Chapter Summaries

The Progressive Party secretly ordered Smith to fire the God-Slaying Cannon without the Alliance leader’s official authorization. At Sunshine Beach, Overlord and his companions gathered to face the approaching strike, leaving their fate unresolved as the cannon’s pressure swept over them.

• At the Alliance Congress, Kadir urged the supreme leader to authorize the God-Slaying Cannon, while the Conservative Party blamed the Progressive Party for starting the conflict.
• Kadir’s ally secretly contacted Smith, who agreed to fire after being threatened and promised that the Progressive Party would protect his family.
• At Sunshine Beach, Guan Lei explained that the God-Slaying Cannon could not be dodged or endured, and the group shared jokes and farewells as its light grew brighter.
• The cannon’s pressure crushed nearby buildings, and Overlord and his companions formed a circle, held one another’s hands, and faced the sky.

Sword Crane destroyed the God-Slaying Cannon and the Alliance’s space station, stopping its attack on Blue Star. As the Alliance debated retaliating, the Dragon Kingdom mobilized its forces and civilians, and a fearsome figure entered Congress demanding that its members kneel.

• Sword Crane arrived in space and cut apart the God-Slaying Cannon before it could fire, then split the control station apart with a saber slash.
• Smith warned his wife to flee the Alliance before the damaged control center lost gravity and oxygen and broke into space debris.
• Kadir urged the Alliance to activate its remaining God-Slaying Cannons, while the Conservative Party leader opposed risking another attack.
• The Alliance leader reviewed reports of the Dragon Kingdom’s military deployments and mass civilian mobilization, including the armed people of Chun Prefecture.
• An unidentified man in snow-white robes burst into Congress, with hundreds of Awakened lying behind him, and ordered the assembly to kneel.

The Emperor of Kou Island tried to stop Chun Prefecture from sending troops, but Commander Guan demanded access to Kou Island’s ports and threatened to wipe it out. Meanwhile, White Garment entered Alliance Congress, crushed Kadir, and rejected the Alliance leader’s offer to call off the war, demanding surrender instead.

• The Emperor learned Chun Prefecture was deploying troops to support the Fourth War Zone and urgently tried to contact Dragon Kingdom’s leadership.
• Commander Guan demanded that Kou Island open its ports to Dragon Kingdom warships and pay ten billion in protection money, then ordered the Fourth War Zone to advance when the Emperor objected.
• The Alliance placed its forces on emergency readiness as White Garment entered Congress and confronted the Alliance leader.
• Kadir threatened White Garment with the gathered Awakenings, but White Garment shattered his bones with a single strike and forced him to his knees.
• The Alliance leader offered to call off the war, but White Garment said the Dragon Kingdom would accept only surrender, prompting both parties to protest.

White Garment forced the Alliance Congress to vote on surrender, but the Pope and the Blood Marquis arrived and confronted him. As the battle began, Sword Crane appeared to avenge her husband and claimed the Blood Marquis as her opponent.

• White Garment executed Kadir and threatened to kill Congress unless its members voted to surrender, while the leader and several Progressive Party members refused.
• The Conservative Party chairman and most congressmen voted to surrender, but the leader still rejected the demand and the Pope arrived with the Alliance's Five-Star Generals.
• The Blood Marquis joined the Pope, and their forces surrounded White Garment after the Capitol Building was destroyed in their clash.
• White Garment warned that someone connected to the group had a powerful backer, and Sword Crane appeared after the God-Slaying Cannon had targeted Little White Tiger.
• Sword Crane greeted White Garment as Little Explosion's benefactor, said she had come to avenge her husband, and chose the Blood Marquis as her opponent.

White Garment and the Pope reached an agreement to avert war between the Dragon Kingdom and the Alliance, with the Godforsaken Land to be lent to the Dragon Kingdom for ten years. After White Garment left, Old Man Guan ordered a strike against Kou Island in response to its unrest.

• The Pope used the God-Piercing Eye on Sword Crane but could see only a hazy shadow, then admitted the Alliance could not win and conceded the battle.
• White Garment and the Pope agreed to a ten-year loan of the Godforsaken Land and an end to the dispute, while warning that neither side was ready for all-out war.
• White Garment killed half the Progressive Party members and half the Conservative Party members gathered in the ruins with a single phantom palm strike.
• The Pope told his men he had not tried to kill White Garment because White Garment had touched the threshold of a realm beyond Nine Awakenings.
• White Garment told Old Man Guan the agreement was done, and the gathered officials prepared to negotiate its terms.
• Old Man Guan ordered fiends from Overlord Stronghold to go to Kou Island and teach its Emperor a lesson.

The Emperor and Johnson plotted to exploit future unrest in the Dragon Kingdom, but Hu Du, Er Pang, and Black Raccoon arrived in Kou Island to provoke the Emperor under the pretense of protecting him. The Emperor tried to avoid giving the Dragon Kingdom a reason for war, but the visitors ransacked his palace and destroyed the Shinto Shrine.

• The Emperor told Johnson that the Dragon-Slaying Plan was on hold after the Dragon Kingdom discovered Kou Island’s Ambush Force on the Southwest Peninsula.
• The Emperor argued that Kou Island should wait for turmoil in Chun Prefecture, and Johnson promised him fertile land if they carved up the Dragon Kingdom.
• Hu Du, Er Pang, and Black Raccoon forced their way into the Emperor’s palace, mocked Kou Island, and claimed they had come to protect the Emperor.
• The Emperor ordered his guards not to fight the visitors, fearing that the Dragon Kingdom would use a clash as an excuse to seize Kou Island.
• The visitors dismantled and carried off the Emperor’s bed, then Er Pang demanded access to the National Treasury under the guise of protecting Kou Island’s property.
• The visitors blew up the Shinto Shrine, and Er Pang claimed they had only borrowed its wooden tablets for firewood.

Sikong Jian crushed the Monkey Gathering Site’s secret military buildup, seized its leader’s sons, and forced him to pay for the expedition before withdrawing. Afterward, Mr. Li told the Emperor that the Southwest King had destroyed the troops meant for the Dragon-Slaying Plan, and the Emperor ordered him to rebuild the force in secrecy.

• Sikong Jian confronted the Monkey Gathering Site’s leaders over their troop buildup and made Mr. Li eat a bone to humiliate him.
• The Old Man told Sikong Jian that Xiao Yuan and his sister were safe and ordered him to withdraw, while Sikong Jian agreed to make the monkeys cover his expenses.
• Sikong Jian called the mission poverty relief, then had his men kill the more than ten thousand soldiers Mr. Li had secretly trained and take Mr. Li’s sons as hostages.
• Sikong Jian warned Mr. Li not to threaten the Dragon Kingdom, demanded reimbursement, and left the Monkey Gathering Site.
• Mr. Li told the Emperor that Sikong Jian had destroyed the Dragon-Slaying Plan’s troops, and the Emperor ordered him to rebuild the force while remaining concealed.
• Mr. Li dismissed his wife’s grief over their children and hurried to check on his antiques.

Sword Crane reunited with Earthworm and took him away after he agreed to leave with her in exchange for sparing Little White Tiger and Old Ninth. Before departing, she warned the group that the Blood Marquis was suppressing a dangerous power and that someone was plotting against the Dragon Kingdom.

• Sword Crane visited the cabin and confronted Earthworm, who had mistaken her for someone else, before making him promise to go with her and have children.
• Sword Crane announced she was taking Earthworm away, and he said he was leaving to protect his brothers from her pursuit of their Demon Ancestor's Blood.
• Little White Tiger and the others said goodbye to Earthworm, accepting that leaving was a good opportunity for him.
• Sword Crane warned Little White Tiger that the Blood Marquis was suppressing a power that even she feared, and that a major plan targeted the Dragon Kingdom.
• Sword Crane and Earthworm departed together after he bid farewell to his brothers.

After the Alliance conceded defeat, the Old Man planned to use the Dragon Kingdom’s victory to push Western influence out of the Asia Region. On Kou Island, Jorger and Gulis told the Emperor that the West would withdraw its support while Jorger plotted to exploit tensions within the Dragon Kingdom.

• The Old Man celebrated the Alliance’s public admission of defeat and told his commanders to demand sweeping concessions in negotiations.
• Commander Sun praised the Lei Zis for fighting the surrounding alien races, while the senior officials discussed their actions on Kou Island and the monkeys.
• After learning that Jorger and Gulis had arrived, the Old Man ordered Hu Du to put on a big show for the envoys.
• At the imperial palace, Gulis told the Emperor that Congress had decided to cut off support for the smaller peoples of the Asia Region, and the Emperor shattered his teacup.
• Jorger told the Emperor that the Guan Family’s growing dominance could divide the Dragon Kingdom, and proposed using negotiations to fuel resentment among its factions.

Federation and Alliance envoys arrived on Fei Island to negotiate with Guotai Min'an, but the meeting began with sharp exchanges and a violent confrontation. Old Ninth joined the talks as the old man's enforcer, warning the visiting representatives to cooperate.

• The Federation and Alliance envoys arrived at the headquarters with the Emperor of Kou Island and representatives of other Asia Region peoples, whom Yang Huaimin and Minister Bai accused of trying to pressure the Dragon Kingdom.
• Yang Huaimin and Minister Bai challenged Gulis and rebuked the Korean Peninsula representative, while Jorger urged them to show courtesy.
• When the Korean envoy refused to give up his seat and threatened the Dragon Kingdom, Old Ninth struck him with an ashtray and destroyed his chair.
• The old man stopped Old Ninth from escalating further, then kept him in the room as the negotiations' tea server and mouthpiece.
• Old Ninth's Lei Zi served tea and waited by the door as he threatened the envoys with consequences if the talks went badly.

Dragon Kingdom officials rejected the Alliance’s demand for an apology and used military and economic pressure to silence the Korean representative. The Emperor proposed an Asia Alliance led by the Dragon Kingdom, and Old Ninth suspected the proposal concealed a trap.

• Jorger presented the Alliance’s settlement terms, including a Dragon Kingdom apology and a claim that the Inverted Cross had sunk the Ninth Fleet.
• Old Ninth and the Old Man refused to accept the Alliance’s face-saving account, while the Korean representative backed the Alliance and threatened the Dragon Kingdom.
• The Old Man, Minister Bai, Minister Ding, and Old Ninth warned the Korean representative that the Dragon Kingdom could attack the Korean gathering zone and restrict its supplies.
• The Old Man said the Dragon Kingdom would conduct long-term exercises in the Asia Region and designate its airspace a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft.
• The Emperor proposed an Asia Alliance led by the Dragon Kingdom, and other representatives quickly agreed.
• Old Ninth sensed that Gulis and Jorger welcomed the proposal for reasons that might conceal a trap.

The Emperor and other alien representatives tried to make the Dragon Kingdom provide supplies by threatening to send refugees across its borders, but Old Ninth rejected their demands and threatened to expose and seize their treasuries. The representatives backed down, while Old Ninth left the Emperor awaiting an apology.

• The Emperor offered the Dragon Kingdom leadership of the region in exchange for supplies, donations, and loans, while the alien representatives threatened to send starving refugees across its borders.
• Old Ninth dismissed their threats and said he would kill refugees who crossed over, while Old Man warned that the Dragon Kingdom could instead arm them to overthrow their rulers.
• Old Man and Old Ninth challenged the Emperor's claims that Kou Island had no money, and Old Ninth called Hu Du to break into its National Treasury.
• Hu Du told Old Ninth that his men had already found the Emperor's hidden private stash, and Old Man denied responsibility for Old Ninth's actions.
• Old Ninth threatened to have Lei Zi break into every representative's treasury, prompting the representatives to withdraw their requests for aid.

White Garment rewarded the Lei Zis for their work at the Alliance, then revealed that the Godforsaken Land had once been a Dragon Kingdom village and exposed how the Alliance and Federation betrayed Dragon Kingdom Awakened there. He left the group with the truth about the stolen glory and the cost Dragon Kingdom paid to restore the balance of power.

• Old Ninth left the negotiations and greeted White Garment, who invited him to talk.
• White Garment met with Xiao Yuan, Old Ninth, Hi Dog, Thirteen, Ji Min, Hei Ba, and the others, and offered them a reward for their work at the Alliance.
• Old Ninth asked White Garment to kill Old Ma, but White Garment refused because the Ma Family served the Dragon Kingdom's interests.
• Hei Ba admitted that Black Six had damaged the Holy See's Holy Light Cross after failing to steal its secret treasure.
• White Garment explained that the Godforsaken Land had been Xu Family Village, and that Dragon Kingdom fighters had sealed it after the Blood Moon's arrival.
• White Garment revealed that Alliance and Federation Awakened betrayed and slaughtered Dragon Kingdom fighters, stole their glory, and that Ao Xing later died young after forcing a breakthrough to Nine Awakenings.

White Garment recruited the Lei Zis to help expose the truth about the Dragon Kingdom’s Pioneers in the Godforsaken Land, and they pledged to carry on his will. After he left to find promising young talents, Little White Tiger and the others attacked Gulis and the foreign representatives who insulted the Dragon Kingdom.

• White Garment stopped the Lei Zis from seeking revenge and explained that he wanted ruthless successors to prevent another tragedy like the battle in the Godforsaken Land.
• Little White Tiger, Old Ninth, and the others pledged to carry on White Garment’s will and join his dangerous effort to reveal the truth and restore the Pioneers’ reputations.
• White Garment set a meeting in Chun Prefecture for half a month later and left to recruit promising young talents.
• Gulis arrived at the Small Shop with foreign representatives, and the Korean representative insulted the Dragon Kingdom and demanded food.
• Little White Tiger, Old Ninth, Xiao Yuan, and the others attacked the representatives, demanding that Gulis kneel and offering to pay their medical bills.

After Little White Tiger and Old Ninth’s group beat up the Alliance delegation on Fei Island, the Alliance hastily accepted the Dragon Kingdom’s terms, fearing the Old Man was preparing to restart the war. The group fled to Chun Prefecture, while the Old Man scolded them in public and then urged them to cause even more trouble.

• The Alliance signed the treaty and sent secret cables distancing itself from Jorger, leaving the Dragon Kingdom’s senior officials baffled by its sudden retreat.
• A guard reported that Little White Tiger, Old Ninth, and their companions had fought Gulis and the other ambassadors after a restaurant dispute, drawing in over a thousand loyal Lei Zis.
• The guard described the delegation’s injuries, including Gulis being disfigured and Jorger’s ankle tendons being severed, while the Dragon Kingdom’s leaders decided to publicly blame the Koreans.
• Yang Huaimin and the others realized the Alliance had mistaken the brawl for a warning from the Old Man and feared the Dragon Kingdom would resume the war.
• Little White Tiger and Old Ninth fled to Chun Prefecture, and the Old Man berated them before privately wishing they had killed some ambassadors and telling them to turn the plane toward Kou Island.

Kusa livestreamed his return to Chun Prefecture and mocked the Dragon Kingdom while his assistant tried to stage a flattering interview with Little White Tiger’s group. Old Ninth turned the interview against him, and the livestream viewers recognized Old Ninth as he insulted Kusa and the Alliance.

• Kusa landed in Chun Prefecture and told his livestream audience that the Dragon Kingdom had not forced the Alliance to back down, while insulting the city and its people.
• Kusa claimed his family had invested in Chun Prefecture’s airport, prompting Ji Min to realize it had actually been paid for with money Old Ninth had taken from him.
• Kusa’s assistant offered Old Ninth counterfeit Alliance currency and coached him to praise the Alliance during the interview.
• Kusa asked Old Ninth to remove his mask, and the livestream fell silent when viewers recognized him.
• Old Ninth called the Alliance a whorehouse and insulted Kusa for taking the phrase “Heaven on Earth” as praise.

Kusa arrived in Chun Prefecture on a mission to smear the city, but Old Ninth and Xiao Yuan intimidated him at the airport. After Kusa secretly contacted his Alliance handler, Jorger revealed that he and the Emperor planned to use public opinion against Chun Prefecture.

• Old Ninth confronted Kusa over his counterfeit money, while Xiao Yuan and Little White Tiger joined him; Kusa later claimed on livestream that the encounter was a joke between old friends.
• Kusa refused to leave Chun Prefecture and planned to stage a video of someone dressed like Old Ninth kneeling to him.
• Old Ninth called White Mouse to investigate Kusa's reason for coming to Chun Prefecture and told him to make Kusa seek his own death.
• Kusa messaged a mysterious contact, who instructed him to provoke controversy and portray Chun Prefecture as a place without human rights or freedom in exchange for five million Alliance dollars.
• On Kou Island, Jorger told the Emperor that they would use public opinion and the Dragon Kingdom's European Capitalist Faction and Ma Family to weaken Chun Prefecture and force Old Man Guan to abandon its leaders.

Kusa and his female assistant were brought to a warehouse in Chun Prefecture, where White Mouse and A Chun confronted them over Kusa’s hostile photos and livestreaming. Kusa’s pleas for help failed, and he was sent into the freezing snow while his assistant was left in an empty room.

• Kusa and his female assistant were driven to a warehouse and seized by A Chun and the Lei Zis.
• White Mouse and A Chun forced Kusa to unlock his phone and examined his photos portraying Chun Prefecture as a place of poverty.
• Kusa called the Police Bureau, but the officer pretended not to understand him because he claimed to be from the Alliance.
• Kusa reached the Alliance embassy, but its staff said they were on leave and ended the call.
• White Mouse ordered his men to give Kusa phone credit and put him outside in the snow to call for help.
• A Chun told the female assistant to find an empty room and wait there.

Kusa revealed that a mysterious man had paid him and dozens of influencers to smear Chun Prefecture, while the influencers launched coordinated livestreams portraying the city as cruel and lawless. Third Uncle volunteered to handle the crisis and set out to gather the Heroes' Association, leaving the response to the smear campaign in his hands.

• Hi Dog forced Kusa to confess that a mysterious man had paid him to make a video smearing Chun Prefecture, and Kusa showed him transfer records and chat logs.
• White Mouse urged Hi Dog to find the other influencers, warning that killing them would make Chun Prefecture look guilty.
• Zhang Yang showed Old Ninth, Thirteen, and Little White Tiger the online articles and livestreams attacking Chun Prefecture.
• Old Ninth prepared to act, but Zhang Yang stopped him from killing anyone on camera.
• Third Uncle volunteered to deal with the influencers, and Little White Tiger gave him until the next day to produce results.
• Third Uncle called Xiao Gang and told him to gather the Heroes' Association in the Poor District.

Xiao Xiao and her crew staged a livestream accusing Chun Prefecture of tyranny, but their scheme unraveled when hired actors turned on them and Third Uncle arrived. Third Uncle ordered the hired men killed and told the team leader to hang himself, leaving Xiao Xiao and the crew at his mercy.

• Xiao Xiao staged a fake protection-money confrontation while her crew filmed and celebrated their growing audience.
• A group of hired men broke into the house, demanded more money, and threatened Xiao Xiao and the team leader, exposing their scheme to the livestream viewers.
• Xiao Xiao and the team leader turned on each other as the viewers learned that Xiao Xiao had worked at the Listening Fragrance House and the staged abuse was a fraud.
• Third Uncle arrived with the real hired actors captured and kneeling, while Gui Laoda admitted that his men had been paid to cause trouble.
• Third Uncle had Xiao Gang stab Gui Laoda and ordered the boys to kill the hired men, then told the team leader to hang himself from a prepared rope.