Chapter Summaries

Chen Mu and Zara slaughtered the Nine-Tail Bandit Group with their weapons and combat skills. Chen Mu then charged into the bandits with his Golden-Ring Wood Spear, leaving the survivors recoiling from its deadly blue arcs.

• Chen Mu hurled White Midge Bone Spikes and controlled eighteen Blood-Eyed Horn Darts, killing scores of bandits in the opening exchange.
• Zara used her specially refined starvine to tear through the bandits’ weapons and defenses.
• The Nine-Tail Bandit Group leader ordered his men to rush Chen Mu and Zara, hoping to overwhelm them at close range.
• Chen Mu drew his Golden-Ring Wood Spear and sprang into the charging crowd.
• Chen Mu swept his spear through the bandits, cutting three men in half and making those nearby retreat.

Chen Mu and Zara annihilated the Nine-Tail Bandit Group, leaving Katherine horrified by their strength and indifference to killing. After the three departed, news of the massacre spread across the region, branding them monstrous killers.

• Chen Mu and Zara slaughtered the bandits with their weapons and traps, killing the bandit chief and leaving Katherine stunned by the carnage.
• Chen Mu asked who the bandits were, and Katherine identified them as the Nine-Tail Bandit Group; Zara said they were not worth ranking.
• Zara collected valuables from the bodies, and Chen Mu took Katherine as the three left.
• Flexible Assassins discovered the battlefield and spread news that Chen Mu and Zara had destroyed the Nine-Tail Bandit Group.
• Treasure seekers turned back, while cities near the Hundred Abysses buzzed with news of the two monstrous killers.

Andre recognized Chen Mu and Zara as the outlaws who had destroyed the Nine-Tail Bandit Group and tried to protect Menderson Fort by closing its gates. After Chen Mu killed Sir Emmer’s guards in a single strike, he and Zara advanced on the city as its leaders watched in terror.

• Andre ordered the gates of Menderson Fort closed when he saw Chen Mu, Zara, and Katherine approaching.
• Sir Emmer dismissed Andre, then ordered his guards to kill the people outside the city.
• Andre revealed that the approaching pair were connected to the destruction of the Nine-Tail Bandit Group, frightening the people on the wall.
• Chen Mu killed all four charging guards with a single throw of the White Midge Bone Spike.
• Chen Mu and Zara advanced toward Menderson Fort, readying their weapons as the people on the wall panicked.

Chen Mu and Zara fought their way toward Menderson Fort, overcoming the city guard’s ranged attacks and killing its commanders. Andre seized Sir Emmer and ordered the guards to surrender.

• Sir Emmer ordered the city guards to attack Chen Mu and Zara.
• Chen Mu endured the archers’ barrage and caught Longduoqi’s three arrows with his Energy Glove-clad hands.
• Chen Mu and Zara advanced through the arrows as Zero Style analyzed the guards’ attack patterns.
• Hoffen set off his explosive pellets around Zara, but Starvine shielded her from the flames.
• Zara killed Hoffen while Chen Mu used his White Midge Bone Spike to kill the exhausted Longduoqi.
• Andre seized Sir Emmer and took command, ordering the guards to drop their weapons and surrender.

Andre reflected on Chen Mu and Zara’s rule over Menderson Fort as Zara explained the Black Abyss People’s strength and her plan to avenge her brother. Meanwhile, Sanchez launched a coordinated surprise attack in Huopa City and ordered his force to seize the municipal warehouse after communications interference succeeded.

• Andre patrolled Menderson Fort and judged that Chen Mu and Zara were capable rulers despite the fear their reputations inspired.
• Zara told Chen Mu that Hedilat had killed her brother and that the Black Abyss People had about two hundred thousand members, including two thousand elite Flexible Assassins and five powerful commanders.
• Sanchez led three hundred Card Adepts toward Huopa City’s municipal warehouse as other teams moved to their assigned targets.
• Sanchez’s team waited in concealed positions while another squad successfully deployed devices that disrupted enemy Communication Cards.
• Sanchez ordered his men to attack the municipal warehouse.

East Guard seized Huopa City's municipal warehouse in a swift assault, while Chen Mu and Zara decided to travel toward the Black Abyss People's territory to gather intelligence. As they left Menderson Fort with Andre, the pair discovered their distinctive weapons and reputation made them conspicuous wherever they went.

• Sanchez led East Guard's assault on the municipal warehouse, forcing its defenders to surrender and taking control of its supplies.
• Chen Mu rejected Zara's plan to assassinate their enemy without intelligence and proposed that they travel toward the Black Abyss People's territory to investigate.
• Andre came to resign, and Chen Mu invited him to travel with them; intimidated by Zara, Andre accepted.
• Chen Mu, Zara, and Andre left Menderson Fort unnoticed, but merchants and travelers fled when they encountered the pair.
• Andre explained that Chen Mu and Zara were recognized for destroying the Nine-Tail Bandit Group and for carrying rare weapons, while Zara said her older brother owned the same kind.

Chen Mu, Zara, and Andre reached Aguda City, where Andre encountered his former fellow disciple Kunya and was challenged to a spar. Zara offered Andre the legendary Oblivion Lotus Blade-Leaf Shield as a reward for winning, leaving Kunya stunned as Andre led him to the sparring grounds.

• Andre guided Chen Mu and Zara to Aguda City and told them about its ruler, Mosang, and the Black Abyss People's victory over the Western Mountain Royal Clan.
• Chen Mu, Zara, and Andre entered the red-stone city without trouble.
• Kunya confronted Andre and mocked him, and the two prepared to fight with similar shields.
• Kunya introduced himself as a member of the Shield-Blade Style and tested Chen Mu, who dismissed the importance of his school.
• Zara promised Andre an Oblivion Lotus Blade-Leaf Shield if he won, and Chen Mu agreed to her offer.
• Andre challenged Kunya to a spar at the sparring grounds, while Kunya reeled at the thought that they possessed the Shield-Blade Style's sacred relic.

Chen Mu, Zara, and Andre entered Aguda City’s arena, where Andre confronted Kunya and Fayers. Zara attacked Fayers while Andre charged Kunya, and the crowd’s attention shifted to the starvine in Zara’s hand as spectators began to covet it.

• Chen Mu saw that Aguda City’s arena district thrived on selling weapons, remedies, and protective gear to fighters risking their lives.
• Fayers confronted Andre and focused on Chen Mu and Zara after Kunya revealed that Andre might receive an Oblivion Lotus Blade-Leaf Shield if he won.
• Andre told Chen Mu that Kunya had drugged him before a school match, after which Andre lost and was expelled.
• Zara told Andre to kill Fayers, then struck Fayers with her starvine as Andre lunged at Kunya.
• The arena crowd recognized Zara’s weapon as starvine and began eyeing the priceless treasure with growing desire.

Zara overwhelmed Fayers in the arena and pierced his shoulder after he lost focus. When Shield-Blade Style fighters rushed in, Chen Mu slaughtered them and left the arena in terrified silence as Bunchi slipped away.

• Chen Mu watched Zara suppress Fayers with her Starvine while Andre fought Kunya, and he admired Andre's developing style.
• Fayers's concentration faltered under Zara's relentless assault, and she drove the Starvine through his left shoulder.
• Shield-Blade Style Flexible Assassins charged into the arena, and Chen Mu used White Midge Bone Spikes, his Golden-Ring Wood Spear, and energy threads to kill or maim them.
• Chen Mu finished off the wounded attackers as the spectators fled to the walls, and Bunchi quietly slipped away.

Andre avenged himself on Kunya but was left surrounded by the Shield-Blade Style’s dead, while Chen Mu and Zara faced the school’s white-haired master and a mass attack. At the same time, Commander Hazak learned of Chen Mu and Zara and set out with City Lord Mosang to see them.

• Andre killed Kunya, then realized that his fellow Shield-Blade Style disciples had been slaughtered around him.
• Chen Mu offered Andre an Oblivion Lotus Blade-Leaf Shield and urged him to leave and establish his own school, but the Shield-Blade Style’s white-haired master arrived with reinforcements.
• Zara joined Chen Mu as he prepared to face the old man, while Mosang and Commander Hazak learned about the two killers and headed for the arena.
• The Shield-Blade Style launched hundreds of spinning blade shields at Chen Mu and Zara with its One-Arm Whip technique, leaving Andre despairing.

Chen Mu and Zara fought the Shield-Blade Style Flexible Assassins in the arena, and Chen Mu overwhelmed them with his killing intent before facing Ganmichi. Ganmichi’s powerful shield technique checked Chen Mu’s attack, leaving Chen Mu wary of the green energy surrounding the Oblivion Lotus Blade-Leaf Shield.

• Chen Mu used vibrating energy threads to break apart the incoming blade shields while Zara leapt from the ceiling and silently struck several Flexible Assassins.
• Ganmichi’s imposing presence met Chen Mu’s killing intent, which terrified the Shield-Blade Style fighters and left Andre shaken.
• Hazak arrived at the arena, and Mosang entered with his guards after recognizing Chen Mu’s terrifying aura.
• Ganmichi charged Chen Mu with the Oblivion Lotus Blade-Leaf Shield, using a continuous series of powerful, fluid attacks.
• Chen Mu met Ganmichi’s shield with his energy threads, but the shield’s rapid rotation and vibration hurled the threads away.
• Ganmichi intensified the shield’s green energy, and Chen Mu sensed a hidden danger he could not yet understand.

Zara used her vines and tactical skill to slaughter the Shield-Blade Style Flexible Assassins while Chen Mu faced Ganmichi’s Oblivion Lotus Blade-Leaf Shield. Chen Mu’s Chess Cage Thousand Cuts briefly slowed the shield but failed to damage it, leaving it advancing toward him at a rising oscillation frequency.

• Zara exploited gaps in the Shield-Blade Style’s coordination, killing most of the Flexible Assassins with her starvine, soft gold vines, and Spotted-Hole Bird threads.
• Mosang and Hazak entered the arena with guards as Ganmichi launched the Oblivion Lotus Blade-Leaf Shield toward Chen Mu.
• The shield’s high-frequency oscillations made people and objects across the arena vibrate, while Zara used her starvine to steady herself.
• Chen Mu removed his Energy Glove and raised his right hand, summoning black and white energy beads to counter the shield.
• Chen Mu unleashed Chess Cage Thousand Cuts, but the beams were deflected and the shield resumed its advance with its oscillation frequency rising.

Chen Mu used [Dual Poles · Black-White Boundary] to immobilize pure energy in the arena, and Zara killed Ganmichi as he tried to seize the Oblivion Lotus Blade-Leaf Shield. Hazak recognized Zara as the Western Mountain Royal Clan's princess and attacked her, while Chen Mu fought off the Black Abyss guards and prepared to strike again.

• Chen Mu formed [Black-White Boundary], suppressing the energy behind the Oblivion Lotus Blade-Leaf Shield and freeing the Flexible Assassins from its influence.
• Ganmichi tried to take the fallen shield, but Zara pierced his heart with her Soft Gold Vine.
• Hazak recognized Zara as Princess Zara of the Western Mountain Royal Clan and ordered his guards to take her alive.
• Zara confronted Hazak over Hedilat's wounds, then fought him with her Starvine as he used Air Technique through his spear.
• Chen Mu sent beams of light down on the guards, but the Black Abyss People charged through their wounds toward him.
• Chen Mu raised his hand again as the surviving guards pressed their attack.

Chen Mu and Zara defeated Hazak in Aguda City, but Mosang’s men slaughtered the remaining Flexible Assassins of the Shield-Blade Style, leaving Zara grieving. Elsewhere, Ban Ze learned that people from the Mohadi Domain may have crossed the Path Window, while Su Heim­ing confronted growing unrest among his factions after East Guard cut off his route to the Common District.

• Chen Mu used [Black-White Boundary] to kill Hazak’s guards while Zara pressed Hazak with her starvine and Spotted-Tailwing Silk.
• Mosang ordered his men to attack the surviving Flexible Assassins of the Shield-Blade Style, and Zara killed Hazak during his distraction.
• Chen Mu carried the sobbing Zara away as Mosang called after them.
• A shadowy informant told Ban Ze that the King had found Wei'a’s Path Window and that powerful hunters had recently killed many wild beasts nearby, possibly for card implantation.
• Su Heim­ing rewarded Qin Ke with Starwalk City and cards, then ordered Zhu Heng to identify those spreading rumors and eliminate wavering factions.
• Su Heim­ing brooded over East Guard’s blockade of the Common District and the instability among the forces under his command.

The Black Abyss commanders planned to capture Zara and exploit Hedilat’s suspected injuries, while Mosang prepared to use the resulting battle to weaken them. Meanwhile, Wei'a’s group discovered intruders near the Path Window, and the feared pair of supervillains arrived at Firecloud City, leaving the city in panic.

• Deshang, Su, and Wes Lee discussed Hazak’s death and the Black Abyss People’s plan to pursue Zara, while Hedilat remained incapacitated by serious injuries.
• Su, Wes Lee, and the unseen Yuandi set out to capture Zara, leaving Deshang behind to guard the settlement.
• Mosang told Suoleng to follow his plan, explaining that he intended to exploit Hedilat’s injury and weaken the Black Abyss People in battle.
• Wei'a, Little Bu Mo, Su, and Yangshan Fei followed the fat dog toward the Mohadi Domain Path Window and spotted a squad of fifteen approaching through a fissure, so they prepared an ambush.
• The notorious pair of supervillains arrived at Firecloud City, and their presence caused panic among the city’s guards and residents.

Chen Mu and Zara vanished from Firecloud City, disrupting Mosang’s plan to use them as bait to trap the Black Abyss People. The battle between the Black Abyss People and Mosang’s forces erupted, and Mosang was caught by an unseen attacker.

• Zara urged Chen Mu to leave Firecloud City, but Chen Mu said he knew Mosang planned to use them as bait and suggested their disappearance would reveal what the others would do.
• Su, Wes Lee, and Yuandi discovered Chen Mu and Zara were gone and learned that Mosang’s forces were ambushing them in three directions.
• Mosang realized Chen Mu and Zara had disrupted his incomplete encirclement, but he ordered his forces into battle against the Black Abyss People.
• Wes Lee cut through Mosang’s fighters with his Viper Rose while Su advanced through the enemy ranks using poisonous mushrooms and a strange barrier.
• Mosang watched his forces suffer heavy losses and felt an unseen attacker’s chill at the back of his neck, leaving him frozen with fear.

Chen Mu fought Wes Lee, who revealed a sudden surge in speed and strength and drove him into a desperate chase across the battlefield. Chen Mu began preparing to use his Six-Star [Eternal Night] card as the battle grew more dangerous.

• Mosang's guards fended off an invisible assassin, while Mosang watched the Black Abyss People gain ground through the attacks of Su and Wes Lee.
• Chen Mu blocked Wes Lee's path, but Wes Lee wounded him with near-invisible energy threads from his Energy Glove.
• Wes Lee transformed, shattered Chen Mu's energy net, and attacked with overwhelming speed and strength.
• Chen Mu activated [Eternal Night] to break free from Wes Lee's killing strike, then fled through the battlefield with Wes Lee close behind.
• Chen Mu recognized that Wes Lee might have a technique like Zero Style and fixed his attention on the [Eternal Night] card in his Wrist Device.

Chen Mu defeated Wes Lee and Su in the battle, then agreed with Zara to return to the Federation. At the Great Rift Base, Bagnell learned that the King of the Mohadi Domain had seized the Path Window and ordered the Common District takeover completed within three months.

• Chen Mu used [Veil of Mist] and the Energy Glove to fight Wes Lee, whose wounds healed and whose final counterattack nearly caught Chen Mu off guard before Chen Mu killed him.
• Chen Mu used [Evil Lord's Eyes] to kill Su after the white slurry around him failed to stop the attack.
• With two commanders dead, Chen Mu found Zara watching the battlefield; she suggested returning to the Federation, and he agreed.
• At the Great Rift Base, Bagnell and the others learned that the King of the Mohadi Domain had occupied the Path Window leading to the Mohadi Domain.
• Bagnell ordered his forces to take over the Common District within three months so they could prepare to face the king and avoid fighting on two fronts.

Chen Mu and Hedilat fought a decisive battle amid Mosang’s assault on the Black Abyss People. Hedilat died after using the collision to kill Mosang, disrupting the enemy army and giving many Black Abyss People a chance to escape.

• Zara wept as Mosang’s forces overwhelmed the Black Abyss People, whose remaining Flexible Assassins were steadily worn down.
• Hedilat attacked Chen Mu, shattering his energy threads, and Zara was gravely injured when she intercepted one of his blows with Starvine.
• Chen Mu used [Evil Lord's Eyes] and [Evil Lord's Eyes: Golden Pupil Weave] to clash with Hedilat’s spear in a battle-ending collision.
• Hedilat used the collision’s force to break through Mosang’s guards and kill Mosang before collapsing from his wounds.
• Chen Mu realized Hedilat had sacrificed himself to disrupt the battle and help the Black Abyss People escape.

Chen Mu helped Zara reclaim control of the Western Mountain Royal Clan and prepared to leave the Hundred Abyss Prefecture, while their unspoken feelings kept them apart. The story then shifted to Bagnell defending the Great Rift Base as the Mohadi Domain's Coalition Army advanced through the Gray Layer.

• Zara told Chen Mu she would stay and restore the Western Mountain Royal Clan, and he agreed to give her one last gift.
• Chen Mu took command of Mosang's leaderless army, reorganized it, and helped Zara rally the surviving members of her clan.
• After telling Zara he was leaving, Chen Mu spoke confidently of eventually challenging Tang Hanpei, and Zara invited him to her room that night.
• Chen Mu waited outside Zara's house but turned away without entering, while Zara watched him leave in tears.
• Bagnell continued defending the Great Rift Base and used raiding squads to harass the Coalition Army as it advanced cautiously through the Gray Layer.