Demonic beasts have their own languages, and even orders and civilizations that humans cannot decipher in a short time. The death of the Bull-Tiger and the news of its territory's destruction spread once again like the wind throughout the world. For a time, the beasts were terrified; in the areas surrounding Wei Huan, almost no high-level demonic beasts remained.
Far to the west, at the gathering place of the beasts, the Great Army that had already mobilized to crusade against Wei Huan hesitated to launch. Despite the confusion and questioning from the various beast clans, the one residing on the mountain plateau offered no explanation.
It wasn't until three days later, when a massive black dragon descended from the sky and circled for over ten minutes, that the stagnant army finally set out. With the addition of this black dragon, the strength of the crusade army soared. Their demonic energy was so blindingly brilliant that one could see it entwining in the sky like a raging inferno, filling the world between heaven and earth.
Wei Huan knew nothing of what was happening ahead; he only knew that since killing the Bull-Tiger, he hadn't encountered a single beast above Grade 4 as he moved forward. Beasts of too low a level were a waste of time to fight, so no battles occurred as they traveled steadily westward. The reason for heading west was simply that the winged horses had come from that direction; with no other goals, they followed the lead.
The journey was calm, but life inside the vehicle was far from dull. Mu Zhong had unearthed many treasures from the Bull-Tiger's lair. After distributing them—some to small groups, others to individuals—the crew members took turns absorbing the energy stones suited to them. Soon, breakthroughs occurred.
These were not breakthroughs in "Sequence" rank, but rather a deeper understanding of their own sequences, making their control significantly more fluid.
The first to find his "True Self" was the Gambler captain. After less than a day of practicing with a Space Stone, the duration of his "Flicker" doubled. The evolution tree of the Gambler sequence is straightforward:
[Gambler] → [Deceiver] → [Ghost Step] → [Shadowless] → [Stack Burst] → [Flicker] → [Space Bug] → [Spacetime Hunter] → [Judgment]
As the names suggest, the early stages of the Gambler sequence focus on "Concealment," "Critical Strikes," and "Movement Speed." Initially, a Gambler needs to perform critical strike maneuvers; once they stack enough critical counts, they dive into the void for a close-quarters strike, aiming for a one-hit kill. One could say that if a Gambler is given the chance to strike, a normal monster of the same level in the Challenge World can be instantly deleted. They possess the highest single-target burst damage of all sequences.
Of course, with high attack comes obvious weaknesses—they are "glass cannons" and cannot easily fight alone. These weaknesses are only partially mitigated at Sequence 6: Flicker.
The name "Flicker" vividly describes the state of a Gambler at this stage. They travel through the cracks in space; during combat, their bodies flicker in and out of existence, light flashing between the shadows of blades. While in the "Flicker" state, a Gambler cannot be attacked. If an enemy cannot withstand their burst, they are simply taken out in one wave. Their offensive power is terrifying.
However, since Sequence 6 only just touches upon the laws of space, it is difficult for a Gambler to maintain this state for long. The Gambler captain was already the strongest of his kind among humans, yet his limit was only about three seconds. In those three seconds, he was virtually invincible, with most enemies unable to touch him while he could land over a hundred strikes. Given the chance, he could insta-kill almost any Challenger or monster of the same level—including Wei Huan. (Though Wei Huan, of course, had his own ways of ensuring a Gambler never got that chance.)
Against high-defense Warrior sequences, Druids, or thick-skinned monsters, a Gambler couldn't achieve a solo kill. If they couldn't pierce a weak point, their speed just meant a lot of "paper cuts."
But once he absorbed the energy from the Space Stone and deepened his understanding of spatial laws, his ability to stay in the sub-dimension lengthened, and his "Flicker" time doubled. Extending from three seconds to six seconds meant that even "paper cuts" didn't matter—in that time, he could land over two hundred hits. That wasn't just scratching; it was "death by a thousand cuts." Even if it didn't kill a monster instantly, it would leave them in a critical state of agonizing pain.
And this was the result of less than a day with the stone. If he fully absorbed it and inlaid his equipment with more Space Stones, the potential was exhilarating.
"I guess 'killing and arson' really is the way to riches," Mu Zhong remarked, seeing the captain's excitement. "The Bull-Tiger probably spent years collecting those rare treasures in its warehouse, and we just took the whole pot. Our strength is visibly skyrocketing."
"It was Fire-attributed; those stones were useless to it anyway," Wei Huan said while rubbing the Nether Stone ring Mu Zhong had crafted for him. The dense Nether Power pulsed from the ring, making him feel as though he were constantly enveloped in the afterlife. The most immediate effect was a reduction in the Nether energy cost for summoning and reviving undead.
Mu Zhong had successfully made him a full set of Nether equipment—Nether Stones were set into his clothes, crown, and ring. Although the AI didn't show specific attributes, Wei Huan was certain the set saved him at least one-third of his energy consumption, while significantly boosting recovery and Nether-type damage.
With everyone's strength jumping up a level, it was no wonder morale was high.
Mu Zhong, playing with his Nature Stone, added: "Brother Hammer found the element that fits him in that pile of energy stones. Guess what it is?"
"What?"
"The Metal element."
Wei Huan nodded. "Metal fits a Warrior perfectly."
"Hammer told me that with good enough materials and the Metal Stone, he might be able to forge a Pseudo-Artifact, or even a True Artifact, through his own nurturing."
"You mean a 'True Tool'?"
"Yes. The Warrior's True Tool is quite obvious, but the materials are the issue. There's a world of difference between a Pseudo-Artifact and a Divine Artifact; the requirements must be incredibly harsh."
"Give him whatever he needs," Wei Huan said. "And set aside equal shares of those materials for Captain Xue and Xu Qingqiang."
Mu Zhong smiled. "I'll remember. The core team should have the best to become the strongest."
The two of them weren't the type to hoard wealth for the sake of it. They invested in their people without hesitation. Sometimes, Mu Zhong would even give up his own share of materials to prioritize the front-line soldiers. This generosity made Wei Huan's vehicle—and the entire Vanguard Corps—exceptionally powerful.
---
A day passed in a flash. At dusk, two suns—one bright, one dim—set in the direction they were traveling. The afterglow turned the distant mountains red.
After a day of travel, they had found nothing. Once the high-level beasts had fled, the "landmarks" disappeared. Killing a Grade 5 beast usually led to a lair full of resources, but without specific targets, they couldn't find the treasuries. The lack of loot made the crew, who had just tasted the sweetness of wealth, a bit restless.
"Should we slow down?" Mu Zhong asked. "I've upgraded the sensors. If we get closer, I can detect sources of abnormal energy."
"How fast can the sensors work?" Wei Huan asked.
"50 kilometers per hour."
Wei Huan shook his head. "What if the Facehuggers carry them?"
"60 kilometers at most. Any faster and the detection becomes inaccurate."
Wei Huan hesitated. It was too slow. With the vehicles capable of supersonic speeds, 60 km/h felt like a snail's pace. He cared most about the Challenge World; he didn't want to waste even half a day. At that speed, it would take until next year to find what he wanted.
"You still want to find the Beast King first?" Mu Zhong asked.
Wei Huan nodded. "This world's difficulty isn't that high. Instead of wasting time on small resources, I want to kill the strongest King. That way, even if we leave, others can come in to explore and grow."
"True," Mu Zhong agreed. "The best resources will be in the hands of the strongest King. Killing them solves half of the pioneering work. Let's go full speed."
"Continue west?" Mu Zhong asked. "There's no proof the King is in the west. Should I try to decipher their language to find a direction?"
"I suggest you don't," Wei Huan said, looking deeply at him.
Mu Zhong was silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "Understood. I won't decipher it. We keep heading west."
Wei Huan didn't want the language deciphered because he wasn't heartless. He had a position he had to maintain; it was better to understand nothing than to be torn by guilt later. This wasn't turning a blind eye, but a necessary trait for a "conqueror" with a shred of mercy—learning what to ignore. His sympathy shouldn't be wasted on an alien race that didn't even have a human form.
Wei Huan's resolve kept the team sharp. Even without combat, the members maintained intense training. After physical drills, they spent their time absorbing energy crystals. Everyone was improving by leaps and bounds.
"Doesn't this feel like a 'Blessed Land'?" Mu Zhong remarked during a break.
"A Blessed Land?"
"That's how the crew members describe it. It fits perfectly. Once we kill the strongest King, the rest won't be a threat. We can send other Challengers here. The resources aren't just minerals; the plants are incredible. The green-onion-like plants Dou Lin picked yesterday boosted us more than meals made with orange juice. And many of the beast corpses are edible. It really is a paradise."
Wei Huan nodded. The rise of a powerful race was always accompanied by the acquisition of colonies. A flying fish only knows it can fly once it leaps out of the sea. Blue Star was caught in the Challenge World and had to survive by its rules, but that didn't mean they couldn't find other ways to grow stronger.
If the Pilot's Sequence 7 [Star Gate Master] meant humans could traverse the "True World," Wei Huan didn't mind conquering more "Blessed Lands" to ensure his people had the best resources and growth. He and his kin would become the strongest race in the planes—beings so high that even gods would have to show respect!
---
Night fell, and they continued their journey. After an early dinner, Dou Lin went to the war platform to "sunbathe" in the starlight. The silver stardust seemed to love him, descending from the sky and turning him into a shimmering silver figure.
Before he knew it, Dou Lin fell asleep. The platform was protected by a shield, keeping the temperature and defense the same as the interior. Dou Lin's talent was so high that even without active cultivation, he was already touching the threshold of Sequence 6. In his warm, sleepy haze, he heard some strange noises but just rolled over and kept sleeping.
Until a sudden, massive roar jolted him awake. He sat up and stared, stunned, at the fierce battle raging in the night.
'Wait, we're fighting?'
Dou Lin rubbed his eyes and stood up by the railing, peering out. He thought all the scary beasts ran away when they saw the vehicle. So what was this?
He looked up, his eyes flashing with silver light. To him, the dark sky was as bright as day. He saw a massive black "snake" weaving through the fray, breathing out mists and clouds. But this snake was different—it had claws, a long flowing mane on its back, and a familiar head with deer antlers and long whiskers.
Dou Lin thought for a while before remembering what it was.
It was a dragon! A black dragon!!
When the legendary black dragon appeared, everyone on the vehicle was shaken. The dragon was a totem of Daxia, a creature of myth and reverence. Even if they didn't bow in prayer, the sudden thought of "slaying a dragon" weighed heavily on their hearts. This momentary hesitation was why the shield was struck, waking Dou Lin.
The sparks exploding against the shield snapped the crew out of their daze.
"So what if it's a dragon? It's just a beast in a dragon's shape!"
"Black dragons are symbols of evil anyway. And aren't there plenty of dragon-slayers in our legends?"
"Right! We respect the Ancestral Dragon of Blue Star, not some local monster. Kill it!"
"Snap out of it! Don't let it touch the vehicle again—a Grade 6 vehicle can't take too many hits like that!"
The Gambler captain gave the order: "Brothers, show me what you've learned these past two days. Let's set off some bloody fireworks!"
Every available Gambler vanished into the void, reappearing instantly beside the beasts closest to the vehicle. Flashes of blades were all that could be seen. In seconds, the sky erupted in sprays of blood as beasts screamed and fell to the earth. The Gamblers remained in the flicker between reality and void, waiting for their next opening.
The captain was the only one to engage the black dragon directly. To prove it was just another beast, he flickered to the dragon's neck and unleashed a frantic flurry of stabs and slashes.
'Slash! Slash! Slash!'
Dou Lin watched from the balcony, his mouth agape. Without waiting for orders, he grabbed a handful of starlight and threw it. The silver dust settled on the Challengers and the undead.
"Victory Determination!"
Their strength instantly doubled.
"ROAR—" A dragon's cry echoed, accompanied by a spray of blood. With the "Determination" buff, the captain finally pierced the scales on the dragon's neck, driving his blade into its vitals.
The dragon thrashed in agony. The captain, unwilling to lose his chance, was dragged out of the void and found himself riding the dragon's back. He gritted his teeth, stabbing repeatedly. The dragon, driven mad by the pain, suddenly dove headfirst toward a nearby mountain, intending to crush the captain against the rock.
"Ah!" Dou Lin gasped and threw out a chain of starlight, connecting himself to the captain.
The captain, who had been about to retreat, felt his attributes double again on top of the previous buff. He delivered one final, massive strike, burying his daggers deep into the dragon's neck.
The black dragon stiffened, paralyzed. The captain had succeeded, but the momentum was too great; he was pinned to the dragon as they hurtled toward the mountain. He braced for the impact.
Suddenly, a massive pulling force yanked him away, tossing him into the sky. He looked back and saw the shimmering Star Chain held by Dou Lin. The captain managed a grin and a thumbs-up to the kid before flickering away.
The dragon slammed into the mountain with a deafening crash, snapping the peak in half and burying itself under tons of rock. But before the dust could settle, an even greater force erupted from below, sending boulders flying. The black dragon, now a streak of dark light, burst out and charged straight for the vehicle again. It was incredibly fast, closing the gap in an instant and opening its maw to unleash a white dragon breath.
Dou Lin's eyes widened, his small hands gripping the railing. Up close, the head was over a hundred meters wide; he wasn't even the size of one of its teeth.
'So this is a dragon?'
He blinked at the bloody maw. There was no fear on his face, only excitement. He whispered a countdown: "Three, two, one!"
As he hit one, the vehicle's shield shattered with a crisp 'pop', like breaking glass, falling away in shimmering shards. It was beautiful.
Then, those beautiful shards turned into lethal blades. Bolts of lightning followed the sound, lashing out at the dragon.
"ROAR!"
The counter-damage from the Grade 6 shield tore the dragon's flesh, sending it into convulsions. It began to fall.
But this time, before it could hit the ground, a figure appeared on its neck—right on the wound the Gambler had opened. He stood in a perfect, stable horse stance, holding a double-edged greataxe as large as a door.
He swung.
Like a strike from a celestial giant, carrying the power to cleave the world, the axe slammed down. The Beast King—a peak Grade 6 creature just one step away from Grade 7—was decapitated. It wasn't just a deep wound; it was a clean, total separation of head from body.
Brother Hammer had simply inlaid the Metal Stone into his diamond axe, but that was enough to raise its quality and allow him to kill the dragon. The power of a "True Tool" was terrifying; if it could be refined into a Divine Artifact, it would be truly unstoppable. Cleaving a planet might not be impossible in the future.
With the dragon dead, the beast army outside—who had been held back by the undead—lost their spirit and scattered like startled birds.
Dou Lin turned and ran off the platform, sprinting toward the cockpit. Before he even saw the people inside, he shouted impatiently:
"Brother Huan! Brother Huan! Which undead are you going to feed this big black dragon to?"