Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Wu Ming’s Plan”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Ming tells his father, Wu Zhanguo, that he believes the three thousand soldiers of the Independent Regiment can reach the Quasi-Martial Artist threshold within one month.
• His accelerated training plan combines:
  • The dangerous Jade Lock Golden Pass Formula, an Internal Martial Arts technique that rapidly strengthens the body.
  • Nine-Dragon Decoction, a secret medicine intended to remove the technique’s hidden dangers.
  • An expensive Ancient Body-Tempering Formula provided through state channels to compensate for differences in the soldiers’ natural aptitudes.
• Wu Zhanguo agrees to test the method himself. While examining him, Wu Ming discovers that his father has secretly practiced Baji Quan for many years.
• Wu Zhanguo reveals that he has mastered Baji Quan’s first level, Baji Whole-Body Strength, equivalent to the Bright Strength realm, and is beginning to pursue Inch-Power Burst, the second level.
• Wu Ming teaches him the more advanced forms of Baji Quan and helps him begin cultivating the Jade Lock Golden Pass Formula.
• By that evening, Wu Zhanguo reaches the technique’s beginner stage and gains a deeper understanding of Baji Quan. Wu Ming predicts that he may soon break through into Hidden Strength.
• Wu Zhanguo consumes both medicinal preparations and trains for two more hours, producing a clear improvement in his physical fitness.
• Wu Ming instructs his father to lead the soldiers in Internal Martial Arts training while he applies for assistance from state-supported Hidden Strength experts. The higher-ups approve because of Wu Ming’s exceptional status as the world’s foremost Spirit Reader.

Character Developments

• Wu Ming demonstrates strategic foresight and responsibility. He recognizes that relying on the Jade Lock Golden Pass Formula alone would not reliably train ordinary soldiers within a month, so he supplements it with medicinal cuisine and recruits additional experts.
• He also shows respect for established martial traditions, advising Wu Zhanguo not to abandon Baji Quan after years of practice.
• Wu Zhanguo is revealed to be far stronger and more skilled than previously apparent. His military success is partly explained by his Bright Strength-level martial foundation.
• Father and son develop greater mutual trust. Wu Zhanguo accepts Wu Ming’s ambitious plan, while Wu Ming takes on the role of his father’s teacher in advanced martial cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Trust backed by proven ability: Wu Zhanguo believes Wu Ming because his past promises have consistently been fulfilled.
• The cost of rapid advancement: The training method is powerful but dangerous, requiring medicine, supervision, and careful preparation.
• Individual aptitude versus mass training: Wu Ming acknowledges that talented martial artists can advance quickly, but ordinary soldiers need additional resources and structured support.
• Cooperation between personal ability and state power: Wu Ming combines his own knowledge with government funding, secret formulas, and official martial experts.
• Family bonds and mutual respect: Their relationship shifts toward collaboration between two capable martial artists.

Character Interactions

• Wu Ming persuades Wu Zhanguo to trust his one-month training objective.
• Wu Zhanguo volunteers to be the first test subject, allowing Wu Ming to examine and guide him.
• Wu Ming identifies his father’s Baji Quan accomplishments, praises his existing foundation, and teaches him advanced techniques.
• After observing the medicinal treatment’s effects, Wu Ming assigns Wu Zhanguo leadership of the soldiers’ initial training.
• Wu Ming’s request for Hidden Strength instructors is approved by the higher-ups, ensuring that his large-scale training plan will not interfere excessively with his own cultivation.

Chapter Summary:

Advanced Battle General!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Twenty Hidden Strength martial artists arrive at the Shushi Inspection Branch to support Wu Ming’s Independent Regiment. Although they are only Beginner Warriors physically, their exceptional comprehension allows them to advance rapidly in Internal Martial Arts.
• Wu Ming recognizes their long-term potential and considers recruiting them permanently, but their original departments have already bound them with training contracts.
• The martial artists quickly guide three hundred warriors through the force-guidance process in one day, making it realistic for the regiment to train three thousand warriors within ten days.
• The Independent Regiment’s training becomes organized. Wu Zhanguo teaches the soldiers foundational Internal Martial Arts stances, while Wu Ming personally guides his father in cultivating the Jade Lock Golden Pass Formula.
• Wu Zhanguo reaches the formula’s Great Achievement Realm in only three days and begins rapidly improving. On March 17, he comprehends Inch-Power Burst, advancing his Baji Quan to its second realm.
• Zhu Hongyu successfully senses Cosmic Energy after more than half a month of effort. Her strength rises to 2,100 kilograms, demonstrating impressive Genetic Energy talent.
• Wu Ming invites Zhu Hongyu to join the Southwestern Patrol Division as a battalion commander in the Independent Regiment, entrusting her with command over one thousand martial artists.
• Jia Yi, who has joined Kyoto’s forces, advances to the Advanced Warrior level and is promoted to Provincial Patrol Commissioner of the Jinhe region, making him unavailable for Wu Ming’s regiment.
• Ruan Qingzhu reaches the Hidden Strength realm and surpasses 6,000 kilograms in physical strength. Her Spiritual Force is far more powerful, reaching the equivalent of 24,000 kilograms and placing her at the Intermediate Battle General level.
• Ruan chooses to focus primarily on the Spirit Reader path. With a specially commissioned flying sword identical to Wu Ming’s Willow Inquiry, she increases her Force of Will Amplitude from twofold to threefold, though her Hidden Strength remains at the basic onefold level.
• Wu Ming invites Ruan Qingzhu to join the Inspection Branch, partly to support her cultivation and partly so he can guide her personally. Zhu Hongyu and Ruan both arrive at the branch, with Zhu receiving a private dormitory and Ruan staying in Wu Ming’s office suite.
• After seven days of using the Mistletoe equipment, Wu Ming’s strength reaches 15,913 kilograms and his Spiritual Force reaches 14,553 kilograms.
• When Mistletoe disappears, its permanent reward triggers a dramatic physical transformation. His strength rises to 32,027 kilograms, officially advancing him to the Advanced Battle General level.

Character Developments

• Wu Ming: Continues expanding and organizing the Independent Regiment while balancing cultivation, instruction, and recruitment. His own Spiritual Force develops rapidly, and the permanent Mistletoe reward causes a massive breakthrough to Advanced Battle General.
• Wu Zhanguo: Quickly masters the Jade Lock Golden Pass Formula and breaks through in Baji Quan by comprehending Inch-Power Burst. He is becoming a capable leader and is entrusted with selecting the remaining battalion commanders.
• Zhu Hongyu: Demonstrates strong Genetic Energy talent after sensing Cosmic Energy and gaining 1,200 kilograms of strength from her first absorption. She joins Wu Ming’s regiment as a battalion commander.
• Ruan Qingzhu: Makes major progress in both physical strength and Spiritual Force. She commits to the Spirit Reader path, improves her control over psychic weapons, and deepens her relationship and proximity to Wu Ming.
• Jia Yi: Advances rapidly to Advanced Warrior and receives a prestigious provincial command, confirming his exceptional talent and status.
• The twenty Hidden Strength martial artists: Their high comprehension proves more valuable than their initially modest physical strength, showing strong future potential despite remaining tied to their original departments.

Significant Themes

• Comprehension versus innate talent: The chapter emphasizes that Genetic Energy talent is not the only measure of potential. The twenty martial artists’ exceptional understanding allows them to advance quickly in Internal Martial Arts.
• The value of specialization: Ruan Qingzhu’s decision to focus on Spirit Reader abilities illustrates that concentrating on one path can produce greater results than attempting to master everything simultaneously.
• Leadership and institution-building: Wu Ming is not merely cultivating personally; he is constructing a trained military force, recruiting talented leaders, and developing systems for mass advancement.
• Family and personal bonds: Wu Ming’s guidance of his father and efforts to bring Ruan Qingzhu closer reflect the overlap between cultivation, family loyalty, and romantic relationships.
• Rapid advancement and hidden potential: Nearly every major character experiences dramatic growth, reinforcing the chapter’s focus on talent, breakthroughs, and the accelerating power of proper guidance and resources.

Important Character Interactions

• Wu Ming attempts to recruit the twenty Hidden Strength martial artists but respects the contracts preventing him from taking them.
• Wu Ming personally trains Wu Zhanguo, helping him reach Great Achievement in the Jade Lock Golden Pass Formula.
• Wu Ming invites Zhu Hongyu to take a leadership role in the Independent Regiment after learning of her breakthrough.
• Wu Ming discusses Ruan Qingzhu’s cultivation with her and supports her decision to prioritize Spirit Reader abilities.
• Wu Ming arranges for Zhu Hongyu and Ruan Qingzhu to relocate to the Inspection Branch, allowing him to work closely with both—especially Ruan.
• Wu Zhanguo approves of Wu Ming and Ruan Qingzhu living in the same office suite, viewing it as beneficial to their relationship.

Chapter Summary: “Hidden Strength Fusion”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After fully digesting the Mistletoe, Wu Ming unexpectedly breaks through to the Advanced Battle General level. His genetic energy increases slightly, but the more important benefit is the improvement to his cultivation talent and body-control ability.
• While practicing his saber techniques, Wu Ming discovers that his two methods of force generation—his original force-node technique and Xingyi Hidden Strength—are beginning to merge.
• He masters the fifth layer of Hidden Strength, reaching the minor mastery realm of Xingyi Hidden Strength. His base strength doubles, and his maximum force output rises to 5.5 times his original strength, exceeding 170,000 kilograms.
• Wu Ming realizes that the two force techniques will eventually fuse into instinctive control over his entire body. This could allow him to develop not only Force Amplitude but also Speed Amplitude and Defense Amplitude, eliminating the weaknesses of relying on Hidden Strength alone.
• Before he can continue training, Wu Ming receives an emergency mission concerning a newly discovered General-level Monster.
• He brings Ruan Qingzhu along so she can gain practical combat experience. Their target is a Junior Beast General, a One-Horned Wild Boar.
• Wu Ming identifies the monster’s weaknesses: it is powerful on the ground but cannot defend its eyes or respond effectively to aerial attacks.
• Following his instructions, Ruan Qingzhu uses two Flying Swords to strike the boar’s eyes and pierce its brain, killing it instantly.
• Wu Ming praises her progress and decides that future missions should increasingly be handled by her.

Character Developments

• Wu Ming grows substantially stronger, both in raw power and in combat technique. His enhanced talent allows him to train more efficiently and approach a higher level of bodily control.
• He gains a clearer understanding of the path ahead: merging his different force-generation techniques into a unified, instinctive system that can enhance his entire body.
• Wu Ming also demonstrates increased confidence as a mentor and protector. Since General-level Monsters are no longer meaningful opponents for him, he begins preparing Ruan Qingzhu to share the responsibility of defending the region.
• Ruan Qingzhu proves that her Flying Sword and object-control abilities are already highly developed. She successfully applies Wu Ming’s tactical guidance, remains at a safe distance, and kills the monster with precision.
• Her confidence increases after the battle, though she honestly acknowledges that her Spirit Reader abilities naturally counter the boar’s weaknesses. Wu Ming teaches her that exploiting one’s advantages is an important part of combat intelligence.

Significant Themes

• Growth through talent and cultivation: The Mistletoe improves not only Wu Ming’s strength but also his future potential, emphasizing that talent can be as important as immediate power.
• Integration rather than accumulation: Wu Ming’s progress depends on merging separate techniques into a more natural and comprehensive form of body control.
• Correct and incorrect cultivation paths: The chapter contrasts localized strength enhancement with full-body control. True mastery allows power to extend into speed and defense, not merely explosive attacks.
• Using strengths against weaknesses: Ruan Qingzhu defeats a physically superior monster by exploiting its poor aerial ability and vulnerable eyes.
• Mentorship and succession: Wu Ming begins shifting from personally handling every threat to training Ruan Qingzhu so she can become an independent combatant and share his responsibilities.

Character Interactions

• Wu Ming mainly interacts with himself through analysis and training, carefully evaluating his breakthroughs and planning his next stage of cultivation.
• He invites Ruan Qingzhu to join the mission rather than treating the monster as a personal challenge, showing his desire to develop her combat experience.
• During the battle, Wu Ming acts as a tactical instructor, explaining the boar’s vulnerabilities and directing Ruan Qingzhu to finish it with a single attack.
• Afterward, he praises her performance while encouraging humility and continued practical training. Ruan Qingzhu accepts his guidance and agrees to take the lead in future missions.

Chapter Summary: “Kyoto’s Invitation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Ming and Ruan Qingzhu return the One-Horned Wild Boar to base, making full use of its corpse. Its horn is sent for research, its hide becomes combat uniforms, and its meat is preserved for the soldiers.
• The previously obtained Black-Scaled Giant Python materials produce ten combat uniforms, distributed among Wu Ming, Ruan Qingzhu, Wu Zhanguo, and Zhu Hongyu, with the rest reserved as future rewards.
• Wu Ming and Ruan Qingzhu conduct joint training and respond to monster emergencies. Wu Ming initially protects and guides her while she handles the targets, but gradually withdraws as her combat ability improves.
• Over ten days, they complete more than fifty missions, killing only High-Level Beast Soldiers. Their corpses provide meat for cultivation and materials for hundreds of additional combat uniforms.
• By April 1, Wu Ming reviews national statistics following the RR Virus outbreak:
  • Global deaths have fallen to roughly 700 million, with just over 100 million in Huaxia.
  • More than 70% of medium and large mutated creatures have been eliminated.
  • Over 5,000 beast soldiers and stronger monsters have been killed, though thirteen General-level Monsters remain.
  • The nationwide Hunter Plan has killed more than 200 million mutated small animals, but the rodent population remains a major threat.
• Zhao Minghui contacts Wu Ming and reveals that Zhao Qingran is his son, explaining why he was assigned to help manage the Southwest Branch.
• Zhao Minghui explains that the RR Virus triggers a temporary “Rapid Metamorphosis Period,” accelerating genetic evolution. Animals with naturally active gene fragments can rapidly become powerful monsters, sometimes reaching General rank.
• Humans also experience accelerated evolution, but only for one to three months because their genes lack the same active fragments. This explains why the Independent Regiment’s growth has begun to slow.
• Wu Ming realizes that civilians who were infected later may still be within this evolutionary window. He urgently argues that cultivation methods must be publicly revealed.
• Zhao Minghui reveals that the government has already planned a nationwide live broadcast for April 3 to disclose Martial Artists and cultivation techniques. Wu Ming is invited to attend as the “Southwest Inspector” and demonstrate the abilities of a Spirit Reader.

Character Developments

• Wu Ming becomes increasingly focused on long-term national survival rather than merely protecting his region. His concern over civilians’ limited evolutionary window motivates him to demand immediate action.
• Ruan Qingzhu grows from a fighter needing Wu Ming’s supervision into a capable combatant who can independently complete missions against powerful monsters.
• Zhao Qingran is revealed to be Zhao Minghui’s son. Although previously unobtrusive, he has competently managed the Southwest Branch.
• Zhao Minghui remains burdened by national responsibilities but speaks with renewed confidence as the government’s response to the crisis progresses.

Significant Themes

• Preparation and resourcefulness: Every monster resource is repurposed for research, equipment, food, or cultivation.
• The race against time: Humanity must take advantage of the brief Rapid Growth Period before genetic evolution stabilizes.
• Adaptation and human advancement: The virus is both a catastrophe and the catalyst for the emergence of Martial Artists and increasingly intelligent monsters.
• Leadership and responsibility: Wu Ming’s role expands from regional protector to a figure expected to help prepare the entire nation.
• The consequences of intervention: Wu Ming’s earlier actions have significantly reduced casualties compared with the original timeline, demonstrating the impact of changing events.

Important Character Interactions

• Wu Ming and Ruan Qingzhu develop through repeated missions and training, with Wu Ming gradually trusting her independence.
• Wu Ming and Zhao Minghui discuss Zhao Qingran, revealing the family connection and Zhao Minghui’s original intentions.
• Their conversation shifts from personal matters to the biological nature of the RR Virus and the urgency of public cultivation.
• Zhao Minghui formally invites Wu Ming to participate in the national broadcast, marking a major step in Wu Ming’s public role.

Summary: “Wu Ming’s Change in Strength”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The government decides to reveal cultivation methods and Martial Artist abilities through a nationwide live broadcast in Kyoto, scheduled for April 3.
• Wu Ming agrees to participate, recognizing that public exposure to cultivation could help more infected people become Martial Artists during the “golden cultivation period.”
• He is allowed to bring ten people to the broadcast venue and invites Wu Zhanguo, Ruan Qingzhu’s parents, Zhu Hongyu, her father, Shen Xinglan, and others.
• The group travels to a military base in western Kyoto on April 2. Zhao Minghui explains the broadcast plan:
  • Martial Artists will demonstrate individual strength and teamwork, including combat against armored military units.
  • Wu Ming will demonstrate the overwhelming power of a Spirit Reader by fighting Martial Artists and modern military forces.
• Before the trip, the Southwest Branch must decide who will remain behind to defend the base.
  • Wu Zhanguo initially offers to stay, relying on his new Genetic Warrior strength and the local armored units.
  • Ruan Qingzhu volunteers instead, since her advanced Spirit Reader abilities and mobility make her the most capable defender.
  • Zhu Hongyu also offers to remain, but she is not yet strong enough to replace Ruan Qingzhu.
  • Wu Ming ultimately decides that Ruan Qingzhu will guard the base while everyone else travels to Kyoto.
• At the Kyoto training ground, Zhao Minghui asks Wu Ming to reveal the extent of his current abilities so appropriate opponents can be selected for the broadcast.
• Wu Ming checks his statistics: 37,967 kilograms of physical strength and 18,770 kilograms of Spiritual Force.

Character Developments

• Wu Ming becomes increasingly powerful and assumes greater public responsibility as the government’s leading Spirit Reader. Although reluctant to leave Ruan Qingzhu behind, he prioritizes the safest strategic choice.
• Ruan Qingzhu demonstrates maturity, loyalty, and confidence by volunteering to protect the Southwest Branch rather than attend the historic broadcast. After intense cultivation, she has surpassed 9,000 kilograms of physical strength, reaching the Beginner Warlord level, while her Spiritual Force has advanced to the Advanced Battle General level.
• Wu Zhanguo has successfully become a Genetic Warrior. His initial strength reached 2,100 kilograms, making him an Intermediate Warrior. As a Hidden Strength Martial Artist, he can temporarily resist High-Level Beast Soldiers, especially with armored support.
• Zhu Hongyu remains committed to improving herself through Internal Martial Arts but has progressed more slowly, reaching approximately 3,500 kilograms and still falling short of the Advanced Warrior level.
• Zhao Minghui acts as the government’s organizer, coordinating the broadcast and planning demonstrations that will introduce the public to the military potential of Martial Artists and Spirit Readers.

Significant Themes

• Public disclosure and national preparation: The government begins moving from secrecy toward openly teaching cultivation, hoping to strengthen humanity before monster threats worsen.
• Duty versus personal desire: Ruan Qingzhu sacrifices the opportunity to attend the broadcast so she can defend the base, while Wu Ming accepts the painful but rational decision.
• Rapid human evolution: The chapter emphasizes how quickly ordinary people can become powerful through Genetic Energy, Spiritual Force, and Martial Arts cultivation.
• Limits and complexity of growth: Wu Ming’s doubled cultivation talent does not produce perfectly predictable results. His physical gains slow as the Jade Lock Golden Pass Formula becomes less effective at higher levels, while his Spiritual Force develops faster than expected.
• Military modernization: The planned demonstrations show the government’s attempt to integrate supernatural abilities with conventional forces such as armored units.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Minghui invites Wu Ming to the broadcast and negotiates the number of guests he may bring.
• Wu Ming discusses the defense arrangements with Wu Zhanguo, Ruan Qingzhu, and Zhu Hongyu, leading to Ruan Qingzhu’s decision to stay behind.
• Wu Ming and Ruan Qingzhu display mutual trust: despite their reluctance to separate, Wu Ming accepts her judgment that she is the best defender.
• Zhao Minghui and Wu Ming collaborate at the Kyoto training ground to determine how Wu Ming’s abilities will be presented to the nation.
• The chapter ends with Wu Ming confronting the scale of his recent advancement and preparing to demonstrate his strength publicly.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Ming discovers a powerful two-piece equipment set by equipping his own Flying Sword, Willow Inquiry, alongside Ruan Qingzhu’s Psychic Weapon, Floating Light.
• The set effect, “Controller,” grants a major increase to Spiritual Force talent and precision. This compensates for the loss of the abnormal Spiritual Force growth he had enjoyed while stabilizing Mistletoe.
• After fourteen days of cultivation, Wu Ming advances to the Intermediate Battle General tier as a Spirit Reader.
• He reports a force output of 18,000 kilograms with a sixfold amplitude. In reality, his Force of Will amplitude is elevenfold, but he conceals part of his strength.
• His actual maximum output exceeds 100,000 kilograms, far surpassing Jia Qingshan, the strongest known Martial Artist, whose output is slightly above 40,000 kilograms.
• Zhao Minghui struggles to design an exhibition match capable of demonstrating Wu Ming’s power. Wu Ming proposes focusing on the distinctive abilities of Spirit Readers—remote control of objects and flight—rather than deploying an entire armored regiment.
• Wu Ming reunites with Jia Qingshan, Jia Yi, and Jia Qingshan’s brother Jia Qinghe. Jia Qingshan is confirmed as the main force of the Martial Artist team, while Jia Yi participates only as a supporting member because his amplitude is still relatively low.
• During the evening rehearsal, Jia Qingshan and the Martial Artist squad withstand heavy gunfire and destroy armored vehicles using only cold weapons.
• Wu Ming then performs his own demonstration. His display leaves the audience, including experienced Martial Artists, completely stunned.
• The authorities conclude that the rehearsal successfully showcases both martial and spiritual powers and approve the same plan for the official livestream.

Character Developments

• Wu Ming: His strength has increased dramatically, and he now possesses power far beyond ordinary expectations for a Spirit Reader. He becomes more cautious and strategic, deliberately concealing his true elevenfold amplitude. He also demonstrates practical intelligence by suggesting a more efficient way to present Spirit Readers’ abilities.
• Zhao Minghui: He shifts from confidence in the planned exhibition to genuine alarm after learning Wu Ming’s strength. His difficulty arranging an appropriate opponent emphasizes how far Wu Ming has surpassed conventional military standards.
• Jia Qingshan: He is established as the leading Martial Artist and the central figure of the martial demonstration. Even so, his immense power is revealed to be less than half of Wu Ming’s potential output.
• Jia Yi: Though naturally talented and physically stronger than Jia Qingshan in basic strength, he remains inexperienced in amplitude cultivation. He accepts his supporting role without resentment and remains determined to surpass his uncle.
• Jia Qinghe: Wu Ming assesses him as physically fit but only at the Quasi-Martial Artist level, suggesting that he is less gifted than the other members of the Jia family.

Significant Themes

• Escalation of power: Wu Ming’s growth establishes an enormous gap between Spirit Readers and even the strongest Martial Artists.
• Hidden strength and strategic restraint: Wu Ming deliberately understates his abilities, showing that revealing every advantage is unnecessary and potentially unwise.
• The emergence of a new era: The exhibition is part of the authorities’ effort to convince the public that martial cultivation—and eventually universal training—will define the future.
• Technology versus superhuman ability: Guns, tanks, and armored vehicles are shown to be ineffective against advanced Martial Artists and Spirit Readers.
• Public presentation of power: The government is not merely testing combatants; it is carefully designing a spectacle to shape public understanding and acceptance of extraordinary abilities.

Character Interactions

• Wu Ming and Zhao Minghui discuss how best to demonstrate Spirit Reader abilities, with Wu Ming providing the key proposal that avoids unnecessary military deployment.
• Wu Ming warmly greets Jia Yi and Jia Qingshan, then meets Jia Qinghe for the first time.
• He encourages Jia Yi not to become discouraged by his current inferiority, reminding him that his talent will eventually allow him to surpass Jia Qingshan.
• Jia Yi responds confidently that surpassing his uncle remains his goal.
• Jia Qingshan and the other Martial Artists witness Wu Ming’s rehearsal and are visibly shocked by the extent of his strength, reinforcing the chapter’s dramatic contrast between the two cultivation paths.

Chapter Summary: “Global Attention”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• After the rehearsal, Wu Ming descends from the sky and shocks the ordinary spectators with his power as a Spirit Reader.
• Martial Artists, led by Jia Yi, surround him with admiration and envy, eager to understand or attain similar strength.
• Zhao Minghui informs Wu Ming that the authorities have changed the official livestream’s format after witnessing his overwhelming combat ability:
  • The exhibition match will proceed as planned.
  • Wu Ming’s separate demonstration against the Martial Artist team is canceled.
  • The two demonstrations will be combined so that the Martial Artists are not publicly humiliated.
• Wu Ming accepts the revised arrangement, completes his cultivation routine, and rests.
• The following morning, the venue prepares for the nationally broadcast martial demonstration. A formal flag-raising ceremony emphasizes the event’s importance as a display of national strength.
• The livestream introduces Genetic Warriors, the official term for Martial Artists who have surpassed the human physical limit and entered genetic evolution.
• Jia Qingshan demonstrates extraordinary abilities:
  • Strength exceeding eleven thousand kilograms
  • Speed of 104 meters per second
  • The ability to withstand small-caliber bullets
• Jia Qingshan and nine other Martial Artists then fight an 800-person modern armed force equipped with tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery. Despite the overwhelming disadvantage, they survive the bombardment and quickly destroy the opposing formation.
• The world reacts with astonishment to the Martial Artists’ performance.
• Just as viewers believe the event is ending, Wu Ming is introduced as a representative of the Spirit Reader path.
• Wu Ming dramatically descends from the sky on his sword case, triggering an even greater worldwide reaction.

2. Character Developments

• Wu Ming: His status as an extraordinarily powerful Spirit Reader becomes increasingly clear. He remains calm, cooperative, and politically aware, accepting the authorities’ revised plan without complaint. His public appearance is positioned as the climax of the event.
• Zhao Minghui: Becomes more impressed and enthusiastic about Wu Ming. He acts as the intermediary between Wu Ming and the higher-ups, explaining the changes to the event.
• Jia Qingshan: Establishes himself as the supreme public representative of the Martial Artists. His calm demeanor and extraordinary test results give the audience a tangible understanding of Genetic Warrior power.
• Jia Yi and the other Martial Artists: Their awe and longing toward Wu Ming reveal that even powerful Martial Artists view Spirit Readers as an exceptional and desirable form of evolution.
• The authorities: Demonstrate adaptability and strategic caution by changing the program to promote Martial Artists without allowing them to be decisively defeated by Wu Ming.

3. Significant Themes

• Human evolution and the transcendence of physical limits: The chapter presents Martial Artists and Spirit Readers as new evolutionary paths that redefine what humans can become.
• Power as national strength: The ceremony is compared to a military parade, showing that superhuman individuals have become symbols of national capability.
• Public perception and spectacle: The livestream transforms hidden or extraordinary abilities into a global event, reshaping ordinary people’s understanding of humanity.
• Political management of power: The authorities carefully control the demonstrations to maximize propaganda value and avoid weakening confidence in Martial Artists.
• Global impact of advancement: The event attracts international attention, suggesting that the emergence of Genetic Warriors and Spirit Readers will affect the entire world.

4. Character Interactions

• Wu Ming interacts with Jia Yi and other Martial Artists, who surround him after the rehearsal and express admiration for his abilities.
• Zhao Minghui privately discusses the official event changes with Wu Ming and confirms that his demonstration will be incorporated into the main program.
• Jia Qingshan and the Martial Artist squad publicly interact with the armed force through their one-sided but highly dramatic battle, proving their superiority over conventional military power.
• Wu Ming’s final entrance follows Jia Qingshan’s demonstration, creating a deliberate contrast and escalating the audience’s anticipation from Martial Artists to the even more mysterious Spirit Reader path.

Chapter Summary: “1 vs. 4,000”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Ming makes a dramatic entrance by flying on a Sword Case, immediately overshadowing Jia Qingshan and astonishing the nationwide audience.
• During an interview, he explains that flying is a characteristic of the rare Spirit Reader path, which relies on awakened Spiritual Force. He reveals that only two successful Spirit Readers are currently known in the country.
• Wu Ming clarifies that Spiritual Force cannot directly affect the human body, so Spirit Readers use external mediums—such as his Sword Case and Flying Swords—to channel their abilities.
• His demonstration match is announced: Wu Ming must face 3,000 armed drones and 300 tanks and armored vehicles, representing a total force of roughly 4,000 weapons.
• Rather than dodge the attack, Wu Ming chooses to withstand the entire barrage using a Spiritual Force barrier.
• The military unleashes a massive torrent of bullets and shells, but every projectile is deflected before reaching him. He remains completely unharmed while all enemy ammunition is exhausted.
• Wu Ming then releases six Flying Swords. Moving at supersonic speed, they destroy the drones and disable the armored vehicles by slicing through their weapons and armor.
• Within ten minutes, the entire force loses combat capability without a single soldier being injured.
• The audience, soldiers, and livestream viewers are left speechless, regarding Wu Ming as an almost godlike figure.

Character Developments

• Wu Ming is established as vastly more powerful and versatile than ordinary Genetic Warriors. He demonstrates flight, overwhelming defense, extreme speed, precise control, and devastating offensive power.
• His calm, confident attitude highlights his mastery. He deliberately chooses a visually impressive challenge to prove that Spirit Readers can overpower modern military forces.
• The host begins as an interviewer focused on explaining Wu Ming’s abilities but becomes visibly fascinated by his Sword Case and Flying Swords.
• The soldiers and military personnel shift from participants in a demonstration to witnesses overwhelmed by fear and awe after realizing they are completely helpless against Wu Ming.
• Jia Qingshan, though not directly involved in the match, is implicitly diminished by comparison, since Wu Ming’s aerial entrance and abilities appear far more spectacular.

Significant Themes

• The superiority of extraordinary power over conventional technology: Modern weapons are shown to be ineffective against a sufficiently powerful Spirit Reader.
• Public revelation and propaganda: The demonstration is designed to shock the nation and the world, presenting Spirit Readers as a force capable of changing the balance between individuals, governments, and military institutions.
• Power through control and precision: Wu Ming wins not through brute force alone, but through exact Spiritual Force manipulation—first deflecting every attack, then disabling machines without harming people.
• The gap between appearance and true strength: The ability to fly immediately signals Wu Ming’s superiority to ordinary viewers, while the later defense and Flying Sword attack confirm that his power is far beyond what his youthful appearance suggests.
• The emergence of a new era: The existence of Spirit Readers suggests that humanity’s future will be shaped by awakened individuals whose abilities may surpass entire armies.

Character Interactions

• The host questions Wu Ming about his flight, Spiritual Force, and Sword Case, allowing him to introduce the Spirit Reader path to the public.
• Wu Ming responds politely and confidently, using the interview to explain his abilities while maintaining an air of mystery about the Flying Swords.
• The military force interacts with Wu Ming only through combat, firing every available weapon at him but failing to affect him.
• After Wu Ming disables the entire force without killing anyone, the soldiers’ fear and reverence emphasize the enormous power gap between them and him.

Chapter Summary: “Thoughts on Launching”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The author prepares to launch the novel as a premium work at noon, feeling less nervous than during the previous book’s launch because of his experience completing a 2.4-million-character fanfiction.
• He explains that he intentionally avoided the previous novel’s biggest weakness: inventing poorly developed secondary settings. However, because the original Swallowed Star novel leaves some historical periods—especially the Grand Nirvana—only lightly explored, creating new material still requires additional worldbuilding.
• Rather than retelling Luo Feng’s original storyline, the author chose to focus on the Grand Nirvana and expand its details, including how Huaxia might have responded to the pandemic. He admits that some settings were inspired by reader comments, while others came from his own ideas and might not appeal to everyone.
• He had hoped to save enough chapters to release twenty at once after the premium launch, but slow writing, repeated rewrites, and an increasingly chaotic sleep schedule prevented this.
• Due to exhaustion and worsening sleep, he can only guarantee more than 10,000 characters on the first day. After that, he promises to continue writing as much as possible.
• He establishes bonus-update rules:
  • 800 first subscriptions serve as the baseline.
  • Every ten subscriptions above 800 earn one additional 2,000-character chapter, up to 1,000 subscriptions.
  • A “Helmsman” tip earns one extra chapter, while an “Alliance Leader” earns ten.
  • Two chapters per day are standard; additional chapters count toward repaying the bonus total.
• The author recommends seven other Swallowed Star fanfictions, including his own completed novel, and jokes that “sacrificing” recommended books will help prevent his own book from failing.

Character Developments

• The main “character” is the author himself, who has grown more experienced and confident after completing his previous novel.
• He demonstrates greater awareness of fanfiction problems, especially the dangers of following the original plot too closely or creating shallow, improvised settings.
• Despite his experience, he struggles with perfectionism, repeatedly rewriting chapters and sacrificing his health and sleep to meet expectations.
• His honesty reveals both determination and insecurity: he wants to satisfy readers but is uncertain whether the new book will succeed.

Significant Themes

• Creative originality versus dependence on source material: The author wants to remain faithful to Swallowed Star while exploring areas outside the original plot.
• Worldbuilding and research: Expanding a briefly described historical period requires inventing details, researching real-world parallels, and considering social responses to fictional events.
• Author-reader collaboration: Reader comments influence the story’s settings and provide motivation, showing the interactive nature of serialized web fiction.
• Pressure and burnout: The author’s inability to maintain sleep, rewrite-heavy process, and exhaustion highlight the physical and emotional demands of regular updates.
• Commercialization and reader support: Subscriptions, tips, and bonus chapters connect the author’s financial incentives with the continuation of the novel.
• Community and mutual promotion: The recommendations demonstrate the cooperative culture among fanfiction writers.

Character Interactions

• The author directly addresses readers as “esteemed readers,” asking them for subscriptions and encouragement.
• He acknowledges that readers’ comments helped shape parts of the novel’s worldbuilding, while also warning that his personal additions may not suit everyone.
• The bonus-update system creates a direct exchange between readers and author: reader support leads to extra chapters, which the author promises to repay through future updates.
• He promotes several fellow authors’ works, presenting the fanfiction community as interconnected and mutually supportive.

Chapter Summary: “Notify the World (Please Subscribe!)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Ming completes a spectacular livestreamed demonstration, standing motionless while deflecting thousands of heavy-machine-gun rounds and hundreds of tank shells with a telekinetic Deflection Force Field.
• Viewers react with shock and excitement, and the livestream’s bullet comments flood the screen. Wu Ming then leaves the camera’s view using his Sword Case.
• In Shushi, Ruan Qingzhu watches the broadcast and realizes that Wu Ming’s precision and defensive control far exceed her own abilities. She admires his strength and feels proud of him.
• Ruan Qingzhu is alerted to an emergency at the North Suburban Zoo, where two Beast General-level monsters—a black-scaled giant python and a giant panda—are fighting. She immediately prepares to respond.
• After Wu Ming’s demonstration, the host announces that the nation has developed a method for cultivating Genetic Energy. Ordinary people who meet the requirements may become Genetic Warriors, while some may awaken Spiritual Force and become Spirit Readers.
• A senior military officer publicly reveals the existence and growing threat of monsters. He warns that monster numbers and strength are increasing faster than the supply of Martial Artists, potentially leading to widespread Beast Tides.
• The national Gun Ban Order is lifted, allowing citizens to buy firearms for use against animals and monsters, while strictly forbidding the use of guns against people. A Martial Artist-led Discipline Inspection Department will punish offenders.
• The livestream then reveals an even greater danger: oceanic monsters are far stronger and more numerous than land creatures. The government announces an immediate coastal relocation plan, moving residents inland and preparing cities for possible attacks from the sea.

Character Developments

• Wu Ming publicly demonstrates overwhelming combat power and precise telekinetic control, greatly increasing his reputation among the public.
• Ruan Qingzhu gains a deeper appreciation of Wu Ming’s abilities. Though her Spiritual Force level is higher, she recognizes that she cannot match his defensive precision and feels admiration and pride.
• Ruan also displays her sense of duty and decisiveness by immediately responding to the monster crisis in Shushi.
• The host transitions from stunned silence to professionally presenting the government’s announcements, while senior officials take responsibility for informing the public about the escalating crisis.

Significant Themes

• The public revelation of supernatural power: Martial Artists and Spirit Readers are no longer mysterious elites; their abilities are presented as paths ordinary citizens may potentially pursue.
• Escalating monster disasters: Humanity’s greatest threat is shown to be rapidly evolving monsters, especially those in the oceans.
• Government transparency and mobilization: Authorities begin openly informing citizens about monsters, weapons policy, cultivation, and emergency relocation.
• Security versus public freedom: The lifting of the gun ban creates concern over civilian violence, but many citizens consider firearms necessary compared with the danger posed by monsters.
• Humanity’s vulnerability and preparation: Despite Wu Ming’s impressive strength, the announcements emphasize that individual heroes are insufficient against a global monster threat.

Character Interactions

• Ruan Qingzhu watches Wu Ming’s livestream and internally compares his abilities with her own, concluding that she could not withstand the same attack without evasive movement.
• She is interrupted by a liaison officer reporting the monster incident, shifting her attention from admiration to responsibility.
• The host publicly thanks Wu Ming and uses his demonstration to introduce the distinction between Martial Artists and Spirit Readers.
• Government officials address the entire population directly, warning them of land and sea monsters and instructing them to prepare for major social changes, including firearm ownership and coastal relocation.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• After the nationwide livestream, two government documents become the internet’s dominant topics:
  • The “Genetic Warrior Classification and Combat Power Reference Chart,” which explains Martial Artist power levels, destructive capabilities, and the physical requirements for becoming a Quasi-Martial Artist.
  • The “Implementation Plan for Mutant Creature Extermination and National Contribution Rewards,” which officially launches the Hunter Plan’s Contribution Point System.
• Citizens can earn contribution points by submitting mutant-creature corpses. Points are linked to their IDs and can be exchanged for money, weapons, combat equipment, drones, cultivation resources, and other supplies.
• The Genetic Energy Cultivation Method is available only to people who meet Quasi-Martial Artist standards. For those below that level, the state offers the Jade Lock Golden Pass Formula, the Nine-Dragon Decoction, and paid instruction from Hidden Strength Martial Artists.
• Internal Martial Arts knowledge and training services are also added to the exchange system, benefiting both hunters and martial arts practitioners.
• The military profits by selling stored firearms and uses the revenue to build coastal defenses. The government’s staged public-relations strategy—introducing cultivation, mutant threats, maritime dangers, and relocation plans through the livestream—successfully reduces public resistance.
• Wu Ming prepares to return home, but Zhao Minghui consults him about the government’s upcoming plans, especially coastal defense.
• Wu Ming advises the military to concentrate defenses around river mouths rather than the entire coastline. Sea beasts are aquatic and cannot remain far from water, but if they enter inland river systems, they could cause immense casualties.
• Wu Ming reveals that absorbing the mistletoe has raised his physical strength to the sixth-tier Battle General level and argues that Wood Spirits are essential for rapidly developing powerful cultivators.
• Zhao Minghui tells him that the state has already gathered several Wood Spirits and placed them in a special treasury containing rewards for Wu Ming’s contributions. Wu Ming becomes immediately interested.

2. Character Developments

• Wu Ming demonstrates extensive knowledge of monsters and sea beasts, confirming his importance as a strategic adviser despite being technically a high school student.
• His strength is revealed to have reached the sixth-tier Battle General level, making his Martial Artist abilities comparable to—or possibly beyond—his Spirit Reader abilities.
• Wu Ming also shows greater awareness that Battle General is not the highest realm and begins focusing on resources needed to reach higher levels.
• Zhao Minghui increasingly recognizes Wu Ming as a major national asset. His estimation of Wu Ming’s talent rises sharply after learning about his physical strength and advanced knowledge.
• Zhao acts as the intermediary between Wu Ming and the government, ensuring that Wu Ming’s proposals are implemented and that his contributions are properly rewarded.

3. Significant Themes

• Government mobilization and crisis management: The state uses carefully timed announcements, rewards, and public education to prepare society for supernatural threats.
• Cultivation as a national system: Martial arts and genetic cultivation are transformed from private or elite practices into organized, state-supported programs.
• Incentives and mutual benefit: The Contribution Point System encourages citizens to hunt mutants while stimulating military sales, supporting martial artists, and strengthening national defense.
• Strategic preparation against disaster: The chapter emphasizes realistic defense planning, evacuation, and the importance of protecting inland population centers rather than attempting impossible total coverage.
• Power and resources: Talent alone is insufficient; advancement requires rare resources such as Wood Spirits, making state-controlled materials crucial to the rise of powerful individuals.
• Wu Ming’s growing influence: Although he remains officially a student, his knowledge, strength, and ideas increasingly shape national policy.

4. Character Interactions

• Wu Ming and Zhao Minghui: Their conversation mixes familiarity and respect. Wu Ming jokes about being “just a high school senior,” while Zhao points out that his extraordinary abilities make that description absurd.
• Zhao seeks Wu Ming’s specialized advice on sea monsters and coastal defenses, treating him as an expert rather than an ordinary young man.
• Wu Ming urges Zhao to prioritize river mouths and quickly begin collecting Wood Spirits.
• Zhao reassures him that the government has acted on his recommendations and has created a special treasury containing both his accumulated rewards and several Wood Spirits.
• The chapter ends with Wu Ming’s excitement at the prospect of accessing this treasury, suggesting that the resources may accelerate his future cultivation.

Chapter Summary: “Exchange”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Ming learns that the nation has created a Special Treasury containing rare resources, including several Wood Spirits.
• He logs into the military’s internal network and discovers that his earlier contributions have earned him 23.55 million contribution points:
  • 10 million for the Pandemic Prevention Manual.
  • 10 million for warnings about viruses, mutated creatures, and monsters.
  • 3.55 million in royalties from the Five Hearts Facing the Sky Cultivation Method.
• The cultivation method has already produced roughly 3,550 Quasi-Martial Artists, with Wu Ming estimating that around 1,700 have become Martial Artists and at least ten have reached the Battle General level.
• Wu Ming examines seven hundred-year Wood Spirits in the Special Treasury, each priced at five million contribution points. Before he can exchange for it, Jia Qingshan purchases the Vermilion Fruit.
• Wu Ming exchanges for the four remaining Wood Spirits that may be useful:

Willow Wood Core

Black Crow Root

Birch Heart

Illusion Spirit Grass

• He plans to use the Black Crow Root to help his mother, Shen Xinglan, and the Ruan couple reach the Quasi-Martial Artist level. He considers giving another Wood Spirit to Ruan Qingzhu and using the last one to strengthen equipment.
• Wu Ming is especially interested in the Illusion Spirit Grass because its brain-enhancing properties might improve his Spiritual Force, potentially allowing his Spirit Reader abilities to catch up with his physical strength.
• With 3.55 million points remaining, Wu Ming discovers that the Special Treasury also contains Blue Gold, a rare lunar metal. He spends three million points to purchase three kilograms, intending to upgrade his Flying Sword and battle saber.

Character Developments

• Wu Ming demonstrates increased influence and resources. His past contributions have earned him substantial national recognition, access to rare treasures, and the ability to support his family and improve his equipment.
• He remains practical and strategic, prioritizing items that can benefit both himself and his loved ones. Rather than exchanging everything for personal advancement, he plans to use the Black Crow Root to strengthen his family.
• Wu Ming’s interest in the Illusion Spirit Grass shows that he is increasingly focused on balancing his physical cultivation with the development of his Spiritual Force.
• Jia Qingshan is shown as deeply concerned with preserving and advancing the Jia Family’s status. He sacrifices his only available Wood Spirit exchange to help Jia Yi improve his strength.
• Jia Yi appears to feel conflicted or hesitant about accepting such a valuable resource, but Jia Qingshan insists that he must carry the family’s future.

Significant Themes

• The power of organized government: The state’s accumulated resources, research, and administrative systems prove more efficient and powerful than any individual’s efforts.
• Contribution and reward: Wu Ming’s discoveries and knowledge are converted into measurable contribution points, demonstrating how personal achievements are integrated into a national system of exchange.
• Family responsibility and legacy: Both Wu Ming and Jia Qingshan use valuable resources to strengthen their relatives, emphasizing the importance of family advancement in a dangerous world.
• Strategic resource management: Rare materials are limited, and characters must carefully decide whether to spend them on immediate personal growth, family members, or future technology.
• Rapid national development: The cultivation method has already produced thousands of new fighters, showing how quickly society is adapting to the emergence of monsters, genetic warriors, and extraordinary powers.
• Preparation for future threats: Wu Ming’s acquisition of Wood Spirits and Blue Gold reflects his continuing effort to increase his strength and upgrade his weapons before larger dangers emerge.

Character Interactions

• Wu Ming and Zhao Minghui: Zhao’s earlier conversation alerts Wu Ming to the existence of the Special Treasury, prompting Wu Ming to investigate it.
• Wu Ming and the Jia Family: Wu Ming detects Jia Qingshan, Jia Yi, and another family member nearby through Spiritual Force. He overhears Jia Qingshan choosing the Vermilion Fruit for Jia Yi but respects their privacy and stops listening.
• Jia Qingshan and Jia Yi: Jia Qingshan explains that the Vermilion Fruit is best suited to Jia Yi’s development and urges him to become strong enough to uphold the family’s honor.
• Wu Ming and his family: Though they do not appear directly, Wu Ming’s plans to give Black Crow Root to Shen Xinglan and the Ruan couple reveal his concern for their safety and advancement.
• Wu Ming and Ruan Qingzhu: Wu Ming considers using one of the Wood Spirits to awaken or strengthen Ruan Qingzhu’s spiritual potential, showing his continued investment in her development.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• After logging out, Wu Ming receives the treasure vault’s delivery and instructs them to send the items to the Western Suburbs Military Base.
• He meets Jia Qingshan and his companions there. Jia receives the Century-Old Vermilion Fruit, while Wu Ming collects four Wood Spirits and three kilograms of Blue Gold.
• Wu Ming examines the Wood Spirits through his Equipment Bar:
  • Black Crow Root: Strengthens bones and adds genetic energy.
  • Willow Wood Core: Greatly improves cell activity.
  • Birch Heart: Provides a stronger increase to genetic energy.
  • Illusion Spirit Grass: Enhances memory, thought processing, spiritual force, and Force of Will control.
• Wu Ming decides to reserve the Willow Wood Core for Qingzhu and mount the Birch Heart for himself. He immediately mounts the Illusion Spirit Grass, whose effects will solidify after three days. Once complete, it will raise his Force of Will to roughly the Advanced Battle General level.
• Wu Ming and his companions fly back from the capital to Shushi. After returning, he gives the Black Crow Root to his parents, Ruan Zaixing, and Miao Yueling so they can improve their physical strength and reach the Quasi-Martial Artist level.
• He directs them to absorb the medicine together at the Inspection Commission headquarters.
• Wu Ming gives Miao Yueling three kilograms of Blue Gold for weapons research. She explains that her experiments combining monster materials with Blue Gold have already produced promising results and may create an alloy capable of withstanding over 500,000 kilograms of impact force.

Character Development

• Wu Ming: Continues prioritizing both his own advancement and the development of his family and allies. He recognizes the Illusion Spirit Grass as a major boost to his Spirit Reader path and deliberately strengthens what may become his greatest combat advantage.
• Miao Yueling: Demonstrates strong scientific and engineering progress. Her research has advanced rapidly despite limited Blue Gold, and she is confident that the new supply will allow her to produce an exceptionally powerful alloy.
• Ruan Zaixing: Becomes visibly pleased upon learning that he will also benefit from the Black Crow Root, reinforcing his positive feelings toward Wu Ming as a son-in-law.
• Wu Ming’s Parents and Relatives: Are given a direct opportunity to improve their physical abilities and enter the martial path, showing Wu Ming’s growing role as their protector and benefactor.
• Jia Qingshan: Appears briefly while collecting the Vermilion Fruit, with both he and Wu Ming silently acknowledging their separate transactions.

Significant Themes

• Strengthening through rare resources: The chapter emphasizes how valuable treasures can transform both individual cultivation and technological development.
• Balancing personal and collective growth: Wu Ming does not keep all the resources for himself; he distributes them among family, allies, and researchers.
• The fusion of science and cultivation: Blue Gold and monster materials may produce weapons capable of reaching peak Warlord-level durability, showing the increasing connection between martial power and advanced engineering.
• Strategic specialization: The Wood Spirits have different effects depending on the user’s existing foundation. Wu Ming carefully assigns each resource according to its greatest potential benefit.
• Emergence of the Spirit Reader path: The Illusion Spirit Grass may allow Wu Ming’s Force of Will to overtake his Genetic Warrior abilities, establishing his mental powers as his primary trump card.

Character Interactions

• Wu Ming and Jia Qingshan exchange knowing smiles at the military base but avoid interfering with each other’s transactions.
• Wu Ming instructs his parents, Ruan Zaixing, and Miao Yueling on how to consume the Black Crow Root and orders them to remain together during the absorption process.
• He entrusts Miao Yueling with the Blue Gold and discusses her research into stronger alloys.
• Miao Yueling’s excited response to the Blue Gold highlights both her enthusiasm for innovation and her close working relationship with Wu Ming.
• Ruan Zaixing’s delight at receiving the Black Crow Root adds a lighthearted family dynamic and reinforces his approval of Wu Ming.

Key plot points and events

• Wu Ming realizes his Dragon Sparrow Saber is no longer keeping pace with his growth. He considers upgrading his equipment, especially once his Spiritual Force strengthens.
• He brings Miao Yueling and Ruan Zaixing to the Inspection Branch so they can rest before resuming their research.
• At the compound, they find soldiers gathered around a giant panda. Wu Ming senses that it is an unusually powerful Monster—possibly Beast General level—but sees that it is not hostile.
• Ruan Qingzhu arrives on her Flying Sword and explains that the panda, Huaye, fought a Black-Scaled Giant Python at the North Suburban Zoo after the python attacked a worker. Huaye saved the worker and revealed its strength.
• Huaye was raised at the zoo and reportedly gained its power after eating a mysterious, freshly sprouted bamboo shoot. Wu Ming suspects it may have been a Wood Spirit.
• The zoo entrusted Huaye to Ruan Qingzhu because she can communicate with it through Spiritual Force. Wu Ming recognizes her apparent natural talent for communicating with Monsters and wonders whether she could eventually lead them.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Ming is increasingly aware that his current weapons will limit his progress. He remains curious and analytical about Huaye’s sudden strength and Qingzhu’s ability.
• Miao Yueling and Ruan Zaixing agree to rest at the Inspection Branch; Ruan’s return to the former military compound briefly stirs nostalgia.
• Ruan Qingzhu is thrilled by Wu Ming’s livestream performance and openly praises him. Her unusual ability to understand Huaye suggests she may have a talent for Beast Taming.
• Huaye is portrayed as intelligent and benevolent: despite its power, it avoids harming humans and intervenes to protect a zoo worker.
• Wu Ming and Qingzhu share an affectionate reunion before turning their attention to the panda. The soldiers defer to Wu Ming and leave the group some space.

Significant themes

• Growth and limits: Wu Ming’s rising strength makes his existing equipment less effective, foreshadowing the need for stronger tools and skills.
• Coexistence and trust: Huaye’s loyalty to its human caretakers challenges the assumption that powerful Monsters are dangerous.
• Emerging abilities and potential: Qingzhu’s instinctive communication with Monsters hints at a new path for her—and perhaps the possibility of humans forming bonds with Monsters.
• Mystery of the changed world: Huaye’s transformation and the strange bamboo shoot raise questions about the sources of Monsters’ power.

Chapter Summary: Wargod-Level Spirit Reader

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Ming decides not to force or overanalyze Ruan Qingzhu’s unusual talent for controlling monsters, since there are no known techniques or precedents for creating a monster army.
• Ruan Qingzhu adopts the docile giant panda monster Huaye, a Junior Beast General. Wu Ming reports her to the authorities, who grant Huaye a legal identity because of her former status as a protected national animal.
• Huaye is permitted to travel openly as long as she does not harm anyone. Wu Ming arranges food, plans to build her a bamboo grove, and temporarily houses her in his office’s training room.
• The group drinks Black Crow Root preparations, while Ruan Qingzhu receives the Willow Wood Core from Wu Ming.
• Ruan Qingzhu consumes the Willow Wood Core and undergoes a two-hour genetic transformation.
• Her physical strength increases to roughly 23,000 kilograms—more than double its previous level—while her Spiritual Force doubles to approximately 72,000 kilograms.
• Her results exceed the established limits for a Sixth-Tier Battle General. Wu Ming concludes that she has entered a previously unknown seventh tier, which he names the Wargod realm.
• Ruan Qingzhu becomes the world’s first confirmed Wargod-Level Spirit Reader, proving that human evolution extends beyond the known six tiers.

Character Development

• Wu Ming: Demonstrates practical leadership by legally registering Huaye, arranging her care, and managing the group’s resources. He also shows scientific curiosity and insight by recognizing that Ruan Qingzhu’s breakthrough reveals a new evolutionary stage.
• Ruan Qingzhu: Gains tremendous physical and spiritual power through the Willow Wood Core. Though initially disappointed that her Spiritual Force only doubled instead of quadrupling, she quickly accepts the result and realizes that she has surpassed the limits of ordinary Battle Generals.
• Huaye: Remains exceptionally calm and obedient despite being a powerful monster. Her willingness to be petted and her lack of aggression make her suitable for adoption and integration into human society.
• Shen Xinglan and Wu Ming’s mother: Show delight and affection toward Huaye, emphasizing the panda’s charming and harmless nature.

Significant Themes

• Power beyond established limits: Ruan Qingzhu’s advancement challenges the accepted six-tier system and expands humanity’s understanding of genetic evolution.
• Science, talent, and discovery: Wu Ming’s observations and Ruan Qingzhu’s transformation reveal that unexplored evolutionary paths remain possible.
• Harmony between humans and monsters: Huaye’s adoption and legal protection suggest that monsters need not always be enemies and may coexist peacefully with humans.
• Support and trust: Wu Ming encourages Ruan Qingzhu, provides her with the rare evolutionary resource, and helps her recognize the significance of her achievement.
• Adaptation of society: The authorities’ willingness to grant Huaye legal status shows how institutions are changing under the Hunter Plan and the post–Grand Nirvana world.

Character Interactions

• Wu Ming and Ruan Qingzhu discuss whether she can responsibly care for Huaye, with Wu Ming ultimately trusting her judgment.
• Shen Xinglan and others enthusiastically pet Huaye while the panda remains passive and content.
• Wu Ming gives Ruan Qingzhu detailed instructions for consuming the Willow Wood Core and reassures her when she worries about wasting the resource.
• After the transformation, Wu Ming evaluates Ruan Qingzhu’s results and explains that her Spiritual Force has reached a realm beyond the known Battle General stages.
• Their exchange ends with Wu Ming formally identifying her as the first Wargod-Level Spirit Reader.

Chapter Summary: “Impact and Breakthrough”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ruan Qingzhu is revealed to have become the world’s first Wargod-level Spirit Reader, a feat made possible largely by Wu Ming’s intervention, which saved her during the RR Virus transformation.
• Wu Ming teaches her the Microscopic Guidance Technique, a safer method he developed that allows simultaneous cultivation of:
  • Hidden Strength
  • Force of Will Amplitude
  • Spiritual Force
• Ruan Qingzhu realizes the technique could let her cultivate both the Spirit Reader and Martial Artist paths. However, Wu Ming advises her to focus primarily on Spirit Reader cultivation and Psychic Weapon control, since pursuing both paths deeply would dilute her talents.
• Ruan Qingzhu accepts his advice, retaining Hidden Strength as part of her routine but specializing in the Spirit Reader path.
• Wu Ming’s family benefits from the

Black Crow Root

• His elders approach the Quasi-Martial Artist threshold.
• His father, Wu Zhanguo, gains roughly 1,000 kilograms of Gene Source Energy and moves closer to the Advanced Warrior realm.
• Wu Ming continues his peaceful routine of cultivation and monster-clearing, unaware that the April 3 livestream is rapidly influencing the entire world.
• Foreign audiences learn about Genetic Warriors, Spirit Readers, and the emergence of monsters. The livestream draws the attention of major figures:
  • Thunder God recognizes Wu Ming as a serious threat.
  • Hong similarly evaluates Wu Ming as someone capable of threatening him.
• After waiting three days for the Illusion Spirit Grass to solidify, Wu Ming consumes it. He carefully resists its hallucinogenic effects and waits for the medicine to finish working.
• His Spiritual Force rises to 32,081 kilograms, confirming the breakthrough’s success.

Character Developments

• Ruan Qingzhu grows from a gifted survivor into a pioneering Wargod-level Spirit Reader. Her affection and trust toward Wu Ming deepen, and she becomes more confident in her abilities.
• Wu Ming demonstrates both technical brilliance and strategic judgment. He creates a safer cultivation method, guides Ruan Qingzhu’s development, and recognizes the importance of specialization.
• Wu Zhanguo and Wu Ming’s elders begin benefiting from cultivation resources, showing that Wu Ming’s progress is improving his family’s strength and prospects.
• Thunder God and Hong are introduced as global powerhouses who begin taking Wu Ming seriously after witnessing his abilities and learning about the new threats facing humanity.

Significant Themes

• Guidance and mutual growth: Ruan Qingzhu’s achievements are closely tied to Wu Ming’s help, while her faith in him encourages his own ambitions.
• Specialization versus versatility: Although cultivating multiple paths is tempting, Wu Ming emphasizes that true mastery requires focus and years of dedication.
• The global impact of power: Huaxia’s livestream transforms local developments into worldwide knowledge, forcing powerful figures across the globe to reassess the balance of strength.
• Preparation for a changing world: The spread of information about monsters and genetic evolution signals that humanity is entering a dangerous new era.
• Progress through controlled risk: Wu Ming’s use of the Illusion Spirit Grass shows his ability to pursue rapid advancement while maintaining mental discipline and caution.

Character Interactions

• Ruan Qingzhu affectionately credits Wu Ming for her achievements and kisses him after learning the Microscopic Guidance Technique.
• Wu Ming responds by encouraging her to prioritize Spirit Reader cultivation rather than overextending herself into Martial Artist training.
• Huaye the panda reacts comically to the couple’s enthusiastic interaction.
• Wu Zhanguo and the older members of Wu Ming’s family indirectly benefit from Wu Ming’s resources and support.
• Thunder God and Hong do not meet Wu Ming, but both analyze his livestream performance and independently identify him as a potential threat.

Key plot points and events

• Wu Ming breaks through to Advanced Battle General as a Spirit Reader and tests his new abilities in the wilderness.
• His own flight reaches a peak of 500 meters per second, while his eleven Flying Swords can travel at roughly three times the speed of sound. He concludes that his Psychic Weapons make him exceptionally effective against large numbers of monsters.
• For several quiet days, he trains, patrols his jurisdiction, and gives Ruan Qingzhu, Zhu Hongyu, and others pointers.
• By mid-April, the government’s Hunter Plan encourages civilians to hunt monsters for contribution points. Some venture too far into the forests, provoking powerful monsters that then attack nearby settlements.
• Wu Ming and Ruan Qingzhu respond to a growing wave of emergencies. In late April, troops are recalled from the wilderness to coastal cities, increasing the burden on local defenders. The government also begins building defenses at river mouths against sea monsters.
• Over the month, Wu Ming and Ruan Qingzhu defeat more than ten Beast Generals and over three hundred Beast Soldiers. Monster numbers fall, and by month’s end Wu Ming’s workload begins to ease.
• The relentless fighting improves Wu Ming’s combat skills and control of his combined force. By channeling it through his legs, he can briefly run at 410 meters per second, faster than sound.

Character developments

• Wu Ming grows stronger and more versatile: his Spirit Reader abilities improve, and hard experience sharpens his movement, saber techniques, and control of combined force. The month’s nonstop rescues also leave him exhausted.
• Ruan Qingzhu proves to be an essential partner, sharing the emergency-response burden and helping Wu Ming keep pace with the crises.
• Civilians become more active under the Hunter Plan, but some overestimate their abilities and unintentionally worsen the danger by provoking powerful monsters.

Significant themes

• Power and responsibility: Wu Ming’s growing strength means he can protect more people, but also makes him a central part of an increasingly strained response effort.
• Unintended consequences: Civilian hunters’ efforts help clear weaker creatures, yet reckless expeditions drive stronger monsters toward settlements.
• Collective preparedness: Government decisions to relocate troops and build coastal defenses reflect the scale of the looming monster threat.
• Endurance and growth through hardship: The month’s exhausting work brings practical gains in Wu Ming’s combat ability.

Character interactions

• Wu Ming tests his powers alone, then returns to give Ruan Qingzhu, Zhu Hongyu, and others training advice.
• Wu Ming and Ruan Qingzhu work together to answer emergencies, with Ruan sharing the burden of protecting the region.
• Civilians’ actions indirectly shape the pair’s work: their deep-forest hunts trigger attacks that Wu Ming and Ruan must contain.

Key plot points and events

• After a month of training, Wu Ming reaches 55,340 kg of strength, approaching the Wargod threshold. His spiritual force, cell activity, and neural reaction speed are also exceptionally high.
• As most RR Virus survivors’ rapid-growth period begins to fade, Wu Ming and Ruan Qingzhu continue improving. Kyoto experts examine them and attribute their prolonged training gains to unusually high cell activity: about 600× normal for Ruan and over 1,000× for Wu.
• Wu Ming recognizes that cell activity helps determine how long a Martial Artist can sustain rapid growth. He estimates that both he and Ruan may retain their golden training periods well beyond the Battle General level.
• Zhao Minghui confronts Wu about their strength and Spirit Reader abilities. Wu explains that Ruan’s case is unusual and conceals the full basis of his own progress. He proposes naming ranks seven through nine Beginner, Intermediate, and High-Level Warlord, though the existence of a ninth rank remains unverified.
• Zhao asks whether Ruan might serve as an Inspector elsewhere. Wu refuses, citing her inexperience with controlling her spiritual force.
• Zhao then offers Wu a much larger post: Southwest Garrison Commander, responsible for six provinces and regions. His Independent Legion would grow to 20,000, with the state supplying equipment and salaries. Wu is tasked with maintaining stability and eliminating all Monster threats across the southwest.

Character developments

• Wu Ming shows growing strength and scientific insight, interpreting the experts’ findings through his own earlier discoveries. He is also guarded about his abilities, protective of Ruan, and willing to take on broader responsibility—though he first asks what the new assignment will demand.
• Ruan Qingzhu is revealed to be a powerful Spirit Reader as well as a Battle General. Her exceptional cell activity explains her sustained growth, but Wu believes she still needs experience before working independently.
• Zhao Minghui recognizes Wu and Ruan’s unusual importance and tries to deploy their abilities where the state most needs them.

Significant themes

• Growth and potential: Cell activity appears to shape how long extraordinary development can continue.
• State need versus personal limits: The authorities face widespread disaster and rely increasingly on exceptional individuals.
• Power and responsibility: Wu’s rising strength leads to a far larger duty, extending from local protection to regional security.
• Trust and secrecy: Wu gives Zhao a carefully limited explanation of his progress while deciding how much of his knowledge to share.

Character interactions

• Wu and the Kyoto experts discuss the connection between cell activity and extended training gains.
• In a teasing but probing call, Zhao presses Wu about his and Ruan’s abilities and seeks to recruit Ruan for another post. Wu firmly refuses.
• Zhao then negotiates Wu’s new command appointment, while Wu challenges him to state the assignment’s real demands directly.

Chapter Summary

Key events

• Wu Ming negotiates with Zhao Minghui over his appointment as Garrison Commissioner for the vast southwestern region. He objects that he cannot personally oversee distant provinces and refuses to treat his fiancée, Qingzhu, as an employee who can be assigned responsibilities.
• To take on the post, Wu Ming secures three conditions: an increase in authorized troops from 20,000 to 50,000; administrative staff and existing provincial bases; and control of resources related to gene evolution. The country agrees that these cultivation resources will go to the garrison, while other resources remain state property.
• They also agree that the country will retain ownership of ancient civilization ruins, but Wu Ming’s headquarters will get first choice of recovered artifacts and access to all written material, including existing rubbings.
• Wu Ming delays the formal handover until the end of May so he can recruit and train his forces. In the meantime, he will handle Beast General-level disasters across the southwest.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Ming shows himself to be both cautious and ambitious: he insists that Qingzhu’s help is voluntary, but negotiates firmly for the personnel, resources, and information needed to manage his new responsibilities.
• Zhao Minghui acts as the intermediary between Wu Ming and the higher-ups. He initially jokes about Wu Ming appointing Qingzhu, then negotiates the terms and relays the government’s concerns and concessions.
• Qingzhu does not appear, but Wu Ming’s insistence that she not be treated as part of his official staff underscores his respect for her independence.
• After the deal, Wu Ming recognizes the scale of his burden. He hopes his 3,000 Quasi-Martial Artist soldiers will become strong enough to support him.

Significant themes

• Power and responsibility: Greater authority brings a vast territory and serious obligations.
• Negotiation and loyalty: Wu Ming seeks substantial resources while affirming that he remains loyal to the country.
• Independence and respect: He distinguishes personal relationships from official duties.
• Humanity’s hidden past: The revelation that advanced civilizations once existed on Earth—and that the RR Virus escaped from one of their ruins—broadens the story’s stakes and introduces a major mystery.

Chapter summary

Key events: Wu Ming is promoted to Southwest Garrison Commander, expanding his authority across six provinces. At a meeting on May 1, he assigns his allies the work of building the new garrison: Wu Zhanguo recruits up to 50,000 veterans; Zhao Qingran screens candidates and coordinates the provincial handover; Zhu Hongyu trains 3,000 soldiers through live combat; and Ruan Qingzhu handles general-level monster incidents across the region. Wu Ming takes on a month-long patrol to clear aquatic monsters from the main waterways.
Riding his Flying Sword, Wu Ming begins with the Jinjiang near his hometown, then follows the Min River and major river systems through the southwest. Officials help remove the bodies he leaves on the banks. Over the month, he covers nearly 20,000 kilometers and kills at least 5,000 beast soldier-level creatures and more than 30 beast generals. The cleanup sharply reduces threats along the rivers, reassuring both local residents and national authorities.
Character development and interactions: Wu Ming shows strategic leadership by delegating responsibilities according to each person’s strengths, while personally taking on a large and dangerous task. His father, Wu Zhanguo, applies his military experience to recruitment; Zhao Qingran takes on broad administrative and coordination duties; and Zhu Hongyu accepts the challenge of preparing thousands of soldiers for combat. Ruan Qingzhu agrees to cover regional emergencies and questions Wu Ming directly about his plans, reflecting their trust and familiarity. The group recognizes that the success of the new garrison depends on all of them completing their demanding assignments.
Significant themes: The chapter emphasizes shared responsibility, preparation, and the costs of securing a region. It also contrasts inspection work with permanent garrison duty: once local Inspection Branch personnel are reassigned, the new headquarters must be able to manage threats on its own. Wu Ming’s river patrol highlights the importance of addressing overlooked dangers and protecting ordinary people, while the national authorities’ relief shows how regional security enables attention to shift toward other fronts.