Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Man Sun is found waiting in the elevator shaft of a residential complex, half-asleep but vigilant.
• Niu Dagui, an acquaintance from the past, finds Old Man Sun and is startled by his appearance.
• Old Man Sun learns that Niu Dagui encountered a supernatural event on the thirteenth floor.
• A mysterious man, Zhou Run, appears and is ordered to gouge out his own eyes by Old Man Sun's supernatural power.

Character Developments

• Old Man Sun: Shows his supernatural abilities and ruthlessness when protecting Niu Dagui from Zhou Run.
• Niu Dagui: Reveals his fear of supernatural events and his past connection with Old Man Sun.
• Zhou Run: Revealed to be a supernatural entity or possessed, as he is forced to harm himself by Old Man Sun's power.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural events and entities in Yue City.
• The power and ruthlessness of Old Man Sun's supernatural abilities.
• Fear and vulnerability of ordinary people (Niu Dagui) when encountering the supernatural.

Character Interactions

• Old Man Sun and Niu Dagui: They reunite and Old Man Sun learns about Niu Dagui's supernatural encounter.
• Old Man Sun and Zhou Run: They have a tense confrontation, with Old Man Sun using his power to force Zhou Run to harm himself.
• Niu Dagui and Zhou Run: There's a history between them, as Zhou Run is aware of Niu Dagui's actions on the thirteenth floor.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Man Sun encounters and defeats several malevolent ghosts on his way down from the eerie eighth floor.
• He learns about his own strength and the tactics of ghosts, realizing he needs more experience.
• Niu Dagui, a security guard, is saved by Old Man Sun from a ghost and is ordered to leave.
• Zhou Run, a colleague of Niu Dagui, is stuck outside his apartment on the eighteenth floor, suspecting a haunting due to strange occurrences.

Character Developments

• Old Man Sun: Shows formidable strength against ghosts, but is still inexperienced in dealing with their tactics. He is displeased with Niu Dagui's attempts to latch onto him.
• Niu Dagui: Realizes Old Man Sun is an Awakener and is afraid of him. He decides to leave but plans to seek refuge with Old Man Sun if needed.
• Zhou Run: Becomes suspicious of a haunting due to strange noises and Niu Dagui's unusual behavior. He fears for his safety.

Significant Themes

• Fear of the unknown and the supernatural.
• The power and inexperience of Awakeners.
• The impact of the Supernatural Revival on people's minds.

Character Interactions

• Old Man Sun and Niu Dagui: Old Man Sun saves Niu Dagui but is annoyed by his attempts to stay close. He orders Niu Dagui to leave.
• Zhou Run and Niu Dagui (implied): Zhou Run suspects Niu Dagui of discovering something on the thirteenth floor, leading to his strange behavior.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Run, a security guard, finds himself trapped in his apartment with a Malevolent Ghost, a female corpse he had previously found and reported.
• He forces his way into a neighbor's apartment to escape the ghost but realizes the apartment is empty and unfinished, with signs of a makeshift altar.
• The ghost is trying to enter the apartment through the door.

Character Developments

• Zhou Run: Initially scared and desperate, he shows quick thinking and resourcefulness in trying to escape the ghost. However, he becomes increasingly terrified as the situation worsens.
• The Neighbor: Not physically present, but their actions (opening the door, preparing weapons) show they are aware of the ghost threat and are trying to protect their family.

Significant Themes

• Fear of the unknown and the supernatural.
• Trust and suspicion among neighbors in a world with Malevolent Ghosts.
• The desperate lengths people go to protect their families.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Run and The Neighbor: Zhou Run forces his way into the neighbor's apartment, initially causing tension. The neighbor is wary but doesn't attack, showing they understand the ghost threat. Zhou Run's gestures indicate the presence of a ghost, and the neighbor's actions suggest they comprehend the signal.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Niu Dagui, the security guard, falls asleep in the corridor and wakes up to find a vacant apartment door open on the 14th floor.
• He hears strange noises and runs away, encountering a Ghost Wall phenomenon where he keeps returning to the 14th floor.
• He encounters a female ghost, Jing'an, who was a resident who died recently, and she attacks him.
• He sees his colleague, Zhou Run, also as a ghost, before losing consciousness.

Character Developments

• Niu Dagui: Initially exhausted and careless, he becomes terrified and desperate as he encounters supernatural events.
• Jing'an (female ghost): She is revealed to be a resident who died recently and is now a vengeful spirit.
• Zhou Run (ghost): He is Niu Dagui's colleague who also becomes a ghost.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural events: The story explores the concept of ghosts and supernatural occurrences, with the Ghost Wall phenomenon and vengeful spirits being central to the plot.
• Fear and desperation: Niu Dagui's fear drives his actions, leading him to make desperate attempts to escape.

Character Interactions

• Niu Dagui interacts with the ghosts of Jing'an and Zhou Run, leading to his eventual demise.
• Old Man Sun, who is aware of the supernatural, is mentioned but does not directly interact with Niu Dagui or the ghosts.

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Qiao kills several artificial-looking monsters in a hotel. Their altered bodies and arrival through a mysterious corridor suggest that multiple factions are pursuing unnatural creation projects.
• Across Yuecheng, supernatural incidents multiply as casualties rise. The Investigation Bureau’s best personnel are concentrated in the Industrial Zone, leaving the rest of the city dangerously understaffed.
• Thousands of Awakened—including fifty-eight Third Order fighters—surround the Industrial Zone, ostensibly searching for something. Despite their numbers, they have not captured Zhu Shi, a lone Fourth Order man.
• Search teams repeatedly fail to notice Zhu Shi, though he is physically present. Jiang Qiao suspects his ability makes people overlook and forget him rather than rendering him invisible.
• Jiang Qiao also notices that a building previously damaged by artillery has been restored, then spots a large opening beneath it glowing dim red.
• Lin Rui learns that the Investigation Bureau’s unusual mobilization followed a secret letter delivered by a mysterious Capital City Awakened. The bureau has given its teams no clear target beyond reporting anything unusual.
• Lin Rui suspects the citywide outbreak is connected to the bureau’s deployment and that officials are concealing the real purpose of the operation.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Qiao displays overwhelming strength and sharp investigative instincts. Though he recognizes the monsters’ significance, their damaged minds offer few answers, and the hidden opening becomes his most alarming lead.
• Zhu Shi remains composed and seemingly untouchable, even as search teams enter the room with him. His perception-distorting ability makes him an elusive target.
• Lin Rui grows increasingly distrustful of the Investigation Bureau’s leadership. He challenges the operation’s logic and hints that Yuecheng’s bureau may resist being treated as someone else’s tool.
• Lin Rui’s assistant warns him to be cautious, while other mid- and senior-level officers share his unease.

Significant themes

• Concealment and manipulation: Zhu Shi escapes notice, and the Investigation Bureau withholds the purpose of its massive operation.
• Unnatural experimentation: Artificial Evolvers, artificial horrors, and assembled monsters point to a wider pattern of manufactured supernatural beings.
• Institutional failure and political distrust: The city suffers as officials concentrate forces on an unexplained search, provoking suspicion among their own personnel.
• Escalating supernatural danger: The restored building, red-lit opening, and spreading incidents suggest that the Industrial Zone’s threat is larger than the authorities admit.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yue City descends into chaos due to a sudden outbreak of Supernatural Events and the deployment of Awakeners elsewhere.
• A massive explosion in the Industrial Zone opens a Passage to the Supernatural World, allowing Malevolent Ghosts to descend upon the city.
• The Investigation Bureau Headquarters is attacked by the Mask Organization, leading to a fierce battle.
• An old man from the Investigation Bureau uses a powerful ability to defeat the Mask Organization, but is severely injured.
• The old man sends warnings about the supernatural descent to the Industrial Zone and the Capital City before being confronted by an unseen assailant.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao, a mysterious individual, observes the events from his room, showing interest in the mastermind behind the chaos.
• The old man from the Investigation Bureau demonstrates immense power but is gravely injured after using it.

Significant Themes

• The struggle against supernatural forces and their impact on human society.
• The power dynamics between different factions in the city, including the Investigation Bureau, the Mask Organization, and the mysterious mastermind.
• The consequences of keeping secrets and the importance of timely information sharing, as seen in the old man's attempt to warn others about the supernatural descent.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao observes the events but does not intervene, showing curiosity about the mastermind.
• The old man from the Investigation Bureau interacts with his colleagues, ordering them to send warnings about the supernatural descent.
• The old man confronts an unseen assailant, revealing the presence of another powerful force in the city.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A mysterious woman with only a shadow appears, seeking something from the Investigation Bureau.
• She effortlessly kills an Awakener using a bizarre, claw-like appendage.
• The man in the coat, an Awakener with a Rain Prayer Talisman carved into his bones, engages the woman.
• A fierce battle ensues, with the woman ultimately killing all the Awakeners present, including the man in the coat.
• Despite being seemingly defeated, the woman reappears as a young girl, revealing she was toying with them.

Character Developments

• The man in the coat shows bravery and determination, using his modified body to fight the woman, but ultimately succumbs to his injuries and the woman's power.
• The woman, initially presented as a shadow, reveals herself as a young girl with immense power and cunning, toying with her enemies.

Significant Themes

• Power and Weakness: The woman's power is shown to be far superior to the Awakeners, highlighting the theme of power dynamics and vulnerability.
• Deception: The woman's true form and intentions are hidden, emphasizing the theme of deception and the dangers of underestimating one's enemy.
• Sacrifice: The Awakeners sacrifice themselves to buy time and attempt to defeat the woman, demonstrating the theme of self-sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds.

Character Interactions

• The man in the coat and the woman engage in a tense standoff, with the man trying to protect his colleagues and the woman toying with her prey.
• The woman interacts with the Awakeners only to taunt and mock them, displaying her disdain for their strength and intelligence.
• The Awakeners, despite their fear and desperation, stand together against the woman, showing unity and camaraderie in the face of certain death.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yue City is under attack by malevolent ghosts, and the Investigation Bureau Headquarters has been infiltrated and robbed, including a crucial book.
• Lin Rui and other Awakened are withdrawing from the industrial zone, fighting through malevolent ghosts to establish a defensive perimeter in the city.
• Yue City is in chaos, with heavy casualties, looting, and rioting. Ghouls have been released in the western suburbs.

Character Developments

• Lin Rui shows leadership and strategic thinking, deciding to withdraw from the industrial zone to reinforce the city and delay the enemy.
• Duan Hong, another captain, demonstrates his practicality and resourcefulness in handling the crisis.

Significant Themes

• The power of unity and cooperation among Awakened in facing overwhelming odds.
• The importance of strategic retreat and regrouping to face a superior enemy.
• The desperate situation of Yue City under supernatural attack, highlighting the vulnerability of human society.

Character Interactions

• Lin Rui and Duan Hong work together, acknowledging each other's strengths and agreeing on a course of action.
• Lin Rui's assistant keeps him updated on the dire situation in Yue City.
• Lin Rui and Duan Hong decide to investigate the malfunctioning Mist Map at the Investigation Bureau together.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Rui and Duan Hong, top Awakened in Yue City, head towards the city center to investigate a Supernatural Space.
• They encounter and defeat numerous Malevolent Ghosts along the way, showcasing their unique abilities.
• Upon reaching the city center, they find a mysterious road leading to a bottomless corridor, indicating the presence of a Supernatural Space.

Character Developments

• Lin Rui: Demonstrates his ability to wield a rusty water pipe that bleeds Malevolent Ghosts on contact, revealing his close-quarters combat prowess.
• Duan Hong: Reveals his ability to carry a Malevolent Ghost on his back, which freezes the surrounding area and allows him to deliver powerful kicks, showcasing his versatility in combat.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of Supernatural Spaces.
• The strength and diversity of Awakened individuals.

Character Interactions

• Lin Rui and Duan Hong: They work together efficiently, admiring each other's abilities, and complement each other's fighting styles.
• Yang Xue and Steve: Yang Xue, a powerful and unpredictable Awakened, threatens and intimidates Steve, a member of the Witness Association, due to his inappropriate remarks, demonstrating her moody and volatile nature.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Steve, representing the Witness Association, meets Yang Xue to collect the Sacred Contract as per their agreement.
• Yang Xue, however, demands an additional drop of Divine Blood, reneging on their deal due to increased risks in Yue City.
• Steve reports this to his superiors, but before he can finish, he encounters Jiang Qiao, a mysterious young man who overheard his conversation about Divine Blood.
• Jiang Qiao reveals his presence, grabbing Steve and asking about Divine Blood.

Character Developments

• Yang Xue: She demonstrates cunning and ruthlessness by reneging on the deal and increasing her price, showing no fear of the Guangming Society or the Witness Association.
• Steve: He shows greed and desperation, trying to complete his mission despite the risks and changes in the deal. He also displays fear when encountering Jiang Qiao.
• Jiang Qiao: He is introduced as a mysterious, powerful figure who can conceal himself and control the environment around him. He shows calmness and curiosity in his encounter with Steve.

Significant Themes

• Greed and Power: Both Yang Xue and Steve are driven by greed for the Sacred Contract and Divine Blood, respectively. Yang Xue's actions also highlight the power dynamics between different factions.
• Risk and Consequences: The increased risks in Yue City lead Yang Xue to change the deal, showing that actions have consequences, and risks must be assessed carefully.

Character Interactions

• Yang Xue and Steve: Their interaction is tense and manipulative, with Yang Xue holding the upper hand due to her knowledge and control over the Sacred Contract.
• Steve and Jiang Qiao: Their encounter is brief but intense, with Jiang Qiao displaying superior power and control, leaving Steve terrified and unable to move.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao discovers a foreigner, Steve, in Yue City, who mentions "Divine Blood" in a phone conversation.
• Jiang Qiao approaches Steve, who claims to be a member of the Witness Association, seeking a powerful Awakener for cooperation.
• Steve reveals that he's in Yue City to negotiate with an Awakener named Yang Xue, who demands a second drop of Divine Blood after receiving one.
• Jiang Qiao learns that Yang Xue will meet Steve again the night after tomorrow to continue negotiations.
• Jiang Qiao kills Steve, stating that if Yang Xue will definitely come, then Steve can rest in peace.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his ability to understand foreign languages and his intimidating presence, which terrifies Steve.
• Steve shows his fear and desperation, trying to downplay the situation and recruit Jiang Qiao for the Witness Association.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between Awakeners and foreign organizations like the Witness Association.
• The allure and power of Divine Blood, shed by Deities.
• The potential threat and chaos that can be caused by the merging of worlds.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Steve: Jiang Qiao intimidates Steve, who tries to hide the truth and recruit Jiang Qiao for the Witness Association. Jiang Qiao ultimately kills Steve.
• Jiang Qiao and Yang Xue (implied): Jiang Qiao plans to meet Yang Xue the night after tomorrow to learn more about the situation in Yue City.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A county town appears in the sky above Yue City, descending towards the city.
• Malevolent Spirits invade Yue City, causing destruction.
• An expert from the Guangming Society, the Blue Star Representative, arrives in a dilapidated coffin, tearing through the red curtain sealing Yue City.
• The source of the Dead City emerges from a hidden alley, challenging the Blue Star Representative.

Character Developments

• The Blue Star Representative is introduced as a powerful Awakener, capable of forcefully entering Yue City and clashing with the source of the Dead City.
• Jiang Qiao recognizes the power of the Blue Star Representative and the source of the Dead City, understanding the danger levels of different supernatural entities.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between Awakeners and Malevolent Spirits for control over Yue City.
• The power dynamics between different supernatural entities, with the Blue Star Representative and the source of the Dead City being among the strongest encountered so far.
• The exploration of the Supernatural World's geography and hierarchy, with Dead Cities and major cities possessing significant power.

Character Interactions

• The glasses man and the silver-haired young woman discuss the Blue Star Representative's arrival and decide to leave Yue City to avoid the impending conflict.
• Jiang Qiao observes the Blue Star Representative's arrival and the subsequent clash with the source of the Dead City, recognizing the power dynamics at play.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Investigation Bureau Headquarters vanishes, leaving behind a smog and a mysterious corridor.
• Duan Hong and Lin Rui, familiar with the smog (a defensive facility), find the corridor unprecedented.
• They decide to investigate the corridor, fearing it's a Supernatural Space from the Weird World.
• A tattered coffin pierces the sky, revealing a top-tier Awakener (likely reinforcements from the Capital City).
• Malevolent Ghosts riot due to the Awakener's presence, forcing Duan Hong and Lin Rui into the corridor.
• Across the city, Awakeners are affected, and some die due to the Awakener's pressure.
• Yang Xue, unaffected, studies a Divine Blood sample in her possession.
• A man and woman, injured Awakeners, discover a Connecting Corridor and decide to hide inside.

Character Developments

• Duan Hong and Lin Rui show determination and quick decision-making, entering the corridor despite the risks.
• The Awakener from the Capital City demonstrates immense power, affecting all Awakeners in Yue City.
• Yang Xue remains unfazed by the Awakener's pressure, hinting at her exceptional strength or immunity.
• The injured Awakeners show resourcefulness, finding the Connecting Corridor to escape the chaos.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between Awakeners and the threat they pose to each other.
• The isolation and danger of Supernatural Spaces, represented by the Connecting Corridor.
• The vulnerability of Awakeners when their Weirdness is affected or dormant.

Character Interactions

• Duan Hong and Lin Rui work together, showing trust and understanding, entering the corridor as a team.
• The injured Awakeners (man and woman) support each other, demonstrating camaraderie and shared determination.
• Yang Xue's isolation is emphasized, as she doesn't interact with other characters in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Rui and Duan Hong enter a supernatural corridor, experiencing relief from its influence and a partial awakening of their Weirdness.
• The corridor appears clean and well-maintained, unlike typical supernatural spaces.
• They explore the corridor, finding a crossroads with an apartment corridor on the left, a hospital corridor on the right, and the original corridor straight ahead.
• An invisible malevolent ghost appears, later revealed to be an upside-down ghost.
• Funeral music plays from the apartment corridor, and bloody footprints appear in the corridor behind them, indicating the presence of more malevolent ghosts.
• Lin Rui and Duan Hong rush into the hospital corridor to escape.

Character Developments

• Lin Rui demonstrates his strategic thinking and decisiveness in handling the situation.
• Duan Hong shows apprehension towards the supernatural spaces and prefers caution.

Significant Themes

• The unpredictable and dangerous nature of supernatural spaces.
• The contrast between the clean, well-maintained corridor and typical supernatural spaces.
• The potential danger of both known and unknown malevolent ghosts.

Character Interactions

• Lin Rui and Duan Hong work together, with Lin Rui taking the lead in decision-making and Duan Hong providing input and support.
• They communicate effectively, sharing observations and plans.
• Their bond is evident as they prioritize each other's safety, with Lin Rui pulling Duan Hong to safety when malevolent ghosts approach.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Rui and Duan Hong, two Awakened, enter a strange corridor in Yue City Hospital.
• They encounter two officials from the Yue City Investigation Bureau who suddenly run away, likely due to an illusion.
• Lin Rui and Duan Hong enter a ward and discuss a past haunting incident in the Forensic Office.
• They see an operating room at the end of the corridor, but their perceptions differ due to Supernatural influence.
• Lin Rui is suddenly incapacitated and finds himself on an operating table, with medical staff preparing to perform surgery on him without his consent.

Character Developments

• Lin Rui: Shows knowledge about past Supernatural Events and appears calm under pressure. He becomes the victim of a mysterious surgical procedure.
• Duan Hong: Less familiar with city-based Supernatural Events, he relies on Lin Rui for information. He seems to be more affected by the corridor's illusions.

Significant Themes

• Illusion vs. Reality: The corridor distorts the characters' perceptions, making them see different things and affecting their judgment.
• Trust and Betrayal: The officials from the Investigation Bureau run away without explanation, breaking trust. Lin Rui is betrayed by the medical staff who intend to operate on him without consent.
• Supernatural Influence: The hospital corridor's Supernatural influence causes confusion and danger for the characters.

Character Interactions

• Lin Rui and Duan Hong: They work together, sharing information and trying to understand the situation. Their different perceptions of the operating room highlight the corridor's illusory nature.
• Lin Rui and the Medical Staff: The staff's deceitful behavior towards Lin Rui creates a tense and threatening dynamic.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Duan Hong wakes up in an ICU, surrounded by medical equipment.
• He realizes he might be trapped in a Weird Tale, a type of supernatural entity that operates based on rules and cannot be killed or defended against.
• He remembers previous Weird Tale incidents in Yue City and tries to find a way to escape his current predicament.
• Duan Hong senses his body improving and decides to wait a quarter of an hour to summon the female ghost for help.
• He feels something is amiss with his body but can't pinpoint the issue.

Character Developments

• Duan Hong demonstrates his knowledge of Weird Tales and his ability to analyze his situation calmly.
• He shows concern for Lin Rui's safety and considers his own condition carefully.

Significant Themes

• The danger and unpredictability of Weird Tales.
• The importance of knowledge and experience in dealing with supernatural threats.
• The struggle between human curiosity and self-preservation.

Character Interactions

• Duan Hong interacts with a nurse, but he suspects she might not be human due to her unnatural behavior.
• Duan Hong's thoughts reveal his concern for Lin Rui, suggesting a potential bond between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Two mysterious figures discuss the impending Dead City threat and the involvement of the Green Lotus Sect.
• The cloaked man learns about the connection between the Green Lotus Sect, Lingyu Village (002), and Sushan, causing him distress.
• A Dead City descends upon Earth, with a malevolent figure emerging within it.
• The city is surrounded by giant, malevolent eyes in the sky.

Character Developments

• The cloaked man (Old Citizen) shows concern for the impending Dead City threat and becomes unsettled upon learning about the Green Lotus Sect's secrets.
• The black shadow (Green Lotus Sect) remains calm and composed, revealing minimal information about the Green Lotus Sect's involvement in past events.

Significant Themes

• The Green Lotus Sect's neutrality and mysterious involvement in past events.
• The Old Citizens' and Guangming Society's conflict and the hidden information about Earth.
• The descent of Dead Cities and the threat they pose to Earth.

Character Interactions

• The cloaked man and the black shadow engage in a secret conversation, revealing crucial information to each other.
• The cloaked man becomes disturbed upon learning about the Green Lotus Sect's connection to Lingyu Village and Sushan.
• The black shadow remains indifferent to the cloaked man's distress, focusing on the immediate threat of the Dead City.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A broken coffin, piloted by an unseen expert, faces a Supernatural Attack from hundreds of malevolent ghosts.
• The coffin, despite being damaged, charges towards the Dead City, where an old man awaits.
• The coffin's collision with the Dead City causes massive destruction, and strange sounds emanate from within.

Character Developments

• Mr. Qing, the pilot of the coffin, demonstrates immense strength, likely at the peak of the Seventh Tier.
• The old man in the Dead City remains unscathed after the collision, hinting at his powerful abilities.

Significant Themes

• The power of Supernatural Items, like the coffin, is showcased.
• The destructive force of negative emotions (despair, resentment, hatred) is illustrated through the malevolent ghosts' curses.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao observes the battle, noting the coffin's significance and remarking on its remarkable nature.
• The Cloaked Man and the Shadow Figure discuss Mr. Qing's strength and his potential to reach the Eighth Tier. They also briefly mention a highly anticipated figure from the Old Citizens.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A terrifying supernatural collision causes illusions and chaos in Yue City.
• Residents face illusions of Paper Figures, graveyards, and giant coffins, leading many to their deaths as they're pulled into the Ghost Domain.
• Jiang Qiao observes the battle overhead and discusses the Guangming Society's strength with a passerby.
• Jiang Qiao encounters an Awakened old woman disguised as a young girl, whom he suspects is the powerful Awakened the foreigner mentioned.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his "Dual Pupils" ability, allowing him to see through illusions and the old woman's true form.
• The old woman shows apprehension towards Jiang Qiao, indicating she's aware of his unusual abilities.

Significant Themes

• The power of illusions and their impact on the psyche.
• The unpredictability of the supernatural world and its inhabitants.
• The consequences of hiding one's true form and intentions.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with a passerby, discussing the battle and the Guangming Society's strength.
• Jiang Qiao encounters the old woman, leading to a tense exchange due to her unusual appearance and his blunt comments.

Key plot points and events

• An elderly woman tries to leave after arguing with Jiang Qiao, but he stops her and asks about the crisis in Yue City and the Guangming Society.
• She identifies the powerful figure fighting above them as Mr. Qing, a Guangming Society expert who may reach the Eighth Tier. The Society has several Seventh Tier Peak experts, but she knows of no one like him.
• She suspects the Old Citizens arranged the Yue City incident to draw Mr. Qing away and enable some unknown operation in Capital City.
• The woman explains that the Guangming Society and the Old Citizens began as parts of one organization, founded before the Great Cataclysm to protect humanity. Some members went underground and established settlements; others stayed on the surface to monitor events.
• The surface group eventually became the Guangming Society. Seeking a new world, it concealed its discovery of Blue Star and allied with powerful Evil Spirits. Its betrayal devastated the underground settlements.
• Survivors from those settlements formed the Old Citizens to fight the Society. Jiang Qiao connects this history to Ancient Well Village, which he previously visited.
• Jiang Qiao wonders who created the Survivor System. Its panel has gone gray since he returned to Blue Star, and its connection to the Simulator unsettles him.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Qiao remains confident and inquisitive, openly admitting what he does not know. He shares his experience in the underworld and Ancient Well Village, while trying to connect the woman’s account to what he has learned before.
• The Old Woman begins hostile and wary, but chooses not to fight Jiang Qiao, sensing danger in him. As she recognizes that he is genuinely young and learns of his unusual travels, her suspicion shifts toward curiosity.
• Their conversation is guarded but increasingly informative: she answers his questions while withholding what she does not know, and Jiang Qiao’s knowledge of the Nether Sea surprises her.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and fractured loyalties: A group founded to preserve humanity split into factions, and the Guangming Society’s choices led to the destruction of underground communities.
• Hidden history and uncertain motives: The Yue City attack’s purpose remains unclear, as do the Old Citizens’ plans for Capital City.
• Knowledge and power: Jiang Qiao’s strength contrasts with his lack of knowledge, while his unusual experiences suggest a larger mystery surrounding him.
• Unseen forces: The disabled Survivor System and its apparent link to the Simulator raise questions about powers that may exceed even those of Deities.