Chapter Summaries

Xu Zhi hesitated over the Star-Setting Consortium’s offer of a twenty-year contract and waited to hear what other factions would offer. After returning to her tent, she received a visit from a middle-aged man and a quiet young girl, who began discussing their terms.

• A Star-Setting Consortium representative defended its twenty-year contract, but Xu Zhi asked for time to consider it.
• After leaving the consortium’s tent, Xu Zhi noticed other factions watching her and anticipated their recruitment offers.
• A middle-aged man and a quiet young girl stopped Xu Zhi and asked to speak with her in her tent.
• Qi Yanxin let Xu Zhi and the visitors inside, where the middle-aged man asked whether Xu Zhi had chosen a faction yet.
• Xu Zhi agreed to hear what terms the visitors could offer.

Tan Jingyuan and Qi Yanxin explained what the Light Institute and Heavenly Heart Society could offer Xu Zhi, including education, access to Lost Lands, and help for her sister. Xu Zhi distrusted both offers and asked for time to decide, but Tan Jingyuan gave her only eight hours.

• Tan Jingyuan introduced himself as a representative of the Light Institute and offered Xu Zhi a place in its inner academy in exchange for joining the institute permanently.
• Tan Jingyuan described the Light Institute’s resources and access to Lost Lands, while Xu Zhi recognized that its inner academy meant a lifelong commitment.
• Qi Yanxin explained that the Heavenly Heart Society offered more freedom after graduation and claimed it could make Xu Zhi’s ordinary sister a supernatural being without side effects.
• Xu Zhi compared the four factions, rejected the Heavenly Heart Society as a threat to her secrets, and judged the Light Institute’s lifelong allegiance dangerous too.
• Xu Zhi asked to think about the offers, and Tan Jingyuan gave her eight hours to decide.

Qi Yanxin asked Xu Zhi not to leave her behind, and Xu Zhi promised to take her along while weighing her recruitment options. Meanwhile, Chi Qiusheng and the upper-district figures argued over the mysterious blade and agreed to let Gods Heavy Industries trace it before Tiyet’s preparations produced results.

• Qi Yanxin admitted she feared being abandoned, and Xu Zhi reassured her that she would take her along.
• Xu Zhi considered the conglomerate, the Heavenly Heart Society, and the Light Institute, finding each option troubling.
• Chi Qiusheng reported that the blade’s wielder had acted by accident and that no other Transcendents were known in the Plain District.
• A Gods Heavy Industries representative described the blade’s unusual material and offered to trace its origins in the furnace.
• The councilor allowed the representative to take the blade, noting that Tiyet was preparing and would produce results within twelve hours.

After the councilor confirmed that the corpse carried Cup’s trail, Xu Zhi weighed the factions’ offers and chose the Light Institute. She demanded access to the Lost Land as a smokescreen, leaving the Light Institute to consider her terms.

• The Star-Setting Consortium representative said Xu Zhi had recognized Yavi’s emblem, and the councilor ordered everyone to erase traces of the corpse and leave before dawn.
• The councilor privately confirmed to his chairman that the corpse bore Cup’s trail and agreed to conceal the information while the chairman used Xu Zhi as bait.
• The doctor offered Xu Zhi a place with Gods Heavy Industries in exchange for her extraordinary circuit, but Xu Zhi decided not to accept.
• Xu Zhi chose the Light Institute and demanded that it grant her qualification to enter the Lost Land.

Xu Zhi secured admission to Light Institute and the right to compete for a Lost Land qualification, then prepared to leave the lower levels with Qi Yanxin. They boarded an aircraft bound for the fifth level, where their new lives would begin.

• Xu Zhi failed to obtain a guaranteed Lost Land qualification but secured the right to compete for one after entering Light Institute.
• Xu Zhi asked for Qi Yanxin to accompany her, and the Light Institute representative agreed to arrange housing and registration for them both.
• Xu Zhi told Qi Yanxin they would leave for the upper levels, and they packed their few belongings.
• The next morning, Xu Zhi and Qi Yanxin followed a soldier onto the aircraft and were shown to their room.
• The soldier told Xu Zhi and Qi Yanxin to stay in their room until the aircraft reached the fifth level in about two hours.

Xu Zhi arrived on the Fifth Floor and learned that the Light Institute had arranged her registration and enrollment in advance. As Ke Yi escorted her to the institute, she heard about the Fifth Floor’s academies and commercial district, while continuing to consider how to regain her strength and act freely.

• Xu Zhi planned to restore her strength, complete her [Moth] extraordinary circuit, and return to the lower levels when the fog came again.
• The aircraft passed identification verification and arrived, and Qi Yanxin helped Xu Zhi out into the bright sunlight of the Fifth Floor.
• Tan Jingyuan introduced Ke Yi, who said Xu Zhi’s household registration was complete and that she would take her to the Light Institute for enrollment.
• Xu Zhi realized the Institute’s arrangements left her little chance to leave the transport route before reaching the Light Institute.
• Ke Yi explained that the Fifth Floor housed advanced academies and supporting facilities, and warned Xu Zhi about the costly temptations of the Star-Setting Consortium’s commercial district.

Xu Zhi arrived at the Light Institute with Ke Yi and Qi Yanxin, learning about the academy’s layout, rules, and assessments. She entered the grounds as a specially recruited student and heard how the corporations tested and exploited supernaturals.

• Ke Yi warned Xu Zhi that corporations could trap people in debt and explained that the fifth level was governed by order and law under the Council.
• After a three-hour journey, Ke Yi brought Xu Zhi and Qi Yanxin to the Light Institute, which occupied a mountain peak.
• Ke Yi obtained one-use temporary passes for Xu Zhi and Qi Yanxin and explained that unauthorized people inside could be attacked.
• Xu Zhi crossed the entrance and felt an unexplained threat, then learned that outer academy students could qualify for the inner academy by climbing the mountain steps.
• Ke Yi described the Light Institute’s outer and inner academy assessments and warned Xu Zhi that corporations extracted supernaturals’ blood, marrow, and energy to assess their potential.

Xu Zhi and Qi Yanxin traveled with Ke Yi to the Light Institute’s inner academy, where Xu Zhi learned about its surveillance, facilities, and restricted areas. Xu Zhi completed registration and officially became an inner academy student.

• Ke Yi led Xu Zhi and Qi Yanxin through the gated outdoor elevators and explained that the Light Institute would record students’ biological identities after enrollment.
• Xu Zhi rode the elevator to the vast mountaintop inner academy while Qi Yanxin grew nervous at the height.
• Ke Yi took Xu Zhi and Qi Yanxin by accessible electric cart to the Academic Affairs Office and warned Xu Zhi to avoid areas where powerful Transcendents lived.
• An office worker gave Xu Zhi her enrollment materials and had her register with a fingerprint.
• The office worker announced that Xu Zhi had become a student of the Light Institute’s inner academy.

Xu Zhi began her extraordinary assessment at the Light Institute, where the first test identified her as a Level Four, Proficient [Lamp] extraordinary being. The second assessment began, leaving her results unknown.

• A stern teacher explained Xu Zhi’s enrollment, credits, classes, and eligibility for the Lost Land selection trials.
• Ke Yi guided Xu Zhi to the second floor and explained the Academic Affairs Office’s functions.
• A staff member described how the assessment would test Xu Zhi’s attribute, rank, and extraordinary affinity.
• Xu Zhi entered the sealed assessment room as the Light Institute monitored her.
• The first assessment identified Xu Zhi’s attribute as Lamp and her rank as Level Four, Proficient.
• The room announced that the second assessment was beginning.

Xu Zhi completed the Light Institute’s supernatural affinity tests, impressing the observing teachers with her high absorption rate, composure, and exceptional recovery speed. Her results ranked her first in supernatural affinity, earning her an extra 100 credits each month.

• Xu Zhi absorbed nearly all the supernatural energy in the test room, prompting teachers to note her 92% absorption rate.
• Xu Zhi let the Winter-attribute circuits drain her supernatural energy without showing distress, astonishing the teachers watching her.
• Xu Zhi absorbed enough energy to reach saturation in two seconds, leading the teachers to compete over who would supervise her.
• Xu Zhi received her test results: excellent supernatural affinity, academy rank No. 1, and an additional 100 monthly credits.

Xu Zhi placed first in the affinity test, surprising the Light Institute’s staff and prompting them to reconsider how they would treat her. As she began the next test, she learned that credits were difficult to earn but could be used like money.

• Xu Zhi chose to continue testing after placing first in affinity, and the guide eagerly escorted her to the next site.
• Ke Yi sent someone a message while following Xu Zhi, and the Light Institute’s administrators discussed her mysterious origins and exceptional talent.
• The administrators agreed that Xu Zhi’s identity mattered less than securing her loyalty and offering her protection.
• The guide explained that Xu Zhi could skip the physical-function test for now and described how students earned and lost credits.
• Xu Zhi learned that credits were more useful than money, suggesting she could spend them on resources.

Xu Zhi took the supernatural-circuit test, which was designed to challenge students with a disruptive Moth-attribute circuit. Her unusual familiarity with Moth energy and circuits let her destroy its core in under a minute, leaving her surprised at how easy the test was.

• The guide explained that Xu Zhi had to activate a hidden circuit, endure its effects, find its core, and destroy it within three hours.
• Xu Zhi entered the testing room and activated the simple-looking circuit, which turned out to be Moth-attribute.
• The Moth energy failed to disrupt Xu Zhi because she had once contained far more of it than the circuit produced.
• Xu Zhi relied on her experience and intuition to identify the circuit's core and strike it with Lamp energy.
• The stone slab shattered and the test ended in under a minute, leaving Xu Zhi wondering whether the entrance test was really that easy.

Xu Zhi finished the Light Institute’s extraordinary assessment in forty-five seconds and ranked first, prompting the institute’s leaders to accept and protect her as a student. As she approached the final test, the principal ordered staff to report anything concerning her while the leaders awaited her next result.

• Xu Zhi completed the test in forty-five seconds, earned an Excellent rating, and placed first in the academy’s overall extraordinary assessment.
• The Light Institute’s leaders agreed to raise Xu Zhi’s student file to the highest level and formally accept and protect her.
• The principal said the knife sent to Gods Heavy Industries was a rootless thing, which meant it could not be proven to have come from Lotus City or be linked to Xu Zhi.
• The principal stayed at the academy and instructed staff to report anything concerning Xu Zhi to him immediately.
• Xu Zhi stood before the final test as the Light Institute’s leaders anticipated another high ranking.

Xu Zhi completed the academy’s Great Dream test and discovered that her affinity with the Mansus was exceptional. After she ranked first in all three tests, the principal and other observers discussed her prospects and worried that her physical condition might keep her from the next Lost Land selection.

• Xu Zhi entered an empty room and followed the glowing circuit’s pull, seeing the complete Great Dream and the path to godhood.
• Xu Zhi returned from the dream to find her Lamp circuit had expanded by a ring and received the academy’s top Great Dream affinity ranking, along with 100 monthly credits.
• The principal and other observers marveled that Xu Zhi had entered the Great Dream so quickly and said her affinity could make future advancements easier.
• The observers decided to meet Xu Zhi and turned their attention to whether they could restore her body before the next Lost Land selection.

After Xu Zhi completed her tests with outstanding results, the Light Institute’s leaders offered her special attention, resources, and care. Xu Zhi accepted their invitation to join, leaving her poised to benefit from the institute’s recruitment.

• The dean and five other Light Institute leaders came down to meet Xu Zhi after she finished her tests.
• The dean and the director of academic affairs exchanged contact information with Xu Zhi and promised to help her at the academy.
• The dean awarded Xu Zhi 500 credits and arranged for the school clinic to cover her recovery, while allowing her to keep visiting the doctor who had given her glasses.
• Xu Zhi asked why the Light Institute was treating her so well, and the dean explained that they wanted to nurture her talent and recruit her.
• Xu Zhi looked to Qi Yanxin, then nodded to show she would join the Light Institute.

The dean welcomed Xu Zhi into the Light Institute, advised her to grow stronger for the upcoming Lost Land selection, and learned that Little One was her Transcendent ability. Ke Yi then took Xu Zhi to the detached house the academy had gifted her as a permanent residence.

• The dean told Xu Zhi to aim for Level Six Insight before the Lost Land selection and excused her from credit GPA assessment while she caught up on classes.
• The dean noticed Little One, and Xu Zhi revealed the black snake as her contracted Transcendent creature and her Transcendent ability.
• The dean warned Xu Zhi that Little One alone would not be enough and encouraged her to strengthen herself as well.
• The dean affirmed that Xu Zhi could rely on the Light Institute, while Xu Zhi kept her dangerous secret from the academy’s leaders.
• Ke Yi escorted Xu Zhi to the detached house the Light Institute had gifted her, which would remain hers after graduation.

Xu Zhi explored her new home and the Light Institute’s trading system, learning how supernatural cores were graded and priced. She spent all 900 of her credits on Attribute Cores, prioritizing resources for raising [Lamp] while also buying a few [Moth] and [Blade] cores.

• Ke Yi explained the academy’s layout and exchanged contact information with Xu Zhi before leaving.
• Xu Zhi checked her wristband and found 900 credits and an extra 100,000 in her personal account.
• Xu Zhi examined the academy’s core exchange and learned how core concentration affected purity, absorption, and price.
• Xu Zhi spent all her credits on Attribute Cores, including several [Moth] and [Blade] cores, to prepare for raising [Lamp].

After reaching Level Five Enlightened, Xu Zhi discovered that Attribute Cores provided the refined energy she needed and sensed the presence of [Authority]. She studied the ranks of supernatural beings and wondered whether her deeds in the Federation qualified as a great achievement, allowing her to become a true Named One.

• Xu Zhi bought Attribute Cores and daily necessities, then went upstairs to check on Qi Yanxin as she prepared Xu Zhi's room.
• Xu Zhi fed a [Blade] core to Little One and absorbed a concentration-20 [Lamp] core, confirming that outside cores matched those from the Federation.
• The core's energy helped Xu Zhi reach Level Five Enlightened, improve her body, and sense the edge of [Authority].
• Xu Zhi studied the supernatural ranks of Enlightened, Immortal, and Named One, and concluded that the Federation's incomplete Great Dream had prevented her from becoming a true Named One there.
• Xu Zhi wondered whether her actions in the Federation counted as a great achievement and meant she had already met the requirements to become a true Named One.

Xu Zhi read about the requirements and significance of becoming Named, then studied the basics of Transcendent Circuits. She realized that her earlier repair of her [Lamp] circuit had been dangerously reckless, but she had survived by sheer luck.

• Xu Zhi learned that advancing to Named required four Trials and a Great Deed, and that each Named received a unique name with supreme authority.
• Xu Zhi concluded that she might naturally advance to Named after completing a Great Deed, though she did not know what name she would receive.
• Xu Zhi found the section on Transcendent Circuits and learned that Talent Circuits contain abilities and can be perilous to repair.
• Xu Zhi realized she had repaired her [Lamp] circuit without remembering its original appearance and recognized how lucky she was to have survived.

Xu Zhi read about general-purpose circuits and speculated that circuits underpinned the world's extraordinary phenomena. Her thoughts triggered a mysterious transformation in her extraordinary circuit, which consumed all her cores before reluctantly stopping when she ran out of energy.

• Xu Zhi learned that general-purpose circuits served many purposes but were difficult and dangerous to memorize and use.
• Xu Zhi speculated that circuits supported extraordinary phenomena and might be connected to rules and godhood.
• A strange sound came from within Xu Zhi as her Lamp-attribute energy was drained and golden threads began weaving through her extraordinary circuit.
• Xu Zhi fed the circuit every core she had bought, but it became hungry again less than a minute later.
• Xu Zhi said she had no money or cores left, and the golden threads stopped weaving and settled against the circuit.