Chapter Summaries

Chen Gongrang saw through the group’s original plan to kill him, but agreed to cooperate after the young woman promised to help him grow strong and recommend him as the region’s representative. He led them toward a Safe Zone entrance near Qian Wendao, while the others privately debated whether they would keep their promise to let him live.

• Chen Gongrang challenged the group for turning off the Lie Detector and realized they had never intended to cooperate with him.
• The young woman admitted the Secretary-General offer had been empty, then promised to provide training and resources and recommend Chen as representative if he became strong enough.
• Chen Gongrang agreed to lead the group, asking them to disguise him and change their clothes so they would not be recognized in the Safe Zone.
• Chen Gongrang guided the group away from guarded exits and toward an ordinary entrance closer to their destination, but the burly man repeatedly carried everyone ahead at high speed.
• As they traveled, the chubby child asked why Chen was so eager to help, and the young woman said he wanted to prove himself and gain what he could not get at home.
• When a companion questioned whether they would let Chen live afterward, the young woman challenged Vice-Domain Master Liu for condemning betrayal despite his own and Domain Master Sima’s betrayals.

Chen Gongrang led the intruders toward the 316th War Readiness Zone after confirming that Qian Wendao would soon be there. As the group reached the deserted area, Chen Gongrang called someone and asked them to open fire on him.

• The young woman and her companions used a Lie Detector to check Chen Gongrang as he contacted Richarl and learned that Qian Wendao was expected to visit the 316th War Readiness Zone.
• Chen Gongrang led the group toward the zone, and they used an invisibility tool to avoid being seen.
• As the streets emptied, Chen Gongrang recognized the location and reflected on disappointing his father.
• Chen Gongrang called someone who could see his location and asked them to open fire on him.

Chen Gongrang lured the invaders into an encirclement in the 316th War Readiness Zone and helped the Safe Zone launch a devastating attack. As the trapped enemies faced the barrage, he stood still and welcomed his death, hoping he had made his father proud.

• The invaders realized Chen Gongrang had betrayed them when Defensive Shields sealed the city around them and left them with nowhere to escape.
• Chen Gongrang recalled that he had chosen to resist the invaders and used Hua Yongsheng's information to guide them toward the Safe Zone's military drills.
• Chen Gongrang contacted Kav, who understood his hints, directed him toward the 316th War Readiness Zone, and alerted Qian Wendao.
• Qian Wendao tracked the phone and notified Wei Rulai, whose concealed soldiers prepared the encirclement and unleashed their attacks when Chen Gongrang called.
• Chen Gongrang stood beneath the incoming attack, hoping his actions had made Chen Zhongming proud, and welcomed his death.

Chen Gongrang lured the invading elites into a trap in the 316th War Readiness Zone, where Wei Rulai’s forces unleashed a devastating barrage. Fewer than half the invaders survived, and Sima Ji departed after blaming Margaret for leading the team.

• Chen Gongrang drew the invaders into an enclosed area surrounded by shields, allowing the Safe Zone’s elite soldiers to trap them.
• Wei Rulai ordered the command posts to pour every available combined attack skill into the shielded area.
• The bombardment destroyed the buildings and roads, but the underground shield held, and eight invaders survived using powerful defensive measures.
• Margaret emerged from a stone shell, while Sima Ji found that Liu Xiaofa and most of the invaders had died.
• Sima Ji told Margaret not to lead the team next time, then leaped into the air and vanished.

After the United Military’s ambush forced Margaret’s invaders to retreat, Qian Wendao announced that more than a dozen core enemies had likely been killed, lifting the Safe Zone’s hopes. At Giant Ridge, the Large Gods discussed protecting the Eighth Domain, though they knew direct interference against the invaders could break their rules.

• Margaret withdrew with the few survivors, and Wei Rulai kept the army on alert while Yan Bunan went to report the ambush’s results.
• Qian Wendao received Yan Bunan’s call confirming that the ambush had succeeded and ordered Wei Rulai to maintain combat readiness while the Safe Zone tracked the enemy’s retreat.
• Qian Wendao told the United Government officials that the United Military had likely killed more than a dozen core invaders, and the officials celebrated the Safe Zone’s newfound hope.
• Sturgeon Crocodile, Red Carp, and Power Bull discussed how ordinary Sequence Ability Users had defeated powerful Domain Sequence Ability Users.
• Red Carp urged the Large Gods to protect the Eighth Domain, and Power Bull and Sturgeon Crocodile agreed to consider doing so despite the risk of being expelled from Earth.

At Chen Gongrang’s memorial, the Safe Zone honored him as a hero, and Chen Zhongming mourned the son whose courage he had never expected. Qian Wendao gave Chen Zhongming his son’s final words, leaving him overwhelmed by grief.

• Qian Wendao led the Safe Zone’s mourners in honoring Chen Gongrang at his monument in Martyrs' Park.
• Qin Siyang and Qian Wendao stayed with Chen Zhongming after the ceremony, while Chen Zhongming reflected on his son’s transformation and regretted not being there as he grew.
• Qin Siyang apologized for misjudging Chen Gongrang and bowed before his monument.
• Qian Wendao told Chen Zhongming that Chen Gongrang’s final words had been deciphered and handed him a slip of paper.
• Chen Zhongming read Chen Gongrang’s message, “Stay strong, Father. I'll watch over you from heaven,” and broke down sobbing.

After Chen Gongrang’s memorial, Chen Zhongming returned as Governor of State No. 2, and Qian Wendao and Qin Siyang assessed the Safe Zone’s uncertain future after its victory. They left with plans to keep training and a growing concern that stronger invaders might come seeking revenge.

• Chen Zhongming insisted on returning to public office to honor his son, and Qian Wendao appointed him Governor of State No. 2 while Kav resumed his post as Minister of the Information Security Department.
• Qian Wendao and Qin Siyang reflected on Chen Gongrang’s sacrifice and discussed whether Ander might have changed sides if he had survived.
• Qin Siyang warned that the invaders might regroup before attacking again or that stronger people could come to avenge their losses.
• Qian Wendao decided to continue training the troops, while he and Qin Siyang acknowledged that their collective attacks were predictable and Mental Skills could not be combined.
• Qian Wendao identified Sima Ji as the likely Domain Master of the Seventh Domain and said Ander’s ability to grow stronger during a fight made him exceptionally powerful, though Qin Siyang surpassed him.

Qian Wendao explained how Sima Ji betrayed him in the Seventh Domain and why he remained wary of seemingly trustworthy partners. He also clarified the history of Royt and the World-Destroying Church, revealing that he was the Seventh Domain's Yusi.

• Qian Wendao told Qin Siyang that Sima Ji had been his competent, trusted partner for years before suddenly betraying him and bringing disaster upon their friends.
• Qian Wendao described how Sima Ji, Liu Xiaofa, and Chen Xiao'en hunted him in the Seventh Domain until he escaped with an [Apocalypse Fragment].
• Qian Wendao warned Qin Siyang that even powerful fighters could be vulnerable to betrayal, but Qin Siyang said he trusted Li Tianming and Zhao Longfei.
• Qian Wendao said Liu Xiaofa and Chen Xiao'en were likely aliases used by Royt and Manderson, who had been driven out of the previous Safe Zone.
• Qian Wendao explained that the World-Destroying Church had banned the making of [Life-Substitution Lamps] and that Royt used the Church's name as a front.
• Qian Wendao revealed that he was the Yusi of the Seventh Domain's [World-Destroying Church].

Qian Wendao told Qin Siyang about his past as the Yusi of the World-Destroying Church and analyzed Royt’s origins and allies. He suspected Liu Xiaofa had died in the previous battle, while Chen Xiao'en had been Sima Ji’s longtime friend and supporter.

• Qian Wendao explained that the World-Destroying Church had once governed the Seventh Domain, but Sima Ji’s betrayal had transformed it into a system of exploitation.
• Qian Wendao said Royt’s identity was strange because Kyle and Zoff had been separate people with distinct families, and he suggested a Fusion Sequence might have merged them.
• Qian Wendao told Qin Siyang that Liu Xiaofa was a huge man who likely died in the survivors’ combined attack, though he admitted it was only a guess.
• Qian Wendao described Chen Xiao'en as Sima Ji’s longtime friend and staunch supporter, prompting Qin Siyang to joke about his past speeches praising Qian, Li Tianming, and Principal Zhao.

The Seventh Domain’s oppressive hierarchy and the [Apocalypse Hall]’s leadership were described as Sima Ji reported the failed attack on the Eighth Domain. Chen Xiao'en learned that Sima Ji had kept him from joining because the Eighth Domain’s Domain Master was Qian Wendao.

• The Seventh Domain was divided into the laboring [Outer District], the [Middle District], and the [Inner District], whose residents had to reach the Domain Sequence to enter.
• Sima Ji told Chen Xiao'en that Liu Xiaofa had died when more than ten thousand Eighth Domain fighters trapped their attackers and launched coordinated strikes.
• Sima Ji explained that he and Liu Xiaofa had underestimated the Eighth Domain’s collective defenses and that a child had tricked them.
• Chen Xiao'en challenged Sima Ji for taking Liu Xiaofa on both incursions while leaving him behind, saying Liu Xiaofa would have survived if he had gone.
• Sima Ji admitted he had wanted to keep Chen Xiao'en away from the second incursion because the Eighth Domain’s Domain Master was Qian Wendao, and Chen Xiao'en froze at the name.

After discussing the Eighth Domain’s surviving Domain Master and plans to grow black sweet potatoes, Sima Ji and Chen Xiao'en remained divided by old grievances. In the Eighth Domain, public anger against the families of former enemies escalated after Huan Ruoyu survived an assassination through a hidden feature of the [Life-Substitution Lamp], and ordinary people began demanding a purge.

• Sima Ji warned Chen Xiao'en that the surviving Domain Master in the Eighth Domain had to die, and Chen Xiao'en insisted their earlier failure had stemmed from disunity.
• Sima Ji said he would care for Liu Xiaofa’s widow and son, then showed Chen Xiao'en a black sweet potato and proposed growing it in the Seventh Domain to feed the [Outer District].
• After the Safe Zone’s victory over the Invaders, public hostility grew toward the families of Liu Yingrong, Kyle, Zoff, and Huan Kai.
• Huan Qi expelled Huan Kai’s branch from the Huan Family, but unidentified Sequence powerhouses ambushed the exiled relatives and killed all except Huan Ruoyu.
• When Huan Ruoyu was killed, Huan Kai’s [High-Temperature Ring] transformed into a [Life-Substitution Lamp] and sacrificed Huan Ruoyu’s younger brother to revive him.
• News that Huan Ruoyu had a [Life-Substitution Lamp] spread, and ordinary people across the Safe Zone called for the purge of every perceived trace of evil.

Ban Dingyuan brought Huan Ruoyu to Qin Siyang and asked him to protect Huan from the purge of people connected to past crimes. Qin Siyang heard Huan’s case but remained unsure what place he could offer him.

• Alimon Jean told Qin Siyang that Ban Dingyuan had come to see him, and Qin welcomed his former Southern Glory senior.
• Ban Dingyuan accepted resources from Qin in exchange for taking Duan’s place in the Execution Squad, then asked how the United Government would handle the purge of remnants.
• Ban Dingyuan revealed Huan Ruoyu, who had survived through a Life-Substitution Lamp and sought help after his family was killed.
• Ban Dingyuan argued that Huan had known nothing about his father’s crimes, had donated his tools’ proceeds to victims’ families, and had joined Wei Rulai’s Mobile Fortress Unit against the invaders.
• Qin questioned Huan’s strength, learned he was only Origin Sequence Level Two, and doubted he would be useful, while Ban continued asking him to give Huan a chance.

Qin Siyang arranged concealed grassroots work for Huan Ruoyu while discussing ways to curb the growing purge. Alimon then asked him to help her leave her secretary post, explaining that she wanted to escape a marriage alliance and choose her own future.

• Qin Siyang told Ban Dingyuan that Huan Ruoyu could only work under a concealed identity and could not be publicly cleared without earning major merits.
• Huan Ruoyu accepted the conditions, and Qin Siyang assigned him to patrol the Underground City market stalls in Sigma District.
• Qin Siyang called Qian Wendao, who said the government was promoting unity and preparing policies to curb abuses caused by unclear laws.
• Alimon asked Qin Siyang to help transfer her away from Gu Yunpeng's office, where their families' unwanted marriage arrangement made it difficult to work.
• Alimon explained that she did not want her abilities used as bargaining power in a marriage alliance or her future confined to being a housewife.

Qin Siyang refused to intervene in Alimon’s family-arranged marriage, explaining that she needed to prove her own ability and resolve before he might support her. He then left the Safe Zone to seek another Large God’s Succession Trial, while a sharply dressed man met the Paddle Lizard in the First Domain to ask about the gods’ movements.

• Qin Siyang explained to Alimon why he would not oppose the marriage arrangement on her behalf and advised her to establish her own ability and resolve.
• Alimon thanked Qin Siyang and left, while he reflected that she might be a good match for his brother-in-law but decided not to play matchmaker.
• Qin Siyang left Sigma District to search for another Large God and attempt a Succession Trial.
• In an underground cavern, a well-dressed man consulted the Paddle Lizard about the gods’ movements.

William questioned the Paddle Lizard about why the Gods had not withdrawn from Earth after the Eighth Domain merged, and she blamed the First Domain’s failures for making them fear losing their stakes. She challenged William to explain the two failed invasions of the Eighth Domain.

• William approached the Paddle Lizard, asserted that he had passed her Succession Trial, and asked permission to question her; she agreed and said she planned to withdraw after answering.
• The Paddle Lizard asked whether the Patterned Fox had sent William, but he refused to discuss any private communication with another God.
• William asked why the Gods had not departed Earth after the Eighth Domain’s merge, and the Paddle Lizard said they had once planned to leave because the First Domain appeared certain to win.
• The Paddle Lizard said the First Domain’s poor performance had made the Gods fear losing their stakes, then challenged William to account for the two failed invasions of the Eighth Domain.

William questioned Paddle Lizard about the First Domain’s failed attempt to enter the Eighth Domain, then told her to inform Patterned Fox that it was time to set out. The Succession Envoy confronted Paddle Lizard about her dealings with humans and revealed that her relatives had died in a starquake, leaving her with nowhere to return.

• Paddle Lizard told William that the First Domain’s failed attempt to enter the Eighth Domain was widely known and warned that the Eighth Domain’s Domain Master could become a greater threat after advancing.
• William insisted the First Domain still had everything under control, asked Paddle Lizard to tell Patterned Fox it was time to set out, and left without explaining further.
• The Succession Envoy arrived as a black crow and accused Paddle Lizard of arranging exchanges of benefits with First Domain humans.
• The Succession Envoy explained that it tolerated private dealings but would punish examiners who clearly broke the competition’s rules, and defended its power to give selected humans stronger sequence abilities.
• The Succession Envoy told Paddle Lizard that her relatives had died in the aftershocks of a starquake, and Paddle Lizard froze in shock.

Qin Siyang watched the Great River while the unseen Domain Guardian Spirits discussed whether his trial was worth the risk. The guardians then realized that Frost Tiger, Dawn Horse, and other beings had come to invade the Eighth Domain.

• Qin Siyang stood beside the Great River and found brief relief from his anxious thoughts as he watched its waves.
• Red Carp, Power Bull, and Sturgeon Crocodile debated whether Qin Siyang should face Red Carp's difficult trial and whether its reward could help him survive a stronger invasion.
• Power Bull argued that the Invaders would send a stronger force after their defeat, so Qin Siyang needed every advantage to prepare for breaking through to the domain sequence.
• Power Bull, Red Carp, and Sturgeon Crocodile noticed that Frost Tiger, Dawn Horse, and other beings were taking battle stances, and concluded that they had come to invade the Eighth Domain.
• Power Bull surmised that the invaders were gambling on the candidates they supported, just as Sturgeon Crocodile had begun to gamble on the Eighth Domain and its Domain Master.

Power Bull, the Sturgeon Crocodiles, and the three Red Carp chose to risk their lives defending the Eighth Domain from the approaching Frost Tigers. As they took up their assigned positions, a freezing wave swept across the outside of the domain but stopped at its boundaries, followed by a tiger’s roar.

• Power Bull explained that the invaders could trap the Eighth Domain by preventing its people from leaving the Safe Zone, and he and the Sturgeon Crocodiles pledged to fight even if it cost them their lives.
• The three Red Carp decided to join the defense, and Li Qingshang gave the others their names and asked them to send their bodies to the [Ferry Bureau] if they died.
• Niu Douchong assigned himself to defend Mountain Ridge, the Sturgeon Crocodiles to defend the great River, and Li Qingshang, Li Qinghui, and Li Qingyi to defend the Great River.
• The gathered Large Gods returned to their positions as outside observers panicked over possible breakthroughs to Sequence Level Ten One.
• A freezing current encased the beings and terrain outside the Eighth Domain in ice, but the domain’s ridges and rivers stopped it from advancing farther.
• A tiger roared across the wilderness.

Frost Tiger and the Large Gods attacked Power Bull at the edge of the Eighth Domain while Mirage Moth concealed the battle from everyone inside and outside the domain. Qin Siyang remained unaware of the fighting, but when he tried to enter the Great River, he hit the ground instead and realized he was caught in a strange loop.

• Mirage Moth concealed the Eighth Domain’s outskirts and interior to keep others from interfering with the battle.
• Frost Tiger ordered the Large Gods to occupy their opponents and launched the attack.
• Power Bull resisted Frost Tiger’s ice barrage with his body and drew a Junior Growth Artifact axe.
• Frost Tiger’s allies intervened, and Power Bull fought them at the boundary of the Eighth Domain.
• An enormous crow eye watched the battle from the starry sky before closing again.
• Qin Siyang admired the Great River, then tried to enter it and struck the ground, finding himself back on the riverbank.

Qin Siyang investigated a strange barrier that kept him from reaching the Great River, then watched as the river and surrounding land were devastated by a cataclysmic battle. Hidden nearby, Power Bull and the other Large Gods revealed that they had fought fierce attackers, while Li Qingshang and Li Qingyi watched over the barely breathing Li Qinghui.

• Qin Siyang found that he could not reach the Great River and suspected a Large God had caused the phenomenon.
• Qin Siyang contacted Li Tianming and Qian Wendao, learned that patrol teams had encountered the same barrier, and decided to wait by the river.
• Qin Siyang awoke to find the river diverted into huge fractures, with fire, ice, and other signs of a devastating battle.
• Niu Douchong and Tuo He'an discussed their injuries and said they had killed two Bellflower Grasses.
• Li Qingshang and Li Qingyi watched over the barely breathing Li Qinghui as the Sturgeon Crocodiles waited nearby.