HE WHO CONQUERS ALL

Jiang City. Crystal Night International Hotel. Seventy-eighth floor. A young man in his early twenties stood before the massive glass window, gazing silently at the dazzling nightscape of Jiang City. He was tall and slender, his features as delicate as white jade. His eyes, dark as obsidian, shone with a brilliance that exuded nobility. A natural aura of supremacy radiated from him, as if he were born to be above others. Behind him, a girl in a black dress stood quietly as well. “Young Master, what are you looking at?” She couldn’t help but ask. Upon hearing her voice, the young man slowly turned around and cast a glance at her. The girl’s face was exquisitely delicate, as if she were a porcelain doll. Her eyes were a pale shade of blue, her hair black as ink, cascading over her shoulders. Her skin was as smooth as fine porcelain, fairer than snow. Even in the moonlight, it shimmered with a silver glow, as though she were a celestial maiden descending from the heavens. But behind this ethereal beauty lay a chilling reality—she was no ordinary girl. She was Sequence One, the first-generation experimental subject of the Eastern Capital Research Institute. Over the years, she had earned a chilling moniker on the Empire’s dark web—"The Blood Moon.” And the young man before her had an even more terrifying identity. His name was Shen Chen, the son of Shen Fei, the Grand Elder of the Empire’s Cardinal Bureau. The Cardinal Bureau was the Empire’s most powerful authority, and Shen Fei was, in all but name, its supreme leader. The Shen family had been one of the most formidable aristocratic houses since the founding of the Empire. As the eldest son and direct heir of the Shen family, Shen Chen’s status in the Empire was akin to that of a crown prince. Of course, in this modern Empire, where monarchy had long been abolished, he was, at least in name, nothing more than an ordinary citizen. “Lanxi, look at the night view of Jiang City. Don’t you think it’s beautiful?” Shen Chen chuckled lightly. “It is.” Lanxi responded briefly. Indeed, the nightscape of Jiang City had a unique charm. Neon lights flickered across the skyline, and nightlife flourished. Countless heirs of wealthy families indulged in lavish pleasures within extravagant clubs, immersed in an endless world of revelry. Meanwhile, ordinary workers burned the midnight oil, toiling tirelessly just to secure their place in this colossal city. This was the reality of the Empire—where power and privilege dominated every upward path, leaving ordinary people with little chance to rise above. Yet, Shen Chen saw nothing wrong with this system, for his family, the Shen family, stood at the very pinnacle of power. They were the colossus that all other noble houses looked up to, their influence deeply entrenched in the Empire’s foundations. “But it’s a pity… soon, all of this—will change.” Shen Chen murmured. Lanxi’s expression shifted slightly as she looked at him. “Young Master, does that mean… the rumors within the family… are true?” Shen Chen took a sip of red wine as he continued gazing at the city’s vibrant lights. “They’re true. And the truth… is far more terrifying than anyone can imagine.” Hearing his confirmation, even Lanxi, who was far from an ordinary person, felt her face turn slightly pale. For the rumors circulating within the Shen family were nothing short of apocalyptic. The world would soon fall. Endless hordes of monstrous creatures and the undead would emerge from the black mist, plunging the world into utter chaos. A true apocalypse was coming. “But…” Lanxi hesitated, at a loss for words. Shen Chen turned to her, his fingers gently brushing against her flawless cheek. “Don’t worry, Lanxi. Our family has long been prepared. We know more than any other noble house in the Empire.” “For the common people, this apocalypse will be hell on earth. For ordinary aristocrats, it’s an unpredictable calamity.” “But for our family…” A warm smile appeared on Shen Chen’s lips. “This is an opportunity—” “An opportunity to take complete control of the Empire.” As she stared into his eyes, filled with boundless ambition, Lanxi found herself momentarily dazed. “Young Master…” she murmured. “Lanxi will always obey you.” Shen Chen continued watching the nightscape of Jiang City, the distant sounds of a bustling city faintly reaching his ears. Even in the dead of night, Jiang City, one of the Empire’s major metropolises, remained lively. Countless people were still toiling, still struggling. Gazing at his own reflection in the glass, Shen Chen took another sip of his wine. Even after four years, he still couldn’t help but marvel at the fact that— He had been reborn. That’s right—he had returned to the past. In his previous life, the apocalypse had descended upon the world without warning. Endless waves of monstrous creatures and undead surged from the black mist, reducing the world to ruins in mere days. Although the Shen family had obtained some advance intelligence, they were still caught off guard by the sudden catastrophe. Before modern weaponry—missiles and tanks—completely lost their effectiveness, they barely managed to clear out the creatures in the Eastern Capital and erect humanity’s first great fortress upon the ruins. Many noble families perished in the chaos. Some managed to establish shelters and ruled over them like feudal lords. The apocalypse shattered the last remnants of human morality. Except for the Shen family in the Eastern Capital, who barely maintained order, the rest of the world was plunged into pure savagery. For a piece of bread, for water, for mere survival, people slaughtered one another like primitive beasts. As if overnight, civilization had crumbled, and only barbarism remained. Women, food, firearms—everything was reduced to mere commodities to be bartered and exploited. Some people cursed the apocalypse. Others reveled in it. And the Shen family? They became the strongest faction after the fall of the Empire. In the post-apocalyptic world, only a handful of powers could stand alongside the Eastern Capital’s Shen family. They established a bastion of human civilization, a grand city rising from the ashes— The Free City. It was hailed as humanity’s final light in the darkness, the last glimpse of the old Empire. Unlike the lawless wastelands beyond, Free City retained some semblance of order. It had tens of thousands of soldiers and vast reserves of weaponry. For many surviving aristocrats, having a place in Free City was a dream. Because within these walls— They could still enjoy luxuries like cigarettes and beer, rare remnants of the old world. The city’s formidable defenses gave them the security they desperately craved, shielding them from the horrors outside. And within Free City, one could still find traces of the old civilization—casinos, clubs, theaters, even museums and sports arenas. This was why so many sought refuge there, drowning themselves in the illusion of the past Empire. Yet, even in Free City, only the powerful retained a shred of dignity. Compared to the lawless slave camps beyond, at least here, the weak could still struggle to survive. And at the heart of it all— The Shen family ruled as kings. And Shen Chen— Was the supreme ruler of Free City. With a single word, he could decide the fate of countless survivors in this post-apocalyptic world. But— It wasn’t enough. Far from enough.