Chapter 62: Zihui's Fury

The man was still quite excited, thinking that a thousand Star Energy Crystals would be enough for him to buy a bottle of Strength Elixir.

But the atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

"Heh, Li the Cripple, are you crazy for money? A woman for a thousand Star Energy Crystals? Do you think we’re short of women now?"

"So what if she used to be a movie queen? Now she’s just an ordinary person. Even a hundred Star Energy Crystals is too much."

"You think she’s still a superstar, commanding millions for an appearance? The Huaxia Nation is gone."

Everyone ridiculed him.

One woman toyed with the dagger in her hand, sneering, "I thought the Heroes’ Assembly was a place for people to connect, but apparently there’s trash here hoping to get rich off women. Where’s this guy’s base? I’ll pay it a visit later—maybe I can rescue a few sisters. I don’t have the Hero system, but I don’t mind acting for justice."

The man’s face instantly darkened, and he snapped, "Lin Ke’er, are you provoking me? You’re nothing but an Evolver."

"And you’re nothing but a scoundrel with the Hero system," Lin Ke’er replied coldly, her eyes glinting with murderous intent.

People around her kept their distance; this woman was a lunatic. She wasn’t indiscriminate in her killing, but while others focused on slaughtering the Fang Demon, she killed people without mercy—her hands had already claimed more than ten lives.

It had been nearly twenty days since the apocalypse began, and since society and morality hadn’t completely collapsed, people still feared someone like Lin Ke’er.

Qin Hao, however, recognized her. He had rescued her from Lei Yunzhou only a week ago, and now Lin Ke’er had already gone from freshly awakened to a Level One Evolver.

To go from newly awakened to a Level One Evolver was the difference between zero and one. Becoming Level One required breaking the genetic lock, and the pain was not something ordinary people could endure.

As the tension was about to boil over, Zi Hui finally opened her eyes.

"Enough!"

That single word made everyone in the grand theater shudder, and the imposing presence of Li the Cripple and Lin Ke’er vanished.

Zi Hui’s gaze was icy as she looked at Li the Cripple. "Li the Cripple, it seems you don’t care about me at all. I used to be a star myself!"

Li the Cripple trembled at her words, then forced a smile. "Don’t say that, Lady Zi Hui. You’re a Hero now—how can you compare to before? It’s the apocalypse, and those without ability are just common rabble. Besides, doesn’t your Sky Vault base say so? People are ranked by levels. She’s just an ordinary person. Lady Zi Hui, don’t take it personally!"

"I actually agree with Li the Cripple," another person chimed in. It was Lu Shaohua from the North Capital Base.

"A star is just an actor, probably bought and sold for who knows how much. Nothing precious there. A thousand Star Energy Crystals is expensive—maybe worth it for Zi Hui for a night."

He was clearly provoking Zi Hui.

Qin Hao glanced at Lu Shaohua and found he had become a Level Two Evolver. With the resources of a major base, it was possible to nurture a Hero quickly.

Yet, such strength was hollow. With Qin Hao’s current power, he could crush him with a finger.

Lu Shaohua had previously invited Zi Hui to join the North Capital Base, his interest not just in her abilities but also her beauty, but Qin Hao had stopped him, humiliating him.

Now, with the North Capital Base harboring over 130,000 people, Lu Shaohua amassed huge numbers of Star Energy Crystals daily, his power growing—and he was once again eyeing Zi Hui.

He wanted to anger her, then crush her, capture her, and have his way.

But he didn’t expect Zi Hui to show not a shred of anger, only icy detachment. "Anyone who wields the Hero system must understand what it means to be a Hero. It’s not for abusing power, aiding evil, or acting with impunity. You’re already trading people—what happens when food runs out, will you eat human flesh next? I cannot keep such people."

With that, Zi Hui struck.

The Heroes’ Assembly had only existed three days and hadn’t yet established full authority. These people thought themselves Heroes, just a step behind Zi Hui, oblivious to the gap—a billion Hero Points and several divine items.

Zi Hui aimed to make an example.

Li the Cripple didn’t even react before he was ensnared by Zi Hui’s black power.

Zi Hui often used light powers, but few had seen her wield darkness. They didn’t know its effects.

Those who had seen videos of her concerts might know she could control corpses with this power, but its effect on the living was unknown.

Now, they watched as Li the Cripple, under Zi Hui’s black power, had his hair wither and fall, becoming bald. His strong frame shriveled, his clothes hanging loose, dark circles under his eyes, looking like a dying old man.

A terrible weakness flooded him, and Li the Cripple screamed in panic.

"What did you do to me? What have you done?"

"What did I do? I merely deprived you of thirty years of life. You were already over forty, weren’t you? Now you’re seventy. Old man, go home and rest. Leave the fighting to your subordinates. You have the Hero system—if you can’t be a Hero, let others do it for you. Just don’t let me catch you committing vile acts, or your fate will be the same as his."

At her words, everyone fell silent as if chilled to the bone.

To strip thirty years of life—how could Zi Hui wield such terrifying power?

This time, no one dared defy her, and her gaze shifted chillingly to Lu Shaohua.

"What did General Lu say earlier? A thousand Star Energy Crystals for a night with me? Then let me serve you a feast of reduced lifespan."

Sweat broke out on Lu Shaohua’s forehead.

"Zi Hui, please, I was just speaking carelessly, don’t take it to heart."

"General Lu is a man of his word. You said you’d buy, now you want to return it? You’ll have to pay ten times the penalty."

Lu Shaohua’s heart thudded—he understood Zi Hui was seizing his weakness, demanding ten thousand Star Energy Crystals for his life.

He hesitated, unsure if Zi Hui would really attack.

Zi Hui’s face was cold, lips tinted black, fingertips darkening as if ready to strike.

Terrified, Lu Shaohua shouted, "I’ll pay! I’ll pay!" He took out a pouch with ten thousand Star Energy Crystals and tossed it to Zi Hui, not daring to step forward.

Zi Hui calmly collected the pouch and looked toward the stage.

"Next."

She called for the next person to trade.

Some hadn’t yet reacted, others didn’t dare approach.

Qin Hao watched the scene, smiling faintly as he strode forward.