Chapter Summaries

Lu Li used illusions and repeated attacks to distract the armor before the Death Intent Cage’s lakebed revealed a giant maw that devoured it. He emerged from the lake with the white jade sea bowl, then learned that Zhou Muli had found only a rune-covered wall in the white palace.

• The armor resisted Lu Li’s illusions and tentacles, dismissing them as harmless tricks and conserving its strength.
• Lu Li repeatedly attacked the armor with the Ink Blade, using it as a sparring partner until the First Three Layers of his blade technique reached perfect mastery.
• The lakebed rose and revealed a giant maw whose rule-based suction dragged the armor inside and killed it.
• Lu Li surfaced and returned the white jade sea bowl to Xing Anlin, telling him to save the water for next time.
• Zhou Muli reported that the white palace contained only a wall covered in grooves and runes, and Lu Li decided to inspect it himself.

Lin Qinyue struggled to treat the shelter’s wounded as the monster outbreak overwhelmed every district. In the northern district, Xu Xiao stayed at the collapsing defense line, where players used deadly Thorn Blood Talismans to hold back the demons as one leapt toward her.

• Lin Qinyue learned that the western, northern, and southern districts all needed help and sent for allies, but they had no spare Holy players to provide.
• Lin Shi urged Xu Xiao to retreat and seek purification, reminding her that letting the pregnant women in had not been her decision alone.
• A player suffering Deep Erosion charged the demons with a Thorn Blood Talisman, dying as blood-red thorns temporarily blocked a breach.
• Lin Shi watched the defense line fail and a Lin Family member prepare to use another Thorn Blood Talisman, despite his pleas to wait for Lin Qinyue.
• More blood thorns spread across the battlefield, but an agile demon vaulted over them and pounced at Xu Xiao.

Li Luo emerged from Lin Shi’s shadow to stabilize the Lin Family’s northern defensive line while Lin Qinyue healed the wounded. Just as the family prepared to send reinforcements elsewhere, Li Luo was overwhelmed and killed by the monsters.

• Lin Shi tried to protect Xu Xiao, but Li Luo burst from his shadow and killed the monster threatening them.
• Li Luo ordered Lin Shi and Xu Xiao to leave, then moved through the battlefield’s shadows and slaughtered monsters at the north defensive line.
• Lin Shi called for exhausted and heavily wounded guards to retreat while Lin Qinyue used [Holy Blessing] to cleanse their demonic energy.
• Lin Shi explained that Li Luo had been hiding in his shadow and seemed to have appeared when Xu Xiao was in danger, prompting Lin Qinyue to tease Xu Xiao.
• Lin Shou told Lin Qinyue that Lu Li was trapped in a class advancement Secret Realm but would support the Lin Family once he escaped.
• Lin Qinyue ordered guards to reinforce the east, west, and south lines after the wounded were healed, but Li Luo exploded into black blood under the monsters’ assault.

Lu Li completed his class advancement in the Job Change Secret Realm and returned to the Central Shelter as Lin Qinyue struggled through a night of purifying Demon Qi and defending the Lin Family. His black mist swept over the shelter, where residents welcomed him as help against the monsters.

• Lin Qinyue repeatedly purified the Lin Family’s defensive lines through the night while cursing Lu Li for the ineffective sentries.
• Lu Li had the Soul Guards copy the runes in the white palace and reassured Lin Qinfeng that his actions were the best way to preserve the Lin Family.
• Lu Li completed his class advancement and left the secret realm, returning to find Lin Qinyue exhausted from battle.
• Lu Li sensed where the Central Shelter needed support and flew toward the monster-infested areas as black mist covered the sky.
• The shelter’s residents cheered Lu Li’s arrival, and the Soul Guards, led by the Iron Pagoda, charged toward the monsters.

Lu Li arrived at the Central Shelter and used his powers to protect the defenders and turn the tide against the demons. After the crisis ended, he met with Lin Tianxia and revealed that the monster infiltration had originated from Sakura, then proposed discussing the arrangements going forward.

• Lin Xin, badly wounded and blinded by a demon, feared he would succumb to Demon Qi Erosion as the Lin Family defenders held their line.
• Lu Li transformed Lin Xin into a piloted suit of armor, and Lin Xin charged into the demons, delighted by his newfound strength and healing.
• Lu Li moved between the faction strongholds, using [Sacred Barrier] and [Sacred Heart] to protect Soul Guards from Demon Qi Erosion and defeat the monsters.
• Lu Li left Xing Anlin and other Soul Guards to handle the cleanup, then used Position Swap to meet Lin Tianxia in the meeting room.
• Lu Li told Lin Tianxia that his investigation traced the monster infiltration to Sakura and said he wanted to discuss future arrangements.

Lu Li explained to Lin Tianxia why he had withheld the warning about the monster threat, using the trolley problem and the Tu Family as examples. After revealing that his class advancement had changed the balance of power, Lu Li planned an expedition against Sakura and went to collect the souls of fallen Lin Family members.

• Lu Li told Lin Tianxia he had known about the pregnant women entering the Shelters before the class advancement and explained his silence through the trolley problem.
• Lu Li revealed that he had warned the Tu Family, whose early attack on the monsters might provoke Sakura to retaliate.
• Lu Li told Lin Tianxia that he had completed his class advancement and proposed taking Lin Tianxia and others to confront Sakura.
• Lu Li left the meeting room and went to gather fallen Lin Family members’ souls for his Soul Guards, though Deep Erosion could make some souls unusable.

Lu Li rebuked Xu Xiao for admitting pregnant women to the Shelter despite the resulting deaths, then used [Soul Devour] to save the souls of the Lin Family members lost in the attack. He left Lin Qinyue facing the people she had called dead and injured, as Lin Ping moved to explain what had happened.

• Xu Xiao confronted Lu Li over arriving late and defended her decision to help pregnant women, but Lu Li asked how many people had died in the Shelter and called her small kindness a great evil.
• Lu Li went to the corpses and used [Soul Devour] and cleansing abilities to recover the Lin Family members' souls, turning them into Soul Guards.
• Lin Qinfeng and the other Lin Family members celebrated the return of their clansmen, while Lin Qinyue arrived with Xu Xiao and accused Lu Li of cowardice and causing the casualties.
• Lin Qinyue pointed to the withered blood thorns as proof of deaths, and Lin Ping stepped forward to explain the truth after hearing her praise the supposed dead warriors.

Lin Qinyue challenged Lu Li over the fate of the Lin family members, their lost Player abilities, and his treatment of Xu Xiao, but Lu Li revealed that he had prepared for their freedom and had already found the mastermind. Lin Ping planned to leave with Lu Li the next day, while Xu Xiao wondered if she could join them and doubted Lu Li would agree.

• Lin Qinyue questioned how the Lin family members were alive and argued that losing their Player identities and needing [Soul Anchoring Stakes] restricted them, but Lu Li gave her thousands of stakes and explained what they could still do.
• Lin Ping kissed Xuanxuan to demonstrate that the soul bodies could still show affection, and Lin Qinyue accused Lu Li of bullying Xu Xiao instead of pursuing the mastermind.
• Lu Li said he had already found the mastermind and would set out that day, then told Xu Xiao that those responsible would pay.
• Lin Ping returned Xu Xiao's storage item, asked her to look after Xuanxuan, and said he would leave with Lu Li the next day to fight alongside him.
• Lu Li showed Lin Qinyue the demonized corpse he had used as a punching bag, causing her to faint, while Xu Xiao privately wondered whether Lu Li would let her join the coming expedition.

Okada Chusheng reprimanded Himiko of the Empire for her failed predictions and ordered Doihara Sochu to renew the attack on Mausoleum City while launching propaganda to weaken Huaxia. In Bangzi Country, Park Guochang learned that his people had obtained more than ten doses of two life-extending items and demanded to see them.

• Okada Chusheng accused Himiko of the Empire of causing the Ghost Pregnant Women operation in Mausoleum City to fail, and she defended her predictions by suggesting Jin Guoxun’s [Divination] had interfered.
• Okada Chusheng threatened to send Himiko of the Empire to the Laboratory, then postponed her punishment and ordered her to redeem herself through service.
• Okada Chusheng instructed Doihara Sochu to send another team of Ghost Pregnant Women to Mausoleum City in demonized form and spread propaganda with Lighthouse, Bangzi Country, and Jewish financial conglomerates.
• Park Guochang heard that a difficult Secret Realm was rumored to contain a [Longevity Potion] that could extend life by fifty to seventy years, and he ordered his staff to investigate whether it could be obtained through trade.
• Park Guochang learned that his team had secured more than ten portions of [Maggot Medicinal Wine] and [Turtle Ointment], and he asked to see them.

Park Guochang agreed to cooperate with Sakura after Ishiba Taro promised a successful life-extension treatment, while Huaxia officials prepared Lu Li for a secret mission to Sakura. Ao Zhan remained in the shelter under orders and learned that Yan Qi wanted him to use a honey trap to find out more.

• Park Guochang became furious when the medicinal wine and ointment proved dangerous, then read Ishiba Taro’s offer of a life-extension treatment.
• Park Guochang accepted Ishiba Taro’s Oath Contract and arranged a trip to Sakura, while ordering Yin Jinhui to help stir up public opinion against Huaxia.
• At the Capital City Central Shelter, Ao Zhan learned that Lu Li had reached level thirty, completed his class advancement, and would go to Sakura to deal with a Monarch-class monster.
• Yan Qi persuaded Ao Zhan to stop worrying about Lu Li and revealed that he could use the honey trap he had employed before to learn why he was being kept at the shelter.

Ao Zhan and Yan Qi lured Pan Xiaoxiao to the Central Shelter to ask about Lu Li, but Yan Qi discovered she had handled Mythic-quality Imprint Clay. Pan Xiaoxiao explained that the clay came from the Secret Realm [Daughter of the Sea], leaving Ao Zhan to realize Lu Li had claimed its benefits.

• Ao Zhan used a message about missing Pan Xiaoxiao and being injured to coax her to the Central Shelter.
• Pan Xiaoxiao arrived, recognized that Ao Zhan had tricked her, and agreed to hear what he wanted to ask.
• Yan Qi noticed residue from [Imprint Clay] on Pan Xiaoxiao, and Ao Zhan fell into and broke his medicinal bath barrel when Yan Qi shouted in excitement.
• Yan Qi explained that [Imprint Clay] was a Mythic-quality material capable of storing and transferring souls and Talent Abilities.
• Pan Xiaoxiao said the materials came from the Secret Realm [Daughter of the Sea] and that she had not shared that part of the guide because of its 'single opening' rule attribute.
• Ao Zhan learned that Lu Li had collected all the benefits in the Secret Realm, and Yan Qi reminded him that at least they had ended up in Huaxia's hands.

Yan Qi and Ao Zhan learned that Lu Li had nearly 300 jin of [Imprint Clay] and planned to use it to reshape Zhen Naihe’s body. Pan Xiaoxiao also revealed that Lu Li had another task in Sakura beyond hunting the Flame Poison Monarch, leaving them worried about his plans.

• Yan Qi explained that Huaxia had secretly gathered less than five hundred grams of [Imprint Clay] after finding residue at the Sakura Laboratory, then learned Lu Li possessed nearly 300 jin of it.
• Pan Xiaoxiao said Lu Li planned to use the clay to reshape Zhen Naihe’s body, and she worried about sculpting convincing facial details.
• Yan Qi asked what else Lu Li planned to do in Sakura, and Pan Xiaoxiao confirmed he had another task but said she did not know the specifics.
• Pan Xiaoxiao returned to work on the clay while Ao Zhan and Yan Qi escorted her to the Shelter entrance.
• Li Luo arrived and left with Pan Xiaoxiao, and her killing intent frightened Ao Zhan and Yan Qi.

Tu Fu wrestled with Lu Li’s warning that a disaster would strike the Tu Family after nightfall, and prepared to buy a reserve of realm Entry Tickets despite suspecting it was an obedience test. Lu Li weighed how to help Lin Qinxue clear the remaining awakening zones in the Changbai Mountain Snow Region, then saw Wan Juanshu and Wan Jiaxi contact him and realized he could use them as reinforcements.

• Tu Fu doubted Lu Li’s warning, questioned the Wan Family and Lin Family, and decided to purchase some Entry Tickets as a precaution.
• Wan Renfeng panicked and repeatedly sought confirmation from Lu Li, while Tu Fu’s questioning drove up the market price of casino Entry Tickets by twenty percent.
• Lu Li chose not to tell Wan Renfeng that the coming monster assault targeted the Tu Family and continued planning for the next day.
• Lin Qinxue told Lu Li she had found hidden awakening zones in the Changbai Mountain Snow Region but needed help defeating the powerful monsters guarding the remaining ones.
• Lu Li decided to send people to assist Lin Qinxue, then saw Wan Juanshu and Wan Jiaxi’s messages and considered using them as free labor.

Lu Li sent the Wan Family’s core fighters to assist Lin Qinxue in the Changbai Mountain Snow Region, but a series of misunderstandings made both sides think the other was dissatisfied. The chapter ended with Lin Qinxue leading the oversized group onward.

• Wan Juanshu and Wan Jiaxi gathered nearly all the Wan Family’s core combat strength and set out at Lu Li’s direction.
• Lin Qinxue struggled to light a fire in the snow region before the Wan Family suddenly appeared nearby.
• Wan Juanshu introduced himself and said the group had come to help Lin Qinxue on Lu Li’s orders.
• Lin Qinxue checked her messages while the Wan Family mistook her silence for displeasure and promised further reinforcements.
• Lin Qinxue’s attempt to say they had enough help came out as a stammer, and Wan Juanshu misread it again before she cut down a tree with her sword.
• Lin Qinxue told the Wan Family to follow her.

Lu Li set out with the Lin Family and agreed to let Wang Chao accompany him to Sakura, provided Wang followed his orders and waited for a chance to avenge his grandfather. The chapter ends with Sakura Island still suffering from the Flame Poison Monarch’s spreading toxins and receiving little help from its government or other nations.

• Lu Li dismissed Lin Tianxia’s concerns about the Tu Family and prepared to leave for Sakura with Lin Cheng, Lin Deng, Lin You, and other Lin Family members.
• Wang Chao asked to join Lu Li so he could assassinate Sakura’s leaders in revenge for his grandfather, but Lu Li refused to let him go to his death.
• Lin Qinyue defended Wang Chao, and Lin Tianxia ordered two Lin Family members to carry her back to the Shelter.
• Lu Li agreed to take Wang Chao if he obeyed orders and promised him a chance to take revenge with his own hands.
• The polluted waters around Sakura Island remained contaminated by the Flame Poison Monarch, while the Sakura Government made no serious effort to address the growing threat or secure outside aid.

Lu Li confronted Ishiba Taro and the foreign delegations before the Flame Poison Monarch, refusing to let their insults and political pressure dictate his terms. He agreed to fight the monster but said Sakura would have to pay a price, leaving the crowd stunned by his insistence that his poor manners had nothing to do with China.

• Foreign delegations mocked China and Sakura as Ishiba Taro secretly hoped Huaxia would suffer while helping Sakura deal with the Flame Poison Monarch.
• Lu Li arrived instead of Ao Zhan, and Ishiba Taro recoiled when he recognized the powerful, mysterious young man.
• Ishiba Taro provoked Lu Li and implied that China had promised to eliminate the monster without conditions, prompting the delegations to ridicule China.
• Lu Li said he could kill the Flame Poison Monarch but would need Sakura to pay a price to avoid losses.
• Ishiba Taro accused Lu Li of raising the price after the fact, and Lu Li admitted his manners were poor but said that had nothing to do with his motherland.

Lu Li rejected Lu Canglong’s invitation to return to the Lu Family and demanded that Ishiba Taro meet his conditions for help against the Flame Poison Monarch. He called for Ishii Rokuro to kowtow and apologize to Lin Tianxia, leaving Ishiba Taro facing the insult and the history behind it.

• Lu Canglong received messages about Lu Li’s claims, teleported to the Lighthouse delegation, and beat one of its members before learning what had happened.
• Lu Canglong invited Lu Li back to the Lu Family, but Lu Li refused and instead joked that the Lu Family should join the Lin Family.
• Lu Canglong asked whether Lu Li had harmed the Zhou Family’s Third Brother and Fifth Brother, then left after Lu Li mocked him.
• Lu Li returned to negotiating with Ishiba Taro and demanded that Ishii Rokuro come to apologize to Lin Tianxia with three kowtows and condemn Sakura Swordsmanship.
• Ishiba Taro recalled the Lu and Zhao Families’ old scheme involving Soul-Luring Grass and Lin Tianxia.

Lu Li pressed Ishiba Taro to make Ishii Rokuro apologize for injuring Lin Tianxia, offering an Oath Contract to guarantee he would kill the Flame Poison Monarch. After Ishii arrived and provoked Lin Tianxia, Ishiba proposed a spar to settle their old grievance.

• Lu Li demanded that Ishii Rokuro apologize for dishonestly injuring Lin Tianxia at the Swordsmanship Exchange Conference, and Ishiba Taro claimed he would try to find him.
• Ishiba challenged Lu Li to guarantee he could kill the Flame Poison Monarch, so Lu Li offered an Oath Contract that would kill either man if their promises were broken.
• Under pressure from the watching delegations, Ishiba avoided signing and said Ishii was at the military Shelter, then summoned him.
• Ishii arrived, insulted Lin Tianxia, and declared that he would kneel and kowtow before committing seppuku to apologize to the Emperor.
• Ishiba proposed that Ishii and Lin Tianxia spar to settle their conflict.

Lin Tianxia agreed to spar with Ishii Rokuro to clear the Lin Family Swordsmanship’s name, while Lu Li arranged for a Challenger Card. After Ishii Rokuro wounded Lin Tianxia and prepared a killing strike, Lu Li noticed something the other observers had missed.

• Lin Tianxia accepted Ishii Rokuro’s challenge despite his disciples’ protests, saying he wanted to clear the Lin Family Swordsmanship’s name.
• Lu Li proposed using a Challenger Card, and Ishiba Taro provided one for Ishii Rokuro to challenge Lin Tianxia.
• Lin Tianxia and Ishii Rokuro fought inside the Challenge Barrier, trading several exchanges without either gaining the advantage.
• Ishii Rokuro taunted Lin Tianxia and struck him across the chest, while Ishiba Taro secretly urged him through the Data Panel to kill Lin Tianxia.
• Ishii Rokuro prepared an iaido draw slash as Lin Tianxia struggled to breathe, but Lu Li noticed something unusual.

Lin Tianxia defeated Ishii Rokuro with a sudden sword technique and spared his life, but Ishii was overtaken by demonic qi and began to transform. A gigantic black palm struck him down before he could attack anyone.

• Lin Tianxia closed his eyes and defeated Ishii Rokuro with a sword technique, placing his blade at Ishii’s throat.
• Lin Tianxia ended the sparring match, and the delegations marveled at his victory while Ishii rejected the result.
• A chaotic, corrupting consciousness entered Ishii’s mind, and his eyes turned black as demonic qi and fleshy tendrils erupted from him.
• The Lin Family disciples prepared to defend themselves as demonized Ishii roared and gathered strength.
• A gigantic black palm descended from the sky and struck Ishii Rokuro, abruptly silencing him.