Recaps

Xiao Yun imposed a Rule forbidding Common Items and fought Paper Kite, whose gunfire could repeatedly reload and cripple her despite her ability to transfer damage through corpses. The battle continued as Xiao Yun lost both arms while evading Paper Kite’s shots.

• Xiao Yun created a Rule that forbade the use of Common Items, limiting Paper Kite while leaving her own abilities largely unaffected.
• Paper Kite transformed his Hidden Killer into a revolver and shot Xiao Yun six times, but she survived by transferring the injuries through corpses using Flesh Witchcraft.
• Xiao Yun rushed Paper Kite using speed abilities from several Professions, but his revolver fired another six rounds and shattered her knees.
• Paper Kite’s revolver reloaded again, and he aimed at Xiao Yun’s hands; she dodged and reattached her legs, but the shots shattered both her arms.

Paper Kite kept Xiao Yun at bay with his innate marksmanship, but she exploited his execution habit to trap him with severed limbs and attack at close range. As their fight intensified, Good Night and Qianhuan's battle also reached a bloody climax.

• Xiao Yun reasoned that Paper Kite's guaranteed-hit effect came from a Night Valley inscription, then forbade its use and charged him.
• Paper Kite denied relying on an item or inscription and repeatedly shot Xiao Yun, saying his accuracy came from innate talent and years of practice.
• Xiao Yun revealed she had researched Paper Kite's habits and accelerated her healing, then used severed limbs to trap his legs.
• Paper Kite shot back the limbs as Xiao Yun attacked him with her umbrella, and their fight entered a lethal close-quarters struggle.
• Good Night continued fighting Qianhuan despite severe cuts, moving faster as his dark flames intensified and burned away his blood.

Lin Yu approached Li Nian on the rooftop and revealed his identity and reasons for seeking partners, while asking about the Freedom Alliance’s plans. He learned that the fiend taken away by Li Nian had already been crippled, and Li Nian begged him to make sure Order understood that before tomorrow’s operation.

• Lin Yu sat beside Li Nian and explained that Xia Yue’s friendship with her made him reluctant to fight her.
• Lin Yu revealed that he had brought Li Nian through the Instance of the God of Change and was the person who stole her bicycle, explaining that his disguise and multiple professions had hidden his identity.
• Lin Yu told Li Nian he needed more partners and believed cooperation across opposing organizations could serve his goals.
• Lin Yu warned Li Nian that a Grandmaster had suppressed the fiend’s loosened seal a year earlier, but Li Nian said the fiend’s cultivation had already been crippled when it was taken away.
• Li Nian begged Lin Yu to explain the fiend’s condition to Order, insisting that Zhu Ming could confirm her account.

Lin Yu and Li Nian arranged a cover story for his report to Order while waiting for reinforcements to arrive. Below them, Good Night gained the upper hand against Qianhuan, who prepared a new magic trick, while Paper Kite and Xiao Yun neared their limits in their ongoing battle.

• Lin Yu suggested telling Order that Li Nian had revealed the information while begging for mercy, and Li Nian agreed to the cover story.
• Lin Yu told Li Nian they would wait for reinforcements before he pretended to beat her, expecting both sides to stop fighting once new people arrived.
• Good Night’s growing speed let him evade Qianhuan’s items, and he broke Qianhuan’s cane with a keyboard strike.
• Qianhuan and Teacher Rabbit combined their top hats into a gigantic one and prepared to use a new move against Good Night.
• Xiao Yun assessed the damage to the corpses sustaining her damage-transfer ability as Paper Kite struggled with interference, fatigue, and his overheating pistol.

Qianhuan trapped Good Night inside a summoned steam train while Xiao Yun gained the upper hand over Paper Kite. Good Night returned from the top hat, and the arrival of Gambler Li Hua shifted the battle against Xiao Yun.

• Qianhuan summoned a steam locomotive and trapped Good Night on the tracks inside the top hat.
• Xiao Yun used a Demon’s Tail to pin Paper Kite down and said she intended to use their corpses.
• Paper Kite fired an air bullet at Xiao Yun and revealed that he had only been buying time.
• Good Night flew out of the top hat as Qianhuan’s cards battled crimson cards above the train.
• Xiao Yun recognized the newcomer as Gambler Li Hua, who wielded Gambler’s Cards and Loaded Dice.

Li Hua confronted Qianhuan and Xiao Yun over the Phantom Thief’s thefts and the demon brought into the real world, while Comedian arrived to negotiate for the Freedom Alliance. The dispute remained unresolved as Comedian proposed settling it with a Gambling Duel.

• Li Hua appeared in the garden after rolling a twenty, ending Qianhuan’s escape and reuniting him with Xiao Yun.
• Xiao Yun planned to stall until reinforcements arrived, but Li Hua revealed that Comedian had already come.
• Comedian emerged with his unicycle and tried to persuade Li Hua to let the Phantom Thief’s actions go, but Li Hua refused.
• Comedian explained the Order’s concerns about stolen Items and the demon, then proposed a Gambling Duel to resolve the dispute.

Li Hua and Comedian agreed to settle the dispute between Order and the Freedom Alliance through a five-match Gambling Duel in the Ground of No Return, with [Naga's Guidance] as Order's stake. The duel was set for three days later, and Li Nian's approval finalized the temporary truce.

• Comedian explained that a Gambling Duel let both sides stake [Items] and fight under the God of Fairness and Judgment's supervision in the Ground of No Return.
• Comedian offered to return the four stolen [Items] and hand over the demon if the Freedom Alliance won, while Li Hua insisted on a five-match duel and offered [Naga's Guidance] as Order's stake.
• Li Hua drafted the oath setting the duel for three days later, allowing outside assistance but barring participants above Tier 4 and requiring equal-ranked opponents in each match.
• Comedian, Qianhuan, and Xiao Yun agreed to participate, and Li Hua said he would apply to use the Ground of No Return.
• Li Nian agreed to the duel after someone struck her on the roof, confirming that the two organizations would temporarily call a truce.

After Li Nian was injured sparring with Lin Yu, the Freedom Alliance discussed which Tier 2 fighters to send into the Order’s upcoming matches. Comedian recruited Zhu Ming, now known as Clonazepam, as a possible combatant and offered her a high-quality Blank Bottle as compensation.

• Li Nian treated her bleeding nose while Qianhuan complained that Lin Yu had targeted her face, and Li Nian admitted Lin Yu was stronger and had likely reached Tier 2.
• Xiao Yun and Qianhuan considered the Freedom Alliance’s limited roster and worried Li Nian might have to fight Lin Yu or A Yin in the Tier 2 matches.
• Comedian said he had arranged for reinforcements and proposed asking the Psychology Society’s Zhu Ming, a reserve candidate who possessed a demon, to fight.
• Comedian promised Zhu Ming a high-quality Blank Bottle whether or not she fought, and Li Nian said Zhu Ming was her friend and had helped her.
• Zhu Ming arrived at Li Nian’s home as Clonazepam, asked what a Blank Bottle was, and was welcomed by the Freedom Alliance.

Lin Yu agreed to fight for Order in the upcoming Gambling Duel and shared intelligence about the Freedom Alliance and Psychology Society. Order planned its matchups and bets, but Li Hua questioned how Lin Yu had learned all the details.

• Lin Yu accepted the Freedom Alliance’s request and received an Empty Bottle, then asked to choose which Tier 2 opponent he would face.
• At Order’s headquarters, Li Hua outlined the Gambling Duel’s matches, Order’s goals, and its planned fighters, including Ah Yin, May May, Nicholas, Snowy Owl, and Robin.
• Lin Yu told Li Hua that the Thief had revealed the Freedom Alliance’s other Tier 2 fighter, Designer, and information about Clozapine and the Thousand-Eyed Thousand-Silk Demon Lord.
• Li Hua recorded Lin Yu’s intelligence and asked whether the Thief had really told him all of it.

Lin Yu weighed how to fight in the upcoming matches while keeping his two identities concealed. He chose to fight the Designer as May May and have Silver face Clonazepam, then arranged to train Silver the next day while planning another meeting as Old Yao.

• Lin Yu told Li Hua and the others that he had once been close to Clonazepam but had cut off contact with her.
• Loquat Candy promised to heal Lin Yu if he was injured, and Lin Yu considered the risks of fighting under both identities.
• Lin Yu decided to face the Designer as May May and let Silver fight Clonazepam, aiming to influence the outcomes without staging a double act.
• Lin Yu invited Silver to train with him and share what he knew about Clonazepam's abilities and items.
• Lin Yu postponed the training until the next afternoon because he had to meet Order and the Night Watchers as Old Yao.

Lin Yu disguised himself as Old Yao and went to Tycoon's base, where members of Order, the Night Watcher, and Jiang'an Hall were waiting to question him. The chapter ended with Sherlock accusing Old Yao of colluding with the Psychology Society.

• Lin Yu realized Order had noticed that his advancement timing did not add up, and he confirmed with Shen Bingmiao that the God of Fairness and Judgment could not expose him.
• Lin Yu transformed into Old Yao at a farmers' market, collected chicken souls to feed the Repaired Mist Pocket Watch, and brought the chickens as gifts for Tycoon.
• Lin Yu arrived at Tycoon's abandoned restaurant and found Tycoon, members of Order, the Night Watcher, and Sherlock gathered in the office.
• Sherlock accused Old Yao of colluding with the Psychology Society, and Lin Yu acted confused and denied knowing anything.

Li Hua and Snowy Owl questioned Lin Yu about Zhu Ming and May May, while Tycoon negotiated a settlement for Jiang'an Hall. May May arrived and asked them not to pressure Lin Yu, offering to withdraw from the Ground of No Return participant list if they distrusted him.

• Tycoon questioned Lin Yu about Clonazepam, and Lin Yu denied knowing the name before admitting he had met Zhu Ming in an Instance.
• Lin Yu explained that Zhu Ming had borrowed his name and denied helping her or any organization, while Tycoon offered compensation and punishment on behalf of Jiang'an Hall.
• Li Hua pressed Lin Yu about May May's connection to Zhu Ming, and Lin Yu admitted that May May had introduced them.
• May May entered and asked the leaders not to make things difficult for Lin Yu, offering to leave the Ground of No Return participant list if they did not trust him.

Lin Yu explained to Li Hua why he had hidden his advancement, Profession, and other secrets, and Li Hua swore not to harm him unless he endangered society or Players. After revealing his connection to Fluoxetine and his possession of a Fragment of Fate, Lin Yu asked Li Hua to help him use the Ground of No Return for a purpose he had not yet disclosed.

• Li Hua confronted Lin Yu about his rapid advancement, Nian’s death, and the Forum’s efforts to conceal what happened.
• Lin Yu said he had concealed information because he lacked a sense of security, and Li Hua swore by the Gods not to harm him unless he seriously endangered society or Players.
• Lin Yu revealed that he and Zhu Ming had both been targets of Fluoxetine, and that Zhu Ming had told him the Psychology Society had rated him S+ in a potential assessment.
• Lin Yu explained that the S+ rating was why he hid his advancement and true Profession from Order.
• Lin Yu disclosed that he possessed a Fragment of Fate, which he believed explained why the Diviner had been watching him.
• Lin Yu told Li Hua that he trusted him and asked for his help with something he wanted to do in the Ground of No Return.

After securing Li Hua’s trust through his layered disguises, Lin Yu left as Old Yao and met Fu Luo and Gao Shan for a meal. They discussed Lin Yu’s coming Duel with the Freedom Alliance, and Fu Luo began recounting his exploits in the City That Never Sleeps.

• Lin Yu reflected that his groundwork had helped him win Li Hua’s trust in Order.
• Lin Yu, disguised as Old Yao, gave chickens to the gathered Order and Night Watcher members before leaving.
• Fu Luo sent Lin Yu a restaurant location, and Lin Yu joined Fu Luo and Gao Shan for dinner.
• Gao Shan thanked Lin Yu for agreeing to fight for Order in a Duel against the Freedom Alliance over the Item.
• Fu Luo thanked Lin Yu for helping Old Yao and recalled that Old Yao had saved him from Marauders.
• Fu Luo bragged about his role in the Saint Orchid Family’s successor election in the City That Never Sleeps.

Lin Yu learned that A-Yin, Order’s strongest Tier 2, had formidable counterattacking skills and would be a difficult opponent. After Gao Shan asked about Lin Yu’s past with Zhu Ming, Fu Luo revealed that he and Gao Shan had heard about it from a Central China captains’ group.

• Fu Luo told Lin Yu about the upheaval in the City That Never Sleeps and how his status as Sherlock had risen among the five great families.
• Lin Yu asked Gao Shan and Fu Luo how strong A-Yin was and whether he could match the Freedom Alliance.
• Gao Shan explained that A-Yin’s Scholar Profession was strengthened by his training at the Hunyuan Dao Palace and Fumo Martial Arts School, and that he had withstood fifteen moves from a Grandmaster.
• Lin Yu acted pleased that A-Yin would secure victory, though he realized the opponent would be difficult to counter.
• Gao Shan cautiously asked whether Lin Yu had fallen out with Zhu Ming, and Fu Luo said Gao Shan had heard about their past from a Central China captains’ group.

Lin Yu joined the Freedom Alliance for dinner at Li Nian’s villa and discussed the upcoming Gambling Duel. She chose to leave May May to Wang Yuyang and learned that A-Yin, her likely opponent, had fought May May to a standstill.

• Lin Yu arrived at Li Nian’s villa and met the Freedom Alliance members Old Zhou, God of Cookery, and the Mountaineer.
• The group discussed who would represent the alliance in the Gambling Duel, with Old Zhou, the Mountaineer, and God of Cookery fighting at Tier 3 and Wang Yuyang and Lin Yu at Tier 2.
• Wang Yuyang offered to fight May May, but Lin Yu agreed that he should face him while she avoided fighting her former acquaintance.
• Lin Yu told the group that May May had sparred with A-Yin and shared details of A-Yin’s techniques with her.
• Lin Yu said May May and A-Yin had fought to a standstill during an afternoon sparring match.

Lin Yu and Li Nian discussed their hidden strengths and exchanged apologies for keeping secrets from each other. Li Nian revealed that the Psychology Society was watching Xia Yue’s family and that Demon Hunter Kres had moved nearby to protect them, leaving Lin Yu suspicious about why her family had drawn such attention.

• Lin Yu asked Li Nian about her conversation with May May, and Li Nian admitted they had secretly exchanged information about the monster.
• Lin Yu confessed that she had reached Tier 2 earlier than she claimed, and Li Nian said she understood why Lin Yu had concealed it.
• Li Nian admitted that she had investigated Lin Yu’s family and secretly entered her home to check on her mother and sister.
• Li Nian said she had seen the Psychology Society watching Xia Yue’s family and learned that Demon Hunter Kres had rented a home across from them to protect them.
• Lin Yu realized Li Nian had taken Kres’s Item while investigating him and grew suspicious about why her family was being watched and protected.

Lin Yu entered the Ground of No Return for the five-match Gambling Duel, where his two identities, Zhu Ming and May May, were both set to compete. As spectators and players gathered in the arena, Lin Yu learned that Snowy Owl was resting after Loquat Candy cleansed her curse, while Robin remained in her lounge.

• Lin Yu used his player ticket to enter the Ground of No Return and explored the player lounge and arena audience seats.
• Lin Yu met Nicholas, who explained that nearly a hundred spectators had reserved seats for the Gambling Duel.
• Old Zhou, Comedian, Xiao Yun, Qianhuan, Li Hua, Good Night, Paper Kite, and Loquat Candy arrived at the arena.
• Lin Yu asked about Snowy Owl and Robin, and Loquat Candy said Snowy Owl was resting after being cleansed of her curse while Robin stayed alone in her lounge.

Players from prominent organizations gathered at the Ground of No Return to watch the Gambling Duel, and major figures from both sides arrived as the audience grew tense. Lin Yu spotted Fluoxetine sitting among the independent spectators.

• Lin Yu learned that spectator tickets were available through rewards and Instances, though demand had surged because of the duel.
• Grandmaster and Bifang arrived to support Order and the Night Watcher, with Bifang explaining that a Tier 4 expert was among their opponents.
• Wundt and the Diviner arrived with the opposing group, but the Diviner declined Grandmaster's offer of an exhibition match.
• Bifang fell asleep while Grandmaster returned to her seat, and the audience became more cautious as the prominent experts gathered.
• Lin Yu recognized Fluoxetine, disguised and seated among the independent spectators.

At the Ground of No Return, Earl of Flames explained the Arena theme selection and combat rules for the Gambling Duel between Freedom Alliance and Order. Li Hua and Diviner selected Storm and Falling, and the chapter ended as Nicholas and the Prisoner were announced for the first Duel.

• Earl of Flames introduced five possible Arena themes and explained that each side could eliminate one before choosing a final theme.
• Li Hua represented Order, while Comedian persuaded Diviner to select themes for Freedom Alliance.
• Li Hua eliminated Night and chose Falling; Diviner eliminated Drowning and chose Storm.
• Earl of Flames demonstrated the Storm Arena’s tornadoes and the Falling Arena’s shifting stone paths and sleep-inducing gas.
• Earl of Flames explained that victory required a surrender or an opponent remaining unconscious for more than ten seconds, then announced Nicholas versus the Prisoner.

Nicholas and Old Zhou began their arena match in the Storm-themed venue, and their first collision revealed that Nicholas’s reindeer were far stronger than Old Zhou expected. Nicholas then unleashed the reindeer’s full power, leaving Old Zhou facing eight towering, muscular giants.

• Nicholas and Old Zhou entered the arena as Earl of Flames prepared to referee their match.
• Earl started the match, and the arena transformed into the Storm theme as both contestants charged at each other.
• Nicholas’s reindeer sleigh collided with Old Zhou’s lightning-powered cross crutches, sending both fighters tumbling apart.
• Old Zhou realized that Nicholas’s reindeer had withstood his strikes and were blocking him from reaching Nicholas.
• Nicholas released the reindeer from the sleigh and ordered them to attack Old Zhou.
• The eight reindeer stood upright, revealing enormous muscular bodies that dwarfed Old Zhou.

Old Zhou defeated Nicholas's eight reindeer inside a tornado, while Nicholas healed them and revealed his powerful physique. The chapter ended as Nicholas blocked Old Zhou's punch and prepared to fight him directly.

• Old Zhou and Nicholas's eight reindeer charged into a merged tornado and clashed inside it.
• Old Zhou emerged with a bloodied reindeer, knocked it unconscious, and the other seven were flung out of the storm unconscious as well.
• Old Zhou said the reindeer had forced him to use the fully powered Heavenly Drum Battle Technique, while Nicholas healed them with his harp.
• Nicholas's reindeer disappeared, and his Flying Sled began transforming as he announced he would change forms again.
• Old Zhou attacked Nicholas, but Nicholas blocked his punch, shed his bags and red clothing, and revealed his muscular build.
• Old Zhou welcomed the direct fight as Nicholas stood ready to face him.

Old Zhou and Nicholas fought amid the tornadoes, with Nicholas using the Christmas Tree and Candy Cane to disrupt Old Zhou’s balance before driving him into a hurricane. Old Zhou remained conscious inside it and summoned his [Exclusive item], [The Path of Redemption].

• Old Zhou charged Nicholas, and their weapons clashed as the Christmas Tree strengthened Nicholas and the Candy Cane repeatedly reformed.
• Tycoon and Li Hua assessed Nicholas’s advantage, noting that he was less affected by the tornadoes and was targeting Old Zhou’s head and balance.
• Nicholas repeatedly struck Old Zhou, then transformed the Christmas Tree back into a sled and rammed him into the growing hurricane.
• Old Zhou was swept into the hurricane with the sled, but Grandmaster pointed out that he had not lost consciousness.
• Old Zhou decided to use his [Exclusive item] and summoned the rust-covered Brass Key called [The Path of Redemption].

Old Zhou reflected on how the Death game and the Freedom Alliance helped him escape the life he felt trapped in, and he embraced his Exclusive item, [Path of Redemption and Freedom]. He activated its power to remove restrictions on his items and burst out of the storm, returning to confront his foe.

• Old Zhou recalled leaving nightclub security for a respectable job, then joining the Freedom Alliance after meeting a girl in a black dress during his eighteenth Instance.
• After completing his Tier 3 prerequisite quest, Old Zhou learned that his Exclusive item was [Path of Redemption and Freedom] and realized he had always felt trapped by his life.
• Old Zhou infiltrated his company's owner's home, beat him, tied him up, stole the company's laundered money, and fled to another city on a shared bicycle.
• During a Freedom Alliance Group Chat call, Old Zhou understood that living freely meant doing what he wanted and growing strong enough to defeat powerful enemies and ignore every Rule.
• Old Zhou turned a rust-covered key and activated [Path of Redemption and Freedom], removing cooldowns and restrictions from his other items for ten minutes.
• Old Zhou drove his lightning items to their limits, absorbed their power through the Heavenly Drum Battle Technique, and shot out of the storm, announcing that he was back.

Old Zhou used the [Path of Redemption and Freedom] and the [Blink Magic Stone] to overwhelm Nicholas, but Nicholas endured the assault and detonated metal spheres in a final attack. Old Zhou recovered first, and the Earl of Flames declared him the winner.

• Old Zhou struck Nicholas with his batons and used the [Blink Magic Stone] repeatedly, while Nicholas struggled to defend himself.
• Good Night, Gao Shan, Li Hua, and Paper Kite worried that Old Zhou’s powerful item had restored him and removed its cooldown.
• Old Zhou battered Nicholas for several minutes, but Nicholas repeatedly got back up and challenged him to continue.
• Nicholas explained that he fought on because he would not die, while Old Zhou said he used his [Exclusive item] because defeating powerful enemies and earning freedom was his pursuit.
• Nicholas suddenly regained his speed, grabbed Old Zhou, and detonated more than ten metal spheres, knocking them both down.
• Old Zhou recovered with [Recovery Items], and the Earl of Flames declared him the winner after Nicholas remained unconscious for more than ten seconds.