Chapter Summaries

Lu Bai and the military watched the Mona shadow on the Moon disable probes and reverse the state of matter, revealing a terrifying ability. At Forward Base, a demonic cultivator from another world saw the looming crisis as an opportunity and headed for the Combat Command Center.

• Probe One stopped at the edge of the lunar shadow, and Probes Two and Three stopped there as well despite the military's attempts to regain control.
• Technicians concluded that an unusual gravitational force around the shadow had affected the probes, while the old man in military uniform urged everyone to analyze it and find countermeasures.
• Lu Bai watched the shadow darken until it absorbed the surrounding light, then saw it engulf a probe and restore the probe to its factory-fresh condition.
• Lu Bai realized that the shadow was reversing changes in matter, and a technician wondered whether humanity could resist the Mona civilization.
• A young demonic cultivator at Forward Base saw the shadow covering the Moon, welcomed the chance for chaos, and made his way to the Combat Command Center.

A young man infiltrated the Combat Command Center building by trapping its guards in the Bewitching Sect's illusion. As Lu Bai watched the Mona people's lunar activity, security reported that the Third Security Company had stopped responding, and he suspected the Mona people had made their move.

• A young man used the Bewitching Sect's illusion to incapacitate two guards at the Combat Command Center building's entrance.
• Lu Bai questioned what the Mona people hoped to accomplish by slowly reversing time on the moon.
• Lu Bai ordered Pu Xueli to arrange the Civilian Protection Corps and prioritize the safety of civilians at the Forward Base.
• The uniformed old man learned that the Third Security Company had lost contact, though surveillance still showed its members at their posts.
• Lu Bai saw no deathmatchers downstairs and suspected the Mona people were using high technology to hypnotize the guards.

Lu Bai and the command center witnessed the Mona civilization destroy most of the Moon, leaving Earth facing catastrophic changes and an imminent lunar fragment impact. Lu Bai concluded that the Mona people were trying to drive humanity underground rather than confront him directly.

• Lu Bai reassured the uniformed old man and told him to carry out the existing plan.
• The probe image vanished, and satellite footage showed that the shadow and most of the Moon had disappeared.
• A researcher deduced that the Mona people had used the reversed state of matter to establish attack coordinates.
• The uniformed old man reported that the remaining lunar fragment would strike Earth in one hour and fifty-three minutes, and Lu Bai left him to handle interception.
• The command center considered the Moon’s disappearance and its consequences for Earth as Lu Bai concluded that the Mona people were trying to force humanity underground.

After the Mona people destroyed the moon, Lu Bai considered how to protect Earth as its environment deteriorated. An unfamiliar young man barged into the Combat Command Center, but Lu Bai stopped the guards from taking him away.

• Lu Bai and the researchers recognized that the Mona people’s long-range targeting could inspire new technology, though the moon’s destruction threatened Earth’s future.
• Lu Bai rejected entering another Deathmatch Showdown because it would be too late to save Earth, and he considered other options for the Forward Base.
• A young man kicked open the Combat Command Center’s doors and greeted its occupants, but no one recognized him.
• The Deathmatch System identified Lu Bai as the target the young man had been sent to deal with, and the young man backed down after recognizing him as Heavenly Venerate Lu.
• The old man in uniform ordered guards to take the young man for questioning, but Lu Bai stopped them.

Lu Bai confronted the young man who had illegally crossed over from the Deathmatch Arena, but the man unexpectedly gained an Ultraman Barrier ability and revealed himself as Old Ancestor Blood River. Convinced the Deathmatch System was backing him against Lu Bai, Old Ancestor Blood River unleashed a tide of blood through the command center corridor.

• Lu Bai suspected the young man was connected to the missing guards and tried to use mind control on him.
• The young man released a powerful aura, identified Lu Bai as Heavenly Venerate Lu, and tried to escape as blood, but Lu Bai stopped him with an invisible barrier.
• Lu Bai attacked with three wind blades, and the young man unexpectedly manifested an Ultraman Barrier that blocked the final strike.
• Lu Bai realized the young man had somehow gained an ability without being a Deathmatch participant or earning the right to keep one.
• The young man declared himself Old Ancestor Blood River and claimed the Heavenly Dao had turned against Lu Bai.
• Old Ancestor Blood River unleashed a tide of blood through the corridor, and the commanders and technical staff fled.

Lu Bai stopped Old Ancestor Blood River’s blood tide, then endured a devastating light-spear blast without injury. After Lu Bai revealed he could take the Deathmatch System’s abilities, he challenged the system as he launched a spear at Old Ancestor Blood River.

• The technical staff and advisory team retreated as Old Ancestor Blood River sent a tide of blood down the corridor, while Lu Bai remained calm.
• An energy barrier appeared before Lu Bai and halted the blood tide, prompting Old Ancestor Blood River to attack with a spear of light.
• The spear shattered Lu Bai’s barrier and blasted a passage through the building, damaging the Combat Command Center but causing no casualties.
• Lu Bai stood unharmed and asked whether Old Ancestor Blood River had any other abilities, then formed an identical spear of light.
• Old Ancestor Blood River discovered he could no longer use the spear technique, and Lu Bai threw his spear at him while challenging the Deathmatch System.

Lu Bai tested the Deathmatch System's ability to protect Old Ancestor Blood River, but Blood River revealed that the Heavenly Dao had chosen him and granted him countless abilities. The chapter left Lu Bai facing a sky full of powers represented by shining points of light.

• Lu Bai tested the Deathmatch System with a spear of light, and Old Ancestor Blood River's metallic defense stopped it.
• Lu Bai used [Flash Time] to strike Blood River from behind, destroying the building and injuring people in the crowd.
• Lu Bai calmed the panicking crowd through [Mindstream Network], while Blood River climbed out of the ruins.
• Blood River told Lu Bai that the Heavenly Dao had chosen him and that Lu Bai's stolen power was only a drop in the bucket.
• Blood River spread his arms, revealing countless points of light representing abilities, and Lu Bai asked whether the System had given him everything.

Old Ancestor Blood River used the Deathmatch System’s vast Ability Pool to attack Lu Bai, while Lu Bai tried to steal abilities with [Read File]. As the battle devastated New City and the moon’s absence threatened Earth’s ecosystem, Lu Bai decided he had to take the initiative.

• The Deathmatch System gave Old Ancestor Blood River access to every ability in its Ability Pool, and Lu Bai began reading and stealing them with [Read File].
• Old Ancestor Blood River summoned a massive pressure vortex and challenged Lu Bai to another round as Lu Bai hurried to acquire as many abilities as possible.
• Two Mona Warriors saw the vortex over New City and hurried toward it, wondering whether their comrades had started the fight.
• Old Ancestor Blood River combined [Heavenly Phenomenon Descends] with [Magic to Physics], devastating New City, while Lu Bai survived with [Steel Body].
• Lu Bai recognized that he had no immediate answer to Old Ancestor Blood River’s attacks and decided to take the initiative.

Old Ancestor Blood River used the Deathmatch System’s many abilities to overwhelm Lu Bai while New City descended into chaos. After killing Mona Warriors hiding among the civilians, he grabbed Lu Bai by the neck, but Lu Bai claimed he knew what a truly invincible ability looked like.

• Old Ancestor Blood River destroyed the Combat Command Center, leaving New City’s officials and civilians in panic as Lu Bai focused on stopping him.
• Old Ancestor Blood River dodged Lu Bai’s attack, kicked him through three high-rises, and pursued him to the crater where he landed.
• Two Mona Warriors mocked the fight, so Old Ancestor Blood River read their memories and killed them along with dozens of other Mona Warriors hidden in the city.
• Lu Bai noticed the Mona people had made no move since destroying the moon, while Old Ancestor Blood River warned that [Steel Body] could not protect him.
• Old Ancestor Blood River grabbed Lu Bai by the neck, and Lu Bai said he knew what a truly invincible ability looked like.

Lu Bai survived Old Ancestor Blood River’s attacks and pursued him while reading more of his abilities, leaving the two facing off near Earth after Blood River revealed that the Mona Warriors had captured Xiao Xueyin. Blood River tried to use Xiao Xueyin as leverage, but Lu Bai said he could learn the captive’s location by reading Blood River’s memories.

• Old Ancestor Blood River attacked Lu Bai with four weak-point runes and [Flash Time], but Lu Bai’s [Divine Might] made him untouchable and he escaped.
• Lu Bai pursued Blood River, using [Ink Dye] and [Act Under Cover of Darkness] to keep pace while reading his abilities and thwarting his attacks.
• After they circled Earth several times, Blood River stopped in near-Earth orbit and told Lu Bai the Mona Warriors had captured Xiao Xueyin.
• Blood River claimed he alone knew where Xiao Xueyin was hidden and expected Lu Bai to hesitate, but Lu Bai said he could read Blood River’s memories if he killed him.

Lu Bai survived Old Ancestor Blood River’s soul-based attack with the ability [Materialist], leaving Blood River’s costly ambush ineffective. Blood River then revealed that Lu Bai had stolen System Authority and claimed he could use that authority too.

• Lu Bai admitted that Old Ancestor Blood River had been his friend and warned that Blood River was overacting.
• Old Ancestor Blood River kowtowed three times, using a costly ability that left Lu Bai dazed while chaotic phantoms formed around him.
• Lu Bai woke from the effect because [Materialist], retained through [Load Save], protected him from nonphysical influences.
• Lu Bai taunted Blood River and continued reading his abilities while hoping he would surrender.
• Old Ancestor Blood River identified Lu Bai’s power as System Authority and claimed he could use it as well.

Lu Bai and Old Ancestor Blood River used their black-level Deathmatch System privileges against each other, revealing that [Restore] could undo the restrictions imposed by [Disable]. Lu Bai survived his fall and began loading [Disable] as Old Ancestor Blood River struggled to obtain more system privileges.

• Lu Bai inferred that black-level abilities were administrator privileges and dived toward the ground as Old Ancestor Blood River gained a black privilege.
• Old Ancestor Blood River used [Disable] to block Lu Bai from using his abilities while Lu Bai fell from the sky.
• Lu Bai struck the plain but survived by using [Restore] to undo [Disable]’s restrictions.
• Lu Bai explained that [Restore] could counter system privileges and began loading Old Ancestor Blood River’s [Disable].
• Old Ancestor Blood River tried to obtain more black-level privileges, while Lu Bai pressed him to ask the system about [Browse], [Protocol], [Edit], and [Drive].

A moon-driven flood swept across the plain while Lu Bai and Old Ancestor Blood River watched from the sky, and Old Ancestor Blood River warned that Lu Bai’s friend might die. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhengyan convened the City Council and secured approval to use a hidden radio transmitter to contact the other shelters.

• Seawater surged inland across the plain, and Lu Bai and Old Ancestor Blood River flew above it without trying to stop the flood.
• Old Ancestor Blood River taunted Lu Bai that his missing friend might not survive, and Lu Bai calmly acknowledged he could not revive someone whose location he did not know.
• Xiao Zhengyan called a meeting of the City Council’s twelve standing members after learning the moon had been destroyed.
• The standing members voted four to three, with six abstaining, to authorize Xiao Zhengyan’s plan.
• Councilor Shen opened the safe, and Xiao Zhengyan prepared the radio transmitter and its authentication key to contact the other shelters.

Xiao Zhengyan sent the City Council’s call for shelters to unite, while Lu Bai fought Old Ancestor Blood River on the surface. Old Ancestor Blood River used the Deathmatch System’s new authorities to pin Lu Bai beneath the torrent, but Lu Bai found a way to use [Disable] against him.

• Xiao Zhengyan sent the City Council’s notice to the shelters and prepared the councilors for a meeting under the Flower City Treaty.
• Old Ancestor Blood River repeatedly tried to disable Lu Bai’s abilities, but Lu Bai restored [Disable] from the discard pile and resisted the restriction.
• The Deathmatch System granted Old Ancestor Blood River three more System Authorities, giving him four in total.
• Old Ancestor Blood River used [Inspect] and [Edit] to increase the weight of Lu Bai’s [Steel Body], crushing him into the torrent.
• Lu Bai spotted [Disable] in his ability list and used it on Old Ancestor Blood River.

Lu Bai used [Disable] to strip Old Ancestor Blood River of his abilities, then raced to read [Rewrite] while struggling to survive without his own powers. He halted Blood River’s attack with three achievement titles, leaving the two facing off as Blood River hesitated to continue fighting.

• Lu Bai disabled Old Ancestor Blood River’s powers and escaped the flood, while Blood River later re-formed from a pool of blood.
• Old Ancestor Blood River rewrote Lu Bai’s abilities with unbearable side effects, and Lu Bai restored [Wind Riding (Modified)], sending it back to Li Shan.
• Lu Bai began reading Blood River’s [Rewrite] ability while Blood River attacked him with blood beads.
• Lu Bai equipped three four-star achievement titles, whose tangible killing intent slowed the blood beads.
• Old Ancestor Blood River lost confidence in fighting Lu Bai, and Lu Bai stayed guarded without provoking him.

Old Ancestor Blood River wounded Lu Bai, but hesitated to finish him off after Lu Bai’s killing aura surged. Lu Bai revealed he had no options left and stood up, saying Old Ancestor Blood River had wasted his only chance to kill him.

• Old Ancestor Blood River formed a blood greatsword and charged Lu Bai, then struck him with a kick that sent him flying.
• Old Ancestor Blood River cautiously shot holes through Lu Bai and wondered whether he had run out of options.
• Lu Bai’s killing aura doubled after he combined three five-star achievement titles into one six-star title.
• Old Ancestor Blood River backed away and refused to attack, fearing Lu Bai’s aura concealed another ability.
• Lu Bai stood despite his wounds and told Old Ancestor Blood River he had wasted his one chance to kill him.

Lu Bai used [Compile] to overwhelm Old Ancestor Blood River and learned that the Deathmatch System had abandoned him. He halted the global disaster, leaving Li Shan and the people of New City to realize Lu Bai had won.

• Lu Bai completed [Compile], giving him four black-tier abilities and enough power to threaten the Deathmatch System.
• The Deathmatch System withdrew its abilities and authorities from Old Ancestor Blood River, leaving him powerless and despairing.
• Lu Bai used a fusion of forces to stop the global catastrophe and restore the planet's rotation and calm the weather and seas.
• At New City’s underground shelter, Li Shan heard Feng Yixuan ask whether Lu Bai had won and suggested they should no longer address him by name.

Lu Bai killed Old Ancestor Blood River and used his System Authorities to locate the hidden Deathmatch System. As shelters began sending teams to investigate the ruined surface, the Deathmatch System appeared to Lu Bai and claimed he had come back.

• Lu Bai searched Old Ancestor Blood River's memories, learned the Deathmatch System had chosen him without warning, and killed him.
• Lu Bai used his System Authorities to scan the planet and found the Deathmatch System.
• Shelter No. 3 sent an elite team to the surface, where its deathmatchers saw lightning frozen across the dark sky.
• Shelters No. 1 and No. 3 responded to the radio signal; Shelter No. 1's team found its exit flooded with seawater and began reconnaissance.
• The Deathmatch System appeared to Lu Bai and said, "You still came back," leaving him confused.

Lu Bai questioned the Deathmatch System about System Authority and learned that its twelve authorities included Update, the power that had let him raise his Ability Pool each round. The system revealed that Lu Bai was its creator and central processor, leaving him to face that he had never been human.

• Lu Bai asked the Deathmatch System to explain System Authority, and it listed twelve authorities, including Update.
• Lu Bai recognized Update as the power that had raised his Ability Pool in every Deathmatch Arena round.
• Lu Bai questioned why Update was inside him, and the system said it had always been there.
• Lu Bai realized he could remember nothing about a previous life beyond the claim that he had been a little Taoist priest.
• Lu Bai invoked his authority to ask what he had originally been, and the Deathmatch System identified him as its creator, primary authority, and central processor.
• Lu Bai summoned the twelve System Authorities and concluded that he had never been human.

Lu Bai learned that he was the Deathmatch System’s creator and central processor, and watched a recording explaining why his predecessor had rebooted him to gain complete control of the System. He accepted that he was human but not from Earth, then asked the Deathmatch System to explain its capabilities so he could handle a few things.

• The Deathmatch System explained that Lu Bai was its central processor and creator, and showed him a memory-image recorded by his predecessor.
• Lu Bai’s predecessor explained that he had rebooted Lu Bai and used the System’s Update authority to assimilate his genetic information, allowing him to gain complete control of the System.
• The recording revealed that Lu Bai’s predecessor came from an advanced civilization whose people merged their wills into a single individual and sacrificed their civilization to pursue technological progress.
• Lu Bai considered his predecessor’s choices and realized the Deathmatch System’s earlier actions had been a test rather than an attempt to kill him.
• Lu Bai asked the Deathmatch System to tell him what it could do and said he would take care of a few things.