Chapter Summaries

Luo Yan spent two days stealing Jiang Hong’s kills, then continued the hunt despite the Forbidden Land’s dangerous sobbing. Jiang Hong finally caught up and attacked Bi’an, while Luo Yan blocked his strike with Black Tortoise and layered barriers.

• Jiang Hong repeatedly watched Luo Yan kill his prey with 'A Strip of Rainbow' and failed to get the team’s captain, Chen Mo, to send Feng Hao to help.
• Jiang Hong resolved to deal with Luo Yan himself after Chen Mo refused his request and cut off communications.
• Luo Yan decided to harass Jiang Hong for one more day before returning to the Safe Zone, since the Forbidden Land’s sobbing made staying overnight dangerous.
• Luo Yan spotted Jiang Hong approaching a mid-tier giant beast and killed it with 'A Strip of Rainbow' before Jiang Hong could reach it.
• Jiang Hong charged within range, unleashed his Ultimate Skill at Bi'an, and pierced through Luo Yan’s barriers with a sword thrust toward the mecha’s head.

The judging committee disqualified Jiang Hong after he defied its order and tried to attack Luo Yan with an Ultimate Skill, while Luo Yan left safely. More than ten days later, with Hundred Battles Academy ranked fourth, Luo Yan ventured near the Forbidden Land’s core and spotted strange human-shaped lights moving through the forest.

• The judging committee ordered Jiang Hong and Luo Yan to stop fighting, but Jiang Hong protested and refused to let Luo Yan go.
• The committee disqualified Jiang Hong, and the Empathy System severed his connection before he could attack; Luo Yan withdrew Black Tortoise’s barrier and left.
• The committee announced that Jiang Hong’s competition points would be deducted, and Yingtian Academy’s team captain Chen Mo told the team to return to the supply point and avoid provoking Jiang Hong.
• More than ten days later, Hundred Battles Academy ranked fourth, and Luo Yan entered the Forbidden Land’s core area in search of remaining mid-tier giant beasts.
• Luo Yan spotted human-shaped gray lights moving through the forest ahead, though the area was rarely visited by gold diggers.

Luo Yan discovered that the Black Witch’s Gou Mang Department had entered the Valley of Grief and agreed to investigate their mission for Qiao Jin. After secretly replacing one of their members, he found the team drying brightly colored theatrical costumes in their camp.

• Luo Yan spotted four mechs piloted by members of the Black Witch’s Gou Mang Department and sent footage of them to the tournament judges.
• Qiao Jin identified the group as likely Black Witch personnel and asked Luo Yan to investigate, promising that Hundred Battles Academy would receive points based on Luo Yan’s daily average.
• Luo Yan hid Bi'an and followed the Gou Mang Department teams through the forest using Nether Gate Opening.
• Luo Yan knocked Shen Ye unconscious and disguised himself as him while Zhou Tong and Li Yao returned to camp.
• Luo Yan saw two members hang brightly colored theatrical costumes out to dry and wondered what the Gou Mang Department was doing in the valley.

Luo Yan watched Zhang Xu expose and kill a Yellow Springs Organization infiltrator, then helped prepare the stage for the Black Shamans’ opera. As Chou Ghosts appeared after nightfall and the performance began, Luo Yan focused on the disguised machine, determined to learn what the Black Shamans were planning.

• A cloaked deserter attacked the soldiers with grenades, but Zhang Xu defeated him with his cultivation technique.
• The deserter tried to spit poison at Zhang Xu, then died; Luo Yan learned through Zhang Xu’s thoughts that the man belonged to the Yellow Springs Organization and that the corpse found earlier was Shen Ye.
• Zhang Xu stopped searching the team, and Luo Yan and the others arranged the stage as night fell.
• Zhang Xu and another captain placed incense burners around the stage, weakening the Forbidden Land’s cries and their effects on the mind.
• Chou Ghosts appeared among Zhou Tong, Li Yao, Luo Yan, and the others, asking questions as their heads jerked around.
• The stage lights came on and the performers began warming up, while Luo Yan watched the disguised machine and resolved to discover the Black Shamans’ plan.

During a performance staged to draw Ao Ye’s attention, Luo Yan discovered that the Black Witches planned to use He Yu’s technology to steal the beast’s soul. The theft began as Ao Ye relaxed, leaving Luo Yan to weigh whether to alert Jinge City.

• The Chou Ghosts gathered before the stage and merged into an illusory form of Ao Ye, whose beast soul had spread among them.
• Luo Yan read Zhang Xu’s thoughts and learned that He Yu had supplied the Black Witches with technology for absorbing and preserving beast souls.
• Li Yao noticed Luo Yan reaching for his phone, so Luo Yan put it away and considered letting the Black Witches steal Ao Ye’s soul before alerting Jinge City.
• The actors performed through the night, and Ao Ye gradually relaxed and lay down.
• The Black Witches activated their disguised machine, which drew wisps from Ao Ye’s illusory body into a container marked with symbols resembling the Tai-Su Pattern.

Luo Yan watched the Black Witches use a machine and Lin Yuanfang’s mecha to capture the Overlord Giant Beast Ao Ye’s beast-soul phantom. As the group prepared to retreat, Lin Yuanfang’s attack tore away Luo Yan’s cloak and mask, exposing his identity.

• While Ao Ye watched the opera, the Black Witches’ machine pulled Chou Ghosts from its body until Ao Ye noticed and unleashed a gale that wrecked the stage and injured the performers and onlookers.
• Luo Yan protected himself with Dragon Scales and saw Lin Yuanfang, head of the Gou Mang Department, arrive in a mecha and trap the escaping Chou Ghosts with a golden bell made from its ribbons.
• Lin Yuanfang’s ribbons battered Ao Ye’s phantom while the machine sucked it in, and the Black Witches captured the Overlord Giant Beast’s beast-soul phantom.
• Zhang Xu ordered the group to pack and retreat after Ao Ye roared from the Forbidden Land’s core area, and Luo Yan planned to alert Jinge City so it could intercept the Black Witches.
• As Luo Yan took out his phone, Lin Yuanfang’s ribbon swept toward him; Luo Yan dodged, but it shredded his cloak and knocked off his mask, revealing his true appearance.

Luo Yan escaped after Lin Yuanfang exposed him and led Zhang Xu, Zhou Tong, and Li Yao into the jungle. He killed Zhou Tong and Li Yao, then poisoned and blinded Zhang Xu before launching a Manjusaka strike.

• Lin Yuanfang exposed Luo Yan, ordered Zhang Xu to pursue him, and left with the cube containing Ao Ye's beast soul.
• Luo Yan fled into the jungle and slowed down to lure Zhang Xu, Zhou Tong, and Li Yao after him.
• Luo Yan killed Zhou Tong with Bone Shatter and secretly poisoned Zhang Xu with Amber Light Qi.
• Luo Yan killed Li Yao, then wounded Zhang Xu's eyes with Sword Shadow and triggered the poison in his body.
• Zhang Xu tried to flee, but Luo Yan attacked with a fist transformed into red Manjusaka lotuses.

Luo Yan killed Zhang Xu, found two sword Combat Skills among his belongings, and reported that Black Witch had stolen Ao Ye's beast soul. Jinge City revealed why Ao Ye had to be preserved, and the Grand Sports Meet committee enlisted the Academy teams to help find the outsiders and recover the beast soul.

• Luo Yan depleted Zhang Xu's protective Primal Energy with Manjusaka, killed him, and searched his belongings.
• Luo Yan escaped the agitated beasts, returned to his disguised Bi'an mech, and reported Black Witch's theft to Jinge City.
• Luo Yan memorized Zhang Xu's Chasing Wind and Shadow and Crescent Moon Breaking Clouds, then destroyed Zhang Xu's phone and its chip.
• Qiao Jin told Luo Yan that Ao Ye's presence allowed Returning Yin Grass to grow, and that the grass was needed to make Spirit Stabilizing Agent.
• The Grand Sports Meet committee offered Academy teams 50 points for valuable clues and 200 points for recovering Ao Ye's beast soul, prompting students to search eagerly.

The Jinge City base monitored Ao Ye emerging from the Forbidden Land’s core and learned that the Overlord Giant Beast could command corpses as well as souls. Jinge City and the Tiangang Dragon Riders began guiding Ao Ye toward a designated battle zone while the Academy teams searched for the Black Witch.

• The conference judges warned the Academy teams to avoid Ao Ye’s battle zone as the students searched the Forbidden Land for the Black Witch.
• Drones recorded corpses rising from the soil and spreading across the Forbidden Land in teams under Ao Ye’s command.
• Ao Ye emerged from the core area, freezing and crushing everything in its path while its roar terrified beasts throughout the Forbidden Land.
• The drones revealed Ao Ye’s corpse-like, four-horned bull form and began firing weapons to draw it west toward the designated battle zone.

After conventional bombardment failed to harm Ao Ye, Pan Xing and Pan Yu arrived to lure the giant beast toward the designated battle zone. Their mechas injured Ao Ye, but it retaliated by freezing them in midair and firing a pale beam.

• Ao Ye endured the drone swarm and Thunder God missile bombardments without injury, so the Base Commander called in the Dragon Riders.
• Pan Xing and Pan Yu arrived in their mechas and agreed to draw Ao Ye away while guarding against its Nether Tongue.
• Pan Xing hurled a spear into Ao Ye's forehead, spreading chaotic radiance across its body before Ao Ye's antimembrane froze it in place.
• Pan Yu scattered seven-colored powder over Ao Ye, setting its fur ablaze with vermilion flames.
• Ao Ye extinguished the flames, froze both mechas mid-motion, and fired a pale beam from its horns.

Luo Yan and the Hundred Battles Academy searched the Forbidden Land for Black Witch while Jinge City fought Ao Ye. Black Void located Black Witch’s mecha, and Luo Yan sent their coordinates to Qiao Jin as the squad kept watch.

• Pan Yu and the Divine General mecha lured Ao Ye toward the designated battle zone while academy squads searched for Black Witch.
• Luo Yan regrouped with the Hundred Battles Academy and told his classmates to report Black Witch’s location rather than engage its likely Divine General mecha.
• Lin Yuanfang led Black Witch through the forest with Ao Ye’s beast soul as Jinge City fought the enraged beast.
• Lin Yuanfang’s mecha destroyed an academy student’s mecha, and the stranded student saw walking corpses and a black-cloaked figure pass through the forest.
• Black Void found Black Witch’s trail, and Luo Yan’s squad followed it while Zhao Ping, Liu Ruohan, and Lin Wei held off two Mid-tier Giant Beasts.
• Luo Yan spotted Black Witch’s mecha, sent Qiao Jin their coordinates, and was told to keep watching without engaging.

Luo Yan and Bai? ambushed Lin Yuanfang’s group as Qin Feng and Fu Yan arrived, turning the hunt for the beast soul into a battle. The chapter left Luo Yan shielding Qin Feng while Qin Feng unleashed his thunder secret technique against Lin Yuanfang.

• Luo Yan and Bai? concealed their mechas and followed Lin Yuanfang’s group, but Lin Yuanfang sensed they were being watched and ordered his team to split up.
• When Qin Feng and Fu Yan appeared, Luo Yan revealed himself and warned them that one of Lin Yuanfang’s mechas carried the beast soul.
• Qin Feng attacked Lin Yuanfang while Fu Yan intercepted Sun Ning, and Bai? and Luo Yan engaged the remaining enemy mechas.
• Luo Yan redirected one opponent toward Fu Yan, who used Scorching Purgatory to trap it with Sun Ning’s mecha.
• Luo Yan blocked Lin Yuanfang’s golden Flowing Fireflies with Bi'an’s shield, giving Qin Feng time to activate Brilliant Thunder Spirit Capital Palace.

Luo Yan and Qin Feng fought Lin Yuanfang to stop him from escaping the forbidden zone, while Ao Ye's walking corpses reached the academy camp in the safe zone. Lin Yuanfang remained under attack as the corpses proved able to keep moving even after their heads were destroyed.

• Qin Feng and Luo Yan activated their secret techniques and attacked Lin Yuanfang, but his golden swords overpowered their strikes and damaged Qin Feng's mecha.
• Lin Yuanfang formed enormous golden wings and tried to fly away, but Luo Yan grabbed his mecha and slammed it into the ground.
• Qin Feng and Luo Yan continued attacking Lin Yuanfang, landing a blood blade after his golden fireflies tore apart Luo Yan's rainbow strike.
• Ao Ye's walking corpses reached the academy camp and knocked down a student before he could react.
• The student shoved the corpses away and fired at them, but they kept moving despite having their heads blown apart.

Walking corpses attacked the Academy camps while Ao Ye’s expanding antimembrane threatened to freeze the students across the Safe Zone. Pan Xing and Pan Yu tried to stop the giant beast, but its antimembrane reached an Academy Camp as support was still on the way.

• Walking corpses swarmed the Academy Camp, where students fought back without mechs and were forced to retreat.
• Pan Yu noticed Ao Ye had stopped heading toward the designated Battlefield and was expanding its antimembrane toward the Safe Zone.
• Legion Commander Qiao Jin ordered Pan Xing and Pan Yu to attack Ao Ye’s legs and learned that Captain Shi Beiluo was going to retrieve the beast soul.
• Pan Xing knocked Ao Ye down with his mech, while Pan Yu’s fiery butterflies wounded it, but Ao Ye got back up and continued advancing.
• Ao Ye’s antimembrane crossed into the Safe Zone and began invading an Academy Camp.

Pan Xing and Pan Yu fought Ao Ye as its antimembrane spread through the Forbidden Land, freezing camp personnel and turning the dead into walking corpses. Elsewhere, Luo Yan and Qin Feng cornered Lin Yuanfang, but Lin Yuanfang struck back and sent Bi'an flying.

• Ao Ye transformed the trees in the Valley of Grief into grotesque, wailing growths, and Pan Xing and Pan Yu attacked the giant beast and the forest.
• Ao Ye's antimembrane engulfed an Academy Camp, where the cold and sorrowful wails killed students and reanimated their bodies; at least half the camp's remaining personnel were left behind.
• Luo Yan and Qin Feng trapped Lin Yuanfang's mech, but Lin Yuanfang's golden wires badly damaged Bi'an and forced Qin Feng to retreat.
• Luo Yan kept Lin Yuanfang pinned with Bi'an and threw his mech headfirst onto the ground.
• Lin Yuanfang formed his golden wires into a whip and lashed Bi'an, sending Luo Yan's mech flying.

After Forbidden Zone Combat, Classmate Luo shared painful memories with Bai? as they recovered and returned to Jinge City. At a banquet, they learned that Zhengde Academy had suffered devastating losses and that the dead had left no remains to recover.

• Qin Feng thanked Classmate Luo for fighting alongside him, and they bumped fists in hopes of fighting together again.
• Bai? shared how Lan Xiao had nearly torn open her abdomen, and Classmate Luo promised to keep her secret.
• Shi Beiluo reported that the Divine General Mecha's pilot had escaped and the other pilots had been captured; Yingzhao carried the group back toward the Undercity.
• After reaching Jinge City, Classmate Luo underwent medical examinations and was cleared to leave the hospital.
• At Yishui Academy's banquet, Classmate Luo and Bai? heard that Zhengde Academy had lost many people and that the dead had vanished with the walking corpses, leaving their families only empty urns.

At the Grand Sports Meet, Song Musheng announced the memorial for Zhengde Academy’s victims, the final academy rankings, and new resource and exchange programs. That night in Pingyao Underground City, a rumor began spreading among illegal immigrants in the old city.

• Song Musheng led the auditorium in five minutes of silence for the Zhengde Academy teachers and students killed when the Overlord Giant Beast went berserk.
• Song Musheng announced that Tiannan Academy won first place, while Hundred Battles Academy and Yujing Academy tied for second after mission rewards were counted.
• Song Musheng announced increased resource allocations and new exchanges for cultivation methods, skills, equipment, and contribution points.
• Students from other academies surrounded Luo Yan after the ceremony, and White? guarded his side.
• In Pingyao Underground City, illegal factories suspended operations for rectification, leaving illegal immigrants without work.
• A rumor began spreading among the illegal immigrants wandering the old city.

Yuan Hao brought A-Jie and other young men to meet Zhe Kui, who chose A-Jie and granted him and Yuan Hao strange strength. Luo Yan returned to the Academy, learned about the underground transit project and new student exams, and joined Zhao Ping's excited call to raid the principal's treasury.

• Hao Ge led several young men, including A-Jie, to Zhe Kui's courtyard and asked him to choose someone for guidance.
• Zhe Kui selected A-Jie and allowed Hao Ge to enter as well, telling the others to bring him more people seeking to change their fate.
• Yuan Hao and A-Jie emerged stronger, and Yuan Hao pressed a handprint into a stone block; their eyes later glowed red in the darkness.
• Luo Yan returned to Undercity Guangling and heard Li Bohang explain the Underground Train Station project connecting the Eighteen Northern Cities.
• Luo Yan arrived at the Academy, saw that new student exams were underway, and heard Zhao Ping urge the boys to empty the principal's treasury.

After the Grand Sports Meet, Zhao Chen and the students demanded rewards from Pan Renfeng, while Di Zheng sparred with Luo Yan and discussed his future. Di Zheng gave Luo Yan a letter for Yun Rong and a lead about Baoding City's survivors in Pingyao Underground City, then reflected to Wei Fenghua on missed chances and fate.

• Zhao Chen led the students into Pan Renfeng's office, where they demanded rewards for their second-place finish and celebrated after he promised them.
• Di Zheng sparred with Luo Yan using wooden swords, then praised his growth and said the Tiangang Dragon Riders might notice him if he resolved Secondary Infection.
• Luo Yan told Di Zheng that Black Witch had stolen Ao Ye's beast soul in the Forbidden Land before Shi Beiluo helped recover it, and Di Zheng warned him to be careful.
• Di Zheng told Luo Yan that some Baoding City residents had been taken in by Pingyao Underground City and gave him a letter addressed to Yun Rong, with instructions about when to hand it over.
• Wei Fenghua asked why Di Zheng was sending Luo Yan to Yun Rong, and Di Zheng reflected that fate had placed opportunities before him that he had missed.

Luo Yan watched the new students take the Academy Exam, then joined the second-year students at the third-year Graduation Ceremony. The graduates prepared to pass on the Academy’s tradition, leaving the ceremony poised for their advice and encouragement.

• Luo Yan resumed cultivating the Blazing Sun Scripture and Blood Transformation Scripture and practiced his Combat Skills until they reached basic mastery.
• Luo Yan and Bai? visited the auditorium, where Principal Pan Renfeng announced that new students would pass the Academy Exam by reaching a 60% mecha empathy rate.
• Luo Yan ignored the new students’ dismissive remarks, and the second-year students dispersed after the exam groups left.
• Pan Renfeng led the graduates in declaring their resolve to drive out Giant Beasts and protect humanity’s homeland.
• Pan Renfeng invited the second-year students onto the field and asked the graduating students to share their guidance and encouragement.