One hundred and twenty-three.

Ye Yin had been feigning death for nearly half a month. Just as she was about to truly suffocate, someone finally opened the barrier.

Opportunities are fleeting; she had never reacted so quickly. Before the barrier had even opened a sliver, she shot through it and fled with a desperate, wild intensity, as if a dozen vengeful spirits were snapping at her heels. Perhaps the puppet she left behind was too convincing, or perhaps the person in charge never realized she had the capacity to escape, or maybe her flight was simply too heroic and awe-inspiring—in any case, no pursuers followed. She successfully used an earth-shifting technique to travel hundreds of miles, arriving in a place she did not recognize.

After emerging from the ground, Ye Yin collapsed, gasping for air. It took a long time for her eyes to adjust to the intense light outside.

Is this… truly freedom?

The sky was deep blue; the snow was stark white.

The wind brushing against her nose carried the scent of snow—crisp and fresh—making her feel light-headed with relief. Just as she was contemplating her next move, she heard voices nearby. Instinctively, she suppressed her aura, pulled clothes from her storage space, put them on, and stood up with vigilance.

Several officers and soldiers were patrolling the area. Suddenly catching sight of a lone woman standing in the snow, they instinctively drew their weapons and cautiously surrounded her.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"Who are you people? Where is this?" Having been imprisoned for too long, her reactions were slightly sluggish. According to her past habits, she would never have allowed these people to see her; she would have hidden, observed, and assessed the situation cautiously. But they appeared to be ordinary people... Never mind, let it be.

The leading officer scrutinized Ye Yin, deciding she didn't seem mentally unstable, and replied, "We are from the patrol department. You are a woman, unarmed, not even wearing thick clothes, and more importantly, you have no luggage or vehicle. Why would you appear in a place like this? It’s highly suspicious!"

"It’s like this, I’m an ability user..."

Just as Ye Yin rolled her eyes, preparing to spin a lie, the officer’s expression changed to one of sudden realization: "Oh, an ability user! Welcome, welcome! What type of ability do you have? Could you show us?"

Ye Yin opened her palm, and a massive burst of flame shot into the sky, nearly singeing their eyebrows.

Seeing that she was indeed an ability user—and quite a powerful one at that—the officers’ faces blossomed into smiles. "Thank you for your hard work. The north has been on high alert, hasn't it? It’s a miracle you managed to break through the blockade to get here. The Association is still accepting registrations; come with us."

Ye Yin was bewildered, but she couldn't ask too many questions for fear of revealing her ignorance, so she nodded and followed them obediently.

Had it not been for the prominent lettering at the main entrance, Ye Yin would never have recognized this grand, imposing base as the dingy, shrinking Fifth Base she once knew. Seeing her gaping in astonishment, the officer said proudly, "Ever since our base formed an alliance with the New Association, the changes have been rapid! You’ve come at the right time; our base is destined to be the leader among all the others."

Ye Yin agreed on the surface, but her mind was in turmoil: What is this "New Association"? What happened outside while she was trapped? Why did she feel so out of touch with the times?

She followed the officer into the base, her eyes struggling to take it all in.

She didn't know what kind of entity this New Association was, but thanks to the alliance, the Fifth Base—which had been almost ruined by the Mu father and son—now bore a resemblance to the glory days of the First Base. While the streets and buildings weren't as bright and grand as the main entrance, and the residents weren't as numerous as in the Third Base, it was certainly better than many others.

Security in the Fifth Base was strict, but with the officer leading the way, she entered District C without incident and stopped in front of a building that looked like an administrative office.

"Go in, register, and get tested," the officer said. "I have other duties, so I won't accompany you."

"Many thanks, officer. Please go ahead; I can manage."

The officer nodded and left with the others.

Ye Yin entered the building on the surface, but the moment she turned a corner, she slipped out and vanished into the crowd. Entering blindly like this wouldn't do; she needed to get a sense of the current environment.

After a few days of investigation, she gradually pieced together the nature of this New Association. After Bai Qing wrote down the list, Xu Yu had not appeared again, presumably to deal with the mastermind’s subordinates. Since most of the mastermind’s lackeys were in the Ability User Association, there must have been internal purges, leading to unrest and fragmentation.

If the "Old Association" could be considered the more rational faction, this New Association was clearly a group of madmen.

The leader of the New Association publicly claimed to have mastered a heaven-defying secret technique that could turn ordinary people into ability users and force existing ones to advance to the tenth tier. Using this as bait, they recruited followers and promulgated the "New World Laws."

The so-called "New World Laws" established a social hierarchy where ability users were supreme, ordinary people were the middle class, and cultivators were the lowest, most despicable existence. This bizarre classification caused an uproar upon its announcement. Many influential figures currently active were cultivators, so for the New Association to label them as worthless was a blatant slap in the face. It was outrageous!

The Mu father and son, having suffered enough grievances in the past, were now seizing their chance to turn the tables, acting with a wicked and unbridled arrogance. Not only did they defy other bases, but they also displayed a servile devotion, supporting every decision of the New Association, and even went so far as to test the secret techniques on themselves, transforming from ordinary people into ability users.

This sensational event shocked everyone, causing even the "Seven Saints Alliance"—an organization of apocalypse cultivators who had been shouting about dismantling the New Association—to hesitate. The boycott movement initiated by the Capital Base and others became a mere formality. The number of people drawn to the secret techniques grew by the day, and the situation became increasingly unclear.

In the Third Base commander’s office, Ye Yu leaned back in her chair, exhausted, her long legs propped up on the desk.

A gust of wind stirred the curtains. She lifted her eyes, narrowing them dangerously: "Who's there?"

"It's me." Ye Yin stepped out from behind the curtain.

Ye Yu’s eyes lit up. She stood up and punched Ye Yin in the shoulder, nearly knocking her over: "Where the hell have you been for the past half-year?"

"Don't ask. I almost got raped and murdered," Ye Yin said, steadying herself with a frown. The memory of that encounter made her shiver.

Ye Yu laughed wildly: "That’s not right. With your skills, you should be the one doing the forcing."

Ye Yin’s expression was shadowed in the darkness: "I think I’ve gotten caught up in something huge. That person caught me with ease, as if it were a seamless operation. It was clearly meticulously planned; they’d been watching me for a long time."

Ye Yu stared at her face for a long moment before asking: "Who exactly kidnapped you?"

"I’m not sure," Ye Yin said. "But it must have to do with the New Association. My stance has always been opposed to theirs. I suspect they’ve hated me for a long time—it’s either them or me. Now, I dare not turn to anyone else but you."

Upon hearing the words "New Association," Ye Yu’s face looked worse than if she had swallowed a fly. She paced the office a few times, scrutinized Ye Yin up and down, and finally made a decision: "Follow me."

Ye Yin followed Ye Yu to an underground secret chamber. The corridor was lined with candles, looking like a cult—it was profoundly eerie. Ye Yu activated multiple mechanisms, finally leading Ye Yin into a hall the size of a football field.

Dozens of rows of coffins were arranged neatly in the hall, and Ye Yin felt sweat prickling down her back.

"Like you, I’ve been caught up in trouble," Ye Yu said, gently stroking the lid of one of the coffins. "After all these years of hard work, it’s possible I’ve just been preparing the wedding dress for someone else."

"What’s going on?"

Ye Yu smiled slightly: "Do you know why so many people are willing to submit to me?"

"Because you have ability and ambition?"

"No, because I have this." Ye Yu pulled a small bottle from her pocket containing glowing particles, much like fireflies. "This is called 'Witch Essence.' It can rapidly unearth the potential or strength of the human body in a short time without showing side effects. Anyone who uses it becomes deeply addicted to that surge of power, unable to extricate themselves."

"Without showing side effects?" Ye Yin was shocked. "You mean..."

"Yes, once they become dependent on this, their life and soul are in my hands," Ye Yu said. "The people lying in these coffins all died because of me. Some were loyal subordinates who sacrificed themselves for me, others were traitors who tried to betray me and were killed when the Witch Essence within them exploded. They all sleep here now, no different from one another. I come to see them occasionally, to talk to them, and to consider the path ahead."

Ye Yin’s mouth twitched, and she stepped back, wanting to get as far away from this psychopath as possible.

"When the apocalypse first broke out, my wind ability hadn't awakened. My sister and I lived in fear and misery, and we were nearly broken into and raped. By the third week, our food ran out, so we went out to find supplies and were trapped in a supermarket warehouse by a horde of zombies. There were a few neighbors there with us, people we were on good terms with. When the supplies ran out, we sat waiting for death, and we made a pact: whoever died first, the others would eat their flesh to try and survive."

"As it turned out, we made the pact in the afternoon, and by night, someone stabbed my sister with a knife, and then they wanted to stab me." Ye Yu’s voice was calm. "They were related and conspired to deal with us. They even said the warehouse had salt, and since our meat wasn't tough, it would be easy to salt and eat. That was when my ability awakened, and I killed them all. The wound on my sister was too deep; she couldn't survive. She had a fierce temper; before she died, she grabbed my hand and made me swear that no matter what, I would survive, live well with her share, and become someone no one could ever bully."

After finishing, Ye Yu fell into a long silence. Her silhouette in the candlelight looked lonely, carrying an eerie mix of defiance and fragility.

Ye Yin finally understood why Ye Yu had acted so strangely when she previously claimed her sister had died of illness. But she didn't understand why she was tearing open this scar now.

Just as she was struggling for words, Ye Yu suddenly smiled: "It was then that I met someone."

"Who?"

"I don't know." Ye Yu’s eyes were filled with a ghostly light. "He wore a mask and was surrounded by mist; I couldn't see his face or figure. He said he was moved by the bond between my sister and me and decided to help, so he gave me this."

Ye Yin’s heart hammered; she felt she was touching the core truth of Ye Yu’s rapid rise. "What is it?"

"A black heart—the origin of the Witch Essence. As long as this heart beats in my chest, I can continue to control the users, and it can continuously create that addictive substance. If I die, those users will all be buried with me." Ye Yu toyed with the bottle. "That devil lied to me, saying that this was the only one in the world and that I would eventually become the overlord of this world, the sister who would never be bullied again."

"Why do you say he lied?"

"Don't you think what I have and the New Association's so-called secret technique are exactly the same?" Ye Yu sneered. "If I’m not mistaken, those I control, including myself, are all in the palm of the New Association leader’s hand."

Ye Yin understood, a chill running through her: "You mean, if the true source is in that person’s hands, everything you’ve worked so hard for could be taken away at any moment?"

"Exactly. I’ve built this power for years, and I haven't been spared from the sabotage of other forces. Assassinations are like daily meals, and I’ve nearly lost my life many times." Ye Yu laughed. "It turns out I’ve been a shield for someone else all along. No wonder that little bitch Nangong Le said I was just a worker..."

"In that case," Ye Yin said, "we really are in the same boat now."

"Of course," Ye Yu replied. "I don't regret accepting his gift; I had no other choice back then. At least I’ve lived according to my sister’s wishes for these years. But wanting to play with me? It won't be that easy! Yin, we’ve always been suspicious of each other, and the constant vigilance was exhausting. Let’s cooperate properly."

"Agreed. We are true allies now; no more hidden agendas. Let’s work together to take down the New Association."

The two looked at each other and smiled, clashing their palms together.

"By the way, don't you want to ask about the current status of your friends and family?"

"I already know," Ye Yin said quietly after a silence. "Let's solve the main problem first."

"Ha, that’s the one thing I admire most about you."

"Thanks."

She hoped the base was doing fine. With Pi and Ye Yu protecting them, there shouldn't be too much trouble. As for Zhuo Chenglan...

The legend of the giant white wolf during the Zombie King battle had already spread. She knew who that wolf was, and her heart was a complicated mess.

His awakening had come at a bad time—fully awakening before they had truly become a couple. She didn't know if he was still the Zhuo Chenglan she knew. Even if she found him, would he recognize her? Would he still accept her as his wife?

Furthermore, she was now a target of that so-called "Master" and was far too dangerous; she shouldn't contact her friends and family for now, lest she bring them harm. She would wait until the mastermind was defeated. By then, she could clear her head and not lose her composure.

Ye Yin shook her head hard, pressing down the unease and hesitation in her heart, her eyes returning to a state of calm.

***

Under the lure of the secret techniques, more and more people defected to the New Association, and the Fifth Base’s power grew, reaching its zenith. After Mu Yu became a tenth-tier lightning ability user, he remembered old ties and sent someone to urge Qiao Xinran to join the New Association, promising they wouldn't make things too difficult for Fuyunzi. To his surprise, Qiao Xinran had no shred of old sentiment; not only did she refuse, but she cursed him roundly and told him to get lost. After that, they became thorns in each other's sides, eager to eliminate one another.

After Fuyunzi withdrew from worldly affairs, Qiao Xinran felt the weight of the responsibility on her shoulders. She practiced with a desperate intensity, finally breaking through the bottleneck in the seventh year of the apocalypse to become a super-tier lightning ability user. She maintained good relations with the Old Association while using her beauty and schemes to firmly control the Seven Saints Alliance. She was, arguably, the most powerful woman in the apocalypse besides Nangong Le and Ye Yu.

Reborn from the ashes, she was calmer and more composed than before, and with the "protagonist aura" surrounding her, people flocked to serve her, and everyone feared her.

Everything had returned to the starting point. Compared to Qiao Xinran’s high-profile, Ye Yin was low-key to the point of invisibility. She changed her appearance and identity, serving as one of Ye Yu’s personal bodyguards.

Her unremarkable appearance and honest, low-key demeanor made her presence so faint that, aside from the chief secretary in charge of Ye Yu’s affairs, almost no one knew her pseudonym, and her occasional departures went unnoticed.

Sometimes, when Ye Yu sensed she missed her family, she would bring her to see Pi and Ye Hua during their downtime. Although she couldn't reveal her identity to her sister, seeing that she was well-cared for gave Ye Yin peace of mind.

Not long ago, she had successfully advanced her metal ability—the last of the five elements—to the full tier, mastering the "Five Elements Perfection" technique. With this, she broke through the final bottleneck and became a "Long-Witch," becoming one of the undisputed top experts in the world.

Ye Yu didn't fully understand the Witch clan’s system, but an ally’s advancement was always good news. She felt the time was right.

"It’s a good thing I like to leave a path for myself and didn't let everyone around me use the Witch Essence." Ye Yu threw a stack of documents in front of Ye Yin. "This is classified intelligence obtained by Li Lei himself. Take a look—there are some familiar faces here."

Ye Yin skeptically picked up the documents, and the first page nearly made her eyes pop out of her head.

"Holy shit, isn't he dead?!"

The leader of the New Association was none other than the former manager of "Spring Snow," a high-level official of the association who had supposedly died in the battle to capture the "Devil"—Uncle Ou!!

Even though he was dressed like a sharp businessman in the photo, Ye Yin would never mistake that crooked merchant’s face.

"Surprised?"

"Yeah... no matter how you look at it, he doesn't seem like that kind of person."

Even the murderers in Detective Conan had patterns, but Uncle Ou’s true face was utterly shocking to Ye Yin. The carefree Uncle Ou, the charitable Uncle Ou, the Uncle Ou who innocently pursued the noodle shop owner—he was actually the leader of the New Association?! And he had used a faked death to divert attention?! Could he be the mastermind who had been playing everyone all along?

"Keep looking, there’s more."

Ye Yin’s hands trembled. She forced herself to remain calm and kept turning pages, her face growing paler with each one.

So many familiar faces: Ming Shi, A-Hui, Su Min... Aside from Nangong Le and some strangers, 60 to 70 percent of the current high-level members of the New Association were members of the "Spring Snow" club, and they held a significant proportion of the middle and lower management positions as well.

Spring Snow was full of powerful people; it wouldn't be a big deal if a few went to the New Association, but this situation clearly wasn't right. It felt as if...

"Do you think your club was basically a headquarters for rebellion?" Ye Yu teased. "You stayed there for so long and didn't notice a thing? You really are thick-headed."

"What about Zhichiu?"

"He’s in prison over there," Ye Yu said. "Apparently, it’s because he refused to aid the villainous. By the way, do you know anything about his past?"

"What? He rarely talked about himself... I don't know much."

"Before joining the association, he was a felon wanted by the International Alliance," Ye Yu said. "He could be described as having committed every evil under the sun; the number of lives he took was higher than the poultry we’ve eaten. Later, the association took a liking to his ability and sheltered him, but his nature was hard to change, and he repeatedly committed grave errors. If the leader hadn't fought to protect him, he would have been purged from within the association long ago."

Ye Yin felt her heart wasn't doing well: "Are you talking about the same Zhichiu I know?"

"Yes. You know about his transformation later; he was like a different person. As for why he suddenly turned over a new leaf, I’m not entirely sure. Now that I think about it, it must have had something to do with the leader of the First Base, who always helped and taught him like a father."

"So, that’s why he didn't join in the corruption and was thrown into prison by Uncle Ou," Ye Yin frowned.

"Now is not the time to worry about him," Ye Yu said. "How much do you know about that New Association leader? Can you beat him?"

Ye Yin was dumbfounded, feeling deeply ashamed: "I don't really know Uncle Ou... no, I should say, I don't really know anyone from Spring Snow."

Ye Yu laughed out of sheer annoyance: "You made it to the position of deputy manager, yet you know nothing about your own club? It’s rare to be as clueless as you. Weren't you quite clever when you were calculating against me?"

"Don't bring up old scores. Since even you could fall into the hands of someone like me, it just shows that everyone has blind spots. What’s wrong with looking at someone the wrong way occasionally?"

Ye Yu felt a headache coming on. She waved her hand, glaring fiercely at Ye Yin: "Fine, let’s leave the past behind. From now on, use your brain and think about how to deal with your former boss and colleagues."