Chapter Summary: “Mastered; Bai Zhou, Breaks Through!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Zhou reaches Level 3 Extraordinary, gaining the ability to control and release Qi. He reflects on Qi as the refined energy produced by the body and emotions, comparing Eastern internal cultivation with Western ritual-based applications.
• He learns that Van Gogh’s technique, Starry Night, is essentially Qi infused with Spirituality, while his own newly learned secret technique can amplify his strength by 1.5 times from the moment he begins using it.
• Bai Zhou spends nearly ten hours studying the carvings in the secret chamber. Despite having only a short time left before his deadline, he rapidly masters the remaining techniques with help from the lingering wills of the dead geniuses.
• He finally understands that the First Three Forms of Basic Nine Slashes are actually one unified technique. His bottleneck breaks, and he fully masters the secret art, reaching the peak of Level 3 Adventurer strength.
• Using a special breathing rhythm, Bai Zhou accumulates and then releases his Saber Qi in one overwhelming attack. The slash combines multiple layers of power and destroys the previously indestructible wall, allowing him to escape the chamber.
• On the surface, Major is reprimanded by his “Elder Brother” for interfering in the attempt to kill Bai Zhou. His actions indirectly caused Level 5 Extraordinary Feng Xingyuan to be killed by Gem Witch.
• Major is ordered to stop interfering with Bai Zhou and focus on managing the Special Management Department’s Supervision Team. However, he decides to accelerate a dangerous secret plan connected to the Reflection Ruins Realm and Yuanmeng Middle School.
• Major’s divided reflection reveals his strange dual nature: one half appears demonic and masculine, while the other appears divine and feminine. Though the feminine side claims he is uneasy, Major insists that he is merely excited about his impending plan.
• Gem Witch arrives boasting that she killed Feng Xingyuan, unknowingly revealing to Major that she was responsible for the failure that led to his punishment. She also complains that the reward for killing another wanted criminal is inadequate.

Character Developments

• Bai Zhou: Undergoes a major breakthrough, advancing from Level 2 to Level 3 and mastering a powerful Qi-based saber technique. He becomes far more confident and capable, though he recognizes that he may still be vulnerable against stronger Level 4 opponents.
• Major: Shifts from dismissing Bai Zhou as an insignificant nuisance to acknowledging him as a dangerous and talented Ritualist. Despite being reprimanded, Major remains ambitious and begins preparing to advance his mysterious plan, revealing growing anxiety over events escaping his control.
• Elder Brother: Establishes authority over Major and takes personal responsibility for dealing with Bai Zhou. He views Bai Zhou’s ritual abilities as manageable because Purple Thorn Group possesses superior resources and Ritual Masters.
• Gem Witch: Is revealed to have killed Feng Xingyuan, a Level 5 Extraordinary, while remaining unaware of the political consequences of her actions. Her practical concern is the poor reward offered for her achievements.
• The Last Wills and Withered Bones: Act as silent mentors and supporters of Bai Zhou, entrusting him with the hope of breaking the wall and completing the purpose for which they endured.

Significant Themes

• Qi as the unity of body and emotion: The chapter presents Qi as life energy formed through the interaction of physical vitality and emotional force. Extraordinary power requires both a strong body and a disciplined heart.
• Transformation through perseverance: Bai Zhou’s success comes from relentless practice, insight, and refusing to give up despite the time limit.
• Inheritance and responsibility: By breaking the wall, Bai Zhou fulfills the hopes of the ancient dead whose wills guided him. Their unfinished aspirations are transferred to him.
• Power versus technique: Major believes Bai Zhou’s greatest weakness is his insufficient personal strength, suggesting that ritual talent alone cannot replace direct power. Bai Zhou’s breakthrough begins to close that gap.
• Loss of control and uncertainty: Major’s fear stems from events developing earlier and differently than expected. His desire to control fate contrasts with Bai Zhou’s willingness to adapt through effort.
• Duality: Major’s demon-god reflection symbolizes conflicting emotions and identities—rage and calm, male and female, destruction and compassion.

Character Interactions

• Bai Zhou mentally responds to the Last Wills, treating their guidance and silent encouragement as a form of companionship. His final nod acknowledges the responsibility they have placed upon him.
• Elder Brother harshly confronts Major, blaming him for Feng Xingyuan’s death and ordering him to withdraw from the Bai Zhou matter.
• Major internally reassesses Bai Zhou, recognizing that his ritual abilities make him important but believing his weak physical strength remains exploitable.
• Gem Witch enthusiastically speaks with Major about rewards for captured criminals and casually reveals that she killed Feng Xingyuan, leaving Major stunned and resentful.
• The chapter concludes with Bai Zhou’s triumphant saber strike collapsing the wall, marking both his literal escape and his advancement into a new stage of power.

Summary: “Now That You Have Seen the Great Sacrifice, Why Do You Not Kneel?”

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• Bai Zhou completes the Elite Assessment in the Divine Hall after mastering the Basic Nine Slashes, whose triple-layered technique creates 27 layers of follow-up force and a 4.5x power multiplier.
• He breaks the hall’s record for the first three forms of the technique.
• The mechanical voice acknowledges his talent and grants him passage through a newly opened, winding corridor to claim his reward.
• Along the corridor, sapphires light up and reveal murals depicting an ancient civilization: gods descending, granting gifts (guidance, magic, agriculture, warfare), and humanity eventually flourishing.
• Bai Zhou hears a strange, sacred, sorrowful hymn. He initially suspects the murals, but realizes the singing comes from ahead.
• He reaches a circular plaza with a ruined altar and statues of the gods.
• Looking up, he sees an enormous withered hand, and then a giant eye—a monstrous creature is clinging to the skylight, spying on him. The beautiful hymn was actually its song.
• Bai Zhou is paralyzed by terror and barely regains control with his [Soothing] skill.
• The mechanical voice announces: “Since you have beheld the Great Sacrifice—why do you not kneel?” The chapter ends there.

2. Character Developments

• Bai Zhou’s growth: He transitions from a weak fugitive to a genuinely dangerous adventurer, now able to fight top-tier enemies head-on. His confidence grows, but he remains cautious and humble.
• Gratitude: He thanks the Last Wills and Withered Bones who helped him, acknowledging that he stands on the shoulders of “giants.”
• Self-awareness: He views his achievement not as pure personal talent, but as stitching together forgotten fragments left by others.
• Caution under pressure: Despite his power, he is still vulnerable—facing the giant monster reminds him of childhood terror and the limits of his courage.

3. Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and legacy: The fallen adventurers’ Last Wills and bones contributed to Bai Zhou’s success; their “sacrifice” becomes the foundation of his power.
• Adventure vs. unknown horror: The expected reward is subverted by a monstrous presence. The “divine” hymn becomes a siren’s lure.
• Humanity and civilization: The murals show gods seeding civilization, but humanity ultimately builds its own flourishing world.
• Pride before the fall / humility: Bai Zhou keeps his pride in check, but the final line challenges whether he has fully understood what he’s dealing with.
• The thin line between hunter and prey: Bai Zhou earlier felt like a hunter; the monstrous eye reminds him he can still be prey.

4. Character Interactions

• Bai Zhou & the Last Wills/Withered Bones: He bows and thanks them silently; they seem to watch him leave, then the passage seals behind him.
• Bai Zhou & the Mechanical Voice: It guides, praises, and eventually questions him: “Why do you not kneel?”—suggesting it may have its own expectations or agenda.
• Bai Zhou & the Giant Creature: A non-verbal, terrifying confrontation. The creature’s eye meets his gaze, and its song is revealed as monstrous. Bai Zhou nearly loses his mind before recovering.
• Bai Zhou & the Murals/Deities: Indirect interaction—he reads their history and feels emotional weight, but also suspicion and confusion.

In short: Bai Zhou wins a major trial, grows in power and confidence, and is rewarded with knowledge—but the prize at the end is not what he expected. He instead encounters a terrifying, godlike monster and a challenge that may demand something deeper than strength: reverence.

Summary of the Chapter

Key Plot Points & Events

• Bai Zhou completes the Elite Assessment within the sealed Divine Hall. A blackstone floor opens and a battered, wolf-headed brass statue rises—so lifelike it radiates a bloody, murderous aura.
• The exit passage seals itself, forcing Bai Zhou to accept his rewards whether he wants to or not.
• The statue reveals rewards:
  1. A Stone Book that directly transfers Common Language mastery into Bai Zhou’s mind.
  2. A second Stone Book containing the Middle Three Forms of Basic Nine Slashes—far more complex than the first three, potentially pushing Bai Zhou to Level 4 peak or even Level 5.
  3. Three Burst Potions, which temporarily amplify the multiplier of Basic Nine Slashes and remain effective even at higher multipliers.
  4. A black token that merges with his golden Adventurer Token into a Black-Gold Token, granting free passage through Sky City’s access restrictions.
• After the standard rewards, the statue offers Bai Zhou a new choice because he is the record-breaking pilgrim: join the Sun Temple as a grassroots Flame Servant by passing the Hall Entry Assessment.
• The assessment is described as deadly, with no protection, and the statue twice warns Bai Zhou to reconsider—possibly never to return.
• While examining the statue, Bai Zhou spots faint crimson writing behind it: a “Last Will” full of resentment and killing intent—calling for revenge and for the Heart’s Blood of Roman Royalty to water the statue’s broken remains.
• In response to this discovery, the crimson droplets in Bai Zhou’s chest (the solidified “Golden Beans”) suddenly heat up and vibrate.

Character Developments

• Bai Zhou: Pragmatic, cautious, initially tries to run when danger appears, but greed and curiosity win. He shows clear ambition, mentally calculating how to obtain the Last Three Forms, and carefully studies the rewards. His survival instincts and desire for power are on full display.
• The Wolf Knight Statue: Not a purely mechanical relic—it appears to be a deceased being who died with the temple, carrying immense resentment. Though sorrowful, it acts as a dutiful guardian, issuing warnings but ultimately respecting Bai Zhou’s choice.

Character Interactions

• The statue speaks with cold mechanical tones, refers to Bai Zhou as “Pilgrim,” and answers his questions about the Burst Potions and the token.
• Bai Zhou repeatedly hesitates, asks questions, and cautiously inspects the statue and rewards, never fully trusting the situation.
• The statue’s repeated warnings create an ominous tension, but Bai Zhou’s internal monologue reveals he has already decided to accept the assessment before even hearing the details.

Significant Themes

• Civilization’s Ruin & Lost Glory: The temple’s technology (direct knowledge infusion, potions, sealed assessments) hints at a once-mighty civilization now reduced to ruins.
• Temptation vs. Danger: Every reward is linked to greater risk; the “break rank” opportunity is framed as both a gift and a death sentence.
• Ambition & Desperation: Bai Zhou is willing to take extreme risks to rise in power, especially with enemies surrounding Tinghai City.
• Revenge & Resentment: The statue’s Last Will introduces a deeper mystery—why does it demand the heart’s blood of Roman royalty? This suggests ancient betrayals beyond the zombie tide.
• Identity & Faction: Bai Zhou weighs joining the Sun Temple despite starting at the lowest rank—but realizes the temple has no other living members, meaning he can rise freely.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Zhou learns that the Golden Beans can be used to fulfill the Wolf Knight Statue's Last Will, which involves Roman blood.
• He decides to participate in the Hall Entry Assessment, facing a battle against a Wolf Knight Statue of the same level.
• The battle teaches Bai Zhou about the advanced application of Basic Nine Slashes and the rudimentary use of Battle Intent.

Character Developments

• Bai Zhou improves his proficiency in Basic Nine Slashes and learns to use it more strategically, understanding the concept of Battle Intent.
• The Wolf Knight Statue demonstrates its superior mastery of Basic Nine Slashes and guides Bai Zhou in improving his skills.

Significant Themes

• The theme of learning and growth is emphasized as Bai Zhou improves his skills through the battle with the Wolf Knight Statue.
• The theme of courage and determination is shown as Bai Zhou decides to participate in the assessment despite the risks involved.

Character Interactions

• Bai Zhou interacts with the Wolf Knight Statue, which serves as both an opponent and a teacher, guiding him in improving his skills.
• The monster "Great Sacrifice" watches the battle but does not interfere.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Zhou encounters a Wolf Knight Statue that comes to life and assesses him.
• He learns about the Wolf Knight's past and the story of the Troy Civilization through the statue's Last Wills.
• The Troy Civilization faced a prophecy of doom and fled their world, creating a secret realm called the Trojan Horse.
• The civilization faced a virus called Trojan, which led to the election of kings to suppress it. However, each king died prematurely, leading to a cycle of tragedy.
• The Nineteenth King, a Red Clad Girl named Little Red Riding Hood, ascended the Iron Throne to save her world, but ultimately succumbed to the virus and became a crippled monster.
• The queen, now called the Scarlet King, fought against the Zombie Tide but was ultimately powerless to stop it. She then chose the Path of Faith and became a War Angel to protect her people.

Character Developments

• Bai Zhou: He learns about the Wolf Knight's past and the Troy Civilization's history. He also discovers that the Great Sacrifice in the Divine Hall is the Scarlet King.
• The Wolf Knight: Originally a mysterious person with ill-omened power, he became the Scarlet King's follower and a knight forever condemned to silence.
• The Scarlet King (Little Red Riding Hood): She starts as a lively, cheerful girl who becomes the Saintess and later the queen. She sacrifices herself to become a War Angel to protect her people.

Significant Themes

• Fate vs. Free Will: The prophecy foretells the Troy Civilization's doom, but their actions shape their destiny.
• Sacrifice: The kings sacrifice themselves to suppress the virus, and the Scarlet King ultimately sacrifices everything to become a War Angel.
• Power and Responsibility: The kings gain power but must also bear the burden of suppressing the virus. The Scarlet King gains immense power but must also protect her people from the Zombie Tide.

Character Interactions

• Bai Zhou and the Wolf Knight: They interact through the assessment, with the Wolf Knight teaching Bai Zhou about the Troy Civilization's history.
• The Scarlet King and her people: She ascends the Iron Throne to protect her people, ultimately sacrificing herself to become a War Angel for their sake.
• The Scarlet King and the Wolf Knight: They become allies, with the Wolf Knight serving as her silent knight.

Summary of Chapter: "Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf's Story; Successor"

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• The Scarlet Queen, now a monstrous "red killing machine," slaughters a vast zombie horde, leaving ruins and corpses. Her red clothing has become "Scarlet Flesh," and she is fused with a metal wheelchair.
• The God of War appears and offers her a place in his Divine Kingdom, promising vengeance against Rome and renewed power. She refuses, saying only: "I'm tired."
• She returns to the Sun Temple, her old home, where she recalls her childhood as Little Red Riding Hood—a clumsy girl who loved relying on her brother and grandmother.
• Among the ruins, she finds the seed she planted as a girl has grown into a stubborn red sapling.
• The world begins to collapse; the Sky City (the world core) starts falling. To prevent civilization from being destroyed, the Queen uses her own body to hold up the falling city, becoming a dead, motionless shell that still bears the world's weight.
• Her corpse sings an old nursery rhyme ("Little Basket, sway and sway...") as a soul-summoning lament, endlessly calling for a spring that will never return.
• The Wolf Knight, watching her, reveals in grief that he is actually her elder brother—the failed prince who abandoned his throne, sought forbidden "Heretic" power, failed, and became the monstrous Wolf Knight. He was also the first to die defending her, fighting on as a Walking Corpse through obsession and guilt.
• In the end, he accepts the Divine Hall's modification, fusing himself into an intelligent statue, forever gazing up at his sister and guarding her lost consciousness.
• In the present framing, Bai Zhou awakens from experiencing these memories. He sees a huge scarlet "Decay Great Tree" grown from the long-ago seed. Then a masked knight (the Wolf Knight) steps out of the statue, with a White Wolf and a blood-red shadow behind him, and says: "If the one who had inherited that power back then... was you."

2. Character Developments

• Little Red Riding Hood / Scarlet Queen: From a sheltered, dependent girl to an unqualified but burdened King; she never wanted power, but bore civilization's weight out of duty. In the end, she becomes a tragic, self-sacrificing monster—still trying to do "one useful thing."
• The Wolf Knight / Her Brother: The hidden protagonist and narrator of the tale. He was a coward and deserter who threw responsibility onto his sister, then spent eternity atoning silently. He transforms from a failure into a loyal, self-sacrificing guardian, even after death.
• God of War: Offers salvation and revenge, but is rejected—representing the world's false paths to power.
• Bai Zhou: Acts as the recipient of the memory, witnessing the truth behind the fairy tale and becoming the target of the Wolf Knight's final words.

3. Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and Duty: The Queen carries the world's collapse on her own body, even after death.
• Guilt and Atonement: The Wolf Knight's eternal vigilance is an attempt to make up for abandoning his sister.
• Hidden Identity and Regret: The "wolf" is actually a brother; the fairy tale is a tragic, distorted memory.
• Memory and Legacy: The nursery rhyme and the red tree represent fragile hopes that survive ruin.
• Faith vs. Exhaustion: The Queen rejects divine rescue because she no longer wants to struggle; death is preferable to more pain.
• Loyalty Beyond Death: The Wolf Knight's vow to his sister outlasts the world itself.

4. Character Interactions

• Scarlet Queen & God of War: He tempts her with revenge and power; she refuses with quiet exhaustion and defiance.
• Scarlet Queen & Wolf Knight: Always together, but never truly united—she never recognizes her brother; he silently guards her, ties his torn cape around her, and weeps over her fate.
• Wolf Knight & the World/Civilization: His final act is to merge with the Divine Hall, becoming part of the dying civilization itself.
• Wolf Knight & Bai Zhou: The memory is transmitted to Bai Zhou, and the Wolf Knight finally appears to him, implying Bai Zhou is connected to the inheritance or might become the next successor.

Summary: "Flame Servant, May You Be Crowned King!" (Chapter 1)

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The Wolf Knight's spectral shadow speaks to Bai Zhou, calling him a wolf and acknowledging his strength, then imparts a gift by touching his chest.
• A massive wolf shadow merges with Bai Zhou, causing the character [Moon] to condense upon the Sea of Ignorance in his Fate Space—this is a fragment of the Moon Wolf Power, a heretical forbidden power once sought by the fleeing Prince.
• The [Moon] character fuses with Bai Zhou's existing [Moon God's Tear] medicinal power, creating a wolf totem tattoo across his back. However, it is incomplete—the wolf lacks eyes—meaning Bai Zhou cannot yet activate this new power.
• Bai Zhou learns that the Wolf Knight had walked the [Monster] path, a "Blasphemous Path" that opposes the [Adventurer] ("Radiant") path. This raises questions about the nature of Fate Sequences.
• A fragment of an incomplete curse is glimpsed, causing Bai Zhou to hear whispers from another "himself" and briefly lose control of his power. He deliberately seals his attention away from it in fear.
• The Divine Hall transmits the second trial: Bai Zhou must travel to Rome (beyond Troy) and offer the head of a Roman soldier upon the altar—the higher the rank, the better. Since Rome is long dead, Bai Zhou hopes to find a head in the ruins.

2. Character Developments

• Bai Zhou: Receives the [Moon] character, elevating his life essence and granting a hidden trump card he cannot yet control. His thoughts reveal practicality (worrying about tattoos affecting civil service eligibility) and strategic planning (hoping to escape the Divine Hall to hear the mysterious bells). He decides to avoid the dangerous [Monster] path, preferring the established [Adventurer] inheritance.

3. Significant Themes

• Inheritance and Legacy: The Wolf Knight passes on a fragment of his power, fulfilling his final duty and finding relief in passing the torch to a worthy successor.
• Forbidden vs. Radiant Power: The contrast between the chaotic, corrosive [Monster] path and the pure [Adventurer] path hints at deeper cosmic structures within the Fate System.
• Incomplete Power / Unfinished Transformation: Bai Zhou gains power but cannot activate it—a central tension driving him toward completing the Ritual.
• Danger of Knowledge: Even glimpsing the curse fragment invites corruption, emphasizing that some truths are too dangerous to pursue.

4. Character Interactions

• Wolf Knight's Shadow ↔ Bai Zhou: The Wolf Knight expresses approval and expectation, calling Bai Zhou "stronger than I was," and blesses him before quietly departing.
• Divine Hall Statue ↔ Bai Zhou: The statue observes Bai Zhou's new power with confusion ("Perhaps it was Heaven's Will!") before transmitting the second trial requirements.

Summary: "Finally Reaching Rome! Death Whisper Forest and the Dark Green Ore Cave"

Key Plot Points & Events

1. The Second Trial Completed: Bai Zhou performs an elaborate blood ritual at the three-tiered candleholder Altar, chanting in the ancient Troy language ("Inicio!" = "Set forth!"). He uses his blood (first tier), mind power (second tier), and spirituality (third tier) to ignite candles, culminating in a Mysterious Door opening for travel.
2. God-Chosen Mark Received: The Great Sacrifice (Scarlet Queen) bestows a divine mark upon Bai Zhou's wrist—a Broken Spear piercing a skull (symbol of "war"). Though he's not a true God-Chosen (Scarlet Queen was the double God-Chosen), the mark acts like an "Imperial Sword": it anchors him during transfer, allows return, will protect him in crisis—and since the mark is effectively ownerless (Rome is dead, Scarlet Queen is insane), Bai Zhou realizes he may one day claim its power for himself.
3. The Last Will (Prophecy) Discovered: Before stepping through the door, Bai Zhou notices scarlet writing covering the Great Sacrifice. It is a prophetic declaration from the King of Troy: an heir of Troy will come to destroy Rome's sacred halls, temples, and clans. "Rome! This is a prophecy! It is also a declaration!" Bai Zhou realizes that completing the trial has made him Troy's heir and Rome's sworn enemy.
4. Arrival in Rome (Death Whisper Forest): The door deposits Bai Zhou in an eerie, sunless forest. The ground is paved entirely with crystallizing skeletons; twisted human-faced trees have rooted themselves in the bones, feeding on corpses. Ghost fire and crimson moonlight create a hellish atmosphere.
5. Discovery of the Dark Green Ore Cave: Exploring deeper, Bai Zhou finds a vast clearing with a massive bottomless mine hole spewing vivid green poisonous fog. Inside and around it: countless Undead Miner Skeletons (rotting, tattered, wielding hammers/shovels/pickaxes) mining mysterious ghost-green or dark-purple ore in perfect, doll-like synchronization.
6. Skeleton Overseer Found: A higher-rank Skeleton Necromancer (green fire in eyes, Mage's robes, bone whip) berates and whips the dead miners, shouting "For the glory of Rome!" and demanding they work even after death. Rome is still enslaving the dead long after its fall.
7. Dead Sea Scrolls Stir: The scrolls in Bai Zhou's arms become violently restless, "like a hound that caught the scent of blood." Just as the Troy ruins unlocked the scrolls' first chapter (Thousand-Faced Moon), Bai Zhou hopes this Roman ruin may unlock another.

Character Developments

• Bai Zhou: Completes his transformative journey to Rome. He is now "half a God-Chosen" with a potential trump card. He gains clarity on his inherited role (Troy's heir, Rome's enemy) and demonstrates his cautious, analytical nature in assessing threats (hiding, calculating whether the Overseer counts as a Roman Soldier, keeping his saber ready).

Significant Themes

• Rome's Evil & Tyranny: Even in death, Rome ruthlessly exploits its conquered enemies—enslaving their corpses as miners for eternity. This justifies Troy's desperate flight and positions Rome as a genuine "lackey of the Evil God" / enemy of civilization.
• Civilizational Contrast: Troy decayed silently and tragically (eroded by virus, walking corpses decaying together); Rome remains actively oppressive and cruel even beyond death. Ironic that Troy's fate became a mercy.
• Inherited Legacy & Prophecy: Bai Zhou now carries Troy's Last Will—the duty to bring ruin to Rome's remnants. He is tied to a conflict that outlived both civilizations.
• Death Without Peace: The horror of the undead being eternally compelled to labor for their dead conqueror.

Character Interactions

• Bai Zhou ↔ Scarlet Queen (Great Sacrifice): Indirect but profound—she grants him the God-Chosen Mark (a gift and tether), while her body harbors the Last Will that declares him her heir and Rome's destroyer. She is described as "pinned beneath the world," a tragic figure.
• Bai Zhou ↔ Skeleton Overseer: Observation only; Bai Zhou considers whether to engage but chooses to hide, deeming the threat uncertain.
• Bai Zhou ↔ Undead Miners: Observed impassively; he registers the grotesque horror of their eternal servitude with disgust and irony.
• Bai Zhou ↔ Dead Sea Scrolls: The scrolls react powerfully to the deathly aura, hinting at future power-up potential.
  End of chapter—Bai Zhou remains hidden in the forest, contemplating the mine, the Overseer, and the scrolls' restless hunger.

Plot Points and Events

• Bai Zhou discovers an abandoned mine guarded by skeletons mining ethereal green mysterious ore.
• A Blood Red Skeleton, a former leader of the skeletons, returns and leads a rebellion against Rome.
• The skeletons, armed with mining tools, march towards a nearby Roman garrison city.
• Bai Zhou, hidden as a black cat, follows the undead army, planning to use the chaos for his own gain.

Character Developments

• Bai Zhou demonstrates caution and opportunism, avoiding danger and seizing opportunities.
• The Blood Red Skeleton shows strong leadership, rallying the skeletons to rebellion, and displays formidable power.

Significant Themes

• The struggle against oppression and tyranny (skeletons vs. Rome).
• The power of unity and determination (skeletons rallying behind their leader).
• The dangers and opportunities that come with the unknown (Bai Zhou's discovery of the mine and his decision to follow the undead army).

Character Interactions

• Bai Zhou observes the skeletons from a distance, avoiding direct interaction.
• The Blood Red Skeleton interacts with the other skeletons, rallying them to rebellion and inspiring their determination.
• Bai Zhou, as a black cat, follows the undead army, planning to exploit the situation for his own purposes.

Summary

Plot Points and Events

• The Undead Army, led by the Blood Red Skeleton, reaches the grim-white fortress at the end of Boneyard Forest.
• A Golden Armored Deity guards the city gate and engages in battle with the Blood Red Skeleton.
• The Blood Red Skeleton uses the War God Imprint to gain the upper hand and defeats the Golden Armored Deity.
• The Undead Army begins its siege on the city.
• Bai Zhou, in his Black Cat form, finds the upper half of the Golden Armored Deity's corpse and takes its head, completing the Second Assessment Stage's requirement.
• He discovers that the "Evil-Breaking Ballista" used against the Blood Red Skeleton is actually a branch from the Blood Red Giant Tree planted by the Scarlet Queen.
• Bai Zhou enters the city through the broken gate, seeking higher-quality Roman Soldiers to increase his reward.

Character Developments

• The Blood Red Skeleton showcases its power and determination to reclaim its homeland, using the War God Imprint to gain an advantage in battle.
• Bai Zhou demonstrates adaptability and resourcefulness, successfully completing the Second Assessment Stage's requirement and entering the city to seek better rewards.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics and hierarchy of Rome are evident in the varying heights and strengths of the Golden Armored Deities.
• The revelation of living people in the Deep Ruins Realm challenges Bai Zhou's understanding of the world and the nature of the realm itself.

Character Interactions

• The Blood Red Skeleton and the Golden Armored Deity engage in a fierce battle, showcasing their power and determination.
• Bai Zhou interacts with the Golden Armored Deity's corpse, discovering the true nature of the "Evil-Breaking Ballista" and completing the assessment requirement.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Zhou arrives in a living, breathing Roman civilization, not the Deep Ruins Realm as he initially thought.
• He finds a city filled with the glory of civilization and mystery, with signs of a recent battle between the undead and the living.
• An army descends from the sky, led by a colossal humanoid "Senate" and accompanied by dinosaur-riding knights in mecha-like armor. They declare the Blood Red Skeleton, a "Dread Remnant," as their target.
• Bai Zhou realizes that the Golden Pass has sent him to an even older era, the "Zhuluo Era" or "Jurassic."

Character Developments

• Bai Zhou: Realizes the true nature of his destination and the power of the Golden Pass. He is now aware that he is walking through the cracks of time, which could have unforeseen consequences.
• Blood Red Skeleton: Initially confident, it becomes uneasy and then terrified as the Senate and its army arrive. It is now outmatched and outgunned.

Significant Themes

• The passage of time and the decay of civilizations.
• The power of technology and its impact on warfare.
• The struggle between the living and the undead, and the intervention of external forces.

Character Interactions

• Bai Zhou observes the battle between the undead and the living from a distance, without directly interacting with the main combatants.
• The Blood Red Skeleton interacts with the priest and general of the Roman civilization before the arrival of the Senate's army.

Chapter Summary: "That Crown of Thorns! Return to the Present World!"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The Blood Red Skeleton calls upon his Deity for aid, but receives no response—the Deity has abandoned him. The Senate declares "The Roman Empire does not permit unlicensed individuals to illegally become gods!" and destroys him with golden Divine Eagles. His surviving skull is seized as a trophy.
• Bai Zhou witnesses the execution and undergoes a major revelation: this "Rome" is not the historical Roman Empire of Blue Star, but an ancient lost super-civilization predating recorded history. Evidence includes three-meter-tall humans, Ceramic Steel Power Armor technology beyond modern capabilities, and the civilization's own insistence on calling itself the "Xiluo Empire" (a name unknown on modern Blue Star).
• The Senate invokes the Purification Protocol: the mysterious Emperor Idol (a statue of supreme, terrifying majesty wearing a Crown of Thorns) unleashes a golden Light Sea that floods the city, annihilating all remaining Bone Clan members.
• Bai Zhou flees for his life, using the Black Cat's [Night Wanderer] ability (the final use before its cooldown) to escape the Light Sea. A single fleck of golden light grazes his leg, causing severe corrosive wounds.
• He times his escape with the Bell Tower's 36 o'clock bell, activating the Golden Pass at his chest, which transports him back to the Present World—arriving on a rooftop in modern Tinghai with the Blood Red Skeleton's huge skull in hand.
• Bai Zhou's wounds begin healing mysteriously: pure white moonlight pierces the clouds, a Pale Giant Wolf shadow appears resonating with a totem tattoo on his back, accelerating recovery.

2. Character Developments

• Bai Zhou: Undergoes a paradigm shift in understanding the world—he now knows ancient lost civilizations exist beneath Blue Star's surface and that history repeats in distorted cycles. He survives purely through instinct, courage, and resourcefulness, pushing his body to its absolute limit.
• The Blood Red Skeleton: Meets his end after being utterly forsaken by his Deity; his death is treated as a mere cleanup operation by the Senate.
• The Senate: Revealed as an awe-inspiring entity that judges, executes, and enforces divine law—suggesting that "godhood" is regulated within this civilization.
• The Emperor Idol: Introduced as an incomprehensible, supreme existence—described not as a person or deity but as the very "law" governing the world.

3. Significant Themes

• Cycles of Civilization and History: The Xiluo Empire is a lost civilization that later cultures (Greco-Roman) inherited fragments from—paralleling the Art Club's practice of stealing names and inheritances from prior extraordinary beings. History literally repeats itself in faintly similar forms.
• Regulation of Divinity: The Roman Empire actively polices "illegal godhood," implying divine status is a licensed, controlled power structure rather than something freely attained.
• Scale Disorientation / Cosmic Horror: The Emperor Idol's presence is physically overwhelming—merely looking at it causes pain, trembling, and tears. Bai Zhou confronts an order of existence so above him he is "dust."
• Survival Against Overwhelming Odds: The flight from the Light Sea is a visceral life-or-death race, emphasizing primal terror and the will to live above all else.

4. Character Interactions

• The Senate dominates the chapter: it judges the Blood Red Skeleton, destroys him, purges the city, and venerate the Emperor Idol—all while Bai Zhou watches as a hidden, terrified observer.
• The Black Cat aids Bai Zhou at a critical moment using [Night Wanderer], swaying its ninth tail bell to activate the escape ability.
• Bai Zhou and Ya: Upon returning to the Present World, Ya studies him with puzzlement—Bai Zhou is disheveled, wounded, carrying a severed head, and now bears a pale wolf totem tattoo he didn't have before. Ya's unspoken question: What exactly did you do at that middle school?

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

+ Bai Zhou awakens the Moon Wolf Totem and gains significant power, becoming a Level 3 [Adventurer].
+ Ya performs a thorough inspection on Bai Zhou using various Rituals, confirming his condition is good and his powers are legitimate.
+ Bai Zhou and Ya take shelter in an abandoned house due to the rain. They encounter Fang Xiaoxia, who mistakes Bai Zhou for a thief.

Character Developments

+ Bai Zhou has grown significantly in power, becoming a qualified Destined One and touching upon "Battle Intent."
+ Ya is astonished by Bai Zhou's rapid growth but decides to let him grow freely, offering guidance and support.
+ Fang Xiaoxia is revealed to be the true identity of "Fang Xiaoyan," the maiden Yuanmeng Middle School's "Fang Xiaoyan" has been thinking about.

Significant Themes

+ Power and its consequences: Bai Zhou's rapid growth in power raises questions about its source and potential risks.
+ Trust and understanding: Ya's decision to let Bai Zhou grow freely shows her trust in him, while Bai Zhou's honest nature helps him gain Fang Xiaoxia's understanding.
+ The passage of time and change: The abandoned house represents the passage of time and change, with its former owners having passed away and their belongings cleared out.

Character Interactions

+ Bai Zhou and Ya: Their relationship deepens as Ya continues to guide and support Bai Zhou, while Bai Zhou shows his trust in Ya by revealing some of his secrets.
+ Bai Zhou and Fang Xiaoxia: Despite their initial misunderstanding, Bai Zhou's honest nature and Fang Xiaoxia's curiosity lead to a potential connection between them.
+ Ya and her past teacher: Ya reflects on her past teacher's words, leading her to realize that Bai Zhou might be the Unique Person her teacher had sought.

Plot Points & Events

+ Tinghai City is plagued by unexplained bombings, causing unease among citizens.
+ Fang Xiaoxia, a marginalized girl, sneaks out of her home to her secret apartment on a rainy night.
+ She finds Bai Zhou, a mysterious youth, in her apartment, who believes she is the landlord and offers her gold and watches to stay longer or buy the place.

Character Developments

+ Fang Xiaoxia: Struggles with feelings of unease and fear, both from her family's arguments and the city's tension. She seeks solace in her secret apartment but finds Bai Zhou instead.
+ Bai Zhou: Displays a misunderstanding of the world, believing he can buy anything with gold and watches. He seeks to help Fang Xiaoxia become confident and change her life, as per Fang Xiaoyan's request.

Significant Themes

+ Fear and unease: Fang Xiaoxia experiences this due to her family's arguments and the city's tension. Bai Zhou's presence adds to her fear, but also brings excitement and curiosity.
+ Isolation: Fang Xiaoxia feels isolated at home and school. Her secret apartment is her refuge, but Bai Zhou's presence disrupts this.
+ Misunderstandings: Bai Zhou has a skewed understanding of the world, leading to his unusual behavior.

Character Interactions

+ Fang Xiaoxia and Bai Zhou: Their initial interaction is filled with fear and misunderstanding. Fang Xiaoxia is terrified of Bai Zhou, while he believes she is the landlord and tries to negotiate with her.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• A mysterious youth, Bai Zhou, breaks into Fang Xiaoxia's apartment.
• He tries to bribe her with Golden Wristwatches, but she refuses.
• When she asks him to leave, he climbs out the fifth-floor window, but vanishes before hitting the ground.
• Fang Xiaoxia is left confused and curious about Bai Zhou's identity and his connection to her.

Character Developments

• Fang Xiaoxia: She overcomes her initial fear and tries to save Bai Zhou, showing courage and concern for him. She also experiences a strange, nostalgic feeling and cries inexplicably.
• Bai Zhou: He shows understanding and respect for Fang Xiaoxia's hobbies and seems to have a connection to her past. He also displays a lonely and sorrowful demeanor.

Significant Themes

• Mystery and the Unknown: Bai Zhou's sudden appearance, strange behavior, and disappearance create a sense of mystery and intrigue.
• Connection to the Past: The mention of Fang Xiaoxia's childhood dream and the possibility of a forgotten important person hint at a connection to her past.
• Loneliness and Isolation: Both Fang Xiaoxia and Bai Zhou seem to share a sense of loneliness and isolation.

Character Interactions

• Fang Xiaoxia and Bai Zhou: Their interaction is marked by confusion, fear, and curiosity. Despite his strange behavior, Bai Zhou shows understanding and respect for Fang Xiaoxia, while she becomes concerned for his safety.
• Fang Xiaoxia and Ya: Though not physically present, Ya's warning about Fang Xiaoxia suggests a protective or guiding role towards her.

Summary: "Radiance and Blasphemy; Entering the Reflection Ruins Realm Again!"

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• After the previous encounter with Fang Xiaoxia, Bai Zhou tries to rent a place in Tinghai but fails — his payment with gold bars scares the landlord away, revealing his ignorance of modern society (Federal Coin, digital payments).
• Hiding on an air conditioner unit with Ya through the rainy night, Bai Zhou learns about the hidden history of the extraordinary paths.
• Ya reveals that originally there were Twenty-Four Destiny Paths, not twelve. The known Twelve are the "Radiant Paths"; the other Twelve were the "Blasphemous Paths," erased from history due to a massive upheaval.
• Ya warns Bai Zhou strongly against using the incantation he received from the Moon Wolf Totem, since it may be connected to the Blasphemous Path.
• After resting and fully recovering, Bai Zhou arms himself completely, confirms no tail, and at midnight performs the ritual to re-enter the Reflection Ruins Realm (Grotesque City).
• He returns to Yuanmeng Middle School — the site of his previous escape — now more powerful as a level 3 [Adventurer].

2. Character Developments

• Bai Zhou: Demonstrates growth in strength and preparation, but also shows his ongoing cultural displacement — valuing gold and weapons but understanding little of modern urban life. He is pragmatic, cautious, and deeply self-protective, cherishing his life above all.
• Ya: Shows deeper concern for Bai Zhou's path, warns him against forbidden knowledge, and hints at her own mysterious past (interrupted when about to share it). She serves as both mentor and companion.
• Bai Zhou's role as a loner in Tinghai is reinforced — "nowhere in this city was truly his home."

3. Significant Themes

• Belonging and Displacement: Bai Zhou realizes Tinghai is not home, despite being told "Welcome home." He is permanently on the margins.
• Forbidden Knowledge: The Blasphemous Paths represent erased history and dangerous secrets; the incantation linked to them carries "inhuman desire" and "calamity." The theme of caution versus curiosity is central.
• Cultural Clash: Gold, weapons, and survival instincts versus paper currency, digital payment, and settled society.
• Transformation & Identity: Bai Zhou is a "sketch" of humanity, neither radiant nor blasphemous — his future is undecided, noted in Ya's quoted verse.

4. Character Interactions

• Bai Zhou & Ya: Warm, close, and familiar — sitting shoulder-to-shoulder for warmth, sharing banter. Ya questions Bai Zhou's secrecy about Fang Xiaoxia. She explains esoteric knowledge and warns him, showing genuine care.
• Bai Zhou & Fang Xiaoxia (off-screen): Bai Zhou's earlier gift of gold frightened her; Ya remarks he "gave her so much that he scared her," implying a skewed impression of generosity.
• Bai Zhou & the Reflection Ruins Realm: Re-entry is framed as a new adventure — Bai Zhou is more cautious, more powerful, and determined to face what once forced him into retreat.

Key Plot Points and Events

• FZDC, the Disaster Prevention Response Investigation Agency, surrounds Yuanmeng Middle School with caution tape, drones, robot dogs, and armed forces to prevent unknown rules from being triggered.
• Over a hundred Extraordinary individuals, recruited by FZDC, infiltrate the school to investigate its interior and transmit real-time footage.
• The school's Student Phalanx, lacking facial features, and Teachers begin hunting down the infiltrators.
• Bai Zhou, having transformed back from a cat, dons a school uniform and blends in with the students, avoiding detection.

Character Developments

• The Lean Man, an officer from FZDC, is exhausted from lack of sleep but remains alert and strategic.
• Bai Zhou, now in his element, appears calm and carefree while navigating the school, avoiding detection by students and Teachers.

Significant Themes

• The perilous nature of Yuanmeng Middle School and the Authorities' reluctance to enter it lightly.
• The contrast between the Extraordinary individuals' initial confidence and their growing caution and tension as they explore the school.
• Bai Zhou's ability to blend in and avoid detection, highlighting his adaptability and resourcefulness.

Character Interactions

• The Lean Man communicates with the Extraordinary individuals via walkie-talkies, providing guidance and updates.
• Bai Zhou encounters students and Teachers, successfully blending in by wearing the school uniform and acting calm.
• The students and Teachers greet Bai Zhou respectfully, addressing him as "Senior," indicating their deference to him.

• The Lean Man, an officer from the Federal Zone Defense Command (FZDC), is overseeing the operation to subjugate Yuanmeng Middle School. He has recruited wild Extraordinary people, including Wu Xue Di and Zhou Xue Chang, to gather intelligence and stir up the school's internal conflicts.
• Wu Xue Di and Zhou Xue Chang, both students at Yuanmeng Middle School, are exploring the school's interior, encountering strange phenomena and dangerous situations. They discover an "Execution Wall" and are later confronted by a group of bullying students led by Wu Xue Di.
• The Lean Man and the FZDC are monitoring the situation through cameras and walkie-talkies, providing guidance to the wild Extraordinary people. They are particularly interested in Wu Xue Di and Zhou Xue Chang due to their unique abilities and potential.
• The chapter focuses on the interactions between Wu Xue Di, Zhou Xue Chang, and the bullying students, as well as the observations and assessments made by the Lean Man and the FZDC. The theme of power and its consequences is explored through the encounters with the Abnormal Individual and the Bully Five.

Key Plot Points

• Bai Zhou, a new student, intervenes when he sees five anomalies bullying three new students.
• He introduces himself as a senior student and offers to help the three new students explore the school.
• They encounter four senior students, whom Bai Zhou secretly dubs the "Four Heavenly Kings."

Character Developments

• Bai Zhou displays his strength and authority as a senior student, earning the respect and fear of the anomalies and new students.
• The three new students, despite their initial reluctance, decide to accept Bai Zhou's help, hoping to gain benefits promised by the Authorities.
• The "Four Heavenly Kings" are introduced as strong and eccentric senior students.

Significant Themes

• Bullying and power dynamics within the school.
• The school uniform's desire to devour and control students with distinctive personalities.
• The awakening of Bai Zhou's Battle Intent.

Character Interactions

• Bai Zhou interacts with the five anomalies, the three new students, and the "Four Heavenly Kings," displaying his authority and strength in each encounter.
• The three new students interact with Bai Zhou, initially wary but eventually accepting his help.
• The "Four Heavenly Kings" interact with Bai Zhou and the new students, displaying their strength and eccentric personalities.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Zhou is disturbed by the awakening of his “Battle Intent” seed, wondering whether emotions such as pride, greed, rage, and sloth may also constitute forms of “Intent,” the power associated with advancing to Level 5.
• Four powerful third-year students block Bai Zhou’s path, claiming authority as the leaders of Yuanmeng Middle School’s Student Union. They are identified as the Campus Four Tyrants, each embodying one of the Four Great Oddities:
  • Greed of Red, the Student Union President, who seeks absolute control and uses predictive, domination-based abilities.
  • Lust of Brown, the External Relations Minister, who believes strongly in bonds and personal desires.
  • Pride of Blue, the Secretary, who imposes a supposedly peaceful world through twisted rules and emotional suppression.
  • Sloth of Black, the Head of the Studies Department, who supports the others while barely expending effort.
• The four justify their system of seniority and enforced order as protection from bullying, competition, violence, and the harsh realities of adulthood. They accuse Bai Zhou of arrogance for trying to spread resistance and ambition among the younger students.
• Bai Zhou recognizes that their arguments ultimately mean they intend to fight him. The three Wild Extraordinaries accompanying him—Number 9, Number 31, and Number 42—are terrified and nearly useless against four Level 4 opponents, forcing Bai Zhou to protect them himself.
• Bai Zhou initiates the battle. The Four Tyrants combine their abilities:
  • Sloth catches his punch with an invisible force.
  • Lust attacks with claw marks that induce sensual hallucinations.
  • Pride creates an area of inferiority and self-loathing.
  • Greed manipulates momentum, gravity, and physical and spiritual energy to predict and counter Bai Zhou’s movements.
• At first, outside observers believe Bai Zhou is doomed. The command team monitoring the fight assumes that the Student Union represents the school’s strongest student combat force and begins preparing for even more powerful threats within the school.
• Bai Zhou suddenly reverses the battle. His punch overwhelms Sloth’s defensive technique, shattering it into hundreds of fractures. The Four Tyrants cannot understand how he generated so many strikes at once and speculate that he used time manipulation or an invisible attacker.
• Bai Zhou then overwhelms all four with relentless punches while scolding them for abusing their classmates and misusing their authority. His “correction” is both physical and ideological: he orders them to stop bullying others, return to studying, and take their exams properly.
• During the fight, the Exam King’s transformed monster-like presence appears, now vastly stronger and radiating killing intent comparable to the school’s teachers.
• Bai Zhou breaks Pride’s domain, defeats Greed despite his attempts to control the battle, and establishes that his current strength far exceeds what the Student Union expected.
• As the Four Tyrants are crushed, Bai Zhou’s school uniform begins reacting to their powers. He realizes it may be capable of devouring all four Oddities and evolving into a monster even more powerful than the Exam King.
• The battle also shakes the bottleneck of Bai Zhou’s Level 3 Adventurer path. His fate and spiritual sea respond, suggesting that this confrontation may provide the opportunity he needs to advance to Level 4.

Character Developments

• Bai Zhou demonstrates growing confidence and combat mastery. He willingly faces four Level 4 opponents despite knowing the danger, relying on his recently perfected Basic Nine Slashes, his school uniform, and his accumulated battle experience.
• His fighting style becomes more direct and satisfying to him. He discovers that his fists can be more effective—and more enjoyable—than weapons.
• Bai Zhou’s personality is shown to be fundamentally incompatible with the Four Tyrants’ enforced conformity. His pride is not based on insecurity or domination but on an unshakable refusal to accept their distorted worldview.
• The Four Tyrants’ beliefs and powers are exposed as psychological extremes:
  • Red’s desire for control becomes helplessness when Bai Zhou ignores his calculations.
  • Brown’s ideal of harmony becomes an excuse to police others.
  • Blue’s “gentleness” is revealed as coercive suppression disguised as protection.
  • Black’s passive acceptance of the system collapses once his defensive ability fails.
• Numbers 9, 31, and 42 remain frightened and dependent on Bai Zhou, but their survival allows the outside team to gather crucial intelligence about the school’s strength.
• The command team shifts from confidence to alarm. They recognize that the school may contain threats equivalent to Level 6 Sealed Extraordinaries or worse, while also treating the trio’s potential deaths as a grim but valuable sacrifice.

Significant Themes

• Freedom versus imposed safety: The Student Union believes that eliminating conflict and ambition protects students, while Bai Zhou views this “peace” as another form of oppression.
• Twisted interpretations of virtue: The Four Tyrants corrupt desirable qualities—gentleness, order, harmony, and acceptance—turning them into tools for control.
• Seniority and authority: The chapter criticizes systems that demand obedience simply because someone is older or more established, especially when those systems protect bullies and suppress change.
• The value of struggle: Bai Zhou rejects the idea that students should be trained to accept an unjust future. He favors giving people the chance to pursue dreams and resist predetermined roles.
• Power and self-definition: The Four Tyrants’ powers reflect their personalities, but Bai Zhou’s resistance suggests that genuine strength comes from an identity that cannot be defined or controlled by others.
• Transformation through conflict: The battle may cause both Bai Zhou’s school uniform and his Adventurer pathway to evolve, implying that confrontation and danger are necessary catalysts for growth.
• Appearance versus reality: The Student Union presents its system with moralistic, compassionate language, yet its real purpose is domination and suppression.

Character Interactions

• The Four Tyrants confront Bai Zhou collectively, presenting themselves as protectors of the school and demanding that he respect their established order.
• Bai Zhou dismisses their speeches as justification for violence and refuses to debate them further, instead offering to “correct” their personalities through combat.
• The terrified Number 9 Trio contrasts sharply with Bai Zhou’s resolve. Their fear emphasizes the overwhelming strength of the Student Union while also highlighting Bai Zhou’s willingness to stand between them and danger.
• The Four Tyrants cooperate despite mutual dislike, united by their fear that Bai Zhou will inspire resistance among the students.
• During the fight, Bai Zhou taunts and lectures them while defeating them, treating himself as a strict senior student disciplining delinquents rather than merely killing enemies.
• The outside command team watches the confrontation remotely, first assuming Bai Zhou will die, then reacting with shock as he unexpectedly dominates the battle.