Chapter Summaries

Lin Yu and Qin Siyu traveled from Nine Cold Mountain toward Qin Siyu’s childhood village in Miasma Hell, carrying valuables from the Yaomo lair. Lin Yu checked the village for traps and returned to reassure Qin Siyu that the village and its old chief were safe.

• Lin Yu and Qin Siyu left Nine Cold Mountain with valuables and traveled east through Wind Prison, killing minor Yaomo along the way.
• As they entered Miasma Hell, Qin Siyu described the poisonous miasma and pointed out landmarks near her home village.
• Lin Yu sensed Qin Siyu’s unease and stopped the carriage before the village, saying he would check for traps left by the Diviner.
• Lin Yu told Qin Siyu to wait and seek Daoist Master Xingyi’s help if he did not return within four hours, then went ahead to inspect the village.
• While waiting, Qin Siyu counted their valuables until Lin Yu returned and reported that the village was unchanged and the old village chief had recovered from a chill.

Lin Yu escorted Qin Siyu back to Reed River Village, where she reunited with the villagers and brought supplies for them. She went to visit the village chief to say goodbye before their long journey, and the chapter ended with her teasing him about being unable to read.

• Lin Yu arrived in Reed River Village with Qin Siyu and saw that the villagers were suffering from fire poison.
• The villagers welcomed Qin Siyu warmly, and she shared Cold Jade Spring Water and other goods while presenting herself as a martial arts disciple.
• Qin Siyu introduced Lin Yu as a Daoist priest and her master's friend who had escorted her home.
• The villagers directed Qin Siyu to eat with the village chief, and she led Lin Yu to his house to say goodbye.
• The village chief scolded Qin Siyu for not sending letters, and she joked that he could not read.

Lin Yu and Qin Siyu shared a meal with the old village chief, then walked through Reed River Village before Qin Siyu prepared to leave again. The village chief privately asked Lin Yu to look after her, then began turning translucent.

• The old village chief served Lin Yu and Qin Siyu chicken soup and praised Qin Siyu for bringing Cold Jade Spring Water to help the villagers.
• Qin Siyu told the old village chief that sect business might take her far away and keep her from returning for a while.
• The old village chief urged Lin Yu to stay the night, and Lin Yu and Qin Siyu walked beside the river as dusk fell.
• Qin Siyu thanked Lin Yu for giving her the chance to visit her home and neighbors before leaving.
• Lin Yu told Qin Siyu they would return to Nine Cold Mountain the next day, then the old village chief asked him to look after her as his body turned translucent.

Lin Yu concealed Reed River Village’s tragedy from Qin Siyu at the Village Chief’s request, giving the villagers a peaceful dream before their incomplete souls faded. After the Village Chief thanked him and explained why protecting Qin Siyu mattered more than revenge, Lin Yu carried her out of the village in her sleep.

• Lin Yu discovered that the Diviner had taken half the souls of most Reed River Village villagers, including the Village Chief, and used his Soul Power to awaken them temporarily.
• The Village Chief told Lin Yu that the Diviner had taken the villagers’ souls as offerings without a particular reason, then asked him to protect Qin Siyu instead of seeking revenge.
• Lin Yu revealed his connection to Qin Siyu and promised to bring her to the village, but the Village Chief asked him to hide the villagers’ fate and let her believe they had died peacefully.
• The Village Chief explained that seeing Qin Siyu safe, well-fed, and asleep made his sacrifice worthwhile, and Lin Yu assured him she would be happy in his world.
• The Village Chief bowed solemnly to Lin Yu, returned to his room, and Lin Yu carried the sleeping Qin Siyu toward the edge of the village.

Lin Yu reunited with Jian Cunyi and Yun Fengyang after they repaired the formation sealing the Demon Ancestor, then learned Yun Fengyang’s Great Circulation Secret Technique and absorbed Demon Core energy with extraordinary ease. Jian Cunyi recognized Lin Yu’s unusual ability to adapt to multiple supernatural systems, and Lin Yu began explaining what he had discovered at Qin Siyu’s village.

• Jian Cunyi, Yun Fengyang, and the exhausted Wei Jian met Lin Yu and reported that they had rebuilt the Demon Ancestor’s seal to hold for a thousand years.
• Lin Yu said he had delivered the Cold Jade Spring Water and offered Yun Fengyang the Demon Cores he had collected, but Yun Fengyang told him to keep them and use the Great Circulation Secret Technique he had just taught him.
• Lin Yu used the technique to drain energy from the Demon Cores in moments, astonishing both Jian Cunyi and Yun Fengyang.
• Yun Fengyang questioned how Lin Yu had mastered the technique so quickly, and Jian Cunyi explained that adapting to multiple worlds’ supernatural systems was rare even among players.
• Jian Cunyi asked what Lin Yu and Qin Siyu had seen at her village, and Lin Yu clarified that Qin Siyu knew nothing and that he alone had seen it.

Lin Yu and Jian Cunyi completed their mission in the Prison Mountain Realm and reviewed their rewards after thwarting the Diviner's schemes. While Jian Cunyi expected a respite, Lin Yu anticipated more work for the Player Mutual Aid Society and renewed visits to other factions.

• Lin Yu recounted the events in Reed River Village, deepening Jian Cunyi and Yun Fengyang's hatred of the Diviner.
• Yun Fengyang returned to the Eternal Prison, and Lin Yu and Jian Cunyi handed over the Demon Cores at a Hunyuan Dao Palace temple to complete the mission.
• Jian Cunyi thanked Lin Yu and apologized for the unexpected dangers, but Lin Yu reassured him that he had accepted the risks and gained substantial benefits.
• Lin Yu received three ratings and six random Non-exclusive items, while Jian Cunyi received Master of Control.
• Jian Cunyi explained that Lin Yu's healing efforts had earned Benevolence That Saves the World, and Lin Yu attributed Unraveling the Clues to uncovering the Prison Mountain Realm's secrets.
• Lin Yu told Jian Cunyi that Player Mutual Aid Society business remained and anticipated visiting the Freedom Alliance, the Marauders, and the Psychology Society again.

After leaving the Prison Mountain Realm, Lin Yu parted ways with Jian Cunyi and began reviewing the rewards he had gained. He examined the enhanced Reversal Pocket Watch, Qin Siyu, and his six new Items, beginning with the Hunyuan Dao Palace Guest Elder Token and the Duxuan Dao Compendium.

• Jian Cunyi said he would watch the Marauders for signs of the Diviner’s next scheme, then left in a rideshare while Lin Yu returned to the park.
• Lin Yu fed souls to the Reversal Pocket Watch, calming it after its time-reversal ability had been enhanced to affect a two-meter area.
• Lin Yu reviewed Qin Siyu’s summoned-creature status and considered her a capable fighter despite her poor showing against powerful foes in the Instance.
• Lin Yu checked the six Items he had earned, including the Hunyuan Dao Palace Guest Elder Token, which could store a Daoist spell, and the Duxuan Dao Compendium, which contained the sect’s scripture library.

Lin Yu examined the Duxuan Daoist Canon and several new items, deciding how they might serve his identities. He concluded that Meng Qingjun had accepted him as a genuine uncle after inheriting the Six Desires Demon Lord’s power, and hoped to meet him again in the Prison Mountain Realm.

• Lin Yu judged the Duxuan Daoist Canon to be both useful proof of Duxuan Sect teachings and a sign of the Dao Ancestor’s approval.
• Lin Yu stored the Golden Jade Twin Blades for possible use by an identity suited to sweeping combat, and put away the Soul-Devouring Poison Bee Gu Box as a versatile automatic weapon.
• Lin Yu read that the Heavenly Fox White Tail had been shed by Meng Qingjun, now the Six Desires Demon Lord, and carried his message of gratitude to his uncle.
• Lin Yu reasoned that Meng Qingjun had little reason to suspect him because Lin Yu had given him real benefits and displayed convincing Fox Demon powers.
• Lin Yu stored the Heavenly Fox White Tail and hoped Meng Qingjun would avoid trouble and revenge until Lin Yu returned to the Prison Mountain Realm.

Lin Yu examined the Great Rui Dragon-Patterned Jade Ring and realized its command ability could give him a powerful advantage against the Diviner. After gaining a new Prison Mountain Realm coordinate at Qin Siyu’s home, he transformed into Yayu and set out to question the Marauders about the Diviner.

• Lin Yu reviewed the Heavenly Fox White Tail and the Great Rui Dragon-Patterned Jade Ring, noting their benefits and the ring’s once-per-World-Crossing command that drained all his energy.
• Lin Yu decided the ring’s power was too useful to give to Qin Siyu and put it on his left little finger.
• Lin Yu assessed his ties to the Hunyuan Dao Palace and Meng Qingjun, while recognizing that the Snake Yaoguai of the Dark Prison might target him because of Cold Cicada.
• Lin Yu discovered that his Map privileges had gained a coordinate to the old Qin family residence in Reed River Village, which was Qin Siyu’s home.
• Lin Yu thanked the Village Chief in his thoughts and renewed his promise to protect Qin Siyu and pursue the Diviner.
• After confirming Jian Cunyi had left, Lin Yu transformed into Yayu and headed to the Marauders to learn about the Diviner’s situation.

At the Marauders’ Shenzhen gathering point, Lin Yu brought Old Zheng, disguised as Schreiber, to meet A’yu, using Yayu as a hostage to force a negotiation. A’yu’s fury over White Sand’s death nearly turned the meeting violent, while Lin Yu and Old Zheng privately debated how the act was going.

• A’yu and Liuli waited at the factory gate for Yayu, and Lin Yu arrived disguised as her, claiming he had been taken hostage.
• Old Zheng, posing as Schreiber, revealed himself and said he wanted Yayu to take him to the Marauders’ headquarters to talk.
• A’yu recognized Schreiber as the man who killed White Sand and aimed both [Wrath of Yesterday] and [Grace] at him.
• Old Zheng used his control over Yayu to stop A’yu from firing, then released Lin Yu after A’yu demanded it.
• A’yu helped Lin Yu recover and confronted Old Zheng about White Sand, while Lin Yu and Old Zheng privately discussed whether their performance was convincing.

Lin Yu explained why Old Zheng could convincingly play Schreiber and planned to use the identity to investigate the Diviner’s contingencies and influence the Marauders’ plans. He left Old Zheng poised to approach A'yu and exploit the Diviner’s willingness to overlook old grievances for profit.

• Lin Yu judged Old Zheng’s psychology skills and familiarity with Schreiber’s persona enough to make the disguise convincing.
• Lin Yu reasoned that A'yu would not connect the current Schreiber to the one she had met in the Sacred Day Instance.
• Lin Yu chose Schreiber to investigate the Diviner’s backup plans because the Marauders would find his interest more plausible than an inquiry from another faction.
• Lin Yu concluded that the Diviner might tolerate Schreiber despite his killing White Sand if Schreiber could offer useful information or advantages.
• Lin Yu planned to use Schreiber not only to gather intelligence but also to interfere with the Marauders’ future actions.

Old Zheng, posing as Schreiber, provoked A'yu at the Marauders' Shenzhen base and asked to meet the Diviner. As A'yu led him inside to contact the Diviner, Lin Yu, posing as Yayu, vowed to repay Schreiber for defeating and humiliating him.

• Old Zheng claimed that White Sand's death had been part of a trial and offered an apology and compensation, but A'yu fired [Grace] beside his feet and threatened to kill him.
• A'yu restrained her anger after Old Zheng said he wanted to see the Diviner, then agreed to contact him because she did not know where he was.
• As A'yu led the group into the compound, Liuli quietly promised to help rescue Yayu, while Old Zheng said he expected their plot against him to fail.
• A'yu tried to comfort Yayu, but Lin Yu said his defeat came from being weaker, vowed to repay Schreiber, and rejected the idea that Schreiber had spared him as an act of kindness.
• Old Zheng praised Yayu's potential and said he looked forward to the day she would become his trial.

A'yu brought Schreiber, who had taken Yayu hostage, to the Celestial King instead of the Diviner. When the Celestial King demanded to hear his business, Lin Yu coached Old Zheng through Schreiber to suggest that the Marauders needed his help.

• A'yu led Schreiber and Yayu through the Marauders compound, keeping the other members from approaching them.
• A'yu brought Schreiber into a sealed factory where the Celestial King was manipulating magic inside a crystal-filled chamber.
• The Celestial King said she could make decisions for the Marauders while the Diviner was away and threatened to kill Schreiber if she disliked his proposal.
• Lin Yu instructed Old Zheng to tell the Celestial King that she could not contact the Diviner and that the Marauders needed his help.

Old Zheng, disguised as Schreiber, used Lin Yu’s instructions to reveal that the Diviner was in the Prison Mountain Realm, then struggled to redirect the Marauders’ conversation. The Marauders instead gossiped about Order’s Director and the Freedom Alliance’s Beast Master being married, leaving Lin Yu wondering how the rumor had spread.

• Old Zheng realized the Marauders might be unable to contact the Diviner and that his knowledge could expose a dangerous secret.
• Celestial King confirmed the Marauders could not contact the Diviner, but said he had warned them he would be away on a major task.
• Old Zheng told Celestial King and A'yu that the Diviner was in the Prison Mountain Realm preparing to release a terrifying Yaomo.
• Celestial King criticized Schreiber’s appearance and clothes, then praised Order’s Director’s looks and style.
• Old Zheng clarified that Order’s Director and the Freedom Alliance’s Beast Master were not a couple, but Celestial King, A'yu, and Liuli insisted they had registered their marriage.
• Lin Yu wondered how the marriage rumor had reached the Marauders and lamented that it would never end.

Lin Yu and Old Zheng learned that Diviner’s plans in the Prison Mountain Realm had failed, and Liu revealed she could detect that Old Zheng was only a doppelganger. Liu refused to join the Marauders’ upcoming operation, especially because Old Zheng was involved.

• Old Zheng told A'yu and Celestial King that Diviner had been outmaneuvered by Feng Shui Master and weakened by the Prison Mountain Realm’s world will.
• Liu emerged from behind the crystal and explained that she had been hiding from Schreiber because he was Freud’s successor and could be dangerous.
• Liu recognized that Old Zheng was a doppelganger, surprising Celestial King, Old Zheng, and Lin Yu.
• Old Zheng asked whether Liu would help the Marauders fill Diviner’s role, but Liu said she could not make up the difference and would not join their operation.
• Liu said she especially wanted no involvement because Old Zheng was part of the plan and she considered him troublesome.

Lin Yu deduced that the Diviner’s plans in the Prison Mountain Realm were meant to build an alliance with the Emperor of the Copper Furnace, and that the Diviner intended to use this partnership against Players and factions opposing him. He relayed his theory to Old Zheng, who publicly accused the Diviner, prompting a sigh from the unseen listener.

• Lin Yu reconsidered the Diviner’s past schemes and concluded that targeting Shen Bingmiao may have been a hidden objective.
• Lin Yu connected the Demon Ancestor’s escape, Cold Cicada, and the sealed body of Great Rui Taizu to the Emperor of the Copper Furnace, deducing that the Diviner wanted to become the Emperor’s partner.
• Lin Yu sent his deductions to Old Zheng, who was shocked but immediately acted on them.
• Old Zheng, speaking as Schreiber, told the Celestial King and Liu that they were not the Marauders’ true source of strength and declared that he had uncovered the Diviner’s plan.
• Old Zheng accused the Diviner of seeking an alliance with the Emperor to destroy Players and factions that opposed them.
• An unseen speaker sighed and told Schreiber that he was even more outrageous than expected.

Lin Yu and Old Zheng used their conversation with Diviner to establish an explanation for the connection between Schreiber and Director. Diviner deduced that their souls were bound together and shared abilities and information, and Old Zheng accepted the theory as the story left it as their official cover.

• Lin Yu realized the formation beneath Celestial King was reconnecting Diviner across worlds, while Celestial King showed relief at reaching him.
• A'yu revealed that she knew about Emperor, prompting Diviner to ask how Schreiber had learned of him.
• Old Zheng claimed Schreiber's intelligence network and deductions had uncovered Diviner's plans, and Diviner explained that Director had told him about Schreiber's connection to the First Generation's legacy.
• Diviner rejected the idea that Schreiber and Director were simply allies, then used a divination and clues about their abilities to conclude that their souls were intertwined.
• Old Zheng praised Diviner's deduction while Lin Yu explained that he had expected Diviner to invent a convincing premise for their relationship.
• Diviner concluded that Schreiber had learned about Emperor and Diviner's cooperation because he could share Director's information.

The Diviner invited Schreiber to join his plan for a decisive battle in Shenzhen, but Schreiber instead promised to intensify the chaos and ensure both sides faced a fair Trial. After Schreiber escaped, the Diviner revealed that he intended to use him before taking revenge for Xiao Bai, and A'yu, Celestial King, Liuli, and Lin Yu volunteered to help.

• The Diviner offered Schreiber friendship and a place alongside the Marauders in his plan to attack Order's people.
• Old Zheng refused to choose sides, saying he would help the battle happen while making the conflict more chaotic for both sides.
• The Diviner welcomed Schreiber's promised interference, and Old Zheng said he would prepare for their coming decisive battle.
• Old Zheng snapped his fingers, and Lin Yu used his Item Space to make Old Zheng and the Ancient Notebook disappear.
• The Diviner arrived outside the door and explained that he had let Schreiber's doppelganger go so he could gain Schreiber's trust before killing him in revenge for Xiao Bai.
• A'yu, Celestial King, Liuli, and Lin Yu all volunteered to join the revenge against Schreiber.

The Diviner explained how his failed operation in the Prison Mountain Realm had pushed the Emperor to his side and revealed his plan to use the Death game to upend the players’ existing order. Liu challenged him but accepted his terms after he promised she could keep taking jobs and developing her contract authority, then asked where her next client would be safe in Shenzhen.

• The Celestial King questioned the Diviner about his hidden plan, and he explained that letting the Prison Mountain Realm operation fail had secured the Emperor’s support and helped create the chaos his scheme needed.
• The Diviner said he intended to end the cooperative atmosphere upheld by Order and the Night Watchers, while the Celestial King eagerly backed him.
• Liu asked whether the Diviner would kill her for hearing the plan, then said she might oppose the Marauders because widespread distrust among players would threaten her work.
• Liu pointed out that the Diviner was weakened, and A'yu and the Celestial King objected to her challenge before the Diviner asked them to respect her.
• The Diviner promised Liu that the Hunter Society and Player Mutual Aid Society would remain and offered to help her develop her contract authority, so Liu accepted his terms.
• Liu asked where in Shenzhen would be safe for the ranked Tier 3 person she had agreed to guard.

The Diviner told the Marauders that the Emperor was a Tier 5 god powerful enough to match the General and help them fight the Grandmaster. He revealed that the Emperor was absent from the Rankings because he had lost his Player status in the previous version.

• The Diviner admitted that his battle in the Prison Mountain Realm had left him badly weakened, and said the Director—not the Feng Shui Master—had caused him the greatest trouble.
• The Diviner said Cold Cicada would assist them again and revealed that the Emperor would also act against the Grandmaster.
• The Celestial King warned that Tengshe and the Order’s fighters could join forces, but the Diviner insisted his plans were reliable.
• The Diviner explained that the Emperor was a god and a Tier 5 Player whose power matched the General’s.
• The Diviner told Lin Yu that the Emperor was not listed in the Rankings because he had lost his Player status during the previous version.