Chapter Summaries

Li Xiaoxing’s last fragment of consciousness reached Wang Chuan, and he used the Power of Abundance to preserve it in a cocoon. As the False Wang Chuan stalled him and the Void eroded his humanity, Wang Chuan sought an answer that could let him remain himself.

• Fu Lin’s preserved fragment of Li Xiaoxing’s consciousness drifted to Wang Chuan and reminded him of his desire to protect.
• Wang Chuan used the Power of Abundance to stabilize Li Xiaoxing’s consciousness in a bluish-gold cocoon.
• Wang Chuan resumed fighting the False Wang Chuan, but the stronger, more precise opponent repeatedly forced him back.
• The Void gradually dulled Wang Chuan’s emotions and memories, and an errant gust of annihilation violently shook Li Xiaoxing’s cocoon.
• Wang Chuan realized the Void was turning his protective resolve into cold logic and raised [Nothingness] while searching for the answer to who he was.

Wang Chuan fought the Void embodiment of himself while trying to protect Li Xiaoxing’s consciousness, but a moment of distraction let his double overpower him. He was wounded and hurled toward the singularity of Return to Ruin: Myriad Manifestations.

• Wang Chuan resolved to keep fighting the Void embodiment to defend his existence.
• Wang Chuan glanced toward Li Xiaoxing’s light cocoon during his attack, giving his double an opening to block and blast him away.
• A black hole manifested in Wang Chuan’s path and began dragging him toward its singularity.
• Wang Chuan tried to resist the black hole’s pull as his double attacked his exposed limbs and torso with spatial fissures.
• Wang Chuan’s barriers were pierced, leaving him with deep wounds that Void Power began to erode.
• The black hole’s gravity intensified and hurled Wang Chuan toward its singularity.

Wang Chuan endured a devastating attack from his Void incarnation to shield Li Xiaoxing’s cocoon, sacrificing much of his body and emotions to keep it intact. After the torrent of time subsided, the cocoon pulsed faintly as Wang Chuan faced his future self, weakened and hollowed out.

• Wang Chuan’s Void incarnation kicked him into the ground beside Li Xiaoxing’s cocoon, leaving him badly injured.
• The incarnation unleashed Time Ash Slash, and Wang Chuan realized the attack would destroy the cocoon if he dodged.
• Wang Chuan stood between the torrent and the cocoon, using his body and Power of Abundance to protect it.
• As the attack eroded his body, memories, and emotions, Wang Chuan held on to his resolve to protect Li Xiaoxing’s last remnant of consciousness.
• The torrent subsided, leaving Wang Chuan half-kneeling and severely weakened while the cocoon remained unharmed.
• The cocoon pulsed faintly as Wang Chuan looked toward his Void incarnation.

Wang Chuan watched Li Xiaoxing sacrifice her soul to stop the Void incarnation from killing him, but his Power of Abundance could not restore her. She vanished in his arms, leaving him alone before the incarnation as it prepared to strike again.

• Wang Chuan, near collapse from the erosion of time and Void, watched the incarnation of Wang Chuan raise its blade against him and Li Xiaoxing's cocoon.
• Li Xiaoxing burned the last of her soul to block the blade and shield Wang Chuan.
• Wang Chuan poured his Power of Abundance into Li Xiaoxing, but it could not revive a soul that had burned away its source.
• Li Xiaoxing asked Wang Chuan to hold her, urged him not to let the bad man defeat him, and asked him not to forget her.
• Wang Chuan held Li Xiaoxing as her final presence vanished, and the Void incarnation raised its blade to execute him.

Huang Quan appeared in Wang Chuan’s Sea of Consciousness and severed the Void that was consuming him, restoring his spiritual world. Though Wang Chuan remained unable to grieve Li Xiaoxing’s sacrifice, a fourth Soul Core began to form in the Ambrosial Arbor.

• Huang Quan stopped “Wang Chuan’s” blade and warned Wang Chuan not to let grief and the Void make him lose himself.
• Huang Quan swept her blade through the spiritual prison, erasing the Void incarnation and freeing Wang Chuan’s soul.
• Wang Chuan’s Sea of Consciousness returned to life, with the Ambrosial Arbor and Sky Dream Ice Silkworm restored.
• Huang Quan told Wang Chuan that everyone got lost but had to find their own road, then vanished into starlight.
• Wang Chuan remained frozen and unable to grieve as a fourth, silver-flecked Soul Core formed around the Ambrosial Arbor, drawing in the lingering trace of Li Xiaoxing’s sacrifice.

After Li Xiaoxing sacrificed herself to protect Wang Chuan, her soul became a star-infused soul ring on the Ambrosial Arbor, strengthening him but leaving him overwhelmed by loss. Wang Chuan found her body in the clearing, stopped himself from reviving her lest her soulless body become a monster, and held her as an unfinished paper star fell from her hand.

• Li Xiaoxing's sacrifice merged her soul into the Ambrosial Arbor as Wang Chuan's fourth soul ring, while Wang Chuan absorbed the Void origin and grew stronger.
• Wang Chuan left his restored Sea of Consciousness and found Li Xiaoxing's lifeless body in the forest clearing.
• Wang Chuan's memories of Li Xiaoxing returned, but the Void origin suppressed his grief and kept him from crying out.
• Wang Chuan began to use the Power of Abundance to revive Li Xiaoxing, then stopped when he realized it would mutate her soulless body into an Abundant Monster.
• Wang Chuan gently lifted Li Xiaoxing and found an unfinished blue paper star slip from her hand.

Wang Chuan mourned Li Xiaoxing, whose sacrifice had saved him, while the Power of Void kept him from crying or releasing his grief. Holding her body and the small paper star she had folded, he was left with her final plea: not to forget her.

• Wang Chuan found a small blue paper star Li Xiaoxing had folded and broke down in grief, but the Power of Void suppressed his tears and cries.
• Wang Chuan held Li Xiaoxing's cold body as the rising sun lit the clearing.
• Wang Chuan remembered how Li Xiaoxing had sacrificed herself to protect him and become the kind person she had wished to be.
• Wang Chuan recalled Li Xiaoxing's request, "Don't forget me, okay?" and faced the loss of the person behind the symbol he would remember.

After Li Xiaoxing sacrificed herself to save him, Wang Chuan buried her and carved the epitaph she had chosen. Her final light gave him a purpose: to watch over life and keep others from falling into the Void.

• Fu Lin watched Wang Chuan resist the Void through a balance of powers, then saw Huang Quan's power sever the corruption and stabilize him.
• Wang Chuan laid Li Xiaoxing on the grass, put away their kite and keepsake, and dug her grave by hand.
• Wang Chuan remembered Li Xiaoxing's chosen epitaph and carved it into a bluestone gravestone before burying her.
• Wang Chuan realized that watching over life and preventing others from being consumed by the Void was his purpose.
• Wang Chuan left Li Xiaoxing's grave and walked toward the rising sun, carrying her kindness as a source of strength.

Wang Chuan returned to the City of Slaughter to kill the Blood Red Bat King and purify the city. After crushing the Bat King’s forces and turning aside its attack, he prepared to finish it despite the Asura God Power injected into his body.

• Wang Chuan erased the fallen ones at the city entrance and entered the City of Slaughter.
• The Blood Red Bat King, controlling Tang Chen, sent armored knights to wear Wang Chuan down, but Wang Chuan crushed them with spatial power and advanced to the Slaughter Arena.
• The Bat King tried to tempt Wang Chuan, but he recognized the parasite and drew Nothingness.
• The Blood Red Bat King attacked with stolen Asura God Power, but Wang Chuan shattered Tang Chen’s arm and blasted his body into the arena wall.
• The Bat King revealed that it had injected Asura God Power into Wang Chuan, but Wang Chuan showed no alarm and raised his blade to strike.

Wang Chuan used his Eighth Spirit Ability to erase the Blood Red Bat King without harming Tang Chen’s independent existence. With the parasite gone, the gravely wounded Tang Chen lay alive before Wang Chuan, awaiting judgment or a chance at redemption.

• Wang Chuan rejected the Blood Red Bat King’s plea to be spared and summoned his Eighth Spirit Ring, using Primordial Beginning · Order of the End.
• The Blood Red Bat King detonated Tang Chen’s Spirit Rings and launched a desperate hammer strike at Wang Chuan.
• Wang Chuan’s Causal Lock made his blade strike the Blood Red Bat King’s existence core, erasing the parasite and severing its connection to Tang Chen.
• The Blood Red Bat King vanished completely, and its hammer attack collapsed without harming Wang Chuan.
• Tang Chen fell from the wall, alive but gravely wounded, while Wang Chuan sheathed Nothingness and looked down at him.

Wang Chuan ignored the Blood Red Bat King's Spirit Ring and stored its Spirit Bone before hearing the dying Tang Chen's final wish to see Bo Saixi on Sea God Island. He offered Tang Chen a chance to go there in exchange for protecting Ning Rongrong during her Sea God trial, leaving Tang Chen to answer whether he could do it.

• Wang Chuan stored the Blood Red Bat King's Spirit Bone and ignored its Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring.
• Tang Chen briefly regained consciousness after the Blood Red Bat King's death and recognized Wang Chuan's extraordinary strength.
• Tang Chen asked Wang Chuan to hear his final wish and recounted his love for Bo Saixi and his decades of torment in the City of Slaughter.
• Tang Chen asked to visit Sea God Island and tell Bo Saixi his feelings before he died.
• Wang Chuan offered to take Tang Chen to Sea God Island if he protected Ning Rongrong during her Sea God trial, and asked whether Tang Chen could do it despite his injuries.

Tang Chen swore to protect the Sea God inheritor on Sea God Island, and Wang Chuan healed him with the Ambrosial Arbor’s Power of Abundance. The Asura God then confirmed Wang Chuan’s perfect completion of the Fourth Trial and set him a new trial to reach level ninety.

• Tang Chen swore a Spirit Oath to protect the Sea God inheritor on Sea God Island while he still drew breath.
• Wang Chuan used the Ambrosial Arbor’s Power of Abundance to heal Tang Chen and restore him to greater strength than before.
• Tang Chen endured the emotional surge caused by the healing, then thanked Wang Chuan and renewed his promise to protect the inheritor.
• The Asura God announced that Wang Chuan had perfectly completed the Fourth Trial and increased the age of all his Soul Rings by three thousand years.
• The Asura God assigned Wang Chuan the Fifth Trial: break through level ninety and become a Titled Douluo.

Wang Chuan brought the restored Tang Chen from the City of Slaughter to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and arranged for him to protect Ning Rongrong during her trials on Sea God Island. After Ning Fengzhi accepted Tang Chen’s oath, Wang Chuan returned to Ning Rongrong, whose care and warm welcome eased his exhaustion.

• Wang Chuan told Tang Chen to protect Ning Rongrong on Sea God Island, and Tang Chen agreed to follow him so he could fulfill the pact and see Bo Saixi.
• Wang Chuan used Nothingness to tear open a spatial rift, and he and Tang Chen traveled from the City of Slaughter to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
• At the Seven Treasures Grand Hall, Chen Xin recognized Tang Chen, who explained that he had nearly died after being trapped in the City of Slaughter.
• Wang Chuan told Ning Fengzhi that Tang Chen would protect Ning Rongrong during her Sea God Island trials, and Tang Chen swore to guard her with his life.
• Ning Fengzhi accepted Tang Chen’s oath, and Wang Chuan left the hall to return to the courtyard he shared with Ning Rongrong.
• Ning Rongrong welcomed Wang Chuan with food and cheerful conversation, easing the loneliness and weariness he carried.

Ning Rongrong comforted Wang Chuan as he struggled with exhaustion and grief, and he finally told her about his lost memories and the girl who had helped him in Black Rock City. He ended by showing Rong Rong the paper star and kite left behind by Li Xiaoxing, reminders of his guilt and loss.

• Ning Rongrong held Wang Chuan close and promised she would always be there for him.
• Ning Rongrong shared ordinary stories from the sect to comfort Wang Chuan, and he relaxed in her embrace.
• Wang Chuan told Ning Rongrong that Balance had stripped away his memories and cast him into Black Rock City.
• Wang Chuan described how Li Xiaoxing had shown him kindness after he lost his memories.
• Wang Chuan recalled the inescapable Void and Li Xiaoxing's final moments, then showed Ning Rongrong her paper star and kite.

Wang Chuan opened up to Ning Rongrong about Li Xiaoxing’s death and the guilt he carried, and Ning Rongrong comforted him until he fell asleep. Watching over him, Ning Rongrong resolved to grow strong enough to share his burdens and face future dangers beside him.

• Wang Chuan confessed that he believed Li Xiaoxing had died because of him, and Ning Rongrong reassured him that her sacrifice was not his fault.
• Ning Rongrong praised Li Xiaoxing’s kindness and said she wanted to learn from her and become strong enough to help Wang Chuan.
• Ning Rongrong led the exhausted Wang Chuan to bed, helped him settle in, and asked him to set aside his responsibilities for the night.
• Wang Chuan relaxed under Ning Rongrong’s care and fell into a deep, unguarded sleep.
• Ning Rongrong stayed beside Wang Chuan and resolved to become strong enough to stand with him and share his burdens.

Ning Rongrong cared for Wang Chuan after his return and persuaded him to spend a day with her instead of immediately discussing their plans. As they headed to the training grounds for a test of her Ice Sky Snow Woman Martial Soul, Ice Empress watched and longed for Snow Empress.

• Ning Rongrong served Wang Chuan a breakfast she had prepared herself, and the two shared a shy, affectionate moment over a piece of hibiscus pastry.
• Before Wang Chuan could discuss Ning Rongrong's martial soul progress and their departure for Sea God Island, Ning Rongrong asked him to spend one day with her.
• Wang Chuan agreed, and Ning Rongrong led him to the training grounds so he could test her progress.
• Ice Empress watched them from a rooftop and envied their closeness, remembering Snow Empress and the choice that made her Ning Rongrong's strength.

Ning Rongrong practiced swordsmanship with Wang Chuan, who shifted from quietly blocking her attacks to giving her detailed instruction. After she surprised him by throwing herself into his arms, they shared a tender moment, and she took his hand again after lunch.

• Ning Rongrong released her Heavenly Snow Woman and Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Souls and attacked Wang Chuan with an Ice Sword, but he easily stopped her without summoning his Martial Soul.
• Ning Rongrong complained that Wang Chuan was not taking the spar seriously, so he apologized and began correcting her swordsmanship as they fought.
• Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, Chen Xin, Dugu Bo, and Tang Chen watched as Wang Chuan guided Ning Rongrong through her techniques.
• Ning Rongrong dropped her Ice Sword and threw herself into Wang Chuan's arms, trusting that he would catch her.
• Wang Chuan scolded Ning Rongrong gently and flicked her forehead, then she held onto his clothes and later took his hand after lunch.

Ning Rongrong brought Wang Chuan to her secret garden, where they played beside a spring and shared a quiet, happy afternoon. As the sun set, Rong Rong leaned against Wang Chuan and wished every day could be like this.

• Ning Rongrong took Wang Chuan to her secret garden on the back mountain and showed him the flowers and butterflies.
• Ning Rongrong played in the cold spring and invited Wang Chuan to join her.
• Wang Chuan used the Power of Abundance to warm the spring, and Ning Rongrong happily splashed and played in it.
• At sunset, Ning Rongrong rested her head on Wang Chuan's shoulder and said she wished every day could be like this.

Ning Rongrong asked Wang Chuan to set aside his burdens and spend more time with her, but he explained that he watched over others to honor those he had lost and protect the people he loved. She accepted his resolve, comforted him with stories of home, and fell asleep as he carried her back beneath the stars.

• Ning Rongrong told Wang Chuan that she wanted him to live happily and spend more time with her.
• Wang Chuan said he had to watch over others so they would not follow the destructive path associated with him, and he named Li Xiaoxing, Aleya, Wen Jingran, and his parents among those whose losses drove him.
• Wang Chuan promised Ning Rongrong that he would not let her suffer harm, and Ning Rongrong embraced him and agreed to grow stronger.
• Ning Rongrong shared everyday stories from the sect while Wang Chuan listened and gradually relaxed.
• Ning Rongrong fell asleep in Wang Chuan's arms, and he carried her toward the courtyard while using the Power of Abundance to keep her warm.

Wang Chuan agreed to let the Ice Empress sacrifice herself as Ning Rongrong’s Wisdom Spirit Ring, giving Rongrong immense power and a second hundred-thousand-year spirit ring. After more than a year of training, Rongrong had mastered more of her abilities while Wang Chuan’s growing power along the Path of Void began eroding his presence and minor memories, leaving their peaceful life under the shadow of rising tensions with Spirit Hall.

• Wang Chuan told Ning Rongrong that the Ice Empress was ready to sacrifice herself, and Rongrong eagerly accepted.
• The Ice Empress sacrificed herself in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s secret chamber, becoming Rongrong’s Wisdom Spirit Ring and raising her Soul Power beyond level seventy.
• Ning Fengzhi urged Wang Chuan to delay Rongrong’s journey to Sea God Island until she had stabilized her new strength and Wang Chuan had reached the Titled Douluo realm, and Wang Chuan agreed.
• Over the following year, Rongrong trained with the Ice Empress and Snow Empress, coordinated their powers, and advanced beyond level seventy-five.
• Spirit Hall expanded its influence as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect faced mounting pressure, while Wang Chuan’s progress along the Path of Void caused him to become harder to perceive and forget small details.
• Ning Rongrong repeatedly reminded Wang Chuan of forgotten promises and helped keep him anchored as his memories began to fade.