Chapter Summaries

Instructor took Ji Minghuan and the other children out of the Paradise in spacesuits, revealing a lunar landscape and a view of Earth that made Ji Minghuan question the Sodalitas Salvifica base’s location. Restricted Class 1001 said Ji Minghuan’s parents had identified Hofsjökull Glacier as the base’s location, while Sun Changkong rushed toward space and Instructor called for her to stop.

• Instructor led the children into the elevator and had experimenters give them spacesuits and oxygen helmets.
• Instructor used an ID card to take the children to a previously unseen third floor, which opened onto what appeared to be the moon and outer space.
• Ji Minghuan wondered whether the base was truly on the moon, while Restricted Class 1001 said his parents had told him the base was at Hofsjökull Glacier.
• Restricted Class 1001 revealed that he had contacted Ji Minghuan’s parents shortly after Ji Minghuan was born and had placed a surveillance device in his Spirit World that he later made resemble Kong Youling.
• The children stared in shock at the moon and Earth, and Sun Changkong summoned her Somersault Cloud and set off toward space.
• Instructor sharply called out to Changkong and ordered her to stop.

Ji Minghuan saw the Instructor use Mental Imprints to control Sun Changkong and the other children during their trip to the moon, while Kong Youling remained aware. The next morning, the Nian Beast Overlord prepared to attack Haifan City in three days, and Lin Xingshi wondered whether a childhood friend would appear in the coming conflict.

• The Instructor activated the Mental Imprints in Sun Changkong and the other children, making them obey him, while Kong Youling and Ji Minghuan retained their awareness.
• Ji Minghuan learned from Restricted Class 1001 that the Golden Fillet might dispel mental control, though Sun Changkong might not be able to use it.
• The Instructor returned the children to the second floor, and Ji Minghuan went back to his Imprisonment Room to sleep.
• The Nian Beast Overlord announced that the Zodiac Team would attack Haifan City and confront Lake Hunt in three days, while Little Nian Beast declined to join the battle.
• Lin Xingshi told Zhou Jiuya that she wondered whether a childhood friend would appear during the Nian Beast incident, then left with him for breakfast.

The Troupe prepared for its operation against Lake Hunt while Xia Pingzhou shared a quiet moment with Ayase Origami, who asked him not to leave. On Sea Sail Mountain, Little Nian Beast recalled how Lin Xingshi learned that her parents had died in a war sparked by his disappearance.

• Hacker told the Troupe that the Nian Beast Overlord would fight Lake Hunt in Haifan City on August 24 and warned everyone to keep a low profile.
• Tong Zizhu told Xia Pingzhou that Su Ying was her guardian Su Wei’s daughter and that Su Wei was actually her grandfather.
• Ayase Origami kissed Xia Pingzhou on the cheek and quietly asked him not to go.
• At the bonfire festival, the Nian Beast Overlord asked Little Nian Beast about his history with Lin Xingshi, and Little Nian Beast began recalling their time together in Li Capital.
• A buzz-cut man told Lin Xingshi that the Nian Beast Overlord’s search for Little Nian Beast had led to a war in which her parents died, while Little Nian Beast listened from nearby.

The Troupe prepared for its operation against Lake Hunt while Xia Pingzhou shared a quiet farewell-like moment with Ayase Origami. At Sea Sail Mountain, Little Nian Beast recalled how Lin Xingshi learned that her parents had died in the war the Nian Beast Overlord started after Little Nian Beast disappeared.

• Hacker told the Troupe that the Nian Beast Overlord would fight Lake Hunt in Haifan City on August 24 and warned everyone to keep a low profile.
• Tong Zizhu revealed that Hacker had helped her discover Su Ying was her guardian Su Wei’s daughter and that Su Wei was her grandfather.
• Andrew said he had saved his Dragon Ember bullet to kill Zhou Jiuya, while Bloodline spoke about finding 1001 again.
• Ayase Origami kissed Xia Pingzhou’s cheek and quietly asked him not to leave; afterward, Xia Pingzhou learned from Ryukawa Chiba that he might be able to undo Mental Type control.
• At Sea Sail Mountain’s bonfire feast, the Nian Beast Overlord asked Little Nian Beast about Lin Xingshi, prompting Little Nian Beast to recall their life together in Li Capital.
• A buzz-cut man told Lin Xingshi that her parents had died resisting the Nian Beast Overlord after Little Nian Beast vanished, leaving Little Nian Beast devastated as he overheard them.

Su Wei learned that Tong Zizhu, Su Ying’s adopted daughter, had joined the White Crow Troupe and agreed to let Ke Qirui try to bring her back. Later, Gu Qiye received a new message from Black Cocoon, but her attempt to reply was blocked; meanwhile, Enma Rin confronted Xia Pingzhou with a katana at his throat.

• Su Wei told Ke Qirui, Su Zimai, and Gu Qiye that Tong Zizhu was Su Ying’s adopted daughter and had joined the White Crow Troupe to search for Su Ying.
• Ke Qirui offered to capture Tong Zizhu, and Su Wei told her to try without taking unnecessary risks.
• Gu Qiye and Su Zimai prepared to stay at the manor, where Gu Qiye reread old messages from Black Cocoon while Su Zimai held Gu Wenyu’s shirt.
• Gu Qiye noticed a new message from Black Cocoon, sent a question in reply, and discovered that the other party had blocked her.
• At the bar beneath Old Wu Antique Shop, Enma Rin summoned Xia Pingzhou from his room and pressed her katana to his neck.

Xia Pingzhou confronted Enma Rin about her fear of death and her suspicion that he was pretending to care for Ayase Origami, then left Old Wu Antique Shop to test Wrath Demon's sword form at a secluded beach. After completing his preparations, he met the gaze of Unit 4, Little Nian Beast, from across the shore.

• Enma Rin told Xia Pingzhou that her Heavenly Drive had only left her a year to live, and said he could hear the voices of her Demonic Blade because they were both hollow.
• Enma Rin accused Xia Pingzhou of faking his emotions and questioned his intentions toward Ayase Origami; Xia Pingzhou said he would give her the chance to survive and Enma Rin asked him not to hurt her.
• Enma Rin warned Xia Pingzhou that she wanted to kill him, then cut his ear with her scabbard before leaving; Xia Pingzhou went alone to a secluded beach on Sea Sail Mountain.
• Xia Pingzhou summoned Wrath Demon and asked about the Nian Beast Overlord's chances against Lake Hunt; Wrath Demon said the Overlord had little chance unless the Nian Beast Scion joined the battle.
• Xia Pingzhou ordered Wrath Demon into sword form, and Queen Colossus wielded it to split the sea with a single strike.
• Xia Pingzhou recalled Queen Colossus and Wrath Demon, then saw Unit 4, Little Nian Beast, standing atop the cliff before both figures vanished.

Xia Pingzhou took Ayase Origami to watch the sunrise, then they shared their childhood nightmares and found comfort in each other before falling asleep together. The chapter left them peacefully holding hands, while Xia Pingzhou imagined a childhood scene in which they met and confessed affection.

• Xia Pingzhou stayed with Ayase Origami after she woke, and they joked about Enma Rin eavesdropping from the next room.
• Xia Pingzhou led Ayase Origami up Sea Sail Mountain, where they watched the sunrise together from a bench he had made.
• Ayase Origami called Xia Pingzhou a good cat, then playfully meowed and rubbed her cheek against his palm when he challenged their old arrangement.
• Xia Pingzhou told Ayase Origami about being abandoned in a wardrobe during a storm, and she promised she would hide there with him.
• Ayase Origami described her nightmare of her father choking her, and Xia Pingzhou comforted her with an imagined scene of rescuing her and telling her she could smile.
• Ayase Origami fell asleep holding Xia Pingzhou's hand, and Xia Pingzhou lay beside her and soon fell asleep too.

As Lake Hunt and the Nian Beast Overlord prepared to go to war, Ji Minghuan struggled with his guilt over the people he had deceived and learned how his parents died. The fighting began when demons launched an attack on the Lin Family Mansion, where Lake Hunt’s defenders waited.

• Little Nian Beast refused Green Snake Zodiac Demon's call to join the Overlord, arguing that the demons could not defeat humanity and its nuclear weapons.
• In the Mental Library, Ji Minghuan argued with Restricted Class 1001 about his feelings for Kimono Girl and the Gu Family, then learned that Shang Xiaochi had killed his parents and that Sodalitas Salvifica had taken his younger brother.
• Restricted Class 1001 recalled how Ji Huaiye and Lin Xi had welcomed him into their home, and Ji Minghuan left the Library without forgiving his parents.
• The Nian Beast Overlord and Zodiac Team set out to confront Lake Hunt, while Little Nian Beast stayed behind to wait for a chance to gain prestige by defending its homeland.
• At dawn on August 24, Monkey Zodiac Demon's Explosion Fruits struck the Lin Family Mansion, but Zhou Jiuya raised the Nine Dragon Cauldron to block them as Lin Xingshi and the others faced the Nian Beast Overlord, beginning the war.

The White Crow Troupe gathered at Haifan City’s harbor to attack Lake Hunt as the Zodiac Team began its assault, but the operation was interrupted by the Ghost Train Troupe and the Exorcist Association. When Gu Qiye charged at Xia Pingzhou and Ayase Origami, Xia pulled them and Gu into his Black King's Domain, just as the opposing forces attacked the Troupe.

• The White Crow Troupe waited at the harbor, and Xia Pingzhou told Ayase Origami that Oda Takikage had entrusted her to him before his death.
• Xia Pingzhou realized Enma Rin had killed his family years earlier, while Ayase Origami asked him to stay alive; the Troupe prepared to avenge Oda Takikage and Lan Duoduo by killing Zhou Jiuya.
• The Zodiac Team attacked Haifan City, and the Troupe saw Zhou Jiuya atop the Nine Dragon Giant Cauldron while White Greedy Wolf appeared with the Demon Crown.
• Ke Qirui, Su Zimai, and another member arrived aboard the Train Demon, while Ghost Bell and Su Wei descended on a Teaching Ruler; Tong Zizhu recognized Su Wei as her grandfather.
• Gu Qiye raced toward Xia Pingzhou and Ayase Origami, so Xia activated Black King's Domain and pulled the three of them into his chessboard space.
• The Train Demon and the Teaching Ruler charged at the remaining members of the White Crow Troupe.

The White Crow Troupe and the Ghost Train Troupe split their battle between the harbor and Ke Qirui’s movie world. Su Zimai defeated Hacker and cornered Ryukawa Chiba, while Tong Zizhu continued fighting Xu Sanyan over her search for Su Ying and her lost family.

• Ke Qirui pulled Tong Zizhu, Hacker, Ryukawa Chiba, Robert, and Andrew into her movie world, while Urushi Haramichi, Bloodline, Enma Rin, and Anluns remained at the harbor to face Ghost Bell and Su Wei.
• Ke Qirui, Su Zimai, and Xu Sanyan tried to delay their five opponents; Andrew destroyed falling train carriages with a Gun of Embers bullet, and Robert used portals to evade the attack.
• Tong Zizhu disguised herself as Su Ying, fought Xu Sanyan, and reacted furiously when he told her that her grandfather was waiting for her to come home.
• Ryukawa Chiba used Hacker’s data ability and an illusion of Su Zimai’s brother to overpower her briefly, but Su Zimai escaped with the Scarecrow Demon and trapped Ryukawa Chiba.
• Su Zimai destroyed Ryukawa Chiba’s phone, leaving Hacker vulnerable, then imprisoned and killed Hacker with her Magic Wardrobe before turning to confront Ryukawa Chiba.

Su Zimai escaped Ryukawa Chiba’s nested dream with help from Ke Qirui and Tong Zizhu, who abandoned the Troupe to protect her. Andrew’s Dragon Ember blast tore open the Movie World, and the Troupe withdrew toward the harbor as Su Zimai’s group regrouped atop the clock tower; elsewhere, Xia Pingzhou and Ayase Origami faced Gu Qiye in the Black King’s Domain.

• Ryukawa Chiba revealed that Su Zimai was trapped in a nested dream, but Ke Qirui intervened, and Su Zimai escaped the illusion and attacked Ryukawa Chiba.
• Tong Zizhu turned against Ryukawa Chiba and Hacker, then joined Ke Qirui to protect Su Zimai, explaining that Su Ying’s child mattered to her.
• Andrew fired a Dragon Ember round that devastated the Movie World and opened a hole to Haifan City’s harbor, while Ke Qirui moved her group to the clock tower.
• Andrew, Robert, Hacker, and Ryukawa Chiba withdrew through the spatial opening, leaving Tong Zizhu behind with Su Zimai’s group.
• Xia Pingzhou and Ayase Origami confronted Gu Qiye on the chessboard inside Xia Pingzhou’s Black King’s Domain, and their battle began.

Xia Pingzhou and Ayase Origami used the Black King's Domain's defenses and chess-piece tactics to stall Gu Qiye, who destroyed nearly all their pieces. As Gu Qiye attacked during the domain's four-second retraction, Xia Pingzhou said, “Black Cocoon is still alive,” freezing him long enough to escape.

• Xia Pingzhou and Ayase Origami concealed their chess pieces in paper whirlpools and used the King Statue's barrier to withstand Gu Qiye's attacks.
• Gu Qiye destroyed most of Xia Pingzhou's pieces, but Xia Pingzhou used Castling and a self-destructing Cannon Statue to catch him in an explosion and set up attacks from the Queen Statue and Paper Dragon.
• Xia Pingzhou used the Shadow Demon, Voidification, and a copied King to keep Gu Qiye from reaching him while Ayase Origami left the chessboard.
• After Gu Qiye destroyed the remaining King and Xia Pingzhou began retracting the domain, Xia Pingzhou told him that Black Cocoon was still alive.
• Gu Qiye froze in shock, allowing Xia Pingzhou to retract the Black King's Domain and vanish with him.

The White Crow Troupe fought Su Wei and Ghost Bell at Haifan City’s harbor while the battle between Lake Hunt and the Nian Beasts neared its end. After the Troupe decided to rescue White Greedy Wolf rather than join the battle, a gigantic purplish-red lion appeared in the sky, identified as the Nian Beast Scion.

• Anluns and Enma Rin combined their attacks to badly injure Su Wei, while Urushi Haramichi and Bloodline fought Ghost Bell and discovered that he could both stop and slow time.
• Su Wei escaped with Ghost Bell after they concluded their mission to delay the Troupe was complete, and Gu Qiye appeared at the harbor before fleeing when the Troupe surrounded him.
• Ayase Origami reunited with Xia Pingzhou, while the Troupe learned Tong Zizhu had left after discovering that Su Ying was dead.
• Urushi Haramichi refused to lead the Troupe into the ongoing battle, reasoning that they had arrived too late, and ordered them to prioritize rescuing White Greedy Wolf.
• A colossal purplish-red lion appeared above the battlefield as Lin Xingshi’s fight against the Nian Beast Overlord approached its end.

Lake Hunt’s four fighters battled the Nian Beast Overlord and the Zodiac Team around Haifan City, defeating several demons and stripping the Heavenly Day Wolf of its Demon Crown. As Lin Xingshi prepared to finish the Overlord, Little Nian arrived and demanded that she let its Old Man go.

• The Zodiac Team split up to attack Haifan City’s walls, and the four Lake Hunt members divided themselves to defend the perimeter.
• Zhou Jiuya defeated the Gluttony Demon and Divine Chicken Demon, while the Rat Zodiac Demon fled toward Zhong Wujiu’s battlefield.
• Zhong Wujiu wounded the Mad Cow and Dragon Cat Demons, killed the White Ram Demon, and then resumed fighting the two surviving beasts.
• Zhuge Hui defeated the Rainbow Horse Demon and countered attacks from the Monkey and Green Snake Demons.
• Lin Xingshi used her Stake Demon and lion-dance formation to defeat the Nian Beast Overlord and Heavenly Day Wolf, then killed the Green Snake Demon and prepared to finish the Overlord.
• Little Nian descended from Sea Sail Mountain and demanded that Lin Xingshi let its Old Man go.

Little Nian Beast reunited with Lin Xingshi while protecting the wounded Nian Beast Overlord from Lake Hunt. When the Rat Zodiac Demon fled with the Overlord and White Greedy Wolf, Little Nian Beast blocked Zhou Jiuya’s attack and entered its berserk Demon Descent form.

• Little Nian Beast rescued the Nian Beast Overlord and reunited with Lin Xingshi, who revealed she had searched for it for years and bought their old apartment building.
• Little Nian Beast and Lin Xingshi discussed their separation as Zhou Jiuya arrived and attacked Little Nian Beast with a bronze pillar.
• Little Nian Beast told the Rat Zodiac Demon to shrink the wounded Overlord and White Greedy Wolf and escape while it held off the Exorcists.
• Zhou Jiuya sent bronze pillars after the fleeing Rat Zodiac Demon, and Little Nian Beast deflected them with Demon Flame Assault.
• Little Nian Beast activated Demon Descent and turned its blazing, berserk gaze toward Lin Xingshi and Zhou Jiuya.

Little Nian Beast fought Lin Xingshi and Zhou Jiuya, claimed the Demon Crown, and helped the Zodiac demons retreat from Haifan City. Back at Spirit Heart Lake, the survivors recovered, Little Nian Beast gained prestige and increased his Speed, and White Greedy Wolf told him the Overlord wanted to see him.

• Little Nian Beast entered Demon Descent, fought off Zhou Jiuya’s defenses, and used the Demon Crown to blast Lin Xingshi through Haifan City’s wall.
• Little Nian Beast recovered control as Demon Descent ended, then attacked Zhong Wujiu and led Dragon Cat and Mad Cow away from the battle.
• Little Nian Beast persuaded Monkey Zodiac Demon to retreat by claiming the Overlord was in danger, and the Zodiac demons escaped into the mountains.
• Little Nian Beast returned to Spirit Heart Lake, where White Ram Demons healed the injured while Rat Zodiac Demon confirmed Lake Hunt was not pursuing them.
• Little Nian Beast gained the Emerging Talent prestige rank and spent his Attribute Point to raise Speed to SS rank.
• White Greedy Wolf asked Little Nian Beast about the Demon Crown, agreed he could keep it until the next battle, and told him the Overlord wanted to see him.

The White Crow Troupe argued over their losses and learned Ryukawa Chiba had uncovered Black Cocoon’s identity, while Xia Pingzhou tried to keep the captain from trusting the doctor. At Sea Sail Mountain, the Little Nian Beast agreed to take responsibility for the demons, then realized Kong Youling might have planted a Thought Imprint on Lake Hunt members and rushed to warn the injured Lin Xingshi.

• Andrew demanded revenge for Lan Duoduo and Uncle Takikage, but Enma Rin threatened him into silence.
• Ryukawa Chiba revealed that Black Cocoon was Gu Wenyu, Su Zimai’s older brother, while Xia Pingzhou feared his own identity as the Troupe’s mole would be exposed.
• Black Cocoon messaged Urushi Haramichi, denying that he had sent his family after the Troupe and warning him not to trust Ryukawa Chiba’s claims.
• The Nian Beast Overlord asked the Little Nian Beast to lead Sea Sail Mountain, and the Little Nian Beast agreed to care for the demons while seeking a peaceful relationship with humans.
• The Little Nian Beast connected Kong Youling’s moon drawing to her possible secret meeting with Lake Hunt and realized she may have planted Thought Imprints on its members.
• Fearing the injured Lin Xingshi was vulnerable, the Little Nian Beast rushed out to warn her.

Black Cocoon discovered the hidden Sodalitas Salvifica base beneath Hofsjökull Glacier and left to check on Lin Xingshi before meeting his family. In Haifan City, Lin Xingshi celebrated her birthday with Lake Hunt, while the White Crow Troupe learned of the gathering and set out to attack.

• Black Cocoon watched the Sodalitas Salvifica tower rise from the glacier, saw Ke Aojiena leave, and memorized the base’s coordinates before departing Iceland.
• Lin Xingshi woke in the hospital and spoke with Zhou Jiuya about the Troupe, the Gu Family, and the Nian Beast Scion.
• Zhuge Hui, Zhou Jiuya, and Zhong Wujiu surprised Lin Xingshi with a birthday cake, and she said she wished someone else could celebrate with her.
• White Greedy Wolf returned to the White Crow Troupe and told Urushi Haramichi that the Demon Crown was with the Nian Beast Scion and Tong Zizhu had left with her mother.
• Hacker reported that Lake Hunt appeared divided at Haifan City Central Hospital, and Urushi Haramichi ordered the Troupe to attack.

During Lin Xingshi’s birthday celebration at Haifan City Hospital, a strange broadcast and attack left Zhou Jiuya and Zhong Wujiu under an enemy’s control. Lin fought her friends while badly wounded until the White Crow Troupe arrived at the hospital ruins and targeted Zhou Jiuya.

• Lin Xingshi celebrated her birthday with Zhou Jiuya and Zhong Wujiu as a typhoon approached, and she discussed her feelings about the Nian Beast with Zhou.
• A Hexagram Pattern appeared on the television, and Lin and Zhou heard cries and a beast roar from downstairs.
• Bronze pillars attacked Lin as she left the ward, and Zhou and Zhong turned against her with their Heavenly Drives.
• Lin fought back with her contracted demons but was overwhelmed by Zhou’s pillars and Zhong’s Bo Qi Bird cries, leaving her badly wounded and disoriented.
• The White Crow Troupe emerged from a wooden door among the hospital ruins, and Urushi Haramichi named Zhou Jiuya as their target.

The White Crow Troupe attacked Lake Hunt at the ruins of Haifan City Central Hospital, killing Zhou Jiuya and driving Zhong Wujiu to the brink. Little Nian Beast intervened to save Lin Xingshi and Zhong Wujiu, and the Troupe withdrew after Ryukawa Chiba removed Zhong Wujiu’s mental control; Xia Pingzhou was left with his final quest to kill Jack the Ripper.

• Urushi Haramichi split the White Crow Troupe into teams, sending Bloodline, Hacker, Ryukawa Chiba, Anluns, and Enma Rin after Zhong Wujiu while he and the others attacked Zhou Jiuya.
• The Troupe overwhelmed Zhong Wujiu with their coordinated abilities as Xia Pingzhou used the Queen Statue and Water Flow Demon’s fusion to destroy Zhou Jiuya’s bronze pillars and strike him down.
• Urushi Haramichi used his Little King Playing Card to separate Zhou Jiuya from Along the River During the Qingming Festival, and Andrew’s shot broke the Wordless Boat barrier before the Queen of Raging Flow fatally wounded Zhou Jiuya.
• Zhou Jiuya died, Xia Pingzhou completed Main Quest 1, and Urushi Haramichi used his Big King Playing Card to take Zhou Jiuya’s Tonggu Compass.
• Zhuge Hui arrived, but Little Nian Beast descended and forced the White Crow Troupe to retreat after Ryukawa Chiba removed the mental imprint controlling Zhong Wujiu.
• Little Nian Beast carried the unconscious Lin Xingshi into the mountains, while Zhuge Hui took Zhong Wujiu and Zhou Jiuya’s corpse away on a water dragon.