Chapter Summaries

Shen Heng counted seventy-eight Calamity Beasts gathering around the high-rise and used silent roars to provoke them into fighting. The beasts’ conflict erupted into a growing melee below, beginning the slaughter.

• Shen Heng counted seventy-eight Calamity Beasts within the five-kilometer lightning ring.
• Calamity Beasts crowded the street, and a Three-Horned Tyrannosaurus claimed the abandoned fountain as others gave it space.
• A Blackscale Hound entered the high-rise and climbed upward, seeking a more comfortable place to settle.
• Shen Heng silently imitated a Calamity Beast’s roar, prompting the catlike beast below the Blackscale Hound to keep challenging it.
• The Blackscale Hound attacked the catlike Calamity Beast, which fled downstairs with the hound chasing it and drawing other Calamity Beasts into a growing melee.

As lightning drove Calamity Beasts toward the centers of their circles, several groups struggled to survive encounters across the city. Shen Heng learned that sixteen Calamity Beasts remained and considered when the group should descend, but a message suddenly ordered them to go down.

• Chen Yang and Wang Xu kept to the edge of their lightning circle, hoping to avoid the Calamity Beasts gathering toward its center.
• Cao Mingyu, Wu Hongxuan, and their companions killed more than a dozen Calamity Beasts at the stadium before an eight-legged beast climbed the wall toward them.
• Zhou Xuan raised a towering wall to escape the Calamity Beasts pursuing him, Lü Wenrui, and Fang Ran, but the trio soon encountered a Dragon Armor Beast.
• Xiao Xiangtong told Shen Heng she would descend when sixteen Calamity Beasts remained and lure a few away, while he planned to wait until only seven or eight were left.
• Shen Heng saw the words "Now, go down!" appear in the empty air.

Shen Heng and the others obeyed the instructor’s order, lured the remaining Calamity Beasts into the building, and eventually defeated all fifteen after the structure collapsed. When the simulation ended, Shen Heng was singled out for using his ability to guide Calamity Beasts into killing other participants, and purple lightning struck him as he was left behind.

• Shen Heng proposed fighting the remaining Calamity Beasts on the building’s first floor, after the void rejected higher-floor choices.
• Two hours later, Shen Heng, Xiao Xiangtong, Yu Ruofei, and Xiong Yingluo defeated the last Calamity Beast after the building collapsed and forced them to face the remaining beasts outside.
• Shen Heng noticed that the other participants’ scores had stopped changing and wondered how Zhou Xuan, Lü Wenrui, and Fang Ran had gained 190 points.
• When the simulation ended, Xiao Xiangtong and the others faded away, but Shen Heng remained behind.
• An indifferent voice punished Shen Heng for using his ability to guide Calamity Beasts into killing other members, and purple lightning struck him, tearing apart and reassembling his consciousness.

After Jiang Xingwei punished Shen Heng and Yang Xu, Shen Heng emerged from the simulation with a clearer mind and a newly refined ability to map his surroundings through echoes. The intensive training ended, and the trainees gathered for a final meal as others asked how their teams had killed Dragon Armor Beasts.

• Jiang Xingwei said Shen Heng and Yang Xu both deserved punishment, though Yang Xu would be punished more harshly for attacking first.
• Shen Heng woke in the tiered classroom with a Clear and Pure Spirit Platform and discovered he could use reflected sound waves to create a three-dimensional image of his surroundings.
• Shen Heng noticed Yang Xu still seemed dazed, while Zhang Chenguang announced that the simulation and intensive training were over and the trainees could return home the next day.
• The trainees celebrated their final meal with real Calamity Beast meat and alcohol, and Shen Heng ate quietly with Cao Mingyu and the others.
• A trainee asked Shen Heng how he and Xiao Xiangtong had killed a Dragon Armor Beast, and Shen Heng said they collapsed a tunnel to injure it before Xiao Xiangtong finished it off.
• The trainees turned their attention to how Zhou Xuan, Lü Wenrui, and Fang Ran had killed the other Dragon Armor Beast despite all being Tier 2.

Shen Heng learned that Lü Wenrui’s Fortune ability had caused both the Dragon Armor Beast’s lightning strike and the group’s repeated misfortunes. Lü Wenrui explained that his luck shifted between bad and good, leaving Shen Heng to consider how the ability worked.

• Shen Heng heard that Zhou Xuan, Fang Ran, and Lü Wenrui had killed the Dragon Armor Beast, and Lü Wenrui claimed his ability had called down lightning that crippled it.
• Shen Heng realized the lightning had likely been caused by the thundercloud over the simulation and wondered whether Lü Wenrui’s ability could produce other strange accidents.
• Lü Wenrui told the group his ability was called Fortune and said it brought him occasional good luck, though it did not guarantee winnings.
• Shen Heng questioned Lü Wenrui about the group’s misfortunes, and Lü Wenrui admitted his ability might have caused the Calamity Beasts to find them and other mishaps.
• Lü Wenrui explained that luck alternated between good and bad, and that bad luck beforehand could make a later stroke of good fortune greater.

After intensive training, Shen Heng and his teammates celebrated at a banquet, recalling their simulation and debating whose abilities were strongest. The gathering ended with the team singing a military song together.

• Shen Heng told Cao Mingyu and the others how Yang Xu had died in the simulation, easing Cao Mingyu’s anger and satisfying the group.
• The team replaced the remaining Calamity Beast meat with ordinary food and shared stories about embarrassing incidents from training.
• The team members praised several abilities, while Yu Ruofei argued that Shen Heng’s D-rank ability was powerful; Shen Heng let the discussion pass without defending himself.
• As the banquet quieted, the team began singing a military song together, and Shen Heng joined in.

On the flight back to Linhai, Shen Heng reviewed how the training camp had improved his cultivation, combat skills, experience, mental power, and perception. At 07 Military Base, Chang Lei evaluated the participants and saw Shen Heng ranked fifth overall with an A+ rating despite his D-rank ability.

• Shen Heng reflected on reaching late second tier and gaining new combat techniques, practical experience, clearer mental power, and Echolocation during the camp.
• Chang Lei evaluated Xiao Xiangtong and the other training camp participants on their combat performance, improvement, potential, and other qualities.
• Chang Lei rated Shen Heng's combat performance 84, noting his tactical skill and unusual strength and speed alongside the limits of his low-ranked ability.
• Chang Lei waited for Cao Zhenghao to finish evaluating the remaining participants and viewed the overall aptitude rankings.
• Chang Lei saw Shen Heng in fifth place with an A+ overall rating and was pleased that he had ranked so highly despite having a D-rank ability.

Three months after leaving Linhai for training, Shen Heng returned and met Le Gu Nan outside the Supervision Bureau, where they caught up on the team and her progress. He began to tell her about the training camp.

• Shen Heng returned to Linhai, left a note for his family, and went to the Supervision Bureau.
• Shen Heng found Le Gu Nan waiting outside with Dahuang and learned about recent Calamity Beast incidents, including a Tier 3 appearance and some beasts the team could not locate.
• Le Gu Nan told Shen Heng that Wei Leyang had reached Tier 3 and Wu Cheng's Spark ability had evolved to B-rank.
• Le Gu Nan demonstrated forming multiple cone-shaped constructs, and Shen Heng suggested she learn to analyze concrete and asphalt as additional combat materials.
• Dahuang ignored Shen Heng, and Le Gu Nan played him a video of dogs fighting over food before asking Shen Heng about the training camp.

Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan were dispatched to Red Leaf Mall after a Calamity Beast appeared there. As police sealed off the area and onlookers watched from a distance, more officers gathered outside, but the threat inside remained unknown.

• Shen Heng wondered when the captain would reach Fourth Tier and considered how close he and Le Gu Nan were to Tier 3.
• Le Gu Nan received a report of a Calamity Beast at Red Leaf Mall, and Shen Heng joined her on the mission.
• Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan left Dahuang at the Supervision Bureau and drove toward Red Leaf Mall.
• Police guarded the mall while frightened people fled, and an officer ran inside after an apparent disagreement with colleagues.
• Police moved onlookers and blocked the road, but a young couple stayed nearby to watch as the number of officers outside the mall grew beyond twenty.

Shen Heng arrived at Red Leaf Mall and used a newly developed ability to detect one Third Tier and seven Tier 2 Calamity Beasts inside. Despite Fan Hong’s concern, Shen Heng decided to enter the mall, prompting Fan Hong to ask whether he had reached Third Tier.

• A boy and girl watched officers enter Red Leaf Mall, where a Calamity Beast attacked and an officer fell.
• Shen Heng arrived at the mall with Le Gu Nan, and he told her to gather information from Fan Hong while he checked for activity inside.
• Fan Hong told Le Gu Nan that officers had contained the Calamity Beasts, and Xu Kai was protecting people hiding in a second-floor shop.
• Shen Heng used his ability to map the mall and announced that one Third Tier and seven Tier 2 Calamity Beasts were inside.
• Shen Heng said they should enter the mall, and Fan Hong asked whether he had reached Third Tier.

Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan entered the mall to confront the Calamity Beasts inside, while Fan Hong watched from the entrance. After they killed two ambushing beasts, they advanced toward a Black Jade Lion, and Shen Heng prepared to fight it.

• Shen Heng reassured Fan Hong that he could escape if necessary, then agreed to let Le Gu Nan accompany him into the mall.
• Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan entered despite Fan Hong's warning that Calamity Beasts might be hiding near the entrance.
• Two Calamity Beasts ambushed them, but Shen Heng cut one down and struck the other as they charged.
• Fan Hong sent officers to carry Wang Zhigang out after seeing the entrance was safe for the moment.
• Shen Heng warned Le Gu Nan that a Second Tier beast was approaching, and they prepared to face the Black Jade Lion.

Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan killed five Black Jade Lions at Red Leaf Mall, then paused when they found the remaining beasts gathered near a trapped group. As the others arrived, the beasts began battering the iron door, and Shen Heng decided to move in before help could reach them.

• Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan killed two more Black Jade Lions, then discovered that a Third Tier and two Second Tier beasts were gathered upstairs by a damaged iron door.
• Le Gu Nan suggested waiting for the others, and Shen Heng agreed to hold back one floor below the beasts.
• Wu Cheng arrived and learned from Fan Hong that Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan had entered the mall despite the number and strength of the Calamity Beasts.
• Han Ling arrived and contacted Le Gu Nan, who explained that only the three gathered beasts remained; Shen Heng then heard them ramming the iron door.
• Shen Heng told Le Gu Nan there was no time to wait and ordered her to tell the others to hurry inside.

Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan confronted the Black Jade Lion King and its companions as the Calamity Beasts attacked a damaged iron door. Inside a freezer, injured police officer Xu Kai spotted the pair facing the beasts and watched Shen Heng raise his saber as they charged.

• Shen Heng told Le Gu Nan that the Calamity Beasts had started moving, and they hurried to their location.
• A Black Jade Lion rammed a damaged iron door before Shen Heng stopped another lion by striking his saber against the floor.
• Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan faced the Black Jade Lion King and two other Calamity Beasts.
• Xu Kai, injured while rescuing people at Red Leaf Shopping Mall, hid with them in a freezer as the Calamity Beasts battered its iron door.
• Xu Kai looked through a hole in the door and saw Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan face three Calamity Beasts.
• The Black Jade Lion King sent the two smaller beasts charging, and Shen Heng raised his saber to meet them.

Han Ling and Wu Cheng rushed into the mall to help Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan, only to find that they had already killed one tier 3 and two tier 2 Black Jade Lions. After the team freed the people trapped in a storeroom and Le Gu Nan began treating Xu Kai, Shen Heng reassured a little girl that Ultraman had left after defeating the monsters.

• Han Ling and Wu Cheng searched the mall’s upper floors after they could not reach Gu Nan by earpiece.
• Han Ling heard fighting and led Wu Cheng toward the sounds, but they found Shen Heng and Le Gu Nan standing beside three dead Black Jade Lions.
• Han Ling asked Shen Heng how he had grown strong enough to kill a tier 3 Calamity Beast, and he said they could discuss it later.
• Shen Heng asked Han Ling to break open the jammed storeroom door, and she kicked it open.
• Le Gu Nan began treating Xu Kai while Shen Heng told the other people in the storeroom that it was safe to come out.
• A little girl asked where Ultraman was, and Shen Heng told her that he had left after beating the monsters.

Shen Heng escorted the rescued civilians from the mall and reunited with Wang Hai and Wei Leyang before recounting the battle at the Supervision Bureau. He explained how training camp had improved his weapon techniques and abilities, leaving Wu Cheng surprised that Shen Heng expected to reach Tier 3 soon.

• Shen Heng agreed to escort the rescued people downstairs while Han Ling stayed with Le Gu Nan and the injured man, and Wu Cheng accompanied him.
• Shen Heng and Wu Cheng led the civilians through the blue tent, where the white mist made them fall silent, then met Wang Hai, Wei Leyang, and Fan Hong outside.
• That night at the Supervision Bureau cafeteria, Shen Heng explained how he had fought the Black Jade Lions and saved his ability for a decisive surprise attack.
• Shen Heng told the others that training camp had taught him new ways to strengthen his weapon attacks and use Falling Wild Goose Steps and Echo.
• Wu Cheng reacted with surprise when Shen Heng said he expected to reach Tier 3 in a month or two.

Shen Heng returned home and found his mother, Xu Yuqin, waiting for him despite her worsening cough. Unable to find a Firmament Breath Beast Lung Crystal through the exchange, he posted a bounty for information about a Firmament Breath Beast.

• Shen Heng’s teammates discussed his rapid progress toward Tier 3 and teased Wu Cheng for being the slowest among them.
• Shen Heng went home after his captain urged him to rest and spend time with his family.
• Shen Heng found Xu Yuqin asleep on the sofa, shared chicken soup with her, and learned that her job had become easy but her cough continued.
• Shen Heng considered how to obtain a Firmament Breath Beast Lung Crystal to cure Xu Yuqin and decided to seek information about a beast instead of waiting for one to appear on the exchange.
• Shen Heng posted a bounty offering 1,000 points for a valid lead and another 1,000 points after the matter was completed.

Shen Heng sensed a powerful disturbance spreading from beyond the horizon and found reports suggesting it came from the Boundless Ocean. Later, he trained with Wang Hai, who let Shen Heng continue attacking despite his blows being unable to break through.

• Shen Heng improved his Origin Power control and Flow as he cultivated, while Wu Cheng broke through to tier 3 during the following half month.
• Shen Heng felt deep humming sound waves sweep over him and suspected a huge eruption had occurred beyond the horizon.
• Shen Heng searched foreign news and found reports of unusual shaking across several countries, including a comment placing its source in the Boundless Ocean.
• Shen Heng trained with Wang Hai, attacking with his saber while Wang Hai dodged and blocked his strikes.
• Wang Hai stood still as Shen Heng thrust his saber toward his flank.

Shen Heng trained with Wang Hai and discovered that Vibrating Blade could send sound waves outward as a ranged attack. Han Ling then summoned the Linhai City Supervision Bureau to view an online video showing a colossal silhouette amid thick fog and purple lightning.

• Shen Heng and Wang Hai sparred, but Shen Heng's attacks could not break through Wang Hai's A-rank defenses.
• Wang Hai tested Vibrating Blade and pointed out that its vibrations could injure beyond merely sharpening the blade.
• Shen Heng realized he could release the blade's vibrations as an enhanced ranged Sound Wave Attack.
• Han Ling interrupted the training to report a major incident and showed the bureau members a video of a huge silhouette in fog filled with purple lightning.

The Supervision Bureau watched footage of a gigantic Calamity Beast fighting in the clouds, and Shen Heng inferred that it had survived a nuclear attack in Rice Country before fleeing toward Great Xia. Le Gu Nan estimated the beast was over two hundred meters tall, while the battle’s outcome remained unknown.

• Han Ling confirmed that the distant silhouette was a Calamity Beast and said multiple witnesses had recorded it.
• The footage showed the enormous beast battling amid clouds and purple lightning, while Shen Heng recognized Li Daoyi and Jiang Xingwei’s likely involvement and suspected other Fifth Tier fighters were present.
• Shen Heng connected the beast’s damaged wing and the footage to the ripples he had seen, reasoning that Rice Country had attacked it with a high-yield nuclear bomb before it fled toward Great Xia.
• The recorded battle moved farther away as the Calamity Beast grew smaller, and the footage ended without showing the fight’s resolution.
• Le Gu Nan paused the footage and estimated from the cloud height and camera angle that the Calamity Beast stood over two hundred meters tall.

Shen Heng and the others watched footage of a massive Calamity Beast being attacked by purple lightning and a giant sword before it fell into the sea. Han Ling revealed that tens of thousands of people near Magic City had witnessed the battle, leaving the team unsure how to handle the exposure.

• Wang Hai estimated that the over-two-hundred-meter Calamity Beast was at least seventh tier, far beyond the fifth-tier beasts recorded so far.
• Han Ling showed footage from a seaside video that revealed the Calamity Beast fighting a giant broadsword amid purple lightning.
• The Calamity Beast was struck by a pillar of lightning and fell into the sea, after which the clouds dispersed.
• Han Ling told Wang Hai that tens of thousands of people near Magic City had witnessed the battle and that many had posted videos online.
• Shen Heng worried that deleting online videos would not solve the problem of the many direct eyewitnesses.