Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• At Jia Shang Auction House's autumn auction, Gao Jing's ten bottles of Hundred-Fruit Wine sell for a total of 93.58 million yuan, with the first bottle fetching 10 million (100x its starting price) and subsequent bottles ranging from 8.88 to ~10 million
• The winning bidder is the famed Best Actress "Young Master Zhou" (Buyer Number Seven)
• Niu Jinxing (Big Ox) explains that he gave away half a kilogram of the wine at his mother's urging to curry favors, which created the initial demand; Gao Jing's auction solved the resulting pressure from powerful people seeking the wine
• Gao Jing completes the auction procedures, then gives Niu Jinxing two bottles at a discounted rate of 8.88 million each as a goodwill gesture
• Back at the Grand Hyatt, Gao Jing assigns Ji Yu several major business tasks: set up a shell company in Hong Kong, establish an office for Great World Trading Company in the provincial capital, rent a warehouse, and acquire a factory for cryptocurrency mining
• Gao Jing offers Ji Yu a cup of Hundred-Fruit Wine—a callback to their first meeting—and she immediately gets drunk, causing Gao Jing to cancel his plans and put her to bed

Character Developments

• Gao Jing: Demonstrates sharp business acumen (recognizing the monopoly value of his wine); transitions from merely being wealthy to legitimizing his wealth through proper business channels; unafraid of trouble, noting his Transcendent status makes him fearless in the Main World
• Ji Yu: Feels the growing gap between herself and Gao Jing's wealth; rejects the idea of being a "canary" (kept woman); wants to prove her worth by helping him; shows vulnerability and playfulness
• Niu Jinxing: Shows genuine loyalty and goodwill toward Gao Jing; admits he feels greater psychological pressure around Gao Jing than even the head of his own family

Significant Themes

• Monopoly power: The value of controlling a unique, in-demand resource
• Wealth legitimization: Gao Jing's intent to channel his supernatural-derived gains through proper business structures to avoid suspicion
• Relationship dynamics amid wealth disparity: Ji Yu's insecurity about the gap between them, and Gao Jing's attempts to bring her into his world by giving her meaningful responsibilities
• Social capital in elite circles: How favor-currying and tacit understanding among the wealthy shape bidding behavior

Character Interactions

• Gao Jing & Niu Jinxing: Warm, mutually respectful; Niu Jinxing shields Gao Jing from potential trouble and acts as his connection to the business world
• Gao Jing & Ji Yu: Affectionate and playful; he recalls their first meeting ("Hello, may I buy you a drink?") and she drunkenly collapses after one cup, ending with Gao Jing carrying her to bed
• Ji Yu & Nine Apertures (the cat): She sits with the cat while lost in thought; the cat later watches Gao Jing's odd behavior with confusion

Chapter Summary: “Exchanging Liquor”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Jing returns to the Great World riding a powerful adult Giant Rhino Packbeast, which he names Taishan. The Mountain Tribe’s willingness to lend him such a valuable animal demonstrates their deep trust in him.
• He transports a massive shipment of goods in Copper Anchor’s storage space:
  • 800 tons of coarse salt
  • 50 tons of candy
  • 10 tons of tobacco
  • 100 tons of genuine grain-based White Liquor
• Gao Jing reflects on the business infrastructure Senior Sister Ji is establishing in the Main World, including offices, warehouses, staff, import-export procedures, and possible factory acquisitions. This will allow him to focus more on cultivation rather than logistics.
• The Mountain Tribe warmly welcomes Gao Jing. Shan Guo’er and the children are especially excited because he has brought candy and another stuffed toy.
• Gao Jing introduces the Mountain Giants to White Liquor. Shan Tai drinks a large quantity immediately and enthusiastically declares it superior to Mountain Ape Wine and even Millet Wine.
• The tribal warriors share the liquor communally, reflecting the Mountain Tribe’s strong sense of brotherhood and equality.
• The tribe stores the salt and White Liquor in its public treasury, distributes the candy among the children, and gives the tobacco to the shaman chief, Shan Yan.
• Gao Jing asks Shan Yan to reserve Mountain Ape Wine for future trade. Shan Yan explains that the tribe has none left, but the mountain monkeys may have brewed a new batch. He suggests “borrowing” some, leaving Gao Jing uncertain whether the word carries its ordinary or a more forceful Great Wilderness meaning.

Character Developments

• Gao Jing continues to grow as an influential intermediary between the Main World and the Great World. He is becoming both a trusted member of the Mountain Tribe and a powerful merchant exploiting the enormous value difference between the two worlds.
• He remains practical and ambitious, recognizing the extraordinary profits available through exchanging ordinary Main World goods for rare Great World products such as Hundred-Fruit Wine.
• At the same time, Gao Jing prioritizes personal strength and Transcendent cultivation, acknowledging that wealth cannot replace power.
• Shan Tai is shown as generous and communal. Although he first tastes the liquor himself, he quickly shares it with the other warriors and warns them not to waste the limited supply.
• Shan Guo’er and the tribe’s children continue to view Gao Jing with affection and excitement, treating his returns like festivals.
• Shan Yan, the shaman chief, now regards Gao Jing with exceptional warmth and dependence, appreciating the supplies that can sustain the tribe through winter.

Significant Themes

• Cross-world trade and limitless profit: Gao Jing’s goods are inexpensive in the Main World but immensely valuable in the Great World, creating huge commercial opportunities.
• Trust and belonging: The Mountain Tribe’s loan of Taishan and its acceptance of Gao Jing as one of their own show that he has moved beyond being a mere outsider or trader.
• Communal survival: The tribe’s practice of sharing liquor and storing essential supplies publicly emphasizes unity as a necessity in the dangerous Great Wilderness.
• Modern goods entering a primitive world: Salt, candy, tobacco, plastic barrels, and industrially produced liquor dramatically alter the tribe’s material life and cultural experiences.
• Wealth versus strength: Gao Jing’s growing commercial power contrasts with his belief that cultivation and personal ability remain more important than money.
• Foreshadowing and uncertainty: Shan Yan’s suggestion of “borrowing” wine from the mountain monkeys hints at possible conflict or an unconventional tribal interpretation of trade.

Character Interactions

• Gao Jing and Taishan share a familiar working relationship, with Gao Jing treating the giant beast almost like a trusted companion.
• Shan Guo’er enthusiastically welcomes Gao Jing and receives a new stuffed doll, reinforcing their affectionate bond.
• Shan Tai and Gao Jing engage in a merchant-like customer survey when Gao Jing asks him to compare White Liquor with local wines.
• Shan Tai introduces the liquor to the warriors, who respond collectively and enjoy it together.
• Gao Jing and Shan Yan interact openly and directly: Gao Jing requests Mountain Ape Wine, while Shan Yan responds helpfully by offering to obtain it from the mountain monkeys.
• The chapter ends with Gao Jing wondering what “borrow” truly means in the customs of the Great Wilderness.

Chapter Summary: "Borrowing Wine"

Key Plot Points & Events

1. Departure: Gao Jing returns to Mountain Stronghold and expresses a need for Mountain Ape Wine. The old wizard Shan Yan personally leads a party of seven Totem Warriors (plus Gao Jing) into the mountain forest toward the monkeys' territory.
2. First Conflict: The party is attacked by mountain apes throwing fruits, stones, and branches. Shan Yan casts a large-scale vine-binding spell, capturing hundreds of apes effortlessly.
3. Cave Encounter: The party reaches the apes' enormous cave. Shan Tai fights the Ape King barehanded and quickly subdues him with minimal effort.
4. Harvest: They collect roughly two-thirds of the fermented Mountain Ape Wine from two fermentation pits, seal them in clay jars, and leave. The Ape King wails in despair.
5. Revelation: Shan Yan explains the arrangement—the warriors clear dangerous beasts from the apes' territory, making this a form of protection money.

Character Developments

• Gao Jing: Deeply impressed by Shan Yan's magic, he develops a strong yearning for higher-level Transcendent power, mentally favoring a mage's finesse over a warrior's brute force.
• Shan Yan: Demonstrates vast magical power with seemingly little effort, revealing his pragmatic worldview (power relationships underpin even nature).
• Shan Tai: Shows his combat supremacy and bold personality, treating the Ape King like a trivial opponent; also shows restrained mercy.

Significant Themes

• The relationship between might and order: The tribe maintains its authority over the apes not by extermination, but by establishing a dominant "protection" dynamic.
• Magic vs. martial power: Gao Jing's reaction sets up a personal philosophical pivot toward mystical/transcendent paths.
• Power and restraint: The tribe takes what it needs but leaves some wine behind, maintaining a sustainable relationship with the apes.

Character Interactions

• Shan Yan ↔ Gao Jing: The wizard explains the tribe's relationship with the apes, and Gao Jing silently praises his logic.
• Shan Tai ↔ Ape King: A one-sided, anticlimactic brawl; Shan Tai defeats the king with ease.
• The wizard ↔ apes: Overwhelming magical domination, leading to the apes' mass surrender.

Chapter Summary: “Hunting Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Late autumn arrives in the Great Wilderness, driving herds and most predators south. The region becomes increasingly barren, leaving only small animals such as field mice.
• Gao Jing completes another month of intense training near the Great Falls. His mastery of the twelve forms of the Myriad Beasts Battle Art advances significantly, and he begins to sense the barrier separating Low-Tier and High-Tier Totem Warriors.
• Although the battle art could eventually lead him toward Legendary status, Gao Jing’s main ambition remains becoming a wizard after reaching High-Tier.
• Gao Jing uses a diesel generator brought from the Main World to fully charge five Silver Scales for the Copper Anchor. Following his agreement with the old wizard, he is more open about using modern technology, trusting that the powerful Huaxia Tribe can protect his secrets.
• Seeking progress through real combat rather than secluded training, Gao Jing decides to resume hunting before winter.
• At dinner, Shan Guo’er shares pine mushroom soup with him. Gao Jing tells her he will be away hunting for three or four days. She is reluctant to part with him, but cheers up when he promises to bring her something interesting.
• Gao Jing leaves the stronghold alone before dawn, avoiding disturbing Shan Guo’er or the other villagers.
• At the hunting grounds, he finds far fewer beasts than before and no Velociraptors at all. He eventually spots a Gulu Goblin and follows it to its companions, discovering what appears to be a much larger and more significant target.

Character Developments

• Gao Jing: His physical strength, qi control, and combat skill continue to improve rapidly. He has grown more confident in his position within the Mountain Tribe and is increasingly willing to use advanced technology openly. He also recognizes that actual combat is necessary to break through to High Rank.
• Shan Guo’er: She has become deeply attached to Gao Jing and depends on his daily companionship, training, and stories. Her disappointment at his departure shows their close bond, while her promise not to misbehave reflects that she has learned from her previous mistake.
• The old wizard and Gao Jing: Their relationship has developed into one based on mutual trust. The wizard respects Gao Jing’s privacy, while Gao Jing feels secure enough to leave items such as his laptop and generator accessible.
• Mountain Tribe: The tribe continues to accept Gao Jing without pressing him about his origins or strange possessions, reinforcing his sense of belonging.

Significant Themes

• Growth through hardship and experience: Gao Jing believes secluded training is no longer enough; real combat is needed to achieve the next breakthrough.
• Trust and mutual respect: The old wizard and the tribe’s willingness not to pry allow Gao Jing to act more freely and integrate more fully into the community.
• Adaptation and technological advancement: Modern equipment, especially the generator, is being incorporated into life in the Great Wilderness.
• Seasonal change and scarcity: The arrival of winter alters animal migration patterns and makes hunting more difficult, creating urgency for Gao Jing’s expedition.
• Affection and companionship: Gao Jing and Shan Guo’er share a warm, almost familial relationship, balancing the chapter’s focus on strength and survival.

Character Interactions

• Gao Jing and the old wizard maintain an unspoken agreement: Gao Jing keeps certain secrets, while the wizard avoids questioning him.
• Shan Guo’er welcomes Gao Jing home with pine mushroom soup and prepares his medicinal broth.
• Gao Jing reassures Shan Guo’er about his brief absence and seals his promise to return with a playful pinky swear.
• The chapter ends with Gao Jing cautiously following a goblin to its group, setting up a potentially dangerous confrontation.

Summary: Goblin Knight

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Jing discovers a small goblin camp deep in the forest, recognizing it as an expansion camp led by a Goblin Knight — a hobgoblin elite riding a Giant Rat.
• Exposition explains goblin hierarchy: ordinary Green-skins, Hobgoblins, Goblin Knights (who tame Giant Rats as mounts), and Goblin Lords who send out expansion forces.
• Gao Jing decides to attack immediately. He stores his backpack and unleashes a javelin, killing a goblin sentry.
• He charges into camp with a roar; panicking goblins mistake him for a Giant and scatter.
• The Goblin Knight rallies its troops with a whip, but Gao Jing's Red Serpent aura terrifies the Green-skins again, causing them to flee.
• The Goblin Knight mounts its Giant Rat and charges Gao Jing with a spear.
• Gao Jing leaps over the charge and punches the Goblin Knight off its mount, breaking its arm.
• A crossbow bolt wounds the Giant Rat, which goes berserk and attacks the remaining goblins.
• The Goblin Knight gets up with a bone club, but Gao Jing defeats it with Totem-enhanced punches and kills it by smashing its head.
• All remaining goblins have fled; the camp is effectively cleared.

2. Character Developments

• Gao Jing: Shows decisive, aggressive tactics and growing battle confidence. He seeks real combat as a path to breakthrough, integrating his Totem Power and Myriad Beasts Battle Art into practical fighting. His victory reinforces his direct, no-hesitation approach.
• Goblin Knight: Presented as more intelligent and courageous than ordinary goblins, able to rally subordinates and ride a mount, but ultimately outclassed and killed.
• Green-skins: Depicted as cowardly, chaotic, and driven by instinct — bullying the weak and fleeing from the strong.

3. Significant Themes

• Overwhelming individual strength vs. numbers: One warrior can rout a camp through raw power and aura.
• Real combat as the path to growth: Gao Jing's insight that breakthrough requires actual battle.
• Goblins as invasive threats: Their rapid breeding and expansion toward the surface justifies conflict.
• Fear and dominance: Leadership among goblins relies on violence and intimidation; Gao Jing uses the same to break their morale.

4. Character Interactions

• Gao Jing vs. goblin camp: He uses intimidation (roar, aura) and lethal force; goblins panic and flee.
• Gao Jing vs. Goblin Knight: A short duel — Gao Jing dominates physically, breaking its arm, then killing it with repeated punches.
• Goblin Knight vs. its goblins: It whips them to force obedience, showing coercive leadership.
• Giant Rat vs. goblins: After being wounded, it goes mad and attacks its own side, adding chaos.

Chapter Summary: "One Surprise After Another!"

Key Plot Points & Events

1. Goblin Camp Battle Concludes: Gao Jing defeats the Gulu Goblins and their knight in a brief skirmish. The surviving goblins flee rather than fight—demonstrating their cowardice. The Giant Rat struck by his crossbow bolt dies.
2. Combat Breakthrough: During the fight, Gao Jing's fighting spirit and Totem Power peak simultaneously, allowing him to genuinely touch the barrier to advancing to High Rank—though his accumulation is still insufficient to break through.
3. Discovery of the Blackwood Statue: Gao Jing investigates the goblins' three-meter-tall stone altar, finding arranged animal skulls and a dark brown wooden statue (40cm) of an ugly demon god.
4. Faith Power Revelation: Touching the statue floods him with heat—pure Faith Power flows into the Copper Anchor. The statue crumbles to wood chips once drained. This overturns Gao Jing's prior belief that Faith Power only came from positive emotions directed at him in the Main World.
5. Python Encounter: A massive black snake with red spots (~10-20m long) appears. Gao Jing tests his Red Serpent aura on it; the snake shows reverence, allows him to touch its head, and obediently leaves when told.
6. Unsuccessful Hunting: Gao Jing spends three days searching for more goblins and Blackwood Statues but finds none. He returns to the village empty-handed.

Character Developments

• Gao Jing: Gains practical combat experience; his drive for battle intensifies ("fists hungry"). He discovers a new method of harvesting Faith Power in the Great World—targeting races that worship gods/devils. He demonstrates growing control over his Red Serpent aura, which now can influence even large serpents.
• His strategic thinking evolves: he realizes he must actively hunt goblin tribes for their religious idols rather than relying on emotional faith from others.

Significant Themes

• Faith Power & Religion as Resources: The chapter reveals that while Great Wilderness humans don't worship deities (they revere ancestors and self-cultivation), Abyss races like goblins do. Faith in gods/devils can be harvested—a key power-up mechanic.
• Combat as Cultivation: Real battle and life-or-death stimulation accelerate growth, validating the advice from the old wizard and Shan Tai.
• Predator Hierarchy: Gao Jing's bloodline-derived aura grants him dominance over weaker/similar creatures, reinforcing the Great World's brutal ecological order.
• Cultural Divergence Between Realms: Directly contrasts Main World belief systems with the Abyss races' religious practices.

Character Interactions

• Gao Jing vs. Gulu Goblins: Unilateral slaughter; the goblins' "bullying weak, fearing strong" cowardice prevents any organized resistance.
• Gao Jing & the Black Snake: Notable non-violent interaction—the snake initially aggressive, becomes submissive/reverent upon sensing Gao Jing's Red Serpent aura. Gao Jing displays mercy/dismissal rather than killing it.
• Gao Jing & the Copper Anchor: Passive but crucial—it greedily devours the statue's Faith Power, hinting at future upgrade potential.
  Notable Details: The goblin knight's corpse is too poor to loot; the goblin god's name remains unknown; Gao Jing's Protective Talisman Plaque (a new one from Shan Yan/old wizard) remains unused.

Summary: "Do What One Can"

Key Plot Points

• Gao Jing returns to find Mountain Stronghold on high alert: gates shut at noon, armed warriors on the walls
• Shan Bao informs him a different stronghold was attacked, not their own
• Refugees from the Muten Tribe (200+ Giants) have fled to Mountain Stronghold for shelter and aid
• The Muten Tribe was attacked by Outcasts who disguised themselves as traveling merchants and infiltrated their stronghold, ambushing and killing Chief Shaman Mu Tu during a banquet
• The Outcasts now control Muten Stronghold; the attack was long-planned and deliberately timed before winter
• The Mountain Tribe warns were previously sent to the Muten Tribe about Outcasts, but were ignored
• Shan Yan orders settlement of refugees, halts all hunting/gathering, and restricts travel outside the stronghold
• Gao Jing chooses to remain in the stronghold and exits the Great World to plan his next move

Character Developments

• Gao Jing: Deepens his emotional investment in the Mountain Stronghold, viewing it as home; his hatred for the Outcasts intensifies after their repeated attacks; he feels helpless by his weakness but wants to contribute to protecting the stronghold
• Shan Yan (old shaman): Demonstrates calm, decisive leadership under crisis; accepts the refugees into the tribe, knowing it strains winter supplies but choosing to "do what one can"
• Shan Tai: Shows concern about resource shortages but defers to the shaman's wisdom; takes responsibility for logistics
• Muten Tribe members: Reduced from a thriving thousand-member tribe to refugees, illustrating the brutality of the Great Wilderness

Significant Themes

• Community and unity: Tribal survival depends on accepting and incorporating refugees; the Mountain Tribe grows by taking in the displaced Muten survivors
• Wisdom of elders vs. inexperience: Mu Tu's youth and naivety caused Muten Tribe's downfall; Shan Yan's experience steers the Mountain Tribe safely
• Survival and scarcity: Winter supplies become strained with the influx of refugees; the unforgiving nature of the wilderness
• The ever-present Outcast threat: Outcasts employ deception (merchant disguise) rather than just frontal assault, requiring constant vigilance
• "Do what one can" (pragmatism): Facing limited options, one must make do with what is available

Character Interactions

• Gao Jing & Shan Bao: Friendly reunion; Shan Bao immediately escorts Gao Jing to the leader, showing their close bond
• Gao Jing & Shan Guo'er: Tender moment; she rushes to him, worried about his safety, and obediently leaves when adults discuss matters—showing their deep familial bond
• Gao Jing & Shan Yan: Respectful relationship; Gao Jing seeks guidance, Shan Yan reassures him the tribe will survive
• Shan Yan & Shan Tai: Clear hierarchy of leader and executor; Shan Tai raises practical concerns, Shan Yan provides strategic direction

Summary: "The Truth Behind the Cooperation"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Jing is now "President Gao" — he has established a branch office of Great World Trading Company in the provincial capital's New International Trade Tower (68th floor). Ji Yu manages operations while he remains a hands-off boss.
• He receives a visit from Deputy General Manager Chen of Minghui Biotech, a listed company. Chen brings an assistant and a balding bioengineering engineer.
• Minghui Biotech wants to cooperate with Gao Jing to develop Hundred-Fruit Wine — specifically, they want bottles for testing to reverse-engineer the formula, or the recipe itself. They offer shares, cash, and stock. Chen claims a "white glove" identity for Gao Jing is no secret.
• Gao Jing refuses, saying he lacks the capability and notes the wine may not be reproducible outside the Ape Cave's special environment. He tells Chen that new wine arrives early next year and can be bid for at auction.
• Chen warns him: the ten-million-per-bottle price was driven up because bigshots wanted it for imitation. Only Bigshot Fei (Young Master Zhou's godfather) bought it to drink. Chen claims modern technology can analyze the wine's components, and warns the bigshots could crush the price unless Gao Jing cooperates.
• Gao Jing politely but firmly sends them away, maintaining goodwill without conceding.
• Afterward, Gao Jing reflects that he fears no confrontation, even with powerful figures. He asks Ji Yu whether she would transfer her residency to Hong Kong Island, then dismisses it as a passing question.
• The chapter ends with Gao Jing leaving for something "even more important."

2. Character Developments

• Gao Jing: Has grown into a more established businessman — wealthier, more strategic, and building infrastructure (company, logistics channels, property ambitions in Hong Kong). He shows calm confidence, resisting corporate pressure and veiled threats. He is increasingly forward-thinking about security and long-term positioning (residency transfer, diversified trade routes).
• Ji Yu: Fully stepped into the role of company manager; capable, professional, and stylish, while maintaining her playful "senior" dynamic with Gao Jing. She is loyal and easily flustered by his advances.

3. Significant Themes

• Power and influence: The gap between Gao Jing and established business/political bigshots; the idea that prices and "face" can be manipulated by the powerful — though Gao Jing no longer fears them.
• Intellectual property / trade secrets: Corporate attempts to reverse-engineer a unique product; the clash between modern technology and irreproducible natural processes.
• Strategic positioning: Gao Jing's construction of a buffer company, diversified supply chains, and contingency planning (e.g., residency transfer to Hong Kong) to protect himself from scrutiny and vulnerability.
• The "white glove" dilemma: Gao Jing's public cover identity is already suspected, yet his real independence gives him leverage.

4. Character Interactions

• Gao Jing & Ji Yu: Flirtatious, teasing exchange — Gao Jing calls her "big sister" then asserts boss authority, joking about spanking her. Ji Yu teases back but is easily flustered. Their rapport mixes affection, playfulness, and professional trust.
• Gao Jing & Deputy General Manager Chen: A tense, layered business negotiation. Chen starts politely, becomes coaxing, then resorts to veiled threats about market manipulation and Gao Jing's anonymous backer. Gao Jing remains composed, neither cowed nor confrontational, and ends the meeting civilly.

Chapter Summary: Building a Super Influencer

Key Plot Points

• Gao Jing brings four young media creators from Azure Coast Studio to his luxurious villa (Minglan Grand View) to meet Nine Apertures, the cat he plans to turn into a major internet influencer.
• The studio team signs a confidentiality and cooperation agreement to produce vlogs featuring Nine Apertures, whose extraordinary intelligence and obedience allow it to follow any command.
• Gao Jing reveals he is "High Mountain," Bilibili's legendary record-breaking uploader, shocking the team and solidifying their commitment.
• Over two weeks, the studio gathers footage for the first vlog while Gao Jing and Ji Yu apply for tourist visas to America.

Character Developments

• Gao Jing reveals his strategy for harvesting Faith Power: he discovered that positive emotions directed at Nine Apertures generate Faith Power for him—a unique ability only the cat possesses.
• His past attempts to farm Faith Power (donations, livestreams, viral events, even charity) yielded little, but helping an elderly woman once produced more—motivating this new influencer approach.
• Azure Coast Studio members transition from cautious newcomers to enthusiastic, fully committed collaborators upon learning Gao Jing's identity.

Significant Themes

• The 3B advertising principle (beauties, beasts, babies) as a formula for viral success—Nine Apertures embodies the "beasts" appeal.
• Faith Power economy: the need for exponentially growing quantities to upgrade the Copper Anchor, from a pond to a pool to a small lake.
• The power of social media and influencer culture as a tool for supernatural purposes.

Character Interactions

• The bespectacled girl is immediately charmed by Nine Apertures, while the rest of the team hesitates only briefly before agreeing.
• Ji Yu cuddles and kisses Nine Apertures, creating an idyllic image in the afternoon light that impresses the visitors.
• Gao Jing directs Nine Apertures to perform poses for filming, showcasing the cat's remarkable responsiveness.
• The team's discovery of Gao Jing's "High Mountain" identity shifts their attitude from polite professionalism to starstruck awe.

Chapter Summary: "In New York City"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Jing reviews and approves the first vlog produced by Azure Coast Studio featuring his kitten, Nine Apertures. The video shows the tabby kitten counting on its paws with an adorable voiceover, designed to maximize cuteness and attract followers.
• He uploads the video to Bilibili under his "High Mountain" account; due to his strategic partnership status, it passes review in under ten minutes and goes live. The video quickly gains traction, and Gao Jing begins receiving Faith Power from viewers.
• Gao Jing and Ji Yu fly first class from Shanghai to New York City on a fourteen-hour direct flight, arriving the following evening. They check into the Mandarin Oriental Hotel (Central Park View Suite, $2,200/night).
• They spend two days sightseeing at major NYC attractions: Times Square, Wall Street, the Metropolitan Museum, and the Statue of Liberty.
• On their third night, Gao Jing spends several hundred thousand dollars shopping on Fifth Avenue to reward Ji Yu, buying clothes, shoes, handbags, and cosmetics until she desperately stops him.
• That same night, after Ji Yu falls asleep (from drugged fruit wine), Gao Jing quietly leaves the hotel, hails a taxi, and pays the driver $100 to take him to a mysterious address. The Black driver flees in terror, implying Gao Jing is heading to a highly dangerous area — presumably to acquire weapons illegally.

2. Character Developments

• Gao Jing: Demonstrates his strategic, business-minded approach to gaining Faith Power through the influencer/marketing plan for Nine Apertures. His stated purpose for the America trip is tourism, but his real motive is acquiring powerful modern weapons to defend Mountain Stronghold against the Outcast gang and Totem Warriors. He is generous with Ji Yu, spending freely without hesitation. His resourcefulness and willingness to operate in gray areas (deception, illegal weapon procurement) are highlighted.
• Ji Yu: Continues as Gao Jing's loyal companion/assistant, genuinely invested in Nine Apertures' success. She appreciates Gao Jing's generosity but is practical enough to stop his excessive spending. She is unaware of his true purpose for the trip.
• Nine Apertures: The kitten's influencer journey officially begins, positioned as a future "superstar influencer" with a long-term plan: cuteness first, story-driven content in the middle stage, and eventually tailored film/television productions, plus merchandise.

3. Significant Themes

• Faith Power through modern media: Success in the digital/influencer world directly translates into supernatural power for Gao Jing, as likes and viewership generate Faith Power.
• Conflict preparation: Gao Jing's real motivation — arming himself with modern weapons to counter the threat from Sinfolk Giants/Totem Warriors — shows his pragmatic approach to the supernatural world, blending modern technology with cultivation.
• Wealth as a tool: Money is used strategically — hiring studios, booking luxury hotels, buying weapons, pleasing Ji Yu — all serving larger goals.
• Deception and hidden purposes: The trip's official purpose (tourism) masks its real intention (weapon procurement), and Gao Jing deliberately gets Ji Yu drunk to slip away unnoticed.

4. Character Interactions

• Gao Jing & Azure Coast Studio: Communicates via email; he approves their vlog and endorses their long-term marketing plan for Nine Apertures (weekly updates, merchandise, brand registration).
• Gao Jing & Ji Yu: Travel together intimately; he carries her to bed after showering, feeds her his Hundred-Fruit Wine (which intoxicates her easily), buys her luxury goods, and she posts photos to social media. Their relationship is comfortable and affectionate, though Ji Yu remains unaware of his covert activities.
• Gao Jing & the taxi driver: A brief but telling encounter — the driver initially hesitates at the address, then flees in terror after dropping Gao Jing off, emphasizing the danger of the destination.
• Author's note (P.S.): A reminder that the book's setting is purely fictional and should not be compared to real-world standards or nitpicked for inconsistencies.

Notable Details

• Gao Jing's Bilibili account previously approached 50 million followers from the giveaways; many have since dropped off, but his reach remains enormous.
• The plan for Nine Apertures includes: early videos = cuteness; middle stage = story-driven creativity; later stage = tailored film/TV productions, exclusive brand, and merchandise.
• Gao Jing's English is passable for daily conversation; Ji Yu's is much better and she has traveled abroad many times before.
• The hotel's highest-tier suites cost up to $14,000/night, but Gao Jing opts for the more modest $2,200 suite.

Chapter Summary: "I Want Them All"

Key Plot Points & Events

• Gao Jing travels to Harlem, New York City's most dangerous district, to purchase high-powered weapons illegally
• After exiting the subway, he eliminates two beggars who approach him by shoving them to the ground
• Using his Giant Spirit Totem, Gao Jing transforms his body and face to disguise himself, growing to 2.1 meters tall
• He visits Old John Gun Store, requesting three of every weapon including Barrett M107A1s
• Without proper documentation, the owner refuses the sale despite Gao Jing offering $50,000 cash
• As Gao Jing leaves, two hooded men intercept him, offering to help him buy guns

Character Developments

• Gao Jing demonstrates mastery over his Giant Spirit Totem, now able to freely control body size and facial features for complete identity change
• He is methodical and prepared, carrying oversized clothes in his storage space for transformations
• His approach is pragmatic: intimidation for street threats, money for business deals, and discretion (disguise) for illegal transactions
• He remains undeterred when the legal purchase fails, immediately pivoting to alternative options

Significant Themes

• Class divide & urban decay: Contrast between Manhattan's glamour and Harlem's poverty, crime, and abandonment
• Money as ultimate tool: Gao Jing's belief that any problem can be solved if the price is right
• Identity & deception: Use of supernatural powers to evade legal consequences
• Crime as necessity: Portrayal of illegal gun markets as practical solutions for those outside the system

Character Interactions

• Gao Jing vs. Beggars: Brief physical confrontation; Gao Jing asserts dominance through force
• Gao Jing vs. Gun store owner: Civil but tense negotiation; the owner initially dismisses him, grows suspicious at his demands, but ultimately refuses the undocumented sale
• Gao Jing vs. Two strangers: Ending on a cliffhanger as unknown men offer illegal weapons assistance

Chapter Summary: "Isn't Living Good?"

Key Plot Points & Events

1. Weapon Purchase Negotiation: Gao Jing is approached by a hooded man (a "shopping service" agent in cahoots with Old John's Gun Store) offering to buy weapons on his behalf. They bargain from $20,000 down to $10,000 for two people.
2. Payment Dispute: The hooded man demands Gao Jing pay upfront for the goods; Gao Jing refuses and nearly walks away before a compromise is reached.
3. Delivery: The hooded man and his Black companion deliver the purchased arsenal—3× Remington M870s, AK-74s, M16s, Colt Pythons, Desert Eagles, and 2× Barrett M107A1 anti-materiel sniper rifles with ammunition (total over $60,000).
4. The Hook: The hooded man hints at selling Gao Jing "something with more kick," scheduling a meeting for the next night.
5. Hotel Scene: Gao Jing gets Ji Yu drunk on Hundred-Fruit Wine (she knowingly drinks it and passes out peacefully).
6. The Secret Meeting: That night, Gao Jing is led underground to a luxurious office where he meets the hooded man's boss—a scar-faced, arrogant middle-aged white man surrounded by poker-playing gang members.
7. Cliffhanger: Gao Jing opens a suitcase full of cash; the boss's greed shows. Gao Jing then asks, "Isn't living good?" and unleashes the aura of the Red Serpent, enveloping the entire room.

Character Developments

• Gao Jing: Demonstrates shrewd bargaining, caution (refuses upfront payment), and absolute fearlessness (enters dangerous situations alone). Has a storage space ability and a giant form transformation, which he uses to hide evidence. He is clearly dangerous and confident in his power.
• Ji Yu: Trusts Gao Jing completely despite suspecting he's up to something. The fruit wine visibly improves her complexion and makes her feel younger, highlighting its supernatural benefits.
• The Hooded Man: A nervous, profane gang member (Hellcats) who runs errands for a boss. Shows reluctant respect for Gao Jing.
• The Boss: Arrogant, greedy, and dismissive—views Gao Jing as an insignificant ant. His greed likely seals his fate.

Significant Themes

• Gun Culture & Lawlessness: American gun stores selling military-grade weapons like the Barrett M107A1 openly; "anything goes" in this environment.
• Trust & Deception: Everyone in the underground world is potentially a threat; payment methods and backstabbing are constant concerns.
• Bargaining as Survival: Negotiation is framed as a necessary skill to avoid being taken advantage of.
• Hidden Power: Gao Jing's supernatural abilities (storage space, transformation, Red Serpent aura) are concealed beneath a mundane exterior—he moves through the criminal underworld effortlessly.

Character Interactions

• Gao Jing ↔ Hooded Man: Heated bargaining over price and payment method; the hooded man curses profusely but ultimately concedes to Gao Jing's terms.
• Gao Jing ↔ Tattooed Gang Member: Awkward small talk; the man offers a cigarette and reassures Gao Jing of the gang's trustworthiness.
• Gao Jing ↔ Ji Yu: Playful, flirtatious dynamic; she accuses him of trying to get her drunk, drinks anyway, and trusts him fully.
• Gao Jing ↔ Boss: The boss treats Gao Jing with contempt; Gao Jing remains eerily calm, then drops his act and reveals his deadly intent with the chilling question: "Isn't living good?"

Chapter Summary: “New Discoveries!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Jing immediately senses hostility from everyone during a prearranged meeting with a hooded arms dealer and the Hellcat Gang.
• When the gang attempts to ambush him after he opens the suitcase, Gao Jing unleashes the red serpent’s aura, paralyzing everyone through overwhelming fear.
• He kills Old Black with a single punch, then rapidly eliminates five gang members with a hunting crossbow.
• The terrified hooded man is killed after Gao Jing realizes he betrayed him out of greed.
• The Hellcat Gang leader tries to bargain for his life by revealing a hidden vault filled with weapons, bazookas, cash, and gold. However, he attempts to retrieve a concealed pistol and is killed when Gao Jing punches through the desk and crushes him.
• Gao Jing discovers that killing evil criminals generates faith power, just as his public “Nine Apertures” videos do.
• He considers becoming a real-life superhero in New York to gain both faith and justice-related rewards, but recognizes that he is still vulnerable to guns and cannot yet challenge modern authorities openly.
• He loots the entire vault and prepares to burn the office with high-energy fuel.

Character Developments

• Gao Jing demonstrates the full benefits of becoming a totem warrior: enhanced strength, speed, senses, intelligence, memory, and danger intuition.
• His first killing in the modern world reveals that he can remain calm and emotionally detached while using extreme violence.
• He shows growing confidence in his abilities, but also practical self-awareness by acknowledging that he is not yet invulnerable.
• His discovery that righteous violence produces faith power expands his understanding of how to upgrade the Copper Anchor.
• The hooded man is exposed as greedy and treacherous, while the gang leader proves manipulative and desperate when faced with death.

Significant Themes

• Power and adaptation: Gao Jing’s supernatural transformation allows him to dominate enemies who rely on ordinary weapons and deception.
• Justice and morality: The chapter explores whether eliminating criminals can be both an act of justice and a source of supernatural power.
• Faith as energy: Gao Jing learns that public belief is not the only source of faith power; destroying evil can generate it as well.
• Pragmatism versus idealism: Although he imagines becoming a superhero, Gao Jing understands the dangers of acting openly in the real world.
• Greed and betrayal: The gang’s attempt to double-cross Gao Jing leads directly to their destruction.

Character Interactions

• Gao Jing confronts the hooded man, whose fear and regret reveal his betrayal; Gao Jing kills him without allowing further negotiation.
• The gang leader attempts to manipulate Gao Jing through promises of compensation and by unveiling the vault, but Gao Jing sees through his attempted ambush.
• Gao Jing’s confrontation with the gang members is largely one-sided, emphasizing the overwhelming gap between his abilities and theirs.
• The chapter ends with Gao Jing claiming the gang’s wealth and weapons while preparing to destroy the crime scene.

Chapter Summary: The Mai Emperor’s Little Fleece

Key Plot Points and Events

• After destroying the Hellcat Gang’s underground hideout, Gao Jing leaves the scene by taxi as fire engines and police arrive. He had deliberately set the fire to destroy evidence while ensuring the sealed underground location would not endanger civilians.
• Back at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Gao Jing lets Ji Yu sleep while he examines the gang’s stolen supplies through his connection with Copper Anchor.
• His spoils include:
  • Thirty-seven firearms and large quantities of ammunition
  • Three M72 LAW rocket launchers
  • Two crates of military-grade grenades
  • 3.35 million Mai Dollars in cash
  • Twenty-nine one-kilogram gold bars
• The cash and gold alone are worth more than five million Mai Dollars. Gao Jing recognizes that the gang’s arrogance and failure to search him allowed him to seize their entire hidden fortune.
• He checks his Bilibili account and discovers that the Nine Apertures vlog has exceeded ten million views, with over 1.2 million likes and nearly 500,000 virtual coins. The positive audience response has generated a large and steadily growing reserve of Faith Power in Copper Anchor.
• Realizing that both public admiration and acts of justice can produce Faith Power, Gao Jing uploads the video to Weibo and QuickVoice as well. He also urges Azure Coast Studio to finish the next vlog, since Nine Apertures’ popularity may be essential to Copper Anchor’s next upgrade.
• The next morning, Gao Jing and Ji Yu leave New York in a rented BMW and begin a self-driving journey of more than a thousand miles toward Arkansas.
• During the drive, a news report announces that eight Hellcat Gang members, including leader Mallory Quick, were found dead in the Harlem fire. Gao Jing silently changes the channel and continues driving.

Character Development

• Gao Jing becomes increasingly cautious, calculating, and confident in using Copper Anchor. He treats destroying evidence as a necessary precaution and shows that he is capable of planning beyond immediate combat.
• His connection with Copper Anchor has deepened dramatically; he can now control it almost as naturally as a part of his own body.
• Gao Jing’s attitude toward Faith Power evolves. He now understands that he can gain it not only through supernatural or righteous actions but also through popular entertainment and the public’s emotional attachment.
• His financial position improves enormously, though he views the gang’s treasure more as a pleasant windfall than a necessity.
• Ji Yu reveals a more adventurous and free-spirited side when recalling her unrealized dream of driving across America. Her current road trip with Gao Jing allows her to fulfill that wish.

Significant Themes

• Justice and self-interest: Gao Jing’s destruction of the gang is framed as eliminating evil, but he also benefits materially and spiritually from the act.
• Faith and popularity: Public admiration for Nine Apertures directly becomes supernatural power, linking online fame, emotional devotion, and divine advancement.
• Caution versus arrogance: The Hellcat Gang’s confidence and failure to search Gao Jing lead to their downfall, while Gao Jing’s careful preparation allows him to survive and profit.
• Transformation of ordinary life: Travel, social media, entertainment, and modern technology become intertwined with Gao Jing’s supernatural cultivation.
• Freedom and adventure: The road trip represents a break from routine and an opportunity for Ji Yu and Gao Jing to explore America together.

Character Interactions

• Gao Jing has a brief, practical interaction with the taxi driver, who is puzzled by his destination but does not question him.
• He deliberately avoids waking Ji Yu, showing consideration for her rest.
• Ji Yu and Gao Jing share a lighthearted conversation about her mother’s opposition to her earlier dream of driving across America. Their laughter demonstrates growing comfort and intimacy.
• Gao Jing’s silent reaction to the news of the Hellcat Gang’s deaths highlights the contrast between his private knowledge of the event and the public’s mistaken belief that it was merely a gang vendetta.

Here is a concise summary of the chapter:

Summary: Crater of Diamonds State Park

1. Key Plot Points

• Gao Jing and his senior, Ji Yu, take a leisurely five-day road trip from New York City to Arkansas.
• At a gas station, the owner makes passing small talk, warns that no diamonds remain at the park, and dismisses their plans.
• They reach the state capital, Little Rock—a modest, outdated city—and stay overnight.
• The next day, they visit Crater of Diamonds State Park, the only public diamond mine in the world. Admission is cheap ($6), and diggers keep whatever they find.
• Background: since 1972, over 29,000 diamonds have been found there (one or two per day), including North America’s largest and the famous “Kang Canary” diamond.
• They rent basic tools (shovels, screens, buckets), and Gao Jing digs while Ji Yu screens dirt at the washing trough.
• A nearby cowboy finds a small rough stone worth $200–300, exciting the crowd and motivating Ji Yu.
• Gao Jing digs deeper than most tourists, then—out of sight—removes a strange bell from his chest and tosses it into the pit, ending with a mysterious "Meow~" sound, hinting at supernatural or magical intervention.

2. Character Developments

• Gao Jing: Relaxed, generous, and protective of Ji Yu; he handles the hard labor and takes pleasure in the journey. His secretive act with the bell hints at hidden abilities or a magical companion.
• Ji Yu: Curious, hopeful, and playful. She is realistic about her chances but becomes eager and competitive after seeing the cowboy’s find.

3. Significant Themes

• Luck and Miracles: The park is a place where average people can strike gold (or diamonds). Gao Jing's wink "Maybe you will" fuels the theme that fortune is possible, though luck is fickle.
• Surface vs. Depth: The locals believe the park is mined out, but Gao Jing digs deeper—literally and perhaps figuratively—suggesting hidden value below the surface.
• The Supernatural in the Mundane: The realistic, ordinary setting (a small park in Arkansas) takes a magical turn with the mysterious bell, blending everyday life with hidden fantasy.

4. Character Interactions

• Gas Station Owner ↔ Gao Jing & Ji Yu: The owner's crude wink and "fine mare" comment create an awkward but harmless moment; Gao Jing politely brushes off his warnings.
• Gao Jing ↔ Ji Yu: Easy teamwork and light affection. He assigns himself the taxing job, while Ji Yu joyfully takes on the screening. Their banter ("Believe in miracles!") reflects a comfortable, playful bond.
• Cowboy ↔ Crowd (background): The cowboy's small find sparks communal excitement and envy, setting the stage for the group's hopeful atmosphere.

Summary of Chapter

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Jing uses his magical spirit pet, Nine Apertures ("Xiao Jiu"), a bell that transforms into a kitten, to hunt for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park.
• Xiao Jiu can sense diamonds (Steel-Soul Stones) and digs tunnels at incredible speed. Gao Jing decides to legally mine the park's public diamond fields rather than resort to theft.
• Xiao Jiu digs deep underground and retrieves 27 rough diamond crystals of various sizes, including one over 40 carats—potentially a park record.
• The effort exhausts Xiao Jiu, so Gao Jing sends it back into its bell artifact to recover, then hides the tunnel and digs decoy pits to avoid suspicion.
• Meanwhile, Gao Jing's senior, Ji Yu, enthusiastically pans for diamonds but grows discouraged after finding only worthless stones. At the end, Gao Jing helps her with the last bucket of soil, and she spots something stunning in her sieve—likely a diamond.

2. Character Developments

• Gao Jing: Shows resourcefulness and strategic thinking, using his pet's abilities for personal gain while maintaining ethical boundaries (refusing illegal wealth). He also demonstrates care for Xiao Jiu, prioritizing its well-being over further treasure.
• Ji Yu: Begins with high hopes and energy but loses motivation after repeated disappointments, revealing her low persistence. Her final shock hints at a turning point—possibly renewed hope or a major discovery.
• Xiao Jiu: Displays loyalty and hard work, but also shows limitations (fatigue, need for rest), deepening its bond with Gao Jing.

3. Significant Themes

• Ethical Treasure Hunting: Gao Jing chooses legal means (public park) over easy illegal gains, emphasizing principles.
• Effort vs. Luck: Ji Yu's fruitless labor contrasts with Gao Jing's effortless success through supernatural aid, highlighting the role of fortune in treasure hunting.
• Human-Pet Bond: The relationship between Gao Jing and Xiao Jiu is built on mutual support—he provides energy, she provides skill.
• Deception and Secrecy: Gao Jing carefully conceals his true method, suggesting themes of hidden power and protecting one's advantages.

4. Character Interactions

• Gao Jing & Xiao Jiu: Affectionate and cooperative; Gao Jing praises and rewards the kitten, while Xiao Jiu acts cute and works diligently. Their soul-link allows silent communication.
• Gao Jing & Ji Yu: Gao Jing supports Ji Yu by bringing her soil and helping her wash, showing kindness and mentorship. Ji Yu relies on him when her enthusiasm fades, and their dynamic shifts as she becomes stunned by what she finds.
• Other Visitors: Briefly mentioned as background—they follow park rules and maintain distance, providing a contrast to Gao Jing's secretive operation.

Chapter Summary: “Big News”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• At Diamond Park in Arkansas, Ji Yu initially becomes discouraged after failing to find anything valuable while sifting through mining soil.
• She suddenly discovers a large pale-pink rough gemstone, approximately the size of a pigeon’s egg. Although its surface is dull and spotted, she instinctively realizes it may be extraordinary and excitedly cries out.
• The discovery attracts nearby tourists, including a cowboy who has searched the park for years. He estimates the stone may weigh more than ten carats and becomes intensely jealous, having never found anything comparable.
• Gao Jing encourages Ji Yu and reveals that the stone was deliberately selected from among the twenty-seven rough stones he had previously acquired. He had planted it for her to discover as a surprise.
• The park ranger escorts Gao Jing and Ji Yu through the crowd to the visitor center for an official appraisal.
• After half an hour of testing, the park appraiser identifies the stone as a 12.85-carat pink diamond with excellent color and clarity. Its value is conservatively estimated at more than one million U.S. dollars, though its exact grade will require further testing after cutting and polishing.
• The park issues an official certificate confirming that the diamond originated from Diamond Park. The discovery causes widespread excitement: tourists discuss it, post about it online, and rush back to continue digging.
• Diamond Park staff invite Gao Jing and Ji Yu to an interview, hoping to use the rare discovery to revive public interest in the park and attract more visitors.
• Gao Jing agrees on the condition that he remain off camera while Ji Yu gives the interview.
• Before the interview, Ji Yu posts photographs and a video of the diamond, certificate, and filming preparations on her social-media feed. Her friends initially assume she is joking, but the video proves the discovery is genuine.

2. Character Developments

• Ji Yu: Moves from disappointment and fatigue to overwhelming excitement, then regains her composure. Her reaction shows both her refined image and her genuine emotional sensitivity. Although she has grown accustomed to Gao Jing’s wealth, discovering a million-dollar diamond still thrills her, and she enjoys showing the achievement to her friends.
• Gao Jing: Demonstrates foresight and generosity. He secretly arranged the discovery as a gift or surprise for Ji Yu, supports her emotionally, and carefully manages the publicity by negotiating to remain off camera. His willingness to cooperate with the park also reflects his practical business sense.
• The cowboy gem hunter: His reaction highlights the extraordinary nature of the find. Years of unsuccessful searching have left him envious when Ji Yu finds a stone far more valuable than anything he has discovered.
• The park appraiser and staff: Initially astonished, they quickly shift from professional appraisal to enthusiastic promotion, recognizing the discovery’s value as publicity for Diamond Park.

3. Significant Themes

• Luck versus hidden preparation: The discovery appears to be beginner’s luck, but Gao Jing has secretly arranged it, creating irony around the idea of chance.
• Wealth and emotional value: The diamond is financially valuable, but Gao Jing intends it primarily as a personal surprise for Ji Yu, giving the gemstone sentimental meaning.
• Publicity and commercial opportunity: The park immediately turns the discovery into a promotional event, showing how extraordinary events can be converted into economic benefit.
• Envy and spectacle: The crowd’s excitement and the cowboy’s jealousy emphasize how rare wealth attracts public attention.
• Social media and modern fame: Ji Yu’s posts rapidly transform a private discovery into a public sensation, while the park’s interview further amplifies the event.

4. Character Interactions

• Ji Yu and Gao Jing share a supportive, teasing relationship: he reassures her, reveals the surprise behind the discovery, and lets her take the public spotlight.
• The cowboy’s interaction with Ji Yu is shaped by admiration and jealousy; he recognizes the value of her find far more clearly than she initially does.
• The tourists gather around Gao Jing and Ji Yu, treating their discovery as a historic event and reacting with collective excitement.
• The park staff respectfully escort and congratulate the pair while persuading them to participate in publicity.
• Ji Yu’s online exchanges with her friends add humor: they initially accuse her of exaggerating, then react with shock and envy once she provides video proof.

Chapter Summary: The Instant Sharpshooter

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Yu completes a television interview at Diamond Park about discovering the 12.85-carat pink diamond. Gao Jing honors their agreement by remaining completely off-camera and unnamed, allowing Ji Yu to receive all the public credit.
• After their departure, the abandoned excavation pits attract numerous gem hunters hoping to find another diamond. The park staff prevent conflict by organizing a lottery to determine who may search the pit, though the winner has no chance of finding anything because Gao Jing’s extraordinary ability, Nine Apertures, had detected the diamond far underground.
• Gao Jing and Ji Yu return to Little Rock, where Ji Yu is overwhelmed by calls from friends and eventually shuts off her phone. She later accepts another television interview.
• ABC publicizes the discovery, calling Ji Yu “the lucky girl from the East” and naming the diamond the “Pink Crown,” the largest pink diamond ever found at Diamond Park. The story spreads internationally, making Ji Yu briefly famous and provoking widespread envy.
• The pair continue their planned American tour and eventually arrive in Texas. Gao Jing’s main purpose there is to learn how to use the many firearms he previously acquired.
• After watching a Houston Rockets game, Gao Jing enrolls in an intensive shooting course at Texas’s largest shooting club. Veteran instructor Jameson Carter initially assumes Gao Jing is merely a wealthy thrill-seeker, but quickly changes his opinion when Gao Jing’s shooting improves at an impossible speed.
• Gao Jing progresses from missing close-range targets to scoring 87 and then 95 out of 100 with a pistol. He rapidly masters pistols, rifles, sniper rifles, and firearm maintenance.
• Carter finally allows Gao Jing to operate an M134 Minigun. Gao Jing fires a thousand rounds at a distant target and is thrilled by the weapon’s overwhelming destructive power, while regretting that he cannot take such a weapon into the Great World.
• With his American trip nearing its end, Gao Jing finishes the chapter having greatly expanded his combat abilities.

Character Developments

• Ji Yu becomes an international media figure after Gao Jing deliberately gives her sole credit for the diamond discovery. She enjoys the attention but is also overwhelmed by constant phone calls, despite admitting she would probably show off again in the future.
• Gao Jing demonstrates his continued preference for remaining behind the scenes while helping Ji Yu gain recognition. In Texas, he transforms from a complete firearms novice into an exceptionally capable shooter within days.
• Gao Jing’s superior memory, learning ability, physical control, and Transcendent bodily control explain his seemingly supernatural progress.
• Jameson Carter, a retired Marine and experienced instructor, changes from dismissive and condescending toward Gao Jing to deeply impressed and genuinely committed to teaching him.

Significant Themes

• Fame and anonymity: Ji Yu receives the public glory while Gao Jing remains deliberately unknown, showing his willingness to let others take credit when it serves their shared interests.
• Extraordinary talent: Gao Jing’s near-instant mastery of firearms emphasizes the vast gap between his enhanced abilities and those of ordinary humans.
• Power and destructive capability: His excitement over the Minigun reflects both fascination with advanced weapons and his growing awareness of their potential against giants in the Great World.
• American culture and spectacle: The chapter contrasts diamond-hunting celebrity with Texas’s gun culture, shooting clubs, sports entertainment, and media sensationalism.
• Limits of power: Although Gao Jing can use powerful weapons, he cannot bring the M134 into the Great World, reminding him that his abilities and resources still have practical restrictions.

Character Interactions

• Ji Yu and Gao Jing cooperate closely, with Gao Jing protecting their agreement and allowing her to become the public face of the discovery.
• Ji Yu’s friends repeatedly contact her for details, demonstrating both their curiosity and her sudden rise in social attention.
• Gao Jing and Carter develop a respectful teacher-student relationship. Carter’s initial prejudice disappears as Gao Jing proves his astonishing ability, while Gao Jing sincerely acknowledges Carter’s instruction.
• Carter introduces Gao Jing to increasingly advanced firearms, culminating in the exhilarating Minigun demonstration.

Summary: Gains and Losses

Key Plot Points

• Gao Jing and Ji Yu return to Cloud City after three weeks traveling in America.
• Gao Jing had killed eight gang members in New York during the trip, which left him carrying significant psychological pressure—he feels no regret but realizes he is "not strong enough."
• After resting two weeks, he summons Nine Apertures (the cat spirit) from the Bell Witchcraft Artifact, fully recovered from overexertion while diamond-digging in Arkansas.
• Gao Jing tests three rough diamonds to see what can serve as Witchcraft Artifact fuel: an Arkansas diamond (dug by Nine Apertures), a natural "Rosa Diamond" from Popigai Crater, and a cheap synthetic diamond.
• Disappointment: Nine Apertures, sensing quality, rejects the synthetic diamond entirely. Synthetic diamonds also fail as substitutes for the Bell Witchcraft Artifact or Weaver's Bracer. Gao Jing's scheme to mass-produce synthetic replacements collapses—his "several tens of billions" plan dies.
• Gao Jing accepts this loss philosophically: "It was impossible for all the good things under heaven to fall into his hands alone."
• He gives Nine Apertures a new 23.75-carat high-quality natural diamond as its Steel-Soul Stone, making it stronger, cuter, and more loyal.
• He replaces Weaver's Bracer's nearly-depleted Steel-Soul Stone with the largest diamond (47.95 carats, taken from "Emperor Mike"), then tests the bracer by leaping out into the night.

Character Developments

• Gao Jing: Matures emotionally—acknowledges the psychological toll of killing while refusing to regret it; displays resilience after losing his synthetic-diamond idea; increasingly generous and responsible toward Nine Apertures.
• Nine Apertures: Fully healed and upgraded; now has an unbreakable soul-bond with Gao Jing, making him its one true master.
• Gao Jing & Ji Yu's relationship: Deliberately ambiguous—not a committed couple, not casual; both enjoy this arrangement and leave the future to the future. Ji Yu continues managing his company.

Significant Themes

• Gain and Loss (chapter title): Successes (profitable diamond haul, stronger artifacts) coexist with losses (failed synthetic-diamond scheme, murder's weight).
• Authenticity over imitation: Natural, spiritually-charged diamonds hold power; synthetic equivalents are worthless to mystical artifacts—genuine resources cannot be cheaply replaced.
• The cost of violence: Even justified killing burdens the mind; power and strength come with psychological debts.
• Loyalty and bonds: Nine Apertures' soul-bond with Gao Jing becomes permanent and inviolable, symbolizing trust earned through care.

Character Interactions

• Gao Jing & Ji Yu: Brief, affectionate parting at her doorstep—a kiss, teasing smiles, and mutual understanding; she calls her younger brother to help carry luggage.
• Gao Jing & Nine Apertures: Tender, playful interaction—the cat sniffs each diamond, scornfully pushes away the synthetic, and nuzzles Gao Jing affectionately. Gao Jing rewards its loyalty generously.
• Gao Jing & the cat's internet fame: Nine Apertures now draws Faith Power through popular vlogs, shifting public attention from Gao Jing to the cat—a strategic benefit for him.

Chapter Summary: “Tool Man”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shan Guo’er wakes Shan Tai and brings him to Ten-Mile Slope to meet Gao Jing.
• Gao Jing asks Shan Tai to test several modern firearms he brought from his tribe: a Glock 19, AK-74, and Barrett M107A1.
• Shan Tai initially laughs at the idea that weapons as small as “fishbone toothpicks” could harm a High-Tier Totem Warrior.
• The Glock 19 has no noticeable effect, causing only slight itching.
• The AK-74’s three-round burst leaves shallow wounds and embeds bullets in Shan Tai’s skin, though it cannot seriously injure him.
• The Barrett rifle pierces Shan Tai’s arm and draws blood, proving significantly more powerful.
• Shan Tai explains that the firearms could kill ordinary giants if they struck vital points and might injure Low-Tier Totem Warriors, but they would be ineffective against High-Tier Totem Warriors using Battle Aura or Battle Aura Armor.
• Gao Jing is satisfied with the results and notes that he still possesses three rocket launchers.
• At the end of the chapter, a tribal warrior arrives to summon Shan Tai to the Witch Chief.

Character Developments

• Gao Jing: Demonstrates caution, practicality, and strategic thinking. He wants to understand how modern weapons compare with the Great Wilderness’s supernatural defenses before arming himself or helping the Mountain Tribe. His expectations are modest: weapons capable of harming ordinary giants are already valuable.
• Shan Tai: Shows confidence in his overwhelming physical strength and defense, initially treating Gao Jing’s weapons as a joke. After being wounded by the Barrett, he becomes more respectful of their power while remaining confident that his Battle Aura Armor would protect him.
• Shan Guo’er: Acts as the link between Gao Jing and Shan Tai, waking Shan Tai and bringing him to the testing site.
• Mountain Tribe: Their trust in Gao Jing is reinforced. Although he worries about concealing his storage ability, the tribe already accepts him as one of their own.

Significant Themes

• Technology versus supernatural strength: Modern firearms appear weak against enhanced giants but can still be highly effective against ordinary opponents.
• Practical experimentation: Gao Jing relies on direct testing rather than assumptions to assess the usefulness of unfamiliar weapons.
• Scale and perspective: The extreme size difference between Gao Jing and the giants creates humor while emphasizing the physical disparity between their worlds.
• Trust and cooperation: Gao Jing’s relationship with the Mountain Tribe continues to deepen, with Shan Tai willingly helping him despite finding the request amusing.
• Limits of power: Even impressive technology has clear boundaries against higher-level warriors, reinforcing the hierarchy of strength in the Great Wilderness.

Character Interactions

• Shan Tai and Gao Jing have a friendly, respectful relationship. Shan Tai admires Gao Jing’s contributions to the tribe, while Gao Jing respects Shan Tai’s strength and chooses him as the safest test subject.
• Their exchange contains considerable humor, especially Shan Tai’s laughter at the tiny weapons and Gao Jing’s frustration when the pistol has no effect.
• The weapons testing gradually shifts Shan Tai’s attitude from amusement to genuine acknowledgment of Gao Jing’s technology.
• The chapter closes with Shan Tai being summoned by the Witch Chief, suggesting that another tribal matter may soon interrupt or follow Gao Jing’s experimentation.