Chapter Summaries

Chen Qing realized that the Celestial Master Mansion’s trial might exploit hidden weaknesses in every major power, while Chen Baifeng feared the South Sea Dragon Palace could turn against his family. As the Four Saints Gates opened, Ziyue confronted the old Celestial Master and demanded the truth he had promised.

• Chen Qing warned Chen Baifeng and the other elders that the Celestial Master Mansion’s selection was a trap and questioned why it would risk provoking the world’s major powers.
• Chen Qing asked what precautions Chen Baifeng had taken against the South Sea Dragon Palace, and Chen Baifeng realized his family had relied on the Dragon Palace while allowing its forces to grow stronger.
• Chen Qing considered how Jiangnan, Great Jin, the Northern Lands, and the South Sea families each depended on powerful allies or leaders, and suspected the Celestial Master Mansion had long planned to exploit those vulnerabilities.
• The old Celestial Master announced that the Four Saints Gates were opening and sent Zhang Zhiyun and Murong Ziyi to their assigned areas.
• Ziyue challenged the old Celestial Master to tell her the truth he had promised at the final trial, and he asked where she wanted him to begin.

Ziyue questioned Celestial Master Zhang about the Warlock Dynasty and learned that its members were Ancient Demons who had secretly fought the reincarnating powers that dominated the world. Celestial Master Zhang revealed that the Reincarnator whose memories inspired their plan was the world’s creator, Pu Yunchuan.

• Ziyue demanded to know why the Warlock Dynasty’s people remembered her, and Zhang Xiaoyun said she had once praised his potential.
• Ziyue recognized Zhang Xiaoyun as the child from her buried memories, while his eyes and Celestial Master Zhang’s turned scarlet.
• Celestial Master Zhang revealed that he and the Warlock Dynasty were Ancient Demons, and explained how reincarnators infiltrated the world and nearly wiped out their clan.
• Celestial Master Zhang said the Ancient Demons founded the Warlock Dynasty to find a power capable of opposing the Four Great Guilds and preventing their revival.
• Celestial Master Zhang revealed that an Ancient Demon had devoured the world’s creator and learned its secrets from his memories: his name was Pu Yunchuan.

Ziyue learned that Pu Yunchuan’s death had enabled the Ancient Demons to identify and capture Reincarnators, and the old Celestial Master hinted that she was now their princess. Meanwhile, Ao Zhen’s group traveled inconspicuously toward South Sea City, where Ao Zhen sensed that something was wrong as they reached the dock.

• The old Celestial Master told Ziyue that Pu Yunchuan’s spellcraft and method for identifying Reincarnators had helped the Ancient Demons create the Warlock Dynasty after they absorbed his memories.
• Ziyue realized that Pu Yunchuan’s death had led to the Reincarnators’ capture and suffering, then sank into despair.
• Celestial Master Zhang urged Ziyue to stop despairing and called her “Your Highness,” leaving her stunned.
• Ao Zhen explained to Wei Gongzhan that their group was traveling by merchant ship to avoid detection and conserve blood and qi.
• Murong Yunji questioned why Chen Qing was involving himself in South Sea affairs, while Ao Zhen noted the South Sea Dragon King’s suspicious lack of ambition.
• As the ship reached South Sea City’s dock, Ao Zhen sensed that something was wrong.

Murong Yunji and Ao Zhen sensed a sinister presence as their ship approached the South Sea, while Wei Gongzhan spoke with Chen Zhuo, a Chen Household heir who questioned their cargo and their plans. After Chen Zhuo left, Ao Zhen identified him as the likely source of the strange aura and warned that a major event might soon unfold.

• Murong Yunji and Ao Zhen felt an unsettling presence as the ship neared the harbor.
• Wei Gongzhan met Chen Zhuo, who offered to buy the Jiangnan goods and questioned why the ship would remain in the South Sea.
• Wei Gongzhan told Chen Zhuo that he and the two young ladies were visiting relatives, and Chen gave him a jade pendant to use at the Chen Residence.
• Ao Zhen said Chen Zhuo was the likely source of the strange aura and confirmed he had not detected her concealed presence.
• Wei Gongzhan explained that their visit had a cover prepared through the Zhou Household, and Ao Zhen warned that something big might happen soon.

Chen Zhuo investigated the Jiangnan ship and ordered surveillance of the Li Household after learning its relatives were connected to the cargo. Meanwhile, Ao Zhen sensed that at least ten thousand members of the aquatic races had come ashore near the Li Residence.

• Chen Zhuo ordered an inquiry into the Jiangnan ship’s passengers and their relatives, then explained to the steward why he was wary of outsiders.
• Chen Zhuo dined with his mother and concealed his resentment over her favoring his elder brothers and giving his eldest brother a chance to change his fate.
• A woman speaking in Chen Zhuo’s mind told him that the compatriot parasitizing his eldest brother had encountered trouble and that His Highness the Dragon King was summoning him.
• Before leaving, Chen Zhuo ordered agents to watch the Li Household and act immediately if anything happened.
• At the Li Residence, Ao Zhen sensed that at least ten thousand aquatic races had come ashore, while Murong Yunji could detect nothing.

Ao Zhen and Wei Gongzhan investigated signs of a major South Sea Dragon Palace operation, while South Sea’s noble elders faced thousands of aquatic tribesmen approaching the city. The chapter ended with the elders believing their dragon-bloodline defenses could hold the approaching force.

• Ao Zhen sensed more than ten thousand aquatic tribesmen ashore and inferred that at least a thousand flood dragons had returned.
• Ao Zhen explained that Dragon Transformation was open to other races partly because dragons needed more warriors, prompting Wei Gongzhan to question whether the Dragon Palace might be controlling human nobles through something parasitic.
• Wei Gongzhan urged Ao Zhen to withdraw and report their findings, but Ao Zhen warned that trouble had already found them.
• The elders of South Sea’s major noble families gathered above the city gate as the aquatic tribesmen approached, and Third Elder Chen wondered why the Dragon Palace had sent no warning.
• The elders transformed into flame dragons and challenged the aquatic tribesmen, then took confidence from their numbers and the city’s defenses.

Wei Gongzhan, Murong Yunji, and Ao Zhen learned that sea clans had surrounded South Sea City and begun massacring civilians, then decided to confront the Chen Household over its suspected betrayal. As the city elders activated the defensive formation, the Chen elders suddenly demanded that Ye Qing be brought to them.

• The Li Household head reported that sea clans had surrounded South Sea City and killed many civilians, while Ao Zhen identified the attackers who had tried to assassinate the group as Night Shrimp.
• Wei Gongzhan reasoned that Chen Zhuo and possibly the whole Chen Household were allied with the South Sea Dragon Palace, threatening the city’s ability to activate its formation.
• Murong Yunji understood that the group needed to stop the Chen Household if the formation was to work, and Ao Zhen agreed they should go there.
• At the south gate, the elders gathered to defend the city and said Ye Qing was preparing the Chen Household’s Fire Dragon Pearl while they began activating the formation.
• After the elders’ blood strengthened the formation’s flames, two Chen elders shouted for Ye Qing to be brought over immediately.

The Chen Household’s formation strained to hold back the Ghost Shark General, while Ao Zhen and Wei Gongzhan suspected the South Sea Dragon Palace had made a desperate wager. At the Chen Residence, Ye Qing discovered the Flame Dragon Pearl was missing and learned that her youngest son had taken it.

• Chen Tiannian and another Chen elder fed their heart’s blood into the formation as the Ghost Shark General appeared in the southern sky.
• The elders recognized the Ghost Shark General and sent for Ye Qing, fearing the formation could not stop it without a true dragon sorcerer.
• Ao Zhen identified the Ghost Shark General and speculated that the South Sea Dragon Palace had sacrificed at least a thousand flood dragons to revive it.
• Wei Gongzhan suspected the South Sea Dragon Palace’s goal involved Chen Zhuo, and Ao Zhen hurried with him toward the Chen Household.
• Ye Qing discovered the Flame Dragon Pearl was missing, killed a guard in anger, and demanded to know who had taken it.
• Ye Qing’s youngest son confessed that he had taken the Flame Dragon Pearl, and she turned on him with killing intent.

Chen Zhuo confronted Ye Qing over her decision to give his only chance to become a warlock to his eldest brother, then trapped her in red threads that drained her life. As Murong Yunji and Ao Zhen’s group entered the Chen Residence seeking help against the attack outside, they found Ye Qing dead and Chen Zhuo transformed, while Ao Zhen realized South Sea City was doomed.

• Ye Qing mistook Chen Zhuo’s strange behavior for possession and threatened the presence speaking through his body, but he revealed that he resented her for giving his chance to become a warlock to Laoda.
• Chen Zhuo accused Ye Qing of assuming he did not care about his lack of talent and short lifespan, and she embraced him, promising not to give up on him.
• Chen Zhuo wrapped Ye Qing in red threads and drained her life, while an unknown force tore apart the guards who tried to intervene.
• Murong Yunji and her companions arrived at the Chen Residence to warn the elders that a powerful enemy was attacking and the city’s protective formation was close to collapse.
• Ao Zhen forced a Chen Household elder to lead them to the underground treasury, where they found Ye Qing’s shriveled corpse and Chen Zhuo dressed in bright red.
• The Chen Household elders demanded to know what Chen Zhuo had done, while Ao Zhen realized South Sea City was finished.

Chen Zhuo confronted Ao Zhen and Wei Gongzhan after killing Ye Qing, while the force inside him revealed its ancient origins. Wei Gongzhan concluded that the group had to defend the city and implied Chen Zhuo was their only chance, leaving Chen Zhuo startled that he had guessed correctly.

• Wei Gongzhan recalled how Ye Qing had defended Chen Zhuo when he was a child and said he had envied the family love she showed him.
• Chen Zhuo rejected Wei Gongzhan's account, raised his power, and asked who Ao Zhen was.
• A voice within Chen Zhuo identified Ao Zhen as the West Sea's foremost general, while Chen Zhuo's parasite invoked the Demon Buddha and alarmed her.
• Ao Zhen weighed whether to fight or retreat as Murong Yunji questioned whether Chen Zhuo had killed Ye Qing of his own free will.
• Wei Gongzhan argued that the group had to kill Chen Zhuo and hold the city, then said their only chance lay with Chen Zhuo.
• Chen Zhuo hid his shock when Wei Gongzhan appeared to understand what he could do.

The South Sea elders debated whether to keep supplying blood to the failing formation, while Wei Gongzhan revealed that Ye Qing’s preserved dragon blood inside Chen Zhuo might offer a final chance. Chen Zhuo said the being within him had already begun absorbing it, and Ao Zhen rushed to stop him as his body turned crimson.

• The Nie Family elder urged the families to hold the formation for another quarter of an hour, and the Su Family elder reluctantly agreed before they withdrew.
• Wei Gongzhan explained that Ye Qing had left a spell in her blood to help Chen Zhuo if he was being controlled, and that the blood remained intact inside him.
• Chen Zhuo acknowledged Wei Gongzhan’s deduction but said the final chance was gone because the being inside him could absorb the blood.
• Ao Zhen transformed into dragon flames and charged at Chen Zhuo, but saw him already turning crimson as he began absorbing the dragon blood.

Ao Zhen stopped the monster inside Chen Zhuo from fully absorbing Ye Qing’s dragon blood, leaving him alive and exposing the truth about his mother’s intentions. Chen Zhuo warned that his race had plans across the dynasty and that no one was coming to save them.

• Ao Zhen fought Chen Zhuo, and Wei Gongzhan realized the spell in Ye Qing’s blood was counterattacking the monster after it forcibly absorbed the blood.
• Ao Zhen used a killing move without killing intent, severed Chen Zhuo’s head, and preserved more than half of the dragon blood.
• Chen Zhuo boasted that his race’s plan could not be stopped, while Wei Gongzhan challenged his claims of superiority.
• A Chen Household elder revealed that the dragon egg had originally been intended for Chen Zhuo, but his older brother secretly swallowed it to protect Ye Qing from the risk.
• Ao Zhen explained that Ye Qing had passed her inheritance to Chen Zhuo and urged him to examine the memories within it; Chen Zhuo avoided the elders’ gazes.
• Chen Zhuo warned Ao Zhen and the others that his race had plans beyond the South Sea, including the dynasty, the north, the Heavenly Capital, and Jiangnan.

As flames rose over South Sea City, Wei Gongzhan learned that the attack might be part of a plot targeting the leaders gathered in Cloud Capital and their home territories. Trapped inside a formation with Ao Zhen, he chose to send a warning to Wei Gongcheng, whom he and Murong Yunji trusted to protect Jiangnan.

• Ghost Shark and the tumor on his body dismissed the failed attack, saying South Sea City's formation would collapse within seven days unless reinforcements arrived.
• Chen Zhuo told Wei Gongzhan that someone among Jiangnan's upper ranks had been won over, and Wei realized the Celestial Master Assembly might be a trap aimed at absent leaders and their territories.
• Ao Zhen said the formation blocked travel in both directions and that he could contact only one person with a message of at most twenty characters.
• Wei Gongzhan considered possible traitors, including Xu Hu, Tian Heng, the Shen Family, and Wei Gongcheng, then asked Ao Zhen to warn Wei Gongcheng.
• Murong Yunji backed Wei Gongcheng as the person in Jiangnan most worthy of trust, and Ao Zhen agreed to send him a message.

Wei Gongcheng concealed Ao Zhen’s warning that the South Sea would fall within seven days and Jiangnan faced upheaval, while the leaders in Liuzhou discussed their unease and the possibility of a traitor. As everyone prepared to return to their posts, Wei Gongcheng heard Tian Heng and Shen Lao'er independently suspect the Shen Family and Tian Heng, confirming that someone among Jiangnan’s leaders had likely been compromised.

• Wei Gongcheng hid Ao Zhen’s report that the South Sea would fall within seven days and trouble was coming to Jiangnan, and he considered which of the leaders might have turned.
• Wei Gongcheng asked whether anyone had noticed anything unusual, and Shen Lao'er admitted he had felt a chilling sense of dread.
• Tian Heng described the West Sea Army’s successful recruitment and relocation efforts, easing the mood in the hall.
• Shen Laosan told everyone to return to their territories because their lord had not requested help and Ao Zhen’s report had not arrived.
• Wei Gongcheng heard Tian Heng and Shen Lao'er separately think that the Shen Family and Tian Heng were suspicious, and realized someone among Jiangnan’s upper ranks had likely been bought off.

Wei Gongcheng investigated who might have been bought off and identified Tian Heng as the likeliest suspect, though he remained uncertain. Xu Hu arrived and was asked how well he could fight Tian Heng, while Tian Heng headed toward the Stargazing Tower unaware of their suspicions.

• Wei Gongcheng told the assembled leaders to remain in Liuzhou City while he investigated a possible betrayal.
• The Shen Family questioned Wei Gongcheng about Ao Zhen’s report, and he admitted that everyone was a suspect.
• Xu Hu rushed to the government offices, and Wei Gongcheng gave him a karmic fruit to restore his strength.
• Wei Gongcheng asked Xu Hu how confidently he could face Tian Heng if Tian Heng rebelled, and Xu Hu angrily condemned the possibility.
• Wei Gongcheng said he considered Tian Heng seventy percent likely to be the traitor, while Tian Heng walked toward the Stargazing Tower with a dark expression.

At a New Year gathering in Liuzhou, Meng Sheng realized Tian Heng’s other subordinates were plotting against Chen Qing, while Tian Heng remained conflicted about their plans. The deputy generals urged Tian Heng to keep Meng Sheng under watch, and privately decided they might have to act for their indecisive leader.

• Tian Heng and his old subordinates gathered at the Stargazing Tower, where Meng Sheng teased them about their hard work and prosperous lives.
• Tian Heng recognized that his brothers’ ambition had grown as they gained power in the West Sea and considered the dangerous offer to betray Chen Qing while he was trapped in the Cloud Capital.
• Tian Ye joked that the brothers would protect Meng Sheng’s wealth and standing, prompting Tian Heng to rebuke him and leaving Meng Sheng suspicious and uneasy.
• Meng Sheng recalled how the Tian Household had once betrayed the King of Qin and slaughtered a former comrade’s family, deepening his fear that the brothers were preparing another betrayal.
• The deputy generals suggested watching Meng Sheng, but Tian Heng rejected killing him and said he needed time to think.
• The deputy generals privately judged Tian Heng too indecisive and resolved to make the decision for him.

Meng Sheng struggled to choose a side after learning that Tian Heng’s faction was preparing to rebel, fearing that either choice could endanger his family. Meanwhile, Xu Hu and the others assessed the troops available to resist Tian Heng and identified the West Sea Aquatic Clan as a crucial force to secure.

• Meng Sheng’s wife explained how much their family valued their peaceful life in Jiangnan, and Meng Sheng worried that refusing to choose a side would get them killed.
• Meng Sheng told his wife that his former comrades were plotting rebellion, and she supported him without trying to influence his decision.
• Xu Hu said only ten thousand troops could be recalled from the North Sea without weakening the defenses.
• Shen Laosan warned that Tian Heng had ten thousand elite Sea God Army fighters and might have outside support.
• Shen Lao'er identified the West Sea Aquatic Clan as a key force, and Wei Gongcheng understood what he meant.

Chen Qing explained how he had prepared for Tian Heng’s possible betrayal while Cloud Capital’s attacks threatened Jiangnan and the South Sea. Wei Gongcheng brought Xu Hu into the Underworld to give him the final trump card their lord had left in Liuzhou.

• Chen Baifeng learned that the South Sea Dragon Palace had betrayed the great households and feared South Sea City would fall without help.
• Chen Qing concluded that the Ancient Demon had orchestrated Cloud Capital’s plot and suspected Tian Heng was behind the attack on Jiangnan.
• Chen Qing told Shen Qi that he had favored Tian Heng to create a rift between him and the West Sea Aquatic Clan, leaving himself with justification to seize Tian Heng’s forces if he rebelled.
• Wei Gongcheng brought Xu Hu into the Underworld and said he had something to give him: their lord’s final trump card in Liuzhou.

Meng Sheng's old comrades pressured him to help Tian Heng target Liuzhou's South Door God, while Shen Lao'er and Shen Laosan assessed the signs of Tian Heng's rebellion. The chapter left the rebellion's true backing and Tian Heng's plan unclear.

• Meng Sheng met Tian Yunhu and Zhou Tengbin, who demanded that he support their plans rather than remain neutral.
• Tian Yunhu asked Meng Sheng to provide information on the South Door God and lure him away from his gate so they could attack him.
• Meng Sheng recalled being asked to betray a trusted comrade in the past and feared the same tragedy was about to happen again.
• Shen Lao'er told Shen Shiyi and Shen Laosan that Tian Heng was likely preparing to rebel, with the Celestial Master Mansion in the Cloud Capital possibly involved.
• Shen Lao'er and Shen Laosan concluded that Tian Heng could not easily take Liuzhou with the South Door God, the returning Fighter Army, and divided loyalties in the West Sea Army, so he must have another plan.

The West Sea Aquatic Clan debated whether to betray Jiangnan after a mysterious force offered them power in exchange for joining its plans. The Star Octopus leader proposed secretly waiting to see how the battle went, while hiding its own cold intentions.

• The Yaksha general and leaders of the West Sea clans discussed whether the mysterious messenger’s offer was worth turning against Jiangnan.
• The tiger prawn leader warned that the messenger’s power matched the terrifying monsters of the Demon Buddha Hall.
• The Ao Crab leader weighed the promise of reaching Dragon King Level against the clan’s growing ties and benefits in Jiangnan.
• The Star Octopus leader suggested accepting the mysterious force’s terms, delaying intervention, and choosing a side only after observing the battle.
• The other leaders found the plan persuasive, while the Star Octopus leader secretly smiled coldly.