Recaps

As the Profound Crystal Griffin neared the surface, Zhou Xuan absorbed the collected Origin Crystals but still lacked enough stored power to match the Origin Power in his body. He gathered the others’ remaining crystals and unleashed Profitable Golden Spear at the bulging mountainside, leaving the attack’s effect unknown.

• Jiang Yue and the others waited as the mountain shook and cracked, signaling that the Profound Crystal Griffin was approaching the surface.
• Zhou Xuan finished absorbing the collected Origin Crystals, but said his stored Origin Power had only reached the late fifth tier and remained short of his current power.
• Han Ling, Cao Yiyi, Wang Hu, and the others gave Zhou Xuan their remaining Origin Crystals, which he absorbed as the mountain continued to rumble.
• Zhou Xuan concentrated his Origin Power at his fingertips and fired Profitable Golden Spear into the bulging mountainside where the Profound Crystal Griffin was about to emerge.

Zhou Xuan’s powerful attack badly wounded the Profound Crystal Griffin, but the team chose to stand their ground rather than flee. As Han Ling sensed the standoff turning against them, the Griffin suddenly charged, knocking Wang Hu aside.

• Zhou Xuan’s attack exploded through the mountainside, but the Profound Crystal Griffin emerged from the dust alive and wounded.
• Wang Hu argued that fleeing would invite pursuit and persuaded the group to gamble that the Griffin’s injuries would keep it from fighting them.
• Cao Yiyi apologized, and Han Ling told her, “War is just like this.”
• The group faced the injured Profound Crystal Griffin in a tense standoff while Han Ling tried to understand why the situation felt wrong.
• The Profound Crystal Griffin suddenly lunged at the humans, and Wang Hu stepped in front of the group before a claw swipe sent him flying sideways.

The inspectors fought the severely injured Profound Crystal Griffin, but its sixth-tier body and remaining defenses let it withstand most of their attacks while knocking them aside. Han Ling kept firing and fighting until the Griffin sent her flying again, leaving her sniper rifle cracked and the battle unresolved.

• Captain Wang was sent flying by the Profound Crystal Griffin, and a teammate urged the group to attack because Zhou Xuan had already wounded it further.
• Jiang Yue attacked with wind blades, but the Griffin blocked them with its wings and dispersed his stronger strike and Han Ling’s Acid Mist with icy breath.
• The Griffin knocked Yao Guanyu and Jiang Yue aside, and Han Ling fired Marrow-Exploding Bullets that inflicted only slight damage before it reached her and sent her flying.
• The inspectors repeatedly attacked the Griffin, targeting its wounds, while it blocked their blows with its wings, claw, tail, and head and repeatedly knocked them down.
• Han Ling forced herself to stand after another blow and saw that her sniper rifle was badly scratched and cracked.

As the team’s battle against the Profound Crystal Griffin deteriorated, Han Ling sent the Stone-Armored Beast away to survive and then returned to the fight. Zhou Xuan and the others debated retreating, while Han Ling reacted to Cao Yiyi’s idea of breaking through the Griffin’s defenses.

• Han Ling told the Stone-Armored Beast to flee, but stayed behind to continue fighting because of the team’s mission.
• The Stone-Armored Beast asked Han Ling to flee with her, then left after Han Ling refused.
• Zhou Xuan raised a stone wall to help a teammate defend against the Profound Crystal Griffin, but it crumbled on impact.
• Zhou Xuan asked the team whether they should retreat, and Wang Hu warned that they had little chance of escaping at close range.
• Cao Yiyi apologized and said that, with more Origin Power, she could borrow the others’ abilities to break through the Griffin’s defenses.
• Han Ling froze and looked toward Cao Yiyi after hearing her describe how she might break through the Griffin’s defenses.

As the humans prepared to retreat, Zhou Xuan worried that the Profound Crystal Griffin would target him and asked Sister Han to coordinate their escape. Instead, Sister Han’s reply suggested she wanted to try one more time, and the Griffin’s counterattack sent a human flying in a trail of blood.

• The humans debated how to retreat while continuing to hold off the Profound Crystal Griffin, and Zhou Xuan feared it would pursue him first.
• Zhou Xuan asked Wanying to contact Sister Han and proposed a plan that might let them both escape.
• Sister Han replied, “No, let's try one more time,” leaving Zhou Xuan confused.
• The injured Profound Crystal Griffin endured the humans’ attacks and struck down a charging fighter with its tail.
• The Griffin smashed through a mass of rock and incoming attacks, then slammed its claw into a human’s raised arms and sent him flying, bleeding.

The Profound Crystal Griffin shifted its goal from fighting the humans to killing Inspector Han, breaking her sniper rifle and striking her down. As the beast claw descended toward her, Han Ling raised the jade pendant, leaving her survival uncertain.

• The Profound Crystal Griffin slammed into the battlefield, then fought off the Calamity Beast-like human and assessed the injured humans around it.
• The Profound Crystal Griffin recognized Inspector Han as the key threat and pursued her while the other humans tried to reach her.
• Han Ling fired at the Griffin, but it neutralized her shot, shattered her sniper rifle, and struck her across the ground.
• Han Ling stood amid her injuries, noticed Stone nearby, and raised her jade pendant as the Profound Crystal Griffin brought its claw down.

Han Ling used the Azure Talisman Jade’s sealed wind blades to severely injure the Profound Crystal Griffin, which survived and confronted the group before retreating. Zhou Xuan and the others flew to check on Han Ling, who realized the beast may have been assessing them and might have attacked again if she had not struck.

• Han Ling controlled the Azure Talisman Jade’s wind blades, directing them through the snow curtain to wound the Profound Crystal Griffin.
• The Profound Crystal Griffin fired a pillar of light at Han Ling, but she continued sending wind blades toward it instead of fleeing.
• The wounded Profound Crystal Griffin emerged from the snow curtain with a missing forelimb and wing, then watched the group as they feared it could still fight.
• The Profound Crystal Griffin turned away and retreated as the gale rose again, and Zhou Xuan led the others toward Han Ling while Wang Hu watched the beast leave.
• Han Ling confirmed that she was only slightly injured and considered that the Profound Crystal Griffin might have been assessing the group before deciding whether to attack again.

After Han Ling said a Stone-Armored Beast had saved her from the Profound Crystal Griffin, Zhou Xuan and the others rushed to treat its severe injuries. The Stone-Armored Beast learned it might survive, but Zhou Xuan’s treatment knocked it unconscious.

• Han Ling told Zhou Xuan that the Stone-Armored Beast had pushed her out of the Profound Crystal Griffin’s attack and asked for rapid-healing gel to save it.
• Zhou Xuan and the others gathered more than three canisters of gel, and Zhou Xuan flew over to treat the wounded Stone-Armored Beast.
• The Stone-Armored Beast asked whether Han Ling was safe, and Zhou Xuan realized it had risked its life to save her.
• The Stone-Armored Beast could not stop its bleeding with Origin Power, so Zhou Xuan used electricity to make it faint before treating the wound.

After the battle with the Profound Crystal Griffin, the group discussed the Stone-Armored Beast’s potential and Zhou Xuan’s powerful attack. Wang Hu tried to recruit Zhou Xuan to Chongshan City, but Zhou Xuan rejected him with an insult about his height.

• Zhou Xuan treated the unconscious Stone-Armored Beast while Wang Hu explained that its B-class threat rating would limit its usefulness in serious fights.
• Wang Hu pointed out that the Profound Crystal Griffin had lost a claw and a wing, and Jiang Yue said they could return later to collect the Origin Crystals.
• Wang Hu praised Zhou Xuan’s Profitable Golden Spear and invited him to come to Chongshan City.
• Zhou Xuan considered why he preferred staying with Shen Heng and realized Wang Hu had tried recruiting someone from Shen Heng’s team before.
• Zhou Xuan told Wang Hu he did not want to join the team of someone who was too short.

After the battle, Han Ling and Cao Yiyi discussed the powerful Azure Talisman Jade, while Zhou Xuan’s blunt remark got him chased by Wang Hu. As Shen Heng’s group traveled back with injured teammates, he worried about the plan to capture a Sixth Tier Calamity Beast, then spotted distorted space surging toward them.

• Zhou Xuan said he did not want to join Wang Hu’s team because Wang Hu was too short, then tried to take back the remark as Wang Hu chased him.
• Cao Yiyi apologized to Han Ling for the Azure Talisman Jade being used, and Han Ling realized the talisman in her hand was cracked and its light had faded.
• Qin Yu reassured Xu Ruiyu that Shen Heng was fine and only needed treatment from a healer after they returned.
• Shen Heng rode on a Calamity Beast’s back and considered the plan to capture and interrogate a Sixth Tier Calamity Beast.
• Shen Heng noticed distorted space surging toward the group from the horizon.

Shen Shuning and Xiao Bai'er hid from a Near-S-Class Dragon Armor Beast and considered whether to attack it again despite their injuries. Meanwhile, Zhao Yonggang explained the new Great Xia Ruins Defense General Administration and rebuked Lü Mingzhe for viewing the restructuring as a loss of power for the Supervision Bureau.

• Shen Shuning and Xiao Bai'er waited for the Dragon Armor Beast to settle after narrowly escaping its attacks.
• Xiao Bai'er worried about their injuries and asked whether they should retreat or wait for help, but Shen Shuning asked if she dared to try again.
• Zhao Yonggang told Lü Mingzhe that the restructured agency would be called the Great Xia Ruins Defense General Administration.
• Zhao Yonggang explained that local Supervision Bureaus, a new special operations squad, and four military regions would serve as its six subordinate organizations.
• Zhao Yonggang said inspectors stationed in Erosion Zones would join their local military regions, while S-Class members would report directly to the Defense Administration.
• Zhao Yonggang rebuked Lü Mingzhe for treating the restructuring as a way to weaken the Supervision Bureau.

Zhao Yonggang explained to Lü Mingzhe why the Supervision Bureau was being restructured and assigned him to report a crisis in Makua. The chapter ended with Zhao Yonggang asking whether the Plateau Erosion Zone had shown any activity since the Sixth Tier Calamity Beast was captured.

• Zhao Yonggang challenged Lü Mingzhe to consider how the divide between inspectors and military district soldiers would undermine cooperation, and Lü Mingzhe admitted he had focused on his own interests.
• Zhao Yonggang explained that the restructuring would make existing changes explicit, reduce inspectors’ growing arrogance, and remove command obstacles caused by separate systems.
• Lü Mingzhe told Zhao Yonggang that Calamity Beasts in Makua’s Erosion Zone had overwhelmed local forces and that the Joint Management Committee was requesting high-tier martial artists.
• Zhao Yonggang agreed to discuss transferring inspectors to Makua at a General Directorate meeting.
• Zhao Yonggang asked whether the Plateau Erosion Zone had shown any activity since the capture of the Sixth Tier Calamity Beast.

Zhao Yonggang and Lü Mingzhe discussed the stalemate in the Plateau Erosion Zone and worried that the Calamity Beasts might be preparing a dangerous plan. After reflecting on mounting casualties and his reduced authority, Zhao Yonggang remained alone in his office, while Le Gu Nan finished her laboratory work and was stopped by Professor Yan as she prepared to leave.

• Lü Mingzhe reported that the Calamity Beasts were fighting around the two Eyes of Earth Marrow and four Anchor Points while attacking supply convoys, leaving both sides locked in a stalemate.
• Zhao Yonggang asked whether the Calamity Beasts had withdrawn because they could not defeat Great Xia; Lü Mingzhe agreed, though Zhao raised the possibility that they were plotting something more dangerous.
• Lü Mingzhe said Xingwei was slowly gaining strength and that a possible vessel for his seventh-tier breakthrough had been found in the Maritime Frontier Erosion Zone, though he still needed to meet the relevant rules.
• After Lü Mingzhe left, Zhao Yonggang reflected on the restructuring, his diminished authority, and the heavy monthly death tolls across the Erosion Zones.
• Le Gu Nan finished her assigned laboratory tasks and told Professor Yan she was leaving, but Professor Yan called for her to wait.

Le Gu Nan completed her preliminary studies with Yan Yu, who directed her to join the Special Operations Squad and improve her ability before attempting to enter an Erosion Zone. In the Matadi Erosion Zone, Shuofeng ordered an Echo Beast to translate the pleas of a human survivor.

• Le Gu Nan answered Yan Yu's questions, and he told her that her research-lab studies were preliminarily complete.
• Yan Yu advised Le Gu Nan to apply to the Special Operations Squad, but refused her request to go to an Erosion Zone because her ability's delay would make her a burden.
• Yan Yu told Le Gu Nan to seek an evolution of her ability and arranged for her to return to the lab every two weeks; she thanked and said goodbye to the researchers.
• In the Matadi Erosion Zone, Shuofeng stood over a wounded human and called an Echo Beast to translate the man's words.
• The Echo Beast signaled the human to speak, and the man pleaded for his life and offered to guide Shuofeng.

Qu Tong prepared to assess General Shen Heng and learned that Shen Heng had studied psychology because his ability could influence other creatures’ emotions and behavior. The assessment began with Qu Tong asking about Shen Heng’s background and abilities.

• Qu Tong explained to a young physician how to interpret the gap between a soldier’s normal subjective scores and abnormal behavioral data.
• Qu Tong left to conduct a personal assessment and was surprised to find Shen Heng, a young general wearing a rising-sun armband, already waiting.
• Qu Tong introduced himself and explained that the assessment would be recorded, and Shen Heng agreed to proceed.
• Qu Tong asked about Shen Heng’s psychology studies, and Shen Heng said he had learned from materials obtained through Martial World Easy Exchange.
• Shen Heng explained that his ability could slightly influence other creatures’ emotions and behavior.

Shen Heng underwent a psychological assessment with Qu Tong, who used the Projection Technique to evaluate him through casual conversation. Qu Tong submitted a preliminary report for confirmation, and Shen Heng continued to an enormous building, where an old Taoist waited on the top floor.

• Qu Tong explained social desirability bias and asked Shen Heng whether he would lie during the assessment, and Shen Heng answered no.
• Qu Tong and Shen Heng talked for hours about the front lines, Calamity Beasts, comrades, and life outside the Erosion Zone while Qu Tong used the Projection Technique.
• Qu Tong reviewed the assessment report, felt uneasy about Shen Heng's unusual candor, then signed and submitted the report for confirmation.
• Shen Heng received a notification that his preliminary assessment had found no issues but required confirmation, and he continued on his way.
• Shen Heng took an elevator to the top floor of an enormous building, where an old Taoist looked over at him.

Shen Heng visited Li Daoyi before returning to Shuofang City, and they talked over tea about his preparations and psychological assessment. Li Daoyi then asked whether the person at Northern Martial Arts was Shen Heng’s older sister.

• Shen Heng told Li Daoyi that he had finished speaking with the chief, completing his psychological assessment, and collecting supplies, and planned to leave the next morning for Shuofang City.
• Shen Heng used his mental power to pour away the first brew and prepare tea after Li Daoyi told him to strain it.
• Shen Heng said his assessment showed normal results with somewhat high stress, while Li Daoyi said he had not taken an assessment because his mental realm let him see through everything.
• Li Daoyi asked Shen Heng whether the person at Northern Martial Arts was his older sister.

Shen Heng learned that his sister and the other first graduates of Southern and Northern Martial Arts would be sent to the Erosion Zones, and asked Li Daoyi to keep her away from the Plateau Erosion Zone. He also discovered that sixth-tier Origin Crystals were scarce and that he might have to wait for one to attempt ability evolution, but Li Daoyi promised to find him a late sixth-tier crystal if he advanced.

• Li Daoyi told Shen Heng that the first graduating class of Southern and Northern Martial Arts would be assigned to the Erosion Zones, and Shen Heng accepted that he could not simply keep his sister off the front lines.
• Shen Heng asked Li Daoyi to request that Shen Shuning not be assigned to the Plateau Erosion Zone, explaining that he had a faint bad feeling; Li Daoyi agreed it was possible.
• Li Daoyi explained that ability evolution required synchronization and enough Origin Power to stimulate the brain, and that late-stage crystals could suffice for martial artists at earlier stages.
• Shen Heng learned that Great Xia had fewer sixth-tier Origin Crystals than applicants and had reserved three for A-Class ability users, leaving others to wait in line.
• Shen Heng wondered whether to delay a future breakthrough, and Li Daoyi urged him to advance if he could, promising to find him a late sixth-tier Origin Crystal.

Shen Heng ate with his squad in Shuofang City and discussed the city's scarce, costly vegetables and the soldiers' routine missions. Han Ling reported that Liang Yanhao and dozens of other teams had gone out, then Qin Yu revealed she had developed a new inscription.

• Shen Heng reflected on the extreme scarcity and high cost of vegetables in Shuofang City while sharing a meal with his squad.
• Zhou Xuan and Lü Wenrui argued over the spinach before Zhou Xuan asked Shen Heng whether anything had changed during his return.
• Shen Heng said there had been no changes, and Han Ling confirmed that nothing unusual had happened in the past two days.
• Han Ling told Shen Heng that Liang Yanhao had taken his squad farther ahead to scout for Calamity Beast movements and that forty-two other teams had applied to go out.
• Han Ling directed Shen Heng's attention to Qin Yu, who told him she had developed another new inscription.

Qin Yu introduced Barrier, a defensive inscription that could block or weaken attacks, while Zhou Xuan and Lü Wenrui argued over redeeming it and Zhou revealed someone had bought his Profitable Golden Spear. After learning that Shen Heng had studied the new inscription, Qin Yu and Han Ling questioned why he kept learning inscriptions, leaving Shen Heng to reflect on Qin Yu’s unusual talent.

• Qin Yu explained that Barrier formed an Origin Power barrier and was about as strong as a C-Class combat skill.
• Zhou Xuan challenged Lü Wenrui to redeem Barrier, and Lü Wenrui accepted the challenge.
• Zhou Xuan revealed that someone had bought his Profitable Golden Spear on Martial World Easy Exchange, though the others pointed out its high requirements limited its appeal.
• Lü Wenrui asked Shen Heng whether he had learned Barrier, and Shen Heng confirmed that he had.
• Qin Yu and Han Ling urged Shen Heng not to learn every inscription, but Shen Heng said that learning more could help with whatever they faced later.
• Shen Heng considered Qin Yu’s role in developing inscriptions and his rapid rise to late fifth tier.

Qin Yu showed Shen Heng the barrier inscription she had developed using his Vibrating Blade method, explaining its design, effects, and possible improvements. Shen Heng approved her research and watched as she began teaching him how to draw the inscription.

• Qin Yu drew the barrier inscription’s concentric-circle pattern on an earthen slab and explained how it used layered Origin Power.
• Han Ling pointed out that Qin Yu’s design resembled Shen Heng’s Vibrating Blade method, and Qin Yu apologized for using it in her research.
• Qin Yu activated the inscription, forming a hemispherical barrier that Shen Heng tested and judged to meet the C-Class standard.
• Qin Yu described plans to strengthen the barrier or adjust its coverage, while Shen Heng suggested improving how it redirected Origin Power toward attacks.
• Shen Heng told Qin Yu to continue researching without neglecting cultivation, then agreed to learn the inscription as Qin Yu began explaining how to draw its lines.

Shen Heng taught Han Ling to practice Life Simulation with Origin Power, then continued training her in Inscription and praised her talent. As they discussed their abilities and whether to return to Linhai, Han Ling said she was more concerned about Little Bell and their failure to visit regularly.

• Shen Heng showed Han Ling how to use Origin Power to simulate a living creature, and she struggled to make her little tiger move.
• Shen Heng suggested Han Ling begin Life Simulation with the ancient tree she already knew, and she managed to sway its branches and leaves briefly.
• Han Ling pointed out that Shen Heng had made an Inscription line two millimeters too shallow, and he continued practicing.
• Shen Heng praised Han Ling for developing two Inscriptions on her own, and Han Ling praised his achievements despite having a B-Class support-type ability.
• Shen Heng asked whether Han Ling wanted to return to Linhai, and she said she was more concerned about Little Bell and their missed visits.

Shen Heng and Han Ling discussed the war against the Calamity Beasts, the possibility of strategic shifts, and the danger of a future Ruins Realm invasion. After practicing under Han Ling's guidance, Shen Heng successfully learned to create a Barrier Inscription.

• Shen Heng asked Han Ling about her contact with Little Bell, and Han Ling shared Little Bell's promise to study and care for her grandparents.
• Han Ling explained that either humanity or the Calamity Beasts might change strategy, and that other Erosion Zones could face seventh-tier Calamity Beasts within a year or two.
• Shen Heng warned that the Ruins Realm might use other Erosion Zones to launch a large-scale invasion and that nuclear bombs might not stop seventh-tier Calamity Beasts.
• Han Ling asked whether humanity could resist the Ruins Realm, and Shen Heng said they could only do their best and leave the rest to Heaven.
• Shen Heng completed a Barrier Inscription on an earthen slab and realized he had learned it.

Kuang Jie fought the Iron Bull Beast that had killed his friend Zhao Ming while the battle against the Calamity Beasts raged. When a human standing atop the fallen Lord Ink Jiaolong prompted the beasts to flee, Captain Shen halted the chaotic pursuit and ordered post-battle operations.

• Kuang Jie killed a Crimson Mane Horse and saw that human casualties had risen as firearms proved less effective against the beasts.
• Kuang Jie recognized Zhao Ming’s corpse and charged the Iron Bull Beast beside it, but their fight was interrupted when Lord Ink Jiaolong fell from the sky.
• A human rose atop Lord Ink Jiaolong’s corpse, and the Calamity Beasts fled after one cried that the human had killed their lord.
• Soldiers pursued the fleeing beasts, but others tried to stop them; Kuang Jie resisted until Captain Shen’s calm order brought the fighting to a halt.
• Captain Shen ordered everyone to treat the wounded, handle the dead, and then deal with the Calamity Beast corpses.

Xu Ruiyu reported on the battle against the Calamity Beasts, and the officers reviewed the casualties and results. Zhou Zhenguo challenged their satisfaction with the casualty ratio, while the officers turned to Shen Heng to check their judgment.

• Xu Ruiyu reported that human forces had divided into groups and killed 11,376 Calamity Beasts.
• Xu Ruiyu reported 4,762 soldiers killed and 3,215 seriously wounded, including 351 who had to leave the Erosion Zone.
• Zhou Zhenguo rebuked the officers for being satisfied with a casualty ratio barely above one to two.
• The officers looked to Shen Heng for reassurance, prompting Zhou Zhenguo to compare them to students checking their answers with the best problem-solver.