Recaps

Lincon restricted the dangerous Dominion Spirit Gear after Netherworld Sword Orchid devoured the first saber, while Qingwei prepared to teach at Longwind Academy. The Trial Temple’s new Abyssal gatekeepers overwhelmed Longwind City’s teams, and Lincon learned that even restrained race lords were far beyond the trial-takers’ strength.

• Lincon ordered Zhang Rui to protect the expecting couples and prevent anyone from exploiting the Birth Plan.
• Gongshu Qi and Xia Xun showed Lincon a Dominion Spirit Gear saber that amplified its wielder’s desires, and Lincon ordered its production controlled and its methods kept secret.
• Netherworld Sword Orchid swallowed the saber, demonstrating its Edge Drinking ability and its capacity to gain power through slaughter.
• Qingwei received her appointment as a guest professor in Longwind Academy’s Spirit Botany Department and began preparing lessons.
• Luo Qian and other teams reported that the Trial Temple’s difficulty had surged, with Alashu and Hei Shi serving as powerful new gatekeepers.
• The Eight-Headed Snake and the Ant Guard told Lincon that Alashu and Hei Shi had promised to restrain themselves, and Lincon approved their role in training the trial-takers.

Lincon reprimanded Alashu for belittling humanity, then welcomed three newly bred Ant Guards with specialized abilities. He examined their traits and recognized that the Ant Queen had followed his suggestions.

• Alashu mocked humans as weak, but Lincon arrived and demanded an explanation from him and Hei Shi.
• Lincon crushed one of Alashu’s legs and warned both Lords not to insult humans again.
• Lincon ordered Alashu to bring a crate into Origin Hall.
• An Ant Guard arrived with three newly bred guards: Shadow Blade, Spirit Binder, and Flame Prison.
• Lincon inspected the three B- rank Ant Guards and praised the Ant Queen for following his suggestions.

Lincon equipped Alashu, Hei Shi, Ant Guard, and the new Ant Guards with Rune weapons and armor, preparing Hive Canyon to face the Blood Demon Lord. He promised to meet the descending threat himself while Longwind City prepared to support the battle from the rear.

• Ant Guard and the three new Ant Guards knelt before Lincon, who named them Ant Two, Ant Three, and Ant Four.
• Lincon gave Alashu a suit of Dominion Spirit Gear, which bonded to his bones and enhanced his strength.
• Lincon distributed the remaining weapons and armor to Hei Shi and the Ant Guards, then instructed them to train with the equipment and share the rest with powerful clan members.
• Hei Shi tested his curved saber and produced a crack in the air with a single slash.
• Lincon sent the others back to Hive Canyon to prepare for the Blood Demon Lord and said he would be present when the enemy descended on Jiangzhou.
• Lincon began making his own preparations, as Death Scythe emerged from the shadows behind him.

Lincon arrived at Hive Canyon as the Blood Demon Lord’s rift began expanding, then spoke with the Ant Queen about the coming battle and the future of the Blood Demon Race. He intended to kill the Blood Demon Lord but keep its people, while the Ant Queen sought its corpse to strengthen her Ant Guards.

• Lincon and Death Scythe examined the growing rift, and Death Scythe warned that the Blood Demon Lord was likely A-Rank.
• Lincon entered Hive Canyon, where Ant Two escorted him to the Ant Queen in the Central Mother Nest.
• The Ant Queen showed Lincon her three new Ant Guards and offered to produce stronger ones using the bodies of powerful creatures.
• The Ant Queen guessed that Lincon planned to kill the Blood Demon Lord and keep the Blood Demon Race, arguing that the Lord would destabilize Hive Canyon.
• The Ant Queen declared her loyalty to Lincon and her ambition to make the Ant Race the strongest in the Insect Race.

Lincon prepared Hive Canyon for the Blood Demon Lord’s arrival by building a vast formation from five schools of Intermediate Runes. Five days later, the rift erupted with a blood-red glow, and Lincon confirmed that the Blood Demon Lord had arrived.

• The Ant Queen secured the chance to obtain the Blood Demon Lord’s corpse, hoping to strengthen herself and raise powerful Ant Kings.
• Alashu and Hei Shi tested their Dominion-School equipment while Lincon assessed the rift and ordered them to keep watch.
• Lincon used five schools of Intermediate Runes to construct the Five-Rune Abyssal Domain Formation across Hive Canyon.
• As the rift’s energy and blood mist intensified, Lincon reassured Alashu, Hei Shi, and the Ant Queen while they prepared for the Blood Demon Lord’s arrival.
• Five days later, a boom shook Hive Canyon, the sky turned crimson, and Lincon saw the Blood Demon Lord’s enormous figure beyond the rift.

Lincon’s Five-Rune Abyssal Domain Formation trapped the Blood Demon Lord and his Blood Race army in Hive Canyon, where the Bone, Shadow, and Ant Races ambushed them. Lincon arrived as the Blood Demon Lord’s true opponent, while Death Scythe confronted him and the Blood Race’s regenerative power faltered.

• The Blood Demon Lord emerged from the rift with more than five hundred Blood Race members and ordered Hei Shi to bring him the Ant Queen.
• Alashu and Hei Shi activated Lincon’s rune formation, sealing the rift and unleashing crimson lightning and other attacks that killed many Blood Race soldiers.
• The Bone, Shadow, and Ant Races fought the Blood Race as Alashu and Hei Shi engaged the Blood Demon Lord, who overpowered them and struck down Alashu.
• Lincon appeared with Hei Shi and Alashu’s head, revealing himself as the master behind the betrayal, and the Blood Demon Lord attacked him.
• Death Scythe intervened to face the Blood Demon Lord, while the Blood Race discovered that its regenerative abilities had been severely weakened.

Lincon killed the Blood Demon Lord after suppressing its regeneration and coordinating an attack with Death Scythe. He returned to Hive Canyon, rewarded the allied races with the demon’s remains, and offered the three surviving B-Rank Bloodkin a chance to live.

• The Blood Demon Lord fled Hive Canyon, but Lincon sent Death Scythe after it and pursued with spatial teleportation.
• Lincon and Death Scythe fought the Blood Demon Lord until Lincon struck with the Netherworld Sword Orchid and killed it.
• Lincon collected the Demon Heart and A-Rank Dark Matter Crystal, gained levels, and examined the abilities he had acquired beyond Level 50.
• Lincon returned to Hive Canyon, where the Ant Race, Bone Race, and Shadow Race had defeated the remaining Bloodkin, and he divided the Blood Demon Lord’s remains among them.
• Lincon asked the three surviving B-Rank Bloodkin if they wanted to live.

Lincon secured the submission of three B-Rank Blood Race members after the Blood Demon Lord's defeat. Meanwhile, a bus carrying travelers approached Longwind City, where Xue Ningning and Golden Dragon saw its flourishing Green Carpet Zone and discussed the city's potential.

• Lincon asked the three surviving B-Rank Blood Race members if they wanted to live, and they chose to submit to him.
• An Azure Cloud Brothers bus carrying more than thirty passengers traveled from northern Jiangzhou toward Longwind City for fifty Copper Coins per person.
• Feng Yun announced that the bus was nearing Longwind City's Green Carpet Zone, and the passengers marveled at the lush grassland.
• Xue Ningning admired the scenery while Golden Dragon explained that the bus operators were independent escorts and that transportation had not been fully restored.
• Golden Dragon said Longwind City might forge an entirely new path in the Dark Age.

Feng Yun promoted his bus business while explaining Longwind City's Martial Tournament to the passengers, and the bus arrived at the city's gates. Golden Dragon and Xue Ningning headed to register for entry, with Golden Dragon planning to meet his wandering merchant friend and warning Xue Ningning to keep her secrets in check.

• Feng Yun handed out flyers for his and his brother's Azure Cloud bus service, and Golden Dragon promised to promote their business.
• Feng Yun answered passengers' questions about the Longwind Martial Tournament and its divisions, requirements, and rewards.
• The bus reached Longwind City, where the passengers learned they needed to register their identities before entering.
• Golden Dragon explained the city's entry inspections to Xue Ningning and said he would register her for a Temporary Subject Certificate before seeking his friend.
• Golden Dragon called Xue Ningning Fang Ritu and warned her to restrain herself, while she concealed her icy ability and followed him toward the city gate office.

Golden Dragon and Xue Ningning entered Longwind City, obtained Temporary Subject Certificates, and settled into the Green Vine Inn before visiting the Explosive Tavern. As they learned about the upcoming Longwind Martial Tournament, a blazing aura erupted in the western side of the city, and both Golden Dragon and Xue Ningning vanished from the tavern.

• Golden Dragon reactivated his Temporary Subject Certificate, while Xue Ningning received hers after the Myriad-Knowledge Dome examined her and recorded her information.
• Golden Dragon and Xue Ningning entered Longwind City, admired its lively streets, and Golden Dragon revealed that he suspected her thermos suppressed a second personality.
• Golden Dragon and Xue Ningning rented adjacent rooms at the Green Vine Inn, then went to the Explosive Tavern for Explosive Pulp Wine and grilled meat.
• Meng Chang explained the Longwind Martial Tournament's rewards and confirmed that anyone could enter, prompting the drunken Xue Ningning to say that they should sign up.
• Xue Ningning abruptly revealed a different demeanor and disappeared from the tavern; Golden Dragon vanished moments later, and Meng Chang sent a bartender to report his appearance to the External Affairs Department.
• A scorching aura surged from western Longwind City and erupted into vast waves of energy.

Xue Ningning’s unruly second personality raced toward Jiang Li’s breakthrough, but Chen Siwei intercepted her and stopped her from passing. Xue Ningning challenged Chen Siwei with an ancient martial arts punch, leaving the fight unresolved as her attack tore toward the buildings.

• Xue Ningning discarded the drained thermos and raced toward the scorching aura of someone breaking through to B-Rank.
• Chen Siwei blocked Xue Ningning’s path and warned her that the road was closed.
• Xue Ningning tried to dash past Chen Siwei, but Chen Siwei’s ability dragged her back and stopped her on the rooftop.
• Xue Ningning challenged Chen Siwei again, prompting Chen Siwei to prepare to fight to protect Jiang Li’s breakthrough.
• Xue Ningning assumed an Ancient Martial Arts stance and unleashed Devour Heaven, sending a destructive vortex toward Chen Siwei.

Golden Dragon stopped Xue Ningning after her fight with Chen Siwei devastated part of Longwind City, leaving the Garrison Guard and other groups to arrive and face the aftermath. Meanwhile, Jiang Li overcame her dangerous breakthrough beneath the Fire God Tree and reached B-Rank.

• Xue Ningning tore through Chen Siwei’s force field and clashed with her, wrecking nearby buildings in the process.
• Golden Dragon struck Xue Ningning unconscious, caught her, and apologized to Chen Siwei for the destruction.
• Chen Siwei refused to settle the matter with an apology, and Luo Qian, the Garrison Guard, and others arrived at the ruins.
• Jiang Li compressed her violent fire energy and called on the Fire God Tree for help as her breakthrough threatened to destroy her.
• The Fire God Tree enveloped Jiang Li in energy, and she saw a divine golden bird whose descending fire seed calmed her power and shattered the C-Rank barrier.
• Jiang Li absorbed the tree’s energy, formed a Firebird Mark, and awakened as a B-Rank Ability User with greatly improved control over fire.

Zhang Rui considered the damages and punishment after Xue Ningning’s second personality caused destruction in Longwind City, while Golden Dragon agreed to cooperate. Jiang Li returned after breaking through to B-Rank and said the Lord had come back to the Sacred Court, so they should seek the Lord’s decision before settling the case.

• Golden Dragon accepted responsibility for bringing Xue Ningning to Longwind City and agreed to cooperate with the city’s investigation.
• Zhang Rui took Golden Dragon, Xue Ningning, and Chen Siwei to the Governing Hall, where he listed the damage and stated that Xue Ningning faced ten years in prison followed by expulsion.
• Xue Ningning regained consciousness, realized her second personality had caused the destruction, and asked that Golden Dragon not be punished in her place.
• Chen Siwei recognized that Xue Ningning had Dissociative Identity and considered how her second personality could affect her ability.
• Jiang Li arrived with the powerful aura of a newly advanced B-Rank ability user and said the Lord had returned to the Sacred Court, so they should ask the Lord how to handle the case.

Lincon arranged punishments for Xue Ningning and Golden Dragon after the damage caused in Longwind City, assigning Xue to the Martial Tournament and Golden Dragon to referee. He learned that Jiang Li’s breakthrough had been influenced by an ancient bloodline and urged her and Chen Siwei to compete, telling Chen Siwei that her path to advancement might lie in a Temple Trial.

• Lincon welcomed Golden Dragon and Xue Ningning to the Origin Hall and calmed Xue Ningning as he heard their circumstances.
• Lincon let Xue Ningning reduce ten years of her prison sentence by surviving a round of the Martial Tournament, while Golden Dragon agreed to serve as a referee.
• Lincon explained that Golden Dragon’s outsider status would help ensure fair judging and that his strength would help secure all three divisions.
• Jiang Li told Lincon about visions of Fire God Butterflies, a divine bird, and a divine tree, and Lincon said the ancient bloodline had aided her breakthrough to B-Rank while raising her potential.
• Lincon asked Jiang Li and Chen Siwei to compete in the Martial Tournament and promised Chen Siwei a Temple Trial afterward, saying it might lead to her advancement.

Chen Siwei agreed to enter the tournament and recommended Jiang Li for the advanced bracket. Lincon reviewed Longwind City's citizens' progress, then visited the Nightglow Forest, where a voice greeted him from the ancient tree.

• Chen Siwei agreed to participate in the tournament and suggested Jiang Li join the advanced bracket to gain combat experience.
• Lincon reviewed Jiang Li's B-Plus Rank panel and noted that Longwind City now had its own B-Rank Ability User.
• Lincon checked Guan Teng's panel and worried about him, as Guan Teng had been attempting a breakthrough in the wasteland for more than half a month.
• Lincon reviewed Chen Siwei's and other citizens' panels before visiting the Nightglow Forest the next day.
• At the ancient tree in the Nightglow Forest, a newly awakened voice called out to Lincon.

Lincon visited Ying and learned that she had created Nightglow Elves while pursuing her own evolution. Back in Longwind City, excitement over the Martial Tournament grew as contestants registered and the Inner City opened to spectators on June 25.

• Lincon met Ying’s Nightglow Elves and learned they could command Nightglow Plants to attack.
• Ying told Lincon that creating the Elves had helped her find a path toward a higher life tier, and he left advancement materials at the Lord’s Shrine.
• After Chen Siwei entered the Advanced Division, Night Owl, Hidden Bat, and Bai Ge decided to register, while Bluebird pointed out that Jiang Li was also on the roster.
• Longwind City opened Inner City registration for temporary and provisional subjects who wanted to watch the tournament, with increased supervision and guards ready.
• On June 25, the Inner City gates slowly opened as the morning bell rang and sunlight broke through the Dark Veil.

Longwind City opened its Inner City for the Martial Tournament as Lincon watched citizens gather beneath the light and banners. Golden Dragon and Xue Ningning watched from a tower, where Xue Ningning understood why Boss Jin had wanted to return.

• Wang Hainian stopped Wang Xiaoyu from entering before Zhang Rui announced the rules for the Martial Tournament.
• Zhang Rui read the competition and spectator guidelines, then announced that the crowd could enter the Inner City.
• Lincon appeared atop the city wall as the Fallen Sun Thorncrown cast beams of light, and citizens recognized the Longwind Lord.
• The crowd surged into the Inner City, and Lincon felt joy as the citizens' loyalty increased.
• Golden Dragon and Xue Ningning watched from a tower pavilion, where Xue Ningning told Boss Jin she understood why he had wanted to return.

Longwind City opened its Inner City to contestants and visitors as preparations began for the Martial Tournament. After the preliminary assessments, the tournament’s first day dawned, and Lincon’s extensive arena safeguards activated as the opening showdown began.

• Visitors entered the Inner City and followed Garrison Guards to the Combat Arena, where contestants were briefed on the tournament rules.
• Wang Xiaoyu passed the Intermediate Division’s strength and mental power assessment, and the screening results listed seventy-eight Beginner and forty-nine Intermediate qualifiers.
• Lincon reviewed the contestants, noted Shen Xi and members of the Gray Feather Squad, and ordered Zhang Rui to monitor specially marked Ability Users and record their abilities.
• Crowds and vendors gathered at the Combat Arena as the tournament’s opening day arrived.
• Lincon’s arena defenses activated, with Boundarylight Vines forming a barrier around the Martial Platform and the Crystal Ring Mother Tree providing an additional hidden safeguard.

Lincon considered appearing at Longwind City's Martial Tournament as the opening matches began, while Wei Xing traveled through Northern Province with Black Dog and reached a remote camp. After destroying a Phantom Weird and the dark creatures gathering around it, Wei Xing left the camp a message through his dog.

• Golden Dragon started the Martial Tournament, and Zhang Rui asked Lincon to attend the finals and appear before Longwind City's citizens; Lincon said he would consider it.
• Lincon viewed Longwind City from above and watched the citizens' gathered golden light flow into his palm.
• Wei Xing and Black Dog reached a guarded camp, where Wei Xing offered to repay the camp for its water and food by dealing with threats.
• Wei Xing found the Phantom Weird and its gathering dark creatures, then destroyed them with a shot from his heavy rifle-sniper rifle.
• Black Dog returned to the camp and wrote "Doesn't owe" in the dirt before leaving.

Wei Xing arrived in Peerless City after fighting dark creatures and asked to meet City Lord Zhao Xuan. Their first meeting ended with both recognizing the other as A-Rank, while Zhao Xuan sensed that Wei Xing was a battle-hardened soldier.

• Wei Xing traveled through the darkness with Big Black, killing dark creatures and collecting their Dark Matter Crystals.
• Wei Xing reached Peerless City and asked Guide Wang Jing to take him directly to Zhao Xuan.
• Wang Jing sought advice from Xu Lili, who explained how to bring Wei Xing to the Central District.
• Wang Jing led Wei Xing through the checkpoint, where city staff escorted him to the Lord's Manor.
• Zhao Xuan and Wei Xing assessed each other and recognized the other's A-Rank strength; Zhao Xuan sensed Wei Xing was a soldier.

Wei Xing delivered the authorities’ letter about the worsening Abyss Sea front and recruited Zhao Xuan into the Casting Cauldron Plan. After Zhao Xuan agreed, he pointed Wei Xing toward Longwind City as a possible candidate to investigate.

• Wei Xing introduced himself to Zhao Xuan as a member of the Xuanxiao Special Operations Corps and delivered a letter from Capital Province.
• Wei Xing explained that the authorities were concentrating their strength against the Abyss Sea, where several Epic Lords threatened the front line.
• Zhao Xuan questioned why the authorities were choosing twelve regional leaders for the Casting Cauldron Plan instead of uniting everyone to fight, and Wei Xing calmed him with three questions about the nature of the threats.
• Zhao Xuan agreed to join the plan rather than let an uncertain candidate receive the authorities’ resources.
• Zhao Xuan recommended that Wei Xing investigate Longwind City, which had reportedly survived a massive B-Rank Black Tide.
• Wei Xing left Peerless City and continued south toward his next assignment.

Wei Xing arrived at Longwind City and was overwhelmed by its thriving life and its history as a fortress that had resisted the Abyssal Black Tide. After taking in the city’s defenses, he sensed someone inside a book-filled room meeting his gaze.

• Wei Xing arrived outside Longwind City with his mutated Black Dog after riding the Azure Cloud Bus with Feng Yun and Wan Chaoqing.
• Wei Xing thanked the Azure Cloud Brothers, and they drove away to seek more work while he headed for the city-entry registration point.
• Wei Xing recalled General Guo Chongguang’s South Heaven Gate Plan and learned that Longwind City’s lord had once been a soldier who never abandoned Longwind Fortress.
• Wei Xing listened to the Martial Tournament crowd and used Eagle-Eye Vision to survey the Crystal Ring Mother Tree and Longwind City’s defenses.
• Someone in a book-filled room sensed Wei Xing’s gaze and looked back at him.

Wei Xing arrived in Longwind City as a government messenger and asked to meet its Lord, prompting the city’s Ability Users to confront him. He revealed the government’s Casting Cauldron Plan and said the Lord met its requirements, then was invited to answer the Lord’s questions.

• Longwind City’s Ability Users surrounded Wei Xing after he caused a disturbance, and Jiang Li stopped her attack when he apologized.
• Wei Xing introduced himself as a government representative from Capital Province and said he had come to meet the Lord.
• Golden Dragon explained the government’s Casting Cauldron Plan, which would select twelve people to help stabilize the Xia Kingdom and receive support.
• Wei Xing confirmed the plan and said the Lord met its requirements, though Longwind City had not been formally invited.
• The governor arrived and invited Wei Xing to answer the Lord’s questions.

Lincon met Wei Xing, learned about the official side’s struggle against the Abyss Sea, and agreed to join the Casting Cauldron Plan in exchange for rare materials. After Wei Xing lent him Dawn, Lincon took the weapon to the Forging Department for upgrades, leaving Gongshu Qi to finish by the next day.

• Wei Xing met Lincon in the Origin Hall and told him the official side was holding back the Abyss Sea while preparing the South Heaven Gate and Casting Cauldron plans.
• Wei Xing invited Lincon to become one of the twelve Cauldron Casters, and Lincon agreed on the condition that the official side provide rare materials such as Advanced Dark Crystals and unusual Spirit Plants.
• Wei Xing toured Longwind City and decided to return to Capital Province to report its condition to his superiors.
• Lincon examined Wei Xing’s weapon, Dawn, and persuaded him to lend it for one night so Lincon could improve it as a return gift.
• Lincon brought Dawn to Gongshu Qi and requested that it be enhanced with Spirit-Fusion Organism Cluster and Spirit Source Iron Tree materials, Dominion-School Runes, and Dominion Spirit Gear forging methods by the next day.

Lincon oversaw the reforging of Dawn with rare materials and Dominion-School Runes, then entrusted it to Zhang Rui for delivery to Wei Xing. He also arranged for Longwind City to share basic rune knowledge and Spirit Plant seeds with the official government, reflecting on the comrades he had lost after Longwind Fortress was abandoned.

• Gongshu Qi, Qin Hu, and Lu Weiguo reinforced Dawn with Spirit-Fusion Organism Cluster and Gengjin Tree Sap, while Lincon supplied Kindling Sunflower flames to forge its rare components.
• Lincon inscribed Dominion-School Runes on Dawn, whose new form showed a faint consciousness, and refused to rename it because it belonged to someone else.
• Lincon remembered how Longwind Fortress had been abandoned, how a steadfast soldier died fighting an Anomaly Calamity, and how Lincon had stayed behind waiting for comrades who never returned.
• Lincon gave Dawn to Zhang Rui to deliver to Wei Xing and approved sharing Junior Runes, Precision-School Rune principles, and basic Spirit Plant seeds with the official government.
• Shen Congzhi accepted Lincon’s decision, while Qingwei watched him with growing admiration.