Chapter Summaries

Qing He Miao performed Yuzhou Bangzi for his ghostly opera teacher, who praised his talent and recalled her life traveling Beyond the Pass with an opera troupe. Her story left off as war swept through the land and life grew precarious.

• Qing He Miao performed a Yuzhou Bangzi ballad in an abandoned house, imitating the suona and drum with his voice and a King Wen Drum.
• His ghostly teacher praised his singing and acknowledged his talent, while Qing He Miao thanked her for teaching him the craft.
• Qing He Miao insisted on hearing more about his teacher’s past, so she began recounting her life as a performer.
• His teacher told how she had traveled Beyond the Pass with a Yuzhou opera troupe, which eventually gained fame and performed at Marshal Zhang's Residence.
• His teacher recalled that war later broke out, making human life precarious.

Qing He Miao left the old auditorium after using [Red Hot Chili Pepper] to frighten off the spirit that had approached him, then made his way home through the village. He arrived to find relatives gathered in his family’s smoky west room.

• Qing He Miao warned the stage spirit not to act recklessly, and it withdrew into the darkness.
• He left the auditorium, kept [Red Hot Chili Pepper] stored away, and passed village elders playing cards.
• Qing He Miao told Fifth Grandpa that he had inspected the old auditorium and found nothing unusual.
• He reached his family courtyard, greeted the gathered relatives, and told his parents he was home.

Qing He Miao reassured the village chief that the spirit sealed in the auditorium was not dangerous, then returned to his room and reviewed his system interface. He recalled his former life working in the south and was about to eat beef kway teow when he transmigrated.

• Qing He Miao told the village chief that the auditorium held a harmless remnant soul protected by a seal he could not safely break.
• The village chief agreed to repair the auditorium and use it for village gatherings to keep the spirit suppressed.
• Qing He Miao offered incense at the altar, then settled on the kang as his calico cat slipped outside.
• Qing He Miao summoned his system interface and saw his level, abilities, equipment, and other stats.
• Qing He Miao remembered his former life working late in the south and reaching for a shared-order meal of beef kway teow.

After Qing He Miao recalled how he had died in his previous life and gained the game-like system, he cultivated with his Stand [Cream] as a safeguard. At school, he entertained classmates with a fabricated story about knowing the past and future, until one warned that people might abduct him for research.

• Qing He Miao’s heart stopped in his previous life, and a golden arrow emerged from his computer and pierced his hand before vanishing into his neck.
• After awakening in this world as Qing He Miao, he inherited a system based on the browser game he had played and drew the Stand [Cream] at level nine.
• Qing He Miao checked his system, practiced the Bingbing Ritual, and ended the night at home with his parents.
• At fourteen, Qing He Miao told classmates at his township junior high that he had been born able to perceive the Heavenly Dao and know the past and future.
• When a classmate challenged his claims, Qing He Miao gave a lofty explanation that left the students confused.
• One student warned Qing He Miao that someone might discover his supposed ability and take him away for research.

Qing He Miao convinced his classmates that reporting his supposed precognition would be pointless, then let his Stand, [Red Hot Chili Pepper], quietly absorb electricity during class. A system notification showed that his literature proficiency had risen slightly, and he reflected on his slow progress and the traits listed on his status panel.

• Qing He Miao argued that no one would take middle-schoolers seriously if they reported him, and his classmates debated his reasoning until class began.
• The homeroom teacher started the lesson and ignored Qing He Miao’s usual inattention, while he refused to pass notes or distract his classmates.
• Qing He Miao sent [Red Hot Chili Pepper] into the classroom’s wiring to absorb and store a small amount of electricity.
• A system notification reported a minuscule increase in Qing He Miao’s General Literature proficiency after the teacher explained a classic text.
• Qing He Miao considered how difficult it would be to reach minor attainment through schoolwork and viewed the status entries [Forgetfulness, Dullness, Killing Intent].

Qing He Miao reflected on his weakened skills and his parents’ hopes for him, then investigated a mysterious nighttime click that his Stand could not explain. On market day, he bought snacks and supplies before switching his equipped Stand from [Cream] to [Red Hot Chili Pepper].

• Qing He Miao considered how [Forgetfulness] and [Inflexibility] affected his abilities and identified [Spreadsheet Planning (Proficient)] as a skill preserved from his previous life.
• Qing He Miao recalled his hardworking parents’ hopes for his future and felt conflicted about repaying their sacrifices.
• After hearing a click from the old cabinet, Qing He Miao searched the room with [Red Hot Chili Pepper] but found no cause.
• At Mother Qing’s suggestion, Qing He Miao went to the township market and bought pastries, seeds, smoked meat, and baijiu with money he had earned helping villagers.
• Qing He Miao found a secluded spot and switched his equipped Stand from [Cream] to [Red Hot Chili Pepper].

Qing He Miao used his equipped Stand ability to travel by electricity and visited the master who taught him the Bingbing Ritual and Horse-Riding Immortal path. After sharing food and stories, Qing He Miao’s master began drinking and grew increasingly talkative, with his tone starting to change.

• Qing He Miao turned into electricity and traveled through a utility pole to reach his destination village.
• Qing He Miao visited his master and brought wine, smoked meat, fruit, and other gifts.
• Qing He Miao greeted his master’s wife, then paid respect at the shrine to Granny Bai.
• Qing He Miao and his master shared sunflower seeds and peanuts while discussing his Bingbing Ritual practice and their lives.
• Qing He Miao’s master poured them grain liquor, drank several cups, and began speaking in a different tone.

Qing He Miao comforted Chai Ningshen by reminding him that his honesty was a virtue and that he had been a good master. Qing He Miao then urged Chai Ningshen to cultivate harder so he could live to see his disciple ascend, but Chai Ningshen doubted he could live that long.

• Qing He Miao recalled how Chai Ningshen had honestly examined him as a baby and later taught him qi cultivation, leading him to discover he had transmigrated into the world of The Outcast.
• Qing He Miao reassured Chai Ningshen that living with a clear conscience and never deceiving people was an achievement.
• Chai Ningshen brightened and took pride in having gained a good disciple.
• Qing He Miao said he expected to ascend in seventy or eighty years and urged Chai Ningshen to quit drinking and cultivate so he could witness it.
• Chai Ningshen laughed off the prediction, saying his modest cultivation would not let him live another seventy or eighty years.

Qing He Miao agreed to travel with Chai Ningshen to meet Guan Shihua, after his master explained how connections could protect him and help establish his standing. He left home with his master's help, reassuring his worried parents, while keeping [Cream] as a last-resort means of escape.

• Chai Ningshen told Qing He Miao that Madam White had sent a message to Guan Shihua, and he hoped the Grand Headmaster would meet his disciple.
• Qing He Miao questioned the need to meet powerful figures, but Chai Ningshen explained that a recognized lineage could protect him as he traveled.
• Qing He Miao agreed to go with Chai Ningshen to broaden his horizons, and later returned home after spending the evening at his master's house.
• Chai Ningshen arrived early in summer vacation and explained the trip to Qing He Miao's parents, who reluctantly agreed and packed supplies for him.
• Qing He Miao set off with Chai Ningshen after reassuring his mother that he could return safely, and reflected that [Cream] could protect him in an emergency, though using it recklessly could cause destruction and casualties.

Chai Ningshen took Qing He Miao on a long journey to seek an audience with Grand Headmaster Guan. They reached Guan’s mountain residence, where Deng Youcai recognized Chai Ningshen and welcomed the visitors.

• Qing He Miao’s parents reluctantly sent him off with Chai Ningshen, and his mother tucked extra money into his coat.
• Chai Ningshen and Qing He Miao traveled by train, bus, and private cab for several days before reaching the three-peaked mountain.
• Chai Ningshen led Qing He Miao away from the tourist path and deeper into the mountains toward a secluded settlement.
• Chai Ningshen knocked at the largest courtyard and introduced himself as a disciple of White Lady seeking an audience with Grand Headmaster Guan.
• Deng Youcai recognized Chai Ningshen’s Shaman Disciple greeting, and Chai Ningshen introduced Qing He Miao before Qing He Miao greeted Deng Youcai.

Guan Shihua examined Qing He Miao but sensed no exceptional talent, despite the White Immortal’s praise and Master Chai’s assurances. Qing He Miao then revealed that he had sensed Qi and completed one Small Circulation on the very evening he began training.

• Deng Youcai led Master Chai and Qing He Miao through the compound to meet Guan Shihua.
• Guan Shihua probed Qing He Miao with her Qi, but detected only a healthy constitution and ordinary potential.
• Master Chai urged Guan Shihua to reconsider, describing Qing He Miao’s quick learning and unusual aptitude.
• Guan Shihua asked Qing He Miao to explain how quickly he had sensed Qi and begun cultivation.
• Qing He Miao said he had sensed Qi and guided it through one Small Circulation that very evening.

Qing He Miao explained why he had hidden how quickly he began cultivating, then tried to convince Guan Shihua of his potential despite his ordinary Qi accumulation. He proposed fighting Deng Youcai to demonstrate his abilities, leaving Master Chai alarmed and Deng Youcai offended.

• Qing He Miao told Guan Shihua he had concealed his overnight progress because he was wary of his new master, but revealed it now to help Master Chai secure support.
• Guan Shihua tested Qing He Miao with pressure, and Granny Bai appeared behind him to share the strain as he answered confidently.
• Guan Shihua praised Qing He Miao's wit but questioned his potential because he seemed to have accumulated only an average amount of Qi.
• Qing He Miao offered a direct test of his abilities by challenging Deng Youcai to a fight.
• Deng Youcai reacted angrily to the challenge, while Master Chai tried to stop Qing He Miao.

Qing He Miao sparred with Deng Youcai to test his abilities, but was quickly outmatched by Deng’s superior martial arts. He used [Red Hot Chili Pepper] to unleash a sudden electrical boost and knock Deng into a wall, then admitted the move was a trick and let him go.

• Qing He Miao proposed sparring with Deng Youcai, and Guan Shihua agreed while telling Deng not to seriously injure him.
• Deng Youcai charged Qing He Miao with a claw strike and followed with attacks that left Qing bruised and struggling to keep up.
• Qing He Miao switched his Stand from [Cream] to [Red Hot Chili Pepper] and used stored electricity to boost his strength and speed.
• Qing He Miao rushed Deng Youcai and smashed through his defense, sending him into the courtyard wall.
• Qing He Miao released Deng and apologized, explaining that his sudden attack was a trick rather than a fair test of their martial skills.

Qing He Miao impressed Guan Shihua by defeating Deng Youcai, then told her he wanted money to ease his family’s hardships and support his peace of mind. Guan Shihua praised his practical outlook, leaving her response to his request unresolved.

• Deng Youcai demanded another fight, but Guan Shihua stopped him and scolded him for refusing to accept his loss to Qing He Miao.
• Guan Shihua used her master-level Witch Medicine to restore Deng Youcai and Qing He Miao, then praised Qing He Miao’s strength and unusual technique.
• Guan Shihua asked Qing He Miao what help he wanted, and he answered plainly that he wanted money.
• Qing He Miao explained that money would ease his family’s financial strain and give him the calm needed to pursue cultivation.
• Guan Shihua murmured that Qing He Miao had a fine state of mind after hearing his reasoning.

Qing He Miao secured financial support from Guan Shihua but declined her offer to find him a new teacher, explaining that he wanted his future achievements to honor Master Chai and their branch. After Guan Shihua questioned his sudden burst of strength, he passed off the technique as a self-developed method called the Eight Gates and settled at the main hall with Master Chai; the chapter ended as a whip suddenly struck toward his face.

• Guan Shihua offered Qing He Miao ten thousand yuan and promised to seek education funding for him.
• Guan Shihua proposed finding Qing He Miao a teacher from the main hall, but he declined, saying he wanted his success to bring honor to Master Chai and their branch.
• Guan Shihua accepted his choice and invited him and Master Chai to stay at the main hall while he considered his options.
• Guan Shihua asked how Qing He Miao had gained such speed and strength, and he claimed he had devised a qi technique called the Eight Gates.
• Guan Shihua warned Qing He Miao not to overuse the technique, and he and Master Chai settled into the main hall residence.
• A War King Whip suddenly lashed toward Qing He Miao's face.

Qing He Miao sparred with Guan Shihua, whose expert War King Whip overwhelmed him but helped improve his proficiency. After reviewing the skills he had gained during his stay, he prepared to perform the next part of a piece for Guan Shihua on the King Wen Drum.

• Guan Shihua struck Qing He Miao repeatedly with her War King Whip, inflicting minor damage and a mild Soul Tremor while defeating him.
• Qing He Miao’s War King Whip proficiency rose to proficient after the sparring match.
• Qing He Miao reflected on how his stay with Guan Shihua had improved his ritual skills, weapon handling, and medical knowledge.
• Guan Shihua asked Qing He Miao to perform the later part of the piece he had played the previous day.
• Qing He Miao picked up the King Wen Drum and began tapping out a lively rhythm.

Qing He Miao entertained Guan Shihua with opera before joining Deng Youcai and Deng Youfu to offer food and incense to the Horse-Riding Immortal lineage’s spirits. A fox-faced spirit praised his singing and tried to recruit him, but Qing He Miao declined and the spirit turned to scolding the brothers.

• Qing He Miao sang Henan opera for Guan Shihua, whose approval and the spirits’ attention helped raise his performance proficiency.
• Qing He Miao, Deng Youcai, and Deng Youfu entered the incense hall, paid their respects, and arranged food offerings for the Immortal Family.
• Deng Youcai and Deng Youfu thanked Qing He Miao for keeping Guan Shihua occupied and offered to take him down the mountain for fun.
• A fox-faced apparition praised Qing He Miao’s singing and invited him to come home with it so it could teach him opera.
• Qing He Miao politely refused the spirit’s invitation, citing his existing master and spiritual connection, and the apparition scolded Deng Youcai and Deng Youfu for neglecting their duties.

Qing He Miao returned from Guan Shihua’s compound, resumed school and ordinary cultivation, then used his Stand [Metallica] to slaughter an ox and reached LV10. He accepted payment from the grateful farmers and headed home, eager to check his new level.

• Qing He Miao left the mountain with Master Chai and joked that he might ascend in sixty or seventy years, but Master Chai dismissed the claim.
• Qing He Miao returned to school and spent six uneventful months restraining himself from seeking adventure while steadily cultivating.
• During winter vacation, Qing He Miao went to a village couple’s farm to slaughter their ox.
• Qing He Miao used [Metallica] to kill the ox quickly and cleanly, earning experience and reaching LV10.
• Qing He Miao accepted the couple’s payment and walked home with the butcher’s knife wrapped in a bloodstained rag.

Qing He Miao used the New Year livestock-slaughtering season to earn system experience and reached level ten, unlocking a random dungeon. The dungeon draw sent him into a wretched settlement from Hua Jianghu Zhi Bu Liang Ren, where he faced a scene of hunger, sickness, and despair.

• Qing He Miao explained how he gained experience each year by slaughtering livestock for villagers before New Year.
• Qing He Miao checked his system panel and saw that reaching level ten had unlocked one dungeon draw.
• Qing He Miao drew the Hua Jianghu Zhi Bu Liang Ren dungeon.
• Qing He Miao appeared in a filthy, makeshift settlement filled with starving and sick people, and struggled to endure the sight.

Qing He Miao entered the world of “The Degenerate-Drawing Jianghu” and found a starving settlement beneath Yellow Fort. After giving an old woman leftover flatbreads, he learned about the surrounding territories and that a great flood had occurred two years earlier, then left to investigate further.

• Qing He Miao reached a destitute settlement after traveling through the mountains for several days.
• Qing He Miao brought leftover flatbreads from home and asked an old woman where he was and what year it was.
• The old woman told Qing He Miao about King Liang’s land to the east, Lord Liu’s land to the north, Man-Eating Valley to the west, and the great flood two years earlier.
• Qing He Miao placed the flatbreads before the old woman, who knelt and thanked him as a living bodhisattva.
• Qing He Miao left the settlement and hurried back toward the mountain forest.