Chapter Summaries

Olivia took Jiang Han into the Astral Realm aboard the wheelbarrow and explained how she had prepared for Eileen’s arrival. The journey left them traveling toward the Cat Tail Route, while Cat Dehaila remained protected on a great witch’s Astral Exploration Sky Island.

• Olivia used magic to send the wheelbarrow through the barrier between reason and irrationality into the Astral Realm.
• Jiang Han saw the River of Time, the River of Origin Power, and the Cat Tail Route from the Astral Realm.
• Olivia explained that she was still recovering and needed more time and a high-energy magic source to regain her strength.
• Olivia told Jiang Han that Cat Dehaila could revert to her original size if Olivia’s magic stopped compressing her.
• Olivia revealed that Lilith had guided Cat Dehaila to an Astral Exploration Sky Island and helped compress her size.

Jiang Han and Ovi reached Lilith’s Astral Realm mining island and found Cat Dehaila, a planet-sized Giant Cat Lamp. Ovi shrank Cat Dehaila enough to take her home, but Lilith stopped them to report an accident.

• Jiang Han and Ovi traveled along the Supertrack to the Cat Tail Route and spotted Lilith’s floating island.
• They found that Cat Dehaila, a Star Cluster Giant Cat Lamp surrounded by seven enormous cat-yarn balls, was making Lilith’s moon-shaped island shake.
• Jiang Han and Ovi took a dragon train to Cat Dehaila, where Lilith and dragon witches were processing the giant cat’s shed fur and ores.
• Ovi greeted Cat Dehaila and thanked Lilith for helping bring her back.
• Ovi used her magic to shrink Cat Dehaila to twenty or thirty times the size of an ordinary Giant Cat Lamp.
• Lilith stopped Ovi as they prepared to leave and told her there had been an accident.

Lilith returned from the Cat Tail Route with Cat Dehaila and an unexpected discovery: three kittens had appeared, including the Star Cluster Cat Lamp Cat Falia. Olivia encouraged Lilith to raise Cat Falia, who had already taken a liking to her.

• Lilith reported that she had recovered Cat Dehaila and found something unexpected on the Cat Tail Route.
• Cat Dehaila arrived in an enormous cat form, then transformed into her Cat Lamp Maiden form and revealed three kittens had appeared after she ate plants and meat.
• Cat Dehaila explained that Cat Falia had been born two or three months earlier and had grabbed Lilith's tail to play.
• Olivia recognized Cat Falia's demon-cat traits and urged Lilith to care for the kitten, saying Cat Lamps should be free to choose their companions.
• Lilith hesitantly agreed to take in Cat Falia.

Jiang Han and Olivia enjoyed Lori Tang’s year-end gaming festival, sampling its attractions and grilled duck skewers while discussing Cat Falia’s affection for Lilith. Olivia then suggested they return so she could give Jiang Han the replacement item they had agreed on.

• Jiang Han and Olivia entered Lori Tang’s festival in disguise as cat Witches and watched the beast-eared girls at the mobile pool.
• Jiang Han pulled Olivia away from the pool, and Olivia explained why humanoid creatures appeared in many worlds.
• Jiang Han and Olivia ordered matching stuffed little yellow duck skewers from a red-eyed Witch and received complimentary Cat Hemp Beer.
• Jiang Han asked Olivia why she had given Cat Falia a Star Cat Lamp, and Olivia said Cat Falia liked Lilith and the gift would leave a favor.
• Olivia suggested they head back so she could give Jiang Han the replacement item they had agreed on.

Jiang Han reviewed Olivia’s treasure list and chose Adventure Bath Salts to trade to Lin Zhaojun, who needed more magic power. Olivia and Jiang Han then hinted that they planned to negotiate for Lin Zhaojun’s unusual rune sigils.

• Olivia showed Jiang Han her treasure list and explained its four types of fortuitous encounters.
• Jiang Han considered the comprehension-type encounter [Heaven, Earth, Man] but rejected it because it cost five thousand magic points and she had promised to find something for A Lin.
• Olivia suggested asking other witches about the fish, but Jiang Han learned they had already fed it to A Lin, who had eagerly traded away gems and gold for materials.
• Olivia explained that fast-attack witches such as Lin Zhaojun could preserve the quality of their prey by killing it quickly, while Cat Lamps were less suited to combat.
• Jiang Han selected a box of Adventure Bath Salts for Lin Zhaojun, and she and Olivia hinted at bargaining for her rune sigils.

Jiang Han traveled with Du Lingxuan to Eileen’s Duel Island to find Lin Zhaojun and bring her a fortuitous encounter. They arrived at the island, where Du Lingxuan planned to seek her own fortune by other means.

• Jiang Han learned from Du Lingxuan that Lin Zhaojun was repairing Duel Island after Eileen had press-ganged her into the work.
• Jiang Han rode with Du Lingxuan in her new carriage and heard her complain about Angelite assigning top-tier witches to clear goblins, though the pay and the task were enjoyable.
• Jiang Han and Du Lingxuan arrived at Duel Island and parked at Chicken Stop Plaza.
• Jiang Han said she had come to bring Lin Zhaojun a fortuitous encounter, and Du Lingxuan explained that she was seeking one for herself through other means.

Jiang Han visited Lin Zhaojun on Eileen’s unfinished floating island and showed her the Miracle Bath Salts, which added three thousand magic power. Lin Zhaojun eagerly admired the treasure, and Jiang Han asked what she would offer in exchange.

• Jiang Han learned that Du Lingxuan and Lin Zhaojun were feuding because Lin had turned Xuan Bao’s electronic chicken against Du Lingxuan, prompting Du Lingxuan to mock Lin during a match.
• Jiang Han crossed the suspension bridge to visit Lin Zhaojun on the floating island and encountered witches practicing socializing.
• Lin Zhaojun asked Jiang Han whether she had brought another fish, and Jiang Han accidentally pulled a rabbit-eared Cat Lamp from her tail before producing the Miracle Bath Salts.
• Jiang Han explained that the Miracle Bath Salts added three thousand magic power, and Lin Zhaojun’s eyes lit up.
• Jiang Han asked Lin Zhaojun what she would give in exchange for the Miracle Bath Salts.

Jiang Han negotiated with Lin Zhaojun for access to the secret Rune Sigil system, using the discussion to glean information about how it worked. Lin Zhaojun agreed to provide materials for two schools, and Jiang Han chose Conjuration and Enchantment.

• Lin Zhaojun brought Jiang Han to her campsite to discuss what price Jiang Han wanted.
• Jiang Han asked for the Rune Sigil usage rights and detailed documentation, but Lin Zhaojun refused to share the whole system.
• Jiang Han bargained Lin Zhaojun into offering usage rights and materials for two Rune Sigil schools, with Lin Zhaojun choosing one of them.
• Jiang Han inferred that Rune Sigils used specialized rune sequences across eight independent schools and planned to give the information to Ovi.
• Lin Zhaojun offered Jiang Han the Conjuration materials, and Jiang Han chose the Enchantment School as her second school.

Jiang Han and Lin Zhaojun negotiated an exchange involving the Enchantment School's materials and consumable-crafting knowledge. Jiang Han accepted Lin Zhaojun's offer of competition-ready magical tea formulas and a list, and the two reached a deal.

• Jiang Han agreed that she wanted the Enchantment School's materials, then asked Lin Zhaojun what would make up the trade's value.
• Lin Zhaojun explained a new Witch Agency rule allowing competitors to use consumables with a combined initial mana of up to 1,000 points before matches.
• Jiang Han and Lin Zhaojun joked about veteran players, including Lilian's struggles with a knockoff slow-attack style.
• Lin Zhaojun offered consumable-crafting formulas and a list, promising that they would be useful in competitions.
• Lin Zhaojun showed Jiang Han tea cigarettes that provided several support effects for about an hour, with a production cost under one hundred yuan each.
• Jiang Han judged the magical tea worthwhile and agreed to the deal.

Jiang Han explored Duel Island, visited a café run by cat Witches and dwarf Witches, and checked the commissions available through her intermediary network. After spotting Lilith’s anonymous search for vast grain-producing regions, Jiang Han posted a competing commission on the Cat Lamp channel.

• Jiang Han sent Cat Carlo instructions to prepare the island’s tea plantation and recruit cat lamps to cultivate it.
• Jiang Han visited a busy joint cat Witch and dwarf Witch coffee shop and ordered a meal.
• Jiang Han reviewed the many commissions circulating among agencies and personal commission companies.
• Jiang Han recognized Lilith behind an anonymous commission seeking six planet-scale grain-producing regions or folded spaces.
• Jiang Han posted her own anonymous commission offering premium cod meat and Cat Lamp supplies for food-producing plots and folded spaces.

Jiang Han enjoyed an expensive meal at a dwarven café, bought coffee and hamburger meat to take home, and stored the goods in her tail. After smoking A Lin’s tea tobacco and hearing Witches discuss Astral Exploration, she called a cat-driven Griffin Carriage and headed on her way.

• Jiang Han ate a lavish meal at a dwarven café and ordered four bags of coffee powder and ten bags of hamburger meat to bring home for Ovi and her guests.
• The dwarven witch explained that Viser coffee and cheese helped Witches recover magic power, and Jiang Han paid 461 yuan for her meal and purchases.
• Jiang Han rented a private smoking room, hid the goods in her tail, and smoked the heat-retaining tea tobacco A Lin had gifted her.
• Jiang Han overheard two Witches discussing the rising popularity of Astral Exploration and wondered how Chen Ligu, Li Li, and Chai Ying were doing in the subject.
• Jiang Han used the Cat Taxi app to call a cat-driven Griffin Carriage.

Jiang Han gathered the Sleeping Cats and the young witches for a trip to Duel Island to watch the Eileen Cup, while Chen Ligu prepared to pilot their airship. The airship took off with the group aboard, traveling above the crowded cloudway.

• Jiang Han counted the Sleeping Cats gathering outside her manor, while Ovi Lamp explained that Sha'er Lamp had lost at cards and had to sleep.
• Chen Ligu prepared the airship, warned everyone about Fire Butterfly Sprites, and took charge of the pilot seat.
• Afuna and Cleya joined Jiang Han, who explained that Liang Cuoyu and the others had gone ahead and that their family and the cats had nearby luxury boxes.
• The giant Cat Lamps boarded the high-end airship, followed by Jiang Han and the young witches.
• Chen Ligu secured Afuna and Cleya, released the airship's brakes, and set off along the cloudway toward Duel Island.

Jiang Han and her companions arrived at Duel Island’s luxury floating suite for a vacation, where the Cat Lamps settled in and the little witches ran ahead to their cottage. Jiang Han and Chen Ligu discussed how to keep the children occupied as they entered the ruby-flowered house.

• The airship landed at Floating Island No. 0297, where Ovi and the other cats swatted away raccoon dumplings that tried to help with their luggage.
• Jiang Han showed Cat Yeta the cozy suite, and Cat Yeta thanked her for the invitation before heading to a hot-spring cottage.
• Chen Ligu disembarked carrying Afuna and Cleya, who woke up, grabbed their luggage, and raced toward the middle cottage.
• Chen Ligu told Jiang Han about her harsh childhood training and her mothers’ punishments for their parenting experiments.
• Jiang Han suggested that Gray Mist Cat Lamp, Orange Cat Lamp, and their other neighbors entertain Afuna and Cleya, then entered the cottage with Chen Ligu.

Jiang Han settled into her room with Chen Ligu, then joined familiar witches at the Duel Island gathering before the preliminary groupings began. She met Maude Gray and heard about Wu Xian’s expedition to a desert world, leaving the event’s groupings just underway.

• Jiang Han admired the room and asked Chen Ligu to request an extra bed, then left to get sorted into a group.
• Jiang Han arrived at the eastern courtyard and found Lin Qiang, Qin Shunying, Wu Xian, and Maude Gray.
• Jiang Han greeted Maude Gray, the Whimsy Witch, and asked Qin Shunying whether she was competing.
• Jiang Han talked with Wu Xian about a desert world she had visited to collect dragon eggs.
• The preliminary round groupings began.

Jiang Han attended the Eileen Cup preliminary group draw, learned how seeded competitors were placed, and waited while the groups were announced. She was drawn into Group BV from the general pool and prepared to leave with her number tag, while her friends promised to watch her match.

• Elsa opened the Eileen Cup preliminary draw, and Eileen welcomed the competitors before the group selection began.
• The chapter explained the preliminary rules and how seeded witches were assigned to groups to favor their advancement.
• Qin Shunying discussed seeded competitor Kamijo Yukiko with Jiang Han, who said she might be assigned to a group with a seed.
• Jiang Han played eight rounds of Witch Cards while waiting and placed first in six games, second once, and fourth once.
• The draw assigned Jiang Han to Group BV as a general-pool competitor, and she told her friends to come watch her match.

Jiang Han used money from Jiang Xuan to buy fine ingredients for her family’s holiday meal and asked Connie to procure Golden Goat Dragon tails. Connie offered her twenty tails at a twenty-percent discount, and Jiang Han agreed to pay.

• Jiang Xuan transferred five hundred yuan to Jiang Han and told her to buy the finest ingredients.
• Jiang Han spotted Connie playing poker with Du Lingxuan and borrowed her away from the game.
• Du Lingxuan recruited Chu Yujun to take Connie’s place at the table.
• Jiang Han asked Connie for Golden Goat Dragon tails for her family’s holiday meal.
• Connie offered Jiang Han twenty tails at a twenty-percent discount, and Jiang Han agreed to settle the bill.

Jiang Han bought Golden Goat Dragon tails and other ingredients for a family barbecue, then invited Du Lingxuan to help drive them home. On the way, Du Lingxuan described her family, and they arrived at Floating Island No. 0297 with the Giant Cats waiting for the meat.

• Clerk Connie prepared twenty Golden Goat Dragon tails and extra meat for Jiang Han, who thanked her and prepared to leave.
• Du Lingxuan joined Jiang Han after losing some of her card-game stake to Chu Yujun, and Jiang Han asked her to drive one of the hovercraft.
• Jiang Han and Du Lingxuan chatted over the radio as they drove home, and Du Lingxuan told Jiang Han about her mothers and sisters.
• Jiang Han and Du Lingxuan arrived at Floating Island No. 0297, where the Giant Cats gathered around the hovercraft.

Jiang Han reached floating island No. 0296 with Du Lingxuan, who analyzed Jiang Han’s predictable casting habits and suggested a more aggressive strategy for her upcoming competition. The two continued trading barbs as they arrived, and Du Lingxuan paid Jiang Han for her share of the Golden Goat Dragon tail meat.

• Jiang Han asked the Ovi Lamp to find giant cats to unload the Golden Goat Dragon tails and a giant cat chef.
• Jiang Han and Du Lingxuan crossed the suspension bridge to floating island No. 0296 with Cat Carl carrying the cargo.
• Du Lingxuan pointed out Jiang Han’s three predictable casting responses and advised her to combine unrestricted necromancy with powerful evocation attacks.
• Jiang Han and Du Lingxuan argued about Lin Zhaojun’s rushdown and Du Lingxuan’s past team play.
• Du Lingxuan gave Jiang Han three thousand yuan for the Golden Goat Dragon tail meat as they arrived at the island.

Jiang Han brought Du Lingxuan to meet her mothers, then asked her to prepare her for the competition. Du Lingxuan lent Jiang Han a backup Witch liquor consumable set and began coaching her for the qualifiers.

• Jiang Han introduced Du Lingxuan to Jiang Xuan and stopped her from making a sarcastic remark about Jiang Han.
• Jiang Han brought Golden Goat Dragon tail meat to the hot spring and introduced Du Lingxuan to Ye Keshu.
• Jiang Han assigned the Giant Cats to cook and prepare barbecue, then asked Du Lingxuan for help with competition matters.
• Du Lingxuan lent Jiang Han a backup alcohol-based Witch liquor consumable set and outlined opening principles and tactical reserves.

After leaving Du Lingxuan, Jiang Han encountered Olivia, who tried to make her buy ice cream before giving her intelligence on her preliminary opponents. Jiang Han accepted the document and promised to do her best for the witches supporting her.

• Jiang Han thanked Du Lingxuan for the hospitality and wished her luck in the preliminaries before heading back toward Floating Island 0297.
• Jiang Han found Olivia waiting at the suspension bridge entrance, eating ice cream, and refused to buy her any until Olivia threatened to beat her up.
• Jiang Han agreed to buy Olivia ice cream the next day, and Olivia listed the flavors she wanted.
• Olivia gave Jiang Han a document with intelligence on her preliminary opponents and told her not to disappoint her supporters.
• Jiang Han took the document and headed home, saying she would do her best.