Chapter Summaries

Yu Sanshui reflected on Yu Mo’s increasingly desperate public campaign and set out into the night with an unknown purpose. In the Demon Domain’s Black Market, Yu Sheng explained to Mu Yu that its peaceful coexistence depended on overwhelming force, then sought Xiao Nan and startled the doorkeeper into action.

• Yu Sanshui recognized that Yu Mo’s public shaming campaign showed his desperation and left under cover of night after deciding he might take someone down with him.
• Yu Sheng brought Mu Yu to the Black Market, where they saw Demon Beasts and humans trading peacefully.
• Mu Yu wondered whether the outside world could avoid destroying the Demon Domain, and Yu Sheng said peace depended on deterrence through force.
• Yu Sheng arrived at the Black Market’s central district and demanded to see Xiao Nan from a sleepy old man.
• Yu Sheng threatened the old man with Xiao Nan’s retaliation, and the man sprang from his chair when he recognized Yu Sheng.

Yu Sheng met Xiao Nan at the Black Market and asked about his childhood in Sin City. Xiao Nan said he had no memories of his parents and did not know how he had survived the Vultures as a young child.

• Xiao Nan recognized Yu Sheng and Shi Guang from Xiao Nan’s list and rushed to greet them.
• Xiao Nan arranged chairs and guards in the street, then insisted the Black Market would maintain its neutrality.
• Yu Sheng asked Xiao Nan how old he had been when he entered Sin City and who his parents were.
• Xiao Nan said he had been born in Sin City and had no memories of his parents.
• Yu Sheng asked how Xiao Nan had survived the Vultures before he was five, and Xiao Nan guessed his parents had kept him alive a little longer.

Yu Sheng questioned Xiao Nan about his past in Sin City before asking him for a Demon Lord’s Demon Core, while privately investigating Brawny Man’s memories and reactions. Xiao Nan handed over a Taotie Clan core with a Divine Beast Blood Vein, then left wondering why Yu Sheng had asked about his childhood.

• Yu Sheng asked Xiao Nan whether anyone in Sin City had spoken about his parents or childhood, then asked where the blood he had sold for Shi Guang had come from.
• Xiao Nan said the blood had been his and protested when Yu Sheng asked for a Demon Lord’s Demon Core.
• Yu Sheng asked Brawny Man whether Xiao Nan or the old man had seemed familiar; Brawny Man recalled seeing Xiao Nan twice and feeling uneasy around the old man.
• Xiao Nan returned with a Demon Core from the Taotie Clan, which had a Divine Beast Blood Vein and spatial properties, and Shi Guang took it.
• Yu Sheng led Shi Guang, Mu Yu, and Brawny Man out of the city, while Xiao Nan grumbled about being robbed and wondered why Yu Sheng had asked about his past.

Old White Ape found the defeated Nine-Tailed Fox and tried to provoke it into fighting by offering to let it kill him. After Old White Ape left, the Nine-Tailed Fox suspected he was trying to turn it into a weapon and resolved to defy his plans.

• Old White Ape found the wounded Nine-Tailed Fox hiding in the mountains and questioned why one defeat had left it so dispirited.
• The Nine-Tailed Fox told Old White Ape that it had tried and failed to kill Yu Sheng.
• Old White Ape offered to stand undefended for one minute and urged the Nine-Tailed Fox to kill him, but it refused to act.
• After Old White Ape left, the Nine-Tailed Fox considered whether he was trying to turn it into a blade and decided to do what he did not want.

The Nine-Tailed Fox resolved to stop Old White Ape from sacrificing the Demon Domain, while Yu Mo tried to keep Yu Sheng from entering the city without revealing his plan. Yu Sheng rejected Yu Mo’s appeal and chose to return to uncover the truth himself.

• The Nine-Tailed Fox reflected on Old White Ape’s possible schemes, reaffirmed its resolve to protect the Demon Domain, and disguised itself as an ordinary level-six Demon Beast before disappearing into the forest.
• Yu Mo blocked the entrance to Deep Mountain and asked Yu Sheng, Shi Guang, and the others not to enter the city.
• Yu Sheng refused to trust Yu Mo’s request without an explanation and argued that a secret outcome he would resist could not simply be called good for him.
• Yu Mo admitted that his plan was beneficial to himself and asked Yu Sheng to stay out of the city for his sake.
• Yu Sheng apologized but decided to return and investigate Yu Mo’s plan on his own.

Yu Mo accepted Yu Sheng’s promise to give him a dignified death and explained to Xin Yongfeng that he feared failing to die by the person’s hand he wanted. He then had the Confucian Scholar rush him away in his wheelchair, enduring a bumpy ride as Xin Yongfeng watched.

• Yu Mo let Yu Sheng leave after Yu Sheng agreed to give him a dignified death when the time came.
• Xin Yongfeng warned Yu Mo that his many enemies could kill him, and Yu Mo said he feared not dying at the hands of a particular person.
• Yu Mo asked Xin Yongfeng whether he would choose to suffer alone in the past for a chance to prevent the Demon Beasts from slaughtering humanity.
• Yu Mo called for the Confucian Scholar, who returned after confirming the Brawny Man had left and rapidly pushed Yu Mo’s wheelchair away.
• The wheelchair bounced over a pebble repeatedly, leaving Yu Mo silently enduring the ride while Xin Yongfeng reminisced about riding old roadster bicycles.

After Mu Yu parted ways with Yu Sheng and Shi Guang, the two considered the mysteries surrounding their past before returning to their old home. They cleaned the dusty house and prepared to make dinner, while Brawny Man happily rode with them.

• Mu Yu left for Jiangbei City to visit Zhao Zicheng's child, and Shi Guang and Yu Sheng discussed doubts about Zhan's account and the possibility that Xiao Nan was the Feather Race's Heir.
• Shi Guang and Yu Sheng agreed that the past might never be explained and that Xiao Nan's blood exchange for steamed buns had been a sealed deal.
• Yu Sheng drove Shi Guang and Brawny Man toward home, seating Brawny Man on the roof with a merit medal and plenty of jerky.
• Yu Sheng and Shi Guang returned to the house they had bought during New Year and spent the afternoon cleaning it without using spiritual energy.
• Brawny Man stayed tucked in a corner while Yu Sheng and Shi Guang finished cleaning and decided to make dinner.

Yu Sheng and Shi Guang shared a quiet meal before Shi Guang decided to leave and pursue the Ninth Awakening, hoping to avoid holding Yu Sheng back. After she departed, Yu Sheng sat alone with Brawny Man and resolved that they all had to follow their own paths and try to stay alive.

• Yu Sheng and Shi Guang discovered their seasonings had expired, bought ingredients, and made dumplings that Brawny Man disliked.
• Shi Guang told Yu Sheng she would leave in the morning to seek the Ninth Awakening through the Feather Race's inheritance.
• Yu Sheng and Shi Guang discussed their limited time before the final battle and the challenges of advancing their awakenings.
• At daybreak, Shi Guang left, saying she could not let Yu Sheng die because of her.
• Yu Sheng sat alone until Brawny Man joined him, then said they had to follow their own paths and try to stay alive before leaving the house together.

As Sun Wen faced public outrage for trading Gold Ingot Group shares for Demon Cores and being appointed Finance Department Director-General, Yu Sheng suspected Yu Mo had a hidden motive. He decided to go to Ink City with Brawny Man.

• Wealthy people protested Sun Wen’s contract, which delayed share allocation for a year and a half, and Yu Mo’s people stopped them from reaching the Ink Pavilion.
• Yu Mo held a press conference naming Sun Wen Director-General of the Finance Department, while the Ink Pavilion stayed silent and people boycotted Gold Ingot products.
• Yu Sheng read the public backlash and wondered what Yu Mo was trying to do, noting Sun Wen was the only person tied to both of them.
• Yu Sheng told Brawny Man they were going to Ink City and promised he would get enough to eat.
• Brawny Man followed Yu Sheng toward Ink City, riding on a car roof and eating beef jerky along the way.

Yu Sheng arrived at Gold Ingot Group to see Sun Wen, bypassing everyone who tried to stop him. Sun Wen and Yu Mo prepared to use emotional blackmail, but Yu Sheng appeared in their office before their plan could work.

• Yu Sheng knocked out the guard at Gold Ingot Group's entrance and entered the headquarters with Brawny Man.
• Yu Sheng knocked out an employee who tried to stop him, while Brawny Man walked past an elderly man who attempted to block their way.
• Sun Wen watched Yu Sheng approach on security footage and said he would wait as long as necessary to see him.
• Yu Mo suggested using cute girls for emotional blackmail, then sent a message to every display revealing Sun Wen's location.
• Yu Sheng appeared inside Sun Wen's office before the door opened, leaving Sun Wen and Yu Mo's preparations useless.

Yu Sheng confronted Sun Wen about what he was hiding and waited for him to explain. Sun Wen invited Yu Sheng to tea, while Brawny Man knocked Yu Mo unconscious so he could not overhear them.

• Sun Wen greeted Yu Sheng warmly, but Yu Sheng demanded to know what he was hiding.
• Yu Mo tried to join the conversation, and Yu Sheng threatened him while Brawny Man and Confucian Scholar reacted.
• Yu Sheng waited without pressing Sun Wen, following Sin City's rule against prying into another person's secrets.
• Sun Wen invited Yu Sheng to sit for tea, and Yu Sheng agreed.
• Yu Sheng told Brawny Man to keep Yu Mo from hearing them, so Brawny Man knocked Yu Mo unconscious and put him back in his wheelchair.

Sun Wen told Yu Sheng that his ninth skill could trade away his rank, and claimed he planned to use it to help Yu Sheng. Yu Sheng accepted his explanation and left, while Yu Mo woke after Brawny Man had gone and reflected on how terrifying Brawny Man’s sudden attack had been.

• Sun Wen explained that his ninth skill let him trade his rank to another person at the cost of becoming unable to cultivate.
• Sun Wen said he had considered reaching the tenth awakening before trading his cultivation to Yu Sheng, and described his hopes for the future.
• Yu Sheng asked Sun Wen if he was telling the truth, then said he believed him and left to comprehend the power of laws.
• Brawny Man asked whether they were still going to kill Yu Mo, and Yu Sheng said no before leaving with him.
• Confucian Scholar revived Yu Mo, who felt relieved that Brawny Man was gone and feared his unpredictable attack.

Yu Mo recovered after surviving a near-fatal encounter with Yu Sheng, then learned that Sun Wen had deceived Yu Sheng to make him leave. Sun Wen accepted his role in a sacrifice for the Human Race and prepared to cultivate, while he and Yu Mo exchanged solemn bows.

• Yu Mo recovered from Yu Sheng's attack and learned that Confucian Scholar had also been beaten by him repeatedly.
• Sun Wen explained that he had mostly told Yu Sheng the truth about his ninth skill but lied about one crucial point to make him leave.
• Sun Wen said Yu Sheng had noticed something was wrong but trusted him because he did not want to lose a friend.
• Yu Mo offered to ensure no one would force Sun Wen to sacrifice himself, but Sun Wen chose to honor his family's generations of service to the Human Race.
• Sun Wen said he would cultivate and asked Yu Mo to leave, then bowed to him as Yu Mo paid his respects in return.

Yu Mo confessed that he had lied about protecting people from being forced to die, while Sun Wen prepared to sacrifice his reputation by launching an aggressive takeover campaign. The chapter left Confucian Scholar pondering why he feared danger despite believing he could return from death.

• Yu Mo silently acknowledged Sun Wen before Confucian Scholar wheeled him away, and Sun Wen watched Yu Sheng leave Gold Ingot Group's headquarters.
• Sun Wen grieved that he had lied to Yu Mo, then ordered the group's shareholders to begin swallowing major Human Race enterprises over the next year, whatever the cost.
• Yu Mo told Confucian Scholar that he had forced many people, including Sun Wen, toward death and asked whether he deserved to die.
• Confucian Scholar said he could bring Yu Mo back to life if he died, and Yu Mo asked why Confucian Scholar feared danger if he could also restore himself.
• Confucian Scholar froze and seriously considered Yu Mo's question.

Yu Mo left with the Confucian Scholar, grateful that Yu Sheng had spared him and determined to keep living. Meanwhile, Yu Sheng accepted that Yu Mo had lied, struggled with his stalled cultivation and unfamiliar emotions, and continued traveling with Brawny Man.

• Yu Mo reflected that Yu Sheng had spared him and told the Confucian Scholar to take him to their next stop.
• Brawny Man told Yu Sheng that Yu Mo had been lying, judging by his quickened heartbeat, but Yu Sheng said he already knew.
• Yu Sheng said he did not want to expose the lie or lose a friend, then absorbed two Demon King-level Demon Crystals without gaining any energy.
• Yu Sheng worried that he could no longer find enough high-grade Demon Crystals to advance and wondered whether his growing reluctance to kill Yu Mo meant he had changed.
• Brawny Man happily ate Yu Sheng's share of the meat and encouraged him to eat too.

Yu Sanshui tracked down Black Robe and pressured her to join a coming battle, mixing flirtation with threats and admitting he wanted to improve his chances of survival. Black Robe remained wary of exposing herself, while Yu Sanshui defended his fear of death despite his sense of justice.

• Yu Sanshui found Black Robe, who warned him to stop pestering her and threatened to settle their old scores.
• Yu Sanshui deliberately mobilized his spiritual energy, drawing attention and making Black Robe fear that the Human Race’s hidden Ninth Awakening experts would scrutinize her too.
• Yu Sanshui introduced himself as a Human Race Ninth Awakening expert and Ink Pavilion elder, then asked Black Robe to join him in a likely fight in a year and a half.
• When Black Robe tried to leave, Yu Sanshui threatened to gather others to fight her and admitted he wanted to drag more people into the battle to improve his odds of survival.
• Black Robe recalled Yu Sanshui stepping forward outside Demon-Suppressing Pass, and he insisted that having a sense of justice did not mean he was unafraid to die.

Yu Sanshui confronted Black Robe and warned that the Ink Pavilion was watching her, prompting her to consider dragging other powerful figures into the conflict to protect herself. In Ink City, Yu Mo threatened a Ninth Awakening senior into meeting with him, but the senior answered by pelting him with a pebble.

• Yu Sanshui told Black Robe that he would kill her if necessary and explained that the Ink Pavilion had effectively sent him to find her.
• Yu Sanshui warned Black Robe not to run, then left her alone in the wilderness.
• Black Robe decided she might seek out other uncertainly living elders to drag into the situation.
• Yu Mo demanded an audience with the Ninth Awakening senior at the Black Market headquarters and threatened to make the senior an enemy of the Ink Pavilion.
• Confucian Scholar warned Yu Mo that he kept provoking people far stronger than himself, but a pebble flew from the residence and struck Yu Mo on the head.

Yu Mo met the aging founder of the Black Market to discuss official business and seek advice. The old man initially demanded cash for his lessons, but Yu Mo offered Demon Lord Level Demon Crystals, prompting him to eagerly invite Yu Mo over.

• The old man admitted that the Black Market had begun by robbing other crooks, and Yu Mo responded without showing alarm.
• The Confucian Scholar refused to enter the residence with Yu Mo, leaving Yu Mo to wheel himself inside.
• Yu Mo greeted the old man as the Light Group's Clan Chief and said he wanted to discuss business before seeking advice.
• The old man asked Yu Mo for cash as payment for his business lessons, but Yu Mo said he had brought none.
• Yu Mo displayed several Demon Lord Level Demon Crystals and joked that they might buy the old man's courtyard.
• The old man urgently called for Yu Mo to be brought over and demanded the finest wine.

Yu Mo visited the Old Man to persuade the Black Market to join the Pass Ascension in a year and a half, paying Demon Crystals for an elaborate path across the Lake and a brief meal. The Old Man agreed immediately, explaining that the Black Market would be doomed if the Human Race lost and needed to secure a favor from the Human Race to survive even if it won.

• The Old Man cleared a path for Yu Mo across the Lake with golden carp, spiritual energy, and blooming snow lotuses, then charged him a Demon Lord Demon Crystal.
• The Old Man insisted that visiting his pavilion required a minimum spend of three Demon Lord Demon Crystals, so Yu Mo paid the remaining two and ordered wine and food.
• Yu Mo asked the Old Man to bring the Black Market into the Pass Ascension a year and a half later, warning that the fighting would cause heavy casualties.
• The Old Man agreed at once, explaining that the Demon Domain would target the Black Market if the Human Race lost.
• The Old Man said the Black Market needed to leave the Human Race owing it a favor to have a chance of surviving after a Human victory, prompting Yu Mo to question whether he was really Yu Mo.

Yu Mo tried to bargain with Old Man but realized he had been outmaneuvered and swam back across the lake. Old Man revealed he had used Mind-Bewildering Flower to fool Yu Mo, while the Demon Domain and Human Race maintained a calm surface as both prepared for the final battle.

• Old Man mocked Yu Mo for misjudging him and kept the three Demon Lord Demon Crystals as Yu Mo's tuition.
• Yu Mo abandoned his wheelchair, swam across the lake, and had Confucian Scholar carry him back.
• Old Man revealed that Mind-Bewildering Flower had made Yu Mo look like an idiot and put away the crystals.
• Nine-Tailed Fox remained missing, while Old White Ape tended to his Flower Garden without surprise.
• The Demon Domain and Human Race appeared peaceful as their leaders quietly built momentum for the final battle.