Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian's return from Etched Wisdom is not to the previous node but an unfamiliar place.
• He realizes he's not in Etched Wisdom but reality, and now he's entered Etched Wisdom, causing a spatial jump.
• He faces two Gates leading to different destinations, and a voice from an intercom-like device in the wall asks him where he wants to go.
• The voice guides him to take the Gate on the left, implying he's in the right place but should go to the lake outside.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian maintains his pragmatism and calmness, even in this bizarre situation. He sticks to his persona as a cleaner and follows the rules given by the voice.
• He shows curiosity and interest in the extraordinary predicament he's in, suggesting he's open to new challenges.

Significant Themes

• Reality vs. Fallacy: Fu Qian struggles to distinguish between reality and Etched Wisdom, suggesting a theme of perception and truth.
• Preparedness and Consequences: Fu Qian's thorough preparations for the expedition have led to unexpected difficulties, raising questions about the consequences of over-preparedness.
• Communication and Understanding: The voice from the intercom-like device highlights the theme of communication and understanding, as Fu Qian tries to grasp the situation and follow the rules given.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian interacts with an unknown entity through an intercom-like device. He maintains a calm and respectful demeanor, following the rules given by the voice while trying to gather information about his surroundings.
• The voice, though not identified, shows awareness of Fu Qian's previous commission and guides him towards the lake outside, suggesting it knows about the cleaning work for the "shadow."

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian chooses the Left path, guided by a voice from a walkie-talkie.
• He navigates through a grand, intricate building, eventually reaching a high-level academic area.
• He's guided to a closed room where a voice requests his help to retrieve a lost Notebook from a 'back room.'

Character Developments

• Fu Qian demonstrates professionalism and curiosity, accepting the task despite its strangeness.
• The voice behind the Gate shows urgency, frustration, and a hint of pain, indicating they've made a serious mistake.

Significant Themes

• The importance of professionalism and maintaining one's original intention.
• The struggle and urgency of academic research, with a hint of mysterious circumstances surrounding the lost Notebooks.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian interacts with an unseen character behind a closed Gate, mirroring his earlier interaction with a Brain Jellyfish.
• The unseen character praises Fu Qian's attitude and expresses deep agreement with his previous statement about the crisis.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Author Zuo Lun announces the renaming of the novel from "Staring at the Ancient God for a Whole Year" to "Old Days Horror Play".
• The name change is to better fit the theme and original intention of the story.
• Zuo Lun assures readers that the creative subject, story content, update frequency, and core style will remain the same.
• He expresses a desire to improve the story's quality in the latter part.
• Zuo Lun requests readers to vote for the book to increase its visibility and asks those who remember the old title to add him as a friend to compensate for the renaming fees.

Character Developments

• Zuo Lun, the author, shows responsibility and care towards his readers by explaining the reason behind the name change and reassuring them about the story's continuity.

Significant Themes

• The importance of communication and transparency between author and readers.
• The author's commitment to maintaining and improving the quality of the story.

Character Interactions

• Zuo Lun interacts with his readers through this announcement, showing appreciation for their support and love for the book.
• He also reaches out to those who might still remember the old title, showing a personal touch in his communication.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian enters a classroom-like back room, guided by simple directions.
• He finds a tall, chained Gate leading to a lecture hall.
• Inside, he discovers a student-like figure engrossed in thought, staring at a Twelve-faced Hourglass.
• Fu Qian tries to engage the figure but gets no response. He uses a Handbell to snap them out of their trance.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian demonstrates his role as a Teaching Director, showing patience, authority, and concern for the student's well-being.
• The student figure is initially unresponsive, seemingly lost in thought or comprehension, but eventually reacts to Fu Qian's intervention.

Significant Themes

• Education and Learning: Fu Qian's role as a Teaching Director emphasizes the theme of education. The student's intense focus on the Hourglass suggests a deep learning or comprehension process.
• Responsibility and Guidance: Fu Qian feels responsible for guiding the student, highlighting the theme of responsibility and proper guidance.
• Focus and Distraction: The student's intense focus contrasts with Fu Qian's need to bring them back to reality, raising the theme of focus and distraction in learning.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian interacts with the student figure, initially trying to engage them gently, then using a Handbell to snap them out of their trance when they don't respond.
• The student figure is unresponsive to Fu Qian's initial attempts to engage them, but reacts to the Handbell, showing a shift in their state of mind.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian, a strict teacher, uses a bell staff to discipline an unruly student, helping him remember a crucial question about classical mechanics.
• The student mentions a Notebook recording the beginning and end, which Fu Qian finds intriguing.
• Fu Qian discovers an hourglass and deduces the coordinates of a crash site, but finds it covered by other structures.
• The student becomes excited, claiming to understand everything, but struggles to articulate his thoughts.
• Fu Qian guides the student, who reveals he calculated the answer while sitting in a cage-like seat.
• The student claims the answer is in the cage, but Fu Qian sees nothing.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian: Demonstrates his strict teaching methods and intellectual curiosity, showing interest in the student's Notebook and the crash site.
• The Student: Struggles with memory issues and emotional instability, but shows moments of clarity and excitement when recalling his calculations.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge and Memory: The student's struggle to remember his calculations and the Notebook's contents highlights the theme of knowledge and memory loss.
• Authority and Discipline: Fu Qian's use of the bell staff to maintain order in the classroom explores the theme of authority and discipline in education.
• Curiosity and Investigation: Fu Qian's curiosity about the Notebook and the crash site drives the plot forward, emphasizing the theme of investigation and discovery.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and The Student: Fu Qian acts as a stern teacher, guiding and pushing the student to remember his calculations, while the student struggles to communicate his thoughts effectively.
• The Student and The Cage: The student's excitement and desperation when interacting with the cage-like seat suggest a significant connection between his calculations and the cage.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Thinker is attempting to forcefully recall forgotten information by manually overclocking his brain, a dangerous and gruesome process.
• Fu Qian observes and understands the Thinker's actions, comparing them to reaching into one's brain to promote blood circulation.
• The Thinker successfully makes a connection with a silver line on the ground, seemingly part of a larger circuit, after tearing off parts of his body.

Character Developments

• The Thinker displays extreme determination and disregard for his own body in pursuit of knowledge.
• Fu Qian shows curiosity and analytical skills, piecing together the purpose of the venue and the silver lines.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of knowledge at any cost.
• The blurring line between humanity and technology/machinery.
• The potential dangers and consequences of unchecked ambition.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian observes and analyzes the Thinker's actions, showing empathy but not intervening.
• The Thinker, consumed by his goal, ignores Fu Qian's presence and interacts only with the silver lines on the ground.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Thinker's body begins to mutate and evolve rapidly while calculating, tearing itself apart in the process.
• Fu Qian observes the Thinker's evolution and the patterns formed by its tentacles, estimating the coordinates of the fall.
• Fu Qian enters another cage on the upper level, attempting to help the Thinker recall its forgotten results by stimulating its memories.

Character Developments

• The Thinker: Its body evolves into a jellyfish-like form, losing its vocal cords but gaining the ability to transmit information. It becomes increasingly desperate for help.
• Fu Qian: Fu Qian remains calm and analytical throughout the Thinker's evolution. He decides to help the Thinker by understanding its situation and stimulating its memories.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of knowledge and truth: Both characters are driven by their desire to understand and solve the problem at hand, highlighting the academic's pursuit of knowledge.
• The struggle against the unknown: The Thinker's evolution and Fu Qian's attempts to help it underscore the challenges and uncertainties faced when dealing with the supernatural.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and the Thinker: Fu Qian tries to help the Thinker recall its forgotten results by sitting in a specific cage, while the Thinker communicates its distress and need for help to Fu Qian.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian witnesses the transformation of a Thinker into a Brain Jellyfish, similar to the ones in cages.
• He deduces that the jellyfish are part of a computational matrix and unlocks it, triggering a chain reaction of jellyfish appearances.
• Fu Qian uses the coordinates of the previously locked point of descent to input into the jellyfish matrix, unlocking the final point.
• The Thinker experiences immense pain and transforms into an inhuman state, humming a melody.
• Fu Qian realizes that the melody is the same one Miss Wen hummed earlier, which was sensed within the Kalaodola Flesh and Blood.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian demonstrates his academic prowess and understanding of arcane arts, appreciating the aesthetic and intellectual aspects of the jellyfish transformation.
• The Thinker, while correct in his deductions, struggles to cope with the physical and mental toll of the transformation.

Significant Themes

• Collective Wisdom vs Individual Genius: Fu Qian realizes that the answer was not solely reached by the Thinker's genius but was a collective effort.
• Process vs Answer: Fu Qian values the process of finding the answer as much as the answer itself, appreciating the aesthetic and intellectual aspects of the transformation.
• Connection and Resonance: Fu Qian senses a connection between the jellyfish, confirming that there's indeed a resonance between them.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and the Thinker interact minimally. Fu Qian gives a perfect score to the Thinker's efforts but doesn't engage further as the Thinker becomes increasingly inhuman.
• Fu Qian's thoughts about Miss Wen and the Sage suggest a connection between them, hinting at a larger network of knowledge and understanding.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian discovers that the drop point was empty, but he's satisfied with his process rather than the result.
• He encounters three different versions of Etched Wisdom, each with unique characteristics.
• Upon returning to the top of the tiered classroom, the jellyfish and their glow disappear, and Fu Qian can't find Brother Thinker.
• Fu Qian returns to claim his reward for finding the Notebook, but the Behind-the-Gate Person doubts his efforts.
• Fu Qian questions the truthfulness of the Behind-the-Gate Person's words and is met with hostility.
• The Behind-the-Gate Person invites Fu Qian inside, laughing ominously.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian remains focused on the academic process rather than immediate results, leading to significant discoveries.
• The Behind-the-Gate Person becomes hostile and suspicious when Fu Qian questions their integrity.

Significant Themes

• Academic integrity and honesty in research.
• The consequences of pursuing unknowable answers.
• The nature of truth and deception in academia.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian interacts with various researchers and jellyfish, each providing unique insights.
• Fu Qian's conversation with the Behind-the-Gate Person becomes tense as he questions their honesty.
• The Behind-the-Gate Person communicates with unseen individuals, hinting at a larger conspiracy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wage claimants are mocked by researchers behind a closed Gate.
• Fu Qian, a wage claimant, tries to reason with the researcher behind the Gate, who refuses to open it or pay wages.
• Fu Qian accepts "spiritual wealth" as compensation, which surprises the researcher.
• A lamp beside the Gate lights up, illuminating the wage claimants' shadows.
• Fu Qian is led to believe he's a "Scavenger" cleaning up "shadows," and is tasked with finding a lost Notebook.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian shows understanding and acceptance of spiritual wealth, differentiating him from other wage claimants.
• The researcher behind the Gate shows curiosity and interest in Fu Qian's unique perspective.

Significant Themes

• The disparity between the researchers and the wage claimants, highlighting social inequality.
• The value of spiritual wealth versus material wealth.
• The theme of identity and perception, with Fu Qian questioning his role and the researchers' intentions.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and the researcher behind the Gate have a tense yet intriguing conversation, leading to mutual respect and a task given to Fu Qian.
• The wage claimants outside the Gate are portrayed as a united front against the researchers, but their interactions are filled with mutual mockery and blame.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian, now appearing as a shadow, is discovered by the Behind-the-Gate Person.
• The researchers are revealed to be observing and interacting with the shadows, not eliminating them.
• Fu Qian is led to the back room, the core of the testing protocol, to interact with a researcher inside.
• The researchers admit to previous shadow encounters and express concern about Fu Qian's intelligence and potential threat.
• Fu Qian reveals he came from Moore, suggesting the researchers could be shadows themselves, causing tension.
• A path is illuminated leading to a platform with a lighthouse-like symbol, indicating a connection to Moore.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian: Maintains his calm and composure, revealing his true origins and challenging the researchers.
• The Behind-the-Gate Person: Shows composure and understanding of the situation, guiding Fu Qian and responding to his claims.
• Other Researchers: Display varying levels of frustration, concern, and denial regarding Fu Qian's assertions.

Significant Themes

• Perception and reality: The researchers' inability to see the shadows and Fu Qian's revelation that they might be shadows themselves challenge their understanding of reality.
• Observation and experimentation: The researchers' approach to the shadows, treating them as a special phenomenon to be observed and tested.
• Power dynamics: The tension between Fu Qian and the researchers shifts as he reveals his true origins and challenges their position.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and the Behind-the-Gate Person: Engage in a tense yet informative conversation, with Fu Qian revealing his origins and the Behind-the-Gate Person guiding him and responding to his claims.
• Fu Qian and the other researchers: Interact with varying levels of frustration, concern, and denial as Fu Qian challenges their understanding of the situation.
• The researchers among themselves: Display disagreements and concerns about the Behind-the-Gate Person's guidance and Fu Qian's presence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian discovers a lighthouse in the Sea of Ashes, which he believes is connected to the 'Behind-the-Gate People' and the 'Wise Dead' from the Academy.
• He theorizes that the lighthouse is used to confirm one's state, i.e., to check if one has become a shadow unknowingly.
• Fu Qian stands on the 'Prism' (the lighthouse's eye) and waits for the lighthouse to shine, but it remains dark.
• He realizes that the lighthouse only exists in Moore and resonates with individuals whose life-death balance has been broken.
• Fu Qian concludes that the lighthouse guides the lost and that being here and not attracting the light signifies trouble.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian demonstrates his analytical and problem-solving skills, understanding the lighthouse's purpose and how it works.
• He shows confidence in his abilities and a willingness to take risks, standing on the Prism despite the uncertainty.
• Fu Qian exhibits a competitive and manipulative side, enjoying the tension and pressure he puts on the audience.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between reality and illusion, or 'shadow' states.
• The search for guidance and clarity in a chaotic and confusing environment.
• The manipulation of truth and perception for personal gain.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian interacts with the 'Behind-the-Gate People,' following their instructions to stand on the Prism.
• He engages with the audience, taunting them and enjoying their distress as they wait for the lighthouse to shine.
• Fu Qian's actions and revelations cause the audience to question their own states and the reliability of the lighthouse.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian infers that the uninvited guest is not a Shadow but a normal person who is unknowingly a Shadow.
• Fu Qian uses psychological manipulation (Heart-Piercing Power) to provoke a response from the Behind-the-Gate People.
• The Behind-the-Gate People reveal they're afraid of being seen and scrutinized, leading to a Prisoner's Dilemma situation.
• Fu Qian confirms he found the Thinker and provokes the Behind-the-Gate People into attacking.
• Fu Qian activates Law Remnants to dispel the darkness and surge into the researchers' consciousness.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian: Shows strategic thinking, psychological manipulation skills, and a desire for truth and confrontation.
• Behind-the-Gate People: Reveal their fear of being seen, lack of confidence in their state, and willingness to hide behind the Gate. They show academic pride but lack substantial achievements.

Significant Themes

• Fear of the unknown and being scrutinized.
• The pursuit of truth and knowledge in academia.
• Psychological manipulation and provocation.
• The consequences of hiding and avoiding confrontation.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian vs. Behind-the-Gate People: Fu Qian uses psychological manipulation to provoke the Behind-the-Gate People, leading to a tense confrontation and eventual retaliation.
• Fu Qian's interaction with the researchers is not just about the discussion but also about waiting for a response from any Higher Beings involved in the temporal anomaly.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The research facility uses high-end equipment to scan the area with Law Remnants, revealing a hidden power.
• A researcher excitedly mutters about "Light" and "The Unseeable Wheel" (the Sun), triggering a divine descent of pure white light.
• Fu Qian recognizes this light as the power of the Ancient Sun God, Ariel, who fell at the beginning of the Long Night.
• The Sun's power incinerates the entire research academy, and Etched Wisdom begins to shatter.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian: Shows curiosity and caution when facing the Sun's power. He recognizes the voice of the researcher who triggered the divine descent.
• The researcher (unnamed): Becomes fanatically devoted to the Light, ignoring Fu Qian's attempts at communication. He triggers the Sun's power, destroying the academy and accelerating Etched Wisdom's shattering.

Significant Themes

• Power and Control: The Sun's power is ancient and overwhelming, contrasting with Fu Qian's calculated and controlled approach.
• Fanaticism vs Caution: The researcher's fanatical devotion to the Light is juxtaposed with Fu Qian's cautious curiosity.
• Consequences of Actions: The Sun's power, once unleashed, has catastrophic consequences, both for the academy and Etched Wisdom.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and the researcher: Fu Qian attempts to engage the researcher in conversation, but the researcher only laughs maniacally and unleashes the Sun's power, destroying everything.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian provokes a significant commotion, revealing a powerful light source that doesn't seem to belong to the Ancient Sun God.
• The light source, seemingly controlled by a Higher Being, reacts aggressively to Fu Qian's presence but doesn't communicate with him.
• Fu Qian finds himself trapped in an endless loop of an Etched Wisdom, returning to a dilapidated version of the arcane research institute where he started.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian demonstrates his strategic thinking and adaptability in provoking the light source and analyzing its behavior.
• Fu Qian reflects on his appearance and maintains an academic leader's image by conjuring the institute's uniform.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between light and dark, or good and evil, is implied through the light source's reaction to Fu Qian.
• The theme of deception and hidden agendas is explored as Fu Qian suspects a Higher Being is manipulating the light source discreetly.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian interacts with the light source, which seems to be controlled by a Higher Being, but no direct communication occurs.
• Fu Qian reflects on his past interactions with the Rainbow of Yao Bian, a Higher Being he suspects is involved in the current situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian arrives at the impact point and reflects on the Academy's exploration team's discovery of the place.
• He considers Rainbow of Yao Bian's involvement and possible motives, including luring the team for cannon fodder or scientific research.
• Fu Qian observes the Crystalline Blessing's impact and considers studying it using Academy personnel as subjects.
• A creature resembling Etched Wisdom appears and approaches Fu Qian.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian demonstrates analytical and speculative skills, considering various possibilities and conspiracies.
• The creature's appearance and behavior suggest it may be a manifestation of Etched Wisdom or influenced by it.

Significant Themes

• The theme of deception and manipulation is prominent, with Rainbow of Yao Bian potentially orchestrating events behind the scenes.
• The idea of knowledge and exploration as a driving force is introduced, with Fu Qian considering studying the Crystalline Blessing.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian interacts with the creature, mirroring his previous conversation with the receptionist, suggesting a connection between the two.
• The creature appears to be confused and disoriented, following Fu Qian's instructions without understanding.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian leads a group of Scavenger candidates through a dangerous, blocked path.
• They encounter two former researchers, now mutated and aggressive, one of whom is a former receptionist.
• A candidate offers to "clean up" the receptionist but hesitates due to their similar appearance to Fu Qian.
• Fu Qian guides the candidate to attack the receptionist, using their similar attire to confuse the candidate's judgment.
• The candidate quickly overpowers the receptionist, revealing feathers influenced by the Angel lineage.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian: Shows knowledge of the area, calm under pressure, and manipulative tendencies, using the candidate's confusion to his advantage.
• Scavenger Candidate: Initially hesitant, they prove to be formidable in combat once they engage with the receptionist.

Significant Themes

• Appearance vs Reality: Fu Qian manipulates the candidate based on their appearance, highlighting the importance of image and first impressions.
• Perception and Judgment: The candidate's confusion shows how perception can be influenced and manipulated, affecting one's judgment.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and the Scavenger Candidate: Fu Qian manipulates the candidate, using their confusion to guide their actions.
• The Scavenger Candidate and the Receptionist: The candidate initially hesitates due to their similarity to Fu Qian but ultimately attacks the receptionist.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter is a year-end message from the author, Zuo Lun, to his readers.
• No significant plot developments occur in this chapter.

Character Developments

• Zuo Lun: The author expresses his struggle with writing reports, indicating his character's honesty and self-deprecation.

Significant Themes

• Gratitude: Zuo Lun expresses appreciation for his readers, highlighting the theme of gratitude.
• Reflection: The chapter encourages readers to reflect on the past year, mirroring the author's own introspection.

Character Interactions

• The author interacts with his readers through this message, fostering a sense of community and connection.
• No other character interactions occur in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian, now with feathers growing from his body, encounters a candidate who has been transformed into a monstrous creature.
• Fu Qian guides the candidate through a test, where they hunt down another creature using an iron rod.
• Fu Qian leads the candidate to an armory, where the candidate chooses a serrated, wavy-bladed weapon.
• Fu Qian transforms into a mobile arsenal, extending tentacles to hold multiple weapons, and decides to accompany the candidate on their hunt.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian: Shows patience and understanding towards the candidate, offers guidance, and demonstrates his ability to adapt and transform.
• The Candidate: Evolves from a confused, hesitant individual to a more determined "Hunter," choosing a weapon and expressing concern about finding their way back.

Significant Themes

• Transformation and Adaptation: Fu Qian's ability to change and adapt is highlighted, as is the candidate's transformation into a Hunter.
• Guidance and Mentorship: Fu Qian takes on a mentoring role, providing guidance and support to the candidate.
• The Hunt: The theme of the hunt continues, with Fu Qian now actively participating.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and the Candidate: Fu Qian guides and mentors the candidate, who responds with increasing determination and confidence.
• Fu Qian and the Weapons: Fu Qian demonstrates his ability to interact with and control multiple weapons simultaneously.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A Fei and Fu Qian explore the Inverted Lake, an Etched Wisdom site, with excellent logistics support.
• Fu Qian reflects on the nature of Etched Wisdom, the Inverted Lake, and the Academy's past explorations.
• They return to the hall behind the door, and A Fei is tasked with further cleaning up inside.
• Fu Qian decides to use A Fei as a proxy to spread corruption and pollution, attaching a 'Blessing of Calamity' to his knife.
• They proceed towards an ascending stairs, likely to explore more of the Inverted Lake.

Character Developments

• A Fei: Shows dedication and obedience to Fu Qian's instructions, demonstrating his straightforward mental state.
• Fu Qian: Continues to analyze the situation, seeking to understand the Inverted Lake and its connection to the Academy's past explorations. He decides to use A Fei as a tool to further his goals.

Significant Themes

• Curiosity and Chaos: Fu Qian's curiosity drives him to explore the Inverted Lake, leading to further chaos and revelations.
• Power and Control: Fu Qian seeks to control the situation by using A Fei as a proxy to spread corruption, demonstrating his desire for power.
• Lack of Information: The scarcity of information about the Inverted Lake and its history hinders Fu Qian's understanding and planning.

Character Interactions

• A Fei and Fu Qian: A Fei follows Fu Qian's instructions without question, while Fu Qian uses A Fei to further his goals, showing a lack of concern for A Fei's well-being.
• Fu Qian and the Inverted Lake: Fu Qian interacts with the environment, seeking to understand its nature and history, while also trying to manipulate it to his advantage.