Chapter Summary: “Heaven-Bestowed Genius”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Yin and Zhong Qing exchange a silent, competitive challenge while their relatives discuss Wang Xuan’s value. Zhong Cheng jokingly suggests that Zhong Qing should win Wang Xuan over, especially because the upcoming secret-land expedition may yield the legendary Earth Immortal Grass, capable of extending one’s lifespan by centuries.
• Wang Xuan enters Olesha’s memorial service as the center of attention. His recent victory over the New Arts Domain’s experts has dramatically changed how everyone views him.
• Zhou Wei is humiliated after his failed mental-power ambush against Wang Xuan, while Sun Chuan is disgraced for kneeling before Wang Xuan and is left mentally injured.
• During the memorial, the New Arts Domain remains resentful, believing Olesha and another veteran Grandmaster have effectively been sacrificed to establish Wang Xuan’s reputation.
• Wang Xuan privately knows the true circumstances of Olesha’s death: Old Chen killed him with a sword, while Qing Mu later burned and disguised the body. The funeral’s solemnity contrasts sharply with this hidden truth.
• After the ceremony, influential organizations attempt to recruit Wang Xuan for expeditions into a dangerous secret land saturated with X substance, which disrupts technology and favors physically powerful cultivators.
• Zhou Wei challenges Wang Xuan to a private physical duel, hoping to recover his lost dignity. The contest draws a crowd, and Guan Lin signals that Wang Xuan is free to fight without restraint.
• Wang Xuan unleashes the “Serpent Crane Eight Scattered Hands,” combining an ethereal, detached state with sudden and overwhelming killing intent. He defeats Zhou Wei rapidly, crushing his chest with a final kick.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan: Becomes increasingly confident and openly demonstrates his overwhelming strength. He uses the battle to practice and deepen his understanding of “Master Consciousness,” proving that he can shift instantly from transcendental calm to ruthless offense. Since this identity will soon be “frozen,” he no longer feels the need to remain inconspicuous.
• Zhou Wei: Suffers both physical and emotional humiliation. His earlier arrogance collapses after his mental attack fails, and his attempt to regain honor through combat ends with a decisive defeat and serious injury.
• Sun Chuan: Remains weakened from the earlier mental confrontation and is unable to fight. His public humiliation continues to affect his standing.
• Zhong Qing: Initially irritated by Wu Yin’s provocative confidence, she begins seriously considering how to recruit Wang Xuan to her side for the secret-land expedition.
• Zhong Cheng: Acts as a comic observer and opportunistic matchmaker. Despite being beaten by Zhong Qing for his teasing, he becomes fascinated by Wang Xuan’s techniques and begins joking that Wang Xuan could become his brother-in-law.
• The old man beside Zhong Qing: Gains a sudden insight into the deeper meaning of Wang Xuan’s technique and enthusiastically praises him as a “heaven-bestowed genius.”
• Guan Lin: Appears to have settled political tensions with powerful New Star financial interests and quietly supports Wang Xuan’s continued suppression of the New Arts Domain.

Significant Themes

• Reputation and reversal: Wang Xuan’s victory completely overturns the earlier belief that the Old Arts Domain was fading. The supposed “last seedling” becomes the youngest and most formidable Grandmaster of his era.
• Public honor versus private truth: The memorial service presents a solemn, respectable image, while Wang Xuan knows Olesha died violently and was deliberately disguised. The chapter repeatedly contrasts appearances with reality.
• Old Arts versus New Arts: The New Arts Domain’s resentment reflects a broader struggle for dominance. Wang Xuan’s victory strengthens the Old Arts Domain and humiliates its rivals.
• Transcendence and violence: The “Serpent Crane Eight Scattered Hands” embodies a central martial paradox: true detachment can coexist with explosive, decisive killing intent.
• Power and political maneuvering: Recruitment attempts, financial alliances, and Guan Lin’s behind-the-scenes negotiations show that martial strength has become closely tied to factional influence and future expeditions.
• Humor amid tension: Zhong Cheng’s jokes and Old Chen’s bizarre funeral behavior provide comic relief against the serious backdrop of political conflict, death, and martial rivalry.

Character Interactions

• Wu Yin and Zhong Qing communicate through silent provocation, revealing their rivalry and mutual interest in Wang Xuan.
• Zhong Cheng teases Zhong Qing about courting Wang Xuan, prompting her to grip and beat him while nevertheless considering his practical suggestion.
• Old Wu explains the importance of the powerful financial figures surrounding Guan Lin and identifies their connection to the secret-land expedition.
• Guan Lin’s friendly conversation with New Star representatives masks serious political negotiations, suggesting that major conflicts are being resolved diplomatically.
• Zhou Wei and Wang Xuan move from hostile opponents to direct combatants, with Zhou Wei seeking revenge and Wang Xuan using him as a test subject for his evolving technique.
• Zhong Cheng and the old man enthusiastically analyze Wang Xuan’s movements, each gaining insight from the battle; Zhong Cheng’s admiration ultimately turns into another joke about Wang Xuan becoming his brother-in-law.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhong Cheng gains insight into his martial arts after being beaten by his sister, impressing both Zhong Qing and Old Wang.
• Wang Xuan's prowess attracts attention from major organizations and Zaibatsu, who offer cooperation and resources.
• Chen Life Soil shares his suspicions about the benefits of extraordinary contact for cultivators and encourages Wang Xuan to go to New Star.
• Wang Xuan visits the ruins of the low mountain Taoist temple and has a dream encounter with the Female Sword Immortal, who shares a secret with him.

Character Developments

• Zhong Cheng shows improvement in his martial arts, gaining insight and respect from others.
• Wang Xuan's reputation grows, attracting offers of cooperation and resources from powerful organizations.
• Chen Life Soil becomes more open about his experiences and encourages Wang Xuan's cultivation journey.
• The Female Sword Immortal reveals a softer side and shares a secret with Wang Xuan, hinting at future developments.

Significant Themes

• The power of determination and perseverance in martial arts cultivation (Zhong Cheng's improvement).
• The importance of extraordinary contact for cultivators, as hinted by Chen Life Soil and the Female Sword Immortal.
• The allure of power and resources in the cultivation world, as demonstrated by the offers from major organizations and Zaibatsu.

Character Interactions

• Zhong Qing and Zhong Cheng's sibling rivalry turns into mutual respect as Zhong Cheng improves in his martial arts.
• Wang Xuan interacts with representatives from major organizations and Zaibatsu, who offer cooperation and resources.
• Chen Life Soil shares his experiences and encourages Wang Xuan's cultivation journey.
• Wang Xuan has a dream encounter with the Female Sword Immortal, who shares a secret with him, hinting at a deeper connection between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Xuan decides to go to New Star, hoping things will remain the same upon his return.
• He learns that someone impersonating him as Wang Xuan had a car accident, arranged by the imprisoned Song Family madman.
• Old Chen advises Wang Xuan to always carry his short sword, which might be the legendary Fish-Gut Sword.
• Wang Xuan's ticket to New Star costs two million New Star Coins (four million Old Earth Coins).
• Qing Mu offers to buy Wang Xuan's ticket and suggests he take on exploration missions for income.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan shows concern for his family and friends, planning to spend time with them before leaving.
• He expresses his desire to live an ordinary life on New Star.
• Wang Xuan demonstrates his determination to face the red-clothed demon immortal in the future.
• Old Chen reveals his alignment with the Relevant Department in pursuing 'Mysterious Contact.'

Significant Themes

• The theme of separation and longing for home is prominent, with Wang Xuan hoping things will remain unchanged upon his return.
• The vastness and mystery of the universe are highlighted, with New Star being a distant and expensive destination.
• The disparity between the rich and the poor on New Star is foreshadowed, emphasizing the importance of work and income.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan and Qing Mu have a friendly exchange, with Qing Mu showing understanding and support for Wang Xuan's dreams.
• Wang Xuan and Old Chen discuss his arrangements and identity for going to New Star, showing mutual respect and trust.
• Wang Xuan and Guan Lin share a light-hearted moment, with Guan Lin laughing at Wang Xuan's honesty.
• Wang Xuan and Chen Mingtu express concern for each other's safety and well-being before parting ways.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Xuan receives a letter from Old Chen about the 'Mysterious Contact' event that occurred thirty years ago, involving a strange light that swallowed people and objects, including powerful Old Arts experts and Super Battleships.
• The event left behind mysterious symbols and ancient weapons, with the light reappearing on New Star recently.
• Wang Xuan decides not to get involved in the matter due to his current lack of strength.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan becomes more cautious and introspective, reflecting on his experiences and growth.
• Old Chen's obsession with the 'Mysterious Contact' event is revealed, driving his actions and decisions.

Significant Themes

• The unknown and mysterious aspects of the universe.
• The consequences of curiosity and exploration.
• The importance of caution and self-awareness in the face of danger.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan interacts with Old Chen through letters, gaining insight into the 'Mysterious Contact' event.
• Wang Xuan encounters Wu Yin and Zhong Qing at Cloud Lake, leading to a tense moment as they suspect his true identity.
• Wang Xuan spends time with his family and friends before leaving Old Earth, strengthening his bonds with them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Xuan embarks on his first interstellar journey from Old Earth to New Star via Proxima Centauri b and Deep Space Eighth Star.
• The journey involves passing through a wormhole, which causes Wang Xuan to experience the terrifying vastness and emptiness of space.
• Wang Xuan transfers to a medium-sized spaceship at Deep Space Eighth Star to travel to New Moon, where he plans to meet Qin Cheng.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan demonstrates his growing mental domain abilities by probing the exterior of the spaceship during the journey.
• He experiences fear and awe when encountering strange energies and objects in space.
• Wang Xuan becomes aware of the need to earn money for personal growth and to support his pursuits of emotions and Old Arts.

Significant Themes

• The vastness and emptiness of space, contrasting with the familiarity of Earth.
• The dangers and uncertainties of interstellar travel.
• The importance of material resources in personal growth and pursuits.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan interacts with fellow passengers on the spaceship, discussing their fears and curiosities about New Star.
• He has a brief conversation with the hovercar driver on New Moon, learning about the ancient temple clusters and their history.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Xuan, after leaving the ancient temple on New Moon, looks back longingly, reluctant to leave due to the mysterious factors within.
• He travels to New Moon, where he observes New Star in the night sky, noting its similarities to Old Earth.
• Wang Xuan speculates about the discovery of New Star and the lunar heritage, and the cautious approach of New Star's high-level officials.
• He meets Ling Qiming, Ling Wei's father, at Guanghan Palace, and also encounters Ling Qiming's youngest daughter.
• Wang Xuan finds Qin Cheng at the Dingwu organization's branch on the moon.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan: He has become more confident and presumptuous, no longer intimidated by Ling Qiming's aura. He is also more casual in his speech and actions.
• Ling Qiming: He seems to have lost some of his imposing presence, at least in Wang Xuan's perception. He is concerned about his youngest daughter's safety and doesn't want her to encounter Wang Xuan.
• Qin Cheng: He is surprised and shocked to see Wang Xuan on New Moon.

Significant Themes

• The similarities between New Star and Old Earth, and the potential reasons behind the discovery of New Star.
• The lunar heritage and its impact on current technology and exploration.
• The cautious approach of New Star's high-level officials regarding contact with the outside world.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan and Ling Qiming: Their interaction is tense, with Wang Xuan being more casual and less respectful than before. Ling Qiming is concerned about his daughter's safety and doesn't want her to encounter Wang Xuan.
• Wang Xuan and Ling Qiming's youngest daughter: Wang Xuan mistakes her for a boy and pats her head, making her annoyed. Later, Ling Qiming instructs her to keep her sister away from Wang Xuan.
• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng: They haven't interacted yet in this chapter, but Qin Cheng is surprised and shocked to see Wang Xuan on New Moon.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Cheng, astonished, finds his old friend Wang Xuan on the moon, having traveled from Old Earth.
• Wang Xuan, a Grandmaster in the Old Arts, has been appointed as a special consultant for the Dingwu Organization.
• Qin Cheng complains about a department head in his company extorting money from him.
• Wang Xuan offers to help Qin Cheng improve his strength and suggests visiting an ancient temple complex.

Character Developments

• Qin Cheng: Struggles with his job and a greedy colleague, expresses desire to improve his Old Arts skills to go to New Star.
• Wang Xuan: Shows off his strength and status, offers to help Qin Cheng, senses unusual energies in the temple complex.

Significant Themes

• The power and influence of the Old Arts and its practitioners.
• The desire for improvement and advancement, both personally and professionally.
• The tension between Qin Cheng's current situation and his aspirations.

Character Interactions

• Qin Cheng and Wang Xuan reunite, with Qin Cheng expressing his frustration and Wang Xuan offering help.
• Wang Xuan senses unusual energies in the temple complex, hinting at potential danger or opportunity.
• Qin Cheng's eagerness for improvement contrasts with Wang Xuan's caution and experience.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng visit a thousand-year-old ancient temple, which is imbued with mysterious factors and residual mental energy from ancient Bodhisattvas.
• Wang Xuan senses that the temple contains powerful Strange Items, possibly at the Ascension level.
• Wang Xuan helps Qin Cheng cultivate near the temple, bringing him close to the Qi Gathering stage.
• They encounter Ling Qiming at the temple, who seems to be seeking favor from the Bodhisattvas.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan: He demonstrates his ability to resonate with and manipulate mysterious factors, helping Qin Cheng advance in his cultivation. He also shows caution and respect for the ancient powers sealed in the temple.
• Qin Cheng: He makes significant progress in his cultivation, approaching the Qi Gathering stage, and gains confidence in his abilities.
• Ling Qiming: He seeks blessings from the Bodhisattvas in the temple, suggesting he may be facing challenges or seeking divine favor.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation and advancement: Wang Xuan's help allows Qin Cheng to progress in his cultivation journey, highlighting the importance of guidance and resources.
• Respect for ancient powers: Wang Xuan acknowledges the potency and potential danger of the residual mental energy within the temple, showing caution and deference.
• Karma and favor: Wang Xuan feels indebted to the temple for past assistance, seeking to repay the favor by helping Qin Cheng cultivate there.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng: Their friendship deepens as Wang Xuan actively helps Qin Cheng advance in his cultivation, showing care and support.
• Wang Xuan and Ling Qiming: Their encounter is brief and tense, with Ling Qiming ignoring Wang Xuan, suggesting ongoing animosity between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng encounter Ling Qiming at the Bodhisattva Hall.
• Ling Qiming initially ignores them but later approaches and engages in conversation.
• Wang Xuan asks Ling Qiming to help Qin Cheng with his troubles in New Moon.
• Qin Cheng successfully breaks through to the Qi Gathering and Internal Nourishment stages in the Vajra Fist.
• Wang Xuan forces Li Kun to refund Qin Cheng's money and kicks him out of the courtyard.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan demonstrates his strong mentality and assertiveness, showing he won't bow down to Ling Qiming's influence.
• Qin Cheng learns to accept help and understands Wang Xuan's unique approach to problem-solving.
• Ling Qiming shows his dislike for Wang Xuan but agrees to help Qin Cheng, hinting at his complex emotions towards Wang Xuan.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: Wang Xuan and Ling Qiming's interaction highlights the power dynamics between them, with Wang Xuan refusing to back down despite Ling Qiming's influence.
• Friendship and Loyalty: Wang Xuan's determination to help Qin Cheng showcases his loyalty and friendship, even when facing powerful adversaries.
• Personal Growth: Qin Cheng's breakthrough in his cultivation represents personal growth and development.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan and Ling Qiming's interaction is tense and filled with mutual dislike, yet Wang Xuan manages to get Ling Qiming to help Qin Cheng.
• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng's friendship is solid, with Wang Xuan going out of his way to help Qin Cheng despite Qin Cheng's initial reluctance to accept help.
• The old monk at the Bodhisattva Hall shows interest in Qin Cheng's potential and welcomes him to visit often.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Cheng practices Vajra Fist at the ancient temple, causing nearby Buddhist statues to exhibit anomalies due to Wang Xuan's guidance.
• Wang Xuan discovers that the temple is the White Horse Temple, the foremost ancient temple of Buddhism, and suspects the move of both Buddhism and Taoism's ancestral seats to New Moon.
• Qin Cheng shares historical records of strange events and accidents occurring at the "Moon Crater," where anomalies were unearthed.
• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng plan to visit Guanghan Palace, a place for prolonging life, with Qin Cheng offering to treat Wang Xuan.

Character Developments

• Qin Cheng becomes more enthusiastic and generous, eager to treat Wang Xuan to various experiences.
• Wang Xuan shows interest in the secret land's rare delicacies and plans to treat Qin Cheng with them in the future.

Significant Themes

• Pursuit of longevity and exceptional physical condition among the elite.
• The disparity between the rich and the poor, with the top tier pursuing extraordinary experiences and longevity.

Character Interactions

• Qin Cheng and Wang Xuan's friendship deepens as they share information and plan experiences together.
• Wang Xuan guides Qin Cheng in his practice, leading to unusual occurrences at the temple.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng visit the Mutated Herb Field experimental zone, where Qin Cheng takes some herbs.
• They learn about the progress of Life Science Research Institutes in creating Superhuman beings, potentially leading to an Ultimate Bodhisattva Superhuman.
• A group of explorers enters the Moon Crater, and upon their return, eleven of them explode, releasing white light that forms an Immortal-like figure.
• The figure attacks Wang Xuan, and he decapitates it with his blade.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan: He gains a better understanding of the importance of ancient secret books and the Herb Gathering realm. He also demonstrates his ability to perceive and interact with mysterious beings using his mental domain.
• Qin Cheng: He shows his resourcefulness by taking herbs from the experimental zone. He also expresses awe at the hikers' fate and the mysterious events unfolding.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of immortality and longevity through scientific research and ancient methods.
• The potential consequences and dangers of pushing technological advancements too far.
• The existence of mysterious, otherworldly beings and their interaction with humans.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng: They continue to explore the Moon together, sharing information and supporting each other.
• Wang Xuan and the mysterious Immortal-like figure: Wang Xuan perceives and engages with the figure, ultimately killing it.
• The Old Monk from the White Horse Temple and the old Taoist priest: They both sense the mysterious being and attempt to ward it off using their respective artifacts.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A mysterious creature is killed by Wang Xuan, triggering a strong wind that covers everyone in blood.
• Three people affected by the creature's death run into the Moon Crater, two of whom explode, while one survives briefly before disintegrating.
• Wang Xuan is attacked by a creature in his room at night, which he kills after a chase.
• A Zaibatsu descendant, Qin Yunfeng, is lost in the Moon Crater, and his family offers a generous reward for his body.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan demonstrates his power and quick thinking, killing the mysterious creature and defending himself against the creature in his room. He also shows curiosity about the reward for Qin Yunfeng's body.
• Qin Cheng is more cautious and squeamish, gagging at the sight of blood and being scared by the creature in Wang Xuan's room. He also provides information about the Qin family's reward.

Significant Themes

• The power of the unknown and mysterious creatures that can affect humans.
• The allure of wealth and rewards, as seen in the Qin family's offer for Qin Yunfeng's body.
• The vast differences in starting points and opportunities between individuals, as exemplified by Qin Yunfeng's life and death.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng interact throughout the chapter, with Wang Xuan showing his power and Qin Cheng providing information and expressing his fears.
• Wang Xuan encounters Ling Qiming, who is observing the Moon Crater due to his relationship with the Qin family.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Xuan is targeted by a mysterious figure in the Moon Crater.
• The figure is revealed to be a man radiating white light, surrounded by white petals.
• The man is attacked by thunderbolts from the sky, seemingly from the Daoist Ancestral Court and Buddhist Ancient Temple.
• Wang Xuan realizes that the influence of Immortals and Buddhas on the real world is limited.
• An exploration team attempts to enter the Moon Crater but is possessed and killed.
• Qin Hong, Qin Yunfeng's father, offers a reward for anyone who can retrieve his son but is met with no takers.
• Qin Hong criticizes the security experts and special consultants for their timidity.
• The Qin family brings in four Moonlight Bodhisattvas, Great Grandmaster-level creatures, to enter the Moon Crater.
• Qin Hong plans to use "N-substance" to destroy the Moon Crater if the Bodhisattvas fail.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan gains a new understanding of the limitations of Immortals and Buddhas in the real world.
• Qin Hong displays his frustration and power, threatening to destroy the Moon Crater.

Significant Themes

• The limitations of supernatural beings in the real world.
• The power dynamics between zaibatsu and cultivators.
• The consequences of fear and inaction in the face of danger.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng maintain their tacit understanding, with Qin Cheng retreating as instructed by Wang Xuan.
• Wang Xuan and Qin Hong's interaction is tense, with Qin Hong criticizing the security experts and special consultants, including Wang Xuan.
• The four Moonlight Bodhisattvas are introduced, showing their power and willingness to enter the Moon Crater.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Four Great Bodhisattvas are sent to investigate the Moon Crater but are possessed by mysterious creatures and killed.
• Wang Xuan confirms that the creatures can't easily affect humanity and that many ancient myths and legends might have occurred in the spiritual domain.
• Qin Hong, grieving for his son, offers a high bounty and precious items to security experts and special consultants to explore the Moon Crater, but all six volunteers die.
• Qin Hong decides to use N-substance to resolve the Moon Crater issue, which results in the creatures' disintegration and the crater's explosion.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan forms his mental domain and memorizes secret manuals while Qin Hong is distracted.
• Qin Hong is revealed to be hypocritical and cold, despite his public display of grief.
• Qin Cheng shows concern for Wang Xuan's well-being when he feels a premonition of disaster.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between the Old Arts (Crude Arts) and New Arts practitioners.
• The relationship between the spiritual domain and the human world.
• The consequences of greed and desperation, as seen in Qin Hong's actions.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng: Wang Xuan drags Qin Cheng to the Thousand-Year Ancient Taoist Temple when he feels a premonition of disaster.
• Wang Xuan and Qin Hong: Wang Xuan marks Qin Hong as a difficult and hypocritical person to deal with in the future.
• Wang Xuan and the mysterious creatures: Wang Xuan observes the creatures possessing the Moonlight Bodhisattvas and their subsequent disintegration.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points

• Moon Crater catastrophe: The crater collapses, creating massive fissures across the moon. Wang Xuan senses a colossal force about to emerge—either a peerless demonic creature or supremely powerful Transcendent Immortals entering the real world.
• Flight to Zhengyi Temple: Wang Xuan drags Qin Cheng to the ancient Daoist temple (relocated from Dragon Tiger Mountain) to find "Old Zhang's" bones.
• Temple phenomena: The temple glows intensely; the Patriarch's Hall shakes, roars, and radiates auspicious light. Wang Xuan hears a world-shaking tiger's roar that nearly shatters his spiritual domain.
• Hidden truth revealed: Wang Xuan realizes the Patriarch's Hall is likely suppressing something demonic beneath it, not merely housing Old Zhang's bones. He stops himself from releasing anything.
• Temple counterattack: Both Zhengyi Temple and White Horse Temple unleash divine light into the Moon Crater, suppressing the disturbance and restoring calm.
• Warship destruction: The spaceship, damaged and pulled toward the Moon Crater, is caught by a gigantic hand formed from light and crushed in two—showing that ordinary people can now witness extraordinary phenomena.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan: Demonstrates restraint and wisdom—he nearly acts recklessly but stops to assess. Also feels a profound sense of isolation, being the only one able to see the true extraordinary world; he laments there is no one to share or discuss these wonders with.
• Qin Cheng: Terrified throughout; pragmatic enough to quickly "yield to reality" when danger strikes. Can only see physical manifestations (shaking buildings), not the spiritual light.

Significant Themes

• Technological vs. mystical power: Qin Hong (off-moon) dismissively claims technology will conquer mysticism, while the chapter demonstrably shows ancient power crushing a modern warship.
• The danger of hasty choices: Wang Xuan explicitly tells himself, "Don't rush into choices in life."
• Loneliness of transcendent perception: The loneliness of being one of the few who can witness the true nature of reality.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng communicate in "coded talk"—Qin Cheng barely understands and fears they'll be beaten for speaking of "Old Zhang" and ancient bones in front of Daoists.
• Wang Xuan's internal debate about whether "Old Zhang" (whom he's only met in spirit) might stuff him into a pit if released.
• Qin Hong's cold, confident commentary from deep space foreshadows future conflict between technological civilization and the extraordinary.
  Chapter ends with the warship destroyed by the Moon Crater's mysterious power, proving ancient forces remain dangerously active.

Chapter Summary: “Battleships Strike Transcendent Immortals”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moon Crater suddenly reveals its extraordinary nature, terrifying everyone on the lunar base. A giant hand made of radiant “light rain” emerges and tears a battleship in half, proving that mythological powers can directly affect the modern world.
• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng witness the destruction. Wang is stunned because the event confirms that beings at the peak of the Old Arts path may possess power far beyond anything humanity previously imagined.
• Strange activity begins inside Zhengyi Temple and White Horse Temple. Zhengyi Temple’s Patriarch’s Hall releases enormous mysterious energy, and Wang Xuan glimpses the phantom of a stone pagoda, suggesting that the legendary Demon-Suppressing Pagoda may have been moved there.
• The Qin Family and other powerful organizations debate how to respond. They conclude that transcendent beings have difficulty manifesting in the physical world and may become vulnerable when forced to merge with material reality.
• A super-battleship outside the Moon is authorized to attack the giant hand. Its beam destroys the manifestation, shocking observers who realize that advanced technology can injure or even destroy spiritual entities.
• The mysterious being from Moon Crater reappears, throwing a silver axe toward the super-battleship. The ship repeatedly fires on it, eventually blasting its manifested form apart. The axe damages one section of the battleship before the damaged cabin is detached.
• Qin Hong interprets the victory as proof that technology will eventually overcome the Old Arts and all forms of myth. He confidently declares that the technological age will replace “crude arts.”
• Meanwhile, Wang Xuan remains unconvinced. He senses that the strange forces beneath the Moon have not truly vanished and realizes that many myths may have existed primarily in the mental or spiritual world. The chapter ends as the hidden entities beneath Moon Crater fully emerge above the lunar surface.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan: His understanding of the Old Arts and transcendent beings expands dramatically. Although shocked and frightened, he remains observant and cautious, recognizing that the battleship’s victory may not mean the threat is over. His ability to perceive the hidden activity around Zhengyi Temple and the Moon distinguishes him from ordinary people.
• Qin Cheng: His confidence is shaken by the collision between technology and myth. He becomes frightened and repeatedly expresses disbelief, fearing that Wang Xuan’s association with powerful figures such as Ancestor Zhang may draw them into catastrophe.
• Qin Hong: He emerges as aggressive and decisive, pushing for the use of the super-battleship. After the apparent victory, he becomes increasingly arrogant, viewing the battle as evidence that technology has mastered the supernatural.
• The elder leaders of major organizations: They behave cautiously, treating the incident as both a crisis and an experiment. Their discussions reveal that powerful organizations have been actively studying ancient texts and developing theories about how transcendent beings enter the physical world.
• Old Zhong: He avoids taking responsibility by pretending to be too old and sleepy to participate, humorously reinforcing his reputation for evading difficult decisions.

Significant Themes

• Technology versus myth: The chapter directly stages a conflict between modern weapons and transcendent spiritual power. Neither side is portrayed as completely invincible.
• The return of the extraordinary: Humanity’s modern worldview is shattered when people witness a battleship being torn apart by a supernatural hand.
• Limits of manifestation: Spiritual beings appear powerful in their own realm but become restricted and vulnerable when they enter the material world.
• Human arrogance and uncertainty: Qin Hong believes technology has secured victory, while Wang Xuan senses that the deeper mystery remains unresolved. The apparent triumph may only be temporary.
• Hidden realities: The chapter suggests that the spiritual or mental world overlaps with the physical world, though ordinary people cannot perceive most of it.
• Institutional caution and experimentation: The major organizations do not simply react defensively; they use the crisis to test their theories and measure the weaknesses of transcendent entities.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan reassures the terrified Qin Cheng, telling him to remain calm despite his own fear.
• Qin Cheng jokingly and nervously asks Wang to welcome Ancestor Zhang, implying that only an overwhelmingly powerful figure could protect them.
• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng discuss the danger posed by Zhengyi Temple and White Horse Temple, with Wang noticing phenomena Qin Cheng cannot perceive.
• Qin Hong reports to the Qin Family and coordinates with other major organizations before launching the attack, showing the political and strategic dimensions of the crisis.
• The elder leaders debate whether to strike, observe, or use the situation as a test; several withdraw rather than commit themselves.
• Qin Hong and the super-battleship crew treat the manifested creature as a target to be analyzed and destroyed, while Wang Xuan views the event as evidence of a much larger and still-unresolved supernatural reality.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Xuan discovers the Great Curtain approaching the real world, revealing an Inner Scenery Realm within the Moon Crater.
• A Vertical Pupil man from behind the Great Curtain attempts to cross over, assisted by others, causing the Inner Scenery Realm to shrink and weaken its spiritual entities.
• The Vertical Pupil man's attempt to enter the real world is thwarted by the Yangping Zhidugong Seal from Zhengyi Temple and a Swastika symbol from White Horse Temple, leading to the disintegration of the Inner Scenery Realm and the disappearance of its spiritual entities.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan realizes the danger of being targeted by the ancients and the potential consequences of their return, leading to increased caution.
• The Vertical Pupil man shows desperation and unwillingness to remain behind the Great Curtain, revealing a tragic past.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between the real world and the world behind the Great Curtain, with the latter trying to infiltrate and consume the former.
• The consequences of interference from the world behind the Great Curtain, leading to the depletion and destruction of the Inner Scenery Realm.
• The preservation of ancient artifacts and their significance in protecting the real world, as seen with the Yangping Zhidugong Seal.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan observes the events in the Moon Crater without being noticed by others.
• The Vertical Pupil man interacts with his companions behind the Great Curtain, working together to attempt entry into the real world.
• The old man and the skeleton in the Inner Scenery Realm are connected, with the old man potentially serving as a key for the Immortal Lords to anchor themselves to the real world.
• The modern people in the Inner Scenery Realm are assimilated and kept at the edges, suggesting a hierarchy among the spiritual entities.
• The talismans from Zhengyi Temple and the Swastika symbol from White Horse Temple interact with the light from the Vertical Pupil man, ultimately leading to the destruction of the Inner Scenery Realm.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Hong, confident in technological advancements, plans to restrict "dangerous" individuals and establish rules.
• The Moon Crater collapses, and a severed hand emerges, scattering light rain and targeting a Super Battleship and a spaceship in deep space, destroying them.
• The light rain causes ordinary people to forget recent extraordinary events.
• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng witness these events and learn about the amnesia caused by the light rain.

Character Developments

• Qin Hong: Confident in technology and willing to restrict dangerous individuals.
• Wang Xuan: Realizes the severity of the situation and decides to leave for New Star to improve himself.
• Qin Cheng: Becomes more fearful and uncertain after witnessing the lunar war and the amnesia caused by the light rain.

Significant Themes

• The conflict between ancient Immortal Lords and modern technology.
• The consequences of interfering with the real world and the price paid for it.
• The impact of extraordinary events on ordinary people and their memories.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng: Wang Xuan protects Qin Cheng and decides to leave for New Star, while Qin Cheng is scared and wants Wang Xuan to wait for him.
• Qin Hong and other Zaibatsu representatives: They discuss the events and agree to cover up the truth to prevent panic.
• Wang Xuan and Li Kun: Qin Cheng spots Li Kun and recovers the debt, splitting the earnings with Wang Xuan.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Xuan arrives on New Star, eager to explore the secret realm.
• Major organizations swiftly deal with the aftermath of the moon incident to control public opinion.
• Wang Xuan meets an intelligent robot, Zhao 1025, who assists him in settling in.
• Wang Xuan encounters a little girl with a rare disease, the Five Decays of Heaven and Man Disease, on New Star.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan: He remains determined and proactive in his pursuit of the secret realm. He also shows concern for the little girl's well-being.
• Qin Cheng: He struggles with his decision to stay on New Star, feeling lonely and conflicted about his family back on Old Earth.
• Zhao 1025: Revealed to be an intelligent robot, she provides excellent service to Wang Xuan, highlighting her efficiency and politeness.
• The Little Girl: She displays maturity beyond her years, understanding her condition and its implications.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation to new environments: Wang Xuan faces the challenges of living in a new world, from dealing with intelligent robots to encountering new species and diseases.
• The value of privacy: The emphasis on privacy on New Star contrasts with the data-driven society on Old Earth, raising questions about the balance between convenience and privacy.
• The impact of decisions: Qin Cheng grapples with the consequences of his choice to stay on New Star, highlighting the theme of cause and effect.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng: They part ways as Wang Xuan leaves for New Star, with Qin Cheng feeling reluctant and uncertain about his own choices.
• Wang Xuan and Zhao 1025: Their interaction highlights the advanced technology on New Star, as well as the potential for misunderstandings due to the presence of intelligent robots.
• Wang Xuan and the Little Girl: Their encounter raises awareness about the unique challenges faced by New Star's native inhabitants.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Xuan discovers that New Star has indigenous people, which surprises him as he hadn't heard about them before.
• He meets a young girl named Lele, who is suffering from a terminal illness, and her mother, Jiang Xue.
• Wang Xuan learns about the indigenous people's history and their genetic disease, the "Five Decays of Heaven and Man Disease," which is incurable.
• He decides to enter the secret grounds in the Cloud Mist Plateau the next day.

Character Developments

• Wang Xuan: He feels sympathy for Lele and her mother, and his resolve to achieve transcendence strengthens.
• Lele: Despite her illness, she is mature, resilient, and optimistic. She tries to comfort her mother.
• Jiang Xue: She is a loving mother who is deeply saddened by Lele's condition and her husband's passing.

Significant Themes

• The struggle of the indigenous people and their genetic disease.
• The beauty and cruelty of life, as seen in the contrast between the magnificent Starfish spawning and Lele's terminal illness.
• The human connection and sympathy between Wang Xuan and the indigenous family.

Character Interactions

• Wang Xuan interacts with Lele and her mother, feeling pity for their situation.
• Lele and Jiang Xue show a strong mother-daughter bond, with Lele trying to comfort her mother despite her own illness.
• Wang Xuan avoids meeting three women who had tried to recruit him for their exploration teams.