Chapter Summaries

Yuan Qingshan and Qi Changshan tried to secure resources and recall their relatives from the Freshman Competition, but Lin Xiaoxiao ignored their demands and threatened to toughen Ink Academy’s freshmen. Meanwhile, Qiu Xiaoxiao arrived in Ink City, and the Vulture King concluded that Yu Sheng might be hiding underground and planned to act that night.

• Yuan Qingshan and Qi Changshan pressured the middle-aged man for more Spirit Mind resources and asked to take Yuan Zhong and Qi Tian away from the competition.
• Lin Xiaoxiao ignored their requests while stroking Big White and said Ink Academy’s freshmen needed to learn to kill their own grandfathers.
• Qiu Xiaoxiao wandered Ink City disguised as an old woman, muttering about the Freshman Competition and glaring toward the Education Department.
• Low-level demon beasts scavenged corpses in the Thousand-Li Demon Plain, and the stench masked Yu Sheng’s presence from them.
• The Vulture King reasoned that Yu Sheng could be hiding underground, but decided to wait until night to shatter the ground and expose him.
• The Vulture King changed its mind about keeping a low profile after noticing the last sixth-level demon beast glaring at it.

The Vulture King and another sixth-level demon beast staged a feud to hide their plan to pursue White Ape. Mirage Dragon suspected the situation was a trap but decided he might turn it to his advantage, while White Ape’s aura drew the two demons toward the Swamp Pool.

• The Vulture King proposed pretending to fight so the other demons would not suspect their cooperation, and the two great demons staged an argument and battle.
• Mirage Dragon watched from the clouds, judged that White Ape’s hiding place would soon be exposed, and considered using the apparent trap to become the hunter.
• The two demons ended their staged fight and waited on the mountainside, while the fifth-level demon beasts left.
• White Ape’s aura appeared about a mile away, and the Vulture King and the other sixth-level demon beast rushed after it together.
• Mirage Dragon questioned why the demons were so wary, and White Ape’s aura accelerated toward the Swamp Pool.

The Vulture King pursued White Ape to Swamp Pool but was turned away by the giant python guarding the territory. Mirage Dragon, having deceived the Demon Clan, searched the Southwestern Region and wondered what White Ape would do without the Vulture’s threat.

• The Vulture King and another sixth-level demon beast failed to catch White Ape before it vanished into Swamp Pool.
• The giant python refused the Vulture King’s request to hand over White Ape and ordered him to leave.
• The Vulture King left Swamp Pool and continued searching nearby with the sixth-level demon beast.
• Azure Bird ended its observation, and Mirage Dragon revealed that the Demon Clan had been fooled.
• Mirage Dragon flew over the Southwestern Region, searching the ruins and surrounding area.

Yu Sheng waited underground while the Mirage Dragon watched for him, then staged his injuries and exposed his Demon Plants to lure in an intruder. When a level-three mole appeared, Yu Sheng revealed his Human Race aura and stabbed it, leaving the Mirage Dragon’s next move uncertain.

• The Mirage Dragon searched the Southwestern Region of the Thousand-Li Demon Plain, then waited on the summit while Yu Sheng remained hidden underground.
• The Vulture King continued searching near the Swamp Pool and forced its uneasy ally to stay with it.
• As night passed, the Mirage Dragon grew suspicious that Yu Sheng had escaped, then vanished into the clouds and mist.
• Yu Sheng cut himself, used a fruit to heal only partially, dirtied his fur, and opened his bundle of Demon Plants to make himself look wounded and vulnerable.
• A level-three mole appeared in the tunnel and eyed Yu Sheng’s exposed Demon Plants greedily.
• Yu Sheng lunged at the mole, revealed his Human Race vitality and Fourth Awakening aura, and stabbed it with his longsword.

Yu Sheng, disguised as White Ape, confronted the Mirage Dragon after it blocked his escape and tried to manipulate him with taunts. He revealed that he had been seeking a fair one-on-one fight, then drew his sword and advanced, believing he could win.

• White Ape healed himself with a fruit, took the bundle, and left Mole to die in the passage.
• The Mirage Dragon deduced that Yu Sheng was a Fourth Awakening human and pursued White Ape underground.
• The Mirage Dragon blocked White Ape’s path, boasted about slaughtering a human military unit, and demanded the bundle.
• Yu Sheng removed his disguise and asked whether the Mirage Dragon could sing or perform, while its attempts to flee were disrupted by their competing Spatial abilities.
• Yu Sheng admitted he had not known Mole was the Mirage Dragon, explained that his actions had drawn it into a fair fight, and approached with his sword.

Yu Sheng trapped Azure Bird in a reinforced underground passage and fought the shape-shifting demon as it used the darkness and its experience to attack from hiding. He ended the chapter by flooding the passage with light, revealing Mirage Dragon as a tiny black snake on the wall.

• Yu Sheng explained that he had sealed the passage with soundproof material, while Azure Bird claimed its strength and physical power could still defeat him.
• Yu Sheng charged, and Azure Bird transformed into a cheetah and slashed his back before disappearing into the darkness.
• Yu Sheng healed his wound with a fruit and studied its shape and the demon’s attack speed to assess its abilities.
• Mirage Dragon used sound and darkness to mask its position, then tried to unsettle Yu Sheng while waiting for his vigilance to fade.
• Yu Sheng switched on three powerful flashlights, illuminating the passage and revealing Mirage Dragon as a black snake clinging to the wall.

Yu Sheng pursued the Mirage Dragon, but it exploited a momentary crack in his composure to trap him in an illusion of Sin City from nine years earlier. Though the illusion restored his younger body and surrounded him with attackers, Yu Sheng fought them off, leaving the Mirage Dragon's next move uncertain.

• Yu Sheng threw his long sword at the air above the Mirage Dragon, which dodged and taunted him while keeping its distance.
• The Mirage Dragon threatened Yu Sheng's family and friends, briefly unsettling him, then trapped him in an illusion despite his attempt to use Teleportation.
• Yu Sheng appeared as a ten-year-old in Sin City, where a crowd attacked him in the rain.
• Yu Sheng fought off the attackers and realized his physical abilities had returned to their level from nine years earlier.
• The Mirage Dragon concealed itself among the attackers, abandoned its attempt to fight Yu Sheng, and died at his feet.

Yu Sheng fought White Face’s men to reach Shi Guang, who had been captured after failing to fight in a cramped room. When White Face stabbed Shi Guang to provoke Yu Sheng, Yu Sheng realized the Illusion had changed what he remembered and wondered whether White Face was Mirage Dragon.

• Yu Sheng followed his remembered route through the rain and found Shi Guang bound and wounded at White Face’s house.
• Yu Sheng and Shi Guang calmly discussed using her shovel to bury her and carrying her on his back, while White Face demanded that Yu Sheng either kill himself or collect her body.
• Yu Sheng charged White Face’s men with a crossbow and dagger as a masked child watched from a safe distance, hoping to sell news of the battle.
• White Face stabbed Shi Guang in the calf, and Yu Sheng froze when he realized this had not happened in his memory.
• Yu Sheng suspected the Illusion had changed the ending and wondered whether White Face was Mirage Dragon as White Face stabbed Shi Guang again.

Yu Sheng broke the Mirage Dragon's Illusion by recognizing it as a scene built from his deepest fear, then exploited the opening to injure the creature with a carefully prepared series of explosions and a hammer strike. The Mirage Dragon lay unable to rise as Yu Sheng prepared to finish it.

• In the Illusion, the Mirage Dragon stabbed Shi Guang, and Yu Sheng killed the attacker before realizing the scene was false.
• Yu Sheng explained that the Illusion could only show him a limited version of his greatest fear, then slashed Shi Guang's throat to break the illusion.
• The Mirage Dragon was injured when Yu Sheng's prepared fruits exploded against it as the Illusion collapsed.
• Yu Sheng struck the falling Mirage Dragon with his hammer, and it crashed into the wall, too injured to get up.
• The Mirage Dragon realized Yu Sheng had used its own Illusion as the key to defeating it, while Yu Sheng prepared to finish the fight.

Yu Sheng angered the Mirage Dragon to death, collected its corpse, and left the passage after the fourth item in the Scroll became clear. The Vulture King returned to find the passage empty, blamed the Swamp Pool, and sent a High-Rank Demon Beast to seek an audience with Demon Lord Ji Hong.

• Yu Sheng told the dying Mirage Dragon that he would simulate its aura on its corpse, and it died in a rage.
• The Mirage Dragon's true body was revealed as a small pale lizard, and its gray gas made the fourth item in the Scroll clear.
• Yu Sheng put the corpse in his bundle, dismantled his unused traps, and left the passage disguised as the Yellow Monkey.
• The Vulture King returned with another sixth-level Demon Beast, found only the White Ape's scent, and concluded the Swamp Pool had taken the White Ape and its wealth.
• The Vulture King sent the High-Rank Demon Beast to report to Demon Lord Ji Hong, and the beast passed Yu Sheng without recognizing him.

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.