The massive steel city gates slowly opened in front of Jiang Kai. He, along with Wei Ying, Lu Jun, and the black-clothed person, boarded a military jeep and drove out of River City.

Ahead of their vehicle, seven identical jeeps led the way.

Since Jiang Kai followed his family into River City, this was his first time in twelve years stepping outside its walls.

He turned back to look at the nearly twenty-meter-high steel walls, lined with dense artillery, where numerous soldiers patrolled.

Sitting beside him, Wei Ying suddenly spoke, "Duty-bound players are bringing back a large amount of Nuclear Soil to River City, but over ninety percent of our energy is used on these weapons, so the city goes dark at eight every night."

It was the first time Jiang Kai had heard such an official explanation.

As the vehicle moved forward, the scenery outside the window kept changing.

The distant memories in Jiang Kai's mind had long blurred, and seeing all this again left him feeling an unprecedented shock.

Initially, the surroundings were barren, with occasional refugee tents and fully armed patrols of soldiers.

Twenty miles outside River City, no human figures were visible.

On the abandoned roadsides, only ruins of houses remained, and occasionally, some unknown beasts the size of cattle could be seen.

They stretched their necks, watching the vehicles pass by, seemingly aware they couldn't catch up, so they didn't bother to move, just watching the vehicles leave.

"Boss, we're almost at City 014," the black-clothed person in the front seat turned to remind them.

"City 041 used to be Jiangbei City," Wei Ying told Jiang Kai, "I remember it was a bustling city."

Jiang Kai vaguely remembered his elder brother mentioning this city, but his memory was hazy.

A few minutes later, Jiang Kai saw the legendary City 041.

Everywhere was filled with broken bricks and ruins, roads destroyed by collapsed buildings, and houses toppled in disarray. Even the still-standing buildings were riddled with holes, entwined with vines.

The city had long lost its former cleanliness, overgrown with weeds and giant trees, thick vines breaking through asphalt or brick surfaces like giant pythons, undulating across the ground.

The once prosperous city had become a wasteland.

At that moment, a commotion came from not far ahead.

The black-clothed person turned and said, "Our River City War God Temple's Squad 12 is hunting here."

Wei Ying nodded, "Let's go take a look."

The road was impassable, so everyone got out and walked toward the sound.

Jiang Kai noticed that the people getting out of the vehicles ahead all had restrained gazes and agile steps, each carrying some sort of cold weapon.

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However, these weapons differed from traditional ones in shape, material, and style, resembling those in the Calling.

"They don't use guns?" Jiang Kai asked in surprise.

This time, the black-clothed person answered Jiang Kai's question, "Against those Beast Gods, guns are less effective. Our weapon materials come from the Ghost Star."

"The Ghost Star can provide weapons?" Jiang Kai asked.

"Of course, once you reach a Transcendent profession, you can extract heavier items, like ores. Using the special ores from the Ghost Star, we can create extremely powerful cold weapons... or custom hot weapons. But perhaps due to spending too much time on the Ghost Star, more people prefer using cold weapons!" the black-clothed person said casually, "Of course, weapons alone aren't enough. The most important thing is that once you reach a Transcendent profession, you can also extract your own attributes."

"Just like the Calling said, truly achieving Transcendence to Sanctification!"

As they spoke, the group was already close to the battle site.

As they rounded the remnants of a collapsed building, Jiang Kai saw a five-person team fighting a giant monster.

Four members of the squad used cold weapons: long swords, great swords, dual blades, and shields, while one person stood aside with a wooden staff.

They were all clad in specially made armor, fully armed.

The person with the wooden staff maintained a distance from the monster, standing at the back of the team, continuously waving the staff.

Various lights emitted from the staff, enveloping the squad members.

"That staff has Life Jade," Jiang Kai frowned, "Is he a doctor?"

Lu Jun laughed, "He's a fifth-tier profession in Squad 12, called a Holy Healer."

"The fifth-tier profession of a Barefoot Doctor is a Holy Healer... wasn't it said that Barefoot Doctors only have four tiers?" Jiang Kai asked in surprise.

Wei Ying laughed, "What you know is just the tip of the iceberg. You'll learn more in the future."

Jiang Kai didn't know how to respond and could only continue watching.

The four melee members of Squad 12 possessed unimaginable physical prowess, able to leap four or five meters high. Each attack carried terrifying power, and when their weapons struck the monster, it sounded like thunder.

"Such terrifying strength can't even achieve an instant kill?" Jiang Kai couldn't help but look at the monster.

It was a creature resembling a wild boar, massive in size, standing over five meters tall.

Its body was dark brown, with two thick tusks protruding from its mouth, and its eyes were blood-red.

It would charge at its enemies, and when its charge was dodged, it crashed into a nearby building, creating a hole three to four meters in diameter!

The black-clothed person said calmly, "A Beast Soldier-level beast, the Sawtooth Tusk Boar. If it hits you, even in armor, it won't be pleasant. If you're unlucky and get pierced by its tusks, your life is at risk!"

After the Sawtooth Tusk Boar crashed into the building, Jiang Kai keenly noticed three desiccated corpses lying behind the hole.

Judging by the features, they seemed to be two adults and a child, but their bodies were already incomplete, only identifiable as human from the bones and general shape.

"Jiang Kai, your brother is really strong!" Lu Jun sighed.

"These people were only about thirty miles from River City. If they had escaped to River City, this family of three could have survived, but they fell here, becoming food for the beasts."

"Your brother was just a child back then, yet he managed to bring you both to River City!"

The black-clothed person and his companions went over to help, and with the addition of more than twenty experts, Squad 12 finally killed the Sawtooth Tusk Boar.

Soon, the captain of Squad 12 followed the black-clothed person to Wei Ying and saluted.

"Commander!"

"Good work," Wei Ying nodded, "How's the hunting going this time?"

"Reporting to the Commander, in the past two months, the number of Beast Gods around the abandoned cities near River City has increased. Our Squad 12 has been out hunting for seven days, killing four Beast Soldier-level beasts. However, our supplies are depleted, and we planned to return after killing this one. We didn't expect to encounter you."

Wei Ying nodded, "Seven days is quite a while. You can return with us."

"Thank you, Commander. We'll gather the materials and head back."

Wei Ying nodded, "Did you encounter any other squads on the way?"

The man lowered his head, paused in silence, and sighed, "We encountered Squads 17, 19, and 22. They faced two Beast General Ironclad Lions, and two Transcendent beings were lost."

The atmosphere suddenly became quiet.

After a long time, Wei Ying sighed, "Understood. Gather the materials, and we'll head back."

On the way back, Wei Ying spoke much less, the loss of two Transcendent beings weighing on his mood.

Jiang Kai also remained silent.

He looked at the city ruins outside the window.

Is this what it's like outside the city? Monsters everywhere, corpses everywhere, ruins everywhere!

Suddenly, Wei Ying, who had been silent, spoke.

He looked out the window and said softly, "How many Beast Gods are lurking here, how many corpses are buried beneath this wasteland, how many squads are fighting the Beast Gods, how many Transcendent beings have sacrificed here?"

"Jiang Kai, after you refused to join the military last time, I thought about it for a long time. Later, when I learned you single-handedly killed four members of the Falcon Squad, I finally understood."

"Your profession is a brand new one, which is why you don't want to reveal it."

"Realizing this, I could roughly guess your reasons for making that decision."

"A new profession means opportunity, but it also means your future path has no predecessors to guide you. It means you currently have no information on advancement materials for your profession. You're worried the military won't waste resources on just you."

Jiang Kai looked at Wei Ying in surprise; he had guessed it!

"Unfortunately, your concerns are true!" Wei Ying turned to Jiang Kai, "It's not about discrimination against your profession; the most important reason is that our time is running out..."

"Jiang Kai, whether you join the military or not, there's one thing I hope you can promise me."

"General, please tell me!"

"Never forget that you are a Chinese! There are still many compatriots outside the city, struggling to survive on the brink of death, just like you and your family once did. Outside the city is also our Chinese territory!"

"Moreover, the Beast Gods are becoming increasingly rampant, threatening our remaining concentrated cities!"

"So, Jiang Kai, promise me that one day, I want to see you on the Beast God battlefield!"

[Author's Note]: Three chapters updated early today.