Arc 11The Road to the Competition

Yue Wen conquered the Demon-Locking Secret Realm, learned more about his parents’ disappearance, and grew famous after the challenge qualifiers. As the City Heroes' Battle began, he and his companions entered a secret realm governed by Nightmare Town’s dangerous rules.

  • Liu Yuanjun learned from Li Flying Rosy Clouds that her memories and identity had persisted through reincarnation, while Su Yun asked Yue Wen to investigate deaths caused by a possible Soul-Eating Nightmare Wraith.
  • Qi Dian completed Great Fire Astral Refining, proved his new shield against Wen Tai, and learned that dozens of disciples wanted to challenge the Agency.
  • Yue Wen entered the Demon-Locking Secret Realm and killed several demon beasts, using repeated attempts and new pills from Da Long to defeat the Hanging-Lantern Celestial Beast.
  • After Yue Wen left the secret realm, Perfected One Nagiko told him that his parents had traced the Dragon Clan’s disappearance to a Demon Race Spatial Rift, and Yue Wen became a sensation among the public.
  • Yue Wen found a notebook in Duanmu Lei’s Storage Artifact listing Wang Miaomiao and Shen Nana among victims whose souls had been devoured, and Su Yun suspected the Soul-Controlling Sect was involved.
  • As the City Heroes' Battle approached, Yue Wen prepared with a self-repairing treasure garment and soul cultivation, while Xiao Chubei warned him about the Medicine Dragons linked to the Body Tempering Sect.
  • Yue Wen, Xing'er, and Qi Dian arrived at the competition, where Yue Wen agreed to face Du Shuai’s Thunderclap Martial Arts Hall trio and the contestants entered Nightmare Town’s secret-realm ranking round.
Chapters 255–279 Vol. 3 Read

Ch. 255Master [Final chapter of this volume]

At Mysterious Wind Temple, Li Flying Rosy Clouds revealed that she was awakening memories and gaining powerful abilities, leaving Liu Yuanjun stunned by the possibility that she was undergoing reincarnation and re-cultivation. Meanwhile, Yue Wen planted qilin melon seeds and received actress Su Yun at his agency, where she privately called him “Master” before the chapter ended.

  • Liu Yuanjun found Li Flying Rosy Clouds at a cliff, where she described strange memories and learned from him that reincarnation and re-cultivation would not change who she was.
  • Li Flying Rosy Clouds revealed that she had gained powerful techniques, Dao insights, and a sudden rise to the middle Astral Realm, leaving Liu Yuanjun speechless.
  • Yue Wen put his corpse puppets to work clearing land in Immortal Dew Valley and planted qilin melon seeds.
  • Su Yun arrived at Yue Cultivation Agency with Sister Shan and asked to discuss strange incidents that might involve evil spirits.
  • Su Yun went upstairs with Yue Wen, removed her sunglasses, and asked whether he recognized her, calling him “Master.”

Ch. 256Soul-Eating Nightmare Wraith

Su Yun revealed that she was the Fox Demon Lady, inhabiting the body of a young woman whose soul had mysteriously vanished, and asked Yue Wen to help investigate the deaths. After she left, Qi Dian announced he was ready to refine his astral energy, and Yue Wen prepared the materials.

  • Su Yun revealed her identity as the Fox Demon Lady and explained that she had found the young woman's body already without a soul.
  • Su Yun and Yue Wen suspected that a Soul-Eating Nightmare Wraith or a powerful upper-three-realm expert had caused the woman's death and Wang Miaomiao's similar death.
  • Su Yun promised to investigate the body's original owner's killer and asked Yue Wen to watch for information about Soul-Eating Nightmare Wraiths in Jiangcheng City.
  • Su Yun offered to teach Yue Wen a Fox Immortal Arcane Art if he helped, then exchanged contact details with him and left with Sister Shan.
  • Qi Dian told Yue Wen he was ready to perform Great Fire Astral Refining, and Yue Wen retrieved the materials while Qi Dian prepared a rice cooker.

Ch. 257Brother Qi, you wouldn't want...

Qi Dian endured the painful Great Fire Astral Refining as Yue Wen and Zhao Xing'er prodded him with embarrassing stories and threats. He completed the refinement and began healing, but was left wondering why he did not feel happy about succeeding.

  • Qi Dian began Great Fire Astral Refining, and Yue Wen and Xing'er joked about how composed they had been during their own refinements.
  • Yue Wen realized Qi Dian's cultivation was too weak to withstand the astral refining's impact, and warned that stopping early could leave him gravely injured.
  • Xing'er threatened to expose Qi Dian's browser history, giving him a burst of strength that let him continue refining his qi.
  • Yue Wen and Xing'er shared humiliating stories from Qi Dian's past to spur him on, and he kept circulating his qi despite his worsening injuries.
  • Qi Dian collapsed after a violent burst of bloody mist, then revealed that he had succeeded and was rapidly healing, though he did not feel happy.

Ch. 258Hit me hard

After recovering from his injuries, Qi Dian tested his new Heavenly Net Nine-Turn Astral Qi against Zhao Xing'er and Yue Wen, but both repeatedly smashed through his defenses. As they tried to console him, a bald man in purple training clothes arrived at Yue's Cultivation Agency and challenged them.

  • Qi Dian recovered from astral refining and asked Zhao Xing'er to test his new defensive cultivation, but her surprise punch sent him crashing into the wall.
  • Qi Dian formed an astral qi shield and let Zhao Xing'er attack; her Astral-Breaking Fist pierced its outer layer, and her physical punch knocked him away again.
  • Yue Wen explained that Xing'er's innate martial sacred physique made her strength exceptional, restoring Qi Dian's confidence enough to ask Yue Wen for a punch.
  • Yue Wen caught Qi Dian off guard, then broke through his prepared shield with raw strength, leaving Qi Dian convinced he was weak.
  • A bald man in purple training clothes entered Yue's Cultivation Agency and announced that he had come to challenge them.

Ch. 259Just how strong was this third-place finisher?

Wen Tai of the Iron Fist Sect challenged the Yue Family Cultivation Office to gain attention before the City Heroes' Battle, but his chosen opponent, Qi Dian, proved far stronger than expected. The chapter ended with Wen Tai stunned by Qi Dian's unshaken Astral Qi Shield.

  • Wen Tai asked his fellow disciples whom he should challenge, and they suggested the Yue Family Cultivation Office's supposedly weak third-place finisher.
  • Wen Tai and his disciples arrived at the office, where he challenged the establishment and Zhao Xing'er accepted on its behalf.
  • Wen Tai challenged Qi Dian, who reluctantly agreed after Zhao Xing'er urged him to fight.
  • Qi Dian raised his Astral Qi Shield, and Wen Tai's full-power punches failed to damage it and left his own arms numb.
  • Wen Tai realized Qi Dian had reached the early Astral Realm and wondered how strong the third-place finisher really was.

Ch. 260The Big Bad?

Qi Dian defeated Wen Tai by electrifying him through a mist-covered astral shield, gaining confidence in his defense and a new way to combine it with heavenly thunder. The next morning, a forum post portrayed the Yue Family Cultivation Office as powerful villains, prompting dozens of Immortal Sect disciples to arrive and challenge them.

  • Wen Tai attacked Qi Dian with a succession of Iron Fist Sect techniques, but Qi Dian's Heavenly Net Nine-Turn Astral Qi shield absorbed the blows.
  • Qi Dian mixed the Heaven One Generates Water Art's mist with his shield and released heavenly thunder through it, paralyzing Wen Tai.
  • Qi Dian thanked Wen Tai for the match, while the Iron Fist Sect disciples carried their senior brother away and apologized.
  • Yue Wen told Qi Dian they would enter the Demon-Locking Secret Realm with Perfected One Nagiko the next day.
  • Yue Wen read a Cultivation Chat Forum post that depicted the Agency as powerful villains who had toyed with Wen Tai.
  • Qi Dian told Yue Wen that several dozen Immortal Sect disciples had gathered outside to challenge the Agency.

Ch. 261Challenge Match Qualifiers

Yue Wen turned the Immortal Sect disciples’ challenge against the Yue Family Cultivation Office into a qualifying tournament, delaying direct fights while the Agency prepared to visit the Demon-Locking Secret Realm. The challengers left eager for the tournament, unaware that Yue Wen hoped it would keep them busy until after the City Heroes’ Battle.

  • Zhao Xing'er offered to fight the gathered challengers, but Yue Wen persuaded her that doing so would attract even more challengers and disrupt the Agency’s work.
  • Yue Wen opened the Agency’s door and agreed to accept challenges, then proposed a tournament to select three challengers from the forty-two visitors.
  • The disciples filled out registration forms and left excitedly after Yue Wen said the Agency would arrange the qualifying rounds.
  • Yue Wen told Qi Dian that they would decide whether to fight the tournament winners later, then prepared to take the Agency to the Demon-Locking Secret Realm.

Ch. 262Let the Demon Beasts Learn a Thing or Two

Yue Wen and four others entered the Demon-Locking Secret Realm to hone their combat skills against captured Demon Beasts. As the group struggled through their first fights, Yue Wen raced ahead with ruthless efficiency while Perfected One Nagiko watched their trials.

  • Perfected One Nagiko explained the secret realm’s rules and warned Yue Wen about the bounty on his former undercover name, Wen Yan.
  • Yue Wen entered his first combat area, used a pill and a surprise sword attack to kill a Third Realm Flame-Mane Demon Ape, then hurried toward the next beast.
  • Lan Zhi defeated a White Xun Jackal but was injured when it blinded her with a windstorm and shot a bone spike through her arm.
  • Perfected One Nagiko watched the group’s trials as Fang Qingcang narrowly avoided a Python Demon’s counterattack, Zhao Xing'er escaped a demon toad’s venom, and Qi Dian struggled to deal damage.
  • Yue Wen reached the fourth demon confinement area ahead of the others, impressing Perfected One Nagiko and the Bureau staff.

Ch. 263Was This Any Way to Approach Training?

Yue Wen killed two Fourth Realm demon beasts using ambushes and poison, then prepared to confront a Fifth Realm monster after taking several enhancement drugs. In the Control Room, Perfected One Nagiko and the Supernatural Affairs Bureau personnel watched in disbelief as Yue Wen approached training like a personal vendetta.

  • Yue Wen killed the Tuoshan Great Demon with the Giant Gate Sword Art and his flying sword, earning another wisp of golden smoke.
  • Yue Wen drugged the pond to weaken the Lightning-Glow Green Toad, then killed it with repeated sword strikes.
  • Perfected One Nagiko and the Senior Supervisor discussed Yue Wen's use of poison, with Nagiko insisting he must have his reasons.
  • Yue Wen reached a site containing a Fifth Realm demon beast resembling a tentacled lion or tiger and consumed several enhancement drugs before approaching it.
  • The Control Room personnel watched Yue Wen's preparations and questioned whether this counted as training.

Ch. 264He Was So Happy

Yue Wen killed the Fifth Realm Eight-Legged Heavenly Tiger while his companions struggled through their own battles in the Demon-Locking Secret Realm. After recovering, he approached the stronger Dark Moon Venomous Scorpion, prompting Perfected One Nagiko to propose a bet on his chances.

  • Yue Wen ambushed the Eight-Legged Heavenly Tiger, overcame its regenerating tentacles, and killed it with sword attacks and the Thunder Tiger Sky-Shocking Fist.
  • Yue Wen collected Evil-Suppressing Coins and rested while the Control Room observers discussed his unexpectedly powerful combat performance.
  • Fang Qingcang narrowly defeated a late Fourth Realm demon beast with serious injuries, while Lan Zhi died to a pig demon and reentered its formation.
  • Zhao Xing'er traded powerful blows with a Rhino Giant, while Qi Dian defeated an armored demon beast but nearly exhausted his Heavenly Thunder Power.
  • Yue Wen recovered and approached the middle Fifth Realm Dark Moon Venomous Scorpion, and Perfected One Nagiko proposed a bet after disputing the old supervisor's prediction that he would need at least thirteen deaths to defeat it.

Ch. 265Perfect Evasion

Dong Mengyao turned the Yue Family Cultivation Office challenge qualifiers into a profitable spectacle at her bar while Yue Wen battled the Dark Moon Scorpion King in the Demon-Locking Secret Realm. Yue Wen used a newly devised technique called Perfect Evasion to defeat the stronger demon and claim its golden vapor.

  • Dong Mengyao hosted the qualifiers in a ticketed cage at her bar and planned to expand the seating after the first fights drew an enthusiastic crowd.
  • Yue Wen confronted the Dark Moon Scorpion King, whose stinger wounded him and poisoned him despite his armor.
  • Yue Wen used Shadow Talismans to evade the demon’s attacks and strike the crack in its shell, then developed a precise attack-and-escape method he called Perfect Evasion.
  • As the poison spread and Yue Wen collapsed, he used the scorpion king’s attack to lure it toward a Shadow Talisman and vanished behind it.
  • Yue Wen drove his sword through the demon’s shattered back armor, destroyed its organs, killed it, and absorbed its golden vapor.

Ch. 266Not a Single Normal Person!

Yue Wen killed the Dark Moon Scorpion King but died from its poison, astonishing the Control Room with his combat talent as he advanced to the Hanging-Lantern Celestial Beast trial. Meanwhile, Fang Qingcang broke through and left the Secret Realm, where he and the others watched Qi Dian, Zhao Xing'er, and Yue Wen use wildly unconventional methods to fight.

  • Yue Wen killed the Dark Moon Scorpion King on his first attempt, then died as its poison and blood corroded his body.
  • Perfected One Nagiko and the old supervisor praised Yue Wen’s combat insight and wondered whether he could defeat the Hanging-Lantern Celestial Beast.
  • Fang Qingcang broke through to the Middle Astral Realm, killed the Eight-Armed Blade Mantis after forty-six deaths, and left after failing against the next trial’s Greenwood Dragon Bat.
  • Fang Qingcang met Lan Zhi in the Control Room, where the staff explained that Qi Dian charged his Heavenly Thunder Supernatural Power between attacks and Zhao Xing'er grew stronger as she revived angrier.
  • The Control Room watched Yue Wen approach the Hanging-Lantern Celestial Beast while showing it an illustrated guide to female Demon Beasts, prompting the supervisor to call the three contestants abnormal.

Ch. 267Female Demon Beast Compendium

Yue Wen faced a late Fifth Realm Hanging Lantern Celestial Being Beast whose curse-poison light stripped away flesh and sealed his powers. After discovering that green mountain qi could briefly suppress the curse and that the beast became distracted by a Female Demon Beast Compendium on his phone, he attacked it with the Greatsword Art.

  • Yue Wen read about the Henghe Undying Race and recognized the captured Hanging Lantern Celestial Being Beast as a dangerous opponent.
  • The beast trapped Yue Wen in its curse-poison light, but he used green mountain qi to stop the curse briefly before charging in.
  • The beast seized Yue Wen and crushed him, sending him back outside the inscription, and he considered how to exploit its apparent greed.
  • Yue Wen played a Female Demon Beast Compendium video, distracting the beast from releasing its curse-poison light.
  • Yue Wen launched his flying sword and struck the beast's head with the Greatsword Art.

Ch. 268One Hundred and Five Times

Yue Wen repeatedly challenged the Hanging-Lantern Celestial Beast, learning its attacks as it grew stronger and killed him 105 times. Exhausted but convinced he had reached its limit, Yue Wen called for the Great Dragon to help him unleash his strongest move.

  • Yue Wen lured the Hanging-Lantern Celestial Beast with the female Demon Beast encyclopedia and repeatedly attacked and dodged before it killed him.
  • Through dozens of deaths, Yue Wen learned the beast’s green healing light and red heat light, while realizing its body was growing stronger.
  • Zhao Xing'er and Qi Dian arrived in the monitoring room after reaching their limits, and the observers discussed Yue Wen’s skill and the beast’s advancement toward the Sixth Realm.
  • After Yue Wen died for the 105th time, the Senior Supervisor said he had broken the secret realm’s record, but Zhao Xing'er and Qi Dian insisted he would keep improving.
  • Yue Wen recognized that he had drawn out all of the beast’s moves and, instead of rushing back into the formation, called on the Great Dragon for aid.

Ch. 269Do you even know what "Heaven rewards hard work" means?

Yue Wen bought pills from Da Long to counter the Hanging-Lantern Celestial’s resilience and boost his cultivation. After 105 failed attempts, he used the pills and his practiced timing to overwhelm the beast with Void-Realm Dragon Flame and sword attacks.

  • Yue Wen asked Da Long for a way to defeat the Henghe Undying Race opponent, and Da Long offered pills that could burn souls, resist curses, and convert stored dragon breath into astral qi.
  • Yue Wen bought the Dragon Flame Soul-Burning Pill and Dragon Breath Qi-Transformation Pill, while Da Long explained the Dragon Clan’s failed plan to use the Henghe Realm against the Demon Race.
  • Yue Wen swallowed his pills before facing the Hanging-Lantern Celestial again, raising his astral qi and charging into the formation after 105 failures.
  • Yue Wen dodged the beast’s attacks and repeatedly wounded it, spreading Void-Realm Dragon Flame that thwarted its healing and made it panic.
  • Yue Wen evaded the Hanging-Lantern Celestial’s strongest attacks, struck its back with the Light-Splitting Shadow-Sweeping Sword Art, and covered its body in dragon flame.
  • The Hanging-Lantern Celestial fell to the ground in agony and asked how Yue Wen had become so strong, and Yue Wen answered that his hard work had paid off before launching another torrent of sword radiance.

Ch. 270Yue Wen Study Group

Yue Wen stunned the Control Room by slaying the Hanging-Lantern Celestial Beast, then returned from the Demon-Locking Secret Realm exhausted but far ahead of the other trainees. After explaining that his drive to kill Evil Spirits came from their crimes and his missing parents, he learned Perfected One Nagiko had something to tell him about them.

  • Zhao Xing'er, Qi Dian, and the others celebrated Yue Wen's victory, while Fang Qingcang and Lan Zhi resolved to learn from him and Fang Qingcang joined the Yue Wen Study Group.
  • Yue Wen absorbed the final Evil-Suppressing Money, nearly collapsed from the medicines' effects, and left the secret realm rather than challenge a sixth-realm Demon Beast.
  • Yue Wen returned to the Control Room after a week, where Perfected One Nagiko praised him and the group reviewed the trainees' results and gains.
  • Yue Wen told Perfected One Nagiko that the Evil Spirits' crimes and the possibility that they had harmed his parents fueled his determination to kill them.
  • Lan Zhi told the group chat about Yue Wen's difficult background, and Perfected One Nagiko pulled him aside to share information about his parents.

Ch. 271February recap and giveaway results

The author recapped February, discussed the end of volume two and plans to keep volume three focused on its competition storyline, and described struggles with insomnia and gradual growth in readership. The author also announced February's giveaway results and next month's prize rules.

  • The author said volume two had ended and volume three had begun, with volume three planned to focus more tightly on the competition.
  • The author described insomnia and poor health that made it difficult to work and develop plots.
  • The author reported average chapter subscriptions had risen to around 9,400 and thanked readers for their monthly votes.
  • The author apologized that some readers had trouble unlocking the monthly-vote bonus chapter after voting.
  • The author announced the next month's giveaway prizes and posted February's winning ticket-ending digits, including the 9327 lucky winner.

Ch. 272Confidential intelligence

Yue Wen learned that his parents had researched the Fall of the True Dragon before a Demon Race opened the Spatial Rift that took them, though the Supernatural Affairs Bureau had suspected his family might be involved with demons. After leaving the bureau, he discovered that his recent fame had brought a flood of messages and requests to become his disciple.

  • Perfected One Nagiko told Yue Wen that his parents had investigated the Dragon Clan’s extinction and that the Demon Race had opened the Spatial Rift that caused their disappearance.
  • Yue Wen considered whether his parents’ research was connected to Snake Mountain Tiger Tomb and learned the rift led to an uninhabited realm suspected to be a Demon Race powerhouse’s private secret realm.
  • Perfected One Nagiko explained that the bureau had doubted Yue Wen’s parents’ allegiance and that the East Sea Dragon Hall had taken the case files and jurisdiction.
  • After leaving the Demon-Locking Secret Realm, Yue Wen found more than a thousand missed calls, hundreds of texts, and a surge of requests to become his disciple and private messages from admirers.
  • Yue Wen read messages from He Caihua, Chang Yunguan, and Dong Mengyao about his popularity, a drama promotion, and expanding an event venue.

Ch. 273Defensive magical artifacts

Yue Wen’s challenge qualifiers made him famous and brought crowds seeking apprentices to the Agency, while he returned to the Black-Gold Great Hall to ask Da Long about the true dragons and shop for a defensive artifact. Da Long hinted that the dragons’ deaths had a hidden cause, then presented the costly Golden Sacred Armor, whose supposed life-saving feature was scattering its gold ingots to distract pursuers.

  • Yue Wen learned that the challenge qualifiers had made him a sensation, filled Dong Mengyao’s bar with spectators, and attracted crowds of would-be apprentices to the Agency.
  • Yue Wen, Xing'er, and Qi Dian sneaked into the Agency, where Big White explained that it had driven off people trying to break in.
  • Yue Wen changed his social media username to clarify that he was not taking apprentices, then returned to the Black-Gold Great Hall and told Da Long he had won.
  • Yue Wen asked how the true dragons had died, and Da Long said he knew the real reason but could not reveal it yet.
  • Yue Wen asked Da Long for a wearable defensive artifact, and Da Long demonstrated the Golden Sacred Armor, which scattered its gold ingots to distract enemies when overwhelmed.

Ch. 274You really are strange

Yue Wen bought the Lotus Blossom Treasure Garment from Da Long and began his bedtime cultivation routine. He unlocked Duan Mulei’s storage gourd and discovered a bottle of Soul-Bewildering, Spirit-Seizing Smoke.

  • Da Long demonstrated three defensive treasure garments, and Yue Wen chose the self-repairing Lotus Blossom Treasure Garment despite its pink appearance.
  • Da Long explained that the garments could greatly reduce damage from attacks by cultivators in Yue Wen’s realm.
  • Yue Wen paid 199 Evil-Suppressing Money for the Lotus Blossom Treasure Garment, wore it beneath his clothes, and kept the rest of his money for future cultivation expenses.
  • Yue Wen practiced the Dragon-Snake Evasion Method on Duan Mulei’s storage gourd and finally opened it.
  • Yue Wen used his spiritual sense to inspect the gourd and found a porcelain bottle labeled Soul-Bewildering, Spirit-Seizing Smoke.

Ch. 275Soul-Stealing Notes

Yue Wen investigated a notebook of girls targeted by soul-stealing killers and discussed the case with Su Yun, who was seeking revenge for her original body. At the Cultivation Arena, he learned that the Body Tempering Sect had badly injured Xiao Chuxi and possessed several late Gang Realm disciples.

  • Yue Wen found a soul-cultivation manual, money, and a notebook of girls in Duanmu Lei's Storage Artifact, then noticed that Wang Miaomiao and Shen Nana were listed.
  • Yue Wen met Su Yun and explained that the notebook’s victims across Tianbei Prefecture had their souls devoured while their bodies remained intact; he suspected the Soul-Controlling Sect was involved.
  • Su Yun told Yue Wen she was seeking a way to contact Jiangcheng City's Monster Club to investigate the murders.
  • Yue Wen went to the Cultivation Arena to meet Dong Mengyao and Xiao Chubei before the Yue Family Cultivation Office Challenge Qualifier.
  • Xiao Chubei told Yue Wen that the Body Tempering Sect had shattered Xiao Chuxi's meridians and bones and had at least three late Gang Realm disciples.

Ch. 276The Medicine Dragons Were Ferocious

Yue Wen learned that three late Astral Realm Medicine Dragons tied to the Hu Family had entered the City Heroes' Battle through the Body Tempering Sect, and agreed to face them if he could. The chapter ended with Du Shuai of the Thunder Martial Arts School challenging Yue Wen and his agency after winning the first match.

  • Xiao Chubei explained that Xiao Chuxi had been seriously injured after trying to take a friend away from the Body Tempering Sect, where three late Astral Realm Medicine Dragons stopped them.
  • Dong Mengyao revealed that the Body Tempering Sect was a shell linked to the Hu Family, which appeared to be helping the Pudu Sect enter Medicine Dragons in the competition.
  • Yue Wen promised to give his all against the Medicine Dragons and said he would find out what they could do in the competition.
  • Du Shuai won the first match of the day and shouted a challenge to Yue Wen and his agency.
  • Dong Mengyao identified Du Shuai as the senior disciple of the Thunder Martial Arts School, whose three disciples had recently succeeded in Astral Refining.

Ch. 277Halberd-Finger Pointing to the Heavens Art

Yue Wen returned to the Agency and watched Qi Dian and Xing'er unveil new Supernatural Powers before beginning to cultivate his soul with the Path of the Soul to Veneration. In the Visualization World, a Soulflame beast spotted him and charged, leaving him facing an unexpected threat.

  • Yue Wen and Dong Mengyao agreed to split the competition's ticket sales and other revenue evenly.
  • Qi Dian demonstrated Water Sword Concealing Thunder, a ranged water-sword attack carrying Heavenly Thunder Power, and said he could control three swords at once.
  • Xing'er revealed the Halberd-Finger Pointing to the Heavens Art, a provocative gesture meant to anger her opponents and trigger her Martial Spirit Red Light.
  • Yue Wen entered the Visualization World to cultivate his soul and observed Moonlight Essence Soul Molding, Soul Breath Harvesting, and Soul Seizure Refinement.
  • A Soulflame beast devoured several souls, noticed Yue Wen, and leaped at him.

Ch. 278Path of the Soul to Veneration

Yue Wen completed his first soul-shaping with Moonlight Essence, then checked on his Qilin Melon harvest in Immortal Dew Valley. The next day, he and Xing'er and Qi Dian arrived at the City Heroes' Battle, where an angry voice confronted Yue Wen.

  • Yue Wen rejected harvesting or seizing other souls and used Moonlight Essence to shape his own soul, successfully forming a solid, pure deep-blue soul.
  • Yue Wen discovered that nearly ten days had passed during his cultivation and replied to Dong Mengyao, who had handled the challenge preliminaries in his absence.
  • Yue Wen entered Immortal Dew Valley, found his Black Silver Corpse Puppets frozen without replacement talismans, harvested his first Qilin Melon, and planted its seeds.
  • Yue Wen, Xing'er, and Qi Dian left for the City Heroes' Battle as a cheering crowd gathered outside their Agency.
  • Yue Wen parked at the venue and heard someone angrily accuse him of being shameless for showing up.

Ch. 279Rankings Tournament, Nightmare Town!

Yue Wen and the other contestants began the City Heroes' Battle Rankings Tournament, entering the secret realm of Nightmare Town. He arrived alone in a wooden house and learned from a newspaper about the town's tasks, dangers, and coming events.

  • Du Shuai confronted Yue Wen over delaying the promised challenge, and Yue Wen agreed to fight the Thunderclap Martial Arts Hall trio if they met in the competition or afterward.
  • Yue Wen and his companions entered the City Heroes' Battle venue, where they learned the tournament would begin with a secret-realm ranking round that shaped later matchups.
  • Xiao Chuxi warned Yue Wen and the others to beware of the powerful Medicine Dragons who had injured him.
  • The contestants entered Nightmare Town, where the rules required them to return home before nightfall and defeat a stronger Nightmare Wraith Creature each night.
  • Yue Wen found a newspaper in his house announcing town jobs, a marriage ceremony, a welcoming ceremony, and the warning never to go outside after dark.
Arc 11 of 28