Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Chen Family estate is abuzz with activity, discussing the mysterious deaths of Manager Wang and his concubine.
• The Chen Family is also concerned about the recent disappearances in Spring City and the appearance of the Thunder Centipede in Twinwood Village.
• The Lin Family is preparing a Sea God Rite to investigate the disappearances, using the heads of young boys and girls as Sacrificial Offerings.

Character Developments

• Chen Family patriarch: He is concerned about the recent events and is trying to gather information, showing a level of responsibility and caution.
• Lin Family patriarch, Lin Tingkai: He is leading the Sea God Rite, displaying a ruthless and reckless side by using human sacrifices.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between humans and malevolent entities in this Timeline are uneven, with some malevolent entities already capable of gathering incense offerings, while human practitioners are relatively weak.
• The Lin Family's disregard for human life in their attempt to communicate with a malevolent entity highlights the moral decay and desperation among the powerful families in Spring City.

Character Interactions

• The Chen Family patriarch is interacting with his subordinates, gathering information and discussing their next steps.
• The Lin Family patriarch is leading the Sea God Rite, interacting with his family members and the other participants in the ritual.
• Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia are observing the Sea God Rite from a distance, discussing the ritual and the Lin Family's actions. Their interaction reveals their disdain for the Lin Family's methods and their intention to investigate further.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Sea God Rite at Sutta Temple goes awry when the incense burns abnormally fast and an icy, corpse-stench wind blows, causing panic and chaos.
• A massive black mist, with distorted human-like forms, appears above the temple, further terrifying the crowd.
• Lin Tingkai, the ritual's leader, decides to evacuate, but as they leave, a catastrophic event occurs at the sea, with huge waves and floating corpses.
• Simultaneously, at the abandoned Sea God Temple, a figure emerges from within.

Character Developments

• Lin Tingkai, initially calm, becomes alarmed and desperate as the ritual spirals out of control.
• Lin Tingkai's grandson, anxious and urgent, tries to convince his grandfather to evacuate.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural and its dangerous consequences when not respected or controlled.
• Panic and chaos in the face of the unknown and terrifying.
• The contrast between the calm, normal world and the sudden, catastrophic intrusion of the supernatural.

Character Interactions

• Lin Tingkai and his grandson interact, with the grandson showing concern and urgency, while Lin Tingkai is reluctant to leave.
• The crowd at Sutta Temple interacts with each other in panic, trying to flee the temple.
• The people at Spring City Harbor interact in chaos as they try to escape the surging wall of water.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A sinister entity emerges from the Sea God Temple, bound in chains and burial shrouds.
• It summons a catastrophic tsunami over three thousand meters high, filled with Vicious Ghosts.
• Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia witness the disaster and prepare to intervene.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his power and confidence in the face of the impending disaster.
• Shen Boxia shows concern and unease about the giant wave and the Vicious Ghosts within it.

Significant Themes

• The power and destruction of nature, represented by the tsunami.
• The threat and fear caused by supernatural entities, like the sinister entity and the Vicious Ghosts.
• The responsibility of powerful individuals, like Jiang Qiao, to protect others from disasters.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia discuss the nature of the disaster and the sinister entity's power.
• Jiang Qiao decides to act against the sinister entity, showing his heroic nature.
• Shen Boxia expresses his fear and concern about the disaster, highlighting his human side despite his powerful abilities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A sudden, inexplicable calm follows a terrifying supernatural event in Spring City.
• The Yan Family's Special Ability Users, who had fled, discuss the situation and decide to return to the city to notify their clan members to evacuate.
• Yan Bingwen, the innkeeper from Twinwood Village, is chosen to return due to his previous investigation of the anomaly and his resourcefulness.

Character Developments

• The Yan Family's Special Ability Users are revealed to be selfish and prioritize their own safety over that of their clan members.
• Yan Bingwen is shown to be brave and resourceful, but initially reluctant to return to the city due to the danger.
• The old man, the family head, is authoritative and manipulative, using his grandson's suggestion to his advantage and pressuring Yan Bingwen to return.

Significant Themes

• Selfishness vs. Altruism: The Yan Family's Special Ability Users prioritize their own safety over that of their clan members, highlighting their selfishness.
• Power and Manipulation: The old man uses his authority and Yan Bingwen's filial piety to manipulate him into returning to the city.
• Loyalty and Family: Yan Bingwen's loyalty to his family and his concern for his mother's well-being motivate him to return to the city despite the danger.

Character Interactions

• Yan Bingwen and Yan Bingkun interact as cousins, with Yan Bingkun manipulating Yan Bingwen into returning to the city.
• The old man interacts with Yan Bingwen as the family head, using his authority to pressure Yan Bingwen into returning.
• The Yan Family's Special Ability Users interact with each other, discussing the situation and deciding who should return to the city.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia encounter a powerful Vicious Ghost, which they suspect is the Sea God.
• Jiang Qiao subdues the Vicious Ghost using electric arcs and interrogates it about its origins and the Previous Era.
• The Vicious Ghost reveals that it gained self-awareness by parasitizing a dying human and that humanity's downfall was due to a Supernatural World War, not just evil entities.
• It also shares that it was sealed seven hundred years ago by a human expert in Spring City, where it was worshipped as the Sea God by sea folk.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his extraordinary abilities and cruelty in extracting information, instilling fear in the Vicious Ghost.
• The Vicious Ghost, despite its power, shows fear and vulnerability when faced with Jiang Qiao's methods.
• Shen Boxia remains calm and unsurprised by Jiang Qiao's actions, indicating his growing acceptance of Jiang Qiao's extraordinary nature.

Significant Themes

• The theme of power and its consequences is explored through the Vicious Ghost's rise to self-awareness and its subsequent fear of humans.
• The relationship between humans and supernatural entities is delved into, with the Vicious Ghost's worship as a totem and its eventual sealing by a human expert.
• The theme of the past's influence on the present is evident in the Vicious Ghost's memories of the Previous Era and its impact on the current world.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and the Vicious Ghost: Jiang Qiao uses his power to intimidate and extract information from the Vicious Ghost, while the Vicious Ghost initially tries to be defiant but eventually succumbs to fear.
• Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia: Shen Boxia remains calm and accepting of Jiang Qiao's actions, showing a level of trust and understanding between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• An evil spirit, sealed for centuries, escapes and plans to flood Spring City.
• The evil spirit mentions Locust Tree Alley, where a Ghost Tree is the source of supernatural occurrences.
• The Hu Family brought the Ghost Tree from the South Seas, which demands a bride every year to maintain its power and the family's safety.
• The tree's demands for brides escalate over time, leading to the family's eventual downfall forty years ago when it wanted a Ghost Bride.

Character Developments

• The evil spirit, initially threatening, becomes cooperative and informative, seeking mercy.
• Jiang Qiao, the protagonist, shows curiosity and interest in the Locust Tree Alley and the Ghost Tree's story.
• Shen Boxia, an assistant, interjects with relevant knowledge about agarwood trees.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of greed and obsession (Hu Family's desire for power and status).
• The dangers of supernatural forces and their demands (Ghost Tree's increasing requirements for brides).
• The importance of timely action (the Hu Family's hesitation in removing the tree when they could have).

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and the evil spirit engage in a question-and-answer session, with Jiang Qiao driving the narrative.
• Shen Boxia provides relevant information, contributing to the conversation.
• The Hu Family members are mentioned but not directly present, their actions and decisions driving the story's events.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao encounters a wedding procession for a tree in Ninggu City, which he learns is connected to the Hu Family and Locust Tree Alley in Spring City.
• The Hu Family fled forty years ago after faking their deaths, leaving behind a contingency plan to deceive the Ghost Tree into believing a bride was being fetched from the north.
• The Ghost Tree sends out a procession every year on the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, hoping to hold its wedding, but the bride never arrives.
• Jiang Qiao learns that the recent disappearances in Spring City are unknown to the malevolent entity, which it rarely pays attention to.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao remains cautious and wary, even when he learns that the wedding procession was not aimed at him, as he suspects there might still be an objective connection.
• The malevolent entity, or "Sea God," reveals its ignorance about the recent disappearances in Spring City, showing that it is not all-knowing.

Significant Themes

• The theme of deception and manipulation is evident in the Hu Family's plan to deceive the Ghost Tree and the malevolent entity's attempt to deceive Jiang Qiao.
• The theme of the power of belief is shown in the Ghost Tree's persistent belief in finding a Ghost Bride, despite the lack of results.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with the malevolent entity, questioning it about the Ghost Tree and the recent disappearances in Spring City.
• The malevolent entity provides information to Jiang Qiao, hoping to be released but is ultimately destroyed by him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Boxia and Jiang Qiao visit the infamous Locust Tree Alley, known for killing anyone who enters.
• A group of constables led by Lord Song approaches them, accusing them of being connected to recent missing-person cases and attempting to arrest them without cause.

Character Developments

• Shen Boxia shows his assertiveness and quick thinking when faced with the constables' accusations.
• Lord Song demonstrates his arrogance and disregard for justice, using his position to falsely accuse others.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics and corruption within the city government, as Lord Song abuses his authority to appease his superior.
• The fear and desperation of the city's residents due to the recent supernatural events and missing-person cases.

Character Interactions

• Shen Boxia and Jiang Qiao's partnership is shown to be strong, as they stand together against the constables' accusations.
• The dynamic between Lord Song and the constables reveals a culture of fear and compliance within the city government.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Boxia, a member of the powerful Heavenly Mandate Society, arrives in Spring City with Jiang Qiao.
• A group of over a thousand constables, including over a hundred Special Ability Users, surround and attempt to arrest Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia.
• Jiang Qiao releases his 'Thunder Centipede', creating a thick, blinding fog that cuts off the constables' vision and Supernatural Perception.
• The constables start screaming in panic and terror, implying that the Thunder Centipede is attacking them.

Character Developments

• Shen Boxia: Reveals his affiliation with the Heavenly Mandate Society, demonstrating his status and power. He shows analytical skills by connecting the recent disappearances to the sudden appearance of many Special Ability Users in Spring City.
• Jiang Qiao: Shows his calm and composed demeanor even in dangerous situations. He reveals his 'Thunder Centipede', a powerful and terrifying ability, indicating his strength and ruthlessness.

Significant Themes

• Power and Status: Shen Boxia's revelation of his Heavenly Mandate Society affiliation highlights the importance of power and status in the Supernatural World.
• Trust and Betrayal: The constables' attempt to arrest Shen Boxia, despite knowing he's with the Heavenly Mandate Society, suggests a lack of trust and possible betrayal.
• Fear and Panic: The constables' reactions to the Thunder Centipede's attack emphasize the theme of fear and its ability to cause panic and disarray.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia: They work together, with Jiang Qiao showing trust in Shen Boxia's abilities and Shen Boxia demonstrating loyalty to Jiang Qiao.
• The constables and the bearded man: They interact with hostility towards Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia, showing a lack of respect for Shen Boxia's status and a disregard for the rules of the Heavenly Mandate Society.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A bearded man, a Special Ability User, encounters a sudden darkness and finds his entire team of over a thousand constables and Special Ability Users vanished, with only charred remains and Imprints left behind.
• He sees a gigantic Thunder Centipede, a Mutated Animal, with two young men, Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia, who seem to control it.
• Jiang Qiao orders the bearded man to lead them to meet Prefect Cui Hao.
• Meanwhile, Prefect Cui Hao is watering his plants in the municipal office's backyard, reflecting on recent supernatural events and his plans.

Character Developments

• The bearded man is terrified and shaken after witnessing the Thunder Centipede's destruction and realizing its power.
• Prefect Cui Hao shows his ruthless side, contemplating killing Shen Boxia to prevent him from interfering with his plans.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of Mutated Animals and evil entities.
• The ruthlessness and desperation of Prefect Cui Hao in protecting his plans.
• The consequences of meddling with supernatural forces, as seen in the Lin Family's ritual gone wrong.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia display their confidence and control over the Thunder Centipede, ordering the bearded man around.
• The bearded man, terrified and submissive, leads them to Prefect Cui Hao without resistance.
• Prefect Cui Hao's internal monologue reveals his disdain for Shen Boxia and his determination to eliminate him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cui Hao, the local ruler, receives news that over a thousand men, including a hundred Special Ability Users, sent to arrest Shen Boxia, have been killed by two people.
• Shen Boxia and Jiang Qiao arrive at Cui Hao's residence. Cui Hao, despite being terrified of Jiang Qiao's strength, maintains a calm facade.

Character Developments

• Cui Hao: Realizes the extent of Jiang Qiao's power and understands that he is in grave danger. Despite his fear, he tries to maintain composure and invites them inside to talk.
• Jiang Qiao: Reveals no Supernatural Fluctuations, indicating his strength is beyond Cui Hao's comprehension. He expresses no interest in talking with Cui Hao, suggesting he plans to take action.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The chapter highlights the power struggle between different factions and individuals, with Jiang Qiao's strength being the deciding factor.
• Fear and Control: Cui Hao's fear is palpable, yet he tries to maintain control of the situation, illustrating the tension between fear and power.

Character Interactions

• Cui Hao and Jiang Qiao: Their interaction is tense and filled with unspoken threats. Cui Hao tries to maintain politeness, while Jiang Qiao is openly hostile.
• Cui Hao and his subordinates: Cui Hao's subordinates report the grim news and express fear, contrasting with Cui Hao's attempt to maintain composure.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia confront Cui Hao, the Spring City Prefect, about his involvement with the Holy Disciples Society.
• Cui Hao initially tries to deflect blame and invites them to stay at his residence, but Jiang Qiao presses him for information.
• Jiang Qiao reveals a Thunder Centipede, causing widespread panic in Spring City and forcing Cui Hao to confess.
• Cui Hao admits that he has been preparing a Blood Sacrifice in the city to nurture the Holy Son, the future leader of the Holy Disciples Society.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his power by revealing the Thunder Centipede, showing his ability to subdue even powerful supernatural creatures.
• Cui Hao, initially confident and defiant, becomes terrified and compliant once faced with Jiang Qiao's power.
• Shen Boxia provides context about the Holy Disciples Society and their beliefs.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: Jiang Qiao's display of power shifts the balance and forces Cui Hao to confess.
• Fanaticism: The Holy Disciples Society's extreme beliefs and actions are revealed.
• Corruption: Cui Hao's involvement with the Holy Disciples Society highlights the corruption within the government.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia work together to confront and question Cui Hao.
• Cui Hao initially tries to manipulate and stall Jiang Qiao but eventually breaks under pressure.
• The Thunder Centipede's appearance causes widespread panic among Spring City's residents, demonstrating its fearsome reputation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao interrogates Cui Hao about the Holy Disciples Society and the Son of God.
• Cui Hao reveals that he is a low-ranking priest in the society, knowing only his own missions and not the organization's core affairs.
• He describes the Blood Sacrifice ritual planned for Spring City, which involves an altar amplifying the descent of an evil spirit (the Son of God) to drain the life force of the city's inhabitants.
• Cui Hao is remotely controlled and forced to commit suicide by someone from the Holy Disciples Society.
• Jiang Qiao kills the person controlling Cui Hao.

Character Developments

• Cui Hao: Reveals his true allegiance to the Holy Disciples Society and his role in the planned Blood Sacrifice. His fear of death leads him to reveal information to Jiang Qiao, but ultimately, he is controlled and killed by his own organization.
• Jiang Qiao: Demonstrates his calm and collected demeanor even when facing a powerful enemy. He shows no mercy towards Cui Hao, viewing him as a disposable pawn. He also displays his power by killing the person controlling Cui Hao from a distance.
• Shen Boxia: Shows concern for Jiang Qiao's safety and is shocked by the remote control aspect of Cui Hao's death.

Significant Themes

• Secrecy and Trust: The Holy Disciples Society maintains tight secrecy, even among its members. Cui Hao's limited knowledge and the one-way communication highlight this theme.
• Power and Control: The society's ability to remotely control and kill one of its members demonstrates the organization's power and willingness to maintain control over its members, even at the cost of their lives.
• Loyalty and Betrayal: Cui Hao's decision to reveal information to Jiang Qiao shows his fear of death and desire for self-preservation, which ultimately leads to his betrayal of the Holy Disciples Society.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Cui Hao: Their interaction is tense, with Jiang Qiao interrogating Cui Hao and Cui Hao trying to save his own life by revealing information. Their dynamic changes when Cui Hao is remotely controlled, and Jiang Qiao shows no remorse in killing him.
• Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia: They work together, with Shen Boxia showing concern for Jiang Qiao's safety and being shocked by the events unfolding. Jiang Qiao, meanwhile, remains calm and collected throughout the situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cui Hao, the Prefect of Spring City, is found dead, strangled by Jiang Qiao.
• Representatives from Spring City's major families arrive at the Prefectural Yamen, finding Cui Hao's corpse and Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia present.
• Shen Boxia reveals that Cui Hao was a member of the Holy Disciples Society and intended to conduct a Blood Sacrifice.
• Shen Boxia takes temporary control of the Prefectural Yamen and issues three orders to the representatives.

Character Developments

• Shen Boxia demonstrates his authority and leadership, taking charge of the situation and issuing orders to the representatives.
• Yan Bingwen, the hunchbacked innkeeper, reveals his true identity as a young master from a great family and shows deference to Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics within the Supernatural Circle and the fear it instills in ordinary people.
• The corruption and evil deeds of some members of the Supernatural Circle, such as Cui Hao and the Holy Disciples Society.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Shen Boxia work together, with Shen Boxia handling the situation with the representatives.
• Yan Bingwen interacts with Shen Boxia, showing respect and seeking guidance.
• The representatives from the great families interact with Shen Boxia, showing deference and following his orders.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Boxia, a renowned peerless genius, summons the patriarchs of Spring City's Local Aristocratic Families to the Prefectural Yamen.
• He tasks them with investigating the remaining presence of the Holy Disciples Society in the city and asks about the Hu Family Family Annihilation case in Locust Tree Alley forty years ago.
• Shen Boxia specifically questions Chen Henian, patriarch of the Chen Family, about a shipment of the Chen Family that was hijacked, which included an item from Locust Tree Alley.
• Chen Henian initially denies any knowledge but later threatens to involve Lord Liu of the Provincial Government when pressed further.
• Shen Boxia uses his power to restrain Chen Henian, indicating a confrontation.

Character Developments

• Shen Boxia: Demonstrates his power and influence, showing he is not to be underestimated.
• Chen Henian: Initially maintains a genial demeanor but reveals a more cunning and secretive side when pressed about Locust Tree Alley.
• Yan Chongshan: Shows deference to Shen Boxia and is willing to cooperate due to his fear of Shen's power and the threat posed by the Holy Disciples Society.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and the struggle for control in Spring City.
• The allure and danger of Locust Tree Alley and its secrets.
• The potential for corruption and hidden agendas among the local aristocratic families.

Character Interactions

• Shen Boxia and Chen Henian: Their interaction reveals a power struggle, with Shen Boxia trying to uncover the truth and Chen Henian trying to protect his family's secrets.
• Yan Chongshan and Shen Boxia: Yan Chongshan shows deference to Shen Boxia, indicating a shift in the balance of power in Spring City.
• The patriarchs: Their interactions reveal a shared concern about the Holy Disciples Society's infiltration and a growing awareness of the Chen Family's potential secret regarding Locust Tree Alley.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Henian, the Head of the Lin Family, is interrogated by Shen Boxia.
• Shen Boxia reveals he knows about the Hu Family's survival and their connection to the Chen Family.
• Chen Henian confesses that the Hu Family is in the South Seas, at Tanjung Sepat, and they're after a map to the Immortal World inside a fruit from a tree in Locust Tree Alley.
• After the questioning, Shen Boxia keeps Lin Tingkai, the current Head of the Lin Family, to discuss the Sea God Rite and the use of human offerings.

Character Developments

• Chen Henian: Initially defiant, he becomes cooperative after Shen Boxia's display of power, revealing the Hu Family's whereabouts and their plans.
• Lin Tingkai: Admits to knowing the Sea God is an evil entity but tries to downplay his family's role in worshipping it. He becomes nervous when Shen Boxia questions him about human offerings.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: Shen Boxia's display of strength forces Chen Henian to cooperate, showing how power can control information.
• Betrayal of humanity: The use of human offerings in the Sea God Rite is revealed, highlighting the moral implications of dealing with evil entities.

Character Interactions

• Shen Boxia vs. Chen Henian: Shen Boxia's calm interrogation and display of power lead Chen Henian to reveal crucial information.
• Shen Boxia vs. Lin Tingkai: Shen Boxia's shift from understanding to accusing Lin Tingkai shows the danger of underestimating him and the consequences of betraying humanity.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Tingkai, the patriarch of the Lin Family, is confronted by Shen Boxia for using living people as sacrifices to evil entities.
• Lin Tingkai tries to justify his actions and offers compensation, but Shen Boxia insists on his death.
• Lin Tingkai attempts to summon the Sea God for help, but fails as the Sea God is already dead.
• Shen Boxia effortlessly kills Lin Tingkai using a Shadow Figure.
• Shen Boxia requests the help of Yan Chongshan, Ma Wenyuan, and Chen Henian to arrest the Lin Family members involved in the sacrifices.

Character Developments

• Shen Boxia: Demonstrates his immense power and fearlessness, killing Lin Tingkai without hesitation. He shows strategic thinking by asking for help from the other family patriarchs.
• Lin Tingkai: Reveals his ruthless side, willing to sacrifice others for his family's benefit. He shows desperation and fear when faced with Shen Boxia's power.
• Yan Chongshan, Ma Wenyuan, and Chen Henian: Show fear and compliance when faced with Shen Boxia's power. Yan Chongshan, however, sees an opportunity to build ties with Shen Boxia and the mysterious Young Master Jiang.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The chapter highlights the power struggle between the Lin Family and Shen Boxia, with Shen Boxia ultimately asserting his dominance.
• Corruption and Injustice: The Lin Family's use of living people as sacrifices to evil entities underscores the theme of corruption and injustice.
• Opportunism: Yan Chongshan's decision to build ties with Shen Boxia and the mysterious Young Master Jiang shows the opportunistic nature of some characters.

Character Interactions

• Shen Boxia vs Lin Tingkai: The power dynamic between these two is clear, with Shen Boxia showing no mercy and Lin Tingkai showing desperation and fear.
• Shen Boxia vs Yan Chongshan, Ma Wenyuan, and Chen Henian: Shen Boxia's fearsome display of power leads these patriarchs to comply with his requests, showing their fear and subservience.
• Yan Chongshan's internal thoughts: Yan Chongshan's thoughts reveal his opportunistic nature, as he sees a chance to build ties with Shen Boxia and the mysterious Young Master Jiang.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Boxia stays at the Prefectural Yamen, so Jiang Qiao goes out alone.
• Spring City is in chaos due to the revelation of Prefect Cui Hao's corruption and the Lin Family's arrest by the three major families.
• Jiang Qiao visits Locust Tree Alley, an abandoned and eerie place filled with Supernatural Auras and Phenomena.
• He encounters a decomposing corpse possessed by a Vicious Ghost and hears whispering Supernatural Phenomena from corpses buried in the ground.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his calm and unafraid demeanor when facing supernatural occurrences, showing his experience and knowledge in this area.
• His "Dual Pupils" ability allows him to see through supernatural illusions.

Significant Themes

• The fear of the unknown and the supernatural.
• The impact of corruption and power struggles on society (as seen in Spring City's chaos).
• The contrast between reality and illusion, with Jiang Qiao being able to discern the truth.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with supernatural entities but remains unfazed, showing his unique perspective and abilities.
• He doesn't engage with the Supernatural Auras and Phenomena, treating them as mere distractions, demonstrating his focus and determination.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao enters a haunted alley, ignoring the abnormalities and continues.
• He discovers a wedding banquet set up in an abandoned space, with inedible, moldy food and a pungent smell of decay.
• The banquet tables are filled with ghostly guests, invisible until Jiang Qiao passes through the banquet area.
• The ghostly guests, all former Special Ability Users who died in Locust Tree Alley, try to stop Jiang Qiao from leaving.
• Jiang Qiao stomps the ground, creating a sound that pierces the souls of the ghostly guests, causing them to collapse and disappear.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his nonchalance towards supernatural phenomena and his ability to deal with them casually and efficiently.
• The ghostly guests remain passive and controlled by the Agarwood Ghost Tree until Jiang Qiao's intervention.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between the living and the dead, with Jiang Qiao asserting his dominance over the ghostly guests.
• The theme of control and manipulation, as the Agarwood Ghost Tree uses the ghostly guests for its own purposes.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with the ghostly guests, acknowledging their plight but ultimately putting an end to their existence.
• There is no direct interaction between Jiang Qiao and the Agarwood Ghost Tree, but the tree's influence is evident through the ghostly guests.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao arrives at the Hu Family residence, which is dilapidated and eerie.
• He encounters horrifying, supernatural cat cries and faces appearing on the walls, which are revealed to be nourishment used by the Hu Family to feed the Ghost Tree.
• The residence transforms and collapses, and the Ghost Tree is revealed. Jiang Qiao easily disintegrates the tree with a single lightning strike.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his immense power and nonchalance in the face of supernatural threats, showing his experience and capability in dealing with evil entities.

Significant Themes

• The dangers of relying on external powers, as seen in the Hu Family's fate.
• The fragility of preparation, as seen in the Lin Family's ritual.
• The unbelievable resilience of humanity in the face of supernatural threats.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with the supernatural entities in the residence, but there's no dialogue; his actions speak for him.
• The chapter focuses on Jiang Qiao's actions and thoughts, with no other characters present.