Chapter Summaries

The Mountain of Truth shattered as slabs reflecting the scenery swept across the Plateau Erosion Zone. Li Daoyi killed the Thunder Falcon but faced the Lion King, until the approaching shards and emerald green made the Lion King realize something unexpected had arrived.

• The Bronze Skull Beast watched the Mountain of Truth burst apart and was struck by a reflecting slab.
• Zhang Weijun learned the base could hold out for only about ten minutes while soldiers fought the dark shadow and evacuees escaped.
• Li Daoyi killed the Thunder Falcon after a fierce battle, then faced the Lion King, who prepared to kill him.
• The Lion King and Li Daoyi saw reflecting slabs sweep toward them and noticed emerald green within them.
• People and Calamity Beasts throughout the Plateau Erosion Zone turned toward the horizon as the shards swept over the region.

Zhao Yonggang joined an emergency briefing after soldiers and Calamity Beasts were inexplicably squeezed out of the Plateau Erosion Zone. The officials reviewed footage of the sudden arrivals and ensuing battle, then asked Zhao Yonggang what he thought as they awaited more intelligence.

• Lü Mingzhe told Zhao Yonggang that soldiers and Calamity Beasts had suddenly been squeezed out of the Plateau Erosion Zone.
• The intelligence department showed officials footage of tens of thousands of humans and Calamity Beasts appearing in midair and falling toward the ground.
• A powerful wind softened their fall, and the displaced humans and Calamity Beasts began fighting after the battle overhead moved away.
• The intelligence department reported that Chief Zhang had sent fighter jets to support Daoist Master Li and that Lieutenant General Jiang Xingwei was nearly there.
• Officials questioned why the figures had appeared and where the other Sixth Tier Calamity Beasts were, then the elderly man asked Zhao Yonggang for his thoughts.

After the Erosion Zone battle, officials considered why everyone had been expelled and learned that a Calamity Beast could no longer enter through the Light Gate. Jiang Xingwei and the injured Li Daoyi went to investigate, while Jiang confirmed that the Lion King had escaped into White Elephant.

• Zhao Yonggang suggested an unexpected event inside the Plateau Erosion Zone had made it unable to contain living creatures, and officials ordered an investigation into what happened.
• The head of the Intelligence Department reported that an expelled Calamity Beast had failed to re-enter the Erosion Zone through the Light Gate.
• Jiang Xingwei and Cao Yiyi found Li Daoyi trying to leave despite his serious injuries, and Jiang agreed to support him as he went to investigate the Light Gate.
• Li Daoyi met Gu Nan and reassured her that he was fine.
• An officer asked Jiang Xingwei whether the Lion King had escaped, and Jiang confirmed it had fled to White Elephant.

Zhang Weijun and Wang Yuanshan learned that Shen Heng had led a mission to disrupt the Calamity Beasts’ plans before the Light Gate abruptly expelled the others. Shen Heng and Qin Yu had not emerged, leaving the officers waiting anxiously for news of the more than twenty thousand missing soldiers.

• A soldier reported that Shuofang City had noticed unusually many hunting teams returning early with casualties, prompting Shen Heng to investigate the Calamity Beasts.
• The soldier explained that Old General Zhou had ordered troops to attack the Eye of Earth Marrow, sent Shen Heng and Qin Yu to destroy a gathering place of Calamity Beasts, and dispatched a messenger to warn the base and North-Pacifying City.
• Zhang Weijun and Wang Yuanshan concluded that Shen Heng and Qin Yu’s mission was the likeliest cause of the sudden expulsion, since the troops sent to the Eye of Earth Marrow had not reached it.
• The soldier confirmed that neither Shen Heng nor Qin Yu had emerged, and Li Daoyi urged the officers to focus on their situation and the many soldiers still unaccounted for.
• Wang Yuanshan asked how Shuofang City had detected the Calamity Beasts’ unusual movements.

Wang Yuanshan learned how Shuofang City had detected the Calamity Beasts’ plan, while Yan Yu explained that the Light Gate had fractured into several spaces and might have transported Shen Heng and the others elsewhere. The chapter ended with Shen Heng waking beneath a blue sky, apparently in an instance rather than the Ruins Realm.

• A soldier reported that Captain Shen had tracked Calamity Beasts moving toward the base, and Li Daoyi said Shen Heng could monitor them across a range of at least two hundred kilometers.
• Wang Yuanshan concluded that the Calamity Beasts’ plan had been difficult to uncover and that discovering it in time had been a close call.
• Yan Yu said the Light Gate’s chaotic space might have transported people elsewhere, including to the Ruins Realm, and warned that they might not return.
• Yan Yu explained that the Light Gate now exposed several spaces at once and that he knew no way to rescue those transported through it.
• Shen Heng slowly opened his eyes beneath a blue sky, with white clouds and sunlight overhead.

Shen Heng woke in an unfamiliar landscape and concluded that he had been swept into the distorted space inside the palace. He set out to find a way back and determine how far the distortion had spread, then killed an unconscious Calamity Beast.

• Shen Heng woke alone among the hills and considered whether he was in the Ruins Realm or inside the palace, while worrying that Qin Yu and others might have been caught in the incident.
• Shen Heng sensed an invisible force stirring his Origin Power, but his Configuration suppressed it, confirming that he was likely inside the palace’s distorted space.
• Shen Heng decided to find a way out and learn how far the distorted space reached, then flew toward a destination.
• Shen Heng found a huge unconscious canine Calamity Beast, pierced its head with Origin Power, and watched his saber slash at it on its own.

Shen Heng hunted Calamity Beasts while searching for a way out of the palace’s distorted space, then questioned a newly awakened Coiled Ox. The Coiled Ox realized Shen Heng could hear its thoughts and accused humans of tricking information out of it.

• Shen Heng decided to hunt Calamity Beasts first and seek information about escaping from them or the tentacled creature that moved through the distorted doorway.
• Shen Heng killed forty-two unconscious Calamity Beasts over nearly half a day, including seven Tier 2, twenty-five Third Tier, and ten Fourth Tier beasts.
• Shen Heng heard a conscious Calamity Beast and flew to find a late Fourth Tier Coiled Ox.
• Shen Heng asked the Coiled Ox where it was and how to leave, but the Coiled Ox did not recognize the Mountain of Truth.
• The Coiled Ox realized Shen Heng could hear its thoughts and shouted that humans were despicable for tricking information out of it.

Shen Heng discovered that a spatial distortion near the Light Gate caused Origin Prohibition, which worsened as more Origin Power was mobilized. After the Coiled Ox distorted and Shen Heng killed it, he considered how the phenomenon could affect combat between humans and Calamity Beasts.

• Shen Heng realized the spatial distortion around the Light Gate affected a much larger area than he had expected.
• Shen Heng tested the Coiled Ox with Origin Power projectiles and observed that mobilizing more Origin Power made it increasingly uncomfortable and slowed it down.
• The Coiled Ox lost control of its Origin Power, underwent Distortion, and charged Shen Heng.
• Shen Heng killed the distorted Coiled Ox with his long saber.
• Shen Heng concluded that Origin Prohibition weakened abilities and could make Calamity Beasts more dangerous, while heavy Origin Power use might cause both sides to distort.

Shen Heng hunted Calamity Beasts for Origin Crystals, then rescued Zhou Dehou from a pursuing beast and brought him to shelter. As they settled in for the night, Zhou Dehou reflected on how much he admired the young captain.

• Shen Heng discovered that Calamity Beasts could rise a tier after Distortion, then continued hunting and gathering Origin Crystals.
• Shen Heng killed a third-tier Calamity Beast chasing Zhou Dehou and gave the wounded soldier rapid-healing gel.
• Shen Heng collected the beast’s Origin Crystal and stored its body, noting that distorted Calamity Beasts could not be eaten safely.
• Shen Heng and Zhou Dehou found a cave before nightfall, where Shen prepared firewood and told Zhou that commanders and soldiers did not need to concern themselves with rank in Great Xia.
• Zhou Dehou recalled serving under Shen Heng in several battles and privately thought that Captain Shen was just like a succubus.

Shen Heng learned that Zhou Dehou had stayed in Shuofang City during the operation and spoke with him about his service and family. Near dawn, Shen Heng defeated a late fifth-tier Calamity Beast and reunited with Wu Hao, who confirmed that the team heading to the Earth Eye had also been swept into the incident.

• Shen Heng asked Zhou Dehou about the operation, and Zhou explained that he had stayed in Shuofang City because he was older and not higher-tier than the other soldiers.
• Shen Heng told Zhou Dehou that he remembered soldiers who had served, died, or retired with disabling injuries, and Zhou revealed that he had saved his points to give resources to his son.
• Shen Heng explained the incident to Zhou Dehou, and they ate roasted Calamity Beast meat before resting for the night.
• Near dawn, Shen Heng defeated a late fifth-tier Calamity Beast and took its Origin Crystal.
• Wu Hao met Shen Heng and confirmed that he and the team heading to the Earth Eye had also been swept into the incident.
• Shen Heng asked whether Wu Hao was injured, and Wu Hao asked whether Shen Heng had succeeded on his end.

Shen Heng reunited with Wu Hao, Zhou Dehou, and Zhou Zhenguo, confirmed that the Calamity Beasts had attacked the base, and shared what he had learned about the distorted space. As the group considered what to do next, a lone figure in a Gobi Desert encountered something moving beneath the ground.

• Wu Hao told Shen Heng that a soldier had been at the base during the Calamity Beasts’ attack before being transported to the strange space.
• Wu Hao explained that he had traveled with Zhou Dehou and others before luring a Calamity Beast away so they could escape.
• Shen Heng gathered with Zhou Dehou, Wu Hao, Zhou Zhenguo, and two soldiers, then reported his findings about the palace, Origin Prohibition, Distortion, and the affected area.
• Shen Heng identified his remaining questions: whether everyone in the affected area had been transported and whether other spaces could be reached.
• Zhou Zhenguo said the group needed to decide what to do next.
• In an unknown Gobi Desert, a lone figure felt the ground shake and grinned as something moved beneath him.

Shen Heng found three scattered warriors in the wilderness and gave them intel and directions to the city established in this space. He continued his mission, telling them how to call for him if they encountered danger, and took their Calamity Beast’s corpse to store in the city.

• Three warriors discussed their lack of water and wondered whether they had ended up in the Ruins Realm.
• The warriors recognized Shen Heng when he descended nearby and saluted him.
• The warriors told Shen Heng that they had blacked out or lost consciousness in different places before waking in the wilderness.
• Shen Heng had Ringing Sound connect their terminals and send them intel and a map showing the city and the route there.
• Shen Heng told the warriors to travel toward the city, avoid dangerous Calamity Beasts, and call for him later if they became trapped.
• Shen Heng extracted the Origin Crystal and took the Calamity Beast’s corpse to store in the city for them.

Shen Heng continued searching the space’s boundary for a way out while guiding scattered soldiers to a city built with Elder Zhou. He found a pitch-black portal and prepared to send a Calamity Beast through it to test whether it could return.

• Shen Heng gave three soldiers intelligence and sent them toward the city before continuing his search.
• He recalled that he and Elder Zhou had built the city as a refuge, and that he had already found over a hundred scattered soldiers.
• Shen Heng searched the warped boundary, believing it was the likeliest place to find a passage to another space.
• He spotted a pitch-black opening near the ground and confirmed that a clod of earth vanished inside it.
• Shen Heng brought a Second Tier wolf-type Calamity Beast to the opening, used his voice to calm it, and told it to explore beyond the portal and return.

Shen Heng used emotional guidance to send a wolf-like Calamity Beast through the portal and learn about the terrain on the other side. After the beast returned and described a barren, volcanic landscape, Shen Heng killed it, extracted its Origin Crystal, and entered the portal himself before turning back without exploring.

• Shen Heng explained the possible uses and limitations of emotional guidance while he waited for the wolf-like Calamity Beast to return.
• The wolf-like Calamity Beast came back through the portal and told Shen Heng that the area beyond was hot, sulfurous, and covered in black ground and fire-spewing mountains, with no other Calamity Beasts in sight.
• Shen Heng praised the wolf-like Calamity Beast, then killed it, extracted its Origin Crystal, and buried its corpse.
• Shen Heng crossed the portal and found black mountains threaded with red tributaries in a landscape filled with a strong sulfur smell.
• After listening to the sounds around him, Shen Heng chose not to explore and returned through the portal.

Shen Heng returned to the city with three warriors, arranged for them to be registered, and told Zhou Zhenguo about a volcanic space he had discovered. Zhou Zhenguo abruptly ordered Shen Heng to leave the next day and stop concerning himself with the city.

• Shen Heng brought three returning warriors through the dimly lit city and explained that its torches stayed low to avoid attracting Calamity Beasts.
• At the Administrative Office, Shen Heng asked Zhou Dehou to register the three warriors and arrange their accommodations.
• Shen Heng stored the Calamity Beast the three had killed at the supply depot and recorded their kill.
• At the dining hall, Shen Heng told Zhou Zhenguo that he had found another space filled with volcanoes and scattered Calamity Beasts.
• When Shen Heng said he intended to find the remaining warriors and deal with the Calamity Beasts, Zhou Zhenguo told him to leave the next day and stop worrying about the city.

Zhou Zhenguo urged Shen Heng to prioritize finding a way out of the dangerous spaces instead of rescuing everyone, and advised him to ease his sense of responsibility. Shen Heng agreed to leave soon but planned to finish exploring the boundary first; Zhou Zhenguo then returned to the administrative office and asked Zhou Dehou why he had not eaten.

• Zhou Zhenguo told Shen Heng that finding a way out mattered more than killing Calamity Beasts or rescuing every soldier, and urged him to move through the spaces quickly.
• Shen Heng agreed to seek an exit but said he would finish exploring the remaining boundary the next day before leaving at night.
• Zhou Zhenguo warned Shen Heng to help injured soldiers when possible, leave disabled soldiers behind, and learn to let some responsibilities go.
• Shen Heng said he would remember Zhou Zhenguo's advice, and Zhou Zhenguo left the cafeteria.
• Zhou Zhenguo returned to the administrative office, saw Zhou Dehou and another soldier there, and asked Zhou Dehou why he had not gone to eat.

Zhou Zhenguo accepted that Shen Heng would leave the city to explore other spaces, despite the unease it caused among the people relying on his strength. Before setting out, Shen Heng entrusted the city’s defense to Wu Hao and asked after Zhao Gang.

• Zhou Zhenguo told Zhou Dehou that Shen Heng had found a route to other spaces and would likely not return for a long time.
• Zhou Dehou and another soldier worried about who would protect the city from powerful Calamity Beasts, but Zhou Zhenguo urged them to face the danger themselves.
• The next day, Shen Heng told Wu Hao he was leaving the city in his hands and warned him that Calamity Beasts arriving through portals could increase the danger.
• Shen Heng advised Wu Hao to use the Spear of Deadly Thorns mainly to intimidate enemies, throwing it only when there was a real opportunity or no other choice.
• Shen Heng asked Wu Hao how Zhao Gang was doing, and Wu Hao said Zhao Gang had recovered and been hired by a martial university.

Xu Ruiyu rallied his soldiers to ambush a late fourth-tier Ridged Beast despite the danger that it might Distort and become stronger. As it approached, the hidden soldiers launched their attack.

• A soldier questioned whether the brigade should fight the Ridged Beast, and Xu Ruiyu goaded the troops into standing by their plan.
• Xu Ruiyu ordered everyone to keep Concealment active and wear the beast down before attacking with full strength.
• Xu Ruiyu weighed the risks of Distortion and explained why the soldiers needed experience against powerful Calamity Beasts.
• The A-Class Ridged Beast approached, and the soldiers hid, listening for its position.
• Xu Ruiyu shouted for the soldiers to move, and they charged out of hiding toward the Ridged Beast.

Xu Ruiyu’s team raced to kill the wounded Ridged Beast before a fifth-tier Azure Feather Bird arrived. After the team brought the beast down, the bird appeared overhead, and a calm young man in military uniform stood beside Xu Ruiyu as the chapter ended.

• Xu Ruiyu and the warriors surrounded the Ridged Beast, coordinating attacks while its wounds and depleted Origin Power worsened.
• Old Liu warned over the team channel that a fifth-tier Azure Feather Bird was approaching, and Xu Ruiyu’s team decided to keep attacking.
• After hearing an unidentified voice urge him on, Xu Ruiyu ordered everyone to kill the Ridged Beast before the Azure Feather Bird arrived.
• Xu Ruiyu landed a powerful spear strike on the Ridged Beast’s head, killing it, while the warriors prepared to retrieve its Origin Crystal and flee.
• Old Liu reported that the Azure Feather Bird was just over two hundred meters away; it flew overhead as a young man in military uniform appeared beside Xu Ruiyu.

Shen Heng met Xu Ruiyu after defeating an Azure Feather Bird and ordered his group to relocate to a new outpost, where Xu Ruiyu would oversee the new city. Shen Heng then set off to search for a way out, warning Xu Ruiyu that dangerous Calamity Beasts might remain along the way.

• Shen Heng extracted the Origin Crystal from the Azure Feather Bird and met Xu Ruiyu, explaining that he had come from another space.
• Shen Heng ordered Xu Ruiyu's group to move northwest to a new outpost, despite their existing outpost being suitable.
• Shen Heng explained that he had directed other groups to the new location and that Xu Ruiyu's smaller, experienced group could relocate more easily.
• Shen Heng assigned Xu Ruiyu to coordinate the new city's construction, administration, defenses, and missions, following Elder Zhou's document.
• Shen Heng sent Xu Ruiyu information about the situation and said he would leave to search for a way out.
• Shen Heng promised to clear high-tier Calamity Beasts where he could and urged Xu Ruiyu to stay alive; Xu Ruiyu firmly agreed.