Chapter Summaries

Luo Yan’s squad fought off the second wave of the Beast Tide while conserving strength for a possible Overlord. An Overlord-level Huan emerged from the Nameless Void, and Luo Yan assigned Xiao Bai to join him in facing it as the others guarded the battlefield.

• Cao Feng used his Divine Guard-class mech to kill Taotie, leaving the rear squad impressed by the gap between his strength and theirs.
• Luo Yan rallied the Mech Masters and warned Xiao Bai and the Earthly Hero Squad to save their strength in case an Overlord appeared.
• The second wave arrived, and the Mech Masters attacked the horde as Giant Beasts struck back against the defensive line.
• Luo Yan sensed a threat through his Insightful Silver Eyes and spotted an Overlord-level Huan advancing through mist from the horizon.
• Luo Yan ordered Xiao Bai to fight the Huan with him, while Cao Feng, Mu Cheng, and Xia Yan watched for Upper-tier Giant Beasts and the other Mech Masters continued clearing the horde.

At Great Wall Base, Ji Ying and Gao Zhi watched as the Overlord Huan’s illusions began disrupting the defensive line. Luo Yan used Burn Illusions Flame to free Gu Mingyuan from a deadly hallucination, and the crimson flames appeared on Huan in the distant fog.

• Ji Ying ordered everyone out of the Command Center and discussed the danger Huan posed to Luo Yan’s forces with Gao Zhi.
• Huan’s fog reached the defensive line and made the Mech Masters see frightening illusions, causing them to act erratically.
• Gu Mingyuan hallucinated that his dead brother Gu Mingjie was choking him and begged for his life.
• Luo Yan used Burn Illusions Flame to burn away the illusions, saving Gu Mingyuan and others from their hallucinations.
• Crimson flames suddenly rose from Huan’s body in the distant fog.

Luo Yan's Burn Illusions Flame provoked Huan into unleashing its counter-barrier, strengthening the beast horde and intensifying the battle at the Third Alert Zone. Cao Feng and Mu Cheng fought the Mirage Turtle while Xia Yan gave way to Xia Yu, who found the beast's heart and prepared to strike.

• Luo Yan's crimson flame burned across Huan's back, and Huan responded by spreading its counter-barrier over the Third Alert Zone, empowering the giant beasts attacking the defensive line.
• Cao Feng spotted an Upper-tier Mirage Turtle and charged it in Mad Saber, while Xia Yan lost control to Xia Yu in Red Sleeve and Mu Cheng supported Cao Feng from Fortress.
• Cao Feng severed one of the Mirage Turtle's legs, but the beast used Qi Explosion to blast Mad Saber away and send it crashing back onto the battlefield.
• Mu Cheng reinforced Mad Saber with Mystic Arts as Cao Feng resumed the attack, and Mu Cheng's Mountain Breaker cannon blasted apart part of the Mirage Turtle's shell.
• Cao Feng cut several feelers from the Mirage Turtle's head while Xia Yu used the severed leg's blood to search for the beast's heart and announced that she had found it.

Xia Yu used Bad Blood Curse Hand to crush the Mirage Turtle’s heart, allowing Cao Feng to kill it, while she considered escaping with Xiao Yan. As Giant Beasts overwhelmed the battlefield, Gu Mingyuan and his group fled but were hunted down and killed by Quru.

• Xia Yu crushed the Mirage Turtle’s heart with Bad Blood Curse Hand, interrupting its Qi Explosion, and Cao Feng beheaded the weakened beast.
• After seeing mechs destroyed, Xia Yu hoped more pilots would die so she could escape with Xiao Yan, while Gu Mingyuan lost his will to fight and decided to retreat with Wang Xiang and two others.
• Quru seized Gu Mingyuan’s mecha and dropped it from the sky, leaving him unconscious after the crash.
• Quru carried Wang Xiang’s mecha into the air, dropped it, and pierced it with Feather Arrows while the other two mechs burned.
• Quru struck Gu Mingyuan’s wrecked mecha with Qi Blade, slicing it and Gu Mingyuan in half.

Luo Yan faced the Overlord giant cat Huan with Xiao Bai, summoning Yan Bo and the Headless General to fight beside him. Yan Bo’s first strike with the Ancient Sword Shadow severely wounded Huan, though the sword shadow began to fade.

• Luo Yan summoned Yan Bo and had Xiao Bai liberate the Headless General to join the battle against Huan.
• Mu Cheng and Cao Feng destroyed Quru, then saw Yan Bo’s Primordial Spirit Projection appear behind Yao Yuan.
• The liberated Headless General engulfed itself and its sword in flames, then joined the confrontation as Huan focused mainly on Yan Bo.
• Huan released its beast soul, whose silent roar paralyzed the other Mech Masters and most of the giant beasts on the battlefield.
• Yan Bo drew the Ancient Sword Shadow and slashed through Huan’s black fog, badly wounding the giant cat and severing two sections of its tail.
• Luo Yan realized the Ancient Sword Shadow’s attack had nearly slain Huan, but the sword shadow had grown faint and seemed close to disappearing.

Luo Yan’s Primordial Spirit Projection drove Huan back, but the wounded Overlord and its beast soul counterattacked the Headless General with black-mist beasts. Luo Yan’s Jiaolong helped the General press forward, and Yao Yuan joined the fight with a decisive sword strike.

• Luo Yan recalled the Ancient Sword Shadow to preserve its symbols, while his strike left Huan badly injured and encouraged the defenders.
• Cao Feng’s group and the Great Wall Base command staff regained hope after seeing Yan Bo drive back the Overlord.
• The Headless General charged Huan, carving a path through its black river of mist with its flaming greatsword.
• Huan turned the black river into giant beasts, and Luo Yan sent his two Jiaolong to burn or tear them apart.
• The Headless General struck Huan but lost its flaming arm when the beast soul pierced its shoulder; Yao Yuan then appeared and used Ten Steps, One Kill.

Luo Yan’s squad repelled Huan long enough for the base to evacuate, though the beast swarm destroyed the Great Wall Base after they withdrew. While resting, Luo Yan reviewed his mistakes in the battle, then learned from Ji Ying and Gao Zhi that the Nameless Void had closed.

• Huan used black mist to repel Luo Yan and the others, then escaped while Luo Yan’s sword strike hit a decoy.
• Luo Yan refused to pursue Huan and kept the defensive line against the continuing giant beast assault.
• After Ji Ying announced the evacuation was complete, Luo Yan’s Earthly Hero Squad covered the retreat, and the beast swarm trampled the Great Wall Base into ruins.
• Luo Yan reviewed his battle mistakes and resolved to let Yan Bo act independently except at critical moments.
• Yang Qi brought Luo Yan to Ji Ying, where Gao Zhi told him that the Nameless Void had closed.

After the Nameless Void closed, Luo Yan joined Bai Qixue to investigate its former location, but they found no Nether Capital Stone, Abyssal Vein, or Heavenly Demons. On the way back, Bai Qixue told him that researchers had discovered two cultivation realms above Mystic Mastery: the Mysterious Female and the Heavenly Palace.

• Ji Ying told Luo Yan that the Nameless Void had closed and the Beast Tide had ended, leaving the base's underground infrastructure intact.
• Luo Yan agreed to meet the arriving Tianjian Squad and investigate the Nameless Void with Bai Qixue.
• Luo Yan and Bai Qixue searched the dead land where the Nameless Void had appeared but found no Nether Capital Stone, Abyssal Vein, or traces of the Heavenly Demons.
• Bai Qixue told Luo Yan that Dr. Jia Miao and the others had discovered cultivation techniques for the Mysterious Female and Heavenly Palace realms above Mystic Mastery.

Luo Yan learned that the first Mystic Womb Realm cultivation method would take years to decipher, and the Strategic Affairs Department planned to invest more resources in him because of his Divine Treasure. After Luo Yan and the Tianjian Squad cleared the giant beasts from the base, the evacuated personnel returned to begin rebuilding it.

• Bai Qixue explained her theory that the Mystic Womb Realm connected the lower and upper realms and that opening the Gate of Mystic Womb led to the Heavenly Palace Realm.
• Bai Qixue told Luo Yan that deciphering the first Mystic Womb Realm cultivation method would take at least several years and that the Strategic Affairs Department would provide him with more resources.
• The Tianjian Squad cleared the remaining giant beasts from the base, and Xia Yu killed a Jue Ru before Cao Feng could reach it.
• Luo Yan reported the completed cleanup to Ji Ying, who confirmed that they had reclaimed the base.
• A convoy brought the evacuated personnel back to the base so they could begin rebuilding it.

Huo Wa tried to escape after discovering that Zheng Jie was secretly drugging laborers to use as sacrifices for Hong Zhuang. He got away with Li Gen's help, while Hong Zhuang prepared another ritual and told Hong Shang to preside over it.

• Huo Wa left the dormitory with Li Gen and saw masked men spraying gas inside to incapacitate the sleepers and take them as sacrifices.
• Li Gen dragged Huo Wa toward a window and drew the pursuers away so Huo Wa could escape.
• Zheng Jie knocked Li Gen unconscious, then saw that Huo Wa had fled by car and ordered the others to chase him.
• Zheng Jie returned to Yi Town and told Hong Zhuang that the sacrifices were ready for an afternoon ritual to retrieve what she had left in Yanfu.
• Zheng Jie ordered Hong Shang to preside over the ritual, threatened her when she questioned the sacrifices, and made her agree to obey Niang Niang.

Uncle Li Gen and the other captives were crushed in a spiked chamber as the walls closed in, while their blood drained into the trenches. In Yi Town, Hong Zhuang opened Yanfu and drew a pale arm down from the Nameless Void.

• Empress Hong Shang announced the Heaven Worship Ceremony as firecrackers woke Uncle Li Gen in the stone chamber where Zheng Jie had imprisoned him and the other men.
• Uncle Li Gen roused the others and discovered the chamber’s spiked walls were closing in, but their attempts to break through the sealed door failed.
• As the space shrank, the captives shoved and fought, and several were impaled on the spikes while Uncle Li Gen watched from beside the door.
• The walls crushed the remaining men, and their blood drained through floor holes into the workers’ trenches.
• In Yi Town, Hong Zhuang opened Yanfu above the Empress Temple and controlled the Nameless Void as a shadow descended through the black funnel.
• A huge pale arm reached from the Nameless Void and gently entered the courtyard.

Hong Zhuang acquired the Hundred Faces Disguise and absorbed the power from a red snake scale as rain began to fall. In Datian Town, Qing Lian ordered Luo San to activate their prepared arrangement and send Little Chen the message that the wind had risen, then vanished in green smoke.

• Hong Zhuang donned the Hundred Faces Disguise, which she said could deceive the Primordial Tent and protect her from the Human Lord's technique temporarily.
• Hong Zhuang absorbed the red snakes from the bright-red scale, which crumbled to dust as her power and the cloak's fearful faces stirred.
• Rain began to fall, and Qing Lian sensed that something bad was about to happen before traveling to Datian Town.
• Qing Lian told Luo San to activate their prepared arrangement and ordered Old Zhou to tell Little Chen that the wind had risen.
• After Old Zhou confirmed the message had been sent, Qing Lian's teacup shattered and she vanished in green smoke.

Hong Zhuang crushed Datian Town and pursued her younger sister, while Luo Yan trained soldiers at Great Wall-01 Base. Over dinner, Gao Zhi told Luo Yan that someone was plotting against the newly launched Great Wall Plan.

• Hong Zhuang appeared above the ruins of Datian Town, taunted her younger sister, and vanished to chase her.
• Luo Yan defeated Cao Feng and Mu Cheng in training, gave them combat advice, and ordered them to run five hundred laps.
• Bai? took Xia Yan to get food while Luo Yan joined Gao Zhi in the dining hall.
• Gao Zhi explained that the Great Wall Plan had begun and warned Luo Yan that someone was secretly plotting against it.

Gao Zhi and Luo Yan learned that an investigation had found only residual Nether Particles at the Nameless Void site, while a new detector was prepared to warn of future openings. At Xiqiang Base, a disheveled young man warned travelers that Yi Town’s Empress Hong Shang was an evil ghost who used people as sacrifices.

• Gao Zhi told Luo Yan that Western nations were exploiting the calamity and recalled their past attempts to exclude his country from the Ruins Return.
• Gao Zhi and Luo Yan met investigation leader Guan Tianhua, who reported finding only residual Nether Particles at the Nameless Void site and said two Sky Ghosts remained unaccounted for.
• Guan Tianhua explained that the Strategic Affairs Department had developed a Nameless Void detector, but warned that it was new and patrols were still necessary.
• At Xiqiang Base, several men discussed visiting Yi Town and its protector, Empress Hong Shang.
• A disheveled young man stopped the men and warned that they would be used as sacrifices in Yi Town, claiming Empress Hong Shang was an evil ghost.

Liu Jinhuo told the Enforcement Team that Empress Hong Shang of Yi Town used living people in sacrifices, prompting Xiqiang Base to report a possible connection to two wanted Sky Ghosts. Bai Qixue learned of the lead while tracking the Sky Ghosts, and Bai Shaotang began to tell her about another one.

• Liu Jinhuo warned travelers not to go to Yi Town and was arrested by the Enforcement Team.
• Liu Jinhuo told the captain that Empress Hong Shang sacrificed people and that Zheng Jie had captured Uncle Gen.
• The captain compared Liu Jinhuo’s account with portraits of two wanted women, then reported the possible match to the base commander.
• Bai Qixue heard that Liu Jinhuo’s description of Empress Hong Shang and her green-loving younger sister might identify the two Sky Ghosts.
• Bai Qixue asked Chu Hao to locate Yi Town, and Bai Shaotang announced that he had another lead.

Bai Qixue and Luo Yan received a lead pointing them to Niushou Village, where the Eye of Truth could reveal a clue about the Heavenly Ghost. After absorbing the Primordial Source Liquid, Luo Yan left for the village while Wang Meng took charge of defending the base.

• Bai Shaotang told Bai Qixue that a controlled messenger from the Penglai Corps had directed them to Niushou Village and that Luo Yan would meet them there.
• Bai Qixue set out with her team, while Bai Shaotang said another team would investigate the lead in Yi Town.
• Wang Meng delivered the Primordial Source Liquid to Luo Yan and told him to absorb it before taking on the mission.
• Luo Yan absorbed the Primordial Source Liquid, which vanished into his palm without an immediate noticeable effect.
• Wang Meng assigned Luo Yan to join the Tianjian Squad at Niushou Village, where his Eye of Truth could detect the Heavenly Ghost clue.
• Luo Yan put Wang Meng in charge of the base's defense and reassured his team before departing for the mission.

After the Ember Plan was activated, Fang Yao left home and returned to the Strategic Affairs Department, leaving his assets and a letter for Luo Yan with Yang Zhen. At Soaring Dragon Base, he joined other retired Dragonriders who had also signed the plan as Bai Shaotang began addressing them.

• Bai Shaotang told Fang Yao that the Ember Plan had been activated and asked him to return to take charge of the overall situation.
• Fang Yao packed his old military gear and left Yang Zhen a document bag containing a letter and records of his assets for Luo Yan.
• Yang Zhen explained to his wife that the Ember Plan recalled retired Dragonriders to serve during a major crisis, potentially at the cost of their lives.
• Fang Yao arrived at Soaring Dragon Base and joined other retired Dragonriders who had signed the Ember Plan.
• Bai Shaotang appeared on the hall's screens and thanked the veterans on behalf of the Strategic Affairs Department.

Bai Shaotang briefed the returning veterans on the two Heavenly Ghosts and why the Strategic Affairs Department had activated the Ember Plan to protect Bai Qixue and Luo Yan. As the veterans prepared to leave, Hong Zhuang approached a village she knew was a trap.

• Zheng Chunqiu and Lin Bingjiang greeted Fang Yao and reminisced about their time together.
• Bai Shaotang explained that two Heavenly Ghosts had been tracked to Niushou Village and that the Tianjian Squad and an Earthly Department commander were investigating.
• Bai Shaotang revealed that Bai Qixue was his sister and that Luo Yan was Fang Yao's student, prompting the veterans to accept the mission.
• Bai Shaotang told the veterans they would depart immediately.
• Hong Zhuang walked toward a village at night, acknowledging that her little sister had set a trap.

Hong Zhuang entered Lantian Village searching for Qing Lian and killed Liu Qingshan with a venomous bite. She recognized Qing Lian’s Three Lives Mistake poison spreading through the villagers, survived the Poisonous Fog, and left the village while Qing Lian waited nearby for her arrangements to hold.

• Hong Zhuang asked Liu Qingshan and the other men whether they knew her younger sister, Qing Lian.
• Hong Zhuang’s arm-snake bit Liu Qingshan, whose flesh rapidly rotted until only his skeleton remained.
• The villagers blamed Hong Zhuang and prepared to kill her, but their upper bodies suddenly shattered.
• Hong Zhuang identified Qing Lian’s poison as Three Lives Mistake, which spread through Lantian Village and killed its plants, insects, and animals.
• Hong Zhuang walked through the Poisonous Fog and left the village as Qing Lian watched from a nearby mountain, urging her to hurry.

Luo Yan arrived at Niushou Village and joined the Tianjian Squad, who had found no clues about the Sky Ghost. After eating, he set out with Bai Qixue to search the village using his Mystic Eye.

• Luo Yan crossed the bridge into Niushou Village and found a long-dead soldier's skeleton beside the road.
• Xiao Guizhi welcomed Luo Yan and led him toward the village committee building, where she nervously prayed over skeletons.
• Luo Yan met the Tianjian Squad as they ate around a fire, and Chu Hao explained that their search had uncovered no clues.
• Bai Qixue joined Luo Yan to investigate the village, and Luo Yan activated his Divine Treasure as they left the building.