Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Dayong, a loner, is home alone at night when he starts experiencing stomach issues, forcing him to use a basin instead of the outhouse.
• He hears strange noises and feels an eerie presence in the house, particularly from the bedrooms.
• He discovers that his dead grandparents and parents are somehow present in the house, searching for him.

Character Developments

• Liu Dayong: Initially portrayed as a loner, his fear and desperation grow as he faces the supernatural events in his house. He becomes more vulnerable and isolated.

Significant Themes

• Isolation: Liu Dayong's loneliness and lack of social connections contribute to his fear and helplessness when faced with the supernatural.
• Death and the Afterlife: The return of Liu Dayong's deceased family members raises questions about the nature of death and the afterlife.

Character Interactions

• Liu Dayong interacts with his dead family members, who are searching for him. He feels terror and dread, trying to keep them out of the storage room where he's hiding.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Over thirty people from five households in Nanhucun Village have disappeared, with signs of struggle and faint cries for help heard by neighbors.
• Jiang Qiao suggests digging up the graves of the missing villagers' relatives to find clues.
• The villagers are allowed to descend the mountain, with arrangements made for their temporary settlement away from the town.
• The bodies of the missing villagers are found in their ancestral graves.
• The villagers begin their descent, expected to reach the foot of the mountain by 6 PM.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his knowledge and experience in dealing with supernatural events, offering valuable insights and advice to the authorities.
• Little Zhao, the liaison officer, shows respect and gratitude towards Jiang Qiao, acknowledging his assistance.
• Su Qi, Jiang Qiao's companion, shows resilience in coping with supernatural events.

Significant Themes

• The deterioration of the situation, with the appearance of Malevolent Ghosts and Ghost Slaves, and the increasing threat to human lives.
• The struggle between humans and supernatural entities, with the authorities seeking to protect the villagers and eliminate the Malevolent Ghosts.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with the official representative, offering his expertise and guidance.
• Little Zhao interacts with Jiang Qiao, seeking his advice and expressing gratitude.
• Jiang Qiao and Su Qi discuss the potential future events, with Jiang Qiao expressing his curiosity about the Evil Entity behind the incidents.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Superpower Users, who were supposed to assist the villagers, are delayed due to encountering high-risk Supernatural Events on their way.
• The villagers are resettled in a temporary camp, with each section separated by tens of meters for safety.
• Strange occurrences start happening around 11 PM, including a drone crashing without apparent cause and eerie conversations heard by Jiang Qiao.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao starts noticing the differences between the Superpower Users of this era and the Awakeners from the Supernatural World.
• He suspects that the sudden increase in Supernatural Events might be connected to the reason the Three Lives Stone sent him back.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for control over the supernatural events and the world's stability.
• The disparity between the Superpower Users' abilities and the threats they face.
• The catalyst behind the sudden surge in supernatural events.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao discusses the nature of Superpower Users with the Big Shot and Little Zhao but finds they don't know much about the internal affairs of the Superpower Users.
• Jiang Qiao hears strange conversations from the room next door, leading him to discover that he has been inexplicably transported to Nanhucun Village.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao inexplicably returns to Nanhucun Village, finding himself in a dreamscape created by the Malevolent Ghost.
• He discovers that the Malevolent Ghost can influence people's consciousness and put them into a trance.
• Jiang Qiao encounters a ghostly figure in the village, which he identifies as a Ghost Slave.
• The Ghost Slave repeatedly asks Jiang Qiao if he has seen its daughter, hinting at a personal loss or trauma.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his vast experience with the supernatural, quickly understanding and adapting to the dreamscape.
• The Ghost Slave shows no emotional reaction to Jiang Qiao's taunts, indicating a lack of self-awareness or understanding of its situation.

Significant Themes

• The theme of repetition is explored through the Ghost Slave's persistent questioning, reflecting the essence of humanity and ghosts.
• The power of lies and deception is touched upon, with Jiang Qiao suggesting that the Ghost Slave learn to lie to find its daughter.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with the Ghost Slave, attempting to provoke a reaction and gain more information about the dreamscape and the Malevolent Ghost.
• The Ghost Slave interacts with Jiang Qiao, repeatedly asking about its daughter, displaying a single-minded focus on this issue.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao encounters a ghost in his inn, which can only repeat one line of dialogue.
• The ghost's killing speed can be slowed by not directly answering its questions.
• Jiang Qiao experiences a vision of an underground factory and a little girl crying in a foreign language.
• The ghost attacks Jiang Qiao, but he defeats it using a tile knife.
• A mixed-race little girl with compound eyes appears outside the courtyard, revealing herself as the real malevolent ghost.
• Jiang Qiao returns to his room after 30 minutes, finding that the ghost cannot alter time or completely affect his perception.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his ability to control his surroundings and understand the ghost's nature.
• The ghost shows its ability to mimic humans and launch attacks.

Significant Themes

• The origin and evolution of malevolent ghosts.
• The relationship between humans and supernatural entities.
• The exploration of Jiang Qiao's hometown and its history.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with the ghost, trying to understand its nature and slow its killing speed.
• The ghost attacks Jiang Qiao, leading to a confrontation between them.
• Jiang Qiao encounters the little girl ghost, realizing it is the real malevolent ghost.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Two villagers went missing from the resettlement camp, a couple who never left their tent after 9:20 PM.
• A drone placed at the mountain path entrance crashed inexplicably at 11 PM.
• The missing couple was found dead in their ancestral grave, killed around the same time as the drone crash.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao: Recognized as a Big Figure by the villagers due to his influence over the rescue team and officials. He demonstrates his knowledge of supernatural phenomena and willingness to help.
• Captain Yu: Shows respect and deference to Jiang Qiao, following his suggestions and taking initiative in the investigation.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural interference: The Malevolent Ghosts are active and targeting specific individuals.
• Death and grief: The couple's death and the potential heartbreak of parents who lost children are explored as possible reasons for the Malevolent Ghosts' appearance.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with the villagers, specifically Old Tang and A Qing, gathering information about past accidents and deaths in Nanhucun Village.
• Jiang Qiao and Captain Yu work together, with Captain Yu following Jiang Qiao's suggestions and Jiang Qiao offering to help investigate further if needed.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao monitors social media, finding people exploiting the supernatural events for profit.
• At 11 PM, drones monitoring Nanhucun Village crash, and many villagers fall into a deep coma.
• Jiang Qiao is transported to Nanhucun Village and confronts Malevolent Ghosts, destroying them with ease.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his power and confidence in dealing with supernatural threats.
• Captain Zhang shows concern for the villagers and willingness to follow Jiang Qiao's lead.

Significant Themes

• The sudden appearance of supernatural beings and the struggle to understand and combat them.
• The exploitation of people's fears and desperation for personal gain.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Captain Zhang discuss the situation and the appearance of supernatural beings.
• Jiang Qiao comforts Captain Zhang, reassuring him that the situation will be handled.
• Jiang Qiao confronts and defeats the Malevolent Ghosts, showing his power and determination.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao and Captain Zhang drive to Nanhucun Village, encountering no obstacles from Malevolent Ghosts.
• Jiang Qiao receives calls from the Command Center and Little Zhao:
  • The Command Center reports that six young girls in the village died, each followed by the mental breakdown of their mother or the accidental death of their father.
  • Liu Dachun's daughter was taken and later died, her remains buried in the village.
  • Little Zhao informs that villagers are alive but unconscious and their bodies are fading.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao realizes the Malevolent Ghost's nature and abilities, understanding its attraction to the village and its method of affecting living people.
• Captain Zhang is depicted as a skilled driver, navigating the treacherous mountain roads safely.

Significant Themes

• The Malevolent Ghost's origins and potential, its ability to absorb and mimic information from both living and dead.
• The theme of familial love and its negative consequences, as seen in the tragic fates of the villagers.
• The limited range of the Malevolent Ghost's influence.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Captain Zhang work together, with Captain Zhang driving while Jiang Qiao communicates with the Command Center and Little Zhao.
• Jiang Qiao's conversation with Captain Yu provides crucial information about the village's history and the Malevolent Ghost's origins.
• Jiang Qiao's interaction with Little Zhao reveals the current state of the villagers and the Malevolent Ghost's ability to affect them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao enters Nanhucun Village, which is eerily quiet and lit by dim streetlights.
• He encounters a couple, a man in a suit and a woman, who are acting strangely. The woman is being boiled alive but seems happy, and the man is robotic in his actions.
• Two coffins appear on the road, and the couple attacks Jiang Qiao. They are revealed to be Ghost Slaves, recently turned from villagers who were in a coma.
• Jiang Qiao kills the Ghost Slaves and continues into the village, encountering houses with lit paper lanterns and a sense of being watched.
• He reaches the back mountain, feeling a strong undead aura, and hears a small cart approaching from the village.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his calm and composed demeanor even in the face of supernatural events.
• The villagers, now Ghost Slaves, show robotic and eerie behavior, indicating the influence of the Malevolent Ghost.

Significant Themes

• The influence of the Malevolent Ghost on the villagers, turning them into Ghost Slaves.
• The eerie and unsettling atmosphere of the village, with its dim lights and seemingly watching houses.
• The undead aura on the back mountain, hinting at the presence of powerful supernatural entities.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with the Ghost Slaves, showing no fear or shock, and easily defeats them.
• The Ghost Slaves interact with each other, showing robotic and programmed behavior.
• The Malevolent Ghost is implied to be observing and influencing events, but there's no direct interaction with Jiang Qiao in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao encounters a lantern with a ferocious face, emitting screams and whispers, which turns out to be a curse disguised as a lantern.
• Destroying the lantern triggers a curse attack, which Jiang Qiao wards off using his black mist.
• All lanterns in the village float up, surrounding Jiang Qiao, and he enters an illusion created by the malevolent ghosts.
• In the illusion, he witnesses a girl being experimented on with supernatural substances in an underground laboratory.
• He sees a group of people, led by a foreigner, breach the laboratory and steal items, including the girl's cryogenic freezer.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his awareness and experience in dealing with supernatural curses.
• The man in the isolation suit, likely a technician, shows desperation and regret for bringing his ill daughter to the laboratory.

Significant Themes

• The corrupt use of supernatural powers for experimentation and gain.
• The consequences of human greed and desperation.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with the malevolent ghosts through the lanterns and the illusion.
• The man in the isolation suit interacts with his colleagues and the people in charge of the laboratory, searching for his daughter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao encounters a system interface, revealing a task related to the supernatural leak.
• He unlocks a new Talent, Hearth Fire (X-Class, First Order), which allows him to burn away supernatural entities.
• Jiang Qiao uses Hearth Fire to destroy a malevolent ghost, ending the supernatural disturbance in Nanhucun Village.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao gains a new Talent, increasing his power and understanding of the supernatural world.
• Zhang Jiangong, though not directly involved in the battle, shows relief and joy upon learning the village is safe.

Significant Themes

• The struggle against supernatural forces and the power of Jiang Qiao's new Talent.
• The theme of cooperation and trust, as Jiang Qiao considers working with officials but remains cautious.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Zhang Jiangong maintain a professional relationship, with Zhang Jiangong following Jiang Qiao's instructions and awaiting his return.
• Jiang Qiao communicates with an official via satellite phone, updating them on the situation and providing further instructions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Relevant Department systematically excavates and inspects all graves in Nanhucun Village, with villagers' cooperation due to fear of Supernatural Events.
• Official Superpower Users are set to arrive and meet Jiang Qiao.
• A food delivery rider shares a chilling experience of delivering to a haunted apartment complex on a live stream.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao maintains a calm and cooperative demeanor despite the impending arrival of Official Superpower Users.
• Villagers show fear and guilt regarding the desecration of their ancestors' graves but prioritize their own safety.

Significant Themes

• Fear and desperation in the face of Supernatural Events.
• The tension between preserving traditions (ancestral graves) and prioritizing self-preservation.
• The spread of true, firsthand Supernatural Event accounts via live streaming platforms.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with various Big Shots, who inform him of the Official Superpower Users' arrival.
• Jiang Qiao watches a live stream and learns about a delivery rider's haunted experience.
• Little Zhao warns Jiang Qiao about the potentially bad-tempered Superpower User, and Jiang Qiao reassures him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao meets Team Leader Sun and his team in a meeting room.
• Team Leader Sun accuses Jiang Qiao of using his powers recklessly against ordinary people.
• Tensions rise, leading to a physical altercation.
• Team Leader Sun reveals his supernatural abilities, using a rotting heart to mimic Jiang Qiao's appearance.
• His team members fire supernatural bullets at Jiang Qiao, but he avoids them and traps them in the ground.
• Jiang Qiao kills Team Leader Sun by smashing his head onto the desk.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his calm and collected demeanor under pressure, as well as his formidable powers and combat skills.
• Team Leader Sun reveals his Ghost Slave nature and displays his abilities, but is ultimately no match for Jiang Qiao.

Significant Themes

• The distinction between Awakeners, Evolvers, and Ghost Slaves, and the differences in their powers and limitations.
• The exploration of the supernatural and the use of Malevolent Ghosts' powers to gain abilities.
• The consequences of reckless use of power and the potential dangers of supernatural entities.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Team Leader Sun's hostile interaction leads to a violent confrontation.
• Little Zhao tries to mediate the situation but fails to prevent the altercation.
• Team Leader Sun's team members attempt to attack Jiang Qiao but are easily subdued.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao, a powerful individual, confronts a man who turns out to be an Investigator from the Special Management Department, but he's actually a Ghost Slave, a supernatural entity.
• Jiang Qiao easily overpowers and reveals the Investigator's true form, a non-humanoid, cold, and twisted mass.
• Team Leader Sun, who was supposed to investigate the incident, dies en route with his team, raising suspicion about the Investigator's origins and the situation's severity.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao: Demonstrates immense strength and calm demeanor when dealing with the supernatural threat. He's also interested in understanding the world's deterioration.
• Little Zhao: Initially terrified, he regains composure and reports the incident to his superiors. He shows resilience under pressure.
• The Ghost Slave Investigator: Revealed to be an evil creature, his true form is non-human and malevolent.

Significant Themes

• The deterioration of the world and the presence of supernatural entities.
• The power dynamics between Jiang Qiao and the Official side, with Jiang Qiao's standing increasing due to his actions.
• The theme of trust and deception, as the Investigator was not who he seemed.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and the Ghost Slave Investigator: The interaction is one-sided, with Jiang Qiao dominating and revealing the Investigator's true form.
• Jiang Qiao and Little Zhao: They work together to report the incident, with Jiang Qiao guiding Little Zhao on what to say.
• Jiang Qiao and Old Wu (over the phone): They discuss the incident and the potential for Jiang Qiao to gain information about the world's deterioration. Old Wu tries to build rapport with Jiang Qiao while subtly refusing to guarantee access to high-level information.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Fei, a captain in the Special Management Department, drives to Wang Family Town amidst the recent Supernatural Events.
• He encounters a series of supernatural phenomena, including shadowy figures and a Black Cat, and eventually engages with a Malevolent Ghost, which he dispels with a shotgun.

Character Developments

• Zheng Fei demonstrates his calm and composed demeanor in the face of supernatural threats, showing his professionalism and capability as an investigator.

Significant Themes

• The emergence of supernatural phenomena and the response of the Official organization.
• The potential threat and interest of high-strength individuals like Jiang Qiao.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Fei communicates with an unnamed male colleague, discussing Jiang Qiao's situation and the status of Jade City.
• Zheng Fei interacts with Little Zhao and the Staff at Wang Family Town upon his arrival.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Fei meets Jiang Qiao, praising his bravery in dealing with supernatural events.
• Jiang Qiao casually mentions a black cat Zheng Fei brought, revealing it to be a malevolent ghost that likes to eat human flesh.
• The black cat appears, causing a chilling aura to spread, and Little Zhao is affected.
• Jiang Qiao saves Little Zhao, then sits back, expecting Zheng Fei to handle the ghost.
• Zheng Fei confronts the black cat, which disappears and is replaced by countless ghostly faces on the walls and ceiling.

Character Developments

• Zheng Fei: Shows his strength and determination as an Official Investigator by facing the malevolent ghost.
• Jiang Qiao: Demonstrates his supernatural abilities and understanding of the situation, assessing Zheng Fei's capabilities.
• Little Zhao: Shows fear and vulnerability when encountering the ghost, highlighting the difference between him and the supernatural investigators.

Significant Themes

• Bravery vs. Fear: Zheng Fei's courage is contrasted with Little Zhao's fear, emphasizing the importance of bravery in facing supernatural threats.
• Power Dynamics: Jiang Qiao's actions show his power and influence, while Zheng Fei's response reveals his strength and determination, setting the stage for potential cooperation.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Fei and Jiang Qiao: Their interaction is cordial but tense, with Jiang Qiao testing Zheng Fei's capabilities and Zheng Fei proving his worth.
• Jiang Qiao and Little Zhao: Jiang Qiao shows concern for Little Zhao's well-being, highlighting the difference in their roles and abilities.
• Zheng Fei and the Malevolent Ghost: Zheng Fei's confrontation with the black cat and subsequent ghostly faces showcases his strength and determination in dealing with supernatural threats.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Fei, an investigator from the Special Management Department, uses a supernatural brush to expel evil creatures from a wall, revealing a giant human face.
• He kills the giant human face, but a rotting human head appears in a reflection, indicating the ghost is still present.
• Zheng Fei realizes he hasn't found the ghost's main body and is in danger. He tries to fight the ghost again but is injured and overwhelmed.

Character Developments

• Zheng Fei: Initially confident, he becomes overwhelmed and desperate when facing the malevolent ghost, revealing his limits and vulnerability.
• Jiang Qiao: Observant and knowledgeable about supernatural events, he calmly analyzes Zheng Fei's actions and the situation, showing expertise beyond his short experience as a Superpower User.
• Little Zhao: Present but less involved, he shows surprise and uncertainty when learning the ghost is still present.

Significant Themes

• The power of observation and knowledge in dealing with supernatural events.
• The danger and unpredictability of malevolent ghosts, even when seemingly defeated.
• The limits of individual strength and the need for caution and preparation in facing supernatural threats.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Zheng Fei: Jiang Qiao observes and comments on Zheng Fei's actions, revealing his understanding of supernatural events. Zheng Fei, initially dismissive, becomes more respectful as Jiang Qiao accurately assesses the situation.
• Zheng Fei and the Malevolent Ghost: Zheng Fei initially believes he can handle the ghost but becomes overwhelmed and injured, highlighting the ghost's power and unpredictability.
• Little Zhao and Zheng Fei: Little Zhao shows surprise and uncertainty when learning the ghost is still present, contrasting with Zheng Fei's initial confidence and later desperation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao saves Zheng Fei from Malevolent Ghosts using his cleaver.
• Jiang Qiao reveals that Zheng Fei's supernatural perception is ineffective against the current powerful Malevolent Ghosts.
• Jiang Qiao ignites a raging inferno in the corridor, burning the Malevolent Ghosts and revealing a mutated creature with a human head and cat's body.
• The mutated creature, seeking to become human, is trapped and burned to ashes by Jiang Qiao.

Character Developments

• Zheng Fei: Realizes the gap in strength between him and Jiang Qiao, leading him to suppress his pride and listen to Jiang Qiao's guidance.
• Jiang Qiao: Demonstrates his power and knowledge about the Malevolent Ghosts and the mutated creature, showing no mercy in eliminating them.

Significant Themes

• Strength is King: Jiang Qiao's strength allows him to handle the Malevolent Ghosts with ease, while Zheng Fei struggles, highlighting the importance of power in their world.
• Supernatural Evolution: The mutated creature's transformation and desire to become human underscore the theme of evolution and change in the supernatural realm.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Zheng Fei: Jiang Qiao's dismissive attitude towards Zheng Fei's abilities leads to tension, but Zheng Fei eventually accepts Jiang Qiao's superiority and listens to his instructions.
• Jiang Qiao and the Evil Entities: Jiang Qiao shows no mercy towards the Malevolent Ghosts and the mutated creature, demonstrating his resolve in eliminating evil entities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Evil Entity (Mutated Animal) is killed by Jiang Qiao.
• Zheng Fei, an Official, is surprised by Jiang Qiao's strength and suspects he's a long-time Superpower User.
• Jiang Qiao senses other Supernatural Auras related to the Mutated Animal, suggesting it might have companions.
• A Vlogger posts about a recent incident in Qingshui Village, where a man died under mysterious circumstances, and a strange dog was seen.

Character Developments

• Zheng Fei becomes more cautious and intrigued by Jiang Qiao's abilities.
• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his knowledge about Supernatural Events and Mutated Animals.

Significant Themes

• The increasing prevalence of Supernatural Events.
• The Officials' approach to dealing with these events.
• The adaptation of society to the new era of Supernatural Events.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Zheng Fei discuss the nature of the Evil Entity and the possibility of more Mutated Animals.
• The Vlogger shares their account of the events in Qingshui Village, providing new information about the strange dog.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A mysterious dog's death in Qingshui Village leads to its discovery as a mutated creature, possibly due to supernatural infection.
• The Special Management Department dispatches Senior Investigators to Qingshui Village and nearby areas to investigate and contain the threat.
• The Investigators find evidence of the ghostly entities controlling animals to replace human bodies, causing death and destruction.
• The operation in Qingshui Village is a step too late, and the ghosts have moved on. The Investigators adjust their plan and await further intelligence.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao, a powerful Superpower User from Yuan City, is mentioned. He is valued by the higher-ups and expected to be visited by a Big Figure from Headquarters.
• Zheng Fei, the Captain who initially reported the incident, is not strong enough to handle the situation and is awaiting backup.
• Jiang Zhuang, a Senior Investigator, leads a team to Qingshui Village and discovers the grim scene of stripped skulls.
• The Xie Sisters, also Senior Investigators, find supernatural traces in the demolition ruins but no ghosts.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural threat posed by ghosts that can control animals and replace human bodies.
• The importance of quick and accurate information in containing supernatural threats.
• The respect for strength and power within the Supernatural Circle and the Special Management Department.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao silently deduces that the big black dog encountered a supernatural infection and is not the source of the problem.
• Jiang Zhuang and the Xie Sisters collaborate to investigate the situation in Qingshui Village and discuss their findings.
• The Xie Sisters mention the heavy casualties in Yuan City and the involvement of a powerful Superpower User, Jiang Qiao.
• The Investigators express their determination to contain the threat and raise vigilance in nearby cities.