Chapter Summaries

Teacher Xue taught Chen Chuan the Empty Heart Seal and urged him to master his techniques before April, hinting that an important opportunity was approaching. After returning to his dormitory, Chen Chuan identified the plants Teacher Xue had left and began looking for help to develop Zhao Ming’s Mutated Tissue.

• Teacher Xue taught Chen Chuan how the Empty Heart Seal could resist mental interference and counterattack through an opponent’s mental connection, while warning him about powerful entities from the other side.
• Teacher Xue gave Chen Chuan Scented Herbs and challenged him to master his current techniques within ten days, warning that he might otherwise miss a rare opportunity.
• Chen Chuan returned to his dormitory with two plants, identified them as meat-eating Leaf-Clasping Cages, and considered signs that something was happening in Central City.
• Chen Chuan asked Zou Handan whether the Secret Serpent Sect could help Zhao Ming grow Mutated Tissue, but Zou Handan said the discarded specimen had little potential and suggested Light Nest Company instead.
• Chen Chuan researched Light Nest Company’s work on biological Mutated Tissue and sent an inquiry.

Chen Chuan learned that Fu Mu would soon divide during a dangerous period for Jibei Province Central City, as a gap in the World Ring threatened to worsen and release contained Rifts. Counselor Pei warned him to prepare for possible threats and to watch Chen Bitong closely.

• The Light Nest Company told Chen Chuan it could graft mutated tissue onto Zhao Ming, but he decided to check the Defense Department's research before choosing a method.
• Chen Chuan meditated and trained, then told Fang Zhixin he would not object to Yu Lie joining Teacher Chen's training class.
• Counselor Pei explained that Fu Mu would divide within a hundred days, potentially destabilizing Central City's Domain Field and widening the gap in the World Ring.
• Counselor Pei warned that Fu Mu's offspring could cross between worlds and that foreign companies might try to obtain them, so every offspring would need to be captured.
• Counselor Pei said unknown entities from the other side might still be hiding in Central City and ordered Chen Chuan to prepare for action and monitor Chen Bitong.

Chen Chuan studied the security preparations for Fu Mu’s impending split, then trained with Chen Bitong in underwater combat before meeting Gu Haiting aboard a yacht. Gu Haiting took him beyond Central City’s domain field communications, where they began a private conversation.

• Chen Chuan read and memorized Counselor Pei’s materials about the Skyline Project, domain field offshoots, and the security threats surrounding Fu Mu’s split.
• Chen Chuan decided to train harder before April so he could master the techniques Teacher Xue had assigned him.
• Yu Lie told Chen Chuan he would not challenge him again until he was confident, and Gu Haiting asked to speak with Chen Chuan after training.
• Chen Bitong taught Chen Chuan underwater combat and warned him to prioritize survival and teamwork when facing unknown creatures.
• Chen Bitong announced that training would pause in April, and Chen Chuan left with Gu Haiting for a meeting at sea.
• Gu Haiting identified a nearby vessel as the Ivory Horn, an armed exploration ship cooperating with the government, then took Chen Chuan beyond domain field communications.

Chen Chuan and Gu Haiting discussed the ocean companies’ work investigating seabed rifts and evidence that the Ferris Wheel Company was behind a series of organized killings. Gu offered Chen Chuan support against the Ferris Wheel Company and warned him of two dangerous opponents as tensions in Central City threatened to rise.

• Gu Haiting explained that modified dolphins helped the Canglong Company and the Far Ocean Development Group locate mutated sea life and investigate seabed rifts.
• Gu Haiting showed Chen Chuan evidence linking the Ferris Wheel Company to seemingly unrelated organized murders across Central City, and they discussed why Chen might have been targeted.
• Gu Haiting warned Chen Chuan that San Cheng Huang of the Wave Pavilion wanted to challenge him and that the Ferris Wheel Company was preparing a major move.
• Gu Haiting identified Guan Shang Jing, the Ferris Wheel Company's security chief, as a powerful possible attacker and offered Chen the companies’ assistance.
• Chen Chuan accepted Gu Haiting’s offer and said he would not let Guan Shang Jing return if he came after him.

Chen Chuan brought Zhao Ming to Wing Blade Company, where he arranged for the company to stimulate and maintain Zhao Ming’s Mutated Tissue. As Chen Chuan resumed training, San Cheng Huang arrived by ocean liner and was met by vigilant officials.

• Chen Chuan took Zhao Ming to Wing Blade Company using the partnership channel Gu Haiting had arranged.
• Manager Zhuang examined Zhao Ming and reported that it was a juvenile experimental species with a limited lifespan and a window of several months for Mutated Tissue modulation.
• Chen Chuan signed a service agreement, paid two hundred thousand, and left Zhao Ming at the company for treatment.
• Chen Chuan returned to the dormitory and focused on spiritual cultivation while sparring with Red Dust once a day.
• San Cheng Huang disembarked from an ocean liner and faced border inspection and Central City Handling Bureau personnel, who asked him to confirm his identity.

San Cheng Huang arrived in Great Shun under close surveillance and sought out Chen Chuan as a worthy opponent. After Ferris Wheel Company approached him, a young Handling Bureau recruit confronted him at a noodle shop and demanded to know what they had discussed.

• San Cheng Huang presented his travel permit, said he would stay in Great Shun for forty-five days, and was ordered to keep his signal active while under surveillance.
• San Cheng Huang visited Wu Yi Academy and the former residences of his grandmother and mother at Green Peak Mountain.
• Chen Chuan learned from Ni Qianqian that San Cheng Huang had arrived and said he welcomed a worthy opponent.
• Guan Chi Kang told San Cheng Huang that Ferris Wheel Company had helped secure his travel permit, but San Cheng Huang refused the company's offer to arrange a challenge and said he would seek out Chen Jun himself.
• Sun Rao and Student Wei watched San Cheng Huang meet Guan Chi Kang, then Student Wei entered the noodle shop and pressured San Cheng Huang to disclose their conversation.
• San Cheng Huang agreed to answer Student Wei after finishing his noodles.

Wei Yuji reported that San Cheng Huang had come to challenge Chen Chuan, and Chen Chuan arranged to meet him at Green Peak Mountain’s Mo God Temple. On March 26, they met at the abandoned temple grounds, ready to begin their match.

• San Cheng Huang told Wei Yuji that he had come to challenge Chen Chuan, and Wei Yuji reported their conversation to the bureau.
• The bureau informed Chen Chuan, and he contacted San Cheng Huang to arrange a match for the morning of March 26 at Green Peak Mountain’s Mo God Temple.
• Chen Chuan trained while he waited for the match, then drove to Green Peak Mountain carrying the Snow Monarch Blade.
• Chen Chuan climbed to the mountaintop and greeted San Cheng Huang, who had arrived before him.

Chen Chuan sparred with San Cheng Huang, who conceded before they fought because his spiritual perception told him he could not win. After explaining Wave Pavilion’s spiritual cultivation and his own techniques, San Cheng Huang prepared to show Chen Chuan the rest of his skills.

• San Cheng Huang conceded to Chen Chuan before drawing his sword, then asked to spar rather than fight to the death.
• San Cheng Huang explained that his belief in survival guided his combat philosophy, and Chen Chuan agreed to spar with him.
• San Cheng Huang’s spiritual perception warned him not to let his weapon clash with the Snow Monarch Blade, so he evaded Chen Chuan until Chen Chuan held the blade at his throat.
• San Cheng Huang explained his realm of “As I Know Through the Spirit,” Wave Pavilion’s spiritual talents, and why he would not use the God of the Blade casually.
• San Cheng Huang offered to demonstrate his remaining techniques, and Chen Chuan raised his blade to continue the spar.

Chen Chuan sparred with San Cheng Huang, learning about his Tide Viewing Stance and the levels of mental cultivation. After their match, San Cheng Huang recounted a childhood encounter with a supernatural creature and explained that his teacher, the Wind Crane Pavilion Master, had surpassed God-Self As One.

• San Cheng Huang used Returning Life Dive and fought Chen Chuan with the Wave Pavilion’s Tide Viewing Stance, building force and momentum through successive attacks.
• Chen Chuan countered San Cheng Huang’s stored momentum with superior physical strength and mental power, and they continued their sparring exchange for half an hour.
• San Cheng Huang called a halt when his spiritual power and vital blood were nearly exhausted, and Chen Chuan thanked him for the instruction.
• San Cheng Huang returned the Snow Monarch Blade’s scabbard and told Chen Chuan that his grandmother’s mother had once lived at the Mo God Temple.
• San Cheng Huang described seeing a mutated creature emerge from the sea when he was a child and said his teacher had surpassed God-Self As One as a Sword Sect Pavilion Guardian.
• Chen Chuan asked to spar with San Cheng Huang again, and San Cheng Huang agreed to remain available while he stayed in Jibei Province.

Chen Chuan’s meeting with San Cheng Huang ended peacefully, while Guan Shang Jing planned to exploit the Elephant Gang leader’s medical needs to target Deng Xin. Deng Xin sensed danger and sought help contacting a Handling Bureau Resonator, and Chen Chuan learned Zhao Ming had developed Mutated Tissue before Wu Bei called him.

• Chen Chuan and San Cheng Huang descended Green Peak Mountain unharmed after a peaceful meeting, and Chen Chuan confirmed to the Handling Bureau that San Cheng Huang had only wanted a sparring match.
• Guan Shang Jing learned neither fighter appeared injured and resolved that Ferris Wheel Company would handle its remaining targets itself, including Chen Chuan, Lei Guangcheng, and Deng Xin.
• Guan Shang Jing identified Tu Ge’s need for Anti-Alienation Drug as a possible way to destabilize the Elephant Gang and crushed a miniature bronze dog in his hand.
• Deng Xin felt a sudden sense of dread, urged Tu Nai to leave the Elephant Gang settlement, and asked A Le to find a Handling Bureau Resonator so she could speak with him.
• Chen Chuan visited Wing Blade Light Nest Company, where Manager Zhuang reported that Zhao Ming had grown Mutated Tissue in five days, but Wu Bei called before Chen Chuan could discuss the next step.

Chen Chuan chose a flight-focused development plan for Zhao Ming at Wing Blade Company, then met Deng Xin, a former Ferris Wheel Company intelligence worker hiding with the Elephant Gang. After arranging to hear why Ferris Wheel had targeted him, he traveled to the gang’s market and was met by A Le.

• Wu Bei told Chen Chuan that someone with information about a company wanted to contact him, and Chen Chuan arranged to speak with the person later.
• Chen Chuan selected the flight development path for Zhao Ming after reviewing Wing Blade Company’s training options.
• Chen Chuan spoke with Deng Xin, who said Ferris Wheel Company had targeted her too and that she was hiding with the Elephant Gang.
• Chen Chuan arranged to meet Deng Xin that afternoon and informed Director Wu of the Handling Bureau.
• Chen Chuan drove to the Elephant Gang’s market, where A Le arrived on a skateboard and guided him inside.

Chen Chuan met Deng Xin in Elephant Gang territory and learned that Ferris Wheel Company had marked her for elimination through a Purge Plan supplied by the Active Consciousness Entity Wu Qi. Deng Xin explained how she and her sister escaped using their precognitive abilities, then revealed that she had sensed danger at the Elephant Gang again that day.

• A Le guided Chen Chuan through the Elephant Gang’s guarded market district to meet Deng Xin in a tea house.
• Deng Xin told Chen Chuan that she and her sister had worked in Ferris Wheel Company’s intelligence department, where her sister discovered Deng Xin’s name on a secret Purge Plan.
• Deng Xin explained that Wu Qi, an Active Consciousness Entity cultivated by Ferris Wheel Company, provided lists of people the company would eliminate.
• Deng Xin said her sister could foresee related scenes and she could sense nearby danger, and that these abilities helped them escape after her sister warned her.
• Deng Xin told Chen Chuan that Tu Nai had taken her in at the Elephant Gang after she fled Ferris Wheel Company.
• Deng Xin admitted she had sensed danger again that day and feared the Elephant Gang was no longer safe.

Chen Chuan agreed to help Deng Xin and the Elephant Gang after Tu Ge was killed and Tu Nai was arrested. He sent Deng Xin to safety and fought his way to the Grand Residence, where an elder recognized him and ordered the guards to let him pass.

• Deng Xin asked Chen Chuan and the Handling Bureau for help, explaining that she sensed danger around the Elephant Gang.
• The Elephant Gang learned that Tu Ge was dead, Tu Nai had been arrested for his murder, and Deng Xin was accused of being a Swordfish Gang spy.
• After learning Tu Nai had gone to retrieve medicine for Tu Ge, Chen Chuan suspected the Ferris Wheel Company was behind the events and promised to help.
• Chen Chuan arranged for A Le to escort Deng Xin out, and Ni Qianqian drove them to safety.
• Chen Chuan charged through the Elephant Gang's defenses and reached the Grand Residence, where an elder identified him as Captain Chen and told the guards not to stop him.

Chen Chuan entered the Elephant Gang to take Tu Nai away and investigate whether the Swordfish Gang and Ferris Wheel Company were behind Tu Ge's death. When Tu Liu incited the gang to attack the Swordfish Gang, Tu Man asked Chen Chuan to stop him, and Chen Chuan set out alone.

• Chen Chuan told Tu Man that Tu Ge's death might be connected to the Swordfish Gang and Ferris Wheel Company, then insisted on taking Tu Nai for questioning.
• Tu Man agreed to let Chen Chuan take Tu Nai, and Tu Nai broke his shackles and agreed to help uncover the cause of Tu Ge's death.
• Tu Man privately told Chen Chuan that he believed Tu Nai was innocent and hoped the Handling Bureau would investigate and help stabilize the Elephant Gang.
• A guard reported that Tu Liu was accusing Tu Nai and the Swordfish Gang of poisoning Tu Ge and was rallying people to seek revenge.
• Tu Man and the elders agreed that Chen Chuan should stop Tu Liu; Tu Nai offered to go with him, but Chen Chuan and Tu Man told him to stay behind.

Chen Chuan killed Tu Liu, helping expose the plot against the Elephant Gang and protecting Deng Xin’s secret ability. After returning to Wuyi Academy to train, he arrived for the final day of Chen Bitong’s course, where an assessment was about to begin.

• Chen Chuan rushed to Tu Liu’s hiding place and killed him despite Tu Liu firing a submachine gun and attacking with a dagger.
• Tu Man announced that Tu Liu had colluded with the Swordfish Gang and ordered Tu Nai to detain Tu Liu’s close associates.
• Chen Chuan told Tu Nai that Deng Xin was safe and promised to keep her precognition ability out of his report.
• Chen Chuan arranged for Ni Qianqian to take Deng Xin to the bureau as a witness, then returned to Wuyi Academy to train.
• On the last day of March, Chen Chuan attended the final training session, where Chen Bitong announced an assessment and rewards for those who passed.

Chen Chuan faced a demanding simulated assessment in a shifting wilderness, surviving waves of dangerous creatures and a devouring insect swarm. He defeated the swarm but was struck by a dangerous attack from the insect queen, leaving the assessment unresolved.

• Chen Bitong began the assessment and told Chen Chuan to keep walking through the simulated area, warning that he could withdraw if injured.
• Chen Chuan fought off attacking creatures as the terrain changed, while Gu Haiting and other trainees waited outside for him and Yu Lie.
• Chen Chuan recognized a massive insect queen and its colony as the likely final challenge, then tested the queen’s hard shell with thrown pebbles.
• Chen Chuan let the smaller insects cover him and destroyed the swarm with a burst of force, emerging unharmed.
• The insect queen spread and vibrated its wings, sending a powerful attack that shook Chen Chuan’s body and internal organs as nearby insects died in heaps.

Chen Chuan passed Chen Bitong’s training assessment, received a mind-strengthening reward, and arranged further lessons with Teacher Xue. Teacher Xue explained that Fu Mu’s division could open a Heaven Gate, an opportunity for mental cultivators to absorb essences from the other world, and began teaching Chen Chuan how to reach them.

• Chen Chuan defeated the insect lord in the final training test, and Chen Bitong confirmed that he had passed and gave him a mind-strengthening item.
• Chen Chuan checked on Zhao Ming’s procedure, arranged a new lesson with Teacher Xue, and continued his daily practice.
• Teacher Xue told Chen Chuan that Fu Mu’s division could trigger an event called Opening Heavenly Gate, connecting to a realm beyond the Convergence Zone and world ring.
• Teacher Xue explained that the Heaven Gate could bring powerful essences alongside dangerous contamination, then began teaching Chen Chuan how to draw in those essences through the barriers.

Teacher Xue taught Chen Chuan the prohibited cultivation method Returning Light to Clarity and explained how to use combat and the Heavenly Gate to advance his spirit while guarding against contamination. After the lesson, Chen Chuan received a summons from Yan Yi to discuss a government security document at Fusion Boundary Corporation.

• Teacher Xue explained the origins and principles of Returning Light to Clarity, then passed its cultivation methods to Chen Chuan.
• Teacher Xue warned Chen Chuan that external contamination could corrupt a Fighter and taught him to cleanse his spirit while balancing spiritual and bodily cultivation.
• Teacher Xue urged Chen Chuan to use combat during the Heavenly Gate’s opening to push his spirit higher, and warned him about powerful opponents and dangers beyond the gate.
• Teacher Xue gave Chen Chuan a bracelet that could protect him from contamination and told him to stop using it if its beads changed color.
• After Teacher Xue left, Yan Yi contacted Chen Chuan about a government security document and invited him to Fusion Boundary Corporation, and Chen Chuan agreed to go.

Chen Chuan investigated signs of Fu Mu’s approaching breeding period and advised Fusion Boundary Corporation to prepare for Central City’s defense. Meanwhile, Guan Shang Jing learned that Ferris Wheel Corporation would proceed with the Spring Formation Plan and recruit outside forces to carry it out.

• Chen Chuan touched the stone Chen Bitong had given him, then cultivated with special medicine and saw a spreading breach and an unstable barrier over Central City.
• Chen Chuan met with Yan Yi, Meng Shu, and Li Ying at Fusion Boundary Corporation and advised the company to contribute security personnel while Meng Shu stayed at the company.
• Guan Shang Jing reviewed the failure of the Swordfish Gang’s plan after the Handling Bureau intervened and Deng Xin was taken into custody.
• Eagle Tail Director told Guan Shang Jing that Ferris Wheel Corporation would carry out the Spring Formation Plan despite the risks and pressure from the Union.
• Guan Shang Jing reported that Bian Yue Yi Zhen and Ye Jianhong had declined recruitment, while Miyaei Nagahide and Wind Forest Pavilion disciples had agreed to join Ferris Wheel Corporation.

Yu Lie formally joined the Special Operations Team and was implanted with a worm that let Mister Chu track and contact him while he stayed near Chen Bitong. Meanwhile, Kuang Hai sought permission to challenge Chen Chuan, and Chen Chuan prepared Fusion Boundary Corporation’s forces for the spreading crisis before returning to Mystic Palace Building.

• Yu Lie reported to Mister Chu that Chen Bitong seemed to be hiding something, and Mister Chu ordered him to remain close and report any developments.
• Mister Chu formally transferred Yu Lie into the Special Operations Team, implanted a communication worm in his arm, and ordered Lao Hu to enter Jibei Province Central City that night.
• Kuang Hai asked Yu Hongming for permission to pursue an opportunity and chose the person who had killed Wei Wusheng as his opponent.
• Chen Chuan organized Fusion Boundary Corporation’s security forces for government deployment and reviewed the company’s sponsored Fighters and plans to recruit teams for Lost Object expeditions.
• After two days of company work, Chen Chuan returned to Mystic Palace Building and considered how to prepare for the approaching crisis.