[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-sky-fell":3,"chapter-after-the-sky-fell-after-the-sky-fell-chapter-2":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Sky Fell",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2280858,4462,"Chapter 2","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-2",2,"\u003Cp>Searching for suspected odd artifacts inside a haunted building is indeed difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Money isn’t easy to earn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting in the car, heading toward their destination, Li Yi couldn’t help but sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had no other choice—if there had been any other way to earn fifty thousand yuan in a short time, he wouldn’t have taken such a dangerous job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vehicle navigated through the old district, bouncing unevenly along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the car, everyone remained silent; the atmosphere felt heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This car’s going in circles—we just passed this road. Looks like Lao Ya is being cautious. I’m starting to believe what he said might be true. Hey, if we actually find an odd artifact, this’ll be interesting.” The hoodie man chuckled to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since we’re about to work together, if you don’t mind, let’s introduce ourselves briefly. I’m Wei Li, a doctor at a small clinic in Tianchang City. I’m here because my daughter is sick and needs surgery money.” The thin, glasses-wearing man smiled as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhang Kaiwen,” the hoodie man grinned. “I’m from out of town. I took out high-interest loans I couldn’t repay, so I hid here. I’m doing this trip just to make money—nothing else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Liu Yan, local. I have some cultivation talent and want to try taking the first step. But cultivation costs money, and my family’s poor. I’m willing to risk everything—I’d never save ten thousand yuan in ten years working a normal job, and even if I did, I’d be too old to begin cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman in the strap dress spoke with unusual seriousness; her eyes revealed deep resentment and longing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi said, “I’m Li Yi. I already told Lao Ya my situation—you all heard it. No need to repeat it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, everyone’s gaze turned to the last man, tall and broad-shouldered with a square jaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man sat with arms crossed, muscles bulging, serious and stern. He spoke in a booming voice: “I’m Wang Hu, from Hong Kong. Don’t compare me to you losers. I’m here only because I ran out of pocket money during my travels. To me, you’re all extras. But I, Wang Hu, am destined by fate to overthrow this world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......” The others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holy shit, you’re nothing like the rest of us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the car stopped, a half-collapsed building loomed ahead. A cordon surrounded it, covered in warning signs: “Keep Away from Hazardous Structure.” Nearby buildings were equally ruined, each fractured as if struck by some sudden, massive disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So this is the Ruined District?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi stepped out of the car, glancing left and right—no one else in sight. The road was littered with abandoned cars; the wasteland around them overgrown with wild grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Few came to the Ruined District—not only because of the massive destruction, but also because unknown dangers likely lurked here. Only outlaws or those who had begun cultivation dared linger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lao Ya, you’re late.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, crisp footsteps echoed from within the dark building. A figure slowly emerged from the shadows. Though her face was indistinct, her voice betrayed a woman—cold and detached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I took a few detours to avoid surprises,” Lao Ya replied in a low tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure continued: “Only five? That’s too few. You’ll vanish into this building without making a ripple. At least ten are needed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Investigator Wang Jian is active in the old district. I don’t know if he got a tip or just got lucky—he showed up in Wangmen Community. I think we can’t afford too many people; it’d risk exposure. Even if we don’t know what’s inside this building, caution is always better.” Lao Ya said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang Jian? I understand. You’re right—this can’t get out. Five is fine. Try it. If you fail, we’ll get another team.” The woman said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, wait a minute—you’re implying we five have to succeed? If we don’t find what you want, does that mean you’ll kill us? That’s not what you promised!” Zhang Kaiwen stepped forward, frowning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no sooner had he finished speaking than—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the darkness of the building, a pair of eyes suddenly glowed, as if pupils had flared to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hummm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, Li Yi’s head buzzed violently; his ears rang, his vision went black, and a wave of nausea surged through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the sensation passed as quickly as it came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he regained his senses, he saw Zhang Kaiwen collapsed on the ground, face deathly pale, vomiting violently, blood streaming from his eyes, ears, and nostrils—horrifying and gruesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Liu Yan’s eyes widened in disbelief and terror: “This is... Muji?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Muji? What’s that?” Li Yi asked immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The divine gaze, eyes that kill. Only those who’ve truly entered cultivation can wield this. She’s no longer ordinary—she’s at least a cultivator who’s opened her Spiritual Medium.” Liu Yan seemed to know much; though her voice trembled with fear, it carried traces of envy and longing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s already opened her Spiritual Medium?” Li Yi froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he didn’t understand cultivation, he’d heard of it in this era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first realm of cultivation is Spiritual Medium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it’s the first step, it’s a chasm that blocks countless people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because cultivation in this world is flawed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary people who try to cultivate either fall gravely ill, go mad, and die in agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if one overcomes the dangers, cultivation progresses excruciatingly slowly. Li Yi knew a relative’s child had cultivated for five years—doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and defecating, with huge appetites—and still gained nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, family and friends concluded the boy wasn’t cultivating—he was probably just freeloaders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this wasn’t an isolated case. Many families faced the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless spent three to five years cultivating only to end up with nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Risk far outweighed reward, and it wasted precious time. Many abandoned cultivation entirely. Only families with decent means dared spend money and time letting their children try. Still, some poor families scrimped and saved to support one aspiring cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next time, watch your tongue. This time was just a warning. Don’t get too full of yourself. In the Ruined District, if I wanted to kill you, I’d leave not a trace.” Footsteps echoed again as the mysterious woman stepped into view from within the ruined building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was tall, clad in a tight-fitting suit, a long braid falling to her waist. Her pale face carried an unyielding chill; her eyes were peculiar—pupils whitened, faintly glowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lao Ya, pay them. Get them moving immediately. Don’t try anything funny—I’m watching you. If anyone misbehaves, I guarantee you won’t leave alive.” With that, she scanned the group, then turned and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quickly, her figure vanished into the darkness of the abandoned building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, what a nasty woman. Almost got killed. Real cultivators are terrifying. Just now, I thought my brain was going to explode. That technique’s called Muji, right? Fuck, I’m going to take out a high-interest loan and start cultivating.” Zhang Kaiwen staggered to his feet, spat, blood and saliva flying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was intense! Looks like my trip won’t be dull. Ha! I’m starting to get excited.” Wang Hu laughed loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Li, the doctor, wiped his glasses as he spoke: “Muji is indeed dangerous—it targets the brain, like a psychic shock. Ordinary people have no defense. Only another cultivator who’s opened their Spiritual Medium can counter it. But I wonder: what’s the maximum range? Can walls or buildings block it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi stayed silent, rubbing his throbbing head, still shaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d only been caught in the collateral effect—not the main target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even that minor exposure was devastating. If the woman had truly focused on him, Zhang Kaiwen would’ve died instantly—no chance of survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it was just a warning, she went too far... Is it because we’re in the Ruined District? Or have cultivators stopped seeing ordinary people as human?” Li Yi thought, then felt his phone vibrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled it out—the text read: Fifty thousand yuan received.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others received the same notification simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Ya said gravely: “Payment’s been made. Don’t dawdle. Move out. I’ll send you relevant details via text once you enter the building.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chitchat’s over. Move out, losers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Hu moved first, ignoring the others as he strode boldly toward the collapsed building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, Wang Hu, don’t be reckless—Lao Ya said this building is haunted!” Zhang Kaiwen called out.\u003C\u002Fp>",1388,"2026-06-20T01:26:56.586Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7185e80c4af208592a330022b78c4299d6442201c0978f24b515a238fc266b8d","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-3","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-1",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-sky-fell-cover.jpg"]