Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Ping undergoes Liu Sishan’s painful training test, being repeatedly struck by Water Whips. His Old King’s Blood makes the experience feel increasingly rewarding, shocking Cheng Xuejie and Zhang Shouzhong.
• The enormous light above Mingzhu City vanishes, and the Cleanup Team’s supernatural Blessings disappear with it. Since Situ Shibai granted those abilities, the team fears he has died.
• Situ Shibai’s voice emerges from Zhang Ping’s Golden Treasury Bracelet. He explains that the speaker is a Virtual Personality—an AI-like copy of his memories, created as a contingency, not the real Situ Shibai.
• The Virtual Personality says Situ is trapped in a deadly confrontation with the Heavenly Fox king and may be killed within a year. The king must remain at Monument Square to prevent his resurrection, giving the team a chance to act.
• Situ orders the group to flee to a safe house, warning that Li Aoxue will pursue them. Though Lu Han proposes killing the captured Zhao brothers, Situ orders them taken along, and the team departs.
• Guan Hongying arrives with black-clad followers to hunt the fugitives. She tastes poisoned blood left behind and is immediately paralyzed, exposing how dangerous the team’s poison is—and the threat it poses to the mountain wildlife.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Ping’s unusual reaction to pain reveals how strongly Old King’s Blood affects him. Cheng Xuejie’s tentative attraction to him disappears after witnessing his bizarre enthusiasm.
• Liu Sishan takes charge when the Blessings vanish, quickly contacting Situ and organizing the escape. She and the others show deep concern for their captain.
• The team’s differing instincts surface when Lu Han favors eliminating the prisoners, but Situ insists on bringing them along; Zhang Shouzhong obeys despite his earlier uncertainty.
• Guan Hongying’s anger and confidence give way to helplessness when the poison defeats her defenses. Her followers are left to respond to her collapse.

Significant themes

• Life, death, and identity: Situ’s Virtual Personality preserves memories but is not the man himself, raising questions about what survives when someone dies.
• Hope amid danger: Situ’s predicament is dire, yet the Heavenly Fox king’s need to stay in place creates an opening for survival and resistance.
• Power and its cost: Blessings provide substantial advantages, but their sudden loss leaves the team vulnerable; powerful abilities also make Zhang Ping’s behavior unsettling.
• Collateral damage and ruthlessness: The poison is effective against pursuers but could devastate the mountain, underscoring the potential consequences of extreme measures.

Key events

• After a long journey, the Cleanup Team reaches a hidden safe house beneath an ancient tree. Situ Shibai reveals that he has spent roughly two centuries building a vast network of about 3,000 safe houses and 200 secret bases as humanity’s fallback.
• The team uses a one-way teleportation array to reach Secret Base 08. The array relies on paired Eyewitness Demon Bird eyes, but its teleportation process is intensely disorienting.
• Zhang Ping adapts by turning into his Pure Water Body, which eliminates his discomfort. Zhang Shouzhong and Liu Sishan are badly affected, while Zhao Yanhu and Zhao Yanlong pass out.
• At the base, the Zhao brothers are taken to a holding cell. The others find places to rest or wash up. Zhang Ping, unusually energetic, completes 5,000 push-ups and then frog jumps.
• Before resting, Zhang Ping asks Situ why he has not advanced to Intermediate Awakened. He explains that killing the Heavenly Fox seemed to bring him to the threshold of a breakthrough, but he has remained stuck there.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Ping shows resilience and discipline: teleportation barely slows him once he uses his water form, and he exercises while the rest recover. He also reflects on his stalled advancement and seeks Situ’s advice.
• Situ Shibai demonstrates long-term preparation and authority, guiding the team to a secure base known only to him. He reassures Zhang Ping that there is normally no bottleneck between the beginner and intermediate stages.
• The team relies on one another as they recover from teleportation: Zhang Ping and Lu Han handle the unconscious Zhao brothers, while the others attend to their own needs.

Significant themes

• Preparation and survival: Situ’s extensive network reflects the need to preserve humanity’s options in a dangerous world.
• Adaptation and endurance: Zhang Ping’s ability to change form, keep training, and push through uncertainty contrasts with the team’s exhaustion.
• Unresolved growth: Zhang Ping’s failed breakthrough introduces uncertainty about what is holding back his progress, despite the apparent lack of a normal bottleneck.

Chapter Summary: “Choice”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Ping consults Situ Shibai about his inability to advance despite meeting the necessary requirements.
• Situ explains that Zhang’s Advancement Stagnation results from possessing too many abilities without having chosen a clear path or developed one ability to a sufficiently high Proficiency.
• Situ warns that the consequences of remaining stagnant are unknown and advises Zhang to advance as soon as possible.
• He teaches Zhang how to meditate: sense each ability in a state of near-manifestation, then question his deepest desires to determine the direction of his future development.
• Zhang examines the inner sensations and symbolic forms of all his abilities, including the Contract Gem, Appraisal Technique, Nethermist Nightwalker, Fire Eater, Wind Whisperer, Other-Eater, Nethermist Body, Pure Water Body, Pure Blood Body, and Old King’s Blood.
• Overwhelmed by the number of possibilities, Zhang initially cannot decide whether to focus on the Contract Gem or Other-Eater.
• After meditating again and clearing his mind, Zhang finally reaches an answer, though the chapter does not reveal it explicitly.

Character Developments

• Zhang Ping confronts a major turning point in his growth. Rather than simply acquiring more power, he must decide what kind of Awakened he wants to become.
• He recognizes that his greatest dilemma lies between the Contract Gem, the foundation of most of his abilities, and Other-Eater, whose derived abilities possess immense potential.
• Zhang demonstrates increasing self-awareness by examining not only the strength of his abilities but also his personal desires and future path.
• Situ Shibai acts as a patient mentor, drawing on his own experience as a multi-ability Awakened to guide Zhang through the stagnation.

Significant Themes

• The burden of choice: Having many abilities creates opportunity but can also prevent progress when a person lacks direction.
• Self-knowledge and conviction: Advancement depends not merely on power, but on understanding one’s true desires and committing to a path.
• Potential versus specialization: Zhang must weigh the foundational versatility of the Contract Gem against the tremendous possibilities of Other-Eater.
• Growth through limitation: Abilities can evolve only within their existing nature; imagination alone cannot produce completely unrelated powers.
• Identity and destiny: Zhang’s eventual choice will shape both his abilities and the kind of person he becomes.

Character Interactions

• Zhang and Situ Shibai have a mentor-student exchange, with Zhang asking anxious questions and Situ responding calmly and practically.
• Situ provides both an explanation of Zhang’s condition and a meditation technique, but refuses to make the decision for him.
• Their interaction emphasizes that Zhang’s advancement must come from his own convictions rather than external advice.
• The chapter ends with Zhang privately resolving his conflict after repeated meditation, marking an important step toward his next advancement.

Chapter Summary: “Intermediate Awakened”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Ping successfully advances from a Novice Awakened to an Intermediate Awakened without any dramatic external phenomenon.
• During the advancement, he experiences a profound mental transformation. All memories from both his previous and current lives resurface with perfect clarity, giving him the feeling of living through another lifetime before retreating into his subconscious.
• After awakening, Zhang Ping feels as though he has shed his mortal body and gained a clearer understanding of his identity.
• Situ Shibai confirms his advancement, and Zhang Ping immediately appraises his new status.
• Zhang Ping secretly blocks Liu Sishan and the others from accessing his shared permissions before checking his attributes, demonstrating his increased control and caution.
• His appraisal reveals:
  • Rank: Intermediate Awakened
  • Level: 10
  • Lifespan: 99
  • Greatly improved talents and abilities
  • A new advanced skill:

Intermediate—Limited Contract

• The advanced skill allows him to alter Contract Gem terms and create three specialized forms:
  • Weapon Contract: Infuses offensive abilities into the gem.
  • Treasure Contract: Enhances special equipment.
  • Storage Contract: Compresses and stores objects in a ten-cubic-meter space.
• Zhang Ping tests his new abilities by:
  • Sensing the locations and conditions of his Blood Splitting entities.
  • Transforming a finger into a rotating Pure Blood drill.
  • Creating a jade-green Contract Gem dagger with exceptional hardness.
  • Producing and testing the three specialized Contract Gems.
• He realizes that Contract Gems can potentially be used to create powerful equipment, but decides they are too valuable to waste.
• After creating ten gems, he would need two hours of deep sleep to recover, making each gem a limited resource.
• Zhang Ping eats the Contract Gem dagger and stores the rest for future use.
• He plans to accumulate Contract Gems before his next advancement, allowing him to maximize his potential and obtain even stronger advanced skills.

Character Development

• Zhang Ping undergoes both physical and psychological growth. His advancement gives him far greater stamina, Mental Strength, precision, and control over his abilities.
• He experiences a moment of self-realization, feeling that he finally understands who he is after confronting all of his memories.
• His increased perception allows him to monitor his Blood Splitting entities remotely, showing a major improvement in his connection and control.
• He becomes more strategic and resource-conscious. Rather than casually consuming or experimenting with Contract Gems, he recognizes their scarcity and begins planning for future advancements.
• His ability to manufacture valuable and durable Contract Gem weapons also gives him a potential source of wealth.
• Liu Sishan, Cheng Xuejie, and Chen Weihua remain nearby but are not directly involved in the chapter’s main action. Zhang Ping can sense Liu Sishan sleeping and Cheng Xuejie meditating, while Chen Weihua is too distant for him to perceive clearly.

Significant Themes

• Transformation and rebirth: Zhang Ping’s advancement is presented as an inner rebirth rather than a spectacular physical event.
• Identity and self-understanding: The recovery of his memories leads him to reflect on who he truly is.
• Potential versus practical strength: The chapter emphasizes that potential only matters when converted into usable power.
• Resource management and long-term planning: Contract Gems are powerful but costly to create, encouraging Zhang Ping to plan carefully rather than consume resources impulsively.
• Power and control: Advancement grants Zhang Ping not just greater strength but more precise command over his abilities and summoned entities.
• Knowledge and hidden information: His Appraisal Technique and Wind Whisperer talent reinforce the importance of gathering information, while his decision to restrict shared permissions highlights the need for secrecy.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Ping and Situ Shibai: Situ Shibai asks whether Zhang Ping has successfully advanced, and Zhang Ping confirms it with satisfaction. Their exchange is brief but establishes Situ Shibai as a witness to Zhang Ping’s breakthrough.
• Zhang Ping and his Blood Splitting entities: Although Liu Sishan, Cheng Xuejie, and Chen Weihua do not directly converse with him, Zhang Ping monitors their conditions through his enhanced perception.
• Zhang Ping and his own abilities: Much of the chapter focuses on Zhang Ping experimenting with and understanding his upgraded talents, especially the new forms and uses of Contract Gems.

Chapter summary

• The crisis in Mingzhu City: The group asks Situ Shibai how to save the city. He explains that sacrificing himself was a calculated choice: otherwise, either Li Aoxue would seize the city and half its Awakened would die in civil conflict, or the Heavenly Fox king would personally kill at least thirty percent of the city’s powerful Awakened. By holding the king’s attention, Situ has bought Mingzhu City roughly six months; Prince Yue is now the likeliest attacker, but defeating everyone would take much longer.
• A possible weapon: Situ says the city’s main disadvantage is lacking a weapon capable of threatening King-Level beings. Such a weapon can be obtained from a place accessible only once per lifetime to Infinite-Tier Ability Users. Situ once brought back the Arrow of Reversing Heaven and Earth from there; now, Zhang Ping must go.
• Zhang Ping’s decision: Before leaving, Zhang Ping insists on returning to Mingzhu City to settle a personal matter he has long kept unresolved. Lu Han objects, warning that the city is dangerous and Zhang Ping is too important to risk. Zhang Ping stands firm, explaining that he cannot keep putting it off.
• Zhang Ping proves himself: Lu Han challenges him to win the right to go. Zhang Ping instantly transforms his arm into a water sickle and holds it at Lu Han’s neck, demonstrating that he can overwhelm him before Lu Han can react. Lu Han reluctantly concedes.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Ping recognizes that he has become far stronger than he once was. Situ’s praise—and Zhang Ping’s swift victory over Lu Han—helps him shed some of the excessive caution he learned from treating the Academy’s general lessons as absolute rules.
• Situ Shibai reveals the reasoning behind his sacrifice and encourages Zhang Ping, describing him as more outstanding than Situ himself was at the same stage.
• Lu Han begins protective but underestimates Zhang Ping’s current ability; the challenge forces him to acknowledge it.
• Liu Sishan presses Situ for answers about the crisis and understands that Zhang Ping’s return to the city is tied to a deeply personal need.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes sacrifice and buying time, the limits of conventional ideas about strength, and personal growth. Zhang Ping’s decisive action marks a shift from seeing himself as powerless before stronger opponents to recognizing his own potential.

Chapter Summary: The Most Beautiful Encounter

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the mountains north of Mingzhu City, a water-based entity rescues a frightened wild boar piglet, hinting that Zhang Ping’s influence or abilities may extend through waterways.
• The mountain stream eventually flows into the underground river supplying Mingzhu City’s waterworks.
• At the Patrol Team headquarters, Heavenly Foxes drink directly from the water supply while human Awakened workers boil the water.
• Zhang Ping, using his Pure Water Body, infiltrates the headquarters through the water system while searching for the Heavenly Fox responsible for Su Jingyao’s death.
• He attacks two Heavenly Foxes, demanding to know Su Jingyao’s killer. When one refuses to answer and attempts to resist, Zhang Ping kills it by severing its head with a water blade.
• Prince Yue arrives afterward and orders Moon Shadow to “not waste” the corpses, suggesting that the Heavenly Foxes may intend to consume or otherwise exploit their dead companions. Moon Shadow becomes increasingly suspicious of Prince Yue’s abnormal behavior.
• Zhang Ping worries that Su Jingyao’s killer may have changed its human appearance, making identification difficult. He considers killing every Heavenly Fox in the Patrol Team but recognizes that doing so could endanger Mingzhu City’s residents, who are effectively hostages.
• Seeking information, Zhang Ping transfers his consciousness into Chen Weihua. He discovers that the exact Heavenly Fox he is hunting has already appeared at Chen Weihua’s location in Mingzhu Hospital.
• The fox had appeared as Su Jingyao to Chen Weihua, but Zhang Ping’s presence exposes its true nature.
• Zhang Ping orders Chen Weihua to stall for time, then returns to his own body and races toward the hospital in his Pure Water Body.

Character Developments

• Zhang Ping becomes more openly vengeful following Su Jingyao’s death. Although he is powerful enough to attack the Patrol Team, he shows restraint because he understands the danger the Heavenly Foxes pose to civilians.
• His ability to transfer consciousness and manipulate water proves increasingly versatile: he can infiltrate through plumbing, possess or observe others, identify disguised enemies, and travel rapidly through waterways.
• Chen Weihua demonstrates courage and composure despite being confronted by a dangerous Heavenly Fox. She follows Zhang Ping’s instructions and attempts to delay the enemy.
• Prince Yue appears increasingly unstable and detached. Its command to preserve the dead Heavenly Foxes, even though they are its own kind, suggests disturbing changes in its priorities or behavior.
• Moon Shadow begins to suspect that something is wrong with Prince Yue, noting its blank stare and lack of distinction between living beings, but continues obeying orders.
• The unknown Heavenly Fox responsible for Su Jingyao’s death is shown to be highly deceptive, using Su Jingyao’s appearance to manipulate or confuse others.

Significant Themes

• Revenge versus responsibility: Zhang Ping wants to punish Su Jingyao’s killer but must avoid actions that could provoke the Heavenly Foxes into harming innocent civilians.
• Identity and deception: The Heavenly Foxes’ ability to wear human appearances makes recognition unreliable, while Zhang Ping’s unique perception can reveal their true forms.
• Water as connection and power: Water links the wilderness, the city’s infrastructure, Zhang Ping’s abilities, and the movement of information and danger throughout Mingzhu City.
• Hidden instability: Prince Yue’s increasingly abnormal conduct suggests that the Heavenly Fox hierarchy may be weakening or undergoing an ominous transformation.
• Fate and coincidence: Zhang Ping’s attempt to gather information accidentally places him directly in front of the very enemy he seeks, echoing the chapter’s title and its imagery of unexpectedly finding what one has searched for.

Character Interactions

• The frightened piglet encounters a mysterious water arm, establishing an early connection between living creatures and the water entity.
• Zhang Ping confronts and interrogates the Heavenly Foxes at the Patrol Team headquarters, but they respond with hostility rather than cooperation.
• Prince Yue commands Moon Shadow to make use of the dead foxes, revealing a disturbing dynamic of unquestioning obedience and possible exploitation.
• Zhang Ping communicates with Chen Weihua through her body, warns her about the disguised Heavenly Fox, and instructs her to delay it.
• The chapter ends with Zhang Ping rushing to Chen Weihua’s aid, setting up an imminent confrontation with Su Jingyao’s killer.

Chapter Summary: “Tender Confession”

Plot Points and Events

• At Mingzhu Hospital, the creature Heavenly Fox continues impersonating Su Jingyao while speaking with Chen Weihua. It calmly discusses Captain Lin’s plans for handling the previous night’s violence: Feng Laixian may become deputy commander-in-chief of the Patrol Team, while other Awakened who killed during the conflict will be detained pending investigation.
• Heavenly Fox detects Chen Weihua’s fear through her scent and realizes that, despite her composed behavior, she has recognized that “Su Jingyao” is an impostor.
• It reveals that it killed the real Su Jingyao and preserved her skin as a disguise. Heavenly Fox explains that it has imitated Prince Yue’s preference for eating young women and has kept Su Jingyao’s skin because of her beauty.
• Heavenly Fox drops its disguise, exposing its horrifying true form, and attempts to frighten Chen Weihua into revealing how she identified it. It also uses its ability to prevent anyone outside from noticing suspicious sounds, believing that Chen Weihua has no hope of rescue.
• Zhang Ping suddenly appears behind Heavenly Fox in the form of a Grim Reaper. He restrains the creature with blood, defeats its attack, prevents it from calling for help, and tears away Su Jingyao’s skin, preserving it in his Golden Treasury Bracelet.
• To avoid endangering Chen Weihua or damaging her home, Zhang Ping carries Heavenly Fox outside. He then brutally tortures and kills it, transforming parts of his body into blood blades and drills.
• During the killing, Zhang Ping explains that Su Jingyao’s memories helped him accept his own identity and overcome his fear and instability. He condemns Heavenly Fox for harming her and insists that it should have attacked him instead. The chapter ends with Heavenly Fox reduced to a mangled heap of flesh and fur.

Character Developments

• Chen Weihua remains remarkably controlled despite being trapped with a monster. Her perfect memory and investigative ability have allowed her to see through the disguise, though her fear reveals that she is still physically vulnerable.
• Heavenly Fox is shown to be sadistic, vain, and obsessed with Prince Yue. It enjoys psychologically tormenting prey before killing them and takes pride in its ability to manipulate both appearances and perception. Its confidence collapses once Zhang Ping attacks.
• Zhang Ping displays a frighteningly ruthless side, torturing Heavenly Fox rather than killing it immediately. At the same time, his words reveal genuine grief and emotional attachment to Su Jingyao. Her memories have helped him develop a sense of identity and belonging, making her death deeply personal.
• Su Jingyao, though already dead, remains central through her preserved skin and memories. Her ideals and personality continue influencing Zhang Ping, especially her desire to protect Mingzhu City and prevent others from suffering similar tragedies.

Significant Themes

• Identity and memory: Zhang Ping’s understanding of himself is shaped by the memories he inherited from Su Jingyao, blurring the line between personal identity and another person’s lived experience.
• Appearance versus reality: Heavenly Fox uses human skin to conceal its monstrous nature, while Zhang Ping’s Grim Reaper form contrasts with the compassion and gratitude he expresses toward Su Jingyao.
• Fear and control: Heavenly Fox weaponizes fear and sensory manipulation, but its own confidence is destroyed when Zhang Ping reverses the power dynamic.
• Grief and revenge: Zhang Ping’s torture is driven not merely by justice but by personal mourning and anger over Su Jingyao’s death.
• Protection and sacrifice: Su Jingyao’s wish to protect the city survives through Zhang Ping, who acts violently to eliminate the threat she opposed.

Character Interactions

• Chen Weihua and Heavenly Fox: Their polite conversation becomes a psychological confrontation. Chen Weihua hides her knowledge, while Heavenly Fox attempts to expose and terrorize her.
• Zhang Ping and Chen Weihua: Zhang Ping rescues Chen Weihua without creating additional danger in her home, showing practical concern for her safety.
• Zhang Ping and Heavenly Fox: Their final confrontation combines physical violence with emotional confession. Zhang Ping speaks of Su Jingyao as though addressing a friend while methodically punishing her killer.
• Zhang Ping and Su Jingyao’s memory: Although she is absent, her influence shapes Zhang Ping’s emotions, moral outlook, and decision to avenge her.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Ping confronts Prince Yue, the Heavenly Fox who killed Su Jingyao. Prince Yue says Zhang Ping has killed two of his kin and vows not to let him escape.
• Zhang Ping appraises Prince Yue, learning that he is a Level 39 Top-Tier Mutated Beast with King Blood and numerous powerful abilities, including cognitive manipulation, psychokinesis, exceptional strength, and rapid healing.
• Zhang tests two stored Water Flow Rings against Prince Yue. They barely scratch him, confirming that ordinary attacks are unlikely to work.
• Zhang reveals that the meeting place was chosen deliberately: he arranged for Instructor Bai De and Feng Laixian to join him as backup. Wang Jieming helped bring them, even threatening to cut off his own hand to persuade Bai De.
• Bai De and Feng Laixian initially misunderstand the situation, but Zhang convinces them that “Luo Shiyu” is their enemy. They move to surround Prince Yue.
• Prince Yue attacks them with an invisible tail strike. Both men dodge, but Feng Laixian recognizes the threat and tells Bai De to protect Zhang while he faces the enemy.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Ping remains composed despite Prince Yue’s strength. His choice to seek help shows that his planned revenge is not impulsive: he anticipated the danger and prepared allies.
• Prince Yue is confident and contemptuous, dismissing Zhang’s weapons and his reinforcements. His casual attack nevertheless reveals his overwhelming power.
• Bai De is confused by the setup but trusts Zhang because he is his student, agreeing to help despite his suspicions.
• Feng Laixian is initially cautious and questions Zhang, but ultimately accepts Bai De’s judgment. He quickly takes responsibility for confronting Prince Yue.
• Wang Jieming, though absent from the confrontation, demonstrates loyalty and determination by risking himself to secure Bai De’s help.

Significant themes

• Revenge and preparation: Zhang is determined to avenge Su Jingyao, but he approaches the confrontation with planning rather than relying on courage alone.
• Trust and loyalty: Bai De and Feng Laixian join the fight based on their relationships and confidence in Zhang and Bai De.
• The gap in power: The Water Flow Rings’ ineffectiveness and Prince Yue’s invisible attack emphasize how formidable he is—and how dangerous the coming battle will be.

Plot points and events

• Bai De trusts Feng Laixian’s decision to face Prince Yue alone, then agrees to protect Zhang Ping while he changes from his vulnerable flesh-and-blood form into his safer pure-blood form.
• Prince Yue strikes Bai De with an invisible tail, hurling him through walls and leaving him critically injured. The brief delay lets Zhang Ping complete his transformation.
• Zhang Ping tries to enter Prince Yue through his tail but is violently repelled and thrown into a wall. He then heals Bai De by entering his body as blood.
• With Zhang Ping inside him, Bai De can see Prince Yue’s true monstrous form. He learns that Prince Yue is behind Mingzhu City’s disappearances and the stories about human skins.
• Zhang Ping asks Bai De to deliver a portion of his blood to Feng Laixian so Feng can see Prince Yue as he really is. Bai De throws it to Feng, who catches and swallows it without hesitation.
• Zhang Ping enters Feng’s bloodstream and explains the situation. Feng recognizes how the revelation fits his earlier suspicions and realizes that Lin Kedi has already been affected. Grief and fury overwhelm him.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Ping takes a calculated risk, relying on Bai De’s protection and then using his blood-based abilities to heal Bai De and help Feng. His dependence on others underscores both the danger of his vulnerable transformation and the teamwork needed to confront Prince Yue.
• Bai De proves his strength and loyalty by taking Prince Yue’s attack, trusting Zhang Ping’s explanation, and helping Feng despite his severe injuries.
• Feng Laixian accepts Bai De’s “good stuff” without hesitation, showing their deep, practical trust. Once he sees Prince Yue’s true form and hears Zhang Ping’s account, his earlier uncertainty gives way to grief and anger over Lin Kedi.
• Zhang Ping and Bai De coordinate under pressure: Zhang heals Bai De, then uses him to pass the blood to Feng. Bai De and Feng’s established shorthand and trust make the plan work.

Significant themes

• Trust and teamwork: Each character’s willingness to rely on the others is essential to the plan.
• Sacrifice and vulnerability: Bai De risks his life to protect Zhang Ping, while Zhang must expose his weakness during his transformation.
• Truth beneath appearances: Prince Yue’s disguise has concealed the threat and the fate of the missing people; seeing his real form changes the course of the confrontation.
• Found family and grief: Feng’s reaction reflects how deeply he values his fellow disciples, even those with whom he was not especially close.

Chapter summary

Key plot points and events

• Feng Laixian attacks Prince Yue recklessly, but Yue blocks every blow with nine spike-covered tails. Yue then knocks Feng down with a single ordinary punch of overwhelming force.
• Yue explains that, after being possessed by the Fallen One the previous night, he experienced a profound calm that made his old ambitions and even his anger over his dead kin seem meaningless. He has stayed at the scene largely because his father gave him a mission.
• Feng realizes Yue is far beyond his ability to defeat and prepares to sacrifice himself so Zhang Ping and Bai De can escape. Zhang reassures him that he has a plan to get them out, provided Yue does not kill them immediately.
• Losing interest, Yue orders his attendant Moon Shadow to kill the group and leaves. Zhang appraises Moon Shadow: a top-tier Heavenly Fox with extraordinary speed, shadow-based abilities, and sharp psychokinesis.
• Moon Shadow attacks Feng with invisible, blade-like force, rapidly covering him in wounds. Feng observes that, despite its speed, its attacks may lack enough power to finish him.

Character developments

• Prince Yue has undergone a striking emotional shift. He is detached from revenge and status, seeking only to recapture the serenity he felt while possessed, though he still intends to fulfill his father’s mission.
• Feng Laixian accepts that he may die but remains resolute and selfless, prioritizing Zhang Ping and Bai De’s survival. Zhang’s promise rekindles his willingness to fight.
• Zhang Ping remains strategic and protective of his allies. He uses his appraisal ability to assess Moon Shadow and looks for a way to turn the situation around.

Character interactions

• Yue dismisses Feng’s aggression and speaks to him with detached indifference, then delegates the fight rather than finishing it himself.
• Feng tells Zhang to flee, while Zhang insists there is still a chance to save everyone; Feng agrees to trust him.
• Moon Shadow obeys Yue without question and immediately attacks Feng. Feng and Zhang study the new opponent while trying to identify its abilities and limits.

Significant themes

• Detachment and changed priorities: Yue’s experience of inner calm has weakened his attachment to revenge, kinship, and former goals.
• Sacrifice and loyalty: Feng is prepared to give his life for his companions, while Zhang’s actions show that he values and trusts them.
• Power and uncertainty: Yue’s overwhelming strength forces the heroes to reassess their chances, while Moon Shadow’s unfamiliar abilities make careful observation essential.

Plot and key events

• Feng Laixian chants an old Mingzhu City ballad and resonates with the sun, transforming into Great Sun Red Emperor Form. His body grows larger, becomes enveloped in red flame, and radiates extreme heat.
• Moon Shadow tries to stop the transformation with a razor-sharp Psychokinetic net, but Feng’s flames burn it away. Moon Shadow protects itself from the heat with a cloak of shadow, and the two begin fighting.
• Moon Shadow attacks Feng’s chest, aiming for his heart. Feng avoids the lethal strike because Zhang Ping secretly shifts his heart with blood manipulation. Feng grabs Moon Shadow and lands three punches, then traps it in a struggle of strength.
• Holding Moon Shadow in place, Feng unleashes a dramatically empowered Chaos Breath, infused with great sun true fire. The blast chars Moon Shadow and sends it crashing through a wall, leaving a wide, lava-like trail.
• As Feng advances, Shadow Guard and Shadow Strike combine in a surprise attack on his shadow, inflicting matching wounds on his body. Zhang Ping begins repairing him. Feng retreats into sunlight and burns back the shadows, judging the injuries minor thanks to his transformed state.

Character developments

• Feng Laixian reveals the immense power of his Red Emperor form, along with heightened senses and physical abilities. He fights strategically, but acknowledges that he was caught off guard by Moon Shadow’s combined abilities.
• Zhang Ping assists Feng by moving his heart out of the path of Moon Shadow’s claw and repairing his wounds. Watching Feng’s strength also makes Zhang recognize that his own current abilities leave him vulnerable to physically powerful opponents.
• Moon Shadow proves fast, powerful, and tactically dangerous. Though badly injured by Feng’s attack, it remains capable of a surprise counterattack.

Themes

• Myth and power: Feng’s transformation draws on an ancient sun deity associated with life, death, and war.
• Teamwork and complementary abilities: Zhang’s support enables Feng to survive attacks he might otherwise be unable to evade.
• Adaptation and hidden capabilities: Moon Shadow’s unexpected use of Shadow Guard offensively shows the danger of underestimating an opponent based on incomplete knowledge.
• Power and vulnerability: Feng dominates the direct clash, yet a tactical surprise still wounds him; Zhang, meanwhile, recognizes the limits of his own strength.

Character interactions

Feng and Moon Shadow engage in a fierce contest of tactics and physical force, while Zhang supports Feng from within—first saving him from a heart strike, then repairing his injuries. Feng’s confidence and teasing advice contrast with Moon Shadow’s refusal to speak to its “prey” and its relentless focus on its order to kill.

Key plot points and events

• Feng Laixian’s injuries heal completely thanks to the enhanced regeneration of his Great Sun Red Emperor Form.
• Surrounded by about fifty Heavenly Foxes, Feng and Zhang Ping decide to escape with Bai De rather than fight. Moon Shadow claims the group as its prey, but Feng warns that the other foxes would still attack.
• Zhang Ping returns his consciousness to Bai De, retrieves a Square Contract Gem, and uses it with a Round Contract Gem to capture and amplify energy from a weapon made of his new friend’s fat.
• The energy’s pull carries Bai De and Feng through the air at extreme speed. The Heavenly Foxes are left behind; Moon Shadow gives chase but cannot keep up.
• Once they seem far enough from Mingzhu City, Zhang Ping releases the energy. The three begin slowing over a forested mountain area, though they are still moving fast enough that landing safely is a concern.

Character developments

• Feng Laixian shows restraint: despite his strength and anger at the foxes’ victims, he prioritizes escape over an unwinnable fight.
• Zhang Ping demonstrates quick thinking and inventive use of his abilities, combining stored weapons and energy to create an improvised escape method.
• Bai De remains practical and wary, especially about the dangers of their uncontrolled flight. His confusion—and later attempt to claim he understood Zhang Ping’s explanation—adds humor.
• Moon Shadow is left frustrated and helpless after losing its prey.

Significant themes

• Ingenuity and cooperation: Zhang Ping’s unusual abilities become far more effective when combined with another person’s power.
• Pragmatism over pride: The group survives by choosing escape rather than fighting overwhelming odds.
• Power with risks: Their escape succeeds, but the extreme speed, rapid energy loss, and uncertain landing make it dangerous.

Character interactions

• Feng and Zhang coordinate the escape while staying alert to the surrounding foxes; Feng and Bai De hold on to each other as instructed.
• Moon Shadow’s claim over the group briefly prevents the other foxes from intervening, but Feng refuses to rely on it.
• In midair, Zhang explains his improvised technique while Bai De protests that it is too complicated and unsafe; Feng, by contrast, immediately recognizes the clever combination.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Ping recalls experimenting with his advanced abilities. Swallowing a Storage Contract did nothing, while trying to swallow an ability stored in a Weapon Contract tore a hole in his stomach; his Pure Water Form saved him.
• He discovered a useful escape trick: storing Zhang Shouzhong’s Fat Energy in a Weapon Contract creates a powerful pull that can propel him toward it. The technique is effective but potentially dangerous to Zhang Shouzhong.
• Zhang Ping, Bai De, and Feng Laixian descend into the wilderness. Zhang Ping makes blood wings to slow their fall, and they land safely in a tree.
• After warning each other about the dangers of Mutated Beasts, the group sets off in the direction the Fat Energy traveled. Zhang Ping explains that Wang Jieming is waiting safely outside the city with his uncle, while Qiu Qiang has also been provided for.
• Bai De detects a large number of approaching creatures. The three flee and Zhang Ping spots swarms of thumb-sized black ants. Bai De identifies them as the “Black Ant Dynasty,” whose overwhelming numbers can kill even a Top-Tier Mutated Beast.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Ping is inventive and willing to experiment, though some of his ideas are reckless. He feels guilty about the danger his escape technique could pose to Zhang Shouzhong, but still plans to use it when needed. He also looks out for Bai De by staying inside him until landing and creates blood wings to soften their descent.
• Bai De provides comic commentary about his animal-based abilities and shares a grim wilderness lesson about a companion killed by a caterpillar. His exceptional hearing proves crucial in detecting the ants.
• Feng Laixian remains alert and decisive, warning the others to stay watchful and ordering them to run as soon as danger is detected.
• The three cooperate closely: Zhang Ping helps with the landing and scouting, Bai De detects the threat, and Feng Laixian leads their response.

Significant themes

• Experimentation and its risks: Zhang Ping’s powers offer creative possibilities, but misuse can cause serious injury.
• Survival through cooperation and vigilance: The group’s complementary abilities help them navigate a wilderness where even seemingly small creatures can be deadly.
• The danger of overwhelming nature: The Black Ant Dynasty illustrates how numbers can make individually weak creatures a threat to far stronger opponents.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Ping, Feng Laixian, and Bai De are surrounded by a vast colony of Black Mountain Bow-backed Ants. Feng proposes fighting through, while Zhang offers to scout from the air.
• Zhang notices the ants are not attacking fleeing wildlife. He also sees them kill members of their own colony, suggesting they are pursuing a particular target.
• Following the direction of the ants’ movement, Zhang discovers a small, white ant hiding in the shrubs. It attacks him, but he avoids its bites.
• Appraisal reveals it is a level-one Mobile Fortress Ant Queen, a rare and powerful mutant with an exceptionally durable body, a growing extradimensional nest in its abdomen, reproductive abilities, and the capacity to command or intimidate ants.
• Zhang concludes the surrounding ants are hunting the queen because she is an aberration. He tries to tame her with a Contract Gem, but she rejects it.
• When the queen bites him, Zhang transforms into his pure-blood form and infiltrates her body. From inside, he keeps presenting the gem and urging her to eat it, but she remains suspicious and eventually hides in the shrubs.

Character developments

• Zhang Ping remains curious and opportunistic even amid danger. Recognizing the queen’s potential, he quickly tries to recruit her and resorts to infiltration when persuasion fails.
• The Mobile Fortress Ant Queen is revealed as a valuable but stubborn creature. Despite being only level one, she is aggressive and wary, repeatedly rejecting Zhang’s attempt to tame her.

Significant themes

• Power through numbers: Individually weak ants pose an overwhelming threat as a coordinated swarm.
• Survival and biological costs: Supernatural abilities still require energy, while sheer numbers can overcome individual strength.
• Control versus trust: Zhang can physically infiltrate the queen, but cannot make her accept the Contract Gem.

Character interactions

• Feng urges a direct escape, while Zhang offers aerial support and investigates the swarm’s behavior.
• Zhang and the queen engage in a comic standoff: she repeatedly tries to bite him, while he persistently offers the gem and disguises his coercion as encouragement.

Chapter Summary: “Naming”

Plot and events

Zhang Ping discovers that the Mobile Fortress Ant is frightened, sorrowful, and angry when a massive swarm of Black Mountain Bow-backed Ants surrounds them. Realizing the ants may belong to an enemy colony—and that the little creature may be the survivor of a defeated “royal” colony—he jokingly treats it as a fallen princess and rescues it. Using blood to create wings and Nether Mist to carry it, Zhang Ping escapes into the air despite the ants forming towers to pursue them. He then rejoins Feng Laixian and Bai De, inadvertently leading the ants toward them and forcing the group to flee toward the mountain’s foot.

Character developments

Zhang Ping’s impulsive, mischievous nature becomes especially clear. Although he genuinely protects the Mobile Fortress Ant, he also treats the dangerous situation playfully, repeatedly asking whether it will eat a Contract Gem and teasing it about being a princess. Bai De realizes that Zhang Ping is far less dependable in the wilderness than he had believed and regrets ever considering him as a future disciple. The little ant displays increasingly distinct emotions and even produces a faint squeaking sound, revealing that it is capable of communication and strongly motivated by vengeance.

Character interactions

Zhang Ping comforts and pets the little ant, senses its fear and hatred, and carries it away from the pursuing swarm. He explains the rescue to Feng Laixian and Bai De, who react with shock and immediately increase their speed. Bai De angrily criticizes Zhang Ping for creating unnecessary danger, while Zhang Ping remains cheerful and focuses on bonding with the creature. He proposes numerous names, and the little ant rejects most of them through visible reactions. When Zhang Ping finally suggests “Theron,” the creature responds with delight, indicating that it accepts the name.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes the contrast between responsibility and recklessness, as Zhang Ping’s compassion is repeatedly mixed with dangerous impulsiveness. It also develops the theme of forming bonds across species: the Mobile Fortress Ant begins as a mysterious, hostile creature but gradually responds to Zhang Ping’s attention and attempts at communication. Naming becomes a symbol of recognition and companionship, suggesting that the creature is becoming an individual rather than merely a useful monster or combat asset.

Plot points and events

• Zhang Ping names the newborn Little Sairon Theron, helping ease the creature’s suspicion of him.
• Bai De and Feng Laixian flee a vast swarm of Black Mountain Bow-backed Ants. Zhang Ping separates from them, drawing the ants away with Theron so his companions won’t be put at greater risk.
• During the chase through the Endless Mountains, Zhang Ping leads the ants into conflict with a territorial giant bear. The bear kills many ants but is badly injured before escaping.
• Once they gain distance, Zhang Ping rests with Theron, retrieves his bracelet, and feeds the hungry newborn until it falls asleep.
• Zhang Ping hesitates to contract Theron, fearing that the danger he is heading toward could leave the young creature orphaned or doomed.
• An old, tree-like man crashes into a nearby grove. Zhang Ping identifies him as Ye Changchun, a human in a “Lost State” whose plant-based abilities include restoring himself, rooting into soil, and reviving from a seed if killed.
• Zhang tries to escape with Theron, but vines block every route. Ye Changchun approaches and asks where Zhang is from.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Ping shows growing protectiveness toward Theron: he gives it a name, risks drawing the ant swarm away from his friends, feeds it, and considers its future before forming a contract. His curiosity about his powers gives way to a practical “it works” attitude.
• Theron (Little Sairon) begins to trust Zhang, accepts food readily, and reveals its vulnerability as a newly born, exhausted creature.
• Bai De and Feng Laixian prioritize escape and urge Zhang to leave them, recognizing that his flight gives him a better chance of survival.
• Ye Changchun is introduced as a powerful, enigmatic Lost One. His calm question contrasts with the threatening vines surrounding Zhang.

Significant themes

• Protection and responsibility: Zhang weighs his bond with Theron against the risks of bringing it into danger.
• Survival amid nature’s violence: The ant swarm, giant bear, and perilous mountains portray a world where even powerful creatures face constant threats.
• The unknown and the uncanny: Ye Changchun’s human identity and plant-like transformation expand the chapter’s sense of what forms of life and mutation are possible.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Ping encounters the enormous Treefolk Ye Changchun in the remote Endless Mountains and initially fears he may be attacked. Ye sits down and reassures him that he only wants company.
• Ye and Zhang discover a connection to Mingzhu City: Ye asks after Zhuang Jinchi, and Situ Shibai, speaking from Zhang’s golden bracelet, recognizes him as “Uncle Ye.”
• Situ explains that Ye was the oldest Awakened in the Resistance Army. Ye’s plant-like ability has greatly prolonged his life, though he believes he would die within a few years if he stopped maintaining his Treefolk form.
• Zhang learns that Ye has become a Lost One. Ye describes the change not as madness but as becoming increasingly like a tree; his main symptom is severe forgetfulness.
• When Zhang explains that Black Mountain Bow-backed Ants are pursuing him, Ye offers to escort him partway and hear about Mingzhu City. He rises to his full, sky-blocking height.

Character developments

• Zhang Ping shifts from alarm to cautious trust and curiosity. Ye’s long life prompts him to wonder whether maintaining special forms could extend his own lifespan.
• Ye Changchun is warm and sociable, but his fading memory reveals the cost of his prolonged existence. He accepts his Lost One condition calmly, seeing it as a gradual transformation rather than a catastrophe.
• Situ Shibai is startled and moved to discover that Ye survived. His familiarity with Ye connects Zhang’s present journey to the Resistance Army’s past.

Significant themes

• Longevity and its price: Ye’s ability has kept his body alive for centuries, but his memory and sense of self have weakened.
• Transformation and identity: Ye sees becoming a Lost One as becoming more fully a Treefolk, complicating the usual idea that being “lost” is simply a mental illness.
• Memory and connection: Recognition briefly revives Ye’s clarity, suggesting that relationships and shared history can reach him even as his memories fade.
• Isolation and companionship: After years without seeing anyone, Ye eagerly welcomes Zhang and asks to hear about the city he left.

Character interactions

• Ye’s laughter and gentle manner ease Zhang’s fear, while Zhang remains polite and careful around the giant Treefolk.
• Situ’s recognition of Ye leads to a brief reunion, though Ye cannot remember Situ in return.
• Zhang asks both Situ and Ye about Awakened lifespans, then identifies Ye’s Lost One status using his Appraisal Technique.
• Ye responds to Zhang’s danger by offering practical help: an escort through the mountains.

Key plot points and events

• Little Sairon wakes during the journey and is frightened by Ye Changchun’s enormous face. Zhang Ping reassures them, while Ye invites Zhang to visit his home.
• Ye explains—or confirms through his actions—that he has withdrawn from worldly affairs and will not help defend Mingzhu City from the Heavenly Fox invasion.
• Zhang asks Ye to stop at a secluded waterfall. There, he buries Su Jingyao’s skin in a Contract Gem box, placing a heart-shaped Contract Gem with it.
• Afterward, three Black Mountain Bow-backed Ants track Little Sairon’s scent to the waterfall. Two are killed by local predators; the last reaches the burial site but is crushed by an unseen force. A blue current moves over the skin, and the Contract Gem begins to vanish.

Character developments

• Zhang Ping shifts from grief and anger toward a sense of purpose. He honors Su Jingyao’s wish for a peaceful place to rest and commits himself to protecting Mingzhu City and exterminating the Heavenly Foxes.
• Little Sairon is timid around Ye but remains close to Zhang, nuzzling him when he grieves.
• Ye Changchun is warm and hospitable toward Zhang and Sairon, yet detached from the city’s crisis.

Significant themes

• Grief and remembrance: Zhang gives Su Jingyao a quiet resting place and resolves to carry out the life she hoped for.
• The gap between fantasy and reality: Zhang recognizes that life is not a novel, and Su was not a destined heroine but a person who died unjustly.
• Withdrawal versus responsibility: Ye has chosen seclusion, while Zhang accepts the burden of protecting others.
• Uncertainty and supernatural consequences: The final scene suggests the burial, skin, or Contract Gem may have triggered a mysterious force.

Character interactions

• Zhang gently comforts Sairon and explains their shyness to Ye.
• Ye gives Zhang space while he buries Su Jingyao, showing quiet respect.
• At the waterfall, Sairon offers Zhang comfort through a nuzzle; Zhang reassures them that he is all right.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Ping and Ye Changchun reach Ye’s usual resting place: a scenic extinct volcano with a lake and fruit-bearing trees. The peaceful landscape lifts Zhang’s mood, and he plays with Little Sairon.
• Ye calls out to “Brother Su,” and Su Qingbo emerges from the lake as a human-shaped body of water. Zhang appraises him and discovers that he is a level 39 Awakened in the Lost State, with the ability to become and control pure water, freeze it, and store and release heat.
• Su learns that he is a Lost One and concludes that he may eventually become a dangerous Fallen One. He plans to settle his affairs and then end his life, first hoping to see his surviving great-granddaughter from a distance.
• Ye accepts Su’s decision and offers to accompany him when the time comes. Su goes into the lake to prepare a gift for Zhang.
• Zhang asks Ye how many Lost Ones live outside Mingzhu City. Ye says he has encountered only two over many years, easing Zhang’s fear that Lost Ones are numerous.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Ping shifts from gloom to enjoyment in the tranquil setting. He is startled to meet another Lost One and becomes curious about how common they are. He treats Little Sairon protectively, warning him not to drink the lake water.
• Su Qingbo is calm, emotionally diminished, and resolute. Unlike Ye, he fears what he might become and chooses to prevent harm by ending his life before he can turn Fallen. His formal gratitude to Zhang contrasts with his firm, detached manner.
• Ye Changchun remains cheerful and unconcerned about his own Lost State. He tries to reassure Su, but respects his friend’s decision, showing both affection and acceptance.
• Little Sairon reacts warily to Su’s water form, hiding in Zhang’s arms before amusing himself with his reflection.

Significant themes

• Different responses to decline: Ye accepts his Lost State casually, while Su responds with caution and responsibility.
• Choice and responsibility: Su’s planned death is framed as an attempt to protect others from the possibility that he may become a Fallen One.
• Emotional change and mortality: Su’s fading feelings have reduced his fear of death, while his remaining sense of duty shapes his final plans.
• Peace amid danger: The beautiful, restorative landscape offers Zhang a brief respite, even as the encounter raises questions about the risks posed by Lost Ones.

Key plot points and events

• At the base, Lu Han grows increasingly anxious because Zhang Ping has not returned. He admits he let Zhang Ping leave earlier to save face and now regrets not stopping him.
• Liu Sishan and Cheng Xuejie leave to look for Zhang Ping. Zhang Shouzhong stays with Lu Han so he will not be left alone and set out impulsively himself.
• At the agreed rendezvous point, Feng Laixian and Bai De wait for Zhang Ping. Zuo Xiangming arrives with Guan Hongying and a group of followers. Zuo offers to help Guan find someone in exchange for one of three promised conditions.
• Guan agrees and attacks Feng Laixian, whom she blames for the death of Wu Ruoyu. Bai De escapes into the woods, and Guan orders her people to pursue him.
• Zuo joins the fight using three Living Corpses: one with long-range tracking, one that distorts space, and Li Kuidá, the Black Vajra, whose body becomes metal. The space-warping ability helps Li Kuidá land a sudden punch that shatters Feng Laixian’s jaw.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Han’s worry reveals his regret and growing concern for Zhang Ping. Cheng Xuejie and Zhang Shouzhong recognize that Lu Han might panic if left alone, so they arrange to keep him at the base.
• Liu Sishan and Cheng Xuejie volunteer to search because Zhang Ping can locate them.
• Guan Hongying’s cooperation with Zuo Xiangming is transactional: she wants help finding someone, while he expects payment through the conditions she owes him. Her hostility toward Feng is personal, rooted in Wu Ruoyu’s death.
• Zuo is calculating and intimidating, but the petite woman in black teases him as a melodramatic villain. He threatens her, though ultimately refrains from harming her.
• Feng responds to the ambush by fighting back, while Bai prioritizes escape. Feng quickly studies the Living Corpses’ abilities after being struck.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and responsibility: The search party balances concern for Zhang Ping with the need to keep Lu Han from making a reckless decision.
• Self-interest and uneasy alliances: Zuo and Guan cooperate only because each expects something in return.
• Grief and vengeance: Guan’s attack is driven by her resentment over Wu Ruoyu’s death.
• Adaptation under pressure: Feng tries to identify how the Living Corpses’ powers work while fighting for his life.