Since there was no immediate progress, Wei Huan ordered the fleet to halt and set up camp. He dispersed his entire undead army to remain vigilant within a 60-kilometer radius. Xu Qingqiang and Captain Xue each led a fleet in different directions to clear out Dark Beast territories, uprooting any cities that could pose even a slight threat.
By the end of the afternoon, not a single royal city remained within a hundred-mile radius. Wei Huan waited for their return, handed over the sentry duties to them, and entered the Job Temple.
Perhaps due to the intensity of recent battles, or because the effects of his previous enlightenment had not yet faded, Wei Huan's strength improved daily. This forced him to carve out time during marches to absorb these new changes. Usually, he only entered the temple after the entire army had settled for a long rest. Entering now, with an ongoing mission and the potential for sudden variables, was a first for him.
From within his commander's cabin, Wei Huan arrived in the depths of the Great Tomb. The surroundings had become exceptionally bright. Over the past few days, he had captured many more Hidden Demons; he now held 704 of them. This had expanded his vision significantly, nearly matching the distance his physical eyes could reach under normal conditions.
This expanded range left the Hidden Demons with nowhere to hide. No matter how fast they were, once Wei Huan spotted them, escape was impossible. Additionally, he had encountered five Thought-Parasite Beasts during this period.
The Thought-Parasite Beast was a life form of higher intelligence. Compared to the Hidden Demons, who preferred training muscles and throwing punches, the Thought-Parasite Beasts were clever, thinking creatures. On several occasions, Wei Huan had spotted one, but as he moved to capture it, the creature would command Hidden Demons to distract him, then vanish and possess the furthest-fleeing Hidden Demon to escape. The five he had captured so far all had weak spiritual consciousness, appearing as if they had only recently died. He couldn't even touch the crafty, veteran ones.
Conversely, Wei Huan didn't mind meeting powerful Thought-Parasite Beasts. Everything has pros and cons. While they were too smart to be easily subdued, they would trick the foolish Hidden Demons into "gifting" themselves to Wei Huan just to secure their own escape, which saved him a great deal of time searching for recruits.
However, Wei Huan hadn't come to the Great Tomb today to recruit undead. Upon arrival, he immediately summoned Dot Mom and looked her over.
Dot Mom was on the verge of advancing. She was moving from an Epic Hero to a Legendary Hero.
For a long time, Dot Mom's advancement progress had been ahead of Big Bear's, and she had remained in the late Epic stage for a significant period. Just as she was about to break through, the Burrow Beast branch of the Great Tomb had run dry. Dot Mom, a classic "Zerg-style civilization" that relied on consuming and converting Burrow Beasts to dominate them, found her level stuck without a supply of conversion material. That was when Big Bear overtook her.
But Wei Huan had not given up on her. Lacking the shortcut of consumption, he still held the status of a Psychic. As a Psychic, his consciousness could enter the depths of an undead's soul for targeted cultivation. Though this method was slower and could only handle a few individuals at a time, it wasn't limited by external conditions. Even without Burrow Beasts, Dot Mom was finally ready to advance.
She had contacted Wei Huan right when the breakthrough began, but since Xu Qingqiang and the others hadn't returned and Wei Huan was on duty, he had to wait. Now that the fleet was secure, he returned to the tomb and summoned her.
The moment she appeared, Wei Huan froze. He stared at the Dot Mom floating before him. She was smaller than the palm of his hand, jellyfish-like in shape, with bubbles surrounding her body. She looked rounded, soft, and utterly harmless.
'Where is my mighty, domineering Dot Mom?'
'What happened to the plan of growing to a thousand meters after the next advancement?'
'My main damage dealer turned into a pet—what is this?!'
Wei Huan suppressed a surge of irritation and forced himself to stay calm, silently watching Dot Mom as she trembled in his hand. As a summoned creature whose life and death rested on Wei Huan's whim, she could never escape his control, no matter how advanced her evolution. Wei Huan was like "Heaven" to her; even without him saying a word, his displeased gaze felt like a terrifying divine wrath. More importantly, this fear wasn't just a fear of death; it was a higher-level soul suppression.
Without a word spoken, Dot Mom understood what her master wanted to see. She hurried away from him. As she moved further out, her size began to grow. She quickly surpassed her original size and kept growing.
Wei Huan tilted his head back as far as it would go, looking up at a leg that resembled a pillar reaching into the sky. His expression instantly softened into satisfaction. It seemed he had misunderstood her new ability. Thinking it through, this ability was actually better than simple, fixed enlargement.
At the Epic level, Dot Mom gained the ability to fly, giving her faster mobility in the sea. Now, at the Legendary level, she possessed size control. Her smallest form was the egg-sized version he first saw, while her largest...
Wei Huan squinted. Her maximum size seemed twice that of a Dark Beast royal's Primordial Spirit—a true behemoth that cast a shadow over the world, bringing endless intimidation.
Wei Huan was extremely satisfied with this evolution. Over the next period, he studied her changes and reached several conclusions.
Currently, her maximum height was not the estimated two thousand meters, but actually three thousand. In other words, she had grown ten times her original height. Her shrinking ability was limited to that egg-sized form. Within that range, she could change size at will. However, larger forms consumed more energy, while the small form saved it.
When Dot Mom grew, she consumed Wei Huan's energy. At maximum size, Wei Huan lost about 1,000 Underworld Power per minute. With his current stats, she could only maintain that form for about 17 minutes.
Interestingly, when Dot Mom was not actively cultivating her "arsenal" and stayed in her smallest state, she actually increased Wei Huan's Underworld Power recovery speed. Although it only added 30%, when combined with his Diamond Robe's 100% bonus, he reached a 130% recovery rate. In simple terms, he could now summon 30 Hidden Demons per day.
Essentially, Dot Mom now has three states:
1. Pet State: No combat power, but boosts owner attributes.
2. Combat State: Enlarged form. Consumes 1,000 Underworld Power per minute. Lasts 17 minutes.
3. Regular Combat State: Maintains a 300-meter height and releases massive numbers of the Burrow Beast branch as before. As the "Queen," she has absolute control over her swarm. In this state, she fights independently, neither consuming nor aiding the recovery of Wei Huan's energy.
Furthermore, her swarm had also advanced along with her. First was "Doggo," who went from a Facehugger to a Burrow Beast and now to a Burrow Beast Queen. Doggo had also become a 300-meter tall undead. Since she could consume other Burrow Beasts, she now had her own swarm and could recruit and train ordinary Burrow Beasts and Facehuggers.
Then there were the "grandchild" generation. Much like Doggo's previous evolution, they had grown from tiny Facehuggers into 10-meter-tall Burrow Beasts, with abdominal cavities capable of releasing large numbers of Facehuggers.
At this point, Wei Huan understood: there was only one Elite for each stage of the Burrow Beast branch. Clearly, this Elite was the "Princess" or "Royalty" who would eventually become the controller of that lineage, passing it down through generations.
Fascinatingly, Wei Huan currently lacked Burrow Beasts. Not only had Dot Mom not "eaten her fill" (having been upgraded by his skill instead), but the new Queen Doggo and the grandchild generation were all "generals without soldiers," with no tribesmen to recruit.
To Wei Huan's surprise, after the grandchild generation evolved, although they couldn't recruit subordinates yet, a tiny, pale pink Facehugger crawled out of its abdomen. Seeing its unique color and sharp wit, there was no doubt—it was the Elite of this generation, the future Queen.
What to call it? Wei Huan looked at its pink body and named it: Great-Grandchild. It was easier to remember that way.
Success brings a refreshed spirit. In a great mood, Wei Huan had the royal Burrow Beast line stand in a row. With a thought, Dot Mom—who was already small—ordered the others to shrink. 'Zip, zip, zip.' The entire royal line shrank down, lining up before him like a set of Matryoshka dolls.
Dot Mom's evolutionary path clearly influenced the entire swarm. Last time it was flight; this time it was size manipulation. This was a highly promising and potentially powerful lineage. The only regret was that, aside from Dot Mom, the other royals did not have the ability to recover Underworld Power. Other than standing in a row on Wei Huan's shoulder to look cute, they provided him no tangible benefit.
Wei Huan was a pragmatist. Under the "devastation" of the Challenge World, what little romance he had left was reserved for Mu Zhong. In his eyes, there was only "good" and "bad," and that included his undead army. Once he realized the shrinking ability of the others did nothing for him, he stopped being curious and shifted his focus.
Since he was already here, he naturally had to recruit his daily quota of Hidden Demons before leaving.
However, as he looked toward the distance, he realized his vision had broadened again. He seemed to be able to see the "horizon." This wasn't the end of the world, but the furthest point a human eye could reach—that limit of sensitivity to light reflection, like seeing starlight in a dark sky.
In data terms: where Wei Huan could previously see five or six miles, he could now see over ten. His microscopic vision had also expanded to about a thousand meters. By seeing further and perceiving more, his strength had experienced a massive surge following Dot Mom's advancement.
Wei Huan narrowed his eyes, realizing he had been neglecting a fundamental point. Cultivation was indeed about refining oneself and improving one's professional abilities. A Summoner's ability was to train summons; his was to train the undead. Previously, the changes felt subtle. When not in the Great Tomb, he judged his strength through the data glasses or the size of his army.
But now, even without the aid of his undead, he could perceive every movement within a two-kilometer radius with minute detail. It was almost like the legendary Divine Sense being projected outward.
This change immediately made his recruitment of Hidden Demons more efficient. Soon, after consuming most of his Underworld Power while leaving a reserve for emergencies, Wei Huan emerged from the Job Temple.
Back in the commander's cabin, Wei Huan leaned back in his seat. Mu Zhong, who had remained on the line, noticed the moment he opened his eyes. "That fast?"
Wei Huan sat up and explained his changes in detail to Mu Zhong while reaching for food and tea behind him without looking. He sipped the tea to soothe the fatigue of cultivation. After draining the cup, he suddenly stared at the teacup in his hand and froze.
Mu Zhong explained, "Liu Chengzhi asked me about you, so he changed your tea to a hot one and brought some food. He wondered if he shouldn't disturb you. Next time..."
"No," Wei Huan said, closing his eyes. His expression shifted. "Mu Zhong, I think I've developed Divine Sense."
"Divine Sense?" Mu Zhong reacted quickly. Combining Wei Huan's odd behavior with their previous theories on Challenger evolution, he grasped the meaning. "You can see your surroundings without using your eyes? At what distance?"
"About one meter. It's... slightly longer than my arm's reach," Wei Huan said, extending his arm.
"So the next stage of cultivation is indeed the refinement of the soul?"
"It seems so. We've had many lucky encounters, so our speed is very fast. I seem to have reached the very front and seen a path others haven't."
"Let me help you confirm. Wait." Mu Zhong turned away. The person he intended to ask was actually Xia Yu.
In terms of pure cultivation realm, Xia Yu was likely number one on their vehicle. She had immense talent and possessed wings after awakening as a Petitioner—a natural angel. If not for the world level cap, her speed would be even higher. Even without resources, she had touched the threshold of Sequence 6 in a year. Now on Wei Huan's vehicle, with abundant resources and the Sequence 6 potion ready, she would theoretically be the first Sequence 6 human. Of course, Wei Huan was now catching up.
Mu Zhong consulted Xia Yu while Wei Huan carefully felt out his new ability. The sensation wasn't entirely foreign; it was similar to projecting his vision through the Eye Demon Lord. That was why he hadn't noticed the anomaly initially.
When the Eye Demon Lord reached the Hero level, it could see from all angles and perceive sound, temperature, and light. Now an Epic Hero, its vision was all-pervasive, possessing "X-ray" capabilities. Of course, Wei Huan didn't think his own Divine Sense was inferior. Borrowing an Eye Demon's vision and mastering it personally were two different things.
His Divine Sense was now like breathing—perceiving everything within a meter at all times. His powerful mind could process complex environments far better than through a summon. There might be times he lacked energy to summon an undead, but as long as he could breathe, this Divine Sense would exist.
Furthermore, this ability would surely improve. As his vision in the Great Tomb expanded to 3,000, 5,000, or 10,000 meters, his real-world projection would grow to 3, 5, or 10 meters. Sooner or later, covering an entire city with his mind wouldn't be impossible.
At this moment, Wei Huan truly felt his "transcendence." It wasn't just about strength, agility, or professional skills; he was starting to transcend the limitations of the human flesh to cultivate a core energy. One day, even if his body died, he might remain alive—spiritually immortal. It was a tempting thought; no one can resist the allure of longevity.
Later, Wei Huan connected with Xia Yu. She said: "Yes. Not long ago, while I was treating Commander Mu's legs, I hit a bottleneck. Once I pushed through, I found my perception of my surroundings became acute. But it's different from yours. I can't precisely perceive every slight change around me, but when my hands touch any life form, my Divine Sense can follow my will to travel through all their meridians and vessels, even exploring their psyche. I used this to completely cure Commander Mu's headaches. His spirit was damaged; before this, I wouldn't have been able to heal him."
Wei Huan nodded. It seemed each profession's ability manifested differently, but projecting Divine Sense was their common ground. He had previously thought Sequence 6 might grant a giant form like the Dark Beast royals. It turned out it wasn't just about getting bigger—though Wei Huan actually 'could' get bigger through Dot Mom and Doggo, who were no weaker than the Dark Beast Primordial Spirits.
Moreover, Wei Huan truly believed that aside from being more intimidating, giant forms had limited practical strength. In his eyes, the Undead Calamity could easily swallow a Dark Beast royal. He could likely take on three to five royals alone without much issue.
After the talk with Xia Yu, Wei Huan and Mu Zhong decided to pass this news to Commander Dong. Dong took it very seriously, speaking with Wei Huan for a long time to confirm every detail before leaving.
The night was uneventful. Wei Huan waited for Captain Fang, remaining camped and using his undead to monitor the Dark Beast base from afar.
The sky brightened at exactly 6:00 AM. Unlike the Level 6 deep sea, the battlefield at night was pitch black, with only Level 6 headlights able to pierce the gloom. But the battlefield had a "daytime." During the day, the seafloor felt like a shallow sea; light penetrated from above, refracting through the currents to create a dreamlike radiance.
By daybreak, Wei Huan had finished breakfast. Knowing Captain Fang wouldn't arrive until noon, he checked his replenished Underworld Power and visited the Job Temple again.
Whether it was his broader vision or just good luck, he encountered six Thought-Parasite Beasts in short order. The first was a cunning veteran; upon seeing Wei Huan approaching, it fled from a mile away. When it saw him in hot pursuit, it drove a circle of Hidden Demons toward him. Wei Huan, intending to recruit in bulk anyway, took the bait and let the beast escape.
After recruiting four foolish Hidden Demons, Wei Huan sat on Doggo's back with Dot Mom in pet mode on his shoulder. He traveled another three miles and spotted another Thought-Parasite Beast. He tried the same tactic, waiting for it to drive Hidden Demons toward him, but the creature just stood there stupidly even when he was within 300 meters.
Needless to say, this one was likely "freshly dead." Whether it was a Hidden Demon or a Thought-Parasite Beast, both were upgrades for Wei Huan. Anyone was fine as long as they could be recruited.
Wei Huan suddenly accelerated. Before the target could react, he plunged a Soul Spike into its consciousness, expertly igniting its soul fire. With his increased strength, the speed of igniting a Thought-Parasite's fire was many times faster.
Once the recruitment was complete, Wei Huan immediately tossed the newcomer to his first-recruited Thought-Parasite Beast to be consumed. That first beast, having now consumed four others, had a body of "smoke" that was significantly denser than before. Under Wei Huan's microscopic vision, it was clear that the "smoke" consisted of soul threads churning and disappearing into a different space.
These soul threads were what made its body dense and larger. Fed by Wei Huan, its strength grew, and it easily devoured the newcomer. After a surge of black mist and the addition of more soul threads, it calmed down.
Wei Huan knew that for every beast it consumed, his own attributes would increase slightly more when in its protection state. Even if a Summoner didn't usually fight in close quarters, every bit of strength counted.