Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Ascension Sect, initially a small cult focused on swindling money and deceiving women, gained prominence when the leader's intelligent son took over.
• The sect's rapid growth attracted the attention of authorities, who sent an undercover officer (Han Ruiming's daughter, Ali) to investigate.
• Ali discovered connections between the sect and the city's frequent disappearances and murders but vanished during her investigation.
• Her body was later found dismembered and sent to Han Ruiming in a gift box, with a greeting card reading "Dad, happy birthday."
• Han Ruiming led a raid on the sect, capturing the leader, but was later suspended for disobeying orders. The case was closed with no further investigation.

Character Developments

• The sect leader's son, initially a promising student, became obsessed with the "path of ascension" after a mysterious forest expedition and took over the sect, expanding its influence significantly.
• Ali, the undercover officer, showed dedication and capability but ultimately met a tragic end.
• Han Ruiming, Ali's father, was initially uneasy about her mission but supported her. After her death, he became consumed by hatred and regret.

Significant Themes

• Power and Corruption: The sect leader's rise to power and the authorities' inaction due to "certain reasons" highlight the corrupting influence of power.
• Loss and Grief: The story revolves around the loss of Ali and Han Ruiming's inability to cope with his grief, leading to his suspension from the force.
• The Price of Ambition: The sect leader's ambition led to his downfall and the destruction of those around him, including his own father.

Character Interactions

• Han Ruiming and Ali shared a close father-daughter relationship, with Han Ruiming supporting Ali's mission despite his unease.
• The sect leader's relationship with his son was complex, with the son initially rejecting his father's ways but later becoming obsessed with the same goal.
• Han Ruiming's interactions with his colleagues showed their concern for him, as they stopped him from killing the sect leader and later confiscated his gun.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You meets Han Ruiming, a man who understands the supernatural situation Zhou You is in.
• Han Ruiming shares his past involving a cult and a drug called "Ascension."
• Zhou You asks Han Ruiming about the recent serial murders, and Han Ruiming hints that the cult is involved.
• Zhou You is invited to leave, and Han Ruiming warns him about heavy rain.
• Zhou You returns home, and a group of mysterious, boneless creatures break into his apartment.

Character Developments

• Zhou You shows curiosity and determination to uncover the truth.
• Han Ruiming reveals his past involvement with a cult and his daughter's death.
• The little female ghost shows attachment to Zhou You and his home.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural and the unknown.
• The consequences of past actions and secrets.
• The struggle between good and evil.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You and Han Ruiming share information and form a tentative alliance.
• Zhou You and the little female ghost develop a guardian-protegee relationship.
• The mysterious creatures' interaction with Zhou You's home suggests a threat.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You encounters and defeats three cult members who transform into grotesque creatures.
• The cult leader learns about the defeat of his senior cultists and expresses anger.
• The cult leader prepares for the Grand Sacrifice, ignoring the woman who loves him.

Character Developments

• Zhou You demonstrates his combat prowess and lack of fear against supernatural enemies.
• The cult leader shows his ruthlessness and obsession with the Grand Sacrifice.
• The woman cultist shows her fear and devotion to the cult leader.

Significant Themes

• The theme of power and obsession is shown through the cult leader's actions.
• The theme of fear and devotion is explored through the woman cultist's character.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You interacts with the cult members, showing no mercy in defeating them.
• The cult leader interacts with the woman cultist, showing anger and disregard towards her.
• The woman cultist interacts with the cult leader, showing fear and devotion.

• Zhou You is interrogated by the police due to his involvement with the drug users he fought. Han Ruiming's intervention leads to Zhou You's release.
• Zhou You meets Han Ruiming at an abandoned construction site. Han reveals he has lung cancer and is running out of time to avenge his daughter.
• Zhou You agrees to help Han take down the Ascension Sect. Han suggests targeting Xu Xin, a high-ranking member of the sect who is currently in the city for a TV promotion.

Key Plot Points

• Zhou You's interrogation and release.
• Han Ruiming's revelation of his illness and urgency to avenge his daughter.
• The decision to target Xu Xin.

Character Developments

• Zhou You shows understanding and willingness to help Han Ruiming despite his initial reservations.
• Han Ruiming reveals his desperation and vulnerability due to his illness.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and the urgency to carry it out.
• The consequences of past actions (Han's illness, Xu Xin's involvement in the cult).

Character Interactions

• Zhou You and Han Ruiming discuss their plans and motivations, leading to a mutual understanding and agreement to work together.
• Zhou You's casual and somewhat dismissive attitude towards Han's gratitude highlights his willingness to help but also his disinterest in formalities.

Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You and Han Ruiming arrive at the residential district where Xu Xin lives.
• They meet Wang Li, a former teammate's son who has infiltrated the security company.
• Han Ruiming reveals that he has been planning revenge against the Ascension Sect for years, with many allies.
• Zhou You and Han Ruiming prepare to infiltrate Xu Xin's house to obtain an item from the cult.
• Four cult members, led by a red-haired man, plan to kill a security guard who has entered their territory.

Character Developments

• Zhou You shows concern for Han Ruiming's health and advises him to quit smoking.
• Han Ruiming reveals his determination to seek revenge against the Ascension Sect.
• The red-haired cult member shows leadership and cruelty towards the security guard.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and the consequences of past actions.
• The corrupting influence of power and the lengths people will go to maintain it.
• The dehumanization of victims by their abusers.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You and Han Ruiming work together, with Zhou You showing concern for Han Ruiming's health.
• Han Ruiming and Wang Li share a history, with Han Ruiming treating Wang Li like family.
• The cult members interact, showing their brutal and callous nature towards outsiders.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You, disguised as a harmless man (Zhou You), lures a group of thugs into attacking him.
• He effortlessly defeats them using his swordsmanship and a mystical bow made of moonlight.
• Han Ruiming, the former criminal police captain, appears and decides to keep one thug alive to guide them through the cult's house.
• They enter the house, which is eerily empty and filled with an intense scent of blood.

Character Developments

• Zhou You demonstrates his formidable combat skills and lack of mercy towards those who prey on the innocent.
• Han Ruiming shows his ruthless interrogation methods and knowledge of the cult's activities.

Significant Themes

• The theme of deception and using one's enemies' greed against them is reinforced as Zhou You uses himself as bait to lure the thugs.
• The intense scent of blood throughout the house foreshadows the dark activities of the cult.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You and Han Ruiming work together to eliminate the thugs and gather information about the cult.
• The surviving thug begs for his life, but Han Ruiming shows no mercy during his interrogation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You and Han Ruiming discover a secret underground passage in the cult leader's house, leading to a hidden laboratory.
• They find numerous female corpses preserved in formalin, used as ingredients for the cult's Ascension Powder.
• It's revealed that hundreds of thousands of missing persons across the country are victims of human trafficking, ending up in places like this.
• Han Ruiming shares his motivation for tracking the cult leader: to reduce innocent victims and prevent families from being shattered.

Character Developments

• Zhou You: Shows disgust and anger at the sight of the corpses, demonstrating his compassion and moral integrity.
• Han Ruiming: Reveals his personal motivation for pursuing the cult leader, showing his determination and emotional depth.

Significant Themes

• The exploitation and devaluation of human life, as seen in the cult's use of corpses for their rituals.
• The consequences of human trafficking and the disappearance of victims, highlighting the societal impact of such crimes.
• The personal motivations driving the characters, emphasizing the importance of individual agency and purpose.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You and Han Ruiming work together to uncover the cult's secrets, demonstrating a growing partnership and mutual respect.
• The interaction between the two is minimal in this chapter, as they primarily focus on processing the grim discovery before them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The duo explores an underground facility filled with corpses in solution.
• Zhou You finds a diary and files in a hidden compartment, detailing a woman's descent into obsession and crime for a cult leader.
• Han Ruiming finds two masks, one white and one black, representing two separate gathering venues for the cult.

Character Developments

• Zhou You: Shows indifference to the gruesome scene, demonstrating his experience and composure. He also displays curiosity and thoroughness in examining the contents of the facility.
• Han Ruiming: Maintains professionalism and focus despite the grim environment. He demonstrates expertise in criminal investigation and a no-nonsense attitude towards evidence.

Significant Themes

• Obsession and its consequences: The diary illustrates the destructive power of obsession, as the writer's fixation on a cult leader leads her to commit heinous acts.
• Duality: The two masks symbolize the dual nature of the cult gathering, implying that there may be two sides or aspects to the cult's activities or beliefs.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You and Han Ruiming work together efficiently, each taking on a part of the search. They show mutual respect and understanding, with Zhou You deferring to Han Ruiming's expertise in handling evidence.
• Zhou You's reaction to the diary suggests that he finds the content disturbing, but he maintains his composure and continues his search.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You returns home to an empty house after sending Li Sanli and the little girl away to avoid implicating them.
• He struggles to cook breakfast, feeling the absence of the little girl's company.
• Zhou You and Han Ruiming decide to infiltrate the cult's gathering by flipping a coin to choose their respective directions.
• Zhou You chooses the west side, which leads him to a private club with a steep cliff as its only entrance. He uses his lightness skill to descend the cliff undetected.
• Inside the club, Zhou You observes that the cult's members are avoiding security measures to maintain anonymity. He blends in with the crowd and enters an elevator that descends to a secret basement.

Character Developments

• Zhou You: Struggles with loneliness after sending Li Sanli and the little girl away, showing a softer side. Demonstrates his lightness skill and adaptability in infiltrating the club.
• Han Ruiming: Though not present, his actions (sponsoring Zhou You's suit and arranging the infiltration plan) show his resourcefulness and commitment to the mission.

Significant Themes

• Loneliness and the desire for companionship.
• The lengths powerful people go to maintain their anonymity and protect their interests.
• The use of deception and infiltration to uncover hidden truths.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You and Han Ruiming interact briefly to decide their infiltration plan.
• Zhou You observes the interactions of the cult members, noting their avoidance of security measures.
• Zhou You encounters a flirtatious woman in the elevator, who presses herself against him and initiates a conversation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You encounters Xu Xin, a cultist, at the underground gathering. She attempts to flirt with him, but he finds her repulsive due to her inner stench.
• The group arrives at the underground hall, where they find a lavish spread of food and Ascension Powder. Most attendees are more interested in the powder than the food.
• A woman announces the start of the twenty-first event, hinting at an auction or competition.

Character Developments

• Zhou You remains calm and composed despite the unusual circumstances, showing no interest in Xu Xin's advances.
• Xu Xin is revealed to be ambitious and jealous, cursing under her breath about a rival.

Significant Themes

• The corrupting influence of power and wealth, as seen in the attendees' disregard for the food and focus on Ascension Powder.
• The dark underbelly of high society, with the gathering's true purpose being hinted at but not yet revealed.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You and Xu Xin: Zhou You shows clear disinterest in Xu Xin's advances, while she is oblivious to his revulsion.
• The attendees: They interact with each other in small groups, drinking and taking Ascension Powder while waiting for the main event.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You decides to leave after accidentally targeting the wrong person.
• He overhears Xu Xin, the cult's Holy Maiden, thanking influential figures for their support and revealing the cult's use of money and power to evade detection.
• Zhou You learns that the cult uses human corpses to create a potent form of Ascension Powder, which they plan to distribute at the event.

Character Developments

• Zhou You shows his strategic thinking and patience, deciding to stay and observe rather than immediately escaping.
• Xu Xin demonstrates her calm and collected demeanor, even when revealing the cult's dark secrets.

Significant Themes

• The corrupting influence of power and money.
• The cult's exploitation of human life for personal gain.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You observes the interactions between Xu Xin and the influential figures, understanding the cult's network of support.
• Xu Xin interacts with the attendees, revealing the cult's true purpose for the event.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You, an observer, watches a group of people consuming a corpse, seemingly to gain immortality.
• Xu Xin, the host, reveals a living girl as the next 'course', processed to have the same properties as the previous corpse.
• The guests hesitate, but their hunger overcomes their reservations. An old man, Qian, approaches the girl.
• Zhou You, unmasked and smiling, suddenly severs Qian's hands and then his body, killing him instantly.

Character Developments

• Zhou You: Initially observed, he reveals himself as an active participant, displaying exceptional skill and ruthlessness.
• Xu Xin: Shows callousness and manipulation, orchestrating the event to satisfy the guests' hunger and the Cult Leader's plans.
• Qian: Reveals his desperation for immortality, willing to consume a living person, but meets a swift end.

Significant Themes

• Hunger for immortality and power, leading to moral degradation.
• Manipulation and exploitation of others for personal gain.
• The consequences of one's actions and the loss of humanity.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You and Xu Xin: Their interaction is brief, but Zhou You's actions show he is not under Xu Xin's control and has his own agenda.
• Qian and the other guests: Qian's actions reflect the guests' shared hunger and desperation, but also their hesitation and fear of exposure.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You, initially planning to escape alone, decides to confront the cult members after realizing he's off-script and has no witnesses or cameras.
• He kills a fat man who had framed Han Ruiming, causing panic among the cult members.
• The cult members try to escape through the elevator, but it's inoperable. One of them falls through a weakened wall and is eaten by the creatures below.
• Xu Xin, the cult's leader, recognizes Zhou You and reveals that she has been expecting him. She summons monstrous creatures, offspring of an Immortal, to attack him.

Character Developments

• Zhou You shows his ruthless side, killing without hesitation when provoked.
• Xu Xin reveals her manipulative and cruel nature, using the cult members as test subjects and having no qualms about killing them.
• Zhou You expresses disappointment in the lack of challenge after all his efforts to infiltrate the cult.

Significant Themes

• The corrupting influence of power and immortality.
• The consequences of one's actions and the karmic retribution.
• The theme of being off-script or going against expectations.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You and Xu Xin face off, with Xu Xin revealing her true colors and summoning monsters to attack Zhou You.
• The cult members panic and try to escape, but their attempts are futile due to Xu Xin's manipulations and the creatures' attacks.
• Zhou You expresses disappointment in Xu Xin's lack of challenge, showing his desire for a worthy opponent.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The author reassures readers that the chapter is not delayed due to a hiatus but is under review.
• The previous chapter faced a more serious issue, being blocked in full, and required multiple revisions before it was released.
• The author expects the current chapter to be released the next day.

Character Developments

• No significant character development in this chapter as it primarily focuses on the author's communication with readers.

Significant Themes

• Communication and transparency with readers.
• The challenges and delays authors face in the publishing process.

Character Interactions

• The author interacts with readers through this chapter, addressing their potential concerns and providing updates on the publishing status.
• No interactions between fictional characters are depicted in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You, now significantly stronger than when he first entered the scenario, faces off against dozens of Venerable-level monsters.
• He easily defeats them using his sword skills and baleful energy, demonstrating his growth over the past year.
• Xu Xin, the mastermind behind the monsters' creation, attempts to capture Zhou You but fails.
• Zhou You kills all the monsters and approaches Xu Xin, who begs for mercy from her unseen master.
• The master, revealed to be from the Yin Road, saves Xu Xin and escapes, leaving Zhou You empty-handed.

Character Developments

• Zhou You: Shows immense growth in strength and skill, easily defeating powerful enemies. He remains calm and focused under pressure.
• Xu Xin: Initially confident and malicious, she panics and begs for mercy when faced with certain defeat, revealing her cowardice and lack of loyalty to her master.

Significant Themes

• Growth and power: Zhou You's development over the past year is highlighted, contrasting with the stagnation of his enemies.
• Cowardice vs. courage: Xu Xin's cowardice is juxtaposed with Zhou You's calm determination in the face of danger.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You vs. Monsters: Zhou You demonstrates his superior strength and skill, easily defeating the monsters.
• Zhou You vs. Xu Xin: Zhou You's pursuit of Xu Xin highlights her cowardice and desperation.
• Xu Xin vs. Her Master: Xu Xin's plea for mercy reveals the lack of loyalty between her and her master, who ultimately saves her but chastises her for failure.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You discovers that the Yin Road opened by the cult leader is different from the one in the script, lacking yin energy and collapsing quickly.
• He tries to contact Han Ruiming but fails, suspecting something urgent has happened at Han's end.
• Zhou You decides to rush to Han's location, but they're in a remote area with no taxis. A survivor, Cat Counter, offers to drive him in exchange for help.
• Cat Counter drives Zhou You to the villa estate where Han Ruiming is located in record time.

Character Developments

• Zhou You shows urgency and determination in responding to the potential crisis involving Han Ruiming.
• Cat Counter demonstrates her resourcefulness and desperation to survive, offering her driving services to Zhou You.

Significant Themes

• Urgency and swift action in the face of danger.
• Desperation and survival instincts in the face of death.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You and Cat Counter form a temporary alliance due to their shared goal of reaching the villa estate quickly.
• Zhou You shows no mercy to those who stand in his way, emphasizing his ruthlessness and single-minded focus on his objective.

Summary of Chapter "Coming and Going"

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You arrives at the manor and finds it eerily quiet. He discovers a hidden passage leading to an underground cavern filled with suffering, alive victims.
• He finds Han Ruiming and Xu Xin on an altar in a hidden valley, surrounded by a carpet of flesh and blood. The cult leader is about to summon a god.
• Zhou You learns that the cult leader's true motive is to resurrect his fiancée, Xia Mo, who died in the mountains years ago.

Character Developments

• Zhou You demonstrates his skill and determination to avenge Han Ruiming's daughter, despite the danger.
• Han Ruiming reveals his concern for Zhou You's safety and regrets involving him in the plan.
• The cult leader is revealed to be driven by obsession and desperation to resurrect his fiancée, leading him to commit heinous acts.

Significant Themes

• Obsession and its consequences: The cult leader's obsession with resurrecting Xia Mo leads him to commit atrocities and ultimately causes his downfall.
• The power of truth: Zhou You exposes the cult leader's past actions, causing him to lose control and revealing his true motives.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You and Han Ruiming: Zhou You shows concern for Han Ruiming's well-being, while Han Ruiming worries about Zhou You's safety and regrets involving him in the plan.
• Zhou You and the cult leader: Zhou You provokes the cult leader by revealing his past actions, causing him to lose control and reveal his true motives.
• Xu Xin and the cult leader: Xu Xin tries to advise the cult leader but is slapped for her efforts, highlighting the cult leader's growing instability.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The cult leader's ritual fails, and no immortals or deities appear.
• Xu Xin, the cult leader's lover, is sacrificed and devoured by the ground.
• The cult leader attempts to revive his dead girlfriend, Xia Mo, but it's revealed to be a bone monster.
• Zhou You confronts the cult leader and reveals the truth about Xia Mo.
• An enormous earth snail demon emerges from the ground after Zhou You provokes it.

Character Developments

• The cult leader's obsession with reviving Xia Mo leads him to commit heinous acts and ultimately causes his downfall.
• Xu Xin's love for the cult leader is genuine, but it's exploited and ultimately leads to her demise.
• Zhou You demonstrates his power and wisdom, seeing through the cult leader's deception and defeating the earth snail demon.

Significant Themes

• Obsession and its destructive consequences (cult leader's fixation on Xia Mo).
• Love and its manipulation (Xu Xin's love for the cult leader).
• The consequences of one's actions (cult leader's ritual backfiring and the emergence of the earth snail demon).

Character Interactions

• The cult leader and Xu Xin: Their relationship is built on Xu Xin's love and the cult leader's obsession, leading to tragic consequences.
• Zhou You and the cult leader: Zhou You exposes the cult leader's deception and ultimately defeats him.
• Zhou You and the earth snail demon: Zhou You provokes the demon and prepares to fight it.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You battles a giant, regenerative monster in the wilderness.
• He discovers that the monster is afraid of salt and high temperatures, but ultimately defeats it by destroying its vital points and using the Moonbreaking Bow.
• After the monster's death, Zhou You finds a glowing blue stone, which activates his talent, Eye of Insight.

Character Developments

• Zhou You demonstrates his combat skills, strategic thinking, and caution, even in the heat of battle.
• He shows concern for Han Ruiming's well-being, indicating a growing bond between them.

Significant Themes

• The power of determination and adaptability in the face of overwhelming odds.
• The importance of understanding one's enemy to gain an advantage in battle.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You and Han Ruiming are not present in this chapter, but Zhou You's concern for Han Ruiming's well-being is implied.
• Zhou You's battle against the monster showcases his solitary nature and self-reliance, as he faces the enemy alone without any assistance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou You activates a mysterious blue stone, which reveals fragments of his past lives and grants him new abilities.
• He witnesses a series of visions, including his birth, growth, and transformation in a rainforest, and a human drama involving an insane man and a woman.
• The stone explodes, and its power enhances Zhou You's attributes and reveals his Jingshen Bait Chant's special ability, Dragon Body.
• The cult leader, despite being severely wounded, is still alive and spews filth and curses at Zhou You.
• Han Ruiming, recovered from his injuries, arrives and decides to handle the cult leader himself.

Character Developments

• Zhou You gains new insights into his past lives and abilities, but is left confused and shocked by the visions.
• Han Ruiming reflects on his past and his daughter's death, deciding to handle the cult leader in his own way.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of one's actions and the lingering effects of past deeds.
• The struggle between faith and reality, as seen in the cult leader's devotion to the Immortal despite his dire situation.
• The theme of vengeance and its impact on individuals, as explored by Han Ruiming.

Character Interactions

• Zhou You and Han Ruiming have a brief exchange before Han Ruiming takes charge of dealing with the cult leader.
• The cult leader, despite his dire state, continues to taunt and threaten Zhou You, revealing his twisted beliefs and lack of remorse.