He Has Arrived!

January 22.

The seventh day of the Joint Operation.

"It's over." Wang Ye stood on a boulder halfway up the mountain, watching the distant sunset.

"Mm." Yu Shuiqin, whose hand Wang Ye held, looked at his profile, a hint of sweetness rising in her heart.

Ever since they had faced life and death together at Dragon King Mountain two days ago, their relationship had made Rapid Progress, and feelings had quietly blossomed between them.

"How is Zi Rui recovering now?" Wang Ye asked.

"He can already get out of bed." Yu Shuiqin smiled. "Song Shuyi has been staying with him in the Medical Room these past two days, never leaving his side for a moment."

"That's good." Wang Ye held back a laugh.

He could roughly imagine that delightful scene.

"Look, this is a photo he sent this afternoon." Yu Shuiqin opened the photo album on her watch. Wang Ye leaned over and took a closer look.

Good lord, he was staying in a premium private room all by himself!

Neatly dressed and graceful as ever, he looked just like usual, with a smile still on his face.

Living quite the good life, huh?

I'll add a little something to his plate.

"This guy values women over friends. He only sent me one message, saying something like, 'Great kindness needs no words of thanks.'" Wang Ye opened his Wilderness Watch.

He activated the delayed photo function. Three-second countdown.

He raised his left hand, wrapped his right arm around Yu Shuiqin beside him, pressed his cheek against her soft, rosy face, and flashed a V sign.

Save and send, all in one smooth motion.

He turned slightly and looked into Yu Shuiqin's eyes. Her little face had been dyed red by the sunset.

Yu Shuiqin shyly lowered her head a little, her cheeks flushed as her heart pounded. Her slender fingers rubbed nervously against one another.

Still so fragrant.

Wang Ye tilted his head and gently kissed her soft, sweet Cherry Lips.

Beneath the sunset, their silhouettes overlapped.

Eastern Base City.

Private Hospital, premium ward.

"No, really, there's no need. Thank you." Huang Zirui maintained a polite smile as he gently declined every suggestion Song Shuyi made.

He was about to go insane!

Together twenty-four hours a day!

Though he was deeply moved by Song Shuyi's feelings, he appreciated the thought.

He really did.

Suddenly, his watch vibrated faintly.

"Wang Ye?" Huang Zirui smiled when he saw who had sent the message.

His lifesaver.

He did not even know how he could repay Wang Ye.

According to Xiao Qin, he had been at death's door then. The Serpent Scale Blood Devil had been preparing to strike him down and kill him.

Luckily, Wang Ye had braved the danger and charged in alone.

Wang Ye was Huang Zirui's lifelong best friend!

"Once we meet again—"

Huang Zirui opened the message and looked at the scenic photo Wang Ye had sent. His eyes widened in an instant, and he completely lost control of his expression.

Three seconds later.

"NO!!!"

Huang Zirui's miserable howl rang out from the premium ward.

"What happened? What happened?" Song Shuyi rushed over in a panic.

Wu Yi County, Bai Mu Township.

Wang Ye and Yu Shuiqin returned to the assembly point.

They could originally have returned with the team two days ago.

But Wang Ye had insisted on completing the search-and-rescue mission, and Yu Shuiqin had stayed behind as well.

The two of them smoothly finished the search-and-rescue tasks that Huang Zirui and Song Shuyi had left incomplete.

"Hiss!"

A pitch-black mid-level ferocious monster suddenly shot out from the ruins ahead.

Wang Ye did not slow down.

The Crimson Sun Battle Blade left its sheath, and a flash of cold light streaked through the air.

Slash!

It was killed in an instant.

Killed Second Order Rat Monster.

Potential Point: 5→5.

The gains had been enormous.

If the mission had not been complete, Wang Ye would have wanted to stay a few more days.

Especially in the mountains outside the village, where there were many Nightmare-level Monsters.

After completing the mission that afternoon, he and Yu Shuiqin had hunted in the mountains. In a single day, they had earned more than 100 Potential Points.

Once they returned to the Base City, Potential Points would not be so easy to earn.

Still, it was about enough.

He had obtained two fruits at Dragon King Mountain. Especially with the Awakening Fruit, the path for him to break through to Intermediate Evolver had already been paved.

If nothing unexpected happened, on the next mission after the holiday—

He would advance to Intermediate Evolver!

And become the captain of the West 101 Rescue Team!

*

*

The Joint Operation had ended!

On the morning of the eighth day, the captains of the Four Camps officially announced the successful completion of the Rescue Teams' first mission.

Wave after wave of gazes fell upon West Camp.

Although East Camp ranked first in terms of search-and-rescue missions alone.

But...

There was simply no comparison!

West Camp had directly smashed a Devil-Human Organization stronghold and seized thirteen crates of equipment and weapons...

That was ridiculous!

It was equivalent to independently completing a Devil Extermination Mission!

And all of this had been done by just one newcomer!

Even the captain had not taken part.

"Wang Ye, we'll compete again next time!" Wei Shengtian of East Camp stared intently at Wang Ye, pride in his eyes as he muttered quietly, "This time, I only ran into a Nightmare-level Monster..."

He had faced a Nightmare-level Monster one-on-one and had not been at a disadvantage!

He had only lost to Wang Ye because of bad luck. He had not encountered any devil-humans.

That was all.

Wang Ye merely smiled.

"Team Leader Tong, you really are enviable." Team Leader Chen of South Camp bid farewell to Tong Wu.

He glanced at Wang Ye, smiling on the surface while sighing inwardly.

If he had a team member like that, it would be a real honor.

"Not bad. He only killed twenty-five devil-humans and two intermediate Blood Devils, that's all." Tong Wu's expression remained blank, but every word rang with force.

The Rescue Team members from the other three camps all widened their eyes.

No way?

That many!

And two intermediate Blood Devils!?

The captains had not revealed much before. They had all thought there had only been some low-level devil-humans...

This was far too outrageous!

Wei Shengtian stood dazed for a moment, thinking he had misheard. He stared blankly at Wang Ye. "Y-you killed them all?"

Those were intermediate Blood Devils, stronger even than Nightmare-level Monsters!

How had he killed them?

And there had been two of them!

"Mm." Wang Ye did not explain much.

From beginning to end, Wei Shengtian had been the only one treating him as a rival...

Why bother?

After bidding everyone farewell, Wang Ye and Yu Shuiqin got into an off-road vehicle.

The engine roared, dust billowed behind them, and they sped away.

Captain Ma Junjie adjusted his sunglasses and patted Wei Shengtian on the shoulder. "Convinced now?"

"I—" Wei Shengtian's face reddened.

"There are always greater heavens beyond heaven, and greater people beyond people. You may be East Camp's best, but there are plenty with more talent and who work harder than you. Remember: do not grow arrogant in victory, and do not lose heart in defeat. An Evolver's road is long." Ma Junjie gave Wei Shengtian a reminder.

"Yes, Captain!" Wei Shengtian was greatly encouraged and nodded heavily. "I'm not convinced!"

"I'll make up for losing the Joint Operation very soon!"

Wei Shengtian's eyes brimmed with confidence. "At most one month, and I'll become the first Intermediate Evolver of the 101st Class!"

Ma Junjie was very satisfied. "Good. Get in the car."

Eastern Base City, Evolution Camp Headquarters.

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

Urgent footsteps approached as the monitoring room's doors were shoved open.

The Chief and East Camp Leader entered.

Numerous staff members hurriedly rose to their feet, their faces tense and fearful.

The air was suffocating.

"Enlarge the screen." East Camp Leader gave the order.

"Yes!"

The radar display was instantly magnified.

A point of light marked with the number "9" could clearly be seen in the ocean. It was slowly leaving Island Country and entering open waters, heading directly toward—

Eastern Base City!

"It's here. It still came..." the Chief murmured.

Cosmic Monster No. 9!

That Giant Turtle closest to China, as large as an island!

He had arrived!

One of the terrifying Ten Cosmic Monsters.

Wherever they went, all living things suffered. No Base City could escape unscathed.

"What is its speed? Approximately how long until it reaches Eastern Base City?" East Camp Leader asked gravely.

"Its top speed exceeds one hundred kilometers per hour, but it seems to tire easily. It keeps stopping and moving, and its speed generally does not exceed thirty." A staff member said, "Camp Leader, look. It has stopped again."

On the screen, Cosmic Monster No. 9 had stopped on the sea's surface, seemingly dozing off.

"Based on the current data, Cosmic Monster No. 9 will take roughly three to seven days to reach China." East Camp Leader made a calm assessment. "It may simply be passing through and might not necessarily attack Eastern Base City."

"At the beginning of the Great Disaster, Cosmic Monster Number 3 also circled outside China before leaving."

"No matter what, begin arranging partial evacuations." The Chief gave the order. "Continue monitoring subsequent developments and report at all times. We'll decide on specific countermeasures after Headquarters finishes its meeting!"

"Yes, Chief!"

The prelude to the Earth Chapter had officially begun.

The protagonist would soon become an Intermediate Evolver and take part in it.

This book's pace will be very fast. The Earth Chapter will be around 540,000 words. The outline and structure have already been laid out, and I hope to present everyone with an exciting story.

Of course, you horny fellows can look forward to something too.

Lastly, brothers, make sure to keep reading! The third round is coming soon!

(End of Chapter)