Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

• Li Ziran has taken possession of Rooney’s body and must adapt to its appearance, memories, mannerisms, and magical abilities. Because Rooney is a key bargaining chip in the conflict between Humans and Elves, Li prepares backup bodies and travels with an Elven delegation to the Triangle Council headquarters.
• The delegation is led by Anfuni, while Elven Queen Ke’er secretly accompanies Li despite the danger of entering Human territory. She claims to have arranged a substitute ruler and wants to investigate the Human Race’s role in Rooney’s war.
• During the nine-day journey, Li and Ke’er discuss the origins of Natural Elements. Ke’er explains that their beginnings are unknown, though the Ancient Clans and Great Dragons inherited especially powerful elemental legacies.
• Ke’er offers to let Li study her body, which has naturally fused with Natural Elements. Li transforms her into a Frog so he can examine her body’s markings and magical structure.
• Li discovers that Ke’er’s Frog form contains a naturally occurring, three-dimensional Transformation Array. Its patterns reveal flaws in his own Transformation Spell and suggest a method for combining the spell with Natural Elements to create the ultimate Frog or a completely new life-form.
• Ke’er eventually breaks free of the transformation through the power of Natural Elements. Li realizes that Natural Elements can disrupt the Transformation Spell in a way similar to his blood, but he still lacks a full understanding of the process.
• The chapter ends with the carriage continuing toward Human territory while the two remain secluded inside, their interaction becoming increasingly intimate and distracting.

Character development

• Li Ziran becomes more committed to mastering Rooney’s body and magical abilities. His scientific and experimental nature dominates his response to Ke’er, though he also becomes conscious of his attraction to her.
• His research advances significantly: he recognizes that Ke’er’s Frog form may be the basic structural model for a “Primordial Natural Frog” and possibly a new, unprecedented life-form combining Natural Elements with Ultimate Element.
• Ke’er is revealed as bold, playful, sharp-tongued, and highly self-assured. Rather than acting like a distant monarch, she teases Li and willingly offers herself as a magical specimen, while still retaining enough power to resist his spell.
• Anfuni serves as the practical leader and protector of the delegation, preventing the other Elves from interrupting Li and Ke’er.

Significant themes

• Knowledge through experimentation: Li seeks to understand magic by direct observation and manipulation rather than theory alone.
• The fusion of nature and artificial magic: Ke’er’s naturally formed Transformation Array provides a possible bridge between Natural Elements and Li’s constructed spell.
• Power and control: Although Li initially controls Ke’er through transformation magic, she ultimately breaks free, demonstrating that natural elemental power can challenge imposed control.
• Identity and embodiment: Li’s struggle to inhabit Rooney’s body parallels his fascination with transforming and reconstructing other bodies.
• Intimacy mixed with scientific detachment: Li views Ke’er as both a person and an invaluable magical specimen, creating tension between his curiosity, attraction, and ethical hesitation.

Character interactions

• Li and Ke’er engage in flirtatious, provocative conversation throughout the journey. Ke’er repeatedly challenges his restraint and mocks his discomfort with her status as both Queen and supposed “Prince Consort.”
• Li’s examination of Ke’er’s Frog form begins as a magical investigation but becomes increasingly personal, causing Ke’er to protest and eventually use her Natural Elements to escape the spell.
• Their interaction leaves Li both embarrassed and fascinated, while Ke’er appears amused, resentful of his rough handling, and aware of the effect she has on him.

Chapter Summary: “Your Heart, Your Liver—All Perfect”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Ziran’s carriage travels toward the eastern edge of the Red Soil Continent and the Human Domain. Along the way, he observes the Human Race’s advanced use of magic in agriculture, weather monitoring, and infrastructure.
• He reflects on why humans have surpassed the Elves: not merely through innate magical abilities, but through their systematic application of elemental power to everyday life.
• Inside the carriage, Li Ziran performs an intricate surgical examination of Ke’er’s body. He studies how the elemental patterns on her skin connect to her internal organs and how Natural Elements interact with the Transformation Spell.
• Using Ke’er’s body as a living model, he successfully deciphers more of Frog Transformation. He learns how Earth, Fire, and other elements move through the transformation patterns and begins constructing a three-dimensional model of the spell.
• His experiments on a goat shell repeatedly fail because he lacks a truly original Radiant Body, which he believes is necessary to fully understand the Sheep Transformation Spell.
• Over several days, Li Ziran progresses rapidly:
  • He develops a basic three-dimensional model of Frog Transformation.
  • He learns how to integrate Natural Elements into the spell.
  • By the time they reach the Human border, he can transform a living being into a Frog at a fundamental level rather than merely applying a temporary spell.
• Despite this breakthrough, he still cannot stack multiple Transformation Spells, showing that he has not yet mastered the Parallel Spell.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran becomes increasingly skilled and confident in his understanding of transformation magic. His surgical approach allows him to analyze magic as a physical, repeatable structure rather than an abstract force.
• He remains meticulous and protective while operating on Ke’er, taking care not to damage her organs or nerves. His fascination with magical anatomy also leads him to consider the secrets hidden within Primordial Elves.
• Ke’er undergoes a personal transformation after her relationship with Li Ziran deepens. Away from her responsibilities as queen, she feels freer and more feminine, embracing her identity as a woman rather than a ruler.
• Ke’er willingly cooperates with Li Ziran’s dangerous experiments and remains awake so she can control her body and provide more accurate feedback. Her trust and affection toward him grow into romantic devotion.
• She begins actively engaging with his research, asking intelligent questions about elemental reversal, spell structure, and the transmission of power.

Significant Themes

• Science and magic as one discipline: Li Ziran treats transformation magic like anatomy and surgery, suggesting that even divine-seeming powers can be understood through careful observation and experimentation.
• The foundations of civilization: The Human Race’s strength is portrayed as the result of applying magic systematically to ordinary life, emphasizing organization, infrastructure, and practical knowledge.
• Transformation and identity: Ke’er’s physical and emotional transformation parallels Li Ziran’s literal alteration of bodies. Both characters explore new identities beyond their former roles.
• Trust and intimacy: Ke’er’s willingness to expose her body and remain conscious during surgery reflects profound trust, while Li Ziran’s careful treatment shows both scientific dedication and personal affection.
• Power and possession: Ke’er embraces being “conquered” by a capable man, framing their relationship through traditional romantic and gendered ideas of strength, surrender, and devotion.
• Limits of knowledge: Although Li Ziran makes extraordinary progress, his inability to reproduce the Sheep Transformation Spell or combine spells shows that important mysteries remain unresolved.

Character Interactions

• Li Ziran and Ke’er exchange flirtatious, affectionate dialogue throughout the surgery. He praises her beauty and the perfection of her organs, while she teases him about whether he says similar things to other women.
• Ke’er cooperates with his instructions, controlling her heartbeat and elemental flow so he can observe the relationship between her organs and the Transformation Spell.
• She questions his theories and examines his crude Frog model, turning the surgery into a collaborative research session rather than a one-sided experiment.
• When Li Ziran says he needs someone with a pure Radiant Physique for further research, Ke’er briefly becomes jealous and demands reassurance. He responds by affirming that she is “perfect,” satisfying her emotionally.
• By the chapter’s end, their romantic and intellectual partnership has deepened, while Li Ziran’s curiosity about Ke’er’s body—and even the possibility of detecting its secrets through direct contact—remains intense.

Li Ziran discovered a transparent intermediary element in Ke’er’s body that fused with other elements, and named it the ultimate element “Ke.” As the group neared Human territory, he concealed his discovery and prepared to resume his Rooney disguise.

• Li Ziran sampled Ke’er’s body and used the Devouring Stomach to extract and analyze its elemental composition.
• Li Ziran found that a transparent element catalyzed combinations of natural elements and produced the distinct structures found throughout Ke’er’s body.
• Li Ziran combined the transparent element with different light elements and discovered that it linked and fused elements of all kinds.
• Li Ziran named the new ultimate element “Ke” after Ke’er and wondered whether he could obtain more of it from other Elves.
• Ke’er explained that she had no sisters, that her father was a Primordial Elf, and that her mother had left when she was young.
• As a knight approached and spoke with Anfuni, Li Ziran told Ke’er to maintain her cover as Rooney’s attendant.

Chapter Summary: “Assassination”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Ziran, traveling under the identity of Rooney, observes the Human Race welcoming party waiting to escort the Elves to Triangle City.
• Anfuni and Ke’er secure him inside the carriage with Elven ironwood restraints, both to protect him and to maintain the appearance that he is a captive.
• An apparently elderly Human Race official enters the carriage and demonstrates immense power by melting through the magical bars. He claims to be verifying Rooney’s identity, but his palm releases destructive heat that begins to burn through Li Ziran’s head.
• Li Ziran realizes the man is attempting to assassinate him. Anfuni attacks immediately, striking the old man with Silvermoon Lights. Despite suffering severe wounds, the man continues trying to destroy Li Ziran’s consciousness.
• Anfuni unleashes her full strength, killing the old man. His body transforms into a wraith, which launches a powerful soul attack against Li Ziran.
• Li Ziran pretends to be badly injured, concealing the fact that the attack is ineffective against his enhanced soul. When the wraith approaches, Li Ziran uses a mysterious power to compress and transform its soul into a transparent frog, after which it dissolves into natural elements.
• At the same time, black-robed assassins attack the Elven escort. They strike from behind, use an Earth Sink Spell to bury the carriage, and attempt to kill Li Ziran underground.
• Anfuni counters the assassins with Earth Element magic, forcing them from the ground and impaling them on Earth Spikes.
• More assassins descend from above, surrounding the Elves. A prolonged battle follows, during which many Elves and nearly all of the Unicorn mounts are killed. However, the attackers cannot breach the carriage’s defenses.
• The assassins suddenly collapse and melt into mud after being poisoned. The Poison Tower’s master then arrives on a giant black python, explaining that he was sent by the Triangle Council to protect the delegation.
• Anfuni recognizes him as the man connected to the earlier Black Dragon surgery and suspects that he may also be linked to the mysterious editor-in-chief. Li Ziran’s reaction confirms her suspicions.
• The chapter ends with Anfuni politely asking the supposed Tower Master to verify his identity, since the person who arrived earlier had clearly been an impostor.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran: Remains calm and observant despite facing multiple assassination attempts. He recognizes the danger of the old man’s attack, successfully conceals his true strength, and secretly neutralizes the wraith’s soul. His careful acting preserves his false identity as Rooney.
• Anfuni: Demonstrates fierce loyalty and quick judgment by immediately attacking the old man when she realizes his intent. She stops concealing her strength and reveals formidable Silvermoon and Earth Element magic. Her suspicion and intelligence also allow her to connect the Poison Tower’s master with Li Ziran’s past investigations.
• Ke’er: Continues playing the role of Li Ziran’s attendant and helps maintain the illusion that he is restrained. Her calm presence suggests she is involved in protecting him and handling supernatural threats.
• The elderly official: Initially presents himself as a powerful Human Race negotiator, but is revealed to be a ruthless assassin. Even after being physically wounded, he prioritizes destroying Li Ziran’s consciousness.
• The Poison Tower Master: Appears as a powerful and potentially significant ally, arriving after the main attack and claiming to have been sent by the Triangle Council. His connection to the earlier Black Dragon incident makes his true motives uncertain.

Significant Themes

• Deception and hidden identities: Li Ziran travels under a false identity, while the welcoming party itself contains an impostor. Appearances and official roles cannot be trusted.
• Political danger and betrayal: The supposedly formal diplomatic reception becomes a carefully planned assassination attempt, showing the fragile and hostile political environment surrounding the negotiations.
• Power concealed beneath weakness: Li Ziran deliberately appears helpless while restrained, yet possesses enough strength to withstand and destroy a powerful soul attacker.
• Loyalty and protection: Anfuni risks exposing her true capabilities to defend Li Ziran, while the Elves sacrifice themselves to protect the carriage.
• Escalation of conflict: The attacks move from covert assassination to a large-scale battle, suggesting that Li Ziran’s identity and political value are important enough to provoke extreme measures.

Character Interactions

• Anfuni and Ke’er cooperate to restrain and protect Li Ziran while preserving his disguise.
• The elderly official attempts to intimidate Anfuni and destroy Li Ziran, leading to a direct confrontation.
• Anfuni responds decisively to the assassination attempt, killing both the official’s physical body and, indirectly, his transformed wraith.
• Li Ziran conceals his true abilities from Anfuni and the attackers, allowing her to believe he has suffered serious soul damage.
• Anfuni recognizes the Poison Tower Master from a previous encounter involving the Black Dragon and immediately becomes suspicious of his identity and his connection to Li Ziran.

Chapter Summary: “Public Enemy of All”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Elven convoy carrying the imprisoned Rooney enters Human territory. Machi, a suspicious poison Mage connected to the assassination attempt, follows closely, while Anfuni prevents him from seeing Li Ziran.
• As the convoy advances, the delegation encounters growing hostility from humans who have learned that Rooney—the alleged betrayer of the Human Race—is being returned for public Judgment.
• In the first town, angry civilians attack the carriage with weak spells and hurl insults, demanding that Rooney be handed over. The crowd grows so large that the town’s forces cannot control it.
• The Human military intervenes with Griffins and the Earthstrider Legion, forcing the civilians back but failing to disperse them. Thousands continue following the convoy, turning the journey into a massive public procession.
• The convoy reaches Mountain Fort City, a major fortress and the home of the Earth Tower and Earthstrider Legion. The city seals its central passage and refuses to let the delegation proceed without verifying Rooney’s identity.
• After two hours of negotiation, the city’s leaders agree to provide supplies in exchange for briefly seeing Rooney and conducting a soul-based identity check.
• Anfuni reveals Li Ziran, who is disguised as a bald, overweight, chained prisoner. Ke’er lies beside him in deliberately disheveled clothing, creating the impression that Rooney is still behaving disgracefully even while imprisoned and intensifying the crowd’s hatred.
• The Earth Tower’s master recognizes Li Ziran as Rooney and secretly communicates with him through spiritual force, warning him not to resist once they enter the tunnel.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran/Rooney: Remains calm, amused, and manipulative despite being surrounded by hostile humans. He recognizes that the public hatred confirms the success of his plan and deliberately stages his reveal to provoke a strong reaction. His confidence is reinforced when the Earth Tower’s master secretly helps him.
• Anfuni: Acts protectively and strategically, refusing to allow anyone an unrestricted view of Li Ziran. She firmly negotiates with Mountain Fort City and controls the conditions under which his identity is revealed.
• Ke’er: Continues to tease Li Ziran and participates in his deception. By pretending to have been intimate with him, she helps preserve the public image of Rooney as an immoral and contemptible criminal.
• Machi: His persistent presence suggests that powerful human interest groups remain invested in Rooney’s fate and may be waiting for an opportunity to interfere.
• Human leaders and civilians: The civilians’ anger develops into mass hysteria, while the military and city authorities struggle to balance public demand for revenge with the diplomatic negotiations involving the Elves.

Significant Themes

• Public hatred and scapegoating: Rooney has become a symbol of betrayal, allowing ordinary people to channel their grief and anger into demands for punishment.
• Propaganda and perception: The chapter emphasizes how appearances shape political reality. The staged image of Rooney as a chained, womanizing prisoner strengthens the Human Race’s hatred of him.
• Political manipulation: Both the Elves and the Human authorities use Rooney as a bargaining chip. His return serves diplomatic interests while also satisfying the public’s desire for justice.
• Secrecy and controlled revelation: Anfuni’s refusal to expose Li Ziran demonstrates the value of limiting information. Even the brief unveiling is carefully orchestrated.
• Justice versus vengeance: The people demand a brutal public Judgment rather than a fair legal process, revealing the difference between lawful punishment and collective revenge.
• Hidden alliances: Although the Human Race appears united against Rooney, the Earth Tower’s master’s secret warning suggests that influential figures may be working behind the scenes to protect or manipulate him.

Character Interactions

• Ke’er jokes with Li Ziran about his popularity and questions whether the women in the crowd are attracted to him.
• Li Ziran and Ke’er cooperate in staging a scandalous scene inside the carriage to manipulate public opinion.
• Anfuni repeatedly clashes with Mountain Fort City’s leaders, refusing them access to Rooney until an agreement is reached.
• The Earth Tower’s master confirms Li Ziran’s identity and secretly warns him to cooperate, implying that the inspection may be part of a larger plan.
• The crowd, military, city authorities, and Elven delegation are locked in a tense struggle over whether Rooney should be protected, exposed, or handed over for punishment.

Chapter Summary: “Tunnel Ambush”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The convoy carrying Li Ziran, Ke’er, Anfuni, and the Elven delegation leaves Mountain Fort City through a massive mountain tunnel on its way to Triangle City, where the bald prisoner is expected to stand trial before the Triangle Council.
• Li Ziran suspects the Earth Tower master and other political interest groups have arranged an attack inside the tunnel. He warns Ke’er to remain close and prepares himself for either an abduction or assassination.
• The convoy’s Earthstrider Dragon escorts begin disappearing into the ground one by one. Soon, Elves are also attacked by small stones launched from the tunnel walls and ceiling. The stones pierce shields and kill the guards, whose bodies dissolve into the earth.
• Anfuni responds by releasing her Revenge Souls, shadowy phantoms that enter the ground, kill the hidden attackers, and multiply by consuming their victims’ blood.
• The ambushers are revealed as strange, petrified stone-like creatures clinging to the tunnel walls and firing the deadly stones from their mouths.
• The attackers trigger a powerful earth-based spell. The entire tunnel seems to flip, and the convoy becomes trapped in a sealed Derivative Space dominated by a single, oppressive earth element.
• Ke’er identifies the attack as the forbidden Earth-Pressure Spell, which compresses its victims inside an underground sphere. The enemy is outside the distorted space, making ordinary attacks and magic useless; arrows and spells freeze in midair, while the pressure steadily increases.
• With the Elves and Anfuni unable to break through the barrier, Li Ziran reveals that he has another weapon: the strange Frog who is actually the Black Dragon Lord.
• The Black Dragon grows to enormous size, cracks the mountain wall, and unleashes purple Dragon Flame through the underground passages. The flames rapidly spread and burn nearly half of the mountain range, ending the chapter with the attack spiraling into massive destruction.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran demonstrates caution and strategic awareness. He immediately recognizes that the tunnel is a carefully prepared trap and prioritizes protecting Ke’er while seeking to expose the forces behind the attack.
• Ke’er acts as the group’s primary magical authority. Her sensitivity to elemental changes allows her to identify the Derivative Space and correctly diagnose the Earth-Pressure Spell. She also protects Li Ziran by surrounding him with transformation magic.
• Anfuni proves her effectiveness as a fighter by unleashing the Revenge Souls against the hidden attackers. However, the Derivative Space severely limits her abilities, forcing her to rely on Ke’er and Li Ziran for a solution.
• The Black Dragon Lord is revealed as Li Ziran’s hidden trump card. Though disguised as a strange Frog and initially annoyed at being ignored, he quickly displays overwhelming strength by breaking through the earth with his size and Dragon Flame.
• The Elven guards and Earthstrider Dragons suffer heavy losses, emphasizing how dangerous and thoroughly prepared the ambush is.

Significant Themes

• Political betrayal and hidden power: The attack reflects the struggle among factions trying to control the outcome of the delegation’s trial. The tunnel is used as a covert battlefield where powerful groups can act without public scrutiny.
• Vulnerability versus overwhelming strength: Conventional defenses—dragon escorts, shields, arrows, and magic—fail against the earth-based trap. Survival ultimately depends on Li Ziran’s concealed connection to a far more powerful being.
• The environment as a weapon: The mountain and tunnel are not merely a setting; they provide the earth element needed for the forbidden spell and allow the attackers to merge with or strike through the ground.
• Hidden identities and underestimated characters: The disguised Black Dragon demonstrates that appearances are deceptive, while the supposed prisoner Li Ziran continues to possess unexpected resources and influence.
• Compression and confinement: The Earth-Pressure Spell physically reflects the political pressure surrounding the delegation as the group is literally trapped and crushed by forces operating behind the scenes.

Character Interactions

• Li Ziran quietly warns Ke’er and makes clear that he does not want to be separated from her.
• Ke’er extends her protective magic around Li Ziran and later warns Anfuni to retreat when she detects the stronger earth-element fluctuation.
• Anfuni looks to Ke’er and then Li Ziran for guidance once her Revenge Souls can no longer locate the enemy.
• Li Ziran reassures the others by taking responsibility for escaping the Derivative Space.
• The reveal of the Black Dragon surprises both Ke’er and Anfuni, who had apparently forgotten that Li Ziran still possessed such a powerful ally.
• The chapter ends with the Black Dragon’s uncontrolled Dragon Flame transforming the attempted assassination into a catastrophic assault on Mountain Fort City.

Purple flames erupted from the tunnel and destroyed Mountain Fort City as Li Ziran and the Elves passed through. The city lord and his allies failed to seize Rooney, and the chapter ended with the Poison Tower’s corrosive poison killing the Human Race leaders.

• Purple flames poured from the tunnel, melting Mountain Fort City and killing people as its residents fled in panic.
• Li Ziran, Ke'er, and Anfuni continued through the burning tunnel while the Black Dragon cleared their way.
• At the tunnel’s end, the city lord and the Earth Tower master attacked the delegation, while the Earthstrider commander charged Anfuni.
• Ke'er, Anfuni, and the Black Dragon fought off the attackers, preventing the city lord from taking Rooney as Mountain Fort City burned away.
• The city lord realized the Poison Tower had poisoned him and the other Human Race leaders, and their bodies dissolved under the corrosive toxin.

Chapter Summary: “The Elves’ Treasure”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A green-robed poison mage, Machi, reveals that he has poisoned the Elven envoy corps with Corrosive Poison. Three people die almost instantly, while the survivors develop dry lips, itchy throats, and sweating—early signs of the same poison that once afflicted the Black Dragon.
• Machi explains that the poison will last seven days and threatens unbearable deterioration and death unless the victims receive an antidote.
• He reveals that he serves Feng and has come to retrieve Li Ziran, who is currently disguised as “Rooney.” Feng intends to preserve Li Ziran’s soul, place it in a new body, and have him compete for the Human King’s seat under a new identity.
• Machi offers the Elves a bargain: cooperate, surrender Rooney, and publicly declare that the war was caused by the Elves’ protection of the Corrupted Witch Doctor. In return, they will receive the antidote and three hundred kilometers of Human territory near the Northern Frontier and Sacred Forest.
• Anfuni protects the envoy corps by forcing Machi to swallow a seven-day poison of her own, ensuring that he has a personal incentive to provide the antidote.
• Machi demands that the Elves call the conflict a righteous “war of Judgment,” attempting to reshape public opinion and reduce anger toward the Human Race.
• Anfuni refuses to make a final commitment without consulting the Elven Queen. She agrees only that Rooney may plead guilty and accept punishment, while rejecting the demand to surrender him completely.
• Li Ziran permits himself to remain under Elven supervision while secretly relying on his own plan. Eventually, Anfuni agrees to let him enter a nearby mill for “adjustments.”
• The group reaches a city-state where crowds and newspapers already report Rooney’s impending extradition, proving that the Human Race had prepared the propaganda in advance. The public’s anger begins to subside as Rooney’s capture is presented as a victory for humanity.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran/Rooney: Remains calm despite the poison and political danger. He recognizes Machi’s alliance with Feng and realizes that Feng still values him highly. Li also understands that the promised territory may be less important than securing the key to the Sheep Transformation Spell for the Elves.
• Machi: Demonstrates terrifying power and complete ruthlessness, killing three people without hesitation. He acts as Feng’s negotiator but is also shown to be expendable and subordinate. His confidence weakens when Anfuni poisons him in return.
• Anfuni: Proves herself clever, determined, and protective. She challenges Machi’s demands, secures a form of mutual hostage-taking, and refuses to surrender Li Ziran outright. Although she claims to lack authority, she skillfully delays and limits the agreement.
• Ke’er: Shows political maturity and caution. She distrusts the Human Race’s promises and recognizes that territory alone is not the Elves’ most valuable objective. Her attention remains fixed on protecting Li Ziran, whom the Elves regard as an irreplaceable treasure.
• Feng: Does not appear directly, but his influence dominates the chapter. He is revealed to be planning Li Ziran’s resurrection or transfer into a new body and wants him to become a political contender.
• The Human public and media: Are shown to be highly responsive to propaganda. Their attitude shifts rapidly once Rooney’s capture is announced as evidence of Human strength.

Significant Themes

• Political manipulation and propaganda: The planned newspaper reports reveal that the Human Race controls the narrative before negotiations are even completed. Truth is less important than the version of events presented to the public.
• Betrayal and unreliable promises: Both humans and Elves understand that political promises are often broken when interests change. The proposed land concession may be generous, but Ke’er recognizes that real territory is ultimately secured through power.
• Value of individuals versus racial interests: Li Ziran is treated as a political asset, while the Elves’ desire for the Sacred Forest reflects broader racial survival and transformation needs.
• Power through coercion: Poison functions as both a weapon and a negotiating tool. Machi’s threat forces cooperation, but Anfuni’s countermeasure restores some balance.
• Identity and resurrection: Feng’s plan to give Li Ziran a new body raises questions about whether political identity, loyalty, and personal value survive physical transformation.
• Public opinion as a weapon: The crowds’ rapid change from hostility to cautious support illustrates how easily collective emotion can be directed.

Character Interactions

• Machi confronts Anfuni and attempts to force her cooperation through poison, political threats, and promises of territory.
• Machi and Li Ziran exchange guarded recognition: Machi presents himself as a rescuer, while Li Ziran questions his motives and understands the larger scheme.
• Anfuni and Machi engage in a tense negotiation, with Anfuni countering his coercion by poisoning him and demanding guarantees.
• Anfuni repeatedly looks to Ke’er for authorization, while Ke’er silently consults Li Ziran through her reactions and trust in his judgment.
• Li Ziran and Ke’er share an unspoken alliance: he accepts the danger because he has a plan, while she prioritizes protecting him over the apparent territorial bargain.
• The chapter ends with Li Ziran observing the city’s prepared propaganda and wondering whether the influential editor-in-chief—or another acquaintance—will appear at the mill.

Chapter Summary: “Feng, We Meet Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Rooney arrives in a small city on his way to the Triangle Council, escorted by Elves and kept inside the heavily warded Mill. The area is sealed off, and even the city lord is barred from entering.
• News spreads that Mountain Fort City was completely destroyed in a fiery attack, apparently targeting Rooney or the delegation. This sparks widespread conspiracy theories about the powerful faction behind the attempted assassination.
• While the public assumes Rooney is being tortured or interrogated, he is secretly relaxing in a bath with Feng, an old associate, and several artificially cultivated women.
• Feng reveals that Andre has made progress in Embryo cultivation and organ modification. He intends to create Rooney a new body with fresh Elemental Organs.
• Rooney’s current body is expected to be destroyed during a public Judgment. Feng plans to give him a new identity: councilman Woz, an influential and feared figure known as the “Iron-Blooded Councilman.”
• A prepared manuscript indicates that Woz will preside over Rooney’s Judgment and later become deputy council chairman, suggesting that Feng has already arranged the political succession.
• Feng insists that Rooney’s poison marks were placed to satisfy the Elves’ cooperation and will disappear when Rooney changes bodies.
• After spending the night together, Feng reassures Rooney that their alliance will continue and that his power will eventually increase. Rooney concludes that he must proceed to the Judgment platform while making his own preparations.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran/Rooney: Li Ziran continues impersonating Rooney while carefully probing Feng’s plans. He outwardly acts like the pleasure-seeking, power-hungry Rooney, but internally remains cautious and distrustful. He recognizes that the death penalty is part of a larger plan and begins considering how to protect himself.
• Feng: Feng is revealed as a calculating political strategist who has arranged Rooney’s apparent downfall and replacement. He combines reassurance, manipulation, and displays of personal familiarity to maintain Li Ziran’s trust. His ambitions extend to controlling the Triangle Council and eventually helping Rooney compete for the position of Human King.
• Andre: Though absent, Andre’s importance grows. His research into Embryo cultivation and organ modification makes the body-transfer plan possible.
• Woz: Woz is introduced as a stern, ruthless councilman with a strong reputation for fighting evil. Feng has chosen him as Rooney’s successor because his public image makes him an ideal figure to restore order and gain popular support.

Significant Themes

• Identity and bodily transformation: The planned replacement of Rooney’s body raises questions about whether identity is tied to appearance, memory, political position, or consciousness.
• Political manipulation: Public scandal, staged judgment, propaganda, and succession are presented as tools through which power can be transferred.
• Trust and betrayal: Li Ziran and Feng share a long history, but both understand that their relationship is based on mutual calculation. Feng’s assurances may be genuine, yet they also serve to control Li Ziran.
• Appearance versus reality: The public believes Rooney is being punished, while he is privately negotiating his rebirth and political future. Likewise, Woz’s reputation and the planned news reports are carefully constructed political images.
• Ambition and power: Feng’s plan is driven by the desire to control the council and eventually challenge for the position of Human King, contrasting with Li Ziran’s personal reluctance toward power.

Character Interactions

• Li Ziran and Feng: Their reunion is playful and intimate, recalling their old friendship and shared indulgences. Beneath the humor, however, Li Ziran interrogates Feng about Andre, the poisons, the new identity, and the fate of Li Ziran himself. Feng responds with confidence but withholds key information, preserving an element of danger.
• Li Ziran and the cultivated women: Li Ziran uses Rooney’s memories and behavior to maintain the illusion that he is truly Rooney. His participation becomes part of Feng’s test of loyalty and familiarity.
• Feng and Andre: Although Andre does not appear, Feng presents himself as the intermediary carrying Andre’s message and implementing Andre’s body-modification plan.
• Feng and Woz: Feng has apparently secured Woz’s political rise in advance, using the councilman’s reputation to make Rooney’s downfall and Woz’s promotion appear natural and justified.

Chapter Summary: “Dragging Out a Whole Pack of Big Tigers”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Ziran spends the night in the mill with Feng, the editor-in-chief of the Elemental Forecast, while pretending to participate in the debauchery expected of Rooney. Despite the surrounding women and Feng’s apparent trust, Li Ziran remains awake, planning how to survive the coming Judgment.
• He concludes that he cannot rely solely on surgical manipulation. To uncover the genuine Sheep Transformation Spell and protect himself, he must infiltrate the Judgment process and prepare backup vessels for his soul, including Ao Zheng’s vessel.
• At dawn, Feng chains Li Ziran and escorts him out, reassuring him that the Judgment will last three days. Feng maintains a warm, almost affectionate attitude, while Li Ziran privately suspects that Feng may have developed genuine feelings for him.
• After Li Ziran leaves, Andre appears and questions Feng about him. They discuss whether the Elves altered Rooney, the risks of transferring souls into new vessels, and their suspicions that Li Ziran previously used embryo-based technology to escape detection.
• Feng angrily recalls that Li Ziran’s giant robot laboratory disappeared after the Great Annihilation, taking valuable Embryo records with it. Both men remain frustrated by Li Ziran’s continued ability to evade them.
• Li Ziran emerges to a massive public uproar. Crowds condemn “Rooney,” while alchemical recording devices document his appearance. Ke’er notices the perfume of multiple women on him and angrily questions what happened the previous night.
• A new issue of the Elemental Forecast reveals that Rooney has supposedly exposed more than thirty corrupt figures, including Triangle Council members, magic-tower masters, a vice-master of the Ashen Tower, a female councilor, and a deputy legion commander. Feng has used the report to implicate powerful members of the Human Race.
• The public becomes increasingly fascinated, and an enormous procession follows Li Ziran’s carriage across seven city-states. By the time they reach Triangle City, nearly a kilometer of spectators surrounds him.
• In Triangle City’s central square, Li Ziran is brought before a huge execution platform equipped with a crimson axe. Guards force him beneath the weapon, remove his hood, and expose his gleaming bald head.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran: Remains outwardly compliant and humorous but is internally calculating. He recognizes Feng and Andre as dangerous opponents and begins preparing multiple contingencies for the Judgment. He also manipulates public expectations by acting like the exhausted, decadent Rooney.
• Feng: Appears increasingly attached to Li Ziran, treating him warmly despite arranging his Judgment. At the same time, he demonstrates ruthless political skill by publishing accusations that bring dozens of influential figures down.
• Andre: Shows unusual uncertainty regarding the soul-transfer technology and admits that the process may fail. His concern suggests that Li Ziran’s methods are more advanced than expected.
• Ke’er: Displays both emotional concern and jealousy. She worries about Li Ziran’s condition but is irritated by the evidence of his night with multiple women.
• The Human Race’s public: Becomes captivated by the spectacle, eagerly believing the Elemental Forecast’s accusations and treating Li Ziran’s arrival as a historic event.

Significant Themes

• Deception and performance: Li Ziran survives by acting the part of Rooney, while Feng and Andre also conceal their deeper plans.
• Political manipulation: Feng uses journalism and public outrage to eliminate rivals and expose—or fabricate—the corruption of powerful officials.
• Identity and possession: The planned Judgment, soul-transfer technology, vessels, Embryos, and Li Ziran’s hidden identity all emphasize the instability of the body and the question of who truly controls it.
• Public spectacle and mob mentality: The crowds transform a private political conflict into a massive public entertainment event, eagerly demanding punishment without knowing the truth.
• Trust and emotional ambiguity: Feng’s apparent affection for Li Ziran complicates their adversarial relationship, while Li Ziran remains unsure whether it is genuine or another form of manipulation.

Character Interactions

• Li Ziran and Feng: Share a staged night of intimacy and a seemingly friendly farewell. Feng chains Li Ziran for Judgment but speaks as if they are close companions.
• Feng and Andre: Debate Li Ziran’s authenticity, the dangers of soul-transfer technology, and the disappearance of his robot laboratory.
• Li Ziran and Ke’er: Ke’er supports him physically and emotionally but confronts him about the women from the previous night. Li Ziran reassures her while withholding embarrassing details.
• Li Ziran and the crowd: He remains calm and silent as the public insults him, records him, and follows him toward Triangle City.
• Li Ziran and the guards: The guards treat him as a condemned criminal, dragging him onto the execution platform and placing him beneath the axe as the chapter ends.

Chapter Summary: “A Whole Day of Agony on the Execution Platform”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Triangle Council prepares a public execution for Rooney, eager to silence him because his knowledge could implicate as many as fifteen councilors. His death is also being used as political propaganda and as a scapegoat for the military’s defeat.
• An enormous execution platform and viewing ground are constructed in Triangle City. Nobles, mages, and commoners gather to witness Rooney’s supposed trial and death, while councilors present themselves as triumphant leaders.
• Li Ziran, disguised as Rooney, is restrained facedown on the platform. He has secretly hidden an Insect Race member—a flea—in his hair, intending to transfer his soul into it after his execution and eventually resurrect himself.
• The trial is deliberately delayed for an entire day. The crowd gradually treats the execution as entertainment, eating snacks, drinking, gossiping, and even allowing young couples to use the event as a romantic spectacle.
• A mute painter spends the night documenting Rooney’s extensive list of alleged crimes, including treason, slave trafficking, illegal capture of humans, and conspiracy. The crowd repeatedly chants the charges, turning the event into a mass ritual of condemnation.
• At dawn, the Triangle Council finally begins the formal trial with a soul inspection. An elderly mage uses a strange painting technique on Li Ziran’s face, causing severe pain and compressing his soul into its deepest core.
• This unexpected soul-sealing technique disrupts Li Ziran’s plan to escape into the flea after decapitation. He begins to wonder whether Feng truly intends to let him be executed, but remains passive to avoid exposing himself.
• The old mage’s examination confirms that Li Ziran is genuinely Rooney. Other councilors who knew Rooney also verify his identity, eliminating suspicion of disguise or possession.
• The council announces the execution time: three o’clock that afternoon, when Rooney’s head will supposedly be cut off.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran/Rooney: Remains outwardly calm and sarcastic despite being restrained for hours. His confidence in his escape plan weakens when the soul inspection traps his consciousness inside his head. He recognizes the old mage as a powerful soul expert and begins reconsidering both Feng’s intentions and his own survival strategy.
• Feng: Remains offstage, but his hidden plan becomes increasingly uncertain. Li Ziran wonders whether Feng has truly arranged an escape or may allow the execution to happen.
• The elderly mage: Introduced as a highly skilled and mysterious soul specialist. His seemingly simple brushstrokes exert immense power, sealing and compressing Li Ziran’s soul.
• The painter: Though mute and apparently marginalized, he demonstrates remarkable dedication and skill by recording every accusation throughout the night. Li Ziran develops an unexpected respect for his work ethic.
• The councilors: Reveal themselves as politically calculating and eager to exploit Rooney’s death. They prioritize public satisfaction and self-preservation over investigating the real causes of the war.
• The crowd: Shifts from spectators to active participants in the condemnation, chanting charges and treating the execution as both entertainment and a public act of emotional revenge.

Significant Themes

• Political scapegoating: Rooney is selected as a convenient target so the councilors can avoid blame for the war and suppress damaging information.
• Justice as spectacle: The trial is less about truth than about satisfying the public. The elaborate platform, crowds, chants, and planned feast transform punishment into mass entertainment.
• Manipulation of public opinion: The council creates an official narrative through fabricated or exaggerated charges, ritualized recitations, and staged proceedings.
• The terror of waiting: Li Ziran finds the prolonged anticipation more agonizing than death itself, emphasizing psychological suffering and helplessness.
• Identity and the soul: The soul examination raises questions about what makes someone genuinely themselves. Although Li Ziran is physically disguised, the examination confirms him as Rooney while simultaneously trapping his true consciousness.
• Hidden power beneath appearances: The frail old mage appears vulnerable but possesses extraordinary soul-manipulating abilities, illustrating that seemingly insignificant figures may hold great power.

Character Interactions

• Li Ziran is restrained by executioners while Ke’er watches helplessly, obeying his command not to interfere.
• He attempts to speak with the mute painter, asking about his wages, but discovers the man has no tongue—another sign of the council’s effort to isolate him.
• Li Ziran silently studies and evaluates the elderly mage during the soul inspection, recognizing his expertise and wondering whether Feng controls someone of such caliber.
• Councilors and former colleagues collectively verify Li Ziran’s identity, unintentionally confirming that the disguise has succeeded.
• The crowd repeatedly recites the accusations against Rooney, functioning as a unified force of judgment rather than as individual observers.

Chapter Summary: “Beheading”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The execution ground is packed with spectators waiting for Rooney’s public execution, which is broadcast through thirty large screens to ensure the punishment is witnessed by everyone.
• Li Ziran, disguised as the condemned Rooney, is restrained with his head fixed against the ground. His soul is sealed inside the disguise, preventing him from using his abilities or escaping.
• Woz presides over the execution alongside Anfuni and Ke’er, while the Elven Delegation attends because they captured Rooney.
• After Rooney’s crimes are formally read, families of soldiers killed in the war spit on and condemn him for an hour.
• Li Ziran realizes that the saliva is diluting the magical patterns binding his soul. He begins using tears and an elaborate confession to further wash away the disguise and regain control of his soul.
• During his speech, he pretends to repent for corruption, abuse, abductions, and military failures, while subtly defending his loyalty to humanity and the destruction of the rainforest. His words unexpectedly stir both sympathy and nationalist pride among the spectators.
• Woz interrupts before Li Ziran can continue influencing the crowd, and the execution proceeds.
• Woz fires a signal gun. The executioner initially fails to sever the rope, but the second attempt succeeds: the axe cuts through the platform and beheads the disguised Li Ziran.
• At 3:01 p.m., the execution is complete. The crowd is horrified, and many leave without enthusiasm for the planned celebration.
• As cleaners erase the painted symbols from the body, an unnoticed flea opens its eyes in the hair of the severed head, hinting that Li Ziran’s plan or transformation may not be over.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran: Demonstrates resourcefulness, emotional manipulation, and control under extreme pressure. He discovers that moisture from saliva and tears weakens the sealing patterns, allowing his soul to stir and sense the Void Spirit World. His confession is entirely strategic rather than genuine, and he remains focused on reclaiming control and surviving.
• Woz: Appears stern and authoritative, overseeing the procedure personally. He recognizes the danger of allowing Li Ziran—believed to be Rooney—to speak too freely and cuts off the confession before it can further influence the crowd.
• Anfuni and Ke’er: Remain present with Woz as representatives of the Elven Delegation. Ke’er watches Li Ziran closely, though her intentions remain unclear.
• The spectators: Initially united by hatred, they become emotionally conflicted after hearing Li Ziran’s apparent repentance. His speech causes some to pity him and others to respond with pride to his defense of human expansion.
• The executioner: Nervous and initially fails to release the axe properly, but completes the beheading on his second attempt.

Significant Themes

• Public justice versus political spectacle: The execution is presented as a formal judgment, but its elaborate staging, broadcasts, speeches, and emotional manipulation make it resemble propaganda and theater.
• Appearance versus reality: Li Ziran appears to be Rooney and performs repentance, yet none of his words reflect genuine guilt. The crowd’s perception is shaped by his disguise and performance.
• Control and resistance: Though physically immobilized and magically sealed, Li Ziran finds small weaknesses in the punishment system and gradually regains control over his soul.
• Collective hatred and emotional manipulation: The spectators’ anger quickly shifts into pity and nationalist excitement, showing how easily public emotion can be redirected.
• Death and possible survival: The brutal beheading appears final, but the unnoticed flea and Li Ziran’s preparations suggest that his consciousness or plan may have survived.

Character Interactions

• Li Ziran and Woz: Woz questions him about repentance, giving Li Ziran an opportunity to deliver his manipulative confession. Woz eventually interrupts him to prevent further influence.
• Li Ziran and the bereaved families: The families publicly condemn him by spitting on him, while Li Ziran uses their actions to weaken the seal binding his soul.
• Li Ziran and the crowd: Through tears and carefully chosen statements, he transforms their hatred into sympathy and patriotic excitement.
• Woz, Anfuni, and Ke’er: They stand together as representatives of authority and the Elven Delegation, observing the execution and reinforcing its political legitimacy.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Rooney, the instigator of the war against the Elves, is executed, but the public and councilors quickly lose interest in his death. Their attention shifts to upcoming negotiations with the Elves, especially the recovery of the legion soldiers still being held captive.
• Li Ziran’s body is beheaded, but his soul survives because Feng secretly embedded a Soul-Sealing Formation into the execution platform. Li Ziran had weakened the formation by using tears to alter the markings on his face.
• Disguised within a flea, Li Ziran waits for someone to retrieve Rooney’s head. A council agent burns Rooney’s corpse but secretly carries the head away.
• The head is transported from Triangle City to a secluded valley, where it is passed through a guarded route filled with dangerous elemental formations.
• A group of young, highly skilled boys cleans and dissects Rooney’s head using blades of light. Li Ziran narrowly avoids detection when the flea carrying his soul is destroyed, transferring his consciousness into Rooney’s brain.
• The brain is taken into a hidden facility saturated with sacred light. Li Ziran realizes that this is the secret production site of the Sacred Potion, a substance he greatly values and which appears to be produced through the nurturing of specially prepared young people.
• Li Ziran is brought before Andre, who reveals that he intends to place Li Ziran’s consciousness into the body of a newborn embryo and accelerate its growth with a time machine, giving him a new identity and body.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran: Demonstrates exceptional survival instincts, magical knowledge, and adaptability. He remains calm after death, analyzes the Soul-Sealing Formation, and successfully transfers his soul from his body to a flea and then into Rooney’s brain. His curiosity and professional pride emerge as he studies the Sacred Potion facility and anticipates receiving a new body.
• Feng: Although absent from the events directly, Feng’s preparation proves crucial. His Soul-Sealing Formation was sophisticated enough to preserve Li Ziran’s soul after execution, though Li Ziran recognizes that the plan could have suppressed him completely.
• Andre: Reappears as the person overseeing Li Ziran’s rebirth. He is familiar with Li Ziran’s condition and possesses advanced technology and magical resources, including embryo manipulation and time acceleration.
• The young boys and the leaf-skirted boy: They display extraordinary precision with light-based blades and appear to be specially nurtured or trained within the Sacred Potion facility. Their disciplined behavior suggests a strict hierarchy and controlled environment.

Significant Themes

• Survival through ingenuity: Li Ziran survives execution by combining magical knowledge, improvisation, and careful observation.
• The body and soul: The chapter continues exploring the separation of consciousness from the physical body, treating identity as something that can be preserved, transferred, and rebuilt.
• Hidden power and exploitation: The secret Sacred Potion facility reveals the immense resources behind a substance sold at great cost, prompting Li Ziran to condemn its creators as “profiteers.”
• Scientific and magical experimentation: Soul formations, elemental crystals, Sacred Potion cultivation, organ manipulation, and time machines blur the boundary between magic and advanced technology.
• Political priorities versus human consequences: While the council focuses on negotiations and military recovery, Li Ziran’s execution and secret preservation expose deeper schemes operating beyond public political concerns.

Character Interactions

• The councilors abandon the execution site while preparing to negotiate with the Elves, showing their practical and politically motivated priorities.
• A council agent secretly retrieves Rooney’s head after burning the rest of his body and transports it to the hidden facility.
• The teenage messenger delivers the head to a handsome young man, who carefully navigates the elemental formations and brings it into the cave.
• The leaf-skirted boy and his identical companions surgically strip the head down to the brain with remarkable skill.
• Andre communicates with Li Ziran through the vibrating brain, asking him to “give a shake” if he understands. Li Ziran confirms that he recognizes Andre and agrees to undergo the process of receiving a new body.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Ziran reflects on Andre, recalling him as an aloof, perfectionist researcher whose pursuit of women and scientific ideals differed sharply from Rooney’s more worldly nature. Their alliance existed mainly because of shared profit, with Feng acting as the intermediary.
• After returning from the flea body, Li Ziran is teleported to the center of the Derivative Space, where he discovers a vast magic array shaped like a Goat or Light Sheep. The array consists of extremely pure Light Elements and appears to be the origin of the light motes used to create the Sacred Potion.
• Andre brings Rooney’s head into the Light Sheep and enters a hidden operating room within the Derivative Space. There, he reveals a pregnant woman and prepares to transfer Rooney’s consciousness into her six-month-old fetus.
• Li Ziran recognizes the process as soul possession. He notes that possessing a formed embryo is risky because the fetus already possesses a powerful, innate consciousness that could overwhelm the invading soul.
• Andre relies on luck and waits for the fetus’s consciousness to weaken naturally. Li Ziran instead uses the Devouring Curse to erode the infant’s will, allowing Rooney’s soul to take control.
• Andre then removes the embryo from the womb and begins transforming it. He inscribes patterns onto the baby’s skin, replaces its heart, and starts replacing or modifying its internal organs.
• The pure Light Elements rapidly heal every incision and force the baby’s body to transform into a light-based structure. The new heart contains Radiant Elemental Bugs, proving the extraordinary purity of the surrounding space.
• Andre inscribes magical patterns directly onto the organs, granting them special light-based abilities. Li Ziran studies the technique closely and begins wondering whether he could use a similar method to implant his own transformations, such as Frog Transformation.

2. Character Developments

• Li Ziran: Demonstrates superior knowledge of souls, embryonic possession, surgery, and magical transformation. Rather than passively trusting the process, he takes control by using the Devouring Curse. His analytical nature deepens as he studies Andre’s organ-modification methods and considers adapting them.
• Andre: Is revealed to be highly skilled in working with Light Elements and modifying bodies, but incompetent or incomplete in several areas. His possession technique is crude and dependent on luck, his embryo cultivation is underdeveloped, and his surgical technique is poor. Nevertheless, he possesses genuine expertise in organ enhancement and magical inscription.
• Rooney: His consciousness gradually revives within the fetus after the infant’s will is suppressed. His survival depends heavily on Li Ziran’s intervention.
• The fetus: Though inexperienced and unborn, it possesses a surprisingly powerful and resilient consciousness. It is ultimately overwhelmed by the Devouring Curse.

3. Significant Themes

• Knowledge versus crude experimentation: Andre has impressive discoveries but lacks comprehensive mastery, while Li Ziran recognizes the flaws in his methods and imagines more reliable alternatives.
• Control and initiative: The chapter emphasizes that successful surgery and cultivation require deliberate control rather than passive reliance on luck. Li Ziran’s intervention embodies this principle.
• Transformation of life: The embryo’s body is treated as both a living being and a magical construction, with its organs redesigned through inscriptions, elemental purification, and artificial enhancement.
• Purity and evolution: The Light Sheep and its space represent an almost primordial level of elemental purity. Exposure to this environment causes the embryo to evolve into a body composed increasingly of Light Elements.
• Ethical detachment: The characters treat pregnancy, possession, dismemberment, and organ replacement as technical procedures, highlighting their extreme willingness to use living bodies as experimental materials.

4. Character Interactions

• Andre conducts the possession and surgery while Li Ziran observes from within the embryo.
• Li Ziran silently critiques Andre’s methods, especially his dependence on luck and his poor surgical technique.
• Although Andre believes Rooney has successfully taken over the fetus, Li Ziran is the one who actually neutralizes the fetal consciousness and ensures the possession succeeds.
• Andre’s organ-inscription process teaches Li Ziran a new method of creating artificial magical organs, inspiring him to consider applying his own transformation techniques to the body.

Chapter Summary: Learning the Sheep Transformation Spell

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Ziran undergoes Andre’s Light Element modification process. Light energy surges through his meridians, condenses in his Elemental Gland, and spreads through his body, dramatically increasing the quality of his Light Element.
• Andre completes a full set of modified Light Organs, linking them into a unified energy chain connected to the Elemental Gland and surface runes. Li Ziran recognizes Andre as an expert in constructing complete Embryos, despite flaws in his transplantation methods.
• After accelerated growth in a Time Element space, Li Ziran reaches adulthood. His new body resembles Woz, apparently because the Embryo’s materials were derived from Woz.
• Andre assigns him the identity of “Rooney” and orders him to negotiate with the Elves. His mission is to help capture the real Li Ziran, in exchange for Andre’s support in becoming Council Speaker.
• Left alone, Li Ziran studies a goat-shaped Light model, realizing it is the structural diagram for the Sheep Transformation Spell. He secretly reconstructs and deduces the spell through his Void Spirit World.
• After countless failures and repeated deductions, he successfully creates a crude but functional three-dimensional Sheep Transformation Spell. However, he understands only the spell’s external structure; the deeper secret lies in merging Light Organs into the transformation model.
• Li Ziran concludes that Andre possesses the key to this organ-fusion technique. He begins planning to use the upcoming Elf negotiations as an opportunity to draw out Andre’s secrets.
• When Andre returns, he apologizes for leaving Li Ziran unattended and prepares to disguise him further before sending him to the council. He warns that Woz’s subordinates may detect inconsistencies and tells Li Ziran that his success depends on his own political skill.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran: Gains a much stronger Light Element constitution and reaches adulthood through accelerated growth. His understanding of organ modification and magical arrays expands significantly. He successfully learns the external form of the Sheep Transformation Spell and begins strategizing how to exploit negotiations for information.
• Andre: Demonstrates exceptional mastery over Embryo construction and Light Organs, though he remains careless about security. He trusts Li Ziran’s supposed identity and political ability, while being primarily motivated by the desire to obtain the real Li Ziran.
• Woz: Though absent, his influence is important because Li Ziran’s new body resembles him and is intended to pass as one of his followers or associates.
• The Elves: They become increasingly important as Andre’s political opponents or negotiating partners, having apparently already contacted the real Li Ziran.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge through observation and deduction: Li Ziran turns Andre’s carelessness into an opportunity, mastering a spell by carefully analyzing its visible structure.
• Natural growth versus artificial modification: The chapter explores whether organs and abilities must arise naturally, or whether magic and surgery can reproduce and improve them.
• Secrets as power: Andre’s organ-fusion method and Li Ziran’s surgical techniques are treated as crucial secrets that cannot safely be shared.
• Identity and deception: Li Ziran takes on a body modeled after Woz and adopts the name “Rooney,” using disguise and political maneuvering to infiltrate Andre’s plans.
• Negotiation as manipulation: Both sides seek to use negotiations to obtain what they want. Li Ziran realizes he can reverse the power dynamic by making himself valuable to Andre.

Character Interactions

• Andre performs and oversees Li Ziran’s bodily transformation, then evaluates the result through a mirror.
• Andre entrusts Li Ziran with a major political mission, revealing his ambitions and dependence on Li Ziran’s supposed political talents.
• Li Ziran internally assesses Andre’s abilities, recognizing him as a master while also identifying weaknesses in his security and judgment.
• When Andre returns, the two exchange polite remarks, but Li Ziran conceals his discovery of the Sheep Transformation Spell and begins planning to manipulate their relationship through future negotiations.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Ziran disguises himself as Woz, using the Corpse Witch’s advanced techniques to alter his facial bones, eyes, forehead, and other features. He studies Woz’s appearance and memories to make the impersonation convincing.
• His immediate objectives are to meet Feng, reunite with Woz’s former subordinates, accept appointment as vice chairman of the Triangle Council, and take charge of negotiations with the Elves.
• Feng conducts Li Ziran’s formal interview before the appointment. Li presents himself as the ruthless and heroic Woz, emphasizing his opposition to the Corrupted Church and promising to capture and execute Li Ziran, whom he publicly denounces as a Corrupted Acolyte.
• Feng is impressed by Li’s convincing appearance and performance, believing he will be a more forceful council member than his predecessors.
• Once they are alone, Li drops the Woz persona and reveals his usual carefree personality. Feng warns him that maintaining the disguise will require more than physical resemblance: he must also imitate Woz’s relationships and temperament.
• Feng gives Li information about Woz’s wife and several women connected to Woz, explaining that these relationships are politically important. Li realizes he must manage them carefully to avoid exposing his identity.
• Li enters the Triangle Council’s central hall, where nearly three hundred people await his appointment. He is formally received by the young Human King, William VII.
• William presents Li with the official appointment and medal, making him the new vice chairman of the Triangle Council. The medal binds to his soul, symbolizing that he has officially assumed Woz’s position.
• Despite his nervousness and fear of being exposed by a soul scan, Li successfully maintains Woz’s cold, intimidating demeanor and delivers a stern oath to fight evil and protect the Human Domain.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran: Demonstrates impressive adaptability and acting ability. Though internally anxious and uncomfortable, he successfully adopts Woz’s appearance, mannerisms, political rhetoric, and intimidating presence. He also recognizes that impersonating Woz will require managing his personal relationships, not merely copying his face.
• Feng: Becomes one of Li’s principal guides and handlers. He is pleased with Li’s performance but warns him about the dangers of failing to imitate Woz’s personality and social connections.
• William VII: Is introduced as a young but composed Human King. He displays confidence and authority in front of the entire council and treats Li’s arrogance without offense.
• Woz: Though absent, his influence dominates the chapter. His terrifying appearance, political achievements, wife, and complicated personal life all create challenges for Li’s impersonation.

Significant Themes

• Identity and performance: Li must constantly distinguish between his true self and the role of Woz. His success depends on convincingly performing an identity others already fear and respect.
• Political deception: The appointment is built on a carefully organized conspiracy, with Li publicly promoting policies that target his own true identity as Li Ziran.
• Appearance versus reality: Physical transformation alone is insufficient; gestures, relationships, reputation, and temperament are equally important in constructing a believable identity.
• Power and responsibility: Li’s promotion gives him genuine authority, but it also subjects him to intense scrutiny and political obligations.
• Fear as political influence: Li’s threatening appearance and violent rhetoric intimidate the council members, helping establish his authority immediately.

Character Interactions

• Li Ziran and Feng: Their interaction shifts between formal acting and private familiarity. Feng initially treats Li as Woz and is briefly frightened by his appearance, but relaxes once Li resumes his true personality. Feng then explains the political importance of Woz’s wife and romantic connections.
• Li Ziran and the council audience: Li projects an icy, murderous persona that causes many council members to lower their heads in fear.
• Li Ziran and William VII: Li approaches the Human King with deliberate arrogance rather than submission. William responds calmly and officially appoints him, reinforcing Li’s new status.
• Li Ziran and Woz’s associates: Although they do not appear directly, Feng’s dossier and warnings establish them as potential threats to Li’s disguise and essential figures in his future political strategy.

Chapter Summary: Slaughter Should Be Satisfying

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Ziran, disguised as the newly appointed Woz/Rooney, assumes control of negotiations with the Elves and immediately begins consolidating power.
• After briefly meeting Woz’s officers and confidants, he orders them to submit their plans and dismisses them without discussion. Within half an hour, all fifty-seven are stripped of their authority, and their scandals are exposed.
• His purge expands throughout the Triangle Council. Twenty-three councilors flee within two days, while thirty-nine are executed in less than three days.
• Vacant positions are filled with commoners, Magic Tower representatives, and Lineage forces loyal to Li Ziran. New auditing and internal-review procedures are imposed across the Council, causing a sweeping political reshuffle.
• Li Ziran secretly uses Void Spirits to control much of the souls of newly promoted officials, making them obedient while preserving convincing personalities.
• He plans to replace the Council’s leadership entirely with artificially created bodies and souls using the Embryo and time machine, ensuring that future replacements cannot be detected as unnatural.
• He also continues his experiments with Embryos, Corpse Witches, Elemental Glands, and artificial Magic Organs. Two imperfect duplicate bodies are created to serve as his guards and allow him to transfer bodies when necessary.
• Li Ziran strengthens his political position by manipulating Woz’s wives and gaining support from powerful Magic Towers and Lineages. Their backing protects him while he destroys the old Council structure.
• He prepares to meet the poisoned Elves at Red Sun Mill, where negotiations will involve granting them three million kilometers of Human territory in exchange for cooperation and the capture of the real Li Ziran.
• Feng warns him that Andre and the Human forces are watching closely and that the Elf Anfuni may resist because of her loyalty to Li Ziran. Feng also invites him to a banquet arranged by Andre, but Li Ziran refuses, hoping to maintain control and eventually draw Andre out.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran: Becomes increasingly ruthless, confident, and politically ambitious. Rather than merely maintaining his disguise, he uses Woz’s reputation to launch a massive purge and rebuild the Human power structure around himself. He treats people, bodies, and even souls as tools, while carefully concealing his true identity.
• Feng: Grows increasingly alarmed by Li Ziran’s behavior. He realizes that the new “Rooney” is far more extreme and unpredictable than expected, though he still attempts to manipulate and control him on Andre’s behalf.
• Andre: Remains offstage but becomes Li Ziran’s primary hidden target. Li Ziran deliberately behaves provocatively and accepts the Elven negotiations in hopes of forcing Andre to reveal himself.
• The Human King, George VII: Leaves after completing his ceremonial role, but his faction unexpectedly begins supporting Li Ziran, helping restore its influence within the Council.
• Woz’s wives and political allies: Their support becomes essential to Li Ziran’s survival and advancement. By placating them, he gains access to powerful institutional backing and positions himself for possible promotion to councilor-in-chief.
• The Elves: Remain poisoned and under Human surveillance. Their weakened condition makes them easier for the Council to pressure, although Anfuni is identified as a potential source of resistance.

Significant Themes

• Power through violence and fear: Li Ziran’s authority is established through purges, executions, investigations, and the destruction of established political networks.
• Political identity and deception: His success depends on convincingly performing Woz/Rooney while secretly transforming the system for his own purposes.
• Control versus individuality: The Void Spirits’ manipulation of souls raises questions about whether obedience and preserved personality can coexist with genuine free will.
• Institutional corruption: The Council is portrayed as bloated and compromised, allowing Li Ziran’s brutality to be welcomed by commoners even as nobles fear becoming his victims.
• The instrumental use of people: Bodies, women, subordinates, political factions, and even entire populations are treated as resources or bargaining chips.
• Ambition and escalation: Li Ziran initially seeks practical control, but his success encourages him to pursue the position of councilor-in-chief and potentially authority over the entire Human Domain.

Character Interactions

• Li Ziran intimidates his officers through silence and abrupt dismissal, establishing dominance without explaining his plans.
• His purge shocks the other councilors, who recognize that even longtime confidants are not safe.
• He cultivates Woz’s wives, using intimacy and their political connections to secure protection from powerful factions.
• Feng confronts him over the wasteful executions and warns him not to forget that he is only a replacement whose identity could be exposed.
• Li Ziran taunts Feng by calmly acknowledging Andre’s danger while showing no real fear, making it clear that he is using the situation to lure Andre out.
• Their conversation ends with Li Ziran rejecting Feng’s banquet invitation and requesting Elven women later, reinforcing both his provocative imitation of Woz and his determination to focus on the upcoming negotiations.

Chapter Summary: “Setting a Trap for Fun”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Vice Councilor-General Li Ziran begins formal negotiations with the Elven Delegation, making the talks a major public event and a test of Human dignity.
• He meets Anfuni and Ke’er for the first time since his body seizure. Although they must maintain a formal public façade, Li Ziran playfully signals to Ke’er, causing Anfuni to laugh and briefly easing the tension.
• Li Ziran deliberately limits the negotiations to seven participants in a small, private chamber, allowing him and Anfuni to coordinate their performance.
• Both sides publicly argue over prisoner exchanges and territorial concessions:
  • The Elves demand land in exchange for their prisoners.
  • The Humans demand the release of captives, including soldiers and possibly the Corrupted Witch Doctor, Li Ziran.
  • The Elves refuse to acknowledge the Corrupted Church as heretical or admit to sheltering its followers.
• Li Ziran repeatedly exits the chamber appearing furious, then privately reports to Feng. Feng urges him to prioritize acquiring the Corrupted Witch Doctor rather than focusing on soldiers or land.
• Feng reveals the larger conspiracy: controlling the Witch Doctor could help Andre understand Embryo technology and potentially allow their faction to manipulate powerful mages, Ancient Clans, and even place Li Ziran on the Human throne.
• Realizing ordinary negotiations will not secure the Witch Doctor, Li Ziran suggests arranging for Andre to enter the Elven delegation’s Radiant Space and transform Anfuni or another important figure.
• Li Ziran and Anfuni stage further negotiations, deliberately repeating key terms such as “forest,” “Ice Plains,” and “Corrupted Acolyte” to create the impression of genuine bargaining while secretly preparing their trap.
• After only three rounds, news leaks that the Elves will release one-third of their ordinary soldiers, while the Triangle Council recognizes part of the Elves’ control over the Ice Plains.
• The returned soldiers and the strategic nature of the territorial concession make Li Ziran extremely popular among the Human public.
• Feng, however, remains dissatisfied because he has failed to obtain Li Ziran or advance his faction’s deeper plans. He begins considering a covert alternative: infecting the Elven delegation with Corrosive Poison and possibly constructing a Teleportation Array to enable Andre’s intervention.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran/Woz: Demonstrates political skill, theatrical control, and growing independence. He publicly appears uncompromising and patriotic while secretly manipulating both sides of the negotiations. He enjoys deceiving Feng and is increasingly unwilling to be controlled by his former allies.
• Anfuni: Maintains a dignified diplomatic role but cooperates closely with Li Ziran in the hidden scheme. Her moment of laughter shows her familiarity and personal warmth toward him despite the need for secrecy.
• Ke’er: Appears emotionally affected by seeing Li Ziran again after the body seizure, but restrains herself because the negotiations are monitored.
• Feng: Becomes increasingly anxious and suspicious of Li Ziran’s changing behavior. His priorities reveal his ambition and involvement in a larger plot involving Andre, Embryos, and control of powerful figures.
• Andre: Though absent from the negotiations, he becomes central to the proposed plan because of his ability to perform transformations within his Radiant Space.
• Woz’s public identity: His reputation rises dramatically as the negotiations produce visible results, strengthening his political influence and making him harder for Feng’s faction to manipulate.

Significant Themes

• Political theater and deception: The negotiations are less about sincere compromise than about creating appearances while both sides pursue hidden objectives.
• Power and manipulation: Feng’s faction seeks to control mages, clans, and political leaders through Embryo technology and Corrosive Poison.
• Public reputation versus private motives: Li Ziran is celebrated as an iron-blooded patriot, while privately he is executing a carefully planned deception.
• Independence and betrayal: Li Ziran’s former allies believe they helped elevate him, but his growing autonomy threatens their control and raises tensions between them.
• Diplomacy as strategic warfare: Land, prisoners, public opinion, and controlled information all function as weapons in the broader conflict between Humans, Elves, and the Corrupted faction.

Important Character Interactions

• Li Ziran and Anfuni exchange playful signals beneath their formal diplomatic behavior, showing trust and familiarity.
• Li Ziran and Ke’er silently acknowledge their shared past, though neither can openly reveal their relationship.
• Feng repeatedly pressures Li Ziran to prioritize the Witch Doctor, exposing the faction’s ambitions and their distrust of his judgment.
• Li Ziran manipulates Feng by pretending to accept his goals while secretly using the negotiations to lure Andre into a trap.
• Li Ziran and Anfuni coordinate their speeches and behavior, turning the negotiations into a controlled performance designed to conceal their true plan.

Chapter Summary: “This Guy Must Have an Abundance of Organs”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Negotiations between the Humans and Elves intensify after the first group of imprisoned human soldiers is returned.
• Woz becomes a celebrated public figure. His wife publicly praises his dedication while subtly increasing his political prestige, and several Mage Towers nominate him as a candidate for council president.
• Woz appears to work tirelessly, conducting more than thirty negotiations in one day and promising to secure the release of every human soldier. The public views him as a selfless champion, though his efforts are actually a carefully staged performance.
• Behind the scenes, Woz—secretly Li Ziran—is focused on replacing the Elven delegation and uncovering information about the Corrupted Witch Doctor.
• In a hidden basement operating room, Andre begins transforming and modifying Elves. The plan is to replace the consciousnesses of all major Elven representatives, preserving enough memories for them to cooperate.
• Andre demonstrates an extraordinary ability to convert an Elf’s soul into one devoted to Andelie. Through mystical images, prayers, blessings, and spiritual threads, he reshapes the Elf’s subconscious faith without visibly damaging the soul.
• Li Ziran realizes that Andre’s abilities originate from numerous sacred “Light Organs” within his body, including organs connected to sealing, purification, and resurrection.
• Fascinated and increasingly obsessed with Andre’s body, Li Ziran wants to capture and dissect him to study his organs. However, Feng’s presence and Andre’s strength prevent him from acting directly.
• Li Ziran devises a plan to control Andre indirectly by modifying an Elf and implanting a spiritual trap.
• He brings Anfuni and Ke’er into a sealed derivative space, where he prepares to use the Elven Queen, Ke’er, as bait. He creates a Void Spirit Maze within her soul that will lure Andre’s consciousness into a trap, allowing Li Ziran to seize control and examine his body.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran/Woz: His public image develops into that of a tireless humanitarian and political leader, while his true motives remain selfish and manipulative. His curiosity about Andre’s organs becomes intense physical and intellectual obsession, pushing him toward a dangerous plan.
• Andre: He is revealed to possess exceptional spiritual and biological abilities. His power to transform faith is more subtle and profound than ordinary soul replacement, and his body contains a remarkable collection of sacred organs.
• Anfuni: She continues playing the role assigned to her during the negotiations, but quickly understands Li Ziran’s hidden signals and cooperates with his plan.
• Ke’er: Despite being the Elven Queen and possessing many secrets, she willingly agrees to undergo Li Ziran’s modifications, demonstrating trust or strategic obedience.
• Feng: Though mostly off-page, Feng remains a major obstacle who limits Li Ziran’s ability to attack Andre openly.
• Mrs. Woz: She uses public statements to strengthen Woz’s reputation, presenting his absence from home as evidence of devotion to humanity.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus hidden motives: Woz’s apparent self-sacrifice is a political performance concealing an entirely different agenda.
• Manipulation and control: The chapter explores control over bodies, souls, memories, faith, and public opinion.
• Faith as a weapon: Andre’s ability to create genuine devotion shows that faith can be engineered and used as a powerful form of domination.
• Scientific curiosity and obsession: Li Ziran’s fascination with Andre’s organs blurs the boundary between research, greed, and predatory desire.
• Political theater: The negotiations serve both as a genuine crisis for ordinary families and as a staged spectacle exploited by powerful figures.
• The body as a source of power: Andre’s organs are not merely biological structures but repositories of supernatural abilities.

Character Interactions

• Woz’s wife publicly promotes his reputation while pretending to criticize his neglect of their family.
• Woz and Anfuni maintain the rehearsed negotiation, but he abruptly changes the conversation to signal the next stage of their plan.
• Li Ziran secretly coordinates with Anfuni and Ke’er, using their understanding of the operation to access the hidden derivative space.
• Andre performs the soul transformation while Li Ziran observes closely, studying both the spell and Andre’s internal organs.
• Li Ziran takes control of Ke’er’s body and prepares to use her soul as a trap for Andre, turning their cooperation into the central mechanism of his planned ambush.

Chapter Summary: “Capturing Andre”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Ziran performs surgery on Ke’er inside her Derivative Space, replacing an organ with the Goat’s Resurrection Gallbladder to give her an emergency chance at survival.
• After returning to the basement, Li Ziran watches Andre alter the Elves’ subconscious minds. Andre’s slow progress and the Elves’ increasing resistance create tension, while negotiations with the Human Race remain deadlocked.
• Li Ziran urges Andre to target Anfuni directly. Andre refuses because Anfuni is too heavily protected, but suggests capturing the mysterious Elf who constantly accompanies her—Ke’er.
• Li Ziran uses Corrosive Poison and a Hypnosis Curse to bring Ke’er to the basement. Ke’er pretends to be unconscious, concealing her true strength and awareness.
• Andre becomes fascinated by Ke’er’s beauty and treats her as an exceptionally valuable “specimen,” delaying the procedure. Li Ziran manipulates him into beginning the operation.
• Andre probes Ke’er’s mind using a blessing-like hypnosis technique designed to create idealized wishes and cultivate faith. Li Ziran counters by inserting false memories and fragments of organ-related knowledge into his Void Spirit.
• The trap initially succeeds: Andre’s soul follows the bait deeper into Li Ziran’s memory labyrinth. However, Andre unexpectedly analyzes and breaks through the memories far faster than anticipated.
• Ke’er intervenes by offering Andre access to her own treasured memories, including secrets about Primordial Elements, Frog Transformation, and the Elf bloodline. Her memories prove more tempting than Li Ziran’s bait and draw Andre even deeper.
• Li Ziran enters the struggle, seals Andre’s soul, and begins taking control of his body. Ke’er suffers severe mental strain during the process.
• Feng notices that something is wrong when Andre repeatedly murmurs “Queen.” He begins suspecting that the Elf on the operating table is actually the Elf Queen.
• Li Ziran successfully controls Andre’s speech and deceives Feng, claiming that the operation has merely encountered a minor problem. He orders Feng to leave so he can complete the takeover in private.

Character Developments

• Li Ziran: Demonstrates medical skill, strategic cunning, and willingness to take major risks. He shifts from trying to deceive Andre with artificial memories to directly overpowering and sealing his soul when the plan begins to fail.
• Ke’er: Reveals her exceptional mental strength and intelligence. Rather than remaining a passive victim, she actively sacrifices access to her own deepest secrets to lure Andre away from Li Ziran’s mind and help him seize control.
• Andre: Is shown to be both highly skilled and dangerously curious. His obsession with rare biological knowledge and attraction to Ke’er make him vulnerable, but his ability to dissect Li Ziran’s mental trap proves far greater than expected.
• Feng: Remains observant and suspicious. Though initially unaware of the plan, he recognizes that Andre’s behavior is abnormal and begins to suspect Ke’er’s true identity.
• Anfuni: Although she does not directly act in the central confrontation, her role as a politically protected ambassador motivates the group’s strategy and makes a direct attack impractical.

Significant Themes

• Deception and counter-deception: Li Ziran constructs a false mental labyrinth, only for Andre to break through it; Ke’er then uses a deeper and more genuine deception based on her own secrets.
• Knowledge as power and bait: Specialized surgical knowledge attracts Andre, but the secrets of elemental origins and Elf inheritance prove even more compelling.
• Control versus resistance: The chapter centers on the struggle to dominate another person’s soul while each character attempts to preserve autonomy.
• Sacrifice and trust: Ke’er risks exposing her most precious memories to save Li Ziran and enable the capture of Andre.
• Appearance versus reality: Ke’er pretends to be unconscious, Andre’s apparent operation conceals a mental battle, and Li Ziran disguises his possession of Andre from Feng.
• Political danger: Any attack on Anfuni could unite the Human Race and Elves against Li Ziran, increasing the urgency and danger of the covert operation.

Character Interactions

• Li Ziran and Andre argue over the slow progress of the Elf experiments and whether Anfuni should be targeted.
• Andre becomes openly captivated by Ke’er, while Li Ziran mockingly encourages him to proceed with the operation.
• Li Ziran and Ke’er cooperate silently within the mental struggle, using their respective memories to lure and trap Andre.
• Feng investigates Andre’s strange behavior and nearly discovers Ke’er’s identity as the Queen.
• Li Ziran ultimately manipulates Andre’s body and lies to Feng, preserving the appearance that the procedure remains under control.