Chapter Summaries

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er planned a hidden escape route in case the Silver Wing Family turned against them. After Xiao Ning'er left, Shen Fei studied a powerful cultivation technique, strengthened his Shadow Mantis with black crystal marrow, and began conditioning his body to keep pace with his rapidly growing soul force.

• Shen Fei told Xiao Ning'er that Nie Li and Duan Jian had reached the town and were scouting routes, while she reported that Sikong Hongyue had asked about him.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er agreed that Lu Piao, Du Ze, and Xiao Xue would remain in the guest courtyard while they went out to plant explosive inscriptions along the rock walls.
• Shen Fei studied the old man's cultivation technique and found that it circulated soul force faster and refined it more efficiently than the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art.
• Shen Fei fed the black crystal marrow to his Shadow Mantis, which absorbed its energy and grew stronger.
• Shen Fei recognized that his body lagged behind his cultivation, so he practiced basic stances and fist forms to build resilience before going out with Xiao Ning'er the next day.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er secretly placed four inscriptions along a route to the Teleportation Array, then returned to the courtyard and waited for word from Nie Li. Shen Fei trained with his new cultivation technique, gradually adapting his meridians to the flow of spiritual power.

• Xiao Ning'er led Shen Fei through the outpost's back alleys and placed four hidden inscriptions that could blast open a route near the Teleportation Array.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er returned to the courtyard, where Lu Piao reported that no one had disturbed them.
• Shen Fei told the others to stay inside until Nie Li sent word and said he had gained a new cultivation technique that had purified his spiritual power.
• Shen Fei practiced body movements for two hours, then circulated spiritual power with his new technique to help his meridians adapt.

After finishing his cultivation, Shen Fei asked Xiao Ning'er for help correcting a flawed inscription curve. Sikong Hongyue invited him to stroll and drink wine, and he accepted, leaving Xiao Ning'er worried but determined to protect the person she cared about.

• Shen Fei finished cultivating, changed his robe, and went to Xiao Ning'er with a question about an inscription.
• Xiao Ning'er explained that Shen Fei's curve turned too sharply and demonstrated how to extend it so spiritual power would flow smoothly.
• Sikong Hongyue arrived and invited Shen Fei to stroll and drink wine.
• Shen Fei accepted Sikong Hongyue's invitation after seeing Xiao Ning'er grip her teacup anxiously, then reassured her before leaving.
• Xiao Ning'er trusted Shen Fei's reassurance and resolved not to let anyone take the person she cared about.

Sikong Hongyue questioned Shen Fei about his view of the Black Prison World, then invited him to the Moon Listening Tower for wine and food. Shen Fei noticed Silver Wing Family guards and blocked streets around the building as he entered, suspecting the meal was a trap.

• Sikong Hongyue asked Shen Fei what he thought of the Black Prison World, and he called it a place where the strong devoured the weak.
• Sikong Hongyue challenged Shen Fei by pointing out that the outside world was much the same.
• Sikong Hongyue invited Shen Fei to the Moon Listening Tower for wine and food.
• Shen Fei spotted Silver Wing Family guards at the entrance and figures blocking nearby side streets.
• Shen Fei entered the Moon Listening Tower, prepared to respond as the situation demanded.

Sikong Hongyue invited Shen Fei to the Moon Listening Tower, assessed his family standing, and tried to recruit him into the Silver Wing Family. Shen Fei politely deferred, noticed a fleeting chill after drinking, and parted from her at the Guest Courtyard entrance.

• Sikong Hongyue asked Shen Fei what he thought of the Silver Wing Family and how it compared with his own family.
• Sikong Hongyue probed Shen Fei about his low standing in his family and invited him to join the Silver Wing Family.
• Shen Fei declined to decide immediately, saying he needed to think it over.
• Sikong Hongyue stood close while refilling Shen Fei's cup, but he shifted away from her touch.
• Shen Fei felt a faint chill after draining his wine, then continued the polite conversation without comment.
• Sikong Hongyue walked Shen Fei back to the Guest Courtyard and urged him to consider her offer.

After returning from Sikong Hongyue’s invitation, Shen Fei reassured Xiao Ning'er and considered the Silver Wing Family’s attempt to recruit him. Both he and Xiao Ning'er cultivated through the night, while Sikong Hongyue remained confident that he might accept her offer.

• Shen Fei returned to his room, where Xiao Ning'er had waited for him beside her Inscription Diagrams.
• Shen Fei replaced Xiao Ning'er's cold tea with warm water, and she told him he did not have to go if a similar situation happened again.
• Xiao Ning'er gathered her diagrams and returned to her room, asking Shen Fei not to cultivate too late.
• Shen Fei judged Sikong Hongyue's offer of friendship to be a calculated attempt to gain influence over Nie Li's group, then began cultivating.
• Xiao Ning'er reflected on wanting to stand beside Shen Fei and began cultivating her Wind-Thunder Sky Sparrow power.
• Sikong Hongyue returned to her room, repeated her invitation to Young Master Su, and considered her next move.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er went into town with a Silver Wing Family guard, where the poor quality of the market goods revealed how difficult life was there. After Shen Fei gave the guard healing pills, he led them toward the Silver Wing Trading Company to browse.

• Shen Fei invited Xiao Ning'er for a walk, while Xiao Xue stopped Lu Piao from joining them and sent him back to practice.
• A Silver Wing Family guard escorted Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er into town at the patriarch's order.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er examined the town's low-quality goods and noticed how carefully the locals treated them.
• Shen Fei gave the guard healing pills, prompting him to offer more attentive help.
• The guard led Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er toward the Silver Wing Trading Company's largest local shop.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er visited the Silver Wing Trading Company, where Xiao Ning'er admired an inscribed hairpin. Shen Fei bought it for her, and they prepared to leave the shop.

• A tall guard brought Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er into the Silver Wing Trading Company.
• An assistant showed Xiao Ning'er a Silver Rank hairpin that could fire a short-range arrow of spiritual energy.
• Shen Fei noticed Xiao Ning'er liked the hairpin and paid for it with healing pills.
• Shen Fei offered the hairpin to Xiao Ning'er, who accepted it and tucked it inside her robe.
• Shen Fei told the assistant they were finished looking, and the pair left the shop.

After returning from the Silver Wing Trading House, Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er discussed their plan to leave the Silver Wing Family's territory the next day and prepared for the escape. The chapter ended with Sikong Hongyue entering the still-lit main hall, where Sikong Yi was waiting.

• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er returned to the Guest Courtyard with the tall guard, then thanked him and went inside.
• Xiao Ning'er unwrapped the hairpin and put it on, and Shen Fei told her it looked beautiful.
• Xiao Ning'er worried whether Nie Li would return in time, and Shen Fei reassured her that he would and reviewed their escape plan.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er wished each other rest before she returned to her room and he began cultivating.
• Sikong Hongyue entered the main hall, and Sikong Yi opened his eyes slightly and stopped tapping the chair armrest.

Sikong Yi ordered Sikong Hongyue to recruit Su Tian and planned to kill him and Lei Zhuo’s group if he refused, or secretly eliminate the others if he agreed. The next morning, Shen Fei and Xiao Ning’er prepared for the day, unaware that Sikong Hongyue would approach Su Tian again.

• Sikong Hongyue told Sikong Yi that Su Tian had not committed to joining the Silver Wing Family.
• Sikong Yi ordered her to ask Su Tian again and, if he refused, obtain Lei Zhuo’s prescription and treatment method before killing Lei Zhuo, Su Tian, and their companions.
• Sikong Yi said that if Su Tian agreed, Lei Zhuo and the others should be ambushed after leaving Silver Wing territory, with their deaths blamed on demon beasts.
• Sikong Hongyue returned to her room and wondered what choice Su Tian would make, aware that her father did not truly trust outsiders.
• Shen Fei recovered through cultivation, dressed and armed himself, then met Xiao Ning’er as they prepared for the day.

Shen Fei stalled Sikong Hongyue with a discussion about joining the Silver Wing Family until explosions struck the mine. Sikong Hongyue realized the blast was a diversion and accused him of conspiring with Lei Zhuo.

• Sikong Hongyue visited Shen Fei at the Guest Courtyard while Xiao Ning'er hid nearby and followed their plan.
• Sikong Hongyue offered Shen Fei the position of elder if he joined the Silver Wing Family.
• Shen Fei kept Sikong Hongyue occupied until a series of explosions shook the mine and sent smoke billowing into the sky.
• Sikong Hongyue drew her sword and accused Shen Fei of causing the explosion, but he calmly denied leaving the room.
• Sikong Hongyue deduced that the mine blast was a diversion and accused Shen Fei of planning it with Lei Zhuo.

Shen Fei and his companions faced Sikong Hongyue after an explosion opened a breach in the Guest Courtyard wall. Shen Fei overpowered her and left her kneeling and wounded in the courtyard.

• An explosion blasted a passage through the Guest Courtyard's eastern wall.
• Shen Fei attacked Sikong Hongyue as she rushed into the courtyard, and she blocked his first strike.
• Sikong Hongyue revealed her peak Gold Rank 5-Star aura and charged toward the breach, but Shen Fei intercepted her.
• Sikong Hongyue's sword strike met Shen Fei's Shadow Mantis forelimb, and Shen Fei forced her back with overwhelming strength.
• Shen Fei kicked Sikong Hongyue into a stone wall, leaving her bleeding and kneeling as he declared, "You lost."

Shen Fei refused Sikong Hongyue’s offer to join the Silver Wing Family, saying their opposing allegiances left no possibility of working together. He left with Xiao Ning'er and the others, while the wounded Sikong Hongyue remained behind, puzzling over his remark that someone else would kill her.

• Shen Fei stopped when Sikong Hongyue called him Su Tian and asked why he would leave after the Silver Wing Family had offered him status and resources.
• Shen Fei acknowledged Sikong Hongyue had treated him well but refused to join her family because they stood on different sides.
• Sikong Hongyue accused Shen Fei of sparing her out of softness, and he replied that someone else would kill her.
• Shen Fei left with Xiao Ning'er and the others before the Silver Wing Family's pursuers arrived.
• Sikong Hongyue struggled to her feet and murmured, "Duan Jian?"

Shen Fei and the others reached the hidden rendezvous cave and waited for Nie Li, recovering from their escape. Nie Li and Duan Jian arrived after sabotaging the Silver Wing Family, and the group planned to leave through a southern route once the guards moved north.

• Shen Fei led Xiao Ning'er, Lu Piao, Xiao Xue, and Du Ze through a marked passage to the concealed cave Nie Li had chosen as their rendezvous point.
• Shen Fei treated a shallow wound from his fight with Sikong Hongyue while the others rested and kept watch.
• Nie Li and Duan Jian arrived, and Nie Li explained that they had destroyed the Silver Wing Family's workshop restrictions, freed its enslaved people, and caused fires that distracted the guards.
• Shen Fei and Nie Li concluded that the Silver Wing Family would be weakened and occupied for months, while escaped slaves and nearby powers would add pressure.
• Nie Li proposed resting another hour before leaving by an old southern route, and Shen Fei and the others began recovering as the guards' pursuit faded northward.

After returning to Glory City, Shen Fei mapped the Dark Guild’s bases and learned that a million-strong beast tide would reach the city in three days. Suspecting the Dark Guild had triggered it, he set out under cover of night to warn the City Lord’s Mansion and eliminate its agents.

• Nie Li and his companions returned from the Ruins, and Shen Fei went back to the Sacred Family estate alone.
• Shen Fei recorded the Dark Guild’s three bases, its seven hidden Demon Spirit Masters, and Adjutant Ma’s role in diverting military supplies.
• City Guard officers told Shen Hong that a million-strong beast tide could reach Glory City within three days.
• Shen Fei suspected the Dark Guild had brought the beast tide forward and planned to attack the city from within and without.
• Shen Fei fused with the Shadow Mantis and slipped out of the estate, heading toward the City Lord’s Mansion unseen.

Shen Fei learned from Nie Li that the Dark Guild was driving a million-strong beast tide toward Glory City, and that preparations were underway to limit casualties. The Sacred Family planned to preserve its people and valuables rather than commit fully to the defense, while Shen Fei gathered supplies and prepared for the coming battle.

• Nie Li told Shen Fei that the Dark Guild was herding the beast tide toward Glory City and described the city’s defenses, evacuation plans, and healing supplies.
• Shen Fei suggested that Nie Li look into Su Ming for a place on the Patrol Team, then returned to the Sacred Family.
• Shen Hong ordered the Sacred Family to assist at the North Gate only in appearance and prepare ships to evacuate its people and valuables if the city fell.
• Shen Fei requested medicine and talismans from Uncle Zhang and kept plans to anonymously send intelligence about several suspected locations and Adjutant Ma to the authorities.
• After distant warning horns signaled the vanguard’s approach, Shen Fei began cultivating the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art to prepare for battle.

Shen Fei gave Xiao Ning'er evidence that Adjutant Ma was working for the Dark Guild and said he would assassinate him that night. He returned to the Sacred Family and prepared to act after Ma went home.

• Shen Fei met Xiao Ning'er in a secluded alley and handed her evidence linking Adjutant Ma to the Dark Guild.
• Xiao Ning'er agreed to pass the documents to Ye Zong or Nie Li and warned Shen Fei that Ma and his men would be dangerous to confront.
• Shen Fei told Xiao Ning'er he planned to kill Adjutant Ma that night before the compromised supply system could endanger the city.
• Shen Fei returned to the Sacred Family, concealed his purpose from the steward, and rested to recover his strength.
• Shen Fei spent the day behaving as usual while preparing to attack Adjutant Ma at his private residence after dark.

Shen Fei infiltrated Adjutant Ma’s residence, overheard the Dark Guild’s plan to sabotage the western front’s granary and learned of the Demon Lord. He killed Adjutant Ma and the Dark Guild contact, set the study on fire, and returned to the Sacred Family with a secret letter.

• Shen Fei used the Shadow Mantis’s concealment to reach Adjutant Ma’s residence and overheard the two men discuss sabotaging the western front’s granary during the beast tide.
• Shen Fei heard the Dark Guild contact and Adjutant Ma speak of the Demon Lord and their plan to weaken Glory City from within.
• Shen Fei burst into the study and killed the Dark Guild contact before Adjutant Ma could reach his Demon Spirit Card.
• Shen Fei seized Adjutant Ma and killed him with the Shadow Mantis’s blade.
• Shen Fei took an unfinished secret letter, set fire to the study, and escaped while the guards rushed to put out the flames.
• Shen Fei returned to the Sacred Family before dawn and washed up without leaving blood on his clothes.

As a million-strong Beast Tide approached Glory City’s southern wall, Nie Li took command of five hundred ordinary martial artists to prepare its defenses. Shen Hong sent Shen Fei to watch Nie Li, while Shen Fei suspected Nie Li had a plan.

• Warning bells sounded, and Glory City’s residents and families prepared for the Beast Tide.
• Shen Hong led the Sacred Family’s Gold Rank and higher members to the southern wall, while Shen Yue took guards toward the river.
• Ye Zong announced that a million Demon Beasts were approaching and that the vanguard would arrive within ten hours.
• Nie Li asked Ye Zong for five hundred ordinary martial artists to oversee the southern defenses, and Ye Zong assigned them to him.
• Shen Hong ordered Shen Fei to monitor Nie Li, and Shen Fei took twenty guards to the southern defensive works.

Nie Li prepared trenches, traps, and corrosive oil outside the southern wall while Shen Fei and the city’s defenders waited for the Beast Tide. At dawn, the approaching horde appeared on the horizon, and the defenders braced for its arrival.

• Nie Li ordered five hundred warriors to dig trenches, set bamboo spikes, and prepare holes and oil mixed with a corrosive agent.
• Shen Fei asked about Nie Li’s Legendary Inscription scrolls and learned they might delay the Black Gold Rank Demon Beasts for only half an hour.
• Shen Fei and his guards helped move barrels and bamboo as distant Demon Beast growls and tremors grew stronger.
• Nie Li ordered the workers to retreat into the city, and the southern gate closed behind them.
• Shen Fei joined Nie Li on the wall as Ye Zong and the defenders took their positions.
• At dawn, a vast black line of Demon Beasts appeared on the horizon, and the defenders were told to hold the defenses.