Chapter Summaries

Jiang Hao and Jing Ruyi survived another stretch of their Antarctic journey, sharing a meal and making steady progress toward the Russian base. When Jiang Hao sensed danger, he discovered a hidden crevasse blocking their route and decided they had to detour toward the distant mountains.

• Jiang Hao sent the two skuas to catch fish, and they returned with Antarctic icefish that he prepared as sashimi for Jing Ruyi.
• Jing Ruyi ate the fish and, with Jiang Hao's help, relieved herself before they settled into their snow cave.
• Jiang Hao and Jing Ruyi traveled another two days, covering roughly a hundred kilometers and reaching about two-thirds of the way to the Russian base.
• Jiang Hao sensed danger, crawled forward to test the snow with his shovel, and uncovered a deep crevasse more than two meters wide.
• Jiang Hao told Jing Ruyi they would detour toward the distant mountains, which could add another day or two to their journey.

Jiang Hao and Jing Ruyi endured a day-long blizzard in a snow cave, then continued across Antarctica toward the Russian Research Station. They reached its vicinity and were found by two Russian station workers, who prepared to help them.

• Jiang Hao dug a snow shelter when another blizzard began and brought Jing Ruyi inside with him.
• While they waited out the storm, Jiang Hao melted ice in his mouth and transferred the warm water to Jing Ruyi.
• After the blizzard stopped, Jiang Hao found the two birds unharmed and carried Jing Ruyi onward across the snowfields.
• Jiang Hao and Jing Ruyi came within about two kilometers of the Russian Research Station, exhausted and weakened.
• Two Russians arrived on a snowmobile, and Jiang Hao explained that Jing Ruyi had a broken leg and two broken ribs and needed a stretcher.

Jiang Hao brought Jing Ruyi to a research station in Antarctica, but she developed acute kidney failure and needed treatment inland. At McMurdo Station, he discovered how to draw a temporary Illness Dispelling Talisman with spiritual energy and used it on her.

• Jiang Hao and Jing Ruyi reached the Russian Research Station, where doctors treated her injuries and the staff learned about their ordeal and Natasha's death.
• A doctor diagnosed Jing Ruyi with likely acute kidney failure, and Jiang Hao arranged to take her to McMurdo Station for better care.
• Jiang Hao treated Jing Ruyi with acupuncture at McMurdo Station, but learned they would have to wait three days for a plane inland.
• Jiang Hao recalled his master's teachings, drew an Illness Dispelling Talisman in his palm through Void Talisman Drawing, and ran to Jing Ruyi's ward.
• Jiang Hao pressed his palm onto Jing Ruyi, who blushed and shyly told him to wait until she was better.

Jiang Hao used talismans to heal Jing Ruyi, and the two grew closer as they traveled together. After seeing the Antarctic aurora, they promised to stay by each other’s side.

• Jiang Hao explained his talisman treatment to Jing Ruyi and said she would soon recover from her kidney failure and injuries.
• Three days later, doctors in Argentina confirmed Jing Ruyi’s kidney failure had healed, and Jiang Hao’s final treatment let her walk without pain.
• Jing Ruyi told Jiang Hao that being with him had eased her nightmares and asked him to stay with her in Buenos Aires for a while.
• One month later, Jiang Hao and Jing Ruyi returned to Antarctica and watched the aurora together.
• Jing Ruyi asked Jiang Hao to stay with her, and he promised to accompany her in her work and travels.

After returning from Love in Antarctica, Jiang Hao received the Cold Immunity skill and reflected on what he had learned about talisman drawing and Palm Lightning. He agreed to interpret for a company team traveling to Colombia, despite Zhou Xinyan’s concerns about security.

• Jiang Hao returned from the Antarctic mission and claimed the Cold Immunity skill as his reward.
• Jiang Hao realized his Void Talisman Drawing method could help him in emergencies and that he needed more spiritual power to refine Palm Lightning.
• Zhou Xinyan told Jiang Hao that Manager Tao wanted him to interpret for a twenty-day equipment installation trip to Colombia.
• Jiang Hao accepted the interpreting job after hearing its details, while Zhou Xinyan warned him that Colombia had poor public security.
• Jiang Hao and Zhou Xinyan watched the Huabiao Awards red carpet, and Jiang Hao thought of Jing Ruyi when he saw Yang Zishan.

After returning from a smooth business trip to Colombia, Jiang Hao reunited with Zhou Xinyan and helped his younger brother Jiang He settle into Xiamen University. In mid-September, a system mission inspired by the movie Astonishing Thieves Guild tasked Jiang Hao with becoming a popular magician and carrying out more than ten thefts.

• Jiang Hao returned from Colombia and reunited with Zhou Xinyan, then helped circulate spiritual energy through her meridians to support her cultivation.
• Jiang Hao and Zhou Xinyan met Jiang He in Xiamen, gave him a laptop and money for school, and helped him settle into his dorm at Xiamen University.
• Jiang Hao and Zhou Xinyan walked around the campus and reflected on university life and the simplicity of their present lives.
• Jiang Hao received a system mission to become a magician with over one million fans and complete more than ten thefts.

Jiang Hao prepared for a magic-related mission by studying tricks, then accepted it and arrived in a new world as a Chinese American university student at a college party in New York. He discovered that his new identity came with deceased parents and enough money for school and living expenses.

• Jiang Hao rewatched Astonishing Thieves Guild and decided to improve his magic skills before accepting the mission.
• Jiang Hao visited a Binhai City magic training center, amazed its instructor with a coin trick, and declined an offer to teach there.
• Jiang Hao studied magic books and instructional discs for more than half a month, relying on his Eidetic Memory to learn the material.
• Jiang Hao accepted the mission and vanished from his room.
• Jiang Hao arrived at a college party and learned he was a Chinese American orphan studying music and performing arts at New York University School of Education.

At a party, Jiang Hao decided to approach the popular cheerleader Merlin Fox to gain fan points and prove he had changed. He impressed her by producing a real rose, but quarterback Brian challenged him to make a beer disappear, leaving Jiang Hao looking embarrassed as the crowd watched.

• Dale urged Jiang Hao to stop acting like a bookworm and talk to a girl, explaining that rumors about them being a gay couple could hurt their chances of finding girlfriends.
• Jiang Hao chose Merlin Fox as his target and walked over to her with a rose he had taken from a vase and stored away.
• Jiang Hao introduced himself to Merlin and produced the rose as a gift, catching her attention.
• Brian mocked Jiang Hao's magic trick and challenged him to make Brian's raised beer disappear.
• Jiang Hao sighed and looked helpless as the crowd waited for his response.

Jiang Hao impressed a party crowd by making Brian’s beer glass vanish and reappear, earning applause and winning a bet that Brian would pay for the drinks. The crowd celebrated Jiang Hao’s performance as he returned the beer to Brian.

• Jiang Hao tried to make Brian’s beer glass disappear with a Mickey Mouse spell, and the glass vanished when he clapped his hands.
• The crowd applauded Jiang Hao, and Merlin joined in after he smiled at her.
• Brian accused Jiang Hao of cheating and demanded he make the glass reappear while everyone watched from two meters away.
• Jiang Hao bet Brian that he would pay for the party drinks if Jiang Hao made the glass reappear, and Brian accepted.
• Jiang Hao removed his shirt, introduced himself as Jiang Hao and Jon, and made the same half-filled beer glass reappear in his palm.
• Jiang Hao returned the glass to Brian, and the crowd cheered as Brian lost the bet and had to buy the drinks.

Jiang Hao dazzled the party with magic, humiliated Brian when he attacked him, and gained 31 Fan Points. After checking his stalled theft mission, Jiang Hao sat down with Merlin Fox, who asked him to show her where Brian’s shirt had gone.

• Brian spilled beer on Merlin, then charged at Jiang Hao and had his shirt stripped away by a Grappling Hand technique.
• Brian attacked Jiang Hao with a flurry of punches, but Jiang Hao dodged them and struck a pressure point that knocked Brian down.
• Jiang Hao woke Brian, introduced himself to the crowd as Jiang Hao, or Jon, and ended his performance as the onlookers applauded.
• Dale congratulated Jiang Hao, and Jiang Hao checked the system panel, which showed 31 Fan Points and theft mission progress of 0/10.
• Merlin Fox joined Jiang Hao, praised his magic, and asked where Brian’s shirt was; Jiang Hao made a T-shirt appear in his hand.

Jiang Hao registered for Talent Show after Dale suggested he use his magic to pursue fame and a million-dollar prize. He received an audition invitation and began preparing for Saturday while continuing his performing arts studies.

• Dale suggested Jiang Hao audition for Talent Show, and Jiang Hao registered online as a magician.
• Jiang Hao created Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube accounts to promote himself.
• Jiang Hao impressed his professor with his performance of an aria from Madame Butterfly during vocal training.
• Jiang Hao continued his music and performance classes over the next three days.
• Jiang Hao received an invitation to audition for Talent Show on Saturday and decided to prepare his magic props.

Jiang Hao bought magic props, supplies, and ammunition as he prepared for a performance and future plans. He entered a dangerous Bronx neighborhood, where several men approached him.

• Jiang Hao attended music theory class and practiced piano, determined to preserve the abilities he had gained by continuing to study.
• Jiang Hao bought flash paper, trick cards, spark powder, flash bombs, and smoke bombs at a magic shop.
• Jiang Hao bought a portable toilet, toys, medical supplies, outdoor equipment, and a contact for custom-made parts.
• Jiang Hao visited gun stores, covertly took guns from a display, and bought several boxes of bullets at another store.
• Jiang Hao traveled to the Bronx, where his taxi driver sped away and several men approached him on a street corner.

Jiang Hao fought off four Black youths who tried to rob him, then bought lockpicking tools and grappling hooks from a local weaponsmith. Back at New York University, he examined his newly acquired guns and hid them when Dale returned to the dorm.

• Jiang Hao dislocated the arms of four youths who tried to rob him in an alley, kicked them down, and took one man's gun.
• Jiang Hao visited a Black weaponsmith and bought several lockpicking tool sets for five hundred US dollars.
• Jiang Hao ordered five grappling hooks, paid six hundred US dollars for the tools and hooks, and returned to New York University.
• Jiang Hao took out and inspected two guns from his space, loaded a Colt revolver and two M9s, then hid them when Dale entered the dorm.

Jiang Hao prepared for his Talent Show audition, assigning Dale a brief role as a sign-carrying performer and studying acting in the library. After mentally rehearsing his performance, he was interrupted by Merlin, who greeted him.

• Jiang Hao told Dale he would audition for Talent Show and offered him a tiny, wordless role carrying a sign across the stage.
• Dale enthusiastically accepted the role and decided to make attractive signs for the performance.
• Jiang Hao attended classes on Friday, then spent Saturday studying acting books and mentally rehearsing his audition performance in the library.
• Merlin approached Jiang Hao at the library and greeted him.

Jiang Hao and Dale arrived at the America's Got Talent New York auditions with a toilet prop for their act, and Dale surprised Jiang Hao by wearing a bunny costume. Dale walked onstage with a sign announcing the start of the performance, leaving the judges unsure whether he was even a performer.

• Jiang Hao and Dale reached the auditions, registered as performer number 32, and waited most of the day for their turn.
• Dale changed into a bunny costume and refused to change back before staff hurried them onstage.
• Nick Cannon joked about Dale's outfit, then allowed him to announce their act with a sign.
• Dale strode across the stage, pretended to stumble, and left through the far passageway with the sign reading, "The performance begins."
• The judges wondered whether Dale was one of the performers and asked what his sign had said.

Jiang Hao staged a convincing upset-stomach act on Talent Show before revealing a portable toilet with a magic trick and singing opera from it. He ended the performance to laughter and applause, while Dale’s sign named the act “A Smelly Magic Trick.”

• Jiang Hao told Howie Mandel and the other judges that he was a student of opera, then pretended that his stomach was upset.
• Jiang Hao made the audience and judges think he was about to relieve himself onstage, prompting two judges to hit their X buttons.
• Jiang Hao swept his jacket across the stage and made a portable toilet appear, revealing the stunt as a magic trick.
• Jiang Hao sat on the toilet and performed the Queen of the Night Aria, impressing Melanie Brown and drawing laughter from the audience.
• Dale returned with a sign reading “A Smelly Magic Trick,” and the judges and audience laughed at the act’s title.

Jiang Hao performed a comedy magic act onstage, producing endless tissues and making a toilet disappear inside his suit jacket. The judges praised his performance, and he showed that the jacket could also produce a stream of toys.

• Jiang Hao made a tissue box appear and repeatedly pulled tissues from it, turning the trick into a joke about wiping his butt.
• After using the last tissue, Jiang Hao mimed pulling up his pants, then collected the scattered tissues and placed them in the toilet.
• Jiang Hao waved his suit jacket over the toilet and made it vanish, prompting loud cheers and calls for the Golden Buzzer.
• Howard Stern called Jiang Hao's act flawless, while Howie Mandel praised his professional performance and declared him perfect.
• When Melanie asked about the toilet, Jiang Hao said his suit jacket was a magical prop and shook out a teddy bear, a Transformers figure, and many other toys.

Jiang Hao and Dale advanced to the Las Vegas round of Talent Show after Jiang Hao impressed the judges with his comedy magic. Two days later, the televised performance brought Jiang Hao a flood of Fan Points.

• Jiang Hao gave toys to the audience and judges, who unanimously passed him to the next round.
• Jiang Hao introduced Dale as his college roommate and told an inspirational story about how Dale encouraged him to change and enter Talent Show.
• Jiang Hao said he had learned Chinese Ancient Color Magic from a master in China, then left the venue with Dale after Nick congratulated him.
• Dale celebrated their advancement and asked Jiang Hao to bring him to Las Vegas, and Jiang Hao agreed.
• Two days later, Jiang Hao received thousands of Fan Points as his performance aired on NBC.

After Jiang Hao and Dale became popular from Talent Show, Jiang Hao attracted new attention at the academy and gained more than fifty thousand fan points. As he prepared for the semifinals, Merlin asked to become his assistant, and he agreed.

• Dale and Jiang Hao received attention at the academy, and Isabella gave Jiang Hao her phone number after praising his performance.
• Jiang Hao gained more than fifty thousand fan points as interest in his Talent Show appearances settled.
• An FBI agent watched Jiang Hao's act and considered recruiting him as one of The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but decided to wait.
• Thaddeus Bradley demonstrated a trick on television and hinted that he would explain Jiang Hao's magic in a future program.
• Jiang Hao continued studying at the academy and preparing for the Talent Show semifinals.
• Merlin approached Jiang Hao and asked to be his female assistant, and Jiang Hao accepted.

Jiang Hao planned a comedic opera-and-magic performance based on Carmen with Merlin, then got Professor Ed Bryant’s support to expand it into a larger academy project. He finished the script and invited Merlin to review it.

• Jiang Hao told Merlin about his performance ideas and proposed combining comedy, opera, and magic in a Carmen-inspired act featuring Merlin dancing the paso doble and Dale playing a bull.
• Jiang Hao shared a video of his previous Talent Show performance online and began writing the new script.
• After Jiang Hao finished the script, Professor Ed Bryant suggested changes and recommended expanding the cast to around twenty performers.
• Professor Ed offered academy funding, performers, and academic credit in exchange for including the project in his teaching achievements report, and Jiang Hao agreed.
• Jiang Hao called Merlin and invited her to his dorm to review the script, and she accepted.