Chapter Summaries

Pearl found Jingliu’s ice sealing Chen Li’s door and became trapped between the ice wall and March 7th’s camera. Vita arrived with two Sparkles and persuaded Pearl to cooperate, but her plan remained unclear when she asked whether Pearl knew a particular video.

• Pearl discovered that Jingliu had sealed Chen Li’s door with ice too strong for her to break, then realized she could neither enter nor retreat past the camera.
• Vita was caught by March 7th’s camera while trying to enter the eighth car, so she asked Sparkle to teleport her away and bring her back with another Sparkle.
• Vita called Pearl and learned she was trapped outside Chen Li’s room; she offered to help break through the ice and warned that Jingliu might be dangerous to Chen Li.
• Pearl agreed to work with Vita, but explained that teleportation and Miraculous Items were prohibited in the ninth car.
• Vita dismissed Pearl’s concern and asked whether she had seen the video “LONELY LONELY LONELY LONELY LONELY LONELY.”

After Pearl’s failed attempt to reach Chen Li, Jingliu spent the night with him, leaving him exhausted but rested enough to prepare for the Holy Grail War’s final stage. Chen Li discovered that Taiyi’s Order Octagon Cage had earned 688 Crystals, then prepared to forge another Miraculous Item as Jingliu considered bringing Baiheng along next time.

• Vita explained that Changye Yue’s video Miraculous Item made viewers protective of March 7th, but Pearl revealed she had left herself no way to take down her camera.
• Sparkle mocked Pearl’s failed night raid, and Vita dragged her away before ending the call and leaving Pearl alone outside Chen Li’s frozen door.
• Chen Li woke beside Jingliu in a wrecked room, reflected on their six-hour night together, and blamed Pixie for helping Jingliu bypass his precautions.
• Chen Li checked his earnings and saw that Taiyi’s Order Octagon Cage had earned 688 Crystals.
• Jingliu offered to help Chen Li forge a Miraculous Item, then wondered whether she should bring Baiheng along the next time she discussed swordsmanship with him.

Chen Li left Jingliu resting and found Pearl standing guard outside his room, unaware that she had spent the night waiting to approach him. Pearl maintained her strategist’s composure while secretly exploiting Chen Li’s trust, then startled Baiheng with an elaborate demonstration of a hug.

• Jingliu told Chen Li to return soon, and he left to check on the Holy Grail War after breaking her ice seal.
• Chen Li found Pearl in the corridor and learned she claimed to have guarded his room all night.
• Pearl criticized Chen Li for neglecting his duties, then concealed Jingliu’s bite marks by straightening his collar.
• Baiheng arrived looking for Jingliu and mistook Pearl’s closeness to Chen Li for an intimate moment.
• Pearl hugged Chen Li to demonstrate the difference, leaving Baiheng flustered and fleeing the ninth car.

Chen Li gave Pearl a Friends Circle Terminal and the World-Painting Miracle Card as material for a future Miraculous Item, then went to review the Holy Grail War report. He learned that World-Painting and Mikhail had fought by crashing Astral Express projections into each other, leaving him exasperated at the Nameless Guests’ behavior.

• Pearl advised Chen Li that Jingliu should explain herself to Baiheng, then gave him her battle report and accepted a Friends Circle Terminal.
• Pearl returned March 7th’s snapshot camera and explained that she had used it to block entry to the ninth car, where it had also stopped Vita.
• Chen Li asked Pearl what kind of Miraculous Item she wanted, then gave her the World-Painting Miracle Card to study as material for a future item.
• Chen Li read Pearl’s report and discovered that World-Painting and Mikhail had crashed Astral Express projections into each other, resulting in Mikhail’s death.
• Feiying explained that the two Nameless Guests had fought after exchanging slogans about friendship and Bonds, while Pom-Pom defended their behavior as typical of Nameless Guests.

Chen Li and Himeko invited World-Painting to rejoin the Astral Express, while Chen Li discussed her battle with Mikhail and the chaotic Holy Grail War fight in New Penacony. Feiying explained how the conflict spiraled around Oswaldo, Aventurine, Byakuyasha, and Altair, whose powers made her an overwhelming threat.

• Himeko invited World-Painting to become a Nameless Guest again, and World-Painting accepted after learning she no longer needed to maintain the seal alone.
• Chen Li explained that Mikhail’s Master, Tokisaki Kurumi, could resurrect him with Command Spells, and World-Painting looked forward to meeting him again.
• Feiying recounted how Oswaldo attacked Zhongli and Guizhong, then Aventurine joined the fight to settle a blood feud tied to the Market Expansion Department.
• Pearl revealed that Aventurine’s sister had died in a war deliberately engineered by the department, and Aventurine had joined the battle to make trouble for Oswaldo.
• Feiying said Altair was freed when others ganged up on Oswaldo, then clashed with Byakuyasha and the Flame Reaver after they planned to target Shimazaki Setsuna.
• Chen Li described Altair’s stacked famous blades and Holopsicon abilities, which gave her immense damage, protection, and the power to reflect attacks.

Chen Li and the others discussed Altair’s elimination, the bounty of Command Spells, and how the remaining Masters might fare in the Counterfeit Holy Grail War. Feiying planned to let Sparkle eliminate her, but Chen Li’s question about her fear of bugs hinted that an unexpected threat might disrupt her plan.

• Chen Li explained that Byakuyasha surrendered just before Altair’s suicidal attack, and Flame Reaver chose elimination rather than continue fighting.
• Feiying said that she and World-Painting had eliminated Altair and Shimazaki Setsuna with a projection of the Astral Express, unknowingly echoing Setsuna’s death on train tracks.
• Pearl gave Feiying the bounty of over seven thousand Command Spells to use in the War, and Feiying considered strengthening herself or passing the chance to win to Guiji.
• Dan Heng revealed that Sparkle had already eliminated two Servants, so Feiying planned to let Sparkle eliminate her and complete her task.
• Chen Li asked whether Feiying hated bugs, and Feiying said that insects and giant bug Imagenae terrified her.

Chen Li explained the remaining Holy Grail War teams and their chances, including how the rules could foil Tokisaki Kurumi and how the Origami University Student Council controlled the All-People Entertainment Match. Feiying then took the whip A Friend from Afar and left with World-Painting to interrogate Guiji.

• Chen Li told Feiying that Zhongli and Ritsuka Fujimaru were the remaining contenders in the exhibition match, while Tokisaki Kurumi risked losing automatically if she did not revive Mikhail before the ritual ended.
• Chen Li and Dan Heng discussed the official match and the All-People Entertainment Match, revealing that four powerful teams remained in the official match and that Cyrene was the Aeon of Remembrance.
• Chen Li explained that Firefly had pledged her potential victory to the Origami University Student Council and that Cyrene was also on the council, giving its members control of the All-People Entertainment Match.
• Chen Li said the briefing did not confirm whether Guiji's Servant was dead, and Feiying asked to interrogate Guiji the Master.
• Chen Li gave Feiying the whip A Friend from Afar, and Feiying left the Parlor Car with World-Painting to visit Guiji.

Guiji seized the Aeon of Joy’s power and ascended to become the new Aeon, leaving Chen Li to prepare to deliver Zhongli’s prize. The story then shifted to New Penacony, where Old Audi watched Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash Kyrielight walking with Guiji’s bug tied to a rope.

• Vita appeared outside the Astral Express, was summoned inside, and glared at Pearl over her thwarted night raid with Chen Li.
• A pillar of purple-gold light erupted from New Penacony, and Guiji announced that he had ascended to godhood.
• Chen Li explained that Guiji had taken the Aeon of Joy’s power after eliminating Ritsuka Fujimaru’s Servant, the Noblesse Bug.
• Chen Li said he had to present Zhongli with his prize, and Vita turned her anger toward Guiji.
• Old Audi watched Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash Kyrielight from a pedestrian bridge, with one of Guiji’s severed hands resting on his shoulder and Guiji’s bug tied to Ritsuka’s rope.

Ritsuka Fujimaru declined to use his Aeon-level Noblesse Bug to win the Holy Grail War, while Old Audi and Guiji planned to cooperate to secure a victory and summon the Propagation Aeon. Their alliance rested on defeating the Immortal Aeon, but Guiji’s wish to revive A Kivili left Old Audi suspicious of his motives.

• Ritsuka Fujimaru walked through New Penacony with Mash and an Aeon-level Noblesse Bug, but declined to use it against Zhongli’s Servant, Guizhong.
• Guiji persuaded Old Audi that the bug could help him gain Aha’s power, while Old Audi considered targeting Firefly as an easier route to end a Holy Grail War.
• Guiji warned Old Audi that he would need to survive the aftermath of victory and summon the Propagation Aeon from the Holy Grail; Old Audi explained that he wanted to face the final team and vindicate the Path of Propagation.
• Old Audi questioned whether Guiji would betray him or neglect their alliance, and Guiji said the Immortal Aeon was the Astral Express’s Servant and their shared threat.
• Old Audi asked what Guiji wanted from the Miraculous Forger, and Guiji said he wanted to borrow the Resurrection Card to revive A Kivili.
• Old Audi grew wary that Guiji might be cooperating with the Astral Express, but Guiji claimed he wanted to revive his own A Kivili and saw the Express as a rival.

Ritsuka Fujimura and Mash foiled Old Audi and Guiji’s attempt to steal the Noblesse Bug, but Guiji used a hidden second hand to drain its power and ascend to godhood. Vita appeared and attacked Guiji, furious that he had ruined her Special CG ofGalageimu.

• Ritsuka Fujimura confronted the Pipixian over an unripe watermelon while Old Audi and Guiji prepared to target the Noblesse Bug.
• Old Audi distracted Ritsuka Fujimura as Guiji’s severed hand crept toward the bug, but Mash spotted it and Ritsuka Fujimura knocked Old Audi to his knees.
• Mash flattened Guiji’s first hand with her shield, but a second hand seized the Noblesse Bug and drained the Aeon of Joy’s power from it.
• Guiji reconstructed his body from the second hand, absorbed the power, and declared that he had ascended to godhood.
• Vita appeared before Guiji and attacked him, blaming him for ruining her Special CG ofGalageimu.

Zhongli was declared the winner of the New Penacony exhibition match Holy Grail War, but the enormous Grail released a swarm of Propagation insects across the city. As Vita and Guiji paused their fight to negotiate, Old Audi faced Ritsuka Fujimaru with a host of Star-shattering King Worms at his back.

• Chen Li told Zhongli that he had won the exhibition match because he was the only participant whose Servant remained, then summoned the enormous Holy Grail from New Penacony's ley lines.
• The Holy Grail shrieked and released hundreds of millions of insects that spread across New Penacony.
• Vita kept attacking Guiji despite the swarm, explaining that Guiji had interrupted her romance plans with the Miraculous Forger by eliminating another contestant.
• Guiji offered to help Vita after she reacted angrily to the suggestion that her feelings might be one-sided.
• Ritsuka Fujimaru beat Old Audi for stealing his Servant, but Old Audi said his familiars were coming and the Propagation Swarm filled the sky.
• Star-shattering King Worms landed in formation behind Old Audi, who taunted Ritsuka Fujimaru and began recounting his five days inside the Holy Grail.

Ritsuka Fujimaru tricked Old Audi into fleeing by pretending he could revive his Servant, while the Swarm continued ravaging New Penacony. Chen Li handed Zhongli the Holy Grail War prize, then set the Holy Grail and its bugs ablaze with blue flames that did not seem to harm people or affect the bugs.

• Ritsuka Fujimaru disgusted Old Audi by reminding him he had been surrounded by bugs, then used his Command Spells’ glow to bluff that he could revive his Servant.
• Old Audi fled with the Star-shattering King Worms, then realized Ritsuka Fujimaru had tricked him but kept his distance anyway.
• Ritsuka Fujimaru told Mash that they were in the losers’ bracket and left dealing with the Swarm to Chen Li; Tokisaki Kurumi discovered her Command Spells had vanished and realized she had lost the Holy Grail War.
• Chen Li gave Zhongli the Guardian of Human Order trophy and interviewed him about winning the Holy Grail War, while bugs poured from the Holy Grail above New Penacony.
• Chen Li sent blue flames into the Holy Grail, setting the cup and the Swarm across the city alight; the flames spread through New Penacony, but people found they did not harm human bodies and did not appear to affect the bugs.

Chen Li explained that the Propagation Aeon had hidden inside the Holy Grail, while Cyrene used the Jianghu Bounty Order to turn New Penacony’s residents against the Swarm. The bounty marks remained despite Old Audi’s protest because Cyrene had accepted the punishment for using the Miraculous Item.

• Chen Li explained that the Propagation Aeon was hiding inside the Holy Grail and that the Miracle Fire was meant to drive it out.
• At Origami University, Cyrene chose to activate the Jianghu Bounty Order, and Firefly found the matching skill in Chen Li’s list.
• The bounty marks spread across the Swarm and Holy Grail, prompting New Penacony’s residents to attack the marked bugs for rewards.
• Cyrene admitted that activating the item had been intentional, while Cipher accused her of wanting both the advantage and the punishment.
• Chen Li told Old Audi that the Miraculous Item’s user had accepted extra punishment, so the bounty marks could remain.

Chen Li told Old Audi that he had to win both the formal competition and the All-People Entertainment Match to claim the Holy Grail, while the Swarm’s destruction of New Penacony left him facing enormous debts. Old Audi resolved to win the war for a Miraculous Item, but Guiji hinted that Chen Li might not honor his promise to the winner.

• Chen Li explained that Cyrene had been disqualified, then told Old Audi he needed to win both competitions to obtain the Holy Grail twice and qualify for two Miraculous Items.
• Old Audi learned that multiple surviving Servants could be made to fight or be judged by their condition, and he planned to hide among the Swarm until the war ended.
• Chen Li showed Old Audi the Swarm’s destruction across New Penacony and charged him for the damage, threatening to bind him to a lifetime of labor if his assets fell short.
• Chen Li told Old Audi to do his best to please him during the war, then left the ruined commercial street.
• Guiji emerged and agreed with Old Audi’s self-description as a parasite, prompting Old Audi to question whether Chen Li would forge a Miraculous Item for the winner.
• Guiji said he had some insight into whether Chen Li would keep his promise.

Guiji and Old Audi discussed the Propagation Aeon and the dangers of the Holy Grail War, while Chen Li joined the others aboard the Astral Express to plan how to draw the Propagation Aeon out of the Great Holy Grail. The Cold-faced Great Azure Dragon offered their divinity as bait, and Taiyi arrived and offered help, while Nicole tried to record the gathering as unofficial history.

• Guiji warned Old Audi not to underestimate the Immortal Aeon and advised him to harass Firefly indirectly rather than provoke her.
• Chen Li returned to the Astral Express with breakfast, where Feiying and the others discussed how to defeat the Propagation Aeon hidden inside the Great Holy Grail.
• March 7th suggested fishing the Propagation Aeon out with a giant hook, and Yao Guang recognized that the Cold-faced Great Azure Dragon’s divinity could serve as bait.
• The Cold-faced Great Azure Dragon agreed to use their divinity despite Fu Xuan’s concern that the Propagation Aeon might keep it permanently.
• Taiyi entered the Parlor Car and offered to help, while Nicole began writing an embellished account until Chen Li stopped her.

Yao Guang and the others planned how to defeat the Propagation Aeon, Guiji, and the swarm by recreating the tactics used during the Cosmic Plague. Their discussion was interrupted when Sparkle appeared in the Astral Express carriage, and Chen Li questioned whether she had violated his ban on Miraculous Items.

• Yao Guang explained that the Cosmic Plague had empowered Taiyi through people's fear and said the current swarm attack could similarly strengthen him.
• Fu Xuan, Robin, and Yao Guang outlined a plan for Taiyi, the Lord of the Hunt, and Celenova to fight the Aeons while World-Painting created Voracity's beasts to hold off the Star-shattering King Worms.
• Pearl revealed that she held more than ten thousand Command Spells, and Little Golden Honkai-Moe King agreed to let World-Painting use them to sustain the beasts.
• Feiying suggested interrogating the Guiji imprisoned aboard the Astral Express, and World-Painting noted that Sparkle might know how to question a Masked Fool.
• Sparkle emerged from a potted plant's shadow and claimed she had only teleported from the carriage door, prompting Chen Li to question whether she had used a prohibited Miraculous Item.

The group prepared to confront the Propagation Aeon as the swarm spread across Duality Paradise, and Sparkle agreed to handle Guiji with Sparkle. While World-Painting prepared to turn the Command Spells into beasts, Robin comforted Chen Li, and Taiyi discussed his Miraculous Item and resurrection.

• The Cold-faced Great Azure Dragon explained that he had let Guiji escape to lure the Propagation Aeon out, then gave Sparkle Guiji's severed hand.
• Sparkle and Sparkle agreed to take responsibility for Guiji, while Feiying offered to let Sparkle win the Counterfeit Holy Grail War and Yao Guang warned Feiying about the swarm-filled Great Holy Grail.
• Yao Guang urged everyone to prepare as the swarm covered the sky, and Pearl used three Command Spells to order World-Painting to turn more than ten thousand Command Spells into beasts.
• Robin sat with Chen Li and let him rest his head in her lap, while Taiyi watched them jealously.
• Chen Li asked Taiyi about his Miraculous Item, and Taiyi said he would eradicate the Insect Plague after his resurrection; Robin said she and Sunday had provided him with more Resurrection Cards.

Chen Li heard how Yao Guang had advanced the Paradise Alliance and learned that his parents were using their authority to spread Boundary Stones and King's Land across Earth. As Yao Guang asked about adapting his world’s personal panels for Paradise, Taiyi suspected Chen Li’s new Miraculous Item was already being forged.

• Taiyi doubted that Sunday had really renewed their Resurrection Card, then glared at Celenova, who smugly suggested that Taiyi had lost the twins to Order and Harmony.
• Yao Guang teased Fu Xuan about missing her chance at a political marriage with Chen Li, then reported that Boundary Stones had spread to a tenth of the universe through the Paradise Alliance.
• Chen Li praised Yao Guang’s management and asked how Boundary Stones were being deployed in his Main World.
• Yao Guang explained that Chen Li’s parents had used their merit to become Earth's chief for three months and were helping spread King's Land, which could soon cover the planet.
• Chen Li told Yao Guang he wanted Paradise to adapt personal panels so people could choose professions suited to their interests, and Taiyi suspected the Miracle Fire signaled that Chen Li had begun forging a Miraculous Item.

With the Holy Grail War nearing its end, Fu Xuan and the others prepared to battle Guiji, the Aeon of Joy, while Yao Guang stayed aboard the Astral Express. World-Painting opened the counterattack by unleashing her painted beast horde against the Swarm.

• Yao Guang relayed Chen Li's parents' wish for him to start a family, then Feiying asked Robin and Celenova to help Sparkle tune Guiji.
• After Robin's legs went numb, Chen Li used the Snake Talisman to restore them, and Fu Xuan pulled him onto her lap when Yao Guang offered him one.
• Yao Guang announced that just over an hour remained in the Holy Grail War and sent the others to prepare for battle while she stayed behind.
• Fu Xuan learned Sparkle had made no progress interrogating the Guiji disguised as Murata Ryusuke, then left the Astral Express with the others.
• World-Painting unleashed her painted beast horde against the Swarm, whose insects surged forward and began fighting back with their rapid reproduction.

As beasts of Voracity and the Propagation Swarm devastated New Penacony, Old Audi and Guiji tried to understand the beasts’ origin and keep the Propagation Aeon inside the Great Holy Grail. The essence of Permanence then appeared above Haiyuan City, tempting the Propagation Aeon, before its aura abruptly changed.

• The beasts of Voracity devoured Swarm insects and healed while crimson Swarm insects exploded against them across New Penacony.
• Old Audi questioned Guiji about the beasts, and Guiji admitted that his daughter seemed to be responsible for them.
• Guiji sensed an aura rising from the Haiyuan TV Tower and identified it as the essence of Permanence.
• Old Audi warned the Propagation Aeon that the aura was a trap and managed to suppress his urge to leave the Great Holy Grail.
• Guiji cautioned Old Audi not to celebrate as the aura from the sky abruptly changed.