Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Sky-Shaking Thunder’s Wildness”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sky-Shaking Thunder angrily confronts Lu Xingyuan after Lu Xingyuan’s return, apparently blaming him for ruining his plans.
• Lu Xingyuan immediately attacks, shattering Sky-Shaking Thunder’s lightning shield with a kick and severely injuring him.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder attempts to heal himself, but Lu Xingyuan anticipates and interrupts the healing technique before it can be completed.
• Tobias watches the battle and is stunned by Lu Xingyuan’s overwhelming dominance. Although the two fighters should theoretically be fairly evenly matched, Lu Xingyuan suppresses Sky-Shaking Thunder almost completely, even while in an Exhaust state.
• Lu Xingyuan reveals that he returned by teleporting to a Stealth Ward he had secretly planted before departing on the train. Neither Sky-Shaking Thunder nor Tobias had detected it.
• Lu Xingyuan notices that the Mark of the Weak has disappeared from Tobias, confirming Tobias’s advancement into the new Lord of the Mist.
• Lu Xingyuan questions Tobias’s apparent willingness to cooperate with Sky-Shaking Thunder. Tobias quickly denies this and reassures Lu Xingyuan that he remembers Lu Xingyuan’s role in helping him rise to power.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder launches a surprise attack, believing Lu Xingyuan’s Exhaust state gives him the perfect opportunity to win and avenge his previous humiliation.
• He unleashes a massive barrage of divine lightning, including countless weapons, a giant sky-splitting axe, and a five-clawed thunder dragon formed from his own blood. The chapter ends as his relentless assault continues.

Character Developments

• Lu Xingyuan: Demonstrates extraordinary combat insight, seemingly predicting Sky-Shaking Thunder’s techniques and countering them before they can be used. His return from the train highlights his strategic planning and preference for operating from concealment. Despite being weakened, he remains confident, intimidating, and firmly in control of the situation.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder: Becomes increasingly furious and desperate after being repeatedly beaten. His confusion over Lu Xingyuan’s ability to read him turns into panic and resentment. He eventually abandons caution and unleashes his most powerful techniques in an attempt to reverse the battle and reclaim his pride.
• Tobias: Has advanced into the Lord of the Mist and possesses greater power and perception, but he is still instinctively terrified of Lu Xingyuan. His decision to remain loyal to Lu Xingyuan shows that he recognizes the debt he owes him, even though Sky-Shaking Thunder’s offer had briefly tempted him.

Significant Themes

• Strategic superiority over raw power: Lu Xingyuan’s ability to anticipate and interrupt Sky-Shaking Thunder’s actions proves that battle knowledge and preparation can outweigh comparable levels of strength.
• Fear and dominance: Although Tobias and Sky-Shaking Thunder have both gained power, Lu Xingyuan’s presence still makes them hesitate, emphasizing his psychological dominance.
• Loyalty and indebtedness: Tobias’s relationship with Lu Xingyuan is based on gratitude and recognition of Lu Xingyuan’s support, contrasting with Sky-Shaking Thunder’s opportunistic attempt to recruit him.
• Pride and revenge: Sky-Shaking Thunder’s attacks are driven less by rational strategy than by his desire to erase his humiliation and defeat his longstanding enemy.
• Concealment and preparation: Lu Xingyuan’s hidden Stealth Ward reflects his habit of planning ahead and controlling events from the shadows.

Character Interactions

• Lu Xingyuan and Sky-Shaking Thunder engage in a hostile battle marked by insults, frustration, and Lu Xingyuan’s relentless counters.
• Tobias observes Lu Xingyuan’s strength with fear and disbelief, then quickly reassures him that he has no intention of siding with Sky-Shaking Thunder.
• Lu Xingyuan warns Tobias to remember who helped him become the Lord of the Mist, reinforcing their unequal but cooperative relationship.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder interrupts this exchange with a surprise attack, framing the conflict as an opportunity for revenge and triumph.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sky-Shaking Thunder unleashes a series of devastating attacks against Lu Xingyuan, including waves of projectiles, a battle axe, and a five-clawed dragon.
• Despite appearing to be at a severe disadvantage, Lu Xingyuan calmly identifies the weaknesses in each attack and counters them with three precise slashes.
• Lu Xingyuan destroys Sky-Shaking Thunder’s attacks and cuts open his cheek, decisively defeating him without suffering any injuries.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder is humiliated by being “reverse-killed” while seemingly holding an overwhelming advantage. He begins to feel that Lu Xingyuan has always overshadowed him and retreats by crushing a crystal ball.
• A mysterious witch appears, blocks Lu Xingyuan’s finishing attack, and rescues Sky-Shaking Thunder. He vows to take revenge.
• Tobias congratulates Lu Xingyuan, who immediately demands the rewards he was promised.
• Tobias gives Lu Xingyuan seven Mist Season Catastrophe Subordinate Permits, allowing their holders to resist mist erosion, travel through fog without emergency plans, and access stations no lower than blue-tier.
• Although Tobias warns that the Mist Season is nearing its end, Lu Xingyuan considers the permits worthwhile and stores them for himself and his companions.
• Tobias also provides Lu Xingyuan with 10,000 Train Coins and a Level-Nine Treasure Chest. He offers to let Lu Xingyuan claim the treasure chests belonging to Gu Wanqing and the others who were expelled.

Character Developments

• Lu Xingyuan demonstrates extraordinary combat intelligence and precision. Rather than overpowering Sky-Shaking Thunder directly, he exploits flaws in each attack while avoiding all damage, establishing his mastery of combat.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder suffers both physical injury and a major psychological defeat. His confidence collapses into humiliation, resentment, and the beginnings of an inner demon, though he remains determined to seek revenge.
• Tobias becomes more appreciative of Lu Xingyuan’s strength and loyalty. He also shows practical generosity by providing extra permits and offering to recover rewards for Lu Xingyuan’s companions.
• Lu Xingyuan’s loyalty to Gu Wanqing, Cai Cai, Yuan Shan, Zhao Nanzhi, and Fang Lin is emphasized through his decision to obtain permits and treasure chests for them.

Significant Themes

• Skill versus overwhelming force: The battle shows that precision, timing, and the ability to exploit weaknesses can defeat seemingly superior power.
• Humiliation and psychological defeat: Sky-Shaking Thunder’s loss damages his pride more deeply than the physical wound, suggesting the emotional consequences of being surpassed.
• Loyalty and shared rewards: Lu Xingyuan’s concern for his allies contrasts with Sky-Shaking Thunder’s destructive arrogance.
• Changing eras and impermanence: The approaching end of the Mist Season foreshadows a major transition and the arrival of a new Lord of Catastrophe.
• Strategic preparation: Even rewards with limited immediate value, such as the permits, may prove useful when the Mist Season returns.

Character Interactions

• Tobias watches anxiously during the duel and considers intervening because Lu Xingyuan once saved his life.
• Lu Xingyuan defeats Sky-Shaking Thunder, while the mysterious witch intervenes to rescue the latter.
• After the battle, Tobias and Lu Xingyuan negotiate the promised rewards. Lu Xingyuan remains direct and demanding, while Tobias responds with good humor and cooperation.
• Tobias recognizes Lu Xingyuan’s relationships with his female companions and offers to help secure their rewards, reinforcing the cooperative bond between them.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Tobias gives Lu Xingyuan several treasure chests as compensation: one Level-Eight chest and multiple Level-Seven chests.
• Lu asks Tobias whether he knows anything about the next season, but Tobias has no information.
• Lu uses the Anchor Pocket Watch, one of the Twelve Wonders, to teleport back to his train.
• Teemo and Rumble eagerly welcome him and celebrate when he reveals that he also recovered a Level-Nine Treasure Chest.
• Lu decides to distribute the lower-level chests first, saving the Level-Nine chest for later.
• He debates whether to give the Level-Eight chest to Gu Wanqing or Cai Cai. Gu jokingly asks for the Level-Nine chest, prompting Lu to tease her by threatening to withhold the Level-Eight chest.
• After Cai Cai recommends giving it to Gu, Lu sends Gu the Level-Eight chest.
• Gu opens it and receives a Golden Modification Card, an item that instantly upgrades one train modification to the highest “golden” quality.
• Although extremely powerful in general, the card is poorly suited to Gu because she has only recently reached Level Six and cannot use its full potential yet.
• Gu reacts with exaggerated screams of disappointment, while Lu laughs at her misfortune and suggests the item may have been intended for him.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Xingyuan continues to demonstrate his overwhelming strength and resourcefulness. He successfully retrieves both his own and his companions’ rewards and enjoys teasing Gu about his superior bargaining position.
• Tobias remains intimidated by Lu. Rather than feeling sentimental about their separation, he is eager to see Lu leave, reinforcing their complicated benefactor-and-nemesis relationship.
• Gu Wanqing shows her playful, shamelessly manipulative side by begging theatrically for the Level-Eight chest. Her reaction to the Golden Modification Card highlights her dependence on immediate, practical rewards despite her excellent luck.
• Cai Cai behaves thoughtfully and maturely, recommending that Gu receive the better chest and asking about Lu’s injuries.
• Teemo and Rumble remain enthusiastic and childlike, eagerly anticipating the opening of the Level-Nine chest and joking about the quality of its contents.

3. Significant Themes

• Rewards and fairness: Lu makes an effort to recover not only his own compensation but also the rewards owed to his companions.
• Luck versus usefulness: A high-level item is not automatically valuable if the recipient cannot use it immediately. Gu’s powerful but mistimed reward becomes the chapter’s central joke.
• Power and intimidation: Tobias’s nervousness shows the extent of Lu’s reputation and strength.
• Comedic camaraderie: Teasing, exaggerated begging, jealousy, and playful insults define the relationships aboard the train.
• Delayed gratification: Lu saves the Level-Nine chest for later, emphasizing that the most important rewards should be carefully timed.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu and Tobias part ways after negotiating the treasure chests, with Tobias visibly relieved to be rid of Lu.
• Teemo, Rumble, and Alice warmly greet Lu on his return and react excitedly to the Level-Nine chest.
• Lu and Gu engage in playful manipulation: Gu tries to charm him into giving her the best reward, while Lu pretends to reconsider giving her anything.
• Cai Cai mediates between them by endorsing Gu’s claim and showing concern for Lu’s well-being.
• Gu’s ecstatic gratitude toward Cai Cai—while ignoring Lu—briefly irritates Lu and reinforces the chapter’s comedic, teasing dynamic.
• Gu’s final screams over the Golden Modification Card provide the chapter’s punchline, as Lu recognizes that the supposedly disappointing item may ultimately benefit him more than her.

Lu Xingyuan distributed treasure-chest rewards to his companions and opened three Level-Seven Treasure Chests, finding equipment and a skill that suited Gu Wanqing, Cai Cai, and Yuan Shan. He then opened the Level-Eight Treasure Chest he earned for killing Wu Yin and found a random Level-Eight Skill Card, though the chapter ended before he used it.

• Gu Wanqing gave Lu Xingyuan her Golden Modification Card in exchange for three thousand Train Coins, along with upgrade materials and gene enhancement serum.
• Lu Xingyuan reassured Zhao Nanzhi and gave her a Level-Seven Treasure Chest and the Catastrophe Subordinate Authorization.
• Teemo and Rumble opened three Level-Seven Treasure Chests, yielding Ice-Silk Soft Armor for Gu Wanqing, Amber for Cai Cai, and the Thousand Armies the Storm skill for Yuan Shan.
• Lu Xingyuan and the two little fellows opened the Level-Eight Treasure Chest from Wu Yin, receiving 150 Train Coins, Mom's Nail Clippers, and a Level-Eight Skill Card.
• Lu Xingyuan reviewed his ten skills and considered how his lower-level abilities rarely had a chance to shine.

Chapter Summary: “Opening the Level-Nine Treasure Chest”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Xingyuan reflects on the limitation that skills cannot be traded, wishing they could be converted back into skill cards so he could give unwanted abilities to Gu Wanqing and the others.
• He uses a Level-Eight skill card and obtains Adamantine Iron Bones, a defensive transformation that turns his bones into high-strength alloy and coats his skin in metal.
• Lu tests the skill in the Myriad Realms Arena with Teemo and Rumble. Their strongest attacks—Blinding Dart and Flame Feast—fail to leave even a mark on him, though they destroy his clothing.
• The skill lasts five minutes, making it highly effective in battle, but has a three-hour cooldown.
• Lu discovers an Iron Bone Ring, a Level-Six defensive item capable of reflecting one incoming attack, with a twenty-four-hour cooldown. Since he no longer needs it, he offers it to Teemo and Rumble.
• Teemo gives the ring to Rumble, provoking an argument about which brother is weaker. Despite his protests, Rumble keeps the ring, showing that he values Teemo’s gesture.
• The remaining Level-Eight chest rewards include potions and upgrade materials. Teemo announces that they have finally gathered everything needed for a Level-Seven upgrade, though Lu decides to finish opening the chests first.
• The Level-Nine Treasure Chest is opened. It contains two hundred Train Coins and an extraordinary dark cyan blade with water- and rain-themed characteristics.
• The weapon appears to be sentient or at least emotionally responsive. Lu identifies it as Frost Heaven, which subtly trembles as though worried it will be replaced by the newly obtained blade.

Character Developments

• Lu Xingyuan gains a major defensive ability, greatly increasing his survivability and confidence in close combat. He also demonstrates practical judgment by testing the skill before relying on it.
• Teemo remains energetic and mischievous, but also shows consideration for Rumble by giving him the life-saving ring. His teasing masks genuine concern.
• Rumble continues to be hot-tempered and prideful, reacting angrily to the suggestion that he is weaker. However, he ultimately accepts the ring, indicating that his bond with Teemo is stronger than his protests suggest.
• Frost Heaven is characterized as possessing a degree of awareness or emotion, reacting anxiously to the possibility of being replaced by the new blade.

Significant Themes

• Power and preparation: Lu’s new defensive skill and the Iron Bone Ring emphasize the importance of survival tools in a dangerous world.
• Resource distribution and responsibility: Lu considers how to share abilities with his companions, while the ring is assigned based on who needs it most.
• Brotherhood and affection beneath conflict: Teemo and Rumble argue constantly, but their actions reveal mutual concern and loyalty.
• Progression and anticipation: Gathering materials for the Level-Seven upgrade and opening the Level-Nine chest mark the group’s continued advancement.
• Possession and replacement: Frost Heaven’s apparent jealousy introduces a humorous personification of equipment and hints at future competition between Lu’s weapons.

Character Interactions

• Lu, Teemo, and Rumble cooperate in testing Adamantine Iron Bones, with Teemo and Rumble treating Lu as a genuine enemy during the trial.
• Teemo and Rumble bicker over the Iron Bone Ring, turning a practical gift into a dispute over strength and status.
• Lu refuses to take sides in their argument, leaving the matter to the two brothers.
• Alice reacts bashfully to Lu’s destroyed clothing and brings him a clean pair of pants, while Teemo and Rumble make inappropriate jokes about the test.
• The chapter ends with the group’s excitement over the Level-Nine chest and Frost Heaven’s uneasy reaction to the appearance of a potentially superior replacement weapon.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Xingyuan receives Sudden Rain: Tideborn, an eighth-level extraordinary weapon forged through seven days of torrential rain. Its abilities build momentum through consecutive strikes, unleash a wide crescent shockwave, and transform a powerful attack into a storm of razor-thin water threads.
• He immediately senses the weapon’s immense vitality and compatibility with him. Teemo and Rumble congratulate him, while Lu Xingyuan decides to keep his former seventh-level weapon, Frost Heaven, as a backup.
• Lu Xingyuan enters the Myriad Realms Arena and again challenges Yun Shu, initially using Frost Heaven. He manages to injure her on the twenty-first strike, but Yun Shu enters a far more dangerous second phase and kills him instantly.
• He retries the battle with Sudden Rain: Tideborn. The new blade moves with remarkable lightness and precision, seemingly guiding his arm. Lu Xingyuan injures Yun Shu on only the sixteenth strike—five strikes faster than before—though he is again defeated when her aura becomes dramatically more powerful.
• Afterward, he realizes his successful strike had torn open part of Yun Shu’s clothing, though he insists it was accidental and that he had simply been attacking seriously.
• Lu Xingyuan examines the remaining rewards from the Level-Nine Treasure Chest, including three pairs of Zero-Type Propulsion Shoes, lightweight footwear that uses magnetic-levitation air cushions to greatly reduce friction and enhance speed.
• Teemo enthusiastically claims a pair for himself and divides the shoes among the three men. Lu Xingyuan chooses red, Teemo chooses next, and Rumble accepts choosing last in exchange for the previously obtained Iron Bone Ring.

Character Development

• Lu Xingyuan becomes increasingly ambitious and determined to improve rather than remain satisfied with his old equipment. His excitement over Tideborn shows his desire to keep pace with the growth of those around him.
• He recognizes the significant difference between a seventh-level and eighth-level weapon, discovering that Tideborn improves not only his attack power but also his speed, timing, and combat efficiency.
• His performance against Yun Shu demonstrates clear progress: he reduces the number of strikes needed to injure her from twenty-one to sixteen, despite not yet mastering the new weapon.
• Teemo remains playful, boastful, and practical, quickly taking interest in the propulsion shoes and using the “number two” claim to justify choosing second.
• Rumble remains quiet and stoic, tolerating Teemo’s antics because he values the Iron Bone Ring more than arguing over shoe colors.
• Yun Shu is portrayed as an overwhelming and enigmatic opponent. Even when Lu Xingyuan improves, she possesses a much more terrifying second phase that defeats him effortlessly.

Significant Themes

• Progress and replacement: Lu Xingyuan’s new weapon symbolizes advancement. Frost Heaven is still valuable, but Tideborn represents the next stage of his growth.
• Synergy between wielder and weapon: Tideborn’s power is not merely destructive; it seems to anticipate and guide Lu Xingyuan’s movements, suggesting that true mastery will come through unity between person and blade.
• The gap between improvement and mastery: Lu Xingyuan performs substantially better with Tideborn, yet Yun Shu remains far beyond him. The chapter emphasizes that stronger equipment alone cannot guarantee victory.
• Companionship and team dynamics: The humorous distribution of the shoes highlights the friendly hierarchy and camaraderie among Lu Xingyuan, Teemo, and Rumble.
• Overwhelming strength and mystery: Yun Shu’s sudden transformation reinforces her exceptional power and leaves Lu Xingyuan with a difficult goal to overcome.

Character Interactions

• Teemo and Rumble celebrate Lu Xingyuan’s acquisition of Tideborn, treating him as their leader.
• Lu Xingyuan and Yun Shu engage in two arena battles, with his improved weapon allowing him to pressure her more effectively but not defeat her.
• Teemo jokes about being “number two” and claims the right to select his shoes after Lu Xingyuan. Rumble quietly accepts the final choice because he is satisfied with the Iron Bone Ring.
• Lu Xingyuan internally reacts with embarrassment after accidentally damaging Yun Shu’s clothing, adding a comic note to an otherwise intense confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Upgrading to Level Seven”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Xingyuan, Teemo, and Rumble test their Zero-Type Propulsion Shoes by racing through the train without using skills. Lu wins decisively, Teemo finishes only 1.1 seconds behind him, and Rumble performs poorly.
• As Lu prepares to upgrade his train, Sky-Shaking Thunder becomes the first Train Conductor in the region to reach Level Seven.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder’s advancement silences most critics of the Myriad Dragons Alliance, as his increased power intimidates them. However, Fang Lin continues publicly condemning the Alliance and calls for all oppressed Train Conductors to resist.
• Many Train Conductors rally behind Fang Lin, demanding compensation and denouncing the Alliance’s “tyranny.”
• The Myriad Dragons Alliance is in turmoil after its failed Mist Temple plan. The Alliance has suffered heavy losses, gained nothing from the gamble, and become widely hated.
• Ye Zhiqiu acknowledges that he shares responsibility for supporting the risky plan, while Sky-Shaking Thunder reflects on his losses, including the loss of a powerful subordinate, public humiliation by Lu Xingyuan, and the collapse of the Alliance’s strategy.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder and Ye Zhiqiu identify Fang Lin as a threat because of her connection to Lu Xingyuan. Ye Zhiqiu agrees to find an opportunity to eliminate her.
• Lu’s companions briefly argue over Sky-Shaking Thunder reaching Level Seven first, but Lu dismisses the competition since there is no reward for being first.
• Lu activates the train upgrade. The train shakes violently, a new carriage appears at the rear, and he officially becomes a Level-Seven Train Conductor.

Character Developments

• Lu Xingyuan: Remains calm and pragmatic. He values his relationships more than meaningless competition and focuses on improving his train. His successful upgrade marks a major advancement in power and status.
• Teemo: Shows loyalty and competitiveness on Lu’s behalf, becoming frustrated that Sky-Shaking Thunder reached Level Seven first.
• Rumble: Performs badly in the race and defensively explains that his strength lies in mechas rather than physical ability. He also blames Teemo for delaying Lu’s upgrade.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder: Though severely defeated politically and materially, he refuses to remain consumed by failure. He treats his suffering as motivation to grow stronger and views his Level Seven breakthrough as a way to regain authority.
• Ye Zhiqiu: Displays loyalty and responsibility by admitting his role in the failed plan. He remains calculating and ruthless, immediately planning Fang Lin’s removal.
• Fang Lin: Emerges as a fearless opponent of the Myriad Dragons Alliance, actively organizing resistance despite the danger.
• Alice: Serves as the impartial timekeeper during the race.

Significant Themes

• Power and intimidation: Sky-Shaking Thunder’s Level Seven status temporarily silences opposition, illustrating how strength influences public behavior more than morality.
• Resistance against oppression: Fang Lin’s defiance inspires others to unite, showing that collective action often begins with one courageous person.
• Failure and resilience: Sky-Shaking Thunder suffers major losses but refuses to surrender emotionally, using failure as motivation for future growth.
• Pragmatism over pride: Lu does not resent losing the “first to Level Seven” distinction because it carries no tangible benefit, prioritizing practical gains and group harmony.
• Risk and responsibility: The Alliance’s failure highlights the consequences of high-risk decisions, while Ye Zhiqiu recognizes that good intentions do not erase responsibility for the outcome.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu, Teemo, and Rumble’s race reveals their differing abilities and produces playful rivalry.
• Teemo and Rumble bicker over who is responsible for Lu not reaching Level Seven first, with Lu stepping in to calm them.
• Fang Lin’s public denunciations rally other Train Conductors against Sky-Shaking Thunder and the Myriad Dragons Alliance.
• Ye Zhiqiu and Sky-Shaking Thunder discuss the failed plan, Fang Lin’s threat, and the need to restore their influence.
• The chapter ends with Lu’s train upgrade, signaling his continued advancement and setting up a sharper conflict with Sky-Shaking Thunder.

Lu Xingyuan reached level seven and installed a workshop for Rumble and a howitzer on the train. After the system rejected his attempt to use the Golden Modification Card on the extra white option, he replaced the green warning system, but the new modification was not revealed before the chapter ended.

• Lu Xingyuan chose the blue workshop modification and installed it in the last carriage, delighting Rumble with a clean, fully equipped workspace.
• Lu Xingyuan set aside a green amplification warning system and selected a blue onboard howitzer, installing it on the roof of the third carriage.
• Lu Xingyuan remembered the extra white modification granted by Extra Chance and tried to save the green option for the Golden Modification Card, but the system rejected the loophole.
• Lu Xingyuan replaced the green modification with the Golden Modification Card, and the golden light faded after the replacement succeeded.

Chapter Summary: “The Seventh Hextech”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group acquires and installs the Absolute Barrier upgrade for 788 Train Coins. Once activated, it makes the train completely invincible for 60 seconds, even against physical, energy, causal, and conceptual attacks.
• The upgrade has a dangerous cost: each activation deducts a random number of Train Coins, potentially anywhere from one coin to Lu Xingyuan’s entire reserve.
• Rumble suggests exploiting the system by transferring most of the coins to trusted allies, but Lu Xingyuan explains that the system monitors such transfers and prevents the loophole.
• Despite the risk, Lu Xingyuan accepts the upgrade, reasoning that survival is more important than preserving his wealth.
• The upgrade raises the train’s durability from 2,710 to 3,710 points, while its appearance changes only slightly. Its strength is further supported by Camouflage and Thorny Vine, which make it difficult for enemies to find or breach.
• Lu Xingyuan then performs the next Hextech draw and obtains

The Collector

• It instantly executes enemies below 5% health.
• Each successful execution has a 10% chance of yielding one Train Coin.
• The effect only activates for enemies Lu Xingyuan personally kills, though any killing method can count.
• The Collector’s coin-generating potential is especially valuable against large monster hordes such as zombies, goblins, or Mist Goblins.
• Other Train Conductors notice Lu Xingyuan’s advancement to level seven. Public criticism of Sky-Shaking Thunder intensifies, with many contrasting his failures against Lu Xingyuan’s success.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder complains to Ye Zhiqiu, but she bluntly tells him that Lu Xingyuan succeeded through ability, while Sky-Shaking Thunder caused widespread losses by dragging others into his own failed plans.
• Lin Xiao continues defending Sky-Shaking Thunder in the chat, calling him a well-intentioned hero who simply failed. However, Sky-Shaking Thunder is more concerned with Qin Zhirou, who has not contacted him.
• He reflects that his fixation on Qin Zhirou and rivalry with Lu Xingyuan stem less from genuine love than from his need to prove he has not been defeated by Lu Xingyuan. Seeking to restore morale, he prepares to send Qin Zhirou a message.

Character Developments

• Lu Xingyuan becomes more pragmatic and resolute. He accepts the possibility of losing thousands of coins because preserving life matters more than material resources. His new abilities make him even more dangerous and financially self-sufficient.
• Teemo initially worries about the uncertainty of Absolute Barrier’s cost but becomes excited once the upgrade is confirmed. He also demonstrates trust in Lu Xingyuan’s judgment.
• Rumble remains energetic and inventive, immediately recognizing Absolute Barrier’s value and proposing a way to reduce its cost, even though the system blocks the plan.
• Alice innocently asks about the upgrade’s unclear cost, prompting the explanation of its risk.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder is increasingly isolated and emotionally unstable. He feels humiliated by Lu Xingyuan’s progress and becomes obsessed with regaining a victory, particularly in Qin Zhirou’s eyes.
• Ye Zhiqiu acts as a blunt, realistic voice, refusing to indulge Sky-Shaking Thunder’s excuses.
• Lin Xiao displays fierce loyalty, continuing to defend Sky-Shaking Thunder despite his declining reputation.
• Qin Zhirou remains distant, and her silence deeply affects Sky-Shaking Thunder.

Significant Themes

• Survival versus wealth: Lu Xingyuan prioritizes staying alive over preserving his Train Coins, emphasizing that resources can be regained but life cannot.
• Power and strategic advantage: Absolute Barrier provides emergency invincibility, while The Collector offers both lethal finishing power and a possible source of income.
• The limits of exploiting systems: The attempted coin-transfer loophole shows that the system actively prevents players from bypassing its rules.
• Reputation and comparison: Lu Xingyuan’s success worsens Sky-Shaking Thunder’s public standing and turns their rivalry into a broader social conflict.
• Pride and emotional collapse: Sky-Shaking Thunder’s desire to defeat Lu Xingyuan is driven by wounded pride and repeated failure rather than sincere affection.
• Unrequited attachment: His fixation on Qin Zhirou illustrates the tendency to pursue those who reject or ignore him while overlooking those who support him.

Important Character Interactions

• Rumble and Teemo celebrate Absolute Barrier together, with Rumble encouraging Teemo’s excitement.
• Lu Xingyuan explains the upgrade’s random cost and reassures the group through his willingness to use it despite the risk.
• Ye Zhiqiu directly confronts Sky-Shaking Thunder, telling him that his losses are self-inflicted and that Lu Xingyuan’s success is deserved.
• Lin Xiao offers unwavering support to Sky-Shaking Thunder, but he remains focused on Qin Zhirou’s silence.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder privately reflects on his rivalry with Lu Xingyuan and begins composing a message to Qin Zhirou in an attempt to regain emotional or psychological control.

Chapter Summary: “Qin Zhirou’s Secret Exposed”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Zhirou discusses Sky-Shaking Thunder’s defeat with Bai Luoying. Unlike other members of the Myriad Dragons Alliance, she does not blame him, understanding that he had tried to secure benefits for the alliance but had chosen Lu Xingyuan as an opponent.
• Qin confirms that she intends to sever her relationship with Sky-Shaking Thunder. She then redirects the conversation toward Bai Luoying’s growing feelings for Lu Xingyuan.
• Qin encourages Bai Luoying to pursue Lu Xingyuan, promising to eliminate his other female companions and clear the way for her. Bai gradually accepts Qin’s manipulation, believing that Lu Xingyuan may secretly favor her.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder suddenly contacts Qin, demanding to know why she concealed the backlash caused by the Cause-and-Effect Anchor Needle. Qin realizes that he learned the truth by kidnapping Zhao Nanzhi and forcing Wen Zeda to reveal information.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder offers Qin a Purification Fruit capable of removing the backlash. To obtain it, he pawned his treasured sword, Thunderbane, demonstrating how seriously he wanted to save her.
• Qin refuses the item, choosing to continue manipulating Bai Luoying rather than abandon her plan to unite Bai with Lu Xingyuan. Furious, Sky-Shaking Thunder decides to expose her lies.
• He tells Bai that Qin fabricated Lu Xingyuan’s supposed affection and likely obtained the bow Hollow Echo merely to deceive her. Bai is devastated, realizing she had fallen in love because of Qin’s carefully constructed falsehoods.
• Bai sends Lu Xingyuan a friend request. He accepts but finds her unexplained request strange and ignores it while preparing to open the Thousand-Faced Demon Box.

Character Developments

• Qin Zhirou: Revealed as calculating, manipulative, and fully committed to matchmaking Bai with Lu Xingyuan. She knowingly sacrifices her own reputation and accepts the consequences of her deception.
• Bai Luoying: Becomes increasingly receptive to Qin’s influence and develops genuine feelings for Lu Xingyuan. After learning the truth, she suffers intense humiliation and emotional shock but reaches out to Lu directly.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder: Despite Qin’s betrayal and his own defeat, he shows concern by sacrificing Thunderbane to obtain the Purification Fruit. His disappointment turns into anger, prompting him to expose Qin.
• Lu Xingyuan: Remains largely detached from the emotional conflict. He accepts Bai’s friend request without much interest and focuses instead on the Thousand-Faced Demon Box.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and deception: Qin’s matchmaking depends on carefully fabricated evidence and emotional influence.
• Sacrifice and betrayal: Sky-Shaking Thunder sacrifices a valuable weapon to save Qin, only to be rejected; Qin, meanwhile, abandons their relationship for her scheme.
• Romantic idealization versus reality: Bai falls for an image of Lu Xingyuan created through Qin’s lies rather than through Lu’s actual feelings.
• Emotional consequences of meddling: Qin’s attempts to control relationships ultimately cause Bai severe shame and heartbreak.
• Strategic calculation: Characters use secrets, hostages, trades, and valuable artifacts to achieve personal goals.

Character Interactions

• Qin and Bai share a conspiratorial conversation about Lu Xingyuan, with Qin encouraging Bai’s romantic pursuit.
• Qin and Sky-Shaking Thunder clash over her hidden secret and refusal to accept his aid.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder retaliates by revealing Qin’s deception directly to Bai.
• Bai attempts to initiate contact with Lu Xingyuan, while Lu remains unaware of the full emotional crisis surrounding her request.

Chapter Summary: “The Opening of the Thousand-Faced Demon Box”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Xingyuan finally opens the Thousand-Faced Demon Box after overcoming its resistance and worn-down seals.
• Inside, he discovers the Orbital Magnet, another powerful World Wonder.
• The Orbital Magnet requires the target train’s valid identification number. When activated, it accelerates the user’s train toward the target while slowing and dragging the target train closer. Once the trains merge tracks, they can engage in close combat for up to 1.5 hours.
• Activation costs 100 Train Coins multiplied by the holder’s train level. Since Lu Xingyuan’s train is Level Seven, each use costs 700 Train Coins.
• The item explains how Sun Wuxing previously managed to pursue Lu Xingyuan’s train.
• Lu Xingyuan tests whether the Orbital Magnet can target Gu Wanqing. Because he remembers her identity number, the device successfully recognizes her train.
• However, when Wanqing activates Anonymous State through her Anonymous Player modification, the Orbital Magnet cannot target her. The system declares that she exists “outside the rules.”
• The group concludes that Anonymous State is highly effective against tracking and locking abilities, though its heavy Train Coin cost makes prolonged use impractical.
• Lu Xingyuan, Teemo, and Rumble review their remaining rewards, especially the unopened chests from the Soulbind Domain: ten Level-Five chests and seven Level-Six chests.
• They decide to prioritize finding chest keys, likely by using Lu Xingyuan’s newly obtained Catastrophe Subordinate Authorization to access higher-level stations.
• Rumble and Teemo suggest selling Lu Xingyuan’s extra authorization before Mist Season ends. They propose offering it to the wealthy Qin Zhirou, possibly at a high price.

Character Developments

• Lu Xingyuan demonstrates his usual decisiveness and strategic awareness. He had already suspected that a World Wonder enabled Sun Wuxing’s pursuit and remains calm when the Orbital Magnet is revealed.
• He also acts practically, testing the limits of both the Orbital Magnet and Gu Wanqing’s Anonymous State rather than relying on assumptions.
• Teemo continues to provide enthusiastic but sometimes naïve reactions. He learns how the Orbital Magnet’s activation cost works and contributes to the discussion about selling the authorization.
• Rumble shows stronger analytical ability, explaining the Orbital Magnet’s cost and recalling the defensive function of Anonymous State. He also takes initiative by proposing Qin Zhirou as a buyer.
• Gu Wanqing is shown to possess an exceptionally advanced defensive ability. Her Anonymous State can completely prevent the Orbital Magnet from recognizing her as a target, though the ability rapidly consumes Train Coins.
• The group operates with increasing coordination, treating their discoveries and resources as part of a larger strategic plan.

Significant Themes

• Power and countermeasures: The Orbital Magnet represents overwhelming pursuit and forced confrontation, while Anonymous State provides a direct counter by placing its user beyond conventional targeting rules.
• The value of information: Knowing a train conductor’s identity number is essential for using the Orbital Magnet, emphasizing the importance of memory, identification, and hidden information.
• Resource management: Powerful abilities are limited by Train Coin costs, forcing the characters to balance strength against sustainability.
• Strategic preparation: Rather than immediately using their new treasures, the group focuses on obtaining keys, accessing better stations, and maximizing future rewards.
• Pragmatism and trade: The characters are willing to sell powerful but time-sensitive resources, showing their willingness to convert temporary advantages into lasting benefits.

Character Interactions

• Teemo and Rumble react excitedly to the World Wonder and discuss its effects with Lu Xingyuan.
• Rumble explains the Orbital Magnet’s cost to Teemo and connects it to Sun Wuxing’s earlier pursuit.
• The group tests the Orbital Magnet against Wanqing, with Lu Xingyuan contacting her and funding her brief use of Anonymous State.
• Wanqing complains about the enormous cost of maintaining her ability, highlighting the practical limits of her defense.
• Teemo and Rumble jointly encourage Lu Xingyuan to sell the extra authorization, with Rumble humorously suggesting Qin Zhirou as an easy target because of her wealth and poor judgment.

After Bai Luoying cut contact with Qin Zhirou, Qin left the Myriad Dragons Alliance, while Lu Xingyuan learned that Bai had left too and listed an item for sale. Lin Xiao welcomed Qin’s departure and saw Sky-Shaking Thunder’s kill order as a chance to get closer to him.

• Qin Zhirou discovered that Bai Luoying had removed her from her friend list and was devastated.
• Qin told Lu Xingyuan she had left the Myriad Dragons Alliance, and he learned from Xiao Chi that Bai Luoying had left as well.
• Lu Xingyuan decided to sell his item through the Trading Channel and posted the listing.
• Lin Xiao read Qin Zhirou’s departure from the alliance and learned that Sky-Shaking Thunder had offered 10,000 Train Coins and five Level-Seven Treasure Chests for Qin’s death.
• Lin Xiao messaged Sky-Shaking Thunder to comfort him, then opened the Trading Channel to buy him a gift.

Chapter Summary: “Unknown Ticket!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xiao discovers Lu Xingyuan’s listing for the Catastrophe Subordinate Authorization, a rare special creation that:
  • Ignores the effects of the fog.
  • Does not require an emergency plan.
  • Guarantees that the destination platform will be at least blue-level.
• Realizing it is exactly what she needs to comfort and support Sky-Shaking Thunder, Lin Xiao immediately contacts Lu Xingyuan.
• She first offers 3,000 Train Coins, far more than the listed price, but Lu Xingyuan rejects the offer, claiming it ranks only in the lower-middle among the bids he has received.
• Lin Xiao then offers her treasured level-six extraordinary creation, the Moonlit Twin Swords, but Lu Xingyuan dismisses them as merely “average.”
• Desperate to complete the trade, Lin Xiao offers a mysterious Unknown Ticket, a bloodstained level-one extraordinary creation leading to an unidentified destination.
• Lu Xingyuan questions the ticket’s danger and value, pointing out that if it might lead to a level-ten treasure chest, Lin Xiao should use it herself.
• Lin Xiao admits she lacks the strength to take the risk, but refuses to acknowledge that Sky-Shaking Thunder may also be unable to survive it.
• Despite her reluctance and hidden fear, she agrees to trade the ticket for the Catastrophe Subordinate Authorization.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiao is shown as fiercely determined and willing to sacrifice valuable possessions for Sky-Shaking Thunder’s sake. She gives up her beloved weapons and eventually the dangerous ticket, even though she knows it may contain a great opportunity.
• Her love and protectiveness toward Sky-Shaking Thunder become clearer. She hides the ticket from him because she fears he would use it and die, yet she is willing to let Lu Xingyuan take the risk instead.
• Lin Xiao also reveals emotional vulnerability beneath her hostility toward Lu Xingyuan. She resents being manipulated by him but suppresses her pride because Sky-Shaking Thunder’s needs matter more to her.
• Lu Xingyuan displays sharp business instincts, patience, and psychological insight. He refuses weak offers, deliberately pressures Lin Xiao, and identifies the contradiction in her claims about the ticket.
• His questioning suggests he recognizes that Lin Xiao is concealing the ticket’s true danger and value.

Significant Themes

• Love and sacrifice: Lin Xiao is willing to surrender precious weapons and potentially priceless items to help someone important to her.
• Risk versus opportunity: The ticket may lead to an extraordinary reward, but the threat of death makes its value uncertain.
• Manipulation and bargaining: Lu Xingyuan controls the negotiation by rejecting Lin Xiao’s offers and forcing her to reveal something more valuable.
• Fear of loss: Lin Xiao’s decision is driven less by greed than by her fear that Sky-Shaking Thunder may die or that they may be separated forever.
• Hidden value and uncertainty: The Unknown Ticket’s vague description makes it impossible to judge whether it is a treasure, a curse, or both.

Character Interactions

• Lin Xiao and Lu Xingyuan engage in a tense, antagonistic negotiation. She tries to use money and treasured equipment, while he repeatedly belittles her offers and demands something more unusual.
• Lu Xingyuan’s questions expose Lin Xiao’s hypocrisy: she claims the ticket may lead to a level-ten treasure chest but refuses to use it herself.
• Lin Xiao becomes enraged by his probing but ultimately suppresses her anger and lies that Sky-Shaking Thunder is not strong enough either.
• The chapter ends with Lin Xiao accepting the trade, while Lu Xingyuan gains the mysterious ticket and she obtains the powerful authorization she needs.

Chapter Summary: “Set Up?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Xingyuan receives a wrinkled ticket through a transaction. Although it can supposedly lead to a legendary unknown land, he discovers that activation requires five rare materials: Starshine Stone, Windwhisper Amber, Cinnabar Iron, Phlogiston Crystal, and Fluorite Shard.
• Furious at what he sees as Lin Xiao’s trick, Lu orders Teemo to monitor the trading channel and purchase the materials immediately, regardless of price.
• Alice and Lu suspect the ticket is connected to Hand Sis, who briefly examines it before returning it.
• Lin Xiao celebrates obtaining the Catastrophe Subordinate Authorization and admits she intentionally concealed the ticket’s activation requirements as revenge for Lu Xingyuan slapping her.
• She gives the authorization to Sky-Shaking Thunder as a gift, but he reveals that Mist Season is nearly over. Once the season ends, the authorization will become useless.
• Lin Xiao realizes Lu Xingyuan likely knew this and deliberately allowed her to take the deal, meaning both sides had attempted to manipulate each other. Enraged, she curses Lu after he blocks her.
• The train arrives at the Blue Solo Platform, Cyber Goblin City. Because of the authorization and Fate Fork, Lu Xingyuan is assigned a favorable blue platform and chooses the Solo Platform, which contains many monsters suitable for The Collector Hextech.
• The platform rewards Lu’s group with the Summoner Skill Exhaust and a third Holy Barrier.
• Combining the three Holy Barriers produces the powerful level-seven Holy Judgment Domain, which Teemo equips.
• Lu attempts to use the Transformation Reassembler with Shattered Star Sand, hoping to obtain one of the five materials required for the ticket. Instead, he receives a level-seven Redvein Crystal.

Character Developments

• Lu Xingyuan becomes more cautious and strategically manipulative. Although initially angry at being deceived by Lin Xiao, he appears to have anticipated the limited usefulness of the authorization and lets her suffer the consequences.
• Lin Xiao shows her vengeful and mischievous side by hiding crucial information from Lu. However, her confidence collapses when she learns the authorization will soon become worthless. Her anger reveals that she has been outplayed.
• Teemo receives a major power upgrade through Holy Judgment Domain. He is delighted by its dramatic appearance and eagerly equips it, becoming more confident and boastful.
• Rumble remains practical and competitive. He recognizes the upgraded item’s strength but complains that Teemo’s flashy appearance will attract enemy attacks. He also shows some jealousy over Teemo’s new equipment.
• Alice demonstrates her observational ability by identifying the likely connection between the ticket and Hand Sis.
• Sky-Shaking Thunder acts as the source of the crucial information about Mist Season’s imminent end, unintentionally exposing Lin Xiao’s failed scheme.

Significant Themes

• Mutual deception and strategic revenge: Lin Xiao tries to punish Lu, but Lu appears to exploit her scheme in return.
• The danger of incomplete information: The ticket and authorization both seem valuable until hidden conditions and timing restrictions are revealed.
• Luck and preparation: Lu’s group obtains a rare third Holy Barrier at exactly the right time, allowing a major upgrade.
• Power growth through combination: The fusion of three lower-level items creates a much stronger level-seven artifact, emphasizing the value of accumulation and synthesis.
• Risk versus reward: Lu gambles with the Transformation Reassembler in pursuit of rare materials but receives a different, still valuable item.

Character Interactions

• Lu Xingyuan consults with Alice and Hand Sis about the mysterious ticket, then instructs Teemo to search for its required materials.
• Lin Xiao openly admits that she traded for the ticket to get revenge on Lu.
• Lin Xiao presents the Catastrophe Subordinate Authorization to Sky-Shaking Thunder, only to learn from him that its value is about to expire.
• Teemo proudly displays his upgraded Holy Judgment Domain, while Rumble criticizes his showmanship and urges him to move on.
• Lu, Teemo, and Rumble cooperate in testing the Transformation Reassembler, ending with an unexpected Redvein Crystal rather than one of the desired activation materials.

Chapter Summary: “Cyber Goblins”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Xingyuan’s attempt to obtain Shattered Star Sand fails, producing a valuable Redvein Crystal instead. Though disappointed, he accepts the result and remains determined to collect all five required materials to activate the mysterious train ticket, which he believes may be connected to Hand Sis.
• While Teemo stores the crystal, the train is suddenly attacked. A Goblin fires a rocket at the train, causing a violent explosion and injuring Rumble.
• Lu Xingyuan deploys three vehicle-mounted drones, which identify and eliminate the initial group of Goblin attackers before they can launch a second rocket.
• The drones reveal that a massive force of Cyber Goblins is approaching. These Goblins are heavily modified with crude cybernetic parts, mechanical limbs, optical implants, hydraulic weapons, and electrically enhanced clubs.
• Thousands of Cyber Goblins surround the train and launch a coordinated assault using armor-piercing weapons, rockets, chainsaws, and electromagnetic axes. The train’s durability begins to fall under the sustained attack.
• Lu Xingyuan responds by unlocking the restrictions on the vehicle-mounted howitzer. Its high-explosive shells devastate the Goblin army, reducing the battlefield to burning wreckage and leaving only a few damaged survivors.

Character Developments

• Lu Xingyuan remains pragmatic and resilient after the failed material transformation. His determination to gather all five materials confirms the importance he places on the mysterious train ticket and its possible connection to Hand Sis.
• During the attack, he demonstrates calm tactical judgment, quickly deploying drones and then escalating to the howitzer when the train comes under overwhelming pressure.
• His willingness to use the expensive howitzer shows that he prioritizes protecting the train and its durability over conserving resources.
• Rumble continues to display his explosive temper and crude humor, first cursing after being knocked down and then expressing amazement at Goblins using advanced weapons. He becomes excited rather than frightened by Lu Xingyuan’s devastating counterattack.
• Teemo remains obedient and practical, initially carrying out Lu Xingyuan’s order to store the Redvein Crystal before the attack interrupts him.

Significant Themes

• Persistence despite failure: Lu Xingyuan treats the failed transformation as a setback rather than a defeat and continues pursuing his larger objective.
• Escalation and technological adaptation: The Goblins have evolved from simple monsters into cybernetically enhanced raiders capable of using rockets, firearms, and industrial weapons.
• Resource investment and power: Lu Xingyuan’s costly equipment proves its value when the howitzer turns a desperate defense into total battlefield destruction.
• Survival in a hostile world: The train is both transportation and a vulnerable stronghold, forcing its occupants to respond rapidly to increasingly dangerous enemies.
• Violent spectacle and dominance: The chapter emphasizes the overwhelming destructive power of Lu Xingyuan’s technology against the seemingly endless Cyber Goblin horde.

Character Interactions

• Lu Xingyuan and Teemo discuss the failed material result, with Lu Xingyuan reassuring Teemo and assigning him the task of storing the Redvein Crystal.
• Rumble reacts loudly to both the initial attack and the Goblins’ use of modern weaponry, providing a humorous contrast to Lu Xingyuan’s controlled professionalism.
• Lu Xingyuan’s drone deployment and later use of the howitzer effectively protect the entire group, while Rumble watches and enthusiastically celebrates the destruction.
• The Cyber Goblins function as a unified attacking force, overwhelming the train through numbers and coordinated firepower before Lu Xingyuan reverses the battle with his superior technology.

Chapter Summary: “Bountiful Harvest!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Teemo and Rumble fight the Cyber Goblins attacking the platform. Teemo kills several with poisoned arrows, while Rumble’s mech, Tristy, destroys nearly twenty.
• The Cyber Goblins range from levels three to six and prove no real threat to the powerful attackers. One attempts an ambush by disguising itself as a corpse and firing a gun from its mouth, but Rumble’s Yordle bond automatically causes him to dodge. Enraged at the attack on his beloved mech, Rumble incinerates the goblin.
• After the battle, the enemies are completely wiped out. Lu Xingyuan collects nearly three hundred Train Coins dropped by the train-mounted grenade cannon through the effect of The Collector.
• Teemo and Rumble return with the coins and report that their own kills did not activate The Collector. Lu Xingyuan confirms that, despite descending into Train World because of him, they remain independent individuals rather than extensions of him.
• Rumble worries that allowing him to fight will reduce Lu Xingyuan’s potential rewards, since kills cannot always be deliberately handed over. Lu Xingyuan tells both him and Teemo not to restrain themselves or disrupt their combat rhythm for the sake of a minor benefit.
• The group prepares to enter the ruined city and hunt down the remaining goblins. Lu Xingyuan orders that every goblin encountered be killed.
• Inside the city, the group discovers a decayed futuristic metropolis filled with rusted skyscrapers, broken neon signs, abandoned hovercars, exposed machinery, and goblin propaganda. The city’s collapse is linked to past decisions to accept the goblins despite their filthy and dangerous nature.
• Alice complains about the dirt threatening her dress, while Teemo accidentally stains his new propulsion shoes. Rumble initially mocks their concern because his mech protects him from grime, but a group of goblins immediately drops paint onto Tristy, enraging him.

Character Developments

• Lu Xingyuan demonstrates both overwhelming combat power and practical judgment. Although he tests whether Teemo and Rumble can trigger The Collector, he ultimately prioritizes the group’s overall effectiveness over maximizing every possible reward.
• Rumble shows deep emotional attachment to Tristy, valuing the mech almost more than himself. His pride and temper flare when it is ambushed and later covered in paint. He also worries about becoming less useful if his kills interfere with Lu Xingyuan’s rewards.
• Teemo remains cheerful and pragmatic, reassuring Rumble that Lu Xingyuan’s superior killing ability makes their concerns largely unnecessary. His distress over dirtying his new shoes adds comic relief.
• Alice is portrayed as a pampered, princess-like child who is highly concerned with cleanliness and protecting her new dress. Her presence is also framed as a powerful reserve asset, comparable to a nuclear weapon, though she rarely fights.
• Gu Wanqing does not appear directly but remains important through the intelligence she supplied about monsters hiding in the city.

Significant Themes

• Power and efficiency: Lu Xingyuan’s strength is so far beyond Teemo and Rumble’s that the party must focus on maintaining combat momentum rather than optimizing every individual kill.
• Individual identity and independence: Teemo and Rumble’s inability to activate The Collector emphasizes that they are autonomous beings, not merely extensions of Lu Xingyuan.
• Practical judgment over greed: Lu Xingyuan rejects excessive concern over Train Coins, choosing reliable teamwork and battlefield efficiency instead.
• Decay caused by misguided tolerance: The ruined city reflects the consequences of accepting dangerous creatures out of misplaced sympathy, turning a once-advanced civilization into a polluted, collapsing wasteland.
• Comedy amid destruction: Dirt, stained shoes, and paint on Tristy contrast with the violent extermination of the goblins, keeping the chapter’s tone playful despite its grim setting.

Character Interactions

• Rumble reacts angrily after a Cyber Goblin attempts to ambush him, revealing his protectiveness toward Tristy.
• Teemo and Rumble discuss their inability to benefit from The Collector, with Rumble worrying about being forced to hold back and Teemo calming him.
• Lu Xingyuan reassures both companions that they should fight naturally and not sacrifice effectiveness for extra rewards.
• Alice, Teemo, and Rumble each react differently to the city’s filth: Alice fears for her dress, Teemo mourns his stained shoes, and Rumble initially dismisses the problem—only to become the most furious when his mech is splattered with paint.

Chapter 537 Summary: “Cyber Goblin Leader”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Rumble loses his temper when the Cyber Goblins insult him and fires harpoons, killing two of them. The final Goblin, Kent, escapes.
• Rumble pursues Kent in Tristy, but the ruined city’s debris slows the combat mech down.
• Kent lures Rumble into a carefully prepared ambush. Explosions destroy the surrounding buildings, shatter Tristy’s visor, and leave Rumble exposed to falling debris.
• Instead of escaping, Rumble tries to shield Lu Xingyuan and the others with Tristy. The collapsing ruins overwhelm the small mech.
• From a distant rooftop, the Cyber Goblin Leader reveals that the entire attack was a trap. The three Goblins were bait, and it considers this the tenth group of Train Conductors to be destroyed in its territory.
• Just as the building is about to crush Rumble and his companions, an immense force throws the ruins upward.
• A gigantic black dragon emerges from the dust and releases a devastating roar. The sound wave destroys or severely injures nearly all the Cyber Goblins on the rooftop, including Kent.
• The Cyber Goblin Leader survives but is badly damaged. It finally sees the black dragon and its remaining electronic eye registers: “Danger Level: Impossible to Assess!”

Character Developments

• Rumble: His anger remains impulsive, but his actions show deep loyalty and self-sacrifice. He instinctively chooses to protect Lu Xingyuan and the others, even at the risk of losing Tristy and his own life.
• Kent: Presented as a fanatical subordinate who follows the Leader’s plan and takes pride in its intelligence. His confidence collapses when confronted by the dragon.
• Cyber Goblin Leader: Initially arrogant and contemptuous, it sees the Train Conductors as insignificant enemies and values Goblin numbers over individual lives. Its confidence is shattered when its calculations fail and it encounters the dragon.
• Black Dragon: Introduced as an overwhelming, mysterious force. Its power is so immense that a single roar annihilates much of the Goblin force and leaves the Leader unable to assess its threat level.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and loyalty: Rumble’s decision to use Tristy as a shield emphasizes his willingness to protect his companions.
• Overconfidence versus true power: The Goblin Leader believes its superior calculations make victory certain, but the dragon represents a force beyond its ability to predict or control.
• The limits of technology: The Leader’s supercomputer can analyze millions of possibilities, yet it cannot comprehend the dragon’s strength.
• Predator becoming prey: The Goblins construct an elaborate trap to destroy the Train Conductors, only to be devastated by an even greater power.

Character Interactions

• Rumble responds violently to the Cyber Goblins’ taunts and pursues Kent after killing two of his comrades.
• Kent praises the Cyber Goblin Leader’s strategy, reinforcing its arrogance and authority.
• The Leader mocks the Train Conductors and dismisses the Goblins who died in the plan.
• Rumble’s protective action places him directly between the collapsing building and Lu Xingyuan’s group.
• The dragon’s roar abruptly reverses the power dynamic, killing Kent and overwhelming the Goblin Leader, which ends the chapter on a dramatic reveal.

Summary of “Hidden Crisis”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Cyber Goblin leader and its remaining forces are overwhelmed when Alice reveals her true power as a terrifying black dragon. Realizing resistance is futile, the Goblins flee in panic.
• Instead of using her most destructive attack, Alice employs Evil Dragon’s Roar to stun the surviving Cyber Goblins. Lu Xingyuan then uses dark-silver particle streams to melt and vaporize them, leaving only Train Coins.
• Alice returns to her harmless-looking human form, and Lu Xingyuan praises her for protecting him.
• Teemo survives the battle, but Rumble and his mechanical mount, Tristy, are badly injured. Teemo discovers that Rumble’s injuries are not fatal and scolds him for recklessly confronting the Goblins alone.
• Rumble admits his mistake, recognizing that the Cyber Goblins were far more cunning and dangerous than he had assumed. He also thanks Alice for saving him and the others.
• The Goblin responsible for the ambush appears to have died, but the surviving leader reveals that the trap contained three tons of high-energy explosives—enough to destroy the entire building.
• The leader admits that it had successfully calculated its plan but failed to account for Alice, whose Abyssal origin it immediately recognized.
• It warns Lu Xingyuan that openly traveling with Alice may attract enemies, since humans and many other races deeply hate the Abyssal Race.
• Lu Xingyuan realizes that Alice may face danger not only from the Abyss itself but also from outsiders who fear or despise Abyssal beings.
• He seriously instructs Alice never to reveal herself or act recklessly, even to save him. Alice agrees outwardly, though her thoughts show that she would never truly stand aside if Lu Xingyuan’s life were threatened.

Character Developments

• Alice demonstrates overwhelming strength, precise control, and devotion to Lu Xingyuan. Her ability to switch from lethal destruction to a nonfatal stunning attack shows growing judgment and restraint.
• Lu Xingyuan remains protective of Alice and the group, but the Goblin leader’s warning forces him to reconsider the dangers surrounding Alice’s identity. He becomes more aware that protecting her requires secrecy, not merely combat power.
• Rumble learns a painful lesson about recklessness. After nearly falling into the Goblins’ trap, he sincerely accepts responsibility and promises to change.
• Teemo acts as a concerned companion and responsible senior figure, checking Rumble’s injuries and reprimanding him for underestimating the Goblins.
• The Cyber Goblin leader is portrayed as highly intelligent and calculating. Although defeated, it succeeds in exposing a serious long-term vulnerability involving Alice.

Significant Themes

• Hidden danger and false security: Surviving the Goblin attack does not mean the group is safe; the greatest threats may still be unknown enemies.
• The cost of recklessness: Rumble’s injuries and the destruction of Tristy show the consequences of acting without understanding the enemy.
• Protection versus secrecy: Alice’s strength can save the group, but revealing it may expose her to even greater danger.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: Alice’s unconditional devotion to Lu Xingyuan contrasts with his attempt to restrain her for her own safety.
• Prejudice and fear of the unknown: Alice’s Abyssal identity makes her a potential target of humans and other races, regardless of her loyalty or behavior.

Character Interactions

• Lu Xingyuan warmly praises Alice, reinforcing their affectionate father-daughter bond.
• Teemo comforts himself after the battle but becomes stern when addressing Rumble’s poor judgment.
• Rumble humbly accepts Teemo’s criticism and expresses gratitude to Alice.
• The Cyber Goblin leader taunts Lu Xingyuan with the scale of its trap while warning him about the consequences of traveling with Alice.
• Lu Xingyuan responds by emphasizing Alice’s safety, while Alice silently reveals that her devotion may overpower his command if he is ever in mortal danger.

Chapter Summary: “Saiban’s Solution”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Cyber Goblin leader reveals that he knows how to suppress Alice’s Abyssal aura, making her appear like an ordinary person. Even the Abyssal Race’s ruler would not recognize her unless she used her power.
• Lu Xingyuan agrees to spare the leader, reasoning that the Goblin values his own life and would not risk betraying them again. The group follows him to his laboratory.
• The leader introduces himself as Saiban. Alice recognizes the name as belonging to one of the legendary Seven Goblin Sages, though she doubts that this impoverished, desperate-looking Goblin could truly be one of them.
• Saiban leads the group into a heavily fortified skyscraper laboratory. Rumble remains suspicious and watches him closely because Saiban previously endangered them.
• Saiban boasts that he personally designed the building’s security system and claims that even Alice could not break through its main door.
• Lu Xingyuan immediately decides to remove the door and take it for use on his train, amusing and frustrating Saiban with his shamelessly practical, bandit-like behavior.
• Inside, the laboratory is remarkably clean and orderly despite the ruined, filthy city outside. Numerous heavily augmented Cyber Goblins work in white lab coats on advanced experiments.
• Saiban uses the laboratory—and especially the sophistication of his equipment and staff—to demonstrate that his scientific abilities are genuine. Rumble realizes that Saiban’s assessment of his mech as “scrap metal” may actually have been generous.

Character Developments

• Lu Xingyuan remains calm, pragmatic, and opportunistic. He trusts Saiban only because Saiban’s survival instinct makes betrayal unlikely, while also immediately claiming anything useful.
• Saiban shifts from a defeated captive to a confident scientific authority. His knowledge of the Abyss and advanced technology suggests that he may be far more important and capable than his appearance implies.
• Alice displays her knowledge of Goblin history by identifying the name Saiban and explaining the importance of the Seven Goblin Sages. Her uncertainty keeps Saiban’s true identity ambiguous.
• Rumble becomes increasingly distrustful of Saiban, especially after being insulted. However, the laboratory’s sophistication forces him to acknowledge that Saiban may be a technological genius.
• Teemo provides comic relief, first commenting on the Cyber Goblins’ convincing laboratory attire and then being surprised by the cleanliness of the facility.

Significant Themes

• Trust and self-preservation: Saiban’s desire to stay alive becomes the basis for Lu Xingyuan’s limited trust in him.
• Appearance versus reality: Saiban looks destitute and defeated, yet may be one of the greatest Goblin intellects in history.
• Science and technological advancement: The laboratory and its augmented researchers establish the Cyber Goblins as highly advanced and technologically specialized.
• Pragmatism and opportunism: Lu Xingyuan views every situation materially, treating Saiban’s reinforced door as a valuable resource rather than merely part of the laboratory.
• Uncertain identity and hidden greatness: The question of whether Saiban is truly one of the Seven Goblin Sages adds mystery and suggests deeper revelations ahead.

Character Interactions

• Lu Xingyuan and Saiban negotiate an uneasy alliance, with Saiban persuading him through his knowledge and survival instincts.
• Alice informs Lu Xingyuan about the Seven Goblin Sages, prompting him to reconsider Saiban’s importance.
• Rumble openly challenges and distrusts Saiban, while Saiban casually humiliates him by criticizing his mech’s design.
• Lu Xingyuan’s decision to dismantle Saiban’s security door turns Saiban’s proud demonstration into a source of comic frustration.
• Teemo’s lighthearted observations contrast with the tension between Saiban and Rumble.

Chapter Summary: “Camouflage Force Field Generator”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Rumble grows increasingly frustrated with Tristy, the creation he spent all his mental energy making, because Tristy has proven useless. Teemo notices his anger but can only offer silent moral support.
• Saiban leads Lu Xingyuan, Alice, Teemo, and Rumble into his personal laboratory. The entrance requires five highly advanced security checks: retinal, vocal, genetic, brainwave, and authorization-key verification.
• The laboratory door transforms into a liquid membrane that sterilizes anyone passing through it before reforming into a seamless metal barrier.
• Inside, the group sees Saiban’s enormous, technologically advanced facility, which contains seven major sections, including specimen research, weapons testing, gene editing, nanotechnology, computation, and a sealed Zero-Point Zone.
• Lu Xingyuan impatiently asks Saiban to demonstrate his solution for hiding Alice’s dangerous Abyssal Aura.
• Saiban deploys a six-armed mechanical body and begins constructing a complex scientific model. After an extremely difficult calculation, he successfully develops the Camouflage Force Field Generator.
• The device is designed to detect Alice’s leaking Abyssal Aura, reverse its frequency through specialized mechanisms, and transform it into a silent force field that conceals its presence.

Character Development

• Rumble displays wounded pride and professional frustration over Tristy’s failure. His insistence that he understands Saiban’s advanced calculations suggests he is eager to preserve his reputation as a scientist.
• Teemo remains largely unable to understand the technology, but he is observant and supportive, particularly toward Rumble. He is also visibly unsettled by Saiban’s mechanical form.
• Saiban is shown as both arrogant and brilliant. He takes great pride in his laboratory and inventions, but his pride is tempered by irritation at Lu Xingyuan’s aggressive, “bandit-like” behavior. His excitement after solving Alice’s problem reveals his deep passion for scientific achievement.
• Alice becomes increasingly anxious about the consequences of her Abyssal Aura and the danger it poses to herself and her father. The possibility of concealing it gives her hope.
• Lu Xingyuan demonstrates patience and protectiveness toward Alice. Although he usually pressures others, he allows Saiban to work without interruption because Alice’s safety matters to him.

Significant Themes

• Scientific ingenuity and technological advancement: Saiban’s laboratory and invention emphasize the extraordinary capabilities of Cyber Goblin science.
• Pride and professional identity: Rumble’s frustration and Saiban’s boastful triumph both show how closely the characters tie their self-worth to their creations and intelligence.
• Protection and family bonds: Alice’s concern for her father and Lu Xingyuan’s determination to help her drive the chapter’s central objective.
• Appearance versus true nature: The generator does not erase or replace Alice’s aura; it translates and conceals it, reflecting the broader idea of hiding a dangerous identity without changing what lies beneath.
• Rivalry and cooperation: Characters with very different abilities—Lu Xingyuan’s forcefulness, Saiban’s science, Rumble’s expertise, and Teemo’s support—must work together to solve the problem.

Character Interactions

• Teemo cautiously checks on Rumble, while Rumble defensively insists he is fine.
• Saiban proudly presents his laboratory, though Lu Xingyuan cuts short the tour and demands that he focus on Alice’s problem.
• Alice remains quietly tense during the demonstration, while Lu Xingyuan stays close and watches over her.
• Saiban and Rumble engage indirectly through the complex model: Saiban performs the calculations, while Rumble pretends the advanced work is easy to understand.
• Teemo reacts with fear and awe to Saiban’s mechanical body and immense laboratory.
• The chapter ends with Saiban proudly declaring his success after inventing the Camouflage Force Field Generator.