Chapter Summaries

Morun confronted Ren Hong after Tian Bang and the others destroyed Ren Hong’s ritual, while Tian Bang recovered from his earlier clash with Morun. Tian Bang unleashed his Formatting Domain and charged Morun, whose Black Soul Body was restricted, as a blood-red assault overwhelmed his senses.

• Morun told Tian Bang that his weight had fallen dangerously low, then argued with Ren Hong after the ritual’s spiritual light vanished.
• Ren Hong insisted that he remained the defender of the Blood Flame Will, while Morun challenged his beliefs and recalled his connection to Jiang Yuanzhen.
• Morun announced that he had come to see the hand, cut losses, and turn the tables, and Tian Bang noticed a burn on his chest from their earlier exchange.
• Tian Bang activated his Formatting Domain, suppressing Morun’s Black Soul Body and filling the ruins with intense light.
• Morun took a defensive stance as Tian Bang rushed him, but blood-red heat and smoke overwhelmed Morun’s vision and senses.

Tian Bang unleashed his Blood Flame Will and struck Morun with overwhelming force, but Morun survived by burning away his flesh and remaining as shadow and will. Tian Bang then expanded his controlled Formatting Domain and covered himself in Blood Flame as the duel continued.

• Tian Bang's Blood Flame Will overwhelmed Morun, and his claws smashed through Morun's crossed arms and struck his face.
• The resulting blast flattened the ruins, and Meng Tu reported to the Frontline Command Center that the target was dead.
• Morun reformed from black smoke and crimson light, revealing that he had survived the attack.
• Tian Bang and Morun exchanged remarks about Tian Bang's increased power and Morun's condition.
• A secretary explained that Morun had burned away his flesh with the Black Soul Body method and now existed only as shadow and will.
• Tian Bang spread his Formatting Domain with precise control and coated his body in Blood Flame.

Ronan questioned whether Tian Bang’s power represented a breakthrough in the Prototype Format as he watched Tian Bang’s domain overwhelm Morun. He Yueyin accessed Tian Bang’s classified status data and learned from Doctor Pan that B Group’s research had made a breakthrough.

• Ronan woke sweating and studied Grandfather’s experimental records, including the Regular Tetrahedron diagram and Sixteen-Word Formula.
• Cat's Eye and Paper Cut judged the clash to have reached Extraordinary Species-level power, while He Yueyin said Tian Bang’s mastery of the Prototype Format made him stronger than Morun.
• Tian Bang’s Formatting Domain repeatedly crushed and displaced Morun, preventing him from holding a stable position.
• Ronan asked He Yueyin whether the Super Burner marked a breakthrough in the Prototype Format and how far the research had progressed.
• He Yueyin consulted Tian Bang’s classified real-time status data, then received a call from Doctor Pan, who confirmed that B Group’s research had made a breakthrough.

He Yueyin and Ronan discussed the rapid progress of research into Prototype Format and the global system backing it. Ronan understood that building a rival system would take time, leaving him worried that his grandfather might not live long enough to see it.

• He Yueyin ended her call with Doctor Pan, then looked out over Xia City and worried about the pressure Ronan faced.
• Ronan waited for He Yueyin’s reply while considering the possibility that Prototype Format research had made major progress.
• Ronan privately asked He Yueyin for details, and she explained that a global research system could mobilize vast expertise and resources toward a single goal.
• Ronan asked whether the system recognized the originators of its research, and realized that capital, power, and honor all revolved around the system’s central axis.
• Ronan resolved that he could eventually build a rival system, but feared his grandfather would not have enough time to wait.

Ronan watched Tian Bang and Morun’s battle in the ruined Underground Parking Lot and concluded that Tian Bang had the advantage. As Morun neared defeat, Ronan prepared to intervene by commanding the Demon Rune and disrupting the Shepherds’ marks on Blood Soul Temple.

• Ronan ignored Xie Junping’s message as Aurora Cloud Capital began an emergency evacuation after the Underground Parking Lot collapsed.
• Ronan watched Tian Bang and Morun fight, while Xue Lei judged Morun to be the more skilled hand-to-hand fighter.
• Morun’s attacks badly wounded Tian Bang, but Tian Bang unleashed a Blood Flame storm that threw Morun away.
• Tian Bang’s Formatting Domain trapped Morun and let Tian Bang slowly wear down his body and soul.
• Ronan commanded the Demon Rune to suppress Blood Soul Temple’s order and interfere with the Shepherds’ marks.

Ronan explored the Blood Soul Temple through the Demon Rune and identified the four Shepherd Marks, learning how the temple transformed chaotic currents into lava and shaped its layers. He prepared to test a way to affect the Marks while Ren Hong remained focused on the Human-Faced Spider.

• Ronan spotted four glowing Shepherd Marks in the Blood Soul Temple's second-level Courtyard Garden and recognized them as the chief priest, two deputy priests, and Morun.
• Ren Hong sensed Ronan disturbing the Marks and tried to regain control of the Blood Soul Temple.
• Ronan entered the temple's domain through chaotic currents and infiltrated it from the lowest stone forest and Lava Lake.
• Ronan traced the lava's route through the temple and inferred how active Shepherds controlled the shaping rules.
• Ronan repeatedly circled through the temple, mapped its layers, and concluded that the Shepherd Marks resembled Soul Attachment Clones.
• Ronan devised a way to affect the Shepherd Marks and prepared to try it.

Ronan used the Dark Heavy Chains to pull Ren Hong’s Shepherd Mark from the Blood Soul Temple’s second stage back to the Lava Lake, triggering a devastating backlash. Ren Hong was left helpless as Meng Tu and the Deep Blue Walkers arrived, but their Formatting Domain could not stop the damage.

• Ronan subtly disrupted Ren Hong’s Shepherd Mark while Ren Hong pleaded with Tian Bang for help during the battle.
• Morun taunted the Control School, and Tian Bang said he was working on killing Morun before resuming their fight.
• Ronan manifested the Dark Heavy Chains and dragged Ren Hong’s Shepherd Mark back to the Lava Lake.
• The mark’s collapse triggered a chain reaction through Ren Hong’s body-and-soul structure, leaving him rigid and unable to act.
• Meng Tu and the Deep Blue Walkers arrived and formed a Formatting Domain, but it could not stop the Blood Soul Temple’s backlash.

Tian Bang killed Morun in a brutal duel, while Ren Hong died in a mysterious burst of Blood Flame that left Tian Bang unable to identify the killer. Ronan secretly hid the Demon Rune in the Cloud Top World and continued monitoring the Blood Soul Temple as he considered his next steps.

• Tian Bang trapped Morun in his Formatting Domain and overwhelmed him with a barrage of punches, reducing him to ashes.
• Ren Hong struggled against the Blood Flame before dying in an eruption that left Tian Bang and the Deep Blue Walkers unable to determine who had killed him.
• Ronan denied Cat's Eye a direct answer and secretly sent the Demon Rune through the Gear Building passage into the Cloud Top World.
• Ronan discovered that the three Shepherd Mark configurations remained in the Blood Soul Temple as dim grains of sand despite their severed connections.
• Tian Bang searched for Madam Harold and the Blood Flame Order's core members while Ronan returned home and planned to locate Snake Tongue and continue investigating the Cloud Top World.

Ronan endured an exhausting sparring session with Xue Lei after Master Xiu reprimanded him for losing focus amid his many responsibilities. After receiving his first payment from Three Gates Security, Ronan headed out with Xue Lei, who recognized Zhai Gong aboard their flying car.

• Ronan and Xue Lei completed a punishing sparring session ordered by Master Xiu to help Ronan regain his concentration.
• Ronan told Xue Lei that he had been distracted by his many ongoing tasks and had skipped two Midnight-Noon Practices.
• Zhang Yingying told Ronan that Three Gates Security had issued its first payment, and Ronan saw a deposit of 1.55 million Credit Points.
• Ronan's credit and social authorization levels rose to the second tier after the deposit.
• Ronan and Xue Lei boarded a flying car, where Xue Lei greeted Zhai Gong.

Ronan and Xue Lei met Zhai Gong’s young companion, Zhai Weiwu, and learned that Zhai Gong was helping the orphan choose a martial arts school. They recognized Wei Wu from an earlier encounter and heard that he was considering Thunder Falcon Martial Hall.

• Ronan woke aboard the centipede flyer and met Zhai Gong and the boy, Zhai Weiwu, who was reluctant to call Ronan and Xue Lei uncles.
• Zhai Gong explained that he had met Wei Wu at a Kin Recognition Event and was helping him find a welfare institute and an extracurricular activity.
• Ronan realized Wei Wu was the child he had encountered in Three Gates District while scouting as the crow Ink.
• Zhai Gong said he wanted Wei Wu to train in martial arts and was considering Thunder Falcon Martial Hall because it had a convenient branch and skilled instructors.
• At dinner, Wei Wu refused Ronan’s offer of drinks and declared that he had mastered such temptations.

Ronan and Zhai Gong discussed Zhai Gong’s progress with the Water Condensation Ring while Zhai Weiwu argued that Extraordinary Power was no secret. Zhai Weiwu asked Ronan to teach him, then revealed that Dean Wan had taught him concentration techniques and that he knew Ronan’s friends Xie and Du.

• Zhai Gong demonstrated that he could briefly raise a droplet of water with the Water Condensation Ring, and Ronan advised him to make the structure smaller.
• Zhai Weiwu criticized Xue Lei for treating Extraordinary Power as something to hide, and Zhai Gong scolded him for talking nonsense.
• Xue Lei and Zhai Gong discussed whether Zhai Weiwu should learn martial arts and how long it might take to assess his aptitude.
• Zhai Weiwu asked Ronan to teach him, and Ronan said he could not provide proper foundational training while he was still busy and learning himself.
• Zhai Weiwu offered to teach Ronan to concentrate using Dean Wan’s method, and Ronan recognized Dean Wan through his friends Xie and Du.

Ronan and his companions discussed Dean Wan and the Creation Order while taking Zhai Weiwu toward the Welfare Institute, and Ronan learned more about the boy’s devotion to Dean Wan. A call from Mo Ya disrupted Ronan’s plans for the night, and the group’s discussion of martial arts ended when passersby mocked Thunder Falcon Martial Hall.

• Zhai Gong told Ronan that Dean Wan had seemed kind and skilled at making precise handicrafts, while Zhai Weiwu defended him and invited Ronan to visit the Welfare Institute.
• Zhai Weiwu praised Dean Wan’s precepts and coordination, which appealed to Ronan as he struggled to manage his many responsibilities.
• Mo Ya called Ronan to say she had taken over Blue Bay for the night, so Ronan decided to stay at a hotel instead.
• Zhai Weiwu advised Ronan to get along with his family, and then pointed out a Thunder Falcon Martial Hall advertisement.
• Xue Lei explained that military combat training was generally more systematic than civilian training and suggested a gradual approach for Zhai Weiwu.
• A passerby mocked Thunder Falcon Martial Hall for apparently fishing for students after its original location had closed.

Feng Jiajun provoked Xue Lei and the Zhai family at a bus stop, leading to a brief fight that Xue Lei swiftly ended. Ju Ling then arrived, revealing a possible connection between Thunder Falcon Martial Hall and military influence.

• Feng Jiajun mocked Xue Lei and Shenyu Dojo, and Zhai Weiwu traded insults with him.
• Feng Jiajun challenged Xue Lei to face him on the Winter Solstice, and their companions moved to surround the group.
• Feng Jiajun and the Thunder Falcon Martial Hall members attacked, but Ronan incapacitated the companions while Xue Lei subdued Feng Jiajun.
• Ju Ling arrived and told Xue Lei and Ronan not to lower themselves to a group of drunks.
• Ronan recognized Ju Ling's arrival as evidence supporting rumors of military influence behind Thunder Falcon Martial Hall.

After Ju Ling ended the confrontation, Ronan learned more about the ties between Thunder Falcon Martial Hall and the military and asked He Yueyin about the Winter Solstice Battle. He then accompanied Zhai Weiwu to the Welfare Institute, where they learned Dean Wan was away and Ronan began to take in the place’s distinctive design.

• Ju Ling apologized for Feng Jiajun’s group, led them away, and told Ronan and Xue Lei that Duan Hong had been a comrade of Colonel Meng Tu and worked with him in a laboratory.
• Xue Lei hurried back to see Xiu Shenyu, while Ronan agreed to go to the Welfare Institute with Zhai Weiwu.
• Ronan got permission from Aunt to stay out overnight and called He Yueyin, who said Thunder Falcon Martial Hall had bought Castle Conglomerate assets in Xia City and that the Winter Solstice Battle followed established rules between Xiu Shenyu and Duan Hong.
• He Yueyin abruptly ended the call, and Ronan continued with Zhai Weiwu to the Welfare Institute after the bus reached Linqiang District.
• Grandma Wang welcomed Ronan and Zhai Gong, explained that Dean Wan had gone out after accepting an invitation, and showed them around the Welfare Institute.
• Ronan admired the Welfare Institute’s simple, carefully balanced interior and thought Gear should hire a designer like that.

Ronan visited the Welfare Institute with Zhai Gong, discussed repairs to the Machine Core, and learned that Xiu Shenyu had kept Duan Hong’s challenge secret. He checked into Sea Sky Cloud Capital for the night and, while heading to its Viewing Platform, overheard a group discussing Second Young Master Xie.

• Ronan admired the Reception Room at the Welfare Institute and considered how difficult it would be for Zhai Gong to win Zhai Weiwu’s acceptance.
• Zhai Gong told Ronan that the Machine Core’s repair was limited by materials and proposed using a “dismantle and patch” approach.
• Ronan called Xue Lei and learned that Xiu Shenyu had received Duan Hong’s challenge letter but had told no one about it.
• Driver Qin took Ronan to Sea Sky Cloud Capital, where Ronan planned to stay near Zhi Xing Institute and the Flying Devil Fish.
• Ronan and Qin Yikun headed to the Viewing Platform and overheard someone say that Second Young Master Xie had been drawn in by a method they had expected to appeal mainly to older, ascetic people.

Ronan and Qin Yikun overheard Director Wu pitching a business partnership to a hidden Ability User on the Viewing Platform. Ronan recognized the man as Wan Ta, the Welfare Institute dean, and spoke with him about Xie Junping and Xiao Yong’s spirit-awakening ritual.

• Ronan sensed that one of the men leaving the elevator was an Ability User who concealed his aura unusually well.
• Director Wu urged Wan Ta to join him in building a business around the Blood Flame Order’s methods and the Mindfulness Society, but Wan Ta instead asked whether Wu planned to undergo treatment.
• After Director Wu left, Ronan recognized the Ability User as Wan Ta and introduced himself.
• Wan Ta said Xie Junping and Xiao Yong would likely need another month or two to understand their practice and thanked Ronan for guiding them.
• Ronan told Wan Ta that he had visited the Welfare Institute with Zhai Gong and Zhai Weiwu, surprising Wan Ta by mentioning Zhai Gong.

Ronan spoke with Wan Ta about Wei Wu and how different people’s influence could shape him, then exchanged ideas with Wan Ta through the Mental Layer. The conversation ended with Ronan troubled by something from their exchange, though he left satisfied and planned to visit Wan Ta again.

• Wan Ta explained that Zhai Gong’s orderly nature suited Wei Wu, while his own influence and Ronan’s could constrain the boy in different ways.
• Ronan and Wan Ta discussed their pursuit of order and how they applied it to the world around them.
• Wan Ta demonstrated a ritual for sensing Physical Nature, and Ronan recognized a resemblance to how Child had communicated with him.
• Ronan reached toward Wan Ta through the Mental Layer, and Wan Ta answered with ripples that crossed from the material world into spirit.
• Ronan and Wan Ta spent about twenty minutes exchanging ideas through strange words and gestures while Qin Yikun watched.
• Wan Ta left for the elevator, and Ronan thanked him, watched him go, and told Qin Yikun they should return.

Ronan learned more about Wan Ta’s understanding of order, then entered the Cloud Top World to rescue Demon Rune, which was harvesting a Rotten-Mouth Ape. He drew the nearby Rotten-Mouth Apes toward his own Soul Body, leaving the danger focused on himself.

• Ronan reflected on Wan Ta’s Creation Law and how it mirrored his own Format Theory.
• Ronan entered the Mental Layer, found the Cloud Top World in turmoil, and flew there in his Soul Body.
• Ronan discovered Demon Rune draining a Rotten-Mouth Ape’s Qi and Blood while nearby apes began converging on them.
• Ronan attacked the approaching Rotten-Mouth Apes with mental shocks and drew them toward his Soul Body.

Ronan lured five B+-rank Rotten-Mouth Apes away from Demon Rune, then escaped their attacks and discovered that Demon Rune had taken control of one of them. He left the chapter able to command the powerful beast from hundreds of kilometers away.

• Ronan fled while Demon Rune devoured a Rotten-Mouth Ape, drawing five more Rotten-Mouth Apes after him.
• A combined attack drove Ronan into the Extreme Domain, where he escaped the apes and slowly purged the burning energy from his Soul Body.
• Ronan found Demon Rune asleep inside a Rotten-Mouth Ape, with the Blood Soul Temple nested inside Demon Rune.
• Ronan sensed the controlled ape in his Life Starry Sky and tested his control by ordering it to turn, pose, punch, jump, and fly.

Ronan tried to bring the Rotten-Mouth Ape from the Cloud Top World into the normal world, but the ape’s ties to its world’s Order Framework made the transfer consume far more Soul Power than he could afford. He left the ape stranded halfway through an unstable gateway and realized he had only an incomplete summoning ability.

• Ronan reached the Rotten-Mouth Ape and found that it had entered the Technician Layer of his Social Format.
• Ronan opened a passage from the Cloud Top World, but realized the Rotten-Mouth Ape would not fit through into the Tree Hole Space.
• Ronan altered the External Neuron’s key structure and opened an unstable gateway in the swamp lake near the Withered Tree Sandbar.
• Ronan spent two-thirds of his accumulated Soul Power trying to pull the Rotten-Mouth Ape through, but its connection to the Order Framework resisted the transfer.
• Ronan concluded that he could only summon part of the ape and named the incomplete ability Demon Summoning (Incomplete)—Roar of Rotten-Mouth Ape.