Chapter Summaries

Lu PingAn assessed why Xia Qin’s group had failed the Explorer Examination and watched the results reveal how few candidates had passed. With the Land of Twilight expedition approaching, he tried to recruit promising candidates using his Ship Tickets, but his contacts had not yet committed.

• Lu PingAn concluded that Su Zhizhu and Ba Manzhen had faced unusually hostile assessments because of their backgrounds and perceived unreliability.
• Lu PingAn watched a report announce that fewer than five percent of applicants had passed, including 42,315 candidates from Chang Ping State Prefecture.
• Lu PingAn spent three days gathering intelligence and recruiting Explorers, but his youth and lack of reputation made recruitment difficult.
• Lu PingAn invited Su Zhizhu’s group to join an expedition to the Land of Twilight and offered to reserve Ship Tickets until next Friday.
• Lu PingAn noted that the first ship would leave on the fourth of next month, leaving his group little time to prepare, and pressed Senior Sister Hua to accept his offer.

Knight Captain Catherine T. Dora worried about the Long Night, rising Doomsday cults, and strange outsiders disrupting Schlei Territory as she prepared to patrol the northern district. Lu PingAn reviewed information about Valastarod, the world his group had chosen for their Ship Tickets, and learned that its Sun God had defected and taken its sun.

• Catherine recorded the Long Night's effects and noted that Doomsday cultists were appearing throughout Schlei Territory.
• Catherine reflected on the lord's lenient treatment of the cultists and the outsiders who aided commoners and slaves.
• After hearing the Beast Tide outside, Catherine armored herself and decided to inspect the northern district on patrol.
• Lu PingAn read the official information about Valastarod, also called the Silent Mountain Range or Land of Twilight.
• Lu PingAn learned that four of Valastarod's seven major gods had defected, one had died in battle, and the Sun God had taken the world's sun.

Lu PingAn recruited Hua Xueyi to bring Mutants into his Courtyard as workers and began negotiating with Fang Wen for her help setting up production. Fang Wen demanded a future divine position in exchange for her service, prompting Big Cat to accuse her of betrayal.

• Lu PingAn offered Hua Xueyi a secret long-term job and residence in his mobile Demi-Plane, with opportunities for Mutants to become Professionals.
• Hua Xueyi agreed to recruit an initial group of dozens to a hundred people, provided Lu PingAn supplied advance funds.
• Lu PingAn asked Fang Wen to help establish workshops, production lines, a Beast Taming Enclosure, and a food processing plant.
• Lu PingAn offered to release Fang Wen when he became a Rule-level powerhouse, but she rejected the promise as insufficient.
• Fang Wen demanded a position as Lu PingAn's divine envoy if he became a god, or as a subordinate god if he became a chief god, in exchange for her service.
• Big Cat called Fang Wen a traitor and oathbreaker.

Lu PingAn spent his remaining funds preparing the Courtyard to support an upcoming journey, prioritizing food, clothing, housing, and transportation over military equipment. After exhausting his money and the club’s operating funds, he discovered that Explorer Qualification holders could take out interest-free loans of up to one million.

• Lu PingAn bought low-contamination seeds and basic processing equipment, while Fang Wen controlled metal puppets to clear and plant farmland in the Courtyard.
• Lu PingAn and the veterans decided to buy cheap everyday clothes but abandoned plans to build housing and buy expensive vehicles.
• Lu PingAn considered relocating the Club Residence from his campus Demi-Plane into the Courtyard, but recognized that the move required professional Constructors and might not be finished before departure.
• Lu PingAn spent his remaining funds on basic supplies, leaving both his Small Treasury and the club’s operating funds empty.
• Lu PingAn learned that Explorer Qualification holders could take out interest-free loans of up to one million.

Lu PingAn discovered that Explorers could obtain interest-free loans against their Ship Tickets and used the funds to prepare his group for departure. Big Cat and Xia Qin advised him on disguising the Courtyard and its key, while the chapter ended with the Mercenary Group asking about the price of four tickets.

• Lu PingAn learned that an Explorer with a scheduled Ship Ticket could borrow a million interest-free and withdraw the money with Guan Xinxian.
• Big Cat explained that her Courtyard was an almost complete divine country and advised Lu PingAn to disguise it as a space ability or Rule-level item.
• Xia Qin supported the disguise, noting that colleagues already believed Lu PingAn's taming abilities came from Chris's relic.
• Lu PingAn and Guan Xinxian bought mechanical components, machine tools, and equipment as Explorers spent their loans and prices for Taboo Items and combat consumables rose.
• The Mercenary Group decided it needed four tickets and asked Lu PingAn what they would cost.

Lu PingAn formed a short-term exploration partnership with two Mercenary Groups and reviewed their intelligence about the target world’s occult fighters. The chapter ended with the team preparing to investigate a world where dangerous objects sealed pollution and granted power.

• Lu PingAn negotiated with Feng Youran and Feng Luanhua, and Feng Luanhua reacted fearfully when he looked toward her forehead eye.
• The Rebirth Merchant Guild and the two Mercenary Groups signed a cooperation agreement that included shared spoils and guaranteed return tickets.
• Feng Youran gave Lu PingAn intelligence about the target world, including warnings about locals who used objects to seal and control pollution.
• Lu PingAn asked Chris to assess the intelligence, and Chris advised caution around external objects and against judging enemies with Spirit Sight.

After contracting with Lu PingAn’s group, the mercenaries prepared to return to Ancient City. Feng Luanhua privately revealed that she had seen Lu PingAn as a corpse controlled by a terrifying black void, but the contract prevented her from warning anyone, so she insisted that the group honor their agreement.

• Lu PingAn’s group signed contracts with the four mercenaries and prepared to return to Ancient City before traveling on to Chang Ping State Prefecture.
• Ba Manzhen asked Feng Luanhua what she had seen, and Feng Luanhua said she had seen a long-dead person who could still move.
• Su Zhizhu suggested Feng Luanhua had seen the original fate of a terminal cancer patient whose healing ability had prolonged his life.
• Feng Luanhua remembered seeing Lu PingAn as a battered corpse controlled by a black void, alongside a golden scale representing a world rule.
• Feng Luanhua realized the contract’s secrecy clause could punish her for revealing Lu PingAn’s nature and urged the mercenaries to cooperate faithfully.
• Feng Youran agreed with Feng Luanhua that they needed to protect their reputation and follow the contract.

Lu PingAn prepared the society headquarters for new residents and learned that Hua Xueyi had brought more than two hundred people from her hometown. As he welcomed them, he also told a group of students eager to join his expedition that the destination was the doomed world of Valastarod, not the safer Vanderlek.

• Tian Xi and the other students asked Lu PingAn to take them to Vanderlek, but he revealed that his group was heading to Valastarod, frightening Simir and upending their plans.
• Lu PingAn paid an architect and construction crew to relocate the society buildings, while Big Cat connected their formations and improved their recovery effects.
• Hua Xueyi brought 210 people from her hometown, including workers, family members, and others seeking a new life beyond their prison.
• Lu PingAn accidentally revealed that Hua Shuqiu was over thirty and had never dated, embarrassing him in front of the gathered newcomers.
• Lu PingAn welcomed the newcomers and hoped the society could become their new home.

Lu PingAn prepared the Rebirth Merchant Guild and the Courtyard for their first journey while raising funds by selling magical plants and anti-pollution supplies. The Lavender and other goods sold out, leaving him with more money and a possible steady business supplying other realms.

• Lu PingAn’s new workers began tending the Courtyard, running its services, and preparing the market while earning Life Points through Rule Buildings.
• Lu PingAn found that the Great Library cost 1,500 points and that he lacked the funds and rules needed for the buildings he wanted most.
• Lu PingAn sold surplus magical plants as demand and prices for munitions rose.
• Lu PingAn’s high-grade Lavender sold out because factions and individuals were stockpiling pollution-resistant supplies.
• Lu PingAn had Miss Lu Lu Lu produce more Lavender and Fang Wen mass-produce crude anti-pollution equipment, then sold some of the equipment while reserving the rest.

Lu PingAn prepared for the expedition by securing a preliminary partnership with Potion Master Rou Lailai, advancing his Runner path, and completing local rituals. He gathered a few companions and finalized preparations to leave for Valastarod.

• Lu PingAn failed to find another suitable Potion Master and contacted Rou Lailai, who agreed to a preliminary partnership after learning about his patents and plant-modification abilities.
• Lu PingAn returned to Gu City University to finalize his Runner advancement path, purchase ritual materials and Sacrifices, and complete the second curse of the Parasitic Tree.
• Lu PingAn rejected repeated offers for Ship Tickets until Senior Brother Xue and Lin Feng asked to join him, and he waived their ticket fees in exchange for a share of their gains.
• Lu PingAn and his companions chose unpaid leave from the Special Task Force, while three Tier 0 Ghost Members of the Rebirth Society decided to join the expedition.
• With the preparations complete, Lu PingAn and the others prepared to depart for Valastarod.

Lu PingAn and his young team prepared for their expedition to the Twilight Hour and gathered at the Bureau of Anomalous Affairs to board. The tower was carried beyond the atmosphere, where divine kingdoms appeared and the explorers faced the terrifying attention of the gods before boarding was announced.

• Lu PingAn traveled with his team by minibus, met Feng Youran and the other mercenaries, and later welcomed Miss Rou with her expedition equipment.
• Lu PingAn hosted a team-building evening, then spent the night handling contracts and clearance procedures while the others rested.
• Lu PingAn's group arrived at the Silver White High Tower and waited with other expedition teams without knowing how they would board.
• A huge crimson dragon lifted the Bureau of Anomalous Affairs headquarters into the sky and encouraged the young explorers.
• As the silver towers passed beyond the atmosphere, divine kingdoms appeared and Lu PingAn sensed that the gods were watching and coveting the explorers.
• Eight divine kingdoms approached the towers, and an announcement instructed the explorers to board in an orderly manner.

Lu PingAn and the explorers entered the divine kingdom of Valastarod’s deity and were confined to its wasteland while the group traveled onward. They learned that the deity’s servants guarded the boundary, and two explorers were killed after crossing it.

• The group followed the passage to Valastarod and entered a vast divine kingdom, where its staff ordered them to stay in the wasteland.
• Lu PingAn felt the deity’s scrutiny and found that he could not open the door linked to his key, while Big Cat confirmed their connection remained hidden.
• The explorers’ logistics specialists began studying and collecting samples from the foreign land, but bizarre followers and divine envoys blocked the boundary.
• The group discussed the deity’s limited Joyful Dancer profession path and its role as a low-status taxi for travelers.
• Two explorers crossed the boundary at night and were killed by beams of light, prompting the others to remain inside the permitted area.
• A staff member told Lu PingAn and the group that their cross-world journey would take three to seven days and could still bring danger.

Lu PingAn and the other explorers learned that Earth had prepared for decades to claim the doomed world's power systems, especially the Lord of Sealing's Sealing Technique. As they began studying the technique, Lu PingAn recognized signs that it came from the Perpetual Motion source.

• Lu PingAn discussed the four sources with Big Cat and considered how Perpetual Motion might govern motion, stillness, and energy.
• The explorers learned that the Lord of Sealing and the Twin Moon God were among the last chief gods still defending their world, while Earth targeted the Lord of Sealing's power.
• Premier Song's briefing tasked the explorers with bringing back foreign power systems and explained that abilities learned in the world could remain usable without a god's support.
• The briefing identified several Earth-backed gods and warned the explorers to prioritize their missions while avoiding unnecessary trouble.
• Lu PingAn examined the Sealing Technique materials and concluded that the technique favored Awakeneds, Riders, and Runners because it belonged to the Perpetual Motion line.

On their seventh day in the Holy City, Lu PingAn’s team focused on learning the local language, gathering intelligence, and adapting before choosing where to explore. As the team analyzed the local Sealing Technique, Lu PingAn made the fastest progress and decided he was ready to try it.

• Mader delivered a newspaper and reported that the materials Lu PingAn wanted were still out of stock.
• Lu PingAn and Guan Xinxian used their Scholar abilities to study the local language and read about the city and its history.
• Lu PingAn explained that the team would gather intelligence and adapt to the Holy City before setting out to explore.
• The team studied the local Sealing Technique, and Lu PingAn used his Investment to gain progress from other people’s experience.
• Lu PingAn reached the threshold for the Sealing Technique and said he was ready to try it.

Lu PingAn walked through the Holy City, where prosperity and social calm concealed the truth of the approaching apocalypse. After speaking with a Doomsday Believer, he concluded that the world’s powers were suppressing warnings and that its comforting peace was beyond saving.

• Lu PingAn bought ink and parchment for Sealing Techniques and reflected on the Holy City’s lingering racial divisions.
• Lu PingAn passed a mixed Sa Clan man displaying an apocalypse warning sign and gave him a coin to replace his worn sign.
• Lu PingAn considered how the world’s powerful factions had suppressed the truth and turned those who warned of the apocalypse into objects of scorn.
• Lu PingAn decided he was no hero and would either flee if able or indulge himself if escape were impossible.
• Lu PingAn continued through the cheerful city beneath its artificial Great Lamp and felt despair at the world’s false peace.

Lu PingAn investigated why the dying world remained so peaceful and decided its Sealing Techniques might explain the lack of visible pollution. He tried to seal a demon chicken, but the attempt made it explode and drenched the person standing nearest in blood.

• Lu PingAn discussed with his group the unexplained apocalypse, the world's unusual calm, and the possibility that the cause could not be spoken.
• Lu PingAn concluded that Sealing Techniques might be removing mutations and preserving the world's apparent peace.
• Lu PingAn prepared to practice a Sealing Technique on a low-tier demon chicken using an Elemental Hexagram drawn on the chicken and a glass cup.
• After several failed inscriptions, Lu PingAn connected the matching Spirit Marks, causing the chicken to explode into chunks of meat and blood.

Lu PingAn and his team studied Sealing Technique while preparing to gather local knowledge and supplies, but Simir unexpectedly mastered the craft first. Her Graffiti Hand let her create and control spiritual seals with exceptional precision, prompting Lu PingAn to sign a long-term contract with her and plan their entry into the local supernatural circle.

• Lu PingAn repeatedly failed to complete spiritual seals as he learned that Sealing Technique depended on controlling and fusing living contamination.
• Lu PingAn set a ten-day limit for studying Sealing Technique while his team prepared to leave and the mercenaries went out to gather local intelligence.
• Simir, a Tier 0 combat professional, became the first in the team to master the basic Sealing Technique.
• Simir used Rainbow Graffiti and her Graffiti Hand to draw, control, and fine-tune spiritual seals with extraordinary precision.
• Lu PingAn signed a long-term contract with Simir and decided to use her talent to enter the local supernatural circle.

While Simir advanced her Sealing Master skills, Lu PingAn’s group used the Holy City’s resources to acquire equipment, gather plants, and prepare for their next journey. After nine days, they left for Schlei Territory, near the magical plants of Hakardi Forest.

• Simir progressed from studying first-tier spirit seals to analyzing third-tier seals, allowing the group to use local sealed weapons and equipment.
• Lu PingAn learned that locals could seal mutations but that doing so could prevent them from following a Professional’s path, and he sold food to fund bulk purchases.
• Lu PingAn gathered ordinary plants and transformed some into low-grade magical plants to expand his reserves and recover Life Points.
• Xia Qin trained the group’s fighters at a local sword school while Miss Rou prepared potions and urged everyone to leave the Holy City.
• On the ninth day, the group set out for Schlei Territory, near Hakardi Forest.

Lu PingAn and his group arrived in Schlei Territory through the Traveler God's church and found a caravan destroyed by corrupted beasts. After the Radiant Fire Knight Order questioned them about recent outsiders who had robbed local nobles and merchants, Lu PingAn offered to show the knights the Rebirth Merchant Guild's goods.

• Lu PingAn's group used the Traveler God's teleportation network to leave the Holy City and arrived at an abandoned church in Schlei Territory.
• The group followed screams and smoke to a caravan wreck, where Lu PingAn and the others killed the corrupted beasts and found eleven dead travelers.
• Catherine and the Radiant Fire Knight Order arrived, questioned Lu PingAn's group, and checked their documents before accepting their explanation.
• Catherine told the group that outsiders who had posed as philanthropists recently robbed local nobles and wealthy merchants before fleeing.
• Lu PingAn introduced his group as the Rebirth Merchant Guild and offered to show Catherine their goods.

Lu PingAn sold food to Catherine's Knight Order and learned that the Long Night had spread across the world, worsening food shortages and unleashing more mutated beasts. He and his group entered the city under the watch of a knight, while the wider crisis remained unresolved.

• Lu PingAn offered grain and other food to Catherine, who agreed to raise the price and grant him permission to trade locally.
• Catherine led the convoy through the city's main gate and used a broken grain cart to spread word that new food supplies had arrived.
• The Knight Captain assigned Hui En to escort Lu PingAn's group to an inn while she went to report to the lord.
• Hui En told Lu PingAn that the Long Night had lasted over five months, crops had failed, and mutated beasts had become increasingly common.
• Hui En explained that the Doug Family's grain-buying expedition had failed and cost lives, while merchants across the region hoarded food amid the growing crisis.