Recaps

The elders confronted Demon Eye Heavenly King at the zoo and captured him after a fierce battle, though several were seriously injured. Zhang Yuanqing learned that Demon Eye could revive through the Chu Family’s rule-type item and turned his attention back to preparing for the arena tournament.

• The Palace Master of Stop-Killing Palace revealed that the apparent town was an illusion and attacked Demon Eye Heavenly King alongside the arriving Red Fire Gang elder.
• Demon Eye broke free and tried to escape the zoo, but God Elder Luo, a sword-wielding elder, Curly Teddy, and other elders joined the fight and sealed the area.
• Zhang Yuanqing waited at home with the Infant Spirit until Fu Qingyang called to report that the elders had captured Demon Eye and imprisoned him in the zoo.
• Fu Qingyang explained that Demon Eye could revive once wherever the Chu Family’s rule-type item was located, and that killing him would only let him return.
• Zhang Yuanqing learned that the Water God Palace elder, the Red Fire Gang elder, and the Stop-Killing Palace Master were seriously injured, then settled in to rest before the arena tournament.

Dog Elder questioned Demon Eye Heavenly King about the Lord of Weapons Cult and the Chu Family, while Zhang Yuanqing sought help for his cousin Chen Yuanjun’s stalled promotion. The chapter ended with Chen Yuanjun learning he had been promoted and spotting Guan Ya’s sports car outside the Public Security Bureau.

• Demon Eye Heavenly King offered information about the Lord of Weapons Cult in exchange for help killing people on his lists, then hinted that Dark Night Rose had no leader before the Chu Family was exterminated.
• Zhang Yuanqing woke to Aunt accusing him of stealing Jiang Yu'er's underwear and later learned that Chen Yuanjun's promotion had fallen through.
• Zhang Yuanqing asked Guan Ya to help Chen Yuanjun, and she agreed to handle the promotion through her family’s connections.
• Chen Yuanqing learned from Director Qiao that headquarters had promoted him to police chief after someone from the special department intervened.
• Chen Yuanjun left the Public Security Bureau and saw Guan Ya's blue sports car approaching the gate.

Chen Yuanjun learned that Zhang Yuanqing had helped secure his promotion and told the family, while mistaking Zhang Yuanqing’s friendship with Guan Ya for a relationship with a wealthy older woman. The misunderstanding spread to Grandmother, as Zhang Yuanqing opened the official forum and saw announcements about the arena tournament.

• Chen Yuanjun encountered Zhang Yuanqing and Guan Ya at the Public Security Bureau, then learned from Zhang Yuanqing that his promotion had gone through.
• Chen Yuanjun told his parents and grandparents that Zhang Yuanqing’s friend had helped secure his promotion, surprising and delighting the family.
• Chen Yuanjun questioned Zhang Yuanqing about Guan Ya and warned him against being kept by a woman, but Zhang Yuanqing insisted they were ordinary friends.
• Grandmother heard neighborhood gossip claiming Zhang Yuanqing had been kept by a rich woman and discovered that the gossip concerned her grandson.
• Zhang Yuanqing opened the official forum and saw posts announcing the Taiyi Sect’s participation in the arena tournament and its prizes.

Zhang Yuanqing learned that the Empress Earth Boots were part of the Saint-grade Heaven-Worship Ceremonial Attire set and became determined to win them in the arena tournament. As he considered the competition and his own weaknesses, Grandmother confronted him over rumors that he was being kept and demanded that he invite his wealthy girlfriend to dinner.

• Zhang Yuanqing read that the Empress Earth Boots were the first-place prize in the Transcendence Realm rankings and discovered they were one piece of a set that could rival Sovereign-grade items when complete.
• Fu Qingyang confirmed that the Empress Earth Boots belonged to the Heaven-Worship Ceremonial Attire, whose four pieces could reveal the secret of immortality, and Zhang Yuanqing realized they might complement his Yin-Yang Robe.
• Fu Qingyang warned Zhang Yuanqing that the Taiyi Sect was entering the arena tournament, while forum commenters debated Zhang Yuanqing’s chances against its veteran Level 3 Walkers.
• Zhang Yuanqing acknowledged that his experience and combat skills were limited and hoped Little Round would help him obtain Yin corpses before the tournament.
• Grandmother confronted Zhang Yuanqing about neighborhood rumors that he was being kept, accepted his explanation only provisionally, and ordered him to invite the woman to dinner that week.

Zhang Yuanqing registered for the arena tournament and discussed who would compete with Guan Ya and Li Dongze. Meanwhile, Fear Heavenly King sent Lust Divine General to Songhai to investigate Demon Eye's disappearance, and Zhang Yuanqing ended the chapter opening the newly released rankings.

• Zhang Yuanqing read a forum post predicting that the arena tournament would include scenario-based matches held in a guild-exclusive instance.
• Zhang Yuanqing's aunt-in-law gave him spending money after he joked about needing cash to take girls to dinner.
• Fear Heavenly King ordered Lust Divine General to go to Songhai, keep its black market running, and investigate Demon Eye's disappearance.
• Guan Ya helped Zhang Yuanqing register for the tournament and deferred his invitation to dinner until after it ended.
• Guan Ya said she might not compete, while Li Dongze announced he would sit out because fighting before a crowd was inelegant.
• Zhang Yuanqing opened the newly posted official top-twenty rankings for the Transcendence Realm.

Zhang Yuanqing read the arena tournament rankings, which placed him eleventh among Transcendent contestants, and studied the top Saint rankings and rumors about Yin Ji and the Demon Lord. The chapter ended when Auntie Little Round told him to come collect his newly arrived Yin Corpse.

• Zhang Yuanqing read the Transcendent rankings, objected to his eleventh-place position, and considered the strengths of his rivals and his need to win the Empress Earth Boots.
• Zhang Yuanqing read the Saint rankings, learned that Ghost King of Fengdu was a Star Official, and saw comments claiming Yin Ji had once eloped with the Demon Lord.
• At Huatai Hotel, Xie Lingxi's father gave her his arena ticket and promised to invite Yuanshi Tianzun to the Xie Family if he placed in the top three.
• In the White Tiger Guard Chat Group, Ling Jun and others discussed Yin Ji and the Demon Lord and speculated about Yuanshi Tianzun's tournament prospects.
• Auntie Little Round messaged Zhang Yuanqing to come collect the corpse, and he realized his Yin Corpse had arrived.

Zhang Yuanqing successfully refined a Level 3 Bewitching Demon into a powerful earth-attributed yin corpse and named it Undead No. 1. Two days later, as the arena tournament was about to begin, he left the Cat King Speaker behind to avoid arousing Yin Ji’s suspicions.

• Zhang Yuanqing accepted Little Round’s Bewitching Demon corpse and paid her two hundred thousand yuan, while she agreed to help him find another corpse for the same price next time.
• Zhang Yuanqing used spirit talismans, a formation, and a yellow crystal to refine the Bewitching Demon into a yin corpse, then branded it so he could command or possess it.
• Zhang Yuanqing discovered that the yin corpse retained Berserk Upon Seeing Blood and gained earth-based endurance, enhanced defense, and the ability to summon Stone Armor.
• Zhang Yuanqing named the corpse Undead No. 1, and Little Round threw them out after he jokingly suggested a bet that the loser would sleep with the winner.
• Two days later, Zhang Yuanqing prepared to enter the arena tournament but left the Cat King Speaker in his drawer because Yin Ji might recognize it and suspect his connection to Demon Lord.

Zhang Yuanqing entered the White Tiger Corps’ Life-and-Death Arena, took an oath to keep its matches and participants secret, and reunited with several familiar Walkers. The chapter ended when Jiang Jingwei loudly called him Yuanshi Tianzun, drawing the attention of the surrounding crowd and Annie.

• Zhang Yuanqing entered the Life-and-Death Arena, where an armored swordsman led the participants in an oath not to reveal match details or anyone’s appearance.
• The armored swordsman explained that participants could leave once per day by saying “Return,” and a burly Fire Master vanished after repeating the word.
• Zhang Yuanqing found Guan Ya and Queen, then joined them as Xie Lingxi arrived and claimed that her father, the head of the Xie Family, had invited her.
• Zhang Yuanqing asked Xie Lingxi to identify the younger sister of the Zhu Family head and spotted the woman in a white dress from afar.
• Annie greeted Zhang Yuanqing and then left, but Jiang Jingwei shouted “Yuanshi Tianzun” across the arena, causing the nearby Walkers and Annie to turn toward him.

Zhang Yuanqing drew attention at the arena tournament after Jiang Jingwei revealed his identity, and the announced matchups set him against Maoshan Sorcerer. The chapter ended as both contestants entered the arena to a roaring crowd.

• Jiang Jingwei loudly identified Zhang Yuanqing as Yuanshi Tianzun, drawing attention from Annie, Bill Tarantino, Zhu Rong, Sun Miaomiao, and others.
• Jiang Jingwei claimed Xie Lingxi's seat and revealed that her father led the Red Fire Gang, prompting Zhang Yuanqing to eagerly flatter her.
• The tournament matchups were announced, including Yuanshi Tianzun versus Maoshan Sorcerer, and the officials explained the rules.
• Zhang Yuanqing watched the day's matches and realized that Old Driver's training had greatly improved his fighting skills.
• At the end of the day, Zhang Yuanqing and Maoshan Sorcerer were called into the arena as the spectators cheered.

Zhang Yuanqing fought the Maoshan Taoist in the arena while concealing his Spirit Servant and corpse puppet, then used a carefully planned series of feints and attacks to turn the fight around. He defeated the Maoshan Taoist and challenged Taiyi Sect over someone warning his opponent.

• Zhang Yuanqing taunted the Maoshan Taoist and planned to hide his strongest tools while exploiting his opponent’s confidence.
• Zhang Yuanqing ambushed the Maoshan Taoist with his Explosive Pistol, but the Maoshan Taoist and his corpse puppet evaded and counterattacked.
• Zhang Yuanqing let the Maoshan Taoist break through his Heart-Guarding Mirror, then used Little Doubi to disable the magnetic rings and seal the corpse puppet with a mask.
• Zhang Yuanqing unleashed Undead No. 1 against the Maoshan Taoist and used a straw man to drive him out of Night Roaming and make him lose control.
• The armored swordsman declared Zhang Yuanqing the winner, and Zhang Yuanqing demanded to know whether Taiyi Sect could not accept defeat.

After Yuanshi Tianzun defeated the Maoshan Sorcerer, spectators praised his tactics and returned to reality. Meanwhile, Lust Divine General ordered his followers to gather intelligence on Yuanshi Tianzun and Stop-Killing Palace Master, and Zhang Yuanqing opened the forum to find an analysis of his match.

• Spectators celebrated Yuanshi Tianzun’s victory, while Zhao Chenghuang and the Taiyi Sect members returned to reality and Sun Miaomiao stayed to admire Little Doubi.
• Zhang Yuanqing returned to his bedroom, rested after the battle, and messaged Little Round to boast about defeating the Maoshan Sorcerer.
• Lust Divine General learned that Demon Eye had disappeared while pursuing Stop-Killing Palace Master and suspected the Songhai Branch had imprisoned him.
• Lust Divine General offered rewards for intelligence on Yuanshi Tianzun and Stop-Killing Palace Master, and Little Round earned a reward by reporting Yuanshi Tianzun’s victory.
• Lust Divine General ordered a subordinate to investigate Little Round after she left, while Zhang Yuanqing opened the official forum and saw a pinned analysis of his match.

Zhang Yuanqing read an analysis praising his strategic victory over Maoshan Sorcerer, while several powerful figures began taking an interest in him. The chapter ended with Zhang Yuanqing entering Night Wandering after receiving another video from the Demon Lord.

• Zhang Yuanqing read a detailed forum analysis explaining how he had outmaneuvered Maoshan Sorcerer and enjoyed the praise in the comments.
• Sun Miaomiao begged Elder Sun for Yuanshi Tianzun's Infant Spirit and threatened to assassinate him if she could not have it.
• Zhu Rong offered a man in the shadows the role of her male concubine if he brought her a piece of Yuanshi Tianzun, and he agreed.
• Zhang Yuanqing rewarded Little Doubi with a video game, secretly controlling the character while the Infant Spirit thought he was playing.
• The Demon Lord's video arrived, and Zhang Yuanqing entered Night Wandering to hear the Demon Lord confronting Zhu Rong.

Zhang Yuanqing listened to a Demon Lord recording that hinted at the Spirit Realm’s role in the conflict between Orderly and Evil Professions, then faced a public accusation over keeping an Infant Spirit. After the Five Elements Alliance cleared his name, he watched Earth Lord defeat Zhurong and realized how formidable his tournament rivals were.

• Zhang Yuanqing listened to the Demon Lord force Zhu Rong into captivity and discuss why Orderly and Evil Professions were irreconcilable, but the recording ended before the Demon Lord revealed his theory.
• Zhang Yuanqing saw Taiyi Sect accuse him of privately refining an Infant Spirit, then told Fu Qingyang that Little Doubi had been obtained in an accident and was documented in the files.
• Fu Qingyang promised to report Zhang Yuanqing’s explanation and relayed Dog Elder’s question about what the master of Stop-Killing Palace thought of Dark Night Rose having no leader before the Chu Family was destroyed.
• The Five Elements Alliance published the Infant Spirit case report, clearing Zhang Yuanqing’s name publicly while giving him a demerit and deducting a month’s pay for privately keeping a Spirit Servant.
• Zhang Yuanqing attended the tournament and watched Earth Lord withstand Zhurong’s attacks, poison him with cigar smoke, and win, leaving Zhang Yuanqing worried about the strength of his rivals.

Earth Lord publicly defended Yuanshi Tianzun after the Taiyi Sect reported him, while Zhang Yuanqing watched Crossing Pawn dominate his match and met the Stop-Killing Palace Master to ask about Dark Night Rose. The top sixteen matchups were announced, pairing Crossing Pawn against Yuanshi Tianzun in the next round.

• Earth Lord denounced Dai Lou and the Taiyi Sect for reporting Yuanshi Tianzun, and Sun Miaomiao learned from Yuan Ting that the Maoshan Sorcerer's superior had filed the report.
• Crossing Pawn defeated Likes Handsome Guys in two minutes, and Zhang Yuanqing recognized his ability to predict multiple moves ahead.
• Zhang Yuanqing met the Stop-Killing Palace Master, who suspected Dark Night Rose's leader might be connected to the Chu Family but declined to discuss the massacre further.
• Dog Elder learned that the Palace Master did not know more about Dark Night Rose and decided to take Yuanshi Tianzun to meet Magic Eye.
• The top sixteen were set, and Zhang Yuanqing saw that he would face Crossing Pawn in the matchups for the top eight.

Zhang Yuanqing prepared for his top-eight match against Crossing Pawn by borrowing a clone-producing mirror from the White Tiger Guard, then entered the Lava Pool Spirit Realm to watch Jiang Jingwei fight Zhao Chenghuang. Jiang Jingwei unleashed a Berserker transformation after Zhao Chenghuang and his Corpse Puppet wore her down, leaving the fight poised to reveal more of his trump cards.

• Zhang Yuanqing analyzed how Crossing Pawn could counter him, borrowed Mirror Flower, Water Moon, and planned to use its clone against him.
• Zhang Yuanqing entered the Lava Pool Spirit Realm, where Earth Lord defeated Breaking Waves on the Yangtze in the first match.
• Guan Ya joined Zhang Yuanqing to watch Jiang Jingwei face Zhao Chenghuang, whose level-four Corpse Puppet blocked her attacks.
• Jiang Jingwei used Fire Walk and molten lava to attack Zhao Chenghuang, but Zhao Chenghuang's Spirit Servant drained her vitality while his Corpse Puppet battered her.
• After Jiang Jingwei's forearm broke, Zhao Chenghuang attacked from Night Wanderer form, but she erupted into a Berserker state.

Jiang Jingwei and Zhao Chenghuang fought a brutal match that ended with Zhao Chenghuang winning, then Yuanshi Tianzun faced Crossing Pawn in the next tournament bout. Crossing Pawn overwhelmed Yuanshi Tianzun in close combat, but Yuanshi Tianzun revealed the battered figure was an illusion and won with a concealed strike.

• Jiang Jingwei defeated Zhao Chenghuang's yin corpse and battled him without items, but a magma lizard's attack helped Zhao Chenghuang land a fatal blow and win.
• Sun Miaomiao and Music Idiot defeated their opponents and advanced to the top eight.
• Crossing Pawn opened fire on Yuanshi Tianzun, who used Undead No. 1 as a shield, but Crossing Pawn knocked the yin corpse away and closed in.
• Crossing Pawn used a horn to drive off Yuanshi Tianzun's Spirit Servant, then suppressed him with close-combat attacks and shot him repeatedly.
• Yuanshi Tianzun revealed that Crossing Pawn had been fighting his Mirror Flower, Water Moon illusion and stabbed him from behind, winning the match.

Zhang Yuanqing defeated Crossing Pawn and learned that the competition’s quarterfinals might be replaced by a high-difficulty dungeon. After seeking Ling Jun’s advice about Little Round and Guan Ya, he received a call from Fu Qingyang, who said Dog Elder wanted him to meet Demon Eye Heavenly King.

• Zhang Yuanqing won by using a clone to deceive Crossing Pawn, then suffered Mirror Flower, Water Moon’s backlash and needed the red-haired elder to carry him from the arena.
• Zhao Chenghuang acknowledged Yuanshi Tianzun’s skill, and the quarterfinalists were announced as Zhao Chenghuang, Earth Lord, Sun Miaomiao, Music Idiot, Yuanshi Tianzun, Green Pine Master, Yuan Ting, and All Under Heaven Returns to Fire.
• Little Round told Zhang Yuanqing that someone might be following her, while Phoenix Arrives shared information about the top contestants and Fu Qingyang reported that Headquarters was considering a survival dungeon for the top eight.
• Zhang Yuanqing asked Ling Jun for advice about Little Round and Guan Ya, and Ling Jun later told Fu Qingyang that Yuanshi Tianzun wanted to become his cousin-in-law.
• Fu Qingyang called Zhang Yuanqing and told him to come to Fu Family Bay to meet Demon Eye Heavenly King at Dog Elder’s request.

Zhang Yuanqing agreed to meet the imprisoned Demon Eye Heavenly King, who had requested to see him, and traveled with Fu Qingyang to the rule-bound zoo where Demon Eye was held. As Zhang Yuanqing reached the lion enclosure, Demon Eye recognized him and his eyes lit up.

• Fu Qingyang told Zhang Yuanqing that Demon Eye had demanded to see him in exchange for details about the Chu Family massacre, and Zhang Yuanqing agreed to go.
• On the drive, Fu Qingyang warned Zhang Yuanqing that Guan Ya had a fiancé from an overseas Spirit Realm family connected to Heaven's Punishment.
• Fu Qingyang explained the zoo's rules and led Zhang Yuanqing inside, where Zhang felt an unseen gaze watching him.
• Zhang Yuanqing ignored a black-uniformed staff member who pursued him and kept walking despite a whisper from behind him.
• Zhang Yuanqing and Fu Qingyang reached the lion enclosure, where Zhang saw a white lion and found Demon Eye imprisoned in a camphor tree with Curly Teddy nearby.

Demon Eye Heavenly King tried to recruit Zhang Yuanqing, then revealed that Asura ordered the Chu Family massacre to help Dark Night Rose obtain a resurrection item. As Zhang Yuanqing and Fu Qingyang left the Zoo, an unseen voice addressed him by his father’s name, Zhang Zizhen.

• Demon Eye Heavenly King urged Zhang Yuanqing to join his campaign to cleanse the world, but Zhang Yuanqing rejected his extreme ideals.
• Demon Eye’s words caused Zhang Yuanqing a sudden pain in his chest, though Dog Elder found no curse or bewitchment affecting him.
• Demon Eye revealed that Extinction and Ghost Blade destroyed the Chu Family on Asura’s orders so Dark Night Rose could seize a rule-type resurrection item for its leader, a Night Wanderer.
• Zhang Yuanqing told Fu Qingyang what Demon Eye had revealed, and Fu Qingyang recalled hearing of the Light Compass after the White Tiger Corps marshal died.
• As Zhang Yuanqing and Fu Qingyang left the Zoo, an unseen voice called Zhang Yuanqing by his father’s name, Zhang Zizhen.

Zhang Yuanqing learned that the Zoo had recognized him as his father, Zhang Zizhen, and began to suspect his father had been a Spirit Realm Walker. He uncovered more about the Chu Family massacre and Demon Eye’s curse, then learned the arena tournament had been canceled; the chapter ended as an invisible person entered Little Round’s hotel.

• Zhang Yuanqing heard the Zoo whisper Zhang Zizhen’s name, and Fu Qingyang concluded that the self-aware rule-type item had spoken to him.
• Zhang Yuanqing met the Mistress of Stop-Killing Palace, told her who ordered the Chu Family massacre, and learned the resurrection item’s rules and name, Mother Goddess’s Womb.
• Zhang Yuanqing and the Mistress of Stop-Killing Palace reasoned that Taiyi Sect’s records of prominent Night Wanderers might help identify Dark Night Rose’s leader.
• The Mistress of Stop-Killing Palace searched Zhang Yuanqing for Demon Eye Heavenly King’s curse but found no abnormality, and Zhang Yuanqing left after telling her he had accepted the risk for her sake.
• Zhang Yuanqing saw that the arena tournament had been canceled and that officials were considering a dungeon contest for the quarterfinalists.
• Zhang Yuanqing visited Little Round’s hotel, where an invisible person entered through the glass door.

Little Round told Zhang Yuanqing about the stalker and the Lust Divine General began plotting to capture her. Meanwhile, officials changed the tournament into an S-rank dungeon challenge, and Xie Lingxi’s mother tried to secure an invitation to watch.

• Little Round paralyzed Zhang Yuanqing when he secretly visited her, then softened after he explained that he had come out of concern for her.
• Little Round told Zhang Yuanqing that her stalker had abandoned the pursuit and that the new black-market manager was investigating the Demon Eye Heavenly King's whereabouts; Zhang Yuanqing warned her to avoid the black market.
• The Lust Divine General learned that Little Round was a level-five Voodoo Master and had a strong moral compass, then ordered his subordinate to contact Blood Swallow instead of rushing to capture her.
• Zhang Yuanqing read the official notice that the eight quarterfinalists would compete in an S-rank dungeon jointly formed by the five alliance leaders and the Taiyi Sect Master.
• Xie Lingxi’s mother asked her to send an invitation so she could watch the competition, and Xie Lingxi told her assistant to mail an empty package.

Xie Lingxi’s mother decided to travel to Songhai to retrieve an invitation and investigate Yuanshi Tianzun, while Zhang Yuanqing reviewed the competition rankings and planned for the final dungeon. Troubled by Zhao Chenghuang’s mastery of Lunar Power, Zhang Yuanqing successfully triggered his old illness to enter a Berserk state and discovered he could unleash power beyond the Transcendent Stage, though only briefly without pills.

• Xie Lingxi told Yuanshi Tianzun that she had fallen out with her mother, and her mother ordered Auntie Wang to bring an invitation back from Songhai so she could meet Yuanshi Tianzun.
• Guan Ya and Li Dongze discussed the unknown final dungeon and Zhao Chenghuang’s strength, while Wang Tai shared the Scholars’ ranking that placed Zhao Chenghuang first and Yuanshi Tianzun fourth.
• Guan Ya teased Zhang Yuanqing about Call Me Queen, and Zhang Yuanqing flattered Guan Ya until Li Dongze gave him two hours of leave and sent him away.
• Zhang Yuanqing planned to recruit Yuan Ting as an ally for the final dungeon, then brooded over Zhao Chenghuang’s control of Lunar Power.
• Zhang Yuanqing triggered his old illness, restrained his rampaging Lunar Power, and entered a Berserk state by using blue pills to control the pain.
• Zhang Yuanqing concluded that the Berserk state lasted about thirty seconds without pills and that he could now unleash power beyond the Transcendent Stage before collapsing asleep.

Zhang Yuanqing entered the S-rank Ultimate Battle in pajamas and learned that the contestants had to vote one of their own as a murder suspect. After a tense vote, the others chose Yuanshi Tianzun, and he was sent into the scenario as the suspect.

• Zhang Yuanqing rushed to prepare for the match and entered Ultimate Battle, where he found seven other contestants waiting in a conference room.
• The Spirit Realm announced that the contestants had to choose and execute a suspect, while the suspect could clear their name in a scenario for points.
• Zhang Yuanqing and Zhao Chenghuang each urged the contestants to vote for the other, and the votes initially tied.
• All Under Heaven Returns to Fire voted for Yuanshi Tianzun, arguing that Zhang Yuanqing posed the greater threat in dungeon challenges.
• Music Idiot cast the deciding vote for Yuanshi Tianzun, and the Spirit Realm began transporting him into the murder scenario.

After being voted the suspect, Zhang Yuanqing entered an S-rank dungeon and had to escape a locked room before detectives could arrest him. He solved the room’s puzzle, escaped, and headed for the crime scene to prove his innocence and confront the contestants who had betrayed him.

• Spectators and contestants debated the vote that had made Yuanshi Tianzun the suspect, while Xie Lingxi and several others remained confident in him.
• Zhang Yuanqing found evidence in his locked room, including bloodstained clothes, a phone recording, a novel manuscript, ashes that turned him into a spirit, and soil that restored his human form.
• After learning he had eight minutes to escape and reach Room 404, Building 3, Zhang Yuanqing discovered that he could pass through the wall as a spirit but could not touch the key in the next room.
• Zhang Yuanqing used the endlessly replenishing soil to build a pillar through the wall, placed the ashes on top, and used the setup to retrieve and return the key.
• The audience praised Zhang Yuanqing for solving the puzzle, and he rushed toward the crime scene before the detective squad could catch him.

Zhang Yuanqing reached Professor Li’s crime scene and used a phone video and details from the study to challenge the detectives’ accusation. After Earth Lord presented further evidence, Zhang Yuanqing argued that the murderer might already have been inside the room, leaving the courtroom debate unresolved.

• Zhang Yuanqing entered Room 404 and found a phone video showing Professor Li discussing a manuscript with a visitor before the recording ended.
• The detective squad arrived, and the Spirit Realm began the courtroom debate, requiring Zhang Yuanqing to prove his innocence while the detectives presented evidence.
• Zhao Chenghuang accused Zhang Yuanqing of killing Professor Li and presented fingerprints on the fruit knife and a bruise on Zhang Yuanqing’s head.
• Zhang Yuanqing obtained the investigation report and argued that his broken glasses and bloodstains on his back contradicted the claim that he killed Professor Li.
• Earth Lord presented fingerprints at the scene and a neighbor’s testimony that Zhang Yuanqing was the only visitor before Professor Li’s wife returned.
• Zhang Yuanqing suggested that the murderer might have already been in the room, unsettling the detective team.