Having stayed for less than five minutes, Wei Huan and his team began their return journey. It wasn't until they reached the outskirts of the great mountains and found a level spot to rest that everyone finally relaxed.
Wei Huan had been sustaining Dot Mom's consumption the entire way; his Mana was down to one-third, though no one but Mu Zhong knew. He used his remaining energy to command the undead army to set up a perimeter. Once everything within a thirty-kilometer radius was occupied, his Mana hit rock bottom, yet he maintained a calm facade as he finally settled down to rest.
Mu Zhong whispered, "You okay?"
Wei Huan nodded. "I'm fine. My level is just a bit low; it'll be better once I reach Sequence 6."
"There's always a chance."
That night, as the three suns of the Dark Beast Plane set, a black mist crept in from the distance. Everyone ate Liu Chengzhi's barbecue and discussed their theories about what awaited them back home. In the dark of the night, no one noticed that after the black mist flowed past them, it drifted into the great mountains. The gale that had previously made progress impossible did not disperse the mist, for the wind had shifted—it was now blowing 'into' the mountains instead of out.
Had Wei Huan been at the furthest point he reached earlier that day, he would have seen the black mist gathering in the "Celestial Pillar" like an undissipating cloud until dawn, when it vanished entirely.
Moji was the only one who seemed uneasy, pacing and pawing the ground during the night. It couldn't pinpoint the source of its irritation, but it finally calmed down once the sun rose.
---
[Congratulations to the Hero Squad for completing the adventure in the Dark Beast Plane!]
[Reward: 1 "Hero Badge" for each team member.]
[Reward: 1 Platinum Treasure Chest, 5 Gold Treasure Chests, and 94 Silver Treasure Chests for the team.]
[The Space-Time Channel has closed. Countdown: 3... 2... 1!]
As the last word echoed, Wei Huan gripped Captain Fang tightly and checked the "Space-Time Ropes" coiled around every member.
The "Space-Time Rope" was an item provided by "Iron Heart." It was a specialized tool capable of transporting up to 300 kilograms per rope through a space-time channel without breaking. Although the main quest was marked as "Failed"—due to the unavoidable loss of some lives in the Dark Beast Plane—Iron Heart's logic determined that since the rescue was largely successful, the reward was warranted.
The transition through time and space was featureless, marked only by the sudden tightening of the ropes around their wrists. A blur of vision later, Wei Huan found himself back inside his war vehicle. Captain Fang and the others were there with them.
They were back!
The vehicle was just as they left it—a Sequence 6 fortress with a vast plaza and high-rise buildings, housing a community of a thousand people. Someone passing by froze in shock before shouting at the top of their lungs: "The Boss is back! They're back from the Dark Beast Plane! Everyone, come out!!"
Heads popped out of balcony windows. People didn't even wait for the elevators; they leaped from several stories up, landing lightly on the ground. Within moments, a crowd had gathered.
Even Elder Ju hurried over. As the crowd parted to make way, Wei Huan looked at the old man, still feeling the lingering unreality of the adventure.
Elder Ju stepped forward and patted Wei Huan's arm. Seeing the fatigue and daze in his star pupil's eyes, he said softly, "Alright, say nothing. Go upstairs and sleep. We'll talk when you wake up."
Wei Huan started to speak, but Elder Ju smiled. "Humanity has won, and you have returned. There are no emergencies—only the joy of victory. Stay steady. Don't let victory go to your head."
Wei Huan nodded. "Understood."
---
Wei Huan's room was on the top floor. He occupied half the area, with the other half split between his two deputy captains. However, Mu Zhong lived with him.
Walking into the room, Wei Huan saw his and Mu Zhong's personal belongings. The air smelled of home. He undressed as he walked and stepped into the bathroom. The AI butler, finally reconnected to a proper network, had already filled the circular, pool-like bath with perfectly tempered water.
He sat facing the window, water up to his chest. His wet hair clung to his scarred, ferocious face. He reached into his storage and pulled out a small object—the Hero Badge. It was about two centimeters in diameter, made of a material that reflected a sharp yet heavy light. The design featured black and white fish-like patterns resembling a Taiji diagram, with a 3D overlay of crossing blades and sparking embers.
A notification appeared:
[Hero Badge]
[Equip: +10% to all attributes]
[A blessing from the stars, a tribute to the brave.]
'Another 10% all-attribute boost,' Wei Huan thought. He liked the simplicity of high-level rewards in the Challenge World—no minor stat bloating, just pure, practical percentage increases.
"This attribute is great. It's a waste on a logistician like me," Mu Zhong's voice came from behind. Wei Huan turned to see Mu Zhong sitting cross-legged on the floor, still in his dust-covered gear. "I tried to gift it, but it's non-transferable. Only the hundred of us have them."
Mu Zhong smiled. "Are you forgetting something?"
Wei Huan looked confused. Perhaps the sudden relaxation had slowed his brain.
Mu Zhong chuckled and summoned a suitcase-sized, radiant Diamond Treasure Chest. The light danced off the water's surface, filling the room with brilliance.
Wei Huan remembered. Before the "Hero's Challenge," they had been the victors of the Opening Battle. Beyond the resources granted to humanity, the top warriors had received personal rewards. Mu Zhong, the second to enter the "Gate," got a Diamond Chest.
And Wei Huan, the first to enter, had received a Pseudo-God Grade chest. The highest grade ever seen.
Wei Huan opened his private space—now accessible again with the vehicle nearby—and pulled it out. Unexpectedly, the chest was small and modest. It was about the size of two palms, looking as though it were made of ancient parchment. The white leather had yellowed with age, but touching it sent a shiver down Wei Huan's spine. It felt as though he were facing a terrifying, ancient beast whose lingering pressure could still shake the world.
Compared to this tiny box, even the dazzling Diamond Chest felt insignificant.
"Don't open it yet," Mu Zhong said. "I want to see if we can trigger a Class Training Ground."
"Unlikely," Wei Huan noted. "These are Opening Battle rewards. Diamond chests usually don't drop Training Grounds."
"Still, we have to try. Which training ground do you want next?"
Wei Huan pondered. 'Dancer', 'Gambler', and 'Wise Man' were missing. 'Dancer' was vital for Mu Zhong to boost his blessings, but 'Gambler' and 'Wise Man' were mainstream combat classes.
---
Mu Zhong eventually joined him in the water. His newly grown legs were long, straight, and healthy—seamlessly integrated with his body's energy.
"Why did Elder Ju make us rest first?" Wei Huan asked, feeling a bit "tipsy" from the cozy atmosphere.
"To let the news settle," Mu Zhong said, moving closer. "The crew will talk. Good news, bad news—it gives everyone time to adapt. Elder Ju wanted the 'bullet to fly for a while.' It's a level of calm control I need to learn."
Their conversation drifted as the steam rose, and for a while, the loot was forgotten.
---
Two hours later, unable to stay idle, they sat cross-legged on the bed with the chests between them.
"This Pseudo-God chest must be opened by you," Mu Zhong insisted. "We can't risk its potential unique rewards. I'll open the Diamond one. It was my reward, and I have a sequence—Dancer—that hasn't been trained yet. As a frontline team, it's only right we arm ourselves first."
Wei Huan smiled and nodded. "Your chest, your rules."
Mu Zhong tapped the Diamond Chest. Light flooded the room.
[Obtained: Diamond Grade Mana Potion x1]
[Obtained: Diamond Grade Wisdom Helmet x1]
[Obtained: Diamond Grade Wisdom Cloak x1]
[Obtained: Vehicle Engine Upgrade Blueprint (VIII) x1]
[Obtained: Vehicle Chassis Blueprint (VIII) x1]
...
They shared a look of slight disappointment. No Training Ground. It confirmed their theory: these weren't unique enough rewards. Still, the loot was massive.
"A cloak? That's a first," Mu Zhong noted.
He pulled the Diamond Grade Wisdom Cloak from the warehouse. Unlike other gear, it didn't just sit in his hands; it floated in mid-air. It was deep blue, resembling heavy silk that shimmered darkly. Four stars glittered on the collar like actual starlight.
The cloak hovered before Mu Zhong as if "inspecting" him. Mu Zhong, having just bathed and only partially covered by a quilt, awkwardly pulled the blanket up a bit.
Suddenly, a black iron rod swept over his head. The cloak was gone, hooked by the tip of the rod and pulled toward Wei Huan.
Wei Huan's Ring of Mofidi was nearly complete. He had three fragments. The artifact now resembled a classic "Reaper's Scythe." The first fragment was the indestructible rod; the second was the chain wrapped around it; and the third was the blade itself—a meter-long, terrifyingly sharp crescent that sent a chill through the room.
The scythe's blade was now hooked into the floating cloak, pulling it close for inspection.