Recaps

Xu Shi used the Forgotten’s return negotiations to strengthen Night Sin City and secure their ore and technology, while Shen Qin entered Serpent Coil under a false identity. After discovering signs that Shen Qin might have a second ability, Xu Shi arranged to keep her under close observation as he managed Serpent Coil’s recruits and plans.

• Xu Shi secured Wen Shengkui’s protection against Dragon City and negotiated with Night Sin City’s leaders to publicize the Forgotten’s intended return before meeting them.
• Shen Qin presented the Forgotten’s resources, but Xu Shi rejected their initial offer and demanded research data and ore-mining techniques.
• The Forgotten accepted Night Sin City’s terms, and Shen Qin and Song Chen moved into the city while Zhao Yuan stayed behind with the clansmen.
• Xu Shi recruited Shen Qin under the alias Nan Qian and arranged for Xia Wuyou to test her combat ability.
• Xia Wuyou and Shen Qin fought, then each staged a loss, and Xu Shi welcomed Shen Qin into Serpent Coil.
• Xu Shi and Su Lin investigated Shen Qin’s unusually rapid recovery and suspected she had a second Ascendant Ability, so Xu Shi planned to assign her as Xia Wuyou’s adjutant.
• Xu Shi approved Jiang Chengcheng’s placement of the new recruits and instructed her to give influential newcomers important but non-core roles while developing tensions within the Forgotten.

Xu Shi strengthened Serpent Coil’s projects and alliances while Lin Wenhua and Shen Qin maneuvered against him. Xia Ke’an recovered from surgery, and Xu Shi learned more about his mother as he prepared for a coming confrontation.

• Xu Shi assigned Jiang Chengcheng to lead the Overlimit Project and put Lin Wenhua in charge of derivative products, intending to weaken Lin’s standing with flawed materials.
• Xu Shi negotiated an arms and Gemini chip deal with Long Tianding while securing protection from hidden attacks and keeping Districts Six and Seven under his control.
• After He Yuxia went missing, Shen He found her outside The Forgotten’s encampment, and their conversation inspired him to consider using the media.
• Xu Shi helped Xie Qingyan expand into Furious Wolf territory, while Lin Yue and Lin Xing took control of District Ten and traded their share to Ding Jun for part of District Six.
• Xie Qingyan operated on Xia Ke’an, whose surgery succeeded, and Xia Wuyou and Xu Shi grew closer as Xia Ke’an recovered.
• Lin Wenhua developed a second-generation Enhancement Chip, but Xu Shi publicly reprimanded him and used the project to test Long Tianding and draw out Shen Qin.
• Lin Wenhua met Long Tianding, while Shen Qin proposed uniting their forces to start a riot and assassinate Xu Shi, and Long Tianding offered ambiguous support.
• Xu Shi found Gu Yi gaming with Wen Shengkui, discussed the threats posed by Lin Wenhua and Shen Qin, and heard Wen Shengkui describe Xu Shi’s mother, Wen Rujin.

Xu Shi used Shen He’s uprising to break his rivals’ power, reshape Night Sin City’s leadership, and secure new weapons and alliances. The arc ended with Lin Yue learning Lin Xing had been acting under Xu Shi’s control and submitting to him.

• Xu Shi brought Gu Yi home, where Gu Yi clashed with Xia Ke'an and met Xia Wuyou, then took Su Lin to confront Lin Yue and forced her to help manage Shen He’s return.
• Shen He recruited Lin Yue and The Forgotten for an assault on Night Sin City, while Xu Shi prepared Serpent Coil and the Inspection Bureau to counter the riot.
• Xu Shi defeated Shen He in Divine Arrival, and the Inspection Bureau and Serpent Coil crushed The Forgotten’s attacks and the citywide unrest.
• Xu Shi’s allies captured Shen He’s forces and pressured Qi Maoyang, Yue Chizheng, Tang Shuang, and the He family as he tightened control over the city.
• Xu Shi and the major representatives divided Shark Tooth’s assets and approved Tang Shuang as governor and Yu Xingchuan as Director of the Inspection Bureau.
• Xu Shi killed Lin Wenhua and He Yuqiang, then confronted Shen He and Shen Qin, killed Shen He, and ordered Jiang Chengcheng to preserve the siblings’ bodies and modify Shen Qin.
• Xu Shi learned that Shen Qin’s necklace contained unfinished transplant technology, and he tasked Jiang Chengcheng with studying it while Su Lin grew jealous of his closeness with Xia Wuyou.
• Lin Yue came to collect Lin Xing, but Lin Xing restrained her and revealed that she had helped Xu Shi deceive her, and Lin Yue then knelt and called Xu Shi “Master.”

Xu Shi consolidated his control of Night Sin City, uncovered Heavenly Principle’s role in shaping its history, and prepared a fleet to search beyond the sea. The expedition set sail with Shen Qin as a bodyguard, while Xu Shi’s new ability remained untested and Shen Qin unexpectedly called him “Brother.”

• Xu Shi and Tang Shuang agreed to cooperate in governing Night Sin City, and Tang Shuang made him complete his community service in an Inspection Bureau uniform.
• Xu Shi shot an assassin who ambushed him and Tang Shuang, and they confessed their feelings and began a relationship.
• Xu Shi reunited with Su Lin, who admitted she feared losing her place in his life, and he told her he wanted her to be more than a retainer.
• Xu Shi exposed He Yuxia as an Observer for Heavenly Principle, and she revealed that the organization had shaped Night Sin City’s history to create a ruler capable of fighting Rust Fog.
• Xu Shi and Xie Qingyan arranged an expedition beyond the sea and began research into implanting a second Ability, while Shen Qin’s modifications tied her protection of Xu Shi to pleasure and fading memories of Shen He.
• Xie Qingyan implanted Shen He’s United Will in Xu Shi, and after recovering he led a fleet of ships toward the open sea.
• Xu Shi entrusted Sin City to Lin Yue and Serpent Coil to Su Lin before the fleet departed with Xie Qingyan, Xia Ke'an, and Shen Qin aboard.
• As the fleet traveled over five hundred kilometers, Shen Qin suddenly called Xu Shi “Brother.”