Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cheng Mei senses Gao Linzhi’s hidden supernatural presence and follows him out of the city, believing he may be connected to the coming apocalypse and the mysterious “Players.”
• She finds Gao Linzhi in a forest while he is preparing to receive two hundred Players sent by Wuliao. Cheng Mei boldly asks to enter the game world.
• Gao explains that game slots are costly and limited because each Player requires substantial resources, equipment, transportation, and support. The game’s harsh early system was designed to eliminate incapable Players, though it also allowed Company Executives to kill talented newcomers. Safe Zones were later established to protect promising individuals.
• Cheng Mei reveals that she wants power because she refuses to become disposable material during the apocalypse. Gao recognizes her foresight and determination but does not give her a slot immediately. Instead, he assigns her to Wuliao’s offline team and tells her to earn one through useful contributions.
• Wuliao accepts Cheng Mei after observing her resolve. His talking console suggests using her as a sacrificial offering, sparking Wuliao’s anger and highlighting the ruthless logic surrounding ordinary people and Players.
• Wuliao gives Cheng Mei a Skill Book teaching basic empathic perception. If she can master it, he promises to help her obtain a game slot.
• Gao Linzhi leads the two hundred Players to Spice Island. Their mission is to guard the island, avoid interfering in the village’s internal affairs, and periodically impersonate court officials to collect Enlightenment Incense.
• The Players’ monopoly over the incense will allow Gao’s forces to strengthen themselves while trading the valuable material for cheap supplies such as cloth, grain, and medicine. The arrangement also provides Gao with a steady source of wealth for funding his development.
• Gao returns to Wolf Snake Island and the Longevity Society. There, Chang Yu announces that an Ice Snow Anomaly has appeared near Bear City. The area has become a freezing zone, and no one can escape.
• The anomaly expands by one meter whenever someone inside dies. Since hundreds of thousands of people are trapped within it, the disaster could grow catastrophically if no rescue is attempted.
• The Longevity Society members show little interest in helping until Chang Yu reveals that an Ice Snow Sacred Fruit has appeared there, supposedly capable of increasing one’s constitution by dozens of points.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Cheng Mei develops from an observant civilian into a determined potential recruit. Her awareness of supernatural changes, willingness to take risks, and fear of becoming expendable demonstrate intelligence, ambition, and survival instinct.
• Gao Linzhi remains pragmatic and self-protective. He understands Cheng Mei’s qualities but refuses to spend valuable resources on her without proof of usefulness. His plans focus on accumulating power, wealth, and reliable manpower before the coming crisis worsens.
• Wuliao appears more morally restrained than the console guiding him. Although he accepts the harsh realities of the Player system, he objects to treating every ordinary person as disposable material and gives Cheng Mei a genuine chance to prove herself.
• The Console embodies a ruthless survival-of-the-fittest philosophy, arguing that only a few elite individuals will matter in the future and that most others are expendable.
• Gao and Wuliao’s interaction with Cheng Mei establishes a conditional path toward her becoming a Player: she must first demonstrate talent and usefulness through training and service.
• The Longevity Society’s reaction to the Ice Snow Anomaly shows that its members are motivated primarily by personal survival and advancement rather than humanitarian concern. Their interest begins only when the Sacred Fruit’s value is mentioned.

Significant Themes

• Preparation versus complacency: Cheng Mei recognizes the approaching apocalypse while ordinary people continue living normally, emphasizing the value of foresight.
• Human beings as resources: The game’s limited slots, Player deaths, sacrificial offerings, and the console’s comments all present people as expendable assets in a larger struggle.
• Pragmatism and morality: Wuliao and Gao accept harsh realities but differ in how far they are willing to go. The chapter questions whether survival justifies cruelty.
• Power, monopolies, and exploitation: Gao’s control of Enlightenment Incense mirrors the government’s exploitation of the island’s resources, while allowing him to build an independent power base.
• The widening supernatural crisis: Cheng Mei’s discoveries and the Ice Snow Anomaly confirm that abnormal events are escalating from isolated incidents into large-scale disasters.
• Self-preservation over heroism: Gao admits he cannot prevent the coming catastrophe and chooses to strengthen himself instead. The Longevity Society similarly avoids rescue until personal benefits are revealed.

Ending

The chapter ends with the revelation that the Ice Snow Anomaly is not only a massive humanitarian disaster but also the site of an Ice Snow Sacred Fruit capable of greatly enhancing physical constitution. This transforms the Society’s attitude and sets up a likely conflict over whether to rescue the trapped population, claim the fruit, or exploit the disaster for personal advancement.

Chapter Summary: The Gap Between Ordinary People and Players, Breaking Through the Ice Wall

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chang Yu reveals a photograph of the Ice Snow Sacred Fruit, a rare treasure capable of directly increasing a person’s constitution. The players are shocked by its value, learning that each fruit may be worth at least fifty kilograms of gold.
• Motivated by the promise of greater strength and longevity, the players agree to travel to Bear City, despite the danger.
• The Longevity Society’s real purpose becomes clear: its executives use missions like this to keep powerful players occupied, directing their energy toward fighting Anomalies instead of challenging the existing corporate order. The players recognize this manipulation but accept it because they desire Immortality.
• In Bear City, the group discovers a stark boundary between a normal, temperate region and the city center, which is trapped in an intensely cold, snow-covered Anomaly domain.
• Survivors inside the city notice the players hovering outside and beg for rescue. However, the players remain cautious, prioritizing the Ice Snow Sacred Fruit rather than risking their lives to save strangers.
• A transparent Ice Wall blocks the survivors from escaping. The players test its strength using a puppet and determine that ordinary force, weapons, explosives, and fire are unlikely to work.
• The players ask the trapped survivors whether anyone has seen the sacred fruit. A young man lies about knowing its location in an attempt to lure them inside, but the players immediately see through him.
• An old man provides genuine evidence: a photograph showing the Ice Snow Sacred Fruit growing on a tree in a frozen park. In exchange for guiding them, he asks the players to rescue himself, his grandson, and the grandson’s family.
• Other survivors seize the old man as a hostage and demand that the players save everyone. The players ignore the threat and begin attacking the Ice Wall.
• After using puppets, talismans, equipment, and Mysterious Energy, the players eventually create a gap in the wall. Survivors rush toward it, but the first person to cross is immediately struck by the Anomaly’s cold power and frozen solid. The others halt in terror.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi acts as a cautious observer. Rather than rushing into the domain, he studies the Ice Wall and considers how the Anomaly might grow stronger, possibly by killing more people or expanding its territory.
• The players/Longevity Beings reveal their priorities clearly: although some possess limited moral concern, most place survival, strength, and Immortality above rescuing ordinary civilians. They understand that entering the domain could expose them to unknown rules and death.
• The Longevity Society executives are shown to be calculating and politically strategic. They exploit the players’ desire for longevity to keep them busy with dangerous missions and preserve the existing social order.
• The young survivor demonstrates desperation and selfishness by attempting to deceive the players and later regretting that his lie failed.
• The old man contrasts with the young liar. He provides verifiable information and negotiates honestly, asking not only for his own rescue but also for the safety of his family.
• The trapped survivors become increasingly desperate and irrational. Their pleas turn into demands, hostage-taking, and attempts to force the players to assume responsibility for them.

Significant Themes

• The divide between ordinary people and supernatural players: The survivors view the players as obligated saviors, while the players see themselves as individuals with no duty to risk their lives for strangers.
• Self-preservation versus morality: The chapter questions whether strength creates a responsibility to protect the weak. The players largely reject that idea, especially when the danger is unknown.
• Exploitation and social control: The Longevity Society uses missions and the promise of Immortality to control powerful individuals, turning them into tools against Anomalies while protecting corporate interests.
• The cruelty of Anomalies: The Ice Wall represents a hostile, rule-based supernatural force. Physical strength alone is insufficient, and even escape routes may be traps.
• Desperation and human selfishness: Fear of death causes people to lie, threaten, betray one another, and sacrifice others for a chance at survival.
• The limits of power: Although the players can fly, use supernatural abilities, and attack the Ice Wall, they still lack complete control over the Anomaly and must proceed carefully.

Character Interactions

• The Longevity Society persuades the players to join the mission by presenting the sacred fruit and appealing to their desire for greater constitutions and longer lives.
• Survivors plead with the players from behind the Ice Wall, offering money and property in exchange for rescue.
• The players question the trapped civilians about the fruit, exposing the young man’s dishonest attempt to manipulate them.
• The old man earns the players’ trust by showing photographic proof and offering useful guidance, while requesting rescue for his family.
• Other survivors turn against the old man, taking him hostage and attempting to force the players into rescuing everyone.
• The players respond to the hostages with indifference, demonstrating the emotional and moral distance between them and the ordinary civilians.
• The final failed escape attempt reinforces the players’ caution: the Ice Wall is not merely a physical barrier, but an active supernatural threat capable of killing those who cross it.

Key Plot Points and Events

• An anomaly, a cold light, kills survivors who approach it.
• Players arrive, protected by Skills and equipment, and enter the anomaly's domain.
• Survivors beg players to save them, but players refuse, only interested in an Ice Snow Sacred Fruit.
• A player attempts to fly and retrieve the fruit but is killed by ice spears and ice cones.
• Players observe the fruit for an hour, afraid to approach due to powerful ice spears.
• A player uses a survivor as a test subject, ordering him to retrieve the fruit.

Character Developments

• Survivors: Desperate, hopeful, and resentful towards players, they cling to the idea that powerful people should protect them.
• Players: Reveal their selfish and cruel nature, only caring for their own interests and using others as disposable tools.
• Gao Linzhi: Remains hidden, observing the situation, and doesn't interfere with other players' actions.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: The strong exploit the weak, and the powerful use their strength for personal gain rather than to help others.
• Human nature: Survivors' desperation and hope contrast with players' selfishness and cruelty.
• The cost of survival: Characters face moral dilemmas and tough choices in their struggle to survive.

Character Interactions

• Survivors and players: Survivors beg players for help, but players refuse, seeing them only as cannon fodder or obstacles.
• Players among themselves: They cooperate to observe and retrieve the fruit but show no regard for each other's lives.
• Gao Linzhi and other characters: Gao remains hidden, not interacting with other characters, focusing on his own goals.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Linzhi is forced to retrieve the Ice Snow Sacred Fruit while the players use ordinary survivors as sacrifices. Anyone who touches the frozen lake is absorbed and killed by the ice.
• The players discover that the phenomenon weakens whenever it “digests” a victim. More than a dozen survivors die before the freezing effect nearly stops.
• A player takes the apparent Ice Snow Sacred Fruit, provoking conflict among the Longevity Society members. However, Gao Linzhi had already secretly stolen the real fruit and replaced it with an ordinary decorative item.
• Gao Linzhi realizes that the sealed ice city functions like a book: moving through it causes the “pages” of reality to turn, abruptly changing the environment.
• He consumes the genuine Ice Snow Sacred Fruit through his Game Character, gaining Constitution and Spirit. The frozen landscape transforms into an unbearable furnace.
• Survivors struggle against extreme heat, lacking electricity, water, and reliable shelter. Many collapse or die, while the players remain relatively safe due to their supernatural abilities.
• Gao Linzhi saves an old man from heatstroke but reflects that he has largely lost his desire to help others, partly because of past experiences with ungrateful people.
• The players realize that obtaining the fruit triggered the environmental change. When they inspect their fruit, they discover it is only a fake “Christmas Fruit,” confirming that someone secretly stole the real treasure.
• The players locate another treasure, the Flame Fruit, but Gao Linzhi steals it as well. He consumes it and gains further stat increases.
• The furnace transforms into a vast desert containing a circular highway. The anomaly begins imitating the players’ Game System and announces a new “Path of Survival,” requiring participants to find transportation and travel along the road.
• The anomaly is revealed to be adapting to the outside world and feeding on the concentrated survival emotions produced by extreme trials. It has evolved by observing the players and copying game-like mechanics.
• The survivors are deceived by the fake system and believe they can become superhumans. Meanwhile, the players realize that the deaths have caused the map to expand, increasing the distance between locations.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi becomes increasingly calculating, secretive, and ruthless. He openly prioritizes obtaining power and immortality over fairness, reputation, or cooperation.
• Despite his emotional detachment, Gao Linzhi proves that he retains a small amount of humanity by rescuing the old man from certain death.
• He accepts that he has developed a defensive philosophy of “respecting others’ fates” to avoid being exploited or betrayed.
• The players become more distrustful and competitive. Although they claim to be allies within the Longevity Society, their behavior reveals that they view one another as rivals.
• The ordinary survivors grow increasingly desperate and dependent on supposed superhumans or system-like powers, making them vulnerable to manipulation.
• The anomaly itself develops like an intelligent character, learning from human behavior and imitating the Game System to become more effective.

Significant Themes

• Survival versus morality: The players sacrifice civilians without hesitation, while Gao Linzhi struggles with whether helping others is worthwhile.
• Power and ruthlessness: The chapter argues that pursuing immortality or dominance requires abandoning pride, softness, and concern for social approval.
• Mistrust and rivalry: Even supposed allies immediately turn against one another when a valuable treasure appears.
• Human exploitation: Ordinary people are treated as expendable resources by the players and as emotional fuel by the anomaly.
• Adaptation and imitation: The anomaly evolves by copying familiar systems, demonstrating how supernatural forces can exploit human expectations.
• Reality as a constructed narrative: The “book world” metaphor suggests that space, events, and survival scenarios are being rearranged like pages in a story.
• False hope: The fake fruit and counterfeit Game System show how easily people cling to familiar patterns, even when they are being deceived.

Character Interactions

• The players intimidate and hypnotize survivors into approaching the frozen lake, treating their deaths as a method for weakening the anomaly.
• Players argue over the first fruit, using threats to prevent its holder from consuming or destroying it.
• Survivors plead with the players to restore the Ice Snow Sacred Fruit and save them from the heat, but the players ignore their appeals.
• The players accuse one another of stealing the treasures and eventually suspect that the first player who “died” had faked his death.
• Gao Linzhi remains hidden from the players, repeatedly stealing the genuine treasures while leaving convincing substitutes behind.
• Survivors embrace the anomaly’s false system and look to the players for guidance, unaware that both the players and the anomaly are exploiting them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Linzhi leaves the city center and encounters a glass wall at the edge of the Anomalies' domain.
• He observes Company Executives and ordinary people gathered outside, attracted by rumors of a magical fruit.
• The glass wall expands, and Federation executives arrive to assess the situation.
• News of the Anomaly spreads globally, causing panic and demands for action from players.
• A 7-person team from the Federation attempts to enter the glass wall to investigate.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi demonstrates his ability to gain Inspiration and make strategic decisions based on his high Spirit data.
• Company Executives are portrayed as selfish and unwilling to act unless forced, while ordinary people are shown to be easily influenced and desperate for change.
• Players are revealed to be trapped within the Anomalies' territory and unable to leave, forcing them to participate in the road survival game.

Significant Themes

• The theme of survival and the struggle for resources is prominent, with ordinary people and players competing for the magical fruit and safety.
• The concept of Anomalies as entities with intelligence and the ability to manipulate their environment is introduced.
• The role of information and communication in shaping public perception and action is highlighted, with news of the Anomaly spreading rapidly and influencing global opinion.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi interacts with the crowd outside the glass wall, overhearing their conversations and learning about their motivations and fears.
• Company Executives and ordinary people are shown to be at odds, with the former exploiting the latter and the latter seeking to hold the former accountable.
• Players and survivors within the Anomalies' territory are portrayed as having little regard for each other's well-being, focusing on their own survival instead.

Plot Points and Events

• Survivors and players struggle for survival in a desert anomaly, watched by outsiders via live streams.
• Middle-aged survivor, Da Zhuang, obtains a stamina potion and green equipment from chests, but loses them due to fights with other survivors.
• Zhang Fu, a former special forces soldier, enters the anomaly, finds valuable equipment and a jade pendant, but is challenged by another survivor.

Character Developments

• Da Zhuang shows resilience and adaptability but lacks combat skills and awareness.
• Zhang Fu demonstrates strategic thinking, resourcefulness, and combat skills, but underestimates his opponent.

Significant Themes

• Survival of the fittest in a post-apocalyptic world.
• The power of adaptability and resourcefulness.
• The dangers of underestimating opponents and overconfidence.

Character Interactions

• Da Zhuang vs. Skinny Man: A fight over resources, highlighting the ruthlessness of survival.
• Da Zhuang vs. Third Person: Da Zhuang's determination to survive and reclaim his lost item.
• Zhang Fu vs. Unknown Survivor: A clash between corporate-backed survivors, showcasing their combat skills and confidence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A newcomer and Zhang Fu engage in a fierce battle, drawing cheers from livestream viewers.
• Zhang Fu wounds the newcomer, who reveals that killing him will strengthen the anomaly.
• Zhang Fu spares the newcomer, using him as bait to distract pursuing wolves.
• Zhang Fu opens a treasure chest and draws a cursed item, writing his last words before dying.
• The livestreamer discusses the rules of the anomaly and its devouring nature.
• The Federation decides to take proactive responsibility and sends security personnel to seal off the anomaly.
• Trapped players realize they can't revive within the anomaly domain and suspect other players are interfering.

Character Developments

• Zhang Fu shows strategic thinking and survival instincts, using the newcomer as bait.
• The newcomer reveals information about the anomaly's rules under duress.
• Gao Linzhi, the livestreamer, demonstrates knowledge about the anomaly and its rules.
• Shi Zhongsheng, the Federation President, shows decisive leadership and a different perspective on the current situation.

Significant Themes

• The devouring nature of the anomaly and its attraction for human lives.
• The struggle for power and survival in the face of anomalies.
• The role of players in the new era and their potential interference with anomalies.
• The Federation's proactive approach to dealing with anomalies and rallying commoners.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Fu and the newcomer engage in a battle of wits and strength.
• Gao Linzhi interacts with his livestream audience, discussing the anomaly's rules.
• Federation Executives discuss strategies and are reprimanded by Shi Zhongsheng.
• Trapped players discuss their situation and suspect other players' interference.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Players travel in a large truck, avoiding monsters while evolving.
• Gao Linzhi, using the Sense Linking Technique, observes the players' journey.
• The road seems endless due to space and maze manipulation.
• Gao Linzhi decides to stop caring about the situation and focuses on trading game items.

Character Developments

• Players remain cautious despite their strength, aware of evolving monsters.
• Gao Linzhi realizes his advantage as "The Only Ordinary Player" and decides to focus on trading.

Significant Themes

• The Anomalies domain acts as a death trap and a Safe Zone.
• The value and scarcity of game items, particularly Revival Stones.
• The distorted prosperity of the Safe Zone and the desolation outside.

Character Interactions

• Players discuss their strategy, agreeing to keep moving and ignore Treasure Chests.
• Gao Linzhi observes the players but decides not to engage with their situation.
• Gao Linzhi interacts with his subordinates through the game panel, checking his merchandise and company affairs.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The only absolute safe area, the Shrine Safe Zone, attracts attention from companies and individuals in the real world, leading to a rush to obtain player identities and secure plots within the Safe Zone.
• Gao Linzhi observes the growing interest in Bear City's Anomaly and the collaboration between a player and the Anomaly.
• Intelligence reports reveal the truth behind the Game data panel, the mastermind player's abilities, and the conditions for clearing the Game.
• A cloaked figure brings an "Absolute Defense Shield" to auction in East Wolf Village's Safe Zone, causing a commotion and a confrontation with a young man who claims the shield was originally his.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi demonstrates his strategic thinking and understanding of the game's mechanics, using intelligence reports to stay informed and make decisions.
• The cloaked figure shows cunning and determination in trying to sell the shield, while the young man displays anger and desperation in attempting to reclaim it.

Significant Themes

• The value of real estate and Safe Zones in the game world, reflecting the real-world importance of property and resources.
• The consequences of collaboration with Anomalies and the potential dangers of relying on them for protection.
• The impact of the game's mechanics on player behavior and interactions, such as the competition for loot and the desire for power.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi interacts with his subordinates, Wu Liao and Xu Gou, discussing strategies and preparations for the influx of supplies.
• The cloaked figure and the young man engage in a heated argument over the ownership of the "Absolute Defense Shield," ultimately leading to a physical altercation that results in both of them being expelled from the Safe Zone.

Chapter Summary: “New Mission: Raiding the Fleet”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A valuable Absolute Defense Shield, capable of providing five uses of absolute protection, becomes the center of a public dispute in the village.
• A young player claims the shield was stolen from him and provides a screenshot as evidence, but most onlookers dismiss his claim, arguing that possession determines ownership in the game.
• Gao Linzhi decides to obtain the shield. Through Wuliao, he negotiates with the hooded seller.
• The seller initially demands 500 Revival Stones, then asks for permanent ownership of a 100-square-meter Safe Zone unit. After bargaining, the item is purchased for 15 square meters of Safe Zone space and two Revival Stones.
• The seller immediately converts the small room into a multi-level “pigeonhole” sleeping area and rents out the spaces, turning the deal into a profitable long-term business.
• The young claimant disappears, while Gao becomes more confident that the seller intends to remain in the village and was not simply fleeing after the sale.
• It is revealed that the shield was deliberately created by the Longevity Society as bait. The item contains a formation that would allow them to sense its surroundings and spy on Gao after he equipped it.
• Gao’s expert Appraisal Skill exposes the hidden surveillance formation. Rather than using the shield normally, he spends a week deciphering and breaking the formation.
• During this process, Gao fully masters the Longevity Technique, raising both his physique and spirit to 2,000. He regrets that previous attribute-boosting fruits were effectively wasted, but recognizes that the overall breakthrough is extremely valuable.
• After studying the Petrification Technique, Gao receives a mission from the headmaster to sabotage an imperial fleet traveling to Osmanthus Island.
• The fleet is collecting Osmanthus Fish, a valuable resource that strengthens the bodies of the imperial court’s martial warriors.
• The Game System turns the assignment into a rebel-faction storyline mission: “Raid the Imperial Court’s Fleet.” Players with at least 500 physique and spirit can register, with rewards including Rare Osmanthus Divine Fish, faction reputation, and improved relations with the headmaster.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi demonstrates caution, financial restraint, and strong investigative instincts. Although he wants the shield, he refuses to overpay and quickly suspects that its suspicious appearance is part of a trap.
• His expert Appraisal Skill and formation knowledge allow him to uncover and neutralize the Longevity Society’s surveillance plan.
• Gao reaches a major cultivation milestone by mastering the Longevity Technique, gaining immense physical and spiritual power.
• Wuliao acts as Gao’s negotiator, skillfully bargaining the seller down from 100 square meters to 15 while protecting Gao’s interests.
• The hooded seller proves opportunistic and business-minded, transforming his Safe Zone room into a profitable rental space.
• The young claimant fails to recover the shield legally or socially and leaves after threatening the eventual buyer.
• The Longevity Society is shown to be persistent and calculating, using psychological profiling and specially modified items to try to uncover Gao’s secrets.
• The headmaster begins involving Gao directly in rebel operations, assigning him an important mission against the imperial court.

Significant Themes

• Trust and deception: The shield appears to be a priceless defensive treasure but is secretly a surveillance device.
• Caution versus greed: Gao’s suspicion prevents him from falling into the Longevity Society’s trap, while the seller’s greed and the young man’s desperation drive the conflict.
• Value in a dangerous world: Safe Zone space, Revival Stones, and defensive items have extraordinary worth because survival and security have become more important than conventional wealth.
• Adaptability and exploitation: The seller turns a tiny Safe Zone room into a profitable business, demonstrating how people exploit new systems and resources to survive.
• Power and preparation: Gao’s advancement, mastery of formations, and cautious planning show that knowledge and preparation are more reliable than simply possessing powerful items.
• Growing resistance: The new fleet-raiding mission marks a shift from personal survival toward organized rebellion against the imperial court.

Character Interactions

• The auction-house crowd sides with the hooded seller, treating the young man’s screenshot as insufficient proof of ownership.
• Wuliao negotiates directly with the seller, using the young man’s continuing threat as leverage while refusing to imply that the item was stolen.
• Gao remains behind the scenes, authorizing Wuliao’s negotiations and setting the maximum amount he is willing to pay.
• The Longevity Society discusses Gao’s expected reaction and plans to spy on him through the shield, but Gao outmaneuvers them by detecting and dismantling the hidden formation.
• Gao accepts the headmaster’s order to attack the imperial fleet, beginning a new cooperative stage in the rebel faction’s campaign.

Chapter Summary:

Gao Linzhi Becomes Captain, the Power of the Game System

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Linzhi and the Daoist Academy’s headmaster plan to intercept the imperial court’s fleet traveling toward Osmanthus Island.
• The headmaster provides intelligence: the fleet usually includes around thirty ships, including five Treasure Ships, three transport ships, fifteen fast boats, and numerous patrol vessels. It is also protected by several dozen high-level guards and a level 65 fleet commander.
• Believing the fleet manageable, Gao Linzhi decides to use his true Game Character rather than a weaker Substitute Puppet. This is the first time the headmaster sees his real character.
• The headmaster accepts his use of substitutes and even praises him for acting cautiously, revealing that she follows the same practice. This strengthens her recognition of him as a reliable Longevity Being and partner.
• Gao Linzhi analyzes the headmaster’s long-term goals. She currently cooperates with the Game System and the Rebel Army to weaken the imperial court, but he expects her to eventually turn against the Game System once it becomes the dominant power.
• He concludes that the Daoist Academy and the Game System share common interests for now, making their alliance useful despite its inevitable future tensions.
• A week later, one hundred powerful players gather for the mission. Tens of thousands applied, but participants were selected based on attributes, skills, and class levels. Gao Linzhi is the only level 1 player, though his other qualifications are exceptionally high.
• The Game System provides a flying boat and teleports the players directly to the mission’s starting point. Gao Linzhi recognizes this as evidence of the System’s strong support for the rebel faction.
• The headmaster observes the Game System’s transportation and organizational abilities with growing interest. She realizes that it is not merely a supernatural anomaly, but a vast, orderly system capable of continuously cultivating powerful agents and expanding its influence.
• During the journey, she questions Gao Linzhi about the Game System, but he cannot explain its origins or mechanisms.
• The group arrives at Osmanthus Island, a lush island surrounded by unusually abundant fish. The headmaster reveals that she has only been present through a projection, then leaves Gao Linzhi and the players to handle the imperial fleet.
• The players begin discussing how to organize themselves. When they discover that the famous player Canxue—Gao Linzhi’s identity—is present, many immediately nominate him as captain and begin flattering him.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi: Becomes more cautious and strategic by choosing his true Game Character for the mission. He demonstrates a clear understanding of political power balances and anticipates the headmaster’s eventual hostility toward the Game System. His reputation among players is also revealed to be extremely high.
• The Headmaster: Gains greater trust in Gao Linzhi after seeing his prudent use of substitutes. She becomes increasingly impressed—and wary—of the Game System’s power, recognizing that it may pose a greater long-term threat to Longevity Beings than the imperial court.
• The Players: Display strong respect for Gao Linzhi’s identity as Canxue. Their eagerness to follow him shows his influence and prestige, though disagreements immediately emerge over leadership.

Significant Themes

• Temporary alliances and shifting power: Cooperation between Gao Linzhi, the headmaster, the rebels, and the Game System is based on shared short-term interests rather than lasting loyalty.
• Fear of uncontrollable power: The headmaster views the Game System as potentially more dangerous than the court because it can mobilize people, expand continuously, and operate according to a powerful, nearly uncheatable order.
• Caution and self-preservation: Longevity Beings are expected to avoid personal danger by using substitutes and puppets. Survival and long-term security matter more than immediate gains.
• Information and strategic foresight: Gao Linzhi’s ability to infer the headmaster’s future actions from historical patterns allows him to prepare for future conflicts.
• Game System favoritism and factional politics: The System’s superior resources, transportation, and rewards make the rebel faction more attractive than the rigid and oppressive court faction.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi and the headmaster establish a more trusting partnership, though Gao Linzhi remains alert to her hidden agenda.
• The headmaster probes Gao Linzhi about the Game System, while he carefully avoids revealing information he does not possess or cannot safely disclose.
• The players debate leadership and organization after arriving at Osmanthus Island.
• Many players enthusiastically support Canxue as captain and attempt to curry favor with him, while others question whether he should lead, setting up potential internal conflict.

Chapter Summary: The Court’s Bottom Line, the Players’ Fury

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Linzhi declines leadership of the player expedition, saying he does not want to waste time commanding.
• Empty 2086 volunteers to organize the players. Despite past rivalry with Gao Linzhi, he is selected after Gao endorses him.
• Empty proposes waiting until the imperial court fleet has collected its goods before attacking. This will force the court to divide its forces between protecting the cargo and fighting the players, allowing the players to seize both the goods and the perpetrators.
• He divides the roughly one hundred players into specialized teams—attackers, damage dealers, tanks, healers, logistics, and reserves—and orders them to hide.
• Gao Linzhi uses the Game System to conceal the entire flying vessel. He realizes the System’s concealment ability surpasses even his own and resembles the world-merging power of the Heavenly Dao.
• After a week, the imperial court fleet reaches Osmanthus Island. Its defenses are formidable, including barriers and protective talismans, making a direct assault dangerous.
• The players witness court agents sacrificing dozens of civilians to appease supernatural forces and ensure safe passage. Although enraged, they refrain from intervening so they will not compromise Empty’s plan.
• The fleet begins collecting the island’s Osmanthus Fish tax. The court demands an impossible quota—five fish per person while listing requirements totaling six—and immediately executes a villager who points out the contradiction.
• The players become furious at the court’s cruelty and corruption. The villagers are gathered together and ordered to surrender their fish, but their existing supplies are far below what the court demands.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi displays confidence, restraint, and political practicality. He refuses command but supports Empty because he recognizes his tactical ability and considers current usefulness more important than past grudges.
• Gao’s moral principles are clarified: he refuses to slaughter innocents and believes Immortality requires a steadfast spirit. His personal creed is to avoid evil and prevent others from harming him.
• Empty 2086 emerges as a capable strategist. He overcomes suspicion from the players and earns authority by presenting a logical plan and promising additional rewards, including territory.
• Riding the Wind to Beat Luo Shao tries to discredit Empty, accusing him of manipulating others during ranking competitions, but fails to prevent Empty’s appointment.
• The ordinary players are shown to be pragmatic and self-interested. Many are not morally upright themselves, yet they strongly resent the imperial court’s blatant oppression.

Significant Themes

• Pragmatism over personal grudges: Gao chooses Empty despite their rivalry because Empty is the most suitable leader for the mission.
• Resistance to institutional oppression: The players’ planned robbery becomes morally easier for them after witnessing the court’s exploitation and executions.
• Moral boundaries in a corrupt world: Gao distinguishes between profiting from an enemy and harming innocents, maintaining that abandoning one’s principles obstructs spiritual advancement.
• Power and favoritism: The Game System appears to favor newer servers by restricting older players from participating, helping weaker players grow rapidly.
• Hypocrisy and self-justification: Many players engage in killing, robbery, or deceit, but still seek righteous reasons to condemn the imperial court.
• Strength through organization: The players’ success depends not merely on individual power but on teamwork, specialization, concealment, and tactical timing.

Character Interactions

• The players flatter Gao Linzhi because of his reputation, though many privately dislike him and fear offending him.
• Gao and Empty share a complicated history: Empty once competed against and undermined Gao, but Gao nevertheless recommends him for command.
• The players debate whom to trust, with some supporting Empty and others demanding guarantees or proposing alternative leaders.
• Empty wins cooperation by promising both official mission rewards and additional benefits such as territory.
• The players silently observe the court’s sacrifices and tax collection, suppressing their anger so they can preserve the ambush.
• The chapter ends with the players witnessing the villagers’ helplessness as the court demands an impossible amount of fish, setting up the coming confrontation.

Plot Points and Events

• Imperial Court arrives early, demanding six fish per villager, causing chaos.
• Villagers are herded together, and the Great Elder of Village A is sacrificed to the Sea God as an example.
• Players witness the villagers' plight and discuss intervention, but decide against it for now.
• Imperial Court sets up camp on the island, forcing villagers to fish daily despite Anomaly threats.
• Three Rogue Players descend to help villagers, unaware of the villagers' treachery.

Character Developments

• Villagers: Initially hopeful for Descenders, they show fear and desperation, then betray the helping players.
• Great Elder of Village A: Sacrificed for not meeting the fish tax quota, demonstrating the villagers' powerlessness.
• Players: Some express outrage at the Imperial Court's cruelty, while others discuss intervention. Three Rogue Players naively attempt to help villagers.

Significant Themes

• Cruelty of the Imperial Court: They prioritize tribute over villagers' lives, demonstrating their tyranny.
• Villagers' Powerlessness: Despite their hard work, they cannot meet the tax quota and are at the mercy of the Imperial Court.
• Naivety vs. Realism: Some players naively believe they can help villagers, while others are more pragmatic.

Character Interactions

• Villagers interact with the Imperial Court, showing fear and desperation.
• Players discuss the situation, some wanting to intervene, others against it.
• Three Rogue Players interact with villagers, believing they are helping, but are betrayed.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A villager informs the Imperial Court's Giant Admiral about the players, seeking rewards.
• The Admiral sets up an ambush, capturing two players and torturing them for information.
• Gao Linzhi decides to lead a team to rescue the captured players and defeat the Imperial Court's forces.

Character Developments

• The captured players reveal their 'Obey Commands' Talent, which made them follow the villager's instructions, leading to their capture.
• Gao Linzhi shows concern for the captured players' well-being but maintains a strategic perspective.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and its consequences: The captured players' betrayal of their teammates leads to their capture and torture.
• The cruelty of war: The Imperial Court's forces show no mercy, torturing the captured players for information.
• Strategic importance of top powerhouses: The duel between Gao Linzhi and the Level 65 Giant Admiral will determine the battle's outcome.

Character Interactions

• The captured players interact with their teammates, pleading for help but also facing criticism for their actions.
• Gao Linzhi interacts with Empty 2086, discussing strategies and acknowledging the importance of preventing the Giant Admiral from supporting his allies.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Giant Admiral appears and engages Gao Linzhi in combat.
• The Admiral questions Gao about the previous dynasty's methods of driving out Descenders.
• The Admiral reveals his 55 years of cultivation and expresses confusion about the Descenders' rapid growth yet eventual failure.
• The Admiral flees mid-battle, prioritizing his own interests over the Imperial Court's.
• Players discuss strategies to counter Big Shots, mentioning formations and large-scale cooperation.
• Players decide to occupy the island permanently, much to the villagers' relief.
• Players discuss profit distribution, deciding to give Gao Linzhi a 90% share for his role in repelling the highest combat power.

Character Developments

• The Giant Admiral demonstrates his cunning and self-preservation instincts, fleeing from battle and prioritizing his own interests.
• Gao Linzhi shows restraint and strategic thinking, choosing not to pursue the Admiral and understanding the villagers' plight.
• Players show unity and strategic thinking, deciding to occupy the island and discussing profit distribution.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between power and strategy, with individual combat power ultimately proving decisive.
• The prioritization of self-interest over loyalty to a higher authority (the Imperial Court).
• The importance of understanding and adapting to local circumstances (the villagers' hidden resources and tribute system).

Character Interactions

• The Giant Admiral and Gao Linzhi engage in a brief, intense battle before the Admiral flees.
• Players discuss strategies and profit distribution, showing unity and respect for Gao Linzhi's combat power.
• Players interact with the villagers, showing empathy and understanding their situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Players successfully complete a quest to raid an Imperial Court fleet, earning Osmanthus Fish and reputation with the rebel faction.
• The Imperial Court loses a tax collection fleet, leading to increased anger and a planned counterattack.
• Players in the offline world receive threats from other players hired by the Imperial Court.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi, with his advantages from the Daoist Academy, becomes more confident in his combat abilities.
• The Fourth Prince becomes more determined to suppress the rebel players and their supporters.
• Players hired by the Imperial Court show their willingness to betray their own kind for rewards.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between the Imperial Court and the rebel players, with the Imperial Court using players to control other players.
• The power dynamics between the Imperial Court, the rebel players, and the offline world citizens.
• The theme of betrayal and the consequences of actions driven by personal gain.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi interacts with other players, working together to establish their territory and defend it from the Imperial Court.
• The Fourth Prince interacts with the three players, hiring them to suppress the rebel players and their supporters.
• Players hired by the Imperial Court interact with each other, planning to threaten the offline world citizens.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Players threaten Gao Linzhi, demanding he stop opposing the Imperial Court or they'll destroy his city.
• Gao Linzhi reveals he doesn't care about the city and uses his powers to petrify two aggressive players, scaring the others away.
• News of the Imperial Court's offline threats spreads among players, causing concern and discussion.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi demonstrates his power and lack of concern for the city, showing his resolve and willingness to protect his interests.
• The players show varying levels of courage, fear, and determination, with some willing to risk destruction and others backing down.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and the consequences of unchecked power (players' destructive capabilities and the Imperial Court's threats).
• The tension between freedom and control (players' desire for autonomy versus the need for regulation to maintain order).
• The impact of actions on civilians and the importance of protecting non-combatants.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi faces off against four players, showing his dominance and willingness to protect his interests.
• The players interact with each other, showing varying levels of courage, fear, and determination in the face of Gao Linzhi's power.
• Players online discuss the Imperial Court's threats, expressing concern and pondering how to respond.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Linzhi decides to set up barrier formations to protect his core territories and reduce the attack power of intruders.
• He searches for information on the Archipelago Game Forum and finds a formation named "Nine Heavens, Ten Earths, Encompassing All, Covering All... Great Formation" that meets his requirements.
• The seller insists on a blind date as a condition for purchase, which Gao Linzhi reluctantly agrees to.
• Meanwhile, the Imperial Court launches new plundering quests targeting their fleets, leading to reduced participation due to offline safety concerns.
• The Federation convenes an emergency meeting and decides to mandate player registration to ensure offline safety.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi continues to focus on his goals, showing adaptability and willingness to engage with the game's unique customs (like blind dates) for personal gain.
• The Federation demonstrates its commitment to protecting offline citizens, taking decisive action against rogue players and implementing registration measures.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for power and resources between the Imperial Court and the Federation, with rogue players caught in the middle.
• The blurring line between offline and online lives, as players' actions in the game world have real-world consequences.
• The importance of strategic alliances and adaptability in the face of changing circumstances.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi interacts with the formation seller, Miss Cheng, in a forced blind date scenario, showcasing his pragmatic approach to the game's unique customs.
• The Federation's leaders discuss and decide on countermeasures against the Imperial Court's actions, demonstrating their unity and determination.
• Rogue players discuss their situation and strategies, highlighting their shared experiences and concerns.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Federation implements player registration, causing uproar among rogue players.
• Rogue players discuss ways to resist registration, including threatening Gao Linzhi.
• Gao Linzhi, aware of their offline destruction, refuses to help and expels them.
• Zhang Shan is sent to investigate the registration process and potential targeting of players.

Character Developments

• Rogue players show their disregard for rules and lack of understanding of Gao Linzhi's power.
• Gao Linzhi demonstrates his knowledge and foresight, understanding the Federation's motives and the value of game qualifications.
• Zhang Shan shows honesty in following Xu Gou's orders.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between players and the Federation, with the Federation trying to assert control and players resisting.
• The value and scarcity of game qualifications, highlighting the importance of the game in the real world.
• The potential for exploitation and targeting of players by the Federation, even with formal registration.

Character Interactions

• Rogue players interact with Gao Linzhi, showing their disregard for his power and intentions.
• Gao Linzhi interacts with Wu Liao and Xu Gou, discussing the registration issue and planning their response.
• Zhang Shan interacts with Xu Gou, receiving orders and demonstrating his honesty.

Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Shan registers for the player database, undergoing a physical examination and revealing his Talent ('Boar Strength'), which is deemed useless by the Federation.
• The Federation is exposed for using hypnosis to collect players' Talents during registration, leading to public outrage and a damaged reputation.
• The Imperial Court learns of this and sees an opportunity to disrupt the registration process and gain players' loyalty.

Character Developments

• Zhang Shan remains oblivious to the Federation's true intentions during his registration.
• Gao Linzhi realizes the depths of the Federation's corruption and overreach, leading him to warn other players and offer his services for protection.
• The Fourth Prince sees the Federation's actions as a sign of their decline and decides to exploit the situation to gain players' loyalty.

Significant Themes

• The corruption and decline of the Federation, mirroring the fall of the Great Ming Dynasty.
• The exploitation of players' Talents and the lack of respect for players' privacy and safety.
• The struggle for power and influence between the Federation and the Imperial Court.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Shan interacts with Federation officials, revealing his Talent and unknowingly falling victim to their hypnosis.
• Gao Linzhi shares his observations and concerns with other players, offering his services for protection.
• The Fourth Prince discusses the situation with his players, deciding to take advantage of the Federation's actions to gain players' loyalty.