Chapter Summaries

Zhang Xuezhou warned the new emperor that the Palace of Peace and Happiness might provoke Divine Lord Zhenyuan by trying to recruit him, so they arranged for Zhang and Zhenyuan to avoid Grand Princess Dou’s visit. The chapter ended with Li Guang recognizing Zhenyuan’s use of the Heavenly Form Technique and offending him with a careless remark.

• The new emperor warned Zhang Xuezhou that Grand Princess Dou would visit Divine Lord Zhenyuan the next morning, prompting Zhang to fear the Palace of Peace and Happiness would try to recruit him.
• Zhang Xuezhou cautioned the new emperor that Zhenyuan would not follow Great Han customs and asked him to mediate, but the new emperor admitted he could not.
• The new emperor offered Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan a place to stay at his residence to avoid the visit, and they quickly agreed to leave.
• Zhang Xuezhou collapsed as he stepped onto the carriage, but Divine Lord Zhenyuan used the Heavenly Form Technique to steady and lower him.
• Li Guang recognized the technique and called its practitioners ox-headed ghosts and snake spirits, angering Divine Lord Zhenyuan.

Zhang Xuezhou returned to the real world and found that the international contest had been extended while the Scarlet Alliance State assembled a hunting party. As he prepared to eat and resume his plans, a dispute over the gathering on Alliance Island erupted outside his room.

• Zhang Xuezhou reflected on his connection with the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon and considered damaging the Heaven and Earth Bridges in both worlds if necessary to stop it.
• Zhang Xuezhou woke in the real world, where Ren Anran, Wang Haoran, Zhang Manqian, Changkong Luo, and Zuo Lianguang were waiting nearby.
• Zhang Xuezhou learned that the international contest had been extended to accommodate his return and help coordinate the hunting party seeking Ferocious Beasts.
• Montes Ganghao confronted the gathering's organizers, and Li Yingbo agreed to let the fighting begin after Zhou Rihui and others protested.
• A woman spotted Changkong Luo in Zhang Xuezhou's room, and people outside mocked his reduced standing among the fighters.

At Alliance Island, the Scarlet Alliance State’s delay in starting the international dispute provoked the Aomeijia Alliance into a direct challenge. Changkong Luo agreed to fight Montes Clark alongside Zuo Lianguang, leaving the sides poised for their first match.

• Zhang Xuezhou spotted Nagesi watching the dispute from afar and waved, prompting Nagesi to stop directing Xie'ertong to stir up trouble and approach him.
• After four days of delays by the Scarlet Alliance State, Montes Ganghao and Montes Clark confronted the delegation and learned that Zhou Xin had not arrived.
• Montes Ganghao concluded that Changkong Luo was the Scarlet Alliance State’s high Sequence Holder and looked forward to fighting him, confident in the Aomeijia Alliance’s chances.
• Montes Ganghao called for Changkong Luo to sign a contract and fight, and Changkong Luo accepted.
• Changkong Luo proposed that he and Zuo Lianguang team up against Montes Clark, who remained wary and considered whether Montes Badun should step in.

The international dispute contest began its candidate selection, and Zhang Xuezhou learned how the rounds and top rankings worked while watching the major powers gather. Mengtesi Badun confronted Changkong Luo, declaring that without Zhou Xin, the Aomeijia Alliance would win and hinting he intended to eliminate Changkong Luo's side in the first round.

• The contest organizers began selecting candidates and drafting contracts as thousands of workers, spectators, and Sequence Holders gathered.
• Li Yingbo explained the contest’s three rounds, the role of attrition, and the rankings of Mengtesi Badun, Zhou Xin, and other top fighters to Zhang Xuezhou.
• Mengtesi Badun emerged from his cabin and flew to the front of the Aomeijia Alliance’s position, drawing everyone’s attention.
• Changkong Luo challenged Mengtesi Badun about facing the Scarlet Alliance State in the first round, and Mengtesi Badun said they would fight sooner or later.
• Mengtesi Badun blamed Zhou Xin’s absence for leaving Changkong Luo’s side unable to stop the Aomeijia Alliance and resolved to eliminate them in the first round.

Ren Yisheng persuaded Nagesi to cooperate against Montes Badun, proposing an all-out attack and a broader international contest format. Changkong Luo and Zuo Lianguang were badly injured but struck Badun with a powerful roar, and Nagesi agreed to the alliance as the Scarlet Alliance State raised its surrender placard.

• Montes Badun and Montes Ganghao challenged the Scarlet Alliance State, prompting Changkong Luo and Zuo Lianguang to enter the arena against them.
• Ren Yisheng offered Nagesi a plan to send five pairs to wear down Badun and argued for adding lower Sequence levels to future international contests.
• Changkong Luo and Zuo Lianguang attacked Badun despite Ganghao's defense, taking heavy blows while landing two hard strikes on Badun.
• Montes Badun twisted Zuo Lianguang's arms and struck his chest, but Changkong Luo's roar knocked Ganghao down and made Badun stagger and bleed.
• The Scarlet Alliance State raised its surrender placard, and Nagesi agreed to cooperate with Ren Yisheng against Badun.

The Scarlet Alliance State sent five teams against Mengtesi Badun, exhausting him through brutal fights before Nagesi and Pasteur stepped up to challenge him. As the injured fighters recovered with Zhang Xuezhou and Ren Anran’s treatment, the next match began with Mengtesi Badun accepting Nagesi’s challenge.

• The Scarlet Alliance State lost five consecutive matches against Mengtesi Badun, with its Sequence Holders suffering severe injuries while wearing him down.
• Nagesi and Pasteur took the British Alliance State’s turn, and Nagesi challenged Mengtesi Badun after Montes Clark offered to fight in his place.
• Mengtesi Badun refused to let Montes Clark take the field, accepted Nagesi’s challenge after the round’s rest, and summoned his silver staff.
• Ren Yisheng watched the injured fighters being treated as Zhang Xuezhou healed Changkong Luo and Ren Anran treated Zhou Rihui.
• Changkong Luo and Zhou Rihui recovered with Tuer God Grace and replenished their bodies with nutritional medicine.

Zhang Xuezhou recognized that Nagesi was setting up a feint against Montes Badun and predicted the moment his real attack would come. Nagesi’s hidden, crystal-tipped short sword struck as Badun committed both hands to countering the greatsword, and it exploded beneath Badun’s foot.

• Zhang Xuezhou joined Zhang Manqian in watching Nagesi’s ongoing fight against Montes Badun and explained that Badun redirected force rather than being impervious to blows.
• Zhang Xuezhou judged that Nagesi had a strong chance to win and told Zhang Manqian he would use one sword against Ganghao and another against Badun.
• As Pasteur fought Montes Ganghao, Nagesi abruptly swung his greatsword toward Ganghao, prompting Montes Badun to attack and reach for the blade.
• Nagesi launched a concealed short sword from his left sleeve while Badun was using both hands to counter the greatsword.
• Montes Badun kicked at the short sword, which exploded beneath his foot in a burst of red flames.

Nagesi used an explosive attack against Mengtesi Badun, but Badun countered by reshaping his staff into a spike and stabbing Nagesi, who surrendered. With the international dispute conference’s top fighters injured or dead, Jiang Ying challenged Montes Clark, threatening to turn the contest into another brutal clash.

• Nagesi struck Mengtesi Badun with an explosion while his heavy sword hit Montes Ganghao, but Badun stabbed Nagesi in the waist with a reshaped silver staff.
• Nagesi surrendered, and Mengtesi Badun emerged from the flames badly burned but alive as Montes Clark and the others helped the injured fighters.
• Montes Ganghao and Pasteur exchanged threats while their allies guarded Nagesi and withdrew from the arena.
• The spectators recognized that many leading contestants were injured or dead, leaving the international dispute conference without enough fighters to control the remaining clashes.
• Jiang Ying challenged Montes Clark with a piercing spike, and Montes Clark hesitated to enter the arena after the earlier fights.

As the first round of the contest continued, Mengtesi Badun and the Aomeijia Alliance discussed how to handle the Scarlet Alliance State’s injured veteran fighters and prepare for the second round. Cai Guoli challenged Montes Clark, while the Aomeijia leaders concluded that the Scarlet Alliance State was using its elders to exhaust them in hopes of changing the contest’s rules.

• Mengtesi Badun watched Bi Daye force Montes Bingo back and reflected on why the Scarlet Alliance State’s elderly fighters were risking so much despite the contest’s limited stakes.
• Montes Clark asked how the Aomeijia Alliance should approach the second round, and Mengtesi Badun advised her to save strength and watch out for Pasteur.
• After Bi Daye and Montes Bingo left the arena injured, Cai Guoli challenged Montes Clark, who prepared to fight him with a nine-section whip.
• Mengtesi Badun warned Montes Clark that ninety-two-year-old Cai Guoli could not last in a prolonged fight and advised her to stall before counterattacking.
• Montes Arthur suggested the Scarlet Alliance State’s fierce tactics were retaliation for the Aomeijia Alliance ignoring its proposed rule changes, and Montes Clark agreed they were trying to injure Aomeijia fighters before the second round.
• Montes Ganghao recalled how Zhou Xin had once defeated him, while the Aomeijia leaders expected Cai Guoli’s injury to leave the Scarlet Alliance State short of fighters.

After the Scarlet Alliance State’s first team of fifteen was injured, Li Yingbo revealed a second group of challengers from across the country. Led by Zhao Tianhua, they declared they would fight another ten matches, leaving Montes Clark to face his challenge.

• The first major round ended with the Scarlet Alliance State taking five wins and five losses, while all fifteen of its high-Sequence Holders were injured.
• Li Yingbo faced questions about who would compete in the second round and pointed to red prefab buildings as a group began emerging.
• Zhao Tianhua arrived carrying a horse-slaying saber, challenged Montes Clark, and announced the Scarlet Alliance State would risk another ten matches.
• Zhao Tianhua entered the arena after signing a contract, while Montes Clark prepared to answer his challenge.
• Fifteen more Scarlet Alliance State fighters took the field, including Sixth Sequence Holders from its provinces and cities.

Mengtesi Badun and Montes Ganghao struggled to explain how the Scarlet Alliance State had unified its people and speculated that a hidden high-level Sequence Holder might be behind it. In the opening match, Zhao Tianhua and Montes Clark fought to a standstill, with both badly hurt before the Scarlet Alliance State called for surrender.

• Mengtesi Badun and Montes Ganghao discussed the Scarlet Alliance State’s unexpected unity and considered whether it had a hidden Seventh or Eighth Sequence Holder.
• Zhao Tianhua and Montes Clark entered the competition ground alone, and Montes Clark circled him before attacking with poisoned bullets.
• Zhao Tianhua used bombs to conceal his approach and nearly cut Montes Clark in two with his horse-slaying saber.
• Montes Clark countered with rapid strikes, leaving Zhao Tianhua badly wounded and damaging his saber.
• Li Yingbo called for surrender, but Zhao Tianhua protested that he could keep fighting as Montes Clark clutched her injured waist.

The Scarlet Alliance State’s fighters battered the Aomeijia Alliance through the second major round, forcing its leaders to conserve their remaining experts and recruit smaller delegations. As the third major round began, Ren Yisheng joined Li Yingbo and challenged Mengtesi Badun, prompting speculation that Ren was an Eighth Sequence Holder.

• Montes Clark won the opening match for the Aomeijia Alliance, but Zhao Tianhua was carried away and the victory brought little relief.
• Wang Yingbo and Song Lang challenged the Aomeijia Alliance, and their fights left both sides injured and eliminated.
• Mengtesi Badun ordered Montes Arthur to make smaller countries field fighters against the Scarlet Alliance State, but their representatives were quickly routed.
• The British Alliance State and Thousand Islands Alliance avoided confronting the Scarlet Alliance State, while the Aomeijia Alliance planned to wait for the third major round.
• Li Yingbo and Ren Yisheng entered the field together, and Ren challenged Mengtesi Badun to fight.
• Mengtesi Badun asked whether Ren was the Scarlet Alliance State’s Eighth Sequence Holder, but Ren sidestepped the question and invited him onto the field again.

Mengtesi Badun sent Silva and Ouruo into the arena to test Ren Yisheng, while Li Yingbo used their fear of Ren’s unknown abilities to taunt the Aomeijia Alliance. Ren Yisheng then immobilized Ouruo and terrified Silva, leaving the other leaders to assess how they might counter him.

• Mengtesi Badun learned from Montes Arthur that Ren Yisheng might have a specialized ability to control opponents and ordered two Sixth Sequence Holders to test him.
• Silva and Ouruo accepted Ren Yisheng’s challenge and entered the arena cautiously, while the Scarlet Alliance State lacked representatives from the smaller states.
• Li Yingbo drew on his experience fighting alongside Ren Yisheng, then taunted Silva, Ouruo, and Mengtesi Badun while invoking Ren’s support.
• Ren Yisheng extended his palm, causing Ouruo to freeze and Silva to tremble, prompting Nagesi to rise in alarm.
• Pasteur and Xie'ertong identified Ren Yisheng’s fixed posture and weak defenses as possible vulnerabilities, but no one volunteered to face him.

Ren Yisheng used Zhang Xuezhou's suppressive power to defeat Aomeijia Alliance fighters and force the alliance to forfeit, then secured the British Alliance State's surrender as well. He reached ten consecutive victories, while Pasteur turned to challenge the weakened Thousand Islands Alliance.

• Li Yingbo defeated Ouruo and Silva after Ren Yisheng challenged Mengtesi Badun again, and the Aomeijia Alliance chose to forfeit rather than risk further casualties.
• Mengtesi Badun agreed to change Alliance Island's rules to arrange contests between fighters of the same Sequence, then ordered the Aomeijia Alliance to surrender outright.
• Ren Yisheng asked Nagesi to return the British Alliance State's captured researchers, and Nagesi agreed to give him his tenth consecutive victory.
• Nagesi sent Pasteur to challenge the Thousand Islands Alliance, whose fighters surrendered one after another.
• Changkong Luo pointed out that the Thousand Islands Alliance lacked Ren Yisheng's protection, and the onlookers fell silent.

The Scarlet Alliance State’s leaders reflected on the political changes Ren Yisheng’s team had brought and discussed how to protect Zhang Xuezhou during the coming Ferocious Beast hunt. Zhao Tianhua then learned that the others had concealed their plan and that he alone had fought for real.

• Changkong Luo considered how Ren Yisheng’s return and the defeat of rival factions had reunited the Scarlet Alliance State and made changing Alliance Island’s rules easier.
• The older Sequence Committee members agreed that Sequence still reigned supreme and discussed Ren Yisheng’s strength and his reluctance to exploit it.
• Zhen Wudi raised concerns that Zhang Xuezhou’s healing and longevity abilities made him vital to the Ferocious Beast hunt despite his frailty.
• Jiang Ying, Li Qi, Zhong Rang, and Changkong Yinghao discussed protecting Zhang Xuezhou and finding Falcon Sparrows to sustain his Tuer God Grace.
• Zhao Tianhua burst in, furious that the others had hidden their plan from him, and revealed that he had fought Montes Clark believing the battle was genuine.

After the Scarlet Alliance State’s fighters overwhelmed their opponents, Li Yingbo demanded that the international dispute rules be changed, alarming representatives who feared future battles would turn deadly. The meeting shifted toward proposals for age-based competition, but Li Yingbo rejected the discussion, leaving the Aomeijia Alliance determined to pursue rule changes.

• Zhang Xuezhou negotiated with the injured Zhao Tianhua, who then helped verify details before logistics workers carried the wounded away.
• Montes Arthur proposed changing the rules, but Li Yingbo argued that the option to halt and concede should be abolished so stronger fighters could face proper challenges.
• Zhu Liangping defended the Scarlet Alliance State’s strength, while Montes Arthur said fighters from lower sequences could not compete against Seventh- and Eighth-Sequence opponents.
• Pasteur and other representatives proposed having Sequence Holders compete against opponents of similar ages and sequences.
• Montes Arthur suggested discussing the Scarlet Alliance State’s earlier proposal to improve fairness, but Li Yingbo reacted with a cold snort, and the Aomeijia Alliance resolved to change the rules.

Montes Badun assessed the Scarlet Alliance State’s losses and wondered how Ren Yisheng had reached the Eighth Sequence. He reflected on the obstacles to advancing further and returned his attention to exploring Qinmeng for Ferocious Beasts and a path to the Ninth Sequence.

• Montes Badun concluded that the Scarlet Alliance State had suffered an irreversible loss despite its victories, while the lower-Sequence contests remained uncertain.
• Montes Badun studied Ren Yisheng and speculated that a giant bird Ferocious Beast had helped him reach the Seventh Sequence, regretting that Montes Arthur still lacked a compatible beast.
• Montes Badun considered the difficulty of finding, hunting, transporting, and matching Ferocious Beasts in Qinmeng, and regretted that Zhou Xin would not work with him.
• Montes Badun recalled that he had glimpsed the path to the Ninth Sequence but needed help to meet its demands and extend his life further.
• Montes Badun stopped watching the venue and pondered which regions of Qinmeng to investigate next.

The Scarlet Alliance State group left Alliance Island after demonstrating its growing unity and strength. On the passenger ship, Twilight Years Mansion's members pressed the injured Zhao Tianhua to join them, and he remained uncertain but began considering their offer.

• Ren Yisheng reflected that the third committee had secured recognition through careful leadership and his Sequence strength.
• Aboard the passenger ship, Zhao Tianhua questioned why the Twilight Years Mansion members accepted confinement despite their power.
• Changkong Luo, Zhong Rang, and the others explained their reasons for living at Twilight Years Mansion and joked about the hardships that had brought them together.
• Zhao Tianhua asked Zhang Xuezhou whether the older members were being honest, and Zhang avoided making promises while encouraging him to give their life a try.
• Ren Yisheng urged Zhao Tianhua to follow the group, while the narration revealed that Zhang Xuezhou had wanted to recruit him for his strength and protection.

Ren Yisheng and Zhang Xuezhou planned to use Zuo Teng’s connection to Zuo Quan’s lucky treasure to improve their chances of finding suitable Ferocious Beasts in Qinmeng. Ren Yisheng then revealed that Li Yingbo had arranged for hundreds of thousands of tons of seeds to be shipped into Qinmeng, keeping the risk of Huang Daoxian’s seeds away from the Scarlet Alliance State.

• Ren Yisheng explained that he lacked the defensive strength needed to match his powerful attacks and relied on Zhang Xuezhou remaining a hidden card.
• Zhang Xuezhou proposed finding Zuo Teng at Huli Port, where he might carry Zuo Quan’s lucky treasure, to help the group’s hunt in Qinmeng.
• Ren Yisheng agreed to seek out Zuo Teng, and Zhang Xuezhou noted that the Fortune Technique could limit a person’s freedom of action.
• Ren Yisheng said Li Yingbo had arranged for seed storage companies to buy 235,000 tons of seeds from Luo'an Province and ship them to Qinmeng.
• Ren Yisheng explained that the seeds would be scattered across Qinmeng so any danger connected to Huang Daoxian’s seeds would remain far from the Scarlet Alliance State.

Zhang Xuezhou and the others arrived at Huli Port, where flocks of birds had gathered to feed on seeds intended for planting across Qinmeng. The group turned their attention to hunting avian exotic beasts, hoping to find creatures Zhang Xuezhou would need for advancing his Sequences.

• Zhang Xuezhou and the others reached Huli Port after six days at sea and saw that Qimeng Haige’s restaurant had been battered by Qinmeng’s beast tide.
• Ren Yisheng explained that seeds scattered across Qinmeng had attracted vast flocks of birds, which were eating the seeds and attacking transport vehicles.
• Li Qi asked whether Falcon Sparrow exotic beasts were needed for Zhang Xuezhou’s Tuer God Grace, and the group discussed the enormous cost of using grain as bait.
• Zhang Xuezhou proposed capturing fierce avian exotic beasts as well as Falcon Sparrows, in case he needed them for later Sequences.
• Song Xianzhong prepared to shoot the birds, knowing his failing health made him dependent on the group and its pursuit of longevity.