Recaps

Xie De’s group negotiated for the Laboratory’s equipment and information after defeating its team, then left the Desert by helicopter. Wei Yanchi told his master he had found Shen and was taking it to the Eastern Sea.

• Wei Yanchi asked Xie De if he would need help later, and Xie De told him not to interrupt his conversation with 455.
• Wei Yunmo delivered medicine to Xie De and exchanged hostile remarks with Wei Yanchi, who teased him about being jealous.
• Xie De instructed 455 to demand helicopters, information about the Laboratory’s personnel and abilities, advanced weapons, and the Laboratory’s withdrawal in exchange for Mena.
• Mena complained to Silas about the losses and damage to her psychic sensitivity as two helicopters carrying Xie De’s group flew away.
• Wei Yanchi read his master’s group chat, then told him he had found Shen and was taking it to the Eastern Sea.

Xie De and the others continued across the Gobi Desert after using Hu Songlin’s access privileges to make the Club stand down. They headed for the Club Base Branch to catch a plane to Magic City, while Shen Mother continued pursuing them.

• Su Qian and the Club blocked the group’s route, but a high-priority message revealed Xie De’s authority, and she let both cars pass.
• Huang Zhuowang and Juelu wondered about the relationship between the Instance Faction and the Club, while Xie De laughed and left Wei Yanchi’s question unanswered.
• Coal Ball sensed Shen Mother watching the cars through the illusion and huddled beside Xie De.
• Xie De told Wei Yanchi they were heading to the Club Base Branch to catch a plane to Magic City and return Little Shen to the Eastern Sea.

Xie De visited Wei Yanchi’s Taoist temple in Magic City and met his senior fellow disciples and their master, Priest Liu. Priest Liu eagerly asked to see the legendary shen, and Xie De let Little Shen out as the story ended with the priest’s gaze fixed on it.

• Xie De and his companions followed Wei Yanchi through an alley to the Taoist temple, where Zhang Ninde welcomed them.
• Xu Zhouluo privately warned Wei Yanchi about staying close to Xie De, and they discussed their senior fellow disciples.
• Priest Liu arrived with Zhang Mingqi and eagerly greeted Xie De, asking to see the shen he had found in the Instance.
• Xie De let Little Shen out to divert Priest Liu’s attention, and the priest stared at the legendary creature with excitement.

Xie De and the others set sail aboard the Explorer to investigate the Eastern Sea, while Wei Yanchi and Zhang Mingqi discussed his attachment to Mr. 39. The crew encountered a vast, freezing bank of mist, and Juelu warned that danger might lie ahead.

• Zhang Mingqi gave Wei Yanchi Five Emperor Coins and warned him about the Shen Mother's resentment, then told him she would collect his body if he died.
• Taoist Liu arranged the group's supplies and passage, and Xie De's team boarded the survey ship Explorer and headed out to sea.
• Wei Yanchi told Xie De about his childhood trips searching for merfolk, and Zhang Mingqi called him away before he could follow Xie De inside.
• A vast bank of freezing mist appeared ahead of the ship, and Juelu drew The World reversed and warned that danger might be coming.

As the ship entered a fog-bound sea, Coal Ball warned Xie De that a humanlike monster was lurking outside and watching the passengers. Xie De ordered the ship to turn back, while Wei Yanchi learned that Zhang Mingqi was upset over the memory of her third senior brother, who had died fourteen years earlier.

• Zhang Mingqi and Wei Yanchi placed Evil-Repelling Talismans around the ship as it entered the fog, while Juelu explained to Zuo Shenghang how she had ended up on the United Nations' blacklist.
• Coal Ball rushed back to Xie De and warned him about something in the fog, and Wei Yanchi translated the warning as a hungry humanlike monster held back by the talismans.
• Xie De went to the wheelhouse, heard the captain argue with Daoist Liu over whether to continue, and ordered the ship to turn back.
• Daoist Liu followed Xie De to keep persuading him, while Zhang Ninde recalled how their deceased third senior brother used to keep their master in line.
• Wei Yanchi asked Zhang Ninde why Zhang Mingqi seemed upset, and Zhang Ninde said she was remembering their third senior brother, who had died fourteen years earlier.

As a violent storm trapped the ship in fog, Xie De learned that it was circling in place and sent Juelu and Zuo Shenghang to find Daoist Liu and alert the other Daoists. Daoist Liu had gone outside after Coal Ball warned of another ship, leaving Xie De and the others to face worsening waves and wind.

• Wei Yanchi told Zhang Ninde that he remembered their third senior brother before the ship lurched in a violent storm.
• Daoist Liu told Xie De that he believed their destination was one of the legendary immortal mountains and that Shen might live there.
• Coal Ball alerted Daoist Liu to a ship ahead, and Daoist Liu went outside to investigate.
• 455 warned Xie De to return to his room as the storm intensified, while Xie De struggled with seasickness and learned his gun was waterlogged.
• The Witch and Zuo Shenghang told Xie De that the ship had been circling without moving forward.
• Xie De sent Juelu to search for Daoist Liu and Zuo Shenghang to notify the three young Daoists.

Xie De and the others hunted fish demons that had boarded the ship while it was trapped in fog, and they encountered the ghostlike creature seen on surveillance. The group left off in the corridor, watching the great ghost drift through the ship.

• Xie De saw a head-and-spine creature on the surveillance feed and left his room to find the Daoists.
• Zhang Mingqi learned that a demon had boarded the ship and led Yue Xiamo, Zuo Shenghang, and Coal Ball to hunt it.
• Zhang Mingqi found Xie De fighting fish demons; he had killed several, while more had escaped.
• Zhang Mingqi led the group through the ship and quickly subdued the fish demons they encountered.
• Wei Yanchi signaled the group to stay silent as they spotted the great ghost drifting along the corridor.

Xie De and the others fought a Giant Jellyfish Ghost and Fish Demons as their ship was breached and began to sink. After a huge creature struck the ship, Xie De fell into the black sea and began losing consciousness.

• The Giant Jellyfish Ghost attacked Xie De, who escaped with Coal Ball while 455 searched for answers.
• Xie De reached the deck, found it swarming with Fish Demons, and fought them alone as Wei Yanchi and Zhang Mingqi confronted the ghost.
• The ghost's energy blasted a hole in the hull, and Wei Yanchi found Coal Ball while searching the ship for survivors.
• Wei Yanchi reached Xie De and told him the ship was damaged and lifeboats were being lowered.
• Something enormous rammed the ship, sending everyone on deck into the sea as the vessel sank.
• Xie De sank into the freezing black water and heard 455 and Wei Yanchi calling to him as he lost consciousness.

After a storm wrecked their ship, Xie De and the others drifted through the White Mist Domain and learned that its ghosts sought living substitutes. As a giant Stone Lion and a whirlpool threatened them, Wei Yanchi used his dragon form to carry the group toward the northwest.

• Zhang Mingqi, Wei Yanchi, and Mr. 39 rescued survivors from the sea and gathered on a drifting board with Xie De and Coal Ball.
• Xie De scolded 455 for electrocuting people underwater, then reassured Wei Yanchi that he had not held him back.
• Zhang Mingqi explained that powerful substitute ghosts relived their deaths in the White Mist Domain and tried to make living people take their place.
• The group approached a gigantic Stone Lion surrounded by a whirlpool and Giant Jellyfish Ghosts.
• Xie De gave Wei Yanchi permission to use his extraordinary measure, and Wei Yanchi transformed into a Giant Dragon and flew with the group toward Northwest.

Wei Yanchi carried Xie De and the others northwest on the True Dragon’s remnant soul, following a legend that might lead them to Immortal Mountain. They reached a strange, peaceful land and saw a mythical Huan, while Zhang Mingqi remembered her late third senior brother after watching Xie De.

• Wei Yanchi explained the Eastern Sea legend and said he hoped traveling northwest would lead them somewhere unexpected.
• Zhang Mingqi said her senior brother could protect the others with Master’s heirlooms, and Wei Yanchi explained that Master was searching for Immortal Mountain with the Witch and the Shen Dragon.
• Xie De teased Wei Yanchi about being a madman and a child, and Zhang Mingqi interrupted Wei Yanchi before he could confess his feelings.
• The dragon carried them through thinning mist into green mountains, where they spotted a mouthless Huan that Zhang Mingqi recognized from ancient myths.
• Wei Yanchi told the waking staff member they had traveled back to prehistoric times, while Xie De went ahead to inspect the terrain.
• Zhang Mingqi recalled how her third senior brother had cared for her and Wei Yanchi, and silently reflected that Xie De reminded her of him.

After the Desert Instance was reclaimed, Xie De learned that 730 and 455 had secretly made Immortal Mountain into a new Instance and made him its high-ranking NPC. He left the mountain’s future negotiations to 730, asked that the Martial Arts Hall be allowed to explore, and returned home as Hu Songlin awoke in the Desert Instance.

• 730 announced the Desert Instance’s successful reclamation and offered Xie De a choice between becoming external staff and a high-ranking NPC.
• Zhang Mingqi realized Xie De’s side had planned to annex Immortal Mountain, then left with Wei Yanchi and the staff member.
• Xie De confronted 730 and 455, learned he had become Immortal Mountain’s high-ranking NPC, and accepted their explanation that the Instance would protect the mountain.
• The Witch pledged loyalty to Xie De, and Huan appeared to ask whether he intended to take its home; 730 assured Huan that the enclosure was protection.
• Xie De asked 730 to let the Martial Arts Hall explore freely and told 455 to take him home; Hu Songlin woke in the Desert Instance and murmured, “Mom.”

Xie De and 455 continued their secret plan to oppose 730 while Xie De prepared to enter the S-rank Instance Happy Apartment. There, new player Jin Dayou spotted Xie De arriving and was overwhelmed with terror, while another player recognized him as Mr. Xie De.

• Xie De confirmed that the newly opened S-rank Instance was Happy Apartment and discussed with 455 how they would build an Instance Faction to oppose 730.
• Xie De left the matter of the Martial Arts Hall unresolved and switched off his phone.
• In Happy Apartment, Jin Dayou delivered meat to the other players in room 444, where they were tasked with surviving seven days and caring for Grandma Wang.
• Grandma Wang warned the players not to enter room 304 because a new tenant would move in there.
• Jin Dayou saw Xie De arrive at the complex with a black cat, met his gaze, and collapsed in terror.
• A young man on the ninth floor recognized the silver-haired newcomer as Mr. Xie De.

Wei Yanchi entered Happy Apartment and sought out Xie De, who confronted him about using him at Immortal Mountain. After Wei Yanchi showed his affection and kissed Xie De’s mechanical hand, Xie De sent him away, leaving him surrounded by the apartment’s creatures.

• Wei Yanchi encountered an old man and his bloodred-eyed dog in the corridor, then fled from the creatures emerging through the doors.
• Xie De let Wei Yanchi into his luxurious room, where Wei Yanchi noticed the cedar perfume and asked whether Xie De had quit smoking.
• Xie De admitted that he had used Wei Yanchi at Immortal Mountain, but Wei Yanchi said he held no grudge and explained why he trusted Xie De.
• Wei Yanchi moved closer and asked to kiss Xie De, then kissed his mechanical hand after Xie De refused.
• Xie De told Wei Yanchi to leave, and after the door shut, Wei Yanchi celebrated before the corridor creatures lunged at him.

Xu Gong shared clues about Grandma Wang with Wei Yanchi before Lord Scheid confronted her with information about her past and her mother’s cancer, persuading her to cooperate in exchange for a chance to save her mother. After their partnership was settled, 730 reported that the Illuminati had lost the Demon’s tail.

• Xu Gong told Wei Yanchi that Grandma Wang had dead children, a grandson, and a history as a landlady, and that Grandma Wang had died long ago.
• Xu Gong deduced that Room 304’s new tenant was Viscount Scheid and returned to her oppressive family home in Room 202.
• Lord Scheid summoned Xu Gong to Room 304 and revealed files identifying her as a former Laboratory agent who supported tomb robbers through an antique-authentication studio.
• 455 told Xu Gong that her mother had cancer and was going to die, so Xu Gong agreed to cooperate if they could save her.
• After Xu Gong left with the files, 730 urgently announced that the Illuminati had lost the Demon’s tail.

730 informed Xie De and 455 that the Illuminati’s missing Demon Tail had likely released Belial, but Xie De refused to join the search. In Serbeyor City, Hu Songlin encountered Belial while trying to retrieve the tail, and his perfect luck turned Belial’s attacks into a humiliating chain of accidents.

• 730 explained that the Illuminati’s Demon Tail had gone missing and that Belial was likely loose in the human world, prompting the organizations to search for him.
• Xie De refused 730’s invitation to join the hunt, saying he had PTSD from Belial, and 730 left after clarifying that Xie De was only being informed of the classified situation.
• 455 suggested that Wei Yanchi could serve as the world’s failsafe by using his dragon to overpower uncontrollable threats.
• In Serbeyor City, Hu Songlin found Belial instead of the missing tail and endured the demon’s insults and demands for food.
• Belial attacked Hu Songlin, but his knives and lunge all failed; Hu Songlin demonstrated his 100% luck with a coin that triggered a chain reaction and struck Belial with a falling flowerpot.

Hu Songlin confronted Belial about the pain caused by his unwanted talents and the people who forgot him, then received a call from Mr. 39 asking for help with Xu Gong and the Laboratory. Belial recognized Mr. 39 as his old friend Scheid and urged Hu Songlin to obtain the Book of Creation to help them both.

• Belial taunted Hu Songlin about being forgotten and unloved, prompting Hu Songlin to explain how his luck and talents had hurt him and others.
• Hu Songlin received a call from Mr. 39, who asked whether he knew about the Illuminati and had the demon's tail; Hu Songlin confirmed he did.
• Mr. 39 asked Hu Songlin to authorize Xu Gong to use the Club's computer in three days in exchange for information on the Laboratory, and Hu Songlin agreed.
• Belial recognized Mr. 39's voice and declared that he was his old friend, Scheid, who should have died in Year 1739 but had become an NPC.
• Belial urged Hu Songlin to obtain the Laboratory's Book of Creation, claiming it could help him discard his talents and free Scheid from the Instance System.

Xie De wandered through the gloomy apartment Instance while Xu Gong took charge of the other players and urged them to search their assigned homes for clues about Grandma Wang. He met Wei Yanchi in the garden, where they discussed the strange flower shop and growing turmoil among the outside factions, leaving Xie De to reveal that the missing Demon Tail was an old acquaintance.

• Xie De strolled through the apartment garden as the players watched him from a fourth-floor window and hurried out of sight.
• Xu Gong pointed out that the players' assigned families were all poor and challenged them to investigate their circumstances instead of merely following Instance tasks.
• Xu Gong told the players to search their homes for clues related to Grandma Wang and declared that everyone would follow her arrangements.
• Wei Yanchi gave Xie De a bouquet of white roses and explained that he had stolen money to buy them from a flower shop outside the complex.
• Wei Yanchi asked about the Laboratory, the Club, and the Illuminati, and Xie De said the missing Demon Tail was an old acquaintance.

Wei Yanchi analyzed a possible time-research conspiracy between the Laboratory and the Club, then discovered clues to the apartment’s deadly secret. After learning that the tenants were being attacked at home, he told Jin Dayou and Wu Shanlai to protect Grandma Wang, whose repeated deaths seemed central to their seven-day task.

• Wei Yanchi suspected the Laboratory and the Club were secretly cooperating on time research, and Xie De asked what he would do if the Instances underwent a massive upheaval.
• Wei Yanchi promised to help Xie De, and Coal Ball left a severed woman’s finger beside him before following Xie De.
• The cleaning lady warned Wei Yanchi that everyone was guilty and killed for money, but he challenged her and returned to the apartment building.
• Wei Yanchi met Jin Dayou and Wu Shanlai fleeing Grandma Wang’s apartment after their household members tried to kill them; they described finding family debts and grievances involving Grandma Wang.
• Wei Yanchi told Jin Dayou and Wu Shanlai to take money from Grandma Wang’s apartment, buy food, and stay with her to stop the supernatural entities from killing her again.

In the A-rank Aquarium instance, the Twelfth Team struggled to survive while Xie De learned that the instance’s Boss was a traumatized man-eating orca. Xie De approached the team to trade for their time-stopping item and left them with an offer to work for him in exchange for protection.

• Lin Darong and Li Yang hid from a monster in a storeroom while Lin Zhenyue searched for a way to find food and water.
• Xie De arrived at the abandoned Aquarium, and 455 explained that its Boss was an orca that represented animals killed by abuse.
• Xie De approached the team and offered to trade for their S-rank item that could stop time for thirty seconds.
• Lin Zhenyue offered the item in exchange for the Laboratory's and the Club's recent research materials.
• Xie De offered to guarantee the team's survival if they worked under him.

Xie De recruited the little orca and prepared a plan to trap 730 and force it into concessions, while the major organizations gathered to pursue the removal of legal restrictions on time research. The chapter ended with Hu Songlin infiltrating the Laboratory as an SS-rank warning sounded.

• Xie De befriended the little orca by promising it a stretch of water in his personal domain, and the orca agreed to help spare three players from its deadly challenge.
• Xie De told 455 to notify Beiwei and outlined a plan to lure 730 into the Monastery's looping Instance, exploit Anbers's chaos, and compel 730 to grant them authority over certain NPCs.
• The researcher attended a United Nations conference where the Club, the Laboratory, and the Illuminati discussed removing legal restrictions on time research.
• The researcher accused Ant of letting the Demon escape and distracted it by testing its emotional attachment to her.
• Hu Songlin slipped past the Laboratory's outer surveillance while the organizations' leaders shook hands, triggering an SS-rank warning that someone was infiltrating the Laboratory.

Hu Songlin and Belial confronted the Laboratory’s defenses as Hu Songlin struggled over whether to pursue the Book of Creation. After the breach triggered a response from organizations across the otherworld, the Martial Arts Hall and Xie De learned of the crisis, but the intruder’s identity remained unclear to most.

• Hu Songlin gave up on taking the Book of Creation, but Belial urged him to test his luck and fulfill his desire to be seen.
• Hu Songlin’s power caused an agent to dislocate his wrist, and Belial killed the agent as the Laboratory was breached.
• The Laboratory opened access to the Arctic Research Institute and requested support from major organizations.
• At the Martial Arts Hall, Xu Zhouluo, Wang Jinghe, Zhang Mingqi, and others discussed the breach and the missing information about the intruder.
• Wei Yanchi identified the intruder as someone from the Club and urged the Martial Arts Hall to respond.
• 730 informed Xie De that the Laboratory had been breached.

Xie De used the crisis at the Laboratory to negotiate permissions from 730 while advancing his own plan. As events at the Monastery began to shift, 730 agreed to his demands and urged him to rescue the Laboratory.

• 730 explained that an unseen invader had attacked the Laboratory and that a demon was involved.
• Xie De and 455 agreed to seize an opportunity while 730 was distracted, and Xie De asked whether Hu Songlin was behind the invasion.
• At the Monastery, Xie De discovered Wei Yunmo, who relayed Teacher’s request to capture Beiwei; Xie De gave Wei Yunmo chocolates and went down the mountain.
• Wei Yunmo sensed that the Instances were about to change as the Monastery trembled.
• Xie De negotiated permissions from 730, which agreed to his demands and asked him to prepare a rescue plan for the Laboratory.

Hu Songlin entered the Laboratory’s Arctic base unnoticed as strange accidents and disappearances disrupted the organizations converging on it. Xie De and his group arrived to investigate, with Wei Yunmo joining because he knew the way.

• Mena lost contact with Silas while Orion reported that he was still alive and escaping the blizzard by snowmobile.
• A pebble jammed the machinery controlling the Laboratory’s hidden door, allowing Hu Songlin and Belial to enter unnoticed.
• Ant tried to stop Hu Songlin, but he chose to continue through the facility while Ant guided him and repeatedly forgot his name.
• Xie De, Wei Yunmo, the Witch, Beiwei, and Zuo Shenghang entered the base as Huang Zhuowang reported deaths, disappearances, and disasters affecting the Laboratory and other groups.
• Juelu questioned why Wei Yunmo had come along, and Xie De explained that the child knew the way.

Xie De’s group toured the Arctic Base’s immovable research facilities while trying to learn why Hu Songlin had invaded. Hu Songlin continued deeper into the base, and Wei Yanchi’s group found a possible way inside through the ventilation ducts.

• Xie De told Arctic Base director Jing Zhenchuan that Hu Songlin was the intruder and might be acting under the Demon’s influence.
• Hu Songlin examined No. 009, an organ provider whose heart was regenerating, and sensed him pleading to be saved.
• Ant explained that the New Fungus could resurrect the dead but altered their pain and emotional memories, and Hu Songlin continued farther underground.
• Xie De toured the base’s research floors with Wei Yunmo, who reaffirmed his loyalty to the Instance.
• Wei Yanchi asked Silas what lay deeper in the cave, and Silas said ventilation ducts connected it to the Arctic Base.

Hu Songlin and Belial headed toward the Book of Creation while Xie De learned their goal and raced to reach it amid an extreme earthquake. The earthquake and a ventilation-duct explosion brought Wei Yanchi and the others crashing into Xie De’s path.

• Belial told Hu Songlin that obtaining the Book of Creation would improve the world, and Ant learned that it was their target before losing contact.
• Xie De told 455 to alert the Club and the Laboratory’s leaders, while Jing Zhenchuan explained that no route led to the Book of Creation beneath the glacier.
• An extreme earthquake warning sounded, and Xie De ordered an evacuation while he and Juelu headed toward the Book of Creation.
• Wei Yanchi blew open the ventilation duct, sending him and the others tumbling down in front of Xie De.
• Wei Yanchi got up, nearly fell into Xie De, and greeted him as if their meeting were a coincidence.