The cameras had long since turned away, focusing on the performances rather than filming Wei Huan. Consequently, the public remained unaware that Wei Huan had spent almost the entire time meeting with the commanders of various legions instead of watching the show.
Aosam's Josh Meyer was among those who came. Even though Wei Huan had recently caused a major upheaval in Aosam and occupied the vital Starlight Building—the "heart" of their nation—the shifting times left Aosam no room for petty grievances. They had to adjust their mindset rapidly to keep up with the global trend.
Unexpectedly, the cameras, which had been avoiding Wei Huan, suddenly cut away from the performers and broadcast a scene of Josh Meyer and Wei Huan shaking hands, signaling a formal reconciliation and the end of their past enmity.
When Josh Meyer learned of this later, he gave a bitter smile and told his subordinates, "Ensure the security for our return is airtight. Domestic affairs will likely be turbulent for a while, but there's no need to be angry; it's normal. If we can't handle this level of chaos, we deserve to be phased out by the era. By the way, the Xu father and son managed to escape despite the combined search efforts of General Wei and our many Challengers. We are responsible for this failure; we must think carefully about how to resolve it. It's alright—we've weathered great storms before; the future won't be worse."
On another front, Liu Chengzhi also received word that the Xus had escaped strict surveillance. Their beacons were under heavy management now, so it was certain that once they entered the Challenge World this time, they wouldn't be coming back. Returning to Blue Star would mean facing life in prison. In the vast Challenge World, despite the dangers, they could live with relative ease as long as they possessed strength.
Liu Chengzhi gritted his teeth. "The truth behind my uncle's 'accidental' death hasn't been uncovered yet. It's a fact that Xu Man tried to eliminate me. Don't let me find word of them in the Challenge World; even if I have to reach the Sequence 9 world, I will return to make them pay!"
When Grandma Liu wasn't speaking, she didn't look kind at all. As the female CEO of the Xinggang Group, her reputation in the industry was worlds apart from the way she treated her grandson. She never uttered nonsense like "forgive and forget" to Liu Chengzhi. All three of her children were dead, leaving only one grandson by her side. Xu Man knew she was alone and still struck at her grandson; this blood feud was as vast as the heavens.
"Exactly," Grandma Liu said. "The reason we strive to improve ourselves is to control our destiny. If one has strength but doesn't seek revenge, why bother going through all this?"
"I know, Grandma," Liu Chengzhi nodded. For once, a hint of killing intent appeared on his Maitreya-like face.
---
After the commissioning ceremony, Wei Huan rested on Blue Star for three more days. However, it wasn't really "rest" because he spent the entire time in meetings. He dedicated significant time to the legion commanders from various countries he had only briefly met at the ceremony.
Wei Huan scheduled his meeting with the Aosam generals for the final day. This wasn't a slight; diplomats had pre-verified the schedule, explaining that both sides needed preparation time. While other national generals might only get thirty minutes, the Aosam generals were allotted three hours, or even half a day. It was a sign of special importance. Aosam's overall strength was not weak, and they had contributed much to the front lines against the Dark Beasts. This was a gesture of respect toward a major power—and a "sweet date" following the "stick" he had used recently.
Josh Meyer brought his key subordinates to meet Wei Huan that morning. Aside from routine topics, Meyer brought specific intelligence.
"...Danton's true identity is Shi Hengjun. This is the latest news I obtained from the Hodgson family's classified intelligence. Shi Hengjun didn't die in that explosion. He awakened a special constitution called the 'Agony Demon,' which allowed him to narrowly escape death during the Colossus Trial, even significantly boosting his strength. The Hodgson family named it; essentially, he feeds his soul's demon through pain, despair, and anger to gain power and enhanced regeneration. Reports show he can survive being flayed alive or disemboweled. His legs even regrew because of the power he gained from being buried alive. However, it is said his reproductive organs never regenerated."
Meyer paused. Truthfully, he'd rather keep his "two ounces of meat" than have the legs. This Shi Hengjun lived a miserable life; even if pain made him stronger, living in constant agony was a fate worse than death.
"He wants revenge?" Wei Huan frowned. He was surprised Shi Hengjun was still alive. No wonder Danton had always felt strange to him.
Meyer continued without concealment: "It's less that he wants revenge and more that the Hodgsons forced him to maintain that hatred. I have another file detailing the psychological control exerted on him by therapists, hypnotists, and actors."
Wei Huan raised an eyebrow. He felt a flicker of sympathy for the man who had become a total puppet. Living every day in such pain under someone else's control was probably worse than dying in the original blast.
This intel wasn't strictly useful to Wei Huan's safety—Danton could never get close enough to hurt him—but it did remind him of the "Life Fruits" Shi Hengjun might still have. Those were great items for Mu Zhong's cultivation.
"If there is any news of Shi Hengjun, please contact me," Wei Huan said.
"Of course. We are tracking him. He was serving Hodgson alongside the Xus and recently gained some merit on the Great Battlefield. Hodgson planned to use that merit to promote them, but now that the family has fallen, he has nowhere to go but back to the Challenge World. Unlike the Xus, our reports show Shi Hengjun has an obsession with reviving the Shi Heng family. It's one of the few pursuits in his agonizing life. We suspect he will try to contact the remaining Shi Heng youth. A new batch of youngsters will enter the Challenge World in less than half a month; a few Shi Heng stragglers are set to take the trial. That will be our breakthrough."
Meyer added, "If you trust us, we will follow up on this. We guarantee to bring Shi Hengjun before you within a month."
Wei Huan replied, "If you find him, just resolve it directly. However, I need the Life Fruits he carries. Bring those to me; I don't need anything else."
---
The tension between the two sides smoothed over during these talks. Wei Huan also signaled his friendship: he wouldn't hog the mountain of resources he brought back. By allowing Aosam their fair share as a major power, he let them feel they still had a place by his side.
A few days later, Wei Huan spent a final half-day with Mu Zhong and his family, wrapping dumplings for a fragrant dinner. During the meal, he received a notification from the Challenge World.
[Challenge Carnival rewards are being issued. Congratulations, you have won 1st Place. Reward: One Diamond Treasure Chest.]
Simultaneously, every Challenger on Earth received a global announcement. Wei Huan took 1st, Xu Qingqiang took 2nd, and Xue Ming took 3rd. The top eight spots were all held by members of Wei Huan's vehicle. Captain Fang, who had held the top spot for two years, dropped to 9th.
The Carnival was an annual ranking based on combat power, vehicle performance, points, and "lifestyle" stats. With nearly 300 main combatants who were each "Captain-level" in their own right, Wei Huan's vehicle was an anomaly.
Wei Huan had told his logistics team to leave some spots for others, so they only optimized the rankings for a few core elites. They had even sent resources to Captain Fang, who should have taken 2nd, but Fang had declined to use them. "An empty ranking isn't as good as the actual rewards," Fang had said. "Xu Qingqiang and the others put their lives on the line against the Dark Beasts; they deserve the ranking. Whether I'm 4th or 10th makes no difference to me."
As Wei Huan looked at his phone, Mu Dehao laughed. "Too bad Diamond Chests can't be opened on Blue Star, otherwise I'd love to feel what one feels like."
"You're coming to the Sequence 6 world with Captain Fang, aren't you?" Wei Huan said. "You can open one on the vehicle."
The conversation turned to the upcoming rookie trials. "This year's rookies have it easy," Mu Dehao noted. "The survival rate will likely exceed 95% because of the resources Daxia is providing. We might even have geniuses opening Silver Chests right out of the gate."
Wei Huan remained silent, thinking of future talents. In this new era he created, "old" legends like Captain Fang, Yake, and the "Calamity Star" Jiang Yue were still shining brightly. Newcomers would have to work incredibly hard to stand out in their shadows.
---
After dinner, Wei Huan and Mu Zhong helped wash the dishes. When little Mu Xi yawned, they knew it was time to go. Zhou Xian adjusted their uniforms with a lingering gaze. "Don't worry about home. Xixi will miss you, so come back often."
Wei Huan, Mu Zhong, and Mu Dehao set out into the city night. "It's strange," Mu Zhong mused. "The cities in the Challenge World have high-tech cyber styles, yet I still crave this mundane peace of Blue Star."
"That's why some places are foreign lands, and some are home," Mu Dehao smiled.
They returned to the Azure Dragon Legion base. It was bustling; everyone was awake, chatting and sparring before the 6:00 AM return deadline. Wei Huan noticed Old Ma and Xu Qingqiang crouching by a flowerbed, sharing a smoke amidst blooming autumn chrysanthemums.
Mu Dehao mentioned he would eventually send Old Ma over to Wei Huan's vehicle once it upgraded. "A man with talent should move up. I won't hinder his future just for my convenience."
Mu Zhong turned to Wei Huan. "We only need the Sequence 7 windshield blueprint to upgrade the vehicle."
Mu Dehao shook his head. "I've asked around; no one on Blue Star has that blueprint. We'll have to see if anyone pulls it from the Carnival chests."
Just then, Xu Qingqiang saw them and waved from a distance. "Boss! I pulled a blueprint!"
Mu Zhong's eyes lit up. "The Sequence 7 windshield?"
"Yep!" Xu Qingqiang grinned. "I went back to the vehicle to open my chest as soon as I got it. I remembered we needed that. What's my reward?"
"Top merit! Ask for whatever you want!" Mu Zhong cheered, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Wei Huan.
Mu Dehao laughed. "Good luck—even the heavens are on your side! A Sequence 7 vehicle... that means a capacity of 10,000 people. Every nation is going to break their heads trying to squeeze in."
Wei Huan replied, "We'll allocate spots based on contributions over the last eight years. My current thousand crew members won't count against the quota."
"So, 9,000 spots to release?" Mu Dehao's eyes curved with a smile. "This is a big job, but a lucrative one. I'll coordinate with Commanders Chai and Dong."
Wei Huan smiled. "I'll leave it to you then. Once I upgrade the vehicle, I'm planning an underwater exploration. I might not have much time to focus on the logistics here."
"Of course. You and I have different responsibilities," Mu Dehao said. "Just keep me updated on your thoughts."
With the support of the Mu family, Wei Huan felt his path becoming smoother than ever.