Including Mu Zhong, Wei Huan brought over seven hundred people back to the Tier 5 world this time, all of whom were primary combatants.
The lineup consisted of 200 Martial Kings, 200 Demon Apostles, 50 Stack-Explosion specialists, 50 Angels, and 200 combined long-range units. Wei Huan also brought Yake and Liu Chengzhi, as well as Ding Qi and the twins. Although the latter group had not yet reached the strength required to hold a position alone, they were not lacking; more importantly, they were veteran crew members and ship elites whose presence was necessary for this mission.
Among the older members, only Mu's cousin and the veterans were not brought along, as they weren't needed for active warfare. Additionally, given Mu's cousin's recurring headaches, it was time to give him a vacation.
The grand procession of seven hundred people emerged from the war vehicle and sat directly upon the carapaces of the Burrow Beasts.
Melee units formed an outer ring, long-range units formed an inner ring, and at the very center, guarded by all, was the "Mother" Burrow Beast ridden by Wei Huan, which also carried Mu Zhong, Liu Chengzhi, and others.
Ten teleportation portals opened behind Wei Huan, and the undead army fanned out toward the horizon, the furthest reaching a full 30 kilometers away. Within the formation were the Two-Headed Phantom Demons, capable of flight and moving with extreme speed. After several days of recruitment, Wei Huan's army of Phantom Demons had reached three hundred, finally beginning to take on a significant scale.
"Let's go."
Wei Huan issued the command, and his portable system delivered his voice into the ears of every crew member. As Wei Huan moved forward, this airtight undead formation floated through the deep sea, carrying over seven hundred people across the teleportation point.
They had returned from the Tier 6 world.
They were back in the Tier 5 world: The Archipelago.
Returning from the oppressive, freezing seabed to the open sky, almost everyone squinted, their faces displaying expressions of comfort.
"This is way too comfortable."
"This is a place for humans to stay."
"Damn, I was about to develop deep-sea phobia staying down there."
"There's no World Tree in the Tier 6 world; no one should damn well go there. It's too much torture."
Discussions broke out among the ranks; everyone's posture was relaxed. Returning from a higher-tier world to a lower one gave one a sensation akin to a divine descent. It was as if they were looking down upon this world; their taut nerves relaxed completely, and naturally, they began to laugh and joke, their eyes bright with a newfound high spirit.
This feeling was most profound for those who had come to receive them.
Captain Zhou had taken on this reception mission. To make room for Wei Huan and his people, he had driven 25 war vehicles over. Twenty-five Tier 5 war vehicles constituted significant combat power in this world; Silver-tier chests could be opened at will, and even Gold-tier chests containing Remnants were worth a try.
Appearing together in one place, those uniform war vehicles bearing the emblem of the Daxia Azure Dragon Army would cause anyone who saw them to look up in awe, unable to hide the envy in their eyes. Even when they had first departed from the city, they could not help but feel a few sparks of secret pride in their hearts.
Yet here, seeing this group of people returning from the Tier 6 world with their own eyes, that hidden sliver of pride was shattered. Even though they had met frequently not long ago, at this moment, looking at the swarming, flying Ghost Crows, the occasional flash of Two-Headed Phantom Demons, and their comrades treading on the carapaces of Burrow Beasts, they still felt a sense of deep shock and a desire to look up in reverence.
Captain Zhou felt a bit of envy. When Wei Huan's vehicle had originally expanded its recruitment, he could have boarded that vessel with just a word. However, at that time, Commander Mu needed people by his side, so he chose to stay. Now, seeing many former comrades among this group—some crouching, some standing, all with proud postures—Captain Zhou felt somewhat depressed and regretful.
As Captain Zhou gathered his emotions, the undead army and the Burrow Beasts carrying the personnel parted to both sides. The massive Burrow Beast known as "Dot Mom" slowly came to the front, carrying Wei Huan and the others.
Looking at the man on the carapace, Captain Zhou felt an inexplicable trepidation, feeling even more nervous than when he saw Commander Mu. He cleared his throat, rehearsing the sentence in his mind several times before he dared to speak: "Reporting to Colonel Mu! Zhou An of the Azure Dragon Pioneer Army, leading the fleet for the reception and escort mission, reports for duty!"
Wei Huan nodded and returned the salute. "Thank you for the hard work. Time is tight; proceed with boarding according to your arrangements."
"Yes, sir!"
With the Opening Battle imminent, every second spent fighting for Diamond Chests was precious. Opening them even a moment earlier might allow more Prayers to improve. The importance of healers went without saying; they could even play a role in reversing the situation on the battlefield.
Wei Huan said no more and waited until all crew members had separated and boarded the war vehicles. Only then did he have "Dot Mom" deliver their group into Captain Zhou's vehicle.
Captain Zhou's vehicle was a Tier 5 vehicle, capable of holding only one hundred people. To guarantee combat power during the journey, 70 combat personnel remained on board. This was precisely why they needed to drive 25 war vehicles.
Captain Zhou cleared out the Deputy Captain's quarters for Wei Huan and Mu Zhong to stay in. Wei Huan did not go up, instead asking, "May I go to the cockpit?"
Captain Zhou nodded. "Of course, you're welcome to visit."
Wei Huan said, "It's not for a visit. Captain Zhou should know my habits; we can't just travel on the return journey. We shouldn't miss the chests we ought to open, as it won't cause any delay."
"Uh, of course, of course. Certainly."
Captain Zhou was stunned for a moment but hurriedly agreed, a look of joy already appearing in his eyes. If chests were opened on his vehicle, the resources would go directly into his warehouse. Even if they had to be handed over eventually, being in a favored position meant he could keep an eye on any good items in advance.
Wei Huan went to the cockpit while Mu Zhong remained in the plaza, maintaining links with the various war vehicles and settling the crew.
Liu Chengzhi rolled up his sleeves and smiled. "I'm going to the kitchen."
Xu Qingqiang had also boarded this vehicle; hearing this, he lit a cigarette and followed him to the kitchen. Dou Lin fell a step behind, jogging to overtake Xu Qingqiang to walk beside Liu Chengzhi—he was, after all, the assistant to Head Chef Liu.
The remaining crew members went to their assigned rooms but quickly returned to the plaza to begin today's training. Away from their own vehicle, they no longer had the buff of the World Tree, so the melee units practiced physical conditioning while the long-range units also had tasks to attend to.
They were exceptional not merely because the resources on Wei Huan's vehicle were good, but because they were inherently exceptional and thus qualified to step onto Wei Huan's vehicle in the first place. Relentless effort was merely the most basic of their qualities.
While Wei Huan's crew "grinded" on the ship, Wei Huan continued to release his undead army, continuing to "plow" the ground to open chests along the route. Why not take advantage of a "zero-dollar shopping" opportunity? Could anyone ever have too many resources?
Wei Huan's war vehicle was hidden in the void, and being in a different world, the Challenge World defaulted to the vehicle he was currently in as the warehouse. When he opened chests, Captain Zhou stood beside him the whole time, unwilling to move even a step. The resources appearing incessantly on the screen left him dazzled, his heart thumping like thunder.
'This, this, this—this is just too satisfying.'
For dinner, Captain Zhou organized a small reception banquet on the ship. When they spoke of the day's harvest, he described it as nothing short of a dream. Wei Huan's crew members expressed that it was merely "standard operation," though their fluttering eyebrows could not hide their pride and self-satisfaction.
After dinner, Wei Huan did not go to the cockpit but returned to the room prepared for him. However, he did not retract the undead plowing the fields outside; they continued their search and escort missions.
Through long and constant persistence, Wei Huan was now able to maintain the summoning and continuous control of his undead even while sleeping or entering the Profession Temple to rest. This was not originally an ability of a Gravedigger, but because the need existed, he had unconsciously trained himself to do it.
Of course, during the rest and cultivation phases, he could only let the Ghost Crows open chests. The war vehicles also had to maintain a rapid pace to avoid being surrounded by beast tides. Real combat still required Wei Huan to be awake to deploy his forces.
At six o'clock, the Challenge World turned dark right on time. There was no transition from day to night; it was like a light being switched off in a sealed room—pitch black, where one couldn't see their own hand.
The convoy of 25 vehicles raced across the sea. Even if they encountered islands ahead, they chose to drive straight through them under Wei Huan's orders. Speed was the priority above all else.
The passing war vehicles caused a commotion among the bird flocks inhabiting the islands. The kings led their kin to chase the vehicles until they left their alert range, at which point they were forced to return. Looking back at their homes, they saw that the Gold Chests that had refreshed near their nests were gone. Knowing that chest monsters were relentless, the kings finally closed their eyes in satisfaction.
At eleven o'clock, Captain Zhou watched the two Gold-tier monsters pursuing relentlessly behind the vehicle. The tension in his heart never let up, and naturally, he couldn't sleep. The 70 crew members he had brought were also acting as if facing a great enemy, almost all at their posts and ready for battle at a moment's notice.
In contrast, the people Wei Huan had brought mostly returned to their rooms to eat and sleep as usual. Captain Zhou looked at the quiet upper deck and gave a bitter, secret smile. 'Is this the gap in experience? In an environment where we are being hunted by monsters, how can they sleep?'
Mu Zhong indeed did not sleep.
He had Captain Zhou arrange for him and Wei Huan to share a room. While Wei Huan cultivated, he stayed by his side, slowly refining the natural energy within his body. It was, after all, a wartime state; one could not relax completely.
Sitting cross-legged by the bed, Mu Zhong finished today's refinement; the mass of Natural Fruit in his body had diminished by another sliver. The energy of this fruit was incredibly potent. With his current strength, it would likely take about a year to refine just one, and he had three more in his possession. They should be enough to help him cultivate the Dancer sequence to Sequence 7.
Mu Zhong remembered there were a few more Natural Fruits in the hands of a demon named Denton, but unfortunately, with his death, those fruits were left entirely in the Assessment World. He didn't know the exact total, but if he could get them all, it might not take him to the final Sequence 9 of the Dancer path, but reaching Sequence 8 would certainly be no problem.
Mu Zhong let his thoughts wander for a while. Seeing it was still early before Wei Huan finished his cultivation, he entered a meditative state again to continue refining the fruit. In this state, he could be woken at any time, and he was the only one who could wake Wei Huan.
Before closing his eyes, he took another look at Wei Huan. Then, the room fell silent once more.
---
At this moment, Wei Huan was inside the Great Tomb world.
His vision was now very broad. The 303 Two-Headed Phantom Demons provided him with a visual range of 1,200 meters, the Siphon Beasts provided 1,000 meters, and combined with his recent cultivation, his vision exceeded 3,000 meters. If it weren't for the mass of blackness beyond 3,000 meters, his vision would already be at the limit of what a normal human could see—and they wouldn't see it with such crystal clarity as he did.
Such a visual range made it increasingly easy for him to track the movements of Two-Headed Phantom Demons. Every day, he could recruit them to his full quota, send them to the Undead Pasture for enhancement, and they could become combat-effective additions to his undead army by the next day.
The Two-Headed Phantom Demons were exceptionally useful, partially solving Wei Huan's problem of lacking heavy assault forces. Furthermore, since there were no other undead he could currently recruit within the Great Tomb, he would be focusing on them for a long time to come.
The time for the Opening Battle was not far off. With his daily full-quota recruitment, he could still enlist about 200 more. To Wei Huan, this number still felt a bit low, but there was nothing to be done; not everything could proceed according to his own pace.
After completing today's recruitment, Wei Huan cultivated within the Great Tomb, absorbing the dark energy obtained through enlightenment to rapidly improve himself. When the time was up, he was ejected from the Great Tomb, his nether power having recovered by half.
Sensing his condition, Wei Huan sat up from the bed. As soon as he sat up, Mu Zhong opened his eyes and looked over, smiling. "Awake? Want to rest a bit or do it now? There are quite a few monsters following us, and two Gold-tiers have gathered."
Wei Huan gathered his senses and said, "Now. We'll sleep after the fight."
"Alright."
Mu Zhong's message was finally sent out.
Captain Zhou, who had been guarding the Captain's room without daring to close his eyes once, let out a long sigh of relief. Finally, they could clear out the things following behind. If they were surrounded by these monsters, even a hundred of his own vehicles couldn't escape; the vehicles would be smashed to pieces at will. How could he possibly relax?
Wei Huan's undead were deployed, launching a slaughter in the dark of night. The squads on duty charged out to hasten the end of the battle.
Xu Qingqiang was the most active with his Convict Brigade. Such moments of beast tide slaughter were the best opportunities to raise the Prison's level, and for the convicts, it was also feeding time.
Bloody flowers splashed in the night, and horrific screams echoed incessantly. The battle occurring in the deepest darkness could no longer be seen with the naked eye, but everyone knew what was happening in those depths; after all, they had seen several such battles during the day.
'There are two Gold-tier monsters this time; I wonder how long it will take?' Someone thought, waiting anxiously. Although they believed Wei Huan had the strength to resolve it, it was inevitable to feel a bit worried before it was actually finished.
In about ten minutes, the last bound resource was unbound. The challengers returned to the vehicle, carrying the scent of blood and an uncooled murderous aura. Only then were the undead pulled into the void by invisible hands to return to the Great Tomb.
Outside the vehicle, only the "caw, caw" of the Ghost Crows remained, sounding like a funeral dirge for the dead.
The convoy soon set off again. The corpses littering the ground were reclaimed by the Challenge World; not a single drop of blood remained on the former battlefield. Captain Zhou glanced back into the depths of darkness once more and let out a long sigh of relief. Now, he could finally fall asleep.
After ending his communication with Mu Zhong via video link, Captain Zhou arranged the night shift personnel and went back to his room to wash up. Just as he stepped out of the bathroom, the AI butler's voice spoke from above: "Captain, Platinum-tier equipment was just obtained within the vehicle. Shall I notify the crew to prepare for battle? Shall I notify Captain Wei?"
Captain Zhou blinked. This—this—opening a Platinum chest was a good thing! But... he looked down at the water droplets on his body and sighed secretly. He grabbed the clothes he had just taken off and hurried toward the door, saying to the butler, "Contact Captain Mu and tell him the situation!"
He couldn't reach Mu Zhong, so he contacted Wei Huan directly. It was currently Mu Zhong's time to enter the Profession Temple; it was Wei Huan's turn for a light sleep and duty. Back when their strength was insufficient, they worked in shifts like this, and even now on a mission, they hadn't truly relaxed as others assumed. Basic vigilance and professional ethics were still necessary.
Wei Huan did not leave Mu Zhong's side. He directly summoned his undead army, and the off-duty crew members quickly moved into position. Xu Qingqiang set out once more with his Convict Brigade.
This battle did not last long either, ending in less than half an hour. The Platinum chest monster was a Deceiver Remnant; its primary feature was a massive main body. Once its trickery was seen through, killing it wasn't difficult—it was just a matter of grinding down its health. Fortunately, with 25 war vehicles and Wei Huan's 300 Two-Headed Phantom Demons, the weakness of lacking their own vehicle was compensated for.
The battle ended smoothly. Captain Zhou looked at the set of Platinum-tier resources and the Sequence 6 full-vehicle upgrade core material that had appeared in the warehouse, and he fell silent for a long time.
It was... truly a bit too easy. 'Maybe I shouldn't sleep today. I'll stay on guard and see if we can open more good things. This is damn well addictive!'
There was a knock on the cockpit door. Captain Zhou turned to see the tall and sturdy Liu Chengzhi pushing a dining cart inside. He said with a smile, "Captain Zhou, it's me. This mission is too urgent, and traveling through the night is hard work for you and the brothers. I made some late-night snacks to thank you and the brothers on duty."
"You're too kind; this is our duty," Captain Zhou said. He did not refuse Liu Chengzhi's kindness. Everyone knew that the food made by the chef on Wei Huan's ship provided attribute bonuses when eaten. Who wouldn't want free attributes? Even a little bit more was still more!
Liu Chengzhi didn't just provide snacks for the lead vehicle; he sent some to the other vehicles as well. Before boarding, Wei Huan had placed several Small Kobolds in each vehicle, allowing them to travel between the vehicles without stopping, even while moving.
After finishing his rounds, Liu Chengzhi completed his work and happily went back to his room to sleep. He had little combat power, but helping the Boss with these trivial matters was no problem. Of course, his own brothers required special care. On his way back, Liu Chengzhi made a detour to Xu Qingqiang's room. Seeing Xu Qingqiang picking his teeth, he asked, "Strong Brother, are you full? I have plenty left."
Xu Qingqiang didn't speak, answering him only with a loud burp.
---
The days passed one by one on the return journey. Mu Dehao would send a report regarding the military preparations for the humans' Opening Battle, striving to keep Wei Huan informed of every detail. During the journey, Wei Huan was either cultivating or killing monsters.
The warehouse on Captain Zhou's vehicle had been cleared once already, the items sent ahead to the battlefield to give the participating challengers time to adapt. Mu Dehao had also sent the full-vehicle upgrade core materials dropped from the Platinum chest to the battlefield. While logistical development was important, the battlefield was the key to deciding the victory. At a time like this, all good things had to be sent to the front; arming one more vehicle could save 100 lives and push the battle toward victory.
On the fourth day before the Opening Battle, the war vehicle Wei Huan was on finally arrived at its destination.
It was the site of the Diamond Chest that had recently refreshed at the Great Bear Nation station. The area was already crowded with vehicles. The Great Bear Nation had surrounded the area with three layers of vehicles, only allowing some "journalist vehicles" from other countries to enter.
Since the items refreshed at the Great Bear station, they belonged to them. However, because Daxia had the ability to solo the chest, they were qualified to share the resources with the Great Bear Nation. Other countries knew they couldn't compete, but they were curious about the development process. Each country was given ten journalist slots to watch this "Battle of the Diamond" up close.
The last time Wei Huan opened a Tier 5 Diamond Chest, it had taken three days and nights. If not for the distraction of Five-Star Island, he would have been discovered long ago. Later, Wei Huan proposed a deterrence strategy and announced his actions in developing Diamond Chests. Although various nations wanted to watch, the distance was usually too great to make it in time. This time, the Great Bear Nation opening up seats for journalists was considered a contribution to all countries; watching a high-level battle always provided some experience that would be useful sooner or later.
Wei Huan met with the leader of the Great Bear Nation's operation via video link on the vehicle. He was a man with a full beard, appearing to be over 50 years old. He was reportedly a commander from the north of the Great Bear Nation and was currently the commander-in-chief of their pioneering efforts in the Challenge World. This status was one level higher than Mu Dehao.
Daxia had never established such a position, primarily because no one person had the ability to lead the entire army. Whether in the Challenge World or on the Great Battlefield, Daxia was the nation with the most people and the strongest combat power. This force was too large for any one person to handle, so it was better to manage it through four separate legions directly following the state's dispatch. Therefore, in terms of sheer power held, Mu Dehao was only slightly below this Great Bear Commander-in-Chief.
Now that Wei Huan had arrived, that slight gap was bridged. Mu Dehao's war vehicle converged with Wei Huan's a thousand miles away, and they arrived here together. After brief pleasantries, the remaining coordination work was left to Mu Dehao.
Soon, both sides dispatched their respective Prayer squads. Triggering the Prayer Profession Training Ground was the result they had collectively decided upon. But who would get it depended on their own skill.
The contract signed beforehand stated clearly: each side would send 20 Prayers to compete for the Profession Training Ground. The party that obtained the Training Ground would voluntarily forfeit other item drops and would unconditionally grant the other party priority use of 1/3 of the Training Ground at a discounted rate. There were also divisions and cooperation regarding Blue Star resources. Since Daxia and the Great Bear Nation had long been strategic allies, the entire negotiation process was very smooth.
The only uncertainty now was which country the Profession Training Ground would fall into. It was a matter of luck combined with competition. As soon as the Prayers appeared, the entire field fell silent. Even Mu Dehao and the Great Bear Commander-in-Chief stopped talking and looked over nervously.
This was a Diamond Chest. It shimmered with a dreamlike light, resting quietly on the beach. It seemed to have been washed up by the night's waves, tilted with half of it buried in the sand and half exposed.
The Diamond Chest was slightly smaller than a Silver Chest, but the details were entirely different. One looked mass-produced, while the other looked like it had been meticulously crafted by a god. Upon close inspection, it bore intricate and complex patterns. The waves crashed incessantly, washing over the chest again and again.
This island station was not large—certainly not large enough to hold the body of a Diamond-tier Deceiver Remnant. In their experience, the body of such a creature would cover at least a hundred miles. Consequently, ordinary guards and non-essential personnel had been cleared from the island; only the war vehicles about to participate remained.
The combined force of Daxia and Great Bear totaled a full 300 war vehicles parked there, aiming to complete the kill as quickly as possible. The twenty Prayers from each side stood in two groups on the coastline a hundred meters from the chest. They were all hand-picked challengers; even though they were of healing classes, they were full of spirit and fighting intent.
There were both men and women, with the slots almost split down the middle. Wei Huan noticed that the ages of the candidates were specially arranged, ranging from 20 to over 55, for fear that this assessment might have some specific requirement. They stood at the starting line in two rows, remaining motionless from the moment they arrived, waiting in silence.
The Great Bear Commander-in-Chief said, "Colonel Wei, it's up to you now."
Wei Huan nodded.