[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-wasteland-s-only-king":3,"chapter-wasteland-s-only-king-wasteland-s-only-king-chapter-38":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Wasteland's Only King",{"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},1594834,2061,"Chapter 38: Magic Tricks","wasteland-s-only-king-chapter-38",38,"\u003Cp>Light’s barbecue didn’t last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be precise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After handing out two skewers to each club member, he put down his tools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the system panel had stopped popping up new reward notifications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light wiped the greasy stains off his hands on his apron as he mentally tallied up his gains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just one look, and he couldn’t help but click his tongue in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just these ten-odd minutes, he’d racked up a total of 204 Tier Three Energy Crystals!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The club, besides himself, had 102 members, meaning each person contributed two Tier Three Energy Crystals to him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was also a whopping 200,000 Wasteland Points!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even though they’re just Tier Three Crystals, the quantity is huge, so the value isn’t low!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light was in a fantastic mood, his smile only growing brighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The club members noticed and immediately felt even more admiration for this President.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Light stop grilling, they all felt relieved, like a weight had lifted from their shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If President kept barbequing, they’d really feel too embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Light took off his apron and sat down by the edge of the clearing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eager first-year newcomers couldn’t hold back anymore; they yelled and rushed toward the flaming barbecue racks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five minutes later—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light stared at several huge plates of skewers piled in front of him, and at the members still enthusiastically handing him more, sinking into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>College students, especially freshmen, seem to have an endless reserve of energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though everyone had spent the whole day battling polluted rivers, at this moment, whether guy or girl, they were all lively as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some were grilling, faces smudged with ash; some gathered to drink; some, hormones flying, went up to chat with someone of the opposite sex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lively vibe, the peaceful atmosphere—made Light temporarily forget everything about the ’Wasteland.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lay on the grass at the clearing’s edge, hands under his head, daydreaming up at the night sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to the resort being far from the city and light pollution being minimal, there were plenty of stars twinkling above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you thinking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Yao appeared at some point, sitting down beside Light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light let out a chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing really. Just feels nice like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Yao pressed her lips together at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She finally let out a gentle, lingering sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just like this is good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They quietly watched the night sky, saying nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far off—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some members noticed them, gossiping quietly, but no one came over to disturb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Yao, senior, was a celebrated figure at Jiang University, and rumor had it her background was deep as could be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But President Yu—his charisma was nothing to scoff at!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To many members these days, Light’s status ranked even above the mysterious Senior Yin Yao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far away—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The club’s freshmen were full and tipsy, and started spontaneously showing off their talents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some sang, some danced, some even did backflips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light sat up, with Yin Yao beside him, watching the scene unfold, a faint smile on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from ’milking rewards’, he genuinely liked these club members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If only it could always be like this...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He heard Yin Yao quietly sigh again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his head and looked at Yin Yao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This senior was actually very different from the people he’d imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Yao, catching Light’s gaze, turned her head toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes met—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the atmosphere wasn’t romantic at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her eyes, Light instead saw a hint of quiet compassion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compassion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it for the coming Wasteland?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light puzzled over this, but kept a calm expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That Jiang City Environmental Ambassador thing—was it your idea, or Principal Jiang’s?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light deliberately changed the subject, taking the opportunity to ask what was on his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The river purification event earlier, both in scale and aftermath, had totally exceeded his expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of all of it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What shocked Light most was the way the Jiang City head had appointed him ’Jiang City Environmental Ambassador’ in front of the media.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even announced that two days later, this Saturday, there’d be a citywide environmental activity!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was my uncle’s own arrangement.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Yao replied quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she paused, looking at Light: \"If you’re not interested in that ’Environmental Ambassador’ thing or Saturday’s event, you can opt out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew, with Yin Yao’s background, \"you can opt out\" was not a joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the ambassador gig and the whole city event had totally blindsided him, from the reward perspective, it was another prime opportunity to ’milk rewards and rake in loot.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Purifying just one polluted river had earned him a ton of rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he actually pulled off this citywide environmental activity—leading millions to do environmental work—how bonkers would the system’s judgment and rewards be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just thinking about it gave Light the chills...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Yao saw Light shake his head and didn’t press any further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though she thought Light should focus more on the internal beta of \"Wasteland\"—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, she respected all of Light’s choices and decisions, and would support them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s precisely why—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was here, not inside \"Wasteland.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light was Yin Yao’s biggest, most important investment after her Rebirth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Yu!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No telling how much time passed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Yunxuan came running over, clutching grilled lamb kidneys, grilled leeks, and still chewing a freshly swallowed grilled oyster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s up?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh, well, uh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Talent show!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those freshmen have already gone through several rounds of performances, and now they’re egging you on to show off your talent!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he finished—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The freshmen nearby all yelled in unison: \"President! President! President!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What talent do I even have?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light felt helpless, but couldn’t help laughing too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, right!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Yunxuan, mouth still full of oyster, spoke a bit unclearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They even tried to make me sing earlier!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Like, how ridiculous is that? I can’t sing at all!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light’s expression changed in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Yunxuan really wasn’t being humble—he was totally tone-deaf, sounded like a banshee wailing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Tang’s singing was nicknamed Level Dragon Calamity!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light’s tone became unusually grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not yet!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They said, if you go up and perform a talent, they won’t force me to sing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Tang Yunxuan finished—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light jumped up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So fast he almost made a wind-breaking sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Yao was dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Yunxuan froze, then quickly caught up with Light’s pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s discrimination, discrimination against Old Tang!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t think my singing is THAT bad...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Yu, Old Yu, what talent are you gonna perform?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light didn’t look back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Magic tricks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Yunxuan was totally bewildered, scratching his head where he stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Magic?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Never heard you mention you could do magic...\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1142,"2026-06-06T09:25:00.699Z",1,"novelbin.me","1b96caa2cb344af5f3eba019654a5d71dd19bdece3bc6e0f7d1c9bdac5f1afc0","wasteland-s-only-king-chapter-39","wasteland-s-only-king-chapter-307",370,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwasteland-s-only-king-cover.jpg"]