Chapter Summaries

The narrator argued that the ancient tale later called “Chang'e Flies to the Moon” originally described an anonymous figure named Heng Wo stealing the Elixir of Immortality and ascending to the moon. The chapter left the narrator speculating that You Huang, who advised Heng Wo, was the Yellow Emperor and might have helped him succeed.

• The narrator argued that archaeological finds and Oracle Bone Script supported the greater reliability of the Classic of Mountains and Seas over later accounts of remote antiquity.
• The narrator traced the story's earliest surviving record to Returning to the Hidden and discussed how its texts, including the Book of Linked Mountains, had disappeared.
• The narrator proposed that Heng Wo was originally an anonymous figure whose name described the aspiration to become eternal royalty, rather than a woman named Chang'e.
• The narrator argued that later storytellers joined Heng Wo's tale to Da Yi's legend, turned Heng Wo into a woman, and recast the story as a romance.
• The narrator identified You Huang as the only other figure in the original tale and speculated that he was the Yellow Emperor, who may have taught Heng Wo how to steal the elixir.

Huang Ji defeated Luo Yan after revealing that Royia was pregnant and testing whether Luo Yan and Royia had spent the days before Santa Fe fell together. Luo Yan feared Royia was in danger and offered to agree to anything if Huang Ji released her.

• Huang Ji told Luo Yan that Royia was over two months pregnant and had likely conceived during their private trip in late December, when Santa Fe fell.
• Luo Yan attacked Huang Ji after hearing the truth they had agreed to keep secret, fearing Royia had been tortured or forced to reveal it.
• Huang Ji countered Luo Yan's attacks, interrupted his attempt to enhance his body, and knocked him unconscious with Lightning Sword Finger.
• Luo Yan realized he could not escape or fight Huang Ji to the death, while Huang Ji explained that he had guessed their secret from the pregnancy and Luo Yan's reaction.
• Luo Yan remained worried because Royia was still detained and offered to do anything if Huang Ji released her.

Huang Ji pressured Luo Yan to join the Double Pupils Faction and use the Longevity Elixir to bring the Morgan Family into the rebellion, while revealing that the Double Pupils Master was positioning Luo Yan as Carmen’s equal. Luo Yan agreed to follow the plan but demanded Royia’s release, suspecting he would have to rescue her himself.

• Luo Yan agreed to join the Double Pupils Faction, and Huang Ji ordered him to summon the Morgan Family to Cairo and ally with Carmen.
• Huang Ji gave Luo Yan five vials of the successfully developed Longevity Elixir, explaining that its promise would persuade the Morgan Family to support the rebellion.
• Huang Ji told Luo Yan to hand one vial to Carmen and claim that the Double Pupils Master had entrusted the elixir to him, giving him standing equal to Carmen.
• Luo Yan inferred that Feis might be the Double Pupils Master and that Huang Ji had been placed near Carmen to balance his power.
• Luo Yan agreed to carry out the plan and demanded that Royia be released, while Huang Ji promised that Royia and her unborn child would remain safe.

At a banquet, Luo Yan secured the Morgan Family's support for the Double Pupils Faction and gave Carmen a vial of Longevity Elixir, while Carmen grew suspicious of the faction's leader and its plans for him. Carmen ended by declaring that he and Luo Yan would control the Illuminati's future together.

• Carmen pressed Luo Yan to respond to his public pledge, and Luo Yan said the Morgan Family would arrive the next day.
• Luo Yan called the Morgan Family, revealed that he was the rumored Luo Yan, and won their full support by showing them four vials of Longevity Elixir.
• Luo Yan gave Carmen a vial from the Double Pupils Master and explained that the complete course offered five hundred years of life, but would be delivered in ten-year increments.
• Carmen questioned Luo Yan about who should lead the Eternal Sword-Keepers and dismissed each candidate Luo Yan named as unfit.
• Carmen noticed that Luo Yan had not named the Chairman and concluded that he would not accept being controlled by the Double Pupils Master.
• Carmen told Luo Yan that the Illuminati's future belonged to the two of them alone.

Carmen and Luo Yan misread each other’s status and intentions, allowing Luo Yan to gain influence over the Double Pupils forces and become their public commander. As the faction prepared to attack Saint Qing Island during the Pilgrimage Assembly, Luo Yan agreed to lead the operation despite his divided loyalties.

• Carmen tried to recruit Luo Yan as an ally, while Luo Yan mistook Carmen’s ambition and deference for proof that he had the Double Pupils Master’s support.
• Luo Yan began directing Carmen’s squads, then used the Longevity Elixir to bring the Onassis Family into the rebellion and was named Marshal Luo.
• Huang Ji briefed Luo Yan on the Double Pupils Faction’s resources, while Luo Yan believed he was being used to restrain Carmen and hoped to protect Royia and Chairman Folo.
• After Feis demanded the sacred artifact, Luo Yan and Huang Ji agreed to move the elite forces toward Saint Qing Island under the cover of the Pilgrimage Assembly.
• Luo Yan accepted that the attack would take place at the assembly and asked whether the Dragonkin would follow his orders; Huang Ji said they would kill whoever Luo Yan named.

Marco learned that Pick had accepted a Longevity Elixir and badge from the Double Pupils Faction, which Marco believed was behind the rebels who framed him. After receiving an invitation to the Pilgrimage Assembly, Marco decided to go to Saint Qing Island to find Luo Yan, prove his innocence, and expose the rebels.

• Pick told Marco that the Double Pupils Faction had given him a Longevity Elixir and a badge, and Marco condemned him for accepting them.
• Marco explained that Musa had entrusted him with glasses that could prove his innocence and that the character Musa left pointed to Luo Yan.
• Pick warned Marco that Luo Yan was rumored to be a rebel, but Marco insisted the rumors could be another attempt to frame him.
• Marco urged Pick to report the Double Pupils Faction's distribution of the elixir, but Pick agreed only to appease him and planned to stay quiet.
• Pick received an invitation to the Pilgrimage Assembly, where Luo Yan and Carmen would escort the Winged God to Saint Qing Island.
• Marco decided to attend the assembly to meet Luo Yan and expose Brando and the other rebels to the Sword-Keepers.

Marco arranged to travel to Saint Qing Island for the Pilgrimage Assembly, but he killed Pick and everyone else at the estate after mistaking Pick’s phone conversation for a betrayal. He boarded Pick’s cruise ship alone and forced its crew to sail toward the island.

• Marco asked Pick for an invitation to Saint Qing Island, and Pick arranged for him to travel hidden in a container aboard a plane and cruise ship.
• Marco overheard Pick saying he would leave the people to someone else, mistook the conversation as a plan to betray him, and killed Pick with one punch.
• Marco learned from the phone call that Pick had only been arranging the removal of ordinary cruise ship employees, then killed Pick’s son and the people throughout the estate to conceal what he had done.
• Marco killed the pilot after boarding Pick’s cruise ship, then ordered its Illuminati crew to set sail for Saint Qing Island.
• The cruise ship headed toward Saint Qing Island with Marco holding the crew under his control.

Sword-Keeper Musta arrived at Saint Qing Island as the Pilgrimage Assembly gathered, while Kidd and Grania prepared for the Double Pupils Faction’s expected rebellion. Grania learned that Feis had infiltrated the Onassis Family and planned to let the rebels act before responding, then agreed to infiltrate their faction.

• Sword-Keeper Musta arrived on Saint Qing Island, where Grania greeted him and said Lord Feis had not yet arrived.
• Grania reported Musta’s arrival to Kidd, who revealed that Feis had infiltrated the Onassis Family and anticipated the Double Pupils Faction’s rebellion.
• Kidd told Grania that Feis had prepared ambushes and intended to let the rebels become rebels by acting first, even if the Sword-Keepers were endangered.
• Grania recalled how Feis had helped her choose her own spouse and advanced her career, and she reaffirmed her loyalty to him.
• Kidd instructed Grania to welcome the pilgrims, especially the rebels, and obtain a Double Pupils Badge so she could join their faction undercover.

The Sword-Keepers discussed marriage alliances for Amu and Hua Ji, while Arona confronted Veronica about her relationship with Adams. Arona called off his order to kill Adams but demanded that Adams prove his potential or die.

• Musta and Arona discussed matching their daughters with Amu and Hua Ji, while Onassis said Amu had agreed to marry into his family.
• Arona summoned Veronica and rejected her love for Adams, insisting that he would decide whom she married.
• Veronica revealed that she was carrying Adams's child and begged Arona to spare him, convincing Arona that she truly loved him.
• Arona called off his men but ordered Veronica to bring Adams to Saint Qing Island for serum-compatibility testing and further training.
• Arona said Adams would be accepted only if he had Rh-negative blood or Burning Devotion Ascension Dual Polarity Excellence; otherwise, he would die.

Adams arrived on Saint Qing Island after testing as Dual Polarity Excellence, and Arona quickly took a liking to him and appointed him to help manage pilgrims. Feis and Kidd adjusted their plans to let Adams take the post while keeping Grania in place ahead of the Pilgrimage Assembly.

• Adams tested as Dual Polarity Excellence and went with Johnny to Saint Qing Island, knowing Huang Ji's serum had prepared him to become a Sword-Bearer.
• Johnny explained the island's pyramids were powerful weapons controlled by Sword-Keepers, and Adams worried that Huang Ji's planned rebellion might face unexpected resistance.
• Veronica welcomed Adams, and Arona grew impressed with him, gave him two bottles of serum, and appointed him as Kidd's deputy handling guests.
• Kidd objected because Grania already held the guest-reception post, but Arona insisted and threatened to have Adams bring the Power Sword to claim it.
• Feis told Kidd to divide the pilgrims by region, assigning Grania the arrivals from Egypt and Adams the rest.

Coyote brought Evil Dragon, Lin Li, and Alan onto Saint Qing Island with Adams's help, while Brando arrived and warned Kidd that Luo Yan might rebel. Brando suspected the Double Pupils Faction had infiltrated the island and chose to seek out Arona, believing the real enemies were within Saint Qing Island.

• Adams used his position and Veronica's influence to bring Coyote, Evil Dragon, Lin Li, and Alan onto Saint Qing Island, and Lin Li and Alan joined him at the docks to receive pilgrims.
• Brando arrived with Brandy and the Illuminati Killing Sword, recognized Adams as vaguely familiar, and went with him to meet Kidd.
• Brando warned Kidd that Luo Yan might rebel with a sacred relic, but Kidd knocked Adams unconscious and tried to keep Brando from alerting the Sword-Keepers.
• Brando and Brandy concluded that Feis might lead the Double Pupils Faction and that the threat was already on Saint Qing Island.
• Brando decided to avoid the Sword-Keepers and ordered Adams to take him to Arona, whom he believed Feis would want eliminated.

Marco pursued Luo Yan’s ship toward Saint Qing Island, but Mishu found him and attacked to avenge Beelzebub. After Mishu broadcast Marco’s location and failed to kill him, Brando and Kidd sent people to capture or kill Marco while Kidd went after him himself.

• Huang Ji spotted Marco following the cruise ship carrying Luo Yan and sent a signal, while Mishu recognized Marco and pursued him.
• Mishu rammed Marco’s yacht and fought him, but Marco poisoned him with a sodium cyanide-coated sword and fled when another yacht arrived.
• Marco killed the guards who tried to help him, giving Mishu time to radio a distress call identifying Marco and warning that he was trying to reach Luo Yan.
• Brando ordered Brandy to capture Marco alive, while Kidd told Grania to kill him on sight and went after Marco himself.

Marco escaped Kidd’s attack at sea and reached Saint Qing Island, where guards hunted him after he accused Kidd and Brando of framing him. Members of Luo Yan’s faction secretly helped him evade capture, but Kidd’s search continued, and Brandy took Marco away as the chapter ended.

• Kidd’s torpedo boats destroyed Marco’s ship, but Marco escaped underwater and swam ashore on Saint Qing Island.
• Guards and pilgrims pursued Marco, and he accused Kidd and Brando of being Double Pupils Faction traitors as Onassis Family Sentinels helped him flee.
• Members of Luo Yan’s faction guided Marco through the Port District and helped him escape his pursuers.
• Marco gave Luo Yan’s glasses, which he said were Musa’s last possession, to a Sentinel to deliver.
• Kidd continued searching for Marco, and Brandy found him and took him away, promising not to kill him.

Brando warned Arona that Feis, Luo Yan, and their allies might be plotting to seize power during the Pilgrimage Assembly, but Arona remained skeptical. After Brandy captured Marco, Brando returned with what he believed was evidence against Luo Yan and asked Arona to hear Marco’s testimony.

• Brando warned Arona that Luo Yan planned to rebel and might have a higher master, but he admitted he did not yet have solid evidence.
• Brando urged Arona to prepare a hidden force and use doubles at the ceremony, but Arona distrusted him because he was Feis’s Sword-Bearer.
• Arona explained that the Benben Stones on Saint Qing Island could serve as laser weapons and that the Sword-Keepers held the remotes that controlled them.
• Brando learned that Brandy had captured Marco and returned to tell Arona that Marco was a trusted man of Luo Yan who had been targeted after his cover was exposed.
• Arona agreed to meet Marco, while Brando said he would persuade him to testify against Luo Yan.

Huang Ji befriended Lorna while secretly helping the wounded Marco resist Brando’s attempt to force him into accusing Luo Yan. Marco revealed that Musa’s glasses contained evidence identifying the real culprit and challenged Brando to stake his life against his.

• Huang Ji joked with Lorna about burning the temples, then accepted her offer to show him around despite the guards’ objections.
• Huang Ji discussed Musta’s plan for him to marry Lorna, and the two toured the Temple District together.
• Huang Ji treated Marco’s wounds and secretly slipped medicine into his pouch while signaling that Luo Yan had recovered Marco’s glasses.
• Brandy brought Marco to Sword-Keeper Arona, where Brando demanded that Marco accuse Luo Yan in exchange for his life and reinstatement.
• Marco accused Brando of framing him and revealed that Musa’s glasses held a message naming the real culprit, then challenged Brando to stake his life against his.

Arona summoned Luo Yan to confront Brando and Marco over Musa’s supposed dying words, but Brando and Luo Yan each misread the other’s signals and quietly backed away from conflict. Arona dismissed the Double Pupils Faction as an invented excuse for infighting and warned that the Sword-Keepers would crush any real rebellion.

• Arona ordered Luo Yan brought in after Marco claimed Musa’s dying words were in Luo Yan’s possession, while Brando objected and doubted the evidence.
• Luo Yan secretly showed Brando his Double Pupils Badge, and Brando mistook the gesture for an offer to join a rebellion led by Luo Yan or Chairman Folo.
• Brando and Luo Yan politely denied being enemies and agreed that Marco could help establish the truth, but Luo Yan denied ever receiving Musa’s glasses.
• Marco accused Luo Yan and Brando of conspiring against him, while Luo Yan and Brando each assumed the other had betrayed Marco to protect himself.
• Arona rejected Marco’s shifting claims, concluded that Musa had left no dying words and that Marco was likely his killer, then declared that there was no Double Pupils Faction.
• Arona warned that the Sword-Keepers would defeat anyone who rebelled, leaving Luo Yan and Brando stunned by his conclusion.

Arona dismissed Brando’s investigation and ordered Marco killed, but a vial Marco identified as the Longevity Elixir reignited the dispute. Brando defied Arona and warned that a battle with the Double Pupils Faction was inevitable at tomorrow’s Pilgrimage Assembly.

• Arona ordered Suleyman to drag Marco away despite Brando and Luo Yan pleading for his life.
• Marco claimed that evidence was with one of Luo Yan’s subordinates in the port’s North District, while Brando urged Arona to interrogate him.
• A vial fell from Marco’s pocket, and Marco identified it as the Longevity Elixir; Brando called it proof, but Arona suspected a trick and dismissed him from the investigation.
• Brando signaled Brandy to take Adams away, leaving Arona without the Power Sword and unable to dismiss him immediately.
• Brando blocked Suleyman, refused to step down, and warned Arona that a great battle would come the next day.

Luo Yan learned that Arona was preparing for a possible rebellion at the Pilgrimage Assembly, while Huang Ji and Lorna uncovered a hidden underground facility beneath an empty courtyard. Inside, they found nine hundred clones of Feis, leaving Lorna shocked and Huang Ji aware that Feis’s clones were tied to the Clone Army’s disbandment.

• Arona ordered Suleyman to find Adams and recover the Power Sword, then told Luo Yan to have the Chairman and others wear Biological Armor at the Pilgrimage Assembly.
• Huang Ji and Lorna entered an empty courtyard, discovered a concealed metal door, and opened it with a code Huang Ji knew.
• Huang Ji used an orange to bypass the fingerprint lock at the bottom of the underground armory.
• Huang Ji and Lorna entered a second level filled with glass capsules, each holding an identical sleeping young man.
• Lorna recognized the people in the capsules as Feis, and Huang Ji realized the facility held nine hundred of his clones.

Huang Ji and Lorna discovered nine hundred Feis clones hidden beneath the Temple District and realized they might be used in a rebellion at the Pilgrimage Assembly. Meanwhile, No. 18 learned that Feis planned to sacrifice the clones, then accepted the Double Pupils Master's plan to impersonate Feis and seek help from Hua Ji.

• Huang Ji showed Lorna the clones' life-support system and explained that the pods would awaken them just as the Pilgrimage Assembly began.
• Lorna suspected Feis was preparing a rebellion, but Huang Ji pointed out that the clones could have been created before Feis became a Sword-Keeper.
• After Huang Ji and Lorna left, No. 18 awakened and received a call from the Double Pupils Master, who revealed that Feis intended to kill the clones after using them to help crush the rebels.
• The Double Pupils Master told No. 18 to impersonate Feis, find Hua Ji, and attend the Pilgrimage Assembly after having his lethal chip removed.
• No. 18 found Feis's residence, changed into a gold-and-white robe, and ordered an attendant to lead him to the main hall.

Luo Yan learned from Brando that Chairman Folo was the master of the Double Pupils, leaving him disillusioned and focused only on saving Royia. Meanwhile, Musta and Folo discovered Feis had hidden hundreds of clones on Saint Qing Island, and Musta rushed back after hearing Feis had entered the main hall.

• Luo Yan met Brando on a bridge, learned that Royia was under house arrest, and heard Brando identify Chairman Folo as the master of the Double Pupils.
• Luo Yan abandoned his plan to warn Folo about the rebellion and slipped into the main hall's rear courtyard, hoping to secure Royia's release by pledging loyalty.
• Lorna and Huang Ji told Musta and Folo that a secret storeroom held weapons and nine hundred clones of Feis.
• Folo concluded that Feis planned to attack the Sword-Keepers and sent Musta and Huang Ji to destroy the clones discreetly.
• Huang Ji warned Musta that Feis had entered the main hall after they left, so Musta hurried back.