Recaps

After ten days of waiting, the Mountain-Guarding Old Man welcomed Yu Sheng back from the Demon Domain with the Mirage Dragon’s corpse. Yu Sheng fell asleep from exhaustion while the old man guarded him and prepared to wait for him to wake.

• The Mountain-Guarding Old Man worried that Yu Sheng had died and asked the Reserve Corps members for cigarettes, but they had none and reminded him that smoking was forbidden.
• Yu Sheng appeared at the edge of the deep mountains, removed his disguise, and entered with his human aura restored.
• Yu Sheng placed the Mirage Dragon’s corpse and a pack of cigarettes before the Mountain-Guarding Old Man, then climbed into a tree and fell asleep.
• The Mountain-Guarding Old Man told the Reserve Corps members to keep quiet and picked up the Mirage Dragon’s corpse.
• The Mountain-Guarding Old Man climbed into the tree, sat beside the corpse, and smoked while waiting for Yu Sheng to wake.

Yu Sheng woke and told the Mountain-Guarding Old Man how he had fought the Mirage Dragon, prompting the old man to reconsider his past failure. After Yu Sheng warned that the Eighth Awakening might not be enough to protect humanity, the old man chose to honor their deal and advanced using the Mirage Dragon Demon Core.

• Yu Sheng woke in the final hours of the tenth day and confirmed his sword was still at his waist.
• Yu Sheng recounted his battle with the Mirage Dragon, and the Mountain-Guarding Old Man admitted he had never been as close to victory as he believed.
• The Mountain-Guarding Old Man prepared to enter the Eighth Awakening using the Dragon Python Demon Core, but Yu Sheng said that power would not be enough to protect them.
• Yu Sheng reminded the old man that their deal had already taken effect, and the Mountain-Guarding Old Man withdrew the Dragon Python Demon Core.
• The Mountain-Guarding Old Man decided to use the Mirage Dragon Demon Core rather than break his deal with Yu Sheng.
• Xin Yongfeng announced that he was entering the Eighth Awakening and soared into the sky amid the Staff's radiance.

The Mountain-Guarding Old Man absorbed the Mirage Dragon’s Demon Core into his Staff and reached the Eighth Awakening, unleashing a burst of energy across the mountain. After Yu Sheng was overwhelmed by the energy, the old man carried him back to the summit and placed him in the sunniest spot to recover.

• The Mountain-Guarding Old Man revealed the Mirage Dragon’s concealed Demon Core and fitted it into the eighth socket on his Staff, overcoming the remnant soul’s resistance.
• The Demon Core merged with the Staff, surrounding the Mountain-Guarding Old Man in milky-white energy as the Reserve Corps members speculated that he had changed classes.
• Yu Sheng absorbed the energy while cultivating, and the Mountain-Guarding Old Man’s Eighth Awakening breakthrough formed a milky-white gem and small wings on his phantom Staff.
• The Mountain-Guarding Old Man redirected the energy after Yu Sheng was injured by absorbing too much, then declared that his miracle had broadened everyone’s paths and drove the soldiers back to patrol.
• The Mountain-Guarding Old Man carried the unconscious Yu Sheng to the summit and positioned him in the sunniest spot because he believed sunlight was good for his health.

The Mountain-Guarding Old Man tried to wake Yu Sheng by exposing him to sunlight, leaving him badly sunburned before he finally regained consciousness. The old man revealed his new skills, Teleportation and Aura Mimicry, while Yu Sheng left the mountain eager to get away from him.

• The Mountain-Guarding Old Man used his abilities to focus sunlight on the unconscious Yu Sheng, convinced that more sunshine would help him recover.
• As night fell, Yu Sheng woke and asked whether the old man had really been to the Demon Domain; the old man praised Yu Sheng's darkened skin and claimed sunlight and moonlight had balanced his energy.
• Yu Sheng drank water, bid the old man goodbye, and hurried down the mountain, but the old man threatened to sun him for two more days unless he asked about his new skills.
• The old man revealed that his eighth skill had given him Teleportation and Aura Mimicry, and boasted that the combination would let him ambush enemies in the Demon Domain.
• Yu Sheng showed little interest and left along the mountain path while the old man returned to the summit.

Yu Sheng returned to Demon-Suppressing Pass covered in soot, and soldiers mistook him for an impostor until Cong Yunfeng recognized him. Yu Sheng revealed that he had killed a powerful creature worth billions, leaving Cong Yunfeng to suspect he had defeated the Mirage Dragon.

• A Reserve Corps soldier and a Sixth Awakening general accused Yu Sheng of killing Meritorious Yu and stealing his Medal, but Cong Yunfeng recognized him.
• Cong Yunfeng laughed at Yu Sheng’s soot-blackened appearance, took a photo showing only his eyes, and later posted it on the forum.
• The soldiers spread rumors that Yu Sheng was black, while Cong Yunfeng asked whether Yu Sheng had found and killed the large creature he had mentioned.
• Yu Sheng said the creature’s remains were worth a few billion, prompting Cong Yunfeng to wonder if he had taken down Fei.
• After Yu Sheng said he could not beat Fei, Cong Yunfeng realized the creature might have been the Mirage Dragon.

Yu Sheng killed the Mirage Dragon, but its true form could not convince the Demon Domain that it was the infamous colossal beast. He offered to spend part of its Demon Crystal’s energy recreating an illusion, leaving Cong Yunfeng to confirm that the sacrifice would earn him more merit.

• Cong Yunfeng praised Yu Sheng for killing the Mirage Dragon, then learned that Elder Xin had badly injured him after the fight.
• Yu Sheng showed Cong Yunfeng the Mirage Dragon’s corpse, and Cong Yunfeng took him to Chu Yu to discuss how to prove its identity.
• Cong Yunfeng concluded that the corpse’s lizard-like appearance would not convince the Demon Domain, though news of the kill heartened the soldiers at Demon-Suppressing Pass.
• Cong Yunfeng saluted Yu Sheng and thanked him on behalf of the soldiers, saying the Human Race would believe the report even if the Demon Domain did not.
• Yu Sheng cut open the corpse and proposed using the Demon Crystal to recreate an illusion of the Mirage Dragon.
• Cong Yunfeng warned that the illusion would consume at least a third of the crystal’s energy, and Yu Sheng agreed after asking whether the sacrifice would earn him more merit.

The Mirage Dragon’s corpse appeared at Demon-Suppressing Pass, deepening the demon beasts’ fear and giving Ji Hong an opportunity to strengthen his standing while Old White Ape built a faction against him. In Ink City, Yuan Qingshan opened the Freshman Competition’s individual round with a shamelessly effective promotional speech.

• The Mirage Dragon’s corpse was found hanging on the walls of Demon-Suppressing Pass, and Old White Ape silently poured out liquor in its memory.
• Skyvault Ravine held an emergency meeting but reached no agreement, leaving Eagle Ravine Mountain responsible for the war and the corpse unclaimed.
• Ji Hong promised to protect the Thousand-Li Demon Plain, while Old White Ape gathered dissatisfied demon beasts and prepared a covert move against him.
• Yuan Qingshan opened the Freshman Competition’s round of sixteen by promoting Gold Ingot Group and Spirit Mind Academy before announcing Shi Guang’s match against Su Lie.
• Backstage, Yuan Qingshan and Qi Changshan discussed Lin Xiaoxiao’s inexperience and took satisfaction in giving the younger students a lesson.

The Mirage Dragon’s death made Ink Academy the focus of public attention and eclipsed the Freshman Tournament, frustrating Yuan Qingshan’s plans to promote Spirit Mind Academy. The competition then brought another surprise when a student from Ordinary University reached the individual top eight, leaving Yuan Qingshan stunned.

• Yuan Qingshan outlined his plan to raise Spirit Mind Academy’s profile and improve its admissions, while Qi Changshan warned that major news could derail it.
• A Publicity Department staff member announced that an anonymous Ink Academy student had entered the Demon Domain and killed the Mirage Dragon, and the news dominated online trends.
• Lin Xiaoxiao mocked Yuan Qingshan and Qi Changshan by comparing them to old men stealing peaches, while Qi Tian and Yuan Zhong added to their embarrassment.
• Yuan Qingshan predicted Spirit Mind Academy would claim three individual top-eight places and might win the team battles.
• A student from Ordinary University defeated one of Yuan Qingshan’s favored seeded contestants and became the first student from outside the Three Major Universities in ten years to reach the individual top eight.

Yu Sheng returned to Ink Academy after Ordinary University’s upset at the tournament, while Zong Ren met a disguised Soul Hunt figure to negotiate over the Divine Cult’s collapse. The meeting ended with the man rejecting Zong Ren’s leverage and warning him not to test his patience.

• Ordinary University defeated a seeded Spirit Martial High School contender, securing two quarterfinal spots as Ink Academy finished with four and the Three Major Universities lost face.
• Yu Sheng returned to a deserted Ink Academy and resumed cultivating after Yu Mo was escorted back by Sixth Awakening experts.
• Zong Ren met an ordinary-looking middle-aged man in a coffee shop and asked him to remove his disguise.
• Zong Ren said Soul Hunt still needed the Divine Cult as a shield, but the man dismissed the idea and said Soul Hunt could use other cults or confront the Ink Pavilion.
• Zong Ren pointed out that the man had left several bases undiscovered, but the man called his leverage naive and warned him to stop wearing down his patience.

Zong Ren’s clandestine meeting with a Soul Hunt member at a coffee shop was interrupted when the owner revealed himself as one of the Lawless Outlaws. With powerful forces surrounding them and the factions poised to clash, Zong Ren found himself trapped and unable to call on his hidden guards.

• Zong Ren warned the Soul Hunt member that Qiu Xiaoxiao would target this year's Freshman Competition that afternoon, then said he planned to kill the coffee shop owner first.
• The owner cursed at Zong Ren and the Soul Hunt member for plotting loudly in his new coffee shop, and threatened to report them.
• The owner identified himself as one of the Lawless Outlaws, while the Soul Hunt member recognized his faction.
• The Lawless Outlaws called for an immediate evacuation and requested two Sixth Awakening fighters who could dismember bodies.
• Zong Ren tried to placate the owner by apologizing and offering compensation, but the owner threw his radio at the Soul Hunt member.
• Two powerful auras outside the coffee shop pinned down the Soul Hunt member, and Zong Ren realized he was outmatched and could barely risk summoning his hidden guards.

Lawless Outlaws confronted a little girl from the Soul Hunt Team after she arrived at his coffee shop with an injured middle-aged man and Zong Ren. After they settled down for coffee, Lawless Outlaws prepared to question them about their actions against Spirit Mind and whether their visit had been planned.

• Lawless Outlaws withdrew the auras targeting the middle-aged man when a little girl entered the coffee shop and identified herself as the leader of Group Three in the Soul Hunt Team.
• The little girl apologized for the middle-aged man's recklessness, and Lawless Outlaws asked whether her word carried weight in Soul Hunt.
• The little girl said her boss had ordered the move against Spirit Mind, claimed the coffee shop visit was a coincidence, and stabbed the middle-aged man to answer Lawless Outlaws' complaint that he was angry.
• Zong Ren stabbed himself twice, prompting the little girl to stab the middle-aged man again for failing to match him.
• Lawless Outlaws invited them to talk over coffee, and the middle-aged man began doing the little girl's homework while she drank.

In the café, Zong Ren explained how Qiu Xiaoxiao’s planned attack and death would benefit the Divine Cult and help Soul Hunt, while seeking an alliance with the little girl. She agreed to consider working with him if he survived two months under the Ink Pavilion’s pressure without resources, and reminded him to stop his bleeding.

• The Lawless Outlaw let Zong Ren and the little girl continue talking, while he listened and mocked Soul Hunt through a walkie-talkie.
• Zong Ren told the little girl that Qiu Xiaoxiao would attack the freshmen that afternoon and explained his plan to drive her to her death for the Divine Cult’s benefit.
• Zong Ren described how Qiu Xiaoxiao’s death would draw the Ink Pavilion’s attention and give Soul Hunt a reason to support an obedient Divine Cult.
• Zong Ren admitted he mainly wanted resources to survive and grow stronger, and would join Soul Hunt or form another cult if it suited him.
• The little girl said she would consider working with Zong Ren if he survived two months of Ink Pavilion pressure without resource support, then told him to stop bleeding.

Lawless Outlaws forced the little girl and Zong Ren to pay him before they left his café, then cleaned the shop and closed it. At Ink City, Shi Guang won the Individual Competition, Lu Sen placed second, and Li Zi took third; Yu Sheng received a message and left Ink Academy.

• Lawless Outlaws threatened the little girl with reinforcements, charged her nearly a million for coffee, and made her injured companion clean up the blood.
• After leaving the café, the little girl reprimanded the middle-aged man for testing the place and threatened to use him in her next experiment.
• Zong Ren paid Lawless Outlaws with a bank card and Demon Cores, then left after discussing his work with Soul Hunt and the Evil Cult.
• Lawless Outlaws cleaned the café, packed his backpack, and closed the shop after only two days of business.
• Yu Sheng received a text at Ink Academy and left, while the Individual Competition results named Shi Guang champion, Lu Sen runner-up, and Li Zi third place.

Qiu Xiaoxiao joined an Evil Cultist attack on the freshmen, seeking to kill them before reinforcements arrived. Bai Haitang intercepted her, but four fifth-awakening death warriors slipped past toward the crowd.

• Qiu Xiaoxiao vowed to take revenge on the Divine Cult and left her hotel.
• Qi Changshan and Yuan Qingshan discussed investigating Ordinary University, then Yuan guessed the third assessment would begin soon.
• As the freshmen returned along the main street, the teachers left to investigate a powerful aura, and disguised Evil Cultists attacked the students.
• Shi Guang fought back as the Evil Cultists tried to kill as many freshmen as possible within three minutes before self-detonating.
• Qiu Xiaoxiao and several fifth-awakening death warriors arrived as reinforcements, but Bai Haitang confronted Qiu Xiaoxiao and the death warriors charged toward the freshmen.

Yuan Qingshan announced a bonus assessment as Ink Pavilion fighters attacked the freshmen, while the Military Academy quickly organized and outperformed the other schools. Lin Xiaoxiao faced a fifth-awakening cultist and prepared to prove that she was not weak.

• Teachers from other universities rushed to intercept Ink Pavilion fighters as Qiu Xiaoxiao questioned why they had not been stopped.
• Yuan Qingshan announced that students could earn points by killing evil cultists, but warned them of the danger and offered the option to withdraw.
• The Military Academy freshmen coordinated and killed a second-awakening cultist, while students from the other schools mostly fought alone.
• Yuan Qingshan and Qi Changshan discussed Qiu Xiaoxiao's motives and the anonymous letter, then Yuan asked whether there was news of Yu Mo.
• A fifth-awakening cultist threatened Lin Xiaoxiao, and she drew her spear after explaining that her classmates considered her the weakest in their year.

Lin Xiaoxiao revealed the abilities granted by her Fourth Awakening and defeated a Fifth Awakening Evil Cultist through her coordination with Big White. She then asked Old Yuan for extra points, while Yuan Qingshan and Qi Changshan argued over how to deal with her.

• Lin Xiaoxiao explained that after her Fourth Awakening, she could fight alongside Big White while keeping him outside her body.
• Lin Xiaoxiao and Big White worked together to wound the Evil Cultist, who tried to exploit their coordination by attacking her directly.
• Lin Xiaoxiao swapped places with Big White at the last moment and pierced the Evil Cultist's heart with her spear.
• Lin Xiaoxiao asked Old Yuan for another 0.5 points for Ink Academy, but the screen remained dark.
• Yuan Qingshan tried to power up the screen so he could show Lin Xiaoxiao up and recruit her for Spirit Mind Academy, while Qi Changshan suggested sneaking into her room.

Yuan Qingshan and Qi Changshan watched the freshmen turn the battle against the Evil Cult while Bai Haitang fought Qiu Xiaoxiao, who realized Zong Ren had manipulated her with drugs and psychological suggestion. Elsewhere, Yu Mo learned that researchers had developed a prototype firearm capable of harming Demon Beasts below the fourth level, though major problems remained.

• Bai Haitang attacked Qiu Xiaoxiao, who realized Zong Ren had switched her drugs and manipulated her into planning revenge.
• Qiu Xiaoxiao demanded to know why Bai Haitang was fighting her, and Bai Haitang answered, “Liu Yu,” before attacking again.
• As the freshmen gained control of the battle, Qiu Xiaoxiao cried out Zong Ren’s name, and Yuan Qingshan told Qi Changshan to keep an eye on him.
• Researchers showed Yu Mo a prototype submachine gun whose bullets could injure or kill Demon Beasts below the fourth level, but firing a magazine would ruin it.
• Yu Mo asked when firearms might work against fourth-level Demon Beasts, and the lead researcher said their toughness, speed, and the unstable energy source made the problem difficult to solve.

Yu Mo wondered whether Zong Ren had sent him an anonymous letter to encourage him to kill an enemy or establish an alliance. In Haicheng, Yu Sheng reunited with his childhood friend Xiao Nan, whose bounty had risen to fifty million, and learned that Xiao Nan had reached the peak of the Fifth Awakening.

• Yu Mo speculated about Zong Ren's motives and said another batch of people in the human race would have to be killed.
• Yu Sheng followed a scripted tea order to identify himself to the teahouse owner, Xiao Nan, who greeted him after nearly three years apart.
• Yu Sheng noted that Xiao Nan's bounty was fifty million and considered turning him in, while Xiao Nan proposed splitting the reward if Yu Sheng captured him.
• Xiao Nan knocked Yu Sheng's sword away with his energy, revealing that he had reached the peak of the Fifth Awakening and expected to reach the Sixth within a year.
• Two Sixth Awakening Persons locked onto Yu Sheng, so he sat back down and put away his sword.
• Xiao Nan teased Yu Sheng about their past in Sin City and hinted that he knew where Old Black was, but Yu Sheng stayed silent.

Yu Sheng told the owner that the former residents of Sin City ran the Human Race's Black Market and explained that he had vetoed the owner's membership because he talked too much. The owner then proposed a business deal based on a plot by Soul Hunt and the Evil Cult, but Yu Sheng tried to negotiate a larger share and offered to ask Zong Ren what they had planned.

• The owner told Yu Sheng he had found that former residents of Sin City were alive and gathered together, and Yu Sheng revealed they had set up the Black Market.
• Yu Sheng said he had joined the group and rejected the owner's membership because he would be too noisy during meetings.
• The owner complained about their history in Sin City, then tried to convince Yu Sheng that he could still join the organization.
• The owner told Yu Sheng that Soul Hunt and the Evil Cult had plotted at his café and offered to split a resulting business deal fifty-fifty.
• Yu Sheng demanded a ninety-ten split, then said Qiu Xiaoxiao had attacked Ink City and offered to call Zong Ren to learn what the plot involved.

Yu Sheng and Lawless Outlaws negotiated a partnership while discussing Soul Hunt’s coming operation and the Evil Cult’s remaining plans. Yu Sheng proposed a theory about Soul Hunt’s objective, and Lawless Outlaws paid his exorbitant travel expenses and promised him a favor to hear it.

• Yu Sheng negotiated an eighty-twenty split with Lawless Outlaws, who agreed and tried to serve him cheap tea as a treasured brew.
• Lawless Outlaws shared his deductions that Soul Hunt would act within two months and that the Evil Cult would also make a move soon.
• Yu Sheng questioned what Soul Hunt could target while the Four Great Passes were peaceful and the Freshman Competition was over.
• Yu Sheng said he thought he knew Soul Hunt’s objective, but threatened to leave unless Lawless Outlaws reimbursed his 1.32 million travel expenses.
• Lawless Outlaws agreed to pay and owe Yu Sheng a favor, and the two resumed their discussion until dark.

Bai Haitang killed Qiu Xiaoxiao in Ink City and avenged Liu Yu, after which Yuan Qingshan criticized the freshmen for fighting as individuals despite their injuries. Back at the hotel, Lin Xiaoxiao urged Shi Guang to trust her teammates, but Shi Guang’s work digging holes and burying bodies left the conversation unresolved.

• Bai Haitang killed the wounded Qiu Xiaoxiao and said she had avenged Liu Yu.
• Yuan Qingshan praised the freshmen for having no deaths, then scolded them for fearing death and failing to work as a team.
• The freshmen returned to the hotel, where Lin Xiaoxiao asked Shi Guang how long she had known Yu Sheng and learned it had been fourteen years.
• Lin Xiaoxiao encouraged Shi Guang to trust her companions, but Shi Guang said she dug holes and buried bodies.
• Lin Xiaoxiao left with Big White to get food after advising the freshmen to ask Yu Sheng for help building bonds.

Shi Guang questioned why people needed friends, while Zong Ren prepared to leave the Divine Cult in the hands of a newly appointed bishop. He then celebrated his blind daughter An An’s sixth birthday, briefly showing an emotion he quickly concealed.

• After Lin Xiaoxiao left, Shi Guang wondered whether friends like Yu Sheng mattered and why people needed friends.
• Zong Ren told a Divine Cult leader that anyone could become a god, then appointed him the new bishop and urged him to lead the cult toward Divine Advent.
• Zong Ren collected a birthday cake under the name Li Yang and accepted a red envelope from Auntie Liu for An An.
• At home, Zong Ren helped An An celebrate her sixth birthday as she wished to see the world and her father someday.
• Zong Ren promised to find a way to cure An An’s eyes, and her cheerful reassurance briefly left him dazed before he regained his composure.

Zong Ren prepared to abandon his identity and disappear with An An, while setting up a fanatic named “Zong Ren” to lead a brief riot. After killing Liu Shen'er and disguising himself and An An, he left the alley with her as the riot began there.

• Zong Ren decided to change identities and planned to make it appear that Li Yang and he had died, while taking An An away.
• Zong Ren told An An they were moving to a big city for her treatment, and she reluctantly agreed to wait at home while he packed.
• Zong Ren persuaded “Zong Ren” that he was God and instructed him to lead the Evil Cultists in a five-minute riot that night.
• Zong Ren killed Liu Shen'er, then concealed the death by letting the neighbors believe her heart trouble had taken her.
• Zong Ren disguised himself and An An, told her they could not say goodbye to Grandma Liu, and led her out of the alley.
• “Zong Ren” led the Evil Cultists in a riot that night, beginning their attack in the alley.

Zong Ren staged his apparent death in a fire and escaped with An An, while Yu Mo recognized the act as a calculated message and ordered an investigation into the alley. The chapter ended with Yu Mo probing why Zong Ren had chosen that location.

• Zong Ren set the alley ablaze, fought the Guard Bureau and Dark Pavilion forces, then exploded himself to fake his death.
• Outside the city, Zong Ren told the sleeping An An they were going to a new home and planned to rebuild the Divine Cult.
• Yu Mo concluded that Zong Ren had staged his death to erase his identity and remove unstable Evil Cult members from view.
• Yu Mo and a long-haired man discussed whether the café linked the fire to Lawless Outlaws and Soul Hunt.
• Yu Mo ordered an investigation into every alley resident, their relationships, and suspicious incidents from the past six months.

Yu Mo examined the investigation files on the alley fire and suspected that the dead residents’ bodies might reveal a clue about Zong Ren. At Ink Academy, Xu Yuanqing announced that the next advancement assessment would be easier because the students had fought at Demon-Suppressing Pass, then watched them expectantly as he prepared to explain the new requirements.

• The long-haired man reported that the alley’s longtime residents had died in the fire and that an older woman surnamed Liu had died of a sudden heart attack that morning; he arranged for her body to be sent to Ink City.
• Yu Mo reviewed the files, noticed that An An and Li Yang’s bodies were also on their way to Ink City, and wondered whether Zong Ren had left an obvious opening or another trap.
• Xu Yuanqing returned to Ink Academy’s training field and teased his students about missing him after reaching the seventh awakening.
• Zhao Zicheng begged Lin Xiaoxiao to beat him up so he could improve, while Sun Wen and the others mocked Xu Yuanqing’s claims about refusing an administrator’s position.
• Xu Yuanqing said Ink Academy would ease its advancement assessment because the students had taken part in the battle at Demon-Suppressing Pass, then paused as if waiting for them to take the bait.