Samsara Space: They're all begging me to heal them one more time.

There are 12 hours left before the train departs.

Inside the guild "Heavenly Armed Forces" headquarters, there was no sense of tension as a great battle was about to begin; instead, it was filled with a... strange yet enthusiastic atmosphere of "production and construction."

"Drink it—!"

A loud shout echoed across the training ground.

The Iron Wall Squad's captain, Old Bear, like a truly ferocious brown bear, raised his prized magic shield and charged fiercely at the figure opposite him with unstoppable momentum.

As a seasoned main tank who has spent many years fighting in the D-tier, Old Bear is very confident in his strength. His "Savage Charge" would make even the Tyrant take three steps back.

However, Ah Qiang, who was standing opposite him, just smiled smugly.

He didn't dodge, nor did he activate the mechanical arm. Instead, he simply crouched down slightly, and a faint blue magical light flashed across the surface of his [Heavy Thug Armor (C-rank)].

This is one of the batch of standard equipment that Zhang Yuan just bought from the C-rank auction house to enhance the guild's image.

While not top-tier in C-rank, it's excellent in D-rank...

Boom! The dull thud was like the striking of a giant bell.

The scene of Ah Qiang being knocked away as expected did not occur. Instead, Lao Xiong felt as if he had crashed into a solid steel fortress.

The enormous recoil force traveled back through the shield, making his arms numb. He staggered back five or six steps uncontrollably before collapsing onto the ground.

In contrast, Ah Qiang's body didn't even sway, only a few cracks appeared in the floor beneath his feet.

"This...how is this possible?!" Old Bear's eyes widened as he looked at the unharmed Ah Qiang, then at his own hands, whose tiger's mouths had been cracked from the shock. "I've increased my strength to 45 points! Didn't you used to be weaker than me?"

"Hehe, Brother Xiong, you flatter me." Ah Qiang scratched his head sheepishly, pointing to his armor. "It's not that I'm strong, it's just that this armor... it comes with a passive effect of '10% physical damage reduction' and 'rock solid (anti-knockback)'. Plus, the guild leader just gave me a buff..."

"C-rank equipment... terrifying indeed." Old Bear got up from the ground, looking at A-Qiang's turtle shell, his eyes almost overflowing with envy.

He might have struggled for two or three worlds to afford this armor, even if he did, at the D-rank. But for Ah Qiang, theoretically... he only needed to pay a rental fee of 200 points to wear it and dominate the dungeons.

"I'm convinced, completely convinced." Old Bear patted A-Qiang on the shoulder. "From now on, when we go into dungeons, you tank the big monsters, and I'll help you out. This rent was totally worth it!"

In another corner of the guild's territory, the atmosphere was even more "fervent".

The makeshift alchemy lab was filled with the strong smells of herbs and the stench of monster blood.

"Hurry! Turn the heat up! Pour in that bucket of 'troll blood'! Don't worry about wasting it, we buy it by the ton!"

Li Mo, sporting huge dark circles under his eyes and hair as messy as a bird's nest, was waving a stirring stick in his hand, directing two members of the Iron Wall Squad like a madman.

The two team members, who were originally D-rank veterans, were now wearing aprons and sweating profusely as "alchemy apprentices," one frantically chopping herbs and the other pouring blood into the crucible.

"Brother Li, how much medicine can we get from this pot?" the berserker from the Iron Wall Squad couldn't help but ask.

"Based on the current formula optimization rate, one batch can yield 50 bottles of [Special Vitality Potion]!"

Li Mo's eyes gleamed with a frenzied display of data. "The cost is less than 1000 points, but this batch sells for over 2500 points! That's skill! That's the allure of alchemy!"

"Hiss—" The two team members gasped.

They used to grind through dungeons, risking their lives to earn only two or three thousand points. Now they can generate such great value just by stirring things up here?

Although the lion's share goes to the guild (Zhang Yuan), the "service fee" promised to them by Li Mo is enough to make them envious.

"Damn it!" The berserker and archer gritted their teeth, chopping herbs even faster. "This isn't alchemy, it's printing money!"

Finally, the rest area...

"Hahaha! Peach, is this the angel you summoned? Why does it look like a winged potato?"

On the sofa, the fat man pointed at the round ball of light fluttering its little wings in mid-air and laughed so hard he almost fell over.

Peach puffed out her cheeks angrily: "It's called 'Affinity'! It's the lowest rank of angel! Although it's ugly, it's very powerful!"

"Amazing? What can it do? Kill people?" The fat man was still courting death. But the next second, the "Potato Angel" seemed to understand the sarcasm, and the halo above its head suddenly lit up.

Chirp-!

A beam of light, only as thick as a finger but moving at incredible speed, shot out instantly and struck the chicken leg that the fat man had just picked up.

Snapped!

The chicken leg was fried to pieces, and hot oil splattered all over the fat man's face.

"Holy crap!!" The fat man jumped up in surprise. "This thing has aimbot?!"

"Hmph! You underestimated it!" Peach proudly raised her chin.

Lin Qingyue, who was wiping her demon sword nearby, added casually, "Even a summon with such low intelligence knows how to attack weaknesses, Fatty, you should reflect on your actions."

……

Standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows on the second floor, Zhang Yuan held a cup of red tea and quietly looked down at the scenes full of everyday life.

With the fox-head mask beside him, a genuine smile appeared on his refined and handsome face.

Then, Zhang Yuan glanced at the countdown timer on his wrist.

[30 minutes until train departure.]

Zhang Yuan downed the cup of black tea in one gulp, picked up the golden mask on the table, and slowly put it on his face.

His demeanor instantly shifted from a gentle, approachable older brother to that of a dignified, mysterious, and unapproachable guild leader.

"The vacation is over." A deep, magnetic voice echoed throughout the guild broadcast.

"Everyone assemble."

A few minutes later, in the lobby.

The core team (6 people) was ready to go, while the three members of the Iron Wall team stood aside to see them off.

"Old Bear." Zhang Yuan looked at the D-rank veteran who had completely surrendered.

"During the mission, the management of the guild headquarters will be your responsibility."

"Besides guarding the guild's premises, I'm also giving you a new task." Zhang Yuan pointed to the D-rank teleportation array outside the guild's gate. "Don't just stay here enjoying yourself. Go take a stroll around the D-rank plaza. If you see any promising newcomers or those with a special skill, you can try to make contact with them."

"Tell them that the gates of the Heavenly Kingdom Armed Forces are always open to 'valuable people.' We need more laborers... oh no, I mean fresh blood."

"Don't worry, Guild Master!" Old Bear thumped his chest loudly, his eyes gleaming with a sense of mission to "recruit members for the guild."

"I, Old Bear, still have some influence in the D-rank. Once you return victorious, I guarantee I'll set up the framework for our second and third teams!"

"Very well, let's go, everyone." Zhang Yuan waved his sleeve and led everyone away, bidding farewell to Old Xiong with a flourish.

"The train is already waiting for us."

"Target—First Battle in C-Rank!"

……

A massive silver train stood silently in the void, its body shimmering with the light of an imminent departure.

[This train is about to depart...]

Next stop: Night City

Zhang Yuan stood at the very front of the group, his golden fox head gleaming under the starlight.

He turned around and looked at the team that had raised funds to support him and trusted him.

A-Qiang, Lin Qingyue, Fatty, Tao Tao, Li Mo...

They may not be the strongest, but they are definitely the most useful.

"No matter where the next stop is, and no matter who the opponent is," Zhang Yuan's voice, piercing through the mask, carried a hint of arrogant confidence. "Wherever there's a health bar lit up, that's our territory."

"Get in the car."

With a command given, six figures stepped into the silver carriage.

The train let out a long whistle, transformed into a shooting star, and plunged into the vast and unknown multiverse.

-----------------

Volume 4, "The Dance of Angels and Demons," is complete.

As of the end of Volume 4, Zhang Yuan's skills and equipment have changed as follows:

New equipment: [Bayonetta's Magic Lollipop], [Magic Motorcycle - Cavaliere], Rare Costume [Battle Spirit Dance - Sanctuary Arbiter], [Troll Chieftain's Rotten Breastplate], [Redeemer] evolved to Stage 2 + Exceed Modification

Skill Changes: Talent [Divine Grace] Advanced, [Honor Blessing] Lv.5 → Lv.10+ Limit Break, [Holy Hammer] Lv.5 → Lv.10+ Limit Break