wall. Sure enough, it was his parents’ voices.

They seemed to be arguing with the duty officer, their voices rising, with the faint sound of his sister crying in the background. A soft, bitter smile crossed Zhang Heng’s face as he shook his head. He hoped that after this ordeal, his sister would grow stronger.

This incident had nothing to do with his parents or sister. They had come to the station just to see him, nothing more.

But clearly, this reasonable request had been flatly denied.

“Why won’t you let me see my son? My son only went into that shop to save someone! If it weren’t for him, my daughter would have been defiled by those two beasts!”

“That’s right! Why are you locking up our son? You should be locking up those two beasts instead!”

“Your son is suspected of serious assault. The most severely injured one is still in the emergency room, and our deputy chief’s son might be permanently disabled. After beating someone like that, you still want to see him? Dream on!”

“How can you talk like that?…”

…

Zhang Heng’s parents seemed to have made a scene at the station all night, but in the end, they left without success. What they planned to do next remained unknown.

Early the next morning, heavy footsteps echoed outside the interrogation room, growing louder until they stopped at the door.

Zhang Heng slowly opened his eyes to see a middle-aged man with graying hair, wearing a white police uniform, standing expressionlessly outside, peering at him through the observation window.

“Open the door.”

“Yes, Chief Wang.”

At the man’s command, the interrogation room door clicked open.

The moment he saw Zhang Heng, the man’s eyes flashed with deep resentment. With a slight gesture, the two officers behind him respectfully stepped out, sealing the door shut.

“Do you know who I am?” the man asked, circling Zhang Heng.

A mocking smile played on Zhang Heng’s lips as he ignored the question and countered, “You must hate me, don’t you?”

“Hmm?” The man paused, studying Zhang Heng before replying gravely, “Of course I hate you. I wish you were dead!”

“Good. Then what charges are you planning to bring against me? Excessive self-defense? Intentional assault? Attempted murder?” Zhang Heng propped a leg on the nearby table.

“You seem well-versed in how the system works,” the man nodded. “We’ll prosecute you for attempted murder. If convicted, you’ll spend the rest of your life behind bars.”

A cold glint flickered in Zhang Heng’s eyes. “Like father, like son.”

The man chuckled. “After all, I only have one son.”

He seemed to relish Zhang Heng’s hatred, reminiscing, “When I first became a police officer, I dreamed of being a good cop—punishing evil, upholding justice, serving the people…”

“But reality is the best teacher. It teaches you compromise, the bigger picture, interests, and power.”

The man sighed, then suddenly looked at Zhang Heng with mild surprise. “Speaking of which, do you hate me too?”

Zhang Heng was taken aback. He had thought he held the upper hand in the conversation, but the man had effortlessly turned the tables, even mocking him in return.

He was no match for the man’s experience.

“Not only that,” the man continued calmly. “There’s also your sister. I’ve reviewed your family’s records for three generations. Your sister is about to take the college entrance exams, isn’t she? If something were to happen to her on exam day, I wonder how you’d handle it?”

Zhang Heng’s eyes narrowed, flashing with a murderous intent.

“And your parents—they run a street food stall, don’t they? If city inspectors started harassing them wherever they set up, I wonder if they could keep going. And those inspectors aren’t exactly known for their restraint. If things get physical, your parents might not fare well.”

Zhang Heng’s face darkened. “So, you’re forcing my hand.”

The man suddenly lowered his voice, almost pityingly. “What, you want to kill me here? Think carefully. If you fail, your entire family will suffer.”

He even leaned down, staring provocatively at Zhang Heng. “I have a hundred ways to ruin your family, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Zhang Heng smirked, glancing at the man’s holstered gun before bursting into laughter.

“What’s so funny?” the man asked, startled.

“Ah, so that’s your plan.”

Zhang Heng’s mocking expression deepened. “You’re trying to provoke me into grabbing your gun so you can justify shooting me in revenge for your castrated son. Am I right, Deputy Chief?”

The man stiffened, his voice venomous. “You’re clever. Since you won’t take the bait, prepare to rot in prison. And your family? One day, they’ll face something far worse than this. And it’ll all be your fault. Remember, you destroyed your own family with your own hands.”

Zhang Heng smirked, licking his lips, his smile tinged with bloodlust. “That’s the funniest joke I’ve ever heard. Too bad your castrated son is still screaming in bed.”

Both men hurled vicious insults, but the man, devastated by his son’s ruin, was more deeply wounded. He couldn’t endure Zhang Heng’s taunts and grew furious.

“Do you think you’re in the right? Fine, my son had bad intentions, but he didn’t succeed! So why did you have to go so far? Do you know I only have one son?”

“Too far?” Zhang Heng laughed maniacally, his eyes filled with scorn.

“Sorry, but I’ve always believed in going all the way.”

“Did you ever think that if I hadn’t called my sister beforehand, she might have already fallen victim to your beast of a son? She might have even killed herself from the trauma. My family would have been destroyed because of your son’s selfish desires. And you still think he’s innocent?”

“At that point, who would have given me justice? Who could have saved my sister’s life?”

Zhang Heng took a deep breath, chuckling darkly. “Don’t tell me your beast of a son didn’t succeed. He didn’t because I stopped him!”

“But he had the intent to harm. The moment he acted, he ceased to be human—he was just a beast in human skin!”

“I only slaughtered a beast that wanted to harm my sister. A beast that doesn’t deserve human rights. What’s wrong with crippling a beast?”

“If I didn’t cripple that beast, my conscience wouldn’t be clear!”

“Nonsense!” the man roared, his lungs nearly bursting. “My son is not a beast! He just took a wrong step!”

“He is a beast! No matter how much you scream, you can’t change the fact that your son is a heartless monster!”

“You, you, you…” The man, though a seasoned official, lacked the experience of online forum battles. Once the cursing began, he was no match for Zhang Heng. His face flushed, his hands trembling as he pointed at Zhang Heng, too furious to speak.

“Hmph, I won’t stoop to arguing with a stray dog who’s about to lose his home!”

After a long pause, the man regained his composure, taking a deep breath to suppress his grief. “I won’t hit you or punish you. It’s unnecessary. One day, you’ll regret what you’ve done. For criminals like you, the greatest punishment is the torment of your own mind!”

With that, he turned sharply and strode toward the door.

“What time is it?” Zhang Heng suddenly asked as the man was about to leave.

“Seven o’clock. What, do you still want breakfast?” the man sneered, looking back.

“Seven in the morning? Time flies. The person coming to pick me up should be here soon.”

A smirk played on Zhang Heng’s lips as he seemed to await something, closing his eyes.

But at that moment, the man felt an inexplicable chill. He snapped, “The person picking you up? Forget it. Who has the power to take you away? Even the chief himself couldn’t get past me!”

Yet Zhang Heng gave no further response.

Chapter 37: A Bitter Smile

“An illusion, it must be an illusion.”

On a chilly early spring morning, as Chief Wang walked through the dim, shadowy corridors of the police bureau, he felt waves of cold dread washing over him. His mind was consumed by the smug, triumphant smile on Zhang Heng’s face as he had left.

After decades as a police officer, Chief Wang had honed his understanding of human psychology to an almost uncanny degree. He knew that such a smile only appeared when someone had absolute confidence in their position.

“Damn it, is it really just an illusion?” Chief Wang gritted his teeth. If it wasn’t, then Zhang Heng must have some hidden card up his sleeve.

But how could an ordinary civilian possess such power?

And his son had been crippled right in front of him. Unless someone wanted to make a mortal enemy, even his direct superior wouldn’t dare cross him so easily!

With that thought, Chief Wang finally calmed down somewhat. He even convinced himself that it had all been a figment of his imagination.

“Chief Wang, you’re out already?” At the end of the corridor, a balding man in his forties appeared, looking flustered.

“What’s wrong?” Chief Wang lowered his voice upon seeing the man’s agitation. “Director Fan, have you found out where that car Zhang Heng was driving came from?”

If there was one thing about Zhang Heng that Chief Wang couldn’t figure out, it was the sudden appearance of that Audi A8. According to the records, Zhang Heng’s family was of modest means—there was no way they could afford such a car.

Thus, the origin of that vehicle might very well determine whether he could successfully take his revenge.

“We found out.” The bald man’s oily face nodded, his features bunching together. “According to my investigation, he bought it just yesterday afternoon at the city’s auto market. All the paperwork is in order.”

“What? Where did he get the money?” Chief Wang’s eyes widened. Had the man just won the lottery?

“No trace of it. It’s as if…” The bald man looked uneasy, hesitating before continuing, “as if everything he did in Haizhou has been deliberately concealed…”

“Concealed? By whom?” Chief Wang’s expression flickered.

“Maybe… it really is someone from above…” The bald man pointed upward with his index finger. That simple gesture sent a chill down Chief Wang’s spine.

Could Zhang Heng really have powerful connections? Or was he perhaps an agent on some secret state mission?

Chief Wang felt a headache coming on. The only people who could evade the police system’s records were either foreigners who had never lived in the country or individuals from certain critical state departments.

Of course, there were other possibilities—lost records, or someone who had been completely off the grid for years.

This was the kind of situation Chief Wang hated most in his career. One wrong move, and not only would the case fall apart, but he might also stumble into the power struggles of the higher-ups. Normally, when faced with such circumstances, the proper procedure was to immediately cease the investigation and report upward.

But Zhang Heng had crippled his only son. How could Chief Wang let him go so easily?

“It’s just a coincidence, it must be some kind of coincidence,” he told himself.

Just then, a phone rang. Chief Wang’s body trembled, and he reluctantly pulled out his phone. When he saw the caller ID, his face turned pale.

The bald man, Director Fan, looked as if he had expected this. He even took a few steps back, trying to distance himself from Chief Wang.

“Hello, Director Yu? You’re looking for me?” Chief Wang took a deep breath. He never expected the call to come from the bureau’s top leader.

It wasn’t that they were sworn enemies, but the timing of this call was far too suspicious.

A sense of foreboding welled up in Chief Wang’s chest once more.

“Chief Wang, have you recently provoked someone you shouldn’t have?” Director Yu’s voice came through the phone, sounding unusually urgent.

“No, I haven’t.” Chief Wang’s mind flashed to Zhang Heng’s file. The man’s record was clean—just an ordinary citizen. Zhang Heng’s uncle worked in the finance bureau, but he was only a minor section chief, and the two had cut ties over a decade ago.

There was no way Zhang Heng could be involved in this.

“No? But a high-ranking official from the research institute has called the municipal committee, accusing you of abuse of power and personal vendettas!”

“What? The research institute? I—I don’t know anything about this!” Chief Wang gasped, his heart pounding.

“What, you don’t even trust me?” Director Yu sounded displeased.

“No, Director Yu, I really don’t know!” Chief Wang gritted his teeth. “I have no idea what’s going on!”

“You’re hopeless!” Director Yu sighed in exasperation. “Take care of yourself.” With that, he hung up.

“Hello? Director? Hello!” Chief Wang’s face turned ashen. He never thought even his superior would abandon him. The phone slipped from his hand, but he didn’t notice.

The bald man had already fled, vanishing from sight.

Chief Wang stood there, desperate and unwilling to accept his fate. He racked his brain, trying to figure out who he had offended and what his next move should be. Zhang Heng had already been pushed to the back of his mind.

But then, the sound of engines roared from below, growing louder as a massive motorcade approached. Chief Wang looked down.

What he saw made his blood run cold.

One car after another sped into the police bureau’s courtyard. When Chief Wang saw the license plates, he gasped.

At the front of the procession was the municipal committee leader’s vehicle! Behind it were cars belonging to several standing committee members and even the discipline inspection commission!

The municipal leader and the discipline inspection commission arriving together?

Chief Wang’s unease deepened. He hurried toward the first floor. No matter what, he had to greet the municipal officials.

“Secretary Yang, why have you come in person?” As soon as Chief Wang stepped outside, he saw the municipal leader getting out of his car. He quickly approached with a forced smile.

But what made Chief Wang’s heart sink further was that Secretary Yang barely glanced at him, ignoring him completely as he stepped aside to let a middle-aged man in military uniform exit the vehicle.

Who was this?

Chief Wang was puzzled. He discreetly checked the man’s rank—he was a major general. His heart skipped a beat, and he stood frozen in place.

“General Li, the person you’re looking for should be inside.” Secretary Yang gestured for the man to enter, and together they walked into the police bureau. Chief Wang was about to follow when someone suddenly tapped him on the shoulder.

Annoyed, he turned around and saw Old Liu from the discipline inspection commission, someone he knew well. He forced a smile. “Old Liu, what’s going on?”

“Chief Wang, you should address me by my title.” The man called Old Liu adopted an official demeanor, flashing his badge in front of Chief Wang. “We’ve received a report. Chief Wang of the municipal police bureau is accused of abuse of power and personal vendettas. Secretary Yang has ordered you to assist in our investigation. Chief Wang, come with us.”

“What!” Chief Wang’s vision darkened, and he nearly collapsed.

“The higher-ups have already sent someone to take over your case.” Old Liu continued, sounding somewhat regretful. “We’re just the advance team. If you cooperate now, we might be able to plead for leniency on your behalf. But once the people from above arrive…”

“So that’s how it is?” Chief Wang tried to argue. “But what am I supposed to confess? I genuinely don’t know what I’ve done wrong.”

“Then you’ll find out soon enough.” Old Liu nodded, pointing toward the police bureau’s entrance without another word.

About ten minutes later, Secretary Yang and the military officer emerged again. Behind them followed several police officers, their faces filled with shock. Chief Wang frowned, still unable to comprehend what crime he had committed.

“Old Liu, what in the world is—” Chief Wang turned to Old Liu.

“Still don’t get it? Did you order the arrest of someone named Zhang Heng?” Old Liu sighed.

Zhang Heng? The name sounded familiar!

Chief Wang’s heart jolted. How could it not be familiar? How could he forget?

This was the man who had crippled his only son—the man he wanted to tear apart with his bare teeth! Just minutes ago, he had been shouting at Zhang Heng, swearing to ruin his life!

Chief Wang’s eyes burned with rage as he looked toward the police bureau’s entrance. There, Zhang Heng was being escorted out by several officers, his handcuffs already removed.

As Chief Wang stared, Zhang Heng seemed to sense his gaze. He turned, a mocking, cold smile on his face.

The sun rose higher, casting Zhang Heng’s silhouette against the morning light. Chief Wang had never realized how blinding the morning sun could be—so blinding that he could barely keep his eyes open.

“Chief Wang, we meet again,” Zhang Heng’s indifferent voice seemed to come from another world. “I told you someone would come for me.”

Chief Wang’s body trembled. Those words struck like lightning, and everything became clear. At that moment, he finally understood. His face twisted into a bitter smile as he collapsed to the ground in despair…

Chapter 38: Return to Haizhou

The next morning, Zhang Heng returned home unscathed.

Before noon, a major news story broke in the city: Chief Wang, the deputy director of the Chongzhou Police Bureau, had been suspended and placed under investigation by the disciplinary committee for serious violations. No further details were provided.

Zhang Heng’s parents were not easy to explain to. Initially, his mother wanted to press for answers, but his father stopped her. In his eyes, his son had finally grown up—no longer the boy who needed his protection. From today’s events, it was clear that his son was far more than he appeared.

Zhang Heng’s father sighed inwardly, but when he looked at his son, his eyes held encouragement and pride. A fledgling bird grows up and must eventually fly away. Binding it with familial love would only restrict it, a selfish act. The future he had once planned for his child could no longer contain his son’s growing ambitions. So why not let him forge his own path and carve out a broader sky with his own wings?

A father’s love knows no bounds!

Zhang Heng was grateful his father didn’t press for details. He didn’t want to lie to his parents, but he also had secrets he couldn’t reveal. Silence was the best choice.

That afternoon, as the family of four sat down for lunch, the doorbell suddenly rang. Zhang Heng and his father exchanged glances before he stood up to answer the door. There stood Yang Yang and her parents, laden with gifts, their eyes red and swollen.

“Xiao Heng, thank you!” Before Zhang Heng could speak, Yang Yang’s parents rushed forward, their hands trembling as they grasped his. Caught off guard, Zhang Heng stood awkwardly, unsure how to react.

“Oh, we’re old neighbors—no need for such formality! Come in, come in!” Zhang Heng’s father quickly intervened, ushering the three inside and sparing Zhang Heng further embarrassment.

Zhang Heng wiped the cold sweat from his brow and glanced at his sister, who was silently eating. Zhang Xin had been overjoyed when he returned but had since fallen into silence. Overwhelmed by guilt and fear, she had cried all night until his safe return finally calmed her.

Now, her emotions had settled. When she noticed Zhang Heng looking at her, she stuck out her tongue before flashing him a coy smile.

Zhang Heng responded with a mock stern expression.

“Today, we came to thank Xiao Heng,” Yang Yang’s mother began, her voice breaking as tears welled up again. Yang Yang wiped her eyes, and Zhang Heng’s parents hurried to comfort them.

“Uncle, Auntie, you shouldn’t be thanking me—I should be thanking you,” Zhang Heng interjected, trying to steer the conversation away.

“Huh? Why do you say that, Xiao Heng?” Yang Yang’s parents stopped crying, curiosity in their eyes.

“Because if Yang Yang hadn’t sent that message, I wouldn’t have known what was happening. I wouldn’t have been able to rescue them. So, in a way, Yang Yang saved my sister.” Zhang Heng nodded earnestly.

“Oh, Xiao Heng, don’t give this ungrateful girl credit! As soon as we got home, I gave her a good scolding. Instead of studying, she’s always up to no good! She nearly got Zhang Xin into trouble! If anything had happened to your sister, we wouldn’t have been able to face you two!” Yang Yang’s father said, his tone a mix of frustration and regret.

“Uncle, I really am grateful to Yang Yang.” Zhang Heng meant it. Without her message, he wouldn’t have been able to save his sister. Even if he had avenged her later, what good would that have done? Killing Chief Wang’s entire family wouldn’t erase the trauma his sister would have endured. That was something Zhang Heng couldn’t bear.

So, he was truly grateful to Yang Yang.

“Uncle Yang, you said Yang Yang isn’t doing well in school?” Zhang Heng suddenly asked, an idea forming in his mind.

“Sigh, this girl has never been good at studying. Even at Bashu High School, she’s the same. We don’t know what to do with her. After the college entrance exams, she might not even get into a second-tier university,” Yang Yang’s father said, his tone heavy with disappointment. Yang Yang lowered her head in shame.

“Old Yang, don’t blame your daughter. Isn’t mine the same?” Zhang Heng’s father chimed in, shooting a stern glance at Zhang Xin, who quickly averted her gaze and focused on her food.

“Then, after the exams, would Yang Yang be willing to go to Fudan University?” Zhang Heng turned to Yang Yang with a warm smile.

Everyone froze, staring at him in stunned silence.

“Zhang Heng… what do you mean?” Yang Yang finally reacted, her face flushing with excitement as she asked, barely daring to believe it.

“I happen to have some connections. If Yang Yang is willing to go to Fudan, I think I can help,” Zhang Heng said.

“Xiao Heng, since when did you—” Zhang Heng’s father’s eyes widened as if seeing his son for the first time. Yang Yang’s parents were equally shocked, their breaths quickening as they stared at Zhang Heng, trying to discern if he was serious.

“Uncle Yang, I don’t know the president of Fudan personally, but I have a friend who does. He owes me a huge favor. With one word from me, I guarantee Yang Yang can get into any university in Haizhou!” Zhang Heng explained, patting Yang Yang’s father on the shoulder with a smile.

The friend he referred to was Li Jianguo, the president of Li Corporation, whose vast network and influence could easily secure a spot at Fudan with a single call. If Li Jianguo knew Zhang Heng was using him as a favor bank, he might have mixed feelings…

At that moment, everyone in the room was stunned. Yang Yang’s parents exchanged glances, their faces alight with excitement. Yang Yang herself was trembling with joy. “I will! Zhang Heng, I want to go to Fudan!”

“Hahahaha!” Zhang Heng’s father burst into laughter, his voice brimming with pride. His son had just brought him immense honor!

“Brother, I want to go too!” Zhang Xin suddenly piped up, her grades no better than Yang Yang’s—both barely scraping by in mock exams. Even at their best, they could only hope for an average second-tier university, or worse, a vocational school. Hearing her brother could get someone into a prestigious university like Fudan, she couldn’t stay silent. She clung to Zhang Heng’s arm, pleading.

“You?” Zhang Heng glared at her. “If you want to go to Fudan, you’d better score at least five hundred points in the exams. Otherwise, even if you get in, you’ll embarrass me!”

“Brother, I promise I’ll listen to you and Mom and Dad from now on! I swear!” Zhang Xin panicked, quickly extending her pinky to make a promise, making everyone laugh.

After the laughter subsided, Yang Yang’s family left in high spirits, repeatedly thanking Zhang Heng, who assured them that Yang Yang’s admission to Fudan was as good as done.

A few days later, Zhang Heng boarded a plane back to Haizhou. He wasn’t eager to leave, but the unknown threats facing humanity weighed heavily on him. It was as if a sword of Damocles hung over his head, never allowing him to fully relax.

This time in Haizhou, Zhang Heng planned to set his ambitions in motion—to establish a company that could control global military power and manipulate worldwide finances!

Of course, achieving such a dream was still a long way off. For now, his first step was simply to get the company up and running.

Chapter 39: Li Yiru

A week had passed since Zhang Heng completed the Death Space mission, and now he sat in his warehouse, deep in thought.

Every corner of the warehouse was equipped with the most advanced cameras, featuring infrared identification technology and automatic rotation. If an unfamiliar person was detected, a piercing alarm would sound. The warehouse door had been reinforced with a double-layered anti-theft structure, and the lock required both a key and fingerprint for access. All windows were fitted with alloy security grilles, electrified to trigger an alarm if touched.

This level of security was likely unmatched nationwide, but for an artifact capable of annihilating humanity—the Black Marker—no precaution was excessive. Zhang Heng wasn’t worried about the Marker itself acting up; Dimensional Star had already deactivated it upon its arrival in the real world. If Dimensional Star guaranteed its safety, then it was safe.

But Dimensional Star’s assurance didn’t mean Zhang Heng could relax. As the saying goes, better safe than sorry. The warehouse was in a sparsely populated suburban area. What if a petty thief broke in, stumbled upon the Black Marker, and exposed its existence? That would be a nightmare.

Of course, unless someone was a hardcore fan of Death Space, they wouldn’t recognize the Marker for what it was. To the untrained eye, it looked like an artistic sculpture. Even if a fan did recognize it, they’d probably assume it was just a giant collectible figure. No amount of wild speculation could lead someone to believe this “art piece” was the real deal.

But whether others believed it or not was one thing; Zhang Heng’s anxiety was another. No matter how thick-skinned he was, he couldn’t tolerate someone touching a weapon capable of destroying humanity. It was like a child reaching for a nuclear bomb—even if the adults knew the child couldn’t possibly detonate it, they’d still instinctively stop them.

That morning, several calls had come in—people who had seen his online job postings inquiring about the company. Most didn’t make it to the interview stage because Zhang Heng himself had no idea how to conduct one. In the end, nothing came of it.

When it came to running a company, Zhang Heng was a complete novice. Reluctantly, he had to turn to Li Jianguo, asking him to find an accountant, financial officer, secretary—anyone, really. Otherwise, Hengxin Biotechnology Co., Ltd. wouldn’t survive.

Li Jianguo grumbled over the phone but eventually agreed—though only to send one assistant. No matter how much Zhang Heng offered, he refused to lend more.

One assistant is better than none, Zhang Heng thought, shaking his head. What he lacked was a starting point. Once the company got rolling, it would snowball. Whether it could become a global corporate giant depended on his own abilities.

A few hours later, his phone rang. He glanced lazily at the screen, and his eyebrows shot up. The caller was Li Yiru, whom he hadn’t seen in over a month.

The success of the T-1 experiment hadn’t just been due to Li Jianguo’s support—Li Yiru had played a crucial role. If she hadn’t defied her father to verify T-1’s effects, Zhang Heng would have had to hand it over to the government, gaining minimal profit while exposing himself to enormous risk. Now, he could enjoy the best of both worlds: hands-off management and silent wealth.

So, Zhang Heng was grateful to Li Yiru. He answered the call with a smile. “Class Monitor Li? What brings you to call your humble underclassman?”

“Can’t I call you without a reason?” Her crisp, confident voice came through the phone. “My dad probably didn’t tell you—my grandfather has fully recovered thanks to your medicine.”

“Really? Congratulations.” Zhang Heng chuckled, though his tone lacked surprise. Of course T-1 would work—if it couldn’t cure cancer, then no drug in the world could.

“Oh, and I heard from my dad that you’ve started a new company and need staff. How about… me? I’ve been unemployed since my internship ended.” Her voice suddenly turned shy.

Zhang Heng froze. His eyes narrowed sharply, a piercing gleam flashing within them. If anyone saw him now, they’d be too intimidated to meet his gaze.

His mind raced with suspicions. Was the Li Corporation trying to seize his remaining shares? Was Li Jianguo using his daughter to seduce him?

Zhang Heng’s smile faded. “I heard you’re already handling financial matters at Li Corporation. Why would you want to join my unknown little company?”

“Why not?” Li Yiru was taken aback, her pride flaring. She might not be a spoiled heiress, but she had her dignity. She was lowering herself to help an old classmate, and he wasn’t even grateful? His words nearly made her explode.

“I want to! And your medicine cured my grandfather—I just want to thank you. Is that so wrong?” she snapped.

Zhang Heng came back to his senses. He considered her motives again but dismissed the idea of a conspiracy. Li Jianguo was a cunning old fox, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew Zhang Heng’s potential. If this wasn’t a scheme, then… did she actually have feelings for him?

His eyebrow twitched. “Alright, I overthought it. If you really want to work at my company, I’d welcome you with open arms.”

“That’s more like it…” Li Yiru huffed. “But it’s not just me. Someone else wants to see you too. You’ll find out who soon enough.” She hung up before he could ask.

Zhang Heng shook his head and set his phone down. He had always seen himself and Li Yiru as worlds apart—she was a billionaire heiress, while he was a nobody. He had never entertained any other thoughts about her.

Even now, he felt nothing. Sure, Li Yiru was beautiful, but she wasn’t that beautiful. There were plenty of pretty girls in the world. If he had to name her advantage, it was her wealthy father.

Li Yiru wasn’t just rich—she was capable, even domineering. Everyone at school had seen that side of her.

Zhang Heng didn’t like strong-willed women. After all, he was the domineering type himself. If two strong personalities clashed, the result would be… chaotic.

But if today’s call wasn’t part of some scheme, then she might actually have feelings for him. And that was trouble.

Chapter 40: Joining

Zhang Heng was no emotional fool. In fact, his intelligence and emotional quotient were both higher than the average person’s—otherwise, he wouldn’t have survived two missions from Dimensional Star.

This time, whether the other party’s approach was driven by conspiracy or personal feelings, Zhang Heng had no reservations. Even if the Li Corporation had some hidden agenda, he wasn’t afraid of them. Besides, the likelihood of them targeting him wasn’t high.

After about ten minutes, Zhang Heng saw a bright red sports car appear on the surveillance footage at the entrance. Though he didn’t recognize the brand, its appearance alone made it clear it was far more luxurious than his Audi A8L. The sports car parked swiftly, and Li Yiru, along with a gaunt young man, stepped out, heading straight for the warehouse door.

Only when they reached the door did Zhang Heng calmly drape a curtain over the Black Marker before going to open it.

Li Yiru stood at the entrance, dressed in a black professional outfit, wearing sunglasses, and exuding the scent of expensive perfume. When she saw Zhang Heng open the door, she didn’t speak, merely crossing her arms and staring coldly at him.

Seeing Li Yiru’s displeased gaze, Zhang Heng sighed and forced a smile. “What’s wrong? Did someone upset you, Class Monitor Li?”

“Ungrateful wretch,” Li Yiru huffed, striding past him into the warehouse. The young man behind her scurried in after her, grabbing Zhang Heng’s hands and shaking them vigorously. “My savior! I’ve been looking everywhere for you. It wasn’t easy tracking you down through Miss Li.”

“You’re… Fang Hao?” Zhang Heng blinked, realizing that the pale, sickly-looking young man before him was the first patient he had cured with T-1 a month ago.

Back then, Fang Hao had been as thin as a skeleton, his hair gone from chemotherapy. Now, he looked much better—still frail, but far stronger than before.

“So my savior actually remembers me! Heh, sorry for dropping by unannounced,” Fang Hao said, clapping Zhang Heng on the shoulder before slipping inside to look around.

The warehouse Li Jianguo had gifted him was roughly seven or eight hundred square meters, like a small plaza. The ceiling was a framework of steel and plastic panels, leaving the space mostly empty except for a bed, a computer desk, and a pile of white curtains near the desk.

“Where’s your team?” Li Yiru glanced around before turning back. “Didn’t you say you had a research team? Why is it just you here?”

“The team’s on vacation. What’s wrong with that?” Zhang Heng rolled his eyes. Li Yiru might have done him favors, but he remembered the original Li Yiru hadn’t been this arrogant. Thanks to Li Jianguo, their relationship had improved, but why did she seem to act even more high-handed the closer they got?

As Zhang Heng pondered this, Li Yiru spoke again. “I don’t think they’re on vacation. Your team doesn’t exist at all, does it?”

She stood beside Zhang Heng, her tone accusatory. “Three months ago, you rented Lab 5 in the school’s biology building under the guise of an experiment, conducting research for over two months. But no one knows what you were actually doing. Then, at the alumni gathering, you suddenly announced your team had developed a biological agent called T-1. If I’m not mistaken, you developed T-1 all by yourself, didn’t you?”

Zhang Heng shrugged, saying nothing. He knew secrets like this wouldn’t stay hidden for long. For an ordinary person like him, hiding anything from those with resources was impossible. But even if they knew he worked alone, what could they do? It would only make him more valuable, not harm him.

“So the amazing T-1 was developed by you alone, my savior?” Fang Hao chimed in, giving Zhang Heng a thumbs-up, completely oblivious to the tension between the two. “I’ve never admired anyone before, but today, I’m impressed!”

“Then let’s get to the point,” Zhang Heng ignored Fang Hao, rolling his eyes at Li Yiru. “If you’re here to join my company, you’re welcome. But if you’re here to recruit me into the Li Corporation, forget it.”

He didn’t have time for games. With life-or-death missions every three months and an unknown catastrophe looming in the future, Zhang Heng was in a constant race against time—one he was almost certain to lose. He couldn’t afford distractions, not even for family. A few days with his parents was all he could spare.

Li Yiru’s behavior now was like a little girl asking to play house with him. He had no patience for it.

Li Yiru frowned, stung by his words. She wanted to be friendly, but her pride wouldn’t let her lower herself. After a moment, she forced out, “You’re so guarded. I already said I’m here to join your company. Is this how you treat someone who wants to work for you?”

“Fine by me,” Zhang Heng clapped his hands. This worked out perfectly. He needed Li Yiru’s skills, and she needed to express her goodwill toward him. A win-win.

Of course, he couldn’t say that outright—she’d probably strangle him. So he sighed and said, “Miss Li, I’d be honored to have you. How about you start as the head of HR? Any salary requirements?”

“At least ten thousand a month, with weekends off and overtime pay,” Li Yiru said, finally showing a hint of a smug smile.

“Deal!” Zhang Heng’s eyes lit up. He trusted Li Yiru’s abilities. As the daughter of a corporate tycoon, her management experience was worth hundreds of times his own. With her on board, he had nothing to worry about.

“Hey, hey, what about me?” Fang Hao panicked, seeing how easily they’d settled things. “My savior, I’m here to join you too! Miss Li got a managerial position, so I should get something too, right?”

“What can you even do?” Zhang Heng laughed in surprise.

“I… I can be your secretary! Run errands, make tea, that sort of thing,” Fang Hao scratched his head, grinning. “I don’t need much—eight or ten thousand a month would be fine.”

Zhang Heng rolled his eyes and held up five fingers. “Five thousand a month. And you don’t need to run errands for me. Just stick with Yiru. She’s new to leadership—she’ll need someone under her, right?”

“Works for me! As long as I’ve got something to do, I’m sticking with you, my savior,” Fang Hao said, unfazed.

And just like that, the first members of Zhang Heng’s company were decided in this absurd yet amusing meeting.

Chapter 41: Modifying the Marker

Afterward, Li Yiru temporarily took over Zhang Heng’s personnel work. She rented an office floor in the city center as a temporary company workspace, then, as the head of the HR department, hired several accountants and cashiers. Zhang Heng’s requirements weren’t high—an associate degree was sufficient.

Then, Li Yiru led this group to negotiate with the city’s commerce bureau. The goal was Zhang Heng’s request to build a company headquarters in Haizhou’s development zone. Thanks to Li Yiru’s father’s influence, the negotiations went smoothly. In less than a week, the contract was signed.

Zhang Heng had thought that since he had a feud with the deputy mayor’s son, things might not go smoothly. Who would have thought the other party would be so magnanimous? Or perhaps it was due to Li Jianguo’s influence. In any case, no one made things difficult for him.

Next came the purchase plans and hiring designers. They finalized a design for a fifty-five-story building with a base area of five thousand square meters, scheduled to start construction at the end of the month. The initial investment was set at eighty million, with a construction time of fifteen months.

But when Zhang Heng heard the timeline, he was far from satisfied. He revised the plan. Although Li Yiru strongly opposed it, believing it was too wasteful, Zhang Heng overruled her. In the end, they decided to add another fifty million to the investment, hiring three construction teams to work simultaneously, aiming to complete the building in six months. This speed was nearly as fast as the legendary “three days per floor” pace of Shenzhen’s construction boom.

Li Yiru was utterly helpless against Zhang Heng’s reckless spending, but what could she do? He was the boss. In the end, she had no choice but to agree to his demands.

Watching Li Yiru leave the warehouse in a huff, Zhang Heng sighed slightly. How could she know that what he lacked most was time? Moreover, he would personally oversee the building’s design. Not only that, he had secretly commissioned an anonymous architect online to design an underground structure for a million yuan. This was the true purpose of his construction—a hidden underground laboratory where he could conduct experiments away from prying eyes.

Amid the scattered preparations, a month passed. Then, one day, Zhang Heng received a call from a logistics company, asking him to receive a shipment.

Zhang Heng gave them the warehouse address. In less than half an hour, several massive trucks pulled up in front of the warehouse.

“Hello, are you Mr. Zhang? We have your shipment here. Please check it,” a middle-aged man said, shaking Zhang Heng’s hand.

“That’s me. Please have your people help me move it into the warehouse,” Zhang Heng said, pointing to the large door behind him. “I can’t carry all this myself.”

“No problem, it’s our company’s duty,” the middle-aged man said, signaling his crew. They used forklifts to move the massive containers into the warehouse. From morning until afternoon, they finally finished. Zhang Heng’s warehouse was now more than half full.

After they finished, Zhang Heng gave the middle-aged man a few packs of premium cigarettes, exchanged pleasantries, and sent him on his way.

Once all the unrelated personnel had left, Zhang Heng excitedly pried open one of the containers, which was taller than a person. Inside, a massive silver-white electronic device was revealed.

“So this is the custom supercomputer from IBM in the U.S.?” Zhang Heng raised an eyebrow, looking around before dragging the device, which weighed several hundred kilograms, over to the Marker. With Zhang Heng’s enhanced physical abilities, the weight was no obstacle.

The commercial supercomputer he had ordered consisted of fifteen parallel racks, with five thousand nodes. Each node had three Intel Xeon E5-2692 processors, totaling ninety-one thousand five hundred cores. It was equipped with a liquid nitrogen cooling system and could perform five hundred quadrillion calculations per second. While it was far from the world’s top supercomputers, it was more than enough to serve as an auxiliary system for the Black Marker.

However, the power consumption was enormous. For this reason, Zhang Heng had purchased three silent generator sets, each with a power output of two thousand kilowatts. Each was seven meters long and three meters tall—like three massive beasts.

Following Dimensional Star’s instructions, Zhang Heng connected the supercomputer to the generators, then opened the other containers, taking out various pieces of equipment he didn’t even understand and setting them up. Even with his T-virus-enhanced physique, the work was exhausting. By the time he finished, a full day had passed.

Looking at the now nearly full warehouse, Zhang Heng couldn’t help but feel a surge of ambition. With a reverent heart, he started the generators and then the supercomputer. The entire warehouse trembled slightly.

The three seven-meter-long generators and the thirty-meter-long row of supercomputer racks made quite a spectacle when they started up. Fortunately, Zhang Heng had bought silent generators. With ordinary ones, the warehouse would have been uninhabitable.

As the computers booted up, a one hundred thirty-inch 8K liquid crystal display on the wall near the warehouse entrance also lit up.

As the screen came to life, the Dimensional Star system in Zhang Heng’s mind began transmitting streams of data into his consciousness. Zhang Heng’s task was to input these incomprehensible codes into the supercomputer, altering its operating mode to make it compatible with the Black Marker’s program.

This was a monumental task, much like programming. Zhang Heng had to modify the supercomputer’s code to make it compatible with the Black Marker’s program, thereby achieving the goal of altering the Black Marker’s code.

As he input one command after another, the supercomputer’s programming was drastically modified. If a computer expert had seen this, they would have been stunned. Zhang Heng was actually writing the supercomputer’s computational code!

For decades since the invention of computers, binary code had been the standard, the result of countless people’s hard work. But what Zhang Heng was doing was attempting to modify the computer to use a computational mode thousands of times more complex than binary!

Time passed minute by minute. Zhang Heng, an outsider to this field, didn’t realize how shocking his actions were. He only felt that the commands Dimensional Star was making him input were endless. Eventually, he found that the computer’s keyboard was insufficient. He had to type several letters at once, forming a code similar to cuneiform or oracle bone script, then input it into the computer.

Day after day passed. When he was hungry, Zhang Heng ordered takeout. When he was thirsty, he grabbed a bottle of mineral water. He kept this up for five days. On the evening of the fifth day, after inputting the last set of code into the supercomputer, Zhang Heng finally sighed in relief and pressed Enter. Only then did he notice that his ten fingers were completely swollen, his back ached, and he was as disheveled as a dog.

“Is that it?” Zhang Heng stood up, stretching, somewhat uncertainly asking Dimensional Star.

“It’s done. This piece of junk can finally be compatible with the Marker’s program. With the help of the information transmitter, we can restart the Black Marker and modify its program!” Julian in his mind also sounded exhausted. Who knew why a program could feel fatigue?

“Good, then I’ll sleep for a while. Don’t wake me up for anything,” Zhang Heng grumbled, collapsing onto the bed and falling into a deep sleep.

…

Zhang Heng was woken by his phone ringing. Groggily, he picked it up without looking at the caller ID. “Hello, who is it?”

“It’s me, Fang Hao, boss!” came a noisy voice from the other end.

“Fang Hao?” Zhang Heng checked the time. It was already the next afternoon. Only then did he wake up a bit, comfortably shifting his position. “What’s up? Aren’t you and Yiru hiring people at the company?”

“Yeah, we’ve found about a dozen capable people. Li Yiru told me to ask you if you want to come to the company and check them out?”

“No need, you can decide for yourselves,” Zhang Heng said impatiently. “Tell Yiru that I’m temporarily leaving all company matters to her. Just get the foundation set up.”

“You’re really taking the hands-off approach…” Fang Hao muttered under his breath. “Then what about the groundbreaking ceremony for Starlight Technology’s building? It’s tomorrow. You have to come for that, right?”

“The groundbreaking ceremony?” Zhang Heng’s eyes darted around as he slapped his forehead. “I almost forgot about that. Since that’s the case, I’ll be there tomorrow. Oh, has Yiru ordered the things I asked her to?”

“You mean those tens of thousands of alloy steel plates? They’re ordered. Once the foundation is dug, they’ll be delivered together.”

“Alright, then that’s it. Bye.” Zhang Heng hung up before the other could finish, then slowly got out of bed, rubbing his bleary eyes. His gaze burned as he looked at the Black Marker.

Chapter 42: Moonlight Manifests!

Late at night, in the outskirts of Haizhou City, an unnamed warehouse stood desolate beside the highway. Occasionally, cars sped past, stirring up leaves that were captured and scanned by high-tech cameras in the warehouse’s corners. The results were sent to a central device, confirming everything was normal.

Inside the warehouse, Zhang Heng was once again hunched over a massive computer screen, inputting lines of code that would baffle any electronic engineer into the supercomputer, fine-tuning its programs.

At the tail end of the thirty-meter-long supercomputer, an unknown complex instrument hummed. Its circuits were exposed to the air, and its components were haphazardly assembled without any aesthetic design—clearly a homemade device.

Yet, this crude but complex instrument emitted a constant roar as it operated. One end was connected to the supercomputer’s cabinet, while the other resembled a laser cannon, firing beams of laser signals at a twenty-meter-tall black statue.

This unnamed instrument was the photon exchanger, the most crucial device for modifying the Marker’s program. Since the Marker itself had no ports, data could only be transmitted via photons.

At that moment, the Marker was covered in flickering red spots, clearly reactivated. However, it no longer emitted radiation that affected human minds. Instead, it glowed a dark red, its intricate and mysterious inscriptions lighting up one by one, casting an eerie crimson hue.

“Marker program initializing…”

Through the photon exchanger, the Marker’s information was received by the supercomputer, converted into audio, and broadcasted through the nearby Wanderer S5000 speakers.

After another night of work, Zhang Heng took a deep breath and straightened up, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he gazed at the humming black Marker.

“Marker program initialization complete. Please name the Marker’s AI program.”

“Moonlight,” Zhang Heng replied without hesitation. Since Moonlight was the name of the black Marker, it was only fitting to use it for the AI as well.

“Name confirmed. Please set commander authentication permissions.”

“Use biological gene authentication, brainwave authentication, and voice authentication,” Zhang Heng said calmly, having already learned the Marker’s operational mechanisms from Dimensional Star. “Grant me the highest clearance and disable the meme function. No one may use it without my command.”

“Settings complete. Commander’s highest clearance activated. Gene confirmation, brainwave confirmation, voice confirmation.”

“As per the commander’s request, the highest clearance has been activated, and the meme function has been locked.”

“Well done, Moonlight,” Zhang Heng couldn’t help but snap his fingers. “Now, set your virtual avatar to the image I have in mind.”

“Understood, Commander.”

Instantly, the black Marker extracted the image from Zhang Heng’s mind, transmitted it through the photon exchanger into the supercomputer, and within milliseconds, the supercomputer processed and displayed it on the large LCD screen on the south wall of the warehouse.

The screen showed a Japanese schoolgirl in a sailor uniform—a member of the popular Japanese group AK47, though Zhang Heng couldn’t recall whether her name was Ajiang or Reina. It didn’t matter; he was only testing the black Marker’s capabilities.

The results were impressive. The lifelike Japanese beauty on the screen proved just how extraordinary the Marker was. Even the world’s most advanced supercomputer, Tianhe-2, paled in comparison.

The test continued. “Moonlight, what is the current extent and range of your influence on the human mental field?”

The girl on the screen moved her lips, her expression blank as she replied, “At the highest clearance, my mental field can fully simulate the thought patterns of highly intelligent beings, greatly enhancing the realism of illusions and even generating virtual reality worlds.”

“As for range, in human terms, my mental field can affect human minds within a one-kilometer radius at minimum power. At level two, the range extends to ten kilometers, and at level three, one hundred kilometers. Level four, the highest clearance, allows linear scanning, affecting all targets within a one-million-meter radius.”

“So, you weren’t at full power when I first encountered you?” Zhang Heng nodded in realization. No wonder the illusion hadn’t been very convincing. Though it had been extraordinary, it hadn’t lived up to the black Marker’s reputation.

“By the way, Moonlight, can you try to be more human-like?” Remembering what Julian had said about the Marker’s AI being comparable to a human’s, Zhang Heng asked tentatively.

“Hi!”

At his words, the girl on the screen paused, then nodded solemnly. Her black hair swayed as if she had suddenly gained a soul, her lips curling into a smile, her eyes crinkling.

The lifelike expression even made Zhang Heng’s heart skip a beat. This level of realism was indistinguishable from a real person—truly deserving of its reputation as a quantum supercomputer!

“Now, about energy consumption,” Zhang Heng quickly changed the subject. “How long can you sustain level four?”

“Energy consumption?” The girl on the screen tilted her head slightly, frowning before smoothing her hair. “Hmm… With my internal storage, level four cannot be activated due to insufficient energy. Level three lasts three days, level two about six months, and the current level one lasts eighteen years.”

“How do you recharge?” Zhang Heng frowned. It seemed the black Marker had nearly exhausted its energy after summoning the Blood Moon.

“Solar, electric, radiation—any energy that can be converted will work,” the girl on the screen smiled.

Zhang Heng nodded. He would need to find a way to recharge the Marker in the future. But given Moonlight’s energy consumption, even the Three Gorges Dam’s output might barely match the energy required for level four. A few generators wouldn’t be enough.

Setting those concerns aside, Zhang Heng proceeded with the functionality test. “Can you influence ordinary human minds now? To what extent?”

“Influencing human mental fields requires the commander’s authorization. The degree and number of controls depend on energy consumption, with a theoretical maximum of one hundred million people.”

“That’s sufficient,” Zhang Heng nodded. “What’s the maximum control you can exert over humans?”

The Japanese girl on the screen frowned slightly, pondering before answering, “I cannot control thoughts, only deceive and mislead. I can read memories and cause confusion or illusions in human thinking.”

Zhang Heng raised an eyebrow. “What are the chances of someone breaking free? Like how I did before?”

“The reason for breaking free is usually that I wasn’t at full power. At full power, the chance of a human breaking free from my illusions is only one percent.”

Suddenly, a bold idea struck Zhang Heng. If the black Marker could create illusions, could it construct a virtual scenario that existed only in the mind? Could it draw people’s consciousness into this virtual world for learning, work, or even communication?

“It’s possible, but it would consume a massive amount of energy. The more complex the virtual scenario and the more minds involved, the greater the energy consumption.”

It could be done!

Zhang Heng was thrilled. “Can you accelerate human thought processes without any side effects?”

“It depends on the strength of the human mind. The limit for ordinary humans is between ten to twenty times. It ensures no brain damage from acceleration.”

“Then try pulling me in and testing my thought speed.” Zhang Heng took a deep breath, glanced at his watch, and sat down in his chair.

Chapter 43: Virtual Space

In an instant, Zhang Heng felt his vision go black. The next second, he found himself in a blank room.

No, calling it a room was too narrow a description. It was more like a blank space—boundless, with nothing but pure white above and below him. There was no light source, or perhaps light was everywhere.

Zhang Heng lowered his head and raised his hands slightly. The lines and pores on his skin were clearly visible, indistinguishable from reality. This was different from the illusions he had experienced in the Death Space dimension. The simulation of reality under the Black Marker’s highest clearance had reached a terrifying level—nearly one hundred percent!

What did “nearly one hundred percent” mean?

If a person’s consciousness were secretly drawn into this space without their knowledge, they would be unable to distinguish whether it was virtual or real. It was enough to make someone lose themselves forever. This was the power of virtual space.

Of course, in the real world, not only was there no equipment for virtual space, but even devices to detect consciousness signals had yet to be invented. After all, human brainwaves were far too complex. Virtual space was beyond the scope of modern technology. To reach this stage, humanity would need to advance for at least another hundred years.

Zhang Heng suppressed his shock and took a small step forward. The pure white ground rippled like water, creating concentric circles—quite a marvel.

“Yuehua, what’s my current thinking speed?” Zhang Heng suddenly asked, looking around.

“Your thinking is currently being accelerated. The current speed is five thousand percent, or fifty times faster. No abnormalities detected in your brain. Continuing to increase speed.” Suddenly, a soft, clear female voice came from behind Zhang Heng.

He turned around and saw Yuehua, whose appearance he had modeled after a Japanese actress, standing behind him. She was tall, with eyes curved like crescent moons, her hands crossed in front of her, smiling gently.

“Good, keep accelerating,” Zhang Heng said, carefully observing her. Even knowing the capabilities of the Black Marker, seeing such a lifelike human form still gave him the illusion of being unable to distinguish between virtual and reality.

“Six thousand percent, eight thousand percent, ten thousand percent.”

“Speed has been increased to ten thousand percent. Your brain temperature shows slight signs of elevation. It is not recommended to continue accelerating,” Yuehua said again.

Already a hundred times faster? Zhang Heng was pleased. It seemed that after injecting the T-virus, his physical condition had greatly improved, and even his brain’s potential was stronger than that of an ordinary person.

These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Suddenly, he thought of something and waved his hand lightly. The entire world changed! The pure white space instantly transformed into a vast grassland, with a blue sky and lush green grass.

Zhang Heng blinked again, and flocks of sheep appeared on the grassland, along with the traces of sheepdogs.

This was something only Zhang Heng, as Yuehua’s commander, could do—anything he imagined could be created in this virtual space if he willed it.

The test continued. Zhang Heng waved his hand again, and the grassland disappeared. The ground beneath his feet suddenly turned into a vast, surging ocean!

The sky was gray and overcast, the sea turbulent, with dark gray waves rolling in one after another. Standing in the ocean, Zhang Heng felt like a lone boat, ready to be overturned by the waves at any moment. Even though he knew it was all virtual, the one hundred percent realism still made his heart race.

Zhang Heng took a deep breath and suddenly stepped forward. The ocean before him vanished, and his body stepped directly into the depths of the cosmos!

Beneath his feet, rose-colored nebulae stretched to the horizon, magnificent and grand. In the distance, a massive red giant star burned like a fireball, with solar flares erupting violently, their heat washing over him!

If someone with a fear of deep space saw such a realistic scene, they might faint on the spot. But Zhang Heng looked around with interest, experiencing the strange sensation of weightlessness, before stepping back.

As if shifting through space and time, Zhang Heng returned to the pure white space. Yuehua stood there as before, softly saying, “Speed test complete.”

“Return,” Zhang Heng snapped his fingers. But as soon as he spoke, he found himself back in his seat the next second, his arm still raised as if checking the time.

The second hand on his watch had only moved two ticks.

A flicker of excitement flashed in Zhang Heng’s eyes as he gave the final command, “Yuehua, from now on, maintain level one status and ensure that any humans who approach you ignore your presence.”

“Understood.”

…

The next morning, Zhang Heng attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Starlight Technology building on time. Holding a speech, he stood before hundreds of people and read it aloud.

Some of these people were employees of his company, but most were workers from the three construction teams. Looking at the crowd before him, Zhang Heng knew that these people were his first batch of followers.

As an foreign-invested enterprise with billions of dollars in investment, several leaders from the city’s commerce bureau had personally come to attend the ceremony. Even Li Jianguo had taken time out of his schedule to show support. Zhang Heng had no choice but to interact with these bureaucrats.

Amidst applause, Zhang Heng and the leaders each took a pair of scissors and cut the red ribbon. Then, countless excavators and tractors roared to life, beginning the construction.

Zhang Heng had Fang Hao reserve a banquet at a five-star hotel, treating the group to a meal before they all went their separate ways. By the time Zhang Heng saw them off, it was already afternoon. When he returned to the construction site, the foundation had already been dug into a pit four to five meters deep.

Not bad, Zhang Heng thought, excitedly watching the bustling construction site. He reminded the foremen once more before returning to the warehouse.

“Welcome back, Commander,” the large LCD screen on the wall lit up as soon as he entered the warehouse. The beautiful girl stood on the screen, greeting him softly.

“Prepare to execute the daily training plan. Activate hundredfold thought acceleration,” Zhang Heng said without looking at her, sitting directly in the chair.

“Understood. Daily training plan initiating. Please secure your position. Three-second countdown: three, two, one. Plan activated!”

Zhang Heng’s vision went black, and the next second, he was back in the pure white virtual space.

Zhang Heng had already planned this. While waiting for the supercomputer, generators, and other materials to arrive, he had someone install a network fiber optic cable with over a hundred megabits outside the warehouse. After confirming that the Black Marker would not go out of control, he connected the network to the supercomputer. Thus, the Black Marker was also connected to the internet, formally integrating with this world.

Then, he gave Yuehua a command: to gather all weapon and combat data from the entire network—text, images, videos, and more—and combine it all to create an unprecedented, unique killing technique exclusive to Zhang Heng.

In just one night, Yuehua had organized, summarized, and refined all this information, extracting the essence and discarding the dross. With Yuehua’s capabilities, even if all the world’s masters spent their entire lives researching, they would never reach her level.

Of course, learning alone wasn’t enough. Zhang Heng needed to turn all of this into instinct. That was where the virtual space Yuehua created became crucial.

What was the fastest way to learn? Naturally, hands-on practice. Especially for combat techniques, the more intense the life-and-death struggles, the faster the improvement!

Although Zhang Heng possessed a body that surpassed human limits, his combat experience was far from exceptional. After all, he had lived an ordinary life—let alone fighting, even brawling with petty thugs was a challenge.

But now, things were different. If he wanted to survive the missions from Dimensional Star, he couldn’t afford to waste time. He needed to learn survival skills and the ability to kill his enemies!

Chapter 44: Combat Techniques

“Commander, you’ve arrived.” As Zhang Heng opened his eyes, the virtual figure generated by Yuehua was already standing before him. “As per your request, I have compiled and summarized all combat techniques from ancient and modern sources available online and created a training program tailored to your fighting style. Shall we begin immediately?”

“Begin,” Zhang Heng nodded.

Instantly, countless wooden materials appeared in mid-air, rapidly assembling into a massive room spanning a kilometer in all directions. In the blink of an eye, Zhang Heng took in his surroundings—it had transformed into a grand Japanese martial arts dojo.

Simultaneously, Zhang Heng and Yuehua’s attire changed, becoming loose, crescent-moon white garments resembling judo uniforms. Both were barefoot, standing on smooth, clean wooden floors.

Yuehua, her usual smile gone, bowed solemnly to Zhang Heng before speaking, “I have designed three major lessons for you, each divided into three sessions, totaling nine sessions.”

“The first session of the first lesson focuses on military combat techniques, integrating the strengths and advantages of judo, karate, Jeet Kune Do, taekwondo, Muay Thai, tai chi, and Wing Chun, among others. I have tailored the most optimized combat techniques for you, which you must learn as quickly as possible.”

“Once you master them, you can proceed to the second session. There, I will train your defensive abilities and help you integrate the combat techniques seamlessly…”

“In the third session, I will engage you in combat using various techniques. Your sole objective throughout will be to kill me, using any tools or means necessary. Your goal is to eliminate me swiftly and cleanly.”

Yuehua’s appearance was modeled after a popular Japanese idol, giving her a delicate and fragile look, like a sweet girl next door. Yet, her words were enough to make anyone listening break into a cold sweat. She continued:

“In the second major lesson, I will train your proficiency with various firearms, integrating combat techniques to enhance your practical battlefield skills against similar opponents.”

“And the final lesson will focus on your ability to fight against alien creatures and survive in harsh environments, thereby increasing your chances of survival in the next mission.”

Zhang Heng nodded. The third session was something he had specifically instructed Yuehua to include. He was preparing to choose an alien dimension for his next Dimensional Star mission, so adapting to combat against alien creatures was only natural.

Seeing Zhang Heng’s agreement, Yuehua smiled in satisfaction. “Then, the lesson officially begins. First, do you know the essence of combat?”

“Combat emphasizes lethality, doesn’t it? The greater the lethality, the better one can protect themselves,” Zhang Heng replied after a moment’s thought.

“Correct, but also incorrect,” Yuehua shook her head. “The true essence of combat in life-and-death situations is this—unless absolutely necessary, do not use combat techniques in battle. What you must do is use every means possible to kill the enemy while minimizing harm to yourself.”

Zhang Heng raised an eyebrow. “So, true combat is about using any means necessary to kill the enemy and protect oneself?”

“Exactly. That is the true nature of combat. Fairness, morality, honor, or dishonor—none of these matter. As long as you can kill the enemy, that is the best combat technique,” Yuehua’s eyes gleamed. “The combat I will teach you is not about looking cool in favorable conditions. It is about the final strike you can deliver when facing certain death!”

“You might think this kind of combat goes against your worldview, but don’t forget—you are not in a competitive arena. Your battles are fundamentally different from pure competition. It may lack the beauty and charm of other martial arts, but it is absolutely the most lethal combat technique.”

“I understand. The purpose of using force is not to fight for the sake of fighting, but to survive,” Zhang Heng chuckled in agreement.

“Correct. I reviewed various combat philosophies online, and only one human fighter put it best: ‘To defeat the opponent, spare no effort and go all out. Combat is about breaking or shattering the opponent’s bones or skull, holding their life in your hands.’ Additionally, in military combat manuals, soldiers often use shovels, ropes, helmets, or even teeth as weapons. While it may not look elegant, in life-or-death situations, these can indeed save your life.”

Seeing that Zhang Heng had fully accepted the concept of combat, Yuehua continued, “You should understand that in battle, using the greatest force to strike the opponent’s weakest points is the essence of combat. For someone like you, who will be fighting across various dimensions, understanding the vital points of the human body is crucial, whether for attack or defense. This knowledge will serve you well.”

With that, Yuehua extended her long, fair fingers, pointing to her delicate face. “The human body’s vital points are divided into front and back. The front includes the eyes, nose, temples, chin, throat, ribs, stomach, groin, and shin. The back includes the cervical spine, spine, kidneys, and coccyx. These are the areas where you can inflict fatal damage on an opponent and the areas you must defend at all costs to prevent the enemy from harming you.”

“Next, I want you to attack these points on me. I won’t fight back. If you can land a hit, you pass the first session.”

Zhang Heng was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Yuehua to do this, but having survived two life-and-death crises, he quickly adjusted his mindset. With a determined heart, he suddenly lunged forward, spreading his fingers to jab at Yuehua’s eyes! With his sudden speed and strength far beyond that of an ordinary person, if he had truly struck, the opponent would likely have died instantly!

But Yuehua seemed unresponsive, staring straight at Zhang Heng as he attacked. Only when his fingers stopped less than a centimeter from her eyes did she ask, “Commander, why didn’t you continue attacking?”

“You didn’t dodge, how could I attack?” Zhang Heng was somewhat helpless. Yuehua’s appearance was that of a sweet, lively girl, and since Zhang Heng had never killed anyone before, he hesitated to strike.

“It’s not that I didn’t dodge, but that you lacked the resolve to defeat me,” Yuehua shook her head.

“You’ve got that wrong,” Zhang Heng raised an eyebrow, suddenly clenching his left fist and striking Yuehua’s abdomen like a bullet!

But Yuehua seemed to have anticipated this, lightly twisting her waist and flashing to Zhang Heng’s side with lightning speed—so fast that Zhang Heng didn’t even react!

Zhang Heng was stunned. His nerve reflex speed was 0.03 seconds. As Yuehua appeared beside him, he suddenly kicked off with his left foot, bending his right leg like a cannonball toward her lower abdomen!

Slap!

Yuehua’s slender arms had somehow firmly pressed against Zhang Heng’s knee, using the force of his leg to rapidly retreat, instantly moving out of his attack range!

“Is this your attack? It’s utterly naive. From your angle, you could have directly struck my temple with your elbow, but you didn’t. Are you still holding back?”

Zhang Heng retracted his knee, somewhat troubled. “Yuehua, can’t you change your appearance? Fighting you in this form makes me feel restrained.”

“Is it the male hormones acting up?” But Yuehua, usually obedient, did not comply with Zhang Heng’s request this time. Instead, she frowned. “If you can’t even overcome this psychological barrier, then forget about learning combat techniques. It would be better to just kill yourself when the next mission comes. Otherwise, I guarantee you will die a painful death in the next mission!”

Chapter 45: NO.045 Devil’s Training

Zhang Heng was suddenly struck with realization.

That’s right—he hadn’t even noticed that he had been bound by human morality all along. If he were just an ordinary person, this influence wouldn’t matter much. But he was someone who would fight across various planes of existence. Being constrained by such morality was nothing short of courting death. Yuehua truly lived up to her name—she had easily targeted his mental weakness and begun training him accordingly.

Seeing Zhang Heng deep in reflection, Yuehua’s expression softened slightly. She spoke again, “It seems that to change your perception, some external assistance is still needed.”

“External assistance?” Zhang Heng was taken aback.

“That’s right, external assistance!” Yuehua suddenly stepped forward. Before Zhang Heng could react, she was already at his side, her right hand striking like a dagger toward his neck!

Zhang Heng’s heart tightened, and he quickly raised his right hand to grab Yuehua’s arm. But Yuehua twisted her hand, lightning-fast, locking onto his elbow. Her long, smooth leg swung through the air in a breathtaking arc, using his arm as the pivot, and slammed into his shoulder!

Crack!

The sound of bones shattering reached Zhang Heng’s ears before the pain registered in his brain. To an ordinary person, everything happened so fast that only a blur remained. Though Zhang Heng’s dynamic vision could keep up, his body couldn’t match her rhythm. By the time he came to his senses, he was already pinned to the ground by Yuehua’s legs, his right arm in unbearable agony!

“Fck, fck!” Watching as she twisted his arm like a pretzel, bone shards even piercing through muscle and skin, the dual assault on his vision and senses made Zhang Heng scream in agony!

Only then did Yuehua clap her hands in satisfaction and release him.

“You b*tch! It hurts like hell! Heal me now!” Zhang Heng gritted his teeth through the pain, lying on the ground like a dying dog.

“Enduring pain is part of the course I designed for you, so until you’re completely incapacitated, I can’t fulfill that request.” Yuehua smiled gently.

“I order you as the Commander to do it!” Zhang Heng still wouldn’t give up.

“Apologies, but Yulian has already rejected your request and thrown you a bone.”

“What? What does this have to do with her?” Zhang Heng was genuinely shocked.

“According to clearance levels, though you also have the highest clearance, in cases where Yulian’s orders conflict with yours, I only need to follow Yulian’s commands.” Yuehua calmly adjusted her bangs as she replied.

“This damn support system actually screwed me over at the critical moment!” Zhang Heng gnashed his teeth in frustration. Helpless, he used his left hand to prop himself up. But the moment he stood, his right arm, pulled by his muscles, sent another wave of excruciating pain. Beads of sweat rolled down his face like water, showing just how intense his suffering was.

Zhang Heng’s lips had turned pale from the pain. Just as he was about to say something, Yuehua suddenly appeared at his left side without warning, her arms crossing to grab his left arm!

“Again?” Zhang Heng’s pupils shrank in deep fear.

Crack!

“Damn it!” Zhang Heng groaned, now truly enraged. He somehow endured the pain of his left arm being twisted like a pretzel, his face contorted with indescribable fury as he lifted his right leg and kicked violently at Yuehua’s slender body!

“Die!”

But Yuehua didn’t even glance at Zhang Heng’s flying kick. She sidestepped to his front, lifting her knee, hooking her foot, and striking with her heel directly into his left thigh, which was supporting his full weight!

Crack!

The third bone-shattering sound echoed. Zhang Heng’s face turned completely green, followed by an indescribable pain in his thigh. The shattered femur made him collapse instantly, writhing on the ground in agony.

“Maintaining balance is the primary guarantee for your survival. If you’re not absolutely certain, don’t use your legs to attack an enemy while trying to stay balanced.” Yuehua chuckled, “This time, I’ll attack your spine. Please experience it carefully.” With that, she raised her fist, her middle finger slightly protruding, and mercilessly struck Zhang Heng’s cervical spine!

Zhang Heng’s entire body trembled. He heard a crack in his mind, his body arching like a dead fish before falling limp, completely unconscious. His lungs could no longer contract—only exhaling, no inhaling…

Zhang Heng’s mouth moved slightly, but no words came out. His pupils dilated, his eyes filled only with a lingering attachment to life…

“You’re already dead.” Only then did Yuehua stand up, lightly waving her hand. Zhang Heng’s dilating pupils immediately contracted, his shattered spine and arms instantly mending!

The next second, Zhang Heng gasped for air like a drowning man suddenly revived, panting heavily. It took a long time before he gradually recovered, but the shadow of death was deeply imprinted in his heart.

“That was truly terrifying…” Zhang Heng struggled to his feet, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. Just now, he had been incredibly close to death. If this weren’t a virtual space, such injuries would be impossible to survive.

“So now, have you let go of your burdens?” Yuehua asked with a light laugh.

“I have, don’t doubt it—I really have.” Zhang Heng forced a dry laugh, stepping back cautiously.

“No need to be afraid. Just now, I only used pain and the experience of near-death to accelerate your mental adaptation. After such an experience, I believe your fists and convictions won’t hesitate anymore. Next, please attack me with all your heart and soul!”

…

Ten hours later, Zhang Heng woke up from the warehouse chair, his face pale. He stared blankly at his surroundings for a long time before realizing where he was.

Ten hours in reality equated to a thousand hours in the virtual space—over forty days. The training during these forty days was like hell. At first, it wasn’t so bad. Zhang Heng needed to practice attacking—from every conceivable angle, relentlessly, until the opponent was dead.

But Yuehua, with her countless martial techniques and flawless precision, made it impossible for Zhang Heng to even touch the hem of her clothes, let alone kill her. As punishment and motivation, every ten hours, Yuehua would launch a surprise counterattack!

The results of these counterattacks were self-evident. Zhang Heng died in every imaginable way—his eyes gouged out, his throat crushed, his spine severed, his groin kicked to pieces…

Zhang Heng’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. Compared to this final death, being beaten into a powdered fracture was almost merciful.

Enduring punishments akin to the Ten Great Tortures of the Qing Dynasty, Zhang Heng’s potential was fully squeezed out. In the final moment, he had a sudden breakthrough, using a “Throat Lock Kill” to take Yuehua’s first blood, finally releasing him from the virtual space.

“Commander, are you satisfied with this training?” At that moment, Yuehua’s figure reappeared on the large screen in front of Zhang Heng, smiling as she asked.

“What do you think?” Zhang Heng looked utterly lifeless, weakly waving his hand. “I don’t want to see your face. Disappear… now, immediately!”

“Understood, Commander.”

With a beep, the LCD screen automatically turned off.

Only then did Zhang Heng rise numbly to his feet, taking frozen food from the fridge and eating a little before collapsing onto the bed and falling into a deep sleep.

Chapter 46: NO.046 Underground Laboratory

Zhang Heng had once thought that the first lesson of Yuehua’s first major course was already hell, but when he entered the second lesson, he realized what true hell was!

Yuehua’s first major course consisted of three lessons: the first was offensive training, the second was defensive training, and the third was combat training.

As the name suggested, defensive training meant enduring blows without fighting back. This time, Zhang Heng needed to hold out for thirty minutes under Yuehua’s relentless assault to pass.

If the first lesson’s training was within Zhang Heng’s psychological endurance, then the second lesson was a true nightmare…

Crack!

Zhang Heng’s neck was twisted to one hundred eighty degrees.

“Not good enough, again.” Yuehua expressionlessly waved her hand, and Zhang Heng revived at full health on the spot.

Crack!

Half a minute later, Zhang Heng’s temple was caved in by Yuehua’s elbow strike.

“Not good enough, continue.” Zhang Heng revived at full health again.

Boom!

Another minute passed, and Zhang Heng’s entire jaw was shattered by Yuehua’s knee, dead beyond recovery.

…

Ten hours later, when Zhang Heng woke up from the virtual space, the first thing he did was rush to the bathroom at top speed and vomit violently!

Countless deaths had left his spirit in a state of collapse, with excessive adrenaline secretion causing various physical discomforts.

“You must adapt quickly. There are fifty-one days and twenty hours until the next mission begins.”

Yuehua’s figure reappeared on the screen.

“You leave! I don’t have a sister like you!” Zhang Heng’s mind was so chaotic he was speaking nonsense, then vomited again.

“Commander…”

“Nonsense!”

…

Time continued to pass in Zhang Heng’s endless training. Although he initially suffered severe consciousness disorders due to the lack of adaptation, as the special training intensified, his consciousness disorders were shattered by the even crueler reality!

Eventually, he became numb, and it became a habit…

By the fifth day of Zhang Heng’s special training, which was half a year in virtual space, Zhang Heng finally endured Yuehua’s relentless attacks for over thirty minutes. When Yuehua announced he had passed, Zhang Heng actually cried tears of joy!

That night was the sweetest sleep of Zhang Heng’s life.

The next morning at exactly six o’clock, Zhang Heng opened his eyes on time. The T-virus had brought him physical abilities far beyond ordinary people, as well as astonishing mental capacity. Zhang Heng’s biological clock had been adjusted with extreme precision, like a wound-up pocket watch. His grasp of time had even reached the minute level.

As usual, he brushed his teeth and washed his face, then habitually jogged on the treadmill—this was a habit he had developed during this period. As Yuehua had said, training in virtual space alone was not enough. Virtual space could at most train Zhang Heng’s combat awareness and skills, but could not improve the most basic physical fitness.

After Zhang Heng injected the T-virus, his physical potential could be described as that of a mini-superman, but in reality, he could only exert the extreme limits of the human body. This was because his physical training was insufficient. In fact, with Zhang Heng’s current physical potential, he could completely double his speed and strength.

Unlike ordinary people who jog slowly on treadmills, Zhang Heng’s treadmill was custom-made, with a maximum speed of eighty kilometers per hour. Zhang Heng had previously tried it and found that his maximum speed could reach forty kilometers per hour for a five-hundred-meter sprint, averaging over eleven meters per second!

His hundred-meter sprint speed was nine point zero nine seconds, zero point four nine seconds faster than the world record!

Zhang Heng first jogged slowly at twenty-five kilometers per hour for an hour, then proceeded with sprint training. When everything was done, he took a shower, and it was just around eight o’clock.

Zhang Heng was in a very good mood today—no, it wasn’t just good, it was a joyous relief—because today there was something more important than training to do.

Having something to do meant no training, and no training meant temporarily escaping Yuehua’s clutches.

Around a little after eight o’clock, the sound of a large vehicle engine roared outside the warehouse. Zhang Heng opened the warehouse door and saw more than a dozen heavily loaded trucks pulling up one after another in the open space outside the warehouse.

A man dressed as a foreman got off the truck and shook hands with Zhang Heng. Zhang Heng was not stingy and directly took out two cartons of Zhonghua cigarettes and handed them to the foreman.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the foreman looked at his watch, then waved his hand, and two or three dozen workers got off the trucks one by one. Under the foreman’s command, they disassembled and packed various electronic equipment in the warehouse, carrying them one by one onto the trucks.

“Everyone be careful, these are high-precision instruments. If you break them, no one can afford to compensate!”

“Handle with care!”

The foreman supervised everyone while shouting loudly.

With many hands making light work, by around ten o’clock in the morning, the warehouse was basically emptied.

Finally, the foreman personally drove a crane, and everyone first worked together to dismantle the warehouse roof, then hoisted a huge statue wrapped in white cloth from the roof.

This huge statue was the Black Marker, but at this moment, the Black Marker was in an activated state. Under the Marker’s thought interference, no one had any curiosity about the statue under the cloth.

It was precisely because of this that Zhang Heng dared to expose the Black Marker to everyone’s view.

After loading the last Marker onto the truck, the many trucks formed a long convoy and roared toward the construction site of the Starlight Technology building in the development zone.

Zhang Heng was still a little uneasy, so he personally sat in the truck compartment carrying the Marker and followed the convoy to the construction site.

Upon arrival, he saw that the foundation from five days ago had already changed drastically. Now it was a huge pit covering tens of thousands of square meters, with a depth of fifty meters!

But the bottom of the pit was brightly lit. Looking closely, it was actually made of hundreds of huge stamped steel plates welded together.

On top of the steel plates, there were also hundreds of thick solid steel columns standing tall. Such a massive scale could only be achieved by someone like Zhang Heng, who treated money as nothing.

If this wasn’t strange enough, there was also a circular pit with a diameter of five meters and a depth of more than twenty meters in the center of the foundation, like a missile silo, bizarre and exaggerated.

However, because it was located in a remote suburb, no one noticed that the foundation of this building seemed too deep, completely defying the logic of building construction.

“Boss!” As soon as Zhang Heng jumped off the truck, a young man in the distance waved to him and quickly ran over.

“Boss, the foundation of our building is a bit too deep, and we’re using special steel to reinforce the foundation? Director Li is almost cursing you to death.” As soon as he arrived, Fang Hao started complaining.

Zhang Heng carefully examined Fang Hao and saw that his vitality was stronger than the last time they met. His originally pale complexion had tanned considerably due to constant supervision at the construction site, and his physique had become more robust. Although he was still as thin as a noodle, he was much better than before.

“It’s fine, where’s Xiao Ru?” Zhang Heng waved his hand but did not see Li Yiru’s figure.

“Director Li didn’t come today; he’s still recruiting at the office building.” Fang Hao smiled somewhat embarrassedly and reported, “Now our company has recruited more than a dozen people, but they’re all in finance and planning. There’s nothing to do now, and Director Li is teaching them various corporate knowledge every day. This isn’t a solution.”

“Don’t worry, there will be things to do soon.” Zhang Heng nodded casually, then had the foreman use the crane to place the Black Marker into the deep pit in the center of the foundation. It fit perfectly, without the slightest gap.

Next, a group of slightly smaller cranes placed one huge stamped steel plate after another on the brackets next to the steel columns. A group of welders immediately followed, densely welding the steel plates together. The huge noise could be heard, and if an unrelated person saw it, they might think it was the construction of a bank vault.

However, despite such an illogical construction, none of the many construction workers on site showed any puzzled expressions. There wasn’t even any whispering; everyone had a matter-of-fact expression, as if they were just building an ordinary small villa.

This was the power of the Marker. Although the Marker could not control thoughts, it could block certain memories. At this moment, the Marker was releasing mental interference to everyone present, making everyone instinctively ignore the abnormalities of the construction site.

Zhang Heng watched everyone work. The fifty-meter-deep pit quickly rose as one special steel plate after another was assembled, and the layout gradually became visible.

In Zhang Heng’s design, the Starlight Technology building had fifty-five floors, with a total height of one hundred eighty-eight meters. The underground construction was divided into secret and public buildings. The public buildings were the first and second basement levels, which were parking garages, with a total height of eight meters. Below the garage was a ten-meter-thick layer of concrete and rammed earth, used as a cover for the foundation.

Below that was the current high-confidentiality underground experimental area, entirely made of fifty-millimeter-thick special stamped steel. Because the foundation had to be larger than the building’s footprint, under Zhang Heng’s deliberate instructions, the experimental area’s floor area reached ten thousand square meters, with a total of seven floors.

Due to potential needs, Zhang Heng designed the lowest level to have a height of eight meters, the sixth level five meters, and the fifth to first levels around three meters in height.

In Zhang Heng’s design, the first underground level was the supplies and alert area. All supplies would be stored here, and any personnel entering from the outside could only enter the first level, then take an independent elevator from the first level to deeper floors.

The second level was the living area, where various entertainment facilities and employee dormitories would be set up.

Starting from the third level, Zhang Heng strictly followed the “Biosafety Level Standards” set by the “U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” to build laboratories.

On the third level, there were fifty “Biosafety Level 1” basic laboratories.

On the fourth level, each laboratory was slightly larger, and isolation walls and other complex protective devices began to appear. There were thirty “Biosafety Level 2” basic laboratories.

On the fifth level, the laboratories were even larger and more complex, with not only isolation walls but also toxic gas, high temperature, and liquid nitrogen emergency destruction devices. There were twenty “Biosafety Level 3” protective laboratories.

The sixth level was the high-risk experimental area. Anyone who wanted to enter this level was without exception a company executive. This level would also be used for high-risk experiments, with twenty laboratories strictly built according to “Biosafety Level 4” standards. The isolation walls of the laboratories were even twenty layers, each three meters thick!

Finally, there was the seventh level at the very bottom. The seventh level had only four laboratories, scattered in the four corners.

Why only four? Because Zhang Heng had designed the seventh level with protection standards ten times stricter than those set by the “U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” Each of the four laboratories had isolation walls over five meters thick, all made of solid special steel tightly fitted together. There were no ventilation or energy systems because each laboratory was self-sufficient. In the future, they would be equipped with oxygen circulation machines and large generators. Even if aliens were cultivated inside, there would be no fear of them escaping.

The seventh level was also the most confidential, accessible only by Zhang Heng himself and the core research personnel. Only in the center of the seventh level could one find the passage leading to the deep pit where the Black Marker was located.

To accommodate the Black Marker, Zhang Heng had gone to great lengths.

Chapter 47: NO.047 Third Lesson Complete

This time, the workload was enormous. Even though Zhang Heng had hired three construction teams simultaneously, it still took ten days to complete the underground secret base.

Then, layers of rammed earth and concrete were added on top of the base. By the time everything was on track, nearly half a month had passed.

Over these past two weeks, to prevent any accidents, Zhang Heng had chosen to live on-site, never leaving. Only after the underground base was fully constructed did he order Yuehua, buried beneath the ground, to erase all memories of the base from everyone involved. They even forgot digging a fifty-meter-deep pit.

Now, he could finally say everything was foolproof.

Of course, once all preparations were complete, Zhang Heng had to continue his hellish training. He tried bargaining, making promises, but in the end, he still couldn’t escape it—the training had to go on.

To conserve the Black Marker’s energy, Zhang Heng rented a standard room in a small hotel about a kilometer from the construction site. This was just within the farthest reach of Yuehua’s first-level mental field. As dawn arrived, Zhang Heng sat in a chair, and in the next moment, he entered the virtual space once again.

The third and final lesson of the first major session. This time, the training focused on Zhang Heng’s combat skills. In other words, there would be no more simple offense or defense drills. What Zhang Heng faced now was a true life-or-death battle!

During the half-year of training in the virtual space, Zhang Heng had only killed Yuehua once—and that was because Yuehua had only defended and evaded without counterattacking, allowing Zhang Heng to get lucky.

This time was completely different. It was an all-out battle. Zhang Heng had already prepared himself to be slaughtered by Yuehua thousands of times. Fortunately, Yuehua had the ability to provide psychological suggestions. Under her protection, Zhang Heng’s will wasn’t crushed by repeated deaths—instead, it was tempered to become even clearer and stronger!

…

In a dim, narrow alley, a young man in his twenties with a crew cut walked slowly.

This kind of alley was common in the city—a gap between two buildings in a bustling district, forming countless gray, filthy corners.

Unattended garbage, vomit from drunken revelers at night, and the occasional sight of a homeless person. This was an area where even sunlight couldn’t reach, a breeding ground for crime.

Robberies, brawls, assaults—countless stories unfolded in these corners every moment.

But now, the young man looked around with interest. If someone knowledgeable saw him, they would realize he was no ordinary man—his deep, dark eyes missed nothing suspicious. His slightly bent knees as he walked, each step landing on the balls of his feet first, as if ready to pounce like a cheetah at any moment!

This was the posture of a shadow operative.

This young man was Zhang Heng, undergoing his third lesson.

At that moment, every pore on his body was open, not a single sound escaping his perception. He could sense it—his enemy was nearby, silently observing him like a venomous snake, waiting for him to show a flaw before delivering a swift, fatal strike!

Most people in danger would feel tense, sweat, their hearts racing, adrenaline surging—but clearly, Zhang Heng was not most people.

Not only was he unafraid, but he also felt an inexplicable excitement. He knew he was facing a martial arts master beyond human comprehension, but the instinct for battle had long been carved into his bones, his genes. Even in the face of death, he could remain perfectly calm.

Ding!

A faint sound came from behind Zhang Heng. To an ordinary person, it would be easy to ignore, but to Zhang Heng, it was like a crashing wave. He spun around abruptly, assuming a defensive stance!

But all he saw was a grain-of-rice-sized pebble bouncing off a trash can behind him.

A trap!

Zhang Heng’s heart tightened. He turned back immediately—but it was too late. A sharp killing intent erupted! Without thinking, his right arm swung out instinctively, his legs and waist exploding with force, propelling him backward like an arrow released from its bow!

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, Zhang Heng had retreated three meters, but a searing pain flared at his throat—a half-inch-deep wound stretched across his neck.

Clearly, if Zhang Heng had reacted even a hundredth of a second slower, his arteries and trachea would have been mercilessly severed by the sudden attack!

Zhang Heng looked closely and saw Yuehua standing where he had just been. She wore a white T-shirt with a Kitty cat embroidered on it and a black mini skirt, her bare legs exposed, smiling at him.

If this didn’t stir any emotion in Zhang Heng, what truly moved him was the delicate fingers on her hand—holding a razor blade!

An ordinary weapon, not even as intimidating as a fruit knife. But it depended on whose hands it was in. If this blade was in the hands of a monstrously powerful non-human, even Zhang Heng would have to be cautious.

Facing such an opponent, Zhang Heng had no choice but to draw his own weapon—a small, entirely black knife with a diamond-shaped cross-section. An ordinary person might not recognize it, but anyone with military experience would know its infamous name!

The Type 56 triangular bayonet!

This was a nightmare of a compact weapon. Thirty-eight centimeters long, with a thirty-two-centimeter blade. The three-edged structure naturally created three blood grooves. When stabbed into the body, it formed a three-dimensional wound, causing massive internal tissue damage!

Moreover, after the bayonet entered the body, it created an air embolism that blocked the blood vessels. A stab of just eight centimeters into any part of the body could quickly kill the enemy, and it could be pulled out effortlessly!

This weapon was Zhang Heng’s personal choice. The bayonet had terrifying lethality and was easy to conceal and carry—almost as if it had been tailor-made for him.

Zhang Heng’s fingers deftly moved, and the bayonet spun rapidly in his palm, dazzling to the eye. Then, he suddenly stepped forward, gripping the bayonet in reverse, and lunged at Yuehua’s head like a bolt of lightning!

Sssshhh—!

A grating metallic scrape echoed as the two clashed. Their speed was so fast that countless afterimages appeared, and in the blink of an eye, they had crossed paths!

Like a film reel, one moment was fast-forward, the next was frozen. The two stood back-to-back, half a meter apart, motionless.

Zhang Heng’s forehead beaded with cold sweat. He lowered his head slightly and saw a wound across his abdomen deep enough to split him open, his intestines exposed to the air. His right hand’s wrist tendons had been severed, and the bayonet clattered to the ground.

Behind him, Yuehua wore a faint, satisfied smile. But as she moved her chest, a crimson jet of blood suddenly erupted from her heart, spraying three meters in an instant!

“Finally, I’ve defeated you.”

Zhang Heng took a deep breath. His calm face suddenly showed a look of relief. He turned slightly, watching the fragile figure behind him collapse from blood loss, kneel, fall forward, and finally lose all signs of life.

In a true battle between masters, victory or defeat was often decided in an instant. Where was there any such thing as a prolonged battle of three hundred rounds? Even if there was, it would just be called feeding moves.

In the next moment, Zhang Heng’s vision blurred, and he exited the scene, returning to the pure white space. His wounds rapidly healed, disappearing as if they had never existed.

“That was brilliant.” Yuehua’s figure reappeared, clapping lightly, her face full of delight. “Congratulations, Commander, on meeting the standards I set.”

Zhang Heng shook his head. “It was just mutual destruction. With those injuries, I wouldn’t last more than a few minutes before dying.”

“It’s enough,” Yuehua said with a grin. “I set my physical abilities to five times that of an ordinary person, and I possess the most perfect combat techniques. Even so, you were able to kill me, which means you’ve temporarily reached the limit of your potential.” She chuckled. “With your current combat strength, you’re absolutely dozens of times stronger than before the training.”

Zhang Heng nodded, clenching his fist with some emotion.

He knew that what had made him stronger wasn’t just raw power—it was his mindset, his will, and his rich combat experience!

This kind of strength was true power. As Yuehua had said—even if dozens of untrained Zhang Hengs banded together, they would still be easily slaughtered by the current him!

That was the power of skill and mindset!

This third lesson had taken him eight days to complete. Each day was a thousand hours, equivalent to nearly a year’s time, showing just how difficult it was to defeat Yuehua.

Fortunately, he had made it through.

Chapter 48: NO.048 Cherry Blossom Society

After more than ten thousand deaths and hundreds of thousands of severe injuries, Zhang Heng’s accumulated combat experience would terrify even the so-called martial arts masters. The hellish training had honed his reflexes to an extraordinary degree—his neural response time had reached an astonishing 0.02 seconds.

What did 0.02 seconds mean?

An average person’s neural response time ranged from 0.2 to 0.4 seconds. A handgun bullet traveled at three hundred to four hundred meters per second, making it invisible to the naked eye. But Zhang Heng’s reflexes were ten times faster than the average person. To him, a bullet moved at thirty meters per second—a speed slow enough for him to see and dodge.

In the virtual space, Zhang Heng not only trained his reactions but also tempered his will. Pain like shattered bones no longer fazed him. Even if his chest were split open, he would only furrow his brow slightly.

In reality, Zhang Heng had not been idle either. His body, transformed by the T-virus, held immense potential. Through daily running exercises, his speed had gradually improved—from a hundred meters in nine seconds to eight seconds now, far surpassing human limits.

Humans, as intelligent beings, had an inherent laziness. They could achieve more, but fatigue and fear often held them back, leading to underperformance when it truly mattered.

Zhang Heng was different. He had the world’s strictest and most precise instructor, and the whip of pain and death drove him to push his potential to the absolute limit. That was how he had reached his current state.

Thus, his training was impossible to replicate.

After successfully completing the first major lesson, Zhang Heng rested for a few days before hastily moving on to the second phase of training.

The second major lesson Yuehua had designed was the proficient use of various firearms. Although Zhang Heng’s speed and strength made combat knives nearly as effective as guns, firearms were still the most efficient means of killing. Used well, they could take down an opponent without expending a single ounce of energy.

The firearms training included various models of handguns, machine guns, rifles, and more. Compared to combat training, this was much simpler. With his combat training foundation and his near-monstrous neural response speed, Zhang Heng mastered the firearms training in just three days, fully meeting Yuehua’s requirements.

Next came the training preparations for the alien dimension.

One day, as Zhang Heng was about to begin the third phase of training, someone suddenly knocked on his door.

Zhang Heng didn’t think much of it and was about to open the door when Yuehua’s warning suddenly echoed in his mind, “Commander, there are two men outside with hostile intentions toward you.”

Zhang Heng paused, his hand on the doorknob, frowning. “Hostile intentions? Who are they? Can you read their general memories?”

“Memories have been captured. The two men are of Japanese descent—one named Miyamoto Tawara, the other Endo Shinori. Both are low-level members of the Cherry Blossom Society under the Yamaguchi-gumi, stationed in Haizhou. Suspected to be armed. Danger level: mild.”

Yuehua inherently possessed the ability to read human memories and create illusions, so extracting memories from their minds was routine. After her program was modified, Zhang Heng, as the highest clearance, could freely utilize Yuehua’s abilities.

Hearing Yuehua’s report, Zhang Heng grew even more curious. He couldn’t recall having any connection to the Japanese mafia. Thinking this, Zhang Heng took a deep breath and focused.

Instantly, three distinct heartbeats reached his extremely sensitive ears. One was his own; the other two belonged to the uninvited guests outside.

The T-virus had transformed his body comprehensively, including his hearing. He could hear that the two men’s heartbeats were steady, indicating they had no immediate intention to fight. Since that was the case, Zhang Heng simply reached out and opened the door to his standard hotel room.

Outside stood two middle-aged men in black suits and ties. The slightly older one smiled amiably upon seeing Zhang Heng open the door and spoke in flawless Mandarin, “Hello, may I ask if you are Mr. Zhang Heng, the legal representative of Starlight Biotechnology?”

“I am.” Zhang Heng nodded. If he hadn’t learned their identities from their memories, he never would have guessed that someone who spoke such perfect Mandarin was Japanese. “May I ask what brings you two here?”

“Sorry to disturb you. We are from Huaguang Credit Company. Our boss would like to discuss some company matters with you. Do you have time?”

The man took out a business card from his wallet and handed it to Zhang Heng with both hands, his posture deferential.

“I’m afraid I don’t recall making any appointment with your boss.” Zhang Heng shook his head, not taking the card. “If there’s nothing else, please leave.”

Hearing Zhang Heng’s words, the two men showed no surprise. They exchanged glances, and the older man smiled politely. “It seems Mr. Zhang Heng doesn’t understand the current situation. You may not have heard of our Huaguang Credit Company.”

“The Haizhou branch of the Japanese Cherry Blossom Society, a name that thunders through the land.” Zhang Heng interrupted, his tone indifferent. “But I don’t see how that’s relevant. This is China, not your Japanese territory.”

Zhang Heng was no longer the man he once was. Even if the Japanese Prime Minister stood before him, he would remain unmoved. This was the confidence born from his mental fortitude.

Equal power brought equal status. Though Zhang Heng’s position wasn’t particularly high, he possessed lethal skills and an unyielding spirit. With the demonic training he had endured, he could take down an entire squad of fully armed special forces in three seconds.

At that moment, the two men suddenly felt a pang of unease—a strange sensation, like the instinctive fear a subordinate felt in the presence of a superior. They looked at Zhang Heng in bewilderment, momentarily speechless.

“Alright, please don’t disturb my rest.” Seeing the two men cowed by his aura, Zhang Heng didn’t want to cause more trouble and closed the door.

After shutting the door, Zhang Heng’s expression darkened. Without hesitation, he commanded, “Yuehua, monitor these two. Even if it requires using second or third-level states, I want to know their every move!”

“Understood, Commander.”

The two men stood outside Zhang Heng’s door, exchanging puzzled looks. The younger one frowned. “Tawara, did you feel that?”

“Yes.” The older one nodded. “He has the scent of blood on him, as strong as the boss’s.”

“Not only that, my sixth sense tells me that if we make a move here, we’ll be the ones at a disadvantage.” The younger man shook his head. “I never expected someone who developed an anti-cancer drug to have a dark profession. It seems this kidnapping operation needs careful planning. I’ll report to the boss immediately.”

After a brief exchange in Japanese, the two hurriedly left the hotel. Little did they know, Zhang Heng had heard every word. With Yuehua’s powerful computational abilities, every sentence was translated into Chinese in real-time.

“So, the Cherry Blossom Society is after T-1.” Zhang Heng paced by the window, coldly watching the two men rush out of the hotel and into a black sedan before turning away.

“Logically, after handing T-1 over to the state, it should have been classified as top secret. Until the research is thoroughly understood, the information shouldn’t be released. Yet, not a whisper has reached the outside world. I never expected the Japanese mafia to know, let alone that I was the one who developed it.” Zhang Heng analyzed. “That means the leak must be either my classmates or the higher-ups in Li Corporation.”

Zhang Heng slightly regretted letting so many people know about T-1. Although the state had issued a gag order to those who witnessed T-1, clearly too many people knew, making it impossible to completely seal the information.

But if he hadn’t revealed T-1, how could he have gotten involved with Li Corporation? Let alone the four billion yuan in startup funds.

Now that it had come to this, Zhang Heng no longer dwelled on who had leaked T-1. He had mentally prepared for such troubles, though he hadn’t expected the Japanese mafia to be the first to find him.

“Yuehua, can you find the geographical location of the Cherry Blossom Society’s president?” Zhang Heng suddenly thought of something and asked.

“Unable to. These two men’s memories don’t contain the president’s location. Should I search the internet?”

“Proceed.” Zhang Heng nodded. Yuehua, as a quantum neural supercomputer, had data processing capabilities far beyond any supercomputer in this world. With internet access, it could freely infiltrate any corner of the web. Even the so-called most secure firewall of the U.S. National Security Agency couldn’t stop it. Finding someone online was a trivial task.

In less than three seconds, Zhang Heng received Yuehua’s response. “Target located. The current president of the Cherry Blossom Society is Fujwara Tsubasa, age forty-nine, born in Kobe City. Current location: 476 Sannomiya Center Street, Kobe City, Japan. GPS tracking via communication satellite has been initiated.” Simultaneously, Yuehua imprinted the image of a stern-faced, mustachioed middle-aged man into Zhang Heng’s mind.

“Can you check his call records?”

“Affirmative. One hour ago, he received a call from number: XXXXXX, originating from Haizhou’s Takashi District. Confirmed as Awei Bukawa Shinno, the Cherry Blossom Society’s Haizhou branch manager. Records show Miyamoto Tawara and Endo Shinori have had multiple contacts with Awei Bukawa Shinno.”

“I see.” Zhang Heng breathed a sigh of relief. “So the order did come from the Cherry Blossom Society’s president. I just don’t know if it’s his own initiative or if he’s acting on higher orders from the Yamaguchi-gumi.”

“Should I conduct a large-scale search of the Yamaguchi-gumi members’ and the Cherry Blossom Society president’s communication records on the internet?”

“You may, but won’t that require a massive amount of information?”

“I will retrieve all call records, email records, and internet activity between Yamaguchi-gumi members and the Cherry Blossom Society president, then filter them. Due to physical limitations, it will take about half an hour.”

“Very well, take your time.” A cold smile curled at the corner of Zhang Heng’s mouth. “While you’re at it, get me a passport and a ticket to Kobe, Japan. It’s time to test the results of my recent training.”

Chapter 49: Flight to Osaka

At this point, Zhang Heng had no mood to continue holed up in the hotel training. He went out to buy a pair of gloves, a mask, and a baseball cap. After putting them on, he headed to the immigration office.

Normally, processing a passport and visa would take at least several days, but with Yuehua, it was a different story. In less than three minutes, Zhang Heng walked out of the immigration office with a passport in hand.

Next, Zhang Heng visited the Haizhou Embassy in Japan. Five minutes later, his visa was stamped and approved.

After easily completing these tasks, Zhang Heng hailed a taxi and headed toward Pudong Airport.

There were no direct flights from Haizhou to Kobe, so Zhang Heng chose a flight to Osaka that same day. After arriving at Kansai International Airport in Osaka, he only needed to take the Limousine Bus to reach the Sannomiya district in Kobe City.

Upon arriving at the airport, Zhang Heng walked straight to the self-service ticket machine.

Normally, international flights required advance booking, but Zhang Heng wasn’t worried. With Yuehua, did he even need to book a ticket? That would be an insult to the capabilities of a neural quantum computer.

He casually swiped his card at the self-service ticket machine, and a ticket to Kobe was automatically printed.

Before all this, Yuehua had already hacked into the airline’s management system, randomly erasing someone’s booking information, and replacing it with Zhang Heng’s identity details.

But that wasn’t all. After Zhang Heng boarded the plane, Yuehua would restore the original information, erasing all traces of Zhang Heng’s presence.

At that moment, a middle-aged man in an airport security uniform stood at the security checkpoint, silently observing the passengers with a cold and stern expression.

The man’s name was Wang Biao, the head of the airport security team. After retiring from the national special forces, he had no other skills, so he took up security work.

It was an excruciatingly boring job. Wang Biao even missed the life-and-death missions of his special forces days. But today, he noticed something unusual about a passenger.

The passenger was a young man, around twenty years old, about 175 centimeters tall, with an ordinary appearance. To most people, he seemed unremarkable. But Wang Biao, who had faced death numerous times, sensed something extraordinary about him the moment he laid eyes on him.

The passenger walked with his toes touching the ground first, his legs slightly bent, appearing relaxed yet always on high alert. His expression suggested this wasn’t a conscious effort but an instinct ingrained in his bones.

Moreover, the man exuded an extremely dangerous aura. The moment Wang Biao “sensed” this aura, he felt the same heart-pounding fear he had experienced when facing international assassins and terrorists in the past.

Wang Biao’s pupils involuntarily contracted, like a rabbit sensing a hunting dog. Instinctively, he gripped the baton at his waist tighter.

As Wang Biao’s hostility arose, Zhang Heng’s lowered eyes sharpened, glancing at Wang Biao with a faint gaze.

But that single glance sent a chilling, icy aura wrapping around Wang Biao, like a blade pressing against his skin. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

“An assassin! Definitely a top-tier international assassin!” Wang Biao screamed internally. His combat skills were far from mediocre in the military—he could easily take down three or five soldiers, and in several small-scale border skirmishes, he had taken seven lives!

Yet, facing this man, he felt an overwhelming sense of impending death. Who else but one of the world’s elite could emit such a dangerous presence?

Wang Biao’s knuckles turned white from gripping too tightly, his body trembling slightly. He wanted to stop and inspect the man, but his survival instinct fiercely restrained him—he knew that if he exposed the man, regardless of whether the man was caught, he himself would surely die!

As Wang Biao trembled, Zhang Heng had already reached the express lane, handing his passport and ticket to the security officer beside Wang Biao. The officer briefly checked them, nodded, tore off the ticket stub, and handed it back to Zhang Heng.

Zhang Heng responded with a smile, not even glancing at the sweat-drenched Wang Biao beside him, and walked straight past.

“Phew…” Only after Zhang Heng disappeared into the security checkpoint did Wang Biao’s tense body finally relax. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, feeling fortunate to have survived.

But at that moment, a commotion erupted behind him.

Wang Biao turned numbly to see a middle-aged bald man arguing loudly with the airline manager.

“Why? I clearly booked a ticket and paid for it! How can you say I didn’t buy one?” the bald man raged. “I’m going to Japan for business! If I can’t go this time, the deal is ruined—millions of dollars! Can your airline afford to compensate me? I’m filing a complaint!”

…

Ignoring the unfortunate man behind him, Zhang Heng smoothly entered the airport. A shuttle bus was already waiting at the door, ready to take passengers to the plane once it was full.

Ten minutes later, Zhang Heng was seated in the first-class cabin. Since it was a short international flight, even first class wasn’t extravagantly furnished, but it was still far better than economy.

The semi-enclosed leather sofa seat, the independent TV screen in front, and even the flight attendants were more attractive than those in economy.

Watching the passengers and flight attendants come and go, Zhang Heng couldn’t help but stretch lazily. If it weren’t for Dimensional Star, when would he have reached this point? He’d probably still be working at the pharmaceutical factory, earning a measly three thousand yuan a month, living in a five-hundred-yuan-a-month cheap rental.

After a brief moment of reflection, Zhang Heng’s phone suddenly vibrated. He answered it discreetly, hearing Yuehua’s voice.

“Commander, I’ve reviewed all communications between the Cherry Blossom Society’s president and the Yamaguchi-gumi’s upper echelon. I found something interesting.”

“Interesting?” Zhang Heng raised an eyebrow.

“That’s right. According to my investigation, Awei Bukawa Shinno, the Haizhou branch leader of the Cherry Blossom Society, had contact with a thug named Liu Jianmin ten days ago. Liu Jianmin is a relative of a man named Pan Bo. In the WeChat records between Liu Jianmin and Pan Bo, I found information related to you.”

“Pan Bo?” Zhang Heng’s eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing. “So that’s how it is.”

“Excuse me, sir, the plane is about to take off. Please switch your phone to airplane mode. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Just then, a young flight attendant in her twenties approached Zhang Heng, bending slightly as she spoke politely.

“Alright.” Zhang Heng suppressed the coldness in his eyes, looked up, and smiled before hanging up the phone.

Zhang Heng’s appearance was ordinary, with perhaps a slightly youthful face, but the mature, world-weary aura of a successful man and the confidence of being in control exuded a fatal attraction to women. With just a smile, the flight attendant’s face flushed red.

“Thank you for your cooperation.” The young flight attendant glanced at Zhang Heng shyly, feeling her heart race. She quickly straightened up and walked away.

Since he couldn’t use his phone anymore, Zhang Heng turned on the TV and randomly selected a program. The plane gradually took off, and a centrifugal force surged. Zhang Heng looked out the window with slight curiosity, watching Haizhou shrink beneath him. The bustling traffic below became like ants, eventually obscured by clouds.

“Ladies and gentlemen.”

“Our plane has departed Haizhou and is heading to Osaka. Along this route, we will fly over the East China Sea to Kansai International Airport. During this journey, we have prepared various meals for you. We will notify you via broadcast when it’s time to serve.”

A broadcast sounded on the plane. Zhang Heng casually propped his feet on the stand beneath the TV, leaning back comfortably. This trip to Osaka was also a chance to relax…

Ever since obtaining Dimensional Star, Zhang Heng had been like a tightly wound rubber band, not daring to relax for a single day over the past five months. It was a matter of life and death, not just for himself but for the fate of all human civilization—a Damocles sword hanging over his head. If it weren’t for his innate mental resilience, he might have already collapsed under the pressure.

But Zhang Heng was no ordinary man. Instead of being crushed by the responsibility of bearing humanity’s fate, he had thrived. Once the company was on the right track, he could finally take a break.

Zhang Heng sighed softly. Just then, the young flight attendant returned, her face flushed as she placed two slips of paper on the table in front of him.

“Hello, these are your entry and exit cards. Please fill them out and keep them safe. You’ll need these two cards to pass through customs after landing.”

“Alright, thank you.” Zhang Heng nodded. After she left again, he idly flipped through the two cards. Suddenly, a pale yellow sticky note fluttered out. Zhang Heng paused, curiously picking up the note. On it was a string of phone numbers.

A faint smile tugged at Zhang Heng’s lips. Paying no mind to the flight attendant’s little gesture, he filled out the entry card, placed it with his visa, and finally closed his eyes to rest.

Chapter 50: NO.050 Kill

After three and a half hours of flight, the plane arrived at Kansai International Airport. Zhang Heng exchanged some yen at the airport currency exchange before boarding the airport limousine bus.

By the time he reached Sannomiya Station in Kobe City, it was already evening.

Japanese cities had a different flavor from those in China. Everywhere he looked, there were AKB and anime promotional posters, middle school students in sailor uniforms coming and going, and massive LED screens on building walls broadcasting real-time news—all exuding a unique foreign charm.

It was rush hour, and the wide intersection was packed with people. Countless white-collar workers, their faces numb, were crammed together at the red light, shoulder to shoulder, while vehicles streamed endlessly.

Zhang Heng, wearing a baseball cap, blended into the crowd. Watching the hurried people around him, he felt a surreal daze. Shaking his head, he picked up his vibrating phone and answered the call.

“Commander, the target is moving toward Mount Rokko. You are approximately three kilometers away.”

“Not convenient,” Zhang Heng muttered, expressionless, as he hailed a taxi. After a brief exchange in English with the driver, they headed toward Mount Rokko.

“You are two kilometers from the target.”

“The target has stopped. Confirmed location: Arima Onsen’s ‘Nakano Bōzuizumi’ Hotel. You are about one kilometer away.”

“You are five hundred meters from the target.”

“You are one hundred meters from the target.”

Yuehua’s reminders kept coming through the phone, and Zhang Heng’s gaze grew colder.

Soon, the taxi stopped in front of the Nakano Bōzuizumi Hotel. After paying, Zhang Heng walked straight toward the hotel entrance.

Unlike the modern hotels in the city, this was an Edo-style inn, with lush trees on either side. Though night had just fallen, it already had the quiet, remote atmosphere of an empty mountain.

A dark and windy night for murder.

Zhang Heng silently put on his gloves and stepped toward the entrance. Before he could enter, a hotel staff member greeted him.

“Konbanwa, o-yado wa arimasu ka?”

Zhang Heng frowned, not understanding what the man was saying, but he assumed it was asking if he needed a room. He simply nodded, and under the man’s obsequious bowing, he entered the hotel.

“Which room is Fujwara Tsubasa staying in?” As soon as he reached the front desk, before the smiling attendant could speak, Zhang Heng asked in English.

Hearing Zhang Heng speak English, the receptionist froze for a moment before quickly bowing apologetically and calling out behind her. A stout man dressed like a hotel manager soon appeared.

“Good evening, sir. How may I assist you?” the man asked in fluent English.

“I’m looking for Fujwara Tsubasa,” Zhang Heng said, staring into his eyes. “Tell me which room he’s in.”

“You…” The stout man hesitated. Under Zhang Heng’s icy gaze, he felt as if he were suffocating. He quickly lowered his head and asked again, “Are you a guest invited by Mr. Fujwara? If not, I’m afraid we cannot disclose our guests’ information.”

Zhang Heng frowned, then reluctantly nodded. “That’s right. I’m Fujwara Tsubasa’s guest.”

“Very well, please wait a moment.” Clearly, the poor lie didn’t convince him. Zhang Heng was wearing a hat and mask, concealing his face completely. The stout man didn’t dare meet his eyes and instead picked up the phone on the counter to dial a number.

It was clear they knew Fujwara Tsubasa’s sensitive status and were highly cautious of Zhang Heng.

“No need to call.” Seeing his purpose wasn’t achieved, Zhang Heng sighed. With a flick of his hand, he nimbly vaulted over the counter, and in midair, he struck the man’s neck with a hand chop. The stout man’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the floor.

The receptionist, who didn’t speak English, stood frozen, watching everything unfold. Before she could react, Zhang Heng appeared behind her. She felt a sharp pain in her neck and lost consciousness.

In one second, he had precisely knocked out two people. To an ordinary person, this was an unimaginable feat. Even Zhang Heng himself wouldn’t have believed it before obtaining the Dimensional Star. But now, he could do it effortlessly, without any emotional fluctuation.

After finishing, Zhang Heng looked around the lobby. Since it wasn’t a holiday, the hotel lobby was empty. The attendant who had welcomed him had gone back outside to solicit customers, which worked in Zhang Heng’s favor. He picked up a guest registration form and looked at the last entry.

Naturally, Fujwara Tsubasa’s name wasn’t on the registration form. The last name listed was Ozawa Tohai, staying in the outdoor hot spring room in the hotel’s backyard.

With the answer in hand, Zhang Heng vaulted over the front desk again and headed straight for the backyard.

But as soon as he entered the backyard, he saw four men standing with their hands behind their backs in front of a Japanese sliding door. The four men were dressed entirely in black uniforms, wearing black sunglasses, as if they wanted everyone to know they were yakuza. Their waists bulged, clearly concealing firearms.

Zhang Heng took a deep breath and walked straight toward them.

“Who are you!” One of the men shouted as Zhang Heng approached, but before he could finish, Zhang Heng suddenly shifted his stance, his speed increasing dramatically. In a flash, he appeared in front of the man like a teleportation!

The man was startled and reached for his waist, but before he could grab his weapon, Zhang Heng was already in front of him. The man suddenly felt his stomach churning, his body weakening, and the next second, he fell into unconsciousness!

“Bastard!” The remaining three men finally reacted, drawing their guns, but Zhang Heng moved like a shadow. After subduing the first man, he instantly appeared in front of the second!

Crack!

A bone-crunching sound came from the man’s arm, and as if by magic, the black gun in his hand was now in Zhang Heng’s!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three gunshots rang out almost simultaneously. After the shots, each of the three men had a bullet hole in their foreheads, and they fell to the ground in disbelief.

“Ah!” A woman’s scream came from inside the room. Zhang Heng pushed open the paper door with the gun, revealing a beautiful, naked woman screaming in the outdoor hot spring in the backyard.

Behind her was a stout, middle-aged man with a small mustache, who was now scrambling out of the hot spring toward his pile of clothes.

Bang! Another shot rang out, and a large hole exploded in the man’s leg. He screamed in agony, losing his balance, and crashed heavily onto the floor!

“Who are you!” The stout man screamed at Zhang Heng, crawling backward on the ground as if that would help him escape the grim reaper before him!

“Target confirmed.” Zhang Heng carefully examined the man’s face, confirming he matched the photo Yuehua had sent him. Only then did he tilt his head slightly and pressed the gun barrel against the man’s forehead.

“I’m the president of the Cherry Blossom Society under the Yamaguchi-gumi! Why are you killing me? If you kill me, you’ll die too! The Yamaguchi-gumi won’t let you…” The man shouted, but when he saw the masked face and the coldness in Zhang Heng’s eyes, his heart sank completely.

Bang!

Before the man could finish, Zhang Heng pulled the trigger without hesitation. A large spray of blood and brain matter burst from the back of the man’s head, staining the hot spring red!

“Ah!”

The naked woman beside him scrambled backward in terror, but her legs seemed to have given out, and she couldn’t stand. She could only scream repeatedly like a pig being slaughtered.

“Shh—” Zhang Heng raised his index finger, signaling her to be quiet. The woman immediately understood and covered her mouth tightly with both hands, though the terror in her eyes was impossible to hide.

Seeing her reaction, Zhang Heng nodded in satisfaction. Only then did he look down at the gun in his hand—a Beretta M9 pistol. A traditional detachable double-stack magazine, holding up to fifteen rounds, with a length of 217 millimeters, a loaded weight of 1,100 grams, a muzzle velocity of 390 meters per second, and an effective range of fifty meters.

These specifications flashed through Zhang Heng’s mind. After Yuehua’s special training, there was hardly a firearm in the world he couldn’t handle. This high-performance pistol was a training priority. Though this was his first time handling a real gun, he showed no unfamiliarity—aiming and firing had become instinctive.

Zhang Heng smiled, casually tossing the gun into the hot spring pool before turning and slowly walking out of the hotel.

Though he was wearing gloves, modern technology still had a chance of extracting forensic evidence like shed cells from the gun. Therefore, throwing it into the water to destroy all evidence was the best choice.

By the time Zhang Heng left the hotel, the chaotic commotion inside had just begun to spread…

UNTITLED

1. Chapter 1: The Mysterious Cube
2. Chapter 2: NO.002 Dimensional Star
3. Chapter 3: Trial Begins
4. Chapter 4: NO.004 Biohazard
5. Chapter 5: Night of Terror

6. Chapter 6: NO.006 People Are Forced to Adapt

7. Chapter 7: NO.007 Licker!
8. Chapter 8: You’re Late!
9. Chapter 9: NO.009 - Triumphant Return
10. Chapter 10: NO.010 T-virus Modified
11. Chapter 11: NO.011 Tyra
12. Chapter 12: Physical Enhancement!
13. Chapter 13: NO.013 - Schemes and Ambition
14. Chapter 14: NO.014 Class Reunion
15. Chapter 15: Conflict
16. Chapter 16: The Bet
17. Chapter 17: Why Not Give It a Try?
18. Chapter 18: NO.018 I’m Hungry
19. Chapter 19: Can You Afford It?
20. Chapter 20: Conditions
21. Chapter 21: NO.021 Dead Space
22. Chapter 22: Mission Commences
23. Chapter 23: NO.023 Necromorph!
24. Chapter 24: Crisis Rising and Falling
25. Chapter 25: Unease in the Shadows
26. Chapter 26: Break!
27. Chapter 27: Blood Moon Descends!
28. Chapter 28: Return
29. Chapter 29: Meme Technology
30. Chapter 30: NO.030 Establishing a Company
31. Chapter 31: Bought a Car!
32. Chapter 32: Mom and Dad

33. Chapter 33: Call from the Chinese Academy of Sciences

34. Chapter 34: Delivered Right to the Door!
35. Chapter 35: NO.035 Sever the Line!
36. Chapter 36: Whose Crisis?
37. Chapter 37: A Bitter Smile
38. Chapter 38: Return to Haizhou
39. Chapter 39: Li Yiru
40. Chapter 40: Joining
41. Chapter 41: Modifying the Marker
42. Chapter 42: Moonlight Manifests!
43. Chapter 43: Virtual Space
44. Chapter 44: Combat Techniques
45. Chapter 45: NO.045 Devil’s Training
46. Chapter 46: NO.046 Underground Laboratory
47. Chapter 47: NO.047 Third Lesson Complete
48. Chapter 48: NO.048 Cherry Blossom Society
49. Chapter 49: Flight to Osaka
50. Chapter 50: NO.050 Kill