Chapter 548: A Tiny Bit Stronger


    Zhang Yi slept for two full days.


    When he finally woke up, he still felt groggy, his body sore all over.


    It was inevitable.


    After such a prolonged battle, his body was completely drained.


    He wasn’t a physical enhancement-type superhuman, so fatigue was only natural.


    But at this moment, his mind had never felt lighter.


    The Followers of the Snow God had been crushed.


    And after absorbing the remnants of Yuan Kongye’s power, his strength had soared to an unprecedented level.


    Perhaps he was still a bit short of what Yuan Kongye had once displayed, but at the very least, he had reached Bian Junwu’s level.


    Zhang Yi smirked, then summoned a cheeseburger and a Coke from Spatial Storage, devouring them in large bites.


    The satisfying fullness made him feel at ease.


    Afterward, he changed into casual clothes, opened his bedroom door, and stepped out.


    The moment the door swung open, he looked down—


    And saw Hua Hua crouching at the entrance, gazing up at him.


    Its eyes were filled with a complex mix of concern and joy, as if it had been afraid Zhang Yi would never wake up.


    Not that it was surprising.


    Everyone in the Shelter had been worried about Zhang Yi’s condition.


    After all, this time, he had gone off alone to face an opponent of terrifying power.


    Zhang Yi chuckled, clapping his hands.


    Hua Hua leaped into his arms, rubbing its head against his chest, purring loudly.


    After confirming that Zhang Yi was safe and sound, Hua Hua squinted its eyes in pure bliss.


    Petting the fluffy cat’s head, Zhang Yi made his way toward the living room.


    In the living room, Zhou Ke’er, Yang Siyah, and Zhou Haimei sat on the couch, chatting.


    They were discussing two things—


    One was their regret over what had become of Tianhai City.


    The other was their concern for Zhang Yi’s health.


    The former was understandable—Tianhai City had been completely devastated by the recent battle, leaving only a handful of survivors.


    As for the latter… well, that was obvious.


    Zhang Yi had disappeared for days, taking on a terrifying enemy alone.


    When Zhang Yi descended the spiral staircase, the women spotted him—and their eyes lit up with joy.


    Zhou Ke’er and Yang Siyah rushed over, throwing themselves at him from both sides.


    Zhou Ke’er grabbed his arm, trying to drag him toward the infirmary.


    Zhang Yi chuckled, waving a hand.


    Taking a seat on the couch, he continued petting Hua Hua, then casually asked about Tianhai City’s current situation.


    Zhou Ke’er smiled.


    As the Shelter’s cybersecurity expert, Yang Xinxin was also responsible for monitoring the digital activity of the other factions.


    She had the most up-to-date intelligence on what was happening in Tianhai City.


    Zhang Yi nodded.


    Before long, the rest of the group gathered in the living room.


    The first thing they asked about was, of course, his condition.


    After all, the moment Zhang Yi returned, he had locked himself in his room and collapsed into bed without a word. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking at their worried expressions, Zhang Yi felt a warm sensation in his chest.


    With a smile, he reassured them,


    Hearing that, the tension in the room eased considerably.


    But Liang Yue caught something in Zhang Yi’s tone.


    She narrowed her eyes and asked,


    Zhang Yi glanced upward, as if recalling something, before shaking his head.


    Between Bian Junwu’s ability backlash and the three-day chase across Xitian, Yuan Kongye had completely drained her energy.


    She had died in despair.


    When the group confirmed her death, they all let out a collective sigh of relief.


    That hidden snake, the leader of the Followers of the Snow God, had caused countless deaths.


    Because of her, nearly a million survivors had perished in Tianhai City.


    Without her, the zombie tide would never have existed.


    Even now, when Liang Yue recalled the battle, she felt a deep sense of helplessness.


    She could still see Yuan Kongye, floating high above the battlefield—


    A mere gesture from her hands could shatter the earth itself.


    It was beyond comprehension.


    But there was still one thing she didn’t understand.


    Everyone in the room turned to Zhang Yi.


    They knew he was powerful.


    But there was still a gap between him and an Epsilon-class superhuman like Yuan Kongye.


    There had to be a secret.


    Zhang Yi glanced around, his eyes sweeping over the room.


    He lifted his tea cup, took a slow sip, then finally answered.


    The room fell silent.


    Zhang Yi didn’t reveal the full truth—that he had orchestrated her downfall using Bian Junwu’s ability as a trap.


    After all, Bian Junwu had been a high-ranking officer of Jiangnan District.


    If word got out that Zhang Yi had deliberately manipulated his power, it could cause unnecessary trouble.


    The others nodded in understanding, sighing in amazement.


    It was hard to believe.


    A being so godlike in strength—in the end, she had perished by her own hand.


    Liang Yue’s burning gaze locked onto Zhang Yi.


    If Yuan Kongye was dead and Zhang Yi was still alive—


    It was only natural that he had claimed her power.


    The others quickly caught on.


    They all turned to Zhang Yi, their eyes filled with anticipation.


    Everyone knew how powerful Yuan Kongye had been.


    If Zhang Yi had inherited her strength—


    Zhang Yi arched an eyebrow, smirking playfully.


    Under the anticipatory gazes, he slowly nodded.


    He held up his fingers—pinching the air slightly—


    Author''s Note