Of course, now was not yet the time to enter the Seventh-Grade world.
Wei Huan had no desire to lose touch with the main human army. The problem was that his personal strength had become decoupled not only from the collective power of the human challengers but even from the elite vanguard; they were simply operating on two different levels. If he were to rush into the Seventh-Grade world before his power could completely suppress it, the outcome could be summarized by a single book title: 'If You Don't Know How to Lead a Team, You'll Work Yourself to Death.'
Instead of blindly charging upward, Wei Huan decided to remain in the Sixth-Grade world for an extended period to consolidate his strength and wait for the others to level up. He would wait until the Seventh-Grade world no longer posed a lethal threat before setting out.
In the third month, Captain Fang's Warrior and Prayer sequences both advanced to Grade 6, making him a formidable Knight. His "Guardian's Faith" granted him protection abilities many times stronger than before. Upon visiting him to offer congratulations, Wei Huan concluded that the garrison was now secure; as long as Captain Fang was there, humanity held an invincible foothold in the Sixth-Grade world.
Shortly after, Aglis advanced to Night Apostle. She could now borrow the power of the Vampire Progenitor, and her enhanced combat health-regeneration made her even harder to kill than Xu Qingqiang. Furthermore, the blood beads she condensed now possessed healing properties for Dark-attribute beings. Had Wei Huan possessed these beads back when he was injured, a few of them would have healed his face with ease. Naturally, these beads required the Apostle's energy and essence to create, making them rare and expensive.
To Wei Huan's slight frustration, he learned during a conversation with Yake that the latter already had a chest full of them. Since Yake had "fallen" into a Dark Elf, he now feared the Holy Light attribute and could consume the blood beads for recovery. Of course, if Wei Huan truly needed them, Aglis would provide.
By the fourth month, more people within Wei Huan's vehicle reached Grade 6. Other vehicles remained quiet by comparison, largely because the resources on Wei Huan's ship were superior; those living aboard trained two to three times faster than those outside. However, since the planting of the World Tree, the natural energy of the "Tree of Life" had begun to saturate the world, boosting everyone's cultivation speed. It wouldn't be long before humanity possessed a vast number of Grade 6 challengers.
In the fifth month, the initial construction of the base was complete. To celebrate, Wei Huan held a festival and designated the day as "Creation Day" for the Sixth-Grade world. He didn't know then if it was the name itself or his subsequent achievements that defied human cognition, but years later, "Creation Day," Wei Huan himself, and the circle of people around him would become legends, endowed with a mythical status equal to gods.
For now, Wei Huan simply wanted to celebrate a milestone. Everyone had been cooped up in their vehicles for too long. No matter how spacious a vehicle was, the psychological weight of being "on the road" remained. It was a human instinct to crave the stability of feet on solid ground and the scent of fresh air.
The celebration was lively, drawing out over 170,000 people. Friends reunited, strangers met, and many young men and women found the spark of a future during the festivities. Amidst the fireworks, a slightly tipsy Wei Huan found a moment to spirit Mu Zhong away to the treetop for some quiet.
They sat side-by-side just as they had on their first day there, gazing at the horizon. Above were endless fireworks; below, the distant echoes of music and laughter. Sharing a bottle of wine, a mellow Wei Huan found he had endless things to say. Usually a man of few words, Mu Zhong's love for conversation always brought out a different side of him. They spoke of the past, the future, the receding ocean, and the world hidden behind the grey sky.
When the wine reached its peak and their eyes met, they kissed. Since his scars had been healed, Wei Huan had become very fond of kissing Mu Zhong; where it had once been awkward, he could now be unrestrained in his affection. Mu Zhong matched his passion with a feverish intensity, his long, newly healed legs wrapping around Wei Huan like a serpent. Wei Huan often lost himself in Mu Zhong's embrace, forgetting where they were until Mu Zhong's breath became a series of broken, shallow gasps. Fortunately, the Undead Army was ever-vigilant; not even a fly could enter within a ten-mile radius.
Wei Huan cupped Mu Zhong's flushed face, getting lost in those watery eyes until his strings of logic snapped again, leaving his mind blank for a very long time.
---
After the celebration, reaching Grade 6 was no longer a rarity. Those who had made it this far were the best of humanity, and with the World Tree's blessing, breakthroughs became a frequent occurrence.
However, the biggest event of that month was the reopening of the Grade 5 and above Challenge Road. The brave souls of the human race once again tested themselves against the highway. Some climbed a step higher; others were buried forever in eternal darkness. Nearly 3,000 people died. The Dark Beasts had finally recovered from the heavy blow Wei Huan had dealt them and had dispatched special squads to interfere with the human trials.
Humanity's overall strength had now caught up to—and slightly surpassed—that of the Dark Beasts. They were no longer passive targets. In the trial worlds, human challengers traded blows with the Dark Beast squads, slaying many high-ranking enemies. The high death toll was primarily due to the trial's Commander-in-Chief, who had insisted on hunting the Final Boss and engaged in a brutal slaughter against the Dark Beast King. Strictly speaking, the battle was a victory: the Dark Beast King fled heavily wounded, and over ten thousand of its Dark Beast Lords were slain. With the rewards from the "Full Clear" chests, the kill-to-death ratio was actually a grand triumph by historical standards.
Unfortunately, with Wei Huan as the benchmark, this obsessed Commander was not hailed as a hero. Upon arriving in the Sixth-Grade world, he was sent back to Blue Star to face an inquiry. Wei Huan never met him.
As a new batch of challengers arrived, the Sixth-Grade world became even more bustling. It was during these days that the person Wei Huan anticipated most, Xu Qingqiang, finally advanced to Grade 6, becoming a [Great Demon].
The reason for Wei Huan's anticipation was simple: Xu Qingqiang possessed arguably the highest individual combat power among humans—perhaps even surpassing Wei Huan himself. He could maintain his "Bloodlust Blessing" indefinitely without worrying about the cooldown penalty by recovering his body through eating. With ten times the combat power, Wei Huan sometimes felt Xu was as strong as a god.
With Xu Qingqiang as the ultimate spear, Captain Xue as the ultimate shield, "Hammer's" subtle presence, Wei Huan's Undead Army, and Mu Zhong's blessings, the five of them formed the ultimate team. Wei Huan now felt confident enough to face Mofidi head-on. Sadly, he had explored three high-level ruins in this world and Mofidi had yet to appear. It seemed the God-Corpse was suppressing the passage, preventing Wei Huan from realizing his goal of active deicide.
The seventh month passed quietly. In the eighth month, Mu Zhong's [Driver Sequence] finally reached Grade 5: Mecha Technician, thanks to a mountain of resources. This was a monumental event for humanity; it meant they could finally mass-produce Grade 5 mechas.
Mass-producing Grade 5 mechas meant that in the Fifth-Grade world, humans could use AI systems for unmanned "swarm" attacks on low-level ruins and chests. If piloted by humans, the combat power was even higher. Humanity now even dared to open Platinum-grade chests in the Fifth-Grade world. High-level vehicles became more common. Wei Huan's vanguard legion alone now boasted eighty-seven Grade 6 vehicles and five Grade 7 vehicles, including his own.
Furthermore, Wei Huan was only missing the blueprint for a Grade 8 engine to upgrade his ship. After nine months of consolidation, he was firmly established in Grade 6, and his legion had grown immensely. He was simply waiting for that last blueprint before heading to the Seventh-Grade world.
Beyond the responsibility of exploration, Wei Huan had another reason to move: he intended to use the victory of the opening battle to visit the Dark Beast Plane again. He wanted to check on Mo Ji and, more importantly, it was time to "restock." While he had brought back much, the rapid technological development of Blue Star was consuming resources at an incredible rate. Previously, research institutes had been stingy; now, even newcomers entering the challenge world could get their hands on talismans and inscriptions. This consumption was a sign of healthy progress, not waste. Since the only known entrance to that plane was through the opening battle, he had to make his move then.
The plan was set: Clear high-level dungeons for the Grade 8 engine blueprint → Lead the legion through the Grade 7 Highway Trial → Win the opening battle → Enter the Dark Beast world to "restock."
Then, one day in the tenth month, as Wei Huan finished his cultivation and entered the bridge, he found Mu Zhong in a meeting. Seeing him, Mu Zhong's excitement was palpable: "The World Tree has touched the top."
After ten months, the World Tree had finally reached the "ceiling." It now possessed the true majesty of a world-spanning tree. Its leaves were as large as islands, its branches spanned thousands of miles, its crown was lost to sight, and its roots were a dense, massive network. From hundreds of miles away, one could see the titan standing upon the shimmering sea like a pillar holding up the heavens. The entire world was saturated with natural energy; a single breath felt like getting a day younger, and cultivation progress was lightning-fast.
However, Wei Huan and Mu Zhong were focused on something else: the "Iron Heart's" claim that the tree would be able to break world restrictions after absorbing the God-Corpse. Would this breakthrough be a silent transition, or a cataclysmic shattering of the sky? Fearing the worst, Mu Zhong had kept people watching it around the clock.
Now, the moment had arrived. Like the falling of the second shoe, Wei Huan felt a sense of relief before asking, "What's the situation?"
"The observation just came in," Mu Zhong said. "The leaves of the World Tree have made contact with the Grey Fog."
"The Grey Fog we can't enter?"
"Yes. It's as if a transparent glass dome separates us from the fog, but the leaves have ignored that dome entirely and poked straight into it."
"Has anything happened?"
"Nothing. That's the thing—it's as if the dome doesn't even exist."
"I'll go take a look."
"After the meeting?"
"Sure." Although he was anxious, he had to head up anyway.
The meeting was simplified and cut short. Wei Huan waited ten minutes for the internal affairs briefing to conclude. Faisal, now wearing a headcloth and holding a tablet, seemed fully acclimated to the Daxia way of working. Mu Zhong's cousin had arranged the observers, and since monitoring the tree was his primary task, several crew members were called to accompany them.
"Let's go," Mu Zhong said, packing his things.
As they left the bridge, a dark shadow whizzed past them, followed by Dou Lin's voice: "Whoops!"
Wei Huan grabbed Mu Zhong and pulled him back a step, narrowly avoiding a collision with a food cart. He frowned and looked at the flustered Dou Lin, who was frantically stopping the cart.
"Brother Huan, Brother Zhong," Dou Lin hopped off the cart, calling them "Brother"—a term he only used when he was acting spoiled or had made a mistake. Usually, he called them Commander or Leader.
Wei Huan's expression softened, his irritation fading.
Mu Zhong laughed. "What are you doing? Helping your Brother Liu Chengzhi deliver food? What's he so busy with that he gave the work to you?"
"Brother Liu Chengzhi heard Brother Huan came down and wanted to send the meal he saved for you, but he's a bit busy, so he sent me."
"What is it?" Mu Zhong walked over and lifted the lid, revealing perfectly roasted meat. He smiled at Wei Huan. "It's your favorite. Want to eat before we head out?"
Wei Huan wasn't particularly hungry, but Liu Chengzhi's barbecue was a favorite. The aroma hit him, and suddenly his appetite flared. "It's a long way up. Let's eat on the way."
Soon, "Dot Mom" appeared in the air, carrying the group toward the top of the World Tree. It wasn't Mu Zhong's first time seeing the Pseudo-God Dot Mom, but he still marveled at her. "Even though she hasn't changed much physically, that aura around her is completely different. She feels... strangely holy."
Wei Huan sat cross-legged on the shell, eating the barbecue Dou Lin handed him. Dou Lin was nine and a half now, but as a late bloomer, he looked more like a six or seven-year-old. Standing at 130cm, he was surprisingly adept at handling the food cart. Having followed Liu Chengzhi as an assistant for over a year, his cooking had even begun to grant minor attribute bonuses. If he were on any other ship, he would be treated like a precious treasure.
Watching the boy skillfully heat and serve the food was a pleasant sight. While a child his age should have been in school, he wasn't ordinary; no nine-year-old on Blue Star was a Grade 5 capable of punching down a building. Born in the challenge world and favored by its laws, he had been cultivating since birth. On Wei Huan's ship, it was only a matter of time before he reached Grade 6. Finding things for him to do was a better approach than trying to treat him as a child in need of constant protection.
Dou Lin, however, lacked the heavy awe others felt for Wei Huan. He was quite affectionate. Hearing Mu Zhong's comment, he chimed in, "Dot Mom is so cool! Is this the Pseudo-God grade? Is she a Divine Beast now?"
"Not quite a Divine Beast," Mu Zhong said, "but a Pseudo-God can pretty much walk sideways [do whatever they want] in this world."
"Dot Mom is super strong. With so many soldiers and the ability to fly and swim, she's definitely the boss of Brother Huan's army!"
"Yi~" Dot Mom let out a sound as if she understood, making Wei Huan smile. He stroked her shell. Once pure bone, it now felt like a rare material—both smooth and indestructible. In many ways, Dot Mom was now stronger than Wei Huan's current vehicle.
The journey to the top took over an hour, even at Dot Mom's speed. A protective bubble shielded them from the wind as branches and the coastline fell away below.
Finishing his meal, Wei Huan looked out at the sea. "Now that the tree has reached the top, the sea depth is likely at its limit."
"The water is about six hundred kilometers deep," Mu Zhong explained. "The top three hundred are the surface layer where we stay. The layer where the Plant Remnants lived is the inner layer. Most were absorbed by the tree, but some escaped, and new ones are growing from scattered seeds. It's still dangerous for ships below Grade 6. As for the God-Corpse... we can't see much change. The tree used the Heart of Life to root itself into the corpse, but the truth of what's happening inside will have to wait until you lead a team down there."
"I'll find time to go down and look in a few days," Wei Huan nodded.
"Brother Huan is the best! He can go where no one else can!" Dou Lin chirped.
Mu Zhong teased him, "You're usually like a mouse seeing a cat around him. Why are you so talkative today?"
Dou Lin rubbed his nose, leaving an oil stain. "I don't know... Brother Huan is just scary when he's in the ship."
"Scary?"
"Yeah. No one dares to talk when he's around, so I don't either."
Mu Zhong laughed. "But you're not afraid now that we're out?"
"Nope," Dou Lin said, looking between the two. "Away from the ship, when Brother Huan is with you, he smiles."
Wei Huan realized his lips had indeed been curved upward to the point of aching. The other crew members had a moment of realization; no wonder the atmosphere felt so relaxed. Then they wondered if they were intruding on the couple's "private world"—especially after the kid blurted it out. Would they be held in a grudge?
Mu Zhong laughed heartily. "Hear that? Don't keep such a stiff face all the time; you're scaring the kids."
"It's not fear!" Dou Lin corrected quickly, his "survival radar" pinging. "It's respect!"
"Well," Mu Zhong nodded, "you haven't been reading those books for nothing. Good use of vocabulary." Dou Lin beamed, showing off a row of white teeth; he hated studying, and he had only volunteered to deliver food to escape class.
As Mu Zhong teased the boy and Wei Huan watched with a smile, time slipped by. Finally, they reached the crown. Seen from afar, the canopy looked like a giant mushroom. The curved top wasn't particularly sharp, but because the world was blocked by an invisible barrier, the boundary was clear.
As soon as they arrived, Wei Huan's eyes locked onto it: the leaf that had ignored the restriction and grown directly into the Grey Fog.
"There it is," Mu Zhong said, pointing.
Wei Huan nodded, walked to the edge of Dot Mom's shell, and narrowed his eyes.