Chapter Summaries

Chapter 61 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• While bathing in the Crystal Cottage, Chiyan becomes enraged at Lei Aotian and declares that he should be killed. His words trigger a terrifying burst of red flame aimed at Lei, but a blue curtain of water blocks it before it can reach him.
• He Qinglan attempts to bring Lei into the cottage, but Shui Wuyuan abruptly shuts the door, objecting to Lei’s entry. Shui insists that no unrelated man should be allowed inside the house.
• Lei introduces himself as the captain of the nation’s special Dragon-Slaying Group. He deliberately reminds Shui of their previous encounter, when Shui destroyed a prostitution den, provoking Shui into attacking him with falling ice spikes.
• Lei realizes that Shui, He Qinglan, and Chiyan possess abilities and movements beyond those of ordinary humans. In particular, Shui’s sudden appearance in Bicheng despite recently being in the capital convinces Lei that he must have some extraordinary power.
• After deciding that direct honesty is the only way to approach them, Lei asks He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan to help reclaim the Flame Gem, also known as the Wish Gem.
• Lei explains that the gem grants wishes in exchange for offerings. A woman encountered near the river had made four wishes, with the final wish requiring a living person’s life. She had selected He Qinglan as the sacrifice, but when the offering failed, she herself became the price of her own wish.

Character Developments

• Lei Aotian remains disciplined and fearless, responding to Shui’s provocations with deliberate sarcasm rather than intimidation. However, he becomes increasingly aware that Shui, He Qinglan, and Chiyan are supernatural beings and resolves to persuade them honestly rather than manipulate them.
• Shui Wuyuan is shown as fiercely possessive of the Crystal Cottage and protective of his relationship with He Qinglan. His flamboyant appearance and defensive insistence that he is “clean” contrast with his cold, hostile treatment of Lei.
• He Qinglan acts as the more composed intermediary between Shui and Lei, amused by their exchange and willing to let Lei enter for the purpose of discussion. His lack of visible reaction to the woman’s fate suggests emotional detachment or prior familiarity with supernatural dangers.
• Chiyan displays a volatile and dangerous temperament. His anger alone appears capable of unleashing powerful flames, though Shui’s water ability prevents the attack from harming Lei.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural power and hidden identities: Lei recognizes that the people around He Qinglan are not ordinary humans, highlighting the widening gap between the normal world and the supernatural one.
• Directness versus manipulation: Lei’s investigative experience teaches him that sincerity is the only effective way to deal with He Qinglan and Shui.
• Possessiveness and boundaries: Shui’s refusal to allow “wild men” into the cottage humorously reveals his territorial attitude toward both the house and He Qinglan.
• The cost of wishes: The Flame Gem embodies the danger of desire, making every wish dependent on sacrifice and turning human ambition into a threat to others.

Character Interactions

• Chiyan threatens Lei, while Shui’s water power shields him, establishing a contrast between Chiyan’s explosive aggression and Shui’s controlled but equally formidable strength.
• Lei and Shui trade increasingly hostile sarcasm, with Lei using Shui’s past actions to provoke him and Shui retaliating with ice.
• He Qinglan mediates the confrontation and teases Shui by repeating Lei’s suggestive description of the prostitution-den incident.
• Lei ultimately sets aside the banter and directly appeals to both men for help recovering the Flame Gem, linking He Qinglan personally to the gem’s danger.

Chapter Summary

• Liu Lili’s fate: Liu Lili survives the consequences of her wish involving the Flame Gem, but her body rapidly ages into the condition of a seventy-year-old. Rather than feeling fortunate, she becomes hysterical and blames He Qinglan for surviving. Her Flame Gem is confiscated, ending her immediate threat.
• The wider Flame Gem crisis: Lei Aotian explains that many people across the country have found Flame Gems. Although the authorities and police are arresting those who use them for evil, some users have gained supernatural abilities and are difficult to capture. He asks He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and the Mountain Shaman to help protect civilians and deal with the crisis, offering them a substantial reward.
• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan refuse: Shui Wuyuan dismisses Lei’s offer contemptuously, while He Qinglan calmly rejects the idea that he has any responsibility toward humanity. When Lei reminds him that he is human and should help his fellow citizens, He Qinglan declares that he will simply stop being considered human. Shui Wuyuan supports him, mockingly agreeing that being human is undesirable.
• He Qinglan’s view of the disaster: He Qinglan argues that the crisis is caused by human greed and wishes, not by the Flame Gem itself. He sympathizes with the Gem, calling it an innocent object unfairly blamed for the consequences of human actions. Lei is disturbed by this perspective but recognizes that he has privately entertained similar thoughts.
• Lei Aotian’s disappointment: Unable to persuade them, Lei leaves with a bitter smile. He is particularly disappointed by He Qinglan, toward whom he had felt immediate goodwill and attraction. His lingering look at He Qinglan suggests an emotional or personal resemblance to someone from the past.
• Shui Wuyuan’s jealousy and protectiveness: Sensing Lei’s interest, Shui Wuyuan grabs He Qinglan’s wrist possessively. He Qinglan remarks that Lei resembles an old friend, but Shui denies having any old friends and insists that, besides He Qinglan, he has no one. He Qinglan teasingly refers to the trace of Origin Power left in Shui, while Shui responds by enlarging the rain cloud he created for Lei.

Character Development and Interactions

• He Qinglan remains detached from humanity but shows deep empathy toward nature and nonhuman beings, particularly the Flame Gem. His moral outlook centers on rejecting human greed rather than saving humans.
• Shui Wuyuan displays arrogance, loyalty, and growing possessiveness toward He Qinglan. His reaction to Lei reveals jealousy and a strong desire to claim He Qinglan’s exclusive attention.
• Lei Aotian is presented as dutiful and compassionate, though increasingly frustrated by the pair’s inhuman worldview. His attraction or emotional connection to He Qinglan complicates his professional appeal.
• Themes: The chapter explores human responsibility versus scapegoating, the consequences of greed, the divide between humanity and other forms of life, and the developing romantic tension between He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lei Aotian arrives already furious, and his irritation worsens when he sees He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan exchanging affectionate remarks. Shui Wuyuan deliberately teases him, provoking Lei’s jealousy and anger.
• He Qinglan proposes that they help capture four criminals who possess Flame Gems. In exchange, he demands that they keep the gems taken from the criminals, as well as any additional Flame Gems discovered by Lei’s team.
• Lei explains that the gems have been classified as highly dangerous national assets and that he cannot freely promise to hand them over. He Qinglan compromises, asking only that they be allowed to retain the gems belonging to criminals they personally capture.
• Lei reluctantly agrees because the criminals are too dangerous to leave unchecked.
• Shui Wuyuan invites Lei to lunch, but insults him by suggesting that a “rough brute” like him should eat instant noodles. Lei angrily insists on joining the banquet.
• The meal is comically tense: Lei’s food repeatedly catches fire and rain occasionally falls on him, apparently due to the powers of the people around him.
• After lunch, Lei provides information on four exceptionally vicious criminals in different cities:
  • A home invader, arsonist, and murderer in Luo City
  • A night attacker targeting young men in Pine City
  • A criminal in Sun City who disfigures beautiful women
  • A self-proclaimed “heavenly justice” killer in East City
• Each has killed at least a hundred people in the past month and appears to be using Flame or Wish Gems to conduct sacrifices and evade capture.
• Lei reveals that his Dragon-Slaying Team has suffered twenty-three serious injuries and three deaths while pursuing them, emphasizing the extreme danger of the mission.
• He Qinglan examines the crime-scene photographs with clear disgust.

Character Developments

• Lei Aotian is shown as short-tempered, proud, and easily provoked, especially by Shui Wuyuan’s deliberate mockery and closeness with He Qinglan. Despite his anger, he remains responsible and pragmatic, agreeing to the partnership because protecting people matters more than securing the Flame Gems for the government.
• He Qinglan demonstrates both emotional warmth toward Shui Wuyuan and calculated negotiation with Lei. His “magnanimous” compromise is strategic rather than selfless, but he is clearly motivated to stop the criminals.
• Shui Wuyuan is playful, provocative, and openly partial toward He Qinglan. He enjoys irritating Lei and displays contempt for humanity’s greed, particularly its desire to seize the Flame Gems for research and profit.
• Lei’s team is revealed to have paid a heavy price in the fight against the criminals, increasing the seriousness of the coming confrontation.

Significant Themes

• Human greed and moral corruption: The government wants to reclaim the dangerous Flame Gems despite their risks, while Shui Wuyuan criticizes humanity for trying to possess anything that might benefit it.
• Power enabling evil: The gems do not necessarily create wickedness; instead, they give already-malicious people the means to act without restraint.
• Cooperation despite mistrust: Lei, He Qinglan, and Shui Wuyuan have conflicting motives and personalities, but the scale of the threat forces them to work together.
• Humor amid danger: The romantic teasing, hostile banter, and chaotic lunch provide comic relief against the backdrop of mass murder and mounting casualties.
• Justice and responsibility: The chapter contrasts genuine efforts to protect civilians with the criminals’ distorted claims of justice and the authorities’ struggle to contain supernatural threats.

Character Interactions

• Shui Wuyuan intentionally provokes Lei by grinning at him, insulting him, and displaying special affection toward He Qinglan.
• He Qinglan mediates the negotiation with Lei, presenting demands firmly while offering a compromise that secures their participation.
• Lei and Shui Wuyuan maintain an antagonistic, almost comedic rivalry, expressed through insults and the accidental use of fire and rain powers during lunch.
• Lei ultimately trusts He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan enough to disclose sensitive intelligence, though he warns them not to underestimate the four criminals.

Chapter 124 Summary

Plot and Key Events

• He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, Chiyan, and Lei Aotian examine photographs and information about four criminals using stolen supernatural powers to commit horrific crimes.
• Chiyan is enraged by the criminals’ abuse of his power and wants to teleport immediately to kill them, but Lei Aotian insists on coordinating their movements through police support.
• Lei Aotian awkwardly criticizes Chiyan’s personality, only to discover that Chiyan is not a child but a powerful dwarf-like supernatural being. He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan decide to handle the four cases themselves, requesting only information about the criminals’ locations.
• That night, they travel to Luo City, where a mysterious murderer has been breaking into wealthy homes, killing everyone inside, and stealing their possessions. The killer uses a Wish Gem to sacrifice victims and obtain their treasures.
• As the criminal prepares to attack another villa, the three supernatural characters confront him. When he attempts to sacrifice them, He Qinglan uses “Rebound,” Shui Wuyuan uses “Double Rebound,” and Chiyan amplifies it with a tenfold rebound while granting the attacker ten years of immortality.
• The killer’s own power turns against him, leaving him severely burned and screaming outside the villa. The police arrive immediately, and the city’s home-invasion murder case is solved.

Character Developments

• Chiyan: Reveals his intense hatred of those abusing his stolen power and demonstrates his impulsive, violent temperament. Despite his childish appearance, he is extremely powerful and views himself as superior to ordinary humans.
• He Qinglan: Remains calm and controlled, restraining Chiyan and directing the mission. His gentle explanation of Chiyan’s nature contrasts with the imp’s aggression.
• Shui Wuyuan: Acts with confidence and authority, contributing the powerful “Double Rebound” technique.
• Lei Aotian: Serves as the practical human coordinator but becomes increasingly astonished by the group’s inhuman abilities and behavior. He realizes that ordinary police methods are unnecessary against them.

Character Interactions

• Chiyan insults Lei Aotian and dismisses human assistance, while Lei Aotian privately questions his personality and maturity.
• He Qinglan physically stops Chiyan from continuing his profanity and tactfully explains that he is not a normal child.
• The trio work together seamlessly against the murderer, combining their powers to reflect and magnify his attempted sacrifice.

Significant Themes

• Abuse of power: The criminals use supernatural abilities for greed, murder, and revenge, highlighting how power becomes corrupting in malicious hands.
• Justice through reversal: The murderer’s own ability is redirected against him, creating a fitting form of supernatural punishment.
• Human versus nonhuman identity: Lei Aotian repeatedly recognizes that the protagonists operate beyond ordinary human limits, while the trio’s behavior and abilities reinforce their otherworldly nature.
• Comedic contrast: The gruesome crimes and deadly powers are balanced by Chiyan’s exaggerated insults, his childlike appearance, and Lei Aotian’s increasingly horrified reactions.

Chapter 62 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the home-invasion criminal in Luo City is captured, He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and Chiyan divide their efforts to pursue other corrupt criminals:
  • He Qinglan travels to Pine City to find a night attacker who targets young men.
  • Shui Wuyuan hunts a criminal who disfigures beautiful women.
  • Chiyan heads to East City to confront someone falsely claiming to administer “justice.”
• He Qinglan reflects on the Luo City criminal, concluding that the man was not especially powerful, but possessed extreme greed and ruthlessness. These qualities made him especially vulnerable to Corrupting Power, allowing the Flame Gem to release tremendous strength.
• He Qinglan also suspects that the red stone containing the Undying Flame is unstable or unsuitable, since its Fire-Source Power leaks out more readily than expected.
• Waiting along a dark forest path, He Qinglan uses his exceptionally accurate divine intuition to sense the approach of a deeply corrupt man.
• The criminal, Fang Shucheng, presents himself as a gentle, refined passerby who wants to comfort He Qinglan. In reality, he is a predator who abducts and abuses attractive men, becoming excited by the thought of making He Qinglan his most beautiful victim.
• He Qinglan deliberately follows Fang into his luxury car, allowing the criminal to believe he has successfully lured his prey.
• Fang offers him coffee and pretends to be a sympathetic listener, but He Qinglan bluntly insults his laugh and immediately exposes his true nature.
• He Qinglan reveals that he knows Fang possesses a Wish Gem, prompting Fang to lock the car doors and reach for the red stone in his pocket.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan: Demonstrates calm confidence, divine perception, and a willingness to enter danger deliberately. His disgust toward Fang is open and uncompromising, suggesting that he intends to punish him rather than merely capture him.
• Shui Wuyuan: Though extremely protective of He Qinglan and initially afraid he will be victimized, he ultimately trusts He Qinglan’s abilities and pursues his own target.
• Chiyan: Becomes openly enraged at the human claiming to act in Heaven’s name, emphasizing his fierce and punitive temperament.
• Fang Shucheng: Revealed as a sadistic predator who hides his violent nature beneath a courteous appearance. His excitement over He Qinglan’s beauty blinds him to the danger he senses.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Fang’s polite, comforting persona conceals profound corruption, reinforcing the contrast between human social masks and inner evil.
• Predation and reversed power: Fang believes He Qinglan is helpless prey, but the reader understands that He Qinglan has intentionally placed himself within Fang’s trap.
• Corruption and desire: Extreme greed, lust, and cruelty allow Corrupting Power to affect the Gem’s strength, showing how human desires can become sources of supernatural danger.
• Justice and punishment: The three divine characters pursue criminals who exploit others, suggesting a larger effort to impose supernatural justice on human wrongdoing.
• The danger of misplaced confidence: Fang senses that He Qinglan is dangerous but interprets the feeling as excitement, allowing arrogance and desire to override caution.

Character Interactions

• Shui Wuyuan’s concern for He Qinglan contrasts with He Qinglan’s composed assurance that Fang will be permanently punished.
• Fang attempts to establish emotional intimacy by offering coffee and presenting himself as a listener, but He Qinglan rejects the performance with direct contempt.
• Their interaction becomes a psychological confrontation: Fang thinks he is controlling the situation by locking the car, while He Qinglan has already identified him and appears to be manipulating events.

Chapter 126 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fang Shucheng makes his usual wish: to force He Qinglan to obey him, intending to toy with him before sacrificing him.
• Confident in the power of his Wish Gem, Fang abandons his usual deception and orders He Qinglan to undress.
• He Qinglan reveals that Fang’s wish has failed. He commands Fang to:
  1. Drive to the police station.
  2. Confess all his crimes.
  3. Recreate upon himself the suffering he inflicted on his victims.
  4. Castrate himself.
• Fang initially mocks He Qinglan, believing no one can overcome the power of the Gods and Devils. However, He Qinglan’s words begin controlling him, proving that He Qinglan possesses an even greater authority.
• Fang is forced to drive to the police station and loses control of his body. He Qinglan disappears from the car after taking Fang’s Wish Gem.
• Fang realizes the terror of being manipulated, something he had previously enjoyed inflicting on others. Despite begging for mercy, he is compelled to enter the police station.
• The Pine City Night Assault Murder Case is solved. Fang confesses and mutilates himself, stabbing himself over thirty times and castrating himself before being hospitalized.
• Shui Wuyuan tracks down another Wish Gem criminal: a woman who steals the most beautiful features of other women out of jealousy.
• When the woman attempts to wish for another victim’s beautiful eyes, Shui Wuyuan removes her Flame Gem and triggers the backlash of her accumulated crimes. She suffers horrific pain and believes her eyes and nose have fallen out.
• The Sun City Disfigurement Murder Case is consequently solved.
• Three of the four most dangerous Wish Gem murderers have now been captured. The final criminal—someone who uses a gem to punish people in the name of Heaven—remains at large.
• Meanwhile, Deep Earth awakens in an underground castle and tells Mr. Long that the second stage of absorption can begin. Mr. Long is surprised that it is starting after only one month.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan: Demonstrates overwhelming control over Fang, revealing that he is far more powerful than Fang expected. His cold, detached attitude contrasts sharply with Fang’s arrogance and cruelty.
• Fang Shucheng: His confidence collapses when he becomes the victim of the same mind control he used on others. He experiences terror and helplessness before being forced to face punishment for his crimes.
• Shui Wuyuan: Continues hunting Wish Gem criminals efficiently. Rather than directly attacking the disfigurement murderer, he accelerates the natural backlash of her own power and crimes.
• The disfigurement murderer: Her jealousy and obsession with possessing others’ beauty are exposed, and she is punished through the very violence she inflicted on her victims.
• Deep Earth and Mr. Long: Their mysterious plan advances to a second stage, suggesting an even larger supernatural conflict or scheme.

Significant Themes

• Abuse of power and karmic punishment: Both criminals are forced to suffer consequences resembling the pain they inflicted on others.
• The reversal of predator and victim: Fang’s terror comes from becoming helpless under another person’s control, allowing him to understand the despair of his victims.
• Jealousy and destructive desire: The disfigurement murderer’s obsession with beauty turns admiration into violence and mutilation.
• Limits of supernatural power: Fang believes the Wish Gems make him invincible, but He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan prove that greater forces can override or redirect their abilities.
• Justice versus vengeance: The criminals are not merely arrested; their own powers and actions are turned against them, creating a supernatural form of retribution.

Character Interactions

• He Qinglan confronts and dominates Fang Shucheng, forcing him to confess and punish himself.
• Fang attempts to mock and intimidate He Qinglan but ends up pleading desperately for mercy.
• Shui Wuyuan intercepts the disfigurement murderer’s wish, removes her Flame Gem, and causes her accumulated backlash to take effect.
• Deep Earth reports to Mr. Long, initiating the next phase of their mysterious plan.

Chapter 63 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Long Xiao complains that he has absorbed only a fraction of the life force and divine power available from the collected stones, wishing he had more time to strengthen himself.
• Deep Earth warns that the stones will become useless after tonight unless the Second-Tier is activated. Long Xiao agrees to proceed, trusting Deep Earth’s plan.
• Deep Earth clarifies that the stones cannot control the Fire God. They can only use Corrupting Power to briefly influence his emotions or judgment—enough, Long Xiao believes, to secure victory.
• Long Xiao reveals his vicious objective: to use the corrupted power to turn the Fire God against Lei Aotian and burn their enemies completely. He also orders Deep Earth to assist with the Sea God as the next target.
• Meanwhile, He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan meet Chiyan in the eastern district at 1:00 a.m. Chiyan has located Lu Tianqi, the human “agent of heaven,” but has hesitated to kill him.
• Chiyan explains that Lu Tianqi used the power from Chiyan’s stone to kill two thugs who were assaulting a girl, then escorted her safely home. Lu has continued hunting people he considers evil.
• After discussing Lu’s contradictory nature, He Qinglan advises Chiyan to reclaim the stone rather than kill Lu outright. Since Lu contaminated Chiyan’s Origin Power with Corrupting Power, the backlash will soon kill him anyway.
• Chiyan retrieves the stone. Lu Tianqi immediately discovers that it has vanished from his hand and is left stunned.

Character Developments

• Long Xiao becomes increasingly bloodthirsty and confident, showing that his ambitions extend beyond personal power to mass destruction of his enemies.
• Deep Earth remains calm and emotionally controlled, acting as the strategist behind the Second-Tier activation. His willingness to target the Sea God suggests his continued cooperation with Long Xiao despite his subdued attitude.
• Chiyan displays unexpected moral hesitation. Although he normally kills without concern, Lu Tianqi’s actions make him question whether the human is truly evil.
• Lu Tianqi is portrayed as morally divided: he possesses both genuine compassion and severe murderous intent. He acts according to his own absolute judgment rather than society’s laws.
• He Qinglan provides the practical resolution, separating moral judgment from the fact that Lu has contaminated divine power and must suffer the consequences.
• Shui Wuyuan contributes comic relief through his playful harassment of Chiyan.

Significant Themes

• Corruption of divine power: Human use of divine power damages and contaminates it, creating consequences for both the wielder and the deity.
• Moral ambiguity: Lu Tianqi is neither wholly good nor evil; he protects innocents while killing those he personally judges to be beyond redemption.
• Justice versus personal judgment: The chapter contrasts society’s legal standards with Lu’s belief that certain people deserve death.
• Manipulation and power: Long Xiao’s plan depends not on controlling the Fire God outright, but on exploiting even a momentary weakness.
• Fate and inevitable consequences: Once Lu’s stone is taken away, his death appears unavoidable because of the corruption he has accumulated.

Character Interactions

• Long Xiao and Deep Earth discuss the Second-Tier plan, with Long Xiao expressing trust but also pressing Deep Earth about the stones’ capabilities.
• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan tease Chiyan after finding him hesitating instead of attacking Lu.
• Chiyan explains Lu’s behavior to He Qinglan, who accepts the complexity of the human’s character but focuses on the consequences of using corrupted divine power.
• The chapter ends with the silent but decisive interaction between Chiyan and Lu: Chiyan reclaims the stone, leaving Lu shocked and likely doomed.

Chapter 128 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Police capture the final one of the four dangerous criminals Lei Aotian had identified—a murderer who believed himself to be a savior.
• With all four major criminals apprehended, Lei Aotian thanks He Qinglan but avoids messaging Shui Wuyuan, wary of receiving another harsh response.
• He Qinglan asks for the police’s entire database of over 3,000 suspected Wish Gem users and locations, proposing that they resolve all the cases in one night.
• He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and Chiyan begin tracking down the Wish Gems. Because many gems are shielded, Chiyan cannot directly locate them with Origin Power, but the trio can sense their Fire-Source Power within roughly 100 meters.
• Over the next hour, criminals across Huazhou are arrested, surrender, or lose control of their stolen gems. Police reports arrive continuously, leaving Lei Aotian first astonished, then shocked, and finally numb.
• Lei Aotian jokingly associates the group with the Five Elements, imagining He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, Chiyan, and Mountain Shaman as elemental figures, while joking that he himself might represent Metal.
• Deputy Director Liu calls to criticize Lei Aotian for allowing the outsiders to confiscate the Wish Gems. He insists the gems should be handed over to the Haicheng Research Institute for government study and offers compensation.
• Suspecting that officials may want to exploit the gems’ power, Lei Aotian refuses to take responsibility for reversing his agreement and tells Liu to contact the group himself.
• By three in the morning, the trio has recovered more than 1,000 Flame Gems. Chiyan wants to absorb their Origin Power immediately, but He Qinglan stops him, warning that the gems’ power is contaminated and must first be purified.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan demonstrates confidence, initiative, and exceptional efficiency by volunteering to handle thousands of cases rather than stopping after the four primary criminals.
• Shui Wuyuan remains arrogant and dismissive toward ordinary humans, humorously calling them “foolish mortals.”
• Chiyan shows eagerness to collect and absorb the gems’ power, but his impulsiveness reveals that he lacks He Qinglan’s caution.
• Lei Aotian grows increasingly impressed by the trio’s abilities while remaining practical and politically shrewd. He protects them from government pressure by pretending he cannot control their decisions.
• Deputy Director Liu is portrayed as opportunistic and potentially reckless, prioritizing government possession and research of the Wish Gems despite their danger.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural power versus governmental control: The chapter raises questions about who should possess dangerous magical artifacts—their finders, the police, or the state.
• Trust and responsibility: Lei Aotian trusts the trio enough to let them keep the gems, while recognizing that official institutions may misuse them.
• Efficiency and overwhelming power: The trio resolves in one hour what would normally require enormous police resources, emphasizing the gap between supernatural abilities and ordinary human methods.
• Contamination and caution: He Qinglan’s warning about “washing” the gems before absorbing their power highlights the danger of using corrupt or tainted supernatural energy.
• Humor amid danger: Lei Aotian’s frustration with Shui Wuyuan, his Five Elements jokes, and the bizarre police reports lighten an otherwise intense supernatural manhunt.

Character Interactions

• Lei Aotian thanks He Qinglan but deliberately avoids Shui Wuyuan to escape criticism.
• He Qinglan directly challenges Shui Wuyuan and Chiyan’s confidence by taking charge of the broader investigation.
• Police officers repeatedly report miraculous arrests and surrenders to Lei Aotian, changing his attitude from disbelief to resigned acceptance.
• Deputy Director Liu pressures Lei Aotian to reclaim the gems, but Lei refuses to confront the trio himself and leaves Liu to deal with them directly.
• He Qinglan prevents Chiyan from absorbing contaminated Origin Power, establishing her as the group’s practical and safety-conscious leader.

Chapter 64 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chiyan proposes that the corrupted individuals be returned and soaked in a bath barrel for ten days before he purifies them, but his weakened state raises doubts about whether he can do it.
• A red light suddenly erupts, causing all the Fire-Source Power stored in the Wish Gems to surge uncontrollably into Chiyan.
• The influx of power, combined with Corrupting Power, drives Chiyan into a violent frenzy. His eyes turn red and black corruption spreads through them, while his body begins expanding from its previously shriveled state.
• Chiyan releases enormous black-red flames and attacks He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan. Their Sourcewater Power is instantly vaporized upon contact with his corrupted fire.
• Simultaneously, massive fires break out at the National Research Institute and the Special Energy Research Institute in Hai City, revealing that Chiyan’s rampage is likely part of a larger scheme.
• Lei Aotian receives news of the explosions and the severe destruction at the two research institutes.
• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan realize that Chiyan has been manipulated or used as part of a plot connected to the Human-Deity Group. They question whether humans could truly control divine power, concluding that some deity-related force or cooperation must be involved.
• Shui Wuyuan summons torrential rain to shield civilians and extinguish the flames Chiyan sends toward them.
• The two decide to divide their responsibilities: He Qinglan will put out the fires at the research facilities, while Shui Wuyuan will pursue and restrain Chiyan.
• Shui Wuyuan admits he has wanted to beat Chiyan for some time and promises to show restraint. He Qinglan chooses the more heavily damaged eastern site and heads toward the National Research Institute.
• The chapter ends as the institute’s fire brigade begins battling the blaze, unaware that He Qinglan is approaching to help.

Character Developments

• Chiyan: His attempt to help with purification is interrupted by an overwhelming surge of Fire-Source Power. The corruption drives him temporarily insane, intensifies his hatred of humans, and greatly increases his destructive power. His transformation suggests that he is being exploited by an external scheme.
• He Qinglan: Despite being weakened, he remains calm and analytical. He quickly identifies the broader threat, prioritizes civilian safety, and takes responsibility for containing the fires. His gentle concern for Shui Wuyuan becomes more apparent.
• Shui Wuyuan: He acts decisively to protect civilians and volunteers to confront Chiyan directly. His aggressive words conceal concern for He Qinglan, and he becomes visibly flustered by He Qinglan’s warm praise and reminder to stay safe.
• Lei Aotian: He serves as the authority receiving and responding to reports of the coordinated attacks.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation of divine power: The chapter raises the possibility that the Human-Deity Group has found a way to exploit or influence divine forces, though He Qinglan doubts ordinary humans could accomplish this alone.
• Corruption and loss of control: Chiyan’s transformation shows how external power and corruption can overwhelm identity and reason.
• Duty versus personal conflict: Although Shui Wuyuan wants to punish Chiyan, both he and He Qinglan put protecting civilians and stopping the disaster first.
• Trust and emotional intimacy: He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan coordinate effortlessly, with teasing and mutual concern revealing a growing emotional bond.
• The limits of human power: The contrast between the firefighters’ efforts and the supernatural flames emphasizes how helpless ordinary humans are against divine or corrupted forces.

Character Interactions

• Chiyan initially speaks earnestly with He Qinglan about purification, but the conversation abruptly turns into a confrontation when he loses control.
• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan fight alongside one another to protect people, with Shui Wuyuan using rain to suppress the destruction.
• They discuss the likely involvement of the Human-Deity Group and agree to investigate later.
• Shui Wuyuan chooses to fight Chiyan while He Qinglan handles the fires, teasing that he is only doing so because He Qinglan is weakened.
• He Qinglan responds affectionately and asks Shui Wuyuan not to kill Chiyan, causing Shui Wuyuan to become embarrassed and flee after Chiyan.

Chapter 130 Summary

• A fire breaks out in a warehouse on the first floor of the National Research Institute. Fire Captain Shui and his team initially assume it is a routine blaze, since all institute personnel have already evacuated.
• Upon approaching the building, Captain Shui realizes the flames are highly abnormal. They emit black mist, spread with unnatural speed, radiate extreme heat, and possess an ominous crimson color.
• Trusting his instincts, Captain Shui stops a young firefighter from getting too close and orders the entire team to treat the blaze as an extremely dangerous chemical fire. The researchers object, stressing that the warehouse contains rare and valuable research materials worth more than a hundred million.
• When the young firefighter tries to advance again, Captain Shui demonstrates the danger by throwing his supposedly fireproof helmet into the flames. It ignites almost instantly and is reduced to ash in less than half a second.
• The firefighters then attempt to extinguish the blaze with multiple high-pressure hoses, but ordinary water has no effect. Instead, the fire rapidly consumes the reinforced, fireproof building, spreading across the first floor and upward within minutes.
• Captain Shui confronts Director Liu, demanding to know what was stored in the warehouse. Director Liu initially insists that the contents were merely research materials, but then appears to realize the truth.
• A researcher suddenly identifies the likely cause: the Flame Gem, suggesting that the mysterious object may have triggered the supernatural fire.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Captain Shui is portrayed as experienced, cautious, and protective of his team. His professional instincts allow him to recognize the danger before anyone else and prevent the firefighters from dying.
• The young firefighter is courageous but impulsive, prioritizing rescue efforts until Captain Shui’s warning and the burning helmet reveal the true threat.
• The researchers are initially more concerned with saving the valuable materials than with the firefighters’ safety, but their confidence turns to fear as the flames prove uncontrollable.
• Director Liu becomes visibly shaken and appears to know—or suddenly remember—the connection between the warehouse and the Flame Gem.
• The chapter’s central interaction is the conflict between the firefighters’ concern for human life and the researchers’ desperation to preserve their extraordinary materials.

Significant Themes

• Human limitations against supernatural power: Conventional equipment and firefighting methods are completely useless against the flames.
• Instinct and experience: Captain Shui’s professional judgment protects the firefighters when scientific understanding and official procedures fail.
• Greed versus safety: The researchers’ emphasis on the warehouse’s immense value contrasts with the immediate danger to human lives.
• Mystery and escalation: The revelation of the Flame Gem introduces a potentially supernatural or dangerous experiment behind the fire and sets up the chapter’s larger mystery.

Chapter 65 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Captain Shui and the firefighters struggle to contain an unnatural fire at the National Research Institute. The blaze is suspected to have been caused or intensified by a Flame Gem, possibly altering the fire’s properties.
• Neither water nor specialized fire-suppressant chemicals can extinguish the flames. The fire begins spreading beyond the building, igniting the ground wherever burning debris lands.
• Captain Shui realizes the firefighters are in danger and orders everyone to retreat. His warning saves one firefighter from being struck by falling flames.
• The building collapses, scattering flaming debris and threatening to spread the disaster. At that moment, a sudden rain begins.
• Although Captain Shui initially believes the rain will be useless, it effortlessly extinguishes the supernatural flames. He briefly sees what appears to be a glowing figure standing on the ruins, leading him to wonder whether he witnessed the “spirit of rain.”
• The fire is contained without civilian casualties, though two people die beforehand: a researcher who illegally entered the special-item storage area and a firefighter who attempted to rescue supplies.
• He Qinglan, revealed to be the River God, leaves after summoning the rain and searches for Shui Wuyuan and Chiyan.
• He Qinglan is surprised to discover that Shui Wuyuan has still not defeated Chiyan. He arrives to find Chiyan threatening to self-destruct his Primordial Spirit and kill everyone nearby if Shui attacks recklessly.

Character Developments

• Captain Shui demonstrates sound judgment and leadership by recognizing the danger of spreading flames and ordering his team to retreat. His fear and disbelief emphasize how unprecedented the fire is.
• He Qinglan acts decisively and compassionately by using his divine power to stop the fire. He is also increasingly concerned about the hidden forces behind the disaster and frustrated by Chiyan’s continued resistance.
• Shui Wuyuan remains powerful but is restrained by the possibility that Chiyan may self-destruct and harm countless civilians. His concern for human life prevents him from simply overwhelming his opponent.
• Chiyan appears desperate and unstable, but he uses a calculated hostage strategy. Despite being weakened, he exploits the people below to keep Shui Wuyuan from attacking.

Significant Themes

• The destructive consequences of forbidden or mishandled power: The Flame Gem creates a fire beyond ordinary human control.
• Divine intervention and human misunderstanding: Ordinary people interpret He Qinglan’s actions as a miraculous rain or the appearance of a rain spirit, unaware of his true identity.
• The conflict between power and responsibility: Shui Wuyuan’s strength is limited by his need to protect innocent lives, while Chiyan weaponizes that responsibility.
• Mystery and hidden manipulation: He Qinglan suspects that someone deliberately caused the disaster, suggesting a larger conspiracy involving the special items and supernatural forces.
• Sacrifice and loss: The chapter acknowledges the deaths of a researcher and firefighter, underscoring that the crisis has real human consequences despite the eventual containment.

Character Interactions

• Captain Shui coordinates closely with his firefighters, protecting them through urgent orders and situational awareness.
• He Qinglan’s unseen intervention indirectly affects Captain Shui, who mistakes the divine rain for a supernatural spirit.
• Shui Wuyuan confronts Chiyan, but Chiyan prevents an immediate resolution by threatening mass destruction through self-detonation.
• He Qinglan arrives to observe the confrontation, preparing to intervene as Chiyan’s standoff with Shui Wuyuan continues.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

Shui Wuyuan, enraged by Chiyan’s repeated provocations and insults, finally abandons his restraint and attacks him with powerful water dragons. He restrains Chiyan by the throat and prepares to kill him, planning to claim that Chiyan had fallen to demonic corruption and self-destructed. Although Chiyan attempts to resist with Origin Power, Shui Wuyuan initially overwhelms him.
He Qinglan arrives just in time. His intervention shatters Shui Wuyuan’s barrier and disrupts the attack. When Shui Wuyuan threatens to kill both him and Chiyan, He Qinglan’s suppressed power erupts: his appearance transforms, revealing his true divine form and immense strength. He stops Shui Wuyuan and sends Chiyan flying, binding and silencing him with water chains.

Character developments

• Shui Wuyuan reveals the full extent of his ruthless power and growing arrogance, believing that no one in the current era can challenge him. His memories of being suppressed ten million years earlier contrast with his present dominance. However, He Qinglan’s arrival exposes the conflict between Shui Wuyuan’s violent impulses and his inability to harm the person he loves.
• He Qinglan displays his true power after his emotional restraint breaks. His transformation emphasizes his divine identity and establishes that he can counter Shui Wuyuan’s strength. He also confronts Shui Wuyuan morally, accusing him of potentially being affected by Corrupting Power.
• Chiyan continues provoking Shui Wuyuan and openly insults his relationship with He Qinglan, but his aggression leaves him vulnerable. His corruption and loss of control become evident, and he is ultimately subdued by He Qinglan.

Significant themes

The chapter explores the danger of unchecked power, pride, and rage, particularly through Shui Wuyuan’s belief that he alone reigns supreme. It also contrasts ancient weakness with present strength and suggests that overwhelming power does not eliminate emotional vulnerability. Love and attachment act both as Shui Wuyuan’s greatest weakness and the force capable of stopping him. The possibility of corruption further raises questions about whether destructive behavior comes from true nature or outside influence.

Character interactions

Chiyan deliberately insults Shui Wuyuan and questions whether he is worthy of He Qinglan, pushing Shui Wuyuan toward murder. He Qinglan intervenes physically and emotionally, stopping the attack and confronting Shui Wuyuan over his actions. After restraining Chiyan, He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan face one another directly. Shui Wuyuan pulls He Qinglan into his embrace and kisses him fiercely, then softens and admits that he could never hurt him, accusing He Qinglan of knowingly forcing and wounding him emotionally.

Chapter 66 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shui Wuyuan restrains He Qinglan after Qinglan stops him from killing Chiyan. Qinglan angrily argues that Wuyuan, as the world’s supreme sovereign, should have sealed Chiyan instead of fighting him.
• Wuyuan reveals that Chiyan provoked him by threatening self-destruction and claiming that Wuyuan was unworthy of He Qinglan. Rather than letting Qinglan go, Wuyuan repeatedly demands reassurance that Qinglan considers him worthy.
• Chiyan suddenly releases a powerful wave of Corrupting Backlash Power. He Qinglan attempts to suppress and purify it, but the backlash injures his Origin and causes him to cough up blood.
• Enraged that Qinglan has been harmed, Shui Wuyuan immediately intervenes, seizing and crushing most of the Corrupting Power. This reaction confirms Deep Earth’s suspicions that Wuyuan will act decisively for Qinglan’s sake.
• Deep Earth, observing from his underground fortress, concludes that He Qinglan remains the most troublesome variable. He implies that the conflict has advanced according to his plans and hints at a future confrontation.
• After the crisis, Shui Wuyuan brings He Qinglan and Chiyan back to the Crystal House. Qinglan’s Purifying Water has restored Chiyan’s mind and purified the corruption within his power and Origin.
• Chiyan realizes how reckless his earlier behavior was and becomes unusually obedient, while silently trying to communicate that he was manipulated rather than willingly suicidal.
• Shui Wuyuan worries about Qinglan’s injury, but Qinglan insists that the backlash is minor and that he has sufficient experience purifying Corrupting Power. He also reminds Wuyuan that he was capable of breaking Wuyuan’s Origin Barrier.
• Qinglan then asks Wuyuan to summon Mountain Shaman. He believes all four of them must investigate and confirm the truth behind the corruption and the events surrounding Chiyan’s madness.
• Chiyan, now aware that someone plotted against him, vows not to forgive whoever was responsible—whether human, god, or demon.

Character Developments

• Shui Wuyuan: His possessiveness and emotional dependence on He Qinglan become increasingly obvious. Despite his supreme power, he behaves childishly when seeking Qinglan’s affirmation, but his playful jealousy instantly turns into violent protectiveness when Qinglan is injured.
• He Qinglan: He remains rational, strong-willed, and willing to reprimand Wuyuan despite being physically restrained. His willingness to risk injury to save Chiyan demonstrates his compassion and sense of responsibility. He also takes the lead in planning the next investigation.
• Chiyan: After the corruption is purified, he regains his sanity and recognizes how dangerous his actions were. His embarrassment and obedience contrast with his newly awakened determination to uncover and punish the person who manipulated him.
• Deep Earth: He confirms that provoking Shui Wuyuan through He Qinglan was an effective strategy. His comments suggest he is deliberately exploiting the bond between the two and preparing for their eventual confrontation.
• Mountain Shaman: Though absent from the chapter, he is identified as an essential participant in determining the truth.

Significant Themes

• Devotion and protectiveness: Wuyuan’s overwhelming reaction to Qinglan’s injury reveals the depth of his attachment and shows that Qinglan is his greatest emotional vulnerability.
• Power versus restraint: Although Wuyuan possesses unmatched strength, Qinglan criticizes him for failing to use that power responsibly. The chapter contrasts raw dominance with judgment and self-control.
• Manipulation and hidden enemies: Chiyan’s corruption appears to be the result of outside interference, shifting blame away from him and establishing a larger conspiracy.
• Trust and emotional reassurance: Wuyuan’s repeated insistence that he is “worthy” of Qinglan highlights his insecurity beneath his arrogance, while Qinglan’s responses show their familiar, intimate dynamic.
• Sacrifice and responsibility: Qinglan willingly suffers backlash to save Chiyan, reinforcing his role as a protector even toward someone who has endangered him.

Character Interactions

• Wuyuan and Qinglan: Their exchange combines physical intimacy, teasing, jealousy, and genuine concern. Qinglan scolds Wuyuan for his recklessness, while Wuyuan openly seeks reassurance and then fiercely protects him.
• Qinglan and Chiyan: Qinglan saves Chiyan despite Chiyan’s dangerous behavior, but afterward treats him sternly rather than indulgently. Their long friendship is evident beneath the tension.
• Wuyuan and Chiyan: Wuyuan remains hostile toward Chiyan because of his insults and threats, while Chiyan keeps his distance after regaining his sanity.
• Deep Earth and the others: Deep Earth manipulates events from afar, using Chiyan’s corruption to provoke Wuyuan and test the strength of Wuyuan and Qinglan’s bond.

Chapter Summary

Mountain Shaman arrives after sensing an unusually powerful concentration of Fire-Source Power and initially suspects Chiyan of harming humans. Chiyan dismisses the accusation, while He Qinglan explains that the Human-Deity Group used mysterious “Flame Gems” to interfere with Chiyan’s perception and control of his powers, possibly even influencing his will. The gems had caused Chiyan to absorb corrupted Origin Power and behave irrationally.
To investigate, He Qinglan shows Mountain Shaman the gems’ empty shells. Although Chiyan’s power has vanished from them, Mountain Shaman discovers a faint trace of his own elemental Origin Power—specifically, power belonging to Deep Earth. This revelation suggests that Deep Earth may have awakened or somehow become involved in the gems’ creation.
Mountain Shaman struggles to accept that Deep Earth, an ancient and supposedly benevolent god, could have deliberately harmed Chiyan. He argues that Deep Earth may have been forced or controlled by the Human-Deity Group, possibly because he was the god they captured. Chiyan remains skeptical, emphasizing Deep Earth’s immense strength and noting that, unlike Mountain Shaman, Deep Earth would be capable of concealing his actions and overpowering Chiyan. Their disagreement leaves Mountain Shaman distressed and uncertain, and he abruptly leaves to investigate.

Character Developments and Interactions

• He Qinglan remains calm and analytical, presenting evidence rather than jumping to conclusions. He identifies the connection between the gems and Deep Earth’s power.
• Chiyan is physically recovering but remains affected by the earlier incident and the Corrupting Miasma. He angrily defends himself and insists that his irrational words and actions were caused by external manipulation.
• Shui Wuyuan remains resentful toward Chiyan, silently reacting to his earlier behavior, though Chiyan insists he was not in control of himself.
• Mountain Shaman shifts from suspicion of Chiyan to shock and distress upon discovering Deep Earth’s power in the gems. His loyalty to his old friend conflicts with the possibility that Deep Earth has harmed Chiyan or is being controlled.
• The exchange highlights the differing relationships among the ancient gods: Mountain Shaman trusts Deep Earth deeply, while Chiyan respects his strength but does not consider him personally close.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and loss of agency: The Flame Gems may have blocked Chiyan’s powers and influenced his will.
• Trust versus evidence: Mountain Shaman’s faith in Deep Earth clashes with the physical evidence linking him to the gems.
• The danger of corruption: Corrupting Miasma threatens both divine power and the minds of the gods.
• Ancient power and hidden threats: Deep Earth’s reputation as the strongest ancient existence raises the stakes and suggests a far more dangerous conspiracy than initially believed.

Chapter 67 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mountain Shaman decides to find Deep Earth and confront him directly about the suspected attack on Chiyan and the Human-Deity Group. He Qinglan asks him to wait briefly first, while warning him to call for help if he encounters danger.
• Although He Qinglan harbors some suspicions, he still believes Deep Earth is unlikely to have attacked Chiyan, remembering him as powerful but not cruel or malicious.
• Shui Wuyuan and Chiyan caution that Deep Earth may have changed after thousands of years. Shui Wuyuan emphasizes that even deities can be altered by time and circumstance.
• Shui Wuyuan uses the discussion to once again ask whether he is worthy of He Qinglan. Irritated by Chiyan’s comments, He Qinglan slaps Chiyan and declares that only he can decide Shui Wuyuan’s worthiness. Shui Wuyuan is delighted by this answer.
• Heavy rain affects several regions of Huazhou on August 31, though the damage is limited. The rainy season is nearing its end.
• Mountain Shaman still has not returned, but no danger signal has been detected. Chiyan’s Corrupting Power is gradually being purified, and he has regained his judgment, though he remains obnoxious.
• Bicheng’s efforts to clean and dredge the Clear Ripple River are succeeding, and construction begins on a riverside promenade. However, the river’s water level remains unusually low, suggesting an unresolved upstream problem.
• Because of the construction and the danger of the riverbed flooding again, He Qinglan must move from his riverside home. He declines the authorities’ offer to provide him with a new plot of land, considering the arrangement unnecessary.
• He Qinglan considers visiting the Eastern Sea, one of the remaining locations where Heaven-and-Earth Qi had previously been seen shining through the Corrupting Miasma.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan: Shows continued trust and concern for Mountain Shaman and retains faith in Deep Earth’s basic nature. He also openly asserts control over his relationship with Shui Wuyuan, declaring that his own judgment—not Chiyan’s—determines Shui Wuyuan’s worthiness.
• Mountain Shaman: Demonstrates loyalty and determination by seeking Deep Earth personally, despite the possibility of danger.
• Deep Earth: Remains absent and mysterious. His long absence raises the possibility that time or corruption may have changed him.
• Shui Wuyuan: Displays his shameless, flirtatious persistence toward He Qinglan. He turns He Qinglan’s irritated response into a triumph when He Qinglan says that only he can decide whether Shui Wuyuan is worthy.
• Chiyan: His corruption is receding, restoring his reasoning, though his provocative and reckless personality remains largely intact.
• Heaven-and-Earth forces/deities: The chapter highlights that deities, like humans, can change over time rather than remaining eternally fixed.

Significant Themes

• Change over time: Long periods and critical experiences can transform even powerful deities; “things remain while people have changed.”
• Trust and suspicion: He Qinglan balances concern about Deep Earth with his memories of Deep Earth’s character, refusing to condemn him without answers.
• Loyalty and mutual support: Mountain Shaman’s willingness to investigate Deep Earth and He Qinglan’s promise of assistance reinforce the group’s bonds.
• Recovery and restoration: Chiyan’s purification and the rehabilitation of the Clear Ripple River reflect gradual recovery from corruption and damage.
• Romantic teasing and emotional possession: Shui Wuyuan’s pursuit of He Qinglan continues through playful provocation, while He Qinglan’s response implies a personal investment in deciding Shui Wuyuan’s place beside him.
• Nature and environmental balance: The river’s restoration, low water flow, and possible upstream disturbance connect the supernatural conflict with the health of the natural world.

Character Interactions

• He Qinglan and Mountain Shaman share a supportive exchange built on trust and concern.
• He Qinglan reflects on his past impressions of Deep Earth and Mu Sen, explaining why he still hopes Deep Earth has not become evil.
• Shui Wuyuan and Chiyan briefly agree that Deep Earth may have changed, but Shui Wuyuan quickly redirects the conversation toward his own romantic standing with He Qinglan.
• He Qinglan physically reprimands Chiyan for provoking the situation, then gives Shui Wuyuan an answer that makes him extremely happy.
• The chapter ends with He Qinglan preparing to investigate another location connected to the Heaven-and-Earth Qi, likely alongside Shui Wuyuan.

Chapter Summary

• Main plot development: He Qinglan concludes that the world’s spiritual-energy balance is dangerously unstable. The five regions producing spiritual energy are its main support; if they are corrupted and converted into Corrupting Miasma, the world may be doomed. To investigate, he decides to examine the Eastern Sea and seek information about the surviving Sea Gods.
• Journey to Pearl City: He Qinglan travels with Shui Wuyuan and their attendant Chiyan to Pearl City, intending eventually to reach Pearl Island. Shui initially proposes taking a helicopter, but He Qinglan rejects the overly conspicuous option, choosing to travel by car and boat instead.
• Pearl City’s environment: The city is portrayed as a prosperous, attractive tourist destination with clean streets, good air, abundant greenery, and happy residents. He Qinglan senses very little Corrupting Miasma and attributes this to effective environmental protection and the residents’ respect for nature, creating a mutually beneficial relationship between people and the environment.
• Encounter with Luo Luo: A lively young salesman approaches the trio and promotes an “extraordinary” seafood cruise featuring performances, fresh seafood, coastal views, pearl harvesting, Sea Fish Fighting, Undersea Hunting Grounds, and an Undersea Treasure Hunt. Shui Wuyuan is unimpressed by the ordinary luxury-tourism claims, but He Qinglan becomes interested when he hears about Sea Fish Fighting and the undersea activities.
• Shui Wuyuan’s wealth: To prove the exclusivity of the attraction, Luo Luo notices Shui’s extremely expensive Deep-Sea Legends “Deep Blue Hell” watch. Shui casually reveals that he owns all three watches in existence, leaving Luo Luo stunned and confirming that Shui is an extraordinarily wealthy and influential figure.
• Luo Luo’s introduction: After learning Shui’s surname, Luo Luo suspects he may be connected to the Shui Corporation. He enthusiastically introduces himself as a Pearl City native from a prominent local family, emphasizing his education, language skills, and knowledge of the area. He offers to serve as their personal guide and show them Pearl City’s finest attractions.

Character Development and Interactions

• He Qinglan remains thoughtful, practical, and focused on the larger crisis. His sensitivity to Corrupting Miasma allows him to assess Pearl City’s unusually healthy environment, and his curiosity about Sea Fish Fighting may help advance their investigation.
• Shui Wuyuan displays his usual confidence, wealth, and disdain for anything he considers ordinary. His playful boast about owning all three watches highlights his status, while his reaction to Luo Luo’s sales pitch shows his high standards and self-assurance.
• Chiyan acts as an amused observer, commenting on the city’s lack of Miasma and laughing openly at Shui’s interaction with Luo Luo.
• Luo Luo is energetic, persuasive, commercially sharp, and highly observant. He quickly recognizes Shui as a wealthy target, then shifts from ordinary salesmanship to eager, professional hospitality after realizing the trio’s importance.
• The trio’s contrasting personalities create humor: Shui mocks the tourist attractions, He Qinglan stops him because the unusual sea activities may be relevant, and Chiyan enjoys watching the exchange.

Significant Themes

• Environmental balance and responsibility: The chapter emphasizes that healthy natural environments can protect spiritual energy, while human care for nature helps maintain this balance.
• The looming threat of corruption: The fragile relationship between spiritual energy and Corrupting Miasma raises the stakes for the investigation at sea.
• Appearance versus hidden significance: Pearl City appears to be merely a pleasant tourist destination, but its clean spiritual atmosphere and unusual maritime attractions may conceal information about the Sea Gods.
• Wealth and social perception: Luo Luo’s rapid change in attitude after recognizing Shui’s luxury watch humorously illustrates how wealth influences people’s assumptions and behavior.

Chapter 68 Summary

• Plot and events: Luo Luo agrees to act as Shui Wuyuan, He Qinglan, and Chiyan’s guide and takes them to Pearl City’s exclusive Undersea Feast, an underwater restaurant charging an enormous admission fee. The event includes a pre-meal auction of sea pearls and rare seafood, followed by underwater fish fights. Luo Luo is thrilled because he earns a commission for bringing them, imagining Shui Wuyuan as a “father” figure who will bring him good fortune.
• At the restaurant’s shark-shaped entrance, He Qinglan detects the city’s Corrupting Miasma, realizing that despite its luxury and glamour, Pearl City is not morally pure.
• Luo Luo explains the restaurant’s social rules: guests may choose private rooms or the main hall, but the main hall exposes them to wealthy and powerful patrons’ arguments and displays of status. Violence is forbidden, but conflicts are settled through money and influence.
• He Qinglan chooses the main hall so he can watch the fish fights clearly. Shui Wuyuan chooses the central seats, only to learn that the most prestigious “King’s seat” must be won through the pre-meal auction.
• Shui Wuyuan recognizes the restaurant’s business model as a trap: guests are lured by luxury, prestige, and competition, then exploited for increasingly large sums of money.

Character development

• Luo Luo becomes increasingly enthusiastic and opportunistic, seeing the group as a lucrative opportunity while sincerely wanting to provide them with the best experience.
• Shui Wuyuan remains financially unconcerned and quickly understands the restaurant’s manipulative methods. He is also openly affectionate and indulgent toward He Qinglan.
• He Qinglan shows curiosity about the fish fights and maintains his sharp awareness by sensing the city’s corruption. He is embarrassed but accustomed to Shui Wuyuan’s flirtatious behavior.
• Chiyan functions mainly as an unwanted “third wheel” in Shui Wuyuan’s eyes.

Character interactions

• Luo Luo repeatedly calls Shui Wuyuan “Dad” internally, while Shui Wuyuan rejects the idea humorously. The author’s note also jokes about Shui Wuyuan calling He Qinglan “Honey” and He Qinglan insisting he is single.
• Shui Wuyuan and He Qinglan tease and lightly shove one another while discussing the restaurant’s money-making schemes.
• Shui Wuyuan tells He Qinglan that his money belongs to him and encourages him to spend freely, emphasizing their affectionate relationship.

Themes

• Luxury as exploitation: The restaurant uses exclusivity, status, competition, and face to extract money from wealthy guests.
• Corruption beneath glamour: The luxurious setting conceals the city’s darker, corrupt nature.
• Money and power: Social conflicts are settled not through violence but through wealth and influence.
• Romantic affection and humor: Shui Wuyuan’s lavish devotion contrasts with He Qinglan’s dry resistance, creating much of the chapter’s comedic tone.

Chapter 138 Summary

Key plot points and events

Luo Luo accompanies Shui Wuyuan, He Qinglan, and Chiyan to a luxurious underwater restaurant beneath Pearl City. Shui Wuyuan openly promises to give He Qinglan anything he wants, prompting Luo Luo to joke internally about the two wealthy men competing for He Qinglan’s affection. Chiyan then joins the competition, boasting that he possesses an entire gold mine and insisting He Qinglan should spend his money instead. Their argument becomes a childish rivalry over who can spoil He Qinglan more.
The group arrives at the underwater palace, a transparent restaurant located deep beneath the sea. Luo Luo explains that the complex includes a dining hall, viewing corridors, and submarines for guests. While admiring the underwater scenery, He Qinglan attracts a school of fish, which gather around him joyfully and even form a heart shape. The spectacle draws the attention of everyone in the restaurant and makes He Qinglan the center of admiration.
Becoming possessive, Shui Wuyuan pulls He Qinglan to sit beside him and intimidates the men who begin eyeing him. Two especially greedy onlookers suffer humiliating falls, secretly cursed by Shui Wuyuan to face future misfortune and lightning during rain. He Qinglan laughs at Shui Wuyuan for lowering himself to deal with them, but Shui Wuyuan insists that protecting He Qinglan is the one matter in which he cannot compromise. The chapter ends as the restaurant’s host steps onto the auction platform and prepares to begin proceedings.

Character developments

• Shui Wuyuan displays intense affection and possessiveness toward He Qinglan. Though usually dignified, he openly competes with Chiyan and uses his power to drive away potential rivals.
• Chiyan reveals a similarly strong desire to provide for He Qinglan, responding to Shui Wuyuan’s generosity with boasts about his gold mine. His behavior is competitive, impulsive, and deliberately attention-seeking.
• He Qinglan remains calm and amused by the rivalry. His supernatural connection with the fish becomes evident, reinforcing his mysterious and otherworldly nature. He also lightly criticizes Shui Wuyuan’s petty behavior without taking offense.
• Luo Luo serves as a humorous observer, recognizing that he is completely excluded from the romantic and financial contest surrounding He Qinglan.

Significant themes

• Romantic rivalry and possessiveness: Shui Wuyuan and Chiyan compete to demonstrate their devotion through extravagant gifts and protection.
• Otherworldly beauty and power: He Qinglan’s presence affects both humans and animals, with the fish instinctively gathering around and honoring him.
• Human ingenuity: The underwater palace highlights humanity’s ability to create wonders despite lacking supernatural abilities.
• Humor and social contrast: Luo Luo’s perspective emphasizes the absurdity of the wealthy, powerful men competing over He Qinglan while he remains an outsider.

Character interactions

Shui Wuyuan and Chiyan bicker over who should pay for He Qinglan, turning their declarations of affection into a playful contest. He Qinglan responds with detached amusement, while Luo Luo silently comments on the spectacle. Later, Shui Wuyuan asserts his claim over He Qinglan by pulling him close and punishing men who show improper interest. The chapter concludes with the group transitioning from personal rivalry and sightseeing to the formal auction.

Chapter 69 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Pearl City’s Undersea Feast Restaurant begins a pre-lunch auction featuring premium seafood, caviar, lobster, shark fin, and wild pearl oysters. The manager emphasizes that the oysters can contain extremely valuable pearls and symbolize luck and wealth.
• The first auction item is the restaurant’s central “King’s Seat,” a privileged table with the best view and service. It starts at 100,000 yuan.
• Several wealthy guests bid mainly to preserve face or celebrate special occasions:
  • Boss Jin, the “Hotpot King of Chuan City,” bids 500,000 yuan to reserve the seat for his father’s birthday.
  • A bespectacled businessman outbids him at 600,000 yuan to celebrate his wedding anniversary.
  • A powerful female boss bids 800,000 yuan, announcing that she is celebrating her birthday and her victory in divorcing a useless, unfaithful husband.
• A sexist male boss criticizes the woman for being outspoken and independent, claiming women should remain at home and obey their husbands.
• The female boss aggressively challenges him, promising to outbid him by 100,000 yuan every time. She reveals that she brought 30 million yuan in cash and demands that he prove he has more if he wants to compete.
• Unable to match her resources, the male boss retreats while pretending that “a good man does not fight with women.”

Character Developments

• The female boss is established as wealthy, confident, outspoken, and unwilling to tolerate misogyny. Her recent divorce or separation from a dependent and adulterous husband has strengthened her sense of independence.
• The sexist male boss is revealed to be arrogant but insecure. He loudly asserts traditional male dominance, yet backs down when faced with the woman’s greater financial power.
• Boss Jin displays pride and a desire to use money and reputation to command respect, but he is quickly overshadowed by richer or more assertive guests.
• He Qinglan observes the confrontation with amusement and seems entertained by the woman’s bold personality. He even considers allowing her to take the central seat rather than having Shui Wuyuan intervene.
• Shui Wuyuan is mentioned as someone who could easily influence the auction, though he has not yet acted in the scene. The author’s note hints at a coming spending contest between him and Chiyan.

Significant Themes

• Wealth as status and power: The auction turns money into a public display of influence, prestige, and social dominance.
• Face and reputation: Guests bid not because the seat is truly worth the money, but because they want to appear generous, successful, or important.
• Gender equality and resistance to patriarchy: The female boss directly challenges the belief that women should be submissive and proves her independence through confidence and financial strength.
• Public image versus reality: The male boss presents himself as powerful, but his retreat exposes the limits of his bravado.
• Competition and spectacle: The restaurant transforms lunch into entertainment, encouraging guests to compete for attention and prestige.

Character Interactions

• Boss Jin competes with the younger businessman over who deserves the honored seat.
• The female boss interrupts the bidding and claims the seat as part of her personal celebration.
• The sexist male boss insults her, prompting a fierce verbal and financial confrontation.
• He Qinglan watches the exchange approvingly, finding the woman’s confidence entertaining and potentially worthy of the central seat.

Chapter 70 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• A beautiful, domineering female boss challenges the other guests over the expensive “King’s Seat,” threatening anyone who calls her a coward.
• She initially appears ready to pay thirty million, but then reveals she will spend no more than one million, leaving the other bosses unwilling to bid.
• When she prepares to buy the seat for one million, He Qinglan signals Shui Wuyuan to intervene. Shui bids one and a half million, but He Qinglan lowers the offer to one million and ten thousand.
• Shui Wuyuan immediately accepts He Qinglan’s decision, demonstrating that He Qinglan has authority within their group. They successfully obtain the King’s Seat, despite the auctioneer’s frustration at losing the higher bid.
• He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and their companion attract attention as three handsome men whose presence suits the “kingly” seat.
• The seafood auction begins. Seafood is purchased, cooked, and served during the bidding, with each table spending roughly three hundred thousand on average.
• Guests are then allowed to select pearl snails, each containing a pearl. He Qinglan casually chooses one and leaves it unopened.
• The main event, Sea Fish Fighting, is announced. Guests may bet on fish surviving a bloody underwater battle.
• A huge metal cage containing dozens of aggressive fish is lowered behind the restaurant’s glass wall. When a shark crashes into the glass, the crowd is startled.
• He Qinglan’s expression turns cold as he recognizes that the event is based on forcing naturally vicious sea creatures to slaughter one another.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan displays practical judgment and control by reducing Shui Wuyuan’s excessive bid from 1.5 million to 1.01 million. He also shows influence over Shui Wuyuan, who readily defers to his decision.
• Shui Wuyuan demonstrates his willingness to spend lavishly for He Qinglan but ultimately respects He Qinglan’s frugality and authority.
• The female boss is revealed to be more calculating than reckless. She uses aggressive words to intimidate others but is unwilling to overpay once the bidding reaches an unreasonable level.
• He Qinglan remains observant and aesthetically critical of the seafood, but his attitude changes sharply when the cruel fish-fighting event begins, suggesting strong disapproval of unnecessary violence.

Significant Themes

• Appearances versus reality: The female boss appears ready to spend thirty million but is actually careful with money; the three men appear like wealthy kings while deliberately minimizing their expenditure.
• Power, status, and competition: The bidding over the King’s Seat reflects the guests’ pride and desire to display wealth, while He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan win attention without overspending.
• Practicality versus extravagance: The chapter contrasts wasteful displays of wealth with He Qinglan’s insistence on saving money for more worthwhile purchases.
• Cruelty and survival: The Sea Fish Fighting event introduces the theme of survival through violence and sets up a moral contrast between entertainment and the suffering of living creatures.

Character Interactions

• The female boss verbally clashes with the fat boss and the other wealthy guests, challenging their courage and willingness to bid.
• He Qinglan silently prompts Shui Wuyuan to bid, then corrects the amount himself.
• Shui Wuyuan openly acknowledges that He Qinglan has the final say in their family, reinforcing their close relationship and He Qinglan’s authority.
• The auctioneer unsuccessfully hopes Shui Wuyuan will insist on the higher bid, but must accept He Qinglan’s lower price.
• The chapter ends with He Qinglan observing the fish battle setup and reacting coldly to the forced slaughter, creating tension for the next event.