Chapter Summaries

After waking up in 2009, Steve Rogers fought Yi Long and tried to escape, believing he was in a hostile laboratory. Li Congxin stopped him and explained that he had been asleep for seventy years, then invited him to see the modern world and meet an old friend's son.

• Li Congxin revealed that he had chosen a script tailored to an actor who could embody America's spirit, while Nalan Bai trusted his plan.
• Three days after New Year's Eve, Steve Rogers woke in Pym Laboratories and became suspicious when Yi Long said he was in a laboratory.
• Steve Rogers attacked Yi Long, and the two fought evenly until Steve drove Yi Long back and ran into the corridor.
• Li Congxin blocked Steve's attacks with ease, restrained him, and persuaded him to listen.
• Li Congxin told Steve that it was 2009 and that he had slept for seventy years; Steve lamented missing a date, and Li Congxin offered to show him the future and introduce him to an old friend's son.

Li Congxin brought Captain America to the Stark Expo, where they watched Tony Stark make a dramatic entrance and learned that Howard Stark had died. After Tony discovered Li Congxin knew about his palladium poisoning, he realized Li Congxin had come to offer a solution and asked what he wanted.

• Li Congxin drove Captain America to the Stark Expo and admitted he had collected blood samples from him.
• Tony Stark skydived into the expo in his Iron Man suit, then performed a showy presentation as Captain America watched with Li Congxin.
• Li Congxin teased Captain America about retirement and Tony's love life, earning frustrated reactions from him.
• Captain America recognized Howard Stark in a video, and Li Congxin told him Howard was dead before taking him backstage to meet Tony.
• Tony tested his blood for toxins backstage, then confronted Li Congxin, who pointed out that palladium in Tony's chest reactor was killing him.
• Tony realized Li Congxin knew how to solve his poisoning and asked what he wanted.

Li Congxin bet Tony Stark on a race for access to Tony’s research materials, then used magic to reach Tony’s villa first. There, he met Eris, the AI created from his ability and Jarvis, while Tony raced home in alarm.

• Tony proposed a race to his villa, wagering that Li Congxin could take both sets of materials if he won, but only one if he lost.
• Li Congxin opened a portal to Tony’s villa and brought Captain America with him, then explained that the portal was magic.
• Eris introduced herself as an AI born from the combination of Li Congxin’s ability and Jarvis, and gave Li Congxin the most expensive wine in Tony’s collection.
• Captain America asked about Eris’s comment about his chest, and Li Congxin claimed she had complimented his training.
• Eris told Tony that Li Congxin had already arrived at the villa and that she felt closer to him, prompting Tony to speed up in fear that Li Congxin would take his secrets.

Li Congxin told Tony Stark that Howard Stark had left the plans for a new element, and Tony agreed to give him the information in exchange for help making an Iron Man movie. Li Congxin then left through the Any Door with Captain America, leaving Tony to discover he had only pretended to drink the wine.

• Li Congxin learned that Eris could not reveal Tony Stark's database, though she had chosen Tony's most expensive wine for them.
• Tony Stark agreed that Li Congxin had won their bet, and Li Congxin told him Howard Stark had designed a new element to replace palladium.
• Li Congxin revealed that Howard's notebook was with S.H.I.E.L.D. and that the blueprint was hidden in the future city he had envisioned.
• Tony Stark offered Li Congxin the remaining information after he helped make an Iron Man movie, and Li Congxin accepted the condition.
• Li Congxin introduced Captain America as Hua Ji Mei Ren Shi Aiguo and took him through the Any Door.
• Eris told Tony Stark that Li Congxin had not drunk any wine and had only swirled it to show off.

Li Congxin hired Captain America to act in his Superman movie and arranged for Sharon to star in another film before finishing an Iron Man script. When he returned to his office, he found Egghead waiting for him with a gun and warned that killing him could count as self-defense.

• Li Congxin hired Captain America to make movies and arranged for him to share a dorm room with Yi Long.
• Sharon asked to play Lois Lane, but Li Congxin offered her a leading role in another script, which she accepted.
• Li Congxin wrote and printed the Iron Man script, then delivered it to Nirvana Group's animation department and reassured its staff that more animated films were planned.
• Li Congxin returned to his office and found a black-clad Egghead waiting with a firearm.
• Li Congxin confronted Egghead over trespassing and carrying a gun, warning that killing him could qualify as self-defense.

Egghead visited Li Congxin to recruit him into a superhero group and offer him a role as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Tactical Advisor. Li Congxin agreed to consider the group and negotiated for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s gravitational research materials, leaving Egghead to accept after confirming they would not be used commercially.

• Egghead reminded Li Congxin that he had once shared information about The Hand, but Li Congxin dismissed his attempt to gain the upper hand.
• Egghead proposed forming an independent superhero group to unite against threats to Earth, and Li Congxin agreed to hear more.
• Egghead invited Li Congxin to become S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Tactical Advisor, and Li Congxin saw the position as a way to gain influence and access to technology.
• Li Congxin demanded S.H.I.E.L.D.'s research materials on Gravitational Mechanics, including Howard Stark's original work and later research.
• Egghead asked whether Li Congxin would avoid commercial use of the materials, and Li Congxin assured him he would.

After negotiating with Egghead, Li Congxin left on a S.H.I.E.L.D. mission to help Agent Hill retrieve a scientist, unaware that Hydra planned to assassinate him. Pierce arranged for Killian’s forces and the Winter Soldier to target him, while Killian revealed that the scientist was merely bait.

• Li Congxin agreed that a S.H.I.E.L.D. scientist specializing in Gravitational Mechanics could assist his research, and accepted a mission to help Agent Hill retrieve a threatened scientist in the Middle East.
• Egghead let Sharon remain at Nirvana Group after Li Congxin demanded the contract’s breach-of-contract fee.
• Pierce ordered Agent Sitwell to tell Killian to begin the operation and described a plan to drug Clark Li and Hill before an attack.
• Pierce revealed that he considered Li Congxin a threat to Hydra and Project Insight, and decided to send the Winter Soldier after him.
• Killian told Maya Hansen that their plan was nearing success, then informed his subordinates that the Gravitational Mechanics expert was bait and Clark Li was their real target.

Li Congxin joined Hill to escort a Gravitational Mechanics expert through a decoy route to the airport, where terrorists attacked them twice. After boarding the plane, Li Congxin struggled with the deaths and injuries he had been forbidden to prevent, while Hill watched the aircraft climb away from the base.

• Li Congxin met Hill at a secret Middle Eastern base, where she explained the plan to escort the Gravitational Mechanics expert to the airport.
• Li Congxin proposed disguising himself as the expert to draw the terrorists’ attention, and Hill agreed to accompany him as part of the decoy.
• Li Congxin and Hill’s convoy was attacked on the way to the airport, and five soldiers were killed.
• At the airport, two gunmen and two human bombs attacked despite Li Congxin’s warning; two agents died and three soldiers were injured.
• After boarding the plane, Li Congxin told Hill he was frustrated that he could not use his power to prevent the casualties, while Hill watched the plane rise through the clouds.

Li Congxin and Hill survived an assassin’s attack aboard an airplane when the attacker transformed with the Extremis Virus and exploded, blasting a hole in the cabin. Li Congxin rescued Hill from the fall and brought her safely to a stone mountain, where he noticed she seemed feverish.

• Hill asked Li Congxin which women he liked, and he explained how he felt about the women in his villa before admitting Hill’s appearance suited his preferences best.
• A crew member attacked Hill and Li Congxin, but Li Congxin caught the assassin’s three bullets and Hill kicked him into a wall.
• The assassin transformed under the effects of the Extremis Virus and exploded, tearing a hole in the airplane and creating a powerful suction force.
• Hill was swept out of the airplane, and Li Congxin followed her, used the Suspended Ring and an Any Door to reach her, then caught her in midair.
• Li Congxin used the Boots of the Traveler to slow their fall and infused Hill with qi as they descended safely onto a stone mountain.
• Li Congxin noticed Hill’s flushed face and rapid heartbeat and asked if she had a fever.

Li Congxin helped Hill resist an aphrodisiac that had been accelerated by his qi, then turned his attention toward the person he suspected had arranged the trap. After White Stone Mountain collapsed, a powerful old man emerged from the ruins and confronted them.

• Li Congxin realized someone had drugged Hill to target him and used Qing Xin Zhou and his qi to help her endure the drug's effects.
• Li Congxin and Hill resisted the drug while the vibrating force damaged the mountain beneath them until it collapsed.
• Li Congxin gazed toward America with murderous intent, and Hill asked what was wrong.
• A terrifying aura rose from beneath the ruins, and Li Congxin stepped in front of Hill as an old Middle Eastern man wearing ten dangerous rings emerged.

Li Congxin fought The Mandarin after the ancient supervillain attacked him and Hill for disturbing his meditation. Though Li Congxin landed a surprisingly strong blow, he realized The Mandarin was still far more powerful, leaving the battle’s outcome uncertain.

• The Mandarin attacked Li Congxin with a vibrating blast, which Li Congxin deflected with Miraculous Hands, Spring Returns, and Li Congxin sent Hill through an Any Door to safety.
• Li Congxin dodged The Mandarin’s next attack, closed the passage behind Hill, and rose into the air to confront him.
• The Mandarin explained that Li Congxin and Hill had disturbed his meditation and nearly caused him to suffer cultivation deviation, then threatened to kill them.
• Li Congxin mocked The Mandarin and charged, dodging a laser and resisting a mental attack before striking at him with his sword.
• The Mandarin evaded Li Congxin’s sword and met his powerful kick with one of his own, and both fighters were thrown backward.
• Li Congxin saw that his all-out attack had gained only a slight advantage and realized The Mandarin’s strength and seemingly limitless ring powers could overwhelm him.

Li Congxin escaped The Mandarin’s assault but was wounded and took one of his Magic Rings, which allowed The Mandarin to track him. Before The Mandarin could pursue him, a powerful Black woman appeared and struck him into a crater, declaring that only she could bully Li Congxin.

• Li Congxin dodged The Mandarin’s attacks and escaped through a hidden Any Door beneath a redwood tree.
• The Mandarin reached through the portal and wounded Li Congxin, but the closing portal severed his ring finger and took its ring.
• Li Congxin picked up the ring and The Mandarin’s finger, then used an Any Door to reach Hill.
• The Mandarin sensed the stolen ring and tracked Li Congxin’s changing position.
• A Black woman confronted The Mandarin, claimed Li Congxin as her family, and kicked him into the ground.

Li Congxin passed out after warning Hill that Alexander Pierce led Hydra agents inside S.H.I.E.L.D., but Monica Rambeau arrived and healed him with a blood transfusion. He learned that Monica had defeated The Mandarin and left him to grow stronger, then Hill told him Natasha was in danger nearby and reinforcements would arrive within an hour.

• Li Congxin warned Hill that nearly half of the people hiding in S.H.I.E.L.D. were Hydra agents led by Alexander Pierce, then lost consciousness from his injuries.
• Monica Rambeau appeared, identified herself as Li Song's aunt, and offered blood after Hill discovered their blood types were incompatible.
• Monica's transfusion rapidly healed Li Congxin, who woke after twenty-seven minutes stronger than before.
• Hill told Li Congxin that Monica had severely injured The Mandarin and intended him to serve as a trial for Li Congxin's growth and eventual revenge.
• Hill told Li Congxin that Natasha had encountered danger nearby, Egghead wanted them to regroup with her, and reinforcements would arrive within an hour.

Black Widow hid from the Winter Soldier while injured, until Hill and Li Congxin found her. After Li Congxin dismissed the threat, Clark began explaining the Winter Soldier’s history, starting before his birth.

• Black Widow concealed herself in a tree near a leopard while waiting for S.H.I.E.L.D. reinforcements.
• Hill and Li Congxin approached, and Li Congxin scared the leopard away with a look.
• Natasha left her hiding place and told Hill that the Winter Soldier was hunting her.
• Li Congxin dismissed the Winter Soldier as a minor threat, easing Hill’s concern.
• Hill asked Clark what he knew about the Winter Soldier, and he said he would begin his explanation before the man was born.

Li Congxin captured the Winter Soldier in seconds and revealed that he was Bucky Barnes, whom Hydra still controlled. He took Bucky to Kamar-Taj, where the Ancient One was waiting for him.

• Li Congxin stopped his story when the Winter Soldier appeared and charged at him.
• Li Congxin blocked the Winter Soldier’s gunfire with Miraculous Hands, Spring Returns, disarmed him, and knocked him unconscious.
• Hill removed the Winter Soldier’s mask, revealing Bucky Barnes, and Li Congxin said Hydra still controlled him and he would try to restore him.
• Li Congxin offered to heal Natasha’s wound without leaving a scar and asked her to arrange a meeting to discuss the fee.
• Li Congxin carried Bucky through the London Sanctum and its portal to Kamar-Taj, where the Ancient One was waiting.

The Ancient One warned Li Congxin that future troubles would fall on him alone, then lent him the Eye of Agamotto and taught him its activation incantation. After learning that Li Congxin had captured Bucky, Pi Llama ordered Russia to send him a copy of a video from December 16, 1991.

• The Ancient One asked Li Congxin not to bring people unrelated to the Sanctums into Kamar-Taj or the other Sanctums.
• The Ancient One warned Li Congxin about the difficult troubles ahead and lent him the Eye of Agamotto, teaching him how to activate it.
• News of Bucky's capture reached Egghead and Pi Llama, who became furious over losing his last obedient Winter Soldier.
• Pi Llama ordered a bald subordinate to contact Russia and obtain a copy of the video from December 16, 1991.

Li Congxin returned to Pym Laboratories, showed Old Pi how his qi had changed, and asked him to examine the Mandarin’s ring and finger. He then confronted Nick Fury in his office, where Fury’s investigation into the attack had led him to suspect Pierce.

• Li Congxin told Old Pi that his aunt’s blood transfusion had changed his qi, and he demonstrated the glowing energy sphere.
• Old Pi began examining the Mandarin’s ring and finger after Li Congxin identified Alexander Pierce as his suspect, though Li admitted his suspicion came from images he had seen in the Quantum Realm.
• Nick Fury struggled to investigate the attack after Wind Zero exploded and the psychology expert died; Hill’s report pointed to Pierce as the possible mastermind.
• Li Congxin appeared in Nick Fury’s office, challenged Fury’s earlier justification for breaking into his office, and asked whether Fury could beat him.

Li Congxin confronted S.H.I.E.L.D. director Egghead over the assassination attempt and used the meeting to warn him about Hydra's infiltration and Project Insight. After Bucky woke from his cleansing at Pym Laboratories, Captain America went to visit him.

• Li Congxin entered Egghead's office through an Any Door and demanded compensation for the assassination attempt aboard his plane.
• Li Congxin asked for the Obelisk, the first 084 recovered by Agent Carter's team, but Egghead said he would need to check the records and promised other S.H.I.E.L.D. property on camera.
• Li Congxin told Egghead that Dr. Zola had secretly built Hydra within S.H.I.E.L.D. and created an algorithm that could identify threats to Hydra, potentially turning Project Insight into a weapon against humanity.
• Egghead grew alarmed and decided the possibility of Li Congxin's warning required a thorough investigation, while Li Congxin left him wondering about the warning to eat whatever he wanted.
• After several days of cleansing with the Qing Xin Zhou, Winter Soldier Bucky woke up, and Captain America visited him with Li Congxin's permission.

After Bucky regained his memories, he reunited with Steve, while Li Congxin began training in Old Pi’s newly completed Gravity Chamber. Impressed by the chamber’s potential, Li Congxin planned to modify it so Steve, Bucky, and Yi Long could train safely.

• After three days of cleansing with the Qing Xin Zhou, Bucky recovered his consciousness and memories and considered becoming a monk to atone for his actions under Hydra’s control.
• Steve entered Bucky’s room, and the two reunited after seventy years; Steve saw Bucky’s mechanical arm and asked what had happened to it.
• Old Pi told Li Congxin that the Gravity Chamber was finished and described its transparent design, adjustable gravity, and emergency cutoff.
• Li Congxin raised the chamber to thirteen times normal gravity, then trained for two hours as Old Pi and a S.H.I.E.L.D. expert watched in amazement.
• Li Congxin decided to modify the chamber for Steve, Bucky, and Yi Long, limiting their access to twice normal gravity unless he unlocked higher levels.

Li Congxin trained in the Gravity Chamber and sought a better way to replenish the energy his body consumed. At Tony Stark’s villa, Tony completed his new reactor, and Li Congxin introduced Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes before an unexpected delivery interrupted them.

• Li Congxin’s combat power rose to nearly 15 gua in the Gravity Chamber, while he recruited scientists to address the inefficiency of replenishing energy with food.
• Li Congxin brought Captain America and Bucky to Tony Stark’s villa to discuss the Iron Man script and build a relationship with Tony before revealing the truth about Howard Stark’s death.
• Tony told Li Congxin that he had developed a new element, then completed a reactor he accidentally called the Moon Prism Reactor, easing his poisoning symptoms.
• Tony revealed that Eris had detected Captain America and Bucky beneath their Bionic Masks, and Li Congxin introduced them as Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes.
• Eris announced that a delivery had arrived at Tony’s door before Li Congxin could explain Bucky’s circumstances.