Recaps

Shen Fei persuaded Shen Kun to support his bid for family head, offering him a Scarlet Blood Crystal that could help break his cultivation bottleneck. Shen Kun accepted the crystal and agreed to oppose Shen Hong when the moment came, leaving the Sacred Family’s unity weakened.

• Shen Fei asked Shen Kun to keep the family elders from unanimously backing Shen Hong at a crucial moment.
• Shen Fei showed Shen Kun a Scarlet Blood Crystal and explained its potential to help Black Gold Rank cultivators break through bottlenecks.
• Shen Kun sensed the crystal’s power and, after recognizing its value, agreed to help Shen Fei become family head.
• Shen Fei told Shen Kun to insist on following the rules if Shen Hong favored Shen Yue for family leadership or core affairs.
• Shen Fei left the courtyard in secret, while Shen Kun hid the crystal and murmured that the sky over the Sacred Family was about to change.

Shen Hong summoned Shen Fei and offered him a Black Gold Rank Demon Spirit for the upcoming victory banquet. He also warned Shen Fei to stay out of trouble while the Wind Snow Family watched closely, and the steward led him to the storeroom.

• The steward summoned Shen Fei to Shen Hong's study.
• Shen Hong told Shen Fei to take a Black Gold Rank Demon Spirit so he could attend the City Lord's Mansion victory banquet with suitable standing.
• Shen Fei concluded that Shen Hong's offer was motivated by concern for the Sacred Family's reputation.
• Shen Hong warned Shen Fei to keep himself in line because the Wind Snow Family was watching closely.
• The steward led Shen Fei to the storeroom and unlocked its iron door.

Shen Fei searched the storeroom for a suitable dark-attribute Demon Spirit to support his breakthrough and selected a Black Gold three-star Shadow Wolf King. Back in his room, he prepared carefully to devour it but had not yet begun.

• Shen Fei inspected the stored Demon Spirits and rejected a fire-attributed Blazing Flame Lion and a yin-leaning Azure-Scaled Python.
• Shen Fei chose the pure, stable Black Gold three-star Shadow Wolf King as the best fit for his cultivation.
• The old steward released the Shadow Wolf King's Demon Spirit from its bottle, wrapped it in cloth, and advised Shen Fei to let it adjust to the room's temperature for four hours.
• Shen Fei returned to his courtyard, unwrapped the Demon Spirit, secured his room, and reread the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art's instructions on devouring and refinement.

Shen Fei fought the Shadow Wolf King's demon spirit inside his soul sea and defeated it with the Shadow Mantis's help. As the Shadow Mantis devoured the Wolf King's power, Shen Fei's spiritual strength rose and cracks spread across the barrier between Gold Five-Star Rank and one-star Black Gold Rank.

• Shen Fei guided the Shadow Wolf King's demon spirit into his soul sea, where it clashed with the Shadow Mantis.
• Shen Fei fused with the Shadow Mantis and fought the stronger Wolf King while pain and spiritual exhaustion mounted.
• Shen Fei feinted to draw the Wolf King off balance, then struck its neck with both bladed forelimbs.
• Shen Fei and the Shadow Mantis devoured the Wolf King's spiritual power and remnants of will.
• Shen Fei absorbed the resulting energy as cracks formed in his rank barrier.

Shen Fei broke through to one-star Black Gold Rank, then learned that the City Lord was preparing to act against the Sacred Family. Fearing Shen Hong would exploit Ye Zong’s injury to strike first, Shen Fei decided to bring Shen Hong under control the next day.

• Shen Fei used ten Scarlet Blood Crystals and the Shadow Wolf King's Spiritual Power to break through to one-star Black Gold Rank, strengthening the Shadow Mantis as well.
• Nie Li visited Shen Fei and revealed that the City Lord had gathered evidence of the Sacred Family’s dealings with the Dark Guild.
• Shen Fei told Nie Li to handle the Dark Guild’s remnants while he dealt with the Sacred Family himself.
• Nie Li said he had given Su Ming a cultivation art capable of taking him to Legend Rank, then vanished using the Shadow Demon's power.
• Shen Fei considered Ye Zong’s injury and Shen Hong’s likely plans, then resolved to bring Shen Hong under control the next day.

At the Victory Banquet, Shen Fei quietly prepared allies for a fight he expected to break out, assigning Duan Jian to hold off Shen Quan and warning Xiao Ning'er and Su Ming. He left Su Ming with cultivation resources and told him to flee once the fighting began, then headed toward the Sacred Family's seats.

• Shen Fei identified Duan Jian, Nie Li, and Du Ze among the guests, then told Duan Jian to keep Shen Quan occupied if fighting broke out.
• Shen Fei warned Xiao Ning'er that a fight might start and asked her to prepare Xiao Yunfeng; Xiao Ning'er quietly relayed the warning to her father.
• Shen Fei met Su Ming, praised his progress to silver 3-star, and gave him a ring containing cultivation resources and ten Scarlet Blood Crystals.
• Shen Fei told Su Ming to run as soon as fighting began, and Su Ming agreed without asking for details.
• Shen Fei headed toward the Sacred Family's seats.

Su Ming realized how dangerous the gathering at the victory banquet was as the powerful families waited tensely for Ye Zong. Shen Fei tested Duan Jian for Shen Hong, and the chapter ended with Ye Zong arriving and briefly fixing his gaze on the Sacred Family.

• Su Ming withdrew into the corridor and recognized that the banquet guests were poised for a fight far beyond his strength.
• Shen Hong ordered Shen Fei to test Duan Jian, so Shen Fei spilled wine on him and secretly gauged his power.
• Shen Fei told Shen Hong that Duan Jian seemed to be around gold rank, while realizing Shen Hong remained wary.
• Nie Li finished speaking with the Wind Snow Family's elders as the families quietly prepared and watched the Main Hall.
• Ye Zong entered the courtyard, silencing the guests, and briefly lingered his gaze on the Sacred Family.

Shen Hong searched for a chance to attack the injured Ye Zong but found him too well guarded. Shen Xiu then publicly invoked Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er's marriage pact, leaving Xiao Ning'er seated in tense silence as they approached the Winged Dragon Family.

• Shen Hong watched Ye Zong and calculated how to strike, but Nie Li, Duan Jian, and Du Ze blocked the routes to him.
• Huyan Lie sat beside Shen Hong and toasted him, while Shen Hong concealed his attention on Ye Zong.
• Shen Hong realized Ye Zong was unlikely to leave his guarded seat and reconsidered whether to act that night.
• Shen Xiu told Shen Fei to accompany her to the Winged Dragon Family and discuss his marriage pact with Xiao Ning'er.
• Shen Xiu greeted Xiao Yunfeng and brought up the pact in front of the guests, while Xiao Ning'er remained seated with her hands clenched briefly in her lap.

Shen Xiu pressed Xiao Ning'er to honor her marriage agreement with Shen Fei, while Shen Fei kept up his harmless facade at the banquet. He watched Shen Hong hesitate to act against Ye Zong as the evening drew to a close.

• Shen Xiu raised Xiao Ning'er's marriage agreement, and Xiao Ning'er said the family elders could finalize it when the time came.
• Two guests criticized Shen Fei and the Sacred Family's pressure on the Winged Dragon Family, but Shen Xiu silenced them with a cold glare.
• Shen Fei followed Shen Xiu back to their seats and noticed the guests' scrutiny and pity.
• Shen Fei watched Shen Hong study Ye Zong and Nie Li, judging that Shen Hong still lacked an opening to act.
• Shen Fei finished his peanuts and cold tea, then waited quietly for the banquet to end.

Shen Hong waited at the banquet for the Dark Guild’s contact, unaware that the City Lord’s guards had begun killing Sacred Family intruders. At the feast, Shen Fei publicly toasted Shen Kun, leaving the Second Elder uncertain about his intentions.

• Shen Hong watched the guarded entrance, expecting the Dark Guild to contact him during the banquet.
• A Gray-Clothed Man claiming to represent the Huyan Family was led away from the main path and killed by the guards, who searched him and found no identifying message.
• The Guard Captain said the patriarch had ordered them to kill anyone from the Sacred Family who tried to enter or leave, and the guards removed the body and cleaned the corridor.
• At the banquet, Nie Li drew attention from the gathered families while Nie Hai received their toasts with courteous composure.
• Shen Fei filled his cup and publicly offered a toast to Shen Kun, who recalled their private agreement and wondered what Shen Fei intended.

At the banquet, Shen Hong learned that Ye Zong had dismantled the Dark Guild’s bases and realized he had been lured into a trap. As Shen Hong tried to leave, Shen Fei stopped him and declared that his father had grown old.

• Shen Fei toasted Shen Kun, leaving the family elders and Shen Yue wondering about his intentions.
• A Sacred Family servant told Shen Hong that the Dark Guild’s bases had been emptied and the family’s hidden sentries had disappeared.
• Shen Hong realized Ye Zong had gathered evidence and arranged the banquet to trap him.
• Shen Hong spotted Nie Li, Duan Jian, and Du Ze watching the Sacred Family and decided he had to escape.
• Shen Fei pressed his palm to the table as Shen Hong prepared to rise, then told him, “Father, you've grown old.”

Shen Fei publicly challenged Shen Hong and remained composed under the patriarch’s and First Elder’s spiritual pressure. He activated the Shadow Mantis demon spirit at the Sacred Family’s table, leaving the gathering poised for a confrontation.

• Shen Fei challenged Shen Hong in front of the Sacred Family and its guests.
• Shen Hong questioned Shen Fei and unleashed his peak Black Gold Rank pressure, but Shen Fei calmly poured and drank wine without moving.
• The First Elder probed Shen Fei’s strength, then declared him unqualified and released his Black Gold Rank 4-Star aura.
• Nie Li watched from beside a corridor pillar while Ye Zong observed from the Main Hall steps.
• Shen Fei activated the Shadow Mantis demon spirit, forming dark armor with blade-like forelimbs and fixing his green gaze on Shen Hong.

Shen Fei attacked Shen Hong during the banquet, and their clash spilled into the courtyard as the elders took sides. With Duan Jian keeping the Third Elder occupied, Shen Hong faced Shen Fei while Ye Zong confronted a cloaked figure watching from a wall.

• Shen Fei sprang up and attacked Shen Hong, but the Sacred Fire Roc Eagle blocked his strike and knocked him through the hall doors.
• The First Elder moved to intervene, but Second Elder Shen Kun stopped him and revealed that he had reached Black Gold Rank 4-Star.
• The Third Elder charged at Shen Fei, but Duan Jian intercepted him and began fighting him outside the courtyard.
• Shen Hong surveyed the courtyard, saw the elders and Duan Jian occupied, and returned his attention to Shen Fei.
• Ye Zong spotted a cloaked figure on a side-courtyard wall and told him to come out, but the figure remained still.

Shen Fei confronted his father, Shen Hong, over Shen Hong’s allegiance to the Dark Guild and fought him with the Shadow Mantis’s abilities and the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art. Shen Hong burned away Shen Fei’s dark mist and brought down a flaming longsword, leaving their clash unresolved.

• Shen Hong called Shen Fei a traitor to the family, and Shen Fei answered that Shen Hong was a traitor to Glory City.
• Shen Hong attacked with a fire-wreathed punch, but Shen Fei dodged and slashed at his wrist before retreating.
• Shen Fei charged with Shadow Stealth, split Shen Hong’s fireball with his bladed forelimb, then stopped and engulfed him in dark mist.
• Shen Fei declared that the Dark Guild was no longer humanity’s future and sent the black mist to consume Shen Hong.
• Shen Hong’s Sacred Flame Peng Eagle burned away the mist, and he formed a flaming longsword.
• Shen Hong struck down with the flaming longsword, and Shen Fei crossed his bladed forelimbs to meet the blow.

Shen Fei fought Shen Hong and endured the stronger cultivator’s flaming sword attacks, then used Shen Hong’s declining stamina to counterattack. The battle continued with Shen Fei injured and Shen Hong still pressing him.

• Shen Hong’s sword strike sent Shen Fei flying, and a follow-up blast slammed him into a stone wall and left him bleeding.
• Shen Fei and Shen Hong exchanged close-range attacks, and Shen Fei suffered burns when he could not fully evade a slash.
• Shen Fei noticed Shen Hong’s stamina and recovery were worsening, then circled him and attacked from the sides and rear.
• Shen Hong spoke of Nie Li and the Demon Lord while attacking, trapping Shen Fei with a fireball before striking him with his flaming longsword.
• Shen Fei took the blow on his bladed forelimbs, was hurled sideways, and rolled across the ground before regaining his feet.

The Dark Guild attacked the courtyard as Shen Fei and Shen Hong continued their duel. The Wind Snow Family summoned the Wind Snow Spirit God to counter the Shadow Demon’s pressure, while Shen Fei and Shen Hong wounded each other and remained locked in a deadly fight.

• The Shadow Demon and an Abyssal Troll appeared outside the courtyard as Dark Guild members entered and blocked the eastern exit.
• The Wind Snow Family elders summoned the Wind Snow Spirit God, easing the Shadow Demon’s oppressive aura.
• Ye Zong challenged Black Fiend, who remained silent and motionless atop the wall.
• Shen Fei and Shen Hong resumed their duel, trading attacks as Shen Fei cut Shen Hong’s jaw and Shen Hong’s blows and fire strained Shen Fei.
• Shen Fei and Shen Hong faced each other again, both breathing heavily and bleeding from their injuries.

Shen Fei and Shen Hong fought to a devastating stalemate in the ruined courtyard, and Shen Fei killed Shen Hong with a final strike. After taking a medicinal pill, Shen Fei began to lose consciousness as someone called his name.

• Shen Fei overwhelmed Shen Hong with attacks and trapped him in the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art’s black mist, but Shen Hong burned it away with the Sacred Flame Roc Eagle’s fire.
• Shen Fei and Shen Hong poured their remaining strength into a final clash that shattered the courtyard and sent both of them flying.
• Shen Fei recovered enough to stand and limped across the rubble toward the injured Shen Hong.
• Shen Hong praised Shen Fei as the pinnacle before Shen Fei cut his throat with a bladed forelimb.
• Shen Fei swallowed a medicinal pill, sank to one knee, and began losing his sight as someone called his name.

Xiao Ning'er treated Shen Fei’s injuries and sent him back to the Winged Dragon Family before returning to the battlefield. There, Ye Zong had broken through to Legend Rank and prepared to settle his conflict with Black Fiend.

• Xiao Ning'er treated Shen Fei’s burns and injuries, gave him a Qi-Replenishing Pill, and ordered a guard to carry him to her room.
• Xiao Ning'er activated her Wind-Thunder Sky Sparrow Demon Spirit and flew back to the battlefield.
• Xiao Ning'er arrived as Ye Zong, having advanced from peak Black Gold Rank to Legend Rank, faced Black Fiend atop the bell tower.
• Ye Zong struck Black Fiend’s Spiritual Power barrier with an icy beam, forcing him to reinforce it.
• Ye Zong steadied himself and told Black Fiend it was time to settle things between them.

Nie Li activated the Ten Thousand Demons and Spirits Array, trapping Black Fiend while Ye Zong kept him under pressure. Elsewhere on the battlefield, Xiao Ning'er and Huyan Lie killed the last Abyssal Troll still fighting.

• Black Fiend formed a dark barrier and tried to retreat from Ye Zong, but Nie Li's formation rose around him and trapped him in a golden cage.
• Nie Li activated the Sixteen High Towers and took control of the complete Ten Thousand Demons and Spirits Array.
• Black Fiend struck the cage repeatedly, but its inscription patterns absorbed the force without breaking.
• Xiao Ning'er pinned the last Abyssal Troll in place with a lightning spear while Huyan Lie moved in to attack.
• Huyan Lie severed the troll's neck with his saber, killing it, then dropped to one knee to catch his breath.

After the Abyssal Troll fell, Glory City's forces routed the flame demons, but Dragon Fiend used a mysterious crystal to break through the Ten Thousand Demons and Spirits Array and rescue Black Fiend. Xiao Ning'er returned to the Winged Dragon Family and sat beside the recovering Shen Fei, waiting for him to wake.

• The City Guard and family cultivators counterattacked as the flame demons faltered after the Abyssal Troll's death.
• Dragon Fiend burst through the array with a dark red crystal, seized Black Fiend, and escaped underground.
• Nie Li let the array power fade, while the Wind Snow Family elder identified Dragon Fiend as the Demon Lord's subordinate.
• The City Guard and cultivators cleared the battlefield and tended to the wounded, and Xiao Ning'er returned to the Winged Dragon Family estate.
• Xiao Ning'er found Shen Fei sleeping after treatment and sat beside his bed, quietly waiting for him to wake.

After recovering from his injuries, Shen Fei woke to find Xiao Ning'er had stayed by his side all night. They parted in the morning, with Shen Fei heading to the Sacred Family to settle the remaining matters and Xiao Ning'er returning to the City Lord's Mansion.

• Shen Fei woke and saw Xiao Ning'er asleep beside his bed after tending to him through the night.
• Xiao Ning'er asked if he felt better, and Shen Fei told her his injuries had improved.
• Shen Fei held Xiao Ning'er's hand and said he would return to the Sacred Family to finish dealing with the aftermath.
• Xiao Ning'er agreed to check on the postwar reconstruction at the City Lord's Mansion while Shen Fei went alone.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er left together, then parted at a fork in the road.
• Shen Fei walked toward the Sacred Family as Glory City residents watched him pass without approaching.

Shen Fei returned to the Sacred Family estate and entered a meeting with its elders and stewards. He sat in the seat of honor, signaling a change in his position, and faced the gathered family members.

• Shen Fei entered the estate through the main gates, and the guards bowed and called him eldest young master.
• Shen Fei crossed the Front Courtyard as servants and guards reacted to his changed bearing.
• The old steward directed Shen Fei to the Main Hall, where the elders and stewards were waiting.
• Shen Fei entered the council chamber and drew the attention of the First Elder, Second Elder, Third Elder, and Shen Xiu.
• Shen Fei sat in the seat of honor at the head of the table and addressed the gathered family members.

Shen Fei defended his succession before the Sacred Family elders and ended its ties to the Dark Guild. With no one objecting, he left the estate and headed for the City Lord's Mansion.

• The First Elder accused Shen Fei of murdering Shen Hong and challenged his decision to turn the family away from the Dark Guild.
• Shen Fei argued that Shen Hong had led the family toward ruin and pointed to his victory over his father as proof of his strength.
• The First Elder questioned whether Shen Fei had won through a trick, but fell silent when Shen Fei asked whether Shen Hong had lacked tricks of his own.
• Shen Fei declared that the Sacred Family would sever all ties with the Dark Guild and assigned the Second Elder to oversee the handover; no one objected.
• Shen Fei adjourned the meeting, left the estate, and walked toward the City Lord's Mansion as the servants and guards acknowledged him as family head.

Shen Fei visited the City Lord's Mansion, where he arranged to explore the Dark Forest with Xiao Ning'er and learned that Nie Li planned to investigate the Dark Guild's base. After leaving the mansion, Shen Fei encountered Su Ming clearing battle wreckage by the city wall.

• Shen Fei told Xiao Ning'er he wanted to venture into the Dark Forest, and they agreed to leave in two days.
• Shen Fei met Nie Li, who revealed that Ancestor Ye Ting had found the Dark Guild's location and that he planned to investigate it soon.
• Shen Fei warned Nie Li that the Dark Guild had at least two Legend Rank experts, and Nie Li said he had his own means.
• Shen Fei left the City Lord's Mansion and saw Su Ming clearing rubble beside the city wall; Su Ming recognized him and stepped over.

After recognizing Su Ming’s successful mission, Shen Fei entered the Sacred Family treasury for the first time as patriarch. He discovered an ancient dark longsword and examined its feel and spiritual power.

• Su Ming told Shen Fei that he had returned with his squad and cleared out several stray flame demons without casualties.
• Shen Fei praised Su Ming and told him to register for a replacement blade using Shen Fei’s name.
• Shen Fei entered the Sacred Family residence and went to inspect its treasury.
• Shen Fei opened the treasury door with his spiritual power and surveyed its stored manuals, records, resources, and artifacts.
• Shen Fei opened a large wooden box, took out a dark longsword, and examined its balance and spiritual power.