Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Circuit”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Monkey Tribe army attacks, using Military Momentum to strengthen its forces. However, Wisdom Shield’s side unveils powerful new weapons—cannons—which the Monkey King mistakes for advanced Fire Magic.
• Repeated cannon blasts throw the Monkey army into chaos, forcing the Monkey King and his elders to retreat.
• Modornik and the First Prince fight fiercely during the battle. The First Prince personally kills powerful Monkey warriors and reveals himself to be both a Platinum Rank martial artist and mage.
• After the battle, Modornik organizes firebreaks while Chen Cheng and the Water Magic users create rain to control the spreading flames. The fire takes an entire day to extinguish, but no nearby tribes are harmed.
• The Ground Rat captain and his companions reunite with the group, claiming they escaped after the Monkey Tribe mobilized its entire army to capture Chen Cheng and the others.
• The group leaves the underground ruins, uses the spatial passage, and returns to the camp beneath the cliff.
• They discover that the camp has been attacked by Treants. Xiaodun explains that the forest has behaved as if it were alive, sending hostile Treants against the camp. Cannons have been used to defend the area and clear the forest.
• After confirming the situation, the group prepares to leave. Modornik departs first, while Xiaodun, Chen Cheng, Monet, and the others recover their equipment and set out on Gale Wolves.
• Despite the forest having been heavily shelled, Modornik’s group mysteriously disappears from sight. Chen Cheng advises everyone to stay together and avoid investigating the forest’s strange behavior.

Character Developments

• The Monkey King is shown to be confident in his tribe’s military traditions but ignorant of modern weaponry. His disbelief at the cannons exposes the limits of his understanding.
• Modornik gains greater respect for the Monkey Tribe after witnessing its organized use of Military Momentum. He realizes the beastfolk possess a more advanced civilization and military inheritance than he had assumed.
• The First Prince reveals a savage and highly capable side during combat. His brutal actions alter the group’s perception of him: he is no longer viewed merely as sinister, but as cunning, powerful, and dangerous.
• Wisdom Shield becomes uncertain about the First Prince’s true personality, privately wondering which of his contrasting “faces” is genuine.
• Chen Cheng and his companions demonstrate growing competence through their use of cannons, Water Magic, teamwork, and disciplined caution.
• Xiaodun is visibly relieved when Chen Cheng and the others return, showing his concern for their safety and his exhaustion from defending the camp.
• Monet strengthens his friendship with Chen Cheng, promising to visit him in Hui Dun City after they part ways.

Significant Themes

• Technology versus traditional power: The Monkey Tribe relies on Military Momentum and ancient magical knowledge, while Chen Cheng’s group gains an advantage through cannons and organized technology.
• Hidden identities and duality: The First Prince’s brutal battlefield persona contrasts sharply with his usual public image, raising questions about his true nature.
• Civilization and prejudice: Modornik’s view of the beastfolk changes as he recognizes the Monkey Tribe’s intelligence, military organization, and cultural inheritance.
• Survival through cooperation: Extinguishing the fire, defending the camp, and escaping the ruins all require magic, technology, and coordinated teamwork.
• The dangers of unexplored environments: Both the underground ruins and the forest contain unpredictable threats, suggesting that the group’s journey is far from over.

Important Character Interactions

• The Monkey King commands a retreat after witnessing the cannon bombardment.
• Wisdom Shield observes the First Prince’s violent behavior and questions his true identity.
• Modornik and Chen Cheng’s group cooperate to contain the fire and protect the ruins.
• Xiaodun reports the Treant attacks and shows Chen Cheng’s group the corpse of one of the creatures as proof.
• Modornik gives the survivors freedom to decide whether to leave or remain, while urging them to return the bodies of the fallen.
• Monet and Chen Cheng exchange a friendly farewell before their separate departures.
• Chen Cheng warns his companions not to investigate the bizarre forest and to remain with the main group.

Summary: “Lich Recovery”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng, Wisdom Shield, and their companions successfully leave the forest and cross Gale Wind Canyon using a vine bridge summoned by their identity tokens. Once they depart, the Tree Spirits vanish and the canyon returns to normal.
• Because the relic’s opening period has ended, Chen Cheng’s group returns toward Calamity Ridge on Gale Wolves.
• Meanwhile, the badly injured lich and Coles arrive at the temple shortly before the relic closes. Coles is covered in mud and wounds from fleeing the Monkey Tribe, while the lich is severely weakened and barely resembles a living being.
• Using a stolen identity token, the lich opens the relic’s hidden entrance and leads Coles inside. The Monkey King and his tribe pursue them, but the lich claims they cannot enter.
• An alarm sounds when the Monkeys invade the relic. To conceal himself and Coles, the lich spreads his body over Coles like a sheet of skin. One Palm One Leg appears and begins slaughtering the intruding Monkeys.
• The lich guides Coles to the Blood Pool, instructing him to throw the lich into it and smash the Monkey Tribe’s divine statue. Coles obeys despite realizing the act may be extremely dangerous, choosing to repay the lich for previously saving his life.
• The shattered statue summons a golden Monkey phantom, which battles One Palm One Leg. The clash produces devastating shockwaves that nearly kill Coles.
• The Blood Pool restores the lich’s body and vitality. He awakens, rescues Coles from the battle, collects a bottle of Blood Pool water, and escapes.
• The lich realizes that the relic’s rules have changed and that many of his preparations were rendered useless. Nevertheless, he considers the stolen Blood Pool water a valuable success.
• On the way out, Coles sees the relic transformed into a slaughterhouse. Countless Monkeys are dead, and the Monkey King lies gravely wounded, barely alive.

Character Developments

• Coles: Demonstrates loyalty and gratitude by risking his life to save the lich rather than abandoning him. His body has also been strengthened by the lich with decayed Earth Brain, allowing him to survive the violent clash between the golden phantom and One Palm One Leg, though he suffers severe injuries.
• The Lich: Reveals his resourcefulness and extensive knowledge of the relic, using the identity token, disguising himself, and manipulating the Blood Pool’s restorative power. Despite his planning, he is forced to admit that the altered relic rules have undermined his strategy. His recovery marks a major reversal from near death to renewed strength.
• Monkey King: Once overwhelmingly powerful, he is left gravely injured after the conflict, with his chest crushed and both arms broken. His pursuit of Coles and the lich ultimately leads to catastrophic losses for his tribe.
• One Palm One Leg: Acts as the relic’s deadly guardian, massacring the invading Monkey Tribe and overpowering the summoned golden phantom.

Significant Themes

• Gratitude and repayment: Coles chooses to save the lich because the lich previously saved him, emphasizing loyalty over self-preservation.
• Unpredictability and changing rules: The lich’s carefully prepared plans fail because the relic no longer operates according to the rules he expected.
• Survival through sacrifice and deception: The characters survive by disguising themselves, exploiting the Blood Pool, and sacrificing the divine statue.
• Power and destruction: The battle between One Palm One Leg and the golden Monkey phantom demonstrates the terrifying scale of power within the relic, while the Monkey Tribe’s near-annihilation shows the consequences of trespassing.
• Recovery and transformation: The Blood Pool restores the lich, turning his apparent death into renewed life and suggesting that the relic contains powerful, dangerous forces of regeneration.

Character Interactions

• Coles and the lich maintain a tense but cooperative relationship, with Coles complaining about the danger while still following the lich’s instructions.
• The lich relies on Coles to carry him, enter the relic, and destroy the divine statue, while Coles depends on the lich’s knowledge and protection.
• Coles’s decision to save the lich confirms their bond, transforming their relationship from one of necessity into one based on mutual obligation.
• The Monkey Tribe’s pursuit brings them into direct conflict with the relic’s guardian, One Palm One Leg, resulting in a massacre.
• The golden Monkey phantom, summoned from the shattered statue, battles One Palm One Leg long enough for the lich to recover and escape.

Summary of “Wisdom Shield’s Worries”

• Escape from the sealed ruins: After the slaughter inside the Ancient Ruins, Coles and the Lich barely escape through a spatial vortex while being attacked by One Palm One Leg. The ruins then seal themselves, restoring the chamber to its original state and erasing the corpses and evidence of the massacre. The Lich also takes the Monkey King’s corpse as material.
• The Lich’s blood and discovery: Outside, the Lich finds that the jade bottle containing the mysterious blood is empty. Although initially furious, he realizes that the blood’s power has entered his own body. He destroys the bottle in frustration, then blames and beats Coles for failing to stop him. He later collects some of his own dark, green-tinged blood in another bottle, but the effort leaves him weak.
• Coles’s reluctant loyalty: The injured Coles considers killing the Lich but remains wary of his unpredictable behavior. He agrees to carry him out when the Lich warns that the exit is closing. The Lich secretly gives Coles a healing substance, allowing his wounds to recover, though he continues treating Coles abusively and calling himself his “Grandfather.” Coles regrets saving him but still obeys, showing a mixture of resentment, dependence, and reluctant loyalty.
• The meaning of the “opportunity”: Coles questions whether they truly gained anything from the ruins. The Lich argues that surviving the deadly encounter was itself a major opportunity, especially because he protected Coles. Coles gradually understands that surviving long enough to benefit from a lucky chance is more valuable than obtaining treasures alone; a powerful protector can be the greatest opportunity of all.
• Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield’s perspective: On the journey back to the city, Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield acknowledge that they brought out no physical treasures. However, they believe their gains are greater than those of the others because they learned about the possibility of combining magic with technology. This insight, rather than lingering power or fragments comparable to Divine Weapons, is their true reward.
• Wisdom Shield’s growing concern: Unlike Chen Cheng, who remains satisfied with their discoveries, Wisdom Shield becomes increasingly solemn and troubled after leaving the ruins. Chen Cheng notices his unusual worry and asks what is wrong, setting up the next development.

Key themes

• Survival as the greatest opportunity: Treasures and inherited power mean little if one dies before using them.
• Protection and dependence: The Lich’s abusive behavior contrasts with the fact that he genuinely protected and healed Coles, creating a complicated bond.
• Knowledge over material gain: Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield value the technological and magical revelation above physical artifacts.
• Hidden consequences: The Lich’s absorption of the mysterious blood and Wisdom Shield’s unexplained anxiety suggest that the ruins’ effects may not yet be fully understood.

Chapter Summary: “Analyzing the True Enemy”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wisdom Shield worries that Chen Cheng’s survival and the revelation of the powerful cannons will make him a target for the Kingdom’s noble families and outside organizations, including the Church, Academy Alliance, and Adventurer’s Guild.
• He fears that news of Chen Cheng’s role in unlocking the Kepler ruins—and his ability to help others survive—will spread across the continent. Powerful kingdoms may try to abduct him or seize the cannon factory.
• Chen Cheng calms Wisdom Shield, arguing that the cannons are likely a more valuable target than himself and that their larger plans may be completed before serious threats emerge.
• The two begin investigating a mysterious third faction involved in the attacks at the ruins. Chen Cheng believes this group was separate from the First Prince and was also responsible for trying to seal the library district.
• Wisdom Shield produces a piece of cloth bearing an embroidered Ouroboros, likely the emblem of the faction behind the attackers.
• Their enemies had detailed knowledge of the expedition’s strength and could deploy numerous Gold Rank experts, suggesting a powerful family or organization.
• Chen Cheng narrows the possible suspects to several princes and the influential families of Flanna, Monet, and Xiao Rou.
• Xiao Rou’s Huiming Family is dismissed because its main strength is support magic and military connections, not likely political hostility. Monet’s Sidor Family is also considered unlikely because of its close economic relationship with Hui Dun City.
• Suspicion falls on Flanna’s Buji Family, a militaristic house with a history tied to the kingdom’s founding and a possible grievance against the current national policy.
• Earl Xiaodun explains that Buji Pace, the family head, was a highly accomplished general whose forces were disbanded after the kingdom adopted major military cuts.
• Chen Cheng concludes that the Buji Family probably did not order his assassination for its own sake. Instead, a prince supported by the Buji Family likely ordered the attack because Chen Cheng strongly supports the new national policy and threatens that prince’s interests.

Character Developments

• Wisdom Shield becomes visibly anxious and nearly obsessive over the dangers facing Chen Cheng, even considering destroying everyone involved in the ruins incident to prevent information from spreading.
• Chen Cheng demonstrates composure, strategic thinking, and political insight. He reassures Wisdom Shield while redirecting attention toward the cannon factory and the true power behind the attacks.
• Chen Cheng also shows greater awareness of court politics, recognizing that military resentment and succession struggles may be connected to the assassination attempt.
• Earl Xiaodun contributes historical and military knowledge about Buji Pace, though he admits he does not know the family’s current political loyalties.
• Wisdom Shield’s trust in Chen Cheng remains strong, but his lingering concern shows that he recognizes the seriousness of the threat.

Significant Themes

• Power attracts danger: Chen Cheng’s inventions and achievements make him valuable to powerful factions, creating threats beyond ordinary royal rivalry.
• Political intrigue and hidden alliances: The apparent conflict with the First Prince conceals a broader struggle involving secret alliances, influential families, and competing princes.
• The cost of political reform: Military cuts and national-policy changes may have created resentment among once-powerful generals and aristocratic families.
• Identifying the true enemy: The chapter shifts the investigation from the immediate attackers to the prince who may have manipulated the Buji Family.
• Anxiety versus reason: Wisdom Shield reacts emotionally to the danger, while Chen Cheng uses calm analysis to separate realistic threats from fear-driven speculation.

Character Interactions

• Wisdom Shield expresses his fears to Chen Cheng, while Chen Cheng reassures him and prevents him from being consumed by anxiety.
• Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield jointly analyze the Ouroboros emblem and the capabilities of the attacking faction.
• Chen Cheng questions Earl Xiaodun about Buji Pace’s history and political position.
• The discussion leads the group to recognize that the attack was likely motivated by opposition to Chen Cheng’s support for national reform, rather than by personal hostility toward him.

Chapter Summary: “Truth”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield analyze the Buji Family’s suspected involvement in the recent conflict. They conclude that the family likely supports one of the princes and begin eliminating candidates:
  • The First Prince is considered unlikely.
  • The Second Prince would not be acceptable to the emperor.
  • The Fifth Prince is too vindictive and untrustworthy.
  • This leaves the seemingly simple-minded Seventh Prince as the most likely candidate.
• Wisdom Shield initially rejects the idea, remembering the Seventh Prince’s childhood ambition to become a general and his later support for commercial expansion. Chen Cheng argues that the prince’s apparent passivity may itself be a political strategy—“not fighting” in order to hide his true ambitions.
• The discovery of Shadow Guard markings leads Wisdom Shield to order an investigation into whether they belong to the Buji Family.
• Outside Gale Wind Canyon, the Seventh Prince and Flanna meet the Buji Family’s surviving forces. They learn that the operation failed disastrously, with an entire squad of Gold- and Platinum-Rank fighters nearly wiped out.
• Flanna explains that Wisdom Shield’s side used previously unknown Divine Weapons—likely powerful artillery capable of striking from extreme range and overwhelming even elite warriors. She orders the weapon’s existence kept secret.
• The Seventh Prince realizes that Wisdom Shield now possesses both popular support through his concern for the people and formidable military power through these weapons. He fears that political factions currently allied with him may abandon him in favor of Wisdom Shield.
• The Seventh Prince orders the group to return and report to the Buji Family, while concealing his growing concerns.
• Monet and the Sidor Family also withdraw from Gale Wind Canyon after failing to obtain any Tree Spirits. Monet promises compensation to families of the dead and aid for the wounded, revealing that he gained significant benefits from the operation.

Character Developments

• Wisdom Shield: Begins confronting the possibility that his own brother is secretly working against him. His initial denial is rooted in lingering affection and memories of the Seventh Prince’s childhood, but Chen Cheng’s reasoning forces him to consider betrayal seriously. He ultimately orders an investigation, showing that suspicion is beginning to overcome sentiment.
• Chen Cheng: Acts as the more politically perceptive and clear-headed strategist. He identifies the Seventh Prince as the most likely Buji-backed candidate and challenges Wisdom Shield’s emotional attachment to his brother.
• The Seventh Prince: His harmless, foolish image is revealed as potentially deceptive. Though shocked by the failure of the operation, he quickly recognizes the political consequences of Wisdom Shield’s Divine Weapons and begins calculating how his alliances might collapse.
• Flanna: Demonstrates authority and composure. She understands the danger posed by the new weapons, silences unnecessary questioning, and manages the Seventh Prince’s reaction.
• Monet: Remains humorous and approachable, but also proves to be a responsible leader by promising generous compensation and medical support to his soldiers’ families.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal versus brotherhood: Wisdom Shield struggles to believe that his own brother could be plotting against him, showing how political intrigue destroys family trust.
• Appearances and hidden motives: The Seventh Prince’s foolish persona may conceal ambition and careful strategy. His apparent lack of action could be a deliberate form of political maneuvering.
• Military power and political legitimacy: The Divine Weapons dramatically alter the balance of power. Wisdom Shield’s strength now comes not only from economic and popular policies but also from overwhelming military technology.
• The cost of war: The failed operation causes heavy casualties, while the characters debate military expansion and the limits of the people’s ability to sustain endless conflict.
• Pragmatism versus emotion: Chen Cheng emphasizes political reality, while Wisdom Shield initially clings to familial loyalty. The chapter shows the painful necessity of choosing suspicion and investigation over trust.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng confronts Wisdom Shield’s denial and forces him to consider the Seventh Prince’s possible treachery.
• Wisdom Shield’s memories of the Seventh Prince’s childhood create an emotional contrast with the current political suspicion.
• Flanna restrains and corrects the Seventh Prince while controlling the guard captain’s access to sensitive information.
• The Seventh Prince silently reassesses his alliances and the danger posed by Wisdom Shield’s growing influence.
• Monet jokes with his guards but then reassures them through promises of compensation, reinforcing his role as both a playful and considerate leader.

Chapter Summary: “Rapid Development”

• Monet and the hidden guards: After Monet leaves the relic, several Platinum Rank experts sent by his father emerge from the forest. Monet jokingly assumes they were sent to protect him personally, but their leader clarifies that they were investigating the Gib Family and had merely waited for him after the relic’s spatial shift. Monet tries to boast about his supposed understanding of the situation, only to be bluntly told that Flanna does not seem interested in him. Embarrassed and frustrated, he performs his usual clownish tantrum before the guards disperse to scout and protect the group secretly.
• Monet’s change in attitude: Once alone, Monet reflects seriously on his experiences with Flanna and admits that his judgment has repeatedly failed him inside the relic. He concludes—incorrectly or unreliably—that the relic is simply unlucky for him and decides to leave as quickly as possible.
• Return from Calamity Ridge: The next day, Chen Cheng, Earl Huidun, Wisdom Shield, Xiaodun, and the others reach the Calamity Ridge checkpoint. The soldiers open the gates immediately upon recognizing them. The Imperial Knights must part with the Gale Wolves they have spent half a month bonding with, and they are visibly reluctant to leave them behind.
• Gale Wolf arrangements: Chen Cheng suggests that the knights return to Calamity Ridge for training rather than attempting to keep the wolves confined or contract them permanently. He proposes that the wolves could eventually form the basis of a wolf cavalry unit. After Chen explains the idea to Daha, the intelligent leader of the Gale Wolf pack, Daha accepts it and instructs the wolves to remain friendly with the knights. The emotional farewell confirms that the relationship between the wolves and soldiers will continue.
• Infrastructure and mining progress: The group retrieves their warhorses and travels toward Hui Dun City along a newly built cement road. Wisdom Shield explains that mining operations are progressing well, judging by how quickly the road has been constructed. The mineral deposits of Calamity Ridge have been pledged as collateral for the government’s vouchers, making their successful exploitation crucial to Governor Tofis. If production continues to rise, Tofis may be able to stabilize the credibility of the voucher system and avoid severe consequences.
• Hui Dun City’s transformation: As Chen Cheng’s group approaches the city, they observe dramatic development despite only half a month having passed. New buildings have been completed, factories are beginning operations, and the outer city district has become increasingly prosperous. The city is rapidly shedding its former image as a poor and backward settlement.
• Brother Octopus’s reaction: Upon entering the outer city, the previously sleeping Brother Octopus awakens and climbs out of his Space Bag with his clay jar on his head. He enthusiastically smells the air and celebrates the city’s abundance, providing a humorous ending to the chapter.

Character Development and Interactions

• Monet remains theatrical and vain but reveals a more thoughtful side when reflecting on his mistakes. His exchanges with the blunt Platinum Rank leader highlight the contrast between his exaggerated self-image and reality.
• Chen Cheng continues acting as a practical organizer and strategist, solving the problem of the Gale Wolves while also monitoring economic and infrastructural progress.
• Wisdom Shield demonstrates awareness of the political and financial stakes behind the mining and voucher systems.
• The Imperial Knights and Gale Wolves develop genuine mutual attachment, while Daha’s obedience shows his intelligence and strengthens the bond between the pack and the human group.
• Tofis, though absent, is shown to be under immense pressure to make the voucher system succeed, motivating the rapid expansion of mining and infrastructure.
• Brother Octopus provides comic relief and expresses delight at the prosperity of Hui Dun City.

Major Themes

• Rapid modernization: Hui Dun City is transformed through roads, factories, mining, and industrial expansion.
• Economic responsibility and risk: The success of the voucher system depends on real resources and production, emphasizing the connection between financial credibility and material development.
• Human–beast cooperation: The bond between the knights and Gale Wolves suggests that cooperation, rather than captivity or ownership, may create stronger partnerships.
• Appearance versus reality: Monet’s confident performance repeatedly clashes with what others know to be true.
• Progress and change: The chapter contrasts the characters’ return from the dangerous relic with the fast-moving development of their home city.

Chapter Summary: “Brother Octopus Goes Crazy”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After returning from the Ancient Ruins, Chen Cheng keeps Brother Octopus hidden inside a clay jar. Earl Huidun recalls the Crystal Book’s description of the statues in the ruins and realizes that Brother Octopus is likely a former deity—possibly an Evil God.
• Brother Octopus rejects the “Evil God” label, claiming that he was condemned merely because he wanted to grant godhood to every living being. Chen Cheng immediately suspects that this grand-sounding ideal conceals a monstrous plan, possibly transforming all life into mutated extensions of Brother Octopus.
• Feeling emboldened after leaving the ruins, Brother Octopus repeatedly attempts to escape the jar and reveal himself as a powerful god. However, the people he encounters carry an intolerably foul scent. He vomits whenever he gets near them and retreats into the jar.
• Brother Octopus eventually realizes that the entire outside world is contaminated by the same disgusting smell. Although horrified, he decides that he may have to endure it if he wants to eat and regain strength.
• He flies over a crowd and vomits on them, causing the pedestrians to scatter. Rather than becoming angry, they treat him as a fascinating magical creature, assuming he is an unusual ancient octopus brought back from the ruins.
• Chen Cheng repeatedly captures Brother Octopus and stuffs him back into the jar. Brother Octopus becomes emotionally overwhelmed, vomiting, crying, and repeatedly praising the unknown person capable of eating the foul substance. Chen Cheng concludes that Brother Octopus may have suffered a mental breakdown.
• Meanwhile, news of Earl Huidun’s successful expedition spreads throughout the kingdom. The citizens of Hui Dun City become optimistic about their earl’s future and even speculate that he could become the kingdom’s next heir apparent.
• Chen Cheng separates from Earl Huidun upon entering the inner city and returns to the academy. He later releases Brother Octopus, who appears mentally exhausted and unstable. When Brother Octopus regains focus, he prepares to attack Chen Cheng in anger.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Remains cautious and distrustful of Brother Octopus. He recognizes the danger behind Brother Octopus’s seemingly noble rhetoric and treats him firmly, using the clay jar to control him. Despite finding Brother Octopus absurd, Chen Cheng also sees him as a valuable asset needed for future plans.
• Brother Octopus: Shifts from submissive survival to arrogant confidence after leaving the ruins, believing he can reclaim his status as a god. His confidence quickly collapses when he encounters the foul smell permeating the outside world. The experience leaves him vomiting, crying, praising a supposed “talent,” and apparently suffering a psychological breakdown.
• Earl Huidun: Gains public prestige after safely returning from the ruins with a magical creature. His successful expedition strengthens the citizens’ confidence in him and raises speculation that he may eventually compete for the position of heir apparent.
• The Citizens: View Brother Octopus not as a dangerous Evil God but as an entertaining and rare magical animal. Their curiosity and optimism contribute to the comedic contrast between the true danger of the situation and their innocent interpretation of events.

Significant Themes

• The danger of grand ideals: Brother Octopus’s plan to grant godhood to all life sounds benevolent but appears likely to involve horrific transformation and domination.
• Appearance versus reality: The public sees Brother Octopus as a curious magical octopus, while Chen Cheng understands that he may be an ancient and extremely dangerous deity.
• Power and helplessness: Brother Octopus once possessed godlike power but is now trapped in a jar, physically weakened, and unable to tolerate the modern world.
• Absurdity and dark comedy: A supposed Evil God is reduced to vomiting, crying, and being forcibly stuffed into a jar, while ordinary people cheerfully treat him as a novelty.
• Public opinion and political influence: Earl Huidun’s survival becomes a source of popular hope and political speculation, demonstrating how rumors and public enthusiasm can elevate a leader’s status.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Earl Huidun: Earl Huidun warns Chen Cheng about the potential danger of bringing back an Evil God, while Chen Cheng remains skeptical of Brother Octopus’s intentions.
• Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus: Their relationship is controlling and antagonistic. Brother Octopus wants freedom and recognition as a god, whereas Chen Cheng treats him like a dangerous, unruly prisoner.
• Brother Octopus and the public: Brother Octopus attempts to impress or dominate the crowd but instead vomits over them, becoming a source of amusement and curiosity.
• Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus at the academy: Chen Cheng checks on Brother Octopus’s mental state, only for the octopus to regain enough awareness to prepare to retaliate against him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng is attacked by Brother Octopus in an alley.
• Chen Cheng uses magic to burn Brother Octopus, who then reveals he can sense divine artifacts and strong wish power in Chen Cheng's bloodline.
• Chen Cheng brings Brother Octopus back to his dormitory, where they discuss wish power and the nature of gods.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng remains calm and composed even after learning he's considered 'food' by gods, showing growth in resilience and acceptance.
• Brother Octopus reveals more about his nature and the true power dynamics between gods and mortals.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The relationship between gods and mortals is explored, highlighting the power imbalance and the gods' view of mortals as mere sustenance.
• Perception of Reality: The chapter challenges the reader's perspective on the nature of gods and their interactions with mortals.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus engage in a candid conversation, with Brother Octopus revealing his true nature and Chen Cheng accepting it without despair.
• Chen Cheng's calm demeanor contrasts with Brother Octopus's initial arrogance and expectation of despair.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng encounters Brother Octopus, a god sealed in a clay pot, and learns about the God of Light who consumes wishes.
• Brother Octopus reveals that their current state is due to the God of Light's actions.
• Chen Cheng discovers that the God of Light exists and admires him for his continuous "Old Eight" behavior.
• Sword Cultivators from the Divine Court attempt to enter the world but are repelled by the God of Light.
• The Moon God appears and discusses the Divine Court's interest in the world with the God of Light.
• The God of Light confines the Moon God within the world using a magic array.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows courage in facing Brother Octopus and understanding of the world's situation.
• Brother Octopus: Reveals his true nature and struggles with his image after vomiting in front of Chen Cheng.
• God of Light: Demonstrates immense power and determination to protect the world.
• Moon God: Appears to be restricted by the God of Light and has a history with the Divine Court.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of the God of Light's actions on the gods and the world.
• The struggle between the God of Light and the Divine Court for control of the world.
• The relationship between the God of Light and the Moon God, with the latter seemingly restricted.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Brother Octopus: Chen Cheng learns about the God of Light and admires Brother Octopus's actions.
• God of Light and the Sword Cultivators: The God of Light repels the Sword Cultivators' attempt to enter the world.
• God of Light and the Moon God: They discuss the Divine Court's interest in the world, and the God of Light confines the Moon God.

Chapter Summary: “Mathematical Cthulhu”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The God of Light detects powerful beings observing the Karmak Continent and drives them away with a punch and a command. His attack creates a strange sun in the void and briefly causes a total solar eclipse over the continent.
• Chen Cheng witnesses the impossible eclipse and becomes disturbed because it violates the otherwise familiar physical laws governing the world. His scientific observations suggest that the planet’s gravity and other physical properties are similar to Earth’s, making the phenomenon even more inexplicable.
• Suspecting a connection between the eclipse and Brother Octopus, Chen Cheng removes him from his Space Bag. Brother Octopus recognizes the lingering traces of divine power but refuses to explain, internally fearing that the God of Light has discovered his presence.
• The event causes Chen Cheng to reflect on the existence of gods, the Church’s power, and his own origins. He worries that the Church’s pursuit of him indicates that the Doomsday Codex may contain a weapon capable of restraining or killing gods.
• Chen Cheng reunites with Fini, who embraces him and anxiously checks that he was not injured during his recent experiences.
• He introduces Brother Octopus to Fini, expecting her to find the creature repulsive. Instead, she considers him beautiful.
• Fini explains that Brother Octopus’s beauty lies in the mathematical patterns and structures of his body rather than his physical appearance. Once Chen Cheng adopts her perspective, he too perceives the intricate beauty, but the effort rapidly causes him severe mental strain.
• Chen Cheng concludes that Brother Octopus is effectively an unsolvable mathematical problem: mathematical geniuses could become obsessed with analyzing him until their minds collapse, while ordinary people remain unaffected. He humorously declares mathematics itself to be the true “Cthulhu.”

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Becomes more aware of the overwhelming influence of gods and the Church, but strengthens his resolve to resist them. He draws hope from the Ancient Civilization’s defeat of the gods and suspects the Doomsday Codex may provide a way to do the same. His scientific worldview is challenged by supernatural events, though he continues trying to interpret them rationally.
• Brother Octopus: Reveals his fear of the God of Light and hints that divine beings can detect or pursue him even while he is hidden. His body is shown to possess a dangerous mathematical structure that can overwhelm powerful minds.
• Fini: Demonstrates her extraordinary mathematical perception as a Heaven-Bestowed. Her affection and concern for Chen Cheng are clear, and her unusual vision allows her to perceive beauty others cannot.

Significant Themes

• Conflict between science and the divine: Chen Cheng struggles to reconcile familiar physical laws with the existence and interference of gods.
• Resistance against overwhelming power: Although the God of Light appears nearly omnipotent, Chen Cheng finds hope in the Ancient Civilization’s past victories and searches for a means to oppose the gods.
• Perception and subjective reality: Brother Octopus appears ugly to Chen Cheng but beautiful to Fini once viewed through mathematical patterns, showing how perception shapes reality.
• Knowledge as both beauty and danger: Mathematical understanding reveals Brother Octopus’s hidden elegance but can also destroy the mind of anyone capable of fully perceiving him.
• Affection and companionship: Fini’s warm reunion with Chen Cheng provides emotional relief after his unsettling reflections and reinforces their close bond.

Character Interactions

• The God of Light intimidates and expels the beings watching the continent.
• Chen Cheng questions Brother Octopus about the eclipse, but Brother Octopus deliberately withholds information.
• Fini warmly reunites with Chen Cheng and worries about his safety.
• Chen Cheng shows Brother Octopus to Fini, leading to her unusual appreciation of the creature.
• Fini teaches Chen Cheng to perceive Brother Octopus mathematically, while Chen Cheng eventually shields her—and himself—from further mental exhaustion.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng returns from the ruins, having blocked Brother Octopus, a deity, due to its disgusting appearance.
• He reports back to Melinda and Isabel, who are concerned about his safety.
• Chen Cheng shares his experiences in the ruins, mentioning another underground world with powerful orcs.
• In Buji City, Flanna reports to her father, Buji Pace, about the princes' strengths and advises against supporting the Seventh Prince.
• Pace reveals that the Buji Family has already chosen the Seventh Prince and warns Flanna about indecisiveness.
• Pace proposes a marriage alliance between Tanding (Seventh Prince) and his daughter, Flanna.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Shows no fear of deities, prioritizing cleanliness over reverence. He shares his experiences, showing growth and confidence.
• Flanna: Demonstrates political awareness and understanding, advising her father on the princes' strengths. She shows concern for her family's safety and reputation.
• Buji Pace: Reveals his political ambitions and willingness to use his daughter for political gain. He values loyalty and decisiveness.
• Tanding: Realizes the Buji Family's ambitions and agrees to the marriage alliance, showing political acumen and desperation.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The struggle for power among the princes and noble families is a central theme. Each character acts according to their understanding of power dynamics.
• Loyalty vs. Ambition: Characters grapple with loyalty to their chosen allies and their personal or family ambitions. Pace's actions highlight the tension between these two forces.
• Growth and Change: Chen Cheng's experiences in the ruins lead to his personal growth, while Tanding's situation forces him to adapt and make difficult decisions.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Melinda/Isabel: They interact as friends and colleagues, with Melinda showing concern for Chen Cheng's safety, and Isabel expressing frustration at his secrecy.
• Flanna and Pace: They interact as father and daughter, with Flanna advising Pace and Pace revealing his political ambitions to Flanna.
• Tanding and Pace: They interact as potential allies, with Pace proposing a marriage alliance to strengthen their bond and Tanding agreeing, despite his suspicions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Pace, the Buji family patriarch, manipulates Tanding into proposing to his daughter Flanna, knowing she won't accept it.
• Flanna is disowned by her father after refusing to marry Tanding. She leaves the Buji mansion and registers as an adventurer.
• Tanding realizes he's been played by Pace but sees an opportunity in the Buji family's actions. He receives a letter from Pace, transferring Buji family soldiers to serve as his territorial army.
• Monet returns home, reprimanding his father for sending trackers instead of protectors. He decides to teach his father a lesson.

Character Developments

• Flanna: Disowned and forced to leave her family, Flanna becomes an adventurer, showing resilience and independence.
• Tanding: Realizes he's been manipulated by Pace but finds a silver lining in the situation, demonstrating adaptability.
• Pace: Shows his manipulative side, using his daughter as a pawn to secure an alliance with Tanding.
• Monet: Returns home, displaying his rebellious nature and desire to teach his father a lesson.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and Power Dynamics: Pace manipulates Tanding and disowns Flanna to maintain his family's interests, highlighting the power dynamics at play.
• Independence and Resilience: Flanna's decision to become an adventurer showcases her determination and resilience in the face of adversity.
• Family and Inheritance: The chapter explores the complex relationships within families, with Monet and Tanding both dealing with their fathers in different ways.

Character Interactions

• Pace and Flanna: Their interaction reveals Pace's manipulative nature and Flanna's determination to forge her own path.
• Tanding and Pace: Tanding realizes he's been played by Pace, leading to a tense but strategic interaction.
• Monet and His Father: Their interaction highlights Monet's rebellious nature and his desire to teach his father a lesson.

Chapter Summary: “Cannon Sight”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Monet returns home after a dangerous journey. His father jokingly pretends to have grown a white hair from worry, but Monet immediately plucks it out, exposing the act.
• Monet promises not to pursue such dangerous thrills again, though he quickly reveals that he intends to travel with a merchant caravan to the Western Territory.
• His father summons the steward to explain the family Lineage’s business. Monet pretends to understand the complicated explanation, then privately asks his father whether any caravans are actually leaving.
• Monet learns that caravans to the Western Territory are currently highly profitable because they have been restricted by higher authorities. He announces that, as the future head of the Lineage, he will accompany the next caravan to learn about the business firsthand.
• The next caravan is scheduled to leave that afternoon or the following morning. Despite his father’s subtle attempts to make him delay, Monet remains determined.
• The chapter shifts to Hui Dun City, where several days after Chen Cheng’s return, Knights of Light from the Church arrive in force.
• Church priest Haodos informs Chen Cheng that Jamir, a Church traitor suspected of preparing to summon an Evil God, has fled toward Hui Dun City. The Church believes Jamir left behind an important summoning-related item and has come back to retrieve it.
• Although Wisdom Shield is the city lord, he allows the Church’s forces to operate in the city because the threat of the Evil God prevents him from openly opposing them.
• Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield visit the arsenal, where they inspect a newly completed cannon sight developed by Akasto and Little Fatty’s team.
• The device combines aiming, ranging, and calibration data for different artillery pieces, greatly improving accuracy and reducing the need for complicated calculations. Testing shows an error margin of only three to five meters.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Monet is shown as ambitious, curious, and eager to take responsibility for the family Lineage. Although he claims to have abandoned dangerous adventures, his decision to travel with a caravan shows that his adventurous nature remains.
• Monet’s father is affectionate and protective, worrying about his son’s health and safety. Their playful arguments reveal a close, humorous relationship. He recognizes that Monet cannot easily be stopped and ultimately supports his decision.
• The steward patiently explains the Lineage’s affairs but becomes exasperated by Monet and his father’s antics. He is also surprised when Monet formally begins acting like the future head of the family.
• Chen Cheng is focused on restoring advanced technology from the Crystal Book. He views the cannon sight not merely as a weapon-related invention but as a foundation for broader industrial development.
• Wisdom Shield is uneasy about the Church’s growing authority but understands that the possible Evil God threat leaves him little room to resist them.
• The interactions between Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield emphasize their cautious cooperation, especially when dealing with the Church and its pursuit of Jamir.

Significant Themes

• Family affection and comic intimacy: Monet and his father’s teasing and bickering show that humor is central to their bond.
• Ambition versus parental concern: Monet seeks independence and experience, while his father prioritizes his safety.
• Technological progress and industrialization: The cannon sight represents the practical application of recovered advanced knowledge and may lead to wider military and industrial reform.
• Political and religious tension: The Church’s pursuit of Jamir demonstrates its willingness to exert power beyond its normal territory, while local authorities must tolerate this intrusion because of the supernatural danger.
• Modernization through precision: The cannon sight replaces cumbersome manual calculations with standardized data, highlighting the chapter’s emphasis on efficiency, accuracy, and technological advancement.

Chapter Summary: “Familiar Face”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Earl Huidun tests Chen Cheng’s newly developed artillery sight. Though initially skeptical about its ability to perform instant circular-error calibration, he confirms that it works effectively.
• Huidun questions whether the sight will remain accurate beyond the test range. Chen Cheng challenges him to test it against a distant hill and promises to purchase one sight for every cannon if it succeeds.
• Huidun fires at the hill. The first shell lands near the intended target, and after a minor adjustment, the second strikes the hilltop precisely.
• Despite the shell clearly exploding, no crater appears. Chen Cheng realizes that something unusual is present on the hill rather than assuming the shell was defective.
• The Imperial Knights surround the area with dozens of cannons. Xiaodun proposes sending scouts, but Chen Cheng argues that overwhelming artillery fire is safer and more effective.
• Earl Huidun chooses a more cautious approach, calling out to whoever is hiding on the hill and offering them a chance to surrender.
• When no one responds, another shell is fired. A mysterious figure intercepts it, damages its fuse, and causes it to explode in midair. The figure’s speed and resilience reveal him to be extraordinarily powerful.
• Just before the knights launch a full bombardment, Huidun recognizes the figure as Jamir, a wanted former Church bishop.
• Huidun orders the armory sealed and commands that the incident remain secret. Chen Cheng, Huidun, and three others then approach the hill to investigate.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng demonstrates confidence in his inventions and practical problem-solving. He reassures the nervous armory official while also thinking tactically when the mysterious figure appears.
• Earl Huidun moves from skepticism to approval of the artillery sight. He displays caution and authority by preferring negotiation and observation over immediately bombarding the hill.
• Xiaodun proves loyal and militarily prepared, quickly organizing the Imperial Knights and preparing them to respond to danger. His instinct is to protect Huidun through reconnaissance and, later, overwhelming firepower.
• The armory official becomes increasingly anxious because the artillery sight and shell tests affect his professional standing. He eagerly offers the armory’s resources to eliminate the threat.
• Jamir is revealed as a highly capable and dangerous fugitive. Despite his worn appearance and humble clothing, he retains formidable speed, combat ability, and physical endurance.

Significant Themes

• Technology versus uncertainty: The artillery sight represents technological progress, but its true value is only proven through real-world testing.
• Firepower and tactical judgment: Chen Cheng favors overwhelming force, while Huidun balances military strength with caution and diplomacy.
• Hidden danger: The unexplained failure of the shell signals that the situation is more complex than a simple equipment malfunction.
• Secrecy and political danger: Jamir’s appearance, given his status as a Church fugitive, creates a potentially explosive political situation. Huidun immediately recognizes the need to control information.
• Recognition beneath disguise: Although Jamir’s clothing and appearance have changed drastically, his distinctive eyes allow the group to identify him.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng challenges Huidun to test the artillery sight personally, establishing mutual professional respect.
• Chen Cheng reassures and pressures the armory official, mixing encouragement with blunt humor about selling failed sights as telescopes.
• Huidun and Xiaodun disagree tactically: Xiaodun wants to scout or fire immediately, while Huidun urges restraint.
• Chen Cheng pushes for artillery saturation, reflecting his belief that superior firepower can solve unknown threats.
• Huidun’s recognition of Jamir changes the group’s response from a routine weapons test to a secret investigation involving a wanted Church figure.

Chapter Summary: “The Purpose of Splitting the Church”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jamir, She Li, and Mata arrive near Hui Dun City after fleeing the Ruined Capital, where they ambushed and killed a Church elder.
• Jamir used his former Church status and knowledge of secret records to guide them through ancient teleportation arrays. She Li’s armor, forged from Void Turbulence by Samlet, protected them from deadly spatial turbulence.
• They came to Hui Dun City because it was where the previous Divine Revelation had been destroyed. Jamir believes it may offer him a means of survival, while She Li’s instincts also drew him there.
• The group seeks contact with Wisdom Shield, hoping he can help them resist the Church. Wisdom Shield is reluctant, fearing involvement with both the Church and the alleged summoning of an Evil God.
• Jamir insists that he has never worshipped an Evil God. He claims the Church has distorted God’s will, while he alone understands the true nature of faith.
• Chen Cheng argues that Wisdom Shield is too weak to oppose the Church directly, but recognizes that Jamir’s position as a Church dissident could be useful.
• She Li detects that an enemy or powerful observer is about to locate them. He cuts through the air with a kitchen knife, apparently severing the observer’s line of sight or perception.
• She Li and Jamir separate. Jamir flies away toward his destination, while She Li removes his armor and declares that he will now follow Chen Cheng.

Character Developments

• Jamir: Reveals himself as a sincere but increasingly fanatical religious reformer rather than an Evil God worshipper. His faith remains strong, but his intensity makes others question his sanity. He is determined to oppose the Church and correct what he sees as its corruption.
• She Li: Demonstrates exceptional perception and combat ability by sensing the approaching gaze and cutting it off. His loyalty to imperial authority is revealed: he recognizes Chen Cheng as the former emperor and is deeply devoted to him. He separates from Jamir while continuing to protect the imperial cause.
• Mata: Remains a practical and loyal companion. Her scavenging skills helped the group survive their journey, and she follows She Li because he is her only connection to the outside world and because she has romantic feelings for him.
• Wisdom Shield: Shows caution and political realism. He does not want to become involved in the conflict between Jamir and the Church, especially because Hui Dun City lacks the strength to withstand Church retaliation.
• Chen Cheng: Understands the strategic value of religious division. Though he views Jamir’s rebellion as dangerous and somewhat insane, he realizes that a split within the Church could weaken its power.

Significant Themes

• Religious corruption and reform: Jamir distinguishes true faith from the Church’s institutionalized distortion of divine will.
• The strategic value of division: The chapter explains that splitting a powerful religious institution into rival factions can reduce its authority and allow political rulers to regain influence.
• Loyalty and hidden identity: She Li’s reverence for Chen Cheng shows the enduring power of imperial legitimacy, even after the Empire’s fall.
• Survival through cooperation: The fugitives depend on one another’s specialized abilities—Jamir’s knowledge, She Li’s protection, and Mata’s survival skills.
• Powerlessness before greater forces: Wisdom Shield’s hesitation reflects how overwhelming the Church’s influence has become.

Character Interactions

• Jamir tries to persuade Wisdom Shield that his faith is genuine and that the Church has strayed from God’s will.
• Wisdom Shield challenges Jamir, warning that he may be connected to an Evil God and refusing to become involved without justification.
• Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield discuss whether Jamir’s rebellion could be used against the Church.
• She Li interrupts the discussion to protect the group from detection, then warns Jamir to control his emotions and conceal himself.
• Before leaving, She Li reveals his allegiance by choosing to follow Chen Cheng, though Chen Cheng’s identity as the former emperor must remain concealed.

Chapter Summary: “Emil Returned”

Key Plot Points and Events

• She Li announces that he intends to remain by Chen Cheng’s side, alarming everyone. Wisdom Shield and Chen Cheng suspect that She Li may be connected to the Church, especially because of the Church’s suspicious failure to capture Jamir.
• Wisdom Shield protects Chen Cheng while Xiaodun prepares to draw his sword. Chen Cheng prepares Spatial Teleportation in case they must escape.
• Before She Li can explain himself, Chen Cheng teleports himself, Wisdom Shield, and Xiaodun back to the firing range. She Li does not pursue them because the Church’s divine artifact is monitoring him, and he instead leaves with Mata.
• Wisdom Shield decides that confronting She Li is too dangerous. He orders the Imperial Knights to focus on mastering the cannons, believing their firepower will be essential against powerful demons, monsters, and possibly She Li.
• She Li and Mata secretly enter Hui Dun City in disguise. She Li reveals that he has found his target and gives Mata vouchers so she can live independently before disappearing.
• Mata learns about Chen Cheng from a shopkeeper and discovers where he lives. She establishes a handicraft stall on East Street so she can observe Chen Cheng while searching for the person she longs for.
• Chen Cheng visits the Adventurer’s Guild, which has become crowded with adventurers hoping to establish a route from Calamity Ridge to Moonlight Forest.
• Chen Cheng unexpectedly reunites with Emil, the elf he previously rescued from slavery. Emil has returned from the Royal Capital, where she had served as a witness in the trial concerning her enslavement.
• Emil explains that elven tradition requires her to repay those who save her. She promises to remain beside Chen Cheng and repay his kindness, but he gently refuses and encourages her to help at the Adventurer’s Guild instead.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Becomes increasingly cautious and suspicious of unknown powerful figures. His growing mastery of Spatial Teleportation allows him to protect himself and his companions, though transporting three people exhausts him. He also becomes uncomfortable with the possibility of Emil joining his growing circle of devoted women.
• Wisdom Shield: Shows strong protective instincts toward Chen Cheng and distrusts both She Li and the Church. He adopts a pragmatic strategy, recognizing that ordinary soldiers would be ineffective against She Li and prioritizing the development of cannon technology.
• She Li: Clarifies through his actions that he is not seeking a confrontation. His goal is to protect his “Majesty,” though his motives and connection to the Church remain uncertain. He demonstrates overwhelming strength and begins operating covertly within Hui Dun City.
• Mata: Remains loyal to She Li but is left behind after he locates his target. Rather than leaving, she independently follows Chen Cheng and begins secretly observing him from a street stall.
• Emil: Returns to Hui Dun City out of gratitude toward Chen Cheng. Her affection and loyalty toward him deepen, and she openly expresses her desire to stay by his side, while also showing embarrassment at her own feelings.

Significant Themes

• Suspicion and hidden motives: The characters cannot determine whether She Li is a protector, an enemy, or an agent of the Church. The Church’s unexplained actions create further distrust.
• Power and deterrence: Wisdom Shield recognizes that survival depends less on direct confrontation and more on developing weapons capable of deterring powerful enemies.
• Debt and repayment: Emil’s return reflects the elven belief that kindness must be repaid through devoted service. The chapter contrasts genuine gratitude with Chen Cheng’s belief that good deeds should not require compensation.
• Covert observation and pursuit: She Li, Mata, and possibly the Church are all operating indirectly, watching others and concealing their intentions.
• Growing personal attachments: Chen Cheng’s actions continue to inspire loyalty and affection, drawing more people into his orbit and creating an increasingly complicated social situation.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and She Li: Their first meeting ends in mutual distrust. Chen Cheng escapes before She Li can explain himself, while She Li makes no attempt to force a confrontation.
• Chen Cheng and Wisdom Shield: Wisdom Shield acts protectively, and Chen Cheng trusts him enough to allow the escape without objection.
• She Li and Mata: She Li gives Mata money and tells her to live well, suggesting concern for her future despite abandoning her temporarily.
• Mata and the shopkeeper: Mata gathers information about Chen Cheng by asking locals, demonstrating her determination to find and observe him.
• Chen Cheng and Emil: Their reunion is warm and affectionate, though Chen Cheng is embarrassed by Emil’s enthusiastic embrace. Emil offers lifelong repayment, while Chen Cheng attempts to redirect her loyalty toward useful work at the Guild.

Chapter Summary: “Gaze”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Emil agrees to fulfill Chen Cheng’s request, on the condition that he eventually return with her to her clan. Chen Cheng, distracted by the danger posed by She Li, only gives a casual reply and leaves to find Aunt Mei.
• Aunt Mei reveals that her lightning discharge has stabilized after her advancement. Chen Cheng notices this through physical contact, though Mei Luo becomes embarrassed and quickly withdraws her hand.
• Mei Luo warns Chen Cheng that his actions in the ruins have attracted the attention of nearly every major faction. His ability to unlock special mechanisms—even ones beyond the capabilities of Demigod-level experts—has made him highly valuable and potentially vulnerable.
• New School Academy has also attracted scrutiny because its mathematics education may eventually enable others to reproduce or understand Chen Cheng’s abilities. However, the academy’s existence provides a buffer: interested factions can pursue mathematical knowledge there rather than immediately forcing Chen Cheng to serve them directly.
• Mei Luo explains that members of the Guild have been protecting Chen Cheng. The Stowe family’s “Little Fatty” has been especially active, using the new dojo and his connections to distract or restrain curious Guild officials.
• Chen Cheng informs Mei Luo about Jamir and the mysterious She Li. She believes the Church’s pursuit of Jamir is genuine and that their failure to capture him may be due to She Li’s intervention.
• Mei Luo theorizes that She Li’s armor is likely a Demigod Artifact, based on his ability to survive grenade-launcher attacks. Combined with Jamir’s knowledge of ancient texts and possible access to damaged ancient teleportation networks, this could explain how they escaped the Church.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng becomes more aware of the consequences of revealing his abilities. He realizes that his public display in the ruins has made him a target, though he remains somewhat naïve about the political and strategic implications.
• Aunt Mei/Mei Luo acts as a protective mentor, scolding Chen Cheng for his carelessness while also reassuring him that allies are shielding him. Her concern shows both personal affection and awareness of the larger political danger.
• Emil demonstrates loyalty to Chen Cheng by agreeing to his request, but her expectation that he return to her clan hints at a future obligation or conflict.
• Little Fatty is revealed to be a dependable friend who has been working behind the scenes to protect Chen Cheng, strengthening Chen Cheng’s appreciation and emotional attachment to him.
• She Li is established as a major and mysterious threat or power. His advanced armor and apparent ability to navigate dangerous ancient technology suggest that he may possess knowledge and resources far beyond ordinary experts.
• Jamir is portrayed as important because of his familiarity with ancient texts, which may allow him and She Li to exploit the Ancient Civilization’s surviving transportation systems.

Significant Themes

• The danger of knowledge: Chen Cheng’s mathematical and technological abilities are valuable enough to attract powerful factions, turning education into a source of political danger.
• Unintended consequences: By teaching mathematics and founding New School Academy, Chen Cheng accidentally created both a source of attention and a protective buffer.
• Protection through institutions and alliances: The Guild, New School Academy, the dojo, and personal friendships all help shield Chen Cheng from those seeking to exploit him.
• Ancient technology and lost civilization: The ancient teleportation network and powerful artifacts demonstrate the scale of the Ancient Civilization’s achievements and suggest that its remnants remain strategically important.
• Trust and loyalty: Chen Cheng relies on Aunt Mei, Emil, and Little Fatty, while his growing gratitude toward his allies contrasts with his vulnerability to larger political forces.

Character Interactions

• Emil makes a promise to Chen Cheng, while he unintentionally dismisses her words because he is preoccupied with She Li.
• Aunt Mei first embarrasses Chen Cheng by pulling away after he notices her stabilized lightning, then shifts into a stern but caring lecture about his recklessness.
• Chen Cheng and Mei Luo discuss the political consequences of the ruins incident, with Mei Luo providing information and Chen Cheng gradually understanding the protection surrounding him.
• Chen Cheng expresses gratitude toward Little Fatty after learning that he has been managing the Guild’s unwanted attention.
• Chen Cheng entrusts Mei Luo with information about Jamir and She Li, showing that he considers her his most reliable protector. Their conversation ends with both recognizing that She Li’s possible Demigod Artifact armor and ancient knowledge make the situation extremely dangerous.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Cheng realizes his initial assumptions about She Li's identity were wrong.
• Aunt Mei offers Chen Cheng protection and safety if he joins her guild.
• Chen Cheng agrees to help Aunt Mei's guild in the Ancient Ruins, but they keep this a secret.
• She Li reveals himself to Aunt Mei, demonstrating his power with Demigod gear, and warns her not to get any ideas about Chen Cheng.
• Aunt Mei asks She Li about his identity and intentions but receives no response.

Character Developments

• Chen Cheng: Starts to understand the complex dynamics of interests and emotions in relationships, especially in the context of the guild and the Ancient Ruins.
• Aunt Mei: Advances to mid-stage Epic Rank and shares her advancement with Chen Cheng, showing trust in him. She also demonstrates her power and determination to protect her guild.
• She Li: Reveals his power and warns Aunt Mei, showing his protective stance towards Chen Cheng. His identity and intentions remain unclear.

Significant Themes

• The complex interplay of interests and emotions in relationships, particularly in the context of the guild and the Ancient Ruins.
• The power dynamics between individuals and factions, as demonstrated by She Li's warning to Aunt Mei.
• The consequences of keeping secrets, as seen in Aunt Mei's unexpected encounter with She Li.

Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Aunt Mei: Their relationship deepens as they discuss the guild's protection and the Ancient Ruins. Chen Cheng agrees to help Aunt Mei's guild, showing his trust in her.
• Aunt Mei and She Li: Their interaction reveals She Li's power and protective stance towards Chen Cheng. Aunt Mei's questions go unanswered, leaving their relationship and She Li's intentions ambiguous.

Chapter Summary: “Design”

Plot and events

• After She Li leaves, Aunt Mei recovers from their confrontation and destroys the bloodstains with lightning. She is deeply unsettled because She Li shows no detectable Battle Aura or Magic Energy, yet her Epic-Rank instincts identify him as extremely dangerous.
• Aunt Mei suspects She Li may be connected to the mysterious Beastfolk powerhouse previously mentioned by Brown. She also wonders whether She Li’s warning suggests he has no immediate intention of harming Brown.
• She Li emerges from an alley injured by the residual impact of Aunt Mei’s attack. Although his armor blocked the lightning, the shock wounds him slightly. He then follows Chen Cheng toward New School Academy.
• Chen Cheng visits the academy to inspect its progress. The guards welcome him, and he observes the students studying enthusiastically.
• Chen Cheng speaks with Kekebor, who reports that the teachers have improved greatly and that many outsiders are trying to enter the school. Because the academy cannot yet accommodate all local children, Kekebor has rejected outside applicants.
• In the teachers’ office, Chen Cheng finds the instructors studying his advanced mathematics books. He gives them an impromptu lesson in advanced algebra and algebraic geometry, then assigns them a difficult problem based on mathematics discovered in the ruins.
• Chen Cheng deliberately leaves the problem on the blackboard so outsiders spying on the academy will copy it. He intends to distract and frustrate the factions investigating the ruins by forcing their talented mathematicians into an overwhelming intellectual challenge.
• That night, an infiltrator copies the blackboard’s contents, unaware that the academy’s defenses have already detected the intrusion.
• The chapter reveals that Moka, the Heavenly Rank’s foremost assassin, has enrolled at the school. Old Blockhead arranged his admission through Governor Tofis, who had places reserved for outsiders’ children working in Hui Dun City.

Character development

• Aunt Mei becomes more cautious and suspicious after encountering She Li. Her fear and speculation show that she recognizes a threat beyond ordinary experts and begins reconsidering Brown’s identity and connections.
• She Li is established as an enigmatic and powerful figure. Despite being injured, he remains composed and appears to be monitoring or protecting Brown for reasons that are still unclear.
• Chen Cheng displays both his commitment to education and his strategic, retaliatory side. He genuinely supports the academy but also uses it as a trap against factions seeking the ruins’ knowledge.
• Kekebor is shown as a dedicated administrator and educator who actively inspects classes and protects the school’s limited resources.
• Moka receives a surprising new role: despite being an elite assassin, he is now the academy’s oldest student.

Major themes

• Knowledge as power and warfare: Mathematics is not merely academic; Chen Cheng uses it to control information and counter hostile factions.
• Education and social advancement: The academy gives children from the lower classes access to learning and creates a new intellectual foundation for society.
• Hidden identities and concealed strength: She Li’s undetectable power, Brown’s uncertain background, and Moka’s disguised student status reinforce the story’s atmosphere of mystery.
• Strategy over direct confrontation: Unable to openly challenge the factions watching him, Chen Cheng designs an indirect intellectual trap.
• Old and new worlds: The academy’s modern school design and advanced mathematics contrast with the magical society around it.

Key interactions

• Aunt Mei and She Li’s tense confrontation establishes mutual awareness and suspicion.
• Chen Cheng and Kekebor discuss the academy’s growth, student demand, and the exclusion of outsiders.
• Chen Cheng mentors the teachers directly, while the teachers acknowledge him as their instructor despite his youth.
• Chen Cheng’s interaction with the teachers becomes part of his larger scheme to mislead spies.
• Old Blockhead, Governor Tofis, and Moka are connected through Moka’s unusual enrollment, blending political arrangements with the academy’s educational mission.

Chapter Summary: “Tuotuo’s Gaze”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moka initially finds the New School boring because its standard lessons resemble those of ordinary schools. His interest changes when a teacher gives him private instruction in physics and chemistry, which he immediately begins considering for future assassination techniques.
• Moka has noticed spies from various factions infiltrating the academy. Since they appear to be gathering information rather than causing trouble, he chooses not to interfere. However, he follows them when they secretly copy Chen Cheng’s lessons from the teachers’ office blackboards.
• The stolen material is algebra and other mathematical content written by Chen Cheng. The chapter implies that the factions’ geniuses may suffer an “intellectual doomsday” if they attempt to master knowledge far beyond their current understanding.
• At the academy gates, Chen Cheng encounters Tuotuo, who claims he has come to observe how much Chen Cheng has grown since exploring the ruins. Their conversation quickly becomes a veiled challenge.
• Tuotuo reveals that he believes the rumor that Chen Cheng survived using Super-level Magic. He intends to investigate how Chen Cheng avoided death. Chen Cheng responds dismissively, challenging Tuotuo to discover the truth himself.
• Tuotuo receives news that the Church has located Jamir. Although Jamir is supposed to be killed on sight, Tuotuo orders that he be captured and publicly burned as a heretic.
• She Li watches from the shadows and considers killing Tuotuo because of the bishop’s strong killing intent toward Chen Cheng, but refrains because doing so would create serious consequences.
• The Church attacks Jamir outside Hui Dun City. Without She Li’s protection, Jamir cannot conceal himself from the Church’s divine artifact. He is severely wounded but escapes because Tuotuo prevents the Church from immediately killing him.
• Later, Tuotuo receives a copy of Chen Cheng’s algebra lesson. He suspects it contains some hidden danger or retaliation and therefore refuses to study it, though he keeps it as evidence for analyzing Chen Cheng’s personality.
• Tuotuo concludes that Chen Cheng’s mathematical ability proves he is highly rational. From this, he reasons that Chen Cheng would never use Super-level Magic without first predicting a way to survive it. He connects this theory to Brown’s powerful, repeatedly stacked spell from the grand competition.

Character Developments

• Moka: His curiosity and talent expand beyond assassination into scientific knowledge. He remains observant and pragmatic, choosing not to interfere unless necessary, but he is willing to exploit what he learns.
• Chen Cheng: He remains confident and dismissive toward Tuotuo. Rather than denying the Super-level Magic rumor, he taunts Tuotuo and allows him to pursue the mystery.
• Tuotuo: He becomes increasingly analytical and fixated on understanding Chen Cheng. His observations reveal both his intelligence and his hostility. He also demonstrates cruelty by insisting that Jamir be publicly executed rather than killed quickly.
• She Li: His loyalty to Chen Cheng is reinforced. He is prepared to kill Tuotuo after sensing the bishop’s murderous intent, but restrains himself to avoid provoking greater trouble.
• Jamir: Now lacking She Li’s protection, he is exposed and seriously injured, though he retains enough ability to escape the Church.
• Moka and the infiltrating factions: Their interest in Chen Cheng’s teachings establishes that his knowledge is already spreading beyond the academy and attracting dangerous attention.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge as power and danger: Scientific and mathematical knowledge is treated as a weapon, whether Moka applies it to assassination or rival factions try to acquire Chen Cheng’s lessons.
• Rationality versus misunderstanding: Tuotuo correctly recognizes the logical implications of Chen Cheng’s survival, but his conclusions are based on incomplete information because Chen Cheng is transmitting knowledge rather than inventing it.
• Observation and hidden motives: Nearly every major interaction involves surveillance, inference, or concealed intentions. Moka watches the spies, Tuotuo studies Chen Cheng, the Church tracks Jamir, and She Li observes Tuotuo.
• Intellectual retaliation: The copied algebra lesson may contain an unseen trap, suggesting that superior knowledge can punish those who seize it without understanding it.
• Faith, cruelty, and authority: Tuotuo uses religious authority to justify a public execution, contrasting the Church’s fanaticism with Chen Cheng’s rational, scientific approach.
• Restraint and calculated action: Moka, Chen Cheng, and She Li all deliberately choose not to act immediately, showing that survival often depends on patience rather than direct confrontation.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Cheng and Tuotuo: Their meeting is a psychological confrontation. Tuotuo probes for information about Super-level Magic, while Chen Cheng refuses to show fear and turns the investigation into a challenge.
• Tuotuo and the Knight of Light: Tuotuo overrides the order to kill Jamir on sight, revealing his desire to punish and study his enemies rather than simply eliminate them.
• She Li and Tuotuo: Though they do not directly confront one another, She Li’s decision not to assassinate Tuotuo highlights the bishop’s threat to Chen Cheng and the political danger surrounding him.
• Tuotuo and Chen Cheng’s algebra: Tuotuo treats the lesson as psychological evidence, using its structure and logic to form a theory about Chen Cheng’s character and survival.
• The Church and Jamir: Their pursuit demonstrates the Church’s improved tracking ability and Jamir’s increasingly desperate position.