Chapter Summaries

As a Calamity Beast horde advanced, Tang Yuanyang assigned Shen Heng and Han Ling to handle two fourth-tier beasts while he confronted three others. Han Ling killed the Six-Winged Rot Moth with her explosive attacks, and the soldiers began retreating as Shen Heng and Tang Yuanyang prepared to face the remaining horde.

• Han Ling moved to a position where she could support Shen Heng, while Tang Yuanyang assessed the fourth-tier Calamity Beasts and divided their targets.
• Han Ling's explosive shots tore through the Six-Winged Rot Moth, killing it in seconds and startling Lü Wenrui and Tang Yuanyang.
• Han Ling redirected her attacks toward the Scalearmor Lizard and destroyed Calamity Beasts thrown toward the camp by the Gray-Furred Giant Ape.
• Shen Heng ordered the soldiers to retreat, and Lü Wenrui went to assist with the evacuation.
• Tang Yuanyang revised the plan, leaving Shen Heng and Han Ling to handle two beasts while he took the others, and they faced the advancing horde.

Shen Heng faced a beast tide and singled out a One-Horned Lizard and an unfamiliar Castle Spider while fighting off a Black-Brown Tiger. As the camp evacuated under attack, a Calamity Beast was hurled over Han Ling's defensive line and wrecked an armored vehicle, while Tang Yuanyang fought a Gray-Furred Giant Ape and a Scalearmor Lizard.

• Shen Heng assessed the approaching beast tide, killed a Black-Brown Tiger, and focused on a One-Horned Lizard and an unknown Castle Spider.
• Qin Ye checked that everyone had evacuated the camp, then joined Xu Ruiyu and Lü Wenrui in an armored vehicle as Calamity Beasts pursued them.
• Lü Wenrui watched a Calamity Beast sail over the vehicle, unable to stop it from crashing into another armored vehicle and flipping it into the air.
• Tang Yuanyang dodged attacks from the Gray-Furred Giant Ape and Scalearmor Lizard while his needles slowed them, but the beasts used Origin Power to resist the effect.

Tang Yuanyang struggled to hold off the gray-furred giant ape and armored lizard, but Han Ling’s timely attack saved him from the ape’s crushing strike. He then saw Shen Heng had already brought the castle spider down and was overwhelming the horned lizard, leaving Tang Yuanyang stunned by the gap between abilities and combat power.

• Tang Yuanyang fought the gray-furred giant ape and armored lizard alone while worrying that Shen Heng and Han Ling might be in danger against the castle spider and horned lizard.
• The gray-furred giant ape released a slowing field and leapt at Tang Yuanyang, forcing him to prepare a desperate escape.
• Han Ling struck the giant ape with a fiery attack, giving Tang Yuanyang enough time to get clear.
• Tang Yuanyang turned to warn Han Ling to help Shen Heng, then saw the castle spider collapsed with a fatal wound at its neck.
• Shen Heng continued cutting off the horned lizard’s attacks and steadily wounding it, even while dealing with nearby Calamity Beasts.
• Tang Yuanyang watched the fight and wondered how Shen Heng’s seemingly semi-support ability could produce such overwhelming combat power.

Shen Heng discovered that the One-Horned Lizard had fled toward the Light Gate, then sent Han Ling to help Lü Wenrui defend against Calamity Beasts threatening the evacuating soldiers. Meanwhile, a Rust Wolf attacked the armored-vehicle convoy and kept the soldiers locked in a stalemate.

• Shen Heng searched for the One-Horned Lizard and spotted it running toward the Light Gate.
• The One-Horned Lizard dodged Han Ling's attacks and fled, lamenting that it had not found any ores or metals.
• Han Ling reported that eleven Calamity Beasts had bypassed the battlefield and were pursuing the evacuating soldiers, so Shen Heng sent her to support Lü Wenrui.
• A Rust Wolf overturned an armored vehicle and tried to claw through its door as nearby vehicles opened fire.
• The Rust Wolf used the overturned vehicle for cover and maneuvered against the soldiers, prompting a short-haired man to suggest that each vehicle cover a different direction.

Qin Ye’s squad abandoned a trapped soldier and withdrew as Lü Wenrui held off the Rust Wolf, while pursuing Calamity Beasts closed in. Elsewhere, a tiger-headed Calamity Beast swatted an armored vehicle aside before a towering figure appeared behind it.

• Qin Ye and Xu Ruiyu reached the overturned armored vehicle and learned that Li Qiang and Yunliang were dead, while Xiujie and Old Wang were trapped inside.
• Qin Ye ordered the others to abandon the rescue, saluted the conscious trapped soldier, and led the squad back to the vehicles.
• Lü Wenrui drew the Rust Wolf away from the wreck, then returned to the convoy as it withdrew before the pursuing Calamity Beasts caught up.
• The Rust Wolf approached the overturned vehicle after the convoy left, while Qin Ye and Xu Ruiyu wondered whether such losses would become normal.
• A tiger-headed Calamity Beast blocked machine-gun fire and swatted an armored vehicle aside, then fled when a nearly three-meter-tall figure roared behind it.

Chang Lan lay wounded as a Calamity Beast approached, but someone struck it down before it could kill her. After the battle at the camp, Shen Heng discussed his combat technique with Tang Yuanyang and learned that soldiers had suffered casualties; the chapter ended with Tang Yuanyang distinguishing a soldier’s bounden duty from the mission of protecting the people.

• Chang Lan lay bleeding as a Calamity Beast descended on her, until a broadsword cleaved into it.
• Li Daoyi watched the Light Gate from a rooftop and judged that no more Calamity Beasts would emerge that day.
• Shen Heng killed the last Calamity Beast in his area and reflected on how oxygen deprivation affected his endurance.
• Tang Yuanyang asked Shen Heng about his speed, and Shen Heng explained that he used a rare combat technique developed around his ability.
• Han Ling reported that a Calamity Beast had attacked an armored vehicle, killing two soldiers and injuring two others.
• Lü Wenrui asked whether they should reinforce other locations, and Tang Yuanyang said that protecting the people was a soldier’s mission, not his bounden duty.

Shen Heng explained why the team had to hold their position instead of supporting other fighters, and Lü Wenrui realized that frontline soldiers might be sacrificed to secure the larger victory. After the battle, the group gathered to divide the Origin Crystals recovered from the Calamity Beasts.

• Tang Yuanyang and Shen Heng told Lü Wenrui that the team had to obey its orders and guard its position against another possible Calamity Beast attack.
• Shen Heng explained that the advantaged side had to prevent the enemy from making risky moves, even if doing so required paying a price, and Lü Wenrui understood that frontline fighters could become that price.
• By early morning, headquarters began loading the dead Calamity Beasts onto trucks after the fighting ended at all three locations.
• Shen Heng brought out the Origin Crystals the Logistics Department had recovered from the team's kills and prepared to divide them with Han Ling, Tang Yuanyang, and Lü Wenrui.

Shen Heng and the others distributed the Origin Crystals from their battle, and Shen Heng began cultivating with his share. In the Capital, Zhao Yonggang learned of the deaths at the Plateau Erosion Zone and questioned why its Calamity Beasts had attacked differently from those in the other zones.

• Lü Wenrui counted the forty-six Origin Crystals and marveled at their value.
• Shen Heng proposed a distribution based on contributions, and Han Ling argued that he and Tang Yuanyang deserved larger shares for holding off the fourth-tier beasts.
• Shen Heng revised the shares so he, Han Ling, and Tang Yuanyang each received thirty percent while Lü Wenrui received ten percent; Han Ling took only two fourth-tier Origin Crystals.
• Shen Heng absorbed Origin Power from a fourth-tier Origin Crystal in his tent.
• Lü Mingzhe reported that one inspector and twenty-three soldiers had died in the Plateau Erosion Zone, while the other two zones had suffered no casualties.
• Zhao Yonggang asked Lü Mingzhe why only the Plateau Erosion Zone's Calamity Beasts had changed their attack method.

Zhao Yonggang and Lü Mingzhe reviewed developments involving the Erosion Zones, the Yuchuan Light Gate, and the Jiang Lin defenses before preparing for a press conference. Zhao Yonggang began the briefing on recent matters concerning the Ruins Realm.

• Lü Mingzhe suggested that the Calamity Beasts’ tactics might be directed by independent commanders or part of an experiment, and Zhao Yonggang ordered the intelligence shared with the Joint Realm Domain Management Committee.
• Zhao Yonggang learned that the stable Yuchuan Light Gate allowed materials and Calamity Beasts to pass safely, and ordered resource agencies to begin extraction preparations.
• Lü Mingzhe reported that Jiang Lin’s defensive line remained stable despite insufficient firepower from neighboring countries, while preparations for a plan continued.
• Zhao Yonggang and Lü Mingzhe discussed their heavy workloads, and Zhao Yonggang promised Lü Mingzhe a performance bonus when the crisis eased.
• Zhao Yonggang went to the press conference and began updating the assembled media on recent matters concerning the Ruins Realm.

At a press conference, Zhao Yonggang explained that Calamity Beasts would now mainly be found in Erosion Zones or at Light Gates, leaving hunting squads uncertain about their livelihoods. Mei Duo offered to support the Thorn Squad with monthly salaries so its members could keep cultivating and remain ready to operate.

• Lin Xiaoyu, Wang Kai, Mei Duo, and Fang Ji speculated about why Calamity Beasts had stopped appearing as they waited for the press conference.
• Zhao Yonggang reported on the Ruins Realm, Light Gates, and the Supervision Bureau’s plans for handling them.
• After the conference, martial artists worried that fewer Calamity Beasts would leave hunting squads without work or income.
• Lin Xiaoyu and the Thorn Squad members considered how they would afford cultivation if hunting stopped.
• Mei Duo promised each Thorn Squad member a monthly salary of 100,000 yuan so they could cultivate and keep the squad ready to operate.

Mei Duo considered paying Lin Xiaoyu, Wang Kai, and Fang Ji to keep the Thorn Squad together, while Ye Chengyun invited the squad to join a guild exploring Light Gates. Shen Shuning warned Xiao Bai'er that Erosion Zones might be too dangerous for ordinary martial artists, and Wei Leyang tested Dahuang on the press conference.

• Mei Duo offered Lin Xiaoyu, Wang Kai, and Fang Ji a hundred thousand each to keep the Thorn Squad together, and Ye Chengyun proposed that the squad join his Light Gate exploration guild.
• Ye Chengyun explained that the Supervision Bureau might not be able to handle Light Gates everywhere, and he wanted to gather squads to explore them beyond the city.
• Shen Shuning told Xiao Bai'er that Erosion Zones could be so dangerous that ordinary martial artists would be of little use, unlike Light Gates that might be approached cautiously.
• Shen Shuning and Xiao Bai'er headed to the student council after discussing the dangers of the new zones.
• Wei Leyang asked Dahuang to summarize the press conference, and Dahuang concluded that the future might be dangerous.

At the Erosion Zone camp, Shen Heng discussed Lü Wenrui’s unusual luck ability and its possible connection to Calamity Beast attacks. After dinner, Shen Heng took Lü Wenrui aside to discuss something, leaving the reason undisclosed.

• Lü Wenrui explained that abilities grew stronger as their ratings rose, and described several types of abilities to Xu Ruiyu and the soldiers.
• Shen Heng reasoned that Lü Wenrui’s ability might balance bad luck with later good fortune, making it seem ineffective when both affected the same kind of event.
• Han Ling noted that Lü Wenrui could not control his ability, while Lü Wenrui questioned whether his earlier bad luck had caused the Calamity Beast attack.
• Shen Heng decided they should watch for future streaks of good luck that might signal coming misfortune.
• After dinner, Shen Heng asked Lü Wenrui to return with him to their sleeping tent, but did not explain what he wanted to discuss.

Shen Heng lent Lü Wenrui nineteen Origin Crystals to help him reach the fourth tier, judging that the extra strength would benefit their group more than his own small increase. Later, by the campfire, Shen Heng told Han Ling he was questioning whether their work in the Erosion Zone could truly—and effectively—counter the invasion from the Ruins Realm.

• Shen Heng asked Lü Wenrui about absorbing his Origin Crystals, and Lü Wenrui wondered if Shen Heng wanted him to lure Calamity Beasts.
• Shen Heng gave Lü Wenrui nineteen Origin Crystals as a loan, expecting him to repay them after reaching the fourth tier.
• Lü Wenrui thanked Shen Heng and promised to help whenever he was needed.
• Shen Heng joined Han Ling at the campfire, where she asked what he had been thinking about.
• Shen Heng told Han Ling he was unsure whether intercepting Calamity Beasts in the Erosion Zone was the best way to deal with the Ruins Realm invasion.

Shen Heng and Han Ling considered whether Calamity Beasts could accelerate the Erosion Zone’s expansion from within and whether entering it might be necessary. Shen Heng reported their concerns to Li Daoyi, who said Headquarters already had a plan.

• Shen Heng explained that the current defenses could contain Calamity Beasts but would not stop the Ruins Realm’s invasion indefinitely.
• Han Ling asked why only beasts up to the fifth tier had appeared recently, and Shen Heng reasoned that higher-tier beasts might be scarce in the Erosion Zone.
• Shen Heng suggested that seventh-tier beasts were possible but unlikely, and that Calamity Beasts might accelerate the Erosion Zone’s expansion without leaving it.
• Han Ling urged Shen Heng to report the possibility to higher-ups, and he agreed.
• Shen Heng contacted Li Daoyi and shared their concerns, and Li Daoyi replied that Headquarters already had a plan.

Shen Heng learned that headquarters was preparing to send a main force through the Light Gate and build a permanent base in the Erosion Zone. After a powerful Sixth Tier Calamity Beast briefly emerged and retreated, he concluded that the plan might need to be accelerated.

• Li Daoyi told Shen Heng that headquarters and the Military Department planned to establish a stable base beyond the Light Gate and were gathering troops, weapons, and construction supplies.
• Li Daoyi explained that Jiang Lin would return to help drive away any Sixth Tier Calamity Beasts before the base was built, while Seventh Tier beasts would force a retreat.
• Shen Heng spotted a Calamity Beast emerging from the Light Gate, and a fierce battle broke out in the distance.
• Shen Heng used his power to quiet the sounds reaching the camp as the Calamity Beast returned through the Light Gate.
• Shen Heng identified the beast as a strong Sixth Tier Calamity Beast and suggested that headquarters speed up its plan.

Cao Yiyi accompanied Jiang Xingwei to the multinational camp, where Jiang Lin was preparing to leave for the plan’s next stage. After a beast tide erupted at the Light Gate, Jiang Xingwei stayed behind to fight while Cao Yiyi followed Jiang Lin; elsewhere, Shen Heng’s group was ordered to converge and begin the plan.

• Cao Yiyi told Jiang Lin that preparations for the uncleared Erosion Zones were nearly complete and that the overseas zone took priority.
• Jiang Xingwei took over Jiang Lin’s defense duties and assigned Cao Yiyi to accompany Jiang Lin.
• A beast tide burst through the camp’s Light Gate as Jiang Lin left, and Jiang Xingwei summoned a pillar of lightning against the gigantic beast.
• Lü Wenrui reached the Fourth Tier after absorbing Origin Crystals from recent beast tides.
• Shen Heng’s group received a communicator order to converge on the Erosion Zone and prepare to begin the plan.

Shen Heng and the other inspectors gathered beneath the Plateau Erosion Zone’s Light Gate to prepare to transport weapons and equipment and guard the new base. He recognized several fellow inspectors, including Zhou Xuan, and watched Jiang Lin descend from the gate.

• Shen Heng, Han Ling, Tang Yuanyang, and Lü Wenrui headed toward the Light Gate to join the gathering inspectors.
• Shen Heng saw that 123 inspectors had assembled, including Gu Lingxuan, Qi Yue, and Cao Mingyu.
• Zhou Xuan greeted Shen Heng, and Lü Wenrui joined them; their exchange reminded Shen Heng that his foresight might help counter Lü Wenrui’s bad luck.
• Special-purpose vehicles carrying tanks, artillery, equipment, and soldiers arrived as everyone waited beneath the Light Gate.
• Jiang Lin descended from the Light Gate in tattered clothes, and Shen Heng studied him for visible injuries.

Jiang Lin emerged from the Plateau Erosion Zone after killing one of four Sixth Tier Calamity Beasts and driving the others away for an estimated four to six hours. Zhang Weijun began organizing the force to establish a base, while Li Daoyi noticed Jiang Lin seemed dazed and asked if he was all right.

• Jiang Lin told Zhang Weijun that he had killed one Calamity Beast and that his ability had driven three others away temporarily.
• Jiang Lin estimated that the beasts would be unable to approach the Light Gate for four to six hours, and Zhang Weijun decided the time would have to suffice for the base operation.
• Zhang Weijun briefed over a thousand inspectors and soldiers on their tasks for deploying equipment, building the camp, and setting up defenses inside the Erosion Zone.
• Shen Heng wondered whether Jiang Lin might be Great Xia's strongest combatant after hearing he had fought four Sixth Tier beasts alone.
• Li Daoyi questioned Jiang Lin's dazed appearance, and Jiang Lin said he was fine but might have overused his ability in recent days.

Li Daoyi told Jiang Lin to rest while Zhang Weijun assigned the Supervision Bureau teams and gave Shen Heng a support role based on his perception. Shen Heng crossed the Light Gate with a sealed pod into the Erosion Zone, where soldiers began building a temporary base.

• Li Daoyi told Jiang Lin to rest for the next few days and have Jiang Xingwei remain overseas, and Jiang Lin agreed.
• Zhang Weijun divided the Supervision Bureau members into transport and guard groups, then assigned Shen Heng to monitor approaching Calamity Beasts and report threats.
• Shen Heng and the others carried a sealed pod through the Light Gate into the black-snow-covered Erosion Zone.
• Shen Heng moved the pod away from the entrance, and soldiers emerged and began assembling the temporary base.

Shen Heng monitored the area while the military rushed to build defenses, and he warned Han Ling that the Calamity Beasts were likely to attack once the Sixth Tier beasts recovered. As supplies and personnel continued arriving, others wondered what Shen Heng’s scouting ability could detect, while Shi Ruiyuan asked Brother Hu what might happen when the beasts came.

• Lü Wenrui and Tang Yuanyang asked Shen Heng about the unfamiliar construction machines, then returned to moving supplies through the Light Gate.
• Shen Heng told Han Ling that the Calamity Beasts would probably attack later, after the Sixth Tier beasts recovered and gathered the others.
• Shen Heng surveyed the battlefield, noting the powerful beasts killed by Jiang Lin and the black snow stretching toward distant mountains.
• Shen Heng closed his eyes and listened for distant sounds while supplies and personnel continued arriving.
• Shi Ruiyuan and Huang Jun speculated that Shen Heng could scout far away with his ability, before Shi Ruiyuan asked Brother Hu what would happen when the Calamity Beasts arrived.