Chapter 51

Earth Net, a name that sounds related to the Underground Alliance, actually has no relation—for now.

In different languages, Earth Net also has different names; originally it was called the Dark Net and Spider Web.

After several underground lairs were discovered, most factions confirmed the metaphor of this organization as underground rats, and Earth Net became the usual name.

Just as everyone compares them to, the people of Earth Net, that is, the rats in the sewers, are a bunch of smell‑sniffing scavenging rats.

In the early Great Nirvana, many countries' social order repeatedly collapsed, and most of the world's nations were destroyed in this disaster.

Thus, during this period of order's collapse, humanity's desires and brutality, no different from beasts', spawned great evil as civilization fell.

In the world there are Hong, Leishen, Jia Yi, Han Modesen and others—heroes who could hold up a collapsing hall—and also there are those who fully unleash madness.

However, as civilization stabilized again, those who could be gathered and united were incorporated into the War Palace led by Hong with a single amnesty, and the truly heinous and mad sins were hidden underground.

The underground passages connected, and the filthy waters pooled together, breeding rats—what is now the Earth Net.

"A glass of Tromm liquor." In the tavern with dim yellow light, a woman who looked intellectual spoke in an intellectual tone.

"Dark elf, this isn't what everyone heard; outside they say you provoked the World Tree and have been turned into fertilizer." The tavern keeper, using a prosthetic limb, directly handed over a glass of pale yellow liquor.

"Don't talk nonsense, I didn't provoke anything; it's the HR Alliance that provoked it, what does it have to do with me."

Being called a dark elf, black elf, or Yun Mengze—none of those names matter to me.

"Then you dare to come back, knowing that the higher-ups have always kept their distance from the World Tree, and you now reek of scandal."

"Hehe."

Yun Mengze didn't answer, lit a cigarette, took a puff, picked up the drink, took a small sip, let the alcohol go down first, then exhaled the smoke.

"Besides the HR Alliance, how many other big financiers are there in the world now?"

"Old Black Crow, you don't think you can run this dive tavern for a lifetime, do you? Use your brain—if the World Tree wins, can the Earth Net still exist?"

"If the World Tree loses… tsk tsk tsk, the Earth Net probably can't exist either."

After Yun Mengze finished speaking, they repeated the same action again.

"Seven hundred forty billion, still short of over two hundred billion; I've booked the next opportunity."

The boss called Old Black Crow stared at the numbers on Yun Mengze's account, hardly able to believe their own eyes.

Old Black Crow also poured himself a drink, lit a cigarette, but only took a simple puff, then also took a sip.

"Miss Black Elf."

"Good luck."

There shouldn't be too many people like this miss in the Earth Net.

Chasing wealth? Those certainly have no meaning.

In this world, only those who wield power can possess everything; for the rats of the Earth Net who once had power but were cast into the sewers, this is especially true.

But now, just as the outside world describes the Earth Net, these rats are desperately fighting for the few remaining slices of the cake.

Reaching planetary scale, breaking free of gravity, breaking free of the bonds of land and air—then whether escaping this land no longer suitable for survival, or like those long ago who were half‑accepted by Hong and the Thunder God, it's the same.

"One trillion, exchanged for a chance to break through."

Old Black Crow gave a wry smile, shook their head, watching the distant retreating figure, seeming to mock, or perhaps just a bitter smile.

"But these guys don't seem to realize that the more blood they stain now, the harder it will be to clean up later."

Old Black Crow also poured himself a drink and downed it in one gulp.

"I actually thought you were smart, Miss Fairy."

Leaving the tavern, Yun Mengze casually tossed the bounty notice taken from the tavern into a nearby trash can, took another puff of the cigarette in hand, snapped their fingers, and the remaining cigarette butt ignited into a flame, which they also threw into the trash can.

"Of course I'm much smarter than you."

A roaring fire blazed in the trash can; from the angle of the flames, it looked as if the whole tavern were burning.

Soon after, news spread in the underworld that a certain Miss Fairy was only over two billion short of one trillion, and the funds of several somewhat‑known bounty hunters were also exposed.

One day a clever old man died drunk in the toilet; the mice that had only dared to hide in low places could no longer restrain themselves, began frequently taking on commissions, especially those from the HR Alliance.

April 1, 2057.

Before the Great Nirvana, this day was called April Fools' Day by some countries; and now, decades after that holiday has passed into history, the HR Alliance and m‑country seem to plan to play a humorous joke on the whole world.

Backed by the HR Alliance, together with the United States, the European Union governments, and the third and fourth chairmen of the War God Palace, they issued a statement denouncing the World Tree for attempting to dominate humanity during its crisis, secretly sabotaging alliances between nations, and other crimes.

Effective immediately, the European Union and the United States will no longer permit the World Tree and its related forces to enter their spheres of influence, will sever all cooperation with the World Tree, and demand that the World Tree repatriate all citizens of the EU and the US back to their home countries.

When the news broke, the world erupted in uproar—not only other countries among the five great powers, but also the citizens within the EU and the US themselves.

Since the Great Nirvana, with the establishment of the War God Palace, humanity's united front has always been aimed at monsters; although countries and factions may openly and covertly struggle over interests, everyone is clear that the basic strategy of jointly fighting monsters is sound.

However, this time two of the five great powers have pointed their spears at a human force whose global influence is not small, and whose strength is nearly on par with any of the five great powers.

"No matter how you look at it, it's a bad move."

"The HR Alliance people are still desperate, jumping over walls."

All the bigwigs in the world feel that this is a foolish move.

Within the HR Alliance, the major families and several strong individuals from the EU have undoubted influence in the EU and the US, and the power they possess is likewise unquestionable.

Although the HR Alliance has suffered successive defeats in its various confrontations with the World Tree over these years, no one has dared to look down on the HR Alliance (non‑humans don't count), because the HR Alliance truly possesses the power to influence the whole world situation, just as it does now.

However, this influence can serve as a bargaining chip, but it cannot actually be used in such a moment.

With humanity's righteous cause first, the World Tree establishes the Dragon Gate, using it as the main battlefield, openly and honorably fighting for humanity.

Your HR Alliance's little underhanded tricks are no big deal, after all nobody thinks the World Tree is that pure.

But if you overturn the table, then you're in the wrong.

Such a signal also further fuels the madness of the Earth Net.

……

Soviet capital.

"Sokolov, what do you think?"

"How else could we see it? I already told you, just watching until the end yields the same result; this time the HR Alliance is basically asking for death, you wouldn't not choose this, would you?"

"They merely announced severing ties with the World Tree; the situation hasn't come to that point, right? How could they dare to act against the World Tree?" Some political bigwig said solemnly.

Humanity's strength is only this much; actively provoking a civil war would not only be disagreed upon by other countries and strong individuals, but even the strong within the EU and the United States themselves, as well as the peoples and soldiers of both nations, would not agree.

"Hehe, Qiao Ba' er fu, you probably didn't hear clearly."

"I said the one who should act is over there."

Sokolov looked northward; that was the direction of the North Pole, only visible after reaching planetary level, the legendary true location of the Divine Tree Jian Mu.

The illusory figure standing on the horizon could be seen clearly even from Moscow.

"The HR Alliance gave the World Tree a reason to act."

"I really want to know where Hanmodesen and Yisite got the courage to make such a decision."

……

And in the United States, Hanmodesen was also facing another planetary-level questioning.

"Great Emperor, are you the hero of the United States? Just like in all superhero stories, do you know how many people idolize you?"

"Someone like you, why lead the country down this wrong path? Their several major families shouldn't have the qualifications to threaten you, right?"

Hanmodesen sat upon the throne, and the chill of the ice and snow turned the entire throne into an ice sculpture.

The freezing ice condensed into a spike, like a knight's spear pressing against the chest of the powerhouse seated below.

Hanmodesen did not answer his question, merely replying solemnly: 'Get lost.'

……

The day after the EU and the United States jointly announced, the World Tree's forces within the two countries withdrew quickly; no one in either country stopped them, nor dared to.

The only surprising thing was that, although the smell of gunpowder had reached this point, this powder keg simply did not ignite.

Apart from the World Tree almost withdrawing from Europe and the Americas, there was no further development.

On the contrary, the EU and the United States saw internal turmoil lasting several months erupt.

Of course, no one noticed that during this period of internal turmoil in the two countries, not a single beast tide erupted.

Even saying that in the future there will be no more beast tides, though all that is later talk.

……

At Dragon Gate, the newcomers have already spent a full month there.

Most of the newcomers' strength has also undergone earth-shaking changes.

By using the two public venues of the Challenge Tower and the Gravity Abyss, while cultivating one can also earn point rewards; plus a certain amount of Dragon Gate coins obtained from attempting hunts, it is just enough for newcomers to purchase the basic enhancement package from the Dragon Gate shop.

The famed 'Dragon Blood' known abroad has now been renamed Basic Enhancement Fluid; geniuses who come to Dragon Gate can redeem it within the first two months.

Similar to Jiāng Jiāng, Ji Heng Luofeng, who already had the physique of a mid-ranking war commander or higher upon arrival, relying on Dragon Gate's resources, reached the physique of a lower war god within a month; as for battle achievements… they were already accomplished before even attaining that physique.

That is why the War God tier at Dragon Gate is not valuable.

The remaining newcomers, although progressing a bit slower, still find it not difficult to reach the baseline of the War God tier within three months.

However, the joint announcement by the EU and the United States had only a negligible impact on Dragon Gate.

Although both major countries called in their scattered citizens via the statements to return home and defend the nation, at least the vast majority of strong individuals from the EU and the United States stationed at Dragon Gate had no intention of returning, and even many strong individuals born into HR Alliance families did not return at all.

When many newcomers who had just arrived inquired, these strong individuals instead harshly denounced the HR Alliance and the two individuals who led the decision—Hanmodesen and Yisite—for not seeing the bigger picture.

Everyone is a War God planetary-level powerhouse; although many War Gods and planetary-level beings at Dragon Gate are the later generations of Hanmodesen and Ester, they are now also considered capable of standing on the same level, so they may indeed have the qualification to criticize the two.

In times of national peril, there are naturally no shortage of brave souls stepping forward; Dragon Gate has always been no shortage of sending people worldwide to put out fires.

But in the past month, neither the United States nor the EU suffered even a decent beast tide.

Similarly strange, the beast tide that Dragon Gate originally had to erupt once each month has also been delayed, and beast tides worldwide are visibly decreasing.

But everyone knows that such omens may not be a good thing.

After a month passed, the newcomers who had originally been tense to the limit also began to relax a little.

If a state of tension persists long-term, it will instead breed numbness, affecting one's mindset; even for a struggler like Ji Heng, it's the same.

Under the guidance of many seniors, the newcomers also relaxed a bit.

The path of martial arts is not something achieved instantly, nor does relentless hard training guarantee progress.

According to the experience of Dragon Gate seniors, the best way to eliminate numbness in Dragon Gate is to slay monsters or fight in the arena.

It may sound absurd, but there is indeed a basis in martial arts for this, just as when ordinary people feel low or angry and frantically beat a pillow to gain brief relief.

"'Violence' can sometimes indeed be the most effective means of venting emotions."

Moreover, mutual sparring can also promote each other's progress—a win‑win that everyone naturally likes.

However, in the past month, the monsters on Dragon Gate's outskirts have been mostly cleared; for newcomers to go deeper would be too dangerous, so sparring in the arena became the best choice.

Thus, the trend of mutual challenges gradually ignited among the newcomers—not only challenging oneself, but watching others' fights can also relax and occasionally draw inspiration from them.

Even the life‑and‑death arena at Dragon Gate, which few people usually patronized, gradually became lively.

And as strength increased over the month, newcomers also began to stage comebacks, like Mo Fan, who originally ranked in the twenties, won six arena matches in a row, one of them against a genius who had ranked ninth in the newcomer tests.

And Chén Chén and Jiāng Jiāng also received many challenge letters.

Over the past month, Chén Chén was highly active in various public facilities.

He refreshed past records in the Challenge Tower, answered instructors' questions fluently in the Lecture Hall, jumped into the second layer of the Gravity Abyss, and frantically brushed the monthly contribution leaderboard in Dragon Gate's outskirts.

As a newcomer, Chén Chén rose on the Black Dragon List, reaching the top thirty in just one month, yet neither veterans nor newcomers seemed to find this strange.

And Jiāng Jiāng, of course, worked hard to become stronger, then carefully avoided everyone.

Some became uncrowned kings as planned, while others' scheme of pretending to be soft persimmons also succeeded.

But the final result seemed not quite what they had imagined……

Chén Chén's received challenge letters: 0

Jiāng Jiāng's received challenge letters: 33