Ch. 182Lesson

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao He asks Cui Man to connect him to the Oliver brothers, Ivan and Oliver, so he can use their abilities through Superpower Erosion to restore his stamina during the tournament.
  • His next opponent, Scorpion, specializes in controlling inorganic matter. He manipulates dirt, rocks, sand, and other materials into powerful long-range attacks and uses rising earth to evade Xiao He.
  • Scorpion correctly notices that Xiao He has already fought many opponents and assumes he is becoming exhausted. However, Xiao He’s Kinetic Energy Absorption renders Scorpion’s physical attacks useless.
  • Xiao He closes the distance with bursts of stored kinetic energy and grabs Scorpion, activating Erosion. He drains the energy stored throughout Scorpion’s body, including energy from his fat reserves.
  • Scorpion becomes extremely weak and desperately hungry. Xiao He deliberately refuses to defeat him, instead hiding inside a Perfect Cube and describing increasingly delicious food to intensify Scorpion’s hunger.
  • Although Scorpion appears to dominate the fight to the audience, he is actually desperate for Xiao He to attack so the match will end. Unable to surrender without damaging his reputation, he eventually forfeits.
  • The audience misunderstands the situation and accuses Scorpion of deliberately throwing the match or accepting a bribe. Scorpion ignores them and rushes away to find food.
  • Xiao He explains that his purpose was to force Scorpion to understand the value of food and stop wasting it.
  • The next opponent is Black Witch, a female Mutant from the A Continent team. She was previously seen helping Scott during the restaurant incident.
  • Black Witch can charge and release fire and lightning in different forms, such as dragons, wolves, ravens, and other “spells.” Xiao He determines that the power and form of each attack depend on the time spent charging.
  • Black Witch charges a maximum-strength combination attack, “Fire and Lightning Strike,” but Xiao He blocks it effortlessly with a Perfect Cube.
  • He then reaches her instantly, withstands her desperate close-range attacks, and defeats her with a single flick to the forehead.

Character Developments

  • Xiao He demonstrates greater tactical creativity and psychological control. Rather than relying solely on direct attacks, he uses Erosion to weaken Scorpion and manipulates Scorpion’s hunger until pride gives way to surrender.
  • Xiao He continues gathering intelligence for the upcoming team battle, immediately analyzing Black Witch’s Superpower and reporting its mechanics to Cui Man.
  • Scorpion shifts from arrogant confidence to helpless desperation. His pride prevents him from surrendering early, but extreme hunger eventually becomes more important than victory, reputation, or audience opinion.
  • Black Witch is introduced as a powerful and versatile combatant, but her confidence collapses when her strongest attack fails completely against Xiao He’s defenses.
  • Cui Man continues acting as Xiao He’s support and communications link, helping him access allied abilities and evaluate opponents for future strategy.

Significant Themes

  • The value of food and energy: Xiao He teaches Scorpion a harsh lesson by making him experience genuine deprivation after he wasted food earlier.
  • Appearances versus reality: The audience believes Scorpion is overwhelming Xiao He, when in fact Xiao He has complete control of the fight. The chapter emphasizes how easily spectators can misinterpret events.
  • Strategy over brute force: Xiao He wins through observation, ability combinations, endurance, and psychological tactics rather than immediately overpowering every opponent.
  • Pride and survival: Scorpion’s refusal to surrender because of his reputation ultimately causes him greater humiliation. His physical hunger exposes the limits of pride.
  • Understanding Superpowers: Xiao He systematically studies how each opponent’s ability works, reinforcing the importance of information in both individual and team combat.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao He and Cui Man: Xiao He requests access to the Oliver brothers’ abilities and later reports Black Witch’s charging-based power so the team can prepare for her.
  • Xiao He and the Oliver brothers: Their abilities help replenish Xiao He’s stamina through Erosion, though the brothers later need to eat normally to recover.
  • Xiao He and Scorpion: Their battle becomes a psychological confrontation. Xiao He drains Scorpion’s energy, taunts him with descriptions of food, and forces him to acknowledge the importance of not wasting it.
  • Xiao He and Black Witch: Black Witch attempts several elemental attacks, but Xiao He absorbs or destroys them, blocks her ultimate technique, and defeats her almost casually.
  • Xiao He and the audience/commentators: The spectators misread the battle and criticize both fighters based on appearances, highlighting the gap between public perception and reality.

Ch. 183The Greatest Nightmare

Chapter Summary: “The Greatest Nightmare”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao He grows bored with the later tournament matches because most opponents rely entirely on their Superpowers and lack meaningful combat technique.
  • After defeating the A Continent team, Xiao He eats dinner with Ye Wanqing and encounters Scott, whom he previously defeated. Scott is consuming enormous amounts of food to restore the energy drained by Xiao He’s Erosion ability.
  • Xiao He briefly speaks with Kyūjirō Yasuda, “Soul Blade,” who encourages him before the remaining matches. His friendly relationship with Yasuda contrasts with Vermilion Bird’s continued hostility.
  • Cui Man advises Xiao He to rest and take Ye Wanqing on a date after the competition. Both Xiao He and Ye Wanqing look forward to spending time together once the tournament ends.
  • Xiao He enters his thirteenth match against Thunder God of Y Country. Thunder God boasts that he will be remembered as the man who defeats Yinglong, but Xiao He stops his punch with a kick and defeats him with a swift martial-arts combination.
  • Xiao He then faces Nightmare, a Gothic-styled Mutant whose power produces black smoke and supposedly manifests terrifying creatures.
  • Nightmare’s power creates a large cockroach—Xiao He’s greatest childhood fear. Although he initially tries to remain composed, the cockroach suddenly flies toward his face.
  • Panicking, Xiao He unleashes an enormous stomp. The impact nearly splits the supposedly indestructible arena and knocks Nightmare unconscious, causing the cockroach to disappear.
  • Terrified spectators and competitors realize that Xiao He had been holding back throughout the tournament. However, everyone is also amused and surprised that the seemingly invincible Yinglong is terrified of cockroaches.
  • The final Y Country contestant forfeits, giving Xiao He fifteen consecutive victories in a single day. Xiao He repairs the damaged arena with Entropy Reduction, leaving the other teams both frightened and relieved that he is not their enemy.

Character Developments

  • Xiao He: Demonstrates overwhelming stamina, combat ability, and restraint, defeating every opponent despite his growing fatigue. His true physical power is revealed when his panic-driven stomp nearly destroys the arena. At the same time, his fear of cockroaches exposes a humorous and vulnerable side beneath his formidable reputation.
  • Ye Wanqing: Continues to support Xiao He and looks forward to spending private time with him after the tournament. She is also protective and possessive when Li Xue jokingly suggests becoming Xiao He’s second girlfriend.
  • Kyūjirō Yasuda/Soul Blade: Acts as a friendly and sincere companion, offering Xiao He encouragement and showing genuine respect for him.
  • Vermilion Bird: Remains resentful of Xiao He, criticizing his ability to learn and immediately apply techniques.
  • Thunder God: Is portrayed as arrogant and overly dependent on his Superpower. His confidence collapses quickly when Xiao He defeats him with superior technique.
  • Nightmare: Enters with theatrical confidence but loses control when her frightening power produces a cockroach. Her defeat is accidental and almost entirely caused by Xiao He’s extreme reaction.
  • The other Mutants: Their opinions shift from disbelief to fear after witnessing Xiao He’s destructive potential. Even those who mocked the tournament’s format recognize that ordinary opponents cannot defeat him through endurance alone.

Significant Themes

  • Strength versus technique: Xiao He repeatedly proves that mastery of combat skills can overcome opponents who rely only on powerful Superpowers.
  • The contrast between public image and private vulnerability: Xiao He appears nearly unstoppable to the world, yet his fear of cockroaches creates an amusing contradiction.
  • Humanity beneath heroism: His exhaustion, hunger, desire for affection, and childish fear make Xiao He more relatable despite his extraordinary strength.
  • Reputation and perception: The spectators simultaneously fear Xiao He’s power and laugh at his weakness, showing how quickly a heroic image can become complicated.
  • Restraint and responsibility: Xiao He has been holding back to avoid seriously injuring others, and his effort to repair the arena after the match reinforces his concern for the damage he causes.

Important Character Interactions

  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing share affectionate domestic moments, including dinner plans and anticipation of a future date.
  • Xiao He exchanges friendly words with Soul Blade, while Vermilion Bird pointedly ignores him.
  • Cui Man encourages Xiao He and suggests that he use the following day to relax with Ye Wanqing.
  • Xiao He humiliates Thunder God by interrupting his attack and defeating him through a precise martial-arts combo.
  • Nightmare’s supposedly terrifying power unintentionally exposes Xiao He’s fear, creating a chaotic contrast between their expectations and the actual battle.
  • Ye Wanqing, Han Tianyu, An Xiuru, Li Xue, and Yue Feng react to Xiao He’s fear with amusement, disbelief, admiration, or playful teasing.
  • The chapter ends with the competitors united by a common realization: Xiao He is terrifyingly powerful, but fortunately, he is currently on their side.

Ch. 184Idol

Chapter Summary: “Idol”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Dragon Country’s team, led by Xiao He—publicly known as Yinglong—finishes the day’s gauntlet matches with fifteen consecutive victories. Xiao personally achieves a 5–0 record, making Dragon Country very likely to advance as the top team in Group A.
  • Cui Man explains that even though two members of each opposing team have not yet fought, the intelligence gathered is still valuable. Since the competition uses a king-of-the-hill format, Dragon Country can prepare counters for known abilities and reserve a slot for the remaining unknown opponent.
  • Xiao plans to watch M Country’s upcoming matches to assess the new generation of Mutants who replaced the previous generation.
  • After returning home with Ye Wanqing through Dimensional Walker, Xiao relaxes while Ye prepares his favorite noodles with pickled mustard greens, shredded pork, and a fried egg. The couple spends the evening affectionately teasing one another and becomes intimate.
  • Meanwhile, M Country’s President Herlangni angrily criticizes Schofield for the failed strategy against Yinglong. Schofield argues that Yinglong showed signs of fatigue and proposes having M Country fight Dragon Country last, allowing their Mutant, Balance Man, to exploit Yinglong’s exhaustion.
  • Schofield also reveals that M Country is attempting to recruit or “poach” Xiao by sending attractive women to approach him, believing he will be unable to resist them.
  • The next day, Xiao and Ye attend school instead of returning to the arena because Xiao has no match and the ongoing Group A matches involve opponents he has already faced.
  • Dragon Country celebrates Yinglong’s success, while foreign media reacts negatively—except in Y Country, where people absurdly celebrate Apasi as the “second strongest Mutant” because he was the only fighter to make Yinglong vomit blood.
  • Xiao’s popularity has exploded. Students at school discuss his battles, compare them to action films, and lament the high ticket prices. More than a billion people worldwide reportedly watched the competition.
  • Ye jokes that Yinglong has become an idol and asks whether he would sign autographs. Xiao replies that he has never practiced writing “Yinglong,” leading to playful teasing between them.

Character Developments

  • Xiao He/Yinglong: Demonstrates overwhelming combat ability and confidence after fifteen straight victories, while remaining aware that his main limitation is mental fatigue rather than physical stamina. His fame is rapidly transforming him from a powerful competitor into a global celebrity. At home, he is playful, affectionate, and openly dependent on Ye’s companionship.
  • Ye Wanqing: Becomes increasingly comfortable and openly affectionate as Xiao’s girlfriend. She cooks for him, jokes with him, initiates playful intimacy, and expresses admiration for his appearance during matches. Her former resistance has turned into deep romantic attachment.
  • Cui Man: Shows strategic competence by emphasizing the value of collected intelligence and predicting Dragon Country’s advancement. She also encourages Xiao and the team to rest rather than overwork themselves.
  • Schofield: Comes under severe pressure from President Herlangni after the failure of the gauntlet strategy. He tries to salvage M Country’s hopes by relying on Balance Man and manipulating the match order.
  • President Herlangni: Becomes furious and impatient after M Country’s failed attempt to weaken Yinglong, threatening Schofield’s position.
  • Apasi and Y Country: Are portrayed humorously as self-deluding; Y Country reinterprets a humiliating defeat as proof of Apasi’s greatness.

Significant Themes

  • Public image and celebrity: Xiao’s victories turn him into an international idol, with massive viewership, school discussions, and fan interest.
  • Strategic competition: The chapter emphasizes that victory depends not only on raw power but also on gathering intelligence, arranging match order, and preparing ability counters.
  • National pride and propaganda: Dragon Country celebrates Yinglong’s achievements, while M Country seeks covert advantages and Y Country reshapes defeat into a patriotic success story.
  • Romance and domestic intimacy: The contrast between brutal arena battles and Xiao and Ye’s warm private life highlights their growing emotional closeness.
  • Overconfidence and self-deception: M Country’s belief that Balance Man can easily defeat an exhausted Xiao, and Y Country’s exaggerated praise of Apasi, reveal how nations distort events to maintain morale.
  • Balancing ordinary life with extraordinary fame: Despite being a globally famous Mutant, Xiao still attends university, spends time with Ye, eats home-cooked meals, and jokes about signing autographs.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao and Ye exchange affectionate teasing throughout the chapter, especially while preparing food, discussing intimacy, and reminiscing about how neither initially liked the other.
  • Cui Man reassures Xiao about the usefulness of the team’s intelligence and tells him to rest after his demanding matches.
  • Herlangni angrily confronts Schofield, while Schofield attempts to defend his strategy and persuade him that Balance Man remains a counter to Yinglong.
  • At school, Ye playfully calls Yinglong an idol while Xiao jokingly refuses to give her an autograph, reinforcing their lighthearted and affectionate relationship.

Ch. 185Keep Growing Stronger

Chapter Summary: “Keep Growing Stronger”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • During class, Xiao He secretly watches the Mutant Arena matches with Ye Wanqing. The Y Country Team faces the A Continent Team despite both sides being weakened by injuries and absent fighters.
  • Y Country’s Yaksha uses wind-based abilities and flight to evade Black Witch, but his unwillingness to endure attacks allows her to control the battle. She defeats him with sustained fire and lightning techniques.
  • Garuda counters Black Witch’s flames and defeats her, but Scorpion then counters Garuda’s fire and wins. Asura defeats Scorpion, forcing a final match against Iron Man. Iron Man’s immense defense neutralizes Asura’s attacks, giving the A Continent Team victory.
  • Xiao He realizes that, without Yinglong’s overwhelming physical superiority, battles depend heavily on ability counters and the strategic order in which fighters are deployed. However, he believes the matches between M Country’s allies are largely staged to conceal their true strength.
  • After class, Xiao He and Ye Wanqing visit the arena’s shopping district, which is filled with restaurants, shops, games, and entertainment. They enjoy snacks together while watching another match.
  • The featured battle is between Soul Blade of R Country and Vermilion Bird of H Country, two fighters who previously challenged Yinglong.
  • Soul Blade initially uses a powerful Draw-Cut, but Vermilion Bird subtly shifts its trajectory, reducing its force and surviving the strike.
  • The two engage in a highly technical close-range battle: Soul Blade fights with one or two swords, while Vermilion Bird uses powerful kicks and can rebound physical force.
  • Xiao He discovers that Soul Blade’s sword attacks are based on willpower rather than physical cutting, rendering Vermilion Bird’s force-rebound ability ineffective against them. He also realizes that both fighters can switch their abilities on and off.
  • Vermilion Bird unleashes a perfected Flying Swallow Whirlwind Kick, but Soul Blade reduces its force, closes the distance, and counterattacks with both blades.
  • In the decisive exchange, Vermilion Bird launches an extremely fast roundhouse kick, but Soul Blade’s Draw-Cut lands first. Soul Blade wins, deliberately using the back of his blade rather than killing Vermilion Bird.
  • Soul Blade respectfully praises Vermilion Bird, emphasizing that opponents are not enemies. Xiao He is inspired by both fighters’ techniques and resolves to continue becoming stronger.

Character Developments

  • Xiao He: Becomes more analytical about combat tactics, recognizing the importance of counters, timing, positioning, and ability control. He is also eager to learn from other strong Mutants and improve himself.
  • Ye Wanqing: Acts affectionate, playful, and food-loving during her date with Xiao He. Their relationship remains warm and flirtatious, with frequent teasing and physical affection.
  • Yaksha: Is shown to be cautious to the point of weakness. His refusal to endure pain or take risks allows Black Witch to overwhelm him.
  • Black Witch: Demonstrates improved tactical discipline by rotating sustained spells and charging new attacks rather than relying on a single all-or-nothing combination.
  • Garuda, Scorpion, Asura, and Iron Man: Illustrate how ability matchups determine outcomes. Each gains or loses momentum depending on whether their powers counter their opponent’s.
  • Soul Blade: Reveals exceptional swordsmanship, precise control over his Superpower, and a strong moral code. He values competition without unnecessary cruelty.
  • Vermilion Bird: Shows resilience, adaptability, and mastery of physical combat. He can alter his Superpower’s effects depending on the situation but becomes frustrated by Soul Blade’s superiority in the final exchange.

Significant Themes

  • Strength versus strategy: Victory depends not only on raw power but also on counters, timing, endurance, and tactical decisions.
  • The importance of match order: Winning the opening battle allows a team to counterpick later opponents, making the first matchup strategically crucial.
  • Limits of overwhelming power: Yinglong’s dominance had concealed the complexities of Mutant combat. Without him, abilities and skill interact in far more varied ways.
  • Growth through observation: Xiao He learns by studying other fighters and intends to incorporate their techniques into his own development.
  • Competition without hatred: Soul Blade’s refusal to kill Vermilion Bird reflects the distinction between fighting an opponent and treating them as an enemy.
  • Romance and ordinary happiness: Amid dangerous competitions, Xiao He and Ye Wanqing enjoy food, affection, and playful companionship, providing a lighter contrast to the battles.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing flirt throughout class and during their date, teasing each other, sharing food, and showing physical affection.
  • Xiao He analyzes the matches for Ye Wanqing and explains the fighters’ techniques and abilities.
  • Soul Blade and Vermilion Bird exchange a fierce but respectful battle. After winning, Soul Blade helps Vermilion Bird up and acknowledges his strength.
  • Their final exchange highlights Soul Blade’s sportsmanship: he chooses not to kill Vermilion Bird, while Vermilion Bird angrily questions his use of the blade’s back.

Ch. 186Sun Wukong and the Six-Eared Macaque

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao He analyzes the fighting techniques used by Soul Blade and Vermilion Bird, realizing that Vermilion Bird’s opening stance could be combined with the principles of Draw-Cut for a faster kicking attack.
  • He leaves the arena with Ye Wanqing, believing Soul Blade is unlikely to face serious opposition from the rest of H Country’s team.
  • The couple spends the day exploring the Mutant Arena, sharing milk tea, food, and affectionate banter before returning home.
  • Ye Wanqing prepares dinner, including braised beef with taro and spicy beef offal. Xiao He praises her cooking and their domestic compatibility.
  • After feeding stray animals and spending the evening together, Xiao He and Ye Wanqing discuss marriage and children. Xiao He suggests marrying sooner rather than later, leaving Ye Wanqing embarrassed but deeply touched.
  • The next day, Xiao He skips the less important tournament matches. On March 4, he returns to the arena with Ye Wanqing and the Special Response Department to observe M Country’s team.
  • Cui Man explains that M Country is expected to use reserve fighters first and save its strongest members for the confrontation with Dragon Country.
  • Feng Wenliang arrives and confirms that his daughter has fully recovered after receiving treatment through Xiao He’s Miracle Factor. The department asks him to donate blood regularly so the Miracle Factor can eventually be synthesized.
  • To protect Xiao He’s secret identity, Feng Wenliang transforms into Xiao He and is prepared to publicly pose as the “real” civilian identity of Yinglong.
  • Xiao He disguises himself as Yinglong and visits the arena’s food court with Cui Man. He attracts public attention by using his power to restore a dropped cup of milk tea.
  • The crowd realizes that Yinglong is genuine and swarms him for photos and autographs. Under the department’s plan, Xiao He shakes hands and takes a selfie with Feng Wenliang, who is disguised as Xiao He. The staged encounter is photographed to mislead anyone investigating Yinglong’s true identity.

Character Development

  • Xiao He shows increasing confidence in both combat analysis and his relationship with Ye Wanqing. He is observant enough to recognize improvements that could be made to Vermilion Bird’s technique, while also demonstrating a playful and affectionate side at home.
  • Ye Wanqing is portrayed as caring, domestic, and increasingly comfortable expressing her love. She cooks according to Xiao He’s preferences, thoughtfully orders spicy food for him, and hints at her hopes for a future together.
  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing’s relationship progresses toward marriage. Their earlier hostility has transformed into deep affection, mutual dependence, and a shared vision of married life.
  • Feng Wenliang has changed significantly after his daughter’s recovery. He is healthier, calmer, and grateful to Xiao He, while also accepting the responsibility of helping others through regular blood donations.
  • Cui Man demonstrates strategic thinking by arranging the false public encounter to protect Xiao He’s identity and by emphasizing the broader social value of the Miracle Factor.

Significant Themes

  • Love expressed through everyday life: Cooking, eating, sharing drinks, caring for animals, and discussing marriage emphasize that Xiao He and Ye Wanqing’s relationship is grounded in ordinary domestic happiness.
  • Identity and secrecy: Xiao He must balance his public status as Yinglong with his private life. The staged encounter highlights how carefully his allies protect his civilian identity.
  • Responsibility and social benefit: Feng Wenliang’s blood donations represent the idea that extraordinary powers and miracles should ultimately serve society rather than benefit only individuals.
  • Public fame versus private intimacy: Xiao He is adored and crowded by fans as Yinglong, yet his most meaningful moments remain the quiet ones he shares with Ye Wanqing.
  • Preparation and strategy: The tournament is treated not merely as entertainment but as an opportunity to study opponents, manage appearances, and prepare for future confrontations with M Country.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing exchange constant teasing and affectionate compliments, displaying their intimacy and growing plans for marriage.
  • Xiao He praises Ye Wanqing’s cooking and her practical way of using leftovers, while she appreciates his willingness to finish everything she prepares.
  • Cui Man teases Ye Wanqing about the hickey on her neck, while Xiao He jokingly claims it as an “autograph from Yinglong.”
  • Cui Man coordinates with Xiao He, Feng Wenliang, and Xie Haining to create a convincing false identity trail.
  • Xiao He reassures Feng Wenliang that saving his daughter was ultimately his own achievement, while Cui Man reminds Feng to repay society.
  • In the food court, Xiao He interacts warmly with fans, uses his powers to help a startled girl, and publicly shakes hands with his own disguised civilian identity to strengthen the deception.

Ch. 187Intruder

Chapter Summary: “Intruder”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • After performing the “Sun Wukong versus Six-Eared Macaque” act, Xiao He and Cui Man leave the fans and go shopping for food in the arena’s food court.
  • Because fans surround them whenever they appear, Xiao He repeatedly uses Dimensional Walker to teleport himself and Cui Man between floors. Each appearance causes another crowd of fans to gather.
  • Xiao’s public identity as Yinglong becomes more approachable and popular. The fan interactions also advertise the food stalls and help distance the public image of Yinglong from Xiao He’s ordinary identity.
  • A female internet celebrity attempts to remove Xiao He’s mask during a photo. Xiao stops her and jokes that anyone who sees his face dies. The woman is secretly Zhang Yuxin, and the incident is staged to teach fans not to cross boundaries.
  • Cui Man warns Zhang that revealing or interfering with a Mutant’s confidential identity could constitute a criminal offense. The crowd turns against Zhang, ending the fan gathering.
  • Xiao He returns to the competitors’ lounge, where he and the others share the food. He exchanges affectionate teasing with Ye Wanqing.
  • The day’s tournament matches begin. M Country faces five teams, beginning with the F Continent United Team.
  • M Country sends out Werewolf Victor, while F Continent sends Tsar Alba, whose ability creates coordinated soldiers from sand and dirt.
  • Alba’s sand army uses shields, spears, bows, and close-combat formations to contain Victor. The battle becomes a prolonged contest between Victor’s brute strength and regeneration and Alba’s tactical coordination.
  • Alba grows impatient and sends his two elite guards into the attack, leaving himself exposed. Victor exploits the opening and breaks through toward Alba.
  • Alba uses “Promotion” to turn two archers into heavily armored elite soldiers with stronger weapons. The enhancement visibly drains his life force.
  • Before the battle’s outcome is settled, an alarm sounds: an intruder has entered the Dragon Country competitors’ area. Security reports that the intruder has already escaped, and Cui Man orders the exits sealed.

Character Developments

  • Xiao He: Demonstrates patience and adaptability while dealing with overwhelming fan attention. He recognizes the advantages of cultivating Yinglong’s public image and becomes more comfortable acting as a popular public figure. His tactical insight is evident in his analysis of Alba’s ability and possible winning strategies.
  • Cui Man: Acts as Xiao He’s organizer, protector, and public-relations manager. She controls the crowds, disciplines the boundary-crossing fan, and responds decisively to the security emergency.
  • Ye Wanqing: Shows affection and familiarity with Xiao He, teasing him about gaining fans and feeding him during the match. Their playful intimacy continues to deepen.
  • Zhang Yuxin: Appears disguised as an internet celebrity and participates in the staged mask-grabbing incident, helping establish limits on fan behavior.
  • Alba: Reveals a powerful but costly ability. His reliance on life-force expenditure makes him vulnerable, and his impatience creates a tactical opening for Victor.
  • Victor: Remains a straightforward, physically dominant fighter who relies on transformation, overwhelming power, and self-healing rather than strategy.

Significant Themes

  • Public image and identity: Xiao He’s Yinglong persona becomes increasingly distinct from his private identity, helping him gain public support and reduce suspicion.
  • Celebrity and personal boundaries: The fan-meet sequence explores both the excitement and dangers of fame, emphasizing that admiration does not justify invading someone’s privacy.
  • Strategy versus brute force: Alba’s organized sand army contrasts with Victor’s direct attacks, illustrating how planning and coordination can temporarily restrain greater physical power.
  • Risk and decisiveness: Xiao He believes Alba should gamble more aggressively rather than accept a likely defeat. The chapter highlights the importance of taking risks when the alternative is certain loss.
  • Hidden danger beneath entertainment: The cheerful fan interactions and tournament spectacle abruptly give way to a security crisis, suggesting that a serious threat may be developing within the arena.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao He and Cui Man cooperate closely while navigating the crowds, with Cui Man handling orders and discipline and Xiao He using teleportation to control the situation.
  • Xiao He interacts humorously with fans, a streamer, and a security guard, though he is increasingly exhausted by the demands of celebrity.
  • Xiao and Ye Wanqing share flirtatious moments over food, including a stolen kiss and teasing about her being his girlfriend rather than merely his fan.
  • Xiao, Cui Man, Xie Haining, and Han Tianyu discuss Alba’s powers while watching the match, comparing their interpretations of his life-force-based enhancements.
  • The chapter ends with Cui Man taking command as everyone rushes to respond to the intruder, shifting the group from relaxed spectators to an emergency response team.

Ch. 188Morph Hero Takes the Fall

Chapter Summary: Morph Hero Takes the Fall

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • An alarm is triggered when a man disguised as Yuan Hong, a member of Dragon Country’s Special Response Department, enters Dragon Country’s competitors’ lounge.
  • Dragon Country’s experimental security system detects a data conflict: the man’s identity credentials place him inside the lounge, while his phone and ID information show the real Yuan Hong elsewhere.
  • Surveillance reveals that the intruder escapes through a corridor by transforming from Yuan Hong into a young woman. Since no exits exist and the other people in the footage remain unchanged, the investigators conclude that he possesses a disguise-based Superpower.
  • The security team initially suspects Morph Hero, an M Country Mutant known for changing his appearance. However, M Country’s envoy, Mike Nader, insists that Morph Hero can alter only his face and cannot change his body from male to female.
  • Nader sends proof of Morph Hero’s ability assessment, confirming that the intruder is not him. This turns the incident into a broader security threat involving an unknown third-party Mutant.
  • The investigators discover that the intruder cannot change or remove the tattoos on his hands: a blue and green snake tattoo. They realize he can only conceal them with gloves.
  • Dragon Country strengthens security throughout the arena, plans daily passwords for identifying allies, and warns Mutants to remain inside protected areas.
  • The disguised intruder, meanwhile, changes into a wealthy middle-aged man and admits that getting close to Yinglong will require a detailed primary plan and a backup plan. He views the gathering of powerful Mutants as a “buffet,” suggesting he intends to target or exploit them.
  • In M Country’s lounge, Mike Nader orders the Mutants not to act independently. Werewolf Victor, exhausted after winning six matches that morning, refuses to compete again that afternoon. He and the arrogant Mutant Ruiwen argue over who should fight next, with Ruiwen insulting Victor and implying that Victor is beneath him.

2. Character Developments

  • Cui Man demonstrates strong investigative and diplomatic judgment. She carefully pressures Mike Nader without directly accusing M Country, while also concealing Dragon Country’s own disguise-capable Mutant, Feng Wenliang.
  • Xiao He becomes increasingly concerned about Ye Wanqing’s safety and considers asking her to stop coming to the arena. He also grows more hostile toward M Country’s arrogance, privately looking forward to defeating their Mutants.
  • Ye Wanqing shows affection and dependence on Xiao He, protesting when he suggests she stay away.
  • Xie Haining remains calm and practical, emphasizing that the intruder cannot impersonate Dragon Country’s publicly unknown Mutants and proposing an identification-password system.
  • The unknown disguised Mutant is revealed to be calculating and ambitious. He recognizes the difficulty of penetrating Yinglong’s security but remains confident, preparing multiple plans and viewing the tournament as an opportunity to prey on powerful Mutants.
  • Mike Nader is revealed to have little respect for Morph Hero, calling him useless and disposable once he believes the man might be exposed.
  • Victor shows his physical limits after six matches, while Ruiwen is portrayed as stronger, more confident, and cruelly dismissive. Victor’s inability to challenge Ruiwen reinforces Ruiwen’s superiority within M Country’s group.

3. Significant Themes

  • Surveillance versus concealment: Dragon Country’s advanced tracking system can identify impossible movements, but the intruder’s disguise ability demonstrates the limits of data-based security.
  • Identity and trust: The possibility that anyone may be disguised leads to new password protocols and suspicion between nations.
  • International tension and political manipulation: The incident could be an act of espionage, assassination, or an attempt to provoke conflict between Dragon Country, M Country, and other nations.
  • The danger of powerful abilities: Even a seemingly limited disguise Superpower becomes threatening when used for infiltration, intelligence theft, or assassination.
  • Exploitation and expendability: Mike Nader’s contempt for Morph Hero highlights how Mutants are treated as tools and discarded when inconvenient.
  • Competition and hierarchy: The arena is not only a sporting venue but also a gathering of valuable targets. The clashes between Victor and Ruiwen reveal the ruthless power hierarchy among M Country’s Mutants.

4. Character Interactions

  • Cui Man and the security team collaborate to analyze surveillance footage and identify the intruder’s limitations.
  • Cui Man and Mike Nader engage in a tense diplomatic exchange. She carefully suggests that the intruder might be Morph Hero, while Nader angrily denies M Country’s involvement and eventually reveals Morph Hero’s actual weakness.
  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing have a protective, affectionate exchange, with Xiao He worrying about her safety and Ye Wanqing insisting that she wants to stay with him.
  • Xiao He and Xie Haining discuss the practical threat posed by the infiltrator, though Xie remains more confident in Dragon Country’s ability to protect its people.
  • Mike Nader, Victor, and Ruiwen argue over M Country’s afternoon lineup. Victor’s exhaustion leads him to suggest sending another Mutant into battle, while Ruiwen mocks him and asserts his superiority.
  • The chapter ends with Victor forced to tolerate Ruiwen’s insults because Ruiwen is powerful enough that Victor cannot realistically challenge him.

Ch. 189The Greatest Threat

Chapter Summary: “The Greatest Threat”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • The morning is spent cleaning up after the intruders, causing Xiao He and the others to miss most of the second match.
  • Xiao He remains curious about Balance Man, who previously threatened him despite receiving only low-level ability ratings. He believes Balance Man must possess a hidden strength.
  • The morning matches are judged disappointing because the F Continent and Asian United Teams are relatively weak and incomplete. The afternoon match between M Country and O Continent is expected to be more entertaining.
  • Ye Wanqing becomes tired and returns with Xiao He to the competitors’ lounge. They share an affectionate, intimate moment before she falls asleep.
  • While watching the first afternoon match, Xiao He recognizes the M Country competitor Raven as likely being Ruiwen, leader of the Raven organization.
  • Raven fights O Continent’s Mechanical Hero, whose body can transform into modern weapons, vehicles, and machines.
  • Raven overwhelms Mechanical Hero through extraordinary physical strength and a savage but highly calculated close-combat style. He deliberately absorbs attacks in non-vital areas while targeting weak points such as the ribs, eyes, and cheekbones.
  • Raven continues beating Mechanical Hero even after the referee orders him to stop. He only withdraws after being threatened with disqualification.
  • Raven’s shadow-like Superpower then automatically attacks the defeated Mechanical Hero and returns to Raven, healing his injuries and restoring his stamina. Raven explains that the ability can Plunder strength or other benefits from opponents, though Mechanical Hero is too weak for Raven to steal any power.
  • Xiao He concludes that Raven is currently the most dangerous competitor in the tournament and becomes eager to face both him and the mysterious Balance Man.

2. Character Developments

  • Xiao He: Displays growing confidence and strategic awareness. He realizes the arena’s competitor-number system can exploit Ye Wanqing’s renaming ability, meaning most enemies can be neutralized without realizing it. He also develops genuine respect and interest in Raven’s combat skill rather than simply viewing him as a threat.
  • Ye Wanqing: Acts affectionate and dependent around Xiao He, openly seeking his warmth and companionship. Her playful, shy behavior reveals the closeness of their relationship and contrasts with her more reserved behavior around others.
  • Raven/Ruiwen: Is revealed to be a terrifying fighter with Level 5 physical strength, instinctive combat expertise, and an automatically triggered Plundering ability. His brutality initially appears reckless, but Xiao He recognizes that his attacks and damage management are carefully optimized.
  • Mechanical Hero: Demonstrates considerable versatility by transforming his body into weapons, armor, and vehicles, but is ultimately outmatched by Raven’s strength, endurance, and hand-to-hand skill.
  • Balance Man: Does not appear, but his unseen capabilities become more intriguing because Xiao He wonders whether he could be even stronger than Raven.

3. Significant Themes

  • Violence beneath civilization: Raven’s battle evokes the bloodlust of ancient gladiatorial combat, suggesting that spectators remain fascinated by primal aggression despite modern rules and technology.
  • Brutality versus technique: Raven’s fighting looks like uncontrolled savagery, but Xiao He recognizes it as disciplined, efficient combat based on anatomy, timing, and instinct.
  • Hidden strength and appearances: Balance Man’s low official ratings may conceal his true power, while Raven’s lack of an obvious special ability masks his overwhelming physical capabilities.
  • Strategic use of powers: Xiao He’s ability to exploit the tournament’s naming system shows how intelligence and loopholes can be as important as raw strength.
  • Intimacy amid danger: The tender interaction between Xiao He and Ye Wanqing provides a warm contrast to the violent competition and reinforces their emotional bond.

4. Character Interactions

  • Xiao He comforts and teases Ye Wanqing when she complains about being unable to cling to him in public. He warms her cold feet, embraces her, and stays beside her while she sleeps.
  • Xiao He observes Raven’s battle from a competitor’s perspective, analyzing his tactics and imagining what he could learn from fighting him.
  • Raven brutally clashes with Mechanical Hero, ignoring explosions and mechanical weapons while overpowering him at close range.
  • The referee attempts to stop Raven and threatens disqualification. Raven jokingly dismisses the warning but ultimately obeys.
  • Raven explains his Plundering ability after it automatically attacks Mechanical Hero, revealing that it can heal him and potentially steal strength from defeated opponents.
  • Xiao He’s expectations shift: although he remains interested in Balance Man, he now views Raven as the competition’s greatest immediate threat.

Ch. 190Forced Lending

Chapter Summary: “Forced Lending”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Raven Ruiwen completes three matches against Europe and three against the South American United Team, winning all six decisively.
  • His superpower, Plunder, appears to have two functions:
    • Defeating stronger opponents permanently increases his Physical Strength.
    • Defeating weaker opponents restores his stamina and heals injuries.
  • Xiao He concludes that Ruiwen relies primarily on his physical ability, combat experience, and technique rather than a conventional special power. Xiao also believes he has now learned enough from previous battles to defeat Ruiwen and copy his techniques.
  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing wake from an afternoon nap, flirt affectionately, and go upstairs to eat while continuing to watch the tournament.
  • The evening’s highly anticipated match begins between longtime rivals M Country and E Country.
  • E Country sends out Counterforce Hero, a powerful Psychokinetic woman. M Country responds with Yousuli, whose strange behavior initially makes his abilities unclear.
  • Yousuli reaches Counterforce Hero and touches her, apparently “lending” her part of his power. He then begins using Psychokinesis himself.
  • Cui Man deduces that Yousuli’s name derives from “usury” and explains his superpower, Forced Lending: he lends power to an opponent, then periodically reclaims it with interest, weakening the opponent while gaining and storing their ability.
  • Yousuli overwhelms Counterforce Hero and boasts that he can lend her stolen power to her teammates, potentially creating a chain of borrowed abilities.
  • E Country suffers an unexpectedly disastrous three-match defeat, while M Country demonstrates why its roster is considered so formidable.

Character Developments

  • Xiao He: Gains confidence in his ability to defeat Ruiwen after improving through earlier battles. He analyzes both Ruiwen’s and Yousuli’s powers carefully, identifying their weaknesses and planning how he would counter them.
  • Ruiwen: Establishes himself as a powerful, relentless fighter whose strength grows through victory. His physical prowess and combat skill allow him to dominate despite lacking a flashy superpower.
  • Ye Wanqing: Remains affectionate and playful with Xiao He, though she lightly scolds him for being overly physical. Their relaxed intimacy contrasts with the tension of the tournament.
  • Yousuli: Reveals himself as cruel, theatrical, and manipulative. He enjoys frightening his opponents and treats his power as a predatory loan system.
  • Counterforce Hero: Initially confident in her superior Psychokinesis, but becomes shocked and helpless once Yousuli begins draining and reproducing her ability.
  • Cui Man: Demonstrates strong analytical ability by correctly interpreting the mechanics of Forced Lending.
  • An Xiuru and Han Tianyu: React to M Country’s victory, with An Xiuru expressing dislike for its arrogant Mutants while Han acknowledges their genuine strength.

Significant Themes

  • Strength versus technique: Ruiwen proves that physical power combined with experience can defeat opponents with more obvious abilities, while Xiao He’s development emphasizes learning and adaptation.
  • Predatory power and exploitation: Yousuli’s ability literalizes debt and usury, turning an opponent’s strength into a resource that can be confiscated, stored, and redistributed.
  • Preparation and strategic analysis: Understanding an ability’s activation conditions and limitations is shown to be as important as raw power.
  • Tournament imbalance and political influence: M Country’s deep roster and ability to acquire Mutants from poorer or allied nations give it a major advantage over countries with fewer resources.
  • Intimacy amid conflict: Xiao He and Ye Wanqing’s playful relationship provides a light domestic counterpoint to the violent and competitive tournament atmosphere.

Important Character Interactions

  • Xiao He comforts, teases, and cares for Ye Wanqing after she wakes, then accompanies her to eat.
  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing exchange affectionate, flirtatious banter while watching the matches.
  • Cui Man explains Yousuli’s ability to the group, transforming the confusing battle into a clear tactical analysis.
  • Yousuli taunts Counterforce Hero throughout the fight, emphasizing the psychological cruelty of his power.
  • The spectators and Xiao He react to the contrast between Yousuli’s seemingly weak initial state and his terrifying ability after collecting “interest.”

Ch. 191Miracle Fruit

Chapter Summary: “Miracle Fruit”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The team discusses how to handle Yousuli, a powerful contestant from M Country whose “Forced Lending” ability can absorb opponents’ powers but is especially dangerous in tournament battles.
  • Because each contestant can only participate in a limited number of matches, Xiao He must conserve his appearances for important rounds. Xie Haining, Xia Yu, and Xiao He each volunteer to confront the strongest opponents, even considering crippling key competitors so they will have to use substitutes.
  • Yue Feng’s Qiongqi ability is identified as a natural counter to Yousuli’s power. Since Yousuli’s ability is based on collecting interest from a fixed principal, it cannot completely drain Yue Feng’s power. The group’s main difficulty is arranging for Yue Feng and Yousuli to face each other.
  • After the discussion, Xiao He takes Ye Wanqing home. They share a playful, affectionate evening, shower together, eat noodles, and fall asleep happily.
  • The next morning, Cui Man arrives with a new hybrid crop created from Xiao He and Ye Wanqing’s environmental research. The fruit resembles a pear-shaped apple with a potato-like texture and is named the “Miracle Fruit.”
  • Cui Man explains that the crop:
    • Grows in poor, acidic, alkaline, or sandy soil.
    • Survives in a wide range of temperatures.
    • Produces fruit within three months and can be harvested three times a year.
    • Requires little maintenance and has strong roots.
    • Can be eaten raw, cooked like potatoes, or processed into flour and noodles.
    • Has greater nutritional value than ordinary rice and flour.
    • Absorbs carbon and can help combat global warming, food shortages, and desertification.
  • Rather than releasing the grafting technology, the team plans to sell the seeds cheaply without patent fees. Poor countries have already placed orders, and the crop is expected to spread worldwide within six months.
  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing test the fruit in several dishes and find it delicious and highly versatile.
  • With the environmental and food problems partly addressed, Xiao He decides that their next research priority should be solving global freshwater shortages rather than nuclear waste disposal.

Character Developments

  • Xiao He remains confident and strategically minded, recognizing the danger posed by Yousuli while also contributing practical solutions. He continues balancing his tournament responsibilities with his scientific work and relationship with Ye Wanqing.
  • Ye Wanqing shows increasing emotional comfort and affection with Xiao He. Their domestic life is portrayed as warm, playful, and mutually supportive. She is also enthusiastic about their inventions and their humanitarian impact.
  • Xie Haining takes on a protective, older-brother role, offering to shield the younger members of the team from dangerous opponents.
  • Xia Yu demonstrates courage despite doubting her own strength, volunteering to face one of the enemy’s powerful fighters.
  • Yue Feng displays his pride and aggressive confidence, but his power may be especially valuable because it directly counters Yousuli’s ability.
  • Cui Man acts as both commander and scientific coordinator. She is proud of the Miracle Fruit’s success and works to turn the team’s invention into a global humanitarian project.

Significant Themes

  • Cooperation and strategic teamwork: The group combines different powers and skills rather than relying solely on Xiao He.
  • Love and domestic happiness: Xiao He and Ye Wanqing’s affectionate home life contrasts with the danger and pressure of the tournament.
  • Science for humanitarian purposes: The Miracle Fruit addresses hunger, poverty, carbon emissions, and desertification simultaneously.
  • Sustainable global development: The plan prioritizes affordable distribution to poorer countries instead of pursuing maximum profit or exclusive patent control.
  • Hopeful problem-solving: The chapter presents humanity’s major crises as challenges that can gradually be solved through creativity, cooperation, and responsible technology.

Important Character Interactions

  • The team debates how to defeat Yousuli and identifies Yue Feng as the best counter to him.
  • Xiao He comforts Ye Wanqing after noticing her loneliness and brings her home.
  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing share a teasing, intimate domestic routine, cooking and eating together after their playful evening.
  • Cui Man proudly presents the Miracle Fruit to Xiao He and Ye Wanqing, explaining its benefits and distribution plan.
  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing test the fruit together, strengthening their shared sense of accomplishment.
  • The chapter ends with Xiao He proposing freshwater research, showing that he and Ye Wanqing intend to continue working together on global problems.

Ch. 192Lending Usury to the World's Richest Man

Chapter Summary: “Lending Usury to the World’s Richest Man”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing arrive at school, where Yin Jia and Zhou Huimei tease Xiao He about being photographed with the famous hero Yinglong. Since Xiao He is secretly Yinglong, he finds the situation awkward.
  • The girls suggest a group outing to the Mutant Competition. Ye Wanqing declines because she and Xiao He have already spent most of their monthly living expenses. Xiao He briefly considers joining them, but Ye Wanqing reminds him that he must participate in the upcoming team competition.
  • Xiao He jokes about their future wedding and bridesmaids, making Ye Wanqing embarrassed but secretly happy. Their affectionate relationship continues to deepen.
  • The couple eats lunch at Willow Restaurant. The restaurant is crowded because of the Mutant Competition, and its owners discuss their unusually successful business.
  • While Xiao He buys Ye Wanqing milk tea, the owner’s wife privately asks whether he has proposed. Ye Wanqing admits that Xiao He intends to propose when she turns twenty and reveals that she already feels confident about marrying him. The owner’s wife then gives her a secret “love code” to test Xiao He’s feelings.
  • That evening, Xiao He is called away on a mission by Cui Man. A foreign Mutant is causing trouble at Yuhua Bar on Fine Food and Fashion Street.
  • Xiao He arrives as Yinglong and discovers that the culprit is Yousuli, a powerful Mutant from M Country whom he saw competing previously. Yousuli is drunk and is harassing a young woman after she accidentally stepped on him.
  • Yousuli attempts to assault another woman, but Xiao He stops him. Yousuli then activates his Superpower, Forced Lending, and uses Loan Repayment to drain Xiao He’s strength while temporarily gaining it for himself.
  • Xiao He allows Yousuli time to demonstrate his ability, using a Psychokinesis barrier to protect the crowd. Yousuli attacks with borrowed physical power, electricity, and flames, but Xiao He remains completely unharmed.
  • Xiao He deduces that Yousuli’s power operates through fixed repayment periods: the strength Yousuli lends is eventually repaid with interest, and the amount of interest depends on the duration and size of the loan.
  • The chapter ends with Xiao He mocking Yousuli’s strategy, comparing it to lending money to the world’s richest man: Yousuli may gain some temporary benefit, but Xiao’s enormous “capital” makes it impossible for him to bankrupt or overpower him.

Character Developments

  • Xiao He: Remains playful and affectionate with Ye Wanqing but shows increasing confidence and analytical skill as Yinglong. Rather than immediately defeating Yousuli, he studies the enemy’s ability and calmly identifies its limitations.
  • Ye Wanqing: Becomes more openly affectionate and emotionally committed to Xiao He. Her embarrassment during the marriage discussion reveals that she already sees him as her future husband, even if she refuses to say so directly.
  • Yousuli: Is portrayed as arrogant, abusive, and reckless, especially under the influence of alcohol. He is confident in his Superpower and relies on stalling tactics, but his arrogance prevents him from recognizing the huge difference between his strength and Xiao He’s.
  • The restaurant owners: Their loving relationship parallels Xiao He and Ye Wanqing’s romance. The wife acts as a mentor by giving Ye Wanqing advice about testing Xiao He’s sincerity.

Significant Themes

  • Romantic intimacy and future commitment: Xiao He and Ye Wanqing’s teasing about marriage shows their relationship progressing toward a serious future.
  • Love expressed through everyday actions: Their shared meals, walks, household chores, and feeding the cats emphasize the comfortable domestic bond they have built.
  • Heroism versus selfish power: Xiao He responds to Yousuli’s abuse and protects civilians, while Yousuli uses his strength to intimidate and exploit others.
  • Knowledge and strategy over brute force: Xiao He wins the psychological battle by patiently observing Forced Lending and understanding its mechanics.
  • Humor through contrast: Yousuli believes he has trapped Yinglong, but Xiao He’s overwhelming reserves make the “usury” analogy absurdly unfavorable to Yousuli.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing display playful physical affection, flirtation, and growing romantic trust.
  • Ye Wanqing confides in the restaurant owner’s wife about Xiao He’s marriage intentions.
  • The restaurant owners’ affectionate exchanges mirror the relationship Xiao He hopes to build with Ye Wanqing.
  • Xiao He confronts Yousuli after witnessing him harass and threaten women.
  • Yousuli attempts to intimidate Xiao He with Forced Lending, but Xiao He remains calm, protects the crowd, and turns the confrontation into a lesson about the limits of Yousuli’s ability.

Ch. 193Yinglong Outside the Arena

Chapter Summary: “Yinglong Outside the Arena”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Yousuli attempts to use his “Debt Borrowing”/“Forced Lending” ability on Xiao He, hoping to exploit Xiao He’s immense power and use the accumulated “interest” against him.
  • Xiao He quickly analyzes the ability: Yousuli lends power to opponents for a set repayment period, collecting interest when the power is returned. However, Yousuli is extremely vulnerable early on because his own power reserves are limited.
  • After two rounds of borrowing, Yousuli barely drains Xiao He’s basic constitution. Xiao He concludes that Yousuli’s “capital” is far too small to threaten him, despite the potential of his ability if he accumulated enough power from other Mutants.
  • Enraged, Yousuli attacks physically. Xiao He effortlessly dodges and knocks him unconscious with an elbow.
  • Yousuli attempts a surprise attack with a borrowed Holy Sword, managing to deform Xiao He’s muscles but failing to pierce his body. Xiao He retaliates with his full strength, burying Yousuli in the ground and severely injuring him without killing him.
  • Once Yousuli is defeated, the superpowers he had borrowed or exploited return to their original owners. Xiao He uses Entropy Reduction to repair the damaged road and restores public order.
  • Xiao He transports Yousuli to the M Country team’s lounge and warns the security guards that, outside the arena, he will show no mercy to anyone who disrupts Dragon Country’s public order.
  • Back at home, Xiao He secretly observes Ye Wanqing worrying about his absence. She senses his return, and the two share an affectionate reunion.
  • In the M Country lounge, the team reacts angrily and shamefully to Yousuli’s defeat. Mike Nader orders a public-relations campaign to smear Xiao He and portray the incident as unsportsmanlike violence.
  • Yousuli claims that he was gathering intelligence, reporting that Xiao He possesses multiple extraordinarily powerful abilities and that draining him felt like trying to empty an ocean.
  • The other M Country Mutants mock Yousuli for being weak and reckless. Tensions briefly rise between several team members, but captain Sebastian stops them from fighting and warns Yousuli that another incident will get him expelled from the team.

Character Developments

  • Xiao He: Demonstrates overwhelming physical strength, durability, combat experience, and tactical judgment. He remains confident and playful while testing Yousuli’s ability, but becomes frighteningly ruthless when Yousuli attacks him from behind. He also shows responsibility by repairing public property and protecting Dragon Country’s civilians.
  • Yousuli: His arrogance and impulsiveness lead to a humiliating defeat. Although his ability has long-term potential, he lacks sufficient power reserves and combat skill to use it effectively against Xiao He. He tries to disguise his reckless behavior as intelligence-gathering but is clearly frightened by Xiao He’s strength.
  • Ye Wanqing: Reveals how deeply she cares for Xiao He by anxiously waiting for him and immediately sensing his return. Their affectionate interaction emphasizes her emotional closeness to him.
  • Sebastian/Balance Man: Acts as the M Country team’s disciplinarian and leader. He is concerned with the team’s reputation and threatens to remove Yousuli if he causes further trouble.
  • The M Country Mutants: Their mockery of Yousuli exposes internal distrust, rivalry, and a hierarchy based on usefulness and strength.

Significant Themes

  • Overwhelming power versus limited resources: Yousuli’s loan-based ability could become dangerous with enough accumulated power, but Xiao He’s vast abilities make him effectively impossible to drain.
  • Strength and combat mastery: Raw abilities alone are not enough; Yousuli’s poor technique and emotional recklessness contrast sharply with Xiao He’s efficient fighting style.
  • Public responsibility and national reputation: Xiao He distinguishes between the staged sportsmanship of the arena and his duty to defend Dragon Country’s public order. M Country, meanwhile, prioritizes reputation management and propaganda after Yousuli’s defeat.
  • Arrogance and consequences: Yousuli’s boastfulness and refusal to follow orders result in injury, humiliation, and the loss of the powers he had accumulated.
  • Love as emotional grounding: The violent confrontation is contrasted with Xiao He and Ye Wanqing’s tender reunion, showing the personal life he is eager to return to.
  • Internal team conflict: The M Country team’s members compete and insult one another, revealing that their unity is fragile and based largely on strategic necessity.

Important Character Interactions

  • Xiao He and Yousuli: Their confrontation showcases Xiao He’s superiority. Xiao He studies Yousuli’s ability, dismisses his threat, survives the Holy Sword attack, and defeats him decisively.
  • Xiao He and the M Country security guards: He issues a direct warning that the arena’s rules will not protect those who cause trouble outside it.
  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing: Their reunion highlights mutual affection, concern, and intimacy after Xiao He returns from the fight.
  • Yousuli and the M Country team: Yousuli attempts to justify his actions, but Ruiwen, Rhea, Taro, and others ridicule his weakness and irresponsibility.
  • Sebastian and Yousuli: Sebastian condemns Yousuli’s behavior and threatens expulsion, reinforcing his authority over the team.
  • Victor and Taro: Their argument illustrates the hostility and pride among the M Country Mutants, though Sebastian prevents the dispute from escalating.

Ch. 194Team Competition

Chapter Summary: “Team Competition”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The second week of the international competition begins with Group A’s team matches. Unlike the arena matches, teams may change their lineups between rounds, and additional Dragon Country Mutants can be temporarily registered as substitutes.
  • Cui Man selects Yue Feng, Qin Weize (Horned Dragon), and Li Xue (Feilian) for Dragon Country’s opening match against Australia’s Hastur, Black Witch, and Chain God.
  • Yue Feng ignores Cui Man’s cautious strategy and charges ahead, engaging all three opponents.
  • Hastur traps Yue Feng with tentacles, while Chain God restrains him with golden chains. Black Witch attacks him with a combined fire-and-lightning technique, but Yue Feng breaks free and charges through the assault.
  • Yue Feng cleverly avoids Chain God’s sharpened chains, then targets Black Witch instead of attacking recklessly. He defeats her with a controlled collision, deliberately sparing her life.
  • Chain God and Hastur attempt to exploit Dragon Country’s weaker-looking teammates. Li Xue destroys Hastur’s tentacles with wind, while Qin Weize uses shockwaves to break Chain God’s chains and injure him internally.
  • Hastur’s apparent body is revealed to be a mass of regenerative octopuses. Qin Weize’s “Maximum Wheel Impact” strips away the outer creature, exposing Hastur’s human form.
  • Hastur then activates her true ability, Descent, summoning the Old God known as the King in Yellow. Her transformed body overwhelms all three Dragon Country fighters and creates a temporary stalemate.
  • Qin Weize breaks through the tentacle assault, rescues Yue Feng, and coordinates with Li Xue to launch him toward Hastur. With their combined support, Yue Feng reaches Hastur and destroys her transformed head, ending the fight.
  • Dragon Country wins the match. The audience is surprised that the seemingly less prominent fighters produced such an intense and well-coordinated battle.

Character Developments

  • Yue Feng: Initially appears to be an impulsive brute, but demonstrates strong tactical awareness, precise control over his strength, and concern for his teammates. He identifies Black Witch as the greatest threat, avoids Chain God’s trap, protects Li Xue from a sneak attack, and willingly relies on his teammates’ support.
  • Qin Weize: Gains confidence in actual combat. He uses his impact ability creatively through chains and tentacles, withstands danger, rescues Yue Feng, and helps create the final attack. His teamwork and courage develop significantly.
  • Li Xue: Shows both offensive power and adaptability. Her wind attacks destroy Hastur’s tentacles, protect Qin Weize, and propel Yue Feng at key moments. Though she acts irritated, she cooperates effectively with her teammates.
  • Hastur: Revealed to be a young girl whose power allows her to transform into and regenerate through octopus-like bodies before invoking the much stronger King in Yellow form.
  • Xiao He: Reassesses Yue Feng, Qin Weize, and Li Xue after seeing them compete effectively against powerful Level 5 opponents. He recognizes that his former prison acquaintances have grown considerably.
  • Cui Man: Acts as the team’s strategist and observes that, without Xiao He on the field, the match changes from an effortless victory into a dramatic, hard-fought battle.

Significant Themes

  • Teamwork over individual strength: Dragon Country succeeds only when Yue Feng, Qin Weize, and Li Xue combine their abilities.
  • Hidden potential: Fighters who initially seem weak or unremarkable prove capable of standing against elite opponents.
  • Growth through real combat: Training is shown to be insufficient by itself; actual battle builds confidence, judgment, and coordination.
  • Reevaluating appearances: Yue Feng’s apparent recklessness hides tactical intelligence, while Hastur’s grotesque exterior conceals a vulnerable human girl.
  • The value of trust and cooperation: Although the teammates argue and tease one another, their willingness to support each other turns the battle around.

Character Interactions

  • Cui Man assigns the codenames Horned Dragon and Feilian to Qin Weize and Li Xue, explaining their mythological meanings.
  • Xiao He encourages the inexperienced fighters, while Ye Wanqing humorously displays jealousy when Li Xue flirts with him.
  • Yue Feng initially disregards Cui Man’s orders but later relies heavily on Qin Weize and Li Xue.
  • Qin Weize and Li Xue develop effective battlefield coordination, with Li Xue controlling movement through wind and Qin Weize breaking through restraints.
  • Yue Feng praises the two younger fighters after the victory, while Li Xue modestly denies that she cares and Qin Weize admits that their teamwork was successful.

Ch. 195Who Says Dragon Country Has No Great Generals?

Chapter Summary: Who Says Dragon Country Has No Great Generals?

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Dragon Country wins the first match despite not using Yinglong. Yue Feng, Li Xue, and Qin Weize return to the lounge for treatment.
  • Yue Feng, badly injured from enduring the enemy team’s opening assault, drinks a rare healing potion supplied by the United Nations and rapidly recovers.
  • Cui Man decides that Yue Feng will sit out the second match so the newer members of the Special Response Department can gain combat experience. Zhang Ming, An Xiuru, and Han Tianyu are selected to fight.
  • Their opponents are the powerful combination of Scorpio Scott, Iron Man, and Black Witch, who quickly launch a coordinated attack.
  • An Xiuru protects the team by hardening the air into a shield, while Han Tianyu enhances their strength, speed, and defense through written characters.
  • Zhang Ming initially appears nervous, but once combat begins, he uses his mysterious illusion-based Superpower to deceive the enemy.
  • Black Witch appears to burn Zhang Ming alive, but the “victim” is only an illusion. Zhang Ming secretly attacks her, creating the impression that she has been fatally stabbed.
  • An Xiuru withstands Iron Man’s powerful attacks and overwhelms him physically. Han Tianyu uses characters such as “bind,” “slow,” “shatter,” and “wall” to restrain enemies and support his teammates.
  • Scorpio Scott eventually appears to impale Han Tianyu and Zhang Ming with earth spikes, leaving Zhang Ming enraged. However, this entire sequence is another illusion.
  • Zhang Ming secretly attacks Scott, making him believe that both his arms have been severed. Iron Man is then distracted, allowing An Xiuru to defeat him.
  • After the match, the supposed injuries vanish, revealing that Zhang Ming manipulated the opponents’ perceptions and pain responses rather than physically damaging them.
  • Dragon Country wins the second match, proving that its strength extends beyond Yinglong.

Character Developments

  • Zhang Ming overcomes his stage fright once the battle begins and demonstrates considerable tactical ability. His confidence quickly turns into arrogance after his victory, leading him to declare himself Yinglong’s successor.
  • An Xiuru displays impressive physical resilience and combat instincts. Though her Superpower is primarily defensive, she uses it creatively to block attacks and overpower Iron Man.
  • Han Tianyu proves himself a capable support fighter. His written enhancements and restraints are essential to the team’s coordination, though he becomes injured—or seemingly injured—during Zhang Ming’s deception.
  • Yue Feng recovers from serious injuries but accepts Cui Man’s decision to remain on the sidelines so the rookies can gain experience.
  • Cui Man emphasizes that combat experience helps Mutants make correct decisions under extreme pressure. She acts as a mentor who prioritizes long-term growth over an unnecessary guaranteed victory.
  • Scorpio Scott is powerful but overconfident. His contempt for Dragon Country’s fighters causes him to overlook inconsistencies in the apparent battle.
  • Iron Man is physically formidable but is repeatedly outmaneuvered and distracted.
  • Black Witch returns to battle after being healed but is quickly defeated by Zhang Ming’s illusion.

Significant Themes

  • Experience versus raw power: Cui Man stresses that Superpowers alone are insufficient; fighters must learn to make rapid, correct decisions under pressure.
  • Perception and reality: Zhang Ming’s ability demonstrates that an illusion can be as effective as reality if the victim’s mind accepts it.
  • Teamwork and complementary abilities: An Xiuru’s defense, Han Tianyu’s support abilities, and Zhang Ming’s deception work together to defeat a stronger-looking enemy lineup.
  • Overconfidence and deception: Scott loses because he assumes Zhang Ming’s apparent injuries and attacks are real, while Zhang Ming exploits his expectations.
  • Proving Dragon Country’s strength: The victory challenges the belief that Yinglong is Dragon Country’s only capable fighter.

Character Interactions

  • Cui Man and Xiao He encourage the rookies and reassure them that Yinglong will serve as their safety net.
  • Zhang Ming and Han Tianyu clash over tactics, with Zhang Ming resenting Han Tianyu’s commands even while following his defensive plan.
  • An Xiuru protects her teammates and taunts Iron Man during their close-quarters fight.
  • Zhang Ming and Scott engage in a battle of deception, with Zhang Ming ultimately turning Scott’s confidence against him.
  • Afterward, Zhang Ming boasts about becoming Yinglong’s successor, but An Xiuru mocks him for being defeated by Yinglong twice in a minute. Han Tianyu defends Zhang Ming, claiming Yinglong had merely been holding back.

Ch. 196Battle of the Four Cornerstones

Battle of the Four Cornerstones — Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Zhang Ming’s illusion-based debut secures Dragon Country’s second consecutive victory over Australia, winning the first round of the team competition.
  • Xiao He praises the potential of Zhang’s Superpower but criticizes his execution. Zhang’s illusions were convincing only because the opponents were unaware of his ability, and his fabricated injuries were physically implausible. Xiao also points out that Zhang lacks a reliable way to harm enemies directly.
  • Cui Man announces that Xiao He, Xie Haining, and Xia Yu will represent Dragon Country in the next round against Y Country. Their appearance is framed as a demonstration of the Special Response Department’s “Four Cornerstones,” since Xiao He’s strength is connected to Ye Wanqing.
  • Before the match, Cui Man instructs Xiao He not to interfere with the others unless they are in danger, allowing Xie Haining and Xia Yu to prove themselves.
  • Y Country fields Thunder God, D.E. Machina, and Truthspeaker. Xiao He immediately targets Truthspeaker, but Machina intercepts him, claiming to be the strongest of the three.
  • Machina activates her Superpower, adopting the armor and combat abilities of Ares. Her divine martial skill allows her to injure Xiao He and fight him with extraordinary agility.
  • Xiao He absorbs one of her attacks and eventually overwhelms her with his superior strength and kinetic energy. He severely damages her Ares armor, but Machina reveals that defeating Xiao He is not her goal—she only needs to delay him while her teammates win.
  • Machina switches to a Hermes-based form, gaining speed and mobility. Cui Man explains that Machina’s “deus ex machina” ability allows her to summon different divine powers to reverse difficult situations.
  • Meanwhile, Xie Haining battles Thunder God. Despite being rated around Level 2 and relying on conventional weapons, he uses careful observation, evasive movement, grenades, a Magnum pistol, and precise joint attacks to exploit Thunder God’s openings.
  • Xie Haining defeats the much stronger Level 4 Thunder God through a long sequence of coordinated attacks, knocking him unconscious without suffering serious injury. His victory astonishes the audience and earns praise for his elegant, almost dance-like combat style.

Character Developments

  • Zhang Ming: Gains confidence after his successful debut but is forced to confront the weaknesses of his illusion-based tactics. Xiao He’s criticism establishes that Zhang must improve both his realism and his ability to inflict genuine damage.
  • Xiao He: Acts as a demanding mentor toward Zhang and demonstrates confidence in his teammates. Against Machina, he remains analytical and determined, refusing to be intimidated by her summoned “divine” powers.
  • Xie Haining: Experiences a major moment of recognition. Though physically weaker and ranked far below Thunder God, he proves that intelligence, preparation, technique, and tactical discipline can defeat a stronger opponent.
  • Xia Yu: Is treated as someone who must prioritize safety and avoid overexertion. Her cheerful determination contrasts with Xie Haining’s concern that she may take the warning too lightly.
  • Cui Man: Shows strong faith in the veteran fighters and deliberately gives them the opportunity to display their abilities. She balances strategic planning with confidence in the team.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao He repeatedly lectures Zhang Ming about the flaws in his debut, while Han Tianyu reinforces Xiao He’s authority by warning Zhang not to interrupt.
  • Cui Man praises the team’s victory, then sets up the next battle by trusting Xiao He, Xie Haining, and Xia Yu to represent the Four Cornerstones.
  • Xie Haining gives Xia Yu cautious tactical advice, while Xiao He clarifies that the advice is meant to keep her safe rather than push her to work harder.
  • Xiao He and Machina engage in a provocative, teasing exchange during their duel. Machina uses flirtatious remarks and exaggerated reactions to distract him, but Xiao He remains focused and dismissive.
  • Xie Haining and Thunder God contrast sharply: Thunder God becomes increasingly furious at Xie’s evasive tactics, while Xie remains calm, studies his opponent, and waits for the right opportunities to strike.

Significant Themes

  • Strength versus strategy: Xie Haining’s victory demonstrates that superior planning and technique can overcome a large difference in Superpower level.
  • The limits of appearances and deception: Zhang Ming’s illusions are powerful but vulnerable once opponents understand them, emphasizing that perception alone cannot replace real combat ability.
  • Team trust and individual responsibility: The veterans are trusted to fight independently, while Xiao He is instructed to intervene only when necessary.
  • Divine power versus human skill: Machina’s Ares armor represents supernatural combat mastery, while Xie Haining’s victory over Thunder God celebrates disciplined human ingenuity.
  • Reputation and proving oneself: The match gives the Four Cornerstones an opportunity to silence doubters, particularly through Xie Haining’s unexpected triumph over a much stronger opponent.

Ch. 197No Weaklings in Dragon Country

Chapter Summary: “No Weaklings in Dragon Country”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xie Haining’s earlier victory over a powerful Mutant inspires the audience, proving that an ordinary human body can defeat enhanced opponents and making him a hero to ordinary viewers.
  • Xia Yu, using her jumping-spider enhancement, fights Truthspeaker, a Level 5 Mutant whose “Word Spirit” makes anything he says become reality.
  • Truthspeaker unleashes increasingly powerful attacks, including fire, lightning, poison, blades, shields, and a golden spear. Xia Yu is repeatedly injured, even being pierced and pinned to the arena wall, but her wounds heal rapidly.
  • Xia Yu enters a 1.5-stage enhancement, gaining spider-like compound eyes, superior dynamic vision, heightened agility, and the ability to use spider silk for rapid changes in direction.
  • Rather than overpowering Truthspeaker, Xia Yu studies his ability and realizes that he must keep speaking to attack. She repeatedly creates clouds of dust, eventually causing him to choke and lose the ability to chant his attacks.
  • Xia Yu knocks Truthspeaker unconscious with a punch. The announcer celebrates her victory and declares that Dragon Country has “no weaklings.”
  • The chapter then shifts to Xiao He’s battle with Makina. Xiao He uses psychokinesis to restrict her movement, but Makina counters by summoning Athena’s armor and slicing through the psychic restraint.
  • Xiao He discovers that his “Purification” ability can unexpectedly dispel Makina’s divine armor. He suspects it may activate through an imaginary or mentally designated enemy rather than requiring a direct connection.
  • Makina summons both Ares and Hermes blessings, gaining heavy armor, a greatsword, and enhanced speed, then attempts to attack Xie Haining and Xia Yu.
  • Xiao He stops her by activating his time-freezing ability for two seconds, positioning himself in her path, and causing her to crash into him when time resumes.
  • The chapter ends with Xiao He realizing that he may be able to trigger his Superpowers remotely by imagining someone as an enemy, greatly expanding the potential of his abilities.

Character Developments

  • Xia Yu: Demonstrates exceptional perseverance, tactical intelligence, and adaptability. Though initially overwhelmed by Truthspeaker’s powerful attacks, she learns to exploit the limitations of his ability rather than relying solely on physical strength. Her transition into 1.5-stage enhancement shows her growing control over her spider abilities.
  • Truthspeaker: Reveals himself as powerful but arrogant and distracted by his lecherous attitude toward Xia Yu. His dependence on speech becomes a critical weakness, and his mockery causes him to underestimate her determination.
  • Cui Man: Acts as an informed strategist and commentator, explaining Xia Yu’s enhancement stages and recognizing her ability to turn the battle around. She praises Xia Yu’s diligence and confidence in the Special Response Department’s fighters.
  • Ye Wanqing: Initially worries that Xia Yu may need Xiao He’s help, highlighting the apparent danger of the battle.
  • Xiao He: Develops a better understanding of his own powers. He overcomes embarrassment about needing assistance, discovers a new way to activate Purification, and successfully uses time manipulation and tactical positioning against Makina.
  • Makina: Shows versatility by switching between multiple divine blessings, but her playful arrogance and tendency to underestimate opponents remain weaknesses. She becomes the target of Xiao He’s experimentation.

Significant Themes

  • Ordinary people overcoming the extraordinary: Xie Haining and Xia Yu both symbolize the ability of nontraditional or seemingly weaker fighters to defeat powerful Mutants.
  • Determination and persistence: Xia Yu wins not through overwhelming force but by continuing to fight until she finds a narrow tactical opening.
  • Adaptability over strength: Both Xia Yu and Xiao He succeed by analyzing their opponents’ abilities and exploiting limitations.
  • Hidden potential: Xiao He’s discovery about remotely triggering Superpowers suggests that his abilities are more flexible and powerful than he previously understood.
  • National pride and defiance: The announcer’s declaration that Dragon Country has “no weaklings” turns the victories into a public statement of strength and unity.
  • Power balanced by weakness: Truthspeaker’s overwhelming attacks are limited by his need to speak, while Makina’s divine armor can be removed or disrupted.

Character Interactions

  • Truthspeaker taunts and sexually harasses Xia Yu, prompting her disgust and strengthening her resolve to defeat him.
  • Xia Yu and Truthspeaker engage in a battle of tactics: he relies on increasingly elaborate spoken attacks, while she uses mobility, spider silk, dust, and endurance to undermine him.
  • Cui Man and Ye Wanqing observe and discuss Xia Yu’s transformation, with Cui Man confidently defending the department’s fighters.
  • Xiao He and Makina exchange attacks while she treats the battle playfully and taunts him, frustrating him into taking the fight more seriously.
  • Cui Man pressures Xiao He to finish his opponent after the others win, adding urgency to his battle.
  • Makina attempts to redirect the fight toward Xie Haining and Xia Yu, but Xiao He intervenes and prevents her from reaching them.
  • Xiao He’s clashes with Makina ultimately become an experiment that reveals a new method of activating his powers.

Ch. 198Egregious Conduct!

Chapter Summary: “Egregious Conduct!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao He defeats Makina in the first round by experimenting with a new Remote Trigger technique. By imagining a Trigger in his mind, he can activate certain Superpowers without the person being physically present.
  • He combines Time Stop, intangibility, Forced Mediation Domain, Inorganic Matter Control, and kinetic force to overwhelm Makina. After restraining and striking her hard enough to cause a concussion, she is forced to surrender.
  • Xiao He explains to Cui Man that Remote Trigger is slower, shorter-lasting, and less stable than ordinary activation methods. However, Cui Man recognizes it as an important step toward Xiao eventually using the abilities as though they were his own.
  • During the second round, Y Country sends out the same team: Makina, Truthspeaker, and Thunder God. Makina targets Xie Haining, Thunder God attacks Xia Yu, and Truthspeaker confronts Xiao He.
  • Truthspeaker uses a swarm of cockroaches to exploit Xiao He’s fear. Enraged, Xiao He uses Inorganic Matter Control to dispose of the insects and activates Silence, preventing Truthspeaker from speaking or surrendering.
  • Xiao He brutally beats Truthspeaker while repeatedly using Entropy Reduction to restore his injuries, turning the fight into painful punishment rather than a simple defeat.
  • Xia Yu counters Thunder God with an Electric Eel Enhancement, making herself resistant to his electricity and allowing her to shock him. She then uses grappling techniques and a rear naked choke to incapacitate him.
  • The chapter ends with the audience focused on Makina’s impending battle with Xie Haining and the broader question of how an ordinary human can defeat a “god”-like opponent.

Character Developments

  • Xiao He demonstrates major growth in mastering his Trigger-based abilities. His Remote Trigger technique expands his versatility but still requires concentration and has significant delays and limitations.
  • Xiao He also reveals a vindictive and protective side. Truthspeaker’s use of cockroaches humiliates and enrages him, prompting him to punish Truthspeaker relentlessly.
  • Makina is shown to be extremely durable and versatile because she can receive multiple divine blessings, but she is still outmatched by Xiao He’s unpredictable combination of abilities. Her admiration for Yinglong turns into fear and frustration.
  • Cui Man acts as Xiao He’s mentor, encouraging him to treat the arena as a training ground and develop Remote Trigger through repeated combat.
  • Ye Wanqing displays jealousy over Xiao He’s private conversation with Cui Man, but their affectionate exchange reinforces their close romantic relationship and her role as Xiao He’s essential Trigger.
  • Xie Haining gains confidence from newly developed combat gloves made from Xia Yu’s spider silk. The gloves reduce recoil and allow him to strike with strength far beyond what his physical level would normally permit.
  • Xia Yu proves her adaptability by selecting an enhancement specifically suited to counter Thunder God, then combining electrical attacks with physical restraint to defeat him.
  • Truthspeaker changes from smug and confident to terrified and submissive after Xiao He prevents him from speaking and repeatedly subjects him to pain.

Significant Themes

  • Adaptation and growth: Xiao He’s evolving activation method shows how repeated combat allows characters to expand the limits of their abilities.
  • Preparation versus improvisation: The team’s strategy of sending Xiao He out first lets Xia Yu choose an ideal counter-enhancement, demonstrating the value of gathering information before committing to a tactic.
  • Human ingenuity against overwhelming power: Xie Haining’s gloves and Xia Yu’s specialized enhancement suggest that careful technique and technology can challenge higher-level Mutants and divine abilities.
  • Fear and humiliation: Truthspeaker weaponizes Xiao’s phobia, but his mockery backfires. The chapter criticizes exploiting another person’s fear for amusement and presents Xiao’s retaliation as both excessive and morally complicated.
  • Dependence and emotional bonds: Xiao He’s abilities remain linked to his Triggers, especially Ye Wanqing. Their relationship is portrayed as both emotionally intimate and central to his combat potential.
  • The limits of power: Even Xiao He’s apparently limitless abilities have drawbacks—activation time, concentration requirements, and short duration—preventing him from being invincible.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao He and Makina engage in a fast, humiliating battle in which her confidence collapses under his unpredictable attacks.
  • Xiao He and Cui Man discuss his Remote Trigger breakthrough; she encourages him while teasing him about his dependence on Ye Wanqing.
  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing share a tender, playful exchange involving jealousy, reassurance, affection, and food.
  • Xiao He, Xie Haining, and Xia Yu discuss how to handle Makina’s revised strategy. Xie Haining volunteers to face her and showcases his new gloves.
  • Xiao He and Truthspeaker have a one-sided confrontation driven by Xiao’s anger over the cockroach attack. Xiao silences, beats, and repeatedly heals him while demanding that he acknowledge his wrongdoing.
  • Xia Yu and Thunder God engage in a close-quarters battle in which she turns his own electrical specialty against him and defeats him through a combination of shocks and grappling.

Ch. 199Overturning

Chapter Summary: “Overturning”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xie Haining faces Makina, a Level 5 Mutant and skilled archer, while trying to help Yinglong’s team secure victory.
  • Makina begins with a massive barrage of arrows, including guided and spiral-headed shots. Xie calmly redirects every arrow using Tai Chi techniques, leaving a clear circle around himself while arrows embed in the surrounding ground.
  • Cui Man explains that Tai Chi’s ideal of “overcoming hardness with softness” is normally too complicated to use in real combat. However, Xie’s extraordinary processing speed allows him to analyze and redirect attacks almost instantly.
  • Makina summons the powers of Ares and Hermes, gaining heavy armor, a massive sword, increased speed, and wings. She switches to close combat, but Xie repeatedly turns her own strength and momentum against her.
  • Through throws, redirections, sweeps, and carefully timed strikes, Xie defeats Makina without relying on superior physical power. He remains inside the original circle until he finally launches his own attack.
  • Xie combines his body weight, Makina’s momentum, and his own strikes to drive her headfirst into the ground. Though initially stunned, Makina recovers, becomes fascinated by his technique, and surrenders while expressing romantic interest in him.
  • Xie reveals that he is married with children, leaving Makina’s flirtation unresolved.
  • Elsewhere, the Truthspeaker and Thunder God also surrender to Xiao He and Xia Yu. Dragon Country therefore wins both matches.
  • The victory shocks Mutants around the world because an opponent below Level 2 has defeated a Level 5 Mutant. This undermines the established Mutant ranking system, which has focused primarily on the raw power of Superpowers.
  • Cui Man praises Xie, Xiao He, and Xia Yu as the “Four Cornerstones” and announces that the afternoon matches will use mixed teams to test new combinations.

Character Developments

  • Xie Haining: Demonstrates exceptional combat intelligence, composure, and mastery of Tai Chi. He proves that technique, timing, and tactical awareness can overcome a huge power and level disparity. His calm, restrained personality contrasts with Makina’s energetic and flirtatious behavior.
  • Makina: Begins confidently and relies on overwhelming ranged and melee attacks, but becomes exhausted and increasingly bewildered as Xie neutralizes everything she does. Rather than becoming resentful after losing, she admires his ability and develops an immediate infatuation with him.
  • Cui Man: Acts as both strategist and commentator, explaining the significance of Xie’s technique and recognizing its broader implications for Mutant combat.
  • Xiao He: Remains irritated after defeating the Truthspeaker, especially because he was humiliated by the opponent’s use of cockroaches.
  • Xia Yu: Successfully subdues the Thunder God, contributing to Dragon Country’s overall victory.
  • Dragon Country’s team: Their success strengthens their reputation and suggests that coordinated ability and practical combat skill may matter more than conventional rankings.

Significant Themes

  • Skill versus raw power: The chapter’s central idea is that a powerful Superpower does not automatically make someone the strongest combatant.
  • Overturning established beliefs: Xie’s victory challenges the assumption that Mutant levels and rankings accurately measure real strength.
  • Using an opponent’s power against them: Tai Chi symbolizes flexibility, adaptation, and turning force back upon its source.
  • Hidden potential: The victory inspires overlooked or underestimated Mutants, suggesting that many capable individuals have been ignored because their abilities appear unimpressive.
  • Changing social values: The chapter criticizes the influence of M Country’s system, which treats powerful Mutants as commodities and encourages society to worship destructive or visibly impressive abilities.
  • Composure and efficiency: Xie wins not through aggression but through minimal movement, patience, and precise control.

Character Interactions

  • Xie and Makina exchange playful remarks before fighting, with each expressing sympathy for the other’s difficult position.
  • Makina’s admiration grows throughout the fight as Xie repeatedly redirects her attacks. After surrendering, she openly asks whether he has a girlfriend and confesses that she likes him.
  • Xie responds bluntly that he is married with children, creating an awkward contrast with Makina’s persistence and openness.
  • Cui Man explains Xie’s technique to Ye Wanqing, framing the battle as proof that a supposedly impractical martial art can become devastating in the hands of someone capable of processing information instantly.
  • After the battle, Cui Man embraces and congratulates Xie, Xiao He, and Xia Yu, then informs them of the upcoming mixed-format matches.

Ch. 200Trigger Collector

Chapter Summary: “Trigger Collector”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Cui Man arranges for the nine Mutants to be placed in different team combinations to test the most effective battle formations. The experiments must still preserve enough strength for the Dragon Country Team to advance.
  • During the lunch break, Xiao He encounters several members of the M Country Team:
    • A mysterious purple-robed girl uses tarot cards to warn him against reckless pursuits. She appears to possess teleportation or spatial abilities.
    • Audella, a glamorous agent, attempts to recruit or seduce Xiao He on behalf of her employer, claiming that working for the Special Response Department is beneath his potential. Xiao He rejects her immediately.
  • Audella reports back to Mike Nader, who is furious that Xiao He was unaffected by her charms. They jokingly conclude that he must be gay, and Audella suggests using a male agent next time.
  • Xiao He reunites with Ye Wanqing, gives her the food she likes, and the two exchange affectionate and suggestive banter. He tells her that he rejected another woman because Ye Wanqing is far more attractive to him.
  • Xiao He secretly uses Remote Trigger to access abilities connected to the Mutants participating in the competition. With Ye Wanqing altering their temporary contestant aliases, the Mutants unknowingly become triggers for his powers without realizing it.
  • To test the abilities safely, Xiao He transports Ye Wanqing to a deserted island through Dimensional Walker and brings Yue Feng there as a test subject.
  • Xiao He successfully copies or activates several abilities:
    • From Yousuli: an improved version of Forced Lending that drains an opponent’s strength through touch without requiring Xiao He to lend power first.
    • From several other Mutants, he obtains duplicate abilities such as kinetic-energy absorption, inorganic-matter control, assimilation, vector control, silence, purification, and enhanced physique.
    • Makina provides an unknown ability that appears to work only on divine beings.
    • Nightmare grants Xiao He the ability to enter, manipulate, and reshape dreams.
  • Xiao He experiments with the dream ability on Yue Feng, transforming Yue Feng’s imagined battle into a humiliating amusement-park nightmare. He then exits the dream at will and considers exploring Ye Wanqing’s dreams next.

Character Developments

  • Xiao He: Demonstrates growing confidence in Remote Trigger and becomes increasingly enthusiastic about collecting and testing abilities. He remains cautious enough to test dangerous powers in a controlled environment, but his curiosity and prankish side frequently take over. His devotion to Ye Wanqing is emphasized by his instant rejection of Audella and his constant praise of his girlfriend.
  • Ye Wanqing: Acts as Xiao He’s essential partner by modifying contestant aliases and helping him activate Remote Trigger discreetly. She shows mild insecurity about becoming unnecessary if Xiao He can trigger abilities without a physical enemy, but is reassured by his promise that he will always need her.
  • Yue Feng: Serves as Xiao He’s cooperative but bewildered test subject. Although annoyed and frightened by the experiments, he remains trusted by Xiao He and is not seriously harmed.
  • Audella and Mike Nader: Their failed attempt to manipulate Xiao He reveals their underestimation of his loyalty and self-control. Their reaction also adds comic relief and highlights the M Country Team’s willingness to use seduction and recruitment tactics.
  • Cui Man: Maintains oversight of Xiao He’s experiments, allowing them as long as he avoids excessive risks, particularly anything capable of destroying the Earth.

Significant Themes

  • Power collection and experimentation: Xiao He’s Remote Trigger turns the competition into an opportunity to expand his arsenal, emphasizing his unusual ability to learn from others while concealing the process.
  • Control versus recklessness: Xiao He wants to explore powerful abilities, but both Cui Man and the tarot-reading Mutant warn against uncontrolled experimentation. His decision to test abilities on a deserted island reflects an attempt to balance curiosity with responsibility.
  • Loyalty and romantic commitment: Xiao He’s rejection of Audella and his affectionate interactions with Ye Wanqing reinforce that his relationship is emotionally important and that outside temptation has little influence over him.
  • Identity and deception: By changing contestants’ aliases rather than their real names or hero identities, Xiao He and Ye Wanqing exploit a loophole that lets him use their powers without alerting them.
  • Dreams and imagination: The Dreamweaver ability blurs reality and fantasy, allowing Xiao He to reshape another person’s inner world and revealing his fascination with the creative possibilities of supernatural power.
  • Comedy amid competition: Romantic teasing, failed seduction, Yue Feng’s embarrassment, and Xiao He’s childish excitement soften the competitive and potentially dangerous atmosphere.

Character Interactions

  • The purple-robed tarot girl provokes Xiao He with a cryptic warning, while Xiao He responds with indifference and implied intimidation.
  • Audella attempts to seduce and recruit Xiao He, but he dismisses her before she can finish. Her failure leads to an angry and humorous exchange with Mike Nader.
  • Xiao He and Ye Wanqing share affectionate teasing, flirtation, and reassurance. Ye Wanqing worries about being replaced as Xiao He’s trigger partner, but Xiao He comforts her and jokes about their future children.
  • Ye Wanqing assists Xiao He in identifying contestant aliases and activating the Remote Trigger system.
  • Xiao He uses Yue Feng to test the newly acquired abilities, draining his strength and later trapping him in a manipulated dream. Their interaction shows Xiao He’s playful cruelty but also his confidence that Yue Feng can endure the experiments.
  • The chapter ends with Xiao He turning his attention toward Ye Wanqing’s dreams, suggesting that his next experiment may become more personal.

Ch. 201The Strongest Support

Chapter Summary: “The Strongest Support”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xiao He secretly enters Ye Wanqing’s dream out of curiosity. He sees an idealized future in which they are married, living in their modest Beichang City home, raising a son and daughter, and caring for Tuantuan the cat.
  • Moved by the simplicity and happiness of Ye Wanqing’s dream, Xiao He promises to help make that future real, realizing it is also the life he wants.
  • He returns to reality and brings Ye Wanqing back to the arena, but accidentally leaves Yue Feng stranded on the deserted island. He only remembers Yue Feng when the team begins preparing for the afternoon match.
  • Xiao He retrieves Yue Feng just before the battle against the R Country Team, which includes Ring Hero and two M Country reinforcements: Brad and Shadow Flash.
  • The match begins with Yue Feng charging forward while Xiao He studies the enemy abilities. Ring Hero uses explosive Energy Rings, but Xiao He defeats him almost instantly by teleporting behind him and using Impact.
  • Brad transforms objects into blade-like weapons and fights Yue Feng. Xiao He protects Yue Feng with Forced Mediation and later immobilizes Brad with Psychokinesis, allowing Yue Feng to defeat him.
  • Shadow Flash battles Qin Weize using shadows she leaves around the arena as teleportation points. Xiao He identifies that she reappears in the same posture as the shadow she selects, allowing Qin Weize to predict and counter her attacks.
  • Xiao He repeatedly uses Entropy Reduction to restore Qin Weize after injuries. Qin Weize ultimately wounds Shadow Flash and persuades her to surrender.
  • The victory establishes Xiao He as not only a powerful combatant but also the team’s most valuable support fighter, effectively carrying his teammates to victory.

Character Developments

  • Xiao He: Becomes emotionally more committed to Ye Wanqing after witnessing her dream. His tenderness and possessiveness increase, while the battle demonstrates his tactical intelligence, versatility, and exceptional support abilities.
  • Ye Wanqing: Her dream reveals her desire for a peaceful married life and children, even though she verbally denies wanting marriage. She responds warmly to Xiao He’s affection and appears pleased by his renewed closeness.
  • Yue Feng: Remains impulsive and direct, rushing into battle without waiting for Xiao He’s instructions. Despite suffering injuries, his toughness and powerful physical attacks allow him to defeat Brad.
  • Qin Weize: Grows more confident while fighting alongside Xiao He. He learns to analyze Shadow Flash’s ability and successfully applies Xiao He’s tactical guidance.
  • Cui Man: Continues coordinating the team and assigns Yue Feng, Xiao He, and Qin Weize to lead the opening match.
  • Brad and Shadow Flash: Their unusual abilities initially give them an advantage, but both are defeated once Xiao He and his teammates understand their weaknesses.
  • Ring Hero: His confidence in his explosive Energy Rings proves misplaced; Xiao He’s prior understanding of his ability enables a rapid defeat.

Significant Themes

  • Ordinary happiness versus power and glory: Ye Wanqing’s dream contains no wealth, status, or superpowered achievements—only family, domestic life, and emotional contentment.
  • Love as motivation: Xiao He’s desire to protect and fulfill Ye Wanqing’s dream strengthens his emotional resolve and influences his affectionate behavior.
  • Support as a form of strength: The battle emphasizes that victory does not depend solely on offensive power. Xiao He’s protection, healing, analysis, teleportation, and crowd control make him the decisive force.
  • Teamwork and tactical understanding: The heroes succeed by combining their abilities and identifying the opponents’ limitations rather than relying purely on brute force.
  • Humor amid danger: Xiao forgetting Yue Feng on the deserted island, Yue Feng’s furious reaction, and the affectionate exchanges between Xiao He and Ye Wanqing provide comic relief alongside the serious battle.

Character Interactions

  • Xiao He watches Ye Wanqing’s dream and emotionally connects with the future she imagines.
  • After returning, he kisses and comforts Ye Wanqing, openly describes their imagined married life, and promises that she is more important to him than his superhero identity.
  • Ye Wanqing teases and disciplines Xiao He while accepting his affection, suggesting mutual romantic commitment despite her playful denials.
  • Xiao He briefly abandons the romantic moment to retrieve Yue Feng, who angrily confronts him for being left alone.
  • Before the match, Xiao He encourages Ye Wanqing and asks her to wait safely for him.
  • During combat, Xiao He directs Yue Feng and Qin Weize, protects them from lethal attacks, explains enemy abilities, and restores their injuries.
  • Qin Weize follows Xiao He’s observations to counter Shadow Flash, demonstrating growing trust and cooperation.
  • The opposing team’s frustration after Xiao He defeats two of their fighters highlights how decisively his support abilities shape the battle.
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