Jian Xingyi stared at this little mushroom, dumbfounded.

In the original Plants vs. Zombies, this mushroom was mostly useless, looking utterly unremarkable.

But…

Right now, this thing is incredibly useful!

Jian Xingyi wasn’t sure how it would perform in actual combat. After carefully reading the instructions, he decided to consult with Heiye and the others to devise a strategy.

Only a few hours remained until the final battle.

Meanwhile, Jian Xingyi harvested his last batch of Frozen Pea Shooters. The yield from the A-grade field was quite high.

After two harvests, he had a total of 16 plants—exactly four for each gate.

A single Frozen Pea Shooter could already be quite effective, let alone four.

While repairing the fence, Jian Xingyi noticed many well-rested players. Especially those too injured to fight tonight volunteered to craft more artificial fences for everyone, while others expanded the trenches.

With these man-made defenses and trenches, the Frozen Peas, eight cannons granting 20% speed and attack boosts, plus the side products everyone had cultivated…

They were about to face the big boss!

Before these plants risked being thrown out and wasted, Jian Xingyi remembered to activate his skill, successfully boosting his essence from 470 to 540. His inventory also gained some seeds that were too late to plant now.

But this was a good thing.

If they survived this zombie wave, he wouldn’t be limited by the Nut Wall and Cherry Bomb quantities in the VIP shop anymore. He wouldn’t need to spend money buying them either—he could just plant them whenever needed. Plus, this series of seeds grew fast, taking only a few hours, unlike his crops, which required two days.

Jian Xingyi promptly upgraded his fields, now boasting five plots of Grade A Eternal Memory land.

Though his inventory was currently depleted and his Plants vs. Zombies items would likely be exhausted by tonight, he’d gained significantly.

Before leaving home, Jian Xingyi didn’t forget to send a message to Shanhai.

Even though he felt Shanhai probably didn’t need it, he still did his part.

Xinghe: 【Thanks so much for your help these past few days, boss. Hope everything goes smoothly in the final battle at Grapevine Peak later. When you’re charging into the fray, make sure to watch your own back!】

Jian Xingyi noticed that Shanhai usually replied instantly, but this time he didn’t.

After a long pause, he finally received a response.

Shanhai: 【Thanks. You too.】

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

On the other end, Firelight received Shanhai’s message.

Shanhai: 【If possible, please look out for Xinghe. His combat power is only 56.】

Firelight: 【Huh…? Alright?】

Firelight was utterly baffled. The captain had previously hidden his identity and run dungeons with Xinghe, and now he was asking for special attention? What did that mean?

Could it be…

Could it be… that after spending time with Xinghe, the captain realized Xinghe held significant value, capable of providing resources and food?!

See? I knew the captain had his reasons!

After all, the captain’s AI couldn’t possibly become best friends with Xinghe just from clearing one dungeon together, right? Cola and the Guild President knew Shanhai well, but that friendship had been forged over a decade.

—That’s precisely why Shanhai didn’t want to discuss this with Cola, choosing Firelight instead.

Better to be a bit naive.

And these little incidents surrounding Jian Xingyi? Jian Xingyi himself was completely unaware.

After meticulously tending to his fields, he packed up his plants and left home.

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

【Attention Dawnbreaker V2.0 players: The Zombie Tide Carnival – Final Showdown will commence in one system cycle!】

The alarm began to sound faintly.

Everyone took their positions early. Players too injured to fight still rushed to inspect and secure the fences for the team.

Jian Xingyi had already distributed Frost Pea Shooters to all captains. Now planted, they stood poised at every entrance.

Fearing these precious pea shooters might be destroyed by zombies emerging from the ground, they also surrounded them with nut walls.

It really felt like Plants vs. Zombies.

Sitting atop the wall, Jian Xingyi reloaded ammunition as Cola and Firelight smiled and said, “Hang in there.”

“Alright, let’s do this!”

Jian Xingyi still felt puzzled.

Why did it feel like… Firelight was staring at him with such intensity?

He didn’t know that Firelight was currently observing a high-value individual handpicked by a captain.

Jian Xingyi swallowed a lychee with a puzzled expression. Lychees were delicious fruits to begin with, and eating one before the tense battle, feeling the sweet juice burst in his mouth, was pure bliss.

【Attention players of Dawnbreaker V2.0: The Zombie Tide Carnival – Final Showdown will commence in half a system cycle!】

Wooooo——

The piercing alarm assaulted everyone’s eardrums.

Everyone noticed that on this final night, the alarm seemed sharper, the surrounding mist thicker, and the night itself denser.

The atmosphere grew even more tense.

Thud… Thud…

Thud…

Heavy footsteps echoed slowly.

The earth trembled.

Jian Xingyi had heard similar sounds before, deep within the Fire God’s Belly. But those had been the rhythmic rumblings of nature—mountains shifting and rolling.

This was clearly different.

It was the unmistakable sound of something enormous moving.

【Good evening, players of Dawnbreaker! Congratulations to those who have reached the final night. This moment marks the end of all things and the beginning of the Ark! Your resolve has stirred the General’s blood—he shall soon arrive on the battlefield to meet you!】

He has truly arrived… the boss of this zombie tide!

General!

Thud—Thud—

Players could only hear the sound, not yet see the corpse.

The final battle’s intensity was undeniable—three giants and a horde of Vanguards arrived at once, followed by a dense sea of corpses.

Frozen Pea Shooters fired relentlessly. Everyone remained on high alert, knowing they must eliminate the giants and vanguards swiftly! Otherwise, what would happen when the General arrived?

Given the urgency, Cola and Firelight leaped straight into the fray, swinging their machetes wildly, letting loose.

This was the first time Jian Xingyi witnessed both of them in full-throttle, bloodthirsty mode.

Cola charged out the door, hacking a bloody path through the zombie horde, aiming straight for the Vanguard. Firelight, however, dashed in the opposite direction toward the guild’s interior, clearing out the zombies in the crevices. For a moment, the two seemed more ferocious than the undead themselves.

Once combat power reached a certain threshold, the system granted players special skills.

For instance, when Jian Xingyi maxed out his management level, he gained the 【Turn Stone into Gold】 skill.

Firelight now activated his explosive skill, causing the heads of surrounding zombies to explode one after another—just like when Firelight and Jian Xingyi first met.

The scene was somewhat terrifying, especially given Firelight’s sunny, innocent-looking face.

As for Cola… Jian Xingyi couldn’t quite figure him out. Wherever he went, it seemed like he carried the wind with him. His beige trench coat billowed wildly, his shoulder-length black hair flying, his movements as if he controlled the surrounding winds.

Perhaps because of this, Cola’s movements became so swift they blurred into wind. Enemies around him couldn’t steady themselves, feeling swept into an invisible tornado. No corpse could touch him, yet he tore into the vanguard, hacking away.

It was an invisible yet terrifying force—light as a feather, heavy as a mountain.

In an instant, half the vanguard fell.

Jian Xingyi’s heart skipped a beat, and the others felt the same.

Only then did Jian Xingyi understand why Firelight had called Cola’s actions reckless earlier. Cola had shrugged it off, saying, “This is nothing,” as if it were nothing at all.

Because it truly was nothing at all!

Using skills drained both physical and mental energy, so they didn’t activate them casually. But once unleashed… they were truly terrifying.

With the Frozen Pea Shooter’s assistance, Cola dealt with most of the Vanguard. Firelight was nearly finished sealing the fissure. Cannons and trenches held back the zombie tide, while Jian Xingyi, Long Live for A Hundred Years, and the others focused solely on the Giant.

Thud—Thud—

Footsteps grew ever closer.

Everyone’s heartbeat quickened.

Then something utterly unexpected happened—

The General’s silhouette gradually materialized, appearing roughly the same size as the Giant within the thick fog.

But another wave of Vanguards and Fissures arrived, seemingly as numerous as the first batch.

…Are they out of their minds?!

Everyone thought eliminating the Vanguards and Rifters would stop the reinforcements. Who expected them to just wholesale another identical batch?

“Ha.” Cola wiped the blood from his cheek, letting out a faint, cold laugh.

Just then.

“Guild President! Xinghe!”

“We’re here!!”

“We’re here to help you!!”

Everyone was taken aback.

Akita led his group rushing in. Coming from the inner area, they immediately joined the fray, diving straight into the battle against the zombies engulfed in Firelight and those swarming from the fissures.

Boom—boom boom!

Chaos erupted.

Everyone was stunned.

The final battle mechanics were slightly different. Only two giants and a wave of zombies appeared from the side entrance. After Akita’s group eliminated them, the system declared the battle over.

【Final Battle: Prove your will and unity to the 【General】!】

Seems the main showdown and most enemies will be at the main gate!

Then, Lone Wolf’s booming voice echoed out of nowhere.

“I’m not the last one, right?! Ah ha, I’m not! I’m here!”

More and more zombies poured out of the fissure like mad, trying to block everyone’s path.

But everyone was killing with bloodshot eyes, determined to rush to the front gate to help. They wanted to chop these fissure zombies to pieces!

“Get out of the way!! Don’t block my path!”

“Aaaah, charge!!! Charge!!”

A large group broke through the defensive line, followed closely by Feiyi and the others.

“Aaaah, we’re the last ones here, right?!”

“No problem, we’re the grand finale!”

Charge—!

The zombies in the fissures were dealt with, and everyone charged to the gate. The captain didn’t forget to plant their respective Frozen Pea Shooters to assist Cola in taking down the vanguard.

Everyone worked together to fire at the giant’s head. Countless Cherry Bombs were thrown, and the regular Pea Shooters were firing with all their might.

If not for the gate limiting two cannons, Jian Xingyi would have swapped in the others.

Thud—Thud—

A monster emerged from the thick fog.

The General finally revealed his true form!

It was a zombie nearly as large as the giant itself. Unlike the other zombies with tattered flesh, this one was solidly built. Its purplish-red skin, veined and bulging, remained intact. It wore armor over its body and even a helmet covering its head, making it nearly impenetrable.

“…It’s the General!”

The General’s presence nearly knocked everyone off their feet.

“Everyone! Defeat the boss, and we win!”

“Don’t stop!”

With the General finally revealed, Jian Xingyi glanced at Heiye and the other captains.

Everyone nodded firmly in response.

He drew his SSR plant—that powerful entity capable of defying fate and altering reality: the Charm Mushroom!

The Charm Mushroom, when activated, could manipulate an enemy’s mind to fight for its user!

However, this Charm Mushroom controlled enemies through psychic power. The mushroom itself possessed no such power, meaning its success depended entirely on the user’s mental strength.

Now, the one wielding this Enchanted Mushroom was Jian Xingyi.

This meant Jian Xingyi would engage in a battle of psychic wills with the General.

If Jian Xingyi’s psychic will… put simply, if it was strong enough to overpower the General’s, then there was a chance the General could be controlled.

Jian Xingyi first sought everyone’s opinion, holding a meeting before the battle.

Jian Xingyi believed this sole Charm Mushroom should be entrusted to someone who seemed more capable—like Akita or Lone Wolf. Alternatively, if Heiye and others agreed, he could also hand this mushroom, which held the fate of the group, to Cola and Firelight.

Jian Xingyi scratched his head. “But I think it might be better for someone from our guild to use it. First, I don’t know what side effects it might have, and I’m worried it could cause trouble for other guilds providing support. Second, it wouldn’t be cost-effective for Cola and Firelight to use it. After using this mushroom, it feels like you’re standing still, engaged in a mental tug-of-war, but the two big shots are clearly much more effective when they charge out and fight.”

Jian Xingyi’s reasoning made perfect sense.

Heiye nodded in agreement. “This Charm Mushroom truly shouldn’t go to Firelight or Cola. It belongs to you, Xinghe.”

“No… I…”

“Xinghe,” Heiye smiled. “You might not realize it, but if this Charm Mushroom requires mental stability and resolve, you’re the most suitable candidate here.”

Akita: “Yes. We’ve only known each other for a few days, but purely in terms of core power, you truly are the best fit. Moreover, this Enchanted Mushroom is something you worked hard to earn. You should decide how much it can be used for. If any of us took it, it would waste your efforts.”

Feiyi: “Even if we consider cost-effectiveness and what everyone is better at, us charging out to fight and cover you is more suitable.”

And so, in the end, the Charm Mushroom remained in Jian Xingyi’s hands, activated by her.

【Player 【Xinghe】: Use SSR Plant 【Charm Mushroom】?】

Confirmed!

Jian Xingyi locked his target onto the General.

“Ugh—”

The moment the lock-on succeeded, Jian Xingyi clutched his head in agony.

Everyone was startled.

What’s wrong…!

“Xinghe! Are you okay?”

“Xinghe…!”

Jian Xingyi clutched his head, waving his hand and whispering hoarsely, “Leave me… alone… continue…”

Jian Xingyi crouched down, struggling to steady his breathing.

The General’s mental pressure nearly suffocated him, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

The General wasn’t someone to be manipulated casually!

This was a high-stakes gamble from the start.

Fortunately, the enchantment mushroom’s description stated that success would make the General his pawn, while failure would only subject Jian Xingyi to a single mental assault—no death, no permanent damage.

At worst, it would hurt a bit.

That was why Jian Xingyi dared to take the risk.

Right now, Jian Xingyi felt like he was in a tug-of-war with the General. The General was trying to break free from his control. Specifically, it felt like someone was stabbing his brain repeatedly with a knife from the inside.

Jian Xingyi could no longer hold on and tumbled from the wall. Curled up against the base, his eyes fierce, he gritted his teeth and fought back.

“Protect Xinghe—”

After Jian Xingyi fell, the zombies in the crevasse screamed and charged toward him. Instantly, the others formed a human wall, encircling him layer by layer.

Outside, the General abruptly halted his advance, seemingly locked in a struggle with Jian Xingyi.

“S-haaaaaah!”

His agonized scream echoed, instantly triggering a chorus of hoarse howls from the surrounding zombies. They surged forward with renewed fury, charging toward Jian Xingyi with a near-mad frenzy.

“Protect Xinghe!!”

“They absolutely cannot get through!”

Cola and Firelight instantly grasped the situation, rushing to the gate to block the zombies desperately trying to breach it.

Regardless of whether Jian Xingyi succeeded, he had successfully held off the General. The General stood frozen in place, emitting distorted screams. It was during this moment that everyone relentlessly aimed at the General’s armor, trying to shatter it.

Chaos reigned. The zombies raged like mad, and the survivors fought with bloodlust.

Jian Xingyi felt the surrounding screams, shrieks, and gunfire slowly fade into the distance.

His world grew increasingly quiet.

He seemed to be pulled into a spiritual realm.

He saw the General’s spiritual realm—a vast emptiness.

After all, these were mindless zombies—no soul, nothing at all.

Within it, Jian Xingyi sensed loneliness and emptiness.

He also saw his own mental realm.

From childhood to adolescence, he had transformed from a lively boy into a quiet teenager, then into a socially anxious adult.

His life was ordinary, mirroring that of most people: school, work, no social connections or family, no great joys or sorrows, and certainly no grand, passionate dreams. He maintained a proper distance from everyone, even the world itself.

—And thus, he had no weaknesses.

He could sense the other party’s intent to find that fragile corner of his spirit and shatter him there.

But Jian Xingyi was like a still pool of water. Water easily conforms, flows with the current, appearing infinitely soft—yet it can never be broken or shattered.

Tick.

As Jian Xingyi neared unconsciousness, he felt his mind growing increasingly relaxed.

He slowly opened his eyes, his vision gradually sharpening as the clamor around him returned.

He was shielded by layers of protection, while chaos raged outside.

Only then did Jian Xingyi realize his clothes were soaked through with cold sweat, droplets still hanging from his hair.

His legs felt weak, his entire body drained of strength.

But outside, the general—the zombie king—had stopped moving. He stood frozen in place, taking fire from the crowd.

Jian Xingyi whispered, “It worked.”

The Lone Wolf, standing beside him, heard Jian Xingyi’s words. His eyes widened as he shouted, “Success!! The General is under control!”

Hearing this, Cola and Firelight exchanged a glance before charging forward. They hurled their spears at the General from close range.

After several attempts, the General’s helmet was knocked off!

Jian Xingyi gasped, “Hurry! I can feel him resisting.”

His head began throbbing again.

The General was too high-level—a system-set boss, no less. The system itself likely hadn’t anticipated Jian Xingyi completing the management system to this extent, enabling such a daring maneuver. Controlling him was proving exceptionally difficult.

Lone Wolf nodded forcefully.

“Full firepower—!”

“The General’s control is time-limited. Hurry!!”

While Jian Xingyi battled the General, the others had already cleared most of the grunts. Now, leaving those to the cannons and tools, everyone focused their fire on the General.

【Guild 【Long Live for a Hundred Years】 Final Battle: General Kill Progress 20%…】

Perhaps sensing the General’s exposed health bar, the remaining zombies grew even more frenzied—like Cola and Firelight unleashing ultimate skills… though far more savage.

“Hold your ground—!”

Endless waves of Vanguard zombies violently smashed through the barriers.

One, two… three barriers shattered in an instant!

“Everyone, stay focused! Frontline, follow Cola to take down the boss! Backline, follow Lone Wolf and Firelight to protect Xinghe!”

【Guild 【Long Live for a Hundred Years】 Final Boss General Health 40%…】

The progress bar is too slow!

Everyone threw every usable item they had, fighting with every ounce of strength.

As if in a final burst of energy, all the zombies seemed to gain infinite strength in an instant, destroying every barrier.

【Guild 【Long Live for A Hundred Years】 Final Battle General Kill Progress 60%…】

With the barriers gone, the zombie tide pressed right up to the main gate, surging toward Jian Xingyi’s position.

Jian Xingyi leaned against the wall, dangerously close to the gate. The sight was terrifying—he felt like the zombies’ primary target now.

Seeing this, Lone Wolf hoisted Jian Xingyi like a sack of rice and carried him deeper into the guild’s territory—though still within the zombie tide’s reach.

Everyone else formed a tight circle around Lone Wolf and Jian Xingyi, blocking the undead from passing through.

【Guild 【Long Live for A Hundred Years】 Final Boss General Kill Progress: 80%…】

Perhaps sensing his impending demise, the General began struggling fiercely. Jian Xingyi felt he was losing control.

Only then did Jian Xingyi realize he was unconsciously clutching the koi necklace.

Subconsciously, he believed this necklace brought luck and strength, much like the Law of Attraction Shanhai firmly believed in.

True strength came from the inner core and self-belief; these tools were merely conduits.

Jian Xingyi gritted his teeth, stifling a cry.

The slow progress bar even made his head throb with irritation.

—An honest man’s rage is terrifying!

Jian Xingyi tapped Lone Wolf’s back, signaling him to set him down. With effort, he stood up, angrily hoisted his rifle, and joined the barrage of fire.

It hurt like hell, but it felt damn powerful!

Fuck! Fuck!

Lone Wolf: “……??”

Good grief.

Now, everyone was fighting without any coordination, hacking down charging grunts while simultaneously spraying bullets at the General.

【Guild 【Long Live for A Hundred Years】 Final Battle General Kill Progress 90%…】

【Guild 【Long Live for A Hundred Years】 Final Battle General Kill Progress 95%…】

【Guild 【Long Live for A Hundred Years】 Final Boss General Kill Progress 100%!】

The General let out a piercing howl before crashing to the ground with a thunderous thud, kicking up a cloud of dust.

In an instant, all the zombies vanished as if by magic. The thick fog dissipated, and the night faded away.

Everyone watched as the sky regained its blood-red hue, the view suddenly clear.

Many, unable to adjust to the sudden shift in light, immediately covered their eyes.

【Congratulations to Guild 【Long Live for A Hundred Years】 for successfully defeating 【General】, completing the Zombie Tide Feast quest, and passing the Corpse Tide Assessment. The Ark will now open for you!】

Jian Xingyi stood frozen in place.

Ah…

Is it over?

Just then, the system’s voice echoed in his mind—identical to the one that had previously notified him of unlocking the Merchant System.

【Congratulations, Player 【Xinghe】, on activating the 【Savior System】!】