After using the holy artifact again, Zhou Qi’an’s previously restored vitality sharply declined, though he no longer appeared to be on the verge of death.
The exhaustion between his brows contrasted starkly with the sharpness in his gaze. Zhou Qi’an sighed and said, “Tired.”
He had lost another 400 milliliters of blood, and this time, there was no replenishment.
The consciousness within the divine statue was about to completely dissipate. From beginning to end, it had only heard two words—
“Good night.”
So showing weakness was actually the real beginning of a fatal strike?
At the final moment, Zhou Qi’an took the initiative to further close the distance between them, just to clearly witness the instant when the fishing spear pierced through his opponent.
This time, he had to make sure that Xun Er was truly dead.
However, things often developed beyond expectations.
Zhou Qi’an had surprised Xun Er, but at this moment, Xun Er also exceeded his predictions. The eyes, now devoid of their sinister glow, reflected a terrifying sense of interest at the brink of obliteration.
Zhou Qi’an cursed under his breath—what kind of lunatic was this? A dying monster actually looked excited.
“You really… despise me?”
Black mist drifted away, and an ethereal voice echoed through the third floor.
“You are a monster,” Zhou Qi’an stated coldly. “A monster only sees hunger.”
He had verified this countless times before.
In the real world, he had to tolerate an unreasonable mother, deal with a damned boss, and put up with a night school teacher he couldn’t escape from—his patience was nearly exhausted. In the game world, he had no intention of indulging anyone.
“Hunger…”
Xun Er’s dark gaze almost clung to Zhou Qi’an. He admitted that, for a long time, hunger had indeed been his only desire.
The young man’s thin lips parted slightly, and the cunning satisfaction of having victory within his grasp nearly spilled from his expression.
But now, Xun Er suddenly discovered a brand-new desire.
The cracks centered around the fishing spear continued to spread outward, and the divine statue was on the verge of complete destruction. Even the arm that had been wrapped around his opponent’s slender waist lost its strength. With a crisp shattering sound, Zhou Qi’an was about to fall along with the sacred artifact.
It wasn’t a great height. As he fell, Zhou Qi’an watched the divine statue collapse completely.
The massive statue suddenly leaned forward, brushing close to his hair—this movement caused the fractures to deepen even further.
Zhou Qi’an’s pupils dilated sharply, almost throwing the sacred weapon again.
This moment of surprise delighted Xun Er deeply. Amid the dense sounds of shattering, the massive divine statue crumbled into a heap of ruins.
Xun Er was truly dead.
Thick black mist dispersed from the cracks, and at the same time, eerie noises resounded once more. The wailing of past worshippers—whether hysterical laughter or mournful cries—vanished along with the divine statue.
The others dared not approach for now, fearing that the broken pieces would somehow reassemble themselves and rise again.
The college student, still shaken, stared at the ruins and murmured, “So in the end… was the divine statue still trying to eat people but had no strength left, so it only moved its lips?”
Too terrifying. He immediately agreed with Zhou Qi’an’s earlier statement—monsters prioritized feeding above all else.
Han Li’s eyes still carried remnants of fear, too overwhelmed to mock such an absurd remark.
Ahead, Zhou Qi’an suddenly looked at her.
The next moment, without warning, he raised his arm and hurled the golden trident. It shot forward with unstoppable force.
“Shit!” Han Li instinctively rolled to the side, but in doing so, she pressed against her severed wrist, nearly cursing in pain.
The trident passed dangerously close to her cheek. She barely had time to react, her hair standing on end as she felt the chilling intent behind the attack.
Just as she panicked, wondering if Zhou Qi’an intended to slaughter them all, a wretched scream erupted from behind her.
Xun the Wealthy now had a gaping wound in his chest.
After the sun appeared, his already weakened body couldn’t withstand a direct attack. The golden light gathered inside him before erupting outward, making it look as if he had exploded from within.
Chunks of black-red flesh and severed limbs flew everywhere, with some even landing on her head. Han Li gagged in disgust.
“What the hell are you doing?”
She snapped back to her senses—wasn’t Xun the Wealthy already powerless?
Without the divine statue, the ghost in the villa would have turned on him anyway. Letting them fight each other to the death would have been the better choice.
With this final strike, Zhou Qi’an had once again lost too much blood.
He weakly recalled the trident, calmly shook off the blood droplets clinging to its metal shaft, and parted his thin lips. “He deserved it.”
Then, looking up at the ceiling, he grinned.
“The manor is yours now.”
A deathly pale arm withdrew from the ceiling. The golden light of the trident flickered a few more times, illuminating the wary ghost hiding above.
Even though this young man was nearly drained, the ghost could still sense that he retained enough power to take her down with him.
Xun the Wealthy had already turned into a pile of flesh.
The female ghost cast a scornful glance at the mess, reached down with her long, slender arms, and scooped up a handful. The mushy remains oozed between her fingers like dumpling filling being squeezed out.
Then, with blood-drenched hands, she turned back to Zhou Qi’an, her gaze flickering with an unmistakable hunger that made his skin crawl.
The ghostly woman’s grotesque expression flickered several times before she disappeared back into the ceiling after more than ten seconds.
【You have gained the favor of the mistress of Liangye Manor. Her affection for you has risen to zero.】
After hearing the system prompt, Zhou Qi’an opened his interface again to check the latest notification. He confirmed that the value was indeed zero—no number before or after it.
“……” Wow, such a high level of affection.
【Congratulations, you have obtained a new character identity: Guest of the Manor.】
【Guest of the Manor: Liangye Manor is about to transform into a wandering ghostly estate. The mistress will hunt down wife-killers wherever she goes. When you encounter her again, will it be fortune or misfortune?】
Zhou Qi’an remained expressionless. Not only did he have an exceptionally high level of affection with the mistress, but she was also unbelievably enthusiastic.
The world was vast—he had no intention of running into her again.
Suppressing his rapid breathing, Zhou Qi’an raised his eyes and asked, “Does anyone have a healing potion?”
Han Li shook her head, followed by the others.
It wasn’t out of stinginess—healing items were one of the rarest resources in the game. They couldn’t be purchased from the in-game store and could only be found in instances.
Zhou Qi’an hadn’t held much hope anyway. The Han siblings had already used their healing items earlier with little effect—nothing compared to the Health Boost Pill. Chen Jian had good medicine for treating injuries, but if he had anything valuable, he certainly wouldn’t be willing to share it.
At some point, the university student had come over and was attempting to help Zhou Qi’an down the stairs.
Zhou Qi’an didn’t refuse.
The university student was moved. “In the end, you still avenged the ghost woman and the child.”
Xun the Wealthy, that scumbag who had turned his own son into a ghost—if he hadn’t died, the mere thought of it would have been a thorn in the student’s throat forever.
Zhou Qi’an didn’t acknowledge his comment. Instead, he said, “Walk slowly.”
The university student assumed it was because the jostling hurt his wounds. Only when Zhou Qi’an deliberately instructed him to walk last did he realize—he was guarding against the other players making a move.
For a moment, the student wanted to argue that the instance’s greatest threat had already been eliminated, so there was no reason for players to turn on each other. But before he could open his mouth, the person on his back, as if reading his thoughts, said coolly, “Shut up and watch your step.”
The student closed his mouth and silently carried Zhou Qi’an downstairs.
In the living room, Zhou Qi’an had him set him down on the sofa.
All the players waited in silence for the survival timer to run out. Outside the window, the sky began to brighten.
Han Li walked to the window and sighed, “So in the end, the most expensive things are the ones that are free.”
A simple sunrise—it turned out even that was a luxury.
Zhou Qi’an didn’t put away his golden trident. He tilted his head slightly, continuing to lean against the sacred weapon.
Everyone else was waiting for sunrise. He alone was quietly watching Mr. Si.
And Mr. Si was also watching Zhou Qi’an.
Even at the very end of the instance, the young man showed no trace of relaxation. Every muscle in his body remained taut.
Mr. Si’s ears twitched.
Turning someone like this into a puppet—not an easy task.
But not impossible.
Soon, an opportunity would come.
Thinking of something, Mr. Si’s mood lifted again. His three-lobed mouth curved upward in delight, and he even let out a soft, eerie chuckle.
There was a instance well-suited to becoming his puppet processing factory—he just needed to make some arrangements.
“You found your bus yet?” Zhou Qi’an blinked and asked.
The laughter abruptly stopped.
The penalty notices were still updating intermittently. Mr. Si, whose mouth was always full of talk about bringing joy to others, now had eyes turning blood-red like a rabbit’s.
Zzzzz—
The newly restored electrical circuits began emitting strange noises. The grand chandelier overhead flickered ominously.
The veteran players instinctively moved a little closer to the windows. They couldn’t understand why someone would keep provoking the tiger—
No, that wasn’t right. This particular comparison was off.
Mr. Si wasn’t a tiger. He was a rabbit—one that actually bit.
Zhou Qi’an remained utterly unaware of how aggravating he was. After delivering his precise verbal jab, he found time to ask, “So where exactly was the ‘joy’ in this instance?”
Apart from Xun the Wealthy’s verbal insistence on spreading happiness, every day had been nothing but darkness.
Mr. Si, of course, didn’t answer.
The veteran players hesitated. In the end, Han Li spoke up: “At least you were able to move around freely and didn’t face constant obstruction.”
What was that supposed to mean?
“In instances where ‘joy’ or ‘sorrow’ is the core theme, it typically manifests through the background story of the central entity,” she explained.
For Xun the Wealthy, whether it was the cult god or the scam artists who came knocking, all of it had been sources of happiness for him.
“But when a instance mixes both emotions, the effect gets imposed onto the players themselves.”
Seeing the confusion in Zhou Qi’an’s eyes, Han Li seemed to recall something truly horrifying. However, not wanting to lose composure in front of a rookie, she forced a laugh and said, “To summarize: If Heaven entrusts a person with a great mission, they must first suffer their mind, toil their body, and starve their flesh.”
“…So basically, it’s just a job?”
Han Li was speechless.
She gave him a long, deep look and muttered, “……You’ll understand when you experience it yourself.”
The group fell into silence. Some were lost in memories, while others were worrying about what lay ahead.
Amid the quiet anticipation, the sun finally rose in the east. Its light filtered through the dense leaves around the manor, casting dappled patterns as it trickled down.
Through the filthy glass, Han Tiansheng, who had been closest to the window, suddenly cried out and recoiled, clutching his large fish-like head.
“Too hot! It’s burning me!”
He had momentarily forgotten that he was now half-monster. He quickly scrambled backward in a panic.
A second later, that ugly fish face brightened with joy—because the survival timer was about to end.
Han Li also smiled.
Once the results were tallied, she would complete her vascular evolution.
Her gaze drifted toward Zhou Qi’an. Judging by the difficulty of his start, he had clearly chosen a high-level organ evolution.
Since the instance was about to conclude, the question was no longer considered a private matter. Han Li couldn’t hold back her curiosity. “What organ evolution did you choose?”
The others perked up, turning their eyes toward him.
Could it be… a Tier 2 evolution?
Hearing this, Mr. Si let out a sharp, mocking chuckle.
Zhou Qi’an…
Zhou Qi’an silently wiggled his toes.
Under the eager gazes of the others, he remained quiet for a moment before saying, “Even if I told you, you wouldn’t believe me. You’d just laugh.”
Han Tiansheng instinctively glanced toward a certain part of his body. He had heard of someone who chose the sea serpent evolution path and decided to enhance a critical body part—ending up with two reproductive organs.
“Upper body or lower body?”
With the immediate danger gone, everyone was more relaxed, and their curiosity had returned to normal levels—just like in the real world.
Zhou Qi’an shot him a cold glance. With his current eye color, his gaze carried an imposing air.
“…Toes.”
Several people instantly burst out laughing.
Han Li: “Alright, if you don’t want to say, you don’t have to. But if you’re making a joke, who are you trying to kill with laughter?”
She laughed so hard that the pain from her severed wrist flared up again.
The system promptly issued a blood loss warning. The wound on her wrist had reopened, and for a moment, she really thought she might laugh herself to death.
“……”
The long-awaited system prompt finally arrived, putting an end to the laughter.
For the first time hearing a clearance announcement, Zhou Qi’an unconsciously held his breath.
【Three-and-a-half-star instance: “The Best Heir” → Survival instance cleared】
【Clearance reward of 6,666 points has been added to your inventory.】
【Marketplace access has been unlocked.】
【Forum access has been granted.】
【A forum account (Azure) is being generated for you: Account #388964578】
【Global Player #3,896,457,878—Welcome to the official game world.】
Three billion…?
Zhou Qi’an’s expression turned complex. So before the so-called “Water Era” even began, only three billion players had been granted access?
[Reminder: Any discussion of game-related content in the outside world is strictly prohibited. Violators will face account termination.]
Players only had one account. A ban was essentially a death sentence.
【The game reserves all rights to interpret and implement the Global Upgrade Event.】
【You have gained 9,810 experience points. Would you like to allocate all points toward personal evolution?】
“Yes.” Zhou Qi’an didn’t hesitate.
【Enhancement in progress. Please do not close the interface.】
【Enhancement complete.】
Zhou Qi’an immediately checked his status panel. Besides his fully evolved eyes, his body attributes had undergone major expansions:
- Hair (Evolution Complete): It’s grown longer.
- Limbs (Primary Evolution State): Mature limbs should be able to function independently of the cerebellum, providing excellent balance. You can now tightrope walk, use stilts, and have improved underwater stability.
- Heart (Same as Above): A five-star-grade fish habitat. Your fish vision and heart have merged further—you’re dragging the whole squad to ascension! Your blood circulation is now exceptional, significantly enhancing stamina and endurance.
- Toes (Evolution Complete): They’re more flexible. If you wanted, you could probably sculpt an entire castle with them. Your speed has increased, and there’s a chance your toes will develop webbing on water surfaces.
You are advancing toward becoming the most athletically gifted overlord of the ocean!
The importance of having a good heart—confirmed.
Zhou Qi’an raised an eyebrow. Looking at the veteran players, he assumed that after going through several instances, they should have some amazing evolutions. But from what he observed, besides being slightly faster and stronger, they didn’t seem all that extraordinary.
As if sensing his thoughts, Han Li suddenly spoke. “Don’t forget who warned you about the danger in your room on the first night.”
Since Zhou Qi’an had saved her life, Han Li decided to give him some inside information. “My evolution path is electric eel—highly insulated. That means my perception of magnetic fields is different from normal people. Not only can I discharge electricity, but it also enhances my physical constitution.”
She smiled. “After my vascular evolution, I’ll fully awaken a spiritual connection ability.”
But beneath her supposedly cheerful expression, there was a trace of unease.
Even after spending several days with Zhou Qi’an, she still couldn’t fully grasp his personality. But there was one thing she was sure of—this man had a natural extreme streak in him.
She had once tried to kill him.
What if, one day, he decided to settle the score?
Now, by voluntarily revealing her own secrets, Han Li was trying to prove her value to him.
After speaking, she shared her forum ID. “ID: 227896532.”
“In time, you’ll understand the benefits of a spiritual connection ability. If you ever need help, you can contact me.”
“You don’t have to wait for the future.” Zhou Qi’an looked at her and extended his hand.
Han Li hesitated, then reached out to shake it.
But in the instant their hands met, Zhou Qi’an suddenly mimicked Han Li’s first-night maneuver, pulling her close to him.
The distance was too intimate.
Without his wig and glasses to mask his features, Han Li was faced with the icy indifference of the absurdly beautiful young man.
Her heart skipped a beat.
At first glance, their pose appeared friendly, but Zhou Qi’an whispered something only she could hear—her expression drastically changed.
“…We’ll discuss the details privately later.” Zhou Qi’an let go.
Thinking Zhou Qi’an had suddenly attacked, Han Tiansheng rushed over, glaring furiously at him with his huge fish head.
Han Li shot her brother a look, signaling that it was fine.
Han Tiansheng pulled her behind him and whispered, “Stay away from him.”
If he had obtained a sacred artifact, he would have killed every witness to prevent future problems.
And Zhou Qi’an… was a far greater future problem.
This wasn’t over.
Han Li’s gaze flickered with uncertainty. After a long silence, she seemed to make a decision and suddenly asked, “Do you still have the fluorite stone?”
“Of course,” Han Tiansheng replied, though a hint of fear flashed in his eyes.
Han Li: “Give it to me. I have big plans for it.”
—
On the other side, Zhou Qi’an turned his gaze toward Mr. Si.
Now, only one problem remained.
Gone was the nervous, obedient boy from before the fire.
Now, bathed in the morning light, he looked down at Mr. Si from his high perch. His voice was calm, yet incredibly arrogant:
“Hey, the bus is gone. Are we walking back?”
