[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete":3,"chapter-starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-25":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starting from the Apocalypse, I Alone Severed Eternity",{"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},2312407,4518,"Chapter 25: Secret Realm Key, Place of Fortune","starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-25",25,"\u003Cp>Looking at Fang Shi’s intimidating gaze, Xiao Xi felt a shiver run through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi’s performance today had proven he knew this apocalypse well; Xiao Xi hoped to draw out some topics so he could reveal more information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knew Fang Shi would react so strongly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Xi, how come I never heard about this?” Zhai Yan exclaimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You never asked me,” Xiao Xi glared at Zhai Yan, then turned back to Fang Shi. “Feng Ren told me—he has some connection with Hong Yuankai.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Xiao Xi recounted Hong Yuankai’s story to Fang Shi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening for a while, Fang Shi finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Xi had a sycophant named Feng Ren, but because he was plain-looking, Xiao Xi disliked him greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day, the sycophant discovered a secret treasure vault and was about to strike it rich—he came to tell Xiao Xi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like in those TV dramas where the hero returns victorious to marry his beloved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this was merely Fang Shi’s interpretation of Xiao Xi’s words; the original wasn’t phrased that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Fang Shi gained crucial information: Hong Yuankai’s group definitely possessed one of the keys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a reincarnator, Fang Shi knew of many keys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But based on Hong Yuankai’s actions, he roughly deduced that the key they obtained was a Secret Realm Key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, a Secret Realm was a dungeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the apocalypse, with attribute panels came monster-killing and item drops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the drop rate was extremely low—about as rare as winning the lottery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention the king of drop items: the Secret Realm Key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the apocalypse rewards those who move fast, with first-time bonuses even a pig could soar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet latecomers still had a chance to catch up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first method was grinding monsters to level up—a honest approach, viable early on with large organizations, but nearly impossible later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If your strength was already inferior, why compete with others in monster grinding? That was pure fantasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second method was relying on fortune: after the apocalypse, countless opportunities arose, and the chosen could ascend in a single step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even becoming a legendary deity wasn’t out of the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Secret Realm Key was one such opportunity—dungeon monsters granted high experience and high drop rates, practically legendary treasure spots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder Fang Shi took notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, if used well, the Secret Realm Key had another powerful function.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was to evade the coming crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first shock was imminent, and Fang Shi had no place left to level up—better to enter a Secret Realm, farm a full set of divine gear, then emerge to slaughter like cutting melons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more Fang Shi thought about it, the more excited he became; his gaze toward Xiao Xi grew increasingly eager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Xi’s scalp prickled under Fang Shi’s stare—damn, this demon isn’t eyeing me, is he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s so powerful—what if he forces me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looks like I’ll have to submit, or my life is over. Too bad for Zhai Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi didn’t know Xiao Xi’s wild thoughts, and even if he did, he wouldn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the apocalypse, strange people and strange events were everywhere—some bowed respectfully while secretly plotting your death, and that was normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where did they die? Take me there right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, under Xiao Xi’s gaze, Zhai Yan reluctantly abandoned his food and led Fang Shi to the crime scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the crime scene, Zhai Yan held a torch made of cooking oil, standing to light the way for Fang Shi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it was daytime, and after Fang Shi’s massacre,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the streets held not a single corpse-walker—empty and eerily safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the powerful night king, the Firewing Bird, Fang Shi actually hoped more would appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed 6,000 experience points to level from 3 to 4—he was far from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi sifted through the debris on the ground,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>searching for any possible remnants of the key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Secret Realm Key, if not used to complete the dungeon, would remain indefinitely and possessed extreme durability, impervious to ordinary attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on Xiao Xi’s account, Fang Shi quickly concluded Hong Yuankai’s group had definitely not cleared the dungeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, the scene wouldn’t be this gruesome—if they couldn’t win, they’d at least have fought back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where did it go? Fang Shi wondered. The key must be brought out of the dungeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was mandatory—not because the living must carry it out even in death, but because of the key’s own mechanism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi believed that once outside the dungeon, the key would drop, and no one would ever abandon such a precious item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, you entered from one place and exited from the same place; the survivors were first spotted by Xiao Xi and Zhai Yan right here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t believe these people, knowing the dangers of night, would trek all the way back to this building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t some treasure spot—why not just hide nearby? There were so many empty houses now, with most people turned to corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, another key reason: Fang Shi understood Firewing Birds—these otherworldly creatures would never let survivors escape so far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the corpses were too clean—only fragments of clothing and indigestible bones remained, not a trace of flesh or blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of sharp light passed through Fang Shi’s eyes; he signaled Zhai Yan to turn back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had thought of a possibility: had the Firewing Bird accidentally swallowed the key while feeding?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the pitch-black, empty street, Zhai Yan wandered helplessly by the roadside, on the verge of tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>June nights were scorching hot, yet his heart was icy cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Fang Shi realized the key might be inside a Firewing Bird’s stomach, he immediately turned back inside, swiftly slashing with his sword to search the creature’s digestive system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, none of the three had it—not even the likely 4th-level Firewing Bird.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi was unwilling to give up, so he devised a plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d kill every Firewing Bird nearby and search them all—then he’d know for sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether Firewing Birds excreted, and whether the key might be expelled into another world—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>these possibilities existed, but Fang Shi had to try anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Secret Realm Key was too precious to abandon lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, even if he didn’t find the key, grinding experience was still worthwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi realized his own strength was too great—he still carried the lingering aura of dead Firewing Birds, causing aggro to fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He decided to find a new bait to replace himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, unfortunate Zhai Yan was chosen again—he didn’t want to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But under pressure from Fang Shi and Xiao Xi, and with Fang Shi’s promise of rewards, he had no choice but to comply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“F***, why isn’t it here yet? I’m bored to death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhai Yan shouted loudly, venting his frustration—as Fang Shi had demanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his voice echoed too loudly down the street, startling himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It also triggered the moans of locked-up corpse-walkers inside nearby buildings and drew dumbfounded stares from some survivors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Fang Shi’s earlier rampage had drawn much attention from survivors,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>precisely because it was so violent, they realized Fang Shi was terrifyingly strong and dared not emerge to ask for help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, corpse-walkers had no eyes—if Fang Shi was followed by a trail of corpses, and one of them caught up to someone who stepped out, what then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the joke went: when facing a tiger, you only need to run faster than the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, some tried to communicate by shouting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi ignored them all—those lacking the courage to even step out had no potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were no better than the dead Hong Yuankai and his group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saving them would cost too much effort, and in the end, they’d only become burdens—hardly worth the time wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he’d truly saved them, he’d probably still be below level 3.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crimson trail suddenly streaked across the sky; Zhai Yan’s heart leapt—my ancestors, you’re finally here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now wasn’t the time to run—Fang Shi had clearly instructed him to flee only when the Firewing Bird dove toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his speed, he’d have five or six seconds to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those five or six seconds were Zhai Yan’s only chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as he lured the attacking Firewing Bird to Fang Shi’s ambush spot, the rest was up to Fang Shi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crimson glow did not disappoint Zhai Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Firewing Bird, with its night vision, instantly spotted Zhai Yan—a strange anomaly wandering the street—and became ecstatic, diving straight down without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it dove, it let out a shrill, joyful cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These humans were too cunning, always hiding inside buildings—making it impossible for it to harness the power of the law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, another fool has appeared—I can feast again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here it comes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhai Yan spun around and ran, daring not to look back, terrified that even a second’s delay would mean death beneath the bird’s beak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing its prey flee, the Firewing Bird grew even more excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a flying creature, it had never feared any being in speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even creatures stronger than it could not claim superiority in speed—especially during a dive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This slow human couldn’t even warm it up properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the night, its wingspan nearly six meters, body glowing red, the Firewing Bird resembled a massive fireball, ready to embrace Zhai Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhai Yan was drenched in sweat—not from exertion, not from heat, but from terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His stamina drained rapidly; after just fifty meters, he was gasping for breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet his overwhelming will to survive kept him moving forward until he reached the gap between two buildings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blade of light erupted from the alleyway, like a streak of lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—the Firewing Bird’s cervical vertebrae snapped, its head separating from its body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A geyser of blood spurted from the severed neck, drenching Zhai Yan, scalding his skin like hot water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhai Yan paid no mind to this—he immediately followed Fang Shi’s instructions, ignoring his injuries, and threw himself flat to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His knees and palms slammed hard, likely breaking the skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhai Yan pressed his face tightly against the gritty pavement, daring not to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bird’s remaining head, propelled by inertia, sliced past his skull and flew thirty meters away like a cannonball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beak struck the cement ground, leaving a small crater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corpse was deftly redirected by Fang Shi’s technique, crashing into a nearby shop, shattering its glass door into a thousand pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Piercing Attack activated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Target received fatal damage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You dealt 48.5 damage to the target.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Target deceased.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Extracting target’s soul energy. You gain 120 experience points, 12 survival points.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1774,"2026-06-20T12:43:33.559Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","45e077cb65ca666c642f36cc814b7ed4e263ce32ab340e4897ef854f0890d148","starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-26","starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-24",109,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-cover.jpg"]