Chapter Summaries

Sun Wen exposed the Pavilion Branch Master as an enemy and held him at the Ink Pavilion with help from A Tai and Mu Yu. As Zhao Zicheng joined them, the students prepared to face the Sixth Awakening elder.

• Sun Wen revealed his Bluetooth earpiece and accused the Pavilion Branch Master of being involved with the fleeing suspects.
• The Pavilion Branch Master attacked Sun Wen, but Sun Wen insisted that he would not let the old man escape.
• A Tai arrived at the Ink Pavilion while pursuing the Guard Bureau's Deputy Division Chief and confronted the Pavilion Branch Master.
• Mu Yu climbed to the fourth floor using his chain and challenged the elder, declaring that he had reached the Fifth Awakening.
• Sun Wen announced that he was also at the Fifth Awakening, while A Tai guessed that he was at the Third or Fourth Awakening.
• Zhao Zicheng entered and introduced himself with a string of boastful titles before challenging the Pavilion Branch Master.

Mu Yu used Gravestone to disrupt and restrain the old man while Zhao Zicheng, Lin Xiaoxiao, A Tai, and Sun Wen worked to keep him from killing them. As the old man’s body began to fill with black vapor, Mu Yu named his third skill, Soul Entry, and continued tracing a fourth skill despite the mounting energy cost.

• Lin Xiaoxiao arrived with her spear as the old man dismissed the group’s strength and threatened to ignore the rule against killing.
• Zhao Zicheng charged while Mu Yu marked Gravestone with his first character, briefly dazing the old man; Zhao took a palm strike and charged again.
• Mu Yu’s second character bound the old man with black vapor, letting Lin Xiaoxiao strike at his heart, but the old man shattered the bindings and attacked her.
• Lin Xiaoxiao vanished onto Big White’s back, while Sun Wen invoked his family connections and warned the old man that killing them would bring his death.
• A Tai and Zhao Zicheng blocked the old man as Mu Yu completed his third character, releasing Soul Entry and beginning to trace his fourth skill.

Zhao Zicheng, A Tai, and Lin Xiaoxiao attacked Old Man while Mu Yu’s Soul Entry skill tormented his mind, but Old Man’s Sixth Awakening strength let him break their assault. Mu Yu then used Soul Severing, yet Old Man remained standing as Mu Yu began struggling to write another character.

• Zhao Zicheng endured Old Man’s energy storm by taking healing pills, while Mu Yu’s Soul Entry worsened Old Man’s headache and exhaustion.
• A Tai restrained Old Man so Lin Xiaoxiao could stab him, but Old Man clamped down on her spear with his muscles and crimson scales.
• Old Man pulled out the spear and attacked Lin Xiaoxiao, then anticipated her teleportation and hurled the weapon toward Big White, wounding her arm.
• Old Man broke free of A Tai’s hold with a rule-like force and kicked him aside, then threatened to kill the Ink Academy students.
• Mu Yu used his fourth skill, Soul Severing, but Old Man showed no visible reaction and said it still was not enough.
• Mu Yu, pale and unfocused, began writing a fifth character with black mist despite struggling to complete it.

Old Man used his sixth awakening and its rules to overpower Zhao Zicheng, A Tai, and Lin Xiaoxiao while Mu Yu worked to finish writing on his Gravestone. Zhao Zicheng's attempt to summon his father failed, and Sun Wen stepped forward as Old Man prepared to target Mu Yu.

• Old Man's scarlet lizard Awakening Object protected him as he attacked the group, sending Big White flying and breaking A Tai's bones.
• A Tai saved Zhao Zicheng from Old Man's claw, and Zhao Zicheng stood in front of the injured A Tai and Lin Xiaoxiao to challenge Old Man.
• Zhao Zicheng called out, "Dad, come!" but no one arrived, and Old Man kicked him aside while deciding to deal with Mu Yu first.
• Mu Yu continued tracing writing on his Gravestone, while Sun Wen mocked Zhao Zicheng, checked his watch, and stepped forward.

Yu Sheng joined Sun Wen, Zhao Zicheng, Mu Yu, and the others in fighting the Old Man, who destroyed the Ink Pavilion branch building after unleashing his full power. Yu Sheng survived the collapse and attacked the Old Man from behind, while Mu Yu continued working with the Gravestone.

• Sun Wen distracted the Old Man while a figure used a Fishing Line, a Round Ball, and a flaming hammer to injure him.
• The figure introduced himself as Yu Sheng of Ink Academy, the Rookie King of the 140th Cohort, and the Old Man recognized him.
• The Old Man unleashed his power and collapsed the Ink Pavilion's four-story branch building.
• Big White rescued Sun Wen and Zhao Zicheng, while A Tai cushioned Mu Yu's fall as she continued using her skill.
• Yu Sheng dodged the Old Man's attack and appeared behind him with a sword thrust aimed at his back.

Yu Sheng used the Dragon-Patterned Staff’s fifth skill to swap places with Old Man and protect Mu Yu, revealing that he had dual awakening. Old Man decided to capture Yu Sheng alive, while Mu Yu continued tracing his character and the others tried to hold Old Man off.

• Yu Sheng wounded Old Man with his icy sword, but Old Man rushed toward Mu Yu instead of fighting him.
• Yu Sheng used the Dragon-Patterned Staff’s fifth skill to swap places with Old Man and appear in front of Mu Yu.
• Old Man recognized Yu Sheng’s dual awakening and decided to capture him alive for Soul Hunt.
• Sun Wen gave Mu Yu pills, and Mu Yu said he could hold Old Man off for only one minute.
• A Tai charged Old Man and was sent crashing down, but his attack briefly pinned Old Man in place.
• Lin Xiaoxiao charged Old Man with her spear, but he caught its shaft and stopped her thrust.

The group battered Old Man until Mu Yu used his fifth skill, Yin-Yang, to begin tearing him apart, but Yuan Qingshan arrived and subdued him for interrogation. After Yuan Qingshan left with the prisoner, Lin Xiaoxiao realized Sun Wen had hired him as a bodyguard and the others had effectively completed his mission while risking their lives.

• Lin Xiaoxiao released Old Man as Yu Sheng brought down his flaming hammer, then Yu Sheng attacked the crater with three Round Balls.
• Old Man emerged from the rubble as a bloodied half-demon, and Mu Yu used his fifth skill, Yin-Yang, to shatter the space around him and split his body apart.
• Yuan Qingshan appeared, stopped Old Man's wounds from worsening, knocked him unconscious, and said he would take him for interrogation and clean up the mess.
• Sun Wen complained that Yuan Qingshan had waited until the fight was over, while Yuan Qingshan defended his decision and left with Old Man.
• Lin Xiaoxiao pointed out that the group had risked their lives to finish Sun Wen's mission and still owed him a large payment, and Sun Wen admitted he had hired Yuan Qingshan as a backup.

After the battle, Sun Wen admitted he had meant to summon Yuan Qingshan and revealed he had made a fortune from the demolished building. The injured group prepared to return to Ink Academy, where Sun Wen anticipated more opportunities to profit.

• Sun Wen confessed that he had planned to show off before summoning Yuan Qingshan, who had been slacking off, and said Yu Sheng had arrived by coincidence.
• Sun Wen explained that he had bought the building before it was demolished and received a 250-million subsidy, prompting Mu Yu and Yu Sheng to resent his profits.
• Mu Yu asked Yu Sheng whether he could block his Fifth Skill, then passed out before hearing Yu Sheng say he could have interrupted the attack with his hammer.
• Sun Wen teased Zhao Zicheng and repeatedly poked his wound, while Zhao Zicheng's Damage Reflection made Sun Wen feel the pain too.
• Lin Xiaoxiao helped A Tai, and Yu Sheng summoned Shi Guang, whose cart extended to carry A Tai.
• Sun Wen said the group would recover in Er City before returning to Ink Academy, where Xu Yuanqing had reported chaos, rankings, and clubs.

After Ink Academy’s injured seniors returned home, Chu Huai analyzed Soul Hunt’s accusation and concluded that the group was testing the Light Group with a captured prisoner. He ordered another investigation into Third Prison and began preparing for a possible hidden attack.

• Sun Wen and Zhao Zicheng joined the injured Ink Academy seniors in celebrating their return home.
• Chu Huai questioned whether Soul Hunt’s complaint about the arrest was genuine, and Lin Siyuan insisted the group was not naive.
• Chu Huai reasoned that Soul Hunt was testing him and had arranged for its captured member to investigate a supposed hostage inside Third Prison.
• Chu Huai asked Lin Siyuan to check mid-level staff with access to prisoners, criticizing his earlier search method before Lin Siyuan left in silence.
• Chu Huai speculated that Soul Hunt might have a second plan involving the Ink Pavilion and an attack on Yu Mo or himself, and decided to prepare for it while Lu Xiao watched disdainfully.

Chu Huai analyzed ways an enemy might attack Ink City or Demon-Suppressing Pass while Lu Xiao criticized his endless suspicions. At the Thousand-Li Demon Plain, Ji Hong and Old White Ape prepared for Fei’s arrival, only for Ji Hong to admit he could not defeat him and demand that Old White Ape reveal his strength.

• Lu Xiao accused Chu Huai of being more narcissistic outside Sin City, and Chu Huai teased him about his awakening object.
• Chu Huai considered covert bombings of Ink City and Demon-Suppressing Pass and planned to have Lin Siyuan investigate surveillance footage and explosives sources.
• Old White Ape told Ji Hong that Fei would arrive the next day and that the two girls were still alive.
• Ji Hong admitted he could not beat Fei, prompting Old White Ape to panic and insist he was only seventh level and still injured.
• Ji Hong claimed Old White Ape had hidden strength and demanded he show his trump cards, warning they would otherwise die together.

Ji Hong pressured Old White Ape into offering him Fei’s spoils in exchange for help killing Fei, while privately reflecting on the evil he was about to commit. At Ink Academy, Xu Yuanqing eagerly waited for his returning students, as Sun Wen delayed the group’s entrance to make a bigger impression.

• Old White Ape proposed having a seventh-level Demon King ambush Fei, but Ji Hong said he still could not defeat Fei even if Fei were badly injured.
• Ji Hong warned Old White Ape that they would die together if he withheld more help, and said he believed Old White Ape would someday become the Human Race’s greatest threat.
• Old White Ape offered Ji Hong Fei’s Divine Beast Blood Vein, Demon Core, and Demon Crystals, and Ji Hong agreed to do everything he could to kill Fei.
• Ji Hong watched the distant Demon-Suppressing Pass and murmured that he hoped the coming evil could be made up for as much as possible.
• Xu Yuanqing waited outside Ink Academy, anticipating the return of his students and planning to celebrate at his steamed bun buffet.
• Sun Wen stopped A Tai from getting out of the luxury vehicles, saying the students should wait until more people had gathered, while Yu Guang wondered whether the egg had hatched.

Sun Wen returned to Ink Academy and used a staged welcome to make the Vice Principal praise him, while Xu Yuanqing handled the arrivals for a fee. The group disembarked, and Lin Xiaoxiao paid Xu Yuanqing to groom Big White.

• Sun Wen, Zhao Zicheng, and Lin Xiaoxiao joked about Xu Yuanqing’s hunger while he waited by the car door to welcome them.
• Sun Wen spotted the Vice Principal, stepped out, and claimed he had captured a Sixth Awakening expert and quelled the unrest in Er City.
• Sun Wen negotiated a payment of three million with the Vice Principal, who praised him and left the onlookers impressed.
• Xu Yuanqing hauled A Tai out of the car and offered Zhao Zicheng his services, but Zhao got out on his own.
• Lin Xiaoxiao paid Xu Yuanqing to walk, bathe, brush, and groom Big White.

Xu Yuanqing urged Mu Yu to follow his own path instead of obsessively chasing Yu Sheng, helping Mu Yu find new resolve. Xu Yuanqing then mocked Zhao Zicheng’s injuries and took up a bodyguard-like position behind Sun Wen.

• Xu Yuanqing lectured Mu Yu about pursuing his own path and accepted a gold ring in exchange for cold watermelon juice.
• Mu Yu reflected on how Yu Sheng’s defeat had driven him to cultivate and decided to stop measuring himself against Yu Sheng.
• Mu Yu declared that he would become the strongest person in the 140th Cohort and thanked Xu Yuanqing.
• Zhao Zicheng asked Xu Yuanqing why he had not tried to fleece Yu Sheng, and Xu Yuanqing said dealing with him would likely cost more than it gained.
• Xu Yuanqing teased Zhao Zicheng about his injuries, then walked behind Sun Wen in a black suit and sunglasses.

Sun Wen left the academy entrance after impressing the freshmen, while privately planning to profit from them. Back in the dormitory, Yu Sheng decided to keep feeding the cracked egg, unaware that the energy was repairing the shell faster than the chick could break it.

• Zhao Zicheng remarked that Xu Yuanqing was unmatched at bootlicking as the older students drew a crowd at the academy entrance.
• Sun Wen waved goodbye to the freshmen, and Xu Yuanqing led Big White away while onlookers admired Sun Wen and speculated about the beast.
• Sun Wen calculated how he could use his growing reputation to sell the freshmen goods and contracts.
• Yu Sheng examined the motionless cracked egg and considered eating it, while the chick inside struggled to escape its hardened shell.
• Yu Sheng used the Mountains and Rivers Bottle to feed the egg energy, reviving the chick but also causing the shell's cracks to heal and crushing its hope of hatching.

Yu Sheng restored the mysterious egg’s shell and left it in the sunlight before returning to cultivation. On the Thousand-Li Demon Plain, Fei arrived and Old White Ape fawned over it while directing its attention toward a secluded lake; Fei then threatened Ji Hong over Skyvault Ravine’s Merit System.

• Yu Sheng supplied the egg with energy until its cracked shell mended, then placed it by the window to receive sunlight.
• Old White Ape sensed Fei approaching the Thousand-Li Demon Plain and agreed with Ji Hong to keep up their act, with Old White Ape playing the loyal subordinate.
• Fei landed, praised Old White Ape’s work, and let him lead the way while ignoring Ji Hong.
• Old White Ape described a lake whose underground channels connected to Demon-Suppressing Pass, and Fei decided to recuperate there without disturbance.
• Fei asked whether Ji Hong had received Skyvault Ravine’s Merit System, then warned that defying Eagle Ravine Mountain could leave it splashed with blood.

Fei reached a lake connected to Demon-Suppressing Pass and waited for a day, suspicious that danger might be nearby. After detecting powerful streams of human blood essence flowing through channels beneath the lake, Fei began absorbing them, believing they could help it become a god within a year.

• Ji Hong and Old White Ape accused each other of plotting against Fei, and Fei ordered them to stop quarrelling.
• Fei examined the lake, confirmed that the mountain range connected to Demon-Suppressing Pass, and told everyone to leave it in peace.
• Old White Ape and Ji Hong took guard positions on separate peaks while two Seventh-Level Commanders remained beside the lake.
• Fei submerged itself in the lake and waited in the mist for danger, but nothing happened through the night and the following day.
• Fei sensed powerful streams of blood essence flowing through channels beneath the lake and began drawing them into its body.
• Fei's demon aura improved slightly as it absorbed the blood essence.

Yu Mo took charge of the Light Group and ordered it into special alert, directing city-wide screening and strict wartime controls. The group began preparations to investigate the Reserve Corps despite the political pressure such an order would bring.

• Chu Huai assigned Lin Siyuan to place newcomers in the Third Prison and tighten surveillance around Lu Xiao's cell while making the security appear lax.
• Yu Mo emerged from his office and told the staff that he intended Chu Huai to take over the Light Group, not the Ink Pavilion.
• At the meeting, Yu Mo ordered Lin Siyuan to seal off Ink City and screen every resident's identity.
• Yu Mo directed Group One to control online public opinion and send people who repeatedly flooded comments to Sin City as cannon fodder.
• Yu Mo ordered Group Two to register the Reserve Corps' information and challenged its leader not to gamble humanity's safety on the corps being spotless.

Yu Mo ordered an investigation into the Reserve Corps and directed the Light Group to promote its heroism while taking the blame for the inquiry. He gave Chu Huai one week to wrap up the Soul Hunt operation, and Chu Huai began preparing to capture several suspected infiltrators.

• Yu Mo gave Lin Siyuan the Yu Clan Emblem and ordered him to investigate every member of the Reserve Corps.
• Yu Mo ordered public reports praising the Reserve Corps and a segment sharing wishes for soldiers and the families of the fallen.
• Yu Mo told Chu Huai to finish the Soul Hunt matter within a week, regardless of his progress.
• Xiao Liu reported that four ordinary people, including three aunties and an uncle, had suspicious patterns of behavior and might be connected to Soul Hunt.
• Chu Huai ordered Xiao Liu to keep watching the suspects and told Xu Han and Zhang Heng that they would close the net within a week.
• Lu Xiao complained in the group chat that Chu Huai was making him experience prison after he had escaped Sin City.

Yu Sheng met Xiao Nan at Sister Li's Women's Clothing Store, where Xiao Nan asked how Chu Huai and the others had left Sin City. Yu Sheng revealed that he had already told Chu Huai where Xiao Nan was and that Chu Huai had reached the Sixth Awakening, leaving Xiao Nan scrambling to flee.

• Chu Huai put away his phone and reflected on plans for dealing with his opponents.
• Yu Sheng went to Sister Li's Women's Clothing Store and followed the clothing instructions in a text message.
• Xiao Nan told Yu Sheng that the Light Group had canceled the bounty on him and asked how Chu Huai and the others had left Sin City.
• Yu Sheng told Xiao Nan that Chu Huai had left Sin City because he no longer wanted to stay there.
• Yu Sheng showed Xiao Nan his chat with Chu Huai, which included Xiao Nan's location, and sent Chu Huai a photo of him.
• Yu Sheng told Xiao Nan that Chu Huai had reached the Sixth Awakening, and Xiao Nan immediately tried to leave.

Yu Sheng met Xiao Nan, used him to earn favors from several people, and then heard his proposal to steal Ten Thousand Poisons Fruit from the Swamp Pool. Xiao Nan urged Yu Sheng to help exploit the Demon Lord’s winter hibernation and use the fruit against the Demon Domain’s army.

• Xiao Nan returned to Yu Sheng and complained about Chu Huai, unaware Yu Sheng had connected them on a video call.
• Chu Huai revealed he had canceled Xiao Nan’s wanted notice and was now Successor to the Light Group’s Group Leader, then ended the call after warning he would keep an eye on him.
• Yu Sheng got Xiao Nan to make a V sign, photographed him, and sent the image to Lu Xiao, Xiao Liu, Xu Han, and Zhang Heng to earn five favors.
• Yu Sheng refused to work with Xiao Nan, who argued that the Light Group’s recent actions signaled an impending major war with the Demon Domain.
• Xiao Nan proposed that he and Yu Sheng steal three Ten Thousand Poisons Fruits from a poisonous forest in the Swamp Pool while its Demon Lord hibernated, using one to poison the battlefield.