Chapter Summaries

Cui Jian’s animal-release plan began after Tao Xingzhi received approval, while the Goldforgers’ ritual transformed three Heavenly Pillars into affinity mediums for magic steel. The chapter left Qin Xiaoxia anticipating that the pillars would eventually become extraordinary weapons for Monkey.

• Cui Jian’s team reported that 5,000 animals and 500 animal-taming platoons were ready, and Tao Xingzhi received authorization to proceed with the Release Plan.
• Over the next half month, soldiers released tracked animals into restricted mountain forests and built contact stations, while successful captures of three giant beasts supported the reliability of Cui Jian’s ability.
• Qin Xiaoxia watched the eight Goldforgers perform their pilgrimage ritual and recognized that it increased the Heavenly Pillars’ compatibility with magic steel.
• Qin Xiaoxia sensed that the three pillars placed on Magic Steel Mountain had changed, noted the shortage of magic crystal for production, and considered forging the pillars into weapons for Monkey.

The Monkey King meditated on staff techniques and magic script in White Cloud Mountain while macaques gathered around him. A wolf pack’s howl drew the monkeys’ attention, and they drove the wolves away before the Monkey King allowed a Big Macaque to leave.

• The Monkey King contemplated staff techniques and magic script beside a waterfall as macaques gathered fruit and watched over him.
• Cao Qifeng and his companion discussed visa restrictions and suspected the country was pulling inward while staying at a hotel near White Cloud Mountain.
• A loud wolf howl silenced people at nearby hotels and villages, and soldiers at a military outpost heard it as well.
• Dozens of macaques pelted the howling wolf pack with stones until the wolves fell silent and scattered.
• A Big Macaque reported to the Monkey King, received a slight nod, and leaped back into the trees.

Qin Xiaoxia found the Monkey King stalled at the threshold of transforming his martial arts, afraid of failure and of wasting his potential. He challenged Monkey to face that fear as Sun Wukong would, leaving him confronted with a thunderous question.

• The alpha wolf approached the Monkey King, submitted by exposing its belly, and left after receiving his acknowledgment.
• Qin Xiaoxia arrived at White Cloud Mountain and found that the Monkey King had become obsessed with proving himself and was hesitating to advance.
• The Monkey King described the powerful animals gathered around White Cloud Mountain, and Qin Xiaoxia urged him to keep them in line.
• Qin Xiaoxia told Monkey that his restraint, rather than ambition, was now holding him back and asked what the Great Sage Equal to Heaven would do.
• Qin Xiaoxia roared, “Sun! Wu! Kong!!! What are you afraid of???”

The Mentor encouraged Monkey to embrace the name Monkey King, and Monkey unleashed his magic power as he became a Skywalker and fused magic into his martial arts. The display alarmed tourists and soldiers near White Cloud Mountain, while Monkey ended the chapter eager to see the Mentor's Saint's Armament.

• The Mentor told Monkey to believe in himself and that he deserved the name, prompting Monkey's dormant magic power to erupt.
• Monkey formed a staff from magic power and unleashed a series of powerful techniques that shook the forest and sent the surrounding monkeys scattering.
• Cao Qifeng and other tourists saw golden light split the clouds over White Cloud Mountain, while soldiers at nearby sentry posts alerted their command after the beasts reacted uneasily.
• Monkey's outburst stripped turf and leaves from the clearing, then left him exhausted but newly confident as he told the Mentor he was a Skywalker who could incorporate magic power into his martial arts.
• The Mentor praised Monkey and said he would work faster on the Saint's Armament, which Monkey eagerly anticipated.

The Special Security Team linked the Buddha's halo on White Cloud Mountain to Dawn but chose not to investigate. At Dawn's Crafting Mystic Realm, the Goldforgers completed their first Armor Plate, demonstrating that their magic steel forging techniques had matured.

• The Special Security Team reviewed reports and videos of the Buddha's halo, connected the sight to the Monkey King and Dawn, and decided to remain silent.
• Big Brother and the other Goldforgers forged magic steel alloy using blue ice and carefully controlled hammering.
• Big Brother completed the first Armor Plate, whose surface showed no damage after his final hammer strike.
• The Goldforgers and nearby human Craftsmen admired the plate and its densely packed magic script symbols.

As the world’s forests rapidly grew and remote villages were relocated, Dawn and the Skyward Society continued preparing for the coming crisis. At Mount Tai, the Holy Spirit noticed a Dark-Opening Star had become nearly as large as a second sun, and a brief tremor soon struck high-elevation areas around the world.

• Liu Youquan prepared Honggou Village for relocation after the government offered resettlement payments and arranged transport and housing.
• Dawn completed the Main Mystic Realm for the Mountain Gate Plan at Mount Tai, where the Skyward Society had expanded its martial arts halls and membership.
• The Holy Spirit stopped preparing a Spell Formation Array when he saw a Dark-Opening Star change and ordered that the Sage be notified.
• Mount Tai trembled, and brief tremors struck places around the world above a certain elevation.
• The member nations of the World Anti-Dark Tide Convention Alliance learned of the tremors, and Dawn confirmed their global reach through its informants.

After strange tremors struck the entire world, Dawn’s leaders gathered in the Headquarters Mystic Realm to assess the looming threat. Qin Xiaoxia joined with the Red Banshee to reach out to the world itself, and felt a vague response.

• Tremors triggered avalanches across the Himalayas, while reports confirmed that similar tremors had occurred worldwide.
• Tao Xingzhi learned that Dawn had not responded to the alliance’s inquiries and asked how long it would take to deploy forces.
• Qin Xiaoxia, the Red Banshee, and nearly a hundred Dawn leaders gathered in the Headquarters Mystic Realm as Echo Flowers relayed the alliance’s messages.
• Qin Xiaoxia released the Mystic Realm’s restrictions and used the Red Banshee as a conduit for Kormir’s power to ask whether the world’s mother truly existed.
• The world’s wind swept through the Mystic Realm, and Qin Xiaoxia felt its power and a vague response.

Qin Xiaoxia warned Dawn’s leaders that night was coming, and the Sage of Dawn told the alliance nations that the apocalypse would arrive within six months to a year. The World Anti-Dark Tide Convention Alliance then disclosed the warning to the United Nations, leaving governments worldwide deeply concerned.

• Qin Xiaoxia told Dawn’s leaders to prepare and notify all of Dawn because night was coming.
• Tao Xingzhi and officials from the six alliance nations discussed anomalous incursions and the risk of social unrest.
• Dawn Guardians delivered Projection Crystals to the alliance nations, and the Sage of Dawn warned that the Dark-Opening Star would fall within six months to a year.
• The alliance nations shifted their preparations and ordered deployed troops back to their original stations.
• At the United Nations General Assembly, the alliance nations publicly warned member states of the approaching apocalypse and revealed the World Anti-Dark Tide Convention Alliance.

After the United Nations meeting, countries prepared for the possibility of anomalous disasters as members of the World Anti-Dark Tide Convention Alliance began recalling veterans. Lu Feng and his comrades returned to service, and the recall expanded to nearly ten million soldiers across the alliance.

• Countries poured resources into intelligence and emergency planning after the United Nations General Assembly ended.
• Lu Feng discovered that his supermarket was stocking compressed biscuits, canned nutrition, and other emergency provisions.
• Lu Feng received a military recall notice, learned that his former comrades had received theirs too, and decided to return to service.
• Lu Feng and his comrades arrived at a military camp, where he reported for duty to a captain.
• Huaguo recalled two million veterans in a month, while the alliance’s total recall approached ten million and its members resumed recruiting.

Xinhong Foods and manufacturers across Huaguo were ordered to shift production toward long-lasting emergency supplies as the country prepared for war against threats from the Otherworld. The chapter ended with Tao Xingzhi refusing to ease military deployments near India, which he feared could become a monster-breeding ground and a major defensive front.

• Xiao Xiao and Old Liu watched a convoy of more than two hundred military-driven trucks pass their Xinhong Foods convoy on the expressway.
• Deputy Director Zhou and Special Security Team agents ordered Gao Fu'an to convert Xinhong Foods' production lines to canned food, biscuits, and sealed meals under the prewar mobilization system.
• The agents warned Gao Fu'an and the drivers to keep the orders confidential, while soldiers remained at the factory to oversee the changes.
• Suitable food manufacturers across Huaguo received mandatory production orders, and their senior managers agreed to comply after learning the stakes.
• Tao Xingzhi rejected a request to reduce deployments near India and ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to warn India about monsters attracted by large human populations.

At the France Branch, Qin Xiaoxia had the Twin Brothers and the Association search surveillance footage and online information for people and developments that could matter before the Otherworld collision. He returned to Qing Town Sanctuary with Su Su and Brown, where he announced it was time to revive Jilian.

• The Twin Brothers showed Qin Xiaoxia surveillance footage and online posts from people preparing for the rumored end of the world, while most people dismissed the rumors.
• Qin Xiaoxia asked the France Branch to help screen the footage and recruit suitable candidates, and told the Twin Brothers to report people tied to private factions while leaving government employees alone.
• Qin Xiaoxia explained that he wanted to find people and events the World Mother might have overlooked, then left the manor with Su Su and Brown.
• At Qing Town Sanctuary, Aiyou and Aixi flew to Qin Xiaoxia, and he declared that they would bring Jilian back to life.

Qin Xiaoxia and the Dawn Association used demon-transformed Flowers of Life to purify ancient demon blood and feed it to Jilian. The blood reached Jilian’s heart, which beat for the first time as a storm swept through the flower garden.

• Qin Xiaoxia ordered Brown and Mumu to prepare Jilian’s blood while keeping the Demon Eye out of the process.
• Brown melted the stored blood crystals, and Mumu used demon transformation to create thousands of Flowers of Life capable of absorbing the ancient blood.
• Most of the Flowers of Life withered, but the Red Banshee’s song helped stabilize the survivors, and thirteen absorbed the blood and grew into enormous flowers.
• Qin Xiaoxia released the restraints on Jilian as Mumu harvested thirteen golden-red blood gems from the flowers.
• Qin Xiaoxia sent the gems into Jilian’s mouth, and the blood flowed to Jilian’s heart, triggering its first heartbeat and a powerful storm.

Jilian revived after Aiyou and Aixi merged their souls with her, and she greeted Qin Xiaoxia as the Lord Sage. She then crossed into the Wasteland World to confront the Eye of the Void, whose terror at her return left it wondering whether the great change was imminent.

• Qin Xiaoxia warned Aiyou and Aixi that merging with Jilian could cost them their former selves, and they chose to proceed with his blessing.
• Aiyou and Aixi joined their souls with Jilian, whose body awakened and released immense magic power.
• Jilian rose, recalled some of her past memories, and pledged herself to Qin Xiaoxia as the Lord Sage.
• Jilian restored Aiyou and Aixi as her avatars, while Qin Xiaoxia warned that they were no longer truly themselves.
• Jilian traveled to the Wasteland World and confronted the Eye of the Void, which panicked at her survival and wondered if the great change was about to begin.

Lilica watched social analyst Dr. Rini explain why a government facing a confirmed apocalypse might delay announcing it, while her mother cheered his debate victory over Vicas. Afterward, Lilica encountered an enormous mosquito at home, and a hallway camera recorded it twitching and falling.

• Lilica wrote in her diary about rising prices, her dwindling allowance, and the stylish man she believed was watching her at school.
• Lilica brought face masks to her mother and watched Dr. Rini debate Vicas on television.
• Dr. Rini argued that announcing an apocalypse too early could trigger economic collapse, social unrest, terrorism, and government overthrow before the catastrophe arrived.
• Dr. Rini concluded that disclosure should wait until the apocalypse was confirmed or its timing could be predicted, and the studio audience applauded.
• Lilica's mother applauded Rini, while Lilica slapped at a giant mosquito that flew away before twitching and falling in the hallway, where a camera recorded it.

The Twin Brothers confirmed that Lilica’s unusual ability could kill a target through material from her own body, while Lilica dealt with a mosquito bite and fainted again at school. After waking in the evening, she spotted a blond young man outside the gates as Qin Xiaoxia and Su Su watched Nax, a man with mild delusions who was hunting a creature he believed was real.

• The Twin Brothers reviewed Lilica’s past cockroach incident and her mosquito bite, then recorded that her ability could work through material from her own body.
• Lilica treated the swollen bite on her cheek, and by the next morning the swelling had mostly subsided.
• Lilica fainted from anemia at school for the third time, woke in the infirmary after dark, and hurried toward the gates.
• Lilica saw the handsome blond young man waiting outside the school, though she believed he was not waiting for her.
• Qin Xiaoxia told Su Su that Nax, a twenty-two-year-old with mild delusions, had come to the school to hunt a creature he had discovered half a month earlier.
• Nax waited near the school with salt, a cross, holy water, garlic, and a handgun, hoping the creature would appear again.

Nax prepared to kill a monster that preyed on elderly residents, while Lilica followed him into the dark neighborhood. When the monster appeared at Old Morgan's house, Nax's attempt to attack it with holy water failed, and he and Lilica fled in opposite directions.

• Nax investigated a creature feeding on elderly residents and decided to destroy it before it became fully human.
• Nax entered the neighborhood in disguise, and Lilica followed him while Qin Xiaoxia and Su Su watched.
• Nax warned Lilica to leave, but she insisted she believed in demons and followed him to Old Morgan's house.
• Nax showed Lilica the monster feeding on Old Morgan, and it broke through the window after she drew its attention.
• Nax threw holy water at the monster, but the test tube bounced off, so he ran while Lilica fled the other way.

Nax and Lilica were cornered by a Corpse Worm and a horde of Corpse Ghouls until Qin Xiaoxia and Su Su intervened and killed the monster. Su Su offered to mentor Lilica, while Nax kept trying to get the newcomers’ attention.

• Lilica fled the Corpse Worm, but it caught up with her, and Nax attacked it with holy water and other protections that failed.
• Nax shot the Corpse Worm and briefly wounded it, but it wrapped around him as gaunt Corpse Ghouls surrounded Lilica.
• Qin Xiaoxia and Su Su arrived, incapacitated the Corpse Worm and Corpse Ghouls, and Su Su dragged the fleeing monster back and killed it.
• Qin Xiaoxia told Lilica that her power came from her Curse and warned that using it recklessly would weaken her.
• Su Su helped Lilica up and offered to become her Mentor, while Nax repeatedly asked who they were.

Lilica accepted an offer to join the Dawn Association, hoping its members could help her control her dangerous curse. Qin Xiaoxia also invited Nax to join after warning him about his vanity, and Nax fainted from excitement and pain.

• Lilica described how her curse had nearly killed her and accepted Su Su's offer to help her become safer.
• Lilica revealed that her father had learned about Dawn through the Mystery Seekers' Society.
• Qin Xiaoxia told Lilica that Su Su would become her Mentor and that she could join Dawn.
• Nax begged to join Dawn, and Qin Xiaoxia warned him that power was a means, not an end, and called out his vanity.
• Qin Xiaoxia welcomed Nax if he could hold to his convictions until death, and Nax fainted from the sudden excitement and his injuries.

Qin Xiaoxia left the Corpse Ghouls for the authorities, while their attack on medical workers caused chaos before police confirmed there was no contagious virus. In Huaguo, General Chu Jianfeng revealed the dark tide to troops with footage of real monsters and battles, then began preparing them for deployment.

• Qin Xiaoxia left the remaining Corpse Ghouls for the police and the Nineteenth Organization Department to handle.
• Police found the Corpse Worm and, when the Corpse Ghouls woke during treatment, several bit medical workers before officers stopped them.
• The Rini Debate spread online as governments used public discussion to gauge reactions and gradually disclose the crisis.
• A hundred thousand soldiers in a northwestern Huaguo camp watched videos of monster outbreaks and battles, including the Kyoto Cellular Immunity Plan.
• General Chu Jianfeng told the soldiers that the dark tide threatened humanity and urged them to overcome their fear.
• The soldiers answered Chu Jianfeng's call, and he announced defensive-sector response training would begin the next day.

A global earthquake and abnormal medical readings heightened fears that Earth was changing, prompting people to stockpile supplies and overwhelming supermarkets and online shopping platforms. Huaguo remained among the leading nations preparing for the apocalypse as the second closed-door United Nations conference became known in informed circles.

• Military doctors recorded abnormal weight, blood pressure, and other measurements among soldiers, suggesting their bodies were growing denser, while the military arranged specialized tests for suspected new Evolvers.
• A brief global earthquake shook the military camp, and news outlets reported tremors across several countries as experts warned of increased crustal activity.
• A woman urged her husband to prepare for emergencies, and the couple found supermarkets crowded as shoppers rushed to buy food and necessities.
• The couple and their friends Lu Yong and his girlfriend discussed the panic buying, which eased over the following week but left people wary of waiting to stock up.
• Online shopping platforms faced intense demand and strict state orders to remain stable, while informed circles learned about the second closed-door United Nations conference and Huaguo's leading role in apocalypse preparations.