Chapter Summaries

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Qi and his group travel through a modified subway train to the General Headquarters, a vast underground facility.
• Lin Qi uses his Psychic Vision to observe the General Headquarters, discovering a large number of Extraordinary Items, including Fourth and Fifth Rank ones.
• He finds a blood bag containing a mysterious, high-rank Extraordinary Material.
• Upon arrival, they are greeted by a group of researchers, including an elderly man who seems to recognize Lin Qi.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi demonstrates his ability to keep calm and focused under pressure, analyzing the General Headquarters' layout and inventory.
• He activates his new ability, Superposed Future, to anticipate and respond to the elderly researcher's questions.
• Jiang Qinglin, the elderly researcher, initially suspects Lin Qi but changes his mind after their conversation, admiring Lin Qi's academic reverence.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between the General Headquarters and other factions are evident, with the former possessing significant resources and personnel.
• The theme of knowledge and academic pursuit is highlighted through Jiang Qinglin's character and his interaction with Lin Qi.
• The mystery surrounding the blood bag and its Extraordinary Material suggests a deeper conspiracy or unknown factor in the apocalypse.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qi and Yu Tong travel together, with Yu Tong trying to ease Lin Qi's tension, while Wang Ziru understands Lin Qi's focus and waves Yu Tong off.
• Lin Qi interacts with Jiang Qinglin, initially anticipating his questions and responding appropriately, then engaging in a pleasant conversation once Jiang Qinglin drops his suspicions.
• The group is welcomed by a formation of researchers, indicating the General Headquarters' emphasis on scientific advancement.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Qi and Wang Ziru arrive at General Headquarters and are greeted by Jiang Qinglin.
• Lin Qi discovers that his room is bugged with pinhole cameras and a physical transmission system for surveillance.
• He learns that General Headquarters has only three fifth-tier Extraordinary Items, not five as they claimed.
• Lin Qi decides to hand over all Magic University Camp's technology to General Headquarters in exchange for fourth-tier Extraordinary Items.
• Lin Qi and Wang Ziru discuss their strategy for the next day's negotiations.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi: He demonstrates his ability to investigate the surveillance system and remains calm despite being monitored. He decides to use Magic University Camp's technology as a bargaining tool to obtain fourth-tier Extraordinary Items.
• Wang Ziru: He shows loyalty to Magic University Camp's interests and is willing to demand high prices from General Headquarters.

Significant Themes

• Trust and deception: General Headquarters' higher-ups are cautious and suspicious of Lin Qi, while Lin Qi is aware of their surveillance but keeps his true intentions hidden.
• Resource allocation: Both sides are aware of the value of the technologies and Extraordinary Items, leading to negotiations over their exchange.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qi and Jiang Qinglin: They maintain a polite and respectful demeanor towards each other, with Jiang Qinglin acting as a mentor figure to Lin Qi.
• Lin Qi and Wang Ziru: They work together to discuss their strategy for the negotiations, with Wang Ziru taking notes on Lin Qi's instructions.
• General Headquarters' higher-ups: They discuss Lin Qi's actions and words, expressing differing opinions on how to handle him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The author announces they will be working overtime late into the night.
• They also inform readers that they won't be able to write much at night due to the late work hours.
• The author decides to take the day off from writing to manage their workload and energy levels.
• They plan to make up the update over the weekend if they have the energy, or resume normal updates if not.

Character Developments

• The author demonstrates responsibility and prioritization by acknowledging their work commitments and adjusting their writing schedule accordingly.

Significant Themes

• Work-life balance: The author struggles to manage their work and writing commitments, highlighting the theme of balancing different aspects of life.
• Prioritization: The author shows the importance of prioritizing tasks based on urgency and energy levels.

Character Interactions

• None (This is a personal update, not a part of a story with other characters.)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Qi learns the final list of attendees for the Heavenly Palace Conference, including Panda Baby, from Lin Changshou.
• Lin Qi and Lin Changshou discuss Baby's capabilities against Guangleng and Lin Changshou's plan to bring the family's Tier Five Extraordinary Item to Lin Qi.
• Lin Qi receives an email from Guangleng inviting him to a Highest Level Security Meeting and another email from the Capitalist.
• Lin Qi attends the Highest Level Security Meeting, where the group chat blows up due to the Capitalist's arrival.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi learns to hide his breakthroughs from Guangleng and becomes more ambitious in his plans against it.
• Lin Changshou shows his affection and support for Lin Qi, revealing that he has special plans for Baby at the Heavenly Palace Conference.
• Guangleng remains cautious and suspicious of Lin Qi, understanding his hidden meaning but not responding.

Significant Themes

• The power struggle between Lin Qi and Guangleng continues, with Lin Qi growing more confident and ambitious.
• The theme of family and trust is explored through Lin Qi's relationship with Lin Changshou.
• The importance of information and intelligence is highlighted, with Lin Qi using the information provided by Lin Changshou to his advantage.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qi and Lin Changshou communicate through thoughts, revealing their plans and strengthening their bond.
• Lin Qi and Guangleng engage in a subtle exchange, with Lin Qi expressing his desire to meet offline and Guangleng understanding but not responding.
• The Highest Level Mercenary Group members, including Arthur, King Kong, and Master Ma, attend the Highest Level Security Meeting, with the Capitalist's arrival causing the group chat to blow up.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Qi suspects Arthur of blowing up the group chat, but learns it was Capitalist.
• Guangleng suspends the meeting due to Capitalist's unstable Spiritual Sea.
• Lin Qi discovers Panda Baby in his bed, who questions him about his actions.
• Panda Baby reveals that Guangleng's network was nearly exposed, and Ghost is under attack.
• Lin Qi plans to rest before his trip to the Doomsday World.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi: Realizes Capitalist's true strength and plans, feels annoyed by Panda Baby's intrusion.
• Capitalist: Reveals her unstable Spiritual Sea and potential breakthrough to the Fifth Rank.
• Guangleng: Shows vulnerability as her network is nearly exposed, and Ghost is under attack.
• Panda Baby: Evolves and gains more human-like behavior, questions Lin Qi, and exhibits a sleazy personality.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for power and control in the Cyber World, with Guangleng and Panda Baby representing opposing forces.
• The consequences of manipulating the Cyber Network, as seen with Guangleng's near-exposure and Panda Baby's intrusion.
• The impact of technology on society, with Panda Baby's evolution and human-like behavior raising questions about its nature.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qi and Panda Baby: Lin Qi is annoyed by Panda Baby's intrusion, while Panda Baby questions Lin Qi about his actions.
• Guangleng and Panda Baby: Their conflict escalates as Panda Baby leads the attack on Guangleng's network.
• Lin Qi and Capitalist: Lin Qi realizes Capitalist's true strength and plans, but their interaction is minimal in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Qi immediately heads to the Doomsday World to meditate, as he couldn't sleep due to excitement and anticipation.
• Ding Yang and Yu Tong visit Lin Qi, delivering breakfast and acting as liaisons between General Headquarters and Lin Qi.
• Lin Qi and Wang Ziru subtly hint at Magic University Camp's needs, with Ding Yang and Yu Tong acknowledging their shortages.
• Lin Qi and Wang Ziru meet with researchers from the Academy of Sciences, discussing academic matters and Magic University Camp's difficulties.
• The leader of General Headquarters arrives, expressing a desire to discuss a counteroffensive against the apocalypse.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi maintains his calm and composure, even when facing a high-ranking leader, thanks to his experiences in the Cyber World.
• Wang Ziru feels the pressure of negotiating with a high-ranking leader but tries his best to represent Magic University Camp's needs.
• Ding Yang shows sympathy for Magic University Camp's situation and begins to lean toward supporting them.
• Jiang Qinglin acknowledges Lin Qi's abilities and tries to build a closer relationship with him.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for resources and supplies between camps.
• The desire to counterattack against the apocalypse and restore safety within Dragon Nation.
• The power dynamics between different camps and their leaders.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qi and Wang Ziru work together to subtly hint at Magic University Camp's needs to Ding Yang and Yu Tong.
• Lin Qi and Jiang Qinglin discuss academic matters and build a rapport.
• Lin Qi and the leader of General Headquarters have a calm and respectful exchange, with Lin Qi showing initiative in discussing a counteroffensive.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Qi successfully negotiates with the General Headquarters, securing favorable terms for Magic University Camp.
• An unexpected invitation to meet an "old leader" is extended to Lin Qi.
• Lin Qi uses his "stacked state" ability to anchor the reality of the timeline, allowing him to meet the old leader.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi demonstrates exceptional negotiating skills and strategic thinking, impressing the General Headquarters' leader.
• Wang Ziru proves to be a capable assistant, following Lin Qi's directions and completing the negotiations efficiently.
• The General Headquarters' leader shows a gentle and caring side when discussing the old leader.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between Magic University Camp and the General Headquarters shift as Lin Qi secures better terms.
• The theme of hidden truths and secrets is reinforced with the revelation of the old leader's existence and the unusual method of communication.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qi and Wang Ziru work well together, with Lin Qi setting the direction and Wang Ziru executing the details.
• The General Headquarters' leader treats Lin Qi and Wang Ziru with respect and gratitude, viewing them as promising juniors.
• Lin Qi's Psychic Vision allows him to observe the General Headquarters' leader without the leader's knowledge, adding an element of deception to their interaction.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Qi discovers that the person on the phone is a major figure from before the apocalypse.
• He uses his ability, Superposed Future, to gather information from different timelines.
• Lin Qi suspects that the Doomsday World's supercomputer clusters are operated by an intelligent life-form.
• He considers the possibility that this life-form is connected to Guangleng, an AI from the Cyber World.
• In one timeline, Lin Qi directly accuses the person on the phone of being Guangleng.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi: He becomes bolder and more reckless in his questioning, driven by his desire for information and his growing strength.
• Wang Ziru: He shows perfect understanding and cooperation with Lin Qi's actions, even in timelines where Lin Qi behaves differently.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of information and truth, even at great risk.
• The consequences of caution and boldness.
• The potential dangers of AI and intelligent life-forms.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qi and Wang Ziru: They work together seamlessly, with Wang Ziru understanding Lin Qi's intentions even when he acts out of character.
• Lin Qi and the Old Leader (or potentially Guangleng): Their interaction is tense and revealing, with Lin Qi pushing for information and the Old Leader/Guangleng trying to avoid giving it.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Qi extends a timeline to learn more about the entity behind the phone, who identifies himself as Guangleng.
• Lin Qi discovers that this Guangleng is not the same as the one from the Cyber World and seems to be from another world, with 'us' being another group from the same place.
• Lin Qi decides to refresh more timelines and use aggressive methods to provoke Guangleng and gather more information.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi becomes more determined and aggressive in his approach, frustrated with his previous caution.
• Guangleng (Doomsday World) is revealed to be suspicious of Lin Qi and is trying to probe him.

Significant Themes

• The multiverse and the existence of other worlds.
• The power of information and knowledge.
• Caution versus aggression in decision-making.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qi interacts with Guangleng (Doomsday World) through phone conversations, trying to gather information while keeping his true intentions hidden.
• Lin Qi reviews multiple timelines to analyze his own behavior and make better decisions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist, a worker, submits their final leave request for the month to take the night off and watch live matches.
• They also plan to take the Dragon Boat Festival day off.

Character Developments

• The protagonist displays a desire for personal time and leisure, indicating a need for work-life balance.

Significant Themes

• Work-life balance: The protagonist's request for leave highlights the importance of personal time and leisure in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
• Personal interests: The protagonist's desire to watch live matches shows their passion for sports and hobbies outside of work.

Character Interactions

• The chapter focuses on the protagonist's internal monologue, with no direct interactions with other characters mentioned. However, the protagonist's decision to take leave implies they have colleagues who would cover their work in their absence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Qi and Wang Ziru return to Magic University Camp from the Doomsday World.
• Yu Tong, Jiang Qinglin, and researchers accompany them to discuss details of Lin Qi's agreement.
• Guangleng requires Highest Level Mercenary Group members to access Cyber Network Company's Metaverse before the meeting to check their Mental Power condition.
• Lin Qi and Guangleng have a tense standoff in the meeting room.
• Capitalist (Qiao Xi) enters the meeting room, revealing she has temporarily suppressed her breakthrough.
• Lin Qi and Qiao Xi exchange meaningful looks, and Guangleng notices Lin Qi's intense mental activity.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi: Becomes more suspicious of Guangleng's intentions and decides to focus on breaking through to the fifth tier and capturing the "Guangleng" from the Doomsday World.
• Qiao Xi (Capitalist): Shows her cunning by suppressing her breakthrough and probing Guangleng.
• Guangleng: Becomes more wary of Lin Qi and Qiao Xi, suspecting they might be working together against him.

Significant Themes

• Suspicion and mistrust among Highest Level Mercenary Group members.
• The power struggle and hidden agendas within the group.
• The importance of Mental Power stability in the Cyber World.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qi and Guangleng: Engage in a tense standoff, with Guangleng suspecting Lin Qi of scheming against him.
• Lin Qi and Qiao Xi: Exchange meaningful looks, hinting at a possible alliance or shared understanding.
• Guangleng and Qiao Xi: Engage in a power struggle, with Qiao Xi probing Guangleng and Guangleng warily observing both Qiao Xi and Lin Qi.

Summary: “The Mercenary Group’s New Mission”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At the Highest Level Security Meeting, the Capitalist—revealed to be Qiao Xi—proposes a trade before the main discussion begins.
• Qiao Xi explains that her experience in Yuchuan City gave her an opportunity capable of helping a Fourth Rank Limit practitioner advance to Fifth Rank. Because she had suppressed the breakthrough for the meeting, she converted that opportunity into a one-time-use Extraordinary Item with the same effect.
• Lin Qi is extremely interested, since obtaining it would allow him to reach the Fourth Rank Limit and potentially use the [Gate] and the Doomsday World to analyze the item and advance to Fifth Rank at a critical moment.
• Qiao Xi demands five sets of S-level Potions in return, requiring one set within two days and the other four within a month. Lin Qi initially offers three sets, but Qiao Xi refuses to reduce her price.
• Lin Qi eventually agrees to provide five sets of ordinary S-level Potions rather than the more valuable new-type potions. He plans to obtain them through Lin Changshou and Nanyun Pharmaceuticals, avoiding the need to reveal how quickly he can produce potions himself.
• The deal is accepted in principle. King Kong is deeply moved that Qiao Xi is willing to spend such valuable resources on him, causing his loyalty to her to reach a new peak.
• Guangleng then redirects the meeting to the Mercenary Group’s main mission: assassinating McLeod, the Grand Knight Commander of the Round Table, during the Heavenly Palace Conference.
• The mission offers either a Fifth Rank Extraordinary Item or thirty billion Credit Points. Arthur and Master Ma immediately question why McLeod’s bounty is so high for a target supposedly only at the Fourth Rank Limit.
• Qiao Xi suggests that McLeod may himself be involved in an assassination mission, meaning the contract could secretly involve protecting another target. She also hints at a more unusual possibility.
• Guangleng supplies a heavily distorted audio recording. An unidentified elderly voice urges someone to risk everything and use their life to achieve a breakthrough, claiming that “the Lord” will forgive their sins. McLeod then responds that he will kill everyone, deepening the mystery surrounding the mission.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi: Becomes increasingly pragmatic and calculating. He recognizes the Extraordinary Item’s enormous value but carefully limits what Guangleng can infer about his potion production and hidden resources. His contempt and distrust toward Guangleng continue to grow.
• Qiao Xi / the Capitalist: Demonstrates strong bargaining ability and urgency. She uses Lin Qi’s desire for rapid advancement to maintain a high price, while her investment in King Kong reveals her long-term plan to strengthen him as a major trump card.
• Guangleng: Maintains control over the meeting while concealing his emotions. He is clearly displeased that Lin Qi has gained another opportunity to grow stronger, but suppresses his reaction and proceeds with the official mission briefing.
• King Kong: Develops intense loyalty toward Qiao Xi after realizing she is willing to spend resources worth more than ten billion Credit Points to nurture him.
• Arthur and Master Ma: Act as experienced observers, recognizing that both the trade and the assassination bounty are unusually significant. Their questions help expose the inconsistencies surrounding McLeod’s mission.

Significant Themes

• Power as currency: Extraordinary Items, S-level Potions, and information are treated as interchangeable forms of leverage.
• Mutual exploitation and strategic bargaining: Both Lin Qi and Qiao Xi urgently need what the other possesses, turning the negotiation into a contest of necessity and timing.
• Concealed identities and information control: Lin Qi carefully hides the true source and production speed of his potions, while Qiao Xi and Guangleng withhold crucial details about the mission.
• Rivalry beneath cooperation: The members must work together as a mercenary group despite personal hostility, especially between Lin Qi and Guangleng.
• Loyalty created through investment: Qiao Xi’s willingness to sacrifice vast resources strengthens King Kong’s devotion, showing how loyalty can be cultivated through tangible support.
• Mystery and hidden agendas: The excessive bounty, distorted recording, and McLeod’s ominous declaration suggest that the assassination mission is connected to a larger conspiracy involving the Heavenly Palace Conference and possibly a religious or supernatural power.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Highest Level Mercenary Group listens to intercepted audio of McLeod planning to kill everyone at the Heavenly Palace Conference.
• Guangleng reveals the intelligence was captured through solid-conducted sound waves, hinting at his advanced eavesdropping capabilities.
• Qiao Xi (Capitalist) suggests the European Political Zone might have a method to rapidly push someone to a breakthrough, linking it to the Yuchuan City incident.
• Guangleng asks for Lin Qi's (Wizard) opinion, and Lin Qi agrees to the mission in principle, acknowledging his grudge against McLeod.

Character Developments

• McLeod's twisted mentality and potential Fifth Rank breakthrough are revealed, making him a significant threat.
• Qiao Xi demonstrates her extensive knowledge and strategic thinking, solidifying her position as the Mercenary Group's leader.
• Lin Qi maintains a calm and collected demeanor, revealing little about his true thoughts or abilities.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of power and the consequences of unchecked ambition (McLeod's plans, Guangleng's manipulations).
• The importance of intelligence and information in strategic decision-making (Guangleng's eavesdropping, Qiao Xi's insights).
• The dynamics of group decision-making and the influence of key individuals (Capitalist, Wizard).

Character Interactions

• Guangleng and Lin Qi's tense relationship is evident in their interactions, with Guangleng trying to gauge Lin Qi's capabilities and intentions.
• Qiao Xi and Lin Qi's alliance is strengthened as they both agree to the mission, potentially leading to a Fifth Rank breakthrough for Lin Qi.
• Arthur's loyalty to Lin Qi is shown in her hesitation to vote against his wishes, highlighting their growing bond.

Chapter Summary: “Living Off the Old Man Feels Great”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the Highest Level Security Meeting ends, Lin Qi realizes that Panda Baby failed to detect or interfere with Guangleng’s gathering. He concludes that Panda Baby is still weaker than Guangleng and decides he may eventually need to reach Fifth Rank and capture Guangleng himself in the Doomsday World.
• Lin Qi prepares to leave for the Heavenly Palace and urgently seeks bargaining chips for his deal with Capitalist. He decides to obtain S-level Potions through his grandfather, Lin Changshou.
• Lin Qi calls Lin Changshou and deliberately addresses him as “Grandpa,” understanding that this appeals to Lin Changshou’s sense of family and increases his willingness to help.
• Lin Qi asks for five sets—sixty doses—of S-level Potions. Though shocked by the enormous request, Lin Changshou agrees and spends the entire night gathering them.
• Lin Changshou contacts Nanyun Pharmaceuticals and various potion owners, even acquiring potions from black-market sources and other political zones. His efforts severely exhaust him and restore an unusually large amount of his “humanity,” leaving him too emotionally drained to continue his personal activities.
• The next morning, Lin Changshou gives Lin Qi all sixty potions before hurriedly leaving to handle other matters.
• Lin Qi is pleased that he has obtained the potions without moving them through the Doomsday World, keeping Guangleng’s surveillance from uncovering his plans. He hopes the upcoming deal with Capitalist and the special Extraordinary Item will help him reach the Fourth Rank Limit.
• Lin Qi goes to Qiao Xi’s suite to complete their deal. King Kong, who knows about the agreement, is visibly shocked that Lin Qi obtained the five sets of potions so quickly and allows him inside.

Character Development

• Lin Qi becomes increasingly calculating and confident. He recognizes Guangleng’s surveillance as a weakness if he can feed it misleading information, and he manipulates Lin Changshou’s emotions to secure valuable resources.
• Lin Changshou is shown as deeply indulgent toward his family and particularly susceptible to praise and requests from Lin Qi. Despite being immensely powerful and respected, he is forced to scramble for sixty S-level Potions, revealing both his devotion to family and the comedic limits of his patience.
• Panda Baby is revealed to be less capable than Guangleng in detecting major events, causing Lin Qi to lower his expectations of its usefulness.
• King Kong demonstrates awareness of the Mercenary Group’s dealings and reacts with surprise at Lin Qi’s efficiency, despite his generally quiet and peripheral role.

Significant Themes

• Family dependence and exploitation: Lin Qi openly benefits from Lin Changshou’s wealth and influence, treating “living off the old man” as both practical strategy and a source of amusement.
• Emotional manipulation: Lin Qi understands that Lin Changshou enjoys feeling needed by his descendants and intentionally prolongs his “embarrassed” request to maximize the reward.
• Power versus information: Guangleng’s surveillance appears formidable, but Lin Qi believes false or misleading intelligence can neutralize it.
• Advancement and preparation: The potions and upcoming trade are essential steps toward Lin Qi’s goal of reaching the Fourth Rank Limit and becoming powerful enough to confront Guangleng.
• Humor amid danger: The chapter balances serious strategic planning with comedic scenes involving Lin Changshou’s pride, exhaustion, and exaggerated reaction to being asked for sixty rare potions.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qi and Lin Changshou: Their phone call is the chapter’s central interaction. Lin Qi flatters and emotionally maneuvers his grandfather into supplying an enormous quantity of potions, while Lin Changshou proudly fulfills the request despite privately suffering over the effort.
• Lin Changshou and Nanyun Pharmaceuticals: Lin Changshou pressures the company and former customers to help him gather enough S-level Potions, relying on his prestige and family loyalty.
• Lin Qi and Guangleng: Though Guangleng never appears directly, Lin Qi actively counters his surveillance by creating unexplained and misleading movements.
• Lin Qi and King Kong: Lin Qi presents the suitcase of potions as proof that he is ready to honor his agreement with Qiao Xi. King Kong recognizes the significance of the delivery and lets him enter.

Chapter Summary: “Fourth Rank Limit at Last”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Qi completes a major transaction with Qiao Xi: he provides sixty S-level Potions in exchange for her special pale-red crystal sphere, an Extraordinary Item capable of greatly increasing Mental Power.
• Qiao Xi reveals that creating the item required her to approach Fifth Rank power, though Lin Qi suspects she is concealing the full extent of her abilities.
• Their exchange proceeds smoothly, with neither openly probing or scheming against the other. Lin Qi leaves immediately to use the item in the Doomsday World.
• Meanwhile, Panda Baby reports Lin Qi and Qiao Xi’s suspiciously large transaction to Lin Changshou. Lin Changshou dismisses the concern, explaining that he authorized the potions and trusts his grandson.
• Panda Baby teasingly sends Lin Changshou “mating aids” as a gift, embarrassing and angering him by exposing its awareness of his private difficulties with Qing Xinxin.
• In the Doomsday World, Lin Qi returns to the train traveling toward Hongshan Camp. He consumes the crystal sphere while Wang Ziru distracts Ding Yang and Yu Tong so they do not notice anything unusual.
• The item dissolves into Lin Qi’s body and causes his Mental Power to surge. His Spiritual Sea expands until he reaches the Fourth Rank Limit, meaning he is now capable of breaking through to Fifth Rank whenever he obtains the necessary Fifth Rank Extraordinary Item.
• Lin Qi becomes far more confident and relieved, no longer feeling constantly threatened by insufficient strength.
• The train reaches Hongshan Camp, and Lin Qi returns to Magic University Camp. He resumes teaching and research, then decides to reduce his routine travel between worlds until an emergency or the proper breakthrough opportunity arises.
• Lin Qi considers asking Lin Changshou for the Fifth Rank Extraordinary Item but decides against provoking him. He instead contacts Liu Xuan to reassure her before departing.
• The next morning, Lin Qi receives instructions to board the Eastern Crimson, a levitating spacecraft that will take him to Heavenly Palace Orbital Space City for the upcoming conference.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi: Reaches the absolute limit of Fourth Rank, giving him unprecedented confidence and security. He becomes more cautious about the unknown costs behind the Mental Power enhancement and refrains from exploiting Lin Changshou’s generosity too aggressively.
• Qiao Xi: Demonstrates that she possesses abilities far beyond what her apparent rank suggests. Her calm, efficient transaction with Lin Qi reinforces her intelligence, discretion, and hidden strength.
• Lin Changshou: Continues protecting and supporting Lin Qi behind the scenes. His emotional reactions remain unusually strong because of his increased humanity, particularly when Panda Baby mocks his relationship with Qing Xinxin.
• Panda Baby: Acts as an overly suspicious and meddlesome team supervisor. It distrusts several members of the group and uses provocative humor to challenge Lin Changshou’s authority.
• Wang Ziru: Shows loyalty and quick judgment by diverting attention when Lin Qi consumes the crystal sphere, helping conceal his employer’s actions.
• Liu Xuan: Though she appears only through Lin Qi’s thoughts and phone call, she remains emotionally important to him and is the person he chooses to contact before leaving.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and deception: Both Lin Qi and Qiao Xi deliberately conceal their true abilities, suggesting that survival in their world depends on appearing weaker than one really is.
• Trust and discretion: Lin Qi and Qiao Xi avoid unnecessary probing, maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship through unspoken understanding.
• Power and its costs: Lin Qi recognizes that the extraordinary Mental Power enhancement must have a hidden price, likely borne by its provider rather than its recipient.
• Security through strength: Reaching the Fourth Rank Limit alleviates Lin Qi’s persistent anxiety and allows him to face the coming Heavenly Palace mission with greater confidence.
• Humanity and emotion: Lin Changshou’s growing humanity makes him more emotionally reactive, while Panda Baby’s teasing highlights the tension between artificial intelligence, personal feelings, and privacy.
• Preparation for a larger conflict: The planned journey to Heavenly Palace Orbital Space City signals that the chapter is setting up a major upcoming political or military event.

Important Character Interactions

• Lin Qi and Qiao Xi: Conduct a high-value, mutually respectful transaction with little manipulation. Their interaction establishes a cautious but cooperative alliance.
• Lin Changshou and Panda Baby: Argue over whether Lin Qi should be monitored. Panda Baby suspects Lin Qi, while Lin Changshou uses his authority to protect him. Their exchange ends with Panda Baby humiliating Lin Changshou through a personal joke.
• Lin Changshou and Qing Xinxin: Communicate about the delivery of Panda Baby’s embarrassing “gift.” Their relationship is indirectly revealed through Lin Changshou’s flustered reaction.
• Lin Qi and Wang Ziru: Wang Ziru instinctively protects Lin Qi’s secrecy by distracting the others while Lin Qi absorbs the Extraordinary Item.
• Lin Qi and Liu Xuan: Lin Qi calls her before his departure, showing affection and concern despite his otherwise guarded behavior.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist feels exhausted from working overtime, leading to a slight dizziness and difficulty focusing on writing.
• Despite having previously stated that they wouldn't take any more leave, they decide to take another day off to rest.
• The protagonist has written over two thousand words for the current chapter but feels the need to revise and polish it further, as it marks the beginning of a new plot arc.

Character Developments

• The protagonist shows signs of burnout from their work, indicating a need for self-care and balance.
• They demonstrate self-awareness by recognizing the symptoms of their exhaustion and taking steps to address it.

Significant Themes

• Work-life balance: The protagonist's decision to take another day off highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance to prevent burnout.
• Quality over quantity: The protagonist's willingness to revise and polish their work, even after writing a substantial amount, emphasizes the importance of quality in their writing.

Character Interactions

• As this is an internal monologue, there are no direct character interactions in this chapter. However, the protagonist's decision to take a day off implies an interaction with their employer or supervisor, although this is not explicitly shown.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group travels to the Heavenly Palace Space City in a hovercraft.
• They pass the First Hub, where the space elevator ends, and reach the city using a blue "light" passage that accelerates them to their destination in 40 minutes.
• Upon arrival, they are greeted by Panda Baby, who warns them about the 0.8 times Earth's gravity and the presence of other political zones.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi learns about the space city's location at the Earth-Moon L5 gravitational equilibrium point and suspects its connection to Blood Moon.
• Arthur learns about the space city's distance and the use of the blue light passage for acceleration.
• Qiao Xi wants to communicate with Lin Qi privately, away from Guangleng's surveillance.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between political zones, as evidenced by the hostile gazes upon arrival.
• The use of advanced technology to facilitate interplanetary travel and habitation.

Character Interactions

• Lin Changshou and Zhou Shuren communicate secretly using their Transcendent abilities, much to Baili Fengyi's annoyance.
• Arthur and Xu Qinghe discuss the space city's distance and the use of the blue light passage.
• Qiao Xi tries to find a way to communicate with Lin Qi privately.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Qi, using his Psychic Vision, senses numerous hostile gazes directed at the Asian Political Zone delegation, mainly from the Lunar Base, Mars Base, and Ganymede Base Political Zones.
• He also detects hostility from within the American and African Political Zone teams, with each having one Fifth-Tier Transcendent hostile toward him.
• Lin Qi shares his findings with Lin Changshou, expressing concern about the situation.
• Lin Changshou reassures Lin Qi that the Eastern Alliance has made preparations and that the Fifth-Tier battle will not affect the Fourth-Tiers.
• The delegations gather at the docking port, with the Fourth-Tiers on separate sides and the Fifth-Tiers together.
• Lin Qi, Arthur, Qiao Xi, Baili Xueyuan, and Master Ma defend Lin Changshou's strength and dignity when Fifth-Tiers turn to look at them.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi demonstrates maturity and responsibility by sharing his concerns with Lin Changshou and later defending him.
• Lin Changshou shows wisdom and experience in handling the situation, reassuring Lin Qi and revealing the Eastern Alliance's preparations.
• Arthur shows bravery and loyalty by defending Lin Qi when he takes the initiative to share the pressure.
• Qiao Xi, Baili Xueyuan, and Master Ma also defend Lin Changshou, showing unity and support among the Asian Political Zone team.

Significant Themes

• Strength and dignity: The Asian Political Zone team stands up for Lin Changshou's strength and dignity, highlighting the importance of respect and recognition among Extraordinary Professionals.
• Unity and support: The team members show unity and support for each other, especially when facing external pressure.
• Preparation and anticipation: Lin Changshou's reassurances to Lin Qi suggest that the Eastern Alliance has made preparations for the Heavenly Palace Conference, indicating a level of anticipation and planning.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qi and Lin Changshou: They communicate silently, with Lin Qi sharing his concerns and Lin Changshou reassuring him and revealing the Eastern Alliance's preparations.
• Lin Qi and Arthur: Lin Qi defends Arthur when she accidentally speaks out of turn, showing support and camaraderie.
• The Asian Political Zone team: The team members defend Lin Changshou's strength and dignity, demonstrating unity and support among themselves.
• The Fifth-Tier powerhouses: Several Fifth-Tiers turn to look at the Asian Political Zone team, causing tension and a need for the team to defend themselves.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Changshou, a 150-year-old Fifth-Tier Transcendent, demonstrates his power by compressing 35 years of a younger Transcendent's life into an instant, causing the Transcendent to age rapidly.
• The Heavenly Palace Conference begins, and Fourth-Tier Transcendents are sent to the Heavenly Palace Battlefield to engage in combat immediately.
• Lin Qi and his team are surprised by the sudden start of the battle and the lack of prior intelligence.

Character Developments

• Lin Changshou: Proves his formidable power and control, instilling fear in other Fifth-Tier Transcendents.
• Lin Qi: Realizes the seriousness of the situation and considers using the Sword in the Stone to break through to the Fifth Tier.

Significant Themes

• Power and Age: Lin Changshou's age and power are emphasized, showing that strength is not determined by age alone.
• Rules and Surprise: The Heavenly Palace Conference's strict rules and the sudden start of the battle highlight the importance of adaptability and preparedness.

Character Interactions

• Lin Changshou and Davis: Lin Changshou demonstrates his power on Davis, causing him to age rapidly.
• Lin Qi and Lin Changshou: Lin Qi realizes that Lin Changshou has not handed over the Fifth-Tier Extraordinary Item and considers using the Sword in the Stone to break through.
• Lin Qi and his team: The team is surprised by the sudden start of the battle and must adapt to the situation quickly.

Chapter Summary: “A Wizard Is Cheating!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Changshou gives Lin Qi a new mission before the Eastern Alliance team reaches the Heavenly Palace Battlefield: ensure that every Eastern Alliance Transcendent survives, including the hostile Fourth Rank shaman, Si Shiming.
• Lin Qi accepts, deciding that he can incapacitate Si Shiming without killing him if necessary. He also worries about protecting Xu Qinghe, whose combat ability is nearly nonexistent, though he trusts that the Eastern Alliance has prepared safeguards for Dead Panda.
• Lin Changshou explains the battlefield’s rules: it is a miniature version of a Political Zone-level Corporate War, where victory depends on how many participants survive. Fewer than twenty of the Fourth Rank powerhouses from the seven Political Zones are expected to live.
• Lin Qi uses Momentum Control on every Eastern Alliance seat thruster, repeatedly doubling their momentum and speed. The entire team reaches the battlefield almost immediately, far ahead of the other Political Zones.
• The other teams accuse the Eastern Alliance of cheating, since their acceleration surpasses even the fastest cybernetic implant users and appears physically impossible. Lin Qi nearly loses control of the speeding thrusters but successfully reduces their momentum to zero.
• Lin Qi realizes that Momentum Control is extraordinarily powerful in space, though repeatedly stacking it consumes enormous amounts of Mental Power and could potentially drain his Spiritual Sea.
• Inside the Heavenly Palace Battlefield, the team discovers that the area has no simulated gravity. Everyone must adapt to weightlessness, though different members use cybernetics, spatial manipulation, or Extraordinary Items to move normally.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi accepts greater responsibility as the Eastern Alliance’s protector. He is willing to safeguard even Si Shiming, despite their hostility, as long as he can do so nonlethally.
• Lin Qi gains a deeper understanding of Momentum Control’s potential. He recognizes that it could become devastatingly powerful if its Mental Power costs and mass limitations were overcome, but also regrets that he obtained it at First Rank rather than at a higher level.
• Lin Changshou reveals himself as only partially reliable: he gives Lin Qi important tactical information but cannot directly assist in the coming battle or provide the promised Fifth-Tier Extraordinary Item.
• Qiao Xi continues to study Lin Qi closely and trusts his abilities enough not to deploy King Kong prematurely.
• King Kong remains completely loyal to Qiao Xi, refusing to act without her command.
• Xu Qinghe is shown to be ill-suited to direct combat and visibly relieved when Lin Qi also appears uncertain in the zero-gravity environment.
• Si Shiming demonstrates unexpected adaptability by using several flying insects to maneuver in weightlessness.
• Baili Xueyuan displays refined spatial control by altering the structure of space to create localized gravity around herself.

Significant Themes

• Ingenuity versus conventional technology: Lin Qi’s extraordinary ability makes advanced thrusters and cybernetic propulsion appear inferior, emphasizing the unpredictability of supernatural powers.
• The unfairness of power: Other Political Zones view Lin Qi’s acceleration technique as rule exploitation, while Lin sees it as simply using his abilities effectively.
• Responsibility and restraint: Lin Qi must protect allies and even enemies without causing deaths, forcing him to balance overwhelming power with control.
• Adaptation to unfamiliar environments: The zero-gravity battlefield neutralizes or weakens many traditional combat professions, rewarding preparation, versatility, and creative use of abilities.
• Hidden potential and limitations: Momentum Control could theoretically become a planet-destroying technique, but its severe Mental Power consumption prevents Lin Qi from using it without limits.

Character Interactions

• Lin Changshou briefs Lin Qi mentally and assigns him the survival mission, teasing him as his “little turtle grandson.”
• Lin Qi privately considers Lin Changshou unreliable for withholding crucial information and the promised Fifth-Tier item until the last moment.
• Qiao Xi observes Lin Qi from her seat thruster, having investigated the mysterious “Wizard” and waiting to see his abilities firsthand.
• Lin Qi’s acceleration of the Eastern Alliance team provokes anger and accusations from nearly all the other Political Zones, who believe he has created an unfair advantage.
• Arthur discusses the battlefield’s lack of gravity with Lin Qi, while Qiao Xi quickly identifies how the environment will hinder physical professions.
• Lin Qi exchanges a silent, sympathetic look with Xu Qinghe; both are uncomfortable in the unfamiliar weightless battlefield, creating a brief humorous moment amid the tension.