By the time Chang Le led his vehicle to the Grade 6 world, the teleportation gate was already positioned over the ocean. Nearly 1,000 vehicles, carrying close to a million people, arrived at the Grade 6 world. Everyone gazed at the sky-piercing giant tree before them, utterly awestruck.
Images and recordings of the World Tree had long circulated on Blue Star. To showcase the progress and strength of the Challenge Army, daily live combat broadcasts from the Grade 6 world were made available to the public. Not only did they know what the World Tree looked like, but even the famous Major City was a familiar sight. However, no matter how advanced the broadcast technology—even if it felt immersive—it could not compare to standing here in person and seeing it with one's own eyes.
Upon entering this world, the dense Nature Power filling the air made it feel as if every breath increased one's strength. Chang Le stood on the balcony at the front of his car, his Lieutenant's epaulettes sparkling. He squinted at the giant timber, his heart surging with emotion.
He was finally here. The dream of following 'that man' was finally about to be realized!
After safely delivering the convoy to the Major City and handing them over to the local garrison, Chang Le reported to the Pioneer Army headquarters without a moment's rest. The officer in charge told him: "Minister Mu mentioned that the new crew members for Commander Wei's vehicle would report this time. We've arranged the reception, but Commander Wei has gone to the Grade 7 world; it may be a few days before he returns."
"He's already gone to Grade 7?" Chang Le's face turned pale. "Then if we want to catch up, we'll have to wait six months for the next assessment? And that's a Grade 7 world—how high would our vehicle's level need to be just to get there?"
The officer, a very amiable man, smiled at him. "Commander Wei only went to open the Grade 7 opening battle. He'll be back in a few days."
Chang Le still looked bewildered. vehicles couldn't return to previous worlds. He had come to join Wei Huan's vehicle, but if the main ship was gone, it would take a long time for his mere Grade 5 vehicle to qualify for Grade 7. The officer knew what he was thinking but didn't explain, simply arranging accommodations for Chang Le and his crew.
---
He waited for five days.
On the morning of the fifth day, Chang Le was leading his troops in a drill at the Major City barracks. While sweating profusely, he suddenly felt a massive shadow loom overhead. He turned and instinctively entered a combat stance.
A monster that seemed to have no end—appearing even larger than the Major City itself—parted the leaves of the World Tree and slowly descended. Even though he felt no hostility, the primal fear of such a massive object fell upon him. His muscles tensed, and sweat rolled down his forehead.
"Commander Wei is back!"
"That Pseudo-God-rank Burrow Beast is too cool. It's stunning every time I see it!"
"Chang Le, why are you dazed? Did you forget? This is the Pseudo-God-rank Burrow Beast called 'Dot Mom'!"
Chang Le snapped out of it, feeling embarrassed. He unclenched his fists and said, "I forgot for a second. It's just too shocking. Is a space fortress even this big?"
His vice-captain, staring up in worship, replied: "A space fortress isn't as big as her. Our vehicles are big on the inside, but they look small on the outside. It's not as impactful as seeing a giant in the flesh. I heard that during the battle in the Beast World, Dot Mom was over 10,000 meters long—she could easily stretch her body outside a planet's atmosphere."
Chang Le swallowed hard. "So Commander Wei is on top of that?"
"Obviously!"
Chang Le became so nervous he started to stutter: "S-so we can board the car?"
"Probably not yet. Since Commander Wei entered Grade 7, his vehicle has to stay there. That's why he's riding Dot Mom back." The vice-captain laughed.
"You're usually not this clumsy. You haven't even seen him yet and you've gone stupid. I'm afraid you won't even be able to speak. Want me to talk for you?"
"Huh? Uh, sure."
---
That afternoon, Chang Le was called to the plaza for inspection. Standing in the front row, he saw the familiar figure on the platform, and his heart nearly leaped out of his chest. He wondered if his three years of hard work would satisfy Commander Wei.
The events that followed were a blur. They swore loyalty together, put on the badges of Wei Huan's legion, and then he, along with seventy other captains, received a private meeting with the Commander.
In a grand, small-scale meeting room sat fewer than a hundred people. At the head was the man renowned across the human race. He was so young yet so powerful, radiating a brilliance that made it hard for Chang Le to look away. Wei Huan spoke little, and his gaze didn't linger on Chang Le. Vice-Captain Mu Zhong did most of the talking.
Toward the end, Mu Zhong said: "...The goal of entering Grade 7 was the opening battle, but for a considerable time to come, we will continue to stay in this world. You are the additional crew members recruited because we are upgrading to a Grade 8 vehicle. You are our own. Shortly, we will depart for the 'Blessed Land.' You won't have much time there, so you must seize every opportunity to find your own 'True Self' and 'True Artifact.' I don't want you to follow the paths of those who came before; finding your own way might make you stronger.
To stabilize your position on this ship, you need strength and unity, not arrogance. Half an hour. Get ready to move. Also, Chang Le, stay behind."
Hearing his name, Chang Le jolted and stood bolt upright. "Yes, General!"
Ten minutes later, Chang Le walked back to his vehicle feeling like he was treading on clouds. He didn't go inside; instead, he stood at the door and saluted. He watched as Commander Wei, Vice-Captain Mu Zhong, and the famous "Combat Trinity"—Generals Xu Qingqiang, Xue, and Cui—along with every legendary hero he recognized, stepped onto 'his' vehicle.
He felt so honored he could have died. How could he be so lucky to have Commander Wei lead his main force onto his car? It wasn't just "illustrious," he felt his family tree needed a whole new page dedicated to today!
Chang Le was lost in thought until Mu Zhong smiled at him and said, "Chang Le, let's go. We'll be relying on your arrangements."
"Yes!" Chang Le nodded, continuing his dreamlike walk.
Inside, the Grade 5 vehicle, which usually felt spacious enough for a hundred people, seemed pitifully small with these giants present. Chang Le nervously listened as Mu Zhong said, "Commander Wei and I will go to the cockpit. You arrange the rest for a break."
"I'll handle it," the female vice-captain cut in. Unlike Chang Le, she was poised and graceful. A Petitioner who had been with Chang Le since the Grade 3 assessment, she had performed exceptionally in the Azure Dragon Legion and was recently promoted.
As she settled the others, Chang Le led the two most powerful men in humanity to his cockpit. He spotted some dust in the corner and instantly regretted not scrubbing it earlier.
Mu Zhong saw his awkwardness and smiled. "Actually, I've been following your progress these years. Since your first year, you've consistently been a top performer. Your greatest wish was to follow Commander Wei, right?"
Chang Le gave an embarrassed smile. Wei Huan turned back, his gaze lingering on Chang Le's face before he finally spoke: "This car will serve as a temporary command vehicle. I will take over the authorization."
"Yes, of course!" Chang Le was so excited his nostrils flared. 'You can take my life if you want!'
Mu Zhong's smile widened. "We chose your vehicle for a reason. Believe in your own excellence. These three years were hard, but you've grown even better than you realize." Chang Le blinked, his eyes reddening. Someone had seen the tons of sweat he had shed during those sleepless nights.
---
Mu Zhong gave Chang Le a moment to compose himself, then stepped onto the balcony with Wei Huan. In the parking lot below, over 300 vehicles started their engines and formed a fleet. Most were Grade 5, but there were Grade 6 ships too. A full Grade 6 vehicle could hold 1,000 people; this wave of reinforcements totaled nearly 40,000. Wei Huan's ship was about to hit Grade 8, which could hold 100,000 people—this group was prepared in advance for him.
Since Wei Huan's ship was currently in the Grade 7 world, these newcomers would have to challenge the Grade 7 Highway alone in six months. It was a test. As they headed out, Wei Huan would sweep the resources ahead; he was never stingy with his own people.
All 40,000 newcomers, plus another 50,000 selected from the Grade 6 world, would be sent to the Blessed Land to cultivate. Six months in the Challenge World was a year in the Blessed Land. Combined with the special environment there, their strength would at least double.
This was also a screening process. Those with no talent for combat or cultivation would be reassigned to logistics. Wei Huan had pushed ahead with the Grade 7 assessment precisely because the resources he brought from the Dark Beast Plane were running low. He needed another "haul," and he wanted to see how Mo Ji was doing. He hadn't heard from him in a long time, and since Mo Ji hadn't died and returned to the Great Tomb, he was curious.
The fleet was ready. Wei Huan issued a command to the AI butler, and the ships took off. Under the envious gazes of other challengers, they flew toward the gargantuan creature floating in the gaps of the World Tree's branches.
"Commander Wei is going to the Blessed Land again?"
"Even the reserves on his ship get to go. When will it be our turn?"
"The Blessed Land isn't the point. My goal in life is just to be a member of his crew."
Chang Le, standing on the balcony, saw those envious gazes. He took a deep breath. From the perspective of following his faith, he was finally here.
As they drew further from the city, Chang Le looked at the white platform ahead. "Captain Mu, are we riding the 'Empress' over?"
Everyone on Blue Star knew Dot Mom's name, but the public felt "Dot Mom" wasn't grand enough, so they gave her the name "Empress." Empress, Queen, Princess—they were all female titles, fitting for the matriarchal society of Burrow Beasts. Dot Mom was the Empress, Gouzi was the Queen, the "grandchildren" were Queens, and the "great-grandchildren" were Princesses. Wei Huan didn't care what they called them, but he wouldn't change how 'he' addressed his undead.
Mu Zhong replied: "Yes. Dot Mom is Pseudo-God rank. Her shield is stronger than a Grade 8 vehicle's. She'll keep everyone safe in the middle, and she's fast."
---
Dot Mom's shell was wide enough to easily hold 300 vehicles. Like a balloon with eight long legs swaying, she flew from the World Tree to a less dense area. A light film enveloped her like a transparent bubble, shimmering with seven-colored hues.
Speed increased. Soon, the scenery became a blur. To someone with insufficient strength, it looked like teleportation. Within an hour, they reached the top of the World Tree.
Here, buildings were constructed on over ten massive leaves, guarded by heavy troops and researchers. Over the last six months, human wisdom had successfully developed the First-Generation World Gate. While not as stable as the Challenge World's gates, it was far safer than using the Starlink.
Chang Le looked at the gate embedded in the "ceiling." Mu Zhong spoke behind him: "We can't all go through at once. The first-gen gate can only handle 15 vehicles and 1,000 people per transfer. You come with us first. I've had the 'Heart of Steel' upload the risk protocols to your system. Read them before we go."
The crossing was smooth. They arrived on the other side of the World Gate. This wasn't the Challenge World; there were no broadcasts here, and it was a restricted military zone. Chang Le was stunned by the sight of the legend: blue skies, white clouds, and rolling mountains. It looked like Blue Star, but the mountains were impossibly high and there were two suns.
The Challenge Army had built a fortress here. Chang Le parked his car in the massive lot. Mu Zhong said, "Get out with us."
Stepping onto an alien world for the first time, Chang Le didn't feel a huge difference because they were still within a protective shield. He looked ahead to see the man greeting them—Commander Fang William?
The former strongest human. Though his combat power had been surpassed, his legend and his bravery in holding the line during humanity's darkest hours were still sung. He had been out of the public eye for a while, leading many to think he had retired to logistics, but one look told Chang Le that wasn't true. Fang William's aura was no weaker than the main generals around Wei Huan; it was just a sharp edge kept in a sheath.
Cathayan culture was about keeping an "ace in the hole." Fang William was practicing a "Way of the Hidden Blade," slowly accumulating a power that would one day shock the Ten Thousand Races.
Wei Huan and Fang William were already talking about the Grade 7 assessment.
"The difficulty was very low. The Dark Beasts didn't interfere. With our current strength, the elite forces can pass the 80% line without a problem."
Fang William asked: "What does the Grade 7 world look like? Like this?"
"Mountains and seas. Like the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas'. Continents beyond the sea, demons and monsters on the land."
"Demons and monsters? How are demons defined? Dark energy?"
"Yes."
Fang William went silent for a moment before speaking: "I found a chasm at the bottom of the Eastern Sea. There's some abnormality there. I might need your people to check it out."
"How did you find it?" Wei Huan asked.
"I was chasing a Shadow Naga that was good at escaping. I saw it dive into a chasm and vanish. I suspect there's a spatial rift. My men didn't dare go deeper and reported to me, so I pulled them back."
"What do the Diviners and Drivers say?" Wei Huan asked.