Recaps

Shen Fei confronted Shen Hong with evidence that the Sacred Family was helping the Dark Guild endanger Glory City, but Shen Hong defended his decision and ordered him to stay out of family affairs. After the confrontation failed, Shen Fei resolved to search for the protagonist of Tales of Demons and Gods or find another way to protect the city.

• Shen Fei showed Shen Hong secret letters detailing Glory City's vulnerabilities and the Sacred Family's cooperation with the Dark Guild.
• Shen Hong explained that he had cooperated to preserve the Sacred Family after its earlier losses, then dismissed Shen Fei's objections as naive.
• Shen Hong ordered Shen Fei to remain at the institute and keep out of family affairs, and Shen Fei left without changing his father's mind.
• In the corridor, Shen Fei recalled discovering the letters and realized the family elders would not help him oppose Shen Hong.
• Shen Fei decided to search Holy Orchid Institute records and City Guard reports for the protagonist of Tales of Demons and Gods, while preparing to act on his own if necessary.

After Shen Hong barred him from family affairs, Shen Fei searched Glory City’s records for the protagonist he remembered from Tales of Demons and Gods, hoping to find someone who could help avert the coming Demon Beast Tide. He discovered that the enrolled Nie Li was an ordinary student, accepted that no savior existed, and began looking for allies instead.

• Shen Fei spent three days considering how to respond to the threat facing Glory City and decided he needed help.
• Shen Fei reviewed the Holy Orchid Institute’s student rosters, including Nie Li’s record, which described him as having poor aptitude and no cultivation progress.
• Shen Fei searched city-defense combat reports and records of young officers, minor-family talents, and a black-market operator, but found no sign of the protagonist he remembered.
• Shen Fei concluded that the Nie Li in the records was not a savior and felt the weight of facing the coming disaster without one.
• Shen Fei returned to the student rosters and began looking for allies who could fight alongside him.

As demon beasts overwhelmed Glory City, Shen Fei rejected the Sacred Family’s escape and enlisted to defend the city. He died holding back a Gold-rank beast as a Legend-rank beast destroyed the beacon tower, vowing in his final thoughts to expose the Dark Guild if he had another life.

• The demon beast tide breached Glory City’s outer defenses, and Ye Zong led the city’s defense while the threat of a Legend-rank beast loomed in the forest.
• Shen Hong ordered the Sacred Family to flee by boat, and Shen Fei slipped away from the docks and enlisted to fight for Glory City.
• Shen Fei’s reserve squad reached a breach in the inner wall, where he fought demon beasts to keep them from reaching the civilians.
• Shen Fei drew a Gold-rank demon beast away from the civilians and held it back until they escaped, suffering severe injuries.
• The Gold-rank beast pierced Shen Fei’s chest as a Legend-rank beast shattered the beacon tower, and Shen Fei died vowing to destroy the Dark Guild’s influence in Glory City in another life.

Shen Fei woke in his younger body with memories of Glory City's destruction and resolved to change his approach after being reborn. He attended class while planning to use Shen Hong’s request to organize the Sacred Family’s purchasing accounts to uncover the Dark Guild’s supply channels.

• Shen Fei discovered he had returned to his Silver Rank 3-Star state and decided to conceal his abilities rather than openly challenge Shen Hong.
• Shen Fei recalled Glory City's defenses, the Dark Guild’s hideouts, and the future deaths of people such as Lu Piao and Du Ze.
• Shen Fei ate breakfast and learned Shen Hong had assigned him to organize the purchasing accounts after class, while the family meeting remained on the schedule.
• Shen Fei went to the Holy Orchid Institute, saw lower-year students practicing, and chose not to seek out Nie Li.
• Instructor Zhou assigned random teams for practical combat class, and Shen Fei drew a Silver Rank 3-Star classmate as his partner.
• Shen Fei planned to use access to the purchasing accounts to investigate the Sacred Family’s links to the Dark Guild while keeping his intentions hidden.

For three months, Shen Fei maintained an obedient routine while organizing the Sacred Family’s accounts and correspondence, secretly uncovering how the family supported the Dark Guild in Glory City. He left the chapter with the intelligence memorized and planned to use an upcoming Black Market procurement errand to find a way to pass it on.

• Shen Fei attended classes and helped Shen Hong sort the Sacred Family’s accounts and letters to gain access to family information.
• Shen Fei decoded the Dark Guild’s correspondence marks, business phrases, and recurring payments concealed in the procurement ledgers.
• Shen Fei identified three Dark Guild bases in Glory City and memorized details about seven undercover Demon Spirit Masters and their rendezvous schedule.
• Shen Hong told Shen Fei he had been doing well, and Shen Fei recognized the remark as a sign that his father’s guard was beginning to lower.
• Shen Fei kept all the intelligence in his memory and anticipated that the steward would soon send him on a procurement errand to the Black Market.

Shen Fei surveyed the black market for signs of the Dark Guild and encountered Nie Li, whose sharp observations and growing reputation contradicted his school records. Convinced Nie Li was the same hidden figure from his previous life, Shen Fei decided to find a way to approach him while pursuing their common enemy.

• Shen Fei entered the Layered Peaks Black Market to buy supplies and secretly locate the Dark Guild's warehouse.
• Shen Fei identified a guarded side tunnel as the likely warehouse entrance and avoided drawing attention to himself.
• Shen Fei met Nie Li at an herb stall and watched him identify Shen Fei's Sacred Family status and recent work with striking accuracy.
• Nie Li criticized Shen Yue and declared his hostility toward the Sacred Family before leaving the market.
• Shen Fei connected Nie Li's recent prominence and the Dark Guild's reduced activity, then concluded that he needed to adjust his plans and approach Nie Li cautiously.

Shen Fei anonymously warned the City Lord's Mansion about a Demon Beast attack, then visited Xiao Ning'er and concealed his role when Lu Piao questioned him about the letter. Nie Li suspected Shen Fei, but had no proof, so Shen Fei resolved to keep building his strength in secret.

• Shen Fei sent the City Lord's Mansion an unsigned letter warning of an attack at the seventh section of the West Wall and collaborators in the southwest corner.
• Ye Zong ambushed the Demon Beasts, captured two City Guard collaborators, and prevented casualties; Shen Fei noticed Nie Li watching him in the crowd.
• Shen Fei visited Xiao Ning'er at the Winged Dragon Family's Side Courtyard, recognized signs of her exhaustion, and offered to help her.
• Lu Piao intercepted Shen Fei and questioned him about the anonymous letter and its pierced black ring mark; Shen Fei denied knowing anything about it.
• After evading Lu Piao, Shen Fei concluded that Nie Li suspected him and decided to keep his identity hidden while he built his strength.

Shen Fei began classes at the Holy Orchid Institute, where Shen Yue probed his intentions and Nie Li stunned the students by testing at one-star Bronze soul force. After Nie Li won his wager with Shen Xiu, Shen Fei returned to the Sacred Family estate, where Shen Hong summoned him to the study.

• Shen Fei attended his first advanced-class lessons, sparred to a draw, and kept his attention on the institute's resources and Nie Li's movements.
• Shen Yue questioned Shen Fei about joining the advanced class and warned him not to disgrace the Sacred Family, making his hostility clear beneath a courteous manner.
• Shen Fei went to watch the lower-year soul force test and saw Nie Li register one-star Bronze, winning his wager with Shen Xiu.
• Shen Fei recognized that Nie Li had suppressed his true strength, and the two exchanged a brief, watchful look across the training ground.
• A steward told Shen Fei that Shen Hong was waiting for him in the study, and Shen Fei considered approaching Xiao Ning'er as a potential teammate.

Shen Fei sent Xiao Ning'er cultivation supplies, which she returned, then turned his attention to finding a faster way to strengthen himself. He left off reviewing an old breathing technique, determined to raise his cultivation before Glory City faced the Demon Beast Tide.

• Shen Fei sent soul-nourishing grass, Meridian-Warming Pills, and Demon Crystals to Xiao Ning'er through the steward, presenting them as customary gifts for the future young mistress.
• Xiao Ning'er returned the unopened supplies with a note rejecting the engagement as binding and telling Shen Fei not to send anything again.
• Shen Fei accepted Xiao Ning'er's refusal without complaint and had the supplies stored away.
• Shen Fei reviewed his limited cultivation prospects and recalled the overwhelming Demon Beasts that had destroyed Glory City in his previous life.
• Shen Fei took an old book on basic Breathing Techniques from the bookshelf, deciding that improving his strength had become a priority.

Shen Fei left Glory City to train in the Dark Forest, hoping to grow strong enough to change the city's fate. After reaching the forest's middle reaches, he used traps and swift attacks to kill three bronze rank Fanged Beasts.

• Shen Fei received approval for extended leave and told Shen Hong he was going to train outside the city.
• Shen Yue mocked Shen Fei for venturing into the wilderness at silver rank 3-star, but Shen Fei ignored him and prepared his equipment.
• Before dawn, Shen Fei slipped out of Glory City through the southern side gate and headed toward the Dark Forest.
• Shen Fei entered the forest's middle reaches, marked his route, and set tripwires for warning.
• Shen Fei lured three bronze rank Fanged Beasts into traps and killed them with his sword.

Shen Fei ventured into the Dark Forest to train against stronger Demon Beasts, using traps and terrain to survive increasingly dangerous fights. After defeating a peak-Silver Ironclad Rhino, he discovered that the battle had begun to loosen his Silver 3-Star bottleneck.

• Shen Fei traveled to the Dark Forest by a remote trail and entered it at first light after resting outside overnight.
• Shen Fei killed five Silverstripe Wolves and fought other low-Silver-rank beasts, suffering a shoulder wound and depleting much of his supplies and Soul Force.
• Shen Fei studied his map and chose a boulder-strewn slope where he could use the terrain to fight stronger beasts.
• Shen Fei lured a peak-Silver Ironclad Rhino into the rocks and wore it down with evasive tactics and barbed wire.
• Shen Fei struck the rhino through the vulnerable joint beneath its raised right foreleg, killed it, and claimed its Demon Crystal.
• Shen Fei treated his injuries and sensed a tiny crack in the barrier between Silver 3-Star and Silver 4-Star.

Shen Fei discovered Old Man Black Prison’s underground palace and faced its Trial of Shadows to claim the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art and Shadow Mantis. After losing twice, he defeated his shadow by exploiting its cautious tactics, then turned toward the legacy behind the stele.

• Shen Fei found a hidden stone door in the valley and entered an underground palace.
• Shen Fei read the stele and learned that Old Man Black Prison had left his cultivation art and life-bound demon spirit for a worthy successor who passed the Trial of Shadows.
• Shen Fei entered the inscription array and lost his first duel when his shadow exploited an opening.
• Shen Fei fought the shadow again, discovered that it always chose the safest attack, and devised a plan to trade an injury for victory.
• Shen Fei deliberately exposed his left ribs and pierced the shadow’s throat, winning the trial.
• Shen Fei treated his wound and spotted a stone dais behind the stele where the legacy appeared to be kept.

Shen Fei claimed Old Man Black Prison’s legacy, mastered the introductory Dark Prison Reincarnation Art, and fused with the Black Gold Rank Shadow Mantis. After training with his new abilities for three days, he left the Underground Palace and returned to the outskirts of Glory City.

• Shen Fei studied the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art and fused with the Shadow Mantis, enduring its dark power’s corrosion.
• Old Man Black Prison’s remnant soul recognized Shen Fei’s past life and explained that the full legacy lay on the Holy Spirit Continent, with breakthroughs requiring him to devour demon spirits.
• Shen Fei’s cultivation settled at Silver Rank 4-Star, and he spent three days practicing the art and learning the Shadow Mantis’s abilities.
• Shen Fei left the Underground Palace and used the Shadow Mantis to scout ahead and kill Silver Demon Beasts on the return journey.
• Shen Fei emerged from the Dark Forest and saw Glory City through the morning mist.

Shen Fei returned to Glory City with a Black Gold Rank demon spirit and an elder inheritance, but concealed his true strength and resumed his role as the Sacred Family’s disregarded eldest son. He planned to use his routine duties and studies to monitor the Dark Guild and prepare for future threats.

• Shen Fei entered Glory City with a caravan, sold demon crystals at the Layered Peaks Black Market, and bought inscription materials and cultivation herbs.
• Shen Fei observed that the Dark Guild’s black-market activity had declined and noted a new guard at the northwest passage, while mercenaries reported tighter city defenses and fewer demon beasts nearby.
• Shen Fei returned to the Sacred Family and ignored Shen Yue’s mockery, allowing him to believe Shen Fei’s cultivation had not improved.
• Shen Fei hid his supplies, suppressed his aura to appear Silver 3-Star, and planned to monitor the Dark Guild, Adjutant Ma, and Nie Li while improving his cultivation and Shadow Mantis coordination.
• Shen Hong ordered Shen Fei to sort procurement records and correspondence the next day, leaving Shen Fei free to maintain his unremarkable cover.

Shen Fei joined the expedition to the Gulan City Ruins to seek resources and investigate the Dark Guild, despite his family's indifference and Shen Yue's mockery. He arrived with the other young scions and camped at the ruins, where the group planned to enter at dawn.

• Shen Fei accepted the Sacred Nether Family's invitation while Shen Yue dismissed the expedition, and Shen Hong gave Shen Fei permission to go without concern.
• Shen Fei packed supplies and concealed powders, then left for the South Gate with his cultivation suppressed to Silver 3-Star.
• Shen Fei met Sheng Mingyuan, Huyan Ming, Ye Ziyun, Nie Li, and Xiao Ning'er at the gathering point, where Sheng Mingyuan set the expedition's rules.
• The group traveled west, and Huyan Ming offered to watch out for Shen Fei while Nie Li repeatedly observed him with suspicion.
• Sheng Mingyuan led the group to the Site of Old Gulan City, where they camped for the night and prepared to enter the ruins at dawn.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er were separated from the party when demon beasts ambushed them in Blackrock Canyon, and they escaped into a hidden passage. They rested while planning to reach the Gulan City ruins by dawn, as Shen Fei suspected the Dark Guild had arranged the attack.

• Shen Fei spotted a Blazing Demon Lion leading a demon beast ambush in Blackrock Canyon, and Sheng Mingyuan ordered the party to retreat east.
• Shen Fei found Xiao Ning'er trapped by two Silverback Wolves, wounded one with a thrown stone, and fought alongside her to kill them.
• Shen Fei led Xiao Ning'er into a hidden side passage, where she treated her arm and thanked him for rescuing her.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er agreed to wait until evening before traveling to the Gulan City ruins, while Shen Fei suspected the Dark Guild was behind the beast tide.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er fought their way past a Gold Rank 1-Star Ironclad Beast guarding the valley mouth. After defeating it and recovering, they prepared to continue toward the Gulan City Ruins entrance.

• Shen Fei spotted the Ironclad Beast blocking the valley exit and planned to lure it beneath a heap of loose stones.
• Xiao Ning'er refused to leave Shen Fei alone and carved weakening inscriptions and prepared explosive talismans despite her injuries.
• Shen Fei lured the beast over a weakening inscription and beneath the stone heap, while Xiao Ning'er brought the rocks down on it.
• The wounded beast attacked Xiao Ning'er, but Shen Fei climbed onto its neck and drove his sword beneath its eye, killing it.
• Shen Fei collected the Demon Crystal and intact scales, then rested beside Xiao Ning'er until she recovered enough to walk.

After recovering from their battle with the Ironclad Beast, Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er reached Gulan City Ruins and identified the City Lord's Mansion. Xiao Ning'er found a recently opened cellar beneath the mansion, and Shen Fei began descending to investigate.

• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er hid in a cave, treated their injuries, and took turns keeping watch while they recovered.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er left the cave at dawn and traveled for four hours to the outskirts of Gulan City Ruins.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er fought off two Fanged Beasts and identified a ruined complex as the City Lord's Mansion.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er searched the mansion's side chambers, but Shen Fei found only rubble and ruined scraps.
• Xiao Ning'er discovered a recently lifted paving slab that revealed a cellar, and Shen Fei descended into it to check for danger.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er found two damaged Legend Rank inscription scrolls hidden in the City Lord's Mansion and agreed to bring them to Nie Li to see if they could be repaired. After searching the mansion again without finding more treasures, they prepared to descend to the second level of the ruins.

• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er searched the collapsed inner hall and found a hidden compartment behind a stone wall.
• Shen Fei retrieved two damaged Legend Rank inscription scrolls from the compartment, and Xiao Ning'er identified one as defensive and the other as offensive.
• Shen Fei urged Xiao Ning'er to take the scrolls to Nie Li, arguing that repairing them could help defend Glory City.
• Xiao Ning'er accepted the scrolls and promised to study them with Nie Li and use them to protect the city if they could be repaired.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er searched the inner hall again, found nothing else, and headed out to look for an entrance to the second level.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er reunited with Nie Li, Ye Ziyun, and the Sacred Nether Family at the ruins’ meeting point, then convinced the group to abandon the dangerous second level and return to Glory City. Back at the Sacred Family estate, Shen Fei hid the Ironclad Beast’s remains and resumed his quiet plans to cultivate and watch for future threats.

• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er reached the meeting point, where Sheng Mingyuan’s group was clearing rubble from the entrance to the ruins’ second level.
• Nie Li and Ye Ziyun warned that organized Silver Rank beasts and the second level’s restrictions made going deeper dangerous, and Shen Fei added that the Dark Guild might be nearby.
• Sheng Mingyuan agreed to turn back, and Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er kept the Legend Rank inscription fragments and the City Lord’s Mansion compartment secret from the group.
• The group returned safely to Glory City and went their separate ways; Xiao Ning'er thanked Shen Fei discreetly before leaving for the Winged Dragon Family.
• Shen Fei returned to the Sacred Family estate, hid the Ironclad Beast’s Demon Crystal and armor, and cultivated the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art in private.

Shen Fei secretly reached gold rank 1-star and received two hundred Soul-Gathering Pills from Nie Li, while learning that Nie Li might repair the city defense scrolls. He agreed to watch the Sacred Family’s Genius Tournament with Xiao Ning’er, where he planned to gauge Nie Li’s strength.

• Shen Fei reviewed the Sacred Family’s accounts and noticed that losses tied to the Dark Guild’s supply routes had fallen further.
• Shen Fei broke through to gold rank 1-star, strengthened his coordination with the Shadow Mantis, and concealed his new rank from the household.
• The steward told Shen Fei that Soul-Gathering Pills had appeared on the market, and Xiao Ning’er later delivered two hundred of them from Nie Li.
• Xiao Ning’er reported that Nie Li believed he could restore part of the damaged legendary city defense scrolls within six months.
• Xiao Ning’er told Shen Fei that Nie Li would enter the Genius Tournament, and Shen Fei agreed to watch it with her next month.

At the Sacred Family’s genius tournament, Nie Li defeated Gold Rank 1-Star Shen Hao despite being believed to be Silver Rank 1-Star, stunning the crowd and alarming the Sacred Family. Shen Fei recognized Nie Li’s hidden skill and anticipated trouble from Shen Hong and Shen Yue as Nie Li left with Ye Ziyun.

• Shen Fei arrived at the tournament and watched Shen Hao defeat several Silver Rank challengers with his saber.
• Nie Li challenged Shen Hao, who offered him three moves without striking back, but Nie Li failed to touch him during them.
• Nie Li evaded Shen Hao’s attacks for more than a dozen exchanges, then redirected his saber strike and used Shen Hao’s momentum to send him off the platform.
• The referee declared Nie Li the winner, while Shen Hong and Shen Yue reacted grimly and the other families applauded.
• Shen Fei concluded that Nie Li had concealed his true abilities and foresaw that the Sacred Family might retaliate; Nie Li met his gaze before leaving, followed by Ye Ziyun.

After the tournament, Shen Fei strolled through the market with Xiao Ning'er and learned how her engagement to him had been forced on her as a bargain to save the Winged Dragon Family. He resolved to grow strong enough to change their fate, while Xiao Ning'er left for home still uncertain whether his promise could come true.

• Shen Fei invited Xiao Ning'er to walk through the market after the tournament, and she agreed.
• At the herb stall, Xiao Ning'er identified weak Purpleleaf Grass, while Shen Fei bought blood-staunching grass and a rabbit-shaped sugar figurine for her.
• Shen Fei asked Xiao Ning'er whether she hated their engagement, and she explained that the Winged Dragon Family had agreed to it in exchange for the Sacred Family's financial help.
• Shen Fei told Xiao Ning'er that his father would not dissolve the engagement easily, and she said she would not resign herself to fate.
• Shen Fei resolved to gain the strength and influence to change Xiao Ning'er's future, then watched her leave for home at dusk.

Shen Fei secretly cultivated with Nie Li’s Soul-Gathering Pills and broke through to Gold Rank 2-Star while hiding his progress from the Shen family. He planned to investigate the Dark Guild’s timber-firm supply route, let Shen Hong’s plans against Nie Li unfold, and keep preparing for the Demon Beast Tide.

• Shen Fei began taking one Soul-Gathering Pill each night while acting as a diligent, unassuming steward of the family accounts by day.
• Shen Fei used the pills to strengthen his meridians and soul force, then practiced coordinating his sword attacks with the Shadow Mantis.
• After patiently wearing down the barrier in his dantian, Shen Fei broke through to Gold Rank 2-Star and concealed his new strength by suppressing his aura.
• Shen Fei put away his remaining pills to stabilize his foundation and planned to investigate the Dark Guild’s supply route through the timber firm.
• Shen Fei suspected Shen Hong was arranging trouble for Nie Li but chose not to interfere, intending instead to repay Nie Li’s gift with intelligence when the opportunity arose.

Shen Fei encountered a talented commoner boy being bullied and challenged him to stop enduring injustice and use his strength. The boy chose to act, charging to help a younger child being bullied in a secluded alley.

• Shen Fei saw three noble boys knock a commoner boy down and ruin his rice, then recognized the boy's Bronze Rank 3-Star cultivation and simmering hatred.
• After the noble boys left, Shen Fei offered the boy a healing pill and led him to another alley, where three noble children were trying to steal a younger child's herbs.
• Shen Fei asked the boy why he would not fight back despite being stronger and urged him to confront injustice with his own hands.
• The boy overcame his fear of the nobles and charged into the alley to help the younger child.