Chapter Summaries

An Qingyu used the Gate of Truth to sacrifice his internal organs and seal the freed Black King away. He then reunited with Chaos, who revealed they still had one more task before returning, while the Celestial Venerables continued suppressing the Black Goat.

• The final Fate Lock shattered, and the Black King absorbed Cao Yuan's corpse and regained his freedom.
• An Qingyu opened the Gate of Truth by offering his internal organs, and the gate drew the Black King inside before closing.
• An Qingyu emerged beside Chaos, warned him not to use Lin Qiye's face or call him Vice-Captain, and agreed to go with him.
• Chaos said they had one more thing to do before returning.
• At the Eye Dust Formation, Lingbao Tianzun said half a shichen remained as the three Celestial Venerables continued weakening the Black Goat's remnant body.

Chaos rescued the nearly defeated Black Goat from the three Celestial Venerables, with An Qingyu and the Gate of Truth helping them escape. The Celestial Venerables headed back to Heavenly Court after Chaos hinted that something major had happened there, while Michael sensed something stirring on the moon.

• The three Celestial Venerables’ Dust-Eye Formation nearly killed the Black Goat before Chaos broke through and rescued it.
• Michael attacked Chaos from the moon, but An Qingyu appeared beside Chaos with the Gate of Truth.
• Chaos and An Qingyu escaped through a Spacetime Vortex with the Black Goat, and Chaos hinted that it had left a gift in Heavenly Court.
• The three Celestial Venerables decided to return to Heavenly Court, suspecting that a major event had occurred there.
• Michael noticed faint red traces flickering across the moon and wondered if something there was beginning to stir.

After the Heavenly Court was destroyed, Zuo Qing ordered King Mask to rewind time and change the events leading to the disaster. An older, mysterious An Qingyu stopped King Mask on the River of Time and sent him back, leaving the attempted intervention thwarted.

• Zuo Qing and Old Dog Wu surveyed the ruins as Spirit Medium members rescued the survivors, and they searched for Lin Qiye.
• Zuo Qing told King Mask to return to the past, warn the gods, watch An Qingyu, prevent the plan, and imprison Lin Qiye.
• King Mask used the Time Law to travel backward along the River of Time toward the night before An Qingyu disappeared and Jiang Er died.
• An older An Qingyu appeared and warned King Mask not to alter his timeline, then used the River of Time to sweep him away.
• An Qingyu sent a white chess piece across the River of Time, and it struck King Mask as the current swallowed him.

King Mask returned from the past after An Qingyu prevented him from changing history, while the Celestial Venerables rescued the survivors of the ruined Heavenly Court. They found Lin Qiye’s soul trapped in a Heart Barrier, and the Primordial Celestial Venerable left to retrieve something so they could give him a new body.

• King Mask told Zuo Qing that An Qingyu had sent him back through time and warned him not to alter the timeline.
• The Taoist Celestial Venerable and Primordial Celestial Venerable began rescuing the wounded Great Xia Gods, while Lingbao Tianzun found Cao Yuan’s carved name on a broken Night Watchmen blade.
• Zhou Ping and Zuo Qing searched for Lin Qiye until the Primordial Celestial Venerable located his soul on the roof of the High Heaven Hall.
• The Primordial Celestial Venerable explained that Lin Qiye was trapped in a Heart Barrier after witnessing An Qingyu betray him and kill Cao Yuan.
• The Primordial Celestial Venerable said they could only reshape a body for Lin Qiye, then left to retrieve something.

Lingbao Tianzun agreed to give Lin Qiye a Primordial Spirit Embryo for a new body, while Lin Qiye woke in the Heart Barrier and Zuo Qing decided to take him to the Abstinence Hall. Meanwhile, the badly injured Lucifer escaped into Hell and discovered a mountain of corpses crowned by a rising six-winged gray angel.

• Primordial Celestial Venerable persuaded Lingbao Tianzun that Lin Qiye deserved the Primordial Spirit Embryo because of his immense potential.
• Lin Qiye woke on a Spiritual Energy-wreathed stone slab, overwhelmed by painful memories and unable to respond to Zuo Qing and Master Chen.
• Zuo Qing decided to take Lin Qiye to the Abstinence Hall for professional help.
• Lucifer crawled across a reef shore and opened the entrance to Hell, hoping the Hell Origin would heal him.
• Lucifer found Hell strangely quiet and discovered a huge mountain of angel and demon corpses at its center.
• A gray six-winged angel rose from the peak of the corpse mountain as Lucifer approached.

Shen Qingzhu, now a gray-winged Silent Angel, killed Lucifer and absorbed the power of Hell. He left the collapsing Hell through a black door, returning to the world outside and murmuring that he was back for Qiye.

• Lucifer found Shen Qingzhu atop a mountain of corpses and realized Shen had cleared Hell of its corrupted demons.
• Shen Qingzhu identified Lucifer as a Cthulhu pest and silenced him with his gray wings and a Power of Law.
• Shen Qingzhu split Lucifer into particles and absorbed them into the Black Crystal heart in his chest.
• Shen Qingzhu opened a door out of Hell and declared that Hell should be destroyed.
• Shen Qingzhu left through the door as Hell collapsed, murmuring, "Qiye... I'm back."

After Lin Qiye’s soul was struck by the Heart Barrier, he returned to the psychiatric hospital in a dazed state, and Dr. Li said only Lin Qiye could overcome it. As Wu Quan cared for him, Lin Qiye stopped at a cliffside wall and began to cry, leaving Wu Quan startled.

• Dr. Li questioned Lin Qiye, who remained silent, then took him for an examination after Lin stood and followed on his own.
• Dr. Li told Zuo Qing that the Heart Barrier had left Lin Qiye’s consciousness muddled and that no outside treatment could help him recover.
• Zuo Qing left Lin Qiye at the hospital, and Dr. Li assigned Wu Quan to care for him and help him clear his mind.
• Wu Quan pushed Lin Qiye in a wheelchair and told him how he had faced the deaths of Li Xiaoyan and Qian Cheng by finding redemption in helping Brother Qing Zhu.
• Lin Qiye stopped the wheelchair when he saw a black steel wall by the sea, where he recalled four boys leaping into the wind, and tears streamed down his face.

The Sixth Reserve Team visited Lin Qiye at the Abstinence Hall, where he remained trapped in his Heart Barrier. Their lively conversation drew a faint response from him, but the visit ended when Lu Baoyou suddenly vomited blood and collapsed.

• Wu Quan told Dr. Li that Lin Qiye had spent hours staring at a black wall, and Dr. Li said it was where everything began and might help him overcome his Heart Barrier.
• The Sixth Reserve Team arrived at the Abstinence Hall to visit Lin Qiye, and Wu Quan led them inside.
• Lu Baoyou sensed that Wu Quan was at least at the Klein level, while Wu Quan explained that Lin Qiye could hear them but would not communicate normally.
• Fang Mo introduced Liu Jun and told Lin Qiye that the team hoped to become a Special Squad and planned to call themselves Celestial Court.
• The reserve members bickered and joked beside Lin Qiye, whose gaze softened, while Wu Quan watched them from a distance.
• Lu Baoyou suddenly spat out blood and collapsed as his broken demon wings began to glow.

Lin Qiye briefly showed signs of recovery after catching Lu Baoyou, then learned that Cao Yuan was presumed dead and Jialan would awaken within a month. He asked Zuo Qing to take him to see the monument listing every Special Squad in Night Watchmen history.

• Lin Qiye caught Lu Baoyou as he collapsed, and Lu explained that a gray angel had killed Lucifer and devoured his laws and corpse.
• Zuo Qing told Lin Qiye that the reserve team had rushed to visit him, and Lin Qiye asked whether Cao Yuan had been found.
• Zuo Qing said Cao Yuan's body was missing and the Black King had broken free, confirming Lin Qiye's fears about Cao Yuan's fate.
• Zuo Qing told Lin Qiye that Jialan would awaken within a month, while Nightfall had not yet been forcibly disbanded because Zuo Qing had overruled the other leaders.
• Lin Qiye asked Zuo Qing if he could visit the stone monument at Night Watchmen Headquarters bearing the names of every Special Squad.

Shen Qingzhu returned to Great Xia as a powerful six-winged angel and asked Nezha and Guan Zai where Nightfall was. At Night Watchmen Headquarters, Lin Qiye visited the monument honoring generations of defenders and asked where the Special Squads’ names were recorded.

• Nezha and Guan Zai intercepted a gray figure approaching Great Xia and recognized him as Shen Qingzhu.
• Shen Qingzhu confirmed he had absorbed the Hell Origin and asked where Nightfall was, but Nezha and Guan Zai fell silent.
• Zuo Qing brought Lin Qiye and Wu Quan to the underground monument at Night Watchmen Headquarters.
• Zuo Qing explained that the monument recorded members of the Evil Suppression Department, the 139 Special Operations Team, and the Night Watchmen.
• Lin Qiye examined the monument’s names and asked where the Special Squads’ names were.

Lin Qiye visited the Special Squad monument and resolved to end Nightfall’s designation, hoping to break through his Heart Barrier by letting go of the past. Just as he reached for the stone, Cool Bro returned and stopped him, and Lin Qiye entered the Human Apex.

• Zuo Qing explained how Phoenix Squad had survived through generations by passing on its captain’s organs and Phoenix blood.
• Lin Qiye considered Nightfall’s impossible path to reunification and said its era was over, choosing to entrust its duty to younger successors.
• Lin Qiye asked Zuo Qing for a carving stylus and prepared to change Nightfall’s dates on the monument, triggering his Heart Barrier’s imminent breakthrough.
• Cool Bro appeared, seized Lin Qiye’s wrist, and told him their story was not over while he was still there.
• Lin Qiye embraced Cool Bro in tears, and the aura of the Human Apex descended.

Lin Qiye broke through his Heart Barrier after Shen Qingzhu returned, and learned that Shen Qingzhu had killed Lucifer. Zuo Qing then summoned Lin Qiye and presented him with a document to accept a new identity.

• Shen Qingzhu reunited with Wu Quan and helped Lin Qiye break through his Heart Barrier.
• Shen Qingzhu told Lin Qiye that he had devoured Lucifer and explained why his return had come sooner than expected.
• Lin Qiye told Shen Qingzhu about An Qingyu and Jiang Er’s disappearance and said he would kill An Qingyu if he had joined Cthulhu.
• Zuo Qing’s secretary summoned Lin Qiye to the Commander-in-Chief’s office.
• Zuo Qing confirmed that Lin Qiye had reached the Human Apex and pushed a document toward him, saying it was time for him to accept a new identity.

Zuo Qing offered Lin Qiye the position of Director of the Night Watchmen's Special Operations Department, explaining its duties and why Lin was suited for it despite losing his Divine Domains. Lin learned his new body was unusually capable, while Shen Qingzhu questioned Wu Quan outside headquarters, and Lin emerged with the appointment letter, warning they would be busy.

• Zuo Qing offered Lin Qiye the Special Operations Department director position and explained its strategic responsibilities and the candidates he had considered.
• Lin Qiye hesitated, noting that Chaos had taken his Divine Domains, but Zuo Qing said his new body could still accomplish much and promised Shen Qingzhu would serve as his adjutant.
• Shen Qingzhu confronted Wu Quan about the Abstinence Hall uniform and made him explain how he had attacked the family of the man who beat Old Man Liu.
• Lin Qiye came out of headquarters with the appointment letter and told Shen Qingzhu they would be busy for a while.

Xia Simeng and Fang Mo’s group learned that Lin Qiye had become director of the Special Operations Department and prepared to travel to Shangjing for their meeting with him. Meanwhile, Old Dog Wu and seven others headed toward Shangjing, while Lin Qiye tested his new body by sparring with Shen Qingzhu.

• Xia Simeng learned Lin Qiye was the new director and decided the Phoenix Squad would travel to Shangjing to show their sincerity.
• Fang Mo’s group discussed whether their reserve squad had taken Nightfall Squad’s designation and resolved to reach Shangjing before Lin Qiye’s first meeting with them.
• Old Dog Wu led seven cloaked figures toward Shangjing on gigantic steel pillars charged with lightning.
• Lin Qiye asked Shen Qingzhu to test his strength, then caught Shen Qingzhu’s punch with one hand.

Lin Qiye tested his new body by fighting Shen Qingzhu and discovered that his physical strength could rival a main god, despite losing access to his former abilities. Shen Qingzhu’s words helped Lin Qiye reconsider Huo Qubing’s cryptic advice, and Lin Qiye planned to visit Night Watchmen Headquarters before the next day’s meeting.

• Lin Qiye asked Shen Qingzhu to attack at full strength and fought him, eventually overpowering him through physical strength alone.
• Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu stopped their sparring after ten minutes to avoid destroying the mountains outside Shangjing City.
• Lin Qiye told Shen Qingzhu that Chaos had sealed his old abilities in his original body, while Shen Qingzhu suggested Lin Qiye might discover a power of his own.
• Shen Qingzhu’s advice reminded Lin Qiye of Huo Qubing’s words, and Lin Qiye resolved to ask the Marquis about them on National Destiny Island.
• Lin Qiye confirmed that the meeting with the Special Squad was the next day and decided to visit Night Watchmen Headquarters first.

Lin Qiye searched the Night Watchmen’s archives to learn about the Special Operations Department and investigate the Psychiatric Hospital of the Gods and the mysterious boy who resembled him. The hospital search returned nothing, but an unexpected file from the Han Dynasty bearing his name appeared, and he opened it.

• Lin Qiye reviewed the archives’ detailed files on Human Apexes, candidates, and Great Xia Gods, noting that he was rated S+ as a candidate.
• Lin Qiye gathered information about Heroic Spirits, Spirit Medium, phoenixes, and the confidential structure of the Special Operations Department.
• Lin Qiye searched for the Psychiatric Hospital of the Gods, but the archive returned no results.
• Lin Qiye searched for a little boy and himself, finding a Cangnan file about a boy who saw an angel and a second file dated to the Han Dynasty.
• Lin Qiye opened the Han Dynasty file, puzzled by how it could bear his name.

Lin Qiye uncovered records identifying Chloe as a Forbidden Zone Sequence agent while preparing to lead the Night Watchmen Special Operations Department. At his first squad meeting as acting director, he announced the activation of the Snow Concealment Plan for Mask and Nightfall.

• Lin Qiye found that a Han Dynasty file about Chloe was restricted, then discovered accessible reports describing her appearances across the centuries.
• Lin Qiye read that Chloe was Forbidden Zone Sequence 001 and was suspected of serving Yelander, the Holy Lord of the Western Holy Church.
• Xia Simeng brought Phoenix Squad to headquarters early, where they found Spirit Medium Squad and the reserve team already waiting.
• Lin Qiye entered the conference room as acting director, stopped Xia Simeng from smoking, and began the meeting.
• Lin Qiye announced that the Snow Concealment Plan would be activated for the former No. 04 Special Squad, Mask, and the former No. 05 Special Squad, Nightfall.

Lin Qiye introduced the Snow Concealment Plan, which freed resources for Night Curtain and Mask Squad to become Special Squads, then assigned missions and questioned Phoenix Squad about Chloe and Number 27’s visit to Great Xia. The old visit offered clues linking Chloe to ancient records and the boy within Lin Qiye, and Xia Simeng tried to thank him with cigarettes.

• Lin Qiye explained that Night Curtain and Mask Squad would keep their names and personnel while surrendering their authority and benefits so new Special Squads could be established.
• Lin Qiye distributed the squads’ new duties, and Xia Simeng protested that Phoenix Squad had the heaviest workload; Lin Qiye said he and Shen Qingzhu would help them.
• Lin Qiye kept Phoenix Squad behind and asked Xia Simeng about Chloe and a haze-shrouded man, Number 27, whom Phoenix had escorted in and out of Great Xia six years earlier.
• Xia Simeng recalled that the pair had wandered around Great Xia for seven days looking for something, and Lin Qiye connected Chloe to ancient records and the boy within him.
• Xia Simeng offered Lin Qiye a pack of Soft Zhonghua cigarettes as a small token of appreciation.

Xia Simeng failed to secure leave for Phoenix Squad and left headquarters feeling guilty, while Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu discussed her attempted bribe. Lin Qiye agreed to let Wu Quan leave the Abstinence Hall and asked Lu Wuwei to search for Chloe, leaving Lu Wuwei to set off alone.

• Xia Simeng apologized to Phoenix Squad for failing to get them leave and taking on more missions, and they reassured her as they left headquarters.
• Shen Qingzhu told Lin Qiye that Xia Simeng was merely discouraged, and they agreed that she had tried to bribe the wrong person.
• Wu Quan returned after jumping off the plane to the Abstinence Hall and pleaded with Shen Qingzhu to let him stay by his side.
• Lin Qiye offered to use his authority to bail Wu Quan out of the Abstinence Hall so he could atone through merit alongside Shen Qingzhu.
• Lin Qiye asked Lu Wuwei to find Chloe, and Lu Wuwei rode off into the night to begin the search.

An Qingyu and Chaos argued over the Key of Doors’ revival while hiding in a mirror world, and Chaos prepared to take full control of the hospital. In the hospital dungeon, Li Yifei weakened under captivity until a mysterious young man appeared and gave him a white chess piece.

• Chaos brought An Qingyu into a hidden mirror world and agreed to let him claim one half of the sea gorge.
• An Qingyu told Chaos the Key of Doors would take four or five years to revive, but Chaos demanded it happen within four years.
• Chaos returned to his gorge and summoned a miniature model of the hospital as he planned to take complete control of it.
• In the dungeon, Li Yifei reassured the imprisoned caretakers that their souls could revive, though he feared Lin Qiye might be dead and Chaos might destroy them.
• As Li Yifei neared death from hunger and pain, a young man in Han Dynasty scholar’s robes reminded him of his mission and placed a white chess piece in his hand.