Chapter Summaries

You Da plotted to use the attack on Tiger City Port to escape Chi Gui and the other pirates. Meanwhile, Gao Yafei celebrated the port’s fifth anniversary with influential guests as a merchant raised concerns about the Black Witch organization.

• Yao Ling suspected that Zhuo Hu planned to use her and You Da as cannon fodder, while You Da urged her not to reveal her misgivings.
• After Yao Ling left, You Da admitted he had deliberately encouraged her suspicions so she might distract Chi Gui during the attack, giving him a chance to escape.
• At Sihai Restaurant, Gao Yafei welcomed officials and merchants to celebrate Tiger City Port’s fifth anniversary and its recent victory over the Black Witch.
• Gao Yafei greeted Security Department head Zheng Liangcai and Hengtong Trading Company heir Lin Shengrong, then toasted the assembled guests.
• A merchant asked Gao Yafei for advice about the growing threat around Flower City, and Gao said the Black Witch wanted a share of the southern market.

During a celebration, Gao Yafei assured the guests that Tiger City Port was secure from Black Witch, only for the port to be attacked moments later. Zhuo Hu led Azure Dragon Shipping’s assault, and You Da urged Yao Ling to escape while they still could.

• Gao Yafei told the gathering that Black Witch could not threaten the south, while Zheng Liangcai warned that Tiger City Port must not fall and offered to seek reinforcements from the Undercity.
• Gao Yafei declared Tiger City Port completely secure just as an explosion rocked the port and shattered the restaurant’s windows.
• Zheng Liangcai and the other officials fled the hall, and Gao Yafei called to find out who had attacked the port.
• Zhuo Hu piloted Azure Dragon against two defending mechs, destroying one and damaging the other as Azure Dragon Shipping’s pirates seized key positions in the port.
• You Da quietly told Yao Ling to leave before their chance was gone.

Yellow Springs and its allies fought to retake Tiger City Port as Luo Yan deployed Old Hei and the Night Roaming Gods against Yellow Springs’ Ghost Soldiers. Yao Ling escaped, but the battle’s outcome still depended on the mechs, while Hong Gu reported her flight to Luo Yan.

• You Da urged Yao Ling to draw Mister Red Ghost’s attention, and she tried to escape amid the fighting.
• Gao Yafei joined the battle and held off Zhuo Hu’s Azure Dragon mech as a second mech’s firepower devastated Azure Dragon Shipping’s pirates.
• Yao Ling disguised herself in a dead warrior’s clothes, cut off her hair, and fled the port in a jeep.
• Ghost Soldiers entered the battle, killing pirates with flaming sabers, and Luo Yan recognized them as products of the Yellow Springs Ghoul Project.
• Old Hei led the transformed Night Roaming Gods against the Ghost Soldiers, forcing Yellow Springs’ forces to retreat as Gou Mang’s naval force joined the fighting.
• Hong Gu told Luo Yan that Yao Ling had escaped, while the mech battle remained undecided.

Luo Yan ordered Yao Ling killed for deserting, and Hong Gu shot her down as she fled. At the harbor, Zhuo Hu defeated Gao Yafei’s mecha, but Gao escaped in a pod and Luo Yan beheaded him outside the docks.

• Luo Yan ordered Hong Gu to kill Yao Ling for deserting the battle.
• Hong Gu disabled Yao Ling’s jeep, wounded her with a second shot, and killed her with a third.
• Luo Yan arrived at the harbor and identified Gao Yafei as a Level of Great Crying cultivator piloting a Divine Guard-class mecha.
• Zhuo Hu used Azure Dragon’s Mystic Patterns and the Sea Overturning Art to defeat Gao Yafei’s mecha, but Gao escaped in an escape pod.
• Luo Yan intercepted Gao Yafei outside the harbor and cut off his head.

Luo Yan captured Tiger City Port, executed Gao Yafei, and negotiated the neutrality of Huangquan’s merchant supporters. After learning that You Da had escaped, he contacted Monk Zhixin and Yu Qiushui to report the port’s capture, leaving Monk Zhixin uneasy about Zhu Jiuyin’s lack of progress.

• Luo Yan returned with Gao Yafei’s head as the Gou Mang Department defeated Huangquan’s remaining forces and took Tiger City Port.
• Hong Gu brought captured merchants to Luo Yan, who persuaded Lin Shengrong and the others to remain neutral until the conflict with Huangquan was decided.
• Luo Yan warned the merchants to keep their promise and learned from Zhuo Hu that You Da had escaped.
• Luo Yan contacted Monk Zhixin and Yu Qiushui, reported Gao Yafei’s execution and the port’s capture, and left Monk Zhixin embarrassed by Zhu Jiuyin’s lack of progress.

After the Gou Mang Department captured Tiger City Port, Luo Yan planned how to defeat the King Chu Jiang Branch and stressed protecting civilians and merchants. King Chu Jiang, Han Xu, decided to seek reinforcements and personally retake the port while ordering his subordinates to defend Flower City.

• Luo Yan outlined three possible Yellow Springs responses and plans to attack Wan City or the Flower City forces depending on their moves.
• Luo Yan ordered the allied forces to prohibit harassment of civilians and merchants as they expanded into the south.
• Luo Yan held off recruiting the captured Yellow Springs troops until the King Chu Jiang Branch's defeat became clear.
• Han Xu learned Tiger City Port had fallen to the Gou Mang Department and Gao Yafei had died in battle.
• Han Xu ordered Purple Frost prepared and said he would lead the effort to retake Tiger City Port, while his two subordinates defended Flower City.

Luo Yan’s Phantom arrived at Tiger City Port, and his cultivation of Nine Kowtows to the Heavenly Gate let him touch and push against the first Heavenly Gate. When King Chu Jiang headed for the port alone, Luo Yan set out to intercept him, while Han Xu detected an approaching mecha.

• Luo Yan learned Phantom had arrived and confirmed that Lin Shengrong and the other merchants had safely returned to the Undercity.
• Luo Yan touched the first Heavenly Gate during cultivation and felt its resistance strengthen his body.
• Zhuo Hu reported that King Chu Jiang was approaching Tiger City Port alone in a mecha, and Luo Yan ordered the others to defend the port while he went to intercept him.
• Luo Yan piloted Phantom toward Flower City, intending to defeat King Chu Jiang and take the Yellow Springs branch.
• Han Xu reviewed intelligence on Red Ghost while piloting Purple Frost, then received a radar warning that a mecha was rapidly approaching.

Luo Yan and Han Xu exchanged recruitment offers before deciding to fight, and Luo Yan chose to capture the powerful Yellow Springs Branch Chief alive. Their mechs clashed, and Phantom’s Divine Sha attack began affecting Han Xu’s emotions.

• Luo Yan used Golden Eyes of Enlightenment to learn Han Xu’s abilities and high standing in the Yellow Springs.
• Han Xu offered Luo Yan a place in the Yellow Springs, but Luo Yan refused and countered by inviting Han Xu to join Black Witch.
• Luo Yan decided to capture Han Xu alive, and the two mechs attacked each other across the wilderness.
• Han Xu’s Purple Frost launched missiles that spread Abyssal Vein smoke, but Luo Yan used Phantom’s Shadow status to pass through it unaffected.
• Phantom struck Purple Frost with its saber as the Tai Sui Divine Sha entered the mech, causing Han Xu’s anger to rise and blood vessels to appear in his eyes.

Luo Yan used Tai Sui’s influence and the Great Sage’s Mask to battle Han Xu, who fought back with Purple Frost’s powerful ice techniques. Unable to gain an advantage, Han Xu withdrew toward Flower City.

• Luo Yan detonated the Divine Sha planted in Han Xu, but Han Xu resisted its influence and avoided the phantom’s slash.
• Han Xu unleashed Ice Seal Ten Thousand Miles, freezing space and hindering Luo Yan’s Divine Treasure.
• Luo Yan donned the Great Sage’s Mask, shattered the black ice, and split into clones to attack Purple Frost.
• Han Xu countered with Sword Sweeps the Ice River and Thousand Peaks Covering Snow, destroying most of the clones and striking Luo Yan’s true body.
• Luo Yan used the mask’s substitute trait to escape Han Xu’s Ice Heart Cold Soul and reappear nearby.
• Han Xu unleashed Ice Seal Ten Thousand Miles again, then withdrew Purple Frost toward Flower City.

Yu Qiushui and Monk Zhixin led an assault that captured Yellow Springs' base near Flower City, and their forces then occupied the survivor camp. Zhang Zhengqi looted the camp and harassed women until Yang Hao confronted him over harming Mister's reputation.

• Yu Qiushui and Monk Zhixin led their mechas and reinforcements in a night attack that overran Yellow Springs' base before Han Xu returned.
• The defeated Yellow Springs cadres met Han Xu and retreated toward Wancheng.
• Zhu Jiuyin soldiers gathered Flower City's residents and looted their homes after occupying the camp.
• Zhang Zhengqi ordered several young women taken into a room and began harassing one of them despite a Xuanming Department captain's protest.
• Yang Hao broke into the room and ordered Zhang Zhengqi to come out, accusing him of ruining Mister's reputation.

Yang Hao attacked Zhang Zhengqi after Zhang defied orders and harassed civilians, but Monk Zhixin intervened before Yang Hao could kill him. At Tiger City Port, Luo Yan reviewed files about Yellow Springs associates in Five Rams Underground City before Zhu Hu told him that Minister Zhixin was looking for him.

• Zhang Zhengqi refused Yang Hao's order to leave, so Yang Hao slashed his back and kicked him outside.
• Red Luan confronted Zhang Zhengqi over the ban on harassing civilians, and Yang Hao tried to kill him when he dismissed the order.
• Monk Zhixin stopped Yang Hao with a golden palm, gave him healing medicine, and reprimanded Zhang Zhengqi.
• Yu Qiushui insisted that Zhang Zhengqi's violation be reported to Minister Red Ghost, so Monk Zhixin ordered someone to contact him.
• Luo Yan reviewed files on Lin Shengrong, Zheng Liangcai, and other Five Rams Underground City figures tied to the Yellow Springs.
• Zhu Hu told Luo Yan that Minister Zhixin was looking for him.

Luo Yan enforced discipline among Monk Zhixin’s forces and planned a two-pronged campaign against Huangquan, assigning Zhixin command of the ground army while he headed to the Undercity. The next day, Luo Yan left Tiger City Port with Hong Gu and set out for Five Rams Underground City.

• After Monk Zhixin explained that his men had looted the Flower City camp, Luo Yan insisted on discipline, and Zhixin killed Zhang Zhengqi for disobeying orders before making his people return the stolen goods and apologize.
• Luo Yan told Monk Zhixin and Yu Qiushui that Huangquan had withdrawn toward Guangfu and was receiving reinforcements, so he planned a prolonged ground assault while secretly severing Huangquan’s ties to the Undercity.
• Luo Yan put Zhixin in command of the ground army, with Yu Qiushui assisting and Zhuo Hu and the port personnel joining them in Flower City.
• Yu Qiushui questioned Luo Yan about abandoning Tiger City Port and trusting Zhixin, and Luo Yan said their priority was replacing Huangquan and that she would help keep Zhixin in check.
• The next day, Luo Yan sent Yang Hao and a team to the Undercity, then left Tiger City Port with Hong Gu for Five Rams Underground City.

Luo Yan visited Lin Shengrong in Wuyang City to recruit Hengtong Trading Company’s support while planning to eliminate Yellow Springs’ forces in the Undercity. Lin Shengrong agreed to arrange a meeting with Minister Zheng Liangcai and provide supplies, but weighed the risks of tying his company to Luo Yan.

• Luo Yan arrived at the Lin residence with Hong Gu and asked Lin Shengrong to meet him.
• Luo Yan told Lin Shengrong he intended to eliminate Yellow Springs’ Undercity forces and build connections in Wuyang City.
• Luo Yan offered to make Hengtong Trading Company the Undercity business leader in exchange for an introduction to Minister Zheng Liangcai and supplies.
• Lin Shengrong agreed that he could arrange the introduction and provide supplies, then asked how Luo Yan would elevate his company.
• Luo Yan proposed restricting other trading companies’ surface caravans unless they carried passes issued by Hengtong Trading Company, and Lin Shengrong considered whether the opportunity justified the risk.

Luo Yan sought the Lin family's support as a new partner against the Yellow Springs Organization, arguing that their interests aligned. At the Lin Mansion, he revealed that he had fought King Chu Jiang and that Han Xu had fled, leaving the family impressed by the chance to rise with Red Ghost.

• Luo Yan left the Lin family meeting and told Hong Gu that Lin Shengrong would likely persuade his father to partner with them.
• Luo Yan explained that he wanted to use Lin Shengrong's connection to Zheng Liangcai to identify the Yellow Springs Organization's allies in Yang City.
• After touring Yang City, Luo Yan accepted Lin Shengrong's invitation to meet the Lin family at the Lin Mansion.
• Lin Shengrong urged his father and uncles to abandon their failing partnership with the Yellow Springs Organization and choose Luo Yan as a new partner.
• Luo Yan said he had fought King Chu Jiang, Han Xu, and that Han Xu had run away without either side winning.
• Luo Yan revealed that his people had left Tiger City Port for Wancheng, and the Lin family recognized an opportunity to rise by backing him.

Luo Yan chose Zizhai Pavilion’s convoy as a test of his strength and Hengtong Trading Company’s plan to control Yang City’s trade routes. After the Black Witch organization attacked the convoy and killed its Profound Comprehension Realm escort, the Lin family pledged to follow Mister Red Ghost.

• Luo Yan told the Lin family he would use Zizhai Pavilion’s convoy as a touchstone for building momentum for Hengtong Trading Company.
• Yang Hao ordered the Black Witch organization to attack the convoy, sparing everyone except its Profound Comprehension Realm cultivator, whom he claimed for himself.
• Black Witch drones launched missiles at the convoy, causing explosions, injuries, and chaos among its guards and merchants.
• Tang Wu charged toward the attackers, but a one-armed man radiating purple-red baleful energy rushed at him.
• A messenger told the Lin family that the Black Witch organization had detained the convoy and killed Tang Wu, delivering his head to Boss Zhuang of Zizhai Pavilion.
• Master Lin pledged that Hengtong Trading Company would follow Mister Red Ghost.

Yang Tao returned to places from her childhood and remembered how Kang Chen had framed her father, Yang Zheng. After killing Captain Zhang, she reached Kang Chen’s guarded property and warned him that his death was near.

• Yang Tao returned to Blood Claw Camp, saw strangers living in her old home, and recalled how Kang Chen had framed Yang Zheng and caused the loss of her family’s life there.
• Yang Tao traveled to the prosperous camp Yang Zheng had built and entered a tavern seeking work and information about Kang Chen.
• Captain Zhang offered Yang Tao a job as a maid and took her upstairs, but she killed him and left the tavern.
• Yang Tao arrived at Kang Chen’s guarded property and told the guards to inform him that his death was near.

Yang Tao attacked Kang Chen’s camp and killed him in the courtyard where her family had once lived. After the camp buried the dead and fought over leadership, it soon forgot Kang Chen, just as it had forgotten Yang Zheng.

• Kang Chen ordered his men to drive off the woman who had approached the camp, recalling how he had once forced Yang Zheng and his daughter out.
• Yang Tao destroyed the camp’s watchtower and gate, then entered the courtyard despite the guards’ gunfire.
• Yang Tao revealed herself as Yang Zheng’s daughter and said she had come to take Kang Chen to meet her father.
• Kang Chen ordered his men to shoot Yang Tao, but she vanished and killed them before stabbing Kang Chen.
• Yang Tao left the camp, and its residents buried the bodies and began fighting over who would lead.
• The camp soon forgot Kang Chen and Yang Zheng.

Zheng Liangcai agreed to meet Luo Yan, Minister Red Ghost, after Lin Shengrong persuaded him that Red Ghost could help him win the City Lord election. On the way to the meeting, a crowd blocked their route, and Luo Yan got out alone to face them.

• Zheng Liangcai learned that the Black Witch had intercepted several trading convoys and received Lin Shengrong, who offered tea and requested a meeting on Red Ghost's behalf.
• Lin Shengrong argued that Red Ghost's power and resources could help Zheng Liangcai win the election, and gave him a recommendation letter from Liu Wansheng of Qingmu City.
• After reading the letter, Zheng Liangcai agreed to meet Red Ghost at Da Sanyuan Restaurant at nine that night.
• Luo Yan traveled with Ming Ye and Lin Shengrong toward the restaurant while Lin Shengrong praised Hengtong Trading Company's growing influence and warned that Zheng Liangcai would be difficult to win over.
• The streetlights went out and a crowd with torches blocked the road; Luo Yan told Hong Gu to protect Lin Shengrong and stepped out alone with his saber.

Zheng Liangcai weighed Han Xu’s warning against the organizations blocking Luo Yan’s route and chose to support Red Ghost. Luo Yan cut through the attackers as they tried to stop him, while Han Xu promised the leaders that the Undercity Enforcement Team was on its way.

• Zheng Liangcai learned that more than a dozen organizations had blocked the road and that Han Xu had warned him not to interfere.
• Han Xu urged Zheng Liangcai to stay away, but Zheng Liangcai decided to bet on Red Ghost rather than submit to Han’s orders.
• Luo Yan recognized the attackers as allies of the Yellow Springs and gave them the choice to drop their weapons or die.
• The attackers charged, and Luo Yan swept through them with Ming Ye, killing members and leaders as he advanced.
• The organization leaders called Han Xu for help, and he told them the Undercity Enforcement Team would arrive soon.
• Hearing sirens, the leaders rallied the remaining attackers to hold Luo Yan off until the enforcement team arrived.

Luo Yan drove the Undercity organizations from Long Street and met Zheng Liangcai, while Han Xu prepared to withdraw Huangquan King forces from Yangcheng and called for reinforcements. The chapter left Han Xu expecting a confrontation with Red Ghost and Zheng Liangcai despite the help of the Suo Po Association.

• Zheng Liangcai ordered Captain Ding Yue to withdraw the Enforcement Team before it could confront Red Ghost.
• When the Enforcement Team left Long Street, Luo Yan forced the remaining leaders and cadres to drop their weapons and ordered them to leave.
• Luo Yan sent Hong Gu to escort Mister Lin, then went to Da Sanyuan Restaurant and met Zheng Liangcai.
• After Luo Yan left, workers cleared the corpses and blood from Long Street.
• At the Guancheng base, Han Xu told his cadres to withdraw their Yangcheng forces and contact the Guangfu branch of the Suo Po Association.
• Han Xu warned the Huangquan King cadres that Black Witch was attacking and said reinforcements would soon arrive.