Chapter Summary: Audience and Actor (2/3)

Key Plot Points

• Qin Junhao, leader of the Seven Young Gentlemen of the Imperial Capital and son of Alpha-Rank powerhouse Qin Wuyang, barges into Zhang Jingyao's lounge with heavily armed guards bearing Xia Super League badges (gold, silver-gold, and bronze ranks)
• He presents Casablanca lilies to Zhang Jingyao, wishing her concert success; she coldly accepts and tells him to leave
• The one-eyed bodyguard warns Zhang Jingyao to cancel her concert and leave with them for safety, citing a threat
• Qin Junhao insists on letting her perform, citing a terminally ill fan as her motivation
• Zuo Yi suddenly appears between Qin Junhao and Zhang Jingyao, telling him to leave
• The gray-haired old bodyguard recognizes Zuo Yi as "Riverside Dragon King" and orders a tactical retreat, escorting Qin Junhao out

Character Developments

• Zuo Yi: Reveals he is responsible for Zhang Jingyao's safety; bold, confrontational, and verbally sharp, openly mocking Qin Junhao's courtship tactics and acting
• Qin Junhao: A master of performative vulnerability; publicly plays the wounded, devoted suitor but shows possessiveness and hidden menace when provoked
• Zhang Jingyao: Continues to coldly reject Qin Junhao; displays dry amusement when Zuo Yi insults him, hinting at some familiarity with Zuo Yi
• Sister Ling (assistant): Shamelessly bootlicks Qin Junhao, behaving like a "brothel madam"

Significant Themes

• Power and rank: Badge hierarchy (gold/silver/bronze) visualizes the strength-based social order
• Performance vs. sincerity: Qin Junhao's courtship is an "act" that Zuo Yi exposes; the chapter title reinforces the metaphor of actors and audience
• Protection and danger: Implied security threats around Zhang Jingyao, with competing protectors
• Recognition and reputation: Zuo Yi's "Riverside Dragon King" identity commands immediate respect and defensive caution

Character Interactions

• Qin Junhao's guards fail to detect Zuo Yi's sudden appearance, revealing a concerning security gap
• The bodyguards (one-eyed, scar-faced, gray-haired) defer to the old man's judgment, who wisely chooses retreat once Zuo Yi is identified
• Zuo Yi pointedly calls out Qin Junhao's ego ("so don't disgrace your father"), suggesting Qin Junhao acts beneath his family's status
• Zhang Jingyao laughs at Zuo Yi's barb, the first crack in her icy exterior

Summary: "Not Afraid (3/3)"

Key Plot Points & Events

1. Qin Junhao is forcibly restrained by the one-eyed brute and scar-faced middle-aged man outside the main lounge, still furious over his humiliation in front of Zhang Jingyao.
2. The gray-haired elder (Uncle Zhang) persuades Qin Junhao to stand down, arguing that Zuo Yi is an A+ Rank powerhouse and a fight in the cramped lounge could endanger Zhang Jingyao and Qin Junhao himself. His true strategy: let the Magician (Tarot Society) attack Zhang Jingyao, forcing Zuo Yi and the Magician to clash ("watch the tigers fight from the mountain"), then exploit the outcome. He promises Qin Junhao full support to settle scores with Zuo Yi later.
3. Qin Junhao reluctantly agrees and leaves with his entourage, vowing revenge.
4. Zhang Jingyao fires her assistant Sister Ling on the spot after the woman tried to use her to curry favor with Qin Junhao.
5. Zuo Yi's 31 extra VIP tickets are distributed through his former homeroom teacher Zhang Yali to classmates in the group chat; ticket money will be held as a class reunion fund.
6. Zuo Yi arranges for a staff assistant to hand over tickets to arriving classmates, posting the assistant's phone number in the chat.
7. At 6:30 PM, before the concert, Zuo Yi joins his classmates in the VIP section and proudly introduces his daughter Bao'er to everyone, who are all charmed by her.

Character Developments

• Qin Junhao: Pride deeply wounded; initially wants immediate retaliation but is talked down by the elder's pragmatic reasoning. Agrees to endure for now, showing he can be strategic but remains vengeful.
• Gray-haired elder: The group's strategist—calculating, cautious, prioritizing the Magician operation over personal grudges. Admits (internally) they are not even certain they can subdue Zuo Yi.
• Zuo Yi: Confident to the point of arrogance—jokes that Qin Wuyang should fear offending him, not the reverse. Shows a warm, proud-father side with Bao'er and maintains good relationships with his former classmates.
• Zhang Jingyao: Decisive and firm; demonstrates she has a temper and won't tolerate betrayal from her own staff despite her usual kindness.
• Sister Ling: Dismissed for overstepping her position—a lesson in knowing one's place.

Significant Themes

• Pride vs. pragmatism: Qin Junhao's wounded ego vs. the elder's calculated restraint. Revenge deferred is still revenge planned.
• Power dynamics: A+ Rank vs. Alpha-Rank status; hints at Zuo Yi's hidden depth (his blasé attitude toward a "heroic Transcendent" suggests more than meets the eye).
• "Watch the tigers fight" strategy: Using enemies against each other rather than acting directly—a classic scheme with setup already in place.
• Loyalty & consequences: Sister Ling's betrayal of Zhang Jingyao leads to immediate dismissal, reinforcing themes of trust and retribution.
• Family & social bonds: Zuo Yi's genuine warmth with his daughter and classmates contrasts with the scheming around him.

Character Interactions

• Elder ↔ Qin Junhao: Generational guidance; the elder calms the young master through reasoning and promises of future revenge, revealing both care and manipulation.
• Zuo Yi ↔ Zhang Jingyao: Lighthearted banter over Qin Wuyang; Zhang Jingyao is fond of him but also worried about his safety, while Zuo Yi remains unshaken.
• Zhang Jingyao ↔ Sister Ling: Cold dismissal—Zhang Jingyao refuses to let her assistant manipulate her or act as a bridge to Qin Junhao.
• Zuo Yi ↔ Classmates/Elders: Warm, casual reunion; he introduces Bao'er to his social circle, showing a grounded, human side away from the power struggles.
• Qin Junhao ↔ Zuo Yi: Off-screen but driving the conflict—an unresolved grudge set to return after tonight's main event.

Summary: Big Fish (Chapter 1/3)

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• Concert setting: Zhang Jingyao performs at West Creek Martial Arena (70,000+ seats) in Hang City. She opens with "Big Fish," mesmerizing the audience with her ethereal voice and holographic whale visuals.
• Breakthrough revealed: A gray-haired old man in the VIP section realizes Zhang Jingyao has broken through as an A-Rank Transcendent—her singing now affects even strong mental wills, causing hallucinations.
• The trap: The Superhuman Federation (gray-haired old man, one-eyed burly man, scar-faced middle-aged man, and Qin Junhao) are present not just for the concert but to catch the Tarot Society's "Magician." Sentries have detected intruders in the sewers.
• The Magician's presence: Unbeknownst to them, the Magician (Zuo Yi) watches from the arena's dome in a tailcoat and top hat, noting Qin Junhao with amusement.
• Zuo Yi's mission: He entrusts his daughter Bao'er to Shang Yulin and leaves to protect Zhang Jingyao from the Federation's plot.
• Finale: Zhang Jingyao ends the concert with "The Burning Crusade," an extraordinarily difficult song challenging the limits of human vocal ability.

2. Character Developments

• Zhang Jingyao: Breaks through to A-Rank Transcendent; her singing now has tangible mental/spiritual power capable of affecting even seasoned Transcendents. She chooses a difficult song to challenge her limits.
• Zuo Yi (the Magician): Revealed to be covertly watching the concert. He is devoted to protecting Zhang Jingyao and keeps his promise to Bao'er to keep her safe. His identity is hidden behind a mask.
• Qin Junhao: Obsessed with Zhang Jingyao, viewing her as "his." Still nursing humiliation from a previous defeat by the Magician on the Inner Net Forum, he seeks revenge.
• Bao'er: Aware of her father's duty, confidently trusts that "Daddy is the strongest."

3. Significant Themes

• Music as power: Zhang Jingyao's singing functions as a form of mental manipulation/transcendent ability, unifying and emotionally overwhelming tens of thousands.
• The Federation vs. Tarot Society conflict: The concert is a staged operation to capture the Magician; revenge and rivalry are central motivations.
• Duality of performance: The same stage serves as both artistic expression and a battleground/trap.
• Protection and fatherhood: Zuo Yi's gentle interactions with Bao'er contrast sharply with his masked/criminal identity as the Magician.

4. Character Interactions

• Gray-haired old man & Qin Junhao: The old man acknowledges Zhang Jingyao's breakthrough; Qin Junhao is too infatuated to care.
• One-eyed burly man & Qin Junhao: Encourages Qin Junhao to focus on defeating the Magician first; promises that afterward no one will stop him from pursuing Zhang Jingyao.
• Federation members: The gray-haired man, scar-faced man, and one-eyed man unanimously agree to delay their ambush to enjoy Zhang Jingyao's singing—highlighting her power to move even hardened Transcendents.
• Zuo Yi & Bao'er / Shang Yulin: Zuo Yi kisses Bao'er, explains he must leave; Shang Yulin takes the child. Bao'er instructs him to "protect Sister Jingyao properly," and he promises.

Summary of "Blood and Fire" (2/3)

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Three operatives — a burly man, a young man, and a woman in combat gear — arrive by SUV at Blue-Green Mountain, about 50 km southwest of a city.
• They scale the ridge and observe a heavily fortified, high-tech factory at the mountain's base: a large complex of prefabricated buildings enclosed by electrified barbed-wire walls, floodlights, and armed guards in watchtowers.
• The woman fires a portable rocket launcher at the factory. The warhead detonates as an EMP pulse, disabling all electronics, lamps, and the electrified fence at once.
• The burly man transforms into a three-to-four-meter steel giant, tears open a massive hole in the concrete wall, and rampages through the facility.
• The young man ignites in flames, moves at extreme speed, and incinerates security guards on contact, while the woman stays on the ridge as a sniper, shooting targets through walls with a high-powered rifle.
• The attack is a complete rout. The two superhuman men crush all resistance and enter the central factory building, turning the compound into "a hell of blood and fire."
• Simultaneously, tens of kilometers away at West Creek Martial Arena, singer Zhang Jingyao is performing her finale ("The Burning Crusade") to tens of thousands of fans. The venue's lights, the crowd's roar, and her impassioned singing are described in triumph, contrasting directly with the massacre happening offstage. The chapter ends with her finishing the concert in a blaze of glory.

2. Character Developments

• The burly man (leader): Commands the mission calmly, checks his watch, gives the go order, and leads by example. His powers are revealed through his transformation into a near-invulnerable steel giant.
• The young man (flame powers): Reckless and eager ("I can't wait any longer"), he touts the abilities of an offscreen figure called "Magician" and expresses envy that Magician gets to watch Zhang Jingyao perform in person — implying the team has a personal or professional connection to her. His fire powers align him with the chapter's title.
• The woman in combat gear: Professional and unerring, she operates the EMP launcher and sniper rifle with calm, relentless efficiency. No backstory is given, but her competence is established.
• Zhang Jingyao: Only shown onstage, yet the chapter centers the emotional weight of her concert. She is a gifted and magnetic performer, drenched in sweat but smiling at the crowd. She is clearly important to the plot, though her connection to the attackers is not yet revealed.
• The "Magician": Mentioned only in dialogue — he is somewhere with Zhang Jingyao during the attack (implying the concert is a diversion, or that he is separated from the team for reasons yet unknown).

3. Significant Themes

• Contrast between spectacle and violence: The total disconnect between the horror happening at the secret factory and the beauty/unawareness of the concert crowd is the main structural device. Both are "performances," but one is destruction and one is art.
• Overwhelming, elite force: The attackers use military-grade tech (EMP weaponry) plus superior superhuman abilities, and their mission runs with near-perfect synchronization and ruthless professionalism.
• Hidden world of superpowers: The chapter treats it as normal for a man to become a steel giant and another to become living flame, implying a larger hidden society or ongoing war.
• Power and shock and awe: The EMP cutout, the breach, the inability of guards to resist — all emphasize how outclassed the defenders are.

4. Character Interactions

• Team dynamics: The burly man directs the other two and confirms readiness; the young man is eager and slightly rebellious in tone (commenting about the "lucky" Magician); the woman is silent and methodical. They work as a seamless unit.
• The young man's aside: His line about Zhang Jingyao and Magician reveals that the team is aware of, or connected to, the concert happening miles away, and that the attack is happening in parallel with an event centered on Zhang Jingyao.
• Security guards: Their alarm call ("Enemy attack!") and desperate gunfire are the only real opposition, but they are utterly ineffectual against the attackers, which highlights the attackers' deadliness.
• The crowd: Masses of anonymous spectators, cheering and screaming; they represent the innocent outside world that is completely ignorant of the violence nearby.

Chapter Summary: Face-Slapping Tornado (3/3)

Key Plot Points

• Zhang Jingyao's concert at West Creek Martial Arena ends successfully; fans demand an encore but depart peacefully.
• She meets a dying fan named Xiaoqiao in her lounge, giving her a gift: treatment at a top American hospital funded by concert ticket revenue.
• Xiaoqiao abruptly reveals herself to be the Magician, an A-Rank expert from the Tarot Society, who trapped Zhang Jingyao in an illusory barrier.
• The Magician explains he means no harm; his task was to occupy the Superhuman Federation's attention while the Tarot Society destroys the Jiangnan Laboratory.
• Zuo Yi suddenly appears, having broken through the Magician's barrier. He confronts the Magician and asks about the Tarot Society's true motives.
• The Magician reveals the Tarot Society's goal: destroy the Jiangnan Laboratory because the Superhuman Federation is conducting unethical biological genetic experiments on humans to create Transcendent weapons.

Character Developments

• Zhang Jingyao: Shows genuine kindness—hosting the concert for Xiaoqiao without publicity, donating proceeds to charity, and remaining brave and concerned for others even when threatened.
• The Magician: Portrayed as a complex antagonist—confident and theatrical, but with moral principles (opposing human experimentation) and a non-violent stance toward civilians.
• Zuo Yi: Demonstrates overwhelming power by casually breaking through the Magician's barrier ("held me up for three seconds"); calm, probing, and in control throughout the confrontation.

Significant Themes

• Appearances vs. reality: a wheelchair-bound girl reveals herself to be a masked illusionist.
• Scientific ethics: the horror of human experimentation and the lengths organizations will go to for power.
• Hidden conflicts between powerful factions (Tarot Society vs. Superhuman Federation).

Character Interactions

• Zhang Jingyao & Xiaoqiao/Magician: A warm fan meeting that twists into a restrained standoff; the Magician shows admiration and civility, guaranteeing Xiaoqiao's safety.
• Zuo Yi & the Magician: A battle of wits and power—Zuo Yi's sudden entrance shocks the Magician, who becomes cautious and ultimately cooperative, providing key information.

Chapter Summary: Pan’s Labyrinth (1/3)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Magician reveals that the Superhuman Federation’s Jiangnan Laboratory is conducting genetic experiments designed to create transcendent humans and supernatural biological weapons. Zuo Yi connects this information to the Great Silk Weaver, Mei Jingyang, and the Genetic Evolution Potion, confirming that Magician is telling the truth.
• Magician condemns the Federation’s research as an attempt to trespass into God’s domain. He argues that artificially forcing supernatural evolution could destroy humanity and claims that the Tarot Society is trying to save the world.
• Zuo Yi rejects Magician’s recruitment attempt. He points out that the Tarot Society is internationally classified as a dangerous extremist organization and has likely conducted similar experiments itself.
• Rather than taking sides in the conflict between the Tarot Society and the Superhuman Federation, Zuo Yi focuses on questioning Magician. He recognizes Magician as an extreme, lawful-minded figure rather than an outright evil person, but considers him neither ally nor enemy.
• Magician reveals Pan’s Labyrinth, a powerful Tarot Society artifact that creates a chessboard-like labyrinth. It currently traps numerous Superhuman Federation forces, including four A-Rank, twelve B-Rank, and twenty-six C-Rank combatants.
• The labyrinth contains supernatural chess pieces, including beasts and warriors, which attack the trapped Federation personnel and delay them while the Tarot Society carries out a larger plan elsewhere. Magician admits that he and Hanged Man were only bait for the Federation’s operation.
• Zuo Yi identifies Pan’s Labyrinth as a powerful Law Creation, comparable to a special barrier or Nightmare Space. Though its ordinary pieces are limited against high-level opponents, they are effective at exhausting and delaying weaker forces.
• As the Federation’s fighters begin defeating the labyrinth’s Wolf Beasts, Magician summons additional pieces—lions and tigers—to restore the pressure.
• Magician considers deploying the labyrinth’s strongest piece, Pan, a shepherd-like king figure. Zuo Yi deliberately encourages him, having realized that Pan’s destruction would cause the entire chess game to collapse.
• Magician refuses to risk Pan. He privately acknowledges that the artifact has been lost and recovered before at great cost, contradicting his earlier claim that it has always remained in Tarot Society hands.

Character Developments

• Zuo Yi: Demonstrates strong judgment, emotional resistance, and confidence. Magician’s persuasive rhetoric has no effect on him. Zuo Yi remains detached from both factions, analyzing their motives and abilities rather than becoming involved in their ideological conflict. He also recognizes the potential value of Pan’s Labyrinth and begins considering how to obtain it.
• Magician: His confidence is shaken by Zuo Yi’s unexpected presence and superior insight. Although he presents himself as a righteous savior, his fear of losing Pan’s Labyrinth reveals his attachment to the Tarot Society and its power. He is clever and manipulative but becomes cautious when confronted with a threat he cannot control.
• Superhuman Federation forces: They are shown to be powerful and numerous but trapped in a deteriorating tactical situation. Their attempt to capture Magician and Hanged Man was apparently part of a larger diversion, leaving them vulnerable to the Tarot Society’s counteroperation.

Significant Themes

• Science versus the supernatural: The Federation seeks to manufacture supernatural evolution through science, while the Tarot Society claims supernatural power should remain within divine or natural limits.
• Ideological extremism: Both sides pursue dangerous goals, and neither faction is portrayed as wholly trustworthy. Magician’s language of salvation conceals the Tarot Society’s own history of questionable actions.
• Power and responsibility: Magician invokes the idea that powerful beings must serve humanity, but Zuo Yi refuses to accept responsibility according to someone else’s ideology.
• Deception and strategy: The conflict is built around bait, traps, diversions, and hidden objectives. Pan’s Labyrinth itself symbolizes a larger game in which individuals are treated as pieces.
• Control and vulnerability: Magician appears to control the labyrinth, yet Zuo Yi’s presence exposes the limits of that control and threatens the artifact’s survival.

Character Interactions

• Magician attempts to persuade Zuo Yi to join the Tarot Society, presenting their cause as humanity’s only hope. Zuo Yi dismisses the argument and redirects the conversation toward interrogation.
• Magician is visibly unsettled by Zuo Yi’s ability to resist his persuasive influence and by his failure to understand how Zuo Yi escaped or bypassed the original trap.
• Zuo Yi studies Pan’s Labyrinth while Magician explains it, quickly recognizing both its capabilities and its weakness.
• Zuo Yi taunts Magician into considering the deployment of Pan, hoping the powerful piece will be destroyed and the artifact rendered vulnerable. Magician realizes the trap and refuses, ending the chapter with his plans still under pressure.

Summary of "Solomon Mask (2/3)"

Key Plot Points

• The Magician, an A-Rank member of the Tarot Society, is trapped with Zuo Yi and Zhang Jingyao inside his own Pan's Labyrinth. He feels completely outmatched and fears Zuo Yi's power.
• Zuo Yi sarcastically challenges him and demands compensation for his intrusion. The Magician reveals his allies are attacking the Jiangnan Laboratory and attempts to leave.
• When the Magician refuses to hand over his precious Solomon Mask, Zuo Yi demands it as payment. The Magician tries to flee using a smoke escape and a sacrificial pocket watch (a Law artifact) to buy time.
• Zuo Yi shatters the illusion and captures the Solomon Mask, but the Magician escapes, losing both the mask and the pocket watch.
• Zuo Yi gives the mask to Zhang Jingyao, explaining it functions similarly to a disguise tool (like Thousand Faces), allowing the wearer to impersonate others.

Character Developments

• Zuo Yi: Demonstrates absolute dominance over an A-Rank Transcendent, calmly forcing a powerful enemy to surrender a holy relic without a fight. His authority and confidence are unquestionable, and he rewards Zhang Jingyao with the spoils.
• The Magician: Initially cautious and mockingly belittled, he becomes desperate and humiliated, fleeing at the cost of his treasured mask—a painful loss that will likely haunt him.

Significant Themes

• Power and Intimidation: Zuo Yi’s overwhelming might makes the Magician realize that resistance is futile, emphasizing the gap between their strengths.
• Consequences and Compensation: The Magician’s actions force him to pay a heavy price, reinforcing Zuo Yi’s principle that one cannot cause trouble without facing repercussions.
• Pride and Humiliation: The Magician's vain attempt to keep his mask results in a greater loss, underscoring the cost of stubborn pride.

Character Interactions

• Zuo Yi vs. Magician: A tense confrontation filled with psychological pressure. Zuo Yi mocks and coerces; the Magician wavers between fear and desperation, ultimately choosing cowardice over honor.
• Zuo Yi & Zhang Jingyao: A brief, trust-filled exchange where Zuo Yi casually gifts the valuable mask to her, showing his protective attitude and generosity toward an ally.

Chapter Summary: “More Suitable for You (3/3)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zuo Yi gives Zhang Jingyao the Solomon Mask, which he seized from the Magician. Unlike Thousand Faces, the mask creates an illusion that deceives observers rather than physically changing the wearer’s appearance.
• The Solomon Mask can only imitate someone who has worn it before and requires a secret activation phrase. Zuo Yi easily cracks and alters the phrase using his superior law power, preventing the Magician from reclaiming or using it.
• Zhang Jingyao initially refuses the mask because it is valuable and has been worn by someone else. When Zuo Yi reveals that the Magician is actually a woman, she accepts it and returns Thousand Faces.
• Zuo Yi explains that the Solomon Mask is more suitable for Zhang Jingyao and warns her to keep it secret. He plans to create a fake mask to distract the Tarot Society and protect her.
• Zhang tests the mask using the activation phrase “Balala Little Fairy, transform!” and successfully disguises herself as Xiaoqiao, the fan identity she had previously used.
• Zhang worries that Xiaoqiao may be harmed because of the Magician’s schemes, but Zuo Yi assures her that the Tarot Society will not hurt an innocent terminally ill girl.
• The chapter reveals the true outcome of the Magician’s operation: Zhang Jingyao was only a decoy. The real target was the Superhuman Federation’s Jiangnan Laboratory, which suffered devastating casualties and losses.
• Qin Junhao realizes that he and the Federation’s experts were manipulated. He rushes to the laboratory with his team, forced to abandon his pursuit of Zhang Jingyao and confront the consequences of his failed operation.

Character Developments

• Zuo Yi: Demonstrates overwhelming mastery of law power by cracking and modifying the Solomon Mask’s secret phrase. He becomes increasingly interested in the Tarot Society and deliberately lets the Magician escape so he can investigate the organization further.
• Zhang Jingyao: Shows gratitude and moral integrity by returning Thousand Faces rather than greedily keeping both treasures. She also reveals her compassion and sense of responsibility by worrying about Xiaoqiao’s safety.
• The Magician: Her identity as a woman is exposed, overturning everyone’s assumptions. She is shown to be a skilled strategist who successfully used Zhang Jingyao as a distraction while targeting the Jiangnan Laboratory.
• Qin Junhao: Suffers a major psychological and political blow. His carefully planned operation fails, and he realizes that the Tarot Society manipulated him and caused a disaster under his command.

Significant Themes

• Power disparity: Zuo Yi’s higher-dimensional law power makes the Magician’s artifacts and traps almost completely ineffective against him.
• Trust and responsibility: Zhang Jingyao’s willingness to return Thousand Faces and concern for Xiaoqiao demonstrate her honesty and compassion.
• Deception and counter-deception: The Tarot Society uses a false target and elaborate misdirection, while Zuo Yi plans to use a fake Solomon Mask to deceive them in return.
• Strategic manipulation: The chapter emphasizes that apparent conflicts may conceal a larger objective; the attack on Zhang Jingyao was merely a distraction from the assault on the Jiangnan Laboratory.
• Consequences of arrogance and failure: Qin Junhao’s reliance on his authority and resources leads to disaster when he fails to recognize that he is being manipulated.

Character Interactions

• Zuo Yi and Zhang Jingyao discuss the value, origin, and proper use of the Solomon Mask.
• Zhang’s humorous objection to using an item worn by “another man” leads to the revelation that the Magician is female.
• Zhang returns Thousand Faces to Zuo Yi, while he reassures her that the Solomon Mask is better suited to her needs.
• Zuo Yi advises Zhang to conceal the mask and promises to create a decoy to protect her.
• Zhang and Zuo Yi discuss Xiaoqiao’s safety, with Zuo Yi reassuring her that the Tarot Society will not target an innocent person.
• Qin Junhao and the other Federation experts are forced to face the disastrous results of their failed operation after learning that the Jiangnan Laboratory was the true target.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The concert concludes with the Tarot Society defeating the Superhuman Federation; Zhang Jingyao is no longer in danger
• Zhang Jingyao announces her decision to return to the Capital City and launch a nationwide/world tour, pursuing her singing dream for the next 2–3 years
• Zuo Yi escorts her home by motorcycle; she reflects that their time together has ended
• Zuo Yi joins his university classmates at Old Zhuang Food Stall for a reunion dinner
• He arrives late and drinks three glasses of beer as punishment, then is repeatedly toasted by classmates
• Zhang Yali reveals she has been reassigned to work in Huhai long-term
• Liu Zhenhai introduces his fiancée, Ran Hui; they plan to marry on New Year's Day
• Zuo Yi senses Ran Hui is an E-Rank or F-Rank Transcendent who recognizes him as the "Riverside Dragon King," explaining her nervousness

2. Character Developments

• Zhang Jingyao: Finds renewed purpose and meaning in life; commits fully to her singing career, showing newfound determination and independence
• Zuo Yi: Remains grounded despite his fame in the Inner World; enjoys ordinary interactions with old friends, contrasting his superhuman status with his everyday social life
• Ran Hui: Shy and introverted; revealed to be a Transcendent, suggesting the growing integration of superhumans into ordinary society
• Liu Zhenhai: A former close classmate of Zuo Yi; now engaged, suggesting the passage of time since graduation

3. Significant Themes

• Parting and new beginnings: Zhang Jingyao's departure represents chasing dreams even when the object of one's feelings is unattainable
• Friendship and nostalgia: The reunion highlights enduring bonds from university days despite time and distance
• Ordinary vs. superhuman worlds: Zuo Yi's secret identity and Ran Hui's nervousness show the blurring line between everyday life and the Transcendent realm
• Coming Transcendent era: Zuo Yi's observation about the future proliferation of superhumans hints at major societal changes ahead

4. Character Interactions

• Zuo Yi & Zhang Jingyao: A bittersweet farewell; she expresses deep trust and affection (viewing him as an older brother), while he supports her decision
• Zuo Yi & classmates: Warm, raucous reunion filled with teasing, toasts, and gratitude for the concert tickets
• Chen Wenwen: Playfully pines for a daughter like Zuo Yi's, adding comic relief
• Liu Zhenhai & Ran Hui: Liu proudly introduces his fiancée; Ran Hui's extreme nervousness around Zuo Yi contrasts with her gentle demeanor
• Zuo Yi & Zhang Yali: Friendly banter, with plans to meet more often now that she's stationed in nearby Huhai

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Zuo Yi returns to the Linjiang Old Residence after a late-night reunion with his former college classmates.
• The gathering is portrayed as warm and sincere: despite stressful modern life, the classmates reconnect without rivalry, enjoying food, drinks, memories, and plans for another reunion.
• Zuo Yi reflects on how different his values are from many powerful transcendent beings in the Sadea World, who isolate themselves from ordinary people after gaining strength.
• He recalls past acts of kindness toward commoners, emphasizing that even as a Legendary Dragon Knight, he never considered himself superior to ordinary people.
• After showering, Zuo Yi logs into the Inner Net Forum. He can now enter safely because Bao’er’s spiritual consciousness is no longer likely to follow him.
• The forum is dominated by two major topics:
  • Zhang Jingyao’s successful Hang City concert, where fans believe her singing has reached a higher level.
  • The Magician’s video documenting the Tarot Society’s attack on and destruction of the Jiangnan Laboratory.
• The Magician reveals that Qin Junhao and the Superhuman Federation attempted to use Zhang Jingyao as bait, but the Magician countered them by destroying one of their major laboratories.
• The attack caused heavy losses for the Xia Super League, including the laboratory and several elite members.
• Zuo Yi notices that the Magician’s inflammatory post remains available despite exposing the Superhuman Federation’s genetic experiments. Investigating the forum’s administration, he discovers the existence of a mysterious super administrator named Creator.
• Zuo Yi concludes that Creator is probably not a human being but an artificial-intelligence-like entity with the highest authority over the Inner Net.

2. Character Developments

• Zuo Yi: His moral philosophy is reinforced. Despite possessing overwhelming power, he continues to value ordinary people and everyday happiness. His memories of helping villagers, merchants, mercenaries, and a drowning child demonstrate his commitment to his Virtue Faith.
• Bao’er: Her Perfect Spirit Body problem has been substantially controlled through the Fate Witch’s legacy. She is still too young to fully manage her spiritual power, but Zuo Yi expects her abilities to stabilize as she grows. He also hopes to introduce her to the Inner Net in the future.
• Zhang Jingyao: Her concert is presented as a major success, and public reaction suggests that she has advanced artistically, possibly through some transcendent improvement.
• The Magician: He emerges as clever and strategically capable, successfully turning the Superhuman Federation’s trap against them. However, he conceals his defeat by Zuo Yi and the loss of the Solomon Mask and Time Pocket Watch.
• Creator: A new mysterious figure or entity is introduced as the likely hidden authority controlling the Inner Net Forum.

3. Significant Themes

• Power and humility: Zuo Yi contrasts his own respect for ordinary life with transcendent beings who abandon humanity after gaining power.
• The value of everyday happiness: Class reunions, music, friendship, and family-like bonds are treated as meaningful aspects of life worth protecting.
• Virtue and responsibility: Zuo Yi’s strength is tied to an obligation to defend innocent people and preserve their happiness.
• Strategy and information warfare: The conflict between the Magician and the Superhuman Federation is fought through deception, traps, public revelations, and control of information.
• Hidden authority and mystery: Creator’s existence suggests that the Inner Net has a deeper and possibly nonhuman governing intelligence whose motives remain unknown.

4. Character Interactions

• Zuo Yi interacts warmly with his former classmates during the reunion, sharing in their nostalgia and communal enjoyment.
• His past interactions with ordinary people—farmers, merchants, mercenaries, and villagers—illustrate his respectful and protective attitude toward them.
• Zhang Jingyao’s concert indirectly connects her with both Zuo Yi’s classmates and the larger Inner Net community, where fans enthusiastically discuss her performance.
• The Magician and the Superhuman Federation engage in a battle of wits: the Federation attempts to lure him through Zhang Jingyao, but he retaliates by destroying the Jiangnan Laboratory.
• Zuo Yi acts as an observer of these conflicts, analyzing the forum discussions and uncovering the existence of Creator.

Summary of "I'm Here to Buy It (3/3)"

1. Key plot points and events

• Zuo Yi checks the Inner Net forum for information, then sleeps.
• Next morning, he picks up Bao'er from Shang Yulin's and brings her home to Lakeview Garden, where Zhang Jingyao is packing to return to the Capital City.
• After a tearful goodbye, Zuo Yi gives Zhang Jingyao the protective bracelet as a memento and drives her to the airport.
• He takes Bao'er to Apocalypse Academy afterward.
• Chen Yuanzhong calls Zuo Yi to arrange a meeting with Riverside Town's mayor and local factory owners.
• At the tea house, they explain that the town's demolition project collapsed after Zuo Yi defeated Sikong Yan and drove away Jiangnan New City Group. Many residents and factories had already prepared for demolition, suffered losses, or taken on debt expecting compensation.
• Zuo Yi offers to personally buy all properties and land in Riverside Town under New City Group's original terms if the company abandons the project. He confirms he can afford it thanks to his potion sales, and intends to reshape the town as he sees fit.

2. Character developments

• Zuo Yi: Shows generosity, decisiveness, and a sense of responsibility toward the town. His confidence in his financial power grows, and he reveals long-term plans to develop Riverside Town.
• Zhang Jingyao: Displays genuine emotional attachment to Bao'er and gratitude to Zuo Yi; she accepts the bracelet as a memento, showing respect and friendship.
• Bao'er: Expresses sadness at parting with a beloved friend, seeking comfort from her father.
• Chen Yuanzhong and town leaders: Represent the community's reliance on Zuo Yi's influence; they are relieved he is willing to take action.

3. Significant themes

• Wealth as power: Zuo Yi's alchemical products give him financial leverage to solve large-scale problems single-handedly.
• Community and responsibility: Zuo Yi feels obliged to help his hometown despite not being directly harmed.
• Economic fallout of real estate disputes: Demolition cancellations cause real hardship for ordinary people.
• Tactics and counter-tactics: New City Group's indirect pressure via townspeople backfires, handing Zuo Yi an opportunity to acquire land cheaply.

4. Character interactions

• Zuo Yi & Zhang Jingyao: A warm, grateful farewell; Zuo Yi lets her keep the bracelet, reinforcing mutual goodwill.
• Zuo Yi & Bao'er: He comforts her, showing a caring fatherly relationship.
• Zuo Yi & Chen Yuanzhong: Their trust allows the meeting to happen; Chen Yuanzhong acts as a reluctant but necessary intermediary.
• Zuo Yi & town leaders: They approach him with respect and caution; Zuo Yi responds pragmatically, cutting through their worries with a concrete solution.

Summary: "Making a Fortune" (Chapter from a Web Novel)

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• At Shared Fortune Tea House, representatives of Riverside Town plead with Zuo Yi to help negotiate with Jiangnan New City Group, which has abandoned a major development project, leaving locals cheated and stranded.
• Instead of merely lending his name for negotiation, Zuo Yi shocks everyone by announcing he will take over the entire Riverside Town project himself — a move worth billions.
• He instructs Mayor Li to deliver an ultimatum to Jiangnan New City Group: either continue the project with changed planning/design, or hand it over to him entirely, with a warning not to try any tricks.
• Zuo Yi goes on a shopping trip, purchasing ten gold bars and hundreds of diamonds/rubies to fund his plan.
• He picks up Bao'er from Apocalypse Academy and returns home.
• Taike (the Abyssal Cerberus) is found depressed and lonely due to Bao'er being away at school all day.
• Zuo Yi agrees to ask the academy whether Taike (and Pipi) can attend school with Bao'er, and plans to set up a Teleportation Array in his office.
• The chapter ends with Zuo Yi heading to his basement workshop to begin implementing his "fortune-making" plan.

2. Character Developments

• Zuo Yi: Reveals himself as decisive, ambitious, and strategic. His takeover offer is not impulsive — he had been considering buying Riverside Town for months, driven by nostalgia for his childhood and a desire to preserve the town's peace, protect his residence, and avoid future crowding and trouble near the World Tree. He shows resourcefulness in converting money into gold/gems for his plan.
• Bao'er: Demonstrates her caring, empathetic nature by noticing Taike's distress and immediately seeking a solution. She has complete faith in her father's abilities.
• Taike: Shows deep attachment to Bao'er, expressing loneliness and jealousy through whining and acting spoiled.
• Pipi: Displays jealousy and a playful desire for equal treatment.
• Chen Yuanzhong (Uncle Zhong): Acts as a caring elder, warning Zuo Yi against taking on such a massive financial burden, showing genuine concern.

3. Significant Themes

• Wealth and Power: Zuo Yi treats a multi-billion-dollar project as an achievable challenge, underscoring his elevated status and capability.
• Preservation vs. Development: Zuo Yi's motivation to save Riverside Town from chaotic urban development reflects a theme of preserving heritage and tranquility over commercial gain.
• Community vs. Corporate Greed: The town's suffering at the hands of Jiangnan New City Group highlights corporate irresponsibility.
• Family and Belonging: The bond between Bao'er, Taike, and Pipi illustrates themes of loyalty, companionship, and the need for togetherness.
• Identity Transformation: Zuo Yi is no longer the man he once was — he acts with confidence and authority, noted by Chen Yuanzhong.

4. Character Interactions

• Zuo Yi & Town Leaders: Tense and formal; leaders are shocked and skeptical of his announcement, but Mayor Li submits fearfully.
• Zuo Yi & Chen Yuanzhong: Warm and familiar; Uncle Zhong expresses worry, while Zuo Yi reassures him with confidence.
• Bao'er & Taike: Sweet and emotional; Bao'er comforts Taike, and they share affectionate moments (licking, hugging).
• Bao'er & Pipi: Playful and lively; Pipi demands to go to school too, and Bao'er happily agrees.
• Zuo Yi & Bao'er: Gentle and nurturing; Zuo Yi offers solutions to her concerns and promises an outing to West Market after dinner.

Summary: “Death-Proof Medallion”

Key plot points/events

• Zuo Yi goes to his underground workshop to craft rune equipment, intending to sell it for funds to buy property in Riverside Town.
• He cuts a gold brick into ten 100g bars, melts one into a medallion, plates it with Senai Mithril, and engraves a high-tier “Life Protection” rune using a Rune Template and Engraving Crystal.
• He adds “Death-Proof / Once” text on the reverse side, inlays diamonds and rubies, and punches a hole for a necklace string.
• He continues crafting nine more identical medallions, all successful, using minimal Senai Mithril.
• He stores the ten medallions in his Spatial Ring and plans to check pricing at the West Market that evening.
• Back upstairs, dinner is ready; he calls Bao’er to eat, and she runs in with their dog, Foodie Tai.

Character developments

• Zuo Yi demonstrates his master-level rune-crafting skill, precise control, and strategic thinking (using gold as universal currency, trading crafted items rather than selling stored potions).
• He reveals a playful side with dark humor (“Death-Proof” / “Once”) and a subtle scheme to gain Faith Points by making a promise tied to his rune equipment.
• His caring, fatherly relationship with Bao’er is shown in small domestic moments.

Significant themes

• Craftsmanship and mastery: Precision, resourcefulness, and efficiency in creating high-value items.
• Commerce and survival: Using skills to acquire resources in a new world.
• Faith and contracts: The idea of rune items as both protection and a means to build faith through fulfilled promises.
• Family and normalcy: Balancing dangerous/transcendent work with simple domestic life.

Character interactions

• Zuo Yi works alone in the workshop; the only interactions are with Bao’er and Foodie Tai at the end, showing warmth and routine familial care.

1. Key Plot Points and Events

Zuo Yi returns to the West Creek Underground Market with Bao'er and Taike, leaving Pipi at home due to its lack of discretion. He enters the second level (B4) of the market, a VIP trading venue operated by the internationally renowned Jiabao Auction House. Zuo Yi intends to auction his gold medallions rather than rely solely on the Mei Family. After presenting a tasteful tea reception, he meets General Manager Zong Yi and head appraiser Yan Xiuyuan. Zuo Yi hands over a "Death-Proof Medallion" made of gold, explains its effect—exemption from harm or death—and reveals he has 99 of them to sell.

2. Character Developments

Zuo Yi demonstrates strategic thinking by diversifying his sales channels instead of depending on one buyer. He is also pragmatic and business-oriented, leveraging his reputation within the Martial Alliance. Bao'er shows obedience and patience, accompanying him quietly during the meeting.

3. Significant Themes

• Commerce and Reputation: Zuo Yi's status grants him direct access to the general manager, showing how martial reputation opens commercial doors.
• The Intersection of Myth and Reality: The "Death-Proof Medallion," typically a fictional artifact, is presented as real and magical, blending historical legend with the supernatural.
• Trust in Legitimate Institutions: Zuo Yi chooses an established auction house for transparency and credibility.

4. Character Interactions

Zuo Yi interacts with the receptionist Han Jiamei first, who escorts him to a private room and calls for the manager. General Manager Zong Yi recognizes Zuo Yi immediately, being a member of the Martial Alliance. Yan Xiuyuan, the appraiser, becomes skeptical upon seeing the gold medallion, initially suspecting a joke, then treats it seriously after holding it. The two exchange glances upon learning of the sheer quantity, and the trio deals with the formalities of appraisal and auction procedures.

Chapter Summary: “Yan Donglai (1/3)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens in the West Creek Martial Arena, located on level B5 of the West Market, where an exclusive group has gathered to inspect a mysterious gold medal.
• The item, called the Death-Proof Medallion, is decorated with diamonds and rubies. One side bears the words “Death-Proof” and “One Use,” while the other contains an intricate design.
• The medallion was submitted for auction by Zuo Yi, the powerful A-Rank superhuman known as the Riverside Dragon King.
• Yan Donglai, head of the Jiangnan Yan Family, chairman of Yannan Group, and the force behind the West Market, personally attends the inspection. His presence reflects the importance of the item and Zuo Yi’s reputation.
• Yan Donglai questions why Zuo Yi would auction such an unusual object. His nephew-like subordinate, Yan Zhiyong, suggests that Zuo Yi urgently needs money.
• Yan Zhiyong connects the auction to the collapse of the Jiangnan New City Project. With the Chen and Ye Families withdrawing, he theorizes that Zuo Yi may intend to purchase Riverside Town himself and restart the project.
• Zhiyong proposes that the Yan Family provide funding and resources, potentially gaining enormous profits and an alliance with Zuo Yi.
• Yan Donglai acknowledges that Zhiyong’s interpretation is plausible but does not openly endorse the proposed partnership. The Yan Family elders recognize that cooperation with Zuo Yi would be politically dangerous because of their ties to the Superhuman Federation and possible retaliation from the Chen and Ye Families.
• The auction house explains that its appraisers suspect the medallion may be a Wilds Curio, though Zuo Yi has denied this classification. The central question becomes whether its claimed protective effect is genuine.
• Yan Donglai orders a direct test. A lean man places the medallion around his neck as a necklace, prompting concern from the auction manager. Yan Donglai then instructs everyone to move elsewhere for the experiment.

Character Developments

• Yan Donglai is portrayed as cautious, authoritative, and politically perceptive. He is willing to investigate the medallion directly but remains restrained about committing the Yan Family to an alliance with Zuo Yi.
• Yan Zhiyong demonstrates intelligence and ambition through his analysis of the failed construction project. However, his eagerness to claim credit and openly advocate cooperation reveals political immaturity. After realizing his mistake, he becomes embarrassed and lowers his head.
• Zong Yi, the auction-house manager, appears competent but nervous in the presence of Yan Donglai and the Yan Family elites. His alarm during the proposed test shows his concern for safety and procedure.
• Zuo Yi, though absent, dominates the discussion. His status as an A-Rank powerhouse and his past conflicts with major families make even a strange auction item worthy of serious attention.

Significant Themes

• Power and reputation: Zuo Yi’s reputation ensures that no one dismisses the medallion, despite its unusual name and appearance.
• Political caution versus ambition: The Yan Family must balance the potential profits of the New City Project against political risks involving the Superhuman Federation and rival aristocratic families.
• Family competition and succession: Yan Zhiyong’s desire to prove himself reflects the intense internal competition among powerful clans.
• Trust and uncertainty: The Yan Family suspects that Zuo Yi may have a hidden motive, while the true nature of the medallion remains unverified.
• Testing the extraordinary: The chapter builds suspense around whether the Death-Proof Medallion genuinely possesses supernatural defensive power.

Character Interactions

• Yan Donglai questions the gathered officials and family members about Zuo Yi’s motives.
• He specifically invites Yan Zhiyong to present his theory, briefly validating the younger man’s insight while implicitly judging his lack of political restraint.
• Yan Zhiyong argues that the Yan Family should cooperate with Zuo Yi, but the elders silently reject his overly direct approach.
• Zong Yi reports the auction house’s findings and explains the uncertainty surrounding the medallion.
• Yan Donglai overrides the cautious appraisal process and orders a live demonstration, setting up the chapter’s cliffhanger.

Summary: The Valuation of Life (2/3)

Key Plot Points

• Zong Yi, an auction house employee and Yan Clan outer member, oversees a demonstration of the "Death-Proof Medallion" for Chairman Yan Donglai in a fortified underground testing area.
• The medallion is claimed to activate only against mortal danger and works only once.
• Yan Donglai orders a test using a sniper rifle—far more extreme than Zong Yi expected.
• The test subject (a death warrior) survives a point-blank 7.62mm sniper round; the medallion emits brilliant light, stops the bullet, and shatters.
• Yan Donglai decides to auction the remaining 99 medallions with a starting bid of 30 million each, five days later.
• He reserves 20 medallions for the Yan Clan and instructs Zong Yi to send test footage to potential buyers.

Character Developments

• Yan Donglai: Reveals himself as ruthless, decisive, and pragmatic. He values the medallion highly ("You've put too low a value on life"), thinks strategically about building favors, and issues threatening warnings against treachery.
• Zong Yi: Initially skeptical ("I don't think this is very scientific"), then becomes completely shocked by the demonstrated power. He is cautious, loyal, and intimidated by the clan's resources.
• The test subject: Though resigned to death, shows visible relief upon surviving—highlighting human instinct to live.

Significant Themes

• The valuation of life: Central question of how much a life is worth; Yan Donglai's line "You've put too low a value on life" anchors this theme.
• Wealth and power disparity: The Yan Clan's casual use of illegal weapons (sniper rifles), death warriors, and their ability to bypass norm.
• Distrust and control: Yan Donglai's warnings reflect a world where betrayal is expected and consequences are severe.

Character Interactions

• Yan Donglai ↔ Zong Yi: Yan Donglai dismisses Zong Yi's skepticism, demonstrates the item's power, and issues direct orders. Zong Yi defers entirely, asking clarifying questions before obeying.
• Yan Donglai ↔ black-clad gunman: Nonverbal command; the gunman executes the test instantly and presents the bullet head.
• Yan Donglai ↔ assembled Yan Clan members: His warnings are aimed at everyone present—an implicit threat of punishment for any scheming.

Summary

• Zuo Yi prepares for his lecture: While Yan Donglai tests the Death-Proof Medallion elsewhere, Zuo Yi installs a secondary Teleportation Array in his office at Apocalypse Academy. This will allow Bao’er to travel safely and independently between home and school. He covers the array with a carpet and then heads to the grand auditorium.
• The academy gathers in force: Zuo Yi’s lecture attracts nearly every student, numerous instructors, and the academy’s leadership. The auditorium becomes completely overcrowded, with many students standing or bringing stools. Honorary president Wu Yongjian and all three vice presidents attend, emphasizing Zuo Yi’s exceptional status as one of the academy’s two A-Rank powerhouses.
• Zuo Yi’s arrival: He enters exactly at ten o’clock and is briefly surprised by the enormous turnout. Bao’er sits in the front row with Qin Qin and enthusiastically encourages him. The audience immediately falls silent under his imposing presence.
• The Starry Sky Meditation Method: Rather than offering introductory remarks, Zuo Yi immediately announces that he will teach the Starry Sky Meditation Method, a technique unfamiliar to the students and instructors. He explains that it strengthens mental power, improves control over supernatural abilities, and can help practitioners overcome bottlenecks.
• Origins and purpose of the technique: The method comes from Sadea World, where knights use mental power to control Battle Aura and wizards use it to connect with the Web of Laws. It is a highly adaptable, advanced meditation system suitable for practitioners ranging from apprentices to Legendary-level powerhouses.
• Zuo Yi’s larger plan: Teaching the method is part of Zuo Yi’s effort to influence Blue Star’s supernatural development. After introducing the Hongwu Fist Technique through martial arts education, he now intends to strengthen the next generation of superhumans. By benefiting and inspiring more people, he hopes to accumulate greater Faith Power.
• Transmission of knowledge: Zuo Yi instructs everyone to close their eyes. Because of his authority, nearly all the students and instructors comply. He then activates Spirit Sight, expands his mental power through the Web of Laws, and creates a Mental Network covering the auditorium. While several powerful figures sense something unusual, Zuo Yi ignores their reactions and directly transmits the meditation method to everyone who is participating.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Zuo Yi is shown acting as both a mentor and a long-term strategist. His concern for Bao’er’s safety motivates the Teleportation Array, while his lecture reflects his ambition to reshape Blue Star’s supernatural world and increase his future Faith Power.
• Bao’er openly supports her father from the front row, reinforcing their close relationship.
• Qin Qin accompanies and looks after Bao’er during the lecture.
• Wu Yongjian and the academy leadership demonstrate their respect for Zuo Yi by attending personally, while the students and instructors treat him with a mixture of admiration and awe.
• The high-ranking superhumans recognize that Zuo Yi is using an extraordinary mental technique, hinting that the lecture may have effects beyond ordinary instruction.

Significant Themes

• Mentorship and the spread of knowledge: Zuo Yi shares a powerful cultivation method rather than keeping it secret.
• The transformation of society through supernatural power: His lecture represents a deliberate attempt to raise the overall strength of Blue Star’s superhuman community.
• Authority and influence: The audience’s immediate obedience illustrates Zuo Yi’s overwhelming reputation and power.
• Family and responsibility: The Teleportation Array shows his practical concern for Bao’er’s independence and safety.
• Faith and long-term strategy: Zuo Yi’s educational efforts are also calculated steps toward gaining Faith Power and deepening his influence.

Chapter Summary: “Starry Sky Meditation Method”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zuo Yi uses his powerful Mental Network and Mental Resonance Method to teach more than a thousand teachers and students the first level of the Starry Sky Meditation Method in Apocalypse Academy’s grand auditorium.
• The method, called “Contemplating the Stars,” allows practitioners to visualize a star within their consciousness and strengthen their connection to supernatural power.
• Because the meditation method reaches the origin of supernatural abilities, it can benefit all six supernatural types—enhancement, energy, nature, technology, psychic, and mystery—even though Zuo Yi can directly guide only enhancement-type users through his knight training.
• Mental Resonance requires complete trust in the teacher. Fewer than one-third of the audience successfully enters resonance, while the rest fail because of doubt or insufficient acceptance.
• Gao Xiaopeng, a diligent nineteen-year-old F-Rank psychic with Telekinesis, successfully resonates after placing absolute trust in Zuo Yi’s guidance.
• During the visualization, Gao sees a faint star representing himself and wills it to grow brighter. His Telekinesis uncontrollably activates, causing nearby objects such as pens, notebooks, phones, and laptops to float.
• Hundreds of successful meditators create a spectacular phenomenon called “Daytime Stars,” in which colorful mental starlight forms a star cluster above the audience.
• After ten minutes, Zuo Yi ends the meditation with a snap of his fingers. Two students immediately announce that they have advanced in rank, including Gao Xiaopeng, who rises from F-Rank to E-Rank and significantly strengthens his Telekinesis.
• The audience reacts with shock, envy, gratitude, reverence, and enthusiastic applause. Those who failed to resonate regret missing the opportunity and hope Zuo Yi will teach the method again.
• Zuo Yi warns everyone not to meditate for more than two hours at a time, then ends the lesson. The audience is stunned that the extraordinary class is already over.

Character Developments

• Zuo Yi demonstrates his exceptional spiritual power, teaching a method that transcends the limitations of individual supernatural systems. His willingness to share such a valuable secret art increases his reputation and earns him widespread respect.
• He also gains a substantial amount of Faith Points from the students’ admiration and gratitude through his Faith Imprint.
• Gao Xiaopeng is established as ambitious, hardworking, and deeply trusting of Zuo Yi. His successful breakthrough validates his potential and gives him a major increase in confidence and ability.
• The two students who advance show that the meditation method can help practitioners overcome existing bottlenecks, though Zuo Yi recognizes that their breakthroughs depended partly on their own prior preparation.
• Students who failed to achieve resonance experience regret, highlighting the importance of trust and mental openness in supernatural cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Trust as a prerequisite for growth: Mental Resonance cannot work without sincere belief in the teacher’s guidance.
• The universality of power: The Starry Sky Meditation Method is presented as a foundational technique applicable to every supernatural path.
• Selfless knowledge-sharing: Zuo Yi’s decision to reveal a secret art contrasts with organizations that hoard powerful techniques, earning him admiration.
• Potential and perseverance: Gao Xiaopeng’s advancement shows that determination and disciplined study can allow even a seemingly weak supernatural to improve.
• Miracles and public influence: The visible supernatural phenomenon and on-the-spot breakthroughs enhance Zuo Yi’s authority and help popularize his ideals.
• Limits and balance: Despite the method’s power, Zuo Yi warns that excessive practice can be harmful, emphasizing the need for controlled cultivation.

Character Interactions

• Zuo Yi mentally guides the entire audience, forming a teacher-student connection through Mental Resonance.
• Gao Xiaopeng responds to Zuo Yi’s instruction with complete trust, enabling him to experience the method successfully and advance.
• The audience collectively reacts to the successful meditators, especially Gao, with envy and astonishment.
• Wu Yongjian and the vice presidents witness the Daytime Stars phenomenon and are visibly shocked by the method’s power.
• Wu Yongjian initiates the applause, prompting the entire auditorium to express its respect and gratitude toward Zuo Yi.
• Zuo Yi closes the lesson by giving practical cultivation advice, though the audience is left wanting more instruction.

Chapter Summary: "Lost Only Then Do You Know Its Value (2/3)"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Zuo Yi ends his lecture on the Starry Sky Meditation Method after only a few minutes, leaving students stunned and dissatisfied. Many had failed to grasp the technique or wanted more teachings.
• Wu Yongjian forcefully restores order, reminding the students that Zuo Yi had no obligation to teach them and that the technique was a gift.
• Zuo Yi states the next class will be the same time next week, reflecting that things obtained too easily are rarely cherished.
• Wu Yongjian reveals he had planned to release lecture footage on the Inner Net to promote Apocalypse Academy and intimidate rival Pride Academy; Zuo Yi approves, noting no one can learn the technique from a video alone.
• Zuo Yi teleports home with his daughter Bao'er, who delights in being able to "fly" to school and sleep longer each morning.
• Zuo Yi receives a call from Zong Yi, general manager of Jiabao Auction House's West Market branch, confirming the Death-Proof Medallions passed testing and the remaining 99 will be auctioned.
• Yan Donglai, chairman of Yannan Group and hidden boss of West Market, requests a personal meeting with Zuo Yi, who agrees and heads to the Shared Fortune Tea House.

2. Character Developments

• Zuo Yi: Demonstrates generosity by sharing a precious high-dimensional technique while also showing firmness—he won't cater to ungrateful demands. His teaching philosophy emphasizes that struggling for something makes it more valuable. He balances his roles as instructor, father, and growing force in the Inner World's business/power circles.
• Wu Yongjian: Shows his protective and disciplined nature, defending Zuo Yi's authority and recognizing his own neglect of student discipline. He expresses commitment to improve oversight at the academy.
• Bao'er: Remains playful and childlike, more excited about extra sleep than the significance of teleportation, highlighting her innocence in contrast to the serious adult affairs around her.

3. Significant Themes

• Gratitude vs. Entitlement: The core theme expressed in the chapter title—people don't appreciate what's freely given and only realize value after losing it. Zuo Yi deliberately creates scarcity to teach this lesson.
• Power and Responsibility: Wu Yongjian's warning that transcendent abilities must be matched by strong character; unchecked power leads to disaster.
• Knowledge as Currency: Zuo Yi's technique is a valuable commodity, and his decision to share it has both altruistic and strategic dimensions (academy promotion, reputation building).
• Interconnected Worlds: The blending of domestic family life, academic politics, and the Inner World's business dealings shows Zuo Yi navigating multiple spheres of influence.

4. Character Interactions

• Zuo Yi & Students: Tension rises when students clamor for more teaching; Zuo Yi remains unyielding, ending the lecture firmly.
• Wu Yongjian & Students: A commanding, disciplinary presence—he silences the crowd with a single glance and delivers a moral lesson about entitlement.
• Zuo Yi & Wu Yongjian: Collegial and trusting; they discuss academy matters, and Wu Yongjian seeks Zuo Yi's approval on publicity decisions.
• Zuo Yi & Bao'er: Warm, affectionate father-daughter dynamic with lighthearted teasing about sleep habits and health.
• Zuo Yi & Taike the dog: Brief domestic moment showing family harmony.
• Zuo Yi & Auction House/Yan Donglai: Business relationship expanding—the Death-Proof Medallions are validated, and a powerful figure (Yan Donglai) seeks direct contact, signaling Zuo Yi's growing reputation and influence.

Chapter Summary: Stirring Up the Storm (3/3)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Donglai, head of the influential Jiangnan Yan Family, personally visits Zuo Yi at Shared Fortune Tea House, acknowledging Zuo Yi’s status as the ruler of Riverside Town.
• Yan asks about the limits of the Death-Proof Medallions. Zuo Yi explains that they can block fatal attacks from A-Rank superhumans and that all fatal damage received within one second is treated as a single attack.
• Yan proposes auctioning the ninety-nine medallions in several smaller batches rather than all at once, preserving their rarity and maximizing their value.
• To eliminate Zuo Yi’s financial risk, the Yan Clan guarantees him at least five billion: Zuo Yi receives whatever the auctions earn, while the Yan Clan covers any unsold medallions.
• Zuo Yi accepts, produces the medallions from his Spatial Ring, reviews and signs the contract, and hands the suitcase over to Yan Donglai.
• The promised five billion is transferred to Zuo Yi’s account that afternoon, giving him enough money to begin purchasing Riverside Town real estate.
• That evening, footage of Zuo Yi’s lecture on the Starry Sky Meditation Method appears on the Inner Net Forum. The technique sparks intense debate, with some praising Zuo Yi’s generosity and others accusing him and Apocalypse Academy of fabricating the method.
• The controversy makes Zuo Yi even more famous and brings a surge of visitors and exchange requests to Apocalypse Academy, further disrupting the Inner World.

Character Developments

• Zuo Yi: His growing authority is emphasized through Yan Donglai’s personal visit and respectful negotiations. He demonstrates confidence, business judgment, and complete trust in the value of his medallions. His financial power and influence continue to expand.
• Yan Donglai: He proves himself a pragmatic and experienced businessman. Rather than attempting to exploit Zuo Yi, he offers a mutually beneficial arrangement that secures the Yan Clan’s future access to Zuo Yi’s assistance.
• Assistant Hu: Revealed to be a B-Rank superhuman serving as Yan Donglai’s bodyguard. Her vigilance shows the danger surrounding negotiations with someone as powerful as Zuo Yi.
• Zong Yi: Acts as Yan Donglai’s trusted aide, preparing and presenting the contract during the transaction.

Significant Themes

• Power and territory: Zuo Yi’s title of Riverside Dragon King represents real political and personal authority, forcing even major clans to respect his sphere of influence.
• Trust and mutually beneficial alliances: The medallion deal shows how business cooperation can create future relationships between powerful factions.
• Rarity and value: Yan’s auction strategy rests on the principle that scarcity increases desirability and market price.
• Public belief versus skepticism: The Starry Sky Meditation Method divides the Inner World, showing how revolutionary ideas are often met with both admiration and disbelief.
• Growing influence: Zuo Yi’s actions affect not only individuals but also major organizations, markets, and the balance of the Inner World.

Character Interactions

• Yan Donglai respectfully consults Zuo Yi about the medallions’ abilities before proposing the auction arrangement.
• Zuo Yi and Yan negotiate directly and efficiently, completing a multibillion-yuan deal with mutual confidence.
• Assistant Hu remains cautious when Zuo Yi suddenly produces the suitcase, recognizing that he could kill her and Yan Donglai before she could react.
• Yan Donglai and Zong Yi coordinate smoothly, with Zong Yi presenting the prepared contract after Yan receives Zuo Yi’s agreement.
• The online community’s heated arguments over Zuo Yi’s lecture reflect his growing ability to provoke widespread reactions throughout the Inner World.