Chapter Summaries

Wang Ye changed Weeping Ghost into a beggar-like Ghost Messenger and fled when dozens of familiar Ghost Kings appeared in pursuit. He raced toward Scavenger City, where his unusual entrance startled the people at the gate.

• Wang Ye greeted Weeping Ghost and used his mental strength to remove his mourning clothes and dress him in a tattered Ghost Messenger uniform, a helmet, and a broken bowl.
• Wang Ye praised Weeping Ghost's new beggar-ghost appearance and left, while Weeping Ghost stared at his outfit in confusion.
• Weeping Ghost roared after Wang Ye, drawing dozens of red-eyed Ghost Kings who chased Wang Ye across the Wasteland.
• Wang Ye ran toward Scavenger City and shouted that his dramatic scripts were not meant to be used against him.
• A teenage boy at the city gate prepared to challenge Wang Ye, but fled inside after seeing the pursuing Ghost Kings.

Wang Ye escaped the Ghost Kings by entering Scavenger City, where the city’s rules prevented them from following him. As Eternal Night approached, Maitreya and other Buddhist figures summoned a projection of Spirit Mountain in Buddha Kingdom.

• Wang Ye lured the Ghost Kings to Scavenger City’s gate, where the Beggar Ghost lost a leg after trying to enter.
• Wang Ye disguised himself, blended in with the Scavengers, and checked into an inn while the Ghost Kings waited outside.
• Wang Ye concluded that Scavenger City’s power surpassed the Buddha’s and reconsidered his theory that Zhang Ziliang had created the city.
• With one day left before Eternal Night, Maitreya and several Bodhisattvas and Arhats chanted before a Buddhist scripture that connected to a projection of Spirit Mountain.

The Heavenly Court, Underworld, and Spirit Mountain projected their power into the sky as the major factions prepared for the Third Awakening of Eternal Night. Their first clash appeared to end without a fight, but Zhang Ziliang was pushed into the Wasteland by Zhao Hai.

• The little girl issued an Imperial Decree announcing the Heavenly Court's return, and Wang Ye decided to head there first.
• The Heavenly Court's projection appeared above the clouds, but it had no South Heaven Gate and received no response to the little girl's order.
• Du Ziren called for the Underworld's return, and its ruined city rose beneath the Heavenly Court's projection.
• Maitreya revealed his own Buddha image and summoned Spirit Mountain, bringing it to a position of strength alongside the Heavenly Court.
• People in the city prayed to the figures in the sky, while the first clash between the major powers seemed to end without incident.
• Zhao Hai pushed Zhang Ziliang in a rocking chair out into the Wasteland.

Zhao Hai and Zhang Ziliang used a Projection Stone to interrupt the Heavenly Court, Spirit Mountain, and Underworld’s displays and announce the Heaven Group’s challenge at Ghost Gate Pass. Zhao Hai then impersonated Zhang Ziliang as Li Xinghe, provoking the little girl and leaving Li Xinghe furious as the prelude to the Third Awakening of Eternal Night ended.

• Zhao Hai projected Zhang Ziliang before Maitreya, the little girl, and Du Ziren, where Zhang announced that the Heaven Group would meet them at Ghost Gate Pass and protect humanity.
• Zhang Ziliang collapsed after the projection, and Zhao Hai gave him medicine before putting on his clothes and mask.
• Zhao Hai used the remaining Projection Stone time to impersonate Li Xinghe and denounce the Heavenly Court and Spirit Mountain.
• Li Hongtian watched the projection with Li Xinghe, who realized Zhang Ziliang had set him up.
• The little girl angrily addressed the Wasteland, and Zhao Hai bowed out as the prelude appearance battle ended with him declared the victor.

Zhao Hai pushed the exhausted Zhang Ziliang toward Shangjing as he wondered whether Li Xinghe could withstand the Heavenly Court and Lingshan’s retaliation. Meanwhile, Heaven Group citizens debated the sky-wide projections, conspiracy rumors spread through the cities, and the two arrived unnoticed in Shangjing.

• Zhao Hai wondered who Li Xinghe was and whether he could survive the pressure from the Heavenly Court and Lingshan.
• Zhang Ziliang told Zhao Hai that Li Xinghe was not especially strong or brilliant but was smarter than he let on, and that he would lead the Heaven Group through the crisis.
• Zhao Hai pushed Zhang Ziliang across the Wasteland toward Shangjing, smoothing the wheelchair ride with energy as Zhang fell asleep.
• Citizens across the Heaven Group cities discussed the projections and chose to trust Li Xinghe, while swindlers spread conspiracy rumors and demanded payment from those hoping to escape.
• Zhao Hai and Zhang Ziliang entered Shangjing unnoticed and headed toward the Heaven Group Headquarters.

Wang Ye reached the outskirts of the Heavenly Court and hid while preparing to improvise his sabotage. Meanwhile, Zhang Ziliang and Li Xinghe traded insults before discussing Heaven Group’s future, and Zhang asked Zhao Hai what he thought of Li Xinghe.

• Wang Ye escaped the pursuing Ghost Kings, shaved his head, and concealed himself near the Heavenly Court with about twenty hours left before Eternal Night.
• Zhang Ziliang and Li Xinghe reunited, and Li Xinghe pretended to be near death as they argued over their declining health.
• Li Xinghe confronted Zhang Ziliang for using his name to curse people, and the two bickered until Zhang took a pill to recover his strength.
• Zhang Ziliang warned Li Xinghe to make Heaven Group appear domineering after his death so others would not realize how weak it had become.
• After Li Xinghe left, Zhang Ziliang dropped his playful act and asked Zhao Hai what he thought of Li Xinghe.

Zhang Ziliang and Zhao Hai discussed Li Xinghe and their approaching deaths, then shared a quiet rooftop conversation. With ten hours left before Eternal Night’s Third Awakening, Wang Ye discarded his disguises and openly approached the Heavenly Court’s camp, where he confronted the little girl in charge.

• Zhang Ziliang warned Zhao Hai that Li Xinghe was far smarter than he seemed and asked Zhao Hai to push him outside.
• Zhao Hai raced Zhang Ziliang’s wheelchair to the Heaven Group rooftop, where they spoke about their legacies, wishes, and approaching deaths.
• Li Xinghe shouted at Li Hongtian for stopping him, then privately lamented that Zhang Ziliang would die before him.
• As the Heavenly Court, Spirit Mountain, and underworld projections grew more solid, Wang Ye removed his disguises and walked openly toward the Heavenly Court’s camp.
• The little girl recognized Wang Ye after a whispered explanation and questioned why he had come; Wang Ye said he came because he was afraid of death.

Wang Ye met with the little girl and proposed an alliance against Spirit Mountain, claiming that Li Changgeng had taken control of the Heaven Group. He left her weighing his claims and motives as the gods’ return approached.

• Wang Ye challenged the little girl’s condescending attitude and started to leave, but she apologized and asked him to explain Li Changgeng’s plans.
• Wang Ye told the little girl that Li Changgeng controlled the Heaven Group, had sidelined Zhang Ziliang, and had helped plant agents in Spirit Mountain.
• Wang Ye said the Heavenly Court could exploit the Heaven Group’s collapse after the Third Awakening of Eternal Night to strike Spirit Mountain before the gods returned.
• The little girl questioned why Wang Ye trusted Li Changgeng, and Wang Ye said Li Changgeng’s desertion had been a scheme and that he had promised Wang Ye an Imperial Throne.

Wang Ye persuaded the little girl to welcome him into the Heavenly Court by claiming he was a chess piece in Li Changgeng’s plan, then mocked her for being less cunning and persuasive than Li Changgeng. The little girl concealed her anger and decided to keep Wang Ye nearby to observe him, though he made clear that he did not trust her either.

• The little girl weighed whether to exploit Wang Ye’s claims about Li Changgeng, then welcomed him into the Heavenly Court and asked about the plan.
• Wang Ye said Li Changgeng had not told him the details and that he would know what to do when the opportunity came.
• Wang Ye demanded more praise and compared the little girl unfavorably with Li Changgeng, leaving her speechless and irritated.
• The little girl told Wang Ye to wait nearby, but Wang Ye called her hypocritical and said he did not feel safe staying with her.
• The little girl suppressed her anger and decided she needed to keep Wang Ye close for observation, then coldly told him she would not see him off.

As the Third Awakening of Eternal Night drew near, Wang Ye headed toward the Buddha Kingdom while Li Xinghe prepared to force people with hidden agendas out of the city. Rumors stirred unrest as ghosts closed in, and Wang Ye was still some distance from the Buddha Kingdom when the sky began to darken.

• Wang Ye left the little girl’s sight, sent a disguised version of himself toward the Buddha Kingdom, and stayed behind in the ruins as a decoy.
• Heaven Group Superhumans warned citizens to return to their rooms, while Li Xinghe told Li Hongtian to drive certain people out before Eternal Night began.
• A rumor blaming Zhang Ziliang for the coming crisis spread through the city, emboldening looters until Heaven Group Superhumans emerged from the homes they had raided with corpses.
• Ghosts sensed the approaching Eternal Night and began closing in on the Heaven Group’s ten cities in search of blood energy.
• As the sky darkened and energy grew violent, Wang Ye realized he was still far from the Buddha Kingdom.

As Eternal Night began, Zhao Hai pushed the dying Zhang Ziliang out of Shangjing City toward the gathering ghosts. Zhang Ziliang refused to turn back, and Zhao Hai used a Heavenly Court token to let them pass safely through the ghost horde.

• Wang Ye accelerated toward the Buddha Kingdom as the moment began.
• Zhang Ziliang asked Zhao Hai to push him outside, and Li Xinghe watched them leave from the Heavenly Group Headquarters rooftop.
• Eternal Night fell, and ghosts gathered while people in Heaven Group's ten cities struggled against fear and desire.
• Zhao Hai told Zhang Ziliang he could survive, but Zhang Ziliang chose to continue, and the two traded barbs about who would die first.
• When the ghosts charged, Zhao Hai displayed a Heavenly Court token, causing them to fearfully divert toward the city walls.
• Zhang Ziliang complained that Zhao Hai had not sold the token for cigarettes, then closed his eyes and struggled to keep his failing body moving.

Zhao Hai and Zhang Ziliang argued about the ghosts and Zhang Ziliang’s plans for the Heaven Group. As the Third Awakening of Eternal Night approached, Wang Ye met Maitreya and proposed cooperating after revealing his deception of the Heavenly Court; Maitreya explained that the little girl had likely believed him because of her overconfidence.

• Zhang Ziliang said he would leave the Heaven Group to learn to handle the ghosts themselves, while Zhao Hai complained that Zhang had poisoned him and made him push his wheelchair.
• Zhang Ziliang insisted that arriving in a wheelchair gave him more presence and said he wanted every detail of his one chance to show off to be right.
• With ten minutes remaining before the Third Awakening of Eternal Night, Wang Ye appeared over the Buddha Kingdom and met Maitreya, who praised his rapid rise in strength.
• Wang Ye proposed cooperating with Maitreya and admitted that he had told a little girl in the Heavenly Court that Li Changgeng was an undercover agent plotting against Spirit Mountain.
• Maitreya said the girl had believed Wang Ye because she was extremely confident in herself, and credited her with helping Spirit Mountain stand against the Heavenly Court.

Wang Ye tried to recruit Maitreya into a plot against the Heavenly Court, but Maitreya judged him too dangerous to trust and ordered him killed. Wang Ye’s body was crushed and transformed into a sheet of human skin, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Wang Ye asked about the nameless maid, and Maitreya described how she had repeatedly challenged him, Li Changgeng, and Lu Qing without losing her confidence.
• Maitreya recognized that Wang Ye planned to impersonate Spirit Mountain and cause trouble in the Heavenly Court, while Wang Ye pretended he had shaved his head out of admiration for Spirit Mountain.
• Wang Ye offered to reveal the Heavenly Court’s plans and help Maitreya kill two people, but Maitreya rejected the proposal as too costly.
• Wang Ye offered to lure the maid out or persuade the underworld to join a surprise attack, but Maitreya decided Wang Ye was too dangerous to let live.
• Maitreya and the Bodhisattvas attacked Wang Ye, whose body was smashed into a sheet of human skin bearing his painted face.

The Third Awakening of Eternal Night brought the Heavenly Court projection to life, and the Great Emperor Longevity of the South Pole arrived to assess the situation. Wang Ye used his clone to meet the newly awakened leader and gather intelligence, while the emperor questioned the little girl about whether she had noticed any problems.

• As Eternal Night awakened, the little girl's voice shattered the Imperial Decree and briefly made the Heavenly Court projection solid.
• The Great Emperor Longevity of the South Pole and other Heavenly Court figures emerged, and he asked the little girl where Li Changgeng was.
• After hearing the outside world's intelligence, the emperor insulted the Heavenly Court's predicament, and the little girl defiantly warned him not to challenge Wang Ye.
• Wang Ye approached the emperor, introduced himself as a new Heavenly Court member and Li Changgeng's contact, and repeated his fabricated story.
• The Great Emperor Longevity of the South Pole suppressed his anger and asked the little girl whether she had noticed any problems.

Wang Ye used an avatar to infiltrate the Heavenly Court’s gathering, but the Longevity Great Emperor saw through the deception and expelled him. After spying on the Heavenly Court’s revived forces, Wang Ye realized Ghost Gate Pass could not withstand them and suspected Zhang Ziliang had prepared for the Heaven Group’s fall.

• The Longevity Great Emperor confronted Wang Ye after realizing the little girl had believed his false promise of a position among the Six Imperials.
• Wang Ye pretended to stab himself, but the Longevity Great Emperor shattered the space around his avatar and sent it away.
• The Longevity Great Emperor released eight Heavenly Kings and sixteen Star Lords, while a hidden camera recorded the Heavenly Court’s forces.
• Wang Ye reviewed the Heavenly Court’s strength and worried that Zhang Ziliang’s plans could not save Ghost Gate Pass from the coming attack.
• Wang Ye concluded that Zhang Ziliang might have prepared for the Heaven Group’s destruction and angrily cursed him in the Wasteland.

Wang Ye realized Zhang Ziliang was prepared to die and chose to leave the Wasteland rather than reach Shangjing City, where he could not change the odds. In Shangjing, Zhang Ziliang and Zhao Hai learned that the Longevity Great Emperor had awakened, and Zhang Ziliang faced the coming battle while keeping his secrets.

• Wang Ye recalled that Zhang Ziliang was ready to die and struggled over whether to go to Shangjing City.
• Wang Ye sent Zhang Ziliang a message about the Longevity Great Emperor, sixteen Star Lords, and eight Heavenly Kings, then headed away from Shangjing City.
• Zhang Ziliang read Wang Ye's message and accepted that he would not be able to deliver the promised fireworks show.
• Zhao Hai explained that the Longevity Great Emperor was terrifyingly strong, while Zhang Ziliang revealed he had sent the message about him into the Heavenly Court.
• Zhang Ziliang refused to explain how he contacted the sealed Heavenly Court, laughed, and coughed up blood as Zhao Hai sent energy into his body.

As the Third Awakening of Eternal Night approached, Wang Ye prepared a desperate defense near Ghost Gate Pass while Maitreya dealt with three Buddhas who had come to Spirit Mountain. The chapter left Maitreya telling them that Heaven had likely already attacked Heaven Group.

• Zhao Hai watched over the sleeping Zhang Ziliang and wondered whether Ghost Gate Pass could survive the coming assault.
• Wang Ye planted explosives around the low mountains near Ghost Gate Pass, armed nearby ghosts with supernatural items, and then hid in the darkness.
• Three elderly Buddhas arrived at Spirit Mountain and told Maitreya that they would cooperate with him as the awakening’s executor.
• Maitreya recognized that the three Buddhas were positioning themselves to claim rewards if they won and blame him if they lost.
• Maitreya told the Buddhas to do nothing for now, explaining that Heaven Group had declared war and Heaven had likely already attacked.

Maitreya discovered that a fourth Buddha had secretly joined the monks, while Ghost Gate Pass prepared for Heaven Court’s arrival. Heaven Court reached the pass, and the Longevity Great Emperor demanded that its defenders kneel, but they remained standing.

• Maitreya recognized a disguised Buddha by his habit of moving the fingers of his injured right hand and grew suspicious of the monks’ plans.
• A woman knocked Zhang Xiao unconscious, carried her out of Ghost Gate Pass, and was allowed through the side gate by an investigator who later sent a text message.
• As the defenders waited, one investigator lit a candle, and Heaven Court’s forces approached Ghost Gate Pass on the ground.
• The Longevity Great Emperor and the gods rose into the sky outside the pass after their march triggered a bomb that caused no injuries.
• The Longevity Great Emperor sat on a golden dragon throne and ordered the defenders to kneel, but they stood their ground despite his pressure.

Longevity Great Emperor led the Heavenly Court forces against Ghost Gate Pass, but Meng Po arrived and demanded to take the Underworld’s people from the city. When the little girl challenged Meng Po, Longevity Great Emperor restrained her and let Meng Po leave.

• The investigators fired electromagnetic cannons at the advancing Heavenly Court forces, injuring one Heavenly King, then retreated when the gods dodged the shells.
• Meng Po appeared before the Heavenly Court forces and asked to take the Underworld’s people from Ghost Gate Pass.
• Longevity Great Emperor agreed to let Meng Po leave, but the little girl objected and threatened to kill her.
• Meng Po recalled slapping the little girl before, provoking her into a furious outburst.
• Longevity Great Emperor restrained the little girl and told Meng Po she could go, claiming the matter had nothing to do with either faction.

Meng Po left Ghost Gate Pass after failing to persuade Liang Zhi Shui to come with her, and the Longevity Great Emperor ordered the city’s destruction. As Wang Ye watched the Heavenly Court’s forces slaughter Ghost Gate Pass’s defenders, he wondered whether Zhang Ziliang had abandoned the city and why its people fought without fear.

• Meng Po asked Liang Zhi Shui to leave Ghost Gate Pass, but he refused, declaring that the city would stand as long as he lived.
• Meng Po challenged the Longevity Great Emperor over his plan to massacre the city, then left through the finger gate.
• The Longevity Great Emperor ordered the Star Lords to destroy Ghost Gate Pass and kept the imprisoned girl trapped.
• Wang Ye watched from the shadows, doubting the Underworld but trusting that Zhang Ziliang had prepared a backup plan.
• Superhumans and ordinary investigators charged the Star Lords and died in silence as the Longevity Great Emperor wondered whether they could pose a threat.