Chapter Summaries

Jiang Chengxuan went to Black Pheasant Camp to recover from his injuries and hide from the Crimson Ghost, but he was ambushed soon after arriving. As his Mystic Qi began to fail, he suspected the attack had exposed him to Abyssal Vein Powder.

• Jiang Chengxuan entered Black Pheasant Camp in disguise and paid a couple with bullets for water and a place to rest.
• Jiang Chengxuan injected medicine into his injured arm and complained that the Crimson Ghost had destroyed his mecha.
• A long-haired man approached Jiang Chengxuan for money, then detonated a bomb hidden in his chest.
• Jiang Chengxuan escaped through a window, but attackers followed with a rocket-propelled grenade and a sniper rifle.
• Jiang Chengxuan felt his Mystic Qi grow unruly and suspected the black aura from the explosion was Abyssal Vein Powder.

Jiang Chengxuan, injured and affected by Abyssal Vein Powder, faced an attack by four assassins from The Unreturning. Meanwhile, Pei Bo surrendered King Zhuan Lun’s headquarters to Luo Yan, but an ordinary-looking man approached Luo Yan while standing on his shadow.

• Jiang Chengxuan realized Abyssal Vein Powder had disrupted his Mystic Qi and rushed out of the camp.
• Huang Bin and three other assassins surrounded Jiang Chengxuan, identified him as King Zhuan Lun, and refused his offer of a higher payment.
• Huang Bin raised his sword and unleashed a powerful sword strike at Jiang Chengxuan.
• Pei Bo surrendered King Zhuan Lun’s headquarters after Luo Yan’s mecha, Phantom, breached the Command Building.
• Luo Yan reviewed the base’s asset records and went to the conference room to question an assistant about the branch.
• An ordinary-looking man brought Luo Yan tea and stood on his shadow.

Liu Ying and Zuo Ren of Blood River attempted to assassinate Luo Yan at King Zhuan Lun's headquarters, but Luo Yan survived by unleashing the Dragon Dragon Blood Essence. He recognized the attackers as Blood River assassins and prepared to strike back.

• Liu Ying and Zuo Ren watched a drone recording of Red Ghost defeating Jiang Chengxuan and planned to attack after Red Ghost took down King Zhuan Lun's branch.
• Liu Ying disguised himself as a base employee, stepped on Luo Yan's shadow, and used Shadow Tread to immobilize him while Zuo Ren launched a concealed sword attack.
• Luo Yan activated the Dragon Dragon Blood Essence, breaking Liu Ying's hold and destroying Zuo Ren's sword strike with scarlet claw-light.
• Luo Yan confronted Liu Ying and Zuo Ren as Blood River assassins, and Zuo Ren revealed that Huang Yuanlong had hired them.
• Luo Yan told the two assassins that he had been looking for them and welcomed their arrival.

Luo Yan turned the ambush by Zuo Ren and Liu Ying against them, defeating their attacks with his curse arts and Dragon Transformation. After killing Liu Ying, he launched a crescent of black light at Zuo Ren.

• Zuo Ren ordered Liu Ying to attack, and Liu Ying unleashed his Shadow Kill on Luo Yan.
• Luo Yan used Greedy Ink to consume the shadow creatures, then struck Liu Ying, who escaped by swapping places with his shadow.
• Zuo Ren copied Luo Yan's Dragon Transformation Stance and attacked with Crimson Blood Killing Claw, but Luo Yan broke the imitation with his Black Scales.
• Liu Ying sneaked behind Luo Yan and stabbed him with a shadow blade, but Luo Yan stunned both assassins with Stupefying Demonic Sound and crushed Liu Ying's face.
• Luo Yan threw aside Liu Ying's corpse, formed a sinister scythe from black light, and sent a crescent blast toward Zuo Ren.

Luo Yan killed the Blood River assassin Zuo Ren and punished Pei Bo for standing by during the fight. After taking control of the King Taishan and King Zhuan Lun Branches and receiving Jiang Chengxuan’s head, Luo Yan declared the Blood River his enemy and announced a bounty against it.

• Zuo Ren’s attacks failed to stop Luo Yan, whose black crescent cut through Zuo Ren and killed him.
• Pei Bo and the officials entered after the fight, and Luo Yan burst Pei Bo’s eye as a warning for watching from the sidelines.
• Han Xu defeated Liu Rui outside Qingxiu Base, and Liu Rui surrendered the base, leaving both the King Taishan and King Zhuan Lun Branches under Luo Yan’s control.
• Huang Bin delivered Jiang Chengxuan’s head on behalf of The Unreturning, and Luo Yan awarded him the camp and its manager.
• Luo Yan asked Huang Bin to spread word that the Blood River was his enemy and offered rewards for its members’ heads, while threatening anyone who sheltered them.

Ma Hongqi gathered his Blood River associates at Red Star Orphanage and told them how Red Ghost had defeated him and killed Zuo Ren and Liu Ying. He decided to meet Red Ghost despite the danger, and Pu Er and Tai Tie volunteered to go with him.

• After the rain stopped, Tai Tie arrived at Red Star Orphanage, and Ma Hongqi brought him inside when he asked about a matter.
• Several Blood River associates gathered in Ma Hongqi's room, where Xu Qian revealed his true face after Ma Hongqi demanded he remove his masks.
• Xu Qian, Pu Er, and Song Dong asked Ma Hongqi why he had survived the mission that killed Zuo Ren and Liu Ying and how Blood River should respond to Red Ghost's threat.
• Ma Hongqi explained that Zuo Ren had taken Huang Yuanlong's commission to assassinate Red Ghost, and that he had lost to Red Ghost in a battle of wills before Zuo Ren and Liu Ying died at King Zhuan Lun's headquarters.
• Ma Hongqi said he would meet Red Ghost because he could not leave the orphanage children without him, and Pu Er and Tai Tie volunteered to accompany him.

Members of the 'Blood River' split over whether to meet Mister Red Ghost, while Old Ma, Puerh, and Qin Tie went to ask Luo Yan to spare them. Qin Tie admitted he had come hoping to challenge Luo Yan, and the chapter ended as Luo Yan asked why he had not attacked.

• Song Dong left the 'Blood River,' citing his official status, and Lin Bei stayed, warning that deserters could become his enemies.
• Xu Qian refused to meet Mister Red Ghost and left, while Old Ma, Tai Tie, and Puerh remained behind.
• Zhou Yucheng proposed that Luo Yan hire trusted members of other 'Black Witch' branches to manage the newly conquered King Zhuan Lun and King Taishan territories.
• Old Ma, Puerh, and Qin Tie met Luo Yan, asked him to let them go, and Puerh offered to work for him.
• Qin Tie revealed that he had come curious about Luo Yan and had expected to attack him; Luo Yan's pressure forced Old Ma and Puerh to their knees before he asked Qin Tie why he had not struck.

Luo Yan forced Old Ma and Qin Tie to work for him and learned that Blood River’s remaining members included Xu Qian and Song Dong. He tracked Xu Qian to Moon Gazing Base, where he confronted and killed him at the Owl Bar.

• Luo Yan spared Old Ma, Qin Tie, and Pu Er, then ordered Old Ma and Qin Tie to serve him for five and seven years respectively, while Pu Er agreed to handle intelligence.
• Pu Er said Blood River had three surviving members: Xu Qian, Song Dong, and Lin Bei, and gave Luo Yan their known whereabouts and identities.
• Luo Yan learned that Xu Qian was at Moon Gazing Base and that Song Dong worked as an operations team leader in the Five Rams Underground City Security Department.
• Xu Qian disguised himself as a female bartender at the Owl Bar and threw two Flying Daggers at the red-eyed man who appeared at the counter.
• The red-eyed man swept the daggers aside with his saber and severed Xu Qian’s hands and neck.

Old Ma killed Song Wenjie in a consciousness world, leaving him comatose in the real world. At Jianghai Building, Luo Yan planned to pressure Huang Yuanlong over Lin Bei while preparing to meet Li Chenyu about managing Qingxiu Base.

• Old Ma used a golden bird to destroy Song Wenjie's True Form and devour his Gray Mist in the consciousness world.
• Song Wenjie returned to the food stall but was unresponsive, and the next day he was diagnosed as a vegetable.
• Pu Er reported Song Wenjie's condition and said Lin Bei might defect to Huangquan after meeting Huang Yuanlong.
• Luo Yan told Han Xu to contact Huang Bin and offer Huang Yuanlong the King Taishan branch in exchange for Lin Bei, knowing either response would have consequences for Huang Yuanlong.
• Yang Tao told Luo Yan that Li Chenyu had arrived, and Luo Yan asked her to arrange a room while he finished his work.

Luo Yan left Li Chenyu’s room after resisting her and Fei Xue’s attempts to keep him there. Meanwhile, Huang Yuanlong faced pressure from other branch chiefs to trade Lin Bei to Red Ghost for Qingxiu Base, but defended his decision to keep Lin Bei and challenged Liu Rui over losing the base.

• Luo Yan arrived at Li Chenyu’s room, where Fei Xue tried to make him wait while Li Chenyu bathed.
• Li Chenyu emerged in a bath towel and flirted with Luo Yan, but he firmly left; afterward, she teased Fei Xue about drugging him and giving him to her.
• Huang Yuanlong met with branch chiefs by video, and Liu Rui urged him to hand Lin Bei over to Red Ghost in exchange for Qingxiu Base.
• Zhu Dai and Yang Jing also encouraged Huang Yuanlong to make the trade, but he argued that betraying Lin Bei would undermine Huangquan and make it look weak.
• Huang Yuanlong accused Liu Rui of losing Qingxiu Base because he had failed to defeat Han Xu.

Great Mister stopped the Yellow Springs Branch Chiefs from fighting and ordered them to unite against Red Ghost. In Five Rams Underground City, Han Xu explained Great Mister’s rumored strength to Luo Yan, who then left for Feiyun Port and spoke with Yu Qiushui.

• Liu Rui and Huang Yuanlong argued over the loss of Qingxiu Base and accused each other of betraying Yellow Springs.
• Great Mister appeared on a screen, ordered the Branch Chiefs to focus on eliminating Red Ghost, and threatened punishment for anyone who disobeyed or pursued private gains.
• Han Xu told Luo Yan that no one knew Great Mister’s identity or strength, though rumors credited him with defeating a Profound Comprehension Great Perfection expert.
• Luo Yan assigned management of Qingxiu Base and King Zhuan Lun’s branch, left Han Xu in charge of the Guangfu region, and departed for Feiyun Port.
• Yu Qiushui scolded Luo Yan for not offering her a share of Qingxiu Base, and Luo Yan explained why he had hired Minister Li’s people to manage it.

Luo Yan learned that Heavenly Ghosts left behind Soul Crystals that might enhance Divine Machines, then heard the Dragon Riders were training in the Desperate Battlefield as Heavenly Ghost descents grew more frequent. After returning to the quiet squad dormitory, he learned Guangling City had elected a new Lord and reflected on Di Zheng’s chance to live happily.

• Bai Shaotang showed Luo Yan four Soul Crystals left behind by Zhe Kui, Yi Ren, Lu Gong, Ji Lan, and Shatuo, and explained that they might improve Divine Machines.
• Luo Yan told Bai Shaotang about his southern trip, Great Mister, and Huangquan, while Bai Shaotang said Luo Yan would soon rejoin the Heavenly Fire Squad in the Desperate Battlefield.
• Bai Shaotang explained that the Strategic Affairs Department planned to train Dragon Riders against Nightmare Giant Beasts as they advanced into the battlefield’s central region.
• Luo Yan returned to the empty Heavenly Fire Squad dormitory and received news that an unknown person had been elected Guangling City’s Lord.
• Luo Yan wondered whether Di Zheng would remain in Guangling City or move to Pingyao City, and hoped he would enjoy a happy life.

Luo Yan reunited with his mother, Zhou Lijuan, before preparing to return to the Desperate Battlefield. While Black Witch planned repairs to the South Heaven Gate space station, a crewed spacecraft landed on the moon and an astronaut headed toward the Leibniz Mountains.

• Zhou Lijuan remembered raising Luo Yan and worried about his dangerous work as a mecha pilot.
• Luo Yan returned to the Sunshine Welfare Institute, shared dinner with Zhou Lijuan, and promised to take care of himself before leaving the next day to find Xiao Bai.
• After Zhou Lijuan fell asleep, Luo Yan returned to the Dragon Rider dormitory and read Black Witch's plans to repair the South Heaven Gate space station for its Moon Landing Project.
• A crewed spacecraft landed on the moon, and an astronaut deployed a lunar rover and drove toward the Leibniz Mountains.

Guandi Wusheng and the Divine General mecha Great Swordsman attacked the Overlord Level giant beast Qin Worm in the Desperate Battlefield, but Qin Worm’s Beast Soul and healing music kept it fighting. As Qin Worm struggled to recover, the Divine General mecha Yao Yuan arrived.

• Green smoke spread through the woods, and golden flames burned the Painwood and revealed Qin Worm in a clearing.
• Guandi Wusheng struck Qin Worm with the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, and Great Swordsman severed several of its legs and eyes with Divine Speed Draw—Sixfold Combo.
• Qin Worm’s Female Beast Soul emerged and played Heartbreak Melody, halting Great Swordsman’s charge, but a flaming Giant Bird attacked with Explosive Flame—Garuda.
• The Female Beast Soul played healing music, but Wusheng mounted his horse and battered Qin Worm with Battle Across the Nine Provinces.
• Yao Yuan flew in from the mountain woods on enormous azure wings as Qin Worm lay injured on the ground.

Jing Yu and the Heavenly Fire Squad slew the Overlord Qin Worm, and Luo Yan returned to Iron Horse Base after praising their teamwork. Bai Qixue happily handed leadership back to Luo Yan as they left the base together.

• The Great Swordsman crippled Qin Worm with Flash of Lightning, and Jing Yu used Yao Yuan’s Beidou Fierce Kill to destroy it.
• Jing Yu celebrated slaying an Overlord, while Zhang Tianyi and Bai Qixue warned him not to underestimate Nightmare Giant Beasts or rely on strength alone.
• The squad returned to Iron Horse Base, where Luo Yan praised their performance and Jing Yu’s decisive final strike.
• Luo Yan dismissed the team, and Bai Qixue embraced him in the car and said she was relieved to leave leading the squad to him.

Luo Yan and Bai Qixue met Ning Xi, a blind young swordswoman in Earthly Hero Squad, before a sudden explosion drew them to the base’s defensive line. There, they learned that Flying Beasts had thrown two mechas from the sky in retaliation.

• Bai Qixue told Luo Yan that Heaven's Sin Squad had arrived at the Desperate Battlefield and introduced him to Ning Xi, a seventeen-year-old Tiannan Academy graduate in Xia Yan's squad.
• Luo Yan and Bai Qixue watched Ning Xi defeat a squad member in a sparring match, and Ning Xi asked Luo Yan for pointers.
• A blast interrupted their conversation, and Luo Yan and Bai Qixue hurried to investigate after confirming it was not a Giant Beast attack.
• Luo Yan and Bai Qixue saw two wrecked mechas outside the base, and Xia Feibai told Luo Yan that Flying Beasts had dropped them from the sky.

Luo Yan advanced the Yellow Court Canon to minor achievement before meeting with Zhao Chu and Captain Xiang Gucheng to discuss the mission to clear the Desperate Battlefield. The Dragon Riders planned to use the mission to prepare their squads for the possibility of a large-scale Sky Ghost or foreign-race disaster.

• Luo Yan cultivated a new branch vein and advanced the Yellow Court Canon to minor achievement.
• A base staff member summoned Luo Yan, and Xia Feibai escorted him to an online meeting with Zhao Chu.
• Zhao Chu introduced the masked Captain Xiang Gucheng and explained that Heaven's Sin Squad captains all used the same name to protect their identities.
• Zhao Chu said the Heavenly Fire Squad, Heavenly Might Squad, and Heaven's Sin Squad would lead the remaining Desperate Battlefield clearance.
• Zhao Chu explained that the Dragon Riders would use the mission to train their squads for possible mass Sky Ghost or foreign-race attacks.

Luo Yan learned the Strategic Affairs Department’s plan to train dragonriders by assaulting the Desperate Battlefield’s central region and destroying its Dragon Vein beneath Black Cloud Mountain. After the team prepared for the battle, Murong Xuan admitted he was afraid of facing a Nightmare Giant Beast, and Luo Yan promised to protect the team as they fought.

• Zhao Chu explained that dragonrider teams would attack the central region while the Heaven's Sin Squad entered Black Cloud Mountain to destroy the Dragon Vein after Li Long left its lair.
• Luo Yan and Zhao Chu finalized the plan to assault the central region the next day and have the other dragonriders engage the Nightmare Giant Beasts while Luo Yan suppressed them.
• Luo Yan informed his team of the battle plan, and Murong Xuan worried that the team was not ready to fight Nightmare Giant Beasts.
• Murong Xuan admitted he was scared because he had never directly fought a Skyfiend or a Nightmare Giant Beast.
• Luo Yan reassured Murong Xuan that he would suppress any Nightmare Giant Beast and intervene if the team was in danger.

At Black Cloud Mountain, Li Long woke during an energy eruption, absorbed some of the energy, and fled after discovering a writhing black thread near its nest. The next day at Iron Horse Base, Zhurong and Colonel Luo Yan prepared to depart as the crowd cheered.

• Energy erupted from the roots of Black Cloud Mountain, and Li Long woke in its nest, Dragon Abyss.
• Li Long absorbed part of the energy torrent and protected Dragon Abyss from its force with black mist.
• Li Long spotted a black thread writhing at the edge of its nest, reacted with disgust and fear, and flew away from Black Cloud Mountain.
• A mass of countless writhing black threads spread through the underground space and climbed the mountain walls.
• The next day, Zhurong emerged from the Mecha Docking Bay at Iron Horse Base, and the crowd cheered as Colonel Luo Yan prepared to set off.

Xia Feibai warned Luo Yan’s forces that giant beasts were leaving the central area to intercept the mech battalions, possibly under an Overlord or Nightmare Giant Beast’s direction. As Luo Yan ordered a defensive formation, he also advised Jing Yu to stop risking everything on single attacks and prioritize survival.

• Xia Feibai watched the Dragonrider forces depart and recalled how Luo Yan had saved Iron Horse Base from the Blazing Rock Dragon years earlier.
• Xia Feibai saw the giant beasts split into groups and head toward the mech battalions, then warned Luo Yan and the other forces over the public channel.
• Luo Yan ordered the mech battalion to form a defensive formation and warned that Overlord Giant Beasts might be among the incoming enemies.
• Bai? and the Heavenly Fire Squad discussed the other participating squads and the Divine Mech being prepared for Wang Meng.
• Luo Yan privately told Jing Yu that her attacks were too reckless and urged her to prioritize staying alive; Jing Yu promised to remember his advice.