Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Fugui, Feng Yushu, and Baizhi arrive in Ancient Tablet Town on June 5.
• Feng Yushu experiences a strange incident in He Family Village and later meets Ning Zhe.
• "Te Rang" appears in Bishuiwan Manor, causing a lockdown and multiple deaths.
• Feng Yushu kills Te Rang, and Ning Zhe falls unconscious due to Taiyi's backlash.
• Bai Fugui is found electrocuted in the manor's bathroom and hospitalized.
• Ning Zhe and Feng Yushu discover they were pulled into a virtual world resembling Bishuiwan Manor during its lockdown.

Character Developments

• Feng Yushu: Discovers she has slight electrocution marks on her lower back, indicating she was also affected by the Weird Event.
• Bai Fugui: Survives the Te Rang incident despite being electrocuted in the bathroom. His electrocution story is called into question.

Significant Themes

• The unreliability of human perception and memory, as seen in the discrepancy between what people claim to have seen and the reality of events.
• The power of belief and disbelief in shaping one's understanding of reality.

Character Interactions

• Feng Yushu and Ning Zhe: They work together to piece together the timeline of events and uncover the truth about Bai Fugui's electrocution.
• Feng Yushu and Bai Fugui: Their relationship is strained due to Bai Fugui's mysterious survival and his electrocution story.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe discovers contradictions in the memories of Yu Ziqian and Tian Chengyun regarding the latter's death, suggesting memory alteration by Ghosts.
• He concludes that Bai Fugui, Feng Yushu's husband, has ties to the Weird World and may be Fenwu, an Ascendant seeking the Snake God.
• Ning Zhe shares his suspicions with Feng Yushu, causing her distress.
• He asks Feng Yushu about her thoughts when he ordered her to obey him unconditionally in Taoyuan City.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe: Demonstrates his analytical skills and deductive reasoning, leading him to suspect Bai Fugui's true identity.
• Feng Yushu: Struggles to accept Ning Zhe's suspicions about her husband, becomes emotional and distressed.

Significant Themes

• The power of memories and their susceptibility to alteration by Ghosts.
• The potential danger of Ascendants and their conflicts.
• The theme of trust and loyalty, as Ning Zhe asks Feng Yushu to consider her loyalty to him.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and Feng Yushu: They discuss serious matters over a meal, with Ning Zhe sharing his deductions and Feng Yushu reacting emotionally to them.
• Ning Zhe and the Server: The server is present but not actively involved in the conversation, unsure how to react to Feng Yushu's crying.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A migrant worker's wage dispute leads to a family massacre in Taoyuan City, the seventh serious crime this month.
• Ning Zhe feels he's being followed after leaving a barbecue restaurant in Cloud Capital's old district.
• Lan Shiwen, hiding in a women's restroom, asks Ning Zhe to kill Liu Hongwen and Shen Changjiang, offering information on Fenwu as a reward.

Character Developments

• Feng Yushu: She's cautious about her secret relationship with Ning Zhe, fearing her daughter might tell her husband.
• Ning Zhe: He's calm and collected, even when feeling watched and later confronted by Lan Shiwen.
• Lan Shiwen: He's determined to eliminate the Liu Family and reveals his knowledge of Fenwu's longevity as an Ascendant.

Significant Themes

• Crime and Punishment: The opening scene highlights the consequences of unaddressed grievances and the escalation of violence.
• Secrets and Consequences: Both Feng Yushu and Ning Zhe have secrets that could have serious consequences if revealed.
• Power and Ambition: Lan Shiwen's actions and offer to Ning Zhe showcase their shared ambition and desire for power.

Character Interactions

• Feng Yushu and Ning Zhe: They share a meal and a moment of intimacy, but Feng Yushu is worried about keeping their relationship secret.
• Ning Zhe and Lan Shiwen: They meet secretly in a women's restroom, where Lan Shiwen propositions Ning Zhe with a dangerous and lucrative offer.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xia Yubing receives a message in her notebook from Ning Zhe, asking about her thoughts when he told her not to reveal his identity.
• Ning Zhe reflects on the path of Ascension and his desire to know its end.
• He realizes a commonality among his successfully implanted Thought Imprints: they reinforced existing beliefs.
• Ning Zhe decides to test his theory using Zhang Hanying and Zhang Yunwen as subjects.

Character Developments

• Xia Yubing: Shows curiosity and willingness to help Ning Zhe, despite his distant demeanor.
• Ning Zhe: Continues to explore and understand his Thought Imprint ability, displaying strategic thinking and caution in his decisions.

Significant Themes

• Trust and belief: The God Who Must Not Be Looked At's rule is revealed to strengthen existing beliefs, not implant new ones.
• The path of Ascension: Ning Zhe's desire to know its end reflects his determination and ambition.

Character Interactions

• Xia Yubing and Ning Zhe: Their interaction is limited to messages in Xia Yubing's notebook, showing a unique, distant connection.
• Ning Zhe and the Zhang sisters: They interact briefly, with Ning Zhe planning to use them as test subjects for his Thought Imprint ability.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe, impersonating Yu Ziqian, visits the Zhang sisters at their Cloud Capital apartment.
• The sisters prepare a surprise for him, wearing revealing clothing and planning an intimate evening.
• Ning Zhe decides to conduct an experiment using the Thought Imprint to test its rules and limitations.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe: He continues to impersonate Yu Ziqian, showing concern for the sisters' well-being and initiating an experiment to understand the Thought Imprint's workings.
• Zhang Hanying: She is passionate, affectionate, and eager to please "Yu Ziqian," showing no signs of doubting his identity.
• Zhang Yunwen: She is more reserved and guilt-ridden, worrying about Li Shang's condition and Yu Ziqian's feelings. She is also more cooperative when Ning Zhe initiates the experiment.

Significant Themes

• Belief and Perception: The Thought Imprint's power is tied to existing beliefs, as seen in the sisters' unwavering acceptance of "Yu Ziqian" despite his physical changes.
• Entanglement with the Bizarre: The sisters, branded with a Thought Imprint, are destined to remain connected to the strange and unusual, highlighting the inescapable nature of their situation.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and the Zhang Sisters: Ning Zhe shows care and understanding towards the sisters, while they express their affection and concern for him, believing him to be Yu Ziqian.
• Zhang Hanying and Zhang Yunwen: The sisters work together in harmony, coordinating their actions even when blindfolded, demonstrating their deep bond and shared beliefs.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe wakes up in a hotel room with the Zhang sisters, Hanying and Yunwen.
• He discovers that Hanying has not noticed the difference between his and Yu Ziqian's voices.
• Ning Zhe arranges for the sisters to care for Yin Lishang in Sheep Pen Village.
• He buys an airship ticket to Taoyuan City, planning to return to Qinzhou.
• Ning Zhe confirms that the God Who Must Not Be Looked At's rule is activated by "belief," not "eye contact."

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe: He continues to explore and understand the rules of the gods, showing maturity and analytical skills.
• Zhang Hanying: She remains oblivious to Ning Zhe's true identity and continues to interact with him as Yu Ziqian.
• Zhang Yunwen: She is still naive and trusting, following her older sister's lead.

Significant Themes

• Trust and Deception: Ning Zhe questions his trust in Baizhi and begins to suspect Fenwu's true identity.
• Knowledge and Experimentation: Ning Zhe's practical experiment helps him understand the God Who Must Not Be Looked At's rules better.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and Zhang Hanying: They continue their act, with Hanying still unaware of Ning Zhe's true identity.
• Ning Zhe and Zhang Yunwen: Yunwen remains naive and trusting, following her older sister's lead without question.

Key Plot Points and Events

• An airship hovers over Cloud Capital, a rare sight due to past safety issues and public fear.
• Liu Lixian and her family attempt to escape the city via airship, fearing for their lives from Lan Shiwen.
• Liu Lixian's cousin's family is found dead, killed by Lan Shiwen, who is hunting down the Liu Family.
• Liu Lixian, her husband, and son are killed by Lan Shiwen on their way to the airship, despite Liu Lixian's pleas for mercy.

Character Developments

• Liu Lixian: Initially anxious and desperate to escape, she becomes terrified and pleading when confronted by Lan Shiwen. She reveals her limited knowledge of the Weird World and Ascendants.
• Lan Shiwen: He is portrayed as a ruthless, unyielding pursuer, driven by his creed to eliminate those he deems guilty, even if they are not personally at fault.

Significant Themes

• Fear and Desperation: Liu Lixian's fear is palpable, driving her actions and words. Lan Shiwen's fearsome reputation is reinforced.
• Consequences of Actions: Lan Shiwen's actions are a result of his interpretation of guilt by association, a theme explored throughout the chapter.

Character Interactions

• Liu Lixian and Her Family: Their dynamic is one of fear and desperation, with Liu Lixian trying to protect her children and husband.
• Liu Lixian and Lan Shiwen: Their interaction is one-sided, with Liu Lixian begging for mercy and Lan Shiwen remaining unmoved, ultimately killing her and her family.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Liu Family is found dead, with no evidence linking their deaths to Lan Shiwen, who had publicly declared his intent to wipe them out.
• The Liu Family attempts to defect abroad with classified intelligence, alerting Lan Shiwen and giving him a legitimate reason to continue his slaughter.
• Van Dyke, an administrator of the Ascendant Network Europa Subnetwork, is targeted by Lan Shiwen for his role in the Liu Family's demise.
• Lan Shiwen kills Van Dyke, revealing his ability, Death Regression, which resets the world after he dies.

Character Developments

• Lan Shiwen: Shows unwavering determination to avenge his loved ones, even in the face of powerful adversaries. His true ability, Death Regression, is revealed, indicating he has been reliving events to achieve his goals.
• Van Dyke: Initially appears confident and unyielding, but his facade crumbles when confronted by Lan Shiwen. His true role in the Liu Family's demise is exposed.

Significant Themes

• Revenge: Lan Shiwen's single-minded pursuit of vengeance drives the plot and reveals his extraordinary ability.
• Power Dynamics: The struggle between Lan Shiwen and the Ascendant Network Europa Subnetwork highlights the power plays between influential figures.
• Deception and Truth: Characters deceive and are deceived, with the truth ultimately surfacing to reveal the extent of their actions.

Character Interactions

• Lan Shiwen vs. Van Dyke: Their tense interaction reveals the depth of Lan Shiwen's resentment and the extent of Van Dyke's involvement in the Liu Family's demise.
• Lan Shiwen and the Liu Family: Though not physically present, the Liu Family's actions and deaths serve as the catalyst for Lan Shiwen's vengeance, driving the plot and his character development.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Marquis Van Dyke, a Bestowed One from the ancient Dyck Family, attempts to kill Lan Shiwen using a Soul-Summoning Doll named Little Pitiful.
• Lan Shiwen survives by renaming the doll to Xia Rong and gains control over it.
• Van Dyke dies in the fight, and Lan Shiwen takes Xia Rong with him.
• Lan Shiwen decides to approach Ning Zhe, who he believes can transform into other people, to be a spy.

Character Developments

• Lan Shiwen demonstrates his ability to survive and adapt in dangerous situations, learning about Soul-Summoning Dolls and using that knowledge to his advantage.
• Ning Zhe shows curiosity and willingness to investigate the mysterious offer from Lan Shiwen.

Significant Themes

• The power of names and knowledge over anomalies.
• The enduring influence of ancient families.
• The potential for cooperation and alliance between individuals with unique abilities.

Character Interactions

• Lan Shiwen and Marquis Van Dyke engage in a deadly confrontation, with Lan Shiwen ultimately emerging victorious.
• Lan Shiwen contacts Ning Zhe through Xia Yubing's notebook, expressing his interest in recruiting Ning Zhe as a spy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe meets Lan Shiwen on an airship, who asks him to infiltrate the Europa United Republic as a spy under Van Dyke's identity.
• Ning Zhe refuses initially but changes his mind when Lan Shiwen reveals he can help Ning Zhe avoid a dangerous future.
• Lan Shiwen warns Ning Zhe about Fenwu, an extremely unlucky person who could bring misfortune to those around him.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe: Shows reluctance to help Lan Shiwen but agrees when he learns about the danger in his future. He becomes more cautious and prepared.
• Lan Shiwen: Reveals his ability to predict the future and uses it to manipulate Ning Zhe into working for him. He shows concern for Ning Zhe's safety, possibly to avoid his future self's wrath.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of actions in the present affecting the future.
• The manipulation of others for personal gain.
• The importance of caution and preparation in the face of danger.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and Lan Shiwen: Their interaction is tense and manipulative, with Lan Shiwen trying to convince Ning Zhe to work for him, and Ning Zhe trying to extract information from Lan Shiwen.
• Lan Shiwen's warning about Fenwu serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of proximity to certain people, reflecting the theme of caution and preparation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe ponders the implications of Lan Shiwen's revelation about Fenwu's rule.
• A diplomat from the Dyck Family demands a meeting with Lan Shiwen to ensure Van Dyke's safety.
• Ning Zhe offers to help Lan Shiwen by accompanying him to meet the diplomat.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe: He remains cautious and analytical, weighing the implications of Lan Shiwen's words. He also demonstrates his willingness to help Lan Shiwen, indicating a growing trust between them.
• Lan Shiwen: He shows his resourcefulness and knowledge of various rules, providing valuable information to Ning Zhe. He also displays his loyalty to his superiors by promptly arranging a meeting with the diplomat.

Significant Themes

• Trust and Alliance: Ning Zhe and Lan Shiwen's relationship deepens as they decide to help each other, highlighting the importance of trust and alliances in their world.
• Power and Influence: The Dyck Family's intervention emphasizes the power and influence of noble families, both within their own territories and abroad.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and Lan Shiwen: Their interaction shows a growing camaraderie, with Ning Zhe offering help and Lan Shiwen providing valuable information. They also collaborate to prepare for the meeting with the diplomat.
• Lan Shiwen and his subordinates: Lan Shiwen demonstrates his authority and leadership by giving clear instructions and expecting prompt action from his subordinates.

Key Plot Points

• Ning Zhe learns about the ink line's origin and its source ghost trapped in a prison called Ink Rule.
• Lan Shiwen gives Ning Zhe a Soul-Summoning Doll named Xia Rong.
• Ning Zhe meets with the Europa diplomat Eddie Dyck, impersonating Van Dyke.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe shows his adaptability and resourcefulness by impersonating Van Dyke.
• Lan Shiwen demonstrates his knowledge of artifacts and willingness to share information with Ning Zhe.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of Bestowal Artifacts.
• The consequences of the Millennium Massacre on both Eastern and Western families.
• The importance of intelligence and information in the world of Ascendants.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and Lan Shiwen work together, with Lan Shiwen providing information and artifacts, and Ning Zhe cleaning up the mess.
• Eddie Dyck shows concern for his cousin Van Dyke but is also eager to maintain the Dyk Family's interests.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe (disguised as Van Dyke) meets Eddie Dyck at the consulate.
• Eddie Dyck tests Ning Zhe to confirm his identity as Van Dyke.
• Ning Zhe passes the tests, confirming his identity to Eddie Dyck.
• Lan Shiwen (controlling a Ghost) tries to track Ning Zhe but fails.
• Baizhi discovers signs of an intruder in her room and reviews surveillance footage.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe (Ye Yao) demonstrates his ability to mimic someone's appearance and knowledge, passing Eddie Dyck's tests.
• Lan Shiwen realizes the extent of Ye Yao's abilities and the difficulty of probing them.
• Baizhi becomes suspicious about an intruder in her room and reviews surveillance footage.

Significant Themes

• Identity and disguise: Ning Zhe's ability to become someone else, including their knowledge and secrets.
• Trust and verification: Eddie Dyck's need to confirm Ning Zhe's identity as Van Dyke.
• Surveillance and privacy: Baizhi's use of surveillance to monitor her room and the intruder's evasion of it.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe (as Van Dyke) interacts with Eddie Dyck, passing his tests and gaining his trust.
• Lan Shiwen and Ning Zhe (through Lan Shiwen's controlled Ghost) have an indirect interaction, with Lan Shiwen trying to track Ning Zhe but failing.
• Baizhi interacts with the intruder indirectly, discovering signs of their presence and reviewing surveillance footage to investigate.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Baizhi reviews a surveillance video of herself sleepwalking and wandering around her room.
• Ning Zhe steals Baizhi's self-perception using Taiyi to enhance his survival skills in Weird Events.
• Baizhi leaves her house, unaware of Ning Zhe's presence.
• Ning Zhe reviews Baizhi's memories, discovering they are incomplete and have been altered.

Character Developments

• Baizhi: Realizes she sleepwalks, remains unaware of Ning Zhe's actions and her altered memories.
• Ning Zhe: Steals Baizhi's self-perception, reviews her memories, and discovers they've been altered.

Significant Themes

• The power of self-perception and intuition.
• The manipulation and alteration of memories.
• The consequences of stealing another person's identity.

Character Interactions

• Baizhi and her mother: A tender moment at Baizhi's kindergarten entrance, showing her mother's protectiveness.
• Baizhi and Ning Zhe: Unaware of each other's actions, they indirectly interact through Ning Zhe's theft of Baizhi's self-perception and his review of her memories.

Key Plot Points & Events

• Baizhi's childhood memories are fragmented due to intermittent amnesia.
• Baizhi's father is absent from her memories, suggesting his memories were deleted.
• Baizhi starts writing a diary in her first year of middle school and begins having nightmares.

Character Developments

• Baizhi: Calm and placid due to her childhood amnesia; starts writing a diary and having nightmares at 14.
• Baizhi's Father (Bai Fugui): Absent from Baizhi's memories, suggesting his memories were deleted.

Significant Themes

• Memory and identity: Baizhi's fragmented memories and the absence of her father raise questions about her identity and personal history.
• Trauma: Baizhi's nightmares and amnesia hint at unresolved trauma.

Character Interactions

• Baizhi interacts little with her classmates due to her amnesia and calm temperament.
• Baizhi's relationship with her mother (Feng Yushu) is not explored in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Baizhi encounters a patient from the hospital's psychiatric ward hiding in the ventilation duct of her room, seeking her help.
• Baizhi begins to experience Weird Events and nightmares, which she believes are connected to her dreams.
• The patient in the duct is revealed to be the one who broke free from the Asylum, and Baizhi considers seeking his help to escape but senses danger.
• Baizhi's memories reveal that she has been experiencing these nightmares since she was 14, with her father, Bai Fugui, appearing irregularly in her life.

Character Developments

• Baizhi: She starts to question her reality and seeks help from the patient, but her intuition warns her against it. She has been dealing with nightmares and Weird Events since she was 14, which have taken a toll on her mental health.
• Bai Fugui (Baizhi's father): His appearances in Baizhi's life are irregular and unpredictable, with no clear pattern or purpose.

Significant Themes

• Trust and betrayal: Baizhi struggles with whether to trust the patient seeking her help, while the patient's true intentions remain unclear.
• Reality vs. dreams: Baizhi's life is increasingly invaded by her nightmares, blurring the line between her dreams and reality.
• Unreliable narrators: Baizhi's memories and perceptions of her father are inconsistent, raising doubts about her reliability as a narrator.

Character Interactions

• Baizhi and the patient: Their interaction is tense and uncertain, with Baizhi feeling a sense of danger despite the patient's pleading.
• Baizhi and her mother: Their relationship is not explored in this chapter, but it is mentioned that Feng Yushu is worried about Baizhi's mental state and has been secretly reading her diary.
• Baizhi and her father: Their relationship is strained and distant, with Bai Fugui's unpredictable appearances causing confusion and unease.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Baizhi, a 19-year-old girl, experiences recurring nightmares where she inhabits different identities in various settings, each governed by specific rules.
• In one such dream, she's 'He Nianjun' in He Family Village, where villagers worship the Snake God and sacrifice an unmarried woman every 12 years. Baizhi must avoid being the next sacrifice.
• The Snake God goes mad, and the village's fortune and misfortune change. Baizhi cannot wake up from this dream until the Snake God's death a year later.
• Baizhi and her family travel to Qinzhou, where she dreams of He Family Village again and witnesses the Snake God's death.

Character Developments

• Baizhi: Initially timid and passive, she becomes more proactive in trying to change her fate within the dreams, though she still fears the unknown.
• Ning Zhe: He understands more about the Weird World's rules and his role as an Ascendant, but remains uncertain about Taiyi's origins and purpose.

Significant Themes

• Fate vs Free Will: Baizhi struggles against her predetermined fate in the dreams, trying to change the course of events.
• The Power of Gods: The Snake God's influence over He Family Village highlights the power dynamics between gods and humans.
• The Nature of Reality: Ning Zhe's understanding of the Weird World deepens, questioning the boundaries between dreams, reality, and the divine.

Character Interactions

• Baizhi and the Snake God: Their relationship is one of fear and avoidance, as Baizhi tries to evade being sacrificed to the Snake God.
• Baizhi and Ning Zhe: Though not physically present, Ning Zhe's understanding of the Weird World's rules helps Baizhi navigate her dreams.
• Baizhi and her family: They are unaware of Baizhi's nightmares and her struggle to change her fate within them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jade Valley Prison, once an abandoned jade mine, is now Taoyuan City's largest prison.
• Crime rates have surged, leading to an influx of first-time offenders with severe sentences.
• Old Li, a farmer, is sentenced to 25 years for killing his corrupt village chief in a crime of passion.

Character Developments

• Old Li: Initially confused and remorseful, he becomes determined to earn a reduced sentence and seek revenge on the village chief's family.
• Village Chief: Corrupt and exploitative, his actions lead to his murder and the suffering of Old Li.

Significant Themes

• Corruption and its consequences.
• The struggle of the common people against exploitation.
• The influence of external factors (Thought Imprints) on individual actions and lives.

Character Interactions

• Old Li and his cellmate discuss his crime and sentence.
• Old Li's hatred for the village chief and his family grows, influencing his decision to behave well in prison to earn a reduced sentence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The prisoners begin their daily work at the workshop, with Old Li filling ballpoint pens with ink.
• Old Li reflects on the hardships of farming compared to prison labor.
• An unfamiliar inmate, Ning Zhe, sits beside Old Li during lunch break and offers him a bottle of cola.
• Ning Zhe questions Old Li about his desire for revenge against the village chief's family.
• Old Li refuses to accept the cola, feeling it's not his, and realizes his extreme thoughts about revenge are strange.
• Ning Zhe reveals he was behind the village chief's death, and Old Li recognizes him as the blue-faced, fanged ghost from his hallucination.

Character Developments

• Old Li: Reflects on his life as a farmer and the simplicity of prison labor. Realizes his extreme thoughts about revenge are unusual. Struggles with accepting kindness from others, feeling it's not truly his.
• Ning Zhe: Reveals his involvement in the village chief's death. Shows empathy for Old Li's plight and admires his courage, offering him cola as a sign of respect.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and Justice: Old Li's desire for revenge is challenged, and he begins to question his extreme thoughts.
• Acceptance of Kindness: Old Li's refusal to accept the cola highlights his internal struggle with accepting help from others.
• The Law vs. Personal Vengeance: The conversation between Old Li and Ning Zhe explores the difference between seeking justice through the law and personal revenge.

Character Interactions

• Old Li and Ning Zhe: They have a profound conversation about revenge and justice. Ning Zhe offers Old Li cola as a sign of respect, but Old Li refuses, highlighting his internal struggle. Ning Zhe reveals his involvement in the village chief's death, shocking Old Li.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Li encounters a mysterious figure leaving a bottle of cola at his lunch spot.
• Violent crimes increase in Taoyuan City, leading to a surge of prisoners at Jade Valley Prison, including those affected by the God Who Must Not Be Looked At.
• Ning Zhe, in prison, systematically manipulates prisoners into believing he is "God," gathering information and planning to control the God Who Must Not Be Looked At.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe: Becomes more strategic and patient in his plan to control the God Who Must Not Be Looked At. He reflects on his past experiences with controlling ghosts and understands the reverse logic operation required to control the God.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and deception: Ning Zhe uses these tactics to gather information and control the narrative among the prisoners.
• Reverse logic operation: The core method of controlling ghosts with one's body and ascending oneself involves deciphering a ghost's operational logic and executing it in reverse.

Character Interactions

• Old Li and the mysterious figure: Their brief encounter sparks curiosity and unease in Old Li.
• Ning Zhe and the prisoners: Ning Zhe interacts with various prisoners, manipulating them into believing he is "God" and gathering information about the God Who Must Not Be Looked At.