Recaps

Lin Bai decided to leave Zhan Mountain City with Sun Yao and Zhou Xi because the war and medicine shortage made it unlikely he could find a Myriad Qi Violet Lotus Seed there. That night, Sun Yao went to the Sun family treasury, where Sun Qiao'er helped her get inside and revealed the seed's location.

• Zhou Xi told Lin Bai that Xuan Province Wolf City was besieging the eight strongholds around Zhan Mountain City, and Lin Bai suspected the siege was a feint or that Xuan Province had outside help.
• Lin Bai learned Sun Yao had returned with a badly swollen cheek; after she said someone other than her father had struck her, he offered to leave Zhan Mountain City with her.
• Sun Yao agreed to leave with Lin Bai the next day, and Lin Bai told Zhou Xi to prepare to go with them.
• That night, Sun Yao went to the Sun family’s restricted treasury, claiming she had her father’s orders to retrieve spirit medicines, but the hidden guard refused her entry without a jade token.
• Sun Qiao'er arrived with a jade token and helped Sun Yao enter, then told her the Myriad Qi Violet Lotus Seed was in one of the three treasure boxes on the ninth level and that she could take only one.

Sun Yao and Sun Qiao'er stole a Myriad Qi Violet Lotus Seed from the treasury for Qing Luo, but the Lord of Zhan Mountain City caught them and announced that Sun Yao would be married to Du Qiu of Red Hill City. Sun Qiao'er exposed Du Qiu's horrific reputation and accused their father of sacrificing her sister for a political arrangement.

• Sun Yao took a Myriad Qi Violet Lotus Seed from the treasury while Sun Qiao'er urged her to flee Zhan Mountain City with Qing Luo.
• Sun Yue and several hundred Sun Family experts surrounded the sisters, and Sun Qiao'er fought them to help Sun Yao escape.
• The Lord of Zhan Mountain City arrived, and Sun Qiao'er claimed responsibility for the theft to protect Sun Yao.
• The Lord of Zhan Mountain City refused to let Sun Yao keep the seed, withdrew her engagement to Qing Luo, and arranged her marriage to Du Qiu.
• Sun Qiao'er condemned Du Qiu as a notorious lecher who had sent more than a thousand wives into brothels, then accused their father of protecting Sun Yao's appearance for Du Qiu.

Sun Yao agreed to marry Du Qiu to secure Red Hill City's protection for Zhan Mountain City's Southeastern Four Towns, but demanded a Myriad Qi Violet Lotus Seed for Lin Bai. After Sun Qiao'er gave Lin Bai the seed and helped him escape the Sun Family, she stayed behind to divert the Elders Council's assassins.

• The Lord of Zhan Mountain City agreed to Sun Yao's marriage to Du Qiu in exchange for Red Hill City's protection, and Sun Yao accepted on the condition that Qing Luo receive a Myriad Qi Violet Lotus Seed.
• Sun Yao gave the lotus seed to Sun Qiao'er and asked her to deliver it to Qing Luo without telling him about the marriage.
• Sun Qiao'er and Zhou Xi forced the lotus seed into Lin Bai's mouth and carried him out of the Sun Family, telling him his engagement to Sun Yao had ended.
• Sun Qiao'er sensed the Elders Council's assassins approaching, told Zhou Xi to take Lin Bai toward South City, and drew her sword to lead the pursuers away.
• Zhou Xi and Lin Bai escaped East City and reached South City by dawn.

Lin Bai and Zhou Xi hid in a vacant residence in Zhan Mountain City while Lin Bai used the Myriad Qi Violet Lotus Seed to regrow his limbs. The Sun family's council of elders traced them to the residence and broke in, leaving Zhou Xi facing more than twenty warriors.

• Lin Bai warned Zhou Xi that the city gates were likely guarded, so Zhou Xi took him to a vacant residence in the southern district.
• Lin Bai focused on refining the Myriad Qi Violet Lotus Seed as his arms and legs began to regrow, while Zhou Xi checked that the residence was empty.
• The Sun family's council warriors enlisted the Seven Kill Gang to search for Lin Bai and Zhou Xi.
• The Seven Kill Gang leader identified the vacant residence on Cloud Sky Street and gave its location to the council warriors.
• More than twenty Sun family warriors smashed through the residence's gate, and Zhou Xi prepared to fight.

Lin Bai emerged after refining the Myriad Qi Violet Lotus Seed and regrowing his limbs, just as Zhou Xi was about to be killed by Sun Family martial artists. Lin Bai defeated them with one sword technique, leaving the threat from the Sun Family unresolved.

• More than twenty Sun Family Council of Elders martial artists entered Zhou Xi's residence and demanded the Myriad Qi Violet Lotus Seed.
• Zhou Xi stalled the attackers and fought to protect Lin Bai while he continued refining the seed, but they beat Zhou Xi nearly to death.
• Lin Bai opened the door with his limbs restored and warned the Sun Family martial artists to leave.
• The martial artists attacked Lin Bai after learning he had refined the seed and hearing that Sun Yue wanted Qing Luo's head.
• Lin Bai unleashed Azure Sea Torrent and turned all the attackers to ash.

Lin Bai killed the Sun family's pursuers with a single sword technique, then accepted Zhou Xi as his follower. After deciding to leave Zhan Mountain City once he had recovered, Lin Bai sent Zhou Xi to investigate the Sun family and examined his restored limbs and Qing Luo's sword.

• Lin Bai used Azure Sea Torrent to kill more than twenty Nine Tribulation Dao Realm martial artists, astonishing Zhou Xi.
• Lin Bai agreed to let the homeless Zhou Xi follow him and told him to conceal his real name, using Qing Luo's identity around outsiders.
• Lin Bai and Zhou Xi discussed the threat from the Sun family and Lin Bai's suspicions that Sun Yao had risked her life to obtain the Myriad Qi Violet Lotus Seed.
• Lin Bai ordered Zhou Xi to gather information about the Sun family while he adjusted to his restored limbs.
• Lin Bai put on Qing Luo's rings and took out Azure Frost, Qing Luo's former sword and a treasured Dao Divine Weapon of the Qing family.

Lin Bai learned that Zhan Mountain City planned to marry Sun Yao to Du Qiu of Red Hill City in exchange for military support, and decided to save her. He planned to contact Dou Shu and work with Xuan Province Wolf City against the marriage alliance.

• Lin Bai practiced with the Azure Frost Sword while Zhou Xi searched Zhan Mountain City for information.
• Zhou Xi told Lin Bai that the Sun family planned to marry Sun Yao to Du Qiu for a Myriad Qi Violet Lotus Seed and Red Hill City's support.
• Zhou Xi explained that Du Qiu had married over a thousand women and sent them to brothels, while Red Hill City had opened its gates to Xuan Province's forces.
• Lin Bai decided he could not abandon Sun Yao, who had helped him obtain the Myriad Qi Violet Lotus Seed.
• Lin Bai and Zhou Xi concluded that Xuan Province Wolf City would want to stop the alliance and decided to contact Dou Shu, the Vice Lord of Zhan Mountain City.

Lin Bai met Deputy City Lord Dou Shu in secret and used his knowledge of Dou Shu’s meeting with Lang Qing to secure a personal guard token. He then proposed an alliance to protect Sun Yao and help Dou Shu gain control of Zhan Mountain City, leaving Dou Shu to consider the deal.

• Lin Bai and Zhou Xi met a disguised Dou Shu in a secluded tavern, and Lin Bai revealed that he knew about Dou Shu’s secret meeting with Lang Qing.
• Dou Shu offered Lin Bai a personal guard token that would let him leave Zhan Mountain City, but Lin Bai said he intended to stay.
• Lin Bai argued that Red Hill City’s alliance with Zhan Mountain City could thwart Wolf City and leave Dou Shu’s agreement with Lang Qing unfulfilled.
• Dou Shu guessed that Lin Bai wanted to save Sun Yao from marrying Du Qiu, and Lin Bai confirmed that they could each achieve their goals through a deal.
• Lin Bai reminded Dou Shu that he had kept the secret meeting from the Sun family and urged him to join forces, while Dou Shu fell silent.

Lin Bai explained to Dou Shu how to disrupt the marriage alliance between Zhan Mountain City and Red Hill City by arranging for Xuan Province Wolf City to draw away the wedding procession’s guards. He planned to kill Du Qiu himself and make Red Hill City blame Qing Luo, leaving Wolf City and Dou Shu clear of responsibility.

• Dou Shu told Lin Bai that Red Hill City’s wedding procession was heavily guarded by Du Qiu’s powerful Second Uncle, Dao Venerable experts, and thousands of martial artists.
• Lin Bai challenged Dou Shu to disclose Xuan Province Wolf City’s response, and Dou Shu revealed that Wolf City had sent experts to negotiate with Red Hill City but did not want to provoke it into war.
• Lin Bai explained that killing Du Qiu himself would disrupt the alliance while directing Red Hill City’s anger toward Qing Luo rather than Wolf City or Dou Shu.
• Lin Bai proposed that Wolf City intercept the procession and lure away its experts, after which he would kill Du Qiu and take responsibility.
• Dou Shu praised the plan, then suggested a different place to strike, and Lin Bai gave him an exasperated look.

Lin Bai arranged with Dou Shu and Xuan Province Wolf City to attack Red Hill City's wedding procession so Du Qiu would die within Zhan Mountain City's territory and the marriage alliance would collapse. As the procession approached Chao Yun Mountain, Lin Bai prepared to kill Du Qiu despite the danger of Red Hill City's retaliation.

• Lin Bai explained that Du Qiu had to die within Zhan Mountain City's jurisdiction and urged Dou Shu to send the wedding procession away quickly; Dou Shu agreed to arrange an attack with Xuan Province Wolf City.
• Lin Bai and Zhou Xi watched Red Hill City's wedding procession enter Zhan Mountain City, where Du Qiu and Sun Yao joined the group before it departed.
• Dou Shu told Lin Bai that Xuan Province Wolf City would ambush the procession at Chao Yun Mountain around dusk.
• Lin Bai and Zhou Xi left Zhan Mountain City and reached Chao Yun Mountain ahead of the procession, but Zhou Xi saw no sign of the attackers.
• Lin Bai spotted the approaching spirit vessel and readied himself to act.

Lin Bai watched Xuan Province Wolf City ambush the wedding party from Red Hill City and Zhan Mountain City, then saw Du Qiu and Sun Yao escape as Lang Qing ordered his forces to withdraw. Lang Qing expected Qing Luo to kill the fugitives, while Lin Bai disappeared in pursuit.

• Lin Bai left Zhou Xi behind and went to the crash site of Red Hill City's spirit vessel, where he identified Xuan Province Wolf City's attack.
• Lang Qing claimed he had meant to strike Zhan Mountain City's escort, then led his warriors against them while sparing Red Hill City at first.
• Second Uncle Du fought Lang Qing's forces after they attacked Zhan Mountain City, while Zhan Mountain City's warriors feigned defeat and fled under secret orders.
• Xuan Province Wolf City's prepared forces overwhelmed Red Hill City, and Second Uncle Du told Du Qiu to flee with Sun Yao and warn Zhan Mountain City about a spy.
• Lang Qing refused to pursue Du Qiu, ordered his forces to withdraw, and said Qing Luo would deal with the escapees as Lin Bai vanished after them.

Lin Bai rescued Sun Yao by killing Du Qiu and his guards, then left the region with Sun Yao and Zhou Xi. In Zhan Mountain City, the City Lord learned of Du Qiu’s death and lamented that Lin Bai’s actions had ruined his plan to bind Red Hill City more closely to Zhan Mountain City.

• Lin Bai confronted Du Qiu in the forest and killed four guards, sparing one to carry the news.
• Du Qiu begged for his life and offered Sun Yao back, but Lin Bai killed him and rescued her.
• Lin Bai collected the Storage Bags and left with Sun Yao, later meeting Zhou Xi outside Chao Yun Mountain.
• The three left the heartland of Zhan Mountain City using Lin Bai’s Pass Token and headed beyond the Eight Great Strongholds.
• The City Lord of Zhan Mountain City learned that Lin Bai had killed Du Qiu and realized the death had undermined his political plans.

Lin Bai, Sun Yao, and Zhou Xi fled Zhan Mountain City and traveled toward Immortal Corpse River to search for Lin Bai’s demon sword. Red Hill City placed a massive bounty on Qing Luo, whose name and Lin Bai’s face spread throughout Lian Province, while Qing Luo’s second uncle watched from Clearwater City.

• Lin Bai and his companions avoided towns and cities as they left Zhan Mountain City, and Sun Yao said she did not regret going with him despite worrying about her father.
• Lin Bai reassured Sun Yao that Zhan Mountain City was unlikely to fall and said they would rest before heading to Immortal Corpse River.
• Red Hill City issued a huge bounty for Qing Luo, and Qing Luo’s second uncle saw the notice but assumed Lin Bai’s altered appearance came from the Myriad Qi Violet Lotus Seed.
• Lin Bai saw the bounty poster in a village recently massacred and led Sun Yao and Zhou Xi onward toward Immortal Corpse River.
• The three returned to Eternal Night Mountain, found the river using their memories, and began traveling upstream as Sun Yao and Zhou Xi discussed its legends and corpse-fishing factions.

Zhou Xi explained the power and wealth of the Sixteen Immortal Docks and Mooring Moon Bay as Lin Bai searched the Immortal Corpse River for the demon sword taken from him. At a corpse-fishing spot, Lin Bai met eight Sixteen Immortal Docks disciples and asked them to teach him how to make a living on the river.

• Zhou Xi told Lin Bai and Sun Yao that the Sixteen Immortal Docks and Mooring Moon Bay controlled valuable fishing grounds and treasures along the Immortal Corpse River.
• Lin Bai found the riverbank where he had first been fished out and said he needed to recover the sword taken with his Storage Bag.
• Eight men arrived and warned Lin Bai, Zhou Xi, and Sun Yao to leave the corpse-fishing spot because it belonged to the Sixteen Immortal Docks.
• Lin Bai told the men that he wanted to make a living on the river and asked for their advice.
• One of the men crudely suggested that Lin Bai take Sun Yao to Mooring Moon Bay to make money, provoking her anger.

Lin Bai investigated the Corpse Fisher who had found him and learned that the demon sword might still be with the group that hauled him from the Immortal Corpse River. He left for Spring Gazing Pavilion in Mooring Moon Bay to question Qian Qian.

• Lin Bai paid a middle-aged Corpse Fisher for information about fishing locations and learned that Sixteen Immortal Docks and Mooring Moon Bay rented protected river sites and bought recovered treasures.
• Lin Bai asked about the group that had hauled up his limbless body six months earlier, but the middle-aged man said the daily changing Corpse Fishers would be difficult to trace.
• Ye Geng said he had overheard Corpse Fishers discussing the limbless corpse at Spring Gazing Pavilion and that they had kept its sword but sold rare divine iron from its Storage Bag.
• Ye Geng told Lin Bai that the group had booked the courtesan Qian Qian for a month and suggested she might know where they went.
• Lin Bai thanked Ye Geng and left to find Qian Qian at Spring Gazing Pavilion.

Lin Bai learned that the demon sword was likely still with the Corpse Fishers and hurried to Mooring Moon Bay to find Qian Qian. He entered the Spring Gazing Pavilion alone, while Zhou Xi took Sun Yao sightseeing, and the madam misunderstood his request for a brief meeting.

• Ye Geng told Lin Bai that the Corpse Fishers had found treasures in his Storage Bag but left the demon sword unsold, and Lin Bai set off for Mooring Moon Bay.
• After Lin Bai and the others left, Uncle Yuan warned Ye Geng that the travelers resembled Qing Luo from Red Hill City's wanted notice and that the Corpse Fishers might be in danger.
• Seven days later, Zhou Xi guided Lin Bai and Sun Yao into Mooring Moon Bay and pointed out the Spring Gazing Pavilion, where Lin Bai wanted to meet Qian Qian.
• Lin Bai sent Zhou Xi and Sun Yao away before entering the pavilion alone, then paid a woman to arrange a meeting with Qian Qian.
• The madam quoted Qian Qian's price for a night, and Lin Bai clarified that he only needed half a quarter-hour, causing the madam to misunderstand his intentions.

Lin Bai paid Miss Qian Qian for information about the Corpse Fisher who had found the limbless corpse and learned to seek him at Sixteen Immortal Docks. After Zhou Xi warned him that the Spring Gazing Pavilion was tied to Red Hill City and dangerous, Lin Bai prepared to leave.

• The madam charged Lin Bai five million Vermillion Bird Pills to meet Miss Qian Qian, and he paid a one-million-pill deposit.
• Lin Bai asked Miss Qian Qian about a Corpse Fisher who had visited her about half a year earlier and paid her one hundred thousand Vermillion Bird Pills for information.
• Miss Qian Qian identified the man as Song Yunhu, said he had fished up a limbless corpse and spent the resulting fortune at the Spring Gazing Pavilion, and directed Lin Bai to ask a steward at Sixteen Immortal Docks about him.
• Zhou Xi warned Lin Bai that the Spring Gazing Pavilion was unsafe because pleasure-house factions in Mooring Moon Bay had ties to Red Hill City.
• Lin Bai told Zhou Xi to take Sun Yao out of Mooring Moon Bay, then thanked Miss Qian Qian and headed for the door.

Lin Bai was exposed as Qing Luo at the Spring Gazing Pavilion and fought his way past its warriors before escaping into the night. The old madam then alerted Zhang Zun and Xiao Ji, drawing more powerful forces into the pursuit.

• Qian Qian watched Lin Bai leave, while the old madam and hundreds of armed warriors surrounded the courtyard.
• The old madam revealed that she had recognized Lin Bai as Qing Luo and demanded he surrender so she could hand him over to Red Hill City.
• Lin Bai refused and tried to escape, but the Spring Gazing Pavilion’s warriors surrounded him again.
• Lin Bai used the Twenty-Four Sky Sword’s Azure Sea Torrent to defeat the hundreds of warriors and escaped over the roof.
• After Lin Bai disappeared, the old madam sent messages to Zhang Zun and Xiao Ji asking them to help capture him.

Xiao Ji learned that Qing Luo was alive and headed to Mooring Moon Bay, while Lin Bai fled the bay and was pursued by Zhang Zun, Red Hill City's Dao Venerable steward. Lin Bai wounded Zhang Zun with a surprise sword strike but was then blasted into a mountain forest, where Zhang Zun prepared to strike again.

• Xiao Ji received news that Qing Luo had come to Mooring Moon Bay and went to see what was happening.
• Lin Bai left Mooring Moon Bay, sensed a powerful pursuer, and rode toward the Immortal Corpse River instead of meeting Zhou Xi.
• Zhang Zun caught up with Lin Bai, identified himself as Red Hill City's steward, and attacked him over the bounty for killing Du Qiu.
• Lin Bai used his Three Kill Sword Formation, but Zhang Zun overpowered him and sent him flying while he vomited blood.
• Lin Bai tried to escape and surprised Zhang Zun with Twenty-Four Sky Sword: Azure Sea Torrent, but Zhang Zun retaliated with Cloud Wave Heaven Flipping Hand and hurled him into a mountain forest.
• Zhang Zun rushed toward the injured Lin Bai and raised his hand to kill him or destroy his cultivation.

Lin Bai narrowly escaped Zhang Zun when Xiao Ji intervened, invoking their connection through the Lian Province Alliance to protect him from Red Hill City. Lin Bai accepted Xiao Ji’s invitation to Mooring Moon Bay and reunited with Zhou Xi and Sun Yao, leaving him temporarily safe and with a chance to learn more about the Eternal Devil Sect.

• Lin Bai fled Zhang Zun, but the Immortal Corpse River struck him down and Zhang Zun caught up to attack.
• Xiao Ji arrived and forced Zhang Zun back, then explained that Qing Luo was protected as a future member of the Lian Province Alliance in the Eternal Devil Sect.
• Zhang Zun warned that he would report the matter to the Du Family of Red Hill City and then left.
• Xiao Ji invited Lin Bai to rest at Mooring Moon Bay, where he promised Lin Bai would be safe.
• Lin Bai asked to find his friends, and Xiao Ji helped him reunite with Zhou Xi and Sun Yao before they traveled to Mooring Moon Bay together.

At Mooring Moon Bay, Xiao Ji explained the Eternal Devil Sect’s plans and offered Lin Bai protection while helping him search for the enemy who stole his Storage Bag and sword. By dusk, Xiao Ji’s search connected a Corpse Fisher to the Serpent Hall’s Yan Guang, giving Lin Bai a new lead.

• Lin Bai visited Xiao Ji after recovering from his injuries, and Xiao Ji told him to keep a low profile until he gained real standing in the Eternal Devil Sect.
• Xiao Ji explained that Elder Huang Hang and the Lian Province Alliance were approaching and offered to bring Lin Bai to meet them after they arrived.
• Lin Bai told Xiao Ji he had come to Mooring Moon Bay to recover his Storage Bag and sword, which his enemy had taken before jumping into the Immortal Corpse River.
• Xiao Ji sent servants to investigate, and by dusk they reported that Song Yunhu had hauled up a limbless corpse and that Yan Guang had made Song Yunhe his guard and attendant.

Lin Bai tracked down Song Yunhu in Kui Town with help from Xiao Ji’s people and confronted him over the wealth Song Yunhu had taken from him. Xiao Lie seized Song Yunhu and escorted him away, leaving the tavern keeper assured that the Xiao Family could answer to Yan Guang.

• Lin Bai traveled to Kui Town with Xiao Family martial artists after learning Song Yunhu was there.
• Xiao Lie’s informant confirmed that Song Yunhu was drinking at a local tavern, and Xiao Lie’s men guarded its exits.
• Song Yunhu boasted to the tavern crowd about taking treasures worth over a billion Vermillion Bird Pills from a man without limbs.
• Xiao Lie smashed Song Yunhu’s head into a liquor table, and Lin Bai revealed himself to the terrified man.
• Xiao Lie dragged Song Yunhu out of the tavern after telling the keeper that the Xiao Family could answer to Yan Guang.

Lin Bai recovered most of his stolen possessions from Song Yunhu, but learned that the Heaven Measuring Ruler and other valuables had been sold to the Sixteen Immortal Docks. After Lin Bai silently killed Song Yunhu, Xiao Lie suspected that the man using Qing Luo’s identity was not Qing Luo.

• Xiao Lie brought Song Yunhu to Lin Bai, who choked him until Song Yunhu admitted he had sold some of Lin Bai’s belongings and handed over his Storage Bag.
• Lin Bai recovered several treasures, including the demon sword, but discovered that the Eternal Sand, Destiny Stone, Soaring Sky Divine Iron, and Heaven Measuring Ruler were missing.
• Song Yunhu said he had sold the Heaven Measuring Ruler to the Sixteen Immortal Docks, and Lin Bai accepted that the missing treasures would be difficult to recover.
• Lin Bai left the alley, and Xiao Lie discovered that Song Yunhu had been killed by a silent sword strike.
• After returning to Mooring Moon Bay, Xiao Lie told Xiao Ji that Song Yunhu had recognized Lin Bai as someone other than Qing Luo and that Lin Bai’s swordsmanship was beyond what Clearwater City could have taught.

After learning that Sixteen Immortal Docks planned to destroy Mooring Moon Bay, Lin Bai faced a choice between leaving before the attack or staying to help Xiao Ji defend the Xiao Family’s territory. The chapter ended with Lin Bai consulting Sun Yao and Zhou Xi about what to do.

• Yan Guang learned that Xiao Lie had killed Song Yunhu and revealed that Sixteen Immortal Docks planned to attack Mooring Moon Bay in five days.
• Lin Bai practiced with the Demon Sword until Xiao Ji told him that Sixteen Immortal Docks would attack Mooring Moon Bay at dusk the next day, disguised as martial artists from Xuan Province.
• Xiao Ji warned Lin Bai to leave before dawn, when Mooring Moon Bay’s formation would prevent anyone from entering, and said he would defend his family’s territory.
• Lin Bai summoned Sun Yao and Zhou Xi to discuss their next move; Sun Yao said she would follow him, while Zhou Xi advised them to leave.

Lin Bai chose to stay in Mooring Moon Bay when the Sixteen Immortal Docks prepared to attack, despite Xiao Ji warning him that the city faced overwhelming forces. As the battle began, Lin Bai claimed he was invincible beneath the Dao Venerable, while Zhou Xi feared Mooring Moon Bay had little chance of victory.

• Lin Bai refused to flee Mooring Moon Bay, saying he would not abandon Xiao Ji after Xiao Ji had saved and sheltered him.
• At dawn, Xiao Ji showed Lin Bai the Nine Mountains Sea-Suppressing Formation, and Lin Bai used his Devouring Sword Soul to spot its formation eyes and weaknesses.
• Lin Bai offered to help Xiao Ji and declared that he was invincible beneath the Dao Venerable, surprising Xiao Ji.
• After dusk, the Sixteen Immortal Docks attacked Mooring Moon Bay's City Protection Formation, and Zhou Xi said the city was unlikely to win.