Chapter Summaries

Ronan returned to Blue Bay Community to collect the important items from his home and transfer access to Mo Ya. On the way out, he reconsidered Grandfather’s notebook through his new way of observing the world, then realized he had stalled in the elevator in front of a startled couple.

• Ronan and Mo Ya agreed that he would clear out the home that night and send her the electronic key in Secret Key Mode.
• Ronan and Driver Qin reached Blue Bay Community, where the Smart Butler had kept Ronan’s home clean and orderly.
• Ronan collected the Black Box, portable cold-storage case, and Grandfather’s notebook, then sent Mo Ya the electronic key.
• Ronan reread the notebook and reflected on its account of using Molecular Targeted Agents to develop a person’s Self Format.
• Ronan considered rereading the notebook based on his changed way of observing the world, then noticed that the elevator doors were closing in front of a shopping couple.

Ronan became overwhelmed by inspiration and filled ten pages with notes connecting cultivation methods, mental elixirs, and the Life Sketch. He reached home near midnight, then spoke with Driver Qin and unexpectedly saw Qin’s Life Sketch.

• Ronan reconsidered Grandfather’s research and the cultivation teachings, then began recording how they might connect.
• Ronan filled ten pages with notes as he tried to preserve and explain his burst of inspiration.
• Ronan noticed Lady Luo Shuqing’s angry message and realized he was waiting outside the community at 23:47.
• Driver Qin reassured Ronan and explained how his defensive ability conflicted with the explosive martial arts he learned at Six Harmonies Hall.
• Ronan observed Driver Qin and saw a star-like arrangement that he recognized as a Life Sketch.

Ronan studied Driver Qin’s detailed Life Sketch and connected the observation to Master Xiu’s Judgment Technique before preparing for secluded cultivation. After an exhausting night of practice, he found the house unexpectedly free of his parents, but Mo Peng arrived early and asked whether Ronan had made the arrangements.

• Ronan compared Driver Qin’s detailed star chart with other Life Sketches and realized his observations had gained new detail.
• Ronan stored his cases and two notebooks in Mo Ya’s hidden underground storage room so he could follow Master Xiu’s Midnight-Noon Exercise and get to sleep.
• Ronan practiced through the night, working beyond the Eye Aperture until he woke shortly after four in the morning with a new sensation of sweet, plentiful saliva.
• On November 3, 2096, Ronan learned that Uncle and Aunt would be away, leaving him the quiet home he needed for secluded cultivation.
• Mo Peng came downstairs before seven and asked Ronan whether he had made the arrangements on his end.

Ronan used his quiet weekend to investigate his recent insights, and his Contemplation Graphic transformed into a star-filled structure resembling a Life Sketch. He began to suspect that his grandfather’s Format Theory concerned concrete phenomena rather than abstract concepts.

• Ronan put off Mo Peng’s plan to visit the Frost River Reality Cloud Capital Shuiyi Store and saw his family leave for the day.
• After finishing the household chores, Ronan retrieved his notebooks and secluded himself in his bedroom to study his ideas.
• Ronan released his Soul Power and projected the Life Sketches of the people and other living beings in his community into a Starry Sky within Heart Lake.
• As Ronan examined his Contemplation Graphic, its geometric Gestalt collapsed and reformed as a cluster of stars that resembled a Life Sketch.
• Ronan considered whether his Gestalt needed concrete details to gain meaning and wondered whether his grandfather’s Format Theory studied concrete phenomena.
• Ronan looked at the diagram on his grandfather’s notebook and saw a deep, majestic Starry Sky in its place.

After the Gestalt’s Star Chart Transformation unleashed a flood of inspiration, Ronan realized that his God Wheel was advancing too quickly and chose a measured approach to refining his Life Starry Sky. He began by treating himself as the first star chart to correct.

• Ronan filled pages of his Paged Notebook with ideas after the Gestalt’s transformation, then paused for lunch when the Smart Butler summoned him.
• Six Ears delivered Xue Lei’s reminder for noon practice, and Ronan hurried to finish eating so he could keep his training schedule.
• While considering his stable Body Wheel and rapidly advancing God Wheel, Ronan feared that another sudden breakthrough could endanger his life and crossed out his aggressive plans.
• Ronan decided to refine his Life Starry Sky by turning its rough sketches into carefully corrected drawings, and he completed his noon practice before resuming his research.
• Ronan studied the Life Starry Sky with an artist’s eye and concluded that he needed to improve its precision and details, beginning with himself.

Ronan set principles for revising his Life Sketch, choosing to study himself through observation before extending his methods to others. He narrowed his focus to the Dark Heavy Chains and set out to observe how they changed after Star Chart Transformation.

• Ronan wrote that he would begin with self-observation and use multiple perspectives to reproduce what he observed.
• Ronan reviewed his notes and recognized the Prison Sketch as a key link in his understanding of My Heart is a Prison and Format Theory.
• Ronan considered how the Self Format related to the Heaven and Earth Format, then narrowed his inquiry to basic phenomena rather than fundamental theories.
• Ronan identified the Dark Heavy Chains as his most substantial gain from comprehending My Heart is a Prison.
• Ronan began his observation by asking what form the Dark Heavy Chains would take and how they would change after Star Chart Transformation.

Ronan’s Star Chart Transformation dissolved the Heaven and Earth, Social, and Self Formats into a star cluster, then unleashed a rule that distorted his sense of space. His Eye Aperture Heart Lamp pierced into reality and revealed Black Tiger Baze, who sensed the connection and asked Ronan to grant him rules and a path forward.

• Ronan watched the Heaven and Earth Format and Social Format dissolve, then saw the Self Format expand into a dense cluster of stars as the Dark Heavy Chains rang out again.
• A spreading rule twisted the Life Starry Sky and disrupted Ronan’s sense of spatial order, so he used the Eye Aperture Heart Lamp to reorient himself.
• The Heart Lamp pierced the barrier between the Mental Layer and the Real World, revealing Black Tiger Baze recovering in a secret chamber.
• Ronan perceived Baze’s weakened foundation and his dependence on the Order Framework, while Baze sensed Ronan’s observation and opened his eyes.
• Baze raised his arms in a posture of devotion and asked Ronan to grant him rules and show him the road ahead, promising martial valor and strength in return.

Ronan used the Eye Aperture Heart Lamp to observe people and beings across Xia City, discovering that its force of order helped Baze restore much of his strength. As he studied the Life Starry Sky, Ronan realized its distorted structure followed the principles of Format Theory and was organized around his usefulness to those it contained.

• Ronan directed the Heart Lamp at Baze, whose chaotic body absorbed the force of order and regained more than half his peak strength.
• Baze broke out of the Quiet Room, praised the power that had restored him, and left despite High Priest Zheng Xiao allowing him to go.
• Ronan continued observing Xia City and saw a drunken woman fend off several thugs in an alley.
• Ronan turned the Heart Lamp beyond Xia City, where its restraints halted a demonic shadow, and observed Ink take flight and Xie Junping look around in confusion.
• Ronan noticed a star vanish from the Life Starry Sky while a motionless patient in a hospital bed stirred faintly.
• Ronan recognized that the Life Starry Sky's tiers reflected the principles of Format Theory and ranked its Life Sketches by their usefulness to him.

Ronan observed the Dark Heavy Chains within his Self Format and discovered that his soul flame was growing stronger and weakening their restraint. After ending his meditation, he realized his Soul Power had increased explosively.

• Ronan broadened his inward observation and used his Eye Aperture Heart Lamp to enter the dense star cluster of his Self Format.
• He saw that the black prison and its Dark Heavy Chains had changed, with the space growing brighter and warmer as his cultivation advanced.
• Ronan observed his soul flame blazing more fiercely, breaking through the lowest chain web and possibly snapping a chain.
• He concluded that Format Theory’s control over his core power was weakening and that he was gaining autonomy.
• After finishing his meditation, Ronan sensed that his Soul Power had surged, raising the water level above his God Wheel and making his External Neuron tremble.

Ronan investigated the uncontrolled rise in his Soul Power and theorized that his complete Format Theory system was producing more than he could use. He considered ways to consume the surplus, then noticed a bluish-yellow streak between the pages of his notebooks.

• Ronan traced his rising Soul Power to the Format Theory system, which connected living beings to him and acted like a vast production line.
• Ronan imagined changing the system’s production line to create new ways to consume Soul Power.
• Ronan considered burning and refining the External Neuron, but set the idea aside until he could gather data because it might cause irreparable harm.
• Ronan searched his notebooks for a safer solution and spotted a bluish-yellow streak between the pages.

Ronan used his paper figures to calm himself and asked Paper Cut about powerful techniques that could help him manage his Soul Power. Paper Cut suggested a headquarters mission rooted in Xia City, and Ronan looked up its listing.

• Ronan shook off the paper monkeys and reasoned that he could open more apertures if his Soul Power surged again.
• Ronan asked Paper Cut whether Soul Power Activation had any powerful ultimate moves, and Paper Cut explained the limits of Talisman Paper and suggested the Control Stream.
• Paper Cut offered to lend Ronan a Flying Wheel Arm next week, though Ronan remained uninterested in changing streams.
• Paper Cut recommended headquarters mission rt8313 as a possible way for Ronan to find an ultimate move.
• Ronan searched the mission board and found a listing for information gathering on Wu Zhao.

Paper Cut explained how the Martial Emperor collected Soul Power samples by releasing techniques for Ability Users, and urged Ronan to study Dripping Water Sword. Ronan received Paper Cut’s confidential class notes and asked about the higher-level Heart Burning Blade, but Paper Cut advised him to seek its materials through Secretary He.

• Paper Cut told Ronan that the Martial Emperor had collected more than forty thousand valid samples after publicly releasing Dripping Water Sword, and later released Heart Burning Blade for Architects.
• Ronan recognized the initiative as the Martial Emperor’s secret art, Pacify the World with Martial Prowess, which he had studied in a course with Bamboo Pole.
• Paper Cut recommended Dripping Water Sword for Ronan’s precise Mental Enhancement and sent him confidential notes from the Martial Emperor’s Intermediate Training Class.
• Paper Cut explained that teaching Ronan helped Zhai Gong earn Honor Points toward resources that might help him Awaken, and Ronan thanked Paper Cut for finding him a good teacher.
• Ronan asked about Heart Burning Blade, and Paper Cut advised him to focus on Dripping Water Sword and ask Secretary He for the advanced class materials or recording.

Ronan struggled with whether to ask Mister Bai for help learning the Heart Burning Blade, but He Yueyin warned him that his foundation and worsening imbalance made the technique unsuitable. After a tense breakfast with Luo Shuqing and Mo Haihang over a possible agency job, Ronan stayed home and turned to Paper Cut’s Dripping Water Sword lecture notes.

• Paper Cut suggested Ronan seek guidance from Xia City's psychic powerhouses, and Ronan considered asking Mister Bai rather than the mercenary Lao Gao.
• Ronan avoided contacting Mister Bai and instead asked Secretary He about the Advanced Seminar recordings; He Yueyin refused to give him the Heart Burning Blade material and warned that his imbalance had worsened.
• At breakfast, Luo Shuqing questioned Ronan’s conflicted mood, and Mo Haihang encouraged him to try the agency while bringing any contract home for review.
• Ronan realized his aunt and uncle suspected he was involved with the agency and considered asking Zhang Yingying to help reassure them.
• After his family left, Ronan failed to continue studying Format Theory and opened the Soul Power Information Collection task page alongside Paper Cut’s Dripping Water Sword lecture notes.

Ronan entered the Spirit Wave Network’s Reality recording of the Martial Emperor demonstrating the Dripping Water Sword, hoping to study the technique in detail. He was overwhelmed by the Martial Emperor’s presence in the recording just as the wilderness began to tremble.

• Ronan selected the highest-quality Reality mode to watch the Dripping Water Sword demonstration from the association’s RT8313 mission.
• Ronan entered the simulated wilderness and noticed that the Spirit Wave Network’s Reality experience felt unusually vivid.
• Ronan saw the Martial Emperor and admired her striking appearance and hunting outfit, but she initially did not react to his presence.
• The Martial Emperor turned toward Ronan, and her imposing beauty made him step back despite knowing she was only a recording.
• Ronan tried to work up the nerve to use the recording’s interactive features, but a faint tremor and rumbling sound swept through the wilderness.

Ronan watched the Martial Emperor demonstrate the Dripping Water Sword and learned that its Water Condensation Ring gathered water molecules for the technique. He practiced the ring for hours and achieved a smooth, precise formation, leaving him poised to continue mastering the technique.

• The Martial Emperor killed a Wrinkled Hide Wild Boar by piercing its eyes with droplets and destroying its brain, then explained the Dripping Water Sword’s structures and limitations.
• Ronan recognized that his precision, mental perception, and understanding of Configuration suited him to the technique, so he chose to practice the Water Condensation Ring first.
• Ronan raised the humidity in his room and formed a rough Water Condensation Ring, then repeatedly carved it while refining its size, stability, and speed.
• Ronan practiced for more than two hours, comparing his work to the Martial Emperor’s example and adjusting his technique.
• Ronan experienced a flash of inspiration and formed the Water Condensation Ring smoothly and crisply at the boundary between the mental and material planes.

Ronan discovered that his Water Condensation Ring could persist and consume enough Soul Power to drain his God Wheel, giving him an emergency way to ease his symptoms. While browsing the Martial Emperor’s legendary post, he learned that everyone who watched her turn in the immersive recording had been compelled to step back, leaving him wondering whether the fear he felt had also been programmed.

• Ronan’s Water Condensation Ring practice filled his room with droplets that burst into mist, soaking his quilt and notebooks.
• Ronan found that one droplet’s structure had survived and was continuously consuming his Soul Power, then realized the many rings from practice had sharply lowered the water level in his God Wheel.
• Ronan recognized that this expenditure could relieve his symptoms, kept the surviving droplet as a carrier for further practice, and hung his quilt out to dry.
• Ronan browsed the Martial Emperor’s Discussion Area, watched Dripping Water Sword mishap compilations, and posted an anonymous photo of his damp quilt and droplet.
• Ronan read replies explaining that viewers of the Martial Emperor’s recording had all stepped back when she turned, and wondered whether the recording had also caused the pressure and fear he experienced.

Ronan learned about Jin Buhuan’s disappearance in the Maple Pavilion Case, then studied the Martial Emperor’s detailed notes on the Dripping Water Sword and Ouyang Chen’s praise for its advanced design. He ended the chapter eager to focus on mastering the technique during the remainder of his seclusion.

• Ronan read the old forum discussion and recognized Jin Buhuan as the Extraordinary Species who had vanished in the Maple Pavilion Case three years earlier.
• Ronan set aside the story of Jin Buhuan and studied Paper Cut’s handouts on the Dripping Water Sword with the immersive recording.
• Ronan was impressed by the Martial Emperor’s analysis of the Water Condensation Ring and its many practical combat applications.
• Ronan watched Ouyang Chen’s recorded conclusion, in which he called the Dripping Water Sword a technique a hundred years ahead of its time and bowed to the Martial Emperor.
• Ronan used the Water Condensation Ring to control a fingertip-sized water droplet and decided to prioritize the Dripping Water Sword during his remaining seclusion.

Ronan discovered that a stable Water Condensation Ring let him control water even while using Astral Projection, then used it as a medium to make contact with the External Neuron. The External Neuron destroyed the original ring but emerged as a new structure that also functioned as a Water Condensation Ring.

• Ronan mastered the Dripping Water Sword’s Range Extension, acceleration, and guidance structures, then controlled a droplet across the neighborhood.
• Ronan used Astral Projection and confirmed that he could still control the Water Condensation Ring through his Soul Power.
• Ronan remembered that he had wanted to reach the External Neuron outside his body and used the Water Condensation Ring to meet it.
• The External Neuron shattered the original Water Condensation Ring and followed its structure through the void.
• The External Neuron formed a tiny hollow ring that gathered water and Soul Power, becoming both itself and a new Water Condensation Ring.

Ronan discovered that merging the External Neuron with his Soul Body let him interfere with the Material Layer, then hurried to Gear to uncover the secrets he believed it held. In Gear’s Grand Courtyard, he triggered the Courtyard Gyre and recognized similarities between it and President Ouyang’s Logic Boundary.

• The External Neuron transformed into a miniature Water Condensation Ring that Ronan could control as naturally as its previous version.
• Ronan flew toward Gear, drew the External Neuron into his Soul Body, and found that its interference force formed an invisible cloak connecting him to both the Mental Layer and the Material Layer.
• Ronan tested his new ability by generating a gust of wind in the Material Layer, then flew to Gear in Pingjiang District.
• Ronan entered Gear’s Grand Courtyard and used a blessing to stir its chaotic aura, starting the Courtyard Gyre.
• As the gyre accelerated and countless Curtains intersected in the Mental Layer, Ronan recognized a resemblance between the courtyard’s effects and President Ouyang’s Logic Boundary.

Ronan used the External Neuron to turn his Soul Power telescope into a means of entering the Cloud Top World, where he explored the vast cloud layer and encountered a powerful creature. He escaped its attack by diving deep into the Mental Layer, but the beast remained nearby, watching him.

• Ronan's External Neuron spontaneously formed a new configuration that synchronized interference between the Mental Layer and the Material Layer with his telescope structure.
• Ronan shot through the clouds and entered the Cloud Top World in Soul Body form, finding an immense, frigid expanse with blood-red light below.
• Ronan used his observation abilities to survey the clouds and noticed that few living beings were present.
• A dark-red, five-to-seven-meter-tall creature burst from the clouds and attacked Ronan with a physical charge and a devastating strike on the Mental Layer.
• Ronan fled through hundreds of Curtain layers until the creature's mental attack could not reach him, while it stopped in the clouds and watched his position.