Chapter Summaries

Lin Shuang and March 7th bonded while sharing Xianzhou snacks, and March asked to take a photo together. After Lin Shuang told her about awakening alone on a ruined planet, March’s affection for her rose sharply, while March reflected on how differently they had begun their lives aboard the Express.

• Himeko decided the Express would ask Stelle whether she wanted to join once she woke up.
• March 7th objected to Lin Shuang naming the Doomsday Beast Mount No. 2, and Lin Shuang named it Benares, or Bella for short.
• Welt excused himself to thank Asta, while Dan Heng and Himeko went to rest and Lin Shuang stayed beside Stelle with March 7th.
• Lin Shuang gave March 7th Qiongshi Bird Skewers, and they joked about whether the fruit counted as meat or vegetarian food.
• March 7th asked Lin Shuang to take a photo together and heard her story about awakening on a devastated planet.
• March 7th’s affection for Lin Shuang reached 72 as she compared Lin Shuang’s lonely beginning with her own life aboard the Express.

Lin Shuang exchanged contact details with March 7th after seeing the photos March had taken of her, then met Ms. Herta, who became interested in studying her and Stelle. Ms. Herta asked Lin Shuang to name her conditions, leaving the request open to negotiation.

• March 7th showed Lin Shuang the photos she had taken of her and offered to send them later, and they exchanged contact details.
• Ms. Herta arrived at the Space Station and March 7th introduced her as its owner and a member of the Genius Society.
• Ms. Herta said Lin Shuang's Heliobus abilities and Stelle's stable condition with a Stellaron interested her, and she wanted to examine Stelle after she woke up.
• Ms. Herta examined Lin Shuang and asked whether she would let her conduct a study, offering to accommodate her conditions.

Lin Shuang accepted Herta’s offer of compensation and asked for a Herta Puppet, then received a Green Draw after confirming her bond with March 7th. The chapter left Lin Shuang with a new photograph-based memory skill and the puppet stored away for later.

• Lin Shuang asked Herta for her puppet, and Herta agreed before logging out and summoning Lin Shuang and the Stellaron brat to her office.
• Lin Shuang put the Herta Puppet in her storage space while March 7th went off to have fun and Stelle remained asleep.
• Lin Shuang checked March 7th, Himeko, and Stelle’s updated affection information, then teased Stelle by pinching her cheeks.
• Lin Shuang used her Green Draw and obtained Memories of a Photograph, a skill that let her witness fragments of events captured in photographs.

Lin Shuang talked with Firefly while waiting for Stelle to wake, then explained Stelle’s situation and urged her to consider joining the Star Rail Express. Stelle asked Lin Shuang to take her in, but Lin Shuang recommended she speak with Himeko instead.

• Firefly checked on Lin Shuang and chatted about her daily life, desserts, and plans for their next date.
• Stelle woke up, and Lin Shuang told her the Space Station crisis was over before offering to take her to Himeko.
• As they walked, Lin Shuang explained the Stellaron inside Stelle, Herta’s situation, and that Kafka would come looking for her later.
• Stelle asked which faction Lin Shuang belonged to, and Lin Shuang said she was a lone wanderer on good terms with the Xianzhou.
• Stelle asked Lin Shuang to take her in, but Lin Shuang recommended that she join the Star Rail Express and discuss it with Himeko.

Herta invited Stelle and Lin Shuang to test the Simulated Universe after discovering Lin Shuang’s unusual combination of The Permanence and Nihility powers. Lin Shuang entered the simulation separately from Stelle and appeared with dragon horns and a fiery tail, resembling a Sushang.

• Himeko invited Stelle to join the Star Rail Express, and Stelle accepted while planning to visit Herta’s research project.
• Herta scanned Lin Shuang and discovered she had used Nihility to refine The Permanence while carrying the power of a Great Heliobus and a Destruction Emanator.
• Herta became absorbed in updating her Aeon research project, then invited Stelle and Lin Shuang to test the Simulated Universe.
• Lin Shuang entered the simulation alone and found herself in a Space Station compartment with dragon horns and a fiery tail.
• Lin Shuang asked Herta why the simulation had made her look like a Sushang.

Lin Shuang tested the Path of The Permanence in Herta’s Simulated Universe, where Aha transformed her into The Permanence and gave Herta unexpected research data. After Lin Shuang returned to Herta’s office, Herta told her that her payment was ready and sent her to a nearby compartment to collect it.

• Lin Shuang fought Anti-Matter Legion enemies so Herta could gather data on The Permanence.
• Aha appeared in the simulation and transformed Lin Shuang into an enormous dragon-like version of The Permanence that became an egg.
• Lin Shuang returned to the Space Station and told Herta about her experience, including her sense of evolution and ascension.
• Herta ended the test, noted that Lin Shuang’s power had grown, and renamed the project the Simulated Universe.
• Herta told Lin Shuang that her payment was ready and directed her to a compartment near the elevator in the Storage Zone.

Lin Shuang collected a Light Cone containing a distorted image of The Permanence, then visited the Astral Express and learned Stelle had an answer about finding help with folded-space equipment. The train departed, while Herta asked to borrow Bella for research and invited Lin Shuang to test the Simulated Universe update.

• Lin Shuang found Herta’s Light Cone and felt its power strengthen her.
• Silver Wolf offered to make an AI for Herta’s puppet, but Lin Shuang said she would try her own method first.
• March 7th took Lin Shuang aboard the Astral Express, where she met Paimon and later reunited with Stelle.
• Lin Shuang considered seeking help from the Xianzhou for custom folded-space equipment after Asta said the Space Station researcher could not assist.
• Asta and a Herta Puppet joined Lin Shuang to see the Astral Express off, and March 7th asked Lin Shuang to take her to the Xianzhou.
• Herta asked Lin Shuang to lend Bella for research and told her to test the Simulated Universe update when it was ready.

Lin Shuang tried to activate her Riding Skill on Herta’s Puppet by treating it as a mount, then used Silver Wolf’s stickers to control the puppet with voice commands. When the stickers blocked the puppet’s tracking signal, Herta noticed and decided to hack in to see what Lin Shuang was doing.

• Asta told Lin Shuang that Bella and Mount No. 1 had received permits to land on Azur Star, and Lin Shuang flew home on Bella while leaving Mount No. 1 with the Security Department.
• At home, Lin Shuang examined Herta’s Puppet and tried to convince herself that it counted as a rideable mount so she could use her Riding Skill to control it.
• After the skill failed to activate, Lin Shuang placed Silver Wolf’s signal-blocking and control stickers on the puppet, which opened its eyes and addressed her as Mistress Lin Shuang.
• Lin Shuang gave the puppet commands, then abandoned her initial plan and had it squat on the floor instead.
• Herta noticed that the puppet’s tracking signal had vanished and decided to hack into it to find out what Lin Shuang had done.

Lin Shuang used the Herta Puppet as a mount, gained direct control over it, and held a wedding ceremony with it to earn a reward. Her green pull unexpectedly became a gold pull, granting her Light Cone Imprint Technology as she wondered what its special effect meant.

• Lin Shuang infused the Herta Puppet with her power and gained the ability to control its movements by thought.
• Lin Shuang dressed herself and the Herta Puppet in matching ceremonial clothes and married the puppet in a simplified Azur Star ceremony.
• Herta reconnected to the puppet's view, watched the ceremony, and found Lin Shuang's behavior bizarre.
• Lin Shuang received one green pull for the ceremony, but its light turned gold when she used it.
• Lin Shuang gained Light Cone Imprint Technology, whose special effect let her extract memories from Light Cones, and questioned why she would need to do so.

Lin Shuang used a Light Cone to capture a clear memory of the Ouroboros Dragon and upgraded the Light Cone, drawing Herta’s attention to her unusual abilities. After questioning Lin Shuang, Herta asked to conduct more research on her.

• Lin Shuang used [Memories of a Photograph] to witness the Ouroboros Dragon and preserve its image in her memory.
• Lin Shuang reimprinted the memory into the Light Cone, making it much more powerful and increasing her power of Permanence.
• Herta became more interested in Lin Shuang and connected to the Herta Puppet in Lin Shuang’s room to demand an explanation.
• Lin Shuang described some of her memory-manipulation abilities while deflecting Herta’s questions about the puppet.
• Herta, unable to investigate Lin Shuang immediately because of Simulated Universe updates, asked to begin more research projects on her.

Lin Shuang told Acheron about the Space Station incident, the Herta Puppet, and the Light Cone depicting The Permanence. Acheron realized Lin Shuang had attracted Aha’s attention and pinned her down to punish her, but Lin Shuang fought back by tickling her waist.

• Herta agreed to study Lin Shuang during a future Simulated Universe test, and Lin Shuang demanded extra payment.
• Lin Shuang called Acheron back and told her that Kafka had placed the Space Station’s Stellaron inside Stelle.
• Acheron noticed the Herta Puppet’s unusual eyes and asked whether Lin Shuang had performed a Ritual with it.
• Lin Shuang showed Acheron the Light Cone of The Permanence and explained how she had obtained and strengthened it.
• Acheron scolded Lin Shuang for attracting the attention of the Aeon of Elation, then pinned and pinched her.
• Lin Shuang tried to fend off Acheron by pressing her hands against Acheron’s waist and lower abdomen.

Lin Shuang visited the Crafting Division to ask Master Gongshu to build a portable folded space for Bella, but her initial dimensions proved impractical. She noticed a custom Emperor's Jade table and tiles that appeared to be Qingque's commission, leaving Master Gongshu flustered.

• Lin Shuang returned to the Xianzhou with Bella and went to the Crafting Division, where she unexpectedly met Qingque and Master Gongshu.
• Qingque claimed she had come to commission a new tile table and eagerly asked Lin Shuang what she needed.
• Lin Shuang asked Master Gongshu to make a portable cavern large enough to house Bella, a Doomsday Beast, and he rejected her kilometer-wide design as impractical.
• Lin Shuang explained that she had taken the Doomsday Beast from an Anti-Matter Legion force at Herta Space Station, startling Qingque and Master Gongshu.
• Lin Shuang and Master Gongshu discussed a smaller preliminary design while Qingque left to buy Immortal's Joy Tea.
• Lin Shuang spotted a custom Emperor's Jade table and tiles in the workshop, and Master Gongshu realized he had forgotten they were there.

Lin Shuang spent the day playing Emperor’s Jade with Qingque, then invited Silver Wolf to game with her, only for Firefly to take Silver Wolf’s place. Silver Wolf sent Firefly through a portal to Lin Shuang’s home, left feeling like a stand-in, and returned to her game distracted.

• Qingque gave Lin Shuang a custom Emperor’s Jade table and tiles designed for remote play, and Lin Shuang thanked her for remembering she had lacked someone to play with.
• Qingque dragged Lin Shuang out to play tiles, while Master Gongshu kept the unfinished table for two more days of work.
• That evening, Lin Shuang asked Silver Wolf to come play games, but Silver Wolf said she was busy grinding rankings.
• Firefly messaged Lin Shuang using Silver Wolf’s phone and accepted Lin Shuang’s invitation to come play instead.
• Silver Wolf wondered if she had become a stand-in, sent Firefly through a portal, and resumed gaming with her attention divided.

Firefly visited Lin Shuang to play games and showed how much she was enjoying her new, ordinary life. After they cleared a stage together, Firefly mistakenly interlaced their fingers instead of giving Lin Shuang a high five, then blushed and corrected the gesture.

• Firefly brought a game console and told Lin Shuang that Kafka had given her clothes and accessories.
• Lin Shuang praised Firefly and encouraged her to keep shining as herself.
• Firefly and Lin Shuang played co-op games, and Firefly's efficient, focused side emerged as they completed objectives together.
• After they cleared a stage without losing a life, Lin Shuang offered Firefly a high five, but Firefly clasped her hand with their fingers interlocked.
• Lin Shuang gently explained what she meant, and Firefly blushed, apologized, and gave her a proper high five.

Lin Shuang invited Firefly to stay over, and Firefly eagerly tried ordinary experiences she had never been able to enjoy, including bathing and washing her hair. While they washed up together, Firefly told Lin Shuang about the ribbon she had kept since her days in the Glamoth Iron Cavalry.

• Lin Shuang invited Firefly to stay the night, and Firefly accepted, asking to try taking a bath.
• Firefly explained that Sam's built-in systems had always cleaned her, and Lin Shuang gave her pajamas before agreeing to bathe together.
• Firefly removed her ribbon and told Lin Shuang how she had received it while serving in a Glamoth Iron Cavalry unit.
• Firefly explained that she still preferred the original ribbon, though Kafka had helped her make spares.
• Lin Shuang showed Firefly which shampoo to use and washed her hair, while Firefly enjoyed the scent and the new experience.

Lin Shuang and Firefly planned a seaside vacation together, and Firefly promised to wake her in time to watch the sunrise. That night, Firefly woke hours before dawn and quietly watched Lin Shuang sleep.

• Firefly told Lin Shuang about a planet with island vacations and beautiful sunrises, then asked to travel there by spaceship.
• Lin Shuang agreed to let Firefly arrange their date and said she would try to wake up for the sunrise.
• Firefly told Lin Shuang she slept little because she had been born unable to dream and liked watching sunrises.
• Lin Shuang took Firefly to the guest bedroom, where they fell asleep quickly.
• Firefly woke two hours before sunrise, watched Lin Shuang sleep, and gently touched her cheek.

Firefly left Lin Shuang a note after quietly returning home, then told her about the Watchmaker’s Invitation to search for the Clockmaker’s Legacy and invited her to Penacony. Lin Shuang accepted, and she and Acheron discussed the trip, their suspicions about Penacony, and a possible seaside vacation together.

• Firefly secretly photographed Lin Shuang sleeping, changed back into her own clothes, left a thank-you note, and returned home.
• Lin Shuang found Firefly’s note and received a message explaining that Firefly had her Invitation to the Charmony Festival and had learned of a special Invitation issued in the Watchmaker’s name.
• Firefly told Lin Shuang that factions were being invited to search for the Clockmaker’s Legacy and asked whether she would accompany her to Penacony; Lin Shuang agreed.
• Lin Shuang invited Acheron to join them, but Acheron declined so she could enter Penacony separately as a Galaxy Ranger and remain in the shadows.
• Lin Shuang and Acheron speculated that the Star Rail Express and the Nameless might be central to Penacony’s coming events.
• Lin Shuang suggested a seaside vacation and asked whether Acheron liked the ocean; Acheron agreed and revealed that she had made stickers of Lin Shuang.

Lin Shuang joked with Acheron and caught up with March 7th and Stelle about the Astral Express Crew’s progress on Jarilo-VI and their future trip to Penacony. After collecting a Mahjong Table from the Luofu, she met Danshu, who explained why she had not been taken into custody after the battle at Changle Heaven.

• Acheron teased Lin Shuang with a crying sticker, and Lin Shuang sent back stickers of Acheron looking spaced out and aggrieved.
• March 7th accused Lin Shuang of predicting the crew’s misadventures, then learned from Lin Shuang that the Astral Express had been invited to Penacony’s Charmony Festival.
• Stelle told Lin Shuang she had picked up a Praise of High Morals and asked to ride Bella as a dragon knight when they met.
• Lin Shuang collected the Mahjong Table from the Luofu’s Crafting Division and learned that her Poké Ball would take a few more days to finish.
• Danshu met Lin Shuang at the Alchemy Commission and said Jing Yuan and the Grand Tutor had shackled her instead of sending her to the Ten Lords’ Court after the battle at Changle Heaven.

Lin Shuang learned that Danshu expected Phantylia to revive Jianmu with the Stellaron and agreed to witness what followed. Later, Kafka visited Lin Shuang and told her their custom-made clothes were ready and it was time to register their marriage.

• Danshu explained that Jing Yuan had agreed to her plan to lure Phantylia, though she had concealed that Phantylia intended to use the Stellaron to revive Jianmu.
• Danshu invited Lin Shuang to be present when Jianmu revived, and Lin Shuang agreed.
• Danshu gave Lin Shuang her favorite tea leaves and left, expressing that she no longer expected to win justice for people with heavenly defects.
• Kafka visited Lin Shuang in the courtyard and admired Bella, the tamed Doomsday Beast.
• Kafka told Lin Shuang their custom-made clothes were ready and invited her to go out before registering their marriage.

Lin Shuang and Kafka chose formal outfits, registered their marriage, and exchanged matching crystal necklaces. Kafka put Lin Shuang’s necklace on her and teased her about blushing, then decided its purple color did not suit Lin Shuang’s white hair.

• Lin Shuang and Kafka returned to the clothing store and tried on their formal outfits.
• Kafka asked Lin Shuang to put on her earrings, then offered to replace the Ring she had given her; Lin Shuang kept it because it was Kafka’s first gift to her.
• Kafka took Lin Shuang to register their marriage, using her Word Spirit to make the paperwork proceed smoothly.
• Lin Shuang checked Kafka’s updated status, then gave her a matching pair of crystal necklaces as a wedding gift.
• Kafka put Lin Shuang’s necklace on her and teased her for blushing before deciding the purple crystal did not suit her white hair.