Chapter Summaries

Liu Zhi took control of No. 2 Gathering Place after forcing Lin Deying to accept reassignment and executing Lin Chengjia for embezzling supplies. He then met with Ji Wuming and Hunter Tiger to discuss a plan involving the Dwarves, but Ji Wuming warned that the Dwarves would allow no more than three people into their ranks.

• Wang Jirong told Lin Deying that he would be sent to manage No. 4 Gathering Place while Liu Zhi temporarily took over No. 2.
• Liu Zhi arrived, confronted Lin Deying's supporters, and shot Lin Chengjia after he openly accused Liu of killing Singer.
• Liu Zhi cited evidence of Lin Chengjia's theft, secured Tan Wei's support, and persuaded Lin Deying to accept the reassignment.
• News spread that Liu Zhi had become No. 2 Gathering Place's manager while Lin Deying took charge of No. 4.
• Liu Zhi met with Ji Wuming and Hunter Tiger at the Abandoned Warehouse to review their cooperation plan.
• Ji Wuming warned that the Dwarves would permit at most three people to enter their ranks, including himself.

Ji Wuming proposed using an early gold shipment to infiltrate the Dwarves and coordinate an attack, and Hunter Tiger agreed to consider the plan while preparing to exploit Tian Yuan Territory’s Module Technology. In Black Stone City, City Lord Krespo learned the Red Flower Gang had gathered gold and found silver, then summoned Ji Wuming to discuss their request for weapons.

• Ji Wuming proposed entering the Dwarves’ territory with an early gold shipment so his forces could attack from within while Tian Yuan Territory struck from outside.
• Ji Wuming offered to take a delayed poison to prove his loyalty, and Hunter Tiger agreed to consider the plan further after realizing bombs could be hidden in the gold using Module Technology.
• Liu Zhi left the warehouse before dawn and warned his trusted aides not to spread information about the plan.
• City Lord Krespo demanded an early delivery from the Red Flower Gang, while Governor Nanni reminded him that changing the arrangement could violate Dwarf rules.
• Two messengers told Krespo that Ji Wuming had gathered the gold and found a Silver Mine, and reported his request to exchange for Dwarf weapons.
• Krespo refused to sell weapons to humans but changed course and told the messengers to ask Ji Wuming to meet him in person.

As Three Cold Springs drove temperatures sharply downward, Tian Yuan Territory prepared to send its army against the Myriad Kingdoms Dwarves. Su Mo ordered war mobilization and brought out Lance’s damaged divine statue as a trump card for the coming campaign.

• Fan Fuzheng and his neighbors discussed installing heating as the cold woke them, then Gong Zhengyang received urgent good news about Hunter Tiger and the plan involving Black Stone City.
• Su Mo reviewed Hunter Tiger’s plan to attack the Dwarves and confirmed that the frontline’s vehicles, artillery, ammunition, and supplies were ready.
• Wang Yuanshuai reported that logistics could equip two ten-thousand-man armies, and Qiao Yuansheng confirmed the war mobilization was prepared.
• Su Mo ordered the army to be ready to depart the next day and announced that he would join the expedition as Tian Yuan Territory’s lord and supreme commander.
• Su Mo retrieved the damaged divine statue housing Lance and resolved to use it as a trump card against possible Dwarf powers beyond conventional weapons.

After the Myriad Kingdoms Dwarves’ sneak attack, Su Mo issued Tian Yuan Territory’s first expedition mobilization order, calling residents to join the campaign and offering equipment, points, and special rewards. As residents reacted to the announcement and considered signing up, Su Mo told Zero that victory in war could resolve inflation.

• Residents gathered at Dragon Rise Village’s notice board and discovered an expedition mobilization order.
• Representatives read Su Mo’s appeal, which named the Myriad Kingdoms Dwarves as the attackers and called on residents to avenge the fallen.
• Staff posted the expedition’s eligibility rules, free equipment package, risks, and point-based rewards, including tickets to find and retrieve missing people and special qualifications.
• Fan Fuzheng considered the expedition’s rewards and saw it as a chance for newer residents to catch up.
• Zero questioned whether paying expedition rewards to thousands of participants would cause inflation, and Su Mo replied that winning a war was a simple way to resolve it.

Su Mo finalized Tian Yuan’s first expedition beyond its borders and prepared to lead the assault against the Myriad Kingdoms Dwarves. Meanwhile, Hunter Tiger and Ji Wuming prepared to infiltrate the dwarves’ underground railway and reach Black Stone City.

• Su Mo judged Tian Yuan’s development too slow, approved a 17,000-person expedition force, and ordered the army to arrive the next evening and launch its assault the following morning.
• Su Mo entered the hidden armor chamber and activated his black-and-gold battle armor, preparing to join the war against the dwarves.
• At the Red Flower Gang’s temporary base, Hunter Tiger drew blood from a captured Demon Soul Race member to verify the underground train’s operating permissions.
• Ji Wuming explained the railway route and checkpoints to Hunter Tiger, who planned to kill the checkpoint guards while Ji Wuming kept them from fleeing or raising the alarm.

Hunter Tiger joined Ji Wuming’s trip into Dwarf territory to prepare for a bombing operation, and the group passed the first checkpoint by bribing and bluffing the guards. When the Gold-Eating Lizards refused to approach Hunter Tiger, Tie Pi tried to bar him from passing, so Hunter Tiger grabbed the squad leader and threatened him.

• Hunter Tiger decided to accompany Ji Wuming into Dwarf territory, and Xiao Yang agreed to go with him.
• Hunter Tiger’s group departed by Dwarf subway with a small cargo shipment meant to distract the Dwarves while their weapons and Energy Stone Bombs remained hidden in the Storage Module.
• At the first checkpoint, Ji Wuming claimed Kus was acting as lord in his absence and bribed squad leader Tie Pi with gold.
• Ji Wuming intimidated Tie Pi into letting the group pass, but the Gold-Eating Lizards refused to approach Hunter Tiger during the search.
• Tie Pi barred Hunter Tiger from passing, and Hunter Tiger seized him by the throat and demanded that he choose between cooperating and dying.

Ji Wuming’s group passed through the dwarf checkpoints on their way to Black Stone City, where they learned that the dwarves were preparing another counterattack against Su Mo. The chapter ended with the group clearing a final inspection and continuing onward with their cargo.

• Hunter Tiger released Ironhide after Ji Wuming threatened him, and the dwarves opened the checkpoint so the train could continue.
• Ironhide deleted the footage of his bribe but kept the recording of Hunter Tiger humiliating him as possible leverage against Ji Wuming.
• Tie Zhan accepted five pieces of Gold Mine and let the train cross into dwarf territory without inspecting it.
• The group marveled at the sprawling underground railway network, while Hunter Tiger considered how similar tunnels might connect settlements in Qinggang City.
• At the final checkpoint near Black Stone City, the dwarf captain said Kus had reported Su Mo’s strength and revealed plans for a second counterattack.
• The dwarf guards inspected the cargo and used Gold-Eating Lizards to check Hunter Tiger, then allowed the train to proceed.

Su Mo oversaw the Tian Yuan Army’s chaotic arrival at the front and traveled to meet the fleet as Hunter Tiger and Su Deben scouted Black Stone City. After Su Deben discovered a nearby Dwarf tribe raising Earth-Eating Lizards, Su Mo left frontline decisions to him and focused on placing capable people in suitable roles.

• Tian Yuan Army soldiers and Mobilized Soldiers struggled to organize supplies and build the forward camp, while Su Mo told Feng Tianmin to treat the confusion as valuable experience.
• Su Mo ordered the troops to rest and said only three thousand soldiers would attack Black Stone City, then learned Hunter Tiger had accompanied Ji Wuming into the city.
• Su Mo piloted his Motorcycle Airship to the North Star Fleet and learned that Su Deben had gone scouting near the front line.
• Su Deben reported finding a small Dwarf tribe that raised Earth-Eating Lizards, which Su Mo recognized as a potential solution to future transportation problems.
• Su Mo warned Su Deben not to jeopardize the larger plan, then handed him full decision-making authority on the front line.

Hunter Tiger’s group used negotiations with Krespo to secure a tour of Black Stone City’s artisan district and other resource sites, creating a chance to advance their covert plan. The group left the meeting hall with Krespo agreeing to show them around.

• Hunter Tiger told Tuoba Chi that they would not try to escape the Public Security Bureau and hinted that their handling of explosives would make the Dwarves take them where they needed to go.
• The group woke after a quiet night under heavy surveillance and noticed that the Dwarves had prepared human-sized daily necessities in advance.
• Ji Wuming challenged Krespo’s offer of a twenty percent increase in resource support and refused to continue cooperation without better terms.
• Ji Wuming pointed out that faulty Dwarf-made firearms had injured Red Flower Gang members, and Krespo learned that untrained artisans had been assigned to make them.
• Ji Wuming demanded to inspect the firearms and all other resources, so Krespo agreed to take the group through the artisan district and other sites.
• After leaving the meeting hall, Xiao Yang explained the exchange to the others, and Hunter Tiger smiled as if the plan had succeeded.

Hunter Tiger explained how he exposed Ji Wuming’s greed and used his talents, while Su Mo’s army advanced toward the dwarven border. Feng Long’s forces captured the border camps and learned the defenses around Black Stone City, leaving them planning to destroy additional targets to meet their objectives.

• Hunter Tiger told Ji Wuming, Tuoba Chi, and Ping Chen that he had detected the dwarves’ flaws and warned them to control greed before entering a life-and-death struggle.
• Su Mo watched as the well-supplied army marched to the dwarven border, where Feng Long’s Special Forces Team caught the guards by surprise and seized two camps.
• Feng Long interrogated Tong Tu, who surrendered and revealed the locations of the remaining camps, three nearby tribes, and Black Stone City.
• Feng Long and Nalan Pu realized that eliminating Black Stone City and the three tribes would not meet Su Mo’s goal of destroying five towns, so Feng Long proposed striking at least eight targets.
• The army captured the other five border camps, leaving the dwarves unable to resist its coordinated attacks and deception.

As Feng Tianmin’s forces prepared to attack Black Stone City, Hunter Tiger’s group launched a surprise assault that crippled the city and its defenses. Su Mo received a flood of victory notifications while waiting with the rear fleet, leaving the territory enormously wealthy in points.

• Feng Tianmin ordered the force to rest for six hours before launching its general assault on Black Stone City that night.
• Copper Tooth sent most of the sentries back to sleep, but an explosive thrown at the Public Security Bureau stunned the Dwarves and allowed Hunter Tiger’s group to attack.
• Explosions struck Black Stone City’s districts and warehouses, triggering landslides and throwing the city into chaos.
• Nearly one hundred armored vehicles bombarded the city walls with Rocket Propelled Grenades while six Tianyuan helicopters arrived overhead.
• The Defense Light Screen cracked as Dwarves fled their posts, and Silver Leopard panicked at Tianyuan’s arrival.
• Su Mo received System Panel notifications for his territory’s victories and realized it had gained a vast number of points.

Tian Yuan forces captured Black Stone City after breaking its defenses and defeating the dwarves, while Krespo and many administrators escaped through underground tunnels. Su Mo rewarded the troops and promoted Feng Long, then gave Hunter Tiger a potion as he prepared to enhance him.

• Krespo ordered the administrators to flee Black Stone City as Tian Yuan's attack overwhelmed the city's defenses, and many dwarves escaped through underground Rat Tunnels.
• Su Mo reviewed the victory, counted 117500 War Points, and flew to the front lines to assess casualties and distribute rewards to the soldiers.
• Su Mo promoted Feng Long to regimental commander, authorized him to expand his regiment to four thousand soldiers, and allowed him to form an Armored Battalion.
• Su Mo gave Hunter Tiger a black-and-green potion and checked his attributes, noting that his Bone Strength had increased while his lifespan had fallen.

Su Mo used a fivefold upgrade on Hunter Tiger and witnessed strange visions of possible events involving Pingtan Shelter, the Wusu Chaer Gang, and Da Yan City. The upgrade transformed Hunter Tiger into a War Blood Mutant with balanced attributes, powerful new traits, and 170 Potential.

• Su Mo considered Hunter Tiger’s bloodline, age, and limited combat training before spending 500 War Points on his upgrade.
• The upgrade showed Su Mo visions of Hunter Tiger confronting the Wusu Chaer Gang, Jin Gu Qiao being executed, Da Yan City being destroyed by tactical nuclear missiles, and an aged Hunter Tiger confined in a laboratory.
• Su Mo returned to the tent and saw that the upgrade had replaced Hunter Tiger’s old traits and Low Blood Mutant template with new traits and the War Blood Mutant template.
• Hunter Tiger’s body underwent a painful transformation, turning blood-red as black-red vapor poured from him and corroded the ground.
• Su Mo inspected Hunter Tiger’s new system panel and found that he had all five attributes at 10, 170 Potential, and powerful combat abilities tied to Son of War.

Su Mo’s treatment transformed Hunter Tiger into a War Blood Mutant, removing his previous weaknesses but leaving the risk of further bloodline distortion. After the Expedition Team captured Black Stone City and sorted its prisoners, Su Mo halted the advance at Ironwood City, leaving the war with the Dwarves unresolved.

• Su Mo’s bloodline upgrade transformed Hunter Tiger, who recovered and noticed a new, unexplained effect on nearby mutants’ intelligence.
• Tuoba Chi saw Hunter Tiger’s changed skin and felt the increased pressure of his presence.
• The Expedition Team looted Black Stone City, captured nearly seven thousand Dwarves, and rescued nearly six hundred human collaborators, whom Feng Tianmin assigned to different camps or the Suicide Squad.
• The Expedition Team captured six small Gathering Places but withdrew from Ironwood City because its defenses and the worsening strategic risks made an assault unwise.
• Su Mo reflected that the expedition had exceeded its goals but revealed widespread human cooperation with other races.

After the victory at Black Stone City, Su Mo’s commanders held an all-night review that exposed serious problems in logistics, reconnaissance, communications, medicine, and tactics. Su Mo ended the meeting before the army’s return journey, leaving the commanders with a long list of issues to address as humanity approached a decisive crossroads.

• The Tian Yuan Army retreated to its rear base as Three Cold Springs neared its end and the troops relaxed after the war.
• Feng Tianmin opened a postwar review and urged the commanders to speak honestly about the Expedition’s mistakes.
• Wang Qian and Liu Shiming argued over supply delays, paperwork, and the risks of letting Mobilized Soldiers collect supplies.
• Commanders debated failures in reconnaissance and communications, then criticized Feng Long’s tactical planning for the heavy casualties and the Medical Team’s treatment capacity.
• Su Mo realized that the army’s rules had serious gaps, decided to arrange China Language lessons for Hunter Tiger, and ended the meeting after it continued through the night.
• Su Mo said the army would depart that afternoon, while the rising temperature marked the end of the disaster and left humanity facing an uncertain choice.

As the cold disaster ended, Su Deben arranged the evacuation of the Expeditionary Force and its Dwarven prisoners, while the victorious army returned to the Red Flower Gang's territory. Su Mo heard Ji Wuming's plea for mercy and learned that he was actually Ji Sheng, a disguised graduate student who had cooperated with the Dwarves out of desperation.

• The temperature rose, and Su Deben ordered the army to withdraw while releasing Dwarven prisoners in staggered groups to slow their pursuers.
• Liu Zhi prepared the Gathering Places for the arrival of the Tian Yuan Army, whose return drew crowds of cheering survivors.
• Su Mo met with Hunter Tiger and Ji Wuming, then summoned Liu Zhi while considering whether Ji Wuming could be spared and cultivated.
• Ji Wuming revealed his real name was Ji Sheng and removed a Human Skin Mask that had disguised his younger face.
• Ji Sheng explained how he had built the Red Flower Gang through misfortune and admitted that the Dwarves' offer had tempted him into choosing the wrong path.

Su Mo arranged for Liu Zhi to lead the Red Flower Gang west and make its territory a vassal of Tian Yuan, while he approved Hunter Tiger’s possible ambush of the dwarves. Reviewing the first expedition’s heavy casualties and costs, Su Mo concluded that opening new trade markets could eventually repay Tian Yuan’s expenses.

• Su Mo spared Ji Sheng and offered him a chance to redeem himself through service, while Liu Zhi confirmed Ji Sheng’s misconduct and the source of his supplies.
• Liu Zhi proposed moving the Red Flower Gang west, selecting capable people to settle in Tian Yuan, and making the gang’s territory a vassal; Su Mo approved the plan and promised ships and reconstruction supplies.
• Su Mo gave Hunter Tiger two thousand soldiers for a possible ambush, warning him to withdraw if the opportunity was poor and avoid casualties.
• Su Mo reviewed the expedition’s records: Tian Yuan had deployed 18,719 people, suffered 417 deaths, and captured 3,200 Dwarf Artisans while inflicting heavy losses on the dwarves.
• Su Mo assessed the expedition’s costs and concluded that trade with the newly opened markets could recover the expenses and support Tian Yuan’s growth.

Su Mo organized the migration of survivors and prisoners to support Tian Yuan Territory’s development, then received news that the Sirius Fleet would bring back 27,000 people, including nearly 800 research specialists. He began spending his accumulated battle points on lottery draws and obtained a voucher to reshape Qinggang City’s underground pipelines.

• Liu Zhi persuaded about thirty percent of the survivors to leave that evening, while Feng Tianmin rejected small groups seeking funding without proving their value.
• Su Mo ordered the nearly five thousand captive Dwarves to work at temporary docks and decided newcomers from the Red Flower Gang and Dream Moon Territory would settle in Qinggang City’s western suburbs.
• Su Mo approved a Triumphant Return Ceremony to honor the expedition and comfort residents grieving the deaths of more than four hundred people.
• Cui Lu delivered an urgent report that the Sirius Fleet had reached the Dream Moon Territory and arranged to transport 27,000 survivors, including nearly 800 research specialists recruited by Xi Ruyue.
• Su Mo spent his battle points on lottery draws, won 500 Academy Cognizance Coins, and then obtained a gold-level City Underground Pipeline Network Reshaping Voucher.

Su Mo upgraded the roulette and won a red reward: an incomplete map of the Central Holy Land, while his draws also brought Tian Yuan Territory a vast haul of currency and resources. As the fleet sailed home, he arranged reinforcements, support for Liu Zhi, and tougher trade terms for less promising partners.

• After more than a thousand draws, Su Mo upgraded the roulette, raising the cost per draw and changing the reward probabilities.
• The upgraded ten-pull gave Su Mo a red Incomplete New Continent Map (Central Holy Land section), which could reveal updated information about the mapped area.
• Su Mo reviewed the gains from one hundred ten-pulls, including large amounts of faction currency, chips, Foundation bonds, and Academy identification coins.
• The fleet set sail while residents of the Red Flower Gang watched from the riverbank, and Su Mo saw their hopes as the ships departed.
• Su Deben told Su Mo that Hunter Tiger was lying in ambush and that Feng Long had taken a thousand people to support him; Su Mo also ordered supplies for Liu Zhi.
• After hearing that the other three territories showed little promise, Su Mo ordered their resource assistance reduced and their goods made more expensive.

After the Expeditionary Force defeated the monstrous dwarves, Aldrich used the victory to persuade Qinggang City's administrators to join the Tian Yuan Alliance's plan to rebuild the city's industries. The East Suburbs agreed to consult with the Alliance, while the South Suburbs argued over how to develop their residential districts.

• Aldrich confirmed that the Expeditionary Force had won and would soon return with Alliance Leader Su, prompting Qinggang City's administrators to discuss joining the Alliance.
• Aldrich distributed the Alliance's proposal for rebuilding Qinggang City's aboveground industries, and the administrators compared it with Qinggang Shelter's earlier plan.
• Tono asked about loans and factory sites, and Aldrich explained the Alliance's practical support, free technology sharing, factory quotas, and protection.
• Aldrich said the Alliance would profit by exporting goods to outside markets, and he described its cargo ships and armed fleets.
• The East Suburbs administrators agreed to visit Tian Yuan for consultations, while the South Suburbs administrators argued over how to create factories in residential areas.