Chapter Summaries

Yu Mo explained to Zhong Yushu why he had to manipulate Yu Sheng and admitted the guilt of scheming against his best friend. Zhong Yushu shared how duty and trust had kept him fighting, then urged Yu Mo to trust Yu Sheng and the Human Race, leaving Yu Mo with a different way to view his burdens.

• Yu Mo confessed that he used Yu Sheng to secure resources for the Human Race while pretending to be his best friend, fearing what might happen if Yu Sheng became too powerful.
• Zhong Yushu recognized Yu Mo's guilt and described how, despite wanting to flee Demon-Suppressing Pass, he stayed because the Reserve Corps depended on him.
• Zhong Yushu recalled losing his wife and son, having his cultivation crippled, and eventually returning to Demon-Suppressing Pass without resentment.
• Zhong Yushu told Yu Mo that he distrusted both the Human Race and Yu Sheng, and urged him to open his heart and trust them.

Zhong Yushu urged Yu Mo to stop bearing the role of a villain for Ji Hong’s sake and questioned whether Yu Mo knew Ji Hong’s plans. Yu Mo remained silent but trusted that Yu Sheng would survive the pursuit in the Demon Domain.

• Zhong Yushu encouraged Yu Mo to treat Yu Sheng fairly and focus on the work before him instead of fearing the future.
• Zhong Yushu urged Yu Mo to clear his name and return to being the Light Group’s righteous leader, but Yu Mo said his feared reputation helped keep evil in check.
• Zhong Yushu accused Yu Mo of wanting to serve as a villain for Ji Hong’s return and asked whether Yu Mo knew Ji Hong’s plan.
• Zhong Yushu worried about Yu Sheng and Army-Breaker facing the pursuit, and Yu Mo insisted Yu Sheng would make it back.
• Zhong Yushu recalled recommending the newly awakened Yu Sheng to Ink Academy and regretted not sending him to the Military Academy, but Yu Mo doubted Yu Sheng would have accepted its discipline and formations.

Yu Sanshui led Army-Breaker through the Demon Domain toward Demon-Suppressing Pass, but elite forces—including the God Race Clan Leader—kept blocking their route. He decided to retreat deeper into the Demon Domain and keep the enemy chasing them, even if they had to return through another pass.

• Yu Sanshui disguised Army-Breaker with weeds and plant juices and ordered the soldiers to hide when he sensed a Demon Lord, three Demon Kings, and many Demon Beasts ahead.
• Yu Sanshui changed routes twice, but his powerful perception revealed opposition both times, including elite forces and the God Race Clan Leader patrolling overhead.
• Yu Sanshui ordered Army-Breaker to fall back thirty li and argued that they could keep the Demon Domain’s forces occupied rather than risk a direct escape.
• As dawn approached, Yu Sanshui led Army-Breaker deeper into the Demon Domain to evade the advancing blockade and consider returning through another pass.

Old White Ape maintained the Demon Domain blockade while explaining to Little Red Dragon why he had spared and recruited him. Little Red Dragon listened as Old White Ape described his plans and urged him to judge his character for himself.

• Yu Sheng spotted the Demon Beasts forming a blockade on the outskirts of the thousand-mile Demon Domain and silently withdrew.
• Little Red Dragon reported that the search had found nothing, and Old White Ape said they would not expand it but would use the blockade to show their resolve.
• Old White Ape urged Little Red Dragon to stop acting so stiffly and suggested he would one day become the Red Dragon Clan Chief.
• Old White Ape recalled Young White Ape's betrayal and told Little Red Dragon not to judge him by what others said or even by appearances.
• Old White Ape explained that he had spared Little Red Dragon because his status, talent, and intelligence made him useful, while admitting that he could also use him to spite his father and influence the Red Dragon Clan.

Old White Ape questioned Little Red Dragon about the deaths of Mad Lion and Tyrant Tiger on Hundred Desolate Mountain, and Little Red Dragon revealed that a Beast Race force led by someone from the Heavenly Race had killed them. Old White Ape let Little Red Dragon leave, but then revealed he regretted not killing it to keep the information secret.

• Old White Ape explained why he doubted Little Red Dragon's account of the deaths on Hundred Desolate Mountain and asked it to speak sincerely.
• Little Red Dragon described how a powerful Beast Race force, apparently serving a member of the Heavenly Race, had killed Mad Lion and Tyrant Tiger.
• Little Red Dragon admitted that it and the others had fled, and feared Old White Ape would kill it for revealing the information.
• Old White Ape reassured Little Red Dragon, promised to protect it, and sent it away.
• After Little Red Dragon left, Old White Ape coldly lamented that he had wasted time and regretted not killing a useful tool.

Ji Hong learned that Xin Yongfeng had identified several suspicious locations in Skyvault Ravine and realized the information could help him find what he had been seeking. He warned Xin Yongfeng to leave before Old White Ape blamed him for the second flag, leaving Xin Yongfeng afraid that hanging it had doomed him.

• Old White Ape reflected on the Heavenly Race and suspected that Ji Hong, who had absorbed the Mirage Dragon Demon Core, was responsible for hanging the flag in Skyvault Ravine.
• Ji Hong reacted violently when Xin Yongfeng reported locations in the ravine that seemed wrong, then asked him to recount how he had learned about them.
• Xin Yongfeng explained that Army-Breaker and Yu Sanshui, a Ninth Awakening member of the Human Race, had identified the locations.
• Ji Hong concluded the locations were correct and calmed himself before warning Xin Yongfeng that Old White Ape would connect him to the second flag.
• Ji Hong told Xin Yongfeng to leave Skyvault Ravine for his own safety, and Xin Yongfeng asked if he was going to die just for hanging a flag.

Ji Hong convinced Xin Yongfeng that staying near him would endanger their mission, then suggested Xin return to guarding his mountain. Xin ended the chapter squatting in dismay over being sent back after two years away.

• Xin Yongfeng argued that he should stay and risk being sacrificed to help Ji Hong, but Ji Hong explained that his death could give Old White Ape leverage against them both.
• Ji Hong said the flag would delay Old White Ape’s return to Skyvault Ravine, making it easier for him to act, and that Old White Ape would target Xin regardless.
• Xin accepted that leaving was safer, then cursed that despite absorbing a Mirage Dragon’s Demon Core, he had accomplished nothing and was unwanted wherever he went.
• Ji Hong suggested Xin return to the mountain he had mentioned before and continue guarding it.
• Xin realized Ji Hong meant for him to go back to guarding the mountain and sat in dismay.

Xin Yongfeng realized that Ji Hong had tricked him into guarding another mountain while Ji Hong investigated energy clusters in Skyvault Ravine. Elsewhere, Yu Sheng told Yu Sanshui to wait while he searched for a way through the Demon Lord-guarded blockade, claiming he was close to the Eighth Awakening.

• Ji Hong asked Xin Yongfeng to guard his post for three days, and Xin Yongfeng agreed before realizing he had been left guarding a different mountain.
• Xin Yongfeng gave up on his hopes of fighting and settled into cultivation on the mountaintop.
• Ji Hong located twelve energy clusters in Skyvault Ravine and spent a day tracing them with Demon Aura, leaving exhausted but determined to prove the fourth generation of the Human Race had been right.
• Yu Sanshui received Yu Sheng's message to wait while Yu Sheng found a way to break through the blockade, and Yu Sanshui doubted he could overcome the Demon Lords guarding it.
• Yu Sheng sent another message saying he was close to the Eighth Awakening.

Yu Sanshui learned that Yu Sheng was approaching the Eighth Awakening and decided to wait rather than interfere. Yu Sheng returned to Hundred Desolate Mountain to break through, and his surging power drove the Demon Beasts to flee in the mountain’s largest migration.

• Yu Sanshui heard that Yu Sheng was approaching the Eighth Awakening, gave up making plans, and lay down to sleep.
• Yu Sheng returned to the ruined core region of Hundred Desolate Mountain and sat in meditation to break through.
• At night, Yu Sheng’s energy erupted, his Awakening Objects appeared behind him, and the ancient Scroll purified energy as it flowed through him.
• The terrified Demon Beasts fled Hundred Desolate Mountain in a mass migration while Yu Sheng continued his breakthrough, unaware of them.

Yu Sheng used the Mountains and Rivers Bottle’s stored Demon Crystals to reach the Eighth Awakening, then explored the Laws Worlds created by his five Awakening Objects. He discovered their varied effects but felt they were weaker than the abilities of the Awakening Objects themselves.

• Yu Sheng drew energy from the Mountains and Rivers Bottle’s Demon Crystals and advanced to the Eighth Awakening at dawn.
• Yu Sheng realized that reaching the Ninth Awakening would require an immense amount of energy and wondered whether he could achieve it.
• Yu Sheng recalled receiving guidance from the Human Race while comprehending Space Laws, which had helped him advance.
• Yu Sheng formed a Laws World that concealed his aura, extended his Teleportation range, and hindered enemies’ movement, Mental Power, and reactions.
• Yu Sheng created worlds associated with the Mountains and Rivers Bottle, Phoenix Hammer, Blazing Sun, and Clear Breeze, but judged them inferior to his Awakening Objects’ abilities and Yuan Qingshan’s Great Desolation.

Yu Sheng merged five worlds into a stable but seemingly useless miniature world, then flew toward Demon-Suppressing Pass at greatly increased speed. Old White Ape ordered his forces to withdraw after sensing something approaching on the horizon.

• Yu Sheng combined the Scroll, Crystal Stone, Mountains and Rivers Bottle, Phoenix Hammer, and Dragon-Patterned Staff to form a small, stable world, but found it had no practical use.
• Yu Sheng put the new world away and flew toward Demon-Suppressing Pass faster than he had at the Seventh Awakening.
• Little Red Dragon reported that two Demon Lords and four combined God Race armies were concealed near Dome Pass.
• Old White Ape worried that Little Red Dragon was too capable to replace and wondered how to make him lose his memory.
• Old White Ape sensed something on the horizon, then ordered Little Red Dragon to assemble the forces and withdraw immediately.

Old White Ape abandoned his cautious retreat and ordered the Demon Domain to prepare for war against Yu Sheng. As Yu Sheng broke through the Red Dragon Clan Chief’s flames and struck Zhu Yan, Old White Ape ordered weaker Demon Beasts to withdraw and called for ranged attacks.

• Little Red Dragon left, and Old White Ape changed his mind about yielding to unforeseen threats.
• Old White Ape ordered preparations for war and declared that the Demon Domain would stop Yu Sheng, the Human Race’s Ink Pavilion Head.
• Old White Ape ordered the Red Dragon Clan Chief and Zhuyan Clan Chief to hold the line until the other Demon Lords arrived, threatening execution for anyone who faltered.
• Zhuyan enlarged himself and attacked Yu Sheng, while the Red Dragon Clan Chief spread a wall of flames in Yu Sheng’s path.
• Yu Sheng burst through the flames and struck Zhu Yan with his giant hammer, forcing him back several steps.
• Old White Ape ordered Demon Beasts below Demon King to retreat and Demon Kings to attack from range.

Yu Sheng tested his strength against Zhu Yan and the Red Dragon Clan Chief, concluding that he was powerful among Demon Lords but could still be injured by their strongest attacks. He then concealed his aura and struck Zhu Yan again, leaving it bleeding from the shoulder.

• Old White Ape ordered the low-level demon beasts to retreat as the Demon Kings formed a net of demon aura, but Yu Sheng scattered it and charged Zhu Yan.
• Yu Sheng smashed Zhu Yan’s crossed arms with his hammer, and Zhu Yan retaliated with a homing beam from the eye on its chest.
• The Red Dragon Clan Chief sent a fiery phoenix at Yu Sheng, but the Mountains and Rivers Bottle and another Awakening Object protected him from the attacks.
• Yu Sheng assessed his strength and injuries, then drew the Dragon-Patterned Staff and concealed his aura.
• The Red Dragon Clan Chief fled as Yu Sheng appeared above Zhu Yan and struck its shoulder with the Giant Hammer, drawing blood.

Yu Sheng overpowered the Red Dragon Clan Chief and the Zhuyan Clan Chief, then shifted his attack to the Demon Kings as reinforcements approached. He continued slaughtering the beast horde while the Zhuyan Clan Chief could only accuse him of breaking the laws of war.

• Old White Ape threatened the Red Dragon Clan Chief into intervening before Yu Sheng could kill the Zhuyan Clan Chief.
• The Red Dragon Clan Chief knocked Yu Sheng’s hammer aside, but Yu Sheng adapted to his Eighth Awakening and drove both Demon Lords onto the defensive.
• Three nearby Demon Lords approached, and Yu Sheng vanished into the Demon Kings’ formation, killing them in a sudden assault.
• The Zhuyan Clan Chief and the Red Dragon Clan Chief chased Yu Sheng as he continued slaughtering the beast horde.
• The Zhuyan Clan Chief accused Yu Sheng of violating the laws of war, but Yu Sheng asked whether he would fight him one-on-one, leaving the Demon Lord unable to answer.

Yu Sheng fought through the Demon Beasts’ blockade but turned toward the Red Dragon Clan’s territory instead of returning to Demon-Suppressing Pass, hoping to bring Army-Breaker back with him. Old White Ape ordered the Demon Lords to encircle and kill Yu Sheng, while Yu Mo recognized that Yu Sheng was learning to act as a qualified Ink Pavilion Head.

• Zhu Yan ordered a newly arrived Demon Lord to stop Yu Sheng, but Yu Sheng pierced its demon-aura claw and slashed it across the waist.
• Yu Sheng turned toward the Red Dragon Clan’s territory, and Little Red Dragon scattered his forces into small groups to flee.
• Old White Ape ordered the Demon Beasts to reform their blockade and the Demon Lords to encircle and kill Yu Sheng, warning that any human rescue force would be wiped out.
• At Demon-Suppressing Pass, Yuan Qingshan watched the battle as the Demon Lords gradually narrowed the space Yu Sheng could move in.
• In Deep Mountain, Zhong Yushu reported Yu Sheng’s movements to Yu Mo, who realized Yu Sheng was trying to bring Army-Breaker back and praised him for learning to be a qualified Ink Pavilion Head.

Yu Mo realized Yu Sheng was waiting for Human Race reinforcements in the Demon Domain and ordered Zhong Yushu to lead fighters to his aid. As reinforcements rushed out from Demon-Suppressing Pass, Zhao Zicheng tried to join them but was ordered to stay and guard the city.

• Yu Mo concluded that Yu Sheng was waiting for Human Race reinforcements and urged Zhong Yushu to act before Yu Sheng lost faith in the Human Race.
• Zhong Yushu rallied the Human Race’s Eighth Awakening fighters and charged toward the Demon Domain to support Yu Sheng.
• Yuan Qingshan and Qi Changshan left Demon-Suppressing Pass to engage a God Race Clan Chief, while several Seventh Awakening fighters also charged out after pretending they had been called.
• Zhao Zicheng tried to persuade the remaining Sixth Awakening fighters to join the battle, but a Reserve Corps officer ordered them to remain and guard Demon-Suppressing Pass.

Zhao Zicheng reflected on falling behind Yu Sheng and tried to restart his cultivation by asking Sun Wen to hit him. Sun Wen’s attacks had no effect, but A Tai’s casual punch sent Zhao Zicheng sprawling and made his energy surge, leaving Zhao eager to test A Tai again.

• Sun Wen emerged from hiding, offered to help defend the city, and asked for someone to fly him back, but the others ignored him.
• Sun Wen scolded Zhao Zicheng and the others for lagging behind Yu Sheng, and Zhao Zicheng kicked him with Big White joining in.
• Zhao Zicheng brooded over how marriage had slowed his cultivation and decided he needed to reach the seventh awakening.
• Zhao asked Sun Wen to hit him, but Sun Wen’s blows failed to move him and left Sun Wen weeping.
• A Tai casually punched Zhao, knocking him down and making his energy surge, so Zhao summoned his sandbag and asked A Tai to punch him again.

A Tai’s strength left Zhao Zicheng despairing over how far his peers had surpassed him, while Xin Yongfeng finally left Skyvault Ravine. At the ravine, Zhong Yushu and other human fighters confronted Old White Ape to defend Yu Sheng, and the conflict escalated as more Ink Pavilion elders arrived.

• A Tai shattered Zhao Zicheng’s sandbag with one punch, then admitted he had not used his full strength.
• Zhao Zicheng lamented that he could barely beat anyone in the 140th Cohort, while Sun Wen teased him about becoming the weakest after his next awakening.
• Xin Yongfeng left Skyvault Ravine disguised as a gray bird after Ji Hong warned him that the Demon God might detect him.
• Zhong Yushu told Old White Ape that the Human Race would protect Yu Sheng, and Old White Ape threatened to kill more eighth-awakening fighters.
• Several Demon Lords moved to face the five human eighth-awakening fighters, and seventh-awakening elders arrived cursing the demons for bullying their Ink Pavilion Head.

Yu Mo sent Confucian Scholar to order Demon-Suppressing Pass’s soldiers to join the fight if Zhong Yushu and the others fell behind, hoping to show Yu Sheng the human race’s willingness to protect him. As reinforcements rushed to the battlefield and drew enemies away from Yu Sheng, Yu Mo remained on the mountain, still unable to understand why the Demon Domain was so determined to keep Yu Sheng there.

• The human fighters attacked Old White Ape to draw a Demon Lord away from Yu Sheng, and another Demon Lord left the pursuit to confront them.
• Yu Mo concluded that Yu Sheng was testing the human race’s attitude and ordered Confucian Scholar to command the soldiers to fight if Zhong Yushu and the others were disadvantaged.
• Confucian Scholar relayed the order, and Demon-Suppressing Pass’s soldiers prepared to march out.
• Eighth Awakening experts and other human reinforcements arrived at Demon-Suppressing Pass and joined the distant battle, drawing attacks away from Yu Sheng.
• Yu Mo continued pondering why the Demon Domain was risking another fight to keep Yu Sheng there, then closed his eyes as he remained on the mountaintop.

Yu Sheng trapped eight Demon Lords in his Dark World, using its darkness and concealment to keep them occupied while he targeted other enemies. The Red Dragon Clan Chief realized the deception and ordered the Demon Lords to break the laws world before human reinforcements could arrive.

• Yu Sheng stopped fleeing and activated the Dragon-Patterned Staff’s Dark World around the eight pursuing Demon Lords.
• The Demon Lords struggled to move and lost sight of Yu Sheng, so the Zhuyan Clan Chief urged them to stay together and wait for him to attack.
• Yu Sheng appeared briefly at regular intervals, leading the Zhuyan Clan Chief to believe his concealment had a time limit.
• The Red Dragon Clan Chief realized Yu Sheng was holding them in the Dark World to attack Demon Lords fighting humans outside, while also disrupting their senses and communication.
• The Red Dragon Clan Chief ordered the Demon Lords to attack together and break the laws world before human Eighth Awakening fighters could surround them.