Recaps

Pu Xueli warned Lu Bai about the anti-human Can Society and asked which department he wanted to join after becoming a Formal Deathmatch Participant. Lu Bai chose the Assessment Department, received a surprisingly high-ranking post, and encountered an eager stranger on his way home.

• Pu Xueli warned Lu Bai that the Can Society targeted promising Deathmatch Participants and said he had arranged special protection for Lu Bai’s younger siblings.
• Lu Bai told Pu Xueli he wanted to join the Assessment Department.
• Pu Xueli sent Lu Bai to collect his credentials, and Lu Bai received the position of Deputy Head of Assessment Department Group Six at full Assistant Level.
• At the steel bridge, a middle-aged man in a director’s cap and frog-shaped sunglasses approached Lu Bai and asked if he had considered show business.

Lu Bai followed Ding Zhongmin to the Can Society’s bar, where his criticism of Livability City convinced Ding Zhongmin that he shared their cause. Kang Meirou welcomed Lu Bai into the society, but a server revealed that Lu Bai had been scheduled to die that day.

• Lu Bai noticed a prompt about a data file and accepted Ding Zhongmin’s offer of a lead role in a historical drama.
• As Ding Zhongmin led him through Livability City, Lu Bai condemned the city and its rulers, earning Ding Zhongmin’s admiration as a fellow critic.
• At Truth or Dare, Ding Zhongmin revealed that he belonged to the Can Society and invited Lu Bai to join its cause.
• Kang Meirou welcomed Lu Bai into the Can Society and admitted its members had listened to their conversation.
• Inside the bar, a yellow-haired server told Lu Bai that he had been supposed to die that day, and Ding Zhongmin stopped the ensuing argument.

Lu Bai waited for Can Society to approach him again while settling into his easygoing school job, but the group stayed silent. Pu Xueli offered him a chance to lead a team at the next teaching exchange.

• After Lu Bai left the nightclub, Kang Meirou asked Ding Zhongmin how much he trusted him, and Ding Zhongmin said he trusted him not at all but saw little risk in letting him close.
• Lu Bai returned home and asked Lu Qingyan why Lu Ziyi had always been cold toward him; Lu Qingyan blamed something Lu Bai had done after their mother died.
• Lu Bai continued waiting for Can Society to contact him while going between school and home, hoping to read the abilities of its members.
• Pu Xueli asked Lu Bai whether he would lead a team at the teaching exchange the following week.

Lu Bai refused to lead a campus exchange so he could enter his fourth Deathmatch Showdown, despite Pu Xueli’s efforts to dissuade him. After training, he received a message inviting him to Truth or Dare, then discussed sending Lu Qingyan to school with his siblings.

• Lu Bai told Pu Xueli he planned to enter his fourth Deathmatch Showdown, and Pu Xueli reluctantly gave him time off to prepare.
• At the Fighting Arena, Lu Bai confirmed his plans to the gaunt old man and ignored another unfamiliar phone call.
• Lu Bai received a message inviting him to Truth or Dare at eight the next night and said he hoped the sender would not disappoint him.
• Lu Bai returned home and agreed with Lu Ziyi that Lu Qingyan should start attending a better school.
• Lu Bai told his siblings he would be home late the next night and asked them not to wait for him.

Lu Bai entered the Fourth Deathmatch Showdown after preparing for its greater risks and changed rules. He and four other deathmatchers were transported into a heavily secured prison, where they faced their first challenge together.

• Lu Bai met Principal Pu Xueli at Zudian Campus and followed him to Desheng Tower to register for the showdown.
• Lu Bai rested in a private room while Qu Yawen explained that the showdown would begin soon, and he recalled its rules, including the 200-participant limit and the threat posed by Replicants.
• The Fourth Deathmatch Showdown began, and Lu Bai appeared in the arena with the titles Innocent Smile, Frenzied Slaughter, and Ultimate Murderer and the abilities Flash Time and Ink Dye.
• Lu Bai found himself in a prison cell with four other deathmatchers, who realized they were trapped behind a high-strength alloy gate.
• A slim young man wearing glasses proposed that the group set aside their hostility and cooperate for the time being.

Lu Bai and four other deathmatch participants argued over whether to cooperate in their prison cell, then reluctantly settled down after receiving useless abilities. A few hours later, they discovered that Chew Bone had been killed in his sleep.

• Chew Bone rejected the Collector's proposal to cooperate, and the Collector tried to calm the group as they suspected one another of being Replicants.
• Lu Bai reviewed the participants' titles and chose [Shave Head and Kill Uncle] from the poor Ability Pool.
• The Collector showed his ordinary electric drill, the Fanatic revealed his cigarettes, and the murderer suggested they sleep instead of attempting a breakout.
• Chew Bone and the murderer argued before the group settled in for the night.
• A few hours later, Lu Bai woke to find Chew Bone dead on the bunk with his neck twisted at an appalling angle.

After Chew Bone was found dead, Lu Bai and the others agreed to escape before the Prison Guards discovered the killing. At daybreak, they ambushed the guards and began taking over the corridor.

• The Collector and the Fanatic examined Chew Bone's body, and the Fanatic suspected the Murderer, who denied killing him.
• Lu Bai redirected the group toward planning their escape, and the Fanatic proposed breaking out by force at daybreak.
• When two Prison Guards opened the cell, the Murderer and the Fanatic killed them, then took their uniforms.
• The Fanatic lured a guard from the neighboring cell closer, and the Collector and Fanatic seized him.

The Collector, Lu Bai, the Fanatic, and the Murderer disguised themselves as guards and fought their way out of D Sector’s cell block. Their escape stalled when a composed middle-aged man in a high-ranking uniform confronted them.

• The Collector and the others seized another cell, changed into guard uniforms, and armed themselves before heading for the exit.
• A monitoring-room guard recognized the disguised prisoners, sounded the prison alarm, and warned the duty room that D Sector was facing a prison break.
• The Murderer shot the guards at the exit, while the Collector found a key and opened the cell block’s AB Door under fire.
• The four escapees shut the door behind them, then stopped when a middle-aged man in a distinctive uniform praised them in the open space ahead.

Lu Bai watched Section Chief Heide overpower the escapees and kill the Collector, then refused to surrender despite Heide offering to spare him immediate trouble. The chapter ended with Lu Bai standing by his refusal as Heide ordered him to open the door.

• The murderer shot at Heide, who caught the bullet, crushed it, and knocked the murderer into a wall with a devastating charge.
• Heide caught the fleeing zealot and brought him back, then identified the Collector as the escape’s organizer and offered to recommend his transfer to C Sector.
• The Collector asked Lu Bai to team up, but Lu Bai refused and moved toward the iron door.
• Heide attacked the Collector, dodged his gunfire with an unnatural twist, and crushed his skull with a punch.
• Heide told Lu Bai to open the door, but Lu Bai smiled and refused again.

Lu Bai refused to surrender, revealed his three four-star titles, and killed the fanatical believer with a speed Heide could not follow. As Heide realized he might have been tricked and pursued him, Lu Bai reached the prison wall and unleashed [Ink Dye], plunging the entire prison into blackness.

• Lu Bai rejected Heide’s demand and equipped [Slay Heaven Destroy Earth (Four Star)], [Frenzied Slaughter (Four Star)], and [Ultimate Murderer (Four Star)].
• Lu Bai used [Flash Time] to appear beside the fanatical believer and snap his neck, earning a point and reaching Rank 5/186.
• Lu Bai warned Heide that he did not want to fight, then headed toward the prison wall while Heide hesitated to attack.
• Heide realized Lu Bai might have tricked him and sprinted after him, leaping across the prison grounds.
• Lu Bai reached the high wall, snapped his fingers, and spread [Ink Dye] across the entire prison.

Lu Bai escaped the prison by climbing its wall under cover of [Ink Dye], but the Warden unleashed a devastating punch that nearly caught him at the river. Lu Bai survived by using [Flash Time] to jump into the water and drifted downstream, where he reached shore and looked for a way to change out of his Prison Guard uniform.

• Heide, the Section Chief, was swallowed by the darkness Lu Bai had created and found himself unable to see.
• Lu Bai climbed the prison wall, crossed the barbed wire, and jumped down to escape.
• The Warden reviewed the darkness on the monitors, ordered Heide to meet him, and punched toward its center, destroying the wall and clearing a path through the area.
• Lu Bai activated [Flash Time] and jumped into the river as the Warden's punch swept past, then drifted downstream for nearly three hours.
• Lu Bai reached shore, hid his secondary titles, and looked toward the shops for clothes to replace his Prison Guard uniform.

After escaping prison, Lu Bai stole new clothes and learned that Chikan Bay was a chaotic district where he might hide. There, a green-haired youth named Ma tried to recruit him and demand protection money.

• Lu Bai knocked out a clothing-store owner, took new clothes, and asked where he could find informants.
• The owner directed Lu Bai to Chikan Bay and warned him that the police ignored the dangerous district.
• Lu Bai hid his prison clothes in a bag and headed for Chikan Bay, hoping to find a place to stay while avoiding attention.
• Lu Bai saw that Chikan Bay was a maze of old tenements and openly operated illegal businesses, suggesting powerful forces protected it.
• A green-haired youth introduced himself as Ma, offered Lu Bai protection, and demanded money.

Lu Bai was almost shaken down by Green-haired Youth in Chikan Bay, but Sister Shrimp stopped him and invited him to eat at her shop. After learning that Sister Shrimp could not speak and that her brother was saving money for her treatment, Lu Bai finished his meal and left, still with nowhere to go.

• Green-haired Youth tried to rob Lu Bai, but Sister Shrimp intervened and led him into Shrimp Claypot Rice.
• Sister Shrimp explained in writing that her brother was trying to earn money for her treatment and offered Lu Bai a meal.
• Sister Shrimp warned Lu Bai that Chikan Bay was no place for someone like him, and Lu Bai said he had nowhere else to go.
• Brother Shrimp returned and objected to Lu Bai eating there, while Sister Shrimp pleaded that Lu Bai was homeless.
• Lu Bai finished his shrimp claypot rice, thanked Sister Shrimp, and headed out.

Lu Bai settled into Chikan Bay and watched its violent streets while considering joining Dao Sect to learn supernatural cultivation. At dusk, he spotted the dazed Brother Shrimp wandering into a trash can.

• Lu Bai lured three would-be robbers into lending him their money, then checked into the Changlai Hotel without registering a name.
• Lu Bai searched his room for surveillance devices and watched the street for deathmatchers, but saw none.
• Lu Bai witnessed a gang kill a fleeing man and learned about Chikan Bay's factions, the White Shark Gang, and Dao Master, the neighborhood's undisputed kingpin.
• Lu Bai considered joining Dao Sect to obtain a supernatural cultivation method but wondered what excuse he could give.
• At dusk, Lu Bai saw Brother Shrimp walk dazedly into a trash can.

Lu Bai rescued Ma Qingyun from two thugs and learned that armed men had abducted Sister Shrimp from the shop. Ma Qingyun begged him to help save her, and Lu Bai began considering the suspicious timing of the kidnapping.

• Lu Bai watched as two thugs attacked Ma Qingyun and tried to extort money from him.
• Lu Bai shot one thug and killed the other, then asked who they ran with.
• Ma Qingyun recognized Lu Bai’s strength and begged him to save Sister Shrimp.
• Ma Qingyun told Lu Bai that powerful men had taken Sister Shrimp and that Ma Anguo had refused to intervene.
• Lu Bai noted that the kidnapping’s timing seemed suspicious.

Lu Bai helped Brother Shrimp search for Sister Shrimp, who Snake's men had taken to Aishang Bar. After knocking out the guards at the back entrance, they entered the club and began looking for Snake's men.

• Brother Shrimp told Lu Bai that Snake's men had taken Sister Shrimp to Aishang Bar.
• Lu Bai denied killing two men to the White Shark Gang boss, then left with Brother Shrimp for the bar.
• Lu Bai led Brother Shrimp through an alley to Aishang Bar's back entrance and knocked out its two guards with a bottle.
• Lu Bai and Brother Shrimp entered the bar and decided to look for Snake's men, who Brother Shrimp said would know where Sister Shrimp was.
• Brother Shrimp said the person in charge was likely in a private room on the second floor, and Lu Bai asked whether they could draw Snake's men out by causing a disturbance.

Lu Bai and Brother Shrimp started a disturbance at Aishang to draw out Snake’s Red Pole, Brother Biao. After Brother Biao confronted Lu Bai, he dodged two shots and charged at him, while Lu Bai prepared to respond.

• Brother Shrimp started a fight on the dance floor, then talked back to the guards who tried to remove him.
• Lu Bai fired two shots, sending the bar into chaos and bringing Brother Biao out of a private room.
• Brother Biao jumped from the second floor and asked Lu Bai who he ran with; Lu Bai answered that he was with Xiaohongshu.
• Lu Bai fired twice at Brother Biao, who dodged the bullets and charged toward him.

Lu Bai used Flash Time and darkness to fight Brother Biao, a Postnatal Martial Artist who survived a gunshot and pressed him with a series of attacks. After Lu Bai repeatedly shot and disoriented him, Brother Biao charged blindly and ended up clutching a security guard, convinced he had caught Lu Bai.

• Lu Bai activated Flash Time and shot Brother Biao, who survived by digging the bullet out of his skull.
• Brother Biao attacked Lu Bai with a combination of punches, but Lu Bai used Flash Time to evade them.
• Lu Bai plunged the hall into darkness, then used thrown objects and gunshots to confuse and wound Brother Biao.
• Brother Biao tried to surrender, but Lu Bai refused and dodged his charge, leaving him crashing into the bar's wall.
• Brother Biao grabbed a security guard and laughed, believing he had caught Lu Bai.

Lu Bai defeated Brother Biao and searched Aishang Bar with Brother Shrimp for Sister Shrimp and the Body Tempering Method. On the rooftop, Hei Jinbao and Thirteen Yao discussed Lu Bai and Dao Master’s test as they noticed someone approaching.

• Lu Bai shot Brother Biao in the back of the head again, and the security chief and his guards fled when the lights came back on.
• Brother Biao begged Lu Bai for help but refused to reveal where the Body Tempering Method was, so Lu Bai left him behind.
• Brother Shrimp thanked Lu Bai and promised his loyalty, and Lu Bai decided they would search the private rooms upstairs for Sister Shrimp.
• On Aishang Bar’s rooftop, Hei Jinbao complained about carrying responsibility for Peace Lane while Thirteen Yao said they were acting for Dao Master.
• Hei Jinbao asked whether Dao Master might recruit Lu Bai, but Thirteen Yao refused to speculate and spotted someone approaching the rooftop.

Lu Bai met Thirteen Yao and Hei Jinbao on the rooftop, where they explained that Dao Master wanted to see him after he passed a test. Sister Shrimp’s account revealed how she had been abducted, and the chapter ended as Hei Jinbao and Thirteen Yao found her unharmed in a rundown apartment.

• Thirteen Yao told Lu Bai that Dao Master had requested to meet him after he proved himself by defeating Brother Biao and a Postnatal Martial Artist.
• Lu Bai insisted on seeing Sister Shrimp before going with them, and Hei Jinbao agreed to take him to her.
• Sister Shrimp recalled her life with her brother and described how thugs had abducted her from their restaurant.
• Big Tattoo Arm approached the bound Sister Shrimp, but pounding at the door interrupted him.
• Big Tattoo Arm opened the door and found Hei Jinbao and Thirteen Yao, who confirmed that Sister Shrimp was safe.

Lu Bai met Dao Master, who asked him to break someone out of prison in exchange for a copy of the Body Tempering Method. Lu Bai accepted the job and returned to his inn with a week to carry it out.

• Hei Jinbao killed Big Tattoo Arm, and Brother Shrimp reunited with Sister Shrimp while Lu Bai and Thirteen Yao settled the matter.
• Thirteen Yao and Hei Jinbao took Lu Bai to meet Dao Master by the Chikan River.
• Dao Master asked Lu Bai to break someone out of prison, and Lu Bai requested the Body Tempering Method as payment up front.
• Dao Master gave Lu Bai a week to complete the prison break and sent him away with the old book.
• Lu Bai returned to the inn and found that the book was titled "Martial Guide."

Lu Bai studied the Body Tempering Method and used his extraordinary talent to sense Internal Energy almost immediately. He compressed it into liquid, but the White Shark Gang interrupted him before he could continue.

• Lu Bai read the Body Tempering Method and learned how martial artists developed and refined Internal Energy.
• Lu Bai sensed Internal Energy quickly despite distractions in the inn, then began trying to temper his body.
• Lu Bai found body tempering too slow and began compressing his Internal Energy instead.
• Lu Bai compressed his Internal Energy from mist into liquid and prepared to refine it further.
• The White Shark Gang pounded on Lu Bai’s door and ordered him to open it.

Lu Bai fought off the White Shark Gang in a narrow hotel hallway, using only his newly learned Internal Energy. After recognizing him as a martial artist, the gang leader begged for mercy.

• The White Shark Gang leader ordered his men to attack Lu Bai after they learned Lu Bai had just arrived in Chikan Bay.
• Lu Bai caught a bald thug's punch and kicked him through the opposite room's door.
• Lu Bai used Internal Energy to overwhelm the gang members in the hallway, while his fighting grew smoother with practice.
• The gang members lost their nerve when they saw Lu Bai unharmed and their companions beaten.
• The gang leader recognized Lu Bai as a martial artist and begged for mercy, and Lu Bai reassured him that he was a good person.

Lu Bai took control of the White Shark Gang and reached the Grandmaster realm after compressing his Internal Energy into a solid. With the gang nearly out of money, he asked White Shark where they could get funds.

• Lu Bai ordered White Shark Gang members to cook for him and asked White Shark how much money the gang had left.
• At a gym, Xiao Xueyin failed to sense Internal Energy, and Brother Fengze told him about the five factions managing Chikan Bay and the turmoil over Snake's territory.
• Xiao Xueyin asked Brother Fengze whether he had considered building a giant faction of his own.
• After two days of training, Lu Bai solidified his Internal Energy and reached the Grandmaster realm.
• White Shark told Lu Bai that the gang was nearly broke and its members were going hungry, so Lu Bai asked where they could get money.

White Shark confronted Xiang Heizhi in Xiangri Society territory and revealed that White Shark Gang had united with Guaizi Gang, Jinquan Group, and Franklin. As armed thugs attacked the food stall, Xiang Heizhi’s underling urged him to escape.

• White Shark approached Liu Zhuti’s food stall and offered to have White Shark Gang look after the business.
• Xiangri Society members challenged White Shark for entering their territory, and Xiang Heizhi confronted him.
• White Shark told Xiang Heizhi that Guaizi Gang, Jinquan Group, Franklin, and White Shark Gang had joined forces.
• Xiang Heizhi’s unanswered call to his vice president and the armed men surrounding the stall lent weight to White Shark’s claim.
• White Shark ordered the attack on Xiangri Society, and one of Xiang Heizhi’s underlings charged into the fight and told Xiang Heizhi to escape.