Chapter Summaries

Shen Xing strengthened his orc units and warg, then discovered that leveling up in the game had also increased his physical strength in real life. He went to sleep looking forward to meeting Qin Lang and Xu Jiayi the next day.

• Hellscream demonstrated the power of his Earth-Splitting Slam, and Gorehowl reported that he had tamed the gray warg.
• Shen Xing inspected the newly unlocked wall and spike barricade recipes, then decided to spend his resources on strengthening units instead of building walls.
• Shen Xing turned Shattered Souls into three dim souls, used them to promote two orc infantrymen named Da Hou and Er Hou, and raised his units and the warg to level 4.
• Shen Xing gave Hellscream five Soul Stones to absorb overnight, then accidentally tore a doorknob off and realized his in-game growth had made him stronger in real life.
• Qin Lang and Xu Jiayi discussed their own physical improvements in the group chat, and Qin Lang invited them to meet at the mall the next day with a surprise prepared.

Shen Xing met Qin Lang and Xu Jiayi at a mall, where Qin Lang gave them valuable troop nests to strengthen their territories. Over a meal, they discussed their progress in the game, and Shen Xing was surprised that Xu Jiayi had already raised an elite Ranger Archer.

• Qin Lang and Xu Jiayi picked up Shen Xing and drove him to a mall, where they nearly collided with a pale, bloodshot-eyed man.
• At a barbecue restaurant, Qin Lang gave Shen Xing a Skeleton Archer troop nest and Xu Jiayi a Stone Man troop nest.
• Qin Lang explained that he had bought the troop nests with money his father gave him after trying a Blood Fruit that eased his rheumatism.
• Shen Xing, Qin Lang, and Xu Jiayi discussed their game progress, including Shen Xing's elite two-star Orc Fighter and Qin Lang's elite one-star Halfling Assassin.
• Shen Xing learned that Xu Jiayi had raised an elite one-star Ranger Archer and wondered how she had managed it.

Shen Xing, Qin Lang, and Xu Jiayi summoned their strongest units to fight an Abomination that emerged in a mall, hoping to protect the unconscious civilians. Hellscream became trapped in the monster’s tentacles while Qin Lang’s Master of Shadows attacked from behind, leaving the battle unresolved.

• A dying player unleashed gray mist in the mall, and an Abomination formed from his corpse.
• Shen Xing persuaded Qin Lang and Xu Jiayi to summon their units and attack the monster.
• The three shouted their units’ names, manifesting Hellscream, the Angel-Hunting Queen, and the Master of Shadows.
• Hellscream charged the Abomination while the Angel-Hunting Queen supported him with arrows.
• The Abomination ensnared Hellscream with its flesh tentacles, and the Master of Shadows stabbed at it from behind.

Shen Xing, Qin Lang, and Xu Jiayi defeated a dangerous abomination with their troops before Zhou Zheng arrived and killed it with his tauren. He offered them places in the Mist Void Realm, then secretly kept the cash reward from them as his fee for arranging the opportunity.

• Shen Xing ordered Hellscream to use Blade Flurry while Xu Jiayi's archer attacked, and their troops overwhelmed the abomination until it began preparing Corpse Explosion.
• A tauren smashed through the mall ceiling and destroyed the abomination just before it could explode, then Zhou Zheng arrived and praised the three newcomers.
• Zhou Zheng had Shen Xing, Qin Lang, and Xu Jiayi fill out defense statements for using their game abilities in public, explaining that their actions could qualify as heroic and avoid penalties.
• Zhou Zheng told them about the Mist Void Realm at Mingyue Bay Park and offered to secure places for them, with rewards available for the top ten participants.
• After the three left, Zhou Zheng collected the abomination's soul and admitted to Xiao Min that he had withheld the cash reward, telling her not to record that detail.

After returning from the mall, Shen Xing learned more about the dangers of the Mist Void Realm and focused on strengthening his territory. Gorehowl absorbed a Complete Elite Spirit and evolved into a wolf rider, leaving Shen Xing to assess the new hidden branch’s potential.

• Qin Lang, Shen Xing, and Xu Jiayi discussed whether to enter the Mist Void Realm, then Qin Lang dropped Xu Jiayi off and took Shen Xing home.
• Shen Xing searched the forum, learned that the Mist Void Realm was dangerous and competitive, and decided to prioritize strengthening his territory.
• Hellscream reported that the orcs had repelled several monster attacks, including a sneaking elite, and gave Shen Xing the loot, which included a Complete Elite Spirit.
• Shen Xing gave the Complete Elite Spirit to Gorehowl, and Gorehowl’s bond with his warg unlocked the hidden wolf rider evolution path.
• Shen Xing chose the wolf rider path, and Gorehowl evolved with stronger attributes, new equipment, Riding Mastery, and Running Wolf Charge.

Shen Xing raised Hellscream’s potential, unlocking powerful abilities, then prepared the territory for expansion by upgrading the campfire and placing a skeleton archer camp. He planned to explore the wilderness with the orcs and recruit workers to develop the territory.

• Gorehowl completed his evolution and considered challenging Hellscream, but backed down without Shen Xing’s approval.
• Shen Xing sacrificed 20 agility to raise Hellscream’s potential to elite three-star, awakening Execute and the Spirit of the Horde talent.
• Hellscream gained strength and morale-boosting effects for the orcs, then went to gather them for an expedition with Shen Xing.
• Shen Xing used Black Crystal from the Crystal Tower to begin upgrading the campfire, a process estimated to take 13 hours and 27 minutes.
• Shen Xing placed Qin Lang’s two-star skeleton archer unit nest beside the orcs’ wooden house.

Shen Xing led an exploration south, discovered the impassable Blackwater River and the corpses of Dark Naga warriors, then encountered a stronger player named Xia Wanyin. The chapter ended as Xia warned him not to touch the bodies and introduced herself.

• Shen Xing left Gorehowl behind to guard the territory and led Hellscream and five orcs into the fog.
• Shen Xing's party reached the Blackwater River, read a stele describing its dangerous width and currents, and followed the bank.
• Shen Xing spotted dead Dark Naga warriors and Hellscream found traces of light-element aura on their wounds, making Shen Xing suspect a nearby powerful force or player.
• Shen Xing ordered the orcs to carry the corpses back for their scales, but Xia Wanyin's party appeared and warned him not to touch them.
• Xia Wanyin introduced herself to Shen Xing as a level-eight player accompanied by Light Spirits, including three elite troops.

Shen Xing learned that Hellscream had reached the potential limit for level 5, and forcing another evolution could make his body explode. After researching troop potential caps, Shen Xing learned he needed to level Hellscream further before attempting to advance him again.

• Xia Wanyin warned Shen Xing that the Dark Naga corpses could attract their vengeful kin and revealed the locations of an Afterglow Sacrificial Tower and a Black Crystal Tower.
• Shen Xing verified Xia Wanyin’s warning on the forum, then lit both towers and gained two resource points.
• Shen Xing returned to his territory, distributed Soul Stones, and raised his orcs to level 5 before logging off.
• On the fourth day, Shen Xing found that the campfire had reached level 3 and tried to use Life-Sacrifice Evolution on Hellscream again.
• The system warned Shen Xing that Hellscream had reached the potential limit for level 5 and might explode if forced to evolve.
• Shen Xing read Song Rentou’s forum post explaining that troop potential depended on both troop type and level, and that Tier One troops needed to reach level 9 to advance further.

Shen Xing strengthened his troops and territory while insisting on extreme caution before attacking Plague Village. After Hellscream reported that plague monsters had attacked overnight, Shen Xing taught him to prepare for certainty rather than accept a high chance of victory, then sent the squad out to gather resources.

• Shen Xing advanced Gorehowl to elite three-star, unlocking the Ensnare skill and gaining a second elite three-star troop.
• Hellscream reported that two monster waves had attacked the territory overnight, including plague monsters apparently from Plague Village.
• Hellscream asked to lead an attack on Plague Village, but Shen Xing refused because a ninety percent chance of victory was too risky.
• Shen Xing explained that his army should act only when it was fully prepared, and Hellscream accepted the lesson as a principle of command.
• Shen Xing and his troops entered the mist with lanterns and explored for three hours, collecting resources.

On the sixth day, Shen Xing recruited six skeleton archers and watched Hellscream demonstrate a powerful new skill form. After strengthening Da Hou and preparing his forces, Shen Xing led an expedition toward Plague Village, where he spotted fifty or sixty enemies.

• Shen Xing recruited six level-one skeleton archers, adding ranged attackers to his territory’s forces.
• Hellscream showed Shen Xing how he had combined Wind Walk and Earth-Splitting Slam into a concealed, concentrated attack that shattered a boulder.
• Shen Xing assembled his troops, agreed to take Gorehowl on the expedition, and advanced Da Hou to an elite orc warrior before assigning him to defend the territory.
• Shen Xing upgraded the lantern to level 3 and led ten orcs and four skeleton archers into the fog toward Plague Village.
• Shen Xing surveyed Plague Village from a slope and counted fifty or sixty visible figures, not including monsters inside the houses.

Shen Xing sent Gorehowl and Hellscream to attack Plague Village directly, where they led a one-sided battle against its Plague Followers and Plague Priests. As Hellscream pulled ahead in kills, Gorehowl unleashed a surge of crimson energy and flames, leaving the battle at a turning point.

• Shen Xing chose a direct assault on Plague Village and promised to promote whichever general killed more enemies to chief rank first.
• Xia Wanyin recognized Shen Xing at the village entrance and told Xiao Guang to watch in case he needed help.
• Gorehowl led the charge, but Hellscream crashed into the Plague Followers and killed many before Gorehowl could claim the credit.
• Shen Xing and the orcs joined the rout, and Hellscream killed a Plague Priest before he could unleash a Plague Hurricane.
• Gorehowl grew desperate as Hellscream outpaced him, then his blood energy ignited into crimson flames and his power surged.

Shen Xing’s forces defeated the plague believers and instantly killed a powerful lesser demon, which dropped valuable loot including an elite troop nest. The chapter ended with Shen Xing realizing the haul could be worth a fortune.

• Gorehowl unlocked Blood Ignition and rampaged through the plague believers alongside Hellscream.
• Xia Wanyin sensed a dangerous creature emerging and warned that Spark was in danger.
• A level 8 lesser demon burst from the village center and prepared to attack, but Gorehowl caught it in a net.
• Hellscream struck the trapped lesser demon and killed it instantly, while Shen Xing breathed a sigh of relief.
• Gorehowl complained that Hellscream had stolen his prey, but Shen Xing encouraged him to keep improving.
• Hellscream gave Shen Xing the lesser demon’s drops: a blue skill book, purple essence blood, and an elite troop nest.

After conquering the village, Shen Xing met Xia Wanyin and agreed to inspect a dangerous area with her after collecting the spoils and dismantling the settlement for supplies. He found a demon statue and sacrificed 50 agility, but the power froze when it reached his legs and then faded.

• Shen Xing ordered his orcs to clear the battlefield after defeating the village’s defenders.
• Xia Wanyin arrived and invited Shen Xing to join her in exploring a glowing tree and wheat field guarded by powerful monsters, and he agreed to take a look.
• Shen Xing collected the village’s loot, then ordered his troops to strip the plague followers and salvage lumber and paving stones.
• Shen Xing found a demon statue and learned it could grant random rewards in exchange for souls, coins, or attribute points.
• Shen Xing sacrificed the maximum 50 agility points, but the statue’s power froze when it reached his legs and quickly faded.

Shen Xing obtained a gold Hero Altar Blueprint from the demon statue and salvaged supplies from Plague Village before leaving with Xia Wanyin and his troops. Nearby, a brown-haired player and Leina watched them and ordered their group to follow them and locate their territories.

• The demon statue produced a gold Hero Altar Blueprint, which Shen Xing decided to keep for his territory.
• Shen Xing destroyed the statue and collected the debris as the orcs finished demolishing Plague Village.
• Hellscream brought Shen Xing supplies from a hidden basement, including food, fruit, materials, a blue trap blueprint, and a purple Frost Gem.
• When Shen Xing's inventory filled, Xia Wanyin warned him that nearby players might be hostile, so he had the group carry the remaining materials and leave through the fog.
• A brown-haired player and Leina watched Shen Xing and Xia Wanyin from a nearby clearing, then ordered their troops to follow them and find their territories.

Shen Xing and Xia Wanyin discovered the Silver Holy Land, a fertile area protected by a Silver Ancient Tree, but found it guarded by powerful fallen monsters. Shen Xing refused Xia Wanyin’s proposed raid, and they prepared to leave and return after becoming stronger.

• Xia Wanyin warned Shen Xing that foreign players, including Gideon from Ou Country, hunted nearby players and had previously tried to ambush her.
• Xia Wanyin led Shen Xing through the mist to the Silver Holy Land, where a Silver Ancient Tree sheltered fields of Moonlight Wheat and workers.
• Xia Wanyin explained the ancient trees and the wheat, while Shen Xing considered how the crop and workers could support his territory.
• Shen Xing identified the workers’ fallen overseers and a powerful fallen great tree knight guarding the area.
• Xia Wanyin proposed raiding the Holy Land, but Shen Xing refused because of the danger and their dwindling lamp oil, so they prepared to leave.

Xia Wanyin told Xia Lingyin about her alliance with Shen Xing, while Shen Xing returned to his territory with the spoils from Plague Village. He began organizing the loot and inspecting its most valuable items.

• Xia Wanyin told Xia Lingyin that Shen Xing had obtained a Hero Altar blueprint, and Xia Lingyin said the attribute cost would usually make it a poor early-game trade.
• Xia Wanyin said she had used the Essence of Light on Xiao Guang, who reached three-star elite and awakened a talent skill.
• Xia Lingyin told Xia Wanyin that she planned to investigate a newly discovered three-star Mist Void Realm near Hancheng and would be away for a while.
• Shen Xing returned to his territory with Gorehowl, Da Hou, and the orcs, then ordered them to process lumber and lay stone bricks.
• Shen Xing opened his Lord's Backpack, gathered the loot from the expedition, and began inspecting it, starting with a blue-quality Hellfire Fireball skill book.

Shen Xing examined the rewards from the expedition, learning a new hellfire spell and discovering a rare bloodline item, a lesser demon lair, two blueprints, and a Frost Gem. He learned how troop lair gem sockets worked and ended the chapter considering how to strengthen his troops.

• Shen Xing learned Hellfire Fireball and tested a wisp of green flame.
• Shen Xing examined Lesser Demon Essence Blood, weighed its benefits and risks, and considered giving it to Hellscream or trading it.
• Shen Xing kept the Lesser Demon Lair, noting its costly recruitment requirements and need for Shattered Souls.
• Shen Xing learned the Large Beast Trap Blueprint and examined the Hero Altar Blueprint, whose construction required rare, expensive materials.
• Shen Xing discovered that the Frost Gem boosted ice attacks and resistance for troops in a matching lair, then learned how lair gem sockets unlocked.

Shen Xing expanded his territory’s defenses, learned that Zhou Zheng had changed plans for their Mist Void Realm visit, and discovered that eating game-grown fruits had strengthened his body enough to stand briefly. The next morning, he, Xu Jiayi, and Qin Lang arrived at the Times Building, where facial recognition admitted them after verifying their identities.

• Shen Xing spent Soul Stones and silver coins to build six Arrow Towers, bringing his territory’s total to eight, while deciding that enclosing it with walls was too expensive.
• Cilantro Who Loves to Play told Shen Xing and Xu Jiayi that Zhou Zheng wanted them to meet at the Times Building before entering the Mist Void Realm, and they agreed to go together.
• Shen Xing ate a Blood Fruit, stood up using crutches, then fell when he tried to move, but he remained hopeful that he might walk again someday.
• A brown-haired young man watched Shen Xing’s territory through a monocular and said that he had found it.
• Qin Lang picked up Xu Jiayi and Shen Xing the next morning and drove them to the Times Building, where automatic facial recognition verified their identities and opened the doors.

Shen Xing, Qin Lang, and Xu Jiayi visited the Player Association, where Zhou Zheng explained that more players qualified for the Mist Void Realm than there were available slots. He secured them a chance to earn their places by winning a troop battle, and Shen Xing chose a 3V3 match.

• Shen Xing, Qin Lang, and Xu Jiayi entered the busy Player Association lobby and learned that players used its floors for trading, battles, and other services.
• Qin Lang received Zhou Zheng’s message directing them to his fourth-floor office, where they met Zhou Zheng and his assistant.
• Zhou Zheng explained that over two hundred players qualified for the Mist Void Realm but only a hundred slots were available, and some had already been reserved.
• Zhou Zheng offered the trio a chance to claim slots by defeating other players in a troop battle, with transcendent-level experts supervising the match.
• Shen Xing agreed to compete and chose 3V3; Zhou Zheng took the trio to the third floor to arrange their match.

Shen Xing and his friends prepared for their battle to qualify for the Mist Void Realm, while Shen Xing strengthened his territory and evolved Da Hou. The chapter left Shen Xing back in the lounge as Zhou Zheng and Director Liu watched the newcomers.

• Zhou Zheng showed Shen Xing, Qin Lang, and Xu Jiayi the beginner battle area and told them their match would begin in about two and a half hours.
• Zhou Zheng gave the group information on their opponents, and Shen Xing asked to enter the game to prepare while they waited.
• Shen Xing entered his territory, found the orcs resting after working overnight, and summoned Da Hou.
• Shen Xing used Life-Sacrifice Evolution on Da Hou, raising him to elite two-star and awakening Dual Axe Mastery.
• Shen Xing made animal traps and absorbed Soul Stones before leaving the game, while Zhou Zheng and Director Liu watched him and his companions from the lounge.