Chapter Summaries

Bai? exposed Hundred Plays’ deception, and Dragon Duel killed the bizarre entity before bowing to her and disappearing. As dawn broke, Zhujian fled the valley, but Luo Yan pursued it in Zhurong and struck it with the Samadhi True Fire.

• The Headless General rode the White Bone Dragon and cut off the Crimson Divine Machine’s arm, while Hundred Plays realized the general’s strength came from his Dao of Slaughter.
• Bai? recognized Hundred Plays beneath its illusion of Zhurong, and Dragon Duel’s Dao turned the bizarre entity into ash.
• Dragon Duel knelt before Bai? and vanished with the White Bone Dragon after she thanked him and called him back.
• After Bai? declared the battle over, Zhujian fled Youmugu Valley as dawn arrived.
• Luo Yan pursued Zhujian in Zhurong, blocked its arrows with the Pine Pattern Heavy Sword, and used Sundial to slice through its bow, arm, and shoulder.

Luo Yan drove Zhujian away from Youmugu Base by diverting Shan Jun into pursuing it, then killed Suan Yu to eliminate the remaining threat. In the Trial Area, Jing Yu and Hundred Battles Squad ambushed the wounded Heyu and forced it back into battle.

• Luo Yan held back from killing the injured Zhujian after Xu Tao warned that Shan Jun might attack the base if Zhujian died.
• Luo Yan fired a Blazing Flame Dragon at Shan Jun, giving Zhujian a chance to flee west while Shan Jun chased after it.
• Xu Tao announced that the danger to Youmugu Base had passed, and Luo Yan killed Suan Yu as it tried to escape.
• Heyu fled from Guan Xuelin and Tannan Squad after drawing up underground water to escape, but a ranged attack struck its chest.
• Jing Yu attacked Heyu with 'Bi'an' and the Ziwei Heavenly Fire as the rest of Hundred Battles Squad joined in to keep the wounded beast engaged.

After waking from a day-long recovery, Bai Qixue learned that Hundred Plays had stopped responding after Dragon Fighting General defeated it. Luo Yan later announced the trial results to the students, with Tiannan Academy taking first place.

• Bai Qixue woke at Iron Horse Base and found that Hundred Plays no longer responded after Dragon Fighting General defeated it.
• Luo Yan brought Bai Qixue porridge, and they discussed Hundred Plays, her liberation of Headless General, and the events at Youmugu Base.
• Zhang Tianyi told Luo Yan the trial had ended and asked him to announce the results; the Hundred Battles Squad had placed second.
• Luo Yan addressed the trial participants, urged them to keep a normal heart, and announced Tiannan Academy as the winner.

Hundred Battles Academy placed second in the Desperate Trial, and Luo Yan encouraged its students to join him at the Dragon Riders Headquarters. Meanwhile, Old Zhao revealed that his improved Fusion Giant Beast equation was ready for experiments, though it remained uncertain whether the creation would develop a beast soul.

• Luo Yan announced Hundred Battles Academy’s second-place finish, and Xia Feibai awarded the top three academies resources and human-designed Spirit Suits.
• Xiao Shi praised Jing Yu and the team for relying on one another, then urged the students to keep working hard.
• Luo Yan visited Hundred Battles Academy and invited the students to meet him at the Dragon Riders Headquarters; several declared they had already applied to join.
• Luo Yan watched Hundred Battles Academy’s convoy depart from Iron Horse Base, and the Heavenly Fire Squad resumed guarding the battlefield the next day.
• Old Zhao explained that he had improved Cai Andao’s fusion equation and proposed combining genes from different Overlord Giant Beasts.
• Zhou Yucheng approved funding for Old Zhao’s experiments, though Old Zhao could not guarantee that the Fusion Giant Beast would develop a beast soul.

Zhou Yucheng showed Wan Qing the evidence he had gathered about Minister Red Ghost, but she remained suspicious and insisted on watching him when he went after the Nether Fish. Later, Luo Yan returned to Jinge City and caught his mother Zhou Lijuan as she fell from a ladder.

• Zhou Yucheng showed Wan Qing records and footage indicating that Minister Red Ghost had been protecting a base when Cai Andao’s incident occurred, but Wan Qing questioned whether the evidence was genuine.
• Wan Qing confronted Zhou Yucheng about making her survive in a transformed state without her consent, then said she wanted to focus on work and keep watch on Red Ghost when he went out to sea for a Nether Fish.
• Zhou Yucheng told Li Suisui to draft a tactful document arranging for Wan Qing and others to assist Minister Red Ghost in capturing the Nether Fish.
• At the Sunshine Convenience Store in Jinge City, Zhou Lijuan slipped from a ladder while replacing a light bulb, and Luo Yan caught her before she fell.

After returning from the Desperate Battlefield, Luo Yan and Xiao Xiao visited Zhou Lijuan before taking leave and undergoing routine examinations at Headquarters. At the base, Wang Meng explained that the Iron Gull Alliance’s attempted supply points had raised tensions and prompted tighter border and Undercity security.

• Luo Yan and Xiao Xiao visited Zhou Lijuan’s shop, where Zhou Lijuan welcomed Xiao Xiao warmly and prepared to buy a chicken for soup.
• Luo Yan reported to Bai Shaotang that the Heavenly Fire Squad had finished its half-year deployment, and the squad received a month of leave with weekly medical examinations.
• Xiao Xiao completed her checkup and encountered Xia Yan, who remained deferential to her even as captain of the Earthly Hero Squad.
• Luo Yan and Xiao Xiao met Qing Lian and Wang Meng in the cafeteria, where Wang Meng said he had also just returned from a mission.
• Wang Meng explained that Freedom Wings sought supply points in the territories of several mecha groups, that Commander Zhao and the allied groups had rejected the plan, and that they had strengthened border defenses and tightened Undercity permits.

Luo Yan prepared for a supervised sea expedition to capture Nether Fish, then visited Blizzard Base to check on Little Rascal and the other children. He reunited with them and learned their courtyard was under pressure from a construction company, which he told them to report to Chang Qing.

• Luo Yan spoke with Feiyu, confirmed the sea expedition preparations would be ready at the end of the month, and heard that Hu Ziqiang had left his projects in the hands of an assistant.
• Bai Shaotang reassigned the Heavenly Fire Squad's missions while Luo Yan was away and told him the Mystic Womb Realm cultivation method was nearing completion.
• Luo Yan left Jinge City and traveled to Blizzard Base to visit Little Rascal and the other children.
• Luo Yan arrived as Little Rascal drove away men trying to buy their courtyard, and the children joyfully reunited with him.
• Luo Yan learned the construction company had repeatedly pressured the children to sell the courtyard and advised them to report the situation to Chang Qing.
• Luo Yan praised Little Rascal's cultivation progress as the children joked and laughed together.

At Furong Real Estate Company, Manager Ding ordered Ghost Shark to arrange an accident against the children who refused to sell their courtyard. Meanwhile, Luo Yan helped Xiaodao advance, gave her valuable gifts and training, and asked her to uphold his principles; she promised to do so.

• Manager Ding told his employees that Furong Real Estate planned to take the last courtyard and ordered a woman to hire Ghost Shark to make the children disappear without leaving evidence.
• Du Wei saw crimson-gold lightning in the house and celebrated Xiaodao's breakthrough to the Advanced level.
• Luo Yan explained Xiaodao's Crimson Gold Thunder, gave her a Primordial Stone Fragment to transform her Divine Treasure, and gifted her his sword, Dragon Elephant.
• Luo Yan taught Xiaodao the three Ultimate Skills of Watching the Sea Tide, and she learned them quickly.
• Luo Yan asked Xiaodao not to bully the weak, to take responsibility for any students she taught, and to cherish her life; Xiaodao promised to follow his instructions.

Luo Yan decided to send Ye Xiang, Du Wei, and Xiaodao to the Academy so they could receive specialized instruction, and arranged for the children to live in his Undercity house. That night, Barlow and an accomplice tried to put the courtyard’s children to sleep before setting it on fire, but someone in a wheelchair confronted Barlow with a rifle.

• Luo Yan found Ye Xiang and Du Wei making progress in their training but realized he could not teach Ye Xiang Mystic Art or provide all the instruction the children needed.
• Luo Yan promised to arrange Academy places for Ye Xiang, Du Wei, and Xiaodao, and offered his Undercity house as a place for everyone to stay.
• Luo Yan contacted Li Bohang to ask him to discuss Xiaodao’s admission with Xiao Shi.
• Barlow and an Advanced-level accomplice arrived at the courtyard to kill the children by hypnotizing them and setting the place on fire.
• Barlow used his supernatural ability to lull the courtyard’s residents to sleep and opened the gate, only to find a wheelchair-bound young man aiming a rifle at him.

Luo Yan and the children stopped Ghost Shark’s attackers, then learned that Chen Shi had hired them to kill everyone in the courtyard. Luo Yan concluded that Furong Real Estate had a powerful backer and challenged Saber to work out how they could use that knowledge to their advantage.

• Du Wei dragged Barlow into the courtyard and beat him, while Saber’s crimson-gold sword attack drove the flat-topped cultivator away.
• Luo Yan had Barlow woken and questioned him; Saber cut off two of his fingers before he revealed that Chen Shi had hired the attackers.
• Saber identified Furong Real Estate as the likely employer behind Chen Shi, and Luo Yan reasoned that the company must have a backer unafraid of Thunderfire.
• Luo Yan asked Saber how they could maximize their gains, then knocked Barlow unconscious when he interrupted to demand help.

Xiaodao and Luo Yan dealt with Furong Real Estate's attempt to seize the courtyard by involving Chang Qing and the Strategic Affairs Department, forcing Furong to leave Blizzard Base. After returning to Jinge City, Luo Yan learned that the Strategic Affairs Department had sunk Freedom Wings warships that entered its waters, and received Feiyu's message that everything was ready to leave.

• Xiaodao weighed negotiating with Furong Real Estate against destroying the company, and Luo Yan advised her to enlist Chang Qing and use Thunderfire's influence.
• Luo Yan called a Strategic Affairs Department base to identify Furong Real Estate's backer and warn them while Xiaodao and Du Wei took Barlow to Chang Qing.
• Xiaodao returned and reported that Chang Qing had arrested Chen Shi, exposed Furong Real Estate's role, and ordered the company out of Blizzard Base.
• Luo Yan stayed two more days, left Blizzard Base, and returned to Jinge City several days later.
• Bai? told Luo Yan that the Strategic Affairs Department had sunk Freedom Wings warships after they entered its waters, and that Commander Zhao had rebuffed Freedom Wings' demand for an explanation.
• Luo Yan found Feiyu's message saying everything was ready for them to leave.

Luo Yan prepared his trusted subordinates for an overseas expedition, rewarding Feiyu and Zhuo Hu with advanced cultivation methods and helping Yang Hao break through to Mystic Mastery. The group prepared to board the Pearl for East Welcome Island, where they would transfer to Kunlun Group’s fleet and continue out to sea.

• Luo Yan promised Feiyu and Zhuo Hu the second level of the Sea Overturning Art and offered Yang Hao the first level of the Sha Blood Soul Devouring Art to help him enter Mystic Mastery.
• Feiyu explained that the fleet would travel aboard the Pearl because tensions at sea and strict personnel approvals had delayed Kunlun Group’s own departure arrangements.
• Zhuo Hu confirmed that Old Hei and Hong Gu would watch the camp and that he had brought twenty Water Ghosts for the voyage.
• Luo Yan privately taught Yang Hao the Soul Devouring Art’s Reception Chapter and first level, explaining how the Dragon Soaring Agent and Pulse Opening Agent would aid his breakthrough.
• Yang Hao used the agents and Luo Yan’s guidance to condense a Blood Sea, open four Mystic Meridians, and advance to Mystic Mastery.
• Luo Yan congratulated Yang Hao and instructed him to watch Yang Tao and tell him when she perfected the Advanced level.

Luo Yan rejected the team Zhou Yucheng sent from Giant Deer City after recognizing Wan Qing among them. He nearly drew Ming Ye on her, but Zhou Yucheng intervened by phone and ordered the team to return.

• Liu Guangliang presented Zhou Yucheng’s authorization and offered assistance, but Luo Yan recognized Wan Qing and asked why she had come.
• Luo Yan rejected the team and ordered them to leave, saying he would explain his decision to Zhou Yucheng.
• Wan Qing challenged Luo Yan’s authority and loyalty, so he drew Ming Ye and threatened to kill her.
• Liu Guangliang called Zhou Yucheng, who apologized for Wan Qing’s behavior and agreed to send the team back.
• Wan Qing called Luo Yan a wimp, then admitted she had no right to say it and left with Liu Guangliang’s team.

Luo Yan boarded the Pearl and contacted the Nether Fish, learning that it was being harassed by a Forbidden Land's overlord. As the ship sailed toward East Welcome Island, a cannon blast sounded outside his window.

• Feiyu handed Luo Yan his travel documents and tickets at Feiyun Port, and Luo Yan boarded the Pearl with Zhuo Hu and the others.
• A little girl apologized after her dog, Dousha Bao, barked at Zhuo Hu, and Zhuo Hu let them go.
• Luo Yan contacted the Nether Fish and learned that an overlord in its Forbidden Land had been sending Upper-tier Giant Beasts to attack it.
• Luo Yan told the Nether Fish to hide or leave the Forbidden Land, and promised to discuss challenging the overlord after they reunited.
• The Pearl set sail for East Welcome Island, and Luo Yan saw the girl playing with Dousha Bao on deck before returning to his room.
• The following evening, while Luo Yan was exchanging messages with Bai?, a deep cannon blast sounded outside his window.

Luo Yan and Zhu Hu watched the Pearl's escort fleet battle suspected pirates while a diver secretly entered the ship to attack a little girl. Zhu Hu stopped the attacker’s swarm of Razor-toothed Viperfish and turned it back on him.

• Luo Yan and Zhu Hu saw the Pearl’s escort fleet exchange fire with armed speedboats that Zhu Hu suspected belonged to Azure Dragon Shipping.
• A diver rode a shark to the Pearl and slipped past surveillance into the little girl’s room.
• The diver tried to stab the awakened girl, but her Labrador bit his dagger hand, and her parents fled with her into the corridor.
• Luo Yan identified the attacker as Gan Rong, an Advanced-level cultivator whose Divine Treasure was Dragon Palace, and Zhu Hu blocked his swarm of Razor-toothed Viperfish.
• Zhu Hu overturned the water and fish with the Sea Overturning Art and sent them crashing down toward Gan Rong.

Luo Yan and Zhu Hu stopped Gan Rong from attacking a family aboard the Pearl, then learned that Gan Rong was an inside man for Azure Dragon Shipping’s planned takeover of the ship. With the Pearl due to reach port the next day, Luo Yan declined to get involved in protecting it beyond their departure.

• Gan Rong released crocodiles from his Divine Treasure, but Zhu Hu defeated him and captured him at Luo Yan’s request.
• Shipboard security guards took Gan Rong away after the little girl’s family confirmed what had happened.
• Tong Zhenghao thanked Luo Yan and explained that his family was leaving Langya City because his wife, Aisha, had been ordered deported; their daughter Tong Xin mourned her dog, Dousha Bao, which Gan Rong had killed.
• The next morning, Zhu Hu told Luo Yan that Gan Rong had confessed to helping Azure Dragon Shipping seize the Pearl from within while its ships created a diversion.
• Luo Yan said the Strategic Affairs Department and Freedom Wings would escort the Pearl after he and Zhu Hu disembarked the next day, and Zhu Hu understood that they would not take responsibility for its safety.

Luo Yan and Zhu Hu disembarked at East Welcome Island, where Tong Xin gave Zhu Hu a drawing as thanks for saving her. After learning about the island’s recent growth and dangers, they entered a bar, where a mysterious man offered them a chance to make quick money.

• Tong Xin gave Zhu Hu a drawing of him defeating Rong before he left the Pearl.
• Luo Yan and Zhu Hu disembarked at East Welcome Island while the Pearl prepared to continue into the High Seas.
• Zhu Hu caught a pickpocket targeting Luo Yan as they pushed through the crowded pier.
• A driver told Luo Yan and Zhu Hu how Oriental Shipping had helped the island prosper and how its mecha defended ships from giant beasts.
• Luo Yan and Zhu Hu entered a lively local bar, where a graying man approached them with an offer to make quick money.

Luo Yan and Zhuo Hu arrived on East Welcome Island, where Bao Ying tried to sell them protection before arranging for them to be taught a lesson. Meanwhile, Luo Yan identified Du Ang as an Azure Dragon Shipping manager, and Du Ang planned to rob the Pearl and frame the Strategic Affairs Department.

• Bao Ying drove off Hou, then offered Luo Yan and Zhuo Hu protective charms, but Luo Yan saw through the scam and ignored him.
• Bao Ying ordered a man in a red shirt to arrange a “full banquet” for Luo Yan and Zhuo Hu as punishment for refusing his offer.
• Luo Yan used his Divine Treasure to identify Du Ang as a Profound Comprehension First Layer cultivator and a manager of Azure Dragon Shipping.
• Du Ang discussed robbing the Pearl after it left territorial waters, noting that Gan Rong had been captured and might have exposed their group.
• Du Ang proposed planting items connected to the Strategic Affairs Department on the Pearl so Freedom Wings would blame the department while the pirates escaped with the valuables.

Luo Yan and Zhuo Hu dealt with Bao Ying’s ambush before boarding a cargo ship bound for the Kunlun Group’s maritime fleet. Wan Qing had secretly infiltrated the fleet, where her enhanced Puppet Control Technique let her control people’s minds and hide from Luo Yan.

• Luo Yan recognized Bao Ying’s fake-bill scheme and told Zhuo Hu to defeat the attackers without killing anyone.
• Zhuo Hu beat the ambushers and knocked Bao Ying unconscious, while the bar’s guards dragged them away.
• Luo Yan and Zhuo Hu boarded a cargo ship, which took them to the fleet’s anchorage.
• Wan Qing watched Luo Yan arrive from an escort ship where she had been hiding.
• Wan Qing used her enhanced Puppet Control Technique to make two sailors forget they had seen her and resolved to stay hidden from Luo Yan.

Zhou Yucheng sent Luo Yan and the Gou Mang Department on a costly mission to capture the Nether Fish, partly to balance Black Witch’s departments, while Luo Yan used the voyage to cultivate Pure Yang True Fire and reconsider how divinity, Divine Treasures, and primordial spirits were connected. As the Kunlun fleet sailed toward the Nether Fish’s likely waters, a speedboat began following it, and its crew reported the fleet to Boss Du as a lucrative target.

• Zhou Yucheng manipulated the drawing of lots so the Gou Mang Department would take the Nether Fish mission, hoping to slow its rise and give Jin Na’s Qiang Liang Department room to grow.
• Luo Yan accepted the mission, trusting Feiyu, Yang Hao, Yu Qiushui, Zhang Yugu, Liang Ze, and his other allies to keep the Gou Mang Department running in his absence.
• Aboard the flagship, Luo Yan cultivated the Samadhi Sun Manifestation Method and continued trying to remove the impurities from Crimson Gold Fire to condense Pure Yang True Fire.
• Luo Yan reflected on Dr. Jia Miao’s findings and concluded that Divine Treasures were manifestations of divinity and that his primordial spirit’s traits suited the Sun Manifestation Method.
• A man on a speedboat spotted the Kunlun fleet following behind it and told his companion to report to Boss Du that they had found a valuable cargo fleet.