Chapter Summaries

Chen Chuan investigated suspected Ascension Ladder members and learned about a past advisor’s inquiry, then compared the group with Wan Song Company and chose to prioritize the Ascension Ladder. At his new estate on Gao Qiu, he took control of its airspace through a ritual core and felt its power flow into him.

• Chen Chuan asked Kaiyang to search for people whose behavior matched the Ascension Ladder, recorded the resulting names, and learned that another advisor had previously investigated the group.
• Chen Chuan reasoned that the Ascension Ladder likely existed domestically and decided to target suspected extremists below the advisors, planning to ask Ren Xinshan to handle arrests.
• Chen Chuan investigated Wan Song Company and found that it had a long history, domestic directors including Wang Weichang, and a less destructive role than the Ascension Ladder.
• Chen Chuan arrived at his Gao Qiu estate and learned that it could supply his squad with Convergence Zone ingredients and provide access to the Eternal Rift.
• Chen Chuan infused the estate’s ritual core with his spirit, gained control over the airspace, and felt a force surge into his body.

Chen Chuan completed a ritual that strengthened his Mutated Tissue and learned how Secret Diagram Bloodlines were obtained. After returning to his quarters to prepare his Immortal Abode, he became the focus of political maneuvering as factions reacted to his appointment as an advisor.

• Chen Chuan absorbed the ritual’s power, strengthening his Mutated Tissue and gaining control over access to his Field Space.
• Kaiyang explained how Secret Diagram Bloodlines were transplanted, how Secret Maps repaired themselves, and how maps of the same origin could resonate.
• Chen Chuan collected his delivered belongings, then brought out Emperor Wenguang’s pill furnace to convert his Immortal Abode back into an Immortal Seed.
• He Shugang learned that Chen Chuan had joined the Supreme Advisory Council and was told by a faction representative to keep the Affairs Department under their control.
• Vice President Zhu asked Zhan Jiyue to invite Chen Chuan to meet with Purity Faction headquarters and coordinate with them.

After becoming an official Advisor, Chen Chuan coordinated with the Purity Faction and began planning an investigation into corrupt officials and the Ascension Ladder. He left Ren Xinshan to pursue He Shugang while he handled pressure from above and sought to transfer Huang Quji away.

• Vice President Zhu discussed Chen Chuan's appointment with the Purity Faction president and hoped Zhan Jiyue would maintain good relations with him.
• Zhan Jiyue congratulated Chen Chuan, invited headquarters to meet him, and described how pinball competitions were spreading among Fighters.
• Chen Chuan decided the Purity Faction needed to address internal problems before the Great Collision and contacted Ren Xinshan about He Shugang.
• Chen Chuan told Ren Xinshan to pursue the case against He Shugang and said he would handle the matter above while arranging to transfer Huang Quji.
• Chen Chuan revealed that his larger goal was to root out the Ascension Ladder, which he suspected had connections within the Affairs Department.

Chen Chuan cleared the aberrant energy from the Immortal Abode and obtained an Immortal Seed from the Other Side World. He then met with Purity Faction leaders, who asked him to help guide the faction, and he asked what the association needed.

• Chen Chuan reviewed Ren Xinshan’s materials and planned to send Huang Quji to the southern front, coordinating with Fan Zhentong and Kaiyang.
• Chen Chuan meditated for two days, removed all aberrant energy from the Immortal Abode, and opened a path into the Other Side World.
• Chen Chuan resonated with Hun Jiang, captured an Immortal Seed, and returned to his room using the Snow Monarch Blade.
• Huang Zhengliang, Zhu Yushan, Zhan Jiyue, and other Purity Faction members arrived to meet Chen Chuan at his residence.
• Huang Zhengliang apologized for the faction’s past lack of support, and Chen Chuan acknowledged help from individual faction members while affirming their shared ideals.
• Chen Chuan asked Huang Zhengliang what the association needed.

Chen Chuan promised the Purity Faction more resources and reviewed its contingency plans for the Great Collision. He then proposed purging the Ascension Ladder, but Huang Zhengliang asked what the authorities’ position was.

• Huang Zhengliang and Vice President Zhu asked Chen Chuan to secure a larger resource allocation for the Purity Faction, and Chen Chuan agreed.
• Vice President Zhu shared simulations and a contingency plan for Purity Faction branches to take over local government functions if the Great Collision incapacitated officials.
• Chen Chuan said he distrusted the Conservative Faction and called for internal cleansing before time ran out.
• Chen Chuan proposed regaining control of the Security Affairs Department and sent Huang Zhengliang and Vice President Zhu materials identifying the Ascension Ladder as his real target.
• Huang Zhengliang recognized the danger of targeting the Ascension Ladder and asked Chen Chuan what the authorities’ attitude was.

Chen Chuan secured Purity Faction support for a purge and accelerated his covert plan, while rival factions agreed to advance the Heart-Devouring Worm Plan. After choosing to launch his operation that day, he set events in motion around Huang Quji and a possible Executive Council reshuffle.

• Chen Chuan won Huang Zhengliang and Vice President Zhu’s support for purging the organization and securing more backing for the Jibei Province Branch.
• Conservative and Fusion Faction representatives approved launching the Heart-Devouring Worm Plan ahead of schedule to disrupt the Skyline Project.
• Chen Chuan reviewed the faction’s information, refined his operation with Kaiyang, and asked Fan Zhentong to arrange it.
• Fan Zhentong reported that the operation was ready, and Chen Chuan ordered it launched that day.
• Huang Quji received an unusual assignment to lead retaliation against the Chi Luojia Duo Federation, then learned that the Executive Council might discuss early leadership changes.

Chen Chuan arranged for Huang Quji to leave Zhongjing and brought Ming Chengzi into his service, then set preparations in motion as He Shugang headed back toward the Affairs Department. The chapter ended with He Shugang’s convoy cut off from field communications and surrounded by vehicles.

• Huang Quji accepted a military commission, left the Security Affairs Department without an avatar, and departed Zhongjing by airship.
• Chen Chuan learned of Huang Quji’s departure, welcomed Ming Chengzi into his service, and planned to build a personal team.
• Chen Chuan and Ming Chengzi played Ying Land Chess while Kaiyang monitored the operation and Fan Zhentong reported that preparations were complete.
• He Shugang learned that Huang Quji had been transferred to the southern front and ordered his convoy back toward the Executive Council.
• Field signals and communications in He Shugang’s convoy were disrupted, several sedans blocked its path, and his Fighter guard ordered the driver to ram through them.

Chen Chuan and Ren Xinshan used an illusion to seize He Shugang and expose evidence of his crimes, prompting an emergency Executive Council meeting to suspend and investigate him. The meeting was interrupted by the arrival of the Executive Chief.

• He Shugang’s Fighter fought two attackers while He Shugang believed his convoy was escaping, but an illusion concealed his abduction.
• He Shugang woke in another car, realized his captors had anticipated the consequences, and suspected Ren Xinshan and the person backing him.
• Chen Chuan contacted Ren Xinshan, who detained He Shugang’s associates at the Security Affairs Department and gathered evidence against them.
• Chen Chuan sent the evidence to the Executive Council, which convened an emergency meeting and considered investigating He Shugang under wartime regulations.
• Executive Chief Qiao Dingguo presented allegations that He Shugang had betrayed national interests, and the Executive Chief entered the meeting room.

Tao Changru ordered a formal investigation into He Shugang, suspending him and placing Ren Xinshan in temporary charge of the Security Affairs Department. The Fusion Faction and Essence Refinement School then met to discuss He Shugang’s unexplained disappearance and the possibility that powerful outside Fighters had seized him.

• Tao Changru reviewed the evidence against He Shugang and ordered a temporary disciplinary review group to investigate while Ren Xinshan took charge of the Security Affairs Department.
• Shen Changbin explained the review procedure, and Tao Changru ordered relevant officials to recuse themselves and the military to provide its files as supplementary evidence.
• Tao Changru approved He Shugang’s suspension under the sixty-day review process and left Qiao Dingguo to organize the follow-up group.
• Leaders of the Fusion Faction and Essence Refinement School learned of He Shugang’s suspension and met to discuss his disappearance.
• The faction leaders concluded that He Shugang had likely been intercepted by high-level Fighters from outside Zhongjing, then questioned Huang Quji’s timely departure for the southern border.

Chen Chuan’s faction secured He Shugang’s suspension, while the Executive Council considered a counterattack. In a secluded space, Chen Chuan established the name Golden Cicada for his external aspect and advanced its power.

• The Executive Council members discussed Huang Quji’s departure, concluded that they could not challenge Chen Chuan’s evidence, and proposed launching the Heart-Devouring Worm Plan.
• Chen Chuan learned that Tao Changru’s arrangements had secured He Shugang’s fate, then received a warning from Xiao Yuanguang to know when to stop.
• Chen Chuan rejected the warning and planned to investigate the Ascension Ladder after Ren Xinshan reorganized the National Security Affairs Department.
• Chen Chuan entered a rift with the Snow Monarch Blade and realized that his external aspect should be named Golden Cicada, reflecting his pursuit of freedom and renewal.
• Chen Chuan’s Purple Qi Mutated Tissue expanded, transforming his external aspect and granting it near upper-level power that could shield him from attacks.

Chen Chuan advanced his cultivation and decided he would soon venture deeper into the Other Side World. After meeting with Han Yang, he agreed to lend him the Bloodline Secret Maps and let him oversee the construction of his Active Consciousness Entity.

• Chen Chuan strengthened his Purple Qi Mutated Tissue and realized he needed to enter deeper into the Other Side World to keep advancing.
• Chen Chuan sensed something watching him near the rift, then returned to his room and sealed it shut.
• Chen Chuan received word that his requested Lost Object would be available in two days and agreed to meet Han Yang.
• Han Yang asked to study Chen Chuan's Bloodline Secret Maps, and Chen Chuan agreed on the condition that he keep them private.
• Chen Chuan let Han Yang oversee his Active Consciousness Entity, and Han Yang promised to complete it within a month.

Chen Chuan entrusted the Heavenly Human Secret Maps to Ming Chengzi, aided Chen Bitong’s recovery, and recruited Huo Zhuifeng to investigate the Ascension Ladder. As Chen Chuan received word that his trusted team would soon arrive in Zhongjing, Kaiyang reported a major battle in East Yono.

• Chen Chuan gave Ming Chengzi the cracked and intact Heavenly Human Secret Maps to study.
• Chen Chuan visited Chen Bitong and gave him a Lost Object to help restore his strength.
• Chen Chuan shared Ascension Ladder intelligence with Huo Zhuifeng, who agreed to investigate it.
• Chen Chuan learned that Yuan Qiuyuan, Wei Changan, their team, and two ancient Fighters were being sent to Zhongjing.
• Kaiyang reported that at least fifteen Throne Fighters were involved in a siege battle in Mekakaren, in East Yono’s Tania Region.

Chen Chuan analyzed the Western Continent’s encirclement of Emperor Kappa I and correctly predicted its victory. After the battle, he inspected his new Weapon Collection Room and learned that Cheng Gao had returned with the Heavenly Human Secret Map.

• Chen Chuan told Great Shun officials that the Western Continent was likely driving Emperor Kappa I’s forces out to sea and might be trying to destroy the Old Imperial Household’s fighters.
• Chen Chuan judged that the Western Continent had the advantage, and Great Shun ordered its enterprises in the region to prepare for possible gains.
• The Western Continent annihilated the Old Imperial Household’s Throne Fighters, while Emperor Kappa I fled into the Convergence Zone.
• Chen Chuan visited the newly built Weapon Collection Room beside his residence and reviewed its five-level layout.
• Ren Xinshan told Chen Chuan that Cheng Gao had returned with the Heavenly Human Secret Map, and Chen Chuan said he would come collect it immediately.

Chen Chuan entered the Other Side World to search for an Immortal Seed and Precious Material, but a bizarre being trapped him inside its body. He used his powerful mental field and platinum external form to force the creature into material form and began tearing his way out.

• Chen Chuan added his battle spoils, an old prism-shaped object, and a short blade to his collection, then received a Heavenly Human Secret Map from his duplicate.
• Chen Chuan entered the Other Side World by underground train and ventured beyond the World Ring, where Advisors Liu Changlin and Fang Yanxing recognized his powerful mental force.
• Chen Chuan probed the area cautiously until his Mutated Tissue reacted to nearby Precious Material and an unknown being began testing his mental field.
• Chen Chuan discovered that he was inside a gigantic being's body, with the apparent creature before him only a smaller duplicate, and realized the being was trying to assimilate him.
• Chen Chuan summoned an external form over two hundred meters tall, forced the being toward materiality, and tore open its body with platinum-flaming hands.

Chen Chuan explored the Other Side World, destroyed several aberrations, and found that Precious Material he acquired himself was especially compatible with him. After discovering tiny spirit-feeding creatures that concealed his presence, he decided to turn back, but narrowly evaded a rapidly approaching domain.

• Chen Chuan destroyed a powerful being and its offspring, then collected the Precious Material left behind and suspected it was especially compatible because he had defeated the being himself.
• Chen Chuan fought several similar aberrations, named their kind Headless Worms, and had Kaiyang record their traits and combat methods.
• Chen Chuan defeated another aberration and confirmed that Precious Material he acquired personally suited him better than material obtained from others.
• Chen Chuan discovered tiny creatures were absorbing some of his spirit while concealing his presence, and he chose to keep observing them.
• Chen Chuan encountered an intelligent aberration that fled from him and decided to turn back, but sensed and evaded a domain that tried to attach itself to him.

Chen Chuan destroyed a field-hunting entity in the Other Side World, gathered its valuable remains, and returned to the train stronger and more prepared. Meanwhile, the Conservative Faction began its plan to release Heart-Devouring Worms in Jibei Province, starting with a vehicle entering its Central City.

• Chen Chuan used his external appearance as bait, materialized the small hunting entity, and burned it to ash before gathering its Precious Material.
• Chen Chuan returned through the World Ring carrying tiny entities for a research institute and found that his mind and body had grown stronger.
• Chen Chuan considered how his Aspect of Man could fight in the Other Side World and planned to develop tactics using his abilities.
• The Conservative Faction prepared to release transmissible miniature Mutated Creatures called Heart-Devouring Worms to disrupt the massive field creatures and undermine the Skyline.
• On January 30, an inconspicuous vehicle drove into Jibei Province Central City.

A smuggling group brought Heart-Devouring Worms into Jibei Province Central City and began preparing them to infest a large field creature. After noticing disruptions in the information field, Jin Guogang ordered an investigation and went to inspect Fu Mu.

• A group using a new company’s name entered Central City and arranged for the Skull Gang to hide their cargo in an abandoned district.
• The group opened boxes containing Heart-Devouring Worms and began running equipment to feed and evolve them for seven or eight days.
• Jin Guogang noticed distortions in a field-screen transmission and ordered experts to investigate the information-field disruptions.
• Jin Guogang contacted Meng Shu, who explained that Convergence Boundary had rejected the same equipment for commercial reasons.
• After learning that other Central Cities had experienced no similar problems, Jin Guogang ordered inspections of Fu Mu and investigations into suspicious people, then went to Fu Mu’s station.

Jin Guogang weighed the risks of shutting down Fu Mu’s information field for inspection, then won the other Skyline chiefs’ support for a wider maintenance effort. The field screen began flickering, suggesting the instability might extend beyond Jibei Province.

• Jin Guogang reviewed Fu Mu’s inspection results and learned that a full examination would require retracting its field for two days, disrupting information and communications.
• Jin Guogang consulted Fu Mu’s historical records and confirmed that similar anomalies had occurred before, then determined that reserve field equipment could cover much of the disruption.
• Jin Guogang sent a letter to Advisor Chen and called a conference with the Skyline’s chief administrative officers to warn them of the planned shutdown.
• Yang Zhen proposed inspecting all major field creatures across the Skyline, and the other chiefs agreed to make the inspections a collective political decision.
• The field screen flickered during the conference, and Yang Zhen advised Jin Guogang to inform Vice Chairman Qi; Jin Guogang then called a meeting of department heads.

Jin Guogang coordinated a Skyline-wide maintenance operation to inspect Fu Mu and protect Jibei Province while communications were temporarily affected. During the operation, Qi Gao noticed suspicious outsiders hiding in Skull Gang territory and reported them to the Purity Faction, while the outsiders planned to continue releasing Heart-Devouring Worms.

• Jin Guogang arranged support from Skyline cities and local groups, then ordered Fu Mu into hibernation so technical personnel could inspect it during the information-field maintenance.
• Qi Gao delivered supplies to Skull Gang territory and warned Lao Qu that he could leave the gang and work for Qi Gao's company.
• Qi Gao noticed an unfamiliar figure in a dilapidated building, and Lao Qu told him that company guests had been hiding there for days.
• The captain and three technical personnel discussed their field organism and planned to release more Heart-Devouring Worms after Fu Mu's field was restored.
• Qi Gao grew suspicious of the outsiders and contacted Zhai Xiaoge of the Purity Faction to report what he had seen.

Lao Qi and Chu Wu investigated the Skull Gang after the Purity Faction took his report seriously, while officials suspected deliberate interference with Fu Mu’s field information. Deng Fu and his allies captured the technicians responsible for the interference, leaving the hidden operation exposed.

• Chang Dong assigned Lao Qi to investigate the suspicious activity and told him to work with Lu Fang at the South Street Fighting Hall.
• Lu Fang sent Chu Wu with Lao Qi to investigate the Skull Gang, where Chu Wu used his senses to detect a field creature and gather clues from the abandoned building.
• Officials reported that Fu Mu’s field information had been influenced by an external organism and warned Jin Guogang that human involvement was likely.
• Jin Guogang alerted other Central Cities and ordered the Handling Bureau to investigate suspicious people and locate those behind the interference.
• The technicians resumed their work with Heart-Devouring Worms, but Deng Fu and his team ambushed them, bound all four, and reported their capture to Commander Xu.