Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Fourth Prince is enraged by the players' defeat of a high-level Imperial Observatory official.
• The Imperial Observatory personnel retreat after their initial failures, giving players a respite.
• Players complain about the difficulty of the event and the lack of Game System support.
• Gao Linzhi's live stream gains massive attention, and he switches his spawn point to avoid Imperial Observatory curses.
• Players in the Official Built-in Group learn about the Game's incomplete nature and the existence of two Game forces.
• Gao Linzhi seeks Headmaster's advice on high-value targets to defeat and loot equipment.

Character Developments

• The Fourth Prince becomes more wary and hesitant in dealing with players.
• Players, especially Gao Linzhi, gain more attention and recognition.
• Headmaster reveals more about the Game's nature and provides information about high-level targets.

Significant Themes

• The power struggle between players and the Imperial Court.
• The incomplete nature of the Game and the division between Game operators and the Game core.
• The use of Game events and items for personal gain.

Character Interactions

• The Fourth Prince interacts with Player One, discussing the players' strength and the Game System's support.
• Players in the Official Built-in Group interact with Skyfall's Most Handsome, learning about the Game's nature and obtaining a Method of Sacrifice.
• Gao Linzhi interacts with Headmaster, seeking information on high-level targets for looting.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Linzhi memorizes a list of powerful individuals, including evil players from older servers.
• He decides to target the Black Madman, an evil BOSS notorious for its atrocities.
• Gao Linzhi purchases and uses 50 Blade Intent Enhancement Talismans, temporarily mastering a Heavenly Dao-class Blade Intent equivalent to a level 150 God of Blades.
• He travels to the Thousand Islands Sea to confront the Black Madman.
• Gao Linzhi observes three talented youths, Zhang Xiaoshan, Li Si, and Xiao Mei, heading to a selection competition for gladiators, unaware of the Black Madman's true intentions.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi: He demonstrates his strategic thinking and ruthlessness in targeting the Black Madman, exploiting game bugs to enhance his power, and showing no mercy towards evil.
• Zhang Xiaoshan, Li Si, and Xiao Mei: These three youths display their ambition, talent, and naivety, unaware of the true purpose behind the selection competition they're participating in.

Significant Themes

• Evil and its consequences: The Black Madman's actions highlight the terror and oppression caused by a single evil powerhouse.
• Exploitation of game mechanics: Gao Linzhi's use of event items to enhance his power and target BOSSes showcases his understanding and exploitation of game rules.
• Naivety and ambition: The three youths represent the common people's hope for a better life, their ambition to become powerful, and their lack of knowledge about the true nature of the selection competition.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi and the Black Madman: Although not yet in direct confrontation, Gao Linzhi's decision to target the Black Madman sets the stage for their inevitable clash.
• Zhang Xiaoshan, Li Si, and Xiao Mei: The interactions between these three youths showcase their camaraderie, competition, and shared dreams, as well as their ignorance of the true purpose behind the selection competition.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Linzhi decides to follow three youths to the arena using Invisibility to find and eliminate the Black Lunatic.
• Three more players, "Free and UnfetteredHeaven", "Free and UnfetteredEarth", and "Free and Unfettered*Mountain", appear with the same mission to find the Black Lunatic's true form.
• Gao Linzhi overhears their plan to use the three youths as bait to lure out the Black Lunatic.
• The three youths buy flowers, fish, and fruits from stalls outside the city. Gao Linzhi uses this opportunity to give them Game items that increase their Constitution, disguised as fruits.
• Zhang Xiaoshan and Xiao Mei discover the special fruits' effect and consume them secretly.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi: Shows strategic thinking, understanding the game system's mechanics, and uses his knowledge to aid the three youths.
• Zhang Xiaoshan: Demonstrates quick thinking and understanding when he realizes the fruits' effect, keeping it a secret and sharing them with Xiao Mei.
• Xiao Mei: Shows trust in Zhang Xiaoshan, consumes the special fruits, and experiences an increase in power.

Significant Themes

• Luck and Opportunity: Gao Linzhi's decision to follow the youths and his timely intervention with the special fruits showcase how luck and opportunity can turn the tide in one's favor.
• Trust and Deception: Zhang Xiaoshan's secret sharing of the special fruits with Xiao Mei highlights the theme of trust, while his deception of Li Si illustrates the theme of deception.
• Power Dynamics: The power dynamics between the Black Lunatic, the three youths, and the other players are explored, with each party trying to gain an advantage.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi interacts with the three youths indirectly by following them and providing them with the special fruits.
• Zhang Xiaoshan interacts with Xiao Mei, sharing the secret of the special fruits and strengthening their bond.
• The three youths interact with each other, with Zhang Xiaoshan and Li Si showing friendly competition and Xiao Mei being the object of their affection.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Xiaoshan, Li Si, and Xiao Mei reach the arena and witness brutal combat, unlike their village's sparring matches.
• Li Si initially wants to flee but is persuaded to stay by Zhang Xiaoshan and Xiao Mei, who give him "fortune fruits" to boost his strength.
• The trio registers for the competition and is informed they'll participate in a team battle.
• They face three challenges: twelve Ironclad Guards, two brown bears, and a complex mechanical kill array.

Character Developments

• Zhang Xiaoshan: Becomes more confident and assertive, acting as the leader of the trio. He shares the "fortune fruits" with Li Si to keep him from fleeing.
• Li Si: Initially cowardly, he gains confidence and strength after consuming the "fortune fruits." He becomes a valuable team member in their battles.
• Xiao Mei: She remains brave and determined, showing no fear in the face of danger. She also encourages Li Si to stay and fight.
• Gao Linzhi: Observes the trio's growth and realizes his unique advantage as an ordinary player with a non-digitized body, capable of transcending the mortal realm through cultivation methods.

Significant Themes

• Courage vs. Cowardice: Li Si's initial cowardice contrasts with Zhang Xiaoshan and Xiao Mei's bravery, highlighting the theme of courage in the face of adversity.
• Teamwork and Unity: The trio's success in the arena battles relies heavily on their teamwork and unity, demonstrating the power of cooperation.
• Personal Growth: Each character experiences growth, whether it's Li Si gaining confidence or Gao Linzhi realizing his unique advantage.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Xiaoshan and Li Si: Their relationship evolves from initial rivalry to camaraderie, as Zhang Xiaoshan helps Li Si gain strength and confidence.
• Xiao Mei and Li Si: Xiao Mei encourages Li Si to stay and fight, showing care and concern for her fellow villager.
• Gao Linzhi and the trio: Gao Linzhi observes the trio's growth, learning from their experiences and realizing his unique advantage as an ordinary player.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Xiaoshan, Xiao Mei, and Li Si reach the final stage of the arena, expecting to become island lords.
• They encounter an incredibly powerful BOSS, later revealed to be the Black Madman in his true form.
• The Black Madman kills Li Si and attempts to kill Xiao Mei, causing Zhang Xiaoshan to lash out in anger and desperation.
• Gao Linzhi, unseen until now, uses a powerful Blade Intent to kill the Black Madman's puppet and force his soul to flee.
• The Black Madman's soul escapes to his main body, located in an undersea Crystal Palace, which Gao Linzhi tracks using the Game system's map.

Character Developments

• Zhang Xiaoshan: Becomes desperate and enraged after witnessing his friends' deaths, unleashing a powerful attack that exceeds his usual capabilities.
• Xiao Mei: Remains terrified and rational, trying to understand why such a powerful opponent is in the final stage of the arena.
• Li Si: Dies without being able to resist, serving as a catalyst for Zhang Xiaoshan's emotional outburst.
• Black Madman: Revealed to be a powerful Local Emperor who has been committing evil for many years, skilled at hiding and using puppets to avoid danger.
• Gao Linzhi: Shows his hand for the first time, using overpowered items from the Game's activity store to enhance his stats and track the Black Madman's main body.

Significant Themes

• The power of anger and desperation, as seen in Zhang Xiaoshan's unexpected display of strength.
• The dangers of underestimating opponents, as seen in the three youths' initial confidence and the Black Madman's true form.
• The consequences of evil actions, as seen in the Black Madman's need to go into seclusion due to the Imperial Court's mobilization of experts.
• The importance of preparation and enhancement, as seen in Gao Linzhi's use of overpowered items to track and confront the Black Madman.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Xiaoshan, Xiao Mei, and Li Si: Initially united and cooperative, but their bond is tested and ultimately broken by the Black Madman's appearance.
• Zhang Xiaoshan and Xiao Mei: Their relationship is further strained as Xiao Mei is targeted by the Black Madman, causing Zhang Xiaoshan to lash out in anger and desperation.
• Gao Linzhi and the Black Madman: Gao Linzhi tracks and confronts the Black Madman, ultimately leading to their final showdown at the undersea Crystal Palace.
• The three players following Zhang Xiaoshan's group: They witness the events unfold and receive a new quest to resurrect Li Si.

Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Gao Linzhi, relying on game system buffs, invades the crystal palace and kills the Black Madman, the game's BOSS.
• Black Madman, severely injured, tries to flee but is killed by Gao Linzhi.
• Gao Linzhi cleanses the residual soul fragments using a soul cleansing talisman.
• Black Madman's death triggers a massive drop of items, including potent potions, books of anomalies, and gold materials.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi demonstrates his immense power and determination, single-handedly defeating the Black Madman.
• Black Madman, despite its evil nature, shows fear and desperation in the face of Gao Linzhi's power.

Significant Themes

• The power of the game system's buffs and items in helping players overcome powerful NPCs.
• The danger of underestimating opponents and the consequences of carelessness, as seen in Black Madman's downfall.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi and Black Madman: Gao Linzhi shows no mercy, killing Black Madman despite its pleas for surrender.
• Gao Linzhi and the Game System: Gao Linzhi relies on the game system's hints and items to defeat Black Madman.
• Zhang Xiaoshan and Xiao Mei: They mourn their fallen comrades and are approached by three mysterious players.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Linzhi returns to the arena after receiving a quest to revive Li Si.
• Three mysterious players ambush Gao Linzhi, seeking the Black Madman's drops.
• Gao Linzhi easily defeats the three players, using his gaze to destroy weapons and petrifying them.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi demonstrates his immense strength and lack of fear towards the three players, even when they threaten him with account bans.
• The three players, despite their status as operators, are shown to be vulnerable and powerless against Gao Linzhi.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and the misuse of authority.
• The consequences of underestimating one's opponent.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi interacts with the three players, showing no fear or respect for their status as operators.
• The three players interact with each other, displaying their fear and confusion in the face of Gao Linzhi's power.

Summary of "The Laboratory's Inquiry, The Truth of the Game"

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Linzhi encounters three players (Free and Unfettered, and two others) who reveal their quests: finding Black Madman's true identity and reviving a companion.
• Gao Linzhi takes the three stone statues (operators) to the Shrine Safe Zone's underground laboratory for interrogation.
• The operators reveal they are game administrators, with Number Seven predicting player behavior, Number Twelve managing main storylines, and Number Ten overseeing operations.
• They confess to being from a secret company's research lab, having died and uploaded their consciousness into the game.
• Number Ten reveals it's an anomaly, not human, and has been observing and learning from humans since ancient times.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi: Realizes the true nature of the Skyfall Game and his role within it. He understands that the game is invading worlds and plundering their origins, using players as tools for conquest.
• The Operators: Reveal their true origins and purposes, showing their loyalty to the game and their belief in its goals.

Significant Themes

• The nature of reality and illusion: The operators reveal that the game is reality for the players, challenging Gao Linzhi's (and the readers') perception of the game's nature.
• Manipulation and free will: The operators explain that players' choices are within predictive models and algorithmic guidance, raising questions about free will and autonomy.
• Conquest and civilization: The game is revealed to be a form of civilization conquest, with players unknowingly aiding in the invasion and plunder of worlds.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi interacts with the three players, offering his contact information for their quests.
• Gao Linzhi interrogates the three operators, learning about their origins and the game's true nature.
• The operators interact with each other, showing a hierarchical structure with Number Ten as the superior.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Linzhi discovers that the operators are not who they seem and are under a contract preventing them from revealing the truth.
• He confirms the existence of the operators and their role as advanced puppets of the game's core system.
• Gao Linzhi decides to focus on his Main Body and starts learning advanced cultivation techniques from the Skyfall World.
• He engages in a trade with Li Gun, selling him Staff Intent enhanced talismans to help him against the Imperial Court's forces.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi gains a deeper understanding of the game's mechanics and the true nature of the operators.
• He becomes more determined to focus on his Main Body's cultivation and independence.
• Li Gun reveals more about the Imperial Court's structure and the forces sent against him.

Significant Themes

• The true nature of reality and the operators' desire to become human again.
• The importance of one's Main Body and personal cultivation in achieving independence and freedom.
• The complex power dynamics between different factions within the game, such as the Imperial Court and the Imperial Observatory.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi interacts with the operators, uncovering their true intentions and the limitations of their contract.
• He engages in a trade with Li Gun, providing him with powerful game items in exchange for information and assistance.
• Li Gun shares information about the Imperial Court's forces and their structure, showcasing his knowledge and professionalism.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yue Zhongshan arrives at the largest village on the island with 300 Black Armored Guards.
• The villagers refuse to pay excessive taxes, leading to a standoff.
• Yue Zhongshan demonstrates his power by pressing the villagers to the ground.
• An Iron-Faced Man appears, challenging Yue Zhongshan's authority and explaining the origin and purpose of the Imperial Court.
• The villagers, influenced by the Iron-Faced Man, begin to question the necessity of the Imperial Court.
• A battle ensues between Yue Zhongshan, the Iron-Faced Man, and the villagers, lasting for three days and three nights.

Character Developments

• Yue Zhongshan: Starts as a representative of the Imperial Court, becomes a target of the villagers' anger.
• The Iron-Faced Man: Initially unseen, he challenges Yue Zhongshan's authority and incites the villagers to rebellion.
• The Villagers: Begin as oppressed and resigned, but their spirits are lifted by the Iron-Faced Man's words, leading them to question the Imperial Court's existence.

Significant Themes

• The role and purpose of the Imperial Court in society.
• The relationship between the ruling class and the common people.
• The power dynamics between different factions.
• The influence of external factors on people's beliefs and actions.

Character Interactions

• Yue Zhongshan vs. The Iron-Faced Man: A power struggle between two representatives of different ideologies.
• The Villagers vs. Yue Zhongshan: The villagers' initial fear and submission turn into anger and rebellion, leading to a confrontation with Yue Zhongshan.
• The Villagers vs. The Iron-Faced Man: The Iron-Faced Man becomes a catalyst for the villagers' rebellion, inciting them to question their situation and fight back.

Chapter Summary: “Opportunities Amid Crisis, Gao Linzhi’s Pawn”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Linzhi arrives at an intersection where a giant screen is broadcasting Li Gun’s battle against powerful beings from Skyfall World. The public watches anxiously, fearing that even stronger entities and aberrations may soon invade their world.
• Society is beginning to reorganize around survival. Gold has become more valuable than ordinary currency because aberrations apparently cannot detect people hidden behind gold. Companies preserve the value of money by maintaining supplies, production, and public purchasing points.
• While most people despair, a young man declares that the crisis is also an opportunity to pursue immortality. He changes his name to Qiu Changsheng, meaning “Seeking Immortality.”
• An aberration suddenly emerges from the livestream screen. Its pale arm paralyzes the crowd through mental suppression and reaches specifically for Qiu Changsheng, apparently drawn by his bold declaration.
• Most bystanders flee once the aberration focuses on Qiu, while some mock him for attracting danger. Qiu realizes that his optimism has placed him in immediate danger but desperately struggles to survive.
• Gao Linzhi decides to intervene, not out of pure compassion, but because Qiu’s desire for immortality makes him potentially useful. He gives Qiu a modified Clear Mind Jade Pendant, secretly enhanced by Hai Zida with tracking and surveillance runes.
• The pendant restores Qiu’s ability to move and repels the aberration, allowing him to escape in a car. Witnesses see him glowing and suspect that he has gained a supernatural “system,” prompting calls to companies offering rewards for information about unusual abilities.
• Qiu tests the pendant and discovers that it can be controlled through thought, appear in his hand, and be sensed within a limited range. Its abilities are:
  • Permanently raising his mental attributes to 100 points
  • Increasing resistance to mental attacks
  • Repelling anomalies below Blue Tier
• Though initially disappointed that the pendant is not an overwhelmingly powerful “Golden Finger,” Qiu quickly recognizes its value and resolves to build upon this early advantage.
• Meanwhile, Gao Linzhi observes society. Most people continue working because they still need money for food, housing, and basic necessities. Others flee to rural areas, construct shelters, or pool resources with carefully selected partners. Survival requires not only money and supplies but trustworthy people.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi is revealed to be strategic and pragmatic. He views people as potential assets in the wider struggle for immortality and deliberately cultivates Qiu as a pawn. His intervention is calculated, especially because the pendant includes hidden surveillance and tracking functions.
• Qiu Changsheng shifts from confident enthusiasm to terror when confronted by a real aberration. However, his will to survive returns, and he proves adaptable and rational after receiving the pendant. His background as a scientist and entrepreneur helps him understand the importance of exploiting even a modest advantage.
• The general public is divided between fear, contempt, resignation, and opportunism. Some mock those who take risks, while others recognize that the crisis may offer a path toward extraordinary power or longevity.

Significant Themes

• Crisis as both danger and opportunity: The same catastrophe that threatens ordinary people may create unprecedented chances for those willing and able to act.
• Survival and social order: Money retains value only because companies and productive systems continue to preserve social stability. If order collapses, currency may become useless.
• The value of preparation and cooperation: Gold shelters, food supplies, reliable partners, and careful planning are more important than wealth alone.
• Pragmatism over idealism: Gao Linzhi helps Qiu because he sees strategic value in him, demonstrating that assistance may serve long-term personal goals.
• Small advantages and gradual growth: Qiu learns that a modest supernatural ability can be extraordinarily valuable in a dangerous world, and that success depends on developing an initial advantage rather than expecting an all-powerful shortcut.
• The road to immortality as a collective construction: Gao Linzhi believes immortality will become possible only when enough people pursue and establish that path, making Qiu one of the first pieces in a larger plan.

Character Interactions

• The crowd debates the value of money, gold shelters, and humanity’s chances against aberrations.
• Qiu challenges the pessimism of the bystanders by declaring his intention to pursue immortality, but they later ridicule him when the aberration targets him.
• Gao Linzhi silently evaluates Qiu, then intervenes when Qiu prays for help. He grants him the jade pendant while concealing its surveillance functions.
• Qiu unknowingly becomes Gao Linzhi’s monitored “chess piece,” gaining power while being positioned for Gao Linzhi’s broader plans.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The city's economy is collapsing due to fear and lack of confidence.
• An anomaly, a Dream Eater, appears in the city, causing panic and death.
• In a subway shelter, another anomaly, a single-eyed entity, wreaks havoc, causing various gruesome deaths.
• A young man in a White Windbreaker, later identified as Bai Ze, defeats the anomaly in the subway using physics and a rune.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi: Observes the chaos and anomalies, remains calm and detached, but is impressed by Bai Ze's actions.
• Bai Ze: Introduced as a mysterious figure who defeats the anomaly using his knowledge of physics and a rune. He offers his services to those who might need help with anomalies.

Significant Themes

• Fear: The chapter explores the theme of fear and its manifestations as anomalies. Fear causes chaos and death, while understanding and controlling fear can lead to survival.
• Anomalies: The chapter introduces various anomalies, each with unique characteristics and abilities, highlighting the unpredictable and dangerous nature of these entities.
• Humanity vs. Anomalies: The chapter contrasts the reactions of humans and anomalies to fear and chaos, with humans showing a range of emotions and behaviors, while anomalies seem to learn and adapt to their environment.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi and Bai Ze: Although they don't interact directly, Gao Linzhi observes Bai Ze's actions and is impressed by his ability to defeat the anomaly. Bai Ze, sensing Gao Linzhi's presence, leaves a business card for him or anyone else who might need help.
• Bai Ze and the Anomalies: Bai Ze interacts with the anomalies in the subway shelter, using his knowledge of physics to defeat them. He shows no fear and remains calm throughout the encounter.

Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Gao Linzhi observes a small company, "Anomaly Consultation and Processing," which leverages the general trend to rise.
• An Anomaly, a Dream Eater, descends upon the city, causing panic and death.
• The company hires a player, White Ze, to deal with the Anomaly, offering him 500 kilograms of gold.
• The company mobilizes to sedate the population, causing the Anomaly to weaken and eventually disintegrate due to the real world's physical laws.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi demonstrates his influence, with companies on Wolf Snake Island's blacklist unable to buy Game items from him.
• White Ze shows dedication and sacrifice, agreeing to deal with the Anomaly on his own despite the danger.
• The company's manager and employees prioritize their own safety and interests, highlighting their survival strategies.

Significant Themes

• The real world's physical laws repel and destroy Anomalies, limiting their power and duration.
• Companies and individuals prioritize self-interest and survival in the face of chaos.
• The influence of Gao Linzhi and Wolf Snake Island extends to company transactions and player employment.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi observes the interactions between the company, its employees, and the player White Ze.
• White Ze interacts with the company's manager and employees, highlighting their differing priorities and strategies.
• The company's manager and employees interact with each other, revealing their shared concerns for self-preservation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Linzhi discovers that the entity creating doomsday survival instances is shrinking and using humans as batteries to maintain its existence.
• The entity has formed a symbiotic relationship with a local company for support.
• Anomalies are causing destruction and panic among the population, leading them to try ineffective methods like building shrines for protection.
• The Federation holds an emergency meeting to discuss establishing an emergency response team and mechanism to deal with anomalies, but faces resistance from major companies.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi shows concern for the people's plight but remains detached from their struggles, focusing on his own goals.
• Company executives are indifferent to the people's welfare, viewing them as expendable resources or bait.
• The Federation's president, Shi Zhongsheng, is proactive in finding solutions but faces obstacles due to the major companies' selfish interests.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for survival and the human response to threats.
• The tension between individual and collective interests, as seen in the major companies' and the Federation's actions.
• The power dynamics between the Federation and the major companies, reflecting the challenges of governance in a crisis.

Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi observes the people's desperate attempts to protect themselves but does not intervene.
• The Federation's president and executives discuss strategies to combat anomalies, highlighting their frustration with the major companies' lack of cooperation.
• The people, driven by fear and desperation, try to find solutions by mimicking the Game world's methods, only to find them ineffective.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Federation's coordination platform lacks legal enforceability, making it inefficient against global Anomalies.
• Shi Tiansheng suggests electing a "King" to manage and deal with Anomalies, with the King's term lasting until the Anomalies are quelled.
• Executives discuss two strategies: centralizing power like an Imperial Court or continuing the "divide and conquer" strategy.
• A meeting is called with the five major corporations and unaffiliated individuals to discuss Anomaly countermeasures.

Character Developments

• Shi Tiansheng, the Federation's president, tries to guide the discussion towards a specialized agency for Anomaly management.
• Executives reveal their differing opinions on how to handle Anomalies, reflecting their companies' interests.
• Gao Linzhi receives an invitation to the meeting and decides to attend to understand the power dynamics and expand his information channels.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between centralization and decentralization of power in managing Anomalies.
• The tension between companies' interests and the need for collective action against Anomalies.
• The emergence of independent players and their growing influence.

Character Interactions

• Shi Tiansheng interacts with the executives, trying to steer the discussion towards a consensus.
• Gao Linzhi interacts with Li Gun, who is also present as an independent player.
• The executives from the five major corporations interact, revealing their companies' stances on Anomaly management.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A powerful department, the Countermeasures Bureau, is established to handle Anomalies.
• The bureau's funding will come from fixed budgets from five major companies, expenses from the company where the Anomaly occurs, and independent assets.
• The bureau will have one Director and nine Deputy Directors, with four Deputy Director positions open for competitive rotation.
• The bureau's authority is limited to Anomaly-related matters and is subject to contract restrictions.
• The bureau's first mission is to deal with a city-destroying Anomaly, which they successfully resolve within half an hour.

Character Developments

• Shi Tiansheng: He leads the establishment of the Countermeasures Bureau, demonstrating his organizational skills and influence.
• Gao Linzhi: He declines the offer to become a Deputy Director, preferring to remain independent and sell Game items to the bureau instead. He expresses his disdain for the companies' past actions against rogue players.
• Su Hongxiu: She represents the companies and tries to persuade Gao Linzhi to join the bureau, but her attempts are unsuccessful.
• Zhou Xuantong and other company representatives: They argue over the distribution of positions within the bureau but ultimately agree to Shi Tiansheng's proposal for competitive rotation.

Significant Themes

• Unity against a common enemy (Anomalies) leads to temporary cooperation among companies and rogue players.
• Power dynamics and the struggle for influence among companies and rogue players.
• The importance of swift reactions and efficient decision-making in crisis situations.

Character Interactions

• Shi Tiansheng mediates between the company representatives, helping to establish the Countermeasures Bureau.
• Gao Linzhi and Su Hongxiu have tense interactions, with Gao expressing his mistrust and resentment towards the companies.
• Company representatives argue among themselves but ultimately reach compromises to establish the bureau.

Chapter Summary: “The Court’s Timidity, the Players’ Strength”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens by explaining how major corporations and the newly formed Countermeasures Bureau deal with anomalies. Since anomalies cannot be killed, they must be sealed, driven away, or exiled—usually by transporting them into the game world and throwing them into the sea. Sending them into deep space is considered too risky because space may be humanity’s last refuge.
• Gao Linzhi’s Wolf Snake Island becomes increasingly prosperous as the Countermeasures Bureau and corporations rely on it. Villages expand their production of sealing, restriction, and expulsion talismans, while game items become extremely expensive and scarce.
• Wuliao tells Gao Linzhi that demand for game items exceeds supply, but Gao explains that store purchase limits prevent them from simply increasing production. He also refuses to give others Pay-to-Win Talents, since doing so would weaken his own advantage.
• Gao remains focused almost entirely on immortality. He has little interest in saving humanity or sacrificing himself for ordinary people, believing that survival is not humanity’s guaranteed right and that his own pursuit of eternal life takes priority.
• After the Punishment Ranking event ends, Gao—under the name Can Xue Waves Across the Map—receives first place and the temporary title “Grand General of the Universe.” He scores over nine million points, far surpassing Li Gun and Kongkong.
• Players discuss the event results and recognize that Gao’s Pay-to-Win Talent gives him a major advantage. Gao has accumulated 930 Free Attribute Points and plans to use them only after maximizing his attributes through skills, avoiding the resource waste caused by spending them too early.
• The players remain confident despite expecting retaliation from the court because the Game System provides Safe Zones and a reliable development path. They can farm monsters, learn skills, level up, improve abilities, and eventually become strong enough to resist the government.
• The court responds cautiously rather than launching an all-out attack. It cuts taxes in half and limits collection to the previous ten years, hoping to separate the villagers from the players. The villagers initially benefit, but then begin asking the players not to rebel, creating tension between the two groups.
• The players cannot simply force the villagers into submission because the villages and their workshops are essential to player development. Killing or terrorizing the villagers would also damage their reputation and undermine their own foundation.
• Within the court, factions disagree. Some support suppressing the players, while others advocate compromise and waiting for them to leave. The chapter emphasizes that feudal governments often make concessions to preserve internal stability.
• At the Fourth Prince’s residence, the prince angrily complains that the court refuses to wage war against the players. Player One, Player Two, and Player Three suggest using Level 150 experts, puppets, or stand-ins, but the Fourth Prince explains that powerful aberrations can attack through mental links and souls, making such methods dangerous.
• The players then propose manipulating independent players into sacrificing one another in exchange for increased aptitude and attributes. The Fourth Prince agrees and submits the plan to the court.
• The court rejects the plan out of fear that the players will retaliate. It even refuses to provide the secret technique needed to make the scheme credible. The Fourth Prince realizes that the court would rather endure financial losses than provoke the players, effectively choosing to wait until they eventually leave.

Character Development

• Gao Linzhi: Becomes more clearly defined as self-interested and ruthlessly pragmatic. He views immortality as his only true objective and refuses to risk his life for society. His experience has also made him more strategic; he carefully preserves his Free Attribute Points and applies lessons learned from veteran players.
• Wuliao: Acts as Gao’s practical subordinate, identifying the growing demand for game items and the need to expand production.
• The Fourth Prince: Is revealed to be aggressive, frustrated, and eager to restore the court’s authority. However, his plans repeatedly fail because the wider court fears the risks of provoking the players.
• Player One, Player Two, and Player Three: Demonstrate political and strategic thinking. They understand that direct confrontation is dangerous and attempt to exploit divisions among the players through deception and sacrifice.
• The ordinary players: Their confidence has grown because of Safe Zones, game progression systems, and the knowledge that even powerful court experts fear the game’s aberrations.

Significant Themes

• Players versus established authority: The players’ unconventional powers and ability to return from danger make them difficult for the traditional court to control.
• The limits of governmental power: The court appears powerful but is paralyzed by fear, internal division, and the destructive potential of aberrations.
• Self-interest versus collective responsibility: Gao’s pursuit of immortality contrasts sharply with the Countermeasures Bureau’s efforts to protect society. The players and court alike prioritize their own survival and interests over broader ideals.
• Strategic restraint and deterrence: Neither side can easily defeat the other. The players rely on Safe Zones and resurrection-like systems, while the court fears retaliation and the lethal rules of powerful aberrations.
• Resource management and optimization: Gao’s careful handling of Free Attribute Points reflects the importance of understanding hidden systems and avoiding inefficient choices.
• Fragile alliances: The court attempts to divide villagers and players through tax reductions, while the players must maintain villagers’ cooperation without alienating or harming them.

Important Character Interactions

• Gao Linzhi and Wuliao: Discuss the shortage of game items and the limitations imposed by store purchase caps.
• Gao and the player community: The event channel praises and analyzes Gao’s overwhelming victory, reinforcing his reputation as the strongest player.
• Players and villagers: Their alliance weakens when reduced taxes make villagers more willing to tolerate the court. The players cannot respond violently because they depend on villagers for workshops and development.
• The Fourth Prince and the three players: They debate how to suppress the player rebellion. The players propose direct force, puppets, and finally manipulation through a sacrificial technique, while the prince explains why each method is dangerous.
• The Fourth Prince and the court: His proposed scheme is rejected because the court fears provoking player retaliation. This interaction exposes the court’s fundamental timidity and unwillingness to risk its powerful officials for limited tax revenue.

Overall Significance

The chapter establishes that the players have gained enough strength and structural protection to deter the court. Although the court possesses powerful experts and resources, fear of aberrations, player retaliation, and internal disagreement prevents it from acting decisively. Meanwhile, Gao Linzhi continues to exploit the crisis for personal advancement, treating both the Countermeasures Bureau and the conflict between players and the court as opportunities on his path toward immortality.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Players express concern about the Imperial Court's confidence in appeasing the Descenders.
• The Fourth Prince reveals that the Emperor is more concerned about internal power struggles than the Descender threat.
• Players suggest winning over or eliminating other players to gain power and resources.
• The Fourth Prince and players collaborate to find an Anomaly that can target and kill players upon login.
• Players worldwide encounter a GameBug preventing them from logging out, with a temporary mission to resolve mysterious spatial anomalies.

Character Developments

• The Fourth Prince: Shows ambition and willingness to collaborate with players to gain power, but still maintains a sense of superiority towards them.
• Players: Display sharp minds and strategic thinking, but also face the threat of the Imperial Court's new tactic.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics between the Imperial Court and players.
• Players' resourcefulness and adaptability in the face of new challenges.
• The Imperial Court's conservatism and risk-averse nature.

Character Interactions

• The Fourth Prince and players: Collaborate to find a solution to the player threat, but maintain a tense dynamic due to the Fourth Prince's xenophobia and players' mocking of his mindset.
• Players among themselves: Share information, strategize, and support each other in the face of the new threat.

• Gao Linzhi discovers that the Operator, like players, lacks high-level permissions and can't obtain core game items directly from the Game System.
• The Operator proposes a temporary mission to obtain limited-purchase items through Gao Linzhi's Pay-to-Win Talent, using the "Anomalies" story instance he created.
• Gao Linzhi refuses to enter the "Anomalies" instance due to its high tier and potential risks, attracting others willing to undertake the mission.
• Over a hundred thousand players arrive on Wolf Snake Island, seeking Gao Linzhi's guidance and purchasing game items from him.
• Gao Linzhi provides background information about the Anomalies and sells items to the players without price gouging.
• Players discuss their dissatisfaction with Gao Linzhi's lack of participation but understand the risks involved and the need for caution.
• Players form teams to enter the Anomalies story instance, with some discussing strategies to force Gao Linzhi's intervention if the quest fails.

Key Plot Points and Events

• High-level players discuss the advantages of corporate players in the game.
• Anomalous instance requires players to navigate without sight, sound, or speech, relying on touch and smell.
• Players share experiences and discover the instance's connection to the story of Wu Dalang and Pan Jinlian.

Character Developments

• Gao Linzhi remains focused on his cultivation and game strategy.
• High-level players show their strategic thinking in discussing the anomaly.

Significant Themes

• The advantages and disadvantages of corporate players versus solo players.
• The importance of adaptability and strategy in overcoming challenges.

Character Interactions

• High-level players discuss and strategize together.
• Gao Linzhi interacts with players through the game system, observing and learning from their experiences.