Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Arranging the Outworld Twins, a Special Spell”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng decides not to kill the Outworld Twins, Ophelia and Ophelina. Instead, he plans to recruit them as intelligence agents who can help him uncover more about the Black Robes Organization.
• He tells the sisters that they will work for him after the selection and gives them a choice: serve him or die. Frightened, they agree to work for him, though Ophelia secretly intends to report everything to Li Xieqian once she escapes.
• To prevent betrayal, Lin Feng uses a spell from the Forbidden Magic Book. The spell blocks the sisters from revealing any information connected to Lin Feng or Shanhai.
• Ophelia tests the spell by trying to say Lin Feng’s name, but she cannot complete it. She then attempts to write down his identity, only for her writing to transform into meaningless drawings of eggs.
• Lin Feng explains that the spell is permanently imprinted on their souls and cannot be bypassed, even if he dies. Any attempt to hint at his identity will supposedly result in their deaths.
• With the sisters secured, Lin Feng orders them to explain the special selection because he intends to reach the top ten quickly.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng becomes increasingly calculating and manipulative. Rather than wasting the Twins’ abilities, he turns them into controlled assets and ensures their loyalty through magical coercion.
• He also demonstrates confidence in his own strength, believing that reaching the top ten will be easy and that the Twins will help him expose the Black Robes Organization.
• Ophelia reveals herself to be cautious but not especially clever. She outwardly submits to Lin Feng while secretly planning to betray him, yet her attempts to circumvent his spell fail completely.
• Ophelina remains aligned with her sister and reacts to the strange effects of the spell, helping expose Ophelia’s failed attempt to write down Lin Feng’s identity.
• The sisters’ survival instincts are emphasized: they immediately choose obedience when faced with death, even though they do not genuinely accept Lin Feng’s authority.

Significant Themes

• Control versus free will: Lin Feng’s recruitment is not voluntary; he guarantees obedience by magically eliminating the sisters’ ability to betray him.
• Power and manipulation: Intelligence and information are treated as valuable resources, and Lin Feng uses the Twins’ abilities while denying them the freedom to act independently.
• Secrecy and identity: Lin Feng’s true identity as Shanhai is dangerous, making concealment central to his strategy against the Black Robes.
• Cunning versus intelligence: The chapter uses humor to contrast Lin Feng’s careful planning with Ophelia’s impulsive, unsuccessful attempts to outsmart him.
• Pragmatism over morality: Lin Feng views the sisters less as people than as useful tools whose survival depends on their usefulness.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng threatens the sisters with death when Ophelia asks whether they have another option, forcing them to accept his terms.
• Ophelia secretly plans to inform Li Xieqian, but Lin Feng anticipates this possibility and seals their ability to communicate his identity.
• The spell’s effects create a comedic exchange: Ophelia believes she has written “Shan Hai is Lin Feng,” while Ophelina sees only crude drawings of eggs.
• Lin Feng then redirects the conversation toward the special selection, making clear that the sisters’ immediate purpose is to provide him with information and help him advance.

Chapter Summary: Exchanging Intelligence, Selection Content

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng asks Ophelia for information that will help him quickly enter the Special Selection’s top ten.
• Ophelia initially provides a massive collection of participant profiles, but Lin Feng refuses to study them, believing his own strength is sufficient.
• She instead explains the selection’s three stages:
  1. First stage—individual competition: All participants begin with 100 points and can seize opponents’ points by defeating them on a designated living planet. Rankings are individual, not team-based.
  2. Second stage—time-limited trial: Participants complete missions in a Black Robes projection world. Rankings depend on the number of missions completed and the time taken.
  3. Third stage—practical combat: Participants select members of unaffiliated groups to challenge. Scores depend on victory speed and the damage sustained.
• First-stage rankings provide advantages in the second stage, including mission hints and access to higher-ranked weapons or items. The top three receive the greatest benefits, while ranks four through ten can choose A-rank items.
• Second-stage rankings similarly determine the assistance available for the third stage.
• Lin Feng learns that teammates may theoretically steal one another’s points, though this violates an unspoken rule because cooperation remains essential in later stages.
• Ophelia gives Lin Feng a highly detailed scoring chart for the third stage, including points awarded based on battle duration and damage received.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng is shown to be highly confident, impatient with unnecessary information, and convinced that overwhelming strength matters more than studying opponents. He is practical and quick to identify the selection’s core mechanics, especially the importance of early rankings.
• Ophelia demonstrates exceptional intelligence, preparation, and support ability. She has gathered extensive data on participants and explains the rules in a concise way tailored to Lin Feng’s preferences. However, she becomes nervous when Lin Feng raises the possibility of taking teammates’ points, revealing her concern for her own survival and ranking.
• Lin Feng reassures Ophelia that he will not rob her, though he privately considers her abilities insignificant compared with his own.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus intelligence: Lin Feng relies primarily on personal power, while Ophelia emphasizes preparation, information gathering, and strategic knowledge.
• Competition and cooperation: Although the selection ranks individuals and allows point theft, teamwork remains necessary for future missions, creating tension between self-interest and group loyalty.
• The value of ranking: Early performance does more than determine status; it grants concrete advantages, including information and powerful equipment that can shape later outcomes.
• Unwritten rules and trust: The lack of a formal prohibition against attacking teammates shows that the competition depends partly on mutual expectations and strategic cooperation.
• Preparation for escalating challenges: Each stage becomes more complex, moving from direct combat to mission execution and finally to carefully measured practical battles.

Character Interactions

• Ophelia attempts to persuade Lin Feng to study detailed profiles of his opponents, even introducing a dangerous participant nicknamed the “Gray Triangle Fish,” but Lin Feng dismisses the information.
• Lin Feng repeatedly interrupts Ophelia to clarify the purpose of the scoring system and whether rankings are individual or team-based.
• When Lin Feng asks whether teammates can be robbed, Ophelia cautiously explains the practical and social consequences. His comment that he will not take her points visibly reassures her.
• Their exchange establishes a contrast between Ophelia’s careful, anxious support and Lin Feng’s blunt confidence, while also showing that he values her ability to provide useful intelligence despite not taking her combat strength seriously.

Chapter Summary: Superman’s Adventure with the Wrong Script

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng reviews the scoring system for the upcoming three-stage Auxiliary Group selection trials. In the second stage, participants earn points based on how long they survive against Auxiliary Group members, the severity of their injuries, or whether they defeat their opponents.
• Each participant may challenge Auxiliary Group members three times. Rankings from the second stage determine the order in which contestants choose opponents; the top ten receive one choice, while first place receives two.
• Final rankings are calculated by averaging the points earned across all three stages.
• Ophelia explains that the trials favor overall point accumulation rather than any particular speedrunning strategy.
• Ophelia asks Lin Feng to share some of his points with her, arguing that support personnel contribute to the team and that teammates commonly redistribute surplus points.
• To prove her usefulness, she casts a support skill on Lin Feng, increasing his speed by only 0.01%. Lin Feng recognizes the skill as nearly worthless but avoids directly insulting her.
• When Lin Feng presses Ophelia about why she wants to join the Auxiliary Group, she initially claims it is because of the group’s strength, lucrative missions, and valuable exchange rewards.
• She eventually admits that she wants access to the Auxiliary Group’s advanced tracking items so she can search for her long-missing mother.
• Moved by Ophelia’s sincere motivation—and by his own lack of a relationship with his mother—Lin Feng agrees to consider giving her some points.
• The group prepares to leave at eight the following morning. Lin Feng retires to his room and begins planning how to divide his responsibilities during the selection process.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng remains pragmatic and skeptical, focusing on the scoring mechanics and efficient use of resources. However, his harsh attitude softens when he learns about Ophelia’s missing mother, revealing empathy beneath his teasing and stinginess.
• Ophelia is shown to be opportunistic and playful when she asks for points, but her behavior also reflects genuine insecurity about being seen as less valuable because she is an intelligence support operative. Her true motivation for joining the Auxiliary Group reveals a vulnerable and emotionally driven side.
• Lin Feng’s own lack of a mother creates an unexpected emotional connection with Ophelia, causing him to sympathize with her rather than dismiss her request.

Significant Themes

• Teamwork versus individual achievement: The trials reward personal performance, but Ophelia argues that teammates should share surplus points, creating tension between individual rankings and group cooperation.
• Hidden motivations: Ophelia’s initial explanation masks a deeply personal reason for pursuing power and status.
• Emotional empathy and shared loss: Lin Feng’s response to Ophelia’s search for her mother suggests that personal grief can bridge differences between people.
• Competition and spectacle: Lin Feng compares the selection process to an academy tournament, implying that the supposedly serious mission has taken on the structure of a familiar competitive adventure story.
• Pragmatism versus sentiment: Lin Feng begins by treating points as scarce resources but ultimately allows emotion to influence his decision.

Important Character Interactions

• Ophelia repeatedly tries to persuade Lin Feng to share points, using arguments about teamwork, her support role, and the information she provides.
• Lin Feng mocks the weakness of Ophelia’s support skill internally but lets her believe she has impressed him.
• Their conversation shifts from playful bargaining to a serious exchange when Ophelia reveals her desire to find her mother.
• Lin Feng’s sympathy leads him to reconsider his refusal and promise to potentially help her, strengthening their cooperative relationship.

Chapter Summary: “Good Sisters Exchange Intelligence”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The night passes peacefully, and Lin Feng and Ophelia prepare to teleport from the temporary Maintenance Planet to the first checkpoint.
• While waiting, Lin Feng asks Ophelia about her unusual relationship with her younger sister, who shares her body. Ophelia explains that her sister controls the body during ordinary daily life, while Ophelia takes over for missions.
• The inactive sister is not unconscious: she can sleep or experience everything Ophelia sees, hears, and touches, but cannot control the body.
• Lin Feng and Ophelia teleport to the first checkpoint, expecting a deserted planet but instead finding a lively settlement filled with Black Robes, vendors, and information stalls.
• Ophelia explains that the vendors are Auxiliary Group members or associates selling intelligence and useful tools. Participants have one day to gather information, purchase supplies, and prepare for the selection.
• Ophelia brings Lin Feng to meet Aglae, an Auxiliary Group member she calls her “good sister.” Aglae gives Ophelia a prime location to sell intelligence.
• Ophelia sets up her stall and begins exchanging information with Aglae about the upcoming selection.
• Lin Feng nearly reveals his real name, but a spell prevents Ophelia from saying it. She introduces him instead as “Shanhai,” his Gold-Silver Tree identity.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Shows curiosity about Ophelia’s dual-soul condition and remains blunt, skeptical, and uninterested in the checkpoint’s commercial activity. His dry, inappropriate response to Aglae’s greeting highlights his eccentric personality.
• Ophelia: Reveals more about her personal life and the arrangement with her sister. She demonstrates strong social and intelligence-gathering skills, maintaining useful connections with Auxiliary Group members.
• Ophelia’s younger sister: Though absent from the active conversation, her shared sensory experience and separate role in daily life emphasize the unusual nature of the sisters’ existence.
• Aglae: Introduced as Ophelia’s friendly contact within the Auxiliary Group. She is welcoming and familiar with intelligence networks, but Lin Feng’s strange remark leaves her intrigued and slightly wary.

Significant Themes

• Shared identity and divided control: The sisters’ body-sharing arrangement raises questions about autonomy, privacy, and the boundaries between individual selves.
• Information as power: The checkpoint is structured around gathering, selling, and exchanging intelligence, making knowledge a central resource in the upcoming competition.
• Networks and alliances: Ophelia’s relationship with Aglae shows how personal connections can provide advantages in a competitive and secretive environment.
• Commercialized competition: The Auxiliary Group profits by selling information and tools to participants, turning preparation for the selection into a lucrative business.
• Hidden identities: Lin Feng’s concealed name and forced alias reinforce the importance of secrecy and deception.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng questions Ophelia about how she and her sister manage control of their shared body, prompting an unusual but revealing conversation.
• Ophelia explains the sisters’ arrangement while becoming uncomfortable with Lin Feng’s persistent curiosity.
• Ophelia and Aglae greet each other warmly, embracing and showing clear familiarity.
• Aglae welcomes Lin Feng, but his odd response—“How nice?”—abruptly disrupts the introduction and makes her view him as unusually eccentric.
• Ophelia and Aglae then begin a practical exchange of intelligence, with Ophelia seeking advice about dangers and strategies for the selection.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Aglae warns Ophelia about Egart’s son, a powerful participant in the upcoming selection. He possesses numerous items from his father and can rival the weakest members of the First Sequence. Because Egart’s faction has a longstanding conflict with Gold-Silver Tree, Aglae advises Ophelia and her teammates to avoid him.
• Aglae notices that Ophelia’s third teammate is missing. Lin Feng gives the absurd explanation that the teammate “ate something bad,” while Ophelia awkwardly confirms that only she and Shanhai are participating.
• Three Gold-Silver Tree Black Robes approach the stall, led by Jason, someone Ophelia previously encountered on Korank Planet.
• Jason demands to see Ophelia’s intelligence files without paying. Ophelia reminds him that he once exploited her injuries and threatened her into surrendering a mission item, contradicting his claim that he had saved her.
• Jason attempts to bully Ophelia, declaring that she and her teammates must give him half their points in the first round in exchange for their lives. He then tries to take the intelligence by force.
• Lin Feng intervenes, grabs Jason’s wrist, and insists on the rule of “money first, goods second.” When Jason insults and threatens him, Lin Feng immediately kicks him away with a powerful Left Front Kick, sending him flying with a sonic boom.

Character Developments

• Ophelia shows caution and responsibility by taking Aglae’s warning about Egart’s son seriously. She also displays resentment toward Jason and refuses to forget his past betrayal.
• Aglae acts as a reliable intelligence contact and demonstrates concern for Ophelia’s safety. Her knowledge of faction politics makes her a valuable ally.
• Lin Feng reveals himself to be physically formidable, decisive, and fiercely protective of his teammates. Though he usually appears quiet, he reacts instantly when Jason attempts to exploit Ophelia. His blunt humor and aggressive response contrast with Ophelia’s restraint.
• Jason is established as arrogant, coercive, and hypocritical. He uses his apparent strength and social position to intimidate others, but is caught off guard by Lin Feng’s superior grip and speed.
• Egart’s son is introduced as a major potential threat, although he does not appear directly.

Significant Themes

• Factional rivalry and political tension: The conflict between Egart and Gold-Silver Tree affects even individual contestants in the selection.
• Information as power: Intelligence is treated as a valuable commodity exchanged for A-Rank Missions.
• Bullying versus resistance: Jason attempts to use intimidation and past power dynamics to control Ophelia, but Lin Feng rejects his behavior immediately.
• Hidden strength and underestimation: Jason assumes Lin Feng is an insignificant newcomer, only to discover that Lin Feng possesses exceptional physical strength.
• Loyalty and protection: Lin Feng’s intervention suggests growing solidarity with Ophelia and a willingness to defend his companions.

Character Interactions

• Aglae and Ophelia exchange confidential information as equals, with Aglae advising her to avoid Egart’s son.
• Aglae questions Ophelia about her missing teammate, while Lin Feng’s ridiculous explanation creates an awkward but humorous moment.
• Jason antagonizes Ophelia by denying their past conflict and demanding free intelligence. Ophelia challenges his version of events, exposing his exploitative behavior.
• When Jason tries to take the information and threaten the group, Lin Feng physically intervenes. Their confrontation ends almost instantly when Lin Feng kicks Jason away before he can finish his threat.

Chapter Summary: “Who Did He Think He Could Kick?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng, disguised or acting as Shanhai, violently kicks someone who obstructs him, claiming he was merely “stretching” and that the person happened to be in his way. The kick creates a sonic boom and attracts the attention of everyone on the street.
• The onlookers recognize Shanhai as a member of Gold-Silver Tree with a perfect mission-completion record, but are shocked by his reckless behavior because fighting is strictly forbidden on the selection planet.
• Aglae pulls the stunned Ophelia aside and questions whether Shanhai has always been so bold and violent. Ophelia admits she never had the chance to warn him about the rules.
• The planet’s Star Management Team arrives. Its captain, Hans, identifies Shanhai and reprimands him for breaking the rules. He announces that Shanhai is disqualified from the selection and orders him to come along for questioning.
• Instead of cooperating, Lin Feng mocks Hans, denies that he was fighting, insults the Star Management Team, and tells them to leave him alone while he sunbathes.
• Hans, enraged by Lin Feng’s defiance, orders his two subordinates to subdue him.
• Lin Feng instantly defeats both officers with powerful front kicks, sending them flying thousands of miles away. His brutal response leaves the watching Black Robes stunned.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng/Shanhai is revealed to be far more aggressive, arrogant, and uncontrollable than his previous cautious reputation suggested. He openly ignores rules, authorities, and consequences, relying on overwhelming strength and intimidation.
• Ophelia becomes increasingly anxious about Lin Feng’s conduct. Her concern is mainly practical: without him, her chances of surviving the selection and reaching the top ten are drastically reduced.
• Aglae gains a clearer understanding of Shanhai’s personality. Her prior information portrayed him as cautious, but his behavior now confirms that he possesses a dangerously violent temper.
• Hans is introduced as a strict, authoritative Star Management Team captain. His confidence and official power are undermined when Lin Feng refuses to acknowledge his authority and effortlessly defeats his subordinates.
• The watching Black Robes shift from amusement and anticipation to shock, realizing that Lin Feng may be far more powerful—and reckless—than expected.

Significant Themes

• Defiance of authority: Lin Feng refuses to submit to institutional rules or officials, treating Hans’s commands with contempt.
• Power and consequences: The chapter contrasts formal authority with actual strength. Although the Star Management Team has the right to enforce the rules, Lin Feng’s overwhelming combat ability allows him to dismiss them physically.
• Reputation versus reality: Shanhai is known for completing missions successfully, but the chapter exposes the volatile and violent personality behind that reputation.
• Arrogance and recklessness: Lin Feng’s confidence borders on madness, raising the question of whether his strength justifies—or will eventually be overwhelmed by—the trouble he creates.
• Spectacle and intimidation: His sonic-boom kick and effortless defeat of the officers establish him as a terrifying presence and make the entire selection audience pay attention to him.

Character Interactions

• Aglae and Ophelia discuss Lin Feng’s violent personality and lament that no one warned him about the prohibition on fighting.
• Hans and Lin Feng engage in a direct confrontation of authority and insults: Hans demands obedience, while Lin Feng mocks both his position and his orders.
• Ophelia attempts to calm the situation, urging Lin Feng to cooperate and explain himself, but he ignores her.
• Hans’s subordinates attack Lin Feng on his command, only to be defeated instantly, turning the confrontation into a public humiliation for the Star Management Team.

Chapter Summary: “The Plan Was Disrupted, and Lin Feng Was Unhappy”

Key plot points and events

Lin Feng, posing as Shanhai, shocks the gathered Black Robes by kicking two Star Administrators away effortlessly. His overwhelming strength reveals that he is far more powerful than the information about him suggested, causing the contestants to regard him as extremely dangerous and decide to avoid him during the upcoming selection. Lin Feng also realizes that the planet was reinforced by a First Sequence Black Robe, or it would have been destroyed by his uncontrolled attacks.

Conflict with Hans and the Auxiliary Group

Lin Feng taunts Hans, the remaining Auxiliary Group representative, asking whether he also needs help “rolling away.” Hans is humiliated but too frightened to confront him. He assumes the Auxiliary Group will punish Lin Feng and waits for higher-ranking support, believing Shanhai’s fate is sealed.

Aaron Egart’s intervention

Aaron Egart, son of the powerful First Sequence Black Robe Egart, arrives. Hans expects Aaron to attack or discipline Lin Feng, but Aaron instead greets him politely and introduces himself. Lin Feng responds with sarcastic indifference, asking Aaron how “pleased” he is, amusing Aglae because it repeats a joke Lin Feng had previously made to her.

Resolution

Aaron announces that his father considers the incident a sparring match and orders everyone to forget it, preventing the situation from escalating. He privately warns Lin Feng not to cause too much trouble because several First Sequence figures are watching. Aaron then leaves with Hans, who remains confused and humiliated.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Feng/Shanhai: Demonstrates terrifying power, remains openly defiant, and shows no concern for the Auxiliary Group’s authority. However, he becomes dissatisfied because Aaron’s intervention prevents him from carrying out his original plan.
• Hans: Shifts from arrogant confidence to fear and helplessness after witnessing Lin Feng’s strength. He relies heavily on powerful connections rather than personal ability.
• Aaron Egart: Appears diplomatic and composed, protecting Lin Feng from immediate consequences while subtly warning him. His behavior suggests that the First Sequence leaders have a specific interest in Lin Feng.
• Aglae: Finds Lin Feng’s blunt sarcasm entertaining and reacts with barely restrained laughter.
• The other Black Robes: Become wary of Lin Feng and choose to avoid him rather than risk confrontation.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes the importance of hidden strength, hierarchy, and political backing within the Black Robes. It also contrasts personal power with institutional authority: Lin Feng can overpower elite fighters, but powerful figures can still influence how his actions are interpreted. The ending introduces intrigue, as the First Sequence leaders appear to be protecting or observing Lin Feng for reasons he does not understand.

Chapter Summary: “Not Resting—Should I Set Up a Stall with You?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Two mysterious First Sequence figures discuss Lin Feng’s behavior in a Dark space. They debate whether his apparent recklessness was deliberate or evidence of stupidity, ultimately deciding to continue observing him while investigating his background.
• Lin Feng reflects on his confrontation with the Star Management Team. He reveals that kicking two Auxiliary Group members was intentional: he wanted to display enough strength to attract the attention of the First Sequence leaders and accelerate the selection process.
• Although his plan succeeded in attracting notice, the First Sequence leaders do not intervene or recruit him, leaving Lin Feng uncertain about their motives.
• Lin Feng also questions why none of the nearby Auxiliary Group members helped him during the conflict. The city has returned to normal, with the Black Robes shopping while secretly watching him.
• Aglae explains that Lin Feng is the third person to cause trouble in the city. The previous offenders were either eliminated or stripped of their selection qualifications, making Lin Feng’s survival and continued participation highly unusual.
• Aglae offers to sell Lin Feng information for a C-rank mission, but he refuses to engage with her and asks Ophelia instead.
• Ophelia explains that Auxiliary Group members generally lack strong bonds with one another. Their affiliations do not guarantee mutual support, and most have no reason to risk themselves for someone else.
• With the selection not beginning until the following day, Lin Feng asks where he can rest and decides to leave the marketplace rather than remain there or establish a stall.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Demonstrates that his earlier violence was calculated rather than impulsive. He remains analytical, testing the reactions of powerful observers and trying to understand the political structure around the selection. Despite his uncertainty, he stays composed and adapts to the situation.
• Aglae: Continues to act as a wary and opportunistic intelligence merchant. She is intrigued by Lin Feng’s abnormal strength and suspicious of his survival, but she also tries to profit from his curiosity.
• Ophelia: Becomes increasingly intimidated by Lin Feng, even fearing that he may attack her. Nevertheless, she provides a useful explanation of the Auxiliary Group’s internal relationships.
• The First Sequence observers: Are established as cautious, suspicious, and methodical. Rather than acting openly, they choose to investigate Lin Feng and monitor him from a distance.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus intelligence: The selection values not only combat power but also judgment and strategic thinking. Lin Feng’s deliberate actions demonstrate that he possesses both.
• Observation and hidden motives: Lin Feng and the First Sequence leaders are both studying one another, creating a tense contest in which neither side fully understands the other’s intentions.
• Political caution: Powerful figures avoid acting rashly, even when someone displays extraordinary strength. Their restraint suggests deeper calculations behind the selection.
• Weak bonds within organizations: Membership in the Auxiliary Group does not create genuine solidarity. Most members prioritize self-interest and will not intervene without personal benefit.
• Maintaining a disguise: Lin Feng continues operating under the identity of Shanhai, carefully controlling how much of his true ability and purpose he reveals.

Character Interactions

• The unseen First Sequence figures debate Lin Feng’s intelligence and intentions while deciding to investigate him.
• Lin Feng questions Aglae about previous incidents and the Auxiliary Group’s behavior; she responds with guarded curiosity and attempts to charge him for information.
• Lin Feng turns to Ophelia for a direct explanation. She clarifies that the Auxiliary Group functions like an independent faction between the First and Second Sequences rather than a unified community.
• Ophelia’s fear of Lin Feng contrasts with his calm, practical attitude, emphasizing how abnormal and threatening his strength appears to others.

Chapter Summary: “Analysis and the Start of the Selection”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng dismisses the need to gather intelligence, confidently claiming that none of the Black Robes nearby could withstand even one of his kicks.
• Ophelia gives him a room key and directs him to the team accommodations. Lin Feng leaves her and Aglae to continue trading intelligence.
• Ophelia and Aglae agree that Lin Feng’s strength virtually guarantees a top-ten finish. Ophelia is especially pleased because Lin Feng promised to give her any surplus points.
• Lin Feng settles into the team’s luxurious three-bedroom accommodation. The room is nearly empty because most participants are still outside gathering intelligence and purchasing supplies.
• While resting, Lin Feng reflects on the First Sequence leaders observing the selection, the core mission, his Heart of the Universe Fragments, and the possibility of eventually challenging the First Sequence.
• He analyzes Aaron Egart’s earlier behavior and suspects that Aaron may have been protecting him in an attempt to recruit him into Egart, an organization opposed to Gold-Silver Tree.
• Lin Feng considers exploiting the rivalry between Egart and Gold-Silver Tree to provoke conflict between their First Sequence leaders.
• He falls asleep while maintaining Super Sensing and his Bio-Force Field around the room for protection. Ophelia later returns quietly, and the first stage of the selection begins the following morning.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Displays overwhelming confidence and a relaxed, almost arrogant attitude toward the selection. Beneath his casual behavior, he is cautious and highly analytical, carefully considering the motives of powerful factions and how to manipulate their rivalry. His growing interest in the First Sequence shows that he is beginning to plan for a confrontation with the highest authorities.
• Ophelia: Becomes much more optimistic after recruiting Lin Feng. She believes his strength can compensate for the loss of a teammate and may secure her own advancement. Despite appearing absent-minded, she remains cautious and continues to gather and exchange intelligence.
• Aglae: Develops strong curiosity about Lin Feng and recognizes that he is far beyond ordinary Black Robes. Her relationship with Ophelia is shown to be relatively close, though she still remains wary of Ophelia’s intelligence-gathering abilities.
• Aaron Egart: Although absent from the chapter’s events, he becomes the subject of Lin Feng’s analysis. His earlier actions are reinterpreted as a possible recruitment attempt rather than simple intervention or intimidation.

Significant Themes

• Strength and confidence: Lin Feng’s overwhelming power allows him to ignore the normal preparation and competition that occupy the other participants.
• Hidden motives and political maneuvering: Ordinary conversations and actions may conceal larger factional goals, particularly Aaron’s possible attempt to recruit Lin Feng.
• Information as power: Ophelia’s intelligence network and Lin Feng’s analysis both demonstrate that knowledge is essential in a dangerous selection involving powerful organizations.
• Caution beneath arrogance: Although Lin Feng acts carefree, he avoids probing the First Sequence directly and uses defensive abilities while sleeping, showing that he understands the danger posed by ancient and mysterious enemies.
• Factional conflict: The rivalry between Egart and Gold-Silver Tree may give Lin Feng an opportunity to create internal divisions among the First Sequence leaders.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Ophelia: Ophelia provides him with lodging, while Lin Feng’s strength gives her confidence about the selection and her ranking. Their arrangement is partly practical, as Ophelia hopes to benefit from his extra points.
• Ophelia and Aglae: They exchange intelligence and discuss Lin Feng’s prospects. Aglae’s curiosity contrasts with Ophelia’s excitement, though both recognize his exceptional strength.
• Lin Feng and Aaron: Their earlier encounter continues to influence Lin Feng’s thinking. Lin Feng suspects Aaron’s apparent goodwill was an attempt to protect and recruit him.
• Lin Feng and the First Sequence factions: Though no direct interaction occurs, Lin Feng mentally positions himself between Egart and Gold-Silver Tree, considering how their competition might be turned to his advantage.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng and Ophelia travel to the forest entrance of the Special Selection, where a teleportation array will randomly distribute the participants across the planet.
• More than a hundred contestants gather, along with members of the Auxiliary Groups who appear to be present for supervision. Lin Feng also notices Aaron, whose excessively friendly smile makes Lin Feng suspicious and uncomfortable.
• A Black Robes member explains the selection rules. Lin Feng reduces them to one essential principle: there are effectively no restrictions. Participants may steal points or kill one another, though doing so could provoke retaliation from the victim’s faction.
• The contestants enter the teleportation array. Lin Feng and Ophelia remain isolated from the others because the participants fear Lin Feng’s violent reputation.
• Ophelia grabs Lin Feng’s hand, explaining that teammates who maintain physical contact will be teleported to the same location. Despite Lin Feng’s initial confusion and reluctance, they hold hands and are transported together.
• They arrive in a dark, densely wooded area. Their terminals announce that the selection has begun, with each participant starting at 100 points and the rankings still empty.
• Ophelia equips herself with an excessive amount of Light-based weaponry and armor. Lin Feng, who brought no equipment, rejects her offer of a bracer because he considers it too weak to be useful.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Remains relaxed, dismissive, and confident in his own strength. He ignores the lengthy rules explanation, treats the selection casually, and shows no concern about entering the forest without equipment. His blunt reactions continue to frustrate Ophelia.
• Ophelia: Becomes more confident after witnessing Lin Feng’s strength, believing he can easily reach the top ten. Nevertheless, she is practical and cautious, preparing heavily for combat and prioritizing survival and points. Her embarrassment and irritation toward Lin Feng become more pronounced.
• Aaron: Displays conspicuously friendly behavior toward Lin Feng, creating an uneasy impression despite their brief interaction.

Significant Themes

• Strength over rules: The selection’s true law is survival of the strongest; formal regulations matter less than one’s ability to seize points and defeat opponents.
• Trust and cooperation: Ophelia and Lin Feng must remain physically connected to ensure they are teleported together, highlighting the practical importance of teamwork despite their strained dynamic.
• Confidence versus preparation: Lin Feng relies almost entirely on overwhelming personal strength, while Ophelia compensates through extensive equipment and careful preparation.
• Humor through contrasting personalities: Lin Feng’s indifference and bluntness clash with Ophelia’s emotional reactions, creating much of the chapter’s comedy.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Ophelia argue over his promise to share extra points with her.
• Lin Feng feels unsettled by Aaron’s overly friendly smiles.
• Ophelia angrily explains the teleportation condition after Lin Feng fails to remember it, then reluctantly holds his hand.
• After teleportation, Ophelia is offended when Lin Feng immediately lets go of her hand.
• Ophelia offers Lin Feng a bracer, but he rejects it as useless; she secretly feels relieved that he does not accept it.

Chapter Summary: Go Through the Motions and Get Kicked, or Hand Over Points Directly?

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng and Ophelia hear a powerful weapon battle taking place about a kilometer away. Believing the combatants’ points are an easy opportunity, they head toward the fighting.
• Ophelia warns Lin Feng that the battle involves an Obliteration Cannon and that dangerous Interstellar Beasts have been released across the planet. Lin Feng uses Super Sensing to detect both the combatants and hidden beasts nearby.
• They arrive to find two squads—six Black Robes in total—engaged in a destructive battle. Cannon fire has devastated the surrounding forest, though the planet’s ground remains reinforced.
• Rather than waiting for the squads to weaken each other or attacking from hiding, Lin Feng walks directly into the battlefield and demands that everyone transfer their points to him.
• The fighters are stunned by his arrogance and remind him that interfering in an ongoing battle violates the selection’s rules. Lin Feng dismisses their objections, declaring that his rules take priority.
• The two squads temporarily cooperate against Lin Feng, hoping their combined numbers will give them a chance to resist or escape.
• Lin Feng attacks before they can properly react. He instantly kicks the cannon-wielding Black Robe into the ground, knocking him unconscious.
• To make collecting the points easier, Lin Feng throws the defeated fighter toward the forest and orders Ophelia to handle the transfer. Ophelia promptly retrieves him, showing that the pair have developed an efficient rhythm.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Continues to display overwhelming confidence, impatience, and disregard for official rules. He prefers direct confrontation over elaborate tactics and sees the other contestants primarily as convenient sources of points. His effortless defeat of the cannon user reinforces his superior strength.
• Ophelia: Shows practical caution by suggesting they wait and attack after the battle ends. She also warns Lin Feng about the cannon and hidden beasts. Although she finds his reckless behavior ridiculous, she readily supports him and efficiently assists with collecting the defeated contestant’s points.
• The Black Robes: Initially confident because of their numbers, they quickly become uneasy upon recognizing Lin Feng. Their temporary alliance reveals both their fear of him and their willingness to cooperate when facing a stronger threat.

Significant Themes

• Power versus rules: Lin Feng openly rejects the selection’s regulations, believing that superior strength allows him to impose his own rules.
• Directness versus strategy: Ophelia favors ambushes and opportunistic attacks, while Lin Feng chooses an audacious, straightforward approach.
• Fear and reputation: Lin Feng’s previous acts—especially his infamous kicks—have created a reputation strong enough to unsettle opponents before the fight even begins.
• Efficiency and dominance: Lin Feng treats the battle as an unnecessary obstacle and seeks the fastest possible way to obtain points, while his effortless victory demonstrates his dominance over the other contestants.
• Partnership and coordination: Despite their contrasting personalities, Lin Feng and Ophelia complement one another: he overwhelms opponents, while she handles scouting and point collection.

Character Interactions

• Ophelia repeatedly cautions Lin Feng about the weaponry and hidden beasts, while he brushes off her concerns.
• Lin Feng humorously asks the combatants to “line up” and transfer their points, provoking disbelief and anger.
• The two opposing squads silently form a temporary alliance against Lin Feng, but their cooperation is ineffective.
• After Lin Feng defeats the cannon wielder, he calls on Ophelia to collect the fighter and process the points, highlighting their increasingly smooth teamwork.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng confronts the remaining Black Robes and offers them a choice: surrender their points peacefully or fight him and risk injury.
• After seeing their injured teammate’s life-threatening alerts, the Black Robes realize they cannot defeat or escape Lin Feng through direct combat.
• One Black Robe agrees to transfer his points, but the group uses the transfer as a ruse. When Lin Feng looks down at his terminal, they detonate a smoke bomb and flee.
• Lin Feng quickly disperses the smoke and pursues them. Since spatial transmission is forbidden during the first stage, he easily tracks them down and returns within five minutes.
• His points rise to 600: the original 100 plus 500 taken from the Black Robes. Although he defeats the group, he does not kill them, knowing that doing so could provoke powerful factions and damage his undercover plans.
• Ophelia heals the critically injured Black Robe enough to keep him alive and activates his withdrawal request. The Auxiliary Group will remove him from the selection, though at a significant cost.
• Lin Feng and Ophelia resume hunting other contestants. He uses telekinesis and his Bio-Force Field to lift and protect Ophelia while flying at high speed.
• The rankings reveal that Lin Feng is in second place with 600 points, while Aaron leads with 700. This awakens Lin Feng’s competitive spirit.
• Lin Feng locates Aaron roughly a thousand miles away. Aaron appears to sense that he is being watched and looks toward the sky.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Demonstrates overwhelming speed, combat ability, and tactical awareness, though he admits he was briefly fooled by the smoke-bomb trick. He shows restraint by sparing the Black Robes to protect his larger undercover objective. Seeing Aaron ahead of him also brings out a more competitive side.
• Ophelia: Becomes more useful and responsible rather than merely accompanying Lin Feng. She heals the injured Black Robe, arranges his evacuation, and offers to help locate nearby contestants. Despite being nervous about flying, she trusts Lin Feng enough to let him carry and protect her.
• The Black Robes: Their confidence collapses after realizing they cannot track or fight Lin Feng. They resort to deception and retreat, but their strategy ultimately fails.
• Aaron: Establishes himself as Lin Feng’s primary competitor by taking first place. His ability to sense Lin Feng’s attention hints that he may be unusually perceptive or powerful.

Significant Themes

• Power versus deception: The Black Robes cannot challenge Lin Feng directly and instead rely on a trick, showing how weaker opponents compensate through strategy.
• Restraint and long-term planning: Lin Feng avoids killing his opponents because maintaining relationships and concealing his true objectives are more important than immediate victory.
• Competition and ambition: Aaron’s lead transforms the selection from a simple point-gathering exercise into a personal challenge for Lin Feng.
• Trust and cooperation: Ophelia’s actions demonstrate growing cooperation with Lin Feng, while Lin Feng protects and transports her despite her doubts.
• The hidden costs of survival: The injured contestant’s rescue illustrates that withdrawing is possible, but the selection’s support systems come at a steep price.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng intimidates the Black Robes into considering surrender, but they attempt to deceive him with a fake point transfer and smoke bomb.
• Ophelia helps preserve the injured Black Robe’s life and formally withdraws him, showing compassion and political caution.
• Lin Feng and Ophelia discuss how to continue the selection; she wants to contribute, while he insists that she simply stay close and let him protect her.
• Lin Feng’s discovery of Aaron’s lead creates an implicit rivalry, ending the chapter with Aaron seemingly becoming aware of Lin Feng’s presence.

Chapter Summary: “Selection Underway, Conversation”

• Aaron investigates the rankings: Aaron learns that Shanhai is in second place with 600 points. He suspects Shanhai should have more, but concludes that someone with Shanhai’s strength and personality would not willingly let points escape. Aaron then refocuses on locating other teams and promises to divide excess points among his teammates once he secures more than half of the available total.
• Lin Feng discovers the planet’s true scale: While flying with Ophelia, Lin Feng is puzzled that traveling across the seemingly tiny planet takes far longer than expected. Ophelia explains that its core contains a Super Cube, an artifact capable of compressing countless planets into one. The trial world is therefore vastly larger than it appears and is equivalent in mass to an entire parallel universe. Lin Feng stores this information in the Dark, while Ophelia openly admires the power of the beings who created the trial.
• The selection’s scoring system is clarified: Lin Feng asks what happens if he takes all the contestants’ points. Ophelia explains that each group has one primary contestant whose teammates gather points for them early on. Later, the groups separate: the core contestants compete against one another, while their former teammates continue hunting independently. She also reminds Lin Feng that the planet’s fierce beasts provide points, though far fewer than Black Robes contestants.
• Lin Feng begins hunting beasts: Realizing he has ignored many possible points, Lin Feng descends and uses two old hand cannons—originally forged by Asgard’s dwarves—to kill beasts while traveling. The creatures yield only two to five points each, but the hunt makes his journey more productive. Lin Feng and Ophelia argue briefly, with Lin Feng blaming her for not mentioning the beasts sooner and Ophelia angrily pointing out that he had failed to listen.
• The contestants scatter: After more than half a day, the Black Robes contestants begin operating individually as expected. Lin Feng’s score continues rising because many of the scattered contestants still carry substantial point totals. He ignores those who have earned points only by hunting beasts, since their points have already effectively been taken and are not worth pursuing.
• Observers discuss the trial: In the mysterious Dark space, an older and a younger voice note that this year’s first trial is progressing much faster than previous ones. They attribute the unusually rapid pace to two exceptionally aggressive “variables”—clearly referring to Lin Feng and another powerful contestant, likely Shanhai or Aaron—and suggest that, if their fighting continues, the remaining two trials may not even be necessary.

Character Development and Interactions

• Lin Feng remains aggressive, opportunistic, and focused on maximizing his advancement. He quickly adapts once he learns beasts provide points and revives an overlooked weapon from his arsenal.
• Ophelia serves as an informed guide, explaining the Super Cube, the contestants’ strategies, and the scoring system. Her admiration for the trial’s creators contrasts with Lin Feng’s practical, goal-oriented attitude.
• Aaron is shown as calculating and perceptive, carefully analyzing Shanhai’s score and organizing his own team’s point-gathering strategy.
• Lin Feng and Ophelia’s banter highlights their contrasting personalities: Lin Feng is impatient and dismissive, while Ophelia is knowledgeable but easily irritated when he ignores her explanations.
• The unseen observers frame Lin Feng and the other major competitors as dangerous anomalies whose actions are disrupting the normal structure and pace of the selection.

Significant Themes

• Power and manipulation: The Super Cube demonstrates the immense power of the trial’s creators, while the contestants manipulate group structures and point distribution to gain advantages.
• Competition and strategy: Success depends not only on strength but also on understanding the rules, managing teammates, and targeting opponents with accumulated points.
• Hidden scale and reality: The tiny planet’s enormous internal size reinforces the chapter’s theme that appearances are deceptive and that the trial operates on a scale far beyond ordinary understanding.
• Unrestrained ambition: Lin Feng and the other “variables” accelerate the trial through relentless fighting, threatening to overwhelm the system before it unfolds as intended.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The old man overseeing the selection is pleased by the exceptional performances of Shanhai (Lin Feng) and Aaron, believing that extraordinary fighters are more valuable than contestants of roughly equal ability.
• An investigation into Shanhai reveals almost nothing: he has no recorded past, family, or partner, and even the Tracking Instrument cannot trace him. His unexplained origins make him suspicious, but the old man decides to recruit and personally investigate him rather than avoid using him.
• After more than half a day on the selection planet, Lin Feng rises to first place with 4,895 points, narrowly ahead of Aaron’s 4,621. The gap between them and the rest of the contestants is enormous.
• Lin Feng has earned points by defeating Black Robes members and killing large numbers of beasts. He has also shared some points with Ophelia, allowing her to remain in the top ten.
• Lin Feng and Ophelia remain together, unlike most groups. When Lin Feng learns that Diona is hiding in a maze-like area, he decides not to pursue her because her points are not worth the effort.
• Instead, Lin Feng chooses to challenge Aaron directly. He locates Aaron and brings Ophelia with him despite her frightened protests.
• Aaron has just finished defeating another contestant and notices Lin Feng approaching. He welcomes the confrontation, as he had been considering seeking Lin Feng out himself.
• Lin Feng openly proposes a fight, and Aaron agrees on the condition that the loser surrender all their points. Both accept, turning their encounter into a decisive battle for first place.
• Ophelia retreats in panic, recognizing that the two men are vastly stronger than the other contestants. Before she can find shelter, the battle begins with a powerful shockwave that sends her forward.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng/Shanhai: Demonstrates confidence, decisiveness, and overwhelming strength. He is uninterested in minor gains and seeks the most significant challenge—Aaron. His mysterious background continues to concern the selection’s leaders.
• Aaron: Reveals his pride and competitive nature. Although he is already nearly guaranteed a place in the Auxiliary Group, he dislikes being ranked below Lin Feng and eagerly accepts the duel.
• Ophelia: Becomes increasingly nervous about the danger posed by Lin Feng and Aaron. She understands the immense difference between their power and that of the other contestants and tries desperately to avoid being caught in their fight.
• The old man and his colleague: Debate whether Shanhai can be trusted. The old man is bold and willing to take risks, while the younger man remains wary because Shanhai’s power and identity cannot be understood.

Significant Themes

• Mysterious identity and hidden power: Shanhai’s lack of history and untraceable origins suggest that he may be far more significant or dangerous than he appears.
• Strength above conventional competition: The selection favors exceptional individuals, and the gap between the strongest contestants and everyone else emphasizes the value placed on overwhelming ability.
• Ambition and rivalry: Lin Feng and Aaron are motivated not only by advancement but also by the desire to prove superiority over one another.
• Risk and trust: The leaders must decide whether Shanhai’s unknown background makes him too dangerous to recruit or too valuable to ignore.
• The scale of power: The battle’s opening shockwave suggests that Lin Feng and Aaron possess power far beyond what the first stage was designed to contain.

Character Interactions

• The old man and his younger associate argue playfully but seriously over whether Shanhai should be recruited.
• Lin Feng and Ophelia travel together, with Lin Feng supporting her by sharing points while Ophelia helps locate other contestants.
• Ophelia repeatedly warns Lin Feng not to challenge Aaron, especially because Aaron is Egart’s son, but Lin Feng ignores her concerns.
• Lin Feng and Aaron meet without pretense, immediately agreeing to a winner-takes-all confrontation.
• Ophelia serves as an observer caught between them, emphasizing how far their strength exceeds that of the other Black Robes.

Chapter Summary: “Cat-Eared Diona Sneakily Peeks Like a Dog”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Diona, a female Black Robe ranked third on the leaderboard, travels through the jungle toward the massive battle between Aaron and Shanhai.
• She possesses an extraordinary talent for manipulating data and machinery. Within digital systems, she can move undetected through Black Robes’ communications and control networks, effectively treating them as her domain.
• Diona has secretly observed the beginning of the battle using her technological abilities and now approaches to gather more information before choosing whom to ask for help.
• Her long-term objective is extremely difficult to achieve, but she refuses to abandon it. She considers Aaron her first potential ally because of his status as Egart’s son, though she doubts her bargaining power will be enough.
• After accidentally discovering Shanhai’s exceptional abilities, Diona also begins considering him as a possible helper. However, she worries that Shanhai’s personality may make him unwilling to acknowledge or assist her.
• Unable to use spatial abilities or items, Diona sends a virtual surveillance device toward the battlefield rather than approaching physically.
• The battle between Aaron and Shanhai—also referred to as Lin Feng in the narration—has devastated a huge portion of the planet. The surrounding land is scorched and ruined, and even the sky has turned completely dark.
• Observers in a hidden Dark space discuss the battle. They speculate that Shanhai may be a secret talent cultivated by the Gold-Silver Tree, though this remains unconfirmed.
• The observers also note that Shanhai protected Ophelia, who belongs to the Gold-Silver Tree, suggesting that his character and loyalties require further investigation.

Character Developments

• Diona: Demonstrates intelligence, caution, determination, and resourcefulness. Although she has little confidence in succeeding, she is willing to risk her life for her goal. She shifts from focusing mainly on Aaron to seriously evaluating Shanhai as an alternative.
• Aaron: His immense strength is viewed as understandable because Egart has raised him as his heir and provided him with substantial resources and support.
• Shanhai: His power is portrayed as abnormal and mysterious, rivaling or exceeding what would normally be possible for a Black Robe. His protection of Ophelia hints at a potentially compassionate or faction-conscious side.
• Egart and the hidden younger observer: Egart’s influence is emphasized through Aaron’s status. The younger observer appears personally connected to Egart and becomes increasingly intrigued by Shanhai.
• The old man: Acts as a perceptive commentator. He encourages continued observation and suggests that Shanhai’s true nature cannot yet be judged.

Significant Themes

• Determination and effort: Diona follows her mother’s advice that success requires persistent effort, even when the odds are extremely low.
• Power and resources: Aaron’s strength is linked to his bloodline, status, training, and access to faction resources, while Shanhai’s unexplained power raises questions about hidden cultivation and support.
• Information and surveillance: Diona’s digital abilities allow her to gather knowledge invisibly, highlighting information as a major source of power.
• Factional intrigue and betrayal: The discussion of spies and traitors reveals the distrust and political maneuvering between major factions.
• Judging character through actions: Shanhai’s decision to protect Ophelia may reveal more about his loyalties and personality than his overwhelming combat ability.

Character Interactions

• Diona has not yet directly confronted Aaron or Shanhai; instead, she watches them from a distance while weighing which one can best serve her goal.
• Diona’s memories of her mother motivate her determination.
• The old man and the younger observer analyze the battle together, comparing Aaron and Shanhai to powerful figures from their own youth.
• Their conversation moves from speculation about Shanhai’s origins to suspicion that he may be connected to the Gold-Silver Tree.
• The old man points out Shanhai’s protection of Ophelia, leading the younger observer to reconsider Shanhai’s motives. Both ultimately agree to keep watching him.

Chapter Summary: “Seeking Help? The Battle Nears Its End”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Diona discovers Ophelia hiding near the battlefield. A strange protective force field, apparently originating from Shanhai, shields Ophelia from the battle’s destructive shockwaves.
• This discovery contradicts Diona’s previous assessment of Shanhai as cold and indifferent toward his teammates. She realizes he may value or protect his allies, making him a more important recruitment target than Aaron.
• Diona moves her surveillance device closer to observe the fight. Shanhai appears to notice the device and gives a meaningful smile, suggesting that he may also have detected Diona herself.
• Shanhai and Aaron continue their intense battle. Shanhai deliberately restrains his true strength so that First Sequence will not become suspicious or abandon attempts to recruit him.
• Aaron, increasingly pressured by Shanhai’s overwhelming physical power, activates a temporary transformation that greatly enhances his strength and speed. His hair and eyes turn crimson, resembling a “Super Saiyan” form.
• The transformed Aaron launches a stronger attack, but Shanhai remains confident. Their next collision creates enormous energy storms, cracks in space, and widespread devastation.
• Ophelia struggles to survive while hiding close to the battlefield, and Diona watches the escalating battle with a troubled, uncertain expression.

Character Developments

• Diona: Her view of Shanhai changes significantly. She begins to suspect that his apparent ruthlessness is misleading and that he may possess loyalty or concern for his teammates. Her interest in him increases, and she starts considering him a higher priority than Aaron.
• Shanhai/Lin Feng: He continues concealing his full strength while enjoying the battle as a form of entertainment and practice. His subtle smile toward Diona’s surveillance device demonstrates his perceptiveness and possibly his awareness of her presence.
• Aaron: His confidence and competitive spirit intensify. Although he remains outwardly calm, Shanhai’s strength shocks him and reminds him of his powerful father, Egart. Determined not to disappoint his father, Aaron unveils his hidden power.
• Ophelia: She is frightened and helpless, reduced to hiding while the two combatants devastate the surrounding area. Her survival depends on Shanhai’s protective force field.
• Egart: Though he does not appear directly, his presumed observation places additional pressure on Aaron to perform well.

Significant Themes

• Hidden motives and misunderstood identities: Shanhai’s actions challenge Diona’s supposedly reliable personality analysis, suggesting that appearances and official assessments can be deceptive.
• Loyalty and protection: The protection surrounding Ophelia raises questions about Shanhai’s true feelings toward his teammates and whether he is more compassionate than he appears.
• Concealed strength: Shanhai suppresses his abilities to avoid attracting unwanted attention, while Aaron reveals a temporary power-up to overcome his opponent.
• Competition and pride: Aaron’s desire to prove himself, especially before his father, drives him to risk using his trump card.
• The danger of overwhelming power: The battle’s shockwaves threaten even distant observers, emphasizing the enormous scale of the fighters’ abilities.

Character Interactions

• Diona and Shanhai: Their interaction is indirect but tense. Diona observes him through a surveillance device, while Shanhai appears to notice it and silently acknowledges her presence with a smile.
• Shanhai and Aaron: Their fight is both a serious contest and, from Shanhai’s perspective, an enjoyable sparring match. Aaron struggles under the pressure but refuses to yield, eventually transforming to continue the battle.
• Shanhai and Ophelia: Though they do not speak, Shanhai protects Ophelia from the battlefield’s energy, revealing a possible bond or sense of responsibility.
• Diona and Ophelia: Diona discovers Ophelia’s survival and uses the situation to infer new information about Shanhai’s character.
• Aaron and Egart: Aaron’s awareness that his father is watching motivates him to unleash his enhanced form and fight harder.

Chapter Summary: “Cat-Eared Diona Comes Calling”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The battle between Lin Feng and Aaron ends without a decisive winner because Egart intervenes and halts the first stage of the selection.
• Egart and the seven major factions agree to use the current rankings, since the fight has already secured the top positions and severely damaged the Star.
• Lin Feng finishes first, while Aaron takes second and Ophelia places tenth. Lin Feng is dissatisfied because he believes he could have defeated Aaron if the battle had continued.
• During the three-day rest period, the top ten contestants are allowed to exchange their rankings for information and items.
• A mysterious cat-eared Black Robe woman, later identified as Diona, visits Lin Feng. She gives him a note with her contact information and asks to speak with him after the selection ends before quickly leaving.
• Lin Feng initially considers destroying the note but decides to keep it in case Diona can provide useful information about the Black Robes.
• Ophelia reveals that she knows Diona and retrieves an intelligence file on her for Lin Feng.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Remains confident, competitive, and irritated by Egart’s intervention. Although he mocks Diona’s strange behavior, he demonstrates caution and strategic thinking by preserving her contact information for possible intelligence value.
• Ophelia: Shows increasing familiarity with Lin Feng and better understands his personality, recognizing that his actions often contradict his words. Their playful relationship continues to develop, and she openly treats him as a teammate by sharing intelligence without demanding payment.
• Egart: Acts protectively toward his son, Aaron, stopping the battle to prevent him from being seriously injured and from losing his chance in the later stages.
• Aaron: Although not directly shown after the battle, his second-place ranking and Egart’s intervention establish him as a powerful but protected competitor.
• Diona: Her secret observation of Lin Feng is confirmed, and her sudden visit suggests that she has a specific interest in him or possesses information she wants to share.

Significant Themes

• Political influence and privilege: Egart’s authority allows Aaron to avoid the consequences of a battle he may have lost, showing how powerful connections affect the selection.
• Strategic restraint: Lin Feng must suppress his desire to finish the fight because he is undercover and cannot afford to alienate the First Sequence factions.
• Trust and intelligence gathering: Diona’s mysterious approach introduces the importance of information and alliances. Lin Feng chooses not to dismiss a potentially useful contact.
• Growing camaraderie: Lin Feng and Ophelia’s teasing and mutual reliance reveal a developing partnership beneath their constant bickering.
• Hidden motives: Diona’s cryptic behavior and Lin Feng’s suspicion reinforce the chapter’s atmosphere of uncertainty and concealed agendas.

Important Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Egart/Aaron: Their interrupted battle highlights Lin Feng’s confidence that he could win and Egart’s determination to protect his son.
• Lin Feng and Ophelia: They argue playfully over Lin Feng calling her a “dummy,” while Ophelia recognizes that he deliberately protected her during the fight. She later assists him with intelligence on Diona.
• Lin Feng and Diona: Diona approaches him directly but offers little explanation, leaving behind only a request to talk later and her contact information.
• Lin Feng and Ophelia regarding Diona: Ophelia quickly identifies Diona and provides Lin Feng with a file, deepening their role as information-sharing teammates.

Chapter Summary: “Swapping Places, Lin Feng Sits Out the Second Stage”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ophelia asks Lin Feng what Diona wanted, but he initially ignores her while examining the documents Diona provided. He eventually explains that Diona only left her contact information and said she wanted to speak with him after the selection.
• Lin Feng studies Diona’s profile. Although she supposedly joined the Black Robes thirty years ago, she appears to be only seventeen or eighteen. Her most notable ability is complete freedom within the Digital World, which reminds Lin Feng of Victor from the Justice League.
• Ophelia asks whether Lin Feng wants to exchange his rewards for intelligence or items. He declines and gives her his exchange quota, pleasing her greatly. This reinforces their developing relationship: Ophelia is opportunistic and energetic, while Lin Feng is generous when he sees no personal cost.
• Lin Feng contacts his clone, Shanhai, to discuss the mysterious red sphere found in the Death Realm. Shanhai explains that the sphere emerged from the realm’s red veins, causing those veins to wither and the trapped souls to regain their senses.
• The sphere originally appeared as a blood-red animal-like creature but transformed into an unresponsive orb before Shanhai could question it. Shanhai is reluctant to destroy it because no one knows what consequences doing so might cause.
• Lin Feng synchronizes memories with Shanhai, instantly sharing information about their recent actions. Shanhai learns that Lin Feng passed the first stage and fought Aaron, while Lin Feng gains a fuller understanding of the Death Realm and the sphere.
• Since Shanhai’s investigation has stalled and Lin Feng wants to rest, they decide to exchange places. Lin Feng will remain focused on the Death Realm, while Shanhai participates in the second stage.
• The swap happens almost instantaneously, with Shanhai appearing exactly where Lin Feng had been. Only Ophelia is capable of noticing the change.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng remains calculating, relaxed, and confident. He is powerful enough to treat the selection stages casually and willingly gives Ophelia his reward quota. He also shows increasing laziness, preferring direct memory synchronization over extended conversation.
• Shanhai demonstrates patience and caution while investigating the red sphere, despite his frustration at being unable to control or understand it. He is also willing to take over the second stage so Lin Feng can rest.
• Ophelia is shown to be inquisitive, playful, and opportunistic. She quickly turns Lin Feng’s refusal into an opportunity to claim his exchange privileges. Her ability to detect the body swap suggests heightened observation or special awareness.
• Diona remains mysterious. Her unusual age, Digital World abilities, and interest in Lin Feng establish her as a potentially important future character.

Significant Themes

• Trust and controlled secrecy: Lin Feng trusts Ophelia enough to explain Diona’s actions, but he also protects himself with a curse that prevents her from revealing information.
• Power and convenience: Lin Feng’s overwhelming strength allows him to treat major challenges—including the selection stages and body-swapping—as routine matters.
• Curiosity versus caution: Shanhai wants to investigate the red sphere, but both clones recognize that destroying it recklessly could have disastrous consequences.
• Partnership and cooperation: Lin Feng and Shanhai function as a highly efficient team, sharing memories and dividing responsibilities without conflict.
• Mystery and hidden identities: Diona’s apparent age, unexplained abilities, and the true nature of the red sphere create unresolved mysteries for future chapters.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Ophelia maintain a teasing but increasingly cooperative relationship. She complains about being ignored, while he responds with indifference and unexpected generosity.
• Lin Feng and Shanhai communicate as effectively as a single mind because of their shared memories. Their conversation reveals mutual trust and an easy willingness to exchange roles.
• Ophelia’s ability to notice the swap sets her apart from everyone else and hints that she may understand Lin Feng and Shanhai better than they expect.

Chapter Summary: “Linglu Returns, Building a Super-Tech City”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng swaps places with Shanhai just before Ophelia returns. Shanhai takes over the second stage of the competition while Lin Feng returns to the Death Realm.
• Ophelia is startled and intimidated by Shanhai’s sudden appearance. She avoids asking questions about Lin Feng’s departure, worried about provoking whoever—or whatever—Shanhai truly is.
• In the Death Realm, Lin Feng observes that the blood-red mist is dissipating now that the small red sphere has been separated from the Leylines. He recognizes that the sphere contains some form of life, though its exact nature remains unclear.
• Lin Feng regrets killing Hela before questioning her about the sphere and the mysterious Crystal associated with it. Since Hela’s soul and Timeline traces have been destroyed, reviving her is currently impossible.
• Planning to fuse the collected Heart of the Universe Fragments, Lin Feng decides to perform the fusion in an empty universe rather than risk damaging his own.
• Before he can begin, Linglu contacts him through a private communicator. She invites him to return to Blue Star and witness the completion of the planet’s first super-technology city.
• Linglu explains that the city is part of a larger technological pilot program designed to test advanced technology, its practical applications, and its effects on human society.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Remains cautious and pragmatic, choosing a safe location for the Heart of the Universe fusion. He also shows lingering regret over killing Hela too soon, revealing that even seemingly minor mysteries can bother him.
• Shanhai: Calmly assumes control of the second stage and handles Ophelia’s uncertainty without concern. Her synchronized memories with Lin Feng allow her to understand what happened between him and Ophelia.
• Ophelia: Becomes nervous and guarded after realizing that Shanhai has replaced Lin Feng. Her fear highlights her limited understanding of the relationship between the two beings and her tendency to avoid conflict.
• Linglu: Continues to be cheerful, optimistic, and loyal. Her pride in Blue Star’s achievements reflects her long-term dedication to humanity’s technological progress.

Significant Themes

• Identity and uncertainty: Ophelia’s discomfort emphasizes the difference between knowing someone’s personality and understanding their true identity or nature.
• Technological progress: The super-tech city represents humanity’s transition into a new era and the practical testing of advanced inventions.
• Responsible advancement: The city is not merely a display of power; it is meant to evaluate how technology can be integrated into daily life and how society responds to it.
• Regret and irreversible consequences: Lin Feng’s inability to question or revive Hela reinforces the permanence of certain choices.
• Human development beyond exploration: The chapter argues that improving life on Blue Star is as important as exploring the wider universe.

Character Interactions

• Shanhai and Ophelia: Ophelia awkwardly confirms that Lin Feng has left, while Shanhai calmly informs her that she will take over the next stage. Their interaction is marked by Ophelia’s fear and Shanhai’s detached amusement.
• Lin Feng and Linglu: Their communication reflects a long-standing friendship and mutual trust. Lin Feng is genuinely pleased to hear from Linglu, while she enthusiastically shares the successful completion of the super-tech city.
• Lin Feng and Hela: Although Hela does not appear directly, Lin Feng’s thoughts about her reveal unresolved curiosity and regret over their previous confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “A Night-Long Talk? Linglu’s Unchanged Personality”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The ultra-tech city’s development had been feasible since the first year after Lin Feng returned with extensive research materials, but construction was delayed for various reasons.
• By the previous year, the project had been publicly announced, and Linglu joined the first group recruited to help construct and manage the city.
• With the pilot city nearly complete, Linglu repeatedly invited Lin Feng to return and see it. After years of refusing because he expected to soon reach Golden Superman and return physically, Lin Feng finally realizes that his goal may take longer than expected.
• He accepts Linglu’s invitation and asks her to activate the Distress Beacon, which allows him to locate Blue Star Beyond the Fourth Wall.
• Lin Feng sends only his soul across the boundary, leaving his invulnerable body behind in the Marvel Universe. The journey is easier than previous attempts.
• He arrives at night in Linglu’s new room within the futuristic city. The two plan for her to show him around during the day, but first settle in for an all-night conversation.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Becomes more accepting of uncertainty and recognizes that obsessively rushing toward Golden Superman may be counterproductive. He decides to return home despite not yet reaching his expected level of power. His reunion with Linglu reveals his longing for his original world and simpler companionship.
• Linglu: Remains energetic, impulsive, and cheerful despite the passage of years. She is proud of her role in the pilot city and openly excited to see Lin Feng again. Her personality and appearance seem largely unchanged.

Significant Themes

• Patience versus ambition: Lin Feng learns that some goals cannot be forced and that delayed progress does not make returning home meaningless.
• Nostalgia and belonging: Returning Beyond the Fourth Wall reconnects Lin Feng with his origins and evokes strong emotions.
• The value of friendship: Linglu offers a bond rooted in their shared homeland, distinct from Lin Feng’s relationships in the Marvel Universe.
• Technological progress: The once-imaginary ultra-tech city has become a functioning reality through long-term planning, research, and cooperation.

Character Interactions

• Linglu excitedly calls Lin Feng and urges him to visit, while he initially hesitates before agreeing.
• She attempts to hug him upon his arrival but passes through his soul form, creating a lighthearted moment.
• Lin Feng teases her for remaining childish and uncomposed, while Linglu responds without embarrassment.
• They agree that she will tour the city with him the next day, then gather snacks and drinks to exchange stories about their respective experiences.
• Their easy, familiar conversation demonstrates that years apart have not weakened their friendship.