‘A frontline war correspondent reports that a demonic riot has broken out in the northwestern desert region. According to statistics, 21 gold-ranked giant scorpion demons have been observed moving frequently in the area. Based on past experience, for every ten gold-ranked demons, there is always one platinum-ranked demon leading them. This incident has drawn the high attention of the Northwestern Military District. A military spokesperson stated that three small fortresses in the northwest were lost overnight, but all were retaken by the military. However, the demons’ relentless attacks on human fortresses this time seem more like they are searching for something. The specific situation requires further investigation. Below are drone photos of the three small fortresses.’

A desolate wasteland...

Ethan Carter stared blankly at the screen. He had never felt so close to this era before. Ruined walls, soldiers’ corpses, blood-soaked ground—how could this be the human world? This was a living hell. Ethan Carter suddenly realized the meaning of reliving his life in this world.

He needed strength. Time to start ranked matches!

Chapter 6: Face the Gale

Just as Ethan Carter clicked to queue for ranked, 17 million push notifications had already reached their respective inboxes. At the same time, 13.96 million requests to open the live broadcast page appeared in the system, and this number was still increasing. As a result, even though no techniques had yet emerged in this match, the live broadcast had already shot to the front page of the streaming platform. You have to know, the total population of the entire Hero World is now 17 billion, but only 60 million people are blessed by the Hero Star and can play the game to improve their abilities. For someone who played just one game and could attract 13.96 million fans willing to get up in the middle of the night to watch his stream, it’s nothing short of a miracle.

Of course, this is also because hero techniques are so crucial—after all, they are the foundation for fighting demons.

When a hero’s proficiency reaches 100, you can buy Hero Soul Shards in the shop to fuse them. Depending on your talent and proficiency, there’s a 10%-100% chance to obtain a hero skill. Continue fusing Hero Soul Shards, and again, depending on your talent and proficiency, there’s a 10%-100% chance to obtain an advanced skill. The official announcement says the highest skill level is 5, but in reality, it’s 6! Because before level 5, you can use Hero Soul Shards to upgrade, but for level 6, you must comprehend the hero’s true essence and spirit. Very few people can obtain a level 6 skill. If the power of level 5 can split boulders, then level 6 can cleave a small hill.

Of course, the power of all skills is determined by the user’s own attributes. After reaching Noble Platinum, new attributes will emerge. Warriors of Brave Bronze, Unyielding Silver, Glorious Gold, and Platinum are worlds apart.

Brave Bronze rank: can master one hero skill, skill level up to 1.

Unyielding Silver rank: can master two hero skills, skill level up to 2.

Glorious Gold rank: can master three hero skills, skill level up to 3, and can master a hero’s ultimate, skill level up to 1.

To master the ultimate, you need 1000 hero proficiency and must purchase a complete Hero Soul for that hero! In the shop, it costs a hundred million!

This is also why, after understanding the rules, Ethan Carter is so eager to rank up and earn money through streaming... It’s all about the money in this society...

Don’t be fooled by Ethan Carter gaining 500 proficiency in his first game as Blind Monk. Normally, you only get 10 points per game. If Ethan Carter can’t create new techniques when using Blind Monk in the future, it’ll be just 10 points per game—unless he relies on hidden win points to keep challenging higher ranks.

...

Far away in the northwest, the military’s First Fortress, Lanzhou.

In the command center’s conference room, a burly man in a lieutenant general’s uniform sat at the head of the table. A massive, ethereal longsword loomed faintly behind him, his aura strong and unyielding, his resolute face calm and composed. The walls of the conference room were adorned with the mounted heads of various platinum demons—a symbol of honor.

Silence. Extreme silence. The 27 soldiers present all sat upright around the conference table.

“Let’s begin.” The lieutenant general spoke. Just three simple words, yet they carried an undeniable authority, like a mighty eagle. On the back of his hand, a dazzling Diamond IV insignia was clearly visible!

And on the projector screen was the interface of Ethan Carter’s streaming platform.

...

Shanxi Province, Mount Wutai.

In a tranquil Zen courtyard beneath an apricot tree, the scent of incense lingered long and far. An elderly man in a coarse monk’s robe gazed at the stars in the sky, then slowly spoke to the young girl behind him—about sixteen or seventeen, with delicate features but a steely temperament: “Quicksand, do you remember what I told you?”

“Master, you said you wouldn’t accept me as a disciple because my ties to the mortal world aren’t severed.” The girl lowered her eyes, but her back remained straight.

“Go down the mountain. The one destined for you has appeared. Find him.”

...

Magic City, Nine-Tails Hero League Club, located in the bustling heart of the city.

In the innermost room, a languid woman lay sideways on a soft, spacious goose-down bed, wearing only alluring, close-fitting lingerie. Her figure was the epitome of seduction. Anyone seeing her for the first time would marvel at how such a slender waist could support such perfect curves and hips.