Xue Shentian gave the order, feeling frustrated. Intelligence had arrived—those underground ruins had been taken again.

’Damn it, I have a competitor! Is it Wang Shanhe? Fine, he can have the trashy D-level ruins. As long as Old Li’s exploration of the A-level ruin goes smoothly, that’s all that matters!’

Xue Shentian sighed, then focused on leading his troops against the Flame Tree People. The results were quite noticeable.

Those Flame Tree People were basically wild monsters with low intelligence. They were easily provoked into giving chase.

Ten minutes later, Xue Shentian received another Intelligence Scroll. Sixteen more D-level ruins had appeared to the southwest, but this time, he paid them no mind.

But just over ten minutes later, a new Intelligence Scroll appeared.

====

Intelligence Report 1: The King Deity Liu Nan is sick!

Intelligence Report 2: The King Deity Liu Nan has discovered Transcendence Valley and is about to launch an all-out campaign against the traitor Mr. Jin, who is in seclusion there.

====

’An Earth Deity is sick? Earth Deities can get sick? Where is Transcendence Valley? And what in the world is this Mr. Jin, and why is he called a traitor?’

Doubt and curiosity grew in Xue Shentian’s mind. Just as he finished reading the Intelligence Scroll, he suddenly noticed the flames of the Eco-Army ahead surging higher.

The flames on the Flame Tree People, Flaming Ascetics, and Fireline Shooters suddenly flared up. As if driven mad, they quickened their advance.

But they weren’t advancing toward Xue Shentian; instead, they were charging southwest like a rapid marching army!

"Quick! Attack! Draw their aggro!"

Xue Shentian shouted, trying to keep the Eco-Army’s aggression focused on them.

But it didn’t work this time. Perhaps their attacks were too weak to matter, but the vast horde of Flame Tree People, Flaming Ascetics, and Fireline Shooters ignored them and headed straight for the southwest.

’So this is an all-out campaign? The Flaming Wood Tumor Army is answering the King Deity Liu Nan’s command and rushing to Transcendence Valley!’

Xue Shentian wasn’t disappointed, though. As long as Liu Nan’s attention was drawn away, half his goal was accomplished. Now he just had to keep an eye on Wang Shanhe, stop him from bothering Li Mingli, and let Li Mingli have the A-level ruin all to himself.

At the same time, Xue Shentian’s curiosity about Mr. Jin and Transcendence Valley was piqued. After a moment of thought, he bellowed, "All soldiers, listen up! Follow the flames and find out what’s happening up ahead!"

"Yes, sir!"

"As you command, my Prince!"

"We’ll follow your lead!"

"An incompetent general works his army to death..."

"Shh, watch your mouth! You want to get beheaded?"

"Beheaded? Worst comes to worst, we’ll just rebel!"

"Exactly! What’s there to be afraid of? Without us, he’s a bullshit Prince!"

"This isn’t the world we know anymore. It’s full of monsters and demons. Is there any reason to still be afraid of him?"

"Are kings and nobles born to their station?!"

"Shh, keep it down. We can’t rebel... not yet."

The soldiers were physically and mentally exhausted. Xue Shentian’s orders changed from one moment to the next, and they had no idea what their Prince was trying to do. Many began to mutter complaints, their resentment toward him growing stronger.

Meanwhile, on Wang Yi’s side, Lu Aqi, Yue Gang, and the other 34 men had all been transformed into Muscle Men.

In their untransformed state, the Muscle Men were indistinguishable from ordinary people. But once transformed, they were practically small, humanoid Gundams—high defense, immense strength, tough as leather, fire-resistant, and with bodies like rubber that had no fatal weaknesses.

However, their mobility was somewhat lacking.

Wang Yi ordered the nine flying Monkey King Avatars to carry Lu Aqi and the others out of the ravine. They had completed their class change, so there was no need for them to continue fighting pointless battles in the ravine.

Lu Aqi and the others reverted from their transformation. Since the change had shredded their clothes, they were now almost completely naked. They stood there in a daze, unsure of where to go.

Wang Yi said, "You all head back to King Dongsheng’s camp first. I need to investigate this area a bit longer!"

"We understand!" Lu Aqi, being quick-witted, bowed to Wang Yi. Then he turned to the others and said, "Brothers, I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble you to act as spies for a while. Now, follow me back to camp!"

"Yes, sir!"

The group of naked Muscle Men answered in unison, full of spirit.

They got their bearings and quickly headed off in the direction of the main camp, while Wang Yi returned to the ravine with his nine Monkey King Avatars.

The original Underground River was 49 *li* long. The ravine was formed by the collapse of that riverbed, and now it seemed they had reached its end.

Wang Yi looked ahead and saw a valley shaped like a basin. It might have once been a lake, but perhaps because Wang Yi had completed the Refinement of the Underground River, it had now dried up, revealing a large amount of rubble.

The Flame Army, composed of Flame Tree People, Flaming Ascetics, and Fireline Shooters, was pouring into the valley like a great river.

At the very center of the valley stood a strange, massive tree, its trunk estimated to be over ten meters in diameter.

The tree’s crown had been severed, and upon it sat a treehouse.

The door of the treehouse suddenly swung open, revealing a white-haired man in a black robe.

The man’s gaze was sharp. He scanned his surroundings, and his eyes quickly fell upon the Monkey King Avatars floating on clouds in the air.

Wang Yi, who was being carried on the back of one of the Monkey King Avatars, also saw the white-haired, black-robed man in the treehouse, and a chill went down his spine.

This white-haired, black-robed man had an information panel.

[Mr. Jin: A mysterious being, a Gold-tier plot character. Possesses the power of a Divine, yet maintains human rationality!]

’A Gold-tier plot character!’

Wang Yi didn’t dare approach rashly. He had obviously run into a major boss.

By now, some Flaming Wood Knot Monsters had already reached the base of the great tree and were starting to climb it.

Mr. Jin snorted. The Flaming Wood Knot Monsters pouring into the valley suddenly seemed to be under immense pressure and actually retreated, not daring to advance any further.

But just half a minute later, the retreating monsters surged forward again. This time they didn’t advance, but they didn’t retreat either. Behind them, even more flame monsters continued to pour in menacingly.

Mr. Jin, however, looked back at Wang Yi. He seemed able to discern Wang Yi’s true form. In a deep voice, he said, "You are the one who destroyed the ecosystem, giving Liu Nan the opening it needed to find this place. You’ve doomed me!"

’Destroyed the ecosystem?’ Wang Yi mused. ’I guess refining an entire river could be considered that. He’s not wrong.’

"No matter. This is my Destiny. I cannot escape it; it was only a matter of time. Outsider, you are different from the rest. Come in and have a seat."

Mr. Jin extended a hand in a gesture of invitation.

Wang Yi immediately received a system notification: "Ding! You have triggered a plot event. By conversing with Mr. Jin, you may learn important information about the world’s setting or advance a related world plotline. You may also refuse to converse. The choice is yours."

’Learn about the world’s setting? Advance the world plotline?’

Wang Yi laughed heartily, putting on a bold front. With a single thought, the Monkey King Avatar beneath him flew toward the treehouse, with the other eight flanking him as guards.

Soon, Wang Yi entered the treehouse. His expression was calm and composed as he cupped his fist toward Mr. Jin and said, "I am the outsider, Wang Shanhe."

"Please, sit."

Mr. Jin nodded in response.

The treehouse was spartan, containing only a bed, a desk, and a stool. On the desk, however, there were a brush, ink, and a notebook.

Mr. Jin offered him the only seat, but Wang Yi did not take it. He said calmly, "Judging by the decor, you must live a reclusive life here, sir."

Mr. Jin’s face was impassive, betraying no emotion. After half a minute of silence, he suddenly said, "Actually, I have been looking forward to speaking with one of you."

"You know of us, sir?"

Mr. Jin’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Before the cataclysm, we studied ecology, created Eco-Warriors, and used Eco-Technology to explore and change the world. We felt we could master the world, master everything, that we could become gods. But we touched upon the forbidden and triggered a high-dimensional descent!"

At this, Mr. Jin walked to the window, gazed at the sky, and continued, "It turns out there were always mysterious existences above us, looking down on everything, monitoring all living beings. The entire world is a cage they wove. Anyone who tries to escape this cage is stopped, or even erased! They descended, created the Divine, and set things ’right’ by force—their goal is to regress this world back to a primitive state!"

Wang Yi fell silent for a moment before nodding slowly. "Perhaps the truth is even crueler than you imagine. Your existence, your Eco-Technology, your resistance, even your doubts and your awakening... it might all be part of their design."

"Is that so? If that’s the case, then things are truly hopeless," Mr. Jin said, turning back to Wang Yi. "So, they are from an even higher dimension than you?"

Wang Yi smiled. "Sir, you have already opened your eyes to the world, so you must have your suspicions. We are Players. Compared to you, you could say we are high-dimensional beings. But only to a limited extent. We are Players who do not control our own fates."

Mr. Jin fell into a deep silence. After a long while, he asked, "Players? Can you tell me, sir... is this world real? And am I real?"

Wang Yi sighed. "There is no answer to that question. But in my homeland, there is a saying: ’I think, therefore I am.’ I believe that as long as we have independent thought, we certainly exist. Nothing else around us matters."

"’I think, therefore I am,’" Mr. Jin repeated, his brow furrowed. He bowed to Wang Yi and said, "You have taught me a great lesson."

Wang Yi waved his hand. "Don’t mention it. But I would still like to learn this world’s secrets from you, sir."

Mr. Jin fell silent again for a moment before sighing. "Originally, I considered all of you High-dimensional Descenders to be enemies and would never have told you the truth. But now, I am willing to share my research with you..."

"Please."

Mr. Jin looked as if he had made a momentous decision. He spoke slowly, "Before the cataclysm, I was just an obscure Free Scholar. When the Divine were born, I developed a great interest in them. I questioned the Divine, studied the Divine, became one of the Divine, and finally, transcended the Divine! I was born of Liu Nan! Or rather, I *am* Liu Nan—that is my true name. The moment I became a King, I awakened and severed my connection with the Source Body..."

"Then, I was erased by the Source Body and entered a special space. I saw the Sufferers, I saw the High-Dimensional World, and at a certain moment, I descended. I split off a part of Liu Nan’s ’ecosystem’ and became an independent existence, taking the name Jin!"

"All things burn, and in the end, become ’Jin’—ash! The essence of an ecosystem is cycle and balance. Because of my independence, Liu Nan’s ecosystem has been pushed to an extreme. It is sick. It has no cycle, no balance. It is constantly self-destructing! Unless it consumes and merges with me, it will perish! That is the reason for the coming war. And now, it has arrived. My friend from the high-dimensional world, I am afraid I cannot tell you any more."