Chapter Summaries

Li Changgeng’s message made Longevity realize Ghost Gate Pass had a hidden defense, and the last three Superhumans activated the Seal God Formation by sacrificing themselves. The formation trapped the Star Lords for seven days, leaving Longevity to turn toward Shangjing City alone.

• Li Changgeng sent Longevity a projection saying the battle at Ghost Gate Pass was about to end and that he would wait in Shangjing City.
• Wang Ye recognized the masked figure as Zhao Hai and realized Zhang Ziliang’s plan depended on the Superhumans’ deaths.
• The last three Superhumans stabbed themselves, and their blood activated the Seal God Formation, making Ghost Gate Pass disappear and trapping the Star Lords.
• Longevity freed the little girl and learned she had entrusted the matter to Li Tianwang, whom he blamed for failing to find the Yaochi remnants.
• The little girl called herself Wang Ye’s personal maid, and Longevity backed down before declaring he would head to Shangjing City and fight without the Star Lords.

Wang Ye entered the Seal God Formation at Ghost Gate Pass to avenge the Heaven Group members killed by the Heavenly Court, while Maitreya prepared to go to Shangjing to watch events unfold. Wang Ye killed the first Heavenly King and set out after the remaining twenty-five trapped targets.

• Zhang Ziliang told Wang Ye that Lu Wu had created a Seal God Formation at Ghost Gate Pass, which trapped everyone inside for seven days and left Wang Ye a hidden entrance.
• Wang Ye used his blood to reveal Ghost Gate Pass and entered the formation, determined to avenge Liang Zhi Shui, Zhang Xiao, and the others.
• Wang Ye found a Heavenly King alone and killed him after the man failed to summon help.
• Wang Ye marked the corpse with the number 26, counted twenty-five targets remaining, and headed toward the next Heavenly King.
• Maitreya learned that Ghost Gate Pass had been sealed and invited three old monks to go to Shangjing to watch the show.

At Shangjing, Zhao Hai confronted the Longevity Great Emperor while shielding Zhang Ziliang, and Maitreya arrived with other Buddhist figures to watch. Zhao Hai took a spear through the abdomen and remained beside Zhang Ziliang as the Longevity Great Emperor questioned whether they had a trap.

• Zhao Hai told Zhang Ziliang that he had guessed his simple plan to trap the Heavenly Court and strike Spirit Mountain.
• The Longevity Great Emperor arrived, and Zhao Hai stepped forward to confront him while Zhang Ziliang waited behind him.
• Maitreya appeared with three elderly monks and numerous Bodhisattvas, but chose to observe rather than interfere.
• The Longevity Great Emperor thrust his spear at Zhao Hai, who tried to deflect it but was pierced through the abdomen and pinned to the ground.
• Zhao Hai pulled himself off the spear, treated his wound with medicinal powder, and told Zhang Ziliang he would not die from it.
• The Longevity Great Emperor asked whether they had set a trap, and Zhao Hai insisted that their allies were all trapped at Ghost Gate Pass and that they were only catching up with old friends.

Zhang Ziliang challenged the Heavenly Court and Spirit Mountain’s view of humanity, then issued a decree expelling them from humankind. Light appeared during Eternal Night, and the Longevity Great Emperor, Maitreya, and the others were injured as if a fundamental rule had changed.

• Zhao Hai realized the Heaven Group was outnumbered and that Longevity had arranged reinforcements to arrive within three days.
• Zhang Ziliang rose from his wheelchair, and Maitreya ordered Spirit Mountain’s forces to retreat ten meters.
• Zhang Ziliang condemned the gods for treating humanity as inferior and declared that humanity’s strength came from passing on its inner fire.
• Zhang Ziliang issued a decree on behalf of humanity, expelling the gods from the ranks of humankind.
• Light pierced the Eternal Night and fell upon Zhang Ziliang, while Longevity, Maitreya, and the others suffered injuries; Maitreya appeared to understand what had happened.

Zhang Ziliang regained his youthful form and prepared to fight the Longevity Great Emperor, while Li Xinghe used his ancient book and his teacher’s power to hold the emperor inside a barrier. As Li Xinghe collapsed, Zhang Ziliang faced his enemy and called on the assembled lords to hear the dragon’s roar.

• Maitreya resolved that Zhang Ziliang had to die and told the three old monks to let the Longevity Great Emperor act first.
• Zhang Ziliang said he understood his fate, accepted that he had no time left, and stepped forward as his decrepit appearance transformed into that of a young man.
• The Longevity Great Emperor sensed a fatal threat and fled, but Zhang Ziliang called on Li Xinghe to block his escape.
• Li Xinghe used his ancient book to form an azure barrier, endured the Longevity Great Emperor’s spear strike, and called on his teacher to reinforce the barrier.
• Maitreya predicted that the Longevity Great Emperor would fall within a minute as Zhang Ziliang faced him and called, “My lords, listen to the dragon’s roar.”

Zhang Ziliang unleashed a sword powered by the will of humanity, striking down the Longevity Great Emperor while sparing the little girl after Zhao Hai confirmed she should live. The battle left Zhang Ziliang visibly aged, and Maitreya had wagered Spirit Mountain’s safety to save the girl.

• The Longevity Great Emperor shielded himself with golden armor and energy barriers, then held the little girl in front of him as protection from Zhang Ziliang’s attack.
• Zhang Ziliang drew strength from the sacrifices and hopes of humanity, formed a transparent sword, and declared his wish for humanity to know no worries.
• Zhang Ziliang brought down his sword, and its dragon-shaped shadow charged at the Longevity Great Emperor as the attack rapidly aged him.
• The Longevity Great Emperor released the little girl and demanded that she save him, while she cursed him and feared they would both die.
• Maitreya offered three Honored Buddhas’ lives to persuade Zhang Ziliang to spare the little girl, and Zhao Hai nodded when Zhang Ziliang sought his judgment.
• Zhang Ziliang redirected the dragon around the little girl, and it struck and killed the Longevity Great Emperor.

Zhang Ziliang used his remaining life to save Shangjing City and died after his final strike. As Li Xinghe carried his body home and Zhao Hai followed, Wang Ye sensed his death at Ghost Gate Pass and continued fighting.

• Zhang Ziliang’s dragon killed the Longevity Great Emperor, devastated the Bodhisattvas, and allowed the three old monks to pursue Maitreya as the others fled Shangjing City.
• Zhang Ziliang died beside Zhao Hai, who placed a jade-green leaf in his mouth to keep his body from decaying.
• The scholar arrived and told Li Xinghe that Zhang Ziliang could not be saved, then urged him to let Zhang rest.
• Li Xinghe carried Zhang Ziliang’s body toward Shangjing City while Zhao Hai followed in silence.
• At Ghost Gate Pass, Wang Ye sensed Zhang Ziliang’s death, cursed him for leaving, and resumed fighting despite his injuries.

Wang Ye killed the Star Lord and left a bloody trail, while the Heaven Group struggled against renewed ghost attacks. Zhao Hai chose to carry on Zhang Ziliang’s work, only to discover that Zhang had left him a real poison and made the antidote conditional on his performance.

• Wang Ye fought the Star Lord recklessly, killed him, marked the ground with the number 16, and walked away wounded.
• The Heaven Group defended itself against a new wave of ghosts as the Heavenly Court and Spirit Mountain remained silent after suffering heavy losses.
• Maitreya left the old monk from Xiao An Temple devouring the corpses of three dead monks.
• Zhao Hai pretended to die, admitted that Zhang Ziliang’s influence had changed him, and moved Zhang’s body into his own golden coffin.
• Yang Chen appeared and gave Zhao Hai a porcelain bottle and Zhang Ziliang’s note, revealing that the bottle contained poison and that Zhao Hai would receive the antidote only if Zhang was satisfied with his work.

Zhao Hai inherited Zhang Ziliang’s position as head of the Heaven Group Logistics Department and took up his work. As Zhao Hai began strengthening Shangjing City’s defenses, Li Xinghe mourned Zhang Ziliang and hoped the human race’s fortunes had changed.

• Yang Chen showed Zhao Hai Zhang Ziliang’s final Notes, including a message naming Zhao Hai the new head of the Heaven Group Logistics Department.
• Yang Chen gave Zhao Hai Zhang Ziliang’s trench coat, and Zhao Hai put it on before leaving the room.
• Li Xinghe saw Zhang Ziliang’s likeness in Zhao Hai and entered to hold a sparse memorial service for Zhang Ziliang.
• Zhao Hai took Zhang Ziliang’s former seat, reviewed the documents, and ordered a Young Man to push the ghosts farther from Shangjing City.
• Li Xinghe spoke to Zhang Ziliang beside the coffin, unaware that Zhao Hai had moved Zhang Ziliang’s body into another coffin.

Wang Ye continued his fight through the Seal God Formation, using deception and a willingness to endure wounds to kill another Star Lord. Badly injured and exhausted, he counted ten opponents left and pressed on without any trump cards.

• Li Xinghe discovered that he had been mourning beside the wrong coffin and left without letting anyone know.
• After three days of fighting eight Heavenly Kings and seven Star Lords, Wang Ye recovered enough to move and headed toward another trapped Star Lord.
• Wang Ye used a bloodied skin clone to lure the Star Lord into striking, then let himself be wounded to create an opening for a fatal blade strike.
• Wang Ye chopped up the Star Lord’s corpse to prevent it from reviving, treated his own wounds, and gathered the Star Lord’s belongings.
• Wang Ye counted ten enemies remaining and continued onward despite his exhaustion and lack of trump cards.

Zhao Hai asked Li Xinghe whether Zhang Ziliang had left any notes, and Li Xinghe instead revealed the pain and purpose behind Zhang Ziliang’s sword cultivation. Zhao Hai came to see himself as the inheritor of Zhang Ziliang’s will and spirit.

• Zhao Hai asked Li Xinghe whether Zhang Ziliang had left behind notes or contingency plans.
• Li Xinghe explained that sword cultivation repeatedly shredded and healed a cultivator’s organs, and that Zhang Ziliang endured an even more painful form for over three years.
• Li Xinghe said Zhang Ziliang had reached the limit of his endurance and needed to release his sword strike before it destroyed him.
• Li Xinghe revealed that Zhang Ziliang’s sword could read and alter the human race’s fortune, and that he had used his final strike to confirm humanity’s future.
• Zhao Hai realized Zhang Ziliang had hidden his suffering and began to see himself as the inheritor of Zhang Ziliang’s will and spirit.
• Zhao Hai lit one of Zhang Ziliang’s cheap cigarettes and kept smoking despite coughing.

Maitreya came to Shangjing City to confirm Zhang Ziliang’s death, but Zhao Hai scared him into retreating. After Yang Chen searched through Zhang Ziliang’s papers, Zhao Hai found a possible plan that gave him hope of resisting the coming attack.

• Li Xinghe met Maitreya outside Shangjing City and denied that Zhang Ziliang had died.
• Zhao Hai appeared and challenged Maitreya, who left after realizing he might have misjudged the Heaven Group’s strength.
• Li Xinghe asked why Zhao Hai let Maitreya go, and Zhao Hai predicted Maitreya would return with reinforcements within an hour.
• Yang Chen searched his many pockets and handed Zhao Hai a slip of paper that suggested Zhang Ziliang had left another plan.
• Yang Chen slapped Zhao Hai, took back the slip, smoothed it, and returned it to his pocket.

Zhao Hai prepared to exploit the opening Zhang Ziliang had created while Maitreya consolidated control over the surviving Bodhisattvas and waited to see how the Heavenly Court would respond. The injured little girl returned to the Heavenly Court’s projection and used a drop of the Wang’s blood to activate a golden token.

• Zhao Hai questioned whether Li Xinghe’s ghosts could hold off Maitreya’s forces, and Li Xinghe assured him they could before leaving the city wall.
• Maitreya denied sacrificing the Three Honored Buddhas, and the Bodhisattvas accepted his explanation rather than challenge him.
• Maitreya led the Bodhisattvas toward Shangjing, then stopped them and predicted that the little girl would seek reinforcements from the Heavenly Court.
• The Bodhisattvas concealed themselves on the ground, drawing swarms of ghosts with their strong blood energy.
• The little girl returned to the Heavenly Court’s projection, placed a drop of the Wang’s blood on a golden token, and prepared to awaken someone.

Wang Ye, gravely wounded after killing seventeen Star Lords and eight Heavenly Kings, faced the last Star Lord inside the Seal God Formation. As the Star Lord attacked, Wang Ye seized him and held him close, setting up a desperate final move.

• The little girl complained to the phantom in the token about Longevity Great Emperor, and the Heavenly Court released five Star Lords and one thousand Heavenly Soldiers, who needed a day to awaken fully.
• Wang Ye, nearly broken after four days of fighting, entered the final scene of the Seal God Formation to face the last Star Lord.
• The Star Lord admitted he feared Wang Ye but attacked, striking him down and trying to crush his head.
• Wang Ye suddenly opened his eyes and wrapped his arms around the Star Lord, pinning him so he could not use his full strength.

Wang Ye killed the Star Lord at the cost of severe injuries, then survived with help from Liang Zhi Shui, who revealed himself as Lu Qing. After Wang Ye questioned him about Zhang Ziliang’s plans, Lu Qing said he had not known Zhang would die.

• Wang Ye drove the Ghost Messenger Blade through the Star Lord’s heart and his own chest, killing the Star Lord before collapsing beneath his corpse.
• Wang Ye tried to free himself, then pretended to be dead when he heard someone approach.
• Liang Zhi Shui revealed himself, removed the blade and the Star Lord’s corpse, healed Wang Ye, and set his broken arms.
• Wang Ye recognized Liang Zhi Shui as Lu Qing and realized Zhang Ziliang and Zhao Hai had known his identity.
• Wang Ye asked whether Lu Qing had known Zhang Ziliang would die, and Lu Qing said Zhang had only told him he could handle the Longevity Great Emperor.

Wang Ye questioned Lu Qing about the underworld’s absence during the Third Awakening of Eternal Night, and learned that it was trying to repair the severed path of reincarnation. The chapter ended with Wang Ye realizing that Liang Zhi Shui was Lu Qing in disguise and that the underworld had no successors.

• Wang Ye asked Lu Qing why the underworld had stayed out of sight during the Third Awakening of Eternal Night.
• Lu Qing explained that the underworld had anticipated Eternal Night and was seeking a solution, but first needed to address its own problems.
• Lu Qing told Wang Ye that the path of reincarnation had been damaged during the war among the three major factions, leaving souls unable to reincarnate and eventually turning into ghosts.
• Lu Qing warned that repairing the path would prevent new ghosts from appearing but would not eliminate existing ghosts, which would keep growing stronger with each Eternal Night.
• Wang Ye asked about the repair’s progress, and Lu Qing said he did not know because he had been staying inside Ghost Gate Pass under Wang Ye’s watch.
• Wang Ye realized that Liang Zhi Shui was Lu Qing and that the underworld’s younger generation consisted of old monsters in disguise, leaving it without successors.

Wang Ye realized Liang Zhi Shui was Lu Qing reborn and confronted him, then recovered from his injuries after Lu Qing left. Yang Chen appeared with instructions from Zhang Ziliang but was left unsure what to do after Wang Ye had apparently killed all the Star Lords.

• Wang Ye asked whether Liang Zhi Shui had been reborn as Lu Qing, and Lu Qing nervously claimed he had a special ability that made him forget the past.
• Wang Ye pretended to believe Lu Qing and questioned why he had not let Long-Eared Buddha intervene while he was injured.
• Lu Qing left, and Wang Ye sat down to recover after revealing that his apparent strength had been an act.
• Wang Ye reasoned that Lu Qing’s caution showed he still mattered to the underworld, then planned to visit Shangjing City once he recovered.
• Yang Chen appeared, but Zhang Ziliang’s instructions had not prepared him for the possibility that Wang Ye had killed all the Star Lords, leaving him and Wang Ye staring at each other awkwardly.

Wang Ye read Zhang Ziliang’s notes, learned that Heavenly Court and Spirit Mountain might have hidden plans, and prepared to return to pay his respects. Meanwhile, Zhang Xiao remained confined for five more days and asked for experimental materials so she could improve them.

• Yang Chen handed Wang Ye Zhang Ziliang’s notes, including a warning about Heavenly Court and Spirit Mountain and a request to support the Heaven Group.
• Yang Chen’s scrambled notes disrupted Wang Ye’s attempt to mourn Zhang Ziliang and feel inspired by his final message.
• Wang Ye recovered from the Seal God Formation battle, noted his improved strength, and prepared to return to Shangjing while Yang Chen went elsewhere.
• Zhang Xiao asked the woman who had kept her in the laboratory when she could leave, and learned she had to wait five days.
• Zhang Xiao asked for the experimental materials and insisted she could use the five days to improve them.

Zhao Hai confronted Maitreya outside Shangjing and learned that a furious young girl was approaching with reinforcements. When she arrived, she demanded the swordsman who had injured her, then ordered the Heavenly Court’s forces to level the city and execute Li Changgeng.

• Zhang Xiao returned to the bedroom and carefully studied a thick stack of documents while the woman sat nearby.
• Zhao Hai invited Maitreya into the Heaven Group, but Maitreya refused and warned that a female benefactor was coming with reinforcements.
• Maitreya vanished into the darkness, and Li Xinghe scowled at Zhao Hai’s resemblance to Zhang Ziliang.
• Two hours later, the young girl led her new team toward Shangjing without hiding their powerful energy.
• The young girl demanded the swordsman who had injured her, then declared Li Changgeng a traitor and ordered the Heavenly Court’s forces to level the city.

As Heaven Group investigators fought the Heavenly Soldiers outside Shangjing, Mao Yong'an entered the battle to temper himself and witnessed the investigators' devastating self-sacrifices. He helped collect their remains, questioning the Daoist ancestor's teachings about the mortal world.

• The little girl watched from behind as Zhao Hai stood calmly on Shangjing's wall and the city gates opened to release Heaven Group investigators against the Heavenly Soldiers.
• Mao Yong'an joined the battle, hoping to grow stronger through combat rather than relying on supernatural treasures.
• Wang Ye searched a ruined Taoist temple on his way back to Shangjing, found only a damaged Dust Whisk, and continued on his journey.
• The investigators began blowing themselves up to kill the Heavenly Soldiers, leaving more than a hundred survivors amid the battlefield's dead.
• Mao Yong'an watched the investigators gather their comrades' remains, rejected the old ancestor's view of the mortal world, and began storing bodies in his backpack.