I summon the heroic spirits of China in the infinite world.

[26 days until the great disaster strikes.]

[Summoners surviving on this map: 87/100.]

As the first rays of sunlight appeared at sunrise, a notification popped up on the panel.

There weren't many monsters last night, and in the end, it only leveled up the [Stone Monkey] to LV2. It didn't raise Dawn's Summoner level, nor did it raise any other Heroic Spirits to LV3.

The biggest reward is actually the item cards that drop.

"With this, my exploration efficiency will be greatly improved."

Li Ming looked at the cards in his hand.

[Return Card]: After a 30-second uninterrupted tutorial, you will return to the location of the main cube.

The first two times, his hunting process involved him personally walking to the monster stronghold and then returning to the camp using the [Substitute Straw Doll].

The most efficient strategy is to first send the straw doll to the monster stronghold, then use the [Substitute Straw Doll] to arrive at the scene. While you are clearing out the monsters, the straw doll returns to its territory. After the 3-hour cooldown period, you can use the [Substitute Straw Doll] to return again.

The biggest problem with this efficiency strategy is that if the territory encounters a problem during the 3-hour cooldown period after using [Substitute Strawman], you cannot get back immediately.

But things are different now. Although this [Return Card] is a one-time consumable, it provides me with enough leeway to make mistakes.

"Now the straw man can take care of all the traveling."

"The time saved can be used to sleep, doubling efficiency."

Dawn began to make plans.

The daytime here is about 12 hours, and it gets light around 6 a.m.

Now let the straw doll set off for the monster stronghold and arrive around 8 o'clock. Use the [Substitute Straw Doll] for the first time.

After clearing out the monsters within 3 hours and completing the cooldown, use [Substitute Strawman] a second time at 11 o'clock to return to the territory and sleep.

At 14 PM, the straw doll arrives at the new monster stronghold, and the third [Substitute Straw Doll] is activated.

Before nightfall at 17 PM, use the [Substitute Strawman] for the fourth time to return to your territory.

"Plan is in place, perfect."

After making a plan, Dawn sent out the straw man.

Then I immediately went to sleep.

……

"The goblin cave is just ahead."

Standing in front of the mountain range, Bai Ye rolled off the ghost wolf and looked at the map he had drawn.

"We have plenty of time today, let's first find out what's going on inside."

He sent one of the ghost wolves into the cave to explore, then casually found a place nearby to sit down and took the pendant off his neck and held it in his hand.

This is not an ordinary pendant, but a portable miniature communication cube, a high-end item.

With a gentle squeeze of the pendant, a chat window popped up in front of me.

【Ruyi Xiaolangjun】： Coordinates: xxx, xxx, anyone want to team up to hunt monsters?

[Loves Roujiamo]: The soft-girl summoner has a healing-type hero who can provide emotional value. Looking for a strong older brother to guide her.

[Silent Potato]: Selling the coordinates of a possible Tier 3 BOSS. DM me if interested.

She claims to be a soft girl, but she might actually be a burly man picking his toes.

"If it's a Tier 3 boss, people won't even have time to run away, so who would bother buying coordinates?"

Bai Yeyi browsed the comments as he read them.

"There are significantly more comments today than yesterday."

"Someone was eliminated again last night, which seems to have made everyone more active."

He could understand that feeling.

Although everyone knew that the success rate of the [Wasteland] was 0%, it did not stop them from taking active action.

Even if the strategy fails, there's still a chance to make some money here to recoup your losses.

There are only two ways to survive in this instance.

The first option is to survive the major disaster and meet the 30-day requirement of the instance.

The second scenario is that the cube is destroyed (self-destructed), causing the dungeon to fail.

When it is clear that something is impossible, the only option left is the latter.

However, failing to complete the strategy is not without its costs, especially for these aspiring summoners who have not yet truly passed the novice trial.

On top of the random loss of assets, you will also lose all the summoned Servants.

"That cube spirit is a real pity."

Thinking of this, Bai Ye couldn't help but feel sorry for the straw man.

If the cube is destroyed, the stone spirit will disappear.

After browsing the new messages on the public channel, he entered a private channel.

The channel has fewer than five members, all of whom are friends he knows in real life.

[The dignified Young Master Shen]: Oh, Bai Ye is here.

[Little Gem]: Welcome, Bai Ye!

[Letian Letian]: Bai Ye, how's the clearing of the monsters around your territory going?

Bai Ye attracted attention as soon as he entered.

[Ye is not Zhi]: It went fairly smoothly. It took two days to finally clear out one monster stronghold, and now we are attacking a new monster stronghold.

When asked, he chuckled and typed in the above text.

[LotteLotte]: Awesome!

[Young Master Shen]: Wow, that's fast. It takes me three days to clear out one stronghold.

[Little Gem]: Bai Ye, could it be that all your Heroic Spirits have awakened their Spiritual Traits?

As expected, the crowd showered them with praise.

Within this small group, Bai Ye's efficiency in hunting heroic spirits is widely recognized as the best.

【Hooray…】

Then, just as he was feeling smug, the ghost wolf that had gone into the cave to explore and lure the monster back returned.

"There's nothing inside?"

Sensing the hero's full health and seeing that no monsters were chasing after him, Bai Ye was slightly taken aback.

This means that the ghost wolf didn't encounter any monsters inside.

But I clearly passed by this place after visiting Dawn last time. It's a goblin stronghold.

"Let's go in and take a look."

Filled with doubt, he decided to go down into the cave to take a look for himself.

The deeper Bai Ye went, the more surprised he became.

The frequent signs of fresh fighting indicate that the monsters here have likely been eliminated.

Since the facts are right in front of us, it seems there is only one answer.

"It seems my neighbor is really something else."

As Bai Ye emerged from the cave, his expression became one of keen interest.

He's been leaving early and returning late these days, so he hasn't had time to keep an eye on his neighbors.

It seems that the other party, like me, also took two days to clear out a monster stronghold.

"He should be nearby, so let's go say hello."

"Let me see where the nearest monster stronghold is..."

Bai Ye took out a map and nimbly climbed onto the back of the Ghost Wolf.

The ghost wolf was fast on its feet, and it only took half an hour to reach the nearest monster stronghold, the Skeleton Tomb.

However, what awaited him was yet another empty cave.

If it were before, those skeletons would have been itching to attack the creatures.

But today, the cave entrance was eerily quiet, without any movement.

……

……