Chapter Summaries

Luo Yan used Zhurong and his prepared sword techniques to interrupt Long Zhi’s curse and defeat the giant beast with Samadhi True Fire. The base watched the battle in awe as the threat to the base was eliminated.

• The base director explained that Luo Yan’s 150% resonance depth put him half a step from Blade Awakening and praised his stable control of Zhurong.
• Long Zhi tried to use its curse to attack Zhurong, but Luo Yan’s hidden Solar Term Swords severed its arms and interrupted the attempt.
• Luo Yan dodged Long Zhi’s bone projectile with Stars Shift, then pursued the fleeing beast with a fire-condensed Heavy Sword.
• Luo Yan’s Samadhi True Fire Hè Zhǎn cleaved Long Zhi in half and burned its body to ashes.

After Luo Yan slew Long Zhi, he returned to a hero’s welcome and urged the people at Great Wall 02 base to unite against the Giant Beasts. Back in Jinge City, he parted ways with Hanna and found Bai Qixue waiting for him at the team quarters.

• Hanna learned that Luo Yan had slain Long Zhi, and the surviving Giant Beasts fled as reinforcements pursued them.
• The people at Great Wall 02 base welcomed Luo Yan, who gave a speech calling on everyone to work together to drive away the Giant Beasts.
• The next day, Luo Yan and Hanna returned to Jinge City, where Bai Shaotang gave Hanna and her surviving team member leave to recover and rebuild their team.
• Hanna told Luo Yan she planned to visit her parents, and they wished each other well before parting.
• Luo Yan returned to the team quarters and found Bai Qixue complaining that he had left without her; he offered to take her out for ice cream.

Li Meng investigated Long Zhi’s appearance and traced its route to a spatial rift in the Taiyin Mountain Range. A drone search found signs of another creature, and Li Meng suspected a Heavenly Ghost was hiding there.

• Li Meng inspected Long Zhi’s remains and noted that Luo Yan’s 150 percent resonance with Zhurong had burned away everything except the Soul Jade.
• Mei Ying reported that Long Zhi’s route led from Taiyin Mountain and that satellite data showed a spatial fluctuation there, suggesting a Jambudvipa Rift had opened.
• Li Meng ordered drones to search the mountain range for other giant beasts.
• The drones detected dangerous Nether Particle levels but no giant beast signal, then recorded a burned clearing and a giant beast corpse that had been eaten down to its bones.
• A huge palm-shaped shadow attacked the drones, cutting off their connection, and Li Meng concluded that a Heavenly Ghost might have appeared in the Taiyin Mountain Range.

Bai Shaotang monitored Li Meng’s team as they investigated a suspected Heavenly Ghost in the Taiyin Mountain Range and discovered Lu Gong, one of the Throne Generals. After Qing Lian identified him as more dangerous than Chengou, Bai Shaotang ordered Li Meng to withdraw and began assembling people to face him.

• Bai Shaotang watched Li Meng lead six team members into the Taiyin Mountain Range to investigate signs of a Heavenly Ghost.
• Li Meng’s team reached a scorched area with a sharp boundary between burned ground and green forest, then sent disguised reconnaissance machines into the valley.
• A reconnaissance machine captured footage of a flame-covered giant drinking beneath a waterfall, and Bai Shaotang recognized him as a Heavenly Ghost.
• Bai Shaotang ordered Li Meng’s team to withdraw and sent the footage to Qing Lian for identification.
• Qing Lian identified the giant as Lu Gong, one of the two Throne Generals who had appeared when Chengou descended, and warned that he was more dangerous than Chengou.
• Bai Shaotang asked Qing Lian to come to headquarters and help prepare to subjugate Lu Gong.

Luo Yan and Team Seven entered the Desperate Battlefield and arrived at Iron Horse Base, where they met the Tianwei Squad and learned about their duties and freedom as Heavenly Department Dragon Riders. Zhao Chu began guiding Luo Yan through life at the base and reminded him to relax as well as stay alert.

• Luo Yan and his team entered the Desperate Battlefield and traveled to Iron Horse Base, which now had a 'Lei Xiao' cannon and more powerful resident mecha pilots.
• Luo Yan met Han Bai and Zhao Chu, captain of the Tianwei Squad, who would help Team Seven adjust to their first garrison assignment.
• Zhao Chu introduced Luo Yan to Xia Feibai, who recalled how Luo Yan had helped defend Iron Horse Base during the Desperate Trial.
• Zhao Chu toured Luo Yan around Iron Horse Base and explained the Dragon Riders' duties, their choice of base, and their authority in the Desperate Battlefield.
• Zhao Chu told Luo Yan he would teach him about Dragon Rider duties and Nightmare Giant Beasts, and advised him not to stay tense all the time.

Luo Yan and Han Bai discussed Hanna’s rescue and Han Bai’s wish to protect his sister before learning that a Sky Fiend had been killed in the Taiyin Mountain Range at great cost. The next day, Zhao Chu explained how Nightmare Giant Beasts could become Sky Fiends, but his briefing was interrupted by an alarm at Iron Horse Base.

• Luo Yan rejected Han Bai’s suggestion that he marry Hanna, and told Han Bai to become strong enough to protect his sister instead of asking her to retire.
• Luo Yan and Han Bai received a notice that the Tian Xiong Squad and the Heavenly Sword Squad had slain a Sky Fiend in the Taiyin Mountain Range, with seventeen confirmed deaths and all Tian Xiong members except Li Meng and Mei Ying killed.
• Luo Yan read that Li Meng faced severe punishment for acting without authorization and worried that more Sky Fiends could appear near Great Wall 02 Base.
• Zhao Chu taught Luo Yan and the other team members that Nightmare Giant Beasts needed Blood Bestowal from the Charm Wraith to become Sky Fiends.
• An alarm sounded at Iron Horse Base before Zhao Chu could finish his explanation.

Luo Yan and Team Seven observed Iron Horse Base’s response to an alarm and saw its mecha warriors swiftly defeat several Upper-tier Giant Beasts. The next day, Zhao Chu prepared to take the team deeper into the Desperate Battlefield so they could experience the Heavenly Department Dragon Riders’ duties firsthand.

• Zhao Chu explained that alarms signaled different Giant Beast threats and that the Overlord Special Attack Team handled most overlord incidents before Heavenly Department teams were called in.
• Luo Yan and Team Seven watched Xia Feibai’s base mechas defeat several Upper-tier Giant Beasts that entered the Alert Zone, while one Lei escaped into the dangerous area.
• Luo Yan praised the warriors’ combat experience and skill, and Xia Feibai described the base’s live-combat training and the Strategic Affairs Department’s support.
• The next day, Zhao Chu told Team Seven to prepare for a mission deeper into the Desperate Battlefield, and the members entered their base mechas.
• Zhang Tianyi admired Zhurong and said he hoped to own a divine machine one day, while Yang Kui settled for his Divine General Mecha, Rock.

Captain Luo Yan and the Dragon Riders patrolled the Desperate Battlefield as Zhao Chu explained its dangers and the limits on fighting its powerful beasts. The radar detected the Overlord Zhu Nü, and Zhao Chu offered Luo Yan a chance to fight it for practice.

• Zhao Chu warned the team about Nether Miasma and explained how a neutralizer could enable brief operations inside it.
• Zhao Chu described the Fictional Divine Soul system, which could enhance a Divine Machine, and said Luo Yan might eventually activate the Unified Divine form.
• Zhao Chu explained that Overlords threatened the Safe Zone and that the Dragon Riders could not clear the Desperate Battlefield without careful coordination.
• The Giant Beast Radar identified Zhu Nü near its territory, and Zhao Chu asked whether Luo Yan wanted to fight it for practice.

Team Seven prepared to fight Zhu Nü, with Deputy Captain Bai leading the attack while Li Yuqing supported the team with defensive armor and elemental techniques. After Zhu Nü darkened the battlefield, the team countered its trait and began driving the giant beast back.

• Luo Yan assigned Deputy Captain Bai as the main attacker, with Yang Kui and Zhang Tianyi as secondary attackers and Murong Xuan and Li Yuqing providing support.
• Deputy Captain Bai summoned the Headless General and Lan Xiao in incomplete release forms, while Li Yuqing used Divine Steel to armor their allies.
• Zhu Nü emerged from the forest, leaving Nightmare Crystal clusters in its wake, and created a Dark Space that weakened the surroundings with darkness.
• Li Yuqing used Explosion Flame to dispel the darkness and weaken Zhu Nü's Fear trait, prompting Deputy Captain Bai to order the attack.
• Lan Xiao bombarded Zhu Nü, the Headless General sent it flying with a flaming greatsword, Rock struck it from the side, and Great Swordsman cut an X-shaped wound into its body.

Zhu Nü manifested its Beast Soul and fought Team Seven and the aberrations, but escaped after the team drove it into a Dark Space. Back at Iron Horse Base, Luo Yan led a review of the battle and urged the team to retreat rather than risk their lives when they could not win.

• Zhu Nü manifested its Beast Soul, attacked with Nightmare Crystals, and trapped the Headless General in a hair cocoon, but the Headless General broke free.
• Lan Xiao's fireball blasted Zhu Nü away, and Zhu Nü enveloped itself in a Dark Space that Murong Xuan and the others attacked.
• Zhu Nü vanished from the Dark Space, and Captain Luo Yan explained that it had escaped using a spatial teleportation ability.
• Zhao Chu said the team had done well to drive away the overlord and warned that the Desperate Battlefield strengthened giant beasts and suppressed their opponents.
• At Iron Horse Base, Team Seven discussed their first fight against an overlord, and Luo Yan advised them to fight decisively when prepared but retreat when they could not win.

Bai Qixue and Team Seven reviewed their training and battle plans, then spent a month gaining experience in the Desperate Battlefield before taking over its Heavenly Department Dragon Rider post. After settling into Youmugu Base and learning their team would be called the Heavenly Fire Squad, Captain Luo Yan went to meet Xu Tao and Wang Chong.

• Bai Qixue proposed using one attack-type Aberrant in team battles and planned to attempt Full Liberation under Captain Luo Yan's protection.
• Captain Luo Yan ordered Team Seven to train daily, and the team spent a month patrolling with Zhao Chu before driving off another Overlord Giant Beast.
• Team Seven replaced the Tianwei Squad at the Desperate Battlefield and moved from Iron Horse Base to Youmugu Base.
• Captain Luo Yan met base director Xu Tao, Mecha Legion commander Wang Chong, and adjutant Dong Wen, then settled his team into their quarters.
• Bai Shaotang named the team the Heavenly Fire Squad, and Captain Luo Yan went to the Command Hall after Xu Tao summoned him.

Luo Yan agreed to have Heavenly Fire Squad protect the detonation team as it planted stakes in Nether Vein No. 3. Just as the installation was underway, the radar identified an approaching Overlord Giant Beast as the Blazing Rock Dragon.

• Xu Tao and Wang Chong explained the Nether Vein detonation plan and asked Heavenly Fire Squad to guard Wang Chong's mecha unit.
• Luo Yan agreed to assist, and two days later he received a deployment message for the operation at Youmugu Base.
• Luo Yan led Heavenly Fire Squad to Nether Vein No. 3, where the detonation team began installing more than a hundred stakes.
• Luo Yan assigned Bai? as the main attacker and directed the rest of the squad to support her if an Overlord appeared.
• After two hours, the detonation team had installed one-third of the stakes when the radar detected an Overlord Giant Beast identified as the Blazing Rock Dragon.

Bai, Li Yuqing, and the others confronted the Blazing Rock Dragon as it attacked their position. After Li Yuqing’s barriers weakened its cannon blast and Bai’s White Bone Weirdness sent it crashing into a pit, Bai’s Headless General struck at its head.

• Bai warned the group about the Blazing Rock Dragon’s strengths and weaknesses as Yang Kui, Zhang Tianyi, and Murong Xuan prepared for the fight.
• The Blazing Rock Dragon stopped and fired its Iron Fire Cannon toward the humans and the demolition team.
• Li Yuqing raised dozens of Divine Steel walls that weakened the cannon blast until it dissipated.
• The Blazing Rock Dragon rode a rushing mudflow toward the group, but Bai’s White Bone Weirdness formed a slope that sent it tumbling into a pit.
• Bai sent her partially liberated Headless General forward, and it brought its Flaming Greatsword down on the Blazing Rock Dragon’s head with Overlord’s Severing Slash.

At Nether Vein No. 3, the Heavenly Fire Squad pressured the Blazing Rock Dragon until it manifested its beast soul, while Luo Yan stayed back to let his team gain experience. When a second overlord, Zhu Nü, arrived, Luo Yan intercepted it and killed it with a single strike from Zhurong.

• White Bone Weirdness, Headless General, Panshi, Great Swordsman, and Guandi Wusheng attacked the Blazing Rock Dragon while Luo Yan watched from a distance.
• The Blazing Rock Dragon manifested its beast soul and unleashed a sweeping wave of flames against the squad.
• The Giant Beast Radar detected Zhu Nü approaching Nether Vein No. 3, and Xu Tao warned Luo Yan not to force the battle.
• Luo Yan ordered White Bone Weirdness to keep fighting the Blazing Rock Dragon and used Divine Treasure and Prophet to analyze Zhu Nü's movements.
• Zhu Nü formed a sphere of Nightmare Crystals to attack the squad, but Zhurong appeared before it and cleaved it and its beast soul in half with Samadhi True Fire—Hè Zhǎn.

Luo Yan killed Zhu Nü with one sword strike, frightening the Blazing Rock Dragon into trying to flee. Captain Bai and her allies trapped it and fought back, ending with a wave of sword lights that cut apart its Iron Fire Cannons.

• Luo Yan killed Zhu Nü with a single sword strike, shocking the Command Hall and alarming the Blazing Rock Dragon.
• The Blazing Rock Dragon tried to retreat, but Li Yuqing used Tree Sea: Thousand-Tree Prison to lift and bind it.
• Captain Bai ordered the Headless General to attack, while Yang Kui's Iron Rock blocked the beast soul's Iron Fire Cannon and let the Headless General leap into the air.
• The Blazing Rock Dragon's beast soul prepared a barrage, and Luo Yan began to intervene before Captain Bai asked him to trust her team.
• The Blazing Rock Dragon opened fire, but Divine Speed Draw, Loulan Slash filled the sky with sword lights and cut apart its Iron Fire Cannons.

The Heavenly Fire Squad defeated Blazing Rock Dragon, then completed the demolition of Nether Vein No. 3. After the successful blast, Xu Tao ordered the squad to return and called for a victory banquet.

• The Headless General used its new Instant Kill Annihilation slash to kill Blazing Rock Dragon, and the beast soul dissolved as Li Yuqing's Tree Prison collapsed.
• Luo Yan confirmed that Blazing Rock Dragon's Overlord's Spectrum Signal had disappeared, and the Heavenly Fire Squad and Command Hall celebrated the victory.
• Deputy Captain Bai explained that the Headless General's new move concentrated the power of Hundred Kill Annihilation into one slash, while Murong Xuan and Yang Kui agreed to train together.
• The Heavenly Fire Squad escorted the demolition team away from Nether Vein No. 3 and brought back the corpses of Blazing Rock Dragon and Zhu Nü.
• Xu Tao ordered the Nether Vein detonated, and the blast destroyed it and dispersed much of its surrounding miasma.
• Xu Tao declared the demolition successful, told Luo Yan to return and rest, and ordered a victory banquet and a report to the Strategic Affairs Department.

Zhujian investigated the destroyed Nether Vein No. 3, found a burned bone bearing the aura of a celestial god, and left after connecting the destruction to humans. Outside Youmugu Base, Bai? attempted to fully liberate the Trickster, which manifested a sinister theater whose papier-mâché-headed audience turned toward her and Luo Yan.

• Zhujian found a charred bone at the ruined Nether Vein and recognized the faint aura of a celestial god.
• Zhujian recalled how humans had thwarted its alliance with Li Long and left the site, erasing its tracks.
• Bai? told Luo Yan she was ready to attempt the Trickster's Full Liberation, and the two drove outside Youmugu Base.
• Bai? raised her eyepatch and called on the Trickster, while Luo Yan summoned Fire Yang True Lord to protect her.
• The Trickster conjured an eerie theater filled with performers and spectators, then its papier-mâché-headed audience turned to stare at Luo Yan and Bai?.

Bai? summoned the anomaly Hundred Plays, discovered that it could imitate anything unseen as fake, and learned its strengths and limits with Luo Yan. They planned to have it imitate Divine Machines like Zhurong and Xuannü as a combat trump card.

• Bai? exposed Hundred Plays's stage disguise, and it begged her forgiveness before explaining its ability to confuse the genuine with the fake.
• Hundred Plays dispersed into white pigeons, and Luo Yan warned Bai? that it had been testing her and could not be trusted.
• Bai? and Luo Yan tested Hundred Plays over the next few days and learned that exposure stripped it of combat ability for a week.
• Luo Yan took Bai? to Zhurong's cockpit and suggested she study Divine Machines so Hundred Plays could imitate them.
• Bai? planned to ask Captain Bai about Xuannü, while Luo Yan cautioned that Hundred Plays could not reproduce a Divine Machine's full strength.

Luo Yan led soldiers on a reconnaissance mission to Li Long’s territory, where they confirmed the Nightmare Giant Beast remained in its nest and found no abnormalities. As the team headed back to Youmugu Base, a soldier received a distress transmission.

• Luo Yan briefed the soldiers on observing Dragon Abyss and checking for unusual activity near Li Long’s nest, then sent them to deploy reconnaissance robots.
• The soldiers used robots disguised as beasts to scout Li Long’s barren territory, marking patches of Strangling Grass that destroyed the machines.
• Luo Yan’s team confirmed Li Long had not left its nest and that the territory showed no abnormalities, so he ordered a withdrawal.
• On the return journey, Luo Yan texted Bai? that he was heading back to the base, and a soldier reported receiving a distress transmission.

Luo Yan traced an emergency transmission to three Fenghuo Base mechas trapped by four unusually powerful giant beasts and discovered that Dijiang clones were parasitizing the beasts. As Tai Sui prepared to fire on the trapped team, Luo Yan struck it with Zhurong, revealing a Dijiang clone inside.

• Luo Yan contacted Fenghuo Base, pinpointed the emergency transmission, and redirected his convoy to the valley where three mechas were trapped.
• Luo Yan piloted Zhurong to inspect the giant beasts and used his Golden Eyes of Enlightenment to discover overlapping biological gray light from parasitic Dijiang clones.
• Luo Yan learned that Dijiang could parasitize hosts, split into clones, survive through any remaining clone, and strengthen its hosts with hormones, but he could not find its main body.
• The Fenghuo Base team struggled to hold off two Mengji, a Mirage Turtle, and Tai Sui as their supplies and defenses dwindled.
• As Tai Sui aimed its main cannon at the trapped mechas, Luo Yan sliced it apart with a red beam, and a Dijiang clone emerged from its burning body.