Chapter Summaries

Hunter Tiger warned Su Mo that the planned landing operation was too risky and that Tian Yuan Territory needed a trusted subordinate to handle difficult decisions and protect Su Mo’s reputation. Su Mo reconsidered the invasion but still insisted that every decision he had made had been correct.

• Hunter Tiger argued that poaching Ji Wuming required uncovering his motives or applying pressure, and that making a move before the war began carried less risk.
• Hunter Tiger questioned whether Su Mo could accept the danger to Tian Yuan’s inexperienced soldiers, prompting Su Mo to recognize that ambition and impatience had distorted his judgment.
• Su Mo admitted that he had lost his sense of proportion, and Hunter Tiger’s outsider perspective helped him challenge the blind trust surrounding Su Mo.
• Hunter Tiger advised Su Mo to appoint a “white glove” to handle contentious decisions and shield his reputation as Tian Yuan Territory expanded.
• Su Mo accepted Hunter Tiger’s advice but claimed that, in hindsight, all his past decisions had been correct, irritating Hunter Tiger.

After Hunter Tiger warned him about problems in the Tian Yuan Territory, Su Mo reviewed its priorities and concluded that expansion through military force and population acquisition mattered more than trade and small-scale industry. He summoned his leaders to discuss a new strategy, leaving the planned Dwarf War intact for now.

• Su Mo agreed to let Hunter Tiger try to convert Ji Wuming and sent Hunter Tiger to prepare for the Dwarf War with five hundred people.
• Su Mo decided that the territory could postpone decentralizing its rule, but needed to establish clearer development priorities.
• After reviewing the territory’s factories, Su Mo concluded that its focus on small-scale industry and trade had caused it to neglect exploration and resource seizure.
• Su Mo devised a plan to gather people by land and water, including transporting the nearly two hundred thousand residents of the Dream Moon Territory to Tian Yuan.
• Su Mo considered expanding farming through subsidiary bases, then ordered Number Zero to summon Feng Long and the other leaders for an important meeting.

Su Mo finalized Tian Yuan Territory’s Version 3.0 policies, opening exploration, investment, and access to Thermal Weapons while assigning officials to oversee development. In Meng Yue Territory, Xi Ruyue struggled to preserve order and decided to share the Defense Force’s dwindling supplies with desperate women and children as the Three Cold Springs disaster approached.

• Su Mo finalized Version 3.0 regulations, prioritizing expeditions, business investment, and wider legal access to Thermal Weapons.
• Su Mo assigned officials to manage the territory’s development and told Gong Zhengyang to contact Meng Yue Territory and arrange for Chen Shen to bring back gathered talent.
• In Meng Yue Territory, Xi Ruyue’s Defense Force struggled to contain escalating violence as famine and despair spread before the disaster.
• Xi Ruyue asked Chu Chaofei how many supplies remained and decided to give them to the women and children gathered outside the base.
• Chu Chaofei agreed to distribute the supplies and urged Xi Ruyue to rest.

Chu Chaofei tried to protect the survivors receiving food, but a theft and a fatal struggle exposed how desperate Dream Moon County had become. As he arrested the attackers, a familiar woman fired a shot and announced that she had made contact.

• Chu Chaofei distributed nearly twice as much food as the day before, then watched survivors prepare their meals near the Defense Force base.
• Lao Liu and other men staged a fight to steal a woman's pot, and she attacked them with metal coated in Alien Removal Grass, fatally poisoning Lao Sun.
• Lao Liu tried to drag the dying woman to Lao Sun, but Chu Chaofei arrived with six guards and ordered the men to surrender.
• A gunshot killed Lao Liu, and a familiar female voice told Chu Chaofei, "I made contact."

Xi Ruyue and Chu Chaofei used Tianyuan’s promised aid to restore order in Dream Moon Territory and crush the Nine Heavens Gang. The chapter ended with the refugees unsettled but hopeful as the Defense Force imposed round-the-clock control.

• After the Defense Force shot one of the Nine Heavens Gang, the refugees surrounded and beat the gang members while Xi Ruyue and Chu Chaofei watched.
• Xi Ruyue told Chu Chaofei that Tianyuan had agreed to send a month of rations for fifty thousand people, seeds, and ships that could carry some refugees away.
• Xi Ruyue and Chu Chaofei decided to use the Nine Heavens Gang to establish the Defense Force’s authority and set out to arrest its members.
• Chu Chaofei’s guards captured gang leader Fang Yincai, and Chu Chaofei struck him before the Defense Force publicly executed him.
• Chu Chaofei declared Dream Moon Territory under continuous alert and warned that any fighting would be treated as a provocation against the Defense Force.

The Defense Force and refugees overthrew the gangs in the Meng Yue Territory, encouraged by Xi Ruyue’s promises of support from Tian Yuan and a chance to leave. Meanwhile, Hunter Tiger and five hundred Pingtan soldiers boarded a warship to begin their journey, with Hunter Tiger eager to inspect the Powered Battle Armor.

• Refugees discovered the Defense Force leading raids on gang compounds and carrying off their grain after the Red Wolf Gang leader, Zhou Haichao, had been executed.
• Xi Ruyue’s announcements about Tian Yuan’s aid and Ship Tickets fractured the gangs, as members turned on their leaders and refugees joined the purge.
• Chu Chaofei watched Xi Ruyue’s plan rally the refugees and noticed her dreamy, distracted behavior.
• Hunter Tiger asked his five hundred elite soldiers whether they wished to withdraw, and they unanimously vowed to follow him.
• Hunter Tiger boarded the warship and authorized Ouyang Fangyuan to load the five-ton Powered Battle Armor, asking that it remain easy to retrieve.

Hunter Tiger departed with the Zi Wei Star fleet and learned that the coming cold snap could reach minus twenty degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Tian Yuan’s support transformed the Red Flower Gang, strengthening Liu Zhi’s influence as its leaders began to wonder whether he might replace Ji Wuming.

• Hunter Tiger set sail with the expeditionary fleet, then discussed the approaching cold snap with Captain Ji Guohai and reviewed intelligence for the mission.
• Su Deben, Ni Yan, and Qu Changfeng toured the Red Flower Gang’s transformed fields with Liu Zhi, Song Chunrui, Wang Bi, and Pang Dayuan.
• Liu Zhi thanked Su Deben for helping secure Tian Yuan’s factory investment and technical support, promising to establish the factory after the disaster.
• The group saw Ji Wuming distributing wild vegetable soup while quietly discussing his conflict with Cui Lu and his declining standing.
• Liu Zhi’s companions speculated that Tian Yuan might back him as the Red Flower Gang’s next lord, and they wondered whether they too could rise in their own territories.

Liu Zhi considered how to challenge Ji Wuming for control of the Red Flower Gang, but the Blue Star private armed force he hoped to recruit demanded people and broad autonomy. After his allies urged him to act before Ji secured his position, Liu Zhi appeared to resolve to take the risk.

• Ji Wuming followed Liu Zhi's group and distributed wild-vegetable soup to win support from the Red Flower Gang's residents.
• Ni Yan told Liu Zhi that the Tian Yuan fleet would soon depart and postponed deeper cooperation with the Red Flower Gang until after the disaster.
• Liu Zhi asked Su Deben whether the Blue Star private armed force would arrive with the cargo ship, and Su Deben explained its demands: an initial payment of five thousand people, further payments in people, and substantial autonomy.
• Song Chunrui, Wang Bi, and Pang Dayuan encouraged Liu Zhi to move against Ji Wuming before Ji secured his position, and offered to help him.
• After drinking with the three men, Liu Zhi reflected on his choice and declared that he would dare to fight Ji Wuming.

With the Three Cold Springs approaching, the North Star Fleet prepared to leave while survivors rushed to protect their crops. Liu Zhi met Hunter Tiger and arranged to hire his armed Blue Star people, hoping to strengthen his position in the Red Flower Gang.

• As dark skies heightened fears about the coming cold, the fleet received a quiet send-off, and Cui Lu assured Liu Zhi that their trade agreement would continue.
• Liu Zhi waited for Su Deben, who took him aboard a disguised cargo ship to meet the people he had arranged for him.
• Su Deben showed Liu Zhi the ship's hidden quarters, where about five hundred armed men were staying.
• Liu Zhi met Hunter Tiger, whose intimidating presence briefly frightened him before Su Deben secured his willingness to cooperate.
• Su Deben laid out five conditions for Hunter Tiger's help, including limits on hired muscle work, extra payment for dangerous missions and ammunition, and equal treatment for the Blue Star people.
• Liu Zhi accepted the conditions and agreed to pay, eager to use Hunter Tiger's force to establish himself in the territory.

Liu Zhi hired Hunter Tiger’s Pingtan veterans to secretly kill Singer, his two enforcers, and nearly twenty followers, while Su Deben warned Hunter Tiger that Ji Wuming might not be human. After the North Star Fleet departed, the veterans infiltrated the territory and began scouting.

• Liu Zhi described Singer, Tal, and Langley to Hunter Tiger and requested that they and Singer’s trusted followers be killed without exposing who ordered it.
• Hunter Tiger accepted the job as a welcoming gift for Su Deben and asked Liu Zhi to provide guides, lodging, food, and supplies.
• After Liu Zhi left, Su Deben warned Hunter Tiger that Ji Wuming might not be human and urged him to stay cautious.
• Su Deben disembarked, and the North Star Fleet departed upstream toward the other territories.
• Pingtan veterans blended into the crowds, and Hunter Tiger sent Chen Dasha and Faust with ten men each to scout the area without drawing attention.

Hunter Tiger and the Pingtan Army arrived at No. 2 Gathering Place and found it far poorer and more primitive than they had expected. After learning that Liu Zhi had brought in a large force, Singer decided to appease him and sent Langley and Tal to deliver supplies and assess Hunter Tiger.

• Hunter Tiger and Xiao Yang toured No. 2 Gathering Place, where they saw its squalid homes, garbage-filled streets, and rudimentary arms factory.
• Liu Zhi apologized for assigning the Pingtan Army to a shabby warehouse, and Hunter Tiger agreed to bring his people there in batches that night.
• Langley told Singer that Liu Zhi had returned with about sixty people led by a towering, scarred red-skinned man who had nearly detected her scout approach.
• Singer decided to give Liu Zhi supplies as an apology and sent Langley with Tal to deliver them while probing the red-skinned man's strength.
• Tal agreed to go, rejected the idea of being provoked into a fight, and armed himself with an iron chain.

Langley and Tal brought meager apology supplies to Liu Zhi, but he lured them into the Abandoned Warehouse and revealed that he intended to kill them. Hunter Tiger fought Tal and fatally defeated him, while Langley remained wounded on the ground.

• Langley and Tal carried a small cart of supplies to No. 2 Gathering Place, where Liu Zhi confronted them about what Singer had taken.
• Langley and Tal followed Liu Zhi to the Abandoned Warehouse, where Liu Zhi and his armed men surrounded them.
• Liu Zhi shot Langley in the leg, and Hunter Tiger challenged Tal to fight.
• Tal tried to persuade Liu Zhi to spare him by offering to lead him to Singer, then fought Hunter Tiger with his iron chain.
• Hunter Tiger struck Tal down with a powerful punch, leaving him mortally wounded, and celebrated the return of his fighting spirit.

Liu Zhi led his men to No. 4 Gathering Place and killed Singer after using Langley's death to draw him out. He returned with his men resolved to support Tian Yuan and eliminate anyone who stood in their way.

• Hunter Tiger ordered Liu Zhi to move against Singer immediately, and Liu Zhi chose to lead the operation himself.
• Liu Zhi took Langley and several trusted men to No. 4 Gathering Place by a concealed route, then shot Langley as she tried to return and warn Singer.
• Langley's death caused a commotion, and Singer fled No. 4 Gathering Place by the back route, where Liu Zhi and his men ambushed him.
• Singer surrendered and offered to help kill Ji Wuming, but Liu Zhi beat and stabbed him before burying his body beside the path.
• Liu Zhi warned his men that anyone who blocked their opportunity with Tian Yuan was their enemy and would be taken down.

Liu Zhi reported that the chaos at No. 4 Gathering Place had spiraled into a deadly looting spree, and Hunter Tiger deduced that Ji Wuming would need supplies from his private stores. Hunter Tiger divided the Pingtan Soldiers into four forces to investigate or raid possible storehouses, with his largest group heading for the Gold Mine.

• Liu Zhi told Hunter Tiger that Singer had fled after Langley was killed, while private soldiers looted the Resource Warehouse and triggered widespread fighting at No. 4 Gathering Place.
• Hunter Tiger concluded that Ji Wuming would need supplies from his private warehouse to manage the crisis, and Liu Zhi named three possible locations: Ji Wuming’s estate, abandoned warehouses near No. 3 Gathering Place, and the Gold Mine.
• Liu Zhi explained that the Gold Mine lay inside a mountain, had only two approach roads, and was guarded by nearly two hundred of Ji Wuming’s men.
• Hunter Tiger ordered thirty men to cause chaos at No. 1 Gathering Place, Dashan to investigate Ji Wuming’s estate, Faust to investigate the abandoned warehouses, and two hundred men to seize the Gold Mine.

Hunter Tiger and the Pingtan squad captured Ji Wuming’s Gold Mine, where they learned that nearly eight hundred prisoners were being forced to mine and that Ji Wuming had ties to dwarves and bombs. Ji Wuming realized the attack threatened his secret route to the hinterland and redirected Haines to protect the Abandoned Warehouse and its hidden supplies.

• Hunter Tiger led two hundred Pingtan Soldiers to attack the Gold Mine while assaults began at the other locations.
• The Pingtan Soldiers overwhelmed the mine’s guards with gunfire and rockets and captured guard captain Anier.
• Anier revealed that Ji Wuming had imprisoned nearly eight hundred people in the mine to dig for ore.
• Sabbio offered to guide the attackers through the tunnels and claimed Ji Wuming had cooperated with dwarves and forced him to plant a bomb at the docks.
• Ji Wuming learned the mine had fallen and feared the attackers would discover his secret route to the hinterland.
• Ji Wuming ordered Haines to go to No. 3 Gathering Place and secure the Abandoned Warehouse, where he had stored supplies.

Tuoba Chi's squad infiltrated the Abandoned Warehouse at No. 3 Gathering Place and discovered signs of activity underground, prompting Hunter Tiger to send reinforcements. A Micro Pathfinder followed Ji Wuming into the maze and revealed a hidden staircase, where an identical Ji Wuming emerged to greet him.

• Tuoba Chi led his men into the warehouse, subdued its guards, and explored the maze without finding supplies or an exit.
• Ping Chen noticed vibrations beneath the maze, and Tuoba Chi reported the possible underground secret to Hunter Tiger.
• Tuoba Chi withdrew his squad, injured the guards' thumbs, and used a Micro Pathfinder to watch the warehouse.
• Ji Wuming arrived with nearly three hundred people and entered the maze alone while the Pathfinder followed him.
• A section of wall opened to reveal a staircase, and an identical Ji Wuming came up from below and greeted him.

Tuoba Chi’s team secretly recorded Ji Wuming negotiating with a disguised member of the Demon Soul Race, who agreed to attack Liu Zhi with frogmen. After Ji Wuming left, a disciplined force of frogmen emerged from the warehouse, and Tuoba Chi lost contact with Hunter Tiger as Ping Chen proposed attacking them.

• Ji Wuming confronted the disguised middle-aged man aboard an underground train and blamed him for the failed bombing and the deaths of the frogmen.
• Ji Wuming asked the middle-aged man to kill Liu Zhi, and the man agreed to lead the attack himself despite having only eight hundred frogmen available.
• A hidden aircraft recorded their conversation and returned to Tuoba Chi’s team, which waited near the warehouse for Hunter Tiger.
• Ji Wuming led his people away from the warehouse, then a formation of intelligent frogmen emerged and assembled outside.
• Tuoba Chi failed to contact Hunter Tiger through the disrupted communicator, and Ping Chen suggested attacking the frogmen.

Tuoba Chi’s squad bombed and shot the frogmen at the Abandoned Warehouse, and Hunter Tiger arrived as the battle ended. After learning that the captured middle-aged man belonged to the Demon Soul Race and had worked with Ji Wuming, Hunter Tiger prepared to confront Ji Wuming and considered recruiting him rather than killing him.

• Ping Chen persuaded Tuoba Chi to attack the gathering frogmen, and Tuoba Chi armed his squad with bombs and Strong Stimulants.
• Tuoba Chi’s men bombed the frogmen at the Abandoned Warehouse, then fired on the survivors as they tried to flee.
• Hunter Tiger arrived with the assault squad and joined Tuoba Chi’s forces in finishing off the frogmen and capturing the middle-aged man.
• Ping Chen explained how he had helped uncover the attack, and Hunter Tiger recognized a mark on the captive before the group reviewed the Pathfinder recording.
• Hunter Tiger learned that the captive was from the Demon Soul Race and had worked with Ji Wuming, then ordered his forces to prepare for a second battle.
• Hunter Tiger rejected killing Ji Wuming immediately and considered revealing his identity to persuade him to switch sides.

Liu Zhi forced Ji Wuming to surrender the Red Flower Gang and agree to help Tian Yuan act against the dwarves. After Tian Yuan’s victory unlocked the limited-time battle roulette, Su Mo drew several rewards and discovered a new interface bearing Tian Yuan’s emblem, leaving him astonished.

• Liu Zhi revealed that he knew Ji Wuming had cooperated with the dwarves and that Tian Yuan, the North Star Fleet, and Su God knew as well.
• Ji Wuming agreed to withdraw from the Red Flower Gang’s territory, publicly name Liu Zhi as its new lord, and help Tian Yuan’s plan against the dwarves.
• Su Mo received a system report confirming Tian Yuan’s complete victory at the Abandoned Warehouse Siege and a reward of 3,000 battle points.
• Su Mo unlocked the battle roulette and began a ten-draw, receiving an Anti-Fatigue trait, Tian Yuan Copper Coins, and other rewards.
• Su Mo noticed a new house icon bearing Tian Yuan’s lotus emblem, opened it, and reacted with disbelief at the interface that appeared.

Su Mo used his War Points to draw faction currency and other rewards, discovering that the currency unlocked vast stores of goods from Tian Yuan and the Enterprise. After receiving news that Hunter Tiger had won a major victory and Ji Wuming had surrendered, Su Mo saw the next morning’s cold snap affect Red Flower Gang’s gathering place.

• Su Mo unlocked the Tian Yuan faction store and learned that roulette currency could buy goods without affecting the faction’s existing stock.
• Su Mo’s draws yielded Tian Yuan Copper Coins, an Enterprise Green Chip reward, a Building Transfer Ticket, a Building Complex Upgrade Ticket, and other traits and items.
• Su Mo inspected the Enterprise store and realized that his 500 Green Chips could buy twenty Starch Manufacturing Machines.
• Su Mo read Gong Zhengyang’s report that Hunter Tiger had won a great victory and Ji Wuming had surrendered, then requested the detailed report the next day.
• Su Mo scolded Su Chan for dressing too lightly as the temperature fell, while people in Red Flower Gang’s No. 2 Gathering Place huddled around braziers to keep warm.
• A commotion broke out at the entrance to Red Flower Gang’s No. 2 Gathering Place.