"The Marshal's Wife is the Real Big Shot" by Qiong Ming [Completed + Extras]

Synopsis: ... (The synopsis is not provided in the original content.)

The title of this piece is renamed to "The Marshal's Lady: The True Powerhouse". It's an era where humans compete with flora and fauna for living spaces; a time when mystical energies reawaken and ancient martial arts reign supreme.

It's also an era where technology changes fate. Zhou You spent a decade in secluded meditation within a cave, avoiding the initial chaos of the apocalypse. When he finally emerged, he joined a group of refugees heading north, witnessing a transformed world and the struggles of humanity. "Did that newbie in today's group get killed?" "No, boss. Not only did he survive, he saved everyone!" In this post-apocalyptic world, the strong rule and everyone aspires to reach the realm of the martial god. No one expected the pinnacle of humanity's strength to be represented by this seemingly frail fugitive.

Chapter 001: Emergence

A booming noise erupted from within a mountain, causing the entire mountain to tremble. Birds and animals fled in panic, while some small creatures close to the cave entrance were knocked unconscious by the force.

The boulder blocking the cave entrance exploded outwards, and a silhouette dashed out, swiftly ascending to the mountain's peak.

The figure landed with a thud, cracking the ground beneath. His legs sank deep into the earth, and a radiant golden glow lingered around him before revealing a nearly naked human.

He slowly opened his eyes, beams of light shooting from them, accurately striking a tree trunk ahead. The large tree, thick enough for five men to embrace, was cut in half, crashing to the ground.

Zhou You blinked rapidly, trying to adjust his vision. The scene before him gradually came into focus – a lush forest, with towering trees that seemed to touch the sky.

He looked down at his feet and forcefully pulled them out of the ground. With a powerful motion, he unleashed a palm strike, obliterating all vegetation in a ten-meter radius.

Zhou You gazed at his hand in amazement. "Wow! So, breaking through the fifth level of the 'Taiyi Heart Sutra' is this powerful? Ten years of secluded cultivation in this mountain was worth it. If only I had the sequel to the scripture; I could have completed all nine levels and become invincible!"

Zhou You stretched, his bones making a crackling sound. He let out a jubilant howl, and the surrounding animals responded in kind, their calls echoing far and wide, making him burst into laughter.

"It's been ten years; I wonder what has become of Earth." Zhou You had been forced to seek refuge in the mountain. A fortunate discovery of a cultivation manual in his backpack had become his salvation. Yet, the increasing number of ferocious beasts outside the cave made it impossible for him to leave the mountain.

His decade of seclusion made him wonder how much the world had changed after a deadly virus had swept the globe, leading to global chaos and countless deaths.

His homeland, **, had been the last to be embroiled in warfare. He had once been assigned a covert mission to capture spies in the south, but it went awry. Now, he pondered the fate of his nation.

He quickly climbed a tall tree, and upon reaching its top, was greeted by an endless expanse of green mountains.

"What happened? I don't remember so many mountains surrounding this one. Wasn't there a town nearby?" He scanned the horizon, but there was no sign of civilization. "This doesn't make sense; I didn't travel that far."

His senses, now heightened, allowed him to perceive the minutest of details in the distance, but he couldn't detect any human activity.

"Did I travel through time? Or has the apocalypse led to human extinction?" The mere thought of the latter left Zhou You paralyzed with fear.

"No, that can't be. Humans are resilient; a mere virus wouldn't annihilate our species. Perhaps geographical changes have rendered this area uninhabited."

A gust of cold wind reminded Zhou You of his tattered clothes. He needed to find a settlement soon or risk becoming a savage.

A sharp bird cry interrupted his thoughts. Looking up, he saw a colossal white bird with a wingspan of ten meters, its blood-red eyes locked onto him.

"Holy crap! Since when did birds grow this big?" Just moments ago, he was marveling at his own prowess. But now, a gust from the bird's wing knocked him off his perch.

The bird dived towards him. Zhou You, undeterred, snapped a long tree branch and swung it at the creature, only to watch in disbelief as the bird's feathers effortlessly sliced the branch into fragments.

"Damn! What kind of bird has steel feathers?" He weaved through the dense forest, grateful for the trees that hindered the bird's speed. Yet, its path of destruction was evident.

"This can't continue. Other predators might be lurking, and if they join the hunt, I'm done for." It was time to put his decade of cultivation to the test.

Zhou You halted, turning back and taking a deep breath, "Come on, let's see who's truly the stronger one!"

With a swift movement, he spread his hands wide, golden light emanating from his palms. Broken wood and stones on the ground began levitating, hurtling towards the giant bird like a storm.

The massive bird let out a strange cry, flapping its wings a few times. A gust of wind repelled most of the assault, while its sharp talons destroyed the remnants.