Chapter Summaries

After Shen Beijun's death, Li Weiyang identified Xiao Fan as the killer, and Shen Long sealed the City of Kings and made him a wanted man. While Xiao Fan stayed hidden and investigated how to upgrade the city, he learned the Jun Family had offered further upgrade knowledge in exchange for control of the city.

• Li Weiyang told Shen Long that Jiu Chen had killed Shen Beijun, and Shen Long confirmed the accusation from reports of a Thunder Dragon and golden wings.
• Shen Long closed the city gates, ordered firearms brought out to shoot Xiao Fan if he flew, and rallied players to search for him.
• Zhou He and Si Ming warned Xiao Fan about the danger; Si Ming transferred him ten million Core Power to give to his daughter if anything happened to him.
• After Si Ming's uneasy message, Xiao Fan decided to visit the Kaiyuan Hotel, but he stayed to listen as Shen Long spoke with Shen Beiwen and Shen Beiwu.
• Shen Beiwen revealed that the Jun Family had offered to explain how to upgrade the city further if the four great families obeyed them and ceded control of the City of Kings.

Xiao Fan overheard Shen Long agree to the Jun Family’s terms and speculated that they had learned city-upgrading methods from another server. After secretly taking supplies from the Shen Family warehouse, he grew worried when Si Ming failed to reply and left to check on him.

• Xiao Fan overheard Shen Beiwen question how the Jun Family knew how to upgrade cities, and Shen Long agreed to their terms, saying he would visit the Jun Family himself the next day.
• Xiao Fan reasoned that the Jun Family might be spread across other servers and wondered which nation had discovered the city-upgrading method.
• Xiao Fan decided to follow Shen Long to the Jun Family the next day and planned to visit Si Ming at the Kaiyuan Hotel that night.
• Xiao Fan secretly took all the supplies from the Shen Family warehouse and noticed that Si Ming still had not replied.
• Xiao Fan left the City Lord Mansion, evaded nearby patrols, dropped his invisibility in a secluded corner, and disguised himself as Huang Quan.

Xiao Fan discovered that the Fate Mercenary Group had vanished from the Kaiyuan Hotel and suspected Shen Long was responsible. Qin Muyu revealed that Tyrant Blade had joined forces with Shen Long to kill Si Ming and his loyal followers, leaving Xiao Fan to wonder whether they were still alive.

• Xiao Fan learned from the hotel receptionists that a mercenary group had checked in but staff had been ordered to conceal it, then searched upstairs for signs of the Fate Mercenary Group.
• Xiao Fan asked Qin Muyu to investigate and sent Zhou He the information he had gathered about the City of Kings and the Jun Family.
• Shen Long realized Xiao Fan might be invisible and had been listening to his plans, so he ordered his subordinates to communicate through system chat.
• Qin Muyu told Xiao Fan that Shen Long and Tyrant Blade had agreed to eliminate Si Ming and his loyal followers because Si Ming opposed bringing the Fate Mercenary Group into the City of Kings.
• Xiao Fan asked Qin Muyu whether Si Ming and the others were still alive.

Xiao Fan learned that Si Ming and the Fate Mercenary Group had safely logged out, then weighed leaving City of Kings while Shen Long sought a way to find him. Shen Long asked Quan Zhong for help, and Quan Zhong recognized Jiu Chen as a possible lead to his missing son, Quan Lu.

• Qin Muyu told Xiao Fan that Si Ming had led the Fate Mercenary Group to log out, relieving Xiao Fan’s worry about their safety.
• Xiao Fan considered leaving City of Kings to grow stronger, but Shen Long resolved not to let Jiu Chen escape and contacted Quan Zhong for help.
• Quan Zhong learned that Shen Long was searching for the invisible Jiu Chen, who had killed Shen Beijun, and recognized the name from reports about a prodigy from the Cyberpunk World instance.
• Quan Zhong’s subordinate pointed out that Jiu Chen might know where Quan Lu was, and asked whether Quan Zhong should help Shen Long.

Quan Zhong used a Disconnector to trap Xiao Fan in City of Kings and a Seeker Cage to capture him. The cage was delivered to Shen Long’s residence, where Quan Zhong confronted the invisible Xiao Fan, who secretly messaged Zhou He and Qin Muyu for help.

• Quan Zhong activated a Disconnector around City of Kings and warned Jiu Chen that he could not log out.
• City of Kings players mocked Quan Zhong in the chat, and Shen Long ordered them to stop and apologized to him.
• Xiao Fan failed to log out and tried to escape the city, but an invisible Seeker Cage trapped him.
• Players carried the apparently empty cage to Shen Long’s residence after Xiao Fan failed to break it open.
• Quan Zhong approached the cage and called out to Jiu Chen while Xiao Fan secretly told Zhou He and Qin Muyu that he had been captured.

Quan Zhong captured Xiao Fan but kept him alive to learn what happened to Quan Lu, while Xiao Fan traded that information for a city-upgrade method. After Quan Zhong locked Xiao Fan away, someone approached his room late at night.

• Shen Long urged Quan Zhong to kill Jiu Chen, but Quan Zhong insisted on taking him alive and later promised Shen Long he could deal with him afterward.
• Quan Zhong brought Xiao Fan to his residence, where Xiao Fan revealed himself and offered to trade information about Quan Lu for a city-upgrade method.
• Quan Zhong explained that completing the Seven-Colored Deer’s task in Flower Valley could earn a city-upgrade token.
• Xiao Fan told Quan Zhong that Quan Lu’s team had been imprisoned on an alien planet connected to the Cyberpunk World dungeon, and that the captors had an item that blocked chat.
• Quan Zhong ordered Xiao Fan locked in a room, and late that night someone opened the door and peered inside.

Two masked rescuers sent by Soul Piercer and Chief Zhou freed Xiao Fan from Quan Zhong’s Seeker Cage by carrying it through the City of Kings. Their disguise failed when Quan Zhong alerted Shen Long, who offered a reward for capturing Jiu Chen, and the rescuers were surrounded near the city gate.

• A Black-Clad Woman sent by Soul Piercer and a Black-Clad Man sent by Chief Zhou arrived separately to rescue Xiao Fan.
• Unable to open the Seeker Cage, the rescuers carried it through the city and followed Xiao Fan’s suggestion to disguise it as a covered object.
• Quan Zhong sensed that the cage was nearing the city gate and alerted Shen Long that Jiu Chen had escaped.
• Shen Long offered citizenship and priority for a city profession transfer to anyone who caught Jiu Chen, and Elsa Person recognized the covered cage.
• Players surrounded the rescuers near the city gate, and the Black-Clad Woman ordered them to fight their way out as both rescuers revealed Heaven-Tier Skills.

Xiao Fan used his Thunder Dragon Skill to help two masked rescuers break through the players surrounding his cage. When a rocket blast knocked off the woman’s mask, he recognized her as Yun Zhongyao, Qin Muyao’s half-sister, and Shen Long and Quan Zhong caught up as escape became impossible.

• The two people in black unleashed their strongest Heaven-Tier Skills and fought through the players as the city alarm sounded.
• Xiao Fan pulled away the cage’s black cloth, and the players identified him as Jiu Chen and intensified their attack.
• Xiao Fan summoned a Thunder Dragon from inside the cage, clearing a path for the rescuers to carry him toward the gates.
• A rocket blast knocked the cage away and revealed the woman in black as Yun Zhongyao, leaving Xiao Fan shocked by her connection to Qin Muyu.
• Shen Long and Quan Zhong caught up, and Xiao Fan told Yun Zhongyao and the man in black to flee while he faced them.

Shen Long ordered Xiao Fan killed, but Xiao Fan used the Thunder Dragon to cover Yun Zhongyao and the Black-Clad Man’s escape. Quan Zhong recognized the skill as a God King Skill, while Shen Long’s rocket launchers opened fire on Xiao Fan inside the cage.

• Shen Long decided Xiao Fan was too dangerous to keep alive, and Quan Zhong agreed not to stop him.
• Xiao Fan told Yun Zhongyao and the Black-Clad Man to flee while he held Shen Long off.
• Shen Long accused Xiao Fan of murdering his son and innocent players, then ordered his followers to attack.
• Xiao Fan summoned the Thunder Dragon again, stunning the pursuing players and helping Yun Zhongyao and the Black-Clad Man escape.
• Quan Zhong recognized the Thunder Dragon as a God King Skill and wondered how Xiao Fan had obtained it.
• Shen Long ordered every rocket launcher aimed at Xiao Fan, and rockets poured down on him inside the cage.

After Quan Zhong’s golden item trapped Xiao Fan in a Capture Cage and Shen Long’s forces blasted him with a rocket, a purple light revealed that he had survived. Zijin had awakened in a new, older form and rescued her master, leaving the assembled players stunned.

• Yun Zhongyao and the man in black realized they could not break Quan Zhong’s Capture Cage and feared Xiao Fan was lost.
• Shen Long celebrated Xiao Fan’s apparent death, while Shen Beiwen, Shen Beiwu, and City of Kings players rejoiced.
• A purple light flared from the dying flames, and a winged girl appeared, condemning the crowd for attacking her master.
• Quan Zhong recognized the girl’s golden wings as resembling Jiu Chen’s, and Xiao Fan realized she was Zijin.
• Zijin explained that she had awakened early because Xiao Fan kept facing life-threatening crises, then scolded him for it.

Xiao Fan survived Shen Long’s rocket barrage because Zijin protected him, then Zijin tore apart Quan Zhong’s Capture Cage and confronted the attackers. As Quan Zhong slipped away, Shen Long ordered another bombardment against Xiao Fan and Zijin.

• Zijin shielded Xiao Fan from Shen Long’s rockets, leaving him unharmed while the crowd watched in disbelief.
• Zijin pulled two bars out of Quan Zhong’s Capture Cage, allowing Xiao Fan to escape.
• Quan Zhong’s Jun Family companions began slipping away, and Quan Zhong left to destroy the final Disconnector node.
• Zijin confronted the players who had tried to kill Jiu Chen, while Shen Long claimed he was avenging his son and blamed Xiao Fan.
• Shen Long secretly ordered the Rocket Troopers to fire another barrage at Xiao Fan and Zijin.

After Shen Long and Quan Zhong fled the rocket bombardment, Zijin transformed into her enormous true form and prepared to strike back with Feather Descent Heavenly Thunder. Xiao Fan transferred all his mana to her, leaving the group to face the enemy with Zijin fully powered.

• Shen Long escaped the bombardment and learned from Quan Zhong that destroying three Disconnector nodes would allow players to log out.
• After the rocket attack ended, Yun Zhongyao and the man in black urged Xiao Fan and Zijin to leave the City of Kings, but Zijin chose to fight back.
• Zijin revealed her giant purple-bird form and explained that Feather Descent Heavenly Thunder required energy from Xiao Fan.
• Xiao Fan transferred his mana to Zijin, and she grew to nearly the size of the City of Kings before realizing he had enough energy to unleash her full attack.

Zijin revealed her colossal true form and unleashed a storm of divine lightning over the City of Kings, trapping its players inside the game. Shen Long and Quan Zhong were left watching the city fall into ruin, while Shen Long vowed revenge against Jiu Chen.

• Yun Zhongyao, the man in black, and the players of the City of Kings panicked when Zijin's immense true form appeared in the sky.
• Shen Long urged Quan Zhong to destroy the Disconnector's nodes, and Quan Zhong destroyed his node but could not reach the people responsible for the other two.
• Zijin cried out, summoned purple divine lightning, and showered the City of Kings with bolts that players could not escape.
• Xiao Fan, Yun Zhongyao, and the man in black watched as the lightning engulfed the city, while Shen Long's trusted subordinate and son Shen Beiwen were struck down.
• Shen Long cursed Jiu Chen and demanded answers from Quan Zhong, who realized the Disconnector had trapped the players and that the City of Kings had been devastated.

Xiao Fan escaped the ruined City of Kings after Zijin destroyed it with her lightning storm, then transferred to Dragon City and reunited with Zhou He and Jian Qingfeng. He explained how to develop a city and asked about the Jun Family’s server, leaving Zhou He to reveal that it was complicated.

• Zijin exhausted her energy and fell into Xiao Fan’s arms, so he sent her into Contract Space and fled the City of Kings with Yun Zhongyao and the man in black.
• Xiao Fan met the others outside the city, confirmed that Yun Zhongyao and the man in black had prepared alibis, and logged out.
• Xiao Fan transferred his location to Dragon City through the Login Administration Bureau and returned to the game.
• Zhou He and Jian Qingfeng picked Xiao Fan up, invited him to join their city, and asked about Zijin; Xiao Fan explained that she was his Contract Beast.
• Xiao Fan told Zhou He how to upgrade a city quickly and asked why the Jun Family seemed so advanced, and Zhou He said their server was complicated.

Shen Long surveyed the destruction of the City of Kings and learned that Xiao Fan’s lightning bird was tied to Shen Tao’s death. In Dragon City, Zhou He explained the origins of the hidden Mirror City Server, leaving Xiao Fan with more questions about its players and the game’s invasion.

• Shen Long mourned the ruined City of Kings and Shen Beiwen warned him not to call out in case Xiao Fan and the lightning bird were still nearby.
• Shen Long blamed Quan Zhong’s Disconnector for trapping players in the game and realized that the city’s defenses did not protect it from creatures brought inside.
• Shen Long’s confidant recognized the bird as the one that had killed Shen Tao at the World’s End Gathering Point, and Shen Long vowed to make Xiao Fan pay.
• Shen Long decided to find Quan Zhong and reclaim the option to leave the game while surviving players hid among the ruins.
• Zhou He told Xiao Fan that the Jun Family belonged to the ancient Hermit Families of Mirror City, whose independent server had arrived before the Black Fog invaded Blue Star.
• Zhou He explained that Mirror City players faced strict requirements to return to the Real World and that their technology had introduced the login devices.

Xiao Fan unlocked professions in Dragon City, leveled with Jian Qingfeng’s team, and considered partnering with the government to produce Healing Potions. He met Luo Yi to build trust, but had not yet revealed what he wanted from him.

• Xiao Fan unlocked professions in Dragon City, earning 5.1 million Contribution Points, and decided to save them until the city reached Level 5.
• Xiao Fan joined Jian Qingfeng’s team for dungeon runs, gained a level, and planned to use the event to create a skill and a profession.
• Xiao Fan saw the Bai Family pharmacy and considered working with the government to produce and sell Healing Potions using Water of Life.
• Xiao Fan remembered that he needed the Island of Light dungeon to obtain more Water of Life and arranged to meet Luo Yi.
• Xiao Fan reassured Luo Yi that cooperating with the Dragon Nation might help them return to their own planet, then Luo Yi asked what Xiao Fan had come to discuss.

Xiao Fan discussed the Island of Light instance and Healing Potions with Luo Yi, then arranged with Zhou He to help the country develop the potions. After noticing a glittering object in his Space Ring, Xiao Fan returned to his room and took it out.

• Luo Yi told Xiao Fan that a level-80 Wild Boss on Conqueror Island might drop the diary needed to enter the Island of Light instance.
• Xiao Fan learned from Luo Yi that the Fierce Beasts would appear along the Black Fog’s edges across the servers, not only in Dragon Nation.
• Zhou He told Xiao Fan that the Black Fog had spread rapidly after Dragon Nation’s energy fell, and explained how officials had reported the City of Kings incident.
• Xiao Fan agreed to help Zhou He seek the Seven-Colored Deer and told him about supplying Water of Life for Healing Potions.
• Xiao Fan handed Zhou He the remaining Water of Life, noticed something glittering inside his Space Ring, and returned to his room to retrieve it.

Xiao Fan discovered that his God Demon Stone had restored a Special Evolution Fragment into a bead capable of creating or upgrading a God-tier Profession. As he continued leveling, he learned that high school students would soon enter the game, with many people hoping to place them in Zone 18.

• Xiao Fan identified the God Demon Special Evolution Bead and realized it could create or upgrade a Profession, but he decided to save it while he considered his options.
• Yun Zhongyao told Xiao Fan that Quan Zhong and Shen Long had survived and returned to the Real World, and Xiao Fan asked her to share any further news.
• Xiao Fan fell asleep after going two days without rest, then teamed up with Jian Qingfeng and Zhou He to level the next day.
• Zhou He explained that high school students would be allowed into the game early because Fierce Beasts threatened the Real World and the updated game required players to gain experience by killing monsters.
• Xiao Fan learned that many people wanted their younger relatives assigned to Zone 18 because of the Profession he had left there.

Xiao Fan planned to strengthen the high school students entering the game by creating role-based Skill Chains, hoping to boost Dragon Nation’s power before the Ranked Match season. At Dragon City’s Trading Market, he bought a Talent Stone for far more than its seller had asked.

• Xiao Fan decided to create Mystic Rank Skill Chains for different team roles so the new players could develop their skills and attributes.
• Xiao Fan realized Heavenly Spirit Treasures could raise his younger cousins’ attributes before they entered the game, so he went looking for items to buy.
• Xiao Fan found no Heavenly Spirit Treasures in the Trading House and headed to Dragon City’s crowded Trading Market.
• Xiao Fan spotted a Talent Stone and bought it from a seller who had meant to ask for twenty thousand Core Power, after Xiao Fan offered two hundred thousand.

Xiao Fan bought Talent Stones at the Trading Market and arranged for Qian Juduo to gather more for him. Qian Juduo then told him about a Millennium Ginseng Fruit being bartered with a mysterious piece of wood, leaving Xiao Fan surprised by the seller’s requested trade.

• Xiao Fan realized he had mistaken a Talent Stone price and lost the chance to save 180,000 Core Power, then bought another stone from the stall owner.
• Xiao Fan offered to buy Talent Stones from the stall owner regularly for 21,000 Core Power each, and the man agreed.
• The stall owner learned Xiao Fan was Jiu Chen, accepted his friend request, and offered to guide him to other Talent Stone stalls.
• Xiao Fan asked Qian Juduo about attribute-boosting Heavenly Spirit Treasures, and Qian Juduo mentioned an unsold Millennium Ginseng Fruit.
• Qian Juduo explained that the seller would only barter the Millennium Ginseng Fruit together with mysterious wood in exchange for a flying vehicle, puzzling Xiao Fan.