Chapter Summaries

Qin He insisted on burning six corpses found on the Netherflame Mother Beast, claiming it was a Night Watchman’s duty while secretly seeking a benefit from the bodies. Great Gold Tooth suspected Qin had a reason for doing it and mentioned Sin City’s Corpse Burning Chamber, which caught Qin’s interest.

• Ma Da told Great Gold Tooth that the Netherflame Mother Beast had given birth less than a day earlier and was still weakened, deepening Great Gold Tooth’s disappointment.
• Qin He pulled the six corpses from the beast’s spinal spikes and began preparing them for cremation, stitching their wounds and arranging their bodies.
• Qin He insisted that the corpses had to be burned under Sin City law and refused to leave until the job was done, so Great Gold Tooth ordered his men to gather firewood.
• Great Gold Tooth asked Qin He whether burning the corpses benefited him, but Qin He denied it and told him to ask fewer questions.
• Great Gold Tooth mentioned Sin City’s Corpse Burning Chamber, and Qin He’s eyes lit up at the name.

Qin He sought work at Sin City's Corpse Burning Chamber, and Great Gold Tooth offered to introduce him to someone who could arrange occasional paid work there. Great Gold Tooth made the introduction conditional on surviving the Cave Dwelling, and Qin He promised to keep him alive—though possibly crippled.

• Qin He asked Great Gold Tooth about the Corpse Burning Chamber's working conditions, vacancies, and hiring requirements.
• Great Gold Tooth explained that Qin He had little chance of joining the City Guard because there was no precedent for a night watchman changing status.
• Great Gold Tooth told Qin He that corpse burners sometimes privately hired extra help for dangerous or overdue work, though the pay was low.
• Qin He asked Great Gold Tooth to introduce him to someone at the Corpse Burning Chamber when they returned to Sin City.
• Great Gold Tooth agreed but pointed out that they first had to survive the Cave Dwelling, and Qin He promised to protect him while warning he might end up crippled.

Qin He reviewed the Shadow Plays of six dead people and learned about a powerful mystery figure wielding a Black Coffin, along with useful information about the wilderness and the Cave Dwelling. He collected several rewards, while Great Gold Tooth lost another Spirit Contract Talisman after Qin He demanded a higher price.

• Da Yajin realized Qin He had lowered the price again, and Qin He agreed that avoiding crippling would cost more.
• Qin He learned from the six Shadow Plays that five of the dead deserved their fate, while one Wheel Sea Realm Night Watchman had been unlucky.
• Qin He discovered that a Divine Bridge Realm Fugitive of Sin had been ambushed by a powerful mystery figure carrying a Black Coffin before fleeing into the Cave Dwelling and dying.
• Qin He obtained pills, a magical artifact, and other rewards, but found that the Flying Sky Talisman and Myriad Blood Quenching Technique required spiritual energy.
• Ma Da and Ma Er salvaged valuable parts from the mother beast’s corpse, while Great Gold Tooth complained about his losses and surrendered another Spirit Contract Talisman.

Qin He, Great Gold Tooth, and Ge Yanbing entered the Cave Dwelling to retrieve the Netherflame Beast's cub and encountered a deadly trap among a pile of bones. They survived the attack, but Ge Yanbing's sword was nearly destroyed by the corrosive poison.

• Great Gold Tooth insisted on entering the Cave Dwelling despite Qin He's warning, and left Ma Da, Ma Er, and Liu Shan outside to provide support.
• Qin He, Great Gold Tooth, and Ge Yanbing entered the sinister cavern and found bones piled half a man high beneath webs and slime.
• A skull covered in dark green mushrooms fell and burst, sending poisonous threads flying at the three men.
• Qin He pulled Great Gold Tooth out of danger, while Ge Yanbing cut through the threads and watched the poison corrode his sword.

Qin He and his companions left the mysterious bone-covered growth and continued through the dark mist, where Qin He killed a fast, python-headed beast with the Glazed Thorn. Great Gold Tooth identified it as a Black Armored Snake Ape and warned that the creature lived in groups.

• Qin He and Great Gold Tooth decided not to investigate the mysterious growth, and the group left in search of the Netherflame Beast's cub.
• The companions entered thick blackish-gray mist as a Black Armored Snake Ape lunged at Great Gold Tooth with its bladed tongue.
• Ge Yanbing pulled Great Gold Tooth down, and Qin He shot the beast through the head with the Glazed Thorn.
• Great Gold Tooth recognized the dead creature as a Black Armored Snake Ape and warned that it was social.

Qin He, Ge Yanbing, and Great Gold Tooth prepared to defend themselves against a swarm of Black Armored Snake Apes in Sin City. Great Gold Tooth raised a costly Five Elements Array, but the beasts attacked in overwhelming numbers, and the battle had only just begun.

• Ge Yanbing urged the group to avoid the approaching beasts, but Great Gold Tooth pointed out that their glowing eyes had already surrounded them.
• Ge Yanbing led the group to a depression by the rock wall, while Great Gold Tooth deployed his Five Elements Array to protect them and restore their vitality.
• The first Black Armored Snake Apes struck the array, and Great Gold Tooth warned that it could only provide a brief chance to recover.
• Great Gold Tooth attacked with sleeve swords, Ge Yanbing fought with his longsword, and Qin He swept his sector clear with Four-Unlike.
• Qin He saw the beasts keep charging in waves, with their overwhelming numbers posing the greatest threat.

Qin He fought off the Black Armored Snake Apes as their coordinated attacks began targeting the Five Elements Array. More Third-level Snake Apes appeared with bloody lightning, and the battle left Ge Yanbing tiring and Great Gold Tooth struggling to maintain the array.

• Da Yajin retreated to the array's core and warned Qin He that the apes were striking its weak points in a rhythm.
• Qin He took over Da Yajin's position and swept through the horde, clearing the corpses that had let the apes attack from above.
• Three Third-level Snake Apes fired bloody lightning at Qin He, but he dodged their bolts, which dimmed the array until Great Gold Tooth restored its glow.
• A fourth Third-level Snake Ape attacked Qin He and Ge Yanbing, but Qin He slammed it into the ground and then defeated the other three.
• More lightning-spitting apes appeared while Ge Yanbing tired and Great Gold Tooth struggled to operate the array, leaving Qin He unsure where to defend.

Qin He fought off a horde of Black Armored Snake Apes while Da Yajin’s Five Elements Array faltered, but the beasts withdrew before he could find their leader. Ge Yanbing warned that an Evil Beast Tide had reached the Cave Dwelling entrance and could soon become a major threat.

• Qin He charged into the Snake Apes and killed several Third-level Snake Apes before spotting a powerful crimson ape with a horn.
• The ape leader redirected the horde against Qin He, then vanished among the beasts while he fought to stay safe.
• The Snake Apes retreated on the leader’s roar, carrying away their dead as Da Yajin’s array collapsed and one flag crumbled to dust.
• Qin He questioned the changes from the Shadow Play, while Ge Yanbing warned that an Evil Beast Tide had spread to the Cave Dwelling entrance.

Qin He, Ge Yanbing, and Da Yajin found and drugged a Netherflame Beast cub, then fled as another Netherflame Beast pursued them. They reached the cave entrance, where an unidentified figure was waiting.

• Da Yajin led Qin He and Ge Yanbing through the cave toward the Netherflame Beast cub.
• The three found the cub in a lava-lit chamber, and Da Yajin fed it pills that knocked it unconscious.
• A second Netherflame Beast roared nearby, so Da Yajin took the cub and led the group toward the exit while scattering powder to confuse their pursuer.
• The group reached the cave entrance, where Da Yajin spotted a figure standing in the light.

Qin He and his companions encountered Mo Qianyang, a Divine Bridge Realm evil cultivator who demanded the Netherflame Beast cub and threatened to devour their souls. Da Yajin used a Blazing Thunder Pill to cover their escape, but Mo Qianyang survived and the collapsing cavern blocked the passage.

• Mo Sanfeng revealed that he had joined the Fugitive of Sin and identified the group as the ones carrying the Netherflame Beast cub.
• Ge Yanbing recognized Mo Qianyang as a notorious fugitive believed to have been executed.
• Mo Qianyang demanded the cub and ordered Qin He, Da Yajin, and Ge Yanbing to cripple their cultivation or face death.
• Da Yajin hurled a Blazing Thunder Pill at Mo Qianyang and dragged Qin He and Ge Yanbing toward the depths of the Cave Dwelling.
• Mo Qianyang raised a barrier from his skull staff to withstand the blast as the cavern collapsed and blocked the passage.

Mo Qianyang cornered Great Gold Tooth, Qin He, and Ge Yanbing in the cavern and killed the colossal beast that charged between them. Great Gold Tooth offered the Netherflame Beast cub and begged for mercy, but Mo Qianyang demanded both the cub and their lives.

• Mo Qianyang emerged from the dust and hovered above the group, mocking their attempt to escape.
• A colossal beast charged between Mo Qianyang and Great Gold Tooth with its attention fixed on Great Gold Tooth.
• Mo Qianyang struck the beast with a skeletal ghost head, which bit it in half and swallowed its corpse.
• Da Yajin apologized to Qin He for dragging him into the danger, while Ge Yanbing offered to hold Mo Qianyang off.
• Great Gold Tooth offered Mo Qianyang the Netherflame Beast cub and pleaded for the lives of Qin He and Ge Yanbing.
• Mo Qianyang rejected Great Gold Tooth's offer and declared that he wanted both the cub and their lives.

Great Gold Tooth and Ge Yanbing claimed Qin He was the Lord of Sin City's nephew to intimidate Mo Qianyang, and Qin He backed up their bluff by chanting the Spirit Crossing Sutra. Mo Qianyang fled the Cave Dwelling, threatening to return and kill them.

• Da Yajin threatened to perish together with Mo Qianyang, but Mo Qianyang mocked him.
• Great Gold Tooth claimed Qin He was the Lord of Sin City's nephew, and Ge Yanbing backed up the lie.
• Qin He joined their act and chanted the Spirit Crossing Sutra, causing Mo Qianyang's Heretical power to churn.
• Mo Qianyang was intimidated by Qin He's chanting and fled, threatening to return and grind their bones to ash.

Qin He, Great Gold Tooth, and Ge Yanbing escaped Mo Qianyang by fleeing through an icy river and then splitting up. Qin He found a secluded stretch of wild Lin and a cave where he could hide, but heard several people approaching after nightfall.

• Qin He and his companions used Swift Travel Talismans to flee the cavern before hiding beneath an ice-covered river with Breath Concealing Talismans.
• After reaching shore, the three raced toward Sin City and agreed to split up and wait at least half a month before returning.
• Qin He ran for more than three hours, then entered a dense stretch of wild Lin and found a small stone cave.
• Qin He inspected the cave, ate, and rested until nightfall, when he heard several people approaching through the Lin.

Five black-robed pursuers sought shelter from the cold in a cave while hunting for someone who had offended Old Demon Mo. They found a fresh message on the wall that showed someone had watched them arrive, leaving them on guard.

• The five black-robed figures argued about their pursuit before the sturdy man ordered them to stay alert and search the woods.
• Scarred Youth found a cave, and the group decided to spend the night there before reporting back the next day.
• As the men prepared the cave, Scarred Youth spotted a fresh message on the wall: “What fate, five of you.”
• The black-robed figures realized someone had been inside the cave and watching them.

Qin He confronted the five men sent to hunt him and killed them in a battle inside their cave. He left to burn their bodies and wondered whether Great Gold Tooth had been found.

• The five men formed a defensive ring in the cave, and Qin He appeared at the entrance, revealing that he was the person they had been sent to hunt.
• The burly leader tried to persuade Qin He to let them go, but Qin He refused and challenged them to fight.
• The five charged at Qin He, who rushed into their midst and overwhelmed them in the cramped cave.
• Qin He emerged from the cave after killing the five men and planned to burn their corpses before watching the Shadow Play.
• Qin He wondered whether Great Gold Tooth had been tracked down.

After cremating five Fugitives of Sin, Qin He received rewards tied to evil cultivation and angrily headed toward Sin City. He learned that Ma Da and Ma Er had been captured by Mo Sanfeng's men and decided to investigate their secret stronghold, hoping to trade their rescue to Da Yajin.

• Qin He struggled through the night to cremate the five Fugitives of Sin using damp firewood and no Origin Power.
• Qin He received three Blood Pills, a Blood Puppet Technique, and a Baleful Pill, then swore that he would never follow the evil path.
• Qin He learned from the Shadow Play that Mo Qianyang had sent tracking parties along likely escape routes, including his own.
• Qin He discovered that Mo Sanfeng's men had captured Ma Da and Ma Er and planned to use them to lure out Da Yajin.
• Qin He set out to investigate the nearby stronghold, hoping to rescue Ma Da and Ma Er and trade them to Da Yajin.

Qin He infiltrated the Fugitive of Sin stronghold by silently taking down two sentries and using a password he had learned from Shadow Play. Inside, he discovered that the fugitives were taking Night Watchmen into a guarded cave, and he approached a nearby cave to investigate.

• Qin He identified the stronghold's watchers and silently knocked out two guards before disguising himself in one man's clothes.
• Qin He entered the ravine using the password, "The extreme night is coming," which Shadow Play had revealed to him.
• Qin He surveyed the stronghold and spotted guards dragging a bound Night Watchman into a concealed cave where inhuman roars came from within.
• Qin He approached a cave where a few guards were eating and claimed he was a new sentry seeking food and shelter from the weather.
• The apparent leader told Qin He that a cup of drink cost three spirit stones and ordered him to leave if he objected.

Qin He tricked the camp’s three guards and knocked them unconscious, then found and freed Ma Da and Ma Er from the prison cells. He left the injured Night Watchmen behind as he prepared to get the brothers out and promised to explain what had happened once they escaped.

• Qin He paid for wine with a High-grade Spirit Stone, then exposed the leader’s escalating charges and drew the three guards’ attention with a Supreme-grade Spirit Stone.
• Qin He struck the three guards unconscious with the Spirit Stone and ate and drank before heading deeper into the camp.
• Qin He found Ma Da and Ma Er among the imprisoned Night Watchmen and revealed his face to them.
• Qin He broke open the cell, removed the golden needles, and freed Ma Da and Ma Er.
• Ma Da asked Qin He where Master Tai was, and Qin He told him they would talk after escaping.

Qin He escaped the prison with Ma Da and Ma Er, leaving the other captives to find their own way out. After the freed prisoners seized the prison and fled, Qin He stayed near the canyon to investigate its corpse-refining operation and plentiful resources.

• Qin He gave a knife to a captive Demon Cultivator, warning him that the prison guards had the keys, then led Ma Da and Ma Er away.
• Qin He and the others disguised themselves in the guards’ black uniforms and left the prison.
• The Demon Cultivator cut his bonds, found the keys, freed the other prisoners, and helped them ambush guards and escape.
• Qin He, Ma Da, and Ma Er watched six or seven prisoners flee the canyon and heard that the stronghold might be refining corpses.
• Ma Da and Ma Er headed back to the city to check on Master Tai, while Qin He chose to stay near the canyon for a few days.

Qin He abandoned his watch on the suspicious hideout and returned to Sin City with a large haul. Outside the city, Dao Bu Er recognized him and quickly drove off the would-be robbers, leaving Qin He to face his ingratiating former opponent.

• Qin He watched the hideout for another half day, then left after failing to understand why captured night watchmen kept arriving.
• Qin He traveled back to Sin City with bags of goods and drew greedy attention from people outside its gates.
• Dao Bu Er ordered Qin He to put down his goods, but froze when he recognized him.
• Dao Bu Er slapped and kicked one of his own men, claiming he had only meant to help Qin He and sending the robbery gang away.
• Dao Bu Er greeted Qin He ingratiatingly and admitted they had become acquainted through a fight.