Since Wei Huan and his team had notified the base of their return in advance, they stopped as they passed through, as Mu Dehao and Fang William were already waiting there.
Upon meeting, Fang William gave Wei Huan a thumbs-up: "I'm truly convinced now. The position of Commander-in-Chief of the Pioneer Army really couldn't belong to anyone but you."
Mu Dehao laughed as well: "I was just telling Commander Fang that for anyone else, this journey to an alien world would have been a high-risk crisis. It just so happened that you were the ones who fell into it, and now our human race has gained a new 'Blessed Land'."
Wei Huan and Mu Zhong exchanged a smile.
The groups exchanged brief pleasantries without diving too deep into the details of the Beast World. The conversation quickly shifted to Wei Huan's primary goal for returning: "...So you're saying one of the World Tree's roots is gushing thick Nether Power, causing it to grow much thicker than the others, and you're worried the World Tree might mutate or be compromised?"
Mu Dehao nodded: "Exactly. The World Tree is vital to humanity, especially now that it connects to the Beast World. We cannot afford any mishaps. That's why we called you back; if there really is a problem, we can brainstorm countermeasures and take precautions early."
"Understood."
Just as they were speaking, a vehicle tore through the ocean surface at near-light speed, flying upward. It was a white Starter Car, yet it moved with the momentum of a missile, leaving sonic booms in its wake. It was Wei Huan's vehicle.
The AI butler, which had been "dazed" for nearly a month, returned to normal the moment it entered this world. After linking up with the vehicle's main AI, the vehicle flew up to meet them. By the time Wei Huan stepped out of the room, his vehicle was descending from the sky, slowly coming to a halt at the parking spot closest to him.
Wei Huan said, "Minister Mu, Commander Fang, I'll go take a look now."
(Mu Dehao held the position of Minister of Infrastructure in the Pioneer Army, distinct from Wei Huan's cousin, who served as the vehicle's Internal Affairs Minister.)
Mu Dehao and Fang William didn't let Wei Huan go alone; instead, they boarded his vehicle to accompany him. Everyone felt it was best to resolve this as quickly as possible to avoid complications.
As Wei Huan led the way, Xu Qingqiang was already waiting with his team. This time he wasn't smoking, just squinting at Wei Huan with a grin. Wei Huan stopped in front of him.
Xu Qingqiang raised an eyebrow and stepped forward to give Wei Huan a hug: "Boss!"
Wei Huan nodded and smiled, looking at the excited crew members behind Xu Qingqiang; his heart felt warm. They had been apart for less than a month—only about ten days in local time—but he had missed them dearly.
"Boss, you didn't take me along for the pioneering! I was so frustrated knowing you were over there slaughtering everything in sight. What Beast King? What Black Dragons and Nine-Tailed Foxes? You had your fun, but you left us drooling. Those are legendary beasts! Didn't you think to leave a couple for your brothers to kill?"
Xu Qingqiang complained, lamenting his absence from the "feast."
Mu Zhong replied, "That world is roughly equivalent to Grade 7.5. When we head to the next world, you'll see plenty of the beasts you're talking about."
"Tsk," Xu Qingqiang shook his head. "It's not the same. Monsters controlled by the Challenge World are like puppets on strings; killing them is always the same and gets boring. I heard that your battle with the Beast Race was so intense the sun and moon grew dim, with millions of troops deployed on both sides—tactical maneuvers, King-level duels... and I wasn't there for such a hot-blooded scene? What a waste of good beast meat."
Mu Zhong paused for a moment before laughing: "Brother Qiang, we brought back plenty of beast meat. I'll have Liu Chengzhi cook it up for everyone later. You can eat to your heart's content."
To his surprise, Xu Qingqiang wasn't satisfied: "Dead meat is just meat."
Mu Zhong smiled: "Once we finish up here, we'll drive the vehicle over there. There are many opportunities in that world; with your skills, you won't miss a single one."
Xu Qingqiang finally grinned: "That's more like it. I'm bored of this world. Anything below Platinum is a pushover, and I can't beat the Diamonds yet. Once I level up in that world, watch me bully those little Diamonds!"
Amidst the joking, they entered the vehicle's interior. Crew members who had heard the news lined the corridors, greeting them. Looking at the familiar sights and people, Wei Huan's smile deepened. Mu Zhong made eye contact with everyone; he could remember every single person's name.
Mu Zhong asked Xu Qingqiang to show Fang William and Mu Dehao to a place to rest, while he and Wei Huan returned to their room to reorganize. As the saying goes, "There's no place like home." Even though Brother Hammer's vehicle had been fully open to them, it couldn't compare to the comfort of their own room.
However, the main reason for their departure wasn't rest, but to check their equipment. In the Beast World, gear information couldn't be updated. Now that they were finally back and had a moment of peace, they couldn't wait to look at their modified gear.
When they opened the interface, Mu Zhong was startled: "Oh! The names turned green."
Wei Huan said: "That's right. They are Set Items."
Mu Zhong recalled the classifications: "Bronze, Black Iron, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Pseudo-God, and God-tier. What does this count as?"
Wei Huan emphasized: "It counts as a Set."
Mu Zhong looked at his solitary staff—the only piece embedded with a Life Stone—and leaned toward Wei Huan: "Let me see your gear attributes."
Wei Huan shared his stats with him. The Diamond-tier Spirit Helmet, Ring, Belt, and Studs had all been renamed: True · Diamond Nether Helmet, True · Diamond Nether Ring, True · Diamond Nether Belt, and True · Diamond Nether Earring.
The names on the display panel were green, and the backgrounds flickered with a green light. These were system special effects; besides being flashy, they didn't have much functional meaning. However, Mu Zhong spotted his target immediately. He clicked on the gear to see the Set Attributes Wei Huan had been talking about.
[Demon Phoenix Set - 2 Pieces]: Dark Command +30 points
[Demon Phoenix Set - 3 Pieces]: Nether Recovery +50%
[Demon Phoenix Set - 4 Pieces]: Nether Recovery +50%
The Set attributes appeared after the Nether Stones were embedded. The original Diamond-tier attributes remained unchanged. Overall, this set added an extra 30 points of Dark Command and a 100% boost to Nether Recovery speed, matching what Wei Huan had felt.
"Wait, there were five stones. Why is it only a 4-piece set?" Mu Zhong's focus shifted slightly.
Wei Huan turned his head, showing the jewelry on his ears. Mu Zhong looked at the earrings and asked, "Don't they look good? They're so cool—low-key, luxurious, and meaningful."
That wasn't what Wei Huan meant, and Mu Zhong knew it, so he laughed, admiring them. The biggest change in Wei Huan's gear was indeed this pair of earrings. Originally called "Diamond-tier Spirit Studs," they had looked like small diamonds the size of a fingernail, which Wei Huan found too flashy and usually kept hidden.
After Wei Huan had extracted the vast Nether Power from the bird-ghost (now known as the Demon Phoenix) into five Nether Stones—one large and four smaller—he gave them to Mu Zhong. Mu Zhong embedded the largest in the crown, the next in the belt, one in the ring, and was left with two medium-sized oval stones.
After much thought, Mu Zhong decided to put them on Wei Huan's ears because the studs had the weakest base attributes. Using his Driver ability, he crafted a pair of ear ornaments around the simple studs. These ornaments wrapped around Wei Huan's ears, growing black bone spikes outward and upward, with the Nether Stones embedded within.
If Wei Huan deactivated his visual cloaking to reveal his pitch-black gear—the meter-wide scythe on his back and these bone-spike earrings—standing on Mother's shell, he would look like a literal Demon King, an entirely different species from humans.
Standing before Mu Zhong now with his visual cloaking off, Wei Huan's indifferent face and cold aura gave him a presence that looked down upon the world. Mu Zhong's heart raced. Seeing his lover transform from an ordinary human into a high, towering Lord of the Nether only made him more infatuated.
However, Wei Huan couldn't remain cold for long in front of Mu Zhong. He hooked his finger under Mu Zhong's chin and smiled: "Well, keep going."
"Keep what going?" Mu Zhong blinked, almost forgetting his original point. "Your attributes are honestly a bit broken now."
The 'Heart of Steel' had the highest authority; even if Wei Huan masked his stats, Mu Zhong could see them easily.
Name: Wei Huan (Pseudo-Artifact +75% all stats) (Title +25% all stats) (Brave +10% all stats)
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Class: Plague Spreader (Sequence 6)
Stamina: 18,200
Strength: 2,290
Agility: 2,020
Nether Power: 43,600
Nether Recovery Speed: 330% (Ring of Mofidi +100%, Mother's Pet Status +30%, Book of the Dead +100%, Set Attribute +100%) (+100% when Sister Crow uses Nether Domain)
Special Status:
1. Being hunted by Mofidi...
2. Hostility from Celestial Demon Race...
3-6. Being watched by Him...
Equipped Spells: Magical Mist, Magical Gate, Magical Shield
Dark Control: +63
Summon Count: 480,000+ (Personal: 200k, Mother's: 280k)
"Your Nether Power is over 40,000, and your summons are nearly at 500,000. You really are a one-man army." Mu Zhong stared at the data for a while before sighing. "Meanwhile, I don't have a Set. It's just a 'True' Artifact; besides adding 5 points of Nature Power, there's no other boost."
Wei Huan tapped his legion badge, and the oppressive gear vanished, replaced by a simple, crisp virtual uniform that made him look heroic and dignified. Wei Huan preferred this; no normal man wants to walk around looking that garish. Moreover, as a Legion Commander, he couldn't wear such eccentric clothing. He only revealed the set for Mu Zhong when they were alone. Usually, they didn't stay on for more than three minutes—he was genuinely worried the spikes on the earrings would prick Mu Zhong's face.
Mu Zhong's defense was: "The Nether Stones were so big, I couldn't just turn them into two spheres. What, did you want bear ears or steamed bun buns? That would be ridiculous. You're a Legion Commander!"
Seeing the clothes hidden, Mu Zhong withdrew his gaze with a hint of regret. He added, "In short, while 'True' gear isn't that hard to get in that world, getting a Set bonus like yours requires effort. At the very least, you have to ensure the energy stones come from the same source so their energies can entwine and trigger a resonance."
Next, Mu Zhong pulled out the totems he carried. Their data glasses showed:
[Gold-tier Nether Totem]
Duration Effect: +400 Nether Power / 5 seconds
Mu Zhong was surprised: "They even have grades?" He pulled out several others.
[Black Iron-tier Lifesteal Totem]: +200 Lifesteal / 5 seconds
[Silver-tier Holy Light Totem]: +300 Holy Light Healing / 5 seconds
The comparison was clear. The Challenge World graded totems like equipment: 200 was Black Iron, 300 was Silver, 400 was Gold. Following this logic, 100 was Bronze, Platinum was 500, Diamond 600, Pseudo-God 700, and God-tier 800.
Mu Zhong, having crafted them, understood the system's logic. It depended on the materials used, his invested effort, and his understanding of the subject. His carefully crafted Nether Totem, which included almost every element, was only Gold-tier. This wasn't just a material issue; his own class level was likely too low.
Mu Zhong shared this theory with Wei Huan: "Don't be fooled by these round numbers like 200 or 300. In actual practice, the effects fluctuate around that range. But since everyone trusts the system, this is likely how they'll be classified from now on."
Wei Huan suggested, "We can call Xia Yu over to investigate further."
Mu Zhong laughed: "No matter how much we study it, to truly achieve a God-tier Totem, it would likely have to be either Nether or Nature."
Mu Zhong added what Wei Huan wanted to hear: "My understanding of you is even deeper than my understanding of myself."
Wei Huan smiled: "If you have doubts, just ask me."
Mu Zhong nodded: "Of course. When have I ever been polite with you?"
They shared a smile and chatted a bit longer before heading downstairs. They joined Fang William and Mu Dehao for a meal of beast meat prepared by Liu Chengzhi, finally waiting until all the core crew members had returned. Captain Xue, Yake, Kristov, and the others who had been out on missions rushed back immediately upon hearing the news.
As Wei Huan's vehicle flew down the World Tree, other vehicles flew into it like swallows returning to their nests. By the time they finished eating, the vehicle was packed.
Captain Xue, Captain Wang Ming, and Liu Xiaotian approached him, still carrying the scent of gunpowder and battle. The combat scars on their armor were their medals of honor. Yake followed a hundred meters behind with Mu Zirui and the twins, dressed impeccably. They were like the white feathers on an arrow—elegant yet harboring lethal intent. Kristov and Cousin Mu had been by Wei Huan's side since morning. Standing beside Wei Huan—who was as imposing as a mountain—their backs were straight and their pride was unmistakable.
The three groups converged.
Captain Xue saluted: "Commander Wei, Melee Group reporting!"
Yake saluted: "Ranged Group reporting!"
Wei Huan looked at each person and nodded: "Follow me to the meeting first. The rest of you, go rest."
"Yes, sir!"
---
The seawater of the Deep Sea World had been sucked up as nutrients by the World Tree; with nearly a third of the water gone, vast spaces opened up on the surface. A major human city was being built on the surface, situated on one of the World Tree's thickest branches. Over the past period, two groups had arrived, bringing the human population in this world to about 220,000. Not all were combatants; many were logistics and research personnel. So far, only national legions had entered.
It was rumored that the third wave would include a small number of civilians. These wouldn't be independent but rather corporate groups with deep ties to the legions and nations. They worked for the legions, and in return, the legions allowed them to enter early to establish economic layouts before the world opened to civilian teams and lone wolves.
Wei Huan's vehicle passed the major city and dove straight into the ocean. The experience above and below water was starkly different. The Grade 6 world was not for human enjoyment; it was dark, cold, and oppressive. However, once the Grade 8 headlights were switched on, these negative factors were banished. The water became so clear it looked like snorkeling in a tropical shallow sea.
Continuing down the World Tree for about a hundred miles, they saw lights on the branches. The vehicle slowed as the lights flickered in patterns—light signals informing them the path ahead was safe.
"Safe."
"Safe."
Passing these lights, they saw over ten vehicles parked neatly on the branches near the main trunk, their lights illuminating the path. One could vaguely see soldiers saluting behind the windshields. Every 300 kilometers, there was a sentry post. Every 3,000 kilometers, a base. It wasn't until they reached a depth of 20,000 li (approx. 10,000 km) that the sentry posts vanished.
This deep into the ocean floor, high-level sea beasts spawned frequently. Ordinary vehicles couldn't hold these positions, so they were monitored by patrols. After entering the Grade 6 world, human vehicles had their radars upgraded by the 'Heart of Steel', allowing them to detect threats thirty minutes in advance.
After passing the last human post, Wei Huan's vehicle continued its descent. Here, even Grade 8 lights struggled to provide clarity. This wasn't because of the water color, but because of the sheer number of sea beasts living on the World Tree—monstrous sharks hiding behind leaves, octopuses coiling around branches, and leftover "Liar Race" survivors lurking in corners to trap passersby.
"The garrison comes down daily to clear them out, and once a month the main combat teams organize a massive sweep. Especially the 'Liar Race' survivors—we can't let them grow again," Fang William stated.
Clearing the World Tree roots was the garrison's job; the Pioneer Army under Wei Huan was mainly responsible for opening treasure chests and exploring ruins. The deep sea was vast. Even with the shield up and Ghost Crows summoned for full speed, it took half a day to travel from the last human post to the jelly-like substance on the seabed.
During this time, Wei Huan and the others held their meeting, discussing the Divine Corpse and the Beast World. As they talked, notifications for resource acquisitions kept popping up on the screen. Finally, a Platinum treasure chest was opened. The butler followed protocol and asked if Wei Huan wanted to deal with it before moving on.
Wei Huan said, "Let's deal with everything once we reach our destination."
Hearing this, Fang William remarked: "I knew the harvest there was big, but now you're even farming Platinum-level monsters in groups. It seems the harvest was truly massive."
Wei Huan nodded. Unlimited Nether Stones, a qualitatively transformed Great Tomb, and four Pseudo-God level undead—the harvest was indeed massive.
Xu Qingqiang noted: "There's a Diamond chest about seven days' travel away, and a Platinum ruin about nine days away. Should we open them after we're done here?"
Mu Zhong asked: "Are they nearby?"
Xu Qingqiang shook his head: "No, they're in completely opposite directions."
Mu Zhong looked at Wei Huan. Wei Huan shook his head: "Beast World first. We have six months to find our own direction. After that, regardless of our progress, we'll come back to open the chests."
"Understood."
Wei Huan paused before adding, "After that, I plan to head to the Grade 7 world."
"Aren't you..." Mu Zhong trailed off.
Wei Huan said, "There are only two worlds left before the Grade 9 world. We can't stay in Grade 6 forever. Higher-grade worlds will definitely have better resources." He paused again. "Also, we must return to the Dark Beast world as soon as possible."