Chapter 116: The Resurgence of Star Energy in Liancheng

One of the divine-level gene fragments was a top-tier water element gene, capable of controlling the power of the ocean—a force that might rival the innate abilities of Ha Hanting. Another divine-level gene fragment was toxin-based.

By this calculation, Qin Hao had already mastered three toxin genes. If he unleashed them, not even the hunting creatures could withstand his poison. However, under the pressure of survival, Qin Hao tried not to damage the flesh of the prey unnecessarily, unless the creatures were inedible.

Qin Hao shattered the gene fragments, preserved them, and then absorbed them into his body. The oceanic elemental gene quickly merged within him, followed by the toxin gene. He was always cautious with toxin genes, perhaps because he had previously acquired toxin genes from the Poison Demon Spider and the Voodoo Demon. This time, the gene carried by the Deadly Liquid Walker merged smoothly, enhancing the potency of Qin Hao’s toxic attacks.

As he absorbed the genes, the heavy rain in the sky gradually eased into a gentle drizzle. The dark clouds dispersed, revealing thin layers of clouds through which sunlight streamed down. The sea calmed, turning a deep blue, and a rich burst of star energy erupted from the depths of the ocean. Combined with the sun and rain, it evoked a sense of renewal after calamity.

Countless people cheered. This was the awakening of star energy. The star energy in Liancheng also thickened, but this surge came not from underground, but from the sea. Survivors absorbed the star energy, but no creature of the sea could absorb it faster.

Qin Hao gazed into the distance, uncertain whether the sea beast tide would come again two months earlier than expected.

At that moment, Ha Hanting finally no longer sensed the terrifying devouring power emanating from Qin Hao’s body and finally relaxed.

“Mr. Qin, thank you,” Ha Hanting said.

Qin Hao was pulled from his thoughts and turned his gaze back.

“I’m a hero too. This time, I stole your credit.”

“Don’t say that. Without you, I doubt the million survivors I lead would have made it. It seems the Cross-Sea Bridge isn’t absolutely safe after all.” Ha Hanting was genuinely grateful.

Without Qin Hao, this crisis would have been impossible to overcome alone.

“Mayor Hai, although the Cross-Sea Bridge is a natural barrier, that doesn’t mean it will always be so. Have you sensed the star energy in the world? Blue Star itself contains star energy, which is why it was invaded by alien civilizations. After the star energy revival, all creatures will evolve. There are countless terrifying beings in the sea. Once evolved, they might attack the bridge. If the bridge collapses, out of the million survivors, barely ten percent will remain.”

Ha Hanting’s expression immediately grew serious.

The Cross-Sea Bridge had indeed allowed Liancheng’s survivors to avoid the first disaster, but subsequent calamities kept coming. Trapped on the bridge, they would eventually perish.

He had already planned to leave, but Qin Hao’s words strengthened his resolve.

“Mr. Qin is right. I will begin relocating the survivors. I will send my secretary later with a token of thanks. I must take my leave now.”

Qin Hao watched Ha Hanting depart, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

In fact, twenty years after the apocalypse, when only a hundred humans remained, the major Peace Alliances had extended an olive branch, offering to take them in. If humanity agreed, they would lose Blue Star but survive. Yet once they left, even if they ascended to godhood, Blue Star would no longer belong to them.

Most crucially, among the remaining hundred, there was not a single woman. Humanity could no longer continue to reproduce.

At that time, Qin Hao had already obtained a time-reversal card, and everyone knew this news. It was the last hope for the survivors.

They didn’t just want to survive themselves; they hoped their loved ones, friends, and comrades-in-arms would live on, to fill the void in their hearts.

That was why, when Sun Miaomiao’s father acted so cruelly, Qin Hao refrained from killing him outright.

But he also didn’t want Sun Miaomiao’s fate to be that of a perpetual supporter of her brothers, so he used a vow artifact to settle things once and for all.

He never lightly decided anyone’s life, for he carried the hopes of too many people.

“Ha Hanting, your wish has been fulfilled.”

After the apocalypse, not everyone could bear the burden of a million lives like Ha Hanting did, only to bury a million more with their own hands.

Now, the million survivors were safe and sound. Ha Hanting was no longer alone.

He remained the mayor of Liancheng, the greatest man in the city.

Ha Hanting was completely unaware of Qin Hao’s inner reflections. Returning to the Cross-Sea Bridge, he began organizing people to relocate the survivors.

Ha Hanting’s secretary approached Qin Hao with great respect, presenting a suitcase.

“Mr. Qin, this is a token of thanks from Mayor Hai. We are truly grateful for your help. Our Liancheng base is poor, with a million people to support. This is what Mayor Hai managed to collect—300,000 Star Energy Diamonds. I hope you won’t mind.”

The 300,000 Star Energy Diamonds were all that Ha Hanting had gained from hunting the Flame Demon.

Qin Hao accepted the suitcase without hesitation and stored it inside his spatial ring.

“You should get back to work.”

“Alright, alright. We won’t keep you, Mr. Qin.”

With Ha Hanting’s secretary gone, Qin Hao began to break down the iceberg in his hands.

Corrosive Liquid Walkers and Deadly Liquid Walkers were naturally inedible, but Liquid Walkers themselves were drinkable—their bodies were liquid. Drinking them was like sipping green tea, very palatable, and rich in star energy, making absorption easy.

In fact, just one bottle’s worth of the liquid form of a Liquid Walker could awaken an ordinary person’s talent, turning them into an awakened one.

Such a precious resource was not to be wasted.

Qin Hao fashioned large metal barrels and extracted the ice elemental energy. The liquid bodies of the Liquid Walkers collapsed naturally, falling into the barrels. Their cores froze, containing concentrated star energy that humans could absorb.

With nearly 30,000 Liquid Walkers, Qin Hao’s processing was slow. Seeing this, Ha Hanting immediately dispatched 300 people to assist. Even so, it took two hours.

During this time, the million survivors on the Cross-Sea Bridge were relocated.

This was not a leisurely pre-apocalypse trip, where visiting a scenic spot might take several hours.

In the apocalypse, those who disobeyed orders or moved too slowly died without knowing why.

Ha Hanting urged the survivors to move swiftly. Even a million people sprinted as if in a hundred-meter dash.

“Mr. Qin, everything’s handled. Please come back to the new base and rest with us!” Ha Hanting’s secretary invited warmly.

Qin Hao looked at the calm sea and ultimately declined.

“You all go ahead. I’ll rest nearby.”

Though the secretary tried to persuade him, seeing Qin Hao’s firm resolve, he acquiesced. However, ten people remained behind to provide Qin Hao with food and careful hospitality.

That night, Qin Hao once again set foot on the Cross-Sea Bridge.