Chapter Summaries

Chapter 81 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shui Wuyuan discovers that Sea Twenty-Two has lost his power, causing the contaminated sea creatures to become less deadly. Though the seafood may still harm humans, victims will no longer suffer the horrific “bleeding from all seven orifices” symptom.
• Shui Wuyuan rescues a severely injured mother and her young son from collapsed ruins. The mother had apparently shielded her child during the disaster.
• Witnessing their suffering makes Shui Wuyuan reflect on destruction, death, and Qinglan’s belief that creating a better outcome is harder—but more worthwhile—than simply destroying everything.
• The disaster in Fusang gradually subsides after nearly a month. International aid helps prevent an even greater death toll, but the nation remains devastated.
• Medical experts cannot determine the exact cause or transmission method of the mysterious “Fusang Aberration Disease.” They only establish that victims contain extreme levels of nuclear radiation, as if they had consumed untreated nuclear wastewater.
• Fusang citizens begin interpreting the catastrophe as nature’s or the ocean’s revenge for overfishing and dumping nuclear wastewater. This belief spreads despite skepticism from some people.
• Public protests and environmental campaigns emerge, demanding an end to ocean pollution, nuclear-water dumping, and indiscriminate fishing. Neighboring countries also use the disaster to warn their populations, making marine conservation a major global issue.
• In late September, He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and Chiyan use Origin Power to inspect the world. The previously protected regions remain stable, though Flaming Mountain still contains both spiritual energy and Corrupting Miasma due to Chiyan’s past contamination.
• He Qinglan becomes increasingly suspicious of Deep Earth’s true intentions. Although Deep Earth appears to be controlled by the Human-Deity Group, Qinglan believes he is pursuing an independent plan.
• He Qinglan concludes that the Human-Deity Group may attempt to acquire more life force and devour the power of other deities. He decides they may need to actively track the group and prevent further disasters.

Character Development

• Shui Wuyuan: His rescue of the mother and child awakens greater compassion and strengthens his rejection of meaningless destruction. Although he still hates Deep Earth, he now consciously chooses to protect life and pursue a better outcome. He also remains determined not to fall into corruption and refuses to let He Qinglan fall either.
• He Qinglan: He demonstrates continued concern for the world’s balance and becomes more proactive and wary. Rather than merely reacting to disasters, he recognizes the need to investigate and obstruct the Human-Deity Group’s plans.
• Chiyan: He has largely recovered from Corrupting Power, though his contamination continues to affect the area around Flaming Mountain.
• Deep Earth: His apparent submission to the Human-Deity Group is revealed as potentially deceptive. He is portrayed as an independent and dangerous force with motives that remain unknown.
• The Fusang people: Their suffering leads many to reassess humanity’s treatment of nature, transforming fear and grief into environmental activism.

Significant Themes

• Nature’s retaliation and environmental responsibility: The catastrophe is widely understood as a consequence of pollution, nuclear dumping, and exploitation of the ocean.
• Destruction versus preservation: Shui Wuyuan recognizes that destroying the world is easy, while protecting life and creating a hopeful future requires far greater effort.
• Consequences of human actions: The disaster forces nations and individuals to confront the results of environmental abuse.
• Uncertainty and hidden agendas: The apparent stability of the world does not eliminate the threat posed by Deep Earth and the Human-Deity Group.
• Balance between spiritual forces: Despite the disaster, the major regions of spiritual energy and Corrupting Power remain largely unchanged, suggesting that the world’s larger equilibrium still holds.

Important Character Interactions

• Shui Wuyuan comforts and saves the injured child and his mother, an encounter that changes his attitude toward disaster and death.
• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan continue to share concern over corruption and the fate of the world, with Shui Wuyuan pledging not to let either of them fall.
• He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and Chiyan jointly inspect the world using Origin Power.
• Qinglan’s suspicions about Deep Earth lead him to consider cooperating with Shui Wuyuan and Chiyan to monitor and oppose the Human-Deity Group.

Chapter 82 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Qinglan remarks that worrying is troublesome and suggests simply going to sleep, but Shui Wuyuan misinterprets this as an invitation to take him to his villa and “make sure” he sleeps properly. He Qinglan quickly rejects the idea and chooses to remain by the river.
• Qi Xiaoyuan and Xia Youyu arrive with offerings for the River God, including freshly airlifted wax apples, and report on unusual incidents occurring across the country.
• The Qinglan River Fan Club has grown to over six figures, with its followers actively cleaning up litter, protecting the environment, and praying for a better world.
• Qi Xiaoyuan reports rising global temperatures, accelerating polar and mountain ice melt, and serious flooding in northwestern China.
• Xia Youyu adds that northern cities are being struck by unusually powerful tornado-like sandstorms. These storms damage buildings and cause previously healthy people to lose their vitality and struggle to breathe in the thick smog.
• The first city affected is identified as Meng City. He Qinglan wonders whether the disaster may be caused by another ancient or supernatural being.
• Shui Wuyuan insists that the phenomenon is merely a natural disaster, protesting the idea that more gods might be appearing and interfering with their lives.
• He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and Chiyan travel to Meng City. The region’s desertification, vast grasslands, and frequent sandstorms are explained, but the current disaster is revealed to be far more severe than ordinary sand and dust.
• The chapter ends at Shui Wuyuan’s Meng City villa, where yellow sand has already blown indoors, hinting that the supernatural investigation is only beginning.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan remains calm and restrained but is increasingly alert to the possibility that unusual disasters are linked to supernatural entities. He also continues trying to maintain boundaries with Shui Wuyuan.
• Shui Wuyuan becomes even more openly possessive and flirtatious, repeatedly attempting to bring He Qinglan to his villa under the pretext of helping him rest. He is also comically defensive about the possibility of other gods appearing, clearly jealous of potential “third wheels.”
• Qi Xiaoyuan continues serving as a devoted and energetic believer, gathering intelligence and bringing offerings. His loyalty to He Qinglan is reflected in the growth of the fan club.
• Xia Youyu demonstrates his investigative and manipulative abilities, presenting the more serious and alarming interpretation of the disasters.
• Chiyan joins the group’s journey to Meng City but remains mostly silent, with the narration humorously implying that he already knows more than he reveals.

Significant Themes

• Nature turning catastrophic: Ordinary environmental problems—global warming, melting ice, desertification, flooding, sandstorms, and smog—are shown escalating into potentially apocalyptic disasters.
• The supernatural hidden within the mundane: The characters debate whether the events are natural or caused by gods, blurring the line between environmental disaster and divine activity.
• Faith and environmental responsibility: The River God’s followers express their devotion through practical actions such as cleaning the environment and protecting nature.
• Comedy amid danger: Shui Wuyuan’s flirtation, jealousy, and exaggerated fear of rival gods contrast with the increasingly ominous environmental crisis.
• Growing scale of the story: The investigation expands beyond the Qinglan River, suggesting that the protagonists are confronting a broader national or supernatural threat.

Character Interactions

• He Qinglan repeatedly rebuffs Shui Wuyuan’s suggestive attempts to bring him to the villa, creating a playful contrast between Shui Wuyuan’s shameless affection and He Qinglan’s exasperation.
• Qi Xiaoyuan and Xia Youyu maintain a superficially polite but quietly hostile rivalry, humorously likened to “First Potato” and “Second Potato.”
• Xia Youyu challenges Qi Xiaoyuan’s attempts to dismiss floods and sandstorms as ordinary, emphasizing the unnatural severity of the events.
• He Qinglan consults Shui Wuyuan about whether the sandstorms may be linked to another god, but Shui Wuyuan immediately rejects the idea, revealing his possessiveness and fear of rivals.
• The group ultimately travels together to Meng City, where the physical evidence of the sandstorm confirms that the situation is more serious than a routine natural event.

Chapter 163 Summary

Plot and events

He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and Chiyan spend five frustrating days in Meng City waiting for the supposedly frequent sandstorms, tornadoes, and smog to appear. Since none occur, they begin suspecting that either a hidden deity is manipulating the weather or that something unusual is deliberately avoiding them. Shui Wuyuan confirms he cannot sense any divine power nearby.
He Qinglan suggests visiting a ranch owned by Shui Corporation to test whether the strange weather appears elsewhere. At the ranch, He Qinglan easily wins the obedience of Qilin, Shui Wuyuan’s powerful black horse, and rides it across the grounds. The ranch workers gossip about He Qinglan’s unusually close relationship with Shui Wuyuan, joking that he may eventually become “Mrs. Water,” while Chiyan is ignored by Shui Wuyuan despite repeatedly trying to speak.
Near the edge of the ranch, Qilin becomes anxious and looks toward a neighboring ranch. He Qinglan notices signs of severe environmental damage there: depleted grass, cracked soil, dust, and unhealthy livestock. Suddenly, dust begins spiraling upward and rapidly forms a massive tornado. The neighboring ranch workers panic and rush for shelter, while the cattle and sheep scatter. Several sheepdogs try to herd the animals to safety, but one is swept into the tornado, causing the others to panic. The tornado continues growing as a yellow-brown cloud gathers overhead.

Character developments

• He Qinglan remains observant and patient, using his extraordinary vision to detect problems invisible to ordinary people. He also demonstrates a natural ability to calm and control Qilin.
• Shui Wuyuan shows his influence through the luxurious transport and ranch, but his attentiveness toward He Qinglan contrasts sharply with his indifference to Chiyan, reinforcing their intimate bond.
• Chiyan becomes increasingly irritated after five fruitless days and appears jealous or frustrated by Shui Wuyuan’s exclusive focus on He Qinglan.
• Qilin is established as an intelligent, highly selective horse that trusts only Shui Wuyuan and, unexpectedly, He Qinglan.

Themes

The chapter explores the contrast between ordinary human helplessness and divine or supernatural power, as well as the mystery behind Meng City’s abnormal weather. It also emphasizes hidden danger beneath apparently peaceful landscapes, with the neighboring ranch’s damaged land foreshadowing a larger crisis. The developing intimacy between He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan is highlighted through both the staff’s gossip and their effortless mutual understanding.

Character interactions

He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan cooperate in investigating the missing storms, while Chiyan’s attempts to engage Shui Wuyuan are ignored. He Qinglan’s interaction with Qilin reveals his growing connection to Shui Wuyuan’s world. The ranch workers’ comments openly frame He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan as romantically linked, adding a humorous social perspective to their relationship.

Chapter 83 Summary

Key plot points and events

A gigantic tornado tears through the ranch, destroying buildings and sweeping away livestock and people before heading toward He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and Chiyan. Although the ranch staff panic and call for their boss to be rescued, the bodyguards remain calm, explaining that He Qinglan is far more powerful than they are and usually needs no protection.
As the tornado approaches, it inexplicably veers away from He Qinglan and the others. Rather than retreating, Shui Wuyuan mounts the Black Qilin, pulls He Qinglan into his arms, and chases after it. The tornado dodges them again, even ejecting a sheepdog, which He Qinglan catches. The bizarre spectacle is recorded and livestreamed, leaving the staff and viewers convinced they are witnessing an impossible coincidence—or something supernatural.

Character developments

He Qinglan remains calm and observant throughout the disaster, soothing the frightened Qilin and investigating the tornado instead of fearing it. After catching the dog, he realizes the tornado’s behavior is deliberate and not natural. Shui Wuyuan displays his usual bold, domineering confidence, treating the chase almost like a romantic pursuit while actively trying to uncover the tornado’s secret. Chiyan is amused and curious, while the security staff demonstrate their familiarity with He Qinglan’s extraordinary abilities.

Significant themes

The chapter blends supernatural mystery with comedy and romance. The tornado’s unnatural movements suggest that it contains or is controlled by a powerful supernatural core. The scene also emphasizes the contrast between ordinary people’s fear and the protagonists’ composure. The playful image of “chasing the wind” turns a dangerous event into an expression of Shui Wuyuan’s affection for He Qinglan.

Character interactions

He Qinglan repeatedly reassures the Qilin and consults Shui Wuyuan about the tornado’s nature. Shui Wuyuan rides with He Qinglan in his arms, creating a dramatic romantic image while pursuing the phenomenon. He Qinglan catches the dog thrown from the tornado and questions Shui Wuyuan about what he senses. Shui Wuyuan concludes that the tornado contains a trace of wind-and-sand Divine Power and likely has a concentrated power core, similar to previously encountered corrupted supernatural objects.

Chapter Summary

• Key events: He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan pursue a tornado that is heading toward Shui Wuyuan’s ranch. The tornado repeatedly changes direction to avoid them, but eventually retaliates by hurling cattle, sheep, building materials, and even a dog at them. Despite the danger, Shui Wuyuan displays remarkable horsemanship while He Qinglan catches or deflects many of the airborne animals.
• He Qinglan ultimately uses his water-based divine power against the tornado. By sending countless droplets into its rotation, he disrupts and weakens it until the massive storm shrinks and dissipates within minutes. The event appears almost comical to the watching employees and livestream audience, who marvel at the pair’s supernatural abilities.
• After the tornado vanishes, He Qinglan searches the wreckage and discovers a gray Wind Feather, a remnant of the Wind God’s power. This confirms that the storm was connected to the Wind God, raising questions about whether the Wind God has awakened or whether another force—possibly Deep Earth or the human demon—is involved.
• The Wind Feather suddenly disintegrates in Shui Wuyuan’s hand, releasing a trace of Corrupting Power into him. He Qinglan immediately tries to purify him, but Shui Wuyuan stops him and demonstrates that he is not contaminated by creating rain from a droplet of his own power.

Character Development and Interactions

• He Qinglan remains calm and powerful under extreme pressure, using precision and control rather than brute force to neutralize the tornado. His quick thinking and ability to catch the animals highlight his growing mastery of his divine powers.
• Shui Wuyuan acts playful and flirtatious, teasing He Qinglan and taking advantage of their closeness while riding. At the same time, he is courageous and highly capable, charging directly toward the tornado and protecting He Qinglan during the attack.
• Their relationship is shown through physical intimacy, teasing, and mutual reliance. Shui Wuyuan jokes even during the crisis, while He Qinglan is visibly concerned for Shui Wuyuan’s safety when the Wind Feather releases corruptive energy.
• He Qinglan’s concern becomes serious when he confronts Shui Wuyuan about his weakened condition. He reminds him that Shui Wuyuan’s Source Spring Spirit Pearl was previously contaminated and that he has repeatedly spent Origin Power purifying others, including Chiyan and Hai Nian’er.

Significant Themes

• Divine power presented as spectacle: The tornado attack becomes an absurd, almost entertaining public spectacle, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of the protagonists and the contrast between supernatural disasters and ordinary human reactions.
• Power versus vulnerability: Although both characters easily overcome the tornado, Shui Wuyuan’s possible contamination and depleted Origin Power reveal that even powerful divine beings have limits.
• Trust and mutual protection: Shui Wuyuan reassures He Qinglan and prevents him from wasting his own power, while He Qinglan remains deeply attentive to Shui Wuyuan’s condition.
• Hidden supernatural conflict: The Wind Feather suggests that the tornado was not a natural event but part of a larger struggle involving the Wind God, Deep Earth, and the human demon. The chapter ends with uncertainty about Shui Wuyuan’s true condition and the forces acting behind the scenes.

Chapter 84 Summary

Key plot points and events

• He Qinglan continues using the Origin Power of “water” to create rain and purify the corrupted Sea Twenty-Two. Shui Wuyuan worries that He Qinglan is exhausting himself, but He Qinglan reassures him that his cultivation gives him enough reserves to handle several Chiyans or human demons.
• Shui Wuyuan holds He Qinglan tightly while questioning his safety, revealing his concern. Their intimate closeness prompts Chiyan to complain humorously that watching them makes his “teeth ache.”
• Chiyan reports that, immediately after the tornado around them disappears, a sandstorm forms over Meng City and spreads to nearby cities. The strange weather pattern appears to be deliberately shifting locations and manipulating their movements.
• The Smog Sandstorm then begins expanding across Meng City and much of the northern region.
• Lei Aotian and the Dragon-Slaying Team arrive in Meng City by plane just as the sandstorm begins. The Technology Team warns that this may become the city’s fourth major sandstorm.
• Tie Gu rashly runs outside to assess the storm. Other passengers initially treat the weather casually, but local travelers warn them that previous sandstorms caused severe illness, prolonged unconsciousness, and accelerated aging.
• Lei Aotian orders the team to remain vigilant and investigate, recognizing that the storm’s timing—appearing as soon as they arrive—suggests it is connected to their mission. He instructs Xiaoyu to examine Tie Gu when he returns.

Character developments

• He Qinglan demonstrates increased confidence in his cultivation and control of water-based Origin Power. He is powerful enough to continue purifying enemies despite heavy expenditure, though he still acknowledges that he is weaker than Shui Wuyuan.
• Shui Wuyuan shows open concern for He Qinglan’s health and energy expenditure. His protective embrace and questioning reveal a deepening emotional attachment.
• Chiyan remains observant and blunt, using humor to react to Shui Wuyuan and He Qinglan’s closeness while also delivering crucial information about the shifting disasters.
• Lei Aotian acts as a cautious and responsible leader, quickly analyzing the Technology Team’s reports and warning his group not to underestimate the sandstorm.
• Tie Gu is portrayed as physically bold but impulsive, rushing into danger before the team can assess the situation.

Significant themes

• Trust and protection: He Qinglan’s confidence contrasts with Shui Wuyuan’s anxiety, emphasizing the tension between personal strength and the need to rely on others.
• Hidden supernatural danger: The sandstorm appears unnatural, moving strategically and producing effects far more severe than ordinary weather.
• Underestimating threats: Civilians dismiss the storm as mere dust and wind, while the protagonists recognize evidence of a deadly force.
• Manipulation and pursuit: The shifting tornado and sandstorm suggest that an intelligent power may be directing events to lure or control the characters.

Character interactions

• Shui Wuyuan physically restrains and questions He Qinglan out of concern, while He Qinglan responds by reassuring him and demonstrating his remaining power.
• Chiyan interrupts their intimate exchange with teasing criticism before reporting the new sandstorm.
• Lei Aotian’s team debates the seriousness of the storm, with Tie Gu’s reckless behavior contrasting with Lei’s careful instructions.
• The airport passengers’ argument highlights the divide between outsiders who dismiss the danger and locals who have witnessed the sandstorm’s devastating effects.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiaoyu analyzes the sandstorm by briefly approaching the entrance and sniffing the air, then quickly retreats, suggesting the storm’s composition or intensity is dangerous.
• Tie Gu returns from outside covered in sand and warns everyone that the storm has rapidly worsened. Visibility has fallen from roughly 20–30 meters to only about three meters, and the wind is strong enough to hurl dangerous debris.
• He shows the crowd a bruise caused by a flying plastic bottle, convincing hesitant travelers—especially parents and the office worker—not to leave the airport.
• As the storm intensifies against the glass doors, someone hears a cry for help outside.
• Lei Aotian, Tie Gu, Xiaoyu, and the rest of their team immediately go into the storm to rescue those in danger.
• They return with eleven injured or distressed people: a taxi driver, a young couple, and two families with elderly members and children.
• The injuries include a bloody nose, a deep arm wound, a sprained ankle, and a child suffering a severe asthma attack after losing his inhaler in the storm.
• A female doctor takes charge of the child’s immediate care, instructing people to give him space, asking airport staff for medicine, and requesting an announcement for an inhaler.

Character Developments

• Xiaoyu demonstrates unusual observational and analytical abilities, calmly investigating the storm before joining the rescue effort.
• Tie Gu proves physically capable, brave, and compassionate. Despite being injured and nearly overwhelmed outside, he returns to warn others and then risks himself again to save people.
• Lei Aotian and the team are shown to be decisive and selfless, reacting immediately to the cries for help rather than remaining safely inside.
• The male college students and bystanders initially react with skepticism and fear, but their willingness to assist the rescued victims shows their courage and humanity.
• The female doctor emerges as a calm, competent figure who provides leadership during the child’s medical emergency.
• The rescued mother is portrayed as desperate and vulnerable as she pleads for help for her asthmatic child.

Significant Themes

• Heroism and self-sacrifice: The team willingly faces extreme danger to rescue strangers.
• Collective responsibility: Once the crisis becomes clear, ordinary passengers also help the injured rather than remaining passive observers.
• The power and unpredictability of nature: The sandstorm changes rapidly, transforming from a manageable inconvenience into a life-threatening disaster.
• Vulnerability and emergency preparedness: Lost medication, poor visibility, and flying debris reveal how quickly people can become helpless during a catastrophe.
• Fear versus compassion: Although the storm causes panic, concern for those trapped outside overcomes people’s instinct for self-preservation.

Character Interactions

• Xiaoyu’s quiet actions puzzle the two college students, who do not understand why she is sniffing the air.
• Tie Gu directly addresses the crowd, using his own injury and firsthand experience to persuade them to stay inside.
• The college students and other passengers initially watch the rescue team in disbelief, then quickly join them in helping the injured.
• The rescue team works together to bring victims into safety, while the female doctor coordinates the crowd and airport staff during the child’s asthma attack.
• The mother’s desperate appeal creates an urgent emotional focus, prompting the surrounding people to search for medicine and assist her.

Chapter 85 Summary

• Airport evacuation and shelter: After several people are injured by the sudden sandstorm outside Meng City Airport, attendants quickly move them to the airport’s medical room. The airport then announces that a large-scale sandstorm has made outdoor travel extremely dangerous, advising passengers to remain in the departure hall until conditions improve. The airport’s medical facilities, restaurants, and drinking fountains are made available. A college student who deliberately came to Meng City begins regretting his decision.
• Shui Wuyuan’s convoy trapped: Shui Wuyuan, He Qinglan, and their luxury convoy are traveling from the ranch toward Meng City because the divine beings want to witness the dangerous sandstorm firsthand. As they approach the city, the wind and dust become so severe that visibility drops to almost nothing, forcing the cars to use headlights.
• Near-fatal highway accident: The convoy’s bodyguard captain hears a collision and screams ahead. Acting quickly, Shui Wuyuan orders him to reverse and turn sharply into an emergency parking area. Moments later, a car is thrown backward through the sandstorm and crashes into the place where their vehicle had been. The convoy avoids the worst of the accident, while some vehicles behind them suffer minor scrapes.
• Passengers organize through technology: Because no one can see clearly, drivers communicate through a newly formed group chat. They learn that a sand truck suffered a blown tire and crashed into a sedan, though the sedan’s occupant and dog survive because they were wearing seat belts and protected by airbags. Some passengers begin rescue efforts, while others warn everyone not to leave their vehicles because the storm may contain harmful gases.
• Signal and mutual assistance: A passenger with a mobile hotspot shares access with the stranded drivers, but repeatedly emphasizes that they must stay inside their cars. The group notices that two helpful people have nearly identical river-themed avatars—one beneath clear skies and one beneath rain—and jokingly assumes they are a married couple from Shui Wuyuan’s wealthy convoy. Their presence and resources reassure the trapped passengers, who believe the convoy’s influence will help ensure everyone’s safety.
• Character developments and interactions: Shui Wuyuan demonstrates sharp judgment and authority by preventing his convoy from being hit. The bodyguard captain follows his instructions without hesitation. The stranded travelers cooperate despite fear, using phones, warnings, and rescue efforts to support one another. The chapter highlights the contrast between people’s curiosity about the divine sandstorm and the immediate reality of its danger.
• Themes: The chapter emphasizes nature’s destructive power, the limits of wealth and luxury vehicles, the importance of caution during disasters, and the value of collective communication. It also introduces light humor through the passengers’ speculation about the mysterious “big shots” and their matching avatars.

Chapter 86 Summary

Key plot points and events

Travelers remain trapped in their vehicles by an enormous sandstorm in Meng City. Shui Wuyuan’s group has rescued a young man and his husky, Chicken Leg, after the man’s car was destroyed. While the storm initially appears to be a natural disaster, He Qinglan senses that something is wrong because he detects no obvious divine or supernatural source behind it. His suspicion is confirmed when enormous stampeding bulls and swarms of black crows suddenly appear within the storm. The bulls ram cars indiscriminately, while the crows attack anyone who opens a door or window, turning the stranded travelers into helpless targets. Injuries and panic spread rapidly, and the smell of blood reaches the people inside Shui Wuyuan’s vehicle.

Character developments

He Qinglan becomes increasingly alert and suspicious, realizing that the sandstorm may conceal a deliberate attack. His divine sense detects traces of the powers associated with Mountain Shaman and Wind Spiral, suggesting that supernatural forces are empowering the animals. Chiyan, who had been sleeping from boredom, awakens once he senses the same powers and recognizes the seriousness of the situation. The rescued young man remains emotional and regretful about ignoring his grandfather’s warning, but his concern for those outside prompts him to offer help despite the danger. Shui Wuyuan remains calm and practical, immediately pointing out that the young man would likely only draw the bulls’ attention and become another victim.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes the vulnerability of ordinary people in the face of supernatural disasters and the illusion of safety provided by modern vehicles. It also develops the theme of hidden manipulation: what appears to be a natural sandstorm is likely being weaponized through divine powers. Fear, helplessness, and the instinct to protect others contrast with the need for caution and strategic thinking.

Character interactions

Shui Wuyuan’s stern glance silences the noisy young man and his husky, establishing his authority. The young man idolizes Shui Wuyuan and is thrilled to be rescued by him, even joking that being hit was worthwhile. He Qinglan quietly observes the disaster and shares his concerns through his actions and deductions. Chiyan confirms He Qinglan’s suspicions by identifying the powers involved. Finally, the young man asks Shui Wuyuan for permission to leave the vehicle and help the victims, but Shui Wuyuan bluntly warns that doing so would likely make him an easy target.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Ma Li notices that the attacking bulls and black crows avoid the luxury car, suggesting that some unseen protective barrier surrounds it. Believing he can help other victims take shelter, he considers leaving the vehicle.
• Before Ma Li can act, the influential passenger inside the car orders the driver and bodyguard leader to rescue whoever they can.
• Eighteen elite bodyguards—armed with specialized non-firearm weapons—leave the convoy and confront the animals.
• One bodyguard saves a teenager and his mother by killing a charging bull with a devastating strike from his metal staff. The teenager, awed by the display, compares him to the Great Sage and declares that he wants to learn martial arts.
• The other bodyguards fight off or kill many bulls and crows, allowing the stranded vehicles to regroup. However, the sandstorm limits their visibility and movement, and many people are still injured.
• The survivors begin questioning the unnatural disaster: the storm is far larger than normal, there was no adequate weather warning, and the animals are attacking without provocation.
• Public anger and fear produce dark Corrupting Power, which He Qinglan observes through the temporary chat group.
• The group’s mood shifts when an intern doctor and his head-nurse mother offer medical assistance. Others follow by sharing their professions and resources, including one person who offers an emergency medical kit.

Character developments

• Ma Li demonstrates courage and compassion. Though afraid, he is willing to risk himself to help strangers, while still thinking pragmatically about the danger.
• The bodyguard leader and his team reveal extraordinary combat abilities and a strong willingness to protect civilians. Their actions transform them from mysterious escorts into heroic rescuers.
• The rescued teenager shifts from terror to admiration, immediately idolizing the bodyguard and becoming inspired to learn martial arts.
• The victims and survivors move from panic, anger, and helplessness toward cooperation and mutual aid.
• He Qinglan remains observant and analytical, recognizing that the survivors’ negative emotions are generating Corrupting Power.

Significant themes

• Heroism and self-sacrifice: The bodyguards risk their lives to save strangers, while civilians also begin offering help despite the danger.
• Collective solidarity: Crisis initially produces fear and resentment, but cooperation emerges when people share medical skills and supplies.
• Humanity amid disaster: The chapter contrasts panic and blame with compassion, showing that people can choose to help rather than merely protect themselves.
• Environmental consequences: Survivors’ complaints about desertification, deforestation, overgrazing, and inadequate environmental protection suggest that the catastrophe may be connected to ecological neglect.
• Fear as a source of corruption: He Qinglan’s observation of Corrupting Power emphasizes how anger, despair, and resentment can feed a darker supernatural force.

Character interactions

• Ma Li’s desire to rescue victims is checked when the powerful passenger gives the order for the bodyguards to act.
• The bodyguards coordinate to protect the stranded travelers, with one saving a mother and son from a bull and crows.
• The teenager enthusiastically praises his rescuer, while his mother reacts with relief and tries to keep him safe.
• The survivors collectively complain about the storm and government preparedness, but the intern doctor and others redirect the conversation toward practical assistance.
• He Qinglan silently observes this shift, recognizing both the dangerous spread of Corrupting Power and the positive potential of cooperation.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• In Meng City’s western district, more than a hundred stranded people begin encouraging and assisting one another during the sandstorm crisis.
• Individuals offer medical supplies and first-aid knowledge, psychological support, and help comforting frightened children. Their cooperation gradually attracts more stranded pedestrians and vehicles.
• As mutual support increases, widespread complaints, anger, and hostility subside. The sinister aura that had previously emerged from the crowd also dissipates, although no spiritual energy is produced.
• He Qinglan observes that humanity, despite its weakness and capacity for ugliness, possesses resilience and the ability to correct its mistakes. He reflects on his conflict with Deep Earth, who appears to desire a completely new world through humanity’s destruction.
• He Qinglan questions whether destroying everything and starting over would truly create a better world. He concludes that humanity should be given a chance to continue developing rather than being wiped out.
• Chiyan initially dismisses humans as fragile but eventually agrees to help them, provided they do not recklessly bring about their own deaths.
• At the airport, however, the situation deteriorates. Some people selfishly and arrogantly demand that Lei Aotian risk himself in the sandstorm to retrieve belongings or search for missing relatives.

Character developments

• He Qinglan becomes more openly sympathetic toward humanity. He recognizes that human beings can generate a reassuring, constructive force through solidarity, even if they cannot create spiritual energy. His opposition to Deep Earth is framed as a fundamental disagreement over whether flawed humanity deserves preservation.
• Chiyan softens slightly. Though contemptuous of human weakness, he acknowledges that humanity’s survival is important to the natural world and agrees to lend assistance.
• Shui Wuyuan remains confident in the stabilizing influence of his bodyguard corps, privately believing that their presence prevents people from acting too recklessly.
• Lei Aotian displays patience and restraint despite being repeatedly exploited. He refuses to retaliate against the physically weak old woman, while internally comparing her rudeness with Shui Wuyuan’s dignity.

Significant themes

• Human resilience and collective kindness: Cooperation and encouragement can suppress fear, hostility, and the darker impulses within people.
• Preservation versus destruction: The chapter questions whether creating a “new world” through mass destruction would actually produce a better one.
• Hope through self-correction: Humanity’s mistakes are not portrayed as fatal if people are willing to reflect, change, and help one another.
• Selflessness versus entitlement: The western district demonstrates constructive solidarity, while the airport shows how selfish demands and reckless behavior can worsen a crisis.
• Humanity’s place in nature: Even flawed humans are part of the world’s broader ecological balance, so their extinction would harm other living things as well.

Character interactions

• The stranded people motivate one another through offers of medical aid, emotional support, and practical assistance, transforming a fearful crowd into a more orderly community.
• He Qinglan and Chiyan discuss whether humanity deserves to survive, with He Qinglan defending its potential and Chiyan reluctantly accepting the argument.
• Shui Wuyuan silently takes pride in the protective role of his bodyguards.
• At the airport, an aggressive old woman pressures Lei Aotian to retrieve her son’s document bag and accuses him of helping an attractive woman for improper reasons. Another old man then tries to make Lei search for his missing son as well, provoking disbelief and frustration among Lei’s companions.

Chapter 87 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Several stranded travelers at the airport try to take advantage of Lei Aotian’s group, demanding supplies and assistance as though the group were obligated to help them.
• When the demands become excessive, Lei Aotian forcefully throws out one particularly shameless man and dents his alloy chair to intimidate the crowd.
• He declares that his team is not a charity and identifies them as professional debt collectors who specialize in dealing with people who evade responsibility or exploit others.
• The crowd, frightened by Lei’s strength and attitude, quickly retreats. However, they continue criticizing the group behind their backs and assume the sandstorm will end within a few hours.
• As night falls, the sandstorm shows no sign of weakening. The airport remains trapped beneath the howling wind and blowing sand, while thousands of passengers grow increasingly anxious and irritable.
• Arguments break out over the worsening situation. One traveler complains about lost business, while another points out that airport occupants are far safer than people trapped outside in vehicles.
• The argument becomes personal when someone mentions that an old man’s son is stranded on the road. The remark intensifies the old man’s anxiety, as his son may have already spent nearly seven hours trapped in the dangerous storm.

Character developments

• Lei Aotian demonstrates his intimidating strength, decisiveness, and refusal to tolerate selfish or exploitative behavior. His blunt declaration that the group is “professional” debt collectors establishes their tough, unconventional public image.
• Tie Gu is shown to be impulsive and outspoken, though Captain Lei restrains him before he can escalate the confrontation.
• The stranded travelers shift from opportunistic confidence to fear and frustration. Their belief that the storm will end quickly begins to collapse as the hours pass.
• The worried old man becomes increasingly distressed over his son’s safety, revealing the emotional cost of the disaster beyond mere inconvenience.

Significant themes

• Selfishness and opportunism in crisis: Many people immediately try to exploit those who appear stronger or better prepared, then portray themselves as victims when rejected.
• Appearances versus reality: The crowd initially assumes Lei’s group are soldiers or benevolent protectors, only to discover that they are debt collectors. Likewise, ordinary travelers present themselves as respectable while behaving greedily and maliciously.
• False confidence and underestimating disaster: Most people assume the sandstorm will last only a few hours, but its continued intensity suggests a far more serious crisis.
• Human tension under pressure: Exhaustion, fear, inconvenience, and concern for loved ones cause people to become hostile and cruel toward one another.
• Protection and relative safety: The airport, despite its discomforts, becomes a refuge compared with the people stranded outdoors in vehicles.

Character interactions

• Lei Aotian confronts and physically ejects the son of the first demanding old woman, silencing the surrounding crowd.
• Tie Gu nearly argues with the opportunistic travelers, but Captain Lei stops him.
• The retreating crowd insults Lei’s group and conspires verbally, discussing the possibility of uniting against them if they become threatening.
• Two travelers argue over whether complaints about delayed business are justified, with one emphasizing that everyone is suffering and that the airport is still comparatively safe.
• A cruel remark about an old man’s stranded son turns the argument personal and deepens the old man’s fear as the storm continues into the night.

Summary

After seven hours trapped in an extraordinarily violent sandstorm, the people sheltering at the airport are suffering from fear, hunger, and thirst. Phone signals disappeared shortly after the storm began, leaving many unable to contact the relatives and friends who had come to pick them up. An elderly man, deeply worried about his son, urges the stranded passengers to organize a search party rather than leave their loved ones outside overnight in the dangerous conditions.
Several people admit that spouses, children, or friends are waiting somewhere in the storm. They discuss borrowing protective clothing, portable lights, and loudspeakers, but most are too frightened or physically unable to go outside. The old man eventually suggests hiring Lei Aotian’s group to conduct the search. A wealthy man theatrically offers a large payment, claiming he cannot go himself because of a recent heart operation. Lei Aotian privately resents being treated like a group of hired laborers, since his team has more important work to do.
While the airport crowd debates whether money can persuade someone to risk the storm, Lei Aotian focuses on the disaster’s abnormal nature. Thanks to specially modified phones equipped with satellite receivers, his team can still receive messages even though ordinary communications have failed. He realizes that the storm has lasted far longer and is far more intense than a normal sandstorm. Its enormous scale, nearly covering Meng City, and its unrelenting force suggest that an unnatural power is amplifying it.
Three hours earlier, Lei Aotian had contacted the capital’s Technology Team and Research Institute, asking them to use energy detectors to locate areas with abnormally high energy levels. He suspects the storm has an “energy point” or external source sustaining it, and believes destroying that source might stop the disaster. However, the capital has not yet responded, increasing his anxiety. He worries that countless people stranded in vehicles or unable to find shelter may die if the storm continues through the night.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Lei Aotian becomes increasingly convinced that the sandstorm is supernatural or artificially enhanced. He remains focused on solving its cause rather than responding to the airport crowd’s immediate request.
• The old man is portrayed as courageous and compassionate: despite his own fear for his son, he tries to organize collective action and persuade others to help stranded loved ones.
• The airport passengers reveal their conflicting emotions. They care deeply about their families and friends but struggle between the instinct to rescue them and the need to protect themselves.
• The wealthy, gold-chain-wearing man offers money to hire rescuers but appears to exaggerate his physical incapacity, adding a note of selfishness and performative bravery.
• Lei Aotian’s group remains separate from the crowd, resting and awaiting intelligence from the capital, creating tension between the public’s immediate needs and the team’s larger mission.

Significant Themes

• Human compassion versus self-preservation: The stranded people must decide whether to risk their lives for loved ones.
• Collective responsibility: The old man’s proposal emphasizes that cooperation may accomplish what individuals cannot.
• The limits of wealth and social status: Money can motivate people, but it cannot eliminate the dangers of the storm.
• Natural disaster versus hidden supernatural forces: The storm initially appears natural, but its duration and intensity suggest an unknown energy source.
• Growing urgency and impending mass casualties: The chapter shifts from personal worry to the possibility of a city-wide catastrophe.

Chapter 174 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lei Aotian receives an urgent report from the communications team. Big Dipper satellites have detected two Super-Energy Convergence Points in Meng City’s western district:
  • One is located in a western stretch of sand dunes.
  • The other is mobile.
• Experts confirm Lei’s theory that these convergence points are sources of supernatural energy. They estimate that at least four points are needed to create the nightmare-like sandstorm covering Meng City.
• A possible third point may exist near Meng City Airport, but its location has not yet been identified. Another point may be detected by midnight or the following morning.
• Lei’s team is ordered to remain on standby, while Meng City’s military handles civilian rescue efforts using tanks and other defensive vehicles.
• New analysis reveals that the sandstorm contains an unknown toxin in addition to dangerously high levels of dust and pollution. Prolonged exposure can cause coughing, wheezing, and physical weakness.
• Lei considers whether his team should travel to the western district immediately or wait near the airport until the next energy point is located.
• Before he can decide, the airport loses power. Panic erupts as frightened passengers scream and black birds repeatedly crash into the glass doors.
• Backup generators restore partial lighting, and an emergency announcement urges passengers to remain calm, stay indoors, and wait out the once-in-a-century sandstorm. The airport claims to have protective walls and enough basic supplies for short-term survival.
• The elderly man who wants Lei’s group to rescue his son approaches again, now more desperate after realizing how dangerous the outside world has become. Lei, however, remains focused on the supernatural crisis and wonders whether anyone else in Meng City has abilities that could help.
• While scrolling through Weibo, Lei remembers Shui Wuyuan’s account and notices several new trending topics involving Shui, including his ranch, horseback riding, his “little immortal pretty boy,” and a defeated tornado. This gives Lei a sudden sense of inspiration and suggests that Shui may be connected to the solution.

Character Developments

• Lei Aotian becomes more serious and cautious after learning that the energy points are real and potentially difficult even for superpowered individuals to destroy. He accepts that his team may have to act despite the danger.
• His strategic thinking is emphasized as he weighs the distance between the airport and western Meng City, the expected appearance of new energy points, and the possibility of finding local allies.
• Lei’s recollection of Shui Wuyuan shows that he has been quietly monitoring Shui’s activities and may now view him as a valuable or unusually powerful resource.
• The elderly man shifts from trying to hire Lei’s group to pleading from a position of fear and desperation. The worsening disaster makes rescuing his son even more urgent.
• The airport passengers move from immediate panic to uneasy obedience after the emergency broadcast, though their fear remains intense.

Significant Themes

• Escalating supernatural disaster: The sandstorm is revealed to be more than a natural phenomenon, fueled by multiple concentrations of supernatural energy.
• Duty versus personal requests: Lei must choose between responding to the old man’s individual rescue request and addressing the larger threat endangering the entire city.
• Human vulnerability and collective survival: The airport blackout, toxic air, and military evacuation efforts show ordinary people struggling to survive forces beyond their control.
• Seeking allies and hidden power: Lei’s sudden focus on Shui’s Weibo hints that unexpected individuals may possess the abilities necessary to confront the convergence points.
• Science and supernatural forces: Satellite surveillance and expert analysis are used to investigate phenomena that conventional technology cannot destroy.

Character Interactions

• The communications team provides Lei with intelligence and operational instructions, reinforcing his leadership role.
• The military and airport authorities attempt to protect civilians while Lei’s group is assigned the more dangerous task of ending the sandstorm.
• The elderly man approaches Lei’s group to request help finding his son, but Lei does not immediately respond because of the larger emergency.
• Lei privately connects Shui Wuyuan’s online presence with the current crisis, ending the chapter on the possibility that Shui may become an important ally.

Chapter 88 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lei Aotian contacts Shui Wuyuan via satellite phone to ask for help with the unprecedented Meng City Megastorm.
• Shui Wuyuan initially ignores the call, but He Qinglan answers it on speaker.
• Shui Wuyuan shamelessly orders Lei Aotian to call him “Dad” and He Qinglan “Mom,” leaving Lei and He Qinglan speechless.
• Lei explains that the sandstorm’s extreme intensity and duration are abnormal and may be connected to the Human God Group’s supernatural activities.
• He suspects that the storm is damaging a Super-Energy Convergence Point located in the dunes west of Meng City.
• Because ordinary people cannot deal with the threat and civilians and animals are in danger, Lei sets aside his pride and sincerely asks Shui and He for assistance.
• He Qinglan agrees to investigate the suspected energy concentration point and asks Lei to send its approximate location. Lei is told to prepare at the airport in case another convergence point requires the Dragon-Slaying Group’s intervention.

Character Developments

• Lei Aotian demonstrates his dedication to the country and civilians by enduring Shui Wuyuan’s insults and asking powerful outsiders for help despite his personal pride. He also shows strategic flexibility by appealing to He Qinglan’s concern for all living things, not just humans.
• Shui Wuyuan remains arrogant, irreverent, and deliberately provocative, using Lei’s dependence on him to demand outrageous forms of address.
• He Qinglan acts as the mature and reliable mediator. He restrains Shui, responds professionally to Lei, and quickly accepts responsibility for investigating the disaster.
• Lei develops a strong sense of trust toward He Qinglan, feeling that He is dependable despite having met him only once.

Significant Themes

• Duty versus personal dignity: Lei sacrifices his pride and tolerates humiliation to protect the public.
• The scale of supernatural threats: The megastorm is presented as an unnatural disaster beyond normal human capabilities and possibly part of a larger hostile plan.
• Trust and character: He Qinglan’s calm, compassionate manner earns Lei’s confidence, contrasting sharply with Shui Wuyuan’s wealth and abrasive personality.
• Protection of all life: The danger extends beyond humans to animals and plants, emphasizing the storm’s indiscriminate destructive power.

Character Interactions

• Shui humiliates Lei by forcing him to call Shui “Dad” and He Qinglan “Mom,” creating comic tension.
• He Qinglan repeatedly reins Shui in and then takes over the conversation in a courteous, reassuring manner.
• Lei speaks respectfully and earnestly to He Qinglan, whose response immediately calms him.
• The chapter ends with Lei relieved and grateful that He Qinglan and Shui have agreed to investigate.

Chapter 176 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Captain Lei Aotian speaks with He Qinglan and reflects on why someone dependable and capable like He Qinglan associates with the wealthy but seemingly useless Shui Wuyuan.
• Lei’s Dragon-Slaying Group prepares to rest before an expected major battle sometime between midnight and the following morning.
• An elderly man, worried about his son being stranded outside in the deadly sandstorm, decides that military rescue will take too long.
• The old man publicly kneels and begs Lei to leave the airport waiting area and rescue his son, using emotional pleas, his son’s poor health, and promises of payment to pressure him.
• Lei explains that the military is already searching for stranded people and that leaving the airport would be extremely dangerous. He also implies that the old man’s son could shelter in his vehicle or a building until help arrives.
• The old man refuses to listen and accuses Lei of being heartless, causing bystanders to look disapprovingly at Lei and his team.
• To expose the old man’s unreasonable demands, Lei asks whether he would truly do anything for his only son. When the old man agrees, Lei challenges him to accompany Lei outside. The chapter ends with this dangerous proposition.

Character developments

• Lei Aotian: Demonstrates restraint and responsibility by prioritizing his team’s larger mission and refusing to risk himself unnecessarily. However, he is also sharp and willing to turn the old man’s emotional argument back on him. His final challenge suggests he intends to force the man to confront the real danger outside.
• The old man: Becomes increasingly desperate and manipulative. His fear for his son drives him to kneel, beg, make promises, and morally pressure Lei in front of the crowd. His claim that he would do anything for his son is put to the test.
• Dragon-Slaying Group: The team trusts Lei’s judgment and grows angry at the old man for potentially endangering their captain before an important mission. Their frustration is intensified by the public’s misunderstanding of the situation.
• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan: They do not appear directly, but their contrasting personalities prompt Lei to reflect on their unlikely relationship.

Significant themes

• Parental love and desperation: The old man’s fear for his only son overwhelms reason and leads him to demand that someone else risk his life.
• Moral pressure and public judgment: By kneeling publicly, the old man makes Lei appear cruel despite the genuine danger outside, showing how appearances can manipulate social opinion.
• Responsibility and sacrifice: Lei must weigh one person’s life against the safety of his entire team and the larger mission.
• Words versus actions: The old man claims he would do anything for his son, and Lei’s challenge tests whether that claim is sincere.
• Reason versus emotion: Lei relies on practical information about the military rescue effort, while the old man acts purely from panic.

Character interactions

• Lei’s conversation with his team reveals their concern for the upcoming battle and their confidence in his leadership.
• The old man confronts Lei directly, alternating between pleading, guilt-tripping, and offering money.
• The team silently supports Lei and becomes increasingly resentful of the old man, while nearby onlookers judge the situation based on the old man’s public display.
• Lei ultimately changes the dynamic by asking the old man to accompany him outside, turning the man’s demand for sacrifice into a personal test.

Chapter 89 Summary

• Lei Aotian confronts the old man: After the old man tries to pressure others into risking their lives to rescue his missing son, Lei Aotian turns the argument back on him. He challenges the man to join the rescue team and lead them to his son if he truly values him so much. Lei’s team offers to protect him with proper equipment, but the old man refuses.
• Hypocrisy exposed: The old man angrily accuses Lei of forcing him to die. Other passengers immediately condemn him for demanding that someone else sacrifice himself while refusing to take the same risk. They remind him that the young man’s life is just as valuable as his son’s and accuse him of using moral blackmail. Humiliated and furious, the old man leaves while cursing Lei’s group.
• Lei Aotian’s team ventures outside: Rather than simply returning to rest, Lei and his five companions prepare to investigate the disaster themselves. Xiaoyu and Tie Gu bring six superalloy windproof suits, energy-detecting gas masks with night vision, and other equipment. Despite the passengers’ shock and the extreme danger, the team opens the airport’s sealed glass doors and advances into the sandstorm, holding hands to resist the gale.
• The team’s determination: Lei’s group understands that they may be forced back, injured, or required to make repeated attempts to adapt to the environment. Nevertheless, they remain committed to moving forward and taking action when others cannot. Their willingness to risk themselves contrasts sharply with the old man’s cowardice.
• He Qinglan’s group also acts: Elsewhere, He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and Chiyan open a hotel window and enter the storm. Unlike ordinary people or Lei’s team, the three powerful beings are barely affected by the wind and sand. He Qinglan complains about the stinging Corrupting Miasma and sets out to investigate the West District Dunes, suspecting that someone there has been controlled or exploited.
• Arrival at the West District: The three quickly reach the western outskirts of Meng City. They discover that the storm there is far more powerful than elsewhere—an essentially “hellish” concentration of wind, sand, and energy—setting up the next stage of the investigation.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Lei Aotian remains calm, firm, and morally direct. He does not lose his temper with the old man and exposes the man’s double standard through action rather than empty criticism.
• The old man is revealed as selfish, cowardly, and hypocritical. His love for his son is genuine but distorted into a demand that others sacrifice themselves for him.
• The passengers shift from passive observers to outspoken critics, defending the value of the person the old man had tried to condemn.
• Lei’s team demonstrates discipline and solidarity by preparing together and advancing hand-in-hand into the storm.
• He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and Chiyan operate on a much higher power level than ordinary humans. Their casual movement through the disaster introduces a parallel investigation into the supernatural cause of the crisis. A humorous author’s note also highlights He Qinglan sitting on Shui Wuyuan’s lap, prompting Lei Aotian’s mocking comparison of their relationship.

Significant Themes

• The hypocrisy of moral coercion: People who demand sacrifices from others may reveal their true character when asked to face the same danger themselves.
• The equal value of human life: The chapter rejects the idea that one person’s loved one is automatically more important than another person’s life.
• Duty and courage: Lei’s team embodies responsibility, persistence, and collective action in the face of overwhelming danger.
• Human effort versus supernatural power: The ordinary rescue team must struggle through the storm with specialized equipment, while the powerful trio moves through it almost effortlessly, emphasizing the difference between human bravery and divine ability.

Chapter 178 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• A massive sandstorm has ravaged Meng City for eight hours, leaving the surrounding area completely destroyed and devoid of life.
• He Qinglan, Chiyan, and Shui Wuyuan enter a towering tornado after detecting the power of the Wind God, Spiral, within it.
• The tornado actively rejects all three intruders, suggesting that it functions as a godlike private domain and contains a large amount of Origin Power.
• Chiyan eagerly rushes toward the storm’s center, believing Wind Spiral may be waiting inside. Despite increasingly powerful wind blades and resistance, he forces his way forward.
• At the tornado’s eye, the group discovers an enormous, dead tree. A white-haired god is pinned against its trunk by the tree’s branches.
• Chiyan immediately attacks the tree to rescue his old friend, but He Qinglan stops him after recognizing that the scene is likely a trap.
• The imprisoned god raises his head and releases an immense amount of Corrupting Miasma. The corruption takes the form of a black dragon that devours Chiyan’s fire dragon and attacks He Qinglan.
• He Qinglan attempts to defend and purify himself, but the corrupting force is far beyond what he can currently withstand. If it overwhelms him, he risks partial demonization or permanent pollution of his Water Origin.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan remains cautious and perceptive. He recognizes that the tornado’s rejection field indicates a powerful divine domain and quickly realizes that the apparent rescue opportunity is a trap.
• Chiyan displays intense loyalty and emotional attachment to Wind Spiral. His excitement turns into rage when he sees his friend impaled, causing him to attack recklessly despite the danger.
• Shui Wuyuan demonstrates his usual restraint and insight. He identifies the possibility that a true god is present and subtly moves closer to He Qinglan, indicating suspicion and readiness for danger.
• Wind Spiral—or the figure believed to be him—is revealed in a disturbing state, pinned to a dead tree and surrounded by corruption. His true identity and allegiance remain uncertain.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and loyalty: Chiyan’s immediate, reckless attempt to save Wind Spiral reflects the depth of their thousand-year bond.
• Deception and traps: The seemingly helpless captive at the storm’s center is protected by a lethal corrupting force, emphasizing the danger of trusting appearances.
• Divine power and domains: The tornado’s rejection field shows that gods can shape entire territories through vast reserves of Origin Power.
• Corruption versus purification: He Qinglan’s Water Origin and purifying abilities are directly challenged by the black miasma, raising the stakes of his confrontation.
• Decay and lifelessness: The barren landscape and dead tree mirror the apparent ruin of the imprisoned god and suggest that the storm is connected to destruction rather than natural wind.

Character Interactions

• Chiyan and He Qinglan disagree implicitly over the nature of the storm: Chiyan hopes to find Wind Spiral, while He Qinglan suspects another divine artifact is involved.
• Shui Wuyuan shares his concerns about the tornado’s divine domain but withholds part of his conclusion, leaving He Qinglan and Chiyan to infer the danger themselves.
• Chiyan rushes to rescue the pinned figure, while He Qinglan intervenes to prevent him from falling into the trap.
• The chapter ends with He Qinglan defending himself against the imprisoned god’s overwhelming corruption, placing him in immediate and potentially permanent danger.

Chapter 90 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Qinglan realizes that absorbing more Corrupting Power would be especially dangerous for Chiyan, whose Origin Power is already damaged. While He Qinglan might survive further contamination without immediately losing himself, Chiyan could be driven fully into demonhood.
• A massive black dragon formed from Corrupting Power attacks He Qinglan. Just before it reaches him, Shui Wuyuan intervenes and catches it with one hand.
• Shui Wuyuan absorbs and completely dissolves the fiendish dragon, revealing that his true strength is far greater than He Qinglan expected. He claims that his current power could defeat at least five versions of He Qinglan from the past.
• Shui Wuyuan’s power contains both immense spiritual energy and demonic energy, confirming that he is already partially demonified.
• Shui Wuyuan frees Wind Spiral from the withered tree and throws him to Chiyan. Wind Spiral has suffered severe Origin Power depletion and corruption, but he is still recoverable.
• As Wind Spiral is removed, the enormous sandstorm surrounding the dead tree begins to weaken, indicating that the crisis is subsiding.
• He Qinglan offers to purify Wind Spiral, despite privately feeling that Shui Wuyuan—whose demonic nature has been concealed from him—may be the person he most wants to purify.

Character Developments

• Shui Wuyuan: Dramatically reveals his hidden strength and his half-demonic state. He is confident, boastful, and clearly enjoys shocking He Qinglan. His long period of wakefulness and struggle has transformed him into someone much more powerful than the “brat” He Qinglan remembers.
• He Qinglan: Remains calm under extreme danger but is visibly shaken by Shui Wuyuan’s revelation. His concern for Shui Wuyuan becomes more obvious, and he begins to reassess how much the other man has changed over the millions of years they were apart.
• Chiyan: Is shown to be highly vulnerable to further corruption because of his damaged Origin Power. He worries about Wind Spiral and checks his condition immediately after the battle.
• Wind Spiral: Though badly injured and partially demonified, he briefly regains consciousness and retains his personality. His familiar complaints about Deep Earth reassure He Qinglan that he has not yet lost himself.

Significant Themes

• Corruption versus self-control: Demonification is presented as dangerous but not necessarily irreversible if a person’s consciousness remains intact.
• Hidden transformation and the passage of time: Shui Wuyuan’s concealed growth emphasizes how profoundly time and suffering can change a person.
• Trust and concern: He Qinglan’s alarm at Shui Wuyuan absorbing the corrupted dragon reveals genuine emotional concern beneath their usual banter.
• Power and identity: Shui Wuyuan’s combination of divine spiritual energy and demonic energy challenges simple distinctions between god and demon.

Character Interactions

• Shui Wuyuan teases He Qinglan for worrying about him, while He Qinglan responds with irritation and concern.
• After displaying his strength, Shui Wuyuan touches He Qinglan’s face and proudly seeks his reaction, acting almost playfully despite the seriousness of his revelation.
• Chiyan asks about He Qinglan’s injuries and expresses concern for Wind Spiral.
• Wind Spiral, upon regaining consciousness, complains that Deep Earth deceived him and asks He Qinglan for help taking revenge. He Qinglan reassures him and promises support.
• Wind Spiral fails to recognize Shui Wuyuan immediately because of his altered appearance, demonic aura, and vastly changed personality.

Chapter 180 Summary

• Wind Spiral’s memories are awakened: Boss Water/Shui Wuyuan revives Wind Spiral’s old memories with a mocking insult about only knowing how to spin and dance. Wind Spiral recognizes him as the arrogant child Shui Wuyuan once fought and insulted, now grown into the powerful and domineering Rain God. Overwhelmed by humiliation, injury, and frustration, Wind Spiral pretends—or chooses—to faint.
• Shui Wuyuan enjoys his reversal of fortunes: Remembering how Wind Spiral once defeated and ridiculed him, Shui Wuyuan takes great pleasure in finally having the upper hand. He imagines the other ancient gods awakening and being forced to witness how powerful he has become, ideally while He Qinglan serves him tea. He Qinglan’s cold glance quickly checks his smug, vengeful mood.
• Chiyan takes Wind Spiral to recover: Chiyan offers to bring the injured Wind Spiral to He Qinglan’s river to recuperate. Before leaving, he warns He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan that Wind Spiral may not be the only ancient god imprisoned in Deep Earth’s stronghold.
• Deep Earth’s actions are condemned as murder: Chiyan explains that Deep Earth did not merely exploit Wind Spiral’s power to create disasters. He imprisoned Wind Spiral, used him as a living power source, drained his Origin Power, and forced demonic energy into his body. Had they arrived later, Wind Spiral might have physically collapsed and died. Chiyan concludes that Deep Earth is also attempting to corrupt or trap them with demonic energy.
• The former alliance is broken: Chiyan declares that Deep Earth’s actions have gone beyond betrayal or disagreement and now constitute a struggle for survival. He tells He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan not to show mercy if they encounter Deep Earth again, even if they must join forces against him. He Qinglan accepts this judgment, though he still cannot understand why Deep Earth chose such a destructive path.
• Mountain Shaman’s disappearance raises concern: Chiyan reveals that Mountain Shaman went to find Deep Earth and Mu Sen nearly a month earlier and has not returned. Since Mountain Shaman was once especially close to them, he may have trusted Deep Earth and walked into a trap—or possibly been brainwashed. He Qinglan had searched for him with Divine Power but found no trace.
• Human limitations are acknowledged: The gods do not seriously consider humans as the force controlling the situation. They understand that humans cannot directly control gods; the leader of the Human-Deity Group could only bind himself to Wood God’s Divine Soul, representing the limit of human influence.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Shui Wuyuan shifts from a traumatized former victim into a confident, powerful figure who relishes humiliating his former tormentor.
• Wind Spiral is forced to confront how dramatically Shui Wuyuan has changed, becoming both embarrassed and resentful despite having just been rescued.
• He Qinglan remains calm and perceptive, quietly restraining Shui Wuyuan’s arrogance while accepting Chiyan’s warning.
• Chiyan moves from cautious concern to open hostility toward Deep Earth, recognizing that their relationship has crossed from ideological disagreement into mortal conflict.
• Deep Earth is increasingly portrayed as having abandoned ancient bonds and morality, using other gods as expendable tools.

Major Themes

• Reversal of power and humiliation: Formerly dominant figures can become vulnerable, while past victims may gain the power to retaliate.
• Betrayal and the collapse of loyalty: Deep Earth’s actions destroy the long-standing bonds among the ancient gods.
• Exploitation versus murder: The chapter emphasizes that draining a god’s power while imprisoning and corrupting them is not mere manipulation but deliberate killing.
• Survival over allegiance: He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and Chiyan must set aside former relationships and fight Deep Earth to protect themselves and the remaining gods.
• Uncertainty and corruption: Mountain Shaman’s disappearance suggests that Deep Earth’s influence may extend beyond physical imprisonment to manipulation or brainwashing.