Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng discovers Zhang Jingli isn't the creature but is connected to it.
• Zhang Heng realizes Zhao Xiaotian, the child he rescued previously, is the creature.
• Zhang Heng finds Zhao Xiaotian's adoption records and his new address.
• Zhang Heng discovers a structural alteration in the orphanage, indicating Zhao Xiaotian's hiding place.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng: Becomes more cautious and strategic in his approach to finding the creature. He uses his extra time wisely and employs critical thinking to unravel the creature's plans.
• Zhang Jingli: Revealed to be an innocent pawn in the creature's scheme, willing to take the blame and harm himself to protect the creature.
• Zhao Xiaotian (the creature): Displayed increased cunning and manipulation, attempting to frame Zhang Heng and using human society's rules against him.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and deception: The creature uses manipulation to control its prey and create confusion.
• Trust and betrayal: Zhang Jingli's betrayal of trust highlights the creature's ability to exploit vulnerabilities.
• The power of observation and critical thinking: Zhang Heng's ability to notice small details and think critically helps him unravel the creature's plans.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Zhang Jingli: Their interaction reveals Zhang Jingli's role as a pawn and Zhang Heng's growing suspicion about the creature's true identity.
• Zhang Heng and Zhao Xiaotian (the creature): Their indirect interaction is marked by Zhang Heng's growing understanding of the creature's tactics and his determination to outwit it.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng, after a long chase, kills Zhao Xiaotian (Zhavielcha), a monster disguised as a child, and seeks the bartender's help to dispose of the body.
• The bartender, who runs a corpse disposal service, meets Zhang Heng at Nanhai Zi Country Park to take the body.
• She separates the game item from the corpse and informs Zhang Heng that the appraisal results will be ready in three days.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng demonstrates his strength and determination in tracking and killing the monster.
• The bartender shows professionalism and efficiency in her disposal service, indicating she's experienced in handling such matters.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural Entities: The chapter explores the existence of mythical creatures like Zhavielcha, raising questions about their origins and purposes.
• Trust and Alliances: Zhang Heng trusts the bartender enough to ask for her help, and she, in turn, assists him without hesitation.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and the bartender maintain a professional relationship, with Zhang Heng showing respect for her work and the bartender providing efficient service.
• They share a moment of camaraderie when the bartender offers Zhang Heng some tea, revealing her human side despite her unusual job.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng takes a well-deserved vacation after the Zhavielcha incident.
• He receives his game items back: 'Betty's Shell' and 'Wall of Malice'.
• Zhang Heng maintains his routine, focusing on training, studies, and social activities.
• His exam results are released, with top rankings in most mandatory subjects and a perfect score in Critical Thinking.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng: He continues to balance his life as a Player and a university student, showing growth in his academic pursuits and social interactions.
• You Always Look Unhappy: She shows concern for Zhang Heng's safety after the Zhavielcha incident, hinting at a shift in her attitude towards him.

Significant Themes

• The impact of game items on Players' lives and strategies.
• The disconnect between historical figures in dungeons and their real-world counterparts.
• The importance of balancing different aspects of life, as seen in Zhang Heng's dedication to both his studies and Player duties.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and You Always Look Unhappy: Their relationship evolves, with You Always Look Unhappy showing more concern for Zhang Heng, while he remains cautious due to her past actions.
• Zhang Heng and Betty: Though Betty is likely deceased, Zhang Heng still tries to contact her, showing respect for the historical figure.
• Zhang Heng and his peers: He participates in group activities with the Photography Club and Rock Climbing Club, indicating a growing social circle.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng enters a new dungeon, the Apollo Program Training Camp, alone.
• He finds himself among six other trainees, all wearing NASA uniforms.
• The trainees are to use a Multi-axis Training Device, simulating space conditions.
• The first trainee, Anderson, is chosen to test the device.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng (David) is the protagonist, adapting to his new identity and environment.
• Anderson, the first trainee, shows nervousness and apprehension.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation to new environments and challenges.
• Human exploration and ambition, as reflected in the Apollo Program.
• Competition, as hinted by the mission mode "Solo Competition."

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng observes the other trainees but hasn't interacted with them yet.
• The instructor selects Anderson to test the Multi-axis Training Device.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Players are introduced to an old multi-axis training device from the Apollo program.
• The first player, a fat man named Anderson, hesitates but eventually volunteers to test the device.
• The device spins violently, causing Anderson to vomit and faint.
• Players take turns on the device, each lasting varying amounts of time before vomiting or asking to stop.
• Zhang Heng is the last to go.

Character Developments

• Anderson: Initially hesitant, he eventually volunteers to test the device, showing a degree of courage.
• Anthony: Physically fit, he decides to cooperate with the training despite its harshness.
• Livingston: An intellectual type, he also cooperates but is affected by the device's intensity.
• Zhang Heng: Observant and calm, he hasn't gone on the device yet but seems prepared.

Significant Themes

• Endurance and Perseverance: Each player must endure the harsh training, with varying levels of success.
• Cooperation: Players realize they must cooperate to complete the training, despite the unpleasant circumstances.
• Unknown Challenges: The players face an unknown challenge, reflecting the uncertainty of their situation.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and the Girl with Glasses: They retreat together when the first player starts vomiting, showing a brief moment of solidarity.
• Players and the Instructor: The players cooperate with the training, but the instructor's expression grows tighter with each player's inability to complete the full training.
• Players among Themselves: They share looks of apprehension, disgust, and understanding as they watch each other go through the training.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The players are introduced to a multi-axis training device, simulating the G-forces and disorientation of space travel.
• Zhang Heng, the protagonist, attempts the device and lasts for 2 minutes and 52 seconds, significantly longer than the others.
• Captain Kenhouse reveals that NASA has lost all their astronauts due to an infectious disease, and the players are now considered for the Apollo 11 mission to the moon.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng demonstrates exceptional resilience and balance, hinting at his past as a pirate.
• The other players show varying degrees of resilience and fear, revealing their personalities and physical conditions.
• Captain Kenhouse is introduced as a stern and honest leader, who is skeptical of the players' abilities but follows orders.

Significant Themes

• Preparation vs. Adaptation: The players are thrust into a situation they didn't prepare for, forcing them to adapt quickly.
• Fear of the Unknown: The players face the unknown of space travel, evoking fear and apprehension.
• Leadership and Trust: Captain Kenhouse's leadership style is revealed, and the players must earn his trust.

Character Interactions

• The players watch Zhang Heng on the device with schadenfreude, feeling better about their own performances.
• The woman player, interested in Zhang Heng, times his attempt on the device.
• The players discuss Zhang Heng's profession and abilities, speculating about his background.
• Captain Kenhouse addresses the players as a group, setting expectations for their training and future missions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The astronaut candidates are rushed to Kennedy Space Center after their initial training.
• They learn that they must compete to be among the three astronauts on Apollo 11 to have a chance to land on the moon.
• There are seven candidates, but only three spots available, creating intense competition.
• They have approximately 55 days for training, with the launch of Apollo 11 scheduled for July 16, 1969.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng, the protagonist, is introduced as a calm and observant individual.
• The boy who looks like a high school student is revealed to be a space enthusiast with extensive knowledge about space missions.
• The fat man is shown to be inexperienced in solo instances and is struggling with his purpose in this instance.
• Anthony, the burly man, is portrayed as direct and competitive.
• The only girl in the group is curious and asks insightful questions.

Significant Themes

• Competition and survival of the fittest, as only three candidates can secure a spot on Apollo 11.
• The intense pressure and fear associated with space exploration, particularly the first moon landing.
• The importance of preparation and training for challenging tasks.

Character Interactions

• The candidates interact with each other, sharing knowledge and expressing their concerns about the competition.
• Zhang Heng and the girl sit next to each other on the bus, hinting at potential future interactions.
• The boy who looks like a high school student shares his knowledge about space missions, earning respect from some candidates.
• Anthony reveals the fat man's past struggles, causing discomfort among the group.

Key Plot Points and Events

• NASA provides a 60-page study manual covering various sciences and skills for the Players to learn in 55 days for the Apollo 11 mission.
• The Players express their concerns and disbelief at the amount of material they need to cover.
• The high school student reveals that women faced significant discrimination in the 1960s, including in NASA, making the female Player's path to Apollo 11 more challenging.
• The Players discuss their chances of being selected for the mission, with the middle-aged intellectual suggesting they could have a high chance if they cooperate and specialize in different areas.
• The Players learn that Captain Kenhouse is scoring their performance, which will likely determine who goes to space.

Character Developments

• The fat man is devastated by the amount of material he needs to learn.
• The high school student, an avid space enthusiast, becomes less excited after realizing the extent of the training.
• The middle-aged intellectual suggests a cooperative strategy but is met with skepticism.
• The female Player faces an additional challenge due to gender discrimination in the 1960s.
• Zhang Heng, who has been quiet, refuses to participate in the discussion about cooperation.

Significant Themes

• The overwhelming task and pressure of learning a vast amount of information in a short time.
• Gender discrimination and its impact on the female Player's chances of being selected for the mission.
• Cooperation vs. competition among the Players.

Character Interactions

• The Players express their concerns and strategies regarding the mission and training.
• The middle-aged intellectual tries to rally the Players to cooperate but faces resistance.
• The female Player seeks comfort from Zhang Heng after learning about the challenges she faces due to gender discrimination.
• Zhang Heng remains quiet and uninvolved in the discussion, refusing to cooperate with the other Players.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng encounters other players in a dungeon for the first time.
• Seven players compete for three spots on Apollo 11.
• The group attends a lecture on rocket physics by Dr. Steve, starting at 4 PM and unexpectedly lasting until 8 PM, with another class scheduled from 12 AM to 2 AM.
• The Captain reveals that the group will have a tour of the space center at 6 AM the next day.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng decides to maintain his intimidating aura from the Black Sail dungeon to deter potential threats among the players.
• The high school student shares information with other players and tries to form alliances.
• The glasses-wearing man tries to become the team leader.
• The Captain is shown to be stern and expects the players to make the most of their time.

Significant Themes

• Competition and survival among the players.
• The importance of information gathering and strategic thinking.
• The intensity and rigor of the Apollo program training.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng's intimidating presence makes other players wary of him, except for the female player who seems interested in him.
• The intellectual-looking middle-aged man tries to probe Zhang Heng's intentions.
• The high school student and the glasses-wearing man attempt to form alliances or take leadership roles.
• The Captain's stern demeanor contrasts with the players' initial expectations of the training program.

Key Plot Points and Events

+ Dr. Steve delivers a rapid, intense lecture on the Saturn V rocket, leaving students overwhelmed.
+ Players struggle with the technical English vocabulary and complex content.
+ After Dr. Steve's lecture, a bald man enters, introducing himself as the engineering class teacher and starting his lesson early, with dinner provided.

Character Developments

+ The fatty shows signs of distress early in the lecture.
+ Anthony, the burly man, is completely lost and confused.
+ The high school student struggles but maintains some understanding.
+ The girl next to Zhang Heng closes her book and complains about the difficulty.
+ Zhang Heng remains focused and attentive throughout the lecture.
+ The listless young man appears to be taking diligent notes but is later revealed to be less engaged than he seems.

Significant Themes

+ The struggle to keep up with complex, technical information.
+ The challenge of learning in a new, intense environment.
+ The contrast between the players' initial enthusiasm and their subsequent struggle.

Character Interactions

+ Zhang Heng interacts with the girl next to him, revealing his past actions in instances and warning her not to bother him.
+ The middle-aged man offers Anthony a piece of paper to wipe his sweat, but Anthony declines.
+ The listless young man grins at the girl after she makes a comment about him.
+ The bald man's arrival and immediate start of his lesson cause confusion and dismay among the players.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Players are exhausted after two classes and anticipate physical training to clear their minds.
• The Captain announces a seven-minute break before the training session, with the last ones to arrive facing five extra pull-ups.
• Zhen Ou, the only female player, twists her ankle, and Jia Lai, the fatty, offers to help her.
• Jia Lai and Zhen Ou form a team, vowing to advance and retreat together.

Character Developments

• Jia Lai (Fatty): Initially hesitant and self-deprecating, he gains confidence and determination after Zhen Ou's trust and invitation to team up.
• Zhen Ou: Shows resilience and determination despite her injury and the potential discrimination against women in the mission. She values trust and kindness in teammates.

Significant Themes

• Trust and Kindness: Zhen Ou prioritizes trust and kindness in her teammate, leading to her forming a team with Jia Lai.
• Self-awareness and Acceptance: Jia Lai accepts his limitations and is realistic about his chances of success in the mission.

Character Interactions

• Jia Lai and Zhen Ou: They form a bond over their shared sense of being overlooked and undervalued. Their interaction is marked by mutual respect, understanding, and trust.
• Jia Lai and the other players: Jia Lai's interactions with the other players are limited, but he feels left out and underestimated, leading to his self-deprecation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group undergoes intense physical training, with Anthony and Zhang Heng performing well.
• Zhang Heng discovers an Elvis Presley poster in his room.
• The group begins spacesuit training, learning to use the A7L spacesuit and portable life support system.

Character Developments

• Anthony shows prowess in physical tasks, taking first place in bench press and clean and jerk.
• Zhang Heng demonstrates familiarity with gym equipment, ranking second in physical training.
• The high school student's academic load is mentioned, explaining his mediocre performance in physical training.
• Zhen Ou, despite her sprained ankle, trains her upper body during the break.

Significant Themes

• Physical stamina and training are crucial for astronauts.
• The Apollo Program's spacesuits are complex and require extensive training to use.
• The group faces a tight schedule, with training and learning sessions back-to-back.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng interacts with the trainer during spacesuit training.
• Zhen Ou notices Zhang Heng's frequent glances at the clock, suggesting he's waiting for something.
• The group's exhaustion is evident after the first day of training, indicating the intense nature of their tasks.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist, whose name is not specified, informs the reader that they are taking a day off due to stomach pain.
• There are no significant external events in this chapter; it primarily focuses on the protagonist's internal state.

Character Developments

• The protagonist displays honesty and self-awareness in acknowledging their physical discomfort and prioritizing their health.
• They show consideration for the reader by apologizing for not being able to fulfill their duties for the day.

Significant Themes

• Health and Well-being: The chapter emphasizes the importance of listening to one's body and taking time off when needed.
• Honesty and Self-Awareness: The protagonist is open about their condition, demonstrating self-awareness and honesty.

Character Interactions

• There are no direct interactions with other characters in this chapter. The communication is one-sided, with the protagonist addressing the reader.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng's 24-hour time extension activates in a multiplayer instance for the first time, freezing the instance and other Players.
• An instance anomaly occurs, and a parallel instance is activated, sending Zhang Heng to a new instance without other Players.
• Zhang Heng finds himself in a 1955 airport, with a blonde beauty urging him to go to a laboratory.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng demonstrates his calm and analytical thinking under unexpected circumstances.
• The blonde beauty shows impatience and concern for Zhang Heng's safety and punctuality.

Significant Themes

• Time manipulation and its consequences, both in the game and in the real world.
• The game system's awareness and intervention in Zhang Heng's actions.
• The potential danger of instances and the game's protective measures.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng interacts briefly with the blonde beauty, who is concerned about his behavior and the potential consequences for his internship.
• Zhang Heng's actions in the still world raise the game system's suspicion of cheating, leading to his isolation in a new instance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng is transported to 1969, fourteen years before the Apollo Program, at the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory (LFPL).
• He learns that the LFPL was founded to address the backwardness of American engine manufacturing and is now part of NASA.
• Zhang Heng's identity is that of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) graduate student, and he's placed in the LFPL for an internship.
• He discovers that NACA has launched a hypersonic research engine program, which he might be involved in.
• Zhang Heng meets an East Asian engineer, Wu Zhonghua, who agrees to be his mentor despite Zhang Heng's lack of relevant education.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng: He adapts to his new situation, trying to learn and make the most of his time at the LFPL.
• Wu Zhonghua: He shows kindness and understanding towards Zhang Heng, agreeing to mentor him despite Zhang Heng's lack of relevant education.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation: Zhang Heng must adapt to his new environment and role.
• Mentorship: Wu Zhonghua's willingness to mentor Zhang Heng highlights the theme of guidance and support.
• Cultural Connection: The meeting between Zhang Heng and Wu Zhonghua, both Chinese, emphasizes the theme of finding a sense of kinship in a foreign land.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Wu Zhonghua: They meet and establish a mentor-mentee relationship, with Wu Zhonghua agreeing to help Zhang Heng despite his lack of relevant education. Their shared Chinese heritage also creates a bond between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng's life at the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory is simple and uncomplicated, with no main quests or survival threats.
• Wu Zhonghua resigns and leaves for New York, and Zhang Heng sends him off at the train station.
• Zhang Heng meets Neil Armstrong, the future first man on the moon, who has just joined the lab as a test pilot.
• Zhang Heng becomes the lab's impromptu greeter and gives Armstrong a tour of the airport and lab.
• Zhang Heng and Armstrong decide to grab a drink together after the tour.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng has acquired engineering skills and is familiar with Wu Zhonghua's research, making him valuable to the lab even after Wu's departure.
• Neil Armstrong is introduced as a young, calm, and polite former Navy pilot with exceptional piloting skills.

Significant Themes

• The theme of fate and choices is highlighted as Wu Zhonghua makes a decision that aligns with his true intentions, regardless of the game's context.
• The theme of professionalism and dedication is shown through the fanatical researchers at the lab and Armstrong's demeanor.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Wu Zhonghua have a mentor-mentee relationship, with Wu helping Zhang Heng acquire engineering skills.
• Zhang Heng and Armstrong have a brief but significant meeting, with Zhang Heng showing hospitality and Armstrong demonstrating his polite and calm nature.
• The blonde beauty, Jane, entrusts Zhang Heng with tasks and promises to treat him to coffee later, showing a friendly and trusting relationship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng completes his first spacesuit training successfully.
• He reviews his character panel, showing significant skill and item improvements from his previous instance.
• The players move on to light-load diving training to simulate the weightless environment of space.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng's skills and items have improved significantly due to his 240-day preparation period in the previous instance.
• He now has LV3 skills in Sailing and Blade Mastery, eight languages at a daily conversational level, and new skills in Engineering and Aircraft Piloting.
• Other players, including Jia Lai, are likely to challenge the game rules if they find the results unfavorable.

Significant Themes

• The importance of preparation and adaptability in facing new challenges.
• The competitive nature of the players and their determination to rewrite game rules if necessary.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng's interaction with the trainer during his spacesuit training is mentioned, but no significant interactions with other players are described in this chapter. The focus is on Zhang Heng's personal growth and preparation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• NASA's rigorous astronaut training program, including weightlessness training, maneuvering and tool usage in a swimming pool, and dangerous simulations like the Jebediah Kerman Human Centrifuge and the Lunar Lander Training Machine.
• Astronaut candidates face challenges like the Lunar Lander Training Machine, which has a 75% crash rate and can eject or trap the pilot upon impact.
• The first candidate, Anthony, attempts to land the Lunar Lander Training Machine in strong winds, but loses control and crashes.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng finds joy and tranquility in underwater training, simulating space conditions.
• Jialai, despite his initial weight loss, is disheartened by the possibility of regaining it post-training.
• Anthony, despite his apprehension, attempts to make a good impression on the Captain by facing his fears.
• A listless young man, despite his nonchalant attitude, performs well in training and theoretical studies.

Significant Themes

• The physical and mental demands of astronaut training.
• The importance of adaptability and facing fears in high-pressure situations.
• The cutthroat competition among astronaut candidates.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng enjoys his underwater training, contrasting with the grueling nature of most training exercises.
• Jialai expresses his frustration with the Lunar Lander Training Machine.
• Anthony attempts to impress the Captain by facing his fears, showing his determination.
• The listless young man expresses his lack of concern for his competitors, hinting at his confidence and nonchalance.
• The candidates watch Anthony's attempt to land the Lunar Lander Training Machine, shifting their focus to their own potential fates in the competition.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A lunar lander training machine crashes, killing the pilot, Anthony.
• The Captain cancels training and orders players to remain in their dorms, with psychological evaluations scheduled.
• Zhang Heng receives visits from Zhen Ou and a middle-aged player, who suspect Anthony's death wasn't an accident.
• A group of players gather in the middle-aged player's room to discuss Anthony's death.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng: Remains mysterious and aloof, showing no clear reaction to the events.
• Zhen Ou: Reveals her past struggles and expresses fear of Jia Lai, seeking Zhang Heng's help.
• Jia Lai: Shows fear of Zhang Heng and appears to be hiding something.
• Middle-aged Player: Seems intelligent and analytical, leading the discussion about Anthony's death.

Significant Themes

• Survival and Powerlessness: Players must survive the game, reflecting the real world's harshness and lack of choices for the weak.
• Trust and Suspicion: Players are suspicious of each other, making it difficult to form alliances.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Zhen Ou: Zhen Ou seeks Zhang Heng's help, but their interaction is cut short by Jia Lai.
• Jia Lai and Zhang Heng: Jia Lai fears Zhang Heng and tries to keep Zhen Ou close.
• Players' Gathering: Players discuss Anthony's death, with the middle-aged player leading the conversation and the listless young man being a prime suspect.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A group of astronaut candidates, including a listless young man, an intellectual-looking middle-aged man, a high school student, and others, gather for a meeting after one of their peers, Anthony, dies in a training accident.
• The listless young man suggests that the meeting is pointless as everyone secretly wishes others dead to improve their chances.
• The intellectual-looking man suspects the listless young man of tampering with the training machine, leading to Anthony's death.
• The high school student reveals seeing the listless young man sneaking out late at night, fueling suspicion against him.
• The group discusses potential motives and suspects, with each person pointing fingers at others.
• The meeting ends inconclusively, and NASA experts conduct psychological evaluations on the six candidates.

Character Developments

• The listless young man shows indifference and nonchalance, initially dismissing the meeting but later becoming defensive when accused.
• The intellectual-looking middle-aged man takes a leadership role, calmly analyzing the situation and directing suspicion towards the listless young man.
• The high school student initially appears timid but gains confidence and reveals crucial information.
• Zhang Heng, a quiet observer, remains noncommittal but notices suspicious behaviors in others.

Significant Themes

• Suspicion and Paranoia: Each candidate suspects others, leading to a tense and paranoid atmosphere.
• Manipulation and Bluffing: Characters use manipulation and bluffing to hide their true intentions or shift suspicion onto others.
• Trust and Betrayal: The lack of trust among the candidates leads to a breakdown in communication and cooperation.

Character Interactions

• The listless young man and the intellectual-looking middle-aged man engage in a tense exchange, with the latter questioning the former's actions.
• The high school student initially timid but gains confidence and shares crucial information, changing the dynamics of the meeting.
• Zhang Heng observes the interactions, noticing suspicious behaviors in others but remaining quiet.