The Fei Kingdom. Ever since a Violator used mysterious technological weapons to carry out a massive slaughter in the capital, causing irreparable damage, many of the kingdom’s core assets had been moved out of the city.

The arrival of the Winter Doomsday had only affected the middle and lower classes; the upper echelons and elites remained largely untouched.

At least, that was the case for now. As for what the future held, no one really knew for sure after the arrival of the Doomsday Game.

This was especially true with the recent detection of newly-birthed Cold Energy Monsters and the reawakening of various creatures from Ancient Times.

"You’re actually using people for experiments? This is absolutely absurd!" an angry female voice cried out inside the Fei Kingdom’s largest Cold Energy Research Base.

Zhu Jingyi was furious. She couldn’t believe something so atrocious was happening in a research project under her supervision.

However, the staff merely shot a cold glance at the supervisor who’d been parachuted in, paying her no mind.

Everyone knew this new supervisor came from an unusual background; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to join the project midway.

But as for her actual competence, no one knew, since she had just arrived.

"Ahem, Supervisor Zhu, this matter has special authorization. We..." one of the team leaders, unable to just stand by, hurriedly tried to explain.

But before he could finish, Zhu Jingyi cut him off.

"I don’t care. This kind of thing must never happen in our research base again," Zhu Jingyi said, her tone resolute. "Our job is to research Cold Energy. Look at what you’ve done!"

"If word of this gets out, it will be a massive blow to the Fei Kingdom, both in terms of international opinion and public morale at home."

A staff member retorted indignantly, "Then what about the experiments? Will you take responsibility for the consequences?"

"I’ll be responsible. Whatever happens, I’ll shoulder the burden," Zhu Jingyi said without a moment’s hesitation.

In her eyes, nothing was more important than human life.

"You can’t afford the responsibility, and you can’t handle the consequences." The expression of the team leader who had tried to explain earlier turned grim.

’Does she really think this is just a Cold Energy Research Base? The various interests of the Fei Kingdom’s high-ranking officials are all tied up in this.’

Especially after the higher-ups learned that the special abilities and Qi Cultivation Methods derived from Cold Energy could grant longevity, reverse aging, and provide a host of other benefits.

The direction of many things was no longer so simple.

Not to mention, this was the apocalypse. Many things were already out of control, and it wasn’t something you could rein in just by wanting to.

’Your background is indeed impressive, but compared to the combined interests of the Fei Kingdom’s leadership, you’re just a slightly larger ant.’

"Supervisor Zhu, you’re tired. Go back and get some rest. You’ll get the credit you’re due; we won’t short you."

"You’re just here to burnish your credentials, so don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong," another team leader said calmly.

This was as good as saying it outright.

Just those two sentences made Zhu Jingyi tremble with rage.

’Not only are these people unrepentant, they actually think I’m the one in the wrong?’

’This is completely preposterous.’

But when she looked around at everyone present, her heart sank.

Given the situation, it was obvious that not a single person here supported her.

She had joined the management of the Cold Energy Research Base to benefit the public, but what she found instead was a true Purgatory.

And she was utterly powerless to change any of it.

"I will report this. I refuse to believe..." She knew she couldn’t do anything by herself.

So, she chose the most effective counterattack available to her: filing a report.

But before she could finish, she was cut off by a sudden notification from the Doomsday Game.

[Warning: Violator is one kilometer away.]

Of course, she wasn’t the only one to receive the warning. Everyone in the entire research base got it.

Instantly, the previously cold and mocking expressions on the staff members’ faces were replaced by a uniform look of fear and shock.

They knew about Violators and had seen the destruction they caused on TV.

But in their minds, Violators were a distant threat, something impossibly far away.

Until now.

One team leader reacted the fastest, sounding the alarm immediately.

Not that it did any good. The Doomsday Game’s notification was far faster than any alarm.

"Take cover! Everyone, hurry..."

Someone shouted the warning, but they didn’t get to finish. The roof of the research base was torn away.

A bone-chilling blizzard and freezing temperatures instantly flooded the facility.

The research base had heating 24/7, keeping it as warm as a spring day.

However, this warmth offered no resistance to the cold of the Winter Doomsday and was instantly swallowed whole.

"Damn it, why would a Violator come here?" Zhu Jingyi gritted her teeth, her expression grim.

She didn’t retreat. Instead, she activated her special ability, preparing to fight the Violator to the death to protect the entire base.

Even if her power was likely insignificant against a Violator, it was far better than doing nothing at all.

But before she could even begin her fight, a torrent of shadowy energy poured in through the breach.

People and objects alike began to break down and dissipate, and she was no exception.

The entire process was incredibly swift. The only good news was that no one suffered any pain in their final moments.

Qi Suian, of course, didn’t care that the only daughter of some high-ranking Youfei Kingdom official had died in the Ghost Energy Storm from his Floating Cannons. He had destroyed the entire research base; what was offending one official to him?

[Database download complete.]

[Hostile personnel eliminated.]

[Commencing cleanup of remaining hostiles.]

Following the AI’s commands, the Tai Sui God began the slaughter.

This time, however, it didn’t use Floating Cannons, but firearms.

The bodies of the dead were thrown directly into the Melting Furnace for fuel.

As for why he had used the Ghost Energy Storm for the first wave, it was, of course, to break their main strength.

They were all gathered in one place. It would have been a waste not to wipe them out in a single stroke.

’Was this wasteful? Yes, a little.’

’But the waste was negligible, a loss Qi Suian could easily afford.’

’Besides, many Qi Cultivation Methods were recorded in physical books. If he’d simply blanketed the area with the Ghost Energy Storm, the originals would have been damaged.’

’Even though there were digital copies, he couldn’t rule out the possibility that the originals held some sort of special properties.’

Once the last staff member of the Fei Kingdom’s Cold Energy Research Base was killed with a shot to the head and thrown into the Melting Furnace, Qi Suian began to search the facility.

It wasn’t difficult. The AI had already acquired a complete map of the base, so all he had to do was go and collect what he came for.

’I have to admit, the Fei Kingdom is pretty damn ruthless. In this one research base alone, the number of personnel lost in this short time already exceeds several thousand.’

’Those thousands were obviously survivors, citizens of the Fei Kingdom from the surrounding area. They must have been sourced locally. It’s not like they could brave the blizzards and freezing temperatures to go abduct people from other nations.’

’The cost would be too high.’

’In any case, thanks to the Winter Doomsday, most survivors have already had their supply lines cut off.’

’No one would care if they died. After all, apart from the leaders of the various nations, the other survivors are truly just trying to survive.’

’That new supervisor who was dropped in was probably meant to curb the consumption rate, but it seems she came on a bit too strong.’ Qi Suian’s gaze shifted to another document.

It was an intelligence report containing information about the Taiyin Refining Technique.

Ancient texts recorded its last appearance at Wanfu Temple in the Yan Kingdom. However, according to the investigation, Wanfu Temple had since been renamed Changlou Temple.

The name was changed, undoubtedly, to distance it from certain past events. The report didn’t specify the exact reason.

As the strongest Qi Cultivation Method of the Xuanmen Orthodox Sect from Ancient Times, it was something the Fei Kingdom naturally coveted.

’I should go take a look,’ Qi Suian thought, looking at the report, which conveniently included the location’s coordinates.

’And if all goes as expected, the Fei Kingdom has probably already sent people there.’

’But with the freezing weather and constant blizzards, travel by air is difficult, so they probably haven’t arrived yet.’

Then, Qi Suian’s attention fell upon a collection of Qi Cultivation Methods. They were all original copies and remarkably well-preserved, clearly having been regularly maintained by specialists after being collected.

Qi Suian, however, showed no such reverence. He began flipping through them directly, comparing their contents with the digital versions while having his reconnaissance network scan for any anomalies.

"No difference. Looks like I’ll have to make a trip to Changlou Temple in the Yan Kingdom. I hope no one beats me to it," Qi Suian muttered.

"Finally, it’s dead."

"Good thing I got here early. A few days later and it would have been too late." After a vicious battle, Tang Qing had finally killed the future Beast King—the Ice Dragon.

He immediately pulled out the Ice Dragon’s core—a solid, exquisitely translucent object that looked like a crystal of ice.

He swallowed it in one gulp without even chewing.

The cold spread from his mouth down his esophagus and into his stomach, creating the illusion that his entire body and soul were about to freeze solid.

Fortunately, he immediately used the Taiyin Refining Technique to restore himself.

"Now I just have to wait for my Taiyin Refining Technique to break through the first layer, and I’ll gain a special ability."

"I can’t wait to get the Ice Dragon’s ability." A smile spread across Tang Qing’s face, impossible to suppress.

He glanced at the date and was startled to realize what day it was.

’It feels like I was reborn just yesterday, but it’s already been this long. The Fei Kingdom’s future iron-fisted female prime minister should be starting her rise to power today.’

’Her rise to power, as the story goes, began after her attempts to protest the Fei Kingdom’s use of civilian survivors as test subjects failed. For the sake of the people, she decisively launched a coup.’ 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He held this iron-fisted prime minister in high regard. She had intimidated the other nations and taught them fear, forcing them to curb their practice of using civilians as test subjects.

Of course, "curb" didn’t mean "eliminate." It just meant they were no longer so brazen about it.

In his past life, he had managed to survive for three months after the apocalypse began, and that was largely thanks to the coup led by the iron-fisted prime minister.

Unfortunately, Tang Qing hadn’t lived long enough to find out what happened next.

’Perfect. This place isn’t far from the Fei Kingdom. I can go give her a hand. I’ll consider it a favor to my past self.’

’And if I remember correctly, there are some fortunate opportunities in the Fei Kingdom, too. I can grab them while I’m there.’

Tang Qing knew that while the legend could be summed up in a single sentence, the hardships she must have faced were immense. Though the details were never revealed, he knew just how perilous her path must have been.