Chapter Summaries

Aaron killed Master Zhang, looted the Zhang Family with Dugu Jian, and then slaughtered an ambush from Thunderstorm Hall at a poisoned tea stall. As the real-world game staff monitored the fight, the chapter ended with Zhang Ming quitting his assigned role after experiencing Big Dog’s family’s tragedy.

• Aaron killed Master Zhang despite learning that he belonged to Thunderstorm Hall, then forced Black Three to lead him to the Zhang Family while Jin Dayong left to avoid becoming wanted.
• Aaron and Dugu Jian looted the Zhang Family, taking several hundred taels of silver and portable valuables.
• At a roadside tea stall, Aaron killed the waiter after realizing the tea was poisoned, and Big Dog arrived to warn them before dying from poison.
• Thunderstorm Hall disciples attacked, and Aaron killed them while Dugu Jian watched; Aaron and Dugu Jian recovered weapons, silver, and two introductory cultivation manuals.
• A supervisor and technician reviewed Aaron’s fight and found no evidence of cheating, while a defeated Thunderstorm Hall employee filed a report and was ordered back to work.
• Zhang Ming emerged from his game pod remembering Big Dog and his family, then quit his assigned job.

Aaron left the wilderness with Dugu Jian and headed for Mystic Capital after telling him about Yuan Yuexin’s accusation against Sword Moves the Jianghu executive Qian Bukong. On the road, Aaron killed Thunderstorm Hall’s leader Duan Hong, then met Situ Zhaixin, who planned to steal the Nine Dragon Image Wall containing evidence against Qian Bukong.

• Aaron read Yuan Yuexin’s forum post accusing Qian Bukong of taking over an NPC’s role to deceive her into love and accepting her money, then logged back into the game.
• Aaron found Dugu Jian cultivating in a hut after waiting in the wilderness for more than half a month, and saw that he had developed enough internal force to shoot down a turtledove with pebbles.
• Aaron told Dugu Jian about Yuan Yuexin, and the two set off for Mystic Capital to confront Qian Bukong.
• After three days on the road, Aaron and Dugu Jian were intercepted by Duan Hong, the Hall Master of Thunderstorm Hall; Aaron defeated him by redirecting his saber and killing him with his own weapon.
• Situ Zhaixin appeared and admitted she planned to steal the Nine Dragon Image Wall from Mystic Capital because it contained Qian Bukong’s criminal records.

Aaron and Dugu Jian reached Mystic Capital, where they learned Situ Zhaixin had challenged the Hero King's Manor to steal its Nine Dragon Image Wall on the night of the full moon. Aaron entered the manor as a guest retainer, and Dugu Jian and Xiao Lei followed him into a hall crowded with martial arts masters.

• Situ Zhaixin recruited Aaron and Dugu Jian for a plan, but the Iron Leg Divine Constable attacked her, and she fled after telling Aaron to meet her in Mystic Capital.
• Dugu Jian held the Iron Leg Divine Constable back long enough for Situ Zhaixin to escape, then traveled with Aaron toward Mystic Capital for two months.
• Aaron and Dugu Jian reached Mystic Capital and heard that many martial artists had gathered to seek justice for Yuan Yuexin.
• At Eight Winds Tower, they learned Situ Zhaixin had sent the Hero King's Manor a challenge card promising to steal its Nine Dragon Image Wall on the night of the full moon.
• Aaron announced himself as Wave Over Heaven and was welcomed into the manor as a guest retainer; Dugu Jian and Xiao Lei followed him into a reception hall filled with martial arts masters.

Aaron killed Shan Qingtian at Hero King's Manor, then learned the Nine Dragon Image Wall had supposedly been taken to the imperial palace, prompting Black List grandmasters to attack. As the capital's martial artists rushed to watch the battle, Aaron suspected the treasure was still in the manor and that the palace conflict was a trap.

• Shan Qingtian provoked Aaron into a duel, and Aaron killed him with the Spilled Water Sword before claiming he had foreseen the old master's bloody calamity.
• Hero King's Manor announced that the Hero King had delivered the Nine Dragon Image Wall to the Emperor, enraging the gathered players and martial artists.
• Monk Dachen attacked Meridian Gate to demand the treasure, killed a palace expert, and faced Zhuge Wudi and Six Doors as Water Mother Yin Empress appeared; Situ Zhaixin secretly entered the imperial city.
• After a report spread that Black List grandmasters were fighting Six Doors, Dugu Jian and the other guests hurried toward the palace, while Aaron suspected the Nine Dragon Image Wall remained in Hero King's Manor and the palace battle was a trap.

Lawbreakers stormed the imperial palace, where Zuo Sifei seized Chairman Qian and demanded the location of the Nine Dragon Image Wall before a powerful purple-robed eunuch attacked him. Meanwhile, Aaron found the hidden Nine Dragon Image Wall in Hero King's Manor, and the company decided to deny that it could serve as evidence.

• Players flooded the imperial palace as Zhuge Wudi and the Divine Constables fought Water Mother Yin Empress and Monk Dachen.
• Zuo Sifei broke into the palace, took Chairman Qian hostage, and demanded to know where the Nine Dragon Image Wall was hidden.
• A purple-robed old eunuch knocked Zuo Sifei's spear away with a leaf and attacked him, while Chairman Qian ordered staff to remove the mind lock preventing his logout.
• In the company's control room, technicians realized Aaron and Dugu Jian were digging in Hero King's Manor, where the Nine Dragon Image Wall had been buried.
• Aaron defeated the manor's chief steward, and Dugu Jian unearthed the Nine Dragons Jade Disc and prepared to publish it as evidence.
• President Qian returned from the game and ordered the company to announce that the Nine Dragon Image Wall contained abnormal data and would not be accepted as evidence.

Zhuge Wudi killed Water Mother Yin Empress and pursued Monk Da Chen, while Six Doors and the game company tightened their hunt for the Black List players. Aaron challenged the imperial city, defeated its defenders, and shattered the game world during his battle with the purple-robed eunuch, leaving the game company in chaos.

• Zhuge Wudi killed Water Mother Yin Empress with the Dragon-Slaying Crossbow, and Situ Zhaixin helped Monk Da Chen escape the palace as Six Doors pursued them.
• Three days later, Situ Zhaixin told Aaron and Dugu Jian that Water Mother Yin Empress had been arrested and Zuo Sifei had withdrawn from the martial world; Aaron asked her to deliver his challenge to the Emperor.
• Six Doors posted the Dragon-Tiger Ranking, placing Wave Over Heaven thirty-third, and Aaron announced that he would enter the imperial city and slaughter its defenders each day.
• Aaron fought through the Imperial Guards and palace formations, then faced the purple-robed eunuch, who had been hired by the game company.
• Aaron used the Spilled Water Sword Art to defeat the purple-robed eunuch and create a black hole that swallowed the imperial city and the game world.
• The game company’s systems collapsed, and the technical director explained that Aaron had destroyed the world using basic game controls, prompting President Qian to faint.

Aaron joined the Breaker Alliance after Sikong Xiaoxiao explained that Hongjun Starfolk were cloud-and-mist lifeforms, then discovered the Secret Source had been returned to him and chose Ning Chen as a test subject. Aaron tormented Ning Chen over Shen Qingling’s troubles, and a golden meteor struck Ning Chen in his dream.

• Aaron read about the Sword Moves the Jianghu bankruptcy and Sophia’s kidnapping, then accepted Sikong Xiaoxiao’s offer to introduce him to the Breaker Alliance.
• Aaron contacted Sikong Xiaoxiao, revealed her identity as Situ Zhaixin, and persuaded her to invite him to an online gathering.
• Sikong Xiaoxiao explained that Hongjun Starfolk were cloud-and-mist lifeforms, and Aaron agreed to join her group.
• Aaron found that the original body had returned the Secret Source to him and decided to give secondary permission to a lucky person, choosing Ning Chen.
• Aaron contacted Ning Chen and taunted him about Shen Qingling working as a female ghost at a company that sold suggestive in-game content.
• Ning Chen resolved to earn money and learn network technology, but a golden meteor struck him as he entered a dream.

Aaron exposed Galaxy Lord as Ou Huang, an Alliance agent guiding the Breaker Alliance into Pet Battle to help humanity pursue mental evolution. Ou Huang explained that Blue Star’s protection period was nearing its end and that the game’s Heaven-Reaching Tower held a gift from the Hongjun aliens, leaving the human project’s purpose revealed.

• Galaxy Lord urged the Breaker Alliance to enter Pet Battle through normal channels, and many members agreed after he pleaded that the mission concerned Blue Star’s safety.
• Aaron followed Sikong Xiaoxiao into Galaxy Lord’s private space and used a mental lock to prevent Ou Huang from escaping or contacting anyone.
• Aaron identified Galaxy Lord as Ou Huang, a level-three Alliance agent, and Sikong Xiaoxiao realized her leader had been undercover.
• Ou Huang explained that the Alliance sent agents to guide Breakers into Pet Battle rather than arrest them, because their unconventional minds could help drive human evolution.
• Ou Huang revealed that the Hongjun were aliens, Blue Star’s interstellar protection period was nearly over, and humanity had chosen virtual reality technology to develop mental abilities.
• Ou Huang said no one had passed the ninety-ninth floor of the Heaven-Reaching Tower, where the Hongjun had left a gift for humanity, and described mental evolution as the basis of future combat power.

Aaron entered Pet Battle, where his concealed Third Stage Heart Power made him a celebrated genius among the natives. He found Sikong Xiaoxiao transformed into a Crimson Carp and forcibly contracted her as his first pet beast, leaving her terrified and furious.

• Aaron arrived in Quinn Village and learned that players entered the world as Chosen Ones with Heart Power, then bought a wristband encyclopedia of pet beasts.
• Aaron followed a divination sign into a forest, scanned a Lightning Mouse, and rejected it as a potential companion.
• Aaron found Sikong Xiaoxiao in a stream, where she had become a Crimson Carp and was distressed about her new form.
• Aaron explained that Sikong Xiaoxiao could use her unusual Heart Power to grow stronger, then used his superior Heart Power to force her into an enslavement contract.
• Aaron stored Sikong Xiaoxiao in his pet space and released her, frightening her with the darkness inside.

Aaron trained his Heart Power in Pet Battle and discovered he could borrow Crimson Carp’s abilities, while also roaming into other game worlds. In Strange Tales, Ning Chen used his wish-granting ability to take a flying sword and rescue a woman, only to realize she was not Shen Qingling as the Black Mountain Matriarch appeared.

• Aaron traveled with Sikong Xiaoxiao disguised in a fish-tank cane and knocked out a player who challenged him to a duel.
• Aaron used his newly devised Heart Power training method to form a barrier with Crimson Carp’s power and move across a river with her skill, exhausting her in the process.
• Aaron left Pet Battle and observed Ning Chen enter the Strange Tales world under the alias Lanxi, where he encountered the player I Love a Qian and a scholar surnamed Yan.
• A female ghost approached Yan’s room, but Yan’s flying sword pierced her and revealed her to be a sheet of human skin.
• When Yan attacked another woman hiding nearby, Ning Chen wished for the flying sword and took it, then realized the woman he had caught was not Shen Qingling.
• The woman invoked the Black Mountain Matriarch, who appeared and confronted Ning Chen.

Aaron trained Sikong Xiaoxiao to refine her Splash skill into a Water Blade, then pushed her through battles as they traveled toward the Lola Region. When a Fierce-Bite Shark threatened them at sea, Aaron forced Sikong Xiaoxiao to fight and engineered the conditions for her to evolve into a Crimson Carp King.

• Aaron trained Sikong Xiaoxiao at a lake until she learned to concentrate her Splash skill into a Water Blade.
• Sikong Xiaoxiao killed a Great Alligator Gar with her Water Blade and advanced to high-tier Battle Soldier.
• Aaron and Sikong Xiaoxiao set out across the Mott Strait toward the Lola Region, with Aaron claiming their Heart Power and training made evolution possible.
• Sikong Xiaoxiao enjoyed swimming through the ocean and bullying weaker sea creatures as she and Aaron crossed the strait.
• A Fierce-Bite Shark attacked Aaron, and Sikong Xiaoxiao's Water Blade only marked its Hardened Skin.
• Aaron used their contract and a guided emotional scene to provoke Sikong Xiaoxiao's evolution, turning her into a Crimson Carp King.

Aaron traveled to the Lola Region with Sikong Xiaoxiao, defeated a Fierce-Claw Crab, and sought a second pet beast. He contracted a Little Flame Sparrow and fed it Yao's spirituality, after which it began a monstrous transformation in the sky.

• Sikong Xiaoxiao evolved into a Crimson Carp King but remained unable to defeat the Fierce-Bite Shark, so Aaron struck its vulnerable mouth with a Water Blade and refused to tame it.
• A month later, Aaron and Sikong Xiaoxiao reached the Lola Region, where she defeated a Fierce-Claw Crab as Alanna and her father watched.
• Aaron asked Alanna's father for directions to Purple Gold City, then overheard him warn Alanna about the dangerous reputation of the Chosen Ones.
• Aaron decided to tame a second pet beast and contracted a clumsy Little Flame Sparrow that had fallen into his hand.
• Aaron fed the Little Flame Sparrow a crystal of Yao's spirituality, and it flew away before growing huge, sprouting fangs, and diving toward fish in the sea.

Aaron joined Dugu Jian, who had been cheated out of a dragon pet by Little Green, and went with him to the Shadow Clan’s egg-gambling venue. Aaron guided Dugu Jian to a fossil egg containing a living cub, leaving its species and rank unknown.

• Aaron met Dugu Jian, who explained that Little Green had deceived him and taken the dragon egg he had hatched.
• Dugu Jian planned to ruin Little Green’s family business by becoming skilled at egg gambling, and Aaron agreed to help.
• Aaron, Dugu Jian, Sikong Xiaoxiao, and Little Flame Sparrow visited the Shadow Clan’s egg-gambling venue in Purple Gold City.
• Aaron told Dugu Jian to choose three stones from the scrap section, and Dugu Jian found nothing in the first two.
• Dugu Jian uncovered a fossil egg in the third stone and opened it to reveal a living, fluffy cub.

Aaron and Dugu Jian struck extraordinary luck in the fossil market, uncovering a monarch-class Nine-Tailed Flame Fox and a legendary Nine Nether Spirit Python. As the Shadow Family ambushed them to seize the beasts, Aaron’s little Flame Sparrow transformed and killed a Commander-class shadow beast.

• Dugu Jian sold an Underworld Shadow Cat, then Sikong Xiaoxiao accidentally sliced a pet beast in half while opening the premium eggs.
• Dugu Jian uncovered a stillborn Earthwalking Dragon and several lower-ranked beasts before finding a living monarch-class Nine-Tailed Flame Fox.
• Aaron claimed the Nine-Tailed Flame Fox, then followed the little Flame Sparrow to a fossil containing a legendary Nine Nether Spirit Python.
• The Shadow Family gathered around Little Green and demanded that Dugu Jian surrender the Nine-Tailed Flame Fox and Nine Nether Spirit Python.
• Little Green summoned her Vast Sea Dragon, but Aaron sent out his transformed Flame Sparrow, which killed a Commander-class shadow beast with one bite.

Aaron and Little Flame Sparrow defeated the Shadow Family and a Beastmaster after Little Flame Sparrow evolved into the monarch-level Fire God Sparrow. Meanwhile, Ning Chen’s peaceful life with the Black Mountain Matriarch ended when she recovered her memories and attacked him; back in his apartment, he decided to try Pet Battle and challenge the Heaven-Reaching Tower.

• Little Green and the Shadow Family trapped Little Flame Sparrow, but Aaron broke through an elder’s barrier and killed him, allowing Little Flame Sparrow to escape and defeat the attackers.
• Little Flame Sparrow brought down Dugu Jian’s Ocean Dragon, while Aaron captured Little Green and sent her to Dugu Jian to settle their dispute.
• A goateed Beastmaster demanded the Nine-Tailed Flame Fox and the Nine Nether Ghost Python, so Aaron evolved Little Flame Sparrow into the monarch-level Fire God Sparrow, which destroyed the Beastmaster and his five beasts with Self-Immolation Blast and revived from its ashes.
• Aaron reunited with Dugu Jian and proposed replenishing their pet beasts before challenging the Heaven-Reaching Tower.
• In the Strange Tales World, Ning Chen fought a monk, a Taoist, and a beggar who came to retrieve the Black Mountain Matriarch; the beggar restored her memories, and she attacked Ning Chen, who died after embracing her.
• Ning Chen removed his gaming helmet and decided to try Pet Battle after reading that the Alliance was calling for a new Heaven-Reaching Tower challenge.

Aaron and Ning Chen battled their way through the Heaven-Reaching Tower, where Ning Chen reached the empty hundredth floor and learned that humanity’s future was tied to Heart Force and a Cosmic Virtual Helmet. The chapter left Ning Chen confronting the revelation that the game’s challenge had real cosmic consequences.

• Aaron entered the Heaven-Reaching Tower and defeated West Dragon by evolving Sikong Xiaoxiao into a mermaid whose song put West Dragon’s dragons to sleep.
• Ning Chen used the Source of Wishes to cheat through the tower, defeating Mina and advancing to the ninety-eighth floor.
• Ning Chen overwhelmed Aaron’s Mythic-rank nine-headed wooden dragon, and Aaron conceded so Ning Chen could continue.
• Ning Chen defeated the Four Heavenly Kings on the ninety-ninth floor and reached the previously untouched hundredth floor.
• A mechanical voice told Ning Chen that he had met the first-rank Heart Force standard and could use a Cosmic Virtual Helmet to register as a cosmic citizen.

Aaron entered the Virtual Universe as Blue Star’s first registered cosmic citizen and learned about the alien civilizations and mental-evolution paths of the Laniakea Civilization Alliance. He arrived at Blood Battle Martial Arts School seeking training and chose the Warrior Path.

• Aaron raised his psychic power to the first stage, registered in the Virtual Universe, and found that Blue Star had only one cosmic citizen at the time.
• Aaron explored the public area, observed the strange customs and lifeforms of alien civilizations, and learned that the Laniakea Civilization Alliance governed the region.
• Aaron followed his spiritual intuition to Blood Battle Martial Arts School, where an AI introduced him to the Fleet Command Path, Warrior Path, and Mind Flow.
• Aaron told the AI that he wanted to train for mental evolution and chose the Warrior Path.

Aaron explored the virtual universe, chose the Martial Artist Path, and persuaded Ning Chen to contact the Blue Star Alliance about humanity’s impending first contact with aliens. The Alliance recruited Ning Chen to livestream his efforts to become a cosmic lifeform, while Aaron ignored the crisis and kept gaming.

• Aaron learned about the Martial Artist Path and dimensional descent from a salesman at the Blood Battle Martial Arts School, then left without buying anything.
• Aaron met Ning Chen in the virtual universe, claimed to be Blue Star’s first cosmic citizen, and told him to turn himself in to the Alliance.
• Ning Chen’s divination suggested a favorable outcome, but after he contacted the Alliance, armed forces arrived and took him into protective custody.
• The Alliance confirmed that a Blue Star native becoming a cosmic lifeform within three years was humanity’s best chance, and the envoy recruited Ning Chen to livestream his progress.
• Aaron ignored the Alliance’s public announcement and returned to gaming, while researchers began analyzing Ning Chen during his livestream.

Ning Chen earned his first Lang by begging in the virtual universe, then cut off the experts who were pressuring him. After learning more about the galaxy’s harsh realities, he used his cheat to win 10,000 Lang at the interstellar lottery, while Aaron won the grand prize and left to become a cosmic adventurer.

• Ning Chen begged aliens for money and received 5 Lang from a Photosynthetic Beastfolk father who was moved by his daughter’s sympathy.
• Ning Chen shut off communications with Blue Star, and the Alliance envoy expelled the financial experts who had pushed him to beg before asking Shen Qingling to support him.
• Aaron told Ning Chen about the Photosynthetic Beastfolk and other exploited alien species, then persuaded him to spend 1 Lang on lottery tickets.
• Ning Chen tested his cheat on the lottery, lost several bets, and lowered his wish until he won third prize worth 10,000 Lang.
• Aaron won the lottery’s 1,000,000-Lang grand prize and left for Blood Battle Martial Arts School, while Ning Chen regretted not betting more.

Aaron bought a gene-evolution package and began cultivating on Pluto, while Ning Chen struggled to grow the Blue Star Alliance’s funds and considered acting on his own if its plan failed. After joining the Blood Battle Martial Arts School and testing its combat zone, Aaron prepared to attempt training in an unknown low-dimensional world.

• Aaron bought the Basic Cosmic Life Package, had it delivered to Pluto, and used Crimson and the gene-evolution fluid to begin a custom evolution process inside the banyan tree.
• Ning Chen watched the Blue Star Alliance lose 17% of its investment funds and privately set a two-year limit for deciding whether to save Blue Star himself.
• Aaron joined the Blood Battle Martial Arts School, toured it with Vanit, and tested its combat zone against opponents of cosmic-lifeform and Star Mech Grade strength.
• Coach Nick Filer observed Aaron’s fight and remarked on his potential, while reflecting on his own helplessness against the forces that had destroyed his home.
• Aaron told Vanit he wanted to try dimensional descent training and chose an unknown low-dimensional world because he had only 1 Lang left.