Chapter Summaries

Zhang Guangmu faced a white-robed double who claimed to be the original while the audience debated which version was real. Zhang Guangmu challenged the double’s motives and anticipated his next move, leaving White Mu momentarily at a loss.

• Zhang Guangmu noticed that White Mu carried the golden-and-blue sword Golden Neck and concluded that he was likely an imitation rather than Mooncake’s real companion.
• The floating Little White Balls argued over which Zhang Guangmu was authentic, with most initially believing White Mu’s claim that Black Mu was a heart demon.
• Zhang Guangmu told White Mu that he suspected their roles were reversed, then pointed out that White Mu had shown no killing intent and might die if Zhang Guangmu did.
• White Mu called Zhang Guangmu his heart demon and praised his ability to sway people, then recalled his sword when Zhang Guangmu reached toward it.
• Zhang Guangmu asked what White Mu planned to do next and warned him not to threaten Su Xing’an instead, leaving White Mu’s sharp aura frozen.

Zhang Guangmu outmaneuvered Bai Mu in an argument over their identities, prompting Bai Mu to abandon his name and pursue the Sword Dao alone. After Bai Mu left, Su Xing'an woke from his simulation and reaffirmed Zhang Guangmu as his master, while Zhang Guangmu warned that the sword cultivator would soon bring trouble to the world.

• Director Qian Yiyuan praised Zhang Guangmu for understanding the deeper meaning of his film as he watched Zhang and Bai Mu face off.
• Zhang Guangmu called Bai Mu a humanity-less training machine, and Bai Mu responded by declaring that he would abandon his birth name and devote himself to the Sword Dao.
• Zhang Guangmu told Bai Mu that they had become independent and could part ways, while Bai Mu warned that they would eventually become enemies before leaving.
• Su Xing'an woke and excitedly told Zhang Guangmu about his success in the simulation, then affirmed that Zhang Guangmu would always be his master.
• Zhang Guangmu advised Su Xing'an to stay in and predicted that Bai Mu would bring trouble to the world.

As the Sword Cultivator Bai Mu terrorized the city and the Azure Star Federation concealed his killings, Zhang Guangmu planned to grow stronger by helping people fulfill their obsessions and harvesting Wish Power. The chapter ended with Subconscious Film star Chu Fan identifying himself as a Planetary Security Bureau officer and confronting Zhang Guangmu as a visitor from another world.

• Bai Mu abandoned his plans to establish a sect and began killing people, while the Federation suppressed reports of his rampage.
• Zhang Guangmu explained to Su Xing'an that Bai Mu was an immortal from the Nether Star who had deceived the Federation, and Su Xing'an began taking roles and training to improve himself.
• Most other Subconscious Actors grew fearful and pursued pleasure instead of improving, while Bai Mu gained fanatical followers and grew stronger by harvesting negative emotions.
• Zhang Guangmu resolved to eliminate the Sword Cultivator and pursue Wish Power by helping people fulfill their ideals and obsessions.
• Chu Fan arrived in a Sky Blue uniform, introduced himself as a Level 2 Planetary Security Bureau officer, and addressed Zhang Guangmu as a visitor from another world.

Chu Fan confronted Zhang Guangmu about his suspected connection to a brutal sword cultivator and showed him videos of the man’s killings. Zhang Guangmu offered to help the Azure Star Federation stop the cultivator, but said he needed the Security Bureau and Federation’s support.

• Chu Fan told Zhang Guangmu that he believed the sword cultivator came from the same place and had a connection to him.
• Su Xing'an explained the Otherworldly Immortal Transmigration Incident to Chu Fan while withholding some details about the original self and the heart demon’s incarnation.
• Chu Fan showed Zhang Guangmu and Su Xing'an graphic videos of the sword cultivator slaughtering civilians, and Su Xing'an recognized him as his martial uncle.
• Su Xing'an insisted that Zhang Guangmu was nothing like the lawless sword cultivator, and Zhang Guangmu described two cultivation paths that could work in the Azure Star Federation.
• Zhang Guangmu offered to help stop the sword cultivator and asked Chu Fan to secure support from the Security Bureau or the Federation.

Zhang Guangmu negotiated with Azure Star’s Chief Executive Officer, Marshall Li, and secured the Federation’s support by offering to help him achieve longevity. With the alliance established, Zhang Guangmu founded the Star Road Subconscious Actor training agency.

• Chu Fan’s tablet connected Zhang Guangmu to Azure Star’s senior officials, including Chief Executive Officer Marshall Li.
• Zhang Guangmu claimed he could improve people through subconscious training and argued that longevity was possible, though eternal life was not.
• Marshall Li revealed that he wanted eternal life, and Zhang Guangmu warned him that the Sword Cultivator would deceive him with false promises.
• Zhang Guangmu convinced Marshall Li that he was the main body and the Sword Cultivator was his inner demon, then secured the Azure Star Federation’s help.
• Zhang Guangmu chose the name Star Road, and the Federation established it as a nonprofit Subconscious Actor training agency.

Zhang Guangmu built the Star Road Agency and strengthened his Imperial Body Forging Technique before meeting the rogue Sword Cultivator. The Sword Cultivator condemned Zhang Guangmu as weak and attacked him with golden sword light.

• Zhang Guangmu helped the Star Road Agency grow with support from the Azure Star Federation, Su Xing'an, and Chu Fan, while his abilities improved.
• After learning the Sword Cultivator had turned against the Federation and was killing civilians, Zhang Guangmu arranged to meet him and set out with Chu Fan.
• Zhang Guangmu found a page depicting two nearly identical Sword Cultivators, gained an Usable Ability Point, and raised Imperial Body Forging Technique to level 14.
• The Sword Cultivator appeared and overwhelmed Chu Fan with his presence, then criticized Zhang Guangmu for being weak.
• The Sword Cultivator declared that Zhang Guangmu should die and lunged at him amid brilliant golden sword light.

Zhang Guangmu fought Bai Mu, the sword cultivator who revealed that their world was a game called "Star Road Rampage" and that he intended to transcend it. Bai Mu withdrew after their battle ended in a draw, while falling stars brought humanlike newcomers into the scene.

• The immortal sword's attacks tore through the surroundings but did not harm Zhang Guangmu, and he told Bai Mu that he wanted to understand why he had changed.
• Bai Mu challenged Zhang Guangmu to defeat him, and the two fought in a clash that left neither with an advantage.
• Bai Mu declared that the world was a game called "Star Road Rampage" and that he would break through its limits to become a truly existing being.
• Golden Neck flew from Bai Mu to Zhang Guangmu, and Bai Mu left without asking for it back.
• Zhang Guangmu saw Bai Mu's challenge level marked as 93 and his own as 88, then watched falling stars turn into humanlike newcomers, including Chu Fan.

After Bai Mu vanished, Zhang Guangmu questioned whether Azure Star was truly a game world and observed the players arriving. Poison Apple insulted Zhang Guangmu over an old grudge, and Zhang Guangmu killed him with a single sword strike.

• Bai Mu disappeared after his battle with Zhang Guangmu, who saw the players losing health as they stared up at him.
• Zhang Guangmu rejected the Script Hint’s assumptions and decided to test whether the world was a game before acting on its supposed plot.
• Players crowded around Chu Fan and Su Xing'an, and Su Xing'an grew frightened after understanding their claims that his world was an online game.
• After most players accepted beginner quests and left, Zhang Guangmu descended and Poison Apple insulted him over their past conflict.
• Zhang Guangmu struck Poison Apple with a golden sword light, sending his head falling to the ground.

Zhang Guangmu discovered that he could issue quests and rewards to players, while Poison Apple repeatedly revived and tried to get revenge on him. Poison Apple switched accounts and leveled up, but Zhang Guangmu found and killed him again, leaving him furious and ready to quit.

• Zhang Guangmu killed Poison Apple and reassured Chu Fan that the player would revive, while the other players reacted excitedly and asked for quests.
• Zhang Guangmu issued quests and rewards to the players, then killed Poison Apple again each time he revived.
• Zhang Guangmu told Su Xing'an he would reveal the truth if Su Xing'an passed the trials, and instructed Chu Fan to have soldiers guard Poison Apple's resurrection point.
• Poison Apple complained about Zhang Guangmu on the player forum, switched to a new account, and began leveling up so he could take revenge.
• Zhang Guangmu tracked Poison Apple down after he reached level five and killed him, prompting Poison Apple to curse the game and declare he was quitting.

Zhang Guangmu explained that his cooperation with players on the “Transcendence” quests relied on understanding their real-world identities and goals. Poison Apple Seven returned to confront him, was quickly subdued, and respawned eager to hear more.

• Poison Apple created an alternate account and returned to “Star Road Rampage,” intending to pretend to submit to Zhang Guangmu while investigating the rewards drawing players to hunt him.
• Zhang Guangmu’s experimental quests, “Ten Thousand Ways to Die” and “Kindred Spirit,” attracted players, while his “Transcendence” quest drew devoted supporters.
• Zhang Guangmu observed that White Moon’s efforts to level up would not help him transcend, and believed he himself was following the right path.
• Poison Apple Seven confronted Zhang Guangmu and demanded to know why players were hunting him, but Zhang Guangmu recognized his insincere apology and pinned him down with Golden Neck and White Moon.
• Zhang Guangmu explained that he cooperated with “Transcendence” players by learning their real-world identities and finding ways to satisfy their goals.
• Poison Apple Seven disappeared after Zhang Guangmu released him, then respawned in front of him and eagerly awaited his explanation.

Zhang Guangmu explained how he could build influence in the real world by connecting people’s needs and using morality, law, and fear to secure their cooperation. Convinced that Zhang Guangmu was a dangerous figure with real-world reach, Poison Apple confessed his plan to have him erased and asked for forgiveness.

• Zhang Guangmu described arranging a trade between Zhang San and Li Si to show how he could connect virtual and real-world interests.
• Zhang Guangmu explained that even people who opposed him could strengthen his influence by uniting his supporters against them.
• Zhang Guangmu said he could secure cooperation through morality, law, or fear, and use people’s dreams, bonds, desires, and beliefs to influence them.
• Poison Apple fell to his knees and confessed that he had planned to use real-world departments to erase Zhang Guangmu’s character.
• Zhang Guangmu told Poison Apple that admitting his mistake was virtuous and that the most troublesome opponents were those who could neither be persuaded nor threatened.

Zhang Guangmu hired Poison Apple to tamper with a ZAKEN, and the plan led to agent Louis Kregawein’s death. Poison Apple was cleared of the poisoning charge and, despite fearing Zhang Guangmu, later sought him out for another task.

• Zhang Guangmu paid Poison Apple a deposit to grind a peanut into powder and sprinkle it inside the ZAKEN in C137 District.
• Louis Kregawein went to the ZAKEN, planning to teleport to a casino before reporting his investigation into Zhang Guangmu.
• Louis kicked Poison Apple out of the ZAKEN, then suffered a fatal allergic reaction after using it; the gathered onlookers did not call for help until he was dead.
• Poison Apple was arrested as a suspect in Louis’s death but released after investigators attributed it to acute laryngeal edema from a peanut allergy.
• Poison Apple spent several days using his reward, then returned to Star Road Rampage and sought Zhang Guangmu out for another Boundary Crossing task.

Zhang Guangmu explained the truth about the world to Chu Fan and Su Xing'an, then faced Sakagami Tomoyo, an authority holder opposing his plans. The final confrontation began in an isolated space where Sakagami Tomoyo intended to subdue or erase him.

• Poison Apple and the Little White Balls discussed Poison Apple's surrender and Zhang Guangmu's rise in Star Road Rampage.
• Poison Apple praised The Punisher at the Star Road Agency as Su Xing'an's success in The Path of the Immortal King came after Zhang Guangmu arranged for him to study books.
• Su Xing'an, troubled by doubts about whether his world was real, went to Zhang Guangmu, who explained his plan and part of the world's truth to him and Chu Fan.
• Sakagami Tomoyo appeared before Zhang Guangmu as an authority holder and revealed that the movie had reached its final scene, titled 'Strangling Zhang Guangmu.'
• Sakagami Tomoyo created an isolated space and said he would rather subjugate Zhang Guangmu than erase him, before the two began their final confrontation.

Sakagami Tomoyo revealed that the Eternal Life Plan used the Cloud Mind Transfer Technology and fed NPCs and players to data-based humans. When he tried to erase Zhang Guangmu, the attack failed, and a younger man with the same original code appeared to explain why.

• Sakagami Tomoyo explained that the Eternal Lifers consumed NPCs and some players for energy and that Star Road Rampage was an experiment for the Eternal Life Plan.
• Zhang Guangmu deduced that the transformed figures could return their consciousness to their bodies and accused Sakagami Tomoyo of planning to consume the Awakened Ones.
• Sakagami Tomoyo declared Zhang Guangmu a threat and unleashed the Golden Eraser to delete him.
• The Golden Eraser could not delete Zhang Guangmu because his data was occupied, leaving Sakagami Tomoyo shocked.
• A younger man resembling Zhang Guangmu appeared behind Sakagami Tomoyo and said someone with Zhang Guangmu's exact original code could die in his place.

White Mu sacrificed himself to protect Zhang Guangmu, who then defeated Sakagami Tomoyo in Star Road Rampage and forced him back into the Real World. Armed agents working with Zhang Guangmu killed Sakagami Tomoyo, and the news reported his death as suicide after twenty-seven bullets.

• White Mu sacrificed himself and urged Zhang Guangmu to live and shatter the falsehood of the world.
• Zhang Guangmu disrupted Sakagami Tomoyo’s power and struck him with White Moon and Golden Neck, emptying his health bar.
• Sakagami Tomoyo revived, but Zhang Guangmu’s actions severed his connection to Star Road Rampage and returned him to the Real World.
• Armed food-delivery workers confronted Sakagami Tomoyo in the server room and played Zhang Guangmu’s message that Sakagami’s value was replaceable.
• The armed workers shot Sakagami Tomoyo, and global news reported that he had died by suicide after taking twenty-seven bullets.

Zhang Guangmu confronted the Earth Federation Supreme Council over his future, and the council’s attempt to stop the Boundary Crossing Experiment failed as he and his allies overthrew its leaders. Su Xing'an and Chu Fan awakened in the Real World, where Zhang Guangmu announced he planned to become a writer before Star Road Rampage froze.

• John Bradley, Gerald Nimitz, and Takakura Natsue dismissed Zhang Guangmu’s demands, and Ji Xingchun offered him only one Dimensional Ascension slot while announcing the Boundary Crossing Experiment would end.
• A mechanical report revealed that the council could not suppress the experiment, and Zhang Guangmu said that those who ate people should die.
• Explosions annihilated Ji Xingchun, John Bradley, Takakura Natsue, and the other council members, whose deaths were concealed as accidents or illness.
• Su Xing'an and Chu Fan awakened in life-support tanks in the Real World and found Zhang Guangmu waiting for them.
• Zhang Guangmu told his companions he planned to become a writer and write a novel called "Endless Food Bag," and Star Road Rampage froze.

After “Star Road Rampage” earned an Excellent evaluation, Zhang Guangmu checked the audience’s reactions and watched Director Qian Yiyuan get arrested. The chapter ended with Su Xing'an inviting Zhang Guangmu to discuss a post-apocalyptic film with Ma Wu, scheduled to begin in a month.

• Zhang Guangmu read online discussions about the “Endless Food Bag” line and confirmed it came from his implanted False Memory.
• Qian Yiyuan was arrested after finishing “Star Road Rampage,” but he praised Zhang Guangmu’s performance and promised to return with another script.
• Su Xing'an livestreamed Qian Yiyuan’s arrest and said he was looking forward to working with unconventional directors.
• Su Xing'an told Zhang Guangmu that Ma Wu wanted to discuss a new post-apocalyptic film collaboration planned for a month later.

Su Xing'an negotiated with Zhang Guangmu, while Zhang celebrated his acting fee with Chu Fan and Zhao Zhengrong over a meal. The gathering ended with Chu Fan drunk and Zhao Zhengrong quietly drinking as he stared into an illusory world.

• Su Xing'an reflected on his growth and negotiated with Zhang Guangmu on behalf of the Glimmer, adding his and Ma Wu's numbers to Zhang's call whitelist.
• Zhao Zhengrong visited Zhang Guangmu to check on him, then invited Zhang and Chu Fan to eat.
• Zhang Guangmu argued that the crew should get accustomed to alcohol for future acting roles, and Zhao Zhengrong agreed.
• Zhang Guangmu received 493 Dragon Shields and set a goal of becoming a Four-Star Subconscious Actor before May next year.
• Zhang Guangmu failed to reach Li Xiaoxiao, Tang Lanshan, Luo Zhuan, and Jiang Ling, so he took Mooncake to eat with Chu Fan and Zhao Zhengrong.
• Chu Fan got drunk, while Zhao Zhengrong drank silently and became absorbed in an illusory world.

After a night of drinking, Zhang Guangmu considered joining Director Meng Lingrui’s new film and watched his fans and anti-fans argue over Star Road Rampage. As his friends defended him and Mooncake seemed to join the online debate, Zhang Guangmu sensed that his Usable Ability Points had arrived.

• Zhang Guangmu returned to his cabin sober after drinking with Chu Fan and Zhao Zhengrong, then cleaned up the books Mooncake had scattered.
• Ma Wu invited Zhang Guangmu to consider a role in Director Meng Lingrui’s untitled film, which was scheduled to begin filming on September 1 and would feature Wang Shangqing.
• Zhang Guangmu became interested in playing a member of the Protagonist Group and browsed heated forum debates about his films and performance in Star Road Rampage.
• Zhang Guangmu discovered that Tian Guang Camp and the Gravediggers were jointly arguing across film-review sites, while Li Xiaoxiao urged him to join in and claimed Su Xing'an, Ma Wu, and Mooncake were helping.
• Zhang Guangmu realized Li Xiaoxiao had been exaggerating about Mooncake’s participation, then sensed that his Usable Ability Points had arrived.

Zhang Guangmu admired the Book of Acting’s revised commentary on his Star Road Rampage performance and saved his Usable Ability Point. At a directors’ meeting, Sun Yanwu defended Zhang Guangmu’s changing performances as deliberate rather than a collapse of his Character Setting.

• Zhang Guangmu read the Book of Acting’s depiction of Black Mu and gained one Usable Ability Point.
• The Book of Acting replaced its commentary with “All Things Are Illusions, All Things Are Permitted. Walk in the darkness, serve the light.”
• Zhang Guangmu decided to save his Usable Ability Point and reserve future points for upgrading the Imperial Body Forging Technique.
• Meng Lingrui listened as fellow directors debated whether Zhang Guangmu’s Character Setting had collapsed.
• Sun Yanwu argued that Zhang Guangmu was entering the takeoff phase of his career and that his changing performances were intentional.