Summary

Key Plot Points / Events

• The Xi Beast and the Sand Scorpion King engage in a prolonged, brutal battle in the desert. Their strength is evenly matched, but the Sand Scorpion King gradually gains the upper hand.
• Tang Sanzang and Feifei watch helplessly from behind a sand dune, unable to intervene.
• Desperate to end the threat permanently, the Xi Beast burns its own origin force—a suicidal move—and rams its horns into the Sand Scorpion King.
• In retaliation, the Sand Scorpion King stabs its venomous tail into the Xi Beast’s back, fatally poisoning it.
• Before dying, the Xi Beast forcibly extracts the Sand Scorpion King’s primordial spirit imprint and offers it to Feifei.
• Feifei is told that absorbing the imprint will make her the Sand Scorpion King’s master, ensuring it can never harm her again. The Xi Beast then collapses, its life fading.

Character Developments

• Xi Beast: Reveals fierce loyalty and self-sacrifice. It chooses mutual destruction to protect Feifei, willingly burning its origin and accepting death.
• Feifei: Shows deep emotional attachment and grief. She abandons caution and runs to the dying Xi Beast, revealing how much its protection means to her.
• Tang Sanzang: Remains a helpless observer, concerned and anxious, but unable to change the outcome.
• Sand Scorpion King: Shifts from aggressive predator to fearful victim; its primordial spirit is forcibly taken, reducing it to a subordinate.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and selflessness in the name of protection.
• The cost of loyalty and love.
• Power transfer through the primordial spirit imprint—mastery and control.
• The inevitability of mutual destruction when two equal forces refuse to yield.

Character Interactions

• Tang Sanzang and Feifei watch the battle together; Tang Sanzang voices worry, while Feifei trembles with fear.
• The Xi Beast exchanges a silent, resolute glance with Feifei before making its final charge.
• Feifei cries over the dying Xi Beast, scolding it for going too far, while the Xi Beast calmly gives her the spirit imprint and says its final words.
• The Sand Scorpion King shrieks in fear when it realizes the Xi Beast is burning its origin—an act of madness.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feifei attempts to absorb the Sand Scorpion King's primordial spirit imprint but is interrupted by the arrival of the Soul-Devouring Beast.
• The Soul-Devouring Beast attacks, breaking Feifei's defensive barrier and sending Tang Sanzang flying.
• Tang Sanzang lands near the Sand Scorpion King's remains, and its primordial spirit imprint enters him.
• Inside Tang Sanzang's Sea of Consciousness, the Sand Scorpion King's primordial spirit imprint attacks him, but Tang Sanzang uses his Buddhist powers to suppress it.
• Tang Sanzang absorbs the Sand Scorpion King's primordial spirit power, refining it into his own.

Character Developments

• Tang Sanzang: He demonstrates his Buddhist powers, absorbing the Sand Scorpion King's primordial spirit power and growing stronger.
• Feifei: She struggles to protect the group from the Soul-Devouring Beast but is overwhelmed due to her lack of combat experience.
• Xi Beast: It feels guilty for causing the current situation and is concerned about Feifei's safety.
• Sand Scorpion King: Its primordial spirit imprint is suppressed and absorbed by Tang Sanzang.

Significant Themes

• Strength vs. Weakness: Feifei's lack of combat experience and Tang Sanzang's initial weakness contrast with the Soul-Devouring Beast's overwhelming power.
• Protection and Sacrifice: Feifei puts herself in harm's way to protect the others, while the Xi Beast feels guilty for endangering them.
• Absorption and Growth: Tang Sanzang absorbs the Sand Scorpion King's primordial spirit power, demonstrating the theme of growth through adversity.

Character Interactions

• Feifei and Tang Sanzang: Feifei tries to protect Tang Sanzang but is unable to, leading to his absorption of the Sand Scorpion King's primordial spirit imprint.
• Xi Beast and Feifei: The Xi Beast feels guilty for causing the danger they're in and is worried about Feifei's safety.
• Tang Sanzang and the Sand Scorpion King: Tang Sanzang absorbs the Sand Scorpion King's primordial spirit power, effectively defeating it.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Soul-Devouring Beast attacks Feifei and the Xi Beast, intending to devour them.
• Feifei attempts to self-destruct to take the Soul-Devouring Beast down with her, but it suppresses her power.
• The Sand Scorpion King stings the Soul-Devouring Beast, saving Feifei.
• Tang Sanzang reappears unharmed, revealing he's absorbed the Sand Scorpion King's power.
• The Soul-Devouring Beast tries to manipulate the Sand Scorpion King to kill Tang Sanzang.

Character Developments

• Feifei: Shows bravery and determination, willing to self-destruct to save her friends.
• Xi Beast: Regrets its actions that led to this situation and tries to protect Feifei.
• Tang Sanzang: Absorbs the Sand Scorpion King's power, becoming stronger and more confident.
• Soul-Devouring Beast: Initially arrogant and confident, becomes terrified upon seeing Tang Sanzang's return.
• Sand Scorpion King: Initially passive, becomes enraged and determined to fight when manipulated by the Soul-Devouring Beast.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and loyalty: Feifei and the Xi Beast show their loyalty to each other, while the Sand Scorpion King ultimately chooses to protect Tang Sanzang.
• Power and manipulation: The Soul-Devouring Beast tries to manipulate the Sand Scorpion King, but its plan backfires.
• Resilience: Tang Sanzang survives a near-death experience and returns stronger.

Character Interactions

• Feifei and the Xi Beast: They show mutual concern and willingness to sacrifice for each other.
• Tang Sanzang and the Sand Scorpion King: Their bond deepens as Tang Sanzang absorbs the Sand Scorpion King's power.
• The Soul-Devouring Beast and the Sand Scorpion King: The Soul-Devouring Beast underestimates the Sand Scorpion King, leading to its downfall.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Sanzang encounters the Soul-Devouring Beast, which attacks Xi Beast to prevent Tang Sanzang from detoxifying it.
• Tang Sanzang uses the Brocade Kasaya's power to temporarily blind and slow down the Soul-Devouring Beast.
• Tang Sanzang strikes the Soul-Devouring Beast with the Nine-Ringed Monk's Staff, sending it flying. The Soul-Devouring Beast retreats.
• Tang Sanzang orders the Sand Scorpion King to detoxify Xi Beast, which recovers.
• Tang Sanzang declines to pursue the retreating Soul-Devouring Beast.

Character Developments

• Tang Sanzang demonstrates his power and wisdom, protecting Xi Beast and suppressing the Sand Scorpion King's primordial spirit imprint.
• The Soul-Devouring Beast shows its cunning and ruthlessness in attempting to kill Xi Beast to prevent its detoxification.
• The Sand Scorpion King shows restraint and follows Tang Sanzang's orders, indicating a growing respect for him.
• Feifei reveals her knowledge of the Huo Mountain Range and its five peak beings.

Significant Themes

• The power of compassion and wisdom over brute force, as demonstrated by Tang Sanzang's actions.
• The consequences of greed and ruthlessness, shown through the Soul-Devouring Beast's actions and eventual retreat.
• The importance of restraint and respect, shown by the Sand Scorpion King's behavior.

Character Interactions

• Tang Sanzang and the Soul-Devouring Beast: Tang Sanzang's calm and powerful response to the Soul-Devouring Beast's attack.
• Tang Sanzang and the Sand Scorpion King: Tang Sanzang orders the Sand Scorpion King to detoxify Xi Beast, showing his authority.
• Tang Sanzang and Feifei: They exchange pleasantries and information about the Huo Mountain Range.
• The Soul-Devouring Beast and Xi Beast: The Soul-Devouring Beast attacks Xi Beast to prevent its detoxification, showing its ruthlessness.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Sanzang learns about five powerful beings residing in Mount Huo, including an unknown, terrifying one that could make the mountain tremble with a sneeze.
• To leave Mount Huo, Tang Sanzang must pass through the territories of these beings.
• Tang Sanzang decides to head west, which means passing through the Soul-Devouring Beast's territory.
• The Xi Beast offers to help Tang Sanzang force their way through the Soul-Devouring Beast's territory.
• The Sand Scorpion King expresses reluctance to go there.

Character Developments

• Tang Sanzang shows determination and strategic thinking in deciding his route.
• Feifei demonstrates wisdom and understanding, advising against rash actions due to their injuries.
• The Xi Beast shows protective ferocity towards Feifei but also acknowledges its own injuries.
• The Sand Scorpion King reveals its fear of the Soul-Devouring Beast's territory and its concern for the other beings in its domain.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics among the beings in Mount Huo.
• The consequences of rash actions and the importance of careful planning.
• Fear and hesitation in the face of overwhelming power.

Character Interactions

• Tang Sanzang interacts with the four powerful beings, learning about their territories and gaining their support.
• The Xi Beast and the Sand Scorpion King have a tense interaction, with the Xi Beast initially wanting to fight the Sand Scorpion King but later showing understanding and restraint.
• Feifei mediates the situation, showing wisdom and care for the others' well-being.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Sanzang and his group encounter the Xi Beast and Sand Scorpion King, who express their displeasure at other beings living in their territory.
• The Xi Beast and Sand Scorpion King reveal their intention to remove any outsiders from their territory, shocking Feifei.
• Tang Sanzang decides to enter the Soul-Devouring Beast's domain with Feifei and the Xi Beast as escorts.
• The Holy Emperor Great Heavenly Venerate and the Dapeng Buddha Ancestor suddenly appear, causing fear among all creatures in the Huo Mountain Range.
• The Holy Emperor Great Heavenly Venerate and the Dapeng Buddha Ancestor reveal that they have come due to fluctuations from Tang Sanzang's Buddhist talisman and the discovery of a hidden secret realm.
• They decide to explore the core region of the secret realm together.

Character Developments

• Tang Sanzang remains calm and respectful in the presence of the Holy Emperor Great Heavenly Venerate and the Dapeng Buddha Ancestor, showing his growth as a disciple.
• The Xi Beast and Sand Scorpion King display their arrogant and aggressive nature, but they also show deference to the Holy Emperor Great Heavenly Venerate and the Dapeng Buddha Ancestor, indicating their understanding of power dynamics.
• Feifei shows concern for Tang Sanzang's safety and displeasure at the Xi Beast and Sand Scorpion King's behavior, revealing her loyalty and moral compass.

Significant Themes

• The theme of power and its consequences is evident in the behavior of the Xi Beast and Sand Scorpion King, who believe they can remove any outsiders from their territory due to their strength.
• The theme of respect and deference is shown when the Xi Beast, Sand Scorpion King, and Feifei bow to the Holy Emperor Great Heavenly Venerate and the Dapeng Buddha Ancestor, acknowledging their power and status.
• The theme of discovery and exploration is highlighted as the Holy Emperor Great Heavenly Venerate and the Dapeng Buddha Ancestor decide to investigate the core region of the secret realm.

Character Interactions

• Tang Sanzang interacts respectfully with the Holy Emperor Great Heavenly Venerate and the Dapeng Buddha Ancestor, showing his loyalty and reverence as a disciple.
• The Xi Beast and Sand Scorpion King interact arrogantly with Tang Sanzang and Feifei, displaying their disdain for other beings in their territory.
• Feifei interacts protectively with Tang Sanzang, showing her concern for his safety and disapproval of the Xi Beast and Sand Scorpion King's behavior.
• The Holy Emperor Great Heavenly Venerate and the Dapeng Buddha Ancestor interact calmly and authoritatively, commanding respect from all creatures in the Huo Mountain Range.

Chapter Summary: “Saint in Distress,” the Sacred Emperor’s Praise

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Sanzang volunteers to enter the dangerous core of the Huo Mountain Range, accompanied by Su Mu and Dapeng Buddha Ancestor.
• The Sand Scorpion King follows Tang Sanzang closely, delighted that becoming his disciple has connected him to Su Mu, a Saint. He assumes this powerful backing will protect him from any danger.
• Feifei and the Xi Beast also join the group but deliberately remain at the rear. They recognize that the Sand Scorpion King’s status has risen now that he is connected to a Saint.
• Before entering the Core Region, Dapeng Buddha Ancestor suggests that he and Su Mu suppress their cultivation, spiritual senses, and divine abilities. By appearing as ordinary mortals, they may avoid triggering the region’s restrictions and gain a clearer understanding of its true nature.
• Su Mu agrees, emphasizing that abandoning the posture of the powerful can reveal truths that strength alone conceals.
• Once inside, a terrifying spiritual sense locks onto Su Mu and Dapeng Buddha Ancestor. However, because they have concealed their true cultivation, it does not affect them or the others.
• A mysterious, ancient voice speaks from the clouds, but only Su Mu and Dapeng can hear it. They remain calm and continue walking as though nothing unusual has happened.
• The Sand Scorpion King mistakenly believes their presence and Saintly backing have frightened the hidden master of the Core Region. The Xi Beast makes a similar assumption, but Feifei warns him not to provoke either the visitors or the region’s unknown ruler.
• The group travels deeper into the forest. The surroundings become increasingly ancient, oppressive, and spiritually rich.
• Su Mu touches the leaves of an enormous ancient tree and discovers that even the seemingly ordinary vegetation contains life force far greater than external heavenly treasures. He praises the Core Region as a place of extraordinary spiritual beauty.

Character Developments

• Tang Sanzang demonstrates courage and determination by willingly entering the forbidden region. His calmness suggests spiritual composure and confidence.
• Su Mu shows both wisdom and humility. Rather than relying on overwhelming power, he accepts Dapeng’s suggestion to behave like an ordinary mortal and carefully observes the environment.
• Dapeng Buddha Ancestor displays strategic insight, recognizing that the Core Region’s laws may react to spiritual probing. His proposal reflects patience and a willingness to seek understanding rather than force.
• The Sand Scorpion King becomes increasingly dependent on his new connection to Tang Sanzang and Su Mu. His confidence is largely based on the belief that Saintly protection makes him untouchable.
• Feifei emerges as the most cautious and perceptive of the beasts. She understands the danger of underestimating the Core Region’s master and restrains the Xi Beast’s reckless remarks.
• The Xi Beast is boastful and eager to interpret events in his group’s favor, but he ultimately listens to Feifei and suppresses his impulses.

Significant Themes

• Humility versus power: Su Mu and Dapeng deliberately discard their overwhelming cultivation to understand the world more truthfully.
• The danger of assumptions: The Sand Scorpion King and Xi Beast assume the hidden entity is intimidated, but the narrative suggests that the Core Region’s master remains deeply mysterious and potentially far more powerful than they realize.
• Hierarchy and changing status: The Sand Scorpion King’s position changes dramatically after becoming connected to Tang Sanzang and Su Mu, causing Feifei and the Xi Beast to treat him with greater distance.
• Surface appearance versus hidden reality: Though Su Mu and Dapeng appear mortal, their true identities remain concealed. Likewise, the ordinary-looking forest hides tremendous spiritual power.
• Respect for the unknown: Feifei’s caution contrasts with the others’ amusement and overconfidence, emphasizing the need to remain careful before an unfathomable existence.

Character Interactions

• Tang Sanzang’s quiet resolve earns the group’s acceptance as he joins the expedition.
• Su Mu and Dapeng work cooperatively, with Dapeng proposing a method and Su Mu approving it.
• The Sand Scorpion King follows Tang Sanzang with exaggerated loyalty, mentally celebrating his newfound protection.
• Feifei and the Xi Beast communicate silently about the Sand Scorpion King’s elevated status, then keep their distance.
• The Xi Beast mocks the Core Region’s hidden master as a bully who fears the strong, while Feifei immediately warns him to stop provoking danger.
• Su Mu and Dapeng maintain a calm, silent front when confronted by the mysterious spiritual presence, concealing their awareness from the others.
• Su Mu’s final observation about the trees and leaves reveals his growing appreciation for the Core Region’s unique and ancient vitality.

Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The group reaches the Core Region of a secret realm, expecting danger but instead finding a lush, vibrant paradise.
• Dapeng Buddha Ancestor examines a leaf and notices unusual veins, sparking Su Mu’s realization that the region holds a rare opportunity.
• Su Mu urges everyone to press forward quickly, sensing a fortuitous chance ahead.
• The forest is teeming with life—dense spiritual energy, clear streams, animals, and abundant vegetation.
• They discover a peaceful meadow with a stream, where Su Mu realizes this land is not a perilous zone but a naturally protected sanctuary filled with primal vitality and beauty.
• Xi Beast excitedly suggests they settle there permanently; Feifei is cautious but ultimately concedes that with Su Mu and Dapeng’s protection, staying may be possible.

2. Character Developments

• Su Mu: Perceptive and decisive; quickly discerns the region’s hidden value and acts to seize the opportunity.
• Dapeng Buddha Ancestor: Calm and insightful; observes subtle details (the leaf’s veins) and remains unsurprised by the paradise-like environment.
• Feifei: Cautious and rational, initially hesitant to covet the land due to fear of the Core Region’s former ruler, but slowly warms to the idea when protected by powerful seniors.
• Xi Beast: Opportunistic and quick to dream; excited by the abundant spiritual energy and eager to claim the place as home, relying on Su Mu and Dapeng’s strength.
• Sand Scorpion King: Silent but internally envious, realizing the previous Core Region dweller’s advantage was simply a better location, not greater talent.
• Tang Sanzang: Expresses awe and reverence for the secret realm, calling it a legendary paradise beyond the world.

3. Significant Themes

• Fortune and Opportunity: The “dangerous” Core Region turns out to be a treasure trove of spiritual energy and Dao rhythm—those who enter can gain tremendous benefit.
• Power and Territory: The contrast between the barren outer region and the abundant core highlights how resources shape cultivation and status.
• Nature as Sanctuary: The forest is portrayed as pure, vital, and harmonious—not hostile, but a place of natural protection and beauty.
• Protection and Ambition: The weaker beings (Xi Beast, Feifei) can only hope to enjoy the paradise through the authority of stronger figures.

4. Character Interactions

• Su Mu and Dapeng Buddha Ancestor work together in observing and interpreting the environment; Su Mu’s urgency is balanced by Dapeng’s serenity.
• Tang Sanzang voices wonder, reinforcing the group’s collective amazement.
• Xi Beast eagerly tries to persuade Feifei to stay, but Feifei tempers his enthusiasm with caution before agreeing due to their protectors’ presence.
• Sand Scorpion King remains isolated in his thoughts, silently comparing his own fate to the previous Core Region ruler.

Chapter Summary: "Retaliation by Taking Advantage of the Situation, the Strange Cave"

Key Plot Points

• After sensing no danger, Su Mu points toward a towering ancient tree beside a dark cave and leads the group to investigate.
• The cave is described as ominous—dark, bottomless, exuding a bloody wind and faint murmurs.
• Tang Sanzang briefly falls under the area's peaceful illusion, wishing to stay and cultivate instead of continuing the journey west, but the Buddhist swastika seal in his Sea of Consciousness jolts him awake.
• The Sand Scorpion King abruptly attacks Feifei and the Xi Beast, sending them flying, as apparent retaliation for past mistreatment.
• Su Mu, Dapeng Buddha Ancestor, Tang Sanzang, and the Sand Scorpion King enter the cave; Feifei persuades the reluctant Xi Beast to follow.
• Inside, the cave proves impossibly deep—after walking half an hour, there is still no end in sight, unnerving Dapeng Buddha Ancestor.

Character Developments

• Tang Sanzang: Shows vulnerability to demonic illusions, then self-reflection; he recognizes his attachment to appearances and strengthens his resolve.
• Sand Scorpion King: Having attained enlightenment earlier (turning misfortune into fortune), it behaves more confidently and aggressively, attacking former companions and acting as a loyal guard to Tang Sanzang.
• Feifei: Feels complex emotions—admiration mixed with envy—toward the Sand Scorpion King's advancement; demonstrates pragmatic bravery in coaxing the Xi Beast forward.
• Xi Beast: Depicted as cautious and fearful, wary of the unknown danger within the cave.
• Su Mu: Decisive and composed; he senses something "strange" about the aura but proceeds resolutely regardless.

Significant Themes

• Illusion vs. Reality: The deceptive peacefulness of the area nearly ensnares Tang Sanzang, highlighting how easily perception can be manipulated.
• Retaliation and Shifting Power Dynamics: The Sand Scorpion King uses its new strength to assert dominance over former equals.
• Courage vs. Caution: Feifei's fearless approach contrasts with the Xi Beast's hesitation; the group's shared faith in their leaders drives them forward.
• Consequences of Cultivation: Hardship can forge unexpected breakthroughs (the Sand Scorpion King), while complacency breeds stagnation.

Character Interactions

• Su Mu gives directions; Dapeng Buddha Ancestor questions his judgment but defers to his authority.
• The Sand Scorpion King silently attacks Feifei and the Xi Beast; when confronted, it responds with cold silence, intimidating them into submission.
• Feifei reassures the fearful Xi Beast, arguing that following the strong guarantees safety.
• Tang Sanzang undergoes an internal struggle with his own desires, ultimately reaffirming his monastic discipline.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mu and his companions continue through a pitch-black underground passage despite its oppressive, ominous atmosphere.
• They emerge into a vast underground cavern, where Dapeng Buddha Ancestor realizes they have reached the source of the disturbance.
• A gigantic Demon Butterfly appears. Its armored black body, crimson eyes, poisonous barbed wings, and overwhelming aura terrify the Sand Scorpion King, Fei, and the Xi Beast.
• Su Mu attempts to examine the Demon Butterfly, but its wings suddenly release an intensely bright black radiance infused with demonic energy.
• When Su Mu opens his eyes again, the cavern and Demon Butterfly have vanished. He finds himself in a modern office, apparently reliving memories from his former life.
• His supervisor is angrily berating him for submitting poor work and demands that he write a ten-thousand-word self-criticism.
• Believing the office to be an illusion or inner demon, Su Mu uses a Silence Spell on the supervisor. The spell briefly suppresses the man’s voice but fails completely when the supervisor resumes shouting.
• Su Mu is confused by the spell’s failure, while the supervisor becomes even angrier and accuses him of insubordination.

Character Developments

• Su Mu: Initially calm and analytical in the face of danger, he becomes intrigued rather than panicked by the Demon Butterfly. In the illusion, his powerful cultivation instincts clash humorously with ordinary modern workplace frustrations. He treats his supervisor as an insignificant nuisance and instinctively attempts to silence him, showing how detached he has become from his former mortal life.
• Dapeng Buddha Ancestor: Demonstrates awareness of the situation and recognizes that the group has reached their intended target, teasing Su Mu for successfully finding the “Yellow Dragon.”
• Sand Scorpion King, Fei, and the Xi Beast: Their fear of the Demon Butterfly highlights the creature’s overwhelming strength and establishes the threat as far beyond ordinary beings.
• The Supervisor: Acts as an embodiment of Su Mu’s unpleasant former-life memories. His furious, domineering behavior contrasts sharply with Su Mu’s calm indifference and creates the chapter’s main comic conflict.

Significant Themes

• The terror of overwhelming power: The Demon Butterfly’s appearance emphasizes the vast difference between ordinary creatures and ancient, abyssal entities.
• Reality versus illusion: The sudden transition from the cavern to a modern office suggests that the Demon Butterfly’s power may involve mental attacks, memory manipulation, or inner demons.
• The contrast between past and present identities: Su Mu’s former office life is placed against his current existence as a powerful cultivator. What once intimidated or frustrated him now appears trivial.
• Humor through culture and power reversal: A supernatural expert capable of facing primordial monsters is unexpectedly confronted with the mundane punishment of writing a self-criticism.
• Unresolved danger: The failed Silence Spell implies that the office scene is not a normal memory. The illusion may possess its own rules or be controlled by an unknown force.

Character Interactions

• Su Mu leads the group through the dark passage, while the others follow cautiously.
• Dapeng Buddha Ancestor jokingly praises Su Mu’s judgment after they locate the Demon Butterfly.
• The Demon Butterfly exerts psychological pressure over the entire group without directly attacking, reducing several powerful companions to trembling terror.
• Within the illusion, Su Mu directly challenges his supervisor by pointing at him and attempting to silence him.
• The supervisor responds with escalating rage, ordering Su Mu to write a ten-thousand-word self-criticism, setting up the chapter’s central comedic and psychological conflict.

Plot points and events

• Su Mu, overwhelmed at work, realizes he can no longer sense the Magic Power or cultivation abilities he remembers from life on the Primordial Continent. He concludes that his extraordinary adventures may have been only a dream and returns to his ordinary, discouraging office life.
• His adoptive brother, Zhou Hang, notices his distress and takes him to their longtime barbecue stall. Zhou encourages him to forget work for the evening, orders his favorite food, and patiently watches as Su Mu regains his appetite and relaxes.
• On their drive home, a truck crashes into their SUV, critically injuring both men. With room to transport only one patient, Su Mu urges the paramedics to take Zhou Hang; Zhou insists they save Su Mu instead, citing his promise to Su Mu’s parents to care for him.
• Su Mu is rushed to surgery and survives. The next day, he wakes and immediately asks whether Zhou Hang is out of danger. Zhou’s condition remains unknown.

Character developments

• Su Mu begins numb and disoriented, grieving the apparent loss of his former, extraordinary life. The familiar meal helps him reconnect with ordinary pleasures, but the crash exposes his deep attachment to Zhou.
• Zhou Hang is shown as warm, attentive, and protective. His care appears in small gestures—guiding Su Mu out of work, ordering for him, and serving his favorite skewers—and culminates in his insistence that Su Mu be treated first.

Significant themes

• Dream versus reality: Su Mu struggles to accept that a vivid, seemingly impossible life may have been unreal.
• Care expressed through ordinary acts: Food, patience, and companionship help steady Su Mu more than advice does.
• Brotherhood and self-sacrifice: Zhou’s promise to protect Su Mu shapes his decision during the emergency, while Su Mu’s first concern after waking shows the bond is mutual.
• Fragility of ordinary life: A routine evening turns abruptly into a life-threatening crisis.

Character interactions

• Su Mu’s boss reprimands him, deepening his sense of helplessness and alienation.
• Zhou gently interrupts Su Mu’s spiral, takes him to eat, and attends to his needs without pressure.
• After the crash, the brothers each try to put the other first. Zhou’s reassurance as Su Mu is carried away leaves the question of his own survival unresolved.

Chapter Summary: “All Alone, Devouring”

Key plot points and events

• Su Mu learns from a nurse that Zhou Hang—the only family he has—died from injuries sustained in the recent car accident. Zhou Hang had delayed his own treatment so Su Mu could be rescued first.
• Overcome by shock and grief, Su Mu collapses and remains unconscious for a day.
• After recovering, he leaves the hospital alone and reflects on Zhou Hang’s death, his former ordinary life, and the meaninglessness of continuing without his family.
• At the hospital entrance, Su Mu resolves to accept reality and keep living, both for himself and in memory of Zhou Hang.
• A mysterious disturbance then erupts in his consciousness. Within his barren spiritual realm, a seed grows into a massive Tongtian tree, transforming the empty chaos into a complete world of mountains, clouds, and waterfalls.
• Su Mu realizes that the “mortal world” he has been experiencing is an illusion and that the Primordial Realm and its past battles were real memories or experiences carved into his soul.
• The Heavenly Dao of the Primordial Realm awakens and sends immense source power into him, burning away the illusion and restoring his clarity.
• Reclaiming his power, Su Mu activates the Devouring Source and commands, “Devouring,” signaling the beginning of his return to power or his absorption of the false reality.

Character development

• Su Mu begins the chapter devastated, numb, and directionless after losing Zhou Hang.
• His decision to continue living shows the first stage of emotional recovery and acceptance.
• The revelation of the Primordial Realm transforms him from a grieving, seemingly ordinary man into someone reconnecting with a powerful and extraordinary identity.
• His restoration of spiritual awareness replaces helplessness with determination and authority.

Significant themes

• Grief and isolation: Su Mu confronts the unbearable reality of losing his only family and becoming completely alone.
• Acceptance and perseverance: Despite his despair, he chooses to move forward rather than surrender to grief.
• Reality versus illusion: The ordinary mortal life is revealed to be a soul-deceiving illusion, raising questions about which world is truly real.
• Awakening and identity: The growth of the Tongtian tree symbolizes the reawakening of Su Mu’s buried power and connection to the Primordial Realm.
• Devouring and transformation: His final command represents the recovery of his former strength and the destruction or absorption of the forces that concealed the truth.

Character interactions

• Su Mu’s main direct interaction is with the nurse, whom he pressures into revealing Zhou Hang’s death. Her reluctant confession triggers his collapse.
• His emotional connection with Zhou Hang remains central even after Zhou Hang’s death; Su Mu speaks to him symbolically while resolving to live on.
• The Heavenly Dao interacts with Su Mu as an impersonal but powerful force, cleansing his soul and helping him break through the illusion.

Chapter Summary: “Not Quite, the Dream Law Origin”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mu awakens from the illusory mortal world after the Devouring Source inside him activates and absorbs the entire dream realm, including the Law power sustaining it.
• He realizes that the Demon Butterfly’s ability is not an ordinary Illusion Law technique but a profound Dream Law Origin embedded in its soul and bloodline.
• The Dream Law Origin is powerful enough to trap even Su Mu, a Grand Unity Golden Immortal who has reached the Primordial Limitless realm. Without it, the Demon Butterfly’s Dream Law would only affect cultivators of a similar rank.
• The Demon Butterfly attempts to flee after its dream realm is destroyed, but Su Mu immobilizes it with a vast net of Magic Power.
• Facing death, the Demon Butterfly first offers to become Su Mu’s lifelong servant, then offers up its Dream Law Origin instead.
• Su Mu accepts the origin. When it tries to rebel and pull him into another dream, the countless source Laws within his Primordial Realm suppress and subdue it immediately.
• Su Mu notices that Dapeng Buddha Ancestor, Tang Sanzang, the Sand Scorpion King, Feifei, and the Xi Beast remain trapped in dreams. The Demon Butterfly offers to awaken them, but Su Mu stops it, indicating that he has another purpose for leaving them asleep.

Character Developments

• Su Mu: Gains a clearer understanding of the Demon Butterfly’s power and successfully absorbs its Dream Law Origin. His immense control over the Laws within his Primordial Realm is demonstrated when he effortlessly suppresses the origin’s attempted backlash. He remains calm, decisive, and ruthless toward the Demon Butterfly, but also strategic in choosing not to awaken his companions immediately.
• Demon Butterfly: Shifts from a confident ambusher to a terrified captive once its dream realm fails. It reveals its intelligence and survival instinct by offering both servitude and its most valuable possession, the Dream Law Origin, in exchange for its life.
• The trapped companions: Dapeng Buddha Ancestor, Tang Sanzang, the Sand Scorpion King, Feifei, and the Xi Beast remain unconscious within the Demon Butterfly’s dreams, becoming part of Su Mu’s apparent plan.

Significant Themes

• Dreams versus illusions: The chapter distinguishes between ordinary illusions and dreams. Both originate from the heart, but the Demon Butterfly’s Dream Law operates at a deeper, more fundamental level.
• Power of Law Origins: True Law Origins, especially those carrying the imprint of the Great Dao, are vastly stronger than superficial Law comprehension.
• Devouring and assimilation: Su Mu’s Devouring Source allows him to consume even an entire illusory realm and absorb its power, reinforcing his unusual cultivation advantage.
• Power and submission: The Demon Butterfly’s arrogance collapses before overwhelming strength, showing how survival forces the weak to surrender their treasures and loyalty.
• Control versus rebellion: Although the Dream Law Origin attempts to seize control of Su Mu, the Laws within his Primordial Realm establish his absolute dominance.

Character Interactions

• Su Mu confronts the Demon Butterfly after breaking free from its dream. His silence and killing intent terrify it more than direct threats.
• The Demon Butterfly begs for mercy, offering servitude before realizing that its Dream Law Origin is the only price valuable enough to save its life.
• Su Mu accepts the origin but immediately overpowers its resistance.
• When the Demon Butterfly tries to awaken Su Mu’s companions, Su Mu prevents it, suggesting that he intends to use their continued dream state for a larger plan.

Chapter Summary: “Black and White Qi, Dreams at Night”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mu explains to the Demon Butterfly that Dapeng Buddha Ancestor and the others should remain asleep. If they overcome their dream barriers independently, they will gain deeper insight and stronger future cultivation benefits than if Su Mu forcibly awakens them.
• The Demon Butterfly confirms that it used the Dream Law to conceal the entire Huo Mountain Range from outside cultivators.
• While waiting, Su Mu observes Dapeng Buddha Ancestor’s breakthrough. Black and white qi emerge around him and eventually form a complete Taiji Yin-Yang symbol, signifying profound comprehension of the Law of Yin and Yang.
• Dapeng awakens after breaking through to the Third-Heaven Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. He thanks Su Mu for his guidance and for providing a peaceful cultivation environment.
• Su Mu asks Dapeng to recount his dream. Dapeng describes returning to his youth, when he was a weak Earth Immortal with dull black feathers, shortly after the Phoenix Clan had suffered a devastating calamity.
• The Phoenix Clan had fled to the Southern Wasteland under the burden of immense Karma, which prevented its surviving members from advancing in cultivation.
• Dapeng’s dream apparently continued through the major events of his life, including his brother Kong Xuan being forced by Saint Zhunti to become a mount and Dapeng himself eventually becoming Mahavairocana Buddha’s mount.
• Su Mu recognizes these events because they match the plot of a Primordial Era novel he read before transmigrating. His knowledge shocks Dapeng, who assumes Su Mu possesses the ability to perceive the past and future.
• Su Mu advises Dapeng to stabilize his newly advanced cultivation. He then begins wondering whether dream events might correspond to reality, especially in relation to Zhou Hang.

Character Developments

• Su Mu: Demonstrates patience and insight by allowing others to confront their own inner demons. His calm exterior conceals intense shock when Dapeng’s dream matches his memories of the novel from his former life. He also begins reconsidering the nature of dreams and whether they can reveal or influence reality.
• Dapeng Buddha Ancestor: Breaks through a major cultivation barrier after confronting painful memories and the karmic suffering of his past. His dream reconnects him with the hardships of his youth and the tragic fate of the Phoenix Clan, leaving him visibly emotional.
• Demon Butterfly: Reveals that it created the Huo Mountain Range’s concealment using the Dream Law. It remains obedient and unobtrusive after accepting Su Mu’s explanation.
• Kong Xuan and the Phoenix Clan: Though absent in the present, their histories become important through Dapeng’s dream, emphasizing the clan’s decline and the brothers’ forced submission to powerful Buddhist figures.

Significant Themes

• Dreams as spiritual trials: Dreams originate from the heart and expose hidden traumas, desires, karmic burdens, and inner demons. Overcoming them personally produces greater cultivation benefits.
• Memory, fate, and reality: Dapeng’s dream precisely mirrors events from Su Mu’s former-world knowledge, blurring the boundary between fictional narrative, prophecy, and lived reality.
• Karma and inherited suffering: The Phoenix Clan’s inability to advance reflects how the consequences of past calamities can burden an entire lineage.
• Yin-Yang balance and transformation: The black and white qi forming the Taiji symbol represents Dapeng’s comprehension of Yin-Yang principles and his successful transition to a higher cultivation realm.
• The hidden power of insight: Spiritual advancement comes not merely from force or external assistance, but from understanding one’s own past and overcoming internal obstacles.

Character Interactions

• Su Mu and the Demon Butterfly discuss the proper use of the Dream Law, with Su Mu choosing observation over intervention.
• Su Mu celebrates Dapeng’s breakthrough, while Dapeng respectfully credits Su Mu for his guidance and the opportunity to cultivate in seclusion.
• Dapeng shares his deeply personal dream with Su Mu, revealing the Phoenix Clan’s tragic history.
• Su Mu unintentionally exposes his knowledge of Dapeng’s future, astonishing Dapeng and reinforcing Dapeng’s belief in Su Mu’s extraordinary powers.
• The chapter ends with Su Mu shifting from concern for Dapeng’s cultivation to speculation about whether dreams may reveal the true fate of Zhou Hang.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mu reflects on his desire to return to Earthstar and reunite with Brother Hang. Although he fears Hang may have died long ago, he resolves that he will continue searching for him through reincarnation.
• Tang Sanzang undergoes a major breakthrough while meditating in Mount Huo. His Buddhist aura becomes so powerful that it threatens to shake the cave apart, but Su Mu stabilizes the surroundings.
• After successfully advancing, Tang Sanzang reports his breakthrough to Su Mu and the Dapeng Buddha Ancestor.
• Su Mu declares that the pilgrimage must resume, since its final stage is approaching and the Fierce Beast Dynasty is preparing for a decisive confrontation. Tang Sanzang’s breakthrough increases the pilgrimage party’s chances of victory.
• Su Mu evaluates the Sand Scorpion King, the Xi Beast, and Feifei. The Sand Scorpion King is already Tang Sanzang’s disciple, while Su Mu recognizes special abilities in the other two beasts.
• Su Mu discovers that the Xi Beast can absorb the baleful and turbid energy of the world, while Feifei can ease sorrow and resolve emotional burdens.
• He officially enfeoffs them as the Primordial New Year Beasts:
  • The Xi Beast will govern the end of the year by devouring accumulated baleful energy.
  • Feifei will comfort living beings at the New Year and purify their minds of the worries gathered throughout the year.
• The Heavenly Court grants both beasts divine godheads through the Investiture of the Gods Scroll, along with vast stores of fortune that strengthen their bodies, purify their laws, and raise their cultivation close to the Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.

2. Character Developments

• Su Mu: Reveals a deeply personal and enduring attachment to Brother Hang, while also demonstrating his authority as ruler of the Heavenly Court. He acts as both strategist and benefactor, recognizing the talents of unusual spiritual beings and giving them meaningful roles.
• Tang Sanzang: Advances significantly in cultivation and emerges from his breakthrough with greater spiritual clarity and strength. His progress makes him more capable of contributing to the coming conflict.
• Dapeng Buddha Ancestor: Shows pride and joy in Tang Sanzang’s advancement, viewing it as an important achievement for Mahayana Buddhism and the pilgrimage.
• Xi Beast: Initially overwhelmed by fear of Su Mu, but is identified as a rare creature with the ability to consume baleful energy. His enfeoffment gives him a permanent place and purpose within the Primordial Era.
• Feifei: Demonstrates greater courage and composure than the Xi Beast by resisting Su Mu’s pressure. Her gift for easing sorrow makes her ideally suited to become a divine New Year guardian.
• Sand Scorpion King: Remains quietly subordinate to Tang Sanzang, with his status as a disciple already established.

3. Significant Themes

• Persistence and reunion: Su Mu’s determination to find Brother Hang, even across ages and reincarnations, emphasizes loyalty that transcends time and death.
• Transformation through purpose: The Xi Beast and Feifei move from being wild, rootless creatures to recognized divine beings with duties that benefit the entire world.
• Authority and benevolent governance: Su Mu’s power is shown not merely through force, but through his ability to identify talent, assign suitable responsibilities, and provide protection and belonging.
• Balance and renewal: The two New Year positions symbolize the cleansing of negative forces and the restoration of emotional peace, reflecting the cyclical balance of yin and yang.
• Preparation for conflict: Tang Sanzang’s breakthrough and the empowerment of the two beasts serve the larger buildup toward the coming war with the Fierce Beast Dynasty.

4. Character Interactions

• Su Mu encourages Tang Sanzang after his breakthrough and orders the pilgrimage to continue.
• The Dapeng Buddha Ancestor warmly praises Tang Sanzang, reinforcing their master-disciple relationship.
• Su Mu scrutinizes the Xi Beast and Feifei, causing the former to collapse in fear while the latter withstands the pressure.
• When offered official duties, both beasts eagerly pledge loyalty to Su Mu.
• Su Mu’s decree transforms their relationship with the Heavenly Court: they become protected divine officials rather than isolated demon beasts, and they respond by prostrating themselves and promising absolute devotion.

Chapter Summary: “Searching for Earthstar, Longing Takes Form”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mu orders Xi Beast and Feifei to travel to the Primordial Land and cleanse it of accumulated baleful and turbid energy.
  • Xi Beast is tasked with devouring resentment, violence, and other destructive energies.
  • Feifei is tasked with easing the grief, hatred, despair, and emotional burdens of living beings.
• The two beasts depart and spend countless years serving the Primordial Land.
  • Xi Beast absorbs the negative energy left behind by wars, disasters, and dying races, using it to strengthen its cultivation.
  • Feifei comforts and purifies innumerable beings, reducing conflicts caused by inner demons and bringing greater peace to the world.
• Their efforts lead to major breakthroughs:
  • Xi Beast reaches the Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
  • Feifei receives merit from the Heavenly, Earth, and Human Daos and also becomes a Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
• Tang Sanzang prepares to continue his westward journey with the Sand Scorpion King, who has accepted him as master.
• Before they leave, Su Mu seals the Sand Scorpion King’s Sub-Saint cultivation, reducing it to the Early Primordial Golden Immortal level.
• Dapeng Buddha Ancestor bids farewell to Su Mu and returns to Spirit Mountain for secluded Buddhist cultivation.
• Su Mu retreats into Green Lotus Cave Heaven and uses his immense spiritual power to search the surrounding worlds for Earthstar, following the residual aura of his old companion Zhou Hang.
• He eventually locates Earthstar in a distant starfield within Hundun and confirms that Zhou Hang’s aura remains there.
• Su Mu realizes that his powerful true body and spiritual treasures would destroy Earthstar, an ordinary world without spiritual energy, if he traveled there directly.
• Instead, he extracts the longing and concern he has accumulated for Zhou Hang and shapes them into a powerless duplicate of himself.
• This thought-formed manifestation is sent through a spatial rift toward Earthstar.

Character Developments

• Su Mu: Demonstrates both immense power and restraint. Rather than recklessly traveling to Earthstar, he carefully considers the consequences and chooses an indirect method motivated by affection and longing.
• Xi Beast: Develops from a servant-like beast into a powerful immortal. Its ability to consume negative energy allows it to refine its own Dao and attain the Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
• Feifei: Her gentle, empathetic nature becomes the foundation of her cultivation. By helping countless suffering beings, she gains enormous merit and masters the Worry-Free Law more deeply.
• Tang Sanzang: Continues his pilgrimage westward, now accompanied by the Sand Scorpion King.
• Sand Scorpion King: Fully acknowledges Tang Sanzang as its master, though Su Mu deliberately limits its cultivation before allowing it to continue the journey.
• Dapeng Buddha Ancestor: Returns willingly to Spirit Mountain to pursue further Buddhist study and secluded cultivation.
• Zhou Hang: Though absent from the chapter, his lingering aura on Earthstar confirms that he remains connected to Su Mu and is likely still alive.

Significant Themes

• Cleansing and restoration: Xi Beast and Feifei represent two forms of purification—removing external destructive energy and healing internal emotional suffering.
• Merit through compassion and service: Feifei’s advancement shows that genuine concern for living beings can produce both moral merit and spiritual progress.
• Power restrained by responsibility: Su Mu recognizes that his strength could destroy the very world he wishes to visit, emphasizing the need to control power rather than simply wield it.
• Longing and emotional connection: Su Mu’s years of concern for Zhou Hang become tangible and ultimately take physical form, showing that emotional bonds can transcend distance and even become a means of connection.
• Transformation of suffering: Xi Beast converts hatred and baleful energy into cultivation, while Feifei transforms grief and despair into peace, suggesting that destructive forces can be redirected toward renewal.

Character Interactions

• Su Mu gives Xi Beast and Feifei their mission, and both respond with complete obedience.
• Tang Sanzang respectfully bids farewell to Su Mu and Dapeng Buddha Ancestor before continuing his journey.
• Su Mu intervenes in Tang Sanzang’s group by sealing the Sand Scorpion King’s cultivation, likely balancing its strength and preventing complications on the pilgrimage.
• Dapeng Buddha Ancestor exchanges a respectful farewell with Su Mu before departing for Spirit Mountain.
• Su Mu’s final “interaction” is with Zhou Hang across worlds: unable to reach him directly, he sends a manifestation made from his own longing, turning remembrance into a messenger.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Sanzang returns to the forest camp with the injured Sand Scorpion King, whom he has apparently subdued or rescued.
• Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing are resting while Fei tends the White Dragon Horse and Zhujian returns with a sack of wild fruit.
• Tang’s arrival wakes the disciples. They eagerly greet him, with Zhu Bajie comically pretending he has finished eating despite still stuffing fruit into his mouth.
• Sun Wukong detects poisonous miasma and notices the Sand Scorpion King behind Tang. Assuming the demon intends to attack their master, Wukong, Bajie, and Wujing immediately prepare to fight.
• Although the scorpion demon is only at the Early Primordial Golden Immortal level, Fei and Zhujian rush forward to capture it first and steal the credit from Sha Wujing. Tang Sanzang stops them before any attack occurs, implying that he knows or is protecting the demon.
• The narrative then shifts dramatically to Su Mu, who crashes onto Earthstar after crossing the stars and dimensions. He immediately seeks out his old friend Zhou Hang.
• Su Mu finds Zhou Hang exhausted after a miserable day at work. Their reunion is emotionally charged: Su Mu expects an embrace, but Zhou Hang instead punches him in the chest, sending him flying into a pile of leaves.

Character Developments

• Tang Sanzang shows authority and compassion by preventing his disciples from attacking the Sand Scorpion King. His familiarity with the demon suggests he has formed a bond or alliance with it.
• Sun Wukong remains alert and protective, quickly detecting the poisonous aura and taking charge of the defensive response. His confidence is evident in his dismissal of the scorpion’s cultivation level.
• Zhu Bajie provides comic relief through his gluttony and attempts to hide how much fruit he is eating, yet he reacts protectively when Tang is threatened.
• Sha Wujing is portrayed as dependable and eager to fulfill his duty, volunteering to capture the demon.
• Fei and Zhujian reveal competitiveness and a desire to gain recognition by racing to defeat the scorpion before the others.
• The Sand Scorpion King is confused and frustrated at being treated as an enemy, especially when the group appears ready to gang up on him despite his weakened condition.
• Su Mu is emotional, nostalgic, and optimistic about reuniting with Zhou Hang. His expectation of affection leaves him completely unprepared for the punch.
• Zhou Hang appears deeply exhausted and emotionally wounded. His shock, anger, and grief at seeing Su Mu suggest unresolved resentment or pain connected to Su Mu’s disappearance or absence. His punch communicates feelings he cannot express verbally.

Significant Themes

• Misunderstanding and mistaken identity: The disciples immediately interpret the scorpion’s presence as hostile, while Tang knows the situation is different.
• Loyalty and protection: The disciples instinctively form a defensive line around Tang, demonstrating their devotion despite their differing personalities.
• Competition for recognition: Fei and Zhujian’s attempt to steal the kill highlights rivalry and the desire to prove themselves.
• Comedy amid danger: Zhu Bajie’s overeating and the disciples’ casual attitude toward a powerful demon contrast with the potential threat.
• Reunion and emotional disillusionment: Su Mu expects a joyful reunion, but Zhou Hang’s violent response reveals that their shared past contains unresolved hurt.
• Emotional distance and trauma: Zhou Hang’s exhaustion and anger suggest that time apart has changed him, while Su Mu still approaches the reunion with youthful hope and nostalgia.

Character Interactions

• The disciples interact playfully around the fruit sack, with Bajie’s greed irritating Wukong and drawing Wujing into the scene.
• Their unified response to the Sand Scorpion King demonstrates strong teamwork, though Fei and Zhujian’s eagerness introduces rivalry within the group.
• Tang’s command immediately overrides the disciples’ assumptions, emphasizing his role as the group’s moral and strategic authority.
• Su Mu and Zhou Hang’s reunion is the chapter’s sharpest emotional contrast: Su Mu opens his arms expecting friendship, while Zhou Hang responds with a punch, turning anticipated affection into confrontation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mu is stunned when his childhood friend, Zhou Hang, punches him with extraordinary strength after they reunite.
• Zhou Hang angrily confronts Su Mu for disappearing without explanation for three months. He reveals that he searched for Su Mu every day after work, even investigating familiar locations and Mount Tai.
• Zhou Hang’s anger gives way to grief as he explains that Su Mu is his only remaining family. He had promised Su Mu’s deceased parents that he would protect him, and Su Mu’s disappearance left him feeling helpless and suicidal.
• Zhou Hang brings Su Mu to their familiar barbecue stall, where they reconnect over food and beer.
• Zhou Hang notices how thin, exhausted, and unhealthy Su Mu has become, while Su Mu remains reluctant to explain where he has been.
• Su Mu instead asks how Zhou Hang gained such powerful strength. Zhou Hang explains that the government distributed martial arts manuals nationwide shortly after Su Mu vanished and required citizens to practice them.
• The manuals have apparently produced real physical improvements: people have become healthier, stronger, and more vigorous. Zhou Hang reveals that nearly everyone now practices martial arts.

Character Developments

• Su Mu: Returns physically weakened, sleep-deprived, and emotionally withdrawn after his unexplained absence. He is shocked to discover that the world has changed dramatically during the three months he was gone. His confusion suggests he is disconnected from the new reality around him.
• Zhou Hang: Demonstrates both immense emotional attachment and newfound physical power. His initial violence comes from accumulated fear, anger, and relief rather than cruelty. He remains protective of Su Mu and continues to treat him like family, even joking that Su Mu “deserved” the punch.
• Their relationship: The reunion confirms the depth of their bond. Zhou Hang’s search and despair show that Su Mu is central to his life, while Su Mu’s silence and stunned reactions suggest guilt, dependence, and difficulty confronting what has happened.

Significant Themes

• Family and loyalty: Zhou Hang’s devotion is rooted in his promise to Su Mu’s parents and his belief that Su Mu is his only family.
• Fear, grief, and relief: Zhou Hang’s anger masks the terror and despair he experienced while believing Su Mu might be dead or permanently gone.
• A changing world: The government’s sudden nationwide martial-arts program introduces a major societal transformation, shifting martial arts from fiction or legend into an everyday reality.
• Isolation and disconnection: Su Mu’s unexplained disappearance has separated him not only from Zhou Hang but also from the rapidly changing world.
• Strength and responsibility: Zhou Hang’s new power contrasts with the emotional responsibility he already carried, raising questions about how ordinary people will handle their newfound abilities.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Hang physically attacks and lifts Su Mu by the collar, demanding an explanation for his disappearance.
• His confrontation becomes an emotional confession as he describes searching for Su Mu and struggling with thoughts of death.
• He silently gives Su Mu time to speak at the barbecue stall instead of forcing him to explain immediately.
• Zhou Hang teases and chastises Su Mu over the painful punch, maintaining their familiar, roughhearted dynamic despite the seriousness of the reunion.
• Their conversation shifts from personal reconciliation to the larger revelation that everyone on Earthstar is now practicing genuine martial arts.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Mu asks Zhou Hang about a real martial arts manual. After eating barbecue together, they return to Su Mu’s old residence.
• Su Mu discovers that Zhou Hang has regularly cleaned and maintained the room during his absence, revealing his loyalty and care.
• Zhou Hang gives Su Mu an aged, thread-bound book. Upon reading it, Su Mu realizes it contains the Body Tempering Chapter of the True Martial Scripture, a legendary cultivation text.
• Zhou Hang explains that he practiced the manual for roughly a month without seeing any results. Despite his disappointment, he continued traveling from town to town searching for Su Mu.
• During his journey, Zhou Hang found the book at an antique stall. Touching it produced a warm energy that eased his exhaustion, and he discovered he could understand its mysterious writing.
• The stall owner claimed the book could only be obtained by someone with “fate.” Zhou Hang accepted it but insisted on paying with his entire savings of 100,000, showing his honesty.
• After Zhou Hang left, the stall owner revealed that he was intrigued because Zhou Hang could understand the book’s contents.

Character Developments

• Su Mu: Becomes increasingly shocked and excited after recognizing the manual. His emotional response suggests that the Scripture is extremely important and potentially connected to his own cultivation or destiny.
• Zhou Hang: Is portrayed as loyal, hardworking, honest, and persistent. He maintained Su Mu’s room, searched for him for months, practiced the manual despite failure, and paid for the book rather than taking it for free.
• The Antique Stall Owner: Appears mysterious and perceptive. He seems to recognize the book’s unusual nature and deliberately gives it to Zhou Hang, suggesting he understands the concept of destiny or “fate.”

Significant Themes

• Brotherhood and loyalty: Zhou Hang’s efforts to preserve Su Mu’s home and search tirelessly for him demonstrate deep friendship.
• Fate and hidden destiny: The stall owner’s words imply that Zhou Hang’s ability to read the book and find it were not coincidences.
• Honesty and integrity: Zhou Hang refuses to exploit the owner’s offer of a free book and gives away all his savings instead.
• The hidden nature of cultivation: Although Zhou Hang cannot initially cultivate the manual, the book clearly has supernatural properties, hinting that its true function has not yet been unlocked.
• Mystery and awakening: The discovery of the True Martial Scripture introduces a major supernatural development and raises questions about why Zhou Hang can understand it.

Character Interactions

• Su Mu and Zhou Hang share a warm reunion over food, with their conversation revealing their close brotherly bond.
• Su Mu’s emotional reaction to the clean room silently acknowledges Zhou Hang’s devotion.
• Zhou Hang gives Su Mu the manual and recounts the circumstances of obtaining it, deepening Su Mu’s understanding of both the book and their shared future.
• Zhou Hang and the stall owner engage in a subtle exchange: the owner speaks cryptically, while Zhou Hang responds with caution, gratitude, and moral resolve.
• The stall owner’s final comment suggests that Zhou Hang has been selected—or at least noticed—by forces connected to the mysterious manual.

Chapter Summary: “What, Stall Owner, You Know Me?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Zhou Hang buys an old martial arts manual from a secondhand stall, the mysterious stall owner is quietly taken away by a disciplined group of heavily trained martial practitioners. Zhou Hang leaves without noticing.
• At home, Zhou Hang follows the manual’s illustrated instructions and successfully cultivates it. A warm current spreads through his body, eliminating his accumulated fatigue and leaving him refreshed.
• Over the following days, Zhou Hang practices for about half an hour each night while continuing his ordinary work and searching for Su Mu.
• The technique dramatically improves Zhou Hang’s physical abilities. His muscles strengthen, his endurance increases, and his senses become extraordinarily sharp. He can carry a full sack of grain for ten kilometers and hear or see things from great distances.
• Zhou Hang enthusiastically offers the manual to Su Mu, but Su Mu immediately becomes suspicious of its origins. He recognizes it as a cultivation technique created by his other-worldly self, Su Mu of the Primordial World, and questions how a complete copy could have appeared on Earthstar.
• Instead of practicing, Su Mu asks Zhou Hang to take him to the stall where the book was purchased. They return to the market’s secluded blue-stone alley and find the stall owner absent.
• While examining the stall’s miscellaneous antiques, Su Mu discovers a golden compass containing faint spiritual energy. He senses that it is an extraordinary artifact and urges Zhou Hang to buy it.
• Trusting Su Mu’s judgment, Zhou Hang calls for the stall owner. A young man wearing a round hat and dark sunglasses emerges from the back room.
• The stall owner initially recognizes Zhou Hang, but upon seeing Su Mu, he becomes visibly terrified and stunned. He freezes, loses all color, and appears to be looking at someone whose presence should be impossible.
• Su Mu notices the reaction and asks directly, “Do you know me?”

Character Developments

• Zhou Hang: His cultivation begins in earnest, transforming him from an ordinary laborer into someone physically powerful and perceptive. He remains straightforward and trusting, readily accepting Su Mu’s advice about the compass.
• Su Mu: His suspicion and knowledge of cultivation deepen. He recognizes the manual’s connection to his Primordial World identity and begins actively investigating the mystery behind its appearance on Earthstar. His sensitivity to spiritual artifacts is also demonstrated through the golden compass.
• The Stall Owner: His mysterious nature becomes more apparent. His earlier silent removal by trained martial practitioners suggests hidden power or involvement in a larger organization. His extreme reaction to Su Mu implies that he recognizes Su Mu—or someone connected to him—as an impossible or significant figure.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identities and impossible connections: The stall owner’s reaction and the manual’s origins suggest links between Earthstar and the Primordial World.
• Cultivation and transformation: Zhou Hang’s physical enhancement shows how ordinary people can be changed through access to mysterious techniques.
• Trust and friendship: Zhou Hang trusts Su Mu’s judgment without hesitation, while Su Mu’s concern for Zhou Hang’s future motivates him to identify valuable cultivation resources.
• Mystery and fate: The appearance of the cultivation manual and the spiritually charged compass hints that seemingly random events are part of a larger design.
• The boundary between ordinary life and the supernatural: Zhou Hang continues working and living normally while quietly developing extraordinary abilities and becoming involved in hidden forces.

Character Interactions

• The stall owner is silently collected away by armed martial practitioners, establishing his connection to powerful, disciplined forces.
• Zhou Hang enthusiastically offers Su Mu the martial arts manual, showing his excitement and willingness to share his good fortune.
• Su Mu questions the manual’s origins and persuades Zhou Hang to investigate the stall owner rather than immediately practice.
• At the antique stall, Su Mu identifies the golden compass as valuable, and Zhou Hang demonstrates complete confidence in his friend’s judgment by agreeing to purchase it.
• The final encounter between Su Mu and the stall owner is charged with shock and uncertainty: the stall owner appears to recognize Su Mu, while Su Mu has no idea why, ending the chapter on a major mystery.