Tie Dun climbed the wall with a thud-thud-thud, carrying his giant shield. He stood beside Zhao Hu like an iron tower.

Wang Wu and Arrow Eye each occupied a position in the two arrow towers atop the wall, drawing their bows and nocking arrows.

Su Yurou stood at the rear of the wall, short staff in hand, her gaze scanning everyone's status.

Scarface Liu and A Wang led thirty Awakened, standing by as a reserve force beneath the wall.

Though they weren't professional soldiers like the Beacon Guards, they were experts from the former Juyi Manor, Xiaoyao Stronghold, and Black Wind Camp.

Lin Feng was the last to climb the wooden wall.

He didn't stand in the most conspicuous spot, but chose a relatively secluded section of the wall, leaning against the battlement with his Wildfire Spear resting casually beside him.

Shadow Snake stood just a foot behind and to his side, half her body submerged in the shadow he cast.

The deep blue fang was already unsheathed by half an inch, its edge glinting with a ghostly cold light under the firelight.

She didn't look at anyone, only stared quietly at the churning darkness in the distance, her presence almost merging with the night.

Lin Feng's gaze swept over her before moving back toward the distance.

9:40 PM.

The darkness churned even more violently.

9:50 PM.

The first low roar came from the distance, as if some massive creature was awakening in the darkness.

9:55 PM.

The air seemed to freeze. That unsettling surge of energy was so thick it could almost be touched by hand.

9:58 PM.

9:59 PM.

10:00 PM sharp.

BOOM!!!

Five hundred meters outside the west gate, space was violently torn open as if by an invisible giant hand, and a massive rift suddenly gaped open!

Grey-black necromantic energy erupted like a tidal wave!

And then—

They came.

Blue Star, Great Xia, in a slightly messy apartment in a certain city.

7:15 AM.

Chen Hao was slumped on the sofa, holding the latest 'Phantom Gen 7' immersive glasses. Half an energy bar hung from his mouth, and his eyes were wide open.

In the high-definition image projected /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ onto his retina by the glasses was a bustling territory.

Stone walls at least nine meters high, with an arrow tower every twenty paces along the top.

The walls were densely packed with Awakened wearing uniform leather armor, at least three or four hundred of them.

Inside the walls, dozens of stone and wood buildings were neatly arranged—granaries, barracks, blacksmith shops, and tailor shops were all present. There was even a three-story Lords Mansion with upturned eaves and arched brackets, looking exceptionally imposing.

In the center of the screen, a slender and vigorous figure stood atop the highest arrow tower. A suit of silver and blue form-fitting armor outlined breathtaking curves in the night wind, and a crimson cloak fluttered wildly.

Jiang Zhaoyue.

Great Xia's number one beautiful Lord.

【Crescent Moon Territory · Village Level】 Livestream Room

Popularity: 1.07 Billion

Firmly holding the number one spot on the Great Xia Region Lord Channel popularity rankings.

Bullet comments poured down like a rainstorm, almost completely covering the screen:

"It's here! The monthly Nightmare Tide!"

"Moon Goddess is so beautiful today! Is that armor newly forged? It's amazing!"

"Crescent Moon Territory's walls are higher than most town-level territories, aren't they? Yuehua Guild's foundation is so deep!"

"I heard Moon Goddess is pushing for town-level this time? Holy crap, how long has it been since the village was built?"

"With Yuehua Guild's accumulation, they'll clear a Level 2 Nightmare Tide easily, right? They might even get zero casualties!"

"Great Xia is about to get another town-level territory! Moon Goddess is awesome!"

"Wife, look at me! I'll work construction to support you!"

Chen Hao chuckled, his fingers sliding quickly as he also sent a bullet comment:

"With that wall height, Moon Goddess can probably tank the highest level of a Level 2 tide, right? Yuehua Guild is terrifyingly powerful!"

A chorus of "Agreed" and "This brother knows his stuff" followed in the comments.

Chen Hao happily chewed his energy bar, watching the interaction while carefully observing Crescent Moon Territory's defensive facilities.

The wall was a standard stone structure, visually estimated to be over nine meters high and at least three meters thick. The battlements were logically designed, with an arrow tower every twenty paces. Archers in uniform stood on the towers, each with a longbow on their back and a quiver at their waist.

The Awakened patrolling the walls were well-equipped, their uniform leather armor consistent. Long sabers of Green quality hung at their waists, and occasionally, a few glinting with blue light could be seen.

In the open space inside the walls, over a dozen catapults were parked. Although they were only simple versions, being able to gather so many in a village-level territory was already an unimaginable display of resources.

"Tsk tsk," Chen Hao clicked his tongue. "This is the strength of a large guild transitioning into a Lord. Compared to them, that Beacon Fire Village..."

The image of that pitifully simple livestream room flashed through his mind, along with the grey mist that covered half the territory.

He shook his head.

They weren't in the same world.

7:14 AM.

Jiang Zhaoyue raised her hand on the arrow tower and made a gesture. The Awakened on the wall raised their weapons in unison—archers notched arrows, and shield-bearers raised their shields.

The bullet comments completely boiled over:

"It's coming, it's coming!"

"Moon Goddess's aura is incredible!"

"Come on, Level 2 tide! Let Moon Goddess step on you to upgrade to a town!"

7:15 AM.

7:20 AM sharp.

BOOM!!!

In the image, five hundred meters outside Crescent Moon Territory's west gate, a massive rift suddenly tore open!

Grey-black necromantic energy erupted!

And then—

Densely packed zombie soldiers swarmed out, at least three or four hundred of them!

Leading them were four tall Zombie Centurions, with turbid, corpse-green pus-like light churning deep in their eye sockets!

And behind these Centurions, an even more terrifying existence slowly emerged—a Zombie Five Hundred Lord.

Its body was even more massive than a normal zombie, reaching nearly three meters in height. Its entire body was covered in a thick layer of bone armor, overgrown with moss and withered vines.

Most chilling were its eyes—a pair of deep hollows emitting a nauseating aura of death.

The bullet comments instantly exploded:

"Four hundred! That's a hundred more than expected!"

"Four Centurions! This intensity is a bit high!"

"But Moon Goddess is safe! The walls are so high!"

Immediately after, someone spotted a new threat:

"Wait, is that... a Zombie Five Hundred Lord?!"

"This is trouble. I heard they can command at least five hundred zombie soldiers!"

Chen Hao also stared tensely at the screen, his fingers unconsciously gripping the energy bar tighter.

Right then!

A semi-transparent box suddenly popped up in front of him, directly overlaying Jiang Zhaoyue's livestream:

【A special event has been triggered in the livestream room you follow: 'Beacon Fire Village - Lin Feng'】

【Event Type: Nightmare Tide Level Increase (Village Level → Level 2)】

【Event Description: The intensity of this territory's first Nightmare Tide has exceeded standard levels and has been automatically upgraded to Level 2. This event will be featured on the Great Xia Region Dream Net Livestream homepage for a limited time.】

【Watch now?】

【Yes / No】

Chen Hao was stunned.

The energy bar almost fell out of his mouth.

"What the heck???"